William Murphy's Reviews
Still, it’s clear to see that Civ 6 is going to be one of my most-played Switch games, because that’s just the kind of game it is. You can’t say no to one more turn, and I can already foresee many times where my feet fall asleep in the bathroom. TMI?
Shakedown Hawaii one-ups Retro City Rampage in almost every way, and is most certainly a must-play on the Nintendo Switch. Heck, it's a must-play on every system, because Vblank made sure to put it on just about everything. If you like things that are fun, you're not going to have much bad to say about this one. It would have been nice to pick from a man or a woman main character, but that's about the largest complaint I can levy. Go get this game.
The story of SteamWorld Heist is set a few hundred years after the original Dig, when robots have been forced into space when the earth was destroyed. As captain Piper, you’ll traverse the galaxy, collect crew members, and take down the Scrappers while uncovering as deeper, more sinister secret. The levels are randomized too, meaning no two playthroughs will be the same. This is excellent because SteamWorld Heist is definitely a game you’ll enjoy playing enough to try it again and again. The only thing that could have made this Ultimate Edition even better would have been a co-op and head-to-head multiplayer mode.
WildStar is at once similar to and unlike any other game in the market. It pulls from worlds gone by, while forging new mechanics all its own. No one can know if this new universe will stand the test of time, but for now… I'm just going to dig in and explore Nexus, Cupcake.
Hats off to Obsidian Entertainment for creating and curating a fantasy world I can care about again, and here's hoping for many more adventures in the future.
There are so many great games I missed on the Wii U, since it's the only Nintendo console I didn't own. Thankfully, Nintendo seems aware that a lot of people missed these titles, and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is a shining example of classic platforming with just the right amount of frustrating challenge. It took me right back to the SNES days and Rare's iconic DKC games, and that's no small feat. Tropical Freeze is an absolute joy to play most of the time, and I'm glad that it's seeing new life on the Switch.
Castlestorm is a light-hearted, fairly in-depth Tower defense game that offers some unique mechanics, quirky story, and fairly solid controls. It is hampered a bit by the Switch analog sticks and repetitiveness due to the nature of the genre, however overall it's a fun title and if it's one you've never picked up, I would recommend picking it up on the Switch. It's a great title to play on the go.
The loop of crafting new gear, finding new locations, and crafting slightly new gear gets tiresome eventually, but the story and exploration is just enough to keep you going to see this quest to its end. A sequel is supposedly coming from Butterscotch Shenanigans in the near future, and for now I'm happy to revisit the 2016 game on the Switch, because it reminds me just how good an original take on the survival genre can be.
While it doesn't quite stand as tall as the Mario Odyssey masterpiece, Yooka-Laylee is a game every Switch owner should consider. Fantastic fun for all ages, and tons of content to boot. [William Murphy separately reviewed the Switch (8.5) and PC (8) versions. Their scores have been averaged.]
Tales of Vesperia may very well be the best JRPG on the Nintendo Switch, even if it's over a decade old. I'd love to see more games get the port treatment to the Switch, but even more than that I'm hoping that the series leads decide to bring the next game to the Nintendo console at launch. Recommended for any fans of the series or the JRPG genre.
It may not be on the PC, but if you've been hankering for a good RPG mixed with shooter than doesn't leave you frustrated, this is what you've been waiting for. If, however, you've already played these games to death, you may want to just wait for the next entry in the series. You do have the option of bringing your save over to the Handsome Collection though, which is a nice bonus feature.
If you're a fan of open world RPGs, love the idea of killing and enslaving orcs, and aren't too worried about tweaking Tolkien to serve the purpose of fun, you owe it to yourself to buy and play Shadow of Mordor. Talion's quest right up there as one of this year's best and Monolith should be very proud of their work.
Child of Light is a beautifully rendered, fun, and fairly engrossing RPG that every fan of the genre should try. It does enough different to stand out from the pack, and I'm talking about more than its artistic styling. It won't drain forty plus hours of your free time, but for $15? Yeah, this one's worth the three Starbucks coffees it'll cost you and won't leave a bad taste in your mouth in the process.
Heart of Thorns may not be a perfect expansion, but it's definitely something I think every fan of the game should check out. Just be prepared to rove about Maguuma in a pack, you're going to need some help to get the most out of the jungle.
What really sets MXM apart is its PVE, and it's the feature I hope the game leans more heavily on going forward. Either way, MXM is a solid entry to NCSOFT's stable, and they should be proud of what they've achieved. It's had little fanfare around the web, which is a shame. If any of what I've described sounds like something you'd enjoy, MXM is well worth a look.
There are only a few RPGs on the Switch so far, but Disgaea 5 is nothing short of one of the best. If you’re at all a fan of JRPGs or tactics games, this is a must buy. Even if you had it on the PS4, its inclusion on the Switch and portable greatness make it one of the system’s must owns early in its life.
Pinstripe was an excellent game when it launched earlier this year on other consoles, and remains an excellent adventure here on the Nintendo Switch.
Mikami’s new game may not compare to the horrific Resident Evil 7, but it doesn’t have to either. The Evil Within 2 is a memorable and compelling game all on its own, and one that deserves to be played by horror fans and action game fans alike. The frustrations of the first game (which have been documented by others) are non-existent here and instead, this sequel outshines its predecessor in almost every aspect. Next time, just give us a bit better story and dialog, and a more interesting protagonist.
There's no doubt, Mooncrash is a must play for anyone who enjoyed Prey. But it's also a must play for any fan of roguelike games. The RPG aspects, the procedural content, the mystery of the story... it's all so on point that it's hard to knock for anything but the similar faults of the original game. Prey: Mooncrash is, simply put, the best stab at a roguelike a Triple-A studio has ever tried, and it's proof that there's room to expand on the format.
For my money, Trials Rising is simply worth every penny. It's a rare game that I'm finished reviewing and still want to play.