A morbidly amusing narrative in the background of a facetious universe, along with hilarious characters and their puzzling torments, Flipping Death undoubtedly transpires coherence as an adventure game, proving that the genre still belongs to the world of the livings.
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Through such arduous trials, the Champions' Ballad pushes Breath of the Wild's mechanics to their limits, whether combat or puzzles.
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"The sooner the better" This may apply to Pok'mon Ultra-Sun and Ultra-Moon in many ways. While fresh memories from the previous episodes help to notice the small, delicate differences, with clever twists aimed at Alola's returning vacationers, the main story transformations happen rather late. Similarly, the additions are mostly interesting, even captivating, but they often lack more development to express their full potential, and overall flaws were not really addressed, in particular tedious pace and inconsistent challenge. However, the generous amount of commemorative - not to say recycled - content suggests Game Freak tried to reach some closure there, broken rules like the introduction of new species during this generation hinting that the series might seriously evolve in the future. Better late than never...
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Beyond an assumed classicism, Etrian Odyssey V refocuses on the Yggdrasil labyrinth, adding space and depth to exploration. Hence this episode gives more relevance to each decision, each combat, which boldly asserts its mythical role playing heritage through such refined formula.
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Bowser's Minions were not the reinforcements expected for Mario & Luigi, but such pugnacious tactical digression strengthens the hilarious narrative as well as the whole adventure, while the astonishing amount of content and gameplay improvements make this completely overhauled Superstar Saga even more shining.
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Miitopia may seem like a simple, artificial RPG simulation with Mii, but the humoristic narrative tone underlined by such absurdly customizable protagonists suggest to take some distance from the deceptive classicism of this quest, that reveals an ironic look at the genre. The focus on the relationships between these avatars, their freedom in combat along with the randomness of the gameplay elements add life to the whole experience, creating a special position for the player, neither actor nor spectator, yet deeply involved. Whether it's considered as an introduction to RPG or a satire, Miitopia doesn't lack character, and wonderfully embodies the role.
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By mixing proven Action-RPG recipes with inspired puzzles and a slice of good-hearted life simulation, Ever Oasis already makes a refreshing cocktail. But there is more to discover under the sand of the desert than it seems, since the powerful stream of cooperation injected through the game's strata adds depth to this captivating adventure. Despite the inexplicable lack of multiplayer, such journey can be seen as a humanistic, ecological allegory from Koichi Ishii, and surely a benevolent experience, something rather rare these days.
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Fire Emblem Gaiden had explored different approaches, which appear even bolder through this remake on 3DS thanks to an absolutely epic staging, a more developed narrative and many modern gameplay adjustments, while staying true to the original Famicom version. Despite some relics from the past and a less strategic philosophy, Echoes : Shadows of Valentia proves that these pragmatic concepts are still relevant today, indeed for the future of the franchise.
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Back to basics with new types of blocks to boot, there couldn't have been a better way to say farewell for BoxBoy!
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Based on Mario's best sports experiences, this selection would fully deserve the title of multi activity champion, if it hadn't been too influenced by the (super)star system.
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There is nothing better than a beautiful trip into the wilderness to rekindle primal platforming instincts, and Donkey Kong Country : Tropical Freeze gets even more cool through this Funky, yet still challenge heavy "Switchmake".
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Just like Captain Toad, if you can't jump, you'd better use your brain. This down-to-earth approach transforms the environments into puzzles that require to look harder - and dig deeper - than expected in order to find all of their design treasures. And despite a lack of additional content, such wonders get even shinier on Switch.
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Some will see in Super Mario Maker the admission of a lack of innovation so often blamed on the series. Yet this is the most creative approach ever undertaken by our mustachioed plumber. Nintendo thus opens the doors of the Mushroom Kingdom wide so that we offer Mario new adventures, thanks to a surprisingly playful construction process and rarely simple, GamePad in support.
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Contrary to appearances, the former spearhead title of the Ouya is not just a small game indie in tune with the times, displaying without complex its large pixels. Indeed, TowerFall is resolutely dedicated to local multiplayer, a practice that is now marginalized.
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Literally transfigured, Majora's Mask expresses here all the ambitions carried by its resolutely dramatic tone. With a concept based on the sometimes oppressive management of time and an approach favouring ancillary activities, this episode certainly goes round in circles, but is nonetheless visionary.
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Ordinary mortals will no longer need an eternity to taste this opus, while the most diehard will find something to quench their thirst for hemoglobin. Contract therefore fulfilled for From Software. Here is the masterpiece of Hidetaka Miyazaki, father of souls, the signature in blood ink below being authentic.
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Bravely Default II couldn't be through with the past, as shown by the JRPG's tradtional elements which inevitably, if not deliberately arouse nostalgia. While its wider, undulating world invites exploration, this episode seriously lays everything down, from the decidedly abrupt narrative to the extremely demanding strategical battles, exploiting the risk rewarding system and jobs' combination skills at full extent. Such kinds of class, whether wisely revised or exquisitely original, are worth it. Hence Tomoya Asano signs a deeply moving fairy tale intended for the genre's erudites, a beautiful proof of bravery.
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Paper Mario's heritage still floats over The Origami King, but didn't cause writer's block with this blank page, folded upside down thanks to the fantastic imagination applied to the staging and the story, decidedly audacious. Intelligent Systems' inventiveness also deploys through the ingenious architecture of this interconnected world and the tactical dimension unrolled by the battles, that become real puzzles. Such a well hammered increase of depth doesn't give headaches though, the main quest unwrapping along the realm's spread richness, so this moustached RPG asserts itself as the undisputed lord of its very own domain.
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This Definitive Edition transfigures Xenoblade Chronicles through a work both meticulous and respectful to the original. Some aesthetic, tone or even conceptual decisions may divide though, particularly along the additional chapter. Whether necessary or not, this extended conclusion proves interesting in many ways, above all for its deep sense. After the narrative dispersal and mechanics piles from the other episodes, this founding opus recalls the purest expression of Tetsuya Takahashi's saga, hence Monolith Software absolute accomplishment.
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The fresh thrill of discovering an uninhabited atoll tends to fade once such wild life gets cosier with crafted items, buildings, shops and incoming residents, until it looks like a village from the previous iterations. But the larger size of this wholly reshapable island, the customization's vertiginous level and the improved community interactions create an even more fertile ecosystem, hence Animal Crossing can slowly though decidedly stare further, towards New Horizons, equipped with an ever updating NookPhone.
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