XGN.nl's Reviews
Forspoken has a good foundation, but is a mess in execution due to a horrible protaganist, dull combat and technical problems. While there is enough to do in this pretty-looking open world it amounts to very little and so does the story.
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One piece Odyssey celebrates 25 years of the anime by providing a game with gameplay that is at times just as old. The turnbased fights have some interesting new elements, but outside the fights a lot feels oldfashioned. Quests lack a sense of progress, no fast travel during quests and the use of savepoints make this game feel like it hasn't progressed beyond a few decades ago. Fortunately, the anime itself is brilliant and makes you eager to go watch it right after you close the game.
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Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is a fine remaster for those wanting to experience the story of Zack Fair before Rebirth comes out. This is however a by the books remaster including all of the cringeworthy dialogue and stiff animations. The new additions and graphical upgrades are really good, but don't expect this to be on the same level as 2020's FFVII Remake.
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With a distinct and interesting artstyle, which mixes a realistic car and city with streetart cartoon drawings for special effects, NFS Unbound definitely sets itself apart from the rest. The game sports a Souls-like mechanism of risk vs reward and a day-night cycle that work, but also hinders progress through the storyline. the races are fun and the many collectibles are well integrated. The near-mandatory police chases quickly become a nuisance and we wouldn't mind if those didn't make a return.
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Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is the 40K-version of the Vermintide games and Fatshark delivers again a fantastic co-op experience. The combat feels visceral and meaty and is a true upgrade compared to the former games. There are however a lot less classes, even though they all feel unique. Some features are clearly removed during production, so hopefully they will get added next to more classes. Fatshark has already released some updates, so the future is looking bright for Darktide.
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Sonic Frontiers is a bold new move for our favourite hedgehog. The open worlds give a sense of freedom and there is a lot to do. Unfortunately the most of it is the mandatory collecting of a lot of stuff to progress through the game. The controls feel good, but at higher speeds they won't always work and the camera is a total disaster. This makes the game way less enjoyable than it should be.
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This game is absolutely a surprise this year! It combines puzzling elements with horror and the atmosphere is getting more and more dark. It's a short title but definitely fun to play.
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This edition is supposed to be a fresh new start to the longrunning series, but stumbles at the get-go. Longrunning features like the Dancefloor are missing as are most of the songs of the new Just Dance+, which only contains about 25% of the old Unlimited. The core mechanics of the dances is still there as are a some 40+ new songs to dance to, as well as a new menu that needs some getting used to but ultimately makes life easier. A not-so-fresh start then, but it might be a good set-up for the future.
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This game is so much fun for almost everybody. It looks great and is nice to play. You would enjoy this much as you love Mario Kart games.
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After 30 years the game proves to be relevant still. Of course with a few tweaks like better graphics and a completely overhauled menu to make the game feel more inviting and balanced. There even is a new gameplay element added to it! It is not the perfect remake, but one you should try!
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The Callisto Protocol clearly gets its inspiration from the older Dead Space games, thanks to co-creator Glenn Schofield being the director on the game. The survival-horror action is being presented very convincing here, with nice visuals and thrilling audio design. Sadly the gameplay is more of mixed bag, with a lot of ups and downs. Whilst not being perfect, Callisto Protocol nonetheless is a fun ride that every survival-horror fan should at least put on their radar.
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Marvel's Midnight Suns is an okay game but could've been a lot better. The game is filled with boring tasks and side missions and the main character doesn't have much of a personality or many emotions. The game would've been a lot better if the developers didn't include all the RPG aspects. However, Firaxis is clearly still great at making strategy games, because the strategic missions are the best part of this game. The storyline is great and It's cool to see the other heroes together.
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Evil West is a game like Shadow Warrior 2, but with less flair. The game let's you enjoy co-op action with up to two players, killing vampires and other meanies. But is misses something to make it memorable or even more dan an in between. Still, if you like crazy games that let you beat vampires into pulp, this is a good suggestion for the budget bin.
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Pokémon Scarlet & Violet takes the next step for the franchise thanks to the lush open world. Even the new Terastallizing mechanic is great fun, although it is kinda a reskin of an earlier mechanic. Amazing music and some smart design choises make it a game you can't miss. At least, that is what we would've said if the performance wasn't as bad as it is.
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Pentiment plays like a living storybook. You walk, talk and act in a medieval style book that is written as you progress. The game leans heavily on storytelling and its historical background. The game is special in a good way. It's not for everyone, but if you're remotely interested in this turbulent times or a good murder mystery, you should really try this one out.
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Bannerlord doesn't excel graphically or in storyline, but makes that up in flexibility and scale. The vibrant world evolves even without the gamer and offers both opportunities and threads that can be exploited. This is a true mediieval sandbox where the player can act as he wishes, but always has to face the consequences. While much great effort is put into making this game playable on consoles, the sheer number of options, menus and controls make this better suited for PC.
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Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, although not completely perfect, is one of the better installments in the franchies in recent years. A solid singleplayer delivers a thrilling rollercoaster with diverse gameplay and settings. The spec-ops is a nice co-op warm up, but the real deal here is the multiplayer. With tightly designed gameplay, maps that suit the different modes well, a lot of content to choose from, Infinity Ward really hit a sweet spot with this newest installment.
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New Tales from the Borderlands makes an attempt at recreating the magic of the original game by Telltale. Unfortunately, that studio's magic touch is not present in this new title. There is fun to be had, especially for Borderlands fans. but New Tales from the Borderlands does not suck you in, nor does it get much better as it goes on.
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God of War Ragnarok is an amazing feat in storytelling, combat, characters, and spectacle. This gripping adventure about a father and son trying to do what is right keeps hooked throughout while putting you through the wringer both in its gameplay and emotional storytelling. Ragnarok builds on 2018 in every aspect cementing it as a masterpiece in gaming.
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The Chant offers a mix of horror you don't see often in games. It combines survival-horror with elements that could come straight out of a H.P. Lovecraft book. Besides a few flaws the game looks great and the gameplay keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way. The gameplay could use a bit more depth, especially the combat and the skill tree and sometimes you miss a bit of balance. Still, if you start this game, be ready for a ride that keeps the blood pressure going up and down.
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