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In short, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is easily the definitive way to experience this wonderful adventure. The variety of quality-of-life improvements are welcome additions, fixing a lot of the issues featured in the original release 10 years ago. Sometimes the game's controls can feel a little weird depending on which setup you choose, so you will most likely experience some issues not present in the other control option. However, they don't detract from what is probably one of my favorite video games of all time. If you're interested in experiencing a deep narrative with some likeable characters, then you owe it to yourself to experience this game. Then again, even if you've played it before, Skyward Sword HD is an adventure worth revisiting with these improvements.
Wave One of the Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity Expansion Pass is now available, which includes the Pulse of the Ancients DLC. Wave Two, Guardian of Remembrance, is expected to launch sometime in November.
Mushihimesama was ahead of the pack when it came out two decades ago, and that hasn't changed at all in 2021. This is still a remarkable shmup and a must-play for hardcore fans, but thanks to the wealth of difficulty options it provides, it's the perfect way for newcomers to dip their feet into the genre too.
Ultimately, Mythic Ocean is a unique experience with its charming god-guiding gameplay and its exotic and atmospheric ocean to explore, and it is utterly immersive in the best way for the few hours that it lasts. However, the endings are not as memorable as the rest of the game. When you combine that with the tediousness of re-collecting pages on future playthroughs and going through many of the same conversations over and over again (though there is a fast-forward option), there is little incentive to replay Mythic Ocean as many times as it would like.
But these are minor inconveniences. Boomerang X is a short but sweet indie gem. Its frantic nature has you holding your breath as a deadly laser misses you by inches while you throw your boomerang at an arena's last combatant. Expect to have a lot of moments like that if you decide to purchase Devolver's latest unique title.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin breathes new life into the world of Monster Hunter. The shift to a turn-based RPG is handled so well, with an addictive and fast-paced combat system that's just as rewarding as traditional Monster Hunter. Complementing that is a genuinely engaging story full of wonderful characters, all rendered in an incredibly beautiful art style. Whether you're a newcomer or a series veteran, this is a must-play RPG.
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! is nothing short of a masterpiece and highly recommended to anyone who can handle darker content. It navigates the jump from PC to console well overall, with new mechanics developed to handle gameplay situations that would normally be impossible outside of PC. The extra content, especially the Side Stories, is terrific as well, though it may not be enough to justify a $15 price tag given that the original game is still free on PC.
Ultimately, Mario Golf: Super Rush is an underwhelming spin-off that lacks any sort of imagination but is still fun to play. Super Rush features accessible golfing mechanics that are easy to understand, with tutorials available at any time. There are some genuinely charming moments in the single-player Golf Adventure mode too, but they don't make up for the tedious progression system. The other modes such as Speed Golf are fun to play with a group of friends, but online performance is abysmal. If you are after another fun "party" game, then you may be interested in giving Mario Golf: Super Rush a spin, but this game could have been much more than what it is.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 is a loving recreation of the cult classic skateboarding games, while also being an impressive iteration on where the series could go next. On Nintendo Switch, Tony Hawk maintains its best features, including a fantastic variety of well-designed maps, cleverly modernized skating gameplay, endless customization, and a rocking soundtrack. Lower-resolution character models and a lower, albeit stable, frame rate are meager speed bumps on the road to experiencing one of the best remakes of recent times. Tony Hawk is emphatically back, and I hope it's not the last we see of this series anytime soon.
Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods – Part One is an excellent continuation of the main campaign on Switch for the most part. Some areas don't reach the heights of the previous chapter, but the gameplay is still as satisfying as it was before. A few new enemies added into the mix ensure that you are constantly on your toes, and all of this is complemented by yet another fantastic musical score. The Nintendo Switch version isn't the best way to experience the game by any means, but it is still very much playable for those who want a great FPS title on the go.
All that said, I'm not docking points for the length-to-price ratio. I maintain that Lego Builder's Journey is a fantastic title on Nintendo Switch. Between the look and the feel, this game comes as close to capturing the joy of playing with Lego as you can get without a full VR rig. It also weaves a compelling story through gameplay and motion, all without dialogue. I highly recommend playing it if you can, even if that means waiting for a sale.
This Legend of Mana remaster features beautiful visuals, amazing music from Yoko Shimomura, and a lot of quirky old-school weirdness. Mileage will vary with its over-designed mechanics, but the game is charming, unique in its storytelling, and offers some solid quality-of-life additions.
When remaking something that is hard on an old console, developers should try to fix any unfair elements while keeping the spirit of the original alive. If you don't bother to touch those things up, you'll end up with mediocrity, time and again. Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX is just that. While the title looks stunning, has nostalgic collectibles to gather, and includes a Classic Mode and Boss Rush Mode as extras, all that extra fluff means nothing if the game itself is fundamentally broken. Ah, what could have been.
Realistically, adults who want to program are just going to go learn an actual programming language and/or pick up a tool like GameMaker. But for impressionable preteen children, which arguably seems to be the prime demographic for this software, Game Builder Garage on Nintendo Switch can provide a comprehensive and accessible introduction to programming, despite a few glaring oversights. However, not just anyone is going to instantly click with and love this game. It takes time, determination, and raw passion to get the most out of Game Builder Garage. But maybe that's a good thing.
Miitopia feels almost anachronistic, despite being originally released just four short years ago. The gameplay, the design, and even the very presence of Miis all remind you that this is a port from another era of Nintendo. That being said, it's a celebration of the Mii, giving them character and life and new customization options. I hope the success of this title can spur the Big N to continue making quirky, random, exciting things.
In the end, Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is a mediocre game. Uninspired level design, frustrating movement controls, and permanently missable power-ups all contribute to a lackluster experience. When I think the best part of the title is the cute butt dance Asha does when she opens a chest, you know things are bad. Just play Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap or Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom instead.
Sumire is a beautifully told and emotionally resonant story about a young girl struggling to find reasons to be hopeful. A well-paced narrative full of character-driven growth delves deep into themes such as loss and growth, while its watercolor art style and acoustic soundtrack paint a beautiful picture of rural Japanese scenery. A charming world and simple but fun puzzles add variety and are almost enough to forget about issues like frame rate dips. Ultimately, Sumire makes the most of its brief runtime, and it's a day trip I won't soon forget.
Ultimately, Mundaun is a creepy Switch game with creepy secrets to uncover across its creepy landscape, and it's easy to recommend to fans of adventure and horror. Others who don't typically play such games might just be bored to death with it though, especially if they get stuck on an objective they can't figure out. So basically, if your gut tells you that you might enjoy this game, it's probably right - and vice versa.
Earth Defense Force: World Brothers is an incredible, silly, and addictive action game. It makes smart and satisfying changes to the core formula of the series that make it one of the most enjoyable entries in the EDF franchise to date, and it has the potential to be one of the most exciting co-op games you've ever played. It's only downside, though, is incredibly major -- the Nintendo Switch version is plagued with graphical issues that significantly impact the quality and fun factor of an otherwise amazing game.
By today's standards, there's nothing revolutionary about Famicom Detective Club, but that doesn't stop both games from being really solid experiences. Despite a bit of predictability in the plots, both stories were incredibly engaging and nothing short of a complete joy to play through. It's easy to see that Mages really took a lot of pride in crafting a quality remake here, since every little detail shines through. If you're at all curious to see what these games are about, you owe it to yourself to give at least one of them a look.