Since we’re all going to be spending more time at home, I’ll be spotlighting movies, TV, music, and games that you haven’t heard of in order to fill those awkward silences with loved ones or even your own thoughts. Today, we’re talking about one of the most fun wait killers available on Nintendo Switch, Roundguard.
From Wonderbelly and Quantum Astrophysicists Guild, Roundguard is a bouncy mix of mages and goblins with the combat fun of shooting bubbles to match other bubbles. As you pick a path of randomly generated levels, you’ll fling one of three characters at placed enemies on your path. As you hit enemies you’ll bounce like a pinball all over the stage accumulating points and possible health boosts. Each character has their own unique characteristics. My Viking boy here does more attack damage than the wizard, but the wizard has the ability to chain lightning enemies on screen.
Roundguard requires strategy in your descent to encounter the scourge of Castle Springbottom (yep that’s its name). As you hit enemies you take damage, fall into the spikes you take damage, and certain foes have side effects to the blows they deal. The Dark Souls part of this game doesn’t allow you to start each new level with full health so keeping an eye on it and rationing with each launch is vital to your success.
Make no mistake, this is a game you’ll pick up and put down a lot. Its stop-and-go flow is perfect on Nintendo Switch. When I first loaded the game and went through the tutorial, it all seemed simplistic and cutesy to a detrimental level. Once the training wheels come off, Roundguard double dares you to beat it by beating you down in a way. I couldn’t get past the third dungeon. Only by paying attention to what it was trying to tell me of its different class characters, use of special attacks, and even the loot you earn that can be taken into your next game upon restarting a run; was I able to get closer to finishing a run to the bottom of the path.
As I waited for water to boil or put on background TV, nearly every time I wasn’t doing something for work at home, I found myself turning on my Switch and attempting a run of Roundguard even before I continued my progress in Animal Crossing NH.
Yes, this is an attempt at making a list of activities for social distancing. The game is only a single-player title, but with online leaderboards, you’ll be able to taunt and compete against the world. Hats off to whoever holds that #1 spot.
Roundguard is deceptively addicting in the best of ways. Right now, it’s a quality piece to software that’s truly all ages. Challenging enough to hold adult attention but with a pinball feel of risk-and-reward, that’s easy enough for children to try.
Roundguard is available now for Nintendo Switch and Xbox One. A PlayStation 4 version will be released soon. Check it out at
Xbox One Page: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/roundguard/9pb3fdwrwb9l
Nintendo Switch Page: https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/roundguard-switch/
