It pains me greatly to have to give this score to a game that was part of my childhood, which I have fond memories of and am loving reliving on Nintendo Switch (in Handheld Mode), but I really think they could have done a much better job and that, aside from the price, if they had included screen filters, full compatibility with Pokémon Home, and online features so you don't have to meet up with your friends in person to trade Pokémon and battle, these ports would have been much more appealing options.

Mario Tennis Fever is what you might call a mixed bag. There's excitement in the Ranked matches and a relative balance when you master the characters and rackets, but the online friendly mode feels archaic and the overall experience doesn't offer as much enjoyment and depth as some of the previous, ironically simpler, games. The additional activities are welcome, but the story is a bore. The graphics are beautiful, but the amount of recycled assets reaches FIFA and PES levels... But in the end, it's a decent tennis party game, and given the state of the subgenre over the last decade, there is still value in it and it remains your best option, even if it is as elitist as the real sport.

If you liked the team's previous works and tactical games like Fire Emblem, The Hundred Line: Last Defence Academy is a recommended choice. However, I'm left with the feeling that it's a good idea that missed an opportunity to be something even more special.

I am much more satisfied than I expected to be. You have to meet a few requirements to enjoy this VIP-ticketed exhibition, but if you fit the bill, you'll enjoy every bit of your tour of the show. Are you fascinated by applied technology, engineering curiosities and gaming hardware? Do you want to know why the Switch 2 mouse is unique, why the magnets inside the steering wheel rotate, or feel a new range of vibrations? Are you a fan of Nintendo designs, like me, who used to draw their controllers and logos as a kid? Are you up for any challenge? Then pay for the ticket with your eyes closed.

I just didn't find it as meaningful or inspired, either in its narrative, however well it links familial relationships to its fantastical nature. Aside from certain remarkable passages such as the "mouths of hell" and its more creative challenges, and beyond its undeniable beauty, I found Neva less stimulating, as if Gris's uncomplicated simplicity would have been a better vehicle for such artistic restlessness.

Having completed Princess Peach: Showtime! it is not the virtual absence of difficulty that is its main drawback. In fact, it is an excellent game for beginners and we can confirm that children love it. It's varied, has some very original ideas and a number of very good moments, but the more mediocre levels, the corsetting, and the lack of technical finesse prevent our unanimous ovation.

As it stands, I would only recommend this purchase to fans of the originals for pure nostalgia and fan service, and even then with some caveat. If you're looking for more intricate and engaging anime stories of the mind, you have a great alternative in both AI: The Somnium Files on the same console. That said, now I can't help but wish that CiNG's own Kyle Hyde noir saga (Hotel Dusk and Last Window) would also get the HD treatment on Switch, just with a little more love and polish.

But don't let these less bright spots mislead you. Promenade is a great game that I still find just as solid and engaging as when I first encountered it. If you're interested in a different kind of platformer that offers an extra dose of puzzles, this is definitely one of those indies you shouldn't miss.

Would Contra: Operation Galuga be a better game if it was shown in 2D pixel style? I don't think the problem is the leap to 3D graphics, but the overall implementation. But having picked up the pace of the game well, having managed to integrate the current lives and perks system so as not to penalise so much with difficulty and having got some well-designed levels and bosses, at least Konami and WayForward have a good basis for the series to re-establish itself and the Alien Wars will be unleashed again.

For all this, I can easily recommend Mario vs. Donkey Kong to those who loved the classic, but not so much to puzzle fans used to modern, more agile controls. Don't get me wrong, it's a contemporary way to understand the legends' roots, but between pace/interest drops, and the somewhat outdated controls, I ended up a bit tired of what I recalled as a blast on the GBA.

Song of Nunu has all the elements of a narrative adventure with platforms, exploration, puzzles and combat with which generations of young players can explore both this genre and empathize with the League of Legends characters, but it does so without shining in any of them. they. Perhaps it is the conflict between that name so associated with competition with a story as moving as it is cooperative between its protagonists, which has left me a little colder than I expected.

This game will surely delight One Piece fans, with a remarkable story, a great presentation and a fantastic soundtrack matched with the voices of the original actors from the series. However, the characters’ journey through this new release of the saga is slow, boring at times and lacks originality.

Minecraft Legends is a strategy game that takes place in a closed map full of villages and strongholds, where you must defend the first ones and assault the second ones. In addition, points of interest will appear on the map, where you will have to investigate in order to increase your skills. However, it’s a game with hardly any mechanics nor exploration, something that may not be a problem for newcomers but will sure be for the fans of the genre.

Minabo has a beautiful art design, with the turnip characters’ animation extremely well accomplished, and the music and sound design are certainly a strength, which keeps you in the game cycle beyond the premise of overcoming objectives. The problem is that people aren’t going to take Minabo that seriously, and it can’t counter with a compelling gameplay proposition that goes beyond the joke.

Decarnation is a game that carries you to the end precisely because of the appeal of its narrative and the way it illustrates the difficult issues it deals with, being the main reason for players to give it a chance. On the other hand, those looking for a more interactive experience may find that Decarnation just scratches the surface.

After Us is, in every sense of the word, an independent game in its production, gameplay and narrative. It’s a title with a powerful message that everyone will be able to play and understand, but not necessarily enjoy. After Us wants (and actually succeeds) to convey a very concrete message about the calamities of the modern world, our disconnection with nature and primal energies. However, this powerful message partly hinders the experience and fun of the game, which suits it well, but it can take a while to capture attention.

Harmony: The Fall of Reverie features striking character design and a vibrant art style, with a great grief experience that is mostly in 2D. It’s a game with great voice acting that will make the player reflect on current, but also more primitive, issues. However, it’s not a game that encourages to be played again and has some plot holes.

Finally, while the narrative is exquisite, the story is sometimes slow and of little interest, and we only understand what has happened when we see it reflected in the diary at the end of the day. On such occasions it can cause the player to become disconnected from the plot. Overall, Frank and Drake is a beautiful story with its secrets and moments, masterfully drawn and looking better on a big screen than on a portable.

Akaoni Studio has managed to produce a title that is simple but closed in its proposal. In which only an easily ignorable defect in tone slightly weakens a game that has a good rhythm and makes you have a good time. All of it is correct, no more and no less, something that many more pretentious games fall short of.

Despite its rigidity and lack of innovation, investigations are okay and story is fine, and keeping in mind that it focuses on younger detective-trainers, it comes as a decent introduction to the genre.

Despite its poor finish, the game works. My kid has enjoyed the characters (with the series' original voice actors), and the fact that it's an explorable open world and that every pup had its abilities and goals. It's thus good fun for the little ones and an interesting "my first open-world video game".

Resident Evil 4 lacks a little bit of care and polish to deliver as a modern remake as it is, both visually and gameplay-wise. I enjoyed its old-school fun and most of the changes are for the better, but it breaks its own rules and just isn't optimised as of yet. Fortunately, most of its issues can be fixed.