Joe Richards
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Writing For
Playstation Universe
Steam Deck HQ
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As a photography simulator, Lushfoil Photography Sim shines when it allows itself to. A brilliant atmospheric decompressor is lost under the weight of mechanics that I really don't think needed to be there. This feels like a bizarre moment where I want it to be less of a "game" and...
Lost Records is a visually gorgeous game and proves that the team who pioneered Life is Strange still have the aesthetic nailed down. Unfortunately this and some smart adaptations of mechanics do little to hide a story that tries in vain to recapture the same energy, managing to totally lose...
For what Indiana Jones and the Great Circle sets out to do, I think it succeeds in every aspect. This is a game made with adoration and love for the legacy of Indiana Jones; for anyone that has a history with Indy, this is essential. If you can look past...
For the myriad of things that Promise Mascot Agency sets out to do, I never felt like it was overreaching or losing its sense of self. Every aspect of this game feels tailored to a curated experience that feels equally inspired and trailblazing its own direction. Everything comes together in...
On a functional level, AI Limit fulfills what it sets out to do and does so with very few hiccups in most regards. Outside of that, it exists as a time capsule of the mechanics that the industry is explicitly moving away from. While imitation can be argued to be...
ROBOBEAT manages to convincingly blend the rhythm game genre with roguelike shooters to create a mix that I hadn’t ever considered before. It banks on the spectacle of synchronised action and does so with explosive results. While I don’t necessarily think the aesthetic manages to stand the test of repeated...
Two Point Museum manages to stand out among the crowd as a management simulator that actually feels good to play on a form-factor that traditionally makes them a true struggle. Beyond that - it’s a phenomenally layered and engaging game in its own right, with a brilliant balance of mechanical...
Endlessly ambitious and full of detail, Monster Hunter: Wilds manages to deliver on everything that it sets out to do and then some. I have complete faith in Capcom to keep building off of this launch as one of their strongest foundations yet. Putting the game down genuinely seems like...
Tape 1 of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a solid prologue for what might hopefully "bloom" into a memorable story of reunion and reconnecting after decades apart. There are some bold new steps for the genre here, that are unfortunately held back by design choices that already felt archaic...
Farewell North
Farewell North is a wonderfully introspective experience that truly feels like it nails the concept it sets out to achieve. Not once did I feel like being a dog was a gimmick or made for the sake of standing out - this truly feels like one of the first games...
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is a truly singular game that demonstrates a distilled ambition for what the medium can achieve. It skillfully takes the foundation from its survival horror ancestry and manages to transition into something that transcends the screen and even the controller, to engage a player in...
A charming presentation and solid foundation do precious little in light of a control scheme that's beyond frustrating for console players. The real challenge of a management simulator should always stem from having a clear hold of your surroundings and the ways that you can influence them, not the mere...
