Alana Hagues

Nintendo Life

Alana Hagues·Apr 24, 2026

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Sigono has proven once again that it understands powerful emotional storytelling with OPUS: Prism Peak, a game about self-reflection, acknowledging what's come before, and moving on. It's the most Studio Ghibli-like game I've ever played, in a way that goes beyond aesthetics.If you're not careful, it's easy to miss some crucial unlockables and some of the game's best moments; a second run-through might be quicker, but it still requires you to play at a particular pace. And the Switch 2 isn't the best way to play at the time of writing, but once it's fully developed, there are few better story and character-driven experiences on the console than this.

Nintendo Life

Alana Hagues·Apr 15, 2026

Critic70/100

Agreement0%

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is the strangest thing you'll play from Nintendo, bringing with it laughs and creativity in abundance. But even with improvements over the 3DS game, it follows a familiar structure that isn't always enthralling or hilarious.Tomodachi fans will certainly be living the dream with this new entry, but I'm not desperate to keep coming back to my island. A little more variety would've been welcome, but the customisation, and the thought of my cat being best friends with DMC's Dante, will have me peep in every so often for a little pick-me-up.

Nintendo Life

Alana Hagues·Mar 2, 2026

Critic80/100

Agreement100%

Pokémon Pokopia is the freshest Pokémon experience in a long time, bursting at the seams with charm and content that rewards both curiosity and creativity. It's an easy game to get swallowed up in, even with a few gameplay and progression issues that need ironing out.But as a first go at something different for the franchise, it's a big win. I don't know how Pokémon has stayed away from this kind of structure for so long, and I'd easily take a dozen more.

Nintendo Life

Alana Hagues·Feb 5, 2026

Critic90/100

Agreement—

Made for RPG lovers by an RPG lover, Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass uses every tool in the RPG Maker toolbox to put together a purposeful, devastating, and beautiful game that never puts the kid gloves on.Yes, it's a little simple-looking, and the difficulty can be a little frustrating early on, but this is just the surface of a rich adventure with tons of secrets and challenges to uncover. The reward may be tears, it may be laughter, or it may be a new weapon, but it's always worth it.

Nintendo Life

Alana Hagues·Jan 21, 2026

Critic90/100

Agreement—

Even in its attempts to swing big and do something different, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade respects where it's come from. The classic's pro-revolutionary heart is still intact, and it's never afraid to get a little weird and funny. The Switch 2 version makes impressively few compromises to get this gorgeous-looking game running on the system – even at 30fps, this looks and feels fantastic.The fact that everything from the PS5 release is preserved in such excellent fashion here is remarkable, and it makes me excited (and anxious) about Rebirth's incoming port.

Nintendo Life

Alana Hagues·Nov 14, 2025

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Videoverse is a perfect time capsule of early online communities, never shying away from difficult topics and always approaching them with a smile. Its nostalgic wrapping works wonders for Millennials who grew up with a mouse or console in hand and who have made friends online.While I wish there were a few more chats with other characters, and the Switch may not be the best place to experience it due to input frustrations, Videoverse is a tonic for the soul that the online world needs now more than ever.

Nintendo Life

Alana Hagues·Sep 25, 2025

Critic90/100

Agreement—

Supergiant Games is five-for-five with Hades II, a huge, triumphant sequel that manages to diverge mechanically and offer more challenges and variety than its predecessor. It helps that it's nearly faultless on Switch 2 in particular.Sometimes there's a bit too much going on, and in shooting for a bigger, more tragic story, I think it's lost a bit of heart. But, quite frankly, I don't want time to stop because if it does, I won't be able to play Hades II anymore.

Nintendo Life

Alana Hagues·Sep 15, 2025

Critic100/100

Agreement—

Hollow Knight: Silksong's beauty is beguiling, hiding an interior that's deliberately harsh but endlessly rewarding. Everything feels deliberate, pushing you to learn, improve, and perfect, or simply just explore a little more. And what a world it is to dig into.Somehow, Team Cherry has surpassed my expectations tenfold and delivered a mesmeric blend of balletic combat and movement with persistence, joy, and an incredibly invigorating map at the centre. I've never felt better surmounting the challenges put in front of me, and I'm already raring to do it a second time.

Nintendo Life

Alana Hagues·Jun 28, 2025

Critic60/100

Agreement—

Locomoto is clearly a game that puts the 'vibes' first. For a slice of its runtime, it was perfectly pleasant, but by the end, I was running on fumes. Yet, if it's a sedate and steady adventure with solid characters and a cosy atmosphere you're after, you'll love this. Just don't expect a lot of variety.

Nintendo Life

Alana Hagues·Jun 5, 2025

Critic90/100

Agreement—

Right now, Mario Kart World doesn't quite feel like the reinvention of Mario Kart people wanted or expected, but there are few games that bring me as much laughter and joy as this. World refines and expands the formula in meaningful ways while upping the charm in many others.There's still many an open-world surface to scratch, and I need to test my patience with some of those straighter or more familiar courses in Grand Prix, but if you need a pick-me-up, Mario Kart World is sure to bring a smile, and it feels like the perfect start to the Switch 2's life.

Nintendo Life

Alana Hagues·May 9, 2025

Critic90/100

Agreement—

1000xResist is developer Sunset Visitor wearing its experiences on its sleeve, debuting a beautiful, heartfelt game with one of the best-written stories we've ever experienced. Switch port and minor gameplay issues aside, this stands as one of the most memorable games we've ever played. Confident in its convictions and empathetic with its words, 1000xResist is an important piece of art and a testament to the creativity of indie developers.

Nintendo Life

Alana Hagues·Apr 14, 2025

Critic70/100

Agreement—

The Lunar Remastered Collection respects the enhanced PS1 versions while also making a few tweaks to modernise parts of each game. While not all changes are entirely successful, and there are other aspects that haven't aged particularly well, we can't deny that Silver Star Story and Eternal Blue are bursting with charm and wit that many RPGs today lack. They might not revolutionise the genre, but if you're looking for a good time and have a little patience, you can do far, far worse.

Nintendo Life

Alana Hagues·Mar 5, 2025

Critic80/100

Agreement—

While not as feature-rich as some collections, Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars proves that these RPGs have largely stood the test of time. While the issues with this remaster don't take away too much from the original games' brilliance, we think these classics deserve the very best. Boasting ambition, narrative stakes, and heart that few other RPGs of the time can muster, Suikoden burns bright in its origins, and we hope Konami sees just how important this series is to many and makes a handful of tweaks.

Nintendo Life

Alana Hagues·Dec 4, 2024

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Fantasian Neo Dimension is Hironobu Sakaguchi and Mistwalker at their boldest and bravest, culminating in a JRPG love letter that both delights and frustrates. The stunning world and exploration are a true highlight, and the challenging and rewarding combat will enchant some, but it lacks some of the magic that the game is aiming for and the pacing is uneven. Normal difficulty makes things more accessible for the curious, but make no mistake, this is an RPG for those who want to lose themselves in the mechanics.

Nintendo Life

Alana Hagues·Nov 4, 2024

Critic90/100

Agreement—

That doesn’t change the fact that if you own Vampire Survivors, Ode to Castlevania is utterly essential. It’s easily the best DLC for the game, which acts as an incredible tribute to one of our favourite franchises while retaining and expanding on Vampire Survivors' endlessly addictive loop. The pile of secrets waiting for you is anything but miserable, and we guarantee you'll be gobsmacked.