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There really isn’t much more to say. Patapon 1+2 Replay is something that should be experienced. A throwback to a wilder time at Sony, where new hardware would be a place for whimsical experimentation. It’s a game that plays with wild ideas, and ones that generally all succeed. If you’re looking for something strange and different, or want to spend some time with a classic, you can’t do much better.
Dune Awakening has grabbed me more than any multiplayer experience in recent memory, comparable only to when Final Fantasy XIV Shadowbringers came out that I can recall. I’ve made myself one with the sand, I’ve made friends, I’ve made enemies and I’ve enjoyed every harsh survival loss along the way despite my initial angry reaction. Dune Awakening is the most meticulously and lovingly crafted recreation of Frank Herbert’s iconic world to date, and it manages to be a genre defining gameplay experience as well, with one of the coolest endgames I’ve seen in the genre. It has some bugs and some rough edges owing to its dedication to the franchise, but this is one special game that everyone should play.
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is truly the best way to experience the Devil Summoner – Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army story. With few drawbacks and many additions, Raidou Remastered is more about enhancing than preserving. Take that as you will.
I can think of no reason to play this game.
FBC: Firebreak is a tedious and downright boring co-op shooter that starts sluggish and uninteresting. The progression here feels like a grind, an issue made worse by the lack of engaging moments. The objectives in each mission feel like a chore, down there with some of the worst checklist content in video games. The best parts of FBC: Firebreak take time to reach, something most people, myself included, won’t want to put in the effort to see.
Shuffle Tactics has a good game somewhere in it, but that isn’t what it is presently. I wish the beautifully fluid art style matched the RNG-based gameplay. After my lack of success, I searched and saw player feedback again and again regarding the game’s balance, as well as some of the pain points I’ve brought up in this review. Shuffle Tactics may have been made in reverence to games like Slay the Spire and Final Fantasy Tactics, but Club Sandwich must revisit the game if they hope for it to be spoken in the same breath as those greats.
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader Lex Imperialis is the DLC I never knew I needed. From the very start, players are thrown into intense situations and are forced to make even harder decisions. The Adeptus Arbites fit the world of Rogue Trader perfectly, and it's hard to imagine a version of this game without them.
Tron: Catalyst is a solid action-adventure game that Tron fans will definitely appreciate. The pacing can be a bit jittery, especially towards the end, but the exciting combat and intriguing story make this a worthwhile trip to the Grid ahead of Tron: Ares later this year.
As someone who missed out on the original release, I’ve been having a blast exploring the world of Luxendarc and can’t recommend Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster enough for anyone looking for an RPG to sink their teeth into on their Switch 2.
Alien Hominid Invasion is a blast of a side-scroller that looks great and plays in a very satisfying way. There’s a huge amount of replayability with all the different cosmetics and weapons, the art style is charming and nostalgic, and the gameplay feels great all around.
While Etheria: Restart has solid worldbuilding and aesthetic appeal, its outdated free-to-play mechanics, tedious progression systems, and heavy reliance on gacha tropes hold it back from being a standout. It’s competent, but ultimately fails to respect the player’s time in meaningful ways.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny provides a decent enough framework for fun, but the battle system's flaws become more and more apparent under any amount of pressure. Pressure you will most assuredly feel unless you feel comfortable grinding out hours of short missions required to level up and pass the numbers check to do things like finish the story of the first anime. It’s not a bad game, but it’s a game that should mostly be considered by big-time enthusiasts of this kind of game with time to burn.
Alien Hominid HD is definitely simple, but there’s a lot of charm to be found in this old-school package. If you’re looking for a good challenge filled with goofy moments that won’t take up too much of your time, this is a solid enough pick.
I was completely surprised by how much I enjoyed every little detail and bit of Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. The minimal approach to the art design of the characters and world only amplified the beauty of the 3D rendered hardware show. Glimpses into the inner workings of the hardware and the history of Nintendo products scratched a nerdy itch I didn’t realize I had. It’s a bit of a bummer that it wasn’t free, but I found myself unable to pull myself away from Welcome Tour after I started it, and have been thinking about it more than any other game available at launch. I hope Nintendo will add more content to this as new first party hardware is released, and while some of the mini games encourage using two people, adding a sleek way to pull up the catalog of mini games, tech demos and quizzes to offer a better experience to show friends and family would be a welcome addition.
Survival Kids can be fun to play for bits at a time, but some peculiar choices and the game’s repetitive design make it hard to recommend to most. Kids may enjoy the multiplayer aspect with friends and family, but it’s not the best game of the Switch 2’s launch library.
Mario Kart World is a solid next step for the world’s top mascot racing franchise and a great launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2. There’s lots to unlock and some truly exciting modes to try, even if free roam could use a bit more content. If you want to have an exciting time racing around impressive courses – especially with friends – then you can’t really go wrong with Mario Kart World.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma absolutely smashed my expectations, delivering one of the most robust and feature-rich games in the farming/cozy/life sim genre while also being no slouch at its action RPG elements either. This game puts its best foot forward when it starts its sprint and doesn’t slow down anytime soon. I am still locked in and can’t wait to play even more of this gem, it stands shoulder to shoulder with some of my favorite similar games like Harvestella. Fans of the series and first timers, this is not a game to miss out on.
Nice Day for Fishing is an interesting and enjoyable fishing game that takes advantage of its funny concept and surprisingly deep mechanics to create a surprisingly unique fishing game. It can be fairly repetitive with its fetch quests, but it’s still a worthwhile venture for those whose interest is piqued.
Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker is a great DLC for those who were already hooked on the base game and crave more, though it may leave others wanting. New classes and a new party member don’t make up for the lack of character development for our main duo, and I did not appreciate having my party shrunk and helpful skills removed. A gorgeous and bombastic ride seems to be Sea of Stars’ goal here, and on that note, they do not disappoint. If you were craving more Sea of Stars or have been away from the game, this free DLC awaits a brave Solstice Warrior or three to mete out justice once again.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is the second TMNT game I’ve played and reviewed in recent years, with great humor, music, and gameplay. I did find some occasional lag, which I think is because the game is unclear in communicating if an animation is “over” or not. It is also a shorter budget title, which seems to work very well for the property. If you’re even a casual TMNT fan, I think you’ll find something to love here, with a great story that hints at more to come in the future.