knokelmaat

Hello all! I would like to know what games give you that cozy, fuzzy feeling of simple happiness.

I'm currently experiencing this with Tchia, a wholesome game about a girl doing fun stuff on an island.

Weirdly enough I have a similar thing going with Doom (2016) at the moment. Something about the intensity of the levels and the interesting map design make me feel really satisfied and immersed.

Lastly, Super Mario 3D World really has a similar effect to Tchia, we're I immediately get a happy feeling just by booting it up and looking at the wonderful colors en design.

What is your go-to game for feeling relaxes or happy?

As the previous post of this type was quite successful here, I would like to continue.

Let's discuss the Metal Gear series. What is your favorite entry? What are your most beloved moments, characters, boss fights? Do you have any fun strategies you'd like to share? Are there things you absolutely don't like? Please feel free to share any thoughts you have on Metal Gear or react to other comments. Let's get the conversation going!

If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).

I wanted to try a new type of post: just taking a particular videogame and see if there are others who would like to talk about it.

To start I'm taking Slay The Spire. A beautifully balanced game with infinite replayability. What are your favorite classes? What is your favorite way to win the game? What is the highest ascension you've beaten? Are there similar games you enjoy? Let's go!

Game Information

Game Title: The Last of Us Part II Remastered

Platforms:

• PlayStation 5 (Jan 19, 2024)

Trailers:

• The Last of Us Part II Remastered - Features Trailer | PS5 Games
• The Last of Us Part II Remastered - No Return Mode Trailer | PS5 Games
• The Last of Us Part II Remastered - Announce Trailer | PS5 Games

Developer: Naughty Dog

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 91 average - 92% recommended - 54 reviews

Critic Reviews

Atomix - Sebastian Quiroz - Spanish - 85 / 100

With a host of visual improvements and all-new content, The Last of Us Part II Remastered is the definitive version of one of Naughty Dog's best games. It's time to relive Ellie and Abby's iconic journey.

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Attack of the Fanboy - Diego Perez - 4.5 / 5

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered adds some additional visual flair to a game that didn't really need any, but the new No Return roguelike mode makes it well worth the upgrade.

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CGMagazine - Zubi Khan - 8.5 / 10

The Last of Us Part II Remastered takes an excellent game and polishes it into a gleaming gem made brighter than ever, thanks to the inclusion of new content.

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COGconnected - Patrick Anderson - 90 / 100

It does feel a bit too soon for The Last of Us Part II Remaster. And this just isn’t the kind of game whose story I want to experience again. Not yet anyway. But Naughty Dog clearly knows this and has put together a package with enough new modes and features to make the upgrade a winning proposition.

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Checkpoint Gaming - Elliot Attard - 9.5 / 10

The Last of Us Part II Remastered brings not just extra content but extra heart to an already much-loved game. This is one for the fans, with a plethora of additional features that highlight the best aspects of the game's design whilst giving further context and glimpses into its development. Bursting at the seams with things to do, see, and unlock-The Last of Us Part II Remastered is a celebration of one of gaming's greats.

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Chicas Gamers - Estela Villa - Spanish - Unscored

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is an opportunity to enjoy the game in its maximum splendor for those who did not enjoy the game in their day and for those who already played it, it is an option to try these new additions for €10, since that is the price of the update if you have the PS4 version (both physically and digitally). While it is true that these additions may not be everything that was expected from Naughty Dog, it is not too high a price to try them.

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ComingSoon.net - Tyler Treese - 9 / 10

With better graphics, gameplay, and worthwhile additions, it’s an easy recommendation to pay and upgrade to The Last of Us Part II Remastered if you own the original. If you didn’t play the PS4 original, then it’s even more of a no-brainer, as this is one of the most polished and memorable games ever made. Not afraid to deal with dark subject matter and fully explore its characters, The Last of Us Part II remains a slightly flawed yet incredible experience.

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Console Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - Recommended

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered fine-tunes an already incredible game with better lighting, more details, and subtle improvements thanks to new Accessibility options.

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Daily Star - Tom Hutchison - 5 / 5

Well worth revisiting if you’ve played before and a must-buy at £45 for those new to Part II.

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Destructoid - Smangaliso Simelane - 9 / 10

Never played the game before? Well, I don’t think it’s worth piling on any more praise, except to say this is about as good as it gets when it comes to Sony’s cinematic over-the-shoulder third-person action-adventure experience.

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Digitec Magazine - Domagoj Belancic - German - Unscored

The PS5 upgrade of Naughty Dog's post-apocalyptic PS4 drama "The Last of Us Part II" scores with exciting additional content. Graphically, not much has changed.

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Echo Boomer - David Fialho - Portuguese - Recommended

The definitive version of The Last of Us Part II lands on PlayStation 5 with a native build and gameplay modes that are well worth the symbolic upgrade.

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Enternity.gr - Panagiotis Petropoulos - Greek - 10 / 10

The Last of Us: Part II Remastered fulfills all the requirements of a truly worthy upgrade pack and comes with a number of interesting and highly entertaining additions.

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Entertainium - Felicity Chevalier - Liked

Worse, the fact that personal trauma is often implied as an excuse to perpetrate even more violence is disturbing.  This is a shame for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that in the quieter, more peaceful moments of the game (typically reserved for flashbacks), the writing and voice acting are very well done.  In a game overflowing with a veritable downpour of tragedies, the biggest one may be actually playing the game itself.

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Everyeye.it - Giuseppe Arace - Italian - Unscored

The Last of Us Part 2 remains a superior work even four years after its debut.

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Evilgamerz - Jeroen Janssen - Dutch - 9 / 10

It is clear that The Last of Us Part II on the PlayStation 4 was already great. With its 20 hours of campaign, we are also very spoiled in terms of content. It is actually a miracle that they have only now released a remaster for the PS5, but I understand that they wanted to have part 1 fully ported first. The graphic improvements are good, but not always consistently sublime, the DualSense features are certainly an improvement and the extra content and game mode No Return are also fun for enthusiasts. The Last of Us Part II could hardly fail if you consider that they played it fairly safely and kept the general basis 90% the same. In addition, the game really doesn't seem to have any bugs. With the many hours you can put into the story mode, and yes, it is still great even if you have already played it on the PlayStation 4, you will not waste any money with this Remaster. However; If you have seen the game on the PS4 and have no desire to experience this great adventure again on the PS5, then the extra additions probably won't convince you enough to justify this purchase. It makes a difference that an upgrade will cost you a lot less, almost nothing in fact, so the advice should be clear!

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Fun Factor - Diogo Arez - Portuguese - 8 / 10

While the graphical improvements are subtle, the new modes are worth the price of admission alone, especially No Return, a Roguelike mode that's absurdly fun, although it could use a bit more permanent progression to spice up later runs.

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GAMES.CH - Benjamin Braun - German - 95%

Better graphics in both, Fidelity and Performance mode, the audio commentary during the solo campaign and especially the commented and playable dye prototype levels are solely worth the upgrade for owners of the PS4 original. But the best reason for them to play The Last of Us Part II Remastered is the new roguelike mode No Return. If you haven’t played the game yet, you should now get the PS5 version to get one of the best survival action games out there.

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GGRecon - Lloyd Coombes - 5 / 5

It’s hard to talk about The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered without speaking directly to two different camps; those who have played it and want to know if it’s worth the ten-dollar upgrade fee, and those who have yet to experience it.

For the first, I’d say there’s more than enough here to warrant the upgrade, especially if the game got under your skin the first time around. Collectible character models, No Return, and the developer commentary are likely worth the price of admission for you alone.

For those who haven’t played it yet, I feel like I can say with my whole chest that The Last of Us Part 2 remains one of my favourite games of all time, and this remaster has only reminded me of that.

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Gameblog - KiKiToes - French - 10 / 10

It’s a must-do masterpiece if you’ve never had the time to try it before. This fully optimized version on PS5 is a feast for the eyes and ears. There is nothing to throw away, especially since in addition to being sublime, the game is incredible, we know that. For fans of the license, many bonuses (developer comments, deleted levels, etc.) are also included. The roguelike mode does the job very well, even if it is only playable solo. It will certainly kill you for a few extra hours if it is not really essential. But when the job is done very well, why sulk? The same will not be said of the mode which allows you to play the guitar freely, which will only appeal to serious enthusiasts. The Last of Us 2 Remastered is therefore unmissable if you have never touched the game, but if you own the original game on PS4, although it will only cost you around ten euros, it is difficult to recommend, except for early fans obviously.

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Gameffine - Subhasish Das - 90 / 100

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered on PS5 is a definitive package of its PS4 original, thanks to the notable inclusion of Lost Levels, No Return, and a new in-game commentary which makes the campaign worth revisiting even after beating it. The rogue-like No Return expansion alone is worth the upgrade fee -thanks to its changing environmental effects, enhanced enemy AI, and mods that make each encounter memorable. In terms of visuals, the new fidelity mode and VRR support are worthy of inclusion. However, the visual difference in terms of assets and foliage is barely noticeable. Overall, this definitive package is an easy recommendation for old veterans and newcomers.

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Gaming Age - Benny Rose - 8.5 / 10

Overall, The Last of Us Part II Remastered is a solid remaster release for the PS5, but not one we truly needed in the relative short time since Part II was first released. Part I Remastered made so much sense and enough time went by to see the evolution of the visuals. Naughty Dog did a knock-out job the first time and simply wanted to perfect it, so I would say they were successful.

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Gaming Nexus - Jason Dailey - 9.5 / 10

Regardless of if you're experiencing the story for the first time, or returning for the $10 upgrade, this is the definitive version of one of the finest video games ever made. It's worth playing for the story alone, but the No Return mode is an intense and fun addition that might keep you around longer than you expect.

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GamingBolt - Shubhankar Parijat - 9 / 10

With a campaign that's only gotten better with time, a fantastic new roguelike mode, and a host of other new bonuses, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered serves as an excellent excuse to jump back into Naughty Dog's stellar magnum opus.

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GamingTrend - Abdul Saad - 90 / 100

The Last of Us Part II Remastered is an almost perfect package for both new players and returning fans looking to replay the game but with a new experience.

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Geeks & Com - Maxime Chartier - French - 9 / 10

All in all, The Last Of Us Part II - Remastered is a gem. The game is still a 10/10, but the paint job is not. Agreed, it's close to perfection, but unless you're a die-hard fan of the series, the additions alone don't justify a second adventure. They add spice, but don't change the recipe.

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God is a Geek - Chris White - 10 / 10

The Last of Us Part II Remastered is a dense collection of content that fleshes out the main story, with a rogue-lite that is a lot of fun.

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Hobby Consolas - Álvaro Alonso - Spanish - 90 / 100

The great values of this remaster are the No Return mode, which highlights (even more) how brilliant its gameplay is, and all the light that the extras shed on the development of a work of this magnitude. The graphical upgrade is still a set-up for PS5, but for that upgrade price "I assure you I would do it again".

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IGN Italy - Angelo Bianco - Italian - 9 / 10

The Last of Us: Part 2 Remastered is the best way to enjoy Naughty Dog's masterpiece, not only for the graphical improvements and the full support for PlayStation 5-exclusive features (DualSense included), but also for the addition of very good extras such as the excellent No Return.

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IGN Spain - Estrella Gómez - Spanish - 7 / 10

The Last of Us: Part II wants to follow in the footsteps of the first installment, but it doesn't get off to a good start. The new version is riddled with bugs and only climbs a few steps thanks to the exciting No Return mode, which makes the remaster a half tribute.

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Impulsegamer - Marc Rigg - 4.8 / 5

The Last of Us Part II Remastered is a solid upgrade to an otherwise already fantastic game.

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Kakuchopurei - Jonathan Leo - 70 / 100

If you've played The Last Of Us Part 2 before and really, REALLY want to play the game in 60fps and don't mind killing a few hours on a roguelike action title using the game's brand of crafting and survival combat, I do suggest waiting for a price drop or PlayStation Plus version of this title. If you're either impatient OR it's your first time diving into this? By all means jump into the depressing world ruled by cordyceps-plagued zombie people and cruel military factions. The story's divisive and isn't as well-plotted out like the first one, but it's got some good shooting and survival horror coatings to tide you over its other flaws.

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Kotaku - Jen Glennon - Unscored

The Last of Us Part II Remastered is the best way to play this truly excellent game, with sky-high stakes, stunning visuals, rewarding exploration, and phenomenally varied and thrilling combat. But to get the most out of it, you’ll probably need to have a stronger stomach than I do.

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LevelUp - Pedro Pérez Cesari - Spanish - 7.5 / 10

The Last of Us: Part II Remastered is a re-release that delivers the best and most complete version of this game. While the graphical changes do little to impress, the extra content is valuable for those hungry for more of Naughty Dog's grim universe. That said, it feels solely like it exists purely for commercial continuity, to capitalize on the hype of the HBO series and give another sales boost to Naughty Dog's video game

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Metro GameCentral - GameCentral - 9 / 10

Still one of the greatest achievements in video game storytelling and while the changes are minor the new roguelike mode and cut levels are interesting and worthwhile additions.

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Nerdburglars - Dan Hastings - 8 / 10

The Last of Us Part II Remastered for PS5 refreshes the acclaimed title with enhanced visuals and intriguing new content, including previously unreleased levels and the "No Return" roguelike mode. While the visual upgrades are polished, they fall short of fully utilizing PS5's capabilities, especially when compared to other titles. This remaster, primarily appealing to new players or franchise fans, serves more as a bridge to Naughty Dog's future endeavors rather than a standalone landmark.

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Nexus Hub - Sam Aberdeen - 8 / 10

The Last of Us Part II Remastered's technical improvements are minor (many will question if it's even necessary), but the side content like No Return is great and worth the upgrade.

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PPE.pl - Wojciech Gruszczyk - Polish - 10 / 10

The best version of Naughty Dog's blockbuster. It's still not a story for everyone, it's not a production for all PS5 owners. It is, however, a title that will delight fans of the universe - The Last of Us Part II Remastered is (at least currently) the best version of the game you loved or hated on the previous generation.

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PSX Brasil - Rui Celso - Portuguese - 100 / 100

All the extras greatly increase the lifespan of the game and manage to delve the player even deeper into the narrative in an extraordinary way.

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PlayStation Universe - John-Paul Jones - 10 / 10

Boiled down to its most basic properties, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is the definitive version of the best game of the last generation and as such, it's still a ten. Easily.

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PowerUp! - Adam Mathew - 9 / 10

At the very least, acquire The Last of Us Part II Remastered for its unmissable base combat, then become hopelessly infected by its new fun[gal] layer of arcade challenge addiction.

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Press Start - Brodie Gibbons - 9.5 / 10

The Last of Us Part II Remastered might ring up an emotional toll that some aren't ready to part with so soon after its original launch, however it's still a worthwhile release thanks in large part to its celebratory behind-the-scene glimpses at how the game came to be. Adding more value to the package is No Return, an excellent, compact roguelike that feels like an apt showcase for the game's blunt force combat.

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Push Square - Aaron Bayne - 9 / 10

Looking upon the whole package, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is an excellent upgrade. In many ways it's a sublime treat for fans of the series, with behind-the-scenes content that we lapped up, a survival mode worth the purchase price on its own, and small, albeit present visual and performative upgrades to one of the best games to come out of the PS4 generation.

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SECTOR.sk - Táňa Matúšová - Slovak - 9 / 10

While remastering a game 3,5 years after its release is hard to justify, The Last of Us Part II Remastered still offers one of the best videogame experiences that now comes with the perks that PlayStation 5 has to offer. Even though most of the changes are cosmetic and graphics-wise barely make a difference, the roguelike No Return Mode brings a new challenge that may be worth the price, especially as an upgrade for players who own the original game.

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Siliconera - Cory Dinkel - 10 / 10

The Last of Us Part II Remastered does far more than simply justify its existence on the PS5, it elevates an already near-perfect experience.

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Spaziogames - Domenico Musicò - Italian - Unscored

The Last of Us Parte 2 Remastered is just a re-sell of the same game with new modes that could have been added for free.

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The Beta Network - Samuel Incze - Unscored

Whilst I believe that The Last of Us Part II Remastered might have been unnecessary, it does offer a variety of new features for you to enjoy. The cosmetic additions are welcomed and having the option to strum a guitar endlessly may be a bit of fun. However, I believe it will come down to whether or not you want to experience the extra dual sense features or if you are interested in a Last of Us Part II themed roguelike mode, that’ll determine if you play it or not.

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The Game Crater - Jayden Hellyar - 7 / 10

Despite the limited changes, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered stands as the definitive way to immerse oneself in its emotional narrative.

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TheSixthAxis - Gareth Chadwick - 8 / 10

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered refines and improves a much misunderstood masterpiece. It's hard not to be amazed at how good this game still looks, and it comes with a new mode and some behind the scenes stuff to enjoy.

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Tom's Guide - Rory Mellon - 5 / 5

The Last of Us Part II Remastered is an essential PS5 game for new players and veterans alike. The visual and performance upgrade is minor compared to the PS4 original, but the suite of additional content is worth the admission price. The roguelike No Return mode is a real winner, and the deeper insight into the game’s development will delight longtime fans of the franchise.

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Too Much Gaming - 3 / 5

There’s just not enough meat to justify the use of the term “remastered” in The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered. Visually, the improvements here are minimal, and even without it, the original The Last of Us Part 2 can still go toe-to-toe with the biggest games released today. The real highlight is No Return and the option to play at true 4K resolution as everything else feels like padding.

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Video Chums - A.J. Maciejewski - 9 / 10

The Last of Us Part II Remastered is generally what you'd expect for a current-generation iteration of a 3.5-year-old game. There's definitely enough extra content and enhancements to make it worthwhile but only if you're not burned-out by the original. 🎸

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WellPlayed - James Wood - 8.5 / 10

Polished, functional, and visually stunning, The Last of Us Part II Remastered is every bit the product it sets out to be, betraying the game's art and dealing a blow to its dignity in the process.

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Worth Playing - Chris "Atom" DeAngelus - 8 / 10

At the end of the day, The Last of Us: Part II - Remastered is a fine but pointless upgrade. In a vacuum, it's a straight boost to the PS4 version in every way, and the $10 upgrade cost is probably worth it if just for No Return. For all of its glories and failures, Part II is still the same game, even more so than The Last of Us: Part I. It's the best version of the game but probably not something that players need to rush out to get.

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Hello all! I have played Ghost of Tsushima last year, and while I thought the visuals were stunning and the gameplay and atmosphere were tremendous, the game felt a bit too long and repetitive for me. The story was nice, but due to the slow pace it didn't have the emotional impact it might have gotten if the game was a bit more concise.

So recently I was running low on space on my PS5 and decided to play and finish the DLC, so that I could reclaim the 65GB for other stuff.

This DLC fixed almost all the issues I had with GoT. The map was smaller and more densely packed. The busywork didn't outstay it's welcome and the new gameplay additions were all super cool. The activities were less in number than the original game but the quality was higher in my opinion. Finally the story was really cool (although I feel like they still played it a bit safe in the end).

What did you think of it? I would also love to discuss the story (but use spoiler tags for the new people).

Hello all! I've been a Christopher Nolan fan since I saw Inception for the first time, but I'm also starting to see the flaws in his film making, especially in the way women are represented. This is especially clear in Oppenheimer, as this movie is based on actual facts and still he clearly under develops the female characters compared to their real life counterparts. I feel that this article gives a good and nuanced take on the issue and helped me reconcile the stuff I adore in his films with the clearly flawed and problematic parts.

1. Outer Wilds. I played this game through PS Plus, and it is the best game I have ever played in my life. The gameplay, the puzzles, the music (!!!!), the characters, the story, the ending. Just a masterpiece. I'm not even sure if it was this year or last year that I finished it, but the soundtrack was number 4 in my Spotify wrapped, so clearly it was still present in my life. 10/10

2. Slay the Spire. I don't play long games, and I don't play a single game for long... usually. I have more than 150 hours of this on Switch, and another 300 hours on steam. This game does not give me the emotional highs of other games in this list, but if this isn't the most perfectly crafted and balanced strategy roguelike out there, then I don't know what is. Also, Snecko Eye is the best relic, no discussion. 10/10

3. Undertale. I even made an earlier post in this community about finally finishing this game. The story and people in this game are so charming, the music is amazing and the messages about self love and kindness are so pure. Also, this game is seriously funny at times! No genocide run though, I value my time and sanity. 10/10

4. Death Stranding. Another game I made a post about after finishing it. Absolutely bonkers game. Some parts of it are so immensely stupid, but other parts are just incredible. I loved the idea of connecting people and the overall positive messages of this game. 9/10

5. Tenet. I know, most people would be quick to dismiss this as a movie and a mediocre one at that. I myself saw it on release and gave it a 7/10. But this isn't actually a movie, it's a puzzle game that you're meant to play at home hammering the pause button while frantically trying to understand what is happening. This also increases your time with it by at least a factor of 2. 9/10

6. Death's Door. Little bird fighting hard. Incredible art direction, good writing, great (if a bit repetitive) music. Maybe it tiny bit to long, but honestly a great game. 9/10

7. The first 20 hours of Ghost of Tsushima. This game is absolutely amazing on all fronts. It's just way too long with not enough variation. 9/10

8. The Gardens Between. Absolutely lovely little puzzle game about 2 childhood friends. I really liked the rumble in my Dualsense while solving these puzzles. 9/10

I am leaving 2 empty spots for all of the amazing games I experienced that I forgot and that will probably come to me the second I press send. To anyone still reading, thanks, this year has been a year of slowly getting better from a really dark time. When you've been a the absolute bottom it's nice to see the beautiful stuff you've been able to experience since. I'm still recovering and there are tough moments, but my life is also filled with lots of beautiful experiences and I am grateful for that. <3

Celebrating 100 years of Warner Bros heroes & legends

This year, Warner Bros is celebrating a century of storytelling—and you can join the party with this bundle filled with the legendary heroes, series, and titles from WB Games! Protect Gotham City city as iconic DC superheroes in Gotham Knights and Batman: Arkham Knight Premium Edition. Battle to save existence in the mythic fighting game series entry Mortal Kombat 11: Ultimate Edition. Get Back 4 Blood, Middle-earth: Shadow of War Definitive Edition, Mad Max, and more—and help support charity with your purchase!

Game Information

Game Title: Lords of the Fallen (2023)

Platforms:

• Xbox Series X/S (Oct 13, 2023)
• PlayStation 5 (Oct 13, 2023)
• PC (Oct 13, 2023)

Trailers:

• LORDS OF THE FALLEN - Overview Trailer | Pre-Order Now
• LORDS OF THE FALLEN - Official Story Trailer (Extended Version) | Pre-Order Now
• LORDS OF THE FALLEN - Official Gameplay Reveal Trailer || Pre-Order Now on PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S

Developer: Hexworks

Publisher: CI Games

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 75 average - 74% recommended - 45 reviews

Critic Reviews

AltChar - Semir Omerovic - 95 / 100

Lords of the Fallen stands as a genuine ode to the souls-like genre, a shining masterpiece that deserves recognition as one of the finest action RPGs in recent years.

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XboxEra - Jesse Norris - 9.4 / 10

Lords of the Fallen is a stunningly good game. Following a path set for it by Dark Souls 3 it nails every major part of what makes From’s games so damned good. Stunning visually, the art style and music are some of my favorites. While the very end does get too “big” for its gameplay this one is an easy recommendation to both the most hardcore Souls lovers and those who feel intimidated. Seamless co-op takes what is a great game and makes it a special one.

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Attack of the Fanboy - Christian Bognar - 4.5 / 5

Most of what fans of Soulslikes want are at the maximum: masterclass-level design, unforgettable bosses, and extensive freedom toward build creation. The combat can feel rough at times, and there are way too many enemies in certain levels, but these downfalls don't negate the fact that Lords of the Fallen reaches for a spot in the highest tier among the genre's greats and finds itself right at home.

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GameSpew - Richard Seagrave - 9 / 10

With its stunning visuals and unique mechanics, Lords of the Fallen has quickly become one of our favourite Soulslikes. Its setting may be derivative, but it’s so well realised that you likely won’t care, especially when you’re switching between the worlds of the living and the dead, each with their own monstrosities to deal with and treasures to find. Hexworks has created something that genuinely feels like a successor to Dark Souls, leveraging the power of next-gen to push the genre forward. And so, put the mediocrity of the original Lords of the Fallen out of your mind: this may have the same name, but it stands head and shoulders above its predecessor in every single way.

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Use a Potion - 9 / 10

Lords of the Fallen is an impressive release that trumps the original in every way, all whilst introducing some splendid mechanics that help it stand out in the crowded Souls-like genre. The parallel worlds idea is really, REALLY cool, whilst simply exploring the land of Mournstead is always satisfying thanks to its wonderful environmental design and sense of unpredictability across both Axiom and Umbral. It gets all of the basics right too, with combat slick and varied throughout and each epic boss encounter putting your skills to the test. Whilst I’ll admit there were some areas which lacked the polish for it to fully match up to the likes of Elden Ring, Lords of the Fallen is still a very good game. The difficulty spikes can be a little bit unfair in places, especially when the game overwhelms you with a high enemy count, but it doesn’t stop Lords of the Fallen from being another Souls-like release that REALLY deserves your attention.

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Fextralife - Fexelea - 8.8 / 10

Lords of the Fallen is an amazing achievement from the Hexworks team, and Souls-like fans will immediately feel at home in this highly ambitious title. Despite a few performance issues, and a handful of bugs, Lords of the Fallen is some of the most fun I've had this year, and that's saying something considering the titles that have launched in 2023.

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Gamersky - 心灵奇兵 - Chinese - 8.5 / 10

Lords of the Fallen is probably the closest game to the Dark Souls series. Its unique world-switching mechanic, resurrection upon death, and bonfire-building features show the development team's deep understanding of Souls game design.

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Generación Xbox - Pedro del Pozo - Spanish - 85 / 100

Possibly, we are facing the closest soulslike and almost equal to the Dark Souls saga itself. It has absolutely everything a fan of the franchise could want from this type of game: It is difficult, challenging, but not impossible or unfair, it has many possibilities to approach the adventure, and technically accompanies both sight and ear. Perhaps the story does not become so transcendental, because it is one that we have already seen more than once, but we must not detract from it, because the design of the characters is impressive in many cases, something that also happens with the more than 30 bosses that are in the game, each with its own mechanics, phases and aesthetics.

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Seasoned Gaming - Zach Bateman - 8.5 / 10

CI Games and HEXWORKS have realized their potential by creating one of the greatest souls-likes I’ve had the pleasure of getting lost in.

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The Nerd Stash - Patrick Armstrong - 8.5 / 10

Lords of the Fallen ranks amongst the best Soulslikes!

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But Why Tho? - Eddie De Santiago - 8 / 10

Lords of the Fallen is a massive improvement over its namesake prequel, and it provides many highs, but there are definitely some lows as well. For the masochist action RPG fan, though, there’s plenty to love, and it’s all going to hurt.

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CGMagazine - Philip Watson - 8 / 10

Lords of the Fallen is a solid entry in the Soulslike genre, and deviates from the recipe enough to craft its own identity.

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God is a Geek - Mick Fraser - 8 / 10

Lords of the Fallen is an enjoyable, challenging game, and the aesthetics are out of this world, but it suffers at times from a lack of focus.

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Hobby Consolas - Álvaro Alonso - Spanish - 80 / 100

Despite its many problems, Lords of the Fallen has managed to conquer us by combining the soulslike of always with a mechanic as novel and interesting as the jump between worlds. If they correct their failures, we could be facing one of the great surprises of 2023 and one of the best soulslike of recent years.

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IGN - Travis Northup - 8 / 10

Lords of the Fallen is an awesome soulslike with a fantastic dual-realities premise, even when performance shortcomings and wimpy bosses crash the party.

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IGN Spain - Alejandro Morillas - Spanish - 8 / 10

Lords of the Fallen is one of the most interesting souls-like games of recent years, providing new ways to face exploration in the genre, as well as a superb artistic section. Even with its irregular technical section and its roughness at the gameplay level, it is a highly recommended game.

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INVEN - Kyuman Kim - Korean - 8 / 10

Returning as a reboot after nine years, 'Lord of the Fallen' successfully carves its unique niche on the solid foundation that is familiar for those fans of Souls-like genre. Some elements, such as unseparated multiplayer even after death are even better! However the lackluster impact of combat and rather frequent system clashes left a big room for improvement. Luckily, the developer is eager to make the game better with patches before release so, we'll see.

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PSX Brasil - Portuguese - 80 / 100

Quote not yet available

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Slant Magazine - Aaron Riccio - 4 / 5

Umbral is a beautiful dark twisted fantasy, and then there’s all of Axiom to explore as well. The developers have made the most of these realms, layering distinct challenges atop one another. And the result is the best of both worlds: Axiom’s dense, gothic world (and its interconnected twin in Umbral) and a second life with which to better appreciate the masocore combat.

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The Outerhaven Productions - Keith Mitchell - 4 / 5

Lords of the Fallen (2023) is finally here, despite a challenging development cycle, and it's a way better game than the original title. Everything that I had issues with the 2014 game has been addressed, and then some. Combat is fun, the world is beautiful, and I can't get enough of the unique way we can visit the world of the dead using a lamp. It really bugs me that the game on the PC has some slight performance issues that hold it back, and that's a shame. Still, Lords of the Fallen (2023) is a great Soulslike that fans of the genre need to play, despite a few flaws with the game.

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VideoGamer - Finlay Cattanach - 8 / 10

Lords of the Fallen is a game that wears its passion and love of the genre on its sleeve. A gorgeous world, gripping gameplay, enthralling bosses, and depthless worldbuilding persist in spite of some rough edges and a struggling sense of unique identity.

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We Got This Covered - David Morgan - 4 / 5

Lords of the Fallen copies Dark Souls so thoroughly it feels like game design plagiarism but, astonishingly, it's indeed worthy of being mentioned in the same sentence as FromSoftware's brutal dark fantasy classics. Anyone who's survived Lordran, Drangleic and Lothric will find a lot to love here.

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WellPlayed - Nathan Hennessy - 8 / 10

Lords of The Fallen makes up for its clumsy combat and opaque systems with the fantastic Umbral lamp and its impressive audiovisual design.

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PC Gamer - Harvey Randall - 79 / 100

Some of the best boss fights in the genre's recent history, riddled with difficulty spikes in all the wrong places.

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COGconnected - Mark Steighner - 77 / 100

With incredible art design, challenging action, and a very innovative, dual-world mechanic, Lords of the Fallen is probably a must-play for fans of Soulslikes. But it’s hard to ignore the game’s issues, too, from sometimes unrefined movement and clunky combat to its many technical hiccups. While these can be frustrating or worse, ultimately the game’s ambition and dark fantasy vision are at least as compelling as its flaws.

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Video Chums - A.J. Maciejewski - 7.7 / 10

There's a lot to enjoy in Lords of the Fallen, especially with its phenomenal dual-world reality that adds a layer to exploration. Slaying bosses and trekking ahead may not always be a delight but what's here is still very good nonetheless.

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GamingTrend - Abdul Saad - 75 / 100

While not without its issues, Lords of the Fallen is an entertaining game with many great action RPG elements and challenging but satisfying gameplay.

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Multiplayer First - Paulmichael Contreras - 7.5 / 10

Just like the original that preceded it, Lords of the Fallen is a solid Soulslike game, which relies on a familiar game loop of dying repeatedly, learning from your mistakes along the way, while finding a nice track of enemies to slaughter endlessly as you slowly grind your character’s level up to meet the challenge, or for those more inclined to not cheese things, then memorizing enemy attack patterns as you fight and claw your way to victory. The Umbral mechanic has brought something new to the table, but it’s a shame visits to the other side are limited. Hexworks set a high bar for themselves, and while they didn’t quite reach the heights they were going for, they should be commended for what they have accomplished.

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Spaziogames - Domenico Musicò - Italian - 7.5 / 10

Lords of the Fallen fails to meet every expectation and its own ambitions. With many technical flaws and some gameplay issues, CI Games and HexWorks reboot is very far from top notch soulslike games.

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The Games Machine - Marco Bortoluzzi - Italian - 7.5 / 10

While Lords of the Fallen has a good foundation, what is built upon it often leaves a sour taste, and not all of it can be boiled down to personal preference. Poor optimization, wonky hitboxes, poor enemy variety and a frustrating lock system are only some of the issues we encountered. This is the kind of game that could become great, but it needs patches and updates to get there.

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Tom's Hardware Italia - Andrea Maiellano - Italian - 7.5 / 10

Everything works and is fun, the ideas are many, and very interesting, and the general feeling is to find oneself in front of a work done with passion. However, slips on that banana peel called "experience." We would have preferred to be confronted with a Souls-like that was more refined in its foundations and capable of introducing a couple of thick innovations, as opposed to playing a title that errs on the side of presumptuousness in terms of copying FromSoftware's work, causing the many, perhaps too many, ideas it puts forth to falter.

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Daily Star - Tom Hutchison - 3.5 / 5

It looks medieval, dark, like a bloody horror film and it plays tough.

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GAMES.CH - Benjamin Braun - German - 70%

If CI Games should solve the performance issues on PS5, Lords of the Fallen is nothing less than one of the best Soulslike games so far. The game might be very similar in some of its basics, but cleverly makes use of its dual-layered game world that makes Lords of the Fallen stand out from the often trite Dark Souls clones.

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Gamer Guides - Chris Moyse - 7 / 10

Lords of the Fallen is a solid, if conventional Soulslike, offering imposing adventure while never quite breaking new ground. Though a litany of performance woes currently hinders the experience, expansive realms, gloomy lore, and a bloody, heavy-handed challenge await the more sadistic corners of the game-playing audience.

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Hey Poor Player - Shane Boyle - 3.5 / 5

Engaging combat, brilliant boss fights, and top-notch level design that is amplified further by the creative dual-world mechanics introduced by Umbral, all coalesce into a version of Lords of the Fallen that not only leaves its predecessor in the dust but moves the genre forward in meaningful ways. That being said, it’s difficult to ignore the lackluster performance that significantly impacts upon the experience of the opening few hours, resulting in Lords of the Fallen not being the absolute recommendation that it should be, so here’s hoping Hexworks are hard at work on further optimization updates that brings performance to a level worthy of the rest of the package.

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MonsterVine - Sean Halliday - 3.5 / 5

Lords of the Fallen is a solid and enjoyable task but rarely goes beyond good, instead, it titters on the edge of being special. Great looking, but ultimately too safe and lacking a real bite, Lords of the Fallen may not push the genre in any real direction, but it’s a worthy addition.

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Push Square - Aaron Bayne - 7 / 10

Lords of the Fallen is an exciting kind of Sous-like. Whereas many others aim to perfect the formula, Lords of the Fallen's goal is to innovate. It certainly has its own array of problems, like lacking audio, repetitive enemy types, and combat that could be tightened up a little. However, when the game sinks its claws into you with its thrilling dual world mechanic, you won't be able to get enough of it.

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Wccftech - Francesco De Meo - 6.8 / 10

Lords of the Fallen boasts impressive visuals and an interesting story for a soulslike, but unfortunately, that's where the praise ends.

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Game Informer - Wesley LeBlanc - 6 / 10

Despite a solid gameplay foundation, stunning world, and unique two-realm mechanic, by the time I reached credits after 48 hours, I was overjoyed to be done.

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TechRaptor - Joe Allen - 6 / 10

Lords of the Fallen's shameless copy-paste approach to Dark Souls undermines its great level design and the potential evident in some of its boss encounters.

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Eurogamer - Ed Nightingale - 2 / 5

Missing the elegance of FromSoftware, Lords of the Fallen is let down by Soulslike clichés and performance woes.

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TheSixthAxis - Jason Coles - 4 / 10

I desperately want to like Lords of the Fallen, but it's the first game all year that's actively annoyed me. I love the Soulslike genre more than any other, but this game took all of the lessons it could have learned since the original Lords of the Fallen and either forgot them entirely, or just misunderstood them so greviously that you'd assume it skipped a class.

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Destructoid - Steven Mills - Unscored

My time with Lords of the Fallen so far has been mostly positive. But I can’t help but feel some of the newer systems don’t add much good to the game. Mixed with the sometimes unfair mechanics and difficulty of specific boss encounters, it’s definitely hampered my experience a bit. However, overall Lords of the Fallen is a polished Soulslike game, which is never a bad thing.

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Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Ed Thorn - Unscored

A Soulslike elevated by a magnificent realm-hopping twist, yet chained down by a host of irritating little flaws.

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Skill Up - Ralph Panebianco - Unscored

Video Review - Quote not available

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Game Information

Game Title: Detective Pikachu Returns

Platforms:

• Nintendo Switch (Oct 6, 2023)

Trailer:

• Detective Pikachu Returns - Nintendo Direct 6.21.2023

Publisher: Nintendo

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 68 average - 21% recommended - 24 reviews

Critic Reviews

GamesHub - Leah Williams - 4 / 5

While overtly silly and over-the-top at times, Detective Pikachu Returns effectively balances its light with its extreme darks, wielding its cuteness as a tool to tell an impactful and fairly relevant tale about corruption, felt throughout various cases.

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Siliconera - Brent Koepp - 8 / 10

Detective Pikachu Returns is a charming mystery adventure. The long-awaited sequel to Tim Goodman's saga was worth the wait.

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Spaziogames - Nicolò Bicego - Italian - 7.7 / 10

Detective Pikachu: The Return is a definite step forward from the first installment, but it still lacks that quality leap that could make this subseries a must for franchise fans. The main charm of the adventure lies in the charisma of its two protagonists and the opportunity to experience the Pokémon world in a different way compared to what the main series offers. However, the game's extreme simplicity, driven by the choice to make it accessible to a wide audience, may not satisfy all fans of the saga.

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Atomix - Aldo López - Spanish - 75 / 100

It can be difficult to recommend Detective Pikachu Returns, unless you are a Pokémon fan who buys absolutely everything they put in front of them. On the other hand, if you like it more casually, I would say save your money.

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GAMES.CH - Benjamin Braun - German - 75%

If you are looking for a Pokémon game without combat but with atmospheric staged mystery cases and a humorously presentation, Detective Pikachu Returns could be exactly your cup of tea. Well, if it's not a problem for you, that the gameplay is mostly totally unchallenging.

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GamePro - Eleen Reinke - German - 73 / 100

Detective Pikachu Returns is a simple puzzle adventure without much of a challenge, but with a charming story.

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Hobby Consolas - Daniel Quesada - Spanish - 72 / 100

If you like strong challenges, surely this game is not for you, but if you have kids at home or you are looking to immerse yourself in the Pokémon world without further complications, this game will please you like a good cup of coffee.

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The Games Machine - Daniele Cucchiarelli - Italian - 7.2 / 10

A "Layton-esque" detective game in which Pikachu is obviously the undisputed star. Light and somewhat repetitive gameplay make it suitable for a fairly young or inexperienced audience in this genre of titles. Those looking for a deeper, more complex and challenging experience should look elsewhere.

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God is a Geek - Adam Cook - 7 / 10

Detective Pikachu Returns is a relaxing time in a universe full of characters you know and love, and it'll make you laugh, but it won't be for everyone.

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LevelUp - Pedro Pérez Cesari - Spanish - 7 / 10

The apple didn't fall far from the tree with Detective Pikachu Returns. It's a game that stands out for its charisma, but can be guilty of being too simple, something quite similar to what happened to the Nintendo 3DS entry.

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Nintendo Life - PJ O'Reilly - 7 / 10

Detective Pikachu Returns serves up more of what delighted us first time around, with an endearing and exciting story packed full of fun and light-hearted silliness. We really do enjoy this gruff, coffee-addled take on Pikachu, he never fails to raise a smile when he goes off on one, and the game successfully straddles a very thin line in giving us an adventure aimed at younger players that long-time Pokémon fans and ancient gamers such as ourselves can also enjoy. If you can handle the inherent repetitiveness of most of the core gameplay, alongside some rather drab visuals, you'll enjoy this one.

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Press Start - Steven Impson - 7 / 10

Detective Pikachu Returns is a decently fun little detective story. Don't expect any intense logical deductions or unpredictable twists – but it's fun enough to follow along with even so. The relationship between Tim and Pikachu is a highlight as are the Pokémon who help you along the way. Uninspired human character designs marr an otherwise decent presentation full of cool Pokémon and fun music.

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WhatIfGaming - Rizwan Anwer - 7 / 10

Detective Pikachu Returns is a fun game that is brimming with personality, a memorable cast of characters, and a familiar setting that is somehow new again. Unfortunately, it's held back by a menial playtime with no replay value and a very predictable plot, but that doesn't take away from enjoying the world of Detective Pikachu Returns.

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COGconnected - James Paley - 68 / 100

While I’ve made it clear that this game is meant for a younger audience, I still recognize its merits. The visuals are clean and crisp, even if the humans look a bit weird. Pikachu himself is a real bright spot, with more charm and personality than any other character. And if you’re a diehard Pokémon fan, there are a ton of them scattered throughout this story. But I can’t recommend this game to anyone reading this review. Rather, Detective Pikachu Returns will be a great fit for your kids. If you’re looking for a fun, approachable adventure they can dive into, this might be a pretty good choice.

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IGN Italy - Francesco Destri - Italian - 6.7 / 10

Detective Pikachu: The Return only works as a large and varied "Pokémon container," but as a detective adventure it will only be able to give some satisfaction to the youngest players.

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Video Chums - Mary Billington - 6.3 / 10

Detective Pikachu Returns is definitely adorable in this Switch debut although the required deduction skills to solve its cases remain at an incredibly low bar to clear which made it hard to hold my attention for very long.

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Digital Trends - Giovanni Colantonio - 3 / 5

Detective Pikachu Returns works as a charming interactive cartoon, but its simplified deduction takes some of the mystery out of it.

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IGN - Carli Velocci - 6 / 10

Detective Pikachu Returns is yet another mystery whodunit in the Pokemon universe, but it’s tough to deduce who this is for, despite having all the clues.

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Stevivor - Matt Gosper - 6 / 10

Investigations are multi-staged, and some of the reveals are interesting if not particularly surprising. The inclusion of newer-generation Pokémon since the original title makes Ryme City feel even more alive and part of the Pokémon world, and the city is full of small details to really drive home the idea of people and Pokémon living together.

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VGC - Jordan Middler - 3 / 5

Detective Pikachu is full of simple puzzes, witty dialogue and Pokemon to discover. It won't thrill older fans from a gameplay perspective, and it's visually inconsistent, but it will likely introduce throusands of young fans to a whole new genre of video games.

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We Got This Covered - Shaan Joshi - 3 / 5

Detective Pikachu Returns hasn't lost the charm of its predecessor, but the overly simplified gameplay might alienate some players.

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But Why Tho? - Charles Hartford - 5 / 10

When it’s at its best, Detective Pikachu Returns delivers the charm and cuteness that have always been hallmarks of the Pokémon franchise. However, all too frequently it fails to reach those heights thanks to shallow gameplay, a bloated story, and repetitive missions that feel lackluster, no matter what age demographic they are targeting.

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ComicBook.com - Christian Hoffer - 2.5 / 5

Unless you're a Poke-Fanatic or a young child, Detective Pikachu Returns probably won't hold very much for you. Detective Pikachu is still a joy to watch, but his shenanigans are hardly worth the $50 price tag. However, I think that this game would be a great fit for younger Pokemon fans who aren't looking for deep multi-layered mysteries. As much as I wished that Detective Pikachu Returns had a stronger storyline, Detective Pikachu still has plenty of charm and the kids seem to enjoy his shenanigans as much as they did during his movie.

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Console Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - Recommended

Detective Pikachu Returns is an excellent follow-up to its predecessor, expanding the world around Tim and Pikachu. However, the sequel mostly plays it safe by giving you more of the same experience.

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I just started playing COD Black Ops Cold War because I got it through my PlayStation Plus subscription and wanted to try it out. I've previously played some others like Modern Warfare (1 and 2) and WWII. While it always felt a bit over the top and propaganda-ish, I really liked it for the blockbuster feeling and just turning your mind off and enjoying the set pieces. However, Cold War has a section in Vietnam and I suddenly started feeling really uncomfortable and just turned the game off.

In WWII you can easily feel like the "defender", and even Modern Warfare felt like fighting a very specific organisation that wanted to kill millions. Here however it just becomes so hard to explain why I'm happily mowing down hundreds of clearly Vietnamese locals that I was unable to turn my mind off and just enjoy the spectacle.

I turned to the internet and started browsing and found this article and I really agree with what the author is saying.

I don't know if I will be continuing the campaign or not, but I just feel that I don't want to support these kinds of minimizations of military interventions.

I just wish there were more high budget / setpiece games that don't glorify real life wars. Spec Ops The Line was amazing in that sense, but it's also quite old already.

I would love to hear your opinions on this subject.