Craig Majaski's Reviews
OUTSTANDING - It’s not too often we give perfect scores, but if ever a game was deserving of one, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is definitely it. Amazing gameplay mechanics, an enchanting world of discovery, and stunning visuals come together for an unforgettable experience.
Pic-a-Pix Deluxe is a fun puzzle game in the vein of Picross. It adds a dash of color, which creates a new layer of strategy. A slightly confusing UI doesn’t get in the way of some seriously enjoyable and challenging puzzle solving.
Do you like the 2D Zelda games? If so, Blossom Tales is the perfect substitute until the real thing eventually comes along for the Switch. The story is entertaining and the world is fun to explore. It might be a little too close of a copycat for some, but it’s charming enough to stand on its own.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is the full package. It has a compelling story, fun combat, likable characters, amazing music, nice visuals, and rewards exploration. One could easily spend over 100 hours in the world of Alrest, and we wouldn’t blame you if you never wanted to leave. An excellent choice for your Switch!
World To The West is worth considering if you enjoy adventure games like Zelda. I just wish it had a more interesting story, better graphics, and wasn’t so generic in its gameplay. Some will find enjoyment here, but I wasn’t impressed.
The Longest Five Minutes looks and plays like an RPG from yesteryear. However, it’s superb soundtrack, entertaining writing, and unique plot progression makes it a great game to check out. It is on the very easy side though – you won’t find much depth or strategy in the combat system. It’s great for RPG beginners.
Dandara is an enjoyable Metroidvania with unique gameplay mechanics that feel fresh and fun – when they work. Sometimes the game’s controls can be a bit fussy, which can lead to unfortunate deaths. The game can sometimes be more frustrating than it needs to be, but underneath is a fun world to explore with some great visuals. Yet another great game for the Switch!
Mercenary Kings Reloaded is a fun sidescrolling action game in the vein of Metal Slug and Contra. Throw in scavenging and crafting and persistent character progression with different mission types and some highly detailed sprite work and you have yourself a winner. Repetitive levels and missions are really the only negatives.
The Fall Part 2: Unbound looked extremely promising. Metroidvania exploration? Check. Point and click adventure? Check. Sign me up! Unfortunately the gameplay mechanics are stiff and uninspired and the puzzle solving is either too easy at times or too “out there”, which can lead to clicking on everything until something works.
Layers of Fear: Legacy is a solid horror effort on the Switch. It combines psychological creepiness with jump scares and tells a disturbing story. There’s not much in the way of action, so if you’re not into the “walking simulator” types of games this one probably won’t be for you. For everyone else, dive headfirst into this mad world.
If you’ve never played Payday 2, the Switch version has plenty of content (50 missions) to keep you busy solo or with friends. No online voice chat is a bummer, so you’ll have to use your phone or something like Discord to strategize with your friends – unless of course you play locally! If you have access to Payday 2 on other systems, you might be better off served there. It all depends on what your priorities are. No matter what, expect a fun time!
You don’t have to be a hardcore fan of Portal or Bridge Constructor to like this mashup. It’s highly entertaining and fun to build structures and then see if they can hold up to the crushing reality of gravity and weight. It’s perfect to play in short bursts and funny to boot! The game’s difficulty might be a bit on the high end for some.
If you like adventure games that put an emphasis on combat and feature unique visuals, great tunes, and a one of a kind story, then Mulaka is made for you. It’s a surprisingly fresh take on a well-established genre.
This isn’t your father’s Pac-Man! Featuring new gameplay mechanics and colorful visuals, this is high-octane adrenaline-filled pure fun that any lover of arcade games will appreciate. The two-player co-op mode is a ton of fun and a perfect fit for the Switch’s “Share The Joy” concept. Don’t let this one pass you up.
With stiff competition from a variety of shooters already on the Switch, Aperion Cyberstorm doesn’t bring anything new to the console. It does deliver some fun 5-player competitive action, but the game’s audio-visuals fall short of what’s expected on the system. If you’re all out of couch multiplayer games to play, this one’s worth considering.
Subsurface Circular is a unique storytelling device and one that gives the illusion of player choice, when in reality the narrative is rather linear in nature. The gameplay is purely dialog tree choices consisting of various questions and answers. It won’t be for everyone, but it’s great to see a deviation from typical game design.
This is a terrible game for the Switch. There’s literally no strategy involved in playing and the game is so generic that it’s almost an insult to see the icon on my Switch home screen. Even though it’s only $5, spend that elsewhere and thank me later.
Penny-Punching Princess won’t appeal to everyone. It has a unique story, some wacky gameplay mechanics, and difficulty spikes that some will enjoy and others (like me) will find annoying. The brawler aspect of the action really calls out for co-op, but sadly it’s a single player affair.
Super Daryl Deluxe is a really funny game that features outstanding visual presentation and unique and creative areas to traverse. Unfortunately it falls short in the gameplay department, with repetitive and boring combat. Still, the game is worth a shot if you like mysteries, comedy, and want something completely strange on your Switch.
I really wanted to like Bombslinger and in some ways I did. The grueling difficulty spikes (which are randomized) and the game’s bugs got in the way of my enjoyment. The multiplayer mode is probably worth the price of admission for those looking for an alternative to Bomberman.