Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora does not deviate at all from Ubisoft's well-established “open world” formula and draws so much mostly from its other proprietary IP, Far Cry. However, Massive Entertainment has managed to capture and re-present the feeling of exploring a wonderful and vibrant alien world of lush fog-covered jungles, gigantic windblown plains and floating mountains in which you can run, jump and climb. At the same time, the generic storyline, poor enemy variety, simplistic combat system, and stale and repetitive quests make for a boring rest of the experience. Unless you are a big fan of Avatar and Far Cry, Frontiers of Pandora is a totally avoidable title; if you are really intrigued, we recommend waiting for a drastic price drop before buying it.
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KarmaZoo's unique approach to multiplayer games, emphasizing cooperation over competition, sets it apart in a market saturated with Battle Royale and other competitive game modes. Its charming pixel art style, combined with an undercurrent of kindness and positivity, creates a delightful experience. The game's long-term success, however, depends on the formation of a dedicated online community, which is always a daunting challenge for games of this type. As it stands, KarmaZoo is one of the most enjoyable multiplayer platformer experiences we have played in a while.
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If you have already played UFC 3 and UFC 4, then you will feel right at home in UFC 5. The new iteration from EA Sports is decidedly similar, but features a number of updates in the right areas. The moves are mostly the same, although ground fighting, as well as grappling, have taken a nice step forward, turning out to be-in addition-more accessible. The presentation is also incredible, as are the graphics thanks to the Frostbite engine. Too bad about some bugs (among the most hilarious we have seen in recent years). Aside from these minor issues, EA Sports UFC 5 is an excellent game to spend a lot of time with and one that we recommend to all Ultimate Fighting Championship fans.
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Kona 2: Brume is a fantastic and engaging mystery/horror game featuring a frightening atmosphere and immersive setting. The game excels in narrative-driven exploration, offering a rich story steeped in mystery and mostly engaging puzzles. However, some gameplay elements, such as combat and some narrative choices, do not work properly. That said, the improved graphics and atmospheric design contribute to the overall experience, making Kona II a worthy continuation of the series. If you have not played the original Kona, we suggest you do so before starting Brume.
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RoboCop: Rogue City, represents a faithful homage and a fitting continuation to the vicissitudes of the law enforcement cyborg. The game excellently captures the main elements that distinguish the franchise started in 1987 by Paul Verhoeven, namely over-the-top violence, sharp satirical notes and fierce cynicism not disdaining when necessary some cinematic references that fans will grasp and appreciate. In terms of the combat system - definitely unbalanced in favor of “Robo,” we cannot - net of an AI that is not the brightest and to a pace that is at times too compassed, complain too much. It is possible to use not only the iconic Auto 9 pistol, along with a large arsenal retrievable from downed enemies, but also - as you go along - to unlock new skills and upgrades (useful both for combat but also for dialogue choices and environmental analysis of clues and evidence). Add to that the ability to be able to carry out side quests and research, and you have a product, certainly not perfect, but worth experiencing. Too bad about some technical glitches, excessive loading and slight frame rate drops, which reduce the immersiveness of the action. Otherwise, Rogue City is highly recommended for those who watched especially the first two RoboCops; for novices, it might still be a good start to don the shoes (or rather the armor) of Detroit's most feared Police Officer!
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Stray Souls, despite a lofty incipit, ends up failing in every respect. Unsatisfactory combat system, nonexistent enemy AI, very poor characterization of characters, bugs and glitches of all kinds and forms, and we could go on and on. Sorry because on paper the title developed by Jukai Studios and published by Versus Evil, had great potential. We can only advise against buying it, there is better out there!
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Limerick: Cadence Mansion is a solid action-horror adventure, featuring satisfying pacing, solid and scary gameplay, ad hoc inserted jumpscare, not particularly complex but varied puzzles, and really detailed environments. The result? Net of a vague and confusing narrative plot, an eerie and carefully crafted experience ready to welcome you.
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The METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol. 1, is an edition that in our opinion is absolutely worth having. It includes, in a meaty package, the beginnings of the legendary saga created by Hideo Kojima and published by Konami, allowing, both historical fans and new generations, to experience the exploits of one of the best characters ever: Solid Snake. The cinematic-style storytelling, through the “brainy” chronology and memorable characters, the themes that are still relevant today (such as sociology, genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, memes, existentialism, censorship, conspiracies, information, you name it), are just some of the ingenious (and extraordinary) elements of MGS (hard to find in modern productions). The gameplay-although it is beginning to feel the weight of age-remains extremely valid even today. In purely graphical terms, although it completely lacks 4K support, Sons of Liberty and Snake Eater-even at 1080p-look good and defend themselves (thanks in part to Blu Point's 2012 makeover work), still quite well; as for MGS, on the other hand, sorry for the 30 fps (at 60 it could get there without major problems), while graphically, well - age is definitely felt - so much edginess, flatness and textures that by now - although it must be said (not considering the Twin Snakes version released on Nintendo GameCube) that it is a good port - make it complicated to properly experience
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Marvel's Spider-Man 2 by Insomniac Games is a truly incredible title, featuring a well-written, solid and engaging narrative plot, deep characters-each grappling with “their own personal ghosts”-that evolve nicely during the game campaign, and gameplay, albeit “more of the same,” further refined and improved. Being able to perform parrying and counterattack actions makes the gameplay decidedly more dynamic especially against those enemies, which although still characterized by an AI that is not always brilliant, can really give our heroes and their skills, techniques and gadgets a run for their money. Further embellishing the Marvel's Spider-Man 2 experience, which is essentially the culmination of everything the studio has learned about development on PS5, is the excellent technical and graphical performance. PS5's I/O capabilities negate loading times, allowing a switch from Peter to Miles and vice versa, immediate, DualSense and 3D audio, increase the immersiveness of the experience, and the graphics, thanks to the proprietary engine, are nothing short of breathtaking. More to add? Buy it!
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There is no doubt that NBA 2K24 is once again the best presented sports game on the market, and it is also probably the most comprehensive, with a dizzying selection of modes and features that manage to satisfy all playing styles and tastes. The gameplay surprises, with small additions that certainly make it more accessible. Again, it's a shame that microtransactions are so pronounced, but unfortunately it seems that the developer doesn't want to know about reducing them. That said, NBA 2K24, thanks also to the Mamba Moments, which allow you to relive some iconic Kobe Bryant matches, is definitely worth the price of the ticket.
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Separate Ways is definitely - also considering the price (9.99 €) a well-developed DLC able not only to fill some obvious narrative gaps in Leon's main campaign but also to add an additional layer of depth (thanks to Ada's agility and technological “gadgets”) to an already quite good gameplay, greatly contributing to make the RE4 remake experience - also thanks to the fact that it manages to tie in perfectly with the game's overall plot - really complete and absolutely worth trying.
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Assassin's Creed Mirage finally seems to have brought the series back to its roots and does so in the best way possible. The story and gameplay are indeed very similar to what made Assassin's Creed so popular when it arrived back in 2007 on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC, and the new setting and gameplay mechanics clearly focused on pure stealth, although some might turn their noses up at the drastic reduction of RPG elements, work, entertain and convince. In short, Mirage, if like us you loved the first chapters in the saga of first Altair and then Ezio, represents a new direction that is definitely worth experiencing.
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After a good six long years, Turn 10 Studios' racing title Forza Motorsport is in better shape than ever. The driving experience offered - in our opinion - is fair and balanced, not overly simulative, as perhaps Assetto Corsa or iRacing might be, nor overly indulgent as that offered by Codemasters and EA Sports' F1 23, but it certainly requires the player to pay more attention and dedication - in terms of race and competition preparation - than previous iterations. Between practice sessions, qualifying, races and more, you will soon find yourself “forging” your racing career and achieving great success. All this through an unparalleled driving feeling, even more immersive and immersive, which - thanks to its extensive customization - makes Forza Motorsport can be accessible and affordable for novices while the most avid and seasoned drivers - in addition to finding bread for their teeth - will be enraptured by what is the new era of Forza Motorsport.
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EA Sports has hit the jackpot with EA Sports FC 24, making (but without disrupting its key elements) the most authentic soccer game to date. The gameplay-although it still appears to be rather frenetic-has been slightly improved, allowing (until new updates) for better weighting of one's action, between reasoned passes and ball management (thus reducing-although it still happens during matches-the frantic runs toward the opponent's goal). Good also the physics, certainly more realistic than past chapters, while the Hypermotion V and the optimization through Opta (really incredible the movements of the game kits and hair), make the matches, even more immersive. Just as before, the major focus is on the multiplayer part and in particular on the FUT Ultimate Team mode that offers an even more complete experience thanks to the addition of women's leagues and PlayStyles/playstyles. Overall, the fact that the overall formula has not been disrupted, we like it and it will surely appeal to regulars of the “made in Canada” iteration as well.
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Although it does not innovate the “psychological horror” genre in any way, Ad Infinitum presents a well-written story that manages to skillfully explore the protagonist's wartime traumas. The lack of conventional combat limits so much the encounters with enemies, which end up becoming a kind of extension of the puzzles in the game, but the design of these creatures is wonderful, especially the bosses, which are truly grotesque. It lacks a bit of refinement here and there, and the frame rate is far too erratic. However, for fans of the genre, Nacon and Hekate's title can definitely be more than enough of an experience to experience firsthand.
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We came to the end of Under The Waves with mixed feelings, to say the least. We thoroughly enjoyed the masterfully crafted environments created by Quantic and Parallel; exploring the ocean was fascinating, among large whales, tiny turtles and huge schools of fish, all accompanied and enhanced by some tense and eerie moments that really kept us in suspense. Too bad these sequences end too soon, which left us a little bitter in the mouth. More effort could definitely have been made that would have further benefited a narrative that was sii good but felt a bit feeble on more than one occasion. Not to mention the poor care in Sam's facial animations in some key scenes that fail to convey well the messages and emotions that developer, publisher and the nonprofit association involved in the project (which makes its full “weight” felt with messages and information about the same during the playthrough), would have wanted to convey. Of course at a price of €29.99 one cannot have everything, and we settle for an inspired, emotionally strong product that really leaves its mark
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Phantom Liberty is what Cyberpunk 2077 was originally supposed to be. The plot is masterfully written and is supported by varied missions that - in the 25 hours or so (time that can be drastically reduced if you don't give yourself to exploration) that it took to completely Phantom Liberty's expansion and reach the new ending - literally kept us glued to the screen. This is enhanced by a superlative cast of characters (Idris Elba's performance as Reed is incredible). In addition, the various improvements made in terms of “quality of life,” between new weapons, dynamic events, and especially with regard to the skill tree, make Phantom Liberty a memorable experience, to say the least, that the player can build to his or her liking. If you have already played Cyberpunk 2077, leave the flawed experience of 2020 behind and dive headlong into this DLC; if, on the other hand, you have never played CDPR's creature feature, you will be the envy of many as you can have the ultimate experience in the Night City!
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How 2 Escape is a fun title to play cooperatively with another player. Good puzzles--though some turn out to be really complex--not bad narrative plot as well (though not among the most memorable). If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, BreakFirst Games' game is definitely for you.
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Immortals of Aveum represents Ascendant Studios' first attempt to offer gamers its own fantasy universe in which magic replaces bullets. The very good gameplay (although on several occasions the fighting proved rather chaotic), chock-full of magic and sorcery, is not adequately supported by a solid narrative plot (the interesting incipit literally ends up collapsing in on itself) and more than a few glitches and bugs negatively affect the experience. That said, the potential was all there, and given the experience of much of the development team, we certainly would have expected a better job. Let's keep our fingers crossed for the future!
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Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle represents a definite step forward for Invader Studios. The new survival horror from the “made in Italy” team convinces and entertains. Between unexplained electromagnetic events, bizarre experiments and government conspiracies, the narrative plot develops quite well, with apt twists and turns that manage to keep the story fresh and interesting. In terms of gameplay - however - the leap forward is there and it all shows. The aiming and reloading system has been simplified - which makes for a more solid and immediate experience - while the addition of new gadgets such as the HADES scanner and the Frost Grip, seemed to us more apt than ever, as these are gimmicks not to be used just once but to be firmly relied upon over the course of the game. The enemies are also well done, although they lack some variety that could have given even more depth to the production. In short, if you are a fan of Resident Evil but in general of “old school” survival horror, Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle is a must buy.
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