The Games Machine

Nintendo reinvents the two-dimensional platform game with the sheer power of imagination, looking to the past and using it as a basis to create something new. No one else has done it so brilliantly, but after all, everything is easy when you're the king.

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At first it is exciting to unleash the destructive fury of the Red Demon on the unfortunate enemies in the realms of the Wyrd, the first clashes are brutal and pyrotechnic to the point of predicting great things. The truth is that one punch at a time the enthusiasm wanes until it shows, under the skin of a stylish aesthetic that adheres to the original, a roguelite structure that is not very courageous and a gameplay that fails to convince.

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Agatha Christie – Murder on the Orient Express is a timid attempt to modernize a classic of world literature. Aesthetically old with poorly implemented game mechanics I can't make this game shine.

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The Fabulous Fear Machine must have been hatched by some really sadistic people, because it is one of the creepiest games you will find around, despite being a simplified 4X with a board game structure. The concept of spreading fake news to fuel panic is portrayed with a lot of sarcasm and a graphic depiction that recalls the old horror comic books of the 1950s. Like all games of this type, it becomes repetitive in the long run despite attempts to add new features to each mission, but the particularly engaging story will motivate you to continue.

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Endless Dungeon is a very good roguelite that, while it can be enjoyed solo, shines much more brightly when played cooperatively.

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Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 - Turbacharged is what they say is a classic sequel: it enriches and expands the legacy of its predecessor by adding novelties to a consolidated game frame, without ever daring to dig deep or dare in terms of originality. Those who appreciated the first one and its gameplay will surely know how to enjoy every moment behind the wheel of the new Hot Wheels video game.

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Marvel's Spider Man 2 is a true colossal, an unmissable chapter for those who have experienced the previous adventures of Peter and Miles, and one of the most important videogame events of the year. It plays it a little too safe in a number of areas, but overall remains an exciting game and a highly recommended adventure for all fans of Spider-Man and superhero comics in general.

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Those who expected major innovations in Sonic Superstars should not have expected major innovations in Sonic Superstars. Sonic always remains Sonic, precisely because he is Sonic. New heights have been reached in this particular type of level design, which alternates sections in which the hedgehog splashes like a pinball ball, apparently without any possibility of control on our part, to almost pixel-perfect movements in which excellent timing is also required. Bosses, as always, require careful analysis of movement patterns. Everything else is a pleasant side dish, but at the base there is always the old but superlative gameplay of Sonic.

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While Lords of the Fallen has a good foundation, what is built upon it often leaves a sour taste, and not all of it can be boiled down to personal preference. Poor optimization, wonky hitboxes, poor enemy variety and a frustrating lock system are only some of the issues we encountered. This is the kind of game that could become great, but it needs patches and updates to get there.

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The credit Konami has long enjoyed because of its indispensable role in the modern conception of soccer video games has now been exhausted. And you have to recognize eFootball 2024 for what it is, a very slight improvement on the previous version, still plagued by the same, huge problems. The music is still the same: decent gameplay, Dream Team limited by the database, other modes none to be had, cumbersome menus. The time has come for a breakthrough, because the alternative is rather bleak.

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A splendid campaign mode with many systems working in conjunction to offer a varied experience without losing the focus on the military conquest. Few cavalry units are partly compensated by a renewed attention to different types of infantry, but to be honest I do miss a good old cataphract charge.

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Characteristic, original and engaging, The Lamplighters League is a small pearl that offers an interesting and engaging story, also strengthened by a very valid game design.

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Those who have been enthusiastic about Slay the Spire should also jump on Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles without delay. Everyone else will find a complete deck builder in which instead of cards there are dice, with which to build chains of combos playing on the dualism Purification and Corruption. The huge amount of Oracles, dice and Blessings to unlock, Sentinels to upgrade and enemies to defeat guarantees excellent replayability even if the too many combinations available favor luck a little too much at the expense of strategy. The graphics are inspired even if the colors chosen, light blue and crimson, do not enjoy a good contrast.

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Instant classic, without mincing words. Cocoon is a magnetic, sneaky work, of those that you just do not know when to stop playing with it, so organic, fluid, stimulating, absolutely determined not to give brain breaks. A puzzle adventure that constantly seeks the new, the amazement, with the virtuous reuse of known design elements that, used with wisdom, support and allow the explosion of ideas of pure videogame genius. Shots of champions, which have often led me to relive the impact of Fez and the first, surprising indie masterpieces of the past decade. A special video game, one that is not easily forgotten and of which we will find the geniuses in many other titles in the years to come.

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Like a Formula 1 car, Forza Motorsport has more radically rethought its set-up to narrow the gap on rivals. The new career introduces RPG-like components designed to increase the bond between the player and their vehicles: the fleet of cars is still large, but the focus has shifted to performance customization. Manual calibration of difficulty and aids makes it suitable for any type of player, while still offering an intriguing challenge thanks to the AI of the drivatars. Visually it is impressive, but something is still missing to get to the realism of GT.

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A "Layton-esque" detective game in which Pikachu is obviously the undisputed star. Light and somewhat repetitive gameplay make it suitable for a fairly young or inexperienced audience in this genre of titles. Those looking for a deeper, more complex and challenging experience should look elsewhere.

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Assassin's Creed Mirage is not a remake of the first chapter of the series in disguise, as some might think, however the stated intention to pay homage to the origins of the series has been fully respected. With all that goes with it, for better or for worse. The more compact and not at all dispersive experience benefits not only the pace of play, but also that of the narration, which always manages to be focused on the figure of Basim. Unfortunately, many of the historical defects of the series remain, first of all the poor artificial intelligence of the enemies, while the structure of the main missions is all in all of a good level, with some small exceptions. A successful operation, however, the one carried out by Ubisoft Bordeaux.

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The game offers simple hack 'n' slash action and a story mode that follows the manga's plot. However, the gameplay experience often becomes dull due to poorly designed boss battles and design limitations. The Temple of Recollection mode adds an interesting variation but doesn't significantly impact character strength. Despite attractive graphics and the inclusion of the entire story, the game lacks refinement and feels like a disappointing tie-in for a brand like Dragon Quest.

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Warstride Challenges is a mix of action and violence where all that matters is speed. Perfect for lovers of speedruns, fast-paced games and competition, this FPS is a must-try unless you're looking for a canonical shooter.

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The dream game for Bud Spencer and Terence Hill' lovers. A classic, fun and easy to play beat 'em up with lots of quotes from the movies and a killer soundtrack. A few minor technical issues in no way alter the gaming experience, which despite the addition of mini-games and Party mode has a somewhat limited longevity.

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