REVIEW: EDENS ZERO (2025 Video Game) - On Xbox

Review by Jon Donnis

EDENS ZERO brings Hiro Mashima's space fantasy manga and anime into a 3D action role-playing format, and it does so with a lot of energy and style. At the heart of the game is Shiki Granbell and his friends, setting out on a cosmos-spanning adventure that mixes the familiar storyline with original content created under Mashima's supervision. For fans, it means a chance to step back into a world they know, while also experiencing quests and scenarios unique to the game. For newcomers, it is a polished, action-heavy RPG with plenty to discover.

The game opens at a measured pace, and the graphics at first feel a little underwhelming. Stick with it, though, and the scope soon reveals itself. Blue Garden, the planet of Adventurers, is fully explorable, and the freedom to wander, collect cards and notes, and uncover secrets makes the setting feel alive. Across that journey, there are more than 700 equippable items to find, and the customisation system is generous. You can alter appearances with accessories and gear without changing stats, letting you design characters to your taste while keeping their builds intact.

Combat is the real highlight. You take control of eight playable characters, including Shiki, Rebecca, Weisz, and Homura, each with their own Ether Gear abilities and unique fighting style. Close-range brawlers, long-range shooters, weapon specialists, and magic users all play differently, and switching between them mid-battle feels natural. The controls are easy to pick up, and experimenting with different line-ups adds variety. Boss fights, in particular, stand out, demanding focus and rewarding you with the satisfying rush that only a tough win delivers.

Visually, once the game opens up, it comes alive. The vibrant anime aesthetic, bold character designs, and flashy combat effects look striking, and when paired with smooth controls, it feels built for high-energy sessions. The inclusion of Jiggle Physics, while not essential to gameplay, adds to the sense of leaning fully into the anime style. It is light-hearted, playful, and consistent with the tone fans expect.

If there is a criticism, it is a minor one: the map could do with improvement. With so much ground to cover and so many items to find, a larger or more detailed map would make exploring less fiddly. That aside, the game runs smoothly, feels polished, and offers enough depth to keep players engaged for hours.

What makes EDENS ZERO work is that it manages to appeal beyond the existing fanbase. Even if you have never read the manga or watched the anime, it plays as a strong action RPG with character variety, a vast world, and rewarding combat. For long-time fans, the blend of canon story and new material makes it feel like an expansion of the universe they already love.

I went in unsure whether it would be for me, but it won me over. It is packed with content, stylish to look at, and consistently fun to play. A few small flaws aside, it is a confident and polished adaptation. I score EDENS ZERO a strong 8 out of 10.

Out Now on Xbox - https://amzn.to/4p9XZ3U

REVIEW: Lost Twins 2 (2025 Video Game) - On Xbox

Review by Jon Donnis

Lost Twins 2 is a rare kind of puzzle-platformer, one that feels both completely charming and genuinely inventive. At its heart you guide Abi and Ben, two lost twins, across a whimsical polygonal playground where the world itself can be shifted, tiles can be swapped, and entire pathways reshaped at will. It's a clever mechanic that transforms every stage into something both surprising and rewarding. The puzzles themselves are beautifully put together. They're tough enough to make you stop and think, yet logical enough that you never feel stuck for long. Solving them has that wonderful effect of making you feel just a little bit smarter than you are.

Looks wise, the game wears its influences proudly. Clearly inspired by Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, the art style blends soft painterly backdrops with simple, expressive characters and fluid animation. Lighting, composition, and attention to detail give every frame a handcrafted warmth. It's paired with a score that is both soothing and atmospheric, wrapping the puzzles in a layer of calm that makes it easy to lose yourself in the experience.

The gameplay never falls into repetition. The signature sliding puzzle mechanic is joined by pressure switches, lifts, water gates, and breakable domes, with each new level introducing something that keeps the pace fresh. Playing solo is rewarding, as switching between Abi and Ben to achieve different goals feels natural and well designed, but the game shines brightest in local co-op. Working together with a friend to swap tiles, trigger mechanisms, and build paths is where the charm really comes alive. The only drawback is that there's no online option, so you'll need someone on the sofa with you.

What sets Lost Twins 2 apart is its philosophy. There are no enemies, no deaths, no timers, not even much dialogue to push you along. It is purely about discovery, tinkering, and exploration. That makes it as enjoyable for children as it is for adults, and it ensures the experience never feels stressful, only thoughtful and rewarding. The story may be a little light, but the art, the puzzles, and the sheer creativity more than carry it.

It's rare for a game to be this beautiful, this clever, and this accessible all at once. Lost Twins 2 is proof that puzzle games can be both relaxing and exciting without ever leaning on conflict or frustration. A delightful, charming piece of design that works on every level. I give it a strong 9 out of 10.

Out Now on Xbox

https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/lost-twins-2/9nh600hw7hdg

REVIEW: Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (2025 Video Game) - On Playstation 5

Review By Jon Donnis

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater arrives on PlayStation 5 with a weighty legacy on its shoulders. The 2004 original was not only a fan favourite but also the first story chronologically in the Metal Gear saga, setting the stage for everything that followed. Set in 1964 at the height of Cold War paranoia, you step into the boots of FOX operative Naked Snake, tasked with extracting a Soviet rocket scientist, dismantling the nuclear superweapon Shagohod, and facing off against his mentor turned traitor, The Boss. It's a tale of betrayal, loyalty and politics, wrapped in Kojima's familiar mix of high drama and eccentric detail.

At its core, Delta is faithful to what Snake Eater already was. You sneak through jungle and industrial environments, avoid guards and traps, and scavenge weapons and gadgets to survive. The survival mechanics return, where treating cuts, bruises and bullet wounds becomes part of the immersion. In fact, this time, Snake's injuries leave permanent marks, scars that stay with him throughout your playthrough. The camouflage system has been given an extra layer too, with mud, dirt and falling leaves sticking to his gear and leaving him battered and worn as the mission drags on. The Survival Viewer reflects all of this in vivid detail, and the presentation is undeniably impressive.

Delta also caters to both newcomers and veterans with two styles of play. The "New Style" borrows from modern action games with contemporary controls and a free camera, while the "Legacy Style" keeps the fixed camera angles and systems from the original, a nostalgic nod for long-time fans. Even the odd little "Snake vs Monkey" mini-game makes its return on PS5, a quirky reminder of the series' playful side.

The problem, though, is that for all the polish, nothing feels truly new. Underneath the shiny coat of paint, this is still very much a 2004 game, and in 2025, that shows. Some may see that as a positive, after all, it preserves the original vision, but others will feel short-changed. With a 90GB install size and a £60 price tag, it's hard not to question whether this is a remake in spirit or more of a remastered cash grab.

To be fair, Delta is the best way to experience Snake Eater today if you've never played it before. It looks stunning, the mechanics feel tighter, and the atmosphere holds up. But if you already loved the original, you may be left wishing for something braver, something that truly reimagined the game rather than just dressing it up.

I'd call it a good but safe update, one that plays well and respects the source material, but ultimately feels dated. For me, it lands at a 6 out of 10. A solid experience, but not the fresh take many of us were hoping for.

Out Now - https://amzn.to/3UQJZhV

REVIEW: Sokobos 2 (2025 Video Game) on PC Steam

Review by Jon Donnis

Sokobos 2 is a quietly clever puzzle game that takes the classic block-pushing formula and gives it a fresh spin. At its heart, you are loading vases into a cart, but here's the catch: the cart moves too, turning a simple task into a surprisingly satisfying mental workout. It's small, handcrafted puzzles like this that deliver those "aha!" moments you remember, and the game doesn't just rely on repetition. Objects behave in interesting ways: some sink, some float, and some can even form one-time bridges when pushed into water, making you rethink every move.

Set in Ancient Greece, the story is lightly woven through the gameplay. You've upset the Gods and are condemned to collect vases for eternity. It's a nice touch that gives the puzzles a little extra character without ever getting in the way of the solving. Beyond the vases and cart, there are gates, pressure plates, and water mechanics that introduce clever interactions without ever feeling overwhelming. The game is patient in teaching you the rules, then trusts your problem-solving skills for the tougher challenges later on.

Visually, it keeps things minimal, which works perfectly. There's no distraction, just you, the vases, and the puzzles. For newcomers, the learning curve is gentle. For veterans of Sokoban-style games, there's enough nuance and originality to keep things interesting. It feels like the developers learned from the original Sokobos, which sometimes dragged with overly large levels and too many moves. Sokobos 2 keeps it simple and satisfying.

Launching on Steam on 19 September 2025 for $9.99, with a 15% discount at release, it's available for Windows, Linux, and Mac. Overall, it's a solid little puzzle game that respects your time and your brain. I'd give Sokobos 2 a strong 8 out of 10.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3422180/Sokobos_2/

REVIEW: Jacked Up (2025 VR Game) For MetaQuest

Review by Jon Donnis

I've been interested to play Jacked Up ever since the first chaotic trailer dropped, and now that it's finally on my headset, I can say it's definitely a fun VR game, if not groundbreaking. The pitch sounds ridiculous on paper: you're a musclebound rabbit trying to climb a giant tower, live-streaming the whole ordeal to an in-game audience that cheers, heckles, and distracts you while you bounce from one block to the next.

The bouncing feels pretty decent. It's fast, simple, and addictive, I lost count of how many times I smacked into the same spinning bar thingy and tumbled right back to the bottom, only to instantly restart without hesitation. That's the magic here, the game doesn't frustrate too much, it teases you into having "just one more go."

What keeps it from getting stale are the gyms dotted through the tower. Every few hundred metres, you land in a checkpoint guarded by outrageously shredded animals. Ripped frogs, bulked-up chickens, dogs with more muscle than sense, all cheering you on. Make it to the fourth gym and you unlock a Gym Token, which means you don't always have to slog back through the very start again. It's a clever little system that makes progress feel rewarding while keeping the tension alive.

The optional challenges are where the game goes from silly to completely unhinged. One run I was trying to bounce while holding a motivational poster in front of my face, another time I downed a glowing protein shake that made my jumps unpredictable. These "Bro Lab" dares are interesting, especially when your in-game chat starts reacting in real time. That feature might sound like a gimmick, but it really adds to the atmosphere. Having fake viewers roast you mid-run makes the whole experience feel like part-game, part-comedy show.

It isn't all perfect. The visuals are extremely simple, almost bare-bones, and the environments don't change much as you climb. The core loop is strong, but it doesn't branch out into much variety yet. I'm banking on those promised mini-games in future updates to fill that gap. And a big word of warning: if you're even slightly prone to motion sickness, this one could mess you up. Looking down or up at the wrong time is an instant stomach churner.

Still, for the price (just under six quid), it's a brilliant little package. It doesn't overcomplicate itself, it makes the bouncing feel great, and it has enough personality to stand out from the usual crop of VR experiments.

Jacked Up won't win awards for originality or visuals, but it nails what it sets out to do. It's goofy, frustrating in the best way, and weirdly motivating. I'm giving it a solid 7 out of 10, with the feeling it could climb higher if those updates deliver.

Out Now at https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/jacked-up/9440539029392511

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