4News.it's Reviews
Goat Simulator 3 is the perfect definition of guilty pleasure. A title that, on paper, should not work at all: narrative stripped down to the bone, essential gameplay, playful situations haphazardly put together, technical compartment full of minor uncertainties. But, similarly to the bumblebee that flies by disregarding the laws of physics, Pilgrim the Goat brings with it an unprecedented load of destruction and fun. The Coffee Stain title is resplendent with crazy ideas and resounding easter eggs that can't help but leave a grin on your face. And once in a while, a video game should do just that: simply, entertain lightly.
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Approaching Syberia: The World Before is a melancholy task, aware that it is the late Benoît Sokal's last work. In some ways, Kate Walker's adventure may represent a spiritual testament to the legendary Belgian artist: a delicate and intimate tale dense with meaning, enhanced by sublime art direction and an evocative soundtrack. Despite some technical uncertainties and some game design choices that might make it unsuitable for those seeking intricate puzzles in graphic adventures, the fourth installment of Syberia is a worthy and moving tribute to this historic saga.
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Cobra Kai 2: Dojos Rising is a title we must recommend against to everyone. And we say this with great regret because the premise was excellent, and it could have been a much better game than the first one, as technically it could boast an enviable variety of gameplay, thanks to the many types of enemies and different side situations, many of which are truly original. But in its current state, it’s unpresentable, and we can’t pretend otherwise. Cobra Kai 2: Dojos Rising is not a bad game; it’s much worse—it’s a "broken" game.
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What happens by adding to a solid metrodivania some mechanics taken from shoot'em'ups and card games? The Knight Witch is the answer. Deckbuilding and bullet hell action combined with a lavish presentation and a narrative rich in contemporary messages allow the Super Awesome Hyper Dimensional Mega Team production to become a simply explosive alchemical potion. A few ingenuities in game design and some balancing issues do not prevent the title from being one of the most interesting products on the independent market this late 2022.
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Somewhere between a dream project and a homage to a bygone video game era, Lunistice rushes into the indie scene with great awe. With sincerity and intellectual honesty, the A Grumpy Fox production appeals to the audience of platformer aficionados, winking at 32-bit classics both ludically and technically. The end result is an amazing title, capable of amusing and entertaining both those looking for a contained experience and those who will want to tackle everything the game has to offer. There is no better way to invest 4.99 euros.
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Asterix & Obelix XXXL: The Ram From Hibernia is a title that will succeed in satisfying its target audience, thanks to its playful simplicity and immediacy and the truly very successful audiovisual compartment. At the same time, however, if you are looking for a deeper game look elsewhere, Hibernia is not for you.
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After its debut on PC and the honors collected in its homeland, Saint Kotar arrives on consoles proposing an investigative adventure with horror overtones. The religious and esoteric theme, along with a coherent art direction, contribute to make the Red Martyr Entertainment production an interesting title, thanks also to an appreciable wealth of content. However, those looking for a puzzle-filled graphic adventure may be disappointed, partly because of an undoubtedly brave but perhaps far too orthodox plot with a few too many rigidities in character characterization.
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After a nearly decade-long journey, Ghost Song finally sees the light of day. The Old Moon project, led by Matt White, turns out to be a solid and charming metroidvania that aims to honor Super Metroid and Dark Souls. An inspired art direction supports a rather classic gameplay that competently combines and synthesizes the paradigms of the reference genres, not without some minor smears. A title in which ludics and narrative blend into a beautiful nostalgic song that everyone should have a chance to hear.
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Save Room is a decidedly unscrupulous production. A puzzle game that takes a very clear inspiration from a hugely successful title, without trying too hard to propose elements of intrinsic originality. However, it is precisely the extreme adherence to a successful mechanic that allows the Fractal Projects title to be a very pleasant pastime, relaxing and rewarding in its restraint. A production in its own way honest and sincere that will be difficult not to appreciate to some extent, thanks also to a very accessible price tag.
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We really enjoyed revisiting (having already done so on PS5) Oddworld: Soulstorm on Switch. It is a porting that has been masterfully done on the Kyoto house's hybrid, and whether you are looking for an “excuse” to replay it and whether it will be your first time trying your hand at the game, you will probably be happy with how it runs on Nintendo Switch. Aside from some checkpoint and perspective issues (really tricky at some junctures in handheld mode), we think Soulstorm, besides being the pinnacle of Abe's adventures, is worth playing on Switch.
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The Entropy Centre is another gem from the indie market, a reality that is becoming increasingly essential for our favorite medium and especially for us gamers. A title developed with great care and passion, enjoyable to play from beginning to end, where even the "problematic" sections, the more action-oriented ones, still make sense within the overall game design.
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Saturnalia demonstrates the ambition and talent of Italian development team Santa Ragione. A classically based survival horror that marries roguelite mechanics within a fascinating investigative adventure steeped in Sardinian tradition and folklore. An incredibly researched production, graced by evocative themes and exciting art direction. It lacks some refinements to the gameplay, as well as more attention to the technical side and artificial intelligence. Marginal flaws, however, that take nothing away from an experience charged with a very strong personality.
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White Day: A Labyrinth Named School is a survival horror that has taken on cult status over the years thanks to its mix of setting and atmosphere. The production by South Korean team SONNORI Corp still manages to convey strong emotions, thanks to some ideas that have since found fortune in modern interpretations of the genre. However, the fidelity of the remake also preserves the issues of the balance of the play formula, which at times is excessively unbalanced toward frustration. A cult title for fans of the genre.
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Smurfs Kart arrives on Nintendo Switch thanks to the capable guys at Eden Games. A production that proves to be ludically convincing, with solid gameplay and a traditional structure in line with the reference genre. Unfortunately, the feeling is that the title has been able to rely on too little development time, due to the scarcity of tracks and modes, as well as the inherent lack of diversification and variety. The title therefore fails to aim for the honors reserved for the sacred monsters of the genre, remaining nevertheless a pleasant title for fans of the brand.
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God of War Ragnarok is a serious candidate for game of the year. Sony Santa Monica's latest effort elevates what was the already “masterpiece” God of War of 2018 to full power, going out of its way to eliminate all its minor imperfections. And the result achieved is embellished by a mammoth amount of content and an out-of-parameter audio-visual compartment, especially thanks to the excellent art direction, despite the compromises of a totally old-gen-oriented development, which, however, we reiterate, never made us think that the game might have suffered some “cuts” precisely because of that choice. God of War Ragnarok, then, is the ultimate expression of a work that began a few years ago now with the chapter that arrived in our homes in 2018, as well as one of the best games of the year, and not only. Ultimately, God of War Ragnarok is a virtually unassailable title, dare we say almost perfect. It completely lives up to its name, “it's the end of the world.”
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Space Tail: Every Journey Leads Home is a production that is both bold and traditional. Enjoy Studio and Red Deer Games pay homage to the stories of history's first animal astronauts with a colorful and sensitive action platformer, adding some interesting ideas. Despite what good it proposes, the title stumbles in an overall realization with several smears especially on the playful balance side of each of its parts. It deserves a chance, provided you put in a few too many edges.
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Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway marks the return of arcade racing by the US broadcaster's most famous characters. A kart game packed with content and modes, supporting convincing and at times pleasantly tactical gameplay. Despite the abundance and variety of the Bamtang Games production, the title does not dare as much as it could, merely tracing the stylistic features of the reference genre, giving way to some minor smears in the playful balance. If you are a fan of the genre but are tired of Mario and Crash, SpongeBob and company might be the right choice to spend many hours of fun.
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The Darkest Tales is like a rough little gem, the beauty of which can be admired but has to contend with a few too many rough edges. Artistically and narratively inspired, the Trinity Team production makes a fun and intriguing action platformer by letting itself be carried away by dark fairy tales and surprising transmedia citationism. It is a title that pales the talent of the developers, minus a few smears in the play balance and on the technical side. Give it a chance and you will not regret it.
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Signalis is a love letter to a very specific historical period of survival horror. As such, it inherits much of its merits and flaws, while not sacrificing a vibrant personality. A multifaceted plot is married with an audio compartment that pays homage to Kubrick, in an adventure filled with stimulating puzzles and disturbing discoveries. A work about oppression on a mechanical and narrative level that cannot be missed in the play library of any nostalgic enthusiast.
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Trifox aims to be an homage to the great 3D platformers. The Glowfish Interactive production succeeds in the task for long stretches, thanks to a good personality, excellent level design and interesting customization of the protagonist. Unfortunately, some technical problems and in the play formula, as well as a below-average longevity for the genre, prevent us from rewarding the title as we would like. Do not despair, however: it is an adventure that will satisfy you.
Review in Italian | Read full review