Butcher (2016)

Butcher does not revolutionize the side-scrolling genre for the 21st century. What it features in fun gameplay and good looking visuals it loses in terms of the repetitiveness of its levels and a lack of variety of the elements used. That being said, Butcher is still fun enough to give it a go and fans of side-scrollers are likely to enjoy some time around this game.

A game that many gamers would likely be able to find some enjoyment in, but only a certain type of player will likely be able to look past it's handful of faults, unapologetic difficulty, and esoteric aesthetic to fully enjoy it.

Butcher is a grotesque love-letter to older shooters with addictive gameplay, plenty of different difficulty settings and disturbing imagery. However, it doesn't have enough to offer as the content falls short leading to an incredibly unsatisfying conclusion.

BUTCHER is one of the better 2D shooters for the Nintendo Switch, and, undoubtedly, the goriest, despite its super-tiny pixel art style. The problem is that it hasn't really exploited its potential. As a result, while definitely a title worthy of your time, it means very few will continue playing after completion due to the low replayability.

Despite the collectable skulls that are so well hidden on each level, the gameplay is very straightforward and linear. There’s only a total of 20 stages with a sixth portal that conceals a final boss, making it a very short game overall, although its fair price point is well worth the content that it provides. It’s a game that can quite easily keep you satisfied for a weekend at least, or longer if you’re brave enough to face its highest difficulty. BUTCHER‘s Nintendo Switch release has arrived at a great time though, for it serves as a fine little appetiser to tide you over until the main course of DOOM is served.