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.
Returning players will feel the same sense of déjà vu they would upon watching a disappointing movie sequel... and to be blunt that's something that Predator fans know all too well at this point.
MLB The Show 20 is another home run thanks to its refined gameplay and many modes.
Dragon Quest Builders 2 was great when it released on consoles and it’s still a blast on PC.
Star Ocean: First Departure R does its job of bringing First Departure to the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, but fails to do much beyond that.
By itself, it's hard to really recommend the Switch version of Zumba Burn It Up! The tracking isn't great and it's not something you'd ever want to spend hours with. However, as a greater part of a workout regimen, it certainly has its place. If anyone is looking for something to pair Ring Fit Adventure or Fitness Boxing with, this is fairly decent addition.
A throwback to be appreciated.
A blast whether you play it by yourself or with a friend, The Stretchers is bound to put a smile on the face of anyone that plays it and showcases how talented a developer Tarsier Studios is.
It’s a fun party game to whip out at social gatherings, which is what it was designed to be after all, but it could have been so much more.
Guildmaster Story does a great job of making a well-thought out critique of capitalism and the society it has brought forth into an easily digestible puzzle game.
While its immediate sequel, Yakuza 5, did many of these things in a more impressive fashion, Yakuza 4 laid the important groundwork to make it all possible.
Let's Sing Country is a totally fine karaoke game that has a pretty lacking tracklist. It has made the conversion to Switch just fine as it's easy to read the lyrics even in handheld mode and the mobile phone app means you don't need microphones to have fun. However, there's just not enough songs to make it worth buying for most would-be singers.
Ultimately, the Complete Edition is the best way to experience this spin-off, as it is a solid game in its own right and serves as an excellent, if different, primer for No More Heroes 3.
From cute, but overly simplistic visuals to fish behavior being off and getting caught on the decorative items, it feels like what it really is: a simplified tycoon sim with a lot of heart. It can’t rival the best in the genre, but players can make a pretty awesome aquarium within its constraints, so it ultimately delivers what was promised even if it doesn’t exceed those promises.