Switch Reviews

14Feb

By Dan2 Comments

Sport & Fun: Swimming – Switch Review

Published by Red Deer Games Sport & Fun: Swimming is one of the latest family fun fitness titles to hit the Nintendo Switch eShop. Released on the 3rd of February and is currently on sale at a massive 90% at the time of writing this article. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming! So join me as I jump into the swim lanes to see if Sport & Fun: Swimming sinks or swims. Let's hope it is the latter. Gameplay I honestly had no idea what to expect when it came to Sport & Fun: Swimming. It was safe to say I was going in blind. I had not seen anything surrounding this title, whether that be via email campaigns or by the press sites. I have no idea if this is because I didn't go looking for it, or because it just hasn't been talked about. Sport & Fun: Swimming is an easy...

13Feb

By Oliver RevoltaNo Comments

Switch Reviews

Fire Emblem Engage – Switch Review

One of the great benefits of writing reviews for Thumb Culture is the variety of games I've been exposed to that I might never have played otherwise. I've been able to loosen up when it comes to my game choices—and the many fantastic experiences I've had have convinced me that the Switch's library is in very good health. Next up is Fire Emblem, a series that’s been on my radar for a long time—I'm a fan of turn-based combat, and I know these games have a lot of devotees—so I launched myself enthusiastically into the review for the latest release, Fire Emblem Engage. Rarely have I played a game as difficult to review. Engage has been constructed in two entwined but very different halves—both of which are stuffed with intricate gameplay and upgrade systems. As a noob—and this is clearly ...

31Jan

By Oliver RevoltaNo Comments

Switch Reviews

NEScape! – Switch Review

Some people are going to look at NEScape! and write it off without thinking—but I’m here to tell you otherwise. This under-the-radar indie is worth your time, and is perhaps one of the more obvious candidates for the hallowed title of ‘hidden gem.’ NEScape! is a fully-realised escape room—a modern phenomenon—intriguingly brought to life in a 1980s-style 8-bit aesthetic. And it works so well that it’s easy to imagine it as one of the actual classic games of the NES library. THE DEFINITIVE 8-BIT ESCAPE ROOM EXPERIENCE At the start of the game you’re placed in a dark room. You find the right pixel to turn on the light switch then have an hour to complete the puzzles and escape through the locked door. To do so you cycle between four screens—the four walls of the room—and interact with the d...

24Jan

By Oliver RevoltaNo Comments

Switch Reviews

Lil Gator Game – Switch Review

Every now and again a game is released that I completely underestimate at first glance. I’m not sure if it’s down to some residual peer pressure in my head. Sometimes, in my imagination, I have the critical eyes of certain friends looming over my shoulder when I start up a game. So if the game is a little too colourful and happy-looking then my own fickle decision-making weakens and prostrates itself to my friends’ illusionary judgement. I looked at the pictures and announcement video of Lil Gator Game and thought on some level that it wasn’t necessarily for me. I wanted something a little less whimsical. But I was wrong. It’s difficult to realise without playing it, but Lil Gator Game is a triumph. It’s one of those games with a universal appeal—like Donut County, or Katamari Damacy. And,...

24Jan

By JasonNo Comments

Switch Reviews

Toy Soldiers HD – Switch Review

Released on Nintendo Switch NYE '22, Toy Soldiers HD is an overhaul of the easily recognisable 2010 tower defense game by Signal Studios. Published by Accelerate Games, Toy Soldiers HD supports handheld, tabletop and TV mode. Toy Soldiers HD - Construct your Defences Carefully I was a big fan of Toy Soldiers: War Chest back in the Xbox 360 days however I haven't had the pleasure of playing an HD version of Toy Soldiers so far or on the Nintendo Switch. Let's get the band playing and move onto the battlefield! Gameplay There is something quite nostalgic when it comes to the Toy Soldiers franchise. Admittedly I have been so busy that there have been some old classics that I have simply forgotten to go back to. As Toy Soldiers HD loads you are greeted by a haunting male voice accompa...

20Jan

By DanNo Comments

Switch Reviews

MEGALAN 11 – Switch Review

Megalan 11 is an exploration puzzle title which is available across various platforms. Developed by Arkhipov Pavel and published by MAYO Games this game was originally released in 2020. 11 Day And Counting! With its release back in 2020 it's possible that some people missed it, especially console-only games. After all, they most likely wouldn't be checking the Steam store. After much love, it is finally here and we managed to get our hands on the Nintendo Switch version. Gameplay On loading the game, we are getting signals from a planet. A very orange planet, where we are looking to land. After many screams, the spaceship crash lands and this is where it all begins. The idea is that you have to escape the planet that you are stranded on by building and ensuring that your crew are surv...

14Jan

By Vinno2 Comments

Switch Reviews

Escape String – Nintendo Switch Review

From Italy-based developer BumbleBee and US/Thailand-based publisher 7 Raven Studios, today we’ll be taking a look at Escape String, which is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and the Nintendo Switch. We’ll be covering the Nintendo Switch version, which comes in at £6.29/$6.99 with a download size of 324 MB. Sometimes to go forward, you need to go back Set in an undefined time and place, Escape String is a single-player 2D puzzle game, with a twist. The premise is simple enough, you have to help our little mechanical chum traverse his way through 40 levels. Except you don’t control the robot, not really. Gameplay You start each level at the left-hand side of a room. As previously mentioned, you don’t have actual control of the robot. Instead, you have to input a ...

12Jan

By DanNo Comments

Switch Reviews

Pokemon Violet – Switch Review

Developed by Game Freak for the Nintendo Switch, we bring you the latest instalment in the Pokemon Series. Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet were released towards the end of last year and we have seen nothing but mixed reviews. So we thought it was about time we checked it out for ourselves. Let's Go On An Adventure In Paldea! To this day I still haven't played a Pokemon title that beats the original for the Gameboy Color. Pokemon Blue was the first title I picked up and I spent a lifetime on it. Despite completing my Pokedex and the game I played this title to death. I soon checked out Red and Yellow but obviously, they were pretty much the same title. I don't think comparing Scarlet and Violet against Blue would be fair, but I am looking forward to getting stuck in. Gameplay Jumping...

4Jan

By DanNo Comments

Switch Reviews

Kirby’s Dream Buffet – Switch Review

Brought to you by Nintendo, developed by HAL Laboratory, and available On the Nintendo Switch. Kirby’s Dream Buffet is recommended for Ages 3+. Gamers will remember and associate Kirby with previous games such as Kirby and The Forgotten Land. We're on a strawberry roll now... Kirby is taking on fall guys! Kirby’s Dream Buffet is a 2D platform game exclusively available for the Nintendo Switch and is rather controversially associated with Mediatonic’s Fall guys – a multiplayer game with a similar goal. Controversially where ‘Fall guys’ offers the ability to play with 60 online players, Kirby currently offers several different modes enabling the game to be played solo (with AI bots) against a friend locally on an additional switch or up to four others online. Gameplay The game has no fix...

Ultra Mega Xtra Party Challenge – Switch Review

15Dec

By DanNo Comments

Switch Reviews

Ultra Mega Xtra Party Challenge – Switch Review

Developers BreakFirst S.A.S. and publishers Just For Games/Merge Games have brought a new party game to the Nintendo Switch. That game is non-other than Ultra Mega Xtra Party Challenge. Party Up! Personally, I have never played a party game on the Nintendo Switch. However, Back in the day when the Playstation 1 was the elite console, you could always catch me on Bishi Bashi Special with friends. It is safe to say I am looking forward to jumping into this one, from what I have heard it is also slightly bonkers. Gameplay I am unsure where to start this game is absolutely insane. Ultra Mega Xtra Party Challenge is a party game which reminds you of the madness you encountered when playing Bishi Bashi. From chopping down trees in pixelated games to dodging pies on stage as a mime. With roug...