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In a world where money is power, one princess puts every cent she has into taking revenge on the money lenders that drove her father into debt and destroyed his kingdom. Penny-Punching Princess gets high marks for originality—even though the core gameplay is an isometric beat 'em up, the emphasis on money makes for some clever game mechanics. Not all of the cash-centric features are well integrated into a fast-paced action game though, and the game's rhythm suffers for it. Our silent protagonist is on a quest for revenge against the Dragoloan family, a group of loan sharks (or loan dragons, as it were) that caused the downfall of her kingdom. She's aided by a talkative stag beetle named Sebastian as well as Zenigami, the god of money, who gives her a magic calculator that she can use in battle. Rest assured that the game knows all of these elements are delightfully absurd and the game doesn't try to play any of it straight. Penny-Punching Princess is a charmingly goofy game—though the vernacular writing is a bit annoying to read after a while—and it's even narrated as if each chapter is an episode of some bizarre Saturday morning cartoon. As strange as the game's concept is, the writing embraces the absurdity wholeheartedly and makes the cutscenes quite charming. At its core Penny-Punching Princess is a brawler: you explore stages, engage in battles, and beatdown all sorts of enemies with your furious princess fists. There's a decent variety of enemy types as well as hazards, and by collecting Zenigami statues you can upgrade the princess's stats and abilities. The unique hook of the game, however, is the calculator, which allows you to bribe enemies to fight for you instead of against you using the money you've earned throughout the battle. Enemies essentially become an item you can use a set number of times (it differs depending on the enemy). Bribing is incredibly valuable since it both removes one enemy from the playing field and lets you take advantage of the massive area of effect attacks that some monsters use which are much more effective than your own for clearing out crowds. In fact, aside from the smaller monsters, bribed enemies are almost always more effective than you are, plus you don't have to worry about taking damage when someone else is fighting for you—now that's the true mark of royalty. You can even bribe the hazards on the battlefield to work for you as well. For example, there might be a hazard that shoots out flames sporadically. If you bribe it you'll be immune to the fire and it'll damage enemies instead (hazards also have limited uses, like bribed enemies). Battles in Penny-Punching Princess can get incredibly hectic with multiple hazards and enemies attacking you from all sides, so being able to eliminate a few traps is often the difference between success and failure. It also adds an element of strategy—which hazard should you prioritize? Should you bribe a trap that is giving you trouble, or go for one that has a better chance of taking out multiple enemies? You'll have to make these decisions in the heat of battle and the resulting chaos is both challenging and satisfying. As unique and engaging as the calculator is though, it also has some pretty significant problems. For one thing, pulling up the calculator is often far too slow and clumsy when you're surrounded by enemies. The calculator interface pops up to cover a part of the screen which is already kind of annoying, but then you have to punch in a number to indicate how much you're going to pay to bribe an enemy (every enemy type has a specific price). Frankly this makes no sense to drag the gameplay to a halt in the middle of a fight. Thankfully you can tap a button to scroll through the enemies on screen, automatically bringing up the requisite price, but now we've reached another issue: choosing the target of your bribe is painfully slow as well. Oftentimes you'll want to bribe a key enemy or hazard to eliminate it immediately, but the clumsy selection interface means you're likely to get attacked a few times before you can find the right target. Maybe it would have been overpowered to pause the battle completely while you're selecting a bribe, but it would definitely have been less frustrating. The calculator's use is also limited—you'll have to wait a bit for it to recharge between uses. Granted, that makes sense, since the calculator is so powerful that using it non-stop would basically eliminate almost all of the challenge in the game. At the same time though your basic attacks are so weak that you can't afford to not use the calculator as much as possible, so a lot of battles end up feeling like a waiting game as you kill time while the calculator recharges. It doesn't help that you can only have one enemy or hazard bribed at any time—including heart enemies, which are the main way to heal damage in the game—so you have to be careful what you bribe and ensure you'll survive until you can bribe again. In short, the pacing of fights is too much of a waiting game which just doesn't feel satisfying. The game isn't particularly long—a good ten hours or so will get you through the entire story—but even so the game falls into a pretty tiresome pattern of repetition, just one battle after another. It doesn't help that, in order to forge new equipment or earn more ability points, you need to bribe specific enemies, so actually upgrading the princess ends up being a long grind. The constant repetition might have been more excusable if it didn't feel like every battle is just killing time while the calculator recharges. There technically is a lot of replay value if you're the type to collect every piece of armor or skill in a game, but the grind really doesn't make the effort feel worthwhile. Isometric battlefields and pixel part characters make up the art style Penny-Punching Princess. It's not the most unique look these days, but it's not half bad in this game. Mostly the large enemies or bosses have the best opportunity to shine—everything else will start to look pretty repetitive after a while. The music isn't particularly notable either. It's fine for what it is but it's not the kind of soundtrack that will keep your toes tapping after the game ends. It is funny that the game has a fully voiced narrator though—it certainly adds a bit more charm to the silly cutscene writing. Ultimately Penny-Punching Princess's unique draw, the calculator and bribing mechanic, ends up being its biggest flaw as well. The concept just isn't integrated into the rest of the gameplay smoothly, and the entire experience ends up being incredibly repetitive and pretty obnoxious against the tougher enemies. Penny-Punching Princess has some good ideas but the unpolished design means they don't really get a chance to shine. Rating: 6 out of 10 Pennies

This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch Fortnite – Jump in to be the last one standing in the free-to-start 100-player Battle Royale. Build huge forts. Outwit your opponents. Earn your Victory. Squad up together online* with friends in the same room or around the world. Hollow Knight – Forge your own path in Hollow Knight, an epic action adventure through a vast ruined kingdom of insects and heroes. Explore twisting caverns, battle tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs, all in a classic, hand-drawn 2D style. Paladins – Founder’s Pack – Wield guns and magic as a legendary Champion of the Realm, customizing your core set of abilities to play exactly how you want to play. The Founder’s Pack is now available for $29.99. Paladins will be available as a free-to-start game later this year. Owners of the Founder’s Pack get early access, immediately unlock all Champions and their voice packs now and forever, and receive exclusive cosmetics. LEGO The Incredibles – Experience the thrilling LEGO adventures of the Parr family as they conquer crime and family life through both Disney-Pixar films The Incredibles and Incredibles 2. LEGO The Incredibles allows players to explore action-packed story levels and an epic hub world, including Municiberg, as they use their unique “Super” abilities to bring the city’s Super Villains to justice. The LEGO The Incredibles game for the Nintendo Switch system will be available on June 15. Fallout Shelter – Fallout Shelter puts you in control of a state-of-the-art underground Vault from Vault-Tec. Build the perfect Vault, keep your Dwellers happy, and protect them from the dangers of the Wasteland. From time to time, idyllic Vault life may be disrupted by the dangers of post-nuclear life. Prepare your Dwellers to protect against threats from the outside…and within. New DLC: Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion – Play as an Octoling for the very first time in this large-scale downloadable content for the Splatoon 2 game. This full-on single-player adventure spans 80 missions starring Agent 8, a new character who awakens on a dark subway platform. Navigate this mysterious underground test facility in a desperate battle to reach the surface of Inkopolis. Escape from these twisted depths, and you’ll be able to join multiplayer* matches as an Octoling. You may think you know everything about the world of Splatoon, but these waters run deep, and so does the lore. The Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion DLC is available now. Full game is required to use 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 Challenge Battle Mode as well as Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~ The Golden Country this September. Challenge Battle Mode, launching today at 10 p.m. PT. This additional battle mode will test players’ skills with new battle rules in challenging new scenarios that highlight minor story elements and bring the characters Shulk and Fiora from the original Xenoblade Chronicles into the Nintendo Switch game for the very first time as new Rare Blades. For full patch notes, please visit the Xenoblade Chronicles 2 site. Nintendo eShop sales: Save up to 50 percent on select digital games – Super Smash Bros. is back! Celebrate E3 2018 with savings on select digital games that helped make some of your favorite fighters famous, as well as other great games. Offer starts today at 9 a.m. PT and ends June 21 at 8:59 a.m. PT. 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. Also new this week: ACA NEOGEO SUPER SIDEKICKS 3 : THE NEXT GLORY (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Alchemic Jousts (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Beekyr Reloaded (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Bloons TD 5 (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Chameleon Run Deluxe Edition (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Grab the Bottle (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available June 20 INK (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available June 19 Jolt Family Robot Racer (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Lanota (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Moorhuhn Remake (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Otto (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Parallel (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Pub Encounter (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) R.B.I. Baseball 18 (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Soccer Slammers (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) The Lost Child (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available June 19

After initially releasing on PC in 2016, Owlboy made the leap to consoles this year and joins the illustrious indie game lineup that the Switch has cultivated. This platform/adventure title from D-Pad Studio adds another dimension to the standard 2D exploration genre by giving the main character a set of wings. The gameplay is serviceable, if a bit clunky at times, but the real draw of Owlboy is the gorgeous pixel art design that complements an engaging story in a charming little world. In Owlboy you play as Otus, an anthropomorphic owl who lives in the quiet, peaceful little village of Vellie, situated on floating islands in the sky. As an owl Otus is tasked with keeping the village safe, but when sky pirates attack on his watch he embarks on a quest to set things right. For what initially appears to be a simple, cute adventure story, Owlboy does a fantastic job of tugging on your heartstrings (especially since our protagonist is just so cute). The story also takes a few twists that give it a bit more intrigue and depth than one might assume at first. At the same time though the scope of the story feels a little rushed, as if you were playing through an outline of the plot rather than the full fleshed out game. This doesn't really hurt the experience too much but it does feel like the game should have had more time to let the world-building develop. At its heart Owlboy has all the basic elements of a familiar 2D adventure/platformer, but the flying mechanics and partner system are what set the game apart. As an owl Otus can fly through the air, making Owlboy a uniquely vertical game at times—the closest comparison I could make would be Kid Icarus. There's a small overworld to explore as well as temples with puzzles, hazards, and enemies to defeat. However, Otus doesn't directly receive upgrades or new items—his partners do. Otus can carry one of three partners at any given time, and they are able to shoot or otherwise interact with the world. Aside from adding an interesting visual element this isn't too dissimilar than if Otus carried the weapons himself, but there are times where you need to separate from your partner to solve a puzzle. In fact the game really could have leveraged this idea a little further—as it is the puzzles are generally pretty straight-forward. The real challenge of the game is oftentimes just keeping your bearings as you fly around since there's no in-game map. The game has its share of annoying or frustrating elements as well. For one thing, the controls just never feel right. It's hard to say exactly what feels off about the button mapping but I constantly found myself pushing the wrong button, dodging when I meant to jump, dropping my partner when I meant to swap to a different one. Customizable controls would have at least alleviated some of that confusion. Otus's movements are also kind of slippery—understandable since you're mostly flying/hovering in the air, but it's a real pain when you are just trying to pick up an item and Otus keeps floating just past it. Grabbing items is even more annoying when there are multiple items next to each other. And finally, one old-school game element that was totally unnecessary in Owlboy: knockback on hit. The effect is especially disorienting in Owlboy because you fly backward, dropping your partner, and the resulting animation makes it very easy to lose track of yourself. Additionally, Owlboy seems to have some technical issues on the Switch. The game crashed several times while I was playing, including during the final cutscene which meant I had to redo the final battle in order to finish the cutscene. At least Owlboy auto-saves quite frequently though, so outside of that final battle repeat I never lost significant progress. The visual design in Owlboy is ridiculously charming, especially the animation of the game's protagonist. The developers did a pretty fantastic job of making Otus cute and emotive even with the limits of pixel art. The rest of the character design is great as well, and the environments are beautiful, from the lush jungle settings to the snowy mountain tops. One annoying aspect of the visuals is the excessive use of screen shake when you're hit, but otherwise the graphics are top notch. The music is excellent as well, though my one complaint here is the inconsistently in volume—Owlboy has a bad habit of going from extremely quiet sections to loud, booming songs. The songs themselves are great but the sound mixing could have been better handled. Owlboy isn't a long game, which is also why it feels like the story should have been fleshed out a bit more. You can finish in about seven or eight hours, plus there are a few collectibles to enjoy. Each region of the game has a limited number of coins, which you can use to unlock upgrades. There are also large bonus coins that add to the game's backstory a bit. Scrounging for coins gets to be a little tedious, especially without a map, but it at least adds an extra objective as you progress through the game. Owlboy is a beautifully designed game, one that tells a short but endearing story in a unique environment. I just wish the gameplay was as polished as the graphics and audio. The flying mechanics are fun but rarely feel like they're used to their full potential, while annoying little aspects such as slippery controls eat away at some of the game's charm. There's still a beautiful little game to enjoy here though, even if some features drag it down a bit. Rating: 7 out of 10 Owls

According to a QA person who has worked on Switch games, they say native voice chat on the Switch is open to all devs to use in their games and has been in the SDK since April... Shortly after Splatoon 2 launched people found you could do native voice chat when playing in LAN mode. So, we've quite known for a while that the system is capable of it. It's nice to see Nintendo not forcing 3rd parties forcing to use their app for voice chat, since the Fortnite devs announced on the Trehouse E3 live stream that native voice chat is coming to the game today. Though this makes me wonder if Nintendo only intended the app to be used with 1st party games...? I just hope this is a sign of Nintendo realizing that nobody likes the app and that it was a bad idea to begin with. It'd be nice if Nintendo didn't force use to use the app in first party games like Splatoon 2 and just kept in the functionality as an option for those who wanted it. Still, the whole voice chat app should have just been integrated into the Switch's OS.

.LIVE @ https://e3.nintendo.com/#splatoon-2-world-championship Opening Rounds: 6/11 (3:30 pm - 6:00 pm PT) Finals: 6/12 @ 1:00 pm PT Hey all you squid kids, the opening rounds of the SWC are going down later today! Will you be tuning in? く:彡 Team Spotlight く:彡

Site: https://pokemonquest.pokemon.com/en-us/ Platforms: Nintendo Switch (Avail. Now) | iOS/Android (Coming late June) Price: Free (In-app purchases & DLC) Trailer References Move List (Credit: u/billabong2121) Cooking Recipes List (possible spoilers): Did anyone download this yet? I decided to check this out since it was free and I find it pretty fun for a F2P game. I never really cared for the PKMN Rumble series, but I'm really enjoying PKMN Quest. One thing kinda don't like is how much this was designed around touch controls, especially since your PKMN will automatically move towards enemies. I know there are joy-con controls, but it seems like putting this on Switch was an after thought (I would have liked traditional button controls, especially in the menus). One thing I really like is the the cube-y art style. I find it more appealing then the art style in the Rumble series. I'm not sure how long this will hold my interest, but if it's anything like Nintendo's past F2P games (PKMN Shuffle for example), I may play for quite a bit. Nintendo has always been good with F2P games and not making you feel like you have to pay. Here's my current team:

I'm feelin' pretty confident that we'll get its final name revealed in the E3 direct next week. I'm not too sure about the release date but there's chance that we'll get it in full unless they do a fall/winter timeframe. What do think the final title Super Smash Bros for Nintendo Switch will be called?

Hmmm...Not sure what this could be. Maybe some kind of crossover or more info on the Octo-Expansion? TBH, that really wouldn't shock me. Maybe "Shock the world" is hinting at something? IDK...The only thing that I can think of that would really shock me, is if Nintendo didn't require a subscription to their online to play Splatoon 2 online. 😜 Though, Nintendo wouldn't be that stupid, especially since how popular the game is in JPN.

Who would've thought that you could take pinball, a game format that far predates video games, and make it feel completely fresh and unique in 2018? Developer Villa Gorilla does just that with the beautifully stylish Yoku's Island Express, which stars a dung beetle on his first day on the job as a postman. The best part is that this isn't just an inventive take on pinball mechanics, it's a fantastically crafted Metroidvania adventure game with all of the exploration one expects from the genre, in a charming pinball format. Once you're pulled into exploring the hills and caverns of Yoku's Island Express, with all of its flippers and bumpers, it's hard to put down. Our dung beetle protagonist arrives on Mokumana Island ready to start delivering letters and packages. His inaugural day as postman is quickly turned upside down when he learns someone has attacked the island's protector god, and now Yoku needs to assemble the three chiefs to help put things right. And if you can't count on the postman to help save an island, who can you trust? There isn't an abundance of writing in Yoku's Island Express but it has just enough to establish the charming island setting full of adorable creatures. And even if the game doesn't indulge in long cutscenes or exposition you still get the sense that there's a rich history to the island and the game's world in general—certainly enough to build a sequel or two off of. So what does a pinball Metroidvania even entail? Well, Yoku can move left and right and interact with certain objects or talk to the island's inhabitants, but the crux of the game is based on using flippers to launch Yoku through tunnels or high into the air. There are sequences that are set up like a classic pinball game: left and right flippers, bumpers, spinners—even a pit to fall into if your timing is poor. Most people are familiar with pinball, which helps make Yoku's Island Express easily accessible for any player, and getting the ball to spin through various tunnels and bumpers is always satisfying. Of course, it can sometimes be tricky to get the ball exactly where you want it to go in pinball, and in this game you often need to aim for a specific passageway or tunnel in order to collect a key item or otherwise progress, so sometimes the game feels a little difficult to manage. However, there are no significant penalties for messing up. There's no timer over your head and you can't die, so even if you do find yourself a little frustrated you'll never lose anything in the game. It helps that Yoku's Island Express gives you plenty of small goals and side quests to interact with, so you're always engaged and eager to complete the next mission. Everywhere on the island you'll find fruit in bubbles. The fruit acts as a sort of currency; spend them to unlock flippers/launchers that can take you to new parts of the island, or purchase items from a handful of characters. Collecting fruit to unlock new areas to collect more fruit to unlock new areas—it's a perfect little exploration gameplay feedback loop, one that compels you to keep playing, keep exploring, because there's always something new to uncover. You'll also discover items and abilities that allow you to reach new areas, encouraging you to backtrack and discover everything the island has to offer. It's Metroidvania gameplay philosophy at its finest. Even though the island isn't really that large there's so much to uncover that Yoku's Island Express is still a good nine or ten hours long. Like other Metroidvania games you could probably speed through it in a fraction of the time but that'd be depriving yourself of all of the unique side quests, like helping a giant mushroom find new soil to spread its spores. And of course there's plenty of stuff to collect, so completionists will enjoy finding every secret that Mokumana has to offer. However, there are a couple of areas where Yoku's Island Express could be a little easier to explore and backtrack. Repeating certain pinball sections can actually be rather confusing if you can't remember exactly which path or tunnel is meant to send you forward or backward. None of the pinball sequences are so long that this is a huge problem, but it still would have been a little more convenient to be able to quickly skip some areas. Also the game's map, while beautifully drawn, is pretty difficult to read, especially if you're trying to find collectibles that you've missed. You almost have to be playing in handheld mode, with the screen close to your face, to be able to clearly find what paths you need to take. These aspects don't make the game any less fun, but they do make it a bit inconvenient at times. Right from the start Yoku's Island Express is just an absolutely charming game. The character designs are adorable but more importantly there's something incredibly tranquil about the game as a whole. Obviously this isn't a game based around intense combat or anything like that but still, the developers clearly built the visuals and music around a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere—perfect for an island vacation kind of game. Aside from the ridiculously cute characters the environments have been beautifully hand-painted with plenty of rich colors, whether it's on the tropical beach, snowy mountain top, or even the dark caverns under the island. The music is just wonderful as well—I could listen to the main theme on a loop for hours—although if anything the soundtrack gets too muted and atmospheric at times. It generally suits the environments, like the aforementioned caves, but the first few tracks are so delightfully upbeat that I kind of wished they all could be like that. Yoku's Island Express is guaranteed to charm you from the second you start playing. The entire atmosphere of the game is so delightfully vibrant and buoyant, from the colorful scenery and infectious music to the adorable island inhabitants. Then the gameplay pulls you in with the simplicity of familiar pinball mechanics crossed with Metroidvania exploration to create a wonderfully original experience. In many ways Yoku's Island Express exemplifies the best of indie gaming: talented developers working on original ideas to create a game truly unlike any other. Rating: 9 out of 10 Pinballs

The Tonight Show performed Ariana Grande's "No Tears Left to Cry", using nothing but LABO. Yes, that's right! All sounds were created using LABO. I'm surprised nobody has done this sooner (vid from a few weeks ago BTW), given all the crazy/amazing stuff people have created since LABO launched. Instrument list:

A retweet of Nintendo Japan Twitter account about the E3 2018 Direct from Sakurai. Google translate the tweet from Sakurai as: " Of course, I will introduce something. Such a long time, after a long absence..." Can't wait to see how much younger he'll look next week.

It's a little surprising that there aren't more comedies in the world of video games. Granted, gaming naturally lends itself to grand adventures with tons of action, but comedy, particularly witty humor, is woefully underrepresented. The good news is West of Loathing, from developer Asymmetric, perfectly fills that niche while still delivering an excellent little RPG adventure. Players can enjoy all of the item collecting, turn-based combat, and dialogue trees that one expects from an RPG, but West of Loathing's oddball sense of humor adds a charm and levity to the adventure, from the first spittoon you investigate to your last demonic cow battle. The story begins when you head out west from your family's little farm to seek your fortune in one of three character classes: Cow Puncher, Snake Oiler, or Beanslinger. After a short tutorial in the town of Boring Springs you make your way to Dirtwater, your base of operations while you explore mines, pickle factories, and traveling circuses. West of Loathing wastes no time in getting silly, but there's something to be said for the breadth of humor in the game: puns, sight gags, clever dialogue, etc. What the game does so well is naturally weaving the comedy throughout every inch of this RPG adventure: character interactions are delightfully goofy, the items you find are bizarre, and the first perk you pick up is called Stupid Walking which makes your character, well, walk stupidly across the screen. Comedy can be challenging in a text-based format, but West of Loathing has a knack for landing its jokes. It's often tempting, in a lengthy RPG, to skip over flavor text and focus on the gameplay, but it is definitely worth enjoying every line of text here, because you'll always find something weird and witty. It may sound like West of Loathing is just a goofy game in every sense, but there's actually a solid RPG adventure here with plenty of depth to enjoy. There may be an emphasis on jokes and humor but there are still a variety of side quests to tackle, dozens of locations to explore, and a satisfying variety to the gameplay that lets you tackle challenges in different ways depending upon your skills and perks. It really is an open-world RPG, one that is incredibly easy to lose yourself in thanks to the wealth of tasks and items to collect. There's always something new to discover, and the best part is you're often rewarded for examining everything with some unique humor—even when you're exploring the depths of a well-used spittoon. It's not just dialogue trees and comedy in West of Loathing, though. There's a turn-based combat system which, even though you can only select a few characters to use, has a decent amount of variety to it. Your character class obviously affects your battle skills, and combined with the numerous items you can discover throughout your quest you have a good amount of options in battle. The difficulty of combat can feel pretty inconsistent, though. You can generally defeat single enemies without any effort at all, but groups of enemies, even if they aren't particularly powerful, pose a significant threat just through sheer numbers. As such battles bounce between boringly easy to desperate brawls where you employ every item you have. A little more consistency in the combat difficulty would have been useful, though on the bright side there are plenty of instances where you can avoid combat entirely using some other skill to trick or talk down enemies. West of Loathing also has some item management problems. There is a ridiculous number of items you can pick up—weapons, consumables, hats, you name it. The inventory screen, however, could be much better organized, with better division between item categories, or just an easier way to sort them yourself. Similarly the side quest management system leaves something to be desired. You can consult your partner for a quick reminder but it's not a very efficient recap of what you're working on. These problems don't spoil the experience, but they're consistent minor annoyances throughout the adventure. If you were to race through the story missions you could probably finish the entire game in just a few hours, but why would you want to do that? A big part of the charm of open-world RPGs is taking your time to explore, and West of Loathing's humor makes every investigation worthwhile. Still, this isn't the type of game that eats up all of your free time for months on end. An average playthrough will probably be closer to ten hours, although with its different character classes and dialogue choices you could easily replay the game a couple of times for a decently unique experience. This is definitely a game that you cannot judge by its cover. Sure the stick figure graphics may seem silly at a glance, but there's a certain charm to the art style. The longer you play the more you'll appreciate the unique look of stick figures in a 3D diorama-style setting. And of course, the simple graphics help the game lean into the comedy/absurdity angle—this is a game that doesn't take itself too seriously, which allows for plenty of gags. The music, meanwhile, has a suitably Western lilt to it, though even here the developers manage to give the game a fun, comedic sense of personality. It's enough to keep your toes tappin' while you investigate suspicious saloons and hippie-infested forts. West of Loathing is a farcical take on Western adventures that will keep you grinning from start to finish. Other games might have comedic moments, but West of Loathing weaves a consistently hilarious and oftentimes bizarre sense of style that encompasses the story, gameplay, and (clearly) the visuals. Best of all, the humor is perfectly balanced with engaging RPG gameplay that keeps you eager to explore every inch of the game's stick figure Western environment. Switch owners couldn't ask for a better example of comedic video games than this. Rating: 9 out of 10 Hats Review copy provided by the publisher West of Loathing is available now on the Switch eShop for $11.00.

The first Runner game was released as part of the Bit.Trip series, an extra-challenging collection of different gameplay styles, all presented in sharp, minimalist graphics. Runner2 leapt into a whole other dimension with HD graphics but retained the first game's penchant for difficult, rhythm-based action gameplay. Now Runner3 once again expands on the formula with a new collection of surreal and delightful levels that will test the limits of your dodging abilities. Some aspects make the game a bit more repetitive than it needs to be but new gameplay features add invaluable tools to CommanderVideo's running repertoire. Even though there are cutscenes (of a sort) in Runner3, this isn't a game you play for the story. That's not to say the writing is bad—far from it, actually. The game is rife with hilarious, absurd, and surreal world building, and the developers clearly delight in making Charles Martinet recite tongue-twisting narrations. There are also optional cutscenes that you can only see if you collect all stickers within a world, and the charming paper-craft puppet theater presentation makes the effort well worth it. The overarching plot still boils down to "beat the bad guys," but the path to get there is so delightfully bizarre that Runner3 always manages to surprise you, in very strange ways. When you look back on the game though it won't be the story that sticks in your mind, it'll be the challenging rhythm gameplay. Runner3 builds off of the rhythmic-running gameplay of the previous two games: CommanderVideo (or whichever character you choose to use) always moves forward, and your job is to dodge obstacles by jumping, sliding, and kicking. One of the best things about the Runner games is that the basic concept is almost endlessly playable. Even if this game just used the above three inputs there could conceivably be hundreds of levels created around different songs and combinations of obstacles. And Runner3 does a fantastic job of creating varied levels so there's always a new challenge to tackle. Of course, Runner3 doesn't just retread old concepts. There are some important new features here, including two invaluable input methods: double jump and fast drop. Anyone that played previous Runner games will understand that these are game changers, not just because they provide for new obstacles but because they give you the chance to change up CommanderVideo's movements. Essentially, you have some options when it comes to certain obstacles—in previous games every obstacle has one action to overcome it (jump over low hazards, duck under high ones, etc.). In Runner3 however, there's some wiggle room now, and you don't have to be quite so precise with the rhythm. Obviously the game is still based around the rhythmic action, but if you're off a little bit or make a mistake you won't necessarily fail. Double jumping in particular provides a useful safety net, while fast dropping lets you be incredibly precise with your jumps. In a way these features make Runner3 possibly the most accessible of the Runner games. Now I'll temper that last statement by saying Runner3 is still a very difficult game. Even with the benefit of double jumping you cannot afford to make mistakes—one hit sends you back to the start of the level or the mid-way checkpoint. All of the Runner games are known for their difficulty though and this one is mostly on par with them, except for the optional extra-difficult levels (appropriately named "impossible levels") which may leave you cross-eyed and cursing just to finish the level, much less collect all of the gold and gems. Runner pros will enjoy the challenge but don't take the impossible levels lightly. Not all of the new features in Runner3 are totally positive, though. For one thing, each level now has two paths, the second of which only unlocks after completing the level once. It's a neat concept but in practice it gets a little tiring having to replay a level repeatedly, especially because the alternate paths only make up a small portion of the level. It's also a little obnoxious that, in order to grab stickers or other collectibles for hero quests, you often have to go off the beaten path, meaning you'll miss out on gold or gems. It's understandable that they'd be a little hidden since they're optional collectibles but the completionist in me is annoyed that you miss out on gold or gems to get them. Thankfully collectibles stay with you if you fail and restart, so you can actually just grab one then immediately die to get back on track. This is kind of an unnecessary workaround though, and the game really shouldn't expect the player to sacrifice one attempt just for collectibles. The controls are easy enough to learn as you play more and more—you'll want the inputs to be completely second nature. One minor tip though: turn off rumble if you're playing in handheld mode. When you're dying over and over the rumble starts to get a little annoying. Runner3 continues Runner2's tradition of completely bonkers art design, and it's fantastic. Half of the visuals look like something out of a fever dream—I'd actually recommend letting someone else play for a bit so you can take in the graphics and scenery without focusing on obstacles. The character design is also completely insane and oftentimes it seems like the developers enjoy skirting the line between hilarious and gross. Still, the surreal art style is just part of Runner3's charm, and anyone would have to admit that it's a unique, memorable style. And of course the game wouldn't be what it is without a phenomenal soundtrack, one that is just as weird as the visuals at times but is always infectiously catchy. (Give it a listen) Each track is perfect for a rhythm game: you get into the groove of the music and let it inform your movements on screen. Charles Martinet also returns as narrator (and as an unlockable playable character!) and gives the entire game a wonderfully charming, 80s Saturday morning cartoon vibe. Compared to Runner2, Runner3 cuts down on the number of levels and brings the selection down to three worlds of ten levels each, plus three impossible levels in each world and three retro worlds. To be fair though, the levels feel significantly longer than previous games, and generally display more complex level design as well. The $30 price tag feels a little high, but there's a lot of quality content here, especially for completionists. Runner3 introduces some fantastic new features to the franchise's gameplay while still providing an incredibly challenging adventure full of surreal visuals and wonderfully catchy tunes. Runner fans will love having a new selection of challenges that perfectly blend fast-paced action and rhythmic gameplay, and new players might be drawn in by the game's incomparable sense of style and new mechanics that make the gameplay slightly more forgiving. Either way, it's great to see another adventure for CommanderVideo and friends. Rating: 8 out of 10 Runners

This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch Pokémon Quest – Set off for adventure in the Pokémon Quest game. Venture out with your Pokémon buddies on expeditions across Tumblecube Island in search of loot in this free-to-start action-adventure for the Nintendo Switch system. Modify your Pokémon buddies with discovered Power Stones to make your ultimate expedition team. With a cube-shaped art style, Pokémon Quest is unlike any Pokémon game you’ve seen before. The simple gameplay makes it easy to hop into expeditions and start exploring Tumblecube Island with the help of your Pokémon buddies. Afterwards, head back to your base camp where you can use the loot you found during your adventure to befriend more Pokémon. Attract various Kanto Region Pokémon to your base camp by cooking up dishes made with collected ingredients! You can even decorate your base camp with fun items that provide helpful bonuses that make your expeditions more beneficial. Just Shapes & Beats – Just Shapes & Beats is a chaotic co-op musical bullet-hell based on three simple things: avoid Shapes, move to the rad Beats, and die, repeatedly. It’s a new spin on SHMUPs, adding a layer of co-op that's at the core of the game: 'cause everything is better with friends. Hits like a ton of bricks straight into your eardrums and your eyeballs; BAM! (Additional accessories may be required for multiplayer mode. Sold separately.) West of Loathing – West of Loathing is a single-player slapstick comedy adventure role-playing game set in the Wild West of the Kingdom of Loathing universe. Traverse snake-infested gulches, punch skeletons wearing cowboy hats, grapple with demon cows and investigate a wide variety of disgusting spittoons. Explore a vast open world and encounter a colorful cast of characters, some of whom are good, many of whom are bad, and a few of whom are ugly. 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: Mario Tennis Aces Pre-Launch Online Tournament Demo Event – The Mario Tennis Aces game launches June 22, but we’re offering an early chance to polish your skills in the Pre-Launch Online Tournament demo event featuring online tournament mode. Jump online and fight your way to the top of the in-game bracket in frenetic tennis matches. The more rivals you beat, the more points you will earn, which will unlock more playable characters in the demo. This event will only be active for the short time period between 6 p.m. PT on June 1 and 11:59 p.m. PT on June 3. By participating and keeping your save data, you can unlock Mario’s classic outfit in the full version of the game once purchased, so don’t miss out! My Nintendo Rewards – My Nintendo is kicking off your summer vacation with new rewards. You can redeem your points and receive up to 50 percent discounts on some fun select games: Getting together with friends? These games feature multiplayer* fun! Tank Troopers, Kirby Fighters Deluxe, Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon Try these fun adventures that are even more fun with friends. Fantasy Life, Pocket Card Jockey Traveling to France this summer? Get the Nintendo 3DS Guide: Louvre software! Having a staycation this summer? These games are fun to play by yourself or with a buddy.* Paper Mario: Color Splash, Mario Strikers Charged, Mario Hoops 3-on-3 *Additional games and systems are required for multiplayer mode and are sold separately. For more info, please visit https://my.nintendo.com. Also new this week: ACA NEOGEO NINJA COMBAT (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Defoliation (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Enigmatis 2: The Mists of Ravenwood (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) FOX n FORESTS (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Happy Birthdays (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available June 5 ICEY (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Johnny Turbo’s Arcade Joe and Mac Caveman Ninja (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Kid Tripp – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Lost Sea (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Neonwall – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available June 1 Pirate Pop Plus (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Quad Fighter K (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Shape of the World (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available June 6 Shift Quantum (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) SilverStarChess (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Smoke and Sacrifice (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Super Sportmatchen (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available June 5 Them Bombs! (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Trax - Build it Race it (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) World Soccer Pinball (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Yesterday Origins (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Masked Forces (Nintendo eShop on Wii U) Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS) Dragon Lapis (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS) Kid Tripp – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)

Release date is October 2, 2018.

Looks like hackers have made their way into Splatoon 2's online multiplayer. Players have noticed some people using overpowered weapons, custom weapon sets, using gear that hasn't been released yet, and even using Octolings, which aren't supposed to be playable until the Octo-Expansion DLC this Summer. Apparently, Splatoon 2 has nothing in place to prevent this, which is, odd, since Splatoon on the Wii U did have measures in place to prevent this. I haven't noticed any hackers, as have I haven't played Splatoon 2 in a while, but if Nintendo lets this get any worse, this is enough to make me never touch the game again. Nintendo better fix this before we have to start paying for online in Sept. or else people are gonging to be pissed and stop playing. Online multiplayer is the core of Splatoon and if people stop playing because of hackers, just image all those sales they'll lose, especailly in JPN, cuz as you know JPN is obsessed with Splatoon. Sure, you can just play with friends online or play with friends locally, but sales would still take a big hit. At least Nintendo seems to be starting to do something about hackers, as they recently banned a number of Switch owner's systems from going online, including one prominent member of the Switch hacking community (Yes, this even includes the eShop).

Anyone notice that Nintendo has essentially repeated the year 2014 with Switch releases this year? Bayonetta 2, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Hyrule Warriors…there's even going to be another Super Smash Bros. game later this year! I suppose we can cut them some slack though, since all of those were excellent games on the Wii U and they're still fantastic on the Switch. Hyrule Warriors in particular benefits from a number of improvements introduced in the 3DS version of the game, and Switch owners don't even have to pay extra for the extensive amount of content that was originally paid DLC. The subtitle here is no exaggeration—if you want the full Hyrule Warriors experience, look no further than Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition. This is literally the third time I've written a review for Hyrule Warriors so let's just quickly run through the essential details: it's a Musou game meaning you cut through thousands of enemies on each map and battle powerful bosses big and small. Each level throws dozens of key targets and objectives at you and you'll have to work quickly to complete everything with the time and characters you're given. Hyrule Warriors draws upon some of the most memorable characters from the Zelda franchise (as well as a few oddball choices) and makes them playable in this hack 'n' slash adventure. The entire game is a trip down memory lane, including remixed/reimagined locations and music from past Zelda titles. This game definitely leverages your nostalgia for the Zelda series but at its core it's also a really fun, frantic, and addictive action game. As the Definitive Edition this includes all of the DLC on the cartridge as well as all of the features that the 3DS version added, including Linkle's Tale, the Wind Waker content, all of the adventure maps, etc. When you look at it all it almost feels like an endless supply of content: 32 levels in story mode (each of which can be pretty long) plus 9 adventure maps which are made up of dozens of short challenges. Although all of the DLC characters are present here you still need to unlock them, as well as unlock new weapons, costumes, fairies—there really is a ridiculous amount of content here if you choose to play it all, and in this version you can play it on the TV or in handheld mode, solo or with a friend. Much like the Switch itself this Definitive Edition takes the best of both worlds from the Wii U and 3DS versions. One of the few new features is the ability to buy item cards on adventure maps after you've unlocked that item at least once. In order to unlock everything on an adventure map you sometimes need to use items to uncover secrets: burn a bush, bomb a wall, push a statue—all standard Zelda adventurer's fare. You earn items by completing adventure map stages but previously you'd have to replay stages to have enough items to cover all of the secrets on a map (especially if you make mistakes and waste items). Now you can just spend a few rupees, so the process is much less repetitive. On the downside, some aspects of Hyrule Warriors are definitely beginning to show their age. After last year's Fire Emblem Warriors some features feel outdated, or just don't work as smoothly as you might like. Specifically, giving your ally characters orders is less robust than in FEW. The AI allies have never been particularly powerful in these games but at least in FEW you could specify actions better. Also, if you tell an ally to move to an area, they never "forget" that command. If you take control of them and move them somewhere else, they'll still follow the previous command and return to that point. It's just inconvenient to have to babysit ally commands so much. Hyrule Warriors looks great on the TV, which shouldn't be any surprise, but it also runs pretty well in handheld mode. There are definitely some dips in frame rate while undocked, which is most noticeable during the intro/outro animations of characters and stages, but rarely do the frame rate dips interfere with the gameplay. Otherwise this Definitive Edition retains the stylish art design and infectious, remixed soundtrack of the original game, both of which can be a treat for longtime Zelda fans. Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition is mostly the same game we saw in 2014 and in 2016, but the combination of features offers everything you could want from the game in one handy, portable Switch title. If you've only played the Wii U version, you're getting the benefit of all of the DLC and Legends add-ons. If you've played the 3DS version, you're getting the benefit of a higher quality resolution plus features like co-op. If you've played both you're probably a huge Zelda fan and will want to buy this one anyway. Regardless of your familiarity with Hyrule Warriors, the Definitive Edition is a wonderfully addictive action game and remains a delightful love letter to Zelda's storied history. Rating: 8 out of 10 Rupees

Punch Club from developer Lazy Bear Games and publisher tinyBuild takes an unusual approach to the fighting game genre—you don't actually fight at all in this game! Punch Club is a sim game and challenges you with balancing work with training to become the next champion boxer. Along the way there are a variety of side quests and branching paths that can make each playthrough unique. The concept of the game represents a fun combination of sim and fighting game elements, but in practice the game falls into an incredibly repetitive grind. It turns out training to be a champion fighter isn't all that fun. This game loves the 80s. As a boxer training to become a champion the similarities to Rocky are easily apparent, but there are tons of other pop culture references to films, comics, and games mostly from the 80s, the heyday of stories about strongmen fighting their way to glory. And Punch Club is smart enough to not take this kind of storyline too seriously. The writing is full of humor and the soap operatic twists in the plot are more comical than dramatic. And to be fair to the developers it is rather impressive that they included branching story elements since at first glance this isn't the type of game where you'd expect to find such attention to detail. On the other hand the game is littered with typos, but we can overlook those when the game's writing is focused on pop culture humor. Like other sim games the main challenge of Punch Club is in balancing your time effectively so you're never too low on money, health, hunger, or sleep. And to become a great fighter you'll need to hit the gym regularly to build up strength, agility, and stamina. Once you win fights you can also customize your fighter through four skill trees to focus on one stat and unlock more powerful attacks or helpful passive effects. The game doesn't do a great job of explaining things when you first start off though, so there's an added layer of difficulty in figuring out what is actually useful to you as a fighter and what will be wasting your time. In fact, the game throws so many elements at you in the first few days that new players will most likely be genuinely lost for a while. Once you find a rhythm of work, training, and taking on side quests the game starts to feel a little more rewarding, but be prepared to work through some confusing moments at first. What makes Punch Club particularly difficult though, and also rather tiresome after a while, is stat decay. For each day that passes in-game your strength, agility, and stamina stats will go decrease (the higher the stat, the more it decreases). This can be a real pain at first since your time and money are so limited that essentially any decay is a huge setback for your fighting career, and even later on once you've established a strong regimen the looming problem of stat decay means you're kind of stuck doing the same thing day in and day out, even moreso than other sim games. The need to train regularly may be fairly realistic for a professional fighter but it doesn't make Punch Club fun—it just turns the entire game into an endless grind. It certainly doesn't help that most everything in the game is automated, i.e. you select a task and your fighter just does it with no further button input from you, even when you fight. You'll select your attack commands at the beginning of each round but after that you just watch the fight unfold which can be extremely frustrating at times when your character performs poorly and there's nothing you can do about it. Thankfully you can at least hold ZR to speed up the fight but it's still an unfortunate combination of dull and frustrating to watch fights unfold. And sadly Punch Club suffers from some technical issues as well. There are general bugs in the experience that can disrupt the gameplay in minor ways, but there are also significant problems that can completely stall your progress. At that point it hardly seems worth struggling through the game's long grind again. On the bright side there is an easy mode in this version of Punch Club which eliminates stat decay, which reduces a large part of the game's grind. The charm of training daily/balancing your other life goals is still tepid at best but easy mode really is a much less tiring experience. With all of its references to the 80s it's fitting that the graphics are quite retro as well—not quite as simple as 80s game design, but the pixel artwork definitely evokes a sense of the past. They're definitely charming in their own way but at the same time there's not a lot that is particularly unique in the art design either. The scenery is well detailed but the characters have a bland stiffness to their movements. The music also has some suitably nostalgic vibes but also lacks a unique hook to make it stand out—if anything it just starts to sound droning as you work through the grind of the game day in and day out. Punch Club takes a big swing on a unique combination of gameplay elements, but the hit doesn't quite connect. The number of side stories and options is impressive and the pop culture references are fun to spot, but the grind that the core mechanics are based around, particularly a grind that plays itself most of the time, overshadows almost all of that. At the end of the day Punch Club feels more like work than play, with only a minimal sense of satisfaction as you rise through the boxing ranks. Rating: 5 out of 10 Punches Review copy provided by the publisher Punch Club is available now on the Switch eShop for $14.99.

This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection– Celebrate Street Fighter’s historic legacy with the Street Fighter 30thAnniversary Collection, a massive collection of 12 Street Fighter games that encompass the Street Fighter I, Street Fighter II, Street Fighter III and Street Fighter Alpha series. The Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection will be available May 29. Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon – Play as Zangetsu, a demon slayer bearing a deep grudge, who must travel through perilous lands to defeat a powerful demon lurking in a dark castle. Zangetsu will meet fellow travelers along the way, who can join your journey as playable characters. Alternating to these characters with their unique abilities will unlock new paths through the treacherous stages. Your choices in recruiting these adventurers will change the difficulty of the game, and may even affect the ending. Ikaruga – A rebel pilot named Shinra must battle an enemy nation using a specially designed fighter called the Ikaruga, which can alternate between two energy polarities (black or white) at the touch of a button. Bullets that are the same color as Shinra’s ship can be absorbed, while the opposite color will do damage. The Ikaruga game will be available on May 29. Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido(Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS) – The free Nintendo Switch demo for this sushi-eating, plate-throwing puzzle-action-RPG and the option to pre-purchase is now available in Nintendo eShop. The Nintendo 3DS version is also now available for pre-purchase. Nintendo 3DS version playable in 2D only. Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS Dillon’s Dead-Heat Breakers – As a team, defend a post-apocalyptic Wild West from an invasion of transforming rock monsters alongside your Mii character, Dillon the armadillo and his squirrel engineer, Russ. Recruit hired gunners to back you up in battle, and then roll into fights and high-speed chases and take down waves of enemies as Dillon, the “Red Flash” himself. A free demo version of the game is also available for download. New DLC: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – New DLC is releasing for owners of the Xenoblade Chronicles 2 game and the 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. New Quests Pack 3, launching today at 10 p.m. PT. A Smith’s Pastime (Talk to Chulev at Garfont Village, Uraya.) A Hat Fit for a Lady (Talk to Beemer at Fonsa Myma Port, Uraya. Available from Chapter 5.) Making Love Source (Stay at the inn in Argentum. Req. Poppi QT. Available from Chapter 7.) A Mercenary’s Honor (Go to Royal Guard Barracks. Finish “Beneath the Aurora” quest. Available from Chapter 10.) Merclibay’s Mightiest (Find Caephon at Rig. Harbor, Leftheria. Req. Electra & Zenobia & Herald. Available from Ch. 10.) 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: My Nintendo Dillon’s Rolling WesternWallpaper – To celebrate the Dillon’s Dead-Heat Breakers game launch, My Nintendo is offering two wallpapers featuring the armadillo hero, Dillon, redeemable with My Nintendo Points. For more info, please visit https://my.nintendo.com/ and check out the Smart device/PC rewards section. Nintendo Labo Contest Winner – Three winning creations for the Best Decorated Toy-Con category will be announced on May 25. Visit the My Nintendo - Nintendo Labo Creators Contest site now. You can still enter the contest category, “Best Original Invention Using Toy-Con Garage.” Take some inspiration from the contest submissions on the contest site. You can also filter submissions by selecting the “Invention: Original Toy-Con” menu. Don't forget to give a “like” to the ones that you liked. Void where prohibited. Open to legal residents of the U.S. and Canada, ages 13+. Nintendo Switch system and Nintendo Labo kit required. Contest begins 11AM PT on 4/20/18 and ends at 10:59AM PT on 5/11/18 for the Best Decorated Toy-Con Contest Category, 10:59AM PT on 5/25/18 for the Best Toy-Con Mod Using Toy-Con Garage Contest Category, and 10:59AM PT on 6/15/18 for the Best Original Invention Using Toy-Con Garage Contest Category. To enter, upload your photo or video of your Toy-Con creation or invention as detailed in the Official Rules. 9 winners will each receive One (1) Nintendo Labo Variety Kit (ARV: $ $69.99 USD) or Nintendo Labo Robot Kit (ARV: $79.99 USD), one (1) Nintendo Labo Creators Jacket (ARV: $ 70.00 USD), and one (1) award certificate (ARV: $ 70.00 USD). ARV of each prize package: $209.99-$219.99 USD. Total ARV of all prizes: $1,889.91-$1,979.91 USD. Chances of winning a prize depend on eligibility and quality of entries received, and how well each meets the judging criteria. Details and restrictions apply. For Official Rules, visit https://labo.nintendo.com/share/#!/contest-rules Sponsor: Nintendo of America Inc. Also new this week: 6180 the moon (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) ACA NEOGEO TOP PLAYER’S GOLF(Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Arcade Archives Ikki (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) ATOMINE (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 25 Baobabs Mausoleum Ep.1: Ovnifagos Don’t Eat Flamingos (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Dead Fun Pack: Penguins and Aliens Strike Again (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Die for Valhalla! (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 29 Discovery (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Dungeon Rushers (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 25 Escape Game: Aloha (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Fallen Legion: Rise to Glory (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 29 Harvest Moon: Light of Hope Special Edition(Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 29 Jumping Joe & Friends (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 25 Jurassic Pinball (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 25 Knights of Pen and Paper +1 Deluxier Edition(Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 29 Legend of Kay Anniversary (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 29 Mecha Storm (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 25 N++ (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) PixelJunk Monsters 2 – Full and Demo Versions (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 25 Punch Club (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Yoku’s Island Express (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 29 Zen Bound 2 (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Cycle of Eternity: Space Anomaly (Nintendo eShop on Wii U)

This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition – Cut down enemy hordes as characters from the Legend of Zelda series. You even play co-op multiplayer with a friend on one system! All features and downloadable content from past versions of the game, including My Fairy mode and elements from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, can be enjoyed in crisp HD on the Nintendo Switch system. The fate of Hyrule rests in your hands! The Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition game will be available on May 18. Runner3 – The Timbletot is determined to rid the multiverse of all its love and happiness. CommanderVideo, a lover if ever there were one, refuses to let this happen. He’s ready to jump, double-jump, wall-jump, slide-jump, slide, kick, float, drive, fly and dance his way to victory, all across a medley of thrilling, challenging and joyous levels. The Runner3 game will be available on May 22. Little Nightmares Complete Edition – Do you remember your childhood fears? Immerse yourself in the Little Nightmares Complete Edition game, a dark whimsical tale that will confront you with your childhood fears as you help Six & The Kid escape The Maw – a vast, mysterious vessel inhabited by corrupted souls looking for their next meal. Little Nightmares Complete Edition will be available on May 18. Mega Man Legacy Collection – The Mega Man Legacy Collection game is a celebration of the 8-bit history of Capcom’s iconic Blue Bomber. Featuring faithful reproductions of the series’ origins with the original six Mega Man games, the Legacy Collection will remind longtime fans and introduce newcomers to what made Mega Man such a popular and iconic character. Mega Man Legacy Collection will be available on May 22. Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 – The Blue Bomber is back in this second collection of classic Mega Man games. Featuring faithful reproductions of Mega Man 7, 8, 9, & 10, this collection spans the iconic series’ evolution and retro revolution. Take on the nefarious Dr. Wily and his diverse Robot Masters in these timeless 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit adventures. The Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 game will be available on May 22. 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: Nintendo Labo Creators Contest for Best Toy-Con Mod Using Toy-Con Garage Ends Next Week – 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 Toy-Con mod using Toy-Con Garage” contest ends on 10:59 a.m. PT on May 25, 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! * Void where prohibited. Open to legal residents of the U.S. and Canada, ages 13+. Nintendo Switch system and Nintendo Labo kit required. Contest begins 11AM PT on 4/20/18 and ends at 10:59AM PT on 5/11/18 for the Best Decorated Toy-Con Contest Category, 10:59AM PT on 5/25/18 for the Best Toy-Con Mod Using Toy-Con Garage Contest Category, and 10:59AM PT on 6/15/18 for the Best Original Invention Using Toy-Con Garage Contest Category. To enter, upload your photo or video of your Toy-Con creation or invention as detailed in the Official Rules. 9 winners will each receive One (1) Nintendo Labo Variety Kit (ARV: $ $69.99 USD) or Nintendo Labo Robot Kit (ARV: $79.99 USD), one (1) Nintendo Labo Creators Jacket (ARV: $ 70.00 USD), and one (1) award certificate (ARV: $ 70.00 USD). ARV of each prize package: $209.99-$219.99 USD. Total ARV of all prizes: $1,889.91-$1,979.91 USD. Chances of winning a prize depend on eligibility and quality of entries received, and how well each meets the judging criteria. Details and restrictions apply. For Official Rules, visit https://labo.nintendo.com/share/#!/contest-rules Sponsor: Nintendo of America Inc. Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition My Nintendo Rewards – To celebrate the Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition game launch, My Nintendo is offering themed rewards, including two free character printables (printable 1 and 2) and a new wallpaper redeemable with My Nintendo points. Check out more rewards at https://my.nintendo.com/news/e5335141c5d8c4dd. Theme Shop on Nintendo 3DS: New themes this week include: Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux Theme Also new this week: ACA NEOGEO BASEBALL STARS PROFESSIONAL (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Banner Saga 1 (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Calculation Castle: Greco's Ghostly Challenge "Addition" (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Calculation Castle: Greco's Ghostly Challenge "Division" (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Calculation Castle: Greco's Ghostly Challenge "Multiplication" (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Calculation Castle: Greco's Ghostly Challenge "Subtraction" (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Disco Dodgeball - REMIX (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 22 Fairune Collection (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) FRAMED Collection (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Happy Birthdays – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 22 Henry The Hamster Handler (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 18 Ice Cream Surfer (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Invisiballs (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Johnny Turbo’s Arcade: Super Burger Time (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Kitten Squad (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Never Stop (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Urban Trial Playground – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) White Night (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Block-a-Pix Color (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)

The new Yoshi game is coming soon for Switch but we have not seen a lot about it. Me and my brother have been wondering why we have not seen more of it by now. My thoughts have gone towards they are Labo-izing the game. The cardboard constructions shown in the known stages kinda lead to this. They didn't say anything initially cause Labo itself hadn't been announced. Question here is, what could they use it for? Customizable Dinos? Customizable eggs for "throwing"? What are your thoughts?

This could be pretty sweet if done right. Though TBH, I'd be kinda disappointed if Retro was working on a Star Fox spin-off all this time, especially since they're not MP4.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was one of the best games on the Wii U, so it's great to see it get a new, funkier life on the Switch. Just like their previous work on Donkey Kong Country Returns, Retro Studios did an absolutely amazing job of capturing the core concepts that made Donkey Kong Country such a blast on the SNES while also injecting a wealth of new content, all amidst an absolutely gorgeous setting and soundtrack. The only thing that might hold back this Switch version is the fact that there isn't a ton of new content if you already played the Wii U version, But the game is good enough that you'll likely enjoy a second playthrough regardless. Tropical Freeze on the Switch doesn't change anything about the story or core gameplay. As in the Wii U original the villainous Snowmad vikings invade Donkey Kong's home, freezing the entire island using a magic horn, completely ruining DK's birthday party. Understandably the Kongs set out for revenge, traversing multiple islands to reach the Snowmads' magic flying ship at the peak of DK island. It's pretty much the quintessential platformer setup—short, sweet, and gives a good reason to travel to multiple locations. In case you haven't played the original or have merely forgotten, Tropical Freeze is a tough platformer. It's not that there are swarms of enemies—though there are a few levels where you have to keep moving to avoid hazards—it's that the level design often requires perfect jumps, made all the more difficult by DK's unique movements. When he's not running DK is actually pretty slow and lumbersome. Build up a little momentum with a roll though, and DK will fly across gaps. The controls can be tricky at first but there's a fantastic sense of rhythm to DKC games which makes them challenging but not completely frustrating. Instead, when you complete a level, there's only a sense of satisfying accomplishment. And in the case of Tropical Freeze, there are some fantastic designs throughout the adventure. The game trades level count with level intricacy—each island only has a handful of stages but they're long and elaborate, packed with collectibles and perfect for the time attack option that opens up after you complete the level once. There is a wealth of content to enjoy here, and you can even bring a friend along for some frantic co-op fun. Now we come to the star of the show, and the main addition to Tropical Freeze on the Switch: Funky Kong! The most tubular member of the DK crew functions as an easy mode thanks to his extended health and extra-durable surfboard which protects him from hazards like spikes. He can also perform a short double jump in the air and ride his surfboard for a slow, gradual landing, making tricky jumps easy to complete. Funky is definitely easier to use in a lot of ways but if you get used to using the other Kongs Funky can feel a little hard to use in some instances. Funky's abilities make him good at everything but there are some instances where Dixie or Cranky are better—they have more specialized abilities while Funky is all-around effective, so you might not necessarily want to rely on him for everything. He's still a great addition for novice players though, especially considering Tropical Freeze's difficulty on some levels. The only downside though is that Funky is restricted to his own easy mode, so if you start a game in normal mode you can't just swap to him. It's understandable to separate him for online leaderboard/time attack purposes but it's still kind of a bummer that you have to commit to easy mode if you want to try him out. Tropical Freeze looks every bit as good as it did on the Wii U—better even, thanks to some slight boosts to the resolution. Regardless of the technical aspects though it's the bright, lively art design that makes the visuals pop, even when playing in handheld mode on the Switch's screen. The background artwork is so rich at times that it's almost worth replaying the game just to take in all of the visuals. And the soundtrack by David Wise is every bit as captivating as it was in the original game—Grassland Groove remains a personal favorite of mine. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is another worthy port to the Switch's library. Its main addition, Funky Kong, is somewhat restricted as a separate easy mode, but fans of the game will still appreciate experimenting with a new way to play the game, and the new possibilities he offers for speedrunning. The real draw for this Switch game is everything that made the Wii U game great: incredible level design, a wealth of challenging collectibles to uncover, gorgeous visuals, and a truly stellar soundtrack. Tropical Freeze may not be new for some players, but it's well worth another playthrough all the same. Rating: 9 out of 10 Bananas

Plenty of games offer a time-traveling mechanic to correct mistakes, but what if you could completely rearrange events to reach your goal? FRAMED Collection from developer Loveshack Entertainment and publisher Surprise Attack Games brings to the Switch both FRAMED and its sequel FRAMED 2, both of which are based around the simple, central puzzle mechanic of moving comic book frames to transform an unfortunate capture into a timely escape. Originally created for mobile devices, the FRAMED games are a natural fit on the Switch thanks to the touch screen, but even if you play with a controller you can expect plenty of clever puzzles set against a delightful noir backdrop. The only area FRAMED disappoints is the all too short length. Both FRAMED games are absolutely bursting with style: black silhouette characters have only the smallest white highlights in a colorful, 50s noir-style world. In this visually arresting setting the developers manage to tell an engaging spy story without a single word of text or dialogue. The graphics alone—particularly the delightfully expressive animation—do a fantastic job of conveying the story, even if large parts of it are simple cat-and-mouse chases between our criminal protagonists and the police. Still, it's enough to pull you into the intrigue of this crime caper with its twists and turns as each side gains an advantage over the other in turns, culminating in a surprise ending for each game, one that is particularly shocking in FRAMED 2 after you experience the events of the original. The FRAMED games do a fantastic job of iterating on a simple, core puzzle concept: rearrange comic book panels to change the outcome of a scene. For example, you can move helpful items into place before the protagonists run into a hazard or police officer waiting to arrest them—a well placed ladder is the difference between escape and capture. It's the kind of puzzle design that is so perfectly intuitive that anyone will immediately grasp the idea after just a few seconds with the game, but the concept is also malleable enough to be put into a variety of puzzle scenarios, some of which can be quite challenging. In short, it's the perfect puzzle system: easy to learn, but with enough variety to tickle the player's brain when you have to keep track of numerous elements. Even better, the FRAMED games largely avoid the frustrations of extra-difficult puzzle design, particularly because there are ultimately only so many combinations you can make with the panels given to you. That's not to say the games are too easy either. FRAMED introduces a few wrinkles that increase the complexity of the puzzle design without making it overwhelming, such as rotating panels instead of just moving them, and FRAMED 2 adds another layer when you have multiple characters to keep track of from panel to panel. Even if the basic premise looks the same from one puzzle scenario to the next, the game does a good job of keeping you engaged with new challenges that always feel smart, never cheap. One of the only minor complaints with the FRAMED games on the Switch is the way the controls work with a controller. Instead of being able to swap two frames you actually select one frame and drag it through the others, essentially moving every frame one space. It's a little inconvenient to shuffle every frame when you need to make just one adjustment. If you're playing on the Switch's touch screen you can simply select two frames and swap them—since the games were originally built for a touch screen it makes sense that the controls are a bit better suited for it. It's hardly a real issue to play with a controller though; at most this is a minor inconvenience since you never have to move frames super quickly anyway. As already mentioned the game's graphics are delightfully stylish—this is definitely the type of game that you have to see in motion to fully appreciate the smooth animation. It is perhaps not surprising to learn the artwork was hand-crafted—only that kind of care would yield such fluid, expressive animation that makes every scene of the adventure a delight to watch unfold. And in case you thought only the visuals were painstakingly designed, rest assured, the soundtrack shows every bit as much love and care with an original live jazz soundtrack. You couldn't ask for a more perfect musical accompaniment to the noir setting of both FRAMED games. The music sets just the right tone for an adventure that is in turns tense and light-hearted, bouncing between nail-biting escapes and clever, sometimes comedic puzzle solutions. Truly, the only disappointing aspect of the FRAMED Collection is how quickly you'll play through it. Even with the game's mix of puzzle designs—some easier, some a little harder—each game can be finished in just a couple of hours at most. In both cases it can feel like the game is over all too soon, and as puzzle games there's no in-game incentive to replay them (other than to enjoy the art and music all over again). It's a shame since the puzzle design could have lent itself to an even longer game, for both FRAMED and FRAMED 2, but for now we'll just have to hold out hope for a FRAMED 3. FRAMED Collection brings together two whole games, both packed with clever puzzle design and wonderfully charming visuals and music, and you'll still likely walk away eager for even more puzzle action. The core gameplay mechanic is refreshingly clever and perfectly poised for a whole variety of challenges, and even though FRAMED Collection ends all to quickly the developers crafted a wonderful variety of challenges, complemented by a captivating noir story and setting. Puzzle fans won't want to miss this intriguing addition to the Switch's library. Rating: 8 out of 10 Frames Review copy provided by publisher FRAMED Collection is available now on the Switch eShop for $9.99.

Who's among the few who will venture to buy this game for the 3rd time? This is a unique position this game is being sold as, depending on which version you bought and if you bought the DLC there will be more or new content to justify a buy, if you have interest in this genre of gaming and if like Zelda games too. What category do you fall with this version of this game and do you think this is worth the buy for $60 dollars or as a buy again?