LadiesGamers.com's Reviews
I’ve gotten the same enjoyment from Curious Expedition 2 as I did from its predecessor: the fun of exploring uncharted lands, the thrill of danger, the satisfaction of shrewd planning. I’ve spent over 20 hours with CE2 and haven’t tired of it. If you like survival, resource management, or elaborate board games, you might enjoy this unique strategy game. The colonial elements might turn some players off but not trouble others. Curious Expedition 2 makes many improvements, like offering an easier game to first-time players. If you can’t endure roguelikes, you can switch off that element by changing the difficulty settings, even mid-game. The lovely new art style and generous offering of new content also make CE2 worth picking up for old fans. My only big complaint is that each run is longer than it needs to be. A word about the Nintendo Switch port: I love playing this handheld. I just have two minor grouses about the UI. Scrolling through inventory takes a bit longer in CE2 than in CE1. And while trading, tool-tips often block half the screen. But overall, it’s an excellent port.
Tinytopia is more of a puzzle game than a simulation city builder, that’s not a complaint though. It makes a lovely change from heavy stats, with lots of confusing menu pop-ups city builders that we have seen and played before. Tinytopia is a game to have hours of fun with, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you like city-building games that offer something a little different you should check out Tinytopia.
Alveole is an interesting experiment that comes in at an appealingly low price. It’s a formula that I can see clicking with some gamers whilst equally frustrating others. When you eventually dissect the experience and unlock its mysteries there is very little reason to return. But it may be a title you want to hand to a friend or loved one to see what they make of it. Alveole feels like the type of experience you would usually find at an exhibit in a museum. Only here do you get to enjoy it in your own home. It’s a hard one to rate for sure but I can’t deny I kinda liked what I got to experience here.
I had been waiting for Garden Paws on the Nintendo Switch for a long time, and it doesn’t disappoint. All the elements of a good simulation game are here, though I must mention socializing is not a part of the gameplay. The visuals look lovely, there are a ton of things to do to make this a very immersive game. Sadly there are some bugs to repair, sometimes even hindering one of the quests. As Bitten Toast has a lot of experience with Garden Paws already on Steam, I don’t doubt this will be taken care of soon. If this is a deal-breaker for you, you might wanna wait for a while to dive in. Looking at the fact that I think about Garden Paws even when I’m not playing, I can only recommend the game, but do beware of bugs needing to be caught.
Stories of Mara is a great addition to the Chibig studio portfolio. Being able to meet and learn about the characters in the series other than Koa is a brilliant idea. I’m excited to see how the story develops in the rest of the chapters when they are released. Stories of Mara as a visual novel is a delight to play so go check it out yourself and join in the fun.
Kitaria Fables has a lot going for it. From the cute cast of animals to the combat and the crafting and farming, you won’t run out of things to do. In fact, you’ll probably be pushed to fit it all in as there is just so much in the game. Anyone who has played Role-Playing, adventure, genre before will find what they are looking for in Kitaria Fables.
Patron is an engrossing and very enjoyable survival city builder. Once you can pass the first four to six years or so in the game it seems to get easier to manage everything the game throws at you. With fourteen maps to play through with different rule sets, there is plenty of long-term gameplay on offer. The progress in Patron can be slow, even with a fast forward button, but for those that like to ponder their next move on pause, Patron is perfect for a strategic play-through. Just be careful as there is so much to do and one wrong decision can send you crashing back to the start with an unhappy ending for your citizens. I love it!
Scrap Garden is a decent game but does lack a lot of depth to its design. The formula keeps things quite simple, not really providing anything unique to the experience but what is there works. Graphics are very detailed and the game runs like a well oiled robot. If you’re looking for a cheap casual adventure then this is easily worth the price of entry. One thing is certain: the main character Canny may be made of metal but clearly has a heart of gold.
If you are a fan of strategic RPG’s Fort Triumph is well worth sinking time into with a wide variety of options for players of all skill levels. The random generation keeps things fresh every time and being able to save anywhere makes the game quite appealing even if you can only spare a few minutes at a time to play. It took me a while before the mechanics really started to click with me. But when it did I guess you could say I considered this strategy game a… Triumph! Sorry, I’ll see myself out.
Instant Farmer offers puzzle fans a good challenge and a very fair price. Though there is no tutorial is clear from the start what you have to do. There are no frills, but it all works as it should accompanied by some relaxing music. A good game to pick up and play during your coffee break, even for someone like me who doesn’t want to spend days stuck in one level!
Greak: Memories of Azur has enough charm that, despite the several niggles I had, I was still compelled to play through it. Beautiful art style and fun and engaging gameplay are the stand-out features here. But if it had co-op that would just make this game that much more brilliant. For now I guess your usual co-op partner can sit on the side of the sofa and just shout at you until you give up the controller. At the end of the day Greak is a good game about the importance of family that is well worth your time. It may also convince you to call your family to tell them you love them. After all, when chaos is coming we always have family in whatever form that comes in.
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.