Press "A" Reviews

- Reviewed on  3DS  - Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! released on November 14th, 2010. Developed and published by Nintendo, Mini-Land Mayhem! is one of those games that instantly takes me back to my childhood.  This was a title I spent a lot of time with growing up and revisiting it years later on the 3DS was both nostalgic and refreshing.  It’s a simple concept on the surface, but one that hides a surprising amount of depth and creativity. This review WILL have  Major Spoilers  so keep that in mind before continuing... At its core, Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! revolves around classic Mario vs. DK antics—but with a toy-like twist.  Instead of directly controlling Mario, you’re guiding auto-moving Mini toys through puzzle-filled levels, making sure they safely reach their designated doors. One of the first things that stood out to me revisiting this game is the visual style.  The graphics are incredibly charming, with a to...

- Reviewed on  Switch 2  - Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle released on January 20th, 2018. Developed and published by Blue Wizard Digital, I decided to give this game a try as a brand-new fan of the Friday the 13th horror series. I’m happy to say it ended up being a fun, if somewhat short-lived, experience—especially for fans of Jason and his infamous legacy. This review WILL have  Major Spoilers  so keep that in mind before continuing... The first thing that immediately grabbed me was the art design. It’s cute, colorful, and quirky—almost charmingly so for a horror game. It’s definitely my favorite aspect of this title, and it gives the puzzles a lot of personality. The music does match the horror aesthetic, but it’s nothing memorable. It sets the mood but doesn’t stick in your head after a session. Gameplay revolves entirely around puzzle mechanics. You play as Jason, methodically eliminating campers and citizens in each level without letting them escape, fight back...

- Reviewed on  Switch 2  - Pokémon Legends: Z-A released on October 16th, 2025. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo alongside The Pokémon Company, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the second entry in the Legends sub-series. And in my opinion, it is far superior to the previous Legends title.  Despite the fairly negative reception I’ve seen online, I genuinely had a fantastic time with this game.  Honestly, online reviews aren’t something I take too seriously these days, and after spending a good amount of time with Legends: Z-A myself, I can confidently say it clicked with me almost immediately. This review WILL have  Major Spoilers  so keep that in mind before continuing... One of the biggest strengths of Pokémon Legends: Z-A is its setting. Unlike the wide-open wilderness of Legends: Arceus, this game places you inside a large, dense city environment—and surprisingly, it works extremely well.  The city feels lively, full of Pokémon, NPCs, collec...

- Reviewed on  Switch 2  - Slay the Spire released on November 14th, 2017. Developed by Mega Crit and published by Humble Bundle, this title has earned its reputation as one of the best roguelike deck builders in recent years. This review WILL have  Major Spoilers  so keep that in mind before continuing... You play as one of multiple characters, each with their own unique cards, mechanics, and playstyle.  The main goal? Climb the Spire, defeat powerful bosses, survive elite enemies, and strategically craft a deck that can overcome the chaos of each randomized floor.  Every choice counts, from selecting your path to deciding which cards to pick and which relics to equip. One thing that immediately stands out in Slay the Spire is its artwork.  The card designs, backgrounds, enemy designs, and character art are all incredibly well done.  Everything feels cohesive, stylish, and full of personality.  I found myself often stopping to admire the des...

- Reviewed on  Switch 2  - Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? released on August 23rd, 2022. Developed by Massive Miniteam and published by HandyGames, this Switch 2 version brings the classic quiz show experience right to your console, letting players test their wits against 5th-grade-level questions… and sometimes lose spectacularly. This review WILL have  Major Spoilers  so keep that in mind before continuing... From the moment you boot the game, the production values are immediately impressive.  The graphics are crisp and colorful, giving the game a vibrant, TV-show-quality aesthetic that’s surprisingly polished for a quiz game.  The stage, the desks, the characters—it all looks fantastic on the Switch 2’s screen. Gameplay follows the classic formula of the TV show: answer questions across multiple subjects, earn points, and try not to fall behind your clever 5th-grade classmates.  What sets this version apart is the variety of subjects and the cus...

- Reviewed on  Switch 2  - SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide released on November 18th, 2025. Developed by Purple Lamp Studios and published by THQ Nordic, this latest SpongeBob adventure continues the studio’s tradition of delivering high-quality, modern SpongeBob games. Having loved their Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated, I was thrilled to see them tackle another underwater romp with the Krusty Crew. This review WILL have  Major Spoilers  so keep that in mind before continuing... From the opening moments, Titans of the Tide delivers charm, humor, and action in spades.  The original voice cast returns, giving life to SpongeBob, Patrick, and friends in a way that fans—both young and adult—will deeply appreciate.  Even as an adult myself, I found myself laughing at some of Patrick’s surprisingly cheeky lines. The plot kicks off with a classic SpongeBob twist, sending our heroes on a mission to stop a new threat from flooding Bikini Bottom with c...

- Reviewed on  Switch 2  - Batman: Arkham City released on October 18th, 2011. Developed by the phenomenal team at Rocksteady Studios, Batman: Arkham City is an absolute masterclass in superhero gaming — and in my opinion, a near-perfect sequel to the already excellent Batman: Arkham Asylum. This review WILL have  Major Spoilers  so keep that in mind before continuing... As someone who’s been a massive fan of Batman for years — with Gotham’s lore, heroes, and villains being the universe I’m most invested in — Arkham City is everything I could ask for in a Batman experience. It’s pure fan service in the best way possible. Set in a walled-off section of Gotham turned into a massive prison city, Batman is thrown headfirst into a political conspiracy, a power struggle among criminals, and a deeply personal ticking time bomb tied to both Hugo Strange and The Joker.  The scale is huge yet still grounded in what makes Batman who he is: detective, fighter, and symbol of...