Vítor M. Costa


76 games reviewed
79.7 average score
80 median score
69.7% of games recommended
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Aug 3, 2022

The main virtue of Endling - Extinction is Forever is that it manages to immerse the player in animal life in an intimate and believable way that few games can. The game is suitable both for lovers of more casual adventures and for those who want to enjoy an immersive narrative experience on one of the most important themes of this century.

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Aug 17, 2022

Tyrant’s Blessing has an elegant audiovisual, does an excellent job as a tactical game with strong deductive reasoning appeal, has good progression in its level design and good replay factor with characters with unique abilities. This title is easily recommended to any fan of tactical games, and maybe even to some puzzle enthusiasts, but for RPG players, only if they are inclined to like elements of these other two genres as well.

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Sep 1, 2022

Though it lacks some polishment and refinement in the audiovisual aspect and has an underdeveloped level design, Gerda: A Flame in Winter (Switch) offers a good narrative and metanarrative proposal and a satisfactory result when it comes to historical fiction script. It's a shame it doesn't manage to be more immersive, but, due to its strong points, it's a recommendable title for historical fiction adventure fans.

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Despite again reusing many features of the predecessors in its series and the level design not having evolved (even regressed in some aspects), the audiovisual remains fresh and brings a good balance of previous experiences in the series. In addition, combat is more customizable and the new capture mechanic is worked intelligently and critically into the game's narrative.

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8 / 10.0 - Lost Eidolons
Oct 17, 2022

I have some qualms when it comes to a few technical, artistic and character writing elements, and I feel like the level design could have been more varied and developed from the start, but I have no doubt Lost Eidolons offers, like no other tactical RPG so far a mash-up between Fire Emblem and an immersive, tragic and epic western aesthetic. I hope sequels may explore the Artemesia continent further and make it even more interesting. Ocean Drive Studio's debut game has a solid and consistent audiovisual [aspect], it's well written for its aims and its gameplay should please newbies in the genre (in casual mode) as well as veterans, playing on normal or higher and with permadeath on.

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Nov 30, 2022

Front Mission remains a good game, but it has limitations especially in level design and narrative that put it below some of the tactical RPGs that came after it. That said, despite Forever Entertainment bringing little new content and a modest technical revision, Front Mission 1st: Remake is the best version of this game, with remastered music and significant improvements in graphics and quality of life. Considering it's a classic and also a really interesting TRPG in combat systems and some aspects of its plot and music, it's a title highly indicated to tactical RPG fans. For new players, however, there are more accessible and immersive options to recommend.

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There's no denying that Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered has beautiful illustrations and melodies. Furthermore, it is evident how complex, ingenious and interesting its gameplay is. This game is an absolute must for anyone who wants something flexible, experimental, and challenging in a JRPG, but it's not recommended for a beginner or any player who doesn't have a healthy dose of patience.

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8 / 10.0 - Melatonin
Jan 5, 2023

Despite its narrative and audiovisual simplicity, as well as the little content, Melatonin has a well polished and consistent design. There are interesting psychological and social themes subtly brought up, comfortable audiovisual [elements] and a style that combines a dream ambientation and a creative gameplay that's at the same time intuitive and reasonably challenging when it focuses on the rhythmic aspect of the tracks more than their melodic parts. This title is recommended to people who like casual concepts in general, as well as rhythm game fans interested in unconventional mechanics.

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Although the repetitive and simplistic dungeon crawler level design and plot development left a little to be desired in terms of the potential of its concepts, Persona 3 was revolutionary for its series and remains especially interesting in atmosphere and in narrative concepts. Despite considerable visual limitations, Persona 3 Portable is the best version of the game, due to gameplay and quality of life improvements, as well as new content in the female route. The title is a must for Persona fans and, with some caveats, it is also recommended for anyone who is generally looking for a JRPG with social simulation and dark themes.

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Feb 14, 2023

Theatrhythm Final Bar Line contains an artistic style that is still charming and charismatic in its own theatrical way. In addition, the game brings significant improvements, especially in gameplay, and a very vast content of music from Final Fantasy and even from several other Square Enix IPs, via DLC, celebrating like no other game until then the valuable legacy of soundtracks from JRPGs.

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8 / 10.0 - The Pale Beyond
May 18, 2023

The Pale Beyond is a unique game, driven by a great survival concept that makes good use of both narrative RPG and simulation elements.

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7.5 / 10.0 - Smelter
Apr 22, 2021

Smelter is easily recommended for those who like action games and 2D platform, but with the knowledge that you will have to live with independent moments of RTS and top-down shooter; which, in addition to being limited and uninteresting, may not appeal to you and can be an exhausting obstacle in the middle of your journey with Eve to rescue Adam.

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7.5 / 10.0 - Pac-Man 99
May 16, 2021

Pac-Man 99 is recommended for anyone who wants to be a little distracted and have fun in sparse moments of the day, but not for those who are fans of maze games who are interested in training for hours and improving their skills in online competitions, since, as stated, matches depend a lot on luck, although the improvement of skills also contributes to the performance in matches and the training is not in vain.

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7.5 / 10.0 - Where Cards Fall
Nov 25, 2021

Despite its simplicity, ease, brevity and limitations, Where Cards Fall is certainly an accessible and unique game when viewed from the point of view of its core mechanics based on building card houses. Thus, the title is recommended for anyone who wants a unique, meditative and casual space puzzle experience. But it doesn't suit the most demanding puzzle gamers for its low challenge and simplicity, and probably not even those hoping for a deeper narrative.

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7.5 / 10.0 - Omno
Dec 14, 2021

Whether from a narrative point of view, or from the level design, the mechanics and puzzle concepts perspective, Omno is not only modest and brief, but also shallow and uncreative. On the other hand, it has a charismatic look and fantastic fauna in a relaxing atmosphere. The title is recommended for those who want a pleasant, easy, accessible and fast experience, but it is far from what other similar games have to offer both as an art game and as an adventure in 3D platform puzzles.

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7.5 / 10.0 - Monark
Feb 20, 2022

Monark is a relatively accessible TRPG for beginners in terms of tactical complexity, while still being interesting and versatile. In addition, the game is recommended for those interested in shounen anime and plot premises similar to the Persona games and the dark brushstrokes of the main Shin Megami Tensei series.

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7.5 / 10.0 - A Memoir Blue
Apr 13, 2022

A Memoir Blue's interactive poetics is sensible in a subtle and demure way through its audiovisual [elements], even if technically limited and incipient in its level design and animation. It's a short title when compared to other videogames, but, just like a short film in cinema or a poem or short story in literature, length isn't an issue. The narrative and progression are modest, but the message is told in a succint, oneiric and expressive form, and it succeeds in doing so. The big issue, however, is that it uses interactivity only a little. A Memoir Blue is recommended for fans of art games stylized as graphic adventures, as those players will certainly enjoy the experience if they have in mind that it's a short journey without big ambitions.

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May 11, 2022

Even with a conservative concept regarding the classic Brigandine, and also considering that it is a lower-budget project, Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia deserved more polish, especially in the in-game visuals and in several aspects of its gameplay that lead to be problematic and/or limited in much of what it does as both a macro-scale strategy game and a tactical RPG. However, the game has new features in its PC version that increase its replay factor, it has a good musical environment, a good connection between the types of gameplay in GSG and TRPG, and it is above all well written and illustrated. For these reasons, it's a title recommended for fans of the PlayStation classic, fans of high fantasy stories and anyone who wants to experiment with macro-strategic elements in TRPG, as there aren't many titles with this concept.

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7.5 / 10.0 - A Hero and a Garden
May 19, 2022

Although very rudimentary in its gameplay, as well as too simplistic in its aesthetics, even from the point of view of its simple proposal, A Hero and a Garden is consistent in its main design choices and, above all, has premises well thought out and executed in an elegant, sensitive and delicate way. It's just a shame that even in the narrative, where it's a strong point, it also lacks a greater elaboration of the dialogues, the development of the characters and its world.

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7.5 / 10.0 - The Artful Escape
Jun 15, 2022

Beethoven & Dinosaur's debut game has good inspiration and a lot of personality to be observed from some of the tracks, psychedelic environments and the tone that balances sensibility and good humor in Francis' mad space odyssey. On the other hand, the rhythm and platformer mechanics' development is too simple and unappealing. Character and plot developments do have a few highlights, but it's still too basic, weak and predictable, and even its sound and visual aspects have a few issues. The Artful Escape is recommended for peopel looking for a platform-adventure with unique science fantasy art direction in a musical context. However, it's not recommended if the person would like a platformer with deep mechanics, and even less so for someone looking for a focus on rhythm mechanics.

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