Dan Thompson's Reviews
A work of art that I can’t recommend enough.
I can't recommend What Remains of Edith Finch enough if anyone has yet to play it. With so many incredible games that are currently coming to Switch, it's important to support the special titles coming from publisher Annapurna Interactive. Its explorations of loss and tragedy left me emotional on numerous occasions, yet it also holds an uplifting and edifying emotional core. This experience remains undiminished thanks to a comprehensive port that doesn't make any drastic sacrifices to the performance and visuals. As far as I'm concerned, it's required reading for those passionate about storytelling in video games.
For those of you which fantasied about your favorite DC characters fighting by bumping your action figures together, Injustice 2 extends that fantasy into an impressively executed video game. There's a lot to offer, and it will take you hundreds of hours to unlock everything, let alone attain the Platinum Trophy. The game's depth in fighting, story, and customisation options make it a worthy addition to not only any fighting gamer's library – but demands to be tried by people of all tastes.
Dragon Marked for Death is one of the most rewarding sidescrolling games I have played ever, and it’s easily recommended due to its immense polish.
Game Freak has succeeded in creating a new core entry worthy of being on home consoles, and Pokémon Sword and Shield are a couple of the best games on Nintendo Switch.
Liberated, despite some minor visual downgrades, is a standout title for Nintendo Switch. I was fully immersed by both the action and story all the way through. Atomic Wolf has done a commendable job of adapting the power and potential of comic books as a video game. The developers have stuck the landing, and I'm excited to see what stories and experiences they end up creating next.
Those that are obsessed with Shelley’s original novel will find this a worthy supplement. Those that aren’t will still find the experience enjoyable in its artistry.
When you purchase a copy of AVICII Invector, a part of the royalties go to The Tim Bergling Foundation. A non-profit whose focus is on advocating for mental health awareness which was established by Bergling’s parents after he tragically committed suicide in 2018. Apart from contributing to this benefit, AVICII Invector is a standout rhythm game worth your attention due to its unique mechanics, visuals, and story.
Overall, there should really be more games like this latest effort from Toge Productions. They’re a reprieve from both the sensory overload of games that dominate big-budget titles and independent games that try to be something larger than they need to be. The stories in Coffee Talk find comfort and more meaning in being personal, and the presentation is executed in ways that only enhance this storytelling.
Playing Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch handheld was still inherently delightful, getting to enjoy its world, characters, and presentation again. I was likewise swept away by the gorgeous orchestral score, and I would relive the emotional tenacity of the game’s messages on childlike empathy.
Since it’s polished in almost every regard with its gameplay and presentation, it’s possible Children of Morta would’ve benefited from a more focused design direction rather than a rogue-lite dungeon-crawling experience.
Making History expands vanilla Kerbal Space Program to a point in which you'll be receiving your time's worth. As to the underlying quality of the title, even though the baked-in missions are inspiring and well-designed, how the fanbase for Kerbal eventually uses the mission creator will be the deciding factor.
Objectively The Disney Afternoon Collection is quite the value. Priced at £15.99/$19.99, Capcom has given gamers quite the appetising package, whether you're familiar with Capcom's retro Disney games or not. Once again, the production values and accuracy of these emulations are second-to-none, but it's the added features – like the rewind option and abundance of original artwork – that makes this selection essential.
While lacking the portable aspects of the original, the ability to plug in some expensive headphones or utilise a home theater system is a mandatory experience if you've only played the Vita version, as the astonishingly high quality of the music and visuals deserve to be played in the biggest way possible.
Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 has more variety than its predecessor due to the titles spanning both different systems and different decades. Just like the Disney Afternoon Collection, there's a plethora of bonus content included here, spanning art galleries and music libraries. This is another essential compilation for fans of the Blue Bomber.
If you're looking for something different this Halloween season, Vampyr is one of the most impressive horror games on the Nintendo Switch. If you're sold on the concept, this game definitely deserves your attention.
Overall, you’re getting a massive amount of content in Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection, with the port of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag being one of the more impressive examples of an open-world game on Nintendo’s handheld and Assassin’s Creed Rogue being worthy of a playthrough if you haven’t yet played it.
Bloodroots' cartoony action kept me engaged through its entire campaign. While it can be more difficult to enjoy handheld due to the likes of Nintendo Switch Lite's smaller screen, the gameplay is utterly unique and justifies a playthrough.
Vasilis isn’t going to be the type of game for someone who’s looking for a “fun” experience with engaging gameplay. Instead, it’s the sort of title that uses the artistic potential of video games to provide perspective. It excels in this area thanks to a unique presentation style and is worth the investment for those looking to play something different.
Journey to the Savage Planet finds greatness from the gameplay design in its DNA and its laid-back atmosphere, hitting the marks in these areas thanks to a smartly smaller scope.