Cerealkillerz

Heave Ho 2 delivers exactly what you'd expect from a couch co-op game: chaotic fun and plenty of laughs with friends. The controls take a little time to get used to and continue to provide a satisfying challenge throughout the game. Rather than being a drawback, we think this is an essential part of what makes the game so enjoyable. The different worlds each introduce their own gameplay focus, offering enough variety to keep things fresh from start to finish. We also really liked the visuals, and the soundtrack in particular fits the game's lighthearted style perfectly. The addition of online multiplayer for the first time makes Heave Ho 2 much more accessible than its predecessor. Minor issues, such as the almost unavoidable lifebuoy mechanic triggered by the hard-to-avoid cat, only slightly detract from the overall experience. At a price of just €9.99, there's little reason not to pick it up if you have a group of friends to play with.

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Resynced shows that a rework can be much more than just a visual overhaul. This is most evident in the combat system, which is, for me, the most successful change in the entire package. It strikes a balance between the deadly but monotonous counter-based gameplay of the original and the often sluggish, health-bar-focused combat of the newer Assassin's Creed games, without inheriting the weaknesses of either system. The fact that the hidden blades can no longer be used freely is less of an issue for me personally, even though it further limits the overall weapon variety.

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Sword Art Online deserved better than Echoes of Aincrad is able to deliver. The combat and the upgrade and crafting systems are enjoyable, but they're almost completely undermined by the painfully linear level design, the repetitive mission structure, and the way exploration is rendered virtually pointless. The game's biggest strength is its story, which remains surprisingly serious for most of the adventure before eventually falling back on the usual "save the world" clichés. Unfortunately, your protagonist still feels like a supporting character throughout the story and could easily be removed from many of the cutscenes without changing much. We recommend that everyone try the demo first to make sure the gameplay is something you'll enjoy, because otherwise the disappointment could be significant.

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Rhythm Paradise Groove is not an easy game to evaluate, as it is a collection of rhythm-based minigames with extremely simplistic gameplay. Nevertheless, we could not completely resist the series' unique charm and found ourselves coming back for “just one more round” time and again. Depending on the type of player, however, your enjoyment may vary considerably. Perfectionists who want to master every minigame and leave their mark on each one will get much more out of Rhythm Paradise Groove, as this significantly boosts its long-term appeal. On the other hand, players looking for varied gameplay mechanics and other forms of lasting motivation may want to look elsewhere. In any case, we recommend trying the demo available on the Nintendo eShop to see for yourself what the game has to offer.

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Visually and acoustically, Star Fox impressed us across the board. The overall atmosphere is more intense, more immersive, and still retains that essential sense of nostalgia for longtime veterans. All the more disappointing, then, is the lack of additional missions to expand the relatively short single-player campaign. While the Challenge Mode is a nice extra for achievement hunters, full-fledged missions or even a second campaign would have added significant value to the remake. The multiplayer mode also suffers from a limited number of maps and mission types, even though the core gameplay is enjoyable. We hope that Star Fox marks a reboot of the series and that this high level of quality can be maintained in future installments.

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007 First Light is undoubtedly one of the best James Bond games released in the last twenty years and, even if it may not fully satisfy every Hitman fan, it is easily the most ambitious project the studio has undertaken to date. The blend of action and stealth does not always come together perfectly and, at times, the rather foolish antagonists push certain moments close to parody. Nevertheless, Bond fans are treated to one of the most cinematic and well-presented entries the franchise has ever seen, delivering an experience that captures the spirit of 007 remarkably well.

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Expectation management is the magic word when it comes to Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, which is, in itself, a wonderful game. Anyone looking for an extremely relaxing adventure that primarily sparks curiosity will find exactly that here. The little dinosaur also makes for a perfect introduction to video games. Experienced platformer fans, however, should keep in mind that there is virtually no gameplay challenge beyond thoroughly exploring every corner of a level. Hardcore gamers, in particular, may potentially find themselves bored here.

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I could really relate to the characters and found myself anxiously wondering with every decision whether it was the right one. The roughly eight hours I spent on my playthrough were very entertaining thanks to the game’s story. Despite the dense atmosphere, the horror elements were not very prominent for me — it felt more like a really good first-contact story. But of course, that’s very subjective. Personally, I barely used the turning-point feature, because in games like this I always prefer to experience the consequences of my decisions, no matter how bad they are. I will definitely do another playthrough, though, to fix some of the mistakes I made. What I also would have liked were slightly more open areas. Especially at the beginning, you move through very linear, corridor-like levels, although this improved a bit as the game progressed. Still, my explorer’s heart was always longing for a little more freedom — but perhaps that would have gone beyond the scope of the game.

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As a tag fighter for quick sessions in between, Invincible VS definitely impressed us, although the market for this type of game is already well served with upcoming titles like Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls or 2XKO. Unfortunately, the single-player content is really quite weak, and from our perspective the fan service is fairly limited. Fans of the series should carefully consider whether a short story mode and couch versus are enough for them, or whether they’re willing to dive into the core of the game to enjoy a very solid online multiplayer experience.

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After around 20 hours of playtime, Saros turns out to be a solid Returnal 1.5 but unfortunately not much more than that. The new approach to the game structure and the inclusion of rather generic NPCs make the experience feel less mysterious and somewhat diluted compared to its outstanding predecessor. However, if you can live with a simpler story and are open to new gameplay ideas, you will definitely have just as much fun here as you did with Returnal.

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In terms of gameplay, it’s essentially a glorified walking simulator, but thanks to its story-link mechanic and a gripping, well-written narrative, Tides of Tomorrow still carries enough weight. We would have liked to see more puzzles and a bit more freedom in exploration, but the focus on moral and ethical choices—and their consequences—works well nonetheless and also adds replay value. Fans of narrative-driven games, especially those who appreciate an environmental theme, can definitely be recommended Tides of Tomorrow.

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For me, this game is definitely a recommendation to buy. The gameplay is quick to learn, and the story leaves you wanting more. The player is constantly wondering what will happen next with Hugh and Diana. There’s also something to enjoy for collectors and outfit enthusiasts, as there are items to gather for Diana and various outfits to unlock. Generally, I’m not a fan of enemies respawning in areas. However, in this game it doesn’t bother me, as the number of enemies is quite manageable. I do have one small criticism regarding the standard weapon: after reloading, you have to wait a short moment for the weapon to “cool down” in order to use the full magazine effectively. Otherwise, you often fire only a single shot before being forced to reload again. This can be quite frustrating, especially in situations where the enemy only needs two or three more hits.

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Anyone who has loved the entire lore of the series from the very beginning, is finally looking for closure to the original storyline, and is satisfied with lighthearted fan service combined with good music will find what they’re looking for here. It’s also suitable if you don’t want to invest an excessive amount of time and don’t mind simple, sometimes flawed graphics. However, it’s not really recommended for newcomers due to the lack of prior knowledge needed for the overall experience those who are curious should first invest in the Life Is Strange Collection with remastered versions of all previous entries, which also offers very good value for money.

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Unfortunately, Legacy of Kain: Ascendance fails to impress on a gameplay level. The controls feel too imprecise for a platformer, and the combat is rather dull. On the other hand, the writing and dialogue stand out—they fit perfectly within the series and are excellently delivered by the familiar voice actors. The soundtrack also deserves praise, but it is often far too intense in the wrong moments, undermining rather than enhancing the atmosphere. All in all, this trip to Nosgoth is only recommended for hardcore fans who are eager to pick up a few extra pieces of lore.

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The return to the original gameplay style, combined with its transition into the third dimension, works well and provided us with a lot of fun. Unfortunately, we didn’t always find the difficulty level well balanced, and some levels even felt a bit too easy, especially the boss fights. However, those who aim to complete all achievements and experience everything the game has to offer will still find enough challenge, even as hardcore fans.

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Super Mario Wonder hasn’t gotten any worse and is still just as fun as it was at release. However, Meetup in Bellabel Park focuses on a casual gamer audience and offers very little beyond that. Those who already own the original and enjoy playing together with friends on the couch might find some enjoyment in it. On the other hand, players primarily interested in the main game will get more levels per euro with the Switch 1 version without the add-on. The pricing of Switch 2 games also remains a topic of discussion.

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Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly divides opinions mainly because of its new features. The stronger focus on combat and the introduction of various gameplay mechanics may make many fans of the series somewhat skeptical. Newcomers may also have to deal with some initial frustration and the feeling of being surrounded by bullet-sponge ghosts at the beginning. However, as the game progresses this impression fades, and the eerie atmosphere of Minakami Village gradually draws the player in. Those who don’t mind the somewhat limited performance and are looking for a different kind of horror game experience alongside Resident Evil and Silent Hill might want to take a look through the Camera Obscura—even if it requires pushing through a bit at the start.

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Pokopia already leaves a very positive impression after the first few hours. The attention to detail, the beautiful presentation, and the strong sense of nostalgia quickly make the game feel special. The moment when the classic starter Pokémon appear in particular shows how skillfully the game plays with the memories of many fans. At the same time, the idea of having your own island introduces a fresh gameplay element that creates a motivating sense of progression. From a technical standpoint, the game runs smoothly and feels noticeably more polished than some of the recent Pokémon titles on the Switch. The only drawback is that the controls can feel a bit awkward at times. Even though I haven’t finished Pokopia yet, many signs already suggest that this is a very lovingly crafted Pokémon adventure. For fans of the series, it could be exactly the game many have been missing in recent years.

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Overall, WWE 2K26 leaves a very positive impression. The game offers plenty of content, numerous game modes, and enough variety to keep players engaged for a long time. The sense of nostalgia is especially noticeable. While playing, you often feel transported back to earlier times when wrestling games provided hours of simple, enjoyable entertainment. Of course, not everything is perfect. Some of the new features feel more like small additions, and minor technical issues such as clipping errors or occasional animation problems are still noticeable. Nevertheless, the overall impression is clearly positive. Fans of the series get a comprehensive wrestling game with lots of content, plenty of nostalgia, and enough freedom to create their own matches and shows.

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Marathon is a strange experiment that, with its very distinct art style and strong focus on PvP, won’t necessarily appeal to every fan of the studio. The overall gameplay loop delivers everything you would expect from the genre, but unfortunately not much more aside from well-designed AI enemies. If you’ve had enough of Arc Raiders, you might take a cautious look at this title, hoping for more content in the coming seasons. For the rest of the player base, however, it’s unfortunately not quite enough at the moment.

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