Daniel Ladiano
I genuinely feel bad for Tokyo Ghoul fans. There is a lot of potential within the franchise to provide a violent and stylish action game. The Subsistence mode especially has glimmers of potential lurking. Unfortunately, the clunky combat, shoddy presentation and bland visuals make it a chore to play.
It definitely controls better than the original game, but when the foundation was rocky to begin with, there wasn't much that Sega could've done to save this one.
Considering how short-lived both the campaign and multiplayer modes are, it’s astonishing this sequel took this long to come out. If you are a fan of the franchise, you’d find things to love here. Even then, it feels too little too late.
After living in Wii purgatory for 11 years, it’s nice for other console owners to finally experience Sonic Colors. The Ultimate edition brings some graphical flourishes and a forgiving difficulty curve that would help benefit beginners. However, the myriad of both visual and audio glitches dampen the overall experience. I do hope that Blind Squirrel can polish the game down the line and provide a more consistent experience. Unfortunately, as it stands, Sonic Colors: Ultimate doesn’t quite reach for the stars.
There isn’t much to say about Word Search by POWGI. It’s a game that does the bare minimum to provide a serviceable and affordable virtual word search.
While the game is perfect for a quick pick-up and play session, I do wish there was more content to unlock and more boards to play on. It's unfortunate since the foundation set here is definitely enjoyable. It may as well be the best spin-off title the series has so far. If you aren't uncomfortable when it comes to the subject matter, maybe you will also enjoy this bumpy ride.
This game is purely recommended to the fans of the genre and others should consider before partaking in this frantic voyage.
There's some great mechanics such as the perks system, unique mission variety, hunting for animals and even some of the weapons can be fun to use. But the mangled progression system, dull storytelling, finicky shooting and the abysmal vehicle controls damper the fun overall. Fans of the franchise will find plenty to enjoy, but New Dawn is a far cry from the series' best.
At the end of the day, those expecting a game to be on the caliber of “All Might”, might get a game that is actually more “all right”.
Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown is a welcome return of the grand-daddy of 3D fighters. The much needed graphical touch ups help rejuvenate an aging game thanks to better facial animations and cleaner visuals. The gameplay is as solid as ever, handling especially well with the online integration. Unfortunately those who aren’t into the competitive aspect of fighting games might not find a lot to enjoy here. If you are big into the genre and want a more technical fighter, it is highly recommended.
While the story is leagues over the original, its short length and lack of content feels sparse. I think the value of the DLC lies with having both expansion packs together, since Crown Tundra will feature the long awaited Legendary Raids. Isle of Armor is a nice addition for Pokémon Sword and Shield, but only the biggest Pokémaniacs will get the most out of the experience.
For a re-imagining of an arcade classic, BurgerTime Party! is pretty enjoyable. The creative premise, cartoony visuals and multiplayer mayhem are all a part of this multiple course meal.
While this version isn’t a major step up from the original release four years ago, Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution is a perfect match on the Nintendo Switch. Being able to pick up and play a few battles here and there is ideal for handheld play.
Just having a one-on-one mind game to see who can punish who first is a lot of fun. Even with its issues, Samurai Shodown is definitely a step in the right direction for the series. If it keeps going at this rate, it can only go up.
Despite a lot of omissions, this still remains a fun fighting game to play with friends and there is hope that Koei Tecmo will add features in the near future. How much would that cost is a whole other story.
Kirby Star Allies started feeling like a slog for how easy and mundane the adventure felt at times, but despite that I wanted to see myself to the end of it as it does have some neat mechanics with the many possible team formations. I do highly recommend this game for Switch owners that are new to video games.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is a major step up from Banana Blitz HD. Thanks to a better source material, both the single and multiplayer content is great. There are some changes with the physics that can lead to very frustrating moments, but as a whole, this is a return to form. Not every new idea lands, but the sheer amount of content for every kind of player will ensure there is something for everyone.
WarioWare: Get It Together! gets a lot of points for reinvigorating the classic formula. Controlling characters in microgames adds a new layer to the gameplay without making the simple goals too convoluted. Unfortunately, the uneven characters and obtuse controls can result in some frustration. The multiplayer offerings are fun when the main games are the focus, but the variety pack doesn’t add much interest despite its namesake. Still, with all the warts, this is still WarioWare, and it’s still as hilarious and fun as it’s always been. Even if it couldn’t get all of its ideas together, it’s still better than having a rotten time.
New Pokémon Snap is the spin-off that many fans have been yearning for years. Nintendo has not only managed to satiate the hunger of hardcore fans, but the simple yet inviting approach to the world of photography means the entry point is far more forgiving than most games. The repetition and some of the technical issues can hinder the experience, but all of that is eliminated thanks to that joyous moments of discovery.
Mega Man 11 is definitely a step in the right direction for Capcom. The new graphical style, the interesting gear system, and some of the most unique bosses, stages and weapons make it a nice return to form.