Evilgamerz

The soundtrack deserves special praise. With a mix of EDM, industrial metal and other electronic styles, each track fits the gameplay perfectly. It is incredibly fun to switch between songs via the cassette player. You can even switch music during a run if you feel like the music doesn't fit the level or weapons. Robobeat is therefore a welcome addition to the PS5 game catalog. Dual-wielding two guns that are completely different from each other works like a charm. You can earn a lot of extras here and you don't feel like you have to grind endlessly to unlock something new. With four different levels and an art style that is very similar, the game unfortunately doesn't offer much visual diversity. The large amount of cool songs, weapons and power-ups specifically ensure that you come back to play a "short" level.

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Let me put it this way. This game is not for everyone. There is minimal gameplay and the gameplay that is there can be frustratingly random at times. You are completely dependent on the dice. That said, the story is just as wonderfully written as the first game and the atmosphere sucks you into the world. If you are a fan of narrative games or science fiction and you are looking for a game that you can relax and play without too much action, then I would definitely recommend making this your next game.

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Coridden succeeds in combining familiar elements of action RPGs with refreshing new ideas. The shapeshifting mechanic, the co-op mode and the free progression system make it a unique experience that stands out from other titles in the genre. It is a pity that the quests are so incredibly repetitive, which is a nice blemish on the otherwise excellent gameplay. If the developer releases a patch that further optimizes things and makes the map a lot clearer, then this is a title that is definitely worth playing for fans of action RPGs. Because whether you play solo or together with friends, Coridden takes you on a beautiful adventure where you have a lot of freedom to play the way you want.

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Playing the game offers enough variation. For example, you get a new base during the game and you practically start over with characters, which means you also kind of reboot your party. These new characters bring new possibilities, such as teleporting. Furthermore, skills can be upgraded both in terms of new possibilities and in terms of level, which means the game offers enough basic possibilities. The progression is doable for everyone, both on casual and on the more difficult levels. In terms of speed, you can also slow down and speed up the game, which means the pace can be maintained for you, or not. It's just what you want and the possibilities adapt well to the wishes of the player. You can also go as deep as you want tactically, with all statistics and tactics, but you can also go casual. Defender's Quest 2: Mists of Ruin is therefore a perfect tower defense game for every enthusiast. Every now and then the concept is squeezed a bit and too much of the same, but the hours I have put into the game, I could enjoy myself very well. That is also more than enough for a similar, fine score.

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Tales of Graces f is a lot better than the mediocre remaster of Tales of Symphonia. Despite the outdated graphics, the game feels much more modern. It is the first remaster of a project to bring more games in the series to modern platforms. This is successful and for fans of the genre you are very good with this game. Although it will not feel revolutionary.

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A great achievement, and that also applies to the overall picture of Indiana Jones and The Great Circle. Developer MachineGames knows exactly what a game of the legendary adventurer should look like: lots of puzzles, sneaking, dressing up and occasionally giving a good punch in the face of a Nazi. Although there were some bugs and the AI ​​of the opponents is toe-curlingly bad, this is easily one of the best games of this year. With a surprisingly fun story, impressive graphics and challenging puzzles, the game offers an experience that will appeal to both fans of the films and newcomers. You have never come this close to experiencing what it is like to be Indiana Jones, and you definitely do not want to miss it. Quickly grab your hat and whip, the world of Indiana Jones is calling out to be discovered.

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Symphonia is a great platformer with the short playing time as its only downside. The theme is nice, the animations are beautiful, the music is fantastic and the game plays smoothly. Perfect for the budget bin, but for the full price this game is definitely worth a try.

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Among Ashes is a game that wants to appear outdated, and that is simply the case, intentionally or unintentionally. Graphically everything looks very mediocre on the PC (in-game) and even outside your computer it is not something to write home about. The game is therefore difficult to follow at times and confusing and unclear. The same goes for the game mechanics and the gameplay. It is all just not quite there, while the concept is very cool. The close-combat melee attacks feel very stiff and the use of inventory and moving in the environments also feels very mediocre. In addition, you are often busy in the same environments, which makes everything very linear. Among Ashes is not a bad game and in terms of concept quite well put together, but unfortunately it does not live up to it in the end.

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Still, you can say that Dog Man is a great platformer that is especially unique because of the change between the three playable characters. It never really gets difficult and challenging, but for younger players it will be quite a job to complete the game. In total, the game offers about 8 hours of content, which is certainly not bad. Dog Man: Mission Impawsible is certainly not the best platformer of the year, with Astro Bot as the highlight in 2024, but it is a very solid, well-developed platformer that can be entertaining for both young and old.

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Fantasian: Neo Dimension isn’t for everyone. The game is dated in style and structure, and the visual presentation may turn some off. But for fans of classic JRPGs, this is an absolute must-have. With a strong story and solid gameplay loop, Sakaguchi’s team has once again delivered a game that will stand the test of time. It may not be groundbreaking, but it does remind us of what made the genre so great back in the day.

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With its exaggerated cartoon style, chaotic gameplay, and nods to classic platformers, Antonblast manages to leave a unique impression. It may lack some finesse in the controls and technical support, but the combination of nostalgia and original ideas makes it a title worth checking out. If you enjoyed the recently released and equally insane Pizza Tower, then chances are that Antonblast will also appeal to you. The demo is available on Steam now, so give it a try and see if this wild rollercoaster is for you.

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The accessible puzzles, the search for solutions and the discovery make this game a great game that looks excellent in terms of illustration. The creative aspect is bursting at the seams and that makes the game perhaps a bit 'different' and 'weird' at first, but it quickly becomes very fun to play. It never gets very difficult, it never gets very challenging and it never gets very addictive, but still I had the idea that I could enjoy myself very well in those few hours. The four worlds that you discover and that you can travel to are all amusing and well-developed and the 2D platforming in combination with the 3D tilts are a great concept that works well. It is not that 30 Birds really radiates top quality or makes a deep impression, but it is true that this again manages to bring 'something different' than we are used to.

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In the end I was able to enjoy myself with this MiceGard. The fighting is simplistic, there are no extensive features and the missions and gameplay remain quite varied, partly due to the excellent level design, the missions you have to complete and the upgrades you can perform. Graphically the game also looks quite good, with some minor flaws in the HUD and the blurry forests that look a bit strange. The audio even feels a bit like Game of Thrones. For a tenner this is a game that is definitely worth trying. Now that the title is available on the console, you will notice that this is a title that is more suitable for this than for the PC. So if you like an accessible adventure that plays well and offers a few hours of gameplay, then this is something refreshing that has more than enough to offer.

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Nairi: Rising Tide is a solid successor to Tower Of Shirin. The graphic style now contains even more details and the story and the world contain a lot of depth for a game with childish characters. The puzzles are cleverly designed and the various tools are used cleverly here. It is therefore a great pity that the story is sometimes quite difficult to follow and the dialogues are on the long side. In any case, the makers know how to end the games in an exciting way and it makes us curious about what the next part will bring us.

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Metaphor: ReFantazio is a great game and almost mandatory for fans of Japanese RPGs. With this game Studio Zero shows that they can easily address serious themes and make a game that is right on almost every aspect. It is a game with very small valleys and gigantic heights. Normally I would not quickly name a game of the year. For Metaphor: ReFantazio I make an exception for the first time. As far as I am concerned, this game is the game of the year in a year full of excellent titles.

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Lego Horizon Adventures is a fun outing that combines two cool things. Familiar Horizon characters, machines and locations are designed in LEGO style. The family-friendly jokes, dialogues and interactions between the four heroes make it an entertaining tribute to Horizon's original storyline. Graphically, the Lego games are starting to look a lot like the Lego Movies and that is a big compliment. However, the limited freedom, the lack of puzzles and the repetition in the levels will be a loss for some Horizon and Lego fans.

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Is this really the definitive version of Dragon Quest III? Is this the version with all the content from all the other versions? Nope, not everything from the Gameboy Color version has been added. Is this the best version of the game? In my opinion, yes. Combat could have been balanced a bit better with fewer fights that for no reason suddenly give you a game over screen. The extra vocation, the stories of Ortega, the monster arena and all the other small quality of life additions limit the damage and ensure that this has once again become a fantastic remake.

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Chicken Police: Into the HIVE! (title drop) is just like its predecessor a very successful point & click. The atmosphere, the world and the humor are fantastic and the mystery is captivating enough to keep you glued to the screen for the almost eight hours. I enjoyed myself immensely with the antics of Santino and Martin. If developer The Wild Gentlemen makes a sequel, I will once again be at the front of the line.

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Monarchy tries to recreate the magic of Kingdom Two Crowns, but only partially succeeds. For fans of the genre it can offer a nice change of pace, but ultimately it feels like a lesser copy that fails to convince with its own well-thought-out content. Kingdom Two Crowns remains the undisputed king of this genre and proves that a game that is well-finished and thoughtfully designed has much more to offer than a game that merely tries to follow in its footsteps.

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Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a triumphant return for the series, combining compelling storytelling, intricate character interactions, and action-packed combat into an RPG that feels both fresh and timeless. The game plays to BioWare’s strengths, creating an adventure that will keep fans and newcomers busy for dozens of hours. The world is super cool, and the regions all look completely different. The story is top-notch, the presentation is of an extremely high quality, and the combat is deep and tactical. It’s a shame that the dialogues won’t be equally interesting to every player.

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