Josh Speer's Reviews
Not only was MARVEL Cosmic Invasion more than worth the wait, it’s easily the best beat ’em up I’ve played all year. It’s clear Tribute Games is amazing at this genre, and they seem to be improving with age. This is a colorful, creative and varied experience with lasting replay value. While it wasn’t quite perfect, assuming that glitch I encountered gets fixed, you can add another .5 to the overall rating. This is a wonderful adventure, and one every Marvel true believer has to play.
While Hannah features a lovely gloomy aesthetic and an interesting premise, the awkward gameplay, camera and one-hit deaths made it a slog to actually play. It’s unfortunate, because it’s clear there’s some good ideas here. They just needed a lot more polish before the game was released. Here’s hoping they manage to fix some of these issues in the near future. But until then, Hannah is a game that’s hard to recommend.
Despite my issues with the adventure, GIGASWORD is still a tremendous Metroidvania experience. It’s frankly hard to believe this was made by a solo developer, it’s that good. Not only is it one of the best examples of the genre I’ve played in recent memory, it’s also a game that’s a glowing love letter to the NES era of gaming. Here’s hoping the issues I mentioned above get fixed so that everyone can fully enjoy this puzzle platformer.
Even though it was slightly held back by some issues on Nintendo’s handheld, I’m still beyond happy I finally got to dive into Deathless. The Hero Quest on Switch. This is an incredibly well made rogue-like deckbuilder that I would recommend even to those hesitant to jump into the genre. Whether you play it for the stunning artwork, unique Slavic story or just because you love the genre, this is one game every fantasy fan should check out.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with Majogami, I just feel it could have been better. Though I love the artwork and amazing style Inti Creates always brings to the table, I feel the gameplay was more than a bit jumbled. The simplest way to put it is that sometimes less is more, and I hope that next time, Inti gives us a pure, easy to parse concept with all their usual amenities. Still, those looking for witchy fanservice, gorgeous artwork, surprisingly deep replay value and epic boss battles have a great new adventure in Majogami.
All things considered, I had a tremendous time playing Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted. I spent around 7 hours getting through the Adventure and playing the other modes, and I still have a ton more to do. This isn’t just an excellent tower defense game; it’s also the perfect spoopy game to play during October. Heck, you can even play it with a friend, though I wasn’t able to try the multiplayer in my playthrough. Even if you’re not experienced with the original game, you’ll find something to adore in this cozy, tactical, tower defense adventure from PopCap Games.
Being a sequel comes with a lot of baggage and expectations, and often they fail to impress. That’s not the case with Hades II, though. Not only does this adventure have a slightly better overall balance, but it also matches it with challenging and fun combat, an amazing cast of characters, a spectacular and twisting plot, and an even better protagonist than the first game. Put simply, Supergiant Games outdid themselves, and if you at all enjoyed the first game, you have to play Hades II. Death to Chronos!
Despite my frustration with the 4th stage and occasional difficulty with the game’s balance, Platypus Reclayed is still a very unique and enjoyable Shmup overall. It even features two-player co-op, a feature I wasn’t able to try out. I’d say fans of the genre will still find something to enjoy here and will likely find the challenge easier to deal with. But if you’re not confident of your when it comes to shooters, you might want to try another adventure.
Put simply, Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is a ton of fun. Not only does it add neat little tricks like how dancing draws items closer to you, but it features challenging boss battles, clever puzzles, and an engaging cast of characters with stellar humor constantly on display. If I weren’t already a super fan of the series, this game would have helped make me one. It’s a blast from the past that’s perfectly suited for modern gamers, and a game I highly recommend you check out.
I wasn’t sure if Donkey Kong Bananza would hold up to my hype, but thankfully, it absolutely did. Not only does this game reinvent Donkey Kong for a totally new era and console, but it manages to bring it to the present with style to spare, and even makes the game part of the broader universe seen in Super Mario Odyssey. Throw in tons of replay value, some really fun cameos and surprises aplenty, and you have one must-own adventure and the first truly great game in the Nintendo Switch 2 library.
Despite some disharmony, overall, I really enjoyed Fretless – The Wrath of Riffson. Yes, it’s a short burn, and yes, some minor issues held it back. But it’s still a charming, retro, GuitaR-PG with a lot of heart. If you’re in the mood for an epic Battle of the Bands with a likeable hometown hero, look no further!
I really wanted to love Section 13, and while I did enjoy it, it was held back by the incremental pace of the game as well as the brutal difficulty of enemy encounters. This is a very, very grindy game, and while I don’t mind spending time with an adventure, I do wish this particular game were on Switch 2. I find portable play is ideal for rogue adventures, and I feel I would have had much more success were that an option. That said, Section 13 is still a compelling game, it’s just one that regularly feels like a slog. Here’s hoping the next adventure from Ocean Drive Studio manages to capitalize on the rogue genre’s strengths better.
Combined with the lack of balance, overly complex mechanics, and brutal CPU opponents, ultimately, I found plenty of roadblocks to my enjoyment in Battle Train. I wanted the art, humor, and overall play experience to mesh better. But sadly, it’s just one deckbuilder that’s hard for this fan to recommend.
As a gamer who grew up when so many movies were relegated to shlocky video game adaptations, I can confidently say TRON: Catalyst is not that. But even though this is a faithful and creative game experience, it’s also one that’s not always well balanced and feels a bit too padded out for this gamer. That said, diehard fans of TRON will probably find plenty to enjoy in this neon-hued adventure.
On one hand, Starlight Legacy might not blow the world away with any huge innovation or captivating ideas. But everything here is rock solid and well made, and this is easily the best game I’ve played from eastasiasoft in years. I’m also happy to see there might be potential sequels in the works. If you’re a fan of retro JRPGs and want something fun and inexpensive, this is the game for you.
Overall, I still enjoyed my time with StarVaders. I just wish the game wasn’t so punishing for those who want to experience the entirety of the adventure. As someone who managed to fully beat Slay the Spire, I expect difficulty in roguelike deckbuilders. But I also need it properly balanced. That said, if you enjoy tactical mayhem and need something fun to play, you’ll probably enjoy this adventure from Joystick Ventures.
Pocket Trap and PM Studios haven’t just given us a lovingly crafted adventure with unique mechanics and memorable characters. They’ve given us one of the best games of the year. Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a great reminder that indies are blazing a path for everyone to follow!
After spending sufficient time with the game, I’m fond of Cooking Companions, even if I don’t feel it reached its fullest potential. It’s a dark, unsettling VN with uncomfortable subject matter, told skillfully and subtly. While the Switch version of the game is occasionally a bit laggy and some functionality doesn’t seem to work properly, I’d still recommend fans of dark stories check the game out, even if it’s on a different console.
As a fan of horror, especially classic examples in the genre, I really loved the attention to detail and world-building in Labyrinth of the Demon King. Unfortunately, the combat in the game is uncompromising and will make life unbearable for the vast majority of gamers. Combined with randomized enemy placement and mind-scratching puzzles, this is a game that will push you to the limit.
I really wanted to give Into the Restless Ruins a rosier review. But I’m a longtime deckbuilder addict, and I call them as I see them. The deckbuilding itself is unique and neat, but it could do more to streamline the placement of cards. That said, the game is far from horrible and should provide a robust experience for those willing to put up with the unsatisfying combat.