Zachary Miller
It does, but my wife doesn't seem to mind.
It does have a multiplayer option and online leaderboards for each stage, so if competitive speed running is your thing, Aeon Drive delivers. For me, it's an interesting curio that I'm glad I played, but won't be returning to often.
*Horny is not an actual stat, but you wouldn't be surprised, would you?
The story is typical Neptunia fluff, and if you liked previous adventures in this series, it’s enjoyable. It’s just a shame you can’t skip the gameplay parts and watch the story sequences by themselves.
*I've been stuck in a hospital room for the last eight days and of course the hospital WiFi is from the Bronze Age, so online multiplayer was not in the cards. Thanks to Daan for the assist!
80's Overdrive is a very pretty game with really good core mechanics and some really questionable and frankly unnecessary complications layered on top. The take home here is that I really liked it until I didn't anymore. I still pop in from time to time, but this is not a game I'm particularly compelled to play long-term.
Waku Waku 7 doesn't really stand out from the crowd in my mind, but the only other game with anywhere near as strange a character roster is probably Darkstalkers, so fighting game or SNK aficionados will probably get a kick of this oddball. For everyone else, though, there are better fighting games out there.
Lifespeed is a good game that I enjoy, but I recognize its shortcomings. I would like to see what Wee Man could do with a sequel, because there’s a solid core here.
The Copen campaign keeps things fresh and even though the level design squanders his abilities, he’s fun to play as. For those who, like me, were hoping that Gunvolt 2 would sweeten the pot a little bit, prepare for disappointment. I think there’s a very solid core to the Gunvolt series that approaches Mega Man-like combat in a very interesting way, but everything else needs work.
I find the game is best in short bursts. I think we've all played 3D brawlers that outclass Smashing the Battle in virtually every category. Having said that, I do find myself enjoying the game. It's not perfect, but it has heart. Well, that and an impossibly voluptuous woman in ill-fitting battle armor.
All of the usual Nightdive options are available to tweak to your heart's content, and they have done a wonderful job porting this oft-forgotten N64 game to modern systems. Shadow of Oblivion is, however, barely a Turok game, and the levels are much shorter and more directed than they were in Dinosaur Hunter or Seeds of Evil. You can probably breeze through the entire campaign–for one of the siblings, anyway–in a couple sessions. An interesting curio, but not a particularly memorable one.
I actually would recommend it if you’re a fan of Waifu Hack ‘n’ Slashers, but the Switch’s framerate issues keep me from issuing a full-throated endorsement. If you have access to other modern consoles, maybe check out some gameplay videos. If it’s way smoother during combat situations, maybe go for that version. I’m enjoying the game on Switch, and will be buying some of the DLC, but it suffers a lot on the performance side. That and the terrible platforming segments that, thankfully, are pretty rare.
For the Contra diehards among you, Spidersaurs is a great game. The difficulty can be brutal at times, but I'm sure I'll power through the higher tiers eventually.
I feel like I say this with a lot of games, but I really enjoyed Steel Assault until I didn't anymore. Up to that point, it was really fun, and I have to commend Zenovia Interactive on their effective graphical filters, which are a big part of the appeal.
Everything about the production, from the pixel art and color selection to the catchy chiptunes, will make you think you're playing a lost Game Boy game. Christophe Galati really knocked it out of the park. I just wish the gameplay was a little more interesting! Despite my misgivings, I really do enjoy Save Me Mr. Tako, and if you're nostalgic for the golden age of handheld gaming, this game absolutely delivers in spades.
Cathedral is a fine Metroid-like in terms of level design, but I just can't shake the feeling that it doesn't hit the balance between exploration and combat-the latter so often gets in the way of simply enjoying the former. If you're a big fan of the genre and are itching for a fresh take, Cathedral is a fine choice that, for the most part, gets it right. Just expect to get tired of fighting your way through every room.
If you can get a friend on the couch with you, Double Dragon Neon is a big, dumb, fun dose of 80's nostalgia.
Risky's Revenge is very much the Australopithecus of the Shantae series-something of a transitional form between the GBC game and Pirate's Curse. It's fun to play if you're a fan of the series, but I'll say that the next three games easily eclipse it.
Adventures of Pip is still enjoyable and inventive, but I'm less forgiving of its quirks now than I was in 2015. I still recommend it, though--the gameplay hook is lovely and the writing is charming.
I like 3000th Duel overall. The combat is fun and strategic, the hero has a good weight to him/her and control is responsive and fluid. It’s not perfect but it’s enjoyable.