Starbit's Reviews
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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ISLANDERS: Console Edition is an exercise in relaxation. Unlike most of its peers, the experience here has no set challenge or competitiveness, it's rather based on laying down buildings in certain patterns and getting points for it on procedurally generated islands. While this is certainly very appealing for players looking for a game that offers nothing but a relaxing time, those hoping for something more challenging will have a hard time finding that in ISLANDERS.
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For a game in a genre where heavyweights command large legions of fans, Nexomon is simple but its plot works pretty well and there's a wide variety of monsters to catch. At the same time, Nexomon is not original enough to be able to stand up to its more competitive peers, which means that this will mostly appeal to the most dedicated fans of monster capture RPGs.
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Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is another well crafted game of the Ys series and this latest reincarnation brings forth a great combat as well as exploration that keeps the player interested. Alas, not all is well with this version, and the game's poor performance on any screen creates an unnecessarily frustrating experience when we find ourselves dealing with more than two enemies at a time. Because of how almost ubiquitous this is, it makes it difficult to recommend Ys IX on the Nintendo Switch.
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King's Bounty II is the sequel to a tactical RPG that came out over thirty years ago, but it does a fine job at keeping a great balance between the original game's formula and the standards that define today's tactical RPGs. This work is a lot more successful in its gameplay than in its execution, however, as the visual performance often falls behind expectations due to technical issues that don't allow it to be the fantastic experience that it could aspire to.
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This isn't just about choosing bikes and winning races, but about managing a plethora of parameters and variables with regards to the mechanical aspects of the motorbike in a way that is certain to catch the hearts of motorcycling fans, while also pushing away those looking for something simpler. The only downside to this Nintendo Switch version is its visibly dated looks, which stand out in a negative way.
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The game does that well, and the very demanding difficulty level is a living evidence - perhaps too much, as its many frustrating moments attest. The Skylia Prophecy doesn't quite succeed at creating an original experience, however. It remains very close to its inspirations and doesn't do anything that hasn't been done before.
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Short Games Collection is a good format to release five short-length indie games which would go mostly unnoticed if released individually. In this collection we find original games with variable levels of challenge and entirely distinct mechanics, put together by a neat and efficient presentation. A lower price would be very welcome, however, as there are more ambitious collections available on the Nintendo Switch on a similar price range.
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With its emphasis on the history of rally, a more technical and demanding driving, and often a more relaxing experience that makes use of a unique presentation, art of rally is set to find a place in the heart of driving fans. Not all is perfect, though, and its visual performance needs improvement, especially with regards to its screen resolution and textures. In any case, fans of motor sports and rally in particular will find this an appealing and delightful experience.
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Rustler does not try to hide where its main source of inspiration comes from, and it does a great job at parodying the world's number one reference in terms of open world games. With a stunning looking environment too, Rustler finds itself a good place in the Nintendo Switch library. Not all is smooth, though, and performance issues end up making the experience more frustrating than it should be, especially in more intense moments. With that said, this is a fun game that deserves its chance.
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Citizen Sleeper is an RPG inspired by board games and it delivers a competent experience on the Nintendo Switch based on its dystopian atmosphere, audiovisual work, and simultaneous and involving plot lines. It does not quite make a great leap towards a larger audience, however, given its rather short length and lack of new, differentiating gameplay mechanics, which means its appeal will remain mostly within its main audience.
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Tormented Souls draws heavily from the first Resident Evil games to create a horror experience whose atmosphere, presentation and level design are spot on. At the same time, several of its puzzles seem nonsensical, the performance is rather irregular, and the game has a dearth of new and original ideas, while its lighting mechanic is far from a good implementation. While Tormented Souls is overall a good game, it falls short of expectations for those who hoped for something more.
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Thunder Ray brings a rare new boxing game to a Nintendo console and that by itself is worthy of praise. Thanks to a gorgeous visual presentation and a fun - if somewhat repetitive - gameplay, Thunder Ray will easily appeal to fans of boxing games who haven't had a chance to try something new for a while. There is room for improvement, however, as the difficulty can often feel very arbitrary for no reason, while the game is too short, which can both be corrected in a future follow-up, not to mention that a multiplayer mode would work wonders.
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This on-rails photographic adventure is mostly preoccupied with getting the player to know more about the game's settings through its fun gameplay than to instill fear, and if those players less prepared or who might be expecting something else will no doubt find it short and repetitive, those who enjoy knowing new creatures and snapping their photos will have an enjoyable experience that will motivate them to keep going forward.
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Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is an action-adventure game that follows a different concept from its predecessor and does a very good job at creating a fun and accessible experience to both newcomers and more seasoned players alike. While the difficulty curve can sometimes feel unbalanced, Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara brings an exciting sense of exploration and the game's competition dynamic between pirates helps with making it a captivating adventure that gained its place in the Nintendo Switch.
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Super Dungeon Maker is a game that does a great service to the player's creativity with its blend of dungeon design and exploration that go very much hand in hand as part of the same experience. Most importantly, Super Dungeon Maker boasts a creative online community that keeps creations fresh, the game's longterm appeal will overall depend on the lifespan of this absolutely essential community to ensure more and original dungeon designs.
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Players will experience infernal, but very competent level design that will make trial-and-error their new way of life, and with its merciless obstacles and deadly enemies, Mr. Run and Jump will attract players looking to be pressed hard, while keeping away those who want something more accessible.
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Richly decorated and full of detail, Teslagrad 2 goes for a minimal narrative approach, using no text whatsoever, but there's no instance where players are going to notice the absence of words. What could have gone better, however, is the combat system - or rather, the lack thereof, as Teslagrad 2 relies entirely on quick non-combat moves from its protagonist, which works good most of the time, but it could have been worked differently when it comes to the game's combat, especially the boss fights.
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Its combat as far as the common enemies goes feels repetitive, however, and sometimes it’s best to avoid it whenever possible, and its audio design is very short, but fans of the genre have something to look for here.
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Despite its unusual format for a Dragon Ball game, The Breakers is a great depiction of the series and its fans will find plenty to enjoy here. Perhaps it could be even more enjoyable with greater offline and single player ways to play, as it would significantly enlarge the available options beyond the online community.
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