Riccardo Amalfitano
Empire of the Ants is not just an RTS but a true celebration of nature. The presentation, graphics and emotive music are nothing short of gorgeous, as is the gameplay (albeit simplified to be best handled via DualSense) which entertains, though lacking the depth that characterizes other exponents of the genre. Not to mention that it is really interesting to understand (by experiencing firsthand) the perspective of such tiny creatures doing anything to survive. It is a splendid example - in video game sauce - of how we too often take for granted what is outside our homes and how each of us should take a moment to appreciate the little things. Priced at €39.99, it is an experience we definitely feel like recommending!
Review in Italian | Read full review
The Nixxes team did a practically excellent job of making sure that Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered was markedly more consistent in terms of detail with the sequel, 2022's Forbidden West, and went on to offer a level experience in all respects. The asking price for the upgrade (€9.99) is really paltry compared to the amount of effort put into giving the first installment of the series “a new life” on PS5 and PC consoles. So whether you have already played Horizon Zero Dawn, or if, on the other hand, you have never tried Guerrilla Games' first action-RPG, this remastered is absolutely worth it.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Overall, the LEGO Harry Potter Collection represents a true nostalgia operation. If it has been a while since you last played the original games or you were too young to do so, then - especially for the latter - this is as much of a must-buy as ever. This Collection, doesn't change the cards much compared to the original 2010 bundle and the 2016 remastered, but the additional refinements in terms of graphics and performance are there guaranteeing - therefore - an experience (following the entire narrative arc of the saga) further refined and really enjoyable to live (or relive) for hours and hours of fun, free of bugs, glitches and very fluid thanks to the 60fps to say the least granitic.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is a rather immersive and adrenaline-pumping experience, and although it is not a masterpiece of the horror genre, it is still very interesting, which is hard to find nowadays even in decidedly higher-budget productions. Some elements we didn't like so much, such as the narrowness of some areas that gave us more than a few headaches to get through or the bugs and glitches that - unfortunately - we ran into on more than one occasion. But apart from that, we feel like recommending it to anyone who is looking for a post-apocalyptic horror adventure, with a fair length (about six hours), a balanced level of challenge - net of the aforementioned issues - and a low price (€29.99).
Review in Italian | Read full review
Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports is yet another officially licensed title that fails to tap the potential of a brand with enormous potential. The idea of offering a package with as many as four sports is nice, but the execution leaves something to be desired. While golf and tennis are definitely fun to play, basketball (with reservations) and soccer, the latter of which really needs to be revised, do not convince. Consider also that power-ups don't appear as often as one would expect (and aren't always easily activated), that characters-though they have distinctive traits-cannot access other upgrades, that the AI is incredibly strong and perfect, a few minor technical smears (such as excessive loading) and the omelet is served. If you have friends to play with, you will certainly find some enjoyment, but if you play alone, just leave it alone. With a license as strong as the Looney Tunes license, we were hoping for something more and in the end - once again - we were faced with yet another disappointment and only a sufficient title!
Review in Italian | Read full review
Although it has been almost a decade since Until Dawn first arrived on PlayStation 4 consoles, its teen slasher narrative plot, superb voice actor performances, and nonlinear narrative as well as the setting, are incredibly relevant and captivating, proving without a shadow of a doubt-although the four chapters in The Dark Pictures Anthology and The Quarry were still good games-that the high point for Supermassive Games is and will remain, at least until the release of Little Nightmares III (in which we have great confidence), precisely Until Dawn. A classic with vastly improved graphics and minor gameplay tweaks that offers an even more polished experience. The problem is that this edition costs a whopping €69.99 and mysteriously does not reach the 60 fps achievable by means of backward compatibility of the PS4 version on PS5. In short, although it is one of the best horror titles ever released in video game form, we struggle to recommend it. The quality is there but the price - in our opinion - is really too high for what it offers.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Remaking Silent Hill 2 seemed like a thankless and impossible task, and we imagine it was by no means easy, but Bloober Team pulled it off by modernizing a classic of the genre without distorting, rather making it shine in its own light, what made it so special and beloved by fans. The combat - if a tad "heavy" and not always immediate - works great, the already excellent narrative plot has been expanded and is even more harrowing and emotional, the environmental puzzles are rewarding and never become redundant or frustrating, all underpinned by a horrifying, claustrophobic, terrifying and incredibly immersive atmosphere, further enhanced by phenomenal voice acting and stunningly realistic visuals. You will be frightened and have goosebumps, we guarantee, but you will want more and more (although the backtracking is sometimes a bit frustrating and tedious) until you reach the end credits of this disturbing and profound psychological masterpiece, without a shadow of a doubt, among the best of the last decade. Thank you Bloober Team for bringing this 2001 classic back among us!
Review in Italian | Read full review
Priced at €21.69, Jackbox Naughty Pack might be a good option for those looking for a daring, off-the-wall party game. The Fakin' It and Dirty Drawful modes work and entertain while Let Me Finish simply struck us as odd, confusing, childish, and entirely avoidable. It is a pity that only three games are available in this pack and among other things one of them is also quite ugly, but fans of board games will surely have something to enjoy in Jackbox Naughty Pack as well.
Review in Italian | Read full review
EA Sports FC 25 is, in our opinion, a good exponent of the 30-year-old soccer series with the proper adjustments and new modes. We suspect that EA Sports should move to a less frequent release schedule, even every two years, with seasonal updates in between. Still, Rush mode is an excellent addition and, considering its extensive implementation in the game and specifically in FUT Ultimate Team mode, unlike Volta, bodes well for the future. That said, if you were expecting a radical change, you will be disappointed. The visuals are the same (it is only possible to choose between two different modes), the menus are the same (and they are full of bugs, glitches and sudden freezes) and the gameplay is largely the same, despite painstaking tweaks and refinements that have reduced some mechanics that were overused last year (while introducing others such as too-frequent replays that lead to real pinball). But that's part of being an annual buyer of FC or FIFA, and until EA Sports has a real contender in the market for soccer simulators or similar, don't expect incredible changes or an excellent experience.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Pneumata looked promising in terms of both setting and gameplay. We understand that it was made by a single developer (who certainly made a remarkable and impressive effort to say the least) but unfortunately, serious gameplay shortcomings, especially in terms of the woodenness of several mechanics, the total absence of a map and directions, several technical problems, and sections that were a tad too cramped, led us to a tedious and decidedly forgettable experience.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Thalassa: Edge of the Abyss, tells a poignant, intriguing, rather unhappily tinged story of introspection that takes place entirely beneath the ocean depths. Exploring the remains of the ship - provided we get past the initial stages - is utterly engrossing, and deciphering its mysteries (more than fifty) kept us engaged from start to finish. Yes, some elements don't work very well, such as the menus - a bit difficult to navigate and use - but going over and turning a blind eye, you will really struggle to stop playing this adventure of mysteries and revelations.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP - net of a happy throwback - does not shine (also aided by lazy repurposing on the part of the developer) as we would have expected. The game certainly entertains and does so for the vast majority of the time, with a charm and easygoingness - even today - that is incredible and out of the ordinary. Unfortunately, the upgrade to the graphics (to 4K/60fps), the welcome but insubstantial (albeit discreetly enjoyable) gameplay improvements and the RePOP mode (which we honestly didn't quite understand who it's aimed at), are not enough - also considering the less than stable performance - to justify its €40-plus price tag.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Overall, NBA 2K25 is a nice improvement over its predecessor, thanks to an excellent job of correcting several of the previous iteration's flaws. The gameplay is very solid (starting from the movement on offense, through the contestation of the opponent's shot, to the greater impact that the defense has and the very good AI). All the modes work with the exception of the one dedicated to the WNBA (which will hopefully get the right treatment in the future). However, the biggest flaw of the franchise has not yet been solved, and we refer to the microtransactions and the considerable amount of VC needed to improve your player's build; if you don't have a lot of time to devote to it, it is practically impossible not to use cash, which - in our view - is really an unacceptable constraint. That aside, NBA 2K25 is one of the best titles in the series, if not the best in years!
Review in Italian | Read full review
Ultimately, nearly five years after the initial announcement and with great fanfare, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, launches with problems (some really serious). But if you can look past the glitches, the bugs, the graphical shortcomings, the lack of life in what is supposed to be a 1:1 transposition of Hong Kong, and the numerous, festering server problems, you will find a good driving experience. It almost sounds like a tease, but when Solar Crown works, we guarantee it works for real, with really fun races and with even the exploration on foot being able to offer something that helps Solar Crown stand out. Unfortunately, the obvious criticalities have largely scuttled a product that could have excelled or nearly excelled, and only time will tell if there will be improvements or not; for now we do not feel like recommending, considering the price as well, the purchase of the game, better to wait and see how things evolve in the future!
Review in Italian | Read full review
We didn't want to stop playing Astro Bot, and we guarantee that in the past year, no game has grabbed us like Team Asobi's IP. Astro Bot is the missing piece of the puzzle, a 3D platformer that is nothing short of perfect and that arrives - given the lack of Sony-branded games of weight (with the exception of Concord, which unfortunately didn't get the right response) - at the right time, not only for Sony and PS5 - which needed it like crazy - but for all avid fans of 3D platformers. Astro Bot is a real gem, an outstanding platformer of the modern era that will be much talked about now and also in the near future.
Review in Italian | Read full review
At the budget price of $19.99, Squirrel with a Gun offers a very good platforming experience that is just the right amount of fun and wacky. If you're a fan of games like Goat Simulator, you're sure to love stepping into the shoes of a gun-wielding squirrel runaway. Too bad about the lack of variety (but content coming in the next few months should add that extra bit of spice) and some technical smears, but considering the price, they can absolutely fit.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Doom + Doom II is simply one of the best video game compilations around and is an excellent tribute (both for seasoned gamers and those who have never had a chance to play the aforementioned titles) to id Software's legendary shooter created back in 1993. In short, Doom and Doom II represent, even today (and thanks to the juicy new additions), two wonderful and timeless FPSs!
Review in Italian | Read full review
We likedMadden NFL 25. The action on the field is the best we have ever seen in an American football game, thanks to the new Boom Tech and additions stemming from EA Sports College Football 25, making it a better game than Madden NFL 24. The new animations, lighting system, shadows and all the surrounding elements are excellent. And in case you're wondering, even last year's stubborn and slow menus have been overhauled (thanks EA). Too bad, on the other hand, for the modes, which are pretty much unchanged, but you can't have everything, can you?
Review in Italian | Read full review
Kaku: Ancient Seal is - albeit with the many limitations due to budget constraints - a good representative of the third-person action-adventure genre. The basic mechanics are engaging enough, and the game world, thanks to the variety of biomes, offers an impressive overview. Unfortunately, the narrative is not as deep as it should be and the combat system, although there is a wealth of new moves that players can learn above average, is not balanced very well, which makes combat too mundane and simplified. Fans of the genre will certainly appreciate the four continents and the unique content associated with each. But the whole experience would certainly have benefited if the developer had focused more on the content than on the game map (which is too large and bare of elements).
Review in Italian | Read full review
Anger Foot is a unique FPS/beat 'em up, wacky, violent, wild and nothing short of racy and irreverent. A true action-packed combat simulator. It's stylish and frenetic, and incredibly challenging, but also damn fun thanks to its wild, colorful and highly accessible gameplay with levels full of optional challenges. Perfectionists will be faced with an arduous mountain to climb, but the journey of mighty kicks, once completed, will be even more rewarding. Whether you use the assisted options or work your way up on your own merits, Anger Foot is an explosive title that is truly worth playing. Considering also the price, €24.99, if you are looking for a different experience from the canonical ones, you cannot pass up this cheerfully exaggerated and lighthearted speedrunner FPS, developed by Free Lives and published by Devolver Digital.
Review in Italian | Read full review