Rift Racoon was not the fun raccoon platformer I was expecting it to be. Even at a modest price point, it’s hard to recommend this game even as a coffee title. There are far better difficult but rewarding platformers out there in the gaming ether. But unless you have an obsession with raccoons and games that make you want to throw your Switch down the stairs you may want to approach this with caution.
Subnautica: Below Zero is easily one of the best survival games I have played on Switch. Whilst a small initial barrier to entry, it’s hard not to get captivated by the world above and below the water. If you haven’t been keen on survival games before this may not turn your head again. But if you’re looking for an underwater adventure like no other Below Zero is well worth going out in the cold for.
I love the premise of Invirum and with some patching and work, I can see this becoming quite the entertaining roguelike game to play in short bursts. It’s just not that game yet and I don’t think it should have been released in the current state it’s in on Switch. Buy with caution at this stage. I will keep an eye on Ivirum over the next few months and update my review once the patches start rolling in.
Save Me Mr Tako: Definitive Edition still remains a unique platforming experience. If you’re looking for a retro-inspired platformer then this will keep you busy for some time. One where you play as a pacifist Octopus – this is well worth checking out. A charming octopus that just may inspire you to overcome your struggles and live your own great adventure.
If you are a fan of your space shooters R-Type Final 2 is well worth picking up. But be warned its unforgiving and wave-like difficulty curves will not work for everyone. If you’re on the fence about it, there is a free demo on the e-store I highly recommend trying it first. Once I got over the initial steep learning curve I grew quite fond of this nifty space shooter. R-Type Final 2 reminds us that things may have been difficult back in the day for gaming. But that formula still works and will hold up for its fans today. See you next time for R-Type Final 3 maybe?
If you have someone else to play with I can not recommend this game enough. Heck this is a game I would go as far as to say it’s worth getting a console or PC for. The game pushes video games forward in the right direction and it’s a darn shame others haven’t taken note of this. A wholesome co-op experience that is guaranteed to entertain. No DLC, no microtransactions, no exp, no bugs and utter gaming rubbish we so often see in games these days, just a good video game. It Takes Two is not just one of the best games I’ve played this year. It’s one of the best video game experiences I have ever had, period.
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion will likely attract an audience thanks to its cute graphical style and bizarre yet humorous premise. It does feel like it could have done with a little more content and the meme humour is likely to be hit or miss for some people. But if you’re looking for something short and sweet this is a good title to pass the time with before your next intensive gaming project. Just don’t expect it to teach you anything about Taxes.
Overall if you’re a fan of the series it’s worth picking up Shantae to discover its roots. If you’re new to the series I would actually suggest you pick up one of the newer games first before diving into this one. Some of Shante’s retro mechanics will not have aged well for some audiences. But if you’re old like me there is a certain fascinating curiosity around how developers were able to make good games on the little handheld that could, the Game Boy Color. Great for its time. Nice to see it re-released. Just a shame not more was done to make the game accessible for new audiences.
Fez to this day still remains quite a unique and original puzzle platformer with a charming graphical style to boot. This is a nice fit if you’re looking for a casual experience away from the dexterity and quick reflexes of other platformers. But if you are someone that likes to 100% you may need a guide to discover all the secrets. The Switch version of Fez offers nothing new to the experience so there’s no reason to double dip if you’ve already had your Fez fill on a previous system. But if this is your first venture into the game or you want to introduce a friend to it, then have at it.
Is Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2: Bush Fire Rescue HD better than the original? Well, it’s different. Some folk might miss the collectable gameplay but equally, some may welcome the new open-world formula. Personally, I like games that try new things and even though Ty’s voice gave me headaches, I had a lot of fun exploring the world and competing in the karting mini-games. The real success story behind Ty 2 is this is a game clearly loved by fans. The fact that the game came to Switch thanks to the supporters on Kickstarter shows that this series clearly has a fan base that is alive and well and ready to accept Ty onto new systems. I hope they enjoyed this product as much as I did. Let’s hope we see Ty 3 someday.
Astro Aqua Kitty is another brilliant game from developer Tikipod. An excellent blend of space shooter and RPG mechanics mixed together creating an experience that will surely not sour with time. If you’re looking for a fresh take on the space shooter formula or you’re just looking for something a little different to dip into now and then Astro Aqua Kitty is the Purrfect addition to your Nintendo Switch.
Kingdom of Arcadia is not the most original platformer out there. It’s a simple formula that has been done before and doesn’t bring anything new to the action platform genre. Not bad but not wonderful either. It does play well and comes at an appealing budget price. Just right to pass the time or maybe make a nice little gift for a friend that needs a mood boost. It would have been nice to see more depth added to the formula but if the game has taught me one thing it’s that you really should not go snooping in your Dad’s garage.
Stitchy in Tooki Trouble is a solid game, ideal for platform fans looking for a more manageable experience. The game doesn’t do much to set itself apart from the crowd except for its charming Scarecrow protagonist. But in terms of the performance and controls of the game, this is as good as the titans in its field. This is a decent first entry in a platform series.
Rain on your Parade is a feel-good game that will hopefully make you smile as much as it did for us. While light on a challenge, if you’re having one of those rainy days yourself, this game might just be the ticket to bring a little sunshine to your day. Rain on your Parade is funny, charming and overall brilliant, one of my favourite gaming experiences this year so far.
Let’s be honest, if you haven’t been sold on the Cold Steel series by this point it’s unlikely the forth game is going to change your mind. If you’re new and the Switch is your only option I would suggest picking up the third entry first (or waiting and pray that the first two games get localized for Switch in the West). While more of the same, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV really stands out as one of the best jRPGs I’ve played in a long time, even if the story got a little much at times. Falcon have done a stella job as always and hopefully the fans will enjoy the experience as much as I did. Now I think I need to go lie down.
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger HD may not be the most original boomerang in the 3D platform genre, but this is a very good HD remaster. The performance of the game is solid in handheld and TV modes and I actually found myself quite enjoying what this game had to offer. It’s not without issues and feels very much like the first entry in a game series but if you’re curious and enjoy your collector type 3D platformers Ty the Tasmanian Tiger HD is well worth sinking some time into. Insert shrimp on BBQ joke here.
Overcooked! All You Can Eat is the definitive Overcooked experience. The new campaign, graphical tweaks, online cross-play and accessibility features are most welcome. But they may not be enough to justify a double-dip if you’ve already heavily invested in the previous two games. One suggestion is you could get this and give away your other Overcooked games to a friend or someone that needs cheering up. But it’s up to you. Being that person I was a bit disappointed by this title due to the games performance issues on Switch and the graphical and sound glitches I encountered here and there. This just doesn’t seem to be the celebration of the series it should be. If you have somehow never played the Overcooked series before and have some friends or family to play with this feels like an essential purchase. Let’s hope this is not the last we see of the series.
How to Win will most likely have a divided audience which may be what the developers intended. Some people will play this and enjoy the experimentation attempted here. However, some will probably find this experience uncomfortable and difficult to take in with the subject matters on display. Overall, it wasn’t for me but I respect the developers trying something different. If you Want to Win you don’t need to play this game. If you took the time out of your busy schedule to read this review consider yourself the Ultimate Winner! There is a free demo available on Steam if you want to try it before you buy. The developers are also planning a season 2 where you can give suggestions and decide what happens next.
Pixelot is okay on PC but the portable platform feels much more suited to this title (it’s also cheaper there too). There’s fun to be had if you’re looking for a simple RPG to enjoy in small bursts. To its credit, this will run on practically any PC or laptop, even my rubbish one which I’m honestly surprised still works. There is plenty of room for improvement but Pixelot on PC is a decent first attempt at an RPG from a new developer.
Magic Twins casts its spell of witty charm and addictive fun co-op gameplay creating an explosion of entertainment and fond memories. Highly recommended if you have someone else to play with, not so much if you play alone. Bring on Colormageddon I say.