Ben Lombardo
Lies Beneath is one of those horror games that's so tense and stressful but will keep you stuck behind your headset for hours. Though this game may have a few issues, its cel-shaded art style and fun game mechanics are what sets it as a must-have for VR horror fans. It's got all the hallmarks of being a great, immersive VR title. It certainly doesn't disappoint.
Not many games have you play the underdog from beginning to end. It's tense, and each passing day keeps you on edge. You'll be emotionally invested in trying to keep your members, friends, family, and even strangers safe as you make choices that will shape your life and their future. Although a second playthrough doesn't hit the same way emotionally as the first, it's still a fantastic title to understand the heart-wrenching reality of that period.
911 Operator really misses the mark. It's a good attempt at showing what a 911 operator may do, but you're effectively playing a mobile game on for the cost of a PC game.
It's an ok VR title on its own that most should consider buying if they're new to the platform to ease into VR controls. Though the story is very bland and it feels more like a concept than a fully-fledged title, it's the gameplay that keeps you playing just that bit longer before you release how repetitive those levels are.
The Room VR: A Dark Matter is great. It's got plenty of unique puzzles, which never felt overused once, and has some very creative environments. It also has a deeply mysterious story, which was designed in the same vein as the original mobile games in the series. Consequently, in the same vein as those, it didn't feel like it was a completely new and authentic VR experience. The developers didn't utilise all that VR is capable of, which is a real bummer for what this title could have ultimately been.
VirtuaVerse is a low cost, high content title with one of the best stories available in the cyberpunk game genre. The visuals are top tier, as is the soundtrack, and it's very easy to get hooked on this point and click title. However, you might need a guide to complete this one, as it's pretty easy to get stuck or lost on your objective.
Old Gods Rising is an unfortunate mess. While it has a story that immediately hooks the player, a world that's begging to be explored and understood, and boasts fantastic environmental sound design, the current state of the game is unplayable. The numerous bugs and glitches restrict this game from being a great title. Until those bugs are patched out, you're better off spending your money elsewhere.
World War Z GOTY edition doesn't provide a whole lot to players that the standard edition already has done in way of free post-release content. In essence, you're paying for character skins, and weapon skins and variants. While the variants help new players jump start their adventure, the upgrade for returning players isn't all that worthwhile. The Marseille episode, while fantastic, can also be purchased as a separate DLC. In reality, the GOTY edition doesn't have too many legs to stand on to suggest it's completely worth the money.
The Wizards - Dark Times is great. It's absolutely a must-have if you're interested in VR spellcasting using only hand movements, and generally want to feel like a wizard. While there are some minor grievances with the gameplay, they pale in comparison to the level of fun and enjoyment you'll get out of this one.
Liberated wants to be so much, but it trips on its own feet within the first comic issue. The idea to read a comic book on your Nintendo Switch, and also play within those same panels, was a fantastic creative decision. However, the developers seem to have put more effort into that idea than filling out the rest of the gameplay, which is nothing short of lacklustre. If, at times, the cliche story didn't read like a low quality YA novel, then I'd have appreciated it more.
Burnout Paradise Remastered for the Nintendo Switch comes with its fair share of issues. You'll experience a lot of blurriness playing it handheld, and might struggle making out what's what at high speeds even when playing it docked. Plus, there's that big $50 price tag for a 2008 game. Yet, included in the remaster is eight of the nine premium DLC, which comes with nearly all the vehicles unlocked, as well as one of the best racing soundtracks to ever exist.
Red Bow has a lot of potential to be great, but it's simply not. There are a lot of strange technical issues and downright poor creative decisions that make up for a dismal experience. While the story is effectively the only thing holding this title together, it's not nearly enough to warrant a recommendation.
I expected ELEA: Paradigm Shift to at least be an interesting and artistic game for the Nintendo Switch. As it turns out, it's no way near that level. Not only that, but it's plagued with problems in its controls, its visuals, and its gameplay. Though the beginning of the game showed promise, I was left with a resounding feeling of disappointment.
Into The Radius is a great VR survival game with an amazing atmosphere, rewarding experience, and a very interesting set of enemies. It's especially suited to VR veterans, who may think they've experienced all that's to see and do with the platform. Do beware however, as this game has recently come out of Early Access and has some hallmarks of it.
Although Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time has the occasional frame rate drop, and it doesn't pose that high a challenge, Soleil's game direction has proved worthwhile. Having all the tools to shape your experience provides a thoroughly enjoyable experience for the player, and it'll keep long-time fans of the series happy seeing Jack's old allies in action once more. However, with such a short time-to-complete and weak story, it will have you yearn for more.
Hellbound is a fun shooter that's got all the hallmarks of what made the 90s FPS genre so great. Unfortunately, just like the 90s games before it, it's pretty dated in both optimization and graphics. There's a large number of bugs and game-breaking glitches to be experienced, all of which tarnish what is otherwise an incredible experience.
Skully is a simple platformer that boasts fun characters, a great soundtrack, and creative gameplay; all of which provide a rewarding experience by the end of it. However, good things only last for a while, since the quality of the story drops off significantly by the end, and the poor music looping quickly becomes boring. And yet, it's an underrated gem that you'll likely want to platinum as soon as it's done.
Bossa Studios took the mayhem of the first game and enhanced it ten-fold. Surgeon Simulator 2 is a blast to play, and even better enjoyed with friends. The unique gameplay, combined with unforgettable co-op experiences and a wholly polished title, makes this game a worthwhile purchase.
Relicta is a puzzle game that tries to be like The Talos Principle and Portal, but falls flat. The gameplay mechanics, as well as the physics, are a solid and fun experience. However, it falls short due to a weak story, terribly written dialogue, repetitive puzzle design, and various technical issues. If you're looking for a puzzler that you can easily find exploits in for a speedrun, check this out. But, if you're looking for a puzzler with replayability, where you have to utilize creative thinking, and the puzzles are all uniquely designed, then look far, far elsewhere.
Spellbreak could be a huge hit if it was capable of drawing in the numbers, but a poor marketing campaign established otherwise. Even still, Proletariat's fantastic sound design, music, gameplay mechanics, and art style creates a hugely immersive experience for the player; comfortably satisfying a player's desire to experience games shaped around elemental magic. It's a shame that such an incredibly rewarding experience is marred by bot-heavy games.