Dusk Nintendo Switch Review

Dusk

Developed/Published By: New Blood Software

Date of Release: October 18, 2021

Price: $19.99

 

So as you can already surmise by the name of this site, I absolutely LOVE the original Quake game from id software. The mixture of fast shooting, awesome level design and lovecraftian elements complete with an utterly atmospheric soundtrack by Trent Reznor has always kept me coming back for more. In 2018 New Blood Interactive decided to blow the world away with DUSK, an absolutely raunchy love letter to fans of all things Quake. With retro styled graphics, awesomely sprawling level design, badass enemies, bigass guns, and even badder enemies, plus a banger of a soundtrack by Andrew Hulshult, DUSK is a perfect example of what can go right with a retro FPS throwback.

And now that glorious experience has been ported to the Nintendo Switch. Normally it seems that ports make sacrifices to shoehorn an experience into another platform it was never designed for. Not DUSK though, it feels like it has transcended it's original medium. The Switch version is an evolution, a tour de force, a magnum opus. Running in 1080p at 60 frames per second, it almost feels too smooth to be true. Add to that the refined interface and gyro controls, and it's a match made in heaven for the Switch hardware, whether playing in docked or handheld.

People usually complain until they're blue in the face that games using the Unity engine are slow and janky, but DUSK is absolute proof that the engine can be used to craft incredible experiences. It absolutely plays as smooth as a game like Doom or Quake, and would completely feel at home in the 90s. The PC version was already frigging awesome, but the Switch port goes just the extra mile and makes it in my opinion the definitive DUSK experience.

       I give DUSK for the Nintendo Switch 10 Ralseis smoking a fat blunt out of Dave Oshry.

Mary Skelter Finale Review

Mary Skelter Finale

Developed By: Compile Heart

Published By: IFI

Date of Release: September 30, 2021

Price: $49.99

 

Well, Compile Heart's Mary Skelter series is back again, and this time it's the big finish. Mary Skelter Finale is out for the Nintendo Switch, however it's an unfortunately lacklustre spectacle. It's pretty much using the same assets as the previous games, just with a new plot slapped on top. That's the problem when a game series start re-using previous assets and layouts lifted verbatim, things start to feel like a retread. That's not to say that the production values aren't still high, they just don't hit as hard as they did in Mary Skelter 2. Sorry if it seems like I'm being overly critical of things here, it's just that the devs kinda dropped the ball on this one.

 Speaking of the previous games, the stories of both games have been shoehorned into the new engine, so you can watch them at your leisure. At that rate though I'm not sure why the devs didn't just include the full gameplay, as the assets are all there. What's there is all well and good though, and if you enjoyed the previous games you'll have a good time, but it still feels a bit lazy and rushed, there could have been so much more to it. 

At the end of the day, Mary Skelter Finale is a slightly mediocre if passable dungeon crawler. It really does feel like it could have been a DLC for the previous release, which had a far greater scope. Go for it if you're a fan of the series, otherwise you might want to wait until something a bit meatier comes along, or wait for a sale. Sorry to be a downer but the way this release was put together just rubbed me the wrong way.

G-Darius HD Switch Mini Review

G-Darius HD (Switch)

Developed By: Taito

Published By: ININ Games

Date of Release: September 28 2021

Price: $29.99

 

 Ahh Darius... one of the great classic SHMUP series of the 90s. These games are famous for awesome gameplay and baddies that resemble massive mechanized sea creatures, and they seriously stand the test of time. And 1997's G-Darius is no exception. Originally released in arcades and soon ported to the Sony PlayStation, G-Darius is one of the series big sluggers. And now ININ Games has brought it back on the Nintendo Switch with an excellent port by the geniuses at M2.

 

 

The Switch port of G-Darius HD is extremely impressive, presenting the original game in 1080p as the name would suggest. There are plenty of options to adjust the visual presentation, including a 2D representation of the arcade cabinet, and you can also switch the graphics back to their original arcade resolution. The controls are tight, and the soundtrack is crisp and clear. All in all M2 did a solid job as they always do on this port. I seriously recommend this release to SHMUP fans, despite the price being a tad steep.

Space Invaders Invincible Collection Review

Space Invaders Invincible Collection

Developed By: ININ

Published By: ININ

Date of Release: August 17, 2021

Price: $59.99

 

The year was 1978. Pong and a handful of other primitive cabinets ruled the arcades alongside various pinball tables. Many of the current games were made by Taito, a game developer from Japan. However all of these games paled in comparison to their new release, a game that many would credit with the beginnings of true arcade gaming: Space Invaders. A modest affair featuring monochrome graphics paired with a color overlay, and simple mechanics involving shooting incoming aliens while protecting your bases, Space Invaders also introduced features such as earning points and high score tables, and inspired many games to come in the future. And now with the Space Invaders Invincible Collection on Nintendo Switch, ININ Games have paid a massive tribute to the history of this proud franchise.

 

 

This massive collection includes: Space Invaders original and color versions, Space Invaders Part II, Super Space Invaders '91 with both Japan and USA variants, Space Invaders Extreme, Space Invaders Gigamax 4 SE, Space Invaders DX, Space Cyclone, and Lunar Rescue. An additional title, Arkanoid VS Space Invaders supposedly comes with it as a separate download, however the review copy we were provided did not include it, and as of publishing this review a lot of customers are reportedly still without the bonus game.

The important thing here is the collection of games and quality of the emulation, which is to say the least top-notch. Every title on offer here is presented with a plethora of visual options and all play true to their original versions, with superbly emulated graphics and sound in both handheld and docked mode, with no sign of input lag to be had. The only way they could have made this more like the arcade experience would be if the game included a coin slot for your switch. All in all Space Invaders Invincible Cpllection is the definitive Space Invaders experience, and should not be missed by fans of the series.

Cotton Reboot Review

Cotton Reboot

Developed by: Success

Published by: ININ

Date of Release: July 20, 2021

Price: $39.99

From the first time I experienced them I've always been a big fan of the shoot em up genre (shmups), having played so many games over the years in that style. After a while some of the more serious games get quite boring, so it's nice to see a wacky offbeat game like Cotton come around.

Cotton Reboot is definitely one of those remasters where a clear love of the original source material shines through at every point. The new pixel art is lush and detailed, but doesn't stray away from the original designs, I'm really glad they went this route rather than HD sprites or 3D models. The backgrounds are beautiful as well, though it's a shame that they lack the gorgeous parallax layers of the x68000 original. The arranged soundtrack is a treat for the ears, with every song getting a decent remix.

All in all with the arranged game, x68000 original, time attack mode, and all the various bits and bobs that were added to Cotton Reboot it manages to stand as an amazing experience, though IMO it could use some different video scaling/scanline/crt options for the x68000 version. It's a solid remake however, and is great for fans of the series and newcomers alike.

Neptunia ReVerse Review

Neptunia ReVerse

Developed By: Compile Heart

Published By: IFI

Date of Release: June 8, 2021

Price: $49.99

 In the game industry of our world we have seen countless companies come and go, bringing us amazing consoles, epic games, and so much enjoyment and innovation. From the simple joysticks and clunky cartridges of the past, to the sleek disc-based consoles of today, video-gaming over the ages has told a rich and and storied saga. Now imagine if you will, a world where people live and die based on the market shares of their respective game companies. A world where software pirates and modchip makers are the scourge of the seas. A world ruled by digitally deified divas who symbolize the hopes and dreams of their console nations. Welcome to the digital frontier of Gamindustri!

Neptunia ReVerse marks the fifth outing for this original story, and though it may be a remake of a reboot it is not to be taken lightly. If Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2 was considered a reboot of the original, then perhaps that makes Hyperdimension Neptunia Re:Birth1 a reboot of a reboot, and Neptunia ReVerse is a remake of said reboot! This literal rebirth of the original game took the original story, polished it up a majorly, and stuck it on top of the gameplay system that made Hyperdimension Neptunia: Victory so great. As if that wasn't enough, there is now a full on arrange mode for this PS5 remaster, better graphics (including raytraced reflections for *ahem* interesting "undercarriage" views in the overworld), and a solid 4K60 presentation to cap it all off.

I'll be brutally honest here, the original Hyperdimension Neptunia for PS3 was an absolute slog, with hours of grinding and frankly boring combat dragging the experience on. The only saving grace was its story, which made the most of things with its masterful console war allegory. Thankfully having been moved over to the gameplay stylings of Victory, ReVerse is propelled high and above its clunky progenitor. With the far more exciting battle system on offer in this entry, travelling through the games myriad dungeons and levelling up no longer feels like such a chore. Unrestrained by the formerly boring gameplay, the story is now free to take centre stage.

When it comes right down to it, Re:Birth1 was a shining example of what the Neptunia series can offer, and ReVerse for the PS5 has managed to make it impossibly better. I can only hope that if they decide to make ReVerse 2 that they can match the sheer awesomeness that has been shoved into this title, as the PS5's thus far lacking library could definitely use more JRPG experiences like these. I for one would gladly play every Neptunia adventure again if they were to be presented in this wonderfully streamlined format, and you should too! I can sincerely recommend Neptunia ReVerse to any fan of the series, new or old.

DariusBurst: Another Chronicle EX+ Review

DariusBurst: Another Chronicle EX+

Developed By: Taito

Published By: ININ

Date of Release: July 27, 2021

Price: $39.99

Well, it would seem that Nintendo Switch is shaping up to be quite a good system for SHMUP fans. Between the recent releases of Thunder Force IV and AC, The massive Psikyo collections, and various other impressive releases, the system has become a SHMUP haven for gamers on the go. And now DariusBurst: Another Chronicle EX+ has come to the awesome little handheld. It's a shame that it's not the full Chronicle Saviours package, this is just a standalone version of the game from Darius Cozmic Revelation.

 

The score in DariusBurst is amazing, and really serves to accentuate the mood. The graphics are also quite impressive, if a little difficult to see due to adopting the presentation of the original arcade game. The problem here is that the aspect ratio is extremely zoomed out, making it very hard to play in handheld mode. This could have easily been mitigated by adding options to zoom in further on the gameplay rather than using the bizarre 32:9 aspect ratio based on the arcade cabinet. At least the controls are tight, and feature some decent rumble effects as well.

All in all, DariusBurst: Another Chronicle EX+ is a worthy addition to any Switch Shmup collection, as long as you can overlook how barebones the collection is from the point of video scaling options. There's still enough satisfying gameplay value here to keep you going for a while, as long as you're willing to put in a bit of practice to make up for the tiny viewport. Hopefully it will someday get a patch to take up the whole 16:9 viewport though.