With gorgeous graphics, solid performance, and an enjoyable story to follow, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is a treat for fans of the franchise. Many mysteries enrich the series' lore, and fun never stops being the priority during gameplay. Despite having many repetitive moments, the new Monster Hunter is a feast for the eyes, once again showing a lot of love for its world.
By making classic games available with quality-of-life improvements and delivering an engaging interactive documentary, Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition sets an example for the industry. However, it is still too little for the character that changed Ubisoft's history.
Known for the excellent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge (2022), the Canadian studio Tribute Games hits the mark once again by delivering the definitive beat 'em up for fans of the Sex Bob-omb bassist. Fun and chaotic, the experience has the potential to please both long-time fans and newcomers to the franchise.
Pokémon Pokopia succeeds by shifting the focus from battles to belonging. Instead of chasing badges, the player helps rebuild and coexist within a living ecosystem, creating a more intimate and emotional connection to the Pokémon world. It’s a reinvention that honors the franchise’s roots while proving it can still evolve in meaningful ways.
Resident Evil Requiem is, in many ways, the definitive Resident Evil game. Building upon what the franchise achieved in the past 10 years, Capcom strikes an excellent balance of action and horror. Though it leans a little too heavily on fanservice here and there, Requiem more than accomplishes its mission as a celebration of all things Resident Evil.
In the end, despite some technical performance issues, Nioh 3 manages to deliver a punishing adventure, while remaining extremely rewarding when you finally manage to defeat the game's bosses, or simply get through a difficult region of the map, or find a cool item after spending hours trying to find it. Even though at times it may seem that managing your build is more important than learning the bosses' attack patterns, the adventure and challenge more than compensate for what some might consider negative points.
Poor technical aspects in ChromaGun 2 are as undeniable as the creativity in all the scenarios and puzzles. Yes, there are a lot of loading screens, but visuals, level design and the immaculate Portal-esque vibes make up for them.
Mario Tennis Fever knows exactly what it wants to be. Without trying to reinvent the series, the game leans on creative mechanics, chaotic matches, and a strong focus on multiplayer to deliver a solid and enjoyable experience. The Fever Rackets give the game its identity, the varied roster supports a healthy competitive scene and, even with a somewhat uninspired story mode, the overall package stands as a confident and easy-to-recommend return for the series.
This Remake should not be viewed as a replacement for the original game. Instead, it is a new vision for the third chapter of Kazuma Kiryu's journey. It serves as an opportunity to revisit a beloved story with a new approach, not as the definitive version of Yakuza 3.