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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is a welcome return to the exploration-heavy Castlevania games of the past.
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.
Even though completing achievements (Feats) unlocks extras like comics and a music player, the fact remains that getting to 100 percent completion seems to be the primary objective of the game. Reaching this milestone will take hours and hours of grinding and repetition, so this is a game better played in the background, perhaps while watching TV or listening to a podcast. Ultimately, Forager has potential, but a little more scavenging is needed to take it from an appetizer to a main course.
Pacing issues and a lack of variety hold it back from being truly great, but Oninaki is absolutely worth a playthrough, if you're not averse to the solemn subject matter. The stellar combat feels almost like hack-and-slash, and the overall story compels you through the experience. If this is the reincarnation of Tokyo RPG Factory, they've come back less a factory and more an artisan.
I., even with a handful of difficulty modes, didn't hold my attention for very long. If you're looking for a board game that's accessible to a fault, you could do worse than Eight-Minute Empire. Fans of the physical version should enjoy this one, but I'm spending those eight minutes elsewhere.
The addition of "Lost Atlas" in the title attempts to add some mystery and intrigue to Whipseey, but even Kirby would spit this one out.
There are costumes to earn from sidequests and achievements to earn that unlock in-game art, but there's no new game plus to expedite the process. That said, there are a few times when you get to make key decisions that affect the story slightly and reward you with different costumes, so there is some incentive to return. Turn-based RPG enthusiasts and those who wanted more story out of Darkest Dungeon will find a lot to like here, but those who want a more streamlined or directed experience are given the cold shoulder.
For the high-score chasers and shoot em' up fans among us, VASARA Collection delivers a classic experience with some cool features. The customization could definitely be stronger, and the delay on the basic melee attack makes it frustrating to use, but the overall package is pretty compelling. As yet another example of older and possibly forgotten titles getting a second chance on a modern platform, the three Vasara games represent a worthwhile investment, even if they aren't at the top of their class.