Console-Tribe

Monster Hunter Rise is probably the pinnacle of Capcom's series, despite being the least "traditional" chapter. The gameplay remains mostly unchanged, but the revisited, streamlined, and sped-up routine makes this the best and most accessible entry for both veterans and newcomers. Capcom's production has few flaws, mainly related to its technical prowess, which at times reveals its humble computational origins. Monster Hunter Rise is probably the first chapter that can be recommended to everyone without distinction: the hunt is open for all!

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Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII – Reunion is much more than a simple remaster, thanks to Square-Enix embracing Unreal Engine 4, offering new high-definition scenarios, textures, and polygons, along with a fully orchestrated soundtrack and new voice acting, making it almost a remake. However, the rest remains faithful to the original, from animations to the corridor-like map structure, interrupted by connection points due to the hardware of the time, though now lacking the loading times. Playing Crisis Core today is somewhat controversial due to the aged gameplay and the story's timing, especially considering the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Technically, it's well done, much more than usual, showing the saga's love for its fans and Square-Enix. Still, it's not a title for everyone, recommended especially for those who finished FFVII back in the day and missed it or want to replay it. New players might be better off waiting to avoid spoilers.

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Blacktail is a convincing debut for The Parasight, though it shows some naivety, perhaps due to an excessive desire to impress players. The moral choice mechanism is too subtle and lacks real gameplay impact. The combat system, while not to be discarded, is overly rigid and quite challenging. Despite these issues, Yaga's tormented story is entertaining, thanks to a well-characterized game world and effective script. A debut with flaws, but its strengths confirm it as an enjoyable title with a decent personality.

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Evil West is a fun, brutal, and frenetic game, blending B-movie humor and violence with an improbable western and horror twist. Despite good general and artistic premises, the gameplay is adrenaline-pumping but limited and relatively short, only slightly mitigated by online co-op and some variations. A double-A game that, despite showing some weaknesses, manages to entertain and suggest a future (hopefully not too distant) of additional content and new chapters.

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We've reached the end of this bizarre tale filled with goats and explosions, broadening our horizons thanks to Goat Simulator 3: after all, it's not every day you become a goat. Developed by Coffee Stain North, it's a cheerful and carefree game, not overly challenging but entertaining with its wacky mix of situations. I hope you'll try this strange experience... beeeee.

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Father, forgive me for I have sinned, but I didn't understand this game, or rather, I understood it too well. The point seems to be that History, with a capital H, is unreliable by nature, told by the victors (or those determined enough to push their version), and that regardless of events, the future is always inevitable, giving us only the illusion of choice. Immersing in a community that changes over time, albeit imperceptibly, also due to our influence. But in my opinion, Obsidian erred in pride, focusing too much on excellent storytelling (which becomes heavy towards the end) behind a visually novel-like setup with a sprinkle of RPG elements, giving us the reins of a blinkered horse that refuses to turn when we command.

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Do Not Open starts with great premises and quickly presents some brilliant ideas, creating an oppressive and mysterious atmosphere. Unfortunately, the house of cards collapses when Nox Noctis's gameplay mechanics take center stage, turning the game into something truly scary for all the wrong reasons. Exasperated trial and error, sometimes absurd difficulty (compounded by unreadable hints due to poor screen rendering), and an enemy that, once appearing, makes everything frustrating and unplayable, all undermine the debut of the Spanish team. Despite showing some promising elements, they need to refine their aim.

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Last Days of Lazarus represents a bittersweet debut for Darkania Works, showcasing their ability to craft an intriguing plot and well-oiled gameplay concepts. However, the flip side is the game's thin interactive structure, with major complications (for the player) stemming from an annoying cursor and a somewhat disjointed story progression. Ultimately, it's a production with undeniable potential and passion from the development team, but it needed more depth to truly soar.

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At the end of the day, after the roughly five hours needed to reach the credits, Asterix & Obelix XXXL: The Ram From Hibernia earns a passing grade, given the evident limitations that partially undermine Osome Studio's new work. These limits revolve around a concept that is too simple and predictable, with co-op and interesting puzzles being its main strengths, aside from the character charm. The adventure is solid overall but lacks that spark to make a real difference, especially in a crowded release period. What remains is an honest and enjoyable game, proportionate to its price, but not one to leave an indelible mark on players' memories.

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The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me really frustrated me, as it was supposed to represent the culmination of Supermassive's experience in this project but fell victim to some glaring design flaws. While the gameplay variety and scope are the broadest of the series, thanks to some embryonic introductions, the overly stretched duration diluted the moments of true active tension, which, though always present, is more tied to environmental construction than actual gameplay situations. This isn't a complete failure, as fans of the British team's creative vision will still enjoy it, but the hidden potential of this sadistic story is less explosive than it could have been. Now we wait for the next season, hoping the expansion ambitions find their right sublimation.

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The definitive Kratos? Bold and perhaps counterproductive, but after completing Santa Monica's epic orchestrated effort, I'm ready to take a firm stand—favorable towards our trusted Spartan. God of War: Ragnarok is undoubtedly the series' pinnacle, thanks to enviable balance and maturity, unimaginable at its carefree beginnings. Kratos has evolved, and so have we, deserving applause for guiding us effectively through this winding path of change. Further innovation after the 2018 revamp would have been risky, so Eric Williams and the team wisely refined the new course initiated by Cory Barlog, delivering a game that improves and expands on its predecessor. The result is a must-play for Sony console owners and those who love great games. For everyone else, there's an endless catalog of productions to explore.

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Star Ocean: The Divine Force is a generally good JRPG with solid role-playing and action components. However, it suffers from several conceptual and technical flaws, rendering it somewhat clunky and narratively and mechanically anonymous. Once again, the Star Ocean saga fails to match its past glory, but Square Enix and Tri-Ace's efforts to keep one of the most iconic brands alive are appreciated. As a fan, I hope to see a new Star Ocean chapter in the not-too-distant future!

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I generally dislike roguelikes, but when they're as fun and full of personality as Paper Cut Mansion, even I can momentarily set aside my biases. Space Lizard Studio's game, despite some minor flaws, offers an original and enjoyable recursive experience, even after multiple deaths. The unique art style, combined with a fitting and well-crafted soundtrack, makes the game very intriguing and well-built, with high replayability incentives from the numerous available endings. It's just a shame about a few technical and design uncertainties.

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Playing with the past, if not done skillfully, can be risky. Given Square Enix's decades of experience, the current state of Tactics Ogre: Reborn is somewhat disappointing. While the structural updates are mostly convincing, the difficulty balance, due to new features, sometimes irreparably undermines the overall experience—unless you're an impeccable strategist with extraordinary patience. The potential for success after 27 years was evident, considering the game's tactical RPG excellence, paving the way for successors like Final Fantasy Tactics. Hopefully, it will soon shine on our screens again without losing its charm to poor decisions. Dreaming is free, after all.

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Modern Warfare II is a return to the past, conceptually and mechanically. This "back to the past" approach is largely successful: despite no major brand revolution (and perhaps some steps back in the campaign), the game maintains its customary solidity, offering a vast and varied content package. However, the retro focus might not sit well with fans accustomed to a faster, more adrenaline-fueled warfare mode. Additionally, the slower pace compared to other series entries may not appeal to casual players. A good chapter that doesn't revolutionize the series but might divide the fan base. For those who don't love Call of Duty, this won't change their minds.

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The Chant isn't a masterpiece that will redefine the horror genre, but it achieves a respectable overall result. Brass Token's production merits are found in its elements, which, while not revolutionary, work well together. The result is an engaging and tight adventure that avoids unnecessary padding, aiming for the goal without unnecessary frills. Despite some fundamental naivety, which partially undermines the overall outcome, Jess's adventure deserves attention from survival horror fans. It debuts in a crowded period, but that doesn't affect its rating here.

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FIFA 23 marks the best possible end to the nearly three-decade partnership between EA Sports and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association. It could have been more daring, especially in modes, but this feels like an optimization chapter rather than an innovation one. For real novelties, we'll probably have to wait for EA Sports FC's debut next year. In the meantime, FIFA 23 delivers more realistic gameplay while still emphasizing the sport's spectacle.

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A winning team doesn't change, as I said at the beginning, but if the changes yield results like those in Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, then we can safely go beyond this old saying. While recognizable in its main structure, the Rabbids' new foray into the Nintendo world has modernized the appreciated mechanics from Kingdom Battle, enhancing tactical potential and freedom of movement and stage approach. Fun and well-crafted, Ubisoft Milano's new work will surely delight fans of their previous work and convince those not yet charmed by one of the most bizarre and unexpected crossovers in the gaming world.

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A small step forward, respecting the "ancient" direction: this is how we could describe A Plague Tale: Requiem, examined with the "eyes" of Innocence focused on the future. Asobo presents an intense and dark world, a more mature story (though perhaps less "captivating"), and well-crafted characters, starting with the two main protagonists. The developers have refined some aspects of the past experience, attempting to free it from rigid mechanical constraints. The attempt is mostly successful, though those expecting a significant innovation leap may be disappointed. Requiem confirms Asobo's skill in artistic and aesthetic design, though partly hindered by imposed fluidity limits.

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I won't beat around the bush: Dragon Ball: The Breakers is insufficient in every aspect, lacking both in gameplay and technical quality. Bandai Namco's work does little to entertain, confined to a single game mode plagued by imbalance, making most matches frustrating. The core idea isn't bad, but without content updates and fixes, it's unlikely this asynchronous multiplayer offshoot of Akira Toriyama's work will last long.

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