Review Category: Games

PLATFORM: META QUEST, PC, PS4/5, SWITCH, XBOX ONE/SERIES (REVIEWED) | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

PowerWash Simulator seems to have been going from strength to strength since it first appeared in summer 2022. One of those games that does exactly what its name suggests, it allows players to step into the shoes of a professional powerwasher who is equipped with a variety of nozzles and cleaning fluids and tasked with blitzing the dirt from all manner of objects, vehicles and buildings. Other than deciding which size of nozzle you prefer and occasionally adding an extension pole to really get into those hard-to-reach areas, there’s very little else to it other than spraying your high-powered jet of water around until every last surface is sparkly clean. It might sound ridiculous, but it’s one of the most relaxing games of recent years, and the satisfying *ding!* sound effect that accompanies each successfully-cleaned item really is incredibly addictive.

“Why on earth is STARBURST telling me about this nonsense?” you may well be asking yourself. Partly it’s because the game is fantastic (especially if you’re the sort of person who likes everything to be “just so”), partly it’s because it fits with the weird culty stuff that we like to bring attention to around these parts, and partly it’s because of the various DLC packs that have been released over the last 18 months, several of which are very much within STARBURST‘s wheelhouse. The base game asks you to clean everyday things like cars, boats, a back garden, a tree house and a fire station, but a host of downloadable content (both free and paid) has added familiar items and locations from Final Fantasy, Tomb Raider, SpongeBob SquarePants and Back To The Future, including such delights as Lara Croft’s Manor and obstacle course, Conch Street and The Krusty Krab, and Doc Brown’s van, the DeLorean, and the Holomax Theater, amongst others.

PowerWash Simulator‘s latest addition takes us from the streets of Muckingham to the Indomitus Crusade for a Warhammer 40,000 pack that brings five new jobs to the game, allowing players to hose down an Ultramarines Land Raider, Dark Angels Deathwing Redemptor Dreadnought, Astra Militarum Rogal Dorn Tank, House Hawkshroud Imperial Knight and a Blood Angels Thunderhawk. Each has been covered with dirt from relentless galaxy-spanning warfare, and your services are required to bring them back to their former glory. There’s even an all-new Adeptus Mechanicus character model to play as, and a new MKII Aqua-Santica Arquebus power washer (complete with a soothing mechanical purr-like sound effect) to get to grips with! As always, there are plenty of mildly irritating nooks and crannies to get stuck into, but finding the final elusive bits of grime on each individual part is half of the game’s appeal. Some jobs will take longer to complete than others, but you’re easily looking at a good 5 or 6 hours to finish every job in the pack. If this is your first time hearing about PowerWash Simulator, the base game plus DLC now consists of more than 70 jobs with at least 120 hours’ worth of excitement. It does sound ridiculous, but honestly, it’s one of the most soothing and relaxing experiences you can possibly have in a videogame!

 

PLATFORM: PC, PS5, XBOX SERIES (REVIEWED) | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

Set on the seas of 17th century Africa at the height of maritime piracy, Skull and Bones casts players as the survivor of a shipwreck, marooned on an island in the middle of nowhere. After reaching the “pirate paradise” of Sainte-Anne during the opening prologue, and meeting Bee Gees lookalike Captain Scurlock who takes you under his wing, your sole objective is now to increase your notoriety and influence within the pirate world by any means necessary.

Along your journey to infamy, you’ll follow the game’s main story quests while taking on countless other missions from NPCs and notice boards. Completing contracts rewards you with silver (the game’s main currency) and usually a handful of other items that can either be traded with merchants or used to craft something more useful like new ships or weapons to install on your fleet. Ships are very much the game’s main focus – your human avatar can’t be improved in any way at all, apart from changing their clothes, so all of your efforts will be concentrated on improving your vessel.

There are nine classes of ship available, each with unique stats and specialisms, making some more suitable for certain situations than others. Adding furniture to the ship’s deck alters the effects that your attacks can inflict on enemy ships, and there are around a dozen different types of weapons that can be installed from standard cannons to the more exotic torpedoes, rockets, and a flamethrower. There’s a constant need to build new ships and create new weapons, armour and other add-ons in order to reach the level requirements of later missions in the campaign, and this can take a heck of a long time – first you’ll need to locate the blueprints, which in true open-world fashion can be found at settlements all across the ocean, then gather the relevant materials and resources before heading to the shipwright and blacksmith to build your chosen equipment (which, in contrast to the time it takes to gather all of the necessary resources, is done with a few quick button presses). A ship’s level is dictated by the equipment installed on it, and taking on high-level ships with a low-level boat is nigh-on impossible, so the hunt for blueprints and materials to improve your chances is likely to take up a huge chunk of your time.

Sailing the high seas is very pleasant indeed, with plenty of stunning scenery as the clear blue ocean stretches all the way to the horizon and verdant islands loom into view. One of Skull and Bones‘ most contentious issues, though, is that it doesn’t give you a whole lot to do while you’re travelling between settlements. Some journeys can take 15-20 minutes or more, and apart from pressing the action button to collect some flotsam from the water or harvest some materials from a nearby shoreline, it’s not unusual to do very little other than steering left and right to keep your ship on course. Leaving your ship is limited to specific landing spots, which are mostly small settlements consisting of a couple of vendors and the odd bit of treasure here and there, and curiously it isn’t possible to steal ships while you’re at sea, so if you were hoping to treat Skull and Bones as GTA-on-water then you might be out of luck (there is, however, a notoriety meter that builds as you attack enemy ships, bringing reinforcements to chase you down, but that’s about as close as it gets).

The game’s big selling point – naval combat – takes its cues from the well-received seafaring combat in 2013’s Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag (Skull and Bones began life as a Black Flag expansion all the way back in that very same year). You’re able to use up to five different weapons simply by swinging the camera around and aiming from different sides of your ship, and various status effects can be inflicted upon your enemies depending on which weapons you use and which parts of the enemy’s ship you attack. Battles can get extremely frantic, especially when faced with multiple enemies on the choppy waves of a heavy storm, and often feel exhilarating when you finally achieve victory, with enemy ships exploding in huge balls of fire and smoke as they slowly sink under the surface. Like Black Flag, it’s also possible to board an enemy ship to gain additional rewards for winning the fight, but Skull and Bones disappointingly removes the on-deck swashbuckling (there’s no hand-to-hand sword fighting or any other combat in the game at all) and reduces it to a quick cutscene.

Playing solo, you’ll see other players dotted around the place, sometimes coming to your aid during battles if they’re feeling helpful. Grouping up with others can be useful for fending off an attack by multiple enemy ships, but it isn’t necessary – the whole game is manageable solo, if that’s the way you’d prefer to play. The multiplayer aspect only really comes to the fore during sporadic “world events”, where many players are required to take down powerful vessels, although there’s also a PvP area where players can battle against each other.

Skull and Bones is a bit of an odd proposition. Its visuals are stunning and the naval combat is solid, but it feels like a step down from the eleven-year-old game that inspired it. There’s no shortage of quests to take part in, but unfortunately this is where the game really falters. There are bounties that require you to blow up a rival ship, “plunder” missions that involve extended battles against a few waves of enemies, and a black market that allows you to make and distribute illicit goods, but there’s very little variety beyond “go here and attack or collect something” and the lengthy uneventful journeys can make things feel quite underwhelming. If you’re keen to go on a fairly chilled solo adventure that allows you to grind away for hours and hours, you’ll certainly have plenty of fun, but those looking for an engaging single player campaign or engrossing multiplayer aspect might not be quite so enthused.

 

PLATFORM: PC, PS5, XBOX SERIES (REVIEWED) | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

Set in 17th century New England, ghost-hunters Antea and Red arrive in the small settlement of New Eden to help the local reverend deal with a particularly troublesome entity. When Antea is killed (not a spoiler, it’s in the trailer!), Red finds himself having to balance his job as a Banisher – saving the living while also taking care of the spirits – with his desire to bring his lover back from the dead, bringing an emotional aspect to the story and providing a unique twist as players swap between Red and Antea to utilise both characters’ unique abilities.

A surprisingly lengthy RPG, Banishers starts quite slowly, taking an hour or so to really reveal the full scope of the game. Its world is vast, but isn’t fully open – rather, you travel along linear paths that allow for plenty of opportunities to veer off and explore. And explore you will, as the game’s main questline sends you all over the map in search of ghostly goings-on. There’s a bit of puzzling to be done as you figure out how to access certain areas, resources to collect, equipment to find and upgrade, and plenty of paranormal punch-ups with all manner of spectral baddies. In the early going, combat feels good albeit slightly unremarkable, but after acquiring a few new skills and getting a few weapon upgrades under your belt, fighting enemies ends up feeling pretty great as you effortlessly switch between both characters to extend combos and pull off special attacks.

Dotted around the map you’ll find a variety of objectives to keep you busy. Banishers‘ main source of side quests comes in the form of haunting investigations, where Antea and Red are tasked with uncovering the truth behind some often very personal problems and deciding how best to deal with the spectre involved. As with many of the developer’s other games, the moral choices you’re forced to make can be quite tricky and have noticeable effects later in the game, altering the way Antea and Red’s relationship develops as well as potentially taking useful NPCs out of action… Elsewhere, the abilities that Antea learns can be used to access previously locked-off areas that contain new gear, upgrades, hidden items, and combat encounters. For a game that seems to have come out of nowhere, and might appear to be quite unassuming at first glance, there really is a surprising amount of content here.

Apart from maybe lacking slightly in terms of enemy variety, there aren’t really too many things to complain about. Banishers contains all of the usual elements that you’d expect from an RPG, along with a unique premise and setting, likable characters, fun combat and skills, interesting haunting investigations, moral dilemmas and choices that do actually affect what happens, and an exceptionally well-written story with characters brought to life by some fantastic voice acting. It isn’t one of those sprawling 100+ hour epics like Skyrim, but it’ll still keep you going for a good 30 or 40 hours if you want to see everything that the game has to offer. An absolutely magnificent game that deserves the highest of praise, Banishers might not do too much in terms of innovation, and the combat could be a little more refined, but it’s an easy recommendation. If you’re a fan of spooky goings on and action adventure games with some light RPG mechanics, it’s a must play.

 

PLATFORM: SWITCH | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

Hot on the heels of last year’s Super Mario RPG remake, the folks at Nintendo have revisited their back catalogue once again with their latest effort, an updated version of the puzzle-platformer Mario vs Donkey Kong. Originally released on the Game Boy Advance in 2004, it’s one of the rare Mario titles that doesn’t revolve around rescuing a princess. Instead, Mario is now in charge of a toy shop that sells “Mini-Mario” clockwork models. When his inventory of Mini-Marios is stolen by Donkey Kong, Mario must navigate a series of puzzle-filled levels to chase down Donkey Kong and reclaim his stock.

Each of the main levels is split into two halves. Mario’s first task is to collect a key and bring it back to the exit door before moving on to the next screen where a Mini-Mario is waiting to be found. At the end of each world, things change up again, with Mario leading his tiny companions, Lemmings style, to a toy box, before finally surviving a boss battle against Donkey Kong himself. Figuring out how to achieve your goal in each level is a puzzle in itself, made even trickier with all the switches, ladders, enemies and other hazards that are dotted around the screen, but Mario’s surprising agility means that there’s always a way to contend with whatever problems he faces.

Updated with Nintendo’s modern graphical style, this version of Mario vs Donkey Kong is much easier on the eye than the original. Other new additions include the option to play the entire game with a second player, with both having to claim a key before levels can be completed (so both get to actually do something in the game, rather than one person being relegated to a supporting role), two brand new worlds, a time attack mode, and new “plus” levels to unlock, changing the game’s rules and raising the difficulty. Mario vs Donkey Kong isn’t the longest or most challenging game in the world (there are 130+ levels but they’re all rather short), but it’s great fun, which is always the most important thing!

PLATFORM: PC, PS5 | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

**Review updated February 23rd**

Helldivers II‘s goofy intro cutscene lets you know exactly what you’re in for – you’re the newest member of the Helldivers, an elite force whose aim is to fight back against alien invaders who are threatening not only Super Earth but the entire galaxy. But you won’t be taking part in this galactic war alone – Helldivers II is an online multiplayer “live service” game, so you’ll be enlisted alongside other players as you band together in the ultimate fight for intergalactic democracy.

The words “live service” have become frowned upon over the last couple of years, with many companies seeking to wring every last penny out of their player base while not really giving anything substantial in return. But in Helldivers II‘s case, things look very promising indeed, with the only microtransactions being purely cosmetic, and an attentive development team who, in the two weeks since the game’s launch, have been constantly fixing problems to improve the experience while also mischievously throwing gameplay-based curveballs to keep players on their toes.

Setting off on your mission to liberate Super Earth is a simple case of heading to the galactic map on your ship, where you can easily see which planets are currently under attack. The galaxy is split into a few dozen sectors, each containing around five planets, and the collective goal of the entire player base is to liberate threatened planets by eliminating whatever hostile forces are currently in control (currently it’s the insect-like Terminids), with the ultimate aim of eventually creating a clear route from Super Earth in the centre all the way out to the edge of the galaxy. Only a handful of planets will be available at any one time, but when those have been saved, a new sector will open up and the quest continues. However, players also have to deal with the Automatons, a species of particularly violent robots who are attacking planets on the other side of the galaxy. What might happen if they make it to Super Earth is anyone’s guess, as is what happens if any other enemies (or potentially friendly allies) might make themselves known elsewhere in the galaxy…

When you touch down on your chosen planet, you’ll mostly be running around shooting anything that moves en route to your main objective, which generally tasks you with killing something, defending something, or escorting something somewhere. Once that’s done, it’s off to the extraction point where your team needs to survive for a couple of minutes until a ship arrives to take you to safety. There are smaller side objectives too, if you take the time to hunt around for them, along with various resources and weaponry to be found across each planet. There isn’t a huge variety of enemies at the moment, but there’s a decent variety of objectives to work towards and each success furthers the overall progress and gives you a handful of experience points and some in-game currency.

As you level up, new items become available to purchase, adding new weapons to your arsenal, more effective armour (although there aren’t too many differences between each piece of gear, which might be an area for future improvements), and special abilities called Stratagems that allow you to call down heavy weapons, airstrikes, supply boxes and all kinds of other things that prove immensely useful. With each player taking two weapons and four Stratagems into each mission, and friendly fire always being on, there’s huge potential for things to get unpredictably chaotic, and they usually do, particularly on higher difficulty settings (of which there are nine to choose from, with rewards increasing at higher levels). It’s definitely the sort of game that’s best played with others though – even on the lower difficulty settings, things can quickly get overwhelming when playing solo, so having backup from some real life pals or online strangers (who, in this game at least, seem to be a helpful and respectful bunch) is pretty much essential.

With so many planets available, along with crossplay between PC and PS5 to keep up the player count, and the potential for updates to add even more locations, enemy factions and special events, it’s easy to see how Helldivers II could well keep players occupied for months and possibly even years to come. Servers have been almost constantly full during the game’s first two weeks, with many players not even being able to get in to play the game, but with capacity now raised to a whopping 700,000 players (up from the previous limit of 450,000), things seem to be running a lot more smoothly. A mid-range pricetag sweetens the deal even further, making this a very attractive proposition for those with a penchant for high-octane intergalactic warfare.

PLATFORM: PC, PS4/5, SWITCH, XBOX ONE / SERIES (REVIEWED) | RELEASE DATE: 14TH FEBRUARY

Originally released between 1996-98, the first three Tomb Raider games were a revelation at the time. With the gaming world only just starting to get to grips with 3D graphics over the preceding few years, the adventures of Lara Croft opened the eyes of developers and players alike, hinting at what might be possible in the future as technology and knowledge became increasingly more advanced. These early efforts followed Lara, a rather athletic archaeologist, as she makes her way through remote tombs and ruins in search of various artefacts, with players needing to complete tricky platforming challenges and solve puzzles while fending off all manner of enemies from wild animals and soldiers to dinosaurs and mythical creatures.

The emphasis is very on the exploration and puzzle-solving side of things. Platforms crumble away, leaving massive gaps that require timing and precision to traverse, floor panels activate swinging axes and volleys of arrows, well-hidden keys, switches and levers provide head-scratching roadblocks, and plenty of other traps hinder your progress at almost every turn. The biggest obstacles that early Tomb Raider players had to contend with, though, were Lara’s clunky movement, unwieldy Resident Evil-esque tank controls, and camera angles that didn’t quite allow you to see as much as you really needed to, which were only acceptable at the time because nobody knew any any better. In a welcome addition, Tomb Raider Remastered includes new “modern” controls, giving you more control over the camera and the option to use a more familiar thumbstick / button layout or even remap the controller to your own liking, rather than being stuck with the original control scheme (which are still available for anyone demented enough to want to use them).

Unfortunately, Lara’s movement and lack of precision – which exist because of the way that the original games were designed, based on square grids that allowed the developers to measure distances and plan obstacles – make for a frustrating experience in today’s gaming landscape. There are many potential enhancements that would have gone a long way to making these games more palatable for a modern audience, but without each game receiving a more substantial overhaul (which was never the aim of this release), it’s difficult to imagine newcomers having the patience to persevere beyond the first couple of levels.

While the gameplay hasn’t been altered in any noticeable way, this remaster does a grand job of enhancing the visuals in all three games. Rather than trying to bring things up to 2024’s standards, the idea was to make the games look the way that players of the original might remember them, with long-held memories smoothing over the cracks and filling in the details that 90s technology wasn’t able to depict. Blocky environments and jagged polygons are cleaner and smoother with new lighting effects, character models, environments and textures, and the original and modern visuals can be switched between at the touch of a button. A photo mode has been added, and all three games include their respective expansions, adding fourteen extra levels to the base games. The overall package will provide a warm blast of nostalgia for fans of the originals, but is unlikely to convince any long-standing naysayers.

 

PLATFORM: XBOX ONE/SERIES, PS4/5 (REVIEWED) | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

For decades, Atlus has been one of the top RPG developers in the gaming industry, with 2006’s classic Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 being one of the company’s most iconic titles. So now in 2024, this legendary title finally has the remake treatment with Persona 3 Reload. But is it worth the price of re-admission to the group known as SEES?

The simple and quick answer is absolutely YES. This is the quintessential version of this timeless story for new and old fans alike. The themes of death, courage and friendship that are explored in the narrative are beautifully realised with a crisp and 4k visual overhaul, with the characters, personas, enemies and environments looking the best in the series. Adding new activities, such as cooking, and extra social links that are all fully voiced and animated adds a breath of fresh air, meaning there is so much more to explore, even if you have played the original countless times. The new voice cast does an incredible job in bringing these characters to life once again, and the subtle but meaningful changes to quality of life, the combat, and fluidity of progression make this a definitive JRPG for all skill levels and appreciation for this sub-genre of gaming that is so important.

Whether you have played a Persona game before, or if this is your first venture into the crazy world of Persona, Persona 3 Reload is a must-play for fans of video games in general, with bucketloads of content and plenty of replayability. No matter your experience with RPGs or Japanese culture, there is so much to love and adore in this title – get it in your collection now!

PERSONA 3 RELOAD is out now. 

PLATFORM: PC, PS5, XBOX SERIES (REVIEWED) | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

Five years after the events of Batman: Arkham Knight, DC supervillains Harley Quinn, Boomerang, Deadshot and King Shark have been brought under control thanks to explosive devices that have been implanted in their heads. Facing off against Superman, Batman (in Kevin Conroy’s penultimate appearance in the role), Green Lantern and The Flash, all of whom have been corrupted by Brainiac, the Suicide Squad band together as part of Amanda Waller’s Task Force X to embark on a quest to take down the Justice League once and for all.

From the developers of the near-flawless (and undeniably influential) Arkham series of games, Rocksteady, high expectations were placed on Kill The Justice League as soon as the game was first revealed. However, this is a different kind of game entirely – intended to be played online with other people, this is a “live service” multiplayer offering that leans more towards games like Destiny, Anthem and Outriders than the single-player adventures that the developer has become known for.

Playing like a cross between Crackdown and Borderlands with maybe a bit of 2014’s underappreciated Sunset Overdrive thrown in, each of the four playable characters can be swapped between at almost any time (unless they’re currently under the control of another human player), and each has their own unique abilities and weaponry. Harley Quinn, for example, uses a grapple gun and bat drone to swing across the city and favours SMGs, pistols and heavy weapons to dispatch her foes, while Boomshot relies on a jetpack to soar through the sky and a pair of rifles (of the sniper and assault variety) to keep enemies at bay. All four characters control well and are great fun to use, although a couple of the traversal mechanics are a bit more fiddly than the others.

When it comes to shooting things, though, Suicide Squad really comes into its own. Combat is fast-paced and extremely satisfying, and you’re given plenty of ways to approach each encounter. There are guns, of course, but also grenades, melee attacks, a couple of special moves, and an “affliction attack” that pretty much does what the name suggests. Each weapon has its own stats and perks that dictate its effects, encouraging players to experiment with different loadouts. Along with this, each character levels up independently, allowing you to choose your favourite squad member then focus on enhancing their abilities to create your perfect build. Alternatively, solo players could spend time swapping between all four characters, equipping each one with different skills and abilities to give you a wider array of offensive options. However, all four characters’ skill trees are almost identical to each other, with only a handful of abilities related to each individual character’s unique skills, so whichever squad member you choose to play as, your options always feel slightly restrained.

This slightly underwhelming feeling, unfortunately, extends to the story campaign’s missions, which doesn’t offer much variety at all. You’ll always be either defending something, escorting something, or going to find something and taking it somewhere else, while blasting waves of enemies along the way. Despite the undeniably excellent gunplay, the uninspired missions and general emptiness of Metropolis mean that, when playing solo, the whole thing can feel quite flat and soulless. Bringing a few real-life friends in helps to perk things up considerably, but a wider variety objectives would make the most noticeable difference.

The campaign lasts for around 10-12 hours, after which you’re into the much-hyped “endgame”. At the time of launch, though, this endgame doesn’t offer much that you haven’t seen during the main campaign. There are unique pieces of gear to work towards, based around “villain synergies” where pieces of gear from different DC supervillains combine to create super-powerful effects, and enemies gain modifiers as your Mastery rank increases, changing the way that you approach each encounter, but apart from an additional objective that asks you to survive for as long as possible by killing increasingly strong enemies to earn extra time (think Resident Evil‘s “Mercenaries” mode), you’ll be repeating the same handful of mission types that may well have already outstayed their welcome during the story.

In its current state, Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League is a bit of an odd proposition. The combat is excellent and the cutscenes and voice acting are first class, but the shallow pool of available mission types doesn’t make for the most enticing endgame. Promises have been made by the developer to support the game with updates, additional characters and new missions over the next couple of years but, for now, only time will tell if the game will overcome its sparse beginnings and reach its full potential.

 

PLATFORM: PC, PS4, PS5, XBOX ONE, XBOX SERIES (REVIEWED) | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

After building a new life for himself and his crew throughout 2020’s Yakuza: Like A Dragon, Ichiban Kasuga is now employed by Happy Work, a job agency that allows him to find work for ex-yakuza members who would otherwise be left out on the streets following the dissolution of Yokohama’s two biggest clans, a break-up that Kasuga himself was heavily involved with. Things don’t quite go to plan and the former yakuza band together under a new clan, but Kasuga and his pals find themselves with more pressing issues; locating Kasuga’s biological mother, long presumed dead but now apparently live and well in Hawaii. Ichiban isn’t the only person looking for her, though – faced with a terminal illness, former series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu is undertaking a mission on behalf of the Daidoji faction, making the most of what little time he has left, and his target just so happens to live in Honolulu… With one on his way up and the other on his way out, Kasuga and Kiryu’s paths cross in this genuinely epic tale, the biggest Yakuza game so far and considered by developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio to be their magnum opus.

Everything you do in Infinite Wealth has an effect on some sort of meter or metrics, with your actions resulting in various stats being increased and in turn rewarding you with all manner of perks. Something as simple as talking to a stranger in the street can raise your kindness level, and spending time with your friends can eventually bestow you with tag team skills and combo attacks to use in battle. Partaking in extracurricular activities might give you cash, useful items, equipment, new friends or any number of other surprises. There’s a huge variety of wacky distractions, like a Pokemon Snap-style minigame called “Sicko Snap” where you ride around on a bus taking photos of lycra-clad hunks, the Crazy Taxi-esque “Crazy Delivery” which tasks you with collecting food and delivering it as quickly as possible, plus the usual series staples like karaoke, darts, arcades, and scantily-clad ladies… There are dozens – perhaps even hundreds – of things that can affect the way your team grows, making it feel like you’re constantly getting stronger throughout the entire game (and beyond).

Building on the Pokemon-style “Sujimon” sub-game from 2020’s Like A Dragon, Infinite Wealth allows you to become a full-on Sujimon master by catching, training, evolving and battling your Sujimon against other trainers. You can even take part in raids to acquire rare Sujimon to help you reach the top of the league. Elsewhere, there’s a similarly deep homage to Animal Crossing / Stardew Valley; Dondoko Island is being used as a dumping ground by a nefarious corporation, but – if you want to – you can clean up the island and use the parts you find to make furniture, decorations and buildings to attract visitors and restore the island to its former glory. Both of these distractions are so full of features that they could almost pass for full games in themselves – if you’re into either of the games that they’re based on, these will add dozens of hours to your playthrough.

Infinite Wealth sticks with the previous instalment’s turn-based combat, but increases the amount of options you’re given during battles to make things more interesting. Not content with making you simply stand still and choose your actions from a list, you’re allowed to move around to line up attacks, knock enemies into each other, set up combos by moving yourself and your party into position, grab nearby objects and throw them at enemies, use a mind-boggling array of items to beef up your offence and defense, and utilise a well-stocked arsenal of over-the-top special moves that just wouldn’t be possible with real-time combat. Poundmates return, giving you the ability to summon assistance from a bevvy of fabulously quirky NPCs, and your party gains all manner of fantastical skills and abilities as each character levels up. Party members can also now change their assigned job, changing the skills that are available to them – a cab driver can throw tyres and use a car battery to electrocute enemies, but change his job to an aquanaut and he’ll suddenly be equipped with a surfboard that he uses to batter foes into submission. The story and cutscenes might be rather serious in tone, but the series’ signature silliness is definitely very much present and correct.

Acting as a lap of honour for an old friend as well as a true coronation for the series’ new number one, Infinite Wealth‘s story will have much more impact on those who are familiar with the events of previous Yakuza / Like A Dragon games – it’s a tremendous RPG in its own right, but newcomers might be advised to at least play 2020’s instalment (and probably also 2023’s The Man Who Erased His Name) before venturing into this one. If you’ve been following the series from the start, it’s an absolute no brainer – Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth hits all the right marks and leaves very little room for complaints. A truly exceptional piece of work!

 

PLATFORM: PC, PS4/5, SWITCH, XBOX ONE/SERIES (REVIEWED) | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

Reviving a series that was last seen on consoles since 2010, The Lost Crown takes us back to Prince of Persia‘s side-scrolling roots with this 2D platformer that follows the adventures of Sargon, a young warrior tasked with rescuing a Prince from the summit of a cursed mountain. With its original story based on Persian mythology, eye-catching visuals and smooth Metroidvania-infused gameplay, The Lost Crown sits confidently amongst the best entries in the series while forging its own unique identity.

Using a range of powers and abilities that steadily become available as the game progresses, you’ll need to guide Sargon around a labyrinthine map full of traps, puzzles, and countless enemies. All of the usual tools are here, such as the ubiquitous double jump and air dash, alongside more novel gimmicks like the ability to create a ghost that can be immediately teleported towards, and a handy device that makes certain platforms appear and disappear at the touch of a button. Many paths along your journey will be locked until Sargon acquires certain abilities, but backtracking to previous areas will always reward you with amulets that can be equipped to gain handy passive effects, or crystals that can be spent on buying maps, healing items, or upgrading your weapons.

The Lost Crown might not bring a huge amount of new ideas to the table, although the ability to add a screenshot to your map, to remind you exactly what you were stuck on, is a fantastic idea, and the inclusion of a wide range of accessibility options makes the game suitable for all ages and abilities. TLC does an incredible job of making every single moment feel incredibly satisfying, whether that’s solving a tricky puzzle, slashing away at enemies, overcoming a boss fight or using your powers to complete an intricate platforming section, making it an easy recommendation for fans of action platformers.