Trevor Gould's Reviews
Even though it's markedly short, FoxyLand quickly grows repetitive. Basic equals dull in this case.
As someone who hasn't played Shovel Knight since the original release, I found Showdown to be a very good return. It's grown on me quite a bit, and if you're a fan of competitive or co-op multiplayer games this could be considered a must. While offering less for the solo player, I'm confident the gorgeous pixel art, wealth of options, and unlockables will still prove satisfying.
Zen Chess is inexpensive and has many enjoyable puzzles for chess fans. But its drab presentation, coupled with no means to play a regular game of chess holds it back. How can you "Become a Chessmaster!" when you can't play a full game? Thus, what should be a pretty broad recommendation becomes narrower, making Zen Chess Collection just an okay release.
I can't say Incredible Mandy is a bad game per se, but it is underwhelming and less than the sum of its parts. On sale, this might be an okay title for those who can embrace its mechanics and pacing. But I didn't enjoy most of its puzzles, and puzzles are its main offering.
I give kudos to Ryan. He's a cute kid, a millionaire before he's reached double digits, and I wish him the best. But while this title might work as fan service, as a game it's just poor. With only six tracks and numerous other problems, why spend $39.99 when Team Sonic Racing is the same price (or less) on Nintendo Switch? Kids deserve higher-quality than what's presented here.
Is Just Dance 2020 "the ultimate dance game"? Probably not; while an improvement over last year, there are better entries in the series. But it still offers fun exercise and enjoyable family entertainment. Just be sure to be subscribed to Just Dance Unlimited as that's what will keep you dancing beyond the first month. Happy anniversary, Just Dance.
With tight controls and a good amount of entertaining content for completionists, New Super Lucky's Tale justifies its $39.99 launch price for genre enthusiasts. But uneven level design holds this adventure back from true greatness. Check out the demo to get a feel for it.
Ice Age Scrat's Nutty Adventure has definite room for improvement and polish, but I still suspect it'll find an audience. It has just enough challenge for kids, while older players might not mind an easier adventure if they're franchise fans or just looking for a competent 3D platformer. Definitely wait for a sale though, as the amount and quality of the content here doesn't match its launch price.
Pinball enthusiasts will, presumably, find Safari Pinball acceptable for the cheap price. That's not much of a ringing endorsement, though. The glitches annoy, and I still maintain that these budget tables would work much better as part of a bundle.
Family Tree is entertaining enough in its own way, but it's not really a "pinball platformer". Though not much to look at, this physics-based action game still has its moments here and there. It controls well, and high score chasers might be entertained, but this just isn't the sort of console game that will hold your attention for very long.
Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and The Lion King is an admirable package. While some game editions are missing (and Lion King fails to hold up) this bundle shows the kind of care I long to see in all re-releases. It's worth it for Aladdin alone, while the extras should tempt those on the fence.
Destiny Connect: Tick-Tock Travelers starts off great, with a promising story and fun enemies. But the longer I played, the weaker it became. It's a simple game (move from point A to point B in a linear fashion) and a short one by RPG standards, so kids might be entertained by it for a while. But the story ultimately resigns itself to cliches, and the backtracking and repetition combine to make this just an average game, at best.
Despite admirable claims to be "designed with the busy gamer in mind" the unfortunate irony is that Little Town Hero's battles are so tediously time-consuming. Combined with their especially repetitive nature, and tendency to rely on "luck", this RPG is a snooze fest. I mean that literally – I almost dozed off I was so bored.
While a great game at heart, The Eyes of Ara has too many third-act issues for me to give a broad recommendation. Nonetheless, this is still a good release, skillfully crafted with attention to detail. For genre enthusiasts, I might even say The Eyes of Ara is a great release. Just be prepared for a daunting challenge as you near the end, likely with a walkthrough on hand.
The truth is, I simply can't recommend The Bradwell Conspiracy in its present state. It just misses the mark in too many areas. With some fine-tuning and polish, its technical shortcomings could eventually be overcome, in which case it'll be ready for primetime. But playing it on the Nintendo Switch now has me reaching for a bottle of ibuprofen.
While Double Switch – 25th Anniversary Edition offers several improvements, the core game was never that good to start with. Locking bonus content is a mistake and, unlike its predecessor, there's no real history to fall back on. Clearly one for existing fans only, who probably sprung for the physical release before it sold out.
By all means, download Angry Bunnies: Colossal Carrot Crusade for free. But after an hour or so, give or take, you'll likely have had your fill. Even at its best, this was a subpar clone, and now (with paid DLC and microtransactions) it's well past its shelf life.
Dreaming Canvas is small but, within its limits, it almost manages to deliver some measure of a satisfying experience. For all its weak points, at least it has what it takes to stand apart on the eShop. Not as a game, mind you, but as a walking simulator with an artfulness, and easygoing tranquility. At $4.99 it's reasonably priced, but only if you're into moderately unique experiences that feel underdeveloped.
With a serious lack of unique content and not much gameplay variety, Petoons Party feels like a primitive offering. It's too limited, in real need of further attention to detail and polish.
Instead of "just one more chapter" 80 DAYS will have you saying "just one more playthrough". It might also have you wanting to revisit Jules Verne's novel. It comes recommended to booklovers and those desiring to a digital taste of the valet lifestyle.