While the Getting's Good

 Lately I've been having my share of problems since coming home from the hospital.  Though it helps to already have the means to entertain myself, I've just got some new games that I couldn't wait to jump on.  It starts with the PS Vita, now back in my big, sweaty hands.

Ragnorok Odyssey ACE

Having backlogs in my backlog, I meant to buy this Monster Hunter clone once I had another Vita (or rather, another proprietary memory card) in hand.  With online servers to other games shutting down, however, I bought my copy of ACE for online help in clearing some of the tougher levels while it's available.

An expansion of the original Ragnarok Odyssey, you're the newest member of a guild of mercenaries tasked with protecting the kingdom of So-Far-Away from monster attacks.

The first few missions have you hunting down small fry, like the living slime from Dragon Quest.

But eventually, you come face-to-face with your first big boy.

One of the more colorful and vibrant hunting RPG's in my collection, ACE also adds enough DLC to fill a Vita card, including collabs with such games as Soul Sacrifice, Gravity Rush and AKIBA'S TRIP.  But whether for a lack of memory or players, I didn't get to try out the online mode, though one could simply hire NPC's to get the job done.  With that said, it was time to 'switch' things up a bit.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Switch)

The latest free trial from Nintendo's online service, my first outing with Captain Toad didn't exactly blow me away, from what little I remember from playing the demo.  Maybe that's my reason for trying out the game a second time.  That and the digital version was being sold at a discount.

In this puzzle-platformer, after a giant bird abducts Toadette . . .

Toad, our hero, uses a rotating camera to navigate several dozen maze-like levels and reach the star at the end.

Each more challenging . . .

And gimmicky than the last.

While Nintendo inspires players to find their way to play, I could tell right away that this wasn't my way.  So on to my next game . . .

Turbo Shot (Switch)

I've just downloaded Turbo Shot and started playing while waiting in the doctor's office.  In this free-to-play overhead shooter, a brother/sister team (above) exploring a remote planet fights to save its wildlife from a mad scientist.

After choosing between the siblings, the player acquires power-ups that last till the end of the level.

As the player levels up and wins more in-game currency, they can equip themselves with permanent boosts.  Of course this being free-to-play, using real money to speed things up is also an option.

Besides the main story, PvP battles and periodical events are also available.

SNK vs Capcom: Card Fighters' Clash (Switch)

Besides developing the highly anticipated King of Fighters XV, SNK has been shadow-dropping games for its short-lived NeoGeo Pocket Color system on the eShop (and Steam).  Of course for a lover of handheld gaming, this was a big deal.  Especially for one who completely missed out on the NGPC.  So I've snatched up each title on Day 1 (or 2) but, oddly enough, never got around to playing them.  Even weirder, this is not only the first NGPC game I'm playing but also the first digital card game I'm playing (besides Solitaire).

Meant to copy the success of Pokemon, Card Fighters' Clash not only brings together characters from SNK and Capcom's respective brands, but has also released 2 different versions of the game, both needed to collect all 300 available cards.  Unlike Pokemon, however, both versions are included on the Switch port.

All NGPC games are displayed in the resolution of the original hardware.  But you can also zoom in for a 'full-screen' experience.  NeoGeo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1, a collection of the games released so far, has more display options.  But as long as they're releasing each title separately, it's a minor inconvenience.

Playing against the computer, every card drawn is a chance to boost your other cards, attack and counterattack your opponent.

When cards clash, either the weaker card loses or, if equal in power, both cards cancel each other out.

If a card isn't countered, it directly attacks the player's life points.  If their life points run out, it's Game Over.

And that about does it.  Maybe next time I'll finally lay off the games put some time into some Gunpla or reading or something.  Be there as I slowly but surely make my way to the Top of the Heap.