Stray is a hack, as it takes things the internet endlessly reproduces as memes — cats, cyberpunk aesthetics, lo-fi, vaporwave — and condenses it into a single product that has gotten enough exposure to be intensively commented on by its audience. It is not necessary to do more than the minimum, as it takes advantage of loopholes in the system to succeed in its objective. In this respect, Stray is, without a doubt, an unquestionable success.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
If you strip Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus of all its oriental makeup, what you're left with is a metroidvania on the edge of competence. It's a product that came to market with quite obvious flaws in its main mechanic (the pogo-jump) and in the design of the levels, which primarily depend on the full functioning of such a system. Of course, it's far from being truly bad, but it's a game that's a victim of its own pretensions, which makes the mistake of relying too much on its pretty shell to compensate for the lack of soul at its core.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Despite being flawed, World of Horror is still interesting. Although it seems different, it only flirts with experimentalism, since its main proposals have not only been previously used in the industry but also executed with better propriety, such as killer7 and The Silver Case, both from Grasshopper Manufacture and which focus on construction of a complicated plot conveyed through unconventional gameplay and a deliberately disorienting interface. Still, it's impossible to say that the product worked on for years in early access by developer panstasz is incompetent. It's a valid and very pleasant option for a quick game on a rainy night.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Taking an objective look at what the franchise has already achieved with its most recent titles, selling Like a Dragon: Ishin! as a remake may have been a wrong strategic decision, since several of its systems were not revitalized to the point of living up to the nomenclature, remaining archaic under a modern look. In addition, the slower and more bucolic tone of both the atmosphere and the narrative makes us understand why the original Ishin was ignored for a Western release. With that in mind, it becomes a little difficult to recommend it for newcomers to the franchise, but for those who are already familiar with all of the series' recurring flaws, it's a solid enough experience.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
MultiVersus is good and it's worth investing some time in it even if it's just to get to know it. However, what is observed is its potential, which sees a promising future on the horizon by fixing some balance and launch problems. Over time, they will usually be fixed and will certainly make MultiVersus become a protagonist within its genre by being able to unite the strength of Warner characters with a minimally competent production, something that other platform fighting games haven't even come close to.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Overall, the Steam version of SNK Vs. Capcom: The Match of Millennium is worth much more as a historical record. Its continuous gameplay factor, by current standards, is almost nil, as fun as it is. The fact that it doesn't run natively, that is, other than the emulation interface, in addition to the lack of an online system, unfortunately, makes things quite difficult , even if it's a title with local multiplayer and it is supported by Steam's remote play system.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Despite its specific issues, it's possible to consider GrimGrimoire OnceMore a very capable representative of its genre, but, even so, it's hardly inviting for the general public. Even so, this is a respectable entry in Vanillaware's catalogue.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Children of the Sun is a unique experience. It may be a little derivative of other games, but it doesn't change the fact that the game has its own identity, full of personality by simplifying its gameplay and focusing on the variety of situations in which it can be used, masterfully sustaining the interest of the player. It's a shame that the short duration ends up somewhat undermining the impact of this stylish paranormal thriller full of occultism and paranoia.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is not a perfect product and cannot remotely be recommended as a gateway, especially since the other games in the main series do a more competent job of offering a robust experience. However, it does a good job of encapsulating the characteristics of the franchise and offering old school fans a last dose of the Dragon of Dojima, now in his twilight as a protagonist.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Basim's story, while disappointing in some aspects, has a nostalgic bittersweet taste to the true veterans of the Hidden Ones order, as Assassin’s Creed Mirage represents a sort of homecoming by picking the Middle East as the stage for an adventure in which a clean and silent execution will always be the best way. Full of issues? Absolutely. Objectively limited, a product that is always shadowed by the expansiveness of its direct predecessors, [which are] more robust and concise? Safely. Pleasantly fun? There's no doubt about it.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life proved to be a Marvelous hit on both a technical and conceptual level. The progression by chapters of the original, which was already way ahead of its time when it was released in the early 2000s, even today follows a nice differential that sets the product apart from other more robust farm simulators. Despite one or another questionable decision that causes the concept of the original to lose some of its strength, the remake is still a solid enough revitalization and finally worthy of the name it bears.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Overall, Dusk Diver 2 improves on several aspects of the first, with a greater focus on improving the fluidity and diversity of the combat system. However, other peripheral aspects, such as sidequests, variety of enemies and side activities, remain without significant improvements. Those who enjoyed the first Dusk Diver will probably have a positive impression of the second one, but it hasn't quite reached the right point yet to break the bubble and reach a wider audience.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Voice of Cards is the typical product that the industry sometimes needs, that knows how to do the basics with an identity of its own, without necessarily having to reinvent the wheel, after all not every game needs to be revolutionary. In fact, there is a saturation of pretentious attempts to break paradigms that forget the basic concepts of a minimally healthy game design. There was little time between The Isle Dragon Roars and The Forsaken Maiden releases. Both are RPGs that are consistent in their proposal to offer their audience a traditional RPG.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Possessing a very unique atmosphere, Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water is a classic example of the application of many of the characteristic elements of Japanese horror by blending psychological horror with supernatural and folkloric elements while following a structure of increasing tension. Although it is possible to recommend it from a game's point of view, it demonstrates much more value from the perspective of a representative product of this very different genre.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town is a bit far from reaching its fullness as the protagonist of a genre, but it is on the right path. In technical terms, its greatest merit is in the gameplay, especially due to the crafting elements, although it still suffered too much in the setting, narrative and game atmosphere.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Sand Land manages to do one of the most difficult things in this heated and boring cultural industry of our time: it is able to justify its own existence (alongside an anime that tells the same story, but not quite like that), which sometimes it may seem meaningless if we only look at the surface of the proposal. Despite some relatively silly technical mishaps that are more annoying due to the supposed ease of identifying them, Beelzebub's adventure has a craftsmanship that exudes a lot of grace and charisma.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
After an apparently troubled development, Granblue Fantasy: Relink reveals itself to be a pleasant surprise. Though it may play too safe for certain aspects, it manages to sneak into success amidst the genre colossi. This feat comes by imprinting a unique quality, mixing solo campaign with a usual style for multiplayer RPGs. Thus, the game makes a fluid transition like a humble invitation for the more traditionalist player, showcasing how this mode can be very fun.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The seventh generation of consoles was marked by a creative peak for the industry, which began to take advantage of the new ways of playing that became popular there, as is the case with both the motion sensors on the Wii and the touch screen on the Nintendo DS. Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is yet another inventive, consequential title from that era that has finally managed to break free of its shackles to reach a wider audience. Furthermore, with charismatic characters, striking visuals and unique gameplay, the game is one of those fascinating experiences that every now and then arise to remind us why we like video games in the first place.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
In the end, the System Shock remake is exactly what you'd expect from a title of this caliber. The original is a true milestone in the gaming industry, and here it's been recreated just right. This means that the player immediately realizes that they are holding something important and unique, but at the same time they don't feel trapped by a simplistic historical record approach. There's a real freshness that makes this recreation live up to its many contemporary spiritual successors like BioShock or Dead Space.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Volcano Princess is a fascinating example of a single parent simulator. Once started, it's hard not to lose track of time with long gameplays that go on for hours on end as we try to prove our daughter as the best little girl in the kingdom. Despite the stumbles in the translation and with some bugs, the vast sea of possibilities makes the title worthwhile for anyone who wants a captivating and immersive experience.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review