Trevor Gould's Reviews
Gravity Duck offers an entertaining enough, if repetitively simple, time. But it ends far too quickly. Taking into account what other low-priced Switch titles offer, including those from the same developer, this game is a sizable distance from great. Gravity Duck does nothing to stand apart amidst its crowded genre. Having zero replay incentive is a crucial blunder! It might have been better staying a free flash game or a cheap mobile offering. This Duck needed more time in the oven to reach its potential.
While there are absolutely zero excuses for the missing multiplayer, I suspect Turok 2 might still draw a bit of a nostalgic audience on Nintendo Switch.
Battleship is guaranteed entertainment, and this version has several features elevating it beyond a simple board game. My only concern when it comes to replayability and value is the big glitch I encountered. So, even with things to unlock, I have some real pause concerning a solo recommendation. But it's great in zippy multiplayer, and you don't need to worry about gathering up small pegs afterward. This isn't a "best-case scenario" digital version, but no matter how you play it, it's undeniable that Battleship is still one of the quintessential games.
If model railroads hold any type of appeal to you, I think this is a very good puzzle game. It's one that stands out due to its theme, offering challenging fun, and packed with charm.
With its simple-to-grasp, challenging-to-master gameplay, Perchang held our attention through to the last of its 50 levels. It has a satisfying length, offering a fair amount of content without overstaying its welcome. Finishing a level with just a Bronze medal (or worse, a Pass) also prompts some replay. Perchang manages to stand out amongst the puzzle crowd on Nintendo Switch and I hope it's a sign of more Goldbergian puzzlers to come.
A shorter title, Bitlogic – A Cyberpunk Arcade Adventure will nonetheless likely appeal mainly to older gamers. It successfully mixes genres in a great setting with a good soundtrack. It effectively draws you in with unlimited ammunition, no time limit, and well-spaced checkpoints, to balance the atypical lack of jumping.
Sometimes it's hard to tell how much weight a game will carry once your done reviewing it and have moved on to new titles. In Astro Bears' case, the passage of time has proven my initial assessment wrong to some extent. The game has endured with me and my friends as a multiplayer attraction, and this new iteration is even better. It's dropped part of its original handle, but Astro Bears is more a party now than it's ever been.
Garage Mechanic Simulator takes an uneventful premise and wraps it in an aesthetically uninteresting package with an embarrassing user interface. When it comes to fundamentals, console polish, and stand out features, this game is out of gas. It's so boring, I'm taking my business to another garage.
Bouncy Bullets really isn't a good game, but when I changed my style of play I did find a bit of fun. As a speedrunner I don't think it's satisfying trying to master these levels, but there are some possibilities beneath the surface for those willing to look. Yet, it still feels amateurish in ways. With subpar controls, I'd take a pass until a patch or sale, even with the low price.
I really wanted to enjoy Attack of the Toy Tanks. But I found the AI poor, something the repetitive level design only emphasized, leading to tedium. Meanwhile, the multiplayer is disappointing in its limitations. Replay incentive is low, due to strict rating time limits, and the fact that you don't seem to unlock upgrades or anything else.
Redneck Skeet Shooting blunders on such a fundamental level that, I'm surprised it even reached the eShop from mobile without more adjustments. A game with such low quality simply doesn't belong on the Nintendo Switch. Dull as dishwater, Redneck Skeet Shooting is, sadly, simply horrible.
While I can't overlook that M2 failed to tap the more robust home ports, SEGA AGES Virtua Racing will appeal to Model 1 arcade purists. Don't let the relative ease of cruising past Big Forest's amusement park fool you, this is still a challenging experience. And "the herald of modern racing games" is still fun, nostalgia goggles or not.
For better or worse, this title has the overall feel of a relic. As an older gamer who grew up with arcades, it should hold high appeal to me. Yet I can't help but find myself thinking more about the games it's trying to emulate, at least when playing solo
As it is, the levels in Dyna Bomb, while not bad, aren't fun or interesting enough to sustain repetitive trial-and-error gameplay. So, this is an average Switch game at present, one that could be quite good if it had a bit more polish. Perhaps a welcomed patch will arrive, with options that push this game's mobile origins further to the backside. Meanwhile, despite a number of positives, I'd wait for a sale if the game strikes your fancy, as it doesn't leave much of a lasting impression right now.
I expected Super Mario Maker 2 to be an outstanding sequel but instead, it’s simply good. It takes steps forward and back in near equal measure, having significant post-launch shortcomings that go beyond mere nitpicking.
Even if you only end up playing for 10 minutes at a time, Timberman is a fair addition to the 3DS eShop for just $1.99. Just don't expect any depth.
Which isn't to say there's anything inherently wrong with GoFishing 3D's simple approach… but that only works when the game is actually good. The devs need to look at the level of quality or lack thereof. Just because a game can coast on mobile doesn't mean it's the right choice for the Switch. GoFishing 3D is just too poor on so many levels. Not to mention it is absurdly priced, making it only worthwhile as a catch and release game to those wanting an overpriced chuckle.
Refunct feels like the promising start of something bigger and better. Despite some real potential, it ends up bringing little that excites or leave much of an impression, due to its scant half hour or so of gameplay. It's priced right, but Refunct might be a game you only play once.
The 32-bit generation is one that I feel more indies should look toward after a plethora of 8-bit and 16-bit inspired titles have already dominated the scene. But Back in 1995 is too visually distracting, too slow, and too short for its $9.99 price. Nonetheless, the idea here is sound. With a better camera, a bit more speed, some expanded gameplay, and less negligence towards full-on emulation, a future installment could provide a nice retro fix.
While I still have some concerns with Team Sonic Racing, I can't deny that I've come around to it. I've sunk over 15 hours, across several extended play sessions, and had quite a bit of fun doing so. The $39.99 launch price is more than fair for what's included here. If you're looking for an enjoyable alternative after playing Mario Kart 8 for the past five years, Team Sonic Racing smoothly drifts its way to a decisive silver trophy. Start your engines!