Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is easily the best platformer I have ever played. With a character that feels great to move, level designs that look and play amazingly, an entire overworld that offers just as much fun as the main levels do and great characters and writing it’s impossible not to love this game. And of course the game’s claim to fame the Impossible Lair is refreshing and an actual challenge to complete unlike most other games these days which try to appeal to all audiences by making their games incredibly easy. Yooka-Laylee no longer represents the 3D collectathons of the late ’90s, but rather the unapologetic 2/2.5D Platformers akin to the Donkey Kong Country series while still being and feeling like its own series. Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair has paved the way for so much for Playtonic and I can’t wait to see what they put out next!
Candleman was a really enjoyable journey to take part in. It still amazes me just how many ideas they were able to branch off the initial basic concept of the ten-second timer and lighting up candles. The game is longer than I expected it to be, but it never overstayed its welcome. It would introduce a location and gimmick, teach you how to use it and test you on it, then move on before ever becoming tedious. Couple that with a nice narrative (with a fantastic ending that made me audibly “aww”) that keeps the player wanting to find out what comes next on the little candle’s journey makes for a solid experience. It feels perfect for the pick-up and go style of the switch with its relatively short level design and easy to understand gameplay. This is a great puzzle platformer to pick up for your switch’s library!
AER: Memories of Old, is a fun little three hour experience. It provides solid gameplay with an in depth lore for those who are devoted enough to attempt to comprehend it. While on the outside it looks like just another exploration simulator, it sets itself apart with a unique world and a unique way to travel through it. It has something for any kind of player, which is what makes it so appealing and worth your time.
Omen Exitio: Plague offers a surprisingly enthralling narrative with a choice mechanic that feels rewarding for making good choices. It offers a solid EXP system that rewards you often for making smart choices. Overall, this is a solid experience, even if the story and visuals can drag out at times and some side mechanics might seem pointless. At its core, Omen Exitio is an interactive story and a good one at that.