Nintendo Blast

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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Risk of Rain Returns is a highly attractive package with a good variety of elements to explore and a customizable difficulty that gives the player the tools to adapt their experience as they please. Though the game elements' visibility leaves a lot to be desired, especially on Switch's Handheld Mode, this is still an easy recommendation for those looking for an experience in the genre.

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Persona 5 Tactica brings a tactical adventure rich in customization that does not leave aside the elements of the series on which it is based, with good accessibility in terms of difficulty, covering different levels of players of tactical titles. Exuding its own charisma and style, typical of the Persona subseries, Persona 5 Tactica features excellent art and sound direction, with emphasis on the dubbing that features the original voice actors reprising their roles.

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For fans of magic and witchcraft, Spells & Secrets offers a full plate that pleases in terms of plot and gaming premises in roguelite and RPG structures. However, on the Switch, these factors are hampered due to the game's current performance, which becomes less fun and, at times, even irritating. It would be amazing if the problems were magically fixed through updates, as there is so much potential and creativity hidden in the enchanted castle of Greifenstein's Academy.

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WarioWare: Move It! follows the series' tradition of making the most of Nintendo console technology, but the game arrived very late in the Switch's life cycle. If it were among the first games available for the hardware, the novelty of playing with the Joy-Con would possibly compensate for the lack of more in-depth modes and content.

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Yohane the Parhelion -Blaze in the Deepblue- has a major underutilized potential, be it as a metroidvania or as a product for Love Live! fans. From scenery and enemies that get tiresome over time to the few memorable tracks, the only strengths [of the game] end up as the 2D illustrations and the humorous dialogues dubbed by the animation's original cast. Obviously, this doesn't mean Yohane's adventure doesn't have its highlights, especially as a good entrypoint for metroidvania newcomers, but there are better titles in the market for the fans of the genre.

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Little Goody Two Shoes isn't only charming for its aesthetic beauty but also positions itself as a challenging and compelling game, offering a rich experience in both narrative and gameplay. With very few caveats, there's no doubt that this game stands out as one of the most incredible representatives of its genre.

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Thirsty Suitors is a pot full of ideas which altogether manage to represent Jala's life experience. With vibrant characters and a well handled story, the title is much more than the sum of its parts. It's a celebration of life, all its failings and new starts.

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World of Horror manages to replicate the same effect of Lovecraft's works, in its own way, even if doing so doesn't always bring the result we want. However, apart from its setting and artistic choice, the game, in relation to its plot and combat system, ends up giving the impression that it would be more impressive if it were more complex. This doesn't mean that I don't recommend the game, but it's important to remember that it's a relatively simple product, designed as a casual pastime rather than a more complex linear story with major investigations.

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