S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is an immersive and atmospheric journey through the Zone, delivering gripping exploration and hardcore survival, though its ambition is hindered by technical issues, making it a flawed yet quintessential S.T.A.L.K.E.R. experience.
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Slitterhead offers a quirky, exotic horror-action experience with flaws in dialogue and gameplay, but those who embrace its oddities will find a bizarre, twist-filled story, intense monster combat, and a true cult-classic feel from Bokeh Game Studio.
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Bloober Team’s Silent Hill 2 remake (2024) stays deeply faithful to the original, while adding meaningful expansions at key moments. The narrative is still a tearjerker that grips you tightly, often making you question what you see, and the audiovisual quality is phenomenal. It is still our special place.
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RetroRealms Arcade may not be 'truly amazing', but it offers solid retro platforming and horror elements, with great visuals, clever challenges, and unique character mechanics, although it suffers from harsh checkpoints, subpar controls, and limited content for its price, earning a cautious recommendation due to its evident passion for the IPs.
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There's a lot to love about Super Mario Party Jamboree, as Nintendo presents a content-rich party game with numerous playable characters, engaging boards, and entertaining mini-games, ensuring endless fun for players, despite some modes feeling underdeveloped.
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Capcom expertly revives the 2006 classic with nostalgic charm and modern Quality of Life improvements, cementing its role as a top-tier action zombie game despite some outdated elements and minor content changes.
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Blue Manchu’s Wild Bastards offers a memorable mishmash with a unique setting and diverse characters, but suffers from underdeveloped elements and pacing issues that can detract from its otherwise entertaining gameplay loop.
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Creatures of Ava offers a wholesome experience with charming creatures and unique gameplay ideas, but it lacks cohesion and suffers from a weak narrative and unrefined mechanics.
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Cat Quest III is a successful continuation of the accessible RPG series that many players love. It's easy to see why people enjoy Cat Quest III so much. The narrative—despite its childlike simplicity—manages to present an endearing story with adorable characters. It's a real treat to look at, thanks to the stylish graphics, captivating animations, and the exotic pirate world. In the Purribean, you encounter various types of adventures, making it a pleasure to explore in your pirate ship. However, be aware that the combat mostly revolves around mindless button-mashing, and the lack of challenge can sometimes make this childlike RPG feel a bit sleepy. If that doesn’t bother you, then Cat Quest III is definitely worth your Spanish silver.
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Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a game that’s difficult to review. Its blend of various genres and exotic appearance quickly captures interest, but it can also be a bit off-putting. Fortunately, there’s no real identity crisis, but you do notice that not every aspect of the game is equally well-developed. For example, the management part can soon feel like repetitive busy work, and the combat occasionally lacks some excitement. However, when you consider the strengths of this title, you see that there’s plenty to enjoy. The action-packed and strategic gameplay has a solid core. It’s a pleasure to command a group of Japanese warriors and take down demons, while also racing across the battlefield with a knife between your teeth. Capcom keeps the pace up, constantly presenting interesting and varied levels with satisfying conclusions. Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is exactly what Capcom is known for: distinctive, unique, but also of high quality.
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Anger Foot knocks the opposition flat out. At a breakneck pace, you get introduced to the punishing combat, and you keep coming back for more. The arsenal is finely tuned, the enemies you chop up are fun to fight, and the soundtrack is proof that "hardcore never dies." Free Lives presents a unique gameplay system in a distinctive setting. With over sixty levels, players can experience the intense fury of Anger Foot while unlocking new sneakers for the most bizarre gameplay variations. Despite some performance issues due to the unruly physics and somewhat disappointing boss battles, Anger Foot is a fast-paced and humorous first-person shooter that will have me tapping my feet with joy. Are we witnessing the birth of a new subgenre in the first-person shooter landscape? One thing is certain: Anger Foot reigns supreme in this Nouveau Riche. Ready to stomp? Let’s go!
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Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II has become a truly remarkable passion project from Ninja Theory. Despite the studio having 'only' eighty employees, they've managed to score top marks in many areas. To begin with, Hellblade II is audiovisually the best this industry has to offer. Unreal Engine 5 performs magic on your screen, where cinematic visuals and in-game content are often indistinguishable. The audio is not only sharp and impressive, but thanks to binaural sound, it penetrates deep into your mind. 'Gripping' is a key term when describing this action game, reflected in the relentless combat against the horrors of the Viking era. Alongside the grand spectacle, there is an intimate story with Senua at its center. The way her mental and physical challenges are presented is simply top-tier writing. The emotional impact that Ninja Theory delivers with Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is one that will be praised for years to come.
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Another Crab's Treasure may not have the finesse of a premium lobster dish, but it's still a very enjoyable game to play through. That's why the term "Surimi Souls" is packed with flavor. Yes, Aggro Crab's action game may not be the most beautiful crustacean out there, and it has its fair share of whining and balance issues, but it still carries the spirit of an apex predator. It manages to create an intriguing world with strong Soulslike design and combat, while also offering enough unique angles to avoid being labeled as just another ordinary copy. Add to that an adventurous yet humorous narrative, and voilà: Aggro Crab manages to thrive in this daring ecosystem. Another Crab's Treasure deserves a spot among Soulslikes that are worth your time and effort.
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The strongest points of Tales of Kenzera: ZAU are its presentation and story, showcasing Surgent Studios' big heart with a personal narrative full of thought-provoking elements and vivid, exotic visuals.
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Dragon's Dogma 2 grabs you by the throat with its sublime open-world, intense combat, and exceptional monster design, making it a strong contender for GOTY 2024.
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Penny's Big Breakaway captures the playful energy of early 2000s platformers but struggles with bugs and outdated issues, making it a visually appealing yet flawed experience.
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"Helldivers 2 is an exhilarating co-op third-person shooter that effectively satirizes patriotism while delivering intense action. The game shines with strong gunplay, excellent sound design, and satisfying damage feedback, along with a vast arsenal of weapons and gear reminiscent of an over-the-top American Dream. Despite performance and server issues and some repetitive content, Helldivers 2 has the potential to become a staple in the co-op shooter genre—fighting for freedom and democracy!"
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"Ubisoft has set a high standard for 2024 with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. This Metroidvania is expertly crafted, with excellent platforming and standout combat. The game is full of personality, showcasing Ubisoft Montellier's skill. However, it falls just short of matching the best in the subgenre, with a lackluster story and occasional pacing issues. Still, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a fantastic Metroidvania and a welcome return for a much-missed franchise."
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Battletoads holds a special place in the hearts of many gamers. However, Battletoads 2020 is not the same experience as it was 26 years ago. It has evolved and knows how to distinguish itself. The game still has the beat 'em up action that you can enjoy, even if it's a bit on the lean side. Despite some fewer fights, the game is packed with all kinds of content. Riding your turbo bike, platforming and even space invaders action make for an incredibly diverse playthrough that feels entertaining and fresh from start to finish. Paired with colorful graphics, a banger of a soundtrack and wonderful couch co-op, Battletoads is a lot better than I could have imagined. At a time when old IPs are being excavated, it's nice to see this legendary franchise treated with respect. I hope to see more of the Battletoads in the near future and especially when the quality is as strong as this game. Rash, Pimple and Zitz are back baby!
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