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I really enjoyed my time with Another Lost Phone, which turns your Switch into a giant smartphone to provide a unique puzzle experience.
It's easy to overlook Max: The Curse of Brotherhood when searching for a good platformer, but don't. Some frustrating moments aside, it's a well-designed twist on the genre that's quite at home on the Nintendo Switch in terms of visuals and controls. Those who didn't complete it on other platforms will find the Switch's touchscreen eases much of the difficulty, and the $15 price tag ($30 for the physical copy) makes it a game that's easy to pick up between bigger releases. And if there's a lesson to be learned here, it's that you really shouldn't mess around with spells you find online. You never know which ones will actually work…even if they don't begin with “I wish…”
The nostalgia is nice, but I'm also reminded of advancements that the genre has made over the past twenty-plus years. With brisker combat and some much-needed voice work, this could be great, but Earthlock is still good as-is for genre fans.
Rocket of Whispers is a beautiful journey into a bleak world. There's a great story to be told here, and it's a pleasure to uncover. This simple, story-driven game is well made and enjoyable while it lasts.
Overall, this is a pick-up and go type of addition for the Nintendo Switch. It's available on other platforms, but most gamers will find it's best on the go. Strong artwork, mechanics, and cleanliness of the title make it extremely polished, but the lack of depth made it hard for me to want to put any more than a couple hours into Rogue Aces.
Ninja Strikers doesn't have much in the way of story, but it's retro design and fierce difficult both pay a fine homage to legendary old school games.
You're never going to rush home to play 12 Orbits, but at only $1.99 it's a fantastic game to keep on your Switch for the next time you've got friends over for a party. Playing with 12 people may not be optimal in portable mode with everyone crowded around the Switch (where the frenetic action is hard to follow in some game variations anyway), and it's a shame there's no online play available. Assign your Joy-Cons to a few pairs of players and let them gather around the TV, however, and the dip will likely get cold well before the fun runs out.
Night Shift is a neat concept, and it's pretty entertaining on a play-through or two. However, it's really tedious to replay, and the writing isn't particularly good. If you're a big fan of choose-your-own-adventure games, pick it up on a sale.
Time slows down in every hallway, but the overall experience is fairly short and can be completed in a handful of gameplay sessions. The main story doesn't overstay its welcome, but its conclusion, including the “true ending”, leaves something to be desired. Don't let that sour you, though. The Coma: Recut is a fairly solid experience and is a fun edition for a survival-horror fan's collection.
No matter how you play it, Layers of Fear: Legacy provides an astounding psychological horror experience right up to the point when you click on your painting that one final time. The relatively low $20 asking price more than makes up for my issues with the conclusion, especially since it includes the better ending of the Inheritance DLC. The jump scares were effective even on my second playthrough two years later, and I had fun playing it with my daughter. Her warnings of, “No. Just…no,” may have been valid as we stood looking down the stairwell into the darkened cellar, but as we, the developers at Bloober Team, and our troubled painter know, making the right decision doesn't make for good horror.
Regalia is a fun tactical RPG with a strong narrative element. It's not without it's issues – mainly loading times – but it's a well-designed and content-rich game nonetheless.
There's a lot more going on in this “walking sim” than is apparent at the start, both naturally and supernaturally. This contradicts the fact that, aside from the animals and the ghosts of the past, you are alone. Kona works hard to create a sense of isolation, making the experience much more effective if you're not surrounded by people helping you solve the puzzles or arguing against using a crowbar to fend off wolves when you have a gun in your possession (although that it is very sound advice).
Outlast 2 is a decent survival horror game with nice graphics and gameplay, but loses tension due to a overused autosave system. While I had a lot of fun exploring the various environments, it just left me longing for the original.
While The Bunker lets you explore an actual nuclear fallout shelter, accompanied by great sound design and decent acting, it can be completed in a single sitting. There's very little in terms of gameplay variance, and there are other games out there that'll give you more playtime for your $12. Unless you like the novelty of an FMV game on your Switch, give it a pass unless there's a sale.
Beautifully designed and at times surprisingly profound, but doesn't have a whole lot in the way of challenge.
Super Rocket Shootout may not be a deep experience for those looking for a single-player distraction, but its action-packed multiplayer and jetpack-centered gameplay is well enough to keep your attention.
The unforgiving difficulty of Bombslinger can almost feel as punishing as a Dark Souls title at times and may turn some players off, but any veteran of that series and rogue-like genres will absolutely fall in love with Bombslinger. The grind-y arcade style of the gameplay combined with its nostalgic art-style, unique game design and personality make for a nice Indie gem. Each run felt fresh and the grind to customize my load-outs for future runs made this game an absolute blast to come back to, especially for quick bursts on the go.
Sci fi, gothic horror and general shooter fans alike will have a great time with Tesla vs Lovecraft, if not a hugely intellectual one.
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is a brilliant platformer that's fun, challenging, humorous, and looks great. If you haven't already checked this out, I highly recommend that you give it a go!
Each playthrough I seemed to get slightly better. The more I played the more engrossed I found myself in it. Questions like, can I get a little bit closer to that bullet next time? Is it really worth the boost in score and the charge of my weapons? Playing Danmaku Unlimited 3 was an absolute privilege. I certainly look forward to future titles.