Leonardo Faria's Reviews
Whether you’re an Ys fan eagerly waiting for the series’ ninth mainline game, or just a JRPG fan in general, there’s a lot to love in Memories of Celceta. Very few games like this are fun enough for me to actively want to fight and grind for hours on end.
I was expecting for Epic Dumpster Bear 2 to be a complete disaster, but it isn’t. It’s a mediocre platformer with some good ideas, and even some well-designed levels, that also features one of the absolutely worst visuals from this entire generation of consoles.
I feel the game would have been a lot more interesting had the developers decided to focus more on the game’s educational and explorational aspects instead of a linear story-based structure. It’s a game that makes the act of looking for marine animals in order to learn more about them really enjoyable. Too bad there’s also a somewhat uninteresting plot in here; one that only drags the experience down.
This is a game that won’t solely be enjoyed by visual novel enthusiasts, but anyone who loves music and any story directly related to classic bands and occultism. It’s the rare case of a visual novel that features a bit of something for everyone.
If it’s any consolation for the House Flipper devs, the Switch version of this game made me want to take a look at the PC version instead. It’s still buggy and unpolished, but I can actually play it without getting mad at the glitchy controls.
I did enjoy this Darius collection, but being limited to older console ports meant that I was stuck with the less impressive versions of each of the games included in this package. They are definitely not bad games, on the contrary, and being able to add even more shoot ’em up classics on a portable console is a great idea. However, if I had to choose between the two currently available collections, I’d have to suggest grabbing Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade instead. Those arcade games look, play, and sound better than any console port included in this collection.
The Isle of Armor pales in comparison to previous post-game campaigns included in older Pokémon titles released throughout the years, and you didn’t have to pay extra in order to access them.
I can only recommend the Switch version of RUINER to die-hard twin-stick shooter fans. It’s still a stupidly challenging but entertaining title, and its chaotic, arcade-like nature is a good fit for a portable system, but the Switch’s controller options just don’t offer the precision a game like this needs in order to become truly enjoyable.
Being able to finally play a proper port of Duke Nukem 3D on-the-go, with revamped visuals, functional motion controls, and even some extra levels, makes this Switch version stand out from all other previously released versions of the remaster. Not to mention the novelty factor of playing an uncensored version of this game on a Nintendo platform, much to Howard Lincoln’s dismay.
This is a title that challenges the overall conception of a game having to be joyful to be enjoyable. It knows when to make you feel miserable with its depressing yet fantastic story. However, unlike many pretentious art games that failed at doing the same, it knows it’s a video game and knows how to entertain you with its pristine combat and excellent exploration sections.
This might be one of the least impressive visual remasters I have ever seen, but considering how well Star Wars Episode I: Racer‘s gameplay has aged over the decades, I still have to recommend the Switch version of this game to racing fans and Star Wars fans alike.
Assetto Corsa Competizione is in a much better state in terms of content now than when it was first released in 2019. There are more tracks and teams to choose from, and playing it with a controller is nowhere near as nightmare inducing as the console port of Assetto Corsa is. With that being said, you need to understand that this is primarily a multiplayer-centered game.
Burnout Paradise might be a bit too expensive on the eShop, but you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck. A huge open world to explore, tons of cars to unlock and collect, a fantastic soundtrack comprised of some of the greatest bands of all time, and most importantly, that good old Burnout gameplay that will never get old.
In a console full of amazing tactical and turn-based strategy experiences, Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia still manages to carve a small niche with its overwhelming, but rewarding gameplay. Not to mention the sheer amount of content it offers.
The Innsmouth Case is a game that did an honorable attempt at trying to shake up the cliché nature of Lovecraftian adaptations by offering players a story in modern times with a lot of sarcastic humor. Sadly, it ended up falling flat due to its limited gameplay and the sad fact that its jokes just weren’t funny at all.
Be advised that The Bard’s Tale has aged in more ways than one, especially in the visual department, but it’s still quite unique due to its fourth wall-breaking premise and hilarious performances by Cary Elwes and Tony Jay. It’s a simple action RPG with a straightforward gameplay loop that is a perfect fit for a portable system like the Switch.
There are some great ideas in Wildfire, such as the way you can handle the elements to interact with the environment around you, but what we ended up getting instead was a shallow cinematic platformer with some janky controls, repetitive level design, and lots of framerate issues.
Pilots of Darsalon is an occasionally fun love letter to games like Solar Jetman, but there’s not a lot in here besides that same gameplay loop from more than thirty years ago. Just like Dr. Kucho’s previous outing, this is something you will only truly enjoy if you are a big fan of its sources of inspiration, and if you can put up with the game’s somewhat annoying “back in my day” sense of humor.
This isn’t just one of the most entertaining VR games I’ve played in years, but one of the most entertaining games in general I have played in a very long time. It is hindered by the limited horsepower provided by the PS4 and the PSVR, but what the people at Camouflaj have managed to achieve with so many limitations is absolutely impressive.
This is a good collection if you’re interested in owning the entirety of the Samurai Shodown catalogue originally released for the NeoGeo for a more affordable pricetag, but I feel like Digital Eclipse could (and should) have added some extra games and quality of life improvements in order to make this collection a true must-have for retro enthusiasts.