VR roundup: Aerosurfer, Stellar Cafe, Crossings & Chaos Method

This latest VR roundup underscores just how wide the medium’s creative bandwidth has become within the confines of standalone headsets and console-tethered hardware. From the stripped-back, flow-driven aerial racing of Aerosurfer to the conversational AI experiment of Stellar Cafe, the punishing roguelite combat of Crossings, and the bite-sized chaos of PSVR2’s Chaos Method, these releases each explore a very different philosophy of what virtual reality can – and perhaps should – be. Some chase purity of mechanics, others novelty of interaction or accessibility, but all of them reflect a VR landscape that is still experimenting, iterating, and occasionally stumbling in search of its next defining shape. Continue reading “VR roundup: Aerosurfer, Stellar Cafe, Crossings & Chaos Method”

Bob the Brick Breaker review (PS5)

Bob the Brick Breaker arrives on PS5 as Brainium Games’ earnest homage to a genre that helped establish video games as a cultural force. At its core, this is not an ambitious reinvention but a tight re-engagement with the familiar paddle-and-ball rhythm seeded by titles like Breakout and Arkanoid, where every level is an escalating gauntlet of reactive reflexes and pattern recognition. Players command Bob’s girder, tracking a bouncing sphere through shifting grids of bricks, mindful that missing the ball is an abrupt end to progress. It is this simplicity – paired with escalating challenge – that forms the consistent heartbeat of the experience, though it does at times leave you yearning for deeper systems beyond score chasing. Continue reading “Bob the Brick Breaker review (PS5)”

Carrera Hybrid Devil Drivers review

The Carrera Hybrid Devil Drivers set delivers a bold reimagining of the classic toy racetrack, merging physical hardware with app-driven digital control to create an experience that feels both familiar and strikingly modern. Unlike traditional slot cars that cling to metal rails with controllers in hand, the Hybrid system embraces free-roaming 1:50-scale Porsche 911 GT3 R models that respond to intuitive smartphone or tablet controls via Bluetooth, inviting players to race off-track and execute real overtaking moves. This conceptual evolution marks a definitive shift in how toy racing can engage both nostalgia and the expectations of contemporary (video) gamers. Continue reading “Carrera Hybrid Devil Drivers review”

DETECTIVE – Rainy Night review (PS5)

DETECTIVE – Rainy Night begins with a premise that promises a slow descent into psychological mystery: playing as veteran police officer Iker Carmona, you check into the isolated Holiday Motel after investigating local disappearances, only to wake trapped by endless rain, incommunicado electronics, and a series of bizarre deaths and disappearances among your fellow guests. Over the course of its 12 chapters spread across five days, the game unfurls a narrative focused on survival, suspicion, and unraveling what – or who – is behind the escalating paranoia. This setup, rich with atmospheric promise, anchors the experience and serves as the strongest pillar in its design, consistently drawing players deeper into its storm-bound world. Continue reading “DETECTIVE – Rainy Night review (PS5)”

Beetlejuice Boxset review (4K)

Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice films have always occupied a peculiar corner of mainstream cinema, blending macabre humour, anarchic fantasy, and a handcrafted visual sensibility that feels increasingly rare in contemporary studio filmmaking. Warner Bros.’ 4K UHD boxed set brings together Beetlejuice (1988) and its long-awaited sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024), offering a generational snapshot of Burton’s aesthetic evolution while inviting direct comparison between analogue-era creativity and modern digital polish. Continue reading “Beetlejuice Boxset review (4K)”