GameBlast

Strengthening the genre of games that depart from the metroidvania structure to meet the soulslike style, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree has more hits than misses. The energy management combat is slow and can be repetitive and somewhat clumsy, but it also has its highlights. The crafting system is bureaucratic and offers few incentives for counting on it, affecting the feeling of reward of finding items. The world is well-built and enjoyable to explore, although its biggest highlight is really the rich 2D visuals, making it one of the most beautiful in the genre and easily recommended to those who enjoy the style.

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Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 2 doesn’t close the book on the tale of the four girls from Velvet Cove in the best of ways, but the issues with this finale don’t cancel out the narrative’s extremely high quality and certainly don’t diminish the splendor of Tape 1. Even though it’s a little dire sometimes, the sum of both parts is still one of the best adventure games of the year.

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FUBUKI ～zero in on Holoearth～ HOLOLIVE ALTERNATIVE is a beautiful and short adventure that, although featuring stunning animations and pixel art, makes little use of important game design elements and offers limited appeal to players unfamiliar with the Hololive universe. Despite boasting a rich and impressive soundtrack, I hope that over time the developer takes player feedback into account and responds to the criticism.

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Shadow of the Orient is nothing we haven't seen before, and its main idea is actually good, but the conversion to consoles ends up stumbling on some important points that end up discouraging players who enjoy adventures of this type. Add this to the visual issues in the HUD and we have a prospect of what could be a great adventure, but one that urgently needs fixing.

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From its first impressions, Bionic Bay already brought the promise of a high-level challenge and the final delivery confirmed its competence. Each jump, death and explosion has a fundamental learning that takes us to the end of the journey and it makes up for every minute spent in its completion.

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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an exemplary turn-based RPG that nails everything right. From the beautiful visual presentation to the world-building, from the dynamic and active battles to the deep customization systems, it is a piece of work that knows how to take advantage of classic JRPG structures and stands out for taking them further in a unique approach.

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A great choice for fans of the franchise or adventure game lovers, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle delivers a very complete experience. Its journey around the world is great and well-constructed, full of twists, exciting fights, challenging puzzles and many other surprises. The technical level could be a little higher, but it does not compromise a must-have adventure for your library, no matter if it's on PC, Xbox or PlayStation.

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BlazBlue Entropy Effect stands out for its intense gameplay and stylized visuals, offering fluid combat full of possibilities. The variety of characters with unique styles makes the matches exciting, and the combo system provides strategic freedom. On the other hand, it lacks depth in some aspects: the roguelike elements have little impact, with repetitive stages and some confusing mechanics. Still, the game delivers good action moments, especially for those who appreciate the BlazBlue universe and its exaggerated style.

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Phantom Breaker Battle Grounds Ultimate is, overall, an unnecessary remaster. The switch to Unreal Engine 5 doesn't add much to a game of this type, no meaningful content was introduced, and it mainly serves to bring in a remixed soundtrack, the option to play as enemies, and crossplay. For new players, it’s still a valid way to experience Phantom Breaker Battle Grounds, as it remains a fun title on its own. However, for those who’ve already explored the original game, there aren’t many reasons to return to the streets of Tokyo.

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The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- is the exact game Kodaka, Uchikoshi and co. promise it is, in every way. Those already familiar with these authors' work will receive something that is, at the same time, well within expectations and completely out there, all wrapped up in the form of a fun and challenging tactical RPG. Even those who don't have time for all the endings should come and meet the Special Defense Unit.

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Spilled! is, in sum, an educational game whose "game" half doesn't work as well as it should, but it still deserves a fair shot. With the debate around the Earth's health being polarised as it is, it is important that there exist works that aren't afraid to show audiences what a lack of sustainable development does to the place we all live in.

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The Talos Principle: Reawakened did what was needed to be a perfect revitalization. It kept its challenges unchanged, which were already very good, and greatly improved its visuals. The inclusion of the expansions in the remake, with the possibility of accessing them right away, made this the definitive version of a groundbreaking title.

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Rusty Rabbit isn't bold in its proposal, but it's not bad either. The game has surrounded itself with great ideas, combining metroidvania and action with some RPG and humor. Of course, the massive repetitiveness caused by backtracking and the flaws in the gameplay can cause a certain exhaustion, but it's still a title that rewards those who make it to the end with a good adventure.

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Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark is a competent metroidvania, with cool visuals and solid gameplay. The scenarios are pleasant to explore and the fights are fun to play, all seasoned by a charming theme. It's a shame that it has some annoying problems in several areas, in addition to not offering significant innovations to such a competitive market. In the end, it's a suggestion mainly for lovers of the genre and fans of the Gal Gun brand.

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Lunar Remastered Collection brings back a duology that is still charming and a good choice for fans of the genre. However, the feeling is that, as a remaster, the final product is too basic and could have gone further to justify itself. Even so, it's great to have them back and fans of the genre will have fun getting to know them or revisiting them.

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Peppered: an existential platformer is a pleasant surprise in the independent gaming scene. What starts out as a simple platformer with a retro look soon reveals itself to be a profound, critical and absurdly creative experience. It is a game that knows how to play with the language of video games without giving up its message. For those looking for something that goes beyond entertainment and provokes thought — even if through the absurd —, Peppered is a must-play.

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SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered is a very competent update of a peculiar title from Square Enix. Although it still preserves a complexity that may alienate some potential new audiences, this characteristic is also an essential element of its charm, encouraging constant experimentation. Furthermore, the additions brought by the remaster, combined with the preservation of the original structure, make this edition the definitive way to experience this captivating RPG.

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Pocket Bravery is definitely a Brazilian game worth checking out for several reasons: it is a work made on Brazilian soil that is no match for any other name in the genre, whether in terms of structure, visuals or sound; it can be a great choice for those who want a cool fighting game at a more affordable price; and it carries the passion that many of us have for this 90s genre and also adds several references and aspects of our culture. A fighter like this certainly cannot be underestimated by anyone.

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Overall, The Darkest Files does a very interesting job of blending education and gameplay into a single product. After books, films, and even games that use World War II as a backdrop, it's refreshing to see a unique approach that treats the subject with the delicacy it deserves, which at times, even in the 21st century, tends to be almost trivialized. The thing is, although the game manages to implement its distinctive approach effectively, it doesn’t evolve it throughout the very short campaign, resulting in a positive experience for what little it offers, but with an overall inconclusive impression.

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Even though it's a simple revitalization effort that might disappoint those who wanted a full remake, the initiative to make Croc: Legend of the Gobbos available for current systems is very welcome. Fortunately, the remastering effort was solid and clearly carried out by a team that is passionate about the original game.

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