Luca Buelli

“Ferocious stands as a striking example of a project that attempted to sprint before learning to walk. Its ambition to emulate AAA-scale design has resulted in an overengineered architecture that constrains rather than enriches gameplay. With careful simplification, system refinement, and combat rebalancing, the title could still evolve into a cohesive and rewarding experience. As it stands, however, it remains disjointed, often exhausting, and frequently frustrating – demanding a level of patience few players are likely to tolerate.”

“Shooty Shooty Robot Invasion is the kind of chaos that, on paper, shouldn’t work – and yet, against all odds, it absolutely does. It’s an explosion of unrestrained creativity: a whirlwind of sharp wit, surreal destruction, and mechanical madness, all held together by a surprisingly sturdy technical backbone. Beneath its colorful, comic-book shell lies a game that knows exactly what it wants to be – fast, loud, and gloriously absurd. Its shooting mechanics are tight, responsive, and immensely gratifying, with weapons that deliver punchy, satisfying feedback worthy of the genre’s greats. Every encounter walks a fine line between skill and delirium, featuring bullet-hell moments that push reflexes, timing, and composure to their limits. Mistakes are costly, but the rush of victory carries that unmistakable taste – the pure, hard-earned flavor of triumph. Visually, the hand-drawn, cartoon-inspired aesthetic infuses every frame with personality, transforming chaos into language and excess into art. Performance remains impressively smooth, with flawless optimization ensuring that every visual and technical element moves in perfect sync – even at the height of the madness. The sound design, bursting with irony and energy, keeps pace effortlessly, amplifying the game’s surreal, self-aware humor. Of course, it’s not without its quirks: the occasionally disorienting level design and lack of adjustable difficulty may leave some players momentarily adrift. Yet, in a sense, those imperfections only enhance its charm – because Shooty Shooty Robot Invasion isn’t chasing perfection; it’s chasing personality. And in its brilliantly orchestrated chaos, it finds exactly that.”

“Schedule I is an original, deep, and remarkably well-balanced sandbox management game. It masterfully blends strategic complexity with freedom of action, placing players at the center of a rich and dynamic criminal ecosystem. While the game exhibits minor shortcomings – including an occasionally overwhelming volume of information and sporadic dips in performance – the game’s robust core ensures a coherent and engaging experience, with significant potential for refinement. It is now up to TVGS’s young development team to fully leverage these strengths, elevating an already distinctive title into a polished, comprehensive experience capable of leaving a lasting mark on the sandbox management genre.”

“House of the Dead 2: Remake fails to establish itself as the triumphant return fans had hoped for. Stylistic choices, toned-down violence, limited accessibility, and technical problems weigh down what could have been a great revival of a classic. Even so, it remains an experience that can entertain those who want to rediscover the arcade flavor of the series—though in a different, less faithful form.”

“MindsEye carries an immense weight of expectations, particularly given the involvement of Leslie Benzies, one of the chief architects behind GTA’s monumental success. Yet, Build a Rocket Boy has ultimately failed to bear that burden. The problems extend well beyond technical glitches and bugs—although these are serious in their own right—to reveal a fundamentally disjointed vision, where each element of the game feels isolated from the others. A compelling narrative and engaging characters cannot compensate for an experience fractured by poorly designed minigames, disconnected puzzles, frustrating quick-time events, and tedious, repetitive sequences. The end result is a product steeped in a strange nostalgia for outdated mechanics, clinging to them without meaningful updates or engaging reinvention. The gameplay is simplistic, the world lacks interactivity, and the remarkable potential of Unreal Engine 5 is largely squandered, if not outright neglected. There are some bright spots — particularly in the writing, cutscenes, and certain driving segments — but these are far too few to redeem a game that falters precisely where it should have shined.”

“MULLET MADJACK is an excellent shooter that skillfully and passionately captures the essence of classic OAV anime at their expressive peak. The game impresses with its visual power, supported by high-quality graphics and solid, engaging gameplay. However, it is important to note that the learning curve can initially be steep, posing a significant challenge for newcomers. Overall, it remains a thoroughly worthwhile experience that we highly recommend trying.”

“Songs of Silence is undoubtedly a strong RTS that, despite a few areas in need of refinement, shows immense potential. Its artistic and narrative elements are exceptional, with an extraordinary attention to detail that enriches every aspect of the game, from its visually striking atmosphere to the emotional depth of its storyline. While some elements may require further polish, Songs of Silence has all the makings of not just a benchmark for genre enthusiasts but also a standout title in the RTS landscape.”

“Forgive Me Father 2 delivers an immersive blend of Lovecraftian horror and intense shooter action. With atmospheric visuals, a gripping story, and satisfying combat, it stands out despite some overly complex levels and unbalanced difficulty. A must-play for fans of cosmic terror and fast-paced gameplay.”

“3D Realms missed a great opportunity with Phantom Fury. Serious gameplay and technical problems drastically lowered the quality of a title that had the potential to be a good shooter. Luckily the plot and the artistic level save the title from a complete and much more serious rejection. Although Phantom Fury is a courageous title, it shows the consequences of the incorrect balance between graphics, narrative, level design and gameplay.”

“Stalker: Legends of the Zone brings the historic Stalker trilogy to old gen and next gen. A remarkable work that demonstrates GSC’s love for the series. Some small errors that can be solved in the future via patches, overall an excellent job.”