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With an engine sputter, Vroom in the Night Sky is an unarguable disaster. It wouldn’t be unfair to expect the early releases on the Nintendo eShop to showcase the portable home console’s potential. Dull, shortlived, and with an unjustifiable price point, Poisoft, if anything, painfully demonstrates what not to do.
With your canine companion patiently sat wagging its tail as you drift downstream, this uncharted journey through a forgotten post-societal America is one that will long linger in your mind. A tale of hardship and perseverance, The Flame in the Flood: Complete Edition succeeds in pushing you to your limits – standing out as memorable addition to the Nintendo eShop. And, you’ll be surprised at what you will discover along the way.
Unbox: Newbie’s Adventure packs character, charm, and potential, but fails to deliver on the goofy adventure that it promises. It’s not bad enough that your parcel will go astray, but any criticism lies more in the fact that wilder ideas were needed to make the activities stand out from the crowd. What we’re left with is a game that treads ground that is too familiar without many fresh ideas away from its main star, which is what nearly put the Global Postal Service out of business in the first place.
As a single player experience, Party Golf makes for a tougher recommendation, the overly simplistic gameplay wearing thin quickly and its trials not offering enough to hold your attention. If you’re looking for a simple, pick up and play, frantic multiplayer game though, then Party Golf should offer enough laughs to keep you and your group entertained. With an insane number of customisable options and the ability to share the fun with up to eight players, Giant Margarita’s take on the golfing genre is a unique one, if somewhat simple.
With my time spent on this little platformer, I have developed a bit of a soft spot for Pankapu. We have been through a great deal together. The world of dreams ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there if you let it.
88 Heroes: 98 Heroes Edition is a hilariously fun, yet tough little title that will keep you entertained for a few hours at least. It has some great ideas at play here with a charming personality in its presentation. It’s also nice to see a few cameos appear from other rising star published games such as Rusty from SteamWorld Dig and the dodgy looking fella from Conga Master Party! to name a few. However, once the comedy and novelty start to wane so does it’s mediocre gameplay. Which may leave you pretty underwhelmed within a very short time, and £29.99 poorer.
But, there is no other series that can capture pure joy so readily, and, coupled with the fact that Nintendo has regained their confidence with Nintendo Switch, sees Super Mario Odyssey never hit a bum note. Packed with energy, charm, and every trick in the book thrown in, choosing to hop aboard the Odyssey will undoubtedly result in you having the chance to experience one of the Mario’s greatest adventures. It’s a perfect reminder of the gaming magic that Nintendo is revered for, and something that they have miraculously been able to bottle twice within a single year.
The Jackbox Party Pack 4 delivers an uneven selection of games. Fibbage 3 is predictably still fun with Enough About You being an excellent addition to the formula. Survive the Internet is a major highlight and among one of the best games in the whole series. Monster Seeking Monster is overly complex but can be fun with the right people, while Civic Doodle is passable but never reaches the heights of previous drawing games. Bracketeering, however, is a straight-up dud and one I don’t wish to return to.
And, after the credits roll once you reach the cataclysmic conclusion to SteamWorld Dig 2 it is worth taking a moment to look back at the map. Where SteamWorld Dig had really only let the player dig downwards, the network of makeshift tunnels that you carve out in the sequel are a reflection of the personal journey that you have taken. And that freedom, above all else, can be seen as the game’s greatest success.
Stardew Valley is one of those games I could write about for pages and pages. Whatever the next day had in store for me whether it was harvesting, fishing, exploring the mines or simply running a quick errand for a friend, I couldn’t stop playing. The constant pull to earn money or better my relationship with the townspeople or just make my farm the best it could possibly be was a constant and something that continues to bring me back even now. Stardew Valley is a delightfully charming and deep experience and easily one of the Nintendo eShop’s best.
And, that’s it. It is a shame to see Astro Bears Party score success with its manic gameplay, huggable characters, and minimalistic art direction, only to leave players without enough of a reason to return to orbit their nearest planetoid. It suits Nintendo Switch with its local multiplayer, but a lack of variety makes it hard to recommend – especially with the Nintendo eShop becoming an ever-increasingly competitive place to be.
As a single player experience, Sine Mora EX is a great modern day shooter that keeps the tradition of the coin-op alive. The collaboration between Grasshopper Manufacture and Digital Reality has been a solid one. The controls are tight, the sound is great with plenty of replayability to be had. There’s plenty of challenge for the hardcore shmup fan and a surprisingly approachable title for newbies to start off with. Some may not grasp the hook quite as strongly due to the high difficulty and repetitive nature that these games are known for nowadays.
Vaccine could have been great in all honesty and I really wanted it to be. It just, unfortunately, falls some way off. Some may say it’s basically a rip-off but I see it more that the game was made for a bit of fan service for those that love the old Resident Evil games and, because of that, I can’t see it appealing to anybody else in all honesty. It is a shame that in order to see the game at its best, you need to have a bit of luck and hope that you get a good mansion layout. When I got a good layout, I actually enjoyed the experience.
Neo Turf Masters is one of the better Neo Geo titles Hamster Corporation have released on Switch so far. While light on content, the game’s charming presentation and satisfying gameplay make for a one of a kind golfing experience that’s at its best when playing with someone else. A great addition to any sports fan’s Switch library.
While usually not as chaotic as your typical shoot-em-up of a similar genre, Earth Atlantis does provide a certain unique ambience that is a joy to be a part of. Being maxed out with weaponry feels good, killing a giant sea monster feels great but the clutter that’s in between does eventually feel like work. Which makes this game best played in short burst. If you hunt a monster a day to keep the apocalypse at bay then Earth Atlantis is great fun and well worth a gander, but if you dive in too deep too soon, then you may fatigue long before you reach the surface.
Fire Emblem Warriors charges headlong into battle with assured confidence, bolstered with a roster of heroes that effortlessly translate to Dynasty Warriors’ lust for over-the-top action. Your quest to save the kingdom of Aytolis may not find similar strength, but History Mode is resolute in wanting to captivate your attention for hours on end. For that, those that long to rack up ludicrous kill counts in the midst of battle will savour the thrills that this Nintendo Switch exclusive presents.
Ultimately, Don’t Knock Twice is the type of game that the Switch does not currently have a lot of, and for that alone, some might be inclined to try it out. It’s cheap to buy and it takes less than two hours to complete, so for those that enjoyed the movie then this can be a decent companion. For everybody else, I feel there is far too little to fully enjoy the experience. There is little to no replay value, once you’ve finished the game, there is no reason to go back. If you need a horror game to play in time for Halloween, unfortunately for Switch owners, this is currently one of only a few options.
Monster Hunter Stories is an adventure like no other, and a standout experience on Nintendo 3DS that is worthy of your time. Heartwarming and memorable, it’s all that you could ever want it to be. Ride On!
If you have never played a Metroid game before then Axiom Verge is a great way to get your feet wet and see what the fuss is about. Even if you are a veteran of the series it will most certainly satisfy that nostalgic crave that is so fondly remembered. As a game that stands on its own, it’s an incredible effort by a one-man army that had me glued to the screen for hours on end. Everything works so effortlessly in sync, and is topped with a layer of polish that can only ever be found with tons of loving hard work, care and attention. With plenty of hours of gameplay, neat ideas and lots to explore Axiom Verge is a must-have title for your Nintendo Switch.
Who would have thought that an RPG adventure based around the slow-paced sport of golf would end up being such a fun one? While Golf Story may not be the best in class in neither the sport nor role-playing genre, the game manages to combine the two into a delightfully unique and charming experience. Another winner for the Switch.