Black Desert is a beautiful looking game with plenty to offer, it just has a bit of a learning curve and some rather annoying design choices. In a lot of ways, I could see it being a fun game you casually play and enjoy with a friend or your guild, but it doesn't seem to have the same inviting feeling Final Fantasy XIV or ESO have. This is a shame, though a lot of things can be fixed with patches. Plus, the core concept is at least fun enough to make it worth the initial investment.
A basic adventure that relies more on the feelings from the source to sell it. For some this will be enough, just don’t expect the most fulfilling story if you have no experience with the franchise.
Astral Chain is weird, thrilling, unique, different and crazy, it's just held back by bad choices. Some of the design elements take a lot of getting use to and make sense in the long run, but can be frustrating to beginners. Combine this with entirely too many things going on at once and some of the most boring scenes between action packed combat sequences and you have an experience that loses a bit too much between scenes. This isn't enough to take away from Astral Chain, it just turns a title that could've been among the best games this year to something that is still among the best on the Switch.
It doesn't matter if Crystar is a bit on the simpler side or that the story has some familiar plot beats, it tells a tale that is insightful. It won't take much to want to reunite the sisters and it's an adventure that rings true for some. Toss in gameplay that might not change the world but is a blast to experience and it's a solid adventure that is easy to see the value of experiencing.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne isn't perfect but it adds a lot to the franchise. The new monsters, gear and difficulty is the kick in the pants players need to start hunting again. Between new monsters, gear and skills it's hard to say no and you get a great deal of value for the price of the expansion. Even if it could do a bit more, by giving less skilled players a bit more to look forward to, this is an absolute must for anyone who loves Monster Hunter or just wants a harder experience.
Honestly, there isn't a whole lot to say about Daemon X Machina. With an average story, enjoyment hinges on how you feel about piloting a mech. It does this fairly well, though it could be more intuitive, making the whole experience okay, rather than amazing. I could easily see an Armored Core fan loving it or even a Gundam fan, it just doesn't have the universal appeal other games manage to have.
I could probably explain The Surge 2's shortcomings for another 10 paragraphs, but it doesn't change the fact that it's a fun game that makes a lot of mistakes. Considering there are over 80 weapons, though I only felt the need to use one, is disappointing, just like armor sets skills that are inferior to what you'd gain from using different pieces. Toss in a fairly random story about a cult, lackluster graphics, probably one of the hardest games to navigate I've ever played and it's easy to say The Surge 2 manages to build on the original but it isn't to the point where you should be rushing out to play it.
The Alliance Alive HD Remastered might not be perfect or even be one of the most stand out titles on the 3DS, it still has enough to justify checking it out. Between a good number of characters, strong interactions and an overwhelming sense of cute, it's the type of adventure anyone can get into, provided they love character-driven stories. The only downside is, for all it does right, is that it's a 3DS title it shows its age, regardless of how good it is compared to other 3DS titles.
The struggle with explaining the finer points of Call of Cthulhu is that it hinges on you getting hooked. Without that moment where you're clamoring for more and willing to overlook some shortcomings, a quality that has benefited a number of titles over the years, it's just a rather dated looking exploration game with a neat story if you're willing to invest in it. For some, that is enough, though it isn't the type of experience that is easy to recommend. Not because it lacks anything worthwhile, you just need a certain mindset and there are other titles that do a much better job with far less.
Graphics aside, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III is a story-driven experience that delivers that in spades. It's more than enough to make up for some of the shortcomings and is a more intricate story than you'd probably expect. That being said, if story isn't your thing, gameplay and graphics are nothing special. Nothing about them ruins the experience, they're just not on the same level as the story. So if you want to get sucked into a fascinating world, it's hard to say no, though if you're just in it for the gameplay, you might want to look elsewhere.
It’s honestly really hard to rate Overwatch. In the time I played I enjoyed it enough to make sure I had Nintendo Switch Online time to play beyond the initial week and considered finally purchasing it for PlayStation, but it’s easy to see why this is the worst version. Still, it has all the previous content, enough disadvantages and reasons to keep the player base on the easier side and more to normally net this an Editor’s Choice award, it’s just the Switch’s shortcomings that hold it back.
I don't want to say A Knight's Quest is a bad game, it just isn't a good or even okay one. The best way to describe it is, think of the average person trying to draw something amazing. Even if I can visualize this amazing piece of art, what I end up with is a pale imitation. Without any hook, fairly ugly characters and pretty much a lackluster experience across the board, it's hard to see a reason to recommend A Knight's Quest, even if the biggest sin is really failing to stand out in any way besides unappealing visuals.
Honestly, Mary Skelter 2 has some interesting mechanics, interesting girls and a story that has a fair amount going on, it just doesn't have the most appeal. It's the type of experience that would be great for someone looking for a darker version of Neptunia or possibly just enjoys darker stories but the gameplay and mechanics alone can't sell it. That being said, given you get the first game and there is a fair amount in both, it's easy to get the value if this stuff sounds appealing to you.
In a lot of ways Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout is an improvement. Here we have someone who is getting into alchemy because they want to, plus a mysterious plot that is building in the background, making it one of the better stories to date.
For the most part, Dusk Diver has rather simple charms. The mindless combat will be appealing for some, where as the mysterious story and cute characters others. Toss in handful of moves and places to explore and it's good, though it doesn't stand out that much. Sure, this isn't enough to break it, I just suggest you know what you're getting into first.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 does a great job of giving everyone something to do. Some games are hard, others require specific skills and a few are all tricks, giving everyone something to do. They're also short enough where you can easily play a few without getting sucked into a long session. Best of all, these can be played online as well, meaning you can go international or at least outside of the house to prove you deserve the gold. Toss in a cute story and plenty to do and this makes for a fantastic party game.
To be perfectly honest, Disney Tsum Tsum Festival is in a weird place.
There is a fair amount of charm to Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy – Deluxe Edition. Characters stand out, it doesn't take long to warm up to Katrielle and the animated scenes make the experience so much better. Toss in a wide variety of challenging, yet accessible, puzzles and you have a fun adventure that is sure to delight kids of all ages.
New Super Lucky's Tale is a massive improvement over the original and it shows. Between accessible levels and colorful designs, it's a game that is easy to enjoy. Sure, there are times when it feels too easy or the performance starts to dip but that doesn't take away from the rest. So if you're looking for a classic 3D platformer that is just fun or something like this for your young one, it's hard to say no to New Super Lucky's Tale.
Given how simple the core gameplay loop is, there really isn't much to say about Deemo -Reborn-. The improved visuals make it easier to suggest and the gameplay is fun enough for fans of the genre. While some might find there is a bit of a learning curve, it's worth it to see where the story goes. So, if you're looking for a new rhythm game or just simply slept on Deemo before, I strongly suggest giving Deemo -Reborn- a go.