Pragalicious

Thanks to Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered, we can relive the moment when things really started to take off for the franchise, but to shell out another 40 euros for it...

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 delivers a very strong multiplayer package that feels entertaining throughout, even if it isn’t particularly innovative. With a delightfully over-the-top campaign and a well-oiled multiplayer mode, this is a COD that feels instantly familiar without straying from the beaten track. The slower time-to-kill and more basic movements ensure a fair, fast-paced online experience. Those who’ve grown tired of the series over the past few years won’t find a rebirth here, but those keen to join the shoot-’em-up extravaganza once more will find this instalment offers a satisfying shooting feast.

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Fire and Ashes has an original voice-acting system, but on the PS5 it’s plagued by bugs, clunky combat and a short playtime. The advice is to wait for a patch; my wife is waiting for some peace and quiet.

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ONE PIECE: Grand Gourmet is clearly designed for players who enjoy building up a restaurant, discovering dishes and seeing their favourite characters appear in a charming pixel art style. Unfortunately, the One Piece universe couldn’t save me this time. To me, the game feels too much like a mobile game, and the story failed to captivate me sufficiently. Goodness me, even with Sanji at the stove, I couldn’t quite stomach this meal. For fans of restaurant management games, this might be a tasty dish, but for me, the plate remains largely untouched.

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Final Fantasy Resonance isn’t a game that reinvents the series, but nor does it need to. The combination of nostalgic pixel art, 3D backgrounds, smooth turn-based combat and the Vision system results in an adventure that’s, above all, a real pleasure to play. The downside is that the story takes few risks and the gameplay rarely surprises. Nevertheless, with its charming presentation, strong soundtrack and loads of fan service, Resonance effortlessly puts a smile on my face. Those expecting innovation may sometimes be left wanting. But anyone simply looking for a lovely classic Final Fantasy will find a tasty meal here, topped with extra Chocobo sauce.

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Gears of War: E-Day is exactly the prequel the franchise needed. The Coalition harks back to the horror, the tension and the brutal action of the first games. But they’ve tweaked the gameplay with smarter enemies and more verticality. The story surrounding Emergence Day also delivers a wealth of emotion, whilst Kalona emerges as one of the most impressive locations the franchise has ever seen. At its core, it remains good old Gears, but this E-Day is undoubtedly one of the strongest and most impressive Gears games ever. Full stop.

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Hellraiser: Revival achieves something that seemed almost impossible: it makes Hellraiser thrilling once again. In fact, at times it feels like the best Hellraiser film since the original – only this time, you get to walk through the nightmare yourself. Visually, in particular, the game is phenomenal. Thanks to the Unreal 5 Engine, Clive Barker’s universe finally gets the scale and gruesome beauty it deserves. The Labyrinth is the absolute highlight and is undoubtedly one of the most impressive horror locations we’ve seen in a game in recent years. Doug Bradley’s return as Pinhead completes the party. Insofar as anything involving hooks, mutilations and torn-open bodies can be called a party. Beneath all that gore lies a solid survival horror game featuring exploration, combat, stealth and resource management. Unfortunately, there are a few snags too. Literally and figuratively. The environmental puzzles quickly become tedious, technical issues break the immersion, and some boss fights are in desperate need of better balancing. But ultimately, the most important question is simple: does this feel like Hellraiser? Absolutely. Hellraiser: Revival is gruesome, unsettling, fascinating and, at times, downright spectacular. It’s not perfect, but for the first time in a long while, opening the puzzle box feels particularly tempting again.

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As a huge fan, all I can say is that you simply have to get your hands on the Kingdom Hearts Collection [I–III]. It’s the best possible version of each game, and at a great price – especially when you consider just how much content you get. It’s simply the perfect refresher on Sora’s adventures in the run-up to Kingdom Hearts IV in 2027. Although this edition probably won’t set the world alight, I’m glad that Square Enix is finally releasing an ultimate collection for one of their biggest franchises after all these years. And now it’s time to grab my Keyblade – Gawrsh! May your heart be your guiding key.

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Ghost of Yōtei Complete Edition is more than just a bundle of extras. Echoes of Sekigahara gives Atsu’s past and the legacy of the Snake the attention they lacked in the main game, whilst Ashoro Foothills is a bleak but fascinating new corner of Ezo. Most Wanted is a surprisingly well-thought-out roguelike, and Jin Sakai’s return is fan service at its best. The expansion is a bit short, though, and Most Wanted does become repetitive after a while. Nevertheless, this is without a doubt the best version of Ghost of Yōtei available. Haven’t played Atsu’s quest for revenge yet? Then now is the perfect time to get started.

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The year’s break has clearly done MXGP 26 a world of good. The graphical improvements thanks to Unreal Engine 5 are significant, and the way the environment really plays a part in the gameplay can only be seen as a positive. However, the game is certainly not perfect. At its core, it does what it’s supposed to do, but whether it will stand the test of time remains to be seen. It’s good for a quick race here and there, but I can’t see myself playing this for hours on end. If only because of the deafening silence whilst racing.

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Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is the sort of game you need to let sink in for a while. The slow start and the sheer volume of information can leave you feeling a bit lost at first. But once all the pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place, it becomes incredibly difficult to put the controller down. The various storylines, the choices on the World Map, the Support systems, Renown, the tactical Skirmishes and the turn-based Dungeons ensure there’s an enormous amount to experience. Even after twenty hours of play, I was still discovering new elements in the game. And most importantly: I constantly felt that my choices were leading somewhere. *Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave* doesn’t just set out to tell one big story. It lets you experience different stories and gradually discover how everything is interconnected. For me, that’s ultimately the greatest strength of this *Fire Emblem*. To me, it’s clear: *Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave* is a reason to get a Nintendo Switch 2.

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EA Sports FC 27 is indeed bringing some real changes this year. The Grounds is a completely new open world packed with arcade-style fun and alternative gameplay options. Ultimate Team is once again fully supported and has an extra weapon in the form of the UT Gallery. Career mode features a revamped transfer system that works well. In terms of gameplay, you have more defensive options than ever before. A few frustrating bugs remain. Online play isn’t always fair and can still be a bit of a nightmare at times. The Grounds is still in its infancy but has potential. Long live the beautiful game.

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Honeycomb: The World Beyond therefore has a peculiar quality: the reasons why you might play it and the reasons why you might not are virtually identical. It’s slow. It’s peaceful. There’s little emphasis on combat. You collect a lot. You experiment a lot. You have to be prepared to be curious yourself. To some players, that sounds like a wonderful weekend on an alien planet. To others, it sounds like a compulsory field trip with a boring biology teacher. And perhaps that is ultimately Honeycomb’s most interesting feature. It doesn’t try to turn Sota7 into an amusement park where something explodes every hundred metres. It dares to give you a strange world and then say: “Just have a look around.”

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Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is, without a doubt, everything the fans were hoping for. The campaign delivers spectacular dogfights, an engaging story and some of the most stunning skies ever seen in a game. At the same time, the online mode ensures that dozens of hours of gaming fun await you even after you’ve completed the campaign. Are you interested in aeroplanes or have you always wanted to take part in dogfights? Then you simply must get your hands on Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve. Roger that?

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All in all, I’m really enthusiastic and positive about Dragonwilds. The flaws and annoyances I’ve encountered don’t outweigh the sheer amount of fun I’ve already had with this survival RPG. If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that Jagex is a master when it comes to updates and new content. They’ve already proven this in the past, and hopefully they’ll do the same with Dragonwilds.

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The Walking Dead: Streets of Survival has brought back a bit of that magic I felt whilst watching the series. This beat ’em up through and through is both a tribute to the series and simply an enjoyable, well-made game. It isn’t limited to mindlessly bashing and shooting your way around. Odaclick Game Studio delivers a good story and well-thought-out gameplay. The talent tree and ‘The Walker Pit’ mode are a nice bonus. Even though Streets of Survival has its minor flaws, its entertainment value more than makes up for them.

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Dune: Awakening on PS5 isn’t perfect. People or fans who want to immerse themselves fully in the lore and atmosphere of Dune will certainly find what they’re looking for here. Funcom is a master at conveying that atmosphere, but the game doesn’t excel graphically and also has a few shortcomings in terms of gameplay. Imbalances and annoyances really took the fun out of it. But I want to end on a positive note and keep the hope alive that all these shortcomings can be resolved with a patch. Then perhaps those PlayStation 4 graphics might still evolve to PlayStation 5 standard.

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Hot Wheels Infinite Rush is an energetic, colourful and surprisingly successful open-world racer that finally seems to fully embrace the Hot Wheels fantasy. The four islands are buzzing with life, the activities keep you entertained and the vehicles all look fantastic. It’s a game you’ll play with a smile on your face, even when the repetition sets in or the challenge level remains a bit low. Infinite Rush is one of the best Hot Wheels titles to date, though it remains a game that really shines when you take it for what it is: a giant toy box where you can keep racing around endlessly.

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Are you a fan of XCOM or Star Wars? Then Star Wars Zero Company is exactly the sort of game you’ve been waiting for. If you’re a fan of both, this is a must-buy. The combination of a well-written story, in-depth tactical combat and a base of operations you can really lose yourself in means that, without a doubt, I consider this to be the best Star Wars game in years.

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Marvel’s Wolverine is a game that dares to show Wolverine’s brutality. It’s raw, intense and built around systems that finally do Logan justice. The combination of Techniques, Adaptations and Rage makes the combat feel deep and immersive. At times, you really do have to think things through rather than just mashing buttons. Insomniac has delivered an action game that’s not only spectacular but also a tribute to a tormented superhero. It’s a game you absolutely must play, it’s just a shame that so many other brilliant games are coming out right now.

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