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Gaming @beehaw.org coyotino [he/him] @beehaw.org 3mo ago

Review Thread

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

Game Information --------------------

Game Title: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

Platforms:

Xbox Series X/S (Nov 20, 2024)
PC (Nov 20, 2024)

Trailers:

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl — Scar Character Introduction Trailer
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.2: Heart of Chornobyl — Official World & Locations Gameplay Showcase Trailer
S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 Heart of Chornobyl — The Time of Opportunities Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase 2024

Developer: GSC Game World

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 76 average - 63% recommended - 48 reviews

Critic Reviews -------------

ACG - Jeremy Penter - Wait for Sale

>"While Stalker 2 holds its head up high in delivering a game that is unlike so many others we see recently. It's one major similarity is bugs and performance issues. A fine shooter, with a unique world, and fantastic moments marred by technical problems"

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AltChar - Semir Omerovic - 70 / 100

>If Stalker 2 didn't have so many serious performance issues and bugs, it would be my Game of the Year. It has a great story, memorable characters, a unique world to explore, and great visual presentation - pretty much everything to keep you immersed for hours.

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Atarita - Alparslan Gürlek - Turkish - 79 / 100

>Stalker 2 has more bugs than we can tolerate, but it's still a very enjoyable game. The attention to detail in its huge open world, the new AIs and the new gunplay mechanics won me over. It also has great graphics and after a few updates I think it will be a must-play for everyone.

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CGMagazine - Erik McDowell - 6 / 10

>S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is the fourth game in the series, but the first proper sequel. The expansive story is decidedly more action-packed and

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Checkpoint Gaming - Omi Koulas - 7 / 10

>STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is an anomaly. It dazzles with stunning visuals, an eerie atmosphere, and gameplay that captures the soul of the original series. Yet, like The Zone itself, it's plagued by technical glitches, inconsistent performance, and design missteps that get in the way of its lofty ambitions. Despite its flaws, STALKER 2 has a strange magnetic force, and once you're in, it's hard to look away.

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Daily Mirror - Aaron Potter - 4 / 5

>In many ways, Stalker 2 succeeds in being a bold modernisation of GSC Game World’s classic survival shooter packaged and prettied up for today’s audience. That said, it’s a sequel that also manages to stay true to its in-depth PC roots by retaining an emphasis on resource management, scavenging, and a world that is seemingly as wide as an ocean that’s somehow equally as deep. Prevalent bugs and purposefully clumsy gunplay aside, Stalker 2 is an impressive successor worth the decade-and-a-half wait, providing you’re willing to meet it on its own terms.

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Dexerto - Jessica Filby - 3 / 5

>Stalker 2 is brutal, unforgiving, and not for the faint-hearted. While its storyline is poised for new players, its gameplay feels the opposite, providing a hardcore experience for anyone looking to dive into the Zone. >Nevertheless, Stalker 2 is the kind of game that ages like a fine wine, getting better, richer, and slightly bolder as you push through its 35-hour campaign. That being said, the performance issues and missing features do leave a somewhat bitter taste.

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Digital Trends - Jason Rodriguez - 2 / 5

>Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl crumbles under the weight of its own ambition.

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DualShockers - Jaime Tugayev - 7 / 10

>As it stands now, STALKER 2 is fun and has a lot of potential, but it would be unfair to call it good. You can easily sink 100 hours into it without noticing, especially if you have a deep love for previous iterations. However, the performance issues, overall inconsistency in many areas, and clumsy presentation will hold this game back until a major overhaul comes.

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Everyeye.it - Riccardo Cantù - Italian - 7.5 / 10

>Fortunately, the extraordinary artistic inspiration of STALKER 2 Heart of Chornobyl makes up for most of these flaws and paints a still quite captivating picture that is worth getting lost in.

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GAMES.CH - Benjamin Braun - German - 63%

>"S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2" simply does not deliver enough and is too flawed to give it a good rating. The AI and game balance in particular are so bad that we cannot even recommend "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2" to fans of the predecessors, who are certainly used to suffering, without major reservations. It was not a complete disaster, and the fact that GSC Game World managed to get the title out in a playable form despite the war is certainly no small achievement.

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GRYOnline.pl - Dariusz Matusiak - Polish - Unscored

>STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a game you love despite its flaws, not for being perfect. The superb atmosphere, immersion, gameplay, game world and audiovisual setting collide with technical flaws that shouldn't have happened on the day of release, though we probably expected a bit of that.

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Game Rant - Josh Cotts - 9 / 10

>After spending 55 hours in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, I have no qualms recommending STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl to post-apocalyptic enthusiasts.

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GameGrin - Artura Dawn - 9 / 10

>GSC Game World nails a unique mixture of genres between survival horror and open world with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. The atmospheric environments, engaging gunplay, and the constant feeling of threat culminate in a heavy recommendation from me for fans of the genre.

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GamePro - Dennis Michel - German - Unscored

>The hope remains that future patches will at least fix most of the problems mentioned, especially the buggy sound and the poor enemy behavior, in the coming days. And who knows, maybe Stalker 2 will experience a resurrection like Cyberpunk recently did and even put some mechanics like the fast travel system to the test again.

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GameSpot - Richard Wakeling - 8 / 10

>Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is rough around the edges, but its propensity for creating emergent moments in a deadly and alluring world makes this trip back to the Zone a fraught and compelling experience

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Gameliner - Bram Noteboom - Dutch - 4.5 / 5

>S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is an immersive and atmospheric journey through the Zone, delivering gripping exploration and hardcore survival, though its ambition is hindered by technical issues, making it a flawed yet quintessential S.T.A.L.K.E.R. experience.

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Gamepressure - Izabela Budzynska - Unscored

>Although this may not be a perfect game, it must be honestly said that no one ever expected this from Stalker. The atmosphere, harshness, and unforgettable adventures in the Zone matter - and Stalker 2 has more than enough of that.

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Gamer Guides - Patrick Dane - 81 / 100

>While performance woes hinder it, STALKER 2 is a fiercely unique and immersive survival game. It asks the player to put in the work and struggle against its harsh systems that may turn many off. However, if you’re willing to persevere through its systems and technical issues, there is a special experience waiting to be found within the enchanting Zone.

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Gamer.no - Gøran Solbakken - Unknown - 8 / 10

>Stalker 2 stands out as an impressive and immersive survival shooter. A huge, handcrafted world with interesting story choices, lots of content and quality all around. Refreshingly, you are not a superhero out to save the world, but a regular grunt trying to survive

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Gamersky - 心灵奇兵 - Chinese - 8 / 10

>S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl remains true to its core philosophy: to create an immersive and unforgiving Zone that feels as alive as it is hostile. Every would-be explorer must endure harsh conditions and relentless challenges, testing their resolve until they either give up or fully embrace the Zone's brutal logic and become a part of it. This experience closely mirrors the spirit of the original trilogy, making S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 feel authentic to its roots. However, some of its hardcore and overly rigid systems may prove too alienating for a broader audience, potentially limiting its appeal.

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GamesRadar+ - Andrew Brown - 3 / 5

>Stalker 2, in its current state, has too much baggage to overlook

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GamingBolt - Shubhankar Parijat - 9 / 10

>S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl masterfully combines multiple genres to deliver an unmissable and entirely open world horror experience. Touting unparalleled emergent gameplay, stellar atmosphere, a captivating story, and gorgeous visuals, this is easily one of the best games available on Xbox Series X/S, even with the technical issues that hamper it.

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GamingTrend - Henry Viola - Unscored

>Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is an undoubtedly remarkable achievement in atmospheric game design. This post-apocalyptic experience offers an unmatched dynamic open world that is bound to satisfy long-time fans of the series. However, the extremely poor technical hiccups and hardcore yet niche nature of the game prevents it from getting a full recommendation. This is not a game for casuals.

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Generación Xbox - Pedro del Pozo - Spanish - 8.7 / 10

>STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is actually a difficult title to evaluate. We can't base ourselves on everything that the GSC Gaming World team members have been through to add points to the analysis or feel sorry for them. But the good thing is that it's not necessary, because after all that effort, I can say, categorically, that it has been worth it .

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GosuNoob - Srdjan Stanarevic - 8 / 10

>I've come out through all the trials and tribulations of the Zone and all that was left on the other side was I, Stalker. That's all I wanted from this game, and it fully delivered.

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Hardcore Gamer - Jason Moth - 5 / 5

>Stalker 2 is nothing short of a miracle. Developed by Ukrainian studio GSC Game World over the course of seven years amid a pandemic and a war -- among many other challenges -- Stalker 2 is a labor of love and the best type of sequel one could hope for. While many long-running franchises have strayed from their roots in an (often misguided) attempt to appeal to as many players as possible, Stalker 2 knows its core audience well and delivers exactly the type of game we were hoping for.

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Hobby Consolas - Álvaro Alonso - Spanish - 75 / 100

>STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a unique experience in post-apocalyptic games. Unfortunately, it all falls flat due to a myriad of bugs and technical issues. We are hopeful, as beneath the radiation lies a game with enormous potential, but for the time being it is not advisable to venture into the Zone.

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IGN Deutschland - Eike Cramer - German - 8 / 10

>S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a game that, in my opinion, is all too rare in this form. GSC Game World has managed to create an incredibly atmospheric combination of survival, horror and end time in a fascinating environment. Despite all the shooter weaknesses, the wooden dialogues, the incredibly annoying anomalies over time and some dubious technical problems, I fell in love with this zone. You won't find that much freedom and mystery anywhere else. Added to this is a story that takes its time to get it going, but then surprises with cool factions and robust characters. This excursion to Chernobyl requires patience and stamina, but rewards you with spectacular views, fierce battles and an expressive end time.

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IGN Spain - Rafa Del Río - Spanish - 9 / 10

>S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl offers us a powerful adventure of radioactive terror. A first-person horror sim with survival elements in which we will have to learn to survive and improve our equipment to reach the end of its complex plot. Monsters, anomalies and enemy factions join the arid terrain and dangerous emissions to turn the proposal into a unique experience in which learning and intuition are as important as exploration and quick thinking when advancing.

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Insider Gaming - Grant Taylor-Hill - Buy

>This enormous, immersive survival FPS is the cream of the crop, and it’s a bar to which every developer in the genre should aspire to reach.

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Kakuchopurei - Lewis Larcombe - 80 / 100

>S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is not a game for everyone. Its unforgiving difficulty, steep learning curve, and technical issues make it a challenging experience, especially for newcomers. Yet, for those willing to brave its harsh world, the game offers a deeply immersive and rewarding journey, moreso than other open-world games. > >For veterans of the series, it’s a triumphant return to form—one that stays true to the franchise’s uncompromising identity. For newcomers, however, it’s an intimidating introduction to a genre that demands patience, perseverance, and a willingness to embrace failure.

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Nexus Hub - Andrew Logue - 9 / 10

>S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is everything I've ever wanted from a sequel - a refined world, plenty of emergent gameplay possibilities and stunning atmosphere add up to make an unconventionally great game.

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One More Game - Chris Garcia - 8 / 10

>Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl is an unforgiving and uncompromising affair that's not for everybody. For its target audience, it could quite possibly be the game they've been waiting for the past decade and a half, heralding the return of this beloved cult classic. The game is tough and will beat you down if you're not attentive enough, requiring a commitment to immersion. > >The key to the game is to simply keep at it. The journey to get there may be painful and frustrating, and many players will certainly tune out in the process. Players who persevere will find a rewarding title and a living world filled with possibilities as time goes by, despite a number of bugs and rough patches.

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PC Gamer - Joshua Wolens - 83 / 100

>Just like in the old days, performance issues and bugs don't stop Stalker's mad, wonderful heart from shining through.

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Press Start - Brodie Gibbons - 6.5 / 10

>S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is an achievement for so many reasons. As well as being the little game that could, given the team's real-world challenges, the game doubles down on the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. way, delivering a sublimely realised sense of place with the Zone. Unfortunately, so much of the console experience is rendered so disappointingly undercooked.

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Rock, Paper, Shotgun - James Archer - Unscored

>It's incredibly buggy, but persevere and this survival FPS will reward you with intense shootouts and some wonderfully atmospheric free-roaming.

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SECTOR.sk - Peter Dragula - Slovak - 9 / 10

>Stalker 2 brings the series into the modern era with stunning visuals while staying true to its hardcore FPS roots. The game retains what made the series unique, with difficult action, expansive environments and a rich story. However, minor issues such as weaker animations, AI and minor bugs detract from the experience.

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Shacknews - Sam Chandler - 8 / 10

>Fortunately, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is still on its path to greatness. It's just going to need a little more love to get it to its destination. I just hope the rest of the journey is a bit faster than Skif's walking speed.

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Skill Up - Ralph Panebianco - Not Yet

>Video Review - Quote not available -------------

Spaziogames - Gianluca Arena - Italian - 8.6 / 10

>Nor a sudden war neither fifteen years in development stopped the people at GSC Game World to show their potential once again: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart of Chornobyl delivers on almost all fronts, giving us a cruel and immersive world in which we can all get lost. We already know we won't have to wait too long for multiplayer and mod support, but let's also hope we won't have to wait another fifteen years for another game like this.

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Stevivor - Hamish Lindsay - 5 / 10

>[PROVISIONAL SCORE] "The fact that STALKER 2 is complete and ready for an imminent release is nothing short of a miracle. It’s just a shame that my experience... is damaged by a constant stream of ever-present bugs and issues."

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The Games Machine - Emanuele Feronato - Italian - 9 / 10

>Quote not yet available

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TheGamer - Branden Lizardi - 3 / 5

>Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a perfectly average open-world survival shooter. It’s an interesting setting with well-realized characters, but it’s held back by unsatisfying gunplay and a run-of-the-mill sense of exploration. I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone. But if you’re a fan of games like Fallout, or you enjoyed past Stalker games, then this one is worth your time.

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Tom's Hardware Italia - Andrea Riviera - Italian - 8.5 / 10

>S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is nothing short of a production miracle. Despite the well-known challenging working conditions, GSC Game World has managed to create a project born out of immense passion and love for the world of video games. From its dark and mysterious atmosphere to its well-developed shooting mechanics and a game world that is both thoughtfully designed and excellently written, the entire experience is undeniably captivating. Despite a few easily fixable bugs, the game stands as one of the most satisfying experiences in recent years. These developers truly deserve applause for what they have achieved, setting an inspiring example for game creators worldwide.

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Wccftech - Alessio Palumbo - Unscored

>This is a game that knows precisely what it wants to be, although that doesn't mean it is balanced enough to be fun all the time. The feeling of playing a stalker thrust into this inhospitable world against seemingly impossible odds is always present, for better or worse. However, unless you're really dying to enter the Zone right away, I would recommend waiting a little longer while the developers (and possibly modders) fix and improve the game further.

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XboxEra - Jesse Norris - 8.4 / 10

>After a tumultuous dev cycle, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 shines despite some rough edges.

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Zoomg - Afshin Piroozi - Persian - 8.5 / 10

>Overall, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, despite having some issues mentioned in the review, is one of those games with a unique identity, creating a strange allure that pulls players in like a trap. Personally, when I wasn't playing, I had a strong desire to return and immerse myself in the mysterious world of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, a feeling I can't recall experiencing with any other video game recently. The detailed story, which directly reacts to the gamer's behavior, engaging gameplay, and outstanding atmosphere are positive features that make S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 one of the most respectable titles of this year. Especially since the game is available on Game Pass, I highly recommend giving it a chance.

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Gaming @beehaw.org knokelmaat @beehaw.org 10mo ago

Animal Well - Review Thread

Game Information --------------------

Game Title: Animal Well

Platforms:

PlayStation 5 (May 9, 2024)
Nintendo Switch (May 9, 2024)
PC (May 9, 2024)

Trailer:

ANIMAL WELL - Release Date Trailer

Developer: Billy Basso

Publisher: Bigmode

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 89 average - 100% recommended - 26 reviews

Critic Reviews -------------

But Why Tho? - Charles Hartford - 9 / 10

>Animal Well delivers a gorgeous art style paired with unique gameplay and an uncompromising vision

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CGMagazine - Jordan Biordi - 9 / 10

>Animal Well kept me captivated from start to finish and long after. Fans of Metroid-likes NEED to play this.

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COGconnected - Jaz Sagoo - 80 / 100

>Animal Well is a refreshing twist on the Metroidvania formula. Its tight platforming and clever puzzles make each exhilarating trek to distinct regions a blast. Although the retro-inspired art direction and odd presentation may not resonate with everyone, the originality and charm that imbues the game make this trip to the absurd a must for fans of the genre.

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Checkpoint Gaming - Omi Koulas - 8.5 / 10

>Uncover secrets, evade dangers, and embark on an eerie journey in ANIMAL WELL. Billy Basso has crafted a dark neon aesthetic and enigmatic gameplay that delivers a Metroidvania unlike many others. The mystery and cryptic puzzles won't be for everyone, but those who enjoy a challenge and a good platformer will be rewarded with a haunting adventure.

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Destructoid - Jamie Sharp - 10 / 10

>It’s one I’m grateful I experienced knowing so little, and urge anyone else sitting on the fence to wholeheartedly embrace until the darkness and biologically fueled light sources of its world envelop you in your beautiful, if slightly chilly, new home.

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Digital Trends - Giovanni Colantonio - 4 / 5

>Animal Well's deep secrets and arresting atmosphere will suck you down the rabbit hole.

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DualShockers - Sam Woods - 9.2 / 10

>Animal Well is sure to be one of 2024's surprise hits. It's Metroidvania gameplay plays second fiddle to a seemingly endless mystery

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Eurogamer - Christian Donlan - 5 / 5

>Explore a bright vision of subterranean nature in this astonishingly rich Metroidvania.

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Game Informer - Charlie Wacholz - 9 / 10

>Teeming with life, secrets, and charm that surprise and delight, Animal Well held my full, undivided attention

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GameSpot - Richard Wakeling - 9 / 10

>Animal Well delights with its non-traditional approach to Metroidvanias, combining unique items with a reactive and surreal world that's full of surprises.

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GamesRadar+ - Jon Bailes - 4.5 / 5

>Without giving anything away, it suffices to say that this rabbit hole goes a long way down, and if Animal Well is a Metroidvania, it's so much more besides.

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Hardcore Gamer - James Cunningham - 4.5 / 5

>Animal Well is a stunner of a metroidvania, usually charming but frequently creepy, mysterious but by no means unapproachable, and filled from top to bottom with secrets that are always satisfying to uncover.

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Hobby Consolas - Alberto Lloret - Spanish - 92 / 100

>Animal Well is one of the most interesting indie games that has been released so far in 2024.

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IGN - Rebekah Valentine - 9 / 10

>Animal Well is a beautiful, multi-layered puzzle box that’s both fun to simply play around with, and an utter delight to slowly crack open, secret by secret.

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Nintendo Life - Nile Bowie - 10 / 10

>Developer Shared Memory's stated goal is "to craft complete experiences that will be playable long after the world loses its internet connection," and screen after screen, Animal Well excels in delighting your eyes and giving your brain something to stew on. It's a riposte against a culture of post-launch updates in favour of a meticulously crafted, singular vision with potentially years' worth of discoveries baked in. By all indications, Animal Well delivers on that long-term promise and does so with a one-of-a-kind elegance.

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NintendoWorldReport - Willem Hilhorst - 8.5 / 10

>Even though it drops a few balls while juggling all these mechanics together, such as the boss battles. Still, ANIMAL WELL is a brilliantly put together game that I'd highly recommend to anyone who wants to get lost in a small but intricately designed game. I am quite convinced that both designers and players will be delving down deeper into this well over the coming years.

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PC Gamer - Shaun Prescott - 90 / 100

>A sleep-destroying puzzle metroidvania of baffling depth, Animal Well may go down in history as one of the genre's best.

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PCGamesN - Lauren Bergin - 8 / 10

>Despite its confusing fast travel system and misbehaving yo-yo, Animal Well is a bizarre yet brilliant neon-bathed adventure, characterized by tricky puzzles, intense platforming, and a host of cute animals - almost all of which are out to kill you.

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PSX Brasil - Victor Vitório - Portuguese - 85 / 100

>Animal Well is stunning and mysterious, a visual treat that offers open-ended and thought-provoking exploration. The total lack of explanations may put off part of the audience, but those who are willing to see how deep the iceberg, or rather the pit, goes, will have a lot to enjoy in this surrealist metroidvania.

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Push Square - Stephen Tailby - 8 / 10

>Animal Well is an extremely rewarding game — if you're willing to lose yourself in it. The sort of mysteries it's hiding go well beyond finding collectibles, giving you a rich and detailed world to unpack. If you have the patience and the curiosity, it's absolutely worth plumbing its depths.

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Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Edwin Evans-Thirlwell - Unscored

>A gorgeous and immensely absorbing metroidvania platformer that is both easy to get into and dense with secrets.

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Shacknews - TJ Denzer - 8 / 10

>Animal Well is one of the strangest metroidvanias I’ve played in a lot of very good ways. It’s pretty, funny, and scary in its atmospheric visuals and audio. Its platforming is also very satisfying and makes you feel good when you figure out how to use your tools properly to solve a puzzle. There are also secrets a plenty and a post-game to explore, as well. It's also just interesting to me that you don't directly fight with enemies and instead use your tools to work around them. The main double-edged sword here is the complete lack of context and hand-holding, which makes Animal Well charming and mysterious, but can make it difficult to keep track of what you were doing or where you should be going next. Nonetheless, if you want a solid and quirky adventure that will put your reflexes and puzzle-solving to the test, Animal Well is an absolutely fascinating journey.

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Skill Up - Ralph Panebianco - Unscored

>Video Review - Quote not available -------------

TechRaptor - Andrew Stretch - 10 / 10

>Animal Well is a game that promised platforming and puzzles and has managed to absolutely nail both in execution. Platforming fans will have an enjoyable time reaching the credits and will be content to set it down while puzzle gamers will be enamored by the depth that Animal Well has been able to achieve. You won't get more satisfied by a game solving puzzles like these.

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TheGamer - Eric Switzer - 5 / 5

>This is a game best played alongside friends who can go in without any expectations and work through obstacles together. Don’t expect to be able to solve everything on your own, but at the same time, do everything you can not to ask for help. If you can be comfortable with contradictions like that, you’ll find a lot to love in Animal Well.

-------------

Wccftech - Kai Tatsumoto - 8.6 / 10

>Animal Well is a fantastic breakout title from both a new developer and publishing studio. Fans of Fez and Tunic will feel right at home jumping into this well.

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Gaming @beehaw.org Chloyster [she/her] @beehaw.org 1y ago

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Review Thread

Game Information --------------------

Game Title: Marvel's Spider-Man 2

Platforms:

PlayStation 5 (Oct 20, 2023)

Trailers:

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 91 average - 100% recommended - 95 reviews

Critic Reviews -------------

ACG - Jeremy Penter - Buy

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Areajugones - Juan Linares - Spanish - 9.3 / 10

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Atomix - Alberto Desfassiaux - Spanish - 95 / 100

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Attack of the Fanboy - Noah Nelson - 4.5 / 5

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But Why Tho? - George Yang - 9 / 10

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CGMagazine - Chris De Hoog - 10 / 10

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COGconnected - Rhett Waselenchuk - 100 / 100

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Checkpoint Gaming - Luke Mitchell - 9.5 / 10

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ComicBook.com - Cade Onder - 4.5 / 5

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Console Creatures - Luke Williams - Recommended

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Daily Star - 5 / 5

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Dexerto - Patrick Dane - 4 / 5

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Digital Chumps - Ben Sheene - 10 / 10

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Digital Trends - Giovanni Colantonio - 4.5 / 5

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Easy Allies - Michael Huber - 9 / 10

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Echo Boomer - Portuguese - Essential

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Enternity.gr - Panagiotis Petropoulos - Greek - 9 / 10

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Entertainment Geekly - Luis Alvaro - 4.5 / 5

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Eurogamer - Chris Tapsell - 4 / 5

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Everyeye.it - Giuseppe Arace - Italian - 9 / 10

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Evilgamerz - Daan Nijboer - Dutch - 9.3 / 10

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Forbes - Paul Tassi - 8.5 / 10

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GAMES.CH - Olaf Bleich - German - 90%

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GGRecon - Jack Roberts - 5 / 5

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GRYOnline.pl - Dariusz Matusiak - Polish - 9 / 10

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Game Informer - Matt Miller - 9.5 / 10

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Game Rant - Dalton Cooper - 4.5 / 5

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GamePro - Linda Sprenger - German - 92 / 100

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GameSpew - Richard Seagrave - 10 / 10

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GameSpot - Jordan Ramée - 8 / 10

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Gameblog - French - 8 / 10

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Gamepressure - Giancarlo Saldana - 9 / 10

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Gamersky - Chinese - 8.7 / 10

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GamesRadar+ - Joe Donnelly - 5 / 5

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Gaming Age - Dustin Chadwell - A or higher

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Gaming Nexus - Eric Hauter - 10 / 10

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GamingTrend - David Burdette - 95 / 100

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Geek Culture - Jake Su - 9.5 / 10

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Geeks & Com - Anthony Gravel - French - 9.5 / 10

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Glitched Africa - Marco Cocomello - 9 / 10

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God is a Geek - Chris White - 9.5 / 10

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Hobby Consolas - Álvaro Alonso - Spanish - 92 / 100

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IGN - Simon Cardy - 8 / 10

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IGN Italy - Francesco Destri - Italian - 9 / 10

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IGN Spain - Mario Seijas - Spanish - 9 / 10

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INDIANTVCZ - Tereza Krečová - Czech - 8 / 10

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INVEN - Hongman Yoon - Korean - 9 / 10

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Impulsegamer - Tory Favro - 5 / 5

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Kakuchopurei - Alleef Ashaari - 100 / 100

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Kotaku - Ethan Gach - Unscored

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LevelUp - Luis Sánchez - Spanish - 8 / 10

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Merlin'in Kazanı - Samet Basri Taşlı - Turkish - 92 / 100

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Metro GameCentral - David Jenkins - 8 / 10

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Nerdburglars - Dan Hastings - 9.5 / 10

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New Game Network - Alex Varankou - 82 / 100

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Next Gen Base - Ben Ward - 9.5 / 10

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Nexus Hub - Lynley James - 9 / 10

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One More Game - Vincent Ternida - Buy

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Oyungezer Online - Erce Güven - Turkish - 8.5 / 10

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PCMag - 4 / 5

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PPE.pl - Wojciech Gruszczyk - Polish - 9.5 / 10

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PSX Brasil - Ivan Nikolai Barkow Castilho - Portuguese - 95 / 100

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PlayStation Universe - John-Paul Jones - 10 / 10

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Polygon - Grayson Morley - Unscored

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Post Arcade (National Post) - 9 / 10

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Press Start - Kieron Verbrugge - 9 / 10

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Push Square - Stephen Tailby - 8 / 10

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Rectify Gaming - Rebecca Ellis - 9.5 / 10

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SECTOR.sk - Matúš Štrba - Slovak - 8.5 / 10

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Saudi Gamer - Arabic - 9 / 10

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Shacknews - Donovan Erskine - 10 / 10

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Sirus Gaming - Lexuzze Tablante - 10 / 10

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Skill Up - Ralph Panebianco - Unscored

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Spaziogames - Domenico Musicò - Italian - 8.2 / 10

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TechRaptor - Andrew Stretch - 9.5 / 10

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The Game Crater - Tom Wilson - 9 / 10

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The Games Machine - Danilo Dellafrana - Italian - 9 / 10

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TheSixthAxis - Dominic Leighton - 9 / 10

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Tom's Guide - Rory Mellon - 4.5 / 5

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Tom's Hardware Italia - Andrea Maiellano - Italian - 8.5 / 10

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Too Much Gaming - Carlos Hernandez - 4 / 5

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TrueGaming - Arabic - 9 / 10

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TrustedReviews - Ryan Jones - 4.5 / 5

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Unboxholics - Γιώργος Πρίτσκας - Greek - Masterpiece

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VG247 - Dom Peppiatt - 5 / 5

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VGC - Jordan Middler - 5 / 5

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Video Chums - A.J. Maciejewski - 9.1 / 10

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VideoGamer - Amaar Chowdhury - 10 / 10

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Wccftech - Alessio Palumbo - 8.5 / 10

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We Got This Covered - Shaan Joshi - 4.5 / 5

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WellPlayed - Ash Wayling - 10 / 10

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Worth Playing - Chris "Atom" DeAngelus - 9 / 10

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XGN.nl - Luuc ten Velde - Dutch - 8.5 / 10

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ZTGD - Ken McKown - 9 / 10

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Gaming @beehaw.org knokelmaat @beehaw.org 1y ago

Lords of the Fallen - Review Thread

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:

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 -------------