4News.it's Reviews
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Ys X: Nordics is a truly successful title whose only real flaw can be attributed to its visual presentation being so outdated that it feels like you are playing on a PS360.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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Unknown 9: Awakening is a title that came too late to the market. While it’s true that the narrative aspect works, it’s also evident that, gameplay-wise, it’s a title that is barely adequate and often "unbearable," especially in today’s context. Accepting its outdated structure, marked by a fundamental repetitiveness, it’s hard to recommend a product with such a low level of polish, both technically and in gameplay mechanics.
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A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is a rather immersive and adrenaline-pumping experience, and although it is not a masterpiece of the horror genre, it is still very interesting, which is hard to find nowadays even in decidedly higher-budget productions. Some elements we didn't like so much, such as the narrowness of some areas that gave us more than a few headaches to get through or the bugs and glitches that - unfortunately - we ran into on more than one occasion. But apart from that, we feel like recommending it to anyone who is looking for a post-apocalyptic horror adventure, with a fair length (about six hours), a balanced level of challenge - net of the aforementioned issues - and a low price (€29.99).
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Europa is a little dream come true for Helder Pinto and Novadust Entertainment. The android Zee's adventure on a lush terraformed moon is a gentle, bittersweet tale that echoes inspirations and suggestions from the imagery of Studio Ghibli. The end result is a fleeting experience that sweetly entertains through its calm rhythms and meditative atmosphere. Precisely its most distinctive features, however, make it a title not for everyone, especially those who demand more structured gameplay, a more punctual control system, and less automatism in the pacing. With the right premises, the production published by Future Friends Games will know how to leave something in you.
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Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports is yet another officially licensed title that fails to tap the potential of a brand with enormous potential. The idea of offering a package with as many as four sports is nice, but the execution leaves something to be desired. While golf and tennis are definitely fun to play, basketball (with reservations) and soccer, the latter of which really needs to be revised, do not convince. Consider also that power-ups don't appear as often as one would expect (and aren't always easily activated), that characters-though they have distinctive traits-cannot access other upgrades, that the AI is incredibly strong and perfect, a few minor technical smears (such as excessive loading) and the omelet is served. If you have friends to play with, you will certainly find some enjoyment, but if you play alone, just leave it alone. With a license as strong as the Looney Tunes license, we were hoping for something more and in the end - once again - we were faced with yet another disappointment and only a sufficient title!
Review in Italian | Read full review
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO is the best video game adaptation of Master Toriyama's work. It's a love letter created by fans and for fans, a tribute to one of the greatest franchises of all time, arriving on the market at the perfect moment. An impressive audio-visual component and a renewed depth in gameplay make Sparking! ZERO a title truly recommended for all lovers of Goku and his friends. It’s a video game that feels like a rebirth, where nostalgia and the past intertwine with the future, giving us strong emotions, even beyond gaming experience. Put on your gi, it’s time to fight like true Saiyans!
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Neva is a new centerpiece for Nomada Studio (and for the never-too-praised “observers” at Devolver Digital). The Spanish studio's new title manages to push itself “beyond”, adding a layer of playful complexity that is satisfying and consistent with the narrative and audio-visual presentation of the title, the flagships of the production. A truly recommended game for everyone, appreciable on, precisely, “different” levels. Neva is a proud exponent of the harmony between art and video game.
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Nikoderiko: The Magical World stands to be one of the most unexpected entries in the “Surprises of 2024” category. Cypriot studio VEA Games signs off its debut on the video game scene with a splendid platformer that has nothing to envy vis-à-vis the top of the class. The celebratory intent towards great sagas of the genre is evident, as is, for the record, the essentially derivative nature of the work. However, the average quality is so high, the pace so sparkling and the challenge so well calibrated that it is impossible not to be thunderstruck by the end result. Do not let it pass you by for any reason.
Review in Italian | Read full review
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Game turned out to be exactly what we were waiting for. A colorful reinterpretation of Goat Simulator, a sandbox adventure with no real purpose other than to sow chaos and revel in witty activities. Compared to its source of inspiration, PHL Collective's work brakes on the side of insanity and leans toward a very young audience. A hoot, however, that proves to be within everyone's reach, provided one accepts the modesty of the aspirations as well as the restrained nature of the experience. If you have always dreamed of driving the chaotic Patrick through the streets of Bikini Bottom, this is your chance!
Review in Italian | Read full review
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is, without a shadow of a doubt, the best version with which to enjoy the initial chapter in the Capcom horror series. New graphics, revamped controls and quality-of-life improvements serve an excellent remastering that preserves the best play features of the 2005 title. In this sense, some might criticize, now as then, some choices related to the inexorable timer that punctuates objectives and sanctions fates. Likewise, the reintroduction of the sandbox structure without novelty might weigh especially heavily on those who had viewed the missteps of the last chapters with discontent. If you love Dawn of the Dead, don't disdain a crazy streak and perhaps didn't play it nearly two decades ago, the return to the Willamette Parkview Mall might be an experience not to be missed.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Although it has been almost a decade since Until Dawn first arrived on PlayStation 4 consoles, its teen slasher narrative plot, superb voice actor performances, and nonlinear narrative as well as the setting, are incredibly relevant and captivating, proving without a shadow of a doubt-although the four chapters in The Dark Pictures Anthology and The Quarry were still good games-that the high point for Supermassive Games is and will remain, at least until the release of Little Nightmares III (in which we have great confidence), precisely Until Dawn. A classic with vastly improved graphics and minor gameplay tweaks that offers an even more polished experience. The problem is that this edition costs a whopping €69.99 and mysteriously does not reach the 60 fps achievable by means of backward compatibility of the PS4 version on PS5. In short, although it is one of the best horror titles ever released in video game form, we struggle to recommend it. The quality is there but the price - in our opinion - is really too high for what it offers.
Review in Italian | Read full review