Latest Features
Poll Are You Playing Honkai: Star Rail?
All aboard
Free-to-play colossus Honkai: Star Rail is out now on PS5 following a hugely successful stint on mobile devices. From HoYoverse, the developer behind Genshin Impact, the turn-based RPG is another free-to-play romp, so we want to know if you've been tempted into giving it a try. Our resident enthusiast (and closet weeb) Sammy Barker has...
Preview Arizona Sunshine 2 Could Be the Next PSVR2 Must-Buy
PSVR2 is about to get bloody
Ask anyone that has a PSVR2 and they’ll likely tell you that the tech is great, but the library is lacking. Outside of No Man's Sky or Resident Evil Village, there are very few games that truly revel in the format of VR. However, a recent visit to Vertigo Games’ HQ in Rotterdam proved that VR is in the blood of the...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 497
What's Neu?
How is it October already? A month of trick or treating and enormous game releases awaits, so you better be on top of that backlog or else! Here’s what we’re playing! Khayl Adam: I’m going to check out The Lamplighters League on PC at a readers recommendation. It's meant to be an XCOM-style turn-based narrative tactics game set...
Poll How's Your Hype for Marvel's Spider-Man 2?
Are your spidey senses tingling?
With the game just two weeks away at the time of writing this article, we want to know how your hype levels for Marvel's Spider-Man 2 are holding up. The PS5 exclusive is pretty much Sony's flagship game of 2023, and since we have no real information on what the next 12 months hold for PlayStation Studios, it does...
Poll Are You Playing Assassin's Creed Mirage?
That's no mirage
Assassin's Creed Mirage is out now on PS5 and PS4, and we want to know if you're partaking in Ubisoft's latest sandbox. A return to the gameplay structure of older Assassin's Creed games with a focus on stealth, rather straightforward objectives, and a much smaller map, Mirage is pretty much the title that some fans have been asking...
Guide Upcoming PS5, PS4 Games for October and November 2023
Spider-Man! Assassin's Creed! Call of Duty!
It's spooky season (and almost holiday season!) which means that there are lots of fantastic games heading our way over the next couple of months. Did someone say Spider-Man? As always, we've been busy putting together a list of some particularly noteworthy physical releases headed to both PlayStation 5...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty?
Pogtown
It's been roughly one week since the launch of Phantom Liberty — the big expansion for Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt Red's RPG is in a better position than it ever has been: the DLC's been a hit with critics and fans, while the accompanying Update 2.0 has significantly improved the gameplay and flow of the base game. It feels like Night...
Feature Tokyo Game Show Was Everything I Expected, And Somehow More
Dream land
Growing up as a video game magazine bookworm through the 90s, there were two events I experienced vicariously every year: E3 and Tokyo Game Show. These euphoric, exotic nerd gatherings captivated me from an early age, and I used to imagine myself stepping inside the glossy coloured pages of Official PlayStation Magazine and attending in...
Soapbox My Favourite Game at Tokyo Game Show Wasn't Actually on PS5, PS4
Let's go by train
Regular readers will know, perhaps rather unusually, I love trains. I’ve been covering Train Sim World in intimate detail for years now, much to developer Dovetail’s pleasure. (I will get around to reviewing Train Sim World 4 by the way, it’s just the schedule’s been brutal for me this past month. Also, maybe the studio...
Poll Are You Happy with Your PS Plus Essential Games for October 2023?
Plus or minus?
Hold on, we're in October already?! If you've somehow avoided the avalanche of new releases over the last few months, you might be looking forward to the PS Plus Essential drop next week. As always, three PS5 and PS4 games are up for grabs, and the variety on offer is honestly quite crazy. The headline act has to be The Callisto...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 496
Foam-o
The sun is setting on another blissful week of gaming, but the release calendar is so utterly stacked there's still tons of titles to look forward to. Here's what we're playing this weekend. Khayl Adam: I’m still on the review train, but I’ve been noodling around with Disco Elysium again, with the hope of checking out some of The Final...
Preview EA Sports WRC Combines Codemasters Pedigree with Authentic Rally Racing
A rally good match
Codemasters knows rally. It's been making rally racing games since 1998, with the original Colin McRae Rally on PS1 being a hugely formative title for the studio. The series evolved into the DiRT games, which itself branched into two — numbered sequels with a more arcade-like nature, and DiRT Rally, a more serious, simulation...
Preview Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 Really Does Feel Like a Turbocharged Sequel
On course
Hot Wheels Unleashed was a distinctly pleasant surprise when it launched a couple of years ago, marking a much-needed departure for put-upon motorcycle developer Milestone. While the game handled like a dream – and had some stunningly rendered toy car models, particularly on the PS5 – it lacked variety and had a strange post-release...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Lies of P?
No lying, please
It feels like Lies of P has managed to stand out in an increasingly bloated subgenre. Souls-likes are everywhere these days, and developers know that they need to craft something pretty special if their project is to compare favourably to FromSoftware's elite action RPGs. South Korea's Round8 Studio should pat itself on the back,...
Reaction PlayStation Boss Jim Ryan May Have Been Disliked, But Leaves Big Boots to Fill
A hugely successful tenure draws to a close
The surprising revelation that Jim Ryan will retire as Sony Interactive Entertainment’s President and CEO at the end of March 2024 has been, perhaps predictably, met with glee from most corners of the wider video game world. In addition to courting controversy on a number of occasions, the British...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Mortal Kombat 1?
Prepare for kombat
Mortal Kombat 1 has been out for roughly a week now, and so we're wondering what you lot think of NetherRealm's latest effort. An undeniable looker boasting what many consider to be the most enjoyable gameplay that the series has seen in years, the especially gory fighting game seems to have been a hit with most fans — at least...
Feature I Visited Yakuza's Real-Life Kamurocho, And Somehow Avoided an Ass Stomping
The armpit of Tokyo
In the latest trailer for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, protagonist Ichiban Kasuga describes his home town of Kamurocho as the “armpit of Tokyo”. During a recent visit to the capital, I wanted to see if the real-life location the virtual sandbox is based on lived up to that description. There was no point in visiting during...
Poll Are You Playing Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty?
A trip to Dogtown
Cyberpunk 2077's first (and last) expansion is out now on PS5. Phantom Liberty adds a whole new storyline and district to CD Projekt Red's open world RPG, and the initial reception has been incredibly positive. Of course, it helps that the base game has been significantly improved with Update 2.0 — which dropped just five days...
Preview Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail Dev Has Quietly Become a PS5, PS4 Powerhouse
HoYoverse's meteoric rise continues
In the opening hall of the Makuhari Messe this Tokyo Game Show was an enormous, monolithic tribute to HoYoverse, a company fast becoming one of PlayStation’s most important developers. While the juggernaut Chinese studio may not get the same recognition as the likes of Naughty Dog or FromSoftware, its games are...
Preview Dragon's Dogma 2 Feels Like a Remake of the First Game, in a Good Way
Heartfelt
Dragon's Dogma 2 sticks with the Dark Arisen template to a pleasant but almost surprising degree. Sequels often walk a fine balancing act as significant departures can alienate existing fans, whereas repeating the established gameplay often feels too safe. Capcom's anticipated sequel easily falls into the latter category but when the...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 495
Chippin' in
We're nearly into The Spooky Month, otherwise known as October, otherwise known as the month with all the games. There's a lot of stuff on the horizon to be excited about, but what are we playing in the meantime? Time to find out. Khayl Adam: I'm still on a review, but I found a bit of time to boot up the revamped Cyberpunk 2077 2.0,...
Poll Are You Playing Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.0?
Second (third?) chances
It's taken almost three years to get here, but we're confident in saying that Cyberpunk 2077 is now an excellent open world RPG. Update 2.0 just launched on PS5, and it makes a laundry list of improvements and adjustments to the game. Entire systems have been redone, combat has been refreshed, and overall, it just feels like...
Preview Bandai Namco Is a Publisher Quietly on the Up
More like Funco, eh?
No one really talks about Bandai Namco, but the publisher’s doing a bang-up job. Last year it released Elden Ring, which not only proved a critical darling but also a break-out commercial hit. The action RPG ended up becoming a cultural touchstone for 2022, and it helped underline a really impressive run for the Pac-Man maker...
Preview Legendary Developer Level-5 Has Risen from the Dead
Two new PS5, PS4 titles show promise
Level-5 has an enormous booth at the Tokyo Game Show this year, rivalling titans like SEGA, Konami, and Capcom. This is significant because the iconic Japanese developer hasn’t really released a noteworthy game since Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom. Admittedly, it has kept the lights on with a number of...
Preview Like a Dragon, SEGA's Once Embattled Yakuza Series, Has Never Been Better
Or stranger
If you’ve been listening to the clacking of leather shoes in SEGA’s glamorous – but often oddball – Yakuza series since the late PS2 days, you’ll know the franchise hasn’t always been in this position. For years a PlayStation exclusive, there was a point where Sony was reeled in to localise the release of PS3 late-comer...
Preview Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Has a Playable Sephiroth
Our PS5 impressions from a hands on event
After the love-it-or-loathe-it ending of Final Fantasy VII Remake subverted fan expectations for what Square Enix could be planning as it brings Cloud Strife and pals back into the modern era, it was anyone's guess what the publisher might have to show during a recent preview event. Case in point: Sephiroth...
Poll Are You Playing Lies of P?
It's apparently P good
Lies of P is out now on PS5 and PS4, and it already seems to have struck a chord with action afficionados. Thanks to an unsettling puppet-packed backdrop and some great combat encounters, this newest Souls-like stands out in an ocean of FromSoftware-inspired titles. "Lies of P feels like the result of a developer having...
Poll Are You Playing Mortal Kombat 1?
Prepare for kombat
You may not have realised thanks to a brief period of early access, but today marks the full release of Mortal Kombat 1. The latest instalment in NetherRealm's eternally popular fighting game series, it's got typically impressive visuals, punchy gameplay, and a twisted interest in watching entrails leave the human body in...
Poll Are You Happy with Your PS Plus Extra, Premium for September 2023?
Star Ocean! Vanillaware! And the rest!
As massive Vanillaware fanboys, we think September's PS Plus Extra and PS Plus Premium update is especially tasteful, but as always, we want to know what you think of the selection. Just to recap, this month's line-up is headlined by NieR Replicant, Star Ocean: The Divine Force, and
Hands On Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 Update Is an Outstanding, Game-Changing Overhaul
Chippin' back in
Cyberpunk 2077 has come a long, long, long way since we gave the initial PS4 version the most disappointing 3/10 review this website has ever seen back in 2020. We'd go as far to say it's been a great game since its release on PS5, and now, having spent over 50 hours with the title's highly anticipated 2.0 update (prior to its...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 494
Finish them
Mortal Kombat 1 is available in early access this weekend, so we daresay a fair few of you will be digging into the gory brawler over the coming days. The release calendar is absolutely stacked with must-plays these next two months, though, so we're expecting WAYP to be vibrant and varied through to Christmas. Aaron Bayne: Lies of P...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Baldur's Gate 3?
Open the gate
With the caveat that some of you reading this won't have finished Baldur's Gate 3 yet, we want to know what you think of the incredibly highly rated RPG. The PS5 version has been out for over a week now, and it still sits as one of the best reviewed games of... well, pretty much ever, regardless of platform. Indeed, we can vouch for...
Interview Talking PS5 Tech, the Open World, and Suits in Spider-Man 2
New details from senior game director Ryan Smith
To accompany our hands on session with Marvel's Spider-Man 2, we were handed the chance to pose some questions to senior game director Ryan Smith at the London event. Below, we get into how the PS5 hardware has accelerated load times in the sequel, how the open world has evolved, and answer one very...
Preview Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Plays Like PS5 Superhero Perfection
Our thoughts after three hours of play
Given the presumably mammoth sales projections Sony has for PS5 exclusive Marvel's Spider-Man 2, playing too fast and loose with the open world formula at Insomniac Games was probably out of the question. This is a franchise that shifts hardware, and after a year slightly lighter on PlayStation Studios content...
Round Up What Was Announced During Sony's State of Play Livestream for September 2023?
All the PS5, PS4, and PSVR2 reveals
Sony's second general State of Play presentation of 2023 had roughly half an hour's worth of new PS5, PSVR2, and PS4 reveals to share with those watching, but if you didn't tune in, this Round Up article is your best bet for getting caught up in full. Below you'll find all the news shared during the latest State...
Poll Was Sony's Latest State of Play Worth the Wait?
Have your say on the SoP
Another State of Play showcase from Sony has now been and gone, this time sharing news for previously revealed indie and third-party games. A fairly low-key affair for saying it was only the second general State of Play livestream of 2023, but there were a few announcements and reveals to take note of. The big piece of news...
Live Watch Sony's State of Play Livestream Right Here (14th September, 2023)
Third-parties! Indies! Previously announced!
Looking to watch Sony PlayStation’s State of Play livestream today? Well, we’ve got you covered! Expectations may be quite low for this latest indie and third-party focused broadcast, but no matter how small the scale, it’s always exciting to learn a little more about what’s around the corner for...
Preview The First Descendant Could Be a Decent Destiny-Like Co-Op Shooter on PS5
First!
Having spent a good few hours with The First Descendant on PS5 — ahead of its open beta release later this month — we're happy to report that this free-to-play shooter seems to have a solid base to build upon. Very reminiscent of Destiny in terms of structure, we didn't quite have time to dig into finer details, but the gameplay clicked...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 493
It ain't 'alf hot
The weather is allegedly scorching in the UK, but there's no time for sunbathing: this is release season! Games are dropping left, right, and centre — and if you're anything like us, you're probably struggling to keep up. This is what our team are playing. Sammy Barker: It's sports game season for me, so having just wrapped up...
Poll Did You Buy Baldur's Gate 3?
We're in the gateway to hell
If you've been following Baldur's Gate 3 since its original announcement — and you had somehow always planned on a PlayStation release — then this day has been a long time coming. Larian Studios' celebrated RPG is out now on PS5, bringing one of the highest rated games... well, pretty much ever, to Sony's current-gen...
Poll Are You Happy with Your PS Plus Essential Games for September 2023?
Plus or minus?
Uh oh, we've got a bad feeling about this one. Each month, we ask you lot for your thoughts on the latest PS Plus announcements, and we can't wait to hear what you think of September's reveal. We say that because Sony seems to have riled up a lot of PlayStation fans over the last few days, as it unveiled a questionable PS Plus...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 492
Just driftin'
It's a slow WAYP this week as we move into the height of the summer and the busy release season. There are so many games to play right now, though, we're expecting another active comments section. Sammy Barker: It may be the boring answer, but while I wait for my impending review assignments, I'll be wasting away my time with the...
Guide Upcoming PS5, PS4 Games for September and October 2023
Spider-Man! EA Sports FC! Sonic!
With August out of the way, we find ourselves nearing the business end of the year when it comes to game releases. Thankfully, for PlayStation 5 and PS4 owners, there's plenty to be excited about over the next couple of months. As always, we've been busy putting together a list of some particularly noteworthy...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Armored Core 6?
Don't hold back, Raven
The game's been out on PS5 and PS4 for a week now, and if you've managed to beat the infamous first boss, we'd like to know what you think of Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon. Indeed, there's no question that this is a hardcore action game — something the series has always embraced — but in riding on the wave of...
Preview Like a Dragon Gaiden Feels Like an Evolution of the Yakuza Franchise
Erase everything, build it again, better
We’ve seen glimpses of Kiryu since his reported death in 2018 — his appearance in Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a perfect passing of the torch for the series, we reacquainted ourselves with the eerily similar looking Ryōma this year in Like A Dragon Ishin!, and the Judgment series has continued Ryu Ga...
Preview Persona 5 Tactica Is Shaping Up to Be More Than Just a Tired Strategy Spin-Off
Take your time
We've accepted the Phantom Thieves aren't disappearing anytime soon and Persona 5 Tactica reaffirms why that isn't a bad thing. Much like Persona 4, Atlus' phenomenal RPG took on a life of its own and since 2016, we've seen our favourite Phantom Thieves investigating jails, crawling through dungeons and
Preview Persona 3 Reload Shows So Much Promise Despite Missing Features
SEESing the moment
Persona 3 remains a groundbreaking RPG but we were slightly worried if Persona 3 Reload would live up to its legacy. It's been 16 years since the original game first appeared, introducing life simulation mechanics and a considerably darker storyline than its successors. As the game that reshaped Atlus' popular series, expectations...
Poll What PS5 Game Had the Best Showing at Gamescom Opening Night Live?
Take your pick
Another Gamescom Opening Night Live has come and gone, with Geoff Keighley's latest showcase being... a moderate success, we'd say. In our recent poll, readers were torn between calling the event "good", "poor", and just "okay" — but today, we're not here to judge the show as a whole. Instead, we want to know which PS5 title...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 491
Short but sweet
The school summer holidays are drawing to a slow conclusion, but there are still a mountain of video games to get through. In fact, the schedule gets so hectic from here on out, you may need more than the weekends to get through it all. Aaron Bayne: I'm on reviewing duties for Firewall Ultra, so I'll be donning Sony's headset for...
Poll Did You Buy Armored Core 6?
Core fans
It's almost surreal to think that a series like Armored Core is currently one of the biggest talking points in gaming, but that's the power of modern FromSoftware. The latest game in the long-running mecha series — it's only been a ten-year hiatus! — is out now on PS5 and PS4, but will you be adding to the hype? As always, we want to...
