Trevor Gould's Reviews
SNK GALS' FIGHTERS will find success on the Nintendo Switch by appealing to nostalgia. Those who can appreciate what this 2D fighter did back in the day should still appreciate it now, shallowness and all. Especially at only $7.99, considering an original cart could find you spending hundreds.
If you're a big fan of point-and-click adventures, especially those respecting the genre's heyday, you'll find Guard Duty to be a good game. I can't give it as high a recommendation as first thought due to some story aspects and the way they're intertwined, but I liked it enough that I'm hoping for a sequel.
In the end, this port turned out to be an average experience for me in most ways. I'd suggest checking out the free version first (on mobile with half the levels). Subsequently, you can decide if adding Mekorama to your Switch digital library is the right call.
While there's definitely room for improvement and expansion, I can see kids liking this game quite a bit. There's plenty to unlock, and hearing that you did something better than Mama brings a smile. As someone new to the series, Cooking Mama: Cookstar felt reasonably fresh to me. But vets may find it more so resembles leftovers. Hopefully, the rights holder and publisher can work things out.
Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is an unfortunate step backward. It's a fun, but very vanilla entry in the long-running series. The launch content doesn't match the launch price, nor does it compare favorably with other arcade games available on the Switch eShop.
Epic Word Search Collection doesn't particularly excite, but it accomplishes what it sets out to do. If you own (and have enjoyed) prior Lightwood titles, the length of this one makes it worth adding to your Nintendo Switch digital library.
While I can't give Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection a broad recommendation above the Mega Man Legacy Collection 1 and 2, I can still put in a favorable mention. Zero 3, and the two ZX games – Advent especially – are the top picks in this compilation, all with optional adjustments to better reflect modern gaming sensibilities.
I had way more fun with Hidden Through Time than expected. Of course, if you're not a fan of the hide and seek premise, this game might not change your mind. But this is a bargain when you consider it's just $7.99 for everything it includes. If the map editor can be enhanced, this very good game would become a great one.
What it all boils down to is that Knightin'+ struggled to keep me engaged. The lack of an overworld of any type makes it ultimately forgettable. For $5.99, you'll get a strictly average title.
As a fan of cinematic platformers, I rather enjoyed playing Stela from start to finish. Be that as it may, it didn't take me long at all, hence one of my leading (but not my only) concerns. At under three hours, and with little replay value to speak of, $19.99 is a lot to launch for on the Nintendo Switch. On sale, this would be one to consider for sure, depending on how burnt out you might be on the subgenre.
Vitamin Connection is pretty much a unique concept, so if you're looking for a game that's hard to compare to others, this one should be near the top of your wishlist. Just keep in mind that, much like actual vitamins, this game is best in small doses. Also, if you're a solo player, be mindful that backtracking and encountering difficulty spikes through maze-like bodies is best when tackled as a pair.
With an enjoyable story, the novelty of changing between a large cast of characters, and a fun extra game mode, Code Shifter makes up for its shortcomings with many ideas successfully carried out. Bright, colorful, and energetic, Code Shifter is worth a buy for studio fans.
Sci-fi and/or puzzle fans who are looking for an exotic, perplexing adventure that can terrify while challenging, will find a memorable experience with Soul Axiom Rebooted. Look for this atmospheric game to leave an impression with Switch players who check it out.
Reed Remastered doesn't do much of anything to leave a positive impression. Platformers (even one-hit-kill ones like this) are a dime a dozen on the Nintendo Switch. How does this one hope to stand out with the multiple ways it comes up short? I was hoping for better; I didn't have fun playing it.
Marooners has some conceptual curiosity that translates into decisions not working in the game's favor. I don't see this one having any legs on the Nintendo Switch.
The Man With The Ivory Cane is a fun but flawed title.
Just a Phrase by POWGI is a no-frills game that would've worked much better as part of a collection than a standalone release. It misses the mark in several key ways. I expected better than a quick game beaten with minimal effort.
On paper, Crash Drive 2 should run out of gas, but with Joy-Cons in hand, it succeeds in spite of itself. It's not for multiplayer that it's a success – the lack of local support ensures that – but it triumphs as a solo romp, as there's plenty to accomplish and laugh at.
With Seek Hearts, Exe Create has crafted a story that drives you to see it through to completion. Now RPG fans who aren't enthusiastic for old school visuals might want to bookmark this game for a future sale, even though the price is fair for all the content included. For my part, I enjoyed beating the game, even with the hit-or-miss enemies.
Just Glide does nothing to stand out from the crowd, unfortunately. It feels like a game that's five years too late. Download the free version on mobile if you're curious, as that is the much more appropriate platform for such a meager offering.