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Go Vacation doesn’t do the best job of trying to appeal to everyone, but party game fans might find enough enjoyment to hold them off until Super Mario Party arrives later this year. While the staggering amount of things to do may be appreciated by some, it’s another example that demonstrates how quantity shouldn’t always be a priority over quality.
Octopath takes the road less travelled, daring to break JRPG conventions of linearity and give players the chance to choose their own adventure. It weaves poignant tales you’d likely hear from travelling dramatic troupes, ones often expressing lament, in fantasy books of old and directs them into a new format for the modern gaming age. There’s a certain talent at work in Octopath, and it’s yet to realise its full potential. Perhaps that’s what makes it so intriguing. So, we’ll leave you this question from H’aanit’s lips: which path will you hath choosen and aren you ready?
With some truly inspiring level design and interesting mechanics at play, Splatoon 2’s Octo Expansion DLC pack gives fans some real bang for their buck. Hop on at Deepsea Metro Station or hop off at Rage Quit City, the choice is ultimately yours. If this how Splatoon 2’s DLC looks, sign us up for the CQ-160. Double the fun, triple the frustration.
With its stylish and inventive courts, Mario Tennis Aces proves that Camelot has returned to its successful form. Although it’s not without flaw and frustration, the title’s variety of modes offer entertainment for the whole family. There’s something for everyone in Mario Tennis Aces, and that’s particularly tricky to accomplish. Some might call that an Ace.
If you already own or have played Captain Toad on Wii U, the greater majority of the game is likely to feel identical. A lot of it is very familiar the second time around, including the exact spots of hidden objects and how to avoid all the hurdles in your way. While there’s still a good amount of fun things to do packed in, now would have been more fitting for a Captain Toad sequel. Nevertheless, Captain Toad can hold up as a thoroughly enjoyable standalone game, especially to newcomers. There are over 70 levels to trek through, complete with a plethora of collectibles and secrets to uncover that will keep even the most dedicated fans engaged for numerous hours.
Despite its engaging story and charming characters, Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido undergoes a significant setback when you take its gameplay and controls into consideration. It has a good amount of flair to appeal to different kinds of players, especially those who are also anime fans. But in the end, it comes down to being just another matching puzzle game with tiresome controls at its core. As a side note, one major impression that could be taken from the game is how delicious sushi can be. Therefore, like Musashi, I am also thinking about trying sushi for the first time.
With a 15+ hour storyline, Dillon’s Dead-Heat Breakers is fun when played in short bursts. The varied map terrain and heated battle action helps keep the monotony at bay, but the daily minigame-to-money grind and the odd, forced inclusion of Amiimals leaves this tower defence game with a bitter taste. Frankly, Dillon deserves better.
The Definitive Edition packs in all the content of the previous iterations on Wii U and 3DS, including every piece of DLC, so there’s a ton to do. If the game gels with you, you could easily be playing for countless hours. In addition, it introduces new Breath of the Wild-themed costumes for Link and Zelda. If you already own either the Wii U or 3DS version, these two outfits might not be enough to convince you to shell out another $60 for what will essentially provide you with the same experience. But if you had to choose between the three, the Definitive Edition would definitely be the way to go due to being in HD and portable – it’s the best of both worlds. However, if the aforementioned nuisances such as mute characters are a turnoff in your eyes, you might want to consider spending your Rupees toward the more original Fire Emblem Warriors instead.
What Nintendo Labo achieves is, at its core, exactly what Wii Sports achieved for the Wii in 2006. It encourages non-video gamers the chance to get involved with something their children love. It brings family to the fore, allows for natural teamwork to evolve and both nurtures and inspires creativity. And quite frankly, that’s hard to put a price on.
What Nintendo Labo achieves is, at its core, exactly what Wii Sports achieved for the Wii in 2006. It encourages non-video gamers the chance to get involved with something their children love. It brings family to the fore, allows for natural teamwork to evolve and both nurtures and inspires creativity. And quite frankly, that’s hard to put a price on.
As a strict port, Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze has its pros and cons. If you missed out on the Wii U version, fetch your wallet. But if you’ve played the original, re-investing is simply optional and you won’t miss out on anything new. After completing the game on 99 red balloons, I have a real need to play Donkey Konga. Now, where did I put those Bongos?
Given the game’s lucrative appeal, Detective Pikachu comes up short. It’s a real shame the game’s intriguing cast of characters and witty scripting isn’t paired with inviting, challenging gameplay. The overwhelming laziness, coupled with its push on youngsters to give up so easily, reveals weaknesses in its structure. Detective Pikachu needs more than a (thunder) bolt of brilliance to land a critical hit; after all, it’s just not very effective.
Kirby Star Allies works just as well as a single-player game as it does in multiplayer. While you may find it more fun with friends by your side, the wonderfully constructed levels and adorable focus on teamwork will make even the toughest of Kirby fans melt. And though it’s not technically perfect by any means, Star Allies remains entertaining from start to finish. Let the puffball meet the misfits, it’s time for Kirby to shine on Switch.
Between the tongue-and-cheek gameplay and the upgraded playability, Bayonetta 1 & 2 for the Nintendo Switch are remarkably polished ports. Although additional modes and features wouldn’t have gone amiss for those who purchased the Wii U version, the games are superb in their own right. Featuring best-in-class portability, enhanced performance and a lick of polish, Bayonetta 1 & 2 on the Switch are insanely fun, non-stop action games. After all; once you pop, you just can’t stop.
Dragon Quest Builders is both a great Dragon Quest spin-off and an interesting take on the somewhat overplayed sandbox genre that’s only made better on Nintendo Switch. It’s a game that can be played for hours or in shorts bursts, so it’s perfect on a portable console. While the PlayStation Vita version certainly allowed portability too, the option to effortlessly swap between a TV and a handheld is perfect for this game. It admittedly doesn’t use many other features exclusive to the Switch, but the portability is benefit enough alone. Whether or not you’ve tackled Builders elsewhere, it’s found a perfect home on Switch.
Mario Party: The Top 100 often misses more targets than it hits, but it does so in good spirit with its upbeat music, the inclusion of download play and nostalgic artwork. Unfortunately, you can only mask a bad smell for so long before it turns foul. On handheld, the series is in desperate need of a spin cycle overhaul. While it’s got the minigame polish, it lacks the content to be squeaky clean. For now, we’re hanging this one out to dry.
The Champions’ Ballad is everything a fan could want from the Zelda DLC pack. The new Shrines and Divine Beast alone add a solid six hours of content to the gigantic game, so, if you’re dying to return to Hyrule, the Expansion Pass is a necessity.
Even with a few technical niggles, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 remains a strong contender to this year’s line up of Switch games. Its beautifully constructed storyline, artistic style and rich gameplay experience with nail-biting boss fights is sure to bring any series’ fan hours of enjoyment. After all, the Aegis’ life is at stake.
There’s still a glimmer of hope around though. New Style Boutique 3 has good pacing to keep any fashion queen – of any sex – playing for hours. With its upbeat and peppy music, easy-to-read storyline and great search and find mechanic for any outfit, it’s fun for a time. Budding fashion stars can also download the game’s demo via the Nintendo eShop by scanning the QR code below with the 3DS camera. In reality though, it’s a shame the game doesn’t live up to its glamorous expectations. It’s no fashion faux pas, but it’s not ready for the Big Four either.
The Pokémon Company have officially announced that Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are the last mainline Pokémon games coming to Nintendo 3DS, so it’s fitting that they feel so fleshed out. While they’re far less ground-breaking than Pokémon Sun and Moon, they provide the definitive way of exploring Alola. If you’re hesitant about double dipping, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon might just have enough new content to get you hooked all over again.