DeVuego ES_COR

I liked that each of the characters in Nuclear Corps: Veterans in Fukushima had a different set of special skills that were used to complete each level. Unfortunately, the puzzle design feels a bit unintuitive, and the difficulty curve is a bit harsh as well.

Ruin Raiders is a good option for fans of turn-based tactical roguelike games. You’ll be pushed to explore “just one more ruin” as you try to collect enough Entium to make one more update to your structures so that you can make some permanent progress that will make the next run a bit easier. The game’s art style does feel a bit generic at times, but the gameplay is what really helps this one keep you coming back for more. Ruin Raiders is out with a $19.99 asking price.

If you’re looking for a colorful and fun puzzle game with a new twist, then Indigo 7: Quest for love can certainly scratch that itch. There’s a bit of a learning curve as you get to learn the combo system and better understand the peculiarities of each of the game modes, but then it all clicks with ease. I do have to mention that I ran into a bug that would make it so the game would not recognize any inputs from the D-Pad or the left analog stick to select colors – which forced me to close the game and load it up again – that will hopefully be addressed soon by way of a patch. Indigo 7: Quest for love is out on PlayStation 4 with a $14.99 asking price.

Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX is a good remake of the Master System classic, revamped with new graphics, new music, and rebalanced gameplay. It doesn’t stray far from the source material, which was needed in order to be able to switch between the remake’s graphics and music and the original’s game look and feel, but it does throw some new levels into the mix. This does mean that you’re looking at around 2-3 hours to beat the entire game at most, depending on your experience with 2D action platformers in which a single hit is all it takes to kill you. Once you save the land, you’ll unlock a Boss Rush Mode, as well as Classic Mode, which features the original Alex Kidd in Miracle World in all its glory. Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX is available on PlayStation 4 with a $19.99 price.

If you’re looking for a short but fun beat ‘em up on Playstation 4 that pays homage to classics such as Final Fight and Streets of Rage, then Itadaki Smash is a good option. It does not reinvent the wheel, but it has a good flow, a colorful presentation, and local co-op for up to two players, along with a Platinum trophy. Itadaki Smash is out on PlayStation 4 with a $14.99 price.

The Five Covens showed some promise but it, unfortunately, fails to deliver. The controls feel as if they were closer to the tank controls for 3D games of the 1990s than what you’d expect from a platformer releasing in 2021, and it feels as if it was aimed at younger gamers, yet features platforming sections that will end up frustrating them very early in their run. The Five Covens is out on PlayStation 4 with a $12.99 asking price.

Horned Knight is an old-school infused 2D action-platformer on PlayStation 4 that could use a bit more variety. The controls feel a bit off at first, but you should get used to them after completing a handful of stages at most. It’s a minimalist arcade-style game with 32 levels to complete, two difficulty settings, and some bosses to challenge you along the way. Horned Knight is available on PlayStation 4 with a budget $5.99 asking price.

Naught is a fun 2D platformer with a solid difficulty curve… for most of the time. The one complaint I’d have is that the levels that feature walls full of spikes in which you have to be extremely precise about how you twist around the level drive the difficulty up to 11, while the stage immediately following each of these stages goes back to the steady difficulty climb experienced before. Other than that, it’s an entertaining experience that will challenge your senses and coordination.

Purrs In Heaven is a challenging but fun puzzle platformer with a great pixel art style, easy to understand gameplay mechanics and a steady difficulty curve that will have you trying out new stuff at a steady pace. 

I’ve been waiting to play the final version of HyperParasite for a while now, and I’m happy to report that the wait has been worth it. The game’s retro art style and synthwave soundtrack certainly help to make this one stand out on Nintendo Switch. HyperParasite is a full-on homage to the 1980s and is packed with pop culture references that give a huge nod to that era. You will run in so-called “heroes” that are parodies of beloved icons such as Rocky Balboa, Peter Venkman, John McClane, and more. 

SuperEpic: The Entertainment War is a charming, funny, and entertaining Metroidvnia that pays homage to classic 2D action games such as Mega Man, Metroid, and Castlevania, with a lot of references to other games that in some gamers eyes are not going to fit into the Metroidvania genre – see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turles on the Nintendo Entertainment System. As commentary on the free to play model and how microtransactions are running gaming in general, and what the world would look like if a single company controlled all of the video games… and said company is all full of pigs. As in, pig the animal – see the game’s trailer. This is a solid Metroidvania on Nintendo Switch for $17.99, and one you should definitely check out!

Fun and clever 2D minimalist adventure that is a must-have on Nintendo Switch

Zeroptian Invasion is a fun minimalist arcade-style release that pays homage to video games of ages past such as Space Invaders. It’s an easy pick up and play experience that focuses on the action as you try to stay alive in your fight to defend the planet system from the zeptorian aliens. Plus, you know, two quick Platinum trophies for the price of one!

Bleep Bloop is a game that you can finish in a few hours depending on your expertise with puzzle games, and it’s a fun experience until the end. It’s certainly a minimalist indie game, and it’s making the Nintendo Switch its home, which definitely feels just right. If you’re looking for a relaxing and colorful puzzle game to play at home or on the go either by yourself or with a friend in some hectic local co-op session during which you will probably end up shouting instructions at each other, then be sure to give Bleep Bloop a look!

Timothy vs the Aliens from Wild Sphere is a fun action platformer on PlayStation 4. It is not without its flaws, such as when there is some slow down during crowded fights or when the prompt for the Circle button remains in the screen even after you activate, but is a good indie release you will enjoy. It will take you around 3-5 hours to complete the game and get your Platinum trophy, depending on how long you take to find all collectibles.