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System: Switch
Release date: November 8, 2019
Developer: Playful
Publisher: Playful


When many think of Nintendo, they see a single word pop into their minds: platformers. Nintendo has remained steadfast in its commitment to the platforming genre for decades, even as the gaming landscape has shifted and evolved around them considerably. Third-party and indie developers have long relied on this association too, and have routinely seen the lion’s share of their success on Nintendo consoles come from releasing platforming adventures with mass appeal. As a result of all this, you could say that the watermark for platforming excellence is considerably higher on Nintendo consoles than it is elsewhere, considering the long lineage of quality that already exists. I’m here to tell you that this watermark has been adequately met – and in some ways even exceeded – by New Super Lucky’s Tale.

This past week, Koei Tecmo were kind enough to invite us to a pre-release event for their upcoming title, “Fairy Tail”. Due to a last-minute bug, the Switch build was unavailable to try out, but we went hands-on with the PS4 build of the game and were able to capture direct-feed gameplay of new features. This includes the battle system, every spell available, a boss battle with Jellal, exploring Magnolia, Lucy’s room, close-ups of the character models and more.

Check out our in-depth impressions post here, and look forward to a second interview with producer Keisuke Kikuchi soon on the website. You can also look forward to this weekend’s episode of Nintendo Everything Podcast (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PocketCasts, more) for Oni Dino’s first-hand experience at the event.

This past week, Koei Tecmo were kind enough to invite us to a pre-release event for their upcoming title, “Fairy Tail”. I went hands-on with the beta build of the game for some initial impressions and met with producer Keisuke Kikuchi for a second interview. 

You can also check out our other post here with gameplay videos from the event, and look forward to this weekend’s episode of Nintendo Everything Podcast (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PocketCasts, more) where I’ll be detailing my experience at the event. We will also have our interview with Keisuke Kikuchi coming soon, but until then, check below for detailed impressions.

System: Switch
Release date: October 29, 2019
Developer: Gust
Publisher: Koei Tecmo


With yearly releases, certain franchises can sometimes grow complaisant and acquiescent when there’s a formula that works and becomes a signature, almost symbolic, to an IP’s legacy and name. In the case of Atelier, you know what you’re getting into with its slice-of-life approach to story, turn-based gameplay, fantasy world, and magical recipes. It’s what made Atelier what it is today with likeable protagonists, wholesome stories, and the chance to feel young and free. Each entry usually has a bunch of small tweaks that make up a larger whole that cause the games to feel distinct from each other despite the core approach effectively being the same, but when Atelier Ryza was shown earlier this year, you could tell right away that this was a big leap not only from Lulua, but from Atelier’s general direction as a whole. It still looks like Atelier, and it still feels like Atelier, though time and effort has clearly been made here for a new chapter and life that brings with it a fresh coat of paint, a new battle system, more intuitive interfaces, and just an overhaul of gameplay features and quality-of-life tweaks. All of these elements make Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout not only the best looking Atelier to date, but one of the most refined and refreshing entries in its history of over two decades.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 review

System: Switch
Release date: November 5, 2019
Developer: SEGA
Publisher: SEGA


It is often said that there are but two certainties in life, being death and taxes. I propose we add a third billing to that list: party games on Nintendo consoles. There isn’t a single saggy financial quarter that can’t be pumped up significantly by the presence of a mini-game collection featuring Mario and company, and this Christmas, SEGA (in partnership with Nintendo) have answered the call of duty by sending Mario, Sonic, and both of their respective entourages to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The initial novelty and shock value of an official game featuring both Nintendo and SEGA’s mascots may be somewhat dulled since the franchise’s first outing on Wii in 2007, but you could say that this new entry is the series’ most fitting one: two monolithic Japanese companies paying homage to one equally gargantuan Japanese event.

Hello, my Fatal Cuties! This week on NEP, we got hit with some Pokemon leaks while recording, but we keep our reactions spoiler-free. We chat some great games we’ve been playing with Atelier Ryza, Luigi’s Mansion and more, then we muse on 3DS games we’d like to see make the jump to Switch. Somehow, we end up arguing with each other over Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask. How. How even did that happen. Come have a chill game time with us.

If you’re enjoying NEP, please consider giving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts, aka new iTunes. It’s incredibly helpful in getting us exposed to new listeners through algorithms, so we would greatly appreciate your help. Thank you for listening!

This week, the podcast is sponsored by Koei Tecmo. Check out Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout, out now on Nintendo Switch.

Sky Gamblers: Storm Raiders 2

System: Switch (eShop)
Release date: October 31, 2019
Developer: Atypical Games
Publisher: Atypical Games


Of all the genres most cruelly under-represented in modern gaming, I feel it’s the humble air-combat sim that tops the list. What was once a regular showing during the 90’s and 00’s has since withered away in significance, and outside of a handful of current and last-gen Ace Combat games, there has been little else to fill the void – especially on Nintendo’s hybrid console. As a result of this drought, I couldn’t deny my intrigue once I learned of Sky Gamblers: Storm Raiders 2’s presence in the Switch’s release calendar. The mere mention of high octane dogfights and World War II aircraft are a sure fire way to get me interested (I may still be 12, need to check). What I failed to anticipate was the mobile heritage of the franchise that makes itself blisteringly apparent once you fire the game up.

A new month rolled right on in this week. Now that we’re in November, we want to know what you’ve been playing.

Are you giving the just-released Luigi’s Mansion 3 a try? Playing any other recent titles like Ring Fit Adventure or The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt? No matter the case, let us know in the comments below.

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Sayonara Wild Hearts

Simogo has developed a number of acclaimed titles, including the Wii U game Year Walk. Its latest project, Sayonara Wild Hearts, recently debuted on a Switch close to a year after it was announced at The Game Awards.

Not too long ago, we spoke with the team at Simogo to discuss Sayonara Wild Hearts in-depth. The studio discussed how the backstory behind the name, wanting to make a game about the flow of music instead of the beats, and more.

Here’s our full discussion:

System: Switch
Release date: October 29, 2019
Developer: SEGA
Publisher: SEGA


The Super Monkey Ball franchise naturally yields many questions. For instance: why are these monkeys locked in see-through balls? Why do they roll around at hundreds of miles per hour? Why do they live in hellscapes made up of floating physics-based obstacle courses? And perhaps most importantly, why would SEGA decide to remaster Banana Blitz, one of the series’ less popular entries, instead of the much more beloved titles on GameCube? Yet SEGA has indeed brought Banana Blitz back onto modern platforms with this new HD re-release after its first appearance more than a decade ago on the Wii. So now that everyone’s favorite primate-rolling franchise has finally debuted on current-gen hardware, the most pertinent question remains to be answered: does this new edition address the issues that plagued Banana Blitz’ first release, or does it merely monkey around?


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