Maria Meluso


33 games reviewed
68.1 average score
80 median score
61.3% of games recommended
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May 27, 2021

A beautiful adventure awaits in the Deep Woods.

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The Sims 4 Cottage Living has the potential to become one of The Sims 4's essential Expansion Packs in the eyes of the community, forever altering gameplay like Seasons and Parenthood did. There is a lot to like about The Sims 4 Cottage Living, and with luck, Sims 4 fans will see more like it in the near future.

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Jun 15, 2022

Overall, Mothergunship: Forge comes out of the gate strong and gets more fun with each subsequent run. The randomization of the roguelite mechanics ensures almost endless replayability. Mothergunship: Forge feels far different than other wave shooters in the best way and gives players multiple customization options to build some incredible, zany creations. Despite the somewhat simplistic premise, the possibilities and variety do feel endless. With a few updates, the gameplay experience can be even stronger and easier to master. The graphics and sound design in Mothergunship: Forge are also well-done and contribute to the immersion, but the standout is undoubtedly the gun-building physics and the use of VR technology to put players more directly in the game. Mothergunship: Forge is a must-have VR experience and demonstrates so much potential, both for the future of virtual reality games and for its own future and the future of Terrible Posture Games as a developer in the VR space.

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Oct 11, 2022

The full release of Grounded is impressive due to its polish, attention to detail, and unique, compelling premise and world, but is still in need of some work to reach its full potential as a giant of the survival genre. It is staggering to see where Grounded started and how far it has come to reach version 1.0, and it is easy to get immersed in this familiar but new world. Grounded should, if nothing else, serve as the example for future game accessibility functions. Grounded is one of the more sophisticated and unique co-op survival games available today, and both veteran survival gamers and newcomers to the genre can find a lot to enjoy about its gameplay and style, especially if they've ever dreamed of exploring the world while the size of a bug.

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Jul 19, 2023

In a year with dozens of game releases of massive scale and scope, it's easy for a relatively calming game like Pikmin 4 to be overlooked. But Pikmin 4 is a fantastic reminder that sometimes, games that are simply charming, cozy, and small can still have a massive impact.

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The Sims 4 Eco Lifestyle lets players better interact with their neighborhood and environment, offering a unique gaming and story experience.

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Jul 30, 2020

There is so much to like about Into A Dream, and the overall experience is a compelling, heart-wrenching look at interpersonal relationships, mental illness and connection. At a time when so many in the world are feeling understandably out of control, isolated and disconnected, Into A Dream is a welcome reminder of the beauty of compassion and empathy.

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Nov 19, 2020

Visage is terrifying, but lacks good guidance at times.

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Mass Effect Legendary Edition is still essentially what a remaster ought to be. It remains faithful to the original, emphasizing everything fans loved or loved to poke fun at while making necessary improvements that make gameplay far more enjoyable on contemporary systems. The inclusion of all three games, the new import system in the unified launcher, and the unified character creation options allows the series to feel like a single, cohesive story experience. Though not without bugs, and though Mass Effect 1 still suffers from its age, Mass Effect Legendary Edition is a great way for veterans to revisit the series and new fans to dive in for the first time - and it seems almost a certainty that Mass Effect Legendary Edition will renew interest in the franchise as work begins on Mass Effect 4.

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Jun 19, 2021

A short but wildly enjoyable puzzle game.

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Sea of Thieves: A Pirate's Life is by far one of the best additions to Sea of Thieves in recent memory. The crossover with Pirates of the Caribbean is a natural fit, and it feels like the two IPs work together rather than vie for supremacy. The new enemies also feel appropriate, bringing much-needed variety to the lineup of foes players may face both in and outside Tall Tales. The beginning homage to the Disney Parks ride is a subtle and effective touch fans are sure to appreciate, and Jack Sparrow himself is exceptionally crafted. Rare has created something special with Sea of Thieves: A Pirate's Life, and it will be exciting to see how these new mechanics lead to future growth for the pirate-themed co-op.

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Sep 21, 2021

While there is a lot of content in this update to bring players back to the game, it may not be quite extensive enough to satiate fans long-term. Hopefully, the time between content patches will shorten as Valheim continues its Early Access period, and players can look forward to further updates as solid as this one.

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Dec 6, 2021

Century: Age of Ashes deserves to be recognized for its polish and stellar execution from day one and is definitely a game that fans of fast-paced and energetic PvP should keep an eye on.

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Despite its somewhat one-note premise, The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk - Splat Jaypak's Arenas is a solid addition to the game and undeniably addicting as players practice and perfect their strategies to lead the party to glory, just as The Ranger dreams.

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May 18, 2022

Overall, Cities: VR offers a new way to experience the beloved city-building sim, and, as one of the first games in the genre to come to VR, it is enjoyable despite its not-insubstantial drawbacks. The smaller scale, lower quality graphics, and clunky controls could be a sticking point for fans of Cities: Skylines. However, just like its PC and console counterpart, Cities: VR is easy to become immersed in for hours and does contain many of the same tools and features, which is itself a feat worthy of celebrating. Given VR is technically in its infancy, many of the games and experiences currently on offer can feel experimental or closer to a mobile gaming experience than one for PC or console. Cities: VR is undoubtedly one of the stronger VR games to be released so far, and with a few post-launch patches, it has the potential to be one of the best games currently available for Quest 2.

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The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle may not be a total home run, but it is another solid installment to the MMORPG despite its weak story. High Isle itself is a gorgeously realized location that feels more alive than other settings have thanks to the incredible attention to detail by the art team, and the gameplay is a lot of fun where it matters most. The inclusion of Tales of Tribute works wonderfully, and the game itself was clearly well-designed and executed. However, it could have been even stronger as a base game feature that all players could enjoy.

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Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy delivers fun.

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Survival horror fans, and fans of the broader Fatal Frame series, will find a lot to like about the remake of Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse after the over a decade-long wait. The classic photography-based gameplay and story of Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse make it one of the best in the series, and, with any luck, further Fatal Frame remakes or a continuation of the series will result from this release.

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Nov 12, 2020

Godfall is an ambitious action RPG with gorgeous graphics and great combat mechanics that jump off the screen. Unfortunately, its repetitive locations and missions, lack of strong narrative, and uncompelling characters may fail to impress players and those factors prevent Godfall from living up to its potential.

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