[Review] Hot Wheels Unleashed
Posted on 2 years ago by Nicholas Serpa in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: September 30, 2021
Developer: Milestone
Publisher: Milestone
There was a time when games based on popular toys were a dime a dozen; it used to be impossible to walk into the video games section of your local supercenter without seeing shelves filled with licensed games, many of middling quality. That’s not really the case today, as many of the smaller studios that previously produced those types of games have since shut down, been absorbed, or are now producing mobile games instead. So, I was pleasantly surprised not only that Milestone announced Hot Wheels Unleashed in 2021 as a major new release for the franchise, but also that the game had potential to be of higher quality and creativity than previous games. In fact, Hot Wheels Unleashed feels like a game built primarily for today’s adults who grew up with Hot Wheels years (decades?) ago rather than kids – a bold choice. But does Hot Wheels Unleashed manage to be a good game underneath its many layers of die-cast nostalgia?
More: highlight, Hot Wheels Unleashed, Milestone, top
[Review] Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot + A New Power Awakens Set
Posted on 2 years ago by Dennis Gagliardotto(@LyonHart_) in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: September 24, 2021
Developer: CyberConnect2
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot again has Goku and co.’s adventures and sagas represented, but this time in a much different format that hasn’t felt this fresh and exciting in a long while. Having put almost 100 hours when it initially released at the beginning of 2020, the semi open-world take felt like a modern day Legacy of Goku mixed with the design philosophy of One Piece: World Seeker, but done so in a way that still retained the essence of the IP and left no shortage of fights for the player to enjoy and reach higher power levels with. The Switch version undoubtedly sees a few technical downgrades compared to other platforms, and it was a bit jarring at first, but after having settled with the game for quite some time now, it’s arguably Bandai Namco’s most competent Dragon Ball port yet, making for a really great DBZ experience that can now be played at home or on the go.
[Interview] Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania dev on project origins, physics, camera, more
Posted on 2 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Interviews, Switch | 0 comments
In a recent interview with Nintendo Everything, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania director Masao Shirosaki spoke about a number of topics, including how the project came to be, the game’s physics, camera, and much more.
Shirosaki informed us that development begin around March 2020, and the team was working from home due to the current pandemic. He also discussed what players can expect from the physics and camera in Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania, which are some of the gameplay elements that fans have been curious about.
Here’s our full discussion:
[Let’s Talk] September 2021 Nintendo Direct reactions
Posted on 2 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk | 0 comments
Nintendo dropped a doozy of a Nintendo Direct for September 2021 on us this week, and now we want to hear your reaction. We saw new announcements, updates on previously-known titles, shadowdrops, and more.
From Nintendo, highlights include the reveal of Kirby and the Forgotten Land, the first look at Bayonetta 3, a new Splatoon 3 trailer, and N64 / SEGA Genesis games for Nintendo Switch Online. A ton of third-party games were on hand as well, including the Sunbreak expansion for Monster Hunter Rise, Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars, Chocobo GP, Dying Light 2 – Cloud Version, and a port of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Castlevania Advance Collection and Actraiser Renaissance acted as notable shadowdrops.
This isn’t everything as there was quite a lot in the Nintendo Direct. You can see the full recap here.
Now that we’ve all had a few days to digest the September 2021 Nintendo Direct, how’d you feel about the presentation and what’s your reaction? Which games personally stood out to you? Let us know in the comments below.
[Review] WarioWare: Get It Together!
Posted on 2 years ago by Elias in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: September 10, 2021
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
WarioWare games are a collection of simple “microgames” that are fast and often frantic. Debuting back in 2003 on the Game Boy Advance with WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!, the series has seen many entries over the years with new characters joining the fray. In our latest entry, our cast is back again, this time on Switch with more microgame mayhem and yet another twist on gameplay. While the franchise has been known to take advantage of Nintendo’s hardware in the past, the changes here are more on the core of play. How does this new WarioWare experience fit Nintendo’s hit hybrid console?
September 2021 Nintendo Direct live stream
Posted on 2 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Switch, Videos | 0 comments
Today’s September 2021 Nintendo Direct will be starting soon, and we have a live stream ready to go for the event. In fact, we’re including three separate streams for North America, Europe, and Japan.
The broadcast officially begins at 3 PM PT / 6 PM ET / 11 PM in the UK / 12 AM in Europe. It will focus on Switch games launching this winter, lasting about 40 minutes.
We’ve set up the September 2021 Nintendo Direct live stream for you below along with a live blog. Expect coverage during and after the event.
More: highlight, Nintendo Direct, top
[Let’s Talk] Xenoblade Chronicles 3 hopes and dreams
Posted on 2 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk, Switch | 0 comments
You don’t need to hear from us that Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is almost certainly happening. The series has only increased in popularity over the past few years, and the first two games have done quite well on Switch. But if that wasn’t enough, a report came out last month that Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is in its final stages of development and could launch as early as the first half of 2022.
We know almost nothing about the game aside from a few unconfirmed tidbits from last month’s rumor, so right now’s our chance to dream. What do you personally hope to see in Xenoblade Chronicles 3? Let us know in the comments below.
More: highlight, Monolith Soft, top, Xenoblade Chronicles 3
[Review] Cruis’n Blast
Posted on 2 years ago by Nicholas Serpa in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: September 14, 2021
Developer: Raw Thrills
Publisher: Raw Thrills
It’s genuinely challenging for me to recall the last time I experienced a game that’s as comprehensively absurd – and so confident in embracing said absurdity – as Cruis’n Blast. While delivering arcade-style racing in what’s perhaps its purest, most straightforward form, Cruis’n Blast simultaneously feels like what would happen if an energy drink company hired a group of obnoxious teenage boys to design a video game. It’s ridiculous, over-the-top fun that never takes itself even remotely seriously, and I loved every minute of it.
More: Cruis'n Blast, highlight, Raw Thrills, top
Mario Golf: Super Rush devs on Battle Golf, Adventure Mode, new characters, and fashion
Posted on 2 years ago by Jarop(@gamrah) in News, Switch | 0 comments
We have more insights from the Mario Golf: Super Rush development team in which key developers discussed Battle Golf, Adventure Mode, new characters, and fashion.
Yesterday we posted the first half of the Nintendo Dream interview with some of the lead staff on Mario Golf: Super Rush, which covered the team’s approach to new entries in the franchise, opening cinematics in Mario sports games and much more. In the second half of the interview, the team goes on to talk about other aspects.
Here’s the rest of the translation:
More: Camelot, highlight, Mario Golf: Super Rush, top
[Review] Button City
Posted on 2 years ago by Elias in Reviews, Switch eShop | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: August 10, 2021
Developer: Subliminal
Publisher: Subliminal
Button City is a colorful low poly narrative adventure game about friendship and community. Enter a pastel diorama world inspired by 90’s nostalgia and filled with cute characters to befriend. As Fenn, the new fox in town, you’ll explore your new community and make new friends in the process, but what is the core gameplay of such an easy-going and colorful experience?
