GameByte

In essence, Respawn has understood the need for a Star Wars game that isn’t beholden to the other films and TV series that exist. Cal’s story is so isolated from what we’re familiar with in the original trilogy and other spin-off media that it gives the writers room to innovate and build up their own little slice of lore that fits with the Star Wars continuity. It goes far beyond the scope of where Fallen Order’s story ended, adopting a more unpredictable but satisfying trajectory. It’s because of this that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is now one of my favourite stories set in that universe. It’s bold, it’s brave, and above all else – it’s exciting. It fits in so well with what we know about the franchise’s overarching lore, while also offering enough new content that it could stand on its own.

It’s hard to really sell just how perfect Resident Evil 4’s remake is. You’d think after countless re-releases and ports that Capcom wouldn’t have the energy for this anymore, but not only has it treated the source material with the utmost respect, but has also paved the way for an experience that may even surpass the 2005 original.

I’ve raved about how amazing it is that we can play PlayStation exclusives on PC before, and with Returnal I feel that this is the very encapsulation of Sony’s goal. Returnal is a chaotic delight to play, and fits perfectly with the setup and mindset of a PC gamer. I’m already looking forward to trying my next run.

Altogether, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake feels like it’s exactly in line with what the cartoon has become. The humour isn’t quite what it used to be, the characters are flanderisations of their original counterparts, and the plot is just too weird that it probably won’t appeal to older fans. But the children will love it.

As a returning fan that played the original countless times, Dead Space in 2023 is just about as perfect of a remake as we could ask for. It runs with the old saying “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” formula, but the developers at Motive Studio add some subtle improvements and quality-of-life updates to justify the existence of this remake. Even when I know what’s coming, I can’t help but be drawn into the atmospheric tension that had me adore the horror classic of 2008. Dead Space is a prime example of how a remake should be done and unfortunately for you, your neighbours will hear you scream.

Season is a reminder that memories of the past are all we’re left with, and it staples the importance of being able to carry over that knowledge into future generations. Because otherwise, we’re left with a culture that is doomed to repeat the same mistakes and won’t have the skills to work past it.

Horror games, at their very core, are all about the fear factor. Developer Supermassive Games did a fantastic job of sustaining the unpleasantness in certain sequences, but couldn’t maintain it for the entire length of the game. I come away from The Devil in Me with a new-found fear of seeing button prompts pop up at every available opportunity. That being said, there’s still a lot to like about this game, particularly if you’re a fan of the previous instalments. I particularly enjoyed the different modes available. There’s a single-player mode which offers different perspectives, as well as a multiplayer mode if you’re not feeling particularly brave that day.

As a fan of FPS games and a casual fan of the CoD franchise, it pains me to say Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is one of my most disliked entries in the series. The campaign is a huge step down from its original namesake, and the multiplayer has disappointed me on many levels. I know Activision loves to get a slice of the CoD pie every single year, but I still think we’d be better off with fewer titles, bigger innovations.

There is a venn diagram for God of War 2018 fans where some liked the combat, others liked the story, and many enjoyed both. Ragnarok is everything you loved about the previous title, but amplified. The longer story and expanded worlds gives way for characters to develop in meaningful ways, making the whole game feel very much like a sequel worthy of its predecessor.

With now two excellent games under its belt, it beckons the question of where the franchise goes next. Do we go for a simple Mario & Rabbids 3? Do we add Zelda or Pokemon characters into the mix? Do we change genres, turn it into a soulslike or roguelike? Whatever happens, I just need more.