Splatoon 2

Nintendo Switch, Nintendo, cert: 7

★★★★

Following its debut for the Wii U in 2015, Nintendo is looking to Splatoon to make its mark on its latest console, Switch. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it has opted not to radically alter a successful concept. The gameplay remains straightforward: players shoot ink at every surface with paint-themed weaponry in order to dominate the map with their colour. It is simple, but conceals a surprising amount of tactical depth that rewards long-term play. For this sequel, Nintendo has added extra modes; the co-op Salmon Run, as well as a single player. Both do a great job of introducing the game’s mechanics to players, while alongside the addition of new weapons some from the original have been tweaked and improved. But some frustrations remain, with the inability to switch weapons mid-match or in the lobby somewhat tiresome. These are quibbles, however, and Splatoon 2 is a great addition to the Switch roster. Admittedly it feels more like a reboot than a sequel but nonetheless offers hours of colourful fun for hardcore and casual players alike. AC

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Mighty Gunvolt Burst: an essential purchase for Mega Man fans.

Mighty Gunvolt Burst

3DS, Inti Creates, cert: 3

★★★★

When Capcom retired the Mega Man series, two successors emerged – Comcept’s deeply troubled Mighty No 9 and Inti Creates’s excellent Azure Striker Gunvolt. In 2014, Mighty Gunvolt fused the two successors together in an enjoyably simple byte-sized 8-bit adventure. This sequel, however, is significantly more developed. Players select Beck or Gunvolt and take on eight (plus a further five unlockable) levels filed with power-granting bosses, each with signature weaknesses. Unique to Burst (other than the risky burst combo that grants a score for sequential point-blank kills) is the bewilderingly vast customisation system that enables the editing of almost every aspect of a character’s abilities and allows for some creative combinations. So despite being born out of two spinoffs, Mighty Gunvolt Burst actually feels more authentically Mega Man than either of those titles and is an essential purchase for fans of Capcom’s celebrated series. RH

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Kirby’s Blowout Blast: short, but fun.

Kirby’s Blowout Blast

3DS, Nintendo, cert: 3

★★★★

An enhanced port of a mini-game featured in last year’s Kirby: Planet Robobot,

Blowout Blast is part of Nintendo’s 25th anniversary celebrations for its pink, inflatable mascot. Unlike most of the Kirby canon, this isn’t a conventional platformer though, instead favouring speed challenges through 2.5D worlds. Each stage scores players on time taken, coins collected, enemies defeated, and damage taken. In classic Kirby fashion, the levels feel almost insultingly simple to begin with, but in trying to achieve a gold ranking in each one, the hidden challenge emerges. Each chapter is really a puzzle and figuring out which enemies to inhale using Kirby’s vacuum-like powers, and when to expel them in a chain of rainbow-infused destruction against other foes, proves surprisingly intricate. Although it’s short more difficult EX versions are unlockable, doubling the content, while striving for perfect scores will keep more hardcore players well entertained. MK