Nintendo Connect

Super Evil Megacorp has delivered an addictive title that doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but integrates the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe perfectly into its gameplay structure. Anyone who enjoys roguelike games should not pass this one by and is strongly advised to give it a try.

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As a fan of the series and its single-player mode, this entry will certainly satisfy players looking for that experience. The levels are well-designed, plentiful, and technically sound throughout. There is a noticeable frustration factor at times, but it remains entirely manageable thanks to the virtually non-existent loading times between levels within a world, as well as the quick reset after a ‘Fall out!’ moment. At the same time, the growing motivation to eventually clear a difficult stage balances this out and keeps the experience engaging.

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In general, I can say that Moonstone Island is a very relaxed, beautifully crafted pixel-art game that still doesn’t feel boring even after extended playtime. Whether I’ll purchase the DLC as well is something I can’t currently say, as it consists purely of cosmetic items. Moonstone Island is a game for anyone who has ever wished for a blend of Stardew Valley and Pokémon. Thanks to its genre mix, it will also appeal to fans of cozy games such as Animal Crossing.

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The strength of the ghost-hunting adventure lies in its humor, charm, and fitting sound design — and that remains unchanged in the HD remaster of Luigi’s Mansion 2. The numerous cutscenes are especially enjoyable to watch, and Charles Martinet already did an excellent job back then bringing Luigi to life.

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The game is well suited for players who are fascinated by highly detailed heavy construction machinery and have always wanted to operate such equipment themselves. Those who can look past its graphical and technical shortcomings will still find several enjoyable hours with the game.

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Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remains an exceptionally high-quality title that has aged remarkably well and still doesn’t hold back even today. The game captivates both longtime fans and newcomers alike. Numerous quality-of-life features, the new soundtrack, and its picture-book-like visuals successfully bring Paper Mario 2 into the modern era. The controller felt almost glued to my hands, and despite having played the title multiple times back in the day, I still couldn’t put it down. This is clearly Nintendo’s RPG hit of the year!

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If you spend a while searching the seabed at a depth of 50 meters for treasures and crabs, you’ll be all the more surprised to suddenly hear a whale’s song and spot an orca swimming above you. Or you might find yourself surrounded by dolphins, even joining them if there’s enough space, while you continue looking for the next beautiful coral bay or explore that one hole in the ground leading into a dark cave. Let it be said: it’s great solo, but with other players it’s even more fun!

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Princess Peach: Showtime! is not perfect. However, I would personally still recommend the game without hesitation — regardless of your age. Anyone who enjoys Kirby games will likely also have a great time with Princess Peach: Showtime! (after all, both share a fondness for the color pink). The game clearly aims to appeal to a wide audience, and that ambition deserves to be rewarded.

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For me, Operation Galuga has reignited my passion for Contra, and I believe many longtime fans of the series will immediately feel at home as well. The difficulty level is moderate for Contra veterans, though it will still make you curse at certain points. The strong selection of stages and music is sure to make any fan’s heart beat faster, and the multiplayer experience in particular feels excellent.

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Like a fine ancient artifact, Tomb Raider I–III has been almost perfectly restored for modern consoles. All content is included, and as a newcomer you can easily expect 60–70 hours of gameplay. If you aim to uncover every secret, it will take even longer. Each level averages around 20–40 minutes. Despite some dated mechanics and ‘hard-to-spot’ keys, the games have aged well and remain accessible—especially when using the updated controls and improved visuals.

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Our favorite plumber shows the ape who’s boss once again. Especially in multiplayer, we had a great time with the game, and now it’s all about beating each other’s best times! Even though this is ‘just’ a remake, it’s a great way to kick off 2024, as the title is cleanly executed while also being meaningfully expanded.

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Another Code: Recollection is recommendable if you have never played the original Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii titles — or if it has been a very long time since your last encounter with them. In particular, the game benefits from its unified experience on a single console, helpful quality-of-life features, and new additions such as a well-executed voice acting performance. It is an emotional yet also engaging adventure.

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Terra Nil is an unusual game that follows a completely different concept from other strategy titles. It achieves this through small, self-contained areas that serve as your playground for restoring flora and fauna. However, with only four regions available, the enjoyment can fade quickly for long-time strategy fans. Even after completing the game, Terra Nil offers limited replay value for those looking to fully complete everything.

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The gameplay loop of breeding and improving your own monster army is highly addictive. Combined with the lighthearted style of Dragon Quest, it creates a very appealing overall package, and I hope the series will continue to be expanded in the future — and, most importantly, keep making its way to the West!

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Nintendo has taken the core foundation and adapted the game as sensibly as possible to modern RPG standards, without sacrificing too much of its nostalgia. This balancing act has been successfully achieved, and the remake—previously not available in German—renders the original obsolete. Players who are not familiar with the title in the first place will not even realize that it was originally a SNES game.

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Players who have never played a tactical game before are gradually introduced to the mechanics, and minor mistakes are not discouraging. The lowest difficulty even makes it impossible to truly lose. Successfully completing a mission—and even optional side objectives like ‘finish the mission in x turns’—provides an extra dopamine boost, especially when the characters stylishly line up for the results screen.

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As I had already thoroughly played the title during the PlayStation 1 era, I can confidently say that Square Enix has delivered a fantastic remake. Separate difficulty modes for subsequent playthroughs, two entirely distinct story paths, and numerous new late-game features round out the overall experience. Claude would put it like this: a solid 9 out of 10.

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WarioWare: Move It! is another excellent entry in this long-running franchise. It brings back motion-controlled chaos, offers a variety of fun modes, and features over 200 wildly absurd microgames that are as colorful and delightfully silly as ever.

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Anyone who can overlook the textures and loading screens will have a great time with Fate/Samurai Remnant on Nintendo Switch, and will likely spend many hours immersed in the game—especially during the darker autumn and winter months.

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Players looking for a challenge will also get their money’s worth, either through badges that increase the difficulty or once the game’s difficulty spikes significantly later on. However, the latter can sometimes feel like hitting a wall. While you may breeze through a four-star level on your first try, a five-star stage can easily cost you 20 lives just to reach the checkpoint. There are also levels where players are deliberately unable to place helpful markers, even if they would want to.

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