Cattle Call has done a fantastic job with The Alliance Alive, addressing the complaints of its predecessor while building on its strengths to make something that's truly special. Whether it be the engaging story, expansive overworld, deep combat, or unique progression options, this is a game that oozes quality in just about every aspect. The Alliance Alive is a must-play for fans of JRPGs, and we would give it a strong recommendation to anyone looking for another great game to add to their 3DS collection.
We'd give this game a strong recommendation to anybody who hasn't played it yet and would still encourage veterans to consider double dipping.
All in all, Kirby Star Allies is a fun, relaxing game that does a good job of showing off what makes the main Kirby series so great. The slow pace, diverse powers, beautiful environments, adorable enemy designs, and light difficulty ensure that this is an enjoyable ride from start to finish. But with that being said, there's a lingering sense that the developer was a little too keen to play this one safe, and the lack of new ideas may come as a disappointment to series veterans. This is not the Super Mario Odyssey or The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild of the Kirby series, but that doesn't mean that it's a bad game. If you've never played a Kirby game before, this is a fantastic place to jump in, but if you're a longtime fan, you may not be blown away.
All told, Steredenn: Binary Stars is a fantastic release that does a great job of providing an experience that feels simultaneously classic and modern. It's high difficulty, rewarding gameplay, endless variety, and beautiful presentation make this an essential buy for any fans of the genre, and a high recommendation for those who aren't. If you're looking for a tightly made arcade game that can be played both in short bursts and for hours on end, look no further than this.
Bleed 2 is a game that prides itself on giving the player a memorable and distilled experience that gets at the heart of what makes arcade games great. Those looking for a deep well of diverse content will find themselves dissatisfied, but those looking for a game about raw, fun gameplay will find more than enough satisfaction in the nearly endless options for replayability. We'd give Bleed 2 a strong recommendation; it combines charming presentation and tight mechanics to provide an experience that's as focused as it is enjoyable.
Bridge Constructor Portal is a fun and engaging puzzle game that does a great job of appealing to players of all skill levels while offering a relatively hefty amount of content. Though it sometimes feels like an awkward port and it doesn't always make the most of the crossover potential, it gets the core mechanics of puzzle solving right, and there's more than enough quality here to satisfy those looking to scratch that itch on the Switch. We'd give Bridge Constructor Portal a strong suggestion to anybody looking for a fun puzzle game on the eShop; this is a game that constantly makes you think outside the box, and there's nothing else like it available at the moment.
A Normal Lost Phone is a tough game to recommend. The concept is intriguing and there's a genuinely interesting narrative at the center of the experience, but it's all so fraught by poor execution and mediocre presentation that we can hardly suggest you pick this one up. You could do a whole lot worse for three bucks, but you're also getting exactly what you pay for and nothing more. If you have some credit leftover in your account from another eShop purchase and feel like distracting yourself with a mildly entertaining adventure game, this one may be worth a look, but you'd best take a pass.
Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus is everything that fans of the classic arcade game could want out of a legacy sequel, focusing on delivering a pure, high-speed realization of the concept that was introduced way back in 1980. Between the single player and multiplayer modes, there's enough content here for hours of play, and it's all endlessly replayable. We would give this game a strong recommendation to anyone that enjoys the easy to learn, difficult to master gameplay that you typically find in an arcade game; PCE2 has it in spades. For 20 bucks, this one is a no-brainer.
All told, Aqua Kitty UDX is a simple, satisfying arcade shooter that looks as great as it plays. It takes one concept, offers a few different angles on it, and ensures it fulfills all that it sets out to do. We'd give this one a strong recommendation to anyone looking for a game that's easy to pick up and play, this is pure, arcade fun. This is also a one trick pony, though, which means that those of you that aren't big on score chasing games will want to steer clear. Even so, Aqua Kitty UDX is a game that exemplifies the concept of less is more; we'd encourage you to give this one a look.
Xeodrifter is an interesting game, in that it's both easy and difficult to recommend. The upside is that this is a finely crafted Metroidvania that oozes quality in almost every fashion, but the downside is that there just isn't a whole lot to it.
Aegis Defenders is a fantastic game, brilliantly blending the tower defense and platforming genres in a unique way to produce a memorable and enjoyable experience. Lovable characters, interesting lore, plenty of secrets, engaging gameplay, and gorgeous presentation combine to make this a must-have title for your Switch. We would recommend this to anybody looking for a detailed world to immerse themselves in, or to somebody looking for that next game to play through with a friend. Aegis Defenders is a real gem on the eShop; don't miss out on this one.
There's little in Lost Sphear that you haven't seen before in JRPGs, but that doesn't mean it's a title to be dismissed out of hand. If you can look past the clichés, Lost Sphear presents an engaging world, deep battle system, and plenty of replayability which will likely delight many an RPG fan. Tokyo RPG Factory has proven with this release that it's capable of learning from past mistakes, and though Lost Sphear still might not be the game to surpass Chrono Trigger, it proves itself to be worthy of that legacy. We'd recommend Lost Sphear to anybody who loves a focused, traditional RPG; it may be priced a little high, but this is an enjoyable experience that fans won't want to miss out on.
Vesta does a remarkably fine job of aping the design and simple brilliance of Zelda puzzles, while putting its own unique spin on things as it does so. Though its puzzles can sometimes be unfairly or frustratingly designed, a pleasing visual style, meaty campaign and generally satisfying gameplay loop make this a win in our book; we'd absolutely suggest you give Vesta a try (especially if you're a Zelda fan). There's plenty to love about this quirky puzzle game, and it's one you'll likely want to revisit from time to time.
All told, 60 Seconds! is a disappointing addition to Switch's growing library and one that we would recommend you take a pass on. Although the idea at its core isn't half bad, there's very little here that we would say is done well, and given that there's no shortage of excellent games on the Switch eShop, you'd be better off spending your money on something else. Big fans of survival games might find some enjoyment in this one, but we'd recommend you pick up The Flame In The Flood instead, or wait for more survival titles to arrive.
All told, Embers Of Mirrim is a delightful fantasy adventure with only a few notable flaws. It may be a bit on the short side and have some jarring bottlenecks that pull you out of your enjoyment, but it's a beautiful game to experience from an artistic standpoint. We would recommend it to anyone who has an appreciation for art in gaming form. Although the gameplay sometimes misses that mark, Mirrim nonetheless stands as a worthy experience for those that are looking to try something a little more thoughtful.
SteamWorld Heist: Ultimate Edition is a fantastic port of a fantastic game, and it fits perfectly on the Switch. Deep, engaging gameplay and stylish presentation combine to make this one of the standout indie releases of the year; this is a great example of a well put-together game. If you are at all a fan of strategy games, or are just looking for a fun diversion to occupy your time over the next couple weeks, pick up this game. It puts a neat twist on standard turn-based strategy gameplay, and stands as another fantastic entry in the SteamWorld series.
All told, Yooka-Laylee is a worthy modern tribute to the collectathons of yore, and it is highly recommended for Switch owners. This feels like a game that belongs in 1996, but with all the quality improvements of a game made in 2017, making for an excellent blend of new and old. Though it can be a little uneven at times, the game as a whole manages to succesfully achieve its goals.Do yourself a favour and give this one a go; it may not have been too well received to begin with, but Playtonic has polished it up quite nicely; it is a worthy addition to the Switch library.
All told, River City: Rival Showdown is a worthwhile beat 'em up game, certainly worth the price of admission.
All told, Dead Synchronicity: Tomorrow Comes Today is a fun, worthwhile point-and-click adventure that tells an engaging story. Though there are some issues with voice acting and length, this is a tightly driven narrative that you'll want to see through to the end, and ultimately be glad that you did. We'd give this one a recommendation to anyone who's interested in this niche genre of games. Dead Synchronicity: Tomorrow Comes Today isn't the game that's going to win over those who don't have much interest in this more deliberate kind of experience, but it's still a strong example of the genre and is certainly worth the price of admission.
All told, Koi DX is a cheap, uninspired game that has the beginnings of some good ideas, and it fails to execute any of them in a meaningful or memorable way. Boring gameplay, mediocre art direction, and an anaemic amount of content dooms this one to insignificance. We would strongly advise you to steer clear, as you very clearly are getting what you pay for, if not less. With so many other quality games available on the eShop right now, this is one to miss.