Trevor Gould's Reviews
Robbotto is fun… when played with a friend. Solo is less enjoyable in the long-run, as the substandard hit detection comes to the forefront more. With things such as uneven difficulty, missed achievements, the odd glitch here or there, and more, Robbotto is just okay. At $9.99, you really best make sure you have someone play with.
Tiny Hands Adventure simply has too many execution issues to recommend, especially at its $16.99 regular price. While collectables, which unlock hard level variants, can extend your play time, the level of quality doesn't instill the desire to revisit already completed areas. Hopefully, Blue Sunset Games has something more polished planned for their next Switch release.
TETRA'S Escape tries to put its best foot forward. It's appropriately priced at just $4.99 while offering extras like solid rumble and statistics. But the linear design keeps what should be a shape-shifting good time firmly in the just decent territory.
It's been fifteen years since the series' début, but WarioWare remains frantic fun. This fully voiced Gold edition is no exception, offering an addictive and humorous collection of classic microgames that are sure to entertain existing fans, while offering an even better value for those new to the series. Chasing high scores gives the game strong replay value as well. Try the demo if you're on the fence, but WarioWare Gold would make a great addition to any 3DS library.
The DX is a difference here, making for a more enjoyable game all around. It's had a modest price increase, but still comes in at only $4.99, with enhancements to justify the cost. Super Destronaut DX is a simple, but fun game. It's not the sort that you'll play at length (to limit repetition) but it does make for an entertaining way to pass some time.
Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Express Raider really should've been part of a compilation as it's nowhere near strong enough to stand on its own. It failed to stir up anything close to enthusiasm while I played it, so naturally, it's tough for me to generate much excitement with this review. Flying Tiger Entertainment thankfully has much better Data East games in their Johnny Turbo line like Joe and Mac, Sly Spy, and Super Burger Time, which makes Express Raider that much easier to ignore.
If you missed this game on Wii U (and far too many did) don't let it pass you by again. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is great on any Nintendo system. Don't take my word for it, try the demo for yourself.
Exploring is a real joy thanks to the high-quality, artistic presentation that's shown off here. The recesses of the hand-drawn mind are bright and richly colored. Figment displays a whimsical imagination that demonstrates some truly charming attention to detail.
Now Two Crude isn't a great game by any stretch, but it just makes sense that it's now on the Nintendo Switch with its predecessor. It does improve on Bad Dudes in a few ways.
The Lion's Song is an interesting title. More often than not I enjoyed it, but it's a short experience. I saw the end credits roll after just a few hours. In fairness, I've replayed a couple of episodes, but I can't help but feel this game is too short for the type of storytelling the developers are going for.
For a game from a one-man studio on a very modest Kickstarter budget, Songbringer impresses in several ways. It's true that I don't find its visuals to be representative of good pixel art. But graphics are hardly the most important area. I do enjoy Songbringer's sci-fi settings, co-op gameplay, and non-linear nature. With achievements and leaderboards, Zelda fans should check this one out, but maybe wait for a sale if you find the visuals to be distracting.
D/Generation: The Original frustrates while it intrigues. If you're up for an, at times, cruel challenge, this game will keep you hooked. I do think $14.99 is high when compared to other retro offerings on Nintendo Switch, though. This game is a classic, but this port is pretty bare bones.
Shape of the World brings some rather strong elements to the table, but it also leaves the feeling of unfulfilled potential. It truly is a relaxing title, with an outstanding soundtrack to boot. But the sluggish speed combined with the limited interactivity, and short length, means this is probably best grabbed on sale, and not at its $14.99 launch price.
Runner3 is a game that, in many ways, has taken one step forward while taking two back. One of its biggest alterations was an area that needed none, difficulty. Many of its newer additions have left me feeling rather indifferent. Still, I commend Choice Provisions for not resting on their laurels. Runner3 is still entertaining with its brand of frustrating (at times discouraging) fun. It'll keep me playing to improve my stats and unlock more goodies. Still, I do recommend playing the prior games first, if you haven't already. Get a feel for them, and you might be tempted to grab the cool physical edition from Nicalis with neat extras.
Dillon's Dead-Heat Breakers has turned into a nice eShop surprise. Why Nintendo isn't releasing this full priced game as a physical copy (in North America anyway) is a mystery. In fact, I'd like to see the entire trilogy compiled for a 3DS physical release or reworked for the Switch. Either way, Dillon's Dead-Heat Breakers is a game I can put in a good word for.
For a James Bond fan like me, this game's right up my alley with all its nods to the iconic agent, even if it's only the length of a sitcom from start to finish.
Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles does not disappoint. It's a highly enjoyable and polished game, displaying a thoughtful approach to adventuring, an offering plenty to maintain interest.
While hardly essential, those with nostalgia for it might consider a revisit, mainly if they have someone to share in some multiplayer entertainment with.
Pacing issues notwithstanding, Swim Out succeeds when played for a few minutes here and there. It's non-linear nature (and lack of a timer) allows you to take your time with each puzzle, and easily move on to another. Puzzle enthusiasts will get a good Nintendo Switch game at a fair price, one that will exercise their brains. Just make sure to wait 30 minutes after eating before playing.
The nostalgia is nice, but I'm also reminded of advancements that the genre has made over the past twenty-plus years. With brisker combat and some much-needed voice work, this could be great, but Earthlock is still good as-is for genre fans.