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Splatoon Raiders may be missing the series' iconic Turf War, but what we have here is possibly the most variable and exciting game the series has ever offered. Regardless of your skill level or personal play styles, the game is able to cater to practically any taste, and all whilst delivering one of the most enjoyable gameplay loops on the console.It looks good, runs fantastically, and you can play practically the whole thing with friends if you wish. Not only that, but Nintendo's flogging it for a bargain price. It may not push any boundaries within the genre per se, but it's difficult to find anything negative to say about it, it really is a must-play for almost anyone.
Moss: The Forgotten Relic loses some of the immersive wonder that made its VR origins so memorable, but its charming world, clever puzzles and lovable heroine shine through. Shallow combat and limited enemy variety are bugbears, but don't detract too much from a breezy, beautifully presented adventure-puzzler that deserves a wider audience.
The Mermaid Mask finds a brilliantly entertaining niche between deduction game and point-and-click. The tangled mystery of the death of Captain Mortuga is full of compelling twists and every suspect adds a surprise along the way. Some tacked-on logic puzzles slightly break the dramatic flow, but not enough to undo the magic of a well-constructed puzzle box of a game.
Gecko Gods is a fairly low-priced indie made with love, and I respect the team and what they've achieved even if I was frustrated for a lot of the experience. Some people will love the novelty of playing as a gecko. For me, although I made my peace with the decision, I do wonder if a slightly different approach could have increased my own engagement and made me believe more in what I was being asked to do.It's difficult to tell whether some of my frustrations come down to simply taking the wrong turn – or whether I missed a single line of text somewhere that might have set me on a more reasonable path. But I don't think I missed anything. If you want a short puzzle experience, and you like the idea of playing as a gecko, then Gecko Gods may well be worth your time.
Culdcept Begins acts as a great entry point to the mysterious series, distilling its core mechanics in a way that feels approachable without watering down what makes the gameplay so special. Though it can be a little simplistic in its presentation, the variety of boards and deckbuilding potential means that there's tons of replayability and depth to dive into here, whether playing solo or multiplayer.If you're at all a fan of board games or card games and want to try a quirky project that neatly applies to both, I'd highly suggest you add this one to your library.
Playing Disgaea Mayhem almost feels like peeking into an alternate universe where NIS' flagship series began life as an action RPG, rather than a tactical one. Plenty of the franchise's iconic, over-the-top RPG systems are present and accounted for, and they graft surprisingly well onto Mayhem's core hack-and-slash loop.The problem is that said loop isn't fleshed out nearly enough, with shallow and repetitive combat that loses its lustre quickly. Couple that with a forgettable story and a bizarrely short runtime, and Disgaea Mayhem barely ends up making much of an impression at all. It's an interesting novelty, but I'm fine staying in the timeline where Disgaea keeps tactical battles as its bread and butter.
Denshattack! is an effective homage to Sega's Dreamcast era without feeling too derivative. Using a train, of all things, to pull off insane tricks to increase your score sounds utterly ridiculous on paper, but it all works very well. It's the kind of gameplay that invites you to play it again and again to perfect your runs and earn those lofty gold medals.It's just a shame that the core hook is surrounded by needless fluff that bloats the overall experience. Yes, you can skip most of it, but Denshattack! would have shone even brighter had the devs leaned further into its arcade-style inspirations. Still, it's well worth a punt for its gameplay alone, and there's a strong foundation here to spawn an even better sequel in the future.
Go-Go Town blends SimCity and Animal Crossing into a whirlwind of a management sim. There is so much in this game. From transporting merchandise to begging tourists to live in your town, not to mention the oddly satisfying feeling of picking up other people's garbage, Go-Go Town is packed with things to do, and while they can be overwhelming, each is gratifying to complete.Story mode pumps the adrenaline a bit, although it's haphazard and grindy at times; those who prefer a more laidback pace will enjoy Create mode, though. So if you take pleasure in controlling something as big as a city - whether for relaxation or challenges - go to town on this. Just be warned: you might neglect your real-life chores.
There's certainly an audience for D-topia. Players looking for accessible puzzling and an optimistic slice of speculative science fiction will find something to enjoy. But for a narrative so concerned with ethical questions, it rarely asks players to grapple with difficult choices. It's a pleasant and thoughtful game, just not quite as thought-provoking as it clearly aims to be.
The latest entry in the Digimon franchise was well worth the wait, arriving on Switch 2 in fine form with a performance standard that puts its closest rival to shame. Digimon Story Time Stranger's monster-battling is as fun as ever, and the time-hopping, dimension-crossing story is a blast from start to finish.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok is a great new addition to the Switch 2 library, offering an exciting, addictive, and content-rich RPG experience that no genre fan will want to miss out on. Though its story is a little middling, the deep character-building options, gorgeous animations, and enormous amount of endgame content make for a game that you can easily drop a few hundred hours into and still want more.It feels like the kind of game that always deserved to be experienced on a portable, and I'd highly recommend you pick this one up if you're interested, especially if you have a high affinity for grind heavy action games like Monster Hunter or God Eater.
Tomodachi Life was a late-cycle winner, but if Rhythm Heaven Groove is to be its swansong, Switch 1 is going out on a high note. Beatspell didn't hit for me, personally, and the lag issues thrown up by playing on a modern TV are irritating, so be aware that you'll need to play in handheld or tabletop mode to get the best out of it.You shouldn't let that dissuade you from experiencing one of gaming's most infectiously fun-filled series, though. I was worried that we'd make it through the Switch generation without a Rhythm Heaven, but coming just over a decade after the last, Nintendo has snuck out one final hit for the old Switch. A surprise and a delight, indeed.
The Drifter might hark back to 20th-century point-and-clicks with its pixel visuals, but its smart controls, streamlined interface and smooth scrolling place it firmly in the modern world. Its adult-oriented graphics and language combine with an undercurrent of humour to bring the schlocky plot to life, and joyful backgrounds and animations keep it fresh from beginning to end.Powerhoof has provided yet more evidence that we're living through the graphic adventure's Golden Age.
This could have — no, should have — been a free upgrade, or at the most a reasonably priced upgrade. That Sega is asking for full price is a joke.
Star Fox on Switch 2 is a sublime remaster of Star Fox 64, and that's both its best and worst feature. This is Fox's best game made even better, with a stunning visual overhaul, snappy controls, and some neat reasons to keep playing thanks to the new challenges and online modes. That said, it is just '64' again, and those who have already played through the '97 classic hundreds of times won't find any surprises here.If, however, this is your first run-in with Fox McCloud, I struggle to think of a better introduction to the series. And if you know the game like the back of your hand, you're in for a replay unlike any other. The series' future looked bleak for a second there, but if this is a taste of what the next original adventure holds, then I've never been more ready to fire up the G-Diffuser.
Wanderstop follows Alta on a journey where little journeying takes place. In fact, this game is all about slowing down, taking your time, and resting, cup of tea in hand. In 12-ish hours, you drink up a story of heroism's dark side and the need to take breaks. Its response to hustle culture is emotional, yet never sickly sweet.The beautiful art style may not be at its most potent on Switch 2, but if you're a Nintendo-only household, don't pass on Wanderstop, especially if you're a cosy fan. Ironically, if your personality is anything like Alta's, you might be too impatient to play this. Then again, you might absolutely need to. Now, who fancies a cuppa?
Devil May Cry 5 Devil Hunter Edition is another great Capcom port for the Switch 2, maintaining that crucial 60fps gameplay without completely tanking the visual presentation. There are a few blemishes, mind you, and the absence of an entire mode means this isn't the definitive release of the game.If you've never experienced DMC5 before, however, you're in for a treat. This is one of the best action games out there, and the finest DMC entry so far.
Dark Scrolls does a good job of balancing the cosy repetitiveness of a roguelike with the challenge inherent to the Soulslike genre. There are so many different ways to play, with six characters unlockable on top of the original three, all with their own unique abilities, movement and attack patterns.For the price, there's very little reason to not give this a shot, especially for those who gravitate towards pixel art or any of the genres encompassed within Dark Scrolls.
The seamless change from turn-based to action combat proves how timeless the HD-2D art direction is. The Adventures of Elliot not only looks beautiful, but has a story to match. Elliot's journey transcends time and space to deliver an emotional gut punch that'll stick with me for a while.Despite performance issues on Switch 2, there's tons of gameplay variety and fun exploration, which makes it one adventure you'll want to make time for.
Rise of the Tomb Raider is a great addition to the Switch 2 library, standing as a strong example of the vision of the platform offering full-fat home console gaming on the go. Satisfying exploration, incredible visuals, and loads of content all running at a smooth 30fps combine to make this a must-have buy for your personal library, even if a forgettable story and some occasionally wonky controls hold this one back from perfection.I'd suggest you pick this one up at the next available opportunity – it'll keep you busy for a while and is especially the kind of game that really shines in handheld.