[Review] Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series
Posted on 2 years ago by Nicholas Serpa in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release Date: July 8, 2022
Developer: Monkey Craft
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Normally, when a game franchise fails to meet a publisher’s sales expectations, that tends to be the end of the road for it. Indeed, despite both 1997’s Klonoa: Door to Phantomile and 1999’s Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil garnering a very positive reception from critics at the time of their release, these 2.5D platformers never managed to reach a big enough audience to truly compete with the likes of Mario and Crash Bandicoot. The franchise has been dormant for well over a decade now, with no new games being developed since 2008’s Wii-exclusive remake, which was an attempt to revive Klonoa that never took off. Fortunately, Bandai Namco is giving their plucky cat-like hero yet another chance to shine with Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series, which remasters both classic games for a modern audience. But how well do these decades-old platformers hold up today?
[Review] Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
Posted on 2 years ago by Dennis Gagliardotto(@LyonHart_) in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release Date: June 24, 2022
Developer: Koei Tecmo / Omega Force
Publisher: Nintendo
Warriors games have done exceptionally well at providing a strategic hack-and-slash experience, and Koei Tecmo has done a wonderful job at adapting many different properties into that format. In the case of Fire Emblem, it’s primarily been under the umbrella of strategy RPGs since its inception, but throughout the years we’ve seen it grow and become something more, turning into quite a deep experience. With so much to take into account when expanding on the Fire Emblem universe and given that Warriors games typically provide a straightforward experience, it’s incredible to see Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes essentially become a semi-sequel to Three Houses, as this is not just Fire Emblem Warriors 2, but genuinely feels like a brand-new Fire Emblem game where the battles are essentially replaced with Omega Force’s prowess in action-focused combat. Fire Emblem and Warriors titles both have a long history and have seen some fan favorites, yet marrying them together once more has created arguably one of the best games for both properties.
Robocop: Rogue City, asking Nintendo about F-Zero, new limited edition Switch, and more | Nintendo Everything Refresh Ep. 016
Posted on 2 years ago by Nicholas Serpa in Podcast, Switch | 0 comments
In today’s episode of “Impossible Switch Ports: The Podcast,” join your hosts Nick, Nicholas and Dennis as they discuss Robocop: Rouge City, an ambitious first-person-shooter based on the original 1987 blockbuster film that’s heading to Switch (somehow) next year. We’ll also discuss the Nintendo fan who paid $40,000 to ask company leadership about the future of F-Zero (yes, really). Then, stick around for conversation about limited edition Switch consoles, the future of E3, and more!
Our show is available on most major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music and Audible, or you can check out the video version below. Direct downloads are available here.
Is Xenoblade too complex for you? Explaining why the series is so good
Posted on 2 years ago by Luiz in Features, New Nintendo 3DS, Switch, Videos, Wii, Wii U | 0 comments
We are just a couple of weeks away from the release of Xenoblade Chronicles 3, which feels a little bit surreal considering that the game was announced in February of this year.
As expected, a lot of people are trying to get into the series before the third entry comes out, and some will probably hear about how the series is complex and not always super friendly to beginners. Although it is undeniable that Xenoblade can be complicated sometimes, I get the impression that when the discourse is so focused on the series complexity, there’s a chance that we are scaring some future fans.
Taking that into consideration, I decided to make a video talking about the overall appeal of the series and why fans love it so much despite the complexity. Feel free to check out the video down below.
[Preview] Birth is surreal point-and-click puzzler about loneliness
Posted on 2 years ago by Nicholas Serpa in Features, Switch eShop | 0 comments
Sometimes the premise of a game is just so bonkers that it simply demands to be played. Birth – an upcoming point-and-click puzzler created by indie developer Madison Karrh – is officially described on Steam as tasking players with “constructing a creature from spare bones & organs found around the city in order to quell your loneliness.” It seemed super intriguing, and so I was excited to have the opportunity to speak with Karrh at Summer Game Fest about her game, a project she’s been developing solo for over two years.
Immediately, I was struck by just aesthetically similar Birth is to the popular Rusty Lake series of point-and-click games – and I mean that as a compliment. Karrh said that those games were a huge inspiration for her, which makes sense as the two share a lot in common at a mechanical level as well. But Birth is a very personal game for Karrh, and she started working on it as an expression of the complicated emotions she experienced after moving to a new city.
More: Birth, highlight, Madison Karrh, top
[Let’s Talk] What are you playing? – July 2022
Posted on 2 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk | 0 comments
A new month started up a few days ago. Now that we’re in July, we want to know what you’ve been playing.
Have you been trying out some of the recent releases on Switch? There’s plenty to play with heavy hitters such as Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, Portal Companion Collection, and Sonic Origins. No matter the case, let us know in the comments below.
[Review] Yurukill: The Calumniation Games
Posted on 2 years ago by Dennis Gagliardotto(@LyonHart_) in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release Date: July 5, 2022
Developer: IzanagiGames / G.rev / Esquadra
Publisher: NIS America
Yurukill: The Calumniation Games is almost a wonderful new version of the Danganronpa formula, this time pitting a bunch of a group of prisoners and executioner’s against each other as the former try to prove their innocence to the latter in a sequence of mini-games and theme park attractions that closely resemble former moments of their lives – most notably the crimes they’ve committed. It’s a fantastic amalgam of murder-mystery-driven plot devices, shoot ’em ups, visual novels, and questionnaires that works exceptionally over a beautiful explosion of colors and flair that makes the game as a whole an attraction of its own.
[Preview] Hindsight
Posted on 2 years ago by Dennis Gagliardotto(@LyonHart_) in Previews, Switch | 0 comments
What if the physical objects of every day life, the possessions we hold close, were actual windows to the past? It’s a question that many have thought of as we fiddle with theories of time travel and reminiscing about the days of old, and is also the question that starts off the summary for Hindsight, the new narrative-driven adventure game developed by Joel McDonald and published by Annapurna Interactive. Heirlooms, hand-me-downs, and gifts from loved ones all hold some sort of sentimental value to all of us, regardless of what the object in question may be, and we’re immediately transported through our thoughts to a specific time or memory of a person. What Hindsight does is take that in a more literal sense and uses that as a gameplay mechanic to drive the story forward of the protagonist, Mary, who ultimately faces a part of life we all have or eventually will: handling the belongings of loved ones who are no longer with us. Speaking to McDonald, we had the chance to peer into the game a bit – specifically the second chapter of the game – and get a feel for how the game functions, what it ultimately aims to do, and why this was an important project and story to tell.
More: Annapurna Interactive, highlight, Hindsight, top
Discussing the Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase | Nintendo Everything Refresh Episode 15
Posted on 2 years ago by Nicholas Serpa in Podcast, Switch | 0 comments
Last week’s surprise Nintendo Direct Mini Partner Showcase may not have been the blowout summer presentation we’ve all been hoping for, but it still had plenty of exciting games to show us. Join your hosts Nick, Nicolas, Dennis and Luiz as they discuss every game that was shown during the event and what they’re most looking forward to playing in the near future. Then stick around for some Metroid rumors, news, and more!
Our show is available on most major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music and Audible, or you can check out the video version below:
More: highlight, Nintendo Direct, top
Why Switch ports still are relevant
Posted on 2 years ago by Luiz in Features, Switch, Videos | 0 comments
In the recent Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase, we saw a good amount of new third-party games being announced for Switch, including some big ones such as NieR: Automata and Persona 3, 4 and 5.
As we are all aware, Switch is not as powerful as other consoles on the market. Usually its ports come to the console with some visual compromises. But even with those compromises, at least on Switch you are able to play these games wherever you want. However, with the recent release of Valve’s Steam Deck, it’s interesting to think about whether that can impact Switch’s position in the market.
In the video below I explain my reasons as to why I think Switch ports are still relevant and a viable option for a number of players. Feel free to check it out down below.
