Paolo Besser

“Add in a plethora of more or less useful options (like the one that lets you see how many milliseconds you're off the correct tempo), the editor, and the community that creates new songs specifically for you, and you have a title you can play virtually endlessly.”

“Kingdom of Night is an isometric hack-and-slash RPG that relies on its '80s setting and effective, if very dark, pixel art. The gameplay is solid, quest-rich, and technically polished, though not very original and weighed down by frequent respawns and consistently gloomy environments. Progression is satisfying and there's good variety, but the pacing may dip if you're not into the genre. A well-made, straightforward indie title.”

“Syberia Remastered is a heartfelt tribute to a timeless classic. Virtuallyz Gaming has carefully preserved Benoît Sokal's artistic vision - his style, colors, and rhythm - while giving the game a renewed elegance that stands the test of modern technology. A must-play for newcomers, and a meaningful, nostalgic return for long-time fans.”

“A surprisingly faithful and inspired return: Simon the Sorcerer Origins captures the wit and charm of the original, enriched by gorgeous watercolor backdrops and challenging puzzles. A clever homage that confidently stands on its own.”

“NBA 2K26 remains the undisputed king of basketball games in a market with virtually no competition, sticking to its tried-and-true formula while polishing a few key aspects. We truly appreciated the improved on-court fluidity and the revamped shooting mechanics, as well as the solid structure of the career mode-though the reward system and the endless repetitive tasks don't always meet expectations.”

“Jamboree TV expands Super Mario Party Jamboree with new modes, mini-games, and Switch 2 features like microphone and camera support. It's chaotic fun with friends, but underwhelming solo. The additions are enjoyable but far from groundbreaking. A perfect party game-if you've got the right crowd.”

“A forgotten land shrouded in myth, a sacred egg holding the fate of a species, and a dying explorer's last wish - Amerzone: The Explorer's Legacy returns as a visually rich, emotionally charged journey. Rebuilt from the ground up in full 3D, it enhances the original with modern gameplay mechanics, an integrated journal system, reimagined puzzles, and dual difficulty modes. A classic adventure reimagined for today's hardware and sensibilities.”

“X-Out Resurfaced is a faithful remake of the 1990 classic, preserving its challenging gameplay, retro visuals, and customization system, but missing opportunities to modernize key mechanics.”

“There are some frames in the cutscenes that leave a bit to be desired, but this does not invalidate the considerable modernization work done on this game: Broken Sword maintains its charm even after thirty years and its Reforged version improves the situation, restoring the wow-effect on modern platforms. The new generations can thus approach this immortal classic without fear that their eyes will be disturbed by unnatural pixelations and awkwardly blurred or antialiazed cubes, replicating the wonder that this game gave us at the time of the cathode ray tube. But even we loyal ones can play it again with joy and satisfaction, admiring the outcome of this restoration work. And it doesn't matter if, after all, we could already run the original for free with ScummVM.”

“Kring is a project that the author himself defines as intimately personal and, therefore, carried out out of pure hedonism. You buy it at your own risk with the knowledge that the game is the way it likes it, not the way it likes it, or you, or an audience framed by some market survey. So you may find it funny or maybe not, brilliant or terribly stupid, unmissable or forgettable and you can't get out of it: it goes just to taste. I found it pleasant but not irresistible, engaging but a little too borderline to last long. In short, one of those novelties that drive you crazy at first, but for which you soon lose interest. For five euros, however, it is free, and it is definitely worth doing this psychedelic gaming experience, if only to encourage Ivan to do other similar things.”

“Although few titles in the collection can honestly still entertain today - in the meantime we have become accustomed to much more - rediscovering Jeff Minter's "woolly" games was a fun and very, very intriguing journey. Added to the nostalgia is the possibility of knowing completely unpublished details of the development, and this collection, very well done in terms of quantity and quality of the material proposed, has an indisputable historical value. A journey that is willingly retraced by reading, listening and playing. Especially playing.”

“The Awakened is worth more for what it represents than for the game itself. Between graphics and gameplay it tastes old even if it is new, but it knows how to be a completely independent remake of the 2006 inspirer of the same name.”

“The coin operated "classic which has never been" comes back to life thanks to one of the most visionary and iconic game designers of the 80s. And it's gorgeous.”

“A cool puzzle-platformer where cloning and killing ourselves is mandatory to reach our goals, with nice looking pixel art graphics and a great atmosphere.”

“A great game that shows what R-Type could be like, if only it was coded in 1958! Blast the freaking aliens like it there's no tomorrow, with this stunning shoot 'em up action in black & white, with great FMV intros in every level.”

“Syberia: The World Before gave me back that sense of wonder that I felt, twenty years ago, with the first two episodes and, for this reason alone, for me it is a "yes" as big as an apartment building.”

“Infernax is the heir to Castlevania (the NES one) that I didn't know I craved, but it was almost impossible to break away from once I started playing! Equipped with an interesting storyline, highly enjoyable pixel art graphics and an electrifying soundtrack, Infernax gets completed over and over again to the rhythm of "Another game and that's it", accompanying the player with an intelligent progression of pace and difficulty. Not really cheap for an indie game, but it's worth the price.”

“I had high hopes while downloading Go! Go! PogoGirl and luckily I wasn't disappointed! The game offers exactly what it promises and nothing more: a colorful, valuable and exciting return to the nineties, with a 2D platformer that unaltered the dynamics of the time, adding that touch of Hoppin' Mad (a C64 classic) that absolutely adds to the experience.”

“The PC version of Sherlock Holmes Chapter One avoids the frame drops and other glitches that some PS5 owners experienced with the console release, and gives us a fairly good detective game, with several culprits to find in a beautifully crafted turistic island. Fans of Sherlock Holmes might discover a quite different hero from the one they are accustomed to, but the overall experience of Chapter One is absolutely pleasant.”

“I didn't start out with the best of expectations, but The Smufs Mission Villeaf turned out to be a nice little game! For a few hours it brought me back to the age when I hastily dined to leave my parents to their sad newsreel, and went to watch the Smurfs on the TV in my room. The graphic rendering of the characters is commendable (certainly more rounded than that of the two recent films) and the soundtrack a small masterpiece.”