Directive 8020 flirts with greatness by blending Alien and The Thing into a choice-driven horror that will certainly appeal to sci-fi and Supermassive Games fans alike. While the atmospheric space setting is immersive, the title is hindered by trivial stealth mechanics and a cast that lacks charisma. It’s a safe season premiere that, unfortunately, sacrifices its greatest potential — paranoia — in favor of narrative conveniences.

Despite laying some solid groundwork, inKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories. occupies itself far too much with the platonic, disconcerting conception Nagai Industries has of the Japanese convenience store as some sort of social hub, while at the same time treating the backdrop of the country as mere aesthetics at best and a nuisance to Western audiences at worst. It’s conclusive proof that fascination doesn’t necessarily equal respect.

World Heroes Perfect’s re-release may be considered the most niche title in the Neo Geo Premium Selection, but it gives players the opportunity to give the game another chance. Although it is technically dated by modern standards, the gameplay remains fun, and the mechanical features introduced here place it ahead of its predecessors. It is also the weakest entry in the line, especially due to its lack of content.

Bus Bound's premise is to make the city evolve with the routes we take, and while this is an interesting way to give purpose to this type of game, it ends up becoming highly repetitive in its progression. At least the varied garage and dynamic weather create some interesting variations each time we enter a route.

Outlive 25 is a technically competent and historically relevant remaster, but its appeal is fundamentally limited. It fulfills its purpose well: to preserve a national classic with care and fidelity. However, it doesn't transcend this objective nor does it offer sufficient reasons to recommend it to those outside the circle of RTS fans or those interested in games with some historical context, especially in this case, involving the Brazilian film industry. There is real value in the product, but it is conditioned by the profile of the player.

Sol Cesto presents a creative concept, with a probability-based system that generates tense decisions and interesting moments. Its dark atmosphere, striking visuals, and distinctive mechanics help build a unique identity, even if the execution doesn’t fully explore the potential of these ideas. In the end, the experience is more likely to appeal to those who enjoy taking risks and don’t mind repetition or the strong influence of chance. On the other hand, those looking for something more elaborate, with greater strategic control and consistent variety, may find reasons to be disappointed.

Despite some pacing issues and excessive repetition, YunYun Syndrome: Rhythm Psychosis is an incredibly fun experience with a full self-awareness of the slightly deeper layers of the otaku sphere it both represents and engages with.

Ariana and the Elder Codex stands out through its art direction and a deep magic system, featuring boss battles that truly test a player's strategy. However, the title requires patience to deal with occasionally stiff movement, an excess of dialogue, and an exploration structure that becomes repetitive. For those seeking an action game with a unique visual style and solid customization mechanics, the overall experience is positive, provided you are willing to endure moments of repetition and monotony.

Considering the concept of a cozy game, any limitation that hinders the natural flow of the game ends up contradicting the ideal of comfort inherent in the genre. High Above fails to live up to this premise. It's a production with a clear idea, but it seems unable to develop it with the completeness that a release outside of early access should.

PowerWash Simulator 2 - Adventure Time Pack has already shown that paid expansions will maintain the same pace as the previous game. While it's interesting to explore locations from beloved franchises in a unique way, following their distinctive style, it's time for more substantial content that truly respects the premise of the base game being bigger and better.

Without resorting solely to superficial mythological elements, Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss does a decent job of structuring its experience around investigative gameplay while also exploring the thematic dichotomy between a logical approach to often illogical cosmic events. While this may not be particularly original within the genre, finding such a consistent execution is still far from common.

Dosa Divas is a stylish and accessible RPG that shines through its charming narrative and high-quality voice acting. While its culinary theme is creative, the game is held back by repetitive cooking minigames and a lack of enemy variety that makes combat feel predictable over time. It is a solid entry point for genre newcomers, though seasoned players may find its core mechanics a bit undercooked.

Icarus has an interesting premise and probably works best on PC, since it was developed with that focus. On consoles, it works, but it may not be ideal for those seeking a faster and more accessible experience. On the other hand, if you want a game that challenges you at every turn and encourages you to constantly improve, Icarus: Console Edition might be exactly what you're looking for.

It's undeniable that Darwin's Paradox is funny and offers an interesting dynamic between land and water levels, even with sections that can be extremely frustrating, to the point of demotivating the player. However, those on PlayStation 5 should perhaps wait for a definitive solution to the crashing problem, which can even cause some kind of damage to the console.

As a gaming experience and sensory stimulation, People of Note does get to satisfy; the real issue lies in the uninteresting, overlooked and empty story the gameplay tries to sustain. To Brazilian eyes, the text gets even worse with a just as poorly done localisation to our language. Those who wish to venture into Note and meet a genuinely well-crafted RPG will have to endure several issues.

Life is Strange: Reunion succeeds by bringing back Max and Chloe with improved chemistry and maturity, ensuring a worthy ending. The soundtrack and collectibles remain excellent. However, the arsonist mystery is weak. The game suffers from limited dialogue options, reducing replayability, and a smaller campus, limiting exploration.

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance arrives at a delicate moment for the franchise. After years of silence broken by the positive reception of the remasters, fans expected a high-quality return worthy of the series — but what they received was a title that seems to underestimate the very legacy it carries in its name.

Despite lacking innovation, Last Man Sitting offers some enjoyable moments through its frenetic combat, interesting abilities, and engaging soundtrack. However, limited weapon variety and weak level design make the experience grow repetitive over time, leaving it behind other games in the genre.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance – SEGA Villains Stage DLC features memorable battles against well-designed and challenging bosses, which clearly stand out within the experience. On the other hand, the stages fall short, with linear progression, limited use of Musashi’s abilities, and a timid exploration of the thematic potential of the represented worlds. In the end, it’s an expansion that works better as a challenge-focused add-on rather than an essential addition. For those seeking intense confrontations, there are some strong moments here; however, players expecting variety and more creative exploration may come away feeling it was a missed opportunity.

eBaseball: PRO SPIRIT is a great idea that could still succeed, but it needs a lot of work. Having a free baseball title with only local games isn't enough, as a paid service is still required to use the online functionality of one of the platforms. Furthermore, the choice to include generic teams is quite questionable, even with the possibility of making them a little less unattractive.

The ordinariness of Etrange Overlord's gameplay somewhat limits the enjoyment of the game, even though Etrange Overlord succeeds in fulfilling its promise of offering a light and accessible experience, especially due to its graceful narrative and visual presentation.

Tales of Berseria Remastered fulfills its role without grand ambitions. It's a more complete and accessible version of a game that was already solid in its concept, especially by including all previously released additional content, from updates to DLCs. Still, it's hard to ignore the feeling that this relationship could have gone further. The technical improvements are welcome, but subtle, and have little impact on those who have already experienced the original version, especially on PC and PlayStation 4. In this sense, the remaster seems more relevant as an entry point for new players or for those who had the opportunity to experience the title on new platforms.

Strangely inviting due to one of the most forgiving parry systems imaginable, Homura Hime is a really cute game, managing to offer fun through competent and fluid gameplay, although it would benefit from more challenge aimed at the more experienced players in the genre.

City Hunter returns to modern platforms through a respectful remaster of the 1990 PC Engine game based on Tsukasa Hojo’s manga. The release includes quality-of-life features such as save states, rewind, multiple screen options and full localization, making the game more accessible than ever. However, the core experience shows its age. The gameplay revolves around exploring maze-like buildings, fighting enemies with simple shooting mechanics and searching for the correct doors to progress. While controls are responsive and the historical value of the release is notable, the repetitive level design, confusing exploration and shallow combat prevent the game from being more than a curiosity for fans of retro titles or the original franchise.

Scott Pilgrim EX truly functions as a narrative continuation of a multimedia universe, which is a bit risky to do nowadays, depending on the size of the franchise. As a beat 'em up, it delivers a colorful and energetic adventure for those who want something not too complicated to enjoy with friends, but the system of repeatedly roaming the map can make the pace of progression drag, even though the game itself is quite short.

There's something appealing about Hunt the Night's visuals and atmosphere, as well as fun in its fast-paced and dynamic combat. However, issues with bugs, text layout, different commands on the same button, lukewarm dungeons, and the lack of a map system hinder the experience and prevent it from standing out.

Neva: Prologue returns to the original universe by portraying the beginning of the bond between Alba and the young wolf, preserving the agile combat, challenging platforming, and striking art direction—now with a darker tone. The new puzzle ideas and enemies add variety and increase the difficulty; however, they are underexplored due to the short length. Although it delivers intense and visually impactful moments, the sense of more of the same and its brevity lessen its overall impact. Even so, it is a recommended expansion for those who wish to revisit this story from a new perspective.

Centipede Gun is the kind of title you keep in your library to revisit from time to time and play a few casual matches. In terms of content, its replay value is low, but those who enjoy a more arcade-style approach (straight to the point, with the challenging randomness of roguelikes) will find genuine fun.

No Sleep For Kaname Date — From AI: The Somnium Files is a functional, technically solid console release, but offers little incentive for players who already experienced it on PC or Switch. With its smaller scope and limited narrative impact, it’s easier to recommend to existing fans who couldn’t access previous platforms than to those considering a replay.

Aerial_Knight’s DropShot succeeds in delivering fast-paced action and intense stages, with ammo management and a strong balance between offense and evasion creating genuinely fun moments. However, limited variety and short stage length make the experience feel repetitive sooner than expected. The ranking system adds replay value, but it may not sustain long-term interest. Still, fans of the developer’s previous work and this style of challenge will likely find a few hours of solid enjoyment here.

JDM: Japanese Drift Master does a great job of developing good gameplay and choosing a mission model spread across a city that evokes the origins and culture of the sport. However, some details could be improved to enhance the virtual racer experience, especially in the visuals and mission difficulty.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties has no interest in the source material other than trying to adapt it to the tired formula of mass appeal that Masayoshi Yokoyama perfected when he took over as head of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. In the process, the game forgets everything that made the original story a landmark of the franchise and replaces it with a thick coat of corporate varnish. Unfortunate associations and certain narrative decisions also make the experience hard to swallow. A true disappointment in the franchise, of the kind that has, unfortunately, become more common over time — perhaps it's time for the end of the annual format.

Cozy Caravan delivers a light and welcoming experience, supported by charming art direction, solid customization options, and a progression system that consistently feels rewarding. While mission repetition, interface issues, and camera limitations hold it back from greater refinement, its cozy atmosphere and relaxing nature make it a good choice for players seeking comfort rather than challenge.

My Hero Academia: All’s Justice lands somewhere between being better and worse than Byking’s other efforts. The idea of open districts is interesting, and the more accessible gameplay may appeal to the niche audience for anime-based games. However, the absurd difficulty of the story mode, the repetitive missions, and the stiff gameplay place the game in the lower tier of licensed anime titles.

Lovish is a pleasant retro-style experience built around simple controls, brisk levels, and light humor, delivering a competent 2D adventure with a fair number of secrets for players who enjoy exploring off the beaten path. However, it is also a limited and occasionally repetitive game, with many sections failing to leave a lasting impression and rarely pushing beyond the basics. Optional challenges and hidden content help soften these issues but don’t fundamentally elevate the experience. Ultimately, Lovish is a fun and well-executed journey that succeeds at what it sets out to do, even if it never truly stands out.

I Hate This Place is a good adaptation of the comics for the virtual world, bringing faithful visuals, onomatopoeia for every character action, and an introduction to the comic universe. However, the game stumbles with imprecise aiming, a low variety of enemies, and an unengaging protagonist

Escape from Ever After surpasses its inspiration with a captivating story, fun protagonists, and varied gameplay, including moves and accessories , plus extra modes that increase duration and challenge. However, the pacing of some stages makes the fights repetitive quickly.

Just like a real-life job, Quarantine Zone: The Last Check quickly becomes repetitive due to its lack of novelty. The low variety of missions, the personality-less NPCs, and the fact that all the resources needed for evaluation are introduced too quickly make it tedious when played in long sessions. Still, it’s an interesting management and simulation title that could benefit greatly from more development time and resources to grow. The idea is solid and can be entertaining, but it lacks an extra spark to truly stand out.

With a duration equivalent to a single TV show episode and very limited interactivity, DETECTIVE – Rainy Night positions itself as a title meant to be observed rather than deciphered, which directly conflicts with the implicit promise of its name, functioning as a curious pastime ideal for those looking to consume a short story without much effort or commitment.

Ghetto Zombies: Graffiti Squad is a charismatic and creative experience within the Brazilian indie scene, combining fast-paced action with a visual and thematic approach that resonates well with the nostalgia of 16-bit games. Despite this, some design choices ultimately limit the experience's potential. The absence of a cooperative mode negatively impacts a game that clearly benefits from shared gameplay, while the reloading mechanics of certain weapons can disrupt the rhythm of the action during more intense moments. Still, the title delivers consistent fun, a variety of weapons, and a progression system that encourages experimentation and replayability.

Whether you are looking to relax or a younger audience is interested, Cats Around Us: Giant Cat is worth a try. Its accessible gameplay provides easy and enjoyable challenges, designed primarily for a younger audience — and those who like cute kittens. The main drawback is the overall lack of content, but what is available does the job: a game that playfully engages with cats in a funny and entertaining way.

In a straightforward and objective way, Ninja Gaiden 4 is on par with the original trilogy — the problem is that the last game was released over ten years ago. Even though it's competent, the lack of variability during the campaign noticeably hurts the final product. Everything the game delivers, it does so violently. And violence, when overdone, loses its intended shock value.

Criticizing the industry that is killing the planet, Alruna and the Necro-Industrialists is a succinct yet expressive ecological manifesto. The world and its dungeons are well-constructed, and the dystopian setting matches its refined 8-bit style visuals, but some design choices prevent the true potential of this short adventure with too few battles from being fully realized.

The Telenet Shooting Collection Launcher presents itself as a curious initiative and, at the same time, representative of current trends in the preservation of classic games. By opting for a modular model that allows the individual purchase of titles, Edia offers freedom of choice to the player, even if this goes against the traditional concept of closed collections. It is a proposal that prioritizes conscious consumption, but may not please the most purist fans.

Yakuza 0 Director's Cut is still Yakuza 0. The classic experience remains magnificent, backed by all the extravagance and charisma so characteristic of the franchise. Even though it's a victim of a marketing stunt that unfortunately don't match the result delivered under a "Director's Cut" label, the title maintains its mystique intact, exuding spectacle, noise, and an intensity like a dancing dragon across the night sky that, thankfully, refuses to turn off the lights in a everlasting party.

Much of HORSES' notoriety stems from its 'forbidden' status, but beneath the controversy lies a valid, experimental narrative for adult audiences. It is a worthwhile provocation for those seeking something off-beat, succeeding as an uncomfortable and fleeting audiovisual piece.

BUBBLE BOBBLE Sugar Dungeons has a good idea, but its execution seems to have been done by one of those amateur chefs from culinary reality shows. There's a lot of potential in the idea of using candies and power-ups, but the slow start, combined with the grinding that's tied to the randomness of the dungeons, makes the progression drag. At least it's worth it to be able to play Bubble Symphony in a well-emulated port and with menus in English.

Despite some positive points in its narrative and visual presentation, The Last Case of John Morley presents too many issues to be easily recommended. The gameplay is weak and uninspired, and this is further compounded by serious flaws in the Portuguese localization, such as gender agreement errors—especially when female characters are speaking—which significantly break immersion. This is a game that clearly deserved more care and polish to truly stand out and overcome its limitations. Still, due to its short runtime, many of these problems do not become as evident as they otherwise might, making the experience somewhat more tolerable for players looking for a quick, story-driven journey.

I honestly feel like this game should have been released as a DLC or update, not as a standalone title. As a side mode attached to the main event, a lot of my complaints would evaporate. It’d be a nice way to add some replayability, aiming for a high score in a randomized dreamscape. However, it’s presented as an entirely separate game, and should be judged as such. For the newcomer, you have an experience devoid of context. For the veteran, you have mostly the same experience shuffled around. In either case, there is a definite lack of content. A full run takes maybe twenty minutes, and while your strengths may vary between runs, the way you fundamentally approach each one does not.

The survival dynamic in a hostile ecosystem makes Bioframe Outpost a Metroidvania with its own personality and many challenges, but it doesn't help pacing a progression that is sometimes laborious and confusing, and that also lacks key moments and climaxes to break the monotony. Therefore, what we have is an approach that, in trying to execute its own idea, ends up being more geared towards niche players who are curious and patient.

Trouble Witches FINAL! Episode 01 Daughters of Amalgam is a great cute 'em up, but it suffers from repetitiveness and clinging too closely to the formula of the original release. If more unlockables had been introduced, justifying a return to the various game modes, it could certainly have a more attractive replay factor than simply replicating the same paths with variations in difficulty.

Although the expansion doesn't bring enough content to fully appreciate the marvel that was AlUla's representation in the game, Valley of Memory is a captivating revisit for enthusiasts of the original game, who will most likely feel at home once again as they follow Basim on a new, touching, and intimate adventure.

Slipping up on its premise, Project Motor Racing failed to deliver a competent and realistic racing experience. While it has qualities such as its selection of cars and tracks, as well as customization options, several things fell short. These include an uninteresting visual style and problems with gameplay and customization. In the end, the game is still a minimally interesting option for fans of the genre, but nothing more than that.

The puzzles in Secrets of Blackrock Manor: Escape Room really get your brain working. They're arbitrary and rely much more on our ability to associate symbols, colors, and numbers than on the environment or narrative context. The story is there to add a little extra flavor, but its role is secondary, as the true protagonists are the puzzles. In the end, it's a fun and unpretentious game that simply wants to give us a few hours of pleasure in unraveling the logic behind each room in an old mansion.

A safe and well-executed mode, which relies on the extremely strong foundation of Battlefield 6. For now, it may not define the future of the genre, but it fulfills its role by expanding the game's reach and offering immediate fun for those seeking something free and technically refined.

Captain Wayne – Vacation Desperation delivers exactly what it promises: an over-the-top, fast-paced, and personality-filled boomer shooter. Its deliberately grotesque aesthetic, combined with absurd humor and fast-paced combat, creates an experience that doesn't try to reinvent the genre, but celebrates it enthusiastically.

After a year and a half of early access, Kill It With Fire 2 finally reached the state of a definitive release, it's a sequel that managed to understand all the flaws presented by its predecessor and twist them to deliver a much more robust, interesting, and fluid product in its own right. If the first Kill It With Fire felt like a demo, its sequel is a complete experience. And it's great to see such a clear evolution for a project like this.

The RENNSPORT format could yield a good game in the future if further developed, as it currently appears to be in beta or early access. Proper attention to its content and some visual, sound, and AI improvements could make it a more appealing product for virtual racing fans.

Neon Inferno delivers exactly what it promises: fast-paced action, stylish visuals, and gameplay that blends intense gunfights with strategic moments, thanks to its shift between perspectives and projectile deflections. The bosses are memorable, the variety of situations keeps the pace engaging, and the cyberpunk setting adds the final touch. However, it remains a short and simple experience, more notable for its stylish intensity than depth. Like a modern arcade session, it offers an hour of frantic fun. While not particularly memorable, it’s a game that justifies the time spent—quick, straightforward, and full of personality.

For a Persona fan, this game might not be exactly what you’d expect. Many of its simplified mechanics and the lack of more meaningful consequences for your choices may disappoint those looking for a deeper social experience or a calendar system that demands strategic planning. Even so, it clearly demonstrates qualities that make it a game worth recommending: its narrative is intriguing, the combat is extremely well executed, and the world it presents is full of personality. It’s worth giving Demonschool a chance, especially if you’re looking for a lighter, stylish game with thoughtfully designed battles.

Morsels is a game marked by boldness and creativity, featuring charismatic characters and a world full of secrets, but it's hindered by confusing systems and excessive punishments that disrupt the flow of the experience, even alienating experienced players. While it hides interesting potential behind its eccentricities, it requires patience and persistence to be fully appreciated. With adjustments to balancing, clearer mechanics, and reduced punishments, Morsels could be much more brilliant, but as it stands, it’s a unique yet limited journey, best suited for those seeking unconventional experiences and willing to deal with its challenges.

The selection of titles and the documentary aspect of Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection do an excellent job of showing why ripping off heads and throwing opponents into pools of acid has been so much fun for 30 years, even with some absences from the list. However, there are still many issues to be addressed, especially in online performance, which should be the main attraction of the collection.

Painkiller is an honest production about its intentions: it wants you to shoot, explode, and customize your arsenal until you find the perfect combination for destruction. In this goal, it succeeds. The combat is satisfying, the weapon customization is robust, and the cooperative sessions deliver the expected chaos. The problem is that, surrounding this solid core, there is little content to sustain the structure. Nine stages across three biomes, repetitive enemies, and predictable level design cause the experience to quickly exhaust its freshness. For those looking for a few hours of unpretentious fun with friends, Painkiller delivers. However, for those expecting a shooter with the legs to last, the game remains trapped in its own purgatory of repetition.

Rue Valley ends up being a very interesting adventure due to its premise, and it does a good job of subverting and combining its various sources of reference. While the general outlines of the multiple plots are engaging and the possibilities offered by the protagonist's attribute structure contribute to the narrative's diversity, the title sometimes takes on a tiring and unstimulating tone. Even so, although derivative, it's a quite solid product and seems tailor-made for those who constantly think about their own mistakes and imagine having a new opportunity to correct them. It's like a small experiment on the perception of time and regret, whose inconsistent rhythm is responsible for both prolonging and shortening the overall perception of the journey.

Anima: Gate of Memories I & II Remaster delivered an improved version with superior lighting, textures, and new difficulty settings. However, it still falls short due to the lack of Portuguese subtitles and the limiting Ki bar, which hinders the overall combat flow.

Possessor(s) is a visually striking journey supported by agile combat, yet it lacks the boldness that could have made it truly memorable. The relationship between Luca and Rhem adds emotional weight to the story, and the battle system provides exciting moments, but the metroidvania structure feels too basic. In the end, the game manages to engage and hold our interest, but it settles for playing it safe, delivering a competent experience, though far from the potential its premise promised.

Slime Rancher 2 is no great revolution — and it’s also not really trying to be one. The game fulfills its big ideas quite well in terms of gameplay, but it wouldn’t be a bad thing if it dared to dream a little bigger. It’s good entertainment that could’ve made more of an effort to become great.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is a game with great narrative and atmosphere, but it fails as an RPG. It succeeds in dialogue, setting, and themes, but stumbles in game design, variety, and meaningful choices. For those looking for a dark and well-written story, it's worth the experience. However, those who expected a true spiritual successor to Bloodlines (2004) will be left thirsty for blood—and depth.

Thrasher is undoubtedly a more classic arcade experience than it actually seems. The eel's control is impeccable (despite some bugs and other contextual influences, such as the backgrounds) but both the level and power-up design doesn't capitalize on this great triumph. It seems the title is so desperate to immerse the player in its sensorial pool of lights, colors, and sounds that it seems to have forgotten that one way to do this is through practical challenges designed in a more logical and less conceptual way.

Pizza Delivery has an interesting message that suffers from annoying problems. Some updates could fix the gameplay and translation issues, but even so, the narrative could have been richer with the many possibilities that could have been explored using its background elements.

Despite coming from a long line of games, Double Dragon Revive failed to reach the level of quality worthy of its golden age. It manages to be entertaining with its dynamic combat and good variety of scenarios, which offer interesting interactions. The problem is that, while the game is not exactly ugly, its style leaves something to be desired, as do some of its challenges. It is recommended for fans of the beat 'em up genre or anyone who wants to relive (even partially) the glories of the past.

Fire Hero - Pixel Rescue is a good recommendation among retro-style platform games. Even with technical limitations and visual simplicity, the title manages to stand out for its engaging gameplay, creative level design, and well-balanced challenge progression. The combination of action, exploration, and small doses of narrative keeps the player interested until the end, especially for those who enjoy beating time limits and discovering hidden secrets.

The game has fantastic artwork, from the sins to the demons, everything is visually striking. Even the scenery, though simple, with its earthy, bluish ground, has personality. The problem is that there seems to be only one level, sustained by the same music and with a huge variation in available abilities. In the end, Devil Jam leaves the feeling of a game with great potential that fell short.

Playing the metroidvania Plus Ultra: Legado, it's up to individual preferences whether the refined historical setting and great comic book aesthetics make up for the basic gameplay and imprecise controls. For me, the balance manages to be somewhat positive, but the unintuitive exploration and unbalanced boss fights remain the biggest drawbacks of this Spanish colonialist adventure.

Fantasy Maiden Wars – DREAM OF THE STRAY DREAMER - is a solid entry point for newcomers to the Touhou universe who are looking for a traditional tactical RPG with well-designed battles and engaging characters. The game shines in its combat system but struggles with pacing and presentation. Long dialogue scenes can disrupt the flow of battles and may put off players looking for a more streamlined experience.

Extinction Rifts has a good idea in theory, but in practice it ends up lacking. The fast-paced action is good and the gameplay is just right, but it doesn't work well with dead-end corridors, forcing the player to repeat the same levels to memorize the path. It would also be great if the combo system were easier to maintain throughout the level, so that the rush doesn't turn into despair.

This new release of Kizuna Encounter: Super Tag Battle is a welcome addition to SNK's remaster catalog, especially given the unconventional nature of the choice, as it's not one of the company's flagship titles. While it follows the example of its predecessors in being sparse on additional content, the core gameplay remains as fun as it is brutal, and that's what matters at the end of the day.

Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witcherblends promising ideas with an inconsistent execution and numerous flaws. The tactical combat is engaging, and the bosses are challenging. However, the game suffers from repetitive objectives, a lackluster narrative, and abrupt difficulty spikes.

UNYIELDER is an intense and challenging experience, tailor-made for those seeking thrilling combat and testing their limits in battles against relentless bosses. However, the repetition of mechanics, combined with the steep difficulty curve and certain technical issues, may put off players seeking something more accessible or with greater content variety. Still, with time and patience, the game rewards those who dedicate themselves, offering exciting battles and a genuine sense of achievement with each victory.

AquaPazza: Aquaplus Dream Match remains a very fun game nearly 15 years later. Even without being revolutionary, its visual and mechanical appeal still holds up, carrying the distinct style of its era. On the other hand, what Shiravune delivered is downright disrespectful. Bugs that didn’t exist in the original game, no quality-of-life improvements, control issues, an unplayable online mode — and the list goes on. Hopefully these problems will eventually be fixed, but as it stands, this is far from a good example of a re-release.

Sonic Wings Reunion focused on reviving a past star, but without capitalizing on its glory or bringing anything new. Not even nostalgia can be a draw, given that many other franchises, such as Gradius, Darius, and X-Out, have dedicated themselves to releasing collections or remastering their main titles, adding achievements and memorabilia. The Aero Fighters' flight deserved more attention.

Alien: Rogue Incursion – Part One: Evolved Edition is a competent and fairly well-adapted adventure, standing out for the relationship between its protagonists and its excellent atmosphere. It’s a shame that the design philosophies inherited from the virtual-reality version still influence the experience. The simple structure of the puzzles and combat, the lack of enemy and environment variety, as well as the bugs and other technical issues, ultimately hinder the game’s potential. Even so, it’s worth playing despite the setbacks — especially for Alien fans.

Candy Rangers is a visually charming game with interesting mechanics for the rail shooter genre. Its colorful atmosphere, combined with a lively soundtrack, creates an engaging initial experience. However, the requirement to collect tokens to advance compromises the fluidity of progression, making the journey more repetitive than it should be. Despite this, it still delivers fun and a challenge, especially for those who enjoy overcoming obstacles perfectly.

Baby Steps is clearly aimed at a specific audience, with its clueless exploration and gameplay based on trial, error, and eventual frustration. Therefore, it may not be the best choice for those who just want to enjoy an open world. However, if you're the kind of person who can compose yourself after taking at least 80 deep breaths before redoing the same thing before freaking out, Bennett Foddy's new creation is ideal for your library.

Hotel Barcelona is a complicated game in every imaginable way. While it offers an interesting challenge thanks to the high degree of unpredictability inherent in the roguelike genre, it's hard to ignore its performance issues and clunky gameplay. It's a stylish game that lovingly pays homage to horror cinema, but it nearly ruins everything with its clumsy and almost inconsequential execution. It takes effort to see its precariousness as its own charm, like a genuine low-budget trashy horror film with questionable intentions. Once this hurdle is overcome, it quickly carves out its niche, for which it can be seen as one of the best games in the world.

The supposedly open ending of Assassin's Creed Shadows' main campaign actually made some sense, as it was a way for Ubisoft to make it clear that the game has a long life ahead of it, both narratively and regarding the ongoing support updates. In Claws of Awaji, however, this vagueness felt a bit mocking. Even so, while the island of Awaji itself doesn't offer inviting elements, the DLC isn't entirely bad, as the inclusion of the staff, the straightforward mission progression, and the boss fights manage to add value to the overall experience.

Formula Legends suffers from some pretty annoying structural issues that prevent it from shining as a lighter, yet still challenging, alternative for motorsport enthusiasts. The idea of featuring cars from different eras is welcome and well-explored, as is using Grand Prix races from each era to showcase the evolution of the sport itself. However, a racing game that doesn't hone your driving skills needs to urgently return to the pits for repairs.

Marisa of Liartop Mountain offers an interesting take on the Touhou universe, blending puzzle and RPG elements with the feel of a narrated tabletop game. Despite its rigid structure, which requires frequent backtracking (revisiting areas to complete objectives) and distances the game a bit from its initial proposal, discovering solutions to challenges and managing the dice in combat provides a pleasant, albeit limited, experience.

Sushi Ben is an experience of exploring a colorful world with truly compelling characters, but that ends up as a much weaker game than it should be. The sum is worth less than the quality of its parts and, though it's still possible to have fun with the weirdness of the experience, this project eserved more polish to truly stand out.

Baki Hanma: Blood Arena lives up to what Baki really is. Inherently campy, a true fan will understand how the game manages to capture the essence of the IP as a huge parody. Cloning Punch-Out!! is a cool proposal, however, it relies too heavily on the player's good faith in valuing the concept over the borderline-acceptable execution. It definitely doesn't serve to introduce the series to a new audience, but at least they captured the spirit of Itagaki’s work.

Moros Protocol is an FPS that combines fast-paced action with roguelike elements in a competent way, offering agile combat and a well-crafted, dark atmosphere. Despite its good ideas, the repetition of rooms and enemies, along with the imbalance of some weapons, limits the longevity of the experience. The game shines in intense combat moments, especially against bosses, but lacks enough variety and innovation to become truly memorable. Still, it provides an enjoyable experience for fans of fast-paced action and quick-paced exploration.

Metal Eden, from Reikon Games, is an ambitious FPS that stands out for its engaging combat and interesting mechanics, like the cores. However, it falters due to a superficial narrative and repetitive art direction. It’s ideal for players seeking quick fun, but may disappoint those looking for depth.

The expectations for Lost Soul Aside ended up being greater than the final product. On the one hand, we have fun and exciting combat, with a good variety of powers, items, and enemies. On the other, we have a confusing and poorly developed story, as well as its characters, who also lack charisma. Although the production's outcome is positive, it fell somewhat short, being recommended only for action-adventure fans (and those willing to bear a mediocre RPG).

Rally Arcade Classics manages to blend excellent qualities with somewhat annoying flaws. The competent handling, satisfactory track performance, and large amount of content are counterpoints that even overcome the heavy grinding and the subpar presentation. Ultimately, it's an interesting option for those looking for a more arcade-style rally with a touch of simulation.

Robots at Midnight is a bold project. It aims to be a more accessible soulslike for younger audiences, and that alone is a welcome proposition. However, the execution does not match the ambition. Technical polish is lacking, frustration lingers in crucial details, and the narrative cannot carry the weight of the journey. Even so, the charm of the art style, the MITT system, and the Nightfall mechanic justify a curious look for those seeking a gentle entry point into the genre. The game does not become memorable, yet it plants a seed that could blossom in future projects.

The end result is that Dragon Ball: Gekishin Squadra may be addicting, making its apparently fast matches soon become hours spent in getting some more victories, but, as a game as a service, a good chunk of the experience will depend on managing it well on the long run.

Hirogami is a case that seems more interesting to watch than to actually play. The concept is captivating, the transformation mechanic is intriguing, and the exploration moments are at least engaging. Unfortunately, the clunky combat, hindered by the lack of enemy variety, along with environments that are thematically uncreative, undermine how interesting the overall experience is.

Debtor is a short, inexpensive game that's bound to go unnoticed if you don't look closely. It's clear that it's far from being a shovelware game, as it has its own distinct qualities, but it certainly could have delivered much more than it did in the final product.