#switch
#switch
by Amr (@siegarettes)
With over a decade since the last mainline Metroid or Castlevania game, it’s hard not to notice that MercurySteam has been given the keys to both parts of the Metroidvania namesake. And when looking at their catalog it’s hard not to ask “Why them?”
They opened their career with a series of derivative action games–with a special 3DS entry that has the pleasure of being one of the worst entries in both the series and genre writ large–then moved onto a ramshackle remake of Metroid II. A game that aspiried to make the story of Samus doing genocide into a sick fucking action game.
It’s as if someone saw the work that a small studio like Climax did on Assassin’s Creed Chronicles, and went “those are the people we gotta get to do our next big game.” To be fair, that gamble did work out for Shattered Memories.
So here we are again, with MercurySteam left to bring to life yet another long awaited title to life–but this time without the baggage and tonal issuses of Samus Returns.
A decent chunk nto Metroid Dread the gamble still hasn’t paid off. But it doesn’t exactly bust either, leaving us at more of a break even point.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
Despite preceding it by decades, Spelunker is more likely to draw comparisons to games like Spelunky, which draws direct influence from Spelunker, than the other way around. Spelunker’s harsh, unexpected deaths can be seen as the predecessor to modern roguelike platformers, and plenty of the elements that made it into a cult hit continue to influence modern titles. Spelunker’s one of those titles that forms a missing link in the chain of history. A game like Lode Runner, or Wizardry, that had reasonable success in the West, but became the basis of plenty of imitators in Japan.
Unlike Wizardry or Lode Runner, Spelunker isn’t held up in popular memory for its compelling gameplay or endlessly replayable structure. No, Spelunker is remembered for being the ultimate kusoge, and with the release of Spelunker HD Deluxe, it’s finally wrapped around to drawing influence from its imitators.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
When Space Invaders Forever released here, I lamented the fact that we were getting a cut down version of an already lacking collection. Apparently, the sentiment was heard, because almost a year later, Space Invaders Invincible Collection, the previously Japan-only Switch collection, is finally here. Invincible Collection is an improvement on the previous bare bones collection, but as the basis for Forever, it shares plenty of the same strange problems and has plenty of shortcomings of its own.
By Amr (@siegarettes)
Combining RPG mechanics and aesthetics, Cotton proved to be a longtime resident of many lists of shooter recommendations, especially for the cute-em-up crowd. With so many other shooters finding their way onto modern platforms lately, it only made sense for Success to return to it. Reboot, as you might expect, reboots the series, with a remaster of the first game that brings new art, an arranged OST and mechanics that feel at home with modern shooters. Conveniently, the original’s X68000 port is included as a bonus, making it easier to see just how much has changed.
By Amr (@siegarettes)
Among easy internet gags “Nintendo game with ultraviolence” is a long time staple. One look at Trigger Witch and it’s easily clear this is its starting point. Everything from the viewpoint, tilesets, structure and even certain melodies mark it as a clear pastiche of A Link to the Past, with AKs and Magnums replacing the swords and magic. Complete with the violent bursts of blood when you finish off an enemy.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
R-Type Final 2 is a game banking on the poor memories of its returning players. It’s been nearly a decade and a half since the release of the original R-Type Final, plenty of time to forget the details of its melancholy goodbye to the genre. A premature goodbye as it turns out, with the last decade seeing a surge in the popularity of the genre, and R-Type Final 2 acting as a celebration of this fact, declaring the happy return of a genre favorite. For many, that’s a triumph in itself. Getting behind the controls of Final 2’s extensive arsenal of ships is a joy that will carry the experience. But come armed with clear memories, and all its flaws cast harsh reflections through the haze of its brilliant lights.
Crimzon Clover is hands down one of the best shooters on the Switch. In the conspicuous absence of CAVE titles, Crimzon Clover’s DoDonpachi homage easily fills that niche and then some.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
When Umihara Kawase Bazooka was announced, I was skeptical. The franchise has had its share of left field outings and cameos–to mixed success–and I wasn’t sure that the series’ signature wire action physics would translate to the hectic pace of a platform fighter. Well, after a strange, staggered release, Umihara Kawase Bazooka is finally here on the Switch and I can confidently say that my concerns were mostly unfounded–at least as far as the singleplayer goes.
