pliq: Epic Clash (iOS, Google Play)
A couple of months ago, I reviewed a mobile puzzle game called pliq. And barely a month later, the creators have already made a ‘new’ game based on the first one! Only in the mobile gaming world, I guess. Anyway, read on to find out what’s new in Epic Clash. It’s available to download for free on mobile devices, but reviewed on iPad here.
Verlet Swing (PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PC)
Crystal Crisis (Switch)
About a year ago, I wrote about a fighting game called Blade Strangers, which featured characters from various indie games like Cave Story, Code of Princess, The Binding of Isaac, and more. And now many of these characters, plus some new ones, are starring in a new puzzle game for Nintendo Switch. Two cool things about this game: One, it plays just like Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo, which is one of my top favorite puzzle games ever. And two, one of the new characters you can play as is FREAKING ASTRO BOY!!!
Gato Roboto (Switch, PC)
In the future, a spaceman is on patrol when he receives a distress call from the planet below. Unfortunately, his pet cat Kiki jumps on the keyboard and causes the ship to crash. The spaceman is trapped in the wreckage, but the cat escapes. Now it’s up to Kiki the cat to explore the planet and find robot suits to defend herself and rescue her master in this retro styled 2-D action platformer. The planet is a maze full of power-ups that will allow you to reach new areas, similar to games like Metroid. So yeah, this is a “Metroidvania” title, or better yet, a “Meowtroidvania.” It’s available on Switch and PC, but reviewed on Switch here.
Nintendo Labo VR Kit: Bird
Redout (Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Nintendo Labo VR Kit: Elephant
This is probably the weirdest of the bunch. It doesn’t let you really be an elephant though. This one just lets you play games where you have to manipulate and rotate objects in 3-D space, and the apparatus they have you build to do that just kind of looks like an elephant. Maybe some of the Labo makers are Alabama fans? Roll Tide!
VA-11 HALL-A (Switch, Vita, PC)
In a dystopian future where implanted nanobots and fearful law enforcement run everyone’s lives, people seek ways to escape. Some devote themselves to their work, others just give up, and some just find answers at the bottom of a glass. And that’s where you come in. In this game you are a bartender at a dive with a location number called VA-11 HALL-A. Since that’s a mouthful and sounds like the room number of your college biology class, everyone just calls it Valhalla. Mix and serve drinks in this unique narrative adventure game. It’s available for Switch, Vita, and PC, but reviewed on Switch here.
Nintendo Labo VR Kit: Camera
Nintendo Labo VR Kit: Goggles
Nintendo made a splash last year with their Nintendo Labo kits. These building toys had you folding carboard around your Nintendo Switch game system and controllers to play games in totally new ways. TIME Magazine even named Nintendo Labo one of the best inventions of last year, and even I awarded it my Game of the Year in 2018 as well! And now Nintendo has done it again with the Labo VR Kit. This kit lets you build VR goggles and accessories to play virtual reality games and activities on your Nintendo Switch. You can get two different versions: one that lets you just build the goggles and blaster, and one that lets you build those and many more. Naturally I got the bigger set, and we’ll look at each thing you can build separately, starting with the VR goggles first.





