Pokémon Scarlet & Violet definitely suffer from underdone development, and I hope the final behind-the-scenes reaction at Nintendo and Game Freak is to give the series' dev team more time to work on future sequels. We don't need new generations so often! But the adventure of these games, the wonderful new set of Pokémon, the winning cast of human characters and a sensational story all work to save the experience and make them worth playing and enjoying, warts and all. [Issue #63 – January/February 2023, p. 75]

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet definitely suffer from underdone development, and I hope the final behind-the-scenes reaction at Nintendo and Game Freak is to give the series' dev team more time to work on future sequels. We don't need new generations so often! But the adventure of these games, the wonderful new set of Pokémon, the winning cast of human characters and a sensational story all work to save the experience and make them worth playing and enjoying, warts and all. [Issue #63 – January/February 2023, p. 75]

With its mature themes, Digimon Survive provides a refreshing take on the franchise and fits into the series' canon in a really cool way. I hope we get more Digimon games exploring new directions like this! [Issue #63 – January/February 2023, p. 73]

Harvestella is exactly the kind of game that would theoretically get everything right in a sequel. Its mix of action and farming isn't what every sim fan wants, its combat is hacky and it was clearly made on a budget. But its seeds have now been sown, and I hope they get a chance to flourish. [Issue #63 – January/February 2023, p. 72]

While it's less consistently fantastic than Bayonetta 2, there's probably three times as much game here, and it's all more over-the-top than ever. It'll keep fans happy for a long time. [Issue #63 – January/February 2023, p. 71]

This is a fun and challenging little collection, but the fact there's no English dubbing really holds me back from giving it a higher score, and the inclusion of the virtual coin pusher also gives me pause. It's probably better to play this with older kids who don't mind hearing Japanese dialogue. [Issue #63 – January/February 2023, p. 69]

This game is finally tapping into the kind of potential the license provides! [Issue #63 – January/February 2023, p. 68]

The developers who gave us the original Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle in 2017 and then its Donkey Kong DLC campaign one year later could have very easily kicked back, rested on their laurels and put themselves on auto-pilot to deliver similarly structured sequels for the rest of the Switch life cycle -- and beyond! And yet they rejected the chance to take such an easy path. [Issue #63 – January/February 2023, p. 66]

If you're like me and can't get enough classic-style golf, give Easy Come Easy Golf a try. It's not quite a hole-in-one, but still a sub-par game. (That's good, right?) [Issue #63 – January/February 2023, p. 25]

If you're a diehard Octopath fan and want to dive further into the lore, then this game is for you; otherwise, it's going to go completely over your head, and you'd be better off sticking with the core series on the Switch. [Issue #63 – January/February 2023, p. 24]

Has Nintendo doomed this game to repetition in its racetrack roster now? [Issue #63 – January/February 2023, p. 22]

Haiku, the Robot is a fantastic take on a crowded genre. It's fast, challenging, charming and almost always fun to explore. It's not perfect, but it's earned its place among the greats in its class. [Issue #63 – January/February 2023, p. 21]

ElecHead is a spectacularly simple, immensely engaging puzzler and platformer. [Issue #63 – January/February 2023, p. 20]

Nobody Saves the World takes the joke a little too far, forcing the player to go through the same motions over and over, to the point where it feels like the game is laughing at you, rather than with you. [Issue #63 – January/February 2023, p. 19]

Individuals who can effortlessly slip in and out of relaxation will find it a thought-provoking playground, but if you're like me, Paradise Marsh may wind up just another item cleared from your backlog. [Issue #63 – January/February 2023, p. 18]

The team that created Wizorb at Tribute Games have gone on to great things in the last 10 years. It's fun to be able to turn back the clock and revisit some of their earlier work, especially when you can tell that their talent was already firmly established even in 2011. [Issue #63 – January/February 2023, p. 17]

Splatoon 3 went live in September, and ever since it launched I've had to will myself to stay away from it. I'm a grown man with a family! I've got a lot of responsibilities! So why do I keep feeling compelled to stay up into the wee hours of the morning shooting virtual ink at strangers? [Issue #62 – November/December 2022, p. 74]

This is an experience tailored solely for rabid JoJo fans and no one else. On the bright side, it makes for a perfect excuse to finally hop aboard the JoJo train! Only after emerging from that rabbit hole can you enjoy All-Star Battle R for what it is. [Issue #62 – November/December 2022, p. 73]

Even with its narrative failings, I consider my time with nirvanA Initiative well spent. Whether or not it surpasses the original is entirely down to personal preference, but either way it's a must-play for both veteran and budding visual novel aficionados. [Issue #62 – November/December 2022, p. 72]

If you're a fan of JRPGs, enjoy deep interconnected stories and interesting characters, give Trails from Zero a try. There are no more barriers in your way! [Issue #62 – November/December 2022, p. 71]

Frustrations aside, I will say that at its core, Pac-Man World Re-Pac is still a solid platformer. You have to get yourself into a 1999 frame of mind in order to appreciate its action, but once you do, you can genuinely enjoy the quest to rescue Pac-Man's guests. [Issue #62 – November/December 2022, p. 69]

Getting all these titles with minimal compromise? That's awesome! Righteous! Bossa nova!. . . Chevy Nova? Or simply: Cowabunga! [Issue #62 – November/December 2022, p. 68]

I began XC3 knowing I'd enjoy it because of the fun I had with the previous games. What I didn't expect was for this to become one of my favorite JPRGs of all-time! With its engaging open world, engrossing combat system, loveable characters and gripping story, this game is a masterpiece of the genre! [Issue #62 – November/December 2022, p. 67]

Overall, Kirby's Dream Buffet is delightful, and makes me hopeful that more mid-tier games starring Nintendo's biggest names could make their way into the eShop in the future. Not every game has to be an epic journey! Sometimes it's nice to just have one slice of cake. [Issue #62 – November/December 2022, p. 30]

Overall I really did enjoy my time with Return to Monkey Island. It has multiple endings, difficulty settings, ghost chickens, and a metric ton of stuff to discover. My personal gripes aside, it was clearly made with a lot of care, and is probably the best-playing game in the series. Fan or not, I recommend giving it a go. [Issue #62 – November/December 2022, p. 29]

Bear & Breakfast has its share of issues, but it's filled with great characters, wonderful visuals and pretty sweet music. Hopefully it's a little more stable by the time this issue goes to print, and the devs implement some more U.I. improvements. My 3-star review: It's OK, but would be better with some extra polish. [Issue #62 – November/December 2022, p. 28]

I've got to give credit to the incredible sprite art and wonderful animation of the characters, but don't let their cutesy appearance fool you: Cursed to Golf is a truly punishing experience that isn't well suited for kids who might otherwise be drawn in by its style. Hit these links only if you're a dedicated golfer who's ready to tap into the fullest extent of your patience. [Issue #62 – November/December 2022, p. 27]

Card Shark is an interesting concept with an imaginative story, great visuals and great music, but it was a little on the short side, and the cons with a lot of moving parts got repetitive. If Aviary Attorney whetted your appetite for games set in historic France, follow it up with this one! [Issue #62 – November/December 2022, p. 26]