Francesco Pollara


24 games reviewed
79.8 average score
84 median score
54.2% of games recommended
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Dec 9, 2024

DETECTIVE - The Motel fails on all fronts in delivering the immersive experience it promises, featuring puzzles that are overly simplistic, trivial, and more akin to an escape-room structure than a true investigative adventure. With restrictive gameplay and a linear, unremarkable story, the only aspect we found enjoyable was the graphical presentation—yet even that is insufficient to redeem a brief journey that ultimately offers nothing substantial by the end of the day.

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9.5 / 10.0 - Sea of Stars
Dec 3, 2024

Sea of Stars emerges as a true timeless masterpiece, featuring an ambitious and captivating storyline, meticulously polished gameplay, and an extraordinary artistic vision. The game stands as one of the finest examples of the genre, blending the charm of classic masterpieces with modernized elements, offering a compelling reminder of the RPG genre’s boundless potential.

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8.5 / 10.0 - Balatro
Nov 30, 2024

Balatro is a surprisingly delightful experience, proving that neither a massive budget nor breathtaking graphics are necessary to compete with the AAA giants of the gaming industry. This is a very simple title that relies entirely on its gameplay loop, yet its simplicity manages to captivate in a way that few other games on the market can.

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Nov 21, 2024

Mario & Luigi: Fraternauti alla Carica marks the long-awaited return of the series, blending fresh ideas with nostalgic charm. While it could benefit from bolder innovations and improved technical stability, its abundance of content, stellar gameplay, and witty character writing make it a must-play for fans of the iconic duo.

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Nov 7, 2024

Sonic X Shadow Generations reaffirms Sega’s mastery in honoring its iconic franchise. While both titles in the collection shine, Shadow Generations emerges as the standout, showcasing an incredible commitment to refining the series with an experience that borders on excellence.

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White Day: A Labyrinth Named School struggles to rise above mediocrity, revealing its age from the very first moments, with frustrating and simply unenjoyable gameplay mechanics, while its visuals and sound design unmistakably betray its mobile game origins.

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Oct 29, 2024

Super Mario Party Jamboree is a delightful surprise, reviving a series that, after a somewhat rocky journey on Nintendo Switch, finally shines once more. We might be looking at the best Mario Party ever made, certainly the most content-packed, offering hours of pure fun… with the risk of costing a few friendships along the way!

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Oct 22, 2024

Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is far from a perfect game, yet that hardly matters when we’re holding what truly feels like a dream come true. This title is a celebration of the saga, with refined gameplay that will captivate both veterans and newcomers alike. Despite its flaws, the dedication of the development team is clear, delivering everything fans could have wished for—and perhaps even more.

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Oct 21, 2024

Until Dawn (2024) struggles to honor the original game despite its graphical upgrades and new features. Technical issues detract from the experience, raising questions about the necessity of a remake for a PS4 native game priced at €70. While the original owners may not find it worthwhile, newcomers—especially PC players—might appreciate this chance to explore its strong narrative and horror atmosphere.

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7.8 / 10.0 - Grunn
Oct 17, 2024

Grunn is a small yet charming adventure, perfect for unwinding after a stressful day, but don’t be fooled: the numerous dark secrets hidden within this town will captivate you, urging you to complete the game in a single sitting. The blend of classic 'gardener simulator' style with an atmosphere far more unsettling than it initially appears creates a unique experience that we highly recommend.

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8 / 10.0 - Crow Country
Oct 16, 2024

Crow Country shines on Switch as the delightful survival-horror gem we’ve come to love, offering engaging and satisfying gameplay that keeps players hooked. While the platform's excessive loading times may detract from the experience, the Switch version remains an excellent choice for fans seeking portability or an alternative to the PC version.

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7.4 / 10.0 - Shadows of Doubt
Oct 8, 2024

Shadow of Doubt is an incredibly ambitious and conceptually brilliant title, with the potential to offer endless hours of gameplay thanks to its procedural structure. Unfortunately, its execution falls short in several areas, preventing it from reaching its full potential, and the technical and gameplay issues present in its current state are unacceptable for an official release. If these flaws were resolved, Shadow of Doubt could genuinely redefine the genre and deliver on its revolutionary promise.

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Oct 3, 2024

Dead Rising Deluxe Remastered shows inevitable signs of aging and may struggle to win over modern players or fully recapture the impact it once had. However, despite its gameplay limitations, there’s no reason why anyone seeking an unconventional story—whether a series fan or not—should pass on this new edition. With numerous improvements, it stands as the definitive version of a classic.

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8.7 / 10.0 - Satisfactory
Sep 26, 2024

Satisfactory stands out as one of the finest management games we’ve encountered, offering countless hours of joy as you construct a sprawling and intricate logistical empire. Its stunning artistic direction, paired with exploration segments that break the monotony, makes for an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re a seasoned fan or new to the genre, this game is bound to draw you in completely—an experience so compelling, you won’t want to step away!

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We can’t help but commend Capcom once again for their excellent work on Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, which brings back seven iconic fighting games in a modern collection. Updated to meet today’s standards, it still preserves the authentic feel of the original versions.

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Ace Attorney Investigations Collection is another triumph for Capcom, reviving two beloved classics, including one making its Western debut. The expertly executed restoration modernizes these essential titles, making them must-play experiences for fans of the saga.

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Emio - The Smiling Man is an outstanding investigative adventure that expands and enhances all the positive aspects of the Famicom Detective Club series, delivering one of the most mature and profound narratives that the expansive Nintendo catalog sorely needed. Despite some pacing issues and a gameplay system that, while significantly improved, still feels somewhat rigid, we wholeheartedly recommend this must-play title to all fans of the genre.

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Aug 27, 2024

Famicom Detective Club offer two unforgettable investigative adventures, weaving a captivating narrative full of twists and turns that compel you to keep playing just to uncover the next revelation. Despite occasional clunkiness and rigidity in the gameplay, the exceptional storytelling and production values make this duology an essential purchase for lovers of the paranormal, thrilling mysteries, and visual novels.

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Aug 22, 2024

Despite occasional bouts of excessive linearity, Gestalt: Steam & Cinder firmly establishes itself as one of the most captivating 2D metroidvanias we’ve experienced. Its exceptional gameplay and richly crafted characters, both in design and personality, will immediately immerse you in their compelling tales.

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7.5 / 10.0 - Just Crow Things
Aug 14, 2024

Just Crow Things is the perfect game for those moments when you just want to disconnect and dive into a relaxing, carefree experience. Despite the occasional technical or audio hiccup, we’re confident this title will entertain you, offering hours of pure fun in a world as colorful as it is delightfully absurd.

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