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Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is a brilliant and wild platforming romp that is sure to please series veterans thanks to its fun nostalgia-fuelled gameplay. That’s not to say that complete newcomers won’t enjoy the ride too though, with everything in the game feeling finely crafted – each level offers satisfying platforming challenges, a good mix of kooky enemies to defeat, and plenty of variety thanks to the use of additional characters and the Quantum Masks. It’s just a really, really, REALLY fun game. It’s tough though, which may be off-putting to a number of players (particularly younger ones) who were hoping for an easier time. With an array of settings to make life easier though (including a landing indicator and the option to play with unlimited lives), even the most frustrating levels won’t see you rage-quitting this exquisite platforming adventure. There’s simply no doubting it: Crash Bandicoot is back and he’s better than ever in Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. The future sure looks bright for gaming’s mightiest marsupial… and who knows, maybe we’ll see a little purple dragon make a grand re-appearance soon too?
Alwa’s Legacy is a whole lot of fun to play, with the enjoyable level design, varied assortment of abilities, and wonderful world coming together to make for a memorable adventure. I had a really good time exploring my surroundings and using my ever-improving abilities to uncover secrets, whilst the battles with bosses always made for neat showdowns too. It does have some imperfections, most notably with the easy to beat enemies, the back-tracking, and the water level (a personal pet peeve… *shudders*), but these are minor issues in what is otherwise an exceptional and very well-designed Metroidvania-style adventure.
Budget Cuts is a frantic and fun stealth-fuelled virtual reality romp that will keep your PlayStation VR headset firmly glued to your head until you beat it. It’s so much fun lurking around the offices of TransCorp and trying to sneak your way to safety, with the clever level design and flexible gameplay mechanics coming together to make for a really entertaining experience. Admittedly, the controls could feel a little fiddly when you get into the middle of a fight with the robots and the short length was a little disappointing, but they’re minor hiccups in what is otherwise a stellar PlayStation VR title.
Lost Ember offers a beautiful and unique adventure that’s unfortunately held back on the Nintendo Switch by some technical issues. Are these issues problematic to make the game feel terrible to play? Certainly not, but you won’t be getting the same compelling experience with the game that you can get on other platforms. Outside of these issues, Lost Ember has its share of special moments. I loved discovering its open-world and switching between creatures felt great, with the game offering this genuine sense of freedom that just makes exploration so enjoyable and liberating. Here’s hoping that a patch with fixes is released sooner rather than later then, because as it stands this gem of a game is a little too flawed to make it essential for Nintendo Switch owners.
Mafia: Definitive Edition offers a thrilling action-packed gangster tale that is only really let down by some occasionally clunky controls. The remake itself is top notch, with the story delivering the same gritty tale but adding additional sequences to flesh it out, the mission design more tightly refined to offer more excitement and a balanced difficulty, and the visuals outstanding throughout with Lost Heaven feeling more believable and lived in than ever before. Hangar 13 have done a really great job in re-imagining the game whilst maintaining its roots and it’s sure to please both series veterans and complete newcomers. It’s just a shame that the controls are so fiddly, with both the on-foot segments and the driving feeling pretty cumbersome throughout. It’s not a game-breaker by any means, but it’s certainly noticeable – especially during your early hours playing when you’re getting used to how the game feels. Still, these issues won’t ruin your time with Mafia: Definitive Edition and there’s no denying that it’s up there with Final Fantasy VII Remake and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 as one of the finest remakes that has released over the last few years. If you’re a fan of modern open-world adventures or appreciate a good gangster flick, you won’t want to miss out on Mafia: Definitive Edition.
Serious Scramblers is a simple but fun experience, with the low price-point giving an extra incentive to invest in it on your Nintendo Switch. Sure, it might not be as ideal for quick plays as it is on mobile devices, but the satisfying gameplay loop and assortment of characters to unlock will still keep you coming back for more in this entertaining little escapade.
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Complete Edition is a whole lot of fun to play on the Nintendo Switch – even if the controls can feel a little fiddly to begin with. There’s a ton of depth to the park-building aspects of the game thanks to the sheer number of attractions available, whilst fine-tuning the business side remains mighty satisfying too. Every decision you make will have a positive or negative effect on the park, with the buzz of each success you have making the experience all the more addictive. Or you could go bankrupt and start over fresh… who knows? Either way, there’s no denying the fun offered by RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Complete Edition, even IF it is sixteen-years old now. I certainly won’t deny that it’s probably better played with a keyboard and mouse, but those excited to play it on console or on the go will definitely enjoy their time with the Nintendo Switch version of the game.
Hades is as close to perfect that a rogue-like is going to get, with its engaging story, robust and enjoyable combat, and satisfying sense of progression coming together to make for a breath-taking experience. It absolutely looks the part too, with Supergiant Games’ trademark beautiful visuals on show across the entirety of the game. It does have the occasional technical hiccup here and there on the Nintendo Switch, but it wasn’t enough of a problem to even slightly hinder my experience with the game. Hades is simply gaming perfection that both newcomers and veterans of the rogue-like dungeon-crawling genre are sure to adore… just do yourself a favour and buy it. Immediately. What are you waiting for?!
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.