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It is because of those that Mantis Burn Racing remains an entertaining addition to the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch, with VooFoo Studios delivering a fast-paced experience that is bolstered with the expansive downloadable content. That repetition can soon seep in is a looming threat, but the chance to tweak cars to perfection is a meaningful one that, over time, will let you lean on your strengths in this otherwise addictive, competitive racer.
Touhou Kobuto V: Burst Battle is one to give a miss, then. That’s something that I take no joy in saying, either, as I had looked forward to checking it out when NIS America had announced that it was on the way to Nintendo Switch. There are certainly flickers of magic to be found, but this is a game that feels a generation or two behind where it needs to be.
Squareboy vs Bullies: Arena Edition stands up to make itself known on Nintendo Switch, but, rather than choosing to pay homage to greats such as Double Dragon and Final Fight, more inventiveness was needed to make it memorable. There’s enough to entertain for a short while, but the repetitive design and lack of any real ambition hold back its potential – resulting in an average experience that’s little more than a pushover.
The Bridge is a short but sweet experience. While it may have been the visuals that initially drew me in, the satisfying puzzles that literally revolve around… well revolving your world were what kept me playing. A little light on content, but a game that’s worth checking out especially for puzzle fans.
With so much being left to rely on the player’s intuition, PAN-PAN won’t be an experience for everyone – its unfettered ambition coming at the risk that, despite its short length, many may not persist to see it through to the credits. But, those that choose to persevere with this tiny big adventure will be thankful for their chance to trek around a world that has been built with endearing charm. And, there’s a chance that you may start to feel less guilty as a result.
It is the unrivalled creative freedom that will soon see many shrug off the issues that LEGO Worlds has and become hooked, building towering LEGO creations that they have only been able to dream of. But, while there are fleeting glimpses at the potential behind the whole idea, there are a few bricks that are missing before it will be completely realised.
Finally, a true sequel that stands on the same playing field as Worms: Armageddon. It’s the most customisable game in the series yet with added mechanics that actually improve the gameplay. The experience is great regardless of how you play it, but nothing quite beats a room full of mates in stitches after you completely miss-time a Holy Hand Grenade. If you don’t have any mates around, then you can always take your little army online to rank up or earn a new gravestone in the campaign. Either way, it’s safe to say that Worms W.M.D is the best sequel the genre has had in years. Let’s just hope Team17 doesn’t break the experience by bombarding it with paid downloadable content.
With 101 increasingly fiendish puzzles, seeing Binaries through to completion will inevitably feel like the mightiest triumph over adversity. Those with the tenacity to push on through will enjoy continually chipping away at overcoming the game’s nightmarish levels, but those looking for a less punishing experience should perhaps consider checking out other contenders in the puzzle genre on Nintendo eShop. It’s all up to you.
But, it is brevity that becomes the Achilles heel to Semispheres, an otherwise remarkable puzzle experience that is over in a few, short hours. However, I would still argue that it should be seen as time well spent that you won’t necessarily be demanding back anytime soon, but, with so much competition in the genre on Nintendo Switch now, there are other puzzlers on the Nintendo eShop that many will arguably feel that they can get more for their money from.
Thimbleweed Park is a triumphant throwback to the heyday of the adventure genre, a golden era revered for its compelling storytelling as much as its wit and charm. It succeeds on all accounts and while undeniably aimed at those that miss the classic point-and-click adventures that they grew up with, its characters investigate a modern mystery that many will happily be enthralled with. And, if you hadn’t guessed already, the dead body pixelating under the bridge is the least of your concerns.
New Style Boutique 3: Styling Star is a prime example of how you should never judge a book (or in this case video game) by its cover. While it’s easy to pass this off as just another casual title aimed at the non-gamers of the world, give it a chance and you’ll uncover a surprisingly deep and charming experience that proves the Nintendo 3DS is still not done when it comes to putting out quality content just yet.
Helping to wrap a story around Minecraft’s otherwise unexplained world is the greatest success that Minecraft: Story Mode – The Complete Adventure scores. Built with tremendous character and attention to detail it readily entertains with comedy and setpieces, but the recipe that Telltale Games chose on their crafting table could use a few more surprising ingredients to make it a more standout adventure.
Rotating the world to overcome challenges and stumble on solutions can often allow Puzzle Adventure Blockle to become a rewarding experience. But, when all is said and done, it is unremarkable and lacks the spark of ingenuity that it really needs to stand out against the ever-increasing competition on the Nintendo eShop.
When all is said and done, Rocket League on Switch is a great version of the game. It manages to deliver the same addictive experience as its more powerful siblings whether playing docked or handheld and, even though graphically it may not be as strong, this is an easy recommendation for any Switch owner.
On the whole, Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas is a decent, if not overly spectacular game. I get that they are clearly massive fans of the Zelda series and wanted to do their own game in the same vein, but I would have liked to have seen a little bit more originality and uniqueness in there. That isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy my time with the game because there were moments where I didn’t want to put it down.
It’s a testament to what an incredible achievement Cave Story+ was, or is, that it still holds up so well, remaining to be an engaging and well-paced adventure from start to finish. I had never expected to fall head over heels for the game as much as I did, wrongly believing that perhaps it wasn’t really for me. But, now that the Mimigas have been saved, all is right the world once more.
Now some four months after it launched, Infinite Minigolf packs more than enough content to see you putt to your heart’s content for weeks. It all feels understated though, lacking the outlandish spectacle that we have seen from the pinball tables that Zen Studios has created. Not without charm, it, as always, is best enjoyed with others. Just keep an eye out for Rudy’s hooves.
Transcripted can get very tough, even on the medium difficulty, but the more casual settings can provide well for those who doesn’t want to be punished. With 25 levels, 10 online score challenges, and medals to earn on each level, it is pretty good value for its low price point. Just don’t go in expecting it to be a particularly exciting shooter.
It’s not necessarily a resounding victory lap for Lightning McQueen, but he’s certainly still far from retirement. Many will still find getting behind the wheel in Cars 3: Driven to Win to be an entertaining ride, but to forever linger in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe‘s shadow, this is a game that is more suited to those that love the world of Cars and want to extend their time with it beyond the movie.
On the whole, any concerns that the Switch would get a watered down or poor port of L.A. Noire are well and truly quashed. Yes the game isn’t perfect and it still has a few problems that haven’t been entirely addressed such as slightly clunky controls during the more tightly spaced areas, the gunplay and the not so overly specific dialogue system, but for a six-year-old game it still holds up extremely well and as mentioned earlier, some aspects have yet to be bettered. If you have never played the game before then this is a great way to experience it.