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Sometimes a minigame is so good, so pure, that it inspires someone to make something truly special. The folks at Studio Somewhere loved Monkey Target from Super Monkey Ball so much, they developed an entire game around it. With a little bit of NiGHTS into Dreams and a relaxing city pop soundtrack for good measure, Bonito Days is a great way to unwind after a long day. Some gamers may want more modes, but as it is, there's nothing to get in the way of the gameplay. As an elevated minigame, it's the perfect experience if you're looking to enjoy some chill vibes while flying around the beach for a few rounds at a time.
Mario Party Superstars ultimately marks a great entry in the franchise, getting back to the basics and building off of the stabilizing force that Super Mario Party provided for the wayward series, while stripping away some other innovations that had found their way into the franchise over the last several entries. This is Mario Party as you remember it – whether that is a good or bad thing is up to you. For me, it’s a great thing – the chaotic board game is back in its full backstabbing glory, with arguably the best minigame roster in the series and full online play from day one. In looking to the past, Mario Party Superstars has taken a much-needed step forward for the series.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: Cloud Version presents an enjoyable and original story for the beloved troublemakers on Nintendo Switch. Excellent writing and vocal performances build a narrative that is both comedic and surprisingly heartfelt. A meaty but meaningfully varied campaign introduces fun locations and surprises for Marvel fans, and it's backed up by a killer '80s soundtrack. Combat makes clever use of synergizing the team's abilities as well. However, that combat doesn't evolve enough throughout the story to maintain its appeal. As far as cloud games on Switch go, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is as good as there has been for gameplay. However, unless Switch is your only way to play this game, I would recommend playing Marvel's latest gaming adventure on hardware that isn't reliant on the cloud.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania marks a return to form for the series, even if I am left hoping that we receive some substantial content updates in the near future to fill in gaps left from the originals. Fans who need an exact recreation of the originals or require challenge mode multiplayer might want to skip this one or wait for a deep discount, but those who just want to play Super Monkey Ball 1 and 2 again or the first time should absolutely pick this one up on Switch, especially if you enjoy playing on the go. While there is still a bit of work to do, Super Monkey Ball is back, and it's a great feeling. I strongly recommend you don't miss out on this one.
Overall, Dying Light: Platinum Edition does a lot quite well on Switch. Aside from some technical hiccups and a pretty insignificant narrative, the game shines behind a satisfying gameplay loop with buildings to climb, upgrades to snag, and zombies to smack. With loads of packed-in DLC content and a few multiplayer modes piled on top of a sizable base game, fans of the gameplay loop will find dozens of hours of gratifying zombie-crushing entertainment.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is a great idea with some powerful nostalgia and a winning formula behind it, but the execution is lacking. With lackluster aesthetics, spotty online issues, and a host of other issues, it's not a great experience for those accustomed to highly polished alternatives, namely, Super Smash Bros. I believe it will find its audience, but it doesn't straddle the line between casual and competitive as effectively as the original Nick cartoons seamlessly wove adult jokes into children's shows. Ultimately, the idea may be more exciting than playing the actual game.
Tetris Effect: Connected is probably my favorite iteration of the beloved puzzler, featuring unique levels with mind-boggling visuals. Playing docked doesn't look as great as in handheld mode (particularly on Switch OLED) due to Switch resolution differences, but that doesn't detract from the overall experience. If you're after a fantastic puzzle game on Nintendo Switch, then Tetris Effect: Connected is an easy recommendation.
This Gleylancer re-release is full of meaty gameplay enhancements that make it one of the most engaging and easy-to-enjoy classic shmup experiences you'll have on modern consoles.
Lego Marvel Super Heroes has plenty to offer to Lego and Marvel fans alike. A brisk but well-paced story takes you on an enjoyable ride while constantly introducing new characters and locations. Fantastic vocal performances and comedic writing make great use of the Marvel characters from both the movies and the comic books, and it's topped off by an entertaining open world to let players mess around with characters to their heart's content. Some small graphical and control issues remind you that this isn't a modern title, but that said, once you're flying around Manhattan as Iron Man, these flaws are soon forgotten.
Each EMMI zone is a carefully crafted parkour course where your movement skills are put to the test. Run, wall jump, and slide to maneuver through the obstacles, carefully avoiding the EMMI's line of sight. I worried that these sections would be too slow-paced for my liking, but that was almost never the case. I felt rewarded for staying in motion as much as possible, quickly reacting to my surroundings and using them to my advantage. The Phantom Cloak also exists as a stealthy option, but I found that I didn't have to rely on it excessively. However, when cornered, it came in handy, and it made for some intense moments. You can also counter the EMMI's one-hit KO during the kill animation, but it's an extremely narrow window. The timing is tough, but with enough practice, I was hitting it around half the time.
As a big fan of Diablo II to begin with, I found in this review that Diablo II: Resurrected hit all my buttons and truly brought me back to my childhood. Gameplay-wise, it's as faithful an experience to the original as you can hope to get, and while the modern graphics are dazzling, I'm here for one reason and one reason only - to kick some demon butt. Newcomers may be a bit put off by some dated mechanics, but for fans of dungeon crawlers or those who just want to relive one of the best PC games of all time, Diablo II: Resurrected won't disappoint.
Islanders is a really interesting, serene city-building experience that reduces stress instead of adding onto it. Its clean-cut visual style and pickup-and-play mechanics fit the Switch like a glove.
Deltarune is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed indie RPG Undertale. The first two chapters have all of the great humor, music, writing, and storytelling you would expect from Toby Fox and makes the series's world much deeper and more mysterious.
Mileage will vary of course, and I can't say if my unexpected adoration of this game will extend to all players. Nonetheless, ActRaiser Renaissance is a meticulously crafted remake that genuinely improves on the original game in several respects while maintaining the spirit of what made it special in the first place. The simulation and tower defense elements are instantly addicting, and the sidescrolling sections really make you feel like God has come down to smite the wicked. ActRaiser Renaissance is almost the best-case scenario for a remake, and I hope Square Enix keeps it up.
Unsighted is a great adventure. At first, it may lack a distinct identity due to its many influences, and its stamina system and time limit can cause frustration and anxiety. However, players that stick with it or adjust some of its more grating aspects will find a lot to love. Give it a whirl if you are into Metroidvanias with an emphasis on planning and strategy.
Hot Wheels Unleashed is the Hot Wheels racing game that we have been waiting on for a while. It delivers outside of a few hiccups.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is available now for Nintendo Switch, alongside a variety of DLC packs new and old.
Art of Rally excels at providing a stylized rally experience that strikes a decent balance of being both realistic yet approachable. It features a good variety of cars and landscapes, all wrapped in a clean low-poly art style. While it does have some graphical limitations, this is still a fun racer that's definitely worth looking at for off-roading fans.
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is filled with charm, offering an accessible JRPG that is perfect for newcomers to the genre. Although the Nintendo Switch version has a few issues, the gameplay more than makes up for it, alongside its heartwarming narrative and addictive side activities. If you've never played it, then this might be the time to jump in. Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom Princes Edition is now available for Nintendo Switch, featuring all previously released updates and downloadable content.
Ultimately, Lost in Random succeeds at telling a modern coming-of-age dark fairy tale that can be enjoyed by players of almost all ages, and the character and world design perfectly complements the zany and clever writing and voice acting. The gameplay is likewise unique and engaging, and even though combat doesn't offer extreme depth or challenge, it fits the scope of the adventure. However, the graphics and lighting suffer on Nintendo Switch, and if you have the ability to play it on another platform, you probably should.