July was a mega busy month for us lot here at Pure PlayStation and we managed to knock out 22 reviews for you to consume (23 if you count the EPOS B20 mic review). But maybe you missed a few? No problem – we’ve got them all listed here and ranked from highest scoring to lowest scoring, so you know what the team thinks you should be playing – and what you should be avoiding.
Starting with the July 2021 Game of the Month…
Where The Heart Leads – Game of the Month
Armature Studios’ unique take on life and everything that comes with it really struck a chord and it earns its place as the best game of July 2021.
“Where the Heart Leads is a one-of-a-kind experience that will stick with me for a very long time. It’s not often that a game can reach beyond the screen and get me to look around and think about my place in the world and what I could do to be a better man in it.” (Full review.)
Orcs Must Die! 3
“Orcs Must Die! 3 is a must-play game if you have any passing interest in tower defence games. The content on offer is fantastic value and there’s nothing else quite like it on console.” (Full review.)
Chicory: A Colorful Tale
“Chicory: A Colorful Tale is a beautiful adventure where it’s your job to splash life back into this colourless world with the help of your magical paintbrush. You may not be the next Van Gogh or Picasso, but you will have a great time exploring what this land has to offer. With an endearing protagonist and a fantastic cast of characters, this experience will make you profoundly rethink art and mental wellness.” (Full review.)
Streets of Rage 4 – Mr. X Nightmare DLC
“Streets of Rage 4’s first proper DLC is a certifiable banger. The Survival mode alone is worth the asking price with its robust perk system that makes every survival attempt feel fresh, fun, and frantic.” (Full review.)
Cris Tales
“Cris Tales is a classic example of a game that serves as a homage to games of the past, while managing to forge a path all of its own. Solid and satisfying combat merge with a storyline that moves things along nicely and if you enjoy turn-based RPGs, Cris Tales is definitely one to play.” (Full review.)
Omno
“Like a crossword puzzle completed on a Sunday afternoon, Omno challenges you in a relaxed and soothing way, and when you manage to overcome its obstacles, it leaves you with a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment. If you’re looking for a simple but satisfying puzzle experience, look no further – Omno is here.” (Full review.)
SkyDrift Infinity
“SkyDrift Infinity is the arcade sky-racing game that I didn’t know I wanted. With a decent campaign, over a dozen planes to fly, and online/offline multiplayer, it’s hard not to be impressed with this budget release.” (Full review.)
Samurai Warriors 5
“Whether you’re a grizzled Musou veteran with the calloused thumbs to prove it, or a blister-free newcomer to the genre, Samurai Warriors 5 is a fantastic game to play. With more content than you can wave a battle-bloodied katana at, it’s a great value game that’ll keep you in the war for a long time to come.” (Full review.)
Sniper Elite VR
“Sniper Elite VR is a great first-person VR shooter wrapped in the familiar camouflage of Rebellion’s famous franchise. The story is nothing to get excited about but the moment to moment gameplay, whether you’re going for thrills and kills or sneaky silenced shots, is more than worth the budget-friendly asking price.” (Full review.)
Trigger Witch
“Trigger Witch is a satisfying twin-stick shooter with plenty of charm, though it does tend to play it overly safe. The familiar gameplay is deceptively moreish and it’s hard to put down once you pick it up. The lack of challenge is offset by the undeniable charm of Collette’s magical world.” (Full review.)
Blue Fire
“Blue Fire walks a fine line between fair challenge and downright frustrating. Tight controls and a wide variety of tricks at your disposal mean you are never short of something new to try, but its punishing gameplay and frustrating checkpoint system drag the game down. If you like a decent 3D platformer and are willing to be frustrated as often as rewarded, Blue Fire is worth checking out.” (Full review.)
Rhythm n’ Bullets PSVR
“Rhythm n’ Bullets is a solid arcade shooter that’s more bullets than rhythm. It’s fast fun but it can be a bit overwhelming as the challenge increases.” (Full review.)
Akiba’s Trip: Hellbound and Debriefed
“Akiba’s Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed is a challenging experience filled with plenty of memorable moments. If you’re a long-term fan of the Akiba franchise, you won’t be disappointed. Just be warned: it will get weird.” (Full review.)
Indigo 7: Quest for Love
“Get ready to be zapped back to the 90s with Indigo 7: Quest for Love. This colourful hexagon puzzle game has an incredible art style and a genuinely funny coming-of-age story filled with great characters to meet and new ‘foes’ to defeat. Don’t just enjoy this alone as the multiplayer can be played with up to three friends as you compete against each other in a variety of fast-paced puzzle modes.” (Full review.)
Little Witch Academia: VR Broom Racing PSVR
“If you’re a fan of the TV series, there’s little reason to play truant from this one as Little Witch Academia: VR Broom Racing will keep you entertained with its fast-paced races, gorgeous cutscenes, and a delightful cast of characters.” (Full review.)
Crash Drive 3
“Crash Drive 3 is simple, honest fun that’s easy to pick up and play with its variety of game modes and maps.” (Full review.)
Winds & Leaves PSVR
“Winds & Leaves is a really laid back VR experience that is home to some striking imagery. Unfortunately, it’s a little too simple for its own good and how much you get out of your hike across the dustland fairytale will depend on how well you can connect with the game.” (Full review.)
Minute of Islands
“If you enjoy simple, calming platformers, Minute of Islands should be right up your street as Mario it is not. What it does, it does well, but in trying to be deep and meaningful it all feels a little bit short and shallow. Gorgeous to look at and quick to play, this is maybe one for the art critics and those who like their games with something to say – even if I missed what exactly that was.” (Full review.)
Song of Horror: Complete Edition
“Song of Horror has the potential to be a great game for fans of dark, gothic horrors. There’s a great story to be told and the ominous atmosphere, randomly generated scares, and some genius puzzles will keep you coming back time and again – providing you can overlook the janky controls, camera, and some technical issues.” (Full review.)
Open Country
“Open Country does get a few things right with its hunting, exploration, and character growth. Where it falls down is that it tries to be a jack of all trades but ends up a master of none.” (Full review.)
Paint the Town Red
“Paint the Town Red has some interesting scenarios and a surprisingly decent roguelike mode, but it’s all let down by the shallow and unsatisfying combat which strips away any fun.” (Full review.)
Outbreak: Endless Nightmares – Shame of the Month
“Outbreak Endless Nightmares is poor on every level with no redeeming features. The gameplay is dated, the systems are ridiculously convoluted, and the general presentation is poor to the point of insulting.” (Full review.)
