[Review] Sonic Mania
Posted on 7 years ago by Philip(@P_Trah) in Reviews, Switch | 14 Comments
System: Switch
Release date: August 15, 2017
Developer: Headcannon / PagodaWest Games
Publisher: SEGA
Sonic the Hedgehog is a series that’s both famous and infamous for many different reasons. In his hay-day, Sonic was perhaps the number one rival to Nintendo’s best known character, Mario. During Sonic’s early days on the SEGA Genesis, or the SEGA Mega Drive for those outside of the U.S., the Sonic the Hedgehog titles received high praise from all over game’s media, and was seen by most critics as SEGA’s answer to Mario’s popularity. This success continued throughout Sonic’s 2D era of games, with subsequent entries receiving just as much, if not more praise than the last. However, once SEGA decided to make the jump from 2D to 3D, opinions regarding the changes to the series’ core became a bit more polarizing. Some critics and fans regarded the changes as a necessity to move forward in-step with the evolving industry; while others felt that the series was straying too far from the its roots and was starting to water-down what made Sonic the Hedgehog appealing to begin with. Over the years, SEGA has attempted to bring the series back to its roots in several ways, but none have ever quite captured that same magic that fans were hoping for. That is, until Sonic Mania.
More: Headcannon, highlight, PagodaWest Games, SEGA, Sonic Mania, Tantalus, top
[Let’s Talk] What are you playing? – August 2017
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, Let's Talk | 137 Comments
A new month is here! We just entered August last week, so that means we want to know what you’ve been playing.
Have you started up something entirely new for the month? Are you trying out Hey! Pikmin or Miitopia? Or maybe you’ve been giving some of the new Switch eShop games a look. Whatever the case, let us know in the comments below!
Highlights from last week’s topic: Splatoon 2 impressions
[Review] Hey! Pikmin
Posted on 7 years ago by Philip(@P_Trah) in 3DS, Reviews | 9 Comments
System: 3DS
Release date: July 28, 2017
Developer:: Arzest
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre-altering spinoffs are not an entirely new concept in the gaming world, especially when it comes to Nintendo. Sometimes taking an existing IP and changing its genre and play style can breathe new life into a series; other times (more often than not it seems) it can work against the franchise and can leave fans of a certain series wanting a bit more than what was presented. In Hey! Pikmin for the 3DS, we see Nintendo and developer Arzest try and introduce those adorable sentient carrots and our intrepid, inter-galactic delivery man to Nintendo’s handheld. While Hey! Pikmin has plenty of the same charm that the mainline console Pikmin titles have, it lacks the depth and strategy that fans have come to admire the series for.
More: Arzest, Hey! Pikmin, highlight, top
[Let’s Talk] Splatoon 2 impressions
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk, Switch | 32 Comments
Splatoon 2 has been out for just over a week. Nintendo published the game last Friday, and many Switch owners likely purchased the game. One thing is for sure: it’s selling like hot cakes in Japan.
How many of you have picked up Splatoon 2 thus far? If you did, have you had a chance to play it? What do you think of it so far? How do you feel about the new single-player campaign, Salmon Run, and everything else the game has to offer? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Highlights from last week’s topic: Miiverse memories
More: highlight, Splatoon 2, top
[Review] Miitopia
Posted on 7 years ago by Dennis Gagliardotto(@LyonHart_) in 3DS, Reviews | 8 Comments
System: 3DS
Release date: July 28, 2017
Developer:: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Miis have seen a long history of games and appearances ranging from party titles like Wii Play and Wii Sports to spinoff Mario titles such as Mario Kart and Mario Tennis. Now from a fancy island resort in 2013’s quirky Tomodachi Life to the fantasy wonderlands of an RPG, Miitopia sees Nintendo’s Mii avatars come front and center once again on the 3DS. Miitopia builds ground and gives Miis a more robust experience compared to the simulator nature of Tomodachi Life, but it falls short in many areas to really make this a game worth owning, even if it is just as fun and absurd as one would expect from a Mii driven title – for better or for worse.
[Let’s Talk] Miiverse memories
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, Let's Talk | 19 Comments
Nintendo issued a new Wii U firmware update this week. The system hasn’t seen the addition of any new features in quite some time, so normally this wouldn’t be big news. However, it ended up being fairly significant after dataminers apparently found text that mentions the end of Miiverse.
First thing: we can’t say with absolutely certainty that the datamined text is accurate. Second, assuming it’s true, it may take time for Nintendo to pull the plug on Miiverse. For all we know, it could be a year, two years, or longer.
However, we can’t deny that Miiverse isn’t as prominent these days as it once was. It’s not a part of Switch at all. Wii U is still used by many players, but it’s not in the spotlight now. And the 3DS does feature Miiverse as well, though you could argue that it isn’t as significant there as it is on Wii U.
So let’s take a moment or two to look back on Miiverse. How do you feel the community as a whole? Do you think the original idea was good for Nintendo to put in place? How active were you on Miiverse, if at all? Do you have any memories in particular? Let us know in the comments below.
Highlights from last week’s topic: What are you playing? – July 2017
[Review] Splatoon 2
Posted on 7 years ago by Vincent Ward in Reviews, Switch | 17 Comments
System: Switch
Release date: July 21, 2017
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher Nintendo
One of the best things about the original Splatoon when it first rolled onto store shelves a few years back was how it was never afraid to be itself. When creating a new IP, Nintendo didn’t choose to play it safe and instead provided completely new gameplay we had never seen before and a booming world to dive into like no other. It’s no wonder fans took an immediate liking to the concept, and throughout its near two years of support, players kept coming back. It makes perfect sense that Nintendo rolled out a sequel just in time for the Switch’s first year to put a “fresh” IP in the spotlight once again, but does this sequel provide enough to justify the 2, or does it provide “2” little?
More: highlight, Splatoon 2, top
[Let’s Talk] What are you playing? – July 2017
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk | 25 Comments
A new month is here! We just entered July last week, so that means we want to know what you’ve been playing.
Have you started up something entirely new for the month? Have you given Ever Oasis a shot? Or maybe you’re trying something on Switch like ARMS or the new Zelda DLC. Whatever the case, let us know in the comments below!
Highlights from last week’s topic: Zelda: Breath of the Wild – The Master Trials impressions
[Let’s Talk] Zelda: Breath of the Wild – The Master Trials impressions
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk, Switch, Wii U | 5 Comments
The first of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s DLC packs launched this week. Nintendo began distributing The Master Trials on Friday. While the big DLC we’re all waiting for is coming this holiday with The Champions’ Ballad (featuring an original story and new dungeon), this is a nice way to return the game and hold us over until then.
Probably the biggest addition in The Master Trials is the challenge that has players taking on room after room and defeating enemies without dying. Completing the challenge lets you power up the Master Sword even further. Other highlights include the tougher Master Mode, Korok Mask, and more.
How many of you have tried out The Master Trials? If you have, did you beat the Trial of the Sword? Have you given Master Mode a try? Share your impressions with us in the comments below.
Highlights from last week’s topic: E3 2017 reactions
[Interview] A chat with Patricia Summersett, the voice of Zelda in Breath of the Wild
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Interviews, Switch, Wii U | 13 Comments
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild marked a monumental step for the series in terms of how Nintendo portrayed its characters. For the first time, the game featured voice acting. Among others, Zelda was given a voice.
Patricia Summersett played the role of Zelda in the English version of Breath of the Wild. With the game’s first DLC pack arriving yesterday, we felt this would be the perfect opportunity to speak with Ms. Summersett about her role in the game. Continue on below for our full discussion.
