Cocoon is a little gem that, thanks to its immersive puzzle game structure and brilliant concept, completely amazed us. However, also because the game is so beautiful and intense, when we reached the credits after only 5 hours, it felt like we had just started to scratch the surface. Despite this small issue, Cocoon is a product that absolutely deserves to be played.
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Without wasting any unnecessary words, Lies of P is a true gem. Round8 Studio's work is a title that while inspired by the greats of this now hallowed action-rpg sub-genre, manages to stand out thanks to so many small ludic and non-ludic details, including a fabulous reimagining of Carlo Collodi's classic. Accompanied by a play system that demands commitment but at the same time layered in its balance, all gamers should experience this great adventure.
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We are faced with a game that is simply delightful, as much to play as it is to watch and listen to. A dynamic yet tactical combat system and a game world with exceptional level design marked our experience, which we could call addictive. Sabotage Studio has achieved its goal: Sea of Stars seamlessly blends tradition and innovation.
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Enchanted Portals is a title that doesn’t make the grade because, quite simply, it’s not fun to play. We regret being so blunt, especially since the game was developed by only two people, but during our ten-hour playthrough, we genuinely enjoyed ourselves for only one-tenth of the time spent. And, unfortunately, this is more telling than any analysis or consideration we can offer.
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Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy is the classic "bigger, better, and more badass" sequel, as that legend Cliff B. used to say a few years ago. The biggest limitation of the latest work from the Finnish team at Frozenbyte is a side effect of their decision to stay within their comfort zone. We hope that with the next iteration, a true revolution for the franchise will come, as in its current form, it has said everything it needed to say. In an excellent way, it's true, but it has said everything.
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Gamedec Definitive Edition is an isometric RPG that is closer to tabletop role-playing games than to other video game representatives of the genre. Unfortunately, it failed to satisfy us due to an investigative system that feels too random. It's a shame, because the choices do have different outcomes, but it's unfortunate that those choices aren't entirely up to us, but rather left to chance. However, the concept and its visual realization make it a title that is at least interesting.
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Blasphemous 2 is a polished and corrected version of the first chapter that nevertheless loses a hint of its charm due to choices made in terms of accessibility. But if the compromise has to be a title of this caliber, we can willingly accept it. In fact, we want more Blasphemous 2!
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Atlas Fallen is a very good title, with a really interesting and layered combat system, although it suffers from some side variables that invalidate the gaming experience. However, the real merit of the production, surprisingly, lies in the level design of the open maps, which manages to strongly mitigate (or eliminate?) the feeling of wandering around in an aseptic world full of uninspiring activities inserted just to make up the numbers.
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The Expanse: A Telltale Series represents a new beginning for the California-based studio. Never before has the numerical rating accompanying the review been little more than a "decoration," especially considering the circumstances we explained at the beginning. However, the premises are more than decent, and if they are upheld, the new project could represent a new dawn for the studio.
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Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is undoubtedly a remaster we needed. Capcom has brought back a small cult classic from 13 years ago, doing an almost flawless job. The only "limitations" of this new version lie in the design peculiarities of the original release. A small gem, both then and now, that is absolutely worth playing.
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Viewfinder is a damn original puzzle game. The basic idea is excellently developed, thanks mainly to the enormous variety of situations we will experience in the course of the adventure. Nevertheless, we would have preferred something ludically more ambitious, while recognizing the huge design implications closely related to the game concept itself.
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Final Fantasy XVI is a game with some structural issues and a lack of situational variety, but with an excellent combat system, thoughtfully designed with balance and layering in mind. While it wouldn’t have taken much to resolve the initial issues, it is also true that the gameplay and narrative peaks of Final Fantasy XVI will set a new benchmark—not just for the genre, not just for the series, but for the industry as a whole. For this reason, we consider Final Fantasy XVI a masterpiece and are confident it will make history in our favorite medium, despite its flaws and its less "immediate" choices.
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Toodee And Topdee is a title that is perhaps a bit presumptuous because it decides to “step on the gas” not realizing that it has given the gamer a Fiat Panda. But beyond that, it remains a brilliant mix of 2D platformer and top-down puzzler graced with impressive playful variety. And for that we recommend it.
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Stray Blade is a more than decent third-person action-adventure, blessed with a level design and exploration-reward loop that is very satisfying. The combat, despite the developers' efforts to diversify encounter setups with a wide variety of weapons, could eventually become monotonous. However, despite these flaws, Stray Blade remains one of the most interesting AA productions we've had the pleasure of exploring in recent years.
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Afterimage is one of the most surprising titles of the first half of 2023. We unexpectedly found ourselves facing a 2D action-adventure game with a metroidvania structure and some soulslike elements, content-wise massive, developed with care and intelligence. Derivative and perhaps lacking the personality that elevated titles like Hollow Knight to the Olympus, but when holding the controller, it’s so satisfying, thanks to the successful mix of combat and exploration, that we truly consider it a game we’d recommend to everyone.
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After Us, therefore, is a product that is presented as an emotional and sensory experience rather than a video game. An experience emphasized by the stupendous and original art direction that is functional to the purpose and selling point of the product. And on this the developers have undoubtedly hit the mark. However, if the strictly play aspect had received the same amount of attention and care by now we would be talking about a little gem. After Us like this is just a good game, one that we still recommend to everyone for the underlying message it wants to communicate.
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The Lord of the Rings: Gollum has been a really difficult title to evaluate. Without a doubt, it’s a very varied game, but its obvious flaws and its "language", as little immediate as it is fascinating, a legacy of a bygone era (which we loved), make it hard to recommend universally. As we’ve said before, more than on other occasions, ignore the number you'll find here next to it. If you want to take a trip down memory lane, get it, even at the first price cut. If, however, you think this kind of design is outdated, feel free to move on—fortunately, the video game market has never been so full of offerings for all tastes.
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XEL is a highly discouraged title. We are faced with a product that, under "normal" conditions, could have achieved a barely passing grade, and nothing more. In its current state, however, it is a testament to the developers' lack of respect for their audience. It is unacceptable that, in 2023, video games are being released in this condition. We regretfully acknowledge this, but we could not do otherwise.
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Star Wars Jedi: Survivor will have more than a few technical issues, we reiterate, but we still consider it one of the best action-adventures of recent years. The high numerical rating you find accompanying the review was assigned taking these issues into account, to highlight how successful the game still is. To conclude, the best thing we can say about Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is that, in terms of "scale," we think it is one of the few "next-gen" titles on the market. It’s a theme park with countless attractions and set-pieces, vast both qualitatively and quantitatively, which made us realize that finally, someone has started to make use of these new consoles, despite all the "bottlenecks" (both figurative and literal) we've had to go through.
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Bramble: The Mountain King is a ludically anachronistic adventure that nevertheless manages to stand out thanks to the amazing atmosphere that permeates the production, inspired by an impeccable interpretation of the folklore of the Nordic lands. Dark, distressing, disturbing, but also gentle for those with the sensitivity to observe and perceive certain nuances, Olle and Lillemor's fairy tale deserves a chance from all gamers.
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