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[BEAT the BITS in this TRIP down memory lane.]

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TalkBack / BIT.TRIP BEAT (Switch) Review

« on: January 16, 2021, 06:23:14 PM »

BEAT the BITS in this TRIP down memory lane.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/55975/bittrip-beat-switch-review

BIT.TRIP BEAT is the debut game for both Choice Provisions (once known as Gaijin Games) and Commander Video, indie superstar. Released back in 2009 on the Wii, this is the game that put Choice Provisions on the map. The aim is to reflect back incoming projectiles to the tune of chiptune-inspired tracks produced by Bit Shifter, an expert at creating synthesized sound.

In order to properly reflect back projectiles (Beats), one must tilt their controller in accordance to the location of the incoming shots. Gyro can be turned off in the options for those who can’t play comfortably with motion controls, but I highly recommend giving them a shot if you can. The game has three difficulty options, easy, normal, and hard, and three levels dubbed “TRANSITION,” “DESCENT,” and “GROWTH.” The game isn’t long by any means, and the main challenge comes from improving your score and shooting for the top of the leaderboards. There are also achievements to unlock for those with an itch to 100% it.

While playing BIT.TRIP BEAT, your score will reflect how the game presents itself in the form of “MODES.” You start in HYPER MODE, and if you earn a high enough combo, you can elevate to MEGA MODE and unlock a potential score multiplier. MEGA MODE has additional instrumentation and more visual effects than HYPER MODE. If you miss too many Beats, however, you descend to NETHER MODE and the screen turns black and white and all background music is muted. If you lose here, the game ends and you have to try again from the beginning. This system is incredibly addicting, if not brutally punishing at times. The addition and loss of color and music depending on your skill is a super satisfying way to encourage improvement.

There is a story mode featuring wild visuals and set pieces to push the player onward, but it’s rather simplistic. The main draws are definitely the gameplay and presentation.

The Atari-esque aesthetic with the addition of wonderful colors and modernized synth-style music is a perfect blend and makes it easy to lose yourself for hours. This game is truly addicting, and it can be hard to put down at times. Being a WiiWare game originally, I can feel the “just one more level” design philosophy DNA at work. The soundtrack is especially excellent and contributes The game runs perfectly smoothly, and I have absolutely zero performance issues to report. A solid frame rate is essential for a music-based action game, and it’s clear that Choice Provisions understood this.

Be warned, however, that BIT.TRIP games on Switch have a critical flaw that can leave them unplayable. The games tend to randomly malfunction and prevent the player from starting the game. The screen turns completely black and unfortunately, the only way to fix it is to restart your Switch. While this is a seemingly simple solution, it resets all the scores on the leaderboard and restarts all of your story progress. Hopefully, Choice Provisions can get this sorted out down the line, but as it stands, this is a major issue.

BIT.TRIP BEAT is an excellent game that still holds up a decade later. I highly recommend this game to anyone interested in the legacy of Commander Video, searching for a bite-sized experience, or those who seek a rhythm-based challenge. Though you should keep in mind that this release is marred by a pretty significant bug.

[The race of a thousand miles begins with a single drift.]

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TalkBack / Absolute Drift: Zen Edition (Switch) Review

« on: December 02, 2020, 11:59:22 AM »

The race of a thousand miles begins with a single drift.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/55658/absolute-drift-zen-edition-switch-review

Absolute Drift is a mellow experience with an emphasis on patience, practice, and perseverance. Unlike a traditional racing game, speed isn’t of the essence here, and players will need to take their time in order to succeed. With mottos like “the one who finishes first probably wasn’t drifting enough,” it’s clear that those at Funselektor Labs prioritized a calming, technical experience.

The car in Absolute Drift controls like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and it’s no wonder why there are so many tutorials and entry stages for players to get through before hitting the tracks. The game is deceptively simple, using only two buttons and the left stick. But trust me when I say that there’s enough complexity to require a strong amount of dedication. Instead of just holding a button, this game relies on breaking, accelerating, and counter-turning to properly master the drift. It certainly isn't easy, and even after my time with it, I'm far from being an expert. Yet, the design never feels annoying or obtuse, instead presenting a challenge to master and overcome.

The main attraction in this game is the Free-Roam mode, which provides five worlds to explore. Each world has a series of trials to overcome in the open world and events to compete in on the tracks. Ticking off the challenges is incredibly satisfying, and they can range from jumping over buildings and drifting underneath awnings, to doing a donut around a specific box. In events, which consist of Driftkhana, Drifting, and Mountain Drifting, there are also checklists of tasks with the goal of improving your drifting skills. Some will require certain maneuvers to be done a specific number of times, while others are more traditional, such as the high score requirements. While there’s plenty of reason to replay stages multiple times, more casual players who simply want to beat every area regardless of completion percentage will find that Absolute Drift is a bit lacking in content. It’s completely understandable given the game’s focus on honing the player’s skills, but it’s still a bit disappointing. There’s no multiplayer in the traditional sense, but instead high scores and ghost times are the main centers of competition. Online leaderboards are sorted by both rank and friends, so even if you and your buddies aren’t demons on wheels, the game encourages hot-blooded rivalries.

Absolute Drift’s presentation is second-to-none and does an amazing job of whisking the player away to a calm, undisturbed paradise dedicated solely to drifting. Considering the gorgeous locales, beautiful trail effects, and soothing soundtrack, “Zen Edition” is a more than fitting subtitle. The musicians C41 and Nyte have provided over 40 songs to accompany the game, and each one is absolutely stellar. I’ve found myself listening to the game’s soundtrack on loop in my free time because I just can’t get enough of their percussion-heavy electronic stylings.

Absolute Drift: Zen Edition is a cozy, tranquil game with a single mission: to provide the perfect experience to facilitate the player’s growth in skill. It succeeds flawlessly in this mission but could still use a bit more content for those who don’t want to dedicate themselves to becoming drift masters on the same few tracks.

[A sweet treat that tastes better the more you dig in.]

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TalkBack / Cake Bash (Switch) Review

« on: November 23, 2020, 05:25:03 PM »

A sweet treat that tastes better the more you dig in.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/55581/cake-bash-switch-review

From the moment I booted up Cake Bash, I knew I was in for something special. The game starts with the charismatic cast of confectionaries scrambling across the screen while dancing, posing, and beating the sugar out of each other set to a cheerful track. Brought to us by ex-Ubisoft developers High Tea Frog, Cake Bash is a wonderfully fun four-player party game.

The main party mode “Get Tasty” is centered around competing in minigames for points before cashing said points in for toppings. These toppings increase your chances of victory at the end of the round. This introduces an element of strategy, as collecting three of one topping will increase how many points you get from it. The topping assortments are randomized each session and selections are first come, first serve. Before every minigame, players get the chance to vote for what or where they’re playing next within a limited amount of time. This is a wonderful feature, as it allows for quick rounds where players get to choose their favorites. Get Tasty typically lasts around 20 minutes, making it a fast and enjoyable experience.

Every minigame is a simple affair based around different objectives. One match you may be dodging crabs and collecting sprinkles, while you may be competing to see who can decorate cakes the fastest in the next. From roasting marshmallows to stacking ice cream scoops, High Tea Frog has created a fun baker’s dozen of minigames. They feel straight out of a lost Mario Party that never saw the light of day. After playing a minigame in Get Tasty, it’s forever unlocked in the free play “Recipe” mode. This mode is a godsend since it allows you to just pick your favorites at any time.

Though Get Tasty is an almost infinitely replayable mode, it still stings that there’s no single-player campaign. Cake Bash is a game that thrives around couch co-op, and at the time of this review, that’s incredibly infeasible for most people. However, the developers had the foresight to include online play, which is close enough for the time being. Unfortunately, Cake Bash does not currently support cross-console online play, but players still have the option of making friend lobbies or searching for random opponents who also own the game on Nintendo Switch. A fair warning, however: match”caking” as the game so cutely calls it, takes longer than one would expect, so try to group up with some buddies if you can. Connections are pretty stable with online opponents, but I have been the victim of being randomly booted out of lobbies on rare occasions.

Every character and locale in Cake Bash is absolutely adorable. The game has a beautiful blend of realism and cartoony aesthetics. The lifelike treats sport animated faces and appendages, all while battling it out atop tabletops that feel straight out of the café down the street. All of the HUD elements are reminiscent of doodles and papercraft, which never ceases to make me smile. Cake Bash uses a unique aesthetic that doesn’t have any demand for intensive graphics. I never encountered stuttering, frame drops, or slowdown during my time playing.

The music featured in this game is a sheer delight and complements the action on-screen perfectly. Jaunty, string-heavy tunes are littered throughout and contribute greatly to the game’s cozy atmosphere.

Overall, Cake Bash is an immensely charming experience that may or may not be worth the price of admission depending on the individual. I, for one, will absolutely be busting this treat out at parties once the opportunity arises.