Ollie Reynolds, Staff Writer
Let me start by saying I’m truly amazed by what CD Projekt Red and Saber Interactive achieved by bringing The Witcher III to the Nintendo Switch. However, when I fired it up for another round recently, I couldn’t get past the visuals. It was impressive back in 2019, but those graphics just don’t cut it for me now. So, it’s on to my Series X where everything looks way better. Problem solved!
I’ve also been diving into The Thing: Remastered on the PS5. It’s a fantastic, though slightly imperfect, remake of the John Carpenter classic. Nightdive has done an impeccable job enhancing both performance and graphics here.
No Switch, you ask? Oh, don’t worry—I’m playing something for review, but I’ll spill the beans on that later!
Jim Norman, Staff Writer
This weekend, I’d love to log more hours into the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, have some fun with Marvel Rivals alongside friends, and maybe tackle a few islands in Mario & Luigi: Brothership. But my plans might take a backseat as I’m heading to my parents’ for the holidays, and I anticipate that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Nintendo Switch Sports, and the task of explaining Mario Party’s rules for what feels like the hundredth time will take center stage.
Ah, the holiday season is almost upon us. Enjoy every moment of it, everyone!
Gavin Lane, Editor
There are so many games I can’t wait to dive into. Unicorn Overlord is at the top of my list, with Nine Sols, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU, and Loco Motive also eagerly awaiting their turn. I snagged Braid: Anniversary Edition on a great sale a little while back, and picked up the delightful puzzler Railbound for just 99 cents.
I’m hoping to squeeze in some Yakuza and explore Arco, which I’ve heard has some hiccups on the Switch. But the 30% discount lured me in. Here’s wishing everyone a wonderful week!
Alana Hagues, Deputy Editor
Having just completed Nine Sols, I’ve found myself in a bit of a gaming slump! I should get back to Trails through Daybreak, and starting 1000xRESIST is also on my list. But instead, I’ve been hopping around from Balatro, to Tetris DX on NSO, and Bust A Move 4 on the PlayStation.
And now, with the news that Arco is on sale, I’m seriously considering adding to my gaming backlog before 2025 even arrives. Let’s just call it a little Christmas gift to myself.
Here’s to a safe and joyful holiday for each and every one of you!
Kate Gray, Contributor
This weekend, I’m once again boarding a plane, and along for the ride are my Switch, my Steam Deck, and my iPad. With this setup, I’ve got plenty of gaming options, but I’m feeling the urge to finally play Brothership—a game I pre-ordered ages ago but never got around to.
In reality, though, I’ll likely spend my time with Hello Kitty Island Adventure, and maybe dabble in some of the games I snagged from the Steam sale, like Fields of Mistria, Void Stranger, or Lorelei and the Laser Eyes. My backlog, as usual, will just have to wait…
Gonçalo Lopes, Contributor
‘Twas the night before Christmas and throughout the house, everything was calm—except for me setting up my mini retro arcades, consoles, and computers beneath the huge LCD in the living room. It’s the perfect time for some cozy retro gaming, aiming to provide entertainment for guests of all ages who stop by during the holidays. I’ve gathered all my mini consoles not just for decoration but for the inevitable revisiting of classics on my SNES, Mega Drive, and PC Engine minis. I suspect the latest addition, The Spectrum, will captivate those unaware, especially when they encounter it next to the A500 Mini.
This week’s standout game for me is still New Star GP, and I’m tackling the 1990s season championship. I even convinced my dad to grab the PS4 version for his PS5, and I must say, playing this arcade racing gem with analog triggers is a delight. Here’s hoping Nintendo is taking notes for the next Switch Pro Ultra 2, because there’s no excuse not to fully utilize analog acceleration and braking in ‘Mario Kart 9’.
Happy holidays, everyone! I’ll catch you soon after diving into a complete playthrough of Secret of Mana on SNES—and yes, if you’ve forgotten, Santa makes an appearance there.
Oh, and a quick note: the developers got in touch to confirm that world ten is indeed the ultimate challenge to conquer in Abathor. Fingers crossed for a sequel!
That’s what we’re diving into this weekend—what about you? Let us know in the poll below which games are on your radar for the upcoming days.
