Nintendo Life

Nintendo Life

Liam Croft·Feb 7, 2018

Critic50/100

Agreement—

Mad Carnage has a few things going for it in the form of its movement mechanics and the comic strip-led story sections, but they're packaged together with an experience that doesn't do them justice. Everything else is far too basic, and thus it fails at building a cohesive experience that we could recommend.

Nintendo Life

Jon Mundy·Feb 6, 2018

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Dandara is a 2D Metroidvania platformer that's admirably intent on doing things differently, from its Brazilian folklore-infused narrative to its unorthodox and touchscreen-friendly controls. It can be a little awkward to play as a result, and it's got its fair share of structural niggles, but Dandara provides a genuinely fascinating world to spend some time in.

Nintendo Life

Ryan Craddock·Feb 6, 2018

Critic80/100

Agreement—

The Longest Five Minutes uses a truly gripping concept, throwing the classic RPG formula on its head by having you put the pieces of an already existing story together as you go. While the combat and general gameplay are almost too easy-going, the story, characters, and overall aesthetic had us always wanting more, never wanting to put the game down. The asking price is perhaps a little steep for the amount of content available, and the strange take on a usually well-understood genre may throw some players off, but there is an indescribable charm that is worth exploring here.

Nintendo Life

Dave Frear·Feb 5, 2018

Critic70/100

Agreement—

There's only eight levels, but there's enjoyment to be had from Arcade Archives Kid Niki Radical Ninja as you hop about and avoid attacks, take some enemies out on the left, then the right, jump to move forwards and smack some in midair too. The game can be challenging, but satisfying when you up your pace sufficiently to stop that timer hitting zero and the boss battles are fun too. If you are just looking to finish the game there's not much replay value once cleared, but there's a few ways to improve your score which adds to the replayability when combined with the online leaderboards.

Nintendo Life

Dom Reseigh-Lincoln·Feb 4, 2018

Critic90/100

Agreement—

Less of a game, and more of an interactive story with some light platforming and exploring to tie it all together, Night In The Woods is one of the most rewarding experiences you can play on Nintendo Switch. A curio better played for yourself than described by us, it's an indie title that will no doubt leave an impression with its enchanting soundtrack, disarming story and instantly identifiable character arcs. Both strange and wonderful in equal measure, few games are as easy to recommend as this.

Nintendo Life

Dave Frear·Feb 1, 2018

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Sky Force Reloaded is a fun shmup with a good variety of dangers to deal with and one that gives you a number of options to deal with them. Stages can be tough, but when you nearly make it you'll want to dive back in and try again, certain you know how to do better this time around. Sometimes you'll be forced to replay them in order to proceed further in the game, whether that's grinding for stars or looking to achieve a medal, although that can still feel fresh due to tackling the stages a different way. The thrill of finally beating a tricky level can be dampened by the realisation you need to go pick up a handful of medals however, but it can be fun to return to a previously tricky stage and ease through thanks to an improved craft. Sky Force Reloaded may force you to spend time with it and feel like a grind as a result, but for the most part, the time invested is enjoyable.

Nintendo Life

Dom Reseigh-Lincoln·Jan 31, 2018

Critic80/100

Agreement—

When the Japan-only GO Series: 10 Second Run was localised back in 2010 it gave the west a chance to experience a classic premise with a speedy twist. Seven-plus years on and that formula feels suitably refreshed on Switch with a tougher set of challenges, a better course unlock system and support for local co-op. 10 Second Run Returns might look basic, but there's plenty of addictive fun and moreish frustration to be had in 10 seconds or less.

Nintendo Life

Conor McMahon·Jan 30, 2018

Critic40/100

Agreement—

Oh...Sir! The Hollywood Roast expands slightly on the original title, but for every minor improvement it makes, it stumbles over a list of missed opportunities, poorly-handled references, and a script that really could have used a few more rewrites. One-on-one verbal battles are still fun enough for the first hour or so, but beyond that it gets repetitious and even downright intolerable. We don't really recommend either title, but if you had to pick one then we'd recommend the original over this tasteless B-movie.

Nintendo Life

Dom Reseigh-Lincoln·Jan 30, 2018

Critic50/100

Agreement—

Much like Woah Dave!, Space Dave!'s ironic use of exclamation mark might fool you into thinking you're getting a particularly riveting or exciting experience for your buck. Its simple, Space Invaders tribute concept can be addictive - especially when played in local co-op - but its desire to embrace the basic building blocks of the '80s is a poisoned chalice, one that leaves you hoping it would offer more depth where there's just the same old shallow, pixelated waters.

Nintendo Life

Jon Mundy·Jan 30, 2018

Critic60/100

Agreement—

Her Majesty's SPIFFING is a lovingly made tribute to the point-and-click adventure genre of the early '90s, with a likably cheeky and surprisingly topical sense of humour. Its traditional underlying mechanics, however, can't quite cash the cheques its script is writing, and it's all over a little too quickly.

Nintendo Life

Conor McMahon·Jan 29, 2018

Critic50/100

Agreement—

Oh...Sir! The Insult Simulator is a pretty silly experience, even when it doesn't mean to be. The concept of choosing words and phrases to form an insult out of is clever enough in isolation, but the novelty wears off pretty quickly once you've played through a couple of matches. Any kind of strategy or technique is hampered by some iffy rules on point-scoring, so the online multiplayer - while a welcome addition - is dragged down by that same awkward repetition, whether your opponent is human or AI. For what it's worth, there's maybe an hour or so of decent fun here if you don't mind your insults making very little actual sense, and the price is just about in line with that. Not to be insulting, but it feels like maybe this game could have used a little more work, and its mother was a louse-ridden socialite who married an ambidextrous vole.

Nintendo Life

Jon Mundy·Jan 29, 2018

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Darkest Dungeon has always been an RPG that finds ways to make life uncomfortable for the player, and this Switch version manages to add a couple of usability issues to that list. However, this remains a dauntingly deep, thoroughly absorbing dungeon crawler that will swallow you up for hours at a time.

Nintendo Life

Liam Croft·Jan 28, 2018

Critic20/100

Agreement—

Tennis is so lacklustre in every single department that we're honestly baffled this managed to get a full release. The modes on offer are incredibly basic, the characters are dire, and the lack of any sort of progression through the game means there's absolutely nothing to keep you going. The Joy-Con controls are a very small highlight, but Tennis is one we'll want to forget in a hurry.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Jan 27, 2018

Critic80/100

Agreement—

There's little in Lost Sphear that you haven't seen before in JRPGs, but that doesn't mean it's a title to be dismissed out of hand. If you can look past the clichés, Lost Sphear presents an engaging world, deep battle system, and plenty of replayability which will likely delight many an RPG fan. Tokyo RPG Factory has proven with this release that it's capable of learning from past mistakes, and though Lost Sphear still might not be the game to surpass Chrono Trigger, it proves itself to be worthy of that legacy. We'd recommend Lost Sphear to anybody who loves a focused, traditional RPG; it may be priced a little high, but this is an enjoyable experience that fans won't want to miss out on.

Nintendo Life

Ryan Craddock·Jan 26, 2018

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Tales Of The Tiny Planet is charming, colourful, and deceptively fun. The single-button approach to the game's levels means that it is accessible for all players, yet still presents a decent amount of challenge for the more experienced puzzle fan.