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I was initially hooked by 9 Years of Shadows, and I still have nothing negative to say about the game’s music or visuals, but then I realized that the game didn’t have anything interesting to show me after the Poseidon armor. The predictable level structure, meaningless upgrades, uninteresting enemies, mechanically boring boss fights, and stale combat make it a repetitive slog to go through.

Overall, Bem Feito would be a really good first chapter of a game. It’s easy to get hooked by its mysteries at first, as you keep wanting to see what else there is, but the fact that there’s nothing else afterwards is pretty disappointing.

FOBIA: St. Dinfna Hotel can be best described as a very competent and enjoyable alternative for gamers who enjoyed Resident Evil 7 or Village. It is certainly not perfect, but has nothing broken about it either. Its story is told effectively and has some genuine scares that will make your blood run cold. Classic horror fans will definitely appreciate what FOBIA: St. Dinfna Hotel offers.

What if Hotline Miami, but 80s anime and first person?

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is consistently engrossing and creative. It’s packed with variety and inventive gimmicks that have never been done before in similar games, elevating it from being just another retro throwback fan game. Its novelty is only surpassed by its charming characters and deft audio/visual design.

Fighting waves of boogers could have been fun if the mechanics were refined. The ugly and garish visuals with unappealing characters also might have been tolerable if the gameplay loop wasn’t so repetitive. With some rebalancing and checkpoints before bosses, Popslinger could have been a decent guilty pleasure.

The lure of hidden collectibles and environmental puzzles flickers brightly, but it’s often overshadowed by sloppy battles and an obnoxious aiming system that feels like a festering wart on an otherwise charming experience. Despite its flaws, Raccoo Venture is brimming with soul. Densely packed with things Diego Ras loves, playing it feels like getting to know him on a personal level.

The Rangers in the South does the bare minimum to be considered an ARPG and thoroughly fails at being a roguelike. This is a game that would have benefitted a lot from player input and more development time, as it feels rushed and lacking in content.

The puzzles are designed to resist brute-forcing, and hitting a wall is an intentional part of the experience. Dual Effect clearly did their homework, showcasing a deep understanding of classic survival horror. Their confidence in crafting intricate puzzles and captivating aesthetics makes them a worthy successor to the genre’s iconic classics.

Wild Dogs is a fun and varied take on the Contra blueprint. Unique elements like Teddy’s stealth and vehicle sections diversify the gameplay; however, it comes at the cost of co-op. Wild Dogs is a great pick for indie fans or those wanting a brutal Contra-like fix, just be ready to go into it alone.