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Overall, Skábma - Snowfall is a bold and heartfelt game that has a wonderful atmosphere and charming if sometimes simplistic gameplay. It is held back by some technical limitations, but players who don't mind these setbacks will still find an engaging experience.
As such, Road 96 is incredible. It was an indie hit on its release for PC and Switch last year, and that success has easily converted over to other home console platforms. This is a fascinating, compelling, and immensely replayable experience that is certainly worth exploring.
B.I.O.T.A. is a short, enjoyable title. It doesn't quite match the retro chops of something like Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, and it doesn't have a massive twisting map of something like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, but it's great for someone looking for a fast-paced action platformer with a retro-style, has stages that are easy to explore (and get a 100% completion at the end), and a story that has the depth of an 80's action movie.
Even so, MLB The Show 22 is a very impressive baseball game. Although it doesn't reinvent the wheel with this year's entry, the game is extremely enjoyable and the wider accessibility of platforms will no doubt mean that MLB The Show 22 will reach plenty of baseball fans.
The same studio that made The House of the Dead: Remake is also working on a remake of its sequel. It would have been better if the team had held off and included the two games in one package, as this would have alleviated the content issues. The issues with the control scheme are harder to solve, as the lack of a lightgun on the Nintendo Switch dampens the experience as a whole. The House of the Dead is an arcade series and any remake or console port needs a decent lightgun to truly emulate the feeling that made the original so special. The House of the Dead: Remake can be fun, but that lack of a decent controller is a problem that holds the whole experience back.
Demeo is perfect for scratching a dungeon-crawling itch and is great for those who want to connect with friends in a tabletop setting, but don't have the time for a full campaign. With patches to fix glitches and balance difficulty, Demeo will be a great option for anyone wanting a short, action-packed adventure with friends.
Chinatown Detective Agency is a superbly told story with memorable characters and incredibly engaging gameplay. The unique noir-style take on Carmen Sandiego presents a strong, admirable protagonist that strives to be the hero even in the darkest of times, while provoking the question of what heroism really means. The game's case-cracking gives the player a true feeling of accomplishment and justice-served, with the added bonus of learning about interesting new topics. The game's greatness makes the fact it cannot be finished even more disappointing - without the large bugs, Chinatown would be a nearly flawless game. However, under the assumption the development team is able to make the necessary changes to the game, Chinatown Detective Agency has the potential to become a great modern point-and-click adventures.
Forgive Me Father's single-player campaign lasts around eight hours and there's never a dull moment to be had. The game is challenging and the player will need to use every resource at their disposal to survive each stage, but it offers that Soulslike feeling of satisfaction when overcoming overwhelming odds. There has been a revival for retro shooters on modern platforms in recent years, with games like Doom 64 and Quake coming to modern platforms, and Forgive Me Father proves that there's room for new games in the genre that retain everything that makes them fun while adding some new elements to spice things up.
Nonetheless it's easy to forgive these problems thanks to the tone of the game and just how satisfying it is to solve a level. Kombinera is a very well constructed puzzler that knows just how far to go with its design choices. With parallels to be found in excellent indie puzzle games like Baba Is You and Thomas Was Alone, Kombinera is a clever little game that is excellently suited to the on-the-go nature of the Switch.
Ultimately, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim remains largely unchanged on Nintendo Switch minus the platform's strengths and weaknesses that exist independent of title. That's for the best, as 13 Sentinels remains one of the most intriguing releases in recent years and a game that's been slept on by a large number of people turned off by its anime or mecha-inspired origins. Underneath that coat is a resonant tale spanning generations and dealing with some interesting, innovative subject matter - and 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim comes highly recommended to anyone as a result.
Actually deciding whether or not Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition is worth it varies wildly depending on what a given consumer is looking for. As a remaster, it falls short of the high bar some other projects over the last few years have managed to meet. As a gaming experience absent its new bells and whistles, Chrono Cross remains a stunning title that still captivates as a JRPG over two decades since its release, while The Radical Dreamers remains an oddball text adventure that few but the most dedicated lore enthusiasts will find appealing. As a preservation project, Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition is all but necessary. What players choose to do with that information is up to them.
The world of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is massive and full of puzzles, collectibles, side missions, and hilarious takes on classic stories.
Weird West is a refreshing, lean and mean immersive sim. Its supernatural Wild West is a delight to explore, and is at its very best when it gets as strange as it possibly can, while the minute-to-minute combat is an awful lot of fun. Some of its bugs may get in the way, and those expecting deep interpersonal relationships with posse members will find it wanting, but as a mechanic-driven immersive experience it is hard to put down.
There is a range of unique classes to experience in Cosmonious High, including Visualetics, Sports Dome, and Astralgebra. The school is split up into three wings that can be accessed from the Grand Hall, or through secret passages in the vents that the Prismi will eventually be able to open. The environment in Cosmonious High encourages exploration while still steering the Prismi toward their ultimate goal. Owlchemy takes the chaos of being a new student on the first day of high school and amplifies it for a unique and entertaining VR adventure with Cosmonious High.
Overall, Glitchhikers: The Spaces Between is fantastic, and manages to blend an introspective, meditative journey with discussions of interesting real world issues with ease. It may feel a little esoteric to some, but players who go into The Spaces Between with the right mindset will get not just an interesting indie game, but a mindful place to revisit in times when they need it.
Overall, even with these limitations A Memoir Blue excels at its core purpose. Its poetic story choices and at times beautiful combination of visual and sound design elements make it an intoxicating blend for players who want something a little more cerebral. It's not the most taxing game for those after an interactive experience, and its short run time may leave some players a little disappointed that it's over so fast, but it successfully completes the goals that it aims for.
Nightmare Reaper is a thrilling, gory, blast-from-the-past that hits all the right spots. FPS fans eager for a retro game change from the industry's sea of open-world titles should give Nightmare Reaper a try. By restricting levels to a pixelated, 2.5D environment, Blazing Bit Games has delegated many resources to other mechanics that make this rogue-lite a phenomenal enjoyment. While players may struggle with the nuances of retro shooters, especially considering the high-end, open-world norm of many new industry titles, Nightmare Reaper is centered around a learning curve. Challenging gameplay combined with charming features and Easter eggs makes this an adventure that players won't want to miss.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is an excellent marriage between gameplay innovation and accessibility.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is an excellent example of how the looter shooter genre can innovate.
Rune Factory 5 is a good fit for longtime fans of the Rune Factory series and could be a fun way for slice-of-life gamers to combine enjoyable combat with the relaxation of farming.