Nindie Spotlight
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At the end of the day Sky Force Reloaded is a gorgeous and challenging arcade shooter, and is among the most impressive on the Switch. Its looks are top-notch, it offers a significant degree of challenge for shmup fans, and its controls are buttery-smooth. Just be prepared to invest in the game for the long-term if you really want to see all it has to offer, which doesn’t have to be a bad thing. I just feel like the game could and should perhaps ease up the throttle, at least early on, to give people a few unlocks to better see what’s possible earlier on so they don’t necessarily give up before seeing much of what the game has to offer.
In terms of some issues there are some rough edges worth being aware of...
Overall Her Majesty’s SPIFFING was a pleasant surprise, full of cracking humor and some suitably absurd puzzle-solving. It may feel a bit on the short side but given its price the length is fair and I would prefer it over too soon rather than overstaying its welcome. For people searching for a game that is light, not terribly demanding, and can just be enjoyed for quite a few hours it’s pretty easy to recommend.
If you’re unfamiliar this style of puzzle game centers on filling in a pixel grid with a variety of colors to create a low-res picture of sorts...
Overall I think the style of play will either be something that appeals to you and sounds fun or may not be quite what you’re looking for. The more familiarity you have with classic games like Choplifter and some others the more nostalgia will likely help keep your interest, but without that kind of pull I could see the missions getting a bit repetitive after a while. Among the many shooters now on the Switch it has a play style all its own, you’ll just need to determine if it is a good fit for you.
In the end it’s the difficulty and unpredictability at the core of the game that will either make it incredibly appealing to you or rightfully scare you away. There’s no glory without challenge and sacrifice and when you manage even small victories in Darkest Dungeon they can feel terrific. Sadly, even when you carefully manage your resources and try to keep your accumulated rotation of characters in good shape you’ll need to accept that any happy thoughts and feelings are often fleeting. One particularly bad mission can cripple even your AAA team if enough manages to go wrong and while you can pay to remedy afflictions the cost will make you think it over very carefully. It’s both thrilling and depressing and captures the essence of what makes roguelikes so interesting all at once. If you’re a fan of this style of play it is an easy recommendation but if you’ve not dipped your toe in the pool yet this may be a bit deeper an end to jump into than most so you’ve been warned.
In the end Nightmare Boy offers up something thoroughly different from a visual standpoint and it can be quite challenging, just not always for the right reasons either. If you give it some time it does pick up momentum and you can get into a groove but when you hit the spots where you’re not sure where you’re going things understandably drag quite a bit. Probably only recommended for the most die-hard Metroidvania fans who have blown through what’s already available on the system, show patience with Nightmare Boy and some fun can be had with it.
Even with as many twin-stick shooters there already are on the Switch Tachyon Project manages to distinguish itself both with its story mode structure and its level of challenge. For the most part this is a great thing for shooter fans but if you tend to only dabble perhaps you may find yourself in over your head after a few levels. Throw in the many upgrade combinations you can choose to play with to refine your ship’s style to suit your preferences and it is a great addition to any shooting fans’ Switch library.
If the only issue was the game’s generally lackluster combat a case could be made that everything comes down to tastes but unfortunately the problems don’t really stop there...
While in the early going the game will feel almost painfully simple for each new group of levels you unlock new concepts will be introduced and the degree of challenge will typically make a considerable jump...
Sporting a very retro 8-bit art kind of vibe and a synthesized voice that shot me through a time warp to simpler times of playing classic games like Track and Field (really, that voice makes me want to cry it is so perfect) the style of play is very eclectic...
While not a game I formally reviewed for the system this is one of those titles that can't be omitted since it is both terrifically challenging and very accessible with loads of options to make the difficulty more within your reach...
In the end ChromaGun is an interesting perspective (quite literally) on a puzzle game and offers a series of clever challenges that will test your planning and patience. If you’re able to appreciate the details of presentation for what they are rather than perhaps what they were aimed to be that will also help greatly. While it isn’t quite on target, for puzzle fans looking for some variety it delivers something unique on the Switch.
While it doesn’t take too long before your choices begin to feel like repeats the highly affordable price tag makes it feel like a pretty square deal. Running about the same price as a movie rental an expectation of depth could be unfair, instead it is just a satisfying bite of fun for a while, especially if you have some friends who are game to join in on the experience. Prompting some giggles and demonstrating a bit more strategy than I initially gave it credit for it’s a very niche game that does a good job of providing a very different experience.
The theming and phrases having a more entertainment-oriented vibe does differentiate the two games a bit and adds personality to the proceedings but there’s still no getting around that, like the original, this isn’t likely a long-term game. What’s great is that it is priced accordingly so if you keep your play sessions from getting too long and space out play a little bit you can probably keep it from feeling quite so repetitive longer. The fact that this is a pretty unique game experience also helps to add to the giggles and low price to make it worth considering for some budget-friendly entertainment.
All said Shu is an absolutely gorgeous game that can likely be enjoyed by gamers of all skill levels as long as they’re ready to challenge themselves. The darkness phases can all be beaten if you’re patient and work out how to cut corners to save time, so even if you feel a little overwhelmed at first some commitment should get you through in the end. I do wish the challenge were more evenly distributed and there were tangible rewards for bothering to collect everything but overall Shu is a solid platforming experience.
If you’ve not played Tennis in the Face and this sounds like it could be fun for the most part the choice between the two would boil down to taste and theming preferences, they’re both fun and challenging, and most people wouldn’t likely notice many differences. That’s not to say they aren’t fun, they’re both great time-wasters when you’re just looking for a distraction for a little while. If you’ve generally enjoyed simple physics games on your mobile phone like Angry Bird and others it is certainly worth checking out.
Ultimately Revised has its merits and can work but it sort of shoots itself in the foot in places in terms of engaging and hooking new players in for the ride. If you take your time, show patience, and stick with the system you’ll begin to expand and improve your vehicle, add to your crew, and see a number of more interesting things as you progress. Just be warned that the game isn’t so much outright hard in terms of difficulty as it can be a bit tedious in stretches as you try to accumulate what you need to progress, and you’ll always need to keep an eye on your food and fuel or you’ll meet with a nasty fate.
InnerSpace absolutely won’t be a game that everyone will enjoy. People seeking action and intensity will be sorely disappointed by this relatively “boring” experience that reveals itself with a slow and deliberate pace. If you are someone who feels a need for a constant beacon guiding you to your next task you will also likely find the freedom the game affords aggravating. If you’re someone who expects perfect performance it is worth noting that at times these large open spaces and details can make the framerate drag a bit. If, however, you are looking for something completely different, gorgeous, and full of a certain sense of calm and serenity there’s absolutely nothing like it on the platform.
Overall while its pacing can and excitement can wane at times World to the West is an engaging and creative take on the top-down adventure. There are some very unique and inventive puzzles to solve, light combat sequences peppered about, and plain satisfying gameplay when it all comes together. If you’ve been looking for your next adventure fix World to the West is a trip worth taking.