[Review] BAKERU
Posted on 5 months ago by Dawn in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: September 3, 2024
Developer: Good-Feel
Publisher: Spike Chunsoft
BAKERU is an interesting mix of past and present for Good-Feel. As the co-producer of the long-running Ganbare Goemon series, Etsunobu Ebisu has clearly brought his expertise from that here by creating what feels like a spiritual successor in tone and presentation, and with an impressive resume of titles of a similar genre on Switch (including Princess Peach: Showtime! and Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn) this game represents the best of both worlds. Thankfully, it delivers on both fronts to be one of the best 3D action games I’ve played on the system this year.
[Review] Elrentaros Wanderings
Posted on 5 months ago by Dawn in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: August 15, 2024
Developer: Hakama
Publisher: Red Art Games
Hakama may have only released a handful of games since their formation by Yoshifumi Hashimoto in 2018, but with Rune Factory 4 Special and Rune Factory 5 as two of their more noteworthy releases, it’s fair to say the focus is more on quality over quantity. Unfortunately, although their latest title Elrentaros Wanderings (previously known as Rear Sekai) has hints of their trademark creative brilliance, ultimately fails to deliver on almost every front.
More: Bushiroad, Hakama, highlight, Rear Sekai, Red Art Games, top
[Review] Cat Quest III
Posted on 5 months ago by Dawn in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: August 8, 2024
Developer: The Gentlebros
Publisher: Kepler Interactive
We have had so many cat-focused indie games over the last decade that it could practically be a genre unto itself, but few are as charming, engaging, or downright fun, as Cat Quest. The simplistic yet punchy combat, tightly-packed but unrestricted open world, and overbearing onslaught of feline related puns all combine to make it an experience that has always left me wanting more. Developer The Gentlebros have now graced us with a third installment, Cat Quest III, which continues to improve upon the established formula and takes it into uncharted waters as we set sail on a swashbuckling pirate (or should that be “Pi-rat”?) adventure.
[Rapid Review] Thank Goodness You’re Here
Posted on 5 months ago by Dawn in Reviews, Switch eShop | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: August 1, 2024
Developer: Coal Supper
Publisher: Panic
It’s not very often that a video game makes me laugh. There are usually a few lines of dialogue that will elicit a smile or two, or maybe even a small chuckle if it’s especially witty. But prior to playing Thank Goodness You’re Here I couldn’t remember the last time I was genuinely amused, especially not to the point that I needed to put my console down to compose myself for a few moments at times. It’s definitely something you need to experience firsthand to appreciate, and unlike anything else I’ve played this year so far.
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[Review] Trinity Fusion
Posted on 5 months ago by Dawn in Reviews, Switch eShop | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: August 1, 2024
Developer: Angry Mob Games
Publisher: Angry Mob Games
The idea of a multiverse is nothing new, but it tends to be the domain of movies and TV series rather than video games, especially in recent times. Angry Mob Games’ title Trinity Fusion brings this concept to the roguelite genre in some interesting ways that make it a far more immersive experience than I was expecting, although it never capitalizes on its more unique premise to deliver a more memorable time. Despite this, for fans of the genre it is definitely worth a look-in.
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[Review] Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown – Deluxe Edition
Posted on 6 months ago by Nicholas Serpa in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: July 11, 2024
Developer: Project Aces / Future Tech Lab
Publisher: Bandai Namco
While the Switch may be feeling a bit long in the tooth these days, leave it to Bandai Namco to swing for the fences with an incredibly ambitious port in the tail end of the console’s life. There’s nothing quite like Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown on the platform – dogfighting games are a rare breed in general, these days – and Ace Combat has always been a singular experience, melding fast and frenetic aerial gunplay with schlocky, yet surprisingly captivating storytelling. I’m a fan of the genre as a whole, so I was excited to see how the game would play on the Switch in what Bandai Namco is calling the game’s Deluxe Edition. While this version of Ace Combat 7 certainly is held back by the raw power of the Switch, it’s also an impressive port that retains the white-knuckle gameplay of the original release, and it captivated and challenged me from start to finish.
[Rapid Review] Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition
Posted on 6 months ago by Ethan in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: July 18, 2024
Developer: Nintendo / indieszero
Publisher: Nintendo
Nintendo World Championships NES Edition was revealed by surprise a few months back, and now it’s finally available. In a way, this game is a kind of spiritual successor to the NES Remix games on Wii U and 3DS – they’re all made by the same developer, in fact. This time around, though, the game focuses on taking a more competitive approach to the genre. In doing so, it makes itself accessible to both casual and hardcore gamers, as well as introducing a bunch of classic NES games to a brand-new audience. Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition was made with a wide audience in mind, so there’s something here for everyone.
[Review] Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate
Posted on 6 months ago by Dawn in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: July 17, 2024
Developer: Super Evil Megacorp
Publisher: Super Evil Megacorp
Since their debut in the 1980s, it feels as though the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have always been around in some form or another, undergoing a complete visual reboot every few years to appeal to a new audience. Despite this, the franchise as a whole has remained remarkably consistent in terms of characterization, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is another iteration of the four iconic brothers. As a roguelite, it is also an interesting pivot away from the arcade and beat ’em up titles that they typically star in.
[Rapid Review] Tchia
Posted on 6 months ago by Elias in Reviews, Switch eShop | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: June 27, 2024
Developer: Awaceb
Publisher: Kepler Interactive
Colorful islands surrounded by the vast open sea make up the archipelago explored in Tchia. Based on South Pacific island nation of New Caledonia, known for its palm-lined beaches and marine-life-rich lagoon, the world immediately shows the passion the developers hold for their homeland, and in an open-world approach that illustrates the complexity and diversity of nature unique to island life. Taking control of the title character, what sort of adventure will we find ourselves on here in the beautiful windswept islands an d across the vast open sea?
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[Review] Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon
Posted on 6 months ago by Dawn in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: June 27, 2024
Developer: Type-Moon
Publisher: Aniplex
The overwhelming success of Fate/Grand Order in recent years has significantly enhanced Type-Moon’s reputation, and as a long-time fan of their work I couldn’t be happier about it, as it has resulted in a lot of their less mainstream work reaching us overseas. With the surprise Western release of Witch on the Holy Night in 2022, and the release of the critically acclaimed Fate/Stay Night confirmed for Switch in the near future, it’s a welcome surprise that Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon arrives to fill the gap between the two. This also marks the first time the game has been released to western audiences, and although it’s an incomplete package by itself, it’s another exemplary work from the developer that is definitely worth a look.
