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As a first-time player of the series, Monster Hunter: World has given me unique experiences and memories that, for better or worse, other games will be measured against for years to come. That has to be a win.
The time I've spent with Long Hat House's latest title has forced me to reevaluate my expectations of the Metroidvania subgenre. On one hand, Dandara is a perfectly serviceable romp through a series of well-designed and attractive environments; on the other, it's a deliberate yet confusing sidestep of well-established gameplay conventions. It may be that Dandara's atypical traversal mechanic will click with some players, particularly those who pick up the game for the Nintendo Switch or mobile devices, but others may find that the game's middling charms aren't enough to make up for its potentially-frustrating controls.
Sprint Vector is a pretty great value that deserves a spot in the VR ecosystem's upper tier of games.
Dissidia Final Fantasy NT is an amalgam of both positive and negative design choices, but overall it's an excellent combination of interesting fights, varied characters, and entertaining fan service.
Lost Sphear is a game that seems to fall victim to its own ambition. It presents plenty of classic JRPG elements that fans of the genre will enjoy, but its efforts to follow a nostalgic form result in something that ultimately feels insincere. The foundation is solid, particularly with regard to its battle system, skill customization, and overall presentation, but the soul of the experience just isn't there. Lost Sphear is meant to feel like a proper return to a traditional form, but its lackluster dialog and underwhelming plot development instead result in a game that simply can't stand up to the classics it's inspired by.
The heart of the game is in its fighting and that's as good as it's ever been.
While the remaster does a great job of bringing the games already noteworthy visuals and story into a new generation of HD consoles it is unfortunate that the same cannot be said about the controls. Sadly, the game's control schemes are stuck in the past and make for a clumsy experience at times. Climbing commands feel like there's a delay in the reaction and there were several times I failed to grab onto something that seemed like a straightforward transition.
It's fast, frantic, and quite fun overall, but the surprisingly steep challenge and general lack of variety might have players moving on after only a matter of hours.
Kirby: Battle Royale is clearly meant to offer another bit of multiplayer-centric fun for 3DS owners, but nothing about it feels like a full-fledged offering. The short Story Mode and the repetitive nature of the mini games available make for a game that you probably won't come back to after you've exhausted what it has to offer. It's good to see more Kirby on the handheld, but with Kirby: Star Allies on its way on the Nintendo Switch, it doesn't offer a can't-miss Kirby experience by any means.
Those who are looking for one of the year's first true single-player challenges should look no further than Celeste. The team at Matt Makes Games has crafted a tough, yet not entirely unfair platformer, one wrapped in a touching narrative with some memorable characters. It's clear that a lot of heart went into writing the story, while it's also clear that Matt Thorson put his best level design foot forward. Some of the areas in Celeste were very reminiscent of some of his Super Mario Maker work, in terms of gimmicks, precision jumping, tricks, and difficulty.
This is truly the best Dragon Ball fighter I've played since the Super Famicom imports.
Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a beautiful journey through Chloe Price's teenage years. It's a brilliant exploration of what happens when a directionless teenager meets a special person that changes the course of their life forever. It's a journey that explores the themes of loss, love, finding one's self, and whether the road to happiness ultimately lies in truth.
Beyond the core multi-person battles, Gang Beasts has little else to offer. There's almost nothing for solo players to truly sink their teeth into for an extended period and local multiplayer starts to get old after a while without the ability to add bots. That only leaves online play as the best way to experience Gang Beasts as it should be played, but playing online is a rocky prospect at the moment.
The Nintendo Switch is sorely lacking in horror titles, and the Resident Evil Revelations Collection is a welcome addition to the console's library. If you're looking to expand your horizons or simply get your start in the horror genre on your shiny new handheld, you could do way worse than this double shot of high-octane zombified horror game. It's not the classic Resident Evil adventure you may remember from your original PlayStation or GameCube endeavors, but it's certainly a worthy buy, motion control issues and all. Plus, it's been on nearly all consoles by now. You may as well bring it home on Switch too!
It's Quiz Time has some first season growing pains. Salli as a host doesn't quite work as well as she should, even if her personalization efforts are top-notch. Her robotic presentation starts to feel like an overwhelming negative at times and her repetitive mannerisms don't help.
If you enjoyed the first Lego Marvel Super Heroes, there's no doubt you'll love this one too. If you're looking for a sandbox where you can play with just about any of your favorite Marvel characters you'd like, this is your stop. If you're looking for a challenge, look elsewhere.
Even for those who haven't experienced Pokemon fever first-hand, Ultra Sun and Moon still manage to convey the sense that they was lovingly-crafted for a highly-dedicated demographic. Everything from the availability of Z-Moves to the Pokemon Snap-esque photo function serves as a reminder that Ultra Sun is just as much for experienced players as it is for series newcomers, and additions like the ability to groom and heal Pokemon after battles presents a subtle touch that provides both utility to the player as well as a way to feel a deeper connection to the game's numerous pocket-sized companions.
Overall, Skyrim on Switch is as good as I hoped it would be. I still find new areas to explore and new secrets to discover. Being able to take this awesome title on the go truly showcases why the Nintendo Switch is king. Sadly, Skyrim is a 2011 game, and at times it really shows. Because of this, it doesn't stand up against a game like Breath of The Wild, though that comparison may not be fair. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim proudly stands as the second best RPG available on Switch. If by any chance you're a Switch owner that's never played Skyrim, I'd recommend picking it up.
Star Wars: Battlefront II is a pretty good game and you're going to get it if you're a fan of Star Wars, no matter what anyone says. I'm just thankful that the game is an improvement over the first attempt and is incredibly fun solo, or with friends online. The loot crates diminish its value greatly, and it's a shame EA forces them down your throat as part of the core gameplay, but the game looks gorgeous and is enjoyable to play.
In an effort to adopt the stylings of other popular, open-world racers, Need For Speed: Payback presents some fun ideas with poor execution.