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GOOD - Tales of Vesperia is a good JRPG that will appeal very much to fans of the genre. It has a captivating story, great voice acting, and a very cute and colorful cast. A lackluster overworld and awkward combat system keeps it from being a truly great title.
GOOD - At a cool 40 bucks, Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends – Definitive Edition lives up to its namesake as the definitive way for fans of the series to experience Dynasty Warriors on the go. While its outdated visuals and overall lack of polish is a bit of a disappointment to see, the core gameplay continues to be rock solid and isn’t showing any sign of cracking soon.
GOOD - Everything is an interpretive experience game, and one that’s quite hard to score, as so much of it will come down to personal engagement. The collection and exploration mechanics are well defined, and getting to hear some of Alan Watt’s speeches is a treat and further adds to the gravity of the game. For many, this will be too random of an experience, but I implore giving it a go as it’s a relaxing game to enjoy.
GOOD - Double Cross is a fun action game that allows your character to gain upgrades by finding secret crystals. Some of the stage designs are really great and traversal of the world is fun. Combat becomes rather boring very quickly and the story really isn’t all that compelling. Luckily you can button mash your way through the not so great parts and still have a good time with the rest of the game!
GREAT - Knights of Pen & Paper 2 Deluxiest Edition brings everything great about the series to the Nintendo Switch. Tongue-in-cheek humor is present every step of the way, and accessible gameplay with fun quests hold this game together wonderfully. Players will be delighted at how expandable this game can be with the amount of content that is offered using the in-game currency too. Some minor bugs and slight clunky controls aren't enough to mar the experience. I'd definitely consider this a staple game on my Nintendo Switch.
EXCELLENT - Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom is one of the best Metroidvania games yet for the Nintendo Switch. The graphics are amazing, the music is memorable, the controls are impeccable, and the ability to change into different monsters makes for fresh and exciting gameplay. Difficulty spikes and timed puzzles can be frustrating at times, but they’re a slight blemish on an otherwise fantastic game!
GOOD - Donut County is a surreal experience featuring a town filled with talking animals. The gameplay hook is swallowing up objects to increase the size of your hole until you can devour everything in sight! If you liked Katamari Damacy, this one will probably be a must-have.
GREAT - Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP is not only a joy to experience, but has a rich history worth exploring in further detail. Those who grew up playing games on the PC in the early ‘90s will especially get a kick out of this one.
WORTH CONSIDERING - While not a ‘drop the mic’ action puzzle experience, Super Inefficient Golf is a fun and unique game that will entertain you for at least 4 hours before you may start to get a little bored with it. The game gives you a ball, a hole, and a bunch of charges. The fun may need to be supplied by you to try things that seem crazy. While there’s nothing here that’s mind blowing or particularly charming, the fact that failure is always an option gives enough reason to stick with it through a full course.
WORTH CONSIDERING - I had such high hopes for Battle Princess Madelyn. The core concept works and if you’re just looking for another Ghouls ‘N Ghosts action game, play the arcade mode. The adventure mode is a mess with poor stage design and little to no direction on where or what to do next. Without a walkthrough most will never see the end.
WORTH CONSIDERING - Unless portable ARK is the number one reason for picking it up, I would recommend getting it on something other than the Switch. PC is really the best way to play it, but the Switch does offer portability, which the PC would only give you with an expensive laptop. I did have fun playing on the Switch and taking it with me when I left. But wherever you do go, remember it's an online game so you will need a decent connection to the web should you want to play on the official servers.
MEDIOCRE - Gear.Club Unlimited 2 attempted to make a console sequel from a mobile game but didn’t put in enough effort to do so. The game looks beautiful, and there is a hefty amount of content to unlock. But the heavy controls, unbearable loading times, and overall mobile feel of the game ruin what could have been an amazing experience. Oh, and it’s way too expensive for what you get.
GREAT - Phantasy Star comes to the Switch and it’s loaded with all sorts of options that should please hardcore fans. If you’re new to the game it’s still approachable even today, although having an appreciation for ‘80s 8-bit games will definitely impact your feelings toward it. I’m happy to finally say I’ve played this classic and the Switch’s portable mode is a great way to experience it!
MEDIOCRE - Asterix & Obelix XXL 2 fits the bill if you're looking for a casual beat-em-up with some light puzzle solving elements. Unfortunately the repetitive combat and high price make it hard to stand out from other great Switch titles.
GREAT - Kingdom Two Crowns consumed my time and kept me away from playing the newly released Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – so that’s saying something! There’s a lot to like here, from the visuals to the music to the addicting gameplay. Strategy fans should take notice!
GREAT - This War of Mine: Complete Edition is a dark and harrowing experience that does the survival genre justice. It’s not the usual happy-go-lucky game that you’re used to on the Switch, but if you’re looking for a provocative title with excellent storytelling and captivating characters, this is a great one to purchase.
EXCELLENT - The original Katamari Damacy is a timeless game, and this updated version is a great improvement with its new HD graphics. Some might have issues with the motion controls, but luckily the traditional stick controls are here as an option as well. It doesn’t get much zanier than this!
Crimson Keep is a game that just doesn’t have the right focus on any area it aims for. It’s filled with roguelike mechanics that don’t really fit the genre in a meaningful manner, first person combat that’s partially broken and just clunky, and RPG lite elements that come off amateur and unbalanced. For any of these targeted genres, there are just better games out there on the Switch for this $19.99 asking price.
Looking for an amazing racing game that involves combat, thrilling speed, stellar controls, and rewarding excitement? I'm sure there is a game out there that can offer that to you, but Road Redemption is just not it. With graphical and game play issues that frustrate more than exhilarate there are far more worthy titles of your time and money.
I admire the team that finally got this game finished after nine years. Obviously there are Toki fans out there, but after waiting so long I fear most of them will be disappointed, mostly by the game's length and lack of features. For the classic or casual gamer looking for a great 2D platform/adventure title, there are simply far superior choices at a better value.