Fábio Castanho Emídio

“Cricket: Jae's Really Peculiar Game was one of the most pleasant surprises I had this year. Creative, with brilliant writing, visually beautiful and made with a lot of love, it is a must-have title for fans of the subgenre and an example of how to do something inspired, but conquering its own identity.”

“I can't say Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP ruined my day, much less that it was the game that most disappointed me this year[...] By the end, I can say I had good moments, memorable characters, a unique art direction, a satisfying ending, and cool combat.”

“Shikon-X Astro Defense Fortress was one of the biggest surprises I had this year. I was interested only for its 90's anime aesthetics but it got me compelled with the potential its idea held. A simple game but made with lots of care and dedication, this is a good way to spend the time for those who want a quick, fun game.”

“With bad gameplay, null ambiance, forgettable characters and music, [this] is a title that I don't have the slightest idea of how it managed to get release in this state. Despair to get out in the market or disregard for the consumer? Only a ton and a half of updates to make the game more interesting.”

“It's not a bad game. It contains an interesting selection of fighters, excellent soundtrack, official arts and solid online. But it's not worth it to throw away your time and patience playing against such an unfair and merciless machine. Maybe it'd be worth the price if it had been released in a collection with better games. Honestly, it's only worth it as preservation and a lesson on how not to develop a fighting game.”

“At the end of the day, this is one of the games that doesn't try to reinvent the wheel or appear more than the rest of its peers, but it also lacks a strong personality and a concrete reason for existing. It's difficult to recommend it to veteran players of the genre, as they may well get bored with the ease of the gameplay, but it's a strong recommendation for those who don't know turn-based RPGs, being a good entry point to discover better and unique games.”

“Thus comes the question: is it worth it to save Arc? Despite two gross issues, I'd say yes.”

“Despite the issues listed, it's worth [playing it]. It's not necessary to have played the previous title to understand and appreciate the story but it's really worth experimenting it to feel the gut punches and heart pain even deeper.”

“Despite a few small issues, Outer Terror is a very good title. It's not "the most rented tape in the rental shop," but we can say with time it becomes that movie with a loyal fanbase. The simplicity may attract both veterans of the genres and newcomers. Facing off against vampires, toasters or ████, there's only one thing to say: Groovy.”

“Alisa is a very pleasant, albeit late, surprise for the Switch. An excellent addition to the horror library alongside the aforementioned classics, but also others such as Outlast, Witch’s House and IB. For those looking for a tribute to the sick and macabre, Alisa is the most accurate of homages to the narratives that scare our dreams.”

“qomp2 is such a pleasurable adventure that it leaves you wanting more. If the game has a flaw, it's perhaps the lack of content: 30 super quick levels to beat and achievements to unlock, but that's it.”

“Even with small flaws, Torn Away is beautiful and raw. There are several media that show war not as glorious, but the worst fate for humanity, the game joins this pantheon with a tragic, sympathetic, destructive and hopeful story. War is worse than Hell. No one deserves to die for the cruel interests of others. Especially the innocent lives trapped in the oppressive gazes of small minds. The game is a dedication to all the souls taken by petty conflicts.”

“Mediterranea Inferno is an example. Artistic, creative, with strong representativity and a reflex of what we could call the Second Lost Generation. It's tough to recommend the game due to its heavy topics and the lack of [Portuguese] translation, but even so it's a game to, at least, appreciate the design and music. There's beauty even in the hardest moments, especially for those who want to reconnect. Stay well, please.”

“Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling is literally a fight against time. Short, engaging and real, it's a necessary fight for the current times.”

“Just like Hiveswap Friendsim, I recommend Pesterquest, but there's a caveat. Just like its predecessor, the game is confusing, weird and can be frustrating at times with its annoying protagonist, but it still presents something that kept bringing me back to the game: the characters' charm, the simplicity of wishing for friends, and the good atmosphere.”

“Now comes the golden question: do I recommend Hiveswap Friendsim? I pondered about it a lot while playing and, in the end, I'd say it's worth knowing this peculiar universe. It's a confusing, weird game, and it may be frustrating sometimes, but it also has something that always brought me back to playing it: the characters' charm, the simplicity of wishing for friends, and the good ambiance. It may be imperfect but that does not mean it's bad.”