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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Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a new success for the Team Ninja guys. With some minor adjustments regarding the structure of side missions and the narrative framework (and if we want to be picky, a few technical shortcomings), the latest work from these talented developers could have even earned the label of masterpiece. Referring back to the opening statement, if six years ago, with Nioh, Team Ninja began its maturation journey, today, with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, they have brought it to completion. And we hope that the long-awaited masterpiece crowning their revival will come with the upcoming Rise of the Ronin—they certainly have everything it takes. But that’s another story...
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Clive 'N' Wrench is a more than decent title, but it could have been much more. The excellent control system and the good variety of gameplay situations manage to balance out the overall lack of polish in the product, which could still lead to some mild frustration, as well as its excessive ease, which seems to stem from choices we frankly don't understand. Despite everything, as nostalgic and romantic as we are, Clive 'N' Wrench still deserves a chance.
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Grim Guardians: Demon Purge is an excellent 2D action platformer, with delightful pixel art and a soundtrack that’s always on point. The surprising (a carefully chosen adjective) variety on offer and the excellent balance of difficulty and gameplay situations make it a title that everyone should try, including those who might not be fond of "wild and irreverent, distinctly Japanese games."
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Forspoken was a very difficult title to evaluate. The action-RPG from Luminous Productions is graced with an excellent, functional, and most importantly, fun core gameplay. Unfortunately, this gem is placed within an open world that feels structurally outdated, filled with "filler" activities that are not very engaging. The greatest strength of Forspoken lies in its ability to remain enjoyable even within such an ideally boring structure. For these reasons, and keeping in mind all the previously mentioned criticisms, including those related to the narrative, our recommendation is still to follow the White Rabbit into its hole.
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Clunky Hero is a title that finds its greatest strength in its bold identity. Despite a derivative and flawed play structure, Chaosmonger Studio's title is solid and thoughtfully designed, satisfying and challenging. Admittedly, in some cases even due to the artifice related to the aforementioned approximation, but that's okay. To whom do we recommend it? Everyone, even those who are not fans of the genre, because of the competitive price at which it is sold and the charisma with which the product is imbued.
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Children of Silentown is a precise, solid, timely graphic adventure that manages to keep the player glued to the screen thanks to the unsettling atmosphere that the developers have managed to recreate. This is also and above all thanks to the title's audio-visual department, which is undoubtedly the crown jewel of the production. It’s just a shame about the narrative structure, which, despite its excellent premise, fails to resonate with the player due to a too-random twist in the final stages of the adventure.
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Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration is undoubtedly one of the best collections ever produced, primarily due to its nature as a historical and cultural compendium of those years. The omissions, which are not due to negligence but rather to licensing agreements and/or copyright issues, although they slightly affect the encyclopedic nature of the collection, do not diminish an admirable work carried out with passion. Digital Eclipse deserves praise, especially for their efforts in preserving the materials used, and we can only recommend the collection to all video game enthusiasts.
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Sable surprised us. Its dreamlike, at times auteur-like atmosphere captivated us, and the skillful blend of various game elements ironically trapped us in what is a completely free and customizable experience. Sable rejects all the overly inflated tropes of the more "open" titles of the moment, such as constant markers and indicators, with great mastery. The indie market reaffirms itself once again as a furnace of undisputed gems. Thankfully, more and more creatives are choosing to wear this brave mask. As video game players, we can only be grateful.
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Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are extremely difficult titles to evaluate. We are faced with a production that has evident issues, especially concerning world-building and technical aspects, yet it manages to captivate the player in a mesmerizing vortex, despite all its gameplay limitations, thanks to the immense sense of freedom provided by its open world. Had they been released 20 years ago, our reception would have certainly been much more positive. In 2022, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are "only" a haphazard realization of a dream for a generation of thirty-something kids who deserved more, but who, all things considered, can still feel somewhat satisfied.
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Kukoos: Lost Pets is a very good 3D platformer that, thanks to a clever alternation of game situations and an intelligent and challenging level of difficulty, manages to entertain the gamer from start to finish. Although the price does not constitute an element of evaluation, the price tag of €29.99 (for both the digital and physical editions) is, in relation to the content offering, an additional incentive to purchase Petit Fabrik's title.
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New Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja is an acceptable remake, but with a few small adjustments, it could have become a little must-have for all gamers. A remake that remains in an unfortunate limbo. On one hand, the work done on the original game is commendable, but on the other, more could have been done. There isn’t even an Extra section with concept art or curiosities, for example. Most importantly, if the developers had offered more customization options for the experience, we’d be reviewing what, in a short time, could have become an unmissable cult classic. As it was released, however, we fear many gamers will be left disappointed by the title, and this is a real shame because, at its core, the game is very solid. In summary, "bello e impossibile", as said by an old italian song.
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Cobra Kai 2: Dojos Rising is a title we must recommend against to everyone. And we say this with great regret because the premise was excellent, and it could have been a much better game than the first one, as technically it could boast an enviable variety of gameplay, thanks to the many types of enemies and different side situations, many of which are truly original. But in its current state, it’s unpresentable, and we can’t pretend otherwise. Cobra Kai 2: Dojos Rising is not a bad game; it’s much worse—it’s a "broken" game.
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