[Review] Cruis’n Blast
Posted on 3 years ago by Nicholas Serpa in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: September 14, 2021
Developer: Raw Thrills
Publisher: Raw Thrills
It’s genuinely challenging for me to recall the last time I experienced a game that’s as comprehensively absurd – and so confident in embracing said absurdity – as Cruis’n Blast. While delivering arcade-style racing in what’s perhaps its purest, most straightforward form, Cruis’n Blast simultaneously feels like what would happen if an energy drink company hired a group of obnoxious teenage boys to design a video game. It’s ridiculous, over-the-top fun that never takes itself even remotely seriously, and I loved every minute of it.
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[Review] Button City
Posted on 3 years ago by Elias in Reviews, Switch eShop | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: August 10, 2021
Developer: Subliminal
Publisher: Subliminal
Button City is a colorful low poly narrative adventure game about friendship and community. Enter a pastel diorama world inspired by 90’s nostalgia and filled with cute characters to befriend. As Fenn, the new fox in town, you’ll explore your new community and make new friends in the process, but what is the core gameplay of such an easy-going and colorful experience?
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[Review] Sonic Colors: Ultimate
Posted on 3 years ago by Nicholas Serpa in Previews, Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: September 7, 2021
Developer: SEGA / Blind Squirrel
Publisher: SEGA
By the time the credits rolled during my playthrough of Sonic Colors: Ultimate, a remaster of the well-received 2010 Wii exclusive Sonic Colors, I had been converted from a skeptic into a believer. Beyond dabbling in a few of the 2D games as a kid, I had long been hesitant to dive into a modern 3D Sonic game; this is a franchise with baggage, so much so that not even Sonic Team seems certain how to please its most diehard fans. So I’m thrilled to report that Sonic Colors: Ultimate is not only overwhelmingly fun to play, but also that the Switch is an excellent place to play it.
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[Interview] Raw Thrills on Cruis’n Blast – how Switch version happened, why it’s exclusive, possibility of online play, more
Posted on 3 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Interviews, Switch | 0 comments
Ahead of Cruis’n Blast’s launch on Switch this month, we’re publishing a new developer interview with series creator Eugene Jarvis. Jarvis had much to say about putting the racer on the console, including how this new version came to be, why it’s an exclusive, and whether we could see online play supported in the future.
Our full discussion can be read in full below.
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[Let’s Talk] What are you playing? – September 2021
Posted on 3 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk | 0 comments
A new month rolled right on in this week. Now that we’re in September, we want to know what you’ve been playing.
There’s no question that No More Heroes 3 has been a major highlight for Switch having released last Friday. Other notable August games include Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle, Axiom Verge 2, Slime Rancher, Quake, and Spelunky 1 and 2. Have you picked up any of these games? No matter the case, let us know in the comments below.
[Review] Monster Harvest
Posted on 3 years ago by Dennis Gagliardotto(@LyonHart_) in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: August 31, 2021
Developer: Maple Powered Games
Publisher: Merge Games
There’s no denying the growth and exposure farming sims have garnered over the course of the last few years. These games have helped inspire and create so many unique experiences that remain both familiar yet refreshing with each new property that comes out that wants you to be invested in their town, city, and world of the farming life. With so many unique experiences continuing to come out, Monster Harvest debuted with the premise of not only living a farm life, but shaping crops into Planimals which serve as a party of protectors you could defend and battle with. The biggest drawback, however, is that the game itself seems to have more cons than pros, and Monster Harvest – which clearly has love put into it – still wasn’t ready for release despite its multiple delays.
[Let’s Talk] Which classic system should be added to Nintendo Switch Online next?
Posted on 3 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk | 0 comments
If there was ever a time for a new library of games to join Nintendo Switch Online, it would probably be right around now, so something like Game Boy could make sense. No new NES games were added during the latest update in July. Furthermore, Nintendo seems to be running low on heavy hitters for SNES titles. So what could be next?
N64 followed the SNES in terms of Nintendo generations, but it’s not exactly a lock for Switch Online. Nintendo has shown more interest in remaking and individually re-releasing N64 titles such as Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Star Fox 64 3D, and Super Mario 64’s inclusion in Super Mario 3D All-Stars on Switch. Game Boy and Game Boy Color could be possible for Nintendo Switch Online. Or what if those systems were skipped over for the GBA?
What do you think the future of classic titles could be for Nintendo Switch Online? Let us know in the comments below.
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[Review] King’s Bounty II
Posted on 3 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: August 24, 2021
Developer: 1C Entertainment
Publisher: 1C Entertainment / Prime Matter
Over the past few years, the turn-based strategy genre has become awash with new entries in some of its most landmark franchises; in retrospect, it should have seemed inevitable that someday, eventually, King’s Bounty would return on modern hardware. But I doubt that even longtime fans of this dormant franchise had expected to witness such an ambitious reinvention of the series’ name. Sure, at its heart, King’s Bounty II is still a grid-centric, turn-based strategy game with a traditional medieval setting, but with this new release, 1C Entertainment and Prime Matter have attempted to integrate more immersive role-playing elements, a grander world, and a completely different pace than the last game in the series. And while some of these new ideas can be well-executed individually, I left King’s Bounty II feeling unimpressed by the package as a whole.
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[Let’s Talk] August 2021 Pokemon Presents reaction
Posted on 3 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk, Switch | 0 comments
After last week’s Indie World Showcase, another Nintendo-related presentation took place this week with Pokemon Presents. There were no brand new game announcements, but we pretty much knew that was going to happen going in. However, we did get a look at some big upcoming Switch games.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl took up a good chunk of the broadcast complete with a new trailer and gameplay. Pokemon Super Contests are back as Super Contest Shows, players can socialize with others around the world in the Union Room, and it’ll be possible to customize the gameplay experience with Capsule Decoration.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus closed things out with a lengthy trailer and overview. Gameplay information was shared and new creatures were revealed: Wyrdeer, Basculegion, Hisuian Braviary, and Hisuian Growlithe.
Other games were covered as well such as Pokemon Unite and Pokemon Cafe Remix. We have the full recap here.
Now that this week’s Pokemon Presents has aired, how are you feeling about the presentation? What are your thoughts on Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl and Pokemon Legends: Arceus? Let us know in the comments below.
[Review] NEO: The World Ends with You
Posted on 3 years ago by Elias in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: July 27, 2021
Developer: Square Enix / h.a.n.d.
Publisher: Square Enix
My very first introduction to Shibuya was alongside Neku and Shiki in their first week of The Reaper’s Game. The colorful rendition of the city alongside a masterpiece of a soundtrack didn’t fail to snare me in their net, and before I knew it I was three weeks into a game that really spoke to me about what it is to be alive and experiencing the world alongside my fellow human beings. When a sequel was announced, I wondered: what kind of follow-up could shine alongside such an artful game as The World Ends With You? Would it really be up to par with the first title? Now, with the game in hand, it’s time to find out. What will NEO bring to the table, really?