Pat thinks highly of his FPS skills, but Halo 1 on Legendary kicked him to the curb. How did he learn to overcome its challenges?

Vagrant Story’s plot is confusing and dense, and presented with little to no exposition dumps. Pat rallies all the information on hand to make sense of this complex, character driven drama.

Supraland is janky, easy and filled with exploitable mechanics. So why is Pat so high on the game?

Call of Duty 1 emphasised immersive gameplay over cinematic storytelling. Which is more effective at delivering a compelling experience?

The Lost Vikings blends elements of platforming and puzzle solving to create a unique experience. Do these two genres suit each others needs, or are they fundamentally opposed?

Diablo’s systems became increasingly elaborate with every entry into the franchise. But at what cost?

Pat thinks the main story of Cave Story is atrocious. But is there more to the narrative of Cave Story than its central thread?

Psychonauts has mediocre gameplay, so why is it such a fun game to play? The answer lies in its presentation…

Outer Wilds is ostensibly a game about exploring the Galaxy. But as you gradually piece together its mysteries, a feeling of melancholy grows…

Policenauts tries to blend the buddy-cop genre with science fiction. How well does this mishmash of ideas hold up under scrutiny?

Thief is just a stealth game. But is that narrow focus precisely the reason its stood the test of time?

Its no surprise that Kirby is awful. But why and how does it elicit such feelings of frustrated rage?

Max Payne is the definition of cliche, but its story is brilliant anyway. Why is it so compelling when it rips off every modern crime movie under the snowstorm?

Pokemon Sword and Shield is at the swirling centre of controversy. Why is everyone so upset about seemingly minor changes to the beloved franchise?

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is a relaxing and enjoyable experience, despite putting you on a tight clock for 100% of its game time. Why is it we view certain games as intense and others more meditatively?

RPGS scale from fully modular to utter rigour and everything in between. Patrick takes a look at the pros and cons of each system.

FPS games are often derided as being nothing more than dumb, action packed fun. But not all FPS games are created equal.

Megalomaniac Villains should invest in a Bachelor of Business and an auditing program.

Silent Hill 2 is frequently lauded for its atmosphere. But how consistently is that atmosphere upheld?

Ape Escape was praised on release for its innovative use of the Dualshock joysticks. But what’s it like to use these controls today, 20 years later?