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69
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Nick Mangiaracina

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Latest Reviews

The Legacy of Kain series has had somewhat of a resurgence lately, with three big HD remakes and a series of rereleases on multiple platforms, a kickstarted TTRPG and encyclopedia, and even a new comic. So it’s disappointing to see the first new game in the series, like Ascendance, feel...

MonsterVineMonsterVine·April 16, 2026
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Life is Strange: Reunion is a solid attempt at sending-off series progenitors, Chloe and Max. Unfortunately, due to some pacing issues, Max’s power usage, and the handling of Chloe’s return, Life is Strange: Reunion feels like less of a send-off and more of a one-off, resulting in a weak series...

MonsterVineMonsterVine·March 30, 2026
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What is the purpose of remastering an old game? Is it to preserve as much of the original product as possible? Should the team simply look to upscale the game so it plays on modern platforms, or is it important to make something new, to expand on something potentially missed?

MonsterVineMonsterVine·March 3, 2026
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Dragon Quest VII is a game about discovery and learning from the past. It makes sense that the first real 3D remake of a Dragon Quest game is Dragon Quest VII. But what did Square-Enix learn, and was it enough to sell a remake of a game that already has...

MonsterVineMonsterVine·February 2, 2026
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That’s right, Demonschool is finally out. After being delayed several times, a game originally slated for release on September 13th, 2024 (Friday the 13th), is releasing over a year later. Did the extra time secure a flawless launch, or is the final release a bit rough?

MonsterVineMonsterVine·November 18, 2025
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ARC Raiders is an extraction shooter that can be played solo or with one or two friends. The draw appears to be a hefty mix of PvE and PvP elements, but does Embark pull it off? Can a million people be wrong?

MonsterVineMonsterVine·November 14, 2025
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Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted is a remaster of the original Plants vs. Zombies, released in 2009, a game that has been ported to more platforms than Skyrim. How does Replanted bring an aging tower defense into the modern age?

MonsterVineMonsterVine·October 22, 2025
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The nice thing about BALL x PIT is that everything you need to know about the game is in the title. There are balls, you’re in a pit, that’s the meat of it. And what BALL x PIT taught me is that’s really all you need to make an engaging...

MonsterVineMonsterVine·October 15, 2025
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Final Fantasy Tactics still holds up, but is it worth the price of entry with so many options available already? Let’s dig into Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles.

MonsterVineMonsterVine·September 24, 2025
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Echoes of the End is a character action game that incorporates a lot of 3D platforming and puzzle-solving. While the game itself looks okay and, from the outside, even seems like an interesting, if niche, indie title, I found a considerable amount of flaws in its design.

MonsterVineMonsterVine·September 4, 2025
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Neverwinter Nights 2 had a mixed reception. Some people believe that Bioware will always be king when it comes to the Dungeons & Dragons licensing of CRPG games, and others believe that Obsidian takes what Bioware does and makes it better. These are arguments of the past, however, as Bioware...

MonsterVineMonsterVine·August 22, 2025
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Over ten years ago, I remember playing Orcs Must Die! and thinking it was a fun twist on the standard tower defense formula. Since then, the series has grown and received a roguelite spin-off game, Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap. Featuring a mix of roguelite elements, four-player co-op, and a slew...

MonsterVineMonsterVine·August 21, 2025
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