John Rairdin's Reviews
That being said, the rest of its excellent design blows right past that oversight. The Switch version in particular brings with it its own unique issues, but once again the design outshines these issues. While I can't say the Switch is the ideal way to play this game, it is worth playing in whatever form you can.
The worlds of Myst continued to be developed for years after the original's release, and while its sequels developed on the incredibly rich lore and plot, for my money none of them ever quite recaptured the feeling of the original. While the Switch version has some minor performance issues, they're more than made up for by portability and the option to play with touch controls in classic mode. If you've never played Myst, or if you grew up with the original, take this excuse to journey back to the ages of Myst and get lost all over again.
Levels are often large and expansive but without the enemy layout to fill them up. There are plenty of fun weapons at your disposal, but the targeting system makes them all less functional. While it runs well on Switch and certainly has its moments where everything lines up just right, overall it is at best a mediocre rail shooter. Even if you're desperate for this underrepresented genre, there are already better entries available on the eShop.
Arguably where it stumbles most is in trying to force in diversity via the bombing missions. When Red Wings accepts its own simplicity it is brilliant. The local co-op makes for a wonderful and unexpected addition, and strong art design helps to maintain its charm for many hours. Red Wings: Aces of the Sky is no doubt destined to become a hidden gem of the Switch eShop.
The Elder Scrolls: Blades is a simple case of a mediocre game on mobile just not holding up on an actual console.
It leverages a classic engine in new and exciting ways and is only very rarely hampered by it. While the humor may rub some players the wrong way, it's arguably worth suffering through for a game that is in many ways better than its source material. This is a '90s shooter the way you remember them, rather than perhaps how they actually were.
It's visually quite stunning and features a solid but overplayed soundtrack. There are moments of brilliance sprinkled in with an otherwise thoroughly mediocre experience. I wouldn't say I hated my time with Spirit of the North, but I'd certainly have rather spent it elsewhere.
G-LOC is by no means the best game of this type Sega’s released, but it's serviceable and fun. The Sega Ages port is, as usual, excellent. However, morso than many of Sega’s games from this era, G-LOC certainly shows its age.
Does that mean it's bad? Not directly, but you may occasionally need to remind yourself what you're playing. It is merely unfortunate that with the same degree of care that was paid to its visual and auditory departments, the gameplay truly could have been given new life. I still find myself having a great time playing it, and look forward to improving my high score, but I can't help but dream of what could have been.
Its gameplay is refined and this port in particular cleans up its most egregious rough edge. The maps are as confusing as ever but being able to see where you're going makes it much more tolerable. If you're a classic Doom fan and have never played Doom 64, you owe it to yourself to pick it up. This just may be the best classic-style Doom.
When my Security officer died due to a series of horrible dice rolls that seemed to specifically have it out for him, I found myself simply frustrated. At the same time, for many those random notices that a member of your crew injured himself will prove nostalgic for simpler times of gaming. This won't be for everyone, but if you've missed this era of video games, Hyperspace Delivery Service is a fairly fresh take on the genre.
While I do wish that it had maintained the unified world of its mainline brethren, the adventure is thrilling from beginning to end. The Switch port itself certainly has some rough spots, but is overall still a solid way to experience Darksiders Genesis. An oddly hidden mission reward system and horrible map may cause some confusion, but the music and character dialogue are all superb. Fans of the Darksiders franchise will almost certainly find enjoyment here and newcomers can feel at ease knowing that they don't need to play the previous entries to enjoy this one.
Though it only lasts a few hours, that time yields a rich experience. I do wish there was more to it, but what is here is solid. While the Switch version perhaps carries a bit too much of the original release with it in terms of design choices made for VR, the core adventure will still be rewarding for those who are patient.
Actually, it is one I look forward to revisiting as time goes on. It is extremely promising, but it isn't quite there yet. However, if you have a group of friends you can reliably play with and you're willing to trudge through the rough spots, there is certainly plenty of content to enjoy here. It also happens to somehow be one of the most visually impressive games I've played on Switch.
Although some elements have aged well, large swaths of the game design serve more as a look back at 2005 than a modern piece of entertainment. That being said, if like me you have a penchant for the strangeness of the sixth generation of gaming, you'll likely be able to see Stranger's Wrath for what it represents. Like many remasters from this era, it is best played with its original release era in mind.
Pine feels like a very promising alpha, not a game that should be sold as finished. The presence of Pine on the eShop is baffling. While I earnestly hope it improves, I simply can't recommend it in its current form.
Whether you happened to cross paths with this odd little genre during its brief popularity or Sublevel Zero Redux will be your first dizzying journey, you're in for a great blend of retro game design with a twist of modern mechanics. While I do wish the art and mechanics worked a little better together now and then, it doesn't hamper the addictive gameplay to any significant degree. Grab some motion sickness medicine and get ready to spin and shoot.
It takes the fun original release and turns it into something pretty special. The Switch could be a fantastic new start for Lucky. Who knows, maybe he could have a crossover with another Nintendo fox someday. While the Switch has no shortage of great 3D platformers, New Super Lucky's Tale shouldn't be too far from the top of your list.
Up until then, progress is smooth with excellently designed and balanced puzzles throughout. The docked controls are functional but handheld play is where Eyes of Ara really shines. If you're part of the ever more niche crowd who still enjoys clicking their way through a complex environment, reading journals, and solving deep puzzles, Eyes of Ara ought to satisfy.
Whether Witcher 3 will be your entry point into the larger Witcher universe or you're a longtime fan, I cannot recommend it enough. It is a game that to some extent transcends its genre and one that everyone should play. Witcher 3 is not only one of the most impressive of the impossible ports on Switch, it is one of the best games on Switch, and perhaps the finest western RPG of all time.