Author: Leah Williams

XCOM 2 Collection (Chest) Bursts Onto Windows PC, Mac and Linux

Good news for fans of the stellar XCOM series – 2K and Firaxis Games have just announced the release of the XCOM 2 Collection, which features all four DLC packs and the latest expansion, War of the Chosen for Windows PC, macOS and Linux.

Read More

Games Hands On: Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Takes the Fight to the Streets

In Yakuza 6, you can put a dude’s head into a microwave at a convenience store and have the store assistant fry him to death with the push of a button. Aside from being wildly impractical and likely causing lifelong trauma for all involved, the fatality underscores the inherent wildness and absurd humour of the…

Read More

Games Review: Final Fantasy Dissidia NT (PS4, 2018): Fight for your Right

The premise of Final Fantasy‘s Dissidia spin-offs is one we’ve all seen before – the heroes and villains of World A get transported to World B for some wild, yet justifiable reason, and are then thrust into a battle for their lives and the fate of the world. It’s no different here, with Dissidia NT…

Read More

London Comes to Life in Vampyr’s Second Episode, ‘Architects of the Obscure’

In the lead up to the release of Vampyr, the team at DONTNOD have been revealing the creative process behind the game through an episodic web series, covering everything from the architecture, history and mythology.

Read More

Games Review: Monster Hunter World (PS4, 2018): Shining, Shimmering, Splendid

I’m ashamed to say that I’m a latecomer to the Monster Hunter franchise, with my first taste of monster hunting goodness coming late last year in the delightful Monster Hunter Stories. Given that I enjoyed the title so much, I was looking forward to World, but didn’t realise how much it would blow me away….

Read More

Games Review: Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Hacker’s Memories (PS4, 2018): System Upgrade Incomplete

Good news for fans of Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth — if you liked the original, then you’ll love Hacker’s Memories. Bad news of fans of Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth — you’ve seen this all before.

Read More

Games Review: Legrand Legacy: Tale of the Fatebounds (PC, 2018) Combines Classic Nostalgia With A Modern Twist

The modern era of video games has brought with it a boom of classic JRPG-style games. With the popularity of Persona, Fire Emblem and Pokémon ensuring the genre’s continuing success, it’s no surprise, then, that games like Legrand Legacy exist — games designed to celebrate the history and personality of JRPGs from the past.

Read More

10 Things We’re Excited to See in the MediEvil Remaster (And 1 Thing We’re Not)

As has become tradition at Sony’s gaming conferences, CEO Shawn Layden presented 2017’s PlayStation Experience in a novelty shirt. While the design was kept hidden until the final moments of the presentation, the reveal brought with it a spectacular surprise – the return of Sir Daniel Fortesque, and the ‘re-resurrection’ of the beloved MediEvil franchise….

Read More

PC Gaming Set for a Revolution With NVIDIA’S Big Format Gaming Displays

With the introduction of NVIDIA’s Big Format Gaming Displays, PC gaming is set to undergo a theatre-sized revolution, bringing together NVIDIA’s G-SYNC and SHIELD technologies to create a supersized, streamlined gaming experience.

Read More

Games Review: LocoRoco 2 Remastered: Wholesome and Pure Fun

LocoRoco 2 Remastered doesn’t belong in 2017. Or more accurately, 2017 doesn’t deserve its presence. LocoRoco 2 represents all that is wholesome and pure in the world of gaming, and harkens back to simpler, more innocent times. It’s not the hero that we deserve, but we’re very glad to have it.

Read More

Games Review: .hack//G.U. The Last Recode (PS4, 2017): System Upgrade Complete

Before I begin my review, I’d like to discuss a bit of my history with the .hack franchise. When I first discovered manga, the first volume that I ever read was .hack//G.U.+, an adaptation of the original .hack//G.U. video game trilogy. As a young and impressionable child, the series blew my mind, and when I…

Read More

Tech Review: Hasbro’s Dropmix is Automatic, Supersonic, Hypnotic, Funky Fresh

To say that I am in no way musically inclined and yet still managed to pull off some wicked beats with Hasbro’s Dropmix system is testament to its great and highly accessible design. While I went in to our preview expecting to be shamed for my lack of musical talent, I went out with a…

Read More

Games Review: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Switch, 2017): Return of the King

Reliving the opening moments of Skyrim always feels a lot like going home. The music, atmosphere and landscapes always bring me right back to my first moments with the game, when I first discovered how monumental and incredible the game truly was. It feels strange, then, to be reviewing it in 2017, six years after…

Read More

Opinion: Is it time to raise the price of video games?

In the past few weeks, complaints against microtransactions in AAA games have reached a crescendo, with anger directed towards EA’s Star Wars Battlefront II, Monolith’s Middle-earth: Shadow of War and more recently, Activision’s Call of Duty: WWII for their inclusion of paid loot boxes.

Read More

Games Review: WWE 2K18: (PS4, 2017) throws a folding chair in the face of good design

Three things are certain in life: death, taxes and WWE 2K games. As each year rolls around, gamers are presented with yet another WWE game with a fresh lick of paint, a new set of moves and a couple of newer wrestlers here and there. Given the trend, you’d expect 2K would pull out all…

Read More

Our first impressions from the Star Wars Battlefront II beta

This week we had the chance to explore the open beta version of Star Wars Battlefront II, which featured a limited range of maps and modes to explore, as well as new characters, weapons and a whole lot of loot. Chief among the modes present was the ultra fun Strike Mode, which allowed players to…

Read More

Games Hands On: Long Live Terror-Billy in Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

Now, more than ever, we need a game like Wolfenstein II – a game that doesn’t shy away from making strong, political statements, that deals respectfully with the ramifications of mental illness and PTSD, but mostly importantly – lets you kill a whole bunch of Nazis. If I wasn’t already excited about the title, what…

Read More

Video Games Hands On: The Evil Within 2 Explores A World Gone Wrong

I thought I was prepared for The Evil Within 2. “Psychological horror,” I thought, “I can do that.” The moment that the first nightmare broke through a mirror and attempted to chainsaw me to death, I realised just how wrong I was. The playthrough started with series protagonist Sebastian Castellanos making his way through an…

Read More

Video Games Review: Pokkén Tournament DX (Switch, 2017) brings the pain

Given that I skipped the Wii U generation of Nintendo consoles (a decision I absolutely do not regret), I managed to miss Pokkén Tournament when it originally released. For those who made a similar decision, it’s time to go back on it – Pokkén Tournament DX is one of the most enjoyable and incredibly addictive…

Read More

WWE Live: Sydney Is A Smashing Good Time

For those who’ve yet to experience WWE Live, it can described in few words – an absolutely smashing time, in more ways than one. Having attended past events, I knew what I was in for when the lovely folks at 2K Games invited me along to enjoy the show in Sydney this past Friday, but…

Read More

Video Games Review: Monster Hunter Stories (3DS, 2017) is a Tale Beautifully Told

It’s been a long time since I’ve been genuinely surprised by a video game but Monster Hunter Stories achieved just that, and then more. From the distinct, beautifully designed world to the fun combat and exploratory gameplay, the Monster Hunter spin-off left me genuinely floored. For those new to the franchise, Stories marks a perfect…

Read More

Wolfenstein II ‘Freedom Chronicles’ Season Pass Details Revealed

The details of the Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus season pass have been unveiled with the announcement of ‘The Freedom Chronicles’, a series of three DLC packs that extend the story of Wolfenstein across the frontiers of America. Players will step into the books of a former football player, an Army captain, and an assassin…

Read More

John Cena to celebrate 15 years in the WWE with the Cena (Nuff) Edition of WWE 2K18

In celebration of WWE Superstar John Cena’s 15 year career, 2K has announced the Cena (Nuff) Collector’s Edition of WWE 2K18, releasing worldwide on October 17th. The Cena (Nuff) Edition will be limited to 30,000 copies worldwide, and packed with memorabilia and digital content paying homage to the popular star. While the game releases across…

Read More

Return to Tamriel as The Elder Scrolls: Legends hits Android and iOS

Strategy card game, The Elder Scrolls: Legends, featuring characters from across the Elder Scrolls series, is now available to download for free on iOS and Android via the App Store and Google Play Store. Featuring a newer, streamlined interface, immersive deck building, and the recently launched Heroes of Skyrim expansion pack, which includes lore, abilities and fan favourite characters from the game,…

Read More

First Preview: We take Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus AKA Nazi Killing Simulator 3000 for a test ride

If there’s one thing that 2017 has taught us, it’s that Nazi punching is back in style. Given that’s the case, Wolfenstein II has arrived with most fashionable timing. If you’re like me, and you love a good Nazi maiming, then this is the game for you. Last week, The Iris was given the opportunity…

Read More

Ten things we learned from our evening with John Cena

This week, the The Iris had the pleasure of spending a night listening to the brilliantly told stories of WWE superstar, rising actor and rapper, John Cena. From his humble start in life, to the determination of his youth and eventually, his success within the professional wrestling world, Cena recounted tales about his struggle towards…

Read More

The Five Best Games of the “Walking Simulator” Genre

When the so-called ‘walking simulator’ genre emerged in modern gaming, it was treated with a certain amount of contempt. Many claimed games within the genre ‘weren’t real games’, and in many cases, completely ignored their vast storytelling potential. Simple mechanics and a lack of interaction have often drawn criticism, but to deny the impact that…

Read More

New Playstation experience makes browsing your favourite content even easier

Sony has introduced a new, streamlined version of their content driven video experience on PlayStation 4, enabling users to discover and stream video content across the PlayStation Store and third party services. The new interface will allow browsing all in one place for new movies, television shows, live events and other content without having to…

Read More

Here are all the new PlayStation VR titles available for download today

The PlayStation VR lineup has been bolstered significantly this week, with the release of several new titles, including the Spider-Man: Homecoming VR Experience, as well as DLC for brilliant Farpoint. The Farpoint Cryo Pack expansion is the title’s first DLC, and is available for free. The pack includes two new planetary regions covered in snow and ice, as well…

Read More

July’s PlayStation Plus titles to include Until Dawn and new PlayLink title That’s You!

Sony has just announced the PlayStation Plus line up for July, including the critically acclaimed horror title Until Dawn, and the newest game in the recently announced PlayLink range – That’s You! The PlayLink game series is designed to be a fun multiplayer experience that can be enjoyed across PS4, smartphone or tablet. That’s You! is a party quiz game…

Read More