Sol Cresta can be a little annoying with its mechanics for anyone who is willing to take the time to get good at it. There are way better scrolling shooters already on Nintendo Switch and the one thing that makes this one notable is the pedigree behind it. At the very least, the music is pure fire and energy - some of Koshiro's best work to date.

The online module of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R is effectively broken and useless. Everything feels way too slow and unresponsive. Matches will also end randomly or never happen at all. However, the local play works exactly as intended and the story mode is as entertaining as the goofy and boisterous manga that it is based on. At the end of the day, Araki's style and the strong JoJo flavour is what elevates this Tekken-like fighting game from being completely average.

Cuphead & The Delicious Last Course is absolutely recommended to anyone who never played the original when it came out. Everyone else will get lots of fun out of the DLC, but it all depends on how much the vanilla game was enjoyed. Cuphead & The Delicious Last Course is more of the same, and for some people, Cuphead is already an acquired taste.

There are few indie horror titles as awesome at catching that fixed camera horror game aesthetic as Song of Horror and even less that reach the nail-biting tension on display here. The constant fear of losing a character permanently is a kicker but it really enhances the experience, making each choice drastically more important. The visual design and story should keep players entranced as they confront the horrors of the music box mystery! All horror fans deserve this title in their library.

Although not all areas felt the benefits of the remaster, like tutorials for the battle system, Tales of Symphonia Remastered allows a new generation of gamers to experience this classic. Overall, it is an excellent game, the cute graphics look gorgeous in HD, and the gripping story and lovable characters are mesmerising for returning and new fans alike.

Potion Craft is a great little indie title, offering a deep enough system for players to get lost in and play for a long time, but balanced enough for shorter play sessions to satisfy. Its aesthetic and atmosphere increase the enjoyment of its core mechanics. Highly recommended to players of all ilks.

For a game called Buddy Simulator 1984, the "1984" part is not as crucial an aspect as one would think. The game transforms and reinvents itself several times over as the story unfolds, and a majority of these are nowhere near as crude as actual computer software from the mid 1980s. There are some genuinely fun scares to compliment a clingy and abusive AI friend. The command line mechanic may not work as intended on a console controller, but at least the soundtrack is incredible.

Yomawari: Lost in the Dark is more of the same. The custom avatar was an almost meaningless addition and it plays itself extremely safe. Fortunately, those who are looking to play an atmospheric and moody horror game will find that this latest entry is just as scary as the rest. There are some choice jump moments and the ambiance keeps players in a constant state of dread and unease.

Like past SIACTRO titles, Super Kiwi 64 does have a lot of secrets and even has a password mechanic where players can play with other skins if they find the codes hidden in the levels. It isn't a deep game and, as mentioned earlier, it is over in about an hour. However, Super Kiwi 64 is a very pleasant and cathartic experience for anyone who grew up playing Nintendo 64 or for children who are learning to play 3D games. There are not too many obstacles, most threats aren't threatening, and Kiwi's mobility and tight controls make him manageable for neophytes.

Q.U.B.E. 10th Anniversary goes for a stark and minimalistic style. This is still present in the more detailed and gritty look of this re-release and the new details elevate the ambiance. There isn't much that could have been done to what could laughingly be referred to as the "story". The plot is exactly the same as it was, recycling the exact voice over narration of two characters. Interestingly, Q.U.B.E. 10th Anniversary offers a mode that edits out all story development involving characters and background music that drives the narrative. This mode borders on being pointless, but playing the game in this manner does change the atmosphere and adds a stronger sense of mystery due to the lack of explanation of everything.

Somerville's greatest flaw is just how boring it is. It is more of a walking-sim than a platforming-adventure game. Reactive objects are also colour-coded yellow, so there is never any question about what to do. This robs any sense of discovery in a title that is already so tightly focused on pushing players forward. The terribly slow walking speed will pad out Somerville's length to around four to five hours, when there is maybe only two hours of actual substance. Traditionally, these kinds of games are short but make up for it with excellent pacing. Somerville feels like a flatline for most of the entire run.

Graphically, some of the areas look great, and the story is interesting at points. The biggest problem that really drags down the experience is that combat is basic, repetitive, and ultimately uninspiring. The slot system is far more annoying than anything, and for how often players are in combat, it burns out quickly. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion feels more like a game that would be better to watch for the story, while skipping the gameplay. Zack deserved better than this.

Elden Ring serves as a testament to open world video game design. There is a true sense of accomplishment once that rock-hard enemy has been slain and, something that compels a player to relentlessly do it over and over again until they succeed is truly rewarding. The world is humongous and an epitome of how exploration should be encouraged, by intriguing players to see what is over the hill. Elden Ring is an unmissable, must-play, gaming experience with surprises galore.

The Quarry is a good piece of cinematography and storytelling, lost in its medium of choice. The gameplay elements aren't particularly fun, nor worthwhile replaying. The cutscenes are good the first time around, but are certainly get a bit grating the longer the game goes on. Standout performances from the actors certainly carry The Quarry, and it is worthwhile playing through the story at least once, but the second time around feels too much of a chore. The Quarry is the definition of a weekend rental.

FIFA 23 is perfectly serviceable, the gluttony of FIFA fans won't find much to complain about. Truth be told, the formula is so one-dimensional that it is hard to get wrong after iterating on the same product year after year. Subtle tweaks to gameplay do mix things up, but not enough has been done to refresh the modes on offer. Either EA are out of ideas, or they are storing them up for their next game in their new franchise. Anyone looking a football game in 2023 though should certainly stick with the tried and tested FIFA.

Stray is an awesome looking game, with a neon-cyberpunk world that feels like it is alive. The run-time is short enough that the gameplay loop of solving puzzles via finding random items scattered throughout the world is well complemented from sequences that require running from area to area without getting caught by local mutated predators. While Stray is pretty to look at and is fun while it lasts the limitations of movement and rather simplistic puzzles hold this back from being greater than it could have been.

Small bugbear aside, inbento is so charming and simple that it is hard to put down once it gets going. It's a solid puzzle title that starts out super easy and accessible but ramps up far enough to challenge players who want more. It's a great little package full of heart that deserves a pickup from puzzle fans.

Like The Orange Box before it, Portal: Companion Collection is one of the greatest compilations assembled. It is the complete Portal experience, with all the fixings and extras one would hope for and then some. Both titles are excellent, and still hold up better than one would think. They always felt like they belonged on a Nintendo console. They embody its spirit of innovation and creativity, while being wrapped in comfy sardonic blanket, which feels right at home on Switch, be it on the big screen or on-the-go.

By the time A Plague Tale: Requiem concludes, it will feel like being dragged by a pick-up truck, across miles of concrete. The world depicted is a bleak and cruel one with no light at the end of the tunnel. Players will be getting their money's worth, as this is a very long game that is punctuated with lots of gimmicky sequences that add value to the package. The story does have a lot for fans to discuss, and the visuals are amazing, even if they came at the cost of a high frame rate. The gameplay is technically better than the first, but it was never amazing to begin with. The over reliance on prebaked contextual actions and the rigidness of simplistic stealth is something most could expect from a seventh gen console title, not a ninth gen console release.

The Gunvolt series was one of the better, and cooler, platformer series in recent history; unfortunately the most recent games have just been entirely mediocre. Much like the previous Luminous Avenger, all the pieces are there for an absolute fantastic game, but it never comes together. Regrettably, the story in Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 is the weakest in the series, and the two main characters are far more annoying than entertaining.

Not being content with being one of the most soulless products released under the Warner Bros. label, it is also extremely underwhelming from a technical point of view. Gotham Knights was originally developed as a multi-gen title, but PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions got cancelled. Despite this, the visuals underwhelm and fail to impress and manage to look worse than the last major Batman instalment released seven years prior. Capping at a mere 30fps might be excusable if this boasted the most cutting edge visuals on the market, but it manages to look cheap and dated. For a AAA production from Warner Bros., this should have been a visual tour de force, with top writing talent, and have evolved the gameplay to compete with its contemporaries. Maybe it can be salvaged over time with updates, but currently it's one of the most droll and sloppily designed triple-A products of 2022.

Not being content with being one of the most soulless products released under the Warner Bros. label, it is also extremely underwhelming from a technical point of view. Gotham Knights was originally developed as a multi-gen title, but PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions got cancelled. Despite this, the visuals underwhelm and fail to impress and manage to look worse than the last major Batman instalment released seven years prior. Capping at a mere 30fps might be excusable if this boasted the most cutting edge visuals on the market, but it manages to look cheap and dated. For a AAA production from Warner Bros., this should have been a visual tour de force, with top writing talent, and have evolved the gameplay to compete with its contemporaries. Maybe it can be salvaged over time with updates, but currently it's one of the most droll and sloppily designed triple-A products of 2022.

There is far more to Moero Crystal H than its mature and perhaps more widely advertised aspects initially indicate. Fans of both the genre and the cute graphics style will easily take over forty hours to complete the main story, and then collect all the adorable monster girls, maxing out their friendships and making their rooms at the inn luxurious. This humour filled, slightly niche title is certainly at home on Nintendo Switch, has next to no gripes apart from the mini games being outside some players' personal comfort zones, and hopefully the series may get expanded one day.

Series fans will find something to enjoy, yet those simply looking a fighting experience with friends will find this to be frustrating. Considering the studio's history, and the nature of the source material, this could be a natural win, but this is something that is fundamentally flawed. The Story Mode balancing results in far too little actual gameplay, and too much time on slow plodding wanderings through uninspired areas. When it comes to the actual playing, the combat is just as flawed as the rest of it all. Slow, easy to abuse, and repetitive. The only saving graces are the retelling of the source material itself along with the combination of the signature CyberConnect cinematic battles. It's such a shame, but it seems CyberConnect has gone backwards with this adaptation, losing every step of progress they moved on with each subsequent iteration of the Ninja Storm series. Thankfully, the huge popularity of the series almost guarantees there'll be more to come with this series, and CyberConnect may have the chance to revisit the world of Demon Slayer.

The relatively short nature of the races within Kirby's Dream Buffet, the way everyone, even those who come last, gain points in a race, and the ease to join in multiplayer online or team up with friends makes this latest Kirby game a real treat to play on Nintendo Switch. The variety of race themes, costumes, and Kirby colours provide good reasons to replay it, and the solo adventure is as fun as teaming up with friends or random players. There is almost no downside, only disappointment when losing but on the easiest mode it is possible to win with very little experience.

Street Fighter 6 in it's simplest form remains a fantastic, fun experience, retaining the same gameplay that has been tweaked and improved throughout the years to ensure it remains top of the pile. Jarring attempts to meet the needs of young players alongside a World Tour mode that fails to meet the hype placed upon it however, stop this from being an essential purchase. Stick to Arcade Mode and enjoy what made this franchise so great in the first place. A fantastic fighter is there, just buried under the fluff.

Highly addictive and impressively expansive, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is exactly what a sequel should be: bigger, better and more ambitious. Whether or not you liked Fallen Order, this is worth your time if you're a die-hard Star Wars fan or if you enjoy action-fuelled adventures that keep you on the edge of your seat. It's not perfect, but even if you assess it for its ambition alone, it's one of the standout titles of this generation so far and a really, really good Star Wars title.

Under the Warehouse has a nice, surreal, "is it all a dream?" vibe, but that's all it has, to be honest, because gameplay-wise it's nothing more than a two hour-long chore of fetching items for NPCs again, and again, and again… and occasionally solving a simplistic puzzle or two.