Fifty years is a long old time to remain even slightly relevant in the games industry, and whilst this package probably wont win too many new fans, it gives retro fans a great walk down memory lane.
If you can overlook these issues, and are a fan of stuff like Rune Factory, Stardew Valley or even the slept-on Level 5 title Fantasy Life – the latter a definite kindred spirit in terms of its JRPG tropes, action, farming and jobs – then you will get a lot out of Harvestella.
Buddy Simulator 1984 may not have the best RPG mechanics in the world, and you may as well forget about playing it in docked mode due to the level of text input involved early doors, but see past these minor gripes and this Switch port of a 2021 Steam belter is absolutely worth your time.
Outside of the lengthy modes discussed, it's just what you want out of a football game: a damn good game of footy. I don't care what they call it next year, if it improves on this then I will be there on day one.
There is much to see and do with The Cowabunga Collection, and whilst the games are arguably all eclipsed by the recent Dotemu reboot, there are still some blinding retro classics and so many extras to enjoy that this collection is a great value trip through your childhood console and arcade memories.
Spidersaurs is loveable, looks fantastic, and nowhere near as hostile and hardcore as the games that inspired it.
Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium is a beautifully presented package which includes a decent strike rate of two thirds bangers to a third of borderline unplayable turds.
Itadaki Smash has some decent humour in places and can give you a few hours of slightly underwhelming fighting fun. But with so much better available out there, we would suggest looking elsewhere to get your belt scroller fix.
Capcom Fighting Collection is a fine collection of titles, with only one real clunker – yet even that is worth a blast just to see something different.
All four of thee games in Wonder Boy Collection represent a fair few hours of retro gaming, even if three of them are a tad samey.
Lila's Sky Ark looks and sounds terrific, and whilst pretty easy to complete, is a decent little diversion with some unique aspects that will provide a gentle and strange diversion from reality.
Despite some occasional slowdown and framerate shenanigans Ganryu 2 is beautifully animated and moves around at a fair old lick, and the whole package is just a gorgeous neo-retro arcade treat.
Lumote is a fun and great looking game, and the sense of depth and scale of the world is a treat to immerse yourself in for a while.
You get an improved experience all round with MotoGP 22 – it is still hard as nails, but the nostalgic documentary mode and solid raft of modes makes this a crucial purchase for fans of two wheeled racing.
Shredders is not as challenging as I was expecting, and whilst this limits its overall longevity, it's accessible, laid back and fun to play.
Slipstream is a terrific game, and cheap to boot. It is the ultimate evolution of the super scaler tech of my youth.
The House of the Dead: Remake doesn't reinvent the wheel, is brief in length, and does have some niggly control issues, but this is a welcome addition to the library of any Switch owner who enjoys on-rails lightgun shooters.
Moss: Book II is not the toughest of challenges, but this just lends to its accessibility, and regardless of difficulty it is an absolute treat from start to end.
Tempest 4000 isn't doing anything new or different - but this is an eminently playable, intuitive arcade reimagining that is well worth sinking some time into.
Yes, there is a roar button. It is never not fun. What do you want from a kaiju game? Wholesale destruction, and the feeling that you are in control of something huge and powerfu.