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If there’s ever a Curtain Call (or Final Mix) for this one that rectifies its omissions and lack of play style variety, it would be the makings of a must have. For now though, this one stands as an enjoyable dive into the heart of the series that keeps things simple and clean.
As soon as I picked them up I was slicing the air and shaking to recharge like it was 2008 all over again. If you’re returning to Santa Destroy for the first time in a long time that realization was the perfect strawberry on the shortcake to make this rerelease feel justified.
Rough gameplay choices aside, Robotics;Notes Elite stands as a solid story that easily matches up to its predecessors, with its colorful cast of characters being an even bigger draw.
If our review convinced you, I wholeheartedly recommend giving Shantae: Risky’s Revenge – Director’s Cut a try. And if you like it, I even more wholeheartedly recommend Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse (also available on Nintendo Switch). It does everything Risky’s Revenge does but even better — with a few gameplay changes, too.
It leaves Will of the Wisps in a strange position – on the one hand, basically every element of the game is either equivalent to or superior to its predecessor, meaning that if I had to choose between playing one or the other, I’d take this one at every opportunity. But at the same time, the experience of playing Blind Forest for the first time was much more striking, leaving me with fonder memories of the first game despite the fact that I think it wasn’t as good.
To me, Rhythm Heaven feels like the cool, older cousin you don’t see that often from the Nintendo family. When they come by they’re talking about some trendy thing you’ve never heard of, encouraging everything you’re currently up to, supremely mellow about it, and always feel just a little off (in a good way). If that description grabbed your attention, then Megamix may be just the thing you’re looking for.
Every bit of felt or wood is worth admiring here, as are the cards and pieces that call them home.
But more than that — whether it was simplicity, or cleanliness, or maybe just good old-fashioned nostalgia — there was something immensely charming about the entire experience.
DX is an absolutely worthy pick-up for any Poké-fanatic out there, whether it’s your first time venturing through a mystery dungeon or another trip down memory lane.
The game may not break new ground, but it refreshes the series with its new offerings and an entertaining story. As a pack of multiplayer offerings, it rightfully takes its place on the podium.
If your Switch is the only gaming platform you have and you’re interested in playing Overwatch, you shouldn’t feel any hesitation jumping into it. If you’ve played on other platforms and want a portable option and/or really want to try playing with gyro-controls, there’s a bit of a tradeoff due to graphical downgrades, but to me, the Switch version feels worth it in the end.
Overall, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair feels a little more put-together and modern than the original game, which is a great thing. Playtonic gave players exactly what they asked for with the original — a nostalgia-fueled 3D collectathon — and they really stretched their wings with The Impossible Lair and reminded us that they can play to their other strengths within the same franchise without losing any of its charm in the process.
It’s been a while since a fighting game has managed to strike a balance between accessibility, style, and pacing, but BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle brings these parts together with no trouble. Add on well animated sprite work and a full, fantastic English dub, and it all crosses over into a game I can’t seem to put down.
If I’m being completely honest, I believe that in the trade-off of graphics for portability, portability will win almost every time, especially with the quick and simple level design that Crash has.
Full of personality and using the features of the system to the fullest, it’s a shining example of pure and simple fun. Just like Wario, the game’s a little strange and it has some flaws, but these all end up coming together to make it stand out as a gorgeous addition to your 3DS.
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.
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.
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.
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.
All things considered though, I prefer the Wii original as-is because of its simplicity. Even with a lot of the new content being optional or avoidable, the loss of screen real estate on the handheld and the Wii’s seamless multiplayer being left out on 3DS makes this only the second best yarn based Kirby game you can play. And that’s still a compliment.