This is really going to come down to how much you liked the base game. There are some severe things to be made aware of, such as no new characters, not using your save data, and so on. The content is a little thin, and a hefty price tag is going to make a lot of people look away. DLC is met with anger more often than not, and something like this with its price tag doesn't help repair that relationship. Those who really cannot get enough of the first game will probably be happy, but anyone else will feel like there is a lot missing.

Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball plugs a gap in videogaming's sports selection, and provides a fun, if sparse, game in the process.

Team Maniax has delivered on creating a cute, but frenzied party title that simplifies the act of dodging bullets, and making it look cool while doing so. With easy controls to learn, and only having one focus, the barrier for entry in Retimed is low. Whether engaging in team battle with some friends, or taking part in a 'free for all,' there's a ton of energy and excitement to be had. The main issues is the lack of characters, stages, or variety of weapons to choose from, plus the lacklustre single-player experience. However, considering the small development team that worked on this, what Retimed has become is an enjoyable blast to play, and at the very least, it most certainly should be checked out in time for the next couch party.

There is nothing majorly wrong with any single part of Space Pirates and Zombies 2, but the inconsistency drags it down. From an actual good/dark story, to oddly ham-fisted "zombie" references, it is not clear what direction this title wants to go, and both two sections leave more to be desired as they only are purely average. The lore is interesting, and it is unfortunate this does not dive into it more, which is like the game in general: everything works, but it leaves the player wishing there was more.

For the quality included in Double Dragon & Kunio-kun: Retro Brawler Bundle, it feels as if Arc System Works isn't onto a winner here. In fact, when giving it a little thought, it's hard to understand why this collection is needed at all. Any Switcher with access to the Nintendo Online service already has access to some of the best titles available here. Double Dragon and Double Dragon II, as well as River City Ransom[/], and [i]Volleyball are available for the small yearly subscription, and are probably the best titles on offer. It's a major barrier to warrant a purchase, and the question will always rear its ugly head: why buy the gaming cow when you are getting the milk for free? One for the fans, and diehard retro collectors only…

From the initial outset, Mario Tennis Aces looks and sounds like it should, with vibrant colours and familiar sounds. Camelot has gone far enough to refine the controls and gameplay to feel ostensibly different from other tennis games. However, the back to basics approach has left behind the legacy, rendering this as a title that has a severe lack of content when compared to the past greats.

Ultimately, for those that enjoy the core shooter element, Radiantflux: Hyperfractal probably delivers value for money. However, it also feels incomplete - a mess of random things jumbled together. While the randomness itself provides some entertainment, it's hard to feel satisfied with the game when it's over. A little more development effort could have gone a long way here.

Love Too Easily is a Korean romcom with its heart in the right place. Its various flaws, whether it is the low image quality at the beginning of scenes or the broken English, can somewhat be overlooked by the lighthearted story at play. A playful distraction for an hour or two if looking for a humorous FMV game, despite the lack of depth.

A Rite from the Stars is worth playing through at least once, if only to appreciate how rich Makoan culture is, but it fails to improve upon the point-and-click genre in any substantial way.

Episode 2: Suffer the Children gets off to fiery and heart-pounding start in the aftermath of the previous episode, as the various characters begin to draw their battle lines regarding their own morality of the situation. Meanwhile, the actual villains of the piece, the undead horde, also get a bit of a morality discussion that hints that maybe they are just misunderstood beasts after all. Unfortunately, the pacing slows to a bit of a slog, with a boring middle act that does little to further the story - before the ending is literally lit, though the combat sequences bring this episode down because of how cumbersome they are to play; as well as the inclusion of so many of these sequences.

Kudzu is a throwback to adventure games on the Game Boy, and can be played on an actual Game Boy. It does not do a whole lot original within the genre, and in some places is a little dated, but as a homage to the '90s it succeeds.

There are over 500 monsters in Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince, and over 40 hours of main story to trudge through. Fans will get a lot of bang for their buck, but expect to wince at the presentation which is embarrassingly low for Dragon Quest standards. The battles in the colosseums are a little tense to watch as the AIs smack each other around, but are otherwise tedious. The substance of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is in being the coach to a team of cartoony-looking Toriyama monsters.

Goat Simulator is a bundle of fun. Its baffling lack of polish and crazy misdemeanours are so charming and, in all honesty, hilarious, making this hard to put down... initially. Playing it with a friend will provide a couple more hours of entertainment, and could liven up a party a little if it needs an ice breaker. That said Goat Simulator is a lot of things and in the end it will wear thin. A fun romp but only while it lasts. In the words of its creators, you'd probably be best to spend your money on something else, if it's not on sale.

There is not much to Clustertruck, yet for a game with that kind of title, it is far more enjoyable than it would suggest. This is a silly, arcade-style guilty pleasure that manages to delivers a satisfying laugh and not much else. There is not much substance here, but there is enough that does put it above most Youtube-bait schlock, since it does have a thoughtful rising challenge and unlockable abilities that can offset the unpredictability of the physics engine.

As tends to be the case with the franchise, Megadimension Neptunia VIIR makes for a solid entry in the series for pre-existing fans, but may alienate newcomers expecting a more engaging battle system or plot. The script's humour certainly does a good job at keeping the cast mostly likeable, and the references directed at the games industry is charming enough, yet nothing ever truly comes together to deliver a gripping narrative, satirical or not.

The Half-Blood Prince is certainly better than some of the abysmal movie tie-ins of recent years, but it's also far from being a must-buy title.

Moero Chronicle Hyper definitely has an audience, though it's a very niche one. This sort of dungeon crawler can be massively addictive, and it's always good to see someone have the balls to bring a game like this over from Japan uncensored. That being said, there are lots of things wrong with this. Characters designs are lacking; the levelling and skill unlocking systems are flawed; and the story is utterly bland. Many flawed elements, but for the centre of the Venn diagram where "Pervs," "JRPG fans," Etrian Odyssey dungeon crawling fans, all overlap, there are going to be some absolutely overjoyed gamers.

To a T is a mixed bag. It’s a nice little cosy game that doesn’t ask a lot of the player, but it has control issues that take away from the fun. The story is okay and, depending on your sense of humour, you may even find it funny, but at the same time, it can be a bit too simple and hard to judge who it is designed for. At the very least, you will remember the opening theme, even if the game itself isn’t in perfect shape.

Dead Synchronicity: Tomorrow Comes Today doesn't try to reinvent the wheel or fix some of the genre's frequently occurring, yet small, flaws, but that's not a problem, as point-and-click adventures are mainly about the story and presentation. In that regard, this will surely offer a fun, and heavily dark, ride in the few hours that it will last. The only problem? It strongly feels as if it is missing its final chapter.

Mega Man Legacy Collection is, at its core, a competent collection of six classic titles that every platforming fan - or, indeed, every gamer - should play at some point. However, it doesn't go much further than that.

Affordable Space Adventures fails to deliver a world that demands to be explored; it is far too generic and lacking in fun puzzles, instead only producing too many a tedious moment. Patience is a virtue with this one.

In crafting a very specific identity for itself, Light Apprentice unfortunately fails to fully deliver on many of its main fronts. As an RPG, it offers too little party customization and features some of the most tedious battles in the genre. As a point and click adventure, it never requires more than a basic amount of perception. As a narrative driven title, Volume 1 stops just as soon as the story starts to pick up. There is one key area where Light Apprentice excels, however: the presentation. It reads and feels like a proper comic book. Panels are well drawn and well placed, and the interactivity at play is a great way of creating intimacy with the main cast. The biggest problem here is simply that this is one third of a story - of a game. With more time, it's likely that battles would pick up the pace, puzzles would become more thought provoking, and the story would explore some deeper themes and plots. As is, this is an okay way of killing a few hours, but it might be worth holding off until at least Volume 2 is out to get a fuller experience.

Assassin's Creed Mirage offers a return to the roots the series is known for, shedding the RPG elements and massive open world for a more intimate experience. Social stealth and traditional parkour are back, and while they don't offer anything the franchise hasn't seen before, they're complemented by a gorgeous recreation of historical Baghdad. The setting is the true protagonist and offers players something new to experience where the gameplay fails to do so. Fans of the series are sure to be refreshed by this calculated step backwards for the franchise, before it inevitably returns to its massive RPG identity.

Strides ahead of the original, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2's chaotic quick-time FMV sequences are stunning, and as the game focuses on a fan-favourite arc, the source material is stellar. The salient story is let down by the trudging of a back and forth around the world map, which serves no real purpose aside from stretching the game out. Its visual prowess has been somewhat blurred by its Nintendo Switch release, but it still plays excellently for those who want to try it.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games should be a very solid package. Unfortunately, the mini-games on offer simply aren't all that exciting.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A - Mega Dimension offers a challenge for experienced trainers wanting to push those battle skills to the limits. Beyond level 100 critters for the first time? Check. It's tough and requires a fair bit of grind to get through the new Mega Evolution battles. Returning faces from the Pokédex and new forms are a joy to catch, too. Mega Dimension is ideal for battle enthusiasts and competitionists, but can fast become repetitive with little payoff to really keep pushing through once the favourites have been caught.

On the one hand, there's a compound of flavoursome ingredients, while on the other one lays a final course that tastes just like a million others. It doesn't do anything bad, but just does not reach notable heights or excel anywhere. The meagre offering - in terms of new releases - on the Nintendo 3DS right now, may actually work in Ansimuz Games' favour, convincing those who don't own a Nintendo Switch yet, or simply want to send their handheld of choice some love, to give Elliot Quest a try.

Despite its shortcomings in terms of the control system and extremely low difficulty setting, PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond proves to be a far more substantial and engaging outing than its predecessor, yet unfortunately will only really appeal to younger fans of the Pokémon series.

Zwei: The Arges Adventure is a rare and enjoyable title, especially for anyone familiar with Falcom's output. The core fundamentals, such as controls and playability, aren't always ideal, and the rough frame-rate is a nuisance. The final result is a title that's buoyed by its charm and creativity. This a rambunctious collection of minor details that still manages a strong sense of coherency. However, it's tough to excuse the messy combat. The way it ties into healing and levelling is clever, but there isn't enough finesse. It's as if the system was designed by a team that hasn't yet found its footing in an ever-evolving genre. To sum it all up, this isn't a classic, but it's still worth experiencing.

All in all, it’s a step forward from the original, but still retains much of the flaws and annoyances.

A mixed bag of emotions and gameplay sum up Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. A lot in the way of graphical fidelity has been hacked away at in order to get this on Nintendo Switch, but it is quite clear those who are interested in this FPS know exactly what to expect on that front. Despite the obvious visual downgrade, coupled with the pacing and storyline issues, there is still a solid arcade game here that can sit alongside DOOM (or maybe the next shelf down).

Overall, Putty Squad is an enjoyable game that offers a wide variety of content.

Samurai Warriors Katana is not a bad game. Heck, it verges on being decent, but is ruined by a couple of poor design choices.

Giga Wrecker Alt. is a bit of a mixed bag, and it's hard to see just who would get the most out of it. There are some great elements in here. Some really great ideas. The sad truth is, it's a pretty poor execution of so many promising elements. The flawed controls, combined with the major issues on establishing how and where to progress makes ultimately for a pretty frustrating experience. Not the good type of frustrating, where a roar and a smile inspires a confidence to overcome. The sort of frustration to lead to just wanting to dump the game.

Overall, Othello is a difficult game to appraise. It's certainly not going thrill or blow anyone away. However, it does have hidden depths and is very suitable for play sessions in a variety of situations. There's really nothing it does wrong, although, to be frank, considering it's essentially the type of game typically seen on tablets and mobiles, it does perhaps lack some aesthetic padding and other features. Particularly glaring is the lack of online play, which certainly would have helped longevity considerably. However, while it misses a few features, it's still a nice, affordable, and simple board game to have available on Nintendo Switch. It could just do with more additions, whether aesthetic or simple touches, for the sake of variety and contrast. Considering this is not the only way to play the game, that lacklustre aspect of the game is the most disappointing. Hopefully it doesn't set a precedent for similar simple titles.

MOTHERGUNSHIP is tons of fun to play, but it's also that kind of FPS that doesn't really evolve the more you play. The ability to create weapon cocktails is simply awesome, but the action itself is way too repetitive to let that shine.

The best description for Haven would be that of a game developed by a very talented team of people, who dreamed big, but had a budget that was simply not enough, as the concept can even scare larger, more experienced studios. Due to all that, it feels as if stuck in the second chapter of a much, much larger game. Its alien world is beautiful, the gameplay is far from bad, and the way this focuses in the protagonist duo and their romantic relationship is pulled off quite well (for the most part), but in the end, the severe lack of content, as well as challenge, soon turns this into a repetitive, and painfully boring chore.

Although WWE 2K18 brings a number of changes and improvements to the long-running series, its handling of the MyCareer mode is truly baffling. Whatever ambitious qualities it might have had are buried under a snore-inducing grind. Almost everything from boots to suplexes is locked away inside loot crates. If the player wants to craft their own wrestler and guide them to glory, they're better off sticking to create-a-superstar and participating in the WWE Universe. Otherwise, their avatar is going to be a poorly-dressed schmuck with a very limited set of abilities. Take this critic's advice, and just ignore MyCareer entirely. The other gameplay modes are where the entertainment is at.

Colorz plays well, but sadly the challenge is too high for one player due to the insane amount of coordination needed.

Dot Runner: Complete Edition is by no means a bad game, it's just that some of its features could have been implemented better. If players like 2D top-down puzzle games with a challenge, or if a fan of Intense's past works, such as Escape Trick, then go right ahead and buy it. If not, then you might as well look elsewhere since this can be a very frustrating and unfulfilling ride.

As a brand-new mainline entry that follows the previous iteration after over five years, The King of Fighters XV feels a little "by the numbers" in a similar way to how Dead or Alive 6 didn't push on from DOA5. Everything is too familiar, too safe, and lacking those key elements that truly give the impression of the next proper game in the series. The 3D character models still look a bit out of place, the story mode is awful, and there isn't enough done to ease newcomers in. Solid online modes and a large roster, with the addition of cross-play to look forward to, mean there is plenty to like for series fans, though.

It is hard to say for sure if the entire experience is worth it without playing the other campaigns, but Wardog Fury by itself is enough fun to warrant a look. If you can find someone to play it with, that is.

There is nothing so innovative about Super Destronaut DX that it becomes a recommendable title to friends, but it makes for a good half an hour break from more interesting games. The challenge mode is worth a playthrough and a few may be excited to try and secure a place on the global leaderboards in the classic game mode. If only there was more visual clarity that made the game feel a bit more skill-based and not visual-ability-based. The very worst case scenario is that players will listen to a really cool soundtrack while changing up the gaming session for a few minutes.

Make no mistake. Just Dance 2022 is Just Dance 2021 (and 2020, and 2019) all over again. Also, make no mistake, this remains tons of fun. Sure, nothing has really changed, but if it ain't broke, why fix it. Sadly, while there has been a pretty strong improvement on the visual front, with the people behind this experimenting way more with the videos and the choreography, the soundtrack is one of the least impressive in the franchise.

Lancelot's Hangover: The Quest for the Holy Booze is a fun adventure that doesn't take things too seriously - with over-the-top humour and plenty of outrageous moments. It's a short trip (read: acid trip) down into wonderland, where nothing is taken too seriously, though some of the humour provides commentary on some issues in the real world. If experiencing a Monty Python classic sounds like a fun time, then Lancelot's Hangover may be worth jumping into. Of course, it's best to go in by leaving any offense at the door, and go with the flow of what this has to offer.

Endearingly minimalistic and simple enough without compromising potential depth, Bad North works surprisingly well with its premise, but is ultimately held back by from reaching the greatness it easily could have attained. A roguelike RTT is an interesting concept, but the title does suffer from a lack of traditional level design once the difficulty curve begins to spike. On top of that, freezing can occur when returning to the world map after a mission. Autosave ensures progress is never lost, but it's nonetheless frustrating. Bad North is not a bad RTS by any means, offering a fairly strong first half, but a lack of cohesion between difficulty and level design makes its back half less palatable.

Simple strategic elements in a quirky setting fit the portable nature of the Nintendo 3DS perfectly, and the only drawbacks come from a few repetitive missions, the unusual lack of touch screen elements, and somewhat clunky control system.

In terms of content, Death's Gambit justifies a purchase, especially now with Death's Gambit: Afterlife, and the new stuff that it has added, along with some refining here and there. Having said that, this is probably a big, nicely designed, fun… ok. It's an ok blend of the exploration found in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, served along a combat philosophy, and an overall vibe that takes its cue from Dark Souls. Nothing is bad, but nothing is great either. Ok. Fans of either "genres" can find better metroidvania/soulslike cocktails nowadays.

Falling Out sadly falls under that underwhelming "ok" category of games that thousands of indies belong to. It's a nice rogue-lite exploration/platformer that can be played by two (in fact, it is fun only when played by two), but despite it having no real flaws to talk about, there's nothing about it that stands out either. It's… ok.

Decent. That's the only thing that comes to mind when thinking about Blade Strangers. Besides the novelty of being able to choose amongst indie game characters from Studio Sanzensen and Nicalis, there's nothing special about this fighter, other than the fact that it's built in such a way that it makes it a perfect entry for genre greenhorns.

Immortal Redneck's first few hours are a delightful cage match between you and the chaos within. After a few hours, though, it feels like the same old, same old. Tension is replaced with apathy, as things feel like a hamster wheel churning out the same bits and pieces. It is best experienced for its moments, and not its whole, as those moments are exhilarating and intense. As a whole, though, it fails to retain any lasting attention, and amounts to something that is fun, but ultimately disappointing.

Invisigun succeeds in providing a good party, as well as single player experience. The gimmick of being invisible is not as important or prevalent as it might seem and given the nature of this, leads to a potential huge skill difference that takes away from a casual game it might otherwise provide. Graphically a little weak, it also does not have the same simple magic a game like Mario Party or Bomberman would have in drawing in casual players. With a group dedicated to learning its intricacies, it could be great fun, but it's a little too... out there for some plain fun.

It works best when there is a decent cast of characters that fans want to see more of, and Fate has that in spades. Even with 26 playable characters here, it's barely scratching the surface of the roster available. That being said, this doesn't feel like much of an improvement over the Umbral Star, feeling more like a DLC - More of the same, and something only for hardcore fans.

Even though it's been over a decade, Bullet Witch hasn't aged as badly as might be expected. There is some creativity in Alicia's skill-set. Summoning ravens and rose spikes lends a pleasing dynamic to combat. Also, reducing an entire city block to rubble just to kill a few demons never gets old. A typical play-through will only take about two-and-a-half hours, but the extra missions and harder difficulties are sufficient reasons to keep playing.

The Nintendo Switch version of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix suffers from its reliance on cloud streaming, which introduces input lag, connectivity dependence, and performance issues that undermine the series’ fast-paced combat and the Switch’s portable appeal. The high price, risk of server shutdowns, and failure to deliver native ports for games that could feasibly run on Switch hardware further sour the experience. While the cloud tech can be effective in ideal conditions, these conditions are rare, and this version pales in comparison to native ports on other platforms. Some of the entries in this compilation are classics on PlayStation 2. It was understandable that the demanding Kingdom Hearts III made in Unreal Engine 4 might not be feasible on Nintendo Switch, but there was no excuse for the much older titles.

Cast of the Seven Godsends is not without its frustrating and/or unfair moments, but it manages to provide a rewarding feeling in small doses, when an obstacle is finally overcome with enough perseverance. However, the uninspiring visuals and a soundtrack that doesn't quite manage to do its job of reinforcing the hectic and sometimes heavy atmosphere, prevent it from truly landing its grip on gamers who will not be compelled to come back for more afterwards.

The tactical spin to the CCG model in Faeria ends up working fairly well, if being somewhat simplistic. It achieves some degree of excitement in seeking new cards and new decks without ever fully hitting its complete stride, but the general premise is fun enough to try out even for hardcore fans of the genre. With a respectable single-player mode, and the entire ladder setup, players of both types will have a lot of content to play through. With a fun and a novel twist, this is a decent choice for those looking for something in this genre, but its appeal won't extend much past this.

The boss fights are incredible, the world feels alive, and there is something soothing to the exploration. At the same time, though, the exploration segments tend to carry on for too long and without much interesting happening along the way, so a lot of the game feels like padding.

For an indie game, the boss fights are really, really good. It's fun having the boss go "movie mode" on the player when they catch them in an attack, and the parrying feels really enjoyable. The fighting to get there, though, is average at best, and the platforming borders on horrendous for how often buttons don't prompt on a teleport-jump, or the dash falls slightly short, leading to unnecessary frustration. At the current price point, Homura Hime is a bit tough to recommend, but will be worth it on a sale.

An underwhelming experience. Whilst there are plenty of bonus features (medals, emblems, online leaderboards, etc.) designed to keep you coming back, the events/mini-games themselves just aren’t up to the challenge.

If it wasn't for its faithful retro presentation and soundtrack, Mighty Gunvolt Burst would be a pretty forgettable and by the numbers Mega Man clone. This is fine for children who are just getting into 2D run-and-gun action since, at the time of this review, there is no Virtual Console on the Nintendo Switch. The best part of playing Inti Creates' latest release is just experimenting with the possible combinations to make all kinds of wonderful weapons of death.

It is clear that Serpentcoil Island was largely made for longtime fans of the series. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and players who already love Shiren and can embrace the high-stakes risk-reward loop should welcome him back to the gaming landscape with open arms. Serpentcoil Island offers intense dungeon crawling with minimal frills, and there definitely is an audience that will gobble this up and come back for more. However, for newcomers or casual players, the learning curve will likely prove too steep and the payoff feels like too much of a trek to get to. Even experienced roguelike players who have come to enjoy the genre’s modern expansions may find this new Shiren a bit too dated in design to hold interest. It feels like it will enthrall certain audiences and bore others to tears, with very little middle ground between those two extremes.

The rearranged soundtrack coupled to new compositions is stunningly awesome, as Yuzo Koshiro recaptures brilliantly the spirit of the original and the gameplay of the side-scrolling sections is even better than in the original. However, the questionable choices in the art direction, the bugs, poor performance and the, at times, way too wordy expanded script, mar the experience in such a way that what should have been the masterful return of a masterpiece instead turns out to be a nice introduction to the classic for new audiences, but not much more. There's no shaking the feeling that this re-release was not treated with all the care that such an important landmark title deserved. The extra content sweetens the deal somewhat, and encourages fans of the original to come back for more, but the price of admission for such an end result is a bit too much perhaps.

On a scale of best to worst Final Fantasy titles, XII sits somewhere in the middle. It exists in a bland limbo of mediocrity. The best qualities lie in its art direction, music and animation. Being able to play with a high speed mode truly illustrates just how slow and tedious the combat actually is and by circumventing it entirely, a huge portion of the experience is compromised but also the overall product is made more enjoyable.

If in search for the next best thing in adventures, A Vampyre Story isn't it. While it has some issues, and an obvious lack of polish at places, it definitely has its moments, and some of these moments are awesome. It's not perfect, but genre fans will enjoy the three or so evenings they'll spend on it, with its humour, likable protagonist, and beautiful vistas being the best things on offer… and the fact that this is basically a Part One of a Part Two that never came (and probably never will) ruining the experience.

This has a tremendous amount going for it, but ultimately, it is going to appeal to puzzle gamers far more than JRPG fans, as the puzzle sections are incredibly demanding. Having players do hours of complex and convoluted puzzles in a row, is something that is going to put off many gamers that otherwise would have loved this title. For a RPG romp it could have been outstanding if this was shortened, and the puzzles/trickery were reduced by at least half.

Has-Been Heroes could be better if it had more depth, far more addictive if it wasn't as repetitive, and, most of all, an unquestionably worthy purchase if the gameplay didn't rely on randomness as much as it currently does so. Long story short: very one-more-try-ish, but also in definite need of some tweaking.

NBA Playgrounds plays well to the strengths of the Nintendo Switch, providing a fun multiplayer basketball game, with authentic players and commentary. Difficulty spikes in solo play are too steep to ignore, though, and the current absence of online play greatly diminishes long-term viability. A great game is here, but not yet at the surface.

The premise is simple: shoot stuff, run towards the finishing line, and do these as fast as possible, with a meter acting both as a timer, and a health bar. It's simple, yet very effective at getting you immersed and addicted, however, while, the frenzy of Post Void is definitely thrilling, the visual "noise" can get in the way of your score-chasing fun. Some small changes here and there, as well as tiny bit of additional content, could definitely turn this into a much bigger recommendation. Otherworldly fingers crossed...

Stellaris is going in a dangerous direction, even though this DLC adds some pretty cool things to its current state. The Origins are a fun addition, and federations are cool with their bonuses. The problem is the game is very quickly starting to become bloated, and with various changes, patches and more DLC, the "core"' of it all is rapidly being lost. It is losing its 4x status and slowly morphing into a type of MMO/RPR-type game that many of its original fans will likely not be a fan of.

With a trimmed down narrative, a better gameplay to story ratio, and more complex level design, Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet could have stood out as a particularly impressive licensed game. As is, however, it's a decent attempt held back by some unfortunate design elements.

Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster is frustrating because it is so close to being great and is only undermined by its utterly perplexing choices put into the boosters. The meta of resisting the boosters is too distracting for the experience, and succumbing turns these games into walking sims with some visual novel elements. The new UI elements have an air of "mobile game" about them, but thankfully the in-game visuals still look hot, and the QOL feature to speed up combat is a worthwhile addition. Baten Kaitos I & II are not the best from Monolith Soft, but they are both still way better than Xenosaga: Episode II and are roughly on the same level as Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Even without the boosters, there are better retro JPRGs out there, but few of them will look as nice as these.

Rekt! High Octane Stunts is a very lightweight stunt game. The casual play style, and easy to grasp controls, make it a decent option for children. There is very little penalty for failure, and the package is dense with unlockable content. It is a humble, often boring, yet endearing title that is easy on the eyes. The most challenging quality within, is playing for long sessions. Rekt!'s style is only enjoyable in short bursts and anything more than two hours will make players enter an existential fugue state.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants is absolutely fine. If there is any nostalgia for the original cabinet this is a port that will ensure that love will be rekindled. For those not holding that sentiment, though, this will seem a barebones, standard hack-and-slash. With its price tag, unless a Turtles completionist, you'd be better off picking up many of the other related titles for now.

There is a simplicity to Deiland: Pocket Planet that may be too basic both in terms of how actions are done, and how little there is to explore on the tiny planet for some, but it is perfect as a before bed or generally relaxing game for others with easy to pick up game mechanics and clear objectives for each quest.

Caveman Warriors is a fun, if straightforward, beat 'em up. The game's aesthetics and design pay homage to titles of old, and although it has a cartoonish exterior, underneath it is a challenging yet enjoyable brawler. Whether playing solo or with friends, the four playable characters stand apart from one another due to their unique weapons or abilities. However, the frequent deaths that can arise from the knockback are quite annoying, and the boss fights could have done more to test the player's skill. Still, this is a quirky and enjoyable release that's worth checking out.

Sure, it's a tricky one to review and recommend 'as a videogame' because it's not strictly one per se. It can have the descriptive, but it is also a bit more artsy, more personal, more meditative. It almost seems like it'd be perfect for a rainy Sunday morning with nothing else going on to just soak in. Definitely there is room for a lot more for this kind of thing to be incorporated into the medium and it'd be nice to see it become more of a norm rather than an exception, but it does stand out for that reason. Admittedly, it will likely appeal to a certain kind of person, one that is more contemplative, but it is also worth the price of admission to find out if thee is that certain kind of person.

It is, however, a very shallow and repetitive experience, which makes Johnny's Payday Panic fun, but only briefly, since it's not something that would be worth revisiting.

Burly Men at Sea is a very quaint and surprisingly enjoyable twist on the point-and-click genre, with lovely visuals, an impressive-and-quirky soundtrack, and more replayability than first thought. However, saying that, the whole experience can be breezed through in an hour or two, and it lacks enough real meat to be it a truly satisfying dish, especially given this is the highest priced version on the market right now.

Everything from the first episode is still here; the writing, the direction, the audio-visual style, the great character development, and, of course, the feels. Unfortunately, it's not the same game, for the simple fact that it doesn't really care about pushing the story forward, which is a shame as the next chapter is actually the very last one.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra provides a worthy follow-up to the plot of the movie, if skimping on a few essential areas of presentation and variety to do so.

Space Invaders Forever is a three-game package, where one of them is downright excellent, one of them is an interesting and fun concept, but isn't the most comfortable to play with on Switch, and the last one is only a bit of fun in multiplayer. The first of the bunch itself could justify the purchase if the package was priced a bit more sensibly, but this should really have included more of the excellent updates to the Space Invaders formula that have been released over the years. Furthermore, people who have purchased the digital package at launch on the eShop had issues getting Arkanoid vs Space Invaders to install on their system. We're told this is not a problem anymore though.

Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Don't Dry is part tribute, part return to form, and, finally, probably the best attempt to bring the series to the new millennium so far. While this is certainly a breath of fresh air after the retched Box Office Bust, however, it could also be much better, first from a gameplay standpoint, but especially when it comes to its naughty humour.

Human Re..., err, 7 Billion Humans is a fine puzzler-meets-programming, especially for those into titles that actually need some thinking (and then some). Just remember that this might be a bit too similar *cough*identical*cough* to a previous title for its own good.

Mario Tennis Open impresses and disappoints, unfortunately, proving to not be the out-and-out champion many were expecting, yet still managing to offer enough familiar fun to engage fans of old and newcomers alike. Brace yourself for a brief single-player mode and remove all thoughts of serious tennis from your mind and it will not be too much of a let-down.

A promising closer to the Syberia trilogy of games, Syberia 3 meets hardship in the way of spotty performance in both visual and sound design. Kate Walker's latest adventure is coercive to devotees of the series, but difficult to recommend over the numerous top quality eShop games in the same genre.

Cubemen 2 is fun, but it's short-lived. The gameplay is relatively shallow (by necessity of the genre more than anything else) and there's little to do once the single-player campaigns are finished, which doesn't take very long.

Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal plays it safe with the series' established formula, which is ironic considering these titles are anything but safe. The series has always stuck to its roots and embraced the perverseness that in equal measures repels and attracts gamers, and this entry does little but remind the gaming world that these games exist. Aside from Burst Re:Newal being a ground-up remake, there's surprisingly few innovations to take the series into uncharted territory, but the combat is nevertheless enjoyable, and the story interesting enough to just about support the weaker points of the experience.

There are many quality games out there made with RPG Maker software, but almost all of them were created on a PC using a professional tier version. It is possible to make something in RPG Maker With on a console, but anyone looking to create their epic magnum opus will be discouraged by the lack of art assets and the sheer density of complexities that go into making anything, which is made harder on a controller. Gamers who only want to play the RPGs might be better off playing any other indie RPG in the eShop. The user generated content will be amusing at best. The RPG Maker With scene might be more interesting on PC, but on consoles, this is a teaching tool for kids to learn about game design.

One of the most disappointing mixed bags of 2025, there are so many cool ideas and mechanics in Greco-Roman-flavoured metroidvania Somber Echoes, but the way they were implemented kind of ruins what could be something truly fantastic. An intriguing story that’s badly told, neat platforming mechanics that are needlessly strict, exploration that makes you want to find it all and at the same time has you thinking if it’s worth the trouble, and, finally, combat that is great...but only when everything works the way it is supposed to. Fans of the genre should keep an eye on it, but be prepared for something that is annoying and fun in almost equal measures.

It may not be the type of game nearly all Metroid fans desperately want, and it may go ignored due to that, but Metroid Prime: Federation Force is a great example of not only how to make FPS work on the 3DS, but how to successfully do co-operative mission-based multiplayer.

Ritual: Crown of Horns is an enjoyable twin-stick shooter, with not much variety, but plenty of challenge - something that may or may not annoy some, due to how it's all executed. Moreover, while the occult gets mixed with a Wild West setting in here, in terms of presentation and atmosphere, Draw Distance's creation is underwhelming at best.

Ultimately, Atari Flashback Classics is a fine collection. The sheer quantity of entertainment software is reason enough to warrant a look. Alongside certified arcade greats, is a wealth of middling-to-fun Atari 2600 and 5200 titles. Even those that weren't around back then will probably be able to find something that they can really connect with, with one example being the previously-unreleased Aquaventure. Of course, considering the era in which these were made, it might be extremely difficult to garner any appreciation for what's here. Still, it is a valuable time capsule for those who weren't around for gaming's infancy.

Replica is an interesting title that has some really good ideas with how it lays out its puzzles. Rather than focusing on the generic "video game" ones, Somi instead has incorporated more "in real life" problem-solving with trying to crack into someone's phone. However, the overall premise that is dealt with important concepts should've had more heightened tensions that Somi needed, to make the story more believable. The corny dialogue detracted from the terrorism and surveillance-overlord Big Brother plot that needed to be taken a bit more seriously. However, presentation aside, the puzzles are quite clever and are worth at least a look into this experience.

Twin-stick shooter Drive to Hell is great at being good. It doesn't do anything wrong, but it doesn't do something special either. It's enjoyable, and has a charming (albeit amateurish), 16-bit-era look, but one can easily find something much better, and with a higher replay value, with just a few more coins.

Scion is an example of the early ages of arcade space shooters that’s been lost within the genre. The Arcade Archives 2 release of the game is a pixel perfect recreation, bringing an authentic arcade feel to the home. Quality of life changes make the brutal campaign that bit more achievable and less of a slog!

On the whole, it's fair to say that most spin-offs are doomed to live in the shadow of their more popular source materials. Even so, Happy Home Designer did have the potential to stand on its own two legs - the sole ingredient needed to confirm that fact being the element of fun, which it sadly lacks.

Conarium is a game with a lot of potential. Those early hours spent with it will prove to be difficult to walk away from. However, it is too willing to toss away its fairly slow and tense pace to thrust forward the reveal of the truth behind its mysteries. With those questions gone, all that remains is a standard adventure experience of some puzzles and brainteasers on the way to the end of the story.