[Let’s Talk] Pokemon Legends: Z-A impressions
Posted on 1 month ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Reviews, Switch, Switch 2 | 0 comments
The next big Pokemon game is here with Pokemon Legends: Z-A. This is a pretty notable release for multiple reasons. For one thing, each new Pokemon title from Game Freak is always an event. On top of that, this is the first proper Pokemon game we’re seeing on Nintendo Switch 2.
So if you’ve started up Pokemon Legends: Z-A, how are you feeling about it so far? What are you early impressions? Let us know in the comments.
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Nintendo talks about why Donkey Kong Bananza wouldn’t have been possible on Switch 1
Posted on 1 month ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch, Switch 2 | 0 comments
In a previous interview, Nintendo confirmed that Donkey Kong Bananza was initially in development for Switch 1 before it was moved to Switch 2. In fact, we even got a screenshot showing how things looked on the older hardware. But now in another interview, we get to hear more about why Donkey Kong Bananza really wouldn’t have been possible on Nintendo Switch 1 at the end of the day – especially in its final state.
Donkey Kong Bananza generally runs at 60 frames per second on Nintendo Switch 2. On Switch 1, 30 FPS would have been the target – but it sounds like the team was having a tough time even reaching stable performance at that level. Even more interesting though, back when development was happening on Switch 1, Nintendo hadn’t made the lower layers yet and according to co-director Wataru Tanaka, “if we continued making the game like this all the way down it may not be possible.”
Below is our full translation of the Nintendo Dream interview excerpt with Tanaka, artist Daisuke Watanabe, and producer Kenta Motokura:
Nintendo Download – October 16, 2025 (North America) – Pokemon Legends: Z-A and more
Posted on 1 month ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch 2, Switch eShop | 0 comments
It’s time for the newest North American Nintendo Download Switch report for the week of October 16, 2025. The latest releases on the Nintendo eShop include Pokemon Legends: Z-A and more.
Here’s the full roundup:
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Famitsu sales (10/6/25 – 10/12/25) – first week sales revealed for Little Nightmares 3
Posted on 1 month ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch, Switch 2 | 0 comments
Ninja Gaiden director Tomonobu Itagaki has passed away
Posted on 1 month ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
Video game developer Tomonobu Itagaki has passed away. He was 58 years old.
Itagaki was behind the revival of the Ninja Gaiden franchise in 2004. Additionally, he was the creator of Dead or Alive. On the Nintendo front, he directed the Wii U game Devil’s Third.
In a message posted on his Facebook page, Itagaki wrote:
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Pokemon Legends: Z-A datamine reveals returning Pokemon and new Mega Evolutions for DLC
Posted on 1 month ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch, Switch 2 | 0 comments
Pokemon Legends: Z-A has started to launch (at least in some regions), and now that the full game is here, we have a look at returning Pokemon and forms as well as Pokemon receiving new forms in the upcoming Mega Dimension DLC. This comes thanks to a new datamine.
It looks like Game Freak attempted to hide the information by scrubbing game text and hashing the contents. However, fans datamining the game were still able to figure it out.
More: Game Freak, Pokemon Legends Z-A, top
Original plans revealed for Pokemon Sword and Shield, Scarlet and Violet
Posted on 1 month ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 0 comments
A ton of details have been uncovered about the original plans for Pokemon Sword and Shield as well as Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Information was shared as part of the Game Freak “Teraleak”.
For Gen 8, Game Freak was initially pursuing a pre-historic theme. We have details about beta starters, potential names, plot details, and much more.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet went through their own major changes. A lot of information covers the plot, but there are some other differences here as well.
Below is the full roundup, courtesy of Centro Leaks and choumomoko:
Pokemon Pokopia was initially a Nintendo Switch 1 game
Posted on 1 month ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch 2 | 0 comments
New development information has come to light about Pokemon Pokopia, revealing that it was originally envisioned as a Nintendo Switch 1 game. Just like we’ve seen from other Pokemon leaks over the past few days, the details are coming from the Game Freak “Teraleak”.
The project first began in 2021 with the codename Oasis. At this point, Pokemon Pokopia was slated for Nintendo Switch 1. However, this isn’t the only piece of interesting information about the game’s history.
More: Omega Force, Pokemon Pokopia, top
List of all Nintendo Switch 2 games that support GameShare
Posted on 1 month ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch 2 | 0 comments
Tying in with the launch of Nintendo Switch 2, we’ve put together a complete list of games that support GameShare. We’ll be updating this post over time as well.
GameShare is brand new for Nintendo Switch 2. With the feature, select titles allow you to play with others even if they don’t own a copy of the game. Even more interesting, you can share games locally with those that have the original Nintendo Switch. It’s possible to link up with up to three other systems at a time. We’ll also mention that GameShare supports online play with other Nintendo Switch 2 systems.
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Leaked documents detail why Junichi Masuda is no longer directing Pokemon games
Posted on 1 month ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
As more information comes online through a previous Game Freak hack, we now have insight into some behind-the-scenes happenings at the studio, including why Junichi Masuda is no longer directing Pokemon games.
You may recall that in 2018, Masuda indicated he was pretty much done with the role following Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu and Eevee. That has largely been the case – with Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl as exceptions.
