GAMES.CH's Reviews
With several minor improvements F1 Manager 2023 might be more than just a small update. But overall these small changes don't make the sequel a much better game. In sum, it's enough to keep the pure solid level of its predecessor, nothing more, nothing less.
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Whether alone or with up to two friends in co-op, "Remnant II" is already one of the best titles of the year. With around 25 hours, the campaign already offers plenty of content, but can be played slightly changed again and again thanks to various generated elements. "Remnant II" offers many elements that are known from other Souls-like games. In particular, spectacular boss fights, versatile character development and an exciting world that can only be slowly opened up via items and from the context are among the strengths that "Remnant II" takes over from modern action role-playing games.
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Not only by abolishing the most frustrating function, Pikmin 4 becomes easier than its predecessor. But that is just one negligible part of the truth. The other is that Pikmin 4 delivers the best, biggest and most complex overworld levels including a diverse set of underworld dungeons with very special challenges. Beside all the other minor and major improvements, Rescue Pup Oatchi dye alone is a huge enrichment by itself. The game also does a great job concerning all the things that made Pikmin such a beloved series with its clever, often puzzle-like strategy gameplay or its sweet and just wonderful presentation. For series' lovers and fans of the genre, Pikmin 4 is a need-to play.
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Exoprimal is just a few unfortunate missteps short of being a hidden gem. The base gameplay that mixes hoard-based PvE and high-stakes PvP is unique and interesting. Even the absurd story about dimension-hopping AI dye and mechanized soldiers fighting dinosaurs had us intrigued. However, the variety of gameplay on offer simply does not justify the price tag and is especially disappointing in regards to the rampant monetization through battle-pass and premium skins. On Gamepass, however, this is a must-try for sure.
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My circle of friends is diverse, and not everyone is physically able to take part in the mini-games from the "team party" just like that. That's why I think it's super cool that there is the possibility to play bingo or start a quiz round with my friends who are physically impaired instead. Others, on the other hand, are real sports cannons, and if the games in the "team party" were only designed for sports, I wouldn't stand a chance. I work up a sweat just by doing the squat challenge or jumping rope. Well, maybe that's also due to the attic apartment and the summer temperatures. The colourful mix of sporting challenges, but also games of patience or skill makes every round exciting anew. "Everybody 1-2-Switch!" is easy to use, everyone will find some mini-game that they enjoy, and it's just a cool addition for in between. The fact that you can also control it via your mobile phone makes it an ideal pastime, and the more people there are, the more fun it becomes.
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Unfortunately, the plot and characters don't come close to the predecessor.
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Master Detective Archives: Rain Code overall does a good job combining elements of adventure games, visual novels and mini-game-based action titles, with a minor lack of being too less demanding. The cases could be very suspenseful, but for this, the storytelling is too lengthy. In the end, not least the game lives from its exaggerated characters and its, in parts, twisted humor.
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AEW Fight Forever turns out to be a huge letdown. The overall experience suffers from the lack of gameplay-polish and the amount of bugs and glitches. While the game delivers some high recognition-value, it fails to live up to the promise of delivering a nostalgic arcade-wrestling-game.
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There's no denying that "Crime Boss: Rockay City" is, at its core, a brazen copy of Overkill's "Payday 2." The supposedly dark gangster story about the "charismatic" Travis Baker is more in the wake of the trashiest B-movies of the 1990s. Whether intentional or not, "Crime Boss: Rockay City" has a certain charm and can inspire over a longer period of time thanks to a solid solo campaign. The game is certainly not for everyone, but it also shows that first impressions can be deceiving.
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Final Fantasy XVI is a great RPG in nearly any aspect, concerning atmosphere, graphics including spectacular effects, twistful story or the fantastic soundtrack and voiceover. But the real star of this epic adventure is the combat system with its fast, fluid and diverse action, inspired by Hack-and-Slash dye games. Any fight is fun peaking in overwhelming bosses and mind-blowing Esper battles.
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With "Aliens: Dark Descent", Tindalos Interactive mixes one of the coolest sci-fi horror licenses of the last decades with an amazingly sophisticated tactical gameplay foundation that ensures high tension even after hours. Seemingly harmless situations can escalate dramatically within seconds, the permadeath and shelter mechanics make you proceed much more carefully than in many comparable genre representatives, the developers have balanced the resource availability surprisingly well and the AI keeps even experienced tacticians on their toes on medium difficulty. The fact that I can withdraw at any time - but have to accept other disadvantages - is also cleverly done and prevents possible moments of frustration in a meaningful way.
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However, it is also a fact that not all the gears of "Park Beyond" are running smoothly yet. The road construction system sometimes leads to quite strange results, which can often only be ironed out by demolition and terraforming measures. Some challenges that have already been met are not correctly recognized, in some places the balancing seems half-baked, and if the Ferris wheel occasionally stands still for no reason despite high maintenance values, it is quite necessary to shake your head. However, if you overlook these hopefully soon patched teething troubles, what remains is a motivating construction simulation with damn cool rides, a terrific roller coaster editor and the graphically as well as playfully creatively implemented impossification mechanics.
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Even though the expansions are structured similarly every year, "Necrom" stands out with its great story and very special environment. Especially fans of the "Morrowind" or "City of Clockwork" add-ons can access here without hesitation. In addition, the Arcanist is quite action-packed and, with the crux mechanics, also slightly more complex than the previous classes. Only the various bugs are able to spoil the fun of the game slightly, and with the still very low level of difficulty, the developers would finally have to go over the books. Nevertheless, compared to the many other expansions, "Necrom" definitely occupies a top spot.
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The level of difficulty is sometimes accompanied by some unexpected fluctuations, but overall there are no real dead ends due to the solution videos that are available at all times. Combined with the splendid level editor and the optional VR mode that grants an even better overview of each level, Humanity is a true puzzle hit that no genre fan should miss.
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EA Sports and Codemasters deliver another great outing oft he F1-series. F1 23 deliver tons of gameplay- thanks to the addition of Braking Point 2 and F1 World. Longtime-F1-players will be disappointed due to the lack of new features in the career-mode however.
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"MotoGP 23" misses out on a direct jump to pole position. Because as coherent as some new features such as the dynamic weather or the extended tutorials are, the game unfortunately lacks depth and atmosphere off the track. The presentation is as staid as usual, and the gameplay remains too niche to really convince every racing fan to get started. Problems in the game balance and in the long-term effect are added. "MotoGP 23" offers intense and realistic racing action for those who don't care about the trappings.
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Despite some uncertainty about Capcom's "after you buy the full-price game" monetisation plans, I can only recommend the game to all fans. Even those who previously found these games too complicated because of the controls. "Street Fighter 6" lives up to the series' heritage and convinces both in terms of presentation and mechanics. 2023 will be the year for fighting games fans, as there are still some great new releases of well-known game series to come. Street Fighter 6 has already confidently set the bar very high.
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The irresistible gloom is now no longer opposed by hurdles in the form of confusing item and skill management. We enthusiastically throw ourselves against Lilith's hordes and once again sink hour after hour into perfecting our character. Overall, however, there could have been a bit more innovation.
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As more and more strategy games make their way to consoles, Company of Heroes 3: Console Edition brings its unique blend of real-time strategy with deep, tactical combat to a new audience. While the single player campaigns not only offer two vastly different takes on progression and gameplay but varied and exhilarating combat, the multiplayer modes feel like a side offering. Anyone wanting to play this mainly by themselves will have an amazing time, while competitive players should stick to older titles of the series on PC.
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In the end, "Fitness Circuit" is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, we get the reduced version of a fitness game in which the developers have deliberately focused on the essentials. The latter are 45 basically good fitness exercises, which unfortunately bring certain compromises on the side of muscle building due to the system. Nevertheless, it is a good opportunity for those who don't like fitness to get in shape in a playful way! In contrast to "Ring Fit Adventure", for example, the exercises are also feasible for complete beginners.
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