[Review] Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Posted on 9 months ago by Nicholas Serpa in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: February 16, 2024
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
For as much as Mario’s continued success can be traced back all the way to his debut in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong, outside of the occasional professional sporting tournament, kart race or fistfight, he and the famous ape rarely share the screen these days as much as they used to. And it really isn’t Mario’s fault, now is it? How concerned can we expect him to be with a banana-obsessed gorilla while Bowser is off transforming into floating sentient castles in Super Mario Bros Wonder? That said, I’m pleased to report that the characters’ rivalry is still alive and well, brought to the forefront once again with this release of Mario vs. Donkey Kong. A remake of the titular 2004 Game Boy Advance puzzle-platformer that spawned its own series, this game sports both enhanced visuals and some new stages and modes. But is that enough to warrant a revisit and bring in new players, and how does this enhanced package hold up twenty years after the original?
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[Review] Sympathy Kiss
Posted on 9 months ago by Dawn in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: February 27, 2024
Developer: Idea Factory
Publisher: Idea Factory
Akari Amasawa is someone that I’m sure plenty of us can relate to: she wakes up in the morning, she goes to work after breakfast, and she comes home in the evening. Rinse and repeat. Her job is one that could be done by basically anyone, and her life is unremarkable. But really, what else can you expect? That’s just life. But even unremarkable circumstances can change, and for Akari, who has been with IT company Estario Corp. as a designer for almost a year, her work life (and, of course, her personal life) is suddenly turned upside-down when she is recruited as part of a small team to save one of the company’s founding apps, which has been losing momentum as it is pushed out by the competition. Her new role is uncertain, and her new colleagues are strangers. In Sympathy Kiss, a new otome title from Idea Factory, you’ll be joining her on her journey to navigate the perilous trenches of work, romance, and life. The choices you’ll make along the way are probably not what most people would do in her situation, but it’s certainly a nice break from the stressors of everyday life.
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[Let’s Talk] What’s your favorite amiibo?
Posted on 9 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk | 0 comments
With the Sora amiibo releasing yesterday, that wraps up all of the figures for Super Smash Bros. That line alone offers nearly 100 different products. There are also many other IPs and dedicated franchise with amiibo including Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Animal Crossing, and more.
Aside from how many amiibo are out there, something that may surprise you is that it’s turning ten years old this year. It’ll be a decade of the figures as of November.
Since we’re coming up on a big milestone here, we wanted to take a moment to talk about amiibo. Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments, and feel free to share any other thoughts you have about amiibo as well.
[Let’s Talk] Predict the Switch 2 launch date and price
Posted on 9 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, Let's Talk | 0 comments
We’re only one full month into 2023, but many Nintendo fans are already thinking about the possibility of new hardware arriving this year. Previous rumors have pointed to a Switch successor launching sometime in 2024. You can never really predict what Nintendo will do, but based on factors such as the release schedule for Switch, that does seem likely.
When do you think Switch 2 will be launching? How much do you think the system will cost? Share your predictions will us in the comments.
[Let’s Talk] What are you playing? – February 2024
Posted on 9 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk | 0 comments
A new month just started up a few days ago. Now that we’re in February, we want to know what you’ve been playing.
Have you been going through the Golden Sun games on Nintendo Switch Online? Maybe you’re sinking your teeth into Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy? No matter the case, let us know in the comments.
[Interview] Apsyr on Tomb Raider I-III’s updated graphics, new controls, and more
Posted on 9 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Interviews, Switch eShop | 0 comments
The original Tomb Raider trilogy is about to make a comeback on Switch in the form of Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft. To learn more about the project, we caught up with Chris Bashaar, director of product at Aspyr.
This release is more than a simple remaster as players can switch between the new and original graphics at any time, experience updated controls, and more. We spoke about these features and a few other topics in our interview.
Here’s the full discussion:
[Review] Another Code: Recollection
Posted on 9 months ago by Nicholas Serpa in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: January 19, 2024
Developer: Arc System Works / Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
It’s really a bit remarkable that, of all the long-dormant franchises Nintendo could have chosen to resurrect next, it was Another Code that they decided to give another chance. I’m totally here for it, both as a fan of narrative-driven adventure games, and as an advocate for the preservation and accessibility of older titles; I’m just surprised that it actually happened. Another Code: Recollection is a full remake of the 2005 DS game Another Code: Two Memories, as well as its Wii sequel, Another Code R: Journey into Lost Memories – the latter which never released in North America. While these puzzle-tinted mystery games have always been well-regarded by fans for their compelling premises and overall atmosphere, they never sold particularly well globally and generally received mixed reviews from critics; furthermore, the original development studio no longer exists, and both games were built around hardware features unique to their original platforms. Well, against all odds, we now have a reimagined collection of both titles sporting improved visuals and presentation, and even some narrative and gameplay changes. While I ultimately enjoyed my time getting to know the game’s charming protagonist and unraveling a moderately captivating mystery, Another Code: Recollection’s toothless writing and shallow moment-to-moment gameplay makes it a slightly niche recommendation.
[Let’s Talk] 3DS and Wii U online memories
Posted on 9 months ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, Let's Talk, Wii U | 0 comments
3DS and Wii U online play – and overall online functionality – will soon come to an end. Earlier this week, Nintendo gave fans a final date as April 8 for shutdown timing.
Many Nintendo fans are playing Switch these days, but that doesn’t mean we should forget about 3DS and Wii U. While 3DS was the more popular system, Wii U had its own userbase and plenty of online games.
With the shutdown date looming, what are some of your memories playing online with 3DS and Wii U? Miiverse was taken offline further back, but what’d you think about that service? Let us know in the comments.
[Review] Neptunia: Sisters VS Sisters
Posted on 9 months ago by Dawn in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: January 23, 2024
Developer: Idea Factory / Compile Heart
Publisher: Idea Factory
Hyperdimension Neptunia is a series that has been around for a long time now, and much like the video game industry that it shamelessly parodies, it is constantly changing, incorporating new ideas and gameplay mechanics into its premise to stay relevant. This has not always been for the better, however. Neptunia: Sisters VS Sisters, the latest entry in the franchise to make its way to the Switch, now features some of the series’ best writing to date, but is let down quite significantly in other areas, making it a tough sell for any but those already invested in the series.
[Review] Turnip Boy Robs a Bank
Posted on 10 months ago by Dawn in Reviews, Switch eShop | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: January 18, 2024
Developer: Snoozy Kazoo
Publisher: Graffiti Games
It’s not very often that you find a game that will actively encourage you to commit crimes, with most that even give you the option of doing so attaching a suitable punishment: placing a bounty on your head so that authorities will attack you on site, changing your name to “THIEF” so that everyone knows your true nature, or even outright killing you if you return to the scene of the crime in future. Turnip Boy Robs a Bank sees the titular hero returning to commit further crimes after his successful tax evasion, this time in the form of a roguelite experience that, despite its flaws, is as delightfully charming and nonsensical as its predecessor.
