Bladed Fury is one of those games that is hard to enjoy at first, but even harder to let go of once you’ve completed it. Considering how many different paths there are, it’s a shame that the main story happens to be so short. Nonetheless, NExT Studios offers us a perfectly-well-made piece of art brilliantly achieving the challenge of creating an action-oriented shadow theatre. What if this was the true definition of what martial arts are?

Genesis Noir voluntarily chose to focus on the visual and auditive experience even if it meant compromising the player’s interactivity. This decision results in an experimental storytelling nuanced with jazz rhythms where the unknown limits of its own realm mingle with the invigorating pace of this mysterious investigation resembling a film noir. We are slightly disappointed by the gameplay that happens to be quite fastidious whenever one of the rare interactions happens; this could dishearten more than one player. Considering how generous the game is artistically speaking, this would be an understandable but damaging problem.

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.

“Embrace death.” Despite a very short lifespan and few scenes of actual gameplay, Adios has enough qualities to impact players who will give it a go. Thanks to incredibly well-written dialogues and interesting choices as regards the aesthetic, Mischief’s walking simulator conveys gorgeous feelings. A great sense of sadness can be felt in game and it contrasts with a great and palpable uneasiness. Simultaneously touching and disturbing, this story about a man dedicated to regaining control of his own destiny can be appreciated like a great movie. Inspired by the movie industry to be a work of art on its own, this title exudes love and regret and addresses life and death issues: the story of a man finally at peace with himself. Adios.

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.

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.

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.

Even though Bad Dream: Coma is a classic of the genre among the multitude of point’n click games, it somehow manages to stand out thanks to its macabre atmosphere and, above all, its much appreciated replayability. With different goals depending on your decisions, Bad Dream is rather complete and offers interesting in-game possibilities despite the sometimes tricky puzzles. For €10 on the store, it would be a shame to miss such an enjoyable nightmare.

“Hamlet isn’t (quite) dead.” Capcom has worked tremendously hard to turn this Resident Evil Village into the new spearhead of action-horror games. Technically flawless and carefully paced, the experience never runs out of steam even though sometimes, we’d like to stop and enjoy the scenery to find all the secrets it hides. This opus definitely sends the previous one back to its scrappy status by brilliantly taking over the first-person view and its characteristics to generate great moments of stress and fear. The in-game breaks are well managed and the build-up to the inevitably gritty and unsubtle finale is not a disappointment here: far from it. Doing better than this in the future will be no easy task, but at least when putting the controller down, we thought about how memorable this experience had been and how we’d like to go for seconds.

“A sublime game sublimated.” Nier Replicant ver.1.22444487139… is a playful work of art, a fascinating journey driven by one of the most beautiful OST ever made for a video game. This is the perfect opportunity for all players who missed this experience in 2010 to discover it sublimated by a sensible but respectful remake of the original material. Nier Replicant ver.1.22444487139… has a real depth and soul to it, a singular identity like its little brother Nier Automata. Our best recommendation would be to embark in this universe, immerse yourself in its superb music and with a little luck, if the game manages to sell well, Taro Yoko hinted that it would not be impossible to see the Gestalt version happen as an extra DLC. Yet, do not await this hypothetical future and go with your guts as soon as possible.

While rediscovering this saga is an obvious joy for any shmup lover, we can’t help but quickly notice the many shortcomings. R-Type Final 2 is an honest game made with passion, but it lacks several months of development, and certainly did not need to comply with modern publisher standards with its Season Pass, even though the technical side of things still needs a lot of polish. It’s a shame, but we can hope for a perfectly playable game after a few patches. The R-Type series’ final act is yet to come.

“Do not regret, remember.” Despite being too short, Before I Forget reaches its original goal. Thanks to quality dubbing, an emotional soundtrack and risky directing choices, the 3-Fold Games studio “walking simulator” often finds the right tone to address the delicate and rarely discussed subject of memory loss. The only real downside to this beautiful love story lies in the outcome of the game which is quickly predictable and perhaps a little bit too dramatic. This will not tarnish a beautiful experience which, even if it won’t be remembered by all, will certainly shake you to the core.

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.

In a galaxy not so far away…How could one refuse to discover or play again entirely what is considered to be one of today’s greatest sci-fi saga in the history of video games? Despite its shortcomings, the Mass Effect trilogy has tremendous qualities and enough of them to have made an impression on a whole generation of gamers. Mass Effect Legendary Edition is not only a nostalgic pleasure for the original players, but also for all of those who never had the chance to discover its epicness. More than just an outstanding trilogy, the latter carries within itself the whole background of the Bioware studio as well as the stigmas of an ambitious project that was overwhelmed by the players’ expectations. Playing Mass Effect Legendary Edition enables us to partake in one amazing science fiction story as well as having a glimpse of the background behind the entertainment industry that we adore so much: the one of gaming.

Subnautica: Below Zero could be compared to an iceberg. Hidden underneath a seducing art direction, its many treasures are only available to those who are ready to truly invest some time in the game. To do so, one will have to dive into the unknown, avoid the monsters hidden in the dark shadows and deal with a constant management of the inventory and health bar. Once the basic mechanics are understood, Unknown World Entertainment’s game unleashes gorgeous surprises and knows how to reward us. Despite some scenes on solid ground, we only have one wish: dive deeper again and again in this sly ocean filled with mysteries and toying with our fears.

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.