The small tasks on each island can feel like chores after a while, but then suddenly they won't. The neighbors you've been helping all this time will pitch in and divide up larger projects so the burden doesn't fall squarely on your shoulders. You might think striving for the title of Master Builder is all about the monuments and landscape you leave behind, but it's actually just as much about the friends you make along the way.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is a welcome return to the exploration-heavy Castlevania games of the past.
Nonetheless, it would have been nice to see a spinoff like Contra Force or even Contra: The Alien Wars for Game Boy rather than the incredibly similar PAL versions we did get. Button remapping is another frustrating omission. Overall, this is a solid collection of classic action games that have enjoyable boss fights and provide a great challenge, but it doesn't feel like a definitive compilation.
Catan on Switch doesn't have that, so unless you really enjoy playing board games against A.I. or have the patience to wait for potentially unsatisfying online competition, you are better off building the largest army or longest road somewhere else.
At the end of the day, your enjoyment of Dandy Dungeon hinges on a few factors: Do you like cute, quirky, and simple RPGs? How do you feel about rogue-lite elements and grinding for items? The unique presentation and charm are definite positives, but the gameplay does become worn out given that you have almost no agency in the dungeons outside of drawing your hero’s path and activating a handful of limited-use items like fireball scrolls, healing potions, and stat buffs.
The description contains a bullet list of selling points like "Peaceful," "Relaxing," and "Seamless," and it certainly delivers on these promises. The controls feel good, too, with the actual platforming being very forgiving, and there are little collectables you can pick up but to no real end. If you need something to take your mind off a stressful day or an impossible Dark Souls boss, or just as a break between 30-hour RPGs, Refunct might do the trick. Just don't jump in expecting Mirror's Edge or Portal.
Regardless, much of the content is either repetitive or forced reading, and the story isn't going to win any awards. To enjoy this title, you have to want to spend more time with characters you already know. If you aren't interested in Kirito and Asuna's budding romance or Yui playing the dual-roles of both game guide and in-game daughter, you aren't likely to derive a lot of entertainment from Hollow Realization. There are better action-RPGs on Switch, such as the aforementioned Ys VIII, but certainly none that give the freedom of exploring and interacting your favourite SAO personalities.
A few of the titles don't hold up completely, but every part of this collection is worth at least trying. Even though the first Castlevania came six years after their biggest hit, I have to believe Devo had the Belmont family in mind all along. When a good time turns around, you must whip it, and the Castlevania Anniversary Collection has whips and good times in spades.
Blossom Tales and Reverie are much stronger titles in this genre that found a way to be similar but also different from Nintendo's legendary franchise in their own ways. Shalnor Legends pales in comparison to any Zelda game. The use of "Legend" in the title is the only real link between these worlds.
Shadows of Adam is an enjoyable but familiar JRPG. It doesn't do anything overly surprising, but its fun combat mechanics and humorous writing largely overshadow a by-the-numbers story. It isn't overly challenging, but sometimes it's nice to step away from the grind and the random battles and take on something more leisurely. Those who long for the plethora of similar titles from the SNES days will find a better than average adventure here that outclasses many of the budget releases currently on the eShop.
Final Fantasy X HD Remaster is an excellent port of a classic JRPG that mostly holds up today. Playing it portably helps accommodate the length, but certain scenes really do deserve to be seen on a big screen; this remains one of the most visually-stunning Final Fantasy games.
I did enjoy fighting the various bosses as they used the game's mechanics in fun ways and required a fair amount of skill and practice to overcome, but the exploration in between was boring. While some of the puzzles were fun and unique, many ended up repeating the same basic structure and solutions, and even if you did know what to do you would have to fight the controls and visuals to get there. If you are looking for an action-platformer with a unique mechanic, and you can stomach the problems I've pointed out, you might find a fun time here. For most though, I'm recommending you GIGA WRECKER "HALT.
It also has a feature that allows you to watch playthroughs of each game and hop in when you feel like it. Even the SNES Classic has a rewind feature that lets you jump back in time to retry a particular segment. A lack of online leaderboards or any type of achievement system also lowers the replay value of the Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection. Unless you are terribly nostalgic for the games in this package or a die-hard shoot-em'-up fan, I can't fully recommend it when there are such better value propositions out there.
Outside of the Colosseum challenges and the three difficulty modes (Squire, Knight, and Legend), I don't see much of a reason to return after completing the game, but I found the length to be just right. My time with SteamWorld Quest was thoroughly satisfying, and in between playing lengthy Final Fantasy ports, I was glad to have a more compact experience close at hand. Rather than running out of steam, Hand of Gilgamech plays its cards rather perfectly.
undefined.What it lacks in gameplay variety, Way of the Passive Fist makes up for in its unique focus on defense and its accessible approach to difficulty. I enjoyed playing through the story mode and learning the different attack patterns of my opponents as each interaction felt like a mini-rhythm game. If you are looking for an arcade-style brawler that has achievements and a fun hook, there's no need to be passive about downloading this one on the eShop.
As it is, I would recommend this game to those who like sci-fi rogue-likes and those who played FTL and wanted more story from it. There is a solid base here, but a little more variety in gameplay and a few more quality-of-life tweaks would take Out There from a white dwarf to a red giant.
I was honestly very frustrated during my first couple hours, but gradually I started to appreciate the slow burn that is The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa. Without question, it will not appeal to everyone, and the lack of tutorials, hints, and information is definitely frustrating. All that said, though, it’s a unique and interesting experiment wrapped up in a cool, pixelated graphical style and an atmospheric soundtrack that suits the game perfectly.
I did enjoy aspects of what I played, but there is a brevity and incompleteness that holds it back from being more than just a unique experiment. The puzzle-based combat is a really cool idea that needed to be used more and in different ways. If this one sounds interesting to you, I would wait for some kind of discount before jumping in.
So how about a final roll of the dice? Anything other than a natural 20, and Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon probably isn’t for you.
Elements like your current objectives and path through the story aren't really explained, and it's possible to feel lost or without purpose due to a lack of tutorials or direction. That said, I would still heartily recommend The Red Strings Club to fans of cyberpunk or crime stories or those who enjoy narrative games with a fair amount of choice and minimal gameplay. I'm not sure if I will be returning to this bar right away, but I'll certainly be thinking about it.