Starbit's Reviews
This sequel features a very well crafted plot and characters, which are two of the game's biggest assets, as well as an absolutely magnificent soundtrack and an improved combat system. At the same time, The Caligula Effect 2 doesn't do as well when it comes to its level design, where it's often difficult to tell one level from another, and while the soundtrack is exquisite its repetition in some moments can make it very tiresome. This sequel represents an improvement over the original on several elements, but it could have been even better.
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The Unexpected Quest throws a welcoming hand at the audience thanks to a very well done tutorial and overall organization. Where the game starts steering from higher plateaus, however, is when its constrictions come into place - this may seem quite unusual for a Real Time Strategy game, but The Unexpected Quest imposes too many limits that curtail the player's creative and strategic freedom, thus hindering the experience. Adding to that a lack of touchscreen controls, a slow pace, and a somewhat dated visual environment, and the result is a game that falls below its potential.
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With plenty of game modes, an active online community, crossplatform compatibility, and a top-notch visual environment, Poker Club knows how to deliver a realistic poker experience. Where Poker Club doesn't deliver, however, is where the Nintendo Switch handheld capabilities are concerned - the game requires a constant internet connection, which seriously harms playing on the go, and its visual quality on the Nintendo Switch screen decreases significantly. Players at home, though, will find a fun and immersive experience.
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Based on diving and following different marine species and with a strong educational and contemplative component, Beyond Blue also provides a plot that lets players discover more about its lead character. Beyond Blue's simple gameplay and concept also ends up becoming its main shortcoming, as there could have been a lot more to this, especially regarding the exploration of the submarine world, and the game's graphics that fall behind the threshold of what is required for such an experience.
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Chicory: A Colorful Tale has a simple principle, but its gameplay quickly gains a dynamic of its own. The result is a fantastic work that puts painting at the centre of the adventure and will lead the player into completely unexpected paths. Thanks to the Nintendo Switch touch screen and the ability to play anywhere, Chicory: A Colorful Tale finds a perfect home in this console and it fits just right with anyone looking for a fun and enveloping adventure.
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Super Animal Royale brings a welcome approach to the battle royale genre of games and bears a clothing that makes it accessible for all age groups, thus toning down the more violent inclinations of its peers. This doesn't mean Super Animal Royale is a game for kids only though, far from it - its frantic, intense gameplay and relatively short bouts of play make it perfect for anyone looking for a fun-packed experience, with the additional advantage of crossplay between platforms.
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Shin Megami Tensei V is an RPG that's nothing short of indispensable in the Nintendo Switch catalogue. The follow up to the series' fourth title may not bring its peak when it comes to plot, but Shin Megami Tensei V's exquisite combat mechanics - which build on what was good before and add improvements - as well as a fantastic soundtrack and marvelous open world areas make this an instant classic.
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Bob Help Them is a fun, no-frills puzzle game that offers a simple and accessible experience which suits the Nintendo Switch handheld format perfectly. At the same time, its simplicity is also the game's Achilles' Heel - while it's possible to obtain more from the game than just solving every task, there's little here that differentiates Bob Help Them from many other puzzle games on the console's catalogue with higher production values.
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Pako Caravan is a successful take on one of the most recognizable mobile gaming formulas of the last twenty years. Simple, because this is not about being very ambitious, but effective, fun, and motivating, that's all that's needed - and it looks lovely, too. One of the best renovations of an instant classic, Pako Caravan is perfect for anyone looking for quick and accessible harmless fun.
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Stilstand may be a short experience but it doesn't refrain from going deep, namely by delving into concerns about our mental health that have become more and more prominent during the global pandemic. Stilstand gets it right when it comes to capturing our attention with a captivating plot and a very relevant topic, while its art style and soundtrack encapsulate the theme without flaw. The only problem that needs to be pointed out is its length - we can only wish Stilstand was a longer game.
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Dying Light: Platinum Edition is given a Nintendo Switch adaptation under a special edition that includes all the contents released over the last six years. Not only is there plenty of content here to explore, but this is an absolute marvel of a conversion that keeps all the good things about the original game intact and which acts as a benchmark for more ambitious conversions to the Switch.
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The exploration and interaction with the other characters are marvelous, and the game's visual style is nothing short of charming. At the same time, the game's combat system, with a lot of wasted time and too many random encounters, can make the experience less enjoying and Cris Tales would certainly benefit from fewer such instances and a more fluid combat.
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SOLAS 128 is a puzzle game that puts the player in the centre of a growing, major challenge and that with its steep but by no means unfair difficulty curve, and growing but manageable challenge level, provides a fantastic experience for fans of puzzle games, all this surrounded by a simple but very fitting art style. An essential work for fans of puzzle games.
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While this choice may be unorthodox, Astria Ascending does a marvelous job at providing its players with a finely executed combat system, as well as a very engaging sense of character progression. Completionists too will enjoy clearing every single path for the development of the game's characters. Set amid a visually gorgeous world, Astria Ascending could have invested more in its plot, which is rather generic and unoriginal, but fans of JRPGs who can look beyond that will find a very fun and absorbing work landing on their Nintendo Switch.
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Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl do a very good job at fulfilling their primary mission: to bring the fourth generation of Pokémon to the contemporary age. They should have gone further, though, as the lack of creative freedom and clinging to the original formulae happen at the expense of adding new elements. This is not to say that this effort is not a great addition to the Nintendo Switch catalogue, far from that - what made the original games fantastic is still here and there are indeed improvements to some of the original mechanics, but the approach followed was perhaps a tad too conservative for what's expected of a Pokémon remake.
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These two games are very much appreciated by their fans and it was high time to give them a modern release. Alas, this compilation doesn't try to go beyond a mere direct port without any additional value and as a consequence, their flaws only become more apparent before today's audience. The two games are still fun to play and their combat systems very interesting, but other than longtime fans, the rest of the audience won't find reasons to be interested.
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As an action-packed experience, OctaFight does a good job, even if its heavily pixellated art style can make things confusing sometimes. Where OctaFight loses its appeal is in its limited format - the only way to play this game is in local multiplayer, with no single player or online multiplayer included. Not only this makes options very narrow for many players, it's also impossible to understand in the context of reinforcing public health measures against the pandemic.
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Simple and straightforward, as expected from games aimed at young audiences, Ayo features an attractive environment and competent level design. Unfortunately the experience turns out to be far less enjoyable, mostly due to a rather poor execution of the game's controls. It's fundamental for a platformer to have well implemented controls, but Ayo is far from successful at translating the player's inputs into acts and establishing a link between the player and lead character.
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With its in-depth but still accessible combat system and a great look when it comes to its visual worlds and character depiction, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl needs nevertheless to improve its technical performance given its propensity to fluidity issues. Performance issues notwithstanding, this is a great package of fan service and those with a taste for Nickelodeon animation series will be delighted with this effort.
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Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic on the Nintendo Switch is a conversion work that was perfectly carried out and which brings the much beloved RPG to a new format in all its glory. Fans of the series and of the original game will appreciate this effort, even if the original's point and click elements are gone and there is no use for the Nintendo Switch touch screen. At the same time, this won't captivate members of the public outside the original fans, given how outdated some of the gameplay mechanics have become.
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