Joonatan Itkonen's Reviews
Winter's Warmth is a quintessential addition to the library of any Moomin fan, and a wonderful introduction to new ones.
A perfect marriage of difficult and accessible, Saros is a brilliantly designed, majestic sci-fi nightmare that is as compelling as it is challenging.
Tides of Tomorrow is gorgeously crafted and features a brilliant take on asynchronous multiplayer. It's a shame that player agency is surprisingly shallow and limited, and the game is too long to entice multiple playthroughs and experimentation.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Supremely beautiful and with impeccable atmosphere at every turn, Replaced struggles with its game-to-narrative pacing and repetitive gameplay mechanics. Still, the big picture is so lovingly crafted and gorgeous that all minor issues are fairly easy to ignore.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Make no mistake: Mouse is a decent and occasionally fun experience. It will have a fiercely loyal cult following one day. It's just that its gameplay never lives up to the potential and superlative visual style.
An innovative and bold genre cocktail that is packed with incredible set pieces and gameplay-first joy, Pragmata is Capcom at its finest.
Like Veronica Mars, Life is Strange is still charming in its later seasons, but you can see where the conflicting visions over the story don't mesh. It's lovely to see these characters again, I just wish they'd be allowed to have an ending.
One of the most fascinating and intricately designed city-building games ever made, Timberborn is a charming and joyous experience that is as rewarding as it is challenging.
Disciples: Domination knows exactly what it is and what it wants to do. It's an old-school strategy game with great combat but also frustratingly shallow mechanics in other areas. Fans will love it; everyone else will wonder what the big deal is.
Minishoot' Adventures is the kind of indie gem that deserves a major audience. It is an addictive hybrid that moves beyond mere imitation to something that is entirely its own thing. I've loved every minute that I've spent with it, and I can't wait to return for more.
Superbly written and acted with some of the finest worldbuilding in any RPG this decade, Aether & Iron is an instant classic and one of the best games of the year.
Crimson Desert is a gorgeous audiovisual experience with obtuse mechanics, poor mission design, and a nonexistent story. It plays like an MMO trapped in the frame of a single-player adventure game with too many cooks in the kitchen.
I love Pokopia more than any other Pokémon game in recent years. It's the kind of adoration that makes me revisit old favorites and wonder how long I've taken the series for granted. By mixing up genre staples and smartly updating familiar tropes, Pokopia makes Pokémon feel new again.
If you're really into extraction shooters and you've gone through all the other major competitors, chances are you might love Marathon, too. But if you're a solo gamer or with friends available only occasionally, it's best to skip it for now. There are other worlds than this.
What begins as a Disco Elysium imitation quickly grows into an exciting and compelling RPG experience that stands firmly on its own.
There’s a reason why Pokémon are so beloved. LeafGreen and FireRed Versions are both still undeniably enjoyable, evergreen releases and have aged well, because their mechanics were so carefully designed from the very beginning. At their best, they take me back in time to a more carefree life – for example to those moments when I was a kid and sat on the yard swing for hours, playing with my Game Boy. As a re-release however, it is too lazy and cynical, topped off with a price tag that’s a bit too high.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Toxic Commando has immaculate vibes and incredible set pieces for fans of post-apocalypse mayhem, but it struggles with mission design and performance issues. For fans with friends, it might still prove indispensable.
Intricate, immense, and incredible. Twisted Reflection is the biggest and most immersive expansion of the iconic franchise so far.
Compiled with love and care for its iconic mascot, Rayman's 30th Anniversary Edition has some odd and major pitfalls, but it's still a worthwhile package for those interested in gaming history.
Mario Tennis Fever is wacky and wild fun that understands the fundamental beauty and simplicity of tennis. It's a perfect addition to Nintendo's party game lineup.