Hardcore Gamer

• PS4
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires brings new gameplay features to the table, but remains the same Three Kingdoms era slaughter fest fans have been enjoying the past twenty years. More of the same has been always been what this franchise was about and that’s exactly what this title delivers. To call it strategic is a loose use of the term, but compared to how mindless the mainline games can be, this is the more cerebral title. Watching one’s empire grow is a nice aspect, but it’s done in a rather shallow way so it’s difficult to get too excited about it. The return to smaller battlefields away from the open-world approach is a step in the right direction, but every battle feels formulaic. Even with the individual differences in objective and battlefield events the exact same formula can be applied in each battle which can get too repetitive. But in spite of these criticisms, Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires still delivers the type of experience fans have come to expect, and while it doesn’t do much to to distinguish itself from the previous entries, it can still be a lot of fun for those who still enjoy the one-versus-a-thousand style game.

• XSX/S
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

• PS4
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

• PS5
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

• SWITCH
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

• PS5
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

• PC
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

If one were being picky, you could argue Drinkbox’s focus this time on repeated dungeon-crawling may not have the same wow factor the studio’s past projects have garnered on first glance. But while early parts may seem daunting in its implied reliance on needless grind, what players will quickly learn in Nobody Saves the World is that its flexibility with combat and dexterity with character customization is what will keep them happily fixated until adventure’s end. Even if the occasional writing doesn’t hit in the way the studio is hoping. But credit to Drinkbox for not falling into the trap of becoming too reliant on roguelite mechanics in so far as how the world is structured and how players go about rising to the task. Because what truly shines here is the studio’s ability to encourage experimentation without it feeling, like its level progression, too much of a burden to take on. Added to on top by well-suited side-quests, a challenge system that rarely gets tiresome and a general feeling throughout that one’s time never feels wasted, Nobody Saves the World stands as Drinkbox’s most curious but mechanically-satisfying title to date.

• SWITCH
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Clockwork Aquario is a fantastic action-platformer that blends quick-moving playable characters and enemies alongside an inventive attack strategy. There’s nothing else like it on the market today — despite so many games trying to replicate arcade-style fun. The big key here is that this is a legit arcade game that has been repurposed for modern hardware and that allows it to retain what made arcade gaming so fun, while having more modern quality-of-life improvements thrown in. It plays wonderfully, looks gorgeous and is a blast in multiplayer. The soundtrack is a lot of fun, but doesn’t reach the heights of classics in the genre. Still, for anyone seeking a fast-paced side-scrolling game, there’s a ton of variety offered up here and a lot of fun to be had with Clockwork Aquario.

• PC
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

After The Fall is yet another zombie VR shooter in the line of zombie VR shooters. The team that was responsible for Arizona Sunshine tries to build upon that with a cooperative experience that succeeds in that regard, but the overall experience isn’t that satisfying. The gun mechanics with the Oculus Quest 2 mostly work great and the PVP is a nice surprise, but the overall lack of current content and annoying bugs hurt the game at launch. The idea of a VR Left 4 Dead would work better if there weren’t already a ton of L4D clones on the market.

• PC
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

• PC
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Archvale is a fantastic genre hybrid, easily merging the shooter and RPG elements together to create a ridiculously playable adventure. The difficulty level always feels right on the verge of being hard without actually crossing the line too often, and even if a boss encounter requires several attempts, another chance starting from full health at the save point is right nearby. It’s an inviting level of difficulty that pushes you to be faster, zipping through the bullets with a well-timed dash while throwing the firepower back using whatever options you’ve created with the current loadout. Even if things feel a little much there’s generally somewhere else to explore or a new weapon to craft, and usually a small change is all it takes to get back on track again. Archvale focuses on intense fantasy-RPG shooting action and giving the player all the tools necessary to handle it their way, and the result is a game that’s next to impossible to put down until the last arch stone is collected and even then maybe not. There’s never a bad time to test out Hardcore mode’s bigger maps and denser bullet patterns, after all.

• SWITCH
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

• PC
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Anniversary Edition is one of those things that is simultaneously great and yet seems unnecessary. We can all agree Skyrim is a phenomenal game as it’s cited as a personal favorite of the past decade by a few members of our staff. The thing is with this update is nothing about it seems essential. Survival mode is a great challenge for people who enjoy that type of game. Fishing is boring, but ultimately inconsequential if ignored. The Creation Club content is a robust offering, but the questions is does the player feel Skyrim needs more houses, pets, equipment and quests? Anniversary Edition is currently the latest and greatest version of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and offers fun content for those still exploring Tamriel, but there isn’t enough to bring anyone back who feels like they’ve finished their time in Skyrim.

• PS5
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

• PC
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

• SWITCH
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remains one of the best games ever made and arguably the best Star Wars game. Aside from shorter loading times and higher resolution, nothing is drastically changed on Switch, which is perfectly fine as this is one of those games that doesn't need much tinkering. The character models and battle mechanics are products of their time, but the story and character choice elements are just as strong today as they were in 2003. Whether the desired path is one to save the galaxy from evil and/or corruption or to become the most powerful villain of the Old Republic, this is a galaxy that should be explored by all Star Wars and RPG fans.

• PC
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis