Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Critics have mostly landed in the middle on Ultracore. On Metacritic’s Nintendo Switch critic page, the game holds a 65 Metascore from nine critic reviews: two positive, seven mixed, and none negative. Reviewers consistently admire its pixel art, soundtrack, and old-school action and the novelty of a long-shelved project finally reaching players. They also say its dated controls, trial-and-error deaths, and lack of a save feature can wear down the fun. Read the score as a Switch-specific reading of a split, not a verdict that applies to every version.
What the aggregate actually measures
The number most people will see is the Metascore on the Nintendo Switch critic-review page at Metacritic. It is an average of nine critic reviews for the Switch release, and the breakdown is what makes it useful:
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - US Version | $52.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.83 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe - US Version | $52.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Nintendo Switch Lite - Turquoise | $229.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Asylum - Nintendo Switch | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Metacritic measure (Nintendo Switch page) | Value |
|---|---|
| Metascore | 65 |
| Number of critic reviews | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 2 (22%) |
| Mixed reviews | 7 (78%) |
| Negative reviews | 0 (0%) |
A 65 from a sample of nine reviews, with no negative verdicts, means the critics were not hostile; most of them were qualified. The score is a measure of critic sentiment on that one platform, and it reflects the review count at the time Metacritic recorded it. It is not a sales figure, a player-preference survey, or a hands-on test. Metacritic’s page lists the game on several other platforms, including PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X, but the 65 is tied to the Switch critic set, so do not carry it over to those versions.
Release facts and attribution
- Initial release date on Metacritic: June 23, 2020.
- Publisher listed by Metacritic: ININ Games.
- Genre and format: Metacritic categorizes Ultracore as a 2D platformer. Critic excerpts describe it as a sidescrolling retro action game with run-and-gun elements.
- Developer credit: Metacritic is inconsistent. Its details-page description says the game was developed by Digital Illusions, while its overview names Strictly Limited Games as developer. Until an official publisher or developer source settles it, treat the developer credit as unresolved.
- Canceled-project history: Several critics frame the game as a project that was once canceled and later released. The critic excerpts available for this review do not establish when the cancellation happened, so the history should be read as reviewers’ framing rather than a documented timeline.
Individual reviewer names were not available in the excerpts used here, so the critic points below are attributed to the publications that ran them. Full reviews from those outlets are the place to check exact wording.
#1 Best Overall
- New stages and fighters are joined by the combined rosters of every past Super Smash Bros. Game
- Challenge others anytime, anywhere, whether you're on the couch or on the go
- Play any way you want—locally, online, in TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, or even with GameCube Controllers
- Fight faster and smarter with new and returning techniques, like the perfect shield and directional air dodge
- Face off in 2-4 player battles, or play against the computer
What critics praise
Retro charm and presentation
The most consistent positive theme is atmosphere. Critics describe the pixel art and soundtrack as the part of the game that most clearly evokes its 1990s-style inspiration, and several treat that look as the main reason to play.
Solid action
Nintendo Life praised the game’s historical interest and its solid retro action. GameGrin called it enjoyable and well presented. Action is the element reviewers return to most when they explain why they kept playing despite their complaints.
Historical interest
Video Chums framed the release positively as a game that escaped cancellation. For many readers, that is the hook: Ultracore matters less as a modern recommendation than as a recovered artifact of old-school action design.
Rank #2
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
What critics fault
Dated and quirky controls
GameGrin described the control as quirky and potentially unfair. Critics who raised control issues tended to frame them as conventions from an earlier era rather than as simple bugs, which is why they matter to the overall score.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Trial-and-error difficulty and perceived unfairness
Several reviews say that difficulty depends on repeated deaths and memorization rather than on skill that builds gradually. GameGrin’s concern about unfairness sits in this group.
No save feature
Nintendo Life faulted the lack of saving. For a game whose difficulty reviewers describe as punishing, that absence compounds the trial-and-error problem: a failed run costs more time than it would in a game with checkpoints or saves.
Rank #3
- A variety of playable characters are available, some with unique attributes that affect gameplay and platforming physics.
- Younger and less-experienced players will love playing as Toadette, who is brand new to both games, and Nabbit, who was formerly only playable in New Super Luigi U. Both characters offer extra assistance during play.
- Multiplayer sessions are even more fun, frantic, and exciting thanks to entertaining character interactions. Need a boost? Try jumping off a teammate’s head or getting a teammate to throw you.
- Features a wealth of help features, like a Hints gallery, reference videos, and a Super Guide in New Super Mario Bros. U that can complete levels for you if they’re giving you trouble.
- Three additional modes—Boost Rush, Challenges, and Coin Battle—mix up gameplay and add replayability, while also upping the difficulty for players who want to try something harder. Players can use their Mii characters in these modes.
Repetition and unclear feedback
Other reviews raise repetitive sections, and a smaller number note flaws in how the game communicates feedback and labels items. These points are less frequent than the control and difficulty complaints, but they show up in the same reviews that praise the game’s style.
The central split: retro authenticity versus modern convenience
Most critic disagreement comes down to one question: is a dated design a feature or a defect? Reviewers who praise Ultracore treat its 1990s conventions, its atmosphere, and its unforgiving structure as the point of the revival. Reviewers who fault it measure it against current expectations for saving, forgiving difficulty, and clear feedback. Neither side is wrong about what the game does; they disagree about what it should be judged against.
| Axis | Strength critics cite | Friction critics cite |
|---|---|---|
| Retro authenticity vs. modern convenience | Old-school conventions and atmosphere | No save feature and few quality-of-life options |
| Action and presentation vs. friction | Pixel art, soundtrack, and solid action | Quirky controls, unclear feedback, repetitive sections, punishing deaths |
Is Ultracore worth playing?
The critic consensus points to a clear fit. You are more likely to enjoy Ultracore if you:
Rank #4
- Compact, lightweight handheld system
- Available in a range of fun colors
- Online and local wireless multiplayer
- Nintendo Switch is the home of Mario & friends
- Want a sidescrolling run-and-gun game with a retro look and sound.
- Are interested in a game that was once canceled and later released.
- Are comfortable with trial-and-error deaths and do not need saves to feel fair.
- Can tolerate control quirks in exchange for solid action.
You are more likely to bounce off it if you expect modern checkpoints or saves, forgiving difficulty, or tightly polished controls. Reviewers did not describe the game as broken, but they did describe it as demanding in ways that current players may not expect.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Buying note
If you plan to buy a physical copy, confirm the edition, the market, and current stock before purchasing. The critic sources used here do not establish physical-edition specifications, and current retailer availability was not verified. Check the publisher or a retailer listing directly for those details.
These critic points also apply to the Switch version only in the sense of the review sample. Reviews for the other listed platforms may differ, so check their individual critic pages on Metacritic before drawing conclusions about those releases.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteBest Value
- A chilling journey into the dark mind: Explore the Hanwell Mental Institute and uncover its dark past.
- Experience a mind-bending original storyline as recurring hallucinations blur the line between memory and reality.
- Investigate a detailed, decrepit asylum through point-and-click adventure gameplay.
- Solve evocative challenges that reward wit and observation.
- Enter an engrossing atmosphere with a memorable soundtrack inspired by 1980s horror films and John Carpenter.
Hands-on performance, save behavior, and current pricing are outside the scope of this roundup.
A note on sourcing: Metacritic and the outlets named above are secondary sources. For the most accurate detail on controls, difficulty, and the save issue, read the full reviews, which explain the reasoning behind each complaint.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
