Having never played a Grandia game, I came in not knowing much about the series and what makes it great. Walking away, I'm left in awe of not only the battle system, but also how you power up your party. The port is a bit rough when it comes to slow down, particularly in battles, but it's worth dealing with the inconvenience to experience this classic.
That said, Hell is Other Demons separates itself not only with stunning visuals, but with its wonderfully designed campaign mode. I prefer how upgrades work within the campaign more than the arcade mode, but the fast-paced arcade action is still a blast to play. My chief complaints have been addressed in a post launch patch, making this a strong experience front to back.
This easygoing platformer gives the flexibility of selecting any level regardless of order and is forgiving when facing obstacles within each stage. The difficulty doesn't cap out too high, so players looking for a real challenge might be disappointed, but the fun mechanics and combining powers were enough to capture my attention. The entire adventure only lasts a few hours but manages to stay fresh from beginning to end.
From the newly-added UEFA Champions League mode, to the updated online that now lets you play with friends, there's plenty to see and do. The top-tier gameplay feels fluid and crisp, the visual upgrades are noticeable, and having the Fifa experience portable is a great feeling. For those who want more than the standard Career modes or love diving into the Ultimate Team this version might not be for you, but if those aren't deal breakers, then Fifa 19 on the Switch is a fantastic way to get your soccer fix.
Running-and-gunning through the campaign was a blast and with co-op as an option, it gives more reason to revisit the relatively short campaign. Online matchmaking can be a bit of a hassle, but when it works, it works well. However, I thoroughly enjoyed what is offered as a single player experience.
This adds a sense of stress that you just don't feel from many other games in the genre. While the Switch port does have some minor slowdown and jarring load screens, it doesn't detract from how horrifically wonderful the game is. With the emphasis back on horror and survival, Outlast is a welcomed return to what made the genre great to begin with.
After first seeing RIVE was a combination of both a platformer and a shoot-em-up, I was cautiously enthused. Often when a game tries to do too many things it can result in it not doing any one particular thing great. Fortunately my worries were put to rest as Two Tribes delivers a game that does exactly what it set out to do, blending two styles of play exceptionally well.
It's not articulated particularly well and can lead to some confusion at first, but once fully understood it proves to be a lot of fun. The pace of the game tends to be a bit slow, especially on early floors which don't present as much of a challenge as later floors. However, branching paths, local co-op, multiple difficulties, and even online leaderboards help round out the overall package.
It does a fantastic job of making a captivating atmosphere that's both fun to explore and filled with things to do. There are frame rate issues and the lack of diversity among quests is a bit disappointing, but the jaw dropping visuals and superb audio design left me pining for more. While it certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea, those looking for a laidback trip through a stunning world, look no further.
While the level design is a bit uneven, it's ultimately a minor complaint when looking at the larger whole. Fun boss fights, varied play style of each ship and an overall great presentation equate to one of the more accessible and fun shoot-em-ups out there. Whether you're a veteran revisiting past glories or a newcomer looking to see what the fuss is about, Blazing Star is sure to offer up a great deal of enjoyment.
Snake Pass sets out to bring a familiar feeling with a unique twist that sets it apart from its predecessors. While it does exactly that, it isn’t without fault, as overcoming the challenge of platforming without a jump might scare off the faint of heart. If you can overcome the early struggles and the occasional moments of frustration, the game offers a beautiful world to explore and plenty of collectables to keep you busy.
The Boxboy series seemingly came out of nowhere and launched a simple yet challenging puzzle series with an adorable protagonist. Bye-Bye Boxboy gives Qbby a great send-off with some really fun additions to the series despite losing one of the more interesting abilities from the previous installment. With over 20 worlds of puzzles to explore and even more challenge worlds to unlock, Bye-Bye Boxboy will keep even the most seasoned puzzle players busy for quite some time.
Although the port for the Switch mostly holds up with other versions, the lack of online play definitely makes this an inferior version. That aside, it still serves up reams of fun and is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a fresh take on a puzzle game.
8 offers a beautiful world to explore with a fun set of abilities and an engrossing assortment of bosses. The experience lasts about six to eight hours, but easily much longer if you're a completionist, as an abundance of hidden items and power ups are nestled throughout. Notwithstanding a few minor issues and lack of GamePad functionality (a constant map would have been greatly appreciated), Forma.8 delivers a great exploration based experience that has left me excited to see what Mixedbag has in store for us next.
Character action games rely heavily on combat and style and Devil May Cry 3 manages to deliver just that in spades. While not being able to completely withstand the test of time, the addition of Free Style play to the Switch version gives the title a breath of fresh air, offering veterans of the series a fresh take on the classic while making it even more accessible to newcomers.
Devil May Cry was the pioneer for character action games and despite being released 18 years ago, it still manages to stand tall among more contemporary counterparts. It certainly shows its age, most specifically in the dated platforming and at times jarring camera changes. Yet, when it comes down to pulling off combos and looking cool as hell, it hits the mark, still feeling fresh all these years later.
Mario Party has seen its fair share of good and bad over the years, but Super Mario Party swings the pendulum back in the right direction. The return of the classic style is a welcome one, and the plethora of different minigames hit the mark more often than not. It would have been nice to see another board or two, but the assortment of other fully-fledged modes helps to mitigate that feeling.
Every action you take, whether it be in the dungeons collecting materials or in your shop earning gold to spend on upgrades, helps to move you further along towards your end goal. There were a few technical hiccups that cropped up from time to time and the last few upgrades needed a bit of grinding to unlock. But despite that, I constantly found myself falling victim to the classic “just one more run”.
What I didn't expect was to get Mutant Mudds, Mutant Mudds Super Challenge, and Mudd Blocks all in one convenient package. With the great gameplay of three games present and brand new leaderboards for each game, this is the ultimately collection for anyone interested in the Mudds franchise. The lack of stereoscopic 3D is the only blemish, but hardly enough to diminish an otherwise fantastic offering.
Delivering the classic vertical shmup gameplay combined with a modern day skill tree that proves to be both fun and addictive. A fully voice acted cast of characters adds charm to the already great gameplay and well designed levels and bosses. There were a few framerate drops along the way and some relatively lengthy load times, but ultimately these are minor complaints when talking about how great the overall experience is.