GBAtemp's Reviews
RS2 has some interesting ideas, but ultimately I feel them poorly explained.
Most modern 3D Platformers like to add in their own special features and inspirations to help show off it's individuality versus your average Mario game. Poi, however, doesn't. But the real question is, despite this special lack of individuality, is Poi at least a decent Mario clone? Yes! The game plays quite well, doesn't bother you with any complicated story, and is extremely simple to pick up and put down which is perfect for a portable game. Despite looking rather old, and having a less-than-satisfactory soundtrack, Poi is one of those games that's perfect for just a quick, no thought needed gaming session.
Mario Party: The Top 100 delivers on what it sets out to, providing a modern way to play 100 classic minigames, each legendary in its own right. Where the game falls short is in delivering what fans yearn for, almost teasing them with half of what made the series so brilliant. Were this game to embrace the chaos and beautiful madness many have come to love the series for, it would have potential to be the greatest entry yet.
A near miss for "instant classic" that could have been so much more, and possibly could still be someday, with some quality of life updates from the developers.
Batman: The Telltale Series isn't the best game for the Switch or the best port. If you can look past the few issues present, it offers a pretty good story that fans of Batman or Telltale games will enjoy.
XC2 puts forward a strong message of what the Switch is capable of. Providing a full JRPG experience, in tandem with lush visual and audio design both on the go and at home, it sets the bar for future games to grace the system; and it sets it high.
Get ready to kick some Nazi ass in a high octane title starring a revamped Terror Billy, for the father of FPS games is back in action.
Pay-to-Win and Wait-to-Play do not a Triple-A title make. Final rating: $$$ out of 10
If you are a fan of top-down twin-stick games, Ruiner is for you. It's not perfect, but it's flaws are easily overlooked in favor of this cyberpunk dystopia. The gameplay is where it's at. Mapping dash points, dashing around and ruining your enemies with the tools you are given. It's short, not too sweet, and generally worth a play.
DG2 reminds us again the Vita still has some fight in it. If you are looking for a portable dungeon crawler experience, if you want something attractive to play, engaging, something that will hold your attention for minutes or hours per session; this is for you.
The Evil Within 2 felt to me like a major improvement from the more awkward prequel, particularly on the storyline aspect by including emotional themes and being more coherent overall. The mashup of open-ended exploration, freedom of playstyle, skill tree and weapon crafting/upgrade system in a survival horror game might sound like an unusual combination but is executed surprisingly well in this title.
Yomawari: Midnight Shadows is a great addition to the survival horror genre with a tense and atmospheric world coupled with a wonderful story. Fans of the original or survival horror shouldn't be disappointed.
Creeping Terror was unfortunately just a dull, uninteresting experience through and through. It did absolutely nothing to try and distinguish itself from other horror games, and that is abundantly clear from the first minute of gameplay. The only solid and well done part of the game is the flawless translation.
Battle Chasers: Nightwar is a proper adaptation of the comic that it is based on as far as artstyle, soundtrack and environments are concerned. However, as a lengthy, old school turn-based RPG and a narrative perspective, it is not without issues.
Hitting many highs, and a few lows along the way, Super Mario Odyssey is one of those titles that will definitely get attention, both from those looking to buy a Switch, and those that currently own one. If you're a Mario fan, you're probably already sold on the idea, but even for those who are looking something that offers that "Nintendo experience" you can get nowhere else, this is surely a game you'll want to pick up.
Overall, BAW provides a rollercoaster of emotions. It will take you on a ride through the spine-chilling, the heartwarming, through good and bad. By the end, you have to question whether there is truly a difference.
Peach Beach Splash may be good for a rental, but it's hard to justify a full price tag considering how shallow the game is in terms of content and how quickly you can breeze through it.
Fire Emblem Warriors turned out to be a genuine surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed. It's the best Warriors game yet.
Overall, Elex had a lot of promise, but it's amalgamation of settings and mechanics do nothing positive for the game. With an utter nonsense mix of weapons, enemies, and settings, Elex might have been a decent game...for 2007. Unfortunately, it seems like Piranha Bytes still hasn't learned from their various mistakes with Risen 3. As it is now, there's simply no reason to try it unless you're a diehard Piranha Bytes fan.
Blue Reflection is a really fun journey. It has an earnest and enjoyable story, strongly supported by a solid cast of characters. Though it was sprinkled with some minor flaws, it was easy to look past them when enjoying the entirety of the game. It's also a really decent length, and doesn't overstay its welcome like some RPGs tend to do. For anyone who enjoys slice-of-life and magical girls, this is definitely a solid pick.