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  1. This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch Battle Chasers: Nightwar – Battle Chasers: Nightwar is an RPG inspired by the console genre greats, featuring deep dungeon diving and turn-based combat presented in classic JRPG format, and a rich story driven by exploration of the world. Build your adventuring party by choosing three of six available heroes from the famed Battle Chasers comic series, each with unique abilities, perks, items and dungeon skills. Battle Chasers: Nightwar is available on May 15. Garage – Garage is a shooter in the style of an ’80s B-movie. Explore every dark corner of an underground parking garage and discover a passageway to a supernatural world that has never seen the light of day. Find new weapons and master them to survive. Solve the mystery of this cursed place and the creatures that inhabit it. ARMS – Demo Version – Fighting superstars from around the world share one thing in common: extendable arms! Fight as never before with this free demo. Pick from a selection of characters equipped with super-powered arms, and use simple motion or button controls to dish out highly strategic beatdowns in select stages of the single-player campaign or even in one-on-one matches. Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux – In the Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux game, you play as a brave United Nations soldier investigating a spatial anomaly called the Schwarzwelt – a dome of dark energy that threatens to consume the world. Inside, you’ll find it home to a nightmare mirror of our own Earth, populated with demons dying to meet you. Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux is available May 15. Dillon’s Dead-Heat Breakers – Demo Version – As a team, defend a post-apocalyptic Wild West from an invasion of transforming rock monsters with Dillon the armadillo and his squirrel engineer, Russ. You can even put yourself in the game and battle alongside Dillon and Russ as an animal version of your Mii character. Recruit hired gunners to back you up in battle, and then roll into fights and high-speed chases to take down waves of enemies as Dillon, the “Red Flash” himself! Nintendo eShop sales: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS and Wii U Great deals this week! Check out the full list of deals available this week at http://www.nintendo.com/games/sales-and-deals. Activities: Earn My Nintendo Platinum Points with Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze – My Nintendo members can earn 100 Platinum Points by finding the hidden K-O-N-G letters on the game website. In addition, members can also redeem their points for new Donkey Kong digital wallpapers for their PC or mobile devices. Check out My Nintendo news for more information. Nintendo Labo Creators Contest for Best Decorated Toy-Con ends soon—enter today! – Make, play, and discover with Nintendo Labo! Create your masterpiece using a Nintendo Labo kit and a Nintendo Switch system, then post a video or picture of your creation to the My Nintendo – Nintendo Labo Creators Contest site for a chance to win some great prizes.* The “Best Decorated Toy-Con” contest ends on 10:59 a.m. PT on May 11, so act fast! Are you curious about what other My Nintendo members have made so far? Check out them out here, and be sure to click the “Like” button for your favorite creations! Fire Emblem Heroes Version 2.5.0 Update – The new update to the Fire Emblem Heroes mobile game adds many new features, including updates to the Arena, tutorial improvements and new Heroes. Check out all the details about everything included in the new update here. Also new this week: ACA NEOGEO SUPER SIDEKICKS 2 (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Arcade Archives TERRA CRESTA (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Hyper Sentinel (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 11 Immortal Redneck (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) InkSplosion (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 11 L.F.O. -Lost Future Omega- (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) One More Dungeon – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 14 ONE PIECE Pirate Warriors 3 Deluxe Edition (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Splitter Critters (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 15 Suicide Guy (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Super Chariot (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) The Adventures of Elena Temple (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 15 The Fall (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) The Mystery of the Hudson Case (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 14 Three Fourths Home: Extended Edition (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Wizard of Legend (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 15 UP UP BOT (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)
  2. Garage, from developer Zombie Dynamics and publisher tinyBuild Games takes its cues from VHS era B-movies: zombies and monsters created by a mad scientist, and lots of bloody action as you kill hordes of undead. This top-down shooter definitely scratches an itch for a bit of visceral zombie-killing action, but ultimately doesn't do anything particularly new or novel with the genre. Instead the main thing that stands out in Garage is the high difficulty level for the wrong reasons. You play as an ex-drug dealer named Butch; as the game begins you wake up in the trunk of a car and bust out only to discover complete chaos. There isn't anyone in sight until you stumble upon your first zombie enemy. The mystery of the situation sets up a decent bit of intrigue, and as the game progresses you'll gradually piece together details about the zombie apocalypse and Butch's backstory. It seems like the B-movie influence also means that the writing isn't well fleshed out though, and not in a fun, campy way, more of a generic uninteresting way. Even with a small cast of characters there just isn't much development to keep you engaged. The game does end with a decent little twist at least, but it just feels like setup for a sequel. Garage is a top-down, twin-sticks shooter: move with the left stick, aim with the right, and blow away every undead monster you come across. The game provides the standard selection of zombie-killing weapons: pistol, shotgun, rifle, even a fire ax. There's definitely something satisfying about landing a solid headshot and dropping one zombie after another, especially when you're on your last bullet and won't have time to reload. If nothing else Garage offers plenty of these intense, hair-raising moments when you breathe a sigh of relief as the final enemy falls. What makes Garage frustrating is that it feels like the difficulty comes from clumsy controls or just plain strange game mechanics. First and foremost: you can't see enemies at a distance if they are behind a corner or in another room. That sort of makes sense, especially not seeing enemies in a room you haven't entered yet, but it becomes insanely annoying because of how easily zombies swarm over you and how easily enemies with guns home in on you—clearly they can see you no matter where you're hiding. The most ridiculous instance of this has to be when you are required to stealthily move around armed guards but you can't see them until you're near by. Enemies with guns are by far the most frustrating aspect of Garage because of their preternatural ability to hit you from any distance. The best strategy is to just be ridiculously careful by peeking out of cover to land one shot then dodging away again. It's not a fun system, especially when the rest of the gameplay is geared toward fast-paced, up-close combat. A big part of that is also just down to the controls which can make it hard to aim precisely—which seems counter-intuitive to a twin-stick shooter. But when armed enemies can snipe you from so far away and undead enemies rush you it's pretty hard to land consistent shots. Thankfully you can dodge roll away from zombies at least, though there's a hidden stamina bar that prevents you from rolling constantly. Shockingly one of the more difficult enemies in the game is the simple rat, one of the first enemies you face. They're small targets so they're hard to shoot, but melee attacks, for some reason, have a very narrow range of effect, so it's incredibly easy to miss a small target. Garage throws a lot of hazards at you and many of them are pretty difficult to deal with given the game's controls and line of sight system. Continuing the B-movie influence, Garage literally looks like it is played on an old VHS. Granted, a top-down viewpoint doesn't lend itself to an incredible amount of depth or variety, especially with a pixelated art style, but Garage still feels a bit bland, visually. The horror setting doesn't help either—dark corridors are great for making you nervous about what is up ahead, but they also make every area of the game kind of feel the same. And although the music can be energetic at times mostly it comes off as forgettable background noise. The game takes a seven or eight hours to complete—assuming you don't get stuck retrying sections of the game over and over. It's a decent length for what the game is but Garage offers few replay incentives. There are different difficulty levels and there are hidden reports you can find that flesh out the story a little more but they're pretty minor additions. If you make it through the game you probably wouldn't be compelled to do it all again just to see a few extra lines of text. Garage offers the basics of a top-down zombie shooter but little other depth to make the experience feel unique. There will always be something fun about blasting away undead monsters but too much of Garage is overshadowed by the frequently frustrating moments of unfair difficulty that tend to grind the gameplay to a halt as you carefully inch your way through these tedious sections. Ultimately those annoying moments stand out far more than any fun or thrilling moments of zombie killing. Rating: 5 out of 10 Zombies Review copy provided by publisher Garage will be available on the Switch eShop on May 10th for $14.99.
  3. This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze – Barrel blast into a critically acclaimed Donkey Kong adventure as this beloved franchise makes its Nintendo Switch debut with a (banana) bunch of new features. Traverse islands packed with platforming perfection and nonstop action as the classic Kongs in the original game, or mix things up by playing the story as Funky Kong in new Funky Mode for a more approachable experience for players of all ages and skill levels. The Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze game will be available on May 4. Nihilumbra – Discover the beautiful world of Nihilumbra and join Born on his adventure to find himself whilst trying to escape from his inevitable curse. Born was created from absolute nothingness: The Void. But somehow, he separates himself from the black emptiness and appears in the world. This begins his long odyssey, during which he will learn how to use the colors around him to gain powerful abilities and transform the world. Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition – Save the day as belly dancing half-genie Shantae, conquer Sequin Land as the evil Risky Boots in “Pirate Queen’s Quest” and swap between Sky, Bolo and Rottytops in “Friends to the End!” Use multiple abilities while in different forms: wall jump as Ninja Shantae, soak up sun as Beach Shantae and serve justice as Officer Shantae. The Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition game will be available on May 8. Nintendo eShop sales: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS and Wii U Great deals this week! Check out the full list of deals available this week at http://www.nintendo.com/games/sales-and-deals. Activities: Too Cool for Hyrule: May My Nintendo Rewards – May is a special month for The Legend of Zelda fans! The Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition game for the Nintendo Switch system launches on May 18. To celebrate the game’s launch, My Nintendo is offering the Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask: Dire Moon Nintendo 3DS HOME Menu theme. You can redeem your My Nintendo points up to five times to receive up to five codes for the theme. Don’t forget to redeem your points for a wallpaper and a May calendar featuring the Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition game. Enjoy the month of May with great discounts on select games in the Legend of Zelda series. For more info, visit https://my.nintendo.com/news/e5335141c5d8c4dd. Also new this week: Aegis Defenders – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Animal Super Squad (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Cast of the Seven Godsends (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Don’t Die, Mr Robot! (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Japanese Mah-jongg (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Johnny Turbo’s Arcade: Sly Spy (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Midnight Deluxe – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 4 NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 2 (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 3 Full Burst (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Storm Trilogy (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Perfect Angle (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Portal Knights – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 7 Professional Construction – The Simulation (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Raging Justice (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 8 SKYPEACE (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Timberman VS (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Rainbow Snake (Nintendo eShop on Wii U) 3D Retro Dungeon Puzzle Challenge (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)
  4. You've journeyed far from your homeland, defeated one monster after another and overcame countless obstacles to reach the final boss…now if only you could remember why you're here. The Longest 5 Minutes takes place entirely in the last five minutes of an RPG when, during the final battle with the Demon Lord, the hero loses his memories and is unable to fight. In these precious five minutes he has to remember all of the details of his journey in order to battle effectively. The Longest 5 Minutes gets high marks for originality, but its RPG label might be a bit misleading since the RPG elements are the weakest aspect of the game. As you remember more and more details of your journey you actually play through the events, so essentially the bulk of the game happens as a flashback that jumps from one key moment of the quest to another. Can you think of a more original premise for a game's story? It's like the Memento of video games. There are cute characters and plenty of funny dialogue—in fact there is a ton of dialogue, even by RPG standards—so it's worth taking the time to engage with every NPC and really explore the game. However, The Longest 5 Minutes really does rely upon some tired story tropes, even outside of the protagonist with amnesia. The characters are still likeable enough but don't expect anything you haven't seen dozens of times before. As you remember more details about your quest you'll keep jumping back in time. It's mostly linear—your first memory is the start of the quest—but there are times when you'll bounce around the timeline as well. It's a really neat concept for a game but it comes at the expense of the RPG gameplay. The game offers a sort of disclaimer that your precise memories might be a little off which is why you start each memory with a different level or different equipment, but in practice this is eliminating two key aspects of RPGs. There are even times when you start a new memory that picks up immediately where the previous memory left off but you have different equipment—so what's the point of even buying items from a store, or seeking out treasure chests? It's hard to feel engaged by the gameplay when you know that basically nothing you do matters in the long run. Maybe, since the developers knew that this constant rearrangement of stats and equipment would wreck havoc with the game's difficulty curve, they purposely made the game absurdly easy. The Longest 5 Minutes gives you a full four character party with physical attackers and magic users, but all you need to do is use physical attacks on every single enemy. That's it—and maybe heal occasionally during boss fights. There is zero strategy or depth to the combat here, and normal battles quickly become mind-numbing. To be fair is it possible to raise levels that carry over between memories but the stat gains you get from this are so small that you might as well just use Repel to avoid random encounters entirely. They just end up feeling like a waste of time. At the very least The Longest 5 Minutes features a decent amount of variety in the locations you visit and the obstacles you face. In fact, it kind of feels like the game just covers familiar RPG tropes to populate the game—there's a casino, a prison sequence where you lose your equipment and have to explore to get it back, etc. It almost feels like the game just relies upon popular themes and situations to fill out the game, and it lends credence to the idea that this isn't really an RPG at all. It's more of a visual novel presented in the guise of an RPG. The final battle with the Demon Lord even plays like a visual novel, with tons of text and quick decisions to make throughout the battle. It might have made more sense for the game to fully embrace the visual novel aspects instead of relying on poor imitations of RPG gameplay. The pixel art graphics also seem like a relic of classic RPGs, and although the game doesn't do anything particularly unique or noteworthy with the art style it still has its charms. The huge zoomed in pixels can be a bit much to look at sometimes, though. The music is also decent, and perhaps does the best job of capturing the feel of a classic RPG. It's pretty catchy in parts, and even if the gameplay isn't up to snuff the music at least has those epic moments of exploration and combat tunes. Obviously the game's title doesn't mean the game is only five minutes long—in fact it lasts a good eight hours or so, with a few additional features that can stretch it out a little more. For one thing, most memories have bonus objectives, or side quests. Oftentimes they are simply a matter of talking with all of the NPCs around you and completing some small task. You'll be rewarded with extra experience points but since your level is pretty inconsequential there's not much incentive to go out of your way for these side quests. Additionally, there are branching paths at certain points that open up different memories. It can be a little tedious to go through every possibility but these include another ending to the game so completionists might want to try every path they can. The Longest 5 Minutes boasts a really clever concept but fails to deliver a competent RPG as well, despite featuring all of the basic elements of one. As unique as the story is at first, the lack of compelling, original characters or scenarios only makes the weak gameplay elements sting even more. If you go into the game expecting more of a visual novel than an RPG you might be satisfied with The Longest 5 Minutes, but the game clearly could have been so much more. Rating: 5 out of 10 Minutes
  5. Posted about this a couple of months ago but it has a release date now, and soon. Seems like there are an awful lot of interesting indie games coming to the Switch in May.
  6. https://labo.nintendo.com/ Nintendo's new product for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Labo, releases April 20 (April 27 in Europe)! Please use this thread to discuss the launch of Nintendo Labo, as well as any personal experiences you may have with it. If you don't have any, feel free to share your own thoughts on it anyway.
  7. Nintendo has submitted a design for a left joy-con that has a stronger Bluetooth signal to the FCC and is currently awaiting approval. *Ignore the R joy-con that was accidentally posted with this article* So, what happens to the people that are still having issues with the signal on their left joy-con, especially the ones no longer under warranty? Do they continue to replace/fix them for free?
  8. Well here we are again folks. It's time for another LEGO adventure game, this time returning to the expansive library of Marvel super heroes that made the previous game such a blast in its open-world environment. LEGO: Marvel Super Heroes 2 carries on that torch (though sadly there is no Human Torch here). This is yet another in a long line of LEGO games: charming writing, kid-friendly puzzle-solving and butt-kicking, and a metric ton of content to dive into across multiple environments. It may feel like the same game we've been playing for years but it's still a pretty fun game. The villain of the day for Marvel Super Heroes 2 is Kang the Conqueror who is wreaking havoc across space and time by transporting pieces of cities and connecting them into his giant hub city of Chronopolis. Worlds and universes collide, prompting the Avengers to set things right and return everything to its proper dimension. Marvel movie fans may be happy to learn that this game focuses primarily on heroes found in the past ten years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so there are a lot of familiar faces. The downside is that this excludes other Marvel mainstays like the Fantastic Four or the X-Men since they aren't a part of the MCU. Still, there are more than enough characters here as it is, especially when each stage of the game is more or less set up as its own mini-adventure: there's always some other villain that needs stopping, whether they're working with or against Kang. And of course you can expect the usual LEGO humor throughout the game. It's mostly slapstick comedy but it's still charming in its own way. In terms of gameplay Marvel Super Heroes 2 doesn't do much new. This really is just more of the same that fans have enjoyed in previous games: in each stage you solve simple puzzles usually by destroying everything in the environment to build new items, and then there are fight sequences that are largely just button-mashing as you break apart one enemy after another. Some objects can only be used by specific characters, so for example you might need to switch to Thor to use his lightning to power up a generator. Some of the annoying qualities of the series are preserved as well—it's still way too easy to slip off a ledge since the perspective of the camera makes it hard to tell where you are—but there aren't any gamebreaking problems. Is the gameplay pretty mindless? Yes. Is it fun? Yes, mostly. That mindless quality means you can sometimes space out while playing and miss nothing of value, but sometimes a mindless game isn't a bad way to kills a few hours. The other big draw to both this and the previous Marvel Super Heroes game is the sheer size. Marvel Super Heroes 2 features twenty levels, which is a pretty good amount of content, but if you try to collect and do everything, there's a lot to enjoy. The LEGO games in general have somewhat sacrificed quality for quantity, both in terms of the number of releases each year and the kinds of side activities you can find in each game, but messing around in the varied environments of Marvel Super Heroes 2 can be fun in its own way. And if, somehow, you manage to run out of content in the base game there is paid DLC which adds new levels. Adding more to this game might be overkill but the option is there if you just can't get enough LEGOs. And of course little has changed in the presentation as well—what are they going to do, redesign LEGOs? Like the writing the LEGO brick art style is still endearing, especially when this game throws in so many different environments (including some odd choices like an Old West area or an ancient Egypt area). Nothing in the game's visuals or even music is likely to surprise you, but that might be what these LEGO games are best played for: something familiar, simple, but enjoyable on a Saturday afternoon. The only downside is that the game's framerate does stutter at times, even in cutscenes, surprisingly, but it never actually interfered with gameplay. There's not much else to say about LEGO: Marvel Super Heroes 2 that hasn't been said about almost every LEGO game since their inception over ten years ago. The mechanics are largely unchanged, but maybe that speaks to their timeless, simple appeal. LEGO games are great when you just want to mess around a bit in a video game, not have to face anything too challenging or complex, and maybe enjoy seeing your favorite super hero, or even meet an obscure one. LEGO: Marvel Super Heroes 2 is another serviceable adventure game, even if it doesn't stand out for any truly unique or shining aspects. Rating: 7 out of 10 Marvels
  9. I've been looking forward to this one for a while. Glad it has a release window now but it'll be a long wait throughout this summer! Stick it to the Man was a delightfully weird puzzle/adventure game and Flipping Death looks like it'll be much the same.
  10. This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch Jotun: Valhalla Edition – Jotun: Valhalla Edition is a hand-drawn, action-exploration game set in Norse mythology. You play as Thora, a Viking warrior who died an inglorious death and must prove herself to the Gods to enter Valhalla. Explore vast regions of Norse Purgatory to find runes to unleash the jotun, giant Norse elementals. Fight them using only your massive two-handed axe, the blessings of the Gods and your skills. Jotun: Valhalla Edition launches April 27. Light Fall – Explore the Forgotten World of Numbra to uncover your mysterious past and save the land and its inhabitants from an imminent threat. In this land of eternal night, you will rely on your Shadow Core to brave the many challenges and foes standing in your way. Do you have what it takes to survive in perilous Numbra? DLC & Updates: Splatoon 2 Update Now Available – Nintendo has dropped some fresh (and free!) new content for the Splatoon 2 game on the Nintendo Switch system this week! After downloading a major new update (Version 3.0) to the Splatoon 2 game, players will have access to a huge amount of new content. This includes the addition of more than 100 pieces of new and returning gear, new songs, the introduction of a challenging new X Rank for the top-performing players in Ranked Battle, weapon balance adjustments and the return of Callie of the famous Squid Sisters. For more information about this free update, please visit the official Nintendo customer support site. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Version 1.4.0 Update – The Version 1.4.0 free update, which will be available later today, includes the ability to recruit and resonate the Rare Blade T-elos from the Xenosaga series after clearing the main game story. Get full update notes at the official Nintendo customer support site. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Expansion Pass: Rare Blade Pack – Expansion Pass owners can now receive the first additional Rare Blade from the Expansion Pass, Poppibuster! Learn more about the Expansion Pass here: https://xenobladechronicles2.nintendo.com/dlc/. Activities: My Nintendo – Nintendo Labo Creators Contest – Make, Play and Discover with Nintendo Labo! Create your masterpiece using a Nintendo Labo kit and a Nintendo Switch system, then post a video or image of your creation to the My Nintendo – Nintendo Labo Creators Contest official site. The winning My Nintendo members will each receive: a Nintendo Labo Variety Kit or Nintendo Labo Robot Kit a Nintendo Labo Creators jacket a framed award certificate signed by Nintendo Labo developers My Nintendo members can submit entries in three categories: Best Decorated Toy-Con – Enter by 10:59 a.m. PT on May 11 Best Toy-Con Mod using Toy-Con Garage – Enter by 10:59 a.m. PT on May 25 Best Original Invention Using Toy-Con Garage – Enter by 10:59 a.m. PT on June 15 You can also look at My Nintendo members’ contest submissions here. To learn more about the contest and submit your creation, please visit the My Nintendo – Nintendo Labo Creators Contest site.* Nintendo eShop sales: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS and Wii U Sonic Forces (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Join the uprising! Save 40 percent on Sonic Forces until 8:59 a.m. PT on May 7. Great deals this week! Check out the full list of deals available this week at http://www.nintendo.com/games/sales-and-deals. Also new this week: 12 orbits (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 27 A Robot Named Fight (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) ACA NEOGEO GHOST PILOTS (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) ACA NEOGEO STAKES WINNER (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 2 Agatha Knife (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Another Lost Phone: Laura’s Story (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Aqua Moto Racing Utopia (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 27 Arcade Archives 10-Yard Fight (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 2 Bouncy Bob (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 27 DragoDino (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 27 Glaive: Brick Breaker (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Goetia (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Hello Kitty Kruisers (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) KORG Gadget for Nintendo Switch (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Late Shift (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Ninja Striker! (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Saturday Morning RPG (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Save the Ninja Clan (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 27 Sky Rogue (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Snow Moto Racing Freedom (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 27 Sparkle ZERO (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Super Saurio Fly (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Available April 28 The Bridge – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Tumblestone – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Unalive (Nintendo eShop on Wii U)
  11. This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch South Park: The Fractured But Whole – Standard Edition – Players will once again assume the role of the New Kid. As the newest member of Coon and Friends, you must create your own superhero, build up your notoriety and use your superpowers to save South Park. Only then will Coon and Friends take their rightful place as the greatest team of superheroes ever assembled – and get the movie deal they so richly deserve. The game launches on April 24. Nintendo eShop sales: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS and Wii U Great deals this week! Check out the full list of deals available this week at: http://www.nintendo.com/games/sales-and-deals. Activities: Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Update – New features and animals have arrived! The Fortune Cookie Shop is now open in Market Place. When you eat one of the cookies available there, you will get a random item based on the type of cookie. You can obtain fortune cookies with Bells and Leaf Tickets—some of which can be traded with Bells but some may be acquired trading in Leaf Tickets. Everyone’s favorite frequently lost seagull, Gulliver, has arrived on Sunburst Island to help you get rid of your extra furniture or clothing. Gulliver will load your extra items onto his cargo ship and when he returns you can get snacks, which you can give to your animal buddies to become better friends with them. There’s always something fun and exciting going on at the campsite. Be sure to check in frequently! Available on App Store and Google Play, the Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp game is free to start and offers some optional in-app purchases. Also new this week: ACA NEOGEO REAL BOUT FATAL FURY SPECIAL (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) BAFL – Brakes Are For Losers (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Death Road to Canada (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 25 Football Manager Touch 2018 (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Firefighters – The Simulation (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 24 Firefighters: Airport Fire Department (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 24 Gal*Gun 2 (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 24 Manticore – Galaxy on Fire (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Neo ATLAS 1469 (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Party Trivia (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Shelter Generations (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Skee-Ball (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Stikbold! A Dodgeball Adventure Deluxe – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Super Chariot – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Super One More Jump – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) The Way Remastered (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 20 Where Are My Friends? (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 25 Wild Guns Reloaded (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Aqua Moto Racing Utopia (Nintendo eShop on Wii U) Cycle of Eternity: Space Anomaly (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)
  12. I've been looking forward to this one for a while, and now it'll be here next month! Yoku's Island Express releases May 29th on Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and Steam for $19.99. If you haven't heard of this before, you play as a dung beetle who has just been assigned as postmaster on the tropical Mokumana Island. The gameplay combines open-world platforming with pinball mechanics as you explore the island and meet its inhabitants. Check out the video and the press release for more details.
  13. smashbros.com This topic is for all your daily thoughts as we await another entry in the Super Smash Bros. series coming to Nintendo Switch in 2018. Get on board this train and share your hopes and dreams!
  14. Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon brings hack-n-slash action-RPG gameplay to the Switch, along with a distinctly anime sense of style and storytelling. Don't worry if you haven't played the first game—this isn't a direct sequel, so anyone can jump right into the action with Bride of the New Moon. Anime fans may enjoy the cliché story and characters but anyone else will likely quickly grow bored of the repetitive combat. In the world of Bride of the New Moon demons—known as Fiends—roam the world under the cover of night. The only hope of curtailing their rampage is to sacrifice a priestess to the Moon Queen, leader of the demons, in order to seal her power away for a bit longer. You play as Aluche, a knight assigned to guard and escort the latest sacrifice, until you learn that she is actually your childhood friend, Liliana. You hardly have time to come to terms with this information before you are attacked and defeated by a powerful demon. The only hope of saving Aluche's life is to turn her into a half-demon. With newfound power Aluche tries to save Liliana from her fate. It's actually a pretty good premise for a story: there's a bit of intrigue between different factions who disagree on whether sacrificing a priestess to the Moon Queen is actually a good idea, and as a half-demon there's plenty of potential for Aluche to have a unique perspective on things. Sadly, none of that is developed as well as it could be. Instead the story largely focuses on Aluche befriending various allies and marching off to fight evil. All of the potential of the setting feels wasted in Bride of the New Moon. It's also incredibly difficult to care about any of the characters—few are given any decent level of character development, especially Aluche and Liliana, who mostly just repeat the fact that they are good childhood friends. Aluche can build affinity with each of the side characters which adds a bit of depth to their stories, but oftentimes the process doesn't feel worth the effort. Bride of the New Moon is an action-RPG: you battle demons in real time and at the end of each mission you can spend any experience points you gained to level up. The game gives you a decent amount of variety in how you can approach combat. Aluche always uses a sword but by befriending Servans—basically friendly demons—you can use their power in battle to equip different weapons or use elemental attacks. Aluche can also bring a friend along into battle such as Liliana or any of the other girls you recruit to your cause throughout the game; these are called Lilies. You don't directly control the Lily but they will fight beside you and you are able to use powerful combo attacks. Each Lily fights a little differently, so by combining different Lilies and Servans there are a number of ways you can approach battles. These options don't alleviate the incredible monotony of combat in Bride of the New Moon, though. The truth is you don't need to experiment much or learn any fancy attacks, because on normal difficulty most demons don't pose much of a threat. You end up just mowing them down one after another over and over with no need to ever change tactics. It doesn't help that the game has a mission structure, so each mission you go out to one of the seven locations in the game to fight a boss or find something, fighting the same demons along the way each and every time. Add in all of the side quests which are largely the same thing (kill a specific demon, clear an area of demons, find an object, etc.) and pretty soon it feels like you're doing the same thing for nearly fifteen hours of play time. The only reason to really bother with all of the side quests is to raise affinity with every Lily, but you'll most likely grow bored long before that point. Bride of the New Moon also has a rather strange time limit system. You only have a certain number of days until the Moon Queen regains her full power, and each time you go out on a mission you spend one day. You are also limited on how much time you can spend on a mission—you start at ten minutes but can increase the number as you progress—so you can't just go out and grind experience points endlessly. Defeating bosses extends you day limit, giving you more time to explore new areas and take on side quests. It's kind of weird though that the game throws so many time wasting side quests at you while imposing this kind of limit. Unless you play particularly poorly you'll have plenty of days to complete everything, so in the end the time limit seems a little pointless. One of the only ways in which it really affects your gameplay is through Servans. In addition to combat Servans can also be used to break barriers leading to treasure chests or shortcuts. You can only have two Servans with you at any time though, and barriers are element-specific (i.e. you need a Servan that uses fire to burn down thorny brambles blocking your path). In order to collect everything you'll have to return to these barriers with the right Servan to disable it—the whole process is just a little more tedious than it needs to be, especially without any indication on the map of where these barriers are. For the most part the controls are easy to pick up, but there is one odd quirk which makes it clear that Bride of the New Moon was hastily ported from PS4/PSVita: A and B are switched, so B is used to confirm and A is used to cancel. It kind of reveals the laziness of this port but it's an easy enough aspect of the controls to remember. What is really odd though is that A is also used to interact with objects—opening chests, talking to people, etc.—which doesn't make any sense. It's like the developers got halfway through changing these button configurations and then just stopped. It shouldn't be any surprise then that Bride of the New Moon has its share of little bugs as well. A word to the wise: save often, because the game crashed on me repeatedly early on in my playthrough. In the presentation department Bride of the New Moon is interested in fan service and little else. Most all of the characters wear clothing that is completely nonsensical for fighting, and there's a pool at your base of operations where you can change everyone into equally nonsensical bathing suits. Outside of these aspects the visuals in Bride of the New Moon are disappointingly bland. There are only a handful of different locations in the game and all of them feature repetitive, flat environmental design. Even by the time you get to the Moon Queen's fortress the scenery design is just completely uninspired. The music isn't much better. It may not be as disappointingly repetitive but it's just as forgettable. And as a side note there is no English voice acting in the game—not a huge issue but it would have been nice to have the option. Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon is a serviceable and fan-servicey action-RPG, but it lacks any depth to make it stand out against other games in the same genre. Too often combat feels like a mindless mashing of buttons instead of a complex battle, which makes many of the options and strategies offered in the game feel pointless. Running through the same handful of environments over and over to carry out missions that are so similar to one another is draining, and doesn't really encourage the kind of grinding that the game expects you to do. Ultimately Bride of the New Moon feels like a completely forgettable action-RPG grind. Rating: 5 out of 10 Moons
  15. This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch Don’t Starve: Nintendo Switch Edition – You play as Wilson, an intrepid Gentleman Scientist who has been trapped by a demon and transported to a mysterious wilderness world. Enter a bizarre and unexplored locale full of strange creatures, dangers and surprises. Do whatever it takes to survive, but most importantly: Don’t starve! Nintendo eShop sales: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS and Wii U Great deals this week! Check out the full list of deals available this week at: http://www.nintendo.com/games/sales-and-deals. Activities: Fire Emblem Heroes Update – Version 2.4.0 of the Fire Emblem Heroes game released on April 10. Here are the highlights: Stamina Zero!: You will no longer need to use any stamina to play Grand Hero Battles, Bound Hero Battles and Legendary Hero Battles. Seven Grand Heroes Added to Rotation: Another seven Grand Heroes, including Camus, have been added to the daily Grand Hero Battle Revival rotation. Along with these battles, GHB Elite 2 quests will also commerce. These quests will be available for a full year. New Event: The first round of Grand Conquests will begin at 4 a.m. PT on April 13. Starting at 12 a.m. PT on April 11, tap Events and then Grand Conquest, and you can pre-register for the event before it begins. Also, to celebrate this new event, everyone will receive 20 Orbs. Special Orb Promo: Now until 11:59 p.m. on April 25, you will be able to purchase the Special Orb Promo: April Edition. Along with 21 Orbs, 6,000 Hero Feathers will be included as a bonus. Theme Shop on Nintendo 3DS: New themes this week include: The Alliance Alive Character Theme 1 The Alliance Alive Character Theme 2 The Alliance Alive Robbins Theme Also new this week: #Breakforcist Battle (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) ACA NEOGEO Gururin (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Asdivine Hearts (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Burly Men at Sea (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Dragon Blaze for Nintendo Switch (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Drone Fight (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Eternal Edge (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) It’s Spring Again (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 17 Pirates: All Aboard! (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 13 Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs – Royal Edition (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Rogue Aces (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Skies of Fury DX (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Squareboy vs Bullies: Arena Edition – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Streets of Red – Devil’s Dare Deluxe (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Twin Robots: Ultimate Edition – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 13 Word Search by POWGI (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Zotrix: Solar Division (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Shadow Archery (Nintendo eShop on Wii U)
  16. Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a remake of the 1989 title Wonder Boy III, though you could almost call it a port considering how faithfully the developers have preserved the game across nearly thirty years. Now, I never played the original game on the Sega Master System, but it's not hard to recognize all of the little touches of 80s side-scroller game design. If you've ever played this type of game as a child you'll still get that wave of nostalgia for jumping, slashing, and discovering secrets in suspicious corners. The Dragon's Trap makes for a great trip down memory lane, but a few more modern touches might have helped smooth out the game's annoying quirks. You play as a young hero who, after battling the fearsome Meka-Dragon, is turned into an anthropomorphic lizard. Now you're on a quest to revert back to human form by defeating the other dragon bosses of the land. This new edition of the game adds no other details or depth to the story, but shoehorning in more plot development so many years later would no doubt have been clumsy. It may not be an elaborate narrative but it's enough to get the game in motion. The Dragon's Trap plays like many classic side-scrollers: Castlevania, Ninja Gaiden, Zelda II, etc. Don't worry though, this game is nowhere near as difficult as those examples. It has its share of old fashioned design quirks but overall the game is far more accessible than other old school games, and it helps that everything just looks so adorable, even the enemies. That's not the say the game is entirely easy though. In particular, it is very easy to lose track of where you should be going in the latter half of the game, once you have access to a couple of abilities. The game world isn't that big at least, so a little wandering won't put you back for hours and hours, but any degree of direction might have been nice. The game also has an odd approach to taking damage: it's actually possible to get stunlocked by some enemies and bosses, but after the initial hit you're still in an invincible state and won't take further damage. It's one of the strange ways that The Dragon's Trap has the unforgiving design of classic games but won't actually frustrate the player too badly. At its core the gameplay is classic side-scrolling action but what makes The Dragon's Trap unique is the way our protagonist transforms into different monsters, each with its own abilities. For example, as a mouse you can climb up checkered tiles and even walk across the ceiling. Every time you defeat a dragon you are transformed into a new form, and with your new abilities you can reach different areas. It's a little strange that the game doesn't give you the ability to swap between your forms at will (though there is a hidden item that allows you to do this) but this is just another quirk of 80s game design. It's still a blast to test out what you can do with each form, and even if you are required to be on a certain track for most of the game there's still some freedom in exploration. And of course, taking advantage of that freedom often rewards you with bonus items. There is a fair bit of hidden content in The Dragon's Trap, to the point where it really is surprising that the game gives you no hint or direction for much of it. Oftentimes these hidden rooms reward you with special, powerful equipment, and this is another instance where the game might have held on to the old fashioned design a little too much. There are a lot of weapons and armor to find or purchase, but when you get one with a special effect the game doesn't explain what the effect is. It's great to see this much variety in the game but just a little more description or hint would have made the game much clearer. The least surprising but most awkward aspect that wasn't better updated is the controls. Your movements are sluggish in The Dragon's Trap—it will most likely throw you off for the first hour or so of the game. A lot of old games had somewhat clumsy controls, and thankfully it doesn't really hurt the gameplay here, but it still feels like you're being weighed down for no reason. It can also make attacking enemies a little awkward, since most of your monster forms only have short ranged attacks. A little more fluidity would have gone a long way. The game's presentation is simultaneously the most and least updated aspect of the game, since you can toggle between the new graphics and the classic 8-bit style at any time. It's fun to see the pixel art of old but the new artwork is so gorgeous that it'd be a crime not to give it the attention it deserves. The animation is beautifully fluid and, especially when compared to the original art style, the new designs have a wonderful cartoonish charm to them. The developers clearly put a lot of care into re-imagining the game with modern design tools. And the same goes for the music, which is brought to life with stunning in-studio performances. If nothing else give the soundtrack a listen, it alone might be worth the price of admission. And just like the graphics you can toggle between the original chiptune music and the new arrangements at any time, if you care to hear what a difference thirty years makes in sound design. One aspect that definitely could have used an upgrade: the length. The Dragon's Trap can easily be finished in just a few hours—maybe a little more if you can't figure out where to go, but certainly under five hours. There are hidden extras you can try to collect but it still isn't going to expand the game's length by much. There isn't much replay value to enjoy here either. You can try a different difficulty level but it changes little about how the game is played. On the brightside the game's short length keeps everything snappy—there's no grind or slog, outside of maybe wandering a bit when lost—but finishing the entire game in one sitting may disappoint some players. Amidst the many revivals and remakes of 80s video game properties we've seen, Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap stands as a delightful re-imagining, clearly made possible by the love the developers have for the original. The core gameplay is well preserved and the new art and music give the game an incredible make over while staying true to the game's roots. As is often the case in these remakes there's a bit of a blurred line between where the game should have done more to modernize the gameplay and not just preserve it, but ultimately The Dragon's Trap is a short yet eminently enjoyable experience, old fashioned quirks and all. Rating: 7 out of 10 Wonders
  17. This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch Urban Trial Playground – This installment of the stunt bike racing series takes the action to the sunny and colorful beaches of California, mixing in crazier tricks, flips and combos than ever before. Backflip from rooftops and over palm trees to become the ultimate stunt racer. The Adventure Pals – The Adventure Pals sets you and your best friends (a giraffe and a rock) out to save the world and your dad from turning into hotdogs. Explore the mystical forests of Treevale, hike the haunted craters of the moon and dive into the depths to find the lost city of Crablantis. Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS Detective Pikachu – Special Demo Version – Crack the case in the new Detective Pikachu game by interacting with a unique, tough-talking Pikachu! As Tim Goodman, you’ll partner with a self-proclaimed “great detective” Pikachu to solve strange occurrences all over Ryme City. Together you must investigate, take notes and meet up with other Pokémon to unravel the city’s greatest mysteries! Game in 2D. This demo covers a portion of the first chapter of the game. Save data is transferable to the full version of the game once purchased. For a limited time, players who purchase the Detective Pikachu game from Nintendo eShop, Nintendo.com or select retailers will receive a bonus download code* for a Detective Pikachu theme for the HOME Menu on the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. Offer ends April 22, 2018. Learn more at https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/detective-pikachu-3ds#special-offers *Code expires Dec. 31, 2018. Nintendo eShop sales: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS and Wii U Last Chance: 30 percent off ARMS for Nintendo Switch – Looking for a whole new way to fight? Get 30 percent off the ARMS game for the Nintendo Switch system until April 6 at 8:59 a.m. PT. Great deals this week! Check out the full list of deals available this week at http://www.nintendo.com/games/sales-and-deals. Also new this week: ACA NEOGEO SAMURAI SHODOWN III (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Animated Jigsaws: Beautiful Japanese Scenery (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Arcade Archives Ninja-Kid (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Arcade Archives PUNCH-OUT!! (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Black Hole – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Bombslinger (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 11 Deep Ones (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 11 I and Me – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Infernium (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Johnny Turbo’s Arcade: Bad Dudes (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Lode Runner Legacy (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Masters of Anima (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 10 Octocopter: Double or Squids (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Sally's Law (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Sling Ming (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Splat the Fruit (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 6 Sumer (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Super Daryl Deluxe (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 10 Super Rocket Shootout (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) The Bunker (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 9 Word Search by POWGI – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Alter World (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)
  18. http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/02/02/nintendo-labo-hands-on-ap-parent-benefits?abthid=5a74f84a683637510c00004d *has video I thought these videos and their content gave some good real world feel and impressions of the Labo sets.
  19. Shortly after firmware 5.0 was released an increased number of people that had been using 3rd party Switch docks were reporting that their Switch had been bricked. While I manly though this was caused by the Nyko portable dock, which we already knew could brick your Switch (the reason why I didn't post this then), Nintendo has come out and said there may indeed be an issue with firmware 5.0 and 3rd party docks. They are aware of this and are looking into the issue (seems to be related to how the Switch outputs AV to an external TV/monitor). As for the Nyko dock, Nyko has been aware of the issue and is still addressing it after the 5.0 firmware update. *If you are using a 3rd party dock, STOP USING IT IMMEDIATELY!
  20. The developer behind Runbow has just announced a new title slated for release this summer on Switch and Steam. Double Cross is a similarly cartoonish platformer, but instead of the fast-paced micro-levels of Runbow this game features a variety of gameplay styles and upgrades spread across multiple dimensions. For more details watch the trailer above and check out the press release below.
  21. What was the most memorable thing for you about Super Mario Odyssey? I had a lot of trouble thinking about this, as I feel like everything in the game has the potential for being unforgettable nostalgia. I loved when I first arrived at the Mushroom Kingdom and the Moon, but my personal favorite memory is... celebrating the New Donk City festival with mayor Pauline! It was just so exciting and was an homage to all things Mario, both old and new!! Donkey Kong is often overlooked when people celebrate the longevity of the series, and I was beside myself with joy to see Nintendo combine all of these old elements into something thrilling, joyous, and legendary.
  22. The last Kirby spin-off is only a couple of months old and we've already got an entirely new platformer to enjoy with Kirby Star Allies. The gameplay here is very much a return to Kirby's roots—copy abilities, battle iconic bosses, and you can even bring a few friends along for the adventure, just like several other previous Kirby games. Everything fans expect out of Kirby is on full display here, though the lack of compelling new features leaves the whole experience feeling a bit uninspired. It's another pleasant day on planet Pop Star when Kirby's home world is suddenly bombarded with shadowy hearts, transforming characters into darker versions of themselves. Kirby investigates and, using the power of friendship (and whatever ability he's recently absorbed) overcomes one trial after another until he reaches the source of the trouble on planet Jambastion. In pretty typical Kirby fashion there's no fancy storytelling happening here, and even though the new characters are a little interesting they're given very little time to develop or even really show off any degree of depth. Star Allies is a game you play for the easy-going action/platforming, not the narrative. Kirby is back to doing what he does best: 2D platforming with plenty of abilities to absorb from enemies. Even moreso than other long-running franchises there's something comforting about playing a Kirby game—the core gameplay has changed extraordinarily little since Kirby's Adventure, and the low-difficulty of the series means it's easy to jump right back into the swing of things no matter what level of gamer you might be. Even if it doesn't feel particularly new the gameplay in Star Allies is still perfect for a bit of charming, light-hearted action. It is surprising though how little Star Allies really adds to the Kirby franchise. Most other Kirby games, main series or spin-off, add some sort of gimmick or twist. In Star Allies the twist is essentially what we've seen in previous Kirby games: AI companions or local co-op with up to four players. Two characters can combine abilities—for example, if Kirby is using a sword and an ally is using fire, the ally can give Kirby's sword a fire effect for extra damage—but there aren't actually that many combinations in the game. At the very least, there are few interesting or surprising combos, which feels like a huge wasted opportunity. Furthermore, having four characters on screen at once makes Star Allies almost laughably easy, and Kirby isn't a particularly difficult franchise to begin with. You'll likely never feel compelled to use combo abilities in battle since enemies fall so quickly anyway—even when you're playing solo the game doesn't throw many huge challenges at you. It's useful to have spare abilities on hand at any time, but if you need a specific ability to solve a puzzle the game always gives you the ability anyway. The allies system makes for a decent bit of co-op fun but it also just makes an already easy game even easier. While Kirby games have never been about speed there's something oddly slow about Kirby's movements in Star Allies. It almost feels like he has a weight tied to him at all times. The somewhat subdued flow of the gameplay can take a bit of getting used to, and still doesn't feel totally comfortable by the end. As you might expect Star Allies is almost too adorable when it comes to visual design. All of the usual Kirby friends and foes are found here, all in vibrant, colorful environments like grasslands, caves, volcanoes, etc. Much like the gameplay as a whole the art design is pleasant but doesn't seem to bring anything new to the table. There isn't any particular standout location that feels new and exciting even though all of it still looks good. The soundtrack is in a similar position: there wasn't any particular track that made me stand up and take notice, but the music as a whole was still well done and charming. The main game is fairly short, only around six hours or so, but it wouldn't be a Kirby game if there weren't side modes as well. There are a couple of mini-games which can be fun for a minute or two before you jump back into the campaign, and there's the requisite boss rush Arena mode. There's also Guest Star mode which is essentially a time trial mode of the main game's levels where you stick with one ability throughout the entire run. Despite adding a few new quirks Guest Star just feels like a way to draw out the game with somewhat repetitive content. And speaking of which you can replay levels in order to earn puzzle pieces to complete bonus pictures—a cute idea but it really is just padding the game's length. Kirby Star Allies is another solid entry in a long-running series that prides itself on cute design and accessible gameplay. Whether you're playing alone or with a few friends it's easy to jump right into the action and enjoy some good ol' fashioned 2D platforming, complete with ability swapping and hidden rooms. However, the fact that this game sticks so closely to familiar gameplay design may be an indication that it's time for something new. You won't walk away from Star Allies disappointed, but you may be left with a feeling that the Kirby series should do more. Rating: 7 out of 10 Warp Stars It's a Kirby game, so you know Kirbymeister2 weighs in. Check out his review here.
  23. This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch Penny-Punching Princess – The Penny-Punching Princess game is an isometric brawler that takes place in a world ruled by capitalism, where cash is king. Fight or bribe your way to reclaiming your kingdom from the greedy Dragoloans. Penny-Punching Princess will be available on April 3. Toki Tori – Toki Tori isn’t very athletic. He can’t even jump! Take control of Toki Tori, a surprisingly heroic chicken, as he puzzles his way through 80+ levels. Use creative thinking and problem solving to collect all the eggs. The Toki Tori game will be available on March 30. New DLC: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – New DLC is releasing for owners of the Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Expansion Pass. Buy the Expansion Pass to gain access to titanic new content, including the pack below and a new story this fall. To learn more, visit the Xenoblade Chronicles 2 site. (Full version of game required to use DLC.) New Quests Pack 2 – Launching at 10 p.m. PT today Nopon of Good Tastes (Talk to Bipopo near Galad Residential Zone in Gormott. Available after adding Poppi.) Cleared of All Charges (Talk to Strath in Fonsett, Leftheria. Requires Perun, Godfrey and Perceval.) Beneath the Aurora (Talk to Len at Rigitte Harbor in Leftheria. Available from Chapter 6.) Upgrades and Tinkering (Examine the table in Tora’s house. Requires Tora. Available from Chapter 8.) Most Awful News?! (Stay at the inn in Tantal. Requires Finch’s Birdbrain Lv.3 and Zeke. Available from Chapter 10.) Fire Emblem Warriors Season Pass (for Nintendo Switch/New Nintendo 3DS) – Expand your Fire Emblem Warriorsadventure with DLC. All three DLC Packs for the Fire Emblem Warriors game are now available! Here’s what’s in the new Fire Emblem Awakening DLC pack release: three new playable characters (Owain, Tharja and Olivia), three new History Maps, new costumes, new armor break models, new support conversations, new weapons and new weapon attributes. If you already purchased the Season Pass, this DLC Pack, as well as the Fire Emblem Fates Pack and Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon Pack, are available to you at no additional cost. The Fire Emblem Warriors Season Pass, as well as the Fire Emblem Awakening DLC Pack, can be purchased on the game’s site. Note: new costumes, character-exclusive weapons and weapon attributes must be unlocked as rewards from playing through the new History Maps. The full version of the game is required to use the DLC. Nintendo eShop sales: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS and Wii U Great deals this week! Check out the full list of deals available this week at http://www.nintendo.com/games/sales-and-deals. Activities: Upcoming ARMS Events – Exciting new ARMS events are stretching your way! It’s hard to believe, but ARMS, the stretchy fighting game for the Nintendo Switch system, is almost a year old. Whether you’re a newcomer to the game or a seasoned veteran, there’s no better time to get into the game, thanks to three upcoming ARMS events: ARMS U.S. & CANADA ONLINE OPEN – After fighting through a tough online qualifier, eight top ARMS players and four alternates will meet in the online finals at 10 a.m. PT on March 31. The finals will be streamed online for all to see, so be sure to check it out. ARMS Global Testpunch – A global Testpunch demo for the ARMS game, which lets Nintendo Switch owners try out select modes for free, will be running for three days starting at 9 p.m. PT on March 30 and ending at 8:59 p.m. PT on April 2. To participate, players just have to download the Testpunch in Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch. Save on ARMS – Ready to buy? Starting at 9 p.m. PT on March 30, you can get the ARMS game for 30 percent off in Nintendo eShop or on Nintendo.com. Act fast, though, as the sale ends at 8:59 a.m. PT on April 6. Don’t forget to redeem your Gold Points toward your purchase of the game. For more info about My Nintendo rewards, visit https://my.nintendo.com. For more information about ARMS, head to https://arms.nintendo.com/. April My Nintendo Rewards – There’s a lot to love about the month of April, but nothing says, “I love you, sis!” or “I love you, bro!” like National Siblings Day on April 10. It’s a great day to show your brothers or sisters that you really appreciate them. You can even let them win at a video game for once! In honor of this special day, My Nintendo is offering wallpapers and an April calendar featuring the Mario Bros. You can redeem your My Nintendo reward points and plaster your PC or smart device with Mario and Luigi, the most famous siblings in the Mushroom Kingdom. My Nintendo is also offering discounts, using your My Nintendo reward points, for select games that feature Mario and Luigi. For more info, visit http://my.nintendo.com/news. Also new this week: 10 Second Run RETURNS – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) ACA NEOGEO SENGOKU 3 (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) The Adventures of Bertram Fiddle: Episode 1: A Dreadly Business (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Alteric (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 30 Atelier Lydie & Suelle ~The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings~ (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) ClusterPuck 99 (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) D/Generation HD (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Devious Dungeon (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 30 Farm Expert 2018 for Nintendo Switch (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 30 Gotcha Racing 2nd (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Metropolis: Lux Obscura (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 4 Shadow Bug (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 30 Spartan (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available April 1 TENGAI for Nintendo Switch (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) The Charming Empire (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Zombillie (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) WAKU WAKU SWEETS: Happy Sweets Making (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS) Witch & Hero 3 - (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS) The Spellcaster’s Assistant (Nintendo eShop on Wii U)
  24. UPDATE: The latest patch (version 1.4.201) corrects the crashing glitch on level 49. I've left the details in the review with a strikethrough to maintain context but the rating has been changed to reflect the now bug-free version of the game. Combine the head-spinning physics puzzles of Bridge Constructor with the sardonic commentary of GLaDOS and you've got Bridge Constructor Portal from developer ClockStone and publisher Headup Games. This mash-up feels like a no-brainer: both series challenge the player with wild puzzles that you often only complete by the skin of your teeth. Adding portals, turrets, and weighted companion cubes to the makeshift construction challenges of Bridge Constructor adds a welcome new dimension to the gameplay. Puzzle fans should enjoy the variety of challenges that Bridge Constructor Portal offers from the first simple construction to the final nail-biting test. You play as a new recruit to the Aperture Science test lab where you build bridges to transport test vehicles from start to goal across sixty levels. As you might expect if you've played Portal, GLaDOS oversees the test procedure and often begins the level with her unique brand of deadpan humor. Fans of Portal will love to hear from everyone's favorite homicidal AI, and she is once again voiced by Ellen McLain. Obviously the puzzle structure of Bridge Constructor Portal doesn't lend itself to much storytelling depth but the quips from GLaDOS and a few little skits at the beginning of each section of the game add just the right touch of dark humor to the game. If you haven't played a Bridge Constructor title before they are physics-based puzzle games. At the simplest level your goal is to guide a vehicle from the starting point to the goal by building a bridge/roadway. Bridges have to be supported properly—a single line stretched across a large chasm will simply collapse—so there's some degree to which you have to take weight and balance into account. Bridge Constructor Portal eases you into the gameplay with plenty of tutorial levels and even includes a best practices guide that offers helpful tips on keeping your bridges supported. Even with just the standard bridge elements there are numerous ways for the game to challenge you, and oftentimes you'll be staring at the screen with your fingers crossed, willing the bridge to stay up long enough for the test vehicle to make it to the end. When you add Portal elements to the mix, things start to get crazier. With portals you have to be extra-thoughtful of a vehicle's speed; with turrets you need to find a way to disable them before the vehicle rolls into their line of sight; with weighted companion cubes you have to love them for all of the assistance they offer. Pretty soon your vehicles will be sailing through the air from one portal to another, briefly landing on your makeshift bridge construction before rolling into the goal. Like any good puzzle game solving these extra-difficult levels is hugely satisfying—and, for more sadistic players, the inventive ways you can crash vehicles or send them hurtling into pits of acid is awfully entertaining. And the brightside to Bridge Constructor Portal's gameplay is the wiggle room afforded to the player. Generally there is a method to solving a puzzle, but you don't have to be perfectly exact—there's some leeway in terms of how you get there. This is only further evidenced by the extra challenge of each level: getting multiple test vehicles to the exit. Sometimes your bridge is only good enough to get one vehicle to the goal, but to get an entire convoy of ten cars safely to the exit your design has to be sturdy. These convoy challenges aren't needed to progress in the game but finishing them does add an extra layer of difficulty, and proves your mastery of the game's physics. There's also a pseudo third layer of difficulty: to complete a level with the least number of bridge components, thereby keeping construction costs to a minimum. I say pseudo because the game doesn't actually offer any kind of benchmark for construction costs, but you can see how much you spent at the end of each level and know for yourself whether you were efficient or wasteful. With sixty levels Bridge Constructor Portal offers plenty of intense challenges. You may feel like you're breezing through the early levels but soon enough each puzzle can take what feels like an hour to finish as you first plot out what needs to happen then carefully adjust with trial-and-error tests. Since you have to finish each puzzle to move on to the next it's easy to feel stymied at times, especially as you test a bridge over and over. Some constructions can take a good sixty seconds to complete, and watching everything play out only for one error at the end which means you have to make a small adjustment and run the whole thing again—it can be tiresome at times. But the game rewards patient and persistent players. If you're prepared to overcome the game's plentiful challenges there's a lot for a puzzle fan to enjoy here. The game's controls also leave something to be desired at times, but thankfully the gameplay never requires fast movement. Moving with the left control stick can be a bit stiff—it's not hard to see that the game was originally designed for mouse and keyboard—but since you aren't building in real-time there's no penalty for just taking your time. This Switch version of the game also offers touch controls, but in this case you're sacrificing precision for speed. Even if it can be a little clunky at times it makes more sense to stick with the control stick and buttons. UPDATE: Patch 1.4.201 fixes the crashing glitch on level 49. I've left the text below for context on the original review but this no longer affects the game's rating. Unfortunately we've come to the elephant in the room that I mentioned at the beginning of this review. Every time I finished level 49 the game would crash, bringing me back to the Switch's main menu, and forcing me to restart the game at the beginning of level 49. Having to restart one of these puzzles even once would be pretty annoying since it can take so long to figure out the perfect configuration of bridges and ropes to reach the goal, but when the game crashes every single time I try to progress that's a flat out game breaking bug. I can't say how prevalent this bug is but it left a pretty large stain on my experience with the game and means I can't recommend the game whole-heartedly, even if the rest of the gameplay was solid. Bridge Constructor Portal offers plenty of unique physics puzzles that manage to find the fine balance between challenging and engaging. Your grasp of simple physics/bridge construction will be tested, but the satisfaction of each level completed is a strong motivator—that, and GLaDOS's mocking commentary. Be sure you've updated the game to the most recent version to avoid any bugs. Otherwise, get ready for a mind-boggling puzzle adventure across bridges, over pits of acid, and through portals. Rating: 8 out of 10 Bridges Review copy provided by publisher Bridge Constructor Portal is available now on the Switch eShop for $14.99.
  25. Please announce Cytus II (from the developers if VOEZ and DEEMO, which are already on Switch) for Switch. I Absolutely love the fist Cytus on mobile. I don't play mobile games that much, but I've played the hell out of Cytus on my tablet. I have yet to get Cytus II, since I've been holding out for a Switch version. Seriously, if you love music/rhythm games go download Cytus! It's so I good, plus you get 100+ songs for free!
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