Switching Worlds
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Super Mario Odyssey is a culmination of all things Super Mario. It takes the best from its 3D predecessors and combines them in a grand experience that is perfectly paced. The combination of granular platforming mixed in sandbox environments is designed in such a way that gameplay never feels bogged down and provides moment-to-moment fun. While a main hub world is missing, and many fans may miss that, the worlds feel dense enough that there's enough mystery and secrets within them. I'm glad Super Mario Odyssey reinvents the series then even if elements should feel familiar, it creates its own identity. Super Mario Odyssey is a 30+ year celebration of Mario that pays tribute to the series itself and all eras of gamers in general. Odyssey delivers and I can't wait to see where we'll make our next stop.
This collaboration between Mario and Rabbids is an important one to have. It allows the Rabbids to shine to a broader audience and it allows Mario to move out of his comfort zone. When you succeed in both of those departments it shows that both of these series can do more when you put your mind to it and pour your heart into making those creative ideas come to fruition. A bold step was taken and I welcome other crazy ideas of this caliber.
SteamWorld Dig 2 takes the blueprint of the first game and injects more adrenaline. It plays as beautiful as it looks. This game can cause an addiction. It's definitely highly regarded for multiple reasons. A fresh take on metroidvania with smart platforming and puzzles into the mix. Just moving around doing what you need to evolves into its own reward. Just buy it.
Okami HD is a fantastic 40 hour journey into Japanese folklore with a stunning art direction and clever gameplay. Although it is heavily influenced by The Legend of Zelda series, it manages to take that formula for a spin and in many regards does it even better. The writing and cast of characters certainly make the narrative experience a joy. Even better is Okami HD makes use of every Nintendo Switch feature. With 3 different control schemes it can be a new way to play; many would consider the touchscreen feature as the best way to play. HD rumble was care for and feels great. It's certainly worth your bang for the buck with its shiny new additions. A premium game on the eShop for $19.99? More than worth it.
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch hits all the high notes. It's a great JRPG, but it also transports you into an interactive Studio Ghibli world. The art and sound is directly that of Studio Ghibli. Careful production and planning went into this and it shows. It's easily one of the best out there. The Nintendo Switch is quickly becoming the one-stop RPG machine and this is one of the top recommendations. Many games in the genre can keep your attention, but seldom do you get one to entertain you like this one. It has that magic. Studio Ghibli: The RPG, developed by veteran Level-5.
Flipping Death offers up to 10 hours of gameplay, has brilliant setups to that gameplay, animated fluidly and is voiced by a wonderful cast. It takes the overall flow of Stick It To The Man! and improves on it in every way, allowing more things to see and people to engage with, and engage as. The writing is just as good as ever and there's extra collectables. Zoink Games managed to do even better than their previous offering, which is saying a lot. As with Stick It To The Man!, Flipping Death is a puzzle-platformer with an identity that stands out from the rest and is a nice accomplishment for Zoink Games to have under the belt. I eagerly await the 3rd game in this series.
Nihon Falcom are the best at what they do; creating the finest JRPGs. If you've dreamed of recapturing the feeling of JRPGs from the golden days, don't overlook this game. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III is everything you want in a JRPG, yet gives you more with great attention to detail. The characters, writing, story, gameplay, and music are all high notes. Even if you must start with this one, then do it. There's no JRPG like Trails of Cold Steel 3. It's a masterclass of its own.
The package all comes together in Stick It To The Man; the smooth visuals along with its cartoonish animation and unique art style topped with hilarious writing from start to finish fully realized by top notch voice acting. It truly is a wonderful achievement worth playing through. I felt as if I could have described at least a few of the characters and scenarios you'll come across, but I would rather let every experience be the player's.
It's Doom (2016) for Nintendo Switch. It has online multiplayer. You can play it at the barber shop if you wish. Just don't let it entertain the person with the clippers or you'll meet your doom.
Toki Tori 2+ for Nintendo Switch is the definitive console version. It's a puzzle-platformer that uses the environment in clever ways even though it's tied around two simple mechanics. The pacing is all for the player, making this a relaxing game, yet challenging them at the same time. Puzzle games that use the environment in brilliant ways are not a dime a dozen of eggs and Toki Tori 2+ just pecks it down.
Toki Tori is classic puzzle-platforming at its best. Levels are never cheap in design and solving them feels rewarding. The occasional "ohh yeah" moment may happen. The music and visuals bring out the charm of this series and with the amount of levels for you to challenge yourself, it's one the best deals on the eShop. 5 dollars or euros gets you a polished gem.
Smoke and Sacrifice is fantastic. It's not often where a game comes along and uniquely pieces together elements quite well both visually and from a gameplay standpoint in a genre not occupying much of the gaming scene at the moment. It's beautiful and fun to play. Dozens of hours can be had. There are clever ideas implemented such as how the crafting system is handled. Both character progression and enemies are rightfully balanced. There's a lot to take away from Smoke and Sacrifice when it comes to what we should expect in the future. The only slight issue players have to deal with is the inventory, but if you can handle that then the rest is pure excellence.
Image & Form continues to impress. When tackling other genres and adding their own flare they never cease to amaze me. SteamWorld Quest is a properly balanced RPG whose visual and audible are equally beautiful with the humor and charm that you know and love. It's a straightforward, more linear journey and that's okay because some games should be especially when there's wiggle room for discovering secrets. Play times may vary between 20-30 hours and upwards 40 for those truly committed. It's a nice dose of an RPG that is just downright fun to play. Its formula now has me wanting to see what more can be done.
SUPERBEAT: XONiC is very fun and there's nothing really bad about it. Its main purpose is to make sure the music and your coordination are in line with each other while offering a visual style to keep you engaged. It succeeds in all regards. The track list is enjoyable and the visual presentation is far from lazy. This is a perfect game to play at home or on the go. The game is just shy of 70 total songs which may leave players wanting more, but it's the kind of game where you still have all of these tracks to master because putting good songs on repeat is the name of the game and the beat music lovers should feel.
Anyone who isn't into fantasy card games, but have thought about trying them should give Hand of Fate 2 a look. There's a compelling narrative and many added RPG elements which should tickle the everyday RPG fan in general. The combat is good, albeit repetitive. The stories on your journey will keep you engaged. The Dealer makes you feel like you're never alone. The newly earned cards always feel surprising to see what's next in your story and there's enough variety in-between to never make it feel stale. Hand of Fate 2 brings the tabletop feel to completion and fully immerses you in its atmosphere. You'll be shouting at times, and they will be for different reasons, both excited and enraged; and that's part of the addiction. It's alright to be addicted.
One other artistically awesome indie game that left an emotional impression on me was Old Man's Journey. Now with the journey of Arina and Frendt, The Gardens Between manages to go for the same areas of emotion. There's nothing seriously gripping here, but it's meant to leave an overall personal feeling, which it does well. The environmental puzzles using objects from each memory builds up a personal idea of what event is actually taking place and ultimately becomes resonating when it is revealed. It's fun getting to those points. The Gardens Between may look simple when giving it a brief glance, but it's one of the most charming, clever and wholesome games of 2018 and it's all about beautifully capturing friendship.
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout not only turns a new leaf for the series, but is the perfect entry for newcomers as well. The revamped synthesis mechanics are just that much better. I personally feel that the new turn-based/realtime battle system is an improvement by being fast and feeling fresh, but may not be for all. It just takes a while to unlock all its best features. The cast of characters and the new visual upgrade really amplify the cozy slice-of-life nature the series is known for. The plot stays steady, but it's the slow burn of the main cast and people of Kurken Island that make it worth it if the slice-of-life genre is your jam. It's wholesome, jolly vibes all around.
I like seeing love letters to games many people enjoy. Furi looks, sounds & plays good and it has some known names to back that up. It draws heavy inspiration, sure, but Furi is its own art worthy of standing alone. Some players may find it short if they're wanting more than just battling opponents, but it does have style and is satisfying from start to finish. This is a badass indie gem that reminds me of something I should have played on Nintendo's GameCube.
I've been a fan of Moonlighter since it was first revealed and after having finally played it I can say it delivered. It's a game that fuses two different genres successfully. At one point you're navigating through floors of dungeons in different ways, fighting crazy enemies using a fun combat system. The next, you're growing a peaceful town and selling your earnings the way you want to through the shop you own. The action is fairly competent and constantly makin' cha-ching as a merchant is gratifying. The visuals are beautiful and nostalgic; the same is said for its music. If the idea of feeling stronger and playing smarter intrigues you, and if the choice to handle your earnings fancies you, then Moonlighter is a worthy time sink.
The true successor to 2006's Marble Blast Ultra is finally here. Marble It Up! carries the torch and is even better than before. It looks stellar. It feels finely polished. Or does it look finely polished and feel stellar? True to both, really. The level design is clever and the future updates are promising. Multiplayer mode will be a good addition. As a Super Monkey Ball fan who has been constantly craving for another entry in the series, I've been a little disappointed that nothing has been made to grab my attention and that a game after Marble Blast Ultra hasn't seen the light of day. Marble It Up! not only does its series justice but proves it's got what it takes to be the best in the genre. Don't stop now. Keep rolling!