It has been interesting to watch Asobo Studio build A Plague Tale into one of gaming’s more distinctive narrative universes, and Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy represents its boldest change of direction yet. Published by Focus Entertainment and developed by Asobo Studio, this PS5 prequel takes Sophia, one of Requiem’s most memorable supporting characters, and sends her fifteen years back into a much more action-oriented adventure built around Greek mythology, ancient mysteries and the island of the Minotaur. Ahead of release, we also spoke with lead writer Carol-Ann Bañuls and lead level designer Valérian Robert about the game’s development (read the full interview here), and they were refreshingly clear about the team’s intentions: Resonance was designed to offer a new experience rather than simply repeat what came before, retaining the DNA of A Plague Tale while changing the mechanics and creating a standalone entry point for newcomers. That ambition is immediately apparent, because this is not another story about trying to survive while feeling perpetually outmatched. Sophia is a very different protagonist, and Resonance is a very different kind of adventure. Continue reading “Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy review”
Category: New
NBA 2K27 review (Xbox)
Annual sports games are always caught between two expectations: newcomers want a convincing reason to buy in, while returning players want meaningful improvements without having to relearn everything they enjoyed about the previous game. NBA 2K27, published by 2K and developed by Visual Concepts, largely takes the latter approach. This is not a radical reinvention of the series, and Xbox players coming straight from NBA 2K26 may initially wonder where the big changes are. The controls, presentation and overall structure remain immediately familiar, but the more time spent on the court, the clearer it becomes that Visual Concepts has concentrated on the small details that determine whether virtual basketball actually feels convincing. Continue reading “NBA 2K27 review (Xbox)”
Developer interview: Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy (Gamescom)
With Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, Asobo Studio has taken its A Plague Tale universe in a noticeably different direction. The new game shifts the focus to Sophia and takes place years before the events of A Plague Tale: Requiem, introducing a more action-driven structure built around combat, exploration, puzzles and Greek mythology. Ahead of release, we spoke with lead writer Carol-Ann Bañuls and lead level designer Valérian Robert at Gamescom about the thinking behind the change, the importance of preserving the series’ identity and the challenge of combining new gameplay systems with the emotional storytelling that has become one of Asobo’s trademarks. Continue reading “Developer interview: Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy (Gamescom)”
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 review (PS5)
KONAMI’s Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 arrives with a rather different proposition from its predecessor. Where the first volume packed in a large number of games and variations, this follow-up is much more focused, bringing together Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker and the Game Boy Color curiosity Metal Gear: Ghost Babel. That makes it a smaller collection on paper, and at its asking price there is certainly room to argue that KONAMI could have gone further by including games such as Portable Ops or the Metal Gear Ac!d titles. But there’s also no getting around the importance of its main attraction: after spending almost two decades trapped on the PlayStation 3, Metal Gear Solid 4 is finally available on modern hardware, and that alone makes Vol. 2 a significant release for fans of the series. Continue reading “Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 review (PS5)”
IRON GUARD: Day Zero review (PS5)
IRON GUARD: Day Zero brings Xlab Digital llc’s VR-born tower defence game to PlayStation 5 as a substantially reworked flat-screen experience rather than a straightforward port. Set after a crash landing on a seemingly abandoned planet, the game quickly establishes that its terraforming machinery has gone rogue, leaving players to defend their base and critical infrastructure against increasingly aggressive mechanical forces. It is a perfectly serviceable science-fiction premise, and the isolated planetary setting gives the action some atmosphere, but the narrative never develops into a particularly compelling reason to keep playing. Mission briefings and radio chatter provide context between the waves, yet the writing and voice work can feel rather flat, making the story little more than functional motivation for the defensive action. Continue reading “IRON GUARD: Day Zero review (PS5)”