Nintendo Enthusiast's Scores

  • Games
For 844 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 64% higher than the average critic
  • 7% same as the average critic
  • 29% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 1 point lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 74
Highest review score: 100 Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
Lowest review score: 15 Don't Crash
Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 58 out of 844
844 game reviews
    • 88 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Dusk is a fast-paced, fun retro FPS. Its weapons and enemies are well thought-out, and its gameplay shines above its muddy colors and occasional monotonous levels.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    By today's standards, there's nothing revolutionary about Famicom Detective Club, but that doesn't stop both games from being really solid experiences. Despite a bit of predictability in the plots, both stories were incredibly engaging and nothing short of a complete joy to play through. It's easy to see that Mages really took a lot of pride in crafting a quality remake here, since every little detail shines through. If you're at all curious to see what these games are about, you owe it to yourself to give at least one of them a look.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    By today's standards, there's nothing revolutionary about Famicom Detective Club, but that doesn't stop both games from being really solid experiences. Despite a bit of predictability in the plots, both stories were incredibly engaging and nothing short of a complete joy to play through. It's easy to see that Mages really took a lot of pride in crafting a quality remake here, since every little detail shines through. If you're at all curious to see what these games are about, you owe it to yourself to give at least one of them a look.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    At the end of the day, Olija is a voyage that is quite a blast, even though it ends quickly. Swapping out various weapons while building a combo that ends in a devastating harpoon explosion is quite a thrill. Additionally, the denizens and missing crewmates you find along the way contribute to a mysterious tale that will keep you guessing as to what is truly going on. And I enjoy any title that brings the seminal Another World to mind. As long as you don’t mind a compact trek that is a bit on the easy side, you’ll find Olija is well worth a look.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    This game is great. If you like hand-drawn art in games like Muramasa and epic boss battles akin to Monster Hunter then this is the game for you. Overall the presentation, music, sound, and level design is just as epic as the story. The biggest issue I had involves a crash in The Crater due to the Wii U chugging on an abundance of lighting effects.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Overall, Pokemon Sun and Moon take two generational steps forward, but also take one step back. Small new intricacies like battle enhancements and a refined presentation vastly improve the moment-to-moment experience of playing Pokemon. However, a sparse catalog of new Pokemon, shallow end game, and lack of launch Pokemon Bank support hold the titles back from being truly exceptional.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Bonito Days is one of the chillest games on Nintendo Switch. You guide a flying fish through a pastel cel-shaded world, collecting points and aiming for the high score in the middle of the ocean. It takes the best of Monkey Target from Super Monkey Ball, throws in a little NiGHTS into Dreams flair, and finishes off the whole package with a smooth city pop soundtrack.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Overall, Pokemon Sun and Moon take two generational steps forward, but also take one step back. Small new intricacies like battle enhancements and a refined presentation vastly improve the moment-to-moment experience of playing Pokemon. However, a sparse catalog of new Pokemon, shallow end game, and lack of launch Pokemon Bank support hold the titles back from being truly exceptional.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Ultimately, BQM -BlockQuest Maker- is an incredibly enjoyable game maker for its budget price. One level at a time, it allows you to create tense action or intricate puzzles (or both!) using simple tools. For people who loved Super Mario Maker and wondered why a Legend of Zelda Maker never followed, BQM might scratch an itch for them.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania marks a return to form for the series, even if I am left hoping that we receive some substantial content updates in the near future to fill in gaps left from the originals. Fans who need an exact recreation of the originals or require challenge mode multiplayer might want to skip this one or wait for a deep discount, but those who just want to play Super Monkey Ball 1 and 2 again or the first time should absolutely pick this one up on Switch, especially if you enjoy playing on the go. While there is still a bit of work to do, Super Monkey Ball is back, and it’s a great feeling. I strongly recommend you don’t miss out on this one.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Horace is a heartwarming platformer that mixes a variety of genres to produce a one-of-a-kind adventure.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Mario Party Superstars ultimately marks a great entry in the franchise, getting back to the basics and building off of the stabilizing force that Super Mario Party provided for the wayward series, while stripping away some other innovations that had found their way into the franchise over the last several entries. This is Mario Party as you remember it – whether that is a good or bad thing is up to you. For me, it’s a great thing – the chaotic board game is back in its full backstabbing glory, with arguably the best minigame roster in the series and full online play from day one. In looking to the past, Mario Party Superstars has taken a much-needed step forward for the series.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Disc Room is a shining example of how developers can take a simple concept and elevate it into something extraordinarily magical. It's obvious that the team behind it put a lot of love and effort into its creation, and it shows. If you're even the slightest bit interested in Disc Room, you should give it a try.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Overall, Rip Them Off is a pretty unique take on the tower defense genre. While there aren't a ton of maps, there's plenty of room to revisit them to try to improve your scores. Further, the later maps are incredibly difficult, so you'll probably be playing them for a while. Thankfully, the game accounts for these factors and provides an effective way to tinker with your setups. If you want a game that's easy to pick up, yet hard to master, Rip Them Off is well worth your time.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    All in all, Monolith Soft has achieved something here that is obviously related to their past work, but manages to feel very, very different. Reinvention is a task that vexes the best of developers; to do it in the time frame this game was delivered in is frankly astonishing. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is flawed, as tragically as the heroes and villains it portrays. But I’ve grown to love them, nonetheless. Maybe you will, too.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection is an excellent value for the price tag. Mega Man Zero was designed for hardcore gamers, but if you can't handle the difficulty, new Save-Assist enables less skilled players to still enjoy those titles to the fullest. And Mega Man ZX, though unremarkable the first time, truly shines as something memorable with ZX Advent and its diverse gameplay options. Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection contains most of Inti Creates’ best work, and it’s another Capcom collection worth adding to your Switch library.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    If you haven’t played the Revelations games before, this is a great way to do such. Switch-specific features, solid gameplay, good graphics, and fun online are the highlights of this collection, and being able to play them anywhere is a great convenience.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Islanders is a really interesting, serene city-building experience that reduces stress instead of adding onto it. Its clean-cut visual style and pickup-and-play mechanics fit the Switch like a glove.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    It’s too short and too lacking in boss variety to be an everlasting indie classic, but while playing, it really is stellar.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain is a puzzle game meant to strengthen your thinking skills in five different categories through fast-paced minigames. You can compete against friends or test your skills against other people's recorded attempts. It's a simple premise that succeeds thanks to adorable presentation and addicting mechanics, even if it's a little feature-light.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Since it’s polished in almost every regard with its gameplay and presentation, it’s possible Children of Morta would’ve benefited from a more focused design direction rather than a rogue-lite dungeon-crawling experience. Nevertheless, in a sea of games for the rogue-lite genre, it’s refreshing to see developers do something unique and tell a meaningful story. The emotional heights that the game reaches goes farther than many narrative-focused games. If you’re looking for a story-driven ARPG, then Children of Morta needs to be at the top of your list.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    SnowRunner on Switch is now the most authentic driving simulator that the hybrid has to offer. It's a feature-for-feature port of an already renowned game and is made all the better thanks to Switch-exclusive portable functionality. While there are some technical limitations, Saber Interactive has managed to cram SnowRunner's foliage-dense open-world maps onto the hybrid with preservation of detail that was unexpected. It's one of the best-looking games on Switch and the largest in terms of sheer content. Anyone who's a fan of driving games is in for a treat.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The lack of online is disappointing, and there are a few frustrating levels, but all things considered this is a must have for any Wii U owner with an interest in quality experiences – indie or otherwise.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Lego Marvel Super Heroes has plenty to offer to Lego and Marvel fans alike. A brisk but well-paced story takes you on an enjoyable ride while constantly introducing new characters and locations. Fantastic vocal performances and comedic writing make great use of the Marvel characters from both the movies and the comic books, and it’s topped off by an entertaining open world to let players mess around with characters to their heart's content. Some small graphical and control issues remind you that this isn’t a modern title, but that said, once you’re flying around Manhattan as Iron Man, these flaws are soon forgotten.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    L.A Noire is a fantastic game that finds a home on the Nintendo Switch, and the portability aspect really helps. While each case is pretty large, the ability to save (along with auto-saves) at any time makes this a perfect game for on the go or at home. Rockstar put the effort into this port and it shows. Sure, it’s a bit of an older game and does show some age from time to time, but L.A. Noire is another great triple-A third party release that shouldn’t be overshadowed by games like Skyrim and DOOM. If you are looking for a fantastic story-driven game with unique gameplay, L.A. Noire should be in your Switch library.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Demon Turf is another fantastic 3D collectathon platformer, offering a bunch of activities to complete while also rocking a distinct visual style. There are a few technical hiccups, but they don’t distract you from what is an excellent adventure to defeat the Demon King.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The graphics and performance take a hit on Switch; that’s obvious. If you can get past that, The Outer Worlds offers amazing characters, meaningful sidequests, and incredible freedom to the player — all of which remain fully intact on Nintendo Switch. It’s simply a must-play for RPG lovers.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    It looks good, plays great, and is a very solid and affordable title for the Nintendo Switch. If you are looking for something a bit darker and faster paced on the Switch, Implosion is a solid choice.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    From beginning to end, New Super Lucky’s Tale is a much more streamlined experience than the original. Any qualms I had with the original game have been rectified in this reimagined edition for Nintendo Switch. The game is oozing with charm and keeps you coming back. It’s a fun-filled experience that shouldn’t go unplayed by 3D platformer fans.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Afterparty is a story about death, friendship, the struggles of life, and acceptance, all wrapped in a backdrop of demons, debauchery, and, surprisingly, heart. Milo and Lola are fantastic protagonists, and if there were anybody out there you should travel to hell with, these two would be the perfect companions. Grab your Switch, pour a drink, and definitely pick up Afterparty.

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