Valerio Guarnera

“Wander Stars is a little surprise. I really liked the idea of ​​"do-it-yourself" moves, as well as the desire to draw inspiration from classic '90s shonen games for the graphics. Sure, the story is intentionally more linear and action-oriented than deep exploration, and the lack of voice acting can be felt. The true heart of the experience remains the innovative, turn-based, word-based combat system. The mechanic of combining words to build and launch custom attacks is a brilliant idea. Likewise, the fact that you gain honor by not knocking out your opponent fits well with the universe and philosophy behind Wander Stars.”

“Baki Hanma Blood Arena is a gamble that offers very little and fails to achieve a passing grade. Aside from the atmosphere, masterfully rendered by the team, the rest of the game presents several difficult-to-fill flaws. The combat system is interesting, but at the same time it's unnerving because it requires you to memorize every single enemy pattern. The main problem, however, is when completely random elements are added without any explanation, especially in a fighting game where practice and knowledge of the core mechanics are a must.”

“Shantae Advance Risky Revolution isn't just a game, it's a piece of gaming history finally coming to life. For longtime fans, it's a unique opportunity to play a lost chapter of the saga. For new players, it's a great introduction to the world of Shantae, with its Metroidvania gameplay, unique art style, and lighthearted humor.”

“The bizarre shooter developed by Velan Studio is an ambitious title that seeks to stand out from the mass of PvP games that have been saturating the market for a few years now. Midnight Murder Club is an interesting game, capable of entertaining, especially with friends. Unfortunately, due to its limitations, primarily due to the lack of a strong community, it fails to fully express itself, making matches too similar to each other, which inevitably leads to monotony over time.”

“Scar-Lead Salvation is the perfect example of how NOT to treat the theme of time loops. The narrative turns out to be flat and unstimulating, failing to express the potential of this expedient. The gunplay is repetitive and poorly calibrated, weighing down the shooting phases. The environments lack originality, with rooms that are all the same. The enemies, then, are anonymous and constantly repeat themselves, varying only in color and the weapon they use. The bosses try to break this monotony in some way, but the path to follow to reach them turns out to be tedious, in addition to the fact that they are three in total. Scar-Lead Salvation tries to replicate Returnal, failing miserably.”

“Death end reQuest Code Z is certainly a brave experiment but flawed in every way. The transition to roguelike gameplay is an interesting idea, but the execution leaves much to be desired, with monotonous dungeons, poorly calibrated difficulty, and a narrative that fails to match the depth of its predecessors.”

“Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost fits well with the rhythm genre and the songs proposed are many and catchy. The gameplay works, but it really requires a lot of patience to be able to manage it on the highest difficulties. Even if the Danmaku mode is poorly done, the classic gameplay is very fun and satisfying. With a few small adjustments it could become a little gem among rhythm video games.”

“All in Abyss was a title that positively surprised me. The plot is full of twists and turns with a good characterization of the characters, aesthetically well-finished. The torture scenes may or may not be liked, but they are entirely optional. The gameplay is poker with RPG elements and this strange combination works in the game. It's so fun to play with it despite the fact that there are a few things forced behind the matches.”

“Phantom Breaker Battle Grounds Ultimate is a welcome return, a great gaming experience that shows its full potential in Co-op, thanks especially to its large roster. PBBGU's gameplay remains fun and rewarding, even though with some flaws given by an old design. Graphically it has been rebuild from the ground, maintaining its nature in pixel art loved by fans.”

“A new interpretation of the strategy genre”

“DreadOut Remastered Collection is a horror game with great potential, but it lacks plot and technical aspects.”