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The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has proven, once again, to be a stone-cold classic that makes buying the console it was released on worth it. This is the best version of Ocarina of Time, as the beautiful graphics, sly gameplay additions, and small new pieces of lore build on a timeless foundation to create something that expands on the familiar without losing what made the original special. If you’ve somehow never played The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, you can’t miss this new, top-notch remake.
It’s a whole world of choices. I didn’t say they were good choices.
I dare you to find a more delightful game this year than Tanuki: Pon’s Summer.
Sonic Pico Park is a delightful little puzzle game that blends quick, addictive multiplayer puzzles with a simple, charming aesthetic. I wish it had some single-player content, but playing with others is so fun that it makes the game worthwhile on its own.
Prinny Party: Going Overboard! has refreshing ideas and pleasant enough presentation, but the lack of a traditional online multiplayer mode really hurts its appeal. If you’ve got local pals who you can play with, you’re likely to have a great time messing with each other and taking on some iconic characters from throughout the main series, but otherwise, it’ll require a bit more patience than you might be willing to expend to get the most out of this one.
Psycho-Sleuth is an exciting and entertaining death game visual novel, with plenty of twists and turns along the way. Cognitive distortions mean even your own perception can hide the truth, which deepens the mystery of each case. Meanwhile, the characters are the heart and soul of the game as you get to know them through lengthy visual novel scenes. Altogether, Psycho-Sleuth is an easy recommendation if you enjoy death game stories and murder mysteries.
Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered is a fantastic remake, but it’s unfortunately held back by an unlock system that demands too much of your time.
Coming back to one of the genre's formative games through a modern lens was an absolute joy for this long-time fan. This will absolutely be entering my collection of “lazy games”, just good comfort food kinda games for when I just want to relax and hit some buttons while reliving old memories. I would love to see more of the older Dynasty Warriors games given this treatment, because this is great.
Buzz or Die has a lot of style and some interesting concepts, especially if you enjoy the creative aspect of creating video thumbnails. However, it lacks difficulty and doesn't spend enough time with its characters. I enjoyed my time with Buzz or Die, but a longer or more complex experience might have made it something truly special. Ultimately, it's the sort of game where I have mixed feelings about it, but I will be looking forward to what the developers do in the future.
Nintendo Switch Sports Resort mostly nails the casual fun of motion-controlled arcade sports anyone can enjoy. Though a couple of activities are a little too simplified, most are stellar and control perfectly. The character customization and progression system add even more to the package, making it a great pick for family and friends at the holiday gatherings you’ll likely be attending in the coming days.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 feels like the series it used to be in its glory days. The story is perhaps the best it’s been in recent titles, with twists and turns at every corner. Multiplayer fixes many of the key issues from previous editions, and DMZ offers a fun way to get more of a narrative experience, even if it gets dull at times.
Minecraft Dungeons II has a promising start. Its overworld is enjoyable to explore, platforming adds welcome variety, and the loot and build customization give you reasons to keep experimenting. But those strengths can’t overcome a gameplay loop that wears thin, a story that fails to pull you in, and rough edges that make playing less convenient. Minecraft Dungeons II has some worthwhile ideas, but they don’t come together into an adventure I’d ultimately recommend.
The most disappointing aspect of Fireteam Elite 2 is the hope it built on the original. Instead, it’s more of the same, with more synths and unskippable cutscenes filled with utter guff.
It’s deeply unfortunate, but Demons’ Night Fever misses the mark in every way. The narrative is bland, unfunny, and pathetically earnest in developing a main character I’d rather see shot into the sun. The combat sacrifices tactical depth for randomness, and the dull map design leaves much to be desired. The in-between mission management lacks interaction and has far too many numbers and stats to be readable in any meaningful way. This is one party I wish I RSVP’d “no” to.
Final Fantasy Resonance takes a discontinued mobile game and reinterprets it as a fluid, fast-paced RPG you shouldn’t miss. The leveling curve for the game’s Visions can be a little wonky, but the turn-based gameplay, party customization, and stellar presentation make that a trifle moot, as it both appropriately lionizes Final Fantasy and offers a new experience for those who missed the mobile game.
One Piece: Grand Gourmet takes the best parts of Kairosoft’s game design and One Piece’s neverending world and combines them into a truly delightful dish. Aside from a couple of small translation trip-ups, the game is a blast to take in. As someone who’s loved One Piece for almost as long as I’ve been alive, I've been pleasantly surprised by this and have struggled to put it down. Kairosoft gets what makes a sim game truly fun, and it mixes that fun with the whimsy and silliness of One Piece in a brilliant way.
Ratatan captures pretty much everything that made Patapon fun, though your mileage may vary on the first few runs. Once things get going, Ratatan lives up to its predecessor’s reputation, mixing a solid roguelite angle with its unique, incredibly satisfying rhythm-based gameplay. If you dig rhythm games, I recommend giving Ratatan a go, as it’s got plenty to offer that you won’t find anywhere else.
I genuinely wanted to find the fun in Stupid Never Dies. With each run I started, I hoped its combat would finally kick into high gear. With each boss I beat, I prayed for a new mechanic that wouldn’t force me to grind run after run until I could reach the next boss with a high enough level and enough time left on the clock. With each trip to the body-hacking upgrade shop, I was sure the right equipment would present itself and let me rule the Underworld once and for all. But, sadly, that moment never came. Instead, I had to grapple with the reality of the situation. Rather than lean into the roguelikes it clearly takes inspiration from, Stupid Never Dies is content to lift ideas and mechanics from the genre without any idea how to assemble them into a fun experience. It’s a complete buzzkill of a Frankenstein, and is perfectly happy to let you shamble through its slog of a campaign.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a strong return to the franchise’s roots. The combat is excellent, the traversal feels fantastic, and player-driven exploration is a big part of why it works. The music is easily the weakest part, but it does not drastically diminish what is otherwise a near-perfect revival.
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is a massive, well-crafted strategy game that makes the most of its fresh ideas. Though the free time periods can get repetitive, the maps, narrative, and character progression more than make up for it, making it one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch 2. I can’t even imagine what the next Fire Emblem will be like, since upping the ante from Fortune’s Weave seems nigh impossible.