Console-Tribe

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Period. Astro Bot speaks for itself. Given the original Trojan Horse’s success, it’s no surprise that Team Asobi’s complete vision is a triumph, as evidenced by the rating below. While it’s not the most challenging platformer, this Sony title has few rivals in terms of sheer quality and inspiration, thanks to phenomenal artistic direction woven with tasteful fan service. Astro Bot’s strength lies in its ability to captivate through impeccable use of DualSense features, providing an experiential boost that's hard to replicate. After some tough days for PlayStation fans, Astro’s adventure couldn’t have arrived at a better time, showing Sony’s ability to hit the mark while keeping an eye on its past and future.

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I’m not a fan of roguelikes, as I mentioned at the start, but I happily made an exception for Shogun Showdown. Developed by Roboatino, the game won me over despite my aversion to the genre, thanks to a satisfying and layered gameplay experience that effectively combines strategic elements and deck-building mechanics into a challenging but enjoyable hybrid. The trade-off is that players must be willing to endure a substantial number of failed attempts. It’s not one of September’s most eye-catching releases, but it would be a shame to overlook it.

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That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime: ISEKAI Chronicles is yet another commercial attempt to please anime fans, but it misses the mark in terms of gameplay, structure, and technique. Its budget nature is evident from the polygonal graphics reminiscent of a 2006 game, combined with simplified, unvaried beat-em-up gameplay and an incomplete city-building aspect. The only reason to consider purchasing it is the two original stories, which are enjoyable thanks to various character interactions and some animated scenes, but even these are passable and unremarkable. It's always a shame to reject a title with potential, but out of respect for the audience, we must.

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No, Akimbo is not the next Ratchet & Clank, but it would have been presumptuous to even try to match Insomniac’s duo. Aware of their limitations, the team at Evil Raptor approached the original material with respect and knowledge, creating their own personal take. The result is an action/platform game that may not be groundbreaking in originality but is still fun to play, thanks to a reasonably well-done cast and a few gameplay ideas that break the routine. It’s just a pity about the technical issues currently affecting the console versions, which I hope will be fixed soon as promised by the team.

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Overall, Return to Moria is a good survival game that has made significant strides since its release. Generally, it provides a solid and fun experience, especially in multiplayer, offering a surprisingly deep experience. However, it still lacks that unique “something” and needs some final tweaks for a balanced experience. Nevertheless, it’s a great product that’s even more enjoyable in co-op mode.

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Concord has potential but is currently too chaotic and unfinished to be enjoyable. Despite years of development, Firewalk released an incomplete product. The engine shows promise, and with a good rework, it could improve. Right now, the game is chaotic, characters don't mesh, there are no standout modes, and the price doesn't match the quality. With ongoing development and user feedback, significant changes could make it better in six months to a year. Realistically, the gaming industry's current situation makes this challenging, but if No Man's Sky could make a comeback, so could Concord. We'll have to wait for future updates.

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The console debut of Age of Mythology: Retold is welcome, as it's an interesting, fun, and long-lasting RTS. The gameplay changes introduced are convincing and expand the original experience without altering its essence. However, on Xbox machines, the adaptation of controls to a pad is somewhat awkward, sacrificing the intuitive PC control system. It's not unplayable but will require extra effort to master. Fans of the genre should consider this a recommended purchase.

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Unfortunately, a somewhat predictable and rushed story prevents Star Wars Outlaws from standing out among other works in this universe. Massive's game is an open-world Uncharted that doesn't innovate but is extremely pleasant to play thanks to its solid and fun gameplay, impressive content richness, and notable graphics. It's not without flaws, but it's undoubtedly one of Ubisoft's best open worlds in recent years.

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Honestly, sometimes I don't understand how certain productions, not even very successful, can become huge hits on PC. That's what I thought while playing The Mortuary Assistant: Definitive Edition, which, despite offering peculiar gameplay, didn't feel as explosive as its PC fame suggests. Beyond a gameplay loop that quickly exhausts its tricks, the sense of terror diminishes once you realize you're never in real danger. The fragmented experience also dilutes the interesting story, requiring patience to repeat the same tasks.

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Deathbound is an extremely valid title with intricate, customizable gameplay and many rules to learn and apply to overcome the game's challenge. Despite not having excellent level design, this action souls-like still manages to be interesting and entertaining, bringing fresh air to the genre. Recommended.

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House of Golf 2 is a pleasant surprise for arcade mini-golf fans. With fun gameplay, creative holes, and convincing physics, Starlight Games' title captures attention and offers hours of entertainment. Although the lack of game modes and poor Italian localization are limits, it's a great choice for those seeking a simple and immediate experience. If you enjoy arcade games and aren't too demanding about content, House of Golf 2 could be for you.

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If you enjoy Telltale's approach to graphic adventures (though not reaching the heights of The Walking Dead), you won't be disappointed by Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse Remastered. The return of the two detectives retains the spirit of the third posthumous season, combining the five episodes from 2010 into one package. Despite maintaining all its original gameplay issues, it boasts a polished technical aspect that modernizes this vision of the duo created by Steve Purcell. A complete and interesting package for those wanting to (re)experience the crazy situations only a detective dog and a psychotic rabbit can.

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Don't be fooled by Phantom Spark's seemingly simple gameplay; it's as fun as it is straightforward. Borrowing elements from F-Zero, Trackmania, and Thumper, Ghosts' title is a hymn to speed and skill, an irresistible draw for those seeking the perfect lap time. Without unnecessary frills and power-ups, it maximizes the player's abilities, leading to a loop where the search for the perfect trajectory makes all the difference between victory and defeat. Simple to approach, hard to master, and highly satisfying.

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It's not enough to invoke the sacred monsters of the metroidvania genre to make a good game, and MARS 2120 is proof. QUByte Entertainment's game is a disaster across the board, with weak narrative, flawed gameplay, and outdated technical aspects.

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BUY IT! Seriously, I'm not kidding. Ten letters and an exclamation mark, plus having written it six times already, should be enough to convince you to spend 9.99 Euros on Doom + Doom II. If you don't, you might as well throw your console in the trash. Opening your wallet will get you two of the best video games ever created, in their most complete edition ever. To partially quote an old print review from the original release: if you don't like Doom + Doom II, you don't understand video games.

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Star Wars: Bounty Hunter remains a beloved title for its faithful fans, and Aspyr's efforts to remaster it have not gone unnoticed. Despite some outdated game mechanics and technical roughness, the studio's technical renovation offers a pleasant and nostalgic experience for just twenty euros. Gameplay updates make Bounty Hunter a bit more modern, smooth, and accessible, though it still feels dated from the very beginning.

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As a debut game from a studio previously focused on animated shorts and commercials, Kena: Bridge of Spirits surprised me with its well-rounded video game experience. Every component is well-integrated, creating a solid, fun, engaging, and even emotional experience, despite not innovating the 3D adventure landscape.

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As stated at the outset, for Hidden Through Time 2: Discovery, I could have reused the previous review, but that would not have been fair to the development team's efforts. They worked hard to offer a series of new levels for our pixel-hunting pleasure. While everything changes to remain the same, the game offers a light and fun experience. More like an add-on than a new episode, it's perfect for a few relaxing hours during this hot summer, a perfect appetizer while waiting for more substantial productions.

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Bleak Faith: Forsaken has potential but fails to combine its elements effectively, resulting in unbalanced and frustrating gameplay. It feels unfinished, especially noticeable for genre veterans who expected more polish. The graphics and music are delightful, but the game falters as soon as you start playing.

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Visually stunning and with its own personality, Cygni: All Guns Blazing represents an interesting approach to the shoot 'em up genre. While the narrative efforts are not very convincing, the gameplay and presentation shine. With unique mechanics and a tactical touch, the visual presentation brings spectacular firefights to life. The overall longevity is not stellar (a common genre flaw), and the ability to shoot at the ground is marginal, but the Scottish team's debut is highly convincing.

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