Unless you're extremely against the principle of free-to-play games, Pokémon Café Mix is a delightful little puzzle game with some neat ideas and an adorable visual presentation. It's a gentle game for tough times.
While CrossCode is a superlatively excellent game, the Switch version is an astoundingly rough port.
We've missed out on an absolute marvel of an arcade puzzle game that is jam-packed with personality and gameplay variety. I highly recommend you don't let the opportunity to play this game pass you by. Who knows when the next time is we'll see Mr. Driller and his friends come back.
If you're looking for a straight and narrow soccer game, this ain't for you. But if you want to just giggle at a demented slice of comedy, Behold the Kickmen is incredible. It gripped me to ride out the whole baffling thing to the end of the story, but even if you only play a half-dozen matches and burn out, the very reality of this video game is worth experiencing.
All that being said, it is overall hard to recommend Namco Museum Archives Volume 1 aside from checking out old Famicom and NES versions of games. The two major exceptions are Pac-Man Championship Edition and the previously Japan-only Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti. If you want to see a neat demake of a great Pac-Man game or a cool never-before-seen Namco platformer, by all means go dive into this collection. But aside from those two games, there isn't much here but NES and Famicom versions of arcade games.
Super Soccer Blast is a top-shelf multiplayer sports game on Switch thanks to the great controls, smart design, and ease of play. The single-player content might be a little lacking, but overall, this is a well-crafted sports game. Honestly, it's not a surprise given Unfinished Pixel's track record with the fundamentally sound Super Volley Blast and Super Tennis Blast. I look forward to their next entry in their Super Sports Blast series that hopefully tackles hockey or American football.
Instead thanks to everything from fetch quest repetition to a muddled interface, it's more of a wistful addition to the Switch library. The pleasant vibe of Koa's undiscovered world can't carry the whole game despite the best of intentions. If tweaks and improvements can clean up some of the menus, Summer in Mara could be better, but I worry even that won't make the repetition more enjoyable.
For as good as the controls can feel, the only real lifeline is frequent checkpoints, but that doesn't make the frustrating design and punishment much better. I wish Skelattack reminded me more of the great things of its Konami progenitors or its modern inspirations. Instead, this game just makes me want to go pick up a Castlevania or dig up Super Meat Boy again.
From a value perspective, the fleeting leaderboard-driven fun here is totally fine. From a gameplay perspective, I wish there was more than just leaderboard chasing to drive me forward. I might not be compelled to drop quarters into Missile Command: Recharged over and over again, but I'm happy it exists to bring back a landmark arcade game into modern times.
Monster Prom XXL is not a game for everyone, but if you're down for some hardcore monster dating with a penchant for foul-mouthed humor and goofiness, it's incredible. I love the way it takes a visual novel and dating sim and transforms it into a party game. Some rough edges might be present in the interface, but Monster Prom is a riotously good time.
While the overall brevity and lesser level diversity is disheartening, Minecraft Dungeons is an enjoyable experience. It's much harder to recommend as a solo player, but if you're able to hang out on the couch and knock out some creepers with a pal or head online and smash up mobs with a buddy, the weaker elements can wash away. I had a good time playing Minecraft Dungeons. I just wish there was a little more to it.
Franchise mode helps to extend that depth in creative, unique ways. Overall, Super Mega Baseball 3 is like if those old janky NES baseball games played as good as you wish they did when you were younger, while at the same time, standing respectably next to the greatest sports games of all time. After all, Super Mega Baseball 3 is the greatest baseball video game I have ever played.
There's nothing bad about it, but it also doesn't do anything special. As a backer bonus for Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch, it seems like a great deal. As an individual game, it's a harder sell, but if you can recall quotes from Mallrats and still occasionally toss in a "snoogans" into everyday conversations, Mall Brawl is a good time.
With how consistent Jupiter's Picross quality has been over the years, it isn't a surprise that Picross S4 is very good. With just shy of 500 puzzles, it's worth your puzzling time. I just hope that in the future, Color Picross can have a bigger presence and maybe someday touchscreen controls can return.
Even with a handful of mild problems, Billion Road is a fun local multiplayer board game on Switch.
It's overall a breathtaking game, but it's clearly not something for everyone and as I found out, it's not for the 2020 version of me. Now, introduce time travel and 2012 me is probably super into this game. But I can only confidently recommend those who want the sternest of retro-fueled gameplay challenges tackle this behemoth.
If you're the kind of person who routinely has the chance for eight-player multiplayer sessions (or hosts video game-themed panels at conventions), Baron: Fur Is Gonna Fly is a fantastic addition to your Switch library. Aside from that, it's harder to recommend, but the local multiplayer gameplay can be a riot.
I'm pleased to not be let down by my cascading hype as it turns out that Mediatonic has a firm grasp on the distinctive appeal of Ace Attorney's world and characters, putting together a flashy and bright '90s world that wouldn't feel out of place if it was actually across town from Phoenix and the gang. Throw in the well-executed Picross puzzles and you have yourself one of the best surprises of 2020. Here's hoping we can see more of this enjoyable cast of characters and welcome visual novel twist.
But what I keep coming back to as my favorite part of Bloodroots is its versatility. The action is ultimately easy to grasp, requiring only three buttons, but you can stylishly do so much with those base ideas thanks to the oodles of weapons and smartly designed levels. Paper Cult stuck the landing on this vibrantly violent game.
An enjoyable puzzle game.