Umihara Kawase: BaZooKa! is a spin-off of the Umihara Kawase series. This series has actually been floating around in the gaming ether for quite some time all the way back to the Super Famicon. In the main series, it’s a colourful little platformer where you use a fishing hook to navigate around platforms and defeat various fishy enemies. If you want to look into the series further the easiest way to play the old games is on Steam but there was also a recent title Umihara Kawase: Fresh released on Nintendo Switch in 2019. BaZooKa takes many of the ideas of this series and turns it into more of an arcade title. Let’s explore in more detail.
Otti the House Keeper may not be the biggest looker but its gameplay has some interesting ideas that make for an enjoyable blend of tower and defense and puzzle. Sadly the Otti port to Switch is not as strong as PC. Control issues, both touch and button based, make the experience more frustrating than it should be. Look at the PC version which seems like it could easily run on most laptops. It also has a free demo on Steam but be careful with the Switch version.
Ziggy the Chaser is a game that is a bit like Pac Man if it had ugly 3D character models and gameplay that feels slower and lacking the additive feel of an arcade title. There is room here for a better experience but what is on offer feels a little too plain to recommend fully.
At the end of the day Loot Hero DX is a very basic game at a cheap price point. For some the experience will be an enjoyable distraction for a few minutes. The gameplay lacks depth but there is something kinda fun about just moving down enemies and watching the gold fly towards your character. It is understandable that many gamers will be expecting much more. To me Loot Hero DX is like a stress ball. You play it for a bit to blow off some steam. Put it down and get on with your day.
Four in a Row isn’t terrible, but it’s not exactly a title that’s going to grab gamers’ attention on the eShop. There are cheaper games that you can spend hours playing, when all Four in a Row has going for it is one mode you may want to play with the AI, or your grandparent, I guess. Though I would suggest calling your relatives instead and just letting them know you’re thinking of them. I felt more compelled to play a real board game than play more of the video game version.
War Truck Simulator should not be for sale in the state that it is in. There was a huge missed opportunity here to make something different and original but all the game ends up being is an awful PC port. It’s a reminder of why quality control is essential for game development. Do not buy this.
Double Dragon Neon is a surprisingly deep brawler that is very tough to play alone but excels if you’re able to enjoy it in co-op. The upgrade system feels a tad too grindy but with an excellent soundtrack I found it very difficult to put this game down. If somehow you missed this back in 2012 then the Switch version is a very welcome addition to any brawler fans collection. It’s also hilarious and lord knows we all need a good laugh these days.
Charge Kid may have a simple graphical design but its design its quite unique if you’re looking for a good head-scratcher and have the reflexes to match. This is not a game that will appeal to everyone but at a cheap price point, it may be worth a try if you’re looking for something different.
Stardash is a simple run to the right and finish platformer. The journey to get there will be tough. You may want to throw your Switch or joy cons at times so if you don’t like that sort of stress probably best to avoid this one. The Gameboy nods are cool but the game doesn’t fundamentally do a lot to stand out from the crowd in its genre. It’s the definition of what I’ve come to call a coffee game. Something to sit down and play in small bursts, just be careful not to throw your Switch across the room.
If you’re a fan of rogue lite games and twin stick shooters Synthetik: Ultimate is a essential purchase. With so much content and customization options this is a game to get pretty lost in. It keeps the story minimal and the action straight to the point. Despite failing constantly as one does in a typical rogue lite game Synthetiks unique take on the genre makes it one I’ll go to often.
Boot Hill Heroes is a decent RPG with a heart of Wild West gold. While some might find the graphic style a little crude there is a meaty RPG to get stuck into here with an interesting battle system and customization options, also the characters and story telling are pretty neat too. Grab your cowboy hat and prepare for a Wild RPG adventure.
I ended up leaning towards the hate it side of the Marmite argument with Unto the End mostly because of its combat system which I really could not get my head around. I guess I’m getting old and my reaction times are slowing. At the same time though I feel the developer does deserve some credit. The art style of this game is simple but beautiful and when things were flowing well I was really in awe of this game. There will be some gamers out there that will adore this game for it’s punishing difficulty and get a sense of grand achievement on completing. For most though I would say approach with caution. What Unto the End has is good hence my rating but it’s just not going to be for everyon
Shakes on the Plane has all the right ingredients for an enjoyable co-op game but much like turbulence on a plane the balance just feels off and much of the game to me was spent frustrated and confused about where we went wrong. A pity because there is fun to be had here. Maybe with some tweaking and patching it could make for a much more enjoyable title. For the moment I would approach this plane ride with caution. Also, don’t forget to fasten your seat belt.
Freddy Spaghetti feels a bit like a novelty Christmas present. Some will open the gift and get the joke and like it but others will open it probably be polite and smile and not understand, then possibly give it away to someone next year. It’s a nice price to take a chance on, maybe even consider buying it for a friend, but if you’ve not been sold on physics-based games like Octodad or Human: Fall Flat before this will unlikely be the one to win you over. I guess it is the best video game ever about Spaghetti though.
Monster Sanctuary was a nice surprise for me. While on the surface it looks familiar to popular monster-catching games Monster Sanctuary feels like a darn decent RPG that I would recommend to any fan of the genre. It’s Monster Sanctuary’s unique and detailed battle system and generous customisation options that make it stand out from the crowd. I loved exploring the world with my blue wolf I called Stephen and I see myself revisiting it again.
Space Invaders Forever has some entertaining games but it is disappointing the developers did not put a little more work into this collection. Each game feels like a straight port from its original system instead of being adapted and improved for the Switch. If you’re a Space Invaders fan it may be worth a look but you may want to look into the Space Invaders Invincible collection. If you’re just testing the Space Invaders waters this is a pretty good place to start. For a fan though, I was very sad coming away from this.
Heroes of Loot is a simple fun arcade gameplay to play in those short gaming bursts alone or with a friend. While there’s not much more depth to its design sometimes simple is all some gamers need.
While I started out feeling lukeworm on Death Tales the more I played it over short gaming sessions the more I enjoyed its loot mechanic and art style. The floaty combat has it flaws that won’t suit everyone. This is easily a game I would recommend if you’re looking for a simple action platformer to shut your brain off for awhile before getting back on with some work. Don’t fear the reaper, Death Tales is alright.
Phogs! is a game that will make you and hopefully a friend smile from ear to ear much like the constant smiles of the dogs you play as in this game. The joy of this title really comes from sharing the experience with someone else. But if that’s not possible for you then this is still nice casual puzzler to cosy up with and enjoy in handheld mode.
While I have been harsh on Oniria Crimes I do feel there is a niche audience for this game. If you’re able to immerse yourself in the world and like the idea of a tough point and click game this might be for you. In the games current state, I would still recommend waiting till it gets some much-needed patching. Not a game for me but I hope it finds some fans because of all my critique the idea here is at least different.