Digitec Magazine

The dungeon design still works flawlessly for this. What Nintendo serves up, or rather served up back then, is impressive. Especially the last two thirds as adult Link are truly exciting. Something magical is always happening. For me, "Ocarina of Time" is no longer a masterpiece. But the fact that I even had to think about it shows how well this game has aged—and how brilliant it must have been back then.

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«Hello Kitty Party Land» delivers exactly what I hoped for: a «Mario Party»-style experience featuring adorable characters for all ages. The controls are intuitive, and I can jump straight into the action with friends and family. The board game mode occasionally suffers from inconsistent rules that disrupt the flow. I therefore prefer directly diving into the many minigames, which fit perfectly into «Hello Kitty’s» sugary-sweet world and only take a few minutes each. I particularly like how the cooperative gameplay reflects the franchise’s spirit: Party Land is a place where friends play together, not against each other.

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This year’s «Call of Duty» delivers plenty of content and variety. The strong single-player campaign gives Captain Price’s story a satisfying conclusion, but the real highlight is the story of young recruits caught up in the conflict on the Korean Peninsula. The missions are spectacular and varied, even if they fall short of the series’ very best campaigns. The multiplayer has little to complain about. Matches feel more grounded and slower-paced than in recent entries, and the launch lineup offers a solid selection of maps and modes, though not all are equally good. DMZ is a mixed bag. Its unpredictability is both its greatest strength and its biggest weakness. Between fantastic matches, you’ll encounter plenty of dull and frustrating runs. If you have the patience, frustration tolerance and appetite for grinding, though, there’s plenty of fun to be had in its brutal open world.

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«Fangtopia» is a relaxing little game that offers a quiet break after a stressful day. Its three modes lack variety, though, and the game could use more creatures to spice things up. With no story, characters or missions, it’s all about building your own little horror world. If you love Halloween aesthetics but can’t stomach proper horror games, «Fangtopia» is a cosy autumn treat.

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I really enjoy «Dupery». Its unusual deduction puzzles are challenging, and finally cracking a case after a long period of head-scratching feels incredibly rewarding. However, the learning curve is steep. The many roles and their special rules can be overwhelming, and some mistakes are difficult to understand even in hindsight. Combined with the harsh penalties for wrongful arrests, this can lead to frustration. «Dupery» demands patience and a willingness to dig into its mechanics. Those who do will find a unique mix of logic puzzles and criminal investigations. Anyone looking for quick wins or accessible puzzles may struggle. I’ll keep hunting criminals, though. Maybe my next arrest will finally be the right one.

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«Virtue and a Sledgehammer» left me conflicted. Its story about Pratelle, her mother, and her sister sometimes hits surprisingly hard by leaving things unsaid. But the game eventually turns into a blunt manifesto against AI that declares answers instead of asking questions. Meanwhile, the gameplay becomes sluggish and repetitive after the first ten minutes.

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«Final Fantasy Resonance» feels like coming home. It delivers everything I’ve missed since «Final Fantasy X»: turn-based combat that makes me think and a story that makes me feel like I’m part of it rather than just watching from the sidelines. On top of that, it boasts the most beautiful HD-2D visuals I’ve seen yet. It’s essential for fans of classic Japanese RPGs – and the best «Final Fantasy» in 25 years, as far as I’m concerned.

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«Switch Sports Resort» is a clear improvement over the underwhelming «Switch Sports» (2022), with more sports, more single-player content and plenty of cosmetic items. Best of all, the legendary Wuhu Island is back, and I get to explore it by plane, skateboard and water scooter. Unfortunately, Nintendo doesn't make the most of the idyllic resort. The solid gameplay foundations of several sports deserved more interesting modes, while progression relies too heavily on repetition and largely worthless cosmetic rewards. The graphics are mediocre, and classics like Frisbee and swordplay are missing. If you're looking for a casual party game for local multiplayer, it's worth considering. Everyone else should think twice about returning to Wuhu Island and might prefer to dust off their old Wii.

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I’ve already spent around 200 hours in Early Access. Exploring the vast world and building bases kept me hooked, and even after completing the story, I still have plenty of ideas for new projects. Numerous updates have also made inventory management much more convenient. The story’s ending leaves me with mixed feelings. I appreciate what I’ve learned about the Builders, but many questions remain unanswered. The new Kindlewastes biome also feels underdeveloped despite its appealing aesthetic. Still, the world is more than large enough without it.

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Evil Empire understands what makes Castlevania tick. The combat strikes a satisfying balance between challenge and a versatile tactical moveset that turns every fight into a dance of blades. The level design guides me without holding my hand, always keeping the next milestone just out of reach. And just when I think I’ve got the hang of things, the next boss absolutely wrecks me and proves me wrong.

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Planet Zoo 2 doesn’t completely reinvent the management sim, but it tweaks all the right things. The day-to-day zoo management of building, researching, and keeping guests happy is as charming as ever, while custom-built aquariums and, above all, the new rewilding feature breathe fresh life into the game.

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«Nivalis Nights» aims to combine life simulation, management and a cyberpunk world. It sounds like a mix I could get lost in for hours. But the longer I play, the more apparent its flaws become. The city feels less alive and impressive than I had hoped. Many tasks boil down to running errands, talking to people and ticking off small objectives. Add unclear navigation, forgettable characters and a management system that lacks depth. In the end, I’m left feeling constantly busy without ever being truly hooked. «Nivalis Nights» gives me plenty to do, but few reasons to enjoy doing it.

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«Star Wars: Galactic Racer» takes me back to the golden age of sci-fi racing games. Blistering speeds, plenty of action and a motivating career mode are all the right ingredients. The excellent sound effects deserve special mention. Unfortunately, the game lacks variety in the long run, with too few tracks and upgrades that make little difference.

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«Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve» offers little innovation, instead refining the proven formula with frantic jet action. Varied missions, adrenaline-fueled dogfights and an epic soundtrack create unique action moments, while the new online modes add some variety. Microtransactions are a bit annoying, and stutters in Fidelity mode hurt the presentation. Still, the single-player campaign delivers jet action in perfection.

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Kalona is the real star of «Gears of War: E-Day», transforming so dramatically throughout the campaign that it feels like the game's main character. The story and characters are less memorable, but the weighty, satisfying gunplay and improved movement make for a solid «Gears» experience. It gets repetitive, but fans of the series should feel right at home.

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«Minecraft Dungeons 2» is an entertaining action role-playing game in a magical block world. Compared to the predecessor, it makes pretty much everything better. But despite a more complex upgrade system, the game lacks depth and variety. Fights almost always run the same. Only boss encounters bring variation. My hunger is usually satisfied after an hour.

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Seven years after its predecessor, Urban Games has delivered a big step forward with «Transport Fever 3». The switch from the old interface and rules takes some getting used to, but after a few hours I was back in tinkering mode. I like that «Transport Fever 3» is no longer a guaranteed money-maker thanks to its high purchase and maintenance costs. The added challenge means I have to keep a close eye on problematic lines and sometimes radically restructure my company to get my finances back on track. New features like landmarks, industry boosters and road lane management round out the game’s revamped approach to transport management.

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Hardly any jump scares, but plenty of creepy creatures, a convoluted story, and surprisingly gross moments: “Silent Hill: Townfall” delves deep into the franchise’s history and draws out the best elements from past games to recombine them. On the one hand, the rudimentary combat with Simon feels realistic, since he isn’t a hero in a superhero movie. On the other hand, the helplessness of both protagonists can sometimes be frustrating—especially when I’m chasing enemies for what feels like forever.

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«Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave» is a massive strategy epic with a gripping story, memorable characters, and a unique structure that keeps things fresh even after 100+ hours. Its classic turn-based combat is excellent, while the addictive side activities add plenty of variety. Some repetitive elements may put players off, but clever systems keep the grind to a minimum. Beautiful cutscenes, creative character designs, and a bombastic soundtrack round out an exceptional experience. It is, simply put, the best Switch 2 exclusive to date and one of the best games I've ever played.

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Insomniac’s first foray into the «X-Men» universe gets a lot of things right. The combat system is a perfect fit for Wolverine’s animalistic nature, the bloody action sequences are spectacularly staged, and the pacing is almost perfect thanks to the variety of mission types. The fact that the gameplay formula feels a little dated? Who cares. What does matter, however, is the botched story, which is dragged down by flat characters and dumb dialogue. Wolverine also feels a little less fluid than Insomniac’s Spider-Man, both in terms of movement and combat. Still, fans of the Canadian killer mutant and Insomniac’s games can jump in without hesitation.

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