Trevor Gould's Reviews
Excalibur Games has serious work ahead if they want to make Tracks – Toybox Edition a good game for the Nintendo Switch, especially if targeting whole families. Having a proper tutorial, improved UI, and touch screen support are some of the fundamentals they should revisit.
Art Sqool fails as both an "art school simulator" and a video game. There's nothing educational here, and its gameplay is the equivalent of scribbles I might've drawn as a toddler.
Shady Part of Me is a game that puzzle platformer enthusiasts will most likely enjoy. But when all's said and done, it looks like this will stay in the shadows compared to the indies it takes ideas from. It's fun at the time, but ultimately forgettable.
If you're looking for some exercise, Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise is a good option on the Nintendo Switch. With the Just Dance series stagnating, and Ring Fit Adventure expensive, this is a solid alternative. Even if you aren't a fan of boxing (I'm not), you'll be able to enjoy this sequel.
BIT.TRIP RUNNER holds up pretty well for an indie game from 2010. True, its sequels have spoiled us with checkpoints and leaderboards. But this more modest entry comes at the more modest price of $4.99, making it a worthwhile purchase for fans asking for a challenge.
For some, it's a favorite, while others have it middle of the road. For me (and some of my colleagues), BIT.TRIP VOID is near the bottom of the pack. It doesn't impress me much in 2020. But with six original games, not every series title will make the same impact, nor have the same staying power.
The Alto Collection has some issues on the Switch, but these lively games can keep you engaged considerably longer than expected.
GUNPIG: Firepower For Hire does what it must for the modest cost of $4.99. It teases a sequel – "Bax will return…" – and I hope the followup brings expanded leaderboards, a save system, and maybe even a two-player mode. But if you're a fan of top-down dual-stick shooters, this entry is solid fun and replayable.
Captain Sabertooth and the Magic Diamond has its moments. Still, the challenge fluctuates too much to give it a broad recommendation to youngsters. Without any difficulty settings or even a two-player mode where mom and dad could help out, I could see kids growing tired of this one after a while.
Brawl Chess is strictly adequate. It's hard to screw up chess badly, but as a video game, the aspiration in this take (or lack thereof) is pretty average. While targeting kids with a cartoony, less violent take on the Battle Chess formula is noble, overlooking a tutorial is a head-scratcher, to put it mildly. DLC is also highly questionable at best. Think long and hard on this one if it isn't on sale.
Crazy BMX World contains excellent games that have aged gracefully, but it's strangely just okay as a compilation. While a real value, the linear design (and lack of Pro controller support) sizably hurt it. I hope it gets a patch asap.
Limited characters is an issue, but not the only one. The Language of Love has no choices, and thus no replay value. It's passive, except to hit a button or tap the touch screen to advance the story; this might work were the plot aces, but that's not the case. So, this one fares poorly compared to other VNs on the Switch.
This exploration platformer pulls off the essentials, but the amount of time spent backtracking and grinding for upgrades feels much more wasteful rather than satisfying. Micetopia wound up slightly disappointing, but I've seen enough positives that I have some optimism for the studio's next release.
Rusty Spout Rescue Adventure is an attractive looking game that's taken a timeless formula and added quality-of-life options. I feared this would be a game I'd suggest passing on, but it's now turned into a recommendation for fans of this game style. While not every choice is to its advantage, $6.99 gets you a fun story mode, multiplayer, an endless mode, and more.
There's not much to say about REPLICA. It plays closer to a proof of concept than a full-fledged game. It is only $4.99, but that might even be high for a game I beat (multiple times) in under two hours. It was painless, except for the pain that came from seeing potential unfulfilled. Maybe a sequel can make things better.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is an epic game in some ways. It starts excitingly and rarely lets up. If you stink at dungeons and shrines and won't miss exploring, you'll find a world that's still impressive and characters that have proven to endure in the minds of series fans. In the end, it remains predominantly Koei-Tecomo's Warrior gameplay with Nintendo's Zelda dressing, so probably not GOTY material. Still, it's an entertaining way to tide yourself over until the true sequel arrives.
While newer players could be frustrated by camera limits, some gameplay quirks, and overall lack of personality, simulation fans can see minutes turn to hours when playing Pure Pool. It's a highly entertaining game that I've sunk more time into than expected.
Refined but not innovated, Just Dance 2021 represents the series in stagnation. It still entertains, but the past few entries have seen little in the way of positive change. A couple of the prior editions on Switch are arguably better.
Like me, if you own most of the Pinball FX3 tables, this one should make its way to your library. I'll continue to support Zen Studio's DLC, popping my virtual quarters and again to top my high scores. Williams Pinball – Volume 6 is addictive fun.
Overall, Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty is a good game. That said, it hasn't made me as interested in its sequels (that I've yet to play) as I thought it would. If anything, it makes me long for the original with its, if not timeless, nostalgic visuals. But the accessibility tweaks make this entry useful for new players who've yet to experience it.