Review: Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Nintendo Switch)

Explore a variety of tricky sandbox-style levels inspired by Japanese box gardens called Hakoniwa in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker for Nintendo Switch.

Pros:

• Cutesy crisp HD graphics.
• 1.4GB Download size.
• Action puzzler platform gameplay.
• Opening tutorial.
• Amiibo support- Toad gives an invincibility star whilst others give you one or two extra lives. I managed to scan my collection in just fine with no limits.
• Touchscreen support.
• Camera settings- Invert axis, Tilt to look around.
• Easy to learn controls.
• Right stick can be used to rotate the level or the touchscreen.
• Can replay levels.
• Collectibles aplenty. Each level has 3 gems to find then have a bonus extra item to find which varies from level to level.
• Stamps- Show up on the level selection screen. One means you finished it with all collectibles then the second one is that you did the bonus mini-game.
• Levels show the date you played it, Collectibles collected and best coin run.
• Pixel Toad- Bonus mini-game where you replay a completed level and must find Pixel toad and tap/click on him to complete it. Nice little addition.
• Level selection is presented as a book.
• Classic catchy Nintendo soundtrack.
• Supports two players local co-op with Joycon sharing.
• Approachable and easy to learn.
• Satisfying game.
• Clever and varied level design.
• Touchscreen/click button interactions within levels like platforms.
• Supports Pro controller.
• Pick up plants for coins.mushrooms/items. Nice nod to Super Mario Bros 2.
• Colorful locations.
• New levels not seen in the Wii U version as levels from Super Mario Odyssey make an appearance and look amazing.
• Great time waster.
• Suits the switch well especially in handheld mode.
• Boss battles.
• Co-op play- One plays as Toad as usual whilst the other one can tap/click enemies to stun them or move them, fire turrets and more.
• Levels just look so cutesy and minimal but give such an in-depth challenge.
• You can see yourself through walls.
• Many ways to finish a level.
• Some levels have special requirements in order to get 100% completion.

Cons:

• No level restart option.
• The slight learning curve as you take everything in.
• Camera angles are not always great.
• Hide and seek mini game Pixel Toad feels a bit needless.
• No timer in game.
• Toad cannot jump, This bugs me.
• The tutorial has no icons or prompts.
• Multiplayer is fine when playing with kids but lacks any real engagement for a couple of gamers.
• Annoying target system that shows itself when playing with the controller. It stays on screen all the time and is a real eyesore.
• Once you have done all the levels there is little desire to go back.