DarkZero

The campaign sticks closely to the linear level design and repetitive objectives of the first game, while the story and dialogue choices don’t do much to make the experience more engaging. The biggest issue at launch was the technical state of the PC version, with numerous bugs and other performance problems still require fixing despite a couple of patches already addressing some of them. There is a good cooperative shooter underneath it all, and playing with a full squad of friends can still provide plenty of fun. Hell, I’m still playing it after writing this review. However, I can’t help but feel that Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 needed to be more than an elevated expansion to feel more like a sequel rather than simply offering a retuned version of more of the same.

Agent 64: Spies Never Die knows exactly who it is made for, targeting a niche audience of people who loved Rare’s N64 first-person shooters and still want something similar today. Those fans will surely find plenty to enjoy here. I still don’t understand the removal of crouch, and some of the campaign’s levels aren’t as well designed as others, but the game does a great job of replicating what made those N64 classics so enjoyable. It’s a fun, decent little game that could potentially have done a bit more, but what’s here is a recipe for nostalgic fun that mostly gets it right. It really is a love letter to those games from someone who clearly has a lot of love for them too.

For those who have never played Grim Dawn, now is undoubtedly the perfect time to jump in. You have an enormous amount of content to work through, an incredibly deep character-building system, satisfying loot progression and that classic action RPG loop of killing monsters, finding better gear and immediately wanting to see just how much stronger your character can become. The base game and its expansions offer countless hours of addictive gameplay for a great price, and with Fangs of Asterkarn bringing Grim Dawn to what feels like its final form, I can fully recommend giving it a go. The expansion is great, but the whole experience is a fantastic action RPG that has only gotten better with age.

Schrödinger’s Call delivers an emotional visual novel experience with a good art style and an intriguing premise, but its limited interaction and slow pacing may not appeal to most people. The game places storytelling above all else, offering a strange, surreal journey centred around the final moments before the Moon crashes into Earth. Its artwork and soundtrack help draw players into its narrative, while the individual stories of those Mary encounters provide some genuinely touching moments. However, its extremely limited gameplay, lack of meaningful choices, and occasional repetition can make the experience feel overly passive, meaning I imagine only dedicated visual novel fans will truly get the most enjoyment from it.

Overall, Survivor Mercs offers a small twist on the survivors-like formula through its mercenary squad system. While the bunker expansion adds a dressed up take on permanent progression, and the mercenary system and twin-stick focus set it apart on paper, yet in practice missions blur into a familiar loop that the squad mechanics alone can’t rescue. There’s fun to be had here, particularly for genre fans willing to overlook its inconsistencies, but it never quite delivers on the promise of its concept to fully succeed as either a standout twin-stick shooter or a top-tier survivors-like.

OPUS: Prism Peak is an atmospheric narrative adventure that blends photography-driven gameplay with a heavy story-based adventure. Eugene’s time in the Dusklands invokes themes of loss, self-discovery and reconciliation. Its mechanics feel rewarding, encouraging players to piece together the story through observation and deductive skills. While its pacing is deliberately slow, its beautiful presentation, wonderful soundtrack, and solid voice performances create an engrossing experience. OPUS: Prism Peak is a thoughtful, emotionally driven adventure for people who want to take the time to invest in its themes.

The best praise you can give Romeo is a Dead Man is this is probably exactly what game you would expect from Grasshopper Manufacture and Suda51. It has that Suda51 personality embedded within it, even if it is a bit rough. Its stylish presentation, absurd storytelling, and amusing ideas like the Bastards system, along with entertaining combat help make it a fun time, but it eventually becomes repetitive as enemy variety thins out in the later stages with that frustrating level design. Still, for fans of Suda51’s work, there is stuff here to appreciate. It is a little messy, somewhat inconsistent, and a bit rough, but unmistakably a Grasshopper Manufacture game, and that alone will be enough for some people. What I am trying to say is that Romeo is a Dead Man is good, but in a quaint, unconventional manner.

If you’ve never played a Fatal Frame game before, this remake is the perfect place to start. Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is a well-done rebuild of a classic that I feel does well walking the line between preserving its identity and modernising its gameplay. While some of the original’s raw tension is softened by updated controls and systems, the core feel remains mostly there. What matters is getting that horror feel right, and Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is an atmospheric, slow-burning horror that still manages to unsettle. It may not fully replace the original for purists, but for newcomers and some fans, it stands as a strong revival of one of the genre’s scariest games.

Nioh 3 feels like a natural evolution of the ideas that Team Ninja has been refining for years in not just Nioh, but their other action RPG titles as well. The expanded exploration, new combat styles, and improved systems give the game a greater sense of scale without losing too much of its identity that defines the series. What ultimately makes Nioh 3 excel is how rewarding its combat feels once everything begins to click. Switching styles mid-fight, managing Ki efficiently, and making smart use of abilities creates an exhilarating flow that few action RPGs hit. While some players may miss the tighter level design of previous entries and others may find the layered mechanics daunting, the overall experience remains incredibly rewarding. In the end, Nioh 3 refines what the series has always done best, Its deep combat, making it one of the most enthralling Soulslike action RPGs to play today.

Visions of Four Heroes is very much more of the same, but that is not a criticism when the foundation it builds upon is solid. Dynasty Warriors: Origins laid a strong baseline for the series with its refined combat, improved presentation, and more focused storytelling. This DLC chooses to expand that storytelling, one of the strongpoints of the original game. The additional story content offers deeper insight into familiar figures, while the gameplay remains enjoyable taking down 1000s of soldiers in battle. Although it does little to push the formula forward, it successfully delivers more of what already worked, making it a decent expansion for those who enjoyed the main game.