TANUKI: Pon’s Summer, published by CRITICAL REFLEX and developed by Denkiworks, is a charming adventure that combines BMX riding, package deliveries, minigames, and a healthy dose of life simulation. Players take control of Pon, an adorable but rather irresponsible tanuki who has neglected his duties as the guardian of a local shrine. With a major festival approaching, he has just four weeks to get the place back in shape. Unfortunately, his previous habit of spending money on snacks and video games hasn’t exactly left him with the funds to do so. His solution is to find a job at the local post office, delivering packages around the island while earning enough money to restore the shrine. It’s a straightforward premise, but one that provides a pleasant framework for an adventure that is much more interested in everyday discoveries and getting to know its characters than in delivering some grand narrative. Continue reading “TANUKI: Pon’s Summer review (PS5)”
DLC roundup: The Division 2, NBA THE RUN & Pinball FX
Downloadable content can be a great way to breathe new life into familiar games, whether by introducing new challenges, expanding existing worlds or bringing beloved characters into the spotlight. However, not every expansion offers the same amount of substance, and some additions are more appealing than others. In this roundup, we take a closer look at three recent DLC releases: The Division 2: Echoes of Central Park, which takes players into a darker corner of New York; NBA THE RUN’s 2000s Legends Update, featuring five iconic basketball stars; and Judge Dredd, a classic arcade pinball table making its return in Pinball FX. From new gameplay opportunities to nostalgic additions, we find out which of these releases are worth adding to your collection. Continue reading “DLC roundup: The Division 2, NBA THE RUN & Pinball FX”
Developer interview: SAW: Genesis
After Gamescom, following our hands-on meeting with publisher Bloober Team, we had the opportunity to dive deep into the design philosophy powering SAW: Genesis. Developed by Broken Mirror Games and Anshar Studios, this upcoming 3v1 asymmetrical multiplayer horror game moves the franchise back a century before John Kramer to the aftermath of World War I. Players step into a deadly labyrinth as either one of three “Accused” forced to make gruesome sacrifices to escape, or as “The Judge” – a vulnerable mastermind orchestrating the trials strictly from the shadows. To learn more about how the team is expanding the iconic universe and re-engineering asymmetrical multiplayer balance, we spoke with Damian Kocurek, Creative Director for SAW: Genesis at Anshar Studios. Continue reading “Developer interview: SAW: Genesis”
Look Outside review (PS5)
Developed by Francis Coulombe and published by Devolver Digital, Look Outside is an unusual blend of survival horror and turn-based RPG that manages to make an ordinary apartment building feel like one of the most unsettling places imaginable. The premise is straightforward but effective: something mysterious has appeared in the sky, and anyone unfortunate enough to look outside has transformed into a grotesque creature. Playing as Sam, a seemingly ordinary resident, players must survive the next fifteen days while trying to understand what has happened to the world. With the building becoming increasingly populated by mutated former residents, strange visitors and other horrors, finding a way to stay alive is only part of the challenge. The mystery surrounding the incident is best experienced firsthand, and the game does a good job of keeping its revelations unpredictable without relying entirely on conventional horror tropes. Continue reading “Look Outside review (PS5)”
Terrible Lizards review (PS5)
Published by Digital Pajamas and Behaviour Interactive, and developed by WDR Studios, Terrible Lizards is a first-person horror adventure that combines dinosaur-themed creature horror with fast-paced parkour. Set in 1992, it follows Jordan, a college student traveling along Route 66 whose car breaks down near Dalton’s Dinos, a kitschy roadside dinosaur attraction in the New Mexico desert. With no immediate help available, he decides to explore the seemingly abandoned attraction, only to discover that its exhibits hide something considerably more dangerous than dusty fossils and malfunctioning animatronics. It’s an intriguing setup that initially suggests familiar mascot horror territory, but the story gradually develops into something more elaborate and entertaining than that first impression might suggest. Continue reading “Terrible Lizards review (PS5)”