Ultimately, the dialogue and points system just wasn't engaging enough to keep me fully invested in the narrative, and its comedy leanings prevented the romance elements from feeling genuine. It doesn't help that the writing is littered with far too many pop culture and gaming references. Those who devour visual novels like Gauntlet would devour quarters might find Arcade Spirits worth playing through, but everyone else should probably cash in their prize tickets for something else.
If anything, the floppiness and bounciness of the characters make them more funny and charming. In addition, the colorful and light-hearted art style pairs well with the simple gameplay. The single-player experience probably isn't enough to justify a purchase, but if you can get multiple people together, Moving Out is another excellent local co-op title that you'll want to bring out again and again.
I found the quick and eye-catching combat to be both satisfying and exciting; you can even earn bonuses depending on how fast you defeat enemies and whether or not you take damage in the process. The character endings I saw felt a little lackluster, but I'm compelled enough by the presentation and the simplicity of the gameplay to run through the adventure again. It might not be the drastic departure that some remakes are, but the Trials of Mana remake is a wonderful RPG palette cleanser for Mana newcomers and veterans alike.
Seeing their health meters drop both galvanizes your resolve and heightens your dread; yes, you're edging closer to victory, but your opponent is about to ramp their attack up to 11. The 18 total bosses each present a unique and satisfying challenge, and if you find any of them too daunting, you can increase your damage by 2x or even turn on invulnerability. Fans of tough, bullet-hell style action sequences will be able to slake their thirst here, but don't go into it expecting much more than a solid boss rush.
This isn’t the next great shoot-’em-up, but it’s competent and playable and accessible. Galaxy Warfighter would be a great game to introduce a new player to the genre, but it’s just as good at being a background activity. Even though seasoned pilots should probably steer clear, there’s room in the galaxy for new or laid back cadets to take this one for a spin.
Its 10-12 hour runtime can provide some tense moments against challenging bosses, and four difficulty modes allow you to customize the experience to your liking. If you're looking for the next gripping narrative or memorable character moments, this is where Ara Fell trips up. If you just want a simple and recognizable JRPG experience to add to your Switch library, you could certainly do worse.
Every floor of the office tower feels fresh, and reaching the end of the game brought both great satisfaction and also that bittersweet realization that I was finished with another wonderful gaming experience. Minor issues such as not being able to control the camera and occasionally finicky controls fail to hamper a thoroughly enjoyable puzzle game. If you are looking for a charming, funny, and innovative new game to play while cooped up inside, Good Job! represents one of the best candidates for the position.
One Step From Eden is a good game, but it's sorely lacking in accessibility options. If you haven't measured your reaction time lately, you may want to do so before embarking on the perilous journey that is One Step From Eden.
While the music and sound effects are unremarkable, almost every stage presents a new and interesting challenge that would generally take a minute or three to solve. Those looking for a lighter, low-stress puzzle experience would do well to show Mekorama some love. I'll give it a B for effort.
The variety present here is great, but I can't help but feel like this main course is leaving me a little hungry. If you don't mind running through stages multiple times to achieve all of the objectives, or you're looking for a fresh and compact co-op game, Sky Racket is certainly worth a look. The amount of content and the controls do leave something to be desired, though.
Fortunately, many enemies respawn and save points refill your health and ammo, in addition to functioning as waypoints. Fanservice images pop up from time to time, but they aren't overly egregious and shouldn't dissuade you from a purchase. If you can look past its numerous imperfections, Dead or School is a satisfying and compelling albeit janky action-platformer that may be worth getting a hall pass for.
The gameplay is a little lacking in variety, but the characters and their world are vibrant and full of life. As you follow their ups and downs across these 12 vignettes, it's impossible not to root for each character to succeed in their quest for love. The in-game achievements give an incentive to explore more thoroughly, and the accessible nature of the game means anyone can enjoy it. If you're looking for the adventure game equivalent of meet-cute, schedule a date with Half Past Fate.
Underhero creatively weaves platforming, turn and timing-based combat, and adventure elements into a gorgeous and inspired experience. Even though it relies a little too much on circuitous paths and the slingshot weapon is frustrating to aim, it's hard not to smile the entire time you're playing Underhero. It's another in the long list of amazing, must-play indie titles that every Switch owner needs to take a long look at. If nothing else, who hasn't wanted to peak behind the curtain at the everyday machinations of an evil overlord and his scores of minions?.
All in all, Cosmonauta doesn't go out of its way to impress you aesthetically, but each level throws a unique enough scenario at you that going through each one was a satisfying experience.
Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection is one of the first must-own titles of 2020.
It's as addictive as it is satisfying, and the hours I've spent with it have melted away like the cares of my newly-cured patients. Whether you've been in a simulation game coma like me or living it up as your tycoon of choice, Two Point Hospital more than lives up to its forebears. Let's add eight more points to that title.
The overall range of options and stages is definitely lacking, but the core gameplay is very enjoyable. Ideally, you'll have at least four in your group since fewer than that really takes away from what makes Thief Town fun. If you're looking to add an easy-to-play and satisfying multiplayer title to your game nights, don't skip town on this one.
Other than having them all in one place, you don't really get anything extra when buying these shooters as a package, rather than individually. You might save a couple bucks purchasing all six games at once, but the better play might be to just pick and choose your favourite ones. Ultimately, Shooting Stars Bravo is a decent compilation that is disappointingly barebones, even if it can provide a pretty good time.
The sound effects and music add little to the overall experience, and the customization aspects are only skin deep. Additional modes and options would go a long way to increasing its value, but as it is, Marooners is just okay. There are much more compelling multiplayer experiences on the crowded Switch island.
If you’re looking to curl up on the couch with a warm drink, Coffee Talk can set the mood and help you pass a few wonderful hours until closing time.