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Sonic Mania is a true love letter to the blue hedgehog's 16-bit days, developed by a team that you can tell have put everything they have into making sure that it not only lives up to fan expectations but gamers in general. And, while there is certainly plenty to be gained here if you're a Sonic enthusiast, Sonic Mania is an excellent standalone platformer in its own right, too, and one that will hopefully open the door to more retro-inspired ventures for some of SEGA's older IPs.
To sum it up, Slime-san is a great little platformer with well-honed controls meaning that you can’t blame anyone but yourself for any silly mistakes that you make. For as little as a tenner, it’s bursting at the seams with content with plenty to do and unlock to keep you entertained for a very long time.
Rough around the edges, Troll and I ends with as laughable a moment as it starts – even having the cruelty to leave your adventures in the Nordic wilderness open to a sequel. Spiral House has longed for the stars to align to allow them a chance to work on a game built from their own ideas. Let us hope that this nightmare has now ended, and they can find something far better to dream about.
Best in class, Thumper is an atmospheric and compelling addition to the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch, whose hellish drumbeat will pound in your memory for a long while. It’s that fearlessness to stand apart from what has long been expected in the genre that sees Drool succeed where others have faltered, and it won’t require spending too much time with the game for you to recognise why.
Whether you still struggle to comprehend the unexpected collision that the irreverent Rabbids have had with the Mushroom Kingdom or not, in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, Ubisoft Milan readily proves at every turn that even the wackiest ideas can result in a sensational experience. With infectious humour, it will soon win you over to prove itself absolutely unmissable.
Disgaea 5 Complete keeps all the fun and charm of the series while making it somewhat easier for newcomers to jump in, which is never a bad thing to do. Just try and take the time to learn the fundamentals. If you already have the game and all of the DLC for PS4 then I would question whether you should jump in again purely for the convenience of portability, but that is a question you have to ask yourself. I genuinely hope that NIS bring more Disgaea games over as I feel the series can find a new home on the Nintendo Switch, it is absolutely perfect for this system.
If you are the type of person who could be locked in a room for twelve hours, content with nothing more than a fidget spinner and a bucket then you will love Phantom Trigger. It’s amazing. For everyone else, you will probably get very little satisfaction from this extremely repetitive and frustratingly boring dungeon brawler.
Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition is a tough game to review. On the one hand, it's still a fantastically creative platformer with plenty of content to offer and an easy recommendation for anyone yet to experience this adventure. On the other though, it's yet another version of a game we've seen plenty of times already with little to offer returning players especially at its higher price point.
That all leads to a particularly positive impression for Ironcast, which easily becomes one of the strongest showings on the Nintendo eShop that I have played in the six months since Nintendo Switch launched. As engrossingly deep as it is engaging, I can only hope that you join us in our fight to defend Victorian England. We need you, commander.
League of Evil is a fun little game and still satisfies that craving that it set out to do several years ago. It doesn't quite have the personality and flair that Slime-san possesses and even back in the day it was never in the same league as Super Meat Boy, but it does have its own little charm and style. There's still plenty of addictive fun to be had that will certainly test your skills and patience. Add that with the added cross-play level editor and you're unlikely to run out of challenges as long as the community keeps the creativity alive.
Metroid: Samus Returns is a great remake of a game that quite frankly, needed an upgrade. MercurySteam has done a grand job at bringing a game that was made for a black and white 8-bit handheld, and completely recreate it from the ground up for a brand new generation to enjoy. If you are a fan of the 2D Metroid series then you know exactly what you’re getting. If you are new then it is a fantastic entry point to the series and it is more than worth a playthrough. It certainly isn’t the best Metroid game in my opinion, but it’s a fine one nonetheless. Samus has returned and it puts the series well and truly back on the map.
To those well versed in rogue-like games, NeuroVoider may seem a bit run-of-the-mill in terms of bringing anything brand new to the genre. To those that are a little less experienced though – myself included – it is a great introduction to the genre that is very addictive and challenging but never unfair. The easy mode is a great way to sink your teeth in and that alone holds plenty of challenge. It is The Binding Of Issac: Afterbirth+ on a budget if you want to compare value and likeness, but don’t compare them both too much because NeuroVoider definitely does hold its own.
The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ is a tough as nails roguelike experience packed full with a ridiculous amount of content. Ideal for quick 10 or 20-minute run attempts here and there, the game feels right at home on the Switch whether you play handheld or docked and while its gross-out style and frustratingly random difficulty might put some off, those that persevere will find a rewarding albeit dark experience.
Pokkén Tournament DX remains a robust, fun and accessible fighter. It sports some incredible mechanics, with the seamless shifts between 2D and 3D planes easily helping to make each brawl feel exciting. But there isn’t much improvement on the original away from new content, meaning that those who have pummeled their opponents into submission on Wii U may be more conflicted about a second purchase – although it will be where the competitive community shifts to.
Conga Master Party! is a unique game with a lot of heart. While the single player might be a pretty forgettable experience, the multiplayer offers a surprisingly fun and frantic time. Just as with any good conga line, the more people the better. So, if you’re in the market for a quirky, silly multiplayer then Conga Master Party! might be worth a look.
At first glance, Lichtspeer: Double Speer Edition does appear as a wolf in sheep’s clothing. As it happens, over time it grows to be a fun little title that is pleasingly addictive that will fill those small gaps of spare time nicely. No paywalls, no ads, and no brainless screen tapping. Just a small independent project by an equally sized development team obviously having a bit of fun with a simple concept that works.
In Overcooked: Special Edition, developer Ghost Town Games has achieved something special. Beneath the surface of this crazy culinary adventure is an experience that is outrageously funny to play with friends, that, even when your kitchen is burning down and the fire extinguisher out of reach, will never fail to raise a smile. It’s a perfect fit for Nintendo Switch, and a game that you need to have in your life – it will be all the better for it. For, there is nothing in the world as contagious as laughter.
Packed with a robust story mode and a sack full of content Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 gives the aficionado and newcomer to the series plenty of excuses to have a good old scrap. It may not be as deep or nearly as balanced as a conventional fighter series like Street Fighter or Guilty Gear, but there is enough depth here to learn how to “git gud” if given the chance. The Nintendo Switch version is a commendable port and to finally have the chance to throw down Kamehameha’s with the smelly old drunk on the bus is well worth the purchase alone.
Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition presents yet another chance to discover gaming’s greatest blank canvas, and, with the freedom to play both at home and on the go, it easily ranks as the best portable version that money can buy.
One Piece: Unlimited World Red Deluxe Edition has so much potential to be a great game. It’s attractive, colourful, and well written, with a stack of content and a great soundtrack to match. I can’t lie, I really did enjoy this title a lot. But, the limited combat and poor camera control do underwhelm. As a Deluxe Edition for a five-year-old game, there was plenty of opportunity to build on these foundations to truly make it the definitive version.