DeVuego ES_COR

Metroid Dread is a triumphant return for both Samus Aran and developer MercurySteam. This is a super-slick, hugely entertaining and exquisitely designed entry in the Metroid franchise that plays better than anything we've seen from the series so far. With a bunch of fantastic new abilities, super tense and enjoyable stealth sections, plenty of great big boss fights and a story that fans will definitely enjoy, we can't really see how this one could have been any better. Best Metroid game ever? This could be the one.

We can't pretend this isn't a disappointment. After promises of updates and improvements to this classic title, what we've got is something that we'd honestly not recommend to either prospective new fans or enthusiasts of the original Alex Kidd. We're inclined to think this may have been something of a rushed release, but that's pure speculation based on some of the more lax features (there's a lot of new dialogue but almost all of it is awkwardly written, with typos and errors). Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX is not horrible by any means, and you might have fun with it until you run up against its irritating issues — unless you use infinite lives, in which case you'll finish the game in two hours, tops. If this was supposed to be Alex Kidd's big comeback, we're sad to say that we don't think we'll be seeing that Alex Kidd: High-Tech World remake any time soon.

Ultimately, the gameplay just feels a bit slapstick, with messy movement, erratic ball controls, and shoddy AI. Its simplicity is immediately appealing, with quick matches allowing for short sessions while you’re out and about, but even with its quirky visual style, the liberties taken with its gameplay makes Super Soccer Blast: America vs Europe a tough game to recommend.

Godstrike in many ways feels like an early access game. There are glimpses of a better game in here somewhere, but the overall unpolished feel of its design and presentation really drag down the otherwise solid controls. Revising (or removing) the time mechanic and honing in on a more distinctive art style could’ve made this one a tentative recommendation but, as it stands, that's impossible. If you want a good boss rush game with similar gameplay, we’d recommend you pick up Furi; if you’re looking for a good shmup, there’s no shortage of those to be found on Switch. Either way, we wouldn't bother with this one unless you've exhausted all other options.

Narita Boy joins a plethora of entertainment franchises that pay homage to ‘80s culture. But where others have failed, Narita Boy transcends its inspiration with exceptional world building, a complex yet thoughtful narrative, and stunning combat gameplay. It occasionally feels a little too vague and abstract in its structure, and ultimately this holds it back from being a true masterpiece, but if you’re longing for a great Metroidvania title, then Narita Boy is absolutely what you’ve been waiting for.

With nothing to offer besides some pleasant storytelling, we cannot recommend Sword of the Necromancer on any meaningful level. It’s not horrible, but it’s bereft of both meaningful content and any manner of unique execution. A sequel or heavily-modified relaunch could salvage the game into something much stronger, as the core idea of resurrecting fallen monsters is a decent one, but its treatment here renders it irrelevant. What a shame. This could have been something special. It's not a complete and total disaster – occasionally, when the screen is a little busier, you might feel a flicker of engagement as you dash between combatants – but overall, we'll be leaving this one for dead.

With a bit more variation to its gameplay, Colossus Down could have been an easy recommendation. Despite its unlikeable main protagonist, there’s a heap of potential here that could well be realised if the developer decides to go for a sequel. As it is, it’s a great looking game that unfortunately falls foul to repetitive and shallow gameplay.

There’s an argument to be made here that the low entry price is perhaps reason enough for the experience you’ll be getting with Micro Pico Racers. Ultimately, though, racing games need to be fun, and this really isn’t that fun. It’s a shame, because the game isn’t broken in any way, and actually runs very well for the most part. But the gameplay just isn’t up to scratch, and you’ll be better off leaving this at the pit stop.

We won’t mince words here, Summer in Mara has absolutely nothing to offer that hasn’t been done much better in other games that are easily available right now. If you want a cozy farm sim with a pleasant atmosphere, get Stardew Valley or Rune Factory 4. If you want a thrilling adventure you can take at your own pace, get Minecraft or The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Even if you’ve played those and are looking for something new, please don’t waste your time or money here. This is not a 'hidden gem'; the alluring presentation of Summer in Mara only acts as a pretty mask for a much uglier game beneath the surface – one that’s keen on wasting your time with no meaningful payoff.

There's some pleasure to be found in the game's crisp cartoon art style, and a certain level of flair to the animated interludes. But then you encounter an atrocious auto-save system and a couple of loading screen freezes, and you're back to being miserable. Indiecalypse just isn't any fun to play. Maybe the very act of making these gaming parodies play so badly is a deep meta joke in and of itself. In which case, you got us. But we think the real joke is on the person who drops good money on this game.

We cannot wholeheartedly recommend Gigantosaurus: The Game to anyone. Young children who love the animated show may well get some limited enjoyment out of it, but with poor graphics, a total lack of any discernible challenge, and shocking technical issues, it’s yet another licensed title that feels like it was designed as a quick cash grab. Games like this need to become extinct, and fast.

Going into it, players might find the humour in SuperEpic a tad too cutting for their taste, but once a few floors have gone by, the laughs start to seep through in almost every aspect, including the way that Regnantcorp employees seem to constantly sleep at their desks and do no work. The tone of the game breaks up how grueling some of the combat can be when faced with a long corridor full of enemies that are incredibly annoying to fight, making for a much more well-balanced experience that feels more than at home on the Nintendo Switch. While it makes a point of poking fun at the state of the games industry, SuperEpic is also a lot of fun to play.

Asphalt 9: Legends is a free and surprisingly fun arcade racing game with mobile microtransaction free-to-play gubbins that could potentially ruin the experience for you, unless you’ve played enough mobile games to know how to ignore it. The reasonably priced Starting Racer Pack significantly lessens their impact, making it feel more like a ‘normal’ premium product, so if you try the free version and enjoy it, this – and this alone – is the sole purchase you should consider.

Blasphemous is a beautifully crafted Soulslike/Metroidvania action game set in a delightfully unhinged, deliriously gory world filled with well-designed enemies, satisfyingly meaty combat and some truly memorable and grotesque boss battles. Platforming sections are uniformly well-crafted and the whole thing comes together to create one of the most visually arresting and solidly enjoyable action titles currently available on Switch. Spanish developers The Game Kitchen have created a nightmare world in Cvstodia, one that will truly test your combat and platforming skills and leave you begging for more come that final bloody battle.

Etherborn looks fantastic, sounds incredible and revolves around a brilliant game mechanic that initially feels like it’s going to lead to some clever puzzles but ramps things up far too quickly and engulfs you with frustratingly complex stages while you’re still trying to find your feet. There’s still a great game in there, but you’ll need to have the patience of a saint to stumble up its 90-degree difficulty curve to find it.

With gorgeous pixellated graphics and a charming, uplifting soundtrack, Furwind is a delight to behold. Unfortunately, with some awkward controls and a lack of any original, engaging ideas, it falls short of being truly great, if only because the Switch is already home to some stellar platforming games that comfortably outshine this workmanlike effort. Still, if you’re a fan of the genre and you're looking for something to keep you busy during the summer months, Furwind’s impressive stage variation and challenging difficulty make it worth a look.

The Red Strings Club tells a brilliant cyberpunk tale that's full of big ideas and tough moral questions. Its gameplay sections are a little too flimsy and repetitive to keep pace, but you'll want to play through this memorable adventure nonetheless.

We’re very careful when we use this word, but Gris is a masterpiece. Its jaw-dropping visual style and heart-wrenching score combine for one of the most emotional pieces of interactive art you’ll ever play. It may be too short for some, its puzzles may be on the simple side and the lack of any real challenge may not be to everyone’s taste, but this is a game focused more on fragility than ability and as long as you’re willing to go along for the ride, it’s one that will stick with you for a very long time indeed.

Super Hyperactive Ninja is a great example of what happens when good concepts meet bad implementation; the coffee theme and Hyperactive Mode are both interesting things that could have potential if explored properly, but Super Hyperactive Ninja doesn’t do so. Cheap level design, uninspired visuals, and poor controls make this a game that’s difficult to recommend, but moments of enjoyable gameplay can still be found for those who look hard enough. Even so, there’s no shortage of excellent platformers on the eShop at the moment, so you’d be best served passing on this one. If you’re looking for a challenging, retro-inspired side scrolling ninja game, go play The Messenger instead.

STAY is a very unusual experience. Its unique approach to tracking time and using it as an influential factor on a character’s well-being makes it the kind of game you really need to try, but it’s one that comes with enough caveats that might make it less appealing to certain Switch owners. However, with some well-written dialogue, a mysterious house that keeps getting stranger and all manner of narrative paths, items, rooms and endings to unlock, there’s plenty here to warrant repeated plays. Just don’t nod off while you’re playing, or wander out of the house. Poor old Quinn...

Finding out the dark past that the main character tries so hard to keep bottled up is, at times, intriguing. However, the repetitive task of cherry-picking customers to come into the prestigious club will prove to be dull for many, and simply won’t be enough to keep you playing in order to see one of the multiple endings. Still, there isn’t another time-management title like this on Switch right now, so if you're looking for something with a very different pace and with an adult theme, you might gain some enjoyment.

Switch owners that are longing for a slower, more methodical approach to 2D puzzle platforming will want to give Candle: The Power Of The Flame a spin - even more so if they’re seeking a tough challenge that’s stacked to the rafters with whimsical charm and a striking art style. The title may well be home to some clunky controls and ferocious difficulty spikes from the moment you take control of Teku, but the immense sense of achievement married with what feels more like a piece of art than a video more than makes up for its shortfalls.

Yesterday’s Origins doesn’t attempt to change the formula of the point and click adventure and that’s okay. The story is delightfully bonkers and it looks pretty, but if you dig deep there’s some repetition, some odd stylistic choices and you might not recall it in years to come, but it’s nice to see such a game on Nintendo Switch.

Ice Cream Rider Is far from being a terrible game, but several alarm bells ring when you get down to playing it. While delivering all the classic tropes one would expect from a cute-’em-up, it resembles Commodore Amiga games where western developers attempted to mimic the Japanese arcade offerings found on the arcades to varying degrees of success. But unlike Wii U, Switch is shinning brightly with superior shmup offerings, both old and new of every subgenre you can think of. So we can't recommend you give this a spin unless you are a fan of the source material or accept its shortcomings as part of the budget price point.

Its visual and audio niggles aside, Immortal Redneck is an absolute blast. By combining well-crafted room design with randomly generated maps and then giving the player the ability to smoothly run, leap and blast through them with all the grace of a shotgun-wielding swan while constantly upgrading their abilities, it offers a massively satisfying experience that’s likely to remain permanently installed on your Switch long after you’ve deleted other games to make space.

Agatha Knife tackles vast subjects with surreal humour and delightful style but when it comes to the big questions, it doesn’t offer much beyond sarcasm and a shrug. Fortunately, the writing is entertaining enough to make the adventure worthwhile regardless, and the comprehensive touchscreen execution on Switch makes it an ideal candidate for anybody wanting to dip their toe into the point-and-click pool, provided you’re not put off by bad language or the odd splash of blood.

Neonwall is a fresh new take on the old physics puzzler genre, immensely enjoyable thanks to the Joy-Cons IR tracking control mode. A beautiful package of endless neon glows and electronic music filled with some stiff concentration and reflex challenges makes it very easy for us to recommend this unusual yet deeply satisfying addition to Nintendo Switch's digital library.

A competent and authentic 8-bit experience, A Hole New World will be enjoyed by many a retro fan out there, but the some of its mechanical elements are faithful almost to its detriment. Travelling between the dual worlds is cool, but utilised without much ambition or variety. While certainly not a bad game, the methods employed to enforce difficulty feel cheap and frustrating, rather than motivating or rewarding. A few of the bosses are visually impressive, but there isn't much here structurally or gameplay wise that particularly stand out . If you're looking for another title with more nostalgia and 'traditional' challenge rather than sadistic, fast-paced, twitch-based platformers, then A Hole New World is an adequate game that will bring back many memories of the 8-bit era, for better or worse.

Super Toy Cars is a decent enough tabletop racer that will have fans of the classics like Micro Machines taking a quick nostalgic trip down memory lane, but it never manages to live up to the games from which it clearly takes its inspiration. You’ll get some fun out of throwing your car around the cute tracks, but the temperamental physics and inaccurate contact between your car and its surroundings has the potential to frustrate players before that happens. Not a bad game, then, but one that is a few grid positions behind its competitors.

Twin Robots: Ultimate Edition lives up to its namesake and offers both solid single-player and co-op platforming action for a rather sensible price. If you played and enjoyed the previous versions, there are enough new additions to warrant a new visit while players meeting Watt and Volt for the first time will find this a rather pleasing package whose only really fault is the fact that is landing on a console with a library filled with several other exceptional platforming games.

Like Meme Run and Zombie Brigade, Superola And The Lost Burgers is an embarrassment to modern gaming. It’s crudely put together, with no originality behind the content – intentional or not – and the apparent 'platforming action' on offer is an insult to the much-loved genre. Even as an endless runner, this low level of quality is far from acceptable. The additional content included only heightens just how bad this entire package actually is. In truthfulness, it’s just a bunch of overdone memes and references mixed together that would fit right at home on a popular message board. Avoid this one at all costs. 

Vesta does a remarkably fine job of aping the design and simple brilliance of Zelda puzzles, while putting its own unique spin on things as it does so. Though its puzzles can sometimes be unfairly or frustratingly designed, a pleasing visual style, meaty campaign and generally satisfying gameplay loop make this a win in our book; we’d absolutely suggest you give Vesta a try (especially if you’re a Zelda fan). There’s plenty to love about this quirky puzzle game, and it’s one you’ll likely want to revisit from time to time.

Nightmare Boy throws a whole heap of platform-adventure ideas at the wall, but only a few of them manage to stick. It's a Metroidvania with a distinctive style all of its own, but there are some glaring issues with its narrative, controls, pacing and performance. If you're after something completely different in the platformer category and have a high frustration threshold, however, there's a certain amount of quirky fun to be had here.

The Count Lucanor is a mostly enjoyable horror tale that is only prevented from being a truly great game thanks to a couple of performance issues and relatively short duration. At its best, the game offers a surprisingly rich story, intriguing (and genuinely creepy) characters and surroundings, and enjoyable puzzle-based tasks to ponder over. The candle and saving systems add to the stress imposed by the castle, forcing you to choose between being safe in the present or keeping supplies for later on (although a harder difficulty setting which provides less of these items could have worked wonders). If you’re looking for something a little bit different, this could well be the game for you.

If it’s not already obvious by now, Conga Master Party! is best enjoyed as a multiplayer title. Sure, you can still enjoy the single player, but if you have no one else to play the other part of the game with then - be warned - you're missing out on half the fun. It’s a great party title that can be bust out when friends or family are nearby, and you’re perhaps seeking some simplistic but cheeky fun that will have you all in hysterics. For the multiplayer alone it’s worth your consideration. So set a date and get ready to conga the night away. 

Don’t be fooled by the connection to Metroid II: this game has been revamped, redesigned and rejuvenated to such an extreme degree that to all intents and purposes it’s a brand new adventure. This is far and away one of the best Metroid games ever made, and one of the best examples of the entire Metroidvania genre as a result. Melee counters and free aiming have made combat feel fresh and exciting again, while the environments are incredible – especially when viewed in auto-stereoscopic 3D. It’s a given that this is a must-buy for Metroid fans, but it’s also essential for those who’ve never played a 2D Metroid and want to see what the fuss is all about. This is what the fuss is all about, and the wait was so, so worth it.

Cursed Castilla EX is a punishing but ultimately rewarding love letter to the classic action platformers of the coin-op industry's golden years, and while its brutal nature may prove off-putting for some players, those who appreciate the '80s and '90s era of gaming will find plenty to enjoy here. The original game was strong enough to be sold on its own merits but this 3DS port is augmented with some tasteful autostereoscopic 3D effects, and the fact that it takes the quest on the road makes it even more appealing. If you've yet to sample Locomalito's excellent title on other formats then this is arguably the best way to do it; should you already consider yourself to be a fan then it's still worth a look, purely for those lush visuals and the tantalising prospect of portability.

Spheroids is definitely rough around the edges and has a distinct lack of polish when compared to more well-known franchises within this genre. In saying this, the title still manages to provide a competent adventure platform experience that is sure to entertain players for at least a few hours. It is tough to suggest this over the range of quality platformers on Wii U, but if you're in the mood to eliminate some aliens this is nevertheless one to consider.

Fans of Nintendo 64-era 3D platformers will find it hard not to enjoy FreezeMe. The level and character design, mechanics, music and structure are all love letters to the seminal N64 launch game. It brings back the sense of adventure in a cartoon world that has largely been missing since the demise of the 3D adventure platformer, and it ticks all the right notes of nostalgia. Still, occasional issues with controls, graphics and enemy design, coupled with the fact that (despite the freezing mechanic) the game feels like a less polished version of Super Mario 64 and thus not especially original, hold back the game from achieving the heights of its spiritual predecessors. Despite those limitations FreezeMe is an exceptionally crafted game from a one-man development team, and it's a fun adventure worthy of your time and money.

There are very few games as unique as The Delusions of Von Sottendorff and his Square Mind. Innovative, complex puzzles and the concept of playing against the traps set by your own insane mind are delightful. Thankfully the clever puzzles, which are the crux of the game, are better than some of the presentation issues to be found. If you're looking for a challenging, thought-provoking puzzler for your 3DS, Delusions is a solid choice.

The Rivers of Alice: Extended Version is an absolute treat for the senses. Your eyes and ears will thank you for introducing it into their lives and thanks to the training it will receive, your brain power will finally be strong enough to work out which shoe goes on which foot when it's 4:30 in the morning. As wonderful as this may be, the game's 'freezing' characteristic will start to grate on you should you fall victim to it and whilst it isn't game (or soul) destroying, it will naturally dampen your experience.

Roving Rogue has a number of great ideas: its story concept, main gameplay mechanic, and swift pacing are all first-rate. For the first couple of worlds it's a simple, addictive little platformer with tight level design. Unfortunately, the game loses its way by not introducing enough new ideas to keep things fresh, and by relying too heavily on trial-and-error in the back half of the quest. The narrative also feels like a missed opportunity, amounting to little more than a series of cheesy jokes. Players looking for a speedy dose of platforming action might be able to find their fix here, but they're going to have to slog through a number of missteps on the way.

Funk of Titans wants to draw players in with an outlandish, seemingly arbitrary aesthetic that mixes Greek mythology with funk music. Unfortunately, it fails to go all the way with this theme, and ends up a tedious and surprisingly generic auto-runner.

At the end of the day, there's not much especially wrong with Fullblast. It plays fine, looks quite nice and even with its minor flaws it's a pretty fun little game. If you haven't experienced much of this genre before you'll probably find it quite refreshing and great fun. Veterans may get an all too familiar feeling of déjà vu and it's definitely not up to the standards set by the true classics, however it's a good enough distraction for a few hours. Let's be clear; there aren't enough of these types of game as it is on modern home consoles, so it's a welcome addition to the Wii U library and it's not going to break the wallet either due to the (current) reasonable price point.

For the price of entry, it's very easy to recommend Nihilumbra to players looking for a substantial and contemplative experience. The puzzles here are, on the whole, head-scratchers which require quick wits and quicker reflexes, though we did run into a couple of unfair scenarios. Fortunately as players come to grips with the environments, even the later super-hard levels become manageable. Using the GamePad to change the interactivity of surfaces works very well and also makes for a great variety of ways to play with the world. Nihilumbra is a beautiful, haunting, if not altogether philosophically poignant, romp through a world fully realized through a masterful marriage of gameplay and presentation.

In developing a game using such classic hardware, CoderChild and the original team have managed to produce an extremely authentic 8-bit experience. However, developing a title so faithful to experiences of the past leads to both wonderful quirks and frustrating flaws, which will irritate players to a degree dependant on their outlook. For the most part, Zombie Incident turns out to be an extremely enjoyable throwback platformer with highly addictive gameplay. What faults the gameplay does possess due to its antiquated design are eclipsed by its wonderful visuals, highly addictive gameplay and sublime chip tune soundtrack. The addition of online leaderboards further modernises the classic gameplay, and for the meagre price Zombie Incident is a frightfully fun addition to anyone's eShop library.

There's not much to say about Rock 'N Racing Off Road, other than that it's a boring, frustrating experience all around. There's no depth here, no rewarding gameplay and no real charm or personality. There are plenty of fun multiplayer games for the Wii U, and Rock 'N Racing Off Road just has too little going for it to earn a recommendation.

Spy Chameleon's focus on challenges is obviously aimed at completionists, who will certainly get the most out of the game. Those who prefer to reach a level's exit and move on to the next one may end up feeling a little short-changed, as the challenges make up the bulk of the title's duration. However, the current asking price is extremely reasonable, especially when you consider the amount of replayability and achievements on offer. Spy Chameleon is a lot of fun and, despite some minor technical flaws, would make a great addition to any puzzle fan's eShop collection.

99Moves offers up a brisk trip through 12 levels of arcade-style action, and that's what it does best — its claustrophobic levels requiring quick reflexes can be quite exciting if enjoyed in small play sessions. There's a nagging feeling that something's missing, however; the core concept sidesteps a few obvious improvements that could have increased its appeal, leaving the levels feeling a bit long and slapdash considering their small number. In addition, the changes made from the DSiWare original offer mixed results, from the middling (the new multiplayer modes) to the confusing (V-99's reduced hit box). If you're in the mood for some bargain-priced old-school fun, you could do a lot worse than 99Moves — but don't be surprised if you find yourself thinking up ways the game might have been improved as you play.

It's hard to fault a game like Rock Zombie. It's a perfectly serviceable beat 'em up with a number of ridiculous choices that, whether intentional or not, will probably make you laugh. It's not the most technically refined gameplay experience you'll ever have, and a lot of the elements just don't add up, but it's campy enough to make you believe it was trying to be epic — and that might just rope you into trying its cheesy brand of arcade action.

Zombie Panic in Wonderland DX is a well-presented, difficult game with solid gameplay. Unfortunately the experience isn't as lasting or as engaging as perhaps it could be, and given that it's almost identical to its WiiWare predecessor, the audience for this title is small and niche. If you're an arcade fan looking for a challenge that can sometimes be a bit cruel, then this could be for you. If you feel otherwise, download with caution.

Darts Up is a game of limited appeal and has been taken straight from the original with minimal vital improvements, but if you can get past the poor visuals and repetitive gameplay you may find a little enjoyment. Consider Darts Up as a game you’d play with some friends not too keen on taking anything too seriously – much like the pub sport it emulates.

Ice Cream Surfer gets some of the basics right and offers players a crazy, wacky world, with colourful locales and varied, interesting enemies. Unfortunately, the game built around that world is just not particularly fun to play, with little challenge, poor presentation, some annoying gameplay quirks and almost no replay value. Had it spent more time in development or perhaps received more money from its crowdfunding campaign, this might have been an enjoyable title, but as it is right now it's best to keep it in the freezer.

Van Helsing Sniper Zx100 evokes the creepy aesthetic of Killer7, but while Killer7's unique concepts and quirky style helped it overcome its significant faults, Van Helsing doesn't have the same originality; its charming 3D presentation is delicious icing let down by a fairly flavourless light gun cake. It can be therapeutic to simply shoot bad guys and bask in the sci-fi London setting, but you should probably wait until the ominous $6.66 price point drops a bit before you consider sinking your teeth into Van Helsing.

With much to explore and so many ways of storming the castle’s inhabitants, Unepic is a fun and well-designed challenge for those who enjoy platformers and yon hefty olde RPG feel. Its tight and rewarding core makes it a quest that can be enjoyed along with, or even in spite of, its cheekier sense of humour.

Cubit the Hardcore Platformer Robot is an honestly titled game that delivers a charming and fun, albeit frustratingly difficult, experience. The campaign may be short but this is the type of game that focuses more on high scores, and the inclusion of unlockables and an achievement system help to extend the playtime quite a bit. If you’re a fan of challenging platformers in the same vein as the BIT.TRIP RUNNER games, then this is one that you should consider giving a download. If, however, you have a tendency to get frustrated and throw your 3DS when the going gets tough, you might instead want to consider saving your console from certain doom.

Darts Up 3D is an extremely simple game, and a bit off the mark with its presentation, but fun gameplay, satisfying motion controls, and a bevy of multiplayer modes for single- and multi-system play nudge it much closer to the centre of the board than the edge. It won't be enough for everyone, but players with a soft spot for darts, well-implemented gyroscope controls, or quick multiplayer fun on the cheap will enjoy this dependable time-killer and its party-play potential.

Cute Witch! Runner takes the best part of Dress to Play: Cute Witches! and downsizes it to DSiWare in a refreshingly thoughtful way. While in some ways we prefer the freer movement of the eShop original, most of the gameplay tweaks are for the better, and we appreciate that this is a re-imagining — rather than a repackaging — of the concept. As a simple endless flier with lots of charm, Cute Witch! is a fun game in its own right, and it's also different enough that fans of the original will appreciate it as a separate experience. For 200 points and the right audience, this is a lovable little title well worth a look.

We’re not halfway into the year and we already have a serious contender for one of the worst games of 2013. Armageddon Operation Dragon is a mess of a game that regularly puts the player in situations where it’s nearly impossible to succeed. Poor presentation, incompetent level generation, and cringe-worthy sound effects – along with many other significant issues – make this an experience to avoid. It feels as if Armageddon had already devastated this one before we ever had a chance to save it — there’s no need for a hero, so just sit back and watch the world burn.

As an homage to the simpler soccer games of yore, Soccer Up 3D is a decent if unexceptional effort. What is exceptional, however, is the amount and extent of glitches we encountered during our time with the game, and that's a shame; when it isn't obscuring your view or arbitrarily rescinding control, there's definitely some fun to be had here. The After Kick system is satisfying and the Download Play-enabled multiplayer is a great addition, but they aren't enough to save the experience. We regretfully recommend a pass.

Although the 2D perspective and Metroidvania-style features call to mind past classics, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate shouldn’t be directly compared to previous games in Konami’s long-running vampire-hunting series, because it tries to do things a little differently. While elements of exploration and item collection remain, they are drastically scaled back when compared to the likes of Symphony of the Night and Dawn of Sorrow — which could be a positive or a negative, depending on your personal taste. Instead, MercurySteam’s vision of Castlevania is built around a deep combat engine which tries to make each and every enemy encounter a rewarding and challenging experience. Factor in some impressive visuals, gorgeous music and taxing boss battles — not to mention a fantastic story and more replay value than you might at first imagine — and you’ve got a game which can stand proud in the Castlevania bloodline. Sometimes, a little change is a good thing.

For players of a certain persuasion there's plenty of love to go around for EnjoyUp's latest: costing about the same as a few plays at your local arcade, 99Moves offers a rock-hard retro challenge. But just the same as the coin-munchers of yore, one person's challenge is another's cheap trick. 99Moves doesn't do a great job at differentiating the two.

Had 99seconds an arcade cabinet yelling for our attention, we would stroll right on up to it and put in the equivalent of 200 Nintendo Points for a quick challenge of skill. It's a title limited in scope but 99seconds does one thing and does it with competence, and that's probably all that we could reasonably ask of it before marching on to the next cabinet.

It comes down to the fact that there isn't a single good thing about Soccer Up! It ranges from lazy to infuriating in every department, from the broken controls to the detrimentally limited gameplay. Even at the budget pricing of 500 Nintendo Points, Soccer Up! still somehow ends up asking way too much for way too little.

Anima: Ark of Sinners is a game full of good intentions. It is clear that the developers wanted to utilise storyline, lore and artistic flourishes to draw gamers into the Anima world. Unfortunately, the gameplay itself is fatally flawed: laggy, slow animations make the poor controls unreliable, while cruel enemy AI and level design make matters worse. Even on easy difficulty, progressing through this game is a long, laborious process. The principles of this game are sound, but the execution makes the game a disappointment, and enough to drive any gamer to the confessional.

The combination of two genres doesn't always equal success in the world of video games, but the unique mix of shooter and puzzler elements in 99Bullets at least creates an experience that makes it stand out from the crowd. While there will inevitably be shmup fans who miss the "blast everything in sight" mentality that's normally associated with the genre, gamers who are willing to open their minds and try something new might just find the game to be quite a breath of fresh air.

Cosmo Fighters shows some promise with its solid gameplay, but its lack of any kind of charm, personality or innovation makes it a difficult game onto which to latch. If you're looking for some cheap multiplayer fun for your DSi, Cosmo Fighters is definitely worth taking a look at, but the game can only stake its claim as “the best fighter on DSiWare” due to an almost complete lack of competition.

Being six years old may be this cowboy's biggest crime, and the bevy of “Adventure Awards” that the debut WiiWare trailer shoots across the screen are obviously outdated. The cheesy music, dull story and lacklustre graphics complete an uninspired package that is guaranteed not to win any in its second time around. To ask 1000 Points for a port this lazy is surely a stretch, and fans of adventure games can find plenty of better choices on WiiWare.

So many video games nowadays tend to put so much emphasis on action and intensity that it's refreshing to see a developer offer up a more relaxing experience. Taking the very basic principle of exploration, Dive carefully combines precise controls with some amazing underwater level designs to produce one of the most unique gaming experiences seen on the service to date. There are a few minor gameplay glitches along the way, but they do little to take away from what is an otherwise engaging and enjoyable underwater diving experience and one well worth the 1000 Wii Point asking price.

While not perfect by any means, Runaway: A Twist of Fate proves to pleasantly surprise with an engrossing storyline that will keep you playing to find out what twists await you. With a tightly knit plot and intriguing puzzles that for the most part make sense (hooray), we can highly recommend giving this game a go, even if you've never played or enjoyed the series before. While on occasion it suffers from a lack of character development and overall depth, this is one twist of fate that you should be more than happy to experience.

It's fair to say that without the care and attention put into the design and audio-visual presentation of the game we'd have thought it was merely okay, but seeing Snow White saucily swishing her way to the next zombie massacre makes up for shortcomings elsewhere. Arcade fans looking for something irreverent and over-the-top are advised to stock up on zombie repellent and download this one for some shooting fun!

While unfortunate that a lot of gamers missed out on the original GBA Chronos Twins, this DX version makes up for the wait. Not only does the game bring an interesting and unique gameplay mechanic to the table, it also manages to surround it with smooth controls and a lot of personality. The game might be a tad on the short side, but you're definitely in for a fun ride while it lasts. And at only 1,000 points you're getting a lot of game for your buck, which makes the experience even sweeter.

Stop Stress feeds the player's innate desire to smash things by using motion controls to do the smashing, though everything isn't as much fun to smash as it could have been. Because of the demanding objective to smash everything Stop Stress also stresses your arm joints; so much so that anything longer than a single play session would probably be ill-advised on health and safety grounds! Having said that there's enough fun in the game that many will find it worthwhile - assuming they can get past the 800-point asking price for a game that will take less than an hour to play through.

Over the Top Games is yet another indie developer to keep a watchful eye on. They came out of nowhere with NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits and have managed to create a beautiful looking game which is also lots of fun to play. It’s true that it is not a massive game, you should be able to beat it 100% in just 3 hours, but those 3 hours will be completely filled with pure platforming bliss. This is exactly the sort of thing we want to see more of on WiiWare and comes highly recommended to all.

Yes, one could consider Penguins & Friends a deal when comparing it to the actual board game, of which the deluxe (and now only) version costs over four times as much. Yet, at the same time, the board game has a much better portability factor and allows for more flexibility. Ultimately, Penguins & Friends does provide for fun with friends even with its slight drawbacks, but we can't help but feeling that you may be better served sticking to the table-top version.