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Ramp Car Jumping is a physics-based puzzler that lacks creativity and longevity. It provides a couple hours of silly fun for one or two players on the Nintendo Switch, but it never feels like more than a free-to-play mobile title.
Captain Sabertooth and the Magic Diamond has its moments. Still, the challenge fluctuates too much to give it a broad recommendation to youngsters. Without any difficulty settings or even a two-player mode where mom and dad could help out, I could see kids growing tired of this one after a while.
No More Heroes is still a blast to play today. Living up to its cult status that it initially earned when it first released on the Wii, over ten years ago. Some of the gameplay feels dated, primarily due to the empty and dull open world sections, but the comical writing and boss battles alone make it worth your attention. Whether you're a fan of the original or, like me, a newcomer to the franchise No More Heroes is a great addition to any Switch players library.
No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle improves on its predecessor in nearly every way imaginable. Successfully maintaining what made No More Heroes so adored, all the while improving on the original without sacrificing the heart and soul of the game: having fun.
Brawl Chess is strictly adequate. It's hard to screw up chess badly, but as a video game, the aspiration in this take (or lack thereof) is pretty average. While targeting kids with a cartoony, less violent take on the Battle Chess formula is noble, overlooking a tutorial is a head-scratcher, to put it mildly. DLC is also highly questionable at best. Think long and hard on this one if it isn't on sale.
While it's nothing new in the realm of retro puzzle platformers, More Dark has enough value to keep you engaged throughout some of its brain-teasing levels.
Touhou Spell Bubble is a clever and challenging game that combines bubble popping mechanics with rhythm elements and surprisingly intricate strategies. The price may be high, but it'll pay off if you're able to stick with it-especially if you can squeeze extra life out of local multiplayer instead of having to rely on the DLC purchases.
Memoranda is a stunning game with beautiful graphics and amazing music, only to fall short with lackluster gameplay and an incomplete story.
Grood is a fast-paced shooter that's fun and easy to pick up and play. It comes with two warnings: it's highly addictive, and it's very challening.
Beat-em-ups are a dime a dozen, but 9 Monkeys of Shaolin is at the very least different from many of the other offerings on the Switch. From the complexity of the combat system which offers plenty of potential for variety in gameplay, to the inspired visual presentation, it's easy to recommend to any fan of the beat-em-up genre.
Crazy BMX World contains excellent games that have aged gracefully, but it's strangely just okay as a compilation. While a real value, the linear design (and lack of Pro controller support) sizably hurt it. I hope it gets a patch asap.
Tennis World Tour 2 is a complex sports sim that features some real nuances of playing tennis. Unfortunately, that results in convoluted controls with little instruction on how to use them. It'll keep hard-core sports gamers busy for a while, but is not a very good option for casual tennis fans.
Limited characters is an issue, but not the only one. The Language of Love has no choices, and thus no replay value. It's passive, except to hit a button or tap the touch screen to advance the story; this might work were the plot aces, but that's not the case. So, this one fares poorly compared to other VNs on the Switch.
Despite lacking in post-game content, there is still just enough in Area 86's varied escape room challenges to warrant a quick look.
This exploration platformer pulls off the essentials, but the amount of time spent backtracking and grinding for upgrades feels much more wasteful rather than satisfying. Micetopia wound up slightly disappointing, but I've seen enough positives that I have some optimism for the studio's next release.
Gibbous – A Cthulhu Adventure injects a dry sense of humour into classic Lovecraftian horror and absorbs you into the mystery through a beautifully animated point-and-click story.
Double Pug Switch is a challenging platformer, short but sweet, where you'll find yourself saying, "just one more level!" The controls are easy to learn and hold a fun challenge that will keep you addicted. Multiple checkpoints are a saving grace.
Rusty Spout Rescue Adventure is an attractive looking game that's taken a timeless formula and added quality-of-life options. I feared this would be a game I'd suggest passing on, but it's now turned into a recommendation for fans of this game style. While not every choice is to its advantage, $6.99 gets you a fun story mode, multiplayer, an endless mode, and more.
There's not much to say about REPLICA. It plays closer to a proof of concept than a full-fledged game. It is only $4.99, but that might even be high for a game I beat (multiple times) in under two hours. It was painless, except for the pain that came from seeing potential unfulfilled. Maybe a sequel can make things better.
Either a shoot 'em up with bubble popper elements or a match-four game with shmup tendences, Galacide is an interesting, visually appealing mash-up. It's something you're likely not used to seeing, but whether you find it successful will depend mostly upon what you like and dislike about each genre.