Picross S (Switch eShop)

After a whopping seven installments on the 3DS, Picross has reached Switch. The price increased by 60% while offering less content than the last couple of 3DS entries, but that can hardly be viewed as a negative because a price increase was overdue and what you get for your money is still plenty enough.

What didn't make the cut for the first Switch game is Micross, a variation where dozens of 10x10 puzzles form a picture in an 8x8 grid. The 3DS games used to have three Micross, each amounting to 40-60 minutes of playtime. What the Switch version has over its predecessors is a multiplayer option where two players can solve a puzzle co-operatively. The game keeps track of how many tiles each player has filled in, so there is somewhat of a competitive angle to it, but it's not a real vs. mode. What is the same is that all 150 puzzles are available in Mega Picross, a variation that requires a different brand of logic to solve.

My main complaint about the 3DS installments still holds true which is why I don't hand out a 9. Picross DS had puzzles as big as 25x20, but neither the 3DS or Switch matched that despite higher resolution screens. 20x15 is once again as big as it gets. Still, you'll probably get a good 20 hours out of an $8/€8 purchase, so this will have to do until the inevitable Picross S2. If you aren't familiar with Picross, the game provides an elaborate explanation to get you started.

SteamWorld Dig 2 (Switch eShop)

One of the best indie games on the 3DS has got a sequel on Switch and other platforms after an intermezzo in the turn-based strategy genre (SteamWorld Heist). Developer Image & Form didn't attempt any experiments with SteamWorld Dig 2, so chances are good that you'll like it if you liked the original. The second Dig costs slightly more than twice as much as its predecessor, but it justifies its price by adding more variety and increasing the length.

Aside from a higher number of caves that feature a healthy amount of platforming, the most intriguing addition to the formula are gears that can be found everywhere. Said gears can be put into equipment slots to enable helpful perks, and they can be changed back and forth as often as you like. It may be tempting to dig down on the shortest path, but paying attention to your surroundings will make your journey a lot more flexible and comfortable.

Like in so many other games, you start with nothing and build up a big arsenal of possibilities. Nothing wrong with that, because that makes games fun. I don't really have anything negative to say in this review, simply because there isn't much. SteamWorld Dig 2 delivered on expectations, so the only thing I could say is that it didn't exceed them and I have a slight feeling of disappointment because of that.

My sentiments exactly.  I haven't played it yet either, but everything I've seen and heard so far leaves me longing for a traditional 2D Metroid instead.

Agreed with your F-Zero X and GX comparison. X is the better game. Did you play X on Wii VC? How did the controls compare with the Wii U VC version?

BTW, have you played the GBA games? How do they compare with F-Zero Snes?

I've lost my entire post because VGC messed up, so I'll do it really quick now.

Haven't played X on Wii VC.

Maximum Velocity is great, would rate it an 8. GP Legend is forgettable, probably a 5. Haven't played Climax, but is supposed to be very similar to GP Legend.

haha, thanks!  So Maximum Velocity is the better game? Good to know, I was considering GP Legend more because of the music which is very similar to X.

But do you think it is better than the Snes one?

Wow,this is actually a pretty good review system!If you gonna continue with this stuff,i'll happily continue to read your reviews.totally agree with samus returns review,because while i think it's a good game,it's not nearly as competent or well made as those of R&D1.And i totally agree with your f-zero x opinion too.I thought i was the only one with that impression in the world.Really good stuff here(not because your opinion is the same as mine,obviously,but because is well sustained by your arguments).

Golf Story (Switch eShop)

In Golf Story you take on the role of a man who pursues his dream of becoming a professional golfer. His first stop is the golf course he played on as a kid and said course is in terrible condition. In an effort to earn the trust of the golf course owner and the resident coach, you accept any kind of errand that gets thrown at you.

Completing fetch quests and succeeding at various challenges nets you money and EXP. Each level up allows you to distribute five skill points across five different golfer stats. The most important stat is power which regularly results in penalties for your accuracy, but the developers were kind enough to allow you to reduce your power level at any time between playing golf and redistribute skill points to other stats. That way you can't get stuck in (almost) hopeless situations to progress the game.

The main events of the story are stroke plays on the game's eight courses which are only nine holes each. Said courses unlock for quick play single-player and multiplayer after you've beaten them, but it would be hard to call Golf Story a good regular golf game. The options for play are too limited and the courses are too short. Where Golf Story excels is the golf/RPG mix, so if that's something you are looking for, you get a meaty package for the asking price.

Negatives include trickshot challenges that require you to take all shots instead of ending right away after you've met the target, some abrupt cutscene transitions that aren't cleanly programmed, and an at times uneven difficulty level that throws in surprising spikes. But the positives easily outweigh the shortcomings, so this intriguing mix of golf and RPG that pays tribute to classic video games can be safely recommended.

This game looks dissapointing like the Communist Packers.

Maximum Velocity and the SNES original are about even. MV does a few things better (like more courses and more vehicles), but at the same time I expect a more fleshed out points system for a game that was released a decade later. MV still only asks you to finish in the top 3 in each grand prix race, so there's no evolution. What's interesting about MV is that its entire content is original, so all-new locations and vehicles. Whether that counts as a plus or a minus point is something that everyone needs to decide for themself though.

I'd put the F-Zero games in three tiers:

Top level - F-Zero X (N64 version only)
Greatness - F-Zero and F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
Disappointments - F-Zero GX, F-Zero GP Legend and F-Zero Climax

There's a sharp dropoff between tier 2 and 3, but there's no reason to have a tier inbetween when there are no games that qualify for it.