Gaming Professors

Pokémon Legends: Arceus has fulfilled the dream I’ve always had since I first got into RPGs as a kid. I was worried about how the game would turn out, because last year was one disappointment after another for me in terms of gaming, but fortunately, that’s not the case here. The game is exactly as I imagined it from the trailer—magical, nostalgic, fun, and thrilling. I sincerely hope the developers stick with this format and don’t do a 180-degree turn back to the original one. I’m not saying the old one was bad, but this is something I would personally define as a childhood dream come true.

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Greak: Memories of Azur is a sad yet touchingly beautiful story of three siblings struggling against adversity against the backdrop of a once-beautiful land ravaged by a cruel war, rendered in stunning hand-drawn art. The touching displays of sibling love, protection, self-sacrifice, and care will tug at your heartstrings. Although there are a few minor flaws, the amazing atmosphere, pleasant music, and adorable art style more than make up for them as you become completely absorbed in the game until you finish it in one sitting in about ten hours.

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Good Company is definitely not a relaxing game. On the contrary, it will really make you rack your brain as you search for that one last missing piece that’s causing your entire, perfectly assembled production chain to grind to a halt. The game will definitely captivate you if you enjoy endless spreadsheets and organizing and optimizing them. The charmingly designed Good Company ended up pleasantly surprising me. Although the game initially seemed very challenging with its myriad settings, I eventually got completely lost in it—but I actually enjoyed it. For fans of management, process engineering, and logistics, it’s definitely a “must-have.”

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Transient is a great game, but if the developers make a sequel and I find out it’s going to be a puzzle game too, I’ll go to their studio in person, slap everyone there, and while I’m at it, I’ll pay them extra to work on the characters’ faces. The game is superbly optimized; I didn’t encounter any frame drops or bugs. If you’re planning to rewatch the Matrix trilogy to refresh your memory before seeing the new one, I recommend trying Transient instead.

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Arboria is a very captivating game featuring ugly trolls. After a few rounds, however, you get so used to them that they actually start to seem kind of cute. The game has its own unique sense of humor—perhaps a bit too vulgar for some players at times—but I enjoyed it. I had fun constantly exploring the dungeon, which is full of interesting enemies.

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All in all, Accident is a fairly well-made simulator with a very good concept: providing first aid at the scene of a car accident and then determining how the crash actually happened. On the downside, the game suffers from a lack of variety, subpar graphics, and a very short playtime of around two to three hours.

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Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach definitely breathes new life into the FNAF series. The game features new characters that will appeal to both longtime fans and new players alike. Plus, you don’t necessarily need to be familiar with the series to enjoy the game. In some situations, the tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife, and there are moments when you’ll feel your heart leap out of your throat. Unfortunately, the game also has a few flaws in the form of bugs and areas where the animatronics simply get stuck.

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The Legend of Tianding is a true hidden gem among platformers, offering a glimpse into Taiwanese history and culture, stunning visuals, and excellent gameplay with great mechanics. If you’re a fan of 2D action-platformers, this title is practically a must-have for your library.

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The game is in pre-alpha, but even so, it offers an intriguing experience in a fresh, unexplored, dark open world. A major draw of this game is the character of the young Jaga, her abilities, and the moral system. Although the game has main quests, it happily lets you roam around and explore the surroundings. The game definitely has great potential, and I hope it maintains its quality until the official release.

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Tales of Arise is definitely a home run, and as a reboot of the series, it has set the bar incredibly high for future installments. Although the game has a few significant flaws, in my opinion, it’s one of the best JRPGs on the market. The setting of this fascinating world is, in a word, beautiful; the story excels in several ways; the combat system offers so many variations that it’s hard to choose; and the many side activities ensure that you won’t just turn the game off even after finishing the main storyline.

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Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction hits the nail on the head, delivering a solid cooperative shooter that, despite not changing much from the last Rainbow Six, offers a fun, hardcore experience. The superb optimization, crossplay and remote play features, and the complete absence of any bugs a week before release are an incredible achievement for Ubisoft! The developers didn’t exactly go overboard with new features. We should be used to Ubisoft by now, but that’s no excuse for the fact that the developers could have focused a little more on how to make this title even more unique and push it forward.

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As a project from a small indie studio, Rising Hell boasts simple gameplay, a healthy dose of challenge for both fans of the genre and complete newcomers, and an appealing audiovisual presentation. For a reasonable price, you’ll get several hours of fun escaping from the pit of hell. Although the game isn’t perfect and has a few flaws, the developers can certainly be proud of their work.

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House Party offers several hours of fun, which you can extend by creating your own scenarios. Visually, the game is certainly impressive, but the soundtrack is its weakest link. Fortunately, this isn’t a major issue that detracts from the great fun House Party has to offer.

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They Always Run is a very well-made 2D platformer that stands out particularly for its graphics. The combat mechanics are complex enough to provide enjoyable gameplay, and at the same time, the attention to detail makes every enemy kill truly satisfying. However, there are some flaws that detract from the game. Even so, it’s a pleasant mix of genres that makes for a solid platformer.

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The game runs as it should, but for $30, there’s so little content that it really isn’t worth the price. The developers are trying too hard to come across as original and offer something unique. That’s true, but unfortunately, you’ll start to get bored after a while. Book of Travels, with its beautiful but empty world, could be a truly great game, but for now, it’s more of a demo than an early access title. I recommend keeping an eye out for any updates. With a little work, the game could build a great and strong community.

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Button City definitely has its own atmosphere and charm, thanks to its characters and setting. The game’s main issue lies in its mini-games, which hold it back a bit. That said, players are sure to experience some enjoyable moments, and you’ll definitely feel good about having saved the passage.

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Stranded Sails – Explorers of the Cursed Islands offers casual entertainment with a linear storyline and a series of tasks from start to finish that require minimal combat. I really enjoyed this game; I found it soothing and charming. There’s a great tutorial explaining all aspects of the game, so players of all ages can easily get the hang of it. The music is lovely—incredibly relaxing and perfectly suited to the game’s cheerful tone—and I also liked the art style. The animations, in particular, looked fantastic. The gameplay is easy to understand and simple to get into.

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Aven Colony isn't Cities: Skylines, nor does it try to be. It's a space colony simulation, and it does that well enough to earn a spot on your shelf—maybe not in space, but definitely in your library.

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Unfortunately, Truck Driver isn’t a good game, and the only way to change that is to completely overhaul it. In my opinion, however, that won’t happen—partly because the developers are already working on a map expansion, which I assume will be a paid download. If you’re looking for at least a somewhat decent truck simulator on console, go with On The Road: Truck Simulator instead, which I personally consider the lesser of two evils. Essentially, neither of them is any good. As for PC gamers, there’s no need to even consider buying it.

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Compared to The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa, Arrest of a Stone Buddha is clearly more straightforward. You won’t find as much text or decision-making here. Although the game offers two possible endings, there are very few narrative segments, which are made up for by action. It is essentially a bloody 2D shooter. Yeo’s constant effort to push players toward “anti-entertainment” will deter many, as this is a game that requires extreme patience. In terms of gameplay, however, it’s a great combination of open-world and shoot ’em up elements.

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