Press Start Australia

Despite missing its iconic multiplayer component, enormous replay value, welcome modernisations to both gameplay and visuals, fixes for decades-old pacing issues, and a three-piece prologue make Campaign Evolved an exceptional way to experience Halo’s legendary single-player campaign, which remains a sci-fi blockbuster to this day.

While it doesn't quite escape some of the issues of its inspirations, Splatoon Raiders is a novel spin-off of one of Nintendo's most creative franchises. This is a no-brainer recommendation for fans of Salmon Run, and is one of the best co-op experiences on the Switch 2 thus far.

Lifted is a special little game that manages to effortlessly charm despite its imperfections. It’s a throwback to classic platforming I didn’t know I was needing, all the while being the Back to the Future sequel I know I have dreamed about for decades. I hope it’s not the last we see of Ari Buktu, and I’ll happily board his time-travelling elevator again—anytime.

DOOM: The Dark Ages | Revelations continues to preserve the identity of The Dark Ages while ratcheting up the intensity of combat to the nth degree. It's relentless, absurdly fun to play, and is begging any DOOM player worth their salt to get into the weeds and master it. I don't know how, but id Software have done it again.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is a refreshing reminder of the franchise's glory days. Charged with an infectious love for the original, Resynced is the best way to play the best Assassin's Creed game. If the Ezio trilogy is soon to get the same remaking, we can only hope it's treated in the same fashion.

If you’re someone like me who fears rhythm games due to their challenges, then Rhythm Paradise Groove is the perfect cushion to soften the blow; it’s accessible, friendly and offers just the right amount of challenge, without being too overwhelming or intense. There’s a whole heap of unlockables and different game modes that keep things fresh and entertaining, and the rhythms and songs throughout the game are bound to have you toe-tapping all the way through. Some may be put off by the latency between the TV and controller input, but even after a while its something that you can adjust to, so there’s always positives to play off.

Star Fox is without a doubt the best version of Star Fox 64. Long time fans are sure to love its smart inclusions from both a narrative and gameplay perspective, while newcomers will get to experience one of Nintendo's most important games on hardware that truly brings it to life. It's another massive win for the Switch 2, and I hope it paves the way for a new Star Fox title some day in the future.

With the run-based approach to the campaign, there’s an element of build-craft in Galactic Racer, too. Although failure often means curtains and forces a tour restart, success along the way grants upgrade points, which can be funnelled in any of the speeder’s six core stats, as well as spare parts and abilities to further fill out your build for that run. Further to that, certain racing styles can be unlocked through general play and be applied to earn small boosts in certain areas, adding another layer to how unique a run can feel. [Hands-On Impressions]

Despite being disappointed by The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales in its opening hours, the experience gave way to something far more engaging in its second and third acts. Its shallow narrative deepened as it unravelled the grand tapestry of time in Philabieldia, its combat more fleshed out by greater enemy variety and buildcrafting potential with magicite, all accompanied by a presentation and art direction that Square Enix have nailed at this point.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on Nintendo Switch 2 is another impressive technical achievement. The visual compromises are obvious but not egregious, and portability changes the equation. Much like Intergrade before it, this feels like a little bit of handheld sorcery.