This is exactly what Street Fighter players have wanted. A game where all of their favorite characters and skins are available, and not having to wait for Capcom to release them when they see fit. The fighting is engaging and rewarding. Each fighter feels unique and offers a wide array of offensive attacks that land as intended. But with most modes locked behind the PS Plus service, it's a hard buy, even if you are looking to upgrade from the base Street Fighter V game.
The first-person survival horror aspect of the game doesn't suffer at all on the Switch. From the visuals, audio, and inputs, everything feels and plays as if the series was made for the console. In fact, it's a testament that the Switch is more than the sum of its parts. Though there is a loss of some visual fidelity, and some sacrifice made while playing in handheld mode that comes in the form of battery life, Metro 2033 Redux and Metro: Last Light feel at home on this hybrid console.
Riverbond is a game that feels as if it were meant to be part of a larger and more ambitious world. It's great for jumping into a quick game to feed your hack and slash needs throughout the day, but with no in-game saves, no perks for skins collected, and a world that offers no room for real exploration, I find it hard to want to play with four friends because the enemies aren't challenging enough. Coupled by an imbalance in weapon damage and objectives that don't fit the style of play, I'd say Riverbond doesn't stand out in a genre that's already crowded.
Dreams is an ambitious game that succeeds on every front where others have failed. Media Molecule took what they designed, developed, and created over the years and encapsulated it into an experience that has endless possibilities; for them and us. It's hard to sum up how groundbreaking and pioneering the game is as it's more than the sum of its parts, it's exactly what you make of it. Let your dreams come true.
Delta Squad is a four-player local co-op game that completely misses the mark. Even with its basic controls and simplistic gameplay, nothing about the game warrants a first playthrough. With enemies that seem confused as to what to do, an imbalance in ammo, and the cookie cutter level design, it's hard to see how this game can get four people in the room together at the same time to play. With a price tag of $5.99, it's a hard buy when there are many free mobile games that offer more enjoyment.
Journey to the Savage Planet is an amazing experience of alien planetary exploration where the developer's imaginations were allowed to paint a canvas of fun, art style, and humor that never felt forced or over the top. Once you temper expectations and remind yourself that this is a game about exploration and not an alien shoot em' up or a fully packed RPG, you begin to realize how special this game is. The game offers 2-player co-op online which many titles like this wouldn't even think twice about.
Gun Crazy is a fun game that anyone should want to jump into and wreak havoc of pixelated destruction from start to finish. With its classic gameplay and frantic style of pace, Gun Crazy is easily one of the easiest games to jump into. Though it's lacking on the level design and the overall necessities of feeling like recent game, it's the panic-stricken pace and boss battles that will keep you coming back.
Darksiders Genesis is by far the best game in the series. As someone who has played all of them, I can honestly say that this is more than a hack and slash game where you slay demons, but a kick-ass demon slaying game that has found new life by remixing what it does best and incorporating the best features of other games to create something new in the series.
Interrogation: You will be deceived is a game that some will play straight through for the narrative experience and some will for the experience of being a detective. Both offer an amazing experience that is elevated by the characters and strong narrative. I just wish that during the times of stress, the game made the player feel a sense of angst.
Dune Sea plays more like an endless runner than an adventure game. Soaring high above the ground and through obstacles as you try and reunite with fellow geese is a relaxing and sometimes effortless breeze. When the game wants, it's charming and has a lot of character, especially with its unique art-style and level design. Other times, the game mechanics and glitches will make you fall out of favor with your lovable goose.
Rune 2 is an impressive game that has a lot to offer casual and RPG fans. With its simplistic inventory and crafting system, it's easy for players to grasp. It often feels like a bunch of stories and ideas packed together to attempt to make a cohesive story. Along with the bugs and glitches, it was hard to get a consistent feeling of where the game wanted to go. Maybe with a few updates the game will offer a more consistent experience.
The Long Dark is an amazing spectacle of narrative brilliance and survival. The twists and unexpected turns of the story are complemented by the survival mechanics that are challenging and thought provoking. The Survival Mode gives players a sandbox to play in, and allows them to play and survive how they see fit. With the story being released in episodic expansions, there's always a reason to come back and play.
When you think of this game as an interactive, cinematic game, you can look past many of the shortcoming of this 3 ½ hour game. It teeters on wanting to focus only on a story while trying to maintain an interactive experience. The eerie feeling that the game creates is masterful, and its ability to make you feel like you're experiencing the world is better than most triple-A experiences. With a possible DLC in the works to explain the abrupt ending, maybe the developers can master the balance.
Himno is like listening to those free relaxation apps you can download to find your Zen. It never wants to be something it isn't. Its music, gameplay, and game mechanics all fit within the realm of serenity and relaxation, especially on the Switch. Sometimes it's good to just take a moment for yourself and let your mind be at peace.
Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville is an amazing next chapter in the series. Its story campaign alone is enough to warrant a buy. It's not just the graphics, the characters, or the amazing multiplayer that makes it a must buy, it's the charm that the developers have dialed into this game. Every minute playing feels like you're on track to discover something ridiculously funny and over the top. Though there are a few key tweaks needed to make the battles spot on, it's the culmination of other things that make this a great game.
In recent history, we've seen a lot of indie games launch with hardcore combat with musical soundtracks that could be considered a good album. Down to Hell looks to create that same feeling but forgot to make a quality game in the process. The number of glitches and bugs are by far too many to ignore. They impact the game to the point where it's unplayable and not worth the frustration.
These are one of those times when games are simply made to capitalize on the license of an intellectual property. Though there is a lot of potential in the story for the gameplay and mechanics to flesh out, it never does. There are moments when you believe there's something special to experience, but then you're constantly loading into areas, slowed to a snail's pace, and burdened with unnecessary banter.
The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors is a refreshing take on a classic game. Its fast paced action and beat 'em up styles feels like a natural fit on the Nintendo Switch. With its updated graphics, audio, and game modes, it makes this game perfect for a quick fix for action and chaos.
Argonus and the Gods of Stone is an ambitious game that recreates a world that is rich with lore and beauty. Playing a game that is narratively driven and offers a different style of gameplay is refreshing and necessary in a world where sequels and copycats are too frequent. The story and musical score are top notch as it helps set the mood for a game that you're a part of. The performance and the way you interact with objects in the world are the biggest dilemmas to overcome in this title.
With Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince, Frozenbyte has returned the series to its origins by making dynamic puzzles the main attraction.