Jamie Ward


69 games reviewed
68.3 average score
70 median score
84.1% of games recommended
Apr 25, 2017

Blaster Master Zero unquestionably isn’t the finest of the modern retro games, but it is still a blast to play through. If you’re harkening for a smaller game that isn’t going to break the bank then you can certainly do a lot worse than this.

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7 / 10 - Mr. Shifty
May 6, 2017

I found Mr. Shifty to be a really fun and enjoyable game, that had a great core mechanic and played like one of my all-time favourite games. The challenge isn’t quite there however and it does get a bit repetitive the more you go on. There isn’t a great deal of replayability besides beating previous times, which isn’t enough to keep me coming back. But for those who want a short-lived but super slick and really fun game then I can certainly recommend Mr. Shifty to those people. It’s no Hotline Miami beater, but then again, what is?

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May 9, 2017

I had a number of incredibly funny moments during my time with the game. The presentation is spot on, it has some funny writing and it allows you to quite easily play an eight-player game because of the use of a phone as a controller, which isn’t something that you can say about many games out there. Just make sure you do have a stable internet connection, as it is required. Overall The Jackbox Party Pack 3, as a package, is certainly a compelling one and undoubtedly is a great addition if played with the right crowd.

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7 / 10 - KAMIKO
May 21, 2017

All of us at some point in our lives would have bought a much more inferior game than Kamiko that would have lasted a lot longer. But at the end of the day, if you get a better game at a very low price, regardless of how long the experience lasts, if you asked me which is the better deal of the two, I would go with Kamiko every day.

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Jun 4, 2017

I simply have to commend Lizardcube for the effort they have put into Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap, even if it is a remake. A lot of other companies that remake older games can learn a thing or two from this developer. It looks great, sounds great and still plays wonderfully too. It was a great game in 1989 and whilst maybe some of that greatness has now gone, because games have simply moved on since then, it is still certainly a really fun game and one that I did not want to put down from start to finish.

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Jun 22, 2017

However, Little Inferno will not be everybody’s cup of tea and at some points, you will be really enjoying the experience and then all of a sudden think the opposite, it really is that kind of game. It’s a relatively enjoyable experience but I personally would try out the two other Switch games by the same developer first before becoming a pyromaniac in Little Inferno.

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Jul 15, 2017

Human Resource Machine is a really smart game and one that makes you feel like both a mastermind at times and, well, quite the opposite too. It throws a unique spin on the puzzle genre which many fans will love but also at times grow frustrated at due to the difficulty spike.

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7 / 10 - Hey! Pikmin
Jul 25, 2017

In the end though, Hey! Pikmin is a solid game and a decent first attempt at bridging out the franchise to multiple genres. The Pikmin seem to have a lot more personality in this game than previous entries and you get to see a more playful side to them. It isn’t the longest game out there but there are plenty of things to do that will elongate the experience such as beating each level without losing any Pikmin, as that grants you a gold trophy and of course you can challenge yourself to find every single piece of treasure in the game.

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Aug 9, 2017

NBA Playgrounds is fun, of that there is no doubt. It’s just that the fun doesn’t last all that long. After playing a few matches I simply had no motivation to have another without taking a break from it first. If you’re a huge basketball fan and you’re planning on playing a lot of local multiplayer, it’ll be far more appealing to you. If all you want is a game that will ease the itch for an over the top street basketball game in the same vein as NBA Jam then this will satisfy it somewhat. Just don’t expect it to become your favourite ever basketball game, because it has some way to go.

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Sep 2, 2017

Disgaea 5 Complete keeps all the fun and charm of the series while making it somewhat easier for newcomers to jump in, which is never a bad thing to do. Just try and take the time to learn the fundamentals. If you already have the game and all of the DLC for PS4 then I would question whether you should jump in again purely for the convenience of portability, but that is a question you have to ask yourself. I genuinely hope that NIS bring more Disgaea games over as I feel the series can find a new home on the Nintendo Switch, it is absolutely perfect for this system.

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Sep 11, 2017

Metroid: Samus Returns is a great remake of a game that quite frankly, needed an upgrade. MercurySteam has done a grand job at bringing a game that was made for a black and white 8-bit handheld, and completely recreate it from the ground up for a brand new generation to enjoy. If you are a fan of the 2D Metroid series then you know exactly what you’re getting. If you are new then it is a fantastic entry point to the series and it is more than worth a playthrough. It certainly isn’t the best Metroid game in my opinion, but it’s a fine one nonetheless. Samus has returned and it puts the series well and truly back on the map.

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8 / 10 - FIFA 18
Oct 1, 2017

All in all, though, FIFA 18 on the Nintendo Switch is a really good football game and probably the one we realistically hoped we'd get when it was first announced. Those coming from the other systems might be a little put off because all the bells and whistles aren't there but most of the important things are, and that's what matters most.

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At the end of the day, however, I think the majority of people are going to play this game for the main Superstar Saga story, so what you are getting is an extremely good game that if you have never played the original, then I truly envy you. The new style they have gone for is great and it works really well to show off the emotions and charm that all of the characters possess. The improvement in graphics over the original is quite drastic but the original has its own charm and is not bad by any means. The music likewise is top-notch with plenty of great remixes of old songs and originals that will get stuck in your head all day. So all in all, while it isn’t perfect and the new Bowsers Minions mode that has been included is a bit hit and miss, it’s still a very enjoyable experience all-round. If you’re new to RPG’s and want to give one a go, then this is a great place to start. Like it did with me 14 years ago, it may make you a fan.

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Oct 10, 2017

All in all, Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns is pretty much exactly what you’d expect from a Harvest Moon or Story of Seasons game. It doesn’t really add a whole lot to the game that wasn’t already there and as such the series has slightly stuttered. Sure, fans of the series will love the game no matter what and if you are looking for a decent simulation game then you can do much worse. Having said that, unfortunately for Story of Seasons, other games in the genre have come along and been better. The tutorials are bothersome and you do need to be able to give the game time to grow on you, but once it does it somehow finds a way of gripping its teeth into you and making you addicted. It just won’t keep you addicted for a great length of time.

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Oct 16, 2017

Ultimately, Don’t Knock Twice is the type of game that the Switch does not currently have a lot of, and for that alone, some might be inclined to try it out. It’s cheap to buy and it takes less than two hours to complete, so for those that enjoyed the movie then this can be a decent companion. For everybody else, I feel there is far too little to fully enjoy the experience. There is little to no replay value, once you’ve finished the game, there is no reason to go back. If you need a horror game to play in time for Halloween, unfortunately for Switch owners, this is currently one of only a few options.

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5 / 10 - Vaccine
Oct 18, 2017

Vaccine could have been great in all honesty and I really wanted it to be. It just, unfortunately, falls some way off. Some may say it’s basically a rip-off but I see it more that the game was made for a bit of fan service for those that love the old Resident Evil games and, because of that, I can’t see it appealing to anybody else in all honesty. It is a shame that in order to see the game at its best, you need to have a bit of luck and hope that you get a good mansion layout. When I got a good layout, I actually enjoyed the experience.

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6 / 10 - Rocket Fist
Nov 3, 2017

Rocket Fist is a fun game and I don’t think anybody can ask any more than that. If you are going at it alone I would question if your money is best spent elsewhere, because while the single-player portion is fun, it’s simply not going to give you a whole lot of content. Even if you play with friends it isn’t going to keep you hooked for hours and hours, but if you want a game to add to the multiplayer collection then you can do far worse as anybody can jump in with you and have a fun time.

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7 / 10 - Runbow Pocket
Nov 8, 2017

Overall, Runbow Pocket is just as fun as it was on the Wii U with plenty of content, plenty of costumes and characters to unlock as you go through. There is just the one pretty big omission from this release that stops it being a good replacement for other versions, that being the local multiplayer. If you can get over that or if you are only looking to get the game for its single player component, then there is plenty to enjoy about Runbow Pocket. It’s a fun, colourful game that is worth jumping in and out of, which is what the New Nintendo 3DS is great for.

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Nov 20, 2017

On the whole, any concerns that the Switch would get a watered down or poor port of L.A. Noire are well and truly quashed. Yes the game isn’t perfect and it still has a few problems that haven’t been entirely addressed such as slightly clunky controls during the more tightly spaced areas, the gunplay and the not so overly specific dialogue system, but for a six-year-old game it still holds up extremely well and as mentioned earlier, some aspects have yet to be bettered. If you have never played the game before then this is a great way to experience it.

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On the whole, Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas is a decent, if not overly spectacular game. I get that they are clearly massive fans of the Zelda series and wanted to do their own game in the same vein, but I would have liked to have seen a little bit more originality and uniqueness in there. That isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy my time with the game because there were moments where I didn’t want to put it down.

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