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Mat Panek

Oz Comic-Con Sydney 2019 Highlights

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We were lucky enough to attend Oz Comic Con 2019 in Sydney and take in all the amazing sights and sounds! There were plenty of regular favourites and a few newcomers that shows just how much conventions are growing in popularity. Another very welcome addition we noticed was the increasingly family friendly nature these cons are becoming, with a scribble wall and colouring corners for kids!

There was a strong presence from the ESL (eSports League Australia) which is always good to see and they had live competitions running all weekend. The Southern Cross Garrison of the 501st Imperial Legion was also out in force, bringing some impressive cosplay from both sides of the force including Stormtroopers, Wookiees and Tauntauns! 

The artists corner was buzzing with activity, allowing upcoming artists to show off their skills and sell some of their merchandise. Lots of booths filled to the brim with pop culture goodies spread themselves throughout both the halls. We were also lucky enough to stumble onto some retro goodies that included figures, vehicles and playsets from Star Wars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ghostbusters and Masters of the Universe. 

Just in case you missed out on all the fun we brought you some highlights!

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Mat Panek, Chief Games Reviewer
Retromancer – Collector, repairer & fan of retro games & tech. Atari to Amiga, Nintendo to Sega! LD, Zip, Beta and a proud dad! One half of the TiredParents on Twitch.

Follow Mat on Twitter and Twitch

 

 

 

 

 

Project Nimbus: Complete Edition – Nintendo Switch Review

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Power up the generator, arm the missiles and prepare to launch into Project Nimbus: Complete Edition on the Nintendo Switch. 

Project Nimbus is a fast and frantic mech battle game where players take control of mobile battle suits to fight in a dark neo-futuristic timeline of earth. Players must fight and dash around the battlefield managing their boost level, weapon ammunition and evading enemy fire while trying to complete various objectives that usually involve destroying either specific or all targets. The campaign mode gives players the opportunity to pilot various Mechs from standard infantry to top of the line experimental units on both sides of the ongoing conflict but no way to customise them. Warfront mode allows the player to start from the lowest mech unit and work their way up to unlock better equipment and Mechs through various battle scenarios. There is also a survival mode where the player can choose from an impressive range of mechs to try and last as long as possible and rack up high scores.

Project Nimbus has some fantastic graphics even in handheld mode, impressing players with stunning vistas and detailed mechs. Since the surface of the earth has been left uninhabitable, all of the battles take place in the air above barren wastes or water expanses with the occasional floating city or fortress. It is quite impressive that Project Nimbus has such a stable frame rate considering the frantic action and the ever increasing number of enemies, explosions, decoys or objective arrows that fill the screen, especially on the Nintendo Switch. This can get a little overwhelming at times, mostly in modes other than the campaign, and players may find themselves a bit lost with everything going on.

Controls are responsive and feel very snappy, players will easily find themselves dashing about blasting away the opposition. There are a number of different weapons available depending on preferred play style from machine guns, energy weapons and even close range energy swords. In Project Nimbus’ default controller configuration it can be a bit difficult to switch between weapons on the fly in handheld mode but there is a radial menu ingame which can alternatively be used.

Overall, Project Nimbus: Complete Edition is a good addition for players that enjoy more arcade style mech games. The mission structure is perfectly suited for short play sessions on the switch but can get a bit repetitive with longer play sessions. There are plenty of reasons to keep coming back between all the game modes though so it is well worth the try for fans of the genre.

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Mat Panek, Chief Games Reviewer
Retromancer – Collector, repairer & fan of retro games & tech. Atari to Amiga, Nintendo to Sega! LD, Zip, Beta and a proud dad! One half of the TiredParents on Twitch.

Follow Mat on Twitter and Twitch

 

 

Disclosure: Project Nimbus: Complete Edition [Nintendo Switch eShop code] was kindly provided by Homerun PR for this review.

 

 

Untitled Goose Game – Nintendo Switch Review

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Get reading for a honking good time with Untitled Goose Game, the latest game from the team at House House on Nintendo Switch, PC and Mac.

Untitled Goose Game is a game where you assault a calm english country styled village as an annoying goose, stealing keys and tormenting children. Players will honk as they guide their feathered fiend through the nameless sleepy village leaving broken items, rubbish and cranky residents in their wake. Untitled Goose Game is pretty straightforward in its approach, each location has a list of things to do before you can move on to the next area of the village. Players shouldn’t limit themselves to just the list though, there are quite a few secret to-do items to discover, each one just as fowl as the last! It is also best to go into Untitled Goose Game with as little prior knowledge as possible since the majority of the fun is discovering how to wreak havoc for yourself.

Considering how much chaos the player can cause in the village, Untitled Goose Game is a rather relaxing journey that is full of fun and laughter. The art style looks very much like a children’s story book with it’s simple shapes and colours that evokes joy in even the simplest tasks. There is a surprising number of things to do and lots of different ways to approach each situation that makes exploration and “out of the box” thinking incredibly rewarding. Controls are very simple making Untitled Goose Game great for anyone to just pick up and play. Every game needs a dedicated “HONK” button as far as I’m concerned. It is also just as entertaining to watch others attempt challenges as no two people seem to play the same way.

There is not much else you can say about Untitled Goose Game that wouldn’t ruin the experience for those that haven’t played it yet. It may feel a little on the short side once you finish the main to-do list but there is plenty of reason to dive back in with all the extra challenges. It is a charming and beautiful little game that is guaranteed to bring a smile to players faces. Make sure you give this one a gander!

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Mat Panek
Retromancer – Collector, repairer & fan of retro games & tech. Atari to Amiga, Nintendo to Sega! LD, Zip, Beta and a proud dad! One half of the TiredParents on Twitch.

Follow Mat on Twitter and Twitch

 

 

 

 

 

Vambrace: Cold Soul – Nintendo Switch Review

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Face the frost fall and seek answers in Vambrace: Cold Soul, the latest title from Devespresso and Headup Games for the Nintendo Switch.

Vambrace: Cold Soul is both a beautiful and brutal RPG with roguelike elements that will punish and test players looking for a challenge. The city of Icenaire has been put under the blight of “The Frost Fall” a spell that has formed an ice wall around the city, driven the citizens underground and caused the dead to rise as wraiths. You take command of Lyric, the first outsider to enter Icenaire, that has come into possession of a mystical Vambrace that allows her to traverse the frost walls. As she seeks answers about her father, players will forge alliances and attempt to uncover the mystery of her father’s disappearance. On your adventure you will create a team of up to four to travel to the surface in search of answers. Each character has different sets of skills to help you fight and survive the horrors that await you including ghosts, wraiths, golems and bandits. Players must attempt to traverse “dungeons” that are set up as surrounding neighbourhoods and city districts, moving to the end of the level will move player’s teams deeper into the fray bringing greater risk and reward. At the end of each dungeon there is a boss battle that really tests players mettle in combat.

Combat in Vambrace: Cold Soul has fairly by-the-numbers turn based combat where each character has a certain “reach,” meaning you want the tankiest member of your squad up front pulling damage and ranged characters at the back. Tactical thinking is rewarded as both sides can be buffed or debuffed depending on the skills and class of your teammates. Enemies start off feeling fairly easy but get progressively harder as you move through each dungeon, a Geistometer measures the terror in your team and once filled signals the arrival of stronger wraiths, so don’t stick around for too long in one place. As you explore each area you will find constant resources and loot but also booby traps and other hidden dangers. Characters will fall if either their health or vigor falls to zero, this leads to some real tough situations where party members can fall shortly before or after big battles which feels rather frustrating.

Where the game really shines is in the art which looks terrific, Vambrace: Cold Soul has impressive amounts of detail in both character and world art. The majority of the game is done as side-scrolling adventure sections with pop up interactions for looting and other various actions but there are also illustrated random encounters players will stumble onto as they progress. The story is interesting and there is a fair amount of mystery and intrigue as both the player and Lyric learn about the city of Icenaire. Side quests can be completed in multiple ways allowing Lyric to make new allies and enemies depending on whom players choose to help. There is quite a lot going on under the surface in Vambrace: Cold Soul meaning that the game is as unforgiving as the city it is set in.

Overall Vambrace: Cold Soul is an interesting game that unfortunately has some uneven difficulty spikes that may leave players feeling a little cheated. There is plenty to enjoy here and dedicated players that are able to dig deep and take in all the mechanics will be rewarded with lush visuals and an interesting story.

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Mat Panek
Retromancer – Collector, repairer & fan of retro games & tech. Atari to Amiga, Nintendo to Sega! LD, Zip, Beta and a proud dad! One half of the TiredParents on Twitch.

Follow Mat on Twitter and Twitch

 

 

Disclosure: Vambrace: Cold Soul [Nintendo Switch eShop code] was kindly provided by Headup Games for this review.

 

 

Tiny Metal: Full Metal Rumble – Nintendo Switch Review

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Lock and load soldier, it’s time to stand for king and country in Tiny Metal: Full Metal Rumble on the Nintendo Switch from the team at Area 35.

Tiny Metal is an exciting, isometric styled turn-based strategy game that puts players in control of a commander and their various units on the battlefield. Players can choose from a variety of modes from the fully voiced campaign mode, Single player Skirmish mode and Online Multiplayer mode. Each side gets a commander that has various attribute modifiers that can affect armor, mobility or line of sight but this can also change unit production costs. As with all War Simulation games, players will start the match with a small armed force that depends on settings and mode selected. Moving across the battlefield, players will have to capture cities, factories and other buildings to earn money which allows the construction of further units and resupply of existing units. Tactics play a vital role in Tiny Metal and there are plenty of different mechanics at play to let you find a style that suits you, bonus objectives will also allow players to mix things up and really push themselves to try new play styles.

Those that are familiar with the “Advance Wars” series will instantly recognise the style that Area 35 is trying to replicate but you can tell that they have put in some real passion and made it their own. Character models and illustrations are crammed full of charm, colour and unique personalities that makes Tiny Metal a well crafted and loving homage to a long languished series. The voice over work is fantastic, commanding officers have some great interactions with each other in the Campaign mode and the individual units all have some great personas that make them feel like much more than just pawns on a chessboard. There are also plenty of unlocks from new skirmish maps to music tracks, that are redeemed by spending currency players can earn from each battle.

Tiny Metal is a game that is perfectly suited to the varying play styles of the Nintendo Switch, from short pick up and play battles to long drawn out skirmishes that really get you thinking tactically. Controls feel nice and are well adapted to make use of thumbsticks with the only gripe being an occasionally fiddly cursor locking itself into the movement boundaries rather than being free floating. This is only a minor concern as most of the time players will find themselves rapidly switching between units, traversing the battlefield and issuing orders.

There is also a bit of “Unreal texture pop in” when viewing the campaign mission map but nothing that will spoil players enjoyment of the game.

Don’t let the colourful and cute graphics fool you, Tiny Metal: Full Metal Rumble is a surprisingly deep turn-based War simulation game packed full of replayability and is a fantastic addition to the switch.

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Mat Panek
Retromancer – Collector, repairer & fan of retro games & tech. Atari to Amiga, Nintendo to Sega! LD, Zip, Beta and a proud dad! One half of the TiredParents on Twitch.

Follow Mat on Twitter and Twitch

 

 

Disclosure: Tiny Metal: Full Metal Rumble [Nintendo Switch eShop code] was kindly provided by Stride PR for this review.

 

 

My Lovely Daughter: Nintendo Switch Review

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Harness the power of alchemy and create terrible homunculi in My Lovely Daughter, the latest title from Game Changer Studio. 

My Lovely Daughter is a strange and twisted affair that is full of confronting themes, centring on child labour, abusive parenting and ignorant societies, and the creators of the game even warn you it is designed to make you feel uncomfortable. You awake in a room with no memories, a soul orb containing your daughters soul and the husk of your daughter decaying slowly in the bed. To restore your daughter’s soul you must create homunculi daughters using alchemy and various ingredients like water, clay, wood and metal. After you have made a daughter, you must infuse them with human characteristics such as sadness, joy, fear and anger by making them work for you in town, learning from the townsfolk and then eventually sacrifice them for your actual daughter’s soul. Sacrificing a homunculi will also give you a higher quality alchemy ingredient than what you started with depending on their current level. This is as twisted as it may sound since you must keep your newly created daughters happy while also exploiting them. 

There is a lot of micro management involved in My Lovely Daughter to get the results you desire for restoring your daughter’s soul. Each daughter will level up the more they work, different emotions suit different tasks in town and eventually special tasks are given to you for them to carry out on top of their normal duties. You also need to keep your homunculi happy, you achieve this by either giving them gifts and treats or by spending time with one of them during your single day back at your house. There is a stark contrast in imagery from your character happily running next to, drinking tea or playing catch with your daughters to then mercilessly killing them for their essence and resources by setting them on fire, letting them drown, decapitating them or one of many other terrible fates. All for the greater good of your character’s actual daughter.

My Lovely Daughter is framed with a sketchy and hand drawn art style that gives it a dark and sinister feel that really sets the tone from the start. The mansion in which you live feels cold and eerie, strange things are seen outside the windows and when you eliminate a homunculi there is a trail of blood left from their room to your daughters room. Apart from the overtly dark themes there is also a lot of subtle references to the themes addressed in both artwork and character interaction, especially as the story starts moving along. Homunculi will become more attached to you and start changing how they talk to and address you, occasionally writing you letters to tell you how they feel. Daughters will also plead with you as you decide to kill them, making the decision even more difficult than just if you have enough essence built up or levels for a better resource.

At its core My lovely Daughter is a deep management style game with themes that are very oppressive and may put some people off but that really is the whole point. A great game that is worth your time but not for the overly kind or faint of heart.

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Mat Panek
Retromancer – Collector, repairer & fan of retro games & tech. Atari to Amiga, Nintendo to Sega! LD, Zip, Beta and a proud dad! One half of the TiredParents on Twitch.

Follow Mat on Twitter and Twitch

 

 

Disclosure: My Lovely Daughter [Nintendo Switch eShop code] was kindly provided by Toge Productions for this review.

 

 

KILL la KILL – IF: Nintendo Switch Review

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Prepare to battle it out in Kill La Kill IF the latest from A+ Games that transforms the popular anime into a Cell shaded 3D fighter that packs a punch.

Kill La Kill IF is a fast, arena based fighter that certainly doesn’t hold anything back, in fact it also doesn’t even leave much to the imagination. Those that are familiar with the Anime or Manga will know exactly what I am talking about but players that don’t know might be in for a slight shock. The Story of Kill La Kill IF revolves around an academy that specialises in fighting and students are ranked from No-Star to Three Star. The most skilled fighters receive “Goku Uniforms” that gives the wearer superhuman strength and abilities, these uniforms are unique for each wearer but often are quite revealing. The story follows various characters in their struggle and is a story offshoot that is written and supervised by the anime’s head writer. Apart from the main story mode there is a versus mode and a handful of challenge modes that are good fun for new or experienced players to hone their skills.

The fighting system in Kill La Kill IF feels very tight and focuses very heavily on combos and special attacks. Guard breaks or quick side steps are quite often required to avoid an enemy’s barrage of attacks and turn the tide of the battle in your favour. Charging up a power meter will allow you to carry out a variety of special attacks and having at least 50% of it full will allow you to carry out a “Valor Burst” either defensively or offensively. This can also lead to a “Bloody Valor” which is a rock/paper/scissor scene that will allow your Valor level to increase by 1 up to a maximum of 3 if the attacker succeeds. Reaching level 3 lets you carry out a “SEN-I-SOSHITSU secret art” attack, which is a devastating and round ending move that is always impressive to behold.

The visuals in Kill La Kill IF are great, the game engine looks beautiful even on the switch in handheld mode. There is always so much going on visually that it’s hard to believe it looks as good as it does and there are times when the cell shading is so effective that the cutscenes almost feel like you are watching the anime. One thing that might put off those not familiar with the series is the amount of fan service present, which is very in your face. Female characters often have extremely skimpy outfits and there are multiple occasions when characters, both male and female, are reduced to underwear. Fans will enjoy the fact that there is a plethora of things to unlock in the gallery mode, Voice library and sound test by spending the GP you earn when playing through the games various modes.

Overall Kill La Kill IF is a fun fighting game with lots of replayability that is obviously taking a very fan-centric approach that will either convert you to the cause or might completely put you off the franchise. Certainly worth a look for those that are unsure but want to try a fun and flashy fighting game.

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Mat Panek
Retromancer – Collector, repairer & fan of retro games & tech. Atari to Amiga, Nintendo to Sega! LD, Zip, Beta and a proud dad! One half of the TiredParents on Twitch.

Follow Mat on Twitter and Twitch

 

 

Disclosure: KILL la KILL – IF [Nintendo Switch eShop code] was kindly provided by Strangely Compelling PR for this review.

 

 

Dark Quest 2 – Nintendo Switch Review

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Prepare to enter the castle and fight through rooms of Goblins, Orcs and monsters in Dark Quest 2 from Brain Seal Ltd.

Dark Quest 2 is a strategic turn-based RPG where you control up to 3 characters in your goal to take back the castle from the evil Sorcerer. Players can recruit and level up multiple adventurers to help them in their quest as well as craft various items to increase skills and stats. Each room is tile based and characters can only move a certain amount of tiles, which varies depending on class and equipped items, this makes Dark Quest 2 feel very much like a simplified tabletop adventure. Through your journey you will collect gold and gems and if one of your adventurers happens to die, they can be resurrected for a percentage of your total gold.

Similar to other turn-based RPGs every attack and defence action is left to the roll of an unseen dice which can lead to some amazing or rather unfortunately frustrating runs. Dark Quest 2 is rather forgiving though with the death mechanic and as long as you haven’t built up too much of a gold horde, it shouldn’t cost you too much to resurrect party members. Certain levels are replayable but their difficulty increases after each successful attempt giving some good grind and risk/reward mechanics. As well as the 4 classes available in the tavern, there is also a few classes spread out in the castle for you to find.

While Dark Quest 2 is a little simplified, making it easier for casual players in some respects, it is still enjoyable for those looking for a challenge on higher difficulties. The amount of time it takes to complete Dark Quest 2 also depends on what kind of player you are. While it might be easy enough to speed through the castle and min/max a few characters to defeat the Sorcerer, a lot of the fun comes from experimenting with the different classes, items and strategies. There are only a set number of unique equip-able items though and characters can only equip 2 items each, this limits your options in one way but it also allows for some nice play-style optimisation. Clearing out each area in the castle can also be a difficult but rewarding challenge for completionists.

A fun little dungeon crawler, Dark Quest 2 offers a lot in a neat little package. Regardless of player skill, fans of tile based or tabletop games will likely enjoy what it has to offer.

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Mat Panek
Retromancer – Collector, repairer & fan of retro games & tech. Atari to Amiga, Nintendo to Sega! LD, Zip, Beta and a proud dad! One half of the TiredParents on Twitch.

Follow Mat on Twitter and Twitch

 

 

Disclosure: Dark Quest II [Nintendo Switch eShop code] was kindly provided by Brain Seal Entertainment for this review.

 

 

Masquerada: Songs and Shadows – Nintendo Switch Review

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Don your mask and delve into a world of intrigue, mystery and magic in Masquerada: Songs and Shadows from Witching Hour Studios.

Set in a country beset by civil war, where masquerade masks grant their wearers incredible powers, Masquerada is an interesting and deep isometric tactical RPG. You assume the role of Cicero, an Ispettore (inspector) brought back from exile to track down an important official, a researcher that has gone missing. Masquerada is set in a fantastical Venetian world where threats are presented from not only the rival faction, known as “The Mask Runners,” but also from the magical creatures known as Fey. 

The prologue acts as a tutorial, setting up the backstory of the world and also giving a nice quick rundown on the games battle mechanics. Pausing the action just as it starts or at any time in battles, gives some real interesting tactical options in Masquerada, this allows the player to set up flanking positions, change fighting stance and time attacks or buffs. There is also an emphasis on elemental tags that allow extra damage to be dealt to enemies by tagging an enemy or group with one attack and carrying out specific follow up moves. Character’s skills and powers can be assigned and upgraded for offence or defence depending on play style and different masks will give different Elemental powers, bonuses and skills.

The story is a wonderfully written and fully voiced experience, full of political intrigue, lore, mystery and in fighting between the various factions of the Citte Della Ombre, meaning that Masquerada’s world is as interesting as it is complex. There are numerous codex entries that give extra back story to the world and it’s characters for those ready to dive deep but enough is explained throughout the story that nothing seems confusing. For those looking to just take in the story, there is also an easier story mode that tones down difficulty but will still give you the thrill of the fights and tactics.

Masquerada: Songs and Shadows has some great tactical gameplay in an incredibly rich and vibrant world that may put off some with it’s slow burning story but those that love well written mystery and political intrigue will really appreciate all it has to offer. 

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Mat Panek
Retromancer – Collector, repairer & fan of retro games & tech. Atari to Amiga, Nintendo to Sega! LD, Zip, Beta and a proud dad! One half of the TiredParents on Twitch.

Follow Mat on Twitter and Twitch

 

 

Disclosure: Masquerada: Songs and Shadows [Nintendo Switch eShop code] was kindly provided by Stride PR for this review.

 

 

Lapis X Labyrinth – Nintendo Switch Review

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Stack some heroes, head into the labyrinth and loot to your heart’s content in Lapis X Labyrinth, the latest from Nippon Ichi Software!

Cute chibi characters join forces to battle evil minions in a game that feels like an action RPG crossed with a pachinko machine. In Lapis X Labyrinth you can choose from 8 different character classes ranging from the nimble hunter to the beefy Destroyer and stack 4 of them to head into the depths of the treasure filled Labyrinth. Each character can be equipped with a weapon, armor and a special item or accessory. You collect a contract from the guild that will determine the level you are heading into, difficulty of the enemies and end of level sub-boss, contracts can be completed multiple times but the bonus from completing them is only earned once. Moving through each contract will unlock more and eventually you will be given the opportunity to face the main boss character, defeating whom will open up further areas of the labyrinth.

Lapis X Labyrinth is all about one thing though, Loot. Each level is filled with enemies that have a chance to drop treasure, defeating enemies without being hit will increase your treasure combo which acts as an item chance multiplier. Simply put, the higher your combo score, the more likely you are to find good loot and this mechanic makes Lapis X Labyrinth extremely addictive and fun. In addition to this there is a “Fever” gauge to fill that, once full, will activate “Fever mode” a flashy and thrilling timed event that multiplies and adds to every bit of treasure you gather. Treasure can be spent on upgrades and items back at town but the real thrill comes from finding rare items dropped by enemies and replaying each level to maximise profits and level rank.

Visually Lapis X Labyrinth is both gorgeous and super cute, characters and enemies are adorable while level and background art is vivid and full of detail. Fever mode cranks up the colour as fireworks fill the background, blocks flash and treasure pours from every corner of the screen. There is so much going on at the best of times that it’s easy to lose track in the excitement or get carried away trying to scoop up every bit of treasure but it can become a bit dull if loot grinding isn’t your style. The game audio is exclusively in Japanese which is great for some but could end up sounding a bit repetitive and saccharine for those not overly into this style. Loot will upgrade your stats but won’t affect your character’s look, so no matter how funny it is equipping a destroyer with a “Black Maid’s Outfit” there is no visual change which is a shame but understandable considering the number of items.

Overall though Lapis X Labyrinth is extremely colourful and charming, a wonderful way to waste away some time and have some fun. If you love grinding away for some loot then look no further!

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Mat Panek
Retromancer – Collector, repairer & fan of retro games & tech. Atari to Amiga, Nintendo to Sega! LD, Zip, Beta and a proud dad! One half of the TiredParents on Twitch.

Follow Mat on Twitter and Twitch

 

 

Disclosure: Lapis X Labyrinth [Nintendo Switch eShop code] was kindly provided by NIS America Inc. for this review.