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Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey brings the Bros. and their number one enemy back for a fun adventure that goes micro, macro, and everywhere in between. Carried by just how enjoyable Bowser is, the strong theming that affects both story and gameplay, and the always splendid battle system; it brings an already great game back for an encore.
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is just an all-around good time — especially if you have others to enjoy it with.
Full of trademark style and promising concepts, it doesn’t manage to live up to its own potential, let alone expectations, due to repetitive gameplay and gimmicks that don’t pan out.
While Fitness Boxing does its best to get players moving and motivated, it just lacks that lasting appeal some of its predecessors offered.
Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition stands as a fitting celebration of this ten year-old gem of a game, bringing a fan favorite back with more content than ever. Thanks to the game’s stellar cast of playable characters and addicting, thoroughly enjoyable battle system, it stands as not just a fantastic example of its series, but of its genre.
As one of the last indie titles of 2018, GRIS also proves to be one of the greatest. Anybody interested in gaming as an art form should absolutely pick it up. It’s tender, it’s vague, and it’s inspired. And it will be a landmark in both visual design and abstract storytelling for years to come.
It’s easy to consider a game an essential pickup for a system, but if there was ever a game I would call a must-have for those who love video games, it is unquestionably Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu & Eevee! represent both the series’ oldest and newest generations of titles. For everything the game takes away from the equation, it tries something new — and it’s these additions and improvements that make the game addicting and enjoyable.
If I had to bring just one Switch game to a deserted island, it would without a doubt be this one. And I know that I will continue to love this entry, this game, and this franchise for many ages to come.
Your enjoyment with Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! is going to come down to two main factors: how well you can adhere to its motion controls and how much you enjoy its soundtrack.
The World Ends With You: Final Remix makes for one of the most unique Switch experiences by its very nature. Best played in handheld with touch inputs, it shows the versatility of the system and brings back a fan favorite franchise with a fresh layer of HD paint.
As far as remakes go, Luigi’s Mansion shines as a 3DS title, leaving much of what made the original so great intact while adding a few things here and there that really make it stand out on 3DS. The visuals did take a few hits, and the controls provided by the 3DS make elements a little more difficult at times, but overall I found myself enjoying my trek through the mansion once again, especially since I could finally see it all in 3D.
Dark Souls: Remastered on Nintendo Switch might not be the prettiest or best-performing version, but that doesn’t hold back what it manages to achieve. Bringing handheld portability to the series, this is the version of Dark Souls: Remastered most worth considering for those wishing to return to its untold stories and unforgiving fights.
Super Mario Party marks the beginning of a revival to the series that was long overdue. Unquestionably charming and consisting of a fresh selection of minigames made with the Joy-Con in mind, it breathes some fresh air into what was a deflated affair. The boards are smaller and the thrills are gone, but what’s new here is a promising look at what could be a new chapter of multiplayer fun from Nintendo.
Yet what it lacks in ambition is made up by tight platforming and riveting boss fights — a homage to its more pixelated past Mega fans are sure to enjoy.
Valkyria Chronicles 4 draws you into its world and characters, keeping you firmly on the front lines of its all-encompassing war while never losing sight of its more grounded ideals and humanity. Fully equipped to be a unique, involved, and visually exquisite strategy game, there’s hardly anything holding it back from victory.
If you’re new to 2, then it can be a great starting point if you’re unsure of your commitment to a 100 hour experience, as it’s a wonderful sliver of what the full game offers. And ultimately, I think I’ll look back at it even more favorably than the main questline. Just like the game it’s an addendum to, Torna ~ The Golden Country is an unpolished gem: an experience with rough edges that dazzles in spite of them all.
It asks you to be kind, even though it knows how hard that can be. It is aware that some wicked beings will never be receptive of your good intentions, and cautions you appropriately. It proposes that being good — while difficult — feels good.
Its evocative use of visual storytelling, haunting soundtrack, and fluid combat system will leave you cutting and coughing through its beautifully pixelated playground long after the credits roll.
This is still one of the finest games of the last decade.