The difference between a very fine game, and an inferior, derivative pastiche can at times be very slim. Mato Anomalies is an excellent example of just how fine this line can be. Clearly inspired by Persona, and a novel attempt and bringing a kind of neon-noir approach to the genre,…
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There is a problem when you make something subversive: how do you back it up with a sequel? If the sequel is too familiar and follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, it is no longer subversive by definition. It has lost its creative identity. This is unfortunately the case…
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I love real-world escape room experiences. You’ve got an hour or so to sort out an extended puzzle, find your way through a couple of different challenges and, ultimately (and usually with the assistance of a group of friends), make your way out in time. Escape rooms prove that a…
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There are so many ways that Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon could have fallen flat. Being so utterly different from the existing Bayonetta trilogy it could have disappointed players. It also offers a form of gameplay that is very hard to get right, too. And yet, it is…
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While both titles were formally announced at the last Nintendo Direct (I maintain it was one of the best), the Level-5 Vision 2023 Tsuzumi event brought teaser trailers and more details for both Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time and Professor Layton and the New World of Steam.…
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Ruku’s Heart Balloon is right up there with the sweetest games I’ve ever played. The developers set out to make something treacle-sweet, to the point where prolonged exposure to it may well sicken you, and they succeeded. I just wasn’t able to play it for long before desperately needing to…
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I must admit that I wasn’t paying too close attention to Bayonetta Origins. From the launch preview, it looked like a quick little cash-in on the success of Bayonetta 3. But now, having played it, I love this game. Really, really love it. I can’t wait to play on and…
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I’m not sure who asked for a Bayonetta origin story, but I’m glad they did. I’m only the first five chapters into Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, and I am loving every minute of it. Related reading: Our review of the most recent Bayonetta game – Bayonetta 3.…
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The reception to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet wasn’t great. Critics generally had positive or mixed opinions, landing the game with a score of 72 on Metacritic. Users, though… they weren’t so reasonable, and it’s currently sitting at a score of 4/10. Here at DDNet, Matt gave the game five stars…
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I do feel for indie developers that take a crack at the horror genre. I know that they’re typically passionate fans of the genre, that they go into projects with the best of intentions, and they’ve got plenty of peers that have done amazing work within horror. Many of the…
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