Trevor Gould's Reviews
Driving for weeks now, I can better sum up my feelings on Mario Kart World post-honeymoon. It's a great game that looks (and sounds) as outstanding as it plays-speedy, sharp, and smooth on Switch 2. It's well worth the extra Bundle cost! Still, as a standalone $79.99 game, it's undeniably lacking compared to its predecessors' original tracks, overall number of tracks, and other features and polish. Doubtless, some free DLC will add needed content and give some existing content a tune-up. Mario Kart World is a game you don't want to miss, one that crosses the finish line with its head held high.
Tomb Raider fans will appreciate the effort here in terms of faithfulness to the classic games, with both clear and subtle nods. Like Pinball FX as a whole, I'd hesitate to recommend this on the Nintendo Switch. But if you have a Switch 2, you'll appreciate both of these pinball tables for different reasons.
While the Wild West theme is unique to this type of game, Cattle Country offers little you haven't seen elsewhere. A lack of originality isn't surprising for this genre, but it's still disappointing. The non-innovative approach would be less of an issue were this game refined, but multiple quirks and outright bugs show that's not the case. The game could use more polish, so genre fans might be best waiting for a sale.
It took me a while to realize I wasn't having quite as much fun with Sonic X Shadow Generations as I expected, given the high praise of the 2011 console original. Such elevation likely reflects the quality of Sonic games declining over the past 20 years, as even the better new titles can't reach the peak of the '90s classics. Combine that with no upgrade for existing owners, and Sega has made it challenging to recommend this one on Switch 2. Many players would be better off with Sonic Mania or Origins. But if you're a diehard fan who hasn't played this yet, wishlist it and wait for a discount-you'll be safe knowing that, even though it's showing its age more than most would care to admit, you're sure to find some entertainment.
A narratively disconnected relationship makes Old Skies stumble badly at the end. But that aside, this polished release is generally great. I'd love to see a sequel that explores more of ChronoZen and its staff while jettisoning the romantic fluff to a side-story spinoff visual novel. The best way to make that happen is to check this title out. Old Skies starts brilliantly and maintains its grip with fun individual stories and an overall sci-fi plot that keeps ticking in mostly thoughtful ways.
This "cozy RPG adventure" was clearly picked before it ripened. As such, it's not as easy to recommend as it should be, with its many positives (music) clouded by sizable blemishes. Expect imagination and irritation, often in equal measure. Maliki: Poison of the Past has plenty of good ideas, but needs a patch to grow to its full potential.
It's hard to mess up Breakout as it remains fun after all these years (decades even), but darn if Choice Provisions nearly did with their inexplicable decision to lock content, including online leaderboards. The fact that the game still succeeds despite this blunder is a testament to their talent and the timeless source material.
Mainframes leaves me with an overall impression of muddledness, albeit executed with a sincere passion. It throws in ideas about platforming, collecting, and environmental manipulation. But maybe some of the excess should've been left on the cutting room floor so the rest could be more polished and its potential better realized. While I admit a measure of satisfaction in getting past the trickiest parts, there is nearly equal amounts of relief, which is not a good ratio. The difficulty spikes (even with accessibility options) never feel "cozy."
Stunt Flyer runs out of gas when playing solo, but split-screen co-op elevates it slightly. How much lasting power this has might depend on your desire to earn achievements, improve mission times, or simply chill for a spell. Even with the budget price, I'd wait for a sale or just boot up Pilotwings 64 on Switch Online.
Never 7 – The End of Infinity had some conceptual issues that spilled into its construction. That doesn't make it a bad visual novel, even with limits on its visuals; in fact, enthusiasts might think it's great. But to get all its 18 endings without a "Choose your own Adventure" style approach or NG+ feels like it would take…well, an infinity. So can I score this higher than a "Good" 7? Never!
Accolade Sports Collection (QUByte Classics) delivers pretty much what I expected, no more, no less. But $19.99 is a tough sale for a compilation like this in 2025, even for someone like me with nostalgia. Wishlist this one for a future discount.
Nintendo continues its long tradition of enhancing past games with Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. While the third time isn't quite the charm it could have been-more of the same Retro Studios title that millions have already experienced on past Nintendo systems-the game is still plenty enjoyable, and even more in co-op. The Cranky Kong in me wants a long overdue brand-new entry in the series. But if you've missed this game through the years, this oldie is still a goodie, and make sure you don't miss it a third time. Even though these bananas are looking a little brown at full launch price, grab the game at a discount, and you'll have a "barrel-blasting adventure!"
With a mixed trio of tables, Williams Pinball Volume 8 offers an uneven package. Black Knight 2000 is peak '80s fun, but for $14.99, you're hoping for every table to be of comparable entertainment. Earthshaker's big claim to fame is HD Rumble, while Banzai Run is a "growing pains" table-empty and struggling to run on Switch. Wishlist this pack for a future sale, or stick with Pinball FX3.
If these Taito milestone compilations are to continue, a slightly lower price combined with a couple more exclusives could be the winning combination. Some extra historical content (seen in comparable collections) could add welcomed value, too. But I'll say this for emphasis, if you already own the A-material in this third installment as individual Arcade Archive releases, you might not be the ideal audience.
You can see the attention to detail and love put into Loco Motive. It's a high-quality game that respects its point-and-click predecessors while carving out its own identity as a graphic adventure. Juggling three characters does lead to occasional pacing hiccups, a few less satisfying puzzles, and a couple of other minor issues. Still, this talkie adventure is great fun with a rewarding payoff.
On the one hand, you could reasonably argue this compilation feels closer to a starter pack. Many favorite, more defined versions of Tetris are absent. Some odd choices aside, there's a good amount of content for fans to enjoy, even those who doubtless already own multiple versions of Tetris. The greatness of Hatris, the excitement of the all-new Tetris Time warp, and the nostalgic '80s and '90s stories of a gaming icon make it a must. This Digital Eclipse release satisfies your Tetris craving and makes for a great package "from Russia with love."
It's the compelling interplay of thrilling story, memorable characters, enjoyable puzzles, and stunning presentation that ensures Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged will become a top choice for a new generation of players. Let's hope the sequel (and the rest of the series) finds a home on Nintendo hardware. It's 2024, and my game of the year is a graphic adventure first released in 1996. Go figure.
Will the Switch catch the GameCube for the number of Mario Party entries on a single system? Probably not. But if Jamboree is the last on the hybrid, it's a great game to go out on. It's a celebration of boards, and "Pro Rules" go a long way in making previous series' complaints no longer valid. While there are a few minor issues, let's face it: this game will sell millions, and deservedly so. Imposter Bowser and his boss minions don't stand a chance, whether you're a party of one, a group of local friends, or an online crew. Collecting stars hasn't been this much fun in years.
Hatch Tales: A Heroic Hookshot Adventure had a rough road to release, and the final product reflects that in some respects with a few odd choices. Still, it's a very good platformer, much more often than not, challenging and content-rich. Releasing late in the life of the Switch exposes it to some of the same risks the original game faced later in the life of 3DS. I hope Hatch Tales secures success and recommend it for a fun time.
But even with a couple of missteps, I'm still scoring Crow Country highly. The story engrosses, and the puzzles challenge without being too ridiculous. The game is long enough to be rewarding but not so long as to make replay intimidating. And the retro horror may even make you jump a couple of times, in teen-rated fashion. The Snipperclips devs have done considerably good work here, and anyone who predicted otherwise can eat crow.