Alan Bell's Reviews
Complex mechanics wrapped in a overly-childish shell leaves the latest entry in the Pokemon series feeling like a missed opportunity with no clear target audience. From it's dire gameplay, to its tedious mechanics and terrible story, there's little to love here. This unfortunately is one you definitely do not want to catch...
One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows falls terribly short in almost every aspect. While the premise works well in the world of Anime, it does not translate well to the format of Gaming. A combination of lackluster gameplay, woeful voice-acting and a story as bland as they come, even die-hard fans of the series would be doing themselves a favour in avoiding this one at all costs.
Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales is a wonderful addition to the Switch. While it may not appeal to all fans, those who enjoyed Gwent in The Witcher 3 will find a lot to love. There's enough nuance and strategy for those hungry for a challenge and it does a great job of adding to the mythology of the world and it's excellent characters.
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition is one of the best RPGs available on the sSwitch and is by far the most content rich version currently available. While the Switch version may not look quite as great as its big console brothers, the wealth of content on offer will have you busy for well over one hundred hours. From its stunning character and enemy design, to its pitch-perfect turn-based combat, DQ XI S is a grand slam on every level and an essential addition to any RPG fans Switch library.
Tiny Metal: Full Metal Rumble attempts to fill the void left by Advance Wars, but struggles meet expectations. Several issues with the games UI lead to more frustration than fun.
Dragon Quest Builders 2 takes everything that made the first entry great, and refines it. While the core combat can be a bit on the dull side, the incredible options available for building and crafting make this one an absolute joy to play. Anyone remotely interested in building games and RPGs should do themselves a favour and play it ASAP. You'll quickly get lost in a charming world with seemingly endless options for fun.
Extremely lame animation and ultra-awkward pauses are just two of the many issues this game engine is plagued with. It’s been an issue since the beginning, of course, but as someone who dips in at the launch of an expansion and then drifts away over time, it’s always a harsh reminder of just how bad this system is each time I re-sub and fire up the game again. Why they insist on using it so often when it’s so bad is beyond me - there are other options, people!
Super Mario Maker 2 is a joyous experience jam-packed with seemingly never-ending content thanks to its rich suite of editing tools and a thoroughly talented community of level designers. No matter your skill level, you'll find something to love here, from it's wonderfully tight gameplay to the outstanding level-creator.
Jupiter & Mars may just induce the most motion sickness we've yet to encounter in a VR title to date. Boring gameplay mechanics lead to an altogether forgettable and dull experience. Younger players may enjoy what the game has to offer, but when there are so many other amazing PSVR games out there right now, it's hard to recommend to any but the most die-hard dolphin or neon fanatics.
Blood & Truth absolutely nails VR with a high-octane ride through a cinematic story filled with action packed moments and some of the best gunplay we've seen on PSVR to date. If you own a PSVR setup, you need this game. For those that don't have the headset, now may be the time to make the jump.
Sniper Elite V2 Remastered lacks any of the polish typical with modern remasters and struggles under the weight of dated design and poor presentation. What could have been a fun little jaunt through Nazi territory devolves into an altogether lackluster experience. Only for the most die-hard sniper fans.
MLB The Show 19 is another fine entry in the series, with Sony San Diego doing what they do best. The new Moments and March to October modes offer some dynamic new ways to play, while the rest of the game finds a strong balance between engaged control for the parts that matter, while offering an autopilot for the things that aren't for everyone.
One Piece: World Seeker is lacking in so many areas. It may be lovely to look at, but an overall shallow and repetitive experience take away any semblance of joy fans are likely to find.
Yoshi's Crafted World is another successful main game Switch debut for one of Nintendo's favourite characters and is wonderfully accessible for every kind of gamer. The games adorable art style is a joy to behold, and it's always fun to play with a friend in co-op. It may not be perfect, but it's a lovely little adventure that should be experienced by all fans.
The Division 2 is easily the best of its type; it has the right balance of fun, challenge, dopamine loot drops, and sweet graphics that all but guarantee I'll be playing this one for a long, long time to come. If you haven't jumped in yet and think this might be for you, hesitate no longer - Ubisoft has absolutely nailed it the second time around.
Ape Out's near-perfect procedural polyrhythmic gameplay and music stays fun and exciting throughout. The games unique art style lends itself perfectly to the chaos and murder carried out by the games titular ape. While it can be a bit on the challenging side at times, the tight gameplay and frantic action will keep you coming back for 'just one more run' long into the night.
Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn may be a bit forging for die-hard platforming fans, but it still manages to offer a fun adventure for gamers of all ages. While minor control issues hold that game back from the greatness typically associated with Nintendo platformers, its more laid back approach and focus on straight-forward fun is the perfect entry point for those new to the genre.
Q.U.B.E. 2 is a welcome addition to the puzzle genre but is not without its technical hiccups on the Switch. While it struggles occasionally under the hood, if you're willing to look past these shortcomings, there's a fun game with its fair share of brain-bending challenges for die-hard puzzle fiends.
DiRT Rally 2.0 is a master-class in how to do the rally genre justice. While it certainly presents a steep learning curve, rally enthusiasts will find a lot to love in Codemasters' latest entry in the highly-revered DiRT franchise.
X-Morph: Defense is a superb tower defense title with a twist. Those looking for solid action with a side of strong strategic elements will find a lot to love with EXOR Studios excellent take on the genre.