Gamesource Italia

Elden Ring Nightreign is not the triumph FromSoftware was hoping for. Even though the variety offered by the nightfarers and the known strength of the souls series' gameplay does indeed limit the damage, the game is held back by several subpar mechanics. A serverely lacking balancing, a paper thin divide between victory and defeat and a repetitive exploration prevent the first dive into multiplayer for Miyazaki's software house from hitting a perfect shot, but might prove to be a valuable lesson nonetheless.

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The Midnight Walk is by far one of the best experiences released in recent years in the indie scene. Its dark atmosphere, its intrinsic message and the company of the little Potboy, will keep you company for a few hours in an experience absolutely not to be missed.

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Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost fits well with the rhythm genre and the songs proposed are many and catchy. The gameplay works, but it really requires a lot of patience to be able to manage it on the highest difficulties. Even if the Danmaku mode is poorly done, the classic gameplay is very fun and satisfying. With a few small adjustments it could become a little gem among rhythm video games.

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In conclusion, Forza Horizon 5 is confirmed as one of the best racing titles of recent years, managing to effectively combine all those mechanics that have made the great video game series dedicated to the world of motors famous. The technical compartment is solid and well realized, capable of offering a remarkable visual impact. The audio compartment, of the highest level, also contributes to making the experience even more immersive. The gameplay, although leaning towards a style more arcade than simulative, is intuitive and accessible to anyone. It is precisely this simplicity that makes it so immediately enjoyable, while not sacrificing convincing physics that, at certain times, can really test driving precision. I definitely would have appreciated a more thorough damage system: even after rather violent crashes, the cars remain surprisingly intact, with few scratches and a few superficial dents. Looking at the whole package, Forza Horizon 5 undoubtedly ranks at the top of its genre. A boundless car fleet, a vast and eventful open world, and a well-rendered soundtrack are a testament to how much Playground Games has invested in the quality of this production. The porting to PS5 has been handled excellently: the game runs smoothly, with no noticeable frame drops or major bugs. Is Forza Horizon 5 the racing game that was missing on PS5? The answer is yes. The cross-platform policy undertaken by Microsoft seems to benefit both ecosystems, finally bringing this gem to the PlayStation audience as well.

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Blades of Fire is configured as an atypical action (RPG), capable of combining the tradition of “hardcore” titles with a metroidvania setting that represents, to all intents and purposes, its most distinctive stylistic feature. The game map, in fact, is developed around a vertical and layered, highly interconnected structure, in which exploration, backtracking and spatial memory assume a central role. This approach, far from the more recent drifts of the open world, restores an organic and coherent sense of progression, reinforcing the player's sense of growth through knowledge gained in the field, rather than through mere numerical statistics. Mercurysteam's introduction of a forging mechanic is certainly the most successful innovation, shifting the focus of progression to weapons. On the other hand, the overall gameplay experience can be too diluted, with fragmented quests and unclear objectives that can detract from the pace of the experience. Ultimately, Blades of Fire is not afraid to stray from the established canons of action to offer a certainly authorial vision. It is not an immediate title, nor is it all that forgiving, but it will know how to gratify you if you are looking for a new experience among this year's many releases.

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Hypercharge Unboxed shooter Hypercharge starts with an interesting premise, that of toys come to life, and manages to build good levels around this concept, but it remains too anchored in old design quicksand, with a horde tower defense loop carried over equally from games of two generations ago, so much so that it very quickly becomes stale and uncomfortable. The shooting and movement mechanics do not live up to the genre and waste the potential put on the table by the level design, which is instead thoughtful and challenging in terms of explorability. The co-op component is completely unable to counter some of these stumbles, a flaw on which we must pile an insufficient bot companion AI and a PvP component that is probably dead in the bud. Hypercharge Unboxed is a big “Too bad!”, in short, but never too big a mistake not to allow the Brits at Digital Cybercherries to learn from their mistakes and deliver, why not, a 2.0 version that fixes some of the game's basic problems.

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I can only say I'm satisfied with Tempest Rising. It's true that the multiplayer mode is still in its early stages, with necessary balancing needed both in terms of AI and factions, but the single-player campaign already offers between 20 and 30 hours of pure fun through two compelling and convincing narrative paths. Slipgate Ironworks has managed to breathe new life into a genre—real-time strategy games—that is largely underrated these days. To do so, they took the best from the past and applied modern concepts of gameplay and quality of life in a smart and convincing way. The result is a game that respectfully positions itself as a valid alternative to EA and Blizzard titles, which are currently less present in the gaming landscape. Tempest Rising also proves that it's still possible to create something new, even when inevitable comparisons are made with the legendary titles of the genre. At this point, I’m just looking forward to seeing how the single-player campaign will evolve in future expansions or sequels, and to trying out the multiplayer component once it’s fully developed and ready for those who enjoy competitive battles against other players.

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The Precinct takes the sandbox freedom of a GTA and puts us on the other side of the law, with a freedom to be rewarded and a good variety of mediums, crimes, and situations. The secondary content are additions that do not change the gameplay equation, and Fallen Tree Games' commitment to recalling the films of the 1980s and 1990s is lessened visually and sonically, but manages to land on its feet mechanically. The Precinct is a successful experiment of which I hope to see evolutions and growth, in the future, perhaps leaving behind some UI-level uncertainties.

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Despelote is a title with a sure aesthetic feel but which, in other areas, is too uncertain, imprecise, and directionless. The lack of an incisive narrative and a central mechanic that is scarcely enjoyable even in the short term are the two most obvious shortcomings of a production that I really do not understand who it is for. In its totality, Despelote gives me the idea of a work intended for a museum and not a console, a pixel canvas too ephemeral in its goals to claim real pleasure in interacting with it on a videogame level. As a non-interacting audiovisual work, I am convinced, Despelote would be much more impactful.

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DOOM: The Dark Ages is more than a sequel. It is a re-foundation. A declaration of intent. A celebration of everything that made the saga great, but also a challenge to its own limitations. It reduces, simplifies, cleans - but in doing so, adds weight, intensity, meaning. It is the most concentrated chapter of the new trilogy, but also the one densest with ideas. It recaptures the spirit of the classics, but reworks it in a modern, coherent structure. It is no longer a Slayer against the world, but a vengeful spirit carved in iron, spanning an era that is both ancient and future. Are there imperfections? Yes. Some sections with the Atlan could have offered more variety. The difficulty should have been better calibrated by default. But these are details, creases in an armour that remains solid and menacing. As a whole, The Dark Ages is a fully aware, confident DOOM, capable of reinventing itself once again and doing so fearlessly. The Doom Slayer is back and in the Dark Ages, brighter than ever.

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Nostalgic value is usually the last thing I consider in my evaluation of a remake or remastered of an “old” game, but Lunar Remastered Collection thrives on nostalgia, but not the rogue kind that makes you remember things better than they were, rather the kind that is respectful of your memories-even for those who, ironically, those memories were never created-and shows you how much things have changed, over time, and how much, only in some cases, to look to those who pursued innovation and did not reiterate it. With a combat system of unexpected depth for two mid-1990s titles, skillful use of pixel art, a manageable and commensurate degree of difficulty for almost the entire experience, and nearly two hours of anime cutscenes between the two games, Lunar Remastered Collection is a JRPG collection that anyone who loves the genre must have in their collection. Is there a rush to get it back? I don't think so, but it is absolutely a title that I think needs to be experienced, aware of the time that has passed and grateful for how the old man can know, if only for a bite, again, whether enough time has passed.

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Days Gone is definitely one of the best titles of last generation, and this remaster further enhances its qualities, thanks to the powerful PS5 hardware. The new features introduced are interesting and offer a new way to experience both the game mechanics and the story itself. However, besides all these improvements there is not much else to fully justify the list price. The technical compartment is excellent, especially on PS5 Pro, but the improvements made tend to go unnoticed during the fast-paced scenes of the main story. In addition, many of the flaws of the original version are still present and, even 6 years later, still make the plot development bitter. The wave mode is an excellent addition: it allows you to improve your combat skills, revisiting some of the most iconic areas of the game world and using, in addition to Deacon ST. John, new characters. In conclusion, does Days Gone Remastered deserve the upgrade from the PS4 version? The answer is: it depends. If you have already played the original version on PS4 and want to relive the story with a 10 ,upgrade then yes, absolutely. But if you're on the fence about buying the remaster at full price, my advice is to stick with the original version, which by the way has been available on PS Plus since PS5's arrival on the market.

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Chains of Freedom is a well-rounded tactical-RPG, sporting an excellent turn-based combat system and a surprisingly good story that only shows some hiccups nearing the end of the game. The level of difficulty is quite high, mainly because of the resource management necessary to even reach the later stages, bringing depth and a rising sense of tension to the whole experience.

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I've said it: the market cannot be made of masterpieces alone. It does, however, hurt a lot to see that the palpable potential of the first Monaco was, in this Monaco 2, poorly translated into a sequel that does not improve on the previous chapter in virtually any aspect, in fact creating new problems where there were none. An inadequate camera, a procedural map generation system that needed to be structured more conscientiously, and a multiple-objective structure that learns no lessons from the far more skillful--at least in this--mobile games, make Monaco 2 a quietly avoidable title at a time, for the market, when teams as small as Pocketwatch Games manage to pack far more memorable game instances.

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All in Abyss was a title that positively surprised me. The plot is full of twists and turns with a good characterization of the characters, aesthetically well-finished. The torture scenes may or may not be liked, but they are entirely optional. The gameplay is poker with RPG elements and this strange combination works in the game. It's so fun to play with it despite the fact that there are a few things forced behind the matches.

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Gal Guardians Servants of the Dark is undoubtedly a good metroidvania, capable of offering a complete gaming experience and even a few hours of fun in local co-op, a type of game the industry seems to have forgotten. Unfortunately, while it improves on its predecessor in virtually every aspect, there remains the feeling of being faced with a title that handles usually more complex aspects well, such as the excellent boss fights against some bosses, only to fall on seemingly simpler and more straightforward issues such as inventory management.

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Thanks to its setting, its fantastic combat system and its emotional story, Expedition 33 is one of the greatest game I've played in the past few year

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Microids has created a good remake from a graphical point of view, managing to expand an adventure that was originally very short. However, the first-person view with static and non-freely explorable scenes is too anachronistic nowadays, as are some puzzles that are too simple. In any case, Amerzone - The Explorer's Legacy has a nice plot, interesting characters and remains a nice tribute to the memory of Benoît Sokal and is a good opportunity to discover his first game, considering the budget price at which it is proposed.

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While we have a very dry and stripped-down single player mode, we also have a fun and deep 2D fighting game that we really felt was needed. A simplified control scheme is available as a function of a plug-and-play experience for the neophyte. The animations of the 3D models fail to compete with the fluidity and beauty of Street Fighter 6's animations or rival the models of Tekken 8, lending a functional aesthetic to a title that besides inviting guests from the real world, does nothing else to attract new players to it. Nonetheless, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves manages to shine in a jaw-dropping light of its own, and I truly hope it represents a firm reinsertion point in the videogame palimpsest of a saga that had been sorely missed.

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The Hundred Line Last Defense Academy does not shine in any of its aspects, offering gameplay models with bland and shallow mechanics. The characters are little more than literary archetypes, and yet the hours spent in the title's company flew by. All credit to the writing of Kazutaka Kodaka and Kotaro Uchikoshi, who succeeded in trapping me in a maelstrom of unanswered questions, mysterious killings, and plot twists. The events are dense and never boring, stimulating curiosity enough to want to consume the title in the blink of an eye and unravel its mysteries. If you are looking for a deep dating sim, as well as a tactical RPG, The Hundred Line Last Defense Academy will definitely not be for you. If, on the other hand, you want to immerse yourself in a whimsical visual novel with grotesque overtones, with elements plucked here and there from other genres, this title coming out on April 24 will definitely do the trick.

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