Trevor Gould's Reviews
Claybook is admittedly ambitious. It's also quite a nice looking and unique game, with commendable user features. Yet it struggled to command my attention, lacking elements to maintain interest beyond a few minutes at a time. The community creations do help here to an extent, but the overall experience needs to be tightened, and perhaps reigned in a bit.
While the linear design coupled with high difficulty is worth noting, the challenge leads to very satisfying gameplay. Mindball Play is a good-sized game, with polished aesthetics, and high replay value. This marble racer deserves a look.
If you played the original game on the Wii, you'll have to ask yourself how much the new extras, admirable though they are, trump the missing multiplayer. However, for those yet to experience it, it's certainly worth picking up Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn on 3DS. It's a high-quality package with charming aesthetics and a good amount of content for the price that should keep you playing.
Pirates Pinball is okay, but it only offers the rudiments of pinball. EnjoyUp Games would really be best served bundling these tables in a compilation.
Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 2 doesn't even have local multiplayer unless you have two systems and two copies of the game, which is one of the most ridiculous things I've seen of late! The polish, quality, and most of all fun, simply isn't here. At a whopping $59.99, this is an easy pass.
I do wish the time-honored gameplay was offset a bit more by balanced, polished, and tighter design at times. But if you're "ready for a blast of funky nostalgia" the sense of déja vu that comes from familiar fun won't be a negative. For the unacquainted, the co-creator, designer, and studio head Greg Johnson worked on Star Control II – if that's not a selling point, what is? Concerning ToeJam & Earl, I can say the series, and Back in the Groove! especially, has a style all its own. There isn't anything quite like it.
While many other puzzle games from that time have been forgotten, Puzzle Bobble 2 has endured. The series has a wider appeal than other games that challenged it.
It's nothing special to look at on the Switch, and its appeal is likely limited. Still, Ping Pong Trick Shot EVOLUTION, concerns and all, does what it sets out to do, making for an unspectacular yet solid entry in the series. If you enjoyed the prior games, you'll enjoy this one.
I haven't much cared for Pang Adventures when playing alone, so I can only recommend it for co-op play. Even then, I'd wait for a sale to bring the game in line closer to what you'd pay on PC or mobile. The game is okay, subpar looks and all, but as a Switch port, it is vanilla.
This 2009 classic is definitely worth playing. It's comical, quite varied, generally well-paced, and, most of all, fun!
NAIRI: Tower of Shirin is solid, but it lacks that certain something that dialogue-heavy games need. That said there is a charm with the characters and presentation, music especially. Fans of visual novels with puzzles might want to look into it further. Just beware of certain things – backtracking, the duration, pacing issues, potential puzzle frustration, and an unsatisfying story arc – when deciding if it's worth the reasonable ten dollar cost.
The solo component is far from great. Even when playing Wondershot as a duo or trio you'll probably be wanting a full group of four. That's the best way to ensure an entertaining time with some laughs. Otherwise, it's a very forgettable release.
Puzzle Bobble is a habit-forming game to be sure. Actually, that's probably an understatement. This arcade original launched a series that continues to keep me addicted to this day.
I found Katamari Damacy REROLL to be much more frustrating than fun. It lacks modern fundamentals like a good camera and intuitive control, made worse by ill-fitting time restrictions. It's a very repetitive game too, one that I really couldn't play for more than two levels at any given time. A minor HD coat of paint can't compensate here. I suspect Katamari Damacy, though a hit with most critics, will remain a sleeper of a game amongst players, even on Nintendo Switch.
If you're the type of gamer who appreciates a mix of little-known games and classics that paved the way for better versions, Atari Flashback Classics might be up your alley. Even if you've played a good number of these games so many times already, having them in handheld form is something. With a small selection of achievements and leaderboards, this collection has replayability too.
I had some early fun with INSTANT TENNIS, but it wasn't long before it left me wanting more. It isn't a bad game per se, but it definitely doesn't have enough to keep me playing. .
If I see more of Koloro, I hope it's in smaller doses. Having co-op as an option for all of the levels would further increase appeal. The Nintendo Switch has many puzzle platformers, so Koloro might be one for fans to wish list. Content isn't an issue here though, as there's plenty to play so long as your interest is held. Just be prepared for a bloated, largely linear, and often tough go at it.
Calling Windjammers “The most entertaining sports game ever made” is quite a stretch, but this is a very fun game. That said, this Neo Geo port is $14.99 on Nintendo Switch, and if you manage to find any online competition you've succeeded where I have not. So bookmark this one, but for a future sale.
LEGO DC Super-Villains is rather buggy, but it'll keep you playing, and fans should have it high on their wish list.
Gear.Club Unlimited 2 can be entertaining, but it is a real mixed bag. For $59.99 it's missing some features and that extra level of polish I'd expect. I'd suggest trying to find the first game on sale to get a better idea if this full-priced sequel is for you. Perhaps the value will increase when Eden Games finishes it and implements online races. A patch to reduce the load times would also be advantageous.