“Spirit of the Samurai” feels unfinished. A lot of gameplay elements feel half-baked – especially the annoying platformer passages. The story didn't grab me either, although the dark setting in feudal Japan would actually be right up my street. In the end, the stop-motion look is by far the best aspect of the game. And that alone is not enough for me to recommend it.
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With “Fantasian Neo Dimension”, “Final Fantasy” creator Hironobu Sakaguchi brings the feeling of the old PS1 JRPGs into the present day. Despite the obvious inspiration, the game doesn't feel outdated thanks to more modern gameplay elements, but on the contrary modern and challenging.
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“Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake” does justice to the original in all respects. The visual and acoustic presentation is simply brilliant. The few additions to the story make sense and don't distort the spirit of the original – even if its storytelling feels a bit old-fashioned. The new quality of life features in the menus and during battle are a welcome addition. Though, I would have liked the option to switch off the random battles completely.
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“Neva” looks and sounds phenomenal. It also has an emotional story that manages without any dialog at all. The gameplay is not revolutionary, but the protagonists control flawlessly. Despite the limited moveset, the game manages to avoid becoming repetitive throughout. The developers at Nomada Studio achieve this through clever changes to the game world and increasingly intelligent enemies. The fact that the game is relatively short also helps. It is just the right length. The developers have improved and expanded the already sensational principle of their first game, “Gris”, in key areas. In short: “Neva” is a must-play.
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In Caravan SandWitch, I explore a beautifully broken world with my caravan in search of my missing sister. I upgrade it over time, which allows me to progress further and further. At the beginning, I enjoyed the calm gameplay. However, it quickly became repetitive and felt more like work than fun. Thanks to the great story, however, I stayed with it until the end. If you like relaxing games and short Metroidvanias, I can recommend Caravan SandWitch. Everyone else should keep their hands off it.
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Visions of Mana plays and looks wonderfully – except for it's stiff character animations. The story is exciting, the battle system offers plenty of variety and the world invites you to explore. Unfortunately, it takes a long time to get there. The story and gameplay suffer from inconsistent pacing. By the time I'm let off the leash, more than half the story is over. For fans of the “Mana” series and Japanese role-playing games in general, “Visions of Mana” is a must-play despite its weaknesses. I still enjoyed my 25 hours or so in the world around the Mana tree. I'm used to Japanese role-playing games always taking a little longer. If you can live with that, I can recommend the game to you.
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Autopsy Simulator offers an exciting, entertaining story - provided you have no problems with performing virtual autopsies on corpses. You shouldn't expect too much from the gameplay. For the most part, the game plays like a tutorial - it's a far cry from a "simulation". Perhaps this will change when the "Autopsy Only Mode" is available. If you are willing to shell out 28 francs / euros for a good story, you can still pick it up.
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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a great throwback JRPG. From the very first minute, I feel at home as an old Suikoden fan. The fun characters, exciting mini-games, dreamy landscapes and catchy soundtrack transport me back to the 90s. The story may not be earth-shattering, but it is still exciting and takes Suikoden as its template. On the other hand, I would have liked to see more innovation in the battle system compared to its spiritual predecessor. It feels outdated.
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"Final Fantasy VII Rebirth" is everything I wish for in a remake as a fan of the original from the very beginning. A dream, but one that is real. "Rebirth" even surpasses the original - and I've only scratched the surface so far.
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Ultros is one of those games that grabs me right from the start, even though it doesn't explain almost anything. Maybe that's why I like it. I like being thrown in at the deep end and exploring the unknown without context. And when that world is as stylish as the "sarcophagus", it's all the better. Unfortunately, some ideas and unlockable abilities are not fully fleshed out. The same applies to the combat system, which suffers from a lack of enemy variety and a low difficulty level. Despite the criticism, I enjoyed playing Ultros. And if you like Metroidvanias, you'll probably feel the same.
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