Author: Trafficblast

The original Nintendo Switch no longer feels like a proper portable device now that I’ve used the Switch Lite. This new slimmed-down version reminds me of the Game Boy Advance in look and feel, offering a cheaper and more attractive way to play the Switch’s incredible library on the go. Of course, it comes at the cost of a handful of features and some not insignificant functionality, the ability to dock and play on a TV chief among them. But while the Lite can’t actually “switch,” it certainly does the mode it’s stuck in well enough to satisfy anybody looking to replace their aging Nintendo 3DS.

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As American Horror Story slithers into its ninth season of “prestige schlock” – this time awesomely aping classic slasher flicks from the ’80s – heavyweight players Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters are gone (though no one’s ruling out cameos) and Emma Roberts, who started in “Coven,” is now the veteran series performer.

And it makes sense for Paulson and Peters to take a powder after this long, considering how last season’s “Apocalypse” tied together “Murder House” and “Coven” for one giant story that also required them to play multiple roles, as they revisited past parts. Their absence, plus an influx of new performers (including Matthew Morrison, Angelica Rossand, and actual Olympian Gus Kenworthy) and the infusion of retro-horror, make “Camp Redwood,” the 1984 season premiere, feel like a fresh turnaround.

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Atomic Heart has been a curious mystery since its out-of-nowhere unveiling last year. Since then we’ve been trying to figure out exactly what it is while also eager to see more.

Take a look at the brand-new trailer above, and browse through the original batch of screenshots below. The new trailer showcases a character-driven cutscene that is running in realtime on the in-game engine (i.e. nothing pre-rendered or fake; it’ll be in the game you end up playing).

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Creative Assembly’s Total War franchise has, in recent years, been split into two distinct camps: the mainline historical series, based on actual wars, and the fantastical Warhammer series, which allows CA’s designers to go a little more wild. That makes the developer’s next game, A Total War Saga: Troy, rather interesting, since it’s a historical entry based on a war that’s actually more myth than reality.

The Trojan War, which took place in the 13th century BC, is detailed almost solely in works of Greek historical literature and poetry, such as Homer’s great epics the Iliad and Odyssey. The gods are of great importance to the war, and one of its most important figures – Achilles – is a near-indestructible demi-god who can only be killed by being stabbed in the heel. This is not the traditional setting for a Total War game, yet Creative Assembly’s Sofia studio has gone all-in on the period.

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Control is heavily inspired by the Weird Fiction genre. So, it’s only right that the story of Control is less about answering questions and more so about asking them. And there are plenty of questions left unanswered, even after the credits roll (twice!).

Luckily, Remedy left us with at least some answers about its mysterious world, and plenty of tantalizing threads to dissect before Control’s story DLC expansions are released next year.

Spoilers ahead

Control’s Ending

At the center of Control’s story is Jesse Faden and her brother Dylan. Jesse’s search for Dylan led her to the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC) and the Oldest House. As it turns out, both of the Faden siblings were singled out as potential “directors” by the FBC following the destruction of their hometown of Ordinary before the events of Control.

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The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening was a quirky side-story on the handheld Game Boy when it was first released in 1993. More than a quarter-century later, Nintendo is rolling out the red carpet and making it a major release on its lead platform, the Nintendo Switch. The remastered version sports a new visual style, a revised control scheme, and a new dungeon-editing feature. But does the cult favorite Zelda game hold up?

The critical consensus seems to be that slight technical hiccups aside, the core of Link’s Awakening is as strong as ever, and improved by the Switch interface that allows you access to multiple tools without constant swapping. Response to the dungeon editor is more tepid, with many reviewers agreeing that it’s limited and uninspiring.

“Though the remake has a couple of blemishes, it’s still an easy game to recommend,” Peter Brown said in GameSpot’s Link’s Awakening review. “People speak of Link’s Awakening as the secret best Zelda game. That’s a tough call to make, but it’s definitely one of the best.”

Several other outlets have also published reviews for Link’s Awakening. We’ve gathered a range of them below to give a broader look from around the industry. For even more, check out GameSpot’s sister site Metacritic. If you’re thinking about picking it up, be sure to read up our Link’s Awakening pre-order guide.

• Game: The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch
• Developer: Nintendo
• Release date: September 20
• Price: $60 / £50 / $68 AUD

See Link’s Awakening at Amazon

GameSpot — 8/10

“If you haven’t touched a classic Zelda game in a while, Link’s Awakening will almost instantly transport you back to the ’90s. It’s simple, in many ways, but the orchestrated journey still conveys a sense of adventure, and this new version is without question the best way to experience it. And more than anything else, it will put a smile on your face. Remakes are a dime a dozen nowadays and often easy to overlook. Don’t make that mistake with Link’s Awakening.” — Peter Brown [Full review]

Forbes — 10/10

“Overall, this is a excellent remake of an already faultless Zelda game. If you never played the Game Boy original, then you absolutely need to pick this up. If, like me, you grew up playing this game, then there is a lot of new content to keep you busy. While Breath of the Wild was the game many bought their Switch for, Link’s Awakening has only reinforced that decision for me. So buckle up and let a friendly owl show you what Koholint Island has to offer.” — Ollie Barder [Full review]

US Gamer — 5/5

“The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening remake for the Switch improves most of the flaws from the original game while maintaining (or enhancing) everything that makes Link’s Game Boy adventure a classic. Its shiny new coat of paint suits it well, even if slowdown issues pop up from time to time. A few hours of play is all it takes to remind you why Zelda fans love Link’s Awakening so very much.” — Nadia Oxford [Full review]

Game Informer — 9/10

“This remake beautifully captures the essence of the Game Boy original while adding some quality-of-life upgrades to bring it up to contemporary standards.” — Jeff Cork [Full review]

Kotaku — Unscored

“You may recall that two years ago, Nintendo released The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, an all-time great that revitalized the iconic series. The company’s latest Zelda game is so radically different that they basically feel like different genres, but when taken together, they help explain what makes The Legend of Zelda so special. On one end of the spectrum, there’s the vastness of a polished, beautiful open world full of strange places to explore; on the other, there’s the density of an island packed with secrets. If the two games have one thing in common, and offer one reason to keep playing Zelda all these years later, it’s this: They both make it feel pretty damn incredible to swing a sword.” — Jason Schreier [Full review]

The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.

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