Suika Game (Switch, Mobile, PC)
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Posted on February 7th, 2024 by
Late last year, there was a game that came out on Nintendo Switch that caused a buzz on the Internet, or so they say. Especially in Japan (Suika means watermelon in Japanese), and people were saying it was “Japan’s hardest game” and such. I tried to get a review code for it when it initially came out, but never got a response. But a little while later, Nintendo was offering this game as a free limited time download for subscribers, so I decided to check it out then and write a quick review. I think you can also play this game on some mobile devices and Internet browsers, but it’s reviewed on Switch here.
The Smurfs Learn and Play (Switch)
Posted on February 5th, 2024 by
In the distant past, long before streaming services and 24-hour cartoon channels, there was a thing called Saturday Morning Cartoons. Kids back then, me included, looked forward to this time because it was one of the only times TV was made just for kids. And as a child of the 80s, one of the most popular of these cartoons I remember was The Smurfs. Originally a European comic strip, The Smurfs gained popularity in the US from the Hanna-Barbera cartoon. I was never a super big fan of it, but I watched it anyway because, one, kids will watch pretty much anything. And two, it came on right before the Pac-Man cartoon. In recent years, The Smurfs have had a bit of a resurgence with a handful of computer animated movies and specials, and a new series on Nickelodeon. And there’s been a few Smurfs video games I’ve reviewed in the past couple of years, like a kart racer and two 3D platformers. And now the youngest players get their turn on the Switch with The Smurfs Learn and Play! There are four games on here, so let’s take a look at them!
Reader Review: Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince (Switch)
Posted on February 2nd, 2024 by
Back when I was writing game reviews for The Dallas Morning News, for a long while I was designated the “Pokémon expert.” One of the perks of this was not only was I able to review all the Pokémon games, but most of the other knock-offs that would come out in the wake of the initial Pokémon craze, I’d get to review those, too. This included everything from Digimon to Monster Rancher to Dragon Warrior Monsters. The first Dragon Warrior Monsters title was on the Game Boy Color, and let you train and battle monsters from the popular Dragon Quest RPG franchise. It was called Dragon Warrior back then in the US because of copyright issues. Anyway, one of my brothers, Jeff, he was pretty young at the time, yet he LOVED that Dragon Warrior Monsters game I reviewed. He liked it so much that after I reviewed it, he confiscated the game from me and I never got to play it again! And he’s never done that before! Since then he’s enjoyed all the other Dragon Quest Monsters games as well as other spin offs like Dragon Quest Builders and Rocket Slime. So when Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince recently came out on Switch, I thought it might be fun to have Jeff review it, for old times sake. So here’s his review! –Cary Woodham
Shivering Stone (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, X/S, PC)
Posted on January 31st, 2024 by
Get into the winter spirit season with Shivering Stone, an ice block pushing puzzle game. You know how in some Zelda dungeons, you have to push sliding ice blocks into places and figure out where they should go? Well this whole game is just that. It’s available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Toasterball (Switch, PC)
Posted on January 29th, 2024 by
Toasterball is kind of a mix between volleyball and soccer. You and up to three other opponents (two on each team) volley and bounce the ball and try to make it to the other team’s goal to score points. Whoever gets to five first wins. Oh yeah, and you also play as toasters! Use the L and R buttons to flip and move left and right. And press them both down and release to launch toast to volley the ball around. Just don’t hold down too long or you’ll burn the toast! Toasterball is available on Switch and PC, but reviewed on Switch here.
Colored Effects (Switch, PC)
Posted on January 24th, 2024 by
Colored Effects is a 2D single screen puzzle platformer. You play as a little dude with a cape, and when you travel over puddles of color, your cape turns to that color and you get a special skill. For instance, yellow gives you the power to dash, blue lets you double jump, and you can shoot projectiles with red, among others. The game is available on Switch and PC, but reviewed on Switch here.
Uzzuzzu My Pet: Golf Dash (Switch)
Posted on January 22nd, 2024 by
A large orange dog, a fat pink cat, a cute grey and white kitten, and a little white puppy are the stars of Uzzuzzu My Pet. Supposedly they are in short little CG animated segments on TikTok, and are popular in South Korea…I guess? I don’t know, I don’t mess with TikTok. I reviewed a game with them earlier, but it was just a virtual coloring book. Well now they’re back with a for real game on Switch called Uzzuzzu My Pet: Golf Dash, and it’s kind of a cross between golf and WarioWare.
Ravva and the Phantom Library (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, X/S, PC)
Posted on January 17th, 2024 by
This is actually a sequel to a game I reviewed a couple of years ago called Ravva and the Cyclops Curse. Ravva is a young owl sorceress who has adventures with her four summoned monster friends. One day while exploring the forest, they came across a mysterious library that wasn’t there before, and inside are magical books that can take you to different worlds. But evil ghosts suck Ravva inside the library, and now she has to get out! This game is a retro 8 bit styled 2-D platformer and it’s available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Chipmonk! (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, X/S, PC)
Posted on January 15th, 2024 by
Chipmonk! is a 2D side scrolling beat ‘em up where you play as one of three little chipmunks: Gray, Cheeks, or Red, as they beat up (presumably) other bad critters like rats, mice, badgers, porcupines, raccoons, and more. It’s silly and goofy and available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Easy Japanesey (Switch)
Posted on January 10th, 2024 by
Quiz yourself on translating words and phrases from English to Japanese and vice versa with Easy Japanesey on Switch. Choose from categories like nouns, adverbs, and much more, and translate to either Kana or Kanji written styles. There’s Endless, Timed, Challenge, and Campaign modes. But the regular game is just you getting a phrase and you must tap one of nine choices to get the right answer.
