OlliOlli World is one of the finest skateboarding games around. The gameplay is fun, intuitive and simple enough for newcomers to enjoy while having complex layers that will have skate veterans everywhere grinding to master. With plenty of items to unlock the incentive to replay levels goes beyond beating a high score. The multiplayer modes are simple but highly effective, keeping skaters busy long after beating the game, which will be no easy feat thanks to in-level quests and score challenges. Even when the story begins to drag as the game goes on it barely takes away from how incredible OlliOlli World is. Riding through Radlandia is a trip well worth taking.
Mario Golf: Super Rush plays as well as it should and introduces some exciting elements to the long-running series. Playing with the right people can make for a fun time… but that's about it. A poorly executed Adventure Mode, overall lack of creativity and no incentive to keep playing all make for a disappointing package that is more of a step backwards for the franchise. The promise of free DLC updates may alleviate some of these issues, but when looking at it as a full-priced first-party Nintendo product, Super Rush simply isn't up to par.
Breathedge is a game at odds with itself. It tries to tell a compelling story, but the core narrator drones wearisome and unfunny dialogue; the world is beautiful and begging to be explored, but only ever an inch at a time; environments are curated with dark humour, but the gameplay loop doesn't allow time to take it in; and, worst of all, it undercuts players that commit hours to these systems by replacing them with a grim excuse for a walking simulator. For a title set in the vast expanse of space where anything is possible, it just isn't worth the time.
Nintendo Switch owners looking for their next platforming adventure need not pay this game any attention. Though it is pretty to look at and plays well, it is so forgettable that anything done right is overwhelmingly overshadowed by how unenjoyable and uninspired it is. From its level design, enemy encounters, and platforming sequences, to its lead character, collectables, and soundtrack, there is nothing worthwhile in Stitchy in Tooki Trouble. Just go buy Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is a great game. Although its difficulty can be frustrating and some lengthy sequences are tedious, the world design is crisp and filled with humour, the levels overflow with creativity and most importantly, completing a level is satisfying. The plot is thin, but the cartoony vibes provoke a great mix of nostalgia and charm. The PlayStation 5 upgrade significantly improves load times and takes the game's visuals to another level. Crash fans have much to love in this long-awaited sequel. Although newcomers to the series may be turned off by how punishing the game can be, this title is an adventure worth embarking on.
As addictive as Kill It With Fire is, the game is unfortunately quite short. The side quests and unlockables add to the game's length, but it can be completed in an evening. This however doesn't denounce the fact that Kill It With Fire is a good time. Though some hit detection issues can get in the way, when combining organic humour, tense stand offs, and ridiculous moments, the game serves as an excellent distraction that could be picked up and played by anyone.
For a game as adorable and as silly as Bonkies, it can be quite challenging. Younger players may have a bit of a learning curve before they can enjoy it, and the single player is not worth anyone's time. Nevertheless, for players who love playing chaotic, funny and difficult teamwork titles (think Overcooked and Moving Out), Bonkies is the space chimp party game that will leave players smiling or shouting, having a good time either way.
Although Going Under is a short venture where the art style and humour may not be for everyone, the fun action, creative world, and addictive gameplay make this an excellent roguelite well worth the work hours. And again, Jackie can pat the office dachshund!
Shiren the Wanderer: The Tower of Fortune and the Dice of Fate does an incredible job at showing where the roguelike genre started. Fans of this series and its 'all or nothing' gameplay will adore this port and all its new content. However, players new to this genre or this series will find very little good here. There has been no effort to reach out to a wider audience or bring this game forward to a level of modern quality. Although it is still the Shiren the Wanderer that fans know andlove, it is more than obvious that this is a game stuck in time.
Although Drink More Glurp is colourful, creative, and funny at times, it's just not that fun. A competitive player may find joy in replaying challenges over and over, but with mediocre rewards, frustrating level design, and no online modes, Drink More Glurp just doesn't make it to the finish line. Charm and silliness aside, this is a party game that does not bring the party.
Although dull platforming and a forgettable script hold it back, button-mashing action that feel fresh with each level, characters and bosses that would fit in any cartoon's Halloween special and a world that is filled with collectables to find and creepy things to see, proves that Pumpkin Jack has the foundation built for what could be an awesome Halloween franchise.