Not every game gets its moment in the spotlight at launch, but a later port can offer a second chance to discover something that might otherwise have passed players by. This roundup takes a look at three very different games that have recently made the jump to PlayStation 5, from a blackjack roguelike deckbuilder and a collection of absurd trolley dilemmas to a deliberately old-school fantasy beat ’em up. While none of them are without their rough edges, each brings its own particular twist to a familiar formula, making these ports worth a closer look for players searching for something a little different. Continue reading “Port roundup: Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers, The Trolley Solution & King’s Blade”
Category: Reviews
Moros Protocol review (PS5)
Moros Protocol throws players into the derelict warship Orpheus with little more than a weapon, a mysterious voice and a lot of things that want to kill them. That deliberately thin setup fits the game’s retro-inspired approach, where atmosphere and momentum matter more than delivering a deeply developed science-fiction narrative. Alex’s awakening from cryosleep, the disappearance of the crew and the strange circumstances surrounding the ship provide enough mystery to keep the player moving forward, while the roguelite structure ensures that uncovering what happened is only part of the appeal. The story remains firmly in the background, however, with most of its details delivered through brief encounters and boss-related moments rather than sustained character development. That can make the world intriguing without ever making it particularly compelling, especially since the lack of voice acting limits the impact of some of the more dramatic scenes. Continue reading “Moros Protocol review (PS5)”
Winter Burrow review (Android/iOS)
Winter Burrow looks like the sort of game that should make for a quiet, comforting survival experience. Its hand-drawn woodland setting, tiny mouse protagonist and focus on rebuilding a childhood home certainly give that impression, but Pine Creek Games’ survival adventure has considerably more bite than its storybook presentation initially suggests. Now on Android and iOS, the mobile version brings the same blend of exploration, crafting and light survival mechanics to a format that suits its bite-sized daily routines surprisingly well. At the same time, some of the game’s underlying design choices become harder to overlook when so much of the experience revolves around repeated trips through the same snowy environments. Continue reading “Winter Burrow review (Android/iOS)”
Nemesis: Retaliation review
Nemesis: Retaliation takes the familiar Nemesis formula and changes the question at the heart of it. Where the earlier games largely put players in the position of desperately trying to survive an alien nightmare, this third entry sends a squad of heavily equipped Marines into the darkness with considerably more firepower. That sounds like it should make things easier, but Awaken Realms and designer Adam Kwapiński understand that giving players bigger guns does not necessarily make them safer. Instead, Retaliation uses that newfound confidence as another way to create tension, as players push further into an alien-infested facility only to discover that ammunition, oxygen, health and trust can disappear remarkably quickly. Having played both the base game and the Stretch Goals box, the result is a huge, ambitious semi-cooperative horror game that feels distinctly different from its predecessors while still delivering the unpredictable stories that define Nemesis. Continue reading “Nemesis: Retaliation review”
MXGP 26 – The Official Game review (PS5)
MXGP 26 – The Official Game is something of a reset for the motocross series. After a lengthy absence and a poorly received previous entry, Nacon and Artefacts Studio have rebuilt the game around Unreal Engine 5 and a new physics model, with the aim of making the racing itself the star of the show. That approach largely pays off, particularly once players become accustomed to the demanding handling model, but the game also makes some puzzling omissions along the way. MXGP 26 looks considerably better than its predecessor and the changing track conditions add an interesting tactical element, yet the lack of a proper career mode and an occasionally unpredictable physics system prevent it from feeling like the fully fledged motocross simulator reboot it could have been. Continue reading “MXGP 26 – The Official Game review (PS5)”