Trevor Gould's Reviews
Grow: Song of The Evertree is reasonably compelling for the first few hours. But in juggling a lot, some of its more commonplace elements are uneven. While the story sings a familiar tune and long load times add up, this is still a worthwhile adventure with many surprises. Just be prepared for some feeling of recognizable repetition as you play at your own pace.
Satisfactory puzzle-platformers are many on the Nintendo Switch. But the transformative and unique A Boy and his Blob, while easy, rises well above most of the competition. Time has been kind to this game, both in presentation (graphically and musically) and general design. If you haven't had your fill of it yet, add this one to your Switch collection.
While some of its puzzle flow can be hit-or-miss, The Sundew delivers an entertaining graphic adventure. While I hate to see the sound design miss the mark so badly, genre fans should enjoy pointing and clicking their way through this tale's surprises.
With Mario Party Superstars alongside Super Mario Party, the Nintendo Switch has two different but great series installments. While Superstars would benefit from more boards, it's a charming nostalgia-laden trip with far-reaching multiplayer appeal for family and friends of all ages. It's also replayable as ever, with online play, achievements, and unlockables.
Reminiscence in the Night doesn't offer much to keep you occupied, albeit at a modest $4.99 price. Choices that lead to different endings hold some appeal, but certain aspects of the script seriously lack. There's also little balance between being cryptic and offering clarity. This release leaves you with questions but feels more rudimentary than sophisticated.
Knockout Home Fitness is a Switch exclusive competing with the Fitness Boxing series and the expanding number of Switch workout games. I always welcome additional choices, and it manages to hold its own, more or less. But the price might be high for the content of a title that never aims to be anything more than "good enough." Weigh the pros and cons and check out the demo to decide if you want to "Knock out inactivity" with this one.
A Little Golf Journey oversells its "stunning" courses and struggles to stay fresh with a mostly safe approach, regardless of plot attempts. It's the sort of game that did enough to make me want to keep going for a few hours, but not enough to finish, let alone 100% it. Lacking diversity, both aesthetically and gameplay-wise, it pales when compared to many other Switch golf titles. But, even with a subpar camera, the secrets are quite a bit of fun. Assuredly not $19.99 fun, though. The content is there, but the enjoyment and polish aren't as much. Wishlist this one for a sale while you browse other relaxing games on the eShop, and wait for an improved follow-up.
Tetris is Tetris, so well known and broadly adored. And even if Tetris Effect: Connected is familiar, it's still great fun. The refinements make it a worthy addition to your Switch library, even if some of the tunes can be hit or miss. It'll scratch that Tetris itch, offering rewarding challenges you can return to time after time, even for those who've been manipulating shaped blocks since Alexey Pajitnov's original.
Gleylancer is a deep shooter that grew from a good shmup to a great one the longer I played it. To those in the know, this clever shooter's a tour de force, and I can now see why. It's smooth, addictive, highly replayable, and enjoyable, with rarely a dull moment. If you're a genre enthusiast, consider this an essential addition to your gaming library. Kudos to Ratalaika Games for publishing this, and for only $6.99. If this game had co-op, it might've been a 10.
A Juggler's Tale is a polished title, delivering a smooth gameplay flow that's over too quickly for its launch price. Anyone can appreciate the visual presentation and voiced story. Meanwhile, enthusiasts will enjoy the blend of puzzles (albeit easy ones) and action. It's a unique game in many ways and one that leaves an impression. But, it also leaves you wanting more. I hope to cheer on Abby in a sequel, one whose price better matches its length.
Hoa is a spirited adventure with a relaxing atmosphere. While I wish it were longer for its launch price (with optional challenges), I'm confident I'll replay it. The desirable aesthetics combined with goal-driven gameplay are too enjoyable a combination. Did this puzzle platformer go unnoticed by you this summer? It's never too late to give it the attention it deserves.
Steel Assault nails its presentation, and I'm impressed more than enough that I'll keep an eye out for Zenovia Interactive's next release. It does need to look closer at the retro arcade classics of yesteryear that it aims to honor, though. Trading in the 1-life setup for co-op would be a wise start, as would be the addition of scoring. This gorgeous game might be better on sale, but it's an accomplished title that does many things with skill.
When all's said and done, though, Centipede is so classic that it's almost always enjoyable on any system, and the same is true here. I hope Atari tries harder with future Recharged installments, but I can't deny that this mixed version is still fun. If you have someone to play co-op with, grab the game and hope for Millipede: Recharged to follow.
Townscaper offers little to keep players engaged and seemingly never will. I have to call it what it is, an early access Steam experiment trying to pass itself off as a full-fledged Switch release. Since the developer admits no DLC's on the horizon to address expected features that are MIA, this incomplete title's one to skip, even at just $5.99.
I give Badland props for its challenge, multiplayer, bold visual style, and content relative to its price. But it's a game that wears its mid-2010s origins on its sleeves, warts and all. I feel it hasn't held up as well as hoped and will have its work cut out for it to stand out on the congested Switch eShop. Want to play Badland in 2021? Do so on a mobile device instead. You'll get touch screen support and more content that way.
Piczle Puzzle & Watch Collection has games that are merely okay overall if you aren't a fan of this style already. But as a collection overall, this is a good release. It makes a positive impression, and its retro approach comes in at a fair price.
Ayo the Clown isn't the most original game, but it's a solid, colorful platformer. An ill-fitting idea here or there and a sluggish pace shouldn't stop kids from enjoying a playthrough, even if they don't go back to 100% the game. Give me a sequel that edits itself a bit, add a two-player mode, and you'll have a real winner.
If you haven't played A Short Hike yet, you might get into Haven Park for a little bit. But it's a game that seriously needs more original ideas and better implementation of ideas in general.
B.ARK is a fun (if awkwardly named) shooter that could use a bit more content and final polish. It's hard not to like the game for its colorful presentation and fun gameplay. But it's also hard to love it, knowing what it lacks at present. Make sure to grab Adventures of Pip first, but add B.ARK to your eShop wishlist.
It's hard to find much fault with this ambitious, albeit niche, game beyond the fact that you'll wish there were more of it. Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective dazzles with so much creativity, you'll never think of mazes the same way again. It's a bit cheaper than one of the books and much livelier, thanks to the brilliant audio/visual touches. Replay perks also broaden the audience who might not gravitate towards the books. If it looks interesting to you, don't let plot concerns or repetitiveness scare you off. I'm confident you won't be disappointed with your purchase. I hope to see another entry soon!