Bandai-Namco hasn't deviated from their formula of arena fighters that follow strict, already told storylines, with simplistic gameplay mechanics that are hidden under flashy animations and combo counters. While there is much to love about the character designs and reliving some vital moments from the anime series fans have come to love, there just isn't that much substance to hold players captivated for any extended period of time. The animations are impressive, the sound and feel of the menus and characters rings true. Unfortunately there just isn't enough unique content that will entrance players to continue playing after the novelty has worn off.
Cranked Up is an interesting take on the puzzle platformer genre that incorporates some vertical and horizontal puzzle play with a difficult rocket-based movement style. For the right player Cranked Up could be a delight, but for the uncoordinated, this game may not be their best tasting donut.
Darkwood for the Nintendo Switch will certainly scratch the itch of a survival focused gamer. This takes the premise of games like Don't Starve, then takes itself much more seriously and makes it somewhat spookier. The harshness won't appeal to everyone, and the horror themes wear thin before too long, but for the right survivalist, or glutton for punishment, this may be exactly what you were looking for.
The Great Perhaps provides a unique adventure puzzler with a story that is sure to surprise the player once completed. The hand drawn art style is endearing and the music fits the games ambiance very well. Unfortunately, The Great Perhaps is very short, with less than 3 hours of gameplay on its best day. With no achievements and no reason to revisit The Great Perhaps, this is definitely an adventure that you will only take once.
Effie isn't the most complex action-adventure-platformer out there, and it isn't the most challenging. In this case, the lack of these features actually work well, as Effie delivers on a game where simplicity and nostalgia fuel a desire to continue playing.
Gamers looking for quick fun, vehicle customization, and special career planning goals will be disappointed, but if you're a die hard MotoGP fan, this will certainly delight you.
Solar Panic: Utter Distress is a humorous adventure title that uses heavy pop-culture and low-brow comedy in a surprisingly effective way. With a short story, awkward game play features, and some low detailed graphics, many players may be surprised to find that Solar Panic: Utter Distress piles on the laughs enough to ensure most people looking for a chuckle will find a few.
Luckily, both of these together in the Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove makes the collection all the more worth it.
Story of a Gladiator is an action beat'em up from Brain Seal Entertainment that puts the player in the boots of a gladiator that has lost everything. While the title "Story of a Gladiator" may be a misnomer as the actual story is short, with no real impact on much of what you do, Story of a Gladiator manages to pull off a fun action title that will keep players invested for several hours as they bash, slice, and skewer their way to the top.
Heave Ho is still a raucous good time when you are playing with others in local co-op, and for the price, it's worth a couple of nights with friends on the couch.
Merge Games and Teku Studios has created some kind of masterpiece here, both visually and enigmatically. Their use of tribal storytelling is charming and the elements that put together the puzzles are well thought out. I wouldn't necessarily call this an amateurs puzzle game meant for children, as there are many components that require abstract thinking to progress, but for the experienced puzzler, there is a lot to love in Candle: The Power of the Flame.
Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis is the most impressive game in the series.
Killer Queen Black is a surprisingly superb mix of action and strategy in a 2D arena. Levels, game modes and character choices are rather limited after repeated matches, but the action and strategy are enough to keep players invested simply by having a good time. Killer Queen Black is an exceptional choice for gamers that want quick fun in a 2D space.
Riders Republic is the de facto ruler of extreme sports MMOs. There is no denying that Riders is one of the best extreme sports games to hit the market in a long time, but the massively multiplayer portion of the game could use some work. There is very little cohesion that brings all of the various riders together as part of a republic. Even the main story is solely focused on your specific accomplishments in each of the sports. Luckily, the game is still in its infancy, and the year 1 pass plans to add new multiplayer arenas, and a new sport, BMX Biking, which shows that Riders isn’t done expanding by a long shot. There is more than enough variety to keep players coming back and having fun for months, just with the solo and collectible game alone. If you’re an extreme sports fan, Riders Republic is a no-brainer. For MMO fans looking for more than a madcap mass race challenge, I would let the game mature for a few months longer before picking this one up.
Mushroom Wars 2 is definitely an excellent title for the RTS fan, even if you don't find mushrooms particularly appealing. The character designs are pleasing, the various multiplayer options are enjoyable, and the difficulty settings will keep you coming back for more. My main gripes here, are primarily due to the control scheme, which I feel could have been better utilized on the switch that is built with touchscreen controls. While the controller is necessary to play the switch in docked mode, Mushroom Wars 2 screams to be played in a mobile environment and having the option to have a more touch-focused control scheme, at least for a single player, would have been ideal.
Tower of Fantasy is a whirlwind of enjoyable combat, exploration and mini-games, mixed with a nefarious gacha system and the annoying proclivity to time and level gate progression. The ability to create your own character, team up with other players, participate in a huge guild, and battle hordes of monsters with a deep yet simplistic combat system tips the scales just enough to warrant the hype that it has been given. Tower of Fantasy dips its toe into greatness through extensive gameplay systems and an accessible game loop that has broad appeal. No matter what you like doing, whether it’s team play, exploration, PvP, or dungeon running, you can find it here. Just temper this fantasy with the realization that you should never spend more than you can afford. Hotta built Tower of Fantasy as a marathon, so there’s no better time than now to enjoy the journey at your own pace.
What The Golf is an enjoyable, imaginative, sometimes satirical take on Golf. Labeled as the game for those that hate golf, most levels keep with the same underlying concept of golf, but you never truly know what you'll end up doing until you're in the thick of it. With plenty of replayability options, including multiplayer, What The Golf is a sweet little diversion that would be suitable to play with the whole family.
Never Give Up is a proper progression from its predecessor, Give Up. While the gameplay may be simplistic in nature, there is still a lot of challenge here that will certainly appeal to more die hard retro platformer gamers. The pop culture and humorous comments are certain to lighten the experience of what would otherwise be a, sometimes frustrating, monotone title. Still, Never Give Up sets the stage to challenge and delight the right kind of gamer. Perhaps the type that enjoys difficult platformers as well as those that might be mildly masochistic.
WarpThrough is an indie arcade gem.
There is a lot to like about Hyper Universe barring that you're a MOBA fan and aren't averse to rehashing the same arena content as one does in competitive multiplayer games. With a little practice and a lot of experimentation, battles can become frenzied and rewarding as you best your opponents and pile them underfoot. With more to inevitably come with Hyper Universe and no entry fee to get started, you have nothing to lose in trying out Hyper Universe for yourself. Good luck out there hero, you're going to need it.Final Score: 7.7