GameBlast

Ultra Age is an excellent title for those who are looking for action inspired by classics of the hack ’n’ slash genre, but who don't want to be stuck with the familiar games of this genre. Its biggest highlight is a fluid, fast and addictive gameplay full of style and effects that fill the eyes. The plot and visuals aren't her strongest point, but that's a detail you can wipe away to really enjoy the game.

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Flynn: Son of Crimson takes the best platform game ideas and combines them into a lean, well-constructed adventure. The biggest highlight is the diversity of challenges throughout the stages, which feature light puzzles, combats, secrets and several other distinct elements. In addition, an elaborate pixel art look impresses with carefully created locations. The duration is short and the progression is nimble, but there are some minor issues, such as some overly long stages and underused combat elements. In the end, the qualities of Flynn: Son of Crimson make it a great representative of the platform genre.

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NBA 2K22 offered what I admire the most in the sport: dynamic matches, great athletes, famous teams and a lot of fun. The gameplay and production are excellent, with high quality in its multiple play modes. Though there are some inconsistencies when the versions are compared, the title's most substantial caveat is related to its online modes. If the player can ignore these issues, they'll find a complete and addicting game, especially for basketball fans and connoiseurs.

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Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town is a bit far from reaching its fullness as the protagonist of a genre, but it is on the right path. In technical terms, its greatest merit is in the gameplay, especially due to the crafting elements, although it still suffered too much in the setting, narrative and game atmosphere.

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Deathloop has had great marketing and amazing trailers, but it delivers an experience that strongly divided opinion. The plot holds the attention and, despite the stagnation at certain moments, motivates us to continue the campaign to discover the whole truth about Blackreef. The idea of a time cycle is interesting in the first few hours, but it becomes a tiring or even tedious experience after a few hours.

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Personally, I liked Bloodrayne Betrayal: Fresh Bites: the visuals are great, the mix of hack and slash and platform combat is fun, and the sound work is competent. Unfortunately, the remaster would need a major transfusion of improvements, as it has significant problems. The biggest ones are the small amount of content and some inadequate original elements. In the end, the game is a suggestion for those who enjoy the genre and can extract only the best it has to offer.

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Despite the idea of bringing the narrative from discovered objects, The Magnificent Trufflepigs ends up placing the player much more in a spectator position than someone who has some agency in the interaction. The story is interesting and builds characters with well-elaborated personalities, but ends up being a little tiring due to the excess of details that seem to go beyond what is necessary for its development and the low fluidity of the gameplay. It's an unconventional title and may not appeal to those who expect action in their adventures, but it can be a good bet for those who are in no hurry and like to savor stories in enchanting environments.

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Tales of Arise is a fascinating JRPG that builds on the series' legacy. The new episode captivates with charismatic characters and their fun interactions, even though the plot and themes aren't very creative. Combat is more electrifying than ever with a system that lets you fight on the ground and in the air, with plenty of stylish moves. Plus, there's plenty to do in its vast world, and the visuals are exceptional. Behind the qualities, there are some recurring problems in the series (such as visual chaos in some battles), as well as the very timid use of the new exploration mechanics. Not only that, the general structure of the game is the same as the last titles, being far from the promised revolution. Despite all that, Tales of Arise turns out to be a great JRPG for both novices and veterans alike.

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F.I.S.T. : Forged In Shadow Torch offers a solid experience for those who enjoy platform action games in general. The inspiration from the metroidvania genre is what sustains the game's addictive and frantic gameplay in an adventure that will keep you engaged from start to finish. With an emphasis on combat and exploration, it is one of the best games of its kind released in 2021, which arrived giving a real quality punch to the market.

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Featuring a world of cuddly anthropomorphic animals, Kitaria Fables is a game that manages to balance action and simulation elements. It focuses on generating a cycle of combat, gathering materials and obtaining items, creating a pleasant experience. Gamers who enjoy action and farm games will likely enjoy it at their own pace. However, the feeling is that the game could go a little further to make something more memorable.

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Despite the performance issues at the end of the game, Arboria is a good action roguelike experience. Any fans of the genre will enjoy the title a lot and probably won't be bothered by its repetitiveness or its other slight flaws.

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TOEM uses photography to create a smooth and captivating adventure. It's quite pleasant to explore small monochromatic scenarios taking pictures and helping peculiar characters, in tasks that combine observation and puzzles. Besides that, the peaceful and good-humored atmosphere invites us to relax and enjoy the beautiful views and unusual situations. Free progression allows us to advance at our pace, but some tasks get in the way a little because they are too vague. In the end, TOEM is a short and charming journey worth experiencing.

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Despite showing how to make an excellent use of the DualSense features, the minimum that should be expected even from bigger titles, Timothy's Night limits its re-release to only that, missing other points that could have been improved upon. The low difficulty and lacking content variety in the campaign, along with the flawed movement of the gangster protagonist, turn the title into a basic, quick and hardly impressive experience.

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WRC 10 upholds the excellence of the franchise for the virtual racing world. There aren't drastic changes to its visual or audio aspects, but this actually means the quality standard continues to be high. Besides that, the classic tracks and historic challenges bring forth positive elements, though small ones, and add many hours of challenge and fun to the game's lifespan.

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Psychonauts 2 took 16 years to hit the market, but the wait was worth it. Fans of the first game will be able to dive once more into this very special universe and see Raz and other old acquaintances. And for those who didn't know the series yet, this is an opportunity to experience a very unique game and, who knows, to even feel motivated to go after the first game in the series.

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I met Cookie Clicker in 2013 as a curious title to laugh with friends. Eight years later, the initial impression has remained the same: clicking on cookies to get more cookies is a little crazy, but simple and fun, especially thanks to the various mechanics available to increase production. The pleasing look and the extensive but understandable amount of information make the experience even more immersive and addictive. There are sluggish periods when the title doesn't decide whether the player should pay attention or let time pass. In any case, patience should be an obligatory and generous virtue, because only after some time will it yield good results, I mean, cookies.

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El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron uses numerous elements to create a unique experience. Accompanying Enoch on his journey to defeat the fallen angels is quite engaging because of the constant mix of 3D action, platforming and combat. The impactful art direction is one of the highlights, and the title is not afraid to dare with drastic changes in visual style and gameplay. But not everything is wonderful: the simplicity of the systems and mechanics can make things a little boring, after all most of the adventure is very linear and the battles are repetitive. Furthermore, the PC port is extremely basic, lacking customization options. In the end, El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is an exotic and imperfect game that is hard to forget.

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King's Bounty 2 shows that sometimes less is more. When trying to offer two distinct experiences in the same package, this sequel unfortunately fails to realize the full potential of either part. Despite the problems, its combat system still looks interesting, so fans of the genre will still find fun here. But, for better and for worse, the warning is registered that the majesty cannot be sustained only in the deeds of the past.

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Despite its problems, OPUS: Echo of Starsong stands out as one of the best games I tried in 2021. It captivates you with the little details and the interesting cutscenes and dialogue. Besides that, the universe has a rich mythology and realistic details. There are few problems: the lack of Portuguese localization and the simple and repetitive systems, which can drive away those looking for a challenge. However, this does not diminish the game's quality, being a recommendation for anyone looking for a touching story.

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Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut is stunning in both art direction and gameplay and script. If you haven't played Ghost of Tsushima yet, I definitely recommend this title. If you've already played the base version and would like to delve into Jin's story, relive epic duels, or want another twenty hours of brand new content, I also recommend purchasing it. While the Director's Release improvements aren't too flashy, especially for PS4 gamers, the island of Iki adds a lot of content, both from a plot point of view as well as new enemies and activities. For me it's a must-have title for those who enjoy open-world action games or enjoy the historical setting of the samurai times.

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