Gabriel Marçal

“Well, you can't say the game isn't fun for a few hours. It's beautiful, charming, has good and well-implemented ideas, enough content for many hours of gameplay, and a strong sense of progression to keep you engaged.”

“Strange Antiquities is mesmerizing and will keep you engaged for hours, waiting unblinkingly for the next events and puzzles to be solved. The player must remain attentive most of the time, as many secrets are hidden in plain sight from the start. All this freedom in an adventure that is still quite linear really immersed me in the experience.”

“Voice Love On Air is an excellent dating sim, with extensive and diverse content, 4 very captivating romanceable guys and very fun tricks. If you want a lighter story in BL games or like the management mechanics, I easily recommend this title.”

“If you're a hardcore gamer, this is an easy recommendation, and if you're more casual, I equally recommend it, as long as you start playing it on easy, as this will let you still enjoy most of the content without the risk of the experience becoming frustrating.”

“RPG MAKER WITH is an extremely competent and solid game, but the experience will depend more on the player due to its overall nature. In a sense, you can make whatever game you want, but it will require time and effort that might be daunting for a novice.”

“Caravan SandWitch was mesmerizing for me: walking through all these places, getting to know this world and these characters while I was getting more and more invested in the mystery was fantastic. Despite having some very specific criticisms, such as thinking that the game would benefit more from better platforming and that the visuals could be more refined, the experience as a whole was fun and refreshing. Not to mention the French music that constantly reminds me that despite still being European, this game came from a different place and culture than the three that I am most immediately accustomed to. It's not the new game of my life, but it is a very intimate and comfortable experience that I wouldn't want to miss, so don't miss it!”

“In addition to the most basic messages about the scarcity of the natural world, exaggerated dependence on non-renewable energy sources, and lack of harmony with natural life, TERRA MEMORIA is a journey of self-discovery and getting to know a world for each of these characters and for us. I really got to immerse myself in a nice, cozy adventure and I got to enjoy the journey with each of these friends I made.”

“Sympathy Kiss is a pretty solid choice if the "office experience" part of this appeals to you, and the lack of a more intense or fantasy-like plot isn't a problem, as its proposal is the office slice-of-life drama. The game's art is beautiful, the music is pleasant, and I really think it very cleverly spares us from some Visual Novel protocols, which is refreshing for veteran players.”

“If the game caught your attention, whether for its dynamic combat, catchy music, or the franchise's charisma itself, I'm sure Sister VS Sister won't disappoint! Now, for players familiar with the franchise, Sister VS Sisters is very close to being the best spin-off we can get while we wait for the next game in the main franchise—an easy recommendation!”

“With an addictive gameplay loop, I think Silent Hope is a harmless and perfect recommendation for everyone. And while it doesn't answer the age-old question about the nuances of communication, it at least raises interesting arguments for its meaning within its own medium.”

“Charade Manics has some cathartic highs, and I wasn't immune to them: the men, though annoying, are handsome, and the art is eye-catching; the number of routes is also ambitious, and if you're into them, you'll have plenty to enjoy. The songs are also varied and enjoyable to listen to, helping to build the atmosphere, which is another strong point of this experience. Still, the main feeling I associate with this game is "boredom," which somewhat saddens me because of the many ways Charade Maniacs is ambitious: the sheer number of routes, the vastly different story, and the few (but memorable) iconic moments. Overall, I can't really recommend this game easily because of how tiring the experience was for me, but if anything about this story caught your attention, give it a shot.”

“With plenty of romance options, a frenetic pace, delicate art direction, and a great soundtrack, Winter's Wish Spirits of Edo is a complete adventure that's easy to recommend for Otome visual novel readers, whether veterans or newcomers.”

“The captivating graphics, the well-crafted gameplay style and the amount of care and attention put into this title is quite evident, yet for an affordable price, Sixtar Gate: STARTRAIL is certainly one of the biggest surprises of 2023 for me. The game is not specifically super polished or perfect, but it speaks to me in a very personal way, so if something I said in this review specifically clicked with you, I suggest you give it a chance!”

“If the first times you carry out the activities the cuteness of the animals holds up well, from the twentieth time onwards it becomes less interesting and there is still a lot of playtime after that. And finally, that's basically all the game offers, the minigames are as simple as the simplest ones in Mario Party, for example, just pressing a button repeatedly in more situations than I would think appropriate. Still, the game isn't bad, if you fall in love with the mascots at first sight like I did, the game can give you a few good hours of fun, I just hope it takes longer for you to get bored of the repetition than I did.”

“The adventure has a good pace and plenty of content, the graphic quality is impressive on the Nintendo Switch and the combat is quite fun once you get the hang of it. As a whole, SAMURAI MAIDEN is quite simple but well written, the interaction between the girls is quite satisfying too — if you're used to franchises like Senran Kagura, this entry will be a real treat.”

“The main strength of this adventure is how dynamic the scenes are. The script isn't economical per se; it takes its time to explain and develop, but the point is that Lover Pretend doesn't take a moment longer than necessary. This makes the dialogue always enjoyable, the scenes have a suitable length, and it never leaves you bored, something I greatly value in Otoges.”

“Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei has a dense story with two-dimensional characters, and is certainly one of the best Otoges I've ever had the pleasure of playing. The stylization is great, the theme is dense, there's a decent variety of routes and suitors, and all of this tied together masterfully by an impeccable rhythm.”

“Finally, I recommend Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden for those who enjoy more classic RPGs and want to experience an alternative evolution that maintains more of the essence of these games, and also for those willing to absorb a JRPG adventure in a different way than usual.”

“While this game lacks a strong narrative and plot twists, and shares considerable similarities in some routes, it still offers plenty of additional content. As an extra to the 10-year collection, I think Danganronpa S is the perfect experience. As a standalone game, I think it's worth it for those obsessed with the franchise like me, or fans of gacha and turn-based RPGs who are familiar with the series.”

“Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is almost indisputably the pinnacle of the Danganronpa franchise. Even so, its self-critical approach may alienate some fans; I myself found this approach strange on my first playthrough. That said, when it comes to minigames and narrative pacing, its dominance is undoubtedly unquestionable. The additional minigames offered in this game's menu are far superior to the additional content of the previous games. However, a drawback of this game is that, much more than the second, you need to have played the previous two. Since its focus isn't exactly expanding the lore but rather commenting on the fandom to some extent, it doesn't exactly explain and connect events, leaving that part for the player with previous experiences in the franchise.”