Playing through this game brought me back to my childhood, when I played the Pokémon Trading Card Game and Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sacred Cards on my old Game Boys. We haven't seen many collectible card games like those on the Switch in recent years, but Shadowverse: Champion's Battle fits their mold well. So, if you're longing for that anime card game experience, give it a try and get ready to duel! [Issue #55 – October 2021, p. 71]

As much as I enjoyed NEO, there were a few aspects that worked against it: the characters, the difficulty levels and the time between installments. It's a great action RPG, but it was made for the TWEWY fan in mind, so if you've never played the original, do that first and see if it's up your alley before diving into this sequel. And if you are a TWEWY fan, what are you waiting for? [Issue #55 – October 2021, p. 69]

No More Heroes III is a violent action game, an open-world do-gooder sim, a dorky dad story and a tribute/parody of "popcorn classic blockbusters" all in one. [Issue #55 – October 2021, p. 67]

I think fans of gothic literature, visual novels and/ or engrossing stories will find something to love about this game. Just know that if you start it, you've got to reach the end to really appreciate what it has to offer. [Issue #55 – October 2021, p. 28]

It is pure joy. Truly – I'm hard- pressed to recall any other games I've ever played that are so full of delight and whimsy! If you ever tried to use your imagination to bring the illustrations of any children's book to life when you were younger, that's what this is. They did it. It's static, still, two-dimensional crowd scenes so brilliantly awakened with activity that it's honestly amazing. [Issue #55 – October 2021, p. 27]

Less than a year ago, ININ Games published Space Invaders Forever on Switch. It has three games for $30. This Invincible Collection has those same three titles, plus eight more, for $60. That's a better deal, but those who bought the earlier release are sure to feel flimflammed. [Issue #55 – October 2021, p. 26]

If you're a fan of environmental puzzles, Doomsday Vault makes traversing the post-apocalypse surprisingly relaxing and, well, downright pleasant. [Issue #55 – October 2021, p. 25]

It's brilliant, challenging and an absolute joy to strategize with the cards randomly dealt to you. [Issue #55 – October 2021, p. 24]

While some of the challenges have been too tough for my 5-year-old to tackle on his own, he never gets tired of trying. He's actually playing the game right now as I write this, laughing at Fart Cat's flatulence and working hard to find a key to a new stage. [Issue #55 – October 2021, p. 23]

If you missed Quake back in the day, this port is a fantastic way to experience this genre-defining work, especially for fans of 2016's DOOM. While a lot of the old-school design choices may feel simple by modern standards, it results in an elegantly intense game that's still an addicting delight to pick up for even a short session of a few minutes. [Issue #55 – October 2021, p. 22]

There are memorable moments, but you'll have to wade through myriad problems and poor design decisions in order to chomp into the meat of Maneater. [Issue #55 – October 2021, p. 21]

The missing element – one of the biggest challenges in game design – is a satisfying game feel. There's not enough feedback from using the gust ability; mechs never feel like they're delivering a strong blow. Combat in Stonefly essentially feels like blowing through a straw to try to move a pebble – it's tiresome, ineffective and tedious. [Issue #55 – October 2021, p. 20]

Axiom Verge 2 is amazing. Many have tried to make games that can work as light entertainment and heavy, honest stories about their own lives at the same time. Few have succeeded as well as this one. [Issue #55 – October 2021, p. 19]

If you're a fan of the original Alex Kidd in Miracle World, then this remake gives you just about everything you could want, and more, and you can add a good point or so to my score. If some of the rougher aspects of the original turned you away, the new unlimited lives option might be enough to compensate . . . or it might not. And if you've never played Alex Kidd before, then you might consider looking at the cheaper SEGA AGES version and decide from there if you want a bigger and better version of that. [Issue #54 – September 2021, p. 76]

Skyward Sword still suffers from a few low-point problems, but on the whole, and especially now with all this HD edition's improvements, it's a wonderful adventure that I would wholeheartedly recommend to all Legend of Zelda fans. Newcomers might want to start simpler with a game like Link's Awakening before leaping into this one, but once you've got a bit of gaming experience under your belt, you're ready to soar these skies. And veterans? It seems like 10 years is right around the right amount of time for memories of a first playthrough to fade, so if you only played this quest once before on Wii, definitely give it a second look now. It'll feel like a brand-new Zelda! [Issue #54 – September 2021, p. 75]

Given another pass of polish, some deeper gameplay, a greater variety of missions and a larger roster of hero characters, a potential Battlegrounds sequel could be something special. The developers at Coatsink have built a solid starting structure here. With luck, maybe they'll get the chance to enhance it further! [Issue #54 – September 2021, p. 73]

Anyone born later than the '80s probably won't be able to get too invested in this one. [Issue #54 – September 2021, p. 72]

Monster Hunter Stories 2's story and gameplay work in tandem to make this entry a standout in the franchise and in the creature collection genre as a whole. The gameplay is addictive, and the story and characters kept me invested in the finer details of the world. Plus, there is plenty to do after you've completed the story. If you're intrigued about this series or a fan who's wondering if it's worth your while, I say give this one a shot. And ride on! [Issue #54 – September 2021, p. 71]

If you've never played any of the Ace Attorney titles before, this is an excellent place to start – but it's also a good example of how far we've come since the franchise first was released in the West over 15 years ago! With all the smooth 3D visuals, the excellent music, the extensively researched setting and the great cast of characters, it's leaps and bounds ahead of the original Ace Attorney trilogy, and the story shines just as brightly as the original. If not brighter! [Issue #54 – September 2021, p. 69]

In all, it's incredible, and a great purchase for fans of past installments. [Issue #54 – September 2021, p. 67]

I recommend Boomerang X, but with one last caveat – consider its PC version before taking the plunge on Switch. I did well with this edition, but I think mouse-and-keyboard controls might have made me like it even more. [Issue #54 – September 2021, p. 29]

The whole Streets of Rage 4 experience now finally does feel complete. [Issue #54 – September 2021, p. 28]

If you're ever feeling a bit villainous though or want to test your skills of manipulation, Overboard! is a fun one to dive into. [Issue #54 – September 2021, p. 27]

It's a game where you literally can't lose. There are no Game Overs, just slight delays in your inevitable move through the plot. By refusing to say "No!" to the player with an occasional fail state, the game leads you to feel like your choices don't matter. It's oddly disempowering for a game about taking charge, and the main reason why I can't give this a more enthusiastic "Yes!" [Issue #54 – September 2021, p. 26]

While I can't overlook the addition of a dedicated honk button, Mighty Goose just doesn't hold up past a few hours of play. [Issue #54 – September 2021, p. 25]

The problem with Wave Break being such a straight-up clone at its core is that it has a major barrier to entry. I was able to leap in well enough thanks to my own history playing Tony Hawk titles, but I could not recommend this game to anyone who doesn't also have experience with that series. The tutorial here is thin, and the gameplay will be nearly inscrutable to total newcomers. [Issue #54 – September 2021, p. 24]

Make no mistake: Asha in Monster World is a fun game, and there's plenty here to enjoy. The game's delightful old-school framework is nice, even without being caked in a layer of nostalgia. There's a reason, after all, that Monster World IV warranted a remake in the first place. As far as HD remakes go, though, this isn't exactly Link's Awakening. [Issue #54 – September 2021, p. 23]

If you're a fan of LEGO but you're tired of the usual slapstick smashy gameplay, or if you like simple puzzle games, LEGO Builder's Journey is a hidden gem that might be exactly the game you're looking for on a rainy day. [Issue #54 – September 2021, p. 22]