Every inch of this game just screams adorable and sometimes it's just too much to take…in a good way, of course.

Overall, the game is very enjoyable. The level-up and equipment aspects flow unusually well with the aim-and-shoot mechanics of so many mobile games. Aside from the manual leveling system, the game is a very likable piece of entertainment.

Snake Pass sets out to bring a familiar feeling with a unique twist that sets it apart from its predecessors. While it does exactly that, it isn’t without fault, as overcoming the challenge of platforming without a jump might scare off the faint of heart. If you can overcome the early struggles and the occasional moments of frustration, the game offers a beautiful world to explore and plenty of collectables to keep you busy.

While problems with this port and a lack of modernized tweaks make Grandia less of a slam dunk to recommend, this is still a relatively hidden gem from the late ‘90s that is worth trying or rediscovering. The graphics might not be as pleasant, the writing might have some cringey moments, and odds are you’ll come across a few out-of-place bugs, but Grandia’s battle system helps to overcome those drawbacks alongside its endearing characters and world. At the very least, Grandia stands tall next to its other late ‘90s contemporaries. So much so that I can envision the plucky star Justin trying to convince Cloud and Barrett from Final Fantasy VII that he’s an adventurer who rightfully deserves a seat at their theoretical table of classic, genre-defining RPGs.

Sonic Heroes’ biggest weaknesses are its combat system and related controls. While the three-formation system provides a refreshing choice in combat styles when facing a handful of opponents, the system quickly becomes disorienting in larger battles.

I think the biggest compliment I can give this game is that I have a hard time putting it down. It does a great job of adapting the PC formula to the 3DS hardware, and it's just as addictive as it ever was. If you're a fan of the PC game, this is a great way to take it on the go.

Skylanders Imaginators is yet another well-made adventure filled with charming characters and amusing gameplay. The Switch version is hampered a little bit by the system’s portability and the loss of compatibility with some previous figures is a shame, but it’s still a fine way to play, especially if you long for the days of the Skylanders 3DS games. This is a good time, even if it doesn’t match the highs of past entries in the series.

It only took a couple sittings to finish the 3 to 5-hour experience, but Ratcheteer DX makes for a good time nearly the whole way through. It’s well paced and introduces new tools regularly, all with two different functions or uses. There are some points of frustration, but none soured the adventure for more than a few minutes. If you enjoyed games like Minit or Master Key, you’ve got no reason not to dive into the underground and become a full-fledged ratcheteer yourself. Bonus points if you choose the pea soup color palette for maximum Game Boy nostalgia.

Attack on Titan 2 is a generally decent Attack on Titan game. The mechanics and cutscenes capture the essence of the show quite well, making it one of the less-one-note Omega Force games I’ve played. Unfortunately, the story moves at a plodding pace, and the game falls into more unfortunate strides of repetition than I’d hoped for. It could be better, but as 3DS’s Humanity in Chains taught us in 2015, it could also be much worse.

Gato Roboto might lean a little too heavily on homage, but never truly in a bad way. It might be more goofy than great and more adorable than original, but the game still delivers a pint-sized prance that comes together nicely even if it’s a little short. This follows through on the premise of Meowtroid extremely well.

LEGO Harry Potter's DS debut has a good foundation, decent gameplay, and tons of content.

The graphics and sound are rather bland, and novice players will spend a lot of time blundering through their mistakes until they figure out how to play the game through trial and error. Not much fun at all.

Delivers a fun hack and slash adventure that will keep you entertained for a good while. Any one looking for a fun game to pick up for less than $50 would do well to check it out.

It allows fans of the series to play as their favourite shinobi warriors and do it in style. After extensive time with the 2-player mode, it becomes pretty obvious that the game is geared more towards button-mashers, but, if you're a big Naruto fan, this game is for you.

50 PINCH BARRAGE is simply an awesome game that shouldn't be missed.

At only eight hours, Ninja Usagimaru is a fun little diversion during the annual summer drought. It did leave me wanting more, though.

Grid Mania doesn’t really do anything new, but it plays well, has some variety to its gameplay, and provides a solid challenge. Mania might be a little hyperbolic, so let’s just say the game is Grid Fun for the whole family.

Super Daryl Deluxe is fantastic despite the minor inconveniences. The story becomes increasingly strange, the locations increasingly surreal, and the dialogue increasingly funny. I can’t say I’ve played too many games like this, and I’m very happy to have had the opportunity.

Don’t Die, Mr. Robot! is soundly made with simple enough gameplay to draw you in and provide some brief entertainment in any given run. If attempting to improve your high score with each run interests you, it may be worth a look for you. For me, while the fundamentals were there and keeps Mr. Robot from an untimely death, a lack of variety and polish keeps him from making it out unscathed.

Drawful 2 is still just as fun as the first, and more fun with the ability to create personalized prompts in games. But if you’re looking to get more bang for your buck stick to the first title, because Drawful 2 doesn’t seem to live up to changing much in the way of a sequel. It provides more of the same fun, and it’s hard to fault it for that because the base game is a wild time at parties.

Lanota is the perfect rhythm game for the Switch platform. It utilizes the touchscreen well and mixes up a genre that can get stale from game to game. Each song brought clever ways of utilizing their Tuner setup that kept things interesting as you played through the extensive list of songs. While anything beyond that was a letdown, if you’re looking for a solid game with fantastic tracks, Lanota doesn’t disappoint.

When Ski Lifts Go Wrong is one of the better bridge building games on Nintendo Switch. While I am quite disappointed that you can't share any challenges online, the content that is there is super enjoyable. The more than 30 levels are easily replayable multiple times, and it is fun to play around with the Sandbox Mode. What helps is that the controls feel built with a controller mind, instead of just trying to add in a less inferior scheme. Overall, Hugecalf Studios created a game I will gladly tinker with once in a while, which is an accomplishment in my book.

Shoot-’em-up fans need to have this game on their radar. It’s a beautiful trip through bullet hell before a date with the Devil Engine.

While the adventure held my attention for a little while, eventually the backtracking and repetition wore me down. Those looking for a demanding action-platformer with Metroidvania elements may find buried treasure here. Others are just as likely to find Sydney Hunter full of fool’s gold.

Despite an array of troublesome technical issues, PGA Tour 2K21 is still a ton of fun on Nintendo Switch. The controls and mechanics are incredible and the amount of accessibility options, features, and courses is satisfying. This might be the best swinging of the golf club I have ever experienced in a video game. While the port to Switch is bumpy, it’s workable. I know I personally am going to sink more hours into this, especially in handheld mode. I’ll lament the sedate menus and game crashes, but I’ll take the compromises for off-TV play. If you do want to look at prettier visuals with less issues on your TV, go check out PGA Tour 2K21 on another platform.

The art and sound for these two feels pixel accurate to what you’d remember from the PS2 era, so the nostalgia is in full effect. These remasters also come with all of the DLC bonus content that was added in subsequent re-releases and versions, which is nice for those wanting to dig deeper into the content but no special frills for the NIS collection itself. This is a great little package that is sure to make some classic RPG fans feel sentimental and it holds up to modern sensibilities. I will note that some of the verbiage and story beats can get a little on the graphic side (i.e., not playing to contemporary tastes), but otherwise I would recommend this collection. As it turns out, NIS’ catalog, while grindy, still holds up compared to what you’d play today.

The Battle of Polytopia offers simple and straightforward gameplay mechanics that are easy to grasp. This makes it a great choice for anyone who is new to the 4X gaming genre and looking for a relaxed introduction. While the lack of distinct personalities for the different leaders makes the game feel a bit bland–with no extra incentive to attack anyone who isn't nearby–the art and music are enjoyable, if somewhat simple. That said, for those who have already delved deeply into this type of game, it may not hold their attention for long.

Should you possess a particular affinity for Taito’s arcade past and the shooters, platformers, and fighters from their heyday, then a second Milestones collection is probably right up your alley. The online leaderboards offered by the Arcade Archives versions here add to the replay value, but it’s again a little disappointing to see a noticeable lack of bonus features, extra content, or presentation elements. The two Taito Milestones compilations are fairly barebones compared to some of the offerings from Capcom and Konami, but I can still appreciate having the opportunity to revisit–or experience for the first time–a back catalog of offerings from a historic developer.