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Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is undoubtedly the best way to play one of the greatest games of all time. The visual and performance enhancements remove any issues that you may have had to endure with the original game. It's practically flawless from that perspective.Sadly, the Zelda Notes app really brings the whole thing down. Useful features that should have been implemented in-game have been relegated to your smartphone, and using it completely breaks immersion in this incredible world. I'm only thankful that it's not even remotely mandatory. Leave Zelda Notes to one side, and you've got the definitive presentation of a modern classic.
Yakuza 0 is the best of the traditional-styled Yakuza games, with the most complex story and interesting characters of the lot. It's also the ideal place for newcomers to get started with this weird and wonderful series.The new multiplayer mode is a little throwaway, for sure, and the fights do get repetitive (turn-based Yakuza FTW), but otherwise, this is a phenomenal port of an epic adventure that's now my favourite way to get down on the mean streets of 1980s Tokyo and Osaka.
Fast Fusion may not have the most comprehensive collection of tracks, but it's easily the most accomplished entry in Shin'en Multimedia's series so far. The new jump ability adds a new layer of strategy to the gameplay, while experimenting with the fusion mechanic to find the perfect vehicle is a joy. The occasional grinding to save up money can be a momentary drag, but if you're after something a bit more 'hardcore' than Mario Kart World, Fast Fusion is a no-brainer, and an absolute must-buy.
Right now, Mario Kart World doesn't quite feel like the reinvention of Mario Kart people wanted or expected, but there are few games that bring me as much laughter and joy as this. World refines and expands the formula in meaningful ways while upping the charm in many others.There's still many an open-world surface to scratch, and I need to test my patience with some of those straighter or more familiar courses in Grand Prix, but if you need a pick-me-up, Mario Kart World is sure to bring a smile, and it feels like the perfect start to the Switch 2's life.
Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a masterclass in retro Zelda-like game design, expertly fusing classic mechanics with creative new ideas to make for a thoroughly memorable and worthwhile experience. Occasional difficulty spikes aside, we'd highly recommend you pick up Pipistrello at the next available opportunity, especially if you're a Zelda fan who prefers the top-down design of games such as The Minish Cap. Much like its title character, this one has a lot of cool tricks up its sleeve.
If you're looking for a throwback point-and-click that doesn't require too much puzzle solving, Old Skies is certainly one to look out for. The first few chapters can feel a little plodding and the puzzles rarely reach the wacky highs we like to see from a point-and-click, but Wadjet Eye's ambitious, time-hopping adventure is unexpectedly heartfelt, with its narrative managing to speak to something personal amongst the sci-fi melodrama of its central set-up. Those after a journey back to the wild world of '90s PC adventures will find the nostalgia trip they're after, warts and all.
Happy Broccoli has once again pulled together a simple yet satisfying mystery that brings plenty of smiles and a handful of surprises. Now, if you'll excuse us, we've got to don our fedoras and go deliver a brooding speech in the rain.
Labyrinth of the Demon King does a great job of providing an authentic action-horror, dungeon-crawling experience that feels like it's straight out of 1997 in all the best ways. The eerie, lo-fi visuals, punishing combat, and disorienting dungeon layouts all combine to make for a maze worth solving. We'd give this one a strong recommendation to any fans of Soulslike games who want to try something with similar traits, but that also feels different in some key ways. This is a great experience if you're willing to stick it out and learn its intricacies.
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny is a strong, worthy successor to the original that is now at its absolute best on Switch. Some of it feels dated by modern standards, with fixed camera angles that arguably should have been ditched back in 2002, but it still feels incredibly fun regardless. The remaster adds in a bunch of quality-of-life updates and extras that both longtime fans and newcomers will appreciate, but ultimately, this is a faithful revival of one of the PS2's very best games. Now the patient wait for Onimusha 3 begins.
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 brings an incredibly strong roster of classic arcade fighters to Nintendo Switch in one of the best compendiums of its work to date. This is top-notch fare, a slew of incredible games, some appearing for the first time since their original releases, replete with rollback netcode for online play, tons of unlockables, Japanese versions of all eight titles, and modern training modes to catch you up to speed. With both Power Stones, an unbeatable Capcom vs SNK double bill and Project Justice leading the charge, there's really very little to complain about here. Excellent stuff.
Still, residual goodwill from the original helped us overlook the mechanical simplicity this time. We're keen to see Waterzooi stretch himself on his next gallery jaunt, but we'd recommend getting your hands on this one regardless.
Dunk Dunk is a pretty affordable and fun twist on the rules of basketball, with enjoyable and snappy gameplay that you can hop right into. While a few of its ideas don't land, and the game's frustrating camera and UI clarity can cause problems, the barrier to entry is so low that it is a solid, snackable experience to jump into now and again. Just don't expect this to be the next party game you and your friends are hooked on.
1000xResist is developer Sunset Visitor wearing its experiences on its sleeve, debuting a beautiful, heartfelt game with one of the best-written stories we've ever experienced. Switch port and minor gameplay issues aside, this stands as one of the most memorable games we've ever played. Confident in its convictions and empathetic with its words, 1000xResist is an important piece of art and a testament to the creativity of indie developers.
Shotgun Cop Man can easily stand toe-to-toe with the likes of Super Meat Boy and Celeste in terms of raw, precise gameplay. Using your guns for both traversal and combat with a simple but effective twin-stick setup is a stroke of genius, and it makes for an effortlessly rewarding experience that you'll want to play again and again. While not overly difficult in itself, nailing the optional objectives is key to achieving 100% completion, and it's here that you'll find challenge and satisfaction in equal measure. It's funny, it's violent, and it's polished – and we suspect it will go down as a cult classic.
The Hundred Line – Last Defense Academy is an excellent tactical RPG that fully showcases the strengths of the creatives behind it. A well-written and compelling story, strong and strategic gameplay, attractive art style, and passionate VA work all come together to make for a comprehensive experience that you won't want to miss. It's an instant recommendation for fans of Uchikoshi and Kodaka's past work, but even if you're not so much into visual novels, consider adding this one to your library. The Switch has plenty of life in it yet, and Hundred Line stands as a strong reminder of why.
I, Robot is a weird game, but one that feels effortlessly engaging and rewarding once it gets its hooks into you. The psychedelic presentation can be a bit tough to parse at first, but you can remove a lot of it via the options, and once you get to grips with the gameplay and what each level is asking of you, I, Robot reveals an incredible amount of depth that you'll spend hours uncovering as you work to increase your score. This isn't a remake we were particularly begging to see, but it's one we're very thankful for.
Developer SoFun has crafted an endearing and occasionally hilarious world full of mystery, which even after credits roll feels poised for bigger things. However, at launch, the game feels noticeably slow and the visuals seem compromised on Switch, which brings borderline sluggishness occasionally into frustrating territory. By no means a dealbreaker, and not necessarily a barrier to the dozens of hours of fun gameplay you can find, but we hope to hear of some updates that make exploring Smokestack Mountain as enjoyable as it should be.
The Lunar Remastered Collection respects the enhanced PS1 versions while also making a few tweaks to modernise parts of each game. While not all changes are entirely successful, and there are other aspects that haven't aged particularly well, we can't deny that Silver Star Story and Eternal Blue are bursting with charm and wit that many RPGs today lack. They might not revolutionise the genre, but if you're looking for a good time and have a little patience, you can do far, far worse.
This will be a blast for Gal Gun fans and well worth a try for newcomers. There isn't much beyond the usual Metroidvania trappings, but the build-based combat leaves lots of room for experimentation. Lack of originality aside, a strong imitation can still be an enjoyable experience, and Gal Guardians is never less than a great time. The character-swapping and revive mechanics make solo mode just as engaging as co-op, while the weapon slot system encourages replayability with new builds for Masha and Kirika.
An uneven, but ambitious adventure. Caracal has taken ingredients from some key titles and genres, added a brilliant traversal mechanic and cooked up a chilled-out, sci-fi wasteland odyssey. The game's mysterious, drip-fed narrative will keep you intrigued, and every moment spent on the grav board is undeniably enjoyable. Although Cebete may feel overly familiar, its vibrant landscapes and hidden secrets still make it worth exploring.