Nintendo Life

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Oct 15, 2018

Critic90/100

Agreement—

Mark of the Ninja Remastered is an utterly stellar stealth game and, six years on, it's lost none of the magic that made the original such a critical darling. A strong art direction, engaging story, well-paced open gameplay, and a slew of extra content all combine to make for a near-flawless experience that you certainly won't want to miss out on. We'd give this game a high recommendation to all Switch owners; it's the best stealth game money can buy in the Switch library, and one of the best ones in any console library.

Nintendo Life

Dom Reseigh-Lincoln·Oct 15, 2018

Critic90/100

Agreement—

With its exclusive use of some substantial Star Fox content, you're getting the best version of Starlink: Battle for Atlas on Nintendo Switch. And with a more accessible and ultimately enjoyable version of No Man's Sky's gameplay mechanics and Mass Effect's original vision, you're getting one of the best dogfighting/space exploration games you can buy outside of Elite: Dangerous. Its gameplay loop does run out of steam after a while thanks to the required grind, but with a surprisingly ungreedy approach to content access and toys-to-life integration, Starlink really could be the spark that reignites the genre's renaissance.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Oct 12, 2018

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Over ten years later, TWEWY has lost none of the fun or style that made the original such a cult classic. Although the controls leave something to be desired, the chaotic battle system, catchy soundtrack, and engaging storyline all combine to make this an unforgettable RPG that hits all the right points. We'd give this one a high recommendation to anyone that hasn't yet experienced this gem in some form; there's plenty here to make this a game that's worth your time. If you've experienced the game before, however, we'd advise that you think hard about how badly you want it for your Switch. If this is the last we see of this property, then The World Ends With You: Final Remix feels like a fitting sendoff, even if it isn't perfect.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Oct 11, 2018

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Chasm is a fascinating, mechanically sound take on the Metroidvania genre, but it also fails to do anything innovative or original that hasn't been done before in the genre, apart from the relatively minor hook of procedurally-generated worlds. Despite this, it's still a fun side-scrolling adventure that's sure to be worth your time, with challenging combat, fantastic graphics, and a cool premise all combining to make for a release that we'd recommend to fans of the genre - although there are better examples out there, many of which are on Switch right now.

Nintendo Life

Gavin Lane·Oct 10, 2018

Critic80/100

Agreement—

On the whole, Child of Light is an easy recommendation for those who didn't catch it the first time round.

Nintendo Life

Dom Reseigh-Lincoln·Oct 5, 2018

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Five years on, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is still the same creative and colourful platformer it was on Wii U, only now with a few extra levels and some much-needed additional polish. While its phase-changing gimmick isn't as special or unique anymore - the likes of Guacamelee and co have riffed and improved on the concept in the years since - there's still plenty to enjoy here. With 40 levels to beat, plenty of challenging boss fights and a wealth of modes, you get plenty of bang for your buck - even if the soundtrack can be rather hit and miss.

Nintendo Life

Alex Olney·Oct 3, 2018

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Recent Mario Party games have previously had a somewhat sterile feel to them, but with Super Mario Party that simply isn't the case. This isn't a cash-grab with Mario's face on the front; this is a well-constructed and beautifully realised Mario Party game which takes the series right back to its roots, but without being a straightforward rehash. There are a few interesting ideas that feel a little bit underdeveloped, but on the whole Super Mario Party is a true return to form.

Nintendo Life

Gavin Lane·Oct 2, 2018

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Disgaea 1 Complete blows raspberries at po-faced, self-serious strategy games by mixing complex systems with comedy to delightful effect. This remaster is a great introduction for series newcomers, provided you can forgive the odd mismatching texture and an inflexible camera.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Oct 1, 2018

Critic90/100

Agreement—

Mega Man 11 is an excellent resurgence for the Blue Bomber, imbuing the tried-and-true classic gameplay with modern touches and new ideas that expand on existing concepts in interesting ways. The underlying action platforming gameplay is just as tight and challenging as you remember, and when combined with the new visuals and extra options for replayability, you've got a game that's every bit as good as those that came before, while surpassing them in some ways. Mega Man 11 is a modern classic, a fitting refresh for a beloved series, and we'd highly recommend you add this one to your Switch library whether you're a newcomer or you've been playing since the NES days. Bravo, Capcom.

Nintendo Life

Steve Bowling·Oct 1, 2018

Critic90/100

Agreement—

Dragon Ball FighterZ on the Switch is, simply put, the best fighting game we've seen on the system yet. Arc System Works went the extra mile in capturing the essence of the source material and distilled it into an incredible brawler that has lost nothing in the transition to Nintendo's hybrid console. The stunning visuals, intense action and easy-to-master controls make FighterZ a game all fans of the genre should have in their library. If you only play this kind of game casually, it remains a must-own.

Nintendo Life

Jon Mundy·Sep 29, 2018

Critic60/100

Agreement—

The Escapists is a cute, challenging, and potentially rewarding sandbox game that refuses to hold your hand. Releasing it after the much more refined sequel doesn't prove flattering, however. If you've played The Escapists 2, the original will feel like a notable step back. If you haven't played The Escapists 2, that's the game you should go for.

Nintendo Life

Chris Scullion·Sep 28, 2018

Critic70/100

Agreement—

FIFA 19's numerous improvements on and off the pitch mean it overtakes its predecessor as the best football game released on a Nintendo system, and it's still a technical marvel when played in handheld mode. That said, EA's decision not to improve Ultimate Team and Career – arguably the two most popular modes – feel like a missed opportunity. It's better than last year's game, then, but not as much as it could have been. If you're new to FIFA, then add one point to the score below; this is the best soccer game on Switch by a mile. However, if you're a grizzled veteran - as pretty much anyone who is contemplating a purchase is likely to be, given the advanced age of EA's premier sports franchise, then the score stands.

Nintendo Life

Dom Reseigh-Lincoln·Sep 27, 2018

Critic80/100

Agreement—

While it does have a few technical issues at launch, they don't detract from the fact Nintendo Switch now has a proper MOBA to add to its library of supported genres. One of the world's biggest games is now on Switch, and that's something to celebrate.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Sep 27, 2018

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Alwa's Awakening is a game that perhaps manages to achieve its aims a little too well, with moments of great platforming action and a well-designed overworld being hamstrung by antiquated problems like an unforgiving checkpoint system and an unhelpful map. We'd give this one a light recommendation; there's plenty of quality to be found despite some flaws and it's evident that a lot of passion went into the development, although we would also add that there's nothing about Alwa's Awakening that screams “must play”. If you're a fan of retro action platformers or Metroidvanias, Alwa's Awakening is certainly worth a go, but if you aren't a fan, this isn't the game to change your mind.

Nintendo Life

Dom Reseigh-Lincoln·Sep 26, 2018

Critic90/100

Agreement—

It's taken three years to get here, but the long journey hasn't dulled Armello's blades. From the deep tactics of its living board game gameplay to the sheer charm of its world-building and character designs, it's a turn-based quest filled with back-stabbing, political power plays and rampaging monsters that's different each and every time you play. It's at its absolute best when played in multiplayer, that human factor making for an even more predictable battle for the corrupted throne. You'd be doing yourself a disservice not to add this anthropomorphic tale to your wish list.