The Blood of Dawnwalker: PS5 Review

Developed by Rebel Wolves
Published by Bandai Namco
Platform: PS5

RPGs have largely felt like they've had stale mechanics for a while - and in terms of storytelling, the narratives have all began to drift into each other, all a variation on a theme.

So it's refreshing to say that The Blood of Dawnwalker takes the mechanics and the staid narrative and drives some new ambition and idea into it.

Set in the 14th Century Carpathian mountains, in a world riddled by plague and also with famine nipping at the door, it's the story of Coen, a peasant whose life is changed when he encounters some local vampires known as the Vhrakhiri. With the creatures offering the humans an escape from a world that's on the edge of extinction, Coen soon finds himself converted to their ilk and driven by a desire for revenge, as well as blood.

After a fairly exciting prologue which hints at what's ahead for Coen, and introduces some of the combat, The Blood of Dawnwalker settles into familiar tropes and mechanics of the RPG world. From chopping wood for the family at night to various fetch quests, the game breeds a kind of familiarity for anyone who's ever had cursory interactions with their ilk.

It's no surprise you'll likely recall The Witcher 3, given the fact Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, the former game director for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, is in charge of proceedings. (And the fact Coen looks like kind of Alan Wake Geralt cross won't exactly harm that perception either.)

But make no mistake, The Blood of Dawnwalker is no lazy ripoff or addition to the genre, thanks to a 30 day and night timer that clicks down for Coen. With time ticking against him as he races to save his loved ones, the game bestows on players both a sense of foreboding and urgency as it plays out.

Whether it's making every decision feel like it truly counts or adding pressure to any side-quests you may choose to indulge in, this mechanic shakes up the gameplay and even brings a level of poignancy to the idea of a Dawnwalker, a vampire who can exist in night and day.  

Graphically, the game occasionally dips below its frame rate and there are a few moments when it feels like interacting with the world around Coen doesn't quite gel as it should. But the pull of the time deadline, which is split into 8 parts during the day and 8 parts at night means you're willing to forego some of the occasional drops.

The sharp focus of the gameplay means that every moment feels like it's dripping with potential and also opportunity. It also means no two players will have the same experience as priorities will differ over each mission and every twist and turn.

Combat deals with striking and blocking, with every move feeling like it's more urgent than just button-mashing as the time ticks away in the background. Whether it's draining blood from his enemies to regain health or scrapping away, there's a feral nature to Coen that befits the transformation he is undergoing and the life that has befallen him.

Coen himself benefits from a feeling of tragedy when his world falls apart and he's gifted the curse that will aid his quest and fuels his desire to defeat those who've oppressed his land, his family and his own future. It's here Rebel Wolves' writing comes to the fore and while interactions usually lead to further questions and dialogue options, it's worth noting that none of it ever feels surplus to requirements or like padding in any form.

There's a subtlety at play in The Blood of Dawnwalker that proves to be engaging for even casual fans of the RPG genre and the idea of adding in vampires to the mix is a potent one that the developers have used to their advantage.

What works most about The Blood of Dawnwalker is the fact the game feels like a real world. It's full of people who are suffering, who have a story and who have a say in the ultimate dispatching of those oppressing them - consequently, Coen feels of the people, rather than just a lone wolf who works for the people 

It may have plenty of familiar elements wrapped up in its gameplay, but The Blood of Dawnwalker:benefits from adding a burst of bloody freshness and ambition to a genre that's become tired and stale and less appealing as time goes on.

I Swear: DVD Review

Cast: Robert Aramayo, Shirley Henderson, Maxine Peake, Peter Mullan, Scott Ellis Watson

Director: Kirk Jones

There's plenty in I Swear which feels formulaic.

Beginning with a present-day event (meeting the Queen, before swearing at her) and then zipping back to his earlier years, this feel-good film about Tourette Syndrome sufferer John Davidson takes on a more poignant and tragic edge, given his recent appearance at the 2026 BAFTA Awards.

Yet, this at-times heartbreaking underdog biopic is extremely uplifting, thanks to a compassionate direction and an extraordinary performance from both its leads - Watson as the young Davidson and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power's award-winning Aramayo as the older version.

In 1980s Galashiels in Scotland, John is a happy boy. On the cusp of starting secondary school, he's the apple of his dad's eye, thanks to his goal-keeping prowess. But a few days into a new life, it all begins to unravel when involuntary tics emerge and his life devolves into mockery and ostracism at the hands of others - including a family break-up and a cold, clinical mother (Henderson) who's incapable of any empathy.

Things change for Davidson when he meets Dottie (Maxine Peake), a mother dying of cancer, who gives him the sympathetic support he's been denied by society.

What happens next is very easily telegraphed in the world of movie-making - a series of obstacles to be overcome, before inevitable success. (Though any success will feel bittersweet after Davidson's use of the N-word at the BAFTAs).

And while you'd expect a film about this subject to use the Tourette's as a punchline of absurdity thanks to its appearance at the most inopportune moments, every outburst is utterly demoralising and hard to behold.

If Watson is deeply moving as the younger version, Aramayo absolutely knocks it out of the park as the older Davidson. From hints of sadness and frustration behind his eyes to a physical performance which is difficult to watch, he is astounding, while never losing any of the likeable everyman who has a wicked sense of humour.

But rather than mocking Davidson, the film - and by default Aramayo - give him wide berth to show the reality of living a life like this, the isolation and the utter frustration at an inability to just have a normal day. This so easily could have been a film that made a mockery of its subject matter - instead, it becomes a touchpoint for discussion, a window into humanity and a relatably human story about dealing with what life's delivered you.

A truly moving and joyful experience that could have easily lost some of the film's back third, I Swear is the kind of life-affirming thing British cinema does so well so often. It throws open a window into a world we barely know, floods it with pathos and delivers something that's truly unforgettable.

Truxton Extreme: Xbox Series X Review

Developed by Clear River Games
Published by Clear River Games
Platform: XBox Series X

It's hard to believe that shoot-em-ups endure after so long - especially in a world where gaming has become more immersive, more story-driven and more visually rich.

Yet at their heart, the simplicity these games bring with them continue to be their USP - and along with nostalgia for the days back when, the genre continues to grow and endure.

The latest reappearance of an old franchise is the Genesis favourite Truxton, which last vertically blasted its way onto screens some 38 years ago. 

Retooled for the next gen consoles without losing any of its sheen, the game follows the simple method of dodging bullets, shooting enemies and trying to survive - as mentioned, it's simplicity itself and while there is a story mode which incorporates comics and episodic edges, the game really is just keen to continue to do what it needs to - provide bullet-filled levels of colourful chaos.

With power ups to collect and bombs to deploy which soak up both enemy health and on-screen bullets, the game makes use of its mechanics to provide a gameplay experience which is both enjoyable to endure and also offers up a challenge that's hard to sometimes beat.

It helps the package has included a range of modes, from the more forgiving Heart Starter mode to allow you to get used to it, an Arcade style which brings continual action and a 2-minute time trial which is about clearing the enemy away in record time.

Quite happy to do what it says on the tin, Truxton Extreme offers a solid blast of nostalgia to wile away the shoot-em-up urges. It may not deviate from what it has to do, but in truth, that's no bad thing.

Sword Art Online: Echoes of Aincrad: PS5 Review 

Developed by Game Studio Inc
Published by Bandai Namco
Platform: PS5

The world of Sword Art Online is of course a perennially popular one.

So the chance to jump back into that Manga-led world for a game that gives you your own protagonist and then lets you develop the world around you is going to prove enticing enough to many.

But the creation of this latest falls a little short in terms of its engagement with players even though you're one of 10,000 players trapped in a world created by someone else.The twist of course is it's a death game you've been pushed into and death in the game means death in real life too, upping the stakes substantially.

But a mechanic that slows you from levelling up and getting further into the game without a grind proves to be one of the game's more problematic elements, leading to growing frustrations with the game. 

Covering 100 floors and inserting you into the world may seem like a great proposition, but the lack of relative freedom inside the game means that it's very easy to feel like you're trapped in the world, rather than living within it. It's not helped by the fact that even though the world itself looks good, and occasionally spawns monsters for you to fight, it feels decidedly empty and unworthy of plenty of time spent within it.

This is a shame, given how well-populated the world of Sword Art Online as a whole is.

Quests and side missions in the game are also a hindrance too, with a need to level up beyond your means to progress. It's a real barrier for the game and the idea of completing one mission to then have to go back and grind before you can take on the next feels like a really disappointing mechanic to have to endure.

All in all, Sword Art Online: Echoes of Aincrad may deserve praise for deepening some of the Manga lore around it, but the lack of real progression ability and the need to replay and grind proves to be a fatal flaw in its execution - especially for the casual player who's not massively aware of the intricacies of the Sword Art Online world itself.

Star Wars: Zero Company: PS5 Review

Developed by Bit Reactor
Published by EA
Platform: PS5

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars games were everywhere.

Mostly focusing on multiplayer or racing games, the universe was scattered full of their ilk, capturing the vibes of what it was like to be part of either the Rebellion or the Empire.

But despite the joys of Star Wars: Battlefront, none of them fully fused the mix of story with campaign effectively well - aside perhaps from Star Wars: Outlaws, much overlooked and underappreciated.

So the latest game presents a curious proposition in a year when two Star Wars games are about to appear. However, adding in the idea of a turn-based game to a Star Wars universe jaunt has proved to be better than it ought to be and an improvement on anything the Star Wars universe has tried to innovate for years.

You play as Hawks, the leader of a ragtag group of mercenaries known as Zero Company, and a former Republic officer tasked with now protecting the universe from a growing threat. Set during the Clone Wars, Hawks and his group find themselves in substantial debt to one of the Hutt clan and forced to take jobs to pay it off before it's too late.

The story's not incidental to Zero Company and represents a kind of leap forward in terms of narrative that Star Wars games have been lacking for a while, but which delightfully seems to be making a welcome return to the gaming world.

But the bread and butter of Star Wars Zero Company relies on the strategy and successful outcomes of the missions played out during the game - and it's here that the turn-based tactics start to come together to form something cohesive and enjoyable - once you get past the idea that any Star Wars battle or mission would present a stop-start option for those competing in it.

As you progress, you can build up your squad, swapping out mercenaries to come and join your crew and expanding skillsets - it's a solid touch that allows time for you to bond with your compadres. And to further compound that bond, there's an option to build relationships within the team too, whether they agree or disagree with your choice of actions, giving the game a kind of democracy feel that's welcome and immersive.

Characters within the game also feel like they have different loyalties, leading to a general overview that covers all the moral bases. Whether it's Clone War troopers disagreeing with Separatist plans or subtle prejudices seeping to the fore, Zero Company makes great fist of fleshing out the entire world.

In terms of turn-based combat itself, it's fairly simple to pick up even if you've never played an XCOM style game before. With the ability to support your team members, extend zones where if enemies move you can shoot them and various other touches, the turn-based combat feels rich enough to achieve what's needed but also occasionally short enough to feel like you could lose it all within one go.

It's not all perfect though. Cutscenes when you head back to your base are repetitive and the same, leading to a feeling that the game's going through motions. And the camera being blocked during certain turns leaving you to guess whether your gang survived a threat is not a welcome touch either.

But all in all, Star Wars: Zero Company makes a great fist of the idea that the Star Wars universe can feel alive in ways you'd never expect. With an engaging story, different worlds and missions, and characters that feel real, this is one company you'll clearly be happy to fall in with.

Grand Theft Auto VI extended look reveals scale and size of game

Rockstar Games has revealed its first official extended look at the world of Leonida and Jason and Lucia in a 26-minute long showcase of Netflix.

The game, which releases on PlayStation and XBox on November 19, has been highly anticipated.

The extended look showed off the scale of the city, as well as some of the gameplay mechanics for the characters.

From getting fit to scuba diving, to sky-diving revealing the size of the city, the game also demonstrated the Bonnie and Clyde mechanics of Jason and Lucia as their story goes from simple one to crime-ridden chaos on the streets.

For more, watch the Grand Theft Auto VI extended look on YouTube below.