Sifu was one of the best games of the year when it launched on other platforms, and it's no different now on Switch. Its hardcore combat that pushes you to the limits of your skill, paired with a smart ageing mechanic, makes for one of the most satisfying gaming experiences in the beat 'em up genre. While the Switch port is obviously a bit downgraded from the PS5 version, it's still a more than valid option for Nintendo-only gamers and those keen to try this kung-fu brawler out on the go.
Rogue Legacy 2 is - to put it simply - a banger. While it's not a game-changing revelation, it manages to follow up on everything that made the original great and makes it bigger and better. Even once you've bested the bosses, you've barely scratched the surface of what this has to offer, considering the in-depth New Game Plus mode and the wealth of content contained across all available classes and options. Whether you loved the original Rogue Legacy or never played it but like a good roguelike, this is a game you simply can't afford to miss.
If you're someone who heard "a new Gungrave" and got excited, this is a game for you. For what it's worth, it nails that. It genuinely feels like a lost PS2 game, and that's the kind of thing we love. Although, the original game had the benefit of only being around two hours long, while G.O.R.E. clocks in at about 12. However, we can't in good faith recommend someone to spend £45 on this, outside of those with an affinity for the series.
As we mentioned, the art style looks great and the game runs well in handheld mode, although it has the tendency to get a bit choppy when docked. We also ran into a few glitches over the course of the adventure, the most common causing Vivian to just slide across the screen while stuck in a crouch animation, and a soft lock later in the game in which the character would not stop walking right into a wall. By no means are these extreme and you would hope they'll be patched, but they got a bit frustrating over time. These issues aside, Sword of the Vagrant held our attention and, especially considering the modest asking price, is still worthy of light investigation if you're a fan of rough-and-ready hack-and-slashing.
The main issue, however, is the game's performance, with some levels (such as the train) feeling like they play in slow motion at times. We also experienced crashes a few times throughout our post-patch playthrough — and we had to wait for the day one update thanks to the constant crashing of the unpatched version. Hopefully things will continue to improve over time, but if you happen to get a physical copy of the game, make sure you update it.
River City Girls 2 is more River City Girls, feeling less like a full-fledged sequel and more like a RCG 1.5. Switch-related performance issues aside, it was still a great time to return to River City thanks to its phenomenal music and voice acting, sharp writing, gorgeous sprite work, fun new characters, and satisfying combo-based gameplay, but at launch it feels a patch or two away from greatness. If you loved the original as we did, you're bound to like this follow-up, and we hope the team at Wayforward gets more time and money to really expand the series for a third entry.
Monster Hunter Rise is the new standard for the series, and it's a delight to finally have it on PlayStation, thanks to the improved frame rate and visual fidelity over the original release. There's so much to it that there are still many things we haven't mentioned, like the new monster riding, sped-up collecting and mining, or the hunting helpers. It's a game this reviewer put over 100 hours in on the Switch, and we could be looking at 100 more on PS5. Monster Hunter's eternally satisfying gameplay loop is met with now-essential quality of life and traversal improvements.
A brilliantly energetic and creative platformer that doesn't just do right by its inspiration Wario Land, but actually surpasses it.
Fashion Police Squad is by no means perfect, but thanks to its strong personality and great ideas, it's worth a blast for any fan of the retro FPS genre. We're very excited to see what this team makes next.
Elderand is another solid entry in the Metroidvania genre, though it doesn't push any new boundaries where gameplay is concerned. It does manage to stand out somewhat thanks to its strong enemy design and worldbuilding, as well as a good soundtrack. For a debut game, it's impressive to see something as well realised as this, but there's precious little here you haven't seen elsewhere in this crowded genre. Perhaps it needs a second entry to fully live up to its potential.
Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line is an impressive feat. We hit credits on it, but we feel like we've only scratched the surface of its colossal 400+ song list. The love and passion for the series is apparent throughout every inch of this project, and we'd recommend it to anyone interested in rhythm games. Packed with absolute bangers, Final Bar Line will keep you busy for a long time.
Any future remaster should take notes from Metroid Prime Remastered. This isn't some lazy cash-grab; you can feel the care and passion to deliver the definitive version of an all-time classic throughout every part of this package. Retro Studios has left it alone, not adding any unnecessary fluff you see in other remasters like Ninja Gaiden Sigma. The developer only improved upon the things that really needed it, like the controls and graphics. Metroid fans are truly eating good these days – first Dread, and now this fantastic remaster. While Metroid Prime 4 seems to have a troubled development, Metroid Prime Remastered gives me faith that the fourth entry is in the right hands. Let's just hope we get remasters of this quality for Echoes and Corruption next, please!
Resident Evil 4 – much like the overhauled Resident Evil 1 and 2 before it – represents the gold standard for a video game remake. It shows so much love and respect for the 2005 original with all of its goofiness, while simultaneously being able to strike a more serious tone for a more emotionally-driven story.
Street Fighter 6 feels like it’s here to send a message that it’s still the top dog of the fighting game genre.
We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie is the best version of what is generally considered the best Katamari title. That being said, if you own the original and are looking to buy it just for the Royal Reverie content, its extremely short runtime makes it hard to recommend for that alone. However, for anyone who hasn't played this weird and wonderful game (or series) it's a definite recommendation – and a game with an extremely fitting name.
AEW: Fight Forever nails what it's going for in evoking Nintendo 64 classics, but neglects a lot of modern features that even wrestling games in the PS2 era were nailing. If you're an AEW fan looking for an arcade-y pick up and play wrestling title to fill the void left by AKI's classics to play with some friends then you'll find what you're looking for with Fight Forever. But if you want an wrestling simulator in the vein of WWE games you'll need to wait a while longer.
Most of all Pikmin 4 is just an exceptionally polished game that’s the pinnacle of the series to date and you can feel the love and attention poured into every inch of it. Pikmin 4 is the most ambitious Pikmin entry to date, and truly feels like an endeavour worthy of the 10-year wait.
The game doesn't outstay its welcome, coming in at roughly 15-20 hours, but also offers some extra content for those looking to tackle New Game Plus multiple times. Overall, I'd recommend Armored Core 6 to those looking for an exhilarating fast-paced action game that is supplemented by an engaging metagame of designing the perfect build to adapt to each mission.
Like we said in the beginning, Mortal Kombat 1 is the best and most refreshing entry in the series since Mortal Kombat (2011), but it falls directly into the same traps as those prior entries. The core fighting is great thanks to the excellent Kameo Fighter system and increased pace (as well as ditching the styles and gear-specific moves), and the return of PS2-era fighters is fantastic. But sadly, the selection of modes and character-specific training options feel extremely dated – especially compared to Street Fighter 6.
Sonic Superstars is a solid attempt at pushing 2D Sonic forward, but sadly its roster of new ideas has some issues. While the problems with the Emerald Powers can be avoided, it'll take major changes to make the multiplayer worth playing. It doesn't quite hit the highs of Sonic Mania, but it's way ahead of Sonic The Hedgehog 4.