Completionists have dozens of collectables to find and badges to unlock, and the subtle background music evokes the feeling of traipsing through a wintery forest. Even though some of the character designs are a little off-putting, the overall art style is quite attractive. Despite not really bringing anything new to the table, Röki provides a solid puzzle-adventure experience that only drags a little towards the end.
The dungeons also have some basic puzzle solving that adds good variety, and it's nothing short of divine that you save the game, change party members, and heal up by talking to a random cat just lounging in place. If Super Mario RPG helped you become a master of timing-based moves, Ikenfell offers a warm and satisfying playthrough. Undoubtedly, though, some will find the non-combat elements overly simple and the battles too demanding.
But you might want to meditate before and after each session. Calm, blue penguin. Calm, blue penguin.
Electronic Super Joy 2 is even more of a joy to play than the first game, and it makes a welcome addition to any platforming fan's Switch library. As long as you know that it's much more metal than Mario, those seeking a serious and satisfying challenge are sure to find it here. You might not want sexual moaning with your running and jumping, but don't let that dissuade you from an excellent gameplay experience.
Fortunately, there are unique story beats for each one, some new bosses as well, and they each play quite differently. While a single playthrough can take 6-10 hours, the additional content makes replays worthwhile, so Ys Origin is a fairly Ys-sy recommendation. The one-note setting aside, this is a great action-RPG to add to your Switch library.
The workplace setting adds a unique charm to a genre that feels over-represented on the eShop these days. Ultimately, those seeking a satisfying challenge with dynamic dungeons will find a job opportunity worth applying for. A variety of accessibility options, such as increased health and longer invincibility after getting hit, can help less experienced applicants, too. Even if Fizzle is in danger of Going Under, it's worth taking a long look at their job posting on the eShop.
One noticeable issue with the game is lengthy load times before entering and exiting combat and when loading a scenario; these can take upward of 30 seconds. If you're thirsty for a bloody, in-depth strategy title, Immortal Realms: Vampire Wars may just slake your thirst. That's if the combat segments don't put a stake through your heart first.
At the end of the semester, Wintermoor Tactics Club earns a passing grade for its accessible gameplay and charming story beats, but there's red ink all over the Switch's performance. If you don't mind frequent loading screens and stuttering, consider grabbing this version for the portability, but playing on PC might offer a more enjoyable experience.
Lasting 5-8 hours, its campaign tells a largely forgettable narrative, but the action segments are enjoyable and the boss fights quite thrilling. A lackluster leveling up system means you won't ever really feel all that strong; maybe the issue is that even the most basic of enemies are incredibly dangerous at all times. Fortunately, retrying after death is decently quick, and checkpoints that save your progres and refill your incense charges aren't uncommon. Even though it's not a must-own title, Minoria is quite competent and will likely appeal to fans of the genre, in particular those who enjoyed its predecessor, Momodora.
The Road to Guangdong is paved with good intentions, but ultimately it's much more of a bumpy and boring ride with a few pleasant stops along the way. Had the focus been less on the driving and maintenance of the family car and more on the family and their relationships, the handful of hours it takes to see the story to completion would be much more of a pleasure cruise. If you're willing to overlook the time spent behind the wheel of Sandy, there's a worthwhile and unique narrative to uncover here, but Road to Guangdong is a difficult recommendation nevertheless.
The character names do more harm than good, and the visuals are merely serviceable. Fortunately, the soundtrack provides incredible travelling music, and it's worth seeking out tapes to add to your collection of tracks. If you can get into the world and its mysteries and intricacies, you'll find an experience worthy of being called Paradise. If you're expecting another Danganronpa, this might be more of a buzz killer.
If you find yourself longing for that old kaleidoscope toy you enjoyed once upon a time, Spinch's shotgun blast of color might help you fill that void.
Exceptional presentation elements bolster excellent voice acting and writing, and the result is a mystery experience that is both accessible and hard to put down. The puzzle quality could be a little higher and the game did freeze a couple times (autosaves are frequent, fortunately), but the memorable characters will definitely stick with you after you close the book on this one. Like a good novel, Jenny's (and Arthur's) story is a real page-turner, and it's well deserving of being added to your Switch library.
While the most dedicated players will find a game containing dozens of hours of grinding and challenge to overcome, most are likely to encounter repetitive and simplistic gameplay with no major story to reward their endeavoring. Many will no doubt find the final main game dungeon to be too great an obstacle to overcome. Without nostalgia to buoy its lackluster gameplay loop and online functionality, Crystal Chronicles is one caravan ride you may want to skip.
If you take it at face value as a simulation, you'll find a faithful and rewarding experience; a free demo on the eShop should give you an idea of whether you'll enjoy the game. Ultimately, it's best to take your time with Hypnospace Outlaw rather than rushing through to the end. The devil, as they say, is in the poorly-designed webpage details.
At the end of the day, the gameplay isn't likely to compel you to spend the 5-10 hours needed to see the story through. Everything this game does is done better elsewhere, so dive back into the bottomless eShop sea and fish up another adventure. This Giraffe is better left on safari.
All told, Phoenotopia: Awakening could probably use a little more REM sleep to get some much-needed editing in.
The experience would be a much smoother and more memorable one if its primary mechanic was easier to execute. Each world culminates in a boss fight, and these border on maddening when coupled with scarce checkpoints, the aforementioned aiming issues, and a system of progression that's essential trial-and-error. Those who like their platformers extra spicy may find a satisfying 10 hours here, but be warned that fighting with the controls is par for this course.
The varying chapter lengths and uneven pacing are noticeable distractions, and there isn't much depth to the tasks you complete around town or through guild requests. However, these concerns are more than outweighed by the charming and funny characters and all the moments they have together. FAIRY TAIL is an easy recommendation for RPG and anime fans, but those new to either of those groups might just find a true sleeping beauty here.
Locomotion doesn't necessarily bring anything new to the table, but its clever level design and pick-up-and-play nature make it a great option for puzzle fans and those who are looking for an experience they can share with younger or more casual players. More color or visual flair would have added to the package, and it would have been nice to skip puzzles you get stuck on to advance to the next stage. Overall, though, Locomotion is a solid 3D puzzle title that is good for a few hours of train-based entertainment.