iOS and Android versions of TWEWY couldn’t handle the unique combat system with two different fights on two different DS screens, so they cut one of them. Switch port mutilates the game even further. [Issue#234, p.74]

JJ has to impale herself, burn herself alive and suffer all other kinds of mutilation in order to progress. Even when you get accustomed to that, The Missing keeps getting under your skin in many other ways. [Issue#234, p.62]

Complex and unpredictable board game, numerous mini-games and being able to play as your favorite character – those are the three pillars of Mario Party’s success. Neither of these elements was polished to perfection over the years, but together they offer a very enjoyable experience. [Issue#234, p.72]

Origins is a surprisingly good successor to the famous trilogy. There’s a big galaxy to explore, choices to make and memorable characters to meet. Dialogues are great, and arcade parts are simple, yet fun. Together, they make a game that will easily keep your interest for a week at least. [Issue#234, p.54]

The studio redrew every model and changed the engine, but managed to keep the gameplay faithful to the original. Level architecture, Spyro’s abilities and his enemies – Reignited Trilogy plays just like the originals, only with modern graphics. [Issue#234, p.63]

Story and exploration in Kingmaker are grade A. Adaptation of Pathfinder system is probably even A+, since it’s simplified, yet still incredibly complex and satisfying. But. Some elements, like titular kingdom-building, are astonishingly bad, and overall technical execution is subpar at best. [Issue#234, p.76]

When Ubisoft brought forth subscription service Just Dance Unlimited, it became the focal point of Just Dance experience, and every new game basically adds new songs to it, albeit with a timed exclusivity. [Issue#234, p.48]

Just Cause 4 is just like its predecessor, but bigger, better, faster. Most of the grind was removed, while “creative destruction” aspect is better than ever. [Issue#234, p.34]

It’s more like a Season 2 to Hitman (2016) than a proper sequel, so there isn’t a lot of changes – just a few new story tidbits (in case anyone actually follows the plot), as well as 6 new incredibly detailed levels. [Issue#234, p.52]

Day 4. I’m still in the shop, watching tutorials, writing down names and brands. Of course, proper tools are way out of my price range, so I’ll have to go with cheap equivalents. …Have you ever tried to find cheap equivalents for stuff you’ve never even heard of before? [Issue#234, p.50]

Yes, it’s underpolished compared to predecessors. Yes, darksouls-esque mechanics don’t exactly click with traditional combat dynamics. Yes, acrobatics are straight up bad. But let’s give Darksiders 3 a little break – after all, the series did just come back from the dead. [Issue#234, p.64]

The car physics are more appropriate for a “shoebox on linoleum” simulator than a Dakar racing game. [Issue#234, p.59]

Absence of story campaign aside, Black Ops 4 managed to keep the traditional gameplay of the series as well as venture into the uncharted territories of Battle Royale genre – with a reasonable amount of success. [Issue#234, p.44]

Call of Cthulhu is an atmospheric game with a rather gripping detective storyline. Unfortunately, it fails to evoke any kind of fear of the unknown, which is essential for Cthulhu mythos. [Issue#234,p.66]

Battlefield V still has the magic of its predecessors: you do feel like you’re taking part in a big battle in some Hollywood movie. But everything about it, from bugs to the amount of content, makes you feel that EA is trying to sell an Early Access game without labeling it so. [Issue#234, p.40]

The game puts as much emphasis on narration as it does on turn-based combat, but if you’ve ever played a JRPG or two, Valkyria’s story won’t surprise you – you already know by heart these character types and plot twists. Same goes for combat – it’s so similar to the first game, it’s embarrassing. [Issue #233, p.60]

Insomniac definitely went overboard with collectibles and routine side activities, which is definitely detrimental to game interest (especially since equipment upgrades are directly tied to them). But they nearly made up for it with attention to details and quality of cutscenes. [Issue #233, p.74]

Soulcalibur had always been relatively accessible fighting series, and now it is even more so: certain moves that previously required multiple button presses are now relegated to shoulder buttons. Still, it doesn’t oversimplify combat, as inertia from miscalculated strike still can drag you out of area boundaries, causing an instant loss. [Issue #233, p.66]

Lara’s new adventure is definitely the best in trilogy, but it still lags behind the leaders of action-adventure genre, such as Uncharted 4. [Issue #233, p.44]

It’s astonishing how many animations, dialogues and scripted behaviors were made for this game, and how well they work with each other to create such a complex, immersive world. [Issue #233, p.38]

It’s basically a puzzle, but variety of situations, solutions and environments never lets it get stale. [Issue #233, p.72]

Having a co-op partner is essential for Overcooked 2, otherwise you’ll miss most of the funny situations, entertaining confusion and surprising difficulty of this game. [Issue #233, p.64]

Diaz brothers’ debut isn’t groundbreaking, but it proves that Dontnod still can produce an engaging drama. You can’t help but feel sympathy for protagonists, especially since the stakes are much higher this time around. [Issue #233, p.48]

Forza Horizon 4 sets a new mark: from now on, any open-world racing game that doesn’t feature passing of the seasons will feel like it’s missing something very important both for immersion and variety. [Issue #233, p.50]

Besides the advancements in story mode, some changes were made to core gameplay. It’s hard to say if they’re for better or worse, but the game definitely feels a bit different. Maybe that was the entire point, as you can’t just update team rosters of FIFA 18 and sell it as a new game. But tweak the balance a bit – and you’ve got FIFA 19. [Issue #233, p.53]

While it really is a mix of FTL and XCOM, it lacks the quick pace of the former and budget of the latter. You’ll be fighting in the same levels against the same enemies for over and over again, which will soon begin to feel like a chore. [Issue #233, p.73]

Like other InXile games, Bard’s Tale IV lives and breathes oldschool design decisions, which is a rare and valuable thing these days. Where else would you find a party-based RPG that focuses on puzzles, music and unusual combat solutions instead of common grind and hunt for loot? [Issue #233, p.68]

As expected, Odyssey is basically Origins 2.0, bigger and better in almost every regard, from leveling options to wide open world with procedurally-generated mercenaries to keep you entertained for hours and hours. [Issue #233, p.54]