André Barrozo Jr

“Trouble☆Witches FINAL! Episode 01 Daughters of Amalgam is a game with an incredible range of characters and refined gameplay that was marketed as a larger-scale product than it actually is, making the limited variety between game modes feel like an attempt to inflate the final product.”

“While some developers seem to forget this as they are pressured by suits to fill their pockets with money, video games should provide an entertainment experience that is only possible because of the interactivity of their premise, putting the player in the shoes of various personas and entertaining them until the end of their gameplay. If it's the pure essence of the word video game you're looking for, you'll find it in Neon Inferno.”

“For lovers of colorful puzzles, Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition is a rare diamond among the eShop's hogs.”

“Sonic Wings Reunion isn't bad by any means; it's just basic, but simply good shouldn't be enough for such a well-known name in the shmup world. Because of this, small details stand out more than in a game without the same name, and the main one is the settings.”

“The feeling I got from playing Mamorukun ReCurse! is one of tremendous nostalgia. The uncompromising and positive way everything in the game is communicated and designed entertained me to the point of practically transporting me back to simpler times, where the biggest challenge was getting home in time to watch your favorite anime.”

“Despite the weak action, Noctuary has good ideas and a rich world that could build on what worked here and address a few issues that were lacking. Starting with one that I find quite problematic: the game's lack of visual accessibility options: While beautiful, the interface limits text size, making it difficult for those with some degree of visual impairment to read the menus and subtitles. While uninspired, the action scenes are entertaining to a certain extent, but their limited number makes them seem more like barriers to admiring the game's story than a playful element where the characters' powers can be seen in action and the antagonists can demonstrate the magnitude of the threat they pose. I hope the developer sees the project as a good start and brings us an adventure in which the quality seen in the narrative is also seen in the action!”

“The illustrations are beautiful, the dialogue is humorous, and it leaves easter eggs for those who have followed the series for a long time. And even if you ignore all of that, it's still fun just to play the game, even without paying much attention to its narrative. This was my first game in the Touhou series, and I already feel compelled to delve deeper into the series' past. Even with minor performance issues on the World Map playing in TV mode, the overall experience was very satisfying. Who knows, maybe we'll be able to see the older games in the series on the Big N's remarkable little hybrid console.”

“Although this new entry in IREM's classic collection series only features horizontal shumps, the curation work here was extremely successful in bringing together games that have a unique synergy between them and that cater to a diverse target audience. It's very nostalgic to enjoy games that don't need anything more than addictive gameplay and attractive visuals to keep you in front of the TV or Nintendo Switch screen with a smile from ear to ear.”

“Despite all the improvements over the previous version, Shikhondo: Youkai Rampage leaves a bitter taste in the palate of the shmup fan who is so well served on the Nintendo Switch. All my respect to the developers, but the energy that motivated them to produce a new version of the game could be better spent if it was directed to actually improving the experience of the first version.”

“Leila is Ubik Studios' first venture, and I can say that it was a great start. But, like everything in life, there is always room for improvement. The lack of certain features was felt during gameplay. Since this is a game where the scenario must be investigated thoroughly, a zoom feature would be very welcome. The text size is also quite small. Other than that, Leila is a good choice for those who want a slower and deeper narrative, linked to gameplay that stimulates the player's vision and hearing with its hand-drawn art and beautiful soundtrack.”

“Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate combines the aesthetic of chibi characters with an addictive beat 'n up, blending fighting game mechanics from the original Phantom Breaker. Despite the constant threat of Phantom and his minions, Mikoto, Waka, Itsuki, and Yuzuha's journey to rescue Nagi is filled with fun and challenging moments, featuring a well-balanced relationship between challenge and reward due to its various difficulty levels.”

“For those who were looking for a good shmup in MACROSS -Shooting Insight-, I suggest spending your hard-earned gold coins on other games of the same style, which are abundantly present in the library of Nintendo's hybrid console. Everything you've tried has failed. I don't recommend the game even to the most inveterate player of the style.”

“I won't be unfair here: having all these versions of GunForce available to try is interesting, but wouldn't it be better to only keep the arcade versions (play only those and just test the others out of curiosity, trust me) and worry about all the rest? Isn't the cost of the collection enough to give more care to the titles? Nonetheless, do play GunForce, they are neat!”

“Night Slashers: Remake doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it's a well-polished product that will give you and your friends some quality time, with single-screen co-op for up to 4 players.”

“Is this Bundle worth your Gold Coins? I would say “it depends”. Even with the facilitators, the gameplay is still very difficult by today’s standards, which may put off some of the more casual players. It was a different era, when games had to be excessively difficult so that they could have a longer lifespan in the player’s hands. Furthermore, when you compare the refinement of the gameplay with gems like Super Mario Bros 3 or the Mega Man series, the player feels more frustrated than challenged to try again. The product is aimed at those who are nostalgic or a curious player who wants to explore little known games. Now, if we take into account the fact that these are titles that were previously exclusive to Japan and are coming to the West for the first time, this makes the collection more than indispensable for every video game fan, even if it’s just out of curiosity.”

“Parasol Stars: The Story Of Bubble Bobble III is aimed at those who value fun gameplay without having to spend hours on builds or lore that is already over a decade old. Play alone or in local co-op and challenge yourself, as the game doesn't hold your hand to explain anything, as it was in the past.”

“If you are looking for a game with a cool narrative that will provide you with hours of fun, whether in the campaign or online, go for it without fear. However, not everything is perfect. I suffered from crashes after resuming my game after leaving it on standby. Although there were few of these occasions, I think it is important to mention them. If these small inconveniences are not that relevant to you, reader, the united world government needs you on the battle line against the Draktor threat. Yes, there are giant robots from classic series in the game, I won't give spoilers, you'll be surprised. Good fun!”

“That said, Rainbow Cotton is visually a very pleasing game. The alternate route mechanics are interesting and even the changes to the game interface were welcome. It is even possible to play a retro version that emulates the SEGA Dreamcast original experience. However, the biggest failure here was what is essential in a game: fun.”

“The game is an adventure that will keep you entertained for a few good hours, both because of its simple narrative but with captivating characters, and because it is extremely enjoyable to play. Who knows, maybe after Nayuta, I'll give Nihon Falcon's other titles a chance.”

“My experience with Shinobi non Grata was nothing short of satisfying. It made me want to return to Ninja Gaiden via Nintendo Switch Online any day now. Kaina's adventure doesn't feature any original elements, but rather many similarities to legendary titles like Mega Man and Ninja Gaiden, but its gameplay is so fluid that there's no way to not have fun with the game.”