Andy Watt

Cracking game. One of my favourites on PS4. Definitely one of my all time favourite games, period. Even better on PS5, Critics unfairly panned DG when it came out due to technical issues and open world games having too much stealth, rinse and repeat side content. Yeah but.... Now it's remastered! Yeah, it is not perfect - no game is. But what a game this is! The technical issues from PS4 days are long sorted. The remaster is gorgeous. Runs smooth as anything at 60 FPS. The map is huge, varied, and absolutely beautiful. So detailed. Every location is unique and full of detaul. Loved riding in the snow and crisp blue sunshine or the dark rainy woods at night. Ray tracing makes the forests and mountains really pop. The sound and improved headlights make it even scarier than before to be riding in the sh£t at night. I once jumped my bike into the middle of a horde at sunset ... My adrenaline was pumping as I tried to escape. Looking back, I think the game actually avoids most of the generic Assassins Creed padding it was accused of back in 2019. You actually feel the need to take out nests, hordes, marauder and ripper camps etc. as it opens the region up and makes them safer. You are helping the camps out and it feels it belongs as part of the ecosphere rather than pads the experience. And the zombie hordes... Wow. Few games have given me the feeling of dread, anticipation and satisfaction of taking them out. And I did. Every single one. Be aware though... For most of the game you will run in fear from the freakers. It is only in the endgame you have the resources and skills to take them out. Even then, they are a challenge. This game gets the heart racing more than any other I have played! And the story is good too! A real slow burn. Memorable characters. Playing it again I think Rikki, Iron Mike and Lost Lake is particularly well written. Boozer and Sarah too. Yeah, not perfect. Carlos seems underwritten and the story loses focus at Wizard Lake sometimes as you fetch and carry for the militia. I can understand why the cliches and plotlines were criticised but at worst it serves and generally it is great. You end up caring about Derek, Boozer, Sarah and Rikki, Loved the motorbike too. Sony were very wrong not to green light a sequel. Bend created a classic and - let's face it - there haven't been too many original franchises from this console generation! Well worth playing. I have just ported a NG+ save from my PS4 and loving every minute of replaying! A very different experience starting fully tooled up. I am very jealous of anyone playing this for the first time! Enjoy post apocalyptic Oregon! If you are not "getting it" make sure you play until Lost Lake - everything up to there is basically a huge training level! Honestly, one of the best games ever made.

About 27 hours in and on my third planet now. It is not a perfect game (some repetition can be a bit jarring - I think I broke into the same area 3 or 3 times to complete various missions) but the worlds are all good, there's loads of excellent content (but not TOO much content), the characters and Star Wars feel is spot on and .... I am having a lot of fun.... And I have not even been to Tatooine yet. Doesn't deserve the review bombing it has got. I am fed up of lightsabers and jedi and x wings versus tie fighters so getting to play as a blaster toting Kay Vess as a scoundrel is pretty cool. If you are a Star Wars fan then the game is worth a punt in my view!

The music brought me right back to the '90s as soon as the TR1 menu screen booted up. Those classic levels - the Caves, Lost Valley, St. Francis Folly, Coliseum, Palace Midas - are still some of the best levels in any game I have ever played. Music great. Cut scenes short, gloriously dated, and to the point. It was mind blowing back then. Still great. Love being able to switch to tank controls and original graphics but mostly playing "modern." Warning to any newcomers who did not play on PS1 though... These games are HARD and the controls are WONKY (even the modern ones). You will fight the controls and camera and throw your controller down in disgust as you kill Lara over and over and over again ... But then pick it up and start all over again. It is so addictive. Loving playing classic TR for the first time in 20+ years.