Niko Lähteenmäki's Reviews
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a title that undeniably came out of nowhere, especially considering that Team Ninja had already compiled the Sigma versions of the first two games along with Razor’s Edge from the third entry. While the “new black” may not be the definitive edition of the series' second installment, it makes up for it by being the uncensored, most visually stunning, smoothest, most modern, balanced, and content-rich (with minor exceptions) version — ultimately making it the best edition of the game. As an action title, it remains an absolutely top-tier experience, with its straightforward journey providing excellent entertainment from start to finish.
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As a release, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a logical but questionable offering, especially in terms of pricing, as it offers virtually nothing new for those looking for a replay. To make matters worse, players spend more time staring at loading screens than before, and all this comes at a minimum cost of 55 euros — unless you happen to catch it on sale, either in a store or in the depths of the eShop. While there were certainly enjoyable moments with the Kong family this time around as well, I’m disappointed: in my opinion, the ape clan deserves better.
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Sonic Generations, especially with its technical improvements, is as excellent as before, and Shadow Generations is one of the best titles in the series. Even if you're not a fan of the 2D sidescrolling action, Sonic x Shadow Generations is a fantastic introduction to the iconic franchise.
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Fantastic JRPG, that has it all: fantastic story with excellent writing, interesting game mechanics, wonderful music etc. An absolute masterpiece.
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EA Sports FC 25 is the best football game of the year, but that’s not saying much: Konamis eFootball is still so much worse than FC 25, that it really doesn’t have any competition.
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The remaster of Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars proves after all these years, that it is still really memorable adventure game, and people remember it with warmth in their hearts for a good reason.
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Gimmick! 2 is an awesome sequel to it’s NES predecessor, that has great controls, nice but fair challenge and music from the maestro David Wise himself.
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This remaster of Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse is just as great and crazy as two last seasons. Neat puzzles, dry and well written humour and quirky characters: We can only hope that these guys come back someday.
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Small nitpicks aside, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble is way better than the previous Monkey Ball game and more importantly: great fun! The single player campaign might be the best in the series, while the multiplayer is lacking a bit with fun modes and lower frame.
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Ubisoft has received a lot of criticism over the years for various reasons, but Beyond Good & Evil – 20th Anniversary Edition is almost perfect restoration of the 2004 classic: the studio has clearly invested a great deal of time, effort, and love to this project. An experience that attempts to reconcile a thematically challenging narrative framework with air hockey mini-games and Jamaican rhinos – surely no one can deny that such a game has its place in today’s gaming lineup?
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Despite some nitpicks, the System Shock remake is absolutely stunning, and makes this 30-year-old sci-fi classic feel fresh once again. There’s something mysteriously captivating about exploring Citadel, despite its oppressive and unique atmosphere that it’s quite difficult to put into words. Nevertheless, this remake is great for newcomers like myself, but also fans of the original.
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The roughly six-hour-long campaign of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is a commendably well-written and audiovisually stunning work, but its gameplay leaves something to be desired. While I am a fan of story-driven and more compact experiences, I would've liked to give Senua a bit more room to explore the harsh and unadorned, yet oh-so-beautiful Iceland. Maybe I’m alone in my opinion — who knows — but the lack of freedom inevitably affects the final score.
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Princess Peach's latest adventure is a charming experience that is well-suited for the youngest members of the family, but it can be a bit boring to more experienced players. Nevertheless, the humour and different scenarios are something that can entertain adults as well.
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Hi-Fi Rush is exemplary in terms of accessibility. Simply an ultra-polished, ultra-stylish brawler fest that had me hooked from the very first moments all the way through the credits—and even beyond. Normally, I don’t bother with post-game content, but the sheer quality of the experience was enough to make me dive right into testing new modes and hunting down missed treasures. So, if you’re into action games and happen to have 30 euros burning a hole in your pocket, I can’t think of a better way to spend them than this. Slightly clunky platforming is a minor flaw in an otherwise brilliant package.
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Despite some flaws, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Rise of the Ronin. It’s an excellent action RPG, especially for fans of the Nioh series and Wo Long, and it avoids the content bloat that plagues many other open-world titles. The main story can be completed in around 20 hours, but overall, there’s easily four to five times the amount of content to explore. Additionally, it serves as a great entry point for those who have wanted to try a Team Ninja game without immediately throwing their controller towards the wall. Personally, I can’t think of a better starting point!
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Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story is an excellent time capsule of the early 1980s, a period when creativity thrived wildly — partly due to hardware limitations — and video game development was still in its infancy. The documentary does a great job of shedding light on the life and mindset of the eccentric yet endearing Minter, who has become a true cult figure. At the same time, it serves as an inspiring example of how far passion and belief in one’s vision can take you.
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Skull and Bones may not be, in Ubisoft boss Yves Guillemot’s words, a “quadruple-A” title, but in its current state, it’s still better than its reputation suggests. It’s an enjoyable pirate adventure, especially when played with a friend. Its arcade-style ship controls, gear customization, and straightforward naval combat feel satisfying, while the relatively low learning curve makes it easy for less experienced players to jump in. And yes, I know I’m in the minority here, but I personally find solo ship control more enjoyable than the chaotic crew-based gameplay of Sea of Thieves.
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Ufouria: The Saga 2 is charming, cheerful, and relaxing platformer that treads familiar paths from the main menu to the credits. Its moderate difficulty makes it suitable for younger players as well. It doesn’t require long-term dedication, as you can complete the game with leisurely exploration in about 3–4 hours. For my taste, the adventure was even a bit too laid-back, as despite its retro vibes and old-school charm, death didn’t claim me very often during the journey.
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Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is impressive in terms of writing and production values, but gameplay-wise it’s mediocre at best. It's mostly a mind-numbing, repetitive mess that leaves much to be desired and it’s disappointing that Rocksteady’s latest release turned out to be a flop, as it’s clear the studio has a passion for DC’s chaotic crew and its heroes.
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The latest Tekken makes a strong comeback to the top ranks of fighting games, especially when compared to its lean and somewhat unfinished predecessor. With stunning visuals and excellent gameplay, the new entry offers plenty of content right from the start, and I’d argue it’s the best in the series since Tekken 5.
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