Alan Bell's Reviews
Skyrim now fits in your pocket. It runs shockingly well on Switch, and there are even motion controls if you want 'em. What's not to like?
City of Brass is a fairly standard rogue-lite that distinguishes itself with its setting, visual stylings, and fun-as-hell whip.
All in all, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams - Owltimate Edition is a great platformer that lets you get by as you learn and feels great to ace once you nail the skills. It looks cool, works well in both handheld and docked modes, has tight controls, and enough depth to make replaying its copious content worthwhile. Recommended.
Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle is a curious marriage of gore and puzzles which unfortunately doesn't quite it right. Fans of the franchise will get more enjoyment than others, but it's hard to recommend this puzzler to any but the most die-hard Vorhees fans.
My Hero One's Justice stays faithful to the source material and offers a wealth of quality content. The story may be a bit convoluted for those who haven't seen the anime but the depth of combat nuance will keep most fighting game fans happy.
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is a perfect addition to the Switch's ever-=growing library of excellent games. A huge amount of content, coupled with perfectly executed tight controls makes this entry a must play for any and all fans of the genre.
Jump Force could have been another great fighter but is held back by dreadful animation, a tiresome main hub, questionable mechanics and a lackluster story. Fans looking for the next great thing in Anime Fighters will likely be left unimpressed and wanting.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.