Craig Shields's Reviews
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is without question one of the greatest games of all time, we’ll learn in years to come whether it will be heralded as the greatest, but at the very least, it will change the way games are developed in the future. It is without question the greatest game of the past few years, and possibly Nintendo’s finest of all time.
It’s fast, it’s fun and if you have any type of nostalgia for fast racing games on a Nintendo platform, then Fast RMX should be your first port of call on the Switch.
Andromeda isn’t the return to form for Mass Effect that we were hoping for. Its issues are obvious from the opening few hours and if you can manage to accept them, Andromeda is capable of providing an interesting and combat heavy RPG.
It’s charming, relaxing and can also provide a challenge. Snake Pass is a wonderful game to get lost in for a little while and if you can pick it up on the Switch, you’ve got a title that is great to play on the TV and on the go.
Yooka Laylee brings the classic 3D collectathon platformer into the modern age, although not without camera issues. Despite that, it takes what made past 3D platform games great and puts it on a larger scale with substance.
Mr Shifty is a frantic top down brawler at a staggering pace. Great on the go and with a suitable price point, Mr Shifty is a strong candidate for your next Switch game.
It won’t present much of a challenge but RiME is a delightful experience from beginning to end. It urges you forward at every turn and while there are minor technical issues, it’s a wonderful game that most should explore.
While it may lack modes to keep your attention for long at launch, Arms’ base gameplay is solid and, more importantly, fun. If Nintendo can support Arms like it previously supported Splatoon, then this could be the next big franchise for Nintendo.
Splatoon 2 offers a stellar single-player, a robust and addictive multiplayer and in Salmon Run, a horde-like mode that provides a great alternative to standard online matches. Splatoon 2 is funky, fresh and most importantly, fun.
F1 2017 is another leap from last years game. While it won't reinvent the wheel, the addition of classic cars, a more in-depth career mode and tougher AI makes it a significant improvement on 2016.
Sonic Mania proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Sonic is better in 2D. Mania cleverly leans on the best of Sonic’s past while also carving its own path for a bright future for the blue blur. Welcome back Sonic.
Pokken Tournament DX feels nice in everything it does. Which, for more casual fighting game fans who also love Pokemon is ideal. For those looking for a different fighting game, it’s best to look elsewhere, but, if you want an action-packed and easy to pick up and play fighter with a bit of colour, Pokken Tournament DX might be what you’re after.
Golf Story is a delight to play. It’s an RPG with a unique take, humorous writing and an enjoyable and easy to play philosophy running throughout it. A great addition to any Switch collection – whether you like golf or not.
Easy to play with a satisfying, if over-simplistic, battle system but Fire Emblem Warriors does a good job of balancing a game that can be played by newcomers to Dynasty Warriors-style games, veterans of Fire Emblem or newcomers to both.
Super Mario Odyssey is a love letter to Mario’s past and offers a reward for exploration at every turn. It might be a long time until something this good comes around again.
It’s not the 3D Sonic game we wanted but it’s the one we’ve got. Sonic Forces gives us glimpses of what a good Sonic 3D game could look like but it does so much wrong that it’s not worth your time or money unless you’re a truly die-hard Sonic fan.
Rocket League is an absolute must on the Switch. Its pick-up-and-play nature shines through on Nintendo’s portable console that even minor technical drawbacks can’t dampen. If you own a Switch, you need to get Rocket League.
There’s no doubt that there’s an audience for Mantis Burn Racing. It’s a neat little top-down racing game that’s great for the pick-up and play nature of the Switch. It’s let down by a lack of variety and personality but don’t let that put you off if you’re a keen racer and own a Switch.
While it might not fill the story itch that many have been looking for, the Champions’ Ballad will provide some of the best challenges and puzzles in the Zelda series. In essence, it’s more of the same but that’s a good thing in our eyes.
Both Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 are fantastic games in their own right, despite being more than just a few years old. In the Switch, both have found their true home and compliment the system perfectly, so it’s only right that the best version of both games is found on Nintendo’s portable console. If you haven’t already played them, these two deserve to be in your library.