Atelier Yumia review for Nintendo Switch
Posted on 1 week ago by Elias in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: March 25, 2025
Developer: Gust
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
For over 25 years, the Atelier series has carved out a unique space in the RPG genre, blending alchemy-driven crafting, character-driven narratives, and a laid-back sense of adventure. Since its debut in 1997, the franchise has evolved through multiple generations, refining its various beloved systems while maintaining the core charm that maintains its long-lived fan base. Unlike the high-stakes, world-ending plots of traditional RPGs, Atelier games often focus on personal growth, discovery, and the joy of creation – where gathering ingredients and crafting the perfect item can be just as satisfying as toppling a powerful foe. At times you may do both in quick succession, even.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition review for Nintendo Switch
Posted on 1 week ago by Ethan in Reviews, Switch | 0 comments
System: Switch
Release date: March 20, 2025
Developer: Monolith Soft
Publisher: Nintendo
The Xenoblade Chronicles series has had a fantastic resurgence on Nintendo Switch. What was once a singular underrated JRPG on Wii is now a complete trilogy with critical acclaim and even Super Smash Bros. representatives. Xenoblade Chronicles X is the only game in the series that isn’t part of the numbered trilogy, so it’s often seen as the odd one out. For the longest time, fans weren’t sure if we’d ever see the game again – but Monolith Soft has cooked up an excellent remaster and it’s one absolutely packed to the brim with content. If you’ve never played a Xenoblade Chronicles game and are looking to get into the series for the first time, this is a good place to start – for the most part, Xenoblade Chronicles X is unconnected to the other games in the series.
Analyzing the art style of every Smash Bros. game
Posted on 1 week ago by Ethan in 3DS, Features, GameCube, Switch, Wii U | 0 comments
It’s been many years since the original release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in 2018. There’s been no official announcement for a new game at the time of writing, but the wait between Ultimate and its eventual sequel is already setting a record. Indeed, the time between new Smash Bros. games has never been greater. But that leaves us with plenty of time to appreciate the titles we already have, and one aspect of them that often goes undiscussed is their art styles.
Despite being fairly similar to each other on a gameplay level, each Super Smash Bros. game winds up feeling distinct because of its art style. 64, Melee, Brawl, 3DS, Wii U, and Ultimate are all visually distinct from one another, and this is a trend we can expect to see when the next entry eventually does come out. In the meantime, today we’re analyzing the individual art style of each entry in the series and going over what makes each one charming.
More: highlight, Super Smash Bros., top
[Let’s Talk] Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition impressions
Posted on 1 week ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk, Switch | 0 comments
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition launched this week, making it one of Nintendo’s last big releases of the Switch 1 era. It’s technically not a new game given that it first appeared on Wii U, but many system owners probably missed it the first time around. Even if you’ve played it before, there’s new content to go through – not to mention the game has received a ton of improvements.
If you’ve started playing Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition this week, what are your thought thus far? Are you a new or returning player? Let us know in the comments.
Highlights from last week’s topic: Games you can’t believe exist
Stephen Yap
I still can’t believe Atelier Sophie ~The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book~ got a 2022 interquel with Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream, but that’s mainly because while I wasn’t fully a fan of the Atelier series myself, it became my favorite Atelier game (and Switch RPG) and one of my absolute favorite games of all time. It was seemingly an Atelier game that was built specifically for me and therefore, I had a lot of fun with it left and right.
Shmuel McConen
Metroid Prime 4 is too easy, so let’s go with Suikoden 1&2 remasters.
Nate
New Pokemon Snap is the biggest gaming surprise sequel I’ve ever seen. It’s also such an amazing game and well worth the wait to finally get a sequel.
theFooFighter
Emio the smiling man is probably the most out of nowhere revival Nintendo has ever done. Or honestly the fact that they remade and localized the first 2 famicom detective club games is also wild.
Luke Houser
Saga Scarlet Embrace is still kind of a surprise to me today. Saga is easily getting more attention, but I never quite suspected that the oldest JRPG series to be about as open world as Elder Scrolls still has made entries after the early 2000s, let alone so heavily after around 2004 or something.
Xenoblade dev Monolith Soft says it will never be satisfied with the status quo, wants to aim for higher quality
Posted on 1 week ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
You could make the case that Monolith Soft is one of Nintendo’s most important studios at the moment. Aside from developing different entries in the acclaimed Xenoblade Chronicles series, the company has worked directly on high-profile first-party games. Monolith Soft has contributed to Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, all of the Splatoon games, and more.
Yet despite its incredible track record, Monolith Soft strives for more. Hirohide Sugiura, the company’s co-founder and representative director, has mentioned that the company will never be satisfied with the status quo and will always aim for higher quality.
More: Monolith Soft, top
The most and least useful amiibo figures ever released
Posted on 1 week ago by Ethan in Features, General Nintendo, Switch | 0 comments
With confirmation that the Nintendo Switch 2 is backwards compatible with Switch software, it’s safe to assume that includes amiibo – and if that’s true, then it’s also safe to assume that Nintendo’s signature lineup of toys-to-life figurines isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. That being said, there are hundreds of amiibo figures to choose from, and that’s not even including amiibo cards. So today, we’re analyzing which specific figures are the most useful across many Nintendo games. And although we did look at eight of the most useless amiibo almost a year ago, we’ll also be determining the definitive most useless amiibo today.
System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster confirms Nintendo Switch release date with new trailer
Posted on 2 weeks ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch eShop, Videos | 0 comments
System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster just announced its final release date. For players on Nintendo Switch and elsewhere, the game launches on June 26, 2025.
We only just found out that System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster would be released on Nintendo Switch last month. The 1999 classic sci-fi horror action will now be returning with extra bells and whistles very soon.
For those that need a refresher, read the following overview:
Famitsu sales (3/10/25 – 3/16/25)
Posted on 2 weeks ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 0 comments
Nintendo Download – March 20, 2025 (North America) – Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, more
Posted on 2 weeks ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch eShop | 0 comments
It’s time for the newest North American Nintendo Download Switch report for the week of March 20, 2025. The latest releases on the Nintendo eShop include Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, Atelier Yumia, and more.
Here’s the full roundup:
More: Nintendo Download, top
Atelier Yumia announces Tekken 8 crossover
Posted on 2 weeks ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 0 comments
Today, Koei Tecmo and Gust revealed that it’s working with Bandai Namco on a Tekken 8 crossover for Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land with new DLC.
The collaboration will involve costumes, special skills, and accessories which. Everything will be available for free in the future. Beyond that, specifics have not been shared. A special piece of art was released from artist Benitama, showing Yumia and the mysterious fighter Reina from Tekken 8.
