Justin Nation's Reviews
With as many bullet hell shmups as I’ve played over the years, including ones that have dabbled in different perspectives of various kinds, I’ve simply never played anything like Astebreed. It’s visually full of detail that you’ll blow by and struggle to appreciate as your screen is full of targets, but for all of that intensity the gameplay rarely has any hitches. Once you get the controls in order it’s smooth sailing and feels very natural, even as the game constantly shifts perspective and style on you. While I couldn’t really tell you much of anything about the story, there’s certainly one there, just since it plays out while you’re desperately trying to stay alive I’m not sure you’re really meant to digest it more than in passing. If you’ve been looking for something different and intense in a bullet hell shooter, Astebreed is a solid choice.
Overall, if there’s any piece of you that has a love for a rock-solid arcade shooting experience The Bug Butcher is a wonderful surprise with an extremely fair price. If you’re an old-school gamer like me you’ll likely appreciate the nods to Pang’s iconic style but if you’re not familiar with that title it will probably just feel like a shooter with bouncing enemies that you’ll need to carefully destroy to get maximum results. Throw in global leaderboards, an ability to slowly enhance your skills, and a pretty surprising variety of weirdo bugs to deal with and it’s a very good time. While I don’t expect my high scores to last for long, it was a lot of fun getting them.
In particular if you were a bit fan of Road Rash and are itching for some of that unique satisfaction of taking people out as you go Road Redemption does have its moments and can be fun in bursts. With any amount of sustained play the formula’s lack of any real depth is difficult to miss though. In theory Online play could help to further sustain interest but two nights in a row at what I’d consider pretty prime time I’ve yet to see a single person to play with, aside from the fact that there being a sustained community for this title past the first week or two would be doubtful when there’s so much to play out there. As a bit of nostalgia or a quick burst of violent fun it may have some appeal but in general it runs out of gas far too quickly.
If the typical local multiplayer shooting fare has seemed to get a being tired and dull I’d tend to agree, the genre has been in a bit of a cookie cutter rut on the whole for a while. Varion is a breath of fresh air and not only looks pretty fantastic, it also changes up just enough to help it stand out in the gameplay department as well. So the next time you’re searching for something a bit different to play against some friends when you get together it’s well worth a look.
I believe that the intent is to make a satirical point and goof on that state of the industry but there’s nothing clever or insightful here, only bland and generic levels with very little to do and next to zero entertainment value of any kind. Satire and higher-order humor typically works to mock the subject of ridicule by running circles around it in some way by showing wit or subverting expectations (where are you The Stanley Parable?). In this case the game simply seems to wallow in mediocrity and then half-heartedly attempt to justify that by claiming that’s meant to be clever comedy.
On the whole this really covers the core experience and I’d consider that to be a love it or hate it proposition. If you don’t mind cheap deaths and will continue to find the many forms it takes amusing as you try to trip through the veritable minefield in every segment between checkpoints this may work for you. However, if after a while you think your patience may run thin as you can’t quite memorize where you need to stand or jump or dodge out of the way at a given moment it will likely grate on your nerves instead.
With a visual style that feels inspired by a combination of The Binding of Isaac and Hotline Miami, with its unusual pixel art style and use of neon colors in places, it does have a shooting feel of its own but it’s pretty simple overall...
While it hasn’t aged particularly well, especially trying to follow such a strong title as Dead Cells which really took everything this game does and amped it up significantly, I very much appreciate Rogue Legacy’s vision and approach. While it may not have been the first roguelike by any means it’s the first title I personally remember showing me the potential for the genre and turning me into a fan. If you don’t have nostalgia for the title directly, or aren’t very curious about earlier roguelikes, you can pass this one up. However, if you’re a true roguelike fan you owe it to yourself to see an early pioneering title that should help you to understand how far the genre had come.
In terms of downsides the biggest issue is that for all of its quirks it plays a bit generically in the end. There are simply a ton of great twin-stick shooters on the Switch and The Walking Vegetables may have some visual style but its gameplay is firmly in the middle of the road. I wish the skills would have thrown a bone earlier on, as perhaps that could show the potential course for how things could continue to develop and change but for the most part they simply take too many runs to gain access to so they’re didn’t do much to help. If you’ve burned through the other shooting options and are looking for a fix The Walking Vegetables works well as a healthy snack but doesn’t quite work as a main course.
If you’re down for a somewhat unusual narrative where you’re a very active participant, able to hit characters from a variety of angles to tease out the truth, The Shapeshifting Detective may appeal to you. As long as you walk in with the expectation that there’s only so much room for player choice it may not be too disappointing. Compared to previous titles as a whole this entry feels a bit more jerky with the camera work and isn’t quite as cohesive, but it is certainly a novel experience with some decent acting propping it up. To get a taste for it’s style it is definitely recommended that you check out some video of the gameplay first to see if it suits you.
All in all Moonlighter is a refreshing mix of multiple game styles that kept me coming back for more. The dungeons keep changing things up and while they start out intimidating with experience and better gear you’ll begin to become more confident and capable. The shopkeeping aspect may not be nearly as thrilling but the reward of determining the optimum price for each item is its own reward, especially when you’re then able to bring back high-priced items and know you’ll be able to rake in the gold coins that you can then use to further improve your situation. It has a very satisfying loop and has enough diversity in its combat options that it’s likely just about anyone can get sucked into this hero’s adventures.
After being introduced to what’s happening with a ridiculous premise that then has no real bearing on the action that follows at all you’ll be thrown into playing with minimal direction...
All in all, even years into its life, Diablo III is an amazingly strong title that may have had a rocky start way back at launch but has course corrected and improved substantially over the years. It offers a ridiculous degree of variety in how you can approach combat, a tremendous menagerie of monsters and bosses to contend with, and the variety of things to do after you’ve “beat the game” is staggering if you enjoy grinding to get that ideal build. Even if you’re just planning to play through the story with a class or two that will take you quite a number of hours and with a wide array of skill levels to set the game to you can push yourself hard or opt to slaughter everything in your path. The fact that all of this can now be taken anywhere you go and plays practically flawlessly is a true testament to what the system and the development team who converted the title are capable of.
With its very colorful and cheery presentation through and through it’s certainly pretty relaxing to play, assuming matching groups of same-colored fish doesn’t stress you out in principle alone...
Between the somewhat different way that its story and details reveal themselves, the terrific music and visuals, and the custom-catered abilities you’ll use in challenging combat Transistor is a satisfying cyberpunk romp. No matter how powerful you may feel the Process continues to send new enemies and scenarios at you so you’ll need to experiment and adapt, keeping everything engaging throughout. While the story feels like it’s over a bit too soon it’s a satisfying ride and if you want even more challenging combat you then always have the Sandbox and New Game + to indulge in.
All in all Save Me Mr. Tako is a surprisingly lengthy and challenging title, much moreso than its cute, almost Kirby-like, retro looks would imply. For the most part it works well playing in bursts as many levels take just a few minutes to complete, though as the difficulty rises it may take a few attempts. Completionists will really need to work to grab all of the hats in the game, keeping track of various locations and details you encounter that will lead you to new areas. If you don’t mind some cheap hits and are up for a retro challenge Mr. Tako should keep you busy for a while.
While I was nervous about Mutant Football League, wondering if its style of play would still work today, I’m happy to report that it has managed to capture pretty well everything I love about arcade-style football and wrapped it up in violent weirdness. With each team having its own Dirty Tricks that continued to surprise me, different on-field hazards to contend with, and a surprisingly deep number of available formations and plays it has actually done solid work in moving much closer to the depth of a series like Madden than I would have expected. Certainly the included Dynasty mode underlines that commitment as well, and expands the appeal of the game to people who enjoy the management end of things on top of the action. Mutant Football League is the only football option currently on the Switch but I’m happy to say it doesn’t take the position at the top of the non-pile only by default. While it may have some rough edges it is a satisfying game that should offer a fair amount of mileage and it absolutely makes me ask the question: Now when do we get Mutant Hockey League?!?!
All in all Save Me Mr. Tako is a surprisingly lengthy and challenging title, much moreso than its cute, almost Kirby-like, retro looks would imply...
While Gal Metal won’t be for everyone it’s absolutely a unique title that caught me by surprise on multiple levels and that grew on me as I got more comfortable with its approach to the music. Much like real improv getting started with playing around in the music with different beats and combinations can be a complete mess, but with time and some confidence you can surprise yourself. While the story elements are completely bizarre they at least made me laugh, though I’d be curious just how much cultivating friendships and building specific stats influence things. Regardless, Gal Metal is a fresh take on music games and stands out from the crowd if you don’t mind its quirks.
Appropriately released on Halloween, Death Mark is a title that has the power to suck you in and give you a range of feelings from dread to some scares depending on how you react to weird images and sudden jumps in music. Playing out as a mix of interactive novel and traditional adventure it has a flair to it, but you’ll also need to invest some time in it before it bears fruit. If you’re able to dedicate your full attention to it, playing it as was intended, it does heighten tensions nicely. While it won’t be satisfying if you’re in search of action and thrills, if you’re down for ghost stories that you experience at a slower pace it may be satisfying.