Shadow Labyrinth review for Nintendo Switch 2
Posted on 1 month ago by Nicholas Serpa in Reviews, Switch, Switch 2 | 0 comments
System: Switch 2 (also on Switch)
Release date: July 17, 2025
Developer: Bandai Namco
Publisher: Bandai Namco
I wish I could have been a fly on the wall during the pitch meeting for Shadow Labyrinth. Of all the ways Bandai Namco could have commemorated the 45th anniversary of Pac-Man, the idea the company landed on was to release an exploration-driven action-platformer set on a sprawling sci-fi planet. Not only that, but Bandai Namco greenlit, developed, and released a game in which the player is accompanied by a dark (possibly evil?) take on Pac-Man named Puck, who devours the souls of slain enemies to help the player level up. It’s a bonkers concept for a spin-off, and one I knew I needed to experience for myself to fully understand.
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July 2025 Pokemon Presents official recap announcement
Posted on 1 month ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Mobile, News, Switch, Switch 2 | 0 comments
The Pokemon Presents broadcast for July 2025 just wrapped up, and we now have an official recap announcement going over everything that was covered.
There was plenty of news for Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch, mobile, and the world of Pokemon and general. Pokemon Friends was announced and released, we got new looks at Pokemon Legends: Z-A and Pokemon Champions, and more.
Here’s the full July 2025 Pokemon Presents official recap announcement:
Pokemon Presents live stream – July 2025
Posted on 1 month ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Mobile, Switch, Switch 2, Videos | 0 comments
The latest Pokemon Presents for July 2025 is about to start, and just ahead of the event, we have the official live stream. While the main event begins at 6 AM PT / 9 AM ET / 2 PM in the UK / 3 PM in Europe, a DJ event with Pikachu is happening first.
The Pokemon Company hasn’t spoken about what we should expect to see, but these presentations are fairly predictable. Expect lots of mobile updates, but we should be getting the latest look at Pokemon Legends: Z-A and possibly Pokemon Champions.
Here’s the Pokemon Presents live stream for July 2025:
Donkey Kong Bananza review for Nintendo Switch 2
Posted on 1 month ago by Ethan in Reviews, Switch 2 | 0 comments
System: Switch 2
Release date: July 17, 2025
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
These days, Nintendo doesn’t often release new 3D platformers – but when they do, you know it’s going to be something special. On Switch, Nintendo published Super Mario Odyssey and Kirby and the Forgotten Land as the console’s flagship titles in that category. They were both met with critical acclaim, and now it’s Donkey Kong’s turn to give 3D platforming a go. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen DK in the spotlight like this – his last 3D adventure was Donkey Kong 64, which released over 25 years ago. After playing Donkey Kong Bananza, I wonder how we’ve survived so long without a 3D Donkey Kong. Donkey Kong Bananza is a brilliant masterwork of creativity, freedom, and whimsy – and it’s an absolute must-play for anyone even remotely interested in the genre.
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Here’s what we could see from a July 2025 Nintendo Direct
Posted on 1 month ago by Ethan in Features, Switch, Switch 2 | 0 comments
Today, we’re going over some potential announcements we could see in a July 2025 Nintendo Direct.
You know the drill by now – it’s that time of the year again. To some extent, Nintendo Direct rumors are always swirling about in one form or another. If we reported on every single “there’s a Direct this week” rumor that comes up, we’d probably be posting multiple times per month. In fact, generally speaking, the only time we report on Nintendo Direct rumors is when NateTheHate (who correctly predicted the Switch 2’s reveal date) mentions that one is coming soon.
If you haven’t heard already, there’s supposedly a Nintendo Direct in development for later this month. The most likely days for this presentation would be July 23, July 24, July 30, or July 31 – but at the time of writing, we don’t know which one it is yet or if the Direct is happening at all. Either way, we’re due for one soon.
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[Let’s Talk] Donkey Kong Bananza impressions
Posted on 1 month ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk, Switch 2 | 0 comments
Donkey Kong Bananza was one of the biggest announcements for Nintendo Switch 2 when the console saw its full reveal earlier this year, and this week, it finally launched. With that in mind, we want to know how you’re feeling about it so far if you’ve picked the game up.
Are you playing through Donkey Kong Bananza right now? If so, what are your initial thoughts? Let us know in the comments.
What we want to see from the next big Zelda game on Nintendo Switch 2
Posted on 2 months ago by Ethan in Features, Switch 2 | 0 comments
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom were huge landmarks for the franchise on Nintendo Switch, and they were also the beginning of a new philosophy. In previous Zelda titles, the intended routes through the games were fairly linear (speedrun tricks and glitches aside). Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, and Skyward Sword all clearly intended you to do their dungeons in a planned order, and by the time Skyward Sword released, some fans began to want less linearity in their Zelda games and more freedom. Indeed, when Breath of the Wild released in 2017 for Wii U and Nintendo Switch, that request was answered – from that point on, the entire Zelda series has shifted to a new idea: let the player do whatever they want, in any order they want. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom both have five main “dungeons” (if you count Divine Beasts as dungeons), and for the most part you can tackle them in any order. In fact, you don’t even have to do them – you can skip right ahead to the final boss if you think you’re up for the challenge.
The point here is, now the pendulum has shifted the other way. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom were universally acclaimed and sold excellently, but some fans now think that the emphasis on freedom and lack of direction makes the games feel too empty and pointless. This begs an interesting question: with that in mind, what could we see out of the next big Zelda title on Nintendo Switch 2 in a few years? Will the developers listen to the admittedly vocal minority of complaints, or will they double down on their current philosophy and make the next big title free and open-roaming, too? It’s impossible to know for sure, but today we’re talking about freedom versus linearity and some things we’d like to see out of the next big Zelda game.
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Patapon 1 + 2 Replay review for Nintendo Switch
Posted on 2 months ago by Edan in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: July 22, 2025
Developer: Sas Co / Pyramid / Japan Studio
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Of all the franchises I expected to see on Switch this year, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Patapon wasn’t one of them. Part rhythm game, part imposing strategy micro-management sim, Patapon is the endearing outcome of a chance encounter between Japanese developer Hiroyuki Kotani and the personal website of French artist Rolito. This fairytale serendipity resulted in Japan Studio, Rolito, and Pyramid developing the original Patapon exclusively for Sony’s PSP in 2007, with a sequel arriving for the same machine just one year later. Now almost twenty years later, Bandai Namco lives up to its apparent reputation as everyone’s best mate by taking the PlayStation exclusive multiplatform. Can someone explain our current timeline to me, please?
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Misc. A Tiny Tale review for Nintendo Switch
Posted on 2 months ago by Jeremy in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: July 22, 2025
Developer: Tinyware Games
Publisher: Tinyware Games
If ever there was a game that had intense trailer appeal, Misc, A Tiny Tale is it. Cute, miniature robots living happy-go-lucky lives in the ruins of human society? Check. Cozy item hunting to help out your robot pals? Check. A snarky, plastic cat that’s somehow obsessed with food. Check plus. The game practically sells itself. I took the plunge into this adorable world to see if the game lives up the hype.
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Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 review for Nintendo Switch 2
Posted on 2 months ago by Edan in Reviews, Switch 2 | 0 comments
System: Switch 2 (also on Switch)
Release date: June 5, 2025
Developer: Iron Galaxy Studio
Publisher: Activision
We’re right at the beginning of the review, but forgive me – I have to take a quick detour. In order to give Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 a fair shake, it’s important to briefly eulogize that which came before. In 2020, developer Vicarious Visions lovingly reimagined the first two Tony Hawk Pro Skater titles, punctuating years of community demand and anticipation in the process. Blending the aesthetics and structure of the original games with the flow and feel of the series’ later entries, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 was a glistening oasis for parched Pro Skater zealots (like me), and it effortlessly washed away the rancid aftertaste left by the chaotically inept Pro Skater 5. The studio’s remake heralded a new beginning for the series – one we all felt would kickflip the franchise back into life. A sequel was expected, but it didn’t happen – at least not initially. After years of the same false starts and dashed hopes that preceded its release, we’ve finally been given reprieve courtesy of developer Iron Galaxy. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is part sequel, part remake, and has the mammoth task of building on what came before, by rebuilding what came next.
