Nintendo Life

Nintendo Life

Nathanial Eker·Nov 28, 2024

Critic70/100

Agreement—

There isn’t a huge amount to dislike about Debris Infinity. Being limited to three similar modes may mean that it has the potential to become stale, but we found the variety in gameplay elements pushed us to beat our own scores and strive to progress further, with repeat playthroughs.

Nintendo Life

Nathanial Eker·Nov 28, 2024

Critic50/100

Agreement—

In review, Utopia 9 offers a volatile experience, indeed. The roguelike elements are fun, and on a good run can lead to some decent action, but with a weak aesthetic and somewhat slow combat, this won’t be for everyone. Good for multiplayer co-op, though.

Nintendo Life

Nathanial Eker·Nov 28, 2024

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Overall, as a port to the Switch, the Raven Remastered is a great introduction to the mystery adventure genre. Minor graphical quirks and nasty-looking faces aside, this is a well-developed story with well-integrated gameplay.

Nintendo Life

Echo Apsey·Nov 26, 2024

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Combat and progression are the best parts of Nine Sols, and they manage to rub away the blemishes occasionally found in the game's map design and exploration. It's a really great blend of systems from other games with a fantastic revenge narrative. While aspects of the world design and 'Taopunk' style feel mismatched, there is always another enemy around the corner to fight, reminding you just how good the core gameplay is.

Nintendo Life

Ethan Zack·Nov 26, 2024

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Divine Dynamo Flamefrit's Pinnochio-esque journey from a throwaway internet joke to a full-fledged real game is commendable in itself. However, the fact that it's as enjoyable as it is may be an even sweeter victory. It doesn't reinvent the wheel in any respect, and its limited action-adventure game mechanics are just about as basic as they come, but the moment-to-moment gameplay is more than satisfying and flashy enough to make up for it. Couple that with a keen sense of humour and a flurry of nostalgic aesthetic callbacks to classic anime and old-school RPGs, and you have quite the gem of a title. Just try to savour those fleeting few hours of runtime as much as you can.

Nintendo Life

Kate Gray·Nov 25, 2024

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Loco Motive combines wit, charm, smarts, and its own brand of pixel art perfection to provide a point-and-click murder mystery that's well worthy of its predecessors. The game's state at launch is a little too marred by bugs for an unqualified recommendation on Switch, but give it time and we think it'll be right back on track.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Nov 21, 2024

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Though it isn't much of an upgrade over its predecessor, Dungeons of Dreadrock 2 offers an enjoyable and simple puzzle gaming experience which cleverly links with the first game's story and feels well worthwhile. Satisfying gameplay variety and well-drawn, 32-bit-style graphics are the strong points here, though its relative simplicity and occasionally frustrating puzzle solutions are minor drawbacks. There's lots to love here, though, especially if you're a fan of the first game, and it feels like it fills a niche in the Switch library that few other puzzle games occupy.

Nintendo Life

Nathan Ellingsworth·Nov 20, 2024

Critic70/100

Agreement—

8-Bit Adventures 2 is an exquisitely crafted RPG epic that any fan of classic (and we mean classic) RPGs will appreciate for its adherence to the conventions of games of the era. With gorgeous pixel art, a satisfying battle style with as much challenge as variety, and a story that both honours and subverts RPG tropes, there's so much to love. However, it doesn't always respect your time and the lack of some modern conveniences - auto-battle, an auto-scroll for dialogue, any real way to point you towards your goal or remind you of the story so far - could make this a journey that many get lost on before reaching the end.

Nintendo Life

Oliver Reynolds·Nov 18, 2024

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Although Carpathian Night is certainly basic in some respects – for instance, the breakable candles contain small restorative hearts, and that’s it, while a few enemy designs look a bit lacklustre – it really nails the classic Castlevania feel with its gameplay, and we were impressed with the length of the stages themselves. Granted, skilled players could get through the game in as little as an hour or two, but the variety along with the surprising level of depth from the unlockable abilities makes this an experience begging to be replayed. Heck, we'd start over just to listen to the excellent music.

Nintendo Life

Roland Ingram·Nov 18, 2024

Critic50/100

Agreement—

Little Big Adventure was always a charming and eccentric game. In modernising it, 2.21 had to ditch the trademark control scheme and revamp the wonderful isometric graphics – two major selling points. What remains is still charismatic, but bugs and a general lack of polish hold it back. Both for new players and for original fans, this is a quirky adventure game – but not one that will be remembered for another 30 years.

Nintendo Life

Michelle See-Tho·Nov 17, 2024

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Nairi: Rising Tide is a solid, if slightly inferior, sequel that expands the world established in Tower Of Shirin. Some slow load screens and difficult-to-discernible items shouldn't hamper your overall enjoyment too much, especially if you loved the first entry. The tricksy puzzles are great, though you may need to shell out for hints. And while you might feel like you're wading through the story at times, there's enough narrative thread to pull you through to a tense ending. No spoilers but the final moments left us already keen to know what Nairi, Shiro, and their friends get up to next.

Nintendo Life

Trent Cannon·Nov 16, 2024

Critic80/100

Agreement—

If you prefer the story elements of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, then 8 Remake is among the best the franchise has ever produced. This entry doesn't offer the same level of kingdom management that fans might be expecting, but its focus on the drama and your narrative choices make it a bit more accessible for new players. This is a very solid remake that runs well on the Switch and feels like it unlocks the original's full potential.

Nintendo Life

Jess Elizabeth Reed·Nov 15, 2024

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Miniatures is a short narrative experience but manages to navigate both awe and dread during its approximately one-hour play time. Each tale imbued us with a sense of mystery and left us ruminating on all that was left unsaid long after we finished playing.

Nintendo Life

Tom Massey·Nov 14, 2024

Critic90/100

Agreement—

Rage of the Dragons Neo is a peach of a game. Plucked from the Neo Geo library, it's been brought back to life with a smooth online experience and a comprehensive package stuffed with bonuses. It's not for everyone, and don't be surprised if you get beasted online initially, but for those willing to eke out the depths of its tag team strategy and combo extension methods, it's a furious, flashy, adrenaline-fuelled affair that looks great, sounds great, and plays even better.

Nintendo Life

Nathanial Eker·Nov 13, 2024

Critic40/100

Agreement—

Overall, Pumped BMX Pro isn’t broken or awful, but it is bland and forgettable. The bizarre top-heavy difficulty curve, unpleasant aesthetic, and lack of multiplayer make it feel like a wasted opportunity.