While the latest package of Ikaruga isn't quite the grand celebration it should be for a classic title, Treasure's shooter has aged fantastically well. The puzzle-like shooting is just as thrilling and demanding as it was back in 2002, and it's sure to challenge any fan of shooters. Ikaruga's themes of polarity help it stand out from the bullet hell crowd, and make it one of the finest shoot 'em ups that can be purchased on Switch.
BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle is far from Arc System Work's best fighter, but it remains a very fun diversion.
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While fundamentally sound, Azure Reflections struggles to truly captivate players due to its disappointingly short levels. The enjoyable boss fights and a cute aesthetic manage to salvage the experience for those that love a good shoot ‘em up, but it’s far from an essential offering within the genre.
Racism and slavery is bad, folks. You can probably figure that out without playing Detroit, and if you can’t then David Cage’s writing isn’t going to change your backwards thinking in any way.
A story of three androids.
It's a polished rhythm game with a really enjoyable look to it, but there's just little replayability for a genre that is built upon that principle. This certainly won't give anyone their Elite Beat Agents fix, but it does show that the touch-based rhythm games are right at home on the portable.
Super Daryl Deluxe could be something really special if it was better curated, but there's simply too much fluff for it to be at its best. Developers need to remember that sometimes less is more, and that it's better to leave players wanting more rather than wanting to bounce before the credits roll. There are some great ideas here, and some really funny writing, but the good moments are all surrounded by a bunch of middling ones.
It's really too bad that MLB The Show 18 launched in its current state. Nearly everything about the game, from how it handles difficulty to making sure every part of baseball feels dynamic, is handled brilliantly and is the result of years of hard work coming together. That amount of polish makes it all the more jarring that Sony has failed to get the online working right after so many iterations of this yearly series. It very well might be the best baseball game ever made, but it has to come with a huge asterisk at the moment.
A Way Out is a true achievement in game design. Not only does it manage to take players on a true journey of emotion, it does so in a way that is only possible through the medium of video games. It manages to do something truly special by making two players to cooperate for an extended amount of time, and the discussions that happen on the couch or over voice chat can be just as revealing as the game itself. Josef Fares and Hazelight have undoubtedly raised the bar for co-op gaming.
While it's slightly disappointing to see so many members of Yakuza‘s great ensemble cast take a back seat in Yakuza 6, it ultimately works out for the best. Song of Life is Kiryu's story and focusing on something larger would only be a disservice to one of gaming's most fully realized characters. It's only fitting that he bows out in Ryu ga Gotoku Studio's most mature and focused game.
Those looking for some cooperative fun will definitely want to check it out, as there are few better reasons to separate the Nintendo Switch's Joy-Cons.
If you're strictly concerned with comprehending a story then you can probably skip The 25th Ward: The Silver Case. However, if you're down to take some glimpses into a strange world that doesn't operate under the same rules as our own then you'll be treated to some of the sharpest dialogue and scenes seen in any game. I may not understand everything about The 25th Ward, but that's by design. After all, sometimes it's important to quit worrying about the minutia, and take time to appreciate the bigger picture.
If you played through Kyoto Winds then you largely owe it to yourself to finish the story here in Edo Blossoms. The story's finale isn't quite as interesting as its beginning, but the romantic fireworks that occur are certainly a payoff. It's just too bad that the best way to experience Hakuoki is through two awkwardly split in half releases.
Before the Storm's bonus episode doesn't feature the series' best writing or any pivotal choices, but it all works as intended here. It's just a fond farewell to a friend. One that gives players one more opportunity to see two of their favorite characters interacting with each other, and one final chance for the player to say their own goodbyes.
Those who are able to accept Metal Gear Survive for what it is will find one of the most captivating survival games in recent memory. It's an incredibly unforgiving experience, which can definitely be detrimental at times, but one that ultimately feels fulfilling. Konami has taken the series in yet another new direction, but one that also feels in line with a lot of the series' past. It's still very much a Metal Gear game down to its story, which might be more out there than some of Kojima's own, even if it doesn't quite match them narratively. Embrace the bleakness of reality and simply try to survive.
Mulaka has some neat ideas and a sometimes gorgeous look to it, but little else to offer. The individual locations fail to stand out, and the game quickly becomes overly formulaic. The combat is too sloppy to impress, the platforming is plagued by a stiff moving character, and the puzzles are never captivating. It's a completely forgettable experience with a few really nice sights that are better experienced as screenshots.
Ultimately, Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus is proof that bigger isn't always better. The additional gameplay mechanics only get in the way of how fun the original was, and makes the screen a busy mess at times. The saving grace is that the Switch version of the game is perfect for short play sessions, which makes it a decent purchase for those that want Pac-Man on the go.
OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes won't end up on many year-end lists, but it should go down as an important title. It's one that shows that licensed kids cartoon adaptations don't have to be mediocre, and that they can be filled with the same charm as the television shows that made them beloved in the first place. Let's Play Heroes is a success because of how respectful it is towards its source material, and is one of the few licensed games that feel like a true extension of its world rather than a hollow recreation.
Although there are certainly stumbling points, it's the aspect of exploration that really makes Fe a memorable experience. There's seemingly always something to do from stumbling upon ferocious animals that are hidden in a cave to figuring out how to get an upgrade shard. The game world that Zoink has crafted is truly wondrous, and learning to work together with its inhabitants is a truly rewarding experience. Sometimes we just need to learn how to understand each other.