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    5Dic, 2024
    The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

    Nicalis

    Release date2014
    PlatformsMicrosoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X
    Original engineAdobe Flash
    GenreRoguelike

    Unforgettable, simply unforgettable.
    I can’t find a better adjective to describe this pearl:
    The Binding of Isaac is a unique, fun, frenetic, strategic, deep experience.
    I would probably be quicker to say what this masterpiece is not.

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    Gameplay24
    Interface20
    Entertainment25
    Experience19
    Bonus5
    27Ott, 2024
    Theatricalization of the videogame

    I consider video games one of the greatest artistic expressions ever created, second only to music.
    I have never seen an art form so complex, so varied that it can include theater, cinema, books and even music itself.
    Let me be clear, not all games are works of art and not all pretend to be, some maintain the original purpose of this media, disinterested entertainment.
    In my conception of video games, in my mission, I cannot accept making a video game for pure entertainment, I would not forgive myself.
    Even before starting to develop one of my games, before writing the code and creating the models, the idea that that game must have a reason to exist, that it must leave something, is rooted in me.

    In the 5th century BC people from all over Greece flocked to Athens to watch tragedies; according to Aristotle, the purpose of these theatrical dramas was catharsis, purification from the strong and intense passions that they transmitted to the spectators.

    I want people to experience a modern catharsis through my games, my stories, and that’s why the structure of my works is very similar to that of tragedies.

    Here are some of the essential elements of my games:

    • Subdivision of the story into 5 acts + prologue
    • The transition between one act and another is made up of an orchestral choir that comments on the story or by the psychological introspection of a character through his soliloquy
    • Alternation between gameplay phases and cinematic parts
    • A gameplay that is functional to the story and not vice versa
    • Presence of one or maximum two main characters (often marked by a dualism) and all the other characters, although well detailed, have little influence on the plot
    • Prevalence of classical and orchestral music
    • Always maintain a solemn and epic tone
    • A continuous and intense psychological introspection

    Before being stories, mine are examinations of conscience.
    This is why I define my games as psychological dramas.

    7Giu, 2024
    Considerations on the video game crisis.

    The gaming sector is facing one of the biggest crises in its history; to be more precise, however, the crisis is essentially affecting triple-a companies, which have now reached enormous dimensions and costs.
    It is not video games that are in difficulty, but a paradigm and a working method that has now become unsustainable.
    Let’s take a step back, first of all, and try to understand what triggered this crisis:
    in recent years, this market has experienced an extraordinary expansion, reaching more customers and more age groups (the pandemic, clearly, played a fundamental role).
    As a result, the sector has become increasingly profitable and attractive to external investors.

    Technologies

    Digital technology, in line with this growth, has evolved very quickly and has made it possible to achieve great quality levels with little effort.
    Here, the first reason for the crisis, in my opinion, is linked to excessive technological advancement, or rather the too much ease with which everyone can access it: it is not entirely generalizing to say that today games all look the same.
    Having very powerful and cutting-edge technologies available is a lure for many studios, large and small, who inevitably collectively take advantage of this availability (especially from a graphic point of view), establishing similar, if not identical, bases for their projects….
    In the past, studios had to invest much more in innovative technologies for their products, making them diversified and identifiable, and there was no pretension but above all time to please everyone by creating a map of genres.
    Today, with half the work already done, triple-A companies essentially focus on the development of a product that is too eclectic and pretentious, which ends up falling into neither one genre nor the other.
    Let’s take a case study: Far Cry.

    Far Cry

    I have great admiration and respect for Ubisoft, one of the largest studios in the world, which has handed down to history some of the most legendary sagas in the sector, and which I consider second to none in terms of ideas.
    In particular, I have always felt a weakness for the Far Cry saga: the charm of exotic settings, of survival in a hostile territory, of the return to hunting and gathering plants, the theme of resistance to dictatorship, travel in otherworldly dimensions , the system of outposts and towers and finally the iconic and well-characterized antagonists.
    Far Cry 3 and 4 represented the maximum expression of the saga (I haven’t been able to recover the first 2 yet); the fifth chapter defended itself well and maintained a good dose of iconicity.
    Alas, however, the sixth chapter marked a negative turning point:
    This is what I was talking about above, that attempt to merge too many genres into one game, inevitably ending up depriving it of its identity.
    Far Cry 6 is not a Far Cry, it is a mixture of elements taken from various sagas of the parent company, in particular Ghost Recon with its large RPG dimension.
    Components such as hunting have been removed, others such as outposts and towers have been revisited in a confusing way, the setting communicates nothing and feels like it has already been seen.
    Let it be clear, however, that Far Cry 6, regardless of the legacy of its saga, remains a decent game with some iconic moments.
    Something similar is also happening to Assassin’s Creed, which, however, with Mirage and Shadows seems to be finding the way to a partial rebirth.
    Ubisoft is timidly trying to renew its sagas, but I believe that this attempt can only slow down or stem an inexorable end.
    Ubisoft must have courage, especially in this difficult moment, it must leave behind the aftermath of a glorious past and throw itself towards an uncertain and confused future, rediscovering that ability to create unique experiences that has always distinguished the French company.

    Customers

    The second major cause of this crisis is us consumers, today we no longer know what we really want, we are insatiable. We are becoming an increasingly complex and heterogeneous, as well as large, group. Before criticizing the choices of large companies, each of us must therefore do an internal analysis and really understand what we want and whether that desire is achievable; often the difficulty of companies in creating a valid product also lies in the arduous task of deciphering our minds.

    Conclusions and perspectives

    So what will happen in the future? I’m not a magician and I don’t have a crystal ball, but I can certainly point out phenomena that are already underway and that will be amplified in the coming years, such as the downsizing of large studios and the closure of those most in difficulty. However, if I am allowed to make a crazy prediction, I predict that the gaming sector of the future will be radically different, more monopolized by a couple of huge companies that will incorporate most of the small studios and with a market based almost exclusively on subscriptions. If, instead, I were to give advice to a triple-A company (I’ll take Ubisoft for example), I would tell them to divide the company into many small groups of up to 20 people, assigning each a new IP, giving them full freedom of choice but with the obligation to stick to specific genres, giving the game a clear identity.

    24Gen, 2024
    MotoGP23

    Rockstar Games

    Release date2023
    PlatformsPlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X/S
    EngineUnreal Engine 5
    GenreRacing
    DirectorStefano Zanaboni

    One of the greatest racing experience of all time.

    Let me start by saying that I have always been more passionate about F1 than MotoGP, which is why I have only played a couple of Milestone motorcycling titles. But trying this game made me completely reevaluate the racing experience.

    In MotoGP everything must be tried, from Moto3 to the premier class. By removing the main helps, in fact, the game becomes extremely enjoyable and with a good level of difficulty.


    Each bike is different, but above all the transition from one class to another is easily perceptible, from the good handling of the Moto3 to trying to tame a furious horse in the MotoGP. The game makes you feel the driving situation at the limit at all times, where every detail makes the difference between a bad fall and a good curve. The AI ​​of the other drivers is also an important point: the races are always exciting, with great head-to-heads, and strategies play a fundamental role.

    Little to say about the graphics, it does its thing; It doesn’t excel but it’s on a modest level. I didn’t particularly appreciate the effects and blurring that appear at high speeds, especially when approaching a curve.

    Gameplay20
    Interface17
    Entertainment20
    Experience16
    Bonus1

    74

    24Gen, 2024
    Rocket League

    Psyonix Studios – Epic Games

    Release date2015
    PlatformsPlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, GeForce Now, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Classic Mac OS
    EngineUnreal Engine 3
    GenreSport
    DirectorThomas Silloway
    “soccer, but with rocket-powered cars”

    Combining football and racing in a single game is perhaps one of the most brilliant ideas ever seen: Rocket League is unique in the entire sector, often imitated but never equalled.

    The objective is to win by using rocket-powered vehicles to hit a ball into the opponent’s goal and score points over the course of a match.


    What makes it special are the simple to understand but difficult to perfect mechanics and the extremely dynamic and fast gameplay. The graphic style is suitable and extremely pleasant, always current.

    The variety of modes is also appreciable, despite the focus of the game being the football mode, especially in the competitive version.

    Gameplay23
    Interface24
    Entertainment22
    Experience18
    Bonus5

    92

    24Gen, 2024
    Outer Wilds

    Mobius Digital – Annapurna Interactive

    Release date2019
    PlatformsMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
    EngineUnity
    GenreAdventure
    DirectorAlex Beachum

    Over the years, video games have settled on a basic scheme made up of missions and objectives; not even games that seem to offer greater freedom to the user, such as open world games, manage to deviate from this philosophy.

    Outer Wilds is a dogma-breaking experience, conceived as the video game in its purest form. The engine of all the gameplay is your simple but effective curiosity. No mission, no reward, just the desire to know the story hidden within this enormous pearl of gaming history.

    In an alternative solar system, an alien race organizes space trips to discover nearby planets. The protagonist of this story is a member of the species chosen for the next space journey.
    The lore is captivating and deep enough, and manages to answer all the player’s questions.

    A fundamental component for the gameplay is the link between the time loops and the choice to give dynamism to the solar system: the planets change as the minutes pass.
    The use of tools (all equally necessary) and the inclusion of puzzles enriches an experience that would otherwise have been too static.

    The only flaw is the method for accessing the final part of the game, which is barely mentioned and is hardly intuitive.

    From a graphic point of view the game appears simple but delightful, with only some animation or vfx to improve.
    The almost total absence of bugs or glitches makes the experience even more immersive.

    Gameplay20
    Interface24
    Entertainment24
    Experience20
    Bonus5

    94

    Red Dead Redemption 2
    24Gen, 2024
    Red Dead Redemption 2

    Rockstar Games

    Release date2018
    PlatformsXbox One, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Google Stadia
    EngineRAGE
    GenreAdventure, Action

    It’s hard not to recognize a masterpiece, but it’s even harder to admit that sometimes a masterpiece can be a huge wasted opportunity. Red Dead Redemption 2 represents one of the highest peaks that video games have ever reached:

    • Graphics that are still unattainable by other software houses today, and that only GTA VI will be able to surpass in the coming years.
    • One of the most touching and compelling stories, full of twists, action and psychological introspection. Weapons, environments, means of transportation and activities (hunting, deliveries…) to be carried out superior to GTA V.

    With such assumptions in the story mode, one would expect even more from online.
    Instead we find ourselves faced with an online world devoid of major activities.
    Let’s be clear, I’m not saying that online is empty or unfun, quite the opposite: I’ve had some of the funniest moments of my life playing this game with my friends. But precisely because of the enormous potential of the game, I was disappointed by the almost inexplicable absence of activities that were tested and appreciated on GTA V.
    Just to throw around some ideas: the aforementioned robberies (of trains, banks and maybe even the unreachable ships that can be seen in the background), races with horses and carts.

    Gameplay22
    Interface25
    Entertainment25
    Experience19
    Bonus0

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