REVIEW: Graviter on Nintendo Switch

 

Review by GamingCouchPotato.co.uk Staff

Graviter is the latest puzzle game to grace the Nintendo Switch, and it has a lot of competition if it wants to stand out.

The story is a bit ridiculous, but at least it has one, your cat has been taken, it is missing in the dark void of space, you have been left parts of a map to the galaxy, collect cat paw prints and find your cat. 

The game works on the idea of gravity, you control the size and position of planets, manipulate them so that you can fly around and collect the paw prints. On some levels the planets can be moved around, on others the planets sizes can be edited, sometimes you will be able to pause time after launching, and move planets etc, then restart time.

Over 100 levels to complete, and you can change the graphic style to monochrome or normal colours.

There are different ways to complete a level, so you are not stuck to just finding the one solution.

The problems however arise pretty much straight away, the game is not at all user friendly, the control system is poor, and the levels can get ridiculously hard very quick, and instead of using logic to solve them, you will end up using trial and error, which is never a good thing to need to do in a puzzle game, as it totally takes away the whole puzzle element.

The graphics and soundtrack are decent, the monochrome option is a nice choice to have, but doesn't really add anything to the game.

The Good

Everything looks decent and there is a challenge there for even the most hardened of puzzle gamers.

The Bad

Poor design, poor menu, and a learning curve that is off putting.

Overall

Fine idea, just poorly implemented.

I score Graviter on Nintendo Switch a poor 4/10

Out now on Nintendo Switch

https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Graviter-1949440.html

REVIEW: Kickerinho World on Nintendo Switch

Review by Jon Donnis

Kickerinho World is a freestyle-football simulator, well that is what the game makers claim.

In reality it is a "Keepie uppie" game.

Originally released on mobile devices about 5 years ago, and downloaded 5 million times, it is your classic freemium mobile game, whereby you play a bit, lose, watch an advertisement, and start again. On Nintendo Switch it is basically the same, but since you have had to pay for it, the ads are gone.

The aim of the game is simple, keep the ball in the air, do not let it touch the floor, the longer you do that, the more points you get.

Each trigger on the controller controls a different foot, press the correct trigger at the right time and the ball will get kicked and stay in the air, every so often the ball will go high enough for you to head it, and you do this by pressing both triggers at once. You can also use the touch screen as well if you prefer.

The game is pretty hard, despite sounding easy, the timing has to be almost perfect, miss by a fraction of a second and that's it, game over. And that is basically the game, a mobile port, that the main advantage is you won't need to watch ads, or pay microtransactions to purchase things.

There are three characters you can play with, Raul, Violet, or Sydney. And various locations you will travel to, including Paris, New York, Dubai, Shanghai, Moscow, Rio, and Sydney, but these are purely cosmetic, think a change of background and that is it. Various customisations to unlock, balls to collect, and so on. Typical mobile game stuff.

The Good

It looks ok, I guess. You don't need to pay anything else once you have purchased it.

The Bad

Everything, it is a terrible game.

Overall

This is a game that should have stayed on mobile. No idea why they would want to have this ported to the Switch.

If you really want to play this, go get it on the play store for free, and if you really love it, then and only then pay for it on Switch.

I score Kickerinho World on Nintendo Switch an abysmal 2/10

Out Now on Nintendo Switch

https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Kickerinho-World-1995102.html

REVIEW: Make War on Nintendo Switch

Review by GamingCouchPotato.co.uk Staff

There is an endless amount of strategy simulation type games out there at the moment, and "Make War" from No Gravity Games is another one to add to the pile.

The basic premise of the game is that you place your army and weapons, press play, and see if your strategy can beat the enemy as the AI then plays out.

You can play in various timelines, so from Viking Era to the 20th century and even cyberpunk and futuristic areas. When you start the game, you will be faced with a map, but since the game requires you to play one level at a time, it seems a bit pointless, and perhaps just a simple "Level 1, Level 2..." type map would be better suited.

Beating an enemy on a level is itself not enough to progress to the next level, you will have "quests" that you need to complete, unfortunately the game doesn't really explain things too well, and the tutorial is a bit useless. So, at first you might find yourself wondering why you keep playing the same level over and over. Once you figure out there are quests to complete, you can try to then adjust your strategy to accomplish these goals.

Before you press play on a level, you get to choose the layout of your army, you will have regular fighters, melee fighters, long and medium range fighters, mines, laser guns, portals and so on. The more you progress the more that is unlocked for you to use.

One big problem with this, is that it seems strategy has very little to do with you winning or losing. Placing your fighters in one area or another doesn't make a great deal of difference, as they will still just run towards the enemy, and they will run towards you, all the while you just sit back and watch. As you complete quests, that may unlock more of a weapon, fighter or mine, so you then can place more, you will end up beating the enemy more through grinding to unlock things, than any masterminded strategy.

There 160 missions to complete, 40+ weapons to unlock, 30+ fighting units to get, so plenty to do, but is the gameplay good enough to keep you coming back?

The Good

I liked the small pixel graphics, even on a Switch Lite i could see everything going on, but perhaps this game would prefer a larger screen.

The Bad

The lack of actual strategy needed, in a strategy simulation is a huge problem, and one that cannot be ignored.

Overall

There is potential here, but not enough for fans of strategy simulation games, who will get bored quick. For general gamers, Make War might find a place on your Switch as a game you can just play for ten minutes every so often.

I hate to give low scores, but I have to be honest, and sadly I can only award Make War on Nintendo Switch a poor 4/10

Out Now on Nintendo Switch

https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Make-War-1763503.html

REVIEW: Star Horizon on Nintendo Switch

Review by GamingCouchPotato.co.uk Staff

Star Horizon is a 3D, on rails, space shoot-em-up. You play as John, a pilot, or more accurately the person shooting stuff. Most of the real control is done by the Artificial Intelligence known as Ellie, who will talk to you as you play. Since my name is real life is John, I must say it all felt very personal!

There is a war between the Inter Galactic Corporation (The Federation), and the rebels. (This sounds familiar!). You are involved in an accident, whereby you are put into hibernation by the mothership, Ellie, the ships AI, wakes you up years later, and you have no idea where you are or what is going on.

As you play, you will quickly learn that this is an on rails shooter, meaning that you go where the AI takes you, and with the exception of some quick time events, whereby you need to choose an option of what to do next, all directional activities are controlled for you. Your job is to shoot stuff. You have a few different types of weapons, as well as a cool roll/dodge manoeuvre. The targeting mechanics aren't the best, but you soon get used to how it all works, and you will quickly find out that accuracy isn't that important.

As you destroy enemies, and complete sections, you will earn points, these points can be used in the hangar, between levels, to upgrade your ship. 

There are just 10 levels, and 3 main bosses to beat. You gain up to 3 stars for completing a level, and you will find that you will need to replay levels over and over to get points to upgrade your ship and weapons, so that you can get strong enough to progress, beat bosses and so on, this does bring some longevity to what would otherwise be a short game.

The quick time events which affect the storyline, are a good idea, and give the game some replay options, to see what differences there is, if you had chosen differently, examples of choices are to help friends or ignore them, help a space merchant or fight them.

The Good

As this is an on rails shooter, it means that the developers have had plenty of time to make the 3D graphics look fantastic, the soundtrack is good, and the AI voice is also quite entertaining.

The Bad

Only 10 levels, and many people do not like "On Rails" shooters since they do lack the freedom of a regular 3D shooter.

Overall

A cheap game, that does entertain, and despite its limitations, looks good and plays well.

I score Star Horizon on Nintendo Switch a fair 7/10

Out Now

https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Star-Horizon-1782929.html

REVIEW: Creepy Tale on Nintendo Switch

Review by GamingCouchPotato.co.uk Staff

Creepy Tale is a 2D puzzle game for Nintendo Switch, and it is quite different to anything I have played before.

You start the game off walking through the forest with your brother, before you know it, your brother has been kidnapped by some weird creatures, and it is your job to find and save him, and become the hero. But watch out, if you get caught by any of the strange creatures that inhabit this world, then you will meet a fate worse than death. And by that I mean you will restart at the last checkpoint.

As you play you will have to solve puzzles, which in turn will allow you to progress to the next area. As you do this, you will find out what caused the once peaceful forest to turn into a place of evil filled with weird creatures.

Puzzles include collecting items, using them at the right time, avoiding evil creatures, sneaking about, but also luring enemies to traps and running away.

The puzzles themselves can be quite strange, and solving them may not seem as straight forward as they first appear. There is not much to help you along the way, so you will have to use every inch of your brainpower to figure things out. Sometimes you will find yourself trying everything, until something works, which can be frustrating, but when you do finally figure out how to proceed you will feel pleasantly fulfilled.

The Good

Really beautiful graphics, and some very decent well thought out puzzles to solve.

The Bad

Some of the puzzles are a bit "out there", and you may need to seek help online if you get stuck. And the platforming elements can be a bit dodgy, falling off an area, or not making a jump etc.

Overall

Don't be distracted by the beautiful 2D artwork, this is a decent little puzzle game, a little short, but worth your time. 

I Score Creepy Tale a strong 7/10

Out Now on Nintendo Switch

https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/creepy-tale-switch/