Mitch Vogel

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Sep 22, 2020

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Though there are plenty of other well-made SRPGs on the Switch today, Othercide does more than enough to differentiate itself from the pack and carve out for itself a unique identity. The striking art style, endlessly punishing gameplay and esoteric storytelling ensure that this one will likely only appeal to longtime fans of the genre, but it's more than worth the effort. Despite the difficulty, Othercide is quite a rewarding experience, and this coupled with its well-built gameplay systems makes for a game that we can confidently state is worth your time. Don't let its frequent struggles in the performance department or its intimidating challenge dissuade you; Othercide deserves a spot in your Switch library.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Sep 13, 2020

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Spellbreak is up against some pretty tough competition in the ongoing battle for your time and attention, but it's an enjoyable romp that ultimately holds its own. The magic-based combat system proves to feel distinct and interesting next to other genre peers, and you'll find likely yourself eagerly playing matches long into the night once you get a handle on things. That being said, there's an undeniably strong sense of 'vanilla' to Spellbreak that threatens to kill it in its cradle, and that's not even considering the performance problems. Either way, it only costs you some space on your SD card to see what this one's all about, so there's really not much excuse to pass on it. We'd encourage you to give it a download and try it out; this isn't the game to convert you if you don't like battle royales, but it's a respectable example of the genre in action.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Sep 9, 2020

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Bright, technicolour visuals, punishing difficulty, excellent level design and tight controls are all hallmarks of this deliciously enjoyable sugar rush. Spinch is a short but sweet experience and one that certainly proves itself to be worthy of both your time and money. Although it's regrettably marred by early launch performance issues, Spinch is an otherwise wonderful platformer that we'd highly recommend to anybody who just can't get enough of the genre.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Sep 5, 2020

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Whether or not Moon is for you ultimately depends upon your tolerance level for aspects of late '90s game design and your overall interest in the RPG genre. As a standalone product, Moon has plenty of amusing commentary about RPGs, but much of this is likely to be lost on those who don't much care for them.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Sep 1, 2020

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Windbound is most certainly not the Zelda-lite adventure that you may have expected it to be, but it still manages to pull off an impressively well-made survival experience that's fun to roam around in for a few hours. The open-ended progression, pleasing art style, and relaxing pace make this one an easy recommendation for fans of the survival genre, though it's held back from greatness due to issues with repetition. Still, it's tough to go wrong with what's on offer here; you might want to give this one a look.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Aug 26, 2020

Critic60/100

Agreement—

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition is the kind of game that will unfortunately only appeal to a relatively limited demographic.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Aug 25, 2020

Critic60/100

Agreement—

No Straight Roads isn't a bad game at all, but it's one that consistently falls short of the tremendous potential that it often hints at. The world, characters, music, and overall idea of its gameplay are ripe for a groundbreaking beat 'em up game, but this, unfortunately, is just a so-so one. Performance problems, camera issues, and repetitive gameplay are all factors that hold this one back from greatness, but these issues are often balanced out by the spectacular boss fights, excellent soundtrack, and charming writing. We'd recommend this one to beat 'em up fans looking for an interesting new entry in the genre, but with the big caveat that you consider this release's flaws before taking the plunge. It's certainly a worthwhile experience, but one that will likely disappoint if you come into it with the wrong expectations.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Aug 22, 2020

Critic70/100

Agreement—

It may feel like it's a few years too late, but Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time is a worthwhile experience that properly celebrates a beloved IP while being a darned good action game in its own right. A striking art style, well-executed combat mechanics, and a challenging level of difficulty make this one an easy recommendation, but with the caveat that it's a little light on original ideas and that performance can often dip to sub-par levels. It may not be perfect, but Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time acts as a great companion piece to the legendary cartoon; don't dismiss this as just another tie-in.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Aug 8, 2020

Critic60/100

Agreement—

Should you buy Megadimension Neptunia VII? Well, that depends on a few major factors. Can you stomach shamelessly pervy leerings at the bodies of the many females featured in the story? Are you okay with playing a poorly-optimized game that's not very graphically impressive to begin with? If yes, then you just may be surprised at the quality of the gameplay that lies at the heart of this RPG. Despite its shortcomings, Megadimension Neptunia VII can be a fun game to play, and though there are plenty of better RPG's to pick up on the eShop today, it's impossible to deny the niche value being offered here. We'd lightly recommend this one, but with the important caveat that this is the kind of game that's ideal fodder for buying on a big sale in the future.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Aug 3, 2020

Critic60/100

Agreement—

At the end of the day, Fairy Tail is not a great RPG. Shortcomings in storytelling, pacing, difficulty, and performance all add up to make for a less than stellar experience which consistently seems to waste its potential. The well-made combat system and the adherence to the tone and content of the source material give occasional glimpses of the much greater RPG that Fairy Tail could be, but alas, it's never really given the chance to spread its wings. We wouldn't recommend you pick this one up, especially given the wealth of excellent RPGs available on the eShop right now, but we say that with the caveat that fans of the franchise will get a lot more out of this game than newcomers. If you happen to be a fan, Fairy Tail might be worth the punt if it's on sale someday, but otherwise, we'd encourage you to look into other games.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Jul 28, 2020

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Ageless is the sort of game that could best be described as a great concept that almost nails the execution. The sombre narrative, cerebral gameplay, and distinct presentation are all great in their own regard, but each is plagued with enough inconsistencies and caveats to hold back the overall experience from true greatness.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Jul 16, 2020

Critic80/100

Agreement—

At its heart, CrossCode is the sort of game that basically speaks for itself. Do you like '90s-era JRPGs? Do you like classic Zelda games? Do you like MMOs? If you answered yes to any combination of those questions, then it stands to reason that you'll probably really enjoy CrossCode, too. Radical Fish has conjured up an impressive blend of RPG mechanics, engaging combat, and open world exploration here. It may not always run smoothly, but CrossCode is a well-crafted and enjoyable release that you certainly won't want to miss out on.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Jul 9, 2020

Critic80/100

Agreement—

If you’re looking for something to fill that post-Animal Crossing hole in your life, or are just simply a fan of the farm sim genre in general, don’t miss out on this one.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Jun 22, 2020

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Considering the long-reaching cultural impact that the SpongeBob cartoon has had on modern pop culture, it’s nice to see that the franchise got at least one solid video game that properly represents the unique draw of SpongeBob and his friends.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Jun 16, 2020

Critic30/100

Agreement—

We won’t mince words here, Summer in Mara has absolutely nothing to offer that hasn’t been done much better in other games that are easily available right now. If you want a cozy farm sim with a pleasant atmosphere, get Stardew Valley or Rune Factory 4. If you want a thrilling adventure you can take at your own pace, get Minecraft or The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Even if you’ve played those and are looking for something new, please don’t waste your time or money here. This is not a 'hidden gem'; the alluring presentation of Summer in Mara only acts as a pretty mask for a much uglier game beneath the surface – one that’s keen on wasting your time with no meaningful payoff.