Matthew Arcari is the games and technology editor at The AU Review. You can find him on X at @sirchunkee, or at the Dagobah System, chilling with Luke and Yoda.
Ravenlok wastes no time in showing off a gorgeous world, highlighted by vibrant colours, unique environments and a charming art style. Unfortunately, it’s lacking in almost all other departments. From shallow gameplay to frustrating camera control and simplistic story, Ravenlok leaves little reason for most older audiences to give it a try, even if younger…
Developer Arkane Studios’ return always feels like a welcome one, packed with both anticipation and fond memories of previous titles. From Dishonored to Deathloop, we’ve understandably become accustomed to a certain level of creativity and quality from the developer. That being said, Redfall feels like a missed opportunity. It’s a world full of lore and intrigue,…
Crime Boss: Rockay City’s reveal felt like a nail being hit on the head. Between the stellar cast, featuring Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs), Chuck Norris (Walker Texas Ranger), Kim Basinger (Batman), Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon), Michael Rooker (The Walking Dead) and even rapper Vanilla Ice, and the satiric nature of a crime-ridden beach city in…
Anker’s Soundcore range of both headphones and earphones continues to grow, with the newest VR P10 earphones offering a slim and feature-packed alternative for gamers. For those looking to take the weight off their heads during longer gaming sessions, the VR P10’s light and comfortable design makes this a breeze for connecting between multiple devices,…
Roccat’s mainline mouse offers yet another alternative for the more understated gamer who appreciates a comfortable and responsive mouse, without the extra bells and whistles. Unlike the admittedly solid Kone Pro Air and Kone XP Air gaming mice, the Kone Air opts out of any RGB support, while providing stellar battery life, solid build quality…
I’ve been a Star Wars fan for almost as long as I can remember. While it started with a love for the original trilogy of films, it soon extend to books, TV shows and most importantly, games. While I won’t run through that entire list of top Star Wars games (let’s save that for another…
The time has finally arrived. After what feels like an eternity, Dead Island 2 has finally made its way to our homes, bringing with it waves of zombies to dismember in gory fashion. In many ways, Dead Island 2 is a solid action title, packing in brutal melee combat and a consistent sense of humour….
For everything that Minecraft has done over the past decade or so, it’s surprising top realise that the franchise has not yet touched the strategy genre. That is, until now. Minecraft Legends looks to fill that gap, providing fans and newcomers alike with an RTS spinoff that feels accessible to both younger and older gamers…
I had only gotten into golfing as a sport in recent years, but had always admired the EA Sports PGA Tour games (or Tiger Woods PGA Tour games as they were known back then) for a fun and laidback approach to what is otherwise an incredibly tactical and nuanced activity. While I couldn’t get a…
Originally announced as eSports Boxing Club, Undisputed looks to fill a large hole in the sporting games market. With certain games like Big Rumble Boxing and the Creed Champions spin-off trying their best, it’s been over a decade since a traditional boxing game has graced any platform. Fight Night Champion still scratches that itch for…
Bandai Namco Europe and Limbic Entertainment have recently revealed their new simulation game, which allows players to create the theme park of their dreams. Park Beyond got a brand new trailer at the Future Game Show, complete with some new details and an official release date. The trailer also features some iconic Namco video game characters…
Oz Comic-Con is set to return in June, bringing three new guests to Australian shores. Emily Swallow (known as the Armourer in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett), Abby Trott (known as Nezuko Kamado in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba), and JusZ Cosplay will serve as the first guests in an otherwise growing…
I must admit, for as popular as Diablo III has been since its launch, it had never managed to grab me, nor keep me around for more than a couple of months after its release. That being said, Diablo IV’s open beta seemed like the perfect opportunity to become reacquainted with the franchise that might…
If previous remakes of Resident Evil games taught us anything, it’s that you can in fact teach an old dog new tricks. But unlike older games that experienced newer visuals and revamped gameplay, Resident Evil 4’s more recent tropes and mechanics bring it closer to what many expect from both the broader franchise and aforementioned…
After multiple circulating rumours, Valve announced earlier this morning that Counter-Strike 2 is officially on the way. Touted as a free upgrade for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, this sequel will look to overhaul most major systems, while utilising the latest version of the Source 2 engine. As a result, Counter-Strike 2 will feature newer and cleaner…
If you’ve fallen out of love with the WWE 2K series in recent years, we don’t blame you. Aside from the inconsistent performance and rampant bugs and glitches, the franchise certainly seemed to be heading toward a breaking point of sorts. Thankfully, WWE 2K22’s fresh showcase mode and steady performance yanked the franchise away from…
With a brand-spanking new version of Resident Evil 4 right around the corner, we simply can’t wait to see what the remake holds in store for new and existing fans alike. With new gameplay details and a free demo available to download as you’re reading this, we thought we would dive in and highlight 5…
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty comes to us from developer Team Ninja; yes, the same Team Ninja behind both Nioh and Nioh 2. Much like those games, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a challenging and satisfying romp that largely succeeds at providing consistently cohesive combat mechanics and confident pacing. While its boss battles serve as the…
The third generation of Twelve South’s HiRise chargers has landed, complete with a sleek and sexy new design, and MagSafe charging. Made specially for iPhones and accompanying Apple products like AirPods and the Apple Watch, the HiRise 3 provides up to 10W charging which feels rather standard, considering newer iPhones have the capability for faster…
Originally releasing on the Nintendo Wii back in 2011, Kirby’s Return to Dreamland served as a safe and memorable entry in the franchise, featuring the titular and ever lovable pink icon. While Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe is certainly better than the original, it’s still very much the same game at its core, short of…
PlayStation will stream its first State of Play for the year tomorrow morning, with some new and exciting announcements on the way. As with previous streams, PlayStation have always given some indicator as to the focus of the upcoming State of Play. This time around, we will be receiving a look at some new third-party…
For as much as I have enjoyed almost every entry in the Yakuza series (known in Japan as Like a Dragon), I was surprised to find I had never encountered Like a Dragon: Ishin! Funnily enough, western fans might have felt the same way, upon realising that this entry is actually a remake of a…
It’s admittedly been a while since I had touched base with the Monster Hunter series. And then I saw it; the reveal of Wild Hearts, developer Omega Force and Koei Tecmo’s answer to an existing breed of hunting game, that draws on many of the techniques and mechanics of the aforementioned franchise, while adding satisfying combat,…
OPPO has long provided mobile phone users with a range of options, from the premium Reno8 Pro and Find X5 Pro models, to lower priced models like the A76 and A96. OPPO have recently decided to redefine their entry-level range with release of the A17. Featuring a premium look and feel, the A17 will provide…
Nintendo might have caught a few fans off guard yesterday morning with a surprise Nintendo Direct conference, the first of 2023. The stream announced a bunch of new and upcoming games, with many set to hit digital and physical shelves alike in the first half of 2023. Let’s get stuck in! The Legend of Zelda:…
I’ll be the first to admit it; I still pop in the older Harry Potter games on both the original PlayStation and PlayStation 2. My love for both the films and books aside, I simply love existing in this world and exploring the nooks and crannies that Hogwarts has to offer. So you could imagine…
The original Dead Space, released in 2008, still holds up as one of the greatest sci-fi horror games of all time. But 2008 also feels like a long time ago in gaming terms. As a result, Dead Space’s remake feels like that same relevant experience, made all the more satisfying thanks to minor gameplay choices…
It’s not the news we may have wanted to hear, but Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo will all be skipping E3 2023. Originally reported by IGN yesterday, the first physical E3 event in four years will feel a little empty for some, with major releases from all three platforms likely reserved for streams, events and showcases…
The Fire Emblem series has seen consistent success for its various gameplay implementations and winding narratives that seem to steer the franchise forward in both new and exciting directions. Fire Emblem Engage might be the latest entry in the franchise, but makes dedicated choices to bring the series back to its roots, instead focusing primarily…
Up until this very day, Persona 4 Golden holds a very special place in my heart. I’m not a huge fan of the JRPG genre as a whole, but more so titles within the genre. As a result, Persona 4 Golden stands as my favourite Persona game to date and my favourite game on the…