Simple to describe but challenging and demanding to master, Tentacular is a solid foray by Devolver into virtual reality with an original and well-constructed puzzle game. Helping the inhabitants of La Kalma while uncovering our mysterious past as an oversized kraken is an experience enhanced by the PSVR2, which amplifies the active engagement required by the unique gameplay of Firepunchd's work. Despite its occasionally schizophrenic difficulty progression, Tentacular is an interesting and colorful puzzle game where the peculiar control system is worth the price of admission.
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With Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Team Ninja takes a step back from the excellent results achieved with the two NiOh games, providing a fun but less complex and rich product. Our journey through the Three Kingdoms China impresses with its gameplay's intensity and frenzy, which remains highly technical and rewarding but features less customizable and varied progression. The game shows some idea conflicts, evident in the Morale mechanism that encourages level exploration but sacrifices the joy of endless leveling, making missions more accessible for those who don't excel at parrying. Despite these criticisms, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is very entertaining and offers many hours of gameplay for soulslike fans, who will find it a good way to pass the time while waiting for the announced Elden Ring DLC.
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After the Fall doesn't revolutionize the formula made famous by Valve many years ago, but without aiming for revolutionary aspirations, Vertigo Games' title is a solid cooperative FPS experience, combining fun and convincing gameplay with a content-rich structure. While it may not be the most visually stunning PSVR2 title, it delivers an excellent PvE experience and is a great starting point for the genre in the PlayStation VR2 lineup.
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Contrary to the initial expectations, Horizon Call of the Mountain is not a sad and muted tech demo meant only to show off its visuals at the expense of gameplay. While it's not perfect in every aspect, it would be unfair to dismiss the Firesprite spin-off since its gameplay is functional and enjoyable. A majestic sight to behold and physically demanding to play, it requires truly immersing oneself in Ryas' character, sharing his efforts for personal redemption. This title showcases Sony's commitment to this new interpretation of virtual reality, and I hope it's just a small taste of the effort the Japanese producer will need to convince as many users as possible to take this exciting (and costly) leap.
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No, Like A Dragon: Ishin! can't be considered a remake on par with the Kiwami titles, but as a game we never dreamed of playing in a language other than Japanese, we must thank SEGA for their work. Technically, much more could have been done, but given the excellent original structure, we can overlook the technical aspects that reveal its PS3/PS4 cross-gen nature. Isolating this aspect, we are left with a solid and enjoyable experience that brings Yakuza's mechanics to a unique setting (at least for us), introducing one of the series' most fun and layered combat systems. A thrilling and twist-filled work, recommended for fans of Kiryu and company, but also an ideal starting point for new players due to its spin-off nature. Now, let's hope for Kenzan and the two Black Panther titles: dreaming costs nothing...
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The PS5 versions of Moss and Moss: Book 2 are greatly enhanced by PlayStation VR2, making Quill's adventurous world even more captivating and vibrant. The gameplay impact is minimal, remaining unchanged apart from the dual interaction enabled by the two accompanying controllers. The experience's beauty remains engaging and fun as in the original releases. The only flaw is the lack of a free update for those who already own the older versions and the wait for the third episode of this beautiful IP.
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The transition from virtual reality to conventional gameplay is rarely smooth for video games, and Jurassic World Aftermath Collection doesn't escape this. Developed by Coatsink, much of its charm lay in the anxiety of experiencing events firsthand, a sensation drastically reduced when confined to the Nintendo Switch screen. The gameplay concept, weakened by some uncertainties, doesn't mitigate this, resulting in a solid but quickly exhausting title. If you're a fan of the brand, it's worth a try, but watch for patch updates before making a purchase.
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It took some time to finally see BROK The InvestiGator in action in all its scaly splendor, but the wait was worth it, thanks to COWCAT Games. Fabrice Breton's new work presents a unique identity with a mix of well-integrated ideas and high replayability for completionists. Featuring an interesting story we can approach in multiple ways, the French coder's work is recommended for adventure game fans and those who aren't, thanks to the freedom it offers.
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Tetris Effect: Connected and Rez Infinite return to PSVR2 in their best versions, offering the excellent gameplay seen before with unparalleled virtual clarity. Playing with Sony's new headset is currently the most convincing way to experience the blend of game, images, and sounds that Enhance's productions offer. The only downside is the lack of a free upgrade to this new version, but these titles still do justice to their virtual renditions.
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Can a single developer create a great game? Many illustrious examples prove this, and Fight’N Rage is another confirmation. Seba Games Dev's title is a well-crafted gem, offering a lengthy progression with multiple paths and a deeply satisfying combat system. Full of additional content that greatly expands the offering, the brawler's only flaw is its difficulty, which is overly intense in some parts, potentially causing rage quits for less patient players. Despite this, the experience is rich and enjoyable, recommended for genre fans.
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Wanted: Dead had intriguing premises, given the pedigree of the names involved and the intent to blend Ninja Gaiden-style action with SEGA's Yakuza humor. Unfortunately, it collided with mediocre technical execution, characterized by questionable technical and aesthetic performance, and a combat system unworthy of the names attached. Despite its challenge, if such an action game presents its best aspects in the secondary minigames, something has clearly gone wrong.
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SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake doesn't aim to revolutionize, opting instead for a canonical and predictable approach. Despite being too classic in mechanics, the team managed to enrich it with some pleasant variations that add a bit of zest to this multiverse adventure. Fun and colorful in its simplicity, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake could have dared more, but it still provided a satisfying and dignified experience. If you're a fan of the funny sponge, feel free to adjust the rating to your liking.
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Everything sounds great so far, but why not a perfect score? Despite the undeniable effort in making the Dead Space Remake, technical flaws and a non-user-friendly price should not be overlooked. I'm particularly strict regarding remakes, given the production efforts are not equivalent to creating something from scratch. Therefore, the full price is a crucial consideration, especially for those who played the original Isaak's adventure. Coupled with a technical department that, though convincing, has some performance issues, the highest rating remains just out of reach. Despite these criticisms, it's a commendable work, owed to an excellent base still today in terms of gameplay and design. However, I must judge the remaking effort, which is of high quality but not without some flaws.
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Once hailed as a symbol of Sony's external partnerships, Forspoken has buckled under the weight of expectations, transforming from an unintended herald of technique to a rather standard exclusive. Frey's adventure is unlikely to be remembered for its emotional impact, above-average performance, or game design, as Luminous Production's title is as conventional and predictable as can be. Based mainly on its well-crafted combat system, the game features an uneven progression, set in an exciting and rich world but terribly monotonous in its variety. A pleasant game to play, but terribly harmless, and given the many upcoming productions in 2023, it's unlikely to be remembered at the year's end.
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Blacktail is a convincing debut for The Parasight, though it shows some naivety, perhaps due to an excessive desire to impress players. The moral choice mechanism is too subtle and lacks real gameplay impact. The combat system, while not to be discarded, is overly rigid and quite challenging. Despite these issues, Yaga's tormented story is entertaining, thanks to a well-characterized game world and effective script. A debut with flaws, but its strengths confirm it as an enjoyable title with a decent personality.
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Do Not Open starts with great premises and quickly presents some brilliant ideas, creating an oppressive and mysterious atmosphere. Unfortunately, the house of cards collapses when Nox Noctis's gameplay mechanics take center stage, turning the game into something truly scary for all the wrong reasons. Exasperated trial and error, sometimes absurd difficulty (compounded by unreadable hints due to poor screen rendering), and an enemy that, once appearing, makes everything frustrating and unplayable, all undermine the debut of the Spanish team. Despite showing some promising elements, they need to refine their aim.
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Last Days of Lazarus represents a bittersweet debut for Darkania Works, showcasing their ability to craft an intriguing plot and well-oiled gameplay concepts. However, the flip side is the game's thin interactive structure, with major complications (for the player) stemming from an annoying cursor and a somewhat disjointed story progression. Ultimately, it's a production with undeniable potential and passion from the development team, but it needed more depth to truly soar.
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At the end of the day, after the roughly five hours needed to reach the credits, Asterix & Obelix XXXL: The Ram From Hibernia earns a passing grade, given the evident limitations that partially undermine Osome Studio's new work. These limits revolve around a concept that is too simple and predictable, with co-op and interesting puzzles being its main strengths, aside from the character charm. The adventure is solid overall but lacks that spark to make a real difference, especially in a crowded release period. What remains is an honest and enjoyable game, proportionate to its price, but not one to leave an indelible mark on players' memories.
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The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me really frustrated me, as it was supposed to represent the culmination of Supermassive's experience in this project but fell victim to some glaring design flaws. While the gameplay variety and scope are the broadest of the series, thanks to some embryonic introductions, the overly stretched duration diluted the moments of true active tension, which, though always present, is more tied to environmental construction than actual gameplay situations. This isn't a complete failure, as fans of the British team's creative vision will still enjoy it, but the hidden potential of this sadistic story is less explosive than it could have been. Now we wait for the next season, hoping the expansion ambitions find their right sublimation.
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The definitive Kratos? Bold and perhaps counterproductive, but after completing Santa Monica's epic orchestrated effort, I'm ready to take a firm stand—favorable towards our trusted Spartan. God of War: Ragnarok is undoubtedly the series' pinnacle, thanks to enviable balance and maturity, unimaginable at its carefree beginnings. Kratos has evolved, and so have we, deserving applause for guiding us effectively through this winding path of change. Further innovation after the 2018 revamp would have been risky, so Eric Williams and the team wisely refined the new course initiated by Cory Barlog, delivering a game that improves and expands on its predecessor. The result is a must-play for Sony console owners and those who love great games. For everyone else, there's an endless catalog of productions to explore.
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