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Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are fine enough remakes for reliving some memories and sharing them with the next generation. But beneath the glow of nostalgia, there's a carelessness about their build that makes them fall short of expectations.
SHINRAI – Broken Beyond Despair has an interesting enough narrative. But poor quality visuals and lack of variety make for a hard story to become fully invested in. There seems to be too much text and waffle, and I get the feeling that quantity was preferred over quality in the story. On the whole, the game feels rushed and unpolished.
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is an enjoyable mash-up of every single Marvel character you can think of in a unique LEGO environment. It's not my favorite LEGO game, however the sheer amount of Marvel characters makes it fun for any fan. Keep in mind this is an eight-year-old game, so maybe watch for a sale on this one.
Okinawa Rush is a fun albeit repetitive game whose nonstop fighting action shows why the SNES era was so great. Fantastic retro vibes in terms of music, too.
Nira is a delightful survival, crafting game with charming pixel art and relaxing tunes. However, there's quite a learning curve to play, and it may grow old quickly.
BATS: Bloodsucker Anti-Terror Squad is fun. It has great humour, doesn't take itself too seriously, and has some great homages to several franchises all whilst cracking a joke or two at their expense. Its gameplay is fine, and I think with a little bit of TLC to tighten the controls and fixing of the blood drops, it would turn BATS from a good game to a great one.
Kathy Rain is a '90s-inspired point-and-click adventure game that follows a college student on her journey of discovering her hometown secrets. Dealing with supernatural elements and old family secrets, the game provides plenty of fun puzzles and interesting characters to captivate fans of retro adventures.
World War Z is another example of an impressive "I can't believe they got that on Switch" game. The entire experience is fully fit onto the Switch, with tons of zombies on screen and plenty of action all around. World War Z suffers from being very repetitive and, at times, boring, with a story that is fairly generic and uninteresting. It's also less fun to play alone than it is to play with friends. That said, if you're looking for a decent zombie shooter than will technically impress, then World War Z may be your game.
Evertried is a welcome take on the rogue like genre. Although it can feel repetitive, the turn-based gameplay is a refreshing take.
The Suicide of Rachel Foster is well constructed when it comes to design and mechanics, but is let down if you stop to examine the plot for a moment. The deeper into the game you get, the more it feels like it's trying to shock rather than effectively engage with serious topics.
Monomals may look like a sleeper from an indie studio, but it hits a lot of the right notes for gamers looking for some action platformer fun with a musical twist. You get good game play, plenty of time and replay, and an outlet for your creative side.
I respect the idea that Circa Infinity is going for; a unique puzzle arcade game that will attract speedrunners and those looking for a challenge. If you enjoy punishing titles and can handle motion sickness, then this release may be for you. However, a game's supposed to be fun. With the brain-breaking movement scheme, flashing lights, and constant moving images, I felt sick playing it.
Satisfactory puzzle-platformers are many on the Nintendo Switch. But the transformative and unique A Boy and his Blob, while easy, rises well above most of the competition. Time has been kind to this game, both in presentation (graphically and musically) and general design. If you haven't had your fill of it yet, add this one to your Switch collection.
Although it falls just short of the similar (but more intricate) Atelier games, those who enjoyed them will be entertained by Blue Reflection: Second Light. The fun characters, moving story, and familiar (albeit lighter) crafting / battle systems typical of Gust games are a great way to fill the time while we await the release of Atelier Sophie 2.
Space Crew: Legendary Edition falls into the category of a "certain type of game for a certain type of player." If you haven't played a challenging space sim, then I really don't think Space Crew is for you. It's hard and very unforgiving, with lots of systems you need to understand and control. However, if you're someone who loves challenging space sims and you're looking for something new to play on your Nintendo Switch, then Space Crew: Legendary Edition is likely a decent game you'll enjoy. It really depends on the type of player you are.
Overall, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a classic RPG with one of the best Star Wars stories in the franchise. It is priced at $14.99, and I say it is worth it! There is plenty of replay value, trying for different endings and seeing different responses in your dialogue choices. Will you go Dark, Light, or Neutral? Will you bully your way through quests or try to be diplomatic? Play it, you 'meatbag'!
Overall though, Metroid Dread is excellent. MercurySteam has more than proven themselves to be a worthy steward of the 2D Metroid games. They understand the genre and what fans are looking for from Nintendo’s bounty hunter extraordinaire. Metroid Dread is simply a must-play title for newcomers and fans alike.
I appreciate the unique control scheme, which made Hoplegs stand out in its promotional videos and material. But overall, it was a frustrating experience, even though I progressed quicker when the controls started feeling more natural and gained more momentum. The repetitive level design, visuals and music become tedious, leaving Hoplegs (sigh) no real leg to stand on.
Panorama Cotton changes up the series' cute-em-up experience by switching to a 3D action arcade style, but it introduces some problems along the way. The trippy enemies and color palette provide some quick fun, but they quickly wear out and allow performance issues to dampen the experience. Unless you're a fan of the series, this isn't a game you're likely to finish.
While some of its puzzle flow can be hit-or-miss, The Sundew delivers an entertaining graphic adventure. While I hate to see the sound design miss the mark so badly, genre fans should enjoy pointing and clicking their way through this tale's surprises.