LadiesGamers.com's Reviews
So, how does May’s Mysteries: The Secret of Dragonville hold up to the Professor Layton games? Well, when it comes to the puzzles, this is a welcome game for games who can’t wait to dive into so many mind benders. What let’s the game down in comparison is the way you live the adventure. Like in Layton, there’s a lot to read and there are many characters to meet, but the scenery in the Layton games was much more alive and interesting. It made you actually feel like you had joined Layton and Luke, and I missed that feeling when I followed May. Still, if you loved Layton you will find enough to like in May’s Mysteries: The Secret of Dragonville. Plus, the game comes at a very attractive price point and offers a huge amount of content too. So if you like logic puzzles, don’t mind to read a lot and maybe reminisce about the olden days of Layton on the DS, then this game should have a place on your Switch.
Tetragon puzzles are fun and entertaining, until you make a mistake that is. Without any way to rectify a mistake you have made in a puzzle, other than trying to retrace the moves you made backwards it can get frustrating. A rewind feature added to the puzzles would be a great feature to have. You could move back a few steps to remedy your mistake. Tetragon is playable as it is, but it would be so much more playable and enjoyable with a hint or rewind feature.
I think King’s Bounty II falls down slightly in its core game design. Especially the narrative and the RPG elements of it feel stifled and a grind. To me, King’s Bounty II feels like a game that wants to take inspiration from titles like The Witcher 3 with new discoveries and adventures around every corner. But it doesn’t quite hit the mark with its mediocre storyline and wooden characters and semi-linear world. The combat, while tough and unforgiving, I did find enjoyable as I like a good challenge. King’s Bounty II is one of those games I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it one way or the other as it has as many good points as bad points so for that reason King’s Bounty II scores…
That being said, the game is overall very solid. It’s easy to learn, difficult to master, and filled to the brim with smart puzzles for anyone who loves a good who done it story. If you like trying to solve the murder before the end of a mystery book or try to pick out the culprit before the TV show or movie ends, you’ll dig this game in spite of its eccentricities.
Shadowverse: Champions Battle is a highly enjoyable card-based RPG. You don’t need to be familiar with the anime to get into this. This is a great title to sink absurd hours into whether you have 5 minutes or 5 hours to spare. Accessible for newbies while offering plenty of incentive to card veterans. The last card-based RPG I sunk this much time into was the Pokemon Card Game on Game Boy. But I think that game now has a new contender in my gaming world. If you draw this card from the deck of the eShop be sure to give it a try. If you want to try before you buy. Be sure to check out the free demo on the eShop
Doomsday Vault is cute, short, and sweet. It’s got a great message and an adorable little spaceman you get to control. The puzzles are fun, and the dev has promised more puzzles are on the way. Overall, I love this game. The only thing I dislike is the price.
Islanders is a great addition to the strategy or even the puzzle genre on the Switch. A lovely game to play a short session with over a cup of tea or coffee. For longer gaming sessions and for more of a challenge you can try to beat the highest score of the online leader board. For the few pounds or dollars, the game is in the eShop it is definitely worth trying out Islanders you won’t be disappointed!
Space Scavenger is a neat little game, made by two guys in Sweden (Jacob Selg and Jonas Holgersson). I’m delighted by this simple but fun space shooter, even if victory lies beyond reach of my current skills. It’s nice to pick up for 30 minutes a day and see what motley ship configuration will emerge each run. Last but not least, Space Scavenger has a great soundtrack! Putting the soundtrack, ship-building, and short but tough levels together: if you play in short bursts, it’s unexpectedly relaxing for a roguelike shoot-em-up.
Space Invaders: Invincible Collection is a good collection that celebrates some of the best moments of the Space Invaders series. There are still omissions from the collection and it’s a shame more history and extra features were not added. The collection also comes in at quite a high price point which will likely turn many off at least until a sale. However, if you need to be whisked away back to the simpler arcade days without spending all your 100 yen coins. This collection of classic games is sure to keep you busy for years to come. As a fan of the Space Invaders series, this is currently the best way to enjoy the series on modern systems.
Garden Story is a charming game. While it doesn’t do any one thing perfectly, it does all of it well enough to allow you to enjoy the chilled setting and charming character interactions. It is a delightful RPG, simulation full of fruity goodness, and a very sweet grape named Concord to spend a few cosy hours with!
Witch Spring3 [Re:Fine] – The Story of Eirudy was a nice little surprise. While I struggled initially with all the options available it soon cast its spell on me and I really enjoyed it. The flexibility on offer allows the player to really play this in their own way and at their own pace. This is a very rare example of a game where I am kinda keen to look at the previous entries on mobile. A great introduction to the series and hopefully we’ll see more entries in the future on Switch.
In as much as one can have final thoughts after a single chapter, I like this game. Do note the rating: It is earned. One might question why I keep playing Otome games when I get so annoyed by the “horndog” (to quote one of the characters) behaviour contained in most of them. I guess I’m a glutton for punishment served up with a good story and great art. My look into the first chapter of Bustafellows makes me believe that this is another solid addition to the visual novel library of Switch and Steam.
Road 96 is a glorious achievement in game creation. Once I got to know the characters and played two runs of this game I was hooked until the end. It’s a game that I thought about when I wasn’t playing it and it didn’t take me long at all to pick up the soundtrack on Steam, which was playing in the background of the creation of this review. A rogue-lite game with an emphasis on story choices and narrative feels like something that shouldn’t work but it does. Road 96 is truly something very special and gets my highest recommendation. This is one road trip not to be forgotten.
Memory Lane 2 is a no-frills, no menu, match pairs puzzle game. While it really isn’t anything special to look at, the match pairs aspect of the game does work well. Just don’t expect any bells, whistles or any pizazz, Memory Lane 2 is as plain as they come.
Ambition: A Minuet in Power is an engrossing addition to the visual novel genre. You can tell as you play the game that the era the game is set in has been thoroughly researched by the developers. With 6 suitors to romance, there is plenty of choices to pick the “one”. It’s a fun step back in time, in the ever-shifting alliances that grow more dangerous by the day in the game, just be careful you don’t lose your head over it!
Dreamscaper is a delightful rogue-lite that is worth sinking hours and hours into if you are a fan of this genre. Beautiful graphics, engaging combat and a constant trickle of content easily overcome the small niggles I had with this game. A great game to play in long or short bursts that I found hard to put down. Just don’t stay up too late playing it. Sleep is very important. Sweet dreams.
A Monster’s Expedition is a delight to play. The solution to some of the puzzles might not click right away. However, when you do find it, it comes with such a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment that it’s hard to describe. A game filled with lots of a-ha moments when the solution pops into your head. This is a must-play game for puzzle fans. A Monster’s Expedition is one of the best puzzle games I’ve played this year. I definitely recommend exploring the open-world museum of EnglandLand!
CreatorCrate has some very unique ideas with its procedurally generated levels and general wacky but entertaining gameplay. While its controls do hold it back I can’t deny that this game made me laugh and held my attention. I was also intrigued to see what randomness would present itself next. If you love your platformers CreatorCrate is worth your time. A unique idea that has not been tried before that will likely win the hearts of gamers that give this cute little robot a chance. If you want to try it first. There is a free demo on steam to try before you buy.
For a simulation game with a lot to do, this game is okay. I didn’t find anything so special about it that I would pick it up over any other sim game; there are so many out there that are more fun to play and are cheaper. This game doesn’t quite do enough to stand out from the flooded building simulation market.
Unbound: Worlds Apart dark mage protagonist has a little flame at the end of its hat. That’s kinda how I see this game; a little spark in a sea of many 2D adventures. What makes Unbound stand out is its pleasant art style and unique gameplay with the portals. I certainly had more fun than I expected. If you’re looking for that next 2D adventure fix Unbound is well worth picking up and spending time with.