July was pretty barren on big news and releases, yet there were still twenty-six PS4 reviews and PS Vita reviews that saw some splendid titles emerge from the haze of the summer lull. Here’s the best PlayStation games, followed by the rest.
The Best PS4 Games
The Banner Saga 2: 9/10
An ambitious and yet more elegant evolution over the first Banner Saga, The Banner Saga 2 fires on all cylinders and provides one of the newest and most enthralling strategy series money can buy with an absolutely belting middle act. Much like the horned, Norse warriors that make up the rank and file of its cast, The Banner Saga trilogy is shaping up to be a fearsome entity indeed; its place in the pantheon of great strategy games already comfortably established. (John-Paul Jones)
PAC-MAN 256: 9/10
In every way that a remake of a classic property can be, Pac-Man 256 soars. By enshrining the classic gameplay beats of the 1980 original and thoughtfully augmenting it with new tweaks and changes to keep the game perpetually fresh, few could have perhaps envisioned that back in 1980 Pac-Man would still prove to be one of the most enjoyable and arguably essential gaming experiences you can buy some thirty-six years on. (John-Paul Jones)
10 Second Ninja X: 8.5/10
A furiously engaging speedrunning platformer, 10 Second Ninja X is as much about shaving seconds off your time in each level as it is concerned about shaving slivers off of your sanity, but never before has laying waste to your mental state while running a gauntlet of almost obscenely well-designed platforming levels been so much fun. (John-Paul Jones)
I Am Setsuna: 8/10
I Am Setsuna brings to light all the memorable aspects of what made classic games classics. With the good outweighing the bad, I Am Setsuna embodies old concepts and creates a challenge worth undertaking, even if the pilgrimage to the end is as difficult for the player as it is for Setsuna. (Tim Nunes)
Fairy Fencer F: Advent Force: 8/10
Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force added much needed and requested changes, but not everything seems to have been addressed with this re-release. The different paths you are able to take add more depth to the already well told story. Compile Hearts has once again crafted some great characters and a good combat system that allows you to customize your own move sets and attacks. It’s just a shame that the game’s graphics haven’t been improved from its initial release and don’t even get me started on those terrible side quests. (Garri Bagdasarov)
Hitman Summer Bonus Episode: 8/10
A welcome addition to an already strong series, Hitman delivers once again with two fresh hits that put interesting spins on existing levels. (Neil Bolt)
God Eater Resurrection: 8/10 (PS Vita)
The PlayStation brand has something special in God Eater Resurrection, and developing the franchise even more would be a godsend. With little holding it back, Resurrection makes a strong statement on how the hunter genre should be. (Tim Nunes)
The Rest
Party Hard 7.5
Adventures of Mana 7 (Vita)
Song of the Deep 6.5
Zero Time Dilemma: 6.5/10 (Vita)
As a story, Zero Time Dilemma matches up to the ambition of its predecessors, with some missteps. As a game, it’s significantly less polished, with ideas and changes that nearly always step backward. (Kyle Prahl)
Grand Kingdom 6 (Vita)
Minecraft Story Mode Episode Seven-Access Denied 6
Adr1ft 5.5
Dangerous Golf 5.5
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII: 5/10
A clone of Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence with controls optimized for the PC and not the PS4. ROTK13 lacks any of the basic macro and combat strategy fundamentals of previous titles, making this a sequel in name only. If you liked Sphere of Influence then you’ll enjoy this title too. But for those who waited for an ROTK game, keep waiting. (Dane Smith)
Trials of the Blood Dragon 3.5
MilitAnt is one of those games where you feel no guilt or uncertainty for which game has to go once your hard drive is full. This game had over twenty years of influences, innovation as well as mistakes which it could’ve learned from. For fans of Contra, Metal Slug, Mega Man or Super Time Force –this isn’t for you. It’s a nostalgic assault on the games which inspired it. (Kurtis Simpson)