Pure Nintendo's Scores

  • Games
For 2,170 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 48% higher than the average critic
  • 21% same as the average critic
  • 31% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 4.1 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 71
Score distribution:
2170 game reviews
    • 74 Metascore
    • 55 Critic Score
    For some, it’s a favorite, while others have it middle of the road. For me (and some of my colleagues), BIT.TRIP VOID is near the bottom of the pack. It doesn’t impress me much in 2020. But with six original games, not every series title will make the same impact, nor have the same staying power.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    APICO might start off slow, but it becomes intriguing pretty quickly. It’s a chilled experience that allows you to complete the game at your own pace. The crafting and building features are easy to pick up on and enjoy, allowing you to design the island to your liking. But what makes APICO stand out is the beekeeping aspect, breeding different bees to get desired traits and ultimately discovering new bees. The game sneaks a bit of science in the fun, and I’m all for it.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is a well-made, quality game that’ll prove mostly entertaining for fans well-versed in the series. But it reflects plenty of choices here that are tough to wrap one’s head around, especially when other Shantae games surpass this one in both pace and polish. The restrictive 4-player mode disappointingly fails to live up to the hype. And the inexplicable lack of a map (or any typical hint system) makes this game feel antiquated next to its other entries. Thus, what should be a great game is just a good one. Wait for a sale, and make this Shantae your Half-Price Hero.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Battle for Neighborville: Complete Edition is a fun, colorful, silly game with a good amount of content to keep the player busy. While the game is older, this updated version is the obvious choice for fans of the series and newcomers alike.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Ultra Kaiju Monster Rancher surprised me by its addictive nature. Who knew raising Kaiju could be so engaging? This simulation title makes giant creatures loveable companions, with plenty to keep you busy. I enjoyed this guilty pleasure.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Potion Permit is a unique cozy game with adorable pixel graphics that will keep you busy for hours. The difficulty is relatively easy, but the gameplay is still fun and engaging.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Hypercharge: Unboxed is a fun and unique addition to the small library of shooters already on the Nintendo Switch. Digital Cybercherries’ debut title on the platform offers fun and addictive wave-based shooter gameplay for all ages. With the game’s cute art style and smooth performance, it is hard to go wrong with picking up a content-filled game like this.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The Alliance Alive is a slightly above-average game that’s dwarfed by the myriad JRPGs already available for and coming to the Switch. It can serve as a decent filler between them, but there’s nothing in this HD remaster to make it a better option than its original 3DS release. Save yourself some cash and go that route if you can…just be sure to rotate those save files.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Afterparty is a hilarious bar hop through Hell. I had a blast meeting all the demons and people roaming the streets and crashing Satan’s house party. I highly recommend this game for anyone who is looking for a humorous take on life and death. Night Club Studio knocks another one out the park.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is likely to overwhelm even the most experienced of SRPG aficionados at the start, but that’s by design. Its depth and uniqueness will delight those choosing to stick with it, while others can just lower the difficulty to push through this colorful and charming adventure.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Yes, Your Grace is a short but absorbing game that strikes a sweet balance between the concerns of a kingdom and a family.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Is Just Dance 2020 “the ultimate dance game”? Probably not; while an improvement over last year, there are better entries in the series. But it still offers fun exercise and enjoyable family entertainment. Just be sure to be subscribed to Just Dance Unlimited as that’s what will keep you dancing beyond the first month. Happy anniversary, Just Dance.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Overpriced DLC and the odd omission aside, the fact is that the five games in this collection are stone-cold classics, and they’ve never played better. Those without nostalgia may understandably wait for a sale and a further bit of polish. But Sonic Origins will be a great trip down memory lane if you were a Genesis supporter back in the day of the 16-bit schoolyard debates. They are infinitely replayable.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    I usually like puzzle games more than high-action games, but this one left me a bit flat. If you want to add an official GoT item to your game collection, this one is only $3.99; so no huge investment and you can while away some time as you wonder, “What if I sat on the throne?”
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Professor Lupo and His Horrible Game has a lot of creativity and humour, but it is let down by its clunky controls.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Lost Orbit: Terminal Velocity is pretty to look at and easy to pick up. It gives you everything you need to challenge yourself and a story that is genuinely moving.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    If you’re considering Railway Empire because you love the sound of a train in the distance, you’re not likely to enjoy the game. This is a management seem that digs deeply into the technology, the business strategy, and the economic acumen required to tame America’s landscape and reach the pinnacle of what this nation’s all about: corporate power.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    While Asteroids is iconic entertainment, this installment (like the Recharged series in general) is too conservative to vouch for at launch price. When I can say versions of these games from 40 years ago are just as fun, if not more, there is a problem. This series is running out of steam and needs a change in approach to revive interest.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Flutter Away is a very peaceful and relaxing collection game in which you explore the rainforest, capture new butterfly species on camera, and befriend capybaras. Though it is a very simple and quick playthrough, Flutter Away provides a warm and fun environment to explore while it lasts.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is a ridiculous little game with a twisted sense of humour, uncomplicated gameplay and a surprisingly absorbing plot.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Simple yet effective, Overwhelm takes the concepts at the very core of the horror genre and presents them in the form of a nostalgic and addictive game.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Create over 300,000 hybrid animals, make moral choices, and run and design your own zoo all in one game. A best-of-best-worlds mix of creativity and business management, Let’s Build a Zoo provides a lot to do, a ton of people to meet, and a crazy number of animals to adopt/splice.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Silent Hope is a simple action RPG that provides plenty of fun even if it doesn’t pose a substantial challenge. Paying all playable characters equal attention will lead to redundancy, but shifting your focus to just a few will help the quick combat and hero customization to carry you through.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    In lesser hands, Harvestella’s balance of JRPG and farming sim could’ve ended up as a bland mishmash. Instead, Live Wire and Square Enix have created a solid blend. Its effective gameplay loop and engaging story push you down surprising paths that are fun to travel.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a heartwarming adventure game told in a children’s storybook style. Follow Yuu on her quest to become a great hero, just like her father. Whether she’s helping the monsters in her kingdom, doing good deeds for those around her, or fighting enemies to keep her kingdom safe, her tale is always charming and fun.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    With its methodical, unforgiving gameplay, Aragami: Shadow Edition is not for everyone. However, it doesn’t try to be. It’s aimed squarely at the Tenchu crowd, with whom it should be a hit. If you’re a younger gamer who’s never tried a true stealth game, Aragami is a great place to start.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    There are only small segments of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition that feel like a Lara Croft adventure, but the game is still quite fun once you accept this reboot of the iconic character. It’s definitely a trip worth taking, even if the Switch 2 version doesn’t offer everything it could have.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    If you are new to this series or simulation strategy games in general, expect to spend a couple of hours just in the tutorials of Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV: Diplomacy and Strategy Expansion Pack. The gameplay is complex, but not overly convoluted. As you gain experience and get familiar with the available options and the general flow, it becomes a satisfying adventure.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Indigo 7 Quest for Love is ok. The story is fun and charming and the puzzle mechanics work well in solo mode. Throw in a CPU and there’s suddenly an unbalanced difficulty level that’s just too frustrating. The addition of local multiplayer could still entice some players.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian is a series callback not just with its familiar characters, but in the simplified exploration, synthesis, and turn-based combat, too. Fans of older Atelier games may welcome the change, but it may have simplified too much for those seeking a challenge worthy of its price tag.

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