Niko Lähteenmäki's Reviews
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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Despite a few minor annoyances, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – which took around 30 hours of my time – was a pleasant surprise and one of the best Metroidvanias in a long time. Its excellent level design, impressive boss fights, satisfying gameplay mechanics, and well-thought-out puzzles elevate Sargon’s adventure to the top ranks of its genre.
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Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion is an interesting time capsule from the year 2000 — an era when the internet wasn't accessed from anywhere (at least in Finland), when all the computers in the world were NOT crashing thanks to Y2K, when The Matrix was shaking up audiences and when the first Half-Life was still a hot topic among gamers. It was a pleasant surprise to see that the third Turok doesn’t look pale at all as a modernized version compared to today's “boomer shooters.” Instead, it held my attention with a convincing grip. If the genre interests you and you’re not bothered by brutality and excessive bloodshed, this is easy to recommend to both fans and newcomers alike.
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WarioWare: Move It! is one of those games that's very difficult to rate. It's fantastically entertaining and by far the best WarioWare since Wii's Smooth Moves, but unfortunately the game has so little content for single players that it's quite hard to recommend for 50-euro price tag. But as you probably guessed, the multiplayer is as great as ever.
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Especially the second and third entry in the series has aged surprisingly well, and for newcomers, the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 is definitely a collection worth exploring (if purchased from a bargain bin) and an important piece of gaming history. Even for those who played them before, it’s probably nice to hear that these beloved games are more or less intact. And the convenience is certainly worth the money – digging out a PlayStation 2 or 3, messing with emulators, or even hunting down the MGS HD Collection online certainly won't excite everyone. But for all the others – it makes no sense to buy this collection (at least not at full price), if you already own the original games, the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, or the Legacy Collection released exclusively for PlayStation 3. You've been warned.
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Sonic Superstars is a genuinely frustrating creation. It's basically a decent Sonic game, and by no means the worst entry in the series, as it includes some solid ideas here and there and can be a really fun platformer at its best. However, at its weakest, it is an extremely frustrating experience, and everything reeks of being blend with lack of imagination. It just can't be recommended as a full-price release, even though it does have some decent content.
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Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged improves moderately on its predecessor in every aspect. At the same time, it's fair to say that as a sequel, it plays it very safe and doesn’t shake up the formula much, which might be a disappointment for some. On the other hand, when the driving itself is this enjoyable, does it really matter? If you've already played the first game thoroughly, you can’t go too wrong with picking up the sequel!
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Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy – the modern-day counterpart to Blizzard’s The Lost Vikings – is an absolutely brilliant puzzle-platformer and a must-buy for anyone even remotely interested in the genre, with or without the Finnish flag coloured goggles. Prior knowledge of Trine isn’t necessary either, as the story is easy to follow even for newcomers, and overall, it’s undoubtedly the most polished entry in the series.
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There is no reason for collective concern, however, as EA Sports FC 24 looks and feels very familiar – for better or worse – despite of losing the FIFA license.
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Despite technical issues, I have to admit that playing Samba de Amigo: Party Central was simply a blast – and I worked up quite a sweat dancing with my amigos. Nostalgia and that signature Japanese quirkiness are still strongly present in the series, and the song selection works well. Plus, the sensitivity of the motion controls doesn’t significantly detract from the enjoyment.
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Disney Illusion Island is light, charming and visually stunning metroidvania style adventure that feels like it’s missing something. More action, some kind of combat mechanics, or at least a faster pace. Even as it is, it’s an enjoyable experience, and if you can get a friend to join you on the same couch, you can easily add an extra star to the rating. If a sequel ever happens (and hopefully it will), this game provides a solid foundation for the future — but the lack of variety should be addressed by then.
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Gimmick! Special Edition can be summed up in one letter and two words: a cultural achievement. Despite its difficulty, it remains as a unique and memorable classic. As a remaster, it offers only minimal updates and improvements, but on the other hand, I’m very pleased that the graphics, physics, and especially the music have been left untouched. This long-overlooked platforming rarity has truly earned its place in the modern spotlight.
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Despite its flaws, Sonic Origins Plus is a much more polished and content-rich package than the original release, earning it an extra star in the rating. However, if you already own Origins, whether the ability to play as Amy, the tougher missions, and the added Game Gear titles are worth the price largely depends on the player. Personally, I’d say yes. If only Sonic Origins had been this solid from the start!
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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a masterpiece that improves on its predecessor virtually every way. I've missed this kind of joy in freedom and exploring the wonderful world of Hyrule, and I wouldn't trade a single moment of it.
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