What we want to see from the next big Zelda game on Nintendo Switch 2
Posted on 3 months ago by Ethan in Features, Switch 2 | 0 comments
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom were huge landmarks for the franchise on Nintendo Switch, and they were also the beginning of a new philosophy. In previous Zelda titles, the intended routes through the games were fairly linear (speedrun tricks and glitches aside). Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, and Skyward Sword all clearly intended you to do their dungeons in a planned order, and by the time Skyward Sword released, some fans began to want less linearity in their Zelda games and more freedom. Indeed, when Breath of the Wild released in 2017 for Wii U and Nintendo Switch, that request was answered – from that point on, the entire Zelda series has shifted to a new idea: let the player do whatever they want, in any order they want. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom both have five main “dungeons” (if you count Divine Beasts as dungeons), and for the most part you can tackle them in any order. In fact, you don’t even have to do them – you can skip right ahead to the final boss if you think you’re up for the challenge.
The point here is, now the pendulum has shifted the other way. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom were universally acclaimed and sold excellently, but some fans now think that the emphasis on freedom and lack of direction makes the games feel too empty and pointless. This begs an interesting question: with that in mind, what could we see out of the next big Zelda title on Nintendo Switch 2 in a few years? Will the developers listen to the admittedly vocal minority of complaints, or will they double down on their current philosophy and make the next big title free and open-roaming, too? It’s impossible to know for sure, but today we’re talking about freedom versus linearity and some things we’d like to see out of the next big Zelda game.
More: highlight, The Legend of Zelda, top
Nintendo currently retaining 98% of its staff, plus other data
Posted on 3 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
Although the gaming industry has been hit pretty hard by layoffs over the past few years, it seems that in comparison, Nintendo has been relatively immune to similar challenges.
According to the most recent employee data, Nintendo’s turnover rate at its headquarters in Japan comes in at only 1.9% in Japan (it’s not terribly different elsewhere such as 5.1% at Nintendo of America). In other words, the company isn’t seeing a ton of layoffs (or employees deciding to leave on their own). This is based on data between April 2024 and March 2025.
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Patapon 1 + 2 Replay review for Nintendo Switch
Posted on 3 months ago by Edan in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: July 22, 2025
Developer: Sas Co / Pyramid / Japan Studio
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Of all the franchises I expected to see on Switch this year, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Patapon wasn’t one of them. Part rhythm game, part imposing strategy micro-management sim, Patapon is the endearing outcome of a chance encounter between Japanese developer Hiroyuki Kotani and the personal website of French artist Rolito. This fairytale serendipity resulted in Japan Studio, Rolito, and Pyramid developing the original Patapon exclusively for Sony’s PSP in 2007, with a sequel arriving for the same machine just one year later. Now almost twenty years later, Bandai Namco lives up to its apparent reputation as everyone’s best mate by taking the PlayStation exclusive multiplatform. Can someone explain our current timeline to me, please?
More: Bandai Namco, highlight, Patapon 1 + 2 Replay, top
Nintendo Download – July 17, 2025 (North America) – Donkey Kong Bananza, WWE 2K25, more
Posted on 3 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch 2, Switch eShop | 0 comments
It’s time for the newest North American Nintendo Download Switch report for the week of July 17, 2025. The latest releases on the Nintendo eShop include Donkey Kong Bananza, WWE 2K25, and more.
Here’s the full roundup:
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Famitsu sales (7/7/25 – 7/13/25) – all about Nintendo Switch 2, Mario Kart World
Posted on 3 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch, Switch 2 | 0 comments
Misc. A Tiny Tale review for Nintendo Switch
Posted on 3 months ago by Jeremy in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: July 22, 2025
Developer: Tinyware Games
Publisher: Tinyware Games
If ever there was a game that had intense trailer appeal, Misc, A Tiny Tale is it. Cute, miniature robots living happy-go-lucky lives in the ruins of human society? Check. Cozy item hunting to help out your robot pals? Check. A snarky, plastic cat that’s somehow obsessed with food. Check plus. The game practically sells itself. I took the plunge into this adorable world to see if the game lives up the hype.
More: highlight, Misc. A Tiny Tale, Tinyware Games, top
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot reveals Daima – Adventure Through The Demon Realm DLC [update: new trailer]
Posted on 3 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 0 comments
October 17: Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is getting even more DLC, and Daima – Adventure Through The Demon Realm DLC has been revealed. This comes in celebration of the new anime that recently started.
As of now Bandai Namco is keeping quiet on the details. However, it looks like there’ll be at least two parts to the DLC. It also looks like players will be able to explore the new Demon Realm.
More: CyberConnect2, DLC, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, top
Nintendo reveals cast members for Link and Zelda in new live-action movie
Posted on 3 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
Just a short while ago, Nintendo unveiled the first cast members for its new movie for The Legend of Zelda.
Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of the franchise, took to social media to announce the news. We now know that Bo Bragason will be playing Zelda. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth is taking on the role of Link. Miyamoto said that he’s “very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen.”
More: movie, The Legend of Zelda, top
Nintendo announces Drag x Drive: Global Jam demo event
Posted on 3 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch 2 | 0 comments
Ahead of the game’s launch, Nintendo has announced the Drag x Drive: Global Jam demo event.
Those with a Nintendo Switch Online membership can access it next month. Three sessions will be held in total across a couple of days with four hours dedicated to each slot.
The full schedule is as follows:
More: demo, Drag x Drive, top
Donkey Kong Bananza producer hoping the game leads to 2D and 3D branches, similar to Mario
Posted on 3 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch 2 | 0 comments
In a new interview, Donkey Kong Bananza producer Kenta Motokura shared that he’s hoping the game leads to separate 2D and 3D branches of the series, similar to what we’ve seen with Mario.
Mario clearly has a subset of 2D and 3D games. With Donkey Kong, however, things are murkier. Part of that is simply due to a lack of games. We’ve seen a good amount of 2D Donkey Kong titles, but 3D has been underrepresented – fans know that Donkey Kong 64 was the last time there’s been something in the 3D space.
