[Preview] Rift of the Necrodancer – PAX West 2023
Posted on 1 year ago by Nicholas Serpa in Previews, Switch eShop | 0 comments
It was all the way back at PAX Prime 2013 that Crypt of the Necrodancer – a very successful dungeon crawler rougelite with rhythm-based combat – first started getting widespread love. Upon its full release, the game became so highly acclaimed that the team behind it was eventually able to work with Nintendo on a Legend of Zelda-themed spinoff called Cadence of Hyrule. Back for another victory lap, developer Brace Yourself Games attended PAX West 2023 to show off their latest project, Rift of the Necrodancer. While it’s a much more traditional rhythm game than the developer’s previous experiments, my demo with Rift highlighted some interesting twists on the genre that I think will surprise even seasoned fans of the genre.
[Preview] Fashion Dreamer – PAX West 2023
Posted on 1 year ago by Nicholas Serpa in Previews, Switch | 0 comments
It’s a bit mind-boggling to think about, but somehow the Switch has gone its entire lifespan so far without receiving a Style Savvy game from Nintendo, despite getting three great titles in the series on the 3DS. Fortunately for fashion fans, XSEED Games and Marvelous are bringing a spiritual successor of sorts to the platform with Fashion Dreamer, a Switch exclusive that represents something of a new approach to the genre, emphasizing freeform play and social sharing in ways that just wouldn’t have been possible during the 3DS era.
More: Fashion Dreamer, highlight, marvelous, Syn Sophia, top, XSEED Games
5 lighthearted indies we demoed for Switch at PAX West 2023
Posted on 1 year ago by Nicholas Serpa in Previews, Switch | 0 comments
We played more games at PAX West this year than we have time to feature individually, but there were a ton of little surprises we had the chance to try that we’re looking forward to seeing on Switch. If you’re looking for some low-key games to unwind to after a busy day, here are five chill and relaxing games to keep an eye on!
[Preview] Star Ocean: The Second Story R – PAX West 2023
Posted on 1 year ago by Nicholas Serpa in Previews, Switch | 0 comments
As someone new to the Star Ocean series, I had heard so many different opinions on the series over the years that I’d always been curious about jumping in, but not quite sure where to start. Well, apparently the second game in the franchise is regarded by many fans as one of the best, so I was really excited when Star Ocean: The Second Story R was revealed in a recent Nintendo Direct (alongside a jaw-dropping new art style). I was able to demo this remake at PAX West 2023, and left with an extremely positive first impression; exciting combat, old-school strategic depth and outstanding production values are all lining up to make this one of my most anticipated RPGs.
[Preview] Thank Goodness You’re Here – PAX West 2023
Posted on 1 year ago by Nicholas Serpa in Previews, Switch eShop | 0 comments
Sometimes, a game enters your life that is just so strange and charismatic that, even if you don’t quite fully understand it, you can’t help but smile and love it. That basically sums up how I felt after recently demoing Thank Goodness You’re Here, an upcoming comedy adventure game that feels like a Cartoon Network show come to life in all the best ways.
More: Coal Supper, highlight, Panic, Thank Goodness You're Here, top
Atari’s upcoming slate of games makes old favorites new again
Posted on 1 year ago by Nicholas Serpa in Features, Switch | 0 comments
Gaming preferences develop from many different origins – the games you played at your neighbor’s house growing up, the ones you received at Christmas and on birthdays – but being born in the late nineties, Atari games were never in my rotation. That’s probably because for what felt like years, the company’s output was relatively minimal compared to the early days of the storied company. Their franchises remain iconic, though; I’d wager just about everyone knows what Pong at least is, even if they’ve never played it. That inherent familiarity is powerful, and Atari’s upcoming slate of games capitalizes on it; they’re taking old favorites and finding ways to refresh them into something exciting for modern audiences.
More: Atari, Haunted House, highlight, qomp2, top
[Preview] No Longer Human – PAX West 2023
Posted on 1 year ago by Nicholas Serpa in Previews, Switch | 0 comments
No Longer Human – an upcoming fast-paced slash-em-up and the debut release of indie developer 0801 LLC – is one of the finest examples of pure sensory overload that I’ve ever had the privilege of playing. I moved and attacked at speeds that felt impossible, to a soundtrack that’s so agressive and distorted its almost indescribable, while watching geysers of pixellated blood erupt from my foes. The game has the aesthetic of vector-traced arcade cabinets of the olden days, if those games were made today and took place in a rave. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience that absolutely deserves to be on the radar of action game fans.
More: No Longer Human, PM Studios
9 action-packed Switch games to keep on your radar – PAX West 2023
Posted on 1 year ago by Nicholas Serpa in Features, Switch | 0 comments
There were a ton of interesting games big and small at PAX West 2023, but as someone who’s always on the hunt for more fast-paced thrills, I felt spoiled for choice after sampling a huge swatch of action-heavy games at the show. From roguelikes to first-person shooters, there’s a little bit of everything on the horizon; if you’re looking for your next high-energy experience, we’ve put together a list of 9 action-rich games you may want to keep an eye out for.
More: highlight, PAX West 2023, top
[Preview] Our first hands-on with Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Posted on 1 year ago by Nicholas Serpa in Previews, Switch | 0 comments
In the eleven years since New Super Mario Bros. U first released, 2D platformers have changed a lot. Not only are there a lot more of them overall – thanks to some very creative projects by small teams – I’d argue the genre has broadly shifted towards increasing the complexity of the overall experience. Many sidescrollers today embrace popular added-depth systems; rougelike elements, skill trees, sprawling and interconnected maps, Soulslike combat, or perhaps all of the above. These can all be great things, and I’ve certainly made some amazing memories with some out-of-left-field projects over the past decade, but sometimes it’s nice to experience a platformer where the joy comes not necessarily from overcoming a complex challenge or system, but from something simpler. For me, in the case of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, that joy came from being surprised. And in my recent 30 minute demo session with the game, I found myself being surprised at almost every turn.
More: highlight, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, top
Nintendo Live 2023: An inside look at Nintendo’s inaugural Seattle event
Posted on 1 year ago by Nicholas Serpa in Features, General Nintendo, Switch | 0 comments
PAX West 2023 was made a little more special this year thanks to the presence of Nintendo Live, a massive fan-focused convention celebrating iconic Nintendo games, franchises and hardware. While a similar event has taken place in Japan in recent years, this marked the first time the event has been held in North America. And while tickets were free to the public, they awarded at random to interested PAX West attendees (and people who entered a lottery system via Nintendo’s website), so not everyone who was interested in going was given the opportunity to attend. Fortunately, I was able to check out the event on behalf of Nintendo Everything, and there was a lot to see and do for those willing to wait out the massive crowds.
