Starbit's Reviews
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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OlliOlli World follows the development of the series and with each delivery, the 2D action platformer based on skateboarding treats us to a marvelous experience. With a demanding but very fun gameplay that encourages players to be bold and creative, an exquisite audiovisual component and a level design that fits perfectly with the gameplay, OlliOlli World is a fantastic companion, whether at home or on the go.
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Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX 2 does not represent any major departures compared to its predecessor, and if that may sound negative it's also not necessarily harmful - after all, the gameplay mechanics remain fun and well executed, the boss fights are very challenging, and the game's presentation is a marvel to look at. The plot is without a doubt the game's biggest flaw, and even though action-platformers are usually given a pass when it comes to the plot, it would be good in this case if the story could feature less often. With all that said, Luminous Avenger iX 2 is great fun and fans of both the original and the Mega Man X series will find plenty to enjoy here.
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River City Girls Zero presents us with the original 1994 game that shows where the characters' stories began. A fun, intuitive beat'em-up with a lot of plot, but which also shows that it doesn't follow its contemporaries when it comes to pacing and lifespan - indeed, this game feels too short and it advances too slowly. A full remake would have been a better option, but as it is River City Girls Zero is an enjoyable beat'em-up that fans of the genre will like to get their hands on.
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Pokémon Legends: Arceus dares to make things different, and that is its main quality. The Pokémon formula has undergone changes for the best, and even though there is work to be done on matters like the visual environment in Arceus' wide and open world, this is a game that operates very welcome changes to the fighting system and to the way the player fulfills the main goals. Pokémon Legends: Arceus is without a doubt a shining example of how the Pokémon series can face the future.
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Super Arcade Football does a great job at creating a nostalgic experience that's able to channel one of football's most famous gaming series, and with a simple, accessible, as well as fast-paced gameplay what we get is a game that might not be the most in-depth football experience ever made, but it certainly manages to build a fun and enjoyable game. Pity for solo players, though, who due to a poor AI will find themselves bored compared to their multiplayer peers.
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Lacuna puts the player in the middle of a dense, enveloping plot that takes part in a futuristic world where we will be carrying out a detective work, solving puzzles, and become completely immersed in an exquisite intellectual challenge. The conversion work to the Nintendo Switch is done flawlessly and the game runs smoothly on both a television screen and on the console's own screen, which is an extra advantage as Lacuna is a perfect company for playing on the go.
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