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TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge is the game I’ve wanted for decades. It’s not just a throwback to the games of my childhood, but a smart evolution of the formula. Every decision made in developing the game was a smart one, because this game feels incredible to play.
In almost every way, Sonic Origins is a success, except for where it truly matters – the games themselves. What could have been a fantastic celebration of some of the greatest 16-bit platformers out there is instead a tentative recommendation to new fans and a difficult sell for those who’ve spent decades of their lives running in Sonic’s shoes. I’ve enjoyed my time blasting to the past, but it’s fallen frustratingly short of living up to my memories.
I’d recommend this one mostly to arcade aficionados or those curious about the characters they’ve seen in the Vs. series or other Capcom crossovers. The modern conveniences are nice and the museum is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of these games, but these are still arcade ports through and through. Just like the Beat ‘Em Up Bundle, not every entry is equal here. More power to fans of older iterations and obscurities, and here’s hoping once again that Darkstalkers isn’t dead.
I’ve been an Uchikoshi fan for almost a decade at this point, and nirvanA Initiative might be his most singularly satisfying experience yet – blissfully complete and fully itself. In an age where more and more media feels homogenized into a singular paste, there is nothing else like it. Its personality is so strong that you’ll find it either utterly repulsive or intoxicatingly magnetic. There are parts I hate, but so much more that I love. And accepting it for its flaws and everything that makes me roll my eyes or grit my teeth, alongside its deeply, deeply affecting moments and enticingly endless web of a plot – that feels truly enlightening.
Despite the shallow offline single player mode, overall I’m enjoying my time with the game on my own, especially when I play online. However, I’m finding that the deeper, more complex mechanics are a definite barrier when it comes to casual play, making it hard to recommend this as a “bring-all-your-friends” party game, though by all means it feels like one on the surface.
The main story beats are all here, just at a slower pace than I feel a fighting game should offer. Alternatively, if you already love Demon Slayer and can look past a few hours of sluggish not-fighting to get to some really fun and flashy combat with your favorite characters, then this is definitely the game for you.
Card Shark is exactly the game I wanted it to be. Its unique concept, setting, and presentation set it apart from every other game on the market right now. The very idea of a game about cheating at cards is brilliant, and the team came up with some pretty ingenious ways to translate what amounts to subtle signals, side glances, and modifying cards into a fun and challenging video game.
In my mind it’s incredible that Nintendo Switch Sports even exists. It’s a sequel that I didn’t exactly see coming, but I’m not disappointed in the slightest that it’s here. Is it a perfect game? No, there are definitely improvements that could be made, especially to a somewhat hollow single player experience, but the online modes are stellar in their own right.
Despite an ending that I felt was anticlimactic and some minor technical issues, I think Bugsnax is a hearty dish that is well worth every Switch owner’s time.
Let’s not waste time – 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a testament to video games as both art and a storytelling medium.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land embraces old and new, becoming a high point for the series and a must-have for fans that had me hooked the moment it greeted me with a full-on theme song. It might leave behind a few pieces of the pink puffball’s history, but it ultimately moves him forward in a big way. With a mouthful of charm, it’s a journey that anyone can love thanks to smart design choices and its addicting mix of secrets and unlockables. Be it a direct sequel or something that carries its style, I need more of this game.
At first glance, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga might seem like just another LEGO release treading the same ground already covered by other entries in the series, but as soon as you start to play it’s immediately apparent that this game is a huge upgrade to the LEGO formula. When all is said and done, The Skywalker Saga is a delight to play either at home or on the go on Nintendo Switch, provided you can look past a few minor technical compromises.
I can imagine somebody else looking at this game and considering it middling, subpar even. Action mechanics that are lower than top of the line, the graphics are outdated, and those allergic to anything remotely “Anime” would scoff. But Rune Factory isn’t trying to be anything it’s not. It’s a game where you can grow a radish, forge that radish into a long sword, and use it to murder sheep monsters while calling your gay partner affectionate nicknames. And do I personally want anything else from a video game? Not without becoming greedy. After a long slumber, the reawakening of this sub-franchise is much beloved, and I sincerely hope to see a Rune Factory 6 sooner than nine years from now.
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a fantastic get for Switch owners. It’s one of my favorites from Arc System Works’ library thanks to its roster and sprite work, and has Atlus’ dedication to these characters and their stories’ just as much a part of the full experience. This isn’t the best way to meet Yu Narukami, but I’d encourage anyone that already reached out to the truth not to miss out on P4AU during this comeback.
Triangle Strategy is easily one of my favorite games to come out on Switch in the last year or so, despite a slow start and a few minor flaws. It’s a strategy game with enough unique mechanics that I never felt bored or like I had played anything like it before, and the story is ultimately a tale about the price people will pay to get what they want, and the consequences of the actions they’ll take in pursuit of their ambitions and ideals. I’m desperately hoping there is a follow up in the future, because Square Enix really blew me away with this one.
It’s worth noting that this review is written for the game as it stands at launch. There’s every possibility it will get much better, or much worse, as elements like the Season Pass are implemented. I can only hope the former’s the case, as right now, Chocobo GP stands as an enjoyable-but-basic racer that I’d only recommend to Final Fantasy fans.
With this, remakes like Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, gateways ala the Let’s Go! titles, and the core experience of Sword and Shield; the Switch has become the finest home Pokémon ever had. And dare I say, Legends is the new crown jewel of that collective. It has room to grow and doesn’t always impress in terms of performance, but in tightening the focus on research and catching Pokémon rather than battle after battle it’s honed in on the appeal spirit that Professor Oak taught us two and a half decades ago.
The Kingdom Hearts series is one of the gems of the games industry, and absolutely worth playing through by any means necessary – even cloud streaming. However, if you have a platform that allows you to play these classics off a local install, then I’d recommend playing through the series on said platform over the Switch version without hesitation.
Much like a Pink Floyd laser light show at your local planetarium, The Artful Escape can razzle and dazzle, but you probably won’t remember it too long after the fact.
There’s so much more I could go on about – the customizability, the perfect pacing and length, the world map thrice as rich and dense as Zelda 1’s, the little moments of LGBT rep, the charm of all the names, how it manages it be more than the sum of its already gorgeous parts – but I don’t know if I’d be able to stop. Chicory: A Colorful Tale is a special game, one as finely crafted as it is sentimentally inspired, brimming with color for an experience so seemingly monochromatic. There’s only one word for it: art.