From the moment you step into I Hate This Place on PlayStation 5, it’s clear Rock Square Thunder aimed for something that wears its comic-book lineage on its sleeve. The game’s premise – scavenging, crafting, and surviving in a cursed, reality-bending land – is atmospheric and rife with potential, supported by a dynamic day-night cycle that pushes players to prepare and strategize rather than merely fight. Over the hours with the game, you’ll shuttle between eerie forests, desolate bunkers, and the titular ranch, all rendered in a punchy, stylized aesthetic that nods to its ’80s horror roots. The visual flair is one of I Hate This Place’s consistent selling points: bold outlines and saturated colors give each environment personality, inviting curiosity even when the systems beneath them falter. Continue reading “I Hate This Place review (PS5)”
Category: Games
Developer interview: Life Below
Life Below is a refreshing twist on the city‑building genre set beneath the waves: players shape thriving coral reefs, revive collapsing ecosystems, and grow a living seascape while following a heartfelt narrative by Rhianna Pratchett. In this interview, Game Director Lise Hagen Lie discusses Megapop’s design choices and the team’s approach to blending ecology, gameplay, and myth. Continue reading “Developer interview: Life Below”
GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition review (Switch 2)
GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition on the Nintendo Switch 2 arrives as one of the system’s first high-profile racing ports, and Feral Interactive’s effort to adapt Codemasters’ blend of accessible “simcade” racing for Nintendo’s hybrid console largely pays off. The core premise – heart-pounding motorsport across a wide array of disciplines with a hefty dose of content – remains intact, and the inclusion of all post-launch DLCs in the Deluxe Edition gives this version an impressive breadth right out of the gate, representing great value for money. The narrative centerpiece, the live-action Driven to Glory story mode, retains its cinematic flair here, serving more as an atmospheric prelude to the action than a deeply compelling drama. Its inclusion adds variety to what could otherwise feel like a pure succession of races, though players seeking a rich plot should temper expectations. Continue reading “GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition review (Switch 2)”
Developer interview: Golden Gloves VR
Golden Gloves VR is a virtual-reality boxing platform built to replicate real training and competition in a headset. In this interview we speak with Aaron Sloan, founder of Engine Room VR and creator of Golden Gloves VR, about building an authentic boxing experience from a non‑traditional tech background, and with Sage Rosario, a competitive boxer, about using the game as a training tool. The conversation covers design choices that preserve real boxing technique, how the game balances accessibility and competitiveness, and how VR fits into an athlete’s routine. Continue reading “Developer interview: Golden Gloves VR”
Roguematch – The Extraplanar Invasion review (PS5)
Roguematch: The Extraplanar Invasion on PlayStation 5 marks an ambitious and conceptually inventive entry into the tactical puzzle-RPG space. At its core, Starstruck Games has dared to fuse turn-based dungeon crawling with match-three mechanics in a blend that often feels more like a crafted hybrid than a simple crossover. The resulting experience places players in the enchanted, trap-laden corridors of a besieged castle, forcing choices that pivot between melee strikes, spellcasting, and planned match efforts to exploit enemy weaknesses. While the premise is unabashedly whimsical – a chase for the fabled Nekonomicon gone catastrophically wrong – the underlying design is surprisingly nuanced, with combat and board manipulation tightly interwoven in almost every encounter. Continue reading “Roguematch – The Extraplanar Invasion review (PS5)”
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