Botany Manor is a gem among adventure games. With clever puzzles set in a fictional plant world, it challenges players without overwhelming them. And if you ever need a break, you can make yourself comfortable on a virtual park bench and unwind with relaxing chamber music. What more could you expect from a virtual vacation in game form? It's certainly not a game for everyone, as not much happens in this slow-paced adventure game other than challenging your brain cells. But sometimes it doesn't take much to excite me. A beautiful presentation and clever puzzles are enough.
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Essentially, Life is Strange – Double Exposure is more of the same. But that's exactly what I expect from the series. The story is really great and captivates the player from the very beginning. With numerous twists and turns, it remains exciting and varied, and the well-written characters immediately draw you into the game's atmosphere. Only the ending is a bit too hectic for my personal taste and could have done with a bit of the calm of the first two chapters. The game also suffers from occasional stuttering in quality mode and a lack of lip sync in the German dubbing. Despite all this, the German voice actors do a really good job. Fans of the series shouldn't be disappointed and can look forward to another must-have title, even if it doesn't quite match the quality of the first games.
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The Silent Hill 2 remake was initially met with skepticism, and even the first teaser didn't exactly generate a storm of enthusiasm. However, I was confident that Bloober Team wouldn't let themselves down with this title, as they know what matters in well-told horror games. And what can I say? The end result is convincing across the board. Clever puzzles, a consistently exciting story, and challenging battles grab the player from the very first minute and don't let go. This is also ensured by the final resolution of the story, which even back then had a lasting impact on storytelling in video games. For me, it's nothing less than Game of the Year, and I'm curious to see if Konami might have other titles in the series in mind. Personally, I wouldn't be averse to this.
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Bread & Fred is a bit like a carrot and stick game: It can be extremely frustrating when you get stuck in the same spot for minutes, but you're all the more euphoric when you finally manage to master it. However, you realize that you've only climbed another 5 meters out of a total of 500. Numerous side quests are waiting to be discovered and completed. But very few will see them without help. However, anyone who enjoys the challenging game concept will certainly find something to enjoy here.
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Objectively speaking, The Walking Dead – Destinies is truly awful: mercilessly outdated technology, clunky animations, and gameplay mechanics that don't quite work as intended. Nevertheless, the game somehow managed to motivate me to play through to the end. Perhaps it's the same phenomenon I had with Escape From Bug Island on the Wii. Back then, the trashiness of the story kept me entertained, even though the game itself wasn't that great. Here, it's probably the similarity to the series that appealed to me. Although the choices you make do allow you to influence the course of the story to a certain extent. However, if you're not a die-hard fan of the series, I'd advise you to try it out first. Because I can't really recommend this title to anyone.
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Even though it's easier to get started than Dirt Rally, the title will demand a lot from you. If you can handle that, you'll have a fun racing game for many hours.
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Death or Treat is a nice little indie gem that would have been perfect for Halloween night. The great visual presentation combined with a fitting soundtrack would have been a perfect fit for the theme night. However, it has to be acknowledged that the game is only fun in short bursts, as the grind is immense to eventually reach the end of the game. Nevertheless, it's fun to immerse yourself in the world of Hallowtown and will also appeal to fans of roguelites and roguelikes. Definitely a thumbs up from me!
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Overall, Ad Infinitum was an exciting and immersive gaming experience that certainly won't be for everyone, but its excellent production leaves a lasting impression. So, anyone who enjoys horror adventures that require a quick grasp of the story should get their money's worth. The harmonious soundscape underscores the overall picture created by German developer Hekate and conveys the sense of despair that must have reigned on the battlefield back then. I had a lot of fun with the title and will attempt another playthrough soon, and you should consider doing the same.
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The Crew Motorfest is a rock-solid arcade racer that's a lot of fun. There are a few things that bothered me personally, like some of the dialogue was cringe-worthy and the grind was way too long to afford cars. But overall, I recommend the title to anyone who had many enjoyable hours with Forza Horizon or simply couldn't play it because of the system's inappropriateness. Since the gameplay is constantly being expanded, long-term motivation should be guaranteed, and the game is certainly even more fun with a few friends.
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CounterAttack may not be a game that will score points for its outstanding visuals or its variety of enemies. However, it is a shoot 'em up that can appeal to the broadest possible audience and scores particularly well due to its enormous scope and replay value. Anyone who wants to unlock all possible upgrades for their ship will certainly be busy for a long time. The story mode, whose levels can be played as desired, as well as the survival mode, where you can chase the high score, invites you to do this. But it only really gets fun when you join the game with friends and compete against the Automatons either locally or across systems in the online mode. In any case, it's definitely a title that every shooting fan should take a closer look at.
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In contrast to last year, MotoGP 23 has already been noticeably changed and improved. Unfortunately, the classic racetracks from the 2009 season have been removed from the predecessor, but we can now even take to the track in Kazakhstan and India, even though these are excluded from the actual race cycle. The improved driving aids make the game much more accessible for newcomers to the genre, and the dynamic weather, including flag-to-flag, add additional nuances to the gameplay itself. In any case, MotoGP 23 is a game for fans, as there are plenty of opportunities to delve into the subject matter and immerse yourself in the sport and the racetracks.
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How would you describe your relationship with Mato Anomalies? "It's complicated," I'd say. On the one hand, the game captivates me with its fantastic game world, its magnificent art style, the fun runs through the metaverse, and its variety of missions. On the other hand, there's the somewhat confusing storyline with a main character about whom we learn virtually nothing and whose motives are completely unclear. Personally, I also didn't need some of the game elements, such as the mind hacks. What remains is a perfectly acceptable role-playing game that's certainly playable, but not entirely recommendable.
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Bubble Bobble Everybubble is a game that lets you gather your friends and family around the TV again. It's a straightforward puzzle game for young and old. It's easy to get started, but the sometimes tough time limit means there's plenty of potential for repeat play if you want to earn three stars on every level. With a total of 270 levels, the game is also comprehensive enough to keep you entertained for a long time. Nothing stands in the way of many fun game nights.
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For me, Batora: Lost Haven is a game that pleasantly surprised me. A hack 'n' slash with a good story, scattered role-playing elements, and some tough combat and clever puzzles in strange game worlds. While the battles themselves can be a bit frustrating at times, they're never unfair. Sometimes, simply taking a look at your own loadout can make life easier with the right rune upgrades and a strategy. So, if you're looking for a change from your everyday gaming routine, you might want to check this out, but leisurely play is rarely the order of the day here.
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It's not as if the developers at Milestone aren't idle. This year's motocross offshoot, Monster Energy Supercross 6, also features some worthwhile new features, such as a slightly more engaging career mode, cross-play in multiplayer, and a significantly larger "playground" for practicing your skills. The new Rhythm Attack mode, in which you duel with another rider, is also a worthwhile expansion of the gameplay. I was particularly excited that you can now finally modify and customize your bike down to the last detail. The coherent overall package makes this a definite purchase for motorsport fans!
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Lemon Cake is generally a fun game, but not a relaxing one. You have to take care of everything and keep track of it, which often actually feels more like work. The lack of a story adds to the fun, so it's better to play Lemon Cake in short bursts rather than as an evening-long game. Then you can have a lot of fun with it. It's just a shame that you can't work in the bakery with two people; that would certainly have boosted motivation. Otherwise, it's a nice game to play in between for anyone who wants to make a name for themselves as a hobby baker.
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The Chant definitely surprised me in a positive way during my test. The story itself, while somewhat predictable, is still gripping enough to keep the player engaged. Searching the seemingly deserted island is equally motivating, and the lore you uncover fills in gaps in the backstory, making The Chant a complete success. The combat system is fun, and the simple crafting and experience systems leave plenty of room for the main character's development. Furthermore, the game's three different endings provide enough motivation to play through multiple times, even if each playthrough might only take between 6 and 7 hours. I definitely recommend it to fans of the genre who want to delve into the classics of the supernatural genre.
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Muse Dash is the perfect companion for in between, with which you can also have long-term fun.
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Glass Masquerade 2: Illusions is very entertaining overall and is definitely worth a look.
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With Monster Energy Supercross 3, a number of innovations have been promised that are also present, but basically do not necessarily require an update from Part 2. Although you have a fun alternative to your career with the expanded training area, which can now also be used by four people, the remaining innovations are rather limited. Yes, you can now generate female drivers and yes, you now have dedicated servers for multiplayer, but still it remains the same racing calendar as in the second part. Therefore, players have to decide for themselves whether they want to upgrade or not. The gameplay is as always fun and fans will surely get their money's worth with an accurate implementation of motocross sport. So it's up to you how you choose.
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