Nindie Spotlight
HomepageNindie Spotlight's Reviews
I find myself in the middle concerning how to score I and Me. There's really nothing inherently wrong with it, but at the same time I didn't find it terribly compelling or able to significantly differentiate itself from similar offerings you could find on tablets (or even mobile phones) in terms of challenge or interest. The overall demographics for Switch owners I'd say probably compound this problem a bit, since it is a very sedate and exclusively single-player experience, but I'll acknowledge that for the right people this could actually be a selling point. I'd say the best bet is to read a variety of reviews, check out some video, and take it all in to decide whether or not the game is for you. While I'd personally prefer something more innovative, there is a place for I and Me on the Switch for people looking for a calming way to puzzle away some hours.
If you're looking for a unique game experience on the Switch that isn't terribly expensive and will provide you with a few hours of varying challenges and laughs Bulb Boy delivers quite handsomely. Especially since, for the moment, it has nothing comparable to go up against on the console it is a breath of fresh air as well. As long as you keep your expectations for its length in check there's little holding me back from recommending it to people in search of a little adventuring.
Whether you will choose to buy GoNNER or not is much more of a product of the game experience that you're looking for than how well it executes on its design. If you're a fan of challenging arcade-style run-and-gun shooting with a variety of selectable play configurations (and keep in mind the slight pricetag) I have an extremely easy time recommending it. The aggravation of dying in the current run is almost always quickly followed by the "just one more try" impulse and the relatively short length of an average run makes it even more compelling to play in between other things given the portability of the Switch. If the look or the description of the gameplay doesn't appeal to you I don't know if there's anything that can be said to change your mind. It is a game that is extremely comfortable being what it is and generally executing on its vision very successfully, the only question is if you have the inclination and the nerve to give it a shot.
At the end of the day Oceanhorn stands a bit in the shadow of the classic Zelda games that inspired it but at the same time has more to offer than its age and lineage would imply. This isn't a AAA game, but it appropriately also lacks the AAA price tag, so as long as you scale your expectations fresh off of playing the likes of Breath of the Wild it shouldn't be quite so jarring. If you're in search of a game that will satisfy you for a weekend or two, depending on how much attention you're setting aside for its 10+ hours, it is an enjoyable experience if the pace and level of challenge are a good fit. I have high hopes for the upcoming sequel, to see what the team has learned and what they can produce when they're targeting the console market as the base this time around.
The Switch has been blessed very early on with what is now beginning to take shape as a diverse collection of rogue-likes. While it opened with the well-known Isaac, bringing the rogue shooter to the table, it then veered off into the strategic lane-based challenge of Has-Been Heroes. Tumbleseed goes completely off the board and brings its own unique vision to what a rogue-like can be with an adventure game of sorts, though in general the game feels very much like its own thing and is difficult to put in any known box. I was enthusiastic about the possibilities it could have from the moment it was first shown and having sunk many hours into the game now I have to say I'm thoroughly impressed with the result and, especially at its very reasonable price point, would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a challenge for their mind and reflexes.
For what it sets out to be, and the price point, if you're looking for an engaging brawler that will test both your reflexes and your wits Mr. Shifty delivers some pretty solid goods. While it has issues that keep it from being easy to recommend to anybody if the game looks like it has elements that appeal to you it should reasonably deliver the goods, even if it feels like it doesn't quite live up to its potential.
Maybe I'm just a "kick me while I'm down and I'll still get up" kind of guy but the best compliment I can pay Has-Been Heroes is that it scratches an itch I never even knew I had, and I don't come along games like that often enough. Depending on where you are on the challenge-loving scale will likely determine where you'll stand, individual results will likely vary.
One of the very first games available for the system, as I was already a huge fan from the PC space it was a Day 1 purchase for me and I absolutely have no regrets...