GameBlast

Batbarian: Testament of the Primordials is what I might call shallow metroidvania. It doesn't take advantage of everything the genre has to offer, but presents enough to have what a game needs: fun and challenge. It would hardly be on my best-of-the-genre list, but the humor and the soundtrack will have a place in my memory and may prompt me to play it one more time.

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A psychological horror in a futuristic cyberpunk world is not something you see every day, and Observer: System Redux executed that premise brilliantly. The mixture of calm and quiet moments with the journey through the disturbed minds of victims of a terrible crime keeps the player apprehensive at all times, but curious to know where the strange clues will take us. This definitive version brings great features, but which will be more attractive to first-time players than those thinking of revisiting this dark investigation. The individual story of each resident of Class C is as interesting as the main plot and makes us want to know even more about this strange Polish future.

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Omno is an enticing atmospheric adventure, with satisfying puzzles and platforming sessions and fabulous environments filled with gentle creatures that will make your day more enjoyable. It is not an original or perfect experience, but it offers some authentic moments of escapism. Its shortcomings include the inconsistent way it tries to tell its story and the absence of further activities for exploration.

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The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles  is not only a compilation of two good games, but also a fun adventure in English courts. The stories are rich in details, with interesting and creative plots that make you rack your brain to understand them. Added to this, we have Herlock Sholmes giving a very cool dynamic to the investigations and actively participating in the missions. Even with the pacing problems, the possibility of passing the story automatically relieves, in a way, what would be a tiring game. For newcomers, it is an excellent option to get to know the franchise; for veterans, we have new features that make Ace Attorney even more engaging.

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B.ARK is an interesting experiment in the well-known shoot 'em up genre. While offering a good challenge with numerous enemies attacking at the same time, its simple concepts make it accessible to players of all levels. However, the stages are very short, leaving a feeling that everything could be bigger and better.

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If you've already tried the genre and didn't like it, don't expect this title to change your mind. Now, if you like musou or are looking for a game full of action, beautiful visuals, good gameplay and lots of content, then Samurai Warriors 5 is a great choice. Cool characters and interesting story enrich the game, making it fun and varied enough. I look forward to the sequels of this reboot, which could be the perfect opportunity for the franchise to take even higher flights.

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Cotton Reboot! it's actually a nice introduction of the franchise to a western audience with a pretty cute remake. Including the original game in the package also helps illustrate how far it has evolved, as well as adding to its historical value. However, the shallow content considerably lowers the replay factor, making it a title for a few quick matches and nothing more.

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What started out as an unpretentious weekend gamble in yet another free game turned out to be a great recommendation for anyone looking for challenge, competitiveness and excellent value for money for a genre that often ends up being more of the same. If you don't believe me, I dare you to play Splitgate right now.

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Within the Blade brings good elements for a fun, creative adventure with a very satisfactory level of difficulty. The icing on the cake is the retro look, that brings back games like Ninja Gaiden and Shinobi, and its excellent soundtrack. If you are a fan of ninjas, be sure to check out this game. Worth every second of your time.

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Death's Door focuses on a few ideas to create an exceptional, well-balanced experience. The crow's adventure features lots of intense, precision-driven combat, and it's very rewarding to master the fighting mechanics to defeat the enemies. In addition, its elaborate world invites us to explore every corner with countless secrets and enigmas. The difficulty is constant, however the agility of the pace reduces the frustration of defeat. It is also notable the care in the construction of its dark fantasy universe, which approaches the theme of death with humour, softness and charismatic characters. Not only that, the ambiance is complemented with a beautiful look and remarkable soundtrack. The low complexity of some systems and the absence of unique ideas can be a nuisance, but flawless execution overrides these details. Furthermore, Death's Door is an immersive and unique adventure.

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Crash Drive 3 may even be simple and unpolished, but it manages to provide fun and, most importantly, maintain good network play across multiple platforms and without compromising the experience.

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Akiba's Trip isn't necessarily a bad game, but it's not that good either. The experience is simply not good and goes beyond thematic constraint and technical precariousness. Perhaps it works better on Switch, considering its potential as a portable system.

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Mini Motorways uses simple and elegant concepts to create an addictive puzzle and strategy game. It is easy to create streets and roads to connect different locations, but the constant expansion of cities makes this task a great challenge, as there are many elements to consider. The fun is in understanding the nuances and using the various resources, such as roundabouts and bridges, to make an efficient transit system. The colorful and minimalist atmosphere, together with a procedural soundtrack, offers a relaxing and beautiful experience. In addition, there is an incentive to share our creations with options for taking photos and recording small animated images. The biggest flaw is that the stages are too similar, but the agile games soften the feeling of repetition. In the end, Mini Motorways is another one of those puzzles capable of offering hours of fun.

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Boomerang X is certainly a unique game. Fans of FPS and arena shooters looking for something different are sure to feel right at home, and the title's arcade feel makes it a good choice for unpretentious fun times. The gameplay here is the high point, and with a little practice it is possible to do cinematic moves. However, even with all the quality of the concept, there is no way to turn a blind eye to the amount of content present here, as well as to the fact that there is an untouched and unrealized potential in practically every corner of this creation.

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Streets of Rage 4: Mr. X Nightmare is a simple expansion that revitalizes the beat ‘em up. The three new characters have unique fighting styles, and it's a lot of fun to understand and master their nuances. On the other hand, Survival Mode offers varied games, mainly because of the presence of improvements that alter the characters' abilities. It's just a shame that the content is somewhat limited. Finally, the fighters' attack customization options open up many possibilities, but unlocking these moves is costly and requires grinding. In the end, Mr. X Nightmare is a great reason to return to the streets of Streets of Rage 4, even if it's not too elaborate.

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Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin  is a very detailed RPG that manages to take advantage of the fundamental elements of the series to create a captivating experience. Without a doubt, it is one of the best titles available on the market, especially when it comes to games focused on capturing creatures.

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Where the Heart Leads has a very interesting premise, but it wasn't executed so well. Although the choices have a real impact throughout the plot, there is a disconnect between the beginning, the middle and the end that generates an unsatisfactory ending. The lengthy dialogues, the long (and unnecessary) duration and the weak protagonist make the game a slow and uninteresting experience after a while.

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Chicory: A Colorful Tale is a bittersweet, powerful and human game that isn't afraid to demonstrate how depression can trick. Dyed in neutral, cool and warm colors, the title published by Finji is about fears and insecurities, but it also reminds us of the importance of being here moving forward, because absolutely everything we do is wonderful and always good enough.

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Taisho x Alice has a very interesting writing. All the characters stand out for their striking personalities, managing to offer romance, humor and dark elements in the right measure. Epilogue is a very satisfactory conclusion to the saga. Connecting the previous episodes more clearly, the final stretch isn't as shocking as the previous episode, but it is exactly what it needed to be for the conclusion.

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Eagle Island Twist is a good example of the famous saying "don't judge a book by its cover". Despite appearing to be a cute and simple game at first glance, it is quite challenging and well done both technically and artistically. The pixel art direction demonstrates impressive details, such as the lighting effects on underground scenes and the reflection of some translucent platforms. The title is a treat for fans of platformers.

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