Toisto's Reviews
Nobody Wants to Die, the new game from developer Critical Hit Games is a stylistic triumph. It's a moody, atmospheric, and thoroughly captivating experience that's one of the most gorgeously rendered and conceived titles in years.
Warhammer 40k: Boltgun is the kind of title that’s easy to recommend to everyone. It’s an accessible, supremely fun blast from the past that does nearly everything right. In its price range, there’s very little competition that can offer an experience as smooth and polished as this. Do yourself a favor and give it a go.
Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is yet another gem from Nintendo’s remastered library. One that reminds us how many great games are still waiting to be rediscovered in their backlog. It’s true that the third Luigi’s Mansion is the better, more refined game, and that asking for a full price for a remaster is steep. But there’s so much to love and play here that maybe, just maybe, it’s fine this time around.
It might stumble with balancing issues, but everything else overshadows any minor complaints I might have. This is a gorgeously rendered dark fantasy, same as its predecessor; a vast and mythic nightmare I love to get lost in.
At its best, it’s the kind of action adventure game that you can point to as a high point of the genre. The kind of game that in the future others will use as an influence for their own projects. A work of art that emerges from the shadow of its predecessors and takes its place alongside as if it always belonged there.
With gorgeous visuals that have aged gracefully, a stellar soundtrack, and a solid, perfectly playable experience right on the card, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is an easy recommendation. It’s yet another home run from Nintendo and their Switch console.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Endless Ocean Luminous, warts and all. It’s not a game that would be my first recommendation for most, but it is something that I wish everyone gave a chance. There’s a lot to love in any project that has this kind of purity of vision. Even if it’s vision to a fault.
For under 15 euros, it’s one of the more solid dungeon crawlers out there, and a perfect pick-up-and-play experience for fans of the genre. It’s the kind of indie gem that you can recommend for just about anyone, thanks to a low barrier of entry and a solid difficulty curve that makes repetition a joy.
Played with friends, Operation Galuga delivers exactly what it promises. A frenetic and over-the-top run-and-gun experience that is perfect for couch co-op sessions. In an era of 100 hour epics and online games-as-a-service sludge, Operation Galuga feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s simple, direct, and precisely what we need right now.
Princess Peach: Showtime! is an easy game to recommend. If you’re a fan of platformers, you’ll enjoy it. (Though, let’s face it, you’re not going to grit your teeth with this like you would with Super Meat Boy or something.) If this is your introduction to the genre, you’re in for a treat. It’s a deft balancing act between familiar and innovative that is consistently engaging and, above all, fun.
The Thaumaturge is the kind of game you can point to when asked what indie games can be at their most profoundly beautiful state. You can see the rough edges, the compromises, and the early faltering steps, and none of it matters. Instead, you’re captivated by the untarnished vision, the uncompromising attention to detail, and the unconventional narrative choices. It’s a game that does so much with so little, and each nuance feels like a revelation.
Put together, and Rise of the Ronin is a happy and welcome surprise in the genre. Whatever limitations it has, mostly due to its budget, are really ignored thanks to a well written story, beautiful open world, and fantastic action.
Berserk Boy is a rare gem of an indie title. The kind that overcomes any comparison with its competitors, and stands proudly alongside them as an addition to a vast and storied genre. It reminded me why I love side-scrolling action games in the first place, and reignited a passion I had feared lost. It’s one of the best games of the year, and easily among the best additions to the genre.
For solo players, this is a tougher sell. It’s a great game, but one that requires friends to get the most out of it. If you already have a squad ready to go, you’ll find that Space Marine II delivers everything you’d want out of a game like this.
For fans of the franchise, Tekken 8 represents the best of what The King of Iron Fist can offer. For newcomers, it’s one of the best entry points to this genre. A spectacular display of technical and visual prowess, distilled to near perfection.
It’s not my favorite game of the generation, but it might be one of the most important ones, nonetheless. After all, very few other titles have inspired this much conversation or interpretation. If that isn’t the sign of a future classic, then what is?
Mirage is easily among the best in the series, and a welcome throwback to the first years of the franchise. If you’re a fan, you’ll be in heaven. If you’re new to the series, this is a perfect place to start the journey.
Spider-Man 2 is a joyous experience to play. It’s a delight not just as a Spider-Man story, but as an action-adventure game. It reminds us how great this character can be at his best, and raises the bar for every other game in this genre that follows.
As a sequel, Jedi: Survivor is arguably more fun than the first part of the series. Its sprawling open-world hubs, secret passages, and a healthy dose of customization, certainly bring more to the table. But bigger doesn’t necessarily mean that what we’re getting is more complex or refined. Most areas where Jedi: Survivor stumbles are precisely the same as its predecessor.
It’s not a perfect game. It’s not for everyone, either. But if you’ve got a hankering for some zombie horror, there are very few games out right now that will do the trick with the same level of visceral thrills as this one.