Switchaboo
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So: Fun but unbalanced, or unbalanced but fun? I legitimately still cannot decide which part is more meaningful for the Dark Scrolls experience, but I can say this: I did have a good time with the game, and I respect the passion put into the old school vibe. Even the digital game guide filled me with nostalgia!
Teeto is a cute platformer with some fine displays of what makes the genre one that we all eternally love. The Kiwi humour really shines as well, but sadly I was left feeling a bit disappointed in the levels themselves and a lack of true collectathon exploration and challenge. The husband-and-wife development team has done a fine job but will need more to stand out in a crowded market of 3D platformers.
It may have taken a while for Go-Go Town! to release, as I first saw it at PAX Aus several years ago, but it was worth the wait. It is the sort of game that players can truly become absorbed in and for different reasons. By allowing players to focus on what they enjoy, it gives the game flexibility to appeal to a wider audience. I personally love designing the town, but others may prefer to make automation as efficient as possible. This leads to towns which should all look the same, looking as different as the people who are running them.
Despite its minor hiccups, Rhythm Paradise Groove is yet another incredible addition to the Rhythm Paradise series that fans will be grooving too for a long time. Just make sure you play it in handheld mode, though, just to be safe.
Ultimately, Digimon Story Time Stranger is a mega level Digimon title but a champion when it comes to JRPGs as a whole. That is to say that it's a genuinely solid game, but unless you're a fan of Digimon, there are better JRPGs out there for players to discover. A few shortcomings in what is otherwise a fantastic experience, but those shortcomings are baked into the foundations.
Star Fox for the Switch 2 is this game in its best form to date. It looks and sounds better than ever, with the most ways to play, and characters get more love and attention than ever before. Whether you’ve played the previous versions or not, you’ll have a great time. I haven’t been this excited for a potential full sequel since 1997 – surely it’s written in the stars by now!
Devil May Cry 5 Devil Hunter Edition is an outstanding port but I wouldn’t call it a definitive one. Honestly, it's astounding that Legendary Dark Knight Mode is the only thing they couldn’t fit in this port and despite its absence, I would still highly recommend this game to anyone, not just character action fans.
Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands is a very well thought out RPG that is unfortunately let down by its constant attempts at being funny. It feels like that weird kid that would hang around bullies; they’ve got their own things going on in their lives that could be a better focus for their time but they’re too busy trying to get approval from people that don’t like them and force them to eat bugs for their amusement.
The phrase ‘Nintendo Switch Edition’ usually signals a letdown for Nintendo and football fans, but this time it is actually for the better! Yes, some of the modes are a little bare-bones and there are some odd decisions made, but there are also no microtransactions and some nice touches for newbies. Perhaps most importantly, for ~$20USD there’s classic, fully-realised football gameplay - and you can’t say fairer than that.
The Drifter stands out due to its pacing and action set pieces, which is something you rarely see in this genre. The gritty story and superb voice acting elevate the whole experience even further. We love seeing Aussies do well and the developers, Powerhoof, should rightly be considered as adventure game royalty from here on in. We can’t wait to see what they do next!
Yes, you read that correctly – I gave it a 9! Bubsy 4D is a purrrfectly imperfect Bubsy game from people who understand this series on a level I couldn’t possibly, for reasons I cannot fathom. Beyond, of course, nostalgia driven by childhood trauma. Every last part of it is both a celebration of what came before while… Elevating the series to new heights? I originally wanted to give this a perfect 10 for the way it embodied Bubsy so well but I just couldn’t bring myself to do that for something so objectively bad. And yet, being just shy of that figure feels perfect for Bubsy in its own way.
I can look back on The Adventures of Elliot: The Millenium Tales fondly, but it's ultimately unmemorable in many aspects. Its theme of tribalism is a well-fitting one, especially in the current sociopolitical climate, but outside of that, most of it just made me unwillingly compare it to The Legend of Zelda games and it very rarely beat them in most aspects. I was going to go with an 8, but as I continued to think back on it in the days leading up to its launch, I found myself becoming less and less fond of my playtime. But it's still a fun game and the HD-2D art style pops incredibly well, so there's that.
It may be a largely by-the-numbers JRPG, but man, they're some good numbers. Simply converting it to Switch 2 is impressive enough, but maintaining the depth of character and gameplay means it is a must for genre fans who haven't experienced it already.
Those of you who are here for a good time and not for a long time will probably enjoy Midnight Swamp. It does all the basics pretty well and any point-and-click adventure fan would enjoy this; that being said, the length felt more akin to a demo and some more ambitious meta-game would have been welcome. A promising platform for Wild Omul to build upon and I, for one, am excited to see what they do next.
Bluey's Quest for the Golden Pen is a wonderful experience for fans of Bluey and acts like an additional episode to the series. The game itself is a good experience; however, I genuinely believe it is not priced well for the content available and is better value on iOS and Android devices (despite my son wanting me to score it a 9/10). A lack of multiplayer also holds the title back for a series that is so family-orientated. Overall I recommend the game for younger children, just not on console.
Mina the Hollower is perhaps one of the best-value Switch/Switch 2 games of recent times, which has to be applauded. I personally found it a bit too frustrating at times, but if you give it the patience it deserves, then the rewards are pretty handsome. The soundtrack, pixel art, level design and sheer breadth of gameplay make Mina the Hollower another hit from Yacht Club Games.
While Final Fantasy VII Rebirth certainly pushes the Nintendo Switch 2 to its absolute limits, resulting in some occasionally questionable textures and infrequent frame rate dips, this is absolutely the most impressive port to the Nintendo Switch 2 from a sheer scope perspective. While other recent ports like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle have shown that the system can compete with more focused adventures, the bustling world of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is simply mind-boggling when you have it all sitting within a tablet in the palm of your hands.
Seriously, what a joy! This game reminds me of some of the earliest phone games that hit the sweet spot between being very simple and very addicting, and I mean that in the best possible way. Kabuto Park isn’t the type of game you really sink your teeth into, and it never tries to be, but sometimes rather than a full meal, all you need is a snack to go along with your summer vacation. If you are looking for a short and sweet game that runs on good vibes and repetition, definitely pick this up.
I’d go as far to say that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is one of the greatest movie-based games I’ve laid eyes on, certainly in recent years. If you forget the IP for a moment, then it’s still an enthralling and immersive adventure game whichever way you look at it: epic set pieces, gorgeously detailed levels and some of the most fun I’ve had in a game for a while. There are rumours of a sequel but nothing confirmed at the time of writing; please, MachineGames, do the decent thing!
What I will say about Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is that it’s much more memorable than many of its previous entries. I remember playing through Yoshi’s Crafted World fondly, but after the credits rolled, I found myself struggling to remember any memorable moments. Finding new creatures and discovering the many different ways you can engage with them leads to plenty of memorable ‘a-ha’ moments, and that’s what it’s all about. It also helps to give the Yoshi series a profound point of difference among Nintendo’s slew of other platformer franchises, so I’m all for the multi-coloured dinosaurs exploring the avenue of gameplay.