Apr 12, 2019Reviews
My Time At Portia and Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles are two very similar games regarding gameplay. People often wonder which game they should be playing and I’m here to help! Even though both would be a good recommendation, below you can find a small comparison of the two games to possibly help aid in your decision.
In both games, you get amazing items through crafting that make the games a lot more fun. The crafting gameplay can become a little tedious in both but is still an enjoyable experience. In Portia you need to run to and from each device to craft your items whereas in Yonder, everything is done the your bag menu. If you like the simplicity of it, Yonder has a good system but Portia has more roleplay and realism with using the devices.
Fishing in Portia and Yonder use very similar mechanics. The notable difference that I noticed was when comparing the two’s Fishing Tournament. Portia’s fishing tournament is great as it is one where you feel the suspense as you watch the number of fish go up from the other competitors. In Yonder, there is absolutely no competition. The quest giver calls it a “tournament” but there seems to be no other people to compete with. Even though Portia has a better fishing tourney, Yonder seems to have an easier fishing mechanic.
The most notable difference between the two games for me was the townsfolk. Portia comes to life with the range of people you meet and their personalities. Yonder’s characters seem to be a blank slate filled with opportunity for more story but they just don’t have it. You can also have relationships with the people in Portia and even get married!
Music in both games are another aspect that are quite similar. They are both relaxing and add to the feeling of the game. Nothing stands out too much.
Sounds in Yonder seemed to win me over rather than Portia. The reason being was just the volume. Sometimes in Portia you run into trees that have birds chirping extremely loud in your ear and the mixing just seems off a lot of the time. Even though I also experienced trees with loud birds in it in Yonder, this issue was not as bad.
The visuals between both Yonder and Portia are quite different. I have seen comments saying people prefer Yonder and other people prefer Portia. To each their own when it comes to the graphics between the two.
The only takeaway that I have here is that Portia has a sort of fog filter which makes distant views look more distant. I feel like this fog takes away from the graphics. (Side Note, there is a mod you can download to get rid of this fog!) I also feel like Yonder has a similar issue where night is too realistic and dark. I wish there was an option/mod to play only in daytime!
Customizing your character in both Portia and Yonder seem to be a little limited. However, where the customization excels is through the buildings that you’re able to put in your farms. Portia has much more customization than Yonder in this field but Yonder comes in with a close second.
Which game would I recommend to people? Both! My Time in Portia has a lot of depth when it comes to building up your workshop and relationships which makes for a more interactive game play experience. On the other hand, Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is a more laid back game about exploration and taking in the scenery. Depending on what you’re in the mood for, either of these games are fun and worth the time to play.
By clicking the title here, you can purchase your very own copy of My Time at Portia or Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles on the Nintendo Switch.
Dec 22, 2018News
It’s that time of year again! And with it comes yet another Steam Winter Sale.
With a huge variety of games on offer in the Steam Store (some which are extremely generously discounted), the festive season just got even better!
The sale lasts until January 3rd, giving gamers plenty of time to use up those Steam gift cards and spend Christmas cash.
Whilst there are so many games to choose from, here are our fifteen favourite games currently on offer:
My Time at Portia is an Early-access sandbox RPG game with farming, crafting, gathering and mining elements. It is currently available on Steam for just US$15.99.
Portal Knights is an award-winning 3D sandbox action-RPG game developed by Keen Games and Published by 505 Games. It is currently available on Steam for just US$7.99.
Undertale is a story-rich RPG by tobyfox with ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ reviews. It is currently available on Steam for just US$3.99.
Stardew Valley is a pixel-art-stylised village-life farming simulation game for multiple platforms. It is currently available on Steam for just US$11.24.
Celeste is a narrative-driven adventure platformer featuring pixel graphics.
It is currently available on Steam for just US$15.99.
RiME is an aesthetic adventure puzzle game featuring an enigmatic island for your washed-ashore character to explore. It is currently available on Steam for just US$9.89
Yooka-Laylee is an open-world action-adventure game developed by Playtonic. It is currently available on Steam for just US$11.99
Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is an open-world adventure game set in the Sprite-filled world of Gemea that is developed and published by Prideful Sloth. It is currently available on Steam for just US$14.99.
Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is an anime adventure RPG developed by Level-5 and published by BANDAI NAMCO. It is currently available on Steam for just US$29.99
Cat Quest is an open world, action adventure RPG set in a world of cats, developed by The Gentlebros. It is currently available on Steam for just US$5.19
The Gardens Between is a surrealist puzzle adventure game, developed and published by The Voxel Agents. It is currently available on Steam for just US$13.99
Cattails is a feline-themed simulation RPG game available that is developed and published by Falcon Entertainment. It is currently available on Steam for just US$11.99
Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time is a magic-themed action adventure RPG game from the Little Witch Academia series.
It is currently available on Steam for just US$15.99.
Moonlighter is a Pixel-art-stylised action adventure game with features including fighting, exploring, shopkeeping, and crafting.
It is currently available on Steam for just US$13.39
Overcooked is an arcade-style cookery game series where players can complete tasks such as chopping, cooking and washing dishes. Overcooked!, and its sequel Overcooked! 2 can be purchased as a bundle for just US$20.69 in the sale.
Dec 8, 2018Feature
Whether you’re looking for great games to give to a gamer this Christmas, titles to spend your Christmas money on, or simply want a reminder of the Switch games 2018 brought to us, look no further. Here are ten terrific Switch games from 2018.
Celeste is a narrative-driven adventure platformer featuring pixel graphics. The aim of the game is to help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain. with over 700 screens of platforming challenges and secrets, and over 2 hours of original music featuring live piano and catchy synth beats, it’s no surprise that the game was given a 92% rating by Metacritic upon its release for Switch back in January. At just £17.99, the game undoubtedly offers good value for money.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the latest addition to Nintendo’s popular Super Smash Bros. series. The Super Smash Bros. series is a collection of crossover fighting games which mainly feature characters from Nintendo’s own franchises. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has new fighters such as Isabelle from Animal Crossing and Inkling from Splatoon, as well as reoccurring favourites such as Yoshi and Pikachu. The game was released just yesterday, the 7th December 2018.
Get Smash Bros. Ultimate here.
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! are the two variations of RPG game Pokemon: Let’s go! The game was developed by Game Freak and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch console. Using a throwing motion with the Joy-Con or Poké Ball accessory, players can catch a variety of True-to-size Pokemon. Set in the diverse region of Kanto, use skill, timing and a well-placed Poké Ball to catch your favourite Pokemon. You can also connect your game to the Pokémon GO app to receive Kanto region Pokémon. Both versions were released on November 16th, 2018, and cost $59.99 to purchase.
Get Pokemon Let’s Go here.
Yonder is an open-world adventure game by Prideful Sloth that was initially released on July 18th 2017 for PS4 and Windows. Owing to its success, it was also released on the Switch eShop on May 17th 2018. With ‘Very Positive’ reviews on Steam, the game has been praised for its beautiful graphics and music, and the relaxing nature of the game-play. Whilst players can fish, farm, craft, and explore, the main aim of the game is to befriend and collect magical creatures (known as sprites), in order to banish the ‘Murk’ from the world of Gemea.
Get Yonder: The Cloud Catcher here.
Undertale is a story-rich RPG by tobyfox with ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ reviews. Described as ‘The RPG where you don’t have to destroy anyone’, Undertale is story-rich due to your character’s journey, and also due to player choices affecting the game. You play as a human child who has fallen underground into the realm of monsters and thus, tries to find their way home. You encounter both good monsters and bad along the way, which you can choose to spare or fight. There are a variety of puzzles to complete in order to progress, and a variety of interesting areas to explore.
Night in the Woods is an autumnal themed indie adventure game. Highly relatable to many, the game shows the crumbling former mining town of Possum Springs. After the protagonist, Mae Borowski drops out of college and returns to her hometown, she finds things as gloomy and hopeless as ever. But this time there’s something more. Strange and eery occurrences are happening. And there’s something in the woods. This charming game with beautiful music can be purchased for only £17.09 on the Switch eShop.
Little Dragons Cafe is a game from Rising Star Games, who are infamous for their Harvest Moon series. The story begins with a twin brother and sister running a small café with their mother. All was peaceful and routine until one morning the twins discovered that their mother fell into a deep sleep and wouldn’t wake up. Suddenly, an old wizard appears and tells the twins that their mother is gravely ill and that they must raise a dragon in order to save her. Working together with their three quirky staff members (waiter, waitress, and chef), the two siblings must raise a dragon and manage the family business while at the same time discover what is causing their mother’s illness and find a cure.
Get Little Dragons Cafe here. Check out the adorable limited collection here.
The critically acclaimed story-rich 2016 game Firewatch, is making its way to Switch later this month. Set to be released on the eShop on the 17th December 2018 in America, Europe, Australia and Japan, the game will cost $19.99 to purchase. It is unknown whether Firewatch will get a physical release. Firewatch is an award-winning atmospheric walking simulation adventure game developed by Campo Santo. Set in 1989, you play as a man who is a fire lookout in the Wyoming wilderness. Something strange leads you to explore the nearby forest, forcing you to make decisions that can both build and destroy relationships.
The First Tree is a 3D exploration game featuring beautiful graphics and 2 parallel stories. The indie adventure game was Developed and Published on Steam by David Wehle on the 14th November 2017, and has received very positive reviews. Earlier on this year, it was announced that the game would be coming to consoles later on in 2018. St to be released on November 30th, The First Tree: Console Edition will be available to download on Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One. The console price has not yet been announced, but the game is currently affordably priced at $7.99 on Steam.
Cattails is a feline-themed simulation RPG game available on Steam and Nintendo Switch. Originally developed and published by Falcon Entertainment for PC, Mac and Linux on December 1st 2017, the game has garnered very ‘paws-itive’ feedback since its release, subsequently leading to the game’s recent release on Switch. Through the eyes of a cat, Cattails allows players to hunt for food, interact with other cats, gather herbs and explore an expansive world. Kotaku have said that “Cattails looks like Stardew Valley, except cats.” and IGN have said that Cattails is “an adorably silly game, but one that’s also a lot of fun.”
Nov 14, 2018News
The publisher of My Time at Portia, Team 17, have released an all-new crafting trailer for the upcoming game.
My Time at Portia is an upcoming sandbox RPG game with farming, crafting, gathering and mining elements. Upon starting the game, players arrive in the charming town of Portia where they seek a fresh start. Upon inheriting your Pa’s run-down workshop, which contains only a Workbench and a Workshop Handbook, the aim is to make your workshop the best around.
Sharing similarities with games such as Yonder and Stardew Valley, the gameplay of My Time at Portia is definitely very crafting-orientated. However, the game also offers players the chance to interact with quirky characters, grow crops and raise animals, and uncover the secrets and mysteries of the post-apocalyptic Portia.
A popular Early Access version is currently available to play on Steam whilst we await the official version and console versions. Whilst an official release date for the game has not yet been announced, the crafting trailer could imply that the wait is almost over!
Oct 9, 2018News
The Soujorn is an upcoming indie adventure puzzle game developed by Shifting Tides and to be published by Iceberg Interactive. The game is set to be released at some point in 2019 and has been confirmed for PS4, Xbox One, and Steam.
Described as a “thought-provoking first-person puzzle game”, The Sojourn has players travel through a variety of parallel worlds of light and darkness in order to search for answers to the nature of reality.
Your player is born into a beautiful and pure land, but things are not what they seem. In the cracks and crevices lie s darkness. Open your eyes and discover the hidden truths of the shadows of the world.
Explore the beautiful world of The Sojourn and solve a myriad of interesting puzzles to overcome obstacles. With enchanting environments, delve into the game’s four chapters, which each have their own unique atmosphere and style.
The game can be added to your Steam wishlist here.
May 16, 2018News
For those with their head in the ‘clouds’, who have not yet played or heard of Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles, it is an aesthetic open-world adventure game. It was initially released for PC and PS4 on July 18th 2017. It will be released for Switch on 17th May 2018. The game can be purchased as a physical copy, or alternatively can be downloaded from the Nintendo eShop for a reasonable $26.99.
To any UK gamers, the game currently has a 10% discount and can be obtained for a reasonable £20.69 if pre-ordered today. You can pre-order it here. For players outside the UK, you can get the game on Amazon here.
Upon its release for PC last year, Yonder was praised for its beautiful graphics and amalgamation of different elements from popular game series’. It has been compared to Zelda, Harvest Moon, and Animal Crossing, as well as many other games.
Straight away I was able to see Zelda’s influence upon the game, with the beginning being suspiciously reminiscent of both Wind Waker and Breath of the Wild. (My boyfriend’s exact words upon watching my gameplay were “Oh look it’s Breath of The Wild!”). ????
A̶f̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶s̶p̶e̶n̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶h̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶c̶h̶a̶r̶a̶c̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶c̶u̶s̶t̶o̶m̶i̶s̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ you begin the game on a ship set sail for Gemea, a mysterious island full of Sprites, animals and Murk (that darn Murk!). Unfortunately, due to a disastrous combination of stormy weather and incompetent crew members, you arrive at Gemea via shipwreck (you had one job guys!????). Armed with a handy compass to (literally) light the way, you set off to explore the first part of Gemea. The Grasslands.
Similar to the game RiME, death in Yonder is apparently impossible. Jumping into deep water or off of cliff edges results in your character either re-spawning or whipping out an umbrella to float to safety?! So in this sense, in combination with no time constraints, no combat, and free reign to explore Gemea (aside from a few essential quests for story progression), the game is very relaxing and family-friendly.
Things I liked about the game ????
Things I disliked about the game ????
(Side note: Is it just me who thinks the cats look kinda creepy? With their vacant eyes and ability to stand like a human..)
Additionally, some cats can only be discovered during certain seasons. Therefore after collecting all 55, I reckon players should be rewarded with more than just a stinkin’ trophy. Maybe a cat (or six) of our own, because who needs 55 cats anyway..?! ????
Music and Cinematics ????
The game’s music and cinematics play a big part in making the game appealing. Beautiful mini cut scenes (such as when a player discovers a new area) as well as enchanting music, creates a soothing gaming experience and contributes to the game’s ‘Breath of The Wild’ feel. Even the little things have been thought of by developers. For example, the presence of pauses between music in order to lessen the likelihood of the player getting bored of the Soundtrack.
Relaxing, not taxing ????
Despite the murk casting a shadow over their homeland, the people of Gemea (mostly) remain welcoming, humble and charismatic.
This guy being an exception… With combat absent, the gameplay is calm, relaxing, and gentle, and focuses more on the player’s journey, as opposed to fixating on the destination.
Snow White’s 26 Sprites? ????
Finding Sprites is essential in Yonder in order to clear areas of Murk. Sprites can be found in many different locations, and each have their own unique personalities. They can range from forgetful, to grumpy, which kind of reminded me of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Although it can definitely be said that Gemea’s flittering inhabitants are a little more sprite-ly (heh) and helpful than their Disney counterparts.
Controls ????
The controls in the game are pretty straightforward, although players are given tutorials nonetheless.
Having Joy-Cons with joysticks makes the game more enjoyable and accessible for me personally. (Confession: I’m terrible at using WASD in PC games and will set the arrow keys as direction controls wherever possible). It is easy to use the compass (a useful tool) in the game by simply pressing the up arrow button (△) on the blue (left) Joy-Con.
I played the majority of the game in handheld mode, although graphics can definitely be appreciated more when the game is played on a larger screen.
Graphics ????
The graphics are hands-down the best aspect of the game for me. From twinkling sunsets over water, to luscious green breezy meadows, the varying utopia-esque landscapes are best described as eye-candy.
The attractive art-style is not dissimilar to My Time At Portia (MTAP). Both Yonder and MTAP are beautiful open-world RPG simulation games. They both allow players to craft items, manage a farm, and engage with a plethora of charismatic characters. They have also both earned a respectable 9/10 rating on Steam.
Bartering ????
Unlike many other games, Yonder utilises a bartering system. As opposed to just obtaining some of a currency and buying things, you barter with tradespeople instead. This is actually pretty useful as currency in games can sometimes be hard to accumulate.
Crafting ????
Some things can’t be purchased through bartering and will have to be crafted instead. An example being the Toy Cat (*whistles nonchalantly*). There are 8 different crafting classes (Guilds) in the game. Your character starts out as a Wayfarer, but can join different Guilds and become a:
Each class offers their own unique crafting recipes (not dissimilar to Level 5’s game Fantasy Life).
Farming ????
The game offers both crop and animal farming. Players can befriend exotic creatures such as the Groffle (by bribing them with their favourite foods). The creature will then follow the player. If lead to a farm with an animal pen, it can then be adopted.
You can also hire many characters in the game as farmhands (again, by bribing them with food). Farmhands will undertake a variety of tasks, and essentially help to keep your farm clean, tidy and running smoothly. Thus, maintaining its rating whilst you are away.
Exploration ????
There are eight different regions to explore in Yonder.
The Grasslands ???? – Grassy plains located in the center of Gemea
Crestfall Coast ???? – A coastal, temperate, tropical region
Dapplewood Forest ???? – A forest region crossed with creeks
Hearthwind Vale ???? – A region full of plateaus, valleys and swamps
Numino Peak ???? – A snow-covered mountain region
Radiant Sands ???? – A desert region
Sunderwind Wilds ???? – A prairie region
The Shivering Plains ❄ – A cold, snow-covered region
The different regions have their own unique climates, landscapes, characters, quests, guilds, wildlife and more.
Overall, I found Yonder to be an enigmatic game with lots of different features to keep players entertained. The variety of (sometimes kooky) quests, plethora of beautiful landscapes to explore, and the ability to farm, craft, mine etc, makes boredom unlikely, even for those with the shortest of attention spans.????
Whilst the vast landscapes may be overwhelming at first, you will become well acquainted with them over time. Having a large open-world isn’t necessarily a bad thing as it helps to make the game a little more challenging, as your compass doesn’t guide your character everywhere.
Put simply, if you are a fan of My Time At Portia, Stardew Valley or Fantasy Life, I would definitely recommend purchasing this game for Switch.
Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles will release on Nintendo Switch eShop May 17th, a physical version is set to release on June 12th, you can-pre-order it here.
Big thanks to Prideful Sloth for providing the review copy of Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles on Nintendo Switch.
May 4, 2018Feature
Whilst the majority of these games are admittedly ports from other systems, they will undoubtedly be welcome additions to any Switch owners’ game libraries. The games will also offer people the ability to play critically acclaimed games on an awesome system, and will essentially be a treat for those who have not yet played them.
Here’s our 5 favourite Switch games of May.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was released today! This means that you won’t have to wait to get your hands on this one. Initially released for the WiiU on Valentine’s Day 2014, this game is a highly anticipated Switch port. The game is a side-scrolling platform game, is the fifth instalment in the main Donkey Kong series, and is the sequel to the 2010 Wii game Donkey Kong Country Returns. Players journey through six different islands with Donkey Kong and his friends in an attempt to defeat the Snowmads. The game is available for purchase here.
Yonder is probably the Switch port we’re most excited for this month. Released for PS4 and Windows on July 18th 2017, it’s soon to be available on Switch as well. With ‘Very Positive’ reviews on Steam, the open-world adventure game has been praised for its beautiful graphics and music, and the relaxing nature of the game-play. Whilst players can fish, farm, craft, and explore, the main aim of the game is to befriend and collect magical creatures (known as sprites), in order to banish the ‘Murk’ from the world of Gemea. The game can be pre-ordered for Switch here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecq0l-b8zCk
Hyrule Warriors is a 2014 hack and slash action game that was initially released for the WiiU. Owing to its success, it was ported to Nintendo 3DS in 2016. Not yet done with the popular title, In January 2018, Nintendo revealed that the game was also to be ported to Switch under the name Hyrule Warriors: Definite Edition. The game will include all previous 3DS and WiiU DLC, as well as new costumes from Breath of the Wild. The game can be pre-prdered for Switch here.
Little Nightmares is a stop-motion-esque game, with an environment uncomfortably reminiscent of one’s childhood nightmares. The game is a puzzle-platformer horror adventure game that utilises imagery, empathy, and strange and bizarre encounters (as opposed to overused jump-scares) in order to evoke a sense of horror. With the PC version of the game garnering a score of 81/100, critics praised the game’s atmosphere, graphics and audio.
Runner3 is an upcoming rhythm platformer game set for release on Windows, Mac and Switch on May 22nd (with the possibility of a release on PS4 and Xbox later). Runner3 is the colourful and chaotic sequel to Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien, and is part of the Bit. Trip series. The game features notable characters such as CommanderVideo, Shovel Knight, Eddie Riggs, And Charles Martinet. The game will be available to download on the eShop, or can be purchased as a physical copy. Runner3 can be pre-ordered for Switch here, and on Steam (where it currently has a 15% discount) here.
What Nintendo Switch game are you most looking forward to this month? Let us know!