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All in all, Otherskin is a game that is more interesting than the sum of its parts. Everything it has to offer, from its setting to its combat and DNA-absorbing gimmick, is… decent. But add all of these elements up, and you get a pretty enjoyable action adventure that doesn’t overstay its welcome nor tries to bite more than it can chew. A handful of annoying framerate-related issues and the occasional bug frustrated me, but that’s nothing that can’t be fixed with a few fixes and optimization patch.
If you must get this game, then you must, and Godspeed to you. Maybe you loved the original PSP versions. Maybe you need to play every dungeon crawler available on the Switch. Or maybe you hope that supporting this title will lead to the 3D sequels getting a Western release. Whatever the case, do your thing, but, for players trying to find a new title that goes toe-to-toe with Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society or Boyfriend Dungeon, Class of Heroes 3: Remaster is simply not the right class to audit. Drop it, and go take literally anything else.
I’m glad that Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection exists, but only as a means to preserve a handful of (in)famous games for posterity, and not because the content included in it is actually worth bothering. Not a single title in this collection is worth your time, not even for an ironic playthrough, but hey, further generations now have access to titles like Bubsy II for the Game Boy and Bubsy 3D. They can be alerted as to what a truly heinous mascot platformer is. If you’re really craving for some retro platforming with a B-tier mascot spouting one-liners at all times (quite a specific craving, but I bet there’s at least three people out there asking for such), just grab the Gex Trilogy collection instead.
Still, I liked NBA 2K26 a bit more than its predecessors. The locked framerate and predatory monetary practices are, as always, a disappointment, but hopping into it on a portable, playing a few arcade rounds, and listening to what’s possibly the best soundtrack in a sports game ever, somewhat made up for these shortcomings. Is it better than the PS5 version? I don’t think so. Technically-speaking, it can’t even compete in the same terms. But did I have more fun with it than on a bigger console? Yep, without a doubt.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater takes an all-time classic and faithfully recreates it for modern audiences. It feels somewhat safe with its dedication to not expand on the original, recreating every single moment faithfully, but its new gameplay mechanics make it feel fresh once again. This is a must-play for long-time fans and newcomers to the franchise.
In fact, “not revolutionary, but it works” might as well be Metal Eden‘s overall tagline. Even if the art style is stale, the story is nothing special, and the combat doesn’t feel like it’s reinventing the wheel, it’s got a pretty solid gameplay loop, a really fun mixture of Doom-esque shooting with parkouring, and pretty decent level design.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is not only a fantastic revival of the old school 2D Shinobi series, it might be one of the best 2D action platformer metroidvanias I’ve played in a long time. That’s been said even without a shortage of these kinds of games currently. The blend of fast paced combat, challenging platforming, and the fantastic art and sound design really make this game something special. It is a must play for any ninja platforming fans.
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion feels more like a completely different franchise when compared to its predecessor, given how different it is both visually and mechanically, but don’t think that’s a bad thing. By not trying to simply be “Armored Core in everything but name”, it now boasts an identity of its own, with an amazing combat system, world to explore, an addictive gameplay loop, and even a half decent story worth giving a crap about.
Since its announcement, Hell is Us was shaping up to be a game to keep a close eye on, and now that I’ve played it, for the most part, ended up being even better than I expected. It felt like a slight breath of fresh air that removes most of the handholding, entrusting players to progress at their own pace. It’s a wonderful and unique experience, but one that occasionally stumbles with repetitive enemy design and a story that falls short of its full potential. Regardless, these issues felt like mere setbacks, and don’t stop Hell is Us from being one of the biggest surprises of the year.
Shuten Order is the most ambitious title that Kodaka has ever created. It’s got hallmarks of brilliance and longevity, and will be examined by game developers for years to come as a blueprint for what the future of gaming may look like. I won’t call it perfect, and I was severely disappointed with what didn’t work, but the vibrant and explosive sections resonate deep within me.
Varlet is the perfect definition of a mixed bag. It feels incomplete at parts, with some of its chapters feeling incredibly rushed. The writing isn’t the best, the schooltime activities were pointless, and the setting felt like a cliché. That being said, there was always something about it that made me somewhat ignore its shortcomings and make me want to push forward, be it the charming characters, decent presentation or actually interesting combat section. Yes, it clearly wants to be an alternative to Persona, and that is the quintessential losing battle, but it could have been a lot worse.
Space Adventure Cobra – The Awakening is a tie-in game with no current projects to tie it to, and that’s more than okay. It’s a great reminder of something that’s retro and fun, but there’s no need to relaunch the entire franchise again. There’s plenty of ways to view the classic Cobra media, both from the 80s and the 2000s, and we can all enjoy it to different degrees. I think the game is worth a spin, particularly if you love a solid side scrolling power fantasy, but don’t expect it to supplant your GOTY. It’s a great cartoon, and it’ll last you one fantastic Saturday morning, just like it did years ago.
Overall, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is a successful remake that takes everything the original had to offer, and builds it up to modern standards. While there might be a couple blemishes, it’s nowhere near enough to cast this game to the side. The gameplay loop is perfect for short bursts and long sessions, and hopefully you can build a great relationship with whomever your particular love interest is.
So what Fast Fusion really ended up feeling like is an update over Fast RMX, with just a handful of new elements added to the mix to make it stand out as something more than just a remaster or a definitive edition. That being said, it retains a superb core gameplay loop, and once again Shin’en proved they can handle Nintendo hardware better than even Nintendo themselves. As one of the very few Switch 2 exclusives so far (hell, Switch 2 games in general, even), it’s an easy recommendation.
To bring it around, Faye Falling talks the line of artsy, narrative, and gameplay really well. Much like anything, it won’t be for everyone. That said, if you like Undertale or Deltarune even a little bit, this game is more than worth checking out. If you like JRPGs, this could be a fun breather for you without having to go play an FPS or anything. It’s a beautiful game with thoughtfully written characters that doesn’t overstay its welcome. That’s what Faye Falling is in a nutshell.
Even if its emphasis on a boring story didn’t catch my attention, it’s hard not to fall for everything else The Rogue Prince of Persia had to offer. It’s a well-polished roguelike, developed by some of the most talented developers in the genre, featuring impeccable mobility, decent combat, and a pretty cool gameplay loop.
Dear Me I Was is a marvelous visual novel that manages to tell a lot without ever uttering a single line of dialogue. When it comes to its presentation and storytelling, I have no qualms, this is gold. But if the damn thing was released in a gaming storefront, I have to review it as a game, even if it barely qualifies as one. As such, it’s a one-and-done experience with the bare minimum of interactivity, often relegated to a handful of cutscenes. That being said, let me reiterate: it’s a beautiful little gem, one that will make the most cynical of human beings feel something for the first time in forever.
It feels heartbreaking to give Hop ‘n’ Marty such a low score because I actually had a bit of fun with it. There are worse ways to spend a couple of hours on your Switch. But I just cannot ignore how unpolished and janky this commercial product is. It’s definitely not a looker (hell, it’s the opposite of it), and its controls are simply not good enough. Maybe it was its obvious lack of a budget, or a tight deadline – who knows. All I know is that I cannot simply praise it for its good intentions and ignore its blatant flaws.
I won’t say that there aren’t some impressive features in Echoes of the End, namely the impressive visuals and the occasionally smart puzzle, but not a single thing in it felt original. It’s a clear case of a smaller team wanting to create an experience akin to a AAA title, but including all of the clichés and annoying technical trickeries that used to infest big-budgeted titles from the PS4 era.
Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is a marvel and a dream wrapped up in a promise kept to fans the world over. Keeping the original game alive and delivering it, even decades later, shows a dedication to their fans that WayForward continues to delight.