Paper Mario: The Origami King is a great title that proves bouncing back from a low point in the series isn’t an impossible task. While not the perfect Paper Mario title, it certainly enshrines itself as one of the best.
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling does an excellent job capturing the Paper Mario spirit while still being its own game and having its own identity, and the journey onto the Switch is essentially flawless. Though some of the platforming sections can be a little frustrating at times, the effort is all worth it to indulge in the fast-paced, well written tale of a trio of bugs.
Combining together elements of visual novel gameplay and a tactical RPG combat system, Wintermoor Tactics Club does an excellent job fusing the two into a short and sweet romp.
In the end, Ara Fell isn’t showing off anything that hasn’t been seen in games for many years, but the full package comes together well; while the adage “greater than the sum of its parts” is sometimes overused, Ara Fell is an excellent example of the way a game can come together and simply be fun.
While I wish some of the subject matters like prejudice, family, and culture could have been tackled with a little more depth, there’s still plenty to enjoy at this little coffee shop, so stop by for a warm beverage on your preferred console.
There will be some fans who will find content here to enjoy, however, with the vast breadth and depth of the Nintendo Switch library, those looking for quality games can no doubt find better candidates elsewhere.
While the game won’t appeal to those seeking the tactical gameplay of a classic Fire Emblem, anyone who didn’t jump onto the idol train last generation could do far worse than picking up this Encore, especially with a dearth of other games in a similar vein on the Nintendo Switch.
Heroland is a game that won’t be for everyone, as the gameplay loop is fairly short and the music as well as combat can quickly become repetitive, but it remains worth the price of admission.
While there’s a huge step forward in regards to player freedom and additional activities for the player to indulge in, it still feels like the more things change, the more they stay the same in places where the formula needs to be shaken up.
Though it sparkles with ample potential, a slow combat system and inconsistent localization do trip up what is otherwise a lighthearted, fun game.