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Super Daryl Deluxe offers up a humorous story backed by its great amount of customization and exploration. One of my favorite things about the game was that you never knew what twist or turn it was going to take.
Zotrix: Solar Division does a nice job of keeping things fresh and interesting, by offering up several different gameplay options as well as different conditions for winning.
Jotun: Valhalla Edition is a game of moments. It's like an album with a handful of brilliant songs surrounded by filler material you'd rather just skip. That's not to say it's not worth playing, especially at the attractive price of $14.99. The great moments make it worth it, but the gameplay between those moments can try your patience. As such, it'll just take some serious dedication to play it all the way through.
My first hour of diving into Garage was extremely promising, but as time went on the honeymoon phase quickly began to fade. Tearing apart zombies and snagging new weapons from a top-down perspective made me feel like I was preparing myself for a recipe of DOOM mixed with an adventure feel from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. In that sense, the game serves its purpose, but Garage ends up being just another average take on the overly saturated slew of apocalyptic zombie survival games we've seen over the last decade with an added touch of a twin-stick shooter.
Sol Divide is a piece of gaming history that is probably worth the $7.99 it costs. It's not complex, but there's definitely nostalgia value, whether you're reliving the late '90s of experiencing their reboots for the first time.
Pacing issues notwithstanding, Swim Out succeeds when played for a few minutes here and there. It's non-linear nature (and lack of a timer) allows you to take your time with each puzzle, and easily move on to another. Puzzle enthusiasts will get a good Nintendo Switch game at a fair price, one that will exercise their brains. Just make sure to wait 30 minutes after eating before playing.
The Adventure Pals is a fun platformer that players of all ages can enjoy (assuming they like and appreciate the silliness of the gameplay and storyline), not to mention how great it looks. The story could be a bit more lengthy but it does have some replay value for those who like playing co-op or achieving 100% completion.
Immortal Redneck isn't especially thought-provoking, but it's a fiercely entertaining shooter complete with magic, mythology and a great sense of humour.
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).