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Calling Spy Drops a clone could potentially give the impression that it’s a well-made copy of a PS1-era classic. This is not the case: it feels more like someone tried to copy a game that was made nearly 30 years ago, but wasn’t talented enough to pull it off. It has a lot of the same features, but none of the quality that made MGS so beloved.
The key to enjoying Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is to think of it not as an open-ended sandbox, there for you to discover all kinds of secrets, but as an intricate diorama, just waiting for you to set things into motion. You may not get the same kind of satisfaction of figuring out inventive ways to solve problems, but you will get to look at a game that’s simply beautiful – and all things considered, it’s a fair trade.
Even if it doesn’t perform perfectly, and even if it’s not all that different from the original game just because it has an “S” in its name, we’re still talking about a game that’s taken the Monster Hunter formula and added enough wrinkles here and there that it’s more than just a clone. It makes for a fine time if you want to take down some monsters, either solo or with up to three Switch 2-owning friends, and all things considered, that’s a perfectly fine thing for a game to be.
Tales of the Shire is nothing if not low stakes and low stress. But it also makes for an extremely dull experience if you want even the slightest bit more than that, which makes it very hard to recommend.
I was hopeful for Shadow Labyrinth when it was announced, but as I played the game a lot of that eroded over the hours and hours I spent with it. It’s not a bad game for sure, I’ve played far worse Metroidvania’s over the years, but it’s also not a great game, held back by some archaic design decisions, a mostly bland art design, and some frustrating control moments.
Maybe the most impressive thing about Clutchtime is that you don’t need to be a basketball fan to enjoy the game. I’m sure that would help, but really, as long as you like deckbuilders, you should definitely give this one a chance to see how broad and varied the genre can be.
If you purchased CF 25 and you’re not a huge college football fan/ NEED the most up to date roster, I would stick with that release and wait to see what improvements are given in CF 27.
If you’re a fan of word games, you need to play Birdigo.
It’s hard to say, though, that the Frenzy and Tag Team modes totally justify the cost of buying the Switch 2 edition of Super Mario Party Jamboree. It’s still a great game – probably the best Mario Party game ever – and you’ll have a blast with the core game whether you’re playing it on Switch 1 or Switch 2, but the $20 upgrade pack that is Jamboree TV is nowhere near as essential.
Patapon 1 + 2 Replay may be throwbacks to another time, but their gameplay is pretty timeless, and whether you played them the first time around or not, it’s a good time to go back (or go for the first time) and lose yourself in the rhythm.
Eternal Strands isn’t a game to pick up if you’re after an entirely original experience. However, if you want something that captures its influences well and does a good job of imitating them…in that case, you might just be in luck, because that describes it perfectly.
I feel like I should temper my praise of Donkey Kong Bananza, but at the same time, if I did, I’d be lying. This is one of the most enjoyable games I’ve played in a long time. If you’ve been holding out on buying a Switch 2, this is the game that should make you buy one: it really is that phenomenal.
So overall did Unfinished Business surpass the original Rogue City? I would say no, a lot of the ambition of Rogue City was stripped away (Even the game’s Public Trust System was quietly done away with) and Unfinished Business felt like Teyon wanted to tell a very specific tale.
I really don’t have complaints about Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut. It’s exactly what it claims to be: a new, recut version of Yakuza 0 on the Nintendo Switch 2 with enhanced visuals and smooth performance. It takes advantage of everything very well, and being able to play it on the go is a massive bonus.
If you’re expecting a 1:1 remake of both games, you’re effectively there when it comes to levels, but it’s not perfect. If you’re not concerned with the faithfulness to Pro Skater 3 and 4, these games are bigger and better than 1+2 and well worth it.
You might look at Oceanhorn: Chronos Dungeon and see the top-down view and pixel graphics and think that the franchise has taken a turn for the very retro, looking to the very earliest Zelda games for inspiration. And while that’s sort of correct – it’s definitely got more of a retro flavour than either of the previous Oceanhorn games – at the same time, it’s also totally wrong. Oceanhorn: Chronos Dungeon looks like any number of dungeon crawlers from decades ago – and that’s its biggest problem.
It’s easy to forgive a little jank, though, when the overall package is this impressive. Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is an epic RPG that aims high and that, much more often than not, succeeds in what it sets out to do.
Once again, ININ have released another great collection of classic IREM games at a decent price.
You’ll be left wondering why Beyond the Ice Palace 2 exists in the first place. You’ve absolutely played plenty of games like this before, and there’s nothing this game has that you can’t find done better elsewhere.
Overall Final Fantasy XVI is one of the best entries in the series.