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Gianluca Arena


Favorite Games:

278 games reviewed
76.8 average score
79 median score
60.4% of games recommended
8 / 10.0 - Lone Survivor
Oct 1, 2013

A more than good conversion of an excellent title can only give life to another excellent title: simple equation for one of the best realized works of the recent independent rebirth that even the console world, albeit with culpable delay, seems to have noticed.

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8.5 / 10.0 - Shovel Knight
May 21, 2015

The Xbox One edition of Shovel Knight adds an exciting challenge to the Battletoads, which alone, for the most avid nostalgics, could be worth the ephemeral cost of the ticket, but the real reasons to download it are the same as those already highlighted in previous reviews, starting with an immediate and fun gameplay and passing through a soundtrack to applause.

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Jun 30, 2016

As we have already had the opportunity to say several times, on the occasion of remasters awarded with high-sounding marks, the passion and care for the original product often make the difference in this type of operation. Rejuvenated, streamlined, embellished as it is in this new version, Odin Sphere also deserves to be played by a new generation of gamers, who may have missed it in 2007.

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Jul 3, 2016

Image & Form would have committed an unforgivable crime to deny the joy of playing its Steamworld Heist even to all the owners of Playstation 4 and Vita: after all, we are talking about one of the most eccentric and entertaining turn-based strategic of recent times.

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This Special Edition offers a complete package, yet it does not strive to offer truly new content, other than mods, so far absent on console

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Nov 6, 2016

The choice regarding which titles to include in this Sega 3D Classics Collection is very questionable, as there are great titles (Sonic, Galaxy Force II, Power Drift, Puyo Puyo 2 and Fantasy Zone II), decent ones (Thunder Blade) and almost bad ones too (Altered Beast, Maze Walker). All of them have been treated with love and respect, and the price is right: nostalgia will be a factor, in the end.

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8 / 10.0 - Tyranny
Nov 11, 2016

It's hard not to recommend Tyranny to old school CRPG veterans, as its systems and gameplay mechanics are reminiscent both of the excellent Pillars of Eternity and the classics form the early 2000, but, at the same time, it sometimes seems as a lazy reskin of Obsidian's last efforts.

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Nov 29, 2016

Even though this is the best version of Corpse Party available on the market right now, we can't stop thinking that the port is somewhat lazy, since neither the 3D effect nor the touch screen are utilized as much as 3DS fans were hoping. But if you love Japanese horror games, you won't find better options than Corpse Party on 3DS.

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Nov 30, 2016

Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS is not just a shrunken-down version of its Wii U counterpart, but a title that puts more emphasis on the single player and on local sharing of contents. It's a pity, then, that no online sharing is included and that some features are missing. Still, a worthy episode for long time fans of the franchise.

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Nov 30, 2016

Apocalypse marks an improvement in every way over Shin Megami Tensei IV, that already was one of the best JPRG available on the 3DS family of consoles. The user interface, the map, the companion system, the demon alignment are all welcome changes especially because they come on top of a fascinating setting and a gritty storyline.

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Dec 8, 2016

If you can ignore the fact that there are four or five better choices for the same genre on the 3DS family of console (Etrian Odysseys and Persona Q anyone?), 7th Dragon III Code VFD is a competent dungeon crawler, that features original jobs, a solid combat system and a fairly uninspired story.

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8.5 / 10.0 - Steins;Gate 0
Dec 11, 2016

Steins;Gate 0 has just one fault, which is that you need to play the first game in the series to fully appreciate the story, the character progression, the new twist on some of the protagonists. Apart from this, we're talking about one of the best script in recent memory, and a high quality visual novel for both Vita and Ps4 owners.

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Dragon Quest VIII Journey of The Cursed King was an amazing JRPG back in 2006 and it stood the test of time brilliantly, thanks to the great work by the developers. There's much here to be loved by both the newcomers and the old fans, as we're talking about one of the best Japanese role playing games of all time, all considered.

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More a continuation of the events of the first game than a proper sequel, Trails of Cold Steel II is "more of the same" done right, as the basic gameplay of the prequel didn't need changes. While a no brainer for veterans, this second chapter is not recommended for newcomers, who should pick up the first title to have an understanding of the world and characters.

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8 / 10.0 - Yakuza 0
Jan 19, 2017

It's easy to recommend Yakuza Zero to all fans of the series, as it tells a brilliant origin story that shows unseen sides of both the Kazuma and Majima personalities, and, at the same time, it's easy to dismiss this prequel as "another Yakuza game" for those whio never got to like the series. All in all, it's a solid and well written debut on PS4.

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Jan 23, 2017

Tales of Berseria faces the struggle of being developed for both the old and the new generation of Sony platforms, and therefore is forced to stick to the beaten path. It still is a better game than Zestiria, overall, mostly thanks to its dark and gritty storyline and believable cast of protagonists. Let's just hope that the future of the Tales series will bring something new to the table.

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Jan 31, 2017

If you never got the chance to play the original on Wii U, then this portable iteration may be a good deal for you, with its brilliant level design, cute protagonists and colorful visuals. Otherwise, there's nothing new here that would deserve a second buy for the owners of the almost-last gen Nintendo console.

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Feb 7, 2017

Instead of another musou, Tecmo Koei brings to PS4 and Vita a decent SRPG, perfectly suited for the newcomers or for fans of the franchise who are looking for something different. There are far better similar titles on both systems, still Godseekers is a good choice for the uninitiated to the genre.

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Feb 16, 2017

Dragon Ball Fusions is one of those licensed games that will make the hardcore fans happy, but, ultimately, won't impress anyone who is not in love with the characters and the lore of the franchise. Ganbarion's last effort is a solid and fun turn-based catch'em'all RPG, but the 3DS has seen far better titles in both of these categories.

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Feb 20, 2017

Berserk and the Band of the Hawk is just another musou, since Omega Force didn't apply to the base formula the changes that made both Attack on Titan and Dragon Quest Heroes better games. This is a more violent and slightly easier version of the latest installments in the Dynasty Warriors Franchise, so consider buying it only if you're a diehard fan of this type of game.

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