Review

Review: Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX

Review: Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX

A product of its time, Monster Rancher was a transient phenomenon in both the US and Japan during the 90s. From the first release in 1997, the series has amassed 14 video games across multiple gaming platforms and an anime that ran for two seasons.

When Koei Tecmo announced a remaster collection of Monster Rancher 1 and 2 earlier this year, my childhood self was immediately giddy while also perplexed how it would work in 2021. While the remaster offers little in terms of a visual upgrade, some quality of life changes makes this release fit in with an ever-growing market for life simulation games if you are in the market for a new one.

Review: Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon

Review: Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon

Shovel Knight is a masterpiece. That’s a buzzword I don’t like to throw around recklessly, but it rings true here. Shovel Knight’s humor, gameplay, homage to classic games, as well as its music and art, are second to none, and it is without question one of the best games of the past ten years. It’s because of this that I jump at the chance to play anything Yacht Club Games puts out, especially if they’re feeling confident enough to attach the Shovel Knight IP.

Puzzle games are also one of my weaknesses, so Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon was a must-play for me. Pocket Dungeon does a marvelous job of blending the things that make Shovel Knight great with classic puzzle game ideas, all while bringing something entirely unique to the table.

Review: Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy

Review: Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy

Author: Rich Meister

I’m a comic book nerd. It’s not something I’m shy about, nor in the year 2021 is it an unusual thing. That’s why I get to write a review for a Guardians of the Galaxy video game without having to go into elicit detail about who the fuck Groot is. That’s weird, but it's also kind of amazing.

On the subject of the modern popularity of comic book characters with the success of Insomniac’s Spider-man and their Wolverine adaption on the horizon we might be gearing towards a reality where Marvel games come out every year just like MCU films. I know that might sound like a bad idea, but if they’re all more like Eidos-Montreal’s Guardians of the Galaxy and less like Crystal Dynamic’s Avengers, then it might be an exciting prospect.

Review: Metroid Dread

Review: Metroid Dread

Author: Rich Meister

It’s been almost twenty years since Metroid Fusion, our last mainline 2D Metroid game and somehow Metroid Dread seems worth the wait. Dread was first announced back in 2005 and then disappeared for a very long time only to reemerge this year just a few months before launching. Somehow despite over a decade in development hell, Metroid Dread delivers. It brings the same exploration and excellent boss design that we’ve come to expect from the series, all while bringing the journey Samus has been on since the original NES game to a satisfying conclusion.

Hardware Review: Nintendo Switch OLED Edition

Hardware Review: Nintendo Switch OLED Edition

Author: Ray McGill

Since March 2017, Nintendo has been on a roll with its current console, the Switch. Hybridizing their handheld and console offerings, Nintendo decided to gamble on a system that can be played anywhere, and it has paid off for them big-time. Featuring a dock that turns the system into a 1080p-capable console, and a modular design that allows it to function as a handheld, the Switch has been the go-to console for many of us for a few years now. With over 89 million units shipped as of June 2021, the Switch has gotten many of us through this pandemic time with things like the quiet fun of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and the tactical excitement that is Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Nintendo has long stuck by their established brands to make sure the faithful always follow them, system after system.