Earthion review (PS5)

Earthion on PlayStation 5 is an unusual release: a brand-new shoot ’em up from Ancient Corporation and Yuzo Koshiro that was originally built for 16-bit hardware and then published on today’s systems. Published by Limited Run Games, it aims to recapture the golden age of arcade shooters while adding modern touches like leaderboards and display options. In doing so, it taps directly into nostalgia, but also raises the question of how much room there is for innovation in a genre so closely tied to its heritage. Continue reading “Earthion review (PS5)”

Exoborne preview (Gamescom)

Sharkmob is venturing into new territory with Exoborne, an open-world tactical extraction shooter that blends high-stakes player-versus-player encounters with unpredictable forces of nature. At first glance it sits alongside a growing number of extraction-style shooters, but its storm-battered world, exo-rig customization, and strong narrative backdrop suggest something that could stand apart from the pack. Continue reading “Exoborne preview (Gamescom)”

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree review

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree arrives with an unmistakably Japanese sensibility, blending roguelite dungeon crawling with mythic storytelling and village life. Developed by Brownies inc. and published by Bandai Namco, it puts you in the role of Towa, a priestess charged with protecting Shinju Village against the corrupting influence of Magatsu. The premise carries both an epic weight and a more intimate charm, as you’re not just swinging swords in far-off dungeons but also forging bonds with guardians and villagers who lend your journey a sense of continuity between runs. Continue reading “Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree review”

Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 review (Xbox)

Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 on Xbox is the kind of game that makes you double-check if you’ve somehow missed two entire generations of a cult-classic series. You haven’t. There was no first or second game. That’s the joke, and developer Strange Scaffold leans so hard into it that the whole thing becomes part parody, part love letter, and part “what did I just play?” It’s pitched as the triumphant return of hero Jack Briar in a long-awaited sequel, only this is the very first time you’re meeting him – and that deliberate absurdity sets the tone for everything that follows. Continue reading “Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 review (Xbox)”

ZOE Begone! review (PS5)

With its surreal 1930s-inspired aesthetic and chaotic mix of shmup and run-and-gun mechanics, ZOE Begone! immediately stands out as something unusual in today’s crowded indie space. Developed by Retchy Games and published by PM Studios, it places players in looping arenas where Zoe, tired of the animator’s meddling, fights to reclaim her peace. The narrative is light and whimsical, but the framing device of battling an omnipresent animator helps justify the game’s constant barrage of strange enemies and shifting tools of chaos. It’s more about atmosphere and style than storytelling, but it sets the stage effectively. Continue reading “ZOE Begone! review (PS5)”