Justin Nation's Reviews
All in all I enjoyed playing Die for Valhalla for its relative simplicity that really does bring me back to the classic arcade quarter-pumping experience. Paired with some friends it can be a blast to simply maul your way through enemies and then fight for the glory that spews onto the screen at the end of each level. As long as you keep your expectations in check, and don't count on it to deliver a very deep experience, it can be some good fun for at least a handful of hours of hacking up bad guys and bosses.
All said, Yoku's Island Express is a breath of fresh and creative air on the Switch and just what this jaded gamer needed to get out of a pretty serious "more of the same" funk. As a life-long fan of pinball I'm thrilled with the result and enjoyed the many ways mechanical concepts from physical machines managed to get integrated into this adventure-style format. Even if you're more of a pinball novice, in general the controls are pretty friendly and approachable, you'll just need to develop a sense of timing and pay attention to certain patterns to determine what you'll need to do to progress. If you're down for something with boatloads of charm and heart mixed with a style of play you've likely never experienced before it is well worth picking up.
While Punch Club isn't a bad experience by any means there's no way to get around its limitations. If you enjoy its somewhat relaxed "play it on the cough while you watch TV" style and haven't already indulged in it by all means give it a look. If you've dabbled before or are looking for something action-oriented it likely won't be worth considering though.
Overall, Fox N Forests truly feels like a lost game from the the Early 90s that you could plug into your SNES and it would seem right at home on all levels. Of course for people who aren't looking for that hit of nostalgia or are generally unfamiliar with that era this may not be a great fit. However, if you've been itching for something satisfies your sense of nostalgia and can dig in to the total experience it's a welcome reminder of how beautiful pixel art games can be.
There's almost as high a degree of memorization to Ikaruga as skill as you can only improvise your way through challenges like this so much. True success will only come from having familiarity with where to go, what to do, and then almost a degree of muscle memory to help you perform ballet between bullets flying everywhere. If you've been looking for a game that's somewhat light on total content but that compensates with a demand for approaching perfection Ikaruga is as tough as they come. But, if you were hoping for something a bit more light and fun you can absolutely pass, this is a game that revels in its brutality.
If you're a die hard twin-stick shooting fan Atomine is a bit of a breath of fresh air among the offerings already available. Its more arcade-like sensibilities make it a bit more friendly to pick up and play and the runs tend to be on the quicker side, though if you get rolling it can take a bit. More mainstream gamers who're in search of a shooter to check out may find there are better examples of the genre on the Switch but could find the relative simplicity of it all appealing, especially in handheld more where its more chunky look works well on the smaller screen. If you're looking for a very cyberpunk-looking twin-stick experience it is worth a look.
The object in the game is pretty simple, you just want to jump right or left to go up platforms, slowly taking you higher and into more challenging zones...
The classic hidden item puzzle game genre has made some real strides over the past few years...
Overall, if you're looking for a pretty budget-friendly diversion that doesn't take itself too seriously and has quirky surprises of fun Animal Super Squad isn't a bad deal. The core levels present a fairly consistent and enjoyable experience, there are some silly unlockables to be found hidden about, and if you want to amp up the difficulty the hidden challenge levels will make you work hard to succeed. While the inclusion of a level editor and community support are always a plus for some people walk in with the understanding that it won't have you quickly making good stuff, it's a bit cumbersome and there's simply a lot to do in order to tune a level for a crazy game like this. All said it's fun, different, pretty weird, and reasonably affordable.
In the end Disco Dodgeball Remix is unapologetically what it is, for you to take it or leave it, and I respect that. In terms of total content and options for play both alone, with a friend, or online the game is absolutely stacked. Exhausting the Arcade and various Challenge modes will take time for people who enjoy chasing leaderboards and with so many varied arenas and play modes online matches are generally surprising and crazy. There's no getting around its quirks, and if you're expecting pinpoint precision control you'll be disappointed, but if you're up for some chaotic play that's very unique Remix has its charms.
With that in mind seeing a title like Super Sportsmatchen, and perhaps even more vitally hearing it, really put me into a good place mentally...
If you’re an RPG fan I’d say there’s no doubt Battle Chasers: Nightwar is well worth picking up. Even for casual JRPG fans there’s enough content, character, and beauty in the game that if you’re intrigued it should be well worth the plunge. For RPG novices it may all feel a little busy but if you’ll take the time to work through the menus and get to know all of the elements you have at your disposal it should be accessible, just a bit overwhelming. For whatever minor flaws the game may have it is well worth the ride.
Taking it all in, scoring the game for a general audience is a challenge. On the one hand it has a ton of very cool content, with a terrific funky design, creative levels, exciting new elements, surprising unlocks, and a soundtrack that sticks with you. On the other it's not hard to see where mainstream audiences are likely to get too frustrated with the game to bother to see a lot of it. Score-chasers and speedrunners will no doubt revel in the challenge, but the thing is that regardless of whether the game was made more mainstream-balanced those elements would still be strong. With a patch to tone things down I could easily see the game jumping up a point as it became more inviting, just right now it's much more of an acquired taste and that's a shame.
While I can appreciate the effort that went into making Where Are My Friends?, even if you’re thinking a budget title with a couple of different genres has to have some merits I’d still encourage you to exercise caution. Not only are almost all of these genres far better represented by other titles already on Switch (many of them indie titles with fair prices as well), if you really love a given genre it can be painful to endure a bad example of it. Without any particular segment standing out as clearly superior, or remotely on par with the efforts of other titles’ gameplay in similar genres, this is a title I can’t recommend to pretty well anyone.
Not having played any of the Fairune games before this collection was a pleasant surprise. The look and feel are wonderfully classic, the pacing is pretty mellow and allows you to simply enjoy the experience, and the puzzles can be quite clever. The lack of real combat can be taken as a plus or a minus, depending on what kind of experience you’re looking for, but as a variation on the norm I didn’t mind it at all. Through the lens of more of a puzzle game it all plays out nicely and will give you a handful of hours of enjoyment for a budget-friendly price.
Overall, even on a system that has a great selection of casual and puzzle games FRAMED Collection absolutely stands out as something special. At all levels from its presentation to its simple and intuitive controls to its consistent creativity it's an experience well worth checking out. Throw in the fact that it is launching with a very reasonable asking price and it is effortless to recommend it as one of the best games of its kind on the system.
If you enjoy a decent sci-fi yarn and exploring concepts around AI, its limitations, and how systems designed to protect humans could conceivably also get in the way The Fall may be worthwhile for you. However, if that isn’t a pull and you don’t have a particularly high threshold for frustration it can be tough to recommend. With a relatively diverse set of adventures already available on the system this feels a bit more awkward than most.
At the end of the day, though its story isn’t anywhere near as inspired as its well-planned and executed world, Yonder is a feast for your eyes and ears. The passive nature of the play and the beauty around almost every corner, mixed with the consistent sense of discovery, make it a very serene and relaxing way to spend quite a number of hours finding all of the game’s secrets. Unlike its peers of Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley it does have a better defined point where you could very much choose to consider yourself “finished” but at the same time nothing is trying to discourage you from continuing to enjoy the experience. If you love the sense of discovery in Breath of the Wild (or other titles) and losing combat isn’t a big deal to you Yonder is absolutely worth checking out!
Even with as many roguelikes as I’ve played Wizard of Legend is a bit of a surprise, but that cuts both ways. On the one hand, if you take the time to collect a sizable number of spells the sheer variety of what’s in the game guarantees that at some point you’ll likely find a combination that suits your style and even personal sense of flair. One the other, given the random nature of what you’re offered, with bad luck it could take quite a while until you find that mix and you’ll be feeling like you’re never quite clicking while in combat. It’s interesting because while mid-run you’ll sometimes have an opportunity to change out or add to your spells, unlike most roguelikes you can really play with your base configuration to try to suit it to your style of play. If you’re up for a pretty substantial challenge, Wizard of Legend provides that in spades and given that its feel is absolutely unique that helps to blunt the fact that it can also be frustrating as you try to put together your ideal build.
Overall, Fe is a feast for the eyes and ears that, for the most part, also delivers a gentle and enjoyable gameplay experience. Interaction with the other forest creatures is always has a bit of a magical feel and in general it is surprising how many secrets are hidden in the space. If you’re down to just enjoy the ride and not rush to the end there’s quite a bit more to like, though more hard core gamers are likely to find it disappointing for its missed opportunities.