Putty Pals never falters as a cooperative experience, and, while there is the chance to struggle as a lone player, it is undeniable proof that games are often at their best when enjoyed with others. This squishy cooperative puzzle platformer may see you bouncing toward Puttopia, but it is clear to see that its real home is on Nintendo Switch – embodying everything that the plucky portable home console is all about.
Unravelling the mystery around The Count Lucanor was one of the more memorable, and chilling, gaming experiences that I have had on Nintendo Switch, and something that you shouldn’t overlook on the Nintendo eShop. It’s a shame, then, that it is over all too quickly, your time in Tenebre Castle being over in two or three hours. But, with the promise that every decision that you make counts, there are five different endings that you can reach. It just depends on whether you dare go back, to hunt them out.
Peel back the layers of mystery and intrigue, and what underpins Oxenfree is remarkably simple in approach. With nuanced storytelling at its ghostly heart, the pacing to this coming-of-age tale suffers in places but it will still enthral like no other. For Edwards Island holds many secrets, it just depends whether you want to stick around long enough to learn the truth about them all.
That largely sums up my experience with Yono and the Celestial Elephants, a passion project that wearily falls short from the potential that it clearly had. It is probably best that you wait for another millennium to see what adventures await the next elephant, which, we can hope, will be far more exciting than this one.
I worry that even fans of the show will be disappointed in Ben 10, which is a competent game, but one that never sparks any excitement, is far too short, and squanders the chance to be something greater. Being a hero can be hard work, we’re told, and it’s difficult to disagree when we’re left to suffer through games with such blinding shortcomings.
Bursting with fan service and a superb script that is packed with silly puns and quick wit, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is a (cosmic) blast to play through. Bolder in ambition and bettering its predecessor, what more could you want from what is arguably one of the developer’s best brick-built adventures in recent years.
It’s clear that there has been no compromise in what Monolith Soft had envisioned for Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and, given that we have had to wait for some time each generation, to have the chance to explore such a remarkable world so soon after the Nintendo Switch arrived is an opportunity not to be missed, and a cataclysmic close to the portable home console’s first calendar year. Sweepingly epic in every way imaginable, this grandiose adventure is quite simply an unforgettable experience. And, with that, the fate of Alrest is now in your hands.
That makes your quest for freedom in Wulverblade a memorable one, and while some balancing is needed to make it less of a frustrating experience and more one to be wholly savoured, it’s hard not to come to appreciate everything that this brutal, historical retelling has to offer.
It is because of those that Mantis Burn Racing remains an entertaining addition to the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch, with VooFoo Studios delivering a fast-paced experience that is bolstered with the expansive downloadable content. That repetition can soon seep in is a looming threat, but the chance to tweak cars to perfection is a meaningful one that, over time, will let you lean on your strengths in this otherwise addictive, competitive racer.
Touhou Kobuto V: Burst Battle is one to give a miss, then. That’s something that I take no joy in saying, either, as I had looked forward to checking it out when NIS America had announced that it was on the way to Nintendo Switch. There are certainly flickers of magic to be found, but this is a game that feels a generation or two behind where it needs to be.
Squareboy vs Bullies: Arena Edition stands up to make itself known on Nintendo Switch, but, rather than choosing to pay homage to greats such as Double Dragon and Final Fight, more inventiveness was needed to make it memorable. There’s enough to entertain for a short while, but the repetitive design and lack of any real ambition hold back its potential – resulting in an average experience that’s little more than a pushover.
With so much being left to rely on the player’s intuition, PAN-PAN won’t be an experience for everyone – its unfettered ambition coming at the risk that, despite its short length, many may not persist to see it through to the credits. But, those that choose to persevere with this tiny big adventure will be thankful for their chance to trek around a world that has been built with endearing charm. And, there’s a chance that you may start to feel less guilty as a result.
It is the unrivalled creative freedom that will soon see many shrug off the issues that LEGO Worlds has and become hooked, building towering LEGO creations that they have only been able to dream of. But, while there are fleeting glimpses at the potential behind the whole idea, there are a few bricks that are missing before it will be completely realised.
With 101 increasingly fiendish puzzles, seeing Binaries through to completion will inevitably feel like the mightiest triumph over adversity. Those with the tenacity to push on through will enjoy continually chipping away at overcoming the game’s nightmarish levels, but those looking for a less punishing experience should perhaps consider checking out other contenders in the puzzle genre on Nintendo eShop. It’s all up to you.
But, it is brevity that becomes the Achilles heel to Semispheres, an otherwise remarkable puzzle experience that is over in a few, short hours. However, I would still argue that it should be seen as time well spent that you won’t necessarily be demanding back anytime soon, but, with so much competition in the genre on Nintendo Switch now, there are other puzzlers on the Nintendo eShop that many will arguably feel that they can get more for their money from.
Thimbleweed Park is a triumphant throwback to the heyday of the adventure genre, a golden era revered for its compelling storytelling as much as its wit and charm. It succeeds on all accounts and while undeniably aimed at those that miss the classic point-and-click adventures that they grew up with, its characters investigate a modern mystery that many will happily be enthralled with. And, if you hadn’t guessed already, the dead body pixelating under the bridge is the least of your concerns.
Helping to wrap a story around Minecraft’s otherwise unexplained world is the greatest success that Minecraft: Story Mode – The Complete Adventure scores. Built with tremendous character and attention to detail it readily entertains with comedy and setpieces, but the recipe that Telltale Games chose on their crafting table could use a few more surprising ingredients to make it a more standout adventure.
Rotating the world to overcome challenges and stumble on solutions can often allow Puzzle Adventure Blockle to become a rewarding experience. But, when all is said and done, it is unremarkable and lacks the spark of ingenuity that it really needs to stand out against the ever-increasing competition on the Nintendo eShop.
It’s a testament to what an incredible achievement Cave Story+ was, or is, that it still holds up so well, remaining to be an engaging and well-paced adventure from start to finish. I had never expected to fall head over heels for the game as much as I did, wrongly believing that perhaps it wasn’t really for me. But, now that the Mimigas have been saved, all is right the world once more.
Now some four months after it launched, Infinite Minigolf packs more than enough content to see you putt to your heart’s content for weeks. It all feels understated though, lacking the outlandish spectacle that we have seen from the pinball tables that Zen Studios has created. Not without charm, it, as always, is best enjoyed with others. Just keep an eye out for Rudy’s hooves.