Joe and Mac Retro Collection Review (Switch)

Long time readers of the site will know we absolutely love when more obscure console games are given a second chance to shine. The latest of these is the return of Joe and Mac: Caveman Ninja, or more precisely, the Super Nintendo Joe and Mac trilogy which contains the original game, Congo’s Caper and Lost in the Tropics. Sadly though, other variations of the game are not included.

For the uninitiated, the games are side scrolling platform beat’em ups filled with dinosaurs and cavemen. Your character has a limited move set of jumping and bashing and you can upgrade your basic weapon from a club to a stone wheel, flame or a host of other prehistoric, themed weapons. Each level ends with you taking on some kind of big dinosaur as well. The SNES version of Joe and Mac also adds a map section to transition levels which is different from the arcade and adds a couple of extra areas.

The graphics are big and bold and fit the game world well. There’s a host of little touches, such as some dinosaurs crying when you bash them, which add character and humour and the challenge is set just about right to keep things interesting, while also letting you progress. The only real issue, much like when the games were first released, is that the game gets a little samey when played in anything other than small amounts of time. If you have a second player to join you then things get a lot more fun of course. The now standard quality of life issues such as saves and rewinds are also included.

In terms of extras there is a decent selection of artwork and the original box art. You can go into the virtual gallery and ‘unbox’ the games and look at the original manuals. Extras like this are a nice touch as it adds character to the package and lets you see the original tone and other quirks that the manuals had. It’s something that is always a very welcome addition.

The biggest and most obvious issue here is that there are so many other versions and variations of Joe and Mac that could have been included. The original arcade games are available elsewhere on the Switch eShop but would have been great inclusions here. Especially the second game which takes a much different approach. Away from those though the games were released across NES, GB, Mega Drive and Amiga (to name a few), and all these have variations and nuances. Perhaps we’ve been spoiled by other recent collections that have really catalogued titles but as a result this release seems somewhat lacking.

Overall, the Joe and Mac collection is much like the games themselves. It is a perfectly enjoyable and solid seven out of ten that will make you smile but you’ll likely not stick with an extended period of time. We would love to see other games added in the future, but even without this we would encourage people who like retro games of the 16-bit era to try this out.

Overall 7/10

Ratatan Review (Switch 2)

We’ve been looking forward to Ratatan for a long time. Patapon and its sequel were a real favourite of ours back on the PSP, especially when played via the Vita with its gorgeous screen. Ratatan,is basically Patapon goes Rogue-like which will no doubt delight and frustrate people in equal measure.

It may seem a strange choice of genre to bolt rogue elements to but then these sorts of games are all about repeated runs. As a result, there is everything you would expect of modern games in that genre. You have a central hub where you can develop weapons and skills by trading in objects found on your runs, multiple pathways through the areas with a choice of powerups at the end, areas where you upgrade for your current run, the list goes on. There’s nothing particularly new here (or missing), but you’ve probably never seen it put across in a rhythm action game before.

The rhythm action element is completely key to the whole thing. At the bottom of the screen, you have a continually moving music sheet with bars across it that repeats infinitely. Pressing buttons at the correct times activates the different commands for your Cobun followers. For instance, attacking requires pressing the ‘A’ button three times to the correct beat, while calling your creatures back requires a press, a pause and then another press. As you move through the game you get an ever-increasing list of commands to employ.

Success depends on your judgement about when to throw the little dudes into battle and when to beat a hasty retreat and regroup. You also need to keep an eye on your own health bar. While inputting all the rhythm commands you still have full control over your little pied piper creature who can run around and jump but is defenceless without the Cobun.

One issue was that we did find it difficult to keep track of everything at times as the screen is so vibrant and busy it’s easy to miss that you are taking damage or about to die. The game could do with a bit more simplicity in its visual design and more feedback with regards to when you are taking hits. It’s something that is more of an issue in handheld mode as the game’s visuals, while beautiful, are also pretty damn small. Its ok though, because when the sound is as creative as it is here it deserves to be coming out of bigger and better speakers than the Switch 2.

That said, the game works beautifully well. Controls are quick and precise, and the rhythm inputs are responsive and crisp. It’s certainly a game that needs mastering, but once you have developed the skills your progression is only hindered by how good you are (and how powered up your Cobun are). While some runs may well fizz out early there is normally the feeling that you have at least grabbed some loot that will be useful in the future.

Overall, Ratatan is a unique take on the Rogue-like genre. It’s great to see one of the more unique and quirky entries from gaming history making its way back to a wider audience. The change in genre is a bold move and one that mostly works. We would like to see something a bit more traditional in the future to really let us focus on the beats but until then this is a beautifully realised alternative.

Overall 8/10

Everspace 2 Review (Switch 2)

Everspace 2 recently shadow dropped onto the Switch 2, always a bold move. It comes a few years after release on other systems and includes both the Titan and Wrath of the Ancients DLC. So, you are certainly getting a ton of content for your money. The first game in the series was a space combat-based Roguelike where you repeatedly followed the loop of launching, finding resources, lasting as long as you could, then repeating. This second game is a more linear story-based adventure.

The story follows a clone pilot who is hiding out among the various salvage and mining crews in the galaxy. As the action RPG unfolds your character gets discovered (of course), and a pretty sizable adventure ensues.

These sorts of space combat games always live or die by their controls. We are happy to report that this builds on the already solid model of the first game to provide an intuitive and responsive interface. You will quickly be able to dog fight with the best of them, while the customisation options in terms of what you can do with your ships gives players a good level of flexibility to play the game how they want to.

The space combat is excellent as well. The various ships are manoeuvrable, and you are quickly thrown into the thick of battle right from the off. We had very little trouble tracking targets for instance. There’s a good weight to guns and missiles as well and the feedback you get on screen gives a solid account of how much damage you are taking on. The controls are also good enough to cope with the numerous narrow sections of structures you’ll have to navigate through as well. It does take a little getting used to, but you’ll soon be zipping around comfortably.

Though the story is somewhat linear you do have a lot of freedom to zoom around the various systems. There are a host of side missions to follow and things to salvage. The game very much stays in the ship though with interactions on space stations kept to menus and dialogue boxes. There is a fair bit of zipping across the surface of planets though to keep the visuals interesting.

If there is a criticism its that the characters aren’t the most developed. The setting is also pretty much ‘generic space’ as well. It’s easy to overlook when the combat is so slick, but some may want more in terms of the narrative elements of an action RPG.

Overall, Everspace 2 is a comprehensive and enjoyable package. The move to the Switch 2 has worked well and the game still looks great. It can be played for long periods or in short bursts which works well with the portable nature of the device and you are getting around 50+ hours of game here for those that want to see everything. The Switch 2 also doesn’t have much else like this aside from Rebel Galaxy, but that doesn’t go as deep with its RPG elements. Despite the shadow drop, this is well worth playing.

Overall 8/10

Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault Review (Switch 2)

Moonlighter was a very much underrated indie game that created a great little loop of exploration and selling junk wrapped in a rogue-lite package. The original was a pixel art, top-down game that took inspiration from the original four-door, sealed room dungeon layout of early Zelda games. You dive in, survive as many rooms as possible then brought you loot back to sell in your shop.

Moonlighter 2 hasn’t moved far in terms of the core ideas, but a lot else has changed. You are still hunting for loot and then selling it in your shop. But now the game has moved to a 3D environment. Instead of doors leading off from a dungeon you now have sort of floating platform like arenas. You must kill all the monsters present and then you can move to the next, you’ll normally have a choice of two or three paths and aside from fighting there are opportunities to find power ups or other treasures along the way.

We found that the arenas did lack some of the character the original games rooms had and the colours are quite soft which can make it difficult to see everything on the screen. A fair few times we were being attacked by something we just didn’t see which isn’t ideal. They are also quite samey in each of the core areas which means after a few runs it can get a tad dull unless you’re progressing to other places.

Luckily the combat system is robust. You get a selection of different weapons to wield and upgrade, and they all carry weight and give a good level of feedback so at least you know you are hitting things. You also have a gun with a limited number of shots (recharged by melee attacks), which adds flexibility for taking on flying enemies and those just out of reach. Each weapon also has a chargeable special attack and when enemies are stunned you can also smash them over the edge of the island or into other creatures. It all works well and provides a satisfying experience.

When you inevitably die, you’ll be sent back to your hub down with any relics and items you have found along the way. These can then be sold in your shop with the money going towards any number of upgrades and perks. There’s a whole meta game in there about how to best store your objects in your backpack as well with certain ones ‘burning’ others or adding bonuses to them. It’s another system that works well, even if it does get a little repetitive after a while.

As you progress, you’ll expand your arsenal and shop, and more and more areas of the town will open offering different services. It’s a potentially addictive loop; however, we did find progress slow. We had run after run where little progress was made in the early going. It doesn’t quite get the balance right with difficulty to progression and that may see some players leave the game before they have really got into it. Once you start making breakthroughs though it finds its feet and you’ll be lost to it for hours.

Overall, this is a welcome return for the series. The new direction has worked well in most ways and if you get through some initial slowness you’ll be drawn in for hours on end. Even when things do get a bit repetitive there is enough charm present for players to see it through. For fans of the original, or those who need yet another Rogue-like this should be high on your list to check out.

Overall 8/10