Nintendo Life's Scores

  • Games
For 5,854 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 Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Lowest review score: 10 153 Hand Video Poker
Score distribution:
5862 game reviews
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Though the visuals and music may not be terribly exciting, the pop culture references crammed into every stage help to give the game lots of charm. Engaging gameplay, high replay value, and a great co-op experience make this one an easy recommendation for anybody looking for a little arcade game to play in short bursts either when alone or with friends. We’d recommend you give this one a look if you’re into arcade beat ‘em ups; for under ten bucks, this one’s a steal.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Octocopter: Double or Squids is still just as enjoyable as it was when it was originally released on the Wii U. For first timers, what’s on offer here is a relaxing yet oddly exhilarating deep sea speed runner that will put your navigational skills to the test while encouraging you to improve each run. The new local split-screen multiplayer for up to four players is also fantastic, as we really don’t see enough of this in modern games nowadays. Either way, it’s worth taking Octocopter for a spin.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Rogue Aces is a stellar, fresh experience - even more so if you never played spiritual forerunner Wings of Fury - that has landed on the Switch eShop seemingly out of nowhere.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 50 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.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Despite that glaring lack of online multiplayer - and a slightly awkward off-screen targeting system - Skies Of Fury DX brings a new slice of fun, fast and furious dogfighting to Nintendo Switch. Whether you’re playing on your own through its 100 campaign missions or shooting your friend’s biplane to smithereens in local multiplayer, it’s one of the best new additions to Switch’s digital library and further proof - if any were needed - that Nintendo’s handheld is the best portable platform there is.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It's quite simply brilliant, addictive and another must-have shmup you need to add to your growing digital arcade Switch collection.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The platforming is tight and precise, yet relatively relaxed and easy-going on the whole, and the game’s perfect cast of bonkers characters provides humour, wit, and a genuinely loveable world to explore. A couple of little niggles stop the game from hitting the true heights that it deserves to reach, but we’d urge you to look past these and dive into the fun. If you’re a fan of platformers and cute things, you need to play this game.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The floundering voice acting and clunky script, coupled with a cringe-worthy story that’s more embarrassing than your drunk uncle dancing at a wedding, grates quickly. The title certainly won’t hold your hand when it comes to defeating the only enemy in the game, which could prove to be tedious for some. Masters Of Anima is no Pikmin, but if you’re looking for a fantasy land filled with tough enemy encounters and a game that's relatively straightforward, then this one is for you.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Bombslinger is a decent game, but its brutal and unforgiving difficulty is sure to turn many potential buyers off. Building up a character with abilities, items, and weapons is engaging as you find new ways to deal with what’s put in front of you, but to have that all ripped away upon death is truly heart-breaking. If you can stomach the set-backs then Bombslinger is sure to please, but if you’d rather take your belongings to the grave, you’ll be in for a tougher and more frustrating time.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    All told, Lode Runner Legacy is the sort of game that fails to impress, but does enough things right to be properly satisfying. Even though the levels can feel rather stale after a while and the presentation is underwhelming, there's a huge amount of content on offer and the creative suite adds a meaningful dimension to the overall package. We’d give this game a recommendation, particularly for fans of puzzle games.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Sling Ming is a polished game with rock-solid physics and smart puzzles, all shot through with a simple, endearing story and a catchy soundtrack. Difficulty is carefully balanced with addictive mechanics that reward perseverance, leaving a game that can stand proudly with the best indie offerings on the eShop.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Super Daryl Deluxe is one of the coolest games on Nintendo Switch right now. Its skill-based combat will have you coming back for more as you unlock numerous abilities that change the game, the story will have you laughing with its witty through line, and the visual presentation is a sight to behold thanks to a stylish art style that is sure to please. If you ever need a bit of a pick me up, there’s not much better than playing Super Daryl Deluxe on the go.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Devious Dungeon is far from a bad game. Its feedback loop of exploration, levelling up and gear acquisition makes for a fun and rewarding experience for the first few hours, but its lack of tangible depth ultimately torpedoes the endless potential of its randomly built dungeons. Still, for less than £10, there are certainly worse dungeons to explore.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The Bunker puts legacy FMV games to shame, delivering a slickly produced psychological horror experience for the price of a trip to your local cinema. The Switch release offers both the touchscreen comfort of the mobile version and the cinematic immersion of the home console versions, so there’s no better place to catch up if you skipped it first time round. However, lack of pointer control is a sorely missed opportunity to improve on the original release.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    While Nintendo Switch isn’t short on puzzle games, it’s still got plenty of room for those with a clever twist at their heart. Warp Shift has plenty of creativity at its own core, offering up an engaging twist on some simple principles. While it may be a little light on the narrative - a crying shame considering how interesting the world beyond its puzzles appear - there’s still plenty of brain-teasing fun to be had in its charming company.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    ClusterPuck 99 is certainly worth considering if you plan on hosting an eight-person party any time soon for a night of local multiplayer action. It won't be the star attraction, but it'll entertain friends and family for more brief periods. Where the game falls short is its lack of online multiplayer. Without online, what's left is a game that just isn't anywhere near as entertaining for solo players and is very hard to recommend.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    It's not only one of the finest shmups developed by Psikyo during its active years, but an absurd luxury to have it at this very sensible price. It offers an arcade perfect, single- or two-player horizontal scrolling shmup that still manages to not only pack a punch and a challenge but make current age efforts looks dull by comparison.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Atelier Lydie & Suelle is a rather standard entry to the Atelier series. Content with relying on a pretty standard setup, the game doesn’t innovate or move forwards, although fans of the series will no doubt be interested in the new story alone. It’s a pretty interesting take on the ridiculously wide genre of RPGs, with a much heavier focus being given to its deep crafting system, but that might not be enough to convince new players on its own.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Gotcha Racing 2nd is an incredible slice of generous retro racing content with hidden depths; one you can play for two minutes or two hours and always have incredible fun while at it. Additive, fun and bursting with content for a sensible price we can’t but unquestionably recommend this second outing of overhead racing extravaganza even if you missed out on the first game.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The increased pace may make the holding for strong attacks less practical than before, but everything flows better and generally makes for more fun in the fights. Further improvements would be made with World Heroes Perfect, however, and (unlike regular WH2) there's no alternative way of play that makes this game at least worth considering. World Heroes 2 Jet is not a bad fighter, but it's not a must-download title either.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Urban Trial Playground may not reinvent the stunt bike wheel, but it does provide an extremely fluid and inviting arcade experience for Switch owners. Tactile controls and pacy, highly replayable levels make this an accomplished cut-price racer package.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Having fixed pairs in two-player mode is a definite step backward and pre-boss portions of the levels can be very short, but the action is fast and enjoyable. There's plenty of dangers to contend with and there are some options available to take out the enemy forces, adding to the fun whether simply shooting them down or attacking with a matryoshka doll. Aero Fighters 3 is another great shmup among the growing library on Switch.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    There is nothing particularly wrong or game breaking about the whole package that often hits the hammer right on the nostalgia feelings for old 16-bit platformer fans, but we can’t fully recommend it because of the usual suspects also being also available on the system (Celeste, Slime-san, Little Triangle and, eventually, Maldita Castilla EX).
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Shadow Bug is a welcome breath of fresh air in a stuffy virtual space that’s up to the ceiling with 2D platformers. Experiencing the title with detached Joy-Cons on the big screen, as opposed to utilising the touchscreen; you’ll be cheerfully surprised by its unique art style and play method.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Super Rocket Shootout is a bit short on single-player content, but what it offers for the lone rocket-strapping, shotgun-wielding player is a welcome addition to what is, at its core, an excellent party game package. As such, if you happen to have one to three friends available feel free to bump that final review score by one. The over-the-top insane action and laughs you will get with your friends more than justifies it.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    An emotional experience that’s as much about loneliness and letting go as it is about rockets, OPUS: Rocket of Whispers captivates from start to finish. It’s darker and bleaker than its predecessor, and scavenging for rocket parts isn’t as immediately appealing as stargazing, but it’s still every bit the affecting combination of narrative and gameplay that defined The Day We Found Earth. If you like curling up with a good book as much as sitting down with a good game, Rocket of Whispers is a perfect way to spend an enjoyable afternoon.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Tesla vs Lovecraft is a competent top-down, twin-stick shooter and arguably the most polished title in the developer's catalogue. Taking the fun but limited template of Crimsonland and building an entertaining and visually striking, but familiar and repetitive experience. It's unlikely to get pulses racing in terms of original gameplay, however, the perks system, crazy weapons and relentless explosive action should spark enthusiasm among fans of the genre.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Lacking the bells and whistles of other titles, Star Force provides basic shooting action. With a good variety of enemies (and their attacks) to contend with it can still provide some entertainment, but the difficulty mostly feels annoying, rather than providing an enjoyable challenge. The audio can prove to be a further irritant and although Arcade Archives Star Force can be fun at times, it's unlikely to offer long-term appeal especially with so many high-quality shooters already on Switch.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    You’ll find many hours’ worth of content available here, and learning how to best use your magic calculator abilities for maximum success is highly enjoyable. In the end we felt a little let down by the need to repeat earlier sections to unlock essential equipment, and the time wasted thanks to having to redo entire levels that were too difficult in our current state, but we’d still recommend giving this one a go if the core idea intrigues you enough.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Toki Tori is a charming, fun, and pleasingly tricky puzzle game that will put your mind to the test in simple, but challenging levels. While the goal always seems almost too easy on the surface, the game’s deceptive nature actually forces players to come up with perfect solutions throughout – which is no easy task!

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