[Review] Crymachina
Posted on 1 year ago by Dawn in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: October 24, 2023
Developer: FuRyu
Publisher: NIS America
Although not the biggest company out there, developer FuRyu has arguably made a little more of a name for themselves over recent years, bringing titles such as Monark and The Caligula Effect to the Switch with mixed reception. Crymachina is the latest game from the developer, an action RPG that acts as a sort of spiritual successor to their previous attempt at the genre, Crystar. Unfortunately, although Crymachina has a strong, well-developed narrative, its combat fails to make a lasting impression, making it another middling attempt that may be best avoided.
More: Crymachina, FuRyu, highlight, NIS America, top
[Interview] Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope dev on bringing back Rayman and the future
Posted on 1 year ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Interviews, Switch | 0 comments
We’ve been sharing excerpts from our recent Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope interview with creative director Davide Soliani, but we wanted to publish our full discussion which contains some extras.
Soliani shared a lot of insight about bringing back Rayman for the game’s final DLC, Rayman in the Phantom Show. He also spoke to us about interest in continuing the franchise in the future, though it’s too early to say anything at present.
Here’s our full discussion:
[Let’s Talk] Super Mario Bros. Wonder impressions
Posted on 1 year ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk, Switch | 0 comments
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is one of the biggest Switch games of 2023. With the title now officially launching worldwide, we’d like to hear about what your early thoughts are if you’ve started it up.
If you’ve been playing, what are your early thoughts? What do you think of the new features like the badge system? How do you feel it compares to other 2D Mario games? Let us know in the comments below.
More: highlight, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, top
[Rapid Review] Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged
Posted on 1 year ago by Edan(@@Virtualboi92) in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: October 19, 2023
Developer: Milestone
Publisher: Milestone
Developer Milestone knows racing games. You may not be familiar with their name, but you’ve definitely at least seen one of their titles before. From the SBK Superbike series of the 00s, through to the thoroughly enjoyable Ride games of the 2010s, Milestone are as synonymous with tires on asphalt as they are with hot dinners. Despite this, 2019’s Hot Wheels Unleashed ultimately ended up a slightly messy affair – plenty of content, but the core experience was lacking in refinement. Fast forward to 2023, and Milestone is back with Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged – an unwieldy name, but is it an equally unwieldy sequel?
[Rapid Review] Mineko’s Night Market
Posted on 1 year ago by Elias in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: September 26, 2023
Developer: Meowza Games
Publisher: Humble Games
Mineko and her father have just moved into a new community. The island town at the base of Mount Fugu used to be full of hustle and bustle, but seems to have fallen from it’s former glory. With the mysterious symbol of worship, the Sun Cat Nikko being sighted, Mineko’s own encounters lead her towards the revival of the town’s iconic Night Market. Gathering items around the island and crafting various things to both sell and fulfill the townsfolks’ various requests is the name of the game with this capitalism simulator – but does Mineko’s Night Market feel like a breakaway from the daily grind, or more like actual work?
[Review] Detective Pikachu Returns
Posted on 1 year ago by Dawn in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: October 6, 2023
Developer: Creatures
Publisher: Nintendo
Detective Pikachu first released in Japan in 2016, although it wouldn’t be until two years later that western audiences would get their hands on the game. It might be an exaggeration to say that it was a bolt of brilliance, but it clearly left enough of a lasting impact to warrant a sequel on the Switch to tie up loose ends in the plot. The aptly named Detective Pikachu Returns is more of the same, and although for many it will be a game that has arrived a little too late (especially if you’ve seen the movie) it is a game with an abundance of charm that is an easy recommendation to make for younger players and for those looking to kick back, relax, and watch a gruff, overdramatic, coffee-loving Pikachu get himself into all manner of trouble and save the day with his deductive reasoning skills. With a little help from Tim, of course.
More: Detective Pikachu Returns, highlight, top
[Review] Fate/Samurai Remnant
Posted on 1 year ago by Dawn in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: September 29, 2023
Developer: Omega Force
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Although Koei Tecmo has slowed down in recent years with numbered Dynasty Warriors games, one thing it has not let up on are crossover titles, which takes the familiar hack-and-slash formula and gives it a unique twist drawn from another franchise. The latest such crossover is Fate/Samurai Remnant, which takes its inspiration from Type-Moon’s Fate series, an exhaustively convoluted amalgamation of various media that started life as a visual novel in 2004. Despite a few visual hiccups on Switch, Fate/Samurai Remnant is far greater than the sum of its parts, and is a fantastic experience that is an easy recommendation for both newcomers and series veterans for both franchises.
More: Aniplex, Fate/Samurai Remnant, highlight, Koei Tecmo, top, Type-Moon
[Let’s Talk] Do you replay games?
Posted on 1 year ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk | 0 comments
Just like it can be nice to go back to an old movie you love, replaying a game – especially one you really enjoyed – can always be a good time. But with more and more games coming out theses days, it’s sometimes tough to go back to titles you picked up previously. Some are also firmly against replaying games and would rather go for new experiences only.
With so many different opinions out there when it comes to replaying games, what side of the fence do you sit on? Do you ever return to a title you went through before? Or do you primarily stick to new games? Let us know in the comments.
[Rapid Review] Faerie Afterlight
Posted on 1 year ago by Dawn in Reviews, Switch eShop | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: September 28, 2023
Developer: Clay Game Studio
Publisher: Mastiff
There is an abundance of Metroidvanias on the Switch at this point, and it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd when some of the most critically acclaimed titles in recent years are your direct competition. Clay Game Studio’s Faerie Afterlight feels like a unique and noteworthy experience thanks to its truly stunning visual design and excellent terrain-based puzzle platforming, but ultimately falls short everywhere else, making it a hit-or-miss experience at best.
More: Clay Game Studio, Faerie Afterlight, Mastiff
[Review] Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong
Posted on 1 year ago by Dawn in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: September 28, 2023 (Europe) / December 5 (North America)
Developer: Big Bad Wolf
Publisher: Nacon
Vampire the Masquerade is a series that has been around for a surprisingly long time, lurking in the shadows of tabletop roleplaying games since the early 90s as part of the larger World of Darkness series. It has been adapted into video game format a few times over the years, and Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong is the third of these games to come to Nintendo’s console. Unfortunately, it has not been worth the extremely long wait, and is something I wouldn’t recommend to even the most avid fans of the series.
