The Caligula Effect 2 is a virtual encounter that ended up being a mixed experience for me. It has a solid combat system and a fantastic soundtrack. But this is kinda let down by an overbearing story and side quests which created a lengthy and rather dull experience. Overall, I think the game will appeal to a niche audience looking for a story rich experience as well as fans of the original game. While the concept of trying to escape a virtual world doesn’t seem like something new, this still was an experience I enjoyed plugging into and escaping reality for a few hours a day.
G-Darius HD is one of the finest entries in the series. A fine example of a 2D game moving in the 3D realm in all the right ways. Maintaining the core design of the series whilst adding the excitement of the arcade. Love your schmups? This is an essential purchase. New to the Darius series? This is a good place to start and one of the more affordable games in the series on the eShop. M2 recreated the arcade atmosphere with fine precision making me feel all the thrills and pleasures of that era from my youth which seems so far away these days. Whenever I need a lift in the spirits G-Darius HD will easily be a game I’ll reach for.
Blaze and the Monster Machines: Axle City Racers is a racer that caters to its young fan base and succeeds with some room for improvement. A few things could have been built on; more diversity in track design and offering more power-ups rather than just one per vehicle. It also seems a missed opportunity that lessons from the show are confined to the load screen rather than incorporating them further into the gameplay. If you know a young one that’s a fan of this show and loves video games then this seems like an ideal gift if you’re struggling for ideas.
Residual is another winner from Orange Pixel. An intriguing survival exploration game that will keep you busy for long or short bursts of gaming. If you’re not a fan of the genre I’m not sure there is anything here to win you over. In a way, it’s fitting Apogee published this game as it kinda did bring back some of that nostalgia of that era in gaming. A game that doesn’t totally hold you by the hand, but the more you invest in it, the more you discover. What started as a stressful experience became one of wonder and intrigue. If that sounds good to you I highly recommend venturing to the stars with Residual.
Flewfie’s Adventure scores high in the cute factor but also serves to be a pretty decent mild space shooter. Levels are fun to explore and the puzzles nicely integrate into the shooting action. The shooting itself does become a bit grindy and dull as things progress, losing the appeal of playing this on a higher difficulty setting. The card game integration is also a nice feature but does feel like it will be hit and miss with some folk. Overall though it is a cute adventure well worth your time alone or with a friend or loved one. A game with so much cute in it should come with a warning label!
Gas Station Simulator ends up as one of the better ‘simulator’ games out there. Tasks get repetitive and there are moments where I did think to myself ‘why am I spending so much time playing this.’ But ultimately it held my attention and I enjoyed running my station even if it did have a few rough edges. I guess like running a real Gas Station this game is filled with financial challenges. The stress of juggling customers and employees and after a long gaming session you feel like you need a good sit down with a good coffee. But despite all this, it makes for a pretty fun video game. But I can’t guarantee running a Gas Station in real life would be this much fun.
Armed Emeth on the surface looks like another pixel turn-based RPG. But while not the biggest looker, this title has many features going for it to make it stand out from the crowd. A compelling story and world with interesting golem customization and a memorable soundtrack. The combat lacks some depth and the difficulty feels a little all over the place at times. But if you need a good RPG to sink some time into Armed Emeth is well worth your time. This is a wasteland full of surprises.
I actually find it very hard to rate this game. Pedro Spanish Adventure is a unique mix of point and click adventure and immersion in the Spanish language. It only really feels suited to players who have at least a decent grasp of the language already. If you go into the game expecting to learn the language from scratch you’ll probably leave disappointed. By being fully Spanish with no English assistance whatsoever this could prove to be a barrier for some gamers and even Spanish learners. I think what the developers set out to do here is easily achieved and this title would absolutely be a nice compliment to young folk studying the language in school. Or heck, even adults also trying to test their Spanish skills. While I personally struggled with the game due to my lack of Spanish skills, this game has inspired me to keep studying. But much like any new skill, this will take time. Maybe one day I’ll be able to appreciate this game to its fullest.
Staxel is a delightfully chilled crafting adventure. If you are looking for a relaxing game to sink hours into then Staxel is worth adding to your gaming library. A good entry point for gamers new to this genre but I’m not sure it’s enough to pull gamers away whose hearts are fully invested in other competitors. What Staxel does, it does with sunshine and smiles which is something many of us sure need these days.
Instant Sports Paradise attempts to be a fun family-friendly adventure suitable for gamers of all skill levels. For the most part, the game achieves these goals. With simple controls, these games are pick up and play that even someone that rarely plays video games can join in the fun. But as is often the case with these collections most games are fun, some passable but some pretty forgettable. A decent holiday to share with loved ones that need to get away from it all for a few hours.
Luna’s Fishing Garden doesn’t reinvent things when it comes to game design. But the game’s strength lies in its heart. The entire time I played this game I smiled at Cassie’s adorable face when she caught a fish. I also felt so relaxed playing this experience. This game might just be the current equivalent of video game meditation. No challenge, just a good feeling guaranteed through its simple, short but lovely experience.
Golf Club Wasteland feels like a casual golf game meets a walking simulator. Story mode is a relatively Zen-like trip round if you prefer or you can choose to up the challenge if you fancy. Then there’s that memorable radio commentary that will certainly keep players engaged to the end. Overall, the approach is simply not offering much variety to the golf formula. But one thing I took from the experience is even in the most desolate of wastelands, there are still moments for you to take stock and reflect on life. What you do next I guess is up to you.
Mickey Storm and the Cursed Mask feels like it could have comfortably been a fun arcade-style water slide ride of a game. But it’s held back by fiddly controls, frustrating co-op design and an incredibly repetitive level design. Less would have been more at this park. I appreciate this is more marketed towards the younger audience but I’m not sure this will hold their attention for very long. The developers were so close to making something pretty darn brilliant and maybe with some patching, it may not be too late for Mickey. There is some fun to be had for sure but this is a water slide adventure best approached with caution at this stage.
I initially didn’t warm to Spelunky 2. When I first tried this on PC I found the entry difficulty level to be a bit too harsh even for someone who sunk so much time into the first game. But this time on Switch things really started to click and I was once again into the endless replayable gaming void of the Spleunky verse. Splelunky 2 is a brick wall of difficulty. Some days I rarely got past the first cave system but darn, was I having fun. But when I least suspected it I discovered a new mystery or level I had never seen before. Spelunky 2 is a fantastic addition to Nintendo Switch and just like the first game, it will be hard not to sneak in a quick game every time I see its icon on my Switch dashboard.
Overall, Where’s Samatha? is an enjoyable puzzle platformer for all audiences. It does feel a little slow at times and keeps things very casual. This feels like an ideal game to sit down and play with a child or young person with its storybook approach and cute appearance. But whatever age you are, this is a game that is designed to make you smile and possibly give warm fuzzy feelings. So buy this and enjoy it with a loved one. But if you don’t, go hug someone anyway because we could all use a warm fuzzy feeling.
Heart Chain Kitty is a very weird game. Much like unusual art pieces some will play this and have absolutely no problem with its unusual design. But it’s a design that just didn’t click with me. Confusing objectives and tedious exploration made this a game hard to engage with. This also just doesn’t seem to have ported very well to Nintendo Switch. Not unplayable by any stretch you just might need to have quite the open gamer mind and heart to get the most out of this surreal cat experience.
Arietta of Spirits is a simple adventure game with a good heart. If you’re looking for a game to complete for that weekend away this might just be the one to keep you busy. It’s doesn’t that pushes the boundaries of the genre but what is on offer here is fun. Plus this has an Otter spirit in it, what’s not to love? Need to meditate on this game? There is also a free demo available on the eShop.
Even all these years later Spelunky has still stood the test of time as one of the most original concepts in the roguelike genre. Brutally hard, but just the right amount of challenge that just pokes you to keep trying. Often I sit down to only play five minutes, which can lead to hours. Even though I probably sunk hundreds of hours into this game over the years it still somehow feels fresh to this day. An absolute masterpiece of gaming that one can finally enjoy on the Nintendo Switch.
Alveole is an interesting experiment that comes in at an appealingly low price. It’s a formula that I can see clicking with some gamers whilst equally frustrating others. When you eventually dissect the experience and unlock its mysteries there is very little reason to return. But it may be a title you want to hand to a friend or loved one to see what they make of it. Alveole feels like the type of experience you would usually find at an exhibit in a museum. Only here do you get to enjoy it in your own home. It’s a hard one to rate for sure but I can’t deny I kinda liked what I got to experience here.
Scrap Garden is a decent game but does lack a lot of depth to its design. The formula keeps things quite simple, not really providing anything unique to the experience but what is there works. Graphics are very detailed and the game runs like a well oiled robot. If you’re looking for a cheap casual adventure then this is easily worth the price of entry. One thing is certain: the main character Canny may be made of metal but clearly has a heart of gold.