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.