Switch
Here we have all the games in the Switch Section.
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
Taking the original Reboot that sought authenticity to the original and cutting a bit loose on the broomstick with a new character, extra multipliers, graphical shift and the highly amusing enemy capture adding much hilarity. Gaming veterans Beep reveal their retro tattoos and it’s a young witch on a broomstick. A fine series to go back to, especially such a relatively unknown version.
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.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
M2 hears Genki’s cry for a Super Easy mode to go with the Arcade difficulty. The graphical style looks superb with the foreground vehicles lovingly realised and the Gothic style to the chacters making this ooze its STG style.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Claustrophobic caverns and tunnels under gigantic bosses as they skim overhead make for an intense experience. A feel of Darius’ organic amphibious bosses and superb attention to pixel perfect detail.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Claustrophobic caverns and tunnels under gigantic bosses as they skim overhead make for an intense experience. A feel of Darius’ organic amphibious bosses and superb attention to pixel perfect detail.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Action
Always one of the most unlikeliest names for a video game hero, Earnest Evans Collection contains his a fore named game Earnest Evans from the Mega CD era, besides the seminal MD El Viento and the cult classic from the Mega CD Anett Futatabi. Telenet always had such devoted followers and these three titles demonstrate why.
🥇Game of the Week
Game of the Week Switch
Action
Always one of the most unlikeliest names for a video game hero, Earnest Evans Collection contains his a fore named game Earnest Evans from the Mega CD era, besides the seminal MD El Viento and the cult classic from the Mega CD Anett Futatabi. Telenet always had such devoted followers and these three titles demonstrate why.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Another superb shmup release in the series with the human character used, as opposed to mechanical ship, adding much to the connection between player and intriguing character. It also seems to help create a greater sense of vertical depth. A real labour of love.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Back once again after the delightful PS2 and 360 versions and bursting with ideas and inventiveness, enough to put the spark back into the most jaded of veteran gamers, if not a pink bullet or two. Checking out the abilities of online players may just make you want to hide away in a deep, dark mountain in Genki’s case, but the game is full of wholesome Cave loving and sunshine.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
To truly celebrate the 40th anniversary of Gradius (or Nemisis) comes this mighty compendium tribute to the master blaster with Gradius, Gradius II, Gradius II, Life Force, Salamander, Salamander II and Salamander III. A true labour of love for the series fans with the different regional versions plus plenty of modes included such as training, easy mode and a tour of the graphics that make up the series.
Switch
Simulation
Stunning tribute to the saucy Saturn title with four adventure games making up the bumper limited edition pack. This cos-play inspired dating simulator came with a yellow label warning on the Saturn. Hats off to City Connection: its great to see these memories being revived.
Switch
Action
Classic Famicom material of gameplay over graphics, now given the graphics to match the gameplay thanks to this Switch conversion. Collect the money whilst avoiding ninjas made far more appealing by Sunsoft’s imagination: daikon and lantern power ups as well as the appearance of a rather rough looking geisha of questionable gender.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
Highly unusual graphical style with psychedelic characters and brash colours make this feel like a manga dream gone awry. Full of vibrant fun and originality from first credit to game over.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
Truly crazy psychedelic shoot ’em up – think Jet Set Radio meets Shibuya street style with some seriously colourful colour schemes thrown in for good measure as Mebius throws a full roster of projectiles at players. A real cult following since its Wii days and well worth a look for those looking for a shooting blast off the usual scale.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Truly crazy psychedelic shoot ’em up – think Jet Set Radio meets Shibuya street style with some seriously colourful colour schemes thrown in for good measure as Mebius throws a full roster of projectiles at players. A real cult following since its Wii days and well worth a look for those looking for a shooting blast off the usual scale.
Switch
Puzzle
Funky, colourful and vibrant graphics bring the indie band and love quest elements of this devilishly simple puzzle game to life.
Switch
RPG
Plenty of platform action in this RPG with combat sequences that are very reminiscent of Guardian Heroes in appearance with big, bold and brash protagonists. Very colourful and fast-paced.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Image Fight, Image Fight 2 and X Multiply make up a trio of highly cherished shoot ’em ups to grace this compilation. Hardened shooters veterans may well have sampled Image Fight and its PC Engine sequel on the PC Engine, but X Multiply is well worth a look as an old school coin-op with imaginative, organic levels.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Image Fight, Image Fight 2 and X Multiply make up a trio of highly cherished shoot ’em ups to grace this compilation. Hardened shooters veterans may well have sampled Image Fight and its PC Engine sequel on the PC Engine, but X Multiply is well worth a look as an old school coin-op with imaginative, organic levels.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Gunforce, Geo Storm and Air Duel are the trio that launch the second instalment of Irem Collection with all guns blazing. Gunforce is a take on the mighty Contra licence, but this time with mech style power suits and massive adversaries to test the architecture to the limits. Tough like Konami’s opus with one hit kills, yet some supreme weaponry soon gets players in the necessary gung-ho spirits. A few tactically placed vehicles also help – its always a joy to tear through enemy lines in motorised, marauding machine. The two-player mode also lifts moral with a bit of teamwork. The coin-op sequel feels like it inspired Metal Slug with its further use of vehicles and some sublime parallax scrolling to boot. Arcade Air Duel looks initially like a 1942 vertical scrolling tribute, before the developer reveals their license to go off the rails with imaginative adversaries.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Gunforce, Geo Storm and Air Duel are the trio that launch the second instalment of Irem Collection with all guns blazing. Gunforce is a take on the mighty Contra licence, but this time with mech style power suits and massive adversaries to test the architecture to the limits. Tough like Konami’s opus with one hit kills, yet some supreme weaponry soon gets players in the necessary gung-ho spirits. A few tactically placed vehicles also help – its always a joy to tear through enemy lines in motorised, marauding machine. The two-player mode also lifts moral with a bit of teamwork. The coin-op sequel feels like it inspired Metal Slug with its further use of vehicles and some sublime parallax scrolling to boot. Arcade Air Duel looks initially like a 1942 vertical scrolling tribute, before the developer reveals their license to go off the rails with imaginative adversaries.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Irem does have a sublime line of arcade shoot ’em up heritage to raid and this third instalment proves there is plenty still to come with the PC Engine fave Mr Heli, coin-op exclusive Mystic Riders which utilises a broomstick for close up blast encounters and finally Dragon Breed which utilises the shield element of the dragon’s tail in its blasting escapades. Really bring the flavour of the arcade era home to savour.