Nintendo Wire
HomepageEldest aims to replicate the Soulsborne experience in its own stripped down way. Don’t mistake “stripped down” to mean it’s light or superficial, though, as Fallen Flag Studio have crafted something all their own through a gush of blood and gorgeous pixels.
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles will likely be as remembered for the journey it took to even be officially released in English as the journey of Ryunosuke Naruhodo himself – and both are worth it. The sheer grandiosity, excellent writing, and overall package make it one for the ages
My highest praise goes to the overall aesthetic. Fantastic Night Dreams is at once vibrant and somewhat gothic in its presentation, with the colorful sprites and characters flying freely through starlit nights and haunted caverns. These already looked nice in the original Cotton, helping it stand out even among other cute ‘em ups, but are even more pronounced in the arranged version. Paired with the excellent soundtrack for stages (which has also gotten completely rearranged, with the originals still available) the whole of a playthrough is a trick-or-treat for the eyes and ears.
Like any promising golfer, it has the makings of greatness and just needs to work on its personal bests to come up under par next time.
Legend of Mana isn’t just as good as the previous Mana games. It’s better. In fact, it’s not just one of the best JRPGs from the Playstation era, it’s one of the best I’ve ever played. And nobody told me, so I’m here to tell you.
I fell in love with the first Monster Hunter Stories, and that led to a renewed interest in the Monster Hunter series as a whole. I never dreamed we’d be getting a sequel, let alone one that would improve on the original as much as Wings of Ruin did.
In many ways Ys IX: Monstrum Nox feels like a game that confidently builds on its immediate predecessor while addressing its key weaknesses, namely traversal. As a result you have a game that feels like a concept shined to near-perfection, and I can’t wait to see what Falcom does next.
What it never stops being, though, is interesting. A blend of unapologetic and bittersweet were the lasting flavors, and even if I didn’t savor every moment that brought me to the end it was a refreshingly unique break from reality.
As far as remakes go, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 absolutely hits the mark with what it was trying to accomplish. The controls are tight and a great evolution of past games, and it plays incredibly smoothly thanks to some sacrifices made on the visual front. Sure, it’ll look better on other consoles, but the Switch is the only console you’ll be able to actually bring to the skatepark with you. The soundtrack still bangs, even with the new additions, and the roster’s attention to inclusivity with its additions is a welcome change
Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX is a beautifully faithful remaster of one of Sega’s first landmark console titles, and it’s a very solid way of experiencing that slice of gaming history.