REVIEW: Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy (2026 Video Game) - On PS5

Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy successfully takes the A Plague Tale series in a new direction without losing the atmosphere and storytelling that made its predecessors so memorable. The Greek setting looks beautiful, while the changing environments give each section of the island its own identity. Sophia is a capable and engaging protagonist, with Anna Demetriou delivering an excellent performance. Combat is faster and more fluid than in previous games, while clever light-based puzzles, tense stealth sections and the dual-timeline mechanic provide plenty of variety. The soundtrack and sound design are also excellent, helping create an atmosphere that remains strong throughout.

It is not without its problems. The opening takes too long to find its stride, combat and stealth can become repetitive, and the light-based puzzles occasionally hurt the pacing. The traversal mechanics are fairly simple, while the skill tree adds little to the overall experience. Even so, the story becomes increasingly compelling as it progresses, and the new direction successfully expands the A Plague Tale universe. It may not reach the heights of A Plague Tale: Requiem, but Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy remains an enjoyable and worthwhile addition to the franchise.

Full Review at

https://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2026/08/review-resonance-plague-tale-legacy.html

REVIEW: Buddy (2026 film) - Starring Keegan-Michael Key

Buddy takes the familiar world of 1990s children's television and turns it into a strange, violent and surprisingly entertaining supernatural slasher. Casper Kelly's feature directorial debut benefits enormously from its meticulous recreation of the era, with colourful production design, original songs and practical effects helping to make It's Buddy! feel convincingly like a lost children's programme. The contrast between Buddy's relentlessly cheerful personality and the increasingly horrific events around him provides much of the film's dark humour, while Delaney Quinn, Cristin Milioti and Keegan-Michael Key all deliver strong performances.

The main weakness is that the premise struggles to sustain a full feature. Buddy has an excellent central idea, but the concept becomes repetitive and the film's later detours occasionally weaken its focus. The third act is less controlled, some of the commentary on children's media feels underdeveloped, and the film is ultimately not as disturbing as its premise might suggest. Even so, its distinctive world-building, surreal horror, nostalgia and willingness to embrace its bizarre concept make Buddy stand out. It is an original and well-made horror film that remains genuinely entertaining despite its flaws.

Full Review at

https://www.beentothemovies.com/2026/08/review-buddy-2026-film-starring-keegan.html

REVIEW: Super Arcade Soccer 2026 (2026 Video Game) - on PC (Steam)

Super Arcade Soccer 2026 sounds like exactly the sort of football game that should be great fun. Inspired by the fast, accessible arcade football of the 1990s, it combines cartoon graphics, exaggerated physics, plenty of teams and players, multiple game modes and local multiplayer for up to four players. The presentation is decent, with good sound effects and music, while the unofficial team and player names are an enjoyable throwback to older football games. Seeing The Kop FC and amusingly altered player names such as Mohemed Seleh genuinely made me smile. Sadly, once you start playing, the problems become difficult to ignore. The controls feel poor, players are painfully slow without constantly holding sprint, passing is unpredictable and shooting is particularly frustrating. A quick press of the shoot button can send the ball barely a metre forward, meaning you have to hold the button simply to produce a proper shot.

That is hugely disappointing because the basic concept is so appealing. Arcade football should be fast, responsive and immediately enjoyable, with ridiculous shots, chaotic tackles and simple controls that anyone can pick up. Instead, Super Arcade Soccer 2026 feels like a game that has the features and appearance of an arcade football title without delivering the fun. There is plenty of content here, including cups, leagues, international matches, customisation and multiplayer, but none of that can compensate for gameplay that feels fundamentally wrong. I came away feeling that even an old football arcade game from the 1980s would probably provide more entertainment. Super Arcade Soccer 2026 is a great idea let down by its execution, and in its current state it feels like a game that needed much more development and testing before release.

Full Review at

https://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2026/08/review-super-arcade-soccer-2026-2026.html

REVIEW: StarWars - Yoda Puppetronic by RealFX

The Yoda Puppetronic by RealFX is an impressive-looking 44cm Star Wars collectible that makes a strong first impression. Yoda looks excellent, the outfit is good quality and the voice effects are remarkably convincing, although they are quite quiet and there is no volume control. Left switched on, Yoda will occasionally deliver one of his iconic lines, which makes him particularly entertaining as a display piece. Even someone unfamiliar with Star Wars can find him engaging, as demonstrated by the enthusiastic waving and babbling he received from a curious baby. As a figure for the shelf or sideboard, this is one of the best Yoda pieces I have seen.

The problem is that it is much less successful as a puppet. There are no automated movements, so the joystick and controls on Yoda's back have to be operated manually, and everything feels noticeably stiff. The Force arm control is particularly heavy, while fitting the feet is awkward and the battery compartment is poorly positioned. The lack of Yoda's distinctive white hair is also disappointing, as is the 44cm size compared with the real character's 66cm height. At £79.99, I think the Puppetronic works far better as a display piece than as something to regularly operate. 

Full Review at

https://www.playwithtoys.co.uk/2026/08/review-starwars-yoda-puppetronic-by.html

REVIEW: This Bed We Made (2026 Video Game) on PlayStation 5

This Bed We Made is an enjoyable narrative mystery set in the 1950s Clarington Hotel, where chambermaid Sophie becomes caught up in a sinister investigation. The story steadily draws together its various mysteries, while the period setting creates an atmospheric backdrop for exploring rooms, inspecting belongings and uncovering secrets. Strong English voice acting, enjoyable dialogue, detailed facial expressions and an excellent collection of letters help bring the hotel's characters and their lives to life. The puzzles are well balanced, while the journal provides a useful way of keeping track of clues and Sophie's thoughts. Sound effects such as squeaking doors, keys, locks and the elevator also add to the suspense.

The biggest problem is the game's short length, with a playthrough taking around three to six hours. Some character animations are awkward, lip-syncing can be inconsistent and certain visual details lack polish. The hint system can become repetitive, while important clues are occasionally difficult to spot and some controls feel overly sensitive. A few character backstories also deserved more development. Even so, the consequences attached to your decisions are a genuine strength, with choices affecting how events unfold and potentially leading to different endings. That gives you a reason to return for another playthrough. It may not satisfy players looking for a deeper detective experience, but as a short, character-driven mystery, This Bed We Made is worth a look.

Full Review at

https://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2026/08/review-this-bed-we-made-2026-video-game.html

REVIEW: Pit Panic (2026 Video Game) - on PS5

Pit Panic is a fast-paced 2D platformer built around movement, momentum and quick decisions. Its responsive controls make the platforming satisfying, while the hook gives the game a distinctive mechanic that works across movement, exploration and environmental puzzles. The ability to manipulate materials and objects creates some entertaining challenges, while four distinct biomes provide good visual and gameplay variety. The cartoon presentation and humorous tone also work well alongside the demanding gameplay.

The difficulty is both a strength and a weakness. Frequent deaths, precision sections and occasional trial and error can become frustrating, particularly when mistakes significantly set back a run. The large number of levels, daily challenges and player-created content provide plenty to do, although the basic gameplay loop can become repetitive over time. Pit Panic is an enjoyable game to play in shorter bursts, but its long-term appeal will depend heavily on how much the player enjoys mastering challenging platforming.

Full Review at

https://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2026/08/review-pit-panic-2026-video-game-on-ps5.html

REVIEW: Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026 Film) - Starring Tom Holland

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a surprisingly mature and heartfelt Spider-Man film that puts Peter Parker's emotional journey ahead of wider MCU setup. Tom Holland gives a soulful performance as a Peter struggling with four years of isolation, while Sadie Sink is a standout as Jean Grey. Their shared experiences of loss provide the film with some of its strongest emotional moments. Jon Bernthal's Punisher is also a likeable addition, and the film successfully balances action, humour and emotion.

It is far from perfect. The film is overstuffed with characters and plotlines, leaving Peter occasionally sidelined, while the 145-minute runtime feels unnecessarily long. The episodic structure, excessive MCU setup and Stranger Things-style final act weaken an otherwise strong story. The action is impressive without relying excessively on CGI, although it lacks the invention of the Spider-Verse films. Despite its flaws, Brand New Day delivers a heartfelt Spider-Man story with genuine emotional weight.

Full Review at

https://www.beentothemovies.com/2026/08/review-spider-man-brand-new-day-2026.html

REVIEW: Piroker (2026 Video Game) - on PC (Steam)

Piroker is an unusual attempt to combine poker, roguelike auto battler mechanics and pirate-themed naval combat. It is colourful, sounds good and deserves credit for trying something different, but the central poker concept is where it falls apart. You don't actually play poker, choose cards or use poker knowledge. Instead, you collect relics, fish, pirates and other bonuses that affect your score, with very little explanation of how everything fits together.

The lack of a proper tutorial makes matters worse. Even after several hours, I still couldn't work out why I had won or lost, or what I was supposed to be doing differently. Despite claims of bluffing and strategic play, I never found any meaningful sense of either. Piroker is still in playtest, so there is time to rethink the mechanics, but right now the whole experience feels unnecessarily confusing. There is a potentially interesting idea here, but it needs a serious rethink.

Full Review at

https://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2026/08/review-piroker-2026-video-game-on-pc.html

REVIEW: Hyperstacks VR (2026 Video Game) on MetaQuest

Hyperstacks combines combat, parkour, puzzle-solving and level creation into a colourful VR experience that makes good use of its three core gameplay pillars. Combat benefits from VR weapons, environmental hazards and frantic encounters, while the movement system gives you climbing, grappling hooks, ziplines, jumping, teleportation and skating. The logic systems, powered by Greenlink, add another layer of challenge, with campaign levels introducing the mechanics progressively through character-led quests and interactions.

The level editor is one of Hyperstacks' strongest features, giving players accessible tools for creating enemies, traps, movement challenges, puzzles, logic systems, colours and lighting. Community-created levels add substantial replayability, while fast loading makes it easy to explore new creations. The sheer number of systems can make the experience feel somewhat unfocused if you are looking for one highly polished gameplay style, but the combination works well overall.

Full Review at

https://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2026/08/review-hyperstacks-vr-2026-video-game.html