I was sceptical, even after the demo, but the game ended up being more than just another Souls-like. It masterfully wields familiar things to bring more than enough new ideas to the table, crushing but fair difficulty that provides the forgotten feeling of joy after defeating another boss.

Pros:
+ Combat system that mixed up some best Souls practices in a new way
+ Flexible playstyle. The game doesn't push you to play only one way, allowing to mix parry, dodges, or even through grenades
+ Most bosses are highly memorable both in design and movesets, which you'll be sure to memorise before you can defeat them
+ Weapons variety and customisation
+ Compelling story and soundtrack
+ Sounds and FX design overall
+ Several UI/UX improvements. Ergo’s meter, number of dropped items, quest icons, etc
+ Ability to respect almost everything, not just a character stats

Cons:
- Level design is mostly linear
- Imaginary variability
- Some things were almost never used (cube, canisters, etc)
- I'd like some P-upgrades to be available by default

YouTube playlist with all bosses

9/10

I personally really like it when metroidvania gives freedom and doesn't lock the player into a sequence of levels and abilities that can be unlocked in a certain order.

But that is not even the main point of Pseudoregalia, the movement and platforming in this game are sublime. Mostly all the abilities have additional ways to employ them that can add depth and creativity to how you traverse levels. During my entire playtime, I was finding so many different ways to utilize my current move set to get to ledges that were otherwise out of reach. Mastering them to solve such kinds of puzzles is so satisfying.

I truly hope Rittzler considers making a sequel one day. Sybil needs more adventures and fans!

9.5/10

Animal Well is a modern classic that will be remembered as one of the best of the genre.

A game that is surprisingly deep, and very satisfying to explore. Each room is exquisitely crafted, full of detail and secrets. Every bit of knowledge gained tends to lead to new discoveries - the amount of Eureka! moments are fantastic!

I played many Metroidvanias, and this game has maybe the most original set of player tools I've seen in the genre. Moreover, each tool has multiple functions, and there's plenty of synergy between them and really feels like you can play however you want.

Having completed the game on official 100%, I still have a bunch of content to be discovered, and I can’t wait to see what secrets the community will uncover next.

10/10

At first glance, the game seems to be just a good looking clone of the classic Ninja Gaiden games with funny dialogues, good humor, and a pretty standard arsenal of abilities. However, in the middle of the game, it makes several plot and gameplay twists and surprises quite a bit.

I still like the first part and DLC more, as the metroidvania part was a bit boring, but I do appreciate the diversity of gameplay over the entire game.

Even though it looks a bit retro visually, the controls are surprisingly smooth and precise. It requires quick and accurate actions from the player, but it doesn't feel unfairly difficult, so it was a blast to play it.

8.5/10

Many games have been inspired by Return of the Obra Dinn, but none have surpassed it so far.

Honestly, I underestimated this game at the beginning, but it is pretty complex, deep, and almost impossible to brute force (which is quite rare in current deduction games). Every time I managed to identify another part of the team, I was really excited until I solved all the mysteries of this ship.

My only complaint is that sometimes it was a bit painful and tedious to review/navigate through the memories, especially when they are embedded a few scenes deeper into each other.

9.0/10

My first Metroid, and I think it's a good game to get into the series. As a remake, it’s even after 20 years offering a pretty smooth experience and encapsulating everything that makes the series great.

As a person who usually completes metroidvanias at almost 100%, I was pleasantly surprised to finish the game with an embarrassing 65%, realising how many more secrets there are out there

8.5/10

Pretty unique and absurdly difficult survival game by nature, where the journey itself is the reward.

It's not for everyone, but I appreciate how the developers managed to create such a deep and independent ecosystem, making it one of the most immersive experiences I've had in any game.

8.5/10

While many modern Metroidvanias have better combat systems, detailed maps, and multiple accessibility options, Super Metroid is still unrivaled in terms of flexible world design, encouraging experimentation and player creativity by not restricting you to choose the route but rather letting the player figure out in what order and with what abilities they can complete the game.

Getting lost is part of the game and I'm pretty sure it was the intended design, you were intended to get lost and you really do feel alone. However, exploration feels rewarding so far, there are so many secrets to discover, bosses are cool and you have to find them too. However, exploration feels pretty rewarding, there are so many secrets to discover, bosses provide a good challenge, and you have to find them too.

The environment is also much of the storytelling. Nobody's talking, nobody's texting, yet little clues and hints and details all come together to tell a story. Not a very long or complex one, but it's there.

That’s why this game will always deserve to be called one of the greatest games of all time, and even after nearly 30 years, it remains a captivating and enjoyable experience to play.

10/10