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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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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