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With that all said, the core mechanics of online competitive Pokémon battles remain as solid as a Steelix. Predicting whether your opponent will switch out their Whimsicott, protect with their Mega Charizard Y, or try to catch you off guard with a powerful, offensive attack creates mind games as addictive and intense as ever.And as someone who has participated in competitive Pokémon on-and-off since 2011's Pokémon Black & White, the ease with which I can now train Pokémon has me hopeful that Champions will, much like Scarlet & Violet before it, evolve into a more complete, comprehensive experience. But as it stands, the convoluted monetisation, disappointing performance, and inexplicable bugs make this another lacklustre Pokémon experience to add to the pile.
Easy Delivery Co. won't be for everyone, but if solitary drives and chill vibes are your idea of a good time, it might be for you. Though its rough edges are visible, its repetition is strangely grounding and can be hard to put down. Ironically, it manages to make the drudgery of gig-economy deliveries feel like a meditative respite.
Beyond Words, then, is an enjoyable roguelike experience that smartly mixes in chance mechanics and run-based gameplay with a foundation that challenges your vocabulary. Though it feels notably derivative, it ultimately does a good enough job of executing on the mechanics it apes to stand on its own two feet. I’d suggest you pick it up - there's lots to dive into in this one.
The Midnight Walk is an intoxicating journey through a beautifully twisted nightmare world. The Burnt One's quest to Moon Mountain is an atmospheric, bleak, and surprisingly sweet story that's worth experiencing.
Super Meat Boy 3D may not be quite the same watershed moment for indie gaming as its respected predecessor, but there's a lot to love about this one and would say that Sluggerfly and Team Meat have largely stuck the landing in the transition to a new dimension.Tight controls, tough, rewarding gameplay, and lots of replayability all stack up in its favour, even as frame rate and camera issues hold it back from being a flawless successor. If you're looking for an addictive platformer that'll push your skills to their absolute limit, I'd give this one a strong recommendation.
The Marvel Maximum Collection does what it sets out to do well, and its bringing together of titles from various developers is what makes it so interesting.
For the asking price, it's hard to find much to fault with Virtua Fighter 5 on Switch 2. The slick, 60fps gameplay is approachable enough for newcomers, but with layers upon layers of depth to uncover, dedicated fight fans will find plenty to enjoy.
Kena: Bridge Of Spirits is a great addition to the Switch 2 roster. A visually stunning platforming adventure with great storytelling and an adorable companion mechanic. Combat and enemy design leave a lot to be desired, but this doesn't do much to dent the experience of Kena's journey.
Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection continues Capcom's unbroken streak of excellent Mega Man remasters, presenting these DS classics in the best possible light and providing a compelling package.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park is a mixed bag. On the one hand, we have an opportunity to replay Mario's best 2D adventure in years with some minuscule single-player adjustments and extra boss fights; it remains a joy from start to finish. uch sitting out this particular Switch 2 Edition.
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is a fantastic real-time tactics adventure that wows with top-notch gameplay, fantastic looks, and a set of delectable missions that challenge you to get into your ninja groove and bring the best out of a team of shadowy assassins. The signature shadow mechanic is a delight to use, and the cherry on top of an impressively flexible core combat system, whilst large missions give you endless opportunity to get creative.Oh, and it all looks and plays wonderfully well on Switch 2. With mouse mode, improved loading times, and solid performance to boot, there's precious little to criticise with this all-timer. Now, give us Desperados 3 and Shadow Gambit!
Playing as a Trooper or a Bug in this stylised retro shooter is every bit as entertaining as the movie that inspired it, with a bonus hit of nostalgia for fans of golden-era military shooters. It doesn't take a brain bug to realise that multiplayer would have been a great addition to round out the package, though.
For resource management and survival nuts who like a bit of '90s Trek, this feels like a homecoming. Be warned: Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown is a suitably stressful, gruelling journey that'll stretch your abilities and send you, repeatedly, battered and bruised to sickbay. Steer well clear if planning ahead and strategising your way out of tricky situations by the skin of your teeth isn't your forte.It's not without rough edges, either, but it's lovingly presented and the systems beneath are robust. Those who don't get teary-eyed from a few bars of Jerry Goldsmith can knock a point off the score below. For Trekkies with determination and grit, though, this is a hell of a time. To the journey.
Fatal Frame 2 isn't quite the home run some may have hoped for, but it's an overall enjoyable and worthwhile experience that I'd suggest picking up at some point.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is another strong entry in this series, and deserving of a place at the top table alongside a number of other excellent RPGs on Switch 2.A well-told story, an intriguing world and some excellent mechanics ultimately overshadow the usual (for this series) balancing issues and performance wobbles. If you want to collect 'em all within a charming Monster Hunter setting, this game will keep you busy for a long time.
Tales of Berseria is still one of my favourite entries in the series, thanks to its excellent story and charming cast of characters. The gameplay is as fun as ever, and it's aged well since its debut nearly a decade ago.This remaster offers plenty of new features for those who've already experienced the game, and they're an extra cherry on top for newcomers. Beyond those quality-of-life additions, the port itself doesn't exactly go above and beyond, but if you're looking to play this game on the go, you can't go wrong here.
If Blue Prince were only about finding Room 46 and nabbing your inheritance, it would be a neat little puzzler with some fun twists along the way. For those who dive in headfirst and keep track of everything else it throws at you, however, it is so much more than that. Rarely has a game made me feel more clever, more lost and more elated the deeper into it I ventured, and still some question marks remain over its deeper mysteries.Minor technical drops and a lack of cross-save features aside, this remains a superb achievement and one of the finest head scratchers I've had the pleasure of playing. If you've read this far, you've already read too much! Just go and play it already!
Ratcheteer DX may not break new ground, but it's a genuinely charming, lo-fi action-adventure that feels perfectly suited to the Switch eShop. It boasts clever and engaging gameplay, an evocative chiptune score, and its five-hour runtime feels just right. A little more platforming forgiveness and this would be an easy recommendation. As it stands, it's still a very good one.
A visually intoxicating journey across an alien world, as full of cute critters as it is murderous robots. Planet of Lana 2 builds on the original game with a wider scope and worthwhile mechanical changes. The mix of stealth, platforming and Mui-based puzzles keeps Lana's journey feeling fresh throughout.
It's easy to get retro fatigue when every month brings another wave of throwbacks. Scott Pilgrim EX, however, is a reminder of why this genre became so popular in the first place. The spirit and execution come together in a way that feels fresh rather than forced.There's real pick-up-and-play value here, whether you're going solo or just messing around with friends. You don't even need to be a fan of Scott Pilgrim to enjoy it. After all, getting a bunch of friends together to battle the forces of evil with martial arts and giant turnips is about as universal as it gets.