Harry Padoan
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TechRadar Gaming Latest Reviews
Kirby Air Riders feels like a combination of Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. at their most chaotic. You’ll have to carefully balance battering rival riders while also out-speeding them, all while mastering seemingly simple controls – controls that actually require significant skill to master. The game is vibrant and visually stimulating, and also offers a great line-up of characters and customization tools. But it’s not quite perfect. City Trials can feel anticlimactic on occasion, and I wasn’t quite won over by the story mode or limited set of courses. Still, Kirby Air Riders offers the frenetic multiplayer fun I want from my Nintendo Switch 2, and in the end, makes for a successful oddball racer.
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is an absolute triumph. It brings a gorgeous visual overhaul, addictive turn-based combat, and top-tier quality of life updates to the table. I was wowed by its orchestral score, and by the high-reward exploration throughout. Voice acting is brilliant too – I just wish there was more of it. Overall, this is a shining example of what a remake should be, and playing through this duology has been a real highlight of my year in gaming.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is a faithful, yet expanded remaster of a genre-defining classic that gets it right where it matters most. Upgraded visuals, a fast-forward option, and auto-saving go a long way in making Tactics accessible for returning fans and newcomers alike. The voice acting is, at times, a little underwhelming, the camera can still be a touch awkward, and some difficulty spikes can be crushing. But still, an epic story, great score, and pleasingly deep combat make this a must-play for tactical RPG fanatics.
Drag x Drive is undoubtedly original and shows off the effectiveness of the Switch 2’s mouse mode pretty well. 3v3 matches are decent fun to hop into if you’ve got a spare few minutes, and the controls are generally intuitive. But as intuitive as they may be, those controls do get tiring on the arms after a little while. Additionally, the game is visually uninspired, lacking the vibrancy and character we all expect from Nintendo titles. In the end, Drag x Drive is a bit of a mixed bag, and only time will tell if it’s got enough sauce to hold down a loyal playerbase.
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army serves as a faithful, yet significantly refined take on its source material. It stays close to its PS2 roots visually, while adding much-needed quality of life improvements like a fresh UI and enhanced 3D environments. Expressive voice acting and a fantastic array of demons also add color to an engaging, mysterious plot. Unfortunately, there are some aspects that don’t quite land – demon investigations feel a little flat and combat, though improved, can feel a tad clunky at times. All in all, though, this is a lovingly crafted remaster that had me hooked throughout.