Anthony Gravel's Reviews
Fire Emblem Engage tells a great story full of heart that’s probably the best of the series. The addition of the Emblem Rings which bring heroes of the past games is a nice touch. However, the decision of removing so many great features that were in Theee House, makes Engage a weaker title in my opinion.
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The Callisto Protocol is a nice surprise that certainly honors the series it was inspired from. Close quarter combat adds a unique gameplay element that really nurtures the horror and survival side. Striking Distance Studios offers us a balanced experience with the right level of action and horror that replicates the 2nd Dead Space perfectly. At last, the game is wrapped in a visual presentation that can't shy away from any AAA games. Apart from small problems with a few misplace saves, the experience is excellent. I'm already looking forward to the sequel.
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Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet bring some interesting new innovations such as a complete open world and a fun new Let’s Go! mechanic that speeds up fighting. The fact that you can now tale multiple paths really helps to diversify gameplay and the narrative behind is the best the series has to offer. Unfortunately, some technical issues such as texture problems and Pokémons that load too slowly in the open world will irritate players.
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Pentiment is definitely not going to appeal to everyone and that's okay because Game Pass is made for those games. If you get through the slow start, you will discover a captivating murder mystery. Although it is very different from other Obsidian titles, you recognize the signature of the studio with its highly developed characters. And, of course, you can easily get lost with the many secondary elements in this very detailed universe. I especially loved the unique looks of the game that goes as deep as 16th century calligraphy which is very impressive. The game isn't without its flaws, but fans of a good narrative will love it.
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I don't believe NHL 23 is the must-have annual edition that hockey fans absolutely need. Without diminishing the importance of the addition of women to the game, there's too little other new features. Furthermore, there's a lot of little annoyances that undermine the experience.
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Bayonetta 3 delivers one of the best adventures of the year. This is all thanks to highly satisfying gameplay and several new concepts. The PlatinumGames team took some risks with this sequel that served the experience very well. The third game in the series is close to perfection and will satisfy action lovers and fans of the studio. In the end, Bayonetta 3 proves that there's still plenty of room for more mature games on Nintendo's console. I also recommend that you play it on the big screen given the visual quality and, preferably, with a Pro Controller for the best gameplay experience.
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Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is a very good sequel that doesn't really require you to play the first game. Ubisoft Milan and Nintendo have the perfect recipe and I hope they will continue this partnership for many more games. The mix between the madness of Rabbids and the characters of the Mario universe is very well balanced here. I would have taken even more. It is absolutely necessary to highlight the work of Ubisoft at the level of the different character designs, abilities of Sparks, enemies and planets. If you're looking for a good tactical game with a great setting, check this one out.
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Although I had fun with Gotham Knights, it will not be in our games of the year list. It has a lot of good elements going for it like amazing combat, fun villains, great AI and an efficient co-op mode, but it's hampered by boring protagonists, some design issues and a poorly exploited sense of progression.
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Various Daylife does not measure up to other Team Asano games. It's obviously a game made for Apple Arcade and it probably should have stayed there, especially since the cost is quite high. In my opinion, if you want good JRPGs, there are several better options especially on Switch. You will be better served by Live A Live, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 or Persona 5 Royal.
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Nihon Falcom and NIS America give us yet another larger-than-life adventure in Trails from Zero. The Legend of Heroes is slowly climbing the ranks of my list of favorite JRPGs, and this one adds important pieces of the puzzle. The quality-of-life improvements that come with the Switch and PC versions would deserve the name of remastered. In short, if you want a JRPG with an emotional story, very enjoyable old-school visuals, and solid combat, give this one a chance.
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Splatoon 3 delivers the best solo campaign of the series so far and it’s a whole lot of fun. With a wide variety of challenges that make you use all of the many weapons of the game; you will want more and more. On the competitive side, it's unfortunate that Nintendo doesn't introduce new modes, but the variety of maps and weapons should satisfy the fans. On my end, I plan to spend a lot of time in the new and better Salmon Run which will now be active 24/7. Overall, Splatoon 3 still shines with its unique approach, but we expect Nintendo to deliver multiple free updates to keep us inked in.
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The Last of Us Part I offers an impressive rebuild of a game that is so emotionally captivating. It is absolutely worth revisiting Joel and Ellie’s journey whether it’s your first or second visit into this post apocalyptic world. Naughty Dog delivered a clinic on our to create a remake of a relatively recent gen.
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Cult of the Lamb is a perfect blend of roguelike and farming simulator which stands out because of the many original cultist elements. Massive Monster did an amazing job to immerse the player into this very dark world and it's just so much fun to play the lamb god. The game offers a good 20 hours of gameplay that I simply flew by and at a very affordable cost.
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Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is an ok game that must be viewed first and foremost as an intro to the much bigger project: Hundred Heroes. The cast of character is interesting, but the overall plot is a bit boring, and the side quests are uninspired. We mostly enjoyed the art and the fact that you can instantly switch between three characters in a unique way. If you like Japanese games and you have Game Pass, it's worth a shot. Otherwise, even though it comes from the same studio, don't expect this to be the great Suikoden spiritual successor that you are hoping for in their main Kickstarter project.
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With its very engaging story that offers so many choices, As Dusk Falls is an amazing addition to the Xbox Game Pass that fans of the genre really can’t miss.
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Xenoblade Chronicles 3 delivers an epic journey with great characters, an amazing story and refined combats that make it the greatest of the series. You will lose dozens of hours exploring its humongous world and despite too many long loading screens in the second half of the game, it's definitely a Nintendo Switch must play.
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LIVE A LIVE is a great adventure that still holds up 28 years later. With its 8 very different stories, the game delivers a wide variety of still very original gameplay. Despite offering 2 or 3 scenarios that aren't as interesting as the others, it makes up with a well-balanced rhythm of story and gameplay. In the end, it's relatively short compared to other Tactical RPGs which, in my opinion, make the genre more accessible to newcomers.
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If you are a fan of Danganronpa, the Zero Escape series or any narrative thriller, AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES – nirvanA Initiative is for you. If the first one left me a bit confused, the second game is better structured, captivating and very well written. Furthermore, you don't really need to play the previous game to jump into this one so enjoy and discover the many paths that will lead you to the conclusion of this amazing sci-fi story.
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Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes has proven to be my favorite game of the genre so far. I think the developers have capitalized well on the strengths of Musou while adding the best elements of the latest Fire Emblem. This is once again a long-term game that will offer dozens of hours of gameplay for fans of the genre. For newcomers, it can also be a great starter as it offers a lot of flexibility for difficulty levels and it explains very well each new element that they add along the way. In short, it is easy to recommend.
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Mario Strikers: Battle League should easily meet the expectations of those who have been waiting for a sequel for a long time. The game is more fun than ever thanks to a more dynamic and perfectly fluid gameplay. It also takes a lot of practice to master it perfectly and the challenge is there even for veteran players. In short, Nintendo is starting the summer on the right track with this new Mario Strikers.
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