Nintendo Life's Scores

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For 5,862 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: 100 Horace
Lowest review score: 10 Lawnmower Game: Racing
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,261 out of 5862
  2. Mixed: 2,825 out of 5862
  3. Negative: 776 out of 5862
5870 game reviews
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    • 69 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    A Hole New World
    A competent and authentic 8-bit experience, A Hole New World will be enjoyed by many a retro fan out there, but the some of its mechanical elements are faithful almost to its detriment. Travelling between the dual worlds is cool, but utilised without much ambition or variety. While certainly not a bad game, the methods employed to enforce difficulty feel cheap and frustrating, rather than motivating or rewarding. A few of the bosses are visually impressive, but there isn't much here structurally or gameplay wise that particularly stand out . If you're looking for another title with more nostalgia and 'traditional' challenge rather than sadistic, fast-paced, twitch-based platformers, then A Hole New World is an adequate game that will bring back many memories of the 8-bit era, for better or worse.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Soccer Slammers
    Soccer Slammers is a frenetic arcade football game that's extremely light on depth and content but high on immediate thrills. It's the ideal half-time snack, but it won't sate your hunger for a more meaty football experience. Thankfully, with FIFA 18 already available on Switch a more immersive experience exists, but if it's casual action you're after, this could be the fixture you need.
    • 48 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Storm Boy
    Storm Boy is a compelling emotional tale that has a phenomenal soundtrack that will get even the stoniest-hearted player tearing up. It’s gorgeously presented and is a wonderful piece of interactive art, but its length severely diminishes its value. If you rush through, you can finish the game within ten minutes. However, writing it off entirely would be doing a disservice to its brilliant atmosphere and immersive plot. If you’re a fan of story-driven experiences and gorgeous soundtracks, then you may wish to check it out.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Absolute Drift
    Absolute Drift is the kind of game that can quite easily provide a good hour or so worth of entertainment on a rainy day. Our fear with this one, however, is that the learning curve is so brutally steep, it may put you off before you even properly get into it. If you do manage to power through, though, it’s a genuinely relaxing, satisfying experience. It’s just a shame the game is hampered by poor design choices and crippling technical issues.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered
    Romancing SaGa – Minstrel Song – Remastered ambitions and achievements still feel fresh today. The open-world system is remarkably well-implemented and the multiple-protagonist approach feels modern even in a game that has been on the market for decades, but control issues, the vague nature of the game, and a slow progression system drag it down. Unfortunately, this is a cult classic JRPG that is less than the sum of its parts.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    SINNER: Sacrifice for Redemption
    Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption is a valiant attempt to cut away some action-RPG fat in order to get to the meat of its boss battles, but a lack of consistent quality makes this boss-rush concept a frustrating experience at times (and not for the reasons its developer likely intended). The combat lacks the heft of the series that inspired it, so while Sinner looks much like the Souls games, it never captures (or innovates upon) that familiar combat model. There are some great boss designs to take on here, but this is very much a curio for Souls fans who want something to do in-between playing the vastly superior Dark Souls: Remastered.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Nurikabe by Nikoli
    Nurikabe is one of the more intensely challenging Nikoli eShop releases and as such offers a mental workout that some may find very rewarding, others cruel. A stubbornly absent hint feature would help ease accessibility, but as it stands Nurikabe can really only be recommended as a new challenge for advanced puzzlers.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Turbo: Super Stunt Squad
    This is a noble effort from developer Monkey Bar Games, who shouldn't be penalized for using the Tony Hawk template; after all, games of that genre have become few and far between in recent years. So if you've been burned by the 3DS game, give Turbo: Super Stunt Squad for Wii U a try.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Gabrielle's Ghostly Groove 3D
    But we expected more of this retail sequel to a WiiWare game, and it almost seems like this game gave up the ghost.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Circus Electrique
    Although Circus Electrique has its intriguing quirks, with the reliance on devotion and the occasional circus-management opportunity, too many flaws accompany them. With most of its story revolving around combat, it soon becomes an annoyance rather than an enjoyable element. The game does offer refreshing and unique twists on the genre; still, there's a lack of drive to keep you wanting to fight through London's steampunk streets. The story grips you initially, but it takes a while to develop and a lot of the initial dialogue is wasted on family feuds which offer no real substance. To fans of turn-based strategy and those who loved Darkest Dungeon, Circus Electrique may be more enjoyable, but it's a little too disjointed and repetitive to recommend wholeheartedly.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Project Nimbus: Complete Edition
    Project Nimbus: Complete Edition is a game that sports tight, engaging gameplay, but fails to back this up with compelling reasons to play for the long haul. On the surface, there’s a generous serving of modes, missions and weaponry, along with impressive visuals and three difficulty options to sink your teeth into. Unfortunately, repetition sets in far too soon, and eventually you’ll want to store this mecha back in its hangar. The wait for the Switch's first truly comprehensive 'Big Robot' game continues.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Guns, Gore & Cannoli
    Guns, Gore & Cannoli is a reasonably proficient side-scrolling shooter that grows somewhat tiresome through repetitive combat and unpleasantly clichéd character design. It's an enjoyably brainless diversion - especially in multiplayer - but it's one that only really works in small doses.
    • 57 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Deca Sports DS
    Like most minigame compilations, you really need to round up a few friends to get the most fun out of Deca Sports DS. The events have a simplistic skew and several just aren't worth returning to alone, leaving you underwhelmed after a while.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Double Cross
    We’d be lying if we said that Double Cross wasn’t disappointing; after the raucously enjoyable platforming offered up by Runbow, this is an underwhelming follow up that never manages to hit the same highs. Though Double Cross has an interesting premise and some exceptionally well-designed levels, it’s weighed down by a series of ho-hum gameplay elements that aren’t adequately fleshed out and give the overall experience something of an identity crisis. We’d give Double Cross a light recommendation for those of you that have enjoyed the likes of Mega Man 11 or Shantae: Half-Genie Hero; this is still an enjoyable side-scrolling adventure with some genuinely thrilling moments, but don't expect it to live long in your memory after you've finished it.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    GODS Remastered
    GODS Remastered is an odd remaster. The brand new visuals help give this incarnation of Ancient Greece a far more agreeable presentation with a proper lighting system, some much-improved character models and a soundtrack that helps do justice to the unforgettable original. But peel away those cosmetic changes and you’re left with a once brilliant action-platformer that has not aged well. Compared to the side-scrolling platformers that followed – including Metroid II: Return of Samus, which came out later that very same year – GODS’ groundbreaking approach to AI and premium presentation quickly went from innovative to a creaky old fossil. This remaster is faithful in its desire to retain the meat and bones of the original, but that’s also its undoing.
    • 54 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The Padre
    While The Padre is a far from perfect indie offering, its mixture of satisfyingly challenging puzzles, a dark sense of humour and a perennial love for classic survival horror makes for an intriguing addition to the genre. The issues with combat and the sometimes infuriating nature of its puzzles can grate, but with a little extra polish The Padre has the potential to be a real hidden gem on Nintendo Switch.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    SaGa Frontier Remastered
    SaGa Frontier Remastered sees Square Enix's cult classic JRPG looking and playing better than ever, with a lovely HD lick of paint and lots of restored content and quality of life improvements providing hardcore fans with an experience they'll doubtless enjoy. However, this is still a game that's aged quite poorly in many respects; an idiosyncratic, eccentric and infuriating experience that refuses to guide you or help you in any way, and one that, in the end, is quite hard to recommend to anyone who isn't already a fan.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection
    At only a couple of bucks per game it’s hard to complain too much about this compilation, especially when there’s only really one stinker in the pack. If you aren’t a fan of classic arcade shoot ‘em ups then there isn’t really much for you here: you may want to hold fire and see if the upcoming Castlevania or Contra collections are more to your taste. If you like your schmups though, there are seven iconic vintage examples of the genre here and they perform flawlessly. You’ll still have a decent time playing through them all, even though the lack of online leaderboards, lack of high score saving and general lack of options certainly make its budget price feel justified.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The Quiet Collection
    The Quiet Collection possesses good-natured humour and a throwback charm that pays nice tribute to adventure games of yesterday.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Antonball Deluxe
    As a solo game it's an easy pass, but on multiplayer we can see it clicking with the right group. It didn't set our world alight, but its simple charms may just work for you and your mates.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    RetroMania Wrestling
    RetroMania Wrestling looks like WWF WrestleFest, plays (a bit) like Fire Pro and has a wide variety of entertaining arenas to play in. However, the tiny roster, lack of creation modes, lack of online and brief single-player experiences mean you're really going to need to be interested in local multiplayer if you're going to be playing this one for a long time. To give it the Cena test: it's got our respect for going old-school and it'll get loyalty from the cult following it'll inevitably gain, but it still needs a bit more hustle before it's the finished product, whereas just now it feels like The Prototype.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Spot the Differences!
    Overall, this is a decent offering with a few potentially irritating flaws and a simple concept that may not keep you interested for long.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Arcade Archives 2: Aqua Jet
    Hamster has done another solid job bringing a '90s arcade classic to Switch 2 and making it sing. Unfortunately, without much content present in the base game, there are only so many times you can revisit this colourful racer before things get repetitive.
    • 57 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Momonga Pinball Adventures
    Momonga Pinball Adventures is ultimately a fun experience. It escapes falling into the trap of being 'just another pinball game' by adding different challenges and exploration, rather than sticking to the restrictions of a table.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Muscle March
    As long as you’re not expecting a deep and rewarding gameplay experience, it’s tough to really go wrong with Muscle March. It's bizarre by design and kind of shallow, which may not be everyone's cup of tea, but if the idea of ludicrously muscular chases through walls tickles your funny bone then Muscle March is a great way to spend 500 Points.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    My Farm
    My Farm is easy to pick on, but the economic aspects are balanced nicely, so your decisions matter and strategy is important.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Little Nightmares: Complete Edition
    Little Nightmares boasts some superb character and environment design, and exceptional sound too, with parts of the Maw screaming as if the ship was a gigantic bionic seafarer. Its story is compellingly told, and the way the main game connects with the DLC is immensely rewarding. But you never really feel like you have full control of Six, and the long breaks between restarts can dump you into a painful loop of spending less time in the game than you do in loading screens.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Sudoku Challenge!
    The bottom line is that the Sudoku puzzles included are difficult enough to challenge players of all skill levels and there are some options available to make the game easier for beginners.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    ACA NeoGeo: Metal Slug 2
    Offering the usual fun and gun action as the rest of the series, Metal Slug 2 will provide a lot of entertainment and the High Score and Caravan modes add to the replayability of it. The downside is that this is an authentic recreation of the original game, warts and all. The well designed stages, amusing character designs, detailed scenery and brilliant soundtrack are great, but the slowdown is painful at times. Smaller dips in performance are easy to put up with, but the larger ones harm the game, and your enjoyment. There's still fun to be had here, but Metal Slug 2 is far from an essential download, and it might be a better idea to wait for Metal Slug X, which fixes the slowdown and adds more content.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse
    For fans of the franchise, Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse should be a no-brainer. Fifteen years after its original release in Japan, its launch in the west brings some welcome upgrades to the visuals and presentation. That said, you can definitely feel the game's age in the core gameplay and little has been done to bring this more in line with modern sensibilities. Movement is janky, the camera never quite feels spot on, and the loading between rooms really shouldn't be an issue in 2023. Additionally, the frequent presence of ghosts and the arcade-like combat required to defeat them feels constantly at odds with the otherwise impressive sense of dread felt as you explore the environment, but since this is a core aspect of the series at large, you might be able to overlook this. We definitely recommend checking it out if you're into survival horror, but just know that it comes with a number of quirks that we wish had been ironed out.
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