Video Games

Game Review: Ghostrunner 2 recaptures the quality and spirit of its predecessor

The first Ghostrunner admittedly caught me off guard. While I had managed to get around to it and finish it multiple times since its release, I had always been waiting on something to follow up on the parkour-infused action of Mirror’s Edge. Ghostrunner 2 is a solid extension in this regard, providing many of those…

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Game Review: WarioWare: Move It! brings back the chaos

WarioWare stands as one of the most unique and ambitious Nintendo franchises of the bunch. An opposite take on the Mario Party series, this game throws hundreds of mini-games at you in a chaotic fashion that makes this one of the most entertaining and joyous titles in an overcrowded game release month. While there isn’t…

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Game Review: Hellboy Web of Wyrd is a visual delight but falters in its shallow combat

I’m going to come out swinging. Mike Mignola’s Hellboy is simply one of the best comic book characters ever made. While I’m not an avid reader of comics in general, I’ve certainly read most of these, complete with a unique, yet unmistakable art style, complex and diverse themes and some impressive writing across the board….

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Game Review: Sonic Superstars is a welcome return to form

Since 1991, Sega’s blue blur mascot Sonic the Hedgehog has dominated the gaming industry with classic side-scrolling adventures, many defining a particular decade or console genertaion. After Sonic Mania re-invented the series again in 2017, the next big 2D platforming game starring our blue hero is finally here. This time around it is 2.5D expereince…

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Game Review: Gargoyles Remastered serves up stellar visuals but falters with shallow gameplay

I grew up in the late 90s watching most of these animated Disney shows, but Gargoyles seemingly evaded me. Be it the limited exposure here in Australia, or my own ignorance, I never really had much of a connection to it. While I’ve certainly watched a few episodes of the series since then, my knowledge…

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Game Review: Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 is still a worthy package

Providing some of the most memorable titles across nine generations of consoles, from the NES to the PlayStation 5, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 wraps up a significant portion of this franchise’s history in one convenient package. While there are plenty of reasons to return for the ride, this collection feels like a missed…

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SXSW Sydney 2023: Our top 5 experiences

SXSW celebrated its inaugural event in Australia with events happening all across the city of Sydney. While there were over 500 events to choose from, we managed to whittle it down to the five best gaming experiences we had during our time across the various events. Please note, these are in no particular order. Troy…

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SXSW Sydney 2023: Lenovo launches Legion Go

Fresh from its showcase at SXSW, Lenovo has revealed the launch of the Legion Go, a handheld gaming device that offers console-level performance with a beautiful touch display. The console itself may remind you of another certain hand-held on the market as it “Switches” up its format with two detachable controllers on each side of…

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Game Review: Lords of the Fallen brings yet another solid action-RPG to the mix

If you feel like you’ve heard of Lords of the Fallen before, you’re not going crazy. Its predecessor was released back in 2014 under the exact same name. While this Lords of the Fallen is technically a sequel, set 1000 years after the original, it feels like more of a traditional reboot, managing to rectify…

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Game Review: Super Mario Bros. Wonder is one of the best side-scrolling games the series has ever produced

For as seasoned as the franchise is at this point, it’s amazing that Super Mario Bros. Wonder still feels like an absolute gem of a game. Showcasing the true potential of the Nintendo Switch, with vibrant colours, this game is also a visual treat. That being said, Super Mario Bros. Wonder can only be described…

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Win Sonic Superstars and Nintendo Switch Bundles in the Lego Brickman Challenge

To commemorate Sonic’s appearance as a LEGO mini-figure in Sonic Superstars, SEGA has partnered with one of the world’s leading LEGO brick artists and only LEGO Certified Professional (LCP) in the southern hemisphere, Ryan McNaught, aka Brickman, to create a Sonic Building Challenge. Brickman has created a guide on how you can make your own…

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Game Review: Wizard With a Gun spells a great time

I must admit, it was that wacky title that first drew me to this game. When it was first revealed two years ago, the amusing concept and great trailer art immediately caught my eye – who wouldn’t be excited at the idea of playing as a wizard with a gun? Now that the game is…

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Game Review : Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged provides a high octane sequel

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged takes the thrilling formula of its predecessor and cranks up the excitement to a whole new level. The highly anticipated sequel to the 2021 hit Hot Wheels Unleashed; this sequel features a brand new campaign called Creature Rampage that shines a light on the distinct Hot Wheels creatures that have…

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Game Review: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is everything a near-perfect sequel should be

Upon its release in 2018, Marvel’s Spider-Man did an incredible job of portraying the web-slinging hero in a new light, complete with an emotional story, slick visuals, and addictive traversal mechanics. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales followed suit by expanding on Miles’ story, as a competent side-sequel and one of the most gorgeous games to exist…

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Game Review: Forza Motorsport consistently shines out on the track

I’ve been a fan of the Forza franchise ever since I first played Forza Motorsport 4 on the Xbox 360. Since then, my love of racing simulators has only grown. While I also love the Forza Horizon series for its slick visuals and arcade-style mechanics, I’ve longed for a solid follow-up to the mainline long-running…

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Sony has announced new and slimmer PlayStation 5 models

While it felt inevitable, it is now official; Sony has announced that they will be releasing a new, slimmer version of the PlayStation 5. While it’s right around the corner in the US, hitting store shelves in November, we won’t see these down under until early next year. These new models will bear the same…

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PAX AUS 2023: Our top 5 indie games from the weekend

PAX AUS celebrated its 10th year this weekend at the Melbourne Convention Centre. For ten years, gamers have come from all across the country to celebrate all kinds of video and tabletop gaming. A big highlight of the weekend is PAX Rising, otherwise described as a huge indie area that offers a chance to chat…

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Game Review: Payday 3 learns from the past and sticks to what works

I don’t want this review to feel like a cop-out, given we checked out the closed beta only a couple of months ago. But in the same breath, Payday 3 feels very much the same at launch, albeit now with the added variety of additional locations, gear and load-outs. Payday 3 is in many ways…

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PAX AUS 2023: We played Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

I got the chance to try Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name later in the day, and I’m glad that I did. While it still retains much of the insanity and variety that the series has been known for so far, it also retains many of the string combat mechanics that have…

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PAX AUS 2023: We played Sonic Superstars

It wasn’t long after Super Mario Bros. Wonder, that I caught the SEGA booth and the offering to try out the upcoming Sonic Superstars. I’m certainly a fan of both the character and the broader franchise, but haven’t seen as much of this leading up to PAX AUS 2023 as I would have liked. With…

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PAX AUS 2023: We played Super Mario Bros. Wonder

While it’s always great to be at PAX AUS, some of my fondest memories of the show came from 2017. It was my first PAX AUS with The AU Review, and Super Mario Odyssey was out that weekend. While it had actually come out that Friday, the first day of the PAX AUS weekend, I…

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Game Review: Baldur’s Gate 3 is nothing short of an RPG masterpiece

For as much hype as Baldur’s Gate 3 had been building in the months leading up to its release, to its strong early days on PC and now to its release on console, it never really interested me. Allow me to explain. Although I’m a fan of certain titles within the genre, I’m generally not…

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Game Review: Detective Pikachu Returns is a thrilling sequel that hits all the right notes

Detective Pikachu Returns is the long-awaited sequel to the beloved Detective Pikachu game from 2016, which was released on the handheld Nintendo 3DS system. For the sequel, it has been beefed up for the Nintendo Switch system and certainly doesn’t disappoint. Developed by the team at Creatures Inc. and published by Nintendo, this game brings…

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Game Review: EA Sports FC 24 justifies its next chapter with small, yet solid adjustments

We’re finally here. EA Sports FC 24 is now living and breathing in its own space, having parted from the FIFA branding, seemingly for good. While EA FC 24 might bear a fresh name, there are many things to note about its next chapter, that would appeal to new and old fans alike. While EA…

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Game Review : Assassin’s Creed Mirage succeeds by returning to its roots

Assassin’s Creed Mirage takes players on a captivating journey through 9th-century Baghdad, a time and place rarely explored in video games. Set nine centuries after the events of Assassin’s Creed Origins, the game brings us back to the world of the Hidden Ones, the enigmatic group of assassins. This time, our main character is Basim,…

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Tech Review: The Asus ROG Swift PG27AQN gaming monitor feels like a huge step forward for competitive gamers

As much as it can be a mouthful to pronounce, the Asus ROG Swift PG27AQN gaming monitor also feels like a lot for most gamers. Almost too much, if we’re being honest. When you break it down, this 27-inch IPS monitor provides a native 2560 x 1440p resolution, along with HDR10 and a Variable Refresh…

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PAX AUS begins this week

PAX AUS starts this week! It seems like only yesterday the doors closed on the most incredible event PAX has delivered in Australia so far, so the hype for this year’s event is off the charts! Being the 10th anniversary, the celebrations have already started with a ton of things to do to make sure…

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Game Review: Mortal Kombat 1 builds upon its strong formula

I consider myself a casual fighting game fan. But for one reason or another, I find myself drawn to each and every Mortal Kombat iteration. Is it the gore? The unique and iconic characters? The wacky stories and alternate modes? It might just be all of them. Mortal Kombat 1 decides to reset the timeline…

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Game Review : The Crew Motorfest revves up the open-world racer

Ubisoft has been a prominent player in the world of open-world racing games, and they’re back with their latest offering, The Crew Motorfest. As an avid racing fan, I couldn’t wait to dive into this title and experience its high-octane action. And after countless hours exploring its vast open world, competing in various races, and…

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Game Review : Fae Farm is a magical farming experience

If, like me, you are a fan of farming sim games like Stardew Valley, Story of Seasons and Disney’s Dreamlight Valley, expect to lose a bunch more of your time in Phoenix Labs’ new game Fae Farm. It is not only visually stunning but also boasts an expansive farming system that integrates a magical element…

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