In a world where the characters typically can only just speak their own name, having a game that features 720 different Pokemon with their own personalities and jobs is a feat in and of itself. But once you mix in the addictive dungeon crawling mechanics of the Mystery Dungeon series and all the other elements that make Pokemon titles the iconic series it is, you are given the definitive Mystery Dungeon title and one fun RPG.

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[Review] Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival

Posted on 9 years ago by Vincent Ward in Reviews, Wii U | 22 Comments

System: Wii U
Release date: November 13, 2015
Developer: Nintendo / Nd Cube
Publisher Nintendo

With Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival, I find myself having trouble translating my opinion into words. From a party game standpoint it has everything with fun multiplayer games and some single-player content sprinkled in. For an Animal Crossing spin-off title, it still has a lot to offer, too. It feels like an Animal Crossing title focused around being a party game instead of vice-versa, which is exactly how it should be. But I can’t help but get the impression that there’s something missing from the overall experience that is leaving the picture unfinished, and with a source material as large as Animal Crossing, I have to admit it ends up leaving a sour taste in my mouth.

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[Let’s Talk] Have you tried out Nintendo Badge Arcade?

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, Let's Talk | 24 Comments

Let’s Talk #31: Have you tried out Nintendo Badge Arcade?

Nintendo Badge Arcade hit the Japanese 3DS eShop in December 2014. It wasn’t until last week though that the app came out in the west. Now that it’s here, have you given it a shot? Do you believe it was worth the wait?

I admit I’ve been checking in on Nintendo Badge Arcade daily since its release. What’s funny about that is how I’m interested in the collective aspect more than anything else. I’m not really a creative person, and I don’t intend to load up my home menu with badges. There’s something there though that I keep coming back to. I boot up the app, visit the practice catcher, and usually use my free play. It’s easy and quick enough to get the job done! I can’t say I’m inclined to spend any cash on Nintendo Badge Arcade, however.

Now share your thoughts with us in the comments below! What do you think of Nintendo Badge Arcade?

Highlights from last week’s topic: What did you think of this week’s Nintendo Direct?

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[Review] Typoman

Posted on 9 years ago by Travis(@nintentravis) in Reviews, Wii U eShop | 3 Comments

System: Wii U (eShop)
Release date: November 19, 2015
Developer: Brainseed Factory
Publisher Headup Games

Author: Travis

Typoman is a game built around words. Its puzzles are words, its platforms are words, and even its enemies are word. Yet, throughout the experience, there are three words that will stand out above the rest: creative, but disappointing.

More: Brainseed Factory, Headup Games, highlight, indie, top, Typoman

[Review] Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash

Posted on 9 years ago by Austin(@NE_Austin) in Features, Reviews | 66 Comments

System: Wii U
Release date: November 20, 2015
Developer: Camelot
Publisher Nintendo

Author: Austin

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is a game that lacks guidance when you start it up; it’s a mish mash of menu options, and they don’t tell you which icon to try first. But where Smash Bros. uses a lack of direction to overwhelm– like Charlie entering Wonka’s entirely edible room– Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash feels a lot less excited about its own content. Even the game can’t be bothered to show you around.

“Well, here’s all this stuff I guess.”

What should I do first?

“Uhhhh…”

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[Just a Chat] November 2015 Nintendo Direct reaction

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, Just a Chat, Videos, Wii U | 30 Comments

A new Nintendo Direct aired on Thursday, so there’s plenty to discuss in the latest episode of Just a Chat. Daan and I react to the news of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD, the return of the classic Pokemon games, Cloud in Smash Bros., and much more.

Stuff:

Brian’s Twitter
Daan’s Twitter

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[Let’s Talk] What did you think of this week’s Nintendo Direct?

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk | 30 Comments

Let’s Talk #30: What are you playing? – November 2015

On Thursday, Nintendo finally presented a new Nintendo Direct. Fans were waiting a long, long time for this one.

The new Nintendo Direct was light on brand new game reveals, but there were still plenty of noteworthy announcements. Zelda: Twilight Princess HD was finally confirmed. The original Pokemon games are finally coming to the 3DS Virtual Console in February. Two Dragon Quest games are heading west next year. And the big one: Cloud is coming to Smash Bros. There were other things mixed in as well like Splatoon gear/maps, new/free DLC for Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, and Pokemon Picross. Heck, we even saw a few more seconds of Zelda Wii U footage, which I think came as a surprise to many.

What did you guys think of the latest Nintendo Direct? Are you satisfied with what was shown? Or were you left wanting more? Any thoughts on specific announcements? Let us know in the comments below!

Highlights from last week’s topic: What are you playing? – November 2015

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[Review] Stella Glow

Posted on 9 years ago by Dennis Gagliardotto(@LyonHart_) in 3DS, Reviews | 7 Comments

System: 3DS
Release date: November 17, 2015
Developer: Imageepoch
Publisher Atlus

Author: Dennis

Imageepoch’s unfortunate demise doesn’t go without a stellar track record with games like 7^th Dragon, Fate/Extra, and the Luminous Arc series that have all delivered unprecedented RPG experiences across a variety of platforms since their founding in 2005. The studio’s final game, Stella Glow, is a title that they can proudly leave with as the developers embark on future endeavors. Stella Glow is a beautifully animated and vibrant world that is as fun as it is nice to look at.

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[Review] Rhythm Heaven: The Best Plus

Posted on 9 years ago by Patrick(@Patricklous) in 3DS, Reviews | 7 Comments

System: 3DS
Release date: June 11, 2015 (JP)
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher Nintendo

Author: Patrick

Okay, so full disclosure: Rhythm Heaven is probably my favourite Nintendo-published series if not my flat-out favourite game series of all time. For me the core gameplay clicked immediately with the cute and creative minigames that make up the series proving to be a brilliant way to test players’ musical abilities. You could sell me a Rhythm Heaven game that was 75% old content and I’d still eat it up. And that just so happens to be what Nintendo have done this time. The currently Japan-exclusive Rhythm Heaven The Best+ brings rhythm games from the previous three entries in the series to the 3DS along with a handful of new games and some structural changes. It’s a solid compilation of the series’ highs, even if there’s a sense that the developers didn’t quite get why Rhythm Heaven is “the best”.

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[Let’s Talk] What are you playing? – November 2015

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, Let's Talk | 21 Comments

Let’s Talk #29: What are you playing? – November 2015

It’s the beginning of a new month (close enough anyway, right?). November is upon us, and there are only a few months left in 2015. Tell us what you’ve been playing or what you intend to play soon!

As for me, I just wrapped up Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin. Great, great game. I’ve talked about how atrocious my backlog before, and the fact that I only beat this game a couple of days ago further shows that! Within the past few weeks I’ve also been playing a bit of Lumines: Electronic Symphony, and some of Dillon Rolling Western which I wasn’t enjoying too much.

Highlights from last week’s topic: Has your opinion on Nintendo’s November Wii U releases changed?

TruExtent

I think the line up has potential but they are focusing my the wrong things. I don’t care for AC Amiibo Festival and I have a feeling the new Mario Tennis will only generate so much interest.

Everyone is forgetting Xenoblade X.

If Nintendo wants to generate more interest this holiday, they need to market the hell out of Xenoblade to the level that Microsoft is pushing Halo and Ubisoft pushing Assassin’s Creed. From the very few times I look at a TV if I see a video game advert, it’s one of those two games; I never see Nintendo’s stuff. If Xenoblade can’t cut it, maybe Devil’s Third can (with the right marketing). I feel an action game will have far more potential than a party game and an arcade sports game.

Meanwhile, the 3DS should be just fine.

Steve793

Nope not really. Wasn’t interested in them before, still am not.

For me, the Mario sports series are just meh. I personally wish they didn’t exist and Nintendo had made sports games using new IPs with new characters and such, instead of just putting the Mario IP on it. Think of it this way, that would mean more characters from different series for Smash… But, they could have had a Mario Team, a Zelda Team, etc for in-game opponents or have Mario, Link and Fox as surprise characters. That’ll never happen, so whatever. But seriously, for sports games, I’d rather go outside and play the actually sport than do it in a video game, especially tennis. Then again, I’ve only played Super Sluggers, and while that was alright, I wasn’t hooked, but I could still be persuaded on Mario Sports games, but I’d still rather see new sports games with new characters.

And since I’ve never played an Animal Crossing game, and don’t particularly care for Party games like Mario Party and such, I’ll be skipping this, and playing my backlog until Xeno X.

JuleyJules

Not at all. Wasn’t interested in whatever is coming in November before especially a tennis game with no motion controls. Do we really need another Wii Party U/Mario Party 10 style game on Wii U with other characters? The whole rolling the dice by using amiibo was a pain in MP10 and quickly turned everyone I know off of it. Still not interested now. They need to step it up to keep people interested until the NX comes out imo.

ecoutercavalier

I can’t really justify either purchase yet. Amiibo Festival seems like a lazy excuse to make AC amiibo. I’m not sure what I would want out of an Animal Crossing themed board game, but what they came up with just isn’t doing it for me. Even with the new modes that have been announced I doubt I could convince a group of friends to play it more than once.
Mario Tennis looks sort of bland, but I’ll forgive it if we find out that there are loads of good mini-games or a compelling tournament mode. I like the amiibo support. If I’m not mistaken this is the first game that allows you to use amiibos in online play. It’s not necessarily enough to play perfectly if you haven’t bothered training your amiibo, but if you have then it might be able to cover some of your mistakes. It’s very cool in concept, but I’ll wait to see how balanced it is before passing any judgement.