There's a bunch of new content to keep the fans interested, and the narrative flashbacks are surely interesting, but gameplay-wise there's nothing really new under the sun.

The concept behind the product is still too close to the secure LEGO license to look really cool and bright. The combat system is just sketched, and the game also has an approach that reduces complexity.

It remains a challenging game, with some unexpected and surprising jolts, and a good background quality. If the team had applied more we would have had a worthy "rival" of Salt & Sanctuary, while at the moment the product of Ska Studio surpasses this Death's Gambit at every level.

Mixing the structure of a MOBA with the gameplay of a Twin-Stick Shooter Armature Studios delivers an unusual and interesting arcade. There are some balancing problems but Dead Star is the best way to approach the Battle Arena scene, especially for console gamers.

Three years have passed since the PC release, but the game still holds on its good qualities. The simulation is believable, and the puzzles still fun to solve.

It might appear as a classic J-style dungeon crawler, but there's much more than that. Some gameplay mechanics are really original, and that, combined with the competitive price and the replayability, make for an experience worth considering.

Since the action RPG borrows many mechanics from games belonging to very different genres, the risk that Stellar Blade would turn out to be a soulless "map" was very high. Paradoxically, however, the aspect of the product that more than any other has been able to convince us is to be found precisely in its solid combat system, which even without reinventing the wheel has given us great satisfaction. On the downside, the same cannot be said of the plot, which is insipid and affected by very predictable twists, and of the exploratory component, which reuses anachronistic and not at all stimulating environmental puzzles to the point of exhaustion. To the aforementioned problems must be added the frequent recycling of bosses carried out mostly by sidequests, a difficulty level that is not always electrifying and a questionable management of saves. In our opinion, these rough edges are attributable to the naivety and above all the inexperience of the SHIFT UP team, which until now had almost exclusively created titles for mobile devices. If nothing else, Stellar Blade gave us a substantial taste of the great potential of the Korean studio, which if it were to take advantage of the feedback could really surprise us starting from its next project.

At first glance Plaris Sectors looks like many other 4X strategy videogames, but the chance to assemble your own ships and the interesting system for the scientific research are interesting twists that any fan of the genre should try out.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 boasts a wealth of content that's probably unmatched in the series, though some of its components aren't as qualitatively up to par with previous installments. The campaign is, without a doubt, among the worst ever seen in the series, and the endgame mode, while fun, currently has little to offer. Fortunately, multiplayer and Zombies, with their blend of tradition and innovation, manage the difficult task of carrying the weight of a product that, more than ever this year, is struggling to establish itself on the market.

Blades of Fire has a great merit: it is a game that innovates. And it does so with audacity, from the first minutes of the game, with a technical combat system and a crafting that requires strategy and attention to resources, statistics, enemies and progression. This is certainly the component around which the rest of the game was developed. And it shows: the care put into everything else is clearly less. Or rather, it is not always up to the ambitions of the game: to propose an epic story lasting 60-70 hours, with a combat system different from all the others and a crafting system that is never boring. Mercury Steam has not failed: it has simply only partially achieved the objective.

The Thaumaturge is an ambitious isometric RPG with an interesting story, which the player can lead to ever-changing and unexpected situations with well-considered moral choices. The artistic direction is inspired and does justice to the historical setting represented. As for the salutors, we would have only liked to see more of them, which is an indication of the good quality and characterization of those present in the game. A somewhat repetitive combat system and the technical sector with too many uncertainties, unfortunately, partially slow down the enthusiasm, but all in all we would still like to say that The Thaumaturge is a recommended role-playing experience; if nothing else, to lovers of the genre who are always eager for narrative crossroads and well-written dialogues.

Injustice can be considered as a "popular" fighting game, which strives above all to please the general public and to propose an overall well-structured gameplay.

Bright Memory: Infinite offers gameplay that successfully mixes gunfire and hand-to-hand combat, without sacrificing anything on the technical side and the fluidity of the clashes. The main campaign is perhaps too short but the low cost of the game and the fact that it was made by one person, make it an experience not to be underestimated. The hope for the future is that Zeng Xiancheng will be able to form a well-fed and talented team, which can support him to make an even more ambitious, complete and satisfying video game. The bases from which to start are all there and this does nothing but load us with expectations for the future of the creative.

It has a smart gameplay, even if the porting from the mobile version was clearly rushed.

This version of Picross is not good as the standard 2D episode. There is a great number of puzzles, but the general difficulty setting is not stimulant.

Injustice is a solid and fun fighting game. In this next gen version it has more costumes and all 6 downloadable characters at the same price. So, for every beat'em up fan, is surely a must have.

After the disappointing Atelier Marie Remake and the questionable decision by the development team to make the 25th episode of the main series a gacha game for mobile devices, the future of the Atelier series seems uncertain. With Atelier Yumia in particular, Gust Corporation has perhaps taken more risks than it should have, and we believe that not all bets have been won. The new action-style combat system lacks the strategic component and depth that had made us appreciate the Secret Trilogy so much, and even the process of alchemical synthesis seems cumbersome and unsatisfying. The product recovers a few points thanks to the exploration, now richer and more multifaceted than ever, and an engaging narrative plot, as well as characterized by mature themes. Paradoxically, Atelier Yumia could really captivate those who have never frequented the series, while there is the risk that historical fans will struggle to accept the change of direction desired by the Japanese studio and above all the abandonment of the carefree atmosphere that has always differentiated the brand from other JRPGs. Hoping that Atelier Yumia remains an isolated experiment, we await the completely offline episode of Atelier Resleriana also due out in 2025, which at least on the artistic front seems much more promising.

Labyrinth Legend's conversion to Nintendo Switch does nothing but show the limits of a product designed for the mobile market. In fact, we are faced with an action RPG hybridized with roguelike elements with little playful and narrative depth, whose progression becomes monotonous and repetitive already after the first stages of the game.

The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a sincere production, which does not aim to overturn the canons of turn-based role-playing games, or to amaze with who knows what technical innovation. Quite the contrary: precisely to the extent of this moderate simplicity Nippon Ichi Software inscribes a winning design idea, which - even without some structural ingenuity - manages to convey first of all the message of a light-hearted but also intimate and profound story. The most relevant stylistic figure then remains the art direction, which with such a graceful hand drawing style makes the game world a real videogame fairy tale.

Since the update is free, and offers some improvements that do not go unnoticed, the Electronic Arts operation can be said to be satisfactory: in short, the new generation training begins to show, albeit timidly, its potential.

Shredder's Revenge could be many things: it could be a beat 'em up capable of modernizing the genre, a tribute to the past of the series or a caciarone party game. Since he tried to be a bit of everything, he was unable to convince us in every respect, although he was still very pleasant to play. The cooperative mode, for its part, is an absolute spectacle and more generally we are talking about an experience able to entertain (and a lot ...) without, however, with that degree of brilliance that we would have desired.

The physics are so arcade that motorbiking fans will surely have something to complain about, but there's still a lot of fun to be had on track.

Pure Farming 2018 represents a good step forward for the still young genre of the farming simulator.

Net of an underlying repetitiveness that begins to emerge after a few hours of play, a non-exceptional enemy design and a series of fluctuations related to the balance of weapons and operators, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction is an intense and compelling cooperative shooter , able to offer an experience different from other exponents of the genre, more oriented towards frenetic action and little to strategy.

The Third can be funny for an afternoon or two, but its overexposed grossness simply cross too many borders.

Metal Hellsinger is a very fun shooter to play and with a remarkable soundtrack but the quality of the title The Outsider does not go hand in hand with the quantity and it takes very little to see everything that the adventure starring the Unknown has to offer . In short, this is an unmissable hellish journey for FPS and heavy metal fans, but it is difficult for you to want to extend your stop among the demons after reaching the credits. In any case, the game will also be included in the Xbox Game Pass catalog at launch and is a perfect product for those who decide to experience this heavy metal-based adventure through the Microsoft service.

Anchored to the dogmas of the genus of belonging, it will surely satisfy the veterans of the series as they confuse the neophytes.

The King of Fighters XV is a fun, deep fighting game with a promising online infrastructure. The proposal would certainly have deserved greater attention on the content front, both in terms of story mode and tutorials, but the overall result still has all the credentials to offer fans a more than pleasant experience. This is mainly due to the merits of a solid gameplay that respects the canons of the series, with changes that do not alter the historical soul much. We would certainly have appreciated a few more interventions, for example as regards the holds, but we are sure that the result will still be able to offer fans a good concert of satisfactions.

Harry Potter Magic Awakened is a good mobile game that allows any fan of the brand to take a trip to Hogwarts and experience an adventure with a familiar flavor. Some edges related to the repetitiveness of the activities, the microtransactions and the technical sector take it away from perfection, yet the free to play of Portkey Games has the numbers to give a few hours of fun to fans of the bespectacled wizard.

More a board game than a true videogame, it can still turn at-home evenings with friends and amiibos in a lot of fun.

Vile Monarch packs an experience that manages to stand out in the panorama of post-apocalyptic themed city builders, at least on the aesthetic front. From the point of view of the gameplay we would have preferred to see carried forward that vein of innovation that distinguishes the management side of relations between clans. Unfortunately, on the whole, the game has been able to capture the most successful aspects of other exponents of the genre to which it refers, without daring to detach itself from playful elements already repeatedly proposed over the last few years. In any case, city builder fans may appreciate Floodland for the solidity of the mechanics implemented and for its vision of a future that is anything but surreal.

In Kingdom Hearts HD Remix 1.5 the only substantial component is the remake of the first chapter: yet magical, dreamy, although obviously less outstanding than at the time of its release.

Despite having inherited some problems that the Gameverse has carried with it since its origins, Sword Art Online: Last Recollection is hands down the best SAO tie-in made so far. By minimizing downtime, implementing mechanics aimed at streamlining and speeding up the combat system, and paying more attention to optimization, the guys from Aquria have redeemed themselves and this time created a frenetic and fun action RPG. Since this explores in detail the customs and geography of the Dark Territory, which had found very little space in the War of Underworld anime, we recommend its recovery to fans of the franchise and more generally to lovers of the genre.

Prinny 2: Dawn Of Operation Panties, Dood! depends very much on your patience and on the relationship that you have with frustration. Absolutely not perfect, but recommended for reckless gamers.

This second chapter preserves the average quality level of the Anthology unchanged, and our "little hope" is that this standard will at least be maintained (and perhaps exceeded) for future horror stories as well.

If you have already played the HD version on PS3, you wont find here enough reasons to buy again. On the other hand, everyone else should know that this arcade shooter is simply addicting, and very well developed.

The combat system is fun, the gameplay is varied and the growth system works. Better than 358/2 Days, but recommended almost exclusively for diehard fans.

The Outlast Trials is a half-successful product. The title by Red Barrels hits the target and offers truly convincing characters and settings, which allow it to come pleasantly close in atmosphere to film productions such as Hostel and Saw. At the same time, the developers have not made the most of the potential of the experience, which tends to lose bite over time without encouraging the player, alone or in company, to undergo the same experiments over and over again.

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8: Final Chapter Prologue is a collection which fans of the saga should not miss. Despite not overflowing with contents, this anthological prologue to the story of Kingdom Hearts is the missing piece of the series created by Nomura.

South of Midnight, all things considered, presents itself to the players as the most conventional of action/adventure games, based on a pleasant, if somewhat repetitive, gameplay structure and supported by refined writing and first-rate artistic direction. It's a shame that the presence of some naivety on the design front does not allow it to reach peaks of excellence, especially if you consider the care instilled in setting up an audiovisual framework of this caliber. More form than substance, therefore, but if you are looking for a good title in which to invest a dozen hours of lightheartedness, perhaps letting yourself be transported by a story capable of touching the strings of the soul, then the new work of Compulsion Games could be for you.

Without a shadow of a doubt Tindalos Interactive has managed to pack an interesting horror-tinged adventure. What is most intriguing is the set of action, tactics and stealth proposed by the experience, which manages to competently return the atmospheres and tension of the Alien films. Basically, if you are a fan of xenomorphs you could give the game a chance but RTS fans will have to deal with a not very developed strategic dimension, a sometimes lame soldier AI and a series of bugs that in our test have caused some setbacks that are hard to ignore.

Aarklash Legacy is a good strategy RPG with a fascinating narrative component, but with a structure that is not always convincing.

Quotation forthcoming.

An old fashion title: a simple RTS, with a humorous twist.

Disney Infinity is a candidate as a potential family hit of this year otherwise dominated by the launch of the new console.

As a portable FPS Killzone Mercenaries feels good. It's clear, however, that in the shooting genre you can do much better.

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North is a good game. Unable to achieve excellence because of limits of the gameplay, it is still a title recommended to fans of the genre and of The Lord of the Rings.

Ultimately, Syder Reloaded, which is also offered at an affordable price, presents itself as a title worthy of interest for fans of the shoot'em up genre or well-packaged productions with a retro taste.

Quotation forthcoming.

Quotation forthcoming.

Warhammer 40,000 Darktide is a title that needs more content and some tweaking. Graphically it is excellent and the play of light and shadow, in particular, make some moments even memorable. However, the balance between the classes needs to be reviewed, as well as the in-game economy and the cost of aesthetic elements. In any case, when lived with a handful of connected players, Darktide manages to be appreciated at its best but in some hours the shadow of repetitiveness makes itself felt. As for the Warhammer 40,000 lore, the game is steeped in it, but an audible and non-influential background radiation remains. The launch on Game Pass can help support the experience in the short term, when the novelty effect is still hot but it is clear that the production will need worthy support from the developers to continue to entertain the public.

The 70 minigames ready to play are too simple to be entertaining as the ones of the previous episodes. The editor is complex and it does not let users express their creativity at its best.

Soul Hackers is the sliver of an ancient past, oddly stuck in the line-up of today's 3DS. The remnant of a lost era, revived in its full greatness.

Overall, Genesis Noir is a work full of suggestions and charm, with a first-rate artistic sector and a soundtrack of absolute value.

Putting on the trail of the mysterious masked thief famous as "Raven", we were able to enjoy a fun but not perfect first episode of a much bigger saga.

Quotation forthcoming.

Sly Cooper Thieves In Time is a well made action/platform that effectively recovers the formula that belonged to the saga at the time of PS2.

Under an aesthetic layer that is a little too essential and dated, Disney Magical World 2: Enchanted Edition contains a simulation experience with unexpected qualities, genuinely delightful. A product whose target is very precise, mostly within the circle of school-age players, which hits its targets thanks to its relaxed way of doing things, a good variety of tasks proposed and a captivating use of some of the most popular Disney licenses. always appreciated. For little Nintendo Switch owners, Disney Magical World 2 could really make a great Christmas present.

The writing is really good, and when the credits will roll, you will find yourself really craving for the second chapter.

Castle of Illusion is not only a revival of the old episode, but puts some interesting news that gives personality to the production.

Warfighter is just one of many shooters on the market. It has no distinctive treats and no particular refinements that can differentiate it from the mediocrity of others.

Overall, the Quest version of Green Hell is successful, albeit limited, and capable of dragging players into the wild jungle for many hours, teasing them thanks to the peculiarities of virtual reality. In short, it is a very stimulating experience that deserves to be included in your VR game library.

Elden Ring Nightreign is a project made of lights and shadows. On one hand, we find the excellent gameplay organism of Elden Ring, effectively transposed into a cooperative roguelite context without losing an ounce of its sparkling enamel, a convincing cast of characters and a wide selection of new bosses. To eliminate them all, in this regard, it will take at least 30 hours, with an upward or downward oscillation depending on the skill of the team. On the other hand, however, there are content and balance naivety that prevent the new work from aspiring to the same heights of excellence reached by the 2022 title and its DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree. We are aware that with a well-defined update program in the coming weeks we could find ourselves in the presence of a completely different experience but, at least for the moment, we can talk about a great experiment that is half successful.

Sly Cooper Thieves in Time is a fun dive into an almost forgotten past, which barely survives a generation inflated by special effects and bullets. This is enough to recommend the production to all players who have grown up between bandicoot and dragons, for whom "platform" is also synonymous of "color" and "sympathy."

STALKER 2 Heart of Chornobyl is a product characterized by an undeniable production value, conveyed through a plot with interesting narrative ideas and a proudly unique gameplay structure. The large amount of technical problems and some obsolete ingredients inherited from the original formula prevent it from making that great leap in quality that we would have liked to tell you about. Any future updates aimed not only at alleviating some technical problems but also at better balancing the gameplay could transform STALKER 2 into an unmissable experience.

Recommend it to lovers of the genre.

Quotation forthcoming.

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered is a product similar in objectives to the previous work of Aspyr Media and, due to some of its limitations, it may not be appealing to new generations of players. That said, net of the critical issues related to the original experiences, the work done by the developers is more than appreciable and will delight all fans with a few more years on their shoulders eager to get back to grips with the classic iterations of Tomb Raider.

The Agatsuma Entertainment game will manage to meet the large audience of players who love Japan and the madness that awaited an action title to break a little pace of their hours of play between a JRPG and the other.

Pixel art is everywhere nowadays, but Westerado puts it to good use: the spaghetti western fans now have something to please their tastes.

Now in its third act, The Dark Pictures Anthology shows the first signs of a perhaps inevitable fatigue. Wisely trying to involve and amaze the player with unprecedented stylistic ideas, Supermassive Games chooses to adopt a more impactful pace, and thus creates another type of horror where violence takes precedence over restlessness. Between slight additions and repeated defects, House of Ashes is, without too many surprises, at the same qualitative level as its predecessors, with a small downward or upward decline based on the preferences of individual users, who may or may not like the cinematic sub-genre. staged by the studio. We do not yet fully know what the future of the series will hold for us, although the game - as always - provides us with some clues in the form of a premonition: what is certain is that the horror will change its aspect again.

Quotation forthcoming.

The 3 versus 3 formula goes well with the size of the maps and with the modalities present at the launch, as well as the variety of heroes and artifacts outlines a fairly thorough game system. However, the Final Strike Games title suffers from an excessively anonymous style, which is unlikely to create a memorable imagination and to establish itself in the imagination of the players.

Battlefield 2042 immediately shows enormous potential, fueled by a playful structure that hosts very thick modes and truly promising innovations. Unfortunately, DICE's latest work is also one of the most disorganized chapters of the series, as spectacular as it is strewn with imbalances and lightness, which affect the choral rendering of an offer that still fails to give the best of itself.

The return of an explosive duo delivers a thrilling platform experience. Unfortunately, aerial sections are repetitious and some camera issues spoils the fun.

An exercise in style developed by those who have a steady hand and certainly know how to shape a good genre title, enhanced by artists who have managed to impress an artistic direction capable, at times, of really piercing the Switch screen.

Quotation forthcoming.

Despite the absence of touch controls, which in this case could have greatly enhanced the version for Nintendo Switch, the reissue of GOD WARS is probably the best entry point for anyone who has not yet overlooked the delicate political situation that afflicts people of Mizuho.

It's an interest chapter, although its purpose is basically paving the road for the finale. Choices have impact (at least apparently), and the writing is quite good.

Octopath Traveler 0 is a prequel that does its job: it reconstructs the origins of the saga and brings the world of Orsterra to the forefront, with its cities, characters, and unique mechanics. However, the port from mobile to home console reveals all the limitations of the original project: the city building remains superficial, the exploration of villages is repetitive, and the narrative, while initially fascinating, quickly descends into cliché. Where the game truly excels is in the battle system: deep, tactical, and rewarding, capable of keeping players glued to the game on its own. The HD-2D style remains convincing, but shows signs of a now-established and uninnovative approach. In short, Octopath Traveler 0 is a title recommended for fans of the series curious to discover the roots of the story, but those looking for something new or a more ambitious port risk being left halfway and finding themselves entangled in a series of repetitive mechanics.

Reinventing Windjammers in 2017 on Playstation 4 is a peculiar and highly educational experience.

It's a strong DLC, filled with carefully crafted and replayable content. Bungie is clearly still struggling to understand its own game, and to balance between its vision and the community's desires, but this might be a step in the right direction.

A well structured platform, with few original ideas that supports a fair designed backtracking. The art style is brilliant, for one of the best tie-in in the last years.

The Void is a strange emotional experiment, with a complex gameplay.

Even with a few too many technical defects, Sniper Elite 5 continues to be an enjoyable and fun game, just like the chapters that preceded it. Thanks to spectacular X-Ray kills, maps designed to be played multiple times, immediate gameplay and many different modes such as co-op and invasions, the Rebellion title can keep the player busy well over the ten hours required for the solo. completion of the campaign. Furthermore, we cannot ignore the addition of Sniper Elite 5 on Xbox and PC Game Pass at launch, a factor that will help to populate the servers and, due to cross-play, will allow you to find new companions or opponents to challenge without particular problems.

Assassin's Creed Mirage recalls the chapters of the "pre role-playing" era with a certain effectiveness, with a system of notoriety that pushes you to return to anonymity with the means at Basim's disposal. Between the pleasant exploration of Baghdad - well characterized and equipped with the right amount of secondary activities - and interesting main missions, at least as regards level design and approach methods, Ubisoft Bordeaux has created a valid and fun experience, but not without quality problems and fluctuations. The problems related mostly to the martial choreography of the battles are accompanied by a narrative segment that is not as incisive as we hoped and stealth phases impoverished by unrefined enemy AI and offensive solutions that are all too effective.

Everybody's golf for PS Vita is exactly how we expected it to be: another increbily funny iteration in the saga.

It is rather a solid, long-lasting and varied racing game, yet still incapable of dictating new standards for its kind of membership. Need for Speed: Payback is a solid, lengthy and entertaining racing game, but it's unable to reinvent its genre. The work by Ghost Games is weighted down by its stiff singleplayer structure, which clashes with a progression system that, whilst clever in theory, fails to be as balanced as it should be in practice.

Serious Sam 3: BFE is designed primarily for fans and hardcore gamers, with its classic arcade gameplay. The Croteam title deserves to be remembered as one of the best examples of its kind, being tightly tied to the past.

A better DLC than the previous one.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is the debut work of a promising studio, demonstrating clear vision in terms of art direction, writing, and worldbuilding. The form is there, and so is the substance when it comes to storytelling. The gameplay isn't quite as well-rounded, and while it's built on solid foundations, it settles for a reassuring simplicity, preventing River End Games' title from taking that extra step it needs. Despite this, anyone looking for a narrative-driven stealth game should give it a try. The city of Eriksholm will certainly welcome you.

Full of references to our contemporaneity and capable of arousing profound reflections on topics of crucial importance, the title finally turns out to be an excellent experience for those looking for an adventure with a calm but suggestive tone.

An effective style and a good pacing. Not all scenes are built with the same attention, but the main character models are wonderful, and the plot seems to have a dark twist we are eager to explore.

Dead Nation is a great game. But not on PsVita. Framerate Drops, clumsy graphics and an inaccurate control scheme.

Project Zero 2: Wii Edition is a state of the art survival horror, and this alone should be enough to tempt the genre's aficionados.

DC Universe Online is a title in its own way unique, not only because it is now one of the few MMORPGs available on consoles, but also because it is perhaps the only exponent of the superhero genre to have discrete character.

Perhaps its beauty, however, is right there, in its hit & run irreverence like the sudden appearance of a colorful artificial fire in the shape of poop.

Payday 3 is the natural evolution of the second chapter and offers a solid and fun experience, although not without its edges and questionable choices, think for example of the progression structure. The feeling you get when playing the Starbreeze title is that of being in front of an Early Access that starts off very well, but on which there is still work to be done so that it can express itself at its best. It is therefore likely that production will be improved and expanded over time, just like the previous one, through the already confirmed free and paid content updates.