B3 Game Expo For Bees has a lot of potential, but the shortness of the game is just unacceptable. Considering the game is $9.99 on the eShop, if you are curious, I’d wait for a price drop. The presentation, graphics, controls, and atmosphere are well done, but the fact that the game is over before it really starts makes this a hard game to recommend.
Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens could, and should, have been a very fun addition to the Wii U library, but technical issues impact what fun can be had. This obviously is a lazy port to the Wii U, and it shows from the moment you boot up the game.
All in all, I was pleasantly surprised with Reptilian Rebellion. It’s a simple, cheap, nostalgia-feeling arcade game that can be very addicting. A little more variety in the visuals and audio would have helped, but as it stands, if you are looking for a cheap and fun game, Reptilian Rebellion will give you a good bang for your buck if you enjoy high-score driven games.
Metroid Prime: Federation Force is not a good game at all. When you find yourself just wanting to complete levels to see if the game ever changes and gets better, that’s a sign that something is very wrong. The core gameplay is simplistic, boring, and not the level of quality one would expect from a Metroid game. Other M may have been the most fan-derided Metroid game until now, but Federation Force will easily take the crown from here on out.
Excellent writing, impressive visuals, and great presentation save the game from the somewhat lackluster battle system and make it a solid game that will provide fun for fans of Mario games and the Paper Mario series.
Mario Party: Star Rush isn’t the Mario Party game we all were hoping for and a return to form for the series, but I think it’s a step in the right direction after the questionable Mario Party 10 on the Wii U. The party isn’t as hype as it needs to be, but some will be able to find a good bit of enjoyment in this title.
Mario die-hards that only have a 3DS will find some enjoyment in playing the new mode, and the limited selection of online courses, but without the ability to share your created courses with the world, it seems like a waste of time.
Usually when I review a game, I have a good idea of the style before going into it. FACTOTUM was the first release from TACS Games on the Wii U, and it was a pretty unique and solid game, so I was excited to see what they would bring to the table with Radiantflux: Fractal. After playing the game extensively, I’m still not quite sure what it is, but I think I kind of like it.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is a fantastic addition to the 3DS, and easily one of the best games on the system. Everything is well crafted and highly polished, and there is enough new content and variations that even if you played the PS2 version to death, you will still find lots of surprises and nuances. With high presentation values, a charming story, tons of depth, and traditional but fun JRPG battle system, Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is a must own for 3DS RPG lovers, and an easy early contender for game of the year.
Futuristic racers were all the rage back when I was growing up in the 90s. Games like Wipeout, F-Zero, and Forsaken were popular titles, with fast machines in futuristic locales. The genre has even had a bit of a return with the Fast Racing series on the Wii U and soon to be Switch as well. LifeSpeed was an interesting title because it was built with the New 3DS in mind, and is exclusive to this version of the console. Does the risk pay off with a quality title?
With the launch of the Nintendo Switch, FAST RMX debuts as a launch title, which is sort of a 'definitive' version of FAST Racing NEO with some fantastic tweaks.
Super Bomberman R is decent for a launch title on a system that is a little lacking in retail titles, but it has it's issues.
The Binding of Isaac is a game I've honestly never played before. It seems like a game I'd enjoy, with it's dark humor and violence, but I never checked it out for whatever reason. So when The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ was announced for the Switch, I really didn't pay too much attention to it. However, when Nicalis announced the game would have a physical release that actually included a manual, I decided to pay some more attention to the game. After debating, I finally picked up The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+. So, am I happy with my decision?
Kamiko is a fun pick-up and play experience, with great visuals, good gameplay, and makes for a fun retro-inspired experience. It's worth exploring the game with each of the 3 characters just to see how different they actually play, which adds some replay value to the title. If you are looking for an inexpensive game for a weekend playthrough, Kamiko is a good pick.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia really surprised me. What I thought would be a simple spin-off game ended up being arguably the best Fire Emblem game I've played.
All in all, I've been really enjoying my time with Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers. If you aren't a fan of the genre, this won't be a game that changes your mind, and while some feel the price tag is a bit too high for the game, I've gotten a ton of enjoyment from it thus far.
Oceanhorn is an interesting game that some people will enjoy and some people will hate. The inspiration drawn from Zelda oozes all throughout the game, and that can be a bit off-putting for some. For myself however, I think Zelda-clones should end up becoming a new thing. Considering the amount of years we have to wait between Zelda entries, why not embrace games that capture the spirit of a classic franchise? Oceanhorn isn't original, it isn't perfect, and it isn't necessarily memorable, but not every game can be. It's a simple, fun Zelda-clone that will bring fans of the franchise great enjoyment in between sessions of Breath of the Wild.
I loved it when I was a kid, so I ended up enjoying myself way more than probably anyone else will with Vaccine.
As a whole though, Implosion really surprised me. It looked like it would be a Metal Gear Revengence-style game from an indie developer, and that's pretty much how it played out. It looks good, plays great, and is a very solid and affordable title for the Nintendo Switch. If you are looking for something a bit darker and faster paced on the Switch, Implosion is a solid choice.
Monster Hunter Stories is a delightful game that surprised the hell out of me. It's pretty, it's fun, it's fresh, and a real departure from the original series but still retains elements to keep it familiar. If you like JRPG's or monster collecting games like Pokemon, Monster Hunter Stories is a must own. Just don't go into the game expecting a traditional style, and you will be surprised with how good it is.