Dave Frear
Nintendo Life
Earth, TX, United States
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Past articles by Dave:
Mario Party 2 Review (N64)
This review originally went live in 2016, and we're updating and republishing it to mark the game's arrival in Switch's N64 library via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. Since 1998, the Mario Party series has entertained gamers by mixing the play of traditional board games with frantic minigame action. There have been a great many entries over the years but this is one of the most… → Read More
Wave Race 64 Review (N64)
This review originally went live in 2016, and we're updating and republishing it to mark the game's arrival on Switch as part of the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. Wave Race was not a well-known series prior to its arrival on the Nintendo 64. Actually, it wasn't a series at all, but rather a single release: a top-down racer on the Game Boy. With its 64-bit machine offering the… → Read More
Pokémon Snap Review (N64)
This review originally went live in 2016, and we're updating and republishing it to mark the game's arrival on Switch as part of the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. There are moments during Pokémon Snap where — upon finding a hidden path — the game ditches the first-person perspective to show your character looking on in amazement at the new discovery. Despite being a (relatively)… → Read More
F-Zero X Review (N64)
This review originally went live in 2016, and we're updating and republishing it to mark the release of F-Zero X on Switch, available as part of the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack N64 library. The original F-Zero on the Super Nintendo really blew gamers away with its stunning use of Mode 7 visuals, colourful graphics, infectious music and tough-but-fair difficulty curve. It was really the… → Read More
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Review (N64)
This review originally went live in 2016, and we're updating and republishing it to mark the release of Majora's Mask on Switch, available as part of the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack N64 library. The Zelda games have a lot of fans and there's also been plenty of opportunities over the years to revisit previous instalments in the series, and indeed The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask has… → Read More
EarthBound Review (SNES)
Mother! → Read More
Mario Kart 64 Review (N64)
This review originally went live in 2016, and we're updating and republishing it to mark the arrival of N64 games on Nintendo Switch Online. Taking a bunch of Mario characters and having them speed around race circuits using a range of special items to rush or smash past each other is something that has worked very well since the Mario Kart series began in 1992. The Mario Kart series are amongst… → Read More
Star Fox 64 Review (N64)
This review originally went live in 2016, and we're updating and republishing it to mark the arrival of N64 games on Nintendo Switch Online. Despite Star Fox 64 (or Lylat Wars in Europe) being only the second (released) game in the series, Nintendo decided it was time for a reboot and so, similarly to the SNES original, this Nintendo 64 title sees exiled scientist Andross causing trouble in the… → Read More
Review: Arcade Archives Sky Skipper (Switch eShop)
A forgotten gem? → Read More
Review: The Super Spy (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
When a factory full of terrorists is discovered by the CIA, they decide to send in a lone agent to put an end to their bomb-building plans. You might expect this person to be a highly skilled operative, able to move quickly and sink into the shadows with ease, or alternatively someone armed to the teeth to blast their way through the hordes. Langley have instead taken the unusual step of sending… → Read More
Samurai Shodown V Review (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
Simpler shodown? → Read More
Review: Gunbird 2 (Switch eShop)
A choice of characters and colourful, frantic shooting action across several stages is typical for the Psikyo titles that Zerodiv has been bringing to the eShop. In that regard, Gunbird 2 is more of the same, with a similar look and feel to the Strikers 1945 titles, Samurai Aces and (obviously) the first Gunbird. It should not be dismissed, however, as like those games it is a lot of fun and has… → Read More
Review: Pocket Rumble (Switch eShop)
In 1998, eight years after bringing authentic but expensive arcade thrills to the home with its Neo Geo AES, SNK entered the handheld market with the release of the Neo Geo Pocket. It was monochrome, but the Neo Geo Pocket Color quickly arrived the following year. Competing with the Game Boy line, the NGPC featured various genres of games and some notable names (Metal Slug, Sonic the Hedgehog),… → Read More
Review: The Last Blade 2 (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
There are lots of one-on-one fighters on Switch, many of which have been released as part of HAMSTER’s ACA Neo Geo series. The Last Blade 2 is another one, giving you a selection of fighters to pick from as you engage in a series of best of three-round fights en route to a showdown with an overpowered final big bad. It may not be filling a gap in the marketplace (and the excellent first game is… → Read More
Review: Arcade Archives Donkey Kong (Switch eShop)
Released in 1981, Donkey Kong was Nintendo’s first big arcade hit, featuring the debuts of the titular ape, Mario and future mayor of New Donk City, Pauline. Despite its popularity, Nintendo has favoured re-releasing the cutdown (with one stage missing) NES port of this classic platformer over the years, although Rare would include the arcade version within Donkey Kong 64. The involvement of… → Read More
Review: Real Bout Fatal Fury Special (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
With a name like Real Bout Fatal Fury Special you might think that the game is an update of something else from the series, much like how Fatal Fury Special was the second game with extra bits. This, however, is its own thing, but although it's not an update of either of the other Real Bout games (and Real Bout 2 actually followed this one), it is not a completely dissimilar experience. It is a… → Read More
Review: Samurai Shodown III (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
The Virtual Console might be dead, but via its Arcade Archives and ACA Neo Geo series, HAMSTER is doing a lot to scratch that retro gaming itch, with a constant stream of re-releases. Like a number of Neo Geo titles (including others from the same series) Samurai Shodown III is a one-on-one fighting game. As always you pick a character then battle it out against a series of opponents en route to… → Read More
Review: Arcade Archives Ninja-Kid (Switch eShop)
The online leaderboards that HAMSTER includes with their retro releases provide some replay value as you compare (then try to improve) your point-scoring against players from around the globe. They work better in some games than others and they work particular well with old arcade titles, where in lieu of an ending sequence to reach, scoring points is the only aim of the game. Well, assuming… → Read More
Review: Sengoku 3 (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
SNK’s first two Sengoku games put players in control of a sword-swinging hero, with the neat ability to switch to a different character during play should they wish. Coupled with a variety of enemies to bash they were not essential titles, but could still provide some decent fighting fun. The second game built on the first, but the third goes in a different direction. Arriving eight years after… → Read More
Review: Arcade Archives Moon Patrol (Switch eShop)
Irem’s Moon Patrol is a simple game across two auto-scrolling levels. Control is limited to adjusting the speed of your vehicle (forwards to accelerate, back to decelerate) as it trundles along the surprisingly colourful surface of the moon. There are two cannons that fire upon pressing this button (one vertical, one horizontal), but shots cannot be angled. It’s basic stuff, but it’s also a lot… → Read More