Justin Nation Avatar Image

Justin Nation

Windsor, PA
The Nindersect
Nindersect

Favorite Games:
  • Rocket League
  • Neon Abyss
  • Wreckfest

4451 games reviewed
70.7 average score
71 median score
43.5% of games recommended

Justin Nation's Reviews

Strangely enough this isn't my first rodeo, back in the day I wrote for the N64HQ as well as a few other outlets on freelance gigs but then when the HQ closed I decided to step it up and started The 64 Source. As the first word of a follow-up system to the N64 began to swirl I then decided to venture out into completely new territory and started OperatioN2000, where I had very little regular reputable news to share. With no other options I decided create my own content focused on profiling key developers and their current relationship with Nintendo or "dream games" where I saw opportunities for Nintendo to dust off classics or recently-made games and do something new with them on improved hardware. This was all going pretty well until my wife and I decided to have our first child and I then decided that it was time to hang it up and focus on my family. As I closed down both sites I did decide to partner with Billy Berghammer, another former N64HQ writer, who had created his own site, PlanetN2000. We agreed to move over the relevant content from the older sites to his and on top of that I had taken a grad school class in programming in ColdFusion and decided to offer to code the front-end and back-end for a new version of his site. Through these efforts the newer and more complete Planet GameCube was born! While I would occasionally contribute to that site, helping do things like working out Louie the Cat doing rumors and other odd things, I eventually decided to stop as my family obligations grew. While I had continued to follow Nintendo through both the Wii and Wii U eras my TV time was limited enough that I began playing more PC games again. It is in the PC space that I began to play a number of independent games and they started to be the games I enjoyed the most. Between their lower price, their often less traditional gameplay and approach, and their great variety I was hooked! With the launch of the Nintendo Switch I was already excited by the possibilities. The portability factor alone meant that I would have far more options and places I could play away from the TV, and games like Breath of the Wild looked impressive. With my oldest daughter poised to start her senior year in high school and my youngest finishing out junior high I started to see an opportunity to get back into amateur games journalism once again with what is now Nintendo World Report as well but I'd initially just thought about writing some editorials periodically. Then, right before the launch of the system, Nintendo had their Nindie-focused presentation and I saw my two most beloved gaming worlds colliding. The games I had been playing on my PC could now be played in a portable way and on Nintendo hardware! Being the type who tends to work against the normal current the concept behind Nindie Spotlight was born!
8 / 10.0 - Depixtion
Feb 28, 2020

While for many years the Picross series has sat safely at the top of its own puzzle kingdom, seeing threats from other comers but never really breaking a sweat to match or surpass them, the times they are a-changin...

Read full review

Feb 28, 2020

This is one of those titles that I like to imagine back to its initial elevator pitch: "OK, so you really love sports, right, and soccer (or football, depending) is a worldwide phenomenon game...

Read full review

7.2 / 10.0 - Spartan Fist
Feb 28, 2020

Taking risks and seeing if new ideas will pay off is all part of the indie development process...

Read full review

7 / 10.0 - BE-A Walker
Feb 28, 2020

Ever since Return of the Jedi who hasn't contemplated taking the role of an AT-ST pilot and ramping through some Ewok villages, shooting and stomping the little buggers while laughing maniacally? Or is it just me? Wisely side-stepping the inevitable lawsuits that making such a game outright would inspire the people behind BE-A Walker take the basics of that experience and let you roll with it...

Read full review

6.2 / 10.0 - Bucket Knight
Feb 28, 2020

There's nothing wrong with a decent throwback budget platforming shooter when they manage to recapture the excitement of years past...

Read full review

2.4 / 10.0 - Ski Sniper
Feb 28, 2020

I actually debated reviewing this game because it irritates me so much...

Read full review

Feb 27, 2020

If you’re going to bring a tower defense title over from the mobile space the Kingdom Rush series is absolutely the one to go with...

Read full review

7.2 / 10.0 - MX Nitro
Feb 27, 2020

With a somewhat limited repertoire of racing/sports games on Switch when a new one comes to the scene there can be some pretty intense interest in how well it performs...

Read full review

Feb 27, 2020

I'll be the first to admit that interactive novels as games don't typically do it for me, they too often either lack in richness I expect in a well-written narrative or I just don't find there's enough for me to do other than click along to advance to the next block of text...

Read full review

7.1 / 10.0 - Heaven Dust
Feb 27, 2020

I'll admit, I haven't to this point seen a sort of zombie survival adventure title on Switch so it's nice to have Heaven Dust filling in that block on my indie Bingo card...

Read full review

7 / 10.0 - Underhero
Feb 27, 2020

From the story, to the general action, to the fact that its combat is turn-based with timing-based bonuses akin to the likes of Super Mario RPG and others, UnderHero is plain different...

Read full review

6.8 / 10.0 - Served!
Feb 27, 2020

When it comes to local multiplayer party games variety is always a good thing, especially since you may be playing with non-gamers, people of any age, or skill level before even accounting for personal tastes...

Read full review

6.8 / 10.0 - Soul Axiom Rebooted
Feb 27, 2020

Featuring some cool aesthetics, whether large set piece environments, neon-lit landscapes, or the reality-altering powers you get to wield, Soul Axiom Rebooted has its merits...

Read full review

6.3 / 10.0 - Kemono Heroes
Feb 27, 2020

Playing this was a bit odd for me, as in many ways it feels like a game I somehow played before in the SNES era but I can't quite put a finger on its name...

Read full review

Feb 26, 2020

Ever since the early days of the genre I’ve been a big fan of a good beat-em-up...

Read full review

7 / 10.0 - Portal Dogs
Feb 26, 2020

With an abundance of puzzle games on the Switch making an impression is a challenge...

Read full review

Feb 25, 2020

With a bit of a window remaining until the release of Animal Crossing, if you’ve been looking for something relaxing and structured to occupy your attention you’ll be in luck with Rune Factory...

Read full review

7.2 / 10.0 - MathLand
Feb 24, 2020

When people typically think of educational games they do so with a bit of a groan...

Read full review

Simulations, by their nature, can be a varied and sometimes interesting bunch...

Read full review

Feb 21, 2020

When you're trying to catch people's attention in a genre as crowded as puzzlers on the Switch it pays to do something a bit different...

Read full review