Reviews

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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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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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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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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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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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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Game Review: NBA 2K24 takes smaller, yet confident steps forward

While I appreciate each yearly NBA 2K iteration, it’s usually for something different each and every time. Be it a new and exclusive mode, deeper customisation and progression or new and enhanced gameplay mechanics, there’s generally something that keeps me around for the year to come. NBA 2K24 certainly provides enough in terms of variety…

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Game Review: Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a solid, yet shallow retro shooter

I’ve never really been into the Warhammer 40,000 universe, aside from a few video game entries here and there; but would be lying if I said I wasn’t interested in the lore. Big, hulking soldiers equipped with chainswords, battling waves of enemy aliens? Sign me up. It is in that same thought that Warhammer 40,000:…

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Game Review: Samba de Amigo: Party Central nails the beat

Sega is celebrating a return to form with Samba de Amigo finally getting a next-gen release on both Nintendo Switch and Apple Arcade, with a brand new rhythm-based game that takes on the likes of Guitar Hero and fuses it with the physical energy of Just Dance for an all-out party, which can be played…

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Game Review: Starfield charts a new course for both Bethesda and Xbox

Few games can capture the attention of an entire gaming generation. That being said, Bethesda has been able to do this with their previous titles, including The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. While Fallout 76 didn’t quite go to plan, the company seems to be back on track after their much-hyped and long-awaited…

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Game Review: Tunic is still as incredible as it was a year ago

I had played Tunic when it was released back in March of 2022, but must admit, I never really gave it the chance it deserved. I definitely liked it but simply didn’t put enough time into it in order to uncover its deeper notes and nuances. A year later, Tunic is one of the best…

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Game Review: Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon provides strong combat and deep customisation

It feels like it’s been over a decade since I played an Armoured Core game last; well, that’s because it has been. Armoured Core 5 might have been released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 way back in 2012, but the team at FromSoftware have decided it’s about time to suit up and deliver,…

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Game Review: Red Dead Redemption’s latest port is still worth playing

Before we start this review, let’s get one thing out of the way. Red Dead Redemption is not only one of developer Rockstar’s best games but also one of the best games ever made. While I prefer Red Dead Redemption 2, there’s still much to be said about Red Dead Redemption’s relevance in 2023, given…

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Game Review: Immortals of Aveum shines with clean combat and vibrant visuals

I’m a sucker for magic and fantasy as much as the next guy. Immortals of Aveum comes out swinging, dishing out some gorgeous visuals, clean first-person combat and a story that, while not groundbreaking in terms of lore and emotional depth, does help things churn along at a consistent pace. Its repetitive encounters and linear…

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Game Review: Crash Team Rumble packs in the nostalgia, but lacks variety

Crash Team Rumble was released this year to much fanfare and anticipation, particularly from old-school gamers who grew up with classic Crash Bandicoot games. While Crash is best known for his solo platforming prowess, this new entry into the franchise spins off into the realm of competitive team multiplayer and is one of the more…

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Game Review: Disney Illusion Island lacks challenge, but looks gorgeous

I’m a huge fan of Mickey Mouse and in turn many of Disney’s attempts at giving Mickey his own gaming franchise. While there are admittedly dozens, with each varying in quality, there’s no denying some of them absolutely rule; Castle of Illusion and Mickey’s Wild Adventure, we’re looking at you. The art style and cooperative…

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Game Review: Atlas Fallen is a flawed, yet intriguing action-RPG

For as little as I had known about Atlas Fallen prior to its release, its final trailers had admittedly hooked me. From the solid third-person combat to sleek traversal and platforming, it seemed there was plenty to look forward to. This proved to be true in many respects, as most of those aspects stood out…

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Game Review: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart absolutely shines on PC

It’s no secret that Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart already shines as both a sequel to the long-running PlayStation franchise and a window into the next generation of gaming. While PlayStation’s recent string of PC ports has been rather great (sorry to The Last of Us: Part 1), Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart proves yet…

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Game Review: Exoprimal is a fun and inventive multiplayer romp

Capcom has been tearing it up in 2023. Between their Resident Evil 4 remake and what is otherwise one of the best fighting games in years in Street Fighter 6, anyone would be impressed with those two games alone in a single year. But then comes Exoprimal, a third-person multiplayer game based around mech suits…

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Game Review: Pikmin 4 provides some charmingly unique strategy

Nintendo’s sequels are somewhat known for how long they take to brew. Pikmin joins the ranks of Metroid, Fire Emblem and Zelda as one of Nintendo’s most iconic yet elusive properties, to the point you’d be forgiven for forgetting the Pikmin franchise even existed. The last numbered title was released way back in 2013 back…

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