James Harvey's Reviews
A decent romp into the mech world for newcomers and experienced pilots alike, let down by an overly simplistic and extremely short mission-based campaign.
F1 2019 raises the bar once again for F1 games. Whilst more hardcore racers will still prefer something like iRacing or Assetto Corsa, casual players and F1 fanatics will wholeheartedly enjoy their time here, regardless of their skill level.
If you're a diehard fan of the Dirt series, or relish a rallying challenge, this is the game for you. Casual racers will find enjoyment here with a little patience but will probably enjoy something that can be picked up a little easier.
A brilliant evolution of an established franchise, F1 2018 has more content than ever to keep both casual racers and motorsport hobbyists occupied well into the offseason.
Penny-Punching Princess brings an interesting slant to the brawler genre, one that sadly can become fiddly and repetitive over time. As a fairly expensive eShop title (physical release plans were scrapped at the last minute), it’s difficult to recommend a purchase here, given what you could get for your money instead. Penny-Punching Princess is certainly not a bad game, but it’s not a great one either. One to look for in the sales then, where your calculator allows.
Aperion Cyberstorm is an average shooter at best which does little to keep your attention for very long. The level design is uninspiring and the visual experience is somewhat flat. When you compare it directly to a game like Geometry Wars, the whole experience is lacking and is something very difficult to recommend. Whilst great shooters keep you coming back over and over to best your high score, you'll find yourself looking forward to finishing Aperion Cyberstorm just so you can put it down.
Gear.Club Unlimited is never going to cut it if you're in the market for a portable Forza Motorsport or Gran Turismo, but if treated like an arcade racer which you can pick up and put down liberally, you'll absolutely find some lasting enjoyment with Eden's racer. With lots of variety on tracks, championships, cars and upgrades, the value of the overall package becomes more desirable every time you boot it up.
Farming Simulator is not something that you can recommend for everyone but there is something here that offers a really unique and enjoyable experience. If tycoon games of any variety tickle your fancy, I’d like to think you’ll find something in Farming Simulator that you’ll enjoy for a fair amount of time.
Namco Museum does a lot of things right - but despite the wonderful presentation, it’s still only focused on a limited audience. Putting a value on retro games can often be difficult given how easy it is to obtain and play these titles elsewhere; that said, Namco have put together an extremely desirable package that fits very nicely on the Switch. If it was cheaper it would be easier to recommend to everyone, but as it stands you’re only likely to pick this one up if you’ve got some retro-tinted specs like me. For those of us who do though, it’s a fantastic trip down memory lane.
Disgaea 5: Complete was like finding a hidden gem for me personally and even if you’re not normally a fan of tactical RPG’s, I highly recommend that you give it a try. Beautifully simple yet complex over time, Complete is a game worth owning.
NBA Playgrounds is a game that is instantly playable - but the more you chip away at it, the more you're disappointed by the lack of content at release. It can be fantastic to pick up and play when you’re with a group of friends, but the lack of online multiplayer at launch means you’ll find yourself enjoying Playgrounds less and less very quickly.
Snake Pass is a flawed experience - of that there is little doubt. But, for the most part, it’s worth your perseverance. I’d argue that the Switch version is where this game “belongs” the most. Having it available as a handheld experience which you can dip in and out of in short bursts plays right to the strengths of this game and, critically, avoids the frustrations which inevitably build up with any prolonged playtime