PowerUp!'s Reviews
Directive 8020 is the strongest release for Supermassive Games since Until Dawn, and it proves there's still plenty of gas in the tank for these types of games. I can say with confidence that Directive 8020 is a must-play/watch for 2026.
When I reviewed Returnal back in 2021, it felt like Housemarque had one foot in the AAA door, politely knocking while clutching a fistful of bullet hell credentials. With Saros, they’ve kicked that thing clean off its hinges
It might not be the cleanest contender in the open-world arena, but it’s easily one of the most interesting. A sprawling, slightly chaotic, thoroughly entertaining swing that connects far more often than it misses.
Buy it with confidence if you’ve always thought two wheels are better than four.
Ninja Gaiden 4 is pure, unadulterated video gaming. It's fast, it's slick and, most of all, it's incredibly satisfying.
For a cosy game to play, cuddled up on the couch and to unwind after a long day, look no further than Keeper.
What’s here is a medieval mosh pit of mayhem that’ll leave you grinning under your helmet, even if it doesn’t quite outshine its elders. Some of the flesh of Doom 2016 and Eternal has been peeled back sensibly in service of a new way; some chunks of epidermis shouldn’t have been extracted at all.
With Atomfall, Rebellion has delivered an exciting survival game with brilliant story hooks and a world you never want to stop exploring.
Overall, the faithfulness to Kubo’s art style is a big drawcard for existing BLEACH fans, and for arena battle fans, it captures the best elements of the game style.
Age of Mythology: Retold isn’t a flawless masterpiece—no game ever is—but it’s a certainly thoughtful, well-executed revival that honours its roots while answering the prayers of discerning modern gamers.
Assassin's Creed Shadows is not a bad game, but it is a flawed one. It's also a beautiful one, an interesting one, a frustrating one, a janky one, a thrilling one and sometimes even a great one. It's a game undone by its own desire to be multiple things all at once.
Split Fiction was like stepping into a delightful video game / pop culture time capsule. It feels like almost every major game – or hilarious industry meme – that ever mattered is here for you to Leo DiCaprio point at excitedly.
Avowed is a genuine triumph and one of the first major releases from Xbox game dev buying spree that will pay dividends. It's a deep, complex and though-provoking RPG from masters of the genre. It revels in being played and tugs at the back of your lizard brain beckoning you back when you take a break.
Stellar Blade is a provocative sword guard thumb-pop that ought to make every fan of the genre snap to attention.
Providing Team Ninja iron out some of the creases in a post-launch patch, this could still be seen as a retainer—possibly a worthy companion piece to anybody hooked on the Shogun miniseries.
I cherished almost every hour I spent with this sequel, and I’m already Buster Sword hilt deep in a second run on Hard. Rest assured, the phoenix rise of this remake is still soaring on an upward trajectory.
When it comes down to that final eulogy, I have way more fond memories of Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden than I do regrets.
Tekken 8 is a hugely entertaining powerhouse of a sequel that’s been well worth the wait. What else is there left to say other than get [your wallet] ready for the next battle?
At the very least, acquire The Last of Us Part II Remastered for its unmissable base combat, then become hopelessly infected by its new fun[gal] layer of arcade challenge addiction.
Whichever way you look at it, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is another fine entry in the modern-era Metroidvania renaissance. It absolutely deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as games like Hollow Knight, Dead Cells, and Metroid Dread.