A solid game that ticks off everything on the things-you-need-to-have-in-a-twin-stick-shooter list. Doesn't stand out from the crowd though. [October, p.80]

The sense of speed offered by Driveclub reminded me of the brilliant first GRID and I was having a lot of fun until I realized that cars are indestructible. Whether you stroke a wooden fence or smash into another vehicle at 300 km/h your car drives exactly the same afterwards. [Dec 2014, p.66]

Kao the Kangaroo is a solid reboot, but not in the league of Crash Bandicoot. The game is pretty, runs smoothly, offers great level design and fun combat system, and overall has a strong base, but also contains many elements that fail to reach the level we expect from a platformer today.

The strongest point of this fantasy/sci-fi jRPG is definitely its very good turn-based combat capable of surprising you with creative encounters. The narrative has some memorable moments, but be aware that it is entirely linear. However, I do not condemn that decision, because it does suit the road movie-like story. What Edge of Eternity lacks the most is its own identity and the developers’ courage to do things their way instead of copying Final Fantasy and other Square titles. It could also use a better engine, more suitable for such a complex game. [08/2021, p.62]

At first I had to force myself to play Has-Been Heroes, but gradually it convinced me that there’s a decent degree of depth under simple gameplay mechanics. [06/2017, p.61]

Stronghold is one of the best real-time strategies of the turn of the century. The Definitive Edition may be a nice way to revisit this beloved classic, but it can also be disappointing if you expect a polished game that’s free of bugs and imperfections of the original.

It’s not an add-on but rather a Game of the Year edition of Dragon’s Dogma. Exploring the Bitterblack Isle (new content intended for veteran players with a high level party) is basically a dungeon crawler and this face of the game I enjoyed much more than the open world of Gransys. [CD-Action 06/2013, p.76]

New engine’s impact on game’s quality is noticeable, but still rather small. [Dec 2014, p.73]

Despite the cumbersome interface and some weariness that creeps in later on, World of Horror is worth checking out thanks to its art style and well-written, weird, spine-chilling stories. Even though I know how the game ends, for some masochistic reason I want to relive this nightmare over and over again.

Super Mario RPG is a creative and very accessible take on the RPG formula. You’ll traverse many lands and fight tons of battles to save the kingdom, while enjoying a hefty dose of light humor. If you’re looking for unwavering positive vibes, you will definitely find them here.

Compared to the original released on 3DS in 2017, the Switch version of Miitopia looks better and offers a couple of additions, but it is pretty much the same thing. I had a lot of fun with it once again and I can recommend it to anyone looking for a funny (but not necessarily hilarious) game with an extraordinarily enjoyable gameplay loop. [08/2021, p.66]

It’s hard not to notice that free World of Warcraft patches offer you just a bit less content than Rise of the Hutt Cartel. [CD-Action 10/2013, p.71]

The Expanse: A Telltale Series works well as a tie-in, because it recreates the atmosphere of the series and explores the past of a loved character (Cara Gee as Drummer is amazing as always!). However, as a whole, it is a middling game that ends before it really gets going. I also regret that the developers missed the opportunity to delve deeper into The Expanse’s universe, as this setting has a lot to offer.

A pleasant and hard (in a fair way) platformer, but I think authors should have left out the enemies and the means to fight them, because they introduce unwanted chaos and the sense of losing full control over the character. [CD-Action 06/2013, p.78]

A solid game that lacks distinctiveness. I’m not sure I’m going to remember it in a couple months’ time. [Dec 2014, p.78]

It’s not the second coming of Christ, it’s merely another good product in a different wrapping. Ghosts is a great FPS but this time it’s not necessarily a great Call of Duty game. [13/2013, p.46]

One of those mean platformers that exist to poke a masochist’s pleasure center. Physics based gameplay often requires more luck than skill which can be annoying, but I’ve never had so much fun throwing my own head at things. [02/2016, p.47]

A girl the size of an insect searching for her father’s bug-like mech in a forest where nature meets sci-fi is a great concept that makes Stonefly worth checking out. Too bad the developers’ creativity ends pretty much right there. While the game is a clever mix of genres and offers an original twist on hack’n’slash combat, it does next to nothing to evolve the gameplay or the story, so sooner or later monotony will set in. [08/2021, p.70]

On the one hand we have beautiful visuals, distinct melancholic atmosphere, and an interesting backstory to uncover. On the other – mediocre combat, repetitive puzzles, slow pace, and various technical issues. It is definitely an enjoyable game though and I’m looking forward to Orbit Studio’s next title. [08/2021, p.72]

It’s an enjoyable game that will win the hearts of children, but it’s far from breathtaking – it’s short and lacks a spark (e.g. a protagonist that is not only cute but also charismatic) that would make it memorable. [06/2017, p.66]

The way the story branches out depending on your choices is really impressive, but experimenting with it becomes repetitive after a while due to scarcity of levels and too easy (but otherwise enjoyable) combat. [06/2016, p.47]

It was supposed to be an unforgettable experience, but unfortunately I’ve already forgotten a lot of it. [CD-Action 10/2013, p.74]

Phone Destroyer is pure hypocrisy, as it shamelessly ticks all the boxes from Parker and Stone’s guide on preying on susceptible people using mobile titles (episode Freemium Isn’t Free of the TV show). The game looks good though and has the show’s unique vibe, so the fans should enjoy it for a while, until they get tired of shallow, repetitive gameplay. [01/2018, p.51]

Flockers is not an original game (it uses the concept introduced in Lemmings over two decades ago), but it’s a polished one. It’s a cute puzzle game that is also so brutal that it earned a PEGI 16 rating. [Dec 2014, p.80]

Nintendo Switch Sports is a modern retelling of the Wii classic. Despite somewhat less precise motion controls, it’s about as fun as its predecessor, mostly thanks to the emphasis on online play.

A decent PC substitute for the Pikmin series. Its magical land filled with adorable creatures is a joy to explore, rich content will keep you occupied for as long as 20 hours, and a drop of survival mechanics spices up the adventure without making it stressful. The somewhat hazy story is okay at best and even though the game showers you with crafting materials, the crafting itself is pretty much needless, but the game’s biggest problem is the repetitiveness that made me slightly weary. [8/2021, p.74]

I enjoyed the atmosphere, assassination-based combat, enjoyable bow shooting mechanics, varied character classes, and cool maps. The whole concept is great, but Hood needed more work, because numerous minor flaws and a sole game mode make it look like an early access title. I also believe it was possible to squeeze much more out of this darker twist on the Robin Hood setting. It is not an excellent game right now, but it is enjoyable enough to be addictive, and I’m looking forward to future updates, hoping they will unlock Hood’s full potential. [08/2021, p.76]

Omega Force’s crossover between Persona and the Warriors series is a breath of fresh air for both franchises. It’s not a revelation by any means and not a great sequel to Persona 5 in terms of the story, but despite rather uninteresting content in between missions and the scantiness of additional activities, it’s a good, varied game that’s simply enjoyable. [04/2021, p.36]