Expansive's Reviews
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is an absolutely fantastic RPG with a compelling core loop, much improved combat over the original and some smart, clever ideas that still translate well years later. Despite some age-old backtracking, this is a must-play if you love the Shin Megami Tensei franchise or are looking for your next great RPG hit.
It’s quite simple – Mario Kart World is essential owning on Switch 2. Not only is this the best and biggest Mario Kart ever made, the Knockout Tour is a game-changing new addition that feels like it always should have been here, the courses are among the best ever seen in the series, including a system-defining moment with Rainbow Road and the vast potential that’s opened up with the map mean you could be playing this through the entire console lifecycle and beyond. You quickly realise that this is a game that could only work on this hardware and it feels like the developers have relished being free of the shackles of previous hardware to create, frankly, their magnum opus. One of the best racers ever made, easily the best Mario Kart of all time, and frankly, the perfect start for a console that feels like it could seriously change the landscape of gaming over the next few years.
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S is the definitive way to play this incredible puzzle mashup with all the updates and content. With such variety in control schemes, it might even be one of the most accessible games on the market to play right now, and with so many modes it more than justifies its asking price, especially by making great use of GameShare and GameChat. Unfortunately, without cross-play and without an upgrade path from Switch 1 to Switch 2, online is feeling a little bit empty right now which might hurt the game’s long term potential. A shame considering the modes and options available to players. And ultimately the new offerings don’t quite go far enough to double-dip if you already own this one on Switch. Still, a must if you’ve never owned or played this before and the perfect multiplayer alternative to Mario Kart World!
Despite the mouthful of a name, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is absolutely the definitive experience of a masterpiece. There are few launch titles that are as important and impactful as this one and to re-release it with Switch 2 is not only a masterstroke, it completely transforms the game with silky smooth feel, stunning visuals and a lovely novelty Notes upgrade that adds to the game rather than takes anything away. While the game does show some age in some areas, this version also shows us a timeless product with a high quality bar, making it comparable – and in some cases better – than anything we’ve seen in the last eight years. And somehow still making us gasp in wonder at its scope. An absolute must-play whether it’s your first time and third.
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is a really interesting release with some clever mini games and cool ideas. It gives you a really thorough look at the console and provides opportunities to see exactly what it’s capable of. There is a chaotic presentation to some of the materials, some games don’t really click and the difficulties are a wild mix. Plus there’s that price tag discussion. But this game really has a lot going for it and does do a great job of giving enough variety to the Switch 2 launch lineup, offering some surprises along the way.
Sonic X Shadow Generations is a fantastic collection of quality content that beautifully celebrates the legendary journey of the blue hedgehog. All complimented by one of the best modern 3D Sonic / Shadow adventures to date with fast-paced tracks, intriguing story, a compelling overworld and a wonderful aesthetic. The lack of full HDR when docked and a true upgrade path between Switch 1 to Switch 2 is a bit disappointing, but this is a wonderful first point of entry for a truly excellent game that anyone with history with the Hedgehog must experience.
Elden Ring Nightreign is one of the most interesting, creative takes in the multiplayer space for years. It’s unlike quite anything else out there with dashes of Monster Hunter, Fortnite, Diablo and a good old fashioned MMORPG in there, but it’s also distinctly Souls-like with the focus on brutal bosses and punishing challenges. The irony being that most of the game’s drawbacks come from a technical point of view, with matchmaking issues and lack of functionality, but if you want to try something different and interesting, if you have the patience and resolve for it, you’re going to fall under this one’s spell pretty fast!
Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is a very faithful recreation of the PS2 classic, but given an updated lick of paint and modern quality of life improvements. At times, that adaptation comes with frustrations, but for me it also comes with a wealth of nostalgia and doses of joy. If you loved it before or what Capcom did with Onimusha Warlords, you’re going to feel right at home here, but newcomers to the series or those who struggle with classic tank setups and jarring camera angles may not be quite so forgiving or find this a particularly convincing reason to get excited about Way of the Sword. That music, though..
Blades of Fire is an interesting take on a familiar genre, offering some clever ideas, well engineered combat and a vibrant world. There’s challenges with this one, though, like traversal, iffy mini games, and some grind. However this is a mostly enjoyable romp that deserves the chance to be played and appreciated and a game that ultimately presents in a positive light.
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 might just be one of the greatest fighting game collections in history. There’s so much quality here, so much value, but also complete respect in its restoration with solid online capabilities, loving recreation with display and sound options and a real look into Capcom’s incredible history, showing both the best and worst. All at a value price. Some minor weaknesses aside, this is a must-play for fight fans and a deeper reminder of just how good Capcom are and how much they’ve influenced an entire genre for years across multiple generations.
DOOM: The Dark Ages is a thrilling new addition to this blockbuster franchise, that wonderfully dovetails the classic original with the new-age formula, all while adding in a fresh, exciting new approach to combat and exploration. Some content gets a bit bloated midway and this won’t necessarily convince those who didn’t enjoy the previous games, but the inclusion of a shield for blocking and parrying, the dragon and mech missions freshening up the action, as well as a more sandbox, open-ended nature to the missions, gives players old and new plenty to sink their teeth into. All while bopping their head to banging beats and getting their eyes melted by some of the most impressive visuals this generation!
Revenge of the Savage Planet is a beautiful looking, entertaining blast of a sequel that iterates and improves upon many elements of its predecessor, offers a satisfying core loop with full multiplayer and a great variety and spread of abilities that keeps the experience fresh and interesting throughout. There’s a few surprise omissions – like First Person – and this is very similar to the first game, so is very much more of the same – which may or may not be to your liking – but it’s a very enjoyable romp from start to finish that raises plenty a smile.
The Precinct is a really cleverly designed take and spin on sandboxes that have traditionally favoured being the bad guy. Reading people their rights, rescuing hostages and giving out speed and parking tickets is surprisingly theraupeutic, and while combat is a bit off, general movement feels a bit wonky and fatigue does eventually set in over time, the approach and variety, setting, aesthetic, all coupled with smooth driving and satisfying storytelling makes for a game that deserves more than a second glance. I had a blast!
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is not as involved, expansive and creative as some more recent fighters on the market but what it offers is solid, weighted, and as such makes for a mostly successful return to form for a long dormant franchise. For the content, the price is a bit of a sore spot, but the solid netcode, beautiful aesthetic, and good base of fighters mean what you do play will be enjoyable and memorable, with the promise of more support over the long term.
Old Skies both feels like a true throwback to classic point and click adventures from the 90s but also benefits from creative new ideas and a stunning visual style that helps it stay relevant and eye-catching in 2025. A fantastic bunch of stories, great characters and wonderful voice acting make this one a game to remember and a must for point and click adventurers, old and new.
Glover is still a cute little game that really brings back that vintage N64 Platformer vibe with vibrancy and charming music and, at times, really showcases some clever level design and puzzle elements. But it has technical issues and a control scheme that just does not gel well with modern platforms. Couple with frustrating camera angles and some really tedious sections, this one soon becomes very tough to handle.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is one of the most ambitious titles Nintendo have ever made with its huge online options, scales and systems, and it’s better than ever on Switch. The Definitive features enhance and modernise the game perfectly, making it feel as refreshing to play as ever. A great entry point to this franchise which may have seemed offputting to many in the past, X is still weighed down a bit by the volume of information, systems and ultimately content it puts in front of players, and maybe a bit too generous for its own good. But this is a fantastic, exciting departure from Nintendo norms and remains one of the finest RPGs on the market, now better than ever before and able to fulfil its true potential!
South of Midnight is a beautifully crafted, delicately designed, story filled with heart, soul and positive energy. The world is stunning, the characters and the story they drive are memorable, and there’s a lovely mix of puzzles to keep you invested. While combat is the weaker point of the game, the boss battles coupled with the player progression do help bring this back up to a level of a game that deserves your time and attention.
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows is the finest addition to the series in years. It adds just the right balance of content, pacing and progression to keep you invested, gives you just enough but not too much so you don’t feel overwhelmed, adds a total overhaul of combat that offers both a satisfying challenge but makes the game stand apart from its brethren and offers perhaps the most captivating environments the series has ever had. Despite some uncertainty around certain mission objectives, a quite brutal difficulty curve and some repetition in content, there is no finer current open world offering on the market right now. Especially if you’re pining for a visit to Japan and need more cherry blossoms in your life!
Atomfall’s lead system makes for a surprising detective mystery in a post-apocalyptic British world and offers an interesting way of storytelling through investigations, allowing players to investigate rather than being told where to go and exactly what to do. It does suffer from some imbalanced combat and stealth, and the world traversal is not always entirely satisfying, but the game’s writing, aesthetic, music and survival mechanics keep this feeling distinct and interesting enough to make it well worth a play!