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Watch Dogs: Legion offers a solid game principle that knows how to entertain - at least temporarily. A free narrative is deliberately created here, which could playfully offer undeniable new opportunities, but narrative balances on a fine line between emotion-free narrative structure and individualizable adventure. In this breakneck balancing act, Watch Dogs: Legion loses itself in a sober, generic narrative that, due to its pale character drawings and the playful omissions that accompany them, was never really allowed to keep up with its predecessors. Thanks to interchangeable characters, an unbalanced skill system and redundant game elements, Ubisoft is only marginally able to continuously exploit the potential behind the new unique selling point. Instead, the hacker IP gets lost in a jumble of well-intentioned but half-baked game approaches that ultimately fail to prove themselves on a motivational level. The manifold solution options as well as the tricky level structures should, however, at least provide for entertaining gaming fun. Despite the new approach, Ubisoft simply doesn't risk enough to really step out of the worn out, playful structures of its predecessors and burden the game principle with a little more relevance and "unconsumption". But as the saying goes: "He who does not dare does not win!

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Yakuza: Like a Dragon is without question an ambitious and well done sequel to the successful Yakuza series. Like a Dragon finally takes the consistent and long overdue step towards role-playing games, which the popular main series has not dared to do so far despite all parallels. And the concept works: The game principle trumps with interesting new approaches, is more motivating than ever and offers the probably most beautiful game world of the complete series. And although you're only too happy to step into some of the stumbling blocks typical for the genre - the likeable cast, the wonderful visuals and the many humorous references let us skilfully overlook them. In short: If you haven't yet discovered your love for Sega's action series, you'll probably do well to take a look at Like a Dragon. Experiment succeeded!

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Hangar 13 has indisputably made Mafia Definitive Edition exactly the remake it had to be in order to entertain and at the same time not to disrespectfully alienate the clearly outdated original. The narrative approach is based on the right set screws, in order to bring the action adventure into the modern age. Thanks to the expanded character profiles, the successful voice recordings and the impressive visuals, the narrative gains additional emotionality and presents you with a rousing story-focused mafia adventure that is unlike any other. At the same time, the new edition has to struggle with the complex, limited game elements. Hakeliges Gunplay, the strongly linear level structures as well as the partly not flawless technical implementation show that Hangar 13 did not yet want to take the leap into modern times. Even though Mafia Definitive Edition never met the multi-layered shooter standard, the game with its consistent simplicity feels coherent enough to entertain during the almost 10-hour campaign. In combination with the difficult setting options, the remake is the perfect snack for the nostalgia-bright players and those who want to become one in the future.

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"Marvel's Avengers" proves to be an entertaining action bombast with a multi-layered story, an authentic protagonist and the right fan service. However, the fights sometimes lack the right depth, as the individual attacks are too generic overall. We also would have liked to have seen a little more variety in the creation of the side missions and the levels. Technically, "Marvel's Avengers" seems to be quite solid to us, even if some flaws can't be denied. Overall, "Marvel's Avengers" doesn't set any new standards in its genre - but fans of the successful series will certainly get their money's worth.

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With "Paper Mario: The Origami King" Nintendo delivers an entertaining platformer that takes up the concept of its predecessor and enriches it with fresh ideas. It's really fun to search for hidden treasures in the folded paper world and complete the lovingly integrated mini-games. Unfortunately, the combat system in particular lacks the necessary standard, so even beginners can easily send the enemy hordes into the afterlife. Here, Nintendo should undoubtedly have tightened the level of difficulty a little more, in order to offer pros the right challenge as well. Also the puzzle inserts are sometimes provided with too many aids, so that the puzzle games lose the actual trick. From a technical point of view we can't complain about "Paper Mario: The Origami King", because the game is brimming with creative ideas. All in all, "Paper Mario: The Origami King" does not set new standards in the universe of Mario titles - but players can look forward to a colorful and shallow 2D adventure in the usual plumbing style.

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Summer in Mara has real potential to become a strong indie game with an addictive element. However, it still lacks too many nooks and crannies to be really fun all the time. At the moment Summer in Mara is something for those players who are looking for a very simple adventure game, which can be played on the side and doesn't demand too much attention.

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In my test I tried to stay as objective as possible, especially because otherwise I'm not really a player of such genres. And yet, in the short time I played Snowrunner, I actually enjoyed it. Although I do see some problems here: For example, the tasks are just too repetitive to be really motivated to put much more hours into the title than I have done so far. Furthermore, the gameplay is also clearly too slow for me. The only reason why I would play the Snowrunner longer would be the multiplayer - as soon as it runs stable at some point. Even though my opinion is rather reserved, I can see the hype among the target group and can understand why the title is played passionately.

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With "Final Fantasy 7 Remake" Square Enix delivers a fantastic remake of the former roleplaying game classic and enriches it with some technical and content innovations. The combat system features a whole new level of complexity, while the developers are still focusing on the strengths of the original. The game world is atmospherically set in scene, while the elaborately animated game sequences are accompanied by a grandiose soundtrack. While "Final Fantasy 7 Remake" lacks nothing of narrative depth, the game weakens occasionally by blurred textures. Nevertheless, with "Final Fantasy 7 Remake" the players are served a more than successful action-RPG, which will especially delight the fans of the original. Ultimately, players can be curious to see how the adventure of Cloud and his friends continues and whether the developers will soon release the next episode of the successful role-playing game.

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After years of hibernation, Sakura Wars finally returns to the scene and doesn't shy away from some fundamental changes. We still spend most of our time getting to know the new members of the new Flower Division, deepening our relationship with them, or even getting up close and personal with them. At the heart of Sakura Wars remains the compelling story of the Flower Division's rebuilding and return to its former glory. The plot consistently succeeds in the balancing act between funny anime humor and serious tones - a fact that is underlined by the successful staging and visuals. Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks in terms of game mechanics, because the adventure as well as fight passages have to struggle with their monotony at regular intervals. Keyword fight: these say goodbye to their tactical roots and open the door for an action-oriented Musou approach. These battles know how to entertain over long distances, but are again and again slowed down by rough control and lack of variety. And yet: Sakura Wars knew how to lure me to the controller again and again with its charm and offers anime enthusiasts a sensitive story, which will captivate for a good 30 hours, if you can overlook some technical shortcomings.

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With "Ori and the Will of the Wisps", Moon Studios has created a fantastic 2D platformer, which takes up the strengths of its predecessor and appears even rounder and more perfect in itself. Thanks to an optimized control system, the racing and climbing passages run even rounder, so that over time a true flow is created when playing. Visually, "Ori and the Will of the Wisps" proves to be a true force and shines with even finer details and an almost fairy-tale like game world. The soundtrack also stands for itself at this point and sets new standards even in this genre. In terms of difficulty level, "Ori and the Will of the Wisps" with its three different levels offers both beginners and veterans the right challenge. Of course, it is the touching story that makes "Ori and the Will of the Wisps" so unique and lets the player dive deep into the game. In our test, "Ori and the Will of the Wisps" proves to be a true pearl among 2D adventures and promises unforgettable game moments.

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Resident Evil 3 is exactly the remake that fans have come to expect after last year's release and deserves nothing less than the damaged franchise. A staged masterstroke is coupled with a graphic splendour, which completely plays into the cards with the creepy atmosphere and the action-packed background story. Capcom playfully manages the demanding balancing act between a fast-paced action bombast and a filigree survival horror shooter with bravura. Only the compressed playing time and its retired replay value are more seriously detrimental to the remake. The asymmetric multiplayer mode Resistance serves even in this respect only as a nice bonus, with which Capcom at least benevolently tries to overcome this point of criticism. Nevertheless, the Japanese publisher seems to have understood in recent years what the franchise is all about in its essential core and finally leads the Resident Evil brand back to the gruesome genre throne with a newly discovered self-esteem after a long period of discovery. Resident Evil 3 is no less a successful remake of the 1999 original, which legitimizes Capcom's remake policy throughout.

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Pity. I was really looking forward to the release of 'Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories'. The title lured me by the exciting premise of not being a hero who defies a supernatural threat, but simply a man who faces a devastating natural disaster. Basically, 'Disaster Report 4' delivers exactly that and in its best moments, the title knows how to make your pulse race. Unfortunately, these moments are rare, or they are undermined by the poor technique and presentation. Far too often I found myself thinking that a sequence could have been potentially outstanding if the antiquated game mechanics hadn't gotten in the way. All great approaches are thus nipped in the bud, which I regretted painfully when testing. Not only the playful rays of hope suffer from this deficient technical framework - the entire game ailments from dusty mechanics. In all regularity we wander aimlessly through the shattered areas of the city, with no clue as to how to proceed. This helplessness also runs through various other game principles, which often leads to frustration. Nevertheless, especially sensitive scenes drew me to the controller again and again and made me sigh, how unfortunate it is, that such promising potential remained untapped.

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Persona 5' was rightly praised three years ago with loud hymns of praise. This royal update puts the crown on one of the best JRPGs of the last years. Atlus has consistently honed the few edges and quirks of their fantastic role-playing game and refreshed the gaming experience with countless, useful innovations and comfort decisions. The interesting new additions to the character set fit so homogeneously into the plot that I often caught myself thinking that they had always been part of the story. Moreover, the first-time implementation of German screen texts finally breaks the language barrier, which kept many players at a distance despite their interest. This now opens the door to a fantastic roleplaying game for new players and I can only emphasize: if you can do something with the staging, hit it. And if not, at least take a look at it, because all the praise for Atlus' wacky adventure about students stealing the hearts of depraved people in their spare time is more than justified.
 All Persona 5 veterans, however, must consider whether the new features are worth diving into the metaverse once again for countless hours. Anyway, I was amazed how quickly 'Royal' managed to tie me up and bring me back into the world of Persona 5. The many meaningful and affectionate innovations once again sparked my old passion for Atlus' sensational roleplaying game.

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Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX is basically a successful Dungeon Crawler, with over 20 hours of campaigning and an almost endless list of side quests. Apart from the sluggish and sleepy start, Rescue Team DX knows how to motivate thanks to its charming presentation and addictive Pokemon mechanics. The Rogue-Lite with Pokemon label is a nice and not too demanding pastime, especially when you're on the go, and in times of budget smartphone games, it's a welcome change.

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With "Dreams", Media Molecule has created a true masterpiece among game construction kits, which opens up undreamt-of possibilities for players and proves to be a truly dreamlike experience. In contrast to simplified game kits, the comprehensive editor allows players to cross the boundaries of individual genres and create almost picturesque settings and cinematic game sequences. However, beginners should first invest a little time to become fully familiar with the complex menus and the individual mechanisms of "Dreams". Passionate game developers can draw from a wealth of inspiring dreams and can implement comprehensive game projects in cooperation with friends and the community. In "Dreams", passionate creative minds find a game construction kit that sets completely new standards and makes virtually anything possible in dream creation.

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"Darksiders Genesis" proves to be an atmospheric offshoot of the popular game series and, just like its predecessors, manages to deliver exciting new approaches. Even though the player in "Darksiders Genesis" has to do without a comprehensive root system, the well thought-out talent tree allows the implementation of a wide variety of game styles. While the two multiplayer modes offer an additional game incentive, the different difficulty levels ensure that even passionate connoisseurs of the genre are brought to their knees every now and then. As usual, the individual levels are dark and varied and invite you to explore and discover thanks to numerous hidden items and tricky puzzle passages. No question, "Darksider's Genesis" does not come close to other genre greats in terms of scope - but especially lovers of the game series will not be disappointed.

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Oh, how beautiful the game could have been. Unfortunately, so much potential was thrown away during the video game implementation of the Netflix production. Besides the fantastic puppet epic, this game here unfortunately seems like a loveless attempt to make some money out of the Netflix success. There is a lack of attention to detail at every corner. Thral could have offered so much, but nothing was taken advantage of. The story presentation alone could have looked so much better. A co-op multiplayer might have been able to give it a little bit more, but again the chance was missed. The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics is nothing more than a mediocre lap strategy game to me - it could have been so much more.

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I enjoyed the game very much and I am happy to have finished it. But I would not play it again. Not because the story didn't grab me, or because the above mentioned points would bother me too much. Rather because there are simply not, as for example in a "Life is Strange", different decisions to be made, which would dramatically affect the gaming experience. Furthermore, the player can neither find out more about the history of the game by exploring it, nor are there any collectibles. I think that's a pity. I had the feeling all along that the game was giving away a lot of potential. Still, if you're looking for a game with a gripping and exciting story, and that's the most important thing in the game to you, you'll have a lot of fun with 'The Suicide of Rachel Foster'. But be careful, the story may seem harmless at first, but can be very hard to digest. If you're having trouble with the general theme of the game, I recommend the same as the publisher: Don't play alone and get help.

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"Journey to the Savage Planet" proves to be a colorful space adventure, that is only too happy to make fun of itself and therefore stands out from many an action title in a charming way. The extensive game world invites you to explore and presents the player with a whole arsenal of crazy aliens. The individual battles may be rare, but they are just as bizarre and make the player smile even when the game-over screen beckons. Nevertheless, "Journey to the Savage Planet" is technically far from perfect and is quite manageable with about fifteen hours of gameplay. Nevertheless, players will find "Journey to the Savage Planet" an adventure title of a special kind and will not be able to resist the one or other laugh during the battle with the cheeky pug birds.

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In the test "Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot" proves to be a successful action RPG, which lets fans of the series go back to the beginnings of anime. In the approximately forty hours of gameplay the player experiences the most important moments of the saga, which thanks to great staging know how to captivate even beginners. The fights are staged in a brute manner and especially the interaction with the supporting characters always brings variety to the battles. Only the side missions turn out to be rather tired accessories and go hand in hand with the somewhat lifeless game world. Nevertheless, Dragon Ball enthusiasts can indulge in nostalgia in "Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot" and will love the title especially for the detailed retelling of the original. Fans of fast-paced action RPGs won't be disappointed with "Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot" and will be challenged again and again. All in all, "Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot" may not be convincing in every detail - but the atmospheric staging of the story alone makes the game a real must-have.

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