With its minimalist proposal, Ord. manages to establish its existence in the Switch library as a relaxed, thought-provoking game and, above all, aimed at the unpretentious and casual pastime. Despite some small flaws, if tried in homeopathic doses, this textual adventure is more than recommended for those moments when we lack something to do.
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Samurai Maiden, in terms of content and action, is a competent hack 'n' slash, even more so for including different gameplay options thanks to Tsumugi's interaction with Iyo, Hagane and Komimi. In addition, the game has an interesting story, even if it relies on narrative clichés and fanservice. However, as much as the visual presentation is impeccable, even more so taking into account the dated hardware of the Switch, the game suffers from serious performance problems, making the hybrid console not the best option for Samurai Maiden.
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It's really sad that I wasn't able to enjoy Saturnalia with the expectation I created for the game — and if I had the patience to play it for two hours, that was a lot. The Switch's low processing power makes the experience frustrating and unplayable, ruining the full potential of this incredible Italian survival horror.
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For those who appreciate a well-constructed story, even with occasional plot holes here and there, Persona 5 Royal is a great option in terms of dynamism and hours and hours of gameplay, with charismatic characters and a great soundtrack to pack the the shenanigans of the Phantom Thieves. Seeing a game run satisfactorily on Switch, at any time of day and without detracting from the action moments, is a huge triumph, especially when we're talking about one of the best JRPGs of all time.
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Paradigm Paradox is one of Otomate's shortest visual novels I played so far. Sincerely speaking, the time it took to clear some of those routes was the same eight hours it took me to read some indie visual novels (also on Switch) — and those had better developed plot, by the way. Sadly, the impression it leaves is that [the developers] prioritized quantity instead of quality, but, you may take solace in its beautiful artwork.
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Prinny Presents NIS Classics Vol. 3 is a great pick for fans (and even non-fans) of the company and, in my case, I liked getting to know games that came to shape, in a way or another, the structure of current day NIS games. Even though neither La Pucelle: Ragnarok or Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure offer much of a challenge compared to the titles in previous collections (or even the most recent NIS ones), they are gems from the PlayStation era that are worth revisiting, especially with all their audiovisual quality.
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Besides offering a story that's very rich in details about the nazi occupation in Denmark territory, Gerda: A Flame in Winter puts us in situations in which we have to leave logica aside and follow our intuition, making the immersion guaranteed. The game's visual presentation is adequate to its proposal and has a unique charm, and, while a little rare, the sound work, when it is used, manages to transport us to the World War II period. Unfortunately, while it has a dub in the key moments and good controls, the lack of a Portuguese interface may weaken the experience to someone who hasn't mastered one of the available languages.
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Lair Land Story is a competent raising sim that offers charisma, immersion and a high replay value, especially due to the New Game+. The illustrations are dazzling and I always consider including voices, even if partial, a positive. On the other hand, there are mistakes that harm the gameplay, like the game's irregular audio and the text issues. Overall, people who like simulators and visual novels will enjoy the game, especially thanks to its compatibility with the Switch's touchscreen.
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Cult of the Lamb takes elements from well-regarded franchises on the market, such as The Binding of Isaac and Animal Crossing, and applies them in a game that takes us back to the dubious humor of Happy Tree Friends. In addition to offering hours of content, even if based on grinding, and several customization options for both faithful and doctrines and other improvements, the title brings an impeccable audiovisual presentation that manages to seduce us into being part of this strangely cute satanic cult. On the other hand, performance on Switch hurts gameplay, which, by itself, can become repetitive over time. Therefore, until these specific flaws are corrected, it is difficult to recommend the Nintendo hybrid console.
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Long Live the Queen seems to have been made for the Switch. Besides the total support to the console touch screen, the gameplay is perfect for people who are rarely at home. However, a warning: Elodie's adventure is strongly based on trial and error and any attention lapse may result in a game over. If you have the patience to spend hours upon hours thinking about the best skill combos, you'll feel right at home shaping the destiny of Nova's future queen.
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Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes manages to transport all the good points of Three Houses to the musou world, especially the setting. Despite having the genre's inconveniences, it breaks with the traditionalism present in the first Fire Emblem Warriors and delivers a competent and satisfying result, maintaining all the tension present in the 16th Fire Emblem and pleasing both those who have never played Three Houses and the fans who they can't let go of it.
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Yurukill: The Calumniation Games is an excellent pick for shoot'em up fans, and even more for succeeding at mixing the genre with others, such as visual novel for the adventure bits and escape-the-room for various puzzles and riddles. Everything fits perfectly with the story and the atmosphere, including the art and soundtrack, which are well made, not to mention the presence of big names of the Japanese dub that enact the eccentric characters. Unfortunately the performance on Switch hinders a lot of the game potential and many issues in the hybrid console port compromise the experience. As such, if possible, the PC or PlayStation versions may be better unless portability is a decisive factor in the choice.
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Tasomachi: Behind the Twilight, as an action platformer, leaves something to be desired. Had it been announced as an exploration simulator, or even as an “ongoing project”, the title even fulfills its role. In terms of visuals, music and gameplay, Yukumo's adventure shows great potential; on the other hand, these positives aren't enough to make Tasomachi escape the fog of oblivion.
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Given its structure, Kinduo is a game designed for two, but also extremely enjoyable for a single player. Even with few stages, both visual and logical variety pays off for those who like well-crafted puzzles, but that don't border on the impossible. In short, the adventure of Bolt and Rocky is a platformer that is worth exercising logic in a simple, effective and accessible way for all ages.
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I've never been much of a fan of science fiction, let alone real-time strategy games, but 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim impresses in every possible and imaginable way. The complex plot, fragmented into 13 parts, is extremely competent, even if it can sometimes seem repetitive. The complex yet didactic combat, combined with the incredible audiovisual presentation and the excellent performance on Switch, makes this title from Vanillaware one of the best in the hybrid console library.
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Crystar is an action RPG that gives up precisely the action part to focus on the story, an element that, by itself, already compensates for the battle simplicity. Its audiovisual presentation also leaves nothing to be desired and captures very well the sensations and feelings transmitted throughout the plot. The game may not please fans of RPGs with more elaborate systems, but those who like more complex themes certainly can't let this opportunity slip away.
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COGEN: Sword of Rewind isn't a platformer for casual players, but it definitely has an excellent appeal to those who love feeling challenged every second. The story, while simple, is appealing and curious, and the gameplay is solid enough to make every stressful moment during Kohaku's campaign worth it, with a special mention to the beautiful audiovisual presentation. The replayability due to the achievements is excellent for people who enjoy challenges, and old school players will definitely feel the pain and pleasure from a game that joins the ranks of great sadic games, along with immortal classics such as The Prince of Persia and The Lion King.
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Blackberry Honey brings a cliché romance, although daring because it is a relationship between two women, with a great focus on the period contextualization. ebi-hime did a great job of bringing Victorian England from the 19th century to our present times, and the importance of including the customs of this period is notorious, making the story offer something more than a love story that, in fact, could take place in the 21st century. Despite its minor flaws in the hybrid console, it remains a great choice for anyone who likes visual novels or simply appreciates a good romance.
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Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection is a compilation of games previous released on the PC Engine and is geared towards the franchise fans, who already know Yuuko's saga and wish to play it again in the current generation; however, those action platformers can also be enjoyed by retro game enthusiasts. Though there are discrepancies in the gameplay and graphic quality among the titles contained in the collection, the excellent soundtrack and narrative told through Japanese-voiced animated cutscenes is more than enough to showcase one of the most important franchises of the 80s/90s.
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Variable Barricade is a visual novel with a unique gameplay system, fragmenting its plot in a big board. Except for the common route, each route presents unique events, prioritizing Hibari's relationship with each of her suitors, where it proves that judging a book by the cover is a tremendous error. With excellent gameplay and replay value; fluid and interesting narrative; captivating characters; and an impeccable audiovisual presentation, romcom lovers should not miss the bizarre situations between the Tojo family heir and her suitors.
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