Animal Well is a unique experience that will appeal both to lovers of platformers with metroidvania elements and to those who appreciate creative puzzles and mysterious atmospheres. The fascinating visual style, combined with a very solid game system that is easy to learn and difficult to master, make it an unmissable title for those looking for an original, fun and highly replayable journey.

This new incarnation of MotoGP presents itself in great shape at the annual meeting with enthusiasts. The neural aid system appears extremely scalable and effective, the campaign is full-bodied and highly customizable and the technical sector has also made some perceptible, although not earth-shattering, steps forward. If you want to get closer to the universe of the world championship or, simply, you are looking for a highly simulation title dedicated to the world of two wheels, MotoGP 24 is an excellent entry point.

There are few games that have had the courage to tackle religious themes with such sensitivity, and Indika is certainly one of them. It is a peculiar title that may struggle to make itself known to the general public, but we believe that those who are lucky enough to try it will retain good memories of it. For better or for worse.

Top Spin 2K25 will delight all sports enthusiasts thanks to satisfying gameplay and, thanks to an excellent training mode, it is also accessible to those who are only recently approaching the discipline. The animations that immerse you on the numerous and variable playing fields are very good, but the general graphics are not the most modern and much more could have been done to expand a very small roster. The game modes are objectively few, yet the games are so exciting that they remove the specter of boredom. In short, we are faced with a great return for the series.

SaGa is a niche series and Emerald Beyond does nothing to prove the opposite: the combat system deepens those JRPG mechanics that had already emerged in previous chapters and which are consolidated here, thanks to a strategic component that makes the clashes more fascinating . It's a shame that some battles appear unnecessarily verbose at times. Also valuable is the extravagance of some characters, which manages to stand out in a context in which many of the supporting characters end up being poorly characterised. The problems lie in the limited exploration, in a universe that is too bare and also in a very angular progression system. Fans of the brand will be satisfied with the high rate of replayability, but Square Enix will not be able to expand the community of the series. It's not necessarily a problem. The important thing is to be aware of the type of audience Emerald Beyond is aimed at.

Sand Land is therefore a tie-in that is not fully successful on the gaming and content front, but it is a video game adaptation that expresses a lot of affection towards the work from which it is based. A fun and varied management of the arsenal of vehicles and a cast of charismatic characters contrast with a lackluster open world and a rather cumbersome combat system. For everything else, nostalgia reigns supreme, in an adventure aimed mainly at fans of the adorable Beelzebub.

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.

Tales of Kenzera: Zau is yet more proof that the metroidvania genre can offer great satisfaction, whatever story you try to tell. The one written by Surgent is a story of loss and revenge which, also thanks to the immense charm of the chosen setting, will remain seared in your memory for a long time. Not all the playful elements of the combat system seemed equally effective to us, and we would have liked more depth into Zuberi's character. That said, if you're a fan of the genre or just want to enjoy a good story, then you shouldn't miss it.

“To JRPG lovers” is the first sentence we read when starting Eiyuden Chronicle Hundred Heroes, testifying to the intentions that moved the developers of Rabbit&Bear Studios Inc.. In fact, the game is an impeccable collection of quotes, ideas, mechanics and plots dating back to various sacred monsters of the genre, also staged with careful artistic direction and truly "in love" with its sources of inspiration. However, despite knowing this, it cannot be denied that even with the same addends a derivative sum was obtained, which does not have the same expressive force and lacks some basic attention to the quality of life, which certainly would not have distorted the product, while making it digestible. to the modern audience. Nonetheless, enthusiasts looking for a nostalgic and deliberately taken-from-another-era experience will have what they want.

The mechanics and interface of Headquarters: World War II recall old wargames from the 2000s, such as Battle Academy, while the visual spectacularity and wide environmental destructibility refer to contemporary RTS approaches. This combination ensures a compelling gaming experience, perfect for lovers of historical strategy games. There are some rough edges on both the technical and gaming fronts, yet the Starni Games formula is able to satisfy those looking for a challenge set during the Second World War.

With a development that lasted a good twelve years, it is legitimate to ask whether Harold Halibut is a fully successful operation: what we can tell you is that the work of the German studio has convinced us, thanks to a mature and engaging narrative capable of tackling all sorts of themes. 'nothing but obvious. The hope is that the launch on Game Pass can give the right boost to what is still a niche title, and who knows, Slow Bros. might find itself in its hands with a little gem destined to leave its mark. In a market like that of video games, there is a need more than ever for works like Harold Halibut.

Last Epoch is truly the perfect middle ground between Diablo 4 and Path of Exile, but this feature is not enough to make it an action RPG masterpiece. At present, the Eleventh Hour Games title is nothing more than a good hack and slash that entertains for several dozen hours, but which fails to leave its mark due to a lackluster artistic direction and a rather monotonous endgame.

Ultimately, Call of Duty Warzone Mobile represents what is currently the most complete experience for fans of the series. Completely free of charge, it is possible to play the two most popular Warzone maps and access classic multiplayer without having to purchase a premium chapter of the saga. Too bad only for the poor optimization for devices that are not too recent and for the excessive consumption in terms of battery, problems that cannot be circumvented by installing the game on a PC.

MLB The Show 24 proves to be a solid simulation: not only has San Diego Studio solved some flaws but has perfected the gameplay even further. After a couple of slightly subdued years, the series seems to have stabilized at a high level: for those who want to get closer to the world of baseball there is nothing better around. To seduce veterans of the series, SDS has embellished the fabulous Storylines with a couple of truly spot-on additions (Toni Stone and Derek Jeter), giving more or less substantial tweaks to all the other modes. The technical sector has progressed even if the polygonal models and player animations in some situations reveal the limits of cross-gen production. The sound is simply fabulous: you can really feel the magic of a Stars and Stripes baseball game. SDS once again confirms its undeniable talent: MLB The Show 24 is one of the most successful episodes of the last period as well as one of the best sports simulations of the year.

South Park Snow Day tries to once again change the reference genre of the franchise by moving towards the rogue-like: the cyclical setting, however, is undermined by an underlying repetitiveness and runs with little content and an overly confusing battle system. Also slapped in the face by a technical sector not up to the requirements, the winning ideas are not many and they are all linked to a narrative in line with the series. Fans of the South Park universe will have something to enjoy, especially thanks to the selling price of Snow Day (29.99 euros), but after The Stick of Truth and Scontri Di Recti it was reasonable to expect something more.

Rise of the Ronin is undoubtedly the most ambitious of the titles developed by Team Ninja up to this point, as well as the riskiest. This is because the vision modeled by the studio led it to face unprecedented challenges in terms of design and technical implementation, deriving from the choice to opt for an open world that frames a more complex narrative structure than that of the previous productions of the Japanese collective. Unfortunately, the aspects that go beyond Team Ninja's "comfort zone" are also the least convincing, in the face of a playful core that reaffirms the developer's talent for creating layered and satisfying combat systems, this time with an eye towards accessibility. The combat system itself is the element that vigorously raises the qualitative balance of Rise of the Ronin, capable of offering hours and hours of martial contests that are as intense as they are exciting. Such is the merit of the combat-progression combo, that it is easy to establish how a more linear structure focused on clashes would have given greater impetus to the proposal, perhaps limiting the technical compromises that the game clearly manifests. Overall, therefore, Rise of the Ronin offers a worthwhile experience, as well as more accessible than the average of Team Ninja's productions, although the route towards the open world has limited the potential of the proposal.

Princess Peach Showtime! she was able to convince us with few reservations. Net of the technical uncertainties and some less successful than average roles to be played, the title from Nintendo and Good-Feel showcases an accessible, highly entertaining and pleasantly varied gaming system, enriched by sensational artistic direction. In short, if you love this kind of adventures, you shouldn't miss the appointment with Princess Peach.

Dragon's Dogma 2 is a title that thrives on exaggerations, to be tackled slowly with curiosity and a spirit of adventure. If you decide to accept the rules, the fantasy world created by Itsuno will give you a truly satisfying combat system, extremely creative and full of epic moments. The non-linear quests and an extremely dense map are elements that could have led Capcom's title towards heights of absolute excellence, however the ascent was slowed down by artificial intelligence that was not always performing, some small problems with the balance between classes and some too much cumbersomeness. The latest arrival from Capcom still remains a very high level product: the important thing is to know that it is not suitable for every type of user.

Ultimately, this return of Alone in the Dark is a project that was only able to convince us halfway. On the one hand there is excellent writing, capable of keeping you glued to the screen for the entire duration of the campaign while, on the other, we find a playful structure that thrives on ups and downs and a shaky technical realization, elements that prevent the title from Pieces and THQ Nordic to take flight. In any case, fans of the genre and admirers of the brand might consider venturing into the gloomy Derceto manor.

Ultimately, the HD remastering of The Legend of Legacy shows the same structural and content problems that plagued the original. It is a rather unique game that deviates from some classic JRPG styles to propose its own, very personal vision which, however, leaves out too many of the elements that have made this particular video game category great. We appreciated the work done on the visual component, but the disappointing narrative structure and the aforementioned critical gameplay issues do not allow the game to really stand out. If you are an avid fan of the genre and are looking for a project that is a little different from the usual, you could give it a chance, otherwise today's market offers alternatives of a very different caliber.

Outcast A New Beginning offers sometimes interesting alien settings, the backdrops to an overall enjoyable story, albeit lacking in peaks of excellence. In addition to the technical stumbles, the game combines cutscenes and dubbing that aren't always up to par, repetitive tasks that are generally very simple in structure, as well as battles that lose their bite due to the limits of the AI that moves our opponents. Furthermore, the progression thrives on phlegmatic rhythms, which do not go well with the fun exploratory possibilities offered by the use of the jetpack. In other words, this new Cutter Slade adventure could have done more.

Unicorn Overlord is a particular, almost indecipherable product. Vanillaware's new SRPG has adopted a refined and complex combat system which, although satisfying and engaging, may not suit all tastes, due to too many automatic mechanisms and the excessive micromanagement required. Characterized by the unmistakable style that distinguishes the productions of the Japanese team, Unicorn Overlord has nevertheless revealed itself to be a multi-faceted and ambitious strategy game, underlining once again the unparalleled creative flair of Vanillaware. If the overly classic story and totally automated battles don't scare you, make it yours and let yourself be enchanted by the magic of Fevrith.

Fossilizing yourself on the past can sometimes be counterproductive, and the risk of inheriting its strengths and weaknesses is high. Contra Operation Galuga's level design hasn't always thrilled us, and we feel the same about the artistic direction behind the experience. The game, however, winks at those nostalgic for the saga, who will have no difficulty feeling at ease in tackling the missions throughout the Galuga archipelago, undoubtedly capable of entertaining long-time fans.

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.

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.

WWE 2K24 does not reinvent the wheel, but expands both the match pool of the last chapter and the possibilities of the combat system, which continues to work well despite some historical rough edges. The Showcase mode has some imperfections, but it's a pearl for any WrestleMania fan and the two My Rise careers aren't bad at all either. If we add to this the many small innovations in practically every dimension of the experience, which is based on valid but not exciting technological solutions, the reasons that made us appreciate this year's edition appear even more evident. The Visual Concepts title is a great wrestling playground, with a disproportionate number of wrestlers and a keen eye for local multiplayer, and represents a solid foundation on which to build the future of the franchise.

In the ocean of remastered and remakes for their own sake, we are happy to be able to enthusiastically welcome the work done by Avantgarden on Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake, a graphic and sound remake which, in the opinion of the writer, should be the standard for those who aim to relaunch their works on the market. It is a reissue that exudes love for the work done by Josef Fares and his team, and therefore worthy of respect. Whether you know the work or not, as the credits roll, it will be impossible not to get caught up in the emotion.

The unexpected complexity of Terminator Dark Fate Defiance proves to be a key element in restoring dignity to the saga from which it draws inspiration, traditionally unlucky in its video game adaptations. The tie-in proposed by Slitherine stands out as an engaging and challenging adventure, confronting us with a substantial challenge and presenting hordes of well-armored and equipped enemies. Despite some obvious flaws, the large-scale management phases and the ability to influence the progress of the game based on the choices made give the game a surprising strategic depth. It is a production which, despite being small in size, stands out for its almost role-playing structure, without forgetting, and indeed enhancing, its strategic roots. The complexity of the battles should not discourage newbies, considering the presence of the "Story Mode" difficulty, while fans of the saga and real-time strategy games should undoubtedly give this title a chance, certainly the best videogame transposition of the franchise in years to this part.