Nintendo Blast

The Plucky Squire is among the most enjoyable and creative titles of recent years. Although the lack of challenges and limited combat may be a bit of a hindrance, the excellent setting and the way the story is able to captivate different audiences make it a great game for the whole family. The caveat is in the technical part: although it doesn't get to the point of ruining the experience, whether running in portable mode on the Switch or in the dock, the game behaves unstable in some situations and presents questionable visuals when in 3D. After finishing the campaign, the impression I had is that the portable mode behaved better in both aspects.

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Go Mecha Ball brings a chaotic and fun concept, combining shooting, roguelike and pinball mechanics in a intriguing way. Thanks to its fast gameplay and satisfying challenges, the title can offer good entertainment moments. However, the absence of more variety in the roguelike elements plus the frustrations from moving around and the unstable performance on Switch severely compromise the general experience.

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The Hokkaido Serial Murder Case: The Okhotsk Disappearance ~Memories in Ice, Tearful Figurine~ is one of the best remakes I've seen besides being one of the best visual novels I've played. A mighty plot, charismatic characters, and immersive ambiance (both in the 1980's or nowadays). It's an excellent pick for the genre's enthusiasts. Its issues are evident and could have been easily fixed but it'd be disrespectful to not see the merit in one of the first works in the visual novel genre. A good pick for investigators looking for strange cases.

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Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines is a sequel that fulfills its role, innovates a little here and there, and that's it: a job well done that probably won't be marked in the gaming trajectory of many players, but that entertained while it lasted.

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Bloomtown: A Different Story combines qualities from several genres, but it does so in a very competent way. With its turn-based combat system reinforced by the demons' abilities, a story that addresses important themes in a light-hearted way, and very interesting social management, it becomes an RPG that deserves the attention of fans of the genre.

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The Karate Kid: Street Rumble is the best game in the franchise. That's not a very high goal to reach, but it does its job. Its beautiful graphics and simple gameplay are its greatest asset, and playing with friends makes the experience even more fun, providing hours of fun. However, the simplicity can get tiring after a while: the lack of genre foundations (like picking up weapons and a more challenging difficulty), no online co-op, and little representation of the franchise make this just another game that exists, without its own identity beyond “that Karate Kid game.” As a big fan of the series, I'm satisfied but feel like there could be more.

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Reynatis deserved more polish, that's undeniable, especially with the price tag on eShop [...] For enthusiasts of the genre, especially fans of Square Enix's titles, this RPG is a good pick and it's far from being one of the worst in the hybrid console library despite some caveats.

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Fabledom is a charming addition to the simulation and city builder genre, offering a magic ambiance filled with surprises. Even without significant novelties, the title has well-integrated systems and lets us use all our creative freedom, delivering a fun, addicting experience.

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Keylocker is a high level indie RPG and an excellent addition to Switch's library. With an immersive narrative about facing an oppressive world and a challenging turn-based gameplay full of strategic elements, this may not be a game for absolutely everyone but it definitely deserves the chance to resonate with the players willing to face it.

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Cricket: Jae's Really Peculiar Game was one of the most pleasant surprises I had this year. Creative, with brilliant writing, visually beautiful and made with a lot of love, it is a must-have title for fans of the subgenre and an example of how to do something inspired, but conquering its own identity.

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Fitness Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU doesn't substitute a real training routine, especially not boxing, but trying to follow the moves and rhythm precisely helps us work up a sweat no doubt. There are some issues that can't be ignored for sure, and maybe the main games in the Fitness Boxing series (especially the second) are more complete than this Vocaloid crossover when it comes to exercising sessions and instructor customization. However, for those who prefer [to work out in] the comfort of their home and having virtual avatars during exercises, for whatever reason, this is a good pick to keep the body moving even if your routine doesn't allow for frequent gym visits.

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I can't say Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP ruined my day, much less that it was the game that most disappointed me this year[...] By the end, I can say I had good moments, memorable characters, a unique art direction, a satisfying ending, and cool combat.

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Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open is a unique experience that skillfully blends the supernatural with human, everyday themes. With an engaging narrative, deep characters, and a charming visual style, the game stands out as a sensitive and emotional work, as well as being another quality addition to Nintendo's current console catalog.

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Castlevania Dominus Collection is an incredible collection with some of the best games in the franchise, offering many hours of exploration and good challenges. Adapting the screen format to make the most out of Switch's one screen and its touch capacity, it manages to offer an excellent way to play these games that players won't find fault in.

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Just like Jemma's search for identity, Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure managed to find a very good place among the genre titles. The way its story develops and the ability to solve more challenging puzzles mix together to create a beautiful adventure worth every challenge we face when exploring it.

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Emio - The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club, with a mystery much closer to our reality than the other two games in the series, surprises with its narrative quality. It is quite difficult to reach a concrete conclusion about this title, but I dare say that, in addition to being the best entry in the Famicom Detective Club series, it is, above all, a solid recommendation for fans of suspense stories. Don't be fooled by the text adventure label and gameplay that harks back to the last century: even with its small flaws, the case of the smiling man is promising from start to finish. And honestly speaking? I hope this is not the end of Famicom Detective Club, but if it is, we have here a golden ending.

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Ace Attorney Investigations Collection is crucial proof of the global love that the franchise now receives. A duology that has received the most careful care, the most interesting extras and the possibility of yet another previously exclusive title conquering the world. Small mistakes do not take away from the legitimacy and quality that Edgeworth's cases have. It is a full plate for fans of Visual Novel and the series itself, officially bringing all the games in the saga of top-notch lawyers to the Switch (that is, almost all of them, if you consider a certain crossover with a gentleman in a top hat).

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Shikon-X Astro Defense Fortress was one of the biggest surprises I had this year. I was interested only for its 90's anime aesthetics but it got me compelled with the potential its idea held. A simple game but made with lots of care and dedication, this is a good way to spend the time for those who want a quick, fun game.

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Fate/Stay Night Remastered is an excellent way to finally know a classic of its genre that wasn't available officially outside Japan yet. With an excellent discussion about morality and a fascinating setting in Kinoko Nasu's works' shared universe, this work is still a great choice for visual novel fans.

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In sum, Gundam Breaker 4 can be considered one of the best games in the Breaker series, as well as one of the best Gundam games, thanks to its high customization, intense combat and various possibilities.

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