GAMES.CH's Reviews
With "Star Wars Jedi: Survivor", Respawn Entertainment delivers an overall good successor. The new skills and weapons or fighting styles fit in well and enrich the already great systems for fights or parkour options. There is also a little more gaming comfort, for example in the form of a fast journey between the meditation points, although some basic functions are strangely deactivated by default, i.e. they have to be switched on explicitly. In the end, however, "Star Wars Jedi: Survivor" is not stronger than its predecessor. This is also due to the story that has been bobbing along for a long time or the rarely spectacular boss fights. Above all, however, the technical condition is responsible for the ultimately even slightly lower rating than "Fallen Order". Although the problems practically never reduce the playability, they regularly depress the atmosphere slightly. Especially those who already liked the predecessor can strike without hesitation and at least hope that the developers will get the performance under control in the long term.
Review in German | Read full review
Tin Hearts is a wonderful little game of guiding toy soldiers through the remnants and memories of a toy workshop. While a little light on challenging experienced players, an excellent level progression, heartwarming story, and downright adorable visual design more than make up for it. However, the Nintendo Switch version suffers from muddy textures and occasional stutters that pull an otherwise excellent experience down.
Review in German | Read full review
A great expansion for the already convincing main game. Only the story could have been a bit more exciting and twisty. But this is whining at a high level.
Review in German | Read full review
With Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp both GBA classics remain great turn-based strategy games that are complex and accessible. The scope is also greatly motivating and amazing with at least 45 hours only for the two solo campaigns. The presentation is nice, but cheap, but does not change anything about the gaming fun you'll have, even if you're not a fan of the genre.
Review in German | Read full review
As expected, Dead Island 2 is not a game that extensively scores with complex gameplay in a regular sense. You mostly kill zombies, but in a never seen before marked brutal and detailed diversive manner. And the last is the core of a great first person zombie action game and the reason why you need to play it, regardless if you prefer playing it solo or in online co-op mode.
Review in German | Read full review
"Chronicles" can at least partially compensate for these chin hooks with the nicely done and completely autoplay-free dungeons, the extensive companion upgrade system and the fact that the story campaign can be handled quite well without microtransactions. However, it is questionable whether "Summoners War: Chronicles" will succeed in developing such a long-term pull as its competitor "Genshin Impact". There are simply too many construction sites and a PvP component that currently seems to be dominated by whales.
Review in German | Read full review
At the end of the day, Across the Valley is a tech demo to show a newcomer to VR. There is no material for long-term motivation and therefore it is not recommended except as a showcase.
Review in German | Read full review
After many years of "early retirement", "EA Sports PGA Tour" is at its best. The action on the course is clearly in the foreground: The golf gameplay convinces and is pleasantly demanding thanks to stroke variations and adjustments. For beginners, there are help functions and challenges that help you overcome initial difficulties. The career mode is motivating and, with its many customization and optimization options, offers sufficient scope for longer sessions. Overall, however, this type of game is unfortunately also presented in a very unspectacular way. Even with a comparatively quiet sport like golf, there is simply more. All in all, however, "EA Sports PGA Tour" delivers well in its comeback and is technically a real feast for the eyes.
Review in German | Read full review
This prequel ironically feels smaller in scope and ambition than the first game in the series. Road 96 Mile 0 suffers from similar issues when it comes to relying too much on clichés of an evil regime. Some of the choices put before players are downright insulting and boil down to whether we think oppression is "okay" or not. Despite its flaws, it offers some really interesting character moments in the last third and offers some world building that was missing from the original Road 96. Newcomers find a good entry point here, while returning players will find some innovations gone, while other things like the environments have been largely improved.
Review in German | Read full review
The result is an always fairly balanced, well-structured and charmingly narrated VR shooting gallery with numerous comfort functions, which represents a nice springboard into virtual reality due to its not too high playful complexity. In order to overcome the threshold to the must-have title in a possible sequel, however, you need even more sophistication in level design, significantly more puzzle inserts, smarter enemies and an even larger game world.
Review in German | Read full review
Curse of the Sea Rats benefits a lot from its nice looking cartoon graphics, the well done voice acting and by staying true to the Metroidvania genre at least in most aspects. There are also a lot of optional secrets to find with many references to game classics like Monkey Island, Worms or The Legend of Zelda. The major weak spot is the combat system, that largely fails of being satisfying and well balanced.
Review in German | Read full review
Meet Your Maker presents a fun, new take on level-builders like Mario Maker and classical shooters. Running and gunning is a quick and painful way to die here. Instead players should expect a surprisingly tactical take on post-apocalyptic grave robbery that's more than a little light on content at launch. As a live service, developer Behaviour Interactive (also responsible for Dead by Daylight) promises new content in regular intervals and if they can keep that up, this definitely has the potential for a cult classic.
Review in German | Read full review
Two Point Campus: School Spirits is a fun little addon to the main game. Playstyle, music, humor remains all the same and is still awesome. Sadly there is only one new campus and a new challenge to play, so after a few hours you are already done. Cool for fans of the series, not a must-buy for everyone else.
Review in German | Read full review
Ryza 3 takes the well-known, loving Atelier formula, expands it with many new elements and turns it into a huge JRPG that is not perfect - but one of the best games in the entire franchise.
Review in German | Read full review
"WWE 2K23" is growing in almost every area and presents itself as an overall better and more balanced overall package than its predecessor.
Review in German | Read full review
The new Resident Evil 4 is just one of the best game remakes so far. Capcom finds a fantastic way between modernizing the game and implementing new (and more comfortable) features on the one hand and staying true to the classic and various elements that Resi fans have fallen in love with. If you're a fan of the original or just like action-based survival-horror games, you need to play it.
Review in German | Read full review
Anno 1800: Console Edition brings the successful city builder to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X. Ubisoft did a great job, adapting gameplay and controls to this new environment. "Anno 1800" works surprisingly well with a gamepad.
Review in German | Read full review
As a more or less classical rail shooter, Dark Pictures Switchback VR is no complexity monster – and it's short concerning a single playthrough. But the simple and good working gameplay mechanics are nothing less than a perfect match for VR. The shooting trip also benefits from its scary atmosphere while particular connoisseurs of the core series will enjoy the similarities.
Review in German | Read full review
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a nice prequel that mixes storybook with elements of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and suggestively parallels the Metroidvania genre, including a high focus on combat, by being much more linear than this. But there are many things providing the game to be a must-have. The main reason for that is the low aspiration for being at least half-way tough, especially in terms of fighting.
Review in German | Read full review
Like the first game, Figment 2: Creed Valley packs serious topics into a cute look with decent riddle- and adventure gameplay. The boss fights in particular are a real highlight and help to overlook small technical glitches and the like.
Review in German | Read full review