Author: Matthew Arcari

The release of Elden Ring had me personally excited. Not just because it was another FromSoftware game, (that’s a given) but because it truly felt like the next step forward for the SoulsBorne series, a transcendent outing into a new frontier. After spending more time than I’d like to admit with Elden Ring over the…

It’s no secret that next-generation consoles are hard to come by. But with new games and exclusive features gracing such consoles, we don’t blame people for wanting to enhance their gaming experience, future-proofing their software and hardware for the best possible performance and fidelity. Cloud-based gaming has made its way over to Australia in the…

Sony has unveiled the second iteration of the wildly popular VR headset, the PSVR 2. The reveal came at the hands of PlayStation’s Blog in a post by Hideaki Nishino, Sony’s Senior Vice President. We’ve been treated to an extensive first look at the headset and controllers, mimicking the colorway and design of the current…

Capcom’s mysterious countdown has concluded, revealing the next iteration in the wildly popular tournament fighting franchise. A brief 40-second cinematic trailer for Street Fighter 6 was shown, highlighting Ryu and his returning grizzled look, along with Luke, who had been introduced in Street Fighter 5. As the two prepare to duke it out, the most noticeable…

2K Australia has announced a collaboration between Gamilaroi and Wiradjuri Indigenous artist and basketball fan Allan McKenzie, to design a one-of-a-kind NBA 2K22 inspired shoe for charity. McKenzie has customised a pair of Harden Stepback 2.0 basketball shoes with a vibrant and exclusive design, with all proceeds from the auction to go towards the nominated…

The Horizon franchise has returned with great anticipation, continuing the story of one of the most successful and beloved PlayStation exclusives of the last generation. With that being said, Horizon Forbidden West is well on its way to becoming the fan-favorite of both last generation and next-generation PlayStation owners alike, presenting an intriguing narrative, functional…

This morning’s Nintendo Direct showcase covered a bunch of new announcements for Nintendo fans. If you missed out, however, allow us to unwrap things for you below. Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Houses returns as a Musou-style hack-and-slash experience, arriving on Nintendo Switch June 24, 2022. Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp…

A release date for the next-gen version of Grand Theft Auto V has been revealed. Rockstar Games confirmed this morning that this version will now be released on 15 March 2022. While this date seems as though it’s right around the corner, the game had experienced a minimal delay, from 11 November 2021. “With the GTAV community stronger…

With developer Rockstar Games’ historic run of both support and popularity for Grand Theft Auto V, many many have given up on expectations of a new iteration in the works. But the day has come. Rockstar Games has officially announced it is indeed working on the next game in the series, confirming the game is…

If we knew very little about Ghostwire: Tokyo up until this week, the tables have truly turned. We got the chance to check out 30 minutes of gameplay last month, and our impressions sent us through a loophole of spooky enemies, whacky finger guns, and a soul-saving mission that sends you throughout the hollow streets…

With just over a month to go until the release of Gran Turismo 7, PlayStation’s first State of Play stream for the year decided to spend an entire 30 minutes devoted to the racing sim. With an admittedly impressive amount of things to unpack in such a short amount of time, one thing is clear;…

PlayStation has announced the first State of Play stream for 2022, with a focus on the upcoming Gran Turismo 7. The 30-minute stream will most likely show off a lengthy look at some gameplay footage before the game’s release on March 4th. However, we would be lying if we weren’t hoping for some additional titles…

If you’re feeling as though a new publisher or developer has been acquired with each passing week, you’re not going crazy. While it’s not on the scale of Microsoft’s whopping $68.7 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard last month, PlayStation has announced that they will be purchasing Destiny creator Bungie for $3.6 billion US dollars. While…

In a stunning move, Microsoft has purchased publisher Activision Blizzard for a whopping sum of $68.7 billion. If Microsoft had stumbled in recent years with exclusives and variety of games, they’re definitely back on track. While it’s no secret that Activision Blizzard has been dealing with a number of discrimination and mistreatment allegations and legal…

The next entry in the wildly popular Rainbow Six series admittedly feels like untapped territory. For a series built on realism and the nature of a tactical approach, I was excited to experience that same level of tension and pace against a new alien threat. Our hands-on preview of Rainbow Six Extraction unveiled a number…

2021 has been a special year for gamers and non-gamers alike. For reasons we won’t dive deeper into, this year has forced us to stay inside. Away from those we love, places we cherish and experiences we usually take for granted. This time around, the games and technology team here at The AU Review have…

Bethesda ANZ has announced that their Bethesda Holiday Special Stream will highlight a partnership with Game On Cancer™, an initiative of the Australian Charity, Cure Cancer. This stream will look to bring together a variety of both local and global talent, including UFC middleweight star Rob Whittaker and Rich Lambert, Creative Director of The Elder…

The Game Awards has become a rather interesting platform for major gaming announcements over the past few years. Thankfully for fans, 2021’s iteration brought the goods. Before we proceed, we would just like to take a second to congratulate It Takes Two for winning the coveted Game of the Year Award, along with all award-winners…

On this, the 20th anniversary of the franchise and the Xbox platform as a whole, Halo has sparked many questions in the minds of its fans. Has the series run its course? Is the Master Chief a relevant hero for the modern age? Can such a dated franchise really exist without pushing new boundaries? Well…

Geoff Keighley’s annual Video Game Awards presentation has rolled around again for 2021, handing out accolades for the best the year has had to offer in gaming. It’s admittedly been a tough year for game delays, with many of the year’s hotly anticipated games pushed to 2022, from the likes of God of War Ragnarok…

December’s PlayStation Plus offering is as well-rounded as it is critically acclaimed; for the most part. Godfall: Challenger Edition stands as the PlayStation 5 entry for this month, while Lego DC Super Villains and Mortal Shell follow as forward compatible PlayStation 4 titles for those on next generation consoles. While it’s clear Godfall is looking…

Gaming fans and foodies alike can rejoice as PlayStation launches PlayStation to Plate, giving Aussies across Sydney and Melbourne a taste of the many exclusives the platform has to offer. From 3 December, three restaurants will bring to life meals inspired by classic franchises including The Last of Us, Ratchet and Clank and Uncharted. Dish 1:…

For a franchise centred around the conflict of war, covering several eras and stories, it’s clear that Battlefield 2042 had one target left in mind; itself. What follows is an incredibly frustrating blend of smooth action and refined gunplay, paired with numerous bugs and glitches, and the overall lack of depth within its mainline modes….

Let’s get one thing out of the way. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is without a doubt my favourite entry in the Grand Theft Auto franchise and one of my favourite games of all time. So you can imagine my excitement when Rockstar had announced Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy: The Definitive Edition, containing Grand Theft…

Call of Duty: Vanguard’s return to a World War II setting is not without its merit. Since Call of Duty: WWII, the franchise had cycled back around to a Modern Warfare revival and two Black Ops titles. But was this era worth revisiting? In many respects, yes; and no. Call of Duty: Vanguard plays its…

My time with Bright Memory: Infinite has been interesting, to say the least. As I loaded up my assault rifle, picking off enemies in the distance, I quickly navigated my surroundings. I bounced off walls to get across precarious chasms. I hacked and slashed my way through obtrusive enemies. I participated in lighting fast quick…

We recently got the chance to participate in a Closed Network Test of Elden Ring, developer FromSoftware’s Souls-inspired epic. This beta version of the game featured a contained portion of its open world, allowing us to explore, battle and most importantly, survive. I would liken my time with Elden Ring to Dark Souls 3 –…

We recently got the chance to chat with Narrative Designer, Alexa Ray Corriea and Associate Narrative Designer, Belinda Garcia from Sledgehammer Games about the upcoming World War 2 shooter, Call of Duty Vanguard, and the engaging narrative that binds four unique characters together. What sets this WW2 story apart from previous WW2 campaigns within the…

The screen is dark. The sound of an engine roaring pierces the air, as the back on a cargo plane opens. Suddenly, your vehicle drops out of the back, parachuting down to a dense, colourful Mexican landscape. As soon as you land, you blast onto the road, on your way to your first Horizon Festival….

I owe the Mario Party franchise a great deal of credit. It’s responsible for some of the best gaming moments I’ve had on a Nintendo console. While Mario Party 3 will always remain my favourite, it’s safe to say that the franchise faltered in recent years, prompting me to drift away from the iconic mini-games…