Niko Lähteenmäki's Reviews
Gex Trilogy is undoubtedly a fascinating time travel back to the 90's, and I can recommend the trip to nostalgics, those who have missed the character's prime time, and simply for people who are curious about the 90's. BUT: it must be emphasized that it is very much a product of its time in both look and sound (yes, not all the jokes have necessarily aged gracefully), so it’s not something I’d recommend to newcomers right off the bat.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is, in my book, a near-perfect sequel. Many of the criticisms aimed at the first game have been addressed with smart changes that make it significantly more approachable. Visually and aurally, it’s even more stunning than its predecessor, and the new plot twists are truly gripping. Only the masochists who loved the utter bleakness of the first game might not appreciate the improvements that Kojima Productions has made.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Despite its minor flaws, Stratogun is a minimalist, enjoyable, and visually striking arcade shooter that pushes players to their limits but rewards effort generously. It’s not the easiest game difficulty-wise, but thanks to its well-designed gameplay loop, frustration never really got the chance to set in.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
One of the world's most infamous mass-slayers returns to the battlefield once again to save the universe. Despite a few minor missteps, DOOM: The Dark Ages is an excellent shooter that stands firmly on its own, offering a unique package compared to its predecessors. I was genuinely surprised by how strongly it drew me in: its learning curve is well-designed, and the gameplay innovations worked extremely well for me. Adding to that, a well-made progression system with collectible treasures like the familiar satanic plushies, the experience is easy to recommend – both to longtime DOOM fans and those who may have skipped the previous entries. Demons, tremble!
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a masterpiece that clearly draws inspiration from other RPG's, but does so with such elegance and skill that it stands firmly on its own in an overcrowded genre – thanks in part, of course, to its own unique tricks. In an age of cynicism and uncertainty, it's wonderful to get our hands on something this magical.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
The remake of Croc: Legend of the Gobbos is a lovingly crafted example of how decades-old titles should be brought into the modern era. It effectively smooths out the rough edges of the original game and offers a fun and faithful experience, complete with a substantial amount of bonus material for those interested in its development history.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
X-Out: Resurfaced comes close to hitting the mark but doesn't quite make it. It stays true to its era and is overall a solid shooter, offering a refreshing experience that stands out both in gameplay and audiovisual presentation. However, its punishing difficulty level inevitably pushes less experienced players away, making it hard to recommend without reservations — except to fans of the original game and the most dedicated bullet-dodgers. That said, if you're feeling lucky and looking for new challenges in the realm of 2D shooters, feel free to add an extra star to the score. Once you master X-Out’s intricacies, it rewards you handsomely. Now, we can only hope that its sequel also makes its way to modern platforms for everyone to experience!
Review in Finnish | Read full review
I thought for a long time on how to rate this release. From a preservation perspective, Glover is an interesting case indeed, but as a remaster, it barely deserves two stars. However: when the game works and the level design shines (rarely), it does have some fun moments and quirky ideas. The music is also quite catchy in many places, so it's not a completely hopeless case. Nevertheless, Glover would've needed a lot more work to make it more appealing and relevant for younger generations.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
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.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
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.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
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.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Fantastic JRPG, that has it all: fantastic story with excellent writing, interesting game mechanics, wonderful music etc. An absolute masterpiece.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
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.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
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.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
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.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
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.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
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.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
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?
Review in Finnish | Read full review
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.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
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.
Review in Finnish | Read full review