Between its dark tale, its stellar visuals, and its fun and varied gameplay mechanics, there’s plenty to keep you totally absorbed in INMOST’s emotional adventure. I really enjoyed playing as the trio of unique characters and seeing their tale through to its conclusion, whilst their journey along the way was enjoyably perilous as you look to vanquish the darkness around them. There were a few aspects of the game that didn’t always hit the mark, such as the trial-and-error gameplay of the Hero and the occasional bouts of clunkiness when platforming, but these are minor hindrances in what is otherwise a gripping and entertaining adventure.
Battletoads manages to stay true to the source material, all whilst offering an array of varied and fun gameplay mechanics that really spice up the experience. I had a good time battling through each level, whether that was when fighting in classic beat ‘em up action, racing through on a jet-bike, or sliding my way away from a big monstrous threat. Sure, a few mini-games can fall short of the mark at times and the difficulty could feel a bit forced, but it didn’t stop Battletoads from being a really enjoyable experience. It’s just a shame that there isn’t any online multiplayer included, with Battletoads really lending itself perfectly to playthroughs with friends. Of course, local play is possible, but with the game included in Xbox Game Pass it would have been perfect for online romps with other players. Hopefully, it’s something the developers might patch in sometime in the future because it feels like a missed opportunity right now…
Marvel’s Iron Man VR delivers an excellent action-packed experience that really allows players to see how fricking brilliant it’d be to be Tony Stark. Besides the fact that the Iron Man suit itself is intuitively designed to feel satisfying to use whether you’re simply flying around or blasting away at enemies with its vast arsenal, the game also just so happens to offer an engaging storyline and genuinely enjoyable missions to complete too. Some loading issues and the occasional performance hiccup do see the game falling a little short in some aspects of its design, but for the most part it really captures the vibe of being Iron Man perfectly. Marvel’s Iron Man VR is simply the best representation of being a superhero that I’ve played in virtual reality.
Superliminal offers a puzzling experience that isn’t only unique and ingenious in design, but also a hell of a lot of fun to play. Best of all, it really feels at home on the Nintendo Switch, with the port offering slick visuals that certainly make the game’s weird and wonderful world a sight to behold in the palm of your hands. A few sketchy puzzles towards the backend of the game do see Superliminal falling slightly short of puzzling perfection, but anyone who appreciates a game full of clever and unique puzzling enigmas will DEFINITELY want to give the game a play.
House Flipper is as therapeutically enjoyable to play on the Nintendo Switch as it was on PC, with the console port proving a solid one. Sure, the controls can feel a little awkward in places and there has been an obvious drop in graphical quality, but it still manages to nail the most important aspect of the game: the joy of flipping-houses. There’s no denying that it won’t be for everyone, but those who like the idea of buying houses, doing them up, selling them for a profit and then repeating the process will have HOURS of fun with House Flipper.
With its zany narrative, bizarrely intriguing world, and clever puzzle design, Edna & Harvey: The Breakout offers a thoroughly entertaining point-and-click escapade for Switch gamers to embark on. It does have a few flaws here and there, with the controls sometimes feeling a little finicky and the environmental markers often feeling intrusive, but they don’t really hamper what is otherwise a really fun experience.
Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath is a brilliant addition to what is already a spectacular game, with the new story content proving a treat to play through and the three additional characters all adding something uniquely enjoyable to the experience. It’s just a shame that it’s so pricey, with the £34.99 price tag proving quite hefty, especially since the base game can be picked up for much cheaper. Still, there’s no doubting the quality of the content in Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath and it certainly makes for a VERY good reason to re-visit NetherRealm Studio’s dazzling fighter once again. Here’s hoping that the team will continue to support the game in the future, and who knows, maybe we’ll see more top-notch content coming to Mortal Kombat 11 in the future…
What the Golf is a brilliantly silly take on the sport of golf, with its ingeniously chaotic level design and countless nods to other video games making for one hell of a good time. Of course, those looking for a serious golfing sim will probably want to steer clear, but players that are itching for a creative and outrageously fun experience on their Nintendo Switch will DEFINITELY want to give What the Golf a whirl.
Much like its predecessor, Resident Evil 3 offers a remake that’s both revolutionary and brilliant in design. It is shorter and more condensed than last year’s Resident Evil 2 remake, but it comes with a bigger focus on action-orientated set pieces and, of course, the epic showdowns with Nemesis. Add to that the all-new ideas that the game implements as well as the inclusion of a multiplayer mode (which admittedly we haven’t got to play a whole lot of yet), and you’ll quickly find that Capcom have something special here. The shorter length and some frustrating moments here and there do see Resident Evil 3 feeling a little inferior when compared to the Resident Evil 2 remake, but only just – it still just so happens to be a brilliant survival horror experience that fans of the series are sure to love.
Alien: Isolation is a blast to play on the Nintendo Switch, with its frightening gameplay mechanics and incredibly atmospheric setting helping it establish itself as one of the best horror titles to release on the system. Sure, it has its flaws and I do think the game is a little longer than it needs to be, but being pursued by the Xenomorph is still as intense and daunting now as it was when the game first released five years ago – plus, you can do it all on the go now… what more could you want? Nintendo Switch gamers that are eager for some intense and utterly terrifying action won’t be disappointed by Alien: Isolation.
Blasphemous is brilliant. Between its slick combat mechanics, its finely crafted world, and the showdowns with its ferocious monstrosities of bosses, there really is a lot to love here. There’s a level of finesse to just about everything you do in the game, and it’s that need for precision and strategy that helps Blasphemous stand above similar titles in the genre. It does have its imperfections and I have no doubts that it won’t be for everyone, but those who enjoy themselves a challenging metroidvania-style 2D adventure that wears its inspirations like a badge of honour will NOT want to miss out on Blasphemous.
Remedy are undoubtedly masters of their craft, and Control is another fantastic title to add to their repertoire of fine releases that focus on bold action and deep dives into the unknown. It kept me captivated from start to end with its mysterious yet rich narrative, its solid combat mechanics that blend together satisfying gunplay with fun telekinetic abilities, and its peculiar allure and sense that just about ANYTHING could be around the corner of The Oldest House’s mysterious hallways. Control’s weird yet wonderful approach may not be for everyone and some of the performance issues could be disappointing. Overall though, they are minor hitches in what is otherwise an amazing experience; Control is simply a must-own title for action fans or those who appreciate games that aren’t afraid to be a little different.
With its blend of satisfyingly designed enigmas and its slick Bond-like presentation, Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise will tick plenty of boxes for puzzle-solving sleuths. It does have a few flaws thanks to its emphasis on repeatedly traveling across the environment, whilst the controls can be a little sketchy when playing outside of the Switch’s handheld mode too. However, neither of these issues prevent Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise from being a tantalising little puzzler that will totally grip players in during its five-hour runtime.
Heave Ho is an utter delight to play, with its co-operative and outright zany take on being a trapeze artist making (kind of?) for a uniquely fun escapade. It’s a bit tough to recommend as a single player experience as it loses a lot of its charm when playing solo, so it’s definitely a case of ‘the more, the merrier’. If you can get some friends to join you though, you’re in for heck of a good time (and maybe the occasional argument if one of you gets slippery fingers…)
Whipseey and the Lost Atlas is a decent platformer that has some genuinely fun moments, but the lack of variety in its gameplay mechanics and a quick runtime see it fall short when compared to similar titles in the genre. It’s not that anything it does is ever bad per se, but rather that it doesn’t do enough to really capture the imagination. With its low price-point it might be worth checking out if you’re a platforming fan, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting more from this pink hero’s little adventure.
Oninaki is more proof that the team at Tokyo RPG Factory are more than capable of putting together an enjoyable RPG, though the transition to a more action-focused battle system has seen it falter a little when compared to their more traditional (and better) previous releases. That’s not to say that Oninaki is a bad game when compared to I Am Setsuna and Lost Sphear though; in fact, I had a good time battling with the use of various Daemons, whilst the deep upgrade system and the twists and turns of the narrative kept me engaged throughout. With an excessive use of padding throughout the final third of the experience and some underwhelming gameplay mechanics though, Oninaki can be a little guilty of outstaying its welcome as you reach its drawn-out conclusion.
Never Give Up offers a platforming experience that’s both fun and challenging, but it lacks that SOMETHING to help make it stand out as an essential release. It’s not that it does anything bad (although some of those repeated levels may frustrate some gamers), but rather that it doesn’t do anything that you wouldn’t have seen before. Still, if you’re itching for a fix of trial and error-based masochistic platforming action, it serves that up in abundance. It might not stand out in the crowd, but Never Give Up certainly gets the essentials right.
Chroma Squad offers a satisfying tactical experience that blends together the fun of the Power Rangers with some enjoyable management aspects – it’s a combination that sounds slightly peculiar, but actually makes for a fun time. It can be guilty of being a little bit repetitive in places and it’s lacking the depth seen in similar titles in the genre, but fortunately there’s enough excitement to be found throughout Chroma Squad that you’ll easily find yourself hooked in until you reach the final season’s big finale.
Wolfenstein: Youngblood offers an enjoyable co-operative take on the famed Nazi-killing series that introduces some clever new ideas to go along with the traditional (and satisfying) first-person shooting set pieces. Admittedly, some of those ideas do miss the mark a bit, especially when they leave some weapons feeling unsatisfying to use on occasions – there’s a little bit too much of a focus on having to upgrade weapons, which can slow down your progress during the game’s trickier sections. However, with the typically brilliant gunplay, intuitive levelling up mechanics, and fun co-op gameplay, there’s a hell of a lot more good than bad in MachineGames’ latest release and it’s an essential purchase for fans of the first-person shooting series.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order offers a thoroughly enjoyable romp featuring all of your favourite Marvel heroes, with the fun narrative and the action-packed showdowns with iconic villains providing plenty of thrills throughout. It’s just a shame that some repetitive gameplay mechanics and a poor camera let it down in places, especially since everything else is of a high standard. Still, Marvel fans will undoubtedly appreciate what Team Ninja have done with the wealth of characters at their disposal, especially when you’re marching them into battle together with a friend playing alongside you. It might be far from perfect, but there’s enough quality shown in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order for it to be an essential purchase for comic book fans.