Rive: Ultimate Edition is a fantastic addition to any action-loving Switch owner's library. The action is almost non-stop, and the difficulty feels well-balanced between putting you at the edge of death while still giving you the means to overcome it. The game length feels just right thanks to this challenge, and the many different modes amplify the high score chase that becomes the impetus to keep playing. For a studio's final game, this is the best possible way to leave a lasting impression.
In the end, Deadbeat Heroes is undone by its own mechanics. The faster fighting is hindered by a lack of targets to aim for, while the lack of attack variety means that the excitement of combat can quickly be diminished. It is the grading system, however, that hinders any enjoyment that can be eked out of the game, as forced replayability just isn't fun. It's good to see a developer do something different in the genre, but gamers have better options before giving this title a spin.
Super Man or Monster is good enough to provide a scant few hours of entertainment. The choice to play as either man or monster helps pad out the game's overall length and while split screen is a good idea, the imbalance of power means that anyone who picks a monster is almost always guaranteed victory. With a decent enough presentation, it is good for some mindless fun but don't expect to come back to the game once you see the end for both campaigns.
Tokyo Dark serves as a very good primer for those who are either curious about the visual novel genre or just want more to do than click through text boxes. The multiple endings are certainly a tempting thing for completionists, while the short runtime makes it so that the journey to the endings doesn't feel so tiring. Though most of the journey is rather linear and there's a significant lack of puzzles, the various choices at your disposal and needing to actually move to the spots gives you more to do than idle mouse-clicking. More importantly, the story is engaging from beginning to end, so you'll want to see the various paths along the way. While Tokyo Dark may not drive players toward the visual novel genre, itprovides a better appreciation for the genre's capabilities.
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In the end, Knowledge is Power isn't a bad trivia game. The questions are good, and it's an annoyance that players can't turn off the power-ups, but they're nice to have if someone is dominating the game. However, the slower pace prevents Knowledge is Power from becoming a big party game, something that other trivia games can handle with ease. While it may not be the go-to video game for big gatherings, it's a nice title to have around in between sessions of the bigger party games.
Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure is a game with lots of heart but very limited appeal. The stages are fun enough if you're looking for something simple, and the lack of failure states means that younger ones who are getting used to video games won't experience frustration often. However, the stages lack any variety or challenge, and the small amount of content means that only those who don't mind repeating the same stage will be fine with the game. For everyone else, it makes for a decent rental but nothing more.
Overall, the Universal Classics Pinball pack is a great addition to Pinball FX 3. If you can live with the lack of original voices or movie scores, you'll find each table to be well thought-out in design, with plenty of opportunities to trigger missions and special events. You'll also find each table to be generous in handing out high scores, which is perfect for increasing your wizard ranking. For genre fans, this is certainly worth picking up.
Worms WMD is resetting the series and delivers in all the important areas while adding some minor improvements. If you like Worms and specifically want a portable version of it, this a fun investment of your time. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it's probably the best version of the game currently available.
Windjammers is a good example of how solid gameplay can remain enticing, even if only a few additions are made to the overall package. It lacks some meaningful modes for the solo player, but it makes up for it with a good enough multiplayer component for both online and offline play. The best part is that the core gameplay elements and the presentation are left virtually untouched, which is perfect since any changes would ruin the game's spirit. It remains a quirky game that local multiplayer fans need to have if they want a fighting game experience without necessarily having to learn a bunch of complicated maneuvers.
Disneyland Adventures walks a fine line between triumph and disappointment. The park section is awesome, and even though the target audience means that the quests are easy, you'll still be fascinated at how much there is to do and how the park's magic translates quite well digitally. The minigames are more disappointing, since the regular controller makes some of them more difficult to play, while the appearance of bugs that weren't in the original title is equally disappointing. For a Disney aficionado, this title is still worth checking out if you can get it for cheap.
SteamWorld Dig 2 is everything that's expected from a good sequel. The gameplay loop is just as engaging as before, but there are some much nicer tools this time around.
Your reaction to Warriors All-Stars will depend on how big of a Musou fan you are. If you're a hardcore fan of the series and have played through many of the main entries and a number of the side titles, then you may be fine with renting this one or getting it when it's cheaper. The crossover appeal and the new mechanics are very nice, but the lack of modes can make this feel incomplete. If you're a more casual fan or new to the series, this is much easier to recommend, as it's a good introduction to past games and prepares you for the changes in the upcoming ninth game in the main series.
If you can get over the forced replaying of the same levels, then Jydge is an excellent twin-stick shooter. The gunplay and level design are well done, with some real enemy challenge to accompany your ability to destroy a good number of things in sight. The variety in your level approach is a good hook, the presentation is nice, and the tools are all enjoyable to use. Genre fans will enjoy giving this one a spin.
In the end, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is more of the same. The gunplay is fantastically done, and the opposition is enough of a challenge to make it worthwhile. The environments provide more than enough variety to prevent boredom, and the story works despite the levels of insanity it can reach. With a slightly upgraded presentation, it is safe to say that not much has changed, but when a game delivers on all of the expected fun and more, a lack of major change isn't a bad thing at all. If you love action, don't hesitate to grab this.
Gear.Club Unlimited is an all-around simple affair. Almost all of the races are short, which is complemented by the very lengthy campaign. The racing is purely arcade in style, and it's more exciting when playing against others instead of against the passive AI. It may not look like a AAA title, but the performance holds up well, and the sense of speed feels right. While not the greatest representation of what a traditional racing game on the Switch should be, Gear.Club Unlimited will hopefully serve as a catalyst to bring more racing titles to the Switch.
Star Wars Battlefront II is a good game wrapped in an odd upgrade system and a very volatile economy. It has a breadth of modes that play very well and can provide many memorable moments. The gameplay is solid, and the title gives players a better chance at playing with more powerful characters. However, the progression system feels unnecessarily stunted, and the grinding nature of buying characters and loot crates can be frustrating. At least the use of real money to purchase crates has been removed for the time being. There's a good game in here that evokes the desire to play "one more game," but players have to be fine with the progression and payment mechanics.
Super Hydorah is a game for those who appreciate the space shooters of yore. It isn't forgiving in the slightest, but it also doesn't overwhelm you with bullet hell sensibilities. It looks and feels so much like those old games that you could mistake it for a long-lost classic. Even if it didn't come with a co-op mode or a nice bonus game, Super Hydorah is so fun that it would still be a recommended purchase for genre fans.
Need for Speed Payback is a game with some good ideas and more than a few bad ways of executing them. The story gives you a good basis for a non-traditional racing game, and aping Forza Horizon isn't a bad way to go about it. The handling is purely arcade in style and fun to play, and the environments can give you some pretty good racing areas. However, even if you discount how bad the story plays out, you'll hate the fact that you'll never get to play the more exciting segments. Worse, the promotion of grinding makes the game drag on far longer than it should, making you want to put it away without even finishing the campaign, let alone try the multiplayer. It isn't the worst racer on the platform by any means, but it's certainly not worthy of the full asking price.
Baja: Edge of Control HD is a decent, if uninspiring, racing title. The mechanics hearken back to a time when racing was simpler but the tracks can be boring with those mechanics in play. The modes are sparse, but they function well, and the presentation is decent, although it falls in the lower end of the spectrum for the current console generation. With the lack of competition in this field, Baja HD can look enticing, but don't expect it to compete with the bigger names in the genre.