Charlie Wacholz
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Writing For
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DualShockers
Nintendo Life
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Fast Fusion is a well-made sequel which relies on the same formula that has proven itself across four generations of Nintendo consoles.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown is a fun, if barebones, tactics game reminiscent of the arcade classics that define this series.
Shotgun Cop Man is an action platformer nostalgia trip that hits just about every shot it fires, from its refined movement to its distinct level design.
Rift of the NecroDancer is a clever rhythm game that innovates on some of the genre’s best ideas.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a lovingly made Indiana Jones simulator, and I mean that in the best ways possible. It’s an absolute thrill to travel the world as Indy and take part in a story whose quality measures up to the stuff I love the most about the films. Even when I’m shaking my fist in anger at some frustrating, outdated design decision in a combat encounter, you had better believe I’m picking my controller right back up so I can make a mad dash to the next mysterious puzzle or fun story beat. I can’t wait to hop back into my finished save file and go scrounge every nook and cranny for more cutscenes, lore, and Nazi-punching action.
Horizon Chase 2 isn't going to set the world on fire. No matter how fun it is to fly across the highway at blazing speed, no amount of speed can disguise the fairly limited breadth of content available. In fact, that speed only makes courses blur together even more. Ultimately, you're left with a fun but shallow arcade racer that feels disappointingly shaky on Switch.
Gloomhaven's gameplay is deeply challenging and dense, and it almost always manages to provide a satisfying payoff in equal measure if you are able to look past its menus and control flaws (and can stomach its load times on Switch). It isn't for the faint of heart, but those who stick with its complex, card-centric tactical gameplay will find a great strategy game.
Chants of Sennaar is defined by its peaks as its valleys. For every moment of mind-blowing, brilliant puzzle design comes an inversely frustrating moment stymied by '90s adventure game logic. The game's ability to teach a player aspects of a language is awe-inspiring, and its way of guiding players along with as little information as possible is intensely rewarding—when it works. Even though it isn't for everyone (or consistently excellent), it's constantly impressive. If you're interested, we recommend checking out the free demo for the game that's available on the eShop, which will help let you know whether or not this game might be up your alley.
No matter how excellent its soundtrack or sense of momentum may be, there’s no shaking the sense that Bomb Rush Cyberfunk is in a race against its own sense of nostalgia. The game rips, but more often than not it feels like that's because Jet Set Radio ran before it. That’s not to say it’s bad, but part of what makes Jet Set Radio so fun and unique is its raw originality. Bomb Rush Cyberfunk feels like a sequel in everything but name—for better and for worse. For every banger in its soundtrack, there’s a moment of jank or a feeling that this game hasn’t left 2000. Again, it’s still a great time, but it’s lacking that lightning-in-a-bottle feel that JSR had. That’s totally fine, and for people who missed out on it, this will feel much fresher.