Nintendo Life

Nintendo Life

Tom Massey·Sep 25, 2023

Critic60/100

Agreement—

This genre's lineup on Switch has changed a lot since the original in 2018, and this feels primitive. Slaps & Beans 2 offers a long, adventurous campaign with a lot to see and do, and will remain a treat for dedicated fans of the duo. But, the combat, overshadowed by its novelty interludes, should be more fulfilling and less repetitive.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Sep 22, 2023

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster is a worthwhile release, though it feels like a bit of a mixed bag. Despite some cool ideas here, both games epitomize the 'flawed masterpiece' while the changes and updates made for this remaster are minimal at best (though obviously welcome). This package is easy to recommend to any fans who want to venture further into Monolith's back catalog and are looking for something a little unconventional to scratch that RPG itch. Just recognize that this isn't something that you need to rush and play immediately and that both games are very much products of their time, with design elements that feel outdated in a modern context.

Nintendo Life

Charlie Wacholz·Sep 21, 2023

Critic30/100

Agreement—

Even when everything's working, MythForce isn't much more than a bad port of a fun, but uninteresting game. That being said, we can't possibly recommend it in its launch state. We don't take half-baked efforts lightly, and this feels even less than that. With some patches and updates, MythForce could potentially turn things around, although we're very far from not optimistic. As things stand, avoid the Switch version of MythForce.

Nintendo Life

Roland Ingram·Sep 19, 2023

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Trombone Champ is a game about perfection. Before you play, it asks you to select a stance for your tromboner: 'estudious' or 'jubilant'. Neither of these is appropriate when you know your performance will be as ear-abusive as an excited puppy mauling a bulb horn. Or are they? The true lesson is perhaps to hold your head high anyway. In life, as in Trombone Champ, faced as we all are with certain doom, be estudious if you like, be jubilant, parp like crazy, and be your very best you – no matter how imperfect that invariably is.

Nintendo Life

Charlie Wacholz·Sep 18, 2023

Critic90/100

Agreement—

Despite its relatively unchanged look, F-Zero 99 is unexpectedly refreshing. Though it may not be the return for the franchise that fans hoped for, it's a triumphant and welcome look back at Captain Falcon's first game with a clever twist. F-Zero is simply suited for the -99 style structure in ways that Tetris, Mario, and Pac-Man aren't; it was already an elimination-style battle royale, just a small one. Adding more players doesn't just feel perfect for F-Zero, it feels natural. This isn't the definitive way to play F-Zero, but it is a brilliant take that supplements what worked so well in the original with thoughtful additions that make chasing victory utterly addictive.

Nintendo Life

Tom Massey·Sep 17, 2023

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Raindrop Sprinters is as pure an arcade experience as one could wish for, its base simplicity underpinned by a deep scoring game that can be approached in a variety of ways, ultimately presenting a bottomless reflex-based affair that will wash out the impatient and reward the dedicated in a shower of euphoria. It’s not a game for everyone and will hold little appeal or longevity for the vast majority, but it does what it does well, and its construction is a little bit clever. When you reach that moment of dodging zen, where you’re weaving those drops against impossible odds, you run a real risk of just-one-more-go addiction.

Nintendo Life

Roland Ingram·Sep 17, 2023

Critic70/100

Agreement—

The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo is a standout title in its commitment to presenting spectacular, surrealist animation. However, it does so at the expense of having much gameplay to offer. The playtime is short, the interaction is limited, and the puzzles are obtuse. Fortunately, the animation and music are good enough to distract you from those facts and provide an hour or two of great entertainment.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Sep 16, 2023

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Launch instability issues aside, it may be a bit derivative, but Summum Aeterna ultimately ticks enough boxes to be worth your while. Smooth combat, tough difficulty, and an interesting seed system all come together to make this one worth investigating.

Nintendo Life

Roland Ingram·Sep 16, 2023

Critic70/100

Agreement—

With such a tight run time, Full Void’s ideas don’t have time to wear thin, but neither do they have chance to develop much depth. As a modern game, it’s far more player-friendly than Another World, its main inspiration, and looks and sounds fantastic. It also brings fresh ideas to the table, rather than simply retreading the old for the sake of nostalgia. However, it lacks a compelling narrative arc, which could have made it feel truly cinematic.

Nintendo Life

Jim Norman·Sep 15, 2023

Critic50/100

Agreement—

NBA 2K24 is less a continuation of what made the series good on Switch and more a downgrade of what has come before it. Even with how smoothly this one plays on the console, with some clean animations and a sprinkling of improvements to MyTeam being the real MVPs, all of this is overshadowed by just how watered-down this year's entry feels. With none of the new game modes making the jump to Switch apart from the disappointing Mamba Moments, a severely lessened MyCareer and a model that continues to be plagued by microtransactions and long load times, the 2K franchise on Switch has never needed more of a boost. If you are after a basketball game on the go, last year's offering is a much better option.

Nintendo Life

George Yang·Sep 15, 2023

Critic70/100

Agreement—

The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails is a fun action RPG that takes elements of the wider series it's based on and crafts something unique. The minute-to-minute gameplay is also engaging, although with some minor platforming frustrations here and there. While the story may be simplistic and not as politically engrossing as the mainline Trails games, the heartfelt cast of characters and side quests help flesh out its world.

Nintendo Life

Jess Elizabeth Reed·Sep 13, 2023

Critic80/100

Agreement—

While Gunbrella has its issues, it's still a really fun, gorgeous-looking experience that's definitely worth a play for any fans of the genre. You shouldn't expect anything groundbreaking in terms of story, but can look forward to a few laughs and endearing characters. Even just messing around with the mechanics made possible by a gun that is also an umbrella should bring anyone hours of enjoyment.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Sep 12, 2023

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Super Bomberman R 2 is a triumphant and feature-rich return for the explosive icon. The new Castle mode brings some interesting twists to the classic formula (though the level editor feels like it could use a little more work) while all the chaotic arcade gameplay that's carried this series for 40 years proves to be just as compelling as it's always been. Pair that addictive gameplay with an extensive multiplayer suite and lots of unlockables, and you've got something that's easy to recommend to anyone looking for the next great multiplayer release to break out on game night. It's a little less easy to recommend if you intend on playing entirely solo-the single-player offering is a bit thin here-but the endless replayability of the online component makes it a great pick otherwise.

Nintendo Life

Mitch Vogel·Sep 11, 2023

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Although it can be a bit uneven, 30XX is ultimately an enjoyable take on action platforming with a roguelite twist. The high difficulty, extreme replayability, and gorgeous visuals all come together to make for an action platformer you won't want to miss out on. Beyond this, Mega Mode makes this one a solid recommendation even for those who don't usually like roguelites, as it strips out most of the randomness and presents a more old-school challenge. For any fans of Mega Man, retro action platformers, or roguelikes, 30XX covers all those bases and then some, and deserves a spot in your Switch library.

Nintendo Life

Trent Cannon·Sep 8, 2023

Critic60/100

Agreement—

WrestleQuest is a surprisingly wholesome game that is laser-focused on appealing to a specific demographic and will likely fail to capture the attention of anyone else. If you grew up watching the likes of Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, and Ric Flair throw each other around the ring and you also happen to love 16-bit RPGs, you'll probably be charmed enough to overlook the repetitive combat and empty world. We certainly fall into the target demographic here, but the concept is better than its execution.