DeVuego

“For enthusiasts, Abathor is both a tribute to a golden age and a challenge — a battle cry that speaks the language of forgotten deities and worn-out joysticks. We’re talking about the dream of any kid who grew up between an SNES controller and getting pummeled in the arcade after feeding in 500-lire coins: at the heart of the experience is tight two-dimensional action, made of strikes, dodges, and carefully measured jumps, but also of constant cooperation and competition among players.”

A Pizza Delivery is an excellent example of a debut work driven by a big heart and remarkable artistic ambition, but still technically immature. Eric Osuna's adventure has the merit of offering a surreal and melancholic atmosphere that captures the eye, using the pretext of delivery as a metaphor for a touching inner journey, especially in its most intimate dialogues. It's a real shame that this strong authorial vision is constantly undermined by gameplay that works against the player, with imprecise controls, problematic level design, and unstable technical aspects that break the immersion.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a gritty return that stays true to the spirit of the saga, with gameplay that tests the player’s reflexes and precision. Although the story is fairly simple and having to complete a level in one go can be a bit frustrating, the game makes up for it with meticulously crafted pixel art, smooth animations, and a soundtrack that cleverly blends metal with traditional Japanese sounds.

Luto è un’esperienza narrativa fortemente autoriale, un horror psicologico che rinuncia al classico jumpscare per raccontare una storia di lutto e introspezione, usando il medium videoludico in modo intelligente e spesso metanarrativo. Nonostante alcune occasioni sprecate e un gameplay che resta più osservativo che realmente interattivo, il titolo di Broken Bird Games convince per direzione artistica e cura tecnica, offrendo un viaggio disturbante e personale, non proprio adatto a chi cerca un horror più tradizionale.

ANTRO proves to be a work of great value and ambition from the Catalan studio. A title that in its duration manages to communicate a powerful message: to transform music from a simple accompaniment to the beating heart of gameplay and narrative. Despite the evident passion of the developers, the title sometimes sins on the precision of the controls, which risks undermining the rhythmic flow. ANTRO remains an experience worth trying for those looking for a narrative adventure capable of leaving something behind, where art always finds a way of making itself felt.

YOUR HOUSE riesce nell'intento di raccontare una storia complessa, supportata da uno stile artistico ricercato. L'esperienza complessiva è appagante e meritevole di essere vissuta, soprattutto per chi apprezza le narrazioni profonde.

Everhood 2 delivers a visually and emotionally impactful experience, with dynamic core gameplay that shines...though its narrative and some ambitious new mechanics don't always hit the mark.

The Stone of Madness is an ambivalent experience, primarily aimed at a niche audience. The intriguing plot and well-characterized characters create a dark and engaging atmosphere, typical of The Game Kitchen's works. However, the cumbersome and sometimes frustrating gameplay partially ruins the immersion. If you are a fan of the stealth genre and are willing to compromise with the controls, you might appreciate the unique atmosphere of this game; otherwise, with some updates and a bit of patience, it could turn into a cult title even for those who are not fans of the genre.

We approached Digital Mind Games’ work with high expectations, but unfortunately, they weren’t fully met. While the potential for a great action game was there, issues with the combat system, gameplay, and a predictable story hold it back, leaving the title just shy of excellence.

Neva presents itself as a title that manages to skilfully balance narrative and gameplay mechanics, where its strength lies in its ability to combine an excellent artistic compartment, which reflects the emotions of the protagonists in every detail, with gameplay that evolves along with the relationship between Alba and the wolf. Neva is an experience recommended not only to platformer and action-adventure lovers, but to anyone looking for a game capable of offering a strong narrative, supported by smooth gameplay. An adventure that touches deep chords and deserves to be experienced from start to finish.