Recent reviews by Liviu

A message for Mr Akira Toriyama ..
Thank you for everything you did,for what you created and for the legacy you left behind! Every time i play a game inspired from the Dragon Ball Universe i remember moments from my childhood and the joy to watch a new episode from the iconic anime. Thank you for making my childhood better ! Rest in peace!

Dragon Ball FighterZ is 2d fighting game,a visual marvel that captures the essence of the beloved Dragon Ball franchise. Every character and animation is rendered with incredible detail and the fast combos and finishing moves mirrors the iconic style of the anime we all know and love.

Pros:
- The art style and graphics faithfully replicates the look and feel of the anime,the attention to detail is incredible, to be honest i didn't expect this level of quality,the videos on youtube don't make this game justice because it looks a lot better
- Expansive rooster,each character feels unique with their own set of moves and special abilities that stay true to their anime counterparts
- Easy controls,beginner friendly allowing new players to execute impressive combos without needing to memorize complex inputs
- Each battle is spectacular with fluid animations and special effects and impressive sound effects heightens the excitement of the battles
- Packed with iconic locations,signature moves and memorable quotes

Cons:
- The game is easy to master in single player however for pvp there is a lot to learn,to master mechanics and strategies requires significant time and practice
- Unfortunately to unlock some of the popular characters you need some DLC,this may feel like a cash grab

My review score

Story - 9
Gameplay-10
Graphics- 10
Sound - 10

Overall - 9,75 Simple ,fun and rewarding! It's the best Dragon Ball game i played so far and i strongly recommend for everyone!

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is an isometric role-playing game developed by Russian studio Owlcat Games. Inspired by many classic rpgs like Baldur's Gate or Fallout this a great choice for every fan of the genre.

Features
- Classic tabletop with rpg elements,with great character creation with various classes ,races and abilities
- Real time combat with pause and turn based options
- Long campaign filled with intricate plots,memorable characters and significant replayability
- Huge world with detailed lore and endless amount of content to discover,unique storylines and side content
- Kingdom management system that adds an additional layer of strategy

Pros:
- Complex narrative with different story paths based on player choices,well-developed characters and immersive world
- Graphics and beautiful art style
- Challenging combat

Cons:
- Maybe too complicated ,as a beginner you need to learn a lot to understand the game mechanics
- Tedious kingdom management
- Slow pacing in combat,the burden of micromanagement in combat however this might be just my experience

My review score

Story - 10
Gameplay - 8
Graphics - 9
Sound - 9

Overall - 9

Features

- Arcade style racing where cars are snappy and responsive,easy and fun racing events,cool drifting competitions and challenging police chases

- Night and day system which makes it feel like you play two different games with a good sense of progression and balance during the day events you earn cash for new cars and parts while night events are illegal street races which earn reputation that unlocks new tiers of cars and equipment

Pros:

- Innovation,a step forward in the right direction
- Great graphics during the night
- Lots of cars with great customization with tons of features

Cons:
- The day part of the game is so much worse but maybe it's just my opinion
- Not beginner friendly, unfortunately the game is unforgiving until you learn the ropes especially during the night

My review score:
Story - 8
Gameplay - 9
Graphics - 8
Sound - 9
Overall - 8.5

Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power is the third title from the beloved 2d puzzle-platformer this time with a twist. I absolutely loved the first games and i was a little afraid for the change and transition to 3D graphics.

The innovation comes with costs and this transition is great for the visuals and bad for the gameplay in certain areas and segments of the game where the clumsy movements and bad camera angles were annoying.

Trine 3 remains the same game at core with clever implemented puzzles and different ways to solve them due to the trinity of characters you can control ,each with his own mechanics and style of gameplay. The 3D approach doesn't take anything from the originality of the first two games ,it looks better in my opinion and it plays the same but it struggles to deliver a better overall experience.

In terms of graphics Trine 3 shines like a diamond,there are so many beautiful environments and landscapes,with vibrant colors and beautiful scenery this was excellent.
The game unfortunately is rather short but enough to keep you busy for 6-7 hours ,for such a small game is a decent playtime.

In conclusion this is a must play for the fans of the platforming genre,despite its flaws Trine 3 is still a solid platformer which i strongly recommend!

Pros:
-good graphics
-clever puzzles

Cons:
-clumsy movements
-bad camera angles in certain areas

My review score:
Story -8
Gameplay-8
Graphics- 10
Sound - 9

Overall - 8.75

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links is an iconic card game with a rich background and huge potential for the mobile scene , on the pc and steam Master Duel is more popular and a better choice but not for everyone and let me explain why its my favourite Yu-Gi-Oh game.

Duel Links" boasts an extensive collection of cards spanning various generations of the Yu-Gi-Oh! series. If you watched the anime shows in the past you'll like this a lot. With a reduced deck format of 20 to 30 cards and 3 monster and 3 spell zones this is the perfect game to learn the rules and mechanics Yu-Gi-Oh has to offer! Because of the simplified format it's also easy to understand each deck strategy.

Visually, "Duel Links" impresses with its detailed card artwork and character models. The game faithfully recreates the aesthetics of the Yu-Gi-Oh! The user interface is intuitive and well-designed, providing easy access to deck management, card collection, and dueling options.

The game offers a variety of single-player modes, including the campaign, where players duel against iconic characters from the Yu-Gi-Oh! series. These duels follow the anime's storyline and provide a nostalgic experience.

The game has a decent community of players and it offers events, tournaments, and regular updates. These events often introduce new cards, game modes, and rewards.

And because this is a game made by Konami with a ,,free to play'' business model players can spend huge amounts of money to keep up with the meta and stay relevant on the pvp side of the game. From time to time you can build a f2p deck and do well in ladders and tournaments with it but most of the time the meta decks will win every time.
Be prepared for a grindy experience,this game can be addictive and if you play it on mobile it will drain your battery life like a vampire.

From my experience i have played this game for many years on mobile and you can do well without spending real money, so if you look for a yu gi oh game this might be the best choice for the nostalgic fans and beginners to the Yu-gi-oh universe too.

I recommend this but first my advice is to watch at least the first seasons of the anime if you haven't. It's time to duel !!

Pros
-huge character rooster each with his own voice acting/deck theme and mini stories.
-huge amount of card collection
-simplified gameplay
-voice acting
-faithful recreation of cards , characters and stories from the anime

Cons
-Grindy
-Can be expensive to stay relevant on pvp but it's up to you

My review scores
Story : 9 ( the mini stories from events and character narrative are pretty good for this genre of game)
Graphics : 8
Gameplay : 10
Sound : 9
Overall : 9 Solid choice for a card trading game, especially on mobile but decent on pc too.

Trine 2 is a puzzle-platforming video game and a sequel to Trine featuring three playable characters. Like in the previous title the main focus is to solve puzzle and defeat enemies to advance. With a charming narrative and humorous dialogues Trine 2 is a little gem that shines bright in this genre of games.

In terms of graphics i was blown away by the beautiful environments,vibrant colors and the hand-drawn art combined with computer made assets blend together to create a stunning and visually impressive world. From playing the first Trine to this i noticed improvements everywhere ,i didn't play the latest titles but i feel like this might be a strong contender for the best game of the series.

With more intricate puzzles and better level design Trine 2 also brings to the table refined gameplay improvements like new abilities, moving platforms and destructible objects. New enemy types and boss battles just add more substance and little details like interactive environments and better physics enrich and builds upon the already good foundation of the first game.

One aspect that is really important for me in games is the sound quality and this game delivers a good soundtrack of orchestral music. Also the ambient sound effects like the sound of rustling leaves,water flow or the sound of clashing swords expand and builds a immersive audio experience.

And if the full game is not enough there is also a excellent DLC called Goblin Menace which introduce a new campaign with six new levels. With fresh challenges like new puzzles,enemies and achievements this dlc is amazing and is included in the Trine 2 Complete Story version of the game.

On a nutshell Trine 2 is a must play if you like platforming games, the beautiful graphics and the great soundtrack will keep you dreaming in a fantasy world for some time,just don't expect to last forever because the game is rather short.

Pros:
-just magical in terms of graphics
-soundtrack is amazing

Cons:
-occasional frustration with puzzles
-it felt short

My review score:
Story - 9
Gameplay- 9
Graphics- 10
Sound - 9

Overall - 9.25

First of all i'll begin with this statement to avoid any misunderstandings.. i'm a mass effect player since the first title and Bioware games fan and i enjoyed tremendous the original trilogy and the legendary edition too. However this is a review for a different game set on another galaxy,on another timeline with a different protagonist so this topic ends here and further comparison to other titles/games. I feel like it's unfair for this game to receive criticism and negative reviews just because people expectations were a bit high after the original games . If you treat this as a standalone title and you forget about the commandant Shepard and his past adventures you'll have a great time exploring the Andromeda galaxy with her own original story and protagonist.

Upon release Mass Effect Andromeda was indeed a buggy game,but they patched most of the bugs and from my experience upon finishing this and after 40 hours i didn't encountered any game-breaking bug or big problems. If your still with me and your still curious let continue !

Andromeda is a love letter to the space exploration genre ,a game with a decent story about establishing the perfect conditions for humanity to colonize and find the golden world where life can thrive in the Andromeda galaxy. The plot revolves around the efforts to establish colonies,forge alliances and uncover the mysteries of an ancient civilization that left behind advanced technology which can help improve the condition of the planets or destroy everything if it falls in the wrong hands. It's a dangerous frontier where our protagonists ,this time the twins from the Raider family must fight for the survival of the colonists and the future of humanity and allied species.

The combat is dynamic with good gunplay with a nice mix of shooting,use of tech abilities or biotics. I had a blast using stealth and my sniper rifle and with the help of my squadmates every enemy was easy to deal with ,maybe too easy.

The game offers dialogue choices that can influence the story and our decisions can impact the outcome of the game. With major consequences on the game endings be prepared to play it multiple times or save at key moments if you want to experience them all. I wished i could talk more about the crafting this game has to offer but i was lazy and only upgraded what was important and most of my weapons and armour was from my loot from chests or enemies.

Using Frostbite Engine Andromeda is beautiful..from space to surface of the planets there is a incredible amount of detail for such a large game. The dynamic lighting,particle effects and the dynamic weather just to name a few makes this is a very pleasant experience,add some beautiful environments and immersive landscapes and it becomes the perfect place to take some great screenshots.

However not everything is perfect the game has his cons ,like the overall writing and scenery for the game is all over the place, i felt the narrative could have been better and it left me the impression this was like that story we read and forget because it lacks character development and a clear direction.

One thing you need playing Andromeda is patience,the game is huge and exploring every planet takes a lot of time..also some sidequests become annoying to do after some time. But if you take it slowly i promise you'll have a great time.

My verdict for this game comes a few years later but i hope it helps the ones of you that played the first Mass Effect titles and because of the mixed reviews this game received you avoided it. My advice is to try it and have patience with it,it's a great game and it deserves a lot more praise than criticism!

Pros:
-space exploration at his finest
-combat ( great diversity and strategic options at your disposal)
-jet pack

Cons:
- repetitive gameplay for some missions and activities
- facial animations

My review score:
Story - 8
Gameplay- 9
Graphics- 9
Sound - 8

Overall - 8.5

Mafia 2: Definitive Edition is a remastered version of the original Mafia 2 featuring improved graphics and all previously released DLC. However don't expect a huge difference like in the first Mafia from 2002 and its remake. If you somehow skipped Mafia 2 in the past or played the original version but you missed the dlcs you have a good reason to try this,especially if you can get it on a discount. As a warning for those of you who experienced the original ,everything from story to music and collectibles remains untouched so if you'll be disappointed if you wished for new content.

For me this was a chance to revisit Empire Bay again, to step in the shoes of Vito Scarletta and experience his transformation from an ordinary poor kid to a crime boss. In the early years his father decided to move in America to escape poverty but as it turned out the plan didn't work so well. Vito and Joey Barbaro become best friends in a world where poverty made them choose to attempt small heists like the jewelry shop rob. Unfortunately Vito is caught and offered a choice to avoid prison and enlist in the army and this is how his transformation process begins. On his return he had a choice to respect his mother will and live a lawful life or follow his buddy steps and become involved with the mafia. However doing slave labour work like his father did for the same man at the docks and discovering a 2000 dollars debt his family had for a loan shark was the trigger Vito needed to make his choice.

This was just the introduction for a great story which follows Vito Scarletta and his rise through the ranks of criminal organizations,his struggle for a better life and a beautiful friendship with Joey Barbaro. Speaking of Joey, he is so great that the game has a dlc where you can play as him. In Joey 's Adventures i had a lot of fun engaging in various missions and activities,set in the time Vito was in prison.

I had a great time driving around ,listening to music on the radio and somehow the game successfully captures the atmosphere of the 1940's and 1950's in the fictional city of Empire Bay(inspired by real life locations like New York ).

In a nutshell mafia 2 is one of the best games ever made from my perspective,i strongly recommend playing this if you never did before.

Pros:
-Story
-Voice acting and music
-atmosphere
-great dlcs
-great driving

Cons:
-for a definitive edition the improvements in graphics are not enough

My review score:
Story - 10
Gameplay- 9
Graphics- 8
Sound - 10

Overall - 9.25

Mafia Definitive Edition is the remake of the classic 2002 game bringing the 1930 s to life with modern graphics, gameplay improvements and refined narrative. Without losing its essence this is a gift for the nostalgic fans and a great introduction to the Mafia games for those who are new. The game successfully balances action sequences,immersive storytelling and period-accurate exploration.

With themes of loyalty and friendship but also betrayal and revenge,Mafia offers a complex narrative with moral dilemmas and a strong accent on character development. By recounting his involvement with the Salieri, Tommy is confessing his past actions searching for redemption,a way to unburden himself from the things he done but also to make a deal to protect his family.

The narrative follows the story of Tommy Angelo,a cab driver that becomes entangled with the Salieri crime family. Drawn into a world of organized crime,Tommy climbs the ranks and earns respect and privilege to be part of the family. The retrospective narrative provides insight into the consequences of being part of a criminal group .

Mafia Definitive Edition is a substantial upgrade in terms of visuals over the 2002 classic, it's a stunning recreation. The game benefits also from improved controls particularly in shooting and driving mechanics.
For me it was a great experience, it felt like a polished version of the 2002 classic. I had so much fun driving and exploring,even if this doesn't feel like a complete open world experience.

In conclusion Mafia : Definitive Edition pays homage to the original release with a cinematic experience ,one to remember ,a gift for everyone who loves a good story and a excellent introduction to the Mafia games for a new player.

Pros:
-Story
-Graphics
-Sound
-Attention to detail
-expanded content

Cons:
-limited open-world exploration
-Linear mission design

My review score:
Story - 10
Gameplay- 9
Graphics- 9
Sound - 9

Overall - 9.25

Batman Arkham Origins offers a fresh perspective on the story of our protagonist and the journey he takes on becoming the vigilante we know from comic books or movies. The game serves as an prequel to the Arkham series showcasing the Dark Knight's evolution.

The narrative delves deep into the superhero's early years and the emergence of iconic villains. The story is set before the events of Arkham Asylum with an younger and less experienced Batman.

The gameplay is similar with the other Arkham titles even if Origins is developed by a different studio. With new gadgets and tweaks the combat feels fluid providing a satisfying experience.

With a larger map there is a lot to do like hidden collectibles,random events and a good amount of side quests. Origins also introduces detective work into missions, requiring players to analyze crime scenes and solve puzzles.

In terms of graphics the game looks good,iconic villains showcase a high level of detail and fidelity. The voice acting mantains the high standard from other Arkham games.

In a nutshell ,Origins stands as a worthy entry in the Batman universe, providing an immersive and satisfying introduction for the Arkham games series. I recommend playing this first to experience the games in chronological order.
Considered to be the weakest of the Arkham games,from my perspective Origins has his strenghts and is a must-play for the fans of the genre.

Pros:
-Visuals,atmosphere and sound quality
-smooth gameplay

Cons:
-lack of innovation
-predictable plot

My review score:
Story - 8
Gameplay-9
Graphics- 8
Sound - 9

Overall - 8.5