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  1. This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS Detective Pikachu – Crack the case in this new detective adventure game by interacting with a unique, fully voiced Pikachu. As Tim Goodman, you’ll partner with 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! The Detective Pikachu game will be available on March 23. Game in 2D. The Alliance Alive – One thousand years ago, Daemons invaded the world of Humans. They subjugated Humanity and created the Great Barrier to separate the realms. Now the time for resistance has come. The Alliance Alive game evokes the nostalgia of JRPG greats with huge world exploration and intertwining stories of nine protagonists. The Alliance Alivelaunches on March 27. Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch Outlast 2 – The Outlast 2 game introduces you to Sullivan Knoth and his followers, who left our wicked world behind to give birth to the Temple Gate town deep in the wilderness and hidden from civilization. Knoth and his flock are preparing for the tribulations of the end of times and you’re right in the thick of it. Outlast 2 launches on March 27. OPUS: Rocket of Whispers – Throughout the OPUS: Rocket of Whispers game, you will play as two survivors of an apocalyptic plague. Help them achieve the unimaginable goal of building a rocket, so they can return the deceased to their cosmic homeland through the ancient tradition of space burials. New DLC: Pokkén Tournament DX Battle Pack Wave 2 – The Pokkén Tournament DX Battle Pack grants immediate access to Avatar items upon purchase and two waves of DLC as they are released. The Battle Pack contains two new Battle Pokémon and two new Support Pokémon Sets. With these Pokémon joining the fray, the battle is just getting started! Wave 1 released on Jan. 31, 2018, and contains Battle Pokémon Aegislash, a new Support Pokémon set featuring Mega Rayquaza and Mimikyu, and additional Avatar items. Wave 2 releases on March 23, 2018, and contains Battle Pokémon Blastoise, a new Support Pokémon set featuring Mew and Celebi, and additional Avatar items. Full version of game required to use 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: My Nintendo Presents Nindie Game Gold Point Rewards Vol. 4 – Got Gold Points? Get select games! My Nintendo users can now redeem Gold Points for some fun indie games on Nintendo platforms. For a limited time, you can redeem points to download select Nintendo 3DS and Wii U games from our talented independent developers. Users will receive a download code that is redeemable in Nintendo eShop. Please visit https://my.nintendo.com/news for more details. Super Mario Run – Time is running out! The Super Mario Run game is 50 percent off until 11:59 p.m. PT on March 25. Pay once to play all of the courses as much as you want. If you haven’t bought it yet, now is your chance! You can download and enjoy a portion of Super Mario Run for free in the App Store or on Google Play. Also new this week: ACA NEOGEO WORLD HEROES 2 JET (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Arcade Archives MOON PATROL (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Castle of Heart (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 23 EAT BEAT DEADSPIKE-san (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Gekido Kintaro’s Revenge (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Metropolis: Lux Obscura – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 27 NO THING (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Slayaway Camp: Butcher’s Cut (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) SOL DIVIDE -SWORD OF DARKNESS- (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Warp Shift (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 27
  2. The Flame in the Flood from developer The Molasses Flood began as a Kickstarter back in 2014, originally planned only for PC and Mac. But with the help of publisher Curve Digital this unique title made it to the Switch eShop last year, and anyone that gives it a try will be treated to a charming take on the survival game genre. Our protagonist, Scout, takes a page from Huckleberry Finn and rides a makeshift raft in search of a better life, but only finds new dangers that require careful planning and resource management to overcome. The quirks of survival games aren't for everyone, but then neither is braving the great outdoors on a rickety wooden raft. The Flame in the Flood opens on a macabre scene: the bones of another camper/traveler, where only his backpack has survived. His canine companion, Aesop, takes up the bag and brings it to Scout, a young girl alone in an abandoned camping ground. With Aesop's help Scout finds a raft, and so begins her journey through a post-societal America. There's very little direct storytelling in The Flame in the Flood, but what you glean from your surroundings speaks volumes: camp after camp, building after building, there's no one in sight. Clearly something terrible has happened, and Scout travels in the hopes of making contact with any other survivor. It would have been nice if the game dove a little further into the few details you uncover, but the intrigue helps propel the game once you fall into a steady rhythm of exploring, scavenging, and running from wolves. The name of the game here is survival: Scout has separate meters for hunger, thirst, temperature, and fatigue. You'll need to keep an eye on all four to keep Scout healthy as you progress down the river and hopefully find civilization. You'll board your raft and travel across turbulent waters to find landing points where you can disembark and scrounge for supplies. There are a lot of items to collect, and gradually you'll be able to craft new equipment to help you survive—you'll be able to kill animals to harvest food and sew new clothes to keep warm, you'll upgrade your raft to make it more durable, or even craft medicine in case you get sick. Like all survival games there's a fantastic sense of tension in just about every moment of The Flame in the Flood, particularly early in the game when you have so few supplies. The thrill of finding something valuable, disappointment when you don't, and panic when you're injured with no medical supplies will keep you absolutely enraptured. The steady progress of moving from one landing point to the next also gives the game a great sense of pacing; you'll always want to explore one more area. Maybe you'll find something great there. Maybe not. But it's worth the risk. And even though The Flame in the Flood isn't as fiendishly difficult as other survival games, it still doesn't take it easy on you. You won't necessarily be sabotaged by elements outside of your control and just by being a little careful you can avoid many maladies, but since parts of the game are procedurally generated you can't rely upon anything consistent. It's what makes the game exciting in its early moments when you're barely surviving from one scavenge point to another, but it may frustrate some players, especially since it is easy to die early on. The Flame in the Flood does feature a sort of safety net though: you can store items in Aesop's pack, and if you die and have to start a new playthrough those items will carry over. This can be a big help in the early parts of the game, or you may even purposefully save a few valuable items and sacrifice your current playthrough. When you're first starting out it feels like there's no end of interesting ares to explore and items to collect, which brings us to one of the annoying necessities of survival games: micromanaging your inventory. Scout can only carry so much, and even when storing extra items with Aesop or on the raft you'll constantly be juggling what items to keep, which to leave behind, and organizing multiples of an item into convenient stacks. It can be a bit tedious at times but it keeps you on your toes. The main downside in The Flame in the Flood is just that the interface seems clearly made for a computer screen. Some of the text is tiny, and even distinguishing between item symbols can be hard to make out on the TV. As is often the case in these kinds of resource management games though, the bulk of the game's excitement is early in the game when you have so little to work with. Once you've built up a solid inventory and are mostly prepared to deal with any hazards the game falls into a bit of a repetitive routine. There's still something satisfying about exploring and collecting items—there's something ingrained in gamers to always pick up everything possible—but the game's variety loses a bit of steam by the last third or so, when you can simply run from dangers without worrying about restocking your supplies. The game could have done more to maintain some level of danger throughout the journey. Additionally, a lot of best practices in the game aren't explained, and even some basic elements can be confusing at first. Naturally in this type of game you're meant to experiment a little until you find effective means to survive, but some of the basic strategies could have been explained better. The raft in particular may seem completely unwieldy when you begin, and if it takes too much damage it'll be destroyed and end your game, which can easily discourage new players. Stick with it though—and upgrade the raft's rudder as soon as possible—and you'll gradually find the rhythm of the gameplay. The Flame in the Flood's simple but stylish art design does a fantastic job of painting an ominous, decrepit American countryside. The game balances on a fine line between eerie and beautiful when you're exploring scenic locations but run into wolves and a few scattered remains of society. The graphics, like the gameplay, can feel a bit repetitive after a while but there's a certain charm here nonetheless. The music, however, is phenomenal, and there should have been even more of it. Oftentimes while you're exploring you'll only hear atmospheric sounds—audio cues can be quite helpful if there's a dangerous animal nearby—but every now and then you'll be treated to an excellent song from the game's soundtrack, written and performed by Chuck Ragan. Ragan's alt-country, somewhat folksy sound couldn't be more appropriate for The Flame in the Flood—it perfectly captures the backwater Americana atmosphere, and best of all they're really catchy songs. Every time a song comes up it's almost worth it to take a break and just enjoy the music. The campaign mode in The Flame in the Flood lasts a good eight to ten hours or so—long enough that you really get to enjoy everything the game has to offer without the scavenging gameplay overstaying its welcome for too long. As mentioned parts of the game are procedurally generated so you could start a second playthrough and progress in a slightly different way. In the end there's not that much variety though. There are only so many animals, so many hazards, combined in so many ways. However, Endless mode can be a nice challenge once you mastered the basics of the gameplay, and you can even turn on Developer's Commentary to gain some insights into the game's creation. The Flame in the Flood finds a satisfying balance between challenging survival gameplay and accessibility. That's not to say it's perfect, and if you're not prepared for a fair amount of trial and error, item juggling, and repetition the game might not fully capture your interest, but there's a great deal of charm in this river-riding journey. It's stylish art design and fantastic soundtrack will pull you in, and the thrill of surviving day by day will keep you enthralled from the first moment you step onto the raft to the last moment you step off. Rating: 8 out of 10 Flames The Flame in the Flood is available on the Switch eShop for $14.99.
  3. There are plenty of games based on cultural mythologies—Greek, Roman, Norse, and of course numerous Japanese games draw from Japanese folklore. So why not one based on Native American beliefs and culture? Mulaka from developer Lienzo is one part action/adventure game and one part anthropological study thanks to the authentic details that tell the story of the Tarahumara people, a culture from northern Mexico that still exists today. Don't think this is some dry edutainment game though—Mulaka does a fantastic job of emulating the greats of the action/adventure genre and puts its own spin on exploration and combat. Best of all, you'll learn a thing or two about a culture you probably haven't even heard of. All of the storytelling and world-building details in the game draw from Tarahumara culture, but it's totally possible to play Mulaka as any other adventure game. You begin by learning something is amiss with the land, and as a shaman—or Sukurúame—it's your job to commune with the local demigods and put things right. That broad narrative may not be anything particularly unique in video games, but knowing that all of the details about the gods, people, monsters, and beliefs are authentic reflections of the Tarahumara people gives all of the writing in the game a whole other intriguing dimension. This is definitely the type of game where you'll want to talk to everyone and read every description—you may even want to check out Lienzo's behind the scenes videos detailing their journey to faithfully represent and Tarahumara, they're worth watching. Plus the side characters you meet in Mulaka are pretty dang adorable; the style and tone of the game is very reminiscent of Okami (perhaps appropriately, since Okami draws so heavily from Japanese Shinto mythology). It's even more fitting that both Okami and Mulaka are action/adventure games, though this game relies upon a pretty standard formatting from one region to the next: in each area you explore to find three stones that unlock the gate to the boss. Of course, there's a bit more to it than that since there are different tasks you might need to complete to find a stone, and Mulaka does a great job of making the environments interesting and engaging. Every time you enter a new area you'll be raring to go exploring, especially since the game gives you a sort of radar ability that lets you know where collectibles or items of note are. When you start a level and see all of those icons just enticing you, you'll be ready to run immediately (one of the fun facts you'll learn about the Tarahumara in Mulaka, they are excellent runners). The one downside to exploration is the lack of any kind of map. The regions aren't very big but a map or mini-map still would have gone a long way toward keeping yourself oriented in the game world. And even if each region follows the same "find three keys" pattern the game gives you new tools in each area to mix things up. You can collect herbs to create potions which can heal or grant useful abilities to progress, and when you meet a new demigod you earn a piece of their power and can briefly transform into an animal. Both potions and transformations allow you to explore in new ways, so it's always exciting to see what new nooks and crannies open up to you with each ability. The transformations are a lot of fun, even if it's a bit of a shame that their use is limited by your magic meter, but this just creates more gameplay opportunities to challenge your exploration abilities. Herb-gathering though can be little bit tedious. You need to collect multiple herbs to make a single potion—for example, three aloe plants make one healing potion—and you have to collect plants one at a time. Thankfully they grow together in little batches, but that really just makes the process seem more unnecessary: if three aloe plants almost always grow together anyway, why make the player pick three to make one potion? It's not terribly difficult but it seems like a pointless extra step. More annoying though is the way plants seem to grow randomly. Sometimes I was low on healing potions and could not find aloe anywhere, but then returning to that same level later I found plenty. Thankfully I was never in danger of completely running out or dying from a lack of healing potions, but the inconsistency was still a bit obnoxious. The action half of this action/adventure is the combat system. Mulaka wields a spear and right from the beginning you have a decent set of options for fighting the various monsters and malevolent spirits in the game. The best and worst aspect of combat is how fluid it is—it's easy to strike out at opponents and quickly move or dodge around them, but it's just as easy to overshoot your movements and stab right past them, especially small enemies. Mulaka features a slight auto-aiming system that lets you focus on one enemy but the game desperately needs a more solid lock-on system. Without it combat feels too chaotic half of the time, especially once you encounter trickier enemies like those with ranged attacks. It's a shame too since there are plenty of great monster designs here but the loose combat doesn't give them an opportunity to really shine. On the brightside boss fights manage to be epic and intense even without lock-on, and all of them present a unique, engaging challenge. Additionally, the game features a sort of experience points system. You earn points by defeating enemies and opening treasure chests, and by visiting a helpful old woman in the second region of the game you can upgrade various abilities such as magic regen speed, attack strength, or defense. Don't think that makes this an action RPG though—grinding experience points off of enemies is a painfully slow business so you're better off just gathering them naturally and not worrying too much about it. The upgrades are useful but there's little sense going out of your way for them. As mentioned the controls are in dire need of a lock-on button and the auto-aim can be a little too slippery, but otherwise the controls are pretty easy to pick up. In addition to swinging his spear Mulaka can throw it, and here the awkward aiming can be a bit hard to deal with as well. On one hand you can use motion controls which can be useful for more precise throws, but on the other hand enemies rarely give you a window of opportunity to really aim, so a quick lock-on throw would have been much more preferable. Mulaka's unique low-poly art style helps give the game a visual flair all its own. It's simple, but combined with the sprawling environments and small bursts of color from people, plants, and monsters the art style becomes beautifully eye-catching. The simple design probably helps give the game that sense of fluidity as well, which extends to the charming—sometimes bordering on goofy—animation. The soundtrack is delightful as well, and also draws influence from authentic Tarahumara and regional music. Regardless of the source it adds a perfect backdrop for a great action/adventure: catchy, energetic, at times mysterious, but always driving you forward to keep exploring. All that said, the game could have used another round of polishing just to work out a few kinks—nothing gamebreaking thankfully, but there are various typos found throughout the game, and at one point I fell straight through the ground while attacking (the game eventually corrected itself). Even with the variety of locales to explore though Mulaka isn't a long game, especially if you don't take your time exploring. Each area of the game has a number of hidden collectibles which add to the story of the Tarahumara people, and they're definitely worth finding. Beyond that though there are no real replay incentives. Mulaka is a great experience while it lasts but it'll be over before you know it—the game could have been twice as long and just as engaging. The developers at Lienzo have clearly treated the Tarahumara culture and their mythology with a great deal of love and respect, and in turn their culture has inspired a fantastic game. Mulaka is a delightful and all-too-short action/adventure that leads players through beautiful vistas and introduces them to fascinating bits of lore peppered throughout stylish environments. Not all of the gameplay is perfect, with the floaty combat as a particularly awkward aspect of the game, but the artwork, music, and unique storytelling will easily pull you into the engaging world of Mulaka, and the world of the Tarahumara people. Rating: 8 out of 10 Shamans Mulaka is available now on the Switch eShop for $19.98.
  4. This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch Kirby Star Allies – When a new evil threatens Planet Popstar, Kirby will need a little help from his … enemies?! By making friends out of Kirby’s foes, up to three players can drop in or out of the adventure at any time. With new and expanded copy abilities, classic Kirby action is deeper than ever. Combine abilities with elements such as ice or fire to create new friend abilities. The Kirby Star Allies game will be available on March 16. (Additional accessories may be required for multiplayer mode. Game, system, and some accessories sold separately.) Attack on Titan 2 – Experience the immense anime story alongside Eren and his companions as they fight to save humanity from the threat of the deadly human-devouring Titans. Try your hand at operating the omni-directional mobility gear, maneuvering and flying through the sky to counter the Titans, and feel the thrill and satisfaction of battling giant opponents. The Attack on Titan 2 game will be available on March 20. New DLC: Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion – INKoming DLC! 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 launches this summer and 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 finally 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. Octo Expansion launches this summer, but players can purchase this content in advance today for $19.99 for immediate access to special octo-themed in-game gear. (The full game is required to use the DLC. Additional games and systems required for multiplayer mode.) 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 Jumps to Google Maps – We’ve collaborated with the team at Google to let Mario accompany you on all your driving adventures with Google Maps. Just remember to practice safe driving on the road – we don’t encourage throwing bananas or red shells at other drivers in real life. Navigate with Mario in Google Maps and share your #MarioMaps experience with us. Check out the limited-time event before it ends March 17 at 9 p.m. PT. My Nintendo March Rewards – My Nintendo is celebrating March with Mario-themed rewards! Redeem your points and get these rewards: Mario’s Mighty Mustache Nintendo 3DS HOME Menu theme Mario Wallpaper (red) Mario Wallpaper (white) Official Prima eGuides for the Super Mario 3D Land and Paper Mario: Sticker Star games You can redeem your points to get discounts on these great games and keep the MAR10 Day celebration going all month long: 30 percent discount on Paper Mario: Sticker Star (Nintendo 3DS) 30 percent discount on Mario Party 10 (Wii U) 40 percent discount on New Super Mario Bros. 2 (Nintendo 3DS) 40 percent discount on Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (Nintendo 3DS) 30 percent discount on Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (Nintendo 3DS) 40 percent discount on Mario Kart 7 (Nintendo 3DS) 30 percent discount on Super Mario 3D World (Wii U) 40 percent discount on Dr. Luigi (Wii U) 40 percent discount on Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure (Nintendo 3DS) Also new this week: ACA NEOGEO Aero Fighters 3 (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Bad Dudes (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 21 BINGO for Nintendo Switch (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Clustertruck (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Deep Ones – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 19 Enchanting Mahjong Match (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Gem Smashers (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Kona (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch Last Day of June (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 16 Neonwall (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Plantera Deluxe – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 20 Sparkle 3 Genesis (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Tesla vs Lovecraft (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 16 Swim Out (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) The Long Reach (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) TorqueL -Physics Modified Edition- – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Vostok Inc. – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) WorldNeverland – Elnea Kingdom (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch)
  5. Really enjoyed this game on Steam, it's a simple game (has no combat) but is very vibrant and charming.
  6. I'm sure some other people here have been looking forward to the next Bit.Trip Runner game as much as I have, and now the release date is just a couple months away! Choice Provisions has announced that it'll be $30 for a digital copy and $40 for the physical release, but you'll also get a variety of bonus goodies (see above). Check out the game's site for more details.
  7. UPDATE: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A recent update to the Nintendo Switch parental controls app for iOS/Android has made mention of firmware 5.0.0 for Switch. Could we be seeing the update sometime soon? I just hope this update adds themes, a web browser, and Kirby profile icons. I find it odd that the Switch still doesn't have at least one Kirby icon. Well, Nintendo loves adding new profile icons when new games in one of their big franchises hits Switch and Star Allies coming out soon... So, here's hoping.
  8. This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch The Trail: Frontier Challenge – Join pioneers from across land and sea in an epic journey across an undiscovered country. Walk down the single-track path of destiny at a calm and measured pace. Get out there and make your mark upon the world, adventurer! Every person you meet on The Trail is another player who will trade with you at campfires located along the way. TurtlePop: Journey to Freedom – TurtlePop: Journey to Freedom is a platform puzzle game that introduces Bebo, Deephi, Slimmie, Smarts, Willis and Sparky the Turtle. Master the gameplay with multi-character control and turtle-linking, environment manipulation and item deployment and match-three mechanics that make challenges even more fresh, intense and fun. TurtlePop: Journey to Freedom launches March 9. 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 https://www.nintendo.com/games/sales-and-deals. Activities: Super Mario Run MAR10 Day Discount: Take advantage of a 50 percent discount on the Super Mario Run game from Mar. 10, 2018, through Mar. 25, 2018. Time your taps to pull off stylish jumps, midair spins and wall jumps to gather coins and reach the goal. You can download and enjoy a portion of Super Mario Run for free on the App Store and Google Play. Turn Gold Points into Games: Members of My Nintendo, Nintendo’s free rewards program, have a new way to use their rewards points. Members can now redeem Gold Points toward the purchase of digital games (and DLC!) for the Nintendo Switch system, whether they buy on Nintendo.com or Nintendo eShop on the system (where available). Learn more about the program and this update at https://my.nintendo.com/about_gold_point. Also new this week: ACA NEOGEO Real Bout Fatal Fury (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) A Hole New World (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Bit Dungeon Plus (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Bleed 2 (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Coffin Dodgers (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 13 Danmaku Unlimited 3 (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 13 EARTHLOCK (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Flinthook (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 9 I, Zombie (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Midnight Deluxe (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) One Eyed Kutkh (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 9 Spiral Splatter (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 13 Spy Chameleon (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 9 Steredenn: Binary Stars (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) The Men of Yoshiwara: Ohgiya (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) World Conqueror X (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) BRICK THRU (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)
  9. I hadn't heard of this before but it looks like a really cool concept, and I dig the art and music. I'll have to keep my eye out for when this gets a solid release date.
  10. The Switch's one year anniversary is upon us. How have you been enjoying the ride? Were you a launch owner or a waiter? This thread will be a look back on Nintendo's latest system first year. I got my black Switch on day 1 at GS. Zelda took up most of my time during those early days. Got it decked out in a Zelda skin, though wish it looked like an actual chest from the game. Missed opportunity on that one. Got the splatoon pro controller and joy cons to add some flavor to my options. I would still like to see some non neon colors being available. Gold ones would be sweet. Most of the games have been physical, but Skyrim was a dl definetly. Sonic Mania box set was great! Mk8 collector tin was a nice touch. What are your memories of the past year, and hopes going forward?
  11. A glitch in the Switch's firmware is effecting everyone's play time data for launch titles like Zelda: BotW and 1-2 Switch, when the Switch's clock rolls over to its 1-year anniversary (3/3/2018)... I really hope Nintendo gets on this A.S.A.P. and our playtime is still intact. Though, from the looks of things, it seems or play time will be safe, so there's nothing to worry about.
  12. This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch Mulaka – Dive into northern Mexico’s breathtaking landscapes with Mulaka, a 3D action-adventure game based on the rich indigenous culture of the Tarahumara. Embark on the journey of a Sukurúame, a Tarahumara shaman known for impressive running abilities. Fight back the foulness corrupting the land, while drawing upon the powers of demigods. Scribblenauts: Showdown – Use your imagination and go head-to-head in the ultimate multiplayer showdown. Enjoy a party-style Scribblenauts experience, conjuring more than 35,000 objects from the vast Scribblenauts dictionary to outsmart your opponent in more than 25 mini-games. Scribblenauts: Showdown launches on Nintendo Switch on March 6. Subsurface Circular – A detective stationed on the Subsurface Circular investigates a series of disappearances among the city’s robotic working class. Collect words and phrases, and then use them in dialogue puzzles to uncover the world’s secrets and determine its future. New Updates and 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 official Xenoblade Chronicles 2 site. Helpful Items Pack 4 – Launching on March 1 at 9 p.m. PT Upgrade Parts for Poppi 2: 30,000 Ether Driver Essentials Set 3: Legendary Core Crystal x 8, Overdrive Protocol x 3 And that’s not all! New free content is releasing for all Xenoblade Chronicles 2 players at the same time in a free software update, including a new “New Game Plus” mode for players with save data from the final chapter who have cleared the game. This mode carries over some elements from the save data and unlocks many new features. 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 https://www.nintendo.com/games/sales-and-deals. Activities: Happy Pokémon Day! – Feb. 27 is the day to celebrate all things Pokémon. The holiday commemorates the launch of the very first Pokémon games in Japan way back in 1996. To celebrate, My Nintendo is offering wallpaper inspired by the upcoming 2D Detective Pikachu game for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. You can redeem your My Nintendo points and plaster your PC or smart device with detective Pikachu’s adorable face!We’re also offering a Pikachu & Poké Ball inspired Nintendo 3DS HOME Menu theme. You can redeem your My Nintendo reward points up to three times to receive up to three codes. Use this printable card to share codes or wish your friends a belated Happy Pokémon Day. For more My Nintendo news, visit https://my.nintendo.com/news. Also new this week: A Normal Lost Phone (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) ACA NEOGEO SENGOKU 2 (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Air Hockey (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Arcade Archives STAR FORCE (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Damascus Gear Operation Tokyo (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Detention (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Fear Effect Sedna (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 6 Grid Mania (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 2 GUILT BATTLE ARENA (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Little Triangle (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) NORTH (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 6 Outlast: Bundle of Terror (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Packet Queen # (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Paper Wars: Cannon Fodder Devastated (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Poisoft Thud Card (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Star Ghost – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Super Toy Cars (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available March 2 Totes the Goat (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) RTO 2 (Nintendo eShop on Wii U)
  13. The Final Station from developer Do My Best and publisher tinyBuild drops you into a post-apocalyptic setting where you'll need to scavenge to survive, all while making sure your train stays on schedule. It's an unusual combination of gameplay elements but ultimately makes sense: you aren't just struggling for your own survival, you need to keep your passengers alive as well. Add in an intriguing storyline rife with mystery and charming pixel graphics and you've got one of the Switch eShop's more bizarre but compelling games. The story in The Final Station is pretty difficult to pick up at first, but one thing is clear: things are not good for humanity. Everywhere you go is derelict and covered in rubble, and soon enough you start encountering strange shadowy creatures that attack on sight. Amidst all of this you are still doing your job as a train conductor, ferrying people and valuable equipment from one station to another. The game does a great job of building up the mystery of the backstory, but it never quite pays off, at least not as concretely as you might hope. You meet mysterious characters who seem to be plotting things both for and against humanity, you see unexplainable phenomena on your travels, and you find cryptic notes and missives that add pieces to the story, but by the time the credits roll you're probably going to be pretty confused about what really happened. For as much as the developers nail the mystery/sci-fi theme, the actual plot leaves something to be desired. And the script could have used a second pass just for basic editing as well—you'll find plenty of typos throughout the game. The train management and survival aspects of the game play out in different phases. While you're on the train you'll need to make sure all of your equipment is functioning correctly (there's always something that could use a little elbow grease) and you need to take care of your passengers by passing out food or med kits as needed. The train also offers a bit of a respite—you can craft ammo and med kits, and even listen to your passengers talk among themselves to hear a bit more of the story. In fact, it's a shame that you can't just listen in on their conversations the entire time—if you're in a different compartment you can't hear them—it might have helped flesh out the story a bit. Regardless, you want to keep your passengers alive because once you reach a safe station you'll earn rewards for each person on the train. At times you really have to stretch your food and med kit supplies, so this helps emphasize the survival aspect of the game, and keeps the story feeling like a communal crisis. The other and larger aspect of the gameplay is when you disembark in derelict train stations to find supplies and unlock the gate to allow your train to move on. This is classic survival gameplay in 2D pixel format: you have a gun with limited ammo, med kits that are often best reserved for your passengers, and you'll need to scour buildings and bunkers filled with hostile shadowy monsters. It's a tense experience when you wrestle with whether you should go left or right, use up your ammo or save it, hunt out a few more supplies or just escape while you can. It's classic risk/reward gameplay and The Final Station finds a great balance of keeping things tense and exciting without being overwhelming. In fact, if anything the game is a little too lenient. A key aspect of survival games is managing your remaining supplies, which often means limited or infrequent saves. That's not the case with The Final Station. The game actually autosaves quite frequently, so if you accidentally walk into a room packed with enemies and die you don't actually lose much progress. The game isn't so open-ended that you can avoid such rooms entirely so usually you have to try again anyway, but having that safety net eases a lot of the tension—you might even let yourself die if you decide you wasted too much ammo in a single battle. Furthermore, you are healed to the maximum every time you complete a scavenge run and make it back to your train, which is only another reason to save your med kits for passengers and not use them on yourself. With these kinds of concessions The Final Station might be too forgiving for a typical survival game. The controls are pretty easy to pick up—aiming takes a bit of getting used to but it's worth it to land headshots and save a little ammo—but there's one quirk that is a bit annoying: the game's interface is clearly built for PC. When you're interacting with machines on the train the buttons aren't clearly labeled or even that intuitive; you have to play around a bit to figure out exactly what you're supposed to do. The crafting menu is also hard to read because the icons are large but very lightly highlighted—these are UI aspects that aren't a problem with a mouse and keyboard, but without a cursor on screen it's hard to tell what you're actually clicking on. Ultimately these annoyances have little effect on the gameplay but a bit more care in the porting process would have been useful. The visuals and audio in The Final Station are pretty simple, but still manage to say a lot about the condition of humanity in this post-apocalyptic setting. The charming pixel art design makes for a rather interesting disparity with the dire environment as you scavenge for supplies just to keep your passengers alive. And the music is mostly light, atmospheric ambiance, perfect for the oftentimes hopeless scenes you come across as you move from one station to another. Even if it isn't the fanciest design on a technological level the game's presentation has a way of pulling you into the setting. The Final Station isn't too long of a game: a good five hours or so should see you through the entire adventure. However, this Switch release comes bundled with the DLC The Only Traitor, which adds a good bit to the game's length. The DLC's story follows a different character and actually proceeds concurrently with the main game's story, and helps flesh out the overall narrative (though some points are still pretty confusing). Additionally, the gameplay is a bit reworked for the DLC. The new character doesn't have a train but does have a car, and in each level must scavenge for food, water, and gasoline to progress. You can keep one passenger in your car who can craft items for you or heal you—you're no longer healed to the maximum between levels—and each person you meet has different crafting/healing stats, so you need to decide whom you want to keep around. There are also less frequent checkpoints, which makes the DLC overall less forgiving and a bit more intense. It's a great addition not just for the slight change of pace but for just having more content in the world of The Final Station. The Final Station takes a unique approach to survival gameplay and builds an experience that is both tense and thrilling and fairly accessible thanks to frequent checkpoints. The story lacks a bit in execution but the setting is engaging enough that you'll be interested from start to finish anyway, even if large parts of the game remain a mystery once the credits roll. Add in the game's DLC with its slightly different but just as compelling gameplay style and The Final Station on Switch is another quality indie title in the eShop library. Rating: 8 out of 10 Stations Review copy provided by publisher The Final Station is available now on the Switch eShop for $19.99.
  14. It seems that customer reviews will soon be coming to the Nintendo eShop on Switch. If you go to a Switch game's page on NIntendo.com there's a new section for reviews. Try it out: https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-switch *Note* - To leave a review: You need to log-in to your My Nintendo account. Must have played the game for at least 2 hours. - When leaving a review: Your nickname and Mii™ character (if applicable) will appear along with your review. Your review may appear on our website and on other Nintendo marketing materials and services. Your review is subject to the terms and conditions of the Nintendo Account User Agreement, including the Code of Conduct. Reviews will be moderated, but will not be modified, removed or rejected based on the fact that they offer a negative evaluation of a Nintendo product. Pics:
  15. This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION 2 PLUS – The highly acclaimed PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION series has finally come to Nintendo Switch. Featuring eye-popping high-resolution 3D graphics and funky visuals, the latest version of the classic game takes chomping and chasing through mazes to a whole new level. PAYDAY 2 – PAYDAY 2 is an action-packed, four-player co-op shooter that once again lets gamers don the masks of the original PAYDAY crew – Dallas, Hoxton, Wolf and Chains – as they descend on Washington, D.C., for an epic crime spree. (Additional games and systems required for multiplayer mode. Sold separately.) PAYDAY 2 launches on Feb. 27. Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS SteamWorld Dig 2 – SteamWorld Dig 2 takes you on a platform mining adventure. When an old trading town is struck by mysterious earthquakes, it’s up to a lone steambot and her unlikely companion to uncover what trembling terrors lie beneath. Dig your way underground and explore vivid worlds riddled with treasure, secrets and traps. New Update: Super Mario Odyssey Update – Starting today, you can download a free update for the Super Mario Odyssey game for the Nintendo Switch system. The free update adds a fun new minigame called Balloon World (internet access required*), which you can play after finishing the main story. To get started, just find Luigi in a kingdom and talk to him! In Hide It mode, you can take a balloon and hide it somewhere in that kingdom for other players to find. In Find It mode, you must find balloons hidden by other players. There’s a limited time to hide and find the balloons, so act fast! All the secret and out-of-the-way areas you found while playing the game will come in handy! The update also adds new outfits and filters to use in Snapshot Mode! 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 https://www.nintendo.com/games/sales-and-deals. Also new this week: ACA NEOGEO MAGICAL DROP III (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Ace of Seafood (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Arcade Archives HEROIC EPISODE (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Bridge Constructor Portal (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available Feb. 28 ChromaGun – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Dragon Sinker (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Hollow (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) MEMBRANE (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) POOL (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Radiation Island (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Spacecats with Lasers (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Spot The Difference (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available Feb. 26 Superola and the Lost Burgers (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) The Final Station (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available Feb. 23 Toki Tori 2+: Nintendo Switch Edition (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available Feb. 23 Twin Robots: Ultimate Edition (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available Feb. 23 Typoman (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Fat Dragons (Nintendo eShop on Wii U) The Alliance Alive – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS) – Available Feb. 27 Fat Dragons (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)
  16. Fe from developer Zoink Games marks the beginning of EA's indie games program, EA Originals, but it also marks a change for Zoink's style. Their previous original games, Stick It to the Man and Zombie Vikings, as well as their upcoming title Flipping Death, all have a distinctly comical tone and outrageous but distinctive character design. But with Fe they're trying something new, something more sober, something more emotional. Fe relies upon simpler themes and classic adventure/platforming design to provide a beautiful, serene experience. Outside of a scant few tutorial directions Fe is completely devoid of text or dialogue, but the visuals alone are enough to establish the setting and basic premise: a magical forest filled with giant flora and unusual fauna is in danger of being destroyed by alien/robotic creatures. You play as a diminutive animal of some sort—it looks something like a fantastical take on a wolf cub—who is able to sing to interact with other animals and plants. It may sound weird when written down but this is the kind of game where you just kind of go with the flow of the experience, and if you do you'll be treated to a beautiful little journey about preserving life and nature. I'll be honest though: by the end of the game I wasn't quite sure what happened in the story. Specifically, the motivations and actions of the antagonists, the Silent Ones, is a little confusing after everything is said and done. But Fe isn't a game about telling a specific story so much as it is about eliciting emotions and broad themes, and in that regard the game accomplishes what it set out to do. Even if I wasn't positive exactly why everything happened in the game, I was still moved by the game's concluding moments. The basic gameplay in Fe is pretty intuitive: you're plopped down into the middle of a magical forest where you can run, jump, and explore. What makes Fe unique is the singing mechanic where you can essentially resonate with other animals and plants in order to explore further—for example, in order to jump across purple flowers you may need to enlist the help of ferret-like creatures that can activate the flowers. You actually have to tune your voice when singing by moving the Joy-Cons up and down in order to match the song of other creatures, which is a neat touch (you can also turn off motion controls but it's a pretty easy motion here). Gradually, you unlock new songs and new abilities that allow you to explore further and help rescue other forest animals from the influence of the Silent Ones. It's definitely a unique way to interact with a game world, and the more you play the more it feels like a natural interaction. The developers have done a great job of making the world feel large, with lots to discover, without making it feel overwhelming. Every time you gain a new song you'll be eager to go out and see what it unlocks, what new paths or collectibles you'll discover. Once you get started Fe can be hard to put down. There's also something just plain fun about climbing trees to glide from one platform to the next. There's a lot of freedom in Fe that encourages looking around and being aware of your environment, especially since there are so many collectibles to find. First off, you can collect pink crystals that add new abilities, some of which are required but the last few are purely for making exploration a little easier and more fun. You can also find memory orbs that flesh out the story a little from the perspective of the Silent Ones, and you can sing next to shimmering rocks to reveal murals, which also adds to the game's narrative. The murals offer vague hints to the game's story though, so don't feel like you're missing out on a ton for skipping over them. They're great ways to spend a bit more time with the game—which is otherwise around six or seven hours long—but finding everything can be a bit more challenge than it's worth. Our petite protagonist only has the power of song at his command so there's no combat element to Fe. When you do encounter Silent Ones you'll need to rely upon stealth to avoid capture. And there isn't any kind of elaborate stealth system at play here: you can hide in tall grass or oftentimes just run when the enemy is looking in the other direction. For the most part these stealth sections are pretty easy, and even if you do get captured the game reloads quickly, but there's still something satisfying about sneaking around enemies and escaping unscathed. A big part of what makes exploration in Fe such a joy is the visual and audio design. The graphics aren't flashy, high-end, detailed technological wonders. Instead it's the art design that really sells the beauty, mystery, and serenity of the world of Fe. The visual identity comes down to a fairly simple interplay between light and shadow. A lot of the scenery is dark, with rough shapes, but then when the light hits it there are blooms of color that are just gorgeous. Each area of the game has it's own dominant color and the effect creates plenty of beautiful vistas. The only downside is that the framerate can be a little choppy at times—not enough to spoil any of this lovely art design, but still noticeable. And as you might expect for a game that involves singing, the soundtrack is wonderful as well. Much like the simple art design the music doesn't rely upon anything too elaborate, but the tunes mesh perfectly with the heavy emphasis on nature—soothing sounds when you're just exploring, more intensity when you encounter enemies, and perhaps most important of all the soundtrack knows when to hold back and just let the visual design speak for itself. The sense of nature that Fe so perfectly captures—serene, yet full of life—can't truly be done justice in these screenshots and descriptions. Zoink took a step out of its comfort zone with Fe and stretched itself to create a game completely unlike its most recent releases, and the result is an absolutely beautiful game. The gameplay mechanics make the world of Fe fun to explore, from forest to waterfall to rocky cliff face, but it's the game's tranquility that pulls you in. The game isn't particularly long but if you take your time to drink in the scenery you'll enjoy every minute of it. This stylish journey into nature is one Switch platformer that shouldn't be missed. Rating: 8 out of 10 Songs Fe is available now on the Switch eShop for $19.99.
  17. Video games are so often focused on epic quests to save the world, or at the very least have a defined antagonist for the hero to struggle against. But sometimes a thoughtful, emotional story is made, the kind that gives you a few quiet moments to reflect upon grounded, real-life joys and sorrows. Old Man's Journey by developer Broken Rules is a meditative game that dwells on the ups and downs of life, reflected in the rolling hills of the game's colorful countryside. It may not be a long or particularly elaborate puzzle game, but Old Man's Journey will have an undeniable effect on anyone that plays it. Old Man's Journey begins with the eponymous Old Man alone in his little seaside house when he receives a letter. There isn't any dialogue or text in the game at all, but through the emotive and adorable animation it's clear that he is surprised by the contents of the letter, which moves him to set off on his journey. What follows is a fantastic example of visual storytelling as the player slowly sees glimpses of the Old Man's life through memories stirred by the objects and people around him. I don't want to reveal too much since a big part of the game's appeal is just in seeing the Old Man's life unfold before you, but I will say it's one of the more emotional games I've played in a long time, largely because of its reliance upon simple human truths. There's no grandiose storytelling happening here; Old Man's Journey is an honest, emotional look at life, and it's all the more powerful for it. Of course, this is still a video game, so what exactly is the gameplay in Old Man's Journey? In a way it's almost a reverse platformer—instead of running and jumping from one platform to another, you actually move the ground to accommodate the Old Man. Your goal is simply to keep the journey moving forward, so in order to get around a hill or a gap you actually pull, push, and move the landscape in order to create paths which allow our protagonist to move into the foreground or background. It's a simple puzzle structure but it works well. This isn't the kind of game to throw complicated and challenging puzzles at you; this is the kind of game where you just get to enjoy the scenery and story, so don't expect anything too difficult in the gameplay. But while it may be pretty simple there are a few curveballs thrown into the mix—sometimes stone walls or sheep block the Old Man's way—and there's something amusing about imaging the hills themselves bending and contorting to accommodate one old traveler. Although the goal is to help the Old Man along on his journey there are a number of little touches that bring the scenery to life. Tap on a closed door and it might pop open, revealing a short scene of a child playing with a toy. Tap on a radio and it might spring to life with a quick little tune. These little aspects are completely optional but they're delightfully charming and worth seeking out. You're encouraged to poke around a bit and see what you can find, which feels like a fitting philosophy for the game's unassuming and undemanding adventure. And you'll enjoy whiling away a bit of time thanks to the game's absolutely gorgeous artwork and music. The hand-drawn art and animation is just enchanting—almost every scene of the game could be a beautiful illustration on its own, but then seeing the animation bring it to life is truly delightful, especially around the houses and towns the Old Man passes through. You'll want to run off to the European countryside to find these kinds of lovely landscapes yourself after playing this game. And the music manages to perfectly sum up the emotions of every scene. Buoyant and jolly when our hero is passing through colorful towns, somber as he reminisces upon his life and the choices he's made, but always with just the right balance of sweet and melancholy sounds. The Switch version of Old Man's Journey includes a few unique features. For one thing, you can choose from three control methods: control stick, motion, or touch. The game was originally designed for the touch interface of tablets and mobile devices and it remains the most natural way to play on the Switch, though of course you'll miss out on seeing the gorgeous artwork full-sized on your TV (although the game still looks fantastic on the Switch screen). But since this is a fairly relaxed puzzle game it's perfectly playable with the other control methods as well, just maybe not quite as smooth. The Switch version also includes a two-player mode. No, a second old man doesn't appear. Instead there's just a second cursor on the screen that works exactly the same as the first player: move the landscape, interact with scenery, etc. None of the puzzles have been redesigned with two players in mind so there's no actual need to involve a second player, but it's kind of a nice touch to bring someone else along for the journey, especially once you delve deeper into the narrative and see more of the man's choices in life. I should mention that, as charming as the adventure is, Old Man's Journey is a surprisingly short game. A good 90 minutes can see you through the entire trip, which might make the $9.99 price point seem like a bit much. If you wanted to judge the game solely upon the length and depth of gameplay then sure, the short length might be a knock against it. But the Old Man's story and the beautiful presentation make this a journey well worth taking. Old Man's Journey doesn't set some kind of grand quest to save the world or give you a time limit to earn the most points possible. There isn't a demon, demigod, or monster to defeat. There isn't even a line of dialogue in the game. This is simply a glimpse into the life of one man, with the kinds of dreams, choices, and burdens that can be found in any person's journey through life. It's a quiet, beautiful, and melancholic expedition into memories both joyful and sorrowful, and a good reminder to take a moment to appreciate not just the scenery but the people around you. Old Man's Journey isn't a game about being a hero. It's a game about being human. Rating: 8 out of 10 Journeys Review copy provided by the developer Old Man's Journey is available to download today, February 20th,on the Switch eShop for $9.99.
  18. UPDATE: Eurogamer is confirming that though multiple sources Bandai Namco (Singapore) is indeed working on Metroid Prime 4... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seems very plausible to me. Nintendo has worked with Bandai Namco in the past, like on SSB4 and people loved that. Still, it makes me wonder what the hell Retro is working on since they aren't working on MP4 and we haven't seen anything from them since DKC: TF. Anyway...I guess we'll find out for sure who's working on MP4 at E3 this year.
  19. This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch Bayonetta – Bayonetta is a butt-kicking, havoc-wreaking witch, and she’ll shoot, whip and slice as she uncovers the truth about her own past. Her weapons and moves are all stylishly over-the-top, but she can also dodge attacks to slow down time, and inflict Torture Attacks on her enemies. Use Wicked Weaves to summon Infernal Demons, dodge enemies’ dangerous attacks to slow down time and punish angels with deadly devices. You can even dress Bayonetta up in four Nintendo-themed costumes: Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, Link and Samus Aran. Bayonetta will be available on Feb. 16. Bayonetta 2 – Bayonetta’s back and more powerful than ever. Wield wild weapons and execute deadly moves – like the powerful Umbran Climax – to take out angels and demons in this breathtaking and critically acclaimed action game. The Bayonetta 2 game also features an online and local wireless two-player cooperative mode in which players bet halos on their performance and work together to amplify their sass, cause destruction and score some riches. (Additional accessories are required for multiplayer mode and are sold separately.) Bayonetta 2 will be available on Feb. 16. Get both Bayonetta games for a great price! – Purchase Bayonetta or Bayonetta 2 on Nintendo.com or Nintendo eShop and get a discount on your purchase of the other game. Once you purchase Bayonetta or Bayonetta 2 from Nintendo.com or Nintendo eShop, any time you purchase the other Bayonetta game from Nintendo.com or Nintendo eShop, you’ll get an automatic discount applied at checkout. Fe – Fe is a new type of platform adventure where the story is up to you to discover, without handholding, told wordlessly through the discoveries you make during gameplay. Run, climb and glide your way through a dark Nordic forest and explore its living, breathing ecosystem filled with secrets and mystical creatures. Fe will be available on Feb. 16. New DLC: Fire Emblem Warriors Season Pass (for Nintendo Switch/New Nintendo 3DS) – New playable characters, History Maps, costumes and more have come to the Fire Emblem Warriors game. Here’s what’s in the Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon pack: three new characters, three new History Maps, four 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 is available to you at no additional cost. The Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon DLC Pack can be purchased on the official 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 https://www.nintendo.com/games/sales-and-deals. Also new this week: ACA NEOGEO FATAL FURY 3 (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available Feb. 13 AQUA KITTY UDX (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) ESCAPE TRICK: 35 Fateful Enigmas (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Joe Dever's Lone Wolf (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available Feb. 16 Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Gate Of Doom (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Layers of Fear: Legacy (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available Feb. 21 Millie (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Old Man's Journey (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available Feb. 20 Pool BILLIARD (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Puzzle Puppers (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available Feb. 20 Quest of Dungeons – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Samurai Aces for Nintendo Switch (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) TorqueL -Physics Modified Edition- (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Violett – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Wanderjahr TryAgainOrWalkAway (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Wanderjahr TryAgainOrWalkAway – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Xeodrifter (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Machine Knight (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS) RTO 2 (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)
  20. In 2014 developer Over the Moon released The Fall, an engaging adventure/puzzle game with a compelling sci-fi story. There was one big problem though: the game was only part one of a larger narrative. Fans of the first game have had to wait almost four years for the next installment in the series, but the wait was worth it. The Fall Part 2: Unbound continues the first game's story and puzzle structure and adds several new features to create a longer and more varied adventure. Not all of the new aspects are well fleshed out but the puzzles are just as fun and the story is just as gripping. The story picks up immediately after the events of the first game and even includes a handy recap to bring you back up to speed about what happened to the Artificial Intelligence system A.R.I.D. Her AI has been disconnected from her body and she is now driven by the singular goal of finding and stopping "the User" in order to save herself. To do so A.R.I.D. possess several other AIs, who all offer new perspectives on robotics and human-AI interactions. I wouldn't want to spoil any other details—like the first game a big part of Unbound's appeal is its sci-fi storytelling that tackles concepts like AI freedom and self-determination. And like the first game, it's refreshing to see a story that delves into some heady sci-fi ideas rather than just shooting aliens. A.R.I.D. is changing, adapting even, and seeing her interactions with other AIs makes for a fascinating journey. The only downside is that once again the game ends on a cliffhanger—not quite as massive as the first game's, but you'll still finish Unbound with an itch to see where else the story goes. Hopefully we won't have to wait another four years for the next installment of The Fall. The gameplay in Unbound follows the same adventure game puzzle-solving as the first game but mixes in a few new features that help keep the gameplay feeling fresh from beginning to end. When A.R.I.D. first connects to the cyber network she enters a sort of Metroid-style world, complete with doors that you shoot to open. Exploration here is fairly basic though. As the game progresses you gain access to different areas but it's not nearly as complex as other Metroidvania games that require significant backtracking. You only gain a couple of new abilities throughout the game and even the way A.R.I.D. moves is somewhat stiff. Ultimately these forays into the digital world are more like interludes and lack the same draw as the main puzzle-solving gameplay. Additionally, there are light combat elements in cyberspace. Combat in Unbound is both an improvement over the original game's shoot-outs and yet still not totally comfortable. The repetitive cover mechanic of the first game is gone; in Unbound you have more freedom to move, jump, shoot, and dodge enemy attacks. But the stiff movement never really gives you the sense of fluidity you want in a shootout. Battles tend to be rather rote: wait for enemy to attack, jump, then shoot back. Even with a couple of new combat abilities throughout the game the combat just fails to excite. Plus there's one strange aspect to fighting: both gunshots and jumping are tied to an energy meter—run out of energy and you can't shoot or jump. This only encourages you to play as mechanically as possible to conserve energy, and tying your main dodge ability (jumping) to an energy bar just feels a little odd. But puzzle-solving is really the heart of the game, and where you'll be spending most of your time. A.R.I.D. inhabits multiple AIs in her quest to save herself, and each AI has its own mechanics and habits that you need to break. For example, the first AI you encounter, a robotic butler, adheres to a strict schedule of taking care of his human masters, and you need to find ways to break his routine in order to let you explore the house. Unbound does a great job of throwing different scenarios like this at the player—each AI you encounter feels unique, and so do the puzzles you face. The developers have also done a fine job of keeping the difficulty of the puzzles balanced. Solutions are rarely obtuse—if you're stuck you'll generally find that you merely overlooked an object that you can interact with. In that regard you have to play Unbound like a classic adventure game: click on everything you see and make sure you keep a mental note of what seems important. And in an adventure-puzzle game, examining everything has the added benefit of fleshing out the story of the game's world. Unbound also keeps its environments fairly small and segmented. Aside from the game's finale you are generally kept to small areas where it's easy to examine everything and keep track of where things are and even test out items on each object if you need to. The only downside in the gameplay comes from the controls, which have the same stiff movement/looking system of the first game. In order to interact with an object you need to look at it by shining your flashlight on it. Sometimes this means you can be standing right next to an object but because your light beam passes over it you can't actually touch/examine it. Aiming is pretty slow and stiff as well, so even shining your light on the exact spot you want can be a bit clumsy. Thankfully no puzzles have a time limit so the slow aiming system doesn't hamper the gameplay too much (and in combat you can lock-on to enemies), but it still feels a bit awkward, and certainly something that could have been changed between the first game and Unbound. Visually Unbound retains the same style as the first game, but thanks to a far greater variety in environments there's more of a visual identity to each section of the game—each new area with a new AI has a different color palette that helps set the atmosphere. The mood of the game isn't quite as focused on eerie, unknown threats like the first game, but there's still a heavy reliance upon shadows that give the game a somewhat menacing feel. They're not the most complex or detailed graphics you'll see on the Switch but it suits the story and atmosphere of the game perfectly. There is also a lot of great voice work that helps bring the story to (artificial) life. Voicing an AI undergoing an existential crisis is actually a pretty tall order, and the actors do an excellent job of skirting the line between robotic and emotive voices. Unbound is longer than its predecessor but it's still a relatively short to mid-length game, depending upon how quick you are with the puzzles. A good six or seven hours should see you through the entire game, and since it's largely a puzzle game there isn't a lot of replay value here. However, just like the original, replaying Unbound to re-examine the story with a new perspective can be a worthwhile pursuit. The Fall Part 2: Unbound builds upon all of the best parts of its predecessor for a larger, more engaging game. Not all of the new features are ideal but just by expanding the characters and setting Unbound is building up a fantastic sci-fi universe. This continuation of the story is everything fans could hope for: deeper exploration of robot and AI concepts, which seems to be setting up for a killer third and final act. Now it's back to the long wait for the next installment. Rating: 8 out of 10 AIs The Fall Part 2: Unbound is available now on the Switch eShop for $16.99.
  21. Developer Lienzo announced that their game will release on the Switch eShop on March 1st (also PS4/Steam on February 27th and XBO on March 2nd). Check out more info about the game on their site, 'cause it's interesting stuff. The game is based on the culture and mythology of the Tarahumara people, an indigenous tribe of northern Mexico that still exists today. I played a demo of the game at PAX West last year and it was one of my favorites of the show. It's an action-adventure game kind of like Zelda, and the low-poly art style is pretty slick.
  22. Today publisher tinyBuild announced six games coming to the Switch over the course of this year. The only game I'm really familiar with is Hello Neighbor, which I played a demo of a while ago and it seemed like a pretty unique though difficult stealth game. The rest of the five games has a pretty wide variety of gameplay styles, so anyone might find something to look forward to here. Everything below is taken from the announcement on their website here.
  23. Dandara from developer Long Hat House and publisher Raw Fury turns Metroidvania exploration on its head—somewhat literally. Instead of running from room to room the eponymous heroine leaps from floor to ceiling to wall, rotating your perspective on your surroundings. You'll explore a labyrinthine world full of enemies and power-ups to collect using only these short range jumps. Dandara is delightfully original and a blast once you get a handle on the unique movement system, but some obnoxious aspects of the game make the adventure a little more tedious than it ought to be. The game takes place in the world of Salt, a peaceful land of creativity and creation that is being oppressed by a group called the Eldarian Army. Our heroine, Dandara, is born form the Crib of Creation to defeat the Eldarians and bring peace back to Salt. The story is pretty minimal in this game, which is kind of a shame since it's clearly a very surreal world that the developers have created. There are plenty of eye-catching details in the scenery but as far as the plotline is concerned you're just exploring and fighting enemies. The most interesting aspects of the narrative come from researching the development of the game and seeing how much of it is drawn from Brazilian history or culture, including the main character Dandara, named after a 17th century Afro-Brazilian freedom fighter. It would have been difficult to integrate some of the real life history seamlessly into the flow of the game, but it's worth researching on your own. As is, the game itself ends up feeling like just another good-vs-evil adventure. Dandara's unusual movement system might seem complicated at a glance, but surprisingly it's pretty easy to grasp quickly. You aim with the left control stick and jump with A—pretty simple. Zipping from floor to ceiling in order to move down a hallway is a lot of fun, and the game does a great job of giving you a solid sense of speed and fluidity. Despite being tethered to the walls, floors, and ceilings—you can leap to anything with a white surface—Dandara has a surprising sense of freedom and exploration that makes it fun to simply bounce around. It's only when you need to be more precise with your jumps that the controls start to feel clumsy, especially when you're being bombarded with enemy attacks. In this regard boss battles can feel like entirely new challenges since you can kind of skate by against normal enemies by sticking to a slow, careful approach which doesn't work in boss fights. Furthermore, when there are more than a couple enemies on screen you can easily get overwhelmed. Worse still, when you take damage you end up floating a bit off of the surface you were on, which has a way of throwing off your rhythm with jumping/dodging (eventually you get a shield ability but for much of the game you'll need to be quick to dodge enemy attacks). While floating you can still take damage which leads to a pretty vicious cycle of getting trapped by multiple enemy attacks. Like I said, slow and steady is oftentimes the best approach. Oddly enough, for as much as the movement system encourages a certain style of speed and fluidity, your attacks are quite slow and limited in the early parts of the game. Dandara can shoot out a sort of shotgun blast of projectiles, but they're short range and you need to charge up in order to fire. The idea of charging attacks really feels at odds with the fast-paced movement, especially when getting hit interrupts your charge. Once you hone your leaping skills the charged up attack system almost feels like a weight upon you, as if the developers were worried you'd end up being too powerful if you could both move and shoot quickly. Trying to find a free second to charge up a shot adds plenty of challenge to the game but it can also make even basic enemies quite frustrating. On the brightside, there is an RPG-like system that gives you experience points when you defeat enemies (you can also find XP in treasure chests). When you find a save point, you can spend your XP on upgrading Dandara's skills—maximum health, maximum special weapon ammo, and health/ammo potion efficacy. Enemies respawn when you use a save point, so technically you can grind to make yourself stronger, though it's a pretty slow process up until the last area of the game where enemies give decent XP. However, there's also a looming shadow over the entire XP system: you lose your XP if you die, like the Dark Souls series. You can recover your XP if you get back to the place where you died, but really, any time this Dark Souls system is used in a game it seems primarily to be there to frustrate the player. You're already sent back to your last save point when you die—a sufficient penalty in an exploration game, especially with how few save points there are in Dandara—so losing XP too is just kicking the player when he's down. Even if the stakes are high though, simple exploration can be a lot of fun in Dandara. The tone of the game is classic Metroidvania: there's little direction on where to go, but when you run into barriers that require special items or weapons you gradually learn where the game is funneling you. The maps themselves are pretty well designed too. They're intricate, but not so complicated that you lose track of yourself every five seconds—although the game would have benefited from some sort of mini-map on-screen just for quick reference instead of pulling up the entire map screen. Just seeing the screen flip around when you move between doors so you can orient yourself is a neat touch. And even if you're not running and jumping in a traditional sense there are some solid platformer challenges in Dandara, many of which revolve around avoiding enemy attacks while still moving forward. I suppose I should also mention that Dandara includes touch screen controls as well, but I only bring them up to say: don't even bother. It may seem intuitive to flick on the screen in the direction you want to leap, but the touch controls are never fast or accurate enough to compete with the normal control stick/buttons. All of those moments when the game throws tons of obstacles at you at once would only be made completely frustrating if you try to handle them with touch controls. It wouldn't be classic platformer/exploration design without classic visuals to match, would it? Dandara features some gorgeous pixel art that would be right at home on a classic system but still feels fresh and interesting. As already mentioned the backgrounds are peppered with some great visual details, some of which references famous Brazilian art, and the result is satisfyingly surreal. Plus the soundtrack is outstanding—a perfect match for the otherworldly vibe of the game. It's just the right blend of driving rhythmic beats as you explore and battle enemies and slightly eerie melodies as you stumble through bizarre environments. Dandara isn't a terribly long game but it doesn't feel all that short either. There are actually only a handful of areas to explore but with the backtracking and probable deaths/retries the game still comes out to a decent nine or ten hours. There are also plenty of hidden secrets to find, as well as the possibility of grinding XP until you reach maximum power, so it's possible to stretch the game out a bit as well. Additionally, Dandara seems like a prime candidate for speed-running, just like Metroid games, since most upgrades are optional. Overall it's a decent amount of content for your fifteen bucks. Dandara's unique movement puts a whole new spin on Metroidvania exploration while still staying true to the classic structure of the genre. With a bit of practice the ability to jump from surface to surface is a lot of fun, and being able to find something new and entertaining about just moving around the screen speaks to the creativity of the developers. As strong as the concept is though, the execution has some notable faults, mostly with regard to combat that too often feels punishing and somewhat at odds with the fast-paced fluidity of leaping from wall to wall. If you're prepared to stomach the challenges—and fairly frequent deaths/retries—Dandara is a delightful take on a familiar genre. Rating: 8 out of 10 Salts Dandara is available now on the Switch eShop for $14.99
  24. This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch Dragon Quest Builders – Gather, craft and build the kingdom of your dreams to restore the ruined world of Alefgard. As the legendary Builder, you’ll construct rooms, towns and defenses while fighting monsters. In Terra Incognita, build freely, share creations online, battle in an arena and access exclusive content to the Nintendo Switch version of the game—gather special materials with the Great Sabrecub to unlock retro customization options, including the Dragon Quest Game Pak (Nintendo Account required. Online services and features, including online gameplay, are free until the paid Nintendo Switch Online Service launches in 2018). Dragon Quest Builders will be available on Feb. 9. A free demo version of the game is available now for download in Nintendo eShop. Owlboy – Owlboy is a story-driven platform adventure game in which you can fly and explore a world in the clouds. Pick up your friends, and bring them with you as you explore the open skies. Overcome great obstacles and even greater enemies when Owlboy launches on Feb. 13. Aegis Defenders – Explore, build and defend in this unique mashup of action-platformer and tower-defense-strategy. Play as a team of Ruinhunters searching for the one thing that can save their village: a legendary weapon known as Aegis. Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology – Unlock the time-traveling power of the White Chronicle once again in Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology. This beloved classic is an expanded version of the original Nintendo 3DS game, and contains a great deal of added gameplay/story content, an updated presentation and new ways to experience the adventure. Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology launches on Feb. 13. 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 https://www.nintendo.com/games/sales-and-deals. Also new this week: ACA NEOGEO 2020 SUPER BASEBALL (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Aperion Cyberstorm (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Arcade Archives CRAZY CLIMBER (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) ATOMIK: RunGunJumpGun (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Disc Jam (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Mercenaries Saga Chronicles (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Monster Energy Supercross - The Official Videogame (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available Feb. 13 Pic-a-Pix Deluxe – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Premium Pool Arena (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) The Fall Part 2: Unbound (Nintendo eShop on Switch) – Available Feb. 13 The Longest Five Minutes (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available Feb. 13 The Men of Yoshiwara: Kikuya (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) Aperion Cyberstorm (Nintendo eShop on Wii U) IMAGEFIGHT (Virtual Console on Wii U) IMAGEFIGHT 2 (Virtual Console on Wii U)
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