REVIEW: WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS on Nintendo Switch

Review by Jon Donnis

We are back again with our latest review, this time a Baseball/Softball game for Nintendo Switch called WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS.

Originally a Japan only release, eBaseball has now had a worldwide release.

This is the official baseball game of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), no I had never heard of that organisation either, but since Baseball is huge in Japan, I will assume this is their version of the MLB.

Here is the official blurb.

"Create your own team from over 300 original characters!

With over 300 characters to choose from, players can assemble their team of batters, catchers, and pitchers to compete in online matches against rivals from all over the world. Mix and match different players with different stats to find the winning formula!

Once you've got your team, test your skills against the world!

Once you've assembled your team of sluggers compete online in matches with friends or online competitions like Championship Mode with rivals from all over the world."

Baseball games tend to follow two trends, very good, or very bad, the very bad are usually over complicated, and the very good are nice and simple, luckily eBaseball is the latter. This is a very Nintendo of Japan feeling game, the characters, the graphics and so on. Everything is very cutesy. It costs just 79p in the UK, so it will hardly break the bank.

 

The most important factor of games like this is ease of play, and as soon as you figure out the pretty simple controls, you will be hitting home runs with ease. Fielding is usually the worst part of such a game, but here they have also made it pretty simple, you can make epic catches, but also throwing the ball is pretty simple, just press the button that corresponds with the plate you want to throw to and job done.

Batting has two systems, an accurate hit, which means you will hit the ball much harder, but is easier to miss, and a less accurate/ less powerful mode, but easier to hit. Soon enough you will be switching between these depending on the pitcher.

The game really is pretty simple to pick up and play, it has the usual online modes, including local multiplayer, and a single player mode.

There really isn't much more to say, this is a simple, fun baseball game, if you like arcade style baseball games, then this is a no brainer, especially for under a pound. If you prefer full on sim then this will be a bit too basic for you.

The Good

Fun graphics, decent sound effects and music. Easy to pick up and play.

The Bad

Might be a bit simple for some gamers.

Overall

A fun little arcade baseball game. 

I score WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS on Nintendo Switch a fantastic 8/10. 

Out Now for just 79p at

https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/WBSC-eBASEBALL-POWER-PROS-2340249.html

REVIEW: Rooftop Renegade on Nintendo Switch

Review by Jon Donnis

Rooftop Renegade is an awesome new action platform game that concentrates more on speed and flow than deliberate precision moves. You can run and use your hover blades, and your main objective is to reach the end of the level as fast as you can, as well as collecting as many diamonds as you can. The better performance you do the higher score you will get.

Run and glide your way through various futuristic areas, on skyscrapers and gliding on bars. You also have a few special moves you can do, boost and slide, which will help you make epic jumps, as well as slide under the various hazards and traps set by Globacorp, who are constantly trying to stop you.

With this game being about speed, split second thinking is needed here, one mistake and you will lose your flow, or get caught by Globacorp.

There are a few modes to play, Arcade mode, which has you working your way through various levels and stages, which as you would expect gradually get harder and more challenging. Then there is a generator mode, which remixes levels in new ways depending on what you enter in the seed box. Just type a random number for example and see what kind of level it creates.

There is also a party mode, which I could not try out, but is your basic multiplayer mode with "Runners vs Gunners". 3 people against 1 runner.

That is the basic game, so how does it play? Well from the very start the game feels very intuitive, your very first run might not be the quickest, but you will soon get a feel for the game, and you will want to replay levels to get that top "S" score. I played on a Nintendo Switch Lite, and the game felt comfortable to play on the smaller screen as well as with the Switch Light button layout, which I know can sometimes be a problem with some games.

The graphics are of a high quality, the sound effects and music are also decent.

This is a fun little arcade game, that you can sit down and play through the levels for a while, or just pick up and play for a few minutes. And the generator level has an almost unlimited amount of "remixes" for you to play if you complete the arcade mode.

The Good

Great graphics, easy to play, challenging to master. A really fun little arcade platformer.

The Bad

Nothing really, it does exactly what it is advertised to do.

Overall

This is one of those games you will have on your Switch for years to come, and every so often, even after completing it, you will load it up for a quick go, it has good replay qualities, and is a really cool game.

I score Rooftop Renegade on Nintendo Switch a solid 9/10

Out Now on Nintendo Switch at

https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Rooftop-Renegade-2331525.html

REVIEW: The Legend of Gwen - Nintendo Switch

Review by Jon Donnis

Back again with our latest review, this time for The Legend of Gwen on Nintendo Switch, no this is not a game about the wife of the late Derek Acorah, but instead a game about a young Witch who is a newcomer to a wizardry school. She wants to become the best witch in the world.

"To her bad luck, her arrival came at a bad time because just when she arrived she couldn't have a welcome party because there was a surprise guest... "The Evil One!"

"Evil" didn't hesitate twice and began to absorb everything she could from the school! Now who will teach Gwen about sorcery! Will she be able to learn on her own? Will she be able to overcome the obstacles of "The Evil One" and get the school back? Help Gwen with this challenge and defeat "The Evil One" (if you can ....)."

At its base this is a hardcore platform game, and when I say hardcore, i mean it, as this game is tough, really tough, from the very first level it is tough, this is a precision platformer, with something of a fixed camera for a 3D environment.

As you play through the early levels you will gain a few new moves, jump, dash, and magic spell. And then after you have died countless times, and eventually got through a few levels, you then get the option to switch the camera angle 90 degrees, which then makes things so much easier. As now you can line up your jumps much better.

The learning curve on this game is way off, and unfortunately this means a lot of gamers will be put off almost from the first moment. However if you stick with it, there is a good and challenging game here. Yes there are plenty of problems other than what I have mentioned, the level select for example, is you walking around an open area, but as you move, you do not have the abilities you have within an actual level, it just feels wrong, not to mention the very slow pace of the character, the inertia of the character also feels way too heavy. 

The Good

A pretty game with well thought out and challenging levels.

The Bad

A 2D platformer in a 3D world, with a somewhat fixed camera is so hard to get used to. Steep learning curve will also put people off.

Overall

There is a very good game here, it is just hidden behind some terrible developer choices, get past the early problems, stick with it, and you will enjoy the game. But it really takes too much effort from the gamer to get there.

I score The Legend of Gwen on Nintendo Switch a disappointing 6/10. Sadly I think it is too late to fix the issues that will mean this game never reaches an audience that will appreciate it.

TRAILER: Zombieland: Headshot Fever Reloaded Coming to PlayStation®VR2 At Launch

 

The popular VR arcade light gun style shooter Zombieland: Headshot Fever will be released as a PlayStation®VR2 launch title, according to XR Games and Sony Pictures VR (SPVR).

The popular VR title, Zombieland: Headshot Fever Reloaded, has been redesigned to take full advantage of PlayStation®5 and PlayStation®VR2. With a brand new cel-shaded art style, new character models, new animations, new lighting, ragdoll physics, new music, completely redesigned progression system, new game hub, a tonne of brand-new gameplay content, and PlayStation®VR2-exclusive features, fans will be able to experience the action, characters, and humour from the popular film franchise.

PlayStation®VR2-exclusive features include:

Adaptive triggers: making every weapon feel different

Controller haptics: unique haptic feedback every time you fire a weapon

Headset rumble: feel the horde approaching in the headset

Eye-tracking: supports eye-tracking for foveated rendering

Additionally, players can also look forward to a new story level, three new remix levels, new Gun Range challenges, new guns, new perks and new gun skins to enhance the fast-paced, heart-pounding Zombie horde gameplay.

“Bringing a reimagined version of our award-winning game ‘Zombieland: Headshot Fever’ to a brand-new audience on PlayStation®VR2 was a no-brainer.” said Jake Zim, SVP, virtual reality, Sony Pictures Entertainment. “The new hardware features of PlayStation®VR2 enabled the team at XR Games to take ‘Zombieland: Headshot Fever’ to the next level of immersive entertainment. This truly is the ultimate version of the hit arcade-style shooter, and I can’t wait for players to experience the game, and new hardware features, in action.” 

“As soon as we saw the power and hardware features of PlayStation®VR2, we knew there was a huge opportunity to increase the immersion and build the best version of ‘Zombieland: Headshot Fever’ imaginable.” said Bobby Thandi, Founder and CEO of XR Games. “The team kept experimenting, and came back with a gorgeous new artstyle, new animations, lighting, physics, character models, progression system, as well as new levels, guns, challenges and trophies. This is essentially a remaster built to take advantage of PlayStation®VR2’s exciting new hardware features, delivering a more exciting, faster, more immersive experience. I couldn’t be prouder of what the team has accomplished.”

For $24.99/£19.99, Zombieland: Headshot Fever Reloaded will be released for PlayStation®VR2. Players can add the game to their wishlist on the PlayStation store as of right now by clicking the link below.

https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/concept/10005906

TRAILER - Rooftop Renegade - Released February 17, 2023 on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

 

ROOFTOP RENEGADE is an action-platformer all about speed & flow. Evade capture through futuristic skyscrapers channelling powerful abilities from your hoverblades.

Boost through levels under constant bombardment, avoid dangerous hazards, and make split-second decisions that mean the difference between a new personal best or total wipeout.

FAST AND FLUID GAMEPLAY

Master precise controls and smooth physics to get into the zone. Blast through levels at high speeds while chaining together abilities and making split-second pathway decisions. Pursued by the sinister Globacorp, avoid capture while avoiding hazards and traps caused by income fire from gunners.

EVERYBODY RUNS, EVERYBODY GUNS

Gear up to take on challenging levels alone or grab some controllers to disrupt your friends in chaotic offline multiplayer. Take turns in up to 3v1 asymmetric rounds to set your best time as the runner while your rivals disrupt you, then take control of a gunner to defend your record.

MIX IT UP

Create fresh challenges with the seed-based Generator Mode. Enter a keyword to dynamically generate a level from a variety of worlds, layouts, hazards, and enemy combinations. Pick your perfect loadout and dive into a new run to master.

Features

Fast-paced platforming with multiple pathways

Buttery-smooth gameplay with frame rate support

Local-multiplayer Party Mode to play as the Globacorp gunners

Neo-retro city landscapes with a dynamic soundtrack

Controllers are required for local multiplayer.

Released February 17, 2023 on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.