GAMEtainment

Overall, Pokémon Crimson/Purple captivated me despite its many bugs and performance issues. The gameplay and its mechanics are simply successful in my eyes. I can overlook the many stutters and glitches. Only with the breeding, which is a central part of the game series for me, I haven't really warmed up yet. Although it's faster to get a good number of eggs and hatch them, you have to prepare the Pokémon you want to breed, which takes up an unnecessary amount of time and resources. Before, I could simply swap out the "target monster" to boost stats. Now, no eggs appear in the basket unless the Pokémon has been previously nurtured and leveled. Whether this is a bug I can't say, but I was still surprised. You can tell that the developer wanted to make an effort to tell the stories as nicely as possible and has also included many dialogues and events. However, some passages repeat themselves so often or always run identically, so that at some point you just click and hope that it will finally continue. It is also a pity that especially the top four were much too easy. In the first run, these are fixed in level, so you can "overlevel" them super easy. This also applies to the tournaments in the "post-game". All in all, the game still has many construction sites and shows once again that Nintendo urgently needs a new hardware generation to be able to display better graphics. If the in-house or flagship titles like Pokémon or Bayonetta look so bad, Nintendo should have noticed that. It also didn't matter whether a Switch or Switch OLED was used. Still, despite its negative criticisms, the game is the right approach to pick up fans like me. It's a lot of fun and has finally kept me glued to the Switch for a longer period of time, well beyond the test phase. Rarely in the past have I accumulated so many hours of play (60+) in such a short time.

Review in German | Read full review

Despite the many small criticisms in detail, Sifu is a really good game, but not necessarily aimed at everyone. The target audience should love challenges and be able to handle gaming frustration. The super easy difficulty level should be accessible to more gamers, but honestly didn't really pick me up. You could get through it without having any major problems. The levels are really beautifully designed and the battle system is absolutely successful. It's just incredibly fun to master the buttons and complete sections almost perfectly and destroy the enemies completely. The story is honestly an absolute minor matter, but offers some fun characters and connections. Sifu is a little gem whose color may not appeal to everyone, but is definitely worth a first and second look if you're ever looking for a challenging title for your console.

Review in German | Read full review

Splatoon 3 lives up to its hype, although I was disappointed by the boss fights in the campaign. These were crisper and more challenging in the predecessors. Nevertheless, the color shooter is a really good video game. There is a lot to discover, not too much backtracking and actually everything that gamers have wished for. "Love it or leave it, there's nothing in between" describes Bayonetta very aptly for me. Newcomers should have completed the first two parts beforehand or at least watched a summary on YouTube. Otherwise, the mood will certainly not really come up, because you will not understand the relationship of the characters. However, if you don't care about that and want great-looking action, you can jump right into Bayonetta 3 and have a lot of fun. The fights are fast and look great. The story is okay, but actually seemed a bit beside the point. The "multiverse" theme should hardly be a surprise for anyone in the video game scene, but it offers Bayonetta a lot of freedom and even great locations for carnage. Except for the performance and slight problems with the camera, which cost me a healing potion in some places, Bayonetta 3 is a successful title and a worthy successor to a game series that has thrilled fans for years. In addition, the video game is suitable for both beginners and veterans, which makes it even more attractive.

Review in German | Read full review

Splatoon 3 lives up to its hype, although I was disappointed by the boss fights in the campaign. These were crisper and more challenging in the predecessors. Nevertheless, the color shooter is a really good video game. There is a lot to discover, not too much backtracking and actually everything that gamers have wished for. The third part of the series is suitable for veterans and newcomers alike, and Nintendo has incorporated important improvements in many places. Only the unstable matchmaking is extremely annoying. I also wonder how you can still have such problems in 2022 that so many games simply break off. Why hasn't Nintendo learned anything with Splatoon 1 and 2 and Mario Kart and makes the same mistakes again with every multiplay release? You don't know, but Splatoon 3 is so much fun that you only get annoyed for a short time, restart the console if necessary, and then immediately log back in for the next match. The innovation in Splatfest has not occurred to me personally. Instead of two teams, three teams now fight each other from time to time. So you don't always end up in three-team fights, but rather rarely and with patch 1.1.1 even less likely. So why was such an innovation introduced at all, if I as a player hardly ever get to see it? Even at the world premiere before the release, I had just three such fights in six hours. All in all, Splatoon 3 is a must-buy for Switch players and a AAA title that is worth the money.

Review in German | Read full review

Playing Mario Strikers: Battle League Football is a lot of fun, especially with a group of friends, but the lack of worthwhile progression or unlockable content severely hurts its longevity/replayability. Unfortunately, the initial euphoria fades too quickly. Those who have been craving a new Mario Strikers game will likely accumulate a lot of playtime. All other buyers might as well look for a new game again quickly.

Review in German | Read full review

Not much time really passed between the announcement and the release, and there were also few big reports. But numerous trailers and smaller reports about details have increased the anticipation enormously. As a fan of Supermassive's style of storytelling and especially Until Dawn, I was of course very excited and had, to describe it in one word, "high expectations". Right, that's not a word at all, but still it describes it so quite well. The deviation from the rule, from the usual way of doing things. I shouldn't go into the dark cellar, where the strange noises come from - at the latest in the second run-through I literally run down the stairs to see what awaits me there. I had a lot of fun with The Quarry, although I must honestly admit that Until Dawn gripped me more overall. I felt it was creepier and the atmosphere was tighter. Also, you quickly get the impression in The Quarry that it's revealed much earlier what you're up against, there's a bit of a lack of surprise. Still, a lot is done right here, the concept fits, the presentation is coherent and in the end there is still the big reveal and slowly all the evidence we hope to have found makes total sense. Supermassive delivers exactly what you'd expect with The Quarry, on a pretty high level. One person might like one of the storylines from the previous games better, the next might have wanted some sort of new addition. Personally, I say that if they manage to continue to deliver like this, they are welcome to keep up the annual cycle that we've been seeing lately, I would even subscribe. That's why I'm already really looking forward to "The Devil in Me" and until then I'm sure to visit the vacation camp "Hackett's Quarry" again.

Review in German | Read full review

Sniper Elite 5 is a very successful continuation of the series. Fans will once again be presented with exciting and challenging missions, and newcomers will find a good introduction to the series. Visually, the latest adventure with sniper Karl Fairburne isn't always on point, but the gameplay is all the more accurate. The story is solid, typical WW2 fare, without big surprises or special highlights. The drama could have been turned up a notch here. Especially the ending could have used a bit more tension. There aren't really many visible innovations, but the revised controls and the Killcam stand out, and on the PlayStation 5 there's also DualSense support. Nevertheless, Sniper Elite 5 is a lot of fun and will entertain genre fans well.

Review in German | Read full review

Seven Pirates H isn't stingy with ecchi content and fanservice, but that's okay. When you decide to play the game, you usually know what's coming. But aside from the bouncing boobs and sexualized characters, you can have your joys with the title even if you're a JRPG sympathizer. The combat system is fun and the individual abilities vary in how they are executed. You can easily spend over 40 hours with collecting passages, side quests and the story. Seven Pirates H even has a lush bestiary where the models are displayed and every item drop is noted. A comfort function that I miss too often in other games. The difficulty level could be more difficult, because in the whole game I never got into trouble. Also, apart from the characters, the graphics are not up to date. All in all, Seven Pirates H is a solid JRPG with enough fanservice.

Review in German | Read full review

For OlliOlli World, I first looked at the predecessors, since I hadn't played them up to that point. Although the current part builds on those, you can feel the improvements not only in the graphics. The demanding gameplay is certainly quite special, because I don't recommend the skater game for casuals. You will only get frustrated. You need time and especially patience to master the controls and complete the levels perfectly. If these "requirements" are met and you enjoy skating, then you are in the right place. The colorful and fun OlliOlli World then knows how to thrill and captivate you. In the end, I enjoyed it so much that I also played the predecessors more intensively. OlliOlli World is a successful video game, which is easy to learn, but hard to perfect with its great variety of tricks.

Review in German | Read full review

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is a super fun and enjoyable game that I'm already looking forward to the DLCs. The story is brilliant and equally well "voiced". As you progress through the gameplay, you'll pass quests that couldn't be funnier. Gearbox has built in gags that you can only understand or recognize after a second thought. There are references to various children's shows, Star Wars and Borderlands, among others. Clap Trap is not missing either and comes with several questlines.

Review in German | Read full review

GRID Legends has its moments, and I was always able to get excited for short sessions, but I was never really captivated. Overall, you can play the game and it's fun for a limited time, but at a time when you can even get Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox with Game Pass, I don't know why I should spend my money with Codemasters/EA. The racing game doesn't offer enough for that and what is shown seems "outdated".

Review in German | Read full review

Creative Assembly has done it again and created a game with Total War: Warhammer 3 that can inspire newcomers, but will also convince players who have already invested hundreds, if not thousands of hours in the predecessors. With the new factions and the sensible improvements, long-lasting fun is once again guaranteed and sufficient variety is also provided. If this will then also be the basis for an upgraded "Mortal Empires" campaign in which the previous races are added and all three parts merge into one gigantic world map, a strategy experience of unprecedented proportions can be expected here. Until then, Total War: Warhammer 3 can be celebrated as a great single work, which is really very successful.

Review in German | Read full review

Buy! Experience! Enjoy! - that's basically all there is to say. If you liked Horizon Zero Dawn, you won't be able to get past Horizon Forbidden West. Everyone who is (finally) hooked by the release of the sequel is cordially invited to experience this masterpiece, but should think twice before starting with the predecessor. You definitely won't regret it, I put my hand in the fire for that. Regarding the story, there will surely be extensive discussions and comparisons about which one is better, but I won't join in. I find Horizon to be an impressive overall work. For example, Lord of the Rings only works for me as a trilogy. Not that I would now indirectly anteasern the third part (or yet?), but as a complete work Guerrilla has created here for me the almost perfect continuation.

Review in German | Read full review

That might be a bit more difficult than teaching a zombie to fetch. There was a lot of trouble in the run-up, there was a lot of hype, and some of it was followed by disillusionment and, for some, almost disappointment. Yes, not everything went smoothly and we also noticed some things that I had to bring up here. It is also clear that some potential was wasted. Nevertheless, it's fair to say that Dying Light 2 is a really successful game overall, which is fun to play and entertains well at times. It's not a masterpiece, and it doesn't have to be. Just drop all the ballast of the pre-reviews, install the latest patch and dive into a successful zombie survival adventure.

Review in German | Read full review

"Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy has become a really entertaining game. The way the story is presented and experienced is very successful. A good compromise is found between action interludes, exploration and narration, without losing the common thread. Those who appreciate the soundtrack and the humor of the movie will also get their money's worth here, while being brought closer to the original universe from the comics. Basically, Eidos Montréal offers excellent fan service, with enough potential to entertain players who haven't had much to do with the Guardians of the Galaxy yet.

Review in German | Read full review

Now it's time for the final review and I'm extremely torn. I'll admit, I'm quite a fan of single player campaigns and I really liked this year's one. I thought the overall almost cinematic staging was great and it had some great moments. Being a sniper in Stalingrad reminded me of the great scenes in Call of Duty: World at War. But the other locations were great as well. Multiplayer is something I enjoy playing in phases. I liked Black Ops: Cold War quite a bit and found myself in battles there more often. The beta phase of Call of Duty: Vanguard put me off a bit, as I didn't really warm up to the multiplayer mode. Of course, what was shown was only an excerpt of the later scope. So this part could also win me over now in the weeks gradually more. In the end, the problem of Call of Duty is probably more and more the "egg-laying-willing-milk-sow" principle paired with the tight release procedure, which seems to be a challenge despite changing studios. With Call of Duty: Vanguard, Sledgehammer has shown some great ideas of how a good shooter can be presented.

Review in German | Read full review

While playing, I took my time and examined many details. I spent a little over 20 hours in Canoidera. But of course that depends on how you play. I took my time looking at everything, as I just mentioned, and also let the character design sink in. It was a cute little adventure for a few relaxing evenings on the sofa. However, with more action than farming. If you're looking for a light, cute adventure, I can recommend Kitaria Fables. Especially for the younger members of the family or as an RPG starter.

Review in German | Read full review

It's been a long time since I've been so torn when it came to rating a game. Mario Party Superstars has a lot of good points, such as the different co-op options and the mini-game mountain with a selection of the best games in Mario Party history. But exactly the second argument also brings a disadvantage. With the given number of mini-games, the air is out very quickly. I also find it a shame that you no longer have to unlock the games or boards. This means that the replay value is quickly lost, especially if you have played through all the boards. With the coins won from them, you can still go shopping in the Toadshop, but these things have no relevance in the end. All in all, Mario Party Superstars is a good game if you want to indulge in fond nostalgic memories. As long as you are aware of this fact and don't expect any too important innovations, you will have your fun with the title.

Review in German | Read full review

Despite the aforementioned problems and outdated graphics, Far Cry 6 captivated and enthralled me. In retrospect, the story is not bad, even if it is a little flat and a little too short or terse at crucial points. You'll notice this because I don't want to spoil anything. Gameplay, music and the voice actors make you overlook the graphics and enjoy the video game. Personally, I haven't been a fan of German dubbing before, but Far Cry 6 simply delivers and has convinced me to play in German more often. Hopefully there will be some fixes from the developer in the short term, because the permanent respawns of the enemies are quite annoying. In addition, the AI should get a little boost in general. The enemies are simply stupid and only very rarely a challenge at all. In the first few hours I had already found a handful of bugs and kept stumbling across new problems. But these are all things that are being checked and improved by the developers. Fans of the game series can easily grab this one. Those who like farming and collecting are also in good hands. I'm curious to see what content the DLCs will bring, but the current status is quite satisfactory.

Review in German | Read full review

WarioWare: Get It Together! is a nice collection of different microgames under time pressure. Very often I found that you have much less time to understand and master the individual games. Fortunately, there is a training mode where you can work off these disadvantages. Unfortunately, however, long-term motivation falls by the wayside. After a good three hours, the main part is done, and if you invest a few more hours afterwards, all the microgames are done at least once. The cosmetic changes also don't bring the freshness that the developer probably imagined. It would have been more interesting if each character had special skins. What the title definitely shines with, however, is the multiplayer. Online or locally, you will have fun with the creative games and crazy sceneries. For single player, the air is out very quickly and you have to think carefully about whether you want to pay the full price.

Review in German | Read full review