[Review] Yakuza Kiwami
Posted on 1 month ago by Edan(@@Virtualboi92) in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: October 24, 2024
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Publisher: SEGA
Ask any cohort of gamers what their favorite aspect of SEGA’s Yakuza series is, and you’ll doubt that each person you’ve involved in your study is talking about the same game. Some will highlight its accessible yet more-ish combat, or perhaps the unshakeable morals of the series’ most illustrious protagonist, Kazuma Kiryu. Quiz anyone who owns a Switch, however, and they will likely bemoan the free-roam brawler’s absence on Nintendo’s hybrid console. With the machine now coasting through its autumnal years with a continuously stacked release schedule, SEGA has opted to bring Switch owners into the family by porting Yakuza Kiwami – a remake of the series’ inaugural outing – to the console that just won’t die.
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[Review] Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven
Posted on 2 months ago by Elias in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: October 24, 2024
Developer: Square Enix / Xeen
Publisher: Square Enix
Square Enix’s SaGa franchise has seen quite the return over the last few years. With almost as many entries as the mainline Final Fantasy games, the series has had a lot of time to define itself – resulting in a focus on non-linearity, exploration, and a unique take on character advancement and customization that in the modern age is still surprisingly addictive and proves that the SaGa renaissance is in full swing. Heading in to a game I first experienced on Switch when it was first ported to the west in 2017, I was incredibly excited to return to the world of Avalon in beautiful 3D with Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven.
[Review] Card-en-Ciel
Posted on 2 months ago by Dawn in Reviews, Switch eShop | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: October 24, 2024
Developer: Inti Creates
Publisher: Inti Creates
If there’s one thing I don’t think we get enough of these days, it’s video game crossovers and character cameos. There’s something delightful in watching characters from different series interact with one another in “what if” scenarios. Despite being a deckbuilder, which is a far cry from the 2D action games they are better known for, Card-en-Ciel feels like a love letter to Inti Creates’ catalog of releases up to this point, and it delivers a surprisingly deep combat system that somehow manages to stay fresh despite the repetition and roguelike trappings that occasionally throw off the pacing.
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[Review] Ys X: Nordics
Posted on 2 months ago by Dawn in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: October 24, 2024
Developer: Falcom
Publisher: NIS America
Adol Christin has certainly led an interesting life. Across the series’ thirty-six year lifespan he’s crossed numerous continents, explored the ruins of civilizations past, and saved the world from dire threat on more than one occasion. But, fearless adventurer that he may be, Adol has never had much luck with ships. It seems that every time Adol sets foot on a ship it ends up sinking due to one circumstance or another, so putting him at the helm of one probably sounds like a bad idea. However, Ys X: Nordics does just that, and manages to mostly stay the course to deliver yet another solid entry in the series.
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[Review] Neva
Posted on 2 months ago by Dawn in Reviews, Switch eShop | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: October 15, 2024
Developer: Nomada Studio
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Nearly six years after its release, I still find myself occasionally thinking about my experience with Gris. The debut title of Nomada Studio, it was a visually stunning experience that explored deeply personal themes of loss and acceptance, and it left a lasting impact on me in a way few other games can claim. I was keen to try out Neva, the studio’s second title, which I found feels no less poignant for its exploration of our relationship with the world and one another, and is a more than worthy spiritual successor.
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[Review] Bloomtown: A Different Story
Posted on 2 months ago by Dawn in Reviews, Switch eShop | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: September 24, 2024
Developer: Lazy Bear Games
Publisher: Twin Sails
The feeling of déjà vu is not an uncommon one to experience when playing a game, particularly with indies, which have often drawn their inspiration from more successful and well-established franchises to create their own take on the formula. It’s not inherently a bad thing, but it was a feeling that I often had whilst I was playing Bloomtown: A Different Story. Despite a few questionable deviations here and there, it delivers an experience that at least matches its inspirations for enthusiasm and spirit, if not entirely in terms of satisfaction and enjoyment.
[Review] The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Posted on 2 months ago by Ethan in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: September 26, 2024
Developer: Grezzo / Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
It’s no secret that the Legend of Zelda franchise has seen a big resurgence on Switch. The release of Breath of the Wild in 2017 changed the direction of the series for many years to come – the effects of which we’re still seeing today. For many years, fans wondered if games like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom would push traditional 2D Zelda titles to the wayside for good. We didn’t have a definitive answer for the longest time, but this week, we finally got it – The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is finally here, and it proves that 2D Zelda not only is here to stay, but has a place alongside Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom as one of the better games in the series. Echoes of Wisdom is a clever, innovative title that brings forth a new and fully fleshed-out way to play the game.
[Review] Loddlenaut
Posted on 3 months ago by Dawn in Reviews, Switch eShop | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: September 19, 2024
Developer: Moon Lagoon
Publisher: Secret Mode
When you stop and think about it, most video games have you cleaning up someone else’s mess. Exactly what that mess is will vary of course: you might have to make sure something you’ve inherited runs smoothly, help people out with their problems, or save a world you just happen to be part of from powers that are generally making life difficult. It’s never a problem you’ve created, but it’s always one that only you can solve. Developer Moon Lagoon’s Loddlenaut follows diligently in the footsteps of the likes of Power Wash Simulator by taking this general concept literally, giving you an aquatic planet to scrub down and some adorable creatures to rescue and nurture along the way.
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[Review] Epic Mickey: Rebrushed
Posted on 3 months ago by Nicholas Serpa in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: September 24, 2024
Developer: Purple Lamp
Publisher: THQ Nordic
I’ve had a 2010 Wii copy of Epic Mickey sitting on my shelf for years, and as much as I had intended to experience Warren Spector’s twisted Mickey Mouse tale well before this point, for one reason or another I’ve just never gotten around to it. In this case, my patience definitely paid off. Developer Purple Lamp – who is quickly garnering a positive reputation for their work in the 3D platforming space – has invested considerable effort to free this ambitious game from the Wii’s limitations and make it accessible to modern audiences. While the Switch version of Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed has some disappointing performance issues here and there, overall, this remake is a stunning effort that deserves to be experienced by fans of both Disney and platformers alike.
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[Review] Reynatis
Posted on 3 months ago by Elias in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: September 27, 2024
Developer: FuRyu
Publisher: NIS America
Worlds of wizards and magic aren’t uncommon in the gaming world, but a setting as realistic as modern-day Shibuya, Tokyo does add a flavor that makes Reynatis stand out immediately. Flashy modern day outfits, blazing weapons, and flashy skills with fights breaking out on realistic representations of streets we could go and walk today. Reynatis is set in a prefecture bursting with commerce, the towering shopping malls, businesses, and bistros bustle with traffic of consumers and business people alike. Shibuya is the pinnacle of Japan’s fashion industry, boasts an incredible music scene, and the food is absolutely to die for. Also, for whatever reason, it seems to attract wizards.
