4News.it's Reviews
The Boss Team and Wayforward tandem, with RetroRealms Arcade, has managed to offer two incredible 2D platforming adventures inspired by two cornerstones of the horror genre, Halloween and Ash vs The Evil Dead. We really enjoyed playing each adventure (albeit with not the highest longevity) and the clever choice of mixing and matching characters is nothing short of genius. Add to that the colorful pixel art graphics with the ever-moving worlds, the functional old-style 16-bit gameplay, and the additional content and you have the “almost” perfect package.” Why almost? The asking cost, almost €60 for the complete package, is quite an amount that many gamers might find excessive!
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Mario & Luigi: Brothership is yet another little gem in the impressive Nintendo Switch lineup. Acquire takes the helm of a saga born over twenty years ago on handheld consoles and successfully ferries it into 2024. Fun and multifaceted in its play proposition, the colorful new installment of the RPG adventures of the video game media's most famous plumber brothers is a must-have experience for Nintendo fans. There may be little in the way of ruolistics (apart from perhaps far too verbose dialogues), but one thing is for sure: it's really nice to experience a new odyssey with Mario and Luigi.
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The Veilguard is an incredibly complex title to evaluate, in the throes of a particularly electric launch context. On the one hand, there are the objective sacrifices made by BioWare towards some features beloved by fans of the series. On the other, one cannot fail to highlight the validity of the work done by the development team, capable of rescuing a product that over the years has been one step away from eternal oblivion. It may not please, it may infuriate longtime fans, and it may disappoint those who were looking for a title similar to the never-replicated splendor of Origins. However, for those who can appreciate the good things present, the latest Dragon Age will be an enjoyable and long-lived adventure with one of the best crescendos in the history of the Canadian software house.
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Rogue Flight is the most classic of love letters. Truant Pixel's dedication is toward the rail shooters that so raged at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s. However, the end result proved to be much more concrete than a simple nostalgia operation. As frenetic as it is explosive but always and consistently galvanizing, Nadia's adventure is a little gem of game design thanks in part to an art department that pays homage to great classics of Japanese animation. Let yourself be enraptured by the pure arcade experience: it's worth it.
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LEGO Horizon Adventures really impressed us. The title made by Guerrilla Games and Studio Gobo in association with The Lego Group and Sony Interactive Entertainment is not only super fun to play (alone or with friends thanks to the local and online cooperative mode) but is almost slavishly faithful to the original material, except for the alternative and decidedly lighter and humorous tone and managing - at the same time - to have a precipitous identity, which is not overshadowed by the very large portfolio of LEGO games from Traveler's Tales. In short, LEGO Horizon Adventures can be considered to all intents and purposes to be part of the world of Horizon and we feel we can recommend it both to those who are looking for a quiet and relaxed adventure, although the rate of challenge especially at the higher levels is not lacking at all, and to those who loved the original IPs, Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West.
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Sonic X Shadow Generations is a package simply not to be missed. In addition to giving new luster to one of the most appreciated chapters dedicated to the blue hedgehog, the SEGA operation also conveys a darting, never-before-seen adventure dedicated to the charismatic black hedgehog. An outstanding ride at times, showcasing the full potential, as yet uncertainly explored, of the series in its three-dimensional incarnation. Two titles for the cost of one (actually less, given the budget price) for one of the best platformers of recent years. Unmissable.
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 manages in one fell swoop to erase the bitterness left by the last chapters in the series. A far from trivial achievement, achieved thanks to a surprising campaign (in a good way, thankfully), a wide-ranging Zombie mode and a solidly reliable multiplayer package. Perhaps it is precisely this last part that shows some intolerance, thanks to a less than exciting launch offer on the side of the available modes as well as the initial maps strangely less inspired than what Treyarch has historically proposed. For all fans of the series as well as especially for those who have put it aside over the years or have never approached it, rest assured. Activision's covert operations have hit the jackpot.
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Life is Strange: Double Exposure, took us back to the origins of the Life is Strange franchise. Our iconic protagonist, Max, returns more mature, even as she continues to have overtones of what happened in Arcadia Bay, but definitely more aware of herself and what she needs to do. Her powers have evolved and allow her to live with them and examine the ripple effects that ensue while the new cast of characters, along with the outstanding soundtrack, support a narrative plot rather well, certainly not perfect but one that manages to convince by dealing with important themes even if less impactful than the original. In our opinion, Double Exposure is a compelling adventure that represents something of a potential turning point for further expansion of the LIS universe, and we look forward to its continuation.
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Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is still as offbeat and endearing as it was when it was originally released 13 years ago. The story works precisely because it is not afraid to be funny, disgusting, and mischievous (perhaps too much so) which might bother some. The gameplay is still quite good and varied today. The 4K resolution and 60 fps, is the only real difference from the original, which would not justify buying this version. However, considering the price, €24.99, if you want an over-the-top and unusual experience in the underworld, give it a chance, you won't regret it!
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Dreams confirms, once again, how much the real videogame dimension of The Smurfs is in platforming. The talented developers at Ocellus Studio produce a fun, colorful and idea-packed title suitable for both the very young and more seasoned gamers. The sources of inspiration are obvious, but instead of being lazily repurposed, they are instead paid homage to with creativity, sagacity, courage and expertise. A little fall 2024 surprise, as well as another great production dedicated to the little blue men born from the imagination of Belgian artist Peyo.
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Empire of the Ants is not just an RTS but a true celebration of nature. The presentation, graphics and emotive music are nothing short of gorgeous, as is the gameplay (albeit simplified to be best handled via DualSense) which entertains, though lacking the depth that characterizes other exponents of the genre. Not to mention that it is really interesting to understand (by experiencing firsthand) the perspective of such tiny creatures doing anything to survive. It is a splendid example - in video game sauce - of how we too often take for granted what is outside our homes and how each of us should take a moment to appreciate the little things. Priced at €39.99, it is an experience we definitely feel like recommending!
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The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication is a well-structured horror game that builds on the lessons of its predecessor to deliver a concise but intense experience. While not shining in particular playful solutions accomplice to a basic gameplay, the night of terror inside the mysterious Taiwanese Wen Hua University is nevertheless graced by a well-conceived and structured plot. An engaging and anxiety-provoking experience that confirms the potential of this series.
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Revenge of the Seven is the unexpected remake that allows contemporary audiences to enjoy one of the most peculiar and futuristic JPRGs of its time. Romancing SaGa 2 returns in this new guise in fine form, thanks to an operation that improves and clarifies the more refined and complex mechanics of the original title. Its particularities make it unmissable for fans of the genre, who cannot fail to appreciate its audacity. Beware, however: those looking for a traditional experience (ludically and narratively) may find themselves faced with a complex title to decipher and appreciate.
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Ys X: Nordics is a truly successful title whose only real flaw can be attributed to its visual presentation being so outdated that it feels like you are playing on a PS360. Fortunately, the narrative, not so “fresh” but functional, and the very successful and fast-paced gameplay, in perfect tune just like Adol and Karja, make Ys X: Nordics a really solid and very enjoyable title to play.
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AWAKEN - Astral Blade is a very good metroidvania, with gameplay that while derivative manages to be satisfying, all the more so if you are looking for a lighter experience than the standards to which the sub-genre has accustomed us. Most importantly, Dark Pigeon Games' title comes to market with perfect timing. Today, it is not just a science fiction adventure, but a profound meditation on freedom, identity and the meaning of humanity in a time where the line between real and artificial is becoming increasingly blurred.
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The Nixxes team did a practically excellent job of making sure that Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered was markedly more consistent in terms of detail with the sequel, 2022's Forbidden West, and went on to offer a level experience in all respects. The asking price for the upgrade (€9.99) is really paltry compared to the amount of effort put into giving the first installment of the series “a new life” on PS5 and PC consoles. So whether you have already played Horizon Zero Dawn, or if, on the other hand, you have never tried Guerrilla Games' first action-RPG, this remastered is absolutely worth it.
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Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 returns to the contemporary video game landscape with an unexpected remake that aims to be both a gift to fans of the series as well as a potential entry point for everyone else. The content offerings are generous, as is the care taken in the packaging of the product and the traditional depth of the strategic experience, which has been appropriately modernized thanks to some forward-thinking updates. Some features of the historic KOEI TECMO series, however, could make the experience far too tiring, especially for those who are not insanely fond of the genre. A commendable operation but one that ends up appealing mainly to a narrow circle of aficionados.
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Overall, the LEGO Harry Potter Collection represents a true nostalgia operation. If it has been a while since you last played the original games or you were too young to do so, then - especially for the latter - this is as much of a must-buy as ever. This Collection, doesn't change the cards much compared to the original 2010 bundle and the 2016 remastered, but the additional refinements in terms of graphics and performance are there guaranteeing - therefore - an experience (following the entire narrative arc of the saga) further refined and really enjoyable to live (or relive) for hours and hours of fun, free of bugs, glitches and very fluid thanks to the 60fps to say the least granitic.
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Super Mario Party Jamboree is the perfect summation of the series' recent journey. Drawing on recent experience as well as fan feedback, Nintendo packs the ultimate party game for Switch. An incredibly full-bodied content offering, thanks to hundreds of mini-games and a sea of different modes that know how to appeal as much to solo players as to lovers of multiplayer experiences. If you have never yet tried a chapter in the series, this is your best chance.
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In no uncertain terms, Metaphor: ReFantazio is a masterpiece. Studio Zero has poured every lesson accrued from the main Persona chapters into its first medieval adventure, crafting an experience that is both fresh yet familiar. Some of the most famous features of the ATLUS series can be found here as well, however placed in a quite different context and with an unprecedented flair capable of making them relevant and magnetic. It is impossible not to celebrate the boldness of the art direction, as well as the rich soundtrack or the kaleidoscopic and multifaceted combat system. A title of absolute excellence that impresses even more thanks to an astonishing writing that sets no limits in dealing with sensitive and topical subjects. In a word: unmissable.
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