Tomas Franzese's Reviews
It can be hard for a game to escape the shadow of other entries in their series, whether it be for good or bad reasons. Mario Party Star Rush manages to separates itself form the other Mario Party titles, both on handhelds and consoles, by being individualistic and a good game in its own right. Mario Party Star Rush a very fun entry in the series that introduces a lot of interesting mechanics, most of which end up in its favor. I would recommend all Mario Party fans pick this up — it is the most refreshing entry in the series in a long time.
Snake Pass is held back from greatness by a troublesome camera and poor textures, but it is quite charming and innovates with its snake gameplay, which still has tons of untapped potential. I can’t wait to see what Noodle and Doodle get themselves into next, as Snake Pass’s mechanics can only be fleshed out even more from here.
If TumbleSeed intrigues you at all, I would recommend picking it up. The game is as unique and engaging to play as it looks, just be aware of the steep difficulty curve you will most likely run into once you get more serious about passing the starting area. Games this original don't come around to often, but its always a treat when they do.
If you can get past Everspace's few flaws, a game that merges the best parts of roguelikes and space shooters exposes itself. The game manages to stand on its own as a unique entity within both the above genres, so Everspace should have no problem finding an audience in the sea of modern roguelikes and space shooters.
Namco Museum was able to preserve games that I remember fondly, and introduced me to some enjoyable new experiences that I can't wait to get back to. It could have had a bit more meat on its bones, but this collection ultimately is a great addition to the Nintendo Switch's ever growing library and a fitting tribute to some of Namco's greatest hits.
I found immense enjoyment in watching some of my favorite Fire Emblem characters fight hordes of foes in 3D, as it something we have never really gotten with the series before. While the game is let down a bit by mediocre AI and underwhelming voice acting and story, Fire Emblem Warriors delivers with enjoyable gameplay that blends mechanics from both Fire Emblem and Warriors games into something unique and unlike anything else on the Nintendo Switch. I hope Koei Tecmo continue this collaboration with Nintendo, either on sequels to Fire Emblem and Hyrule Warriors, or another IP like Xenoblade.
This niche of the RTS genre isn't often catered-to outside of the Pikmin series, so it's nice to see these developers branch out and be successful. While the game may have benefitted from more puzzles, the combat focus of Masters of Anima shows that there is still room to expand and be unique in this segment of the genre. If you are looking for a new strategy game to tide you over until a genuine Pikmin 4 comes out, I definitely recommend Masters of Anima.
As a fan of the genre, I can see myself consistently returning to For the King, and think other roguelike fans and people who enjoy tabletop RPGs will find something to enjoy here.
Even though its online multiplayer isn't perfect, and the Switch version specifically can occasionally suffer from a lack of precision when using a controller, Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido wound up being one of the most original and entertaining puzzle games I have played in years. It exudes the quirk and charm typically associated with some of Nintendo's most popular IPs, so I hope this isn't the last we see of Sushi Striker and its adorably odd world.
The Mega Man series is back, and with Mega Man 11's ending indicating it's here to stay, I couldn't be happier. Even when taking this title's problems into account, Mega Man 11 has finally given the series forward momentum for the first time in years, and I can't wait to see where Capcom does with the famous Blue Bomber next.
Outside of the visuals boost, Madden NFL 19 feels more iterative than last year's entry of Madden did. The series' dedicated and interested fans that buy the game yearly and sink hundreds of hours into its game modes shouldn't have any major issues outside of some glitchy menus, but not enough has changed to make Madden NFL 19 a worthy entry for newcomers or casual players who picked it up last year.
While Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! starts slow and is quite different than usual, it's still a very enjoyable and accessible RPG.
Dead or Alive 6 is the most enjoyable and accessible title in the fighting series yet, though its story and online modes leave a bit to be desired.
Tetris 99 improves an already near-perfect game and proves that battle royale can transcend genres, but it is held back by Nintendo Switch Online.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order for Nintendo Switch is the fan service heavy franchise revival you were hoping for despite its flaws.
Hörberg Productions produces yet another fun title in Mechstermination Force, currently a Nintendo Switch exclusive.
Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince is a multi-console fun puzzle platformer that brings the series back to its roots.
Gylt is a solid but somewhat derivative adventure-horror game and an exclusive launch title for Google Stadia.
Star Ocean First Departure R is an underwhelming port of an excellent but often forgotten Square Enix JRPG.
To the Moon's Nintendo Switch remake has some problems but is still worth playing.