Nintendo Life's Scores
- Games
For 5,857 reviews, this publication has graded:
-
45% higher than the average critic
-
18% same as the average critic
-
37% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 8 points lower than other critics.
(0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 67
| Highest review score: | The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest review score: | Lawnmower Game: Racing |
Score distribution:
-
Positive: 2,261 out of 5857
-
Mixed: 2,820 out of 5857
-
Negative: 776 out of 5857
5865
game
reviews
- By Date
- By Critic Score
-
- Critic Score
Chronus Arc is competent RPG that fails to deliver on one of the most important aspects of the genre: the story.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Oct 7, 2015
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
4 TRAVELLERS – Play Spanish is fun to mess around with at first but grows boring all too rapidly, and without something to keep you coming back, you won't be able to exercise what little knowledge you've gained.- Nintendo Life
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Given the high standard of gameplay that Inti Creates has shown in many other titles it’s released over the last several years, it’s hard not to be disappointed by Dragon: Marked for Death. Although the art direction is a definite plus, this is merely an inoffensive and unimaginative co-op side-scrolling RPG at best. But looking at the bigger picture, particularly the archaic design elements and baffling exclusion of split-screen play, makes this a release that’s admittedly hard to recommend to anyone that’s not a die-hard fan of the company. If you liked the Mega Man Zero series, this is a passable attempt at recreating that series’ gameplay style and it might resonate with some of you, but we’d otherwise recommend you take a pass on this one.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jan 31, 2019
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Aliisha: The Oblivion of Twin Goddesses is a bright and colourful co-op puzzle adventure that brings some unique and interesting ideas to the table. There are some decent puzzles, likeable characters, a reasonably engaging story, and we love to see games going out on a limb to incorporate the Switch's abilities into their setup. However, there's an overall clunkiness and lack of polish here, too, with little to no obvious direction in most puzzles, and far too much focus on meticulously studying every inch of rooms, resulting in an adventure that's too often an exercise in frustration. It's a shame as well that co-op mode is only available via local play that requires two consoles and two copies of the game, as going it solo is a much less enjoyable experience. Admirable, then, but flawed.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Dec 19, 2022
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
It feels clunky and lifeless by comparison, but there's a serviceable game to be found here beneath a layer of modest graphics and awkward controls.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Aug 12, 2016
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Like yesterday's pizza that just doesn't taste the same when heated up in the microwave, Ninja Pizza Girl is a decent game that doesn't excel in any area.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Oct 21, 2016
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Young children who loved the film will have some fun with it, but for anyone else you won’t need to race out and pick up a copy.- Nintendo Life
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Summing it up Bit Boy!! is a great concept for a game and it was interesting to see the interpretation of each gaming generation. The core gameplay in Bit Boy!! isn't terrible, but features serious flaws in the sheer volume of enemies on screen at one time and also the amount of life-sapping dead ends – a hallmark of poor game design.- Nintendo Life
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Block Factory is an attempt to do something different, and it manages it competently while using some of 3DS' functionality well. However, more than anything it's a greatest hits package of some existing block-dropping games with creation options that feel limited. With more fleshed out customisation, even on a stylistic level alone, it could have been something much bigger than it is.- Nintendo Life
- Posted May 2, 2012
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
For what it's worth, there's maybe an hour or so of decent fun here if you don't mind your insults making very little actual sense, and the price is just about in line with that. Not to be insulting, but it feels like maybe this game could have used a little more work, and its mother was a louse-ridden socialite who married an ambidextrous vole.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jan 29, 2018
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Karnov's Revenge can provide some entertainment, but attacks don't flow together with ease, sometimes making button mashing more effective (and quicker) than a well-timed series of planned moves. The weak point system can add a bit of strategy as you target certain spots on an opponent, but with some characters more susceptible to attacks than others it's not a system that works that well or is particularly balanced. Ultimately, more accomplished fighters are available on the Neo Geo (any entry from Fatal Fury, Samurai Shodown or King of Fighters series will do), and a number of these can be downloaded on Switch. Pick one of those over this rather limp and uninspired title.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Nov 24, 2017
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an incredibly hard sell to anyone who isn’t heavily invested in the show already, but there’s probably just enough content in here to keep fans entertained for a few hours.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Nov 17, 2013
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Transformers Prime feels most at home on Wii U: increased visual fidelity makes it more striking and true to the cartoon than the cruder Wii and 3DS editions, and predictable yet appreciated flexibility offered by the GamePad brings a bundle of convenience. Just as on other platforms, though, the game is aimed squarely at the younger/casual Transformers crowd.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Dec 6, 2012
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
While it's not a bad Electroplankton release to pick up, you'll either love it or you'll wish you'd bought a calculator or clock instead.- Nintendo Life
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
We don't see many games coming out of the Indonesian development scene on Nintendo Switch, so it's a shame Azure Saga: Pathfinder Deluxe Edition doesn't bring anything new to a genre that's packed to the rafters with familiar mechanics and only the occasional glimmer of innovation. It's an enjoyable little JRPG with a serviceable battle system and enough genre tropes (including exploration, the occasional puzzle and the odd fishing mini-game) to at least satisfy veteran genre fans, but it's an adventure in dire need of an 'X factor' to help it stand apart on the eShop.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Mar 21, 2019
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
We wouldn't necessarily give this one a recommendation, but it's an okay choice for people that are looking for some cheap, mindless entertainment.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Feb 22, 2016
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
The biggest problem with Yoshi’s New Island is that it feels stripped of the style, substance, and ingenuity that once made the series such treasured property.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Mar 13, 2014
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Robox is a game with some good ideas that unfortunately aren't capitalised on nearly enough.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jan 6, 2011
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Bluey: The Videogame successfully emulates the look and feel of the iconic TV show, but unfortunately it fails to recapture the same family magic. The gameplay is incredibly repetitive across the one-to-two-hour experience, relying on locating items dotted around the five core environments. Minigames break up the monotony somewhat, but even these fail to maintain attention for too long. That said, young children are going to get a kick out of simply existing within this world and playing as their favourite Bluey characters. If that's all you're looking to get out of this game, this does a decent job. But when you compare it to the all-ages magic of the show itself, and other family-focused games on Switch, this falls well short of the source material.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Nov 21, 2023
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Aahh! Spot the Difference is by no means a terrible experience, but it is forgettable in practically every way.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Mar 5, 2012
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Asphalt 3D's flaws are mostly minor but there are too many to ignore, and it doesn't have enough of its own personality to make amends. Its twitchy handling does it no favours – half the fun of powersliding is wrestling control back from your car, but here the cars all bounce back to a central position as if spring-loaded.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Mar 27, 2011
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
In just a short period of time it becomes a rather tedious experience with little incentive for the player to continue on. Newcomers to video games may be inclined to tolerate the minor stuttering and frame rate issues, but for anyone else out there it's perhaps worth looking around for a superior endless runner.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jul 24, 2016
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Session: Skate Sim is a valiant attempt to recreate the trials and tribulations of actual, real-life skateboarding that eschews the arcade flashiness of other skating games in favour of slow and methodical repetition and mastery of both your board and your environment. There's a deep and involving game here for skate fans who want something to really sink their teeth into, or at least there would be if it wasn't for blurry visuals, control issues, poor mission design, and frame rate issues that make for an uphill struggle that just doesn't feel worth the pain in the end. If you've got a ton of patience there's still some joy to be found here, but it's gonna take some patches and updates to get this particular port to the place it needs to be in order to earn a full recommendation.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Mar 9, 2023
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Offering no variety and serving as little more than a quick way to play a game of Chess against a computer opponent, Silver Star Chess should be viewed as nothing more than a place holder to give you your Chess fix until a better representation of the game comes along.- Nintendo Life
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
SiNG Party feels like it was designed for commercials: It's flashy and light, heavy on that kind of wholesome party fun that impossibly well-groomed human-like people seem to have all the time but of which the grubby masses never finds itself a part. By trying to please everyone at the same time, though, the game sacrifices a lot of identity and ends up with modes that are either just plain adequate or downright puzzling. With the right group of like-minded people you could find yourself having a great time with SiNG Party, but then again you can achieve the same effect cranking up the radio and belting along at the top of your lungs.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Nov 27, 2012
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
It's not a tense, open-world survival game and it's not a zany, action-packed zombie kill-a-thon. How To Survive falls somewhere in between the two, and will likely appeal only to die-hard fans of the genre, or anyone willing to spend cash on a cheap thrill or two.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jun 20, 2014
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
As a budget distraction it works just fine, although a lack of imagination makes it difficult to recommend; there are better quick-play experiences to be had on the eShop at a similar price.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jul 24, 2014
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
For now, we'd steer clear of another disappointing port for Harebrained Schemes' stellar series.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jun 21, 2022
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
While its main components aren't bad, the whole thing's repetitive and ends up evening out with about as many flaws as it has positive features.- Nintendo Life
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
It's still among the most enjoyable karaoke titles on the system and the included tracks will appeal to a broad enough spectrum to make it a solid choice. That said it does absolutely nothing to improve the genre, satisfied to rest on its laurels and wait for the sales to roll in.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Sep 17, 2011
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
If it gets a patch that fixes the performance issues and most egregious bugs then you're looking at one of the most entertaining RPGs on Switch; it's that good. For now, however, we're left shaking our heads and wondering why on earth Shadowrun: Dragonfall has been re-released in this state.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jun 21, 2022
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Table Top Racing: World Tour - Nitro Edition does the whole dinky toy car racing thing much better and feels like a much more solid and cohesive experience. Although, Super Toy Cars 2 could teach TTR a thing or two about engaging handling. Of course, both games fall well short or Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled, and Team Sonic Racing. If you need another dose of fantastical arcade racing in your life, just pick up the one or two of those three that you don't own.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jun 14, 2020
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
No matter how much we like the game itself — and we like it a lot — it's very hard to recommend picking up this poor Nintendo Switch version as things stand. Without the technical issues, this one's an easy recommendation and a solid start to a fantastic RPG trilogy. However, in its launch state, it's a much harder sell. Fingers crossed we see a patch ASAP.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jun 21, 2022
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
While its crude looks and disparate gameplay elements can make for a spartan experience, there’s still something bizarrely compelling about Lifeless Planet: Premiere Edition. There’s nothing particularly remarkable about its occasional platforming and simple environmental puzzle solving - and its story never truly offers the payoff its mysteries set in place - but you’ll still enjoy the short time you spend with it. An ambitious little curio, even four years after its original release, but one that sets its sights a little too high for its own good.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Aug 31, 2018
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Perhaps all the timed daily tasks and events made more sense in a mobile context, and it's possible they could hook you here if you have endless patience and affection for these crews. For dedicated Trekkies content to multitask with their Switch on their lap, Star Trek: Legends may well deliver compulsive delights - the audio-visual feedback as the numbers go up is satisfying, as is the thrill of pulling an Epic or Legendary character. Ultimately, though, while collecting your favourite crewmembers sounds like a fun mission, the bland battles involved — and the chronic load times between them — aren't enough to make this a worthwhile journey. Legends isn't terrible, but it is just your favourite Star Trek characters phasering each other until one of them disintegrates.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jan 2, 2025
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Battle Axe is a good-looking homage to the classic hack and slash arcade efforts of yesteryear that's dragged down by some fairly dull and repetitive action. It looks the part, sounds the part, nails the aesthetic and vibe that it's going for completely, but then it drops the ball with regards to level design, enemy AI and in providing any sense of strategy or surprise during a short campaign that gives you very little reason to return once its done and dusted. If only it had a few twists and turns and a handful more levels, this one could have been well worth a playthrough but, as things stand, it's pretty forgettable stuff.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Apr 25, 2021
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
For better or for worse, 3D Game Collection won't surprise anyone, and it's even less likely to excite, but players looking for a predictable, on-the-go fix of classic board game archetypes should have some fun with this collection.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Dec 30, 2012
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Hell Warders isn’t the prettiest of games you’ll play on Nintendo Switch – even in docked mode its visuals really struggle to shake off that last-gen sheen – but look past its unoriginal Gothic aesthetic and there’s a competent (if uninspiring) Tower Defence game to be had. If you’re planning to tackle this alone, it’s best avoided, but if you want to hook up with the admittedly small number of people playing online, the occupants of hell certainly won’t slay themselves.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Mar 4, 2019
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Much like a shimmering ghost seen for just a fleeting moment, The Outbound Ghost flirts with taking the corporeal form of a great Paper Mario-style game but it never fully materialises. The heart is definitely there, with some great music and environments to go along with adorable little ghost characters, but a shallow battle system, a meandering narrative, and fuzzy presentation left us wanting in just about every ghostly regard.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Dec 21, 2022
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Bee Simulator is a surprisingly thoughtful game with bags of charm to spare, a wonderful soundtrack and a reasonably detailed world to explore. However, the experience is seriously soured by the sensitive controls, along with the punishing – and very frustrating – racing segments. A few visual and technical problems crop up as well, which – when added to the game's brevity and distinct lack of content (especially for this asking price) – all conspire to make Bee Simulator a much less successful undertaking that it could have been.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Nov 19, 2019
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Crazy Chicken Pirates 3D isn't bad, but it's certainly disappointing. As much potential as there was for a fun, frantic shooting gallery, the 90 second time limit really hampers the experience. The single stage on offer here may well keep you entertained for a few minutes, but there's no denying that this chicken is underdone.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Aug 17, 2012
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Ultimately, Spartan Fist is a pretty shallow experience for the most part. Visually, the game is really on point, and the pixelated graphics look great, especially when fountains of blocky blood (or rainbows, if you wish) fill the screen when you take down your foes. Sadly, the gameplay that forms the foundation of the experience just isn't up to scratch with this one.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Mar 4, 2020
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Don't let the incessant trolling of its Miiverse community delude you, as Funky Barn is not an entirely bad game. It's far from pretty, but its simple gameplay is quite addictive while it lasts and it controls well.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Dec 10, 2012
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Dusk Diver 2, like the first game, has potential; the cast of characters and storyline are both engaging, and the world could definitely host more interesting stories in the future. However, this sequel sadly fumbles things on the gameplay front, with a disappointing mixture of damage-sponge enemies and drawn-out encounters. While we didn't enjoy Dusk Diver 2 as much as we had hoped, there is something there — a kernel of potential as yet unrealised — and there are going to be people who absolutely adore it despite its faults. For us, a potential Dusk Diver 3 will hopefully boast combat engaging enough to match the writing on display here.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Aug 23, 2022
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
With so few football games on Switch, Legendary Eleven might be tempting, but be prepared for a scruffy 0-0 draw rather than a 5-4 thriller. There are some highlights that impress, but the game's many technical flaws, lack of depth and unbalanced gameplay will most likely cause you yearn for something more refined and exciting. It really is a game of two halves.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jun 11, 2018
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Plain Video Poker can best be described as a game that knows its intended audience. It’s easy to balk at its lack of bells and whistles; and the people who do have every right to feel that there could have been at least a few aesthetic customization options.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jul 1, 2014
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Around the World quizzes players over a limited set of information in a somewhat interesting way, ending up with a very basic and average experience.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jan 5, 2011
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
The price point is low enough that big fans of simple mobile strategy games may find something here, but otherwise you may want to skip this Line.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jun 28, 2014
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
It’s hard to recommend Wacky World of Sports due to its hit-and-miss events and occasionally poor controls.- Nintendo Life
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
It's still largely linear, and the gameplay mostly amounts to simplistic, repetitive beat-em-up combat, boring level design and platforming marred by a somewhat cumbersome jumping mechanic.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Oct 15, 2011
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
With a bit more thought and attention Bike Rider could have been a considerably more fun and engaging 2D Mario Kart-esque addition to the Wii U library. Instead, it's an amalgamation of tired and recycled ideas that, when combined, results in a middle-of-the-road albeit well-produced racing game outside of its natural portable home. Here's to what could have been.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Nov 16, 2015
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
While Loop8’s story has the potential to be incredibly interesting, it never really lands and fails to leave an emotional impact towards the end. It's all presented beautifully and has a unique mix of gameplay styles and ideas, but their repetitive and frustrating nature makes the whole experience a chore. It’s like toiling away at your summer job and going through the motions until it’s time to leave.- Nintendo Life
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Those looking for a good, enjoyable game should look elsewhere though, because despite only being 50 minutes long, you're likely to get bored before it ends.- Nintendo Life
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Billion Road makes an intriguing pitch: to combine Monopoly and Pokémon into a family-friendly digital board game. With its bright presentation, varied mechanics, and endless barrage of distractions and rewards, it could be perfect for young families looking for some wholesome couch time. However, there's a critical lack of strategic substance underpinning it all, while the presence of a virtual guiding hand tilting the odds robs the game of the emotional extremes that the true classics manage to evoke.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Apr 24, 2020
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Another Crab’s Treasure boasts the usual facets of a Soulslike whilst also implementing its own take on well-known mechanics. Nevertheless, significant drops in frame rate, numerous glitches, and occasionally awkward controls do hinder the experience, at least on Nintendo Switch. If you can look past these problems, or if updates arrive to patch them up, Another Crab’s Treasure may scratch your Soulslike itch.- Nintendo Life
- Posted May 7, 2024
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Much like Woah Dave!, Space Dave!’s ironic use of exclamation mark might fool you into thinking you’re getting a particularly riveting or exciting experience for your buck. Its simple, Space Invaders tribute concept can be addictive - especially when played in local co-op - but its desire to embrace the basic building blocks of the ’80s is a poisoned chalice, one that leaves you hoping it would offer more depth where there’s just the same old shallow, pixelated waters.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jan 30, 2018
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
While Excave II made some nice quality of life improvements to the original formula, it inexplicably seems like most of Excave III's changes are for the worse.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Apr 2, 2016
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Then again, there's the possibility that this is all a thought experiment for Beth, and Adam isn't real at all, which makes the story marginally more bearable — but overall, Trufflepigs is a little too short, a little too slow, and a lot too much of the unlikeable Beth. As a proof-of-concept of what Thunkd can do, it's promising, but limited graphics, poor accessibility options (although text size is changeable), and unskippable dialogue that grinds the entire game to a halt make it hard to recommend. Unless, of course, you're looking for a tranquil-ish three hours of pleasant pastoral mundanity, sporadically interrupted by a self-involved rich kid having a quarter-life crisis and making it your problem.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Sep 7, 2021
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
LastFight lifts the classic gameplay of Capcom's Power Stone series and dumps it into an established comic book universe which it then entirely fails to utilise. It's sorely lacking in game modes and inexplicably fails to provide any online co-operative gameplay options. The AI here is pretty dumb, stages are bland and the central gameplay aspects are hampered by a lack of polish, from attacks that don't feel satisfying to long loading times between every bout. If you've got a bunch of pals who like to get down and dirty with a party brawler you may be able to knock more than a handful of hours of fun out of this one, but if you're playing solo, you'll genuinely struggle to stick with it for any reasonable amount of time.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jan 3, 2020
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
G.G Series: Super Hero Ogre is difficult, repetitive, stripped-down and unforgiving, but the important thing is whether or not it's fun to play: it's not.- Nintendo Life
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
It will provide a little entertainment to anyone who picks it up, but hitting zombies with your giant, indistinct leprechaun hat will likely wear thin before long.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Sep 28, 2015
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
If you're a huge shooter fan who just can't seem to get enough of what the genre has to offer, you certainly might enjoy the game, but for everyone else, you'll likely be better off saving those Nintendo Points until something a little more enjoyable comes along.- Nintendo Life
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Some people may enjoy the interesting control setup and the innovative power-ups, but poor level design, average graphics, little enemy variation, the slow pace, awful music and bad sound effects ultimately sour what could have been an enjoyable blast.- Nintendo Life
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Ultimately, there are a ton of potential issues you may or may not run into, and seemingly no real advantages to running Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece on Switch — unless you simply have no other choice but to play these games on this console. As a fan, and as a player who just wants a consistent gameplay experience, it's incredibly disappointing. If you can buy this package for another system we'd earnestly implore you to do so — it may not be handheld, but at least it would be yours to keep and it would run reliably and consistently. As it stands, Kingdom Hearts on Nintendo Switch is defined by compromise.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Feb 22, 2022
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
If you're absolutely starved for something to play for an hour or two and have gone through all the other options, Turtle Tale might suffice; otherwise, there are better options out there.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Oct 23, 2014
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
There is a decent game crying to get out, but poor design choices mean that Naruto needs to go back to ninja training.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jun 23, 2011
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Once again, Kingdom Hearts 3 + Re:Mind on Switch is impossible to recommend without caveats as long as Cloud gaming relies on an erratic, unreliable provision of service. When it does work, it’s a joy; every bit as good as any given title in the series, a dream to explore and thrilling in its spectacle. But then it falters, the input lag kicks in, and the illusion is taken away in a matter of moments. Buy this game and you are effectively renting an imperfect version for the duration of the Cloud service’s lifespan. Want to play Kingdom Hearts on handheld? Well, there's always the Steam Deck, we suppose.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Feb 22, 2022
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
With its unique mashup of matching and math, Chests O’ Booty could be just the thing for puzzle gamers looking for a new experience, but a mediocre presentation, design issues, and a lack of polish keep it from truly delivering on that promise.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Nov 11, 2014
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Super Kickers League is an inoffensive attempt at the arcade football sub-genre, but it lacks the excitement, fluidity and personality of the games it emulates. Now Nintendo, about that Mario Strikers Charged follow-up...- Nintendo Life
- Posted Apr 5, 2019
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
There are glimpses of really good times in Cubic Ninja but it's far too restrained to let those promises run free. Between the high price tag, cumbersome controls, middling stage design and strangled communication features, there are simply too many barriers to portable shinobi bliss.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jun 23, 2011
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
If Monopoly is your thing, you can’t really go wrong with Monopoly for Nintendo Switch. It performs exactly how you’d expect it to – offering an almost exact, neatly-executed copy of the experience that you can get from the board game. This is its main problem, though – it does so little to offer anything new that it almost seems pointless having it in the first place. Call us old-fashioned if you like, but we’d play the board game version over this one any day.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Nov 6, 2017
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
RIOT - Civil Unrest could have been something special, but its move to Nintendo Switch from other platforms hasn't seen that potential embraced any further. The lack of touchscreen support and the absence of a proper tutorial mode are odd decisions considering how difficult it can be to follow the action when playing in handheld/tabletop mode. Even its use of real-life clashes between protesters and police fails to bring anything insightful or interesting to the table. Sadly, this riot is already fizzling out.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Feb 23, 2019
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Despite the moderate price-point of 600 Nintendo Points, less than an hour of gameplay with no replay value is a hard sell. Though consistency is an expected staple in episodic gaming, the unchanging nature of these games does absolutely nothing towards even attempting to attract new fans.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Feb 8, 2012
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Gal*Gun 2 offers an on-rails shooter experience that gets very familiar and repetitive far too quickly, without ever really providing enough content to keep you hooked. The pure fantasy element of the scenarios at hand is certainly the selling point, but the gameplay that surrounds it isn’t strong enough to justify a purchase. If you’re a fan of the series’ earlier titles, or if the art and plot appeal to your tastes, you’ll likely get something from the game, but anyone looking for great gaming action will likely be pretty disappointed.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Apr 12, 2018
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Mato Anomalies is an ambitious indie attempt to create a Persona-like RPG romp through neo-futuristic Shanghai. There's no shortage of good ideas in the mix here, with flashes of inspiration in the fusing of turn-based dungeon combat, mind-hacking card games and stylish visual novel elements. However, for all the ambition on display, it's let down by uninspired combat, repetitive level design, clunky exploration, frustrating card mechanics and writing that just never manages to engage. This one's not entirely without merit, but overall it's an experience that'll test your patience far more than it manages to entertain.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Mar 10, 2023
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
While M2's emulation work cannot be faulted and the inclusion of a 'Rewind' feature reduces the frustration, there's no escaping the fact that Gain Ground isn't a particularly good video game. Granted, it was perhaps slightly misunderstood back in 1988 because it tried to present a more cerebral experience to an audience weaned on games like Gauntlet and Commando, but the end result is a slow-paced and tactical experience that isn't really suited to amusement arcades. Even when played in the comfort of your home, Gain Ground has too many issues to be anything more than a retro curiosity.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Apr 5, 2019
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Beenox has done some good work with the webslinger, but to call its latest Spider-Man game "amazing" on 3DS would be a massive stretch. The story is passable, nestling deep enough that you want to see where it may go, and almost in spite of itself delivers enough moments that really capture the essence of Spider-Man, but between the repetition and glitches there may come a point where you'll have to have a good think about whether it's a game you want to see through to the end of its six-to-eight hours.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jul 11, 2012
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Bladed Fury is a good-looking hack 'n slash platformer that tells a decent tale and is set in an engrossing period of history that's been nicely infused here with mythological and supernatural elements. It's Soul Sliver mechanic adds plenty of scope for strategic combat shenanigans and its levels have a few good ideas thrown into the mix. However, all of these positive aspects are let down by poor implementation, dull enemies who don't force you to utilise your moveset, bland and repetitive area layouts, simplistic platforming and constant technical issues that plague combat just as it's starting to up the ante. If the framerate issues are addressed this one may be worth a look for fans of the genre, otherwise it's hard to recommend in its current state.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Mar 31, 2021
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
As it stands, Discovery is Minecraft, but with fewer polished mechanics, no survival mode, and fewer blocks to use, and slightly less impressive graphics. It’s not a bad game by any means, but there’s nothing here that Minecraft doesn’t already do much better. If you’re only interested in the creative mode, and you don’t mind giving up some bells and whistles, this is a decent alternative for those of you that are looking to save a few bucks, but otherwise, you’re not missing out on anything significant if you choose to pass.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jun 21, 2018
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
The addictive gameplay of past titles is still there, but Tree of Tranquility simply repeats too many past mistakes, with little advantage taken of the Wii’s capabilities other than a few motion controls and minigames.- Nintendo Life
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
System Shock is, on paper, a brilliant remake that thoughtfully updates the 1994 original for modern systems, introducing both gyro aiming and mouse support along with a host of graphical upgrades. Unfortunately, the move over to the Switch 2 has tanked the performance, resulting in a game that never feels satisfying enough to play. Should this get fixed in the future, it may well be worth investigating, but for now, you'll be better off playing it on another platform.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Dec 18, 2025
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
The lack of depth and variety outright kills CFM’s value as a fishing sim and what's left is a convoluted minigame bolstered by a few neat ideas.- Nintendo Life
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Fimbul creates an appealingly grim Norse folklore-infused world to adventure through, but its core action is simply too weak to seal the deal. Its pacy combat can be brutally satisfying, but it's also shallow and repetitive, while the game struggles from a technical perspective. There's a promising world at the heart of Fimbul, but it needs to be married to a more fluid and fleshed-out game.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Feb 28, 2019
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Chapeau is quite possibly one of the most bizarre multiplayer games we’ve played in a good while. Pitting up to four opponents against one another, you take control of a sentient hat, with the aim of the game being to ‘tag’ as many humans as possible by leaping onto their heads. It’s a chaotic game that takes a bit of getting used to, and even when you’ve mastered its clunky controls, the game modes simply aren’t compelling enough to keep you invested.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Apr 13, 2020
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Neoverse Trinity Edition succeeds at being an enjoyable deck builder, but it does so in a way that's seemingly desperate to highlight its limitations. It runs embarrassingly poorly at times, and does almost nothing to ingratiate the player to its many systems, all of which must be puzzled out more or less from scratch. While this is far from ideal, it's not enough to totally kill the game's appeal. Robust strategy is both possible and necessary in order to progress much beyond even the second boss. If you vibe with Neoverse Trinity Edition, it'll last you a while. It's just very, very difficult to get to grips with this bizarre, confusing game.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Feb 15, 2021
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
If you're in the market for something focused it's probably best to look elsewhere, but this former homebrew application may offer enough functionality and affordability — for the least picky among us — for simple doodling and sharing on Miiverse.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Nov 11, 2014
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
If you have a child of elementary school age that has developed basic reading and writing skills, they might still be able to have some fun with what's on offer here, even if it's just to express themselves creatively with a few stickers and emoticons. Anyone else, however, should stick to smartphones or computers for their personal writing needs.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Nov 11, 2014
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON'T KNOW! is not a complete failure, but it's also not the game that Adventure Time fans deserve or should expect from a developer like WayForward.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Dec 3, 2013
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Escape Trick: 35 Fateful Enigmas offers a decent puzzling experience, but its refusal to innovate or even introduce anything fresh into the game long past the halfway mark seriously dampens things. There is fun to be had here, but expect things to get repetitive and frustrating all too quickly.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Feb 28, 2018
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
We would only ever recommend Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs to Pac-Man diehards at its launch price point. In fact, given the fate of its Pac-Man 99 forebear, we would be hesitant to open our wallets for it at all, because we doubt it will have much longevity if it isn’t eventually made free-to-play. Though it introduces a cool idea or two, multiplayer Pac-Man was done better by its predecessors and, as it stands, its price tag is tough to justify.- Nintendo Life
- Posted May 14, 2024
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
My Aquarium: Seven Oceans exists solely to be stared at as a form of meditative relaxation. It’s not particularly fun or pretty, but if you’re looking for a DSiWare application that fits a very specific role of emulating a fish tank, then you’ve found it.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jul 5, 2014
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Players with a fondness for the genre — and patience for poor translation — will get some enjoyment out of wading into the world and fielding the diverse set of characters, but for most this box is best kept on the shelf.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Sep 1, 2014
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Snow Moto Racing Freedom is another scrappy, challenging and rough-around-the edges extreme sports racer from Zordix. It's not going to win any technical awards, and it takes real patience to master its awkward handling and unforgiving physics. For those who crave something different from the racing genre norm, a little perseverance will yield a surprisingly entertaining arcade experience for one to four players, albeit one that could leave some feeling cold.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Dec 2, 2017
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Standing out from the crowd with a unique, physics-based control scheme is all well and good but, by restricting its usage to just one simple idea, the game feels like it needs to be developed further to truly shine. The mechanics are undoubtedly interesting, and they’ll pique your curiosity at first, but after several levels players will be craving something new and that unfortunately never comes. Not a bad way to idly pass the time, then, but not something to shout home about either.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Feb 17, 2018
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
If you've never played Marvel Ultimate Alliance you're better off getting the first game which should be easy to find cheaply - you might struggle a little with the controls, but you'll have a lot more fun.- Nintendo Life
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
As a whole, Tetraminos is an average experience at best. It's easy to sit down and play because it does somewhat keep the core values of Tetris intact, though it still falls short when it comes to offering anything new or enticing. Perhaps look around for a classic Tetris experience available on the Nintendo eShop if you would rather play it safe.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Feb 10, 2017
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Don't get Gray if you easily see red, but others still might discover some zen in the non-complex chaos.- Nintendo Life
- Posted May 26, 2015
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Poison Control's story is cliché-filled but fun, and the tongue-in-cheek dialogue carries the game far further than its gameplay could manage alone. The writing can only make up for shallow game mechanics to a point, though, and ultimately shallow gameplay is what lets this game down. Visual novel fans will likely find more to enjoy here, but there's simply not enough gameplay depth or variety for fans of shooters.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Apr 12, 2021
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
Panty Party is not unenjoyable. Don’t be tricked into thinking you’ll be ogling barely dressed girls – the panties themselves are the stars here. Bayonetta is an infinitely more alluring proposition in absolutely every way, but Panty Party’s hack-and-slash style gameplay isn’t without merit and there’s a certain bizarre joyfulness to it. It’s mostly-harmless, repetitive nonsense that you’ll blow through in an afternoon, but we’d be lying if we said it didn’t raise a grin or two through its sheer WTF-ness.- Nintendo Life
- Posted May 3, 2019
- Read full review
-
- Critic Score
While it's a fun time for fans, Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp is a total grindfest and plays almost the exact same way every time. With gameplay that's both luck-based and uninspiring, it's an incredibly tough recommendation to anyone but devoted series obsessives. This writer found it compelling — games don't take that long — but it is repetitive to a fault, and by design. Bizarrely, there are some ways in which it's less interesting and compelling than the equivalent unlockable feature in V3 and that was a free post-game bonus. Ask yourself if you really need to spend money to see the characters in swimsuits and make your decision from there.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Nov 29, 2021
- Read full review