It's technically a rock-solid package, but I'm gonna go ahead & give a middling review because of how half-baked it feels. Everyone knows they (for whatever reason) nixed Galaxy 2, but that's just the beginning. Mario 64 could've easily been updated to 16:9 just like Sunshine, plus the latter doesn't feel quite as good to play without GameCube controller analog triggers. I'm probably being nitpicky, but these 3 games are so great individually that they deserved a better celebratory bundle, is all.

I think this is my favorite implementation of the 2D Zelda formula to date, even if it's a bit easy to complete and short in duration.

Giving Link a Souls-Dodge-Roll and a wide, 180 degree sword swing makes combat a lot more accessible and strategic than LTTP or the other handheld 2D adventures. I got into some tough-ass fights which felt thrilling, especially toward the endgame. The dungeons can vary between "slightly difficult" and "a cakewalk," but the overworld itself has a lot of tricks up its sleeve that encourage you to think critically as you try to get from one plot beat to another.

I was there when the internet went up in arms over "Celda," but I think it's hilarious that not only has the Toon Link visual style prevailed, but that it probably looks the BEST in the 2D top down format. Even under the pixelated constraints of the GBA, this has a wonderfully distinct look that charms and delights.

I regret sleeping on this for as long as I did. A wonderful and pleasant adventure!

I have very mixed feelings about Titan Souls.
On one hand I found the world pretty bland and the lack of an actual (explicit) story felt like a missed opportunity. Additionally, the gameplay loop of constantly dying in one hit and having to walk back to the boss can get tedious and annoying quickly.
On the other hand, the small team of developers had some great ideas for the boss fights which often felt rewarding to complete and the obscure lore has its charm (on this topic I recommend this video by SolarPellets https://youtu.be/BtiNAqAJgAY ).

But I must say that I'm glad they made this game especially after playing it's spiritual successor Death's Door which takes a few core elements from Titan Souls to make a much more complete experience (and one of my favourite games)

Pikmin 4 was fantastic! It was everything I hoped it could be and more. I can't come up with any negative points to say about my experience with the game. If you liked previous pikmin titles or you enjoy RTS games, I highly reccomend giving Pikmin 4 a go.

The game oozes with charm and character. I never got bored or frustrated while playing, which I can't say about other games I've played recently! The difficulty was just right; a good blend between leisurely and difficult. And if you really crave a spicy challenge, the platinum medals on each dandori battle and timed challenge are quite lofty goals. Nintendo really knocked it out of the park with Pikmin 4 and I can't wait to see what Pikmin 5 is like... in a decade or two!

Flirts SO CLOSELY with perfection. Bad audio mixing and some ass-quality final levels/boss fight kneecap what is otherwise a flawless marathon of inventive 3D platforming. This game soars on its phenomenal and unique premise. The triple threat of Milkman Conspiracy, Gloria's Theater, and Waterloo World are some of the finest levels in 3D platforming history. This universe and its characters are all winners, and I loved every minute spent with them. An absolute must play for 3D platforming enthusiasts.

Subnautica puts a few too many ingredients into the mechanics blender imo, or maybe I’m just not a big fan of survival games. Thankfully you can turn the surivival mechanics off and the game is much more fun and no less complete without them.

Despite the gameplay feeling like a derivative buffet calculated to please everyone (the generic maleness of the protagonist, which serves no narrative purpose, likewise feels like pandering to an imagined audience), Subnautica ends up being really good, thanks to its world just being so damn cool. The alien ocean of Subnautica feels more real to me, more alive and vibrant, than almost any other gaming environment, and the atmosphere strikes a perfect seesaw balance between horror and wonder. This is not only one of the best exploration games out there but maybe the game that comes closest to capturing the spirit of classic science fiction, with its mixture of reverence and terror regarding nature and the unknown. Even the story is good, which I wasn’t expecting at all!

First playthrough in probably 20 years. Everything that worked and didn't work remains intact, but man, twin-stick controls really improve the experience. The large amount of backtracking and combat feel better now that aiming is a lot more fluid. Also makes looking around spaces for puzzle solutions a lot less of a headache. I probably logged more items in this playthrough than ever before just from being able to see better.

Looks gorgeous and is truly a testament to the Switch's capabilities when games are optimized correctly (and I played it on a year 1 model). Meta Ridley remains one of my favorite boss fights of all time, making you WORK for that finale.

Would be 5 stars if they had figured out the insufficient region-linking paths that remain from the OG. We're still walking through Magmor Caverns wayyyy too many times (and God help you if you forget something and have to double back). Also, the graphics on the Thermal Visor? WOOF.