Justin Nation's Reviews
As a whole I both enjoy Star Ghost and am a big aggravated by it. I love that it set out to do something different, and it has very much accomplished that goal. I like that whether it meant to or not it has some very roguelike elements in its DNA that make it noteworthy and challenging. That said, there are a few elements that may have benefitted from moving the needle a little further back in terms of difficulty to make it more likely accessible to a wider audience. It’s an acquired taste as it stands, and for people seeking out a non-traditional challenge it is a solid value as well.
Overall I’m really impressed with Renegade from top to bottom, especially since (as I’ve noted) this is a game with mobile roots and is being released at a very reasonable price. Not in any way a lazy or lacking port this feels like a game that was meant to be on the Switch from the get-go and does an excellent job of scratching that water racing itch. I look forward to the next incarnation and can only hope that they spend some time pondering over Wave Race and moving things a little further in that direction. They’ve released an excellent speed-based racing game, now I’d just like one that demands a little more technique. Easy to recommend for racing fans of all persuasions.
If you’re a fan of this classic sort of gameplay, but with a few great modern twists, I would have no reservations in recommending it. It truly feels like a classic genre game brought forward to today. However, if there are some old habits from the genre you could do without or you’re not familiar with the agony often associated with the notorious knockback your patience may wear thin as it is a huge part of the game experience unfortunately. If you can get past that Caveman Warriors is a colorful and generally well-executed side-scrolling romp though.
Overall I'm actually very impressed with Tallowmere and would recommend it strongly to any roguelike fans out there looking for a great way to spend some time on something a bit light but still challenging.
All said for the price of admission Red Game Without a Great Name has more to offer than its lacking title would imply. With the likely frustration factor as you get further in it seems mostly suited to playing in shorter bursts and the levels are generally very quick to either complete or fail at before it takes you right back into the action again. If you enjoy some challenge and undoubtedly some aggravation in your gaming it’s not a bad budget title to check out.
Overall, as a huge fan of the Wave Race series, I’m a bit split down the middle on Utopia. There are things it does quite well and it gets points for bringing big waves to the party with some technically-challenging tracks you’ll need to maneuver well in to win. Most of the tracks are good, some are a bit lacking, but a few also move in the direction of brilliance. The most troubling issue is definitely with the frame rate while in docked mode. It isn’t constant and it isn’t crippling, but it can be difficult to miss in places. Thankfully if you don’t mind or even prefer handheld mode that becomes far less of a concern. While it isn’t a replacement for the series I love I’ll give it credit for ambition and not being a game where you race on a blue track like many other series have done. If you understand what you’re in for and have a love for racing in the waves it is certainly worth your consideration.
Overall Portal Knights is a game that gets far more right than wrong and, truth be told, I actually think its more active combat and RPG progression (among other things) make it more fun than the games that helped inspire it. There are some sacrifices that come with those differences, but this feels more like an adventure most of the time instead of just strictly a sandbox. If you’re grown accustomed to a vast online infrastructure you’ll likely be disappointed but playing with some friends is still satisfying and works well. In particular if you’re looking for a game to play with the family where everyone can have some fun I think Portal Knights may be among your best choices on the Switch.
Even without the very prevalent and apparent framerate issues Snow Moto Racing Freedom has on the Switch I think it struggles to be compelling. If you’re really into smowmobiles it’s possible your interest could be higher but treating it merely as an option for a racing game on the platform its novelty doesn’t compensate for the elements it is missing. Then open spaces are generally nice but don’t demand repeated play and the closed courses are technically challenging but not generally very fun either. As a whole these problems make it difficult to recommend.
In the end Serial Cleaner, by its style, won’t be a game for everyone but for the right people I think it will be very engaging. It’s clever in the right places, a bit funny at times to keep things light, and it will challenge your planning as well as your patience. If you enjoy stealth or creative spins on puzzle games it is a refreshing hybrid that delivers a solid challenge for the cost of admission.
In the end I must say that I’m extremely impressed with the level of care and effort that has been put into making Worms W.M.D. worthwhile. With a series like this it seems like it can be easy to get comfortable and to phone in a new iteration with better graphics and sound but Team 17 has really shown an investment in this title that’s inspiring. By adding to the game in pretty well all directions they’ve managed to take an already-fun series and make it compelling for just about anyone to check out!
All said Mantis Burn Racing plays brilliantly on the Switch whether in docked or handheld mode. Control is smooth, the drifting is satisfying, and in general it looks great. You can enjoy playing against the AI but it is far better to play with friends locally or online and in general I didn’t have issues finding people to play against since it is cross-platform to boot. If you’re willing to grind through the Career Mode in order to learn the nuances of the controls and unlock everything the game has to offer it does deliver a satisfying payoff, I just wish tastes of it came sooner.
Even at the very modest price being asked on the Switch eShop for this game right now I can’t recommend it. I like its looks and sounds, and the puzzle mechanic seems novel enough to occupy yourself with for a few hours. Unfortunately the forced touchscreen controls are implemented so wonkily that it gives you nothing but aggravation once nuance is called for pretty early on in the game. If the game is patched and this is changed, with the controls being precise, I hope to give it a more thorough review but for now I’d avoid it.
If you’ve never indulged in the series until now this pack would be an excellent opportunity to do so. They definitely represent a change of pace on the system and have core gameplay unlike just about anything I’ve played. The action is fast and pretty frantic and taking down some of the games’ bosses can take some real effort. If you’ve been craving a platforming shooter the Striker Pack is worth a look!
Overall Dead Synchronicity is a solid point-and-click style adventure. The story is something unique, the setting is certainly unfamiliar, and the imagery and tone aren’t likely to be quickly forgotten. While the voice acting isn’t uniformly excellent for the most part it manages to help pull you into the world rather than being distracted by it and for this sort of game that’s a plus. Unfortunately the warning to people intrigued by the game’s premise cannot be overstated, even though the game is interesting be aware of what you’re buying into and that the story is very much unfinished. If you can overlook that and just want to enjoy the ride credit to the developers it does deliver something unique.
While it won’t win points for its complex and challenging story or trying to push boundaries Crimsonland is a thoroughly satisfying arcade-style twin-stick shooter that I will likely return to periodically for quite some time. While it isn’t graphically very impressive and the sound is relatively limited there’s no denying the power of its gameplay. It is adrenaline-fueled, brutally challenging, over-the-top, and should be considered a must-have for shooter fans!
Ginger: Beyond the Crystal isn’t necessarily a bad game, it just struggles to work very well in most areas. In general it is all light-hearted and fun, it just feels like it needed a bit more time and expertise to help fully realize its potential. If you come in understanding its shortcomings it should be a reasonably enjoyable experience though.
Kid Tripp isn’t a game that will likely stick with you for long but that isn’t to say it can’t be a fun and light distraction for a reasonable price of admission. Its light style and classic gameplay are a welcome departure from much more serious fare on the Switch and yet once you get into the groove it tends to suck you in while it has you with a “I know I can get it on the next run” hook. As long as you understand the game’s limits it is a solid bargain of a budget title on the eShop.
If you’re looking for something very different to just dive into for a great time and some laughs for several hours there’s nothing on the platform that delivers quite like Stick it to the Man. Full of quirky charm, unexpected situations, and truly bizarre characters it’s just a breath of fresh air and not quite like anything I’ve played in quite some time. While the puzzles generally aren’t very complex they do show a great deal of creativity and can have you chuckling along the way, it is definitely a game far more about the experience than the solutions and accomplishes what it set out to do superbly.
With all of this in mind I’m pleased to say that Letter Quest Remastered does a pretty fine job of carving out a place for itself in the lineup of Switch gamers looking for something more casual. If you like to get out your thesaurus and flex your vocabulary while having to contend with the obstacles your enemies love to throw in your path it does a fine job. What helps distinguish it is the level of strategy you’ll be able to employ while doing so.
While I had high hopes for Battle Chef Brigade what stands out for me is how much they’ve exceeded my expectations on pretty well every level. I came in hoping for something in a true indie spirit that was fresh, quirky, and utterly unique. What I got was a lengthy and well-made story complete with some great characters, challenging and varied gameplay, and a strategic component that forces you to make some tough decisions in how you want to approach your battles. If you either have any affinity at all for great Match-3 play or have an open mind to trying something completely odd but that works very very well in execution I have few reservations with recommending it.