[Review] Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
Posted on 1 year ago by Nicholas Serpa in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release Date: October 20, 2022
Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft
Conceptually, there was really no good reason why a game as bizarre and audacious as 2017’s Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle should have worked – but it did. Not only did it somehow make a crossover between Nintendo’s most iconic cast of characters and Ubisoft’s most – er, divisive – not feel completely bonkers, but it also introduced an accessible and creative take on turn-based tactics to a console that, at that point, was light on quality options. I enjoyed Kingdom Battle so thoroughly that initially, I couldn’t fathom why a sequel would need to exist. But after spending over 30 hours exploring sprawling planets and battling every foe I’ve crossed paths with, I don’t feel like it’s an exaggeration to call Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope one of Mario’s finest outings to date.
The origins of Smash Bros., Resident Evil Cloud versions, Mario Party, and more | Nintendo Everything Refresh Ep. 029
Posted on 1 year ago by Nicholas Serpa in News, Podcast, Switch | 0 comments
Did you know that Super Smash Bros. almost didn’t get made? Join your hosts Nick, Nicolas and Dennis as they talk about a recent behind-the-scenes look at the development of the original Super Smash Bros for Nintendo 64 and the OTHER game that almost got made instead. They’ll also discuss the many cloud-streaming games coming to Switch over the next few months, the latest updates on the Bayonetta 3 voice-acting drama, some classic Mario Party games hitting Switch Online, and MUCH more!
Bayonetta 3’s new gameplay (and drama), Bravely Default remaster teased, Cuphead Collector’s Edition, and more | Nintendo Everything Refresh Ep. 028
Posted on 1 year ago by Nicholas Serpa in Podcast, Switch | 0 comments
Bayonetta 3 will be hacking and slashing its way onto the Switch in a matter of days, and fans were treated to very long, very bonkers trailer last week showing off a ton of the game. Join your hosts Nick, Nicolas and Luiz as they discuss how the game is shaping up and some of the cooler details revealed last week. They’ll also discuss Bravely Default and teases of a remaster by the original game’s producer, a unique Cuphead Collector’s Edition coming soon, and more!
Our Super Mario Movie first trailer impressions, TONS of new Pokemon details, Persona 3 & 4, and more | Nintendo Everything Refresh Ep. 027
Posted on 1 year ago by Nicholas Serpa in News | 0 comments
The first trailer for the upcoming Super Mario Bros. Movie dropped recently, and gave moviegoers a first glimpse at just how Illumination Pictures plans to translate Nintendo’s iconic franchise into the world of animation. In this week’s episode of Nintendo Everything refresh, we’ll discuss our impressions of Chris Pratt’s Mario voice, the vibes and premise of the trailer, and more! We’ll also highlight some of the most exciting Pokemon Scarlet/Violet details revealed last week (picnics, anyone?), the upcoming Switch ports of Persona 3 & 4, and so much more!
Discussing our Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hopes impressions, Detective Pikachu 2, and more | Nintendo Everything Refresh Ep. 026
Posted on 1 year ago by Nicholas Serpa in General Nintendo, Podcast, Switch | 0 comments
Mario’s next flagship release is just a few weeks away, and we were lucky to have an opportunity to go hands-on with Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope at a recent preview event! Join your hosts Nick, Nicolas and Dennis as they dive deep into what to look forward to in this upcoming intergalactic adventure. Then stay tuned for chitchat about the long-awaited Detective Pikachu sequel, Logitech’s new cloud-streaming handheld, and more!
[Preview] Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is bonkers, deeply strategic fun
Posted on 1 year ago by Nicholas Serpa in Previews, Switch | 0 comments
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle was one the plucky plumber’s most unexpected and off-the-wall adventures in a long time when it released in 2017; it quickly became one of my favorite games on the Switch thanks to its simple but satisfying tactics and its delightfully quirky vibes. I was excited to have the opportunity to play its upcoming sequel, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, for nearly four hours at a recent Ubisoft preview event, where I experienced large chunks of the game’s combat, exploration, and story across a handful of different in-game planets. So far, what I’ve played of Sparks of Hope has me feeling confident that the game will be a substantial evolution of everything that made Kingdom Battle so special, and it seems poised to be Mario’s most memorable adventure in quite a while.
A deep dive into the latest Nintendo Direct and Tokyo Game Show announcements, and more | Nintendo Everything Refresh – Episode 025
Posted on 1 year ago by Nicholas Serpa in Podcast, Switch | 0 comments
Nothing notable at all happened in the gaming industry last week. Nope, absolutely nothing to – wait, hang on, apparently I’m getting word that actually last week was quite possibly one of the biggest weeks for gaming news that we’ve seen all year? And that apparently there was a Nintendo Direct that announced some massive new games, including Pikmin 4 and a brand new Fire Emblem game? And that apparently on top of that some weird niche event called Tokyo Game Show had even more upcoming Switch games to reveal and show off?! Huh – well, I guess it’s time for a new episode of Nintendo Everything Refresh, then! In this jumbo-sized episode, join your hosts Nick, Nicolas and Dennis as they unpack all the news big and small from last week’s whirlwind of game reveals and announcements!
Our Nintendo Direct Predictions, Mario + Rabbids new gameplay revealed, new Disney games announced for Switch, and more | Nintendo Everything Refresh Ep. 024
Posted on 1 year ago by Nicholas Serpa in Features, Podcast | 0 comments
A Nintendo Direct is upon us, and Nintendo’s promising over 40 minutes of reveals and announcements – so as is tradition, we’re making the wait go faster by offering up our last-minute predictions and dreams of what we’d all love to see. Join your hosts Nick, Nicolas and Luiz as they talk not only about Nintendo’s imminent showcase, but also unpack all the noteworthy announcements from Disney’s first-ever gaming showcase event. They’ll also discuss the latest look at Pokemon Scarlet & Violet’s three (?) story campaigns, their impressions on the latest gameplay deep-dive for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, and more!
[Review] Pac-Man World Re-Pac
Posted on 1 year ago by Nicholas Serpa in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release Date: August 26, 2022
Developer: Bandai Namco / NOW Production
Publisher: Bandai Namco
It’s not a stretch to say that almost everyone who plays video games is at least aware of Pac-Man; the puck-shaped pellet muncher is perhaps one of the most iconic gaming protagonists of all time. So, while it shouldn’t be a surprise that of course he featured in his own series of 3D platformers in the late 90’s and early 2000s – those games were a dime a dozen back then – it was a bit of a left-field announcement when Bandai Namco revealed that the original Pac-Man World would be getting a remake. It’s a solid 3D adventure that has its fans, sure, but it didn’t leave a substantial impact on the genre in the same way that Mario, Crash and Spyro did. Sometimes, though, a game doesn’t need to innovate to be a good time, and Pac-Man World Re-Pac is a perfect example of how tight, responsive platforming and a dollop of arcade-fueled nostalgia can be a timeless, satisfying combination.
More: Bandai Namco, highlight, Pac-Man World Re-Pac, top
Splatoon 3 Splatfest impressions, Gamescom’s new Switch reveals, Sakurai’s YouTube channel, and more | Nintendo Everything Refresh Ep. 023
Posted on 1 year ago by Nicholas Serpa in Podcast, Switch | 0 comments
The world’s largest game of Rock, Paper, Scissors took place last weekend during Splatoon 3’s Splatfest World Premiere, which gave us a chance to finally get hands-on with the upcoming threequel! Join your hosts Nick, Nicolas, Luiz and Dennis as they talk about their experiences playing the demo, as well as their thoughts on the recent Splatoon 3 showcase during a Nintendo Treehouse Live presentation. They’ll also unpack all the noteworthy Switch game announcements from Gamescom, chat about Sakurai’s incredibly cool new YouTube channel, and much more!
Our show is available on most major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music and Audible, and direct downloads are also now available for free through our friends at ListenNotes! You can also check out the video version on Youtube below.
