Rapid Reviews UK
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As a whole, Turbo Kid is an excellent Metroidvania, especially for those who like being guided without being told where to go. The game has a lot of collectables, engaged me with fun boss fights, and kept me hooked with a lovely presentation. Though none of the upgrades are vastly unique, and the combat sometimes felt repetitive, Turbo Kid is a lot of fun. I can easily recommend it, even if you are someone who, like me, has not watched the movie.
As a whole, Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril is a decent game. It functions well and there are some great boss fights in store here. The levels are somewhat engaging but they do not incite much excitement, and neither does much else about the game. Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril does not have anything innately wrong or broken about it, but it certainly does not impress compared to the vast Nintendo Switch library.
As a whole, I did not enjoy my experience with Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengeance of the Slayer very much. The weapons are neat and the theming is nice, but the story is nothing special, the game runs poorly, and despite having an adequate game design, the multitude of issues and lack of unique draw makes it hard to recommend this game over others on the console.
“The Pirate Queen – A Forgotten Legend” is a game best left buried in Davey Jones’ locker. Its barebones gameplay, unengaging story, and underwhelming graphics make for a VR experience that’s more of a drag than an adventure. The fascinating life of Cheng Shih deserves better than this half-hearted attempt.
Riven on the Meta Quest 3 is a delightful blend of nostalgia and modern gaming. While it has some technical limitations and the lack of a good in-VR note-taking system is a drawback, the game’s rich story, challenging puzzles, and immersive world make it a must-play for fans of the original. It’s also perfect for newcomers alike. Just be prepared to spend a lot of time exploring and taking notes in the real world. Riven remains a captivating journey into a beautifully crafted, mysterious world.
As a whole, I enjoyed my playthrough of The Oregon Trail, but I am not rushing to recommend it. It has a solid soundtrack and a lovely art style, but as a game, while there is a decent amount of depth, it failed to encourage me to dig deeper. This is not innately an issue, but it also makes the game a bit forgettable. Still, at the end of the day, The Oregon Trail is a charming adventure which could be a great pickup when it is on sale.
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron HD Remaster is one of the best, more hidden gems, 2D/3D action platformers available today. The combat is fun and challenging, the story, albeit a bit confusing, is still intriguing and the presentation is simplistic yet complex. Sure there are a few outdated mechanics, but it won’t hinder the overall enjoyment of this game. Whether you’ve played it back in the day or this is your first go-round, you can’t go wrong with El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron HD Remaster.
So how does this 20 year old game stand up I hear you say? Its incredible. It’s everything I wanted and more. Puzzles galore, comedy out the wazoo and an emotional story that kept me hooked throughout it’s 30+ hours. I simply adore this game. As a pairing gamers are just plain spoilt to have these two Paper Mario games side by side on the Nintendo Switch. If you haven’t tackled any Paper Mario games so far, you are seriously missing out. Dive in right here and prepare to have your mind blown over and over again.
The 7th Guest VR is a bold new take on a classic game, setting a high bar for VR experiences in 2023. While not perfect, it transforms a beloved IP into a truly immersive and exciting adventure. The game’s blend of puzzles, exploration, and narrative offers around seven hours of satisfying gameplay, making it a standout VR experience. It balances nostalgia with innovation, making it a must-play for both fans of the original and newcomers alike.
In summary, I am glad that I tried out Croakoloco. I enjoyed the journey of unlocking all of the different frogs, and had fun earning all of the available achievements. I would recommend the game to anyone looking for a cute, chill idle game, or who has a particular love of frogs. Just beware that, if you Kermit to playing actively, you’ll “finish” the game quickly.
I will say that I think buried under a layer of technical issues and nausea, there is an entertaining experience to be had [in Lawn Mowing Simulator VR]. I really hope the devs can fix the issues I have experienced and if they do I am happy to return. Until then though, I am afraid, the only grass-cutting I will be doing is in my real garden and that’s truly unfortunate, as it is much more fun in VR.
I thoroughly enjoyed Mullet Mad Jack. The combat is engaging and rewarding, strategising over different upgrades is a lot of fun, and the game provides a lot of content for me to explore. Though the rigid level layouts and story content could sometimes feel underwhelming, in general, Mullet Mad Jack provided an engaging experience that I enjoyed throughout. It is certainly a game I can recommend.
Pine Hearts is a charming and heartfelt game for the Nintendo Switch. Its peaceful setting and touching story make it truly special. Moreover, the game’s accessibility features ensure it is enjoyable for everyone. Whether you delight in solving puzzles, embarking on the journey, or petting dogs, Pine Hearts has something for you. So, dive into Pine Hearts Caravan Park and discover its cherished memories.
Duck Detective: The Secret Salami adds delightful humour, engaging gameplay and charming visuals to cosy mystery. The intuitive interface and clever puzzles suit all players, with a non-linear story for depth and replay value. The game’s story and characters are compelling, drawing you into a whimsical world where every detail matters. The occasional moments of guesswork and minor plot holes are small blemishes on an otherwise stellar game.
As far as I’m concerned, WayForward rarely misses and sadly Contra: Operation Galuga is a miss. It overall feels sluggish, and overly chaotic with an unnecessary story. While I have fond memories of this franchise, Operation Galuga doesn’t come close to recapturing the magic of Contra. This was done way better in the past with Contra 4 for the DS and Contra Shattered Soldier for PS2 (or PS3 digitally). There’s nothing chaoticly wrong with this; it just feels… monotone, and boring. Unless you’ve played and mastered every other entry in this legendary franchise, pick up the Contra Anniversary Collection instead for the real deal.
Overall, after spending around two weeks with Spirit City: Lofi Sessions, I’m confident that I’ll continue playing the game even after this review is published. It has a charming aesthetic, the various companion spirits are adorable, and the available productivity tools have proven useful to me while working from home. The development team at Mooncube Games are also clearly dedicated to implementing user suggestions and feedback where possible, which is great to see. I hope that – in the future – we’ll see additional spirits, activity options and decorations added to the game. In the meantime, I’ll be enjoying the magical aesthetic, listening to the chill Lofi beats, admiring my Moonpaw companion spirit, and – hopefully – maintaining my productivity.
Endless Ocean Luminous offers plenty to do, including the 99 Mystery Squares and 500+ species to catalogue. Earning achievements will unlock various Stickers, Emotes, and Colour Patterns, and earned coins can be used to purchase additional ones as well. Ultimately, it falls on the player to determine whether the time invested in doing that is well-spent [...] I’d rate it a respectable three out of five; still a solid game.
Overall, while I did enjoy CorpoNation: The Sorting Process, the game feels bloated. For starters, it is bogged down by its dialogue sections. I wanted those components to be fantastic, but unfortunately, since I did not get captivated by the writing, they felt like a chore. Moreover, while I enjoyed the primary gameplay of sorting things, the strategy elements surrounding money management and the optional minigames did not resonate with me either. The game certainly has a lot of fantastic components, but there are just as many, if not more, mediocre ones.
Small annoyances aside, I really enjoyed Botany Manor. It’s cheap, it’s quite short, and it’s very enjoyable throughout. The puzzles are well-designed and the presentation is nice on the eye. If you are in the market for a small, very unique puzzle title, you could do a hell of a lot worse.
On the whole, the Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection is a great collection. It allows players young and old to get a fresh look at what once was. It features lots of bang for your buck, but the language barrier in some of the ports may pose a problem. If you don’t understand Japanese, the deeper RPG oriented games with their native text may be difficult to play.