Saints Row is glitchy and feels rushed.
The original version of The Force Unleashed had a lot going for it when it was first released, as there were few Star Wars games that offered the player the chance to play a Sith in a canon storyline that happens alongside the movies. The Force Unleashed is now showing its age, especially in an era when Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order has done many of the same things, but better. The Force Unleashed offers a short ride through a galaxy far, far away, and it does have some moments of making the player feel like an awesome Sith warrior, but it doesn't manage to sustain this feeling, with its lightsaber swinging soon becoming like a chore.
There's not much to say about Breakout: Recharged other than it's a decent-looking revamp of Breakout. The gameplay is still a lot of fun, which is why official and unofficial Breakout games have been released on so many platforms over the years. The Breakout: Recharged package doesn't add much outside of its endless arcade mode. Breakout: Recharged may be a budget game, but the original Breakout is something that can be played for free within Google, so it's harder to justify paying for a new version of the game when it's already available in so many places.
Skatebird would have benefited from a little more time in the nest. The game's technical problems make it hard to appreciate the positive aspects of its world. There's definitely room in the market for a more casual skateboarding game, but it needs to have the fundamentals worked out first, and Skatebird isn't there yet - though it has promise if future updates smooth out the experience considerably.
Fans of the original Space Jam had a terrible game to tie in with the movie, and Space Jam: A New Legacy - The Game is a much better experience by comparison. It feels as if the concept could have easily been expanded, as there plenty of scope for more characters and stages, but Space Jam: A New Legacy - The Game is an ok game, for what little runtime it has.
Edge of Eternity is an ambitious game, but it doesn't quite live up to its scope. The game feels like a homage to the classic Final Fantasy games of old, but its enchanting world is let down by the lackluster events happening on its surface. The combat system and character customization are well-done, but they don't matter if there isn't a good reason to keep moving forward. While JRPG fans will likely find enough to like that its worth giving Edge of Eternity a shot, other players should seek more engaging options within the same genre.
Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood feels old.
Collection of SaGa Final Fantasy Legend is antiquated.
Simulacra is a horror game about finding a missing girl using her phone.
Code Vein took the wrong lessons from the Souls series
Warhammer: Chaosbane is an inferior clone of a much better game
Asterigos has a great world design and a combat system that is similar to the Souls series, while being faster and more action-oriented. It's just the exploration elements that let the game down, as the city of Aphes can sometimes feel a little too empty for its own good, and its residents a little too verbose. Those who don't mind backtracking and skipping dialogue should be able to see through the muddy parts and enjoy Asterigos' finer points.
Salt & Sacrifice has the potential to be a great game, but it badly needs balancing fixes to allow it to live up to its potential, especially in regard to its battle system. A few tweaks to the stamina meter, the dodge roll & blocking mechanics, and the enemy attack patterns would do wonders for the game, as would a way to skip the chasing sequences and jump straight to the Mage bosses. As it stands, Salt & Sacrifice is a game full of frustrating moments that bog down the rest of the experience.
The best way to describe White Shadows is that it feels like playing through the winner of the Best Animated Short Film at the Academy Awards. The visuals are incredible and the world is bristling with life and imagination. It's a shame that there's so little gameplay on offer, and what is there is hamstrung by poor controls and glitches. White Shadows might have been better suited as a short film, but as it stands it's a middling video game that drags down an exceptional presentation.
A lot of the issues with Sherlock Holmes Chapter One can be resolved with updates. The performances issues can be ironed out, John's obnoxious behavior can be toned down, and an improved hint system could remove the frustration of being lost during a case. With a few tweaks, Sherlock Holmes Chapter One could be an interesting open-world twist on the detective genre. As it stands, the game at launch still needs work before Sherlock Holmes can fully embrace his role as the greatest detective of all time.
Ministry of Broadcast is a modern-day step platformer, warts and all.
Jet Kave Adventure offers a fun ride, but one that ends all too soon.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Wolf has moments of enjoyment and there is definitely depth to be found in building multiple decks, but the slow speed of the game and the random nature of the enemy placements diminishes what fun there is to be had. The Warhammer 40,000 universe is currently underrepresented on the Nintendo Switch and fans of the franchise might enjoy the game as a simple strategy game that uses the lore of the series, but there isn't much else to recommend for those who aren't familiar with the tabletop game.
On the surface, Blood Bowl 3 should be the kind of game I’d hate. As a denizen of the United Kingdom, I know as much about American football as the average house cat. By contrast, I know a lot about Warhammer, but even that has been twisted in Blood Bowl 3, with the familiar factions settling their disputes through sports, like some kind of ultra-violent take on Mario and Bowser playing tennis together.
The Nintendo Switch has a deluge of amazing party games, many of which were produced by Nintendo. WarioWare: Smooth Moves isn’t going to unseat the last Mario Party game or any of the Jackbox titles, but it’s still a fun romp for those who miss the days of waving Wiimotes around, despite its flaws.