Nintendo Blast

I begrudgingly must say A Long Journey to an Uncertain End isn't a game I can recommend. It brings a story filled with fun characters and a universe I loved getting to know and the gameplay concept could have made a fantastic experience. Unfortunately, the lack of polish and care when transposing this adventure to the Switch impacted the full package too significantly to let it[s issues] slide.

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Xuan Yuan Sword: Mists Beyond The Mountains is a game with a unique and fresh narrative in a market dominated by Japanese and Western titles, with a plot that discusses sensible and polemic themes. The game plays with mixing religions and a big amount of folklore myths from various parts of the world. Even though its gameplay isn't quite attractive and its graphics feel outdated sometimes, the different plot compensates [its failures] for those who are patient for an oldfashioned title when looking for an adventure filled with surprises and twists.

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Rising Dusk doesn't beat around the bush: it gets its foot in the door, shows up, fulfills its role very well and ends its journey without delay. The short campaign of this beautiful and creative platformer is a reflection of the work of an artist with an obvious knowledge of the world of games and a vast cultural background that he applied to his work with due knowledge of the facts. There's no secret here: if you enjoy platform titles, get ready to experience first-hand a notable little thing of the genre.

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For those who are fervorous fans of Touhou, Koumajou Remilia II: Stranger’s Requiem is yet another quality spin-off with a darker approach to the seventh game of the franchise, Perfect Cherry Blossom. However, due to the persisting issues in its punitive gameplay and the extremely linear stages, it's hard to recommend this Touhouvania to people who only love metroidvanias — for those, Touhou Luna Nights ends up as a better example of its genre.

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At first, it's tough to understand how Fitness Boxing Fist of the North Star exists. The intersection of fans of the exercising franchise and Hokuto no Ken must be way too small to justify a game mixing the two brands. However, it's a combo that works. Yes, the gameplay base is still untouched and those who have been playing boxe games from the get-go will be frustrated in seeing pretty much all the same issues here. However, the game still provides good aerobics and muscle training activities, and can be a good ally for a healthier life. Besides, the modes inspired by Fist of the North Star can diversify the gameplay.

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Whether due to the mystery surrounding the Nomai, the secrets that permeate the universe, the diversity of unique planets or the freedom given to the player, the Mobius Digital game is, without a shadow of a doubt, extraordinary. The absence of clear indicators of progress and the need to cultivate active curiosity may initially pose challenges for some players; however, for those willing to become deeply involved in the plot and uncover the secrets of this intriguing cosmos, Outer Wilds offers a truly unforgettable experience, proving to be an unmissable game for authentic and curious explorers.

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My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! -Pirates of the Disturbance- is a good example of its genre, featuring charismatic characters and a well-organized plot whose details are sprinkled across multiple routes. The game is more inviting for those who already know the original material and want to experience a little more of the interactions between Catarina and her potential boyfriends, but it can also be easily enjoyed by those who are not yet familiar with the franchise.

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Born of Bread appears as yet another Paper Mario clone that fails to achieve the balance that the original game has to offer. A series of inconsistencies, from the visuals to several basic game design and world-building choices, hinder the player's final experience. The offer of good RPGs on the Switch is too large for you to waste time on titles like this, unless unless you really miss something in the Paper Mario style and have already played the originals thousands of times.

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With the abundance of quality metroidvanias on the Nintendo console, standing out is an increasingly difficult mission. Still, due to the quality of its elements, large amount of content and great adaptation, TEVI easily joins the list of good games of its genre on Switch, offering a lot of action and fun for bullet hell and anime-themed enthusiasts. If you thought 2023 couldn't get any better, CreSpirit is here to prove otherwise with an instant cult classic. We, the players, benefit from this.

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Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince emerges as a triumph in the evolution of the Monsters subseries, celebrating its 25th anniversary with an incredible feat. By harmoniously fusing an engaging plot with fun game mechanics, the title transcends expectations, positioning itself not only as a standout among its predecessors, but as one of the best examples of creating and battling little monsters.

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With the abundance of quality metroidvanias currently available on Switch, standing out is no easy task. Nevertheless, with great visuals and animations, fun combat and a simple but intriguing narrative, 9 Years of Shadows fulfills its mission and delivers an adventure that deserves to be experienced. Its linearity and short duration may disappoint some players, but it's undeniable that the mix of color, musicality and action works well here — and, given the competent adaptation and its inherent versatility, Nintendo's hybrid console is the best way to experience it.

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Just like Hiveswap Friendsim, I recommend Pesterquest, but there's a caveat. Just like its predecessor, the game is confusing, weird and can be frustrating at times with its annoying protagonist, but it still presents something that kept bringing me back to the game: the characters' charm, the simplicity of wishing for friends, and the good atmosphere.

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In Stars and Time explores a curious concept of time loop at the end of an RPG journey. The result is a curious mini-RPG where the high quality of the character writing is the high point of the experience. For people who like experimental works in the genre, this is an easy recommendation.

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Now comes the golden question: do I recommend Hiveswap Friendsim? I pondered about it a lot while playing and, in the end, I'd say it's worth knowing this peculiar universe. It's a confusing, weird game, and it may be frustrating sometimes, but it also has something that always brought me back to playing it: the characters' charm, the simplicity of wishing for friends, and the good ambiance. It may be imperfect but that does not mean it's bad.

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Despite the specific observations above, Astlibra Revision is, in my opinion, one of the big recent surprises. Few times have I seen a similar game; each new chapter makes it clear that this is a passionate developer's life's work. Be it for the plot development, the excellent combat system or the surprisingly moving soundtrack, this is a title that must be experienced, especially for fans of the genre. A slip-up or two isn't enough to destroy the value of this diamond that, despite its imperfections, shines well enough to be a highlight in a universe of good games this year.

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Dyschronia: Chronos Alternate - Definitive Edition is a competent visual novel that mixes various gameplay elements to deliver an intriguing and immersive narrative focused on time manipulation. Even though some elements, like the wonky controls and a few visual bugs, may be a small headache in certain moments, they are easily compensated by the excellent narrative the adventure offers, making it hard to stop [playing].

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Despite the caveats, Howl is a title that presents an intriguing narrative, charming visual and compelling gameplay. Besides that, its relatively short duration makes it an almost ideal choice to play in a single sitting. Though it may not quite fit in the tactical category, as it's described, it's yet another good indie addition to the Nintendo Switch's library.

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Passpartout 2: The Lost Artist is a great game to de-stress and forget about time, with an atmospheric soundtrack and a charming world. It may not be a great AAA, however, it does his job of entertaining very well. You don't need artistic skill to enjoy it, you just need an open mind and a few free hours in your day to delight in this simple but pleasurable work of art.

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Naruto X Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections celebrates 15 years of the Storm series with intense combat and a vast number of characters. However, the lack of significant new features leaves the product much closer to a repetition than an evolution. In short, the true essence of the Leaf Ninja's journey is best explored in the numbered titles of this saga.

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Super Mario RPG effectively rescues the sensations produced by the original title and brings back an immortal Super Nintendo classic in style. Although the adventure is not very long or challenging, it shows its value through a light and humorous world, great characters, interesting mechanics, a series of small improvements and even some completely new content after the end of the main plot. New generations now have a better chance of not letting this classic pass away — and if you remember it fondly, it's definitely worth revisiting.

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