As fans of the survival horror genre, we were eagerly waiting for The Callisto Protocol: and what a ride. Glen Schofield and his new team of industry veterans master their art and offer us a very successful horrific experience with an exemplary artistic direction and production. The nervous and tactical confrontations are exhilarating to play and the discomfort can be felt throughout our undertaking. Fans of gore will be served. Despite all the studio’s efforts to diversify the game sequences, the title suffers from a dated level design linked to the cross-gen development. Spiritual son of the legendary Dead Space, The Callisto Protocol, if not having killed its father, can at least look him straight in the eyes with dignity. Thanks to a lore that looks promising, it has also earned the right to chart its own course. We are ready for the next one!

If you are looking for a game comparable to a John Woo movie, Bright Memory: Infinite hits the bullseye! Bullets everywhere, a high-paced rhythm and graphically speaking, it is phenomenal. It must be said that the game is really short with a lifespan of barely three hours on the normal difficulty, though. Fortunately, during this short period, one tends to feel like a godlike figure when switching between the multiple combinations of Lumi-Blade/abilities/weapons and this could almost brush under the rug the few glitches encountered during our sessions.

Flowing Light is a clever and well-made game that will push your muscle memory and your reflexes to their limits. Merciless at times, this game will please those fond of scoring games and tube shooters. If you fall in that last category, prepare yourself to spend dozens of hours playing it to obtain all the S ranks of a truly well-made adventure. Unfortunately for the others, let’s be honest, this can quickly become a very painful experience. You’ve been warned.

The Valiant is undoubtedly one of the best RTS games we have ever played on Xbox. It is a huge favourite for its plot, its characters, its atmosphere, its soundtrack… Everything would be perfect, if this console port did not suffer from so many handling problems. By trying too hard, the developers have failed to find the right balance, or to deliver a convincing port. It really is a shame.

The problem with Star Overdrive is that it's just an average game in a market where hundreds of titles are released every day. So why give it a chance when there are other, better-made games out there? However, we must salute the achievement of the independent studio, which has managed to create a dynamic open world with a stable frame rate. So much so that we are sorry to have to give such a negative assessment of the game. Unfortunately, Star Overdrive is more frustrating than fun and fails to become the space-based Breath of the Wild it aspires to be, but who knows... maybe in three or four updates?

Spending these few hours in the shoes of the famous Hercule Poirot and young detective Jane Royce allowed us to experience an adventure full of twists and turns thanks to well-written investigations that take on their full meaning as the story unfolds, the mind map and the well-thought-out puzzles (far more numerous than in Agatha Christie - Murder on the Orient Express). Finally, thanks to a gameplay that encourages players to think and interact, there is no doubt that Agatha Christie - Death on the Nile comes out on top. As fans of the "whodunnit" genre, we really enjoyed discovering all the different aspects of this title. Fans of crime novels or video games similar to Frogwares' Sherlock Holmes series will enjoy discovering (or rediscovering) this new iteration of one of Agatha Christie's most famous works.

Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle is a must-have for fans of old-school games. It proposes an immersive experience that will delight fans of classic survival horror whilst introducing new ideas to a beloved genre. The developers at Invader Studios have once again succeeded in seducing fans with a visually pleasing title, an excellent soundtrack and some decent enough cinematics. Despite an effective gameplay and a mostly enjoyable adventure, Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle suffers from a cruel lack of emotion and surprises. Despite a convincing atmosphere, the game’s horror aspect is below par. The action is often predictable and repetitive, leaving no room for chance or doubt. Enemies that are a little too clingy also quickly become annoying… Although Invaders Studios pays a real tribute to Resident Evil with its licence, our game struggles to stand out in the survival-horror scene, both in terms of its story and its gameplay. Does that necessarily make it a bad game? Absolutely not. If you focus on the action and atmosphere, you will still have a fairly entertaining experience.

We enjoyed Bus Simulator in 2019, and our pleasure remains intact in 2021. It uses the same recipe but adds some welcome new ingredients. Managing your routes can be complicated at times due to menus that aren't always ergonomic, but it nonetheless remains fun to set them up to increase one's profits as much as possible. The driving experience is still pleasant and you quickly get hooked on roaming through the new town of Angel Shores and the good ol' Seaside Valley.

For their first major title, the Mad Head Games team truly outdid themselves. The developers managed to find the subtle balance they wanted between exploration and die and retry. Despite its few flaws, Scars Above is a very enjoyable title to play. This very promising result bodes well for the studio's future works.

Despite its shortcomings mainly due to its collaborative funding and the size of the studio, the first title in the series was convincing. Now that it is supported by a publisher, we expected another level of realisation from the KeokeN Interactive team. Unfortunately, the result lacks a little je ne sais quoi to convince. The scenaristic qualities and the developer’s talent in the construction and the orchestration of the narrative manage once again to erase the technical defects. Nonetheless, it would be a shame to make a trademark of it. Whether or not you have done the first game, Deliver us Mars remains an enjoyable game worthy of being discovered.

Karma: The Dark World is nothing like a traditional horror game. It provides a strange, almost visceral sensation, like an introspective dive into the darkest and most tortured corners of the human soul. Disturbing, troubling and deeply Lynchian in its staging, Karma blurs the lines and sows the seeds of doubt. Sometimes confusing, but always intriguing, it dares to make a bold statement that breaks free from the conventions of the genre. However, we regret that screen tearing and FPS instability detract from the immersion because it hinders the title's overall quality. But for a first instalment, Pollard Studio LLC shows remarkable ambition, driven by a desire to shake up the conventions. If you are fond of multilayered narratives, tortured universes and experiences that require interpretation rather than rational understanding, Karma: The Dark World may well surprise you. All in all, it is a radical proposition... take it or leave it.

A Monkey reaching for the Moon, in the end what beasts can see is nothing more than the Moon reflected in water, though they may struggle to capture it, they shall only sink to the water’s depths.” Even though we could technically sum up Bleach Rebirth of Souls in this poetic way, it would nevertheless be an offence to it. Whether it be through its desire to establish an “original” game system or its truly generous solo content, Bleach Rebirth of Souls has kept us hooked for many hours. The title offers a pleasant experience for fans who are not too fussy about the small issues and are willing to wait for a more decent price. Overall, there is no denying that we have a “fang” for it.

The distinct artistic direction of Eternal Hope does not leave one unimpressed. Despite some technical blemishes here and there, the musical environment immerses the player in the story from the very first moments, and we were moved by the narrative’s melancholy. The somewhat clumsy animation takes a little time getting used to, but one soon gets the hang of it. The simplicity of the puzzles and the short lifespan may be frustrating for some, but this enables the title to be experienced by a wide audience. It would be a shame to miss this heartwarming independent game.

Syberia Remastered elegantly reconciles the past and the present, successfully preserving the soul of a classic while making it accessible. The graphical overhaul, improved interface, free movement and ever-captivating art direction provide a beautiful, melancholic escape into the world of Benoît Sokal, where emotion triumphs over technique. Despite a few hiccups and the lack of reworking of the original cutscenes, the essentials are there: a timeless adventure faithful to the original work, which will appeal to both the nostalgic and the curious.

The best way to describe Tate Multimedia’s title would be as a Madeleine de Proust. It really does feel like a throwback to the platform games of the early 2000s, and holy guacamole that feels good! Strongly reminiscent of titles like Rayman 3D, Super Mario 64 or Banjo-Kazooie, it certainly does not reinvent the formula, and one might even find it too unoriginal. There is indeed no risk-taking as regards the gameplay or the features. Nevertheless, even though Kao the Kangaroo rehashes a time-tested recipe, it does it with style and grace. It feels like we are jumping back in time twenty years with all the best features video games had back then: a fun, colourful title, adapted to all audiences and pleasant to play if one can sweep the few technical problems under the rug. Here, Tate Multimedia offers a nice tribute to the old-school 3D platformers – and with an extra dash of ambition – this title could have become a true classic. If your childhood or teenage years seem too far away, let Kao and its adventures be your ride to nostalgia!

Even though Ravenlok does not feature Alice per se, labelling it as a mere inspiration would be absurd considering how Cococucumber’s title brilliantly takes all the codes of this myth and sprinkles them with others. Graphically speaking, the game is superb and takes us on a journey with its well-designed soundtrack. Despite the enemies’ fancy design, the game’s generally low difficulty against them makes it quite boring. It is a shame as it would have been a real treasure otherwise.

Cuisineer is the perfect example of a game that needs a bit more cooking to be completely tasty. The central concept, which is to develop your restaurant by collecting resources in dungeons, is mouth-watering enough at first glance. What is more, the shimmering backgrounds and atypical characters are cool as cucumbers. However, the progression system leaves an unpleasant aftertaste, as it generates an overly pronounced feeling of repetitiveness. Even if we are not going to cry over spilled milk, it is clear that the incessant loading times are not going to be everyone's cup of tea! The bill may seem a little steep, but the title still does not deserve its first star in the Xboxygen guide.

Despite a stellar cast and a promising alien invasion plot, Slitterhead struggles to convince. The ingenious mechanics of possession, the enjoyable combat and the skills offered by the Rarities are assets, but they are not enough to compensate for the technical weaknesses. These quickly become apparent in the repetitive, prescriptive missions, camera problems, collision bugs and dated graphics that tarnish the experience. This is all the more regrettable given the title's undeniable potential, which is sadly under-exploited, leaving us with a mixed impression tinged with disappointment.

As we draw our conclusions, it seems important to note that The Ascent was created by a small team of skilled developers. And what else is there to say except maybe that they completed the challenge with flying colours. For almost 15 hours, Neon Giant’s game puts the RPG aspect aside to embark us on a huge romp through a larger-than-life city, whose AD rivals that of Cyberpunk 2077. Those fond of finesse and detail-oriented builds will need to go somewhere else. For the others, it would be difficult to miss the Swedish studio’s first game as it was released in the Xbox Game Pass on its launch. Visually speaking, this one is quite outstanding and is a pure action guilty pleasure made of gunpowder, metal and blood. While waiting to be able to enjoy a 4-player coop session, we’re already dreaming of a probable second part developed by a larger team. Hopefully, this would be enough to improve what needs to be improved and revamp the game from being a pleasant surprise to being a must-have.

GreedFall: The Dying World is an ambitious RPG that pulls off a daring narrative gamble: reversing the perspective to offer a first-hand experience of displacement and colonial domination. This choice lends the game an undeniable intensity and uniqueness. The writing is solid, the themes are relevant, and the character progression offers welcome freedom. However, the fragmented structure of the quests, the excessive back-and-forth, and the labyrinthine level design regularly slow the narrative momentum. Technical issues on Xbox, notably stuttering and overly noticeable dynamic resolution, further accentuate this sense of incompleteness. GreedFall remains a brave and rich work with strong intentions. But its uneven execution still prevents it from fully achieving the scale that its narrative ambition foreshadowed.

The Cosmic Abyss had everything it needed to draw us in with its polished atmosphere, inspired art direction, a storyline seemingly worthy of the Cthulhu mythos, and its intriguing investigative mechanics: all in all some great potential. Unfortunately, it mostly managed to leave us lost, and we soon found ourselves overwhelmed under a mass of major technical issues such as game-breaking bugs, repeated crashes, and lost saves. Under these circumstances, it’s difficult for us to recommend the game as it stands. It’s better to wait for the patches before giving it a go. It is equally difficult for us to give a definitive verdict, as our assessment is based on a truncated experience. And that is undoubtedly the most frustrating part as we know there's an interesting world taking shape, but we cannot confirm it. One question remains as we conclude this review: have we fallen victim to the curse of Cthulhu, or simply to a premature launch?

Despite the plethora of flaws listed and a major feeling of wasted time, we are convinced that Atlas Fallen can find its audience. Given the lack of big releases this month, Deck13's title could use this brief dip in the calendar to its advantage. Even with some good ideas, a pleasing art direction and level design, Atlas Fallen still struggles to convince in its current state. Considering we wholeheartedly believed in it, the pill is all the more difficult to swallow. The waves of sand were not enough to win our hearts.

Biomutant had long been awaited. Unfortunately, we find it slightly disappointing. It offers great elements such as the fighting sequences in its gameplay, as well as an extensive customisation whether for the character’s stats or for its equipment. Exploring the world map is entertaining and discovering the various locations along the way is almost systematically rewarded. Alas, adding to the several technical and outdated aspects, the dull scenario truly becomes the main drawback of the game. We quickly understand that Biomutant is better suited to those searching for an instant dose of satisfaction and pleasure with its gameplay and for whom the narrative is of no importance. As for the rest, looking elsewhere might be a better idea.

SpongeBob: The Cosmic Shake is not a bad game. We mainly criticise it for recycling well-established codes in the genre, ones they already exploited in the previous episode without ever trying to bring something more. The story is only a pretext, far from the standards the square sponge got us used to. The title does not offer a really tough challenge and it is all this that makes us say that the game is rather intended for children. An adult will still be able to enjoy going through levels as varied as the enemies to fight, though.

With his previous works, Dino Patti got us used to dark and suffocating worlds and Somerville is no exception to this rule. Through his art direction and soundtrack, he completely immerses us in the drama experienced by our character. This narrative experience skilfully alternates between action and reflection phases and does not suffer from any break in the writing rhythm. Although the title deserves the status of a gold nugget, we would have liked the development team to step out of its comfort zone and take more risks to enrich the proposal.

If only Khaos Reigns and its campaign had seduced us, but unfortunately the outcome is far from positive. Very short and with no real narrative interest, the additional content of the story mode disappointed us. The new characters, along with a few additions such as skins and animalities, slightly enhance the overall proposal, but not enough to compensate. Mortal Kombat 1 needed a breath of fresh air to rekindle players’ interest, and this pack is not up to the fight.

With an official Dakar licence, a bewitching and gigantic playing field, arcade and simulation modes, vast improvements as regards the driving of the various vehicles compared to Dakar 18 and a navigation feature via road-book as exhilarating and immersive as ever, Dakar Desert Rally has enough solid foundations to become a prime showcase for rally-raid and its flagship event as long they keep on working hard on it. The new Career mode even welcomes neophytes with open arms to gradually introduce them to the discipline. Unfortunately, the title suffers from a premature release that spoils the game experience due to a feeble framerate, chaotic AI and a frustrating lack of content for fans of the simulation mode. In the coming weeks, the ambitious roadmap should meet the latter’s expectations. Let us hope the studio manages to solve the technical issues as well. If this happens, Dakar Desert Rally will surely become a must-have game for all motorsports fans.

With Payday 3, we thought that the Swedish studio Starbreeze would have learned from its past mistakes, but apparently not. As soon as we launched the game, we discovered that we had to register on the official website to be able to play. Of course, we were stuck with the synchronisation problems, and then the matchmaking errors finally put an end to our desire to play. Despite this, the game’s qualitative gameplay, the number of skills, the mission objects’ random changes and the polished graphics are convincing enough, especially if the game switches to the Unreal Engine 5 in the near future. All in all, considering what Starbreeze has done with Payday 2, it might be better to wait a little before taking full advantage of this game. Everyone is free to make their own choices, but ours has already been made.

To summarise, we were used to something better as regards the interactive movies made by Wales Interactive. Even though the supernatural-ish plot remains rather pleasant, the sloppy ending and the basic other narratives not standing out from the crowd are rather disappointing. The two hours spent playing it were still nice, but one’s immersion ends up being interrupted by truly amateur cutscenes that are not up to the task in keeping the player spellbound during the whole game. This aspect can be truly off-putting if one wishes to start again in order to find out the alternative endings.

Panic Porcupine wants to be an original and nice parody of Sonic offering new sensations. It fails on all fronts and ends up being a stain on the developers’ CV. Sold for more than a Chili Dog, it has neither the taste, nor the texture, nor the quality.

A bit confusing at first, High On Life is an experience that can finally be enjoyed once you put some hours into it. Regarding its purely FPS component, even though it works very well, it was a bit too wishy-washy. Among the notable flaws, we have the lack of impact in gunfights, a small and repetitive bestiary and bosses that are too easy to take down. On the other hand, the idea of the Gatlians is interesting to explore and this irreverent, vulgar, trashy and absurd humour finally won us over and made us forget some of the game design’s shortcomings. Beware, however, that the lack of ergonomics, particularly with regard to subtitles, could put off many non-English-speaking players from getting involved in the adventure. Although imperfect, Squanch Games’ title remains a solid base for a new licence and manages to take us into its totally ludicrous universe despite quite a negative first impression. Well done!

In terms of sensations felt when sliding, the number of missions, the humour, and the soundtrack, FoamPunch really is a great game. But the problems linked to clipping, framerate drops and collisions kind of taint our general enjoyment of it. The realistic physics of our rider during tricks truly is astounding and it forces us to be fully aware of the timing feature to perform one trick after another. An update is necessary to turn this game from something decent to something remarkable.

Piranha Bytes is known for its – technically speaking – old school productions with rich content. Elex 2 further confirms this reputation and remains a title that one loves as much as he hates it. It will take many hours of suffering before you can really enjoy it. Therefore, it’s hard for the average player to get involved in a game that is graphically outdated and whose gameplay transforms the combat phases into real torture. A title to be reserved for fans of the studio or pad masochists.

At first, the solid and engaging gameplay of Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin pushes us to invest ourselves. But very quickly, some unacceptable flaws appear, marred by multiple (marketing?) elements stifling the initial interest. Between a souls-like aspect that is clearly ill fitted to the gameplay, a bad staging, a narration cruelly lacking clarity and protagonists deprived of charisma and appeal, it ultimately becomes very difficult for a fan of the licence to be satisfied. On the other hand, if you focus solely on the gameplay and take this Final Fantasy simply for what it is, i.e. a rather unsound action-RPG, then you can find some satisfaction by playing it with friends.

We are delighted to welcome back a licence to which survival horror owes a great deal, if not everything. Despite the weight of time and a lack of originality in its very conventional gameplay, the title stands out thanks to the richness of its environments and the quality of its technical production. With a soundtrack and ambience that hit all the right notes, the studio manages to strike a chord of nostalgia and pleasure. THQ Nordic has succeeded in restoring the Alone in the Dark licence to its former glory. Edward Carnby can finally take a well-deserved retirement, without having to be ashamed of his last performance.

We enjoyed discovering each game mode in Call of Duty Black Ops 7. Thanks to its fun campaign one can play with others and that acts as a real stress reliever with crazy, well-designed bosses (or more like missions interspersed with cutscenes), Activision is taking the risk of disappointing some players looking for a solo experience. The multiplayer mode remains very classic in terms of what we expect from a Call of Duty game, and the omni-movement, introduced in Black Ops 6, comes into its own with its dynamic and rather successful maps. The Zombie mode will appeal to fans of the genre with its content, which is traditional but eagerly awaited. Finally, the return of Dead Ops adds a welcome touch of nostalgia to the title.

DoubleMoose Games missed their shot with their new outlet for steam as it simply doesn’t match the grotesque pleasure felt when playing its counterpart and role model, the one and only Goat Simulator. This results in a tedious experience that doesn’t have a lot to offer besides a short-lived and temporarily amusing multiplayer mode able before abandoning all hope and putting down the controller.

Whether on foot or behind the wheel, the developers of Volition’s reboot offer us a wickedly fun title where one can take a perverse delight in making everything explode around them. The new characters are endearing and make us forget the old ones. Despite some successful quest sequences, the scenario remains too short. From secondary activities to the extensive customisation of the protagonist, weapons and vehicles, the game’s content is quite rich. This Saints Row is a pleasant and entertaining game to blow off some steam, but ultimately, it sticks to its guns and does not take enough risks to really set itself as a master of the genre.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is a substantial title, both in terms of its content and its inspirations. The developers have skilfully “popularised” the RPG mechanics while associating an efficient and accessible action aspect. A pinch of Metroidvania for the exploration and voilà a recipe worthy of appearing on the menu of a Michelin-starred restaurant. This is mainly due to the experience gained by the developers who contributed to the Suikoden saga. Although it was conceived as a prologue to Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, the title has a long lifespan and it takes around 20–25 hours to complete the main storyline. The side quests and the hunt for achievements obviously add to what the players are offered. It would therefore be a shame to miss out on this great introduction that will also be featured in the Gamepass as soon as it is released on the 10th of May 2022.

Setting off on a journey with Pax and all her gang was undoubtedly a superb adventure thanks to a good-looking artistic direction with a perfectly transcribed comic book theme and a gameplay that knows how to renew itself. The experience was fun and entertaining, with colourful, engaging characters with strong personalities. Thanks to a touching story that sometimes dabbles with difficult themes, the title remains captivating throughout the chapters, despite moments that drag on a little and combat phases that are enjoyable at first, but quickly become repetitive. The experience is marred by a few bugs that sometimes require you to restart the game, but there is nothing blocking it or that a patch cannot fix. Dustborn is indubitably a title not to be missed if you like narrative games with a story dealing with strong, committed topics, original gameplay, an alternative punk rock vibe and, of course, comic books.

The Casting of Frank Stone plunges us into a captivating, immersive story thanks to a solid script that skilfully blends horror and the supernatural. The necessary dexterity and elements from Dead by Daylight are a breath of fresh air, all enhanced by remarkable sound design and soundtrack. Despite a few pitfalls and texture problems, we enjoyed unravelling the threads of this time-based intrigue. Without revolutionising the genre or equalling the cult classic Until Dawn, this title follows in the footsteps of Supermassive Games’ previous works. Will their next opus, Directive 8020, which will inaugurate season 2 of Dark Pictures Anthology, mark a decisive turning point? Only time will tell.

Martha is Dead is a successful dive into the abyss of a family drama filled with mysteries. Within a historical context that is as interesting as it is gripping, its careful and controlled narrative easily keeps the audience on their toes. One needs to see whether the clumsy movements, the sluggish gameplay and the frequent back and forth will not obstruct the immersion, even if they are far from overshadowing the game’s myriad of qualities.

Dragonkin: The Banished is a good attempt at the Hack'n'Slash genre thanks to an original universe and an interesting modular gameplay. Its skill system and strategic approach via the Ancestral Grid offer a great deal of freedom for customisation and exploring its vast world gifts us with some visually brilliant moments. However, the game sometimes suffers from what feels likerushed main content, a level design that encourages exploration but offers little reward in compensation, and a lack of polish in certain aspects, notably the boss fights and balancing the difficulty with level scaling. While the experience is still quite enjoyable for fans of the genre, the lack of a multiplayer mode and a gameplay loop that is currently running out of steam relatively quickly kind of hinders its long-term appeal. It is worth mentioning that the game is, for the time being, in early access and nevertheless shows interesting potential. Additionally, the announced updates could well enrich the experience between now and its final release. So, let us see what happens next by the end of 2025...

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions has the merit of offering an entertaining adaptation of the sport with flying broomsticks, but do not expect a magical experience. It is a shame, because the feeling of moving around is pretty enjoyable and even leads to a few moments of wonder, especially in multiplayer. However, after many games, the polynectar potion no longer works! It is clear that the game's content is as thin as a house-elf and that, in the end, every match looks the same because of the lack of any real tactical management. All that is left is to hope for a host of additions to save the title from an unforgivable curse...

Romancelvania is a unique metroidvania, particularly funny and really addictive. The kind of game that you will come back to regularly, whether for one hour or ten, just to experience some of that wonderful recipe.

New Tales From The Borderlands is not a bad game per se, but this format feels a tad’ ancient. The formula it uses is outdated and we expected much more from it. Let us be honest: it has some good arguments, especially in terms of its narrative, but its nowhere-to-be-found gameplay might irritate many players. Except for those fond of the Borderlands license who will be able to overlook this aspect and sincerely enjoy the universe, recommending the title to the rest of the players does not feel like the right thing to do.

Despite some wishy-washy fights and a somewhat empty open world, Gotham Knights is a title that honours the licence. Perfectly blending action gameplay and RPG mechanics, fans and other players will be delighted. Even if the 20 hours necessary to complete the adventure are not enough to satisfy our thirst for more content, the presence of numerous side activities will suffice in deceiving our need for more. The arrival of a more complete multiplayer mode on November 29, 2022 should also contribute to supplementing the initial offer.

Greak: Memories of Azur truly is a lovely production that largely deserves to be acknowledged. The delightful and hand-drawn sceneries and animations are completed with a mesmerising soundtrack. Whoever is fond of Ori should also be satisfied with the title’s main gameplay. But Greak: Memories of Azur was not keen on being solely a simple Metroidvania. It allows itself the luxury of drawing some inspirations from Trine and offers us to play as not one, but three characters with different abilities. Unfortunately, this addition doesn’t run smoothly and the simultaneous handling of the three heroes quickly lost us, especially during the boss fights.

Dynasty Warriors 9 had already strongly disappointed us and this new “Empires” episode was our last hope for the license to turn things around. Unfortunately, it won’t happen any time soon as Omega Force relies on its assets and barely reworks its franchise. Technically speaking, the game is just as dated as its predecessor, which was already a big problem four years ago. This could’ve been overlooked if one could at least find happiness elsewhere. But with a strategic dimension smeared by menus that are far too confusing and a weariness that quickly grows on us even during combat, it is difficult to recommend this game. It’s high time for Omega Force to wake up and offer us an experience worthy of what gamers expect in 2022

Skull and Bones is not the shipwreck that many people made it out to be, but it is not a masterpiece either, and we are a long way from a title that is supposed to represent the AAAA classification that has been claimed so far. The game doesn’t really offer a storyline, but rather a series of missions with little variety, culminating in an endgame mode that we found too time-consuming and repetitive. Fortunately, the combat aspect is pleasant and works well, and the atmosphere is there, with sailors shantying in calm weather and shouting during confrontations. The customisation of your captain and your ship is extensive, although some elements remain blocked behind the infamous “credit card barrier reef”. It must be said that the technical aspects of the title remain stuck in the past, with a game that is aesthetically displeasing, terribly rigid animations and very little interaction with the environment.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong proposed an adventure riddled with small flaws that prevents you from fully enjoying its scenario despite the latter being interesting once you manage to get into it: this truly leaves a rather bitter taste. It is in its last part that the game gives us all its assets and finally rewards you for having held on until then – if you managed to do so…

Sonic Frontiers leaves us rather puzzled. On the one hand, the novelty of an open world full of activities and combat zones, the diversity of the paths through the portals and the number of collectibles enchants us. On the other hand, the outdated graphics, the mediocre dubbing and the poor story is disheartening. Striking a balance, the speed phases are successful, both visually and with the controller. Sega’s title suffers from shortcomings that could have been avoided, thus categorising it as nothing more than an “average and decent game”. What a pity for the long-awaited return of our blue supersonic hedgehog.

NARUTO X BORUTO Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS is ultimately a big disappointment, regressing on many points compared to previous CyberConnect2 releases. Admittedly, it boasts the largest roster in the series, but there is no excuse for the title’s lack of ambition, even less so when you consider that seven years separate this episode from Ultimate Ninja Storm 4. At best, it is a snack designed to keep fans waiting for more content (if not new content). For the rest of you, skip it.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League isn't the foreshadowed disaster it was meant to be, but it has too many flaws to be fully enjoyable. Its gameplay, while very energetic and relatively easy to get to grips with, is as basic as it gets. Worse still, the missions are repeated over and over until the game bows out. The same is true of the loot and character statistics, which boil down to percentages in tables. In the end, it is only the incredible direction and the four-star cast, buoyed by the omnipresent humour, that salvage this more-than-mixed review. All that remains now is to see whether the next seasons will bring a breath of fresh air, although it is hard to imagine Rocksteady remedy this.

This campaign for Call of Duty Modern Warfare III does not cut the mustard. Lasting only 4 hours, it is far too short, and the storytelling is not as good as in the last few games. The visuals are as polished as ever, and the classic missions are well staged and packed with action. Unfortunately, the new type of open-ended missions introduced this year is barely convincing and is far too present in the campaign. It is quite hard to recommend buying the game at full price for someone who only focuses on the single-player experience, and you cannot help feeling that it is more of an extension of Modern Warfare II than a title in its own right. The same is true of the Zombie mode, which is closer to a variant of the DMZ mode than a truly original experience. Fortunately, the multiplayer side of things picks up the slack, with sixteen very good maps at launch, and some welcome in-game improvements.

It is important to highlight that Wanted Dead offers an old-fashioned experience on every aspect. The shooter part of the game is not very well done, unlike the hand-to-hand aspect which is much more qualitative. In many ways, you can feel the lack of balance between next-gen and old-school games and that the development had to meet certain specifications, which absolutely failed to seduce us. Be warned that Wanted Dead proposes an experience for gamers whose credo is retro gaming. If you are a nostalgic of the Dreamcast, PS2 and Xbox era, go for it, otherwise it might be painful.

Crown Wars: The Black Prince is a very likeable X-COM that unfortunately (and probably) suffers from a lack of resources to make the most of the studio's ideas. Despite a few glitches and a tedious storyline, Artefacts Studio's title managed to keep us coming back to the game several times to improve our domain and our troops. The gameplay does not in any way revolutionise the genre, but it does offer a complete and enjoyable experience, which ultimately provided us with a good time: guilty pleasure is back on the menu.

The darkness of Gord reminded us of the excellent Cult of the Lamb, but without the irony. The Polish studio Covenant has delivered a first quality title that we clearly did not see coming! The mix of survival, management and horror topped with solid gameplay mechanics works wonders. Additionally, the random events and the way the game unfolds tend to be reminiscent of a board game. However, we do regret the player's lack of involvement in the confrontations, during which we are forced to remain passive with no possible interaction to change the course of the automatic battles.

Dolmen undoubtedly has some very good ideas, but unfortunately, it is not enough. Technically speaking, the game suffers from shortcomings impeding the gameplay, and therefore our wish to keep on with it. It is a pity because the combinations between melee and ranged attacks, as well as the character progression and equipment bonuses all show that Massive Work Studio has tried to distance itself from other souls-like games. For the time being, we hope that the Brazilian studio will opt for a big update to make the character’s defensive actions more fluid, which will at least make the game more enjoyable to begin with.

Expected like the messiah by a community of nostalgic gamers, Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown may well brake the hopes of those expecting an experience as captivating as that provided by its predecessors. While the game is not fundamentally bad, it struggles to convince because the competition has set the bar so high. Between the rough technique, the rather unremarkable atmosphere and the absence of elements that made up the DNA of the series, KT Racing's title suffers from an overall lack of polishing, perhaps due to insufficient development time or resources. It is a shame that the French studio chose to produce a game that was too (overly?) ambitious in terms of content, without really achieving its aims, instead of trying to innovate and surprise us. Those who are not put off by its shortcomings will nonetheless find a solid racing game with pleasing gameplay (at least on the road) and a rewarding, coherent progression system.

Even though we had no knowledge about Necromunda’s universe, we had a good time playing it. It’s hard to say if the lore purists and aficionados will be convinced, but we truly enjoyed the game’s artistic direction and the environment depicted by the development team. Unfortunately, the plot (as well as the side missions) truly lacks some depth and nothing really helps us understand what is going on with Necromunda and the gangs inhabiting it. Nonetheless, the title offers a dynamic and pleasant gameplay sublimated by a decent soundtrack and level design. It’s a shame the game gets tarnished by small technical glitches and defects. As is, and as long as those issues haven’t been fixed, we’d say wait a bit before buying it.

Gungrave G.O.R.E is a tribute to the first two installments of the franchise and a gift for the fans. The downside is that the game keeps its former weaknesses and struggles to find its place in the standards of today. Its numerous postponements are not without consequence on the production which is almost a generation late. However, the proposal remains rich in terms of gameplay and length. Let's hope that the presence of the title in the Xbox and PC Game Pass will allow it to find the success it deserves.

Funko Fusion is full of good ideas, but it struggles to fully convince despite all its potential. The charm of its well-modelled Pop figurines and colourful worlds is not enough to compensate for its repetitive gameplay, lack of honing and numerous glitches that jeopardise immersion. It truly is a shame, because with some more polished development, it could have rivalled the best. So it is best reserved for miniature enthusiasts, and preferably at a low price.

Regarding the latest Arkham Austin title, we are not going to hide the fact that we were on the fence. On one side, we felt this irrepressible urge to bash the game, especially concerning its definite lack of finish. On the other, and despite its shortcomings, the title kept us on our toes and we sincerely enjoyed playing it. Saying Redfall is imperfect is an understatement, but with the right follow-up, we really think that it could, in time, rise from its ashes. Hopefully, this will come true as soon as possible. Good luck to Arkane's teams: coming back from this will be quite challenging.

Taxi Life: A City Driving Simulator is not a disaster, but it lacks any real interest to keep players on their toes. Its 'Management' section is far too rudimentary, and all in all, there is no point in doing anything other than endlessly churning out taxi runs. To make things worse, the game suffers from a lack of finish and numerous glitches spoil the driving experience. It is a shame, though, because the reproduction of some parts of Barcelona is rather brilliant. It is a pleasure to wander through its streets and alleys, which are teeming with detail and life. It is a title that is sure to relax you for an evening or two, but which struggles to maintain a real desire to stay behind the wheel.

Saga of Sins is a fascinating, although too short discovery, both culturally and historically, for those who are interested in this period. The gameplay does not revolutionise the genre but remains sufficiently sober and efficient for an old-fashioned action game. Jerome Bosch greatly inspired the studio members, who paint a striking picture of mundane Christian guilt in the Late Middle Ages. The gates of Hell have never seemed so close, in this seemingly God-forsaken village that reveals the worst of humanity.

We dreamed of tasting a great vintage, but apparently, vinegar seems to be what is on tap right now. As it stands, Blood Bowl 3 is unworthy of the magnificent board game it embodies. However, the title has a lot of potential thanks to the field experience and its new official rules, making it still as convincing and fun to play, all wrapped up in a brilliant graphical and technical redesign. Cyanide still has significant work to do. Although the French studio has already rectified some details such as customisation, they will have to go to great lengths to convince fans to choose this opus over Blood Bowl 2.

Hellboy games are rare, but good Hellboy games are even rarer, and this one unfortunately does not even out the odds. It would be quicker to say what is right than what is wrong: faithful aesthetics and quality dubbing despite the scanty source material. Hellboy misses everything it sets out to do, right down to the very Roguelike structure of play, die, improve, try again, forgetting in this case the moment when you die. It is a bad adaptation, a bad Roguelike and, in the end, a bad game despite all the ingredients available to offer something at least decent. Fly, you fools!

South Park: Snow Day! is a disappointment. Unless you are a die-hard fan of the TV series, it is hard to find any real added value. As well as being very short, the title is also quite tedious. The gameplay lacks depth and impact, despite a few good ideas like the deck building components. The presence of the official French-language version saves the day, but as it stands, even at the low price of €30, we would advise you to pick up the excellent and tried and tested “The Stick of Truth” and “The Ring of Fate” instead.

As we said in the introduction, video game adaptations of manga, apart from One Piece and Dragon Ball, are often fairly average. Unfortunately, Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash is no exception to this rule, and it too delivers a less than flattering copy. Fans of the universe will be pleased to find a full cast and a story mode that covers well enough the early part of the story. On the other hand, the gameplay is faulty with some camera issues, a lack of fluidity in sequences and poor moovesets. The quality of the graphics is also quite a downside, although some of the animations slightly raise the bar and the soundtrack strives to make the whole experience a little more enjoyable. Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash remains a game to be reserved for fans of the licence, but one that we would not recommend as a pure fighting game.

MindsEye had potential: a futuristic universe, an intriguing storyline and powerful themes about AI and its technological challenges, but the result is disappointing. The gameplay is sorely lacking in fluidity and originality, the enemy AI suffers from a glaring lack of responsiveness and consistency, and the linear and repetitive missions quickly become tedious. Even Redrock City, which showed promise, appears desperately empty with no side activities and, above all, no soul. And the disappointment doesn't end there. Visually, the graphics fall short of current standards with persistent technical issues such as flickering, slowdowns, popping and frame rate drops despite patches. MindsEye joins the depressing and growing list of games that were released prematurely and not really finished. The studio is trying to reassure players by releasing a series of updates to improve the overall experience. A multiplayer mode and a construction system have also been announced to enrich the content. But will all this be enough to give MindsEye a second wind similar to Cyberpunk 2077's comeback?

It’s no easy task to give a clear-cut opinion about this compilation. On one hand, we cannot deny the efforts made to pay a tribute to Capcom’s history thanks to the modelled original arcade machines, the unique interface, the new and quite well-made instructions and the numerous settings available. On the other, it’s hard to forget the remaining problems that any serious player could’ve found during the first playtest. This evolves into a form of frustration in seeing a product that had everything to become a premium competitive basis for the players, but which will stay a tiny nostalgic amuse-bouche… Until the next one.

Technically, Kursk could’ve been a great game with a tragic and fascinating narrative. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth due to repetitive loading times, a stiff and linear gameplay and a serious lack of diversity within the missions which ultimately, ruins the whole experience. The soundtrack and the dubbing are temporary lifelines pulling the game upwards, but we quickly understand that Jujubee’s work isn’t up to the task and certainly not worth €20 to go and experience life in a tin box in the middle of the Arctic Ocean.

Despite a small price, Kingdom of Arcadia will not gain enough traction to prove its worth. Alright, we might share a smile when discovering that the protagonist lands on another world thanks to an arcade machine kept by his father, but this will not be enough. The gameplay is excessively boring and the AI is in a world of its own by relentlessly repeating its patterns and not caring the slightest about the player –this won’t help breaking the monotonous circle. All is needed to complete the game is going through the various levels in each castle and never going back to a previous zone as it’s not necessary. Kingdom of Arcadia is a basic platform game –not a Metroidvania– which wasn’t blessed on any particular point.

Battle Axe is the kind of game that one wishes to treasure as it toys with a nostalgic vibration that always works. With rather solid foundations, the game presents a visually magnificent universe thanks to its sprites and backgrounds, a coherent artistic direction, a soundtrack produced by an eminent name and ultimately a team who knows its way around that kind of production. Nonetheless, it’s hard not to sense a certain “laisser-aller” on the grounds that the game leans on its authors’ reputation and the influences which they used rather than on what new elements it could give to the genre. Even its radical suggestion that is here considered as a quality might be judged otherwise by many other players. For the time being, it’s a game rather destined to the retro-experience aficionados and a game that hopefully one day could actually be played on an arcade machine where it would shine bright like a diamond.

This third DLC of Immortals Fenyx Rising is a more than welcome surprise. This episode was already the first to really catch our attention when the several extensions were revealed thanks to its different gameplay and style. Indeed, one finds again the well-oiled mechanics of the main game which are the storytelling and the different gorgeous scenery as well as the different puzzles. With this new way of playing, this DLC truly is a breath of fresh air in comparison to the two previous ones that were more classic in their formula. The whole game works like a charm but the unclear and overloaded with information compass kind of overshadows the whole experience by complicating the exploration of the Pyrite Island. Anyway, if one wishes for a sequel or even a spin-off from the main story, maybe this format could do the trick.

Despite my absolute fondness for Arkham Horror: The Card Game, Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace is dreadful: a sort of empty and unfaithful substitute to a pleasant board game deserving to be acknowledged. Mother’s Embrace is a mere video game transposition without an ounce of creativity and even at times a bit lazy and slow. Nonetheless, those used to the series might be thrilled to once again find some of the franchise’s iconic characters and enjoy its atmosphere. As for the others, this game can also be a sleeping-pill substitute rather than a decent introduction to H.P Lovecraft’s universe or FFG’s board games: what a waste.

Knight Squad 2 could be perceived as quite a minimalist sequel for those who’ve already played the previous title in every possible way with their friends. Nonetheless, the pleasure felt when playing remains the same and whoever discovers this multiplayer game for the first time will greatly value being able to launch quick and entertaining games online or with friends at home kicking back in the couch. After all, there are few games nowadays offering accessible and stress-free gaming sessions for up to 8 players.

Considering it’s the first videogame adaptation of the latest edition of Games Workshop’s famous miniature wargame, Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Stormground really is quite a success. The Canadian studio Gasket Games offers us a very convincing, fun and addictive turn-based and tactical roguelite game experience. Indeed, the core of the gameplay is focused on skirmishes with fewer than fifteen units present at the same time and does not offer the tremendous battles that can be experienced with the miniature game. However, the battles are dynamic and tactical enough to satisfy the experienced players and sufficiently accessible to attract some new ones. The fact that there are only three factions may also disappoint, but choosing the faction wisely will have its importance and will enable the gameplay to be different each time. If the title finds its audience, other locations and factions could soon join the fight. That would be well deserved.

Even though our last trip to Colorado in Wasteland 3 goes back a while, one must admit that returning there for the new DLC entitled The Battle of Steeltown was an absolute pleasure. Indeed, the Rangers are still up for a good dose of adrenaline, money, guns, fights and encounters with freaks, bloodthirsty raiders, existentialist robots, and philosophical workers. The Battle of Steeltown offers us a narrative as “subtle” as always, more strategic fights embellished with new features forcing us to drastically change our already quite-well set methodology. This first DLC is rather short, but clearly worth the €13, 99 it asks or even less for the Xbox Game Pass subscribers.

In today’s brutal and savage gaming world, Mutazione really is a breath of fresh air. During approximately 6 hours, the game brilliantly makes us encounter touching characters and cross a variety of soothing landscapes despite the absence of a real gameplay. Whether visually or musically, thanks to a detail-oriented work and the studio’s wish to immerse the player in a dreamlike atmosphere we rarely witness, this initiatory journey is a fine achievement. Let’s meet at the forest’s edge and get ready: the gardens still have a lot to offer.

Outbreak: Endless Nightmares will undoubtedly have trouble finding its audience. The game’s rogue-like aspect lacks further development with certain levels not being randomly generated enough - the inside elements are the only one not being predefined - and are acting as obstacles to the player’s free will and skill set to progress. Having to discover coins to unlock new levels will be a great source of frustration for many players. The poor sound design and the fixed camera angles that don’t always change when the character is already out of focus keep making the immersion into the horror harder and harder. This also results in a controllability that isn’t convincing enough. Yet, the weapon’s durability, the hidden documents to find for a better understanding of the lore, the skill points or even the two-player option will be able to satisfy the less demanding players… And for many gaming sessions.

The Strange Story Of Brian Fisher will not revolutionise the puzzle-game genre, but it nonetheless manages to stand out from the crowd. The brilliance of Intetic’s title results from an atmosphere that is both bleak and creepy, and it acts as the beginning of a series of games that promises to be captivating. If the hero’s face looks rough around the edges, the general graphics manage to neatly save the day. The soundtrack, despite being quite basic, ticks all the boxes to put you in the mood. With approximately 3 hours until completion and depending on your puzzle-solving skills, time will fly and isn’t that what we wish for? Keeping the brain busy and not think about what really happens around us?

Wingspan is a fantastic game capable of subtly making you learn many things on birds thanks to in-game mechanics adapting to the special features of each species. It’s a very entertaining experience that even manages to arouse the curiosity and interest of players who are not familiar with the world of birds. The digital version suffers from the loss of touch and the pleasure of being able to play around a table for a moment of irreplaceable conviviality. Nonetheless, it allows the player to easily discover Wingspan’s peculiar mechanics and atmosphere at an affordable price. Whatever the version, we strongly recommend that you discover this game.

Hey, you there, still hanging around? Stop whatever you’re doing and download Griftlands on your console: you’ll thank us later! Joining the genre’s big names like Hadès or Slay the Spire, Klei Entertainment’s new masterpiece is only missing a French translation to earn its credentials among French-speaking gamers. Combining a colossal amount of content, a magnificent artistic direction and an addictive gameplay, Griftlands shows all its cards and wins the pot.

Blaster Master Zero is an excellent surprise. The Japanese of the Inti Creates studio have managed to propose a remake that is faithful enough to the original while being sufficiently different to arouse the interest of both old and new players. Exploration is pleasant and fluid and avoids the pitfall of unnecessary back and forth travelling. The increasing power of your character and tank is enjoyable, and the difficulty is well balanced. Indeed, the latter offers a kinder experience than the original while keeping you on your toes. Once the game is over, you will only have one desire: start Blaster Master Zero 2 and 3.

Orcs Must Die! 3 is a great way to blow off some steam. The gameplay is quick to grasp and satisfactory thanks to a nice progression curve. On the other hand, no risk has been taken on this opus. Newcomers will be pleasantly surprised by the efficient, but classic gameplay and those used to it may be quickly bored by the lack of novelty. If you are tempted by the experience, we recommend that you try the online two player mode to have a taste of the adventure.

Beasts of Maravilla Island isn’t a bad game per se, but it's not a particularly memorable one either. Despite the repetitive nature of the childish photographic gameplay and some glitches, the game still deserves to be acknowledged for its nicely coloured graphics, a discreet and pleasant soundtrack and a rather interesting final moral. Beasts of Maravilla Island is a unique experience (in the literal sense of the word) because you won’t necessarily want to dive back into the journey again.

At first sight, Fallen Knight reminds us of Capcom’s blue character. Its inspiration is obvious, but it has nevertheless managed to free itself from the original material by offering its own rather successful experience, albeit a little short. Offering a lively and nervous close contact gameplay, it happens to be very fun if you take the time to master it in order to be able to disarm the different enemies – including the bosses – to obtain different advantages. Yes, Fallen Knight is quite a nice game, and its goal is clearly to encourage the player in redoing the levels in a different order, all the while getting better scores and times.

Sometimes, even a small game can be greatly disappointing. It is true that we might have set the bar too high for Joe Winter’s first production. However, we are entitled to ask ourselves if the latter was not simply too ambitious. It doesn’t matter if the whole thing is too short or badly translated. Alas, it seems less forgivable to be confronted with a title that, by piling up references, never manages to be satisfactory in one of the genres it is inspired by. In other words, the developer of Resting Relic never seems to have the means to achieve his ambitions. This results in a game with flawed action phases, outdated platform sequences as well as empty and bland sceneries barely able to move us. We were hoping to see Song of Iron reach Valhalla. Unfortunately, it begins an irremediable fall into the depths of oblivion.

As a professional car mechanic who has not played the other episodes of the Car Mechanic Simulator license, I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by the realism of this simulation in regards to dismantling the parts, ordering those that seem defective or repairing them when possible. Expanding your garage to optimise your workspace, buying a car at auction to make a profit and of course receiving cars whose customers tell you that there is only a "small" noise when half the car needs to be replaced, the recipe is complete. Despite some flaws in its usability, Car Mechanic Simulator 2021 is a briliant game that all mechanic lovers (and others) should own.

Annapurna Interactive is clearly a company that knows what it is doing and what it is getting into. By working together with Hollow Ponds, they prove once again that they know what horse to bet on and they do it quite well. I Am Dead exudes something pure and profound through themes rarely dealth with in the video game industry. Despite some flaws mainly linked to an iterative mechanic and a gameplay that is much too discreet, I Am Dead remains a joyful experience that needs to be tried.

More than a simple medley of appropriations, Lost In Random plunges us into an original and unforgiving universe where the fate of children is gambled with a dice. Thanks to a fantastic art direction, the six kingdoms of the world of Alea open up to us in the company of Paire and his magic dice and lead us to meet a multitude of far-fetched secondary characters. Paced by battles that turn out to be deeper than they seem and by a management of skills in the form of deck building, Lost In Random is a real pleasure to go through during the ten or so hours that make up its adventure.

As a lazy adaptation by CyberConnect2, Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles is an insipid first attempt at recreating a masterpiece of modern manga. Indeed, the animations are superb, the whole background of the current anime is closely followed, and the official soundtrack hits the spot. As for the rest, we see fights that quickly go round in circles, a roster that is far too limited and a story mode that feels unnecessary if one already knows the original work. Undoubtedly, the developers have many more adaptations in store for the next seasons to come, and we can only hope that they will be more creative.

Video games that mark an era or become an essential reference in their respective genres are quite rare. Disco Elysium is one of those games and it is easy to understand why it has won many prestigious awards. The first title from the studio ZA/UM and Robert Kurvitz is a C-RPG masterpiece. It is a perfect embodiment of what a tabletop role-playing game should look like. Indeed, it offers a substantial lore, captivating NPCs, a mature, solid and coherent scenario no matter which way you go, a crazy amount of freedom in roleplay, the famous dice rolls and finally, a “game master” with an exceptional narrative power. The inclusion of the video game medium transcends the experience thanks to a singular and bewitching graphic aesthetic and soundtrack. Moreover, its adaptation on consoles, at least on the Xbox Series, does not taint the picture too much. However, Disco Elysium will not be enjoyed by those allergic to reading as it contains thousands of sentences or for fans of fight scenes since there are none here. For the others, this game really deserves to be played for several hours in order to really understand what you are doing. In the end, you may not like it, but if you get hooked, Disco Elysium becomes a unique experience that leaves you breathless once the adventure is over.

With House of Ashes, Supermassive Games adds another layer to the solid foundations of its know-how. At the end of this new angsty adventure, one could be tempted to reprove the studio for sticking to its guns. But one must point out the care taken with an intriguing story, characters realistic as ever, beautiful shots and a refreshing critique of the Iraqi conflict. As one could imagine, fans will not be particularly surprised by this new proposal. If one is not allergic to the genre and its inherent flaws, it would truly be a shame to miss out on a title that is effective in every aspect. After finishing this chapter, we can’t wait to discover The Devil in Me next year.

Light Fairytale Episode 2 starts on a positive note, despite some flaws. Once again, the episodic format for this type of game seems clearly unsuitable as the feeling of barely progressing in the story is too much felt. The same goes for the combat system which, although becoming more and more interesting, is still unsteady due to the aforementioned slow progression. But the universe is rather endearing, and one wonders how the whole thing will end. Let's wait and see then!

Years go by, and Isaac remains the rogue-like genre’s undisputed master. Still as fun and addictive as ever, Nicalis’ title will delight early fans with a new and more than generous amount of content, filled as usual with new enemies, characters, bosses, items and other trinkets of all kinds. The co-op mode has also been redesigned for splitscreen sessions on the couch, but the game’s foundation stays basically the same. The only regrets are the lack of localisation, the ever-present crashes, and the prohibitive price. If you were not convinced in the past, this new version will probably not change much. On the other hand, if you’ve been waiting on it for a few years now, this may be the best opportunity to discover this unforgettable title in its most accomplished version.