Cruis’n Blast is the curious case of a great game on the outside, but empty on the inside. The main gameplay is exhilarating, with fast races and responsive controls. The circuits, with their gigantic jumps, comically absurd situations and unexpected elements, make games fun. The vehicles, on the other hand, ranging from the simplest to the most fantastic, are hardly seen in other games of the genre. However, everything around this gameplay is shallow, making this a good comeback from the franchise, but not the best possible.
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A Musical Story is a game made by people who love music to fans who are also enthusiasts. The way its compositions completely match the gameplay and the illustrations telling a story, and the fact it isn't demanding perfection in the [player's] performance of the tracks, makes this game a celebration of music['s place] in our lives. Some situations briefly break the spell, such as the lack of visual cues during songs making errors more prominent in the complex tracks. The short duration of the game also leaves a slightly bitter taste in the mouth. However, neither defeats the effort of Glee-Cheese Studio. This is a worthy first title that defines the base for future productions of the developer.
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It's nice to see when a studio steps out of its comfort zone and ventures into a new genre. Even better when the result is a fun title. Dawn of the Monsters fits this example well. Its graphic style, fully voiced dialogues and strategic gameplay are pleasing, making this first venture by 13AM Games in beat 'em ups a good experience.
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In 2013, The Stanley Parable was one of my obsessions. The game surprised me a lot with its storytelling and the gameplay remained in my mind for years. Today, in 2022, I believe the same will happen with The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe. Though the impact was lesser than it was almost a decade ago, I noticed the text quality in the game and its design innovation did not lose [their brilliance] over time. As I walked again through these paths I had already gone through, The jokes still worked and the serious moments still hit me [like before]. The extra content, though not so incorporated into the original game's design, works as another title, with surprises in every one of its various minutes. Not knowing what will happen next time the game starts has never been so fun. In the end, it's worth playing Stanley's parable. Or to let yourself be played by it.
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My time with Kao the Kangaroo left me filled with mixed feelings. On the one hand, I enjoyed its simple yet engaging challenges and its world-building, which recalls the cartoons we watched as children. However, on the other hand, I found so many technical flaws that all the satisfaction that the game brings in its essence gave way to frustration. Perhaps with a good update, the game will get the polish it deserves. Until then, it's like a Schrodinger Game: it's both good and bad.
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Even though Kirby's Dream Buffet is a lot cheaper than most first-party Nintendo Switch offerings, the longevity of activities is low for a party game. The lack of variety in the rules causes the game to quickly lose its freshness and lag behind other offerings of the genre on the console. Yes, there are times when contests are fun, with high doses of risk, reward and chaos. The amount of unlockables is also impressive and warms the heart of any Kirby fan. However, the bulk of the game doesn't captivate enough.
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Something commendable and even ironic about LEGO Bricktales is that the game differentiates itself by bringing to games something that is so intrinsic to building blocks, which is the act of building. Looking back, it's even hard to understand how this hadn't been done before. With its puzzles, the title reproduces the process of reasoning, logic and creativity required in playing with real pieces. Added to the creative scenarios and the shallow but fun script, this factor makes the 10 hours of the game, for the most part, very pleasant. A general improvement to certain mechanics like camera control would make usability much better. Fortunately, ClockStone Software has released updates that fixed some performance issues and bugs, but more improvements would be welcome.
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SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is the Bikini Bottom gang's first original platform game in nearly eight years. So much time away from the genre could have thrown the franchise even deeper into the world of middling licensed games. Fortunately, this was not the path taken by the Purple Lamp studio. Although it has problems with the structure of its levels, the game has controls, challenges and gameplay progression that satisfy anyone looking for a fun game to play without compromise. Anyone who grew up with SpongeBob titles in the 2000s will feel right at home with this cosmic jolt.
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"How does Nintendo decide to release a sequel to 1-2-Switch and leave other beloved franchises behind?" asked some fans during the official announcement period for Everybody 1-2-Switch! I believe this is not the right question to ask. The first game, despite its stumbles, introduced many people to the Switch concept and is one of the console's best-selling titles. So, for me, the correct question is "How could this sequence not have been taken more care?" Make no mistake: the game has its high moments. Certain minigames are fun, their presentation is pleasant and the cell phone connection works surprisingly well. However, the bulk of the experience is marred by low longevity activities, tiresome competition modes, and lack of location and accessibility. This is one of those parties where you arrive excited, but end up returning home early.
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WarioWare: Move It! follows the series' tradition of making the most of Nintendo console technology, but the game arrived very late in the Switch's life cycle. If it were among the first games available for the hardware, the novelty of playing with the Joy-Con would possibly compensate for the lack of more in-depth modes and content.
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At first, it's tough to understand how Fitness Boxing Fist of the North Star exists. The intersection of fans of the exercising franchise and Hokuto no Ken must be way too small to justify a game mixing the two brands. However, it's a combo that works. Yes, the gameplay base is still untouched and those who have been playing boxe games from the get-go will be frustrated in seeing pretty much all the same issues here. However, the game still provides good aerobics and muscle training activities, and can be a good ally for a healthier life. Besides, the modes inspired by Fist of the North Star can diversify the gameplay.
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Side Order finally gives a concrete reason to purchase the Splatoon 3 Expansion Pack. If the first part of the DLC was limited to a nice hub, but without significant new features, this second addition brings exciting content and gameplay. In its first immersion in the roguelike genre, the title manages to establish fun gameplay, with clear risks and rewards, challenging missions and a loop that brings that "just one more round" feeling.
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Analyzing Plumbers Don't Wear Ties: Definitive Edition is a peculiar task. It's obvious that the game didn't become good with the magic of modernity. It remains one of the worst titles ever released, with a drawn-out story told via static images and themes that are extremely problematic for today's times. Therefore, what is worth observing is how the game was preserved and, in this regard, the production team for this port did a good job. The bonus content is enjoyable to consume, despite its compression, usability and subtitle issues. However, they could have gone a little deeper into the title's production history and brought more context to the deleted scenes. If you want to have your moment as The Angry Video Game Nerd and discover a (bad) moment in the history of games, this is the right time.
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