Simone Cantini


410 games reviewed
73.4 average score
75 median score
42.0% of games recommended
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Sep 12, 2025

Cronos: The New Dawn proves that survival horror can still evolve without losing its essence. Bloober Team delivers a bold, mature, and unsettling experience that demands patience and emotional resilience. It stands out in a gaming landscape often dulled by safe formulas. If you're looking for a disturbing, thought-provoking title that leaves you feeling vulnerable in the best way, Cronos deserves a spot in your digital library. It's not perfect, but it's honest—and that’s rare in today’s gaming world.

Review in Italian | Read full review

Sep 10, 2025

Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots isn’t the triumphant comeback we dreamed of, but it’s the one we needed. Despite some technical hiccups and clumsy nostalgia, it brings us back to those carefree virtual greens. Hyde took on a heavy legacy and, without reinventing the wheel, honored it with care. If you grew up with Minna no Golf, you’ll find familiar comfort here—maybe a bit stale, but still satisfying. Isn’t that the charm of tradition?

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Sep 4, 2025

Super Robot Wars Y isn’t for everyone, but fans of mecha know exactly what they’re getting: a nostalgic blast of flashy battles, fanservice, and iconic giant robots. Despite some technical hiccups and a slow-starting story, it delivers hours of strategy, customization, and pure mecha fun. The steep content price and lack of Italian localization are drawbacks, but for those who grew up dreaming of piloting Mazinger or Gundam, this game feels like coming home.

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Sep 3, 2025

Robots at Midnight by Finish Line Games delivers a passable experience, hitting its key points but in a simplistic, overly formulaic way. While the project avoids major flaws, its execution feels bland and uninspired—especially puzzling given the crowded release window. It's a decent entry-level soulslike for newcomers with modest expectations, but unlikely to impress seasoned players.

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I had low expectations for Space Adventure Cobra – The Awakening, but Magic Pocket truly surprised me. This digital revival of Buichi Terasawa’s iconic space pirate is both a faithful tribute and a fun, varied action-platformer that captures the spirit of the original series. Despite some minor trial-and-error gameplay and a lack of unlockable extras, it’s well-crafted and offers great value. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to Cobra and his Psycho-gun, there's plenty to enjoy—especially at such a modest price.

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Sep 1, 2025

Midnight Murder Club is a successful experiment—a horror party game that's eerie, strategic, and unexpectedly fun. It doesn’t revolutionize the genre, but stylishly reinvents it by focusing entirely on multiplayer. If you enjoy games that blend tension and fun, and have friends to play with, joining this club might become your next late-night obsession.

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Aug 29, 2025

Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek may not reinvent the genre, but it hits the mark. It captures the spirit of R.L. Stine’s books with a solid story and a well-balanced mix of exploration, puzzles, and action. While the technical side isn’t flawless, the experience remains smooth and enjoyable. With full Italian localization and an accessible plot, it’s a great entry point into survival horror for younger players. Faithful to its source and delivering just the right amount of chills, it’s a solid pick for fans or those seeking a lighter horror adventure.

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95 / 100 - Heretic + Hexen
Aug 11, 2025

For modern retrogaming fans, Nightdive Studios has become a hallmark of quality. Their recent release of Heretic + Hexen confirms their talent in reviving classic gems. This bundle offers optimized versions of two foundational FPS titles, enhanced with smart improvements that smooth out their original rough edges. Despite their age, Raven Software’s classics remain fun thanks to solid, timeless gameplay—further enriched by two brand-new additions. Given the affordable price, there’s little reason to skip Heretic + Hexen. And if you still don’t like them… maybe the problem isn’t the games.

Review in Italian | Read full review

80 / 100 - Luto
Jul 29, 2025

Now in its final form, Luto emerges as a compelling psychological horror. While clearly inspired by P.T., it carves out a distinct identity thanks to its deeply unsettling atmosphere. Rather than relying on cheap jumpscares, Luto builds tension through psychological discomfort, supported by a strong narrative, maze-like level design, and masterful spatial audio. Despite its simple gameplay, it delivers a haunting experience that proves psychological horror still has the power to surprise and resonate.

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60 / 100 - Shadow Labyrinth
Jul 28, 2025

Shadow Labyrinth is a missed opportunity. The concept—reimagining Pac-Man as a dark metroidvania—is bold and intriguing, with promising ideas like mech transformations and classic mazes. But the execution falters: sluggish pacing and minimal character progression make it hard to stay engaged. The level design also takes too long to get interesting, a major flaw for any metroidvania. In the end, it’s an ambitious experiment with untapped potential that needed a stronger push to truly shine.

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Jul 16, 2025

Patapon 1+2 Replay isn't trying to reinvent the franchise born from Japan Studio’s creativity. Still, it's a great chance to relive these iconic rhythm-based adventures. Presented in their original form with minimal touch-ups and helpful accessibility options, they remain simple yet charming experiences. At a fair price, the timeless gameplay alone makes it worth revisiting—especially for newcomers or longtime fans, 18 years after the original debut.

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Jul 14, 2025

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream" is a surprisingly polished gem that fearlessly explores the darker sides of human nature and society. River End Games delivers a rich narrative, memorable characters, and evolving stealth gameplay filled with clever puzzles. High-quality visuals and sound design bring the fictional world of Eriksholm to life, topped off with flawless English voice acting. If you enjoy story-driven adventures and strategy-based stealth games that challenge your mind, don’t miss this one.

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Jul 1, 2025

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach may follow a simple premise—like the single line through two points—but it's rich with layers. Hideo Kojima’s latest creation blends survival management, narrative adventure, third-person shooting, brawling, musical elements, and cinematic flair. After 400 kilometers reconnecting a collapsing Australia, it’s clear this is a lavish production, refined from the 2019 original. While the story may falter at times, the gameplay remains compelling—though unlikely to win over those who didn’t enjoy the first game. Still, it’s a masterclass in high-budget creativity, and when “To The Wilder” plays over the credits, it’s hard not to long for more time on those dusty roads.

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Jun 25, 2025

Ruffy and the Riverside is a 3D platformer with a unique spirit and untapped potential. Its standout feature is the innovative SWAP mechanic, which brings clever puzzles and a refreshing twist to the genre. While its vibrant visual style adds to the charm, the overly long dialogues, limited puzzle flexibility, and repetitive audio hold it back. Despite these flaws, the game shines with originality and is worth experiencing—just be ready to make a few compromises.

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50 / 100 - Tron: Catalyst
Jun 23, 2025

TRON: Catalyst is a visually faithful but ultimately underwhelming attempt to expand Disney’s digital universe. While the story and atmosphere capture the essence of the saga, the gameplay falls flat. Repetitive combat, a basic move set for Exo, uninspired level design, and minimal use of the iconic light cycles make the experience feel dull. Even the time-bending Glitch ability is underused, leaving the game appealing mainly to die-hard fans willing to overlook its flaws for a deeper dive into the Grid.

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90 / 100 - Maestro
Jun 19, 2025

Maestro is easily one of the best music titles available on virtual platforms and missing it would be a real shame. Beyond its unique setting, what makes the experience truly unforgettable is the effortless way it draws you into its gameplay loop—both fun and flawlessly executed. Its strengths lie in a solid visual presentation and especially in the excellent hand tracking, which adds that extra spark. If you're a fan of music games, Maestro is a must-have. Skipping it? Now that would be criminal.

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Jun 16, 2025

While it doesn’t reinvent the genre, Lost in Random: The Eternal Die delivers a roguelike experience with a distinct personality. Its clever upgrade system adds a strategic twist to the familiar gameplay, and the Burton-inspired art style creates a captivating world. A solid recommendation for anyone seeking an accessible yet characterful roguelike.

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Jun 6, 2025

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo" shines as an outstanding metroidvania, reimagined through the unique concept of "yoyovania." The developers masterfully craft a deep and engaging gameplay experience around Pippit's yoyo, paired with smart progression and excellent level design. Despite a limited number of boss battles and occasional platforming challenges, the game stands out for its witty yet profound narrative, nostalgic 16-bit aesthetic, and a superb soundtrack enriched by Yoko Shimomura's touch. With solid localization and accessibility features, it’s a must-play indie adventure, offering around 20 hours of pure gaming joy.

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80 / 100 - Out of Sight
Jun 3, 2025

Despite its short duration, Out of Sight delivers a unique and captivating gaming experience, immersing players in a dark fairy tale rich in atmosphere. The clever camera mechanics, switching perspectives between Sophie and her teddy bear, Teddy, add depth to gameplay and puzzle-solving. While occasional trial-and-error moments may slightly affect progression, its strong narrative, well-paced rhythm, and outstanding sound design create an excellent experience. With its minimalist yet evocative aesthetic, Out of Sight offers a fresh and personal take on the horror genre.

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70 / 100 - to a T
May 30, 2025

Keita Takahashi stays true to himself, and with To a T, he once again defies gaming and commercial conventions. He creates a highly personal experience that, despite its minimal gameplay, delivers a powerful message of tolerance and inclusion. While it lacks in pure gameplay depth, its artistic and narrative strength make it compelling. Ultimately, it's an auteur-driven game that simply needs the right audience to fully shine—just as expected from Takahashi, whom we appreciate for exactly this reason.

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