#switch
#switch
by Amr (@siegarettes)
Born of the Wii party game boom, the Mario & Sonic games have often been relegated to side attractions. Outside of the novelty of putting Mario and Sonic head to head for a foot race, they never inspired a larger response. Mario & Sonic 2020 aims to change that, introducing a new story mode that sees the cast competing in the ‘64 Olympics to escape a world that’s trapped them in their retro forms. Alongside some engaging events, this goes a long way to making Mario & Sonic 2020 more of a complete package, one that lasts beyond the initial novelty, even if its uneven in where it puts its attention.
by Amr (@siegerettes)
Debuting at the Sonic Amateur Games Expo, Polyroll isn’t shy about its inspirations. Its mix of blue skies, urban vibes and geometric landscapes pay homage to SEGA aesthetics, and the spin dash takes a prominent role. Unlike other momentum platformers, however, Polyroll focuses on exploring the ball mechanics rather than pure speed. It gives the game a more exploratory feeling, one that recalls DOS PC platformers like Jazz Jackrabbit or Charlie the Duck, and bring back memories of early Sonic fangames built through Klik n Play and The Games Factory.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
Seeking to bring new life to a lesser regarded entry in the series, Banana Blitz HD removes the motion controls, brings the game to HD, and tags on a sharp new interface. These additions do a lot to make the original game more playable, but also makes clear the glaring compromises in the original design, while sanding off some of the unique appeal of the original.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
I was a bit cool on Roof Rage when it first released. Its original cast felt a bit disjointed, pulling primarily from East Asian martial arts with some left field additions, and its variations on the platform fighter’s directional specials made it difficult to get to grips with. Those initial criticisms still stand, but my time since the original review, alongside numerous improvements, have allowed me to appreciate the unique take Roof Rage brings to the platform fighter genre.
Namely, Roof Rage is a platform fighter that channels the spirit of traditional 2D fighters, with big combos, fast movement and a focus on turning a good read into big damage.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
Made in the mold of CAVE’s DoDonPachi shooters, Ghost Blade HD takes on its familiar shooter staples, and replaces its anime schoolgirls with cheesecake pinup girls in lingerie. But that’s about as much color you’ll see from Ghost Blade. The problem with imitating the best in the genre is that you’ll be judged on the same standards. By comparison, Ghost Blade can come off as the bar top touchscreen version of a game you already know. Its fine–entertaining and solidly made, but otherwise aggressively average.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
Bathed in blood and neon, Valfaris presents a vision of the heavy metal apocalypse that’s lush and overgrown. Machines are as likely to have arteries as they are circuits, and the industrial environments are infected with prismatic wildlife. The overdrawn, overstimulated flora and fauna can sometimes obscure your path, but your objective is always clear: slaughter everything in your path.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
Sporting a clean, turn of the century aesthetic, CROSSNIQ+ would feel right at home on the Dreamcast. Every edge is rounded, and bold lines make its geometric accents and flat colors pop against pristine backgrounds. The soundtrack pulses with synths, breakbeats and vocal samples, with a sense of style that almost made me expect to see the words SAMPLING MASTERS preceding each of the composers’ names.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
Most of the minigames in Mario & Sonic are simple, one off affairs, relying on the charm and absurdity of seeing your favorite characters compete in sporting events. Some events, however, are surprisingly involved, including my current favorite–Karate.
A full review will follow closer to release, but for now, I wanted to break down what is essentially a miniature fighting game tucked in Sonic and company’s Olympic adventures.