Britt’s Nintendo Switch Mini-Review Round Up: PART 1 🎮 #IndieGames #GameDev

We get sent a lot of games here at GF, and as we are such a small team it’s sadly inevitable that we don’t get around to fully covering every game that is kindly sent to us. The below are a selection of titles that have been on the pending pile for far, far too long, and so I thought I would shine a light on them. As these reviews are far shorter than our usual coverage, I won’t be scoring these numerically, just highlighting them for fans of the genre and mentioning any stand-out features – hopefully we come across a couple of hidden gems!

BZZZT! Nintendo Switch Review 9/10 "A Perfect Potion of Platforming Perfection" 🤖🥪 @ko_dll #IndieGame #GameDev

The people who make the best platform games are the people that know the genre inside out from playing the classics and having an understanding of what makes a great platformer. What we have here my friends is one of the best indie platform video games that I have ever had the pleasure of playing. 

Developed by KO.DLL BZZZT! is truly a love letter to the classics of the genre and also brings its own brand of charm and sauce! Bzzzt offers up a fast-paced, precision platforming experience with the game clearly being designed to be accessible to both newcomers and veterans of the genre with its perfectly pitched variation of difficulty levels.

Taito Milestones 3 Nintendo Switch Review 8.5/10 "A Glorious Collection of Classics" 👾 @TAITO @TaitoCorp #Retrogaming

The third entry in Taito’s ‘Milestone’ series, this selection of solid gold feels the strongest overall in terms of the games included here.

The ten games included are Bubble Bobble (1986), Rainbow Islands (1987), Rastan Saga (1987), Rastan Saga 2 (1988), Dead Connection (1992), Cadash (1989), Champion Wrestler (1989), Runark (1990), Warrior Blade (1991), and Thunder Fox (1990).

49 Keys Nintendo Switch Review 8/10 🗝️ @2Pcom @49chiavi

A game based on a celebrated Italian gamebook titled ‘49 Chiavi’, released in 2022, 49 keys has been adapted for consoles adapted by the original author, and hits all the right notes as a slow-burning text-heavy adventure title.

Set in 1520, your character travels to a distant abbey - following the last wishes of your former master - on a quest to unveil the secrets held within. Presented as if in the form of an ancient manuscript, 49 keys features incredibly evocative writing, crisp visuals and puzzles that will get your grey matter pulsating. Keening, aching music will accompany you as you make your way around the island, collecting items and taking notes – all the while getting closer to the centre of the mystery.

World of Horror Nintendo Switch Review 9/10 "A Must For Horror Fans" 🔪😱 @panstasz @YsbrydGames

World of Horror has been on my radar for quite a while, the 1-bit visual style reminded me of the incredible Return of the Obra Dinn, and the Japanese-centric horror backdrop is always appealing to me, there’s something enticing about an alien culture combined with horror, you already have a sense of being an outsider, and out of your comfort zone – before the horror even kicks off!

After playing the game, I feel pretty confident in saying that this is a title that will be raising its head again in my GOTY article in a few short weeks.

Antank Gaming SiWiQu Nintendo Switch Dock S3 | Unboxing & Setup 🎮 @Antankgaming

Rich takes a look at the Antank Gaming SiWiQu Switch Dock S3 which is portable and Compact: The dock has the classic red and blue Switch colours and is only 100g(3.5oz) which makes it more portable and lightweight than the official switch dock. It’s the perfect replacement for Official Nintendo Switch Dock.

Product Link: https://antank.net/products/siwiqu-tv-dock-station-for-nintendo-switch

10% Product Discount code: antank

Nikoderiko: The Magical World Nintendo Switch Review 8.5/10 "A highlight reel of classic late ‘90s platformers" 🐲 @GamesVea #IndieGame #GameDev

I’d never heard of Nikoderiko: The Magical World before receiving it for review, but within seconds of playing, I knew exactly what treats I was in for. This is very much a game that tips its hat to titles such as Donkey Kong Country, and Crash Bandicoot, as we follow the adventurous mongoose duo Niko and Luna as they try to retrieve a magical artefact from the devious Grimbald and his army of ‘Cobrings’. 

TAITO Milestones Releases Exclusively for the Nintendo Switch On December 10th, 2024 🔫💥⚔️ @TAITO @ININ_Games @pr_hound #Retrogaming

Excitement is building as ININ and TAITO proudly announce the release date for the third instalment of the TAITO Milestones series, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch!

Mark your calendars for December 10th, 2024! TAITO Milestones 3 will be available both physically and digitally, reviving ten beloved TAITO games from the late '80s and early '90s. This collection, created in collaboration with HAMSTER Corporation, promises to bring players back to the golden era of arcade gaming.

Pre-orders for the digital edition start today, while pre-orders for the physical edition are already available. Take advantage of a 10% discount on early digital pre-orders until the official release date. Go check your Nintendo eShop for more details and secure your copy now!

Whether you're teaming up in the iconic “Bubble Bobble”, embarking on a heroic journey in the legendary Rastan series: “Rastan Saga”, “Rastan Saga II” and “Warrior Blade”, or experiencing the freshly added “Dead Connection”, TAITO Milestones 3 offers something for every retro gaming enthusiast. Notably, Dead Connection will be making its home console debut, adding a unique twist to this collection.

Prepare to relive the magic of arcade classics with TAITO Milestones 3 - a must-have for both nostalgic fans and new players alike.

Camp Sunshine Nintendo Switch Review 6.5/10 "If you go down to the woods today…" 🔪🩸 @Fossil_Games #GameDev #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

Originally released in 2016 on PC, Camp Sunshine if now available on consoles. Part of Fossil Games’ ‘Sunshine’ series, the game casts you in the role of a young boy arriving for his first night at camp, only to find that during the very first evening there, things have gone…awry.

A perfectly timed release for the spooky season, Camp Sunshine is a game made in RPG Maker that admirably captures the 16-bit era. Whilst however, it scores highly for mood, sound design and setting, issues with the core gameplay take the wind out of its sails a little.

Beyond GalaxyLand Nintendo Switch Gameplay ☄️ @EnrightBeats Published By @UtdLabelGames #IndieGame #GameDev

Beyond GalaxyLand is a 2.5D adventure-RPG where you play as Doug, a high-schooler transported to Galaxyland, a solar system of zoo-like planets.

Alongside his pet guinea pig, Boom Boom, Doug navigates this vibrant universe to uncover the truth behind Earth's destruction by an entity called The End. The game blends humour and serious themes, featuring unique characters like Martybot, a self-deprecating robot, and Boom Boom, who evolves throughout the journey.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

🕹️ GAME LINK: 🔗 https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Beyond-Galaxyland-2634942.html

Drova: Forsaken Kin Nintendo Switch Review 9.5/10 "One of the RPGs of the Year" 🐻⚔️ @J2D_Interactive #IndieGame #GameDev #IndieGameDev

I’ll open by saying that, whilst Drova: Forsaken Kin ended up being one of my games of the year, during the review period there was a shaky few days where V1.0 of the game had some issues that made me think that this was going to be another case of Wasteland 3, Wartales, or Shadows of Doubt, whereby a gripping and fantastic adventure seemingly genetically designed for my tastes would be scuppered by myriad technical issues, breaking my heart into a thousand pieces and casting them into the ocean.

Luckily, patch 1.1 was released and completely annihilated all the issues that I was having with the game, transforming it into a title that will be with me for a long time. In fact, I don’t even really need to cover this game as my handsome, suave editor Rich is already covering it on PC (I can feel a pay rise coming on – ed), but I want to talk about it so much that I’m writing this review anyway, purely to spread the word and share my love of it. So yes, I liked it a lot.

The Karate Kid: Street Rumble Nintendo Switch Gameplay 🥋 @GameMillEnt #karatekidstreetrumble @KarateKidMovie

Rich dons his gi and enters the digital dojo as he plays The Karate Kid: Street Rumble which is a beat 'em up game that follows the storyline of the original three Karate Kid films. Players control Daniel LaRusso as he moves to California, faces off against school bully Johnny Lawrence, and learns karate from Mr. Miyagi. The game features retro visuals and focuses on gameplay, including minigames that capture iconic scenes from the films. While it offers nostalgic value, the gameplay can become slightly repetitive over time.

Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland Nintendo Switch Review 6.5/10 "The Rugrats Ride Again" 👶 @WallrideGames

I must admit that I wasn’t expecting a Rugrats game in 2024. I remember the cartoon back in the early-mid ‘90s, but I was far more preoccupied with X-Men and Spider-Man at the time, a lot of the quirkier shows of that era kind of passed me by, although some of my peers remember them very fondly.

That said, the show must have been on a hell of a lot, as the moment I booted up the game and heard that theme, even I was surprised how much of the show I remembered, from the voices, character names and family members, it all came flooding back. Heck, maybe I did watch it more than I can recall! Or perhaps it was such a cornerstone of culture at the time that it just permeated my very being.

Deathchron Nintendo Switch Review 6/10 "A great premise hindered by design" 🤖 @CM_Games @RatalaikaGames #IndieGame #GameDev #IndieGameDev

The actual premise of Deathchron – in that you are a child in a mech that needs to occasionally leave the safety of the suit in order to get into small spaces or activate certain switches etc. leaving you vulnerable as you do so – very much appealed to me when I watched the trailer for Deathchron.

The vibrant music, tasty pixel art visuals, and platform-based side-scrolling action presented in super-smooth 8-bit fashion all had me twirling my moustache in anticipation, but upon actually playing the game – it became clear that there were too many factors working against my enjoyment to really make this a keeper.

A Night on the Farm Nintendo Switch Review 7/10 "A bite-sized slice of spookiness" 👨‍🌾👽 @FrozenFlameInt #IndieGame #Horror #GameDev #IndieGameDev

Frozen Flame Interactive deliver us a mysterious tale that follows the events of a car crash at night. Our protagonist begins the tale by clambering out of their wrecked vehicle before heading off into the night, happening across a seemingly abandoned farm.

What follows is a short romp around the farm and its grounds, as you find out more about the strange notes and items that you find scattered in this lonely locale.

Rich Plays Shadow Of the Ninja Reborn on Nintendo Switch 🥷 @TENGO_PROJECT #IndieGame #GameDev #RetroGaming

Rich jumps into his Ninja suit and attempts some rock hard retro side scrolling Ninja Action in this awesome remake of the Shadow Of The Ninja game from the 90s.

Flutter Away Nintendo Switch | Mini Review 6.5/10 "A cosy game that may have fluttered by" @runawayplay #IndieGame #GameDev #IndieGameDev

Flutter Away is a simple and short game set in and around a small forest clearing. Set over five days, each day your character will wake up, makes notes in her journal regarding the flora and fauna discovered, in turn unlocking more of the backstory behind why she has sought out this return to nature.

Running at 60fps on Switch, this is an extremely light and calming 1st-person adventure game about completing daily tasks such as photographing butterflies, befriending animals and re-hanging fallen lanterns etc.

With relaxing music, a slow pace and zen tone, Flutter Away is a decent enough escape for an hour or two, but is probably best enjoyed by younger players. Or hardcore butterfly enthusiasts!

Rich Plays Besiege On The Nintendo Switch "Destruction & Awe!" 💥 @spiderlinggames #IndieGame #GameDev #IndieGameDev

Rich delves into the world of Besiege on the Nintendo Switch—a physics-based building game that combines medieval siege engines, destruction, and creative chaos. 🚀🏰

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain Nintendo Switch PC Review 6.5/10 "A Delivery Service game lacking magic" 🧙‍♀️🧹📦 #MikaandTheWitchsMountain #IndieGame #GameDev @chibigstudio

A game that admirably smashed its Kickstarter target unfortunately feels a little light on its release, with a gameplay loop that feels like it needs more variety to keep players captivated.

Beginning with an amusing introduction whereby beginner-witch Mika arrives at the top of the titular Witch’s Mountain for tutelage before promptly getting booted off a cliff by her very teacher! 

Breaking her broomstick in the fall – and luckily, nothing else – she befriends some of the townsfolk whilst bagging a job as a courier for the colourful island community in order to raise money to get a cool enough broom to get back to the top of the mountain, and hopefully tell the Witch to not boot her off the cliff this time, and instead perhaps get the spell books out.

Murder is Game Over: Streaming Death Nintendo Switch Review 7.5/10 "Detective Guy and his canine sidekick Cleo return to Switch!" 🕵️ @HitherYonGames #IndieGame #IndieGameDev #GameDev

Back in November 2023 I covered the first title in the ‘Murder is Game Over’ series, a fun title created in RPG Maker that puts you in the shoes of Detective Guy and his trusty canine sidekick Cleo as they work together to solve the murder of the eccentric video game designer ‘Lord’ Russell Gallant.

It’s a title that can be completed in a couple of hours, but the blend of basic fact-finding and breezy investigative work – bulked up a dog-treat collecting mini-game – made for a light evening of easy, crime-solving fun.