XGN.nl's Reviews
House of Ashes is the best iteration in the franchise yet. The horror feels more mature and the jumpscares are not as prominent as before. The animations are not always great and next-gen features are yet to be used fully, but suspense and scares are guaranteed. In a dark room on a stormy night, you are ensured to have a sleepless night or two.
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Despite a few technical hiccups, Guardians of the Galaxy is one of 2021's best games thanks to a fantastic story with amazing gameplay to boot. These Guardians really stand out from the movies even though they might similar. In many ways, Eidos has created Uncharted in space but with deeply satisfying combat mechanics that keep you entertained throughout.
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Age of Empires 4 is a mixed bag for fans of the franchise. For Age of Empires 2 fans, this is an excellent, true sequel. For fans of Age of Empires 3 however, the gameplay might feel too slow and the diversity in troops is too low. History nuts can enjoy themselves with the campaign, but don't expect a challenge. If you are looking for a classic RTS however, Age of Empires 4 is a fine pick.
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Demon Slayer is true to its source material, closely following the initial story arc and Mugen Train. The single-player story is short and never really taxes the player. The areas in between fights aren't inviting to explore as movement is slow and tasks obligatory. The roster of characters for online fights is small and partly locked behind the single-player storyline. In multiplayer, the fighting system blossoms, but it would have been great if the range of abilities was better used throughout the game.
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Wavelengths plays it safe, which is a shame. Fortunately, this DLC is a ton of fun thanks to the deeper characterization of one of True Colors' best characters. Steph is a ton of fun to play as and the story is quite meaty.
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Turtle Rock Studios has once again created a fantastic co-op shooter with Back 4 Blood. The game is good when playing solo, but amazing when playing with three friends. The gameplay, characters, and card system make the game dynamic and create another dimension for us to enjoy. These things are so great, making the cookie-cutter story and the repetitiveness of the environments just a bit more painful and unfortunately, these elements hold the game back.
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A Remaster to the letter, Diablo 2 Resurrected introduces a new graphic layer on top of the original Diablo game, which is still available at the touch of a button. The inclusion of the Legacy mode shows both the progression in graphics and the truthfulness to the original in gameplay. While there are some quality-of-life improvements, we would have preferred quite a few more. Resurrected is especially suited for the hardcore fans of the original, provided they can wait for online to be included.
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Far Cry 6 is a good addition to the beloved shooter franchise thanks to great gunplay and stunning visuals. It's a shame however that there are some really annoying bugs, crashes, and quality of life issues that take you out of the experience. The story is so much fun when Esposito's on-screen, which is, unfortunately, not enough.
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Metroid Dread is the return of Samus we waited for almost twenty years. The closing chapter of Samus' adventure is intended to kickstart the era of the Switch OLED and it does it with a bang. The game looks delicious and plays seamlessly smooth. The game has some minor flaws but feels nearly perfect as you search the depths of ZDR and need to flee the E.M.M.I. to save your life. This is simply a must-buy for everyone that owns a Switch!
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With all the innovations, you'll be presented with a of a game. If you like good stories, this is without a doubt the game you should play. Just keep in mind a somewhat long lawsuit at the end where the momentum could have been a bit more. It's mild criticism of a game that should be especially praised for the script.
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Kena Bridge of Spirits is a good start for Ember Lab and we're curious to see what the studio has in store in the future. When it comes to visuals, the game is up there with Sony's major AAA studios. Unfortunately, it's the gameplay that lags behind quite a bit.
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Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is a pretty comprehensive game that is bursting with content. Some of this (the minigames) is also really fun for kids, but the vast majority definitely isn't. The game's adorable little smock hides a nightmare, even for seasoned gamers. This game is only for people who are up for a challenge and don't give up after dying ten times.
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FIFA 22 offers a lot of new elements on next-gen. Gameplay is finally going in a clear direction and provides a clear picture of what to expect from this iteration of FIFA. Even though the gameplay finally seems fine, there are quite a few problems. Career is near unplayable thanks to loads of bugs and glitches, Ultimate Team is still a pay-to-win fest and a lot of modes are clearly less important than cash cow Ultimate Team, which is understandable, but still frustrating.
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While Ni No Kuni II is already three years old, this Switch still feels new and refreshing. This is partly due to the timeless, cheerful story and the colourful drawing style. The port to the Switch can safely be called successful, with short loading times and excellent performance. The game itself is unabatedly charming and offers varied gameplay and including all the included DLC a nice total package that you can lose many hours in. Ni No Kuni II hasn't lost any of its charm and is now nice and easy to play. Recommended!
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This game is nice but way too short. It's is fun but too few minigames. It looks like a lot but actually, it is not.
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Deathloop proves that the concept of Groundhog Day also works in games. The story is phenomenal, mostly thanks due to the excellent voice-acting. Arkane focuses again on stealth, but also gives the play more options for all-out warfare, with a plethora of guns, special powers, and upgrades. The stay on Blackreef Island can get a little bit repetitive after multiple time loops, but the island itself is beautifully crafted, and the ending makes it all worth it. Arkane once again hit it out of the park!
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Lost in Random is clearly a Zoink! game, though you can't compare it to other games from the studio. The game has its own style and gameplay and both of them are truly wonderful. If you like card games, dice games, or are simply addicted to adventuring this is the game for you. The game feels like a Tim Burton movie. Funny, but creepy and stylish at the same time. Lost in Random is truly compelling with an original story and once you start, you can't stop playing!
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Tales of Arise delivers a fresh start with new heroes and a world that feels all too familiar. The story of an oppressed people living in a land divided into five parts, that need to be liberated isn't quite original, but Arise does offer a streamlined experience that can be highly tailored. Those that want to, can delve into the lore, while others can happily skip that entirely. The same applies to combat, which can be tailored to the player's desire, from (semi)automatic to manual and challenging.
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Life is Strange: True Colors is another good installment in the series. However, there are some flaws. The setting is far too small and you will find yourself visiting the same locations time after time. Next to that, there are some flaws in the story. Although the writing is good, the game loses focus once in a while and lets you LARP instead of looking for clues. Overall it's just a good popcorn game, but not more than that.
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All in all, we are very much at peace with Psychonauts 2. The story is intriguing, the humor is excellent and the charm splashes off. The gameplay isn't always top quality, but it's fun and it works when it has to. If you're not afraid of miles of collectibles, or if you were already sold by the original, then Psychonauts 2 is a game for you. It's also a good ending to its predecessor without scaring off new players.
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