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The lingering question is why does Rogue Trooper Redux exist, then? The chemical-blasted wastes of Nu-Earth are a dull place to survive in, and, aside from some surprisingly strong mechanics, it’s hard to ever summon enough enthusiasm about a game that has been antiquated compared to what we now expect from today’s games. That means that it is a game that is best left to fans of the comic strip, leaving us with the hope that it is part of a grander plan that Rebellion has prepared to see the one-man army return to gun down his enemies in a more modernised take on the genre.
Putty Pals never falters as a cooperative experience, and, while there is the chance to struggle as a lone player, it is undeniable proof that games are often at their best when enjoyed with others. This squishy cooperative puzzle platformer may see you bouncing toward Puttopia, but it is clear to see that its real home is on Nintendo Switch – embodying everything that the plucky portable home console is all about.
Unravelling the mystery around The Count Lucanor was one of the more memorable, and chilling, gaming experiences that I have had on Nintendo Switch, and something that you shouldn’t overlook on the Nintendo eShop. It’s a shame, then, that it is over all too quickly, your time in Tenebre Castle being over in two or three hours. But, with the promise that every decision that you make counts, there are five different endings that you can reach. It just depends on whether you dare go back, to hunt them out.
Nine Parchments is a perfectly fine dungeon crawler-esque experience that sadly never really manages to deliver on its true potential. While it might tick a lot of the genre checkboxes, these ideas are never expanded upon enough to help the game truly stand out. As a multiplayer adventure, there’s definitely fun to be had in working together to tackle swarms of enemies, but alone, you’ll be hard-pressed to keep engaged through to the end credits.
Dimension Drive takes an interesting concept and implements it well to separate itself from the many other shooters out there. The split gameplay mechanics may be a bit too much for the majority of the casual market, but anyone with a bit of thirst for a challenge could quite easily get to grips with its structure. It feels a bit like a fast-moving Tetris run at times, creating a somewhat puzzle element within its core when swapping between screens in the more maze-like sections of the game. It's also very well priced for what it is, and more importantly, it plays considerably well as a portable time killer.
Octodad: Dadliest Catch is quite a hard game to actually recommend but, at the same time, it’s worth a dabble for a cheap laugh. While the original was praised for its interesting proof of concept, this rendition of trying to flesh out the idea further can feel a bit stretched. However, there is a charm to this game and its very short length ensures that it doesn’t outstay its welcome too much, and, if you want, you can always try and coordinate the lovable protagonist with a friend for some squits and giggles.
Peel back the layers of mystery and intrigue, and what underpins Oxenfree is remarkably simple in approach. With nuanced storytelling at its ghostly heart, the pacing to this coming-of-age tale suffers in places but it will still enthral like no other. For Edwards Island holds many secrets, it just depends whether you want to stick around long enough to learn the truth about them all.
Snipperclips Plus is a neat little expansion that bulks out its original package with some much-needed content. While I might argue the price is a little on the high side, the thirty plus stages and modes offer enough reason to join Snip and Clip once again for some shape based puzzle solving.
On all points, Batman: The Telltale Series is a must have for fans of Telltale, Batman and narrative-driven games. But, it needs to be more accessible. I can’t help but feel that Telltale is pricing themselves out of the market by charging so much for a game that is much cheaper elsewhere. Yes, it’s a great game and it shows what can be done with the Switch in terms of showing off narrative in a portable experience, but the naïve pricing is a sore point.
Did I mention that as a cat you have to fight an army of dragons controlled by an evil mage? I’m not kidding, it’s a purrfect combination of crazy and fun. It’s pawsome. The cat’s pajamas. It’s refreshing to find a game that doesn’t take itself seriously, but can also deliver interesting takes on tried and tested video game tropes that stay entertaining.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with Völgarr the Viking and I think a lot of that came down to the nostalgic feeling it gave me whilst playing. Certain areas in the game were a bit bland and uninspired, but the gameplay is smooth and responsive, load times are non-existent so anytime you die you get straight back into the action, only to probably die again. But I think that you simply have to ask yourself if you are ready for the challenge at hand because at times it’s very unforgiving. If you stick with it, you will eventually have tons of fun.
That largely sums up my experience with Yono and the Celestial Elephants, a passion project that wearily falls short from the potential that it clearly had. It is probably best that you wait for another millennium to see what adventures await the next elephant, which, we can hope, will be far more exciting than this one.
Time Recoil is a fun game that feels rewarding in triumph and moreish in failure. Sure, the graphics are rubbish and the plot seems written by an eight-year-old after a newfound discovery of 80s action films, but there is a fun and rather stylish shooter contained underneath its overall cheap presentation.
I worry that even fans of the show will be disappointed in Ben 10, which is a competent game, but one that never sparks any excitement, is far too short, and squanders the chance to be something greater. Being a hero can be hard work, we’re told, and it’s difficult to disagree when we’re left to suffer through games with such blinding shortcomings.
It’s very easy to lose yourself in SUPERBEAT XONiC EX, its satisfying gameplay and soundtrack melding together in perfect harmony. While the initial learning curve is a tough one, once you’ve come to grips with all the rapid tapping, sliding and button pressing, you’ll discover a great rhythm game unlike anything on the Nintendo Switch right now.
If you love basketball, being able to play the best simulation of the sport on the go makes this an essential purchase. Being able to play NBA 2K18 on the bus, or on your lunch break is a dream. Is just a shame its not always the most coherent one.
Bursting with fan service and a superb script that is packed with silly puns and quick wit, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is a (cosmic) blast to play through. Bolder in ambition and bettering its predecessor, what more could you want from what is arguably one of the developer’s best brick-built adventures in recent years.
It’s clear that there has been no compromise in what Monolith Soft had envisioned for Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and, given that we have had to wait for some time each generation, to have the chance to explore such a remarkable world so soon after the Nintendo Switch arrived is an opportunity not to be missed, and a cataclysmic close to the portable home console’s first calendar year. Sweepingly epic in every way imaginable, this grandiose adventure is quite simply an unforgettable experience. And, with that, the fate of Alrest is now in your hands.
That makes your quest for freedom in Wulverblade a memorable one, and while some balancing is needed to make it less of a frustrating experience and more one to be wholly savoured, it’s hard not to come to appreciate everything that this brutal, historical retelling has to offer.
It’s strange to get a game and its sequel to both play largely the same, but appeal to different people. The first Resident Evil Revelations hasn’t aged amazingly well, looks a bit rough around the edges, and has a few dodgy moments, but overall it is good, single-player Resident Evil game that tries its best to use the formula of number 4 but also goes back to a more survival horror style. Whereas Resident Evil Revelations 2 is easily best played in co-op, so much so it’s hard to recommend to somebody wanting to play it by themselves. With the right friend, it’s a ton of fun and is probably the best co-op experience on the Nintendo Switch right now. The Resident Evil series has had its fair share of missteps, but these two games were, and are, a step in the right direction. Nintendo Switch owners are in for a treat.