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Arcana of Paradise —The Tower— bets on dynamism to offer a roguelike deckbuilding like no other. Real-time combats are frantic and interesting, requiring strategy and dexterity to win. Furthermore, the numerous situations scattered throughout the adventure have curious puzzle elements, forcing us to think carefully in order to advance. The mechanics are inventive, but the content is reduced: enemies and events are repeated frequently, and the strategic possibilities are limited. Because of this, runs become repetitive quickly, compromising the mid-term experience. Despite the problems, the mysteries of Arcana of Paradise are worth exploring, even if briefly.

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Dead Island 2 is a wild, frantic and fun experience. The game focuses on what makes us love video games: the feeling of adventure and uncompromised fun. In the midst of so many great works, with perfect scripts, cutscenes that look like cinema, Dead Island 2 just wants you to take control, crush some skulls, rip off some limbs and have a fun and exciting game, without compromising to explore new areas for the franchise, playing the role that a reboot would have in modern cinema, reintroducing old elements and presenting it to new audiences. Indeed, a pleasant surprise this year.

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I can't say God of Rock did a mistake in its choice of elements but this is a clear case where less is more. The good ideas and features from fighting games were smart picks, but the mayhem of things on screen turn what could have been a beautiful melody into a messy thread of mismatched notes.

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Wild Dogs may have been created with the intention to be a retro run and gun, but the combination of the elements it brought made it something bigger. It's a recommendation I'd do in a heartbeat to people who want to get a taste of the genre or those who are already veterans. Your desire for action and nostalgia with a good challenge will be fulfilled.

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OTXO is a good choice for anyone who enjoys straightforward action without elaborate stories or very complex mechanics. Even without bringing anything new to the roguelite genre, the simple but still challenging gameplay is the main highlight of this indie title that uses and abuses action to provide an almost cinematic shooting experience.

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With considerably better storytelling than its predecessor, Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly manages to go beyond the comfortable experience of serving hot drinks to strangers. Both new characters and old acquaintances present interesting stories that reveal a very exciting world of modern fantasy and form a true family with their bonds. An easy recommendation for anyone looking for a good everyday gaming experience.

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The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story is a great invitation for those who want to know more or simply start their journey through the rich mythological world of Runeterra. With satisfying and exciting combat, this aspect is a good draw for anyone who enjoys action games. It's not formidable, but it shows the quality of Riot Forge's ability to create experiences with different approaches using League of Legends intellectual property.

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Cannon Dancer is another cool port of a title that could have been left behind for only illegal emulators and awful translations but it got the deserved highlight for current consoles. Its responsive gameplay is sharp and the difficulty level leaves nothing to be desired for fans of a good challenge.

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Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection is a pack with ten games that were some of the pioneers in mixing action and deckbuilding. Not only does it preserve the titles and gives them a new presentation for modern systems, it also makes an effort to keep the qualities of the original experience intact under a new online mode and patch cards built into the system. It's a worthy collection not only for the fans but also those who love the gameplay concept, already used by many new games. However, even with a big gallery and high quality games, there's a lingering feeling that, when compared to similar compilations, Capcom could have done a little more to make the whole pack truly perfect.

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Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories stands out by presenting a really fun and lighthearted story, offering mystery, crimes and other serious issues with critical humor. Its graphics and soundtrack are special highlights, as they represent what a game from the nostalgic Game Boy would be with [high] fidelity. The absence of Portuguese text is an issue since the adventure is focused on reading but it doesn't diminish the shine of a pleasant and compelling game.

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In the end, Lunark works as a great platformer and homage to various classics. Its gameplay may be hard to control at first but it's not an issue that hinders how fun it can be.

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Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened does a brilliant job at showcasing a curious case of the most famous detective in the world, one in which he needs to go beyond his intellect to deal with things his skepticism never let him believe in. The narrative sequence and ambientation don't disappoint when compared to its literary adventures. It's a must-play title for fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's work.

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Bat Boy bets on the basics and on creativity to make an excellent platformer. The sportist-hero is very versatile using his bat to hit, parry projectiles and bounce on top of enemies. There's a great variety of challenges, with brand new concepts being introduced all the time and new skills that encourage exploring the stages for secrets. As usual of modern retro-inspired titles, Bat Boy has a moderate difficulty but it's rarely unjust or frustrating. A few movements are a little imprecise, which gets in the way during complicated moments but it's fortunately easy to avoid. With variety, charisma and a great rhythm, Bat Boy is a must-play 2D platformer adventure.

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Storyteller's main merit is the playful way in which the puzzles must be solved, in addition to a cute art direction full of charisma. However, its shallow and little-used execution makes the game uninteresting very quickly, making it nothing more than an uncommitted pastime with a challenge that does not generate much engagement for the player.

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The task was not easy, but the positive expectations were confirmed: Resident Evil 4 is a worthy remake of the original. The updated visuals have made the dark and desolate atmosphere even better, and in terms of the campaign, we have an adventure here that is on par with the quality of the original. In fact, it manages to surpass it in several moments, with better-written characters and better use of the horror element. The remake does not replace the original adventure, but stands side by side as a unique, rich, well-constructed and addictive experience. More than direct comparisons, here we have a rare case where carefully executed changes make the new release superior in several ways, always respecting what worked well. Whether you're a novice or veteran, this is an absolute must-have game.

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Wildfrost is a charismatic and immersive deck-building adventure. The battles, which mix cards, turn handling and positioning, are exciting and full of interesting nuances. There is a good variety of cards, allies and powers, which makes it fun to explore tactical possibilities and build synergies. Chaos and unpredictability are constant in the runs, making the clashes intense and difficult, constantly forcing us to improvise. However, these are also the game's biggest flaws: it's common to end up in seemingly impossible or unfair situations. Also, the content is somewhat limited, however, future updates may alleviate these issues. With inventive combat and a captivating universe, Wildfrost is for those looking for a slightly different card roguelike, you just have to be prepared to face its challenges.

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Remake of one of the most important games in history, The Last of Us Part I deserved more, much more in its long-awaited arrival on the PC. In its current depressing state, only hardcore enthusiasts of its proposition or gamers with far above average hardware should consider a purchase before further patching; until then, others will be better served with versions already available on other platforms. Here's hoping, then, that both Naughty Dog and Sony learn their lesson: adapting games for the PC is not a simple mission. If platform players are conditioned to wait years and years for a console title, let it at least be served in a palatable way. Otherwise, it will be difficult to classify the result as anything more than indigestible.

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MLB The Show 23 left laziness aside and, instead of just updating rosters and changing the cover, it made discreet improvements, but which greatly benefited the experience of those who wanted something more complete. The addition of a Negro League-focused mode was the move that established the franchise's title as one of the best ever made in the sport.

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The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog is a very competent way to revisit the blue hedgehog universe from a totally different angle. Made with a lot of polishment for its characters, the game mixes a simple but well-executed point-and-click with isometric platforming sections to create a must-play experience for fans that's also worth it for those who just want a good adventure game to pass time.

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Curse of the Sea Rats is never actually bad. Even with the lack of graphic and mechanical refinement, we can still find fun and adventure in its shores. There are a few interesting things in how it creates a diversified world but nothing impressive and the exploration isn't always rewarding.

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