W.Kohaku Media

Gal*Gun Double Peace – Nintendo Switch Review

Overview – developed by Inti Creates and published by PQube, Gal*Gun Double Peace is the latest entry in the fanservice rail shooter to hit the Nintendo Switch. Shoot the girls that chase you to declare their love with your Pheromone shot, giving them euphoria to stop them as you seek your true love. With almost all DLC content included this version of Gal*Gun Double Peace is available exclusively for Nintendo Switch, a link to the game will be at the bottom of this review.

Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank PQube for providing the copy of Gal*Gun Double Peace that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.

Mature Content Warning: this title is rated mature, this is due to sexual themes, sexualized content and suggestive imagery. If you are under the recommended age limit for this release or if you find any of the content offensive, please proceed at your own discretion.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review, starting with the story. I have also reviewed the other entries in this series, Gal*Gun Returns which can be found (HERE) and Gal*Gun 2 which can be found (HERE). Please check those out too if you haven’t already seen them.

Story – taking place a year after the events of Gal*Gun returns, a rumor known as the “Super Popular Legend” has spread where they say if you see an angel, you will find your true love. Now, a student cupid angel named Ekoro, has to hit a student of the Sakurazaki Academy with an arrow to help them find the love of their life. however, due to an unexpected chain of events, the angel hits her target Houdai Kudoki with 32x the power she was meant to.

The power of the arrows has caused Houdai to become super popular with almost every girl at the academy, to the point that they chase him down to show their love. The only ones who aren’t affected are his childhood friends, Shinobu and Maya, who have not spoken to him in three years. But all of this changes when Houdai is hit with the arrow and learns that he must find his true love by sunset, or else he faces the possibility of life alone if he fails in his mission.

Gameplay – Gal*Gun Double Peace is a rail shooter, where the player must defend himself as wave after wave of girls, using the Pheromone shot to defend themselves. At the start of story mode, the player will go through the prologue setting up the plot for the game, with the main game starting at the end of the first chapter. Before the second chapter can begin, the player must choose a path to take, which will influence the narrative that plays out.

After the player has chosen their path, preset stages will play out with some non-linear options where different general stages can be chosen, linking to the character specific paths. The stages will vary depending on the route, with some also having diverging paths where a direction can be chosen. There are also character specific boss battles and mini-games that can be played, with special mechanics that will be discussed further down.

While moving through each stage of the game, the player will be under constant attack from the girls of the academy. The girls will be persistent in their assault and will attack the player in a few ways, with the most common being to hit the player with a gift/slap or shouting their confessions of love. To prevent the girls from getting in the way of true love, the player must use the power of Pheromone shot to incapacitate the girls with euphoria.

The pheromone shot can be used in two ways, a regular shot that can directly hit the girls all over their bodies, with specific weak (Ecstasy) spots doing more “damage” to incapacitate them faster. The second way to deal with the pursuers is charge shots, where the pheromone shot is powered up and can be used to stun girls for a moment. These two shots can be combined to quickly stop any and all threats very quickly, but there is one last attack that can be used.

The Doki Doki Field is a special attack that can be used when a heart meter in the corner is filled, up to three hearts can built up and a girl can be targeted for each heart available. When a Doki Doki is activated, all girls on screen will be stunned for a time, with a touch marker to select the target. After selecting the target, a mini-game will begin where the girls can be interacted with, allowing the player to rub and poke the girls to fill a meter.

If the mini game succeeds some character attributes will change and a Doki Bomb goes off, defeating all girls on screen, which can be very useful as some girls can be tougher to defeat than others. Due to the interference of a mischievous demon, some girls will have little demons floating around them that reduce damage unless they are knocked out first. These little mischief makers only show up if the sight shows them, the sight also shows special fairies that can be shot for a bonus.

The sight for the pheromone shot also serves a secondary purpose as more than just a way to aim. When zooming in with the sight, the player can examine girls to gain information on them, like measurements, names and even the type of underwear they have. It is also able to see through certain obstacles, like locker doors, tables and pillars, uncovering the girls that hide and even hidden objects that can be shot to collect for side quests.

When the stage is cleared, the score for that stage is added to the total with bonuses provided for the performance of the player. The bonuses are for time taken to clear the stage, the amount of damage taken and the accuracy of shots, with a total of up to 5 stars for each bonus. As the score increases, the ranking will increase at set increments, starting at F and going up as each milestone is reached.

At specific points events will occur where the player will interact with the characters of that route, using dialogue choices, shooting and touch mechanics to complete tasks. These events can affect the outcome of the plot, with the potential to completely change the ending that will happen at the end. The events can be completed with either traditional controls alone, or a combination of button prompts and touch screen interactions (the same can be done in Doki Doki mode).

There are also boss battles, where the player must fight an opponent to deplete their health bar to progress the story. These battles can be really tough as there will be targets that need to be hit quickly, failure to do so will result in taking damage and possible failure. The events also have rankings that will depend on the performance of the player, so it is important to succeed in order to get the best result possible or risk getting a bad end.

Between stages the player is able to save, load and access the store where feathers earned for completing side quests can be spent. The items at the store can alter the character stats, give more health and attack power, boost the power of charge shots and even make changes to all the girls in the game. These purchases only apply to the current story run, as there is no new game plus, but the feathers can be earned easily.

Outside of the story mode, there is a score attack mode which is similar to an arcade mode, where the stages are straightforward without the need to worry about dialogue choices. alongside this is a collection and dress-up mode where character models can be interacted with/looked at, stats can be checked and outfits can be changed. These extra modes work well to keep the game experience fresh, while providing something for players who want to improve scores and unlock everything.

Now with the gameplay covered, it is time to move onto the other aspects of the game, starting with the controls.

Controls – the controls for this title are very simple, you aim with the left stick, shoot with the Y button, zoom with the R-shoulder and use the X button for Doki Doki mode. That is how you play for the majority of the game, however, there are features like Doki Doki where you can use the touch screen when handheld, or the controller when docked. In some instances the touch controls are preferable, they can be faster and put less wear on the controller, but in others the controller method is better.

Difficulty – there are two difficulty settings for this release, beginner and expert. The difference between the two is mostly how much damage is dealt by girls and how many shots it takes to subdue them. In general the difficulty is balanced, with the abundance of items that can be purchased to strengthen the health bar, the pheromone shot and charged power. The upgrades can ease the challenge but the game remains balanced, so the player doesn’t get too strong.

Presentation – the visual style for Double Peace has that distinct anime style to it, with the girls having very cutesy designs, big eyes and expressive faces. The art that appears for the cutscene images is beautiful, with vibrant colors and visually pleasing to see. The performance is perfect for all play styles, with zero frame rate issues or slowdown. The sound for this release is excellent, with a soundtrack that works perfectly with the action on screen and character voices that enhance the story experience.

Final Thoughts – I have been a fan of the Gal*Gun series for a while and I missed out on the chance to play Double Peace when it was on PlayStation, so I jumped at the chance to review this version. The gameplay is almost flawless, with the only minor hiccup I found being a few minor translation errors and the cursor being a little twitchy, but they don’t impact the experience. The volume of extra content to use, the multiple routes and over 70 different girls to encounter gives this a lot of replay value.

I can happily recommend this to fans of Gal*Gun Returns and Gal*Gun 2, as the core gameplay remains the same while having its own unique elements, which make it stand out by itself. Whether you are sat down playing the game at home or while out and about, there is plenty to enjoy with this release. Another great release for the Switch from Inti Creates and PQube, adding to their catalogue of great releases.

In the end, I give Gal*Gun Double Peace a final score of 5/5. This is an excellent rail shooter with a cute Bishoujo flair, with several different routes to explore, characters to interact with and multiple endings to unlock. If you are a fan of the other two Gal*Gun games on the Nintendo Switch, then this is an easy purchase. If you want to check the game out for yourself, a link to the game will be below.

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)

The Cruel King and The Great Hero – Nintendo Switch Review

Overview – developed by Nippon Ichi Software and published by NIS America, The Cruel King and The Great Hero is a turn based JRPG with a charming storybook design. Follow the story of Yuu, a young girl who wishes to become a great hero, supported by the Dragon King who watches over her during her quest. This title is available for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, with links to each version of the game available at the bottom of this review.

Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank NIS America for providing the copy of the Cruel King and the Great Hero that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. I will be skipping the story segment as I believe it is best experienced first-hand, so with that being said, I will be moving straight into discussing the gameplay.

Gameplay – the Cruel King and the Great Hero is a JRPG with a unique twist, as the narrative and action is presented in a manner similar to that of a children’s story book. With story scenes being read aloud by a narrator, alongside transitions that feature the turning of pages from a book. The core objectives of this release are to complete quests, battle enemies in turn based battles, explore the world and help its inhabitants with tasks that they have.

At the start of each chapter, the story segment sets up the main objective for Yuu to complete, which includes reaching a specific point on the world map and helping a fox save their family. As the chapter progresses, the main objective may change, along with further story segments to further the narrative and push Yuu further on in her adventure. When all objectives have been cleared, Yuu must return home and end the day, so that next quest may begin.

During the adventure, Yuu must travel through the different regions of the world. Each area that must be explored is split into side scrolling rooms, with paths that can lead in different directions and may contain obstacles, treasure and characters to interact with. To help navigate the different zones, a map will show all explored “rooms” with dotted lines showing the directions that each path will go and icons for different destinations/objectives, but some will be blocked off until a later time.

When exploring the world, Yuu will encounter enemies that will engage her in battle. These battles are mostly random unless dictated by the plot or a secondary objective, with different foes tied to that area appearing to fight the hero in training. When a battle starts, Yuu (and a companion if she has one) will have several options that they can use in battle, here are the choices that can be made each turn;

Attack – Yuu swings her sword and strikes the enemy, dealing damage to them for that turn. The amount of damage will vary depending on her equipment (discussed further down).
Skill – Yuu can use energy to activate a powerful attack, check the status of her opponents and more. All skills use up energy, which is recovered incrementally at the end of a round.
Defend – Yuu will take a defensive position, reducing the damage that she will take from enemies that turn.
Item – use an item in the inventory to heal, recover from negative status effects and even deal damage to the enemy with different effects.
Escape – Yuu will attempt to escape the battle, with success varying depending on the strength of the enemies. But be aware that not all battles can be escaped from, so it is important to use caution.

When a battle is complete, Yuu will receive rewards for defeating the enemies (unless she escaped). The rewards are experience points that will level her up at specific milestones, shells that are used as currency to buy items and even treasure that will occasionally be dropped by enemies. When Yuu levels up, her stats will increase and new skills can be unlocked to be used in later battles. As she gets stronger, Yuu will also gain the ability to run in different areas, allowing her to avoid combat.

To help Yuu in combat, various pieces of equipment can be collected and purchased from vendors. These include weapons, armor and support items that can be used in and out of combat. The equipment will alter the stats of Yuu and her friends, with strength, defense and speed changing depending on the gear that has been equipped. Selecting the right gear for the task will make battles more comfortable, taking some of the stress away from a potentially dangerous situation.

An important mechanic that can help to optimize combat, while also providing something to do for players that want to learn about their foes is the Monsterdex. This feature is an encyclopedia of each enemy that can be encountered, giving details of their attacks, item drops and more. To fill this out, the player must use Yuu’s special survey skill, which investigates the enemy and adds their details to the book for reference later.

Be aware that it is very important to keep an eye on the stamina level of Yuu and her friends, as defeat will immediately return the player to the title screen. However, there are a couple things that can be done to reduce the losses that can be sustained. There is a very generous save system, with the ability to save freely throughout the game, alongside a quick save option that allows the player to continue immediately from the title screen.

There is also a special item that can be obtained during the game, allowing Yuu to teleport to the monster village immediately, where the merchant can much needed support items. These features won’t make the game easy, but they will lessen the pain that can occur from a game over, so it is important to make good use of them during play.

Away from the main quest lines and plot focused objectives are the side missions, called acts of kindness, these tasks allow Yuu to interact with different side characters. These tasks are optional and act as a little side challenge, providing special rewards for completion that can be used to unlock bonus content. The bonus content provides an extra layer of depth to the gameplay experience, encouraging players to talk to all the different characters.

The last thing to discuss about this title is the badge system, an achievement mechanic that tracks the progress of Yuu and provides simple visual rewards for meeting different requirements. This extra piece of side content doesn’t add anything to the core of the gameplay, but does work as an additional piece that the player can work towards for completion. All of the different mechanics and features work well together, creating a fun and rewarding time.

Now with the gameplay covered, it is time to move onto the other aspects of the game, starting with the controls.

Controls – the controls for this title are tight and responsive, with a simple button inputs and intuitive movement. The menu and battle menus work fantastically, with simple to follow button prompts that show up on screen for players to easily follow. All inputs and button prompts work in both handheld and docked mode, playing very comfortably when using either a pro controller or the attached Joy-Cons on the Switch unit.

Difficulty – there is a steady difficulty curve for this title, with the challenge of the battles gradually increasing over time, but taking a little time to grind experience can make it easier. While the punishment for defeat can be harsh, the quick save feature and generous save/load slots can offset the potential losses that can be sustained. Navigation is also integrated into the difficulty, with the world map that is available is a useful aid in reaching the objective for each chapter.

Presentation – the overall presentation for this release is beautiful, with a hand drawn art style and storybook presentation that adds a whimsical touch to the experience. The character designs, story segments and action scenes are all wonderfully designed, giving more depth to the world that the game presents. There are no issues with frame rate or in game performance, with no frame rate drops during play.

The sound design for this release is fantastic, with a soundtrack that features music that has that signature Nippon Ichi flair, with a mix of fantasy and atmospheric sound that fits each area. This combines with the sound effects for enemy monsters and companions, which are deceptively cute in their presentation while they are meant to be a threat. The main story scenes have a voice over, with narration that sounds like a parent reading a story to their child, which ties the whole product together.

Final Thoughts – upon the reveal of this title, I was intrigued by the art style and narrative presentation as the storybook art style is something that is rarely seen. Upon getting to play the game itself, I was very pleased with the experience of the gameplay and the story, which pulled me in and I had a lot of fun exploring the world and interacting with its inhabitants. There are zero flaws with this release, the time I spent with this game was a real treat and a fresh experience that is worth the time and effort.

I have no problem recommending this game to fans of the JRPG genre and those who never played one before, especially since the soft edge to presentation and mechanics don’t make it feel like a JRPG. I personally feel that this can be a great experience to share with loved ones, especially children and spouses who have an interest in these types of story. I suggest picking this game up wherever possible.

In the end, I give The Cruel King and the Great Hero a final Score of 5/5. This is the latest and greatest JRPG experience from Nippon Ichi Software, the hand drawn storybook presentation, narrative and overall quality of gameplay make this an excellent title that anyone can enjoy alone or with others. if you want to check this title out for yourself, links to the game will be below.

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)

Link to PlayStation version (HERE)

Dawn of the Monsters – Nintendo Switch Review

Overview – developed by 13AM Games and published by WayForward, Dawn of the Monsters is a co-op action beat ‘em up inspired by the classic Kaiju characters like Godzilla and Ultraman. Take on hordes of monsters called Nephilim as one (or two) of 4 giant combatants to save the world. This title is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox family of systems, PlayStation 4/5 and the Steam service. If you want to check this game out for yourself, links to each version will be available at the bottom of this review.

Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank WayForward for providing the copy of Dawn of the Monsters that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review, starting with the story for Dawn of the Monsters.

Story – the year is 2065 CE, after a Climate Catastrophe three decades ago, monsters called Nephilim invaded the earth destroying everything in their path. In the face of the calamities that face the earth and its people, the Defence Alliance Worldwide Network (D.A.W.N.) was established to protect humanity. DAWN operates from the Sunrise, an orbital station where they can deploy their team of four heroes to battle the threat of the Nephilim before all is lost.

Gameplay – Dawn of the Monsters is a side scrolling beat ‘em up, with the player battling hordes of Nephilim to clear each mission as one (or two in co-op) of four giant combatants. Taking place across several different regions based on real world locations, with each one split into several stages with challenge battles against different enemies and bosses.

The players have a simple move-set at the start that evolves over time, starting with a light and heavy attack, dash attack, guard and dodge. Alongside the basic moves are executions that heal damage, fury attacks which use a special meter and a cataclysm attack which is an all-powerful move unique to each character. These are just a few skills that can be used, with additional moves that will be unlocked during the course of the game.

The enemies will also evolve as the game continues, with stronger monsters and more complex patterns appearing. New Nephilim types will also show up tied to specific places, keeping the action fresh and exciting as the game continues. The stages have fully destructible zones, with buildings that can be picked up and thrown, skyscrapers that can be demolished and power-ups that can be picked up. There are also environmental hazards that can occur, which will kill the player if they are not careful.

When an area is cleared, the player will receive a ranking depending on their performance from F to S, with the total rankings being added together at the end of a stage. At the end of a stage a final ranking is given, providing rewards for the player including money that can be used to purchase upgrades. Missions can be replayed freely when cleared to improve scores, letting players try to improve ranking as they get stronger, adding more replay value to the experience.

There is an augment system that can be accessed from the main menu, giving each character up to three bonus abilities that enhance different stats, adding an RPG-lite mechanic to the game. Augments are separated into three slots, with different types of skill only available for that slot and a total of 100 that can be held in each. To make space for new abilities, weaker skills can be sold which can be used for purchases and to re-roll augments, altering the stats for that item.

New augments can be unlocked based on the ranking earned at the end of a mission, with the higher the rank, the better the selectable rewards at the end. The player can pick up to two of four rewards, with the option to trade one or both selections for money instead. As well as the augments, new permanent upgrades and cosmetics can be obtained from an area called the workshop, using the money earned from missions or selling augments.

Between missions, there are story segments that will push the narrative along, as well as a chat system that fills in background details for the characters while also providing side story content. There is also an archive that provides lore and information about the Nephilim, members of DAWN and the world itself, filling in plot points for those who want to learn all about the story.

Now with the gameplay covered, I will be moving onto the other aspects of the game, starting with the controls.

Controls – the control system for this game works well, with the character movement tied to the left stick and D-pad. All other functions are attached to the face buttons and shoulder/trigger buttons, which feel comfortable and reactive during combat. When playing the game some inputs may feel a little slow, but this isn’t a lag issue as each character has their own strengths and weaknesses so don’t be put off when first playing the game.

Difficulty – there are no difficulty settings for this title, but there is a gradual difficulty curve that introduces stronger threats as the game progresses. As an example, the first boss battle can be tough, but with the augments and upgrades that can be unlocked the challenge gets easier. This is a good way for the difficulty to escalate as it doesn’t punish the player too hard for failure, since there is also a checkpoint system that returns the player to the start of the area they are currently in.

Presentation – the visual style for this title has a dynamic look to it, with a cell-shaded look to the 2.5D graphical style used in the stages and a comic/manga style used for the cutscenes. The animations are smooth and work well with the art style, the character designs all stand out from each other and work very well in and out of combat. There is no issue with the frame rate or resolution, with crisp and vibrant models that have their own unique charm to them.

The sound design is excellent for this title, with a soundtrack that adds atmosphere to the stages that the action takes place, while adding a sense of grandeur and suspense to the story scenes/menus. There are also fully voiced dialogue scenes for the story, menus and side story segments in the chat section. The voice cast for this title features names from the anime and gaming industry, including Patrick Seitz (BlazBlue), Christina Valenzuela (Madoka Magica) and Rebeka Thomas (The Promised Neverland).

Final Thoughts – when this title was announced, there was a lot of excitement to get my hands on it, which I can happily say was not misplaced. The characters each have their own unique look and style based upon the inspiration behind them, with combat styles that fit well and make the action flow smoothly. This is an excellent side scrolling brawler, with a lot of depth to it when it comes to the Augment and upgrade system, which gives additional flexibility to the player.

I have no issue recommending this title to everyone and anyone, as there is a lot of fun to be had even if it may feel a little challenging. There is very little to complain about with this release. However, I did have a slight issue with the way that some foreground elements block the screen, which is a minor frustration at times but isn’t a deal breaker. This title is a love letter to classic beat ‘em ups and Kaiju media in general, which can be seen throughout, be it the characters themselves or the references hidden in plain sight.

In the end, I give Dawn of the Monsters a final score of 4.5/5. This is an excellent side scrolling brawler and a love letter to Kaiju media, with characters that reference classic heroes and monsters, action that feels right out of the 90’s and an excellent voice cast that ties the whole experience together. if you want to check this game out for yourself, links to each version of the game will be below.

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)

Link to PlayStation version (HERE)

Link to Xbox version (HERE)

Link to Steam version (HERE)

Cake Invaders – Nintendo Switch Review

Overview – developed by Zoo Corporation and published by eastasiasoft, Cake Invaders is a wave defense arcade shooter, where the player must protect Baumkuchen cake from hungry aliens. This title is available digitally for all console platforms, with a link to each version of the game being available at the bottom of this review.

Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank eastasiasoft for providing the copy of Cake invaders that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. There is no story for this release, so I will be moving directly into the gameplay segment.

Gameplay – the premise for this title is fairly simple, the player must defend the Baumkuchen cakes on board their ship from the aliens that attempt to eat them. To achieve this, the player must use a Mini-Gun to shoot down the enemies that attack, starting off with a single crew member and low powered shots in the beginning. To target enemies a crosshair will appear on screen, allowing the player to aim at specific foes as they try to get closer to the cakes.

To make battling the ravenous aliens easier power-ups can be collected during battle, dropped from special enemies or by filling the rainbow meter up. Here are the power-ups that can be collected during the stages;

Crew +1 – an additional crew member joins the team, increasing overall damage output until that crew member is eliminated by being hit by an enemy.
Damage Up – increase the damage for the whole crew until the end of the next wave.
Speed Up – double the speed of all active crew member weapon shots until the end of the next wave.
Piercing Bullet – collect a limited number of shots that will pierce enemies and hit additional foes until they leave the screen.
Dokkan Bullet – collect a limited number of special shots that explode when making contact with an enemy.
Sugar Coating – Protect existing cakes with a shield that will prevent them from being damaged for a single hit, lasting for as long as that specific cake isn’t hit.

When a player completes a stage, their score will be determined by how many enemies have been defeated, if upgrades have been collected and if they have protected all the Baumkuchen. The stages will play out endlessly until all of the cake has been eaten, when this happens the game will end and the score will be uploaded to the online rankings if it is a high score. This high score system adds a lot of replay value to the experience, making for a competitive challenge.

With the gameplay covered, I will be moving onto the other aspects of the game, starting with the controls.

Controls – the control method for this release is very simple, the twin sticks and D-pad control the crosshair, with the face buttons and trigger being used for shooting and weapon switching. This controller set up makes the experience comfortable when playing in either docked or handheld play, with stick speed settings that can make the controls more comfortable during play.

Difficulty – the difficulty for this title is mostly based on random chance, due to the way that the power-up system functions, the strength of the crew will vary over time. The challenge can be lessened a little by memorizing the enemies that appear in a stage, as the majority of patterns are unchanged between stages. This makes practice an important part of setting a high score on the leaderboards.

Presentation – the visual style for this title has a retro feel to it, with pixel art for the all of the characters and backgrounds, with smooth animations and bold sprites perfect for handheld mode. The action flows smoothly, with a single screen that has a scrolling background. The sound for this title use simple sound effects, with copyright free music that plays throughout the game from Dova-Syndrome.

Final Thoughts – I had a pleasant time with this release, as the simple wave defense style and arcade gameplay added to the experience, alongside the online leaderboard. The only minor nitpick I have with the game is the crosshair can be a little unwieldy. However, I am happy to recommend this release to everyone, as it is a simple title that anyone can pick up and play with relative ease. It may take a few plays to get used to it, but with a little practice everyone has a chance to reach the top of the leaderboards.

In the end, I give Cake Invaders a final score of 4.5/5. This is a simple arcade style wave defense title, with cutesy pixel art and a challenging yet fun gameplay system, with randomized power-ups that will keep players on their toes. If you want to check this title out for yourself, you will find a link to each version at the bottom of this review.

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)

Link to PlayStation version (HERE)

Link to Xbox version (HERE)

Super Epic: The Entertainment War

Hello, I have news regarding an upcoming release courtesy of our friends at PR Hound and Strictly Limited Games. Check out the details below to learn more about the upcoming physical release of Super Epic: The Entertainment War.

Strictly Limited Games, in partnership with Numskull Games and Undercoders are delighted to announce the upcoming limited physical release of Super Epic: The Entertainment War. This Metroidvania action-adventure with gorgeous pixel art has you join a raccoon and a llama on a quest to save video games as we know and love them, with tons of 2D combo-based combat and lots of humour, which can also be seen in the trailer below.

With its satirical take on video game conglomerates, abusive microtransactions, and the important preservation of video games, this indie gem is well-aligned with Strictly Limited Games’ values and a worthy addition to their Partner Store. The game is coming for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 as a boxed Limited Edition and Special Limited Edition, with pre-orders kicking off on Thursday, March 10th, at 4PM CET, only at the Strictly Limited Games Partner Store and their partnered fan store Gamesrocket.

About the game:

The year is 2084. After a series of mergers, buyouts and hostile takeovers, only one video game development company is left in the world: RegnantCorp. A huge enterprise run by greedy piggies. All the fun in video games has been replaced with intrusive addiction algorithms used to control people’s minds and behaviour. But a rebellion of game enthusiasts is fighting back, replacing RegnantCorp’s software with classic games. Following a distress signal, Tan Tan the raccoon and his valiant llama steed Ola prepare to take on RegnantCorp and confront the pigs…

The finest quality ingredients can be found in this Metroidvania! A large interconnected world to explore and unlock, a responsive customizable action-set for combat and an in-game economy-based upgrading system, with lots of weapons and abilities to unlock and enhance.

Features:

Classic story-driven mode with handcrafted levels and multiple endings
Gorgeous 16/32 bit era cartoon sprites
RPG like weapon and armour upgrading system, with tons of items to collect and discover
Extensive combo-based combat system
An unlockable procedural “rogue-lite mode”
Fast-paced, non-linear exploration
Optional cross-media content

Strictly Limited Editions:

Strictly Limited Games is giving SuperEpic a definitive boxed release with two unique limited editions, available for pre-order exclusively via the Strictly Limited Games Partner Store and via Gamesrocket.

The Limited Edition is limited to only 500 individually numbered copies for Nintendo Switch and 300 for PlayStation 4, at a price of 29.99€, including a unique cover artwork and a colourful art booklet with game manual.

The Special Limited Edition is limited to 700 copies for Nintendo Switch and 500 for PlayStation 4, for 49.99€, including awesome additional collectibles:

Enamel Character Pin Set with Magnetic Latch
Original Game Soundtrack
Die-cut Character Sticker Set
Art Booklet with Game Manual
Special Limited Edition Box

Follow Strictly Limited Games on Twitter for more information about the physical release (HERE).

Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection – Announcement

Hello! I have exciting news regarding an upcoming release courtesy of our friends at PR Hound, ININ Games and Strictly Limited Games. Check out the details below to learn more about upcoming releases and news about the 35th anniversary of the Wonder Boy series.

Publisher Strictly Limited Games is looking forward to the pre-order start for the Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection on March 6th. In the course of this announcement, they also revealed the extensive list of games that will be included in this very special collection of one of the most influential series from gaming’s past.

Celebrating a very special anniversary

The legendary Wonder Boy game series has turned 35 and to celebrate this occasion, Strictly Limited Games puts together a legendary collection of epic Wonder Boy adventures that will soon be available for pre-order as Limited and Collector’s Editions for Nintendo Switch and PS4.

To offer true retro fans the most authentic experience possible, the Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection includes titles in various versions. Featuring six games in console ports from Arcade, Master System / Sega MARK III, Mega Drive / Genesis and more, the Anniversary Collection comes with a total of 21 different versions!

This extensive collection of Wonder Boy titles as a boxed version will only be available at Strictly Limited Games! This is a worldwide exclusive boxed release – there will not be any other physical release of equal completeness. Strictly Limited Games’ Japanese partner Bliss Brain will provide a digital version of this amazing collection – more on this will be announced at a later date.

The perfect blend of platforming and RPG action you can find throughout the Wonder Boy series has delighted generations of gamers and now, the Anniversary Collection combines the beloved adventures to a full package of Wonder Boy history. Also included are features like filter, shader, a rewind option, a save anytime option and more!

Physical Versions

Special physical versions of the Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection will be available for purchase soon at the Strictly Limited games store (HERE)

The Limited Edition will be available for €49.99, limited to 4,000 copies for Nintendo Switch and 2,000 copies for PS4 worldwide.

Also available is a highly limited Collector’s Edition with exclusive collectible items, including:

Awesome Collector’s Edition box
Acrylic Wonder Boy diorama
Best Of soundtrack
Beautiful artbook
Card game
Collector’s coin album
… and more!

The Collector’s Edition will be available for €99.99, limited to 3,000 copies for Nintendo Switch and 1,500 copies for PS4.

To make the lineup complete, there will also be a Ultra Collector’s Edition including most of the content of the Collector’s Edition and on top of that even more exclusive items:

Special music box
Character game ends (like bookends, for your gaming collection)
An extensive Wonder Boy soundtrack collection
…and more!

The Ultra Collector’s Edition will be available for €149.99, limited to 999 copies for Nintendo Switch and 499 copies for PS4.

Retail and Digital Editions

As a carefully curated selection of awesome Wonder Boy titles, ININ Games together with Bliss Brain will offer the Wonder Boy Collection (Nintendo Switch/PS4), including four legendary adventures as a boxed and digital version:

A possible upgrade solution for the Retail Edition with additional games of the Wonder Boy series is currently in evaluation. More info will be announced at a later date!

The Wonder Boy Collection will soon be available for pre-order at retailers in Europe and North America. The download edition including the same four iconic Wonder Boy adventures will hit the digital stores at the time of release! Check https://www.iningames.com/games/wonder-boy-collection/ for more information about the standard version and the latest updates on the game!

Queeny Army – Nintendo Switch Review

Overview – developed by AI-Link and Lemoon Pie, with publishing handled by eastasiasoft, Queeny Army is a side scrolling, run and gun platformer with a retro aesthetic. Set in the war-torn city of San Romero, a team of young women go on a journey of vengeance and liberation against the dangerous regime that has seized control of the government. This title is available on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4/5, Links to each version of the game will be at the bottom of this review.

Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank eastasiasoft for providing the copy of Queeny Army that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the content of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.

Mature Content Disclaimer: this title has been rated Mature, this is due to the inclusion of intense violence, blood and gore, suggestive themes, partial nudity and strong language. If you are under the recommended age limit for this game or find any of the content featured offensive, then please proceed at your own discretion.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. I will be skipping the story segment and move directly into the gameplay segment for this review.

Gameplay – Queeny Army is a run and gun action platformer, with a retro style aesthetic to it. The objective of the game is to reach the end of the stage and defeat the boss, battling the enemies that attempt to stop the player, collecting power-ups and avoiding hazards. At the start of the game, the player must select one of 12 girls, each with their own unique story elements, character skills and starting weapon that they can use.

When the player has selected their character, a unique cutscene will play out, giving story details for that character to flesh them out before starting. After the story part plays out the game starts proper, throwing the player into frantic run and gun action, with hordes of enemies to mow down and hazards to overcome. Being a run and gun title, there is also a considerable amount of platforming that the player will need to do in order to reach the boss.

In the basic tool kit for each character there is the ability to shoot, use a melee attack, switch between held weapons, dodge roll to avoid enemies and even double/wall jump to reach higher spaces. The gunplay has an 8-way directional system like that of Contra, with a plethora of weapons that can be collected, with two weapons that can be held at once. There is also a system where the player can stand in place to hit enemies in a specific direction, but this does leave them open to attack.

Unfortunately, the game does not give a tutorial or explanation for most of the abilities/weapons or how to use them, aside from a character profile in the pause menu. Sadly, this impacts the flow of the game, making it difficult to get adjusted when first starting, as each character skill and weapons lacks an explanation on character selection. The absence of a tutorial and character/weapon details leads to additional issues, including some inconsistencies with platforming especially with knockback.

Luckily there are no instant death pits, as any fall into a pit results in the player taking damage instead of outright killing them. While this is a positive, it does highlight the negative that is the unfortunate platforming. The generous checkpoint system does compensate for this, along with the regular item drops from destroyed objects and a plenty of weapons to get back into the action after death. If all lives are lost, continues can be purchased for 5000 points from the player score to keep going.

There is an unfortunate bug with this release in relation to the continue system. It is possible to lock the lives for a new game to one, which can be frustrating as it will be permanently stuck at one. This bug can severely impact the gameplay experience as some characters are weaker than others, as well as the different weapons they can use. If this bug occurs, it is best for the player to try and earn points as quickly as possible to be able to continue, resetting the life counter to 5.

The action does run at a steady pace, with plenty of enemies appearing on screen but it does add another minor issue to the experience. When an enemy is off screen, they are still able to throw attacks at the player, meaning attacks that move in an arc will not be seen until it is too late leading to unfair and sudden damage. This can make getting through the stages a when starting the game for the first time a nightmare, since sudden damage can be taken, leading to knockback and even falling damage.

The last thing to discuss is the boss battles in this title. When the player reaches the boss of the stage, the will be trapped in an arena with their opponent, similar to that of Mega Man and other titles in the platform action genre. The bosses are significantly larger than the player too, with big attacks and a health bar across the bottom of the screen. Different weapons deal different amounts of damage to bosses, so it is important for players to experiment with weapons to learn what works best.

Now with the gameplay covered, I will be moving onto the other aspects of the game, starting with the controls.

Controls – the controls for this release work fairly well, but they do have some flaws to them which are frustrating during the course of the game. While the layout for the button inputs are comfortable, there are some inconsistencies and lag with jumping and movement being a little twitchy. This is to the detriment of the gameplay experience as there are moments where jumps don’t occur, or the character will do a second jump without trying. Sadly, this disrupts the flow of the game which is disappointing.

Difficulty – there are four difficulty settings for this title, changing different elements of challenge to the player. However, even on the lowest difficulty setting this is a difficult game, made tougher by the lack of tutorial or clear information about the game mechanics. The minor issues and inconsistencies of the platforming/shooting action makes this not only a hard but frustrating time for players, but the generous checkpoint system and bountiful item drops ease the pain a little.

Presentation – the visual style for this release has a pixel art look to it, appearing to emulate classic games of the past but sadly it is a little hit and miss. The sprite work for gameplay itself is decent, however, the art used for the cutscenes and character portrait art can be messy. The sound is okay, with music that has a mix of synth and what sounds like guitar, but it can be droning and shrill at times which can detract from the experience.

Final Thoughts – I sadly didn’t have as much fun with this title as I had hoped, with the one life bug and the flaws of the game pulling me out of the experience. It does have its moments where there is fun once you get used to it and find a character that you like, but that doesn’t help during the first hour or two of gameplay. I don’t think I can recommend this game right now to a general audience, but I am sure that some hardcore fans of challenging run and gun shooters may have fun with it.

In the end, I give Queeny Army a final score of 2.5/5. A promising indie run and gun shooter, which is unfortunately brought down by flaws that can hinder the experience, but what it lacks in polish it does make up for in the potential for fun if a little time is put into learning the game. If you want to check this title out for yourself, links to each version of the game will be below.

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)

Link to PlayStation 4/5 version (HERE)

Wonder Boy Collection – Announcement

ININ Games and Strictly Limited Games are excited to announce the Wonder Boy Collection coming to Nintendo Switch and PS4 including the most iconic adventures from the legendary game series of the 80s and 90s. The retail edition including four awesome titles of the Wonder Boy / Monster World universe will soon be available for pre-order in Europe and North America. Through publisher Bliss Brain, the Wonder Boy Collection will also be available as a digital download version for Nintendo Switch and PS4. On top of that, Strictly Limited Games are working on exclusive Limited and Collector’s Editions that will be available at their store!

Celebrating the beloved adventures of Wonder Boy

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the adventures of Wonder Boy have delighted gamers of all generations and built up a huge following all over the world with their dazzling blend of energetic platforming and action-RPG. However, the Wonder Boy games have seen few releases in the West on modern gaming hardware – until now.

To celebrate the legacy of this iconic game series, the Wonder Boy Collection will contain a carefully curated set of essential titles of the legendary series, precisely ported to today’s home consoles and including extended features like filter, shader, a rewind and fast forward option and a save anytime option! On top of that, the collection will come with a beautiful art gallery!

With the the Wonder Boy Collection (Nintendo Switch/PS4), Wonder Boy fans get a total of four games of one of the most influential series from gaming’s past:

Wonder Boy (1986)
Wonder Boy in Monster Land (1987)
Wonder Boy in Monster World (1991)
Monster World IV (1994)

So, whether you want to experience the epic adventures for the first time, revisit a youth spent playing Wonder Boy, or add a refreshingly distinct platformer to your collection, the Wonder Boy Collection is a perfect fit for you!

The Wonder Boy Collection (Nintendo Switch/PS4) will soon be available for pre-order at retailers in Europe and North America. The download edition including the same four iconic Wonder Boy adventures will hit the digital stores at the time of release!

Check the official website (HERE) for more information and the latest updates on the game. But thats not all!

Limited & Collector’s Editions at Strictly Limited Games

As the legendary Wonder Boy game series is celebrating its 35th anniversary, Strictly Limited Games will offer the ultimate Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection (Nintendo Switch/PS4) that will feature even more of the most iconic Wonder Boy games ever released. On top of that, those games will come in various console ports to create the best possible retro experience!

Dedicated collectors can also look forward to some awesome exclusive items included in the Collector’s Editions of the Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection.

More information about the limited versions will follow soon, so stay tuned!

River City Girls Zero – Nintendo Switch Review

Overview – originally developed by Technos, brought to new systems by WayForward and Limited Run, River City Girls Zero is an enhanced port of the Super Famicom title Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka, originally released in 1994. This marks the first time the game has had an official release outside of Japan, with the title currently being exclusive to Nintendo Switch with a release on other systmes later in 2022. A link to the game will be at the bottom of this review.

Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank WayForward for providing the copy of River City Girls Zero used for this piece. The provision of this title has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. I will be skipping the story segment for this review, moving directly onto the gameplay section. I have previously covered the first game in the River City girls series, which you can find (HERE).

Gameplay – River City Girls Zero is a side scrolling, beat ‘em up with four playable characters and lots of delinquents to beat up. The action takes place across a variety of locations including high schools and a theme park, with the goal being to get to the boss of each area, fighting through the foes that oppose the player. When advancing through the each zone of the game, story segments occur pushing the narrative forward and even adding new characters to the player party.

The combat is like many other traditional brawlers, with a punch, kick and jump as part of the character move set, alongside a back attack and guard/special moves that can be used during battle. The collision detection can be a little off when first getting into the game, but is easy enough to adapt to as new moves and combos are discovered. There is no instruction guide or detailed tutorial aside from the button functions, so special moves and combos must be discovered through experimentation.

There are four playable characters in total, with Kunio and Riki being available from the start, along with their girlfriends Misako and Kyoko, who join the team as the story continues. This title is different from most side-scrolling brawlers as there is no lives system, instead going with a party of characters with each have their own life bars. This alters the way that the actions, as a game over occurs in single player if a character dies, or the player is locked out during co-op until the other player dies or the stage is cleared.

To reduce the risk of defeat, there is the ability to switch between characters in the player party making every pixel of life important during the tougher battles. Luckily, the health bars for all characters will replenish between stages, along with a password system that allows the player to continue from the specific point that they had reached during the game. The same passwords can also be used during the two player mode, allowing a friend to join in when the game gets a little tough by noting the password down and hitting reset.

At specific points during the game, the focus will shift from the side scrolling action to a head on Motorcycle sequence, where the player travels along a track kicking enemies that attempt to attack. These scenes help to keep the experience flowing nicely, working well as mini-games to break the tension from particularly tough boss encounters. When these Road Rash styled segments conclude, it is back into the action and time to kick some more ass.

The last thing to discuss is the quality of life improvements made to the game, including new cutscenes and music (detailed below). There are newly made translations to for the game, offering a literal translation to match the Japanese as close as possible or a more localized version to match the dialogue of the River City Girls game. Along with the new translations, there is a save state feature that allows the player to freeze the game where they are, allowing the game to continue without the need for a password.

Now with the gameplay covered, I will be moving into the other aspects of the game, starting with the controls.

Controls – the controls for this release translate well from the original Super Famicom layout, to the modern Nintendo Switch set up. However, there is the possibility to accidentally reset the game or break the flow of action, as the menu button is tied to the right trigger rather than the start button as would be expected. But, the inputs for movement and battle all work well with zero lag, although they may feel slow if compared to the River City Girls experience, they can be adapted to quickly.

Difficulty – the difficulty curve present is fair as the party system allows for players to switch when health is low, along with the passwords and generous checkpoint system. There are two difficulty options that the player can select when starting a new game, with an easy and normal option. The easy setting plays out the same as normal, but there is one difference as the game will only play out up to a preset point before telling the player to start again.

Presentation – the visual style for this game is a mix of old and new, with brand new music and cutscenes that add a modern vibe to the presentation. When the game starts, the intro has a retro anime feel to it along with the new theme included. At the start of a new game and after clearing it, manga scenes that break the fourth wall connect this adventure to the Modern RCG universe, featuring voice work from the modern versions of Kyoko and Misako as narrator.

There is also a gallery that can be accessed, providing a recreation of the original Super Famicom box, manual and cartridge. The game itself works very well, with the 16-bit sprite work looking sharp on all screen types, with animations and action that flow smoothly with zero performance issues. The music featured makes the most of the original system sound chips, giving a deep sound that successfully adds to the atmosphere of the action.

Final Thoughts – being a fan of the River City Girls game, I jumped at the chance to play this game and I can happily say it was worth the 25+ year wait to finally come to the west. The action flows well, the story was engaging and the use of new materials to bridge the gap between games was a fantastic inclusion. The quality of life improvements that have been added to this title are a welcomed inclusion, giving the option to save at any point and continue later, as well as the gallery being a nice bonus.

I can happily recommend this title to fans of the River City games and brawlers in general, as the party system adds a unique twist to the traditional formula that most in the genre offer. I feel that this title works as an excellent stop gap while players wait for River City Girls 2 to be released this summer, while also adding to the established universe and giving depth to the events of the first RCG title.

In the end, I give River City Girls Zero a final score of 4.5/5. This is an excellent addition to the River City series and a fantastic companion to the first River City Girls release, adding more story details while also giving players a chance to play a classic brawler that has been exclusive to Japan for 25+ years. If you want to check this title out for yourself, a link to the game will be below.

Please note that this is currently exclusive to the Nintendo Switch, however, other platforms will get this game later and an update will be posted on this site with details and links to those versions.

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)

Death end re;Quest 2 – Nintendo Switch Review

Overview – developed by Idea Factory and Compile Heart, with publishing handled by Idea Factory International, Death end re;Quest 2 comes to the Nintendo Switch. The horror themed sequel to the JRPG/Visual Novel hybrid follows Mai Toyama, a girl with a troubled past who is searching for her sister in a quiet lakeside town. This version of the game is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch as all additional content from previous releases is included for free. Links to each version of the game will be at the bottom of this review.

Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank Idea Factory International for providing the copy of Death end re;Quest 2 for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.

Mature Content Disclaimer: this title features graphic depictions of violence, grotesque scenes and suggestive content. Due to the content present, this release has been rated Mature. If you are sensitive to the material within this game, please use discretion when proceeding with this review.

Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review, starting off with the story. When discussing the gameplay, I will only be covering the core mechanics as I feel that the nuances of the mechanics must be experienced blind. I have previously covered the first Death end re;Quest, which you can find my coverage (HERE).

Story – following her father’s death, Mai Toyama is admitted to Wordsworth, an all-girl’s dormitory in the quiet town of Le Choara. It is there that she traces the last whereabouts of her little sister, Sanae, only to discover she is nowhere to be found. Now Mai, with the help of friends she makes on the way must uncover the secrets of Le Choara, find her sister and solve the mysteries that have led to the ghost stories that are whispered around the town.

Gameplay – much like the previous entry in the Death end re;Quest series (which I reviewed HERE), gameplay is split into two distinct styles. First is the Visual Novel segments that can be experienced during the day portion of the game, where story details, plot developments and additional details can be uncovered. These segments allow the player to get acquainted with the different side characters of the game, adding extra depth to the world and potentially to the outcome of the story.

When the night starts, things change significantly as the world warps into a glitch filled nightmare, where death is lurking around every corner. This is where the dungeon crawling JRPG system comes into play, with the player controlling the team leader and leading them through the different areas of the game. Here are the core mechanics of the JRPG segments to keep in mind, as you will need to keep on top of these systems in order to make it through the night alive.

Dungeon Exploration – the locations that the player explores are segmented into different zones, containing treasures, obstacles to overcome and roaming enemies to battle. When the player encounters an enemy, they can be attacked providing an advantage in battle. However, if the enemy notices the player and makes contact from behind, the player will be at a disadvantage for that encounter.

Obstacles – at different parts of the dungeons, there will be obstacles for the player to overcome. These will require specific character abilities to bypass, along with story specific choices that are made during the course of the game.

Death End – at different points there are points that the player must make, with potentially dire consequences called Death Ends that can lead directly into a game over. There is also a chase system that has a ghost chase the player through the dungeons, when the ghost appears, the player must run as death will occur if they are caught.

Party/Inventory Management – the game starts with just Mai Toyama as the only party member, with more characters joining in as the narrative progresses. Inside the dungeons, the player is able to equip their characters with new weapons and gear to make them stronger in battle. Be aware that characters have specific gear that they can use, meaning that ensuring a good balance with weapons and gear is key to succeeding in this release.

Camp – scattered throughout the world, there are crystals that can be interacted with, giving them the ability to save and/or enter the camp. The camp is a safe zone for players to manage their equipment and characters, while also having access to the shop to buy/sell items and activate missions when available to give rewards for different side objectives.

Resource Management – it is important to keep an eye on the resources that the player holds, including the corruption meter (described later), recovery items to keep the party going and the SP meter that characters use to activate special abilities in battle. Keeping on top of all resources are important to ensure survival in the nightmarish world that the story takes place in.

The last thing I want to talk about is the combat/leveling systems that this game features. When a combat encounter begins, the player enters a turn based battle in an enclosed arena, just like its previous iteration. When a combat round begins, the order of battle is determined by the speed of the characters in combat, with agility being the determining factor. During a turn, the player is able to move freely around the arena and use up to three skills at once with the Triact system.

This mechanic allows the player to mix and match their skills to be able to deal greater damage to their opponents, along with the potential to create unique combos that will increase their strength further. At the end of a set of actions, it is possible to initiate a skill called knock back, where enemies are catapulted across the arena, taking additional damage when coming into contact with others. The damage increases depending on enemy weakness, character strength and other special factors.

Each of the playable characters have their own attacks and skills that the player can experiment with in order to find out what weapons, skills and effects are the most effective against enemies. The different gear that players can equip will change the attack, defense and other key stats making the right gear choice important to get the most out of combat. Each of the characters has their own weapon type, but the majority of equipment can be given to party members to augment their strengths.

On the ground in battle are colored markers, called field bugs, which increase the corruption meter that the party members have attached to them. This corruption meter can also be increased by taking damage from enemies, with the number slowly increasing until it hits a specific threshold. When the counter passes 80% Glitch mode will be activated during the party members next turn, transforming them for a limited time and granting bonuses to stats while also opening new special skills for combat.

The field bugs also possess the ability to provide buffs to the player, increasing stats for that player, but there is also the potential for negative effects to occur from the bugs. There are two ways to collect the bugs in battle, by walking over them or by launching enemies into them with the knock back skill, causing a sudden boost in player stats if enough bugs are collected. However, there are some enemies that can’t be knocked back like others, so it is important to learn how each enemy is affected.

When the battle is ended, players get rewarded with experience and rewards, like money and recovery items. The experience points will level up the characters up, increasing their base stats and unlocking additional skills at specific milestones. There are also bonuses that players can gain from clearing the field of bugs and dealing additional damage to enemies, using the overkill system for maximum rewards by taking advantage of the knockback mechanic and enemy weaknesses.

With the gameplay covered, I will be moving onto the other aspects of the game, starting with the controls.

Controls – the control method for the game works well, with the thumbsticks controlling the lead character and camera movement. The movement is solid in and out of battle too, but it can feel twitchy, luckily the D-pad does help when trying to aim in battle. Menu navigation is smooth, with an easy to use system and the D-pad works the best, making the ability to change gear as smooth as possible. There is no issue with lag or inputs, working well in handheld mode or on the TV with the only complaint being the slightly twitch movement.

Difficulty – there are three difficulty options for the player set as easy, normal and hard, with each option changing the balance of the game through rewards and modifiers to combat. The difficulty settings keep the game balanced at all settings providing challenging experiences suitable for all, however, the sudden deaths that can occur are not affected by difficulty. It is important to save a lot during play, due to the significant loss of progress that can occur from a Death End or being caught by the Dark Shadow.

Presentation – visually, you know that this is an Idea Factory release by just looking at it. The characters are detailed and expressive, with the signature anime style that the company is known for, with a story taking place in a world that is both beautiful and horrific. The visual novel scenes and animated cutscenes work together fantastically, heightening the tension when needed or adding a touch of levity to a situation to ease the player back in.

The graphical performance in game is excellent for the most part, but unfortunately there is the occasional frame drop and some screen tearing as the game pushes the Switch hard. This isn’t an issue however as they are very few and far between, with no real impact on the performance of the experience. Moving onto the sound design, the soundtrack has a wide range to the styles used for this release, from the soft orchestral sounds to the hard rock opening theme.

The use of sound emphasizes the horror that the player experiences, making the story and the narrative experience more engaging. There is also voiced dialogue that is used during key story scenes, exploration of the dungeons and during battles with enemies. The vocal tracks for this release are available in both English and Japanese, with the English voice cast featuring the talents of Ryan Bartley (Re:ZERO), Deneen Melody (Mary Skelter 2) and Kayli Mills (Shantae and the Seven Sirens).

Final Thoughts – I was excited to get my hands on this game, as I was a fan of the previous title and other Idea Factory JRPG releases. The narrative and world that this title takes place in is engaging, with a story that has a lot of depth to it that kept me invested for long periods of time during play. The combat system has been streamlined compared to the original, but this is not to the detriment of the experience as it allows for battles to flow at a higher pace, even if the movement feels twitch at times.

The character art and environments have that signature Idea Factory look to them, with horrific imagery of the night time that contrasts well with the vibrant and light of the day. The performance may have the occasional hiccup due to the fact that it pushes the system to its limits, but that isn’t a deal breaker. I do recommend this title to fans of the previous release and those who enjoy JRPG titles in general, and the inclusion of all the previously released content at no additional cost is an excellent bonus for those who choose this version of the game.

In the end, I give Death end re;Quest 2 a final score of 4.5/5. This Visual Novel and JRPG hybrid is an excellent addition to the Nintendo Switch library, with an engaging narrative, a cast of interesting characters to encounter and a mysterious world that is horrific yet intriguing. If you want to check this title out for yourself, a link to the game will be below.

Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)