Review: Grounded (Switch) – Obsidian’s Shrunk-Down Survival Adventure Struggles On Switch

Does this port come up short?

Listen, if you’re of a certain vintage, one of the standout summer holiday movies of your youth will undoubtedly have been Disney’s excellent Honey, I Shrunk The Kids. Back in those terrible and endlessly cruel times we didn’t have all your fancy CGI smothering the life out of every frame, you see, or superheroes like…er…any of those weird Chris guys to entertain us. No, instead we had to make do with amazing practical effects that added texture and believability to everything, and comedic geniuses like Rick Moranis in lead roles so we were guaranteed a certain level of fun.

Yes, for us old fogies, the reveal trailer drop for Obsidian’s Grounded was a very exciting time indeed. Heart monitors were double-checked and pants were quickly changed as we were shown what looked to be a Honey I Shrunk The Kids simulator disguised as a very cool survival game. And really, having spent hours playing the Xbox version over the past year or so, we can confirm that’s exactly what you’ve got here — an incredibly immersive and atmospheric game that drops you (and up to three pals in online co-op) into a backyard full of secrets, stories, and great big bleddy spiders. There are filters for arachnophobes, do not panic.

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Random: This Switch Dock Prototype Moves Arcade Racers Up A Gear

Broom broom.

The Switch is no stranger to an arcade racer or two. While it’s all well and good playing these with a standard Joy-Con or Pro Controller set-up, this latest dock prototype from Far East Pinball has left us firmly of the belief that the likes of Out Run should be played no other way.

Is it a pure novelty? Maybe. But the independent manufacturer’s arcade-inspired add-on at least appears to be the most authentic way of capturing that driving cabinet feel from the comfort of your own home (albeit on a much smaller scale).

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Embracer Group To Split Into Three Separate Companies

Sullied name.

Embracer Group has announced its intention to split the company into three separate entities going forward in what seems to be a drastic attempt to streamline its operations and rebuild its reputation after months of downsizing and layoffs.

Announced via the official website (thanks, VGC), the company confirmed that each entity will be listed on Nasdasq Stockholm and will be called ‘Asmodee’, ‘Coffee Stain & Friends’, and ‘Middle-earth Enterprises & Friends’.

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Lara Croft’s Pinup Posters Go Missing In Tomb Raider I-III Remastered

Following last week’s second major patch.

Last week, Aspyr released the second major update for Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, and while it’s added a new outfit, it’s also supposedly removed some content according to multiple player reports.

Although there does not appear to be any mention of this in the latest patch notes, Tomb Raider fans on social media and elsewhere have highlighted how “Lara’s pinup” posters in the fourth level of Tomb Raider III (titled ‘Sleeping with the Fishes‘) have now disappeared from the first room of this level. Unsurprisingly, there’s been a mixed reaction to this discovery online.

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Feature: Can We Track Down Every Cart In Our Top 50 Game Boy List In One Week?

Collection Quest GB.

The Game Boy turns 35 years old on 21st April 2024, and we’ll be running several features over the next few days celebrating the system and its games.

Today, George goes on an epic quest to see if he can acquire the 50 finest GB games — as ranked by you — in physical form with just 100 pounds sterling in his pocket…

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The Witcher’s Netflix Series Announces “Fifth And Final Season”

Liam Hemsworth replaces Henry Cavill in Season 4.

Ahead of production of The Witcher Season 4 starring Liam Hemsworth, Netflix’s news website Tudum has officially announced Season 5 will be the “final” season.

These seasons will be shot “back-to-back” and will adapt Andrzej Sapkowski’s three remaining books: Baptism of Fire, The Tower of the Swallow, and Lady of the Lake. As previously confirmed, Hemsworth is replacing Henry Cavill as the lead character Geralt after Cavill announced his departure in 2022. Laurence Fishburne (John Wick, The Matrix) will also be joining the cast.

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Sonic X Shadow Generations Has Been Rated In South Korea

It was announced for Switch in February.

It’s the “Year of Shadow”, and with this in mind, the upcoming release Sonic X Shadow Generations has now been rated.

As highlighted by Eurogamer, a rating for the title was published in South Korea yesterday. It doesn’t reveal much else other than it’s an “action” game and is suitable for “all” users. At the very least, it’s a sign the remaster is still on track for its Q3 2024 release.

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Strayed Lights Is Getting A Physical Switch Release, Pre-Orders Open Soon

Another ‘Limited Run’ game.

One game we were genuinely surprised with when it rolled out on the Switch eShop last year was the immersive action-adventure Strayed Lights.

In our review here on Nintendo Life, we mentioned how the combat was unique and accessible (even if it did get a little repetitive at times) and noted how the story was told in a subtle, heartfelt way. There were some other setbacks tied to performance but overall it was a fun game.

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