Christmas Massacre is a magnificent disaster. Puppet Combo's latest effort can't even remotely compete with sacred monsters like Hotline Miami, but that doesn't mean it's a product to ignore. In fact, it is a short and affordable experience whose purchase could be considered by those who want nothing more than to have a laugh, perhaps in the company of some friends and in the midst of the Christmas holidays.

Sociable Soccer 24 takes up the baton of Sensible Soccer, but we are clearly talking about a more modern and therefore different experience. He's still faithful to the hit-and-run approach, to quick matches, to "I'll play the last match and then I'll stop". The single player campaign, although simple in structure, is entertaining enough, while local games with friends can be addictive. The variety of players and teams guaranteed by the official licenses is good and the graphics are essential, with some rough edges, but also characteristic. Unfortunately, online multiplayer is very problematic at the moment and we hope that the experts can work to improve the situation as soon as possible. In the meantime, we recommend Sociable Soccer 24 to those looking for a fiercely arcade and immediacy football experience.

Flashback 2 is a forgettable sequel. After his debut in 1992, it is not the first time we have seen the protagonist Conrad again, but it is almost certainly the worst. Flashback 2 even pales in comparison to Fade to Black, a short 3D sequel released in 1995, and also in comparison to the controversial 2013 remake, criticized for being considered "not very heartfelt". The new Microids title is unfortunately impossible to recommend, because it is marred by technical inaccuracies, characterized by a banal artistic direction and an unrefined and imprecise gameplay.

The Last Faith is a soulslike metroidvania with many strengths and weaknesses. An experience that oscillates between satisfying and frustrating due to a somewhat lazy level design and, above all, an incorrect balance of the forces in play. Sometimes there are too many enemies in a small space, Bosses who are too resistant, or poorly distributed checkpoints. However, the not too high price, the inspired artistic direction, the many beautiful pixel art models are good incentives to give the game a chance, especially if you are passionate about the genre.

Thanks to the absence of new mechanics capable of livening up a gameplay that is starting to be a little too monotonous, rather than the compendium promised to fans of the brand, the tie-in seemed like a half-hearted and haphazardly assembled task. A real stopgap, in the wake of what was done at the time with Ultimate STORM Generations and Revolution, waiting for the inevitable video game adaptation of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations to finally take shape.

Net of some rough edges in terms of gameplay, the absence of co-op and a sometimes repetitive campaign, Teardown is surprising. Every single scenario is like a huge playground where the user is free to do whatever he likes, and not only in the Sandbox mode but also to finish the story missions. If we then consider that the production is available from day one in the PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium subscription (and is compatible with streaming in the PS5 cloud) we can only advise you to try to demolish some buildings made of voxels at least once.

Ultimately, the remake of Super Mario RPG presents itself to fans in an exceptional graphic format that covers the same gameplay that had projected the original Legend of the Seven Stars into the Olympus of the best JRPGs in the history of the medium. Although we understand how someone can turn up their nose at a gaming system that has essentially stopped thirty years ago, in our opinion it was essential that a game so important for Super Mario's 'career' reach a new audience in the most faithful form possible to the one that appeared on SNES in 1996. After all, Mario RPG is a very important piece in the evolutionary mosaic of the modern age of video games, one of those works of art that should be handed down to posterity and which deserve to be preserved for as long as possible. This is the best opportunity to fill any gap in your cultural background as a gamer.

Can Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 be considered an expansion sold at full price? In part yes, and this element inevitably affects the vote, like the questionable single campaign. At the same time, however, it is impossible to pretend nothing has happened: the multiplayer component is the most fun to play in recent years and includes a pack of maps much loved by fans. Unless you buy COD just for the campaign and are willing to turn a blind eye to the lack of major innovations compared to last year, it is really difficult for you to be disappointed by the classic multiplayer of this chapter.

Warcraft Rumble turned out to be a surprisingly deep and engaging strategic experience. Despite some technical drawbacks, the game has managed, in our opinion, to fit into the crowded market of "tower offense" titles for mobile devices thanks to an unexpected depth of gameplay mechanics and its very refined graphic style . Those who are willing to overcome the obstacles of monetization and a difficulty curve that is not perfectly balanced will find themselves faced with an excellent product, capable of entertaining for hours and hours.

Just like his Phantom Thieves, ATLUS isn't missing a beat and, against all odds, Persona 5 Tactica has proven to be a solid and enjoyable tactician. Despite P-Studio's inexperience with the aforementioned gaming genre, the combat system seemed functional and profound, also thanks to the numerous mechanics borrowed from the saga and expertly grafted onto the new formula. If you loved the atmosphere, the dynamics and above all the protagonists of the original, put aside any skepticism due to the change of look and let your heart be stolen once again by the amazing Phantom Thieves.

Ufo Robot Grendizer The Feast of Wolves is a game designed by enthusiasts for enthusiasts. And nothing else. In Italy the localization operation gave us a magnificent dubbing: adhering to the original also in the choice of timbre of the voice actors and voice actresses, as well as in the tones, vocabulary and theatricality. If you don't get bored of facing about 5 hours of very basic challenges and combat just to enjoy these moments of profound nostalgia, then feel free to raise your final rating by half a point. Perhaps with Ufo Robot by Microids you could make a younger relative experience, in an interactive format, a story from your past: the legend of the "thousand valve circuits" and the "miracle of electronics" that "sprints and goes in space".

Little Goody Two Shoes is a work that alternates elements of absolute merit with others that are less successful. Greater attention to the adventure, survival and dating sim components would undoubtedly have benefited by offering a more complete and satisfying experience. It's unfortunate that the developers of AstralShift didn't dedicate the same attention to them as they did in the delightful artistic profile of the title.

Conceived as a smaller spin-off and also sold at a budget price, Like A Dragon Gaiden The Man Who Erased His Name proves to be another solid addition to the historic Yakuza series. Taking on the role of Kazuma Kiryu again is a pleasure thanks also to the original "Agent" fighting style, and the work is abundant enough in content to provide healthy entertainment for quite a long time. What shines above all is the story, which is shorter but therefore also more intense and which gets straight to the point, providing memorable moments and developments full of twists and turns as per the brand's tradition. Of course, it doesn't have any particular ambition and simply follows the safe path already followed by the most recent episodes, and the Dragon Engine is starting to feel the weight of the years a bit, however Like A Dragon Gaiden has achieved its goal: reintroducing Kiryu among the protagonists and prepare the way for the long-awaited Like A Dragon Infinite Wealth. Mission accomplished.

The Invincible proved to be a successful homage and an adventure capable of capturing the complexity and restlessness of Stanislaw Lem's work. Despite some negligible frivolities, the attention to detail and the depth of the story fully repay the gaming experience, offering all lovers of narrative adventures (or those who want to approach the gaming model) a title to take into serious consideration.

New season, new Football Manager: the twentieth episode of the series stands as a watershed between the glorious past and the future. Sports Interactive is preparing to revolutionize the series in the next chapter, which will bring a brand new 3D engine and many other improvements. Contrary to what Sports Interactive says, FM 2024 is not the best episode of the series but it is the worthy closure of a journey that began two decades ago: apart from the expected compatibility with the FM 23 saves, the new features proposed are nothing sensational. However, it still works very well, thanks to many adjustments here and there, small additions (intermediaries and set pieces, for example), better interaction with players and a 3D engine that seems to have reached full maturity. Also available on Game Pass, FM 2024 confirms itself as the usual majestic and encyclopedic management simulation. The sweet football obsession for millions of players.

Eliminating hordes of criminals with the Auto-9 while the soundtrack of the original film plays in the background is certainly a satisfying experience for fans. Net of pleasant moments, born of nostalgia and located mainly in the first portion of the game, RoboCop Rogue City is a decent game, but not particularly solid as a whole. In fact, it shows the side of a series of technical and gameplay problems to which anyone who is not a die-hard fan of the most famous policeman in cinema will hardly be able to turn a blind eye.

Jusant is certainly not the most ambitious work of Don't Nod in purely production terms, but with few well-used playful and narrative solutions it hits the mark. Anyone looking for an experience with a relaxed pace but capable of offering valid food for thought should certainly give it a chance.

Despite a less than brilliant pace, The Talos Principle 2 manages to strengthen the formula of its predecessor, offering fans of the genre not a simple puzzle game, but rather a work designed to offer a mature and engaging experience, capable of keeping people moving your mind even after you move away from the screen.

WarioWare Move It! it is one of the best variations of the long-lived Nintendo saga that has ever appeared. It is a chapter that has its roots in the successful motion control-based formula tested on the Nintendo Wii but elevates it to new heights, introducing some structural and content additions with a view to enriching and diversifying the experience. It is, without a doubt, one of the most exhilarating and entertaining multiplayer games currently available on the market.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R is an essential purchase for anyone who loved tri-Ace's masterpiece, as well as an unmissable opportunity for any newcomers to discover one of the best action RPGs of the 90s. By leaving the original plot unchanged and adding new mechanics to its frenetic combat system, the guys at Gemdrops have been able to create a faithful and at the same time innovative remake. The bizarre choice of combining the historic 2D sprites with a three-dimensional world recreated from scratch may not satisfy all tastes, especially those of the new generations, nevertheless we are firmly convinced that this restoration has greatly benefited what fans still consider the best Star Ocean ever.

When it comes to rallying, Codemasters is a guarantee. This new simulation from EA presents itself at the starting line with an offer that boasts an excellent balance between quantity and quality of content and which, as per tradition, puts the driving experience at the centre. There is no shortage of sporadic stumbles, yet EA Sports WRC boasts a compelling career, a respectable fleet of cars and a deep, challenging and satisfying driving model. In short, we are talking about a must-have for fans of this sporting discipline.

Despite a good start and a decent graphics section, Stray Souls is a disappointing product. The procedural jumpscare system misses the mark and the combat system is simply disastrous, so much so that it pushes the player to run away every time he encounters a hostile creature. To close the circle there is a plot which, despite having some good ideas in true B-movie style, fails to shine due to the needlessly verbose dialogues and the terrible animations that break the involvement. In short, if you are looking for a horror film it would be best to look elsewhere.

Despite starting from truly intriguing assumptions, closely linked to a captivating aesthetic and a pleasantly grotesque narrative frame, the first DLC of Dead Island 2 does not add much to the proposal modeled by Dambuster Studios. Despite some occasional creative flashes, in fact, the expansion flows without leaving persistent traces, both on the playful side and on the purely narrative one. The potential was there, and we are sure that some will appreciate the "camp" drift chosen by the English team more than others, but ultimately Haus is a content that can easily be left out, waiting to see how the developer will complete the journey post-launch of Dead Island 2.

We're sure that Tequila Works didn't want to revolutionize the platform adventure genre, and therefore we won't say that Song of Nunu is a failed mission. The intention was to focus on a story with different and more subtle tones, far from what was done in the other League of Legends spin-offs. Song of Nunu is, in short, a more intimate adventure, very story driven and with some combat here and there to embellish everything. There is no great depth of design, nor layered mechanics: all the environmental puzzles are accessible, as are the fights, and the entire experience proceeds in this style. A simple game that sometimes becomes elementary and imprecise. Intriguing for anyone who wants to know a few more details about Nunu and Willump, less remarkable for anyone looking for an adventure to remember.

Linked to an already fluctuating production at the time of its debut, Gargoyles Remastered offers a pleasant graphic and sound restoration, not failing to add to the mix interesting possibilities such as real-time rewinding of the action. Unfortunately, however, it shows all the years of the original title and therefore, given its obvious limitations, it could struggle to attract the attention of anyone who was not a die-hard fan of the Mega Drive classic.

UFC 5 is an excellent simulator of one of the bloodiest and most choreographic combat sports around. The team has managed to package a solid product, full of modes and which will satisfy the most hardcore MMA fans. In short, we are talking about a good entry for newcomers to the world of UFC, but it is a little less fresh for those who have played the previous chapters. If UFC 5 marks your first approach to the world of mixed martial arts, add half a point to the rating.

A carousel of horrors that never stops spinning. A whirlwind expedition into the most perverse meanders of art. A work of great authorship and visual virtuosity which has the merit of being as courageous as it is original. It's a survival horror, yes, but mostly pro forma. Deep down it's something else. It is an experience that tangles the player's expectations, continuously knotting them so that unpredictability reigns supreme. It plays with artistic forms, with the concept of reality and multidimensionality, and does so using both the interactive medium and other communicative means of the modern era. Once this unconventional inspiration has been accepted and assimilated, according to the writer, the weight of the playful uncertainties, of a balance that is not always perfect between narrative and gameplay, of a few too many technical ripples is reduced. I like the idea of ​​rewarding experimentalism above all, the mix of genres and eclectic suggestions. I like Sam Lake's arrogance in wanting to leave his mark at all costs, with the careless desire to challenge conventions, more than he has ever done before. I like to think I live in a reality where Alan Wake 2 exists.

The Lord of the Rings Return to Moria unfortunately fails to stand up to the sacred monsters of the survival genre. Net of the excessive presence of combat, a construction system that is not too successful and a technical sector that is not the latest trend, the Free Range Games game succeeds in its aim of immersing players in the magical world of the Lord of the Rings and guaranteeing them a few hours of fun, especially if in the company of a group of friends.