SA Gamer's Reviews
This could have been the feather in the Switch's cap, showing that a game as graphically demanding as DOOM could be tinkered with to run on a portable platform. It nearly does, but too much is lost in the execution.
Sonic Forces is not going to rewrite the history books. It's yet another Sonic game that struggles when adding that extra dimension. Even though the level design is some of the best yet, you just can't shake the feeling that it's a bit of fan service until they launch Sonic Mania 2.
Miitopia is a strange and creative game. It takes the kooky little Mii characters and brings a little extra dimension to them while remaining bizarre and entertaining. The RPG element of the game is lacklustre, but the interpersonal relationships and friendship bonds are what makes you want to keep playing.
Kirby's Blowout Blast is a quick and simple game for any gamer no matter what you platformer skills are like. While you can finish it in one sitting, there are worse things you can spend the same amount of money on, like movie tickets to see the latest Transformers.
If arcade racing is what you're after Need for Speed Payback will deliver in loads, but don't expect to fall in love with each and every discipline in the game that's obscured by a frustrating upgrading system.
Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles provides you with a wonderfully pretty world to experience, and its simple narrative will encourage you to peacefully explore the island at your own pace. However, the multiple mechanics seemed unnecessary and the story was underutilised as a way to move the game forward. However, if you like Pokémon, Stardew Valley and Breath of the Wild and want a ‘lite’ version of all those combined - this sweet adventure may just be perfect for you.
Smaller levels that need to be played multiple times without the usual real-time strategy elements leaves this Pikmin game feeling out of place.
A delightful little co-op puzzle game that will leave you and your friends square-eyed
If you and your friends still regularly play your 3DS then Mario Party: Star Rush is a fun entry to the handhelds library, but won’t keep your interest for a prolonged period of time.
Mafia 3 has good intentions, and a patch should be able to fix the graphical issues, but the boring missions needs a whole new direction. It's a sin that a game with decent mechanics finds itself knee-deep in the mud of a mediocre structure. Perhaps you should just paint it black.
MotoGP 19 makes some strides to address the issues of last year's iteration. There are however still a lot of room for improvement and with the right amount of attention and development, the series can very quickly become one of the best annual releases.
Samurai Shodown is an on-point reboot of the series and a return to form for SNK. While the single-player offerings are a little dull, the overall game offers a lot to players who are willing to put in the effort. Fans of the series won't be disappointed and hopefully, Samurai Shodown will bring in a few new warriors along the way.
Cricket 19 is too close to call and needs to be sent upstairs: For fans, this is clearly the best of recent games - showing improvements in almost all departments and should, therefore, be a considered a 'must buy'. However, due to several niggling shortcomings and an inherently slower nature, non-fans may feel like it's more of a slog than a slog-swept six out the park.
Rise of Industry is a complex production/logistics management sim with a wide variety of options and difficulty settings. It's got a rather steep learning curve, however, and needs a fair amount of micromanagement to keep things running smoothly. If you're looking for a management game with some depth and complexity, Rise of Industry is worth a look.
Conan Unconquered presents some cool ideas but doesn't provide enough weight or substance to keep you coming back for more punishment.
Fans of the puzzle genre will find much to love in ChromaGun VR. Using droids to do your nasty work has never been as colourful. If you love a game that challenges your brain muscles then you're about to get one hell of a mental workout.
The conclusion to The City That Never Sleeps still carries the sins of the previous entries, giving us recycled activities and a rushed story, but the overall experience is a genuinely fun final romp through New York City. Lots of areas could have been improved, but if you're looking for more Spidey action, that's exactly what you're going to get.
Battle Princess Madelyn is what happens when one mixes the whimsical mind of a seven-year-old child with the gameplay of old-school retro titles. Despite its flaws, the game provides an overall enjoyable experience.
It's not easy to improve a game that's just about perfect and Tetris Effect is proof that the formula doesn't need much tweaking. It looks and sounds incredible, but don't expect this euphoria to last you a long time. Unless you love playing for a high score via leaderboards, the effect will wear off before you know it.
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is all things you want from a traditional side-scrolling Mario game. It is fun, creative and the platforming feels great. However, while the few additions do bring something new, after finishing it - it felt a little like seeing James Bond ordering tea at the bar. He may ask for it "shaken, not stirred" and it may be really good tea, but it's missing that 'kick' to make it truly cool and special again.