If we were to judge this game as a port, I would say that artistically, it exceeds the NES versions, but music wise, it's hit-or-miss. Ultimately, if you had to choose between NES or Genesis, I would lean towards NES, but these versions don't slouch.

Mega Man 1, 2, and 3 are fine games, but I find that the extra Wily levels are nothing to truly write home about, just neat additional tidbits, that do in fact have neat music accompanying them, at the very least. If you are in the mood to replay the NES originals and are all too familiar with them, I recommend the Wily Wars for a change of pace.

At the end of the day, this game is a nice coat of paint for games that already aged well without it.

This is the best Pokémon game on the Switch, bar none. It is engaging and substantial (in spite of its middling performance), introduces you to a large, interesting, and varied cast of both humans and Pokémon alike in a story that even puts the likes of Black and White to shame, iterates on the social aspect of the series with a pleasant new MMO-lite feature, and adds a battle gimmick that provides an unprecedented increase in nuance & depth.

They hit the ball out of the park with this one, but it's regrettable that it wasn't left in the oven for a bit longer. Despite the flaws, make no mistake; the developers have outdone themselves and this game is an absolute treat.

>DON'T LET MARIO GET THE 6 GOLDEN COINS
>DON'T LET MARIO REACH THE PALACE
>OBEY WARIO
>DESTROY MARIO

Well, I defied Wario's insidious sissy hypnosis and had an alright time in the process. Super Mario Land 2 has got stellar set-pieces and a very pleasant soundtrack that accompanies it perfectly. This is the closest to being in a wonder land that a Mario game has made me feel!

The problem is that they just don't truly nail the Mario feel, as far as gameplay goes. The level design certainly works around the screen crunch, and you won't have difficulty in that regard, but Mario himself just doesn't feel all that tight to use.

So despite the low review I've given this game, I do earnestly encourage you to play this quirky little game. I will also say that this dev team's decision to use this game as the stepping-stone for the Wario Land series later on was the greatest decision in gaming history. Everything this game does right, Wario Land does one step further. I have to respect the foundation.

MONOLITHSOFT, even when the odds are against them, are the master of their craft. This game's best aspects are the combat, enhanced by the Blade system. It makes for a world of depth and experimentation. The caveat being that the early-game is a right trudge. It takes time for this game's tone and events to really have an impact, and the skills that make the game as enjoyable as they are will take time to obtain; hence you may have to fight off potentially sour first impressions.

Nevertheless, if you take the plunge into Xenoblade Chronicles 2, you will get one of the most exciting and substantial bangs for your buck that $60 can take you for the Nintendo Switch.

It is with quantity rather than quality in mind that one would be reminded of the fact that Dragon Quest IV had its origins as an early 90's NES game. Then again, this remake adds significantly to the game's enjoyment value.

With a choice of story format that I am 100% sure went on to inspire Mother 3, Dragon Quest IV truly does compose of the Chapters of the Chosen. As far as length goes, the titular chapters are considerably bite-sized, but it still does just enough for you to fall in love with the cast, and the world. Sometimes you are responsible firsthand for the growth of your environment, which is neat. Once they're all united, it's a mite unfortunate that the cast don't really bounce off of each other, but the Party Chat feature is quite in-depth, and you learn a lot about them as individuals.

By the way, ABUSE the Party Chat feature. Your squad will have something to say after entering almost any room, after speaking to many NPCs, and of course, after any notable story beat. As far as localization, dialogue, and personality go, Dragon Quest is a cut above the rest; with Party Chat in mind, IV only exemplifies that fact further.

Aside from a lovable cast, Dragon Quest IV is also pleasant to the senses. Every enemy is lovably animated, smooth as butter. The spritework is almost on par with Pokémon Black and White. Furthermore, the Nintendo DS soundfont really suits Dragon Quest's style.

Gameplay wise, Dragon Quest is always Dragon Quest. You can mix-and-match the 8+ party members to your heart's content, and I strongly encourage experimenting with it. You will have to grind a little bit, because the game is not really a cakewalk. Not unfair either, mind you. Age be darned, archaic is not a word you can use to describe Dragon Quest IV.

With that all being said, I do strongly recommend playing this game. It's refreshingly short, and may leave a lasting impression on you.

Torna giveth, and then Torna taketh away.

This game hits the ground running at a moderately smooth pace. Perhaps the game realized it'd go a little too quick if one were to bum-rush the plot, so it also made to season our plot with a bit of mandatory side-quests. Nice save!

Truthfully, though, the game never reaches a point where it's a waste of time, which I must commend it for. I cannot understate how good the combat is this time around. Who knew the removal of the gacha system, and the streamlining that comes with that choice, would be exactly what Xenoblade 2's gameplay loop needed?

Torna is an excellent prequel indeed, a true cherry on top of the Xenoblade 2 sundae. When playing this game, I was given a little, but the experience was worth a lot.