I should mention that there are a couple of details in the story that didn't quite fit for me and seemed a bit forced, and that the boss battles, in general, seemed quite easy compared to other instalments in the series. Otherwise, I can only praise the work that Capcom has prepared for us.

It pains me greatly to have to give this score to a game that was part of my childhood, which I have fond memories of and am loving reliving on Nintendo Switch (in Handheld Mode), but I really think they could have done a much better job and that, aside from the price, if they had included screen filters, full compatibility with Pokémon Home, and online features so you don't have to meet up with your friends in person to trade Pokémon and battle, these ports would have been much more appealing options.

Mario Tennis Fever is what you might call a mixed bag. There's excitement in the Ranked matches and a relative balance when you master the characters and rackets, but the online friendly mode feels archaic and the overall experience doesn't offer as much enjoyment and depth as some of the previous, ironically simpler, games. The additional activities are welcome, but the story is a bore. The graphics are beautiful, but the amount of recycled assets reaches FIFA and PES levels... But in the end, it's a decent tennis party game, and given the state of the subgenre over the last decade, there is still value in it and it remains your best option, even if it is as elitist as the real sport.

Romeo is a Dead Man, despite all the metal and sci-fi fantasy, is so flesh and bone that you can almost smell its blood and feel the viscosity of his entrails. It is a punk and irreverent response to the current situation, both in the video game industry and globally, which comes at a key moment. You may find its basic systems or level design somewhat archaic, but everything else makes it a journey as bizarre as it is memorable, in which Grasshopper Manufacture leverages all its strengths (playable, narrative and, above all, artistic) better than ever.

When I first played Switch 2 and DK Bananza in Paris I was saying that the mechanics and ideas expected from the studio would have to more than make up for a supposed difference in appeal, but the two paragraphs above make it clear that the Japanese devs were more than aware of this and chose to cover both avenues, just in case. So, whether you're interested in the story of this new pairing of big goofy ape and charming singing girl, you'll find a very original game that, beneath its destructive appearance and platforming legacy, is actually more about exploration and game feel. If you know how to let yourself be carried away by the sonar hooks and enjoy digging into its mechanical quality, Donkey Kong Bananza is undoubtedly the first solo must-have exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2. As such, it offers you a layered game with a great personality to keep unearthing the treasure trove of its fun throughout the summer and beyond.

After dozens of hours with it, it's hard for me to define exactly what Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is. If the first was a letter without a return address, this is a registered package with a return receipt. It's had to forgo a layer of mystery in order to be more at the service of the player. And yet it is far more ambitious, more playable and more complete. It's full of beautiful vistas, unforgettable moments and sequences that make you get out of your seat. This time, it's one of those games that I can safely recommend to anyone.

If you liked the team's previous works and tactical games like Fire Emblem, The Hundred Line: Last Defence Academy is a recommended choice. However, I'm left with the feeling that it's a good idea that missed an opportunity to be something even more special.

I am delighted with the simpler, yet more focused and precise approach that is Haneda Girl in Studio Koba's effort. A game that has completely gripped me and that I am still replaying, improving my scores and discovering those hidden levels that are still unreachable. I only hope that the Japanese government will soon be encouraged to open a third airport in Tokyo to find out what title Studio Koba's next game will have.

If you came to Mario Kart World expecting the big new feature to be an open world full of pop-up activities a la Forza Horizon, turn back your purchase. The open world is the excuse for a never-before-seen track design that pushes the count and variety to untold numbers and makes you rethink your understanding and approach to racing. Free Mode is a relaxed, secondary way to explore that world and enjoy it without stress. And the highlight is the superb Survival Mode, a way to take the essence of Mario Kart to a whole new level...Yes, there's plenty of room for a lot of stuff on all those tracks, and we'd all be happy to see it filled in, but it was never its first claim, and all the experiences you'd expect from a Mario Kart with traditional origins but modernised ideas are present in the rest of the game, in abundance and of the highest quality.

Nor is there anything really groundbreaking in the four or so hours I played A Pirate's Fortune. The Refractor ship is limited to the Khepi system because it can't jump into hyperspace, and after a while of searching for contraband and getting rid of some winged creatures you'd rather go back to your beloved, upgraded, ND-5 powered Starfighter, which has a bit of a repetitive role this time around. I don't regret playing this DLC and I had a pretty good time, but I'm not crazy about it, nor can we allow it to remain so broken. With Star Wars Outlaws recently ported to PS5 Pro and coming soon to Nintendo Switch 2 without finishing polishing the original, one of the big problems with Ubisoft, open-world games, and the industry in general is once again evident: ambition gets out of hand in a hurry and what could be great stays just big for too long.

I am much more satisfied than I expected to be. You have to meet a few requirements to enjoy this VIP-ticketed exhibition, but if you fit the bill, you'll enjoy every bit of your tour of the show. Are you fascinated by applied technology, engineering curiosities and gaming hardware? Do you want to know why the Switch 2 mouse is unique, why the magnets inside the steering wheel rotate, or feel a new range of vibrations? Are you a fan of Nintendo designs, like me, who used to draw their controllers and logos as a kid? Are you up for any challenge? Then pay for the ticket with your eyes closed.

I just didn't find it as meaningful or inspired, either in its narrative, however well it links familial relationships to its fantastical nature. Aside from certain remarkable passages such as the "mouths of hell" and its more creative challenges, and beyond its undeniable beauty, I found Neva less stimulating, as if Gris's uncomplicated simplicity would have been a better vehicle for such artistic restlessness.

For all of these reasons, plus a good remastering job, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door for the Nintendo Switch ends up leaving you with a remarkable taste in your mouth. If you decide to experience this adventure for the first time, you'll never forget the members of your party or the stories of Peach, Bowser and some of the sidekicks. Your companions may play a minor role statistically, but their performances in combat are as original as the use of the controller in this game. If you're however aiming to revive the classic, it's a very decent remaster, and while it's not loaded with new features, it does add a few and the audio/visual package is well worth the wait.

Having completed Princess Peach: Showtime! it is not the virtual absence of difficulty that is its main drawback. In fact, it is an excellent game for beginners and we can confirm that children love it. It's varied, has some very original ideas and a number of very good moments, but the more mediocre levels, the corsetting, and the lack of technical finesse prevent our unanimous ovation.

Persona 3 Reload is exactly what we all wanted it to be: a modern take on an incredible story, taking just enough from the masterpiece that is its last titular installment to date, and giving it a slight twist that makes it worthy of asking full price. It's all here, so I'm delighted to sign this Contract with Igor once again.

Frankly I can't recommend this new version of the classic, as it has nothing new to add to the previous one, apart from the odd villain. Moreover, it doesn't add anything to the genre compared to other existing Metroidvania games. It also spoils the good taste that Ufouria: The Saga left in the past, leaving a stain on its track record. Perhaps it is only suitable for curious collectors of the originals, for the little ones in the house who are not easily frustrated, or for those who are attracted by its visual finish and do not expect anything, in plot or mechanics, that is not too simplistic.

It's a short story, which would be tiresome if it were longer, but which is a virtue when it's not. Despite the soundtrack and that dreadful puzzle that is so hard to solve due to its lack of logic, everything else is practically impeccable. The title has made me feel like a child, not so much because of the nostalgia of past memories, but because I was entrusted to solve a problem and ignorance played a dirty trick on me.

As it stands, I would only recommend this purchase to fans of the originals for pure nostalgia and fan service, and even then with some caveat. If you're looking for more intricate and engaging anime stories of the mind, you have a great alternative in both AI: The Somnium Files on the same console. That said, now I can't help but wish that CiNG's own Kyle Hyde noir saga (Hotel Dusk and Last Window) would also get the HD treatment on Switch, just with a little more love and polish.

But don't let these less bright spots mislead you. Promenade is a great game that I still find just as solid and engaging as when I first encountered it. If you're interested in a different kind of platformer that offers an extra dose of puzzles, this is definitely one of those indies you shouldn't miss.

Sure, it's a bit rough around the edges in a few places and a bit of extra refinement could have done wonders to tighten up the experience and focus it more on what matters. But, the ambience, sound design, set design, most of the gameplay, it's all ideal and really nails the job description of what you expect from a horror title.

Would Contra: Operation Galuga be a better game if it was shown in 2D pixel style? I don't think the problem is the leap to 3D graphics, but the overall implementation. But having picked up the pace of the game well, having managed to integrate the current lives and perks system so as not to penalise so much with difficulty and having got some well-designed levels and bosses, at least Konami and WayForward have a good basis for the series to re-establish itself and the Alien Wars will be unleashed again.

Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth is much bigger, more ambitious and complete as a video game than Remake was. But its great virtue is its courage to look ahead, to be clear about its path and to bet on it with an outstanding display in all its areas. With Rebirth, a new legend in the history of games is born.

For all this, I can easily recommend Mario vs. Donkey Kong to those who loved the classic, but not so much to puzzle fans used to modern, more agile controls. Don't get me wrong, it's a contemporary way to understand the legends' roots, but between pace/interest drops, and the somewhat outdated controls, I ended up a bit tired of what I recalled as a blast on the GBA.

After several days of solo and multiplayer enjoyment, I have to admit that this isn’t the completest entry to the series, but I love how it takes advantage of the Joy-Cons tech coming full circle with what 1-2-Switch started at their launch. Some of the designs are so brilliant, that they turn this into one of the most unique party games I’ve ever played, which together with the interesting multiplayer variants, compensate for the lack of longer side activities.

Song of Nunu has all the elements of a narrative adventure with platforms, exploration, puzzles and combat with which generations of young players can explore both this genre and empathize with the League of Legends characters, but it does so without shining in any of them. they. Perhaps it is the conflict between that name so associated with competition with a story as moving as it is cooperative between its protagonists, which has left me a little colder than I expected.

Although I can point out some things to improve, in general they are based on errors that were inherent in the game and that when seen (such as some "strange" expressions in conversations with the codec or that classic "I get up in front of the enemy instead of staying hidden"), more than a curse, they bring a smile and a memory to me. I can only praise this collection for offering this love letter to a capital series for players and, although he and Konami parted ways long ago, bringing together much of Kojima's masterpiece in one place.

What bothers me the most about FM 2023 is not the road it's chosen, but that in doing so, it really doesn't distance itself from previous entries that much, and if I'm to play with a controller I still think Forza Horizon 5 has no rival. Turn 10 are more than capable to produce a top level simulator, but it's clear that this is not of Microsoft's interest. In my opinion, and given their resources and production values, this is a big missed opportunity seeing how the sim racing scene is not a niche anymore.

Perhaps the very reason for it, the broad range of online (at last!) multiplayer options try to compensate for the lack of physical contact between players, something that I miss. But other than some levels not being the best suited for co-op and a not so memorable final battle, I've thoroughly enjoyed Nintendo's idea of what a New, New Super Mario Bros. can be more than a decade later. The Wonder Flower and its new Kingdom allow the game to break the old rules, its audiovisual presentation is top-notch, and it includes a great number of perfectly-measured precision platforming levels. The Switch was born in 2017 enjoying Zelda for the spring and Mario for Christmas. What a masterful move it is to say farewell in its last AAA release year with the same one-two of must-haves.