Gaming Professors

I really do have tears in my eyes—our series of reviews of Dark Knight games comes to an end with Batman: Arkham Knight. The game itself is an epic conclusion to one of the best game series of the last decade—or, if you will, of the past ten years. It offers a compelling story, smooth gameplay, and breathtaking graphics, all of which make for an unforgettable experience. The biggest draws—the flawless voice acting and excellent controls—are just the icing on the cake. Despite its flaws, such as an overreliance on the Batmobile and occasionally very difficult puzzles, this is a game you can’t miss. As Batman would surely say while playing these games: “I am Batman.”

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Void Crew is a great choice for fans of cooperative games and space adventures. It offers intense team-based gameplay, dynamic missions, and a well-balanced mix of action and strategy. Still, I’d argue that the game isn’t fully thought out down to the finest details. It’s as if it’s missing that certain “hyperspace jump.” Plus, the tutorial is terribly long-winded and, in my opinion, not presented in the best way. Oh well, I’m going to grab my laser cannon and just start shooting—because I can. Safe travels, especially in the dark!

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Go Home Annie is a well-crafted horror puzzle game that deserves the attention of all fans of the SCP universe. Although it isn’t a complex game with an extensive storyline, it effortlessly draws you into its mysterious world thanks to its atmosphere, smooth gameplay, and references to both well-known and lesser-known SCP stories. If you enjoy dark and unsettling stories, logic puzzles, and are also drawn to the SCP universe, Go Home Annie is a must-play for you. It’s a great addition to the growing world of SCP games. This title has proven that even a simple concept can create a thrilling and atmospheric experience. Because of this, I can say that Go Home Annie deserves my recommendation.

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X-Out is one of the most interesting and well-made Euro-shoot ’em ups from the 16-bit era, and its remake makes it accessible to today’s players while preserving all of its strengths—and, in fact, most of its flaws as well. I could imagine a different approach to modernizing the graphics, but despite all the criticisms, I wish other notable Amiga shoot ’em ups would also get similar remakes. Games like Apidya or Banshee, for example.

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Thanks to Alien: Rogue Incursion, we now have another virtual reality game that can attract a wider audience to the popular franchise and its high production values. The gameplay delivers a powerful experience, though it could have been even more intense if the game had better integrated its horror and action elements. The sense of fear is undermined by predictability, and the enjoyment of the action is limited by a lack of variety. Nevertheless, the pros clearly outweigh the cons.

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Avowed is a well-crafted action RPG set in the fantastic Pillars of Eternity universe. The story and side quests are definitely well done, and it’s also worth mentioning the truly extensive UI customization options. The combat is dynamic and thrilling, and the overall movement system is smooth and elegant. In some respects, however, you’ll get the feeling that the game lacks the depth and unexpected twists we’re used to in Pillars of Eternity and similar RPG titles. The variety of enemies is also relatively limited, though they are well-designed. Nevertheless, the game’s audiovisual presentation, gameplay, and lore are what will keep you coming back for more.

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Turbo Overkill can definitely be counted among the most successful attempts to recapture the nostalgia of the ’90s. It’s fast-paced, dynamic action with intense driving combined with pixel-art graphics and electronic music. The game combines the best of both old and new generations of gaming, so I can confidently say that if you want to relive some good old-fashioned nostalgia—but spiced up with modern features—you should definitely give this game a try. Turbo Overkill won’t give you anything for free, even on the easiest difficulty setting, so be prepared for broken keyboards.

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Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is the ultimate action game that will appeal even to hardcore gamers. It offers a complex combat system, stunning visuals, and an unforgettable challenge. Although the story isn’t particularly deep, the camera can be frustrating, and the checkpoints are spaced out oddly, the great combat and smooth controls more than make up for it. Plus, the game features excellent audio. If you set aside everything you know about the series, it stands on its own as a very good, entertaining title.

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Dynasty Warriors: Origins is an exceptionally great game, but it lacks a greater attention to detail. Sure, the graphics are gorgeous, but why does everyone look almost like twins, differing only in their skin color? There are tons of weapons, each with a different style, but why are they acquired in such a weird way—through the story progression, where it doesn’t make any sense? Why does the game try to show that everything is diverse, awesome, and every little detail matters, but in reality, you only need to make six major decisions and the rest is just nonsense? Even though everything is so contradictory, it’s still a very good game, and if you love non-stop brawls and aren’t afraid to face hordes of enemies, this is for you—grab your steel wheels and go chop up your opponents. Because it’s actually fun.

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Age of Darkness: Final Stand presented me with a challenge you rarely see in modern games. Every time my city is reduced to rubble, I promise myself that this will be my last game, but it never is. If you like games where you have to think before you rush into battle, Age of Darkness is perfect for you. There are a few shortcomings, which I believe will be resolved in upcoming updates. I found that the Bloody Nights were sometimes excessively difficult, and no matter how good my defenses were, I still couldn’t avoid death. So far, there’s only one hero in the game, though the developers are planning more, and I hope they’ll add more different types of monsters and some of your own attack units. The game has great potential, but unfortunately, it’s in Early Access and costs €21.99. At this point, it’s better to play They Are Billions, wait for the new Age of Empires 4, or play one of the classics like Warcraft 3 or StarCraft, which, even though they’re more than 20 years old, are still great.

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Redeemer is a great example of a beat 'em up game that doesn't try to be anything it's not, offering a rich, action-packed atmosphere and plenty of dynamic combat. Although the game’s story isn’t particularly deep, the dynamic combat—with its brutal combos and gory scenes—makes for a first-rate experience that will be appreciated not only by fans of the genre but by all players who want to kick some serious ass.

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The one-episode early access version shows *Gravelord* to be a visually appealing, entertaining, and well-designed shooter with polished levels. Don’t be put off by the presence of tarot cards—they don’t detract from the classic “boomer shooter” gameplay at all. I enjoyed the game even though its somewhat clichéd humor didn’t really appeal to me.

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EXOcars is now available in its full version, but it still feels like a promising early-access title. The physics, controls, and graphics all work well and are of good quality. However, the game lacks substantial content that could keep players entertained for longer than, say, two to four hours. On Quest and Pico, EXOcars may stand out more due to the lack of serious competition in the genre; however, on PC, it will be difficult for it to make a name for itself among the many other racing titles that can be played in VR, either through native support or via mods.

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Tokyo Xtreme Racer is already worth recommending in Early Access to anyone who enjoyed the previous installments. Players venturing onto Tokyo’s highways for the first time will enjoy it just as much, provided they can appreciate the old-school simplicity of the gameplay mechanics, the atmosphere of nighttime racing, and, of course, the artistry of Japanese car designers. Until the full version is released, let’s hope the developers manage to better balance the difficulty of the AI opponents and tweak the tuning system. Then Tokyo Xtreme Racer will become one of the most addictive racing games of recent years.

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Crown Wars: The Black Prince, a turn-based RPG set during the Hundred Years' War, offers a fairly satisfying dose of fun for players who enjoy this genre. The core of the game—including its mechanics, combat, and castle management—works well. Unfortunately, the title is let down by technical shortcomings that disrupt the smooth gameplay and can sometimes be truly frustrating.

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SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada is an impressive action game set in the SYNDUALITY: Noir anime universe. It’s a third-person extraction PvPvE game that boasts an excellent, dynamic combat system. Unfortunately, SYNDUALITY’s mechanics are hampered by subpar optimization, limited enemy variety, and a sense of repetition that sets in over time. However, if you enjoy action-packed PvPvE extraction games and mechs, this is the game for you.

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This game is unique, and if—as with most PlayWay titles—you’re open to its quirkiness, it’s definitely capable of keeping you entertained for quite a while. It’s simple and straightforward enough that you won’t be racking your brain over how to chain combos or outsmart a boss when you get back from vacation. Unfortunately, for what is essentially an interesting little game, it carries a rather steep price tag on Steam. If you decide to give it a try because of the theme, keep in mind that Robocop: Rogue City has a similar concept, roughly the same level of investigative depth, significantly better graphics, a legendary license, and costs almost the same. The decision is up to you; this time, I have to side with the Steam reviews—mixed.

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Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is an excellent sequel to an already extraordinary game. Not only is it bigger and more spectacular, as one would expect from any sequel, but above all, it fixes most of what was broken in the first game and adds what was missing from it. Blacksmith Jindra can now actually forge his own metal tools, he can be accompanied by a dog that isn’t tied to specific locations, the crime and punishment system is significantly more sophisticated, and the quests are more complex. The menu has also been improved. However, combat—enlivened by the addition of crossbows and handguns—has largely retained the clunkiness of the first game. One could complain about the character animations or the certain chaos prevailing in the open world, but these would be petty criticisms. There aren’t many other games that have so successfully combined a masterfully told story with the freedom to approach problem-solving in one’s own way.

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If you’re looking for adventurous fairy-tale stories for adults, enjoy simple two-button button-mashing, like the Japanese style, and don’t mind old-school graphics, then Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is for you. Unfortunately, it includes that sad crutch of experience grinding, but otherwise it’s a fun mix of action and RPG with Metroidvania elements. I spent twenty hours playing the game, beating up monsters—about two of those hours were spent on dialogue and five on grinding. It was wonderful, but I don’t feel like playing through it again.

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Terminator: Resistance - Annihilation Line offers a few new missions, a couple of new movie-inspired weapons, and several new machines to destroy (the T-600 or HK Centurion) for just a few crowns. The locations have been scaled down, and even greater emphasis is placed on the story, which is executed as well as it possibly can be. Kyle Reese is a badass, and his dreams come to life, combined with period music, are simply the best. Objectively speaking, it’s just a short DLC. If the Terminator universe leaves you cold and you take into account that it’s just a DLC, deduct two points from the rating.

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