With this new port, Capcom reminds us just how pivotal Resident Evil 7 is in its now thirty-year-old saga. The claustrophobic setting of a dysfunctional family and the switch to a first-person perspective create an oppressive atmosphere that is just as compelling on Nintendo Switch 2. Furthermore, the hybrid hardware delivers impressive technical performance that perfectly preserves the original experience, with masterful pacing and meticulous level design. All in all, this is a nightmarish new version that we're delighted to dive back into.
Monster Hunter Stories 3 breaks free from the constraints of a simple spin-off to finally create its own mythology. Fans will say they didn't need this third installment to appreciate the series, but the fact remains that this is the most successful, generous, and mature entry of them all. A true entry point for both fans and newcomers, it's interesting in many ways, from its skillful and polished gameplay to its blend of exploration and monster collecting. Even its deeply ecological message becomes a reason to offer incredibly addictive gameplay mechanics. It's hard not to enjoy it, even if you wince at certain difficulty spikes, a technical aspect that doesn't always do justice to the art direction, and some entirely unnecessary side quests. Nevertheless, Monster Hunter Stories 3 remains utterly monstrous.
Like a fine wine, Stardew Valley improves with age. Even after 10 years, the title remains an essential reference in cozy farm games. Beneath its unpretentious retro indie game exterior, it actually hides an incredible amount of generosity. Supported by a community that is more active than ever today, its creator, Eric Barone, keeps expanding the range of possibilities with free extra content in each update. But above all, it works because the world it offers is as solid as it is immersive. The residents of Pelican Town are all characters worth getting to know, while the sense of freedom given to the player is reinforced by constant discoveries. Whether it's your first or tenth adventure, it's always worth returning to the valley for another visit.
Resident Evil 9 Requiem is certainly one of the best games in the franchise, and for a very simple reason : it is the ultimate mutation of a formula that has evolved over many years of research, experimentation, successes, and failures. It is the synthesis of an entire series, from its main titles to its many offshoots spread across nearly 30 years of existence. Two experiences in one that come together to form a whole that will keep us on the edge of our seats from start to finish, despite some pacing issues and a few missteps along the way, though these are quickly offset by well-executed fan service and brilliant execution.
Reigns The Witcher finds itself at a crossroads. On the one hand, it's a rather skillful adaptation of Nerial's license formula to the famous universe of Andrzej Sapkowski's books and, above all, CD Projekt RED's The Wild Hunt, which will certainly make fans smile. On the other hand, the experience unfortunately suffers from a rather frustrating contradiction between its punishing rogue-lite elements and its inspiration system, which often puts us in inextricable situations. Nevertheless, the title offers a generally enjoyable and generous experience for its price, provided you listen to Jaskier's ramblings in small doses.
As a current-gen upgrade rather than a remaster/remake, this PS5/Xbox Series version of Kingdom Come: Deliverance does its job well. It effectively utilizes the capabilities of the latest consoles to display the 2018 title smoothly in up to 4K resolution, complete with high-definition textures, even if these don't entirely mask the fact that it's an eight-year-old game. Thanks to its impeccable performance, this is clearly the best console iteration of Warhorse Studios' first title, despite the controls being generally less intuitive with a gamepad than with the PC keyboard/mouse combo.
REANIMAL follows directly in the footsteps of the studio's previous titles. Far from trying to reinvent the wheel, Tarsier simply does what it does best: immersing us in a dark and unsettling experience, driven by an uncompromising minimalism. Of course, this doesn't prevent the creators of Little Nightmares from refining their formula, with welcome additions and adjustments here and there. But beware of the feeling of déjà vu that is slowly but surely starting to creep in…
Mario Tennis Fever marks the franchise's triumphant return on the Nintendo Switch 2. Camelot and Nintendo deliver a fun, family-friendly installment designed for short, accessible play sessions for all ages. From the matches and mini-games to the animation and the integration of the frenetic tennis rackets, everything is geared towards simple entertainment. However, this casual approach comes at the expense of a genuine challenge. The overly forgiving AI and the lack of real difficulty in any game mode will push players more towards multiplayer. But even then, the title will appeal more to those seeking fun and social experiences than to hardcore competitors.
Nioh 3 is the culmination of a decade spent exploring different approaches across several games in the same franchise, as well as attempts to create new ones. One might have thought that the transition to an open world would have caused it to lose its identity, but this is not the case. Team Ninja delivers a solid and very demanding action game here, and sometimes even somewhat punishing. Our salvation lies in the gameplay, which is unparalleled in its richness and depth. Two play styles, a vast array of weapons, and a hundred skills allow us to create a personalized gameplay experience that suits our individual preferences. Ultimately, everything culminates in a frenetic dance of blades with what is arguably the most dynamic combat system ever seen in a souls-like game. The legacy of Ninja Gaiden and FromSoftware games is ever-present, but so is the classic open-world formula. Fortunately, the execution is impeccable and engaging enough to completely immerse us in its world. We'll only be pulled out of this immersion by getting lost in the overwhelming amount of loot and an avalanche of statistics that will only appeal to theorycrafting enthusiasts.
Slightly above average – that's ultimately what My Hero Academia: All's Justice deserves in our opinion. We did have a good time playing it, being fans of the anime, and the game does it justice, even if it's not perfect. It's a far cry from the disaster that was Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash. But to recapture the brilliance and popularity of the Ninja Storm series, they'll need to deliver something much better in the future.
