From its opening moments aboard the mysterious Vessel, MIO: Memories in Orbit presents itself not simply as another metroidvania but as an artful blend of exploration and melancholic world-building. You awaken as MIO, a small robot with an inscrutable past, in a sprawling, decaying ark overtaken by malfunctioning machines and lush overgrowth. The narrative here is subtle and atmospheric rather than bombastic – story beats arrive through environmental cues, NPC encounters, and fragments of lore the player pieces together. This under-stated storytelling suits the ethereal aesthetic of the world but may not grip players seeking more explicit plot direction. Continue reading “MIO: Memories in Orbit review (PS5)”
Category: Reviews
VR roundup: Walkabout Mini Golf, Shop & Stuff and Trenches VR
In this VR roundup, the medium’s remarkable range is on full display, spanning chaotic management sims, meticulously crafted leisure experiences, and tightly focused psychological horror. From the relaxed yet detail-rich rhythms of mini golf on a sun-soaked island, to the slapstick pressures of running a virtual supermarket, and finally to the suffocating dread of First World War–era trenches, these three releases showcase how varied VR design philosophies can be even within relatively contained experiences. Each title leans heavily on immersion and physical interaction, but they pursue that goal in strikingly different ways, highlighting both the strengths and growing pains of contemporary VR across Meta Quest and PlayStation VR2. Continue reading “VR roundup: Walkabout Mini Golf, Shop & Stuff and Trenches VR”
The Legend of Heroes – Trails Beyond the Horizon review (PS5)
From the moment The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon launches on PlayStation 5, it makes clear this is a title built for an audience already deeply invested in Falcom’s sprawling saga. Rather than a clean entry point, Horizon leans into its status as the third chapter of the Calvard arc, inviting players to reconnect with familiar faces like Van Arkride, Rean Schwarzer, and Kevin Graham as they converge on a narrative that mixes political intrigue with a human spaceflight initiative. While the ambition of intertwining three protagonists’ story paths gives the narrative breadth and emotional stakes, it also contributes to a sense of narrative overload for newcomers and casual fans; the pacing sometimes feels uneven, requiring patience through exposition-heavy segments before the plot gains momentum. Continue reading “The Legend of Heroes – Trails Beyond the Horizon review (PS5)”
CASSETTE BOY review (PS5)
The central conceit of CASSETTE BOY is evident: perception and presence are inseparable, and manipulating how you see the world is the core challenge. Drawing inspiration from games that twist dimensionality for puzzles, CASSETTE BOY builds its entire design around a mechanic that is as philosophically intriguing as it is mechanically distinct – things that vanish from view truly cease to exist. This idea underpins exploration, combat, and even your understanding of narrative, setting CASSETTE BOY apart from typical adventure titles. Continue reading “CASSETTE BOY review (PS5)”
I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival review (PS5)
Mandragora’s I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival, published on PlayStation 5 by tinyBuild, attempts something increasingly rare in survival gaming: a post-apocalyptic setting that feels more like a creative sandbox than a relentless struggle. From the moment you awaken on a forsaken rooftop amid the drowned remnants of civilization, the tone is one of thoughtful tranquility rather than danger. The premise – that of rebuilding a home, cultivating a life and discovering bits of the world’s downfall – is a gentle invitation to explore at your own pace, and it largely succeeds in translating that into gameplay. It works well, but beneath this cozy veneer also lie design decisions that occasionally undermine the very calm it strives to cultivate. Continue reading “I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival review (PS5)”
Press Play Media 