I generally dislike roguelikes, but when they're as fun and full of personality as Paper Cut Mansion, even I can momentarily set aside my biases. Space Lizard Studio's game, despite some minor flaws, offers an original and enjoyable recursive experience, even after multiple deaths. The unique art style, combined with a fitting and well-crafted soundtrack, makes the game very intriguing and well-built, with high replayability incentives from the numerous available endings. It's just a shame about a few technical and design uncertainties.
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Playing with the past, if not done skillfully, can be risky. Given Square Enix's decades of experience, the current state of Tactics Ogre: Reborn is somewhat disappointing. While the structural updates are mostly convincing, the difficulty balance, due to new features, sometimes irreparably undermines the overall experience—unless you're an impeccable strategist with extraordinary patience. The potential for success after 27 years was evident, considering the game's tactical RPG excellence, paving the way for successors like Final Fantasy Tactics. Hopefully, it will soon shine on our screens again without losing its charm to poor decisions. Dreaming is free, after all.
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The Chant isn't a masterpiece that will redefine the horror genre, but it achieves a respectable overall result. Brass Token's production merits are found in its elements, which, while not revolutionary, work well together. The result is an engaging and tight adventure that avoids unnecessary padding, aiming for the goal without unnecessary frills. Despite some fundamental naivety, which partially undermines the overall outcome, Jess's adventure deserves attention from survival horror fans. It debuts in a crowded period, but that doesn't affect its rating here.
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A winning team doesn't change, as I said at the beginning, but if the changes yield results like those in Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, then we can safely go beyond this old saying. While recognizable in its main structure, the Rabbids' new foray into the Nintendo world has modernized the appreciated mechanics from Kingdom Battle, enhancing tactical potential and freedom of movement and stage approach. Fun and well-crafted, Ubisoft Milano's new work will surely delight fans of their previous work and convince those not yet charmed by one of the most bizarre and unexpected crossovers in the gaming world.
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I won't beat around the bush: Dragon Ball: The Breakers is insufficient in every aspect, lacking both in gameplay and technical quality. Bandai Namco's work does little to entertain, confined to a single game mode plagued by imbalance, making most matches frustrating. The core idea isn't bad, but without content updates and fixes, it's unlikely this asynchronous multiplayer offshoot of Akira Toriyama's work will last long.
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Cryptic as you like, and hampered by a frustrating inventory management system, it would be unfair to reduce Signalis to these flaws alone. Analyzed as a whole, rose-engine's production is a design and atmosphere gem, reviving the original survival horror concept and adapting it to the present without losing its essence. The story may be hard to grasp, and you might curse like in a soulslike after returning to the magic chests countless times, but its dark allure is hard to resist. Sure, you might drop it out of frustration, but the urge to finish it will always be there. Perfect? No. Fascinating? Absolutely.
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Overreaching? After thorough analysis, while I personally enjoyed The Last Oricru, it's hard to promote GoldKnights' debut, marred by design and execution issues. The title is built on ambitious pillars inspired by notable references, but production flaws make it hard to swallow in late 2022. It's a shame, as the potential for a notable title was there. Hopefully, this setback serves as a lesson, and the team can stay on course for their next game.
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There's little to say about PGA Tour 2K23 other than it's currently the best golf title on the green. HB Studios' experience shines through in new features, especially the appreciated three-touch swing system. The game offers a solid and satisfying framework, with an impressive online competitive mode providing hours of fun. A slight technical boost would have been welcome, as the visuals aren't always up to date, but with no real rivals, it's hard to ask for more.
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Looking for an over-the-top soulslike that comically pays homage to the genre's basics while introducing some clever ideas? The Last Hero of Nostalgaia could be perfect, as long as you accept its imperfect difficulty balance and sometimes chaotic level design. Over the Moon's title isn't without flaws, but its love and respect for the genre, wrapped in thick irony, are strong and palpable. This makes the missed potential even more apparent, as budget constraints limited what could have been much more. It arrives in a period where there's little room for "good but not fully realized" soulslikes.
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Did I enjoy it? Despite being the last (for now) soulslike of 2022, Moonscars is a convincing and fun debut for Black Mermaid. Though not entirely original and with some power balance issues, its element mix works well. It may not challenge those who can defeat Malenia blindfolded with a corkscrew-connected pad, but Gray Irma's quest for truth is compelling, thanks to a solid structure and well-crafted combat system. It's worth considering.
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Tunic returns to PlayStation after a successful debut on Xbox, and Sony console owners should be thrilled and ready to purchase for this simple reason. Andrew Shouldice's digital translation work hasn't diminished the original's quality, bringing it to Japanese hardware in great shape, with solid gameplay blending various inspirations. If you love Zelda-inspired action/adventures and don't mind a slightly above-average difficulty, the little fox's adventure might be perfect for you.
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Inscryption is a masterpiece, a gem, a must-play title. Stop reading and go buy it on the PlayStation Store. Do I need to elaborate further? To flesh this out a bit more, I'll repeat ad nauseam: don't be deceived by its card game nature. Daniel Mullins' title hides much more beneath its seductive surface; just have the patience to look beyond appearances. Don't hesitate, the reward will be immensely satisfying. Okay, I think I've finally said enough.
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We've reached the end of this analysis of The Last of Us Part 1, and for me, the initial questions don't entirely favor this re-release of the Naughty Dog classic. While the technical polish is evident and palpable, the stark contrast between the price and the quality and quantity of the offer can't be overlooked. The content is identical to the PS4 release, which can be found for a fraction of the cost (or free with PlayStation Plus). Thus, the rating below considers this imbalance, which, while not affecting the game's quality, makes this commercial move seem too bold and audacious this time.
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Just as I mentioned a few days ago for Steelrising, it was impossible for Thymesia to emerge unscathed from a clash with the behemoth that is Elden Ring. Nonetheless, considering the project's scale and its price, OverBorder Studio's debut in the gaming scene is commendable. Although highly derivative in themes and mechanics, their effort to shuffle the deck regarding the combat system is appreciated, even if, personally, the emphasis on parrying wasn't my favorite. The overall experience, while enjoyable and fun, wasn't free from some naivety, primarily the ease of breaking the game with specific builds. However, the young team has shown they can bring interesting ideas to the table, which we hope will be even better expressed in their next project.
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I know, by this point in the reading (because you've read this far, right?), you might find the score below too generous. In reality, despite its evident limits, I find it hard to condemn the work of Spiders, who, despite their first experience in the soulslike genre (and releasing just months after Elden Ring), have managed to create a fun and accessible experience. This isn't necessarily a flaw for such a production. True, Steelrising has some technical and gameplay naivety, but Aegis's adventure is enjoyable and engaging, even if it doesn't excel in any aspect. Hopefully, with the Greedfall sequel, the French studio will finally make the long-awaited quality leap. In the meantime, let's enjoy their latest work.
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Money-grabbing operation or a true gift for nostalgics (or simple enthusiasts)? The truth, as always, lies in the buyer's expectations. It's worth emphasizing that for a real fan, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is a sort of Holy Grail of the turtle quartet's adventures, bringing back their most famous and beloved productions. In this sense, for once (at the risk of repeating myself), we are pleasantly compelled to commend Konami's moves, which, unlike in recent times, have shown respect for fans' affection. Rich in extras, the collection is a good reason to beat up the Foot Clan's thugs again, perhaps preparing tissues to wipe away the tears of those who spent endless hours with the four pizza-loving ninjas in the roaring '80s and '90s.
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Mixing my gaming career with the skates and violence of Rollerdrome was a pleasant surprise, especially given the lukewarm (to say the least) appeal of the announcement trailer. Roll7's title, like all the studio's productions, is much more fun to play than to passively watch. The reasons lie in gameplay that perfectly blends the team's freestyle spirit with an adrenaline-fueled, well-constructed TPS framework. The resulting mix is original and engaging, aided by a non-trivial challenge level, though it lacks overall content, admittedly a bit limited, but in line with the selling price. Hopefully, the English team can expand their creation over time, as the dystopian world of Rollerdrome seems to have many more stories to tell.
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Judging Turrican Anthology Vol. 1 & 2 isn't easy, especially from the perspective of a fan of Manfred Trenz's creation. Such fans might overlook the ill-advised (and money-grabbing) decision to split the collection into two volumes, driven by love that's hard to quantify economically. Setting this particular target aside, the two well-packaged collections offer a rich gaming history with thoughtfully conceived enhancements, albeit at a steep price. As always with nostalgia-driven operations, beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. As a series superfan, I recommend waiting for a price drop despite the collection's quality. The spontaneous question arises: a new episode?
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As Dusk Falls truly convinced me, despite the compromises of a fledgling independent team. The adopted graphical style might displease realism and interaction purists, and the bland QTEs, but the narrative's quality and multiple branches overshadow these drawbacks. If you let yourself be captivated by the intertwined fates of the Holt and Walker families, you'll encounter a ruthless and multifaceted story with characters you can't help but grow attached to, striving to save them from life's cruel circus of situations. An imperfect debut in every aspect, but showcasing the founders' veterans' skill in branching adventures. Definitely a title to try and enjoy, perhaps with friends. Hopefully, a sequel will come, given the open ending.
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It's been almost nine years since P.T.'s debut, but thanks to (or because of, depending on the case) productions like Madison, this time lapse seems much shorter. The title's clear inspiration from the famous playable teaser is evident, but Bloodious Game's unique vision of that formula is appreciable. While the story is predictable, the gameplay is engaging and stimulating, with unique and challenging puzzles that entertain genre fans. The constant absence of real threats might displease horror purists, but the overall sense of tension and danger isn't sidelined. It may not be perfect in every aspect, but Madison avoids being a soulless copy of Hideo Kojima's small creation.
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