The Games Machine

Lies of P: Complete Edition brings Round8 Studio’s hit to a Nintendo console for the first time with a surprisingly solid and convincing port. Despite necessary graphical compromises compared to other platforms, the Switch version retains the pacing, precision, and feel of one of the best soulslike games of recent years. The build tested predates the day-one patch—which will introduce a new 60 fps Performance mode for handheld play—hinting at even more promising room for improvement.

Beast of Reincarnation proves that Game Freak knows how to make video games—provided they take their time. And a lot of time at that, given that the initial concept dates back to 2020 and it took six years to reach release; yet those six years were well spent, because the final result—despite some rough edges and occasional stumbles—offers a fantastic gaming experience.

The Relic: First Guardian isn't set to revolutionize the genre and has its share of flaws, yet it possesses enough character to try and carve out a niche following of its own. Beneath the rough exterior of a production with various limitations—stemming partly from available resources and, perhaps, overambition—beats the heart of an action RPG that attempts to convey the weight of memory through combat and exploration. The Korean studio may not have met every goal it set for itself, but the journey to Arsilthus is more than just a pilgrimage in the footsteps of FromSoftware.

Splatoon Raiders is a gamble that paid off. Nintendo takes one of its most recognizable franchises and has the courage to steer it in a completely different direction without betraying its identity. Ink, movement, and chaotic combat remain at the heart of the experience, yet a surprisingly deep progression system emerges around these elements—one capable of winning over even those who usually view looter-shooters with skepticism. A bit too much grinding, a structure prone to repetition, and a narrative that falls short of the game world's full potential keep the title from achieving perfection. Yet, Raiders proves something important: Splatoon is not merely a brilliant competitive arena, but a world still brimming with possibilities. And this spin-off is concrete proof that Nintendo was right to explore them.

Celestial Return is a narrative gambling RPG that blends investigation, cyberpunk, and cosmic horror in a decaying city where every decision can be a matter of survival. Gameplay revolves around dialogue choices, dice checks, and resource management: the same dice are used both to overcome challenges and as currency, creating constant tension. Strong writing, rich world-building, and striking visuals are its greatest strengths, all enhanced by an excellent soundtrack. The balance, however, is less convincing: the scarcity of dice can become frustrating, discouraging exploration and sometimes forcing players to reload older save files.

Halo: Campaign Evolved brings Combat Evolved into the present without transforming it into something it never was. Numerous gameplay improvements modernize a classic without altering its identity, while the brilliant Remix Campaign demonstrates how it's still possible to surprise those who know Installation 04 like the back of their hands. It's an extraordinarily effective idea in practice, as it restores to Halo the element of unpredictability that time had inevitably eroded. The project, however, cannot completely escape the limitations of the original work. The main campaign retains the same structure and length, some sections continue to show signs of age, and the three introductory missions are more of a taste of new ideas than a true expansion. Added to this is a technical component that still needs improvement and a multiplayer that, due to the code arriving too close to the review, was not possible to evaluate with due care. These are compromises that prevent Campaign Evolved from being definitive. But that doesn’t stop it from being, in all likelihood, the best way to return to Halo: Combat Evolved in 2026.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok is arguably the definitive version of Cygames’ action JRPG, an expansion that does more than simply add content; it significantly enhances the core of the experience. Avernus makes farming less repetitive, while Mastery Traits and Weapon Transcendence vastly expand the possibilities for customisation, and the new co-op mechanics further enhance a combat system that remains amongst the best in the genre. At the same time, however, Endless Ragnarok is content designed exclusively for veterans: the entry barrier is extremely high, and those who haven’t already invested dozens of hours in the base game may feel left out. Furthermore, the narrative element remains peripheral, and some long-standing issues - such as the lack of variety in bosses and the tendency for more advanced battles to turn into endurance tests - have not been fully resolved. Ultimately, then, this is a rich and clever expansion that takes Relink to its full potential without transforming it into something different from what it already was.

Denshattack! transforms trains into giant skateboards, offering an arcade racing experience where speed and tricks go hand in hand. The gameplay is instantly accessible yet rich in nuance, featuring jumps, grinds, wall runs, and increasingly imaginative courses that encourage players to shave seconds off their best times. Progression rewards you with new encounters, an entertaining fanzine, and over thirty locomotives to unlock and customize, while the journey across a dystopian Japan offers a variety of surprising landscapes. The visual style and an incredibly rich soundtrack perfectly complement the non-stop, breathless action.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, like Ship of Theseus, is a paradox. New in graphics and some of the surrounding content, bereft of the entire narrative of the present timeline (which, for us, is already the past anyway?), classic in its formula that rejects the RPG drift of the more recent installments. Yet paradoxically, it's precisely here that a breath of fresh air is breathed in the game. If you hated it in 2016, you'll hate it again; if you loved it, well, wind in your sails.

Echoes of Aincrad offers a visually spectacular tribute that stays true to the original storyline, sure to thrill Sword Art Online fans. Unfortunately, its breathtaking world design is hampered by rigid invisible walls, repetitive quests, and clunky combat mechanics. It is a solid, high-quality action RPG, yet it ultimately lacks the polish needed to transcend the limitations of the license.