4News.it's Reviews
The re-release of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen on Nintendo Switch is, first and foremost, a preservation effort. On the one hand, it allows a new generation of gamers to discover two of the most solid and representative chapters in the saga. On the other, it offers long-time fans the opportunity to return to Kanto and relive an adventure that marked an entire era of gaming. However, the feeling remains that more could have been done. Some online features, greater integration with the modern ecosystem of the series, or even just minor technical improvements could have made these re-releases even more significant. As they stand, FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch remain two timeless classics re-released in their purest form. And perhaps, ultimately, that is precisely why they continue to work so well.
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Tales of Berseria Remastered brings back one of the most unique chapters in the franchise, featuring a fascinating story, memorable characters, and a truly compelling combat system. Given that the title is still one of the most captivating JRPGs in the recent history of the genre, it remains to be seen how successful the remastering process has been. From this point of view, Bandai Namco is following the same line already seen on previous occasions, combining subtle technical upgrades, the inclusion of released DLCs, and a wide range of quality of life improvements. Perhaps more could have been done to give Velvet Crowe's revenge a new memorable life. However, the title is and remains the best way to experience this great episode of a historic saga.
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Resident Evil Requiem is, for better or worse, the synthesis of thirty years of Resident Evil: a game that takes everything that worked in the past, tries to correct some of what didn't convince, and even takes a few structural risks, such as the dual Grace/Leon crossover gameplay and the free change of perspective between first and third person. The mix works with exceptional results, to say the least: Grace's survival horror segments are among the most tense and best constructed in the recent saga, while Leon's action sections manage to be solid and spectacular. However, there are some limitations: the pace is not always calibrated (especially in the middle of the experience), some sections are less inspired, and a certain tonal shift between very serious moments and B-movie madness could throw off those looking for a more uniform and purely horrific experience, just as the “two-soul structure” risks dissatisfying those who clearly prefer only one of the two. Ultimately, Resident Evil Requiem works in what we believe to be a requiem that sounds more like a hymn to the resilience of a saga that continues to reinvent itself without forgetting its roots, as it should!
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Poker Night at the Inventory is one of the most unusual products in the Telltale archive, resurrected by Skunkape Games after the excellent restoration work dedicated to the Sam & Max episodic trilogy. This time, however, we are faced with a title that is very difficult to recommend without reservation. In terms of gameplay, it is a simple No Limit Texas Hold'em Poker game which, apart from a few minor cosmetic unlockables, offers nothing special except for the presence of some iconic characters from the world of video games and American animated series (more famous in their home country than here in Italy). Unfortunately, the limited gameplay and lack of Italian translation create a clear obstacle for those who would like to enjoy at least the main selling point of the title: the gags and witty dialogue of the cast.
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Planet of Lana 2 is a lesson in how a silent narrative platformer can entertain and excite in just a few hours. Expanding on the bond between Lana and Mui, the game offers an emotional journey through a post-apocalyptic world that appears as dangerous as it is breathtaking. Although there are a few minor flaws, the extraordinary art direction and excellent soundtrack more than make up for them. It is a little gem that explores the balance between technological progress and the soul of a planet, proving that some stories don't need a single word to stay in your heart.
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High on Life 2 succeeds in a task that is anything but obvious. Not only does it preserve the iconic sardonic wit of its predecessor, but it also manages to enrich and refine the gameplay formula with greater quality and variety. All this, of course, in the name of the most unpredictable madness. Those who loved the first chapter will adore whizzing around on their skateboards between witty jokes and galactic bounties. For everyone else, the crazy universe of Squanch Games could win you over, provided you embrace its peculiar humor and structurally classic approach.
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Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is yet another excellent installment in a saga that has now spanned more than twenty years. The remake of the ill-fated third chapter in the adventures of Kazuma Kiryu reworks the gameplay, story, and content to make it a fresher and more appealing product. Not only is the main campaign now more fun and fluid to play, but the brand new appendix dedicated to Yoshitaka Mine adds a touch of extra variety to an unquestionably solid package. Much has been said about the controversies surrounding the title (mainly related to narrative and casting choices, as well as new content that in some cases has replaced older content), but honestly, it seems to us that they are talking about everything except the validity of the title itself. The saga will inevitably have to deal with the near future and all that it entails. But returning to the Morning Glory orphanage after all these years couldn't be more comforting.
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Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition on Switch 2 is a perfect bridge between the past and the future, offering one of the best JRPGs of its generation to a modern audience, in 4K and 60fps.
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Mario Tennis Fever is a successful arcade sports game that brings the series to maturity with multiple modes, a substantial roster and explosive gameplay, perfect for evenings with friends and online challenges. However, it falls short on the single-player front, with a story mode that doesn't fully exploit the potential of the cast and serves mainly as a long tutorial, and with a frenetic racket balance that will probably require some adjustment. Considering the solid gameplay and high replay value, however, Mario Tennis Fever is an experience that we would recommend to both tennis enthusiasts and casual players who want to try a few swings! Ultimately, there is no better compliment we can give Nintendo and Camelot than to say that Mario Tennis Fever has really excited us and gives us hope for the future of sports games set in the Mushroom Kingdom. If the developer manages to apply the same formula to Mario spin-offs dedicated to golf, baseball and football, then there will be many surprises in store for Nintendo Switch 2 throughout its history.
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God of War: Sons of Sparta is a good Metroidvania game. Solid, consistent, respectful. But also cautious. Too cautious to aspire to anything more. It doesn't redefine the subgenre. It doesn't establish itself as a new benchmark. And at this point, reflection becomes inevitable. Is an experiment like this, perhaps imperfect, better than yet another live service project designed to chase the market and then, perhaps, be canceled? Is a “small” God of War that tries to explore different territories better than the total absence of the brand while waiting for a bigger chapter? At the same time, it is legitimate to wonder whether a name like God of War deserved a more ambitious, more refined, more courageous production. Between black and white, in short, there are many shades of gray. Sons of Sparta is exactly there, and for us, that's fine. It's a good product that demonstrates how, on that fine line between rigor and limitation, moderation can become a virtue: essential, disciplined... Spartan. In the positive sense of the term.
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Soulslinger: Envoy of Death is both a great idea and a missed opportunity. Combining FPS and roguelite in a supernatural setting set in a Western afterlife shaken by a mysterious organization... well, it's certainly intriguing. It's a shame, though, that once you pick up the controller, the game never really takes off. The technical aspects are uneven, the gunplay lacks impact, the progression is uninspiring, and the level design is ill-suited to the desired dynamism of the gameplay. In any case, it remains an enjoyable title for a few hours of lighthearted fun.
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Styx: Blades of Greed carries with it an undeniable sense of ambition. Cyanide Studio's intent to create the definitive chapter in the stealth franchise is evident and shines through in what is effectively the greatest and most varied adventure of the witty, irreverent goblin. In this sense, the development team has learned from experience, introducing improvements that mark a decisive step forward from Shards of Darkness, released almost ten years ago. However, what dampens enthusiasm is unfortunately a technical optimization of Unreal Engine 5 that is problematic to say the least. Between unstable frame rates, stuttering, and assorted graphical uncertainties, slipping into the shadows currently comes with obvious compromises that make the experience far from what developers and audiences had hoped for.
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Reanimal represents the natural and daring evolution of Tarsier Studios, taking the fragile and surreal essence of Little Nightmares and transforming it into a more expansive and explicitly horror-filled, disturbing, brutal, and relational cooperative horror game (without betraying its melancholic and childlike soul), perfect for those seeking shared tension on an island of living nightmares. Despite some narrative crypticism and minimalist combat that is not for everyone, the result is an unforgettable adventure (albeit rather short) that will appeal to fans of the genre. It is a title that is best played in pairs, where the tension of having to protect (and depend on) another person amplifies the journey.
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ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN represents, for better or worse, the pinnacle of creative freedom for Grasshopper Manufacture and Suda51: a punk action game, visionary and often brilliant in its staging, but which pays a small price in terms of gameplay cleanliness and accessibility. If you love Suda51's aesthetic, delirious sci-fi stories, and aren't afraid of a combat system that is more spectacular than rigorous and technical, the game has all the makings of a true cult classic. If, on the other hand, you're looking for a more polished action game and a linear narrative, its exuberant anarchy will likely wear you out before you reach the end credits.
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Big Hops is the result of a pure love for 3D platforming. At a time when the absolute value of two-dimensionality is being rediscovered, Chris Wade and Luckshot Games remind us how delightful it can be to explore a three-dimensional world with all its variables. A title that knows how to entertain without reservation and, net of a large number of tributes to the classics we all love, also manages to introduce some tasty winning ideas. The first little surprise of 2026, and at a very competitive price too. A must-have for fans of this glorious genre.
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Nioh 3 has proven to be the pinnacle of Team Ninja's franchise. It's a product that retains all the defining characteristics of the series but elevates every aspect to the nth degree. An even more responsive and in-depth combat system is combined with an intriguing storyline, within a new dimension that abandons the linearity of the past in favor of an approach based on the freedom to explore large areas rich in treasures, secrets, and adversaries. Some players may be taken aback (even intimidated) by the vastness of the gameplay possibilities on offer, others may complain about the recycling of some content from previous chapters in the series, and some may be disappointed by a visual presentation that is sometimes less polished than expected. However, in any case, the new Nioh is nothing less than a colossus capable of engulfing players for a gargantuan number of hours of fun and cutthroat combat.
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The Perfect Pencil stands out as a true gem that excels in blending art design and psychological elements, offering an intimate and visually mesmerising experience that deserves attention from lovers of action-adventure platformers. Its strengths lie in its impeccable artistic style and touching narrative, which touches on themes such as fear, depression, anxiety and personal growth, and really makes you think. All this is accompanied by gameplay that we found to be really solid and well integrated; there are few uncertainties and compromises – which are absolutely surmountable – such as repetitive backtracking (on rare occasions) and controls that are not always very fast in portable mode. The Perfect Pencil is more than an indie game, it is a true life experience that we highly recommend you try, as you will not regret it at all.
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MIO: Memories in Orbit is a metroidvania that is aware of its influences and does not seek to reinvent the genre, but rather works with great care on all its key aspects. The traversal is extraordinary, the level design is inspired, and the art direction is top-notch. It is a work that demands attention, curiosity, and dedication, but it rewards you with moments of genuine beauty. Douze Dixièmes, with a small team and a clear vision, has managed to craft a title that demonstrates how much passion can make a difference. It is a journey between decadence and hope that deserves to be experienced to the fullest.
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Code Violet presents itself as a title with interesting ideas and multiple aspirations: a sci-fi horror plot mixed with action and survival, and technical execution geared towards exploiting the features of PS5. Elements that - at least on the surface - make it potentially appealing to fans of the genre and those looking for an experience reminiscent of classic dinosaur survival games such as Capcom's historic Dino Crisis. At the same time, when playing it, there is a clear inconsistency between ambition and execution, with obvious structural problems in the gameplay (particularly poor combat and tedious exploration) and narrative and technical choices that are far from satisfactory. The result is a disjointed experience that can only be enjoyable in a few brief moments but struggles to shine, except for its attractive protagonist, at least aesthetically speaking. In a word: Not recommended!
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From the Ashes represents the moment when Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora finally finds a clearer direction. It doesn't erase the uncertainties of the past, but it confronts them, transforming them into an opportunity for growth. Thanks to a more personal narrative, refined gameplay, and structural changes that improve pacing and immersion, Pandora manages to rise from its ashes, offering a more mature, more coherent, and decidedly more compelling experience.
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