[Review] TumbleSeed
Posted on 7 years ago by Jakob Vujovic(@jakovujo) in Reviews, Switch eShop | 15 Comments
System: Switch (eShop)
Release date: May 2, 2017
Developer: aeiowu
Publisher aeiowu
The first thing that hit me upon playing TumbleSeed is how tactile it feels. Even as I was hopelessly fumbling and rolling my seed, making inconsequential progress up the game’s procedurally generated mountain, its textured soundtrack, satisfyingly percussive sound effects, and bright bubbly visuals kept me going – at least until I had a better grasp on the game. As it turns out, TumbleSeed is an excellent roguelike.
More: aeiowu, highlight, top, TumbleSeed
[Let’s Talk] The New 2DS XL
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, Let's Talk | 27 Comments
Probably the biggest piece of Nintendo news this week was the reveal of the New 2DS XL. A new hardware announcement was definitely unexpected – especially another iteration of the 3DS.
But here we are. The 2DS XL exists. It’s like a combination of the New 3DS XL and 2DS, so it makes sense that the $150 price point also falls between the two.
Many of the New 3DS XL features are here. You’re getting the same large screen, power, and built-in NFC support. There’s no stereoscopic 3D support, but the system is lighter.
So what does everyone make of the New 2DS XL? Do you have any interest in it at all? Do you believe it’s smart for Nintendo to be introducing another model of the 3DS? Let us know in the comments below.
Highlights from last week’s topic: Potential SNES Mini games
[Review] Puyo Puyo Tetris
Posted on 7 years ago by Jakob Vujovic(@jakovujo) in Reviews, Switch | 40 Comments
System: Switch
Release date: April 25, 2017
Developer: SEGA / Sonic Team
Publisher SEGA
Puyo Puyo Tetris – a crossover of Puyo Puyo and Tetris – has been around in Japan since 2014, having released on just about every platform. With the Switch version as a Japanese launch title, it’s finally getting localized, albeit two months late. It goes without saying that Tetris is well known in the west with its release on every platform imaginable, though SEGA’s Puyo Puyo series is far less renowned internationally as it is in Japan. The last time a Puyo Puyo game saw an official international release was on GameCube in 2004.
More: highlight, Puyo Puyo Tetris, SEGA, top
[Let’s Talk] Potential SNES Mini games
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, Let's Talk | 23 Comments
A big rumor surfaced this week about Nintendo potentially creating a SNES Mini for release later this year. Whether or not that actually happens remains to be seen. But with the NES Classic Edition / NES Mini being such a big hit, the possibility is certainly there.
So let’s say that Nintendo does move forward with the SNES Mini. What games would you like to be included? Titles such as Super Mario World and Zelda: A Link to the Past would probably be safe bets. Are there any far out games you’d like to see though? What would be your dream lineup? Let us know in the comments below.
Highlights from last week’s topic: April 2017 Nintendo Direct reactions
[Review] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Posted on 7 years ago by Dennis Gagliardotto(@LyonHart_) in Reviews, Switch | 30 Comments
System: Switch
Release date: April 28, 2017
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher Nintendo
Two years ago, I wrote an article on my relationship with Mario Kart and how Mario Kart 8 revitalized the series. In making that game, Nintendo reignited the magic I used to feel towards the franchise during the N64 and GameCube days. Mario Kart 8 shed a whole new light on kart racers and the potential they had at a time where most felt stale or rehashed, with Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed being the new “king” of that genre before Mario Kart 8 returned to reclaim. Now in 2017, we’re back with the definitive version of one of Wii U’s best titles on its successor, the Nintendo Switch, with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It’s as extravagant and beautiful as it was on Wii U, but this time with a revamped battle mode, all DLC included, a few new features, and plenty to love all over again.
More: highlight, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, top
[Let’s Talk] April 2017 Nintendo Direct reactions
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, Let's Talk, Switch | 39 Comments
The latest Nintendo Direct aired this past week. Nintendo originally announced it as a broadcast focusing on Arms and Splatoon 2, but in the end, there was quite a bit more than that.
Nintendo started out with 3DS. We were given a new name for Pikmin (Hey! Pikmin) and a release date, a date for Ever Oasis, news about Monster Hunter Stories, Yo-kai Watch 2: Psychic Specters and Miitopia all coming west, followed by three Kirby 3DS titles. Bye-Bye BoxBoy! also launched in North America after the presentation.
Some news about amiibo was also shared. The three rumored Zelda amiibo were confirmed. Nintendo is bringing out the final Smash Bros. amiibo this summer, along with alternate versions for each. Hey! Pikmin and Splatoon 2 are also getting amiibo.
Speaking of Splatoon 2, it was dated for July 21 and the new Salmon Run mode was revealed. Arms, Nintendo’s other big Switch game for the summer, is planned for June 16. The new character Min Min was introduced plus a 2-v-2 option. Third-party highlights include Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition on May 11, plus Namco Museum, Fate/Extella, Monopoly, Sine Mora EX, Battle Chasers: Nightwar, and Payday 2.
The Nintendo Direct also snuck in some hardware news. New Neon Yellow Joy-Con are launching with Arms in addition to a Battery Pack accessory. Finally, the standalone Switch dock is set for May 19.
For a Nintendo Direct that’s just two months off from E3, I personally thought it wasn’t too shabby. A personal highlight for myself is Monster Hunter Stories, which I was praying would be made available in North America and Europe. But what about you guys? Were you impressed or disappointed? What was your favorite announcement? Let us know in the comments below.
Highlights from last week’s topic: Future feature additions on Switch
[Let’s Talk] Future feature additions on Switch
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk | 36 Comments
Switch’s launch took place just over a month ago. With that in mind, I thought it might be interesting to have a discussion about features we’d like to see added in the future.
Switch definitely isn’t a static system. Heck, no console is these days. Companies always update their platforms with firmware updates throughout the years.
Switch’s OS is incredibly slick and fast, but it’d be tough to say that it isn’t lacking a bit in terms of features. If there’s one thing I’ve seen, it’s that users want the ability to manage saves and transfer them. With Switch already supporting some browser functionality – such as when you connect to certain hotspots – a dedicated internet browser wouldn’t hurt. You’ll also always have some Switch owners who’d like to be able to watch video content on the likes of Netflix.
Those are just a few random ideas. What features do you hope to see implemented in Switch in the future? Share your thoughts with us below.
Highlights from last week’s topic: What are you playing? – April 2017
[Let’s Talk] What are you playing? – April 2017
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk | 55 Comments
A new month is here! We’ve just entered April, so that means we want to know what you’ve been playing.
Have you started up something entirely new for the month? Still playing Zelda: Breath of the Wild? Or maybe you’ve moved on to something else on Switch like Snake Pass. Whatever the case, let us know in the comments below!
Highlights from last week’s topic: Splatoon 2 Global Testfire impressions
[Review] Snake Pass
Posted on 7 years ago by Jakob Vujovic(@jakovujo) in Reviews, Switch eShop | 15 Comments
System: Switch (eShop)
Release date: March 28, 2017
Developer: Sumo Digital
Publisher Sumo Digital
There are a lot of short tips that cycle through the brief loading screens of Snake Pass. The most helpful was perhaps the most obvious: “Remember, think like a snake.” I wouldn’t be entirely satisfied categorizing this as a physics-based puzzle game. Calling it a platformer is closer, but you can’t jump. Stick this game into any established category and you’ll find that its slithery nature slips right back out. Snake Pass is, mechanically speaking, a sort of deconstruction of the 3D platformer. It’s not quite like anything I’ve ever played.
More: highlight, Snake Pass, Sumo Digital, top
[Review] I Am Setsuna
Posted on 7 years ago by Dennis Gagliardotto(@LyonHart_) in Reviews, Switch | 46 Comments
System: Switch (eShop)
Release date: March 3, 2017
Developer: Tokyo RPG Factory
Publisher Square Enix
Sometimes nostalgia gets the best of us. We look back on the vast history of video games and how far we’ve come, what’s changed and what hasn’t, for better or for worse. There are certain mechanics that evolve so much over time throughout all genres that we tend to forget how things once were when they became innovative for their time. The RPG genre has come a long way, stepping away from the linearity and turn-based tradition and heading more towards an open-world and free-form combat in a flashy hack-n-slash fashion. Sometimes, however, you want to go back to basics and back to a time that makes you fall in love with the genre all over again and elicits strong feelings of nostalgia and purity that may have faded over time as we’ve grown. I Am Setsuna brings us back to the 90’s at a time when Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, Parasite Eve, and a slew of other Square titles were pushing a new wave of gameplay with their Active Time Battle systems – ATB for short – where you could attack at any given point once a meter was filled rather than wait your turn in a chess-like fashion like traditional RPGs. I Am Setsuna not only brings us back to a time where RPGs were at their best thanks to their deep worlds, battle systems, and innocent art styles, but brings with it a reimagining to a forgotten style of gameplay that feels fantastic to have back in a modern take.
