Nintendo Insider's Scores

  • Games
For 929 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 53% higher than the average critic
  • 8% same as the average critic
  • 39% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 0.6 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 75
Highest review score: 100 Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition
Lowest review score: 10 Woodle Tree Adventures Deluxe
Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 42 out of 929
934 game reviews
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    With The Touryst, it’s nice to see Shin’en Multimedia maintain their technical quality while flying in at a different angle in gameplay and mood. Besides the out of place design choices in regards to how the puzzle elements are handled, The Touryst is a decent break from reality that provides adorable and light busywork for the thumbs. It sure is a pretty place to mooch around in and will undoubtedly please those who may be looking to carry on stretching out that The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening feeling.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Kena: Bridge of Spirits delivers an interesting blend of fast-paced combat, gorgeous visuals, and light puzzle-solving. It is just a shame that I can’t recommend the Nintendo Switch 2 port without the caveats about visual issues like ghosting, some noticeable visual cutbacks, and lack of a performance mode. I’ll definitely revisit it after some patches, but if nothing major changes, this is looking like a game I should revisit on another platform in the future for New Game Plus.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    A solid title, with an exceptional co-op mode, lots of unlockables, and let's face it, a better ending than the actual trilogy it's based on.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The story didn’t move me too much, but Stranger’s journey was an entertaining one from start to finish. I wish the boss fights could have been a bit stronger and the port needs some more work before it becomes truly perfect, but I’d easily recommend this to someone looking for a shooter on their Nintendo Switch that stands out amongst the rest.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    By the time the final performance update drops it will be those who snatch the game at a sale price that will ultimately benefit the most. There’s a 1.04 update that is expected by the end of November, and I would bet money that it won’t be the last. It’s a real shame because underneath the stigma of a troubled release and a lost first impression of a polished product, lies a potentially magnificent game that holds true to what it once ambitiously set out to achieve.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    I’m very glad Once Upon A Katamari exists, and while I have enjoyed playing it on basically every platform over the last week as a break from other games, I really wish a little more care had been put into the progression. It would also dramatically benefit from a Nintendo Switch 2 version because out of the three games in the series on Nintendo Switch, Once Upon A Katamari sees the most visual cutbacks compared to other platforms.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Despite its flaws, Sundered: Eldritch Edition contains enough magic to keep developer Thunder Lotus Games intact as an interesting and viable studio. There is a lot to be found here that would usually keep me enticed if it wasn’t following last year’s more entertaining alternatives. If you are beginning to get Metroidvania-numbness, then it may be best keeping this game on your to-do list. But don’t sit on it for too long, because there are plenty of moments here that are well worth experiencing.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    While it never emotionally enticed me quite as much as games like Journey or Embers of Mirrim did, I still found Planet Alpha’s Pandora-inspired world a mesmerising and interesting place to explore.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    I really wanted to like Collar X Malice Unlimited. In many ways, I actually really do. Ignoring the technical issues, it’s a very adorable follow-up to my favorite Otome game. It’s hard not to become enamored all over again with this setting and characters, and I really enjoy the small epilogue stories. The CGs in general are great, and if you’re a Collar X Malice fan this game is made just for you. But I can’t ignore the technical issues, and it negatively impacts the experience more than I’d like. I hope a patch comes out to fix this all up, preferably soon.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    I still have endless amounts of fun playing matches online and my most wanted feature, being able to play online against friends, has been added. With that being said, there are still so many features that EA is holding back for some unknown reason and, until they are implemented, it still feels like a missed opportunity. There is no doubt it is better than last year’s FIFA, but it could have been so much more.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles may not be the greatest game to bear the iconic license, but its uniquely chaotic arcade action deserved to make a comeback. There are better Star Wars games either already on Nintendo Switch or those we’re patiently hoping will receive similar remastered ports, but it’s hard to deny that there’s mindless fun to be found here that, despite its repetitive gameplay loop, proved a welcome distraction.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    3 out of 10: Season One shows a lot of promise and heart through its humour and characters, even if its short length is disappointing and its gameplay feels a bit superfluous. I’ll certainly be checking out season two whenever that rolls around.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions creates a fun and unique twist on a well-grounded genre. While it can often suffer from an identity crisis on exactly what gameplay style it’s trying to achieve, there’s still a whole lot to love once the dust finally settles. Those who fancy some over-the-top otaku action with their half time oranges will revel in the combustion of far-fetched fantasy football. As for the soccer purist? You’re maybe best off just sticking with FIFA.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    This is an experience that’s clunky to play, messy in its execution at times and visually ugly and dated however in spite of all this I’ve found my time with Deadly Premonitions Origins to be enjoyable. Like a questionably acted B-movie you learn to love its eye-rolling moments and start to embrace its flaws. Is Deadly Premonition Origins a good game? After 20 hours I’m not sure I even know for myself. What I do know is, I had a great time with Francis York Morgan and cannot wait to join forces once again in next year’s sequel.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Turok has aged quite a bit, which is natural. Therefore, it’s not going to be for everyone. A 22-year-old FPS never will, because it’s a genre that has moved on massively over time. However, for those that want a blast from the past, you will still love it just as much as you did back then. If you have never played Turok before and you want to experience a game that genuinely advanced the shooter genre when it first released, while you are obviously not going to feel the same love for it, you will still have tons of fun as it is still a very enjoyable shooter.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The Walking Dead: The Final Season Episode 3 – Broken Toys may stumble upon an all too familiar plotline, but the chemistry between the two most important roles helps to iron out the creases thanks to a believable and important companionship. My decisions standing in Clementine’s shoes conjures certain anticipation within me in how it may affect the final strokes of the series. Whether there will be alternative conclusions or a single ending set in stone is yet to be made clear. In any case, I am very much looking forward to witnessing and being a part of an actual finale to this The Walking Dead tale.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Nintendo Switch Sports goes to prove there’s still plenty of fun to be had in swinging and shaking away with imaginary sports equipment. With a more generous dose of sports, this could have been fantastic, but instead, Nintendo seems to have settled on pretty good. While some sports certainly score harder than others, the overall package nonetheless remains entertaining, easily accessible and surprisingly competitive online.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S is an excellent puzzle game, packed with content and offering plenty of options whether playing alone or with friends. If you’ve never had a chance to try the original out, then this enhanced version is definitely the way to go. For returning players, however, it’s tough to recommend picking up the Nintendo Switch 2 title even with additional options. All in all, then, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S is a great time, unfortunately marred by the lack of an upgrade option.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    As an upgrade over the original, Overcooked! 2 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition gets the job done, but it feels like a missed opportunity given a better and more complete Overcooked! game exists in All You Can Eat. If you still regularly play Overcooked! 2, the upgrade is worth getting when discounted. It is also worth noting that the new Switch 2 Edition does not include any prior downloadable content, and you will have to buy all of that separately, making it an even worse deal compared to simply buying All You Can Eat.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Taken as a whole, Aragami: Shadow Edition does the sneak ‘n’ stab genre well enough to tickle the taste buds of its fans. Others not quite as invested will probably only get a moderate amount of enjoyment with little satisfaction in gameplay outside of some nice ideas and the relief of accomplishment. The price point, even with the 10 percent discount offered for early adopters, isn’t as attractive as it could be. This is, after all, evidently a low budget project and a three-year-old game at that.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    On the whole, I found Toki to be much more playable and enjoyable than I had initially expected. The gorgeous new art direction and classic level design suits its resurgent makeover to stay fun even after nearly 30 years. However, pushing this remaster out the door with no original arcade addition as well as reflect on its steep price point does make a purchase harder to recommend. With that said, if Toki does find its way into a Nintendo eShop sale it’s definitely worth diving into. There’s a reason why it has a cult following and after playing through it twice it’s easy to see why.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes is a solid return for the assassin but one not without its problems. While the writing feels just as sharp as ever, unfortunately, its six-game premise doesn’t feel like it totally lives up to its potential. Still its great to see a new entry in the long-dormant series and hopefully this marks the beginning of a brand new chapter for Travis Touchdown and the league of assassins.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The addition of Co-op is a great idea – though I didn’t have as much time with the mode as I would have liked. Several characters can be unlocked and each brings something fresh to the game and once the story mode is finished there’s still so much to do. Bleed 2 is simple, unadulterated fun.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    While My Hero One’s Justice 2 plateaus in many areas, it does often improve where it matters most. The original game was always fairly attractive and its sequel does look and feel better overall with tighter loading times and slightly less chugging than its predecessor. It may not be the EVO arena fighter that nobody was expecting it to be and the amateur cameraman from the first game seems to still have his job. However, it does maintain and build upon that decent romp of pick-up-and-play action that suits well for its cause, with a more than adequate amount depth for the part-time fighting game fan to play around with.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Saints Row: The Third – The Full Package is well endowed with content and entertainment value; nonetheless, this release on Switch isn’t perfect. Inconsistent frame-rate, noticeable pop-in, and dated humor put a limit on the game’s appeal. If you have never played this ridiculous game, then you should give this Switch release a look despite its technical shortcomings.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    God Eater 3 isn’t a substitute for the lack of Monster Hunter on the Nintendo Switch. It is its own thing and should be treated as such. God Eater 3 has an interesting world to explore and the post-apocalyptic setting suits the tone of the game well. The fast-paced and intense combat is fun but is best enjoyed in shorts bursts.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Most of Turok 2: Seeds of Evil’s problems simply lie with the passage of time. If you are willing to overlook some of those issues, such as the outdated visuals and level design, what you will find is a fun and thrilling trip down memory lane to one of the Nintendo 64’s best first-person shooters. The lack of multiplayer, while not essential, hurts the overall package.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    If you’re after a true sequel to the original Super Meat Boy, then Super Meat Boy Forever will leave you disappointed. While it generally delivers a good and challenging time, the fact its an auto-runner and the procedurally generated nature of the levels hold it back from getting anywhere close to the excellence of the original.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    It’s a one-time play, there are no unlocks to grab, no need to hunt down collectibles and the game is better for it. Things are kept simple, stylish and for a lot of the time, funny. It’s worth playing for the puzzles, it’s worth playing for the style and mostly, the animations.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Root Film is the kind of game you recommend to a friend who is wanting to get into visual novels. It was hard not to compare it to its peers, but I think some of that is a bit fair. It felt like an earnest attempt at a love letter to a subgenre of visual novels. The attempt was surely appreciated, and makes it impossible for me to dislike the game in its entirety. On its own, I feel the game is just short of greatness, but that in no way makes it bad or even mediocre. The presentation and characters carry the experience, and the game made me laugh out loud more times than I could count. I wish there could have been some more complexity in the game’s writing, but so often do visual novel writers fail when it comes to penning good dialogue for the characters. I’d be more than interested in checking out a third possible game in this series if we’re lucky enough to see one.

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