Overall The Legend of Nayuta Boundless Trails is an extremely solid JRPG adventure with a rather simplistic battle and combat system. There’s quite a bit of puzzle platforming that happens throughout the game but the fast-paced combat where you effectively hack and slash your way through waves of enemies feels extremely satisfying.
Rune Factory 3 Special is a solid remaster of an older Rune Factory title from the Nintendo DS years. It’s been modernized and the core gameplay loop of farming, crafting and dungeon crawling holds up very well. In fact, this same core gameplay look features in a lot of games these days with Cult of the Lamb springing to mind immediately.
Silent Hope is a very enjoyable roguelike title with a cute Chibi anime aesthetic that would honestly be perfectly suited for the Nintendo Switch. Playing the game on Steam made me wish I had a Steam Deck to play this title on. It’s great to pick up and play in short bursts as you do a quick run through a dungeon, return back to your base camp and put some stuff to craft before venturing out again.
The Invincible is a great game that more people should play. The storytelling delves into the philosophical at numerous points and it’s a game that will stay with you for a long time to come. It may be a bit frustrating to deal with the slow movement and the lack of actual fast-paced action gameplay but if you’re into slow-burn storytelling, this game will appeal to you.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is pure, unadulterated fun and one of the best games on Nintendo Switch - a true wonder of game design that lives up to its name.
Sonic Superstars tries to revitalise the platforming golden era of the franchise to mixed results - fun at times with equal amounts of frustration holding it back.
Sonic Origins banks too much on nostalgia. The games are functional and are enjoyable as always but the glitches introduced to Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 & Knuckles with regards to Tails are annoying. Sonic 3’s soundtrack being changed so drastically feels incredibly disappointing too.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is the game Pokemon fans have been waiting for - for a long time now. It introduces so many quality of life improvements, streamlines gameplay and exploration and has great storytelling with an addictive gameplay loop involving capturing and discovering more Pokemon.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are therefore slightly too faithful to the source remasters/remakes. They bring back the older game’s stories and modernize them for a nostalgic hardcore fanbase.
Ubisoft have done a great job here and the game is ridiculously enjoyable to play. If you’re a fan of extreme sports and games that give you a lot of freedom to explore a sandbox, Riders Republic will appeal to you.
Players who have played any of the previous Metroid titles will immediately get that “Metroid” feeling from this title and it’s pure bliss. The fantastic world and level design makes Metroid Dread a highly recommended title on Nintendo Switch and one that newcomers should consider too.
This is a ridiculously good JRPG that will entertain you for upward of 50 hours as you explore the breathtaking environments of Dahna. If you’re looking for an addictive JRPG to sink your teeth into, Tales of Arise comes very highly recommended.