Digimon Survive is one of the best visual novels to come out so far this year, with plenty of heart and tension to carry you through to the final act. Fans looking for an engaging story with well-written and presented characters that deal with life-and-death situations will enjoy the ride, while players focused on the combat will probably find that the game comes up short. Despite its sluggish, padded start, Digimon Survive is well worth the long wait.
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.
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime caught us by surprise; we were expecting a great multiplayer party experience but ended up with something much more than that. If you have a great bunch of friends and the necessary controllers, be sure to gather everyone round for some challenging but hilarious teamwork. If you don't, or if you prefer playing alone, load the game up anyway and enjoy an intense, strategically-minded campaign with a warm and welcoming exterior. Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime deserves to be played and should most definitely be on your eShop wishlist – we're in love, for sure.
At its best, Tower of Babel has some great auto-running action that will have you flying around the screen at breakneck pace, firing yourself to the top of the speed-running leaderboards. Unfortunately, though, the whole thing is let down by some game-breaking issues and a rather lacklustre aesthetic that maybe answers the question of why there has been so little mention of the game prior to release. A frustrating case of a game that could have been excellent but shoots itself in the foot with its many problems, Tower of Babel is best left for another day.
An interesting concept that has been executed very successfully makes INVERSUS Deluxe a solid purchase option for Nintendo Switch owners. The adaptable arenas create fun, action packed matches and it can be difficult to put down at times. A surprisingly challenging difficulty level in the game's Arcade mode could possibly put off some players but will likely attract more, feeding their need to fight for the highest score possible. Enjoyed best with friends, but thankfully also a worthy experience to play through alone, INVERSUS Deluxe could well be your next go-to party game.
Overall, then, Binaries is a decent puzzler that is definitely worth the time of players who can't resist having a ‘100%' icon plastered over their save file and enjoy speed-running through dangerous levels. It doesn't tend to innovate past its main theme, though – instead relying on more obstacles, spikes and guns to make things trickier. If you're desperate for a puzzle game that will have you trying to complete levels over and over again (before feeling a huge amount of satisfaction when you finally complete one you've been stuck on), then this may well be for you.
To answer our initial question, then: yes, BUTCHER is a great game to play if you have that DOOM itch, as well as being a great game in its own right. It feels fantastic to play; your movement and shooting feel wonderfully responsive and every trigger press is immensely satisfying. It could have been better with more content, and Handheld mode doesn't feel quite as impressive as TV mode, but for the price you can't really go wrong with what is an enjoyable game that does ultimately do a lot of things right. Maybe one for those who like their games on the more challenging side – give it a chance if you're brave enough!
If it's not already obvious by now, Conga Master Party! is best enjoyed as a multiplayer title. Sure, you can still enjoy the single player, but if you have no one else to play the other part of the game with then - be warned - you're missing out on half the fun. It's a great party title that can be bust out when friends or family are nearby, and you're perhaps seeking some simplistic but cheeky fun that will have you all in hysterics. For the multiplayer alone it's worth your consideration. So set a date and get ready to conga the night away.
All told, Golf Story is a surprisingly gripping game, hooking you with fantastic gameplay, loads of content, and a well-written script. This is one that'll have you coming back for many hours in the story mode alone, and the multiplayer does a good job of expanding on this with even more replayability. We would highly recommend Golf Story to anyone looking for something a little different. There's a whole lot to love here, and if you're a fan of RPGs or golf games, this is a must buy.
As a first attempt at releasing FIFA on Switch, EA has nailed the look and feel and given us a brilliant console and (more notably) handheld game. For that reason alone, Nintendo fans – especially those who haven't owned a good football game in a while – should consider this a must-buy. This won't be enough next year, though: a few little additions aside this is essentially a Legacy Edition port, and while EA Bucharest gets the benefit of the doubt this time as its relatively new to Switch development, if the inevitable FIFA 19 doesn't have full mode parity with the other main versions of the game then no amount of spin will justify it.
PAN-PAN is a lovely little game to get sucked into - oozing with charm and a handful of quirky characters to meet along the way. There's admittedly little replay value other than to re-explore the lush planet and solve the puzzles in a quicker, smoother manner, and while the environmental puzzles might range from frustratingly obtuse to organically wonderful, the planet rewards your time and exploration. Once the credits roll and after everything you've achieved, it will be almost impossible not to reflect positively on your short but sweet journey.
Not much has changed since its Wii U and 3DS days, but Unlimited World Red is still a swashbuckling good time for anime action aficionados. The handful of extra quests and costumes included in this ‘Deluxe Edition' probably won't be enough to tempt anyone into double (or triple) dipping, but excellent visuals and drop-in co-op with single Joy Con controls make the Switch version a great place to jump in. It's a shame that there isn't more of an effort to introduce Oda's incredible world to players unfamiliar with the manga source material, but if you're already a Straw Hat supporter this is an easy recommendation.
To the uninitiated, it may kill an adequate amount of time due to its familiarity and the Nintendo Switch's local multiplayer-focused hardware, but any redemption 2048 has over its predecessor in terms of actual fun is eradicated due to the general production values and quality of its presentation. While the derivative tile puzzle gameplay is solid if unspectacular, dragging and dropping all of the avatars, skins and menus across from SPEED gives a good idea of the quality on offer in presentation. The merits of the Switch hardware with this format also can't rectify the lack of modes, slapdash interface or general lack of imagination on display - a disappointing title all around.
Despite the requirement to have an Internet connection to experience 4 of the 5 games, The Jackbox Party Pack 2 is just as strong as its prequel. The same zany presentation and innovative use of smart devices, it's another ideal party starter. Which set you choose (if you only choose one) will likely come down to whether you prefer trivia, improvisation or cooperative-based games, but overall this second pack is a solid set that will provide a lot of laughs and collective fun.
Point-and-click beginners may struggle with the myriad puzzles Thimbleweed Park lays across its curiosity-piquing plot, but its developers have rightfully made it possible to get ahead even when all you see are dead ends, with the inclusion of the tips line.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 was a massive game on other platforms and is even bigger on the Switch. The visual downgrades were expected, but the removal of the gray filter present on other platforms actually makes the Switch version look better overall, in this scribe's opinion at least. The brilliantly rendered cutscenes, deep character customisation and fine-tuned fighting mechanics make for a title that is easy to pick up but hard to put down. This is another case of a game that makes one wonder just how much developers can do with Nintendo's diminutive console. Fans of fighting games and Dragon Ball alike should look forward to picking this one up.
