As a platformer, PAC-MAN never really delivers anything special. The game plays smoothly and the gameplay is solid, but it never becomes anything special. The classic arcade games are a nice addition, and the bosses offer a bit more variety, but the levels themselves are often a copy-paste of a new platforming element squeezed into a single level. This certainly doesn't make it a bad or good game, but rather mediocre, and whether that's really what you're looking for is debatable.
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EA Sports FC 26 is one of the biggest steps forward in terms of gameplay, with the Authentic Play mode offering more realism than ever before. In terms of content, the game doesn't offer any unprecedented new features; in fact, it's mainly limited to slightly expanding on existing content. With some fine-tuning, it would be great if the minor bugs that are clearly present here and there could be resolved quickly. EA has therefore primarily focused on improving the overall gameplay with the two modes now present in the game. In my opinion, that's a good move, and it leaves you wanting more.
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Forgive Me Father 2 doesn't require much explanation. It's simply a straightforward shooter that feels a bit like Quake, with fast and brutal gameplay. The illustrative graphics make the game a bit more unique than any other shooter, and the very light RPG elements, including the book that grants you extra abilities, add a touch of variety. The hidden rooms and the keys you can find offer little extra challenge. The game remains fairly linear. Yet, it plays smoothly. If you enjoy a single-player shooter without too many frills, then this is the perfect game for you.
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There have been some gameplay tweaks here and there, but it remains that classic looter shooter of yesteryear. You'll quickly feel at home in the Borderlands world if you've played previous games, and you won't find many unique quirks. As I've explicitly stated, I still find it frustrating that the constant waves and respawns of enemies have to be resorted to over and over again. It creates chaos, which is part of the atmosphere, but also sometimes causes irritation and perhaps even monotony. It's why I still consider Fallout the king of RPG shooters. Fortunately, this feels a bit better in co-op, and you can at least fight together, which offers more progression. In terms of RPG elements, the game certainly has its strengths, as was the case before, and the content-wise, there's absolutely nothing to complain about. Personally, I couldn't really get into the story, and Claptrap didn't really surprise me with its humor. But if you're simply looking for a shooter that delivers plenty of chaos, enemies, and fun, especially in co-op, but definitely offline as well, then this new installment is definitely for you.
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NHL 26 is a game for ice hockey fans in particular. The slightly more arcade-like modes make the game accessible even for beginners, but you still have to sink your teeth into it to truly enjoy it. Shooting isn't simply a matter of kicking something like in soccer games; no, you really have to use the triggers and aim reasonably well. Dribbling and passing also require a bit more skill. The franchise is no longer the arcade game of yesteryear. However, if you're a fan, or if you really want to sink your teeth into it, this game will blow every other game away
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Developer Rogue Factor is to be commended for employing a Player-Flattering approach in a game like this, and it works perfectly for me, with the exception of the puzzles, which are too dull and sometimes unforgiving. Perhaps it even goes too far, as in Act II, the objectives become somewhat confusing. The gameplay may not be particularly special, and the combat often feels repetitive, but the exploration aspect of the game kept me engaged for hours, even bringing me back to various areas. The game offers dozens of hours of content, with exploration taking up a significant amount of time. As mentioned, it might be too much without a walkthrough guide. In total, I spent a whopping thirty hours playing the game before the end appeared, and then you can still complete all the sidequests, including the Good Deeds missions. As the game progresses, you can spend much more time finding the right combinations of characters, investigations, and locations, as the connections can become more complex due to the amount of data you collect. The action is perfectly playable for both beginners and experienced soulslike/action enthusiasts, but eventually the difficulty will increase, and some might find it a bit overwhelming. Ultimately, this is more of an action game than a soulslike, though. At the lower difficulty level, the game is easy for everyone. Hell is Us didn't include the word "hell" in its title for nothing. Are you up for a new, refreshing challenge, where the latter lies mainly in the puzzles? Then I'd love to put you to the test!
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While you might initially struggle to find the interactions, you'll quickly memorize them and string them together as quickly as possible. You'll die, and that's the point. Sometimes you just have to try falling into the water and see what happens. That's precisely the point of the game. If you were to perform and know all the interactions immediately, the game would take less than fifteen minutes, but with a bit of detective work and fiddling, it could easily take two or three hours. Plus, there are puzzle pieces you have to find to complete a puzzle, which adds a bit more challenge. Time Flies is a game unlike any other, and for that reason alone, it deserves a try for any player who enjoys a relaxing yet creatively designed game. The time limit might initially feel like a pressure point, but it works perfectly in this game mechanic, preventing the constant restart of the level from becoming annoying. Time flew by while playing this game! And that alone seems like a good sign to me.
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At first glance, there aren't any major differences between parts 1 and 2. A Paragate, Evolve upgrade trees, and breeding Patapons work a bit differently here and there, but overall, both feel very similar, and you wouldn't expect part 2 to be a sequel. You'll undoubtedly spend many hours with the game, but once you've finished part 1, you won't discover much new in part 2. It feels more like an expansion. I, for one, enjoyed the game for many hours. PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY is therefore a welcome reintroduction to perhaps the best PlayStation Portable game ever. It's therefore remarkable that a part 3 hasn't arrived yet. In any case, we assume this is a preview of a sequel in the franchise!
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The roguelite part is also applied in a wrong way because it would have been better to apply skill-based improvements, with which you can take that little bit of extra permanent skill with you every run. However, they have chosen to make all cards and improvements that you can earn in the run free to play, and that feels a bit less progressive. Battle Train is therefore better in concept than in execution. It could potentially become a great board game, but needs a few more elements to make and keep it addictive. That is currently lacking a bit, which makes the game fall a bit short in terms of content.
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When you have collected the first letter and your first mission actually seems to be over, you have already left many hours behind you. The world of Ruffy is not so big, but in the environments where you can walk, you have a lot to do; from racing to placing magnets to open a door and from solving a wall puzzle to finding collectibles. Everything in this game has its appeal, which makes you quickly lose yourself in the world of the game. Sometimes it takes a while to find the confusing world map, but eventually you will discover enough fun during the search with all kinds of small side-quests and other activities. Of course, nothing is perfect in the game, from the graphics to the gameplay and the mechanics, but in general this game was able to entertain me very well, and especially entertain me for a very long time !
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Copycat is all about the story and the message it wants to convey. From assumptions you make yourself, to families that would rather see you go than come. And from other cats that are only too happy to take your place and mingle in your 'home'. These life lessons are the highlight of the game, and quickly make you forget the mediocre gameplay , the far from impressive graphics and the slight camera bugs. This is not a high-quality game, but it plays well and gives you a calming feeling, and even brings some emotion here and there. Copycat has been out for the PC for some time now and is now finally playable on the console, and honestly, it is definitely worth it for every cat lover, or anyone considering getting a cat. It makes you realize what responsibilities this entails, and that an animal can also struggle with its emotions.
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F1 25 may not feel groundbreaking, but if you've been away for a year like me, the changes feel pretty substantial. This year, it's just a few small details that have been added, but Braking Point in particular is a welcome addition and should actually be added every year. This mode provides more tension and just that little bit of extra pressure that you often don't feel in a career mode. The career mode, on the other hand, feels more bare with the disappearance of the side events that you could play in previous versions and that provided a bit more variety. It was the promo outings, let's say, that allowed you to do something a little different than driving Formula 1, but the interviews have also been removed, for example, which means that the focus is mainly on achieving objectives. Furthermore, the inverted tracks and the connections with the film are minor additions that have their charm, but are otherwise not very groundbreaking. F1 25 has its flaws here and there in terms of experience, especially in the Braking Point mode which feels a bit like an over-the-top drama, but those minor flaws could not stop me from having so much fun and the many, many hours you can put into this game with the amount of content that has grown tremendously over the years. Add to that the rock-solid gameplay, and you have another great sequel in your hands.
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KIBORG is a fun game in terms of concept and especially the ever-new approach to a run, where you try to get as far as possible, is interesting. The upgrade tree that brings permanent upgrades and the implants that you can replace each session means that there is a little bit of tactics involved. The gameplay of the fights, however, quickly becomes boring and too much of the same. You are actually constantly button-bashing, with here and there perhaps some defending and rolling to avoid attacks and armor from opponents. In terms of content, this roguelike does not have that much content due to the repetition that quickly occurs. Considering the reasonable price of the game, KIBORG is certainly worth it for people who find the concept interesting. However, if you expect a high-quality game with addictive gameplay and a lot of variety, then you better skip this game.
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Finding Frankie is a bit of a game with a manual; it has to suit you, or not at all. Players who can't handle insane terror will probably put this title aside after five minutes, while people who love this genre will be completely sucked into the game. The gameplay is certainly not perfect and the controls on the console are not 'your thing' either, just like the quality of the graphics. Still, Finding Frankie has something 'special' that attracted me. Whether this is the game for you, you will have to decide for yourself, but at least you have been warned both positively and negatively.
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Leila is a title that does things a little differently and definitely impresses with its great main soundtrack (there are many soundtracks available) and almost sublime hand-drawn illustrations. The voice acting of the female main character is not overwhelming but is certainly passable. The puzzles are also mostly of a good level, where you don't have to think too much, but where your brain can certainly be put to the test. It is not made too difficult, so that you often make progress after a few minutes. However, the controls quickly cause a tiring left hand due to the constant dragging through the screen and the interaction with objects. If they had been able to improve and limit that in some way, this could have been a gem. However, Leila is definitely worth playing and is perhaps 'the game' that will be overlooked by many too quickly.
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The pixel art style of the game fits well with platformers and this game proves that again. It looks fine in itself, although the game never really makes a big impression. Many textures are reused and every now and then the setting of the level changes a bit, but that's it. In terms of audio, the soundtrack is reasonably present, but it doesn't irritate, although it is quite bombastic. Shadow of the Orient is therefore a fine game that plays well, but doesn't do much special. If you really blast through it, you'll be done within an hour or two, and the game isn't really replayable after that. Furthermore, the gameplay doesn't really expand as you play the game, so you're basically constantly presented with the same platform action. For those who like a challenge, I can recommend this game. However, if you're looking for a unique platformer with depth, you might want to skip this one, although the pain in your wallet will be quite limited.
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The minigames are funny in the beginning, especially jumping the stream, shooting the ball to the hole and the ball bouncing, but no minigame really stands out. The adventure mode is simply too limited in terms of features and the free mode is in fact exactly the same, but then a bit more static in terms of choice for the minigame and levels. In addition, the game offers too little choice. This makes Care Bears: Unlock the Magic a slight disappointment, but perhaps a nice choice for kids around eight years old, who do not feel too old for these care bears. Then you will have to wait a while until the game is in the budget bins given the still quite high price.
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YOUR HOUSE offers a graphically quite simple concept, where you almost get the idea that you are playing an old Flash game, where you also have clicking points that take you to the next frame. The illustrations are very nicely done, but all this is slightly limited by the fact that the game only fills a frame of your screen, and not the entire screen. YOUR HOUSE also requires a lot of perseverance. You can ask for hints of course, but even with that you sometimes really have to figure out what the solution is. However, if you really like reading, digging deep and solving puzzles, then this is undoubtedly a great adventure for you. With about five hours of gameplay, including research and a lot of trying and thinking, you will be busy with this narrative game for quite a while.
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In general, PGA Tour 2K 25 is a great game, with which I do not want and cannot directly make a comparison with its predecessors, but want to look at it more from a 'newcomer's side'. As a welcome golfer who likes an accessible game with sufficient content, which can go into both the basics but also in many details, you are at the right place with this title, although there are unfortunately not many modes available. In terms of new features compared to its predecessor, it seems very reasonable when you put it all together. To say that a lot has changed in the field of golf games since my long break? I can answer that question with a 'no'.
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Turbo Overkill is a great game that contains quite open worlds. The game offers platforming combined with a lot of shooting and that works quite well. The gameplay is the highlight of the game, although each level seems a bit like the other. The upgrade features are attractive in themselves and especially improving your robotic body makes the gameplay change slightly over time. The secret environments, the secret levels and the many content of the game ensure that you will have a large package of content. The extra modes are not special and compared to the PC game there is no multiplayer or mods present. The platforming and shooting work great, and are not directly comparable to a Quake or DOOM, but just plays well. At some point you may have seen it all, but apart from that I was able to finish the three chapters, divided into multiple levels. So do you like a lot of chaos and do you not attach much value to visual quality, but do value good gameplay? Then Turbo Kill might be 'the shooter' for you.
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