Switchaboo
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I didn’t hate it. It’s not actually bad. But no game should be just plain boring. MONOWAVE isn’t a bad game thrown together haphazardly with a bunch of bugs, but there’s just nothing below the surface-level gameplay and the (admittedly very neat) aesthetic. Isn’t it a tragedy when you can tell someone was made with care and it still whiffs? I am still fumbling for anything else to say, and I think that just about sums up MONOWAVE. I wish that I liked it, but this is just the most “Meh. It’s a’ight, I guess.” state of mind a game has ever put me in and there’s just no escaping it. I hope that Studio BBB will put this level of care and polish on something more interesting next time they give it a shot.
Not only is Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave a fantastic entry point for newcomers to tactical RPGs and Fire Emblem in general, but it also is a must-play for any fan of the franchise. While the singular save file is a problem, it is completely outweighed by all of the incredible experiences throughout your time with the game. Fortune’s Weave has a genuine opportunity to make Fire Emblem a more mainstream experience in the gaming world, and I for one welcome our new tactical overlords.
Powerhouse Capcom has been knocking it out of the park with its releases this year, and Onimusha: Way of the Sword is no exception. This game has it all: stunning cutscenes and character models, phenomenal Japanese voice acting, impressive performance on the Switch 2, and an incredibly smooth combat system that makes it hard to put the controller down. So, free up your schedule and sharpen your swords, because there is Genma to slay!
I was really on the fence between a 7 and an 8 for Barbarian Saga: The Beastmaster. That might sound like small beer, but I think those scores hold very different perceptions. I went for a 7 in the end because, while I mostly enjoyed my time in Arborea and the environments and characters are gorgeous, there were significant elements that felt clunky and/or derivative, but these could be fixed with some tweaking and patching over time.
Hot Wheels Infinite Rush is yet another fantastic game by a development team that knows what to do with the IP but the change to an open-world format holds it back from being truly incredible. If you’re looking for the kind of thrill you’d get from their previous titles, you may not get that itch scratched here but if you’re looking for something a bit more laid back, then this is for you.
When I think of Xenoblade Chronicles 2, the word I keep coming back to is 'big'. It is big in almost all permutations of the word. The environments? Vast. The story? Epic. The combat? Startlingly deep. The accents? Huge, and from all over the place. Fortunately for the most part, bigger does mean better, giving you a game to happily spend tens of hours in. The Switch 2 update may not provide too many new things, but it crucially makes this game look and run so much better; it’s enough reason for newcomers to try it out and veterans to pick it up again all these years later.
This was always going to be a tricky review, and it was mostly going to be about how it ports across to the Switch 2. I had no complaints about the performance and of course Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition itself was voted Game of the Year for a reason. To that end, if you haven’t played the original and you like adventure games that you can sink hours of your time into, Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is one of those games that you MUST play in your lifetime. Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition has to be seen to be believed, and at times it took my breath away.
A large additional town with a free update that allows players to dive underwater and utilise all the space down there as well. Anyone who loves Pokopia’s base game is going to be ecstatic to explore all of the additional content. With just the Bubbly Basin being released, the price point is very expensive; however, a second town is in the pipeline and an update that looks to add accessories to your town residents. I'm feeling very hopeful for the future of this expansion pass.
Splatoon Raiders manages to tick a lot of the right boxes by bringing its oft-forgotten single-player mode to the forefront. It’s a fantastic way to introduce new players to the series who were put off by its multiplayer focus, while still challenging the returning players. The fact that it’s such a great game makes it all the more disappointing that it seems to lack any additional accessibility options, especially as motion sickness seemed to be such a problem for some people in Splatoon 3. Hopefully, they might add them in later, as it mars what would have been an otherwise perfect game.
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.