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Reventure – Nintendo Switch Review

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It’s dangerous to go alone! Take Reventure, now available on the Nintendo Switch from the team at Pixelatto.

Reventure is a unique, non-linear adventure game that has players taking the role of the mighty hero in the age old quest of saving the princess. Players begin each run by waking up and starting out on their quest, grabbing whatever essentials they require as they go. What makes Reventure so unique is the fact that there are 100 different endings to the story, each one requiring different processes and giving a different outcome. Trip over and make a fool of yourself? Maybe tomorrow is a better day to adventure. Murder a guard? Go to jail for a few years! Each day it is up to the player to try and discover a new and possibly true ending to the quest. Every time the player discovers a new ending, time is added to the total time count that is displayed before the day begins. Equipment can be collected each run but it is best to only gather what supplies you need, each additional piece of equipment will restrict character movement a bit more.

Reventure has a very simple pixel art style and a soundtrack that evokes memories of retro JRPGs, tying together the games old school aesthetic perfectly. There are even a number of unlockable palettes that varies style or minimises it even more, depending on personal preference. The “tongue in cheek” attitude nods to other game series with references scattered evenly throughout the game but doesn’t rely solely upon nostalgia to achieve its goals.

Trial and error is the cornerstone of the Reventure experience, so get ready for plenty of repetition. Apart from a few unique events, the world is reset each day meaning you must collect any items over and over. Endings will also carry over onto your character visually each time, from losing your hat to being turned into another creature altogether. There are plenty of unique and funny outcomes but giving examples would spoil the satisfaction of finding them for yourself. Every time the player does discover a new ending a matching picture, unique to that conclusion, is added to the “Adventure Gallery”. There are also ending hints that will appear throughout the world as you play since some of the solutions are not as obvious or significant than others.

There is certainly a lot of charm and humour in Reventure but its repetitive nature can start to dull the games impact at times. Nevertheless it is a fun and rewarding game with plenty of satisfying “Ah ha!” moments to keep players coming back for more.

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Mat Panek, Chief Reporter
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: Reventure [Nintendo Switch eShop code] was kindly provided by Pixelatto for this review.

 

 

Pig Eat Ball – Nintendo Switch Review

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Time to eat tennis balls and barf your way to glory in Pig Eat Ball, the newest game from the team at Mommy’s Best Games.

Pig Eat Ball is a strange, top down Action-Adventure where King Cake has promised the hand of his daughter in marriage to the winner of his contest. Princess Bow has other ideas and enters the competition herself in disguise, players take control of the princess and must complete levels by sucking up all of the tennis balls in each level as fast as possible. Players take control of the Princess Although this may sound simple at first, as you eat more balls you grow in size. If players grow too big they are unable to squeeze past certain obstacles and must barf out enough balls to proceed. If players take damage a “Barf meter” appears which counts down time until you barf automatically, this can be reset by getting hit again. Barf can also be used to disable enemies for a short while. Power ups and unlockable accessories that each have their own pros and cons that let players adjust their playstyle to suit their needs.

With a pixel art style, multiple “worlds” to visit and paying homage to numerous old arcade games, Pig Eat Ball is a pretty interesting looking game. The story starts to pick up after you complete about a third of the first world and adds some more ridiculous intrigue into the mix.  Containing 100s of levels to attempt and lots of different variations to the formula certainly helps to keep things fresh with some little distractions in the hub world. There are also levels where you have to compete against AI in tasks ranging from collecting starts to making sandwiches. Levels award medals based on how quickly you complete them and allows players to compare scores with others online to give some good replayability. One use power ups can also be activated to help out players but these are generally hidden in the overworld or various levels. 

Pig Eat Ball is a fun and entertaining game with some cleverly crafted levels that is probably best played in short bursts. Full of cheeky humour, barf and off the wall characters it will certainly appeal to some players more than others but is well worth a go.

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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: Pig Eat Ball [Nintendo Switch eShop code] was kindly provided by Mommy’s Best Games for this review.

 

 

Gears 5: A Rocky, Sometimes Brilliant Entry

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By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

When I played “Gears of War” in 2006 for the first time, I was instantly hooked. It was another first-person shooter game, but something about it felt new and fresh. The recently released “Gears 5,” the fifth instalment in the successful “Gears of War” franchise, seems more creative and still familiar than its predecessors.

Like most things in entertainment, the original is always better. But with “Gears 5,” The Coalition, the game developers, have really took the franchise to a new, inspiring place.

“Gears 5” centres on Kait Diaz, an Outsider of Locust descent. Playing as Kait, your mission is to uncover the origins of the Locust and Kait’s family. Several characters from “Gears of War 4,” like James Dominic “JD” Fenix, return; but don’t be fooled, it’s Kait’s game.

I’ve always enjoyed video games that have a snow setting. Maybe it’s my admiration and affection for the battle on Hoth in “The Empire Strikes Back,” or just my simple love for action sequences on powdery snow; Act 2 of “Gears 5” takes place in a wintery landscape where you parasail with a skiff over frozen lakes and snow-covered terrain. You can investigate dark tunnels and find collectables, but lurking around the dark corners are parts of the Swarm. You have to conserve your ammo. Finding journals at abandoned camps adds to the game’s overall story. The game feels enormous. You can get lost, and watch out for incoming ice chunks that can crush you. It was gratifying searching for the New Hope Research Facility. I learned the hard way that it’s very difficult to throw grenades in the frigid wind when you approach the entrance to the research facility.

image source: Gears 5

I haven’t played all of “Gears 5,” but from what I’ve played, I think it could be one of the best games of the year. It undeniably expands on the “Gears” universe. It’s very rare that I want to go back and play parts of a game that I’ve already completed. Act 3 of “Gears 5” is enjoyable, but I was wholly engaged in Act 2.

Act 3 feels a bit like any other first-person shooter game where you are inquisitively flushing out the enemy through a facility or abandoned factory. It’s still engaging but not as engrossing as the first two acts of the game. The game’s three-player split screen play is superb. And, overall, “Gears 5” is an exceptional entry in an already definitive series that keeps turning out brilliant gameplay.

 

Inferno 2 – Nintendo Switch Review

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Time to blast your way through waves of enemies in Inferno 2, the latest from 2Awesome Studio / Radiangames out now on Nintendo Switch.

Inferno 2 is a high action, fast paced twin stick shooter with RPG elements that feels right at home on the Nintendo Switch. Players control a ship that must navigate through various levels of increasing difficulty against scores of enemies that will fill the screen. Upgrades can be unlocked that increase damage, range and number of bullets fired as well as special powers like a repulsor or speed boost that need to be activated for a short time. Enemies vary from kamikaze drones to burst firing seekers that will track you down where possible. Players also have access to drones that will surround your ship and fire at enemies and absorb damage, the number of drones active can also be upgraded. Weapon upgrades can be chosen in any order leaving players free to customise their ship for individualised play styles.

Levels in Inferno 2 are coloured in a dark blue hue, while the player, enemies and other objects are contrasted with very bright and vibrant colours. The aesthetics work very well together and gives the game a certain “Tron” feel while also making it very easy to distinguish between threats and other objects. The soundtrack has a subdued feel that matches the look and feel of the levels while also complementing the various sound effects that are constantly occurring.

Inferno 2 has it’s mechanics and controls perfectly dialed in, even amongst all the chaos, making it feel tight and responsive at all times. Each level can generally be completed in a few minutes, often leading to a “just one more level” feeling that can have players glued to their switch for long stretches of time. With the addition of boss battles, local co-op and a new game plus mode, there is certainly plenty here for players to sink their teeth into.

A simple but rewarding game, Inferno 2 is a very refined example of the twin stick genre that expands on the simple format with some interesting and welcomed upgrade paths. With the amount of replayability on offer, Inferno 2 it is a game with a great deal of value in a stylish little package.

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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: Inferno 2 [Nintendo Switch eShop code] was kindly provided by 2Awesome Studio for this review.

 

 

Heave Ho – Nintendo Switch Review

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Get ready to throw your weight around in Heave Ho the latest title from Le Cartel Studio, available on the Nintendo Switch and PC.

Heave Ho is a wacky and chaotic game where up to 4 players can compete or work together in the simple task of making it to the finish. Players use the shoulder buttons to grab the world around them and move the thumbstick to direct their arms and body. From the starting point, players will flail their way by gripping, climbing, swinging and flinging themselves across the screen to the finish in the hope of not plummeting to their death. If a player dies, they are taken back to the start or to a nearby checkpoint in longer round ending levels. Solo mode is good fun and allows players to play through the various levels at their own pace but co-operative mode is where the game really shines, making and more often breaking friendships. As players tug and tussle their way across the screen things can quickly go from bad to worse and on numerous occasions we found ourselves holding our breath or crying out in disbelief as we all plummeted to our doom.

In co-operative mode there are tokens placed around that must be grabbed and carried to the exit, usually requiring at least 2 players to succeed. Hidden mini games are also available for players if they can pull a golden rope within a short window of time, succeeding in those games will also reward tokens. Tokens can be used to unlock further cosmetic items from a lucky dip on the main menu. Players get to choose a colour and costume that reflects them before they begin, from simple facial features like hair or beards to full outfits like clowns or cowboys. There are also a handful of Devolver Digital Easter egg outfits to unlock.

The art style is kept purposefully simple which helps highlight platforms, obstacles and hazards but also looks fantastic and adds to the wacky aesthetics. Contrasting colours and simple shapes means that even the novice gamer can join in and have some fun. Controls can sometimes feel a bit fiddly or awkward but it does feel as this was done on purpose to add to the frantic nature of the game which is fine in co-operative but not so much in solo mode. Every time a new round is started from the menu and players choose their character, a quick tutorial can also be played which is great for new players. Game difficulty also has a steady ramp up to it that teaches the mechanics and new puzzle elements nice and gradually. Once all the main levels are completed, a far more sinister set of alternate levels are also unlocked that adds a myriad of extra hazards to every level in the game.

Heave Ho is an amazingly simple but rewarding party game that will have groups in tears of both joy and sadness. It is a game that shouldn’t be missed, that will easily make it on to a group’s regular party game rotation.

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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: Heavo Ho [Nintendo Switch eShop code] was kindly provided by PowerUp PR for this review.

 

 

Star Wars Pinball – Switch Review

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What do you get when you mash together the world’s biggest pop culture franchise with one of the best video pinball developers on the planet? You guessed it, you get Zen Studios‘ Star Wars Pinball!

Zen Studios has somehow crammed 19 Star Wars themed pinball tables on this Switch release, which are damn brilliant and will satisfy any discerning Jedi pinball master – we were going to say wizard, but we reckon that has been done to death. The superlatives don’t just end there, there are additional features and modes that are exclusive on the Nintendo Switch, like HD Rumble, Vertical Play (grab your Flip Grip!), Cantina Jukebox, Galactic Struggle and Career Mode to name just a few.

As the title suggest, this is a pinball game at heart, meaning it is easy to get into and instantly enjoyable to flip the silver-ball. This is thanks to Zen Studios honing their skill in creating wonderful pinball experiences on consoles. The added bonus here is that the whole package is wrapped up in all things Star Wars. If you scratch the surface of this title and start looking deeper, there is a lot of content that will keep you playing for a long long time (in a galaxy nearby).

As mentioned, the unique gameplay modes on the Switch allow players to participate in community-wide Galactic struggles, allowing for contribution points to the light or dark side, depending on how you feel. Likewise, the new career mode allows players to join the ranks of the Jedi or Sith as they achieve up to 50 career ranks, and simply playing any table unlocks special Force Power bonuses that can be applied toward bigger scores. Playing any table unlocks special Force Power bonuses that can be applied towards bigger scores, and a Force Training mode to help pinball Padawans maximize their flipping potential.

The 19 Star Wars pinball tables are centred around the movies and TV show franchises, with iconic characters, memorable locations, and general Star Wars goodness:

  • Movies Adaptations: Episodes IV, V, VI, VII and VIII, plus Rogue One: A Star Wars™ Story and Solo: A Star Wars™ Story
  • TV Adaptations: Star Wars™: The Clone Wars™, Star Wars Rebels™
  • Characters: Han Solo, Darth Vader, Lando Calrissian in The Calrissian Chronicles table, Boba Fett, Droids
  • Locations: Ahch-To Island, Mimban (Battle of Mimban)
  • Themes: Jedi vs. Sith (Masters of the Force), X-wings vs. TIE fighters (Starfighter Assault), being the bad guy (Might of the First Order)

No matter which side you choose, Light or Dark, Jedi or Sith, you will Feel the Force in Zen Studios’ Star Wars Pinball on the Nintendo Switch. We highly recommend you give this awesome game a flip!

Disclosure: Star Wars Pinball [Nintendo Switch eShop code] was kindly provided by Zen Studios for this review.

 

 

The Fast and the Furious: Agent Shaw Video Game?

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By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

I finally watched the Fast & Furious spinoff film “Hobbs & Shaw.” It was better than I expected. As I was watching the film, I thought, this would make a great video game. Certain action sequences would be perfect for a combat on different levels video game.

Dwayne Johnson and Jason Stratham had great chemistry; their dynamic was fun, but Vanesa Kirby as Agent Hattie Shaw stole the film out from under the two stars. She gave a standout, humorous performance that made my friend ask, when we were leaving the theatre, “Who was that?” Kirby gained attention in small roles in “The Crown” and “Mission Impossible: Fallout.” They were small, but she shined in both roles. I enjoyed her character so much, a new Fast & Furious video game centered on her MI-6 character could be intriguing.

There are several games based on the Fast & Furious franchise, but they are mostly driving, race based games. I’ve played a Fast & Furious driving game at an arcade and it was a lot of fun. However, it was slightly on the expensive side when it came to tokens.

image source: commonsensemedia

I’ve heard a rumor that an animated series based on characters from the Fast & Furious franchise is in the development stages; I believe for Netflix? Agent Shaw’s character would be perfect for a 30-minute cartoon. Perhaps Vanessa Kirby could voice the animated version of her character. Action packed animated series are hot at the moment, and the Fast & Furious name gets viewer’s attention.

An Agent Shaw game could be a first-person-shooter effort but the gaming industry seems to be saturated with them. And if you’re not Fortnite right now, it’s difficult to carve out your own niche in the market as a FPS game. With some really creative developers, a game similar to the Tomb Raider or Resident Evil series could be successful if done with some passion and Fast & Furious insight.

Goldeneye, one of the greatest first-person-shooter games, was based on a movie franchise. Like that classic, Agent Shaw could be just as thrilling with a modern-day spy feel to it.

Streets of Rage 4 Platforms and New Character Revealed

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As huge fans of the classic Mega Drive beat’em up series, Streets of Rage, this news about Streets of Rage 4 has definitely got us very very excited!

Let’s get straight to it, fans looking forward to playing Streets of Rage 4 next year will be able to do so on their platform of choice, as publisher and co-developer Dotemu (Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap, Windjammers 1 and 2) with co-developers Lizardcube (Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap) and Guard Crush Games (Streets of Fury) today announced that the title will make its way on to PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch – now that is awesome news! Oh yeah, a brand new gameplay trailer released today also introduced the latest character to join Blaze Fielding and Axel Stone: a badass guitar-playing warrior named Cherry Hunter.


source: DotEmu

Cherry Hunter is the daughter of Adam Hunter from the original Streets of Rage. Trained by her father and Axel, Cherry learned self-defense from a young age. Her interest in following in her father’s footsteps and becoming a cop soon faded out, replaced by her love of music. Nowadays, she plays with her electro progressive rock band in some of the most dangerous places in Wood Oak City. She may look young but make no mistake – she is a seasoned veteran of kicking ass and taking names.

The new trailer also reveals several more levels in the upcoming game at different times of day:  neon lighted urban rooftops, elevator, seedy airport hangars, dirty sewers, thumping music stage and many more are all yours for the taking – lay the smackdown and don’t look back.

Just in case you have been living in a cave, Streets of Rage 4 will be the first entry to the core series in 25 years, standing as Axel and Blaze’s glorious return to serving up side-scrolling beatdowns. With lush hand-drawn animations, new combat abilities, and fresh tracks from an amazing team of composers, Streets of Rage 4 will be a masterful tribute to and revitalization of the classic action fans adore.

To keep your skull-cracking combo on the latest Streets of Rage 4 news going, head over to www.streets4rage.com, visit www.facebook.com/StreetsofRage4!

image source: Games Press

 

TAITO’S 80’s Cult Bubble Bobble Gets Sequel Exclusively for Nintendo Switch

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After more than 10 years, a sequel to the iconic video game classic will finally be released exclusively for Nintendo Switch via ININ Games and Strictly Limited Games!

After a long decade, Nintendo Switch players can now look forward to a sequel to the cult 80’s game series Bubble Bobble by TAITO. The new Bubble Bobble 4 Friends was developed by the original studio TAITO Corporation and will include a brand new local 4-player mode. The sequel will be released both digitally and physically exclusively for Nintendo Switch in Europe on November 19, 2019, with the release in the USA to follow in the first quarter of 2020.

As in the previous highly popular series, the thrilling and epic bubble fight starts again!

One night, a child’s room became enfolded by a miraculous light and every object under its rays suddenly came to life – including the child’s most favourite toy, the little dragon called Bub. Full of jealousy, the wicked magician Baron von Blubba challenges the friendly dragon to battle.

In the ’80s and ’90s, the players jumped through the levels either solo or in the two-player mode. In the new part of the popular Bubble Bobble series, a 4-player cooperative mode is integrated, providing even more fun with friends.

“Bubble Bobble is an extremely popular title in Europe, so we decided to implement a pre-sale in Europe in conjunction with ININ Games and Strictly Limited Games. It is also the first internally developed title since Taito has re-entered the consumer market, and the development team is thrilled to be working on this famous IP. I deeply hope that many people will enjoy it” says Hiroshi Uemura, Executive Officer, Division Manager of Development, TAITO CORPORATION.

Collectors can look forward to the Collector’s Edition of Bubble Bobble 4 Friends, distributed exclusively by Strictly Limited Games. The ININ publishing label markets the retail versions and digital releases on the Nintendo eShop.

We honestly can’t wait for Bubble Bobble 4 Friends! 🙂

News story and image source: Games Press

 

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.