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Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon aren't bad games, but they are victims of their own hype, which they fail to to live up to. While the plot has changed, these alterations are minor, thrown together, and ultimately do harm to the experience. Despite the addition of two new mini games, a few new features, and a different post-game, they are simply not as enjoyable as their Sun and Moon predecessors.
The Clockwork City DLC is an overall improvement on Elder Scrolls Online and has a lot to offer in terms of exploration and adventuring in-game. There are some instances where events go by too quickly, but many players will find great benefit in that while others will balk at it. The map also is littered with confusing paths and dead ends. Overall, the new DLC has a great unique look and is packed with enough new content to be essential for any dedicated Elder Scrolls Online player.
A fiercely difficult but engrossing experience, Superbeat: Xonic has a sense of musical euphoria that can only be experienced in a quality rhythm game. While it might take some time to acclimate to the gameplay, you're in for a treat. Pick this up if you're a rhythm game fan: you won't regret it.
Though riddled with localization oddities and misspellings, Fishing Master is a $20 relaxing day at the lake. If you focus on just pulling photorealistic fish into your boat and ignore the grind-heavy nature of the RPG-lite upgrade mechanics, there's a shiny lure here. I'm not sure what to do with this other hand...
Snipperclips Plus completes a fantastic cooperative puzzle game. The additional games are a blast, stamp mode is a fun distraction, the new levels are fun with creative ideas, and the ability to play as random shapes breathes more life into an already lively batch of brainteasers.
Seeing one of the most celebrated open worlds brought to Nintendo's portable flagship is a welcome surprise. Being able to take a game this expansive on the go is an amazing feat, and seeing it come in this feature complete is Bethesda at its best. While the motion controls have a bit of wonk, come for the HD rumble, and stay for the chance to explain why you are yelling “Fus Ro Dah!” on the bus.
Bethesda pulled off quite the trick with Doom, giving us the first real AAA third-party game experience on the Nintendo Switch. What it lacks in graphical power, it makes up for in portability, and the fact that the complete, unadulterated campaign and multiplayer modes made it over intact is an achievement other studios should take note of.
I had a ton of fun playing Star Wars Battlefront II. It executes on presenting the Star Wars universe near-perfectly. The sights and sounds of lightsabers and blaster fire encapsulate every child-like midichlorian in your body. The campaign, while disappointing, is a small part of the complete package. There is enough content to keep you busy for dozens of hours, but the progression system may need an overhaul if EA wants to keep a strong multiplayer audience engaged.
I'm extremely glad I played through to the end, as the narrative of RiME is fantastic, with a gut punch of an end reveal that belies the whimsical look and feel that reeled me in to begin with. This makes the poor technical execution all the more frustrating – had it been better, or had I played it on the PS4, I might have considered this one of the high points in an already stellar year of gaming. Instead, I am left grieving what could have –should have– been.
The Sims 4 Cats & Dogs was the expansion I was most looking forward to, and it did not let me down. With the robust creation tool, the numerous new items, and great ways to play and interact with your pets allows you to make new memories and adds a new layer of depth to the game. With the exception of the veterinary job, this expansion is full of items and great new gameplay potentials, and in my opinion is one of the greatest expansions for The Sims 4.
Super Mario Odyssey is a treat that needs to be experienced by everyone who has a Switch. The attention to detail mixed with a host of expansive content and enjoyable gameplay will have you coming back for more.
With some excellent improvements to car control, customization, and cinematic moments, Need for Speed Payback delivers on the promise of a better racing game. That said, it occasionally has a few engine knocks with chunky dialogue and invisible walls barring your path in the vast open world they've created. It's a good step for the series, and it should provide a good foundation for Ghost's next time behind the wheel.
Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds is a short, but substantial expansion for an already great game. It doesn't reinvent the game in any major way, but offers a few excellent hours in a world that players have come to love.
Mononoke Forest provides a surprisingly good time for a very small price tag. Bubble Bobble meets Animal Crossing, this delightfully quirky game is easy to pick up and shockingly hard to put down. While the story isn't anything revolutionary, it's entertaining, and the monster designs, particularly for the Hazard Mononoke, are stellar.
With a campaign that brings some of the most historical battles of the European Theater to life like never before, multiplayer that combines the best of the old and the new, and one of the most visceral Zombies games the series has had, Call of Duty WWII is a triumphant return to its roots, reminding us why those early games were so good in the first place.
Pinball FX 3 is a decent step forward for Zen Studios' long appreciated pinball series. There are some fun new single player modes that provide multiple challenges, some competitive modes, and plenty of practice options. The game also provides some direct competition and tournament style online options, though they aren't much different in practice that the single player games. Overall, this is a nice update for the game and makes it much more diverse and interesting to explore, and the backwards compatibility means you have no real reason not to update and enjoy.
Poi, gripping with nostalgia, delivers standard 3D platforming in a adorable and relaxing way, putting nothing between you and the thrill of exploration, but this resolve to keep the game simple and to the point leaves it lacking in content. It's a fantastic way to unwind, though not much else. The exclusive content to the Explorer Edition adds little to the experience, and you're better off purchasing the title on Steam or another console, unless you want to pay the premium to have the option of mobility. A charming presentation coupled with dull interaction leaves this specific product mediocre.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is a competent port on the Nintendo Switch. While it has obvious stutter in the online lobby and the framerate doesn't match that of its rivaling consoles, being able to play in handheld mode with little difference in quality is a plus and will help you tackle the game's expansive list of content from anywhere.
Just Dance 2018 is a groovy addition to any party. A fun time to be had by all, the addition of Just Dance Unlimited and the ability to use two Joy-Con controllers for a few songs is a welcome treat for Switch owners.
In 2014 MachineGames made a statement with Wolfenstein: The New Order. Now, with Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, they've written their manifesto. It's easily one of the best games you'll play all year.