Nintendo Enthusiast

Rise and Shine is undoubtedly one of the best-looking games on the Switch. The animations, level design, and characters are nothing short of a feast for the eyes. While this is all well and good, the rest of the game never really finds its footing because of its brevity and lack of focus. If you’re planning on jumping into this adventure, be prepared for a game with elements of an action platformer, with bullet hell moments, that is constantly stifled by the need to be everything all at once.

After initially thinking the time-warping mechanic would get dull after time, I was delighted to be proven wrong by The Voxel Agents, who kept reinventing themselves and providing clever new ways to solve puzzles to keep me on my toes, as well as having a perfect duration of the experience, and ending with a simple, beautiful, and touching moment I won’t forget for a long time.

Mega Man 11 is everything I’ve wanted from the Blue Bomber and Capcom for the last few years. I think this is going to be the start of a Mega Man resurgence in the gaming industry. Whether we see him in more fighting games or other standalone adventures, one thing is for sure. It’s great to see Mega Man back again, and Mega Man 11 is the perfect way to reintroduce the popular hero to the mainstream once again.

If you buy Oh My Godheads, you will get an exciting local-multiplayer CTF game with a few tacked-on, lesser modes. There is not much to it outside of Capture the Head, and even that probably will not hold your attention for too long. Frankly, it is hard to recommend when party games like Ultimate Chicken Horse and Towerfall are available on Switch.

It’s essentially a game you can keep playing forever, after all. If the framerate can be improved at all and gyro + touchscreen controls can be added, then this will make for a truly stellar port. Nevertheless, it’s still a surprise that Cities has been brought to Switch at all, and it’s managed to be competent enough to be worth a try.

Still, putting its minor issues aside, Marble It Up! has proven to be a fun little gem. Indeed, it is quite little in its current form, but if you enjoy 3D platformers, then this should still be up your alley nonetheless. But, seriously, don’t let us down on those level packs, Engine Company. If anything, charge them for a very small fee.

Alwa’s Awakening is exactly what I had hoped I was in for when I booted up the title. The classy, evocative 8-bit design, the charming synthesized soundtrack, and the addictive gameplay all aggregate to form one hell of a gaming experience. These titles aren’t only for those yearning for a nostalgic trip. The cartoonish design and controls on a 2D plane were beckoning my young son to pick up the controller.

Boot up TowerFall, and the ultra-intense matches will be an instant hit with your friends. Before you know it, it’ll be two in the morning and still nearly impossible to set the controller down. If you indulge in local multiplayer at all, this is one of the best games that your money can buy, indie or otherwise. TowerFall has always been an all-time great local multiplayer title–that has not changed on Switch.

Despite its shortcomings, Defunct is still a mostly enjoyable little game. Though, it’s hard to determine if it has any real lasting appeal. Given its short playtime, if you do go through the trouble of exploring every level to the absolute maximum, you may be able to squeeze a handful more hours out of it.

Armello is a game that has a promising concept and a top-shelf presentation but falls far short of its potential. Despite its adept systems the game often proves a slow, monotonous affair that suffers from balancing issues. Tabletop enthusiasts and strategy game fans may glean some joy from this game. However, your time would still be better spent playing a myriad of other games that offer more entertainment than Armello.