Disney Speedstorm’s Standard Founder’s Pack, Testing the Waters Before Going All In

DLC · Purchased April 18, 2023 · $27.99 via PSN

Disney Speedstorm Standard Founder's Pack — Photo: Gameloft / Steam

The Setup

Disney Speedstorm’s early access launched April 18th, and I grabbed the entry-level Standard Founder’s Pack to test the waters before committing further — a free-to-play kart racer starring Disney and Pixar characters, with the pack offering a smaller allotment of premium currency plus a couple of Founder-exclusive cosmetics.

The Review

It was the cheapest way into early access and it did the job — the Founder cosmetics are exclusive and won’t come back, and it gave me enough of a taste to decide I liked the core racing enough to upgrade later (see the Ultimate Pack post). On its own it’s noticeably thin next to the pricier tiers, and the game itself was still rough at this stage.

What I Liked

Lowest-cost way into early access
Still included exclusive Founder cosmetics
Good low-risk way to test the game

What I Didn’t

Noticeably less content than the higher tiers
The game itself was unfinished/buggy at this stage

The Verdict

Rating: 3/5

Where to Buy

Steam

Dying Light 2: Stay Human, a Parkour Playground Wrapped Around a Shaky Story

Games · Purchased March 25, 2023 · $39.99 via PSN

The Setup

An open-world action-RPG/survival-horror set in the post-apocalyptic city of Villedor. You play parkour specialist Aiden Caldwell, blending free-running traversal with melee combat against human factions and zombie variants, in a world four times larger than the original Dying Light with a day/night cycle that changes zombie behaviour.

The Review

The parkour is genuinely best-in-class and makes just moving through the city fun on its own. It’s a huge, densely detailed world with real verticality, and the choice-driven questlines visibly reshape the city as you go. Combat feels floaty compared to the movement system, and the writing is a clear step down from the original.

What I Liked

Best-in-class parkour/traversal
Huge, densely detailed open world
Choice-driven questlines that reshape the city
Strong 4-player co-op

What I Didn’t

Combat feels floaty against the movement system
Story/dialogue writing is a step down from the first game
Launched with bugs and balance issues

The Verdict

Rating: 4/5

Where to Buy

Hob: A Wordless Zelda-Like That’s Been Sitting in My Backlog Since 2017

Games · Purchased March 24, 2023 · $6.74 via PSN

The Setup

A PSN sale finally got me to pick up Hob, six years after it originally released. It’s a wordless action-adventure from the Torchlight developers — the whole story is told through visuals alone, as you explore a mechanical alien world, solve environmental puzzles, and gradually unlock new powers and areas.

The Review

It’s a genuinely gorgeous, atmospheric world that rewards just wandering around and poking at things. The puzzle design is smart without being obtuse, and there’s a real sense of discovery to it that a lot of modern open-world games have lost. Combat is the weak link — functional but clumsy, and the fixed camera has cost me a couple of avoidable deaths.

What I Liked

Gorgeous, atmospheric world that rewards exploration
Smart, non-obvious puzzle design
Wordless storytelling that still lands

What I Didn’t

Wordless narrative can leave the plot murky
Fixed camera causes a few unfair deaths
Combat feels clumsy next to the exploration

The Verdict

Rating: 4/5

Where to Buy

Pistol Whip, a Rhythm Shooter That’s Somehow Still One of the Best VR Games Around

Games · Purchased March 26, 2023 · $27.99 via PSN

The Setup

A rhythm FPS where you auto-advance through stylized levels, shooting enemies in time with the beat of the soundtrack — part on-rails shooting gallery, part rhythm game. Originally a PSVR title, it picked up PSVR2 support around the new headset’s launch.

The Review

Still one of the most stylish, kinetic games in VR, with the music synced perfectly to the action and smart auto-aim that keeps the pace up without playing itself for you. It won an Immersive Reality Game of the Year award for a reason. Level structure is repetitive once you clear the core campaign, and the small pool of levels means you’re relying on remixes/modifiers for long-term replay value.

What I Liked

Stylish, kinetic presentation synced to the music
Smart auto-aim that keeps pace without overdoing it
Clear visual telegraphing of threats

What I Didn’t

Repetitive level structure post-campaign
Small pool of levels for the amount of remixing needed
Constant forward movement can still cause mild discomfort

The Verdict

Rating: 5/5

Where to Buy

PHOGS!, a Two-Headed Dog Co-Op Game That’s Impossible to Be Mad At

Games · Purchased March 25, 2023 · $11.72 via PSN

The Setup

A cooperative puzzle-platformer starring a two-headed dog, Red and Blue, that can stretch its body between the two heads. Solo or co-op, you bite, grab, and stretch through three themed worlds — Food, Play, and Sleep — each with six stages and a boss.

The Review

Genuinely adorable and charming, with co-op stretching/tug-of-war mechanics that feel creative rather than gimmicky. It’s a great low-stakes couch co-op pick for a relaxed weekend. Camera and controls get fiddly in tight spaces, and the puzzle difficulty is easy enough that it might bore a solo veteran puzzle fan.

What I Liked

Adorable, colorful art style
Creative, unique co-op puzzle mechanics
Great low-stakes couch co-op pick

What I Didn’t

Camera and controls feel fiddly in tight spaces
Puzzle difficulty is very easy

The Verdict

Rating: 4/5

Where to Buy

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered, a GameCube Classic That Mostly Holds Up

Games · Purchased March 24, 2023 · $15.99 via PSN

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition — Photo: Square Enix / PlayStation

The Setup

A remaster of the 2003 GameCube classic — a 1-4 player action-RPG where a young Crystal Caravan traveler journeys the land collecting myrrh to protect their village from poisonous miasma. This version adds enhanced visuals, new voice acting, online crossplay multiplayer, extra dungeons, and a character-customization system.

The Review

The Amano-inspired art style holds up beautifully and the soundtrack is still excellent. Online multiplayer is a genuine improvement over the original’s link-cable setup and makes the caravan loop far more accessible. Combat and mission structure feel dated by modern standards, and I ran into some connection hiccups trying to get a full party together online.

What I Liked

Distinct, still-charming art style
Online multiplayer is a real quality-of-life win
Excellent, nostalgic soundtrack

What I Didn’t

Netcode/multiplayer connection issues
Combat and mission structure feel dated
Customization system leans a bit microtransaction-y

The Verdict

Rating: 3/5

Where to Buy

PlayStation Store