It’s not often that franchise spinoffs can win me over so effectively, let alone twice in a row, but the improvements and additions made in Builders 2 have me feeling like Dragon Quest Builders is more of a franchise, rather than just a builder-game spinoff.
The level of polish, attention to detail, and the immaculate mixture of silly and spooky has made this a near-perfect game — the fact that it exists in my favorite Nintendo franchise is mere icing on the cake.
BoxBoy! + BoxGirl! is nearly everything I could have asked for when it comes to bringing the series to the Switch.
I fell in love with the first Monster Hunter Stories, and that led to a renewed interest in the Monster Hunter series as a whole. I never dreamed we’d be getting a sequel, let alone one that would improve on the original as much as Wings of Ruin did.
Triangle Strategy is easily one of my favorite games to come out on Switch in the last year or so, despite a slow start and a few minor flaws. It’s a strategy game with enough unique mechanics that I never felt bored or like I had played anything like it before, and the story is ultimately a tale about the price people will pay to get what they want, and the consequences of the actions they’ll take in pursuit of their ambitions and ideals. I’m desperately hoping there is a follow up in the future, because Square Enix really blew me away with this one.
Overall, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is a challenging game that’s going to be enjoyed by a lot of people, but it might not please everyone. It’s difficult, sure, but there’s a ton of content here with a lot of replayability. Have I enjoyed everything the game has to offer? Absolutely not, but I will keep coming back to it until I have.
The new Mii customization options and the horse editor are both whimsical strokes of genius, and they feel right at home in what was already a very enjoyable outing.
As far as remakes go, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 absolutely hits the mark with what it was trying to accomplish. The controls are tight and a great evolution of past games, and it plays incredibly smoothly thanks to some sacrifices made on the visual front. Sure, it’ll look better on other consoles, but the Switch is the only console you’ll be able to actually bring to the skatepark with you. The soundtrack still bangs, even with the new additions, and the roster’s attention to inclusivity with its additions is a welcome change
Despite an ending that I felt was anticlimactic and some minor technical issues, I think Bugsnax is a hearty dish that is well worth every Switch owner’s time.
In my mind it’s incredible that Nintendo Switch Sports even exists. It’s a sequel that I didn’t exactly see coming, but I’m not disappointed in the slightest that it’s here. Is it a perfect game? No, there are definitely improvements that could be made, especially to a somewhat hollow single player experience, but the online modes are stellar in their own right.
However, the fact that the racing is fast, frantic, and fun just reminds me that Activision and Beenox have done a great thing by bringing back Crash Team Racing, and I plan on continuing to enjoy it for as long as I can.
As far as remakes go, Luigi’s Mansion shines as a 3DS title, leaving much of what made the original so great intact while adding a few things here and there that really make it stand out on 3DS. The visuals did take a few hits, and the controls provided by the 3DS make elements a little more difficult at times, but overall I found myself enjoying my trek through the mansion once again, especially since I could finally see it all in 3D.
If I’m being completely honest, I believe that in the trade-off of graphics for portability, portability will win almost every time, especially with the quick and simple level design that Crash has.
Overall, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair feels a little more put-together and modern than the original game, which is a great thing. Playtonic gave players exactly what they asked for with the original — a nostalgia-fueled 3D collectathon — and they really stretched their wings with The Impossible Lair and reminded us that they can play to their other strengths within the same franchise without losing any of its charm in the process.
If your Switch is the only gaming platform you have and you’re interested in playing Overwatch, you shouldn’t feel any hesitation jumping into it. If you’ve played on other platforms and want a portable option and/or really want to try playing with gyro-controls, there’s a bit of a tradeoff due to graphical downgrades, but to me, the Switch version feels worth it in the end.
My time with Cozy Grove has been very enjoyable despite some performance issues. Play sessions are short, sweet, and slightly structured, which really helps me feel like I’m allowed to enjoy the game at my own pace. Other games are hard to get back into if you let them sit for a while, but Cozy Grove will be waiting there to let you pick up right where you left off. The aesthetic of the entire game is right up my alley too, being slightly spooky with a dash of charm and humor, and I’m very glad it is releasing on Nintendo Switch.
At first glance, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga might seem like just another LEGO release treading the same ground already covered by other entries in the series, but as soon as you start to play it’s immediately apparent that this game is a huge upgrade to the LEGO formula. When all is said and done, The Skywalker Saga is a delight to play either at home or on the go on Nintendo Switch, provided you can look past a few minor technical compromises.
Thanks to the combat and the customization, I know I'll be coming back to Daemon X Machina — at least for short bursts — for a long time to come, especially when I'm in the mood to blow up giant robots with a laser sword.
The main story beats are all here, just at a slower pace than I feel a fighting game should offer. Alternatively, if you already love Demon Slayer and can look past a few hours of sluggish not-fighting to get to some really fun and flashy combat with your favorite characters, then this is definitely the game for you.
Despite the shallow offline single player mode, overall I’m enjoying my time with the game on my own, especially when I play online. However, I’m finding that the deeper, more complex mechanics are a definite barrier when it comes to casual play, making it hard to recommend this as a “bring-all-your-friends” party game, though by all means it feels like one on the surface.