Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy – 81 MC Average
Everyone’s favorite defense attorney made a comeback in April with the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy, bundling together the first three games in the franchise and porting them over to consoles that have never seen a Phoenix Wright game, like Xbox One and Switch.
It’s more than just a simple port, however, as each game sports gorgeous remastered graphics and music. This is the perfect place for newcomers to jump in, and clearly, the first three Phoenix Wright games remain some of the best visual novel experiences out there. The trilogy may not have scored as high as the original games, but the courtroom drama still holds up after all these years.
BoxBoy! + BoxGirl – 81 MC
BoxBoy impressed both critics and fans alike years ago with its minimalist platforming and puzzle-solving, providing Nintendo with yet another second-tier mascot character. The cute boxy hero finally makes his way to Switch, along with the help of BoxGirl.
Reviews seem to indicate that BoxBoy! + BoxGirl is a great next step for the series, bringing in two-player co-op and a wide selection of different levels. Again, the simplicity of BoxBoy is praised, although it seems a tad bit easier than the past couple of games. Still, it’s another great first-party addition to the burgeoning library of the Nintendo Switch.
Katana ZERO – 83 MC Average
Katana ZERO is yet another intriguing indie game that released on PC and exclusively on Switch for consoles, for now. The game is similar to Hotline Miami in that with one hit you die, but it’s played from a side-scrolling view. You need to kill each enemy in a level using your sword or environmental traps, and abilities, like slowing down time or deflecting bullets, help aid you in that.
A fantastic sense of style, engaging story, and seamless fast-paced action are all points that reviews of Katana ZERO touched on. It’s yet another standout indie game that manages to do something different and is all the better for it.
Mortal Kombat 11 – 85 MC Average
Mortal Kombat 11 is a game decades in the making, and in many ways, feels like the culmination of what the series has done. Although the basic combat will be immediately familiar to longtime fans, Mortal Kombat 11 introduces a host of new features, like Fatal Blows and Krushing Blows.
Fatal Blows are very similar to the X-Ray moves of past games but are only available once your health drops below 30 percent. Meanwhile, Krushing Blows are cinematic attacks that can be executed when specific requirements are met for each character. Combat is a bit slower, in general, but it feels tighter and more precise than ever before.
Sadly, there are a few aspects dragging Mortal Kombat 11 down, specifically the game’s grindy microtransaction-filled progression system. Luckily, it seems like Netherrealm is serious about addressing and improving these issues based on user feedback.
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster – 86 MC Average
Final Fantasy X is easily one of the most beloved JRPGs of all time, and it’s appeal clearly carries across generations, now that the games have hit the Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. This remastered collection is just as exceptional as it was on PS3 and PS4, with gorgeous remastered graphics that completely rebuild the character’s facial animations and more.
Xbox One might have the superior processing power, but the Switch version is pretty much uncompromised in every way, except for having to download X-2, even if you buy a physical version. No matter what system you get it on, Final Fantasy X is an absolute must-play JRPG.
Cuphead (Switch) – 87 MC
Surprise, surprise, the best-reviewed game of April 2019 was none other than Cuphead on Switch. One of the biggest surprise announcements of the March Nintendo Direct and it turns out Cuphead is practically uncompromised on Switch.
Both graphically and framerate-wise Cuphead matches its Xbox One counterpart, as even in handheld mode the game plays seamlessly. Of course, Cuphead is still just as much of a marvel as it was before, and the game’s art style is utterly fantastic.
It’s still an absurdly difficult game too, so you’ll want to be ready to die over and over before you pick this up to play on the go.
Published: Apr 30, 2019 01:26 pm