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Mario Party has seen its fair share of good and bad over the years, but Super Mario Party swings the pendulum back in the right direction. The return of the classic style is a welcome one, and the plethora of different minigames hit the mark more often than not. It would have been nice to see another board or two, but the assortment of other fully-fledged modes helps to mitigate that feeling.
Spreading out the 700 or so crystals of some stages across three or four more manageable stages would help the game feel fresher and more exciting. While the music is a highlight, it doesn't always match the visuals on screen, and all in all, I find this title a hard one to recommend. If you're blown away by the art style or the music, give Twisted Dreams a look, but otherwise look for your sweet dreams somewhere else.
Broken Age is a faithful callback to the Golden Age of point-and-click adventures. While this holds in back in some respects, the game was a joy to play with fun puzzles and a captivating story.
My family and I had a great time trying this out. My dad, who usually takes a bit to pick up on controls, even had fun playing. For anyone looking for a simple party game to add to their library, this is a great choice.
One interesting wrinkle that Lightening Force brings to the table is that you can also stretch the screen vertically and explore the space above and below your ship to find different enemies, avoid fire, or discover hidden power-ups. When you beat the game, you also open up a new ship with different weapons, which adds replay value. There is a lot to like about this initial offering in the Sega Ages series, and growing up without ever owning a Sega console, I'm eager to see more of these titles, especially given the obvious TLC being put into them.
While I wish there was a greater variety of Yokai, at least their attack patterns and behaviors differs a bit so they aren't merely cosmetic variations slapped on the same base. Save points tend to be fair in their spacing and the choices you make for upgrading your characters open the door to some variety depending on the skills you choose, further encouraging replayability. If you've been looking for something a bit different on the Switch, for a variety of reasons Haunted Dungeons: Hyakki Castle sets itself apart as unique, even if its style and pacing may not be for everyone.
If you're a big fan of crazy shooters, and especially if you appreciate anime art and funky humor to boot, Azure Reflections may not be the best out there but it very much stands out as unique without question. Rather than go the path of merely imitating one of the other popular series it brings a few ideas of its own to the table and that's always refreshing. Just be ready to get visually assaulted along the way, it's one of the most colorful shooters I've ever seen.
One specific comparison that stuck with me is that the stages are significantly longer, but I also found some of them more memorable and engaging than ones from previous Mega Man games. With Mega Man 11, Capcom is catering to new players and hardened veterans, and satisfies both to a degree, but it will likely disappoint some players, too. It might not be the Mega Man game we need, but on October 2 it will be the one we get.
For a very budget-friendly racer, Boxy Racers delivered a far higher level of quality and polish than I expected, even if not necessarily the challenge. The racing itself reminds me most of the classic RC Pro-AM back on the NES, though this control style is far superior. While experienced racers won't likely struggle to get through all three circuits, if you're able to play against a friend, or online play picks up, I could see where it would make for great competitive racing or simply goofing off in one of the four diverse Battle Modes. There's a fair amount of quality racing in this low-cost title, and I'd love to see more of it… hopefully with a bit higher degree of difficulty.
However, Marble It Up as it is right now is an excellent marble puzzle platformer with not a lot of meat on its bones. It's hard to recommend in its current form because it's so threadbare, but it's something worth keeping an eye on as updates are made.
A Case of Distrust is a really fun adventure game/visual novel. It has a solid, if telegraphed, mystery and a unique cast of characters. It succeeds in capturing Roaring Twenties San Francisco and the evolving social mores of the interwar period. Its style is captivating, and positively contributes to gameplay. This is a strong recommendation for anyone who loves a good murder mystery.
From the newly-added UEFA Champions League mode, to the updated online that now lets you play with friends, there's plenty to see and do. The top-tier gameplay feels fluid and crisp, the visual upgrades are noticeable, and having the Fifa experience portable is a great feeling. For those who want more than the standard Career modes or love diving into the Ultimate Team this version might not be for you, but if those aren't deal breakers, then Fifa 19 on the Switch is a fantastic way to get your soccer fix.
The boss fights range from pretty easy to dozen-death difficult, but the real joy is in thoroughly exploring the map, seeing heights you can't reach and doors you can't open and then returning later with newfound powers that enable you to continue your adventure. Alwa's Awakening is a great investment for those who grew up with old-school Castlevania games or those who prefer Zelda II to The Legend of Zelda. It's not fast-paced or action-packed, but it has plenty of nostalgia and is well-suited to those who prefer jumping to shooting, spell-casting to sword-swinging. Well, how can I forget you, Zoe? When there's always another Metroidvania to remind me.
TowerFall is best as a competitive local multiplayer game and if you're commonly in the situation of having friends around to shoot some arrows at, it's a must-play. If you're not, it's a harder sell.
Wandersong is definitely worth checking out on the basis of how different and unique it is. From the fun, new interaction method to the hand-crafted art style, this is something completely fresh.
The addition of the newer dash moves brings it closer to the more recent Sonic games in feel, but if you want speed, Sonic Mania would be a better pick. Still, M2 did phenomenal work on bringing this game to the Switch in a way that doesn't feel stale. If you want to see where Sonic came from and are interested in how the new features enhance this classic game, there's no reason to stay away.
A variety of ways to play mix well with the layers of strategy and charming presentation to make an impressive addition to the Switch multiplayer library. This is a grand, polished experience that is fun by yourself and even better online. It's shame about the lack of local play, but it makes up for it by being so good otherwise.
The style of Ultimate Chicken Horse is great and when it all comes together, it is a special brand of silly party gaming. Unfortunately, unless you find that perfect situation, the quality of the fun can vary wildly. So much of the amusement here is dependent on having the right people to play with. Find that setup and this is a madcap party game.
There are some puzzle bits that could've been formed better, but it is a fantastic game in the grand scheme of things. All in all, this is one of those games I would recommend putting on headphones for and kick it back in handheld mode. The intensity of some individual moments are really well suited for a personal display.
I would recommend it to Excitebike super fans, arcade aficionados, gaming historians, and Nintendo fanatics who just want to experience any oddity related to the company's history. Anyone else may get their fix by playing the original version of Excitebike, which is currently part of the Nintendo Entertainment System Nintendo Switch Online app. And who knows, maybe months or years down the line the ultimate version of Excitebike, VS. Excitebike from the Famicom Disk System, may hit the service as well.