While the package is sadly extremely rough around the edges and isn't the current-gen leap it should be, Omega Force has delivered an enjoyable strategy game with high points that are worth wading through graphical glitches and technical shortcomings for.
Both games deserve a more lovingly crafted package as they can't be called the definitive editions with a variety of new graphical issues and glitches.
SNK isn't reinventing the genre or trying to compete feature-for-feature with a lot of its contemporaries, but the actual action stands up to scrutiny and can deliver quite the impressive knockout blow.
The Nintendo Switch port of SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters' Clash is lovingly crafted and the core game holds up surprisingly well. Whether you've got nostalgia for the original title or just the characters on the SNK and Capcom rosters, there is a lot to like here if you're a fan of card collecting games. The battles can be quite thrilling and it's great that this solid NeoGeo Pocket Color game can live on decades after release.
Windjammers 2 feels like a proper sequel to the original. The hand-drawn graphics are gorgeous to see in action, the gameplay is faithful while offering up new mechanics that can either be ignored or embraced by longtime players, and the new levels are filled with novel variants that keep matches fresh. Clearly a passion project, Dotemu has made a great sequel that is geared toward more hardcore players that won’t mind the lack of frills.
Call of Duty: Vanguard‘s campaign isn’t going to redefine how war stories are told, nor does it reach the highest points of the series’ past triumphs. However, it manages to tell a personal story with a cast of likable characters and stays at a steady, even quality throughout. While excellent DualSense support does its job of subtly immersing the player, it serves a grander experience that brings the player into its world with its likable cast and intimate stories.
No matter if this is your first Mario Party or you’re a longtime fan, there’ll be plenty of multiplayer thrills in Mario Party Superstars. There is still an element of luck involved, which may annoy more competitive-focused players, but there’s still a great array of classic items that reward skillful and well-thought-out play. A package that looks as great as it plays, Mario Party Superstars is a solid addition to anyone’s Switch lineup and the future for the series looks brighter than ever after this brief detour to the past.
Anyone that has played Ubisoft’s past decade of output will find much of Riders Republic to be incredibly familiar despite it technically being a new franchise. It does do many things better than its spiritual predecessor, as the controls and user interface are much more welcoming than Steep‘s, but it doesn’t push the extreme sports genre forward or in any interesting directions.
Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles does the franchise justice and is a strong first console offering. CyberConnect2 has crafted a stylish action game that is fun from start to finish. With free updates planned, this already strong core will only get better as additional content is added.
While Back 4 Blood‘s characters and special infected aren’t quite as memorable just yet, that might just be something that develops over time. After all, this is a game designed to be played over and over again with friends and it’s impossible to have that long-term experience by now. What matters the most is that Turtle Rock has nailed the gameplay and surrounding replayable elements like the card system. These new changes are net positives for this style of game, even if longtime fans will need to adjust their expectations a bit to fully appreciate them.
Unfortunately, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is simply punching well above its class. While younger kids might get a kick out of its cast of characters (although they’ll likely be wondering who in the world Powdered Toast Man is), there are far better family titles and platform fighters than this. Most of these shows were full of life and this game fails to capture almost any of that charm through its unrewarding gameplay and cheap presentation. While F is for friends that do stuff together, those that play Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl won’t find much F.U.N. here.
Whether you’re a die-hard veteran or someone looking to give the series a shot for the first time, Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania serves its purpose as a content-rich, if familiar, package filled with its share of high points. There are some diminishing returns as some levels have been recycled for 20 years and the lack of online multiplayer limits the appeal of the great selection of party games, but the core formula of rolling around and collecting trinkets still serves this updated compilation of a compilation quite well.
Hot Wheels Unleashed is a decent arcade racer with some great nostalgia that wears off after a few races. Unlocking a themed car, such as the Party Wagon from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, gives temporary relief from the monotonous gameplay, but much like any form of nostalgia, the short-lived fun of reminiscing eventually turns into sadness if there’s no substance backing it up.
WarioWare: Get It Together! is nearly impossible to play without smiling. The series’ signature style, sense of humor, and brief-yet-satisfying gameplay loops are just as present as ever and made better by the game’s expanded roster of familiar faces; the latter of which is a real treat for long-time fans. WarioWare has never been afraid to be bold, take risks, and shake things up, and the Nintendo Switch iteration is the purest expression of that.
If you’re just a fan of the films and want a casual fighting game to remind you how cool Mr. T looked as a boxer, then the forgettable boxing bouts might be worth some of the nostalgia-fueled laughs.
With an impactful story, fleshed-out characters, and some of the best writing the series has seen so far, Life Is Strange: True Colors is a triumphant success. The main story’s twist leaves something to be desired, as it’s a bit predictable and by-the-numbers, but it is bolstered by the other parts of the carefully woven narrative package. All of these strengths show that the franchise is clearly in good hands with Deck Nine, as the studio is pushing the series into a great new direction.
Fans of the Alien franchise have dealt with a heck of a lot worse, but they’ve also had better over the years. Aliens: Fireteam Elite is a solid entry that’ll provide many cooperative multiplayer thrills but one that doesn’t quite reach the highs of the film it is influenced by or the best of the genre.
Thanks to a familiar cast of characters, a great tutorial, and just enough depth to keep even more experienced MOBA players entertained, Pokémon Unite is a great blend of MOBA action that is accessible to new players and fun for veterans that don’t want to spend an hour on a match.
Unfortunately, Mighty Goose never manages to hit the high points that separate the best run-and-gun shooters from the games simply inspired by them. While competent and without any glaring issues, the action ultimately pales in comparison to Gunstar Heroes, Sunset Riders, and Metal Slug 3, which are all over 20 years old. With nothing all that novel to offer the genre besides some admittedly hilarious honk-filled, goose-based humor, it will just leave you wanting to play one of the classics instead.
Merge Games did the best it could while still staying true to the original, which ultimately provides the advertised nostalgia trip and a pretty gorgeous facelift as well. It’s just a bummer that the whole appeal of the package, being an update to Miracle World, is also what holds it back from being a great game in 2021.