Craig Majaski's Reviews
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.
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!
The Way Remastered is a breed of games that doesn’t get made much these days. It tells a touching story through minimal exposition and focuses on isolation and adventure. There are tons of ways to instantly die, so be prepared for lots of trial and error. Thankfully respawns are instant with no load times.
Banner Saga 3 is the epic conclusion to the series and one that fans are sure to greatly enjoy. There’s not much new here, but that’s fine given that the first two games were so fun to play. Since Fire Emblem was delayed to 2019, give this trilogy a shot!
GREAT - Unravel Two is a charming game with compelling level design and fun gameplay mechanics. This isn’t your typical action-platform experience, as you’ll encounter plenty of small puzzles to solve to progress though the stages. Another great game for the Switch!
Mega Man 11 is a return to form for the Blue Bomber. The stages are unique and fun to play through, but the difficulty remains high for those seeking a challenge. With pleasing graphics, memorable music, and precise controls, this one’s worth owning.
After the last to games crashed and burned, Super Mario Party is a much-needed return to form. With all-new mini-games, great presentation value, and plenty of different modes to mess around with, this is an essential game for anyone hosting a party with friends or family. Players of all ages will find something to like here.
Sometimes old school shmups don’t hold up as well as they did back in the day. Thankfully this isn’t the case with Lightening Force, which happens to be one of the most accessible and fun space shooters I’ve played. This one’s a keeper!
GREAT - Phantasy Star comes to the Switch and it’s loaded with all sorts of options that should please hardcore fans. If you’re new to the game it’s still approachable even today, although having an appreciation for ‘80s 8-bit games will definitely impact your feelings toward it. I’m happy to finally say I’ve played this classic and the Switch’s portable mode is a great way to experience it!
GREAT - Kingdom Two Crowns consumed my time and kept me away from playing the newly released Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – so that’s saying something! There’s a lot to like here, from the visuals to the music to the addicting gameplay. Strategy fans should take notice!
GREAT - The originator of the 2-player run-and-gun genre still holds up today. With more Contra than anyone asked for, there’s plenty of aliens to keep you busy for days on end. Be sure to hand a Joy-Con to a friend for maximum enjoyment!
GREAT - Torchlight II is a great alternative to Diablo III on the Switch. It carries a Teen rating, which is more appropriate for younger gamers and a great introduction to the dungeon crawling loot RPG genre. A lack of local co-op on one Switch is a bit disappointing, but the four player online co-op more than makes up for it.
GREAT - Trine 4 offers up fun and engaging gameplay for up to four players simultaneously. The game is more fun when played with friends, so be sure to invite some over and spend a few nights going through the various worlds, which are beautiful to behold!
GREAT - Trails of Cold Steel III is a lengthy and fun JRPG that’s bound to get lost in the sea of competing titles. It doesn’t help that Switch owners have to jump in with the third in the series, especially since the story and characters are directly connected to the previous games. However, if you stick with it you’ll be rewarded with a fun combat system, endearing characters, and an entertaining adventure.
GREAT - Namco Museum Archives Volume 1 is the best Switch compilation from the company so far. With 10 classic NES games (most of which never appeared in this country before) and a demake of Pac-Man Championship Edition, there’s a lot to like here!
GREAT - CrossCode is a great action/RPG that features beautiful graphics and an amazing soundtrack. The setting and story are unique but didn’t really wow me as much as I had hoped. The combat and puzzle solving are fun, but some might find aspects of the game too challenging. That being said, there’s a ton to like here and this is a great game for the Switch!
GREAT - Mr. Driller DrillLand took a long time to make it to our shores, but now that it’s here puzzle game fans have a reason to celebrate. With multiple modes of play you get to experience Mr. Driller like never before! The soundtrack is absolutely off the charts and fans of bubbly Japanese music will be in heaven. A lack of online multiplayer and leaderboards slightly hampers the replay value, but don’t let that deter you from nabbing this from the eShop.
GREAT - Little Nightmares II absolutely nails the dreary and hopeless atmosphere thanks to its detailed graphics and ominous musical score. Even though there’s no narration or story told through text, the game somehow manages to make you care about the main characters and want to help them escape to a better life. Unenjoyable combat and sloppy controls hold the game back from becoming what it could have been, but there’s plenty here to like to give it a hearty recommendation.
GOOD - Donut County is a surreal experience featuring a town filled with talking animals. The gameplay hook is swallowing up objects to increase the size of your hole until you can devour everything in sight! If you liked Katamari Damacy, this one will probably be a must-have.
Not every game needs to be 100 hours long and cost $60. Cosmic Star Heroine hits the sweet spot of delivering fun gameplay mechanics with an upbeat and crazy story filled with charming characters and funny writing.