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S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a massive game that probably deserves an even longer review to truly do it credit, but as a long-time fan, it’s (almost) everything I wanted from a sequel – and I’m impressed at how well it’s turned out given the long development period and the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Although Lego Horizon Adventures might not be the most interesting Lego title out there as far as exploration and insane amounts of collectibles are concerned, its simple yet addictive combat, beautifully brick-filled natural environments, and charming re-imagining of the world of Horizon nevertheless makes it an entertaining experience – regardless of whether you’re familiar with the original games or not.

Overall, Super Mario Party Jamboree is an extremely fun title that is best played with friends or family. It’s Mario Party at its finest and the sheer amount of fun, enjoyable mini-games makes this a title that will be a hit with its subset of Mario fans. There’s a tonne of things to unlock and so much content here that you’ll be spending a lot of time getting through everything. Super Mario Party Jamboree comes highly recommended from me if you want a solid, fun-filled, wholesome party game to play with friends and family.

There’s an almost arcade-like, PS2-era simplicity to Slitterhead and, depending on how much that kind of experience appeals to you, you’ll either find some enjoyment here or bounce right off it. It might not have the deepest combat, the largest enemy variety, or a massive map packed with places to go and sights to see, but it does have atmosphere in spades – and an appropriately moody and ambient soundtrack to go along with it. Also, those with severe insect phobias should probably avoid this game at all costs. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is reliably entertaining with a robust offering of content across its outstanding campaign, fun Zombies and intense multiplayer. It doesn't do anything particularly new or exciting to reinvigorate the franchise and steer it into a more daring future, but for what it's worth, this is a confident step in the right direction for the series, especially after it started to show shaky legs from last year's Modern Warfare 3. Let's hope that Activision can keep this momentum going.

Reaching well beyond the minimum expected criteria of a “remaster”, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is an excellent update to Aloy’s first adventure. Enhanced for PS5 Pro from launch, owners of the original PS4 release, regardless of whether it’s a physical or digital copy, can upgrade to the remastered version for the reasonable cost of $10 (vs. R949 without the upgrade on the PlayStation Store) – a price I’m confident is more than justified, considering the magnitude of updates and attention to detail seen here, both large and on a smaller scale.

Metaphor: ReFantazio comes from a mature, seasoned Atlus that has a firm grasp on its strengths as a studio by now. By borrowing elements of Shin Megami Tensei and Persona, Atlus breaks down the formula, tightens up the loose screws and rebuilds it into an incredible new game that stands on the foundation of its past successes. It might not make as strong of a first impression as Persona 5 but for Atlus fans, Metaphor is a dream come true and easily one of the best games of 2024.

Overall, Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero is one of the best fighting games in the Dragon Ball franchise. It’s almost exactly what fans have wanted and while there are some mind-bogglingly baffling design decisions that have been made here, this is still a must-play title if you’re a fan of Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super. It’s more Budokai Tenkaichi and one can only hope that a future title builds upon this one’s strong points and takes the franchise to even greater heights. Give the game a try, chances are you will love it if you are a fan of Dragon Ball Z.

Until Dawn’s PS5 outing, while still the same incredibly enjoyable title at its core all these years later (although a new ending does potentially plant the seeds for a future sequel), is hard to wholeheartedly recommend – especially at its current price point of R1,299 (on the PlayStation Store, at least). At the end of the day, it’s up to you whether a visual overhaul and some gameplay switch-ups are enough to justify a full-price pickup. Personally, I’d highly advise waiting for a sale. And if you’ve never played Until Dawn before, there’s nothing wrong with trying out the original, which just so happens to also be a hell of a lot cheaper (R379 at the time of writing) and runs better than the rebuild via backwards compatibility.

Against all odds, the Silent Hill 2 remake is an extraordinary reimagining of Team Silent's landmark title. Bloober Team went out of their way to honour the original without sacrificing any of the important elements that made it a masterpiece. Whether you're a veteran or newcomer, you're going to find a lot to love about this faithful remake that actually elevates the source material in many surprising and unique ways. Silent Hill is finally lives again and I couldn't be happier.