It’s the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and it’s set to be one of the hottest in the UK as well. So I hope you’ve all got plans for both staying out late and for staying cool while doing so. Don’t forget your sunscreen! Unless, of course, you’re intent on bathing in the cool blue glow of computer and TV screens this weekend. Maybe you’re putting the 24Hr Nürburgring on the telly and just letting the weekend wash over you?
In the News This Week
- Marathon has been delayed as Bungie commit to building on player feedback
- Beat Saber support for PS4 and PS5 has ended
- Donkey Kong Bananza Direct reveals a ton of new gameplay and DK’s adventuring companion
- Elden Ring: Nightreign’s stronger Nightlord variants are appearing from today
- Blood Message is a new single player action adventure game from NetEase
- Xbox and AMD sign a new multi-year partnership for next-gen gaming
- Age of Wonders 4: Archon Prophecy expansion revealed
- Ara: History Untold ‘Living Strategy’ update is now live
Games in Review & Featured Articles
It was a week packed with reviews, so let’s see what came out on top:
- Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army – PS5, XSX|S, PS4, NSW2, NSW, PC – 8/10
- TRON: Catalyst – PS5, XSX|S, NSW, PC – 7/10
- Survival Kids – NSW2 – 7/10
- Rematch – PS5, XSX|S, PC – 6/10
- Zombie Army VR – PSVR 2, SteamVR, Quest 2, Quest 3 – 6/10
- Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster – NSW2 – 6/10
- Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition – PS5, NSW2 – 6/10
Dom also handed in a review of a new official gamepad:
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller – 8/10
Our Switch 2 comparative work continued this week, as Dom looked at ports of Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma and Street Fighter 6 on the new handheld hybrid. I also delivered on a Harry Potter pun that I thought of weeks ago, calling the new Hogwarts Legacy Switch 2 port “transfigurational”. Yes, I’m proud of myself.
We had a fresh Playing With History from Ade, who talked to the team behind Assassin’s Creed: Shadows about Yasuke and historical authenticity.
And Jim dipped into a new game discovery tool called Ludocene.
And rounding out the week, What We Played featured Raidou, Rematch and FBC: Firebreak.
Trailer Park
PowerWash Simulator 2 gets a funky new gameplay trailer
And check out the Donkey Kong Bananza reveal
Your Achievements
- TSBonyman has approached the end of Act1 in Tainted Grail, which has been a 9/10 experience for him so far, as he’s luckily been unaffected by a strange VFX issue that the devs are working to try to resolve. May it remain that way!
That’s the round up for this week’s round up, but I hope you have a great time, whether you’re watching fast cars, hiding from the sun, basking in it or whatever you have planned.
