Cerealkillerz

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 marks a triumphant comeback, delivering one of the best campaigns in years, meaningful improvements to DMZ, and exactly the return to the classic multiplayer feel that fans have been waiting for. While the mix of two parallel storylines doesn’t always quite come together, and the new multiplayer maps occasionally lack variety, the game otherwise delivers the kind of entry the series has been missing. For fans of the franchise, this is finally a Call of Duty title they can buy without a second thought.

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Nintendo Switch Sports Resort offers a nice mix of familiar sports with a few minor new additions, as well as the opportunity to explore more of the island itself and compete against challenging opponents both offline and online. However, that is largely where the new features worth buying the game for end. The overall presentation leaves a lot to be desired, and unfortunately, the new modes feel somewhat limited after just a few hours of gameplay, making it difficult to recommend the title to all players. Nevertheless, those looking for a few fun rounds with friends and family can still give it a try.

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Boltgun 2 is a sequel that focuses on giving players more of everything. More Chaos Gods, more enemies, more varied environments, and a second playable character in Nyra, complete with her own weapons. The variety of enemies and the different locations are particularly enjoyable, and even the medium difficulty offers a decent challenge. On the downside, Malum and Nyra feel barely different beyond their weapons, the levels often follow the same formula, and the story is little more than an excuse to keep the guns blazing. Still, if you’re a Warhammer fan or simply in the mood for a fast-paced boomer shooter, you can’t go far wrong with Boltgun 2. There’s just something undeniably fun about blasting your way through hordes of familiar Warhammer enemies.

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Valor Mortis dares to do something different by bringing the soulslike genre into first-person perspective. The setting, visuals, and animations are excellent, the level design is fun thanks to its many shortcuts, and performance is generally smooth aside from the usual shader stutters. However, the combat relies too heavily on passive parrying, enemy variety wears thin quickly, the parkour is more annoying than enjoyable, and the story could have made better use of its compelling setting. Still, fans of soulslikes looking for a genuine challenge will find a fresh and demanding experience here.

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Tales of Eternia Remastered impresses with a variety of quality-of-life features and minor improvements to the translation and visual presentation. Those looking to experience the original game with as few changes as possible will find what is arguably the best version of the game here. However, if you were expecting major graphical upgrades or significant gameplay improvements, you may be disappointed. Nevertheless, the many quality-of-life features are well implemented and will make getting into the game much easier, especially for newcomers.

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Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse delivers where it matters most and gets the fundamentals right. The gameplay is fun, encouraging you to explore Paris and Dracula’s castle, and we actually kept playing until we had uncovered 100% of the map and found every secret. In our view, that’s all a Castlevania game really needs to do. That makes it easy to forgive the merely decent soundtrack and somewhat generic story. The only real downside is the limited replay value, as there are no extra game modes to keep you coming back.

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EA Sports FC 27 is a solid football game when it comes to the action on the pitch itself. The revamped defensive system demands more input from the player, ball control feels more precise and the Manager Career mode offers greater depth. Unfortunately, The Grounds turns out to be a rather underwhelming addition to an already extensive selection of modes, while also introducing a concerning new level of monetization. Those hoping for meaningful innovations should probably skip this year’s entry. For everyone else, however, it still delivers the familiar, solid overall package.

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At this point, we would love to say that Silent Hill: Townfall is an excellent survival horror game and highlight its well-crafted puzzles, outstanding sound design, and overall atmosphere. Unfortunately, though, the gameplay design falls short. Its stealth elements become increasingly tedious over time and are only properly broken up once by an action sequence. The story also starts off strong, but noticeably loses steam as it progresses and ultimately fails to provide the necessary depth. All in all, Townfall is certainly worth giving a chance, but you should keep your expectations for the gameplay firmly in check.

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Transport Fever 3 has everything that makes the series what it is. Cities grow as a result of your own efforts, and the constant process of rebuilding and modernizing remains as motivating as ever. The new visuals and additional content make the game well worth playing for fans of the series. However, the game is currently held back by stuttering, freezes, and crashes that can cost you progress. Hopefully, Urban Games will address these issues quickly.

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Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve may not reinvent the series, but it delivers the most comprehensive overall package to date and presents its story more impressively than any previous entry. With a 30-mission campaign, immersive first-person cutscenes, and a stronger bond with your crew members, it offers one of the best campaigns the series has seen so far. For veterans, the new additions are somewhat limited, with only a handful of quality-of-life features and additional animations. However, if you enjoyed the previous entry, you really can’t go wrong with Ace Combat 8.

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Beyond the sheer amount of story content, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave also brings with it plenty of the series’ familiar mechanics, which are introduced gradually and have to be managed along the way. The restrictions imposed at the beginning of each of the four Flame Lords’ stories can make their respective openings feel somewhat sluggish, but they reward the player’s persistence once the game opens up again after a few chapters. Fans of the series, and especially of Three Houses, should find plenty to enjoy here. Beginners, meanwhile, have the advantage of being given multiple opportunities to get to grips with the game’s many different mechanics, and can even use time travel to correct mistakes in individual chapters. Those willing to push through the repetitions and the somewhat tedious management of relationships and training in the capital will find a solid Fire Emblem experience with plenty of potential playtime.

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Marvel's Wolverine impresses with its sheer brutality and its visually convincing portrayal of what it must feel like to be Wolverine. The fights are bloody, the presentation looks fantastic, and especially the movement and Wolverine's claws do a great job in some moments of making you feel like you're actually controlling the famous mutant. Unfortunately, beyond that, the game doesn't really go much further than generic combat sequences, repetitive enemies, and a story that is stretched out far too long. The genuinely interesting premise surrounding Wolverine's past, Team X, and the mutants is only partially explored. Those who simply want to spend some time playing as Wolverine, tearing through one scene after another, and who primarily value brutal action will have some fun with it to a certain extent. However, anyone expecting a deep Wolverine story, varied gameplay, or a stronger use of the X-Men universe is likely to be disappointed. For everyone else, the best advice is to wait a little longer and pick it up once the price has been significantly reduced.

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Hot Wheels Infinite Rush delivers over its full length what could only be hinted at during a one-hour preview. The world holds up, the handling never grows stale, and the progression—which I wasn’t able to properly judge at the time—ultimately turns out to be the game’s greatest strength. The package still isn’t entirely polished, however, as the AI suffers from too many inconsistencies and the Track Editor falls short of its potential. But anyone who can get something out of the franchise will find noticeably more on offer here than the brief preview initially suggested.

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Onimusha: Way of the Sword shines with fantastic gameplay, which, thanks to its abundance of parries and defensive mechanics, can even rival Sekiro. The mix of dark, grotesque themes and a slightly naive sense of humor has been successfully wrapped in a modern presentation and, together with the compelling story and wide variety of boss fights, makes for a highly enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, the sheer number of bosses, along with the somewhat average NPCs, starts to wear thin fairly quickly. Combined with the uneven difficulty curve, this is the game's biggest weakness. However, if you can live with these shortcomings, you're getting one of the best action RPGs of recent years.

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The Blood of Dawnwalker is an excellently written ARPG whose roots in The Witcher are unmistakable. The consistently high quality of the voice acting and sound design contributes greatly to an atmosphere that makes the player genuinely care about the fates of its characters and the world they inhabit. Unfortunately, the gameplay—particularly the combat—becomes rather repetitive and tedious after a short while, while the crafting system feels somewhat tacked on and is rarely, if ever, actually necessary. On the other hand, we really enjoyed the concept of time as a resource, which has been implemented in a very player-friendly way. Despite its gameplay shortcomings, we will definitely embark on a second playthrough, because the stories Dawnwalker has to tell are absolutely worth hearing. They ultimately rise far above any of the game's shortcomings and are easily its greatest strength.

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At the time of writing this review, I’ve spent just under ten hours with *Zero Company*, and it’s already clear to me that this is one of the best *Star Wars* games in recent years. The tactical foundation is solid, the Advantage System gives it its own distinct flavor, and you genuinely grow attached to your squad. It may not be as deep as *XCOM*, but it comfortably earns its place in the genre. What I find disappointing are the sluggish third-person sections, the meager selection of just four primary weapons, and, above all, the technical performance, which noticeably lags behind the rest of the experience. Still, if you enjoy turn-based tactics or are a *Star Wars* fan looking for an accessible entry point into the genre, it’s definitely worth picking up.

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Mortal Shell 2 doesn’t reinvent the Soulslike genre, but it excels in the details. Its fast, dynamic combat, tactical Shell system, and flexible builds make for an enjoyable experience, even though the limited weapon variety and talent trees leave some room for improvement. The difficulty feels well balanced for newcomers, while experienced Soulslike players may find it a little too easy. What stands out most, however, is the atmosphere: Fallgrim looks fantastic, and the brutal combat fits perfectly into its gritty, desperate world.

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In terms of gameplay and presentation, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls delivers an excellent experience. Both Marvel fans and fighting game enthusiasts should find plenty to enjoy here. The single-player modes are also fun and serve as a good introduction to the characters, after which you can hone your skills in the well-equipped training mode and across the vast online world. Unfortunately, the severe performance issues on PC have only been partially resolved after a week, which detracts from what is otherwise an extremely polished overall package for this 4v4 fighter.

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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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