Danilo Di Gennaro
After a nearly decade-long journey, Ghost Song finally sees the light of day. The Old Moon project, led by Matt White, turns out to be a solid and charming metroidvania that aims to honor Super Metroid and Dark Souls. An inspired art direction supports a rather classic gameplay that competently combines and synthesizes the paradigms of the reference genres, not without some minor smears. A title in which ludics and narrative blend into a beautiful nostalgic song that everyone should have a chance to hear.
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Save Room is a decidedly unscrupulous production. A puzzle game that takes a very clear inspiration from a hugely successful title, without trying too hard to propose elements of intrinsic originality. However, it is precisely the extreme adherence to a successful mechanic that allows the Fractal Projects title to be a very pleasant pastime, relaxing and rewarding in its restraint. A production in its own way honest and sincere that will be difficult not to appreciate to some extent, thanks also to a very accessible price tag.
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Saturnalia demonstrates the ambition and talent of Italian development team Santa Ragione. A classically based survival horror that marries roguelite mechanics within a fascinating investigative adventure steeped in Sardinian tradition and folklore. An incredibly researched production, graced by evocative themes and exciting art direction. It lacks some refinements to the gameplay, as well as more attention to the technical side and artificial intelligence. Marginal flaws, however, that take nothing away from an experience charged with a very strong personality.
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White Day: A Labyrinth Named School is a survival horror that has taken on cult status over the years thanks to its mix of setting and atmosphere. The production by South Korean team SONNORI Corp still manages to convey strong emotions, thanks to some ideas that have since found fortune in modern interpretations of the genre. However, the fidelity of the remake also preserves the issues of the balance of the play formula, which at times is excessively unbalanced toward frustration. A cult title for fans of the genre.
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Smurfs Kart arrives on Nintendo Switch thanks to the capable guys at Eden Games. A production that proves to be ludically convincing, with solid gameplay and a traditional structure in line with the reference genre. Unfortunately, the feeling is that the title has been able to rely on too little development time, due to the scarcity of tracks and modes, as well as the inherent lack of diversification and variety. The title therefore fails to aim for the honors reserved for the sacred monsters of the genre, remaining nevertheless a pleasant title for fans of the brand.
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Space Tail: Every Journey Leads Home is a production that is both bold and traditional. Enjoy Studio and Red Deer Games pay homage to the stories of history's first animal astronauts with a colorful and sensitive action platformer, adding some interesting ideas. Despite what good it proposes, the title stumbles in an overall realization with several smears especially on the playful balance side of each of its parts. It deserves a chance, provided you put in a few too many edges.
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Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway marks the return of arcade racing by the US broadcaster's most famous characters. A kart game packed with content and modes, supporting convincing and at times pleasantly tactical gameplay. Despite the abundance and variety of the Bamtang Games production, the title does not dare as much as it could, merely tracing the stylistic features of the reference genre, giving way to some minor smears in the playful balance. If you are a fan of the genre but are tired of Mario and Crash, SpongeBob and company might be the right choice to spend many hours of fun.
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The Darkest Tales is like a rough little gem, the beauty of which can be admired but has to contend with a few too many rough edges. Artistically and narratively inspired, the Trinity Team production makes a fun and intriguing action platformer by letting itself be carried away by dark fairy tales and surprising transmedia citationism. It is a title that pales the talent of the developers, minus a few smears in the play balance and on the technical side. Give it a chance and you will not regret it.
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Signalis is a love letter to a very specific historical period of survival horror. As such, it inherits much of its merits and flaws, while not sacrificing a vibrant personality. A multifaceted plot is married with an audio compartment that pays homage to Kubrick, in an adventure filled with stimulating puzzles and disturbing discoveries. A work about oppression on a mechanical and narrative level that cannot be missed in the play library of any nostalgic enthusiast.
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Trifox aims to be an homage to the great 3D platformers. The Glowfish Interactive production succeeds in the task for long stretches, thanks to a good personality, excellent level design and interesting customization of the protagonist. Unfortunately, some technical problems and in the play formula, as well as a below-average longevity for the genre, prevent us from rewarding the title as we would like. Do not despair, however: it is an adventure that will satisfy you.
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Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef is a sincere and genuine production that offers a handful of hours of mindless fun. The excellent visual presentation, magnificent soundtrack and solid gameplay are the calling cards of the Belgian team Rogueside. Even with some technical uncertainties found in the Switch version and an all-too-low longevity, the title is still enjoyable and suitable for both fans of the franchise and run-and-gun enthusiasts.
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Black Mermaid comes to the video game world with a product as black as obsidian and as red as the blood pulsing through its veins. Moonscars is a soulslike in which art direction and gameplay merge into a gloomy and fascinating dance, at once ruthless and exciting. A few typical early sins weigh on the production, but any fan of the genre be on guard: this is a moonlight date you will not want to miss.
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Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is simply a triumph. The title does not merely take up and enhance every element that had made Kingdom Battle a success but goes far beyond it. With boldness and courage, the Ubisoft production embellishes the play structure with ambitious and daring choices. Sparks of Hope thus soars to new heights, thanks to the exploration of worlds, intriguing additions to the tactical system, and an abundance of content. Yet another great title in the Nintendo Switch game library.
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Foretales is a bold product. However, sometimes boldness and passion are not enough to make a project completely shine. The fusion of graphic adventure and card game is fascinating and layered, thanks in part to an inspired Disney-esque art direction. But it is precisely this mixture that hides the production's congenital flaws, leading it down the impassable road of repetitiveness and trial & error. With the right awareness, give it a chance: it might surprise you.
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Prodeus gives honor and glory to the classic FPSs from which it is inspired: in doing so, it becomes a must-play shooter itself. Bounding Box crowns a long development journey with an exhilarating title that manages to mix the tradition of the most frenetic shooter with the modernity of an infrastructure open to sharing new community content. Harness your shotgun, there's some demonic heads to be blown off.
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Return to Monkey Island brings the legendary graphic adventure series back to life with a full house. Ron Gilbert and his team return to Monkey Island bringing with them a treasure trove of experience and lore, telling an exhilarating yet sweetly melancholy story. A new masterpiece for the genre, it stands as a candidate for one of the best games of this absurd 2022. If you don't believe it well. Look, there's a three-headed monkey behind you!
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The Spirit and the Mouse is the heartwarming fairy tale that you don't know you want to hear until you hear it. Development team Alblune makes a calm and serene adventure as a brave little mouse, in which exploration is a tool to convey a message of altruism and solidarity. Although the end credits come a bit early, the advice is to take a break from the modern hustle and bustle and take refuge in the serenity offered by The Spirit and the Mouse. Something that perhaps we all need, especially these days.
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Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space improves on the previous chapter in every respect and, thanks to Skunkape Games' excellent remastered work, becomes the best way to enjoy Steve Purcell's freelance police force. The writing is still phenomenal and relevant today, while the play offering continues to be generous and varied. Although it can be enjoyed by any graphic adventure fan, our advice is to play Save the World first anyway in order to enjoy every reference to the crazy Sam & Max universe.
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Skunkape Games signs off on a near-perfect remastered of the first season of Telltale Games' freelance police adventures. Sam & Max Save the World is a title full of fun, interesting puzzles and memorable characters, graced by writing that is still extremely good and disturbingly relevant today. Put your faith in Steve Purcell's characters: you might just discover (or rediscover) a new love.
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Tunic is the fruit of a powerful love for a video game season of the past. After nearly seven years of development work, Andrew Shouldice packs a product in which homages to series such as The Legend of Zelda and the introduction of mechanics taken from the far more modern soulslike series are expertly mixed. In doing so he is able, as if by magic, to move back the hands of time. Tunic succeeds in conveying the same pleasure of discovery experienced by gamers at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, the authentic wonder of which you will return to. A product not to be missed.
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