Scarlet Bell's Reviews
Monster Hunter Rise is the best Monster Hunter experience to date from a gameplay standpoint. Iterating magnificently from World's shift in pace, the Wirebug gives you freedom and manoeuvrability in a way the clutch claw could only dream of. What holds it back at launch is its limited content offering, leaving long-time fans like myself dead in the water while we wait for the first of what will hopefully be many major content updates. For those wanting everything I'd recommend waiting a few months, or even grabbing the PC release next year. But for others content with a steady stream of new content to keep them coming back, there is no better time to jump into the series.
Disgaea 4 Complete+ puts out a great game on modern hardware, that much is indisputably good. If you've played Disgaea 5 and want something to tide you over until DIsgaea 6 drops later in the year, this is for you. If you want to jump in and use this as your first glimpse into the series, it's a great choice too. However you choose to play, just make sure to avoid the shady corporate "DLC" guy.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a marvellous game. Pulling together two genres in a fun and unique way, you're left with a game quite unlike anything before it. Give it a shot, you'll find it more than worth the wait.
Moero Crystal H is ultimately a game you know you're going to love or hate after so much as watching a trailer. In many respects, it does little to break from my expectations, but its by the books dungeon crawling paired with the staple humour and open degeneracy of Compile Heart and Idea Factory is reason enough to pick it up if you've enjoyed their games before.
I adore Aokana. From its characters, to its visuals, to its made up sport, I thoroughly love it all. It's the kind of story that will captivate you while saying and ultimately doing little. For visual novel fans on the Switch it's another triumphant port, and one that has me eager to see what PQube decide to bring us next.
For better or worse, this is the Mineral Town we know and love. Complete with quirks both good and bad, it stands as a faithful retelling to this classic ranch story. If you're looking for a peaceful game to play a bit at a time, or just want to revisit a beloved town from your childhood, Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town might just be for you.
Nailing every key part of the Transport Tycoon formula, Railway Empire is a fantastically fun experience through and through. With a heap of content to explore and master, it's a game I'll be revisiting and enjoying regularly.
Trials of Mana is a game I struggle to recommend to the vast majority of people reading this. Though hidden behind a great soundtrack and colourful visuals, it stands as a dated game, complete with a frustrating storyline and a largely unenjoyable combat experience.
Disaster Report 4 is a game like no other. Undeniably flawed both technically and mechanically, I cannot in good nature recommend it to anybody, and yet I find myself recommending it to every person to ask.
A short tale of long distance, A Fold Apart takes you on a journey of emotional turbulence. Easy to follow, easy to play, and easy to fall in love with. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this game, and I can only hope others will give it the chance it so sorely deserves.
All in all, Snakeybus is a fine arcade experience. Featuring a unique and fantastically fun take on a classic game, the Switch port is perfect to enjoy in small bursts. Though lacking the multiplayer mayhem of its PC counterpart, there's still enough here to warrant the price of entry.
You don't need to love Way of the Samurai to love Katana Kami, it stands out on its own merits, and it does so brilliantly. Through its addicting gameplay loop to its humour, refined combos, and great range of weapons, you find yourself losing hour upon hour. It is great fun, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anybody wanting a bit of randomly generated dungeon crawling action.
Avoid this game. I cannot put it more simply than that.
All in all, Sisters Royale is a fine addition to the shoot 'em up library for the Switch. Though short-lived, it features a delightfully fun cast of characters and a story so bizarre you can't help but be amused.
New Super Lucky's Tale is a game right at home on a Nintendo console. Featuring bright and colourful environments in a charming world full of life, it draws you in from the offset for an adventure I enjoyed more than some of Mario's. Though slightly frustrating for its loading times, it puts forward a great debut for the adventurous fox on the Switch, and I can only hope to see more down the line.
Luigi's Mansion 3 is a game for everybody. Be you young or old, experienced or otherwise, this game goes beyond to appeal to every type of player. With a great range of puzzles and challenges alongside a series best in gameplay and combat, it is a game I wholeheartedly recommend to any Switch owner, especially in this most spooky of times.
Sublevel Zero Redux is a fine example of a roguelike game with a brilliantly tight control scheme and striking visual style. Though not without fault, it's a game that drives you to observe and better your knowledge, to in turn understand and enjoy more of what really makes it stand out. I wholeheartedly recommend it to any fans of roguelikes and floaty spaceship goodness.
The Sojourn is a bizarre game. While not feeling like it pushes any kind of boundaries, it manages to put forward something new and interesting. Utilising simple graphics and an easy to grasp puzzling concept, it's incredibly easy to jump into, whether you're wanting to lose a few minutes or a few hours.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is both a cumulation of everything that makes the series so good, and an evolution of its shortcomings. Learning from past successes and failures, it stands proud as an experience accessible to the masses, with the core balance still intact. In this nest of choice and freedom still exists the linearity and resource management I personally adore. For those who want everything, it's there for the taking. For those who want a classic experience, you can pave through the game. For those wanting a fantastic Fire Emblem experience, look no further.
Dragon Quest Builders 2 is a true standout in the Switch's ever-glistening library of gems. From its brilliantly-paced progression to its secrets and thoughtful world design, it's a game you can play seemingly-endlessly. As long as you have a passion to build, as long as you're eager to create, develop, and grow, there will always be something to do. It is a game I wholeheartedly recommend to any Switch owner, and with a free demo available, there's no excuse not to give it a shot.