WarioWare: Get it Together is a strong addition to the series. Its character-based gameplay adds a unique spin to moment-to-moment gameplay, even if most players will only use about half the roster. An irreverent and crude sense of humor elevates the experience and makes you wonder if Nintendo’s other franchises wouldn’t be better served by becoming a bit more messy.
Mario Golf: Super Rush is a frustrating game from a frustrating developer. Camelot seems to have learned nothing from Mario Tennis Aces’ poor launch, and with future updates promised, it seems they aim to fix Super Rush’s flaws through content updates. Make no mistake – Mario Tennis Aces is a better title than Mario Golf: Super Rush, but perhaps Super Rush will follow in its footsteps once again and turn into a better game in a couple of months. For now, this is a title with great ideas that are held back by amateurish development choices.
Cyber Shadow‘s level design is so good that you’d be forgiven for thinking Yacht Club both developed and published the title. The game is superbly paced, ripe for multiple replays, and visually polished. It won’t win over those who don’t love retro action platformers, but even casual fans of the genre will love this one.
Ikenfell captures the charm of its muses and adds its own flavor to create something unique and rewarding. It’s a clear labor of love, and the result was well worth the effort.
Cindered Shadows confirmed what I'd been thinking for a while now. I want the next Fire Emblem game to take place in Fodlan, either a prequel or a sequel. Three Houses' world has been expertly crafted and I'm just not ready to leave it. Not even close.
Pokemon Sword and Shield meet expectations, but don't take advantage of the chance to evolve into something special. These games are generally quite fun, though terrible online offerings and a lack of innovation make one wonder if the series is going stagnant.
Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom brings a long dormant franchise back into the limelight for a whole new generation to enjoy.
Despite all of its glaring short comings, Mario Tennis Aces is close to something great. If the core gameplay was balanced, it would earn a 4/5 despite a lackluster single player campaign and terrible UI. Future updates could make the game great, but right now Aces is like a talented professional too lazy to put in the work needed to crack the Top 30.
DOOM does more than fill a niche currently unoccupied on Switch. It's a standout shooter that blurs the line between fps and action game. With a detailed campaign and plenty of additional modes to keep you coming back, DOOM is more than worthy of a place in your catalog.
Although ARMS may not be perfect, it's a really good time playing both online and locally with friends. Its single player offerings are underwhelming, and more story content to experience and the removal or refinement of the three bland mini-games would have pushed ARMS to near perfection.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia brings a lesser known chapter in the franchise's history to the forefront. Its compelling gameplay, top notch presentation, and captivating cast of characters make it one of the best entries in the 27-year-old franchise.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe makes the small changes needed to differentiate itself from its inferior Wii U version. It's a worthy purchase regardless of the time you've spent playing the same tracks on the Wii U, as the battle mode will keep you entertained for years to come. For any fan of local Mario Kart multiplayer, this is a no brainer. Still, I can't fully recommend buying it for online play until Nintendo resolves poor connectivity issues.
Snake Pass is a one of a kind game from Sumo Digital. It's atmosphere, control scheme, and well hidden collectables make it one of my biggest surprise games of 2017. A bad camera is the only significant complaint I have, although that is definitely a problem in a game like this. Still, those brief moments of frustration don't change the fact that this is one heck of a game for just $20. There's a lot of room for this concept to grow, and I look forward to more Noodle and Doodle adventures in the near future.
Perhaps the best compliment I can pay Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is that, when push came to shove, I often found myself choosing to play it instead of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. I haven't been this in love with a game since Fire Emblem: Awakening released back in 2013. Do yourself a favor and buy it if you haven't already. You won't find better value anywhere else.