Complete history of the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program
Posted on 1 month ago by Ethan in 3DS, Features | 0 comments
There are few situations in Nintendo’s history as interesting as the launch period for the Nintendo 3DS, which in modern times, is one of its more popular systems. This beloved little machine first launched in March 2011 at a price point of $249.99, and it boasted fully 3D gameplay for the first time on a Nintendo console (we choose to forget the Virtual Boy). Unfortunately, the Nintendo 3DS had something of a rocky start, to say the least. Things went downhill for the console rather quickly, and Nintendo had do something to get things back on the upswing – that’s where the 3DS Ambassador Program came in.
Today, we’re going over the history of the Nintendo 3DS’ launch, the 3DS Ambassador Program, and the games that were made available as part of the program.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy Nintendo Switch review
Posted on 1 month ago by Edan(@@Virtualboi92) in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: October 31, 2024
Developer: GSC Game World / Mataboo
Publisher: GSC Game World
As a platform, the Switch has treated us to some serious wildcard franchise appearances over the last seven years. Few would have bet in 2017 that the hybrid console’s library would eventually be bolstered by almost every Saints Row, Sniper Elite, Metal Gear Solid, and Resident Evil game – to name but a few. However, here we are, being machine-gunned with ports and re-releases that continuously cement the Switch’s status as a Nintendo all-timer. As if our collective Switch-port bingo cards weren’t already full to the brim, GSC Gameworks have emerged forth, bringing the entire S.T.A.L.K.E.R trilogy lovingly nestled under their arm. Hang on – what?
Super Mario Party Jamboree review
Posted on 1 month ago by Nicholas Serpa in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: October 17, 2024
Developer: NDcube
Publisher: Nintendo
Like clockwork, roughly about every three years, Nintendo releases a new Mario Party game. That may seem like a lot, but it’s easy to forget that that for most of the series’ life these titles were getting cranked out on an annual basis. Nowadays though, Nintendo is spending more time and resources on these games than ever before – and it shows. While 2021’s Mario Party Superstars felt like a refreshing trip down memory lane, Super Mario Party Jamboree raises the bar for the series on multiple levels, from its clever and dynamic game boards to its robust suite of online options and modes. My nostalgia for the older entries aside, this one represents easily some of the most fun I’ve ever had in a Mario Party game, and it’s secured a spot as my new go-to title for multiplayer madness on the. Switch Lite players will want to pause before picking this game up – but everyone else has a lot to look forward to.
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[Interview] Square Enix on how Romancing SaGa 2 was remade
Posted on 1 month ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Interviews, Switch | 0 comments
Nintendo Everything was recently given the opportunity to speak with Shinichi Tatsuke, the producer of Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven. The game just recently made it to Switch.
For those that are unaware, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a 3D remake of the game that first debuted in 1993. Tatsuke was able to speak with us on how the team approached this new version. We were only able to ask a few questions, but some interesting insight was shared nonetheless.
Here’s our full discussion:
[Review] Sonic x Shadow Generations
Posted on 1 month ago by Edan(@@Virtualboi92) in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: October 25, 2024
Developer: Sonic Team
Publisher: SEGA
The original release of 2011’s Sonic Generations felt as much like recompense as it did celebration. The unsteady gait that Sonic had developed since his switch to 3D was slowing him to an unwieldy crawl, and developer Sonic Team felt it was time to earnestly look back at their legacy to plot a path forward. The result was about the best a 2011 Sonic fan could have hoped for – lashings of nostalgia without being overly condescending to the long-term fan, and with just enough tongue-in-cheek, self-referential humor to disarm the stern melodrama that had worked its way into Sonic’s latter outings. Sonic Generations was intended to serve as a launch pad for the next 20 years of Sonic, however, its mechanical jitteriness and saggy latter half dampened its appeal to fans old and new. Sega and Sonic Team are now back for another crack at it, with Sonic x Shadow Generations seeking to tighten up the overall experience and inject a jet-black dose of edge into one of Sonic’s more memorable recent outings.
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Kirby 64 holds up 24 years later – here’s why
Posted on 1 month ago by Ethan in Features, General Nintendo | 0 comments
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards released in 2000. 24 years later, we decided to revisit the game with a 100 percent run. How does it hold up all these years later? We’d say that overall, yes, it does.
Kirby 64 released during an interesting era of the Kirby franchise. If you’ve ever played Kirby’s Dream Land 2 or 3, then you’re probably well aware that these games have their own unique feel to them that isn’t quite captured in future titles. Whether that uniqueness is a good thing or not is up to you, but Kirby 64, which came afterward, keeps that particular feel – in terms of not only its mechanics, but its aesthetics, characters, and general design philosophy as well.
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[Let’s Talk] Sakurai’s next game: Smash Bros. or something else?
Posted on 1 month ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, Let's Talk | 0 comments
This week, we learned that Masahiro Sakurai is working on a new game. After coming up with a proposal for the project in 2021, actual development started the following year.
Here’s where the fan debate comes in. Some would like to see another Smash Bros. game with Sakurai at the helm while others would like to see him work on something else. If Nintendo wants a new Smash Bros. title on Switch’s successor and Sakurai is in charge of something else, that could mean that someone entirely different would need to handle the directorial duties.
Sakurai’s legacy will always be tied to Smash Bros. However, he’s obviously worked on games outside of that. During the early days of his career, Sakurai was heavily involved with Kirby. He’s also handled Kid Icarus: Uprising and Meteos.
What would you ultimately like to see here? Smash Bros. is always an option for Sakurai, but he could also make a Kid Icarus: Uprising follow-up or something totally different. Let us know in the comments.
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How save states make Nintendo Switch Online games accessible
Posted on 2 months ago by Ethan in Features, Switch | 0 comments
Speaking as broadly as possible, it’s probably safe to say that video games are slightly easier now than they were 30 years ago. Of course, that’s not the case for every video game – plenty of modern ones ramp up the difficulty on purpose. But when it comes to some of Nintendo’s greats – specifically in the Zelda and Metroid franchises – the older entries are absolutely more punishing, in most cases. Many of these older entries are currently available on Nintendo Switch Online (or its Expansion Pack), which allow save states and in some cases, rewinding time to correct mistakes you make in the game.
Today, we’re talking about which Nintendo Switch Online games benefit most from save states and rewinding for classic Nintendo platforms. Do you like using save states and rewind for a more casual play experience, or do you prefer playing these classic games as they were intended?
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Splatoon 4 should have these features and improvements
Posted on 2 months ago by Ethan in Features, General Nintendo | 0 comments
A hypothetical Splatoon 4 would certainly be a Switch 2 title – and at the time of writing, the console still hasn’t been officially announced. Seeing as Splatoon 3’s content cycle has just wrapped up, it might be a little bit too early to start thinking about the game. Still, for many, it was a high point in the series, and after the conclusion of the excellent Grand Festival, it’s only natural to think about what could be next for one of Nintendo’s most popular franchises. Today, we’re looking at all sorts of new things we think would be cool to see in Splatoon 4.
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[Review] Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered
Posted on 2 months ago by Nicholas Serpa in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: October 31, 2024
Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture / Engine Software
Publisher: NetEase
When a game is given the label of “cult classic,” in my experience, this is typically due to one of two possible scenarios occurring. The first is that the game itself was generally deemed above average in terms of quality, but for business or marketing reasons never found a huge audience; this is the optimistic perspective. The second, more cynical perspective is that the game itself ended up as a middling experience due to creative or technical decisions, but managed to find a small fanbase in spite of these issues. Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered boldly labels itself as “a cult classic born from the most creative minds in the industry” on its store pages, so it begs the question: exactly what type of cult classic is this 2011 third-person shooter, and how does it hold up 13 years after its initial release?
