Switch
Here we have all the games in the Switch Section.
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Controller
Ergonomically snug Bluetooth pad to compliment the release of Earthion on the Switch for the authentic experience. Resplendent with the Earthion logo and looking very snazzy for it.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Switch
A Bit Special
The colossus SNK back catalogue is the gift that keeps on giving with no let up in quality as we hit the fifth instalment. The retro roster reads The King of Fighters 2002, Art of Fighting 2, Real Bout Garou Densetsu, Twinkle Star Sprites, Slash Rally, Burning Fight, Aggressors of Dark Kombat, Sonic Wings 2, Super Sidekicks and Cyberlip. The Future is now!
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Switch
A Bit Special
Including games never released on the home formats really gets the pulse racing for fans of cult developer SNK. This sixth instalment features: The King of Fighters 98, Samurai Spirits III, Real Bout Garou Densetsu Special, Last Blade 2, Over Top, Ultimate 11, Football Frenzy, Sengoku Densetsu 2001, Sonic Wings 3 and Operation Ragnarok (aka Zed Blade.)
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A Bit Special
The Switch has become quite a retro paradise with more shooters than you could shake a joystick at and a roll call of re-releases fit for a king from this Rolls Royce of consoles continues unlimited here. The King of Fighters 2003, Fatal Fury Special, World Heroes 2, Futsal 5 on 5 Mini Soccer, Metal Slug 5, King of the Monsters 2, Zupapa, Prehistoric Isle 2 Primitive Island, Puzzle Bobble and Power Spikes 2 complete a well-rounded line up take on all comers. The pseudo-3D of the dinosaurs in Prehistoric Isle are well-worth a second look having never encountered it before at Genki HQ, and the same goes for Zupapa with its colourful coin-op appeal of a bygone era.
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A Bit Special
The gift that keeps on giving, and its definitely a back catalogue worth ticking off all the titles made. This eighth chapter is a thriller: The King of Fighters 99, Art of Fighting, World Heroes 2 Jet, Fuun Super Tag Battle, Super Sidekicks 2, Metal Slug 2, Crossed Swords, Raguy, Nam 1975 and Puzzle Bobble 2. The Future is now.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Granted most modern shooters end up in a screen full of rainbow coloured bullets (though that said old school shooters were never short of a projectile or two.) But Cave has certainly grabbed Genki’s goat in going for a World War style of isometric background buildings as detailed polygon biplanes float into place having caught the eye with a neat bit of scaling. Plenty of on ground action as pilots fly their female characters through the on-screen onslaught. Superb stuff demonstrating Caves rich arcade heritage.
Switch
Platform
A game with real history, dug up and dusted off and looking very snappy in its new incarnation. The old school look is integrated into the game from time to time in a nod to its roots. The underwater, cavern and desert levels may be well known, but the execution and level design is worthy of the weighty label. The Air Zonk PC Kid tribute is a blast too.
Switch
Shooter
Sequel to the superb Mega Drive and Super Famicom crackers, Leynos 2 features more exo skeleton related mayhem and maintains the clunky metal feel of the original as the suits are dropped behind enemy lines and straight into the thick of it. Ginormous bosses and relentless onslaught from enemy mechs makes this one tough exoskeleton to crack. A true delight to have it revamped for the Switch. Bravo!
Switch
Shooter
Sequel to the superb Mega Drive and Super Famicom crackers, Leynos 2 features more exo skeleton related mayhem and maintains the clunky metal feel of the original as the suits are dropped behind enemy lines and straight into the thick of it. Ginormous bosses and relentless onslaught from enemy mechs makes this one tough exoskeleton to crack. A true delight to have it revamped for the Switch. Bravo!
🥇Game of the Week
Brilliant Switch
Shooter
Gamers of a certain vintage will be purring having lapped up the Cybernator action which sees the weighty mech feel every tonnage as it lands on the platforms and then utilises booster to jets to glide through the side scrolling shooter sections. Such a work of love with incredible attention to detail and another must-have Superdeluxe delivery for gamers who know their claret from their Beaujolais.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Wonderful to have the shooter torch passed on burning so brightly. Its just a shame you are not given a split second to appreciate the detailed sprites and parallax layers. And it is a shame you might wish for the absent slowdown in some levels such is the frantic pace of the on screen onslaught. Five levels of mayhem: please remember to keep an eye out for the pigs that need rescuing.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Wonderful to have the shooter torch passed on burning so brightly. Its just a shame you are not given a split second to appreciate the detailed sprites and parallax layers. And it is a shame you might wish for the absent slowdown in some levels such is the frantic pace of the on screen onslaught. Five levels of mayhem: please remember to keep an eye out for the pigs that need rescuing.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
The Switch carries the mantle of the modern day refuge for shoot ’em ups with this double pack of Bullet Soul (Dankon) and Bullet Soul Infinite Burst. Not wishing to dampen its many pyrotechnics, but Genki may be getting a little long in the tooth as the Normal mode seems more than ample evidence of its bullet hell. Yet for those made of stronger stuff there are also Burst and Caravan modes, which may well require a pad or joystick made of stronger stuff. Independent eye movement isn’t mentioned as a requirement on the box, yet would definitely be an advantage.
Switch
One on One Beat Em Up
A real fight fest for fans of the genre with both incarnations of Capcom vs SNK, Rival Schools, Fighting Jam, Street Fighter Zero 3, along with Star Gladiator plus double incarnations of Power Stone for a bit less-intense, more chuck away action. A real treat for those that appreciate Capcom’s eye for detail and spit and polish. Just hope you aren’t spitting teeth after a run in with some of these bad boys.
Switch
Platform
Another mighty fine delve from Superdeluxe into Castlevania’s dank dungeons coming up trumps with the much-sought after GameBoy Advance versions. Pixel-perfect platforming action awaits those pure of heart and with iron will.
🥇Game of the Week
Game of the Week Switch
Platform
Another irresistible Superdeluxe offering going back to Konami’s Gothic opus this time with a cracking array of titles from the much loved series. Includes the original Akumajo Dracula, a graphically enhanced remake version, Castlevania II Simon’s Quest, Akumajo Densetsu, Dracula Densetsu, Dracula Densetsu II, the rare Mega Drive Vampire Killer and Akumajo Special Boku Dracula Kun. Don’t have nightmares!
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Includes the rare DS version Gallery of Labyrinth – Gothic chic has never looked so good as Count Dracula tries with all his vim and vigour to rid himself and his mansion of the trespassing Belmont clan – even if protagonists Jonathan and Charlotte’s links to the Belmont ancestry are slim. Both players have a different skills set. Keeps true to the manuscript of the Castlevania tradition and those familiar with its whip cracking action will feel right at home in the spooky splendour of the Counts castle. Concessions are made to the modern gamer in being able to plough right through quickly, yet the seasoned vampire slayer will take their time to explore the plethora of in game secrets. Plus players can leap into paintings to take on off shoots from the castle with plenty of visual variety in this platformer set in WWII. The bosses mark a stunning return to form and show the Konami team to not be shy on eating cheese before bed.
Another fine DS conversion in Castlevania Order of Ecclesia included too: Konami style alright – packed full with a bounty of varied levels and surprises all drawn in the most chic gothic fashion as the developers seem to have been hanging around the streets of Shinjuku with Gackt look a likes as much as Transylvanian castles. Plenty of innovative touches and a commendable blend of keeping true to the series traditions and bringing in new blood.
Finally includes the arcade version of Castlevania: Akumajo Dracula Revisited, also known as Haunted Castle.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
Another Switch update: this time of the fantastic, funky Super Famicom version. Roughly translating as ‘Super Big Brother’, this is the closest you get to the Village People on a console. Highly imaginative, very wacky digitised graphics to the point where you’ll wonder if shiitake are the only mushrooms the creators have been having in their miso soup. Drifts away from the shooting action of its predecessors for a one on one fist fest taking place in mid air – even with female characters too. Although the fart attacks are certainly no way to treat a lady.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Two game package in Choaniki and Ai Choaniki of PC Engine fame making the transition to the Switch. To those who have yet to encounter it, Choaniki is a very wacky shooter from Japan. Expect the unexpected in a Kikikaikai style. Never a dull moment in this blaster with a cult following. Ai Choaniki roughly translates as ‘Love Super Big Brother’, this is the closest you get to the Village People on a console. Highly imaginative characters and bosses to the point where you’ll wonder if shiitake are the only mushrooms the creators have been having in their miso soup. Playable as Adon or Samson.
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Shooter
Contra Anniversary Collection celebrates the series that demands gamers to be cut from a similar ilk to the legendary game heroes. Ten titles: Contra (arcade), Super Contra Alien Strikes Back (arcade), Contra, Contra (US version), Super Contra, Contra Spirits, Contra (91 version), Contra The Hardcore, Super Probotector Alien Rebels and Probotector. Serious run and gun gameplay for the equivalent of a gaming marine.
Switch
Shooter
Super Contra is rightly cherished by many gamers of a Nintendo persuasion, so to see Contra back and looking so good whilst remaining true to the run and gun, grenade pin in mouth gameplay of the original brings a tear to the eye. Not that there is any allowance for blurry vision or nostalgia – reflexes need to be as sharp as ever to progress.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Two superb 16 Bit versions of Cotton in the orthodox Super Famicom Cotton 100% and the out of the box Panorama Cotton of Mega Drive fame. Both worthy of this tribute and executed supremely with the colourful, comic bosses a real treat for retro fans.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Reaching back into what feels to Genki like the near past in compiling three precious (and fairly exclusive) Saturn shooters in Cotton 2, Cotton Boomberang and Guardian Force. Cotton 2 exemplifies all the hit points that made the Saturn a mean 2D machine. Cute sprite graphics and good pacing. Boomerang is not a full sequel to Cotton 2, more feeling like a very slick update as there wasn’t anything really in need of correcting in the prequel. The controls have been revamped along with gameplay additions of a special charge projectile and the facility to switch between three different players. As such the energy bar has gone: each player now represents a life. The in game graphics have been given a lick of paint with some impressive effects hurtling the player into more on screen insanity. The presentation has also been spruced up with hi resolution cut sequences and an intro to give twitchy fingers a break. A true success saving the best until last. Guardian Force is a unique take on the shooter formula with players taking the role of tank driver to blast through enemy lines. No mere gimmick though: in a refreshing twist the tanks turret can rotate through 360 degrees making it possible to pound enemy installations whilst making a hasty retreat. The simultaneous two player option is the icing on the pretty looking cake. A dream team compilation and a real blast.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Reaching back into what feels to Genki like the near past in compiling three precious (and fairly exclusive) Saturn shooters in Cotton 2, Cotton Boomberang and Guardian Force. Cotton 2 exemplifies all the hit points that made the Saturn a mean 2D machine. Cute sprite graphics and good pacing. Boomerang is not a full sequel to Cotton 2, more feeling like a very slick update as there wasn’t anything really in need of correcting in the prequel. The controls have been revamped along with gameplay additions of a special charge projectile and the facility to switch between three different players. As such the energy bar has gone: each player now represents a life. The in game graphics have been given a lick of paint with some impressive effects hurtling the player into more on screen insanity. The presentation has also been spruced up with hi resolution cut sequences and an intro to give twitchy fingers a break. A true success saving the best until last. Guardian Force is a unique take on the shooter formula with players taking the role of tank driver to blast through enemy lines. No mere gimmick though: in a refreshing twist the tanks turret can rotate through 360 degrees making it possible to pound enemy installations whilst making a hasty retreat. The simultaneous two player option is the icing on the pretty looking cake. A dream team compilation and a real blast.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Cotton Rock n Roll brings the series into the new generations and it looks very charming for it. Great use of 3D backgrounds and adversaries, but the action remains true to its 2D roots. The star of Umihara Kawase makes a guest appearance riding on an inflated puffer fish. Just what the doctor ordered.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Cotton Rock n Roll brings the series into the new generations and it looks very charming for it. Great use of 3D backgrounds and adversaries, but the action remains true to its 2D roots. The star of Umihara Kawase makes a guest appearance riding on an inflated puffer fish. Just what the doctor ordered.
Switch
RPG
Very modern looking RPG in terms of its unusual, yet effective and striking, visual look. The combat allows the players to get involved and show-off a move or two. Characters futures are affected by the in game decisions.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Cave’s creation shows it still has plenty to offer with its unique Gothic graphical look that feels different to other shooters. Superb package to bring it to new platforms and display its charming attributes.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Not sure when a hard rock riff became de rigueur for shoot ’em ups, but it certainly helps to grit ones teeth through the bullet hell. Lovely parallax scrolling often reveals the boss in wait which is ominously circling in the background.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
The chain meter clanks up as players shoot down adversaries to help boost score for the cool trigger-fingered gamers out there. The Akiba influence is definitely there too as players are assaulted from enemies from high school girl assailants to mecha maids. But underpinning the pink bullet eye candy are solid shooter mechanics and some sturdy level design. The on the ground vehicles keep players eyes twitching between multi levels as tanks grind along and trains whiz by. The water transparencies are exquisite too as ships fly out from under the surface having trailed the players vessel. But the slender Switch’s raw power is also harnessed to make the bosses perform the odd 3D rotational twist workout. Also known as Dodonpachi Resurrection.