Nintendo Life's Scores
- Games
For 5,862 reviews, this publication has graded:
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45% higher than the average critic
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18% same as the average critic
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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: | Horace | |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest review score: | Lawnmower Game: Racing |
Score distribution:
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Positive: 2,261 out of 5862
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Mixed: 2,825 out of 5862
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Negative: 776 out of 5862
5870
game
reviews
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- Critic Score
Nairi: Rising Tide is a solid, if slightly inferior, sequel that expands the world established in Tower Of Shirin. Some slow load screens and difficult-to-discernible items shouldn’t hamper your overall enjoyment too much, especially if you loved the first entry. The tricksy puzzles are great, though you may need to shell out for hints. And while you might feel like you’re wading through the story at times, there’s enough narrative thread to pull you through to a tense ending. No spoilers but the final moments left us already keen to know what Nairi, Shiro, and their friends get up to next.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Nov 17, 2024
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Sol Divide tricks you into believing this is yet another Psikyo shmup, but it turns out to be something refreshingly different. If you want a unique offering from a revered Japanese developer, look no further.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Mar 26, 2018
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It's easy to see why Game Tengoku CruisinMix Special is so beloved by Japanese shmup fans, but it's equally easy to understand why it's not as well known in the west as Parodius, despite being very similar in tone. The levels are inventive and the action is reasonably compelling, but it's overshadowed by better examples of the genre – especially in 2020, when Switch owners have games like ESP Ra.De. Psi and Ikaruga to keep them busy. It's by no means essential then, but if you're a hardcore shooter nut, then this is still well worth a look.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jun 7, 2020
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The customer is always right, so the saying goes, and as customers of this game, players can have some legitimate complaints about the service. The platforming is not fun: sadistic design choices are realised with lacklustre materials. But BloodRayne doesn’t care. The combat, when you’re allowed to play it, is unique and raucous and deliciously convoluted, with a skill ceiling as high as a gothic cathedral. BloodRayne isn’t here to take your order; it’s here to suck your blood.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Sep 9, 2021
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Namco Bandai has played it very safe with its 3DS debut, picking an established series and creating a game which feels like a celebration of previous efforts rather than an entirely new chapter.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Mar 16, 2011
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Wytchwood is a crafting game, through and through — and a good one. It smartly puts its focus purely on the act of gathering materials to create a wide range of objects, with little else to distract from the core crafting mechanic. It’s backed up by a great soundtrack and a reasonably well-told but ultimately forgettable tale as you trawl through the various areas searching for ingredients. Trying to locate specific items can at times feel exhausting and drags down the pacing of the game, and the gorgeous visuals are unfortunately hampered by a slight frame rate jitter. Ultimately though, Wytchwood is a relaxing and addictive jaunt into the world of crafting.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Dec 22, 2021
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Despite upgrading this third release in the series to the 3DS hardware rather than releasing it as DSiWare, Rabi Laby 3 isn't really a marked improvement on the formula.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jul 31, 2014
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The biggest issue with Zero Team is one that can be levelled at virtually any side-scrolling fighter: repetition. It becomes old very quickly, although it's quite challenging – and, to its credit, it doesn't resort to the usual cheap tactics you find in other arcade belt-scrollers. While it's definitely on the shallow side, this is a fine example of the genre that's certainly worth a spin if you're into this kind of game; if you can enlist the assistance of three other players then it becomes even more enjoyable. Zero Team is yet another lost gem in the Arcade Archives range; Hamster's work in this realm is commendable, and we hope it continues.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Nov 22, 2020
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Poor camera controls and some repetitive design dampen the experience, and will be harder to swallow for non-fans, but even players who can’t tell a Straw Hat from a straw hat can enjoy the the bright, high-energy action and colourful characters.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Sep 15, 2014
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AiRace: Tunnel a nice little diversion at 200 Points, even if there are some puzzling choices with regards to score tracking. Sharp visuals, “one-more-go” gameplay and a welcome endless mode make it a fun way to spend your time and pennies.- Nintendo Life
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Don't let the lawn gnome theme or silly title scare you away - 2 Fast 4 Gnomz is a great little eShop effort. It's fast, fun, and challenging, with a charming art style and a sense of humour running through the entire experience. It won't win any points for originality, but what's here is done well, and fans of tough endless runners will have a great time with these little guys.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Nov 4, 2012
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Whether playing on your own or with a buddy, it's sure to raise a smile and even a few laughs as you obliterate everything on screen.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Mar 21, 2017
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Pixel Maker is a no frills app. Everything works as it should, and we would recommend it to those who enjoy making pixel art as all the tools are there for you to flex your creative muscle.- Nintendo Life
- Posted May 7, 2016
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It may not quite reach the heights of the titles that clearly inspired it, but this is well worth a look for fans of the genre - especially at this bargain-basement price.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Aug 6, 2015
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The awful music aside, Fitness Boxing 3 brings some much-needed variety to what could have been another by-the-numbers release with new songs and not much else. The Sit Fit Boxing and Mitt Drills modes give options to those who want to be less or more active respectively, and the extra trainer options are ideal for players who like to pretend they’re dealing with an actual person. And even better, because Mitt Drills isn’t rhythm-based, you can put your headphones on and listen to your own tunes.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Dec 4, 2024
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It's just the right length to avoid overstaying its welcome, and humorous aspects help the player see past what - at the end of the day - is a fairly elementary, albeit relatable, story.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Feb 3, 2016
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Shining Resonance Refrain is the kind of game that can put on a solid performance, but it’s also abundantly clear that it doesn’t quite have the pipes to hit the high notes; it’s a good game, but not a great one.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jul 9, 2018
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It is difficult to score The Last Spell, because it's a game that does so much so well, from the music to the game balance to charming writing. If you can wrap your head around the counter-intuitive controls — which an eventual patch will hopefully sort out — there is plenty for tactical RPG fans to sink their teeth into. We enjoyed our time with the game, but the hasty feel of the Switch port keeps the game from reaching its full potential, though.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Mar 9, 2023
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At its core Driift Mania is a nice slice of nostalgia and a racing game that's all about fun. A higher level of customisability and a more relevant single-player mode would have been nice, but as it stands solo players still have a great offering in three multiplayer modes they can enjoy on their own.- Nintendo Life
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If you consider the fairly sparse selection of FPS titles on the Switch, Hypercharge: Unboxed is a genuinely tempting prospect, boasting solid gameplay that is an absolute blast with friends. There are a few issues with the gameplay that may need addressing with patches, and as a whole the game feels like a bit of a walk in the park for the most part, but otherwise it’s an impressive, unique title that you’d do well to check out.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jan 19, 2020
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A faithful enhancement to the classic original. It might not satisfy those looking for their next big blockbuster or 'prestige indie' title as the design may feel somewhat dated, despite the game’s own attempts to obfuscate the obsolete with the arbitrary. This funky, distinctive game should please the nostalgic while being unique enough to attract, and satisfy, the curious. Details such as the exhaustive documentation and varying minigames definitely show some heart in the development. Ultimately, this is a package that is designed to appeal to pre-existing fans rather than create entirely new ones, but if you're a fan of this kind of game and don't mind the odd spot of randomness, then you should give it a try.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Feb 28, 2019
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Bit Dungeon Plus does exactly what it says on the tin and it does it fairly well. The title won’t draw you in with an intricate story of medieval rivalry and bloodshed involving a vast fantasy world, but the pick-up and play nature of the game will. Some might find its limitless nature frustrating and unnerving, but by improving your set of gear and tactics with each round after countless near-deaths is exhilarating in its own right. Make no mistake - the game is quite rightly harsh for the genre it’s sitting in but if you’re a glutton for punishment and you’re scouring the eShop for a simple, yet highly rewarding eShop dungeon-crawler that won’t break the bank then Bit Dungeon Plus is worth picking up for the attractive asking price.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Mar 13, 2018
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Mario vs Donkey Kong serves up a slick return to the 2004 GBA adventure that finds fresh fun in cooperative play. Yep, the new co-op mode really is the star of the show this time out and, alongside two new worlds, 'Plus' versions of each level, a Time Attack mode, and fancy new looks and sounds, there's plenty to dig into and enjoy with a core puzzle/platforming setup that has aged quite well. Just be aware that, if you're a more seasoned player looking for platforming challenges, this game finds its strengths as an experience for younger gamers or as a co-op title to enjoy with your kids. Taken as such, it absolutely earns a recommendation.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Feb 14, 2024
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Sporting a clean presentation, rule variations, an in-game manual and both local wireless and Download Play for multiplayer matches with messaging supported, Hearts Spades Euchre is a great way to experience these classic card competitions. However, three games make for a somewhat thin collection, and novices should play with a friend and perhaps a real deck or look up instructions elsewhere.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Jul 5, 2011
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As is the case with most multi-part games and stories, Chapter 2 of Tales of Monkey Island doesn't really do much interesting stuff in terms of story progression. It plays exactly the same as the first chapter, just with different puzzles, so if you enjoyed that, you'll most certainly enjoy this.- Nintendo Life
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Rather than simply releasing a barebones recreation of the most well-known incarnation of the game, developer Agenda chose to liven things up a bit by providing different stages, new moles, multiplayer and even achievements.- Nintendo Life
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Prison Princess is an enjoyable puzzle adventure that combines invigorating brain-teasers with appealing characters, beautiful artwork and an intriguing narrative. While it’s pretty short – we cleared the game for the first time in four hours without having to resort to a walkthrough at any point – its multiple endings and unlockable features provide some replay value, and it’s worth bearing in mind that even classic adventure games from the genre’s “golden age” were only a couple of hours long at most. Here’s hoping we see more games of this type from Qureate in the future; they’ve clearly got a talent for them.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Feb 4, 2020
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Mercenaries Saga Chronicles offers an awful lot of tactical turn-based strategy content for the asking price, but the dull storylines, repetitive gameplay, and absolutely identical nature of all three titles make us question the reasoning behind packaging them all together as a bundle. In their own right, each game will provide you with hours of well-designed battles, but we doubt many players will genuinely want to sit through all three games as they would be effectively playing the same game three times.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Feb 15, 2018
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Fairune's a very simple game, but for such a low price it's pretty hard to go wrong. It might not be all that long, but it's enjoyable from start to finish, which is a what we hope for in a download.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Dec 23, 2014
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Nuclear Throne proves to be an enjoyable and devilishly challenging roguelike shooter that no fans of the genre will want to miss out on, even if it does tend to become more frustrating if you add in a second player. Though the visuals and music are rather disappointing, the core gameplay of Nuclear Throne more than makes up for any deficiencies through its variety and feedback loops; it’s the kind of game that’s so easy to jump into, you just can’t refuse having ‘one more go’. If you’re a fan of Enter the Gungeon, roguelikes, or difficult games in general, Nuclear Throne is going to be right up your alley; we’d give this one a high recommendation.- Nintendo Life
- Posted Apr 9, 2019
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