Jamie Ward


69 games reviewed
68.3 average score
70 median score
84.1% of games recommended

It’s strange to get a game and its sequel to both play largely the same, but appeal to different people. The first Resident Evil Revelations hasn’t aged amazingly well, looks a bit rough around the edges, and has a few dodgy moments, but overall it is good, single-player Resident Evil game that tries its best to use the formula of number 4 but also goes back to a more survival horror style. Whereas Resident Evil Revelations 2 is easily best played in co-op, so much so it’s hard to recommend to somebody wanting to play it by themselves. With the right friend, it’s a ton of fun and is probably the best co-op experience on the Nintendo Switch right now. The Resident Evil series has had its fair share of missteps, but these two games were, and are, a step in the right direction. Nintendo Switch owners are in for a treat.

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Dec 4, 2017

Overall, I enjoyed my time with Völgarr the Viking and I think a lot of that came down to the nostalgic feeling it gave me whilst playing. Certain areas in the game were a bit bland and uninspired, but the gameplay is smooth and responsive, load times are non-existent so anytime you die you get straight back into the action, only to probably die again. But I think that you simply have to ask yourself if you are ready for the challenge at hand because at times it’s very unforgiving. If you stick with it, you will eventually have tons of fun.

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Dec 10, 2017

After the exceedingly sub-standard Mighty No. 9, you can understand feeling a bit uneasy playing a game using the same character in the same universe. But I have to say that I was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed playing through Mighty Gunvolt Burst. It’s not the longest game in the world, sure, but it’s a fun one. The controls feel really tight, platforming, shooting, it feels good, it feels as if it was a Mega Man game, and that’s the biggest compliment I can give it. So if you’re a retro fan and are itching for a Mega Man-type experience to play before the actual Blue Bomber comes along himself then you can do mightily worse than Mighty Gunvolt Burst.

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Dec 18, 2017

If you have a Switch and want this game, then it's really hard to find you a good reason to purchase this over the Switch version. I couldn't give you a single reason why, given the choice, you would ever side with the 3DS version, unless maybe you really love having a map on the second screen. It is of course always going to play second fiddle to it's more powerful comrade, naturally, but if you focus on pure gameplay then they are virtually identical, so don't think you're being short-changed if you only have a 3DS to play it on. It's a game, like Hyrule Warriors, that isn't for everyone, but those that enjoyed that game are going to have tons of fun with this title too. There is still life yet left in Nintendo's everlasting handheld.

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3 / 10 - WWE 2K18
Dec 20, 2017

That’s about as far as the good parts of WWE 2K18 go, unfortunately. And again, all of these good aspects are content-based, it doesn’t change the fact that the main aspect of the game is still awful. I still don’t know why publishers release games in a state like this and think it’s okay, but there may be some ray of light for Nintendo owning wrestling fans though, as I have no doubt that there will be a performance patch at some point down the line, as the same happened with 2K Games’ other Switch game, NBA 2K18. But still, that’s not a guarantee. Until then, stay well away from WWE 2K18. Just like the WWE tell us in their promos, don’t try this at home, school or anywhere else.

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6 / 10 - Yooka Laylee
Jan 3, 2018

The 3D platforming genre is sadly dying out, but it’s one of the reasons why Yooka-Laylee was so highly anticipated in the first place. It, unfortunately, doesn’t hit all the right notes and I think that everybody that has followed this game from the very beginning, expected a little bit better. Maybe it is indeed us that have hyped this game up too much, but I also think that when you label your game as a spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie, you’re kind of adding that hype up yourself. It’s not a bad game by any means, however. By following the Banjo blueprint already set out, the fundamental gameplay elements on offer are superb and Yooka-Laylee is still fun, mostly. It’s a solid start for Playtonic, I just hope that with their next game, they let their talents run wild rather than sticking too close to the subject matter.

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Jan 8, 2018

The game is decent in length and it’s roughly the same as those that influenced Cursed Castilla EX. There are plenty of secrets to be found and you’re definitely not going to find them all during your first playthrough and there are also four different endings to unlock so it’s definitely worth replaying, especially if you are a completionist. If retro-inspired games are your thing then this is well worth the time and effort and you’re going to really enjoy the challenge this will bring. A really, really good game that deserves to be on your 3DS console.

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5 / 10 - Morphite
Jan 22, 2018

Morphite does a lot of things right. It’s just a shame that it also does a lot of things wrong too. It does a good job in giving the impression that you are visiting many different worlds, but sometimes these areas feel quite empty which is something that has been said many times for a game of this type. My biggest gripe is the combat and aiming system and if that’s something that you can get over, then you will find a surprisingly deep and enjoyable game here.

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7 / 10 - Uno
Feb 5, 2018

The biggest barrier for people would be that not only is UNO cheaper to buy in its physical form, it also allows you to play proper competitive matches against friends and family, which isn’t possible on the Switch unless you have multiple consoles and multiple versions of the game. Playing this version of it does have its advantages, but whilst you can only play against the CPU and online on the digital version of UNO, there’s no reason why you couldn’t play a co-op match with the physical deck. But overall, if you are looking for a streamlined and easy to play version of the classic card game, then why not try your hand with UNO for the Switch.

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4 / 10 - Spellspire
Feb 12, 2018

Spellspire isn’t a bad game, it is simply let down by the fact that it hasn’t been adapted fully for consoles. It is still a mobile game at heart, just now without any in-app purchases. To me, that is what is most infuriating because I would recommend this game to most people if it meant you didn’t have to go back to each level multiple times and grind until you are strong enough to finally progress. For this reason, it’s hard to recommend to people unless you truly love word games of this ilk, because if you do, regardless of whether you care about doing the same levels over and over, you’re still going to have fun playing.

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Feb 16, 2018

The amount of modes that Snow Moto Racing Freedom has to offer is great, but the most important thing is the gameplay and it is rather bland with some dubious controls and a big framerate issue. This is a genre of racing games that the Switch doesn’t have yet, it stands alone. So by default, it is the best winter racing game on the system. However, in no way does that mean that if you really love racing games of this ilk, you’re going to enjoy this one, because truth be told, you probably won’t.

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Feb 21, 2018

So, a Wave Race substitute this is not. Aqua Moto Racing Utopia tries to imitate Nintendo’s classic racer but it never comes anywhere close to it in all honesty. Which is a massive shame because this could have filled a gap for a lot of Nintendo 64 and GameCube era Nintendo fans like me. This is an improvement on the developer’s other recent racing game, Snow Moto Racing Freedom, but I think that might only be because racing on water with a jet-ski is much better than racing in the snow on a snowmobile. The main thing that this game does more than anything, is that it makes me want a new Wave Race game more than ever.

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Feb 23, 2018

Ultimately, The Coma: Recut’s biggest problem might be that it is a bit too simple in design and maybe having a few other gameplay elements would have pushed it a level higher. But in the end, I never expected to like it as much as I did and I thoroughly enjoyed my five or so hour playthrough. With a sequel teased, I’m eagerly awaiting what is to come because they have a base already there to make something truly wonderful.

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Mar 1, 2018

Layers of Fear: Legacy is more about the story than anything else, so make sure you’re prepared for that when you go in. It’s a game that if you allow it to, will just completely grip you and won’t let go, and because it is up to you to uncover a lot of the story by searching around, you will want to explore the mansion for just that bit longer. It is also very creative and clever with its use of set-pieces and, on the face of it, random room setups, which helps the game from ever becoming overly dull or boring. I can now say, with ease, that the Nintendo Switch has its first great, proper horror game. It may also be one of the best horror games of the last few years on any platform.

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Mar 11, 2018

Detention is a game that deserves your attention. It may not be the most gripping gameplay wise, but everything else that encompasses it is undoubtedly top-class. The chilling atmosphere and just overall tension the game presents to you, coupled with the excellent and original story helps eliminate its overly simple gameplay problem. It seems like horror games are finding its feet on the Switch now, so if you have finished Layers of Fear and The Coma and are itching for more top-notch horror experiences, then you need to play Detention.

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Mar 20, 2018

I have to be honest, I was going to score this game much worse based on performance alone. It really was that bad and at times it was almost like watching a slideshow. But in its now fixed state, it’s hard to pick many issues I had with the game to be brutally honest. It won’t be the most exciting game you’re ever going to play but it is well worth its five-hour playthrough. I’m not fully convinced that the style of game will suit everybody and I think it is quite a divisive game, but I would urge anybody to give this a try, because if it clicks with you it can easily be one of your favourite games of this year. There aren’t many games like this around and that needs to be changed.

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Mar 21, 2018

A highly recommended game if you grew up with point-and-click adventures of yesteryear and whilst it won’t be for everyone, even if you’ve never experienced one of those types of games before you can do a lot worse than choosing this one as your first. The Darkside Detective was yet another surprising indie title on the Switch in terms of quality. A really funny and quirky adventure that I thoroughly enjoyed playing from start to finish, it just doesn’t last anywhere near as long as I wanted it to. So my advice would be to treasure it and hope this isn’t the last we see of The Darkside Detective as a series, as there is so much potential in any future sequels.

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3 / 10 - Hollow
Mar 24, 2018

I have to say, a game like Hollow has so much potential and it could have been one the best horror games on the Nintendo Switch had some basic aspects had been right, such as the movement and combat. But what it ends up being is a game that doesn’t have many redeeming features or qualities. It’s too slow and lethargic, the display is a little off-putting after a while and it doesn’t run well playing in Handheld mode, which is a major feature of the Switch. If you’re looking to fill your horror gaming needs, put this down towards the bottom of the list.

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Mar 30, 2018

The Long Reach could easily be considered as one of the better point-and-click games of recent years providing you like your games to be a bit more challenging. If you’re easily frustrated you will probably give up way before the four or so hours it takes to beat the game, which is a shame because it’s a title that has something to give. It has an intriguing story that will make you want to carry on, but the narrative is a little off sometimes, which counteracts what it is trying to achieve. It’s certainly an alienating game, one that has some serious glitches, but those that stick it out and for those who enjoy classic games in this style, there is certainly enjoyment to be had.

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8 / 10 - Outlast II
Apr 7, 2018

Outlast 2 is a fantastic technical achievement on the Nintendo Switch with a good story and a setting that is impressively and increasingly atmospheric. It isn’t for everybody though, as some of the stealth mechanics used will grow increasingly tiresome for some. As such it isn’t perfect but it improves upon a lot of things that Outlast did wrong and is a better game overall than that title. If you’re a horror fan then it’s a must play, it is as simple as that. It is one of, if not the best horror game currently available on the Switch. Get your headphones at the ready.

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