4News.it's Reviews
Super Meat Boy 3D succeeds in the feat of translating all the hallmarks of an inherently two-dimensional series into a thrilling 3D platformer. Team Meat and Sluggerfly have created a new incarnation of the iconic indie game that debuted sixteen years ago, yet one that retains the same gritty, edgy identity. Once again, we’re faced with an extremely demanding title that requires high precision and Olympian calm, yet offers immense satisfaction thanks to its absolutely rich and satisfying content—even if there are a few inaccuracies in the spatial perception of this new iteration. At the same time, the franchise remains, as it always has, not for everyone: but if you’re among those who love being pushed to the limits of your skills (and your patience), this is the game for you.
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What can I say? This is a great game. You could argue that indie games are for a niche audience, that it’s too short, or that it doesn’t offer anything groundbreaking. That may be true, but the fact remains that Replaced excels at what it sets out to do and keeps you glued to the screen without you even noticing the time passing. The cyberpunk settings in a post-apocalyptic world, the story to uncover, the highly realistic battles against enemies, and the urge to ask yourself more and more questions and see the world from the perspective of a computer that has just taken on the body of a human being. If you want to do the right thing, try Replaced and you won’t be disappointed. There are many doubts about human nature, but one thing is certain: indie games can convey much more than big-budget titles, as Sad Cat Studios has proven.
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Pragmata is a powerful new IP, solid in every respect and capable of laying the groundwork for a major new franchise. The game successfully blends fast-paced, multi-layered action with an intimate and moving narrative. Exploring the Cradle alongside Diana, alternating between intense firefights and hacking sequences, is a fun and engaging experience that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It’s a title that rewards tactical intelligence as much as reflexes, wrapped in technical prowess that showcases the power of current-gen consoles. Another plus is that the game is released at a budget price, retailing at the recommended price of €59.99. Pragmata isn’t just a great game; it’s proof that taking the time to refine an artistic vision always pays off. If you love sci-fi, stories of deep connections, and high-quality action gameplay, Pragmata is a must-buy that will keep you glued to the screen from start to finish.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Hades II is, at its core, exactly what every sequel should be. Supergiant Games has done it again. They’ve managed to take an already extraordinary formula and make it even richer, more varied, and more “sustainable” in the long run. Of course, it lacks the novelty factor of six years ago: the first Hades was, after all, a groundbreaking, hugely important game. But setting that aside, and overlooking the narrative issues highlighted, Hades II is simply a must-play title. Irresistible.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Blue Prince on Nintendo Switch 2 is a solid port that adapts well and perfectly complements the game’s core mechanics—which rely on observation, patience, and constant flashes of intuition. Nintendo’s hybrid console particularly enhances the portable aspect of the experience, making it even more natural to lose yourself in the ever-changing corridors of Mt. Holly, even if it means accepting a few technical compromises here and there. Rather than aiming for spectacle, this version prioritizes consistency, and it succeeds: the result is a fascinating, intelligent puzzle game that feels perfectly at home on the Switch 2. For those seeking an original title that rewards curiosity and deduction, this is a game not to be overlooked.
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Ghost Master: Resurrection is a passionate remake of a cult management game from the early 2000s. A blend of strategy and puzzle-solving set against a delightfully ghostly backdrop, the game is a treat for fans of the original thanks to its high fidelity to the source material. Having made that necessary introduction, the Nintendo Switch version is unfortunately not the best platform to experience Mechano Story Studio’s title. Between lengthy load times, various bugs, and technical compromises—both in graphical resolution and frame rate stability—the experience proved less smooth than hoped. A less-than-intuitive interface and a few too many rough edges in the button mapping round out a picture that only marginally benefits from the Nintendo Switch 2’s backward compatibility. Scaring humans is still fun even after more than twenty years... but it’s better to do it elsewhere.
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Legacy of Kain: Ascendance presented us with a difficult dilemma. On the one hand, our passion for the Nosgoth universe led us to appreciate the franchise’s first original title in over twenty years, thanks above all to a bold reinterpretation of the narrative canon, a refined art style, and simple, fast-paced gameplay. On the other hand, viewed through the lens of players less captivated by Crystal Dynamics’ vampires, we found ourselves with a two-dimensional action game that is far too linear and repetitive, betraying Bit Bot Media’s inexperience. What was meant to be an attempt to revive the franchise thus ends up being a product aimed solely at the series’ most die-hard fans, who might even be annoyed by the lack of consistency with the past.
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More than two years after its first release, Super Mario Bros. Wonder continues to impress with its freshness and irresistible pace. Meetup in Bellabel Park, while being a limited-scope expansion heavily focused on multiplayer, still adds moments of fun without upsetting the game’s balance. Overall, it remains an extraordinary experience: a masterfully crafted platformer that excites and entertains just as much today as it did two years ago, and is destined to remain a benchmark for fans of the genre.
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Life is Strange: Reunion is the sort of epilogue that arrives late – perhaps too late – a nostalgic embrace that nevertheless manages to strike a chord we thought had long since faded, bringing Max and Chloe back to the heart of a story that once again explores guilt, second chances and the fragility of our certainties. It is a return that does not resolve all the tensions left open by the saga – indeed, for some, it risks reopening wounds that the 2015 finale had sealed with painful consistency – but which offers fans the chance to walk once more alongside two characters who have now, for better or worse, become part of the family. In its precarious balance between fan service, structural repetitiveness, a decidedly lacklustre supporting cast and the lack of any real, authentic character development – with the characters seeming trapped in an eternal emotional adolescence despite the passing years – Reunion ends up being less revolutionary than it would like to be, but also more sincere than its framework (particularly its decidedly static and very conservative gameplay) might have led us to fear. It doesn’t change the story of Life is Strange, but observes it from a new angle, reminding us that certain choices remain, even when time seems to bend to accommodate us. Perhaps it isn’t the perfect ending, but it’s a farewell honest enough to be worth experiencing, especially for those who have never really stopped coming to terms with Max and Chloe.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Crimson Desert is a colossal, rough-edged, and at times chaotic game, yet one that is also incredibly captivating. Its controls demand patience, its narrative falls short of the potential of its world, and some of its design choices remain overly cumbersome. But it also boasts exceptional exploration, deep combat, an impressive array of mechanics, and a sense of adventure that few open-world games today can still convey with such power. Pearl Abyss has created a work that doesn’t aim for formal perfection, but for grandeur. And, despite stumbling several times along the way, it still manages to leave its mark. If you can get past the initial hurdle of the controls and accept a few inevitable rough edges, and overcome that ‘déjà vu’ feeling you’ll often experience when encountering a mechanic from that particular game, you’ll find yourself with a title capable of absorbing you for hundreds of hours, full of surprising moments and, above all, incredibly fun to play. It isn’t the most polished game in its category, but it is certainly one of the most vibrant, generous and ambitious of recent times.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection represents the culmination of a remarkable journey that few would have predicted when it began nearly a decade ago. Capcom has pulled off yet another feat in a gaming generation worth celebrating, elevating a spin-off series born from a successful IP to the very pinnacle of excellence. A sumptuous JRPG, as mature in its storytelling as it is layered and satisfying in its gameplay, it’s already a contender for one of the best games of 2026. We don’t know what the future holds for this series, but one thing is certain: missing out on this adventure would be a mistake as big as a Rathalos.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Laysara: Summit Kingdom has proven to be a city-builder with a vibrant personality. The Himalayan-inspired setting brings with it enjoyable gameplay elements tied to the challenge of building an efficient human settlement amidst mountain slopes, harsh weather, and unpredictable avalanches. The gameplay formula combines the genre’s hallmarks with a touch of puzzle-solving, which serves as both its distinctive strength and structural limitation. On one hand, this originality rewards Quite OK Games with a refreshingly unique title. On the other hand, the repetitiveness tends to set in more quickly than fans of the genre might expect. One thing is certain: building on the side of mountain slopes has never been this fun and rewarding.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Darwin's Paradox! has proven to be a genuine, wild, and entertaining adventure. ZDT Studio has succeeded in its goal of creating a game that captures the magic of animated cinema, while also offering some interesting gameplay ideas. Part platformer, part stealth game, part puzzle game, Darwin’s odyssey manages to engage, make you smile, and even make you think. It is, therefore, a title of absolute value, even accounting for a few sections that are less polished than others and a sometimes excessive reliance on trial and error.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Marathon is not a failure. Even if the numbers might suggest otherwise, this statement speaks purely to the immense effort Bungie put into developing its latest game. From its inception, Marathon has always been, first and foremost, a title that the creators themselves wanted to play. A concrete response to a niche landscape—that of first-person extraction shooters—plagued by the demands of the current era in which the entire video game industry finds itself. Abandoned by its original director and with its core team reduced by half, the American team managed to create a work light-years away from the recent failures, which have proven to be nothing more than gambles and attempts to chase the usual trends, without trying to reinvent or refine the mechanics of their genres. For those who have never had the chance to try Marathon, or haven’t had the time to overcome the steep initial learning curve, it’s hard to convey just how much of the original Bungie’s DNA lies behind this production. Fans of extraction shooters will find in Marathon perhaps the best experience currently on the market, capable of consistently balancing the genre’s more hardcore and more casual sides, succeeding—through its constant updates based on player feedback—in building a product that is increasingly less experimental and increasingly the benchmark for the design of similar products. For those still undecided, Marathon remains a title worth considering carefully. The decision to release it as a Premium title in a market dominated by F2P games may pose a challenge given its niche nature and exclusive focus as a multiplayer title. Although a roadmap is already in place, the game’s future will depend heavily on player response, but if free events are offered, our advice is simple: Try to complete at least one run on Tau Ceti IV. If you can.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Screamer proves that Milestone possesses not only technical talent but also a unique artistic vision. Screamer is an adrenaline-fueled, vibrant, and decidedly ambitious game. So if you can get past the initial hurdle of the controls and embrace its over-the-top storytelling, you’ll find yourself with one of the freshest racing games of recent years. The high price tag remains a concern, as it might deter many players, but if you’re looking for something truly new in the gaming world, Screamer might just be the game for you.
Review in Italian | Read full review
1348 Ex-Voto is one of those games that puts us in an awkward position: its flaws are obvious, but we can’t bring ourselves to completely dismiss it. Because yes, the flaws are numerous. The narrative constantly falls apart, the combat is more interesting in theory than in practice, and… so much more. There’s too much that “doesn’t add up” to call it a truly successful game. And yet it had, at times, an inexplicable hold on us. Because all it took was a vineyard, a church, a country road, to captivate us with a very specific imagery. Perhaps its charm lies precisely in this constant contradiction: seeing clearly everything that doesn’t work, and yet continuing to believe that beneath those cracks lies something precious.
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Even in its console debut, Sumerian Six has proven itself to be an excellent representative of a highly niche genre. A real-time stealth strategy game from Artificer, inspired by the legacy of Mimimi Games, it plunges players into an alternate-history World War II setting to lead a team of scientists with supernatural powers against the forces of the Third Reich. Thanks to excellent level design and engaging abilities, the experience is solid and genuinely fun despite an AI that isn’t quite polished and a balance that can be disorienting at times. And besides, who hasn’t dreamed of defeating the Nazis with a werebear?
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MLB The Show 26 solidifies its position as the undisputed king of sports simulations. With a deep career mode and an unparalleled celebration of the game’s history, it’s an excellent title—though one that requires total dedication to master.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is yet another restored piece in the mosaic of Nosgoth’s stories. We must be honest, however: even twenty years ago, the game suffered from certain game design choices, including an action-oriented shift that perhaps wasn’t all that necessary. While less iconic than Soul Reaver, the game is now more beautiful than ever, bolstered by a script that hasn’t aged a day. The new 3D camera and a whole host of thoughtful improvements also make it more enjoyable today than it was back then, especially to play. A must-have for fans, but also a fundamental chapter for everyone else... in the hope that it might spark a true revival of this splendid saga.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Under New Management takes the crazy concept of Hotel Barcelona and transforms it into an action roguelite that finally stands on its own two feet: the combat now flows smoothly and responsively, the balance of enemies and bosses is convincing, the difficulty rewards intuition rather than frustration, and the Hotel – with its B-movie serial killers, a soundtrack blending cheeky references and raucous guitars, giving the whole thing a powerful personality, and surreal dialogue – proves to be an irresistible resort of carnage for anyone who loves the auteur-style of Swery and Suda51. It isn’t perfect – the engine still has a few glitches and the structural roughness remains in the project’s core DNA – but it is a triumph of creative coherence, where the Slasher Phantoms system shines as one of the genre’s most ingenious twists and every death tells a story to be exploited, not endured. If the base version was a rough diamond in need of polishing, this update turns it into a finished work, polarising enough to (once again) divide the audience (while remaining a far cry from titles like Hades or Dead Cells) but capable of winning over anyone willing to check into the madness of the Hotel Barcelona.
Review in Italian | Read full review