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Journey of the Broken Circle’s blend of emotional-storytelling and neat puzzle-platforming makes for a really fun adventure, with this poor broken circle’s tale certainly a memorable one. Who would have thought that a circle could go through so much? It’ll definitely prove relatable for a lot of gamers out there… With its clever puzzles and vibrant world though, there really is a lot to enjoy about the game. It does have its sour moments here and there (most notably with the occasional physics flaw), but for the most part its easy to sing Journey of the Broken Circle’s praises.
Spiritfarer offers a memorable emotionally-driven journey that’s complimented by some brilliantly varied gameplay mechanics and a stunning world to explore. It really is a fascinating title that’ll keep players completely hooked in throughout thanks to its engaging gameplay mechanics, whilst helping folk in need reach the end of their mortality was as bittersweet as it was beautiful. It’s just a really special and unique title and one that resonated with me throughout the entirety of the experience. I can’t WAIT to go through it all again… I’ll just remember to keep a stock of tissues on hand the next time around.
Going Under is a rogue-like dungeon-crawling treat, with its brilliant combat brought to life by a wacky world that’s full to the brim with vibrancy. It was just a real joy to play, with the chaotic combat keeping each dungeon-run feeling fresh and frantic – even if there were some moments of repetition in the mix thanks to the low number of dungeons in the game. If you’re a fan of rogue-like dungeon crawling and like your games a bit… well… weird, you will really, really, REALLY want to give Going Under a playthrough.
Minoria doesn’t revolutionise the Metroidvania genre in any way, but its slick combat mechanics and desolate yet beautiful world ensure that its dark adventure is one that’s worth embarking on. Add to that a genuinely engaging story and some excellent boss encounters, and you’ll quickly find yourself completely hooked into its grim battle against heretic witches.
There is absolutely no denying that Super Mario 3D All-Stars is a brilliant collection of games that is essential for anyone’s Nintendo Switch library; I just wish that Nintendo did a little bit more to make it that extra bit special. It’s certainly an iconic selection of titles for both newcomers and veterans to to enjoy on their Nintendo Switch though and it really is wonderful to have such an accessible and satisfying way to dive into some timeless classics. This might not necessarily be the best ‘remastered’ release that you’ll see, but there’s no doubting the brilliance of the masterfully-designed platforming adventures included in the package.
Fight Crab is an absurd idea that should probably make for a bad video game – somehow though, it actually offers a mighty fun experience. Between the ridiculous battling, the quirky visuals and battlegrounds, and the addictive multiplayer modes, there really is plenty of enjoyment to be had from the game. Add to that some ‘easy to play but difficult to master’ gameplay mechanics and I’m sure plenty of gamers will be pleasantly surprised at what this silly game offers. I’ll admit that the single player experience isn’t as fun as playing with friends, but it still offers enough to warrant a playthrough; it’s a small issue in what is otherwise one of the most pleasant surprises I’ve had in a video game for a long time. If you can get some friends together (and maybe some beers), you’ll certainly have a blast battling each other in Fight Crab’s pincer-fuelled showdowns.
I was intrigued about the idea of mixing up survival-horror elements with point-and-click gameplay, but everything about Kwaidan: Azuma Manor Story is executed in a clunky and unenjoyable manner. It does have its good points, with the puzzling pretty clever and the combat decent, but everything else about the game is just awkward and incredibly dated in design. Kwaidan: Azuma Manor Story isn’t the worst game I’ve ever played, but it’s certainly one that I wouldn’t recommend – even to those who are looking for a 90s-inspired adventuring fix.
Between its intuitive drifting mechanics and its super-stylish visuals, there’s a lot to love about Inertial Drift – even IF the lack of proper competitors in races can see it lose some of its excitement. It is a little disappointing that the frame rate can be a little bit jittery on occasions too, but with plenty of content to dive into and racing mechanics that remain fun throughout, it’s easy to recommend this slick racer to fans of the genre.
Control: AWE offers an enjoyable two-hour romp that fans of Alan Wake are sure to love, even if it doesn’t make the most of the source material in all elements of its design. Sure, battling Dr. Hartman and the darkness is great, but I’d have loved to have seen a bit more of Alan Wake’s world woven within the experience too. Still, with its brilliant blend of gameplay mechanics and countless nods to Alan Wake, Control: AWE really is quite special. It might only really appeal to those that played Alan Wake before, but, as a big fan of the title myself, it has left me very excited for the future of Remedy’s shared universe.
I had a good time playing through Adventures of Pip’s platforming escapade and it does have some really neat ideas, even if it doesn’t always utilise them to their full potential. Take the form-swapping for example: it’s a clever mechanic that could allow for a lot of versatility in the level-design, but it instead restricts you to having to utilise specific and often obvious abilities to progress. It’s not a game-breaker by any means and it didn’t stop me from enjoying my time with the game, but it does show that it could have been a lot more. Still, those looking for a fun platforming fix on their Nintendo Switch will certainly have a good time with Adventures of Pip, even if it might not light up their lives as much as similar titles in the genre do.
MX vs ATV: All Out has its fair share of problematic issues, but I still found myself enjoying its core racing experience on the Nintendo Switch. Sure, the physics can be iffy, the frame rate is inconsistent, and the AI is all over the place, but gearing up for a frantic race in the comfort of my bed on the Nintendo Switch’s handheld mode never stopped being satisfying – it has actually kept me coming back for more and more races every night over the last week. The reviewer in me can acknowledge that MX vs ATV: All Out isn’t a great game, but the gamer in me still has fun playing it. Ultimately, your satisfaction with the title is going to come down to what you want from it: if you’re hoping for a realistic and impressive racer you’re going to be let down, but if you’re looking for something you can have quick fixes of frantic racing fun with, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised…
It’s pretty neat to see Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning hit current-gen consoles, with its epic adventure still holding up well eight-years on. The combat is fast, fluid and enjoyable, whilst exploring the vast and lore-rich game world and evolving your character’s skillset will keep you hooked into the journey for a long, long time. That’s not to say that it doesn’t have its share of imperfections though, with some frame rate stutters, long load times and the occasional crash causing issues throughout the game. These issues don’t occur too frequently, but when they do it’s a nuisance. Some of the quests are guilty of being a bit boring too, which becomes all the more obvious when you consider how many of them there actually are. Still, behind those technical problems is a really enjoyable open-world RPG for players to sink their teeth into, with Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning sure to offer hours of enjoyment for returning gamers and those who are fresh to the adventure.
The Suicide of Rachel Foster tells a harrowing and emotionally driven tale that’ll keep players completely hooked in as they uncover its unsettling secrets. It’s worth noting that it does tackle some dark themes that might hit a little close to home throughout its three-hour runtime too, but it does so in a meaningful way that builds upon them to strengthen the story it is telling rather than feeling exploitative of people’s struggles. It’s good stuff. It does have some issues with the audio cutting out on occasions and I did feel slightly underwhelmed by the ending, but neither of these issues stop The Suicide of Rachel Foster from offering a deep and engaging mystery that fans of the genre should certainly pay attention to.
Marvel’s Avengers lets gamers live out their wildest superhero dreams, with its engaging action-fuelled gameplay complimented by a brilliant story and some frantic showdowns with foes. There’s a hell of a lot to dive into here that’ll keep players enjoying themselves for hours on end, with the character development, co-op missions, and sheer array of unlockables to earn offering plenty for players to sink their teeth into. Add to that an entertaining campaign and it’s clear to see that Marvel’s Avengers is something special. Unfortunately, it’s not without its flaws thanks to a boring loot system, a lack of mission variety post-completion, and the occasional technical hiccup. These issues are not problematic enough to make Marvel’s Avengers feel like a bad game or any less fun to play, but they’re definitely noticeable and could do with improving. Still, with the promise of continued support through new superheroes and missions, the future is pretty bright for the game. It might have some issues, but there’s one hell of a good time to be had adventuring with Marvel’s Avengers.
Wasteland 3 is an absolute blast to play, with its deep and involving story complimented by some wonderful gameplay mechanics that’ll keep players hooked in for hours on end. There really is a whole lot of things to see within its rich world, and honestly, discovering more about the narrative, its characters, and the events occurring behind the scenes kept me utterly enthralled in the adventure. I loved it. There are a few issues that do prevent Wasteland 3 from striving towards CRPG perfection, but it’s still a fantastic release in its own right and one that fans of the genre simply won’t want to miss out on.
Lair of the Clockwork God offers a clever blend of genres that come together nicely to make for one heck of an entertaining adventure. It’s like a jack of all trades in a way, but it’d be unfair to call it a master of none: the platforming is satisfying, the point-and-click adventuring is cleverly designed, whilst the narrative is memorable and full of silly antics. It does have a few performance issues right now that can see the platforming feeling a little sketchy in places, whilst point-and-click aficionados might be a little underwhelmed by the difficulty of the conundrums on offer. Neither of these issues stop Lair of the Clockwork God from being a whole lot of fun to play though and an easy title to recommend for Nintendo Switch gamers looking for something a little bit different.
Connection Haunted has a very unique and neat psychological-horror concept, but the boring gameplay mechanics just leave the game feeling a bit tedious and dull to play. It’s not broken and the narrative is intriguing, but you can probably expect to find your interest in this horror title waning pretty quickly.
Hotshot Racing is a brilliant arcade-style racer that feels satisfyingly old-school with its visuals, its impressive track design, and its action-packed racing. I’ve had a LOT of fun blasting through GPs across its creative variety of tracks, whilst the different game modes bring a fair bit of variety to the gameplay experience. It’s wholly accessible thanks to its simple control scheme too, though still offers enough challenge to make it ‘easy to play but difficult to master’ – just don’t be surprised if you get a little bit frustrated at the occasional case of rubber-banding throughout some races. I do wish that it could have offered a bit more single player content to get through, but with both local and online multiplayer on offer it’ll be easy to lose hours on end with Hotshot Racing’s fiendishly frantic but ultimately delightful racing action.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is simply perfect, with the satisfyingly brilliant skateboarding mechanics standing the test of time over twenty years on from its original release. Add to that some stunning new visuals, additional gameplay mechanics and challenges, a robust ‘Create a Park’ feature that allows endless possibilities, and, of course, a banging soundtrack, and you’ll quickly find you’re in skateboarding heaven with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2. Bravo, Activision and Vicarious Visions… you’ve ABSOLUTELY nailed it.
Witcheye is a uniquely fun (and undeniable kooky) adventure that has made the move from mobile devices to the Nintendo Switch smoothly. Sure, it’s not particularly testing and its gameplay mechanics are fairly simple in design, but it does more than enough to entertain across its fifty-plus levels. Admittedly, Witcheye probably won’t blow players way due to its simplicity and it can take a bit of tinkering to get used to its control scheme, but anyone who fancies a quick and quirky romp on their Nintendo Switch will certainly enjoy Mabel’s escapade.