Back in 1991, video game developer Sunsoft – perhaps best-known these days for its Blaster Master series – was trying to get a new franchise off the ground, in part to help cement a new mascot for the company. Ufouria: The Saga was the result – a quirky 2D platformer whose main gimmick was its ability for players to swap between four different characters. While the game did well enough to spawn a series of puzzle games featuring the same oddball cast and charming presentation, the original title been almost entirely unavailable for western players outside of a now-inaccessible Virtual Console rerelease and a limited run in Europe. That’s why it’s such a delightful surprise that now, over thirty years later, Sunsoft has released a sequel – and fortunately, an excellent one. Ufouria: The Saga 2 not only tightly modernizes the satisfying gameplay of the original, but imbues its world and characters with a sense of whimsy and humor that had me smiling from start to finish.

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Side Order rewards guide for Splatoon 3

Posted on 1 year ago by Ethan in Guides, Switch | 0 comments

Side Order, Splatoon 3’s new DLC campaign, is now available, and we have a full list of rewards players can obtain.

Side Order is a single-player roguelike mode that sees you climbing up the Spire of Order. You’ll take down enemies, earn a currency called Prlz, and then use that currency to claim exclusive rewards in the main multiplayer mode of Splatoon 3. We wrote a guide that includes some general tips and tricks for Side Order, and you can check that out here. Since we’ll be talking about Side Order rewards here, there are definitely lots of spoilers afoot. That being said, we won’t discuss the names of story-tied bosses and enemies. If you’re okay with that, then let’s get into the full list of rewards.

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February 2024 Pokemon Presents live stream

Posted on 1 year ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Mobile, Switch, Videos | 0 comments

The February 2024 Pokemon Presents presentation is happening soon in celebration of Pokemon Day, and we have the live stream. It’ll go live at 6 AM PT / 9 AM ET / 2 PM in the UK / 3 PM in Europe.

The event will cover “the latest news and updates from the world of Pokemon.” Specific titles for the presentation were not named.

Here’s the official February 2024 Pokemon Presents live stream:

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[Review] Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island

Posted on 1 year ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments

System: Switch
Release date: February 27, 2024
Developer: Spike Chunsoft
Publisher: Spike Chunsoft

After dreaming of a strange mountain island, Shiren and his ferret friend Koppa embark on yet another journey. Following an unfortunate battle with the biggest baddy on the island, he awakens at the base of the mountain with no memory of his journey to the top. Spurred onward by Koppa’s recap of the events, Shiren and his companion decide to ascend once more and unravel the mysteries of Serpentcoil Island once and for all. Now with Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island, does this adventure change up the long-lived series, or is it just another tried and true entry in the series we love?

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Ability Chunks in Splatoon 3 explained: what they do and how to get them

Posted on 1 year ago by Ethan in Guides, Switch | 0 comments

Today, we’re going over what Ability Chunks are in Splatoon 3, what each one does, and how you can use them on your gear to best effect.

Ability Chunks are a returning mechanic in Splatoon 3 that let you change up your gear with special bonuses and effects. Each piece of headgear, clothing, and shoes can have one primary ability and three secondary abilities. To unlock all three slots on a piece of gear, you’ll need to either purchase an upgrade in the shop with in-game currency or use Super Sea Snails (which are only obtained after participating in a Splatfest). It’s important to note that amiibo-exclusive gear is not present in the shops, so the only way to upgrade them at all is to use Super Sea Snails.

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Competitive Pokemon guide for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Posted on 1 year ago by Ethan in Guides, Switch | 0 comments

Today, we’ll be walking you through the process of making your favorite Pokemon ready for battles with a competitive guide. This aspect has existed for as long as the franchise has – but with each passing generation, Game Freak and the Pokemon Company have made competitive battling more and more accessible. IVs, EVs, leveling up, held items, and much more are involved.

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[Let’s Talk] February 2024 Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase reactions

Posted on 1 year ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk, Switch | 0 comments

The first Nintendo Direct of 2024 is in the books with this week’s Partner Showcase. It may not have been the general presentation with many first-party announcements that some may have wanted, but there was still plenty of news.

Nintendo did manage to have an announcement of its own with the reveal of Endless Ocean Luminous, the first entry in the series since the Wii era. Speaking of Wii, Epic Mickey is back with a remake titled Epic Mickey: Rebrushed. Xbox made some announcements with ports of Grounded and Pentiment, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble and Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist were revealed (plus others like Gundam Breaker 4 and Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream), and we got a number of shadowdrops including five Rare titles on Nintendo Switch Online, Penny’s Big Breakaway, and Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On. You can catch up on the full recap here.

What did you think of the Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase? What was your favorite announcement? Let us know in the comments.

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[Review] Mario vs. Donkey Kong

Posted on 1 year 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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Top 5 rarest Super Smash Bros. series amiibo in 2024

Posted on 1 year ago by Ethan in General Nintendo, Guides | 0 comments

With the Super Smash Bros. amiibo line now finishing with Sora, we’ve put together a list going over the top five rarest figures.

Nintendo has recently announced restocks of several Super Smash Bros. series amiibo figures – including Joker, Terry, and Banjo & Kazooie, who all lie among the rarest of these figurines (especially Joker). To add to this, Nintendo also restocked female Corrin last year, who was once considered the single rarest Super Smash Bros. amiibo. Given how much each individual character’s availability has changed, we’ve put together a list of Smash Bros. series amiibo figures who haven’t yet been restocked. It’s entirely possible that this list changes part way in the year depending on future restocks, so for now, keep in mind that this list is current as of February 2024.

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Splatoon 3 Side Order: 10 tips to know before you start

Posted on 1 year ago by Ethan in Guides, Switch | 0 comments

Side Order, Splatoon 3’s main DLC campaign, is available now, and we have a few tips and tricks in this guide to get you started.

In this game mode, you’ll be tasked with scaling the Spire of Order. Each floor offers a different challenge, and depending on the weapon you pick, some of these can get quite difficult. We’ve put together a list of tips, tricks, and strategies for clearing the Side Order campaign, plus a list of things you should know before you start playing. We won’t include any story spoilers here, so if you’re looking to avoid them, you’re in the clear. Let’s get right into our Splatoon 3 Side Order guide, then.