Seven Pirates H might just be the weakest of the localized Genkai Tokki titles. Part of this could be the transition from Compile Heart to Felistella. It also could be due to a shift from 2D to full 3D. The lower monster girl count, decreased difficulty, and general direction mean Seven Pirates H is a much shorter and simpler game than its predecessors. People who want it for the fanservice and envelope-pushing content will find exactly what they are looking for, but it is a stripped-down experience compared to past titles.

It really is heartbreaking to see that My Time at Sandrock on the Switch is My Time at Portia all over again. There’s potential here. The setting and worldbuilding is fantastic, and it’s a large game with plenty to do. But this version just doesn’t feel ready yet. Perhaps in a few months or a year, it will be in a good place. For now, it’s better to wait before making the move.

While the open ended gameplay is a good concept, it falls flat because players often end up lost or on an incorrect path. Romancing Saga almost focuses entirely on being open ended and it neglects all the other RPG mechanics like a solid story.

Endless Ocean Luminous lacks heart. It’s a shallow take on a franchise with a lot of potential to be special, especially on a handheld console like the Nintendo Switch. If you’re looking for a chill way to pass the time or if you have a child who is interested in learning about marine life, I’d recommend trying it out. But you may be disappointed if you’re looking for anything more than that.

Survival Kids feels really generic on the Switch 2, and it features none of the personality of the Lost in Blue series. I think I might have enjoyed it more had it not been burdened by that pedigree. Had Konami and Unity released this as, say, “Treasure Kids: Search for Harmony Stones,” I think I’d maybe appreciated it more. I’d go in understanding it is a new IP made for kids who like the idea of survival games or puzzle adventures, but might not be ready for titles with greater challenges and in-game consequences. But here, we go in expecting a certain type of storytelling and adventure, then wind up with a repetitious, uncomplicated routine.

Haven is a game that tries and sometimes succeeds. Its gameplay loop allows for ease of access when picking up and putting the game down. However, it doesn’t break any kind of mold or improve on any story that hasn’t already been told. While the narrative may resonate with some, others may bounce off of it hard. The artstyle will please those who have an eye for cel-shaded character models and environments, and the combat will be satisfying for those interested in something a little more interactive. If you’re looking for something to fill the space between upcoming releases, Haven might just be what you’re looking for.

Varlet suffers from a lack of originality and meaningful activities, and the JRPG relies too heavily on concepts from Persona 4. It’s so bland and hollow compared to other Furyu games, with even The Caligula Effect titles doing a better job of telling a story, offering engaging gameplay, and showing off original characters and concepts. The battles are boring and involve repeated types of enemies. Most characters feel like folks we’ve seen before. There’s no real sense of exploration, as the SSS activities are basic, and I didn’t feel like I connected to anyone in its version of “social links.” Even if you enjoy Furyu JRPG releases, this might be one you may want to skip in favor of replaying one of The Caligula Effect games again instead.

Somehow, Root Film has two competing problems that turn the whole game into a narrative mess. It’s incapable of telling a compelling mystery, always bogging the player down in needless exploration and conversations to get a single character’s full dialogue. Which leaves it feeling like it deliberately wants to extend its length by wasting the player’s time.

I personally think that every single gameplay choice they made went in the opposite direction of what I’d consider fun to play. But, they wanted to make a live-service game, and they made one. This is of course the prerogative of Rocksteady Games and Warner Bros to do so. To bookend my analogy from the beginning, plenty of people enjoy saltine crackers and cheese! However, It’s just disappointing to see a studio known for innovating the super hero genre make such a bland and uninteresting game.

Earth Defense Force 6 is a joke that outstays its welcome. The writing definitely has its moments of brilliance, but it tries so hard to be “so bad it’s good” that it just ends up bad.

I didn’t dislike my time with His, the Smile & bloom. I had no strong feelings towards it whatsoever. I didn’t feel emotional, or care about the characters, but I wasn’t bored either. Playing this game is like eating a chocolate bar – not your favorite chocolate – but one you wouldn’t say no to if offered by a friend. You enjoy it while it lasts, but you’re not sad it’s over, and you won’t be thinking about it for the rest of the day.

Dragon Takers is an RPG that is aggressively okay. The story is serviceable, but offers no surprises or interesting twists.

Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge is a letdown, as it doesn’t feel compelling or rewarding to collect frogs, acquire money, or build up the frog sanctuary. I got more out of games like Usagi Shiima, even though it featured no quests and less “gameplay” to it. The thing is, it’s easy to see how it could have been better. More unique frogs, eliminating the tedious minigames, and making specific pieces of furniture feel more important could have all fixed it. As is, it feels like a boring job instead of a relaxing game about cute frogs.

Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World’s greatest sin is that it is simply adequate. There’s nothing earth-shattering about this remake. It looks fine, but isn’t nearly as striking as Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap. It plays okay, but there are times when you feel the frustrations and limitations of Asha’s moveset. It is okay and people who loved the original will probably appreciate it being freshened up. But as far as remakes go, it’s nothing special.

Keylocker was a frustrating experience. There’s some solid writing and a world that I’d love to explore further. Sadly, it’s buried under an unintuitive combat system and poor plotting for it to realize its full potential.

The thing is, I can think of ways Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy could be fixed. Give everyone immediate access to all characters, and make the Character Tickets unlock the additional costumes. Fine, have the Abilities on the gacha banner, but perhaps offer an option to outright buy the four unique skills for each character in the shop. Instead of making the story feel so reliant on going through multiplayer battles, instead tie them to the Challenge mode so we don’t need to wait around for a full party or invest in a competitive mode we might not enjoy. Focus on making it enjoyable and not so reliant on other people and RNG to succeed. Of course, the amount of retooling means we’ll probably see the title fail, rather than get adjusted and relaunched as something that feels far less greedy. But hey, at least we got some great music and fantastic character designs!

Record of Agarest War is a generic take on a generational RPG. The experience feels dated even for 2007. While combat can be fun, the game is a slow burn, and it is difficult to ignore its more questionable content. Considering the price mark for a game that is sixteen years old, and the overwhelming length of the game, I would only recommend it to someone interested in a crunchy, slow combat system, looking for quantity over quality. Considering that the game received a prequel and two sequels, it surely has enough public.

In this interactive fiction game, you will revisit the 90s and play an elementary schoolboy who lacks the courage to give a card to his favorite classmate. In the endless loop of the last day of 1999, you find out the secrets of your classmates, your friends, your family, and help everyone to have their “perfect day.” Nintendo Switch version reviewed.

On a PC, I imagine Eiyuden Chronicle might generally be fine, but on the Switch it is a mess.

A gimmick game without the gimmick. Without that, it’s a weak dungeon-crawler in today’s landscape.

I think the problem is that Best Friend Forever is trying to do several things at once and isn’t really doing any of them well. It wants to be a pet simulation with a narrative element and dating, but the story of your adjusting to life in Rainbow Bay feels like an afterthought and the love interests could have used a little more, well, love. The simulation elements are interesting, and I liked that you had these dog events while going through the story, but you better be playing in Handheld mode on the Switch because it can be really awkward otherwise. Also, it frankly needs at least one patch to be ready for prime time. I loved the concept, but it’s rough around the edges.

After spending time with Bakugan: Champions of Vestroia, I can see where WayForward tried. It attempted to create a world for players to inhabit, one alive with both Bakugan brawls and more common activities. It tries to offer customization options, both for our avatar and the characters in the party. It even attempts a competitive scene with online matches. I’d imagine fans of the anime adaptation or toys in general might be really pleased with this direction, especially if they’re on the younger side. Like Pokemon, but Bakugan could be a thing fans would eat up. But it isn’t for people who are older or aren’t involved in the scene.

Sugardew Island is an almost entirely forgettable farming sim. The dated visuals, lack of responsiveness, and awkward gameplay makes it hard to recommend. That said, there is still something special in the shop management system, which is a (brief) joy to use. It’s a shame the rest of Sugardew Island fails to match the shop’s level of enjoyment.

I think Drag x Drive is interesting, and this wheelchair basketball game really highlights Joy-Con 2 mouse controller capabilities. It can be fun if you get a group of people who are invested together. Unfortunately, I don’t think it offers enough of an incentive to get invested. Maybe if Nintendo included some sort of campaign, more customization options, or some sort of league features, I’d feel differently.

There are times when Sports Story can be fun. The script can be quite humorous. The sprite work is fantastic. The concept is generally sound. Golf Story, only more seems like a winning prospect. It’s that being overambitious undid any goodwill here. I wouldn’t be surprised too if there’s an element of it all being rushed, with the proper amount of time not being dedicated to eliminate issues and more cohesively tie everything together. With patches, there could be something here! While it wouldn’t hit the heights of Golf Story, I think Sports Story could still eventually be an enjoyable game. It will just take two or more months for that to happen.

Garden of the Sea attempts to be a laid-back life simulator as you roam around a deserted island. But, the absence of structured tasks or rewarding objectives may lessen its appeal over time. This is further not helped by gameplay bugs, which make some of these tasks more bothersome than they should be. Ultimately, I don’t know why you would choose to play this title in its current state over hard hitters in the genre, like Stardew Valley.

Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian feels like a more simple entry, and it sadly looks bad on the Switch.

I appreciated what Johan Vinet accomplished with Castaway, as it really does capture the same vibes as a GBC Legend of Zelda game would, but just wish there was more to it. The adventure mode feels like it cuts off way too quickly, with no resolution. The Tower is entertaining, but focuses on the weakest part of the experience and strips away the light puzzle solving and boss fights. It feels like Castaway is a teaser for something bigger. What’s here is fun, but strangely unfulfilling.