The Games Machine's Scores

  • Games
For 2,656 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 71% higher than the average critic
  • 7% same as the average critic
  • 22% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 4.3 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 79
Highest review score: 99 Baldur's Gate 3
Lowest review score: 30 Dino Dini's Kick Off Revival
Score distribution:
2658 game reviews
    • 77 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    A hurricane of style, good ideas and convincing narration clashes with a difficulty so low that sometimes is irritating: beyond an all-but-old problem of about a decade, The World Ends with You remains an incredibly fresh and original game that deserves to be played by both veterans and those who missed it on the DS in 2007. There is no better opportunity to brush up on the adventure of Neku, just hold on to the touch screen and leave the Joy-Con in a corner. The party, this time, is the exclusive prerogative of the handheld mode.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 72 Critic Score
    As Dusk Falls is a mixed bag. The story, while certainly not out of this world, provides good characters and a fair amount of drama, but the peculiar art style doesn’t always succeed in conveying the right emotion. The voice-over, and especially the Italian dubbing, also occasionally suffers from the same issue. The multiplayer mode does make the game more engaging, but it’s still an experience with very little interaction. Enjoyment might vary wildly depending on your tastes.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Football Manager Touch 2018 on Nintendo Switch is a great surprise and offers a great compromise between the depth and the complexity of the desktop version, and the need to have a quick and satisfying experience, suitable for mobility. Sports Interactive and Hardlight achieved a great result in adapting the control system using the full input potential of Nintendo Switch.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Game Garage Builder is wonderful. Nintendo has come up with a new programming language made up of hilarious characters, tasking the player with having them interact with each other to code their games. A real video game laboratory, where you can experiment and learn with a smile on your face.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    Polished DLC at a Remedy-like quality standard – and that's a huge compliment. The ability to modify the environment doesn't leave a mark, but the narrative, the new floor and the gunplay more than compensate for that minor drawback. Waiting for the Alan Wake DLC, The Foundation is an excellent reason to visit the Oldest House again.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 92 Critic Score
    Season is a phenomenal work, not just the classic little pearl, but an all-round videogame experience capable of excite, tell, immerse us in the last moments of a reality that could end, change, mutate. A memorization and movement mechanism within towns, villages and glimpses of nature of disarming beauty.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Milestone has done it. The Milan-based team decided to take a risk, stepping out of their comfort zone of motorcycle simulations to return to their roots with a *Screamer* reboot—a title that establishes itself as one of the most distinctive, entertaining, and engaging racing games on the market. The driving system—though occasionally a tad clunky—is a sheer delight of speed, technique, and drifting; the narrative compels you to tackle every race at full throttle; and the characters form a cast it is impossible not to grow fond of. It lacks only that extra aesthetic flair to truly stand out amidst the endless array of cyberpunk worlds released in recent years; yet, the technical solidity—combined with the meticulous aesthetic polish applied to the UI, the cars (some of which are truly stunning), and the characters—still manages to make Milestone’s work shine, even in this regard. *Screamer* is the racing game that both the market and the players have been waiting for.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    By adding details that increase realism and a mode like NINE—Season 2009 to a solid game frame, MotoGP 22 takes an evolutionary step in the right direction. The general improvement compared to the past may appear less deep than expected, but those who love MotoGP will also love MotoGP 22.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Bravely Default 2 is a classic JRPG that certainly doesn't reinvent the wheel, but its intriguing combat system and the customization offered by the many classes available can make it interesting for fans of the genre.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Over-the-top violence? Check. Iconic memes from the original series? Check. A solid battle system that cleverly borrows the best ideas around to deliver something uniquely its own? Double check. Honestly, there are very few reasons not to jump on board.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    We're not too much passionate about Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Charter Prologue, at least not at full price. Dream Drop Distance is a really fun game, but if you already own it on 3DS, this new edition doesn't offer too much else. A Fragmentary Passage is a real blast, but it's over in a jiff. Could be worthwhile for hardcore fans of the saga, especially if on sale.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Berlin Apartment is a short but sweet walk through a century of history of the German capital, where the underlying theme is life under oppression; of the Third Reich at first, and of the DDR later. Good voiceover, pleasant visual style, but the “gameplay” is a bit clunky at times.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    We Were Here Forever is essentially a Non-Fungible-Escape Room. Playing with a friend means trying to explain what is happening to you, while at the same time you have to deduce from his (or her) words hints and clues that might help you find your freedom. Words are your only weapon, and your only way out, so make sure you play this with the right person (or the wrong one, for potentially hilarious outcomes).
    • 76 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    Compared to the previous iteration of the franchise, MotoGP 19 improves everything, sometimes in a subtle way, others in a sensational way, becoming the new yardstick of the genre.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 77 Critic Score
    Dragon Quest Heroes II offers a lot of opportunities for the fans of the series. You'll find some welcome improvements here and there, the same things you loved in the first chapter, and the same limitations.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 81 Critic Score
    Jeff Minter has been able to renew the classic Tempest formula, which becomes an excellent game even after 38 years. Unfortunately, the PC version has some small but annoying technical problems.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    An interesting and engaging video game that offers a classic story and a context already seen in other works, while remaining faithful to its foundations. Tamarak Trail can satisfy, it can make you angry, and yes, it could take up entire days. Fantastic, right?
    • 76 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Mario Tennis's debut on Switch 2 is solid and uneventful, despite its sumptuous visuals and beautiful animations. The game needs some adjustments to its difficulty balance—too easy in the first three levels and damnably tough in the last—and to the techniques used with certain Frenzy Rackets, which are far too lethal and can mitigate the delightful unpredictability of matches.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Much like Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, Tacoma captures the player's attention from the beginning to the end, thanks to an intense story, a strong personality and a gameplay tightly connected to the sci-fi setting. It's a pretty short experience, but definitely worth your time, at least if you love a good sci-fi story.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tchia is an open world with many scenic settings to discover and just as many activities in which to engage while interacting with the Caledonian culture. The Soul Jump is one of the best features of the game, which, however, despite a well-told story risks to slip into boredom due to an almost complete absence of combat.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    RoboCop: Rogue City is the best video game dedicated to Verhoeven's character, and that alone might be enough of a recommendation for a slice of the old-timers. It is satisfying and brutal, a video game as gory and simple as those of yesteryear, and this is its trump card. What revolves around the shoot-outs is unfortunately not as exciting, but overall it remains a highly recommended game for fans of the film.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    MotoGP 20 gets even better, with an even more responsive, solid and fun gameplay that pushes you to improve continuously, lap after lap. The career mode adds an interesting managerial layer while the AI is not yet completely convincing. An excellent racing game, the best motorcycle video game on the market.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 68 Critic Score
    Trials of Mana is a lacklustre remake of a masterpiece from another era. It's nothing special, but old-fashioned JRPG fans might appreciate it if you turn a blind eye.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    Assassin's Creed Mirage is not a remake of the first chapter of the series in disguise, as some might think, however the declared intention to pay homage to the origins of the series has been fully respected. With everything that comes with it, for better or for worse. The more compact and not at all distracting experience benefits not only the pace of the game, but also that of the narrative, which manages to always be focused on the figure of Basim. Unfortunately, many of the historical defects of the series remain, primarily the poor artificial intelligence of the enemies, while the structure of the main missions is overall of a good standard, with a few small exceptions. However, a successful operation was completed by Ubisoft Bordeaux.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 72 Critic Score
    A cozy and mildly paced RPG. Bandle Tale enters the world of League of Legends from the farthest corner of Runeterra and offers "Stardew Valley-style" gameplay based on the use of bizarre machines, sewing skills, gardening and cooking talents. A simple but charming adventure, suitable for all ages and featuring delightful pixel-art.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 86 Critic Score
    EA Sports FC 25 is an interesting (and more importantly, fun) new edition of the EA Sports football saga, with many small tweaks to the pre-existing game modes and two big new features, Rush and FC IQ. In both cases, it can be said that the target was hit, and that the overall quality stands at very good levels. A few bugs and glitches in the menus do not affect a more than enjoyable gaming ex-perience, which promises to keep fans busy for a long time with careers, multiplayer challenges and trading cards...
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    REPLACED offers gameplay that alternates between exploration, environmental puzzles, stealth, and combat—with the latter standing out as the most successful component. The combat system, simple and intuitive, evokes old-school arcade games: few commands, satisfying hit feedback, and encounters against multiple enemies that remain manageable and frustration-free. The platforming and stealth sections are less convincing, often feeling slow and lacking impact. The overall pacing suffers as a result, partly due to a certain "walking simulator" quality. Elevating the entire experience is the extraordinary graphics—among the finest 2.5D pixel art seen to date. It is a solid experience that shines brightest when it gives way to action.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    This is the great return of a much-appreciated saga: lots of content, a non-linear campaign and various improvements manage to overshadow some technical imperfections. And above all, shooting is pretty damn fun.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Ultimately, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance – SEGA Villains Level is a DLC that delivers on its promises… but falls just short of making a lasting impression. The boss battles are the true heart of the experience: spectacular, well-crafted and capable of evoking the Sega tradition with great respect and sensitivity. It is here that the package really shines, turning every encounter into a mini-event. Everything else, however, struggles to keep up. The levels leading up to these encounters are functional but unremarkable, lacking the inventiveness and personality that made the base game so memorable. The result is content that’s enjoyable to play through, but rarely surprises. It therefore remains an addition recommended primarily for fans and those feeling nostalgic, capable of delivering moments of great satisfaction, but also leaving the feeling of an opportunity only partially seized.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    On the golf course, PGA Tour 2K21 is a fairly fun game. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the game modes. The career is way too simple, and even the online does not offer anything exciting. Graphics and sounds are decent, but could be vastly improved.

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