Russell Archey


171 games reviewed
82.6 average score
85 median score
80.1% of games recommended
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Apr 23, 2018

If you like these kinds of games it's still worth checking out.

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8.5 / 10.0 - Dead In Vinland
Apr 12, 2018

Dead in Vinland is a nice mix of RPG, simulation, and exploration elements.  With nearly a dozen party members to recruit, multiple tasks to assign people to, and many different ways to interact with the island's inhabitants, there are multiple ways to go about playing the game and every decision you make will matter in the end.

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8.5 / 10.0 - Pit People
Mar 23, 2018

Pit People is one of those games that I enjoyed despite being terrible at the genre.  While the game can be simple compared to other games in the genre, the combination of the easy to pick up gameplay and the graphics and humor that The Behemoth is known for makes this a game worth checking out regardless of whether you've played other tactical RPGs or if this is your first one.  Plus, who doesn't want to hear a giant space bear taunt you throughout the game?

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Mar 21, 2018

Super One More Jump is a fun and addicting game that's simple to pick up and has a gradual difficulty curve.  With over 100 levels to play and a few extra game modes to unlock, plus the two multiplayer options including two- to four-player co-op, Super One More Jump is definitely worth picking up.

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8.5 / 10.0 - Subsurface Circular
Mar 1, 2018

Subsurface Circular has an engaging story with compelling characters that really makes you think about how you'll meet your objectives.  While the game is short, clocking in at around two hours, the story itself is enjoyable enough that you really don't mind the short length.  For six dollars, Subsurface Circular is worth checking out for the story alone.

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8 / 10.0 - SteamWorld Dig
Feb 28, 2018

Steamworld Dig is a fun game, but it's pretty short and can get repetitive after a while.

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8 / 10.0 - Aegis Defenders
Feb 12, 2018

Aegis Defenders is probably one of the tougher games I've played in recent memory, and that's all thanks to the tower defense sections.  Fans of that genre probably won't have too many issues, but newcomers playing alone might find those sections pretty daunting until they master switching characters, learning the arena layouts, and know what traps to use when.  If you have a friend to play co-op, you'll likely have a much easier time.  Still, it's a pretty good game for GUTS Department's first outing.

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8.5 / 10.0 - The Escapists 2
Feb 1, 2018

Although not playing the original, The Escapists 2 is still an enjoyable game, especially if you don't have a lot of time on your hands as it can be played in spurts with how the game and save mechanics work, each day lasting around fifteen minutes.  However, the first prison you play through might take a while to escape if you're not familiar with how the game works.  Though the tutorial level does help out a bit, there were still some things I didn't know about that would have made things a lot easier my first time playing.

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8.5 / 10.0 - Portal Knights
Jan 15, 2018

Portal Knights on the Switch is a really enjoyable game outside of a few minor nitpicks. It can be a tad frustrating to have to constantly mine materials for new gear in the very early going. But much like Minecraft, a lot of the game is mining and exploring. If you take your time and enjoy every aspect of the game, you'll likely enjoy Portal Knights a lot more than if you just try to rush through each randomly generated island.

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9.5 / 10.0 - Pinball FX3
Dec 29, 2017

Pinball FX3 delivers a great pinball experience much like its predecessors.  The touch screen controls with the Switch's vertical orientation option work surprisingly well and are really responsive, though I personally prefer using the Joy-Cons for a more machine-like feel.  As a free download and three free tables (one with the game and two as free DLC),as well as cross-play with PC and Xbox One players, you can't really go wrong with this one.

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6.5 / 10.0 - Ninja Shodown
Dec 20, 2017

Ninja Shodown is one of those games where the Multiplayer shines more than the single player experience.  That's not to say the game isn't fun alone; it is, but there's more mayhem to be had in multiplayer, especially Versus Mode.  It's hard to recommend for $15 if you don't plan to play with friends, especially with no online play, but if you have some friends who want to kick up some ninja-style mayhem, you'll want to check it out.

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Dec 18, 2017

Conga Master Party is enjoyable, but kind of short if you're playing solo as the Story Mode doesn't take too long to complete once you know what you're doing, and Endless Mode can only go so far.  The multi-player modes on the other hand can make for some fun times among friends.  Sadly it's local multi-player only with no online play or AI opponents to compete against.  It's still fun either way, but more so with friends.

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Dec 13, 2017

88 Heroes: 98 Heroes Edition is an enjoyable game with an interesting and unique premise, plus the multiple game modes do make for a lot of replayability.  However, some of the heroes basically do nothing but jump and some of the ones that can attack have attacks that can easily backfire if you don't know what you're doing, making a lot of the game trial and error.  Also if you get down to just one hero, get very used to him/her/it as you do have unlimited continues, but unless you get enough coins to revive someone, that's all you have for the rest of the game.

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Nov 22, 2017

It had been a while since I last played a Raiden game and Raiden V: Director's Cut was pretty enjoyable after reacquainting myself with the series, my eyesight issues aside.  The fact you can beat the game on any difficulty can seem a tad off putting, but this is actually a good concept for newer players so they can experience the story then increase the difficulty when they start to improve so they can get a better ending.  That combined with the boss challenges give quite a bit of replayability  to the game and being able to take things a stage at a time makes it great to play in short bursts.  Overall a pretty good entry for the series.

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9 / 10.0 - Axiom Verge
Nov 10, 2017

If you don't mind some major backtracking at times going from one end of Sudra to the other, you'll find a great Metroid-inspired game with an interesting storyline, a multitude of weapons to choose from to fit your playstyle, and just an overall fun experience.

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Oct 17, 2017

While not a huge fan of Dragon Ball in general, I can say that I'm a fan of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 on the Switch. It does have its flaws. Namely with the camera and some of the training. Plus the combat can get repetitive as you mash out the same combos, at least in the early going. But I can definitely say that I found a Dragon Ball game that I can enjoy coming back to from time to time.

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8.8 / 10.0 - Necrosphere
Sep 25, 2017

Necrosphere shows that a simple game can be complex when it needs to be without being overly difficult, for the most part.  The later areas of the game do require a near mastery of the controls. But overall, Necrosphere is enjoyable, and for a budget-minded Metroidvania, it's definitely worth a look.

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Sep 7, 2017

As someone who is terrible at the main series, I really enjoyed Monster Hunter Stories, even if it is a bit easy early on.  The more traditional RPG-style of gameplay is a radical departure from what the core games are like, but that doesn't mean it's not worth your time.  If you can put aside the fact that this plays rather differently than the past games, you'll find an enjoyable experience for new and returning fans alike.

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7.4 / 10.0 - Namco Museum
Aug 25, 2017

Namco Museum is a nice way to bring so classic arcade titles to the Switch, but they're mostly not anything we haven't seen on past platforms.

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8 / 10.0 - Nidhogg 2
Aug 17, 2017

Nidhogg 2 is a surprisingly short game, but that doesn't mean it's not a lot of fun.  While the Arcade Mode is rather short at eleven stages, the local and online multiplayer options will keep fans coming back.  If you were a fan of the original game you'll likely enjoy this game as it's pretty much more of the same but with some new and enjoyable additions.

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