We try to cover every Switch game we’re sent a code for here at Gamezebo. Sometimes we find ourselves with a bit of a backlog though – like right now for instance.
So here are some shorter reviews of games released or updated on the Switch over the last few months – that we might not have gotten round to covering otherwise.
Panic Porcupine
Panic the Porcupine is a cheap and cheerful take on the classic 2D Sonic The Hedgehog titles – but that’s no bad thing.
Yes, this is a very cheeky copycat take on Sega’s mascot. Yet actual effort has been put into the core gameplay that makes it surprisingly far more than a rushed cash-in.
Boasting colourful and sharp visuals it boasts a large number of bite sized levels that usually rely on (you guessed it) going fast.
Momentum is essential to get through stages, and although death is constant the fact you only lose seconds of progress each time makes retrying less painful.
It’s no masterpiece – playing on handheld is difficult because of the tiny sprites, and there are a fair few frustrating stages to balance out the good ones – but it’s a competent 2D platformer that’s worth investigating for fans of the genre.
Score: 3.5/5
Nuclear Blaze
Nuclear Blaze is visually stunning, with simple pixelart visuals coupled with blazing fire effects being far more effective than it has any right to be. Fortunately it backs up these glorious aesthetics with enjoyable gameplay too.
A firefighting title created (in part) by a developer who helped create the superlative Dead Cells, it’s a fairly simple experience at heart.
You explore various buildings that are ablaze while gaining new abilities, uncovering secret areas, and saving cats. The levels never get too mazey, but neither do they ever feel too linear – the sense you’re progressing always pleasantly tangible.
There’s a bare bones plot that is nicely underplayed, although sadly it’s all over very quickly with the runtime clocking in at around two hours.
Nuclear Blaze is definitely a case of quality over quantity though, and well worth checking out.
Score: 4/5
Velocity Noodle
Ironically this game about fast food delivery has similar qualities to its subject matter – it’s instantly gratifying but fails to truly make a long term impact. Yet it’s still a lot of fun while it lasts.
You play as a delivery woman (no name, we checked) who has to work their way through a neon futurescape delivering food. There’s little to the plot, which is just an excuse for some fast paced platforming involving a lot of wall jumping and a sword – which can be thrown and used to transport to otherwise impossible to reach spots.
The joy here is the tight level design which requires pixel perfect movement. It’s incredibly satisfying when you pull off a tricky set of jumps and the controls are solid enough to make you feel like every obstacle can be overcome.
However the game’s low price doesn’t quite justify its short lifespan – just around 2 hours – meaning this is a platformer that’s probably only worth investing in when it goes on sale.
Score: 3.5/5
Papertris
Having your game’s name play on Tetris is never going to end well, and so it proves with Papertris – a largely unsatisfying puzzler which ultimately lacks any truly interesting ideas.
The main issue is that this is nothing like Tetris, revolving around the individual colours in the falling blocks – rather than the shapes of the blocks themselves. Which wouldn’t be so much of a problem if so many variants – as well as power ups – weren’t being constantly introduced.
It makes for an overly confusing experience, and one that also feels painful at times – as sessions can often go on for far too long. This is because it simply won’t let you die, and we found ourselves creating combos by accident rather than on purpose. Never a great sign of watertight puzzle design.
The biggest saving grace of Papertris is its budget price, but even with that in mind there are so many better options out there for puzzle game fans than this.
Score: 2.5/5
Rob Riches
Rob Riches is not an amazing game by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s a tightly designed experience that leans into its Sokoban inspirations and will hold a lot of appeal for hardcore puzzle fans.
The plot revolves around exploiting various tombs and jungles, but it’s all just set dressing for a number of stages involving solving turn-based conundrums. You have to collect coins while avoiding various traps and pitfalls.
There is some trial and error involved, but largely Rob Riches never feels unfair and the difficulty curve across the many stages is pleasantly smooth – as are the visuals, which are crisp and clear. This is essential considering knowing what will go where after every move is key to completing each level.
Ultimately Rob Riches is definitely a step up from our old Game Boy cart of Boxxle, and a title that’s worth exploring if you’re a fan of slower paced puzzlers.
Score: 3.5/5
Hyper Gunsport
We took our time reviewing this, but we can safely say that Hyper Gunsport is definitely a hidden gem in the endless realms of local multiplayer titles on the Switch.
A dystopian futuristic take on classic Windjammers, it sees you playing a slightly more aggressive version of 2 vs 2 volleyball. In two dimensions. And with guns.
The ball is controlled by shooting at it with weapons, and you score points by hitting one of the three goals behind your opponents.
And that really is all there is to Hyper Gunsport – and it’s superb. The controls are tight, the pixelart presentation is top notch, and there’s a range of power ups to keep things interesting.
The only downside is the high price tag, especially considering there’s no online modes and the single player campaign gets dull fast. Still, if you have a set of friends to play with Hyper Gunsport is an almost essential purchase.
Score: 4/5
