Mike

About Mike

Mike gets all the racing games because he understands that stuff even though he doesn't drive.
Hell is Us feels like a deceptive game. The trailers big up the lack of hand holding and the soulsian combat but neither truly reach their apex. Rogue Factor do make up most of the distance with an approach that makes exploration worthwhile. The central backdrop offers a potentially interesting […]

Hell is Us – PS5 Review

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged adventure / cataclysm / dodgy science / family reunion / hell is us / puzzles / rogue factor / sectarianism / souls-ish combat / war by
Arcade rallying seems to be making a comeback. Whilst titles like Old School Rally specifically aim for that 90’s vibe, Rally Arcade Classics aims for something slightly more modern. Netk2 Games are at the helm and what they’ve delivered is an addictive, compelling racer. It does initially seem light on […]

Rally Arcade Classics – PS5 Review

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged drifting / group b / legally distinct hatchbacks / netk2games / point to point / racing / rally arcade classics / rallying / stages / time trial by
Arcade racers feel like an endangered species at times. Any that do release seem to come from indie developers. Cyber Clutch: Hot Import Nights is one such game. Coming from Gunpowder games, the neon-soaked, custom car racer tries to look the part but it lacks on-track excitement and variety. The […]

Cyber Clutch: Hot Import Nights – PS5 Review

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged arcade racer / cyber clutch hot import nights / cyberpunk aesthetic / futuristic / gunpowder games / hatchbacks / online multiplayer / power ups / racing by
There’s still a sense of novelty are massive online player counts. Even with battle royal taking those numbers until triple figures, I wonder how any game of that size can play out. Holdfast: Nations At War takes the concept and lets the community run wild with it. On the face […]

Holdfast: Nations At War – PS5 Review

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged anvil game studios / class warfare / cross-play / holdfast nations at war / mass player battles / napoleonic wars / proximity chat / role playing / the great war / trenches / world war i by
I’m not one to buy into soulslike fatigue. I think, as long as the execution is good, I will persevere with it. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is an effort from Chinese developer Lenzee. It has it’s own twists on the blueprint with some solid level design. Unfortunately, it also frustrates me […]

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers – PS5 Review

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged action rpg / chinese mythology / deliberate combat / exploration / lenzee / magic / manchurians / melee / soulslike / wuchang fallen feathers by
Anybody in the mood for a McMansion? Architect Life: A House Design Simulator sure hopes you are. Coming from Shine Research, it pulls a few punches when it comes to simulating but the planning and constructing of a home has been a thoughtful process. It’s lenient with budgets and timescales […]

Architect Life: A House Design Simulator – PS5 Review

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged architect life a house design simulator / brick and mortar / build to spec / career mode / free mode / homes / mcmansions / prefab / shine research by
I feel like I missed all those 3D platformers back in the 90’s. At that time, I had a PC and most of them lived in Nintendo town. Approaching them as an adult makes me wonder if I’ve missed the boat. Ruffy and the Riverside, from Zockrates Laboratories is a […]

Ruffy and the Riverside – PS5 Review

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged 3d platformer / collectibles / colours / letters / mischievous rubik's cube / number puzzles / ruffy and the riverside / swapping / zockrates laboratories by
I’m going to assume in the bowels of the Steam store there are simulators for everything. Not all of them find their way to console and I was surprised to see Drug Dealer Simulator make its way to Playstation 5 years after its initial release. Despite the age and the […]

Drug Dealer Simulator – PS5 Review

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged byterunners / clarky cat / cocaine / dead drops / drug dealer simulator / e's and whizz / ecstasy / heroin / ilicit substances / stop and search / the nightmare of cake by
It’s not often an indie series undergoes a change of a developer. The original Wizard of Legend gained a passionate following, partly due to the immense variety that was on offer. For the sequel, Dead Mage have taken the reins. The variety has taken a hit with the new visual […]

Wizard of Legend 2 – PS5 Review

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged arcanas / dead mage / earth / elemental magic / fire / ice / magic / overhead isometric perspective / roguelite / run-based / skeletons / wind / wizard of legend by
It’s always dangerous for developers to take direct inspiration from something so distinctive. Star Overdrive is an open-world adventure from Caracal games. With a bright an airy location, it looks to evoke The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild quite directly but it falls short with on-foot traversal and […]

Star Overdrive – PS5 Review

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged action adventure / caracal games / crafting / hoverboarding / keytar / melee combat / open world / platforming / star overdrive / trick system by
I’ve been on a couple of aircraft carriers in my time. They’re surprisingly intricate spaces with lots of metal corridors, ladders and lifts to bring you up from the lower decks. I’ve never concerned myself with how one is run, though. Every Single Soldier have been prolific with their military […]

Carrier Deck – PS5 Review

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged aircraft / carrier deck / every single soldier / F18 / fighter jets / helicopters / management / military simulation / submarines / warfare by