Life Is Strange 2 is the third entry in the episodic graphic adventure video games where the players' decisions determine the twists and turns in the story. This video game consists of five episodes of roughly four hours each that have been released between September 2018 and December 2019. The physical release also includes The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit based upon a side character of the main game. It's the same game genre but should rather be seen as a side quest that takes not more than two hours to complete.

The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit revolve Christopher Eriksen, a boy who is living in rural Beaver Creek, Oregon. His mother was killed in a hit-and-run. While Christopher Erikson's father is drowning his sorrows in alcohol and getting more unreliable every single day, the child fashions himself into superhero Captain Spirit. He considers his daily tasks such as cleaning his room or setting up the house for Christmas as supervillains he must beat. While imagining this world of fantasy, Christopher Eriksen will also try to find the strength to inspire his father to change his ways and overcome his mother's absence. At the same time, he also encounters the two protagonists from Life Is Strange 2 who are living next door with their grandparents.

This little game should especially be entertaining for boys and young male teenagers. It's easy to empathize with the creative, dynamic and quirky Christopher Eriksen. His tasks are equally amusing and entertaining while the background story offers shows optimism in difficult moments and has some philosophical depth. The graphics and soundtrack are beautifully done and provide an almost comfortable and homely atmosphere that is at times interrupted by sudden and gloomy unpredicted events. The game finds the perfect balance between fantasy and realism here.

On its own, this short game doesn't have that much value but it's a welcome complement to Life Is Strange 2. It wouldn't be surprising to see Christopher Eriksen's character again later on in the franchise to see how he is overcoming his struggles as an older teenager or adult. This graphic adventure game is quite entertaining and highly recommended to older children and younger teenagers.

Detailed rating:

Atmosphere: 8 / 10 

Challenge level: 7 /10

Controls: 7 / 10

Game flow: 8 /10

Graphics: 9 /10

Length: 6 /10

Long-term fun factor: 6 /10  

Sound: 9 /10

Soundtrack: 9 /10

Story: 8 /10

Total score: 77 / 100

Life Is Strange 2 is the third entry in the episodic graphic adventure video games where the players' decisions determine the twists and turns in the story. This video game consists of five episodes of roughly four hours each that have been released between September 2018 and December 2019. The physical release also includes The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit based upon a side character of the main game. It's the same game genre but should rather be seen as a side quest that takes not more than two hours to complete.

The main story revolves around teenage brothers Sean and Daniel Diaz. A terrible series of misunderstandings leading to a deadly accident force the two brothers to run away from their home in Seattle right from the start. The older brother tries to guide his younger brother Daniel as the latter discovers that he has telekinetic powers. Throughout the story, the brothers will have the choice to use or not to use these powers which may lead to very different outcomes. This coming-of-age tale about family, forgiveness, friendship, hatred and love leads the duo through numerous challenges across the United States of America from Washington over Oregon, California and Nevada to Arizona.

This game convinces on a few levels. The story certainly has some philosophical depth as it's interesting to see the two lead characters grow through their challenges. The settings are particularly interesting from lush wildlife in Cascadia to the desert wasteland in Nevada and Arizona. The game's appeasing alternative pop and rock soundtrack is enchanting as usual. The game's finale certainly leaves an impression as well.

However, this game is not without its flaws. Due to the changing settings, the game doesn't have the same enigmatic atmosphere as its predecessors. The story line also offers few surprises and especially only plods along in the second, third and fourth episodes. Several episodes have unnecessary lengths that don't add anything to the characters or story. The repetitive wolf tales that the older brother tells the younger one are rather childish. Speaking of the two lead characters, I couldn't empathize as much with them as with the female characters from the two preceding games. Their actions, choices and motivations were at times very strange throughout the game to say the least.

This game could probably please empathic teenage boys more than anyone else. To be honest, this game offers more of the same to the franchise without leaving a significant mark. Unconditional fans can play this game without any regrets but occasional fans or newcomers can skip this release and should focus on the first release in the franchise instead.

Detailed rating:

Atmosphere: 7 / 10 

Challenge level: 6 /10

Controls: 7 / 10

Game flow: 7 /10

Graphics: 7 /10

Length: 9 /10

Long-term fun factor: 5 /10  

Sound: 7 /10

Soundtrack: 8 /10

Story: 6 /10

Total score: 69 / 100

Blacksad: Under the Skin is an investigative action-adventure video game based upon the Spanish comic series of the same title. In this video game, you play an anthropomorphized cat who is investigating the suicide of a boxing gym owner and the simultaneous disappearance of a promising young athlete. The game brings to life New York City of the fifties and has an intriguing neo noir atmosphere. Players will be looking for clues, interrogating suspects and witnesses and try to survive numerous assaults.

On the positive side, this video game convinces with an excellent plot that fleshes out its numerous characters and comes around with several stunning twists. The story is the main reason to purchase this game and play it until the very end. The characters are complex, diversified and intriguing which helps creating a truly stunning reality for this game. The video game has an addictive neo noir atmosphere that gives it a gloomy but not scary tone, especially when investigating fitting locations such as shady bars, sinister crime scenes and hidden laboratories.

However, this video game also has its massive downsides. The original version features more bugs than GameBoy games from the late eighties. Graphics are blurry, information is revealed in the notes before the associated events even occur in the game, loading times are excessively long, character movements are painfully slow and sound sequences are all over the place. It's unacceptable that the game was published in such poor condition as the release date should have been pushed back in order to fix those enormous mistakes. The game is only playable with its heavy update patch and even that won't correct all its flaws at all times.

Other than those significant ups and downs, Blacksad: Under the Skin is a decently entertaining investigative action-adeventure video game for genre fans and those familiar with the comic series. If you are really fast, this game can be completed in about eight hours. If you really take your time to discover every single detail, the running time can increase up to fifteen hours. Occasional video game players should be able to complete the game in ten to twelve hours.

If you want to purchase this game, make sure to buy it for a reduced price of about thirty American dollars or Euros. If you pay more for it, you won't get enough for your hard-earned money. Make sure to grab a physical version of the game however, since its special edition comes along with a beautiful lenticular cover artwork and four character cards that are truly nicely done. It would have been an even better idea to release this game with an associated comic book however to promote this intriguing comic book series in overseas markets in particular.

Fans of the comic series, neo noir atmosphere and investigative action-adventure games will get a game that can be described as decent to good once its bugs have been fixed but it can't be considered a great game or even a masterpiece. The atmosphere, plot and reality are however unique enough to justify the release of a potential sequel that should however be developed with more care, organization and time. This video game might also inspire newcomers to actually check out the Spanish comic book series that has been around since the early years of the millennium. Five volumes have been released so far as we speak.

Detailed rating:

Atmosphere: 9 / 10 

Challenge level: 5 /10

Controls: 6 /10

Game flow: 6 /10

Graphics: 7 /10

Length: 8 /10

Long-term fun factor: 8 /10  

Sound: 7 /10

Soundtrack: 5 /10

Story: 9 /10

Total score: 70 / 100

Alan Wake is a Finnish video game that was first released all the way back in 2010. The action-adventure game with horror elements quickly became a favourite, receiving positive reviews and obtaining the first spot in Time magazine's list of the top ten video games of the year. A full stand-alone title called Alan Wake's American Nightmare was released two years later but the franchise was then put on hold. The remastered version that has been released in 2021 might perhaps revive the franchise for the near future.

This remastered version of the game is both highly recommended to fans of the original version and newcomers who might have missed the game for one reason or another. The plot revolves around author Alan Wake who travels to the small to town of Bright Falls in Washington to deal with his ongoing writer's block. Soon after arriving, his wife gets kidnapped and the author tries to figure out what might have happened. As he travels through the region's vast nature as he gets mysterious instructions from the kidnapper, Alan Wake meets possessed shadowy figures who are attempting to stop him by any means necessary.

This video game convinces on numerous levels. First and foremost, this is one of the most atmospheric video games I have ever played. It starts with a nightmarish sequence that leads to more questions than it actually answers. The six different episodes develop a mood of confusion, isolation and terror that only gets more intense as the video game progresses.

The challenge level is captivating but not exaggerated. Some of the shadowy figures will employ dangerous weapons to attack Alan Wake such as a bulldozer while other enemies will unite their forces to attack in three waves of four opponents. Players need to use ammunition, flashlights and light grenades carefully to ward off enemies without running out of resources. At times, running away to the next light source is the best way to get out of this ordeal.

The controls are simple and efficient. There are a few quick-time events where you have to avoid attacks from enemies. It's also important to always precisely direct light sources onto opponents. Shots have to be fired with much precision as well as the shadowy creatures are quite resilient and resistant.

The game flow is overall very good. The plot is captivating and makes you want to explore how the story unfolds. The different locations look outstanding and are intriguing to discover. You can collect coffee thermoses and pages from a scrapped manuscript throughout the game. The only slightly negative element is that many locations in the forests are somewhat repetitive and sometimes the sheer mass of opponents can become somewhat overwhelming.

The graphics are absolutely stunning. The dense forests, falsely idyllic small town buildings and abandoned ruins throughout the game invite players to explore every single detail of this game. Alan Wake is truly immersive and most recommended to players who don't want to rush to finish a game but take the time to let the entire environment sink in.

Alan Wake's length is quite satisfying for a horror video game. It has six episodes of roughly two to four hours each, depending on how well you are able to ward off your enemies. The remastered version includes two special episodes that might take another three hours to complete each. This remastered version certainly offers value for money.

The long-term fun factor is given thanks to the intriguing plot. Like a solid psychological horror movie, you want to progress to unveil all the mysteries and understand what's going on throughout the addictive plot.

Alan Wake's sound is highly efficient, offering some scary moments when enemies attack out of nowhere or when supernatural elements unfold before your eyes. The vintage sounds of radio programs and old television series add a lot of atmosphere as well.

The soundtrack might be the only average point of this video game. We can hear some songs from an old jukebox and the radio programs but they are rather exchangeable and unspectacular. However, it's exactly the kind of music you would expect people from an isolated small town to listen to. This means that even though the different tunes are somewhat boring and forgettable on their own, they actually fit in the context of the video game.

Finally, the story of Alan Wake is quite mysterious and intriguing. It's one of the reasons why players have cherished the game in the first place and why newcomers want to explore this classic in all its details to get to the stunning conclusion. However, fans of horror movies, novels and video games might predict quite a few elements as Alan Wake pays tribute to the horror genre without innovating it.

At the end of the day, fans of old date and new players alike should give Alan Wake Remastered a try and will explore an atmospheric, detailed and gripping action-adventure game with strong horror elements. If you appreciate this kind of video game, you should also try out Silent Hill: Shattered Memories that is even slightly better than the already excellent Alan Wake and that was released around the same time. Here's hope that the latter game will also be remastered, so it can be enjoyed on contemporary video game platforms by a new generation of video game enthusiasts.

Detailed rating:

Atmosphere: 10 / 10 

Challenge level: 9 /10

Controls: 9 /10

Game flow: 8 /10

Graphics: 10 /10

Length: 10 /10

Long-term fun factor: 9 /10  

Sound: 10 /10

Soundtrack: 7 /10

Story: 8 /10

Total score: 90 / 100

Let's get straight to the point: Lost Judgment is the best video game of the year 2021! It's the sequel to Judgment, released two years ago, which itself is a spin-off of the popular Yakuza video game series. This action adventure video game combines investigative techniques as a detective, intense martial arts combats and persuasive strategies used as a lawyer. The story follows Yagami Takayuki, a lawyer who has decided to become a detective after winning a trial with unexpected tragic consequences in the past. He is based in Kamurocho, a fictitious suburb of downtown Tokyo, but large parts of the story take place in Isezaki Ijincho, a fictitious suburb of downtown Yokohama. The charismatic protagonist in his late thirties investigates the case of a police officer accused of sexual battery who seems to be somehow connected to the brutal murder of a trainee teacher. Yagami Takayuki investigates among Kamurocho's criminal gangs but also at a school in Isezaki Ijincho to connect the two cases as he soon uncovers an incredible conspiracy of national dimension. He is supported by a set of interesting characters such as reserved lawyer Shirosaki Saori, quirky high school student Amasawa Kyoko and flashy former gangster Kaito Masaharu.

This game convinces on multiple levels. First of all, the atmosphere is authentic, gripping and variable as the game shifts from sinister stories of murder and suicide to funny and quirky side missions involving distracted elementary school students or clumsy doppelgänger.

Up next, the challenge level is quite diversified as the game has different degrees of difficulty that can be modified quite fluidly to help you not being stuck with overtly powerful opponents for an extended period of time.

The controls are fluid as it's easier to move around in this game than in its immediate predecessor since Yagami Takayuki can now use a skateboard to navigate through the two cities.

The game flow is excellent as I have played the main story and most of the side stories for a total of seventy-three hours in just a few weeks since the game is incredibly immersive and filled with stunning details.

The graphics are outstanding as the different characters all have unique facial features and the buildings vary from clean apartments to shady casinos hidden under public toilets.

The game's length offers lots of value for money. Even if you strictly focus on playing the main plot, it will offer you thirty to forty hours of excellent entertainment. If you want to play all the side stories, you might be in for about one hundred hours of entertainment and that still doesn't stop you from revisiting the game to play virtual reality games, motorcycle races or drone challenges.

The long-term fun factor associated to the game is quite elevated for these very same reasons. However, some players have complained to be stuck at certain points which can lead to some frustration. Especially the side story about the Robotics Club can be quite challenging but is also very rewarding. For each completed side quest, you can earn badges, money and skills.

The game's sound is intense and realistic without being too flashy or memorable. The excellent voice actors need to be pointed out however. I have played the game in its original Japanese version with German subtitles and would certainly recommend other players to choose the original voice acting over the English one that sounds a little bit stiff at times.

The soundtrack is decent with a few pop songs that can also be used for dance choreographies in the Dance Club side story but the tunes aren't quite memorable on their own.

The story is obviously the heart piece of this video game. The main story is an intriguing conspiracy with many twists and turns but overall maybe a little bit too similar to the first game. The numerous quirky side stories are however there to save the day. Especially the ten different school stories are very intriguing, from rivalries between overtly competitive esports groups over an enthusiastic but naive photographer admiring her former club leader to skateboard groups with artistic and territorial conflicts.

As you can see, Lost Judgment truly offers something for every taste and even though it is slightly less impressive than its immediate predecessor Judgment was two years ago, it easily outperforms the strong releases of the main series Yakuza that share several plots, locations and characters. This game, this series and this whole video game universe deserve much more attention than they have gotten so far. If you have never played any of these video games, start right now and you will have months or even years of splendid entertainment, no matter if you are a newcomer, an occasional player or video game expert.

Detailed rating:

Atmosphere: 9 /10 

Challenge level: 8 /10

Controls: 9 /10

Game flow: 10 /10

Graphics: 9 /10

Length: 10 /10

Long-term fun factor: 9 /10  

Sound: 8 /10

Soundtrack: 7 /10

Story: 9 /10

Total score: 88 / 100