Author: sick skills

Of all the moves Nintendo has made over the last few years, from the baffling but brilliant to just plain baffling, an announcement regarding a new Nintendo Direct has become arguably as anticipated as a showing at Gamescom or E3. While expos are opportunities for players to get their hands on the games themselves, Nintendo embracing the ‘direct’ approach allows information on new, upcoming or specific titles to be announced both regularly and with little notice. Directs have become something that fans constantly and consistently predict and anticipate. 

With the release of the Nintendo Switch the emphasis has been spread across the system’s spectrum, from tentpole titles like Super Mario Odyssey or third party big hitters such as Skyrim, to the brace of ‘Nindie’ showcases that have outlined strengthening Indie relations. Most recently, as well as Nintendo revealing the surprise 1-2 punch of Bethesda’s DOOM and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, the Japanese Direct also showed off a little indie title that was released immediately after the presentation.

PAN-PAN, from Swedish developer Spelkraft, is a cute and quirky environmental adventure game, with the emphasis on exploration and observation to navigate terrain and solve puzzles. After crash landing on an almost desolate planet (the name comes from radio communication terminology expressing the need for assistance), the objective is to repair your spaceship by collecting various mechanical parts. 

Presented and often played isometrically, it’s relatively simple to manoeuvre the nameless yet adorable protagonist, with only a contextual action button required early on. In addition, sometimes just manipulating the camera by either panning or zooming can fully realise the simple yet beautiful charm of the world, and there’s always the allure of what’s waiting around the next corner or behind the next door. 

The initial experience can be lonely, confusing and obtuse, but the instant likeability of the various local inhabitants, combined with the pleasant pastel hues and shades of the seamless and varied planet, will be difficult to leave behind. It’s very important to ‘stick’ with PAN-PAN, because trekking and backtracking may seem aimless at times, but everything eventually falls into place rather nicely. There aren’t any explicit instructions or narrative exposition, so you’ll have to look for visual cues, which compliments the gorgeous minimalist landscapes and soothing music. Whether you choose to don a decent pair of headphones in handheld mode or dim the lights and play on a big screen, PAN-PAN’s audio is an absolute delight, courtesy of sound designer and composer Simon Viklund.

The ambient soundtrack ranges from ominous to tranquil with the use of creaks, footsteps and delicate percussion to alien language, bird chirps and water flow. It’s constantly absorbing and adds another layer to the overall atmosphere. 

The puzzles themselves range from redirecting energy through terminals in order to open doors, to manipulating bridges to unlock new areas. There are some puzzles which rely more on paying attention to your surroundings, and there are tiny details that are easily missed or symbols to be misinterpreted; this might lead to a lot of mindless trial and error and frustration. It’s easy to get caught up and be distracted by an area because there are red herrings and tantalising pathways, with no signposting to speak of. If you get stuck, it’s best to not consult a guide and to instead freely wander around to allow for a new discovery or fresh approach, as there is a loose sequence to your progression. 

There is a balancing act with the environmental puzzles and the absence of storytelling, and in this respect PAN-PAN falls just short in its early stages; that unfortunately does affect its initial flow. However, if you are looking for a beautiful, relaxing world to explore free of threat and dread, Pan-Pan has challenge, open space and more than enough charm to satisfy. While its non-explicit nature won’t suit everyone, the game is worth your persistence and the deeper you go the more resonant the experience might become. 

Conclusion

PAN-PAN is a lovely little game to get sucked into – oozing with charm and a handful of quirky characters to meet along the way. There’s admittedly little replay value other than to re-explore the lush planet and solve the puzzles in a quicker, smoother manner, and while the environmental puzzles might range from frustratingly obtuse to organically wonderful, the planet rewards your time and exploration. Once the credits roll and after everything you’ve achieved, it will be almost impossible not to reflect positively on your short but sweet journey.

One refrain we often hear from fans pertains to why a Nintendo fan would want to carry two separate Nintendo devices with them wherever they go. For us, the answer has often been simple: the 3DS offers games that the Switch does not and vice-versa. Each system has unique features that enable different kinds of gameplay. Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition, however, does not help that argument.

While Nintendo has been keen to remind players that the venerable portable has plenty of life left in it, many view the 3DS as a console in its twilight. It’s odd, then, that Microsoft would choose now, after the Switch version of the same game is already in players’ hands, to release this port.

It feels, however, that perhaps Microsoft was of the same mind as some of the gaming populace; Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition feels less like a full-fledged release and more like a lifeless port. It seems to be aimed less at satisfying the 3DS fanbase and more at showing them how much better they could have it on Nintendo’s newer, more advanced handheld.

Rather than retread how Minecraft plays, as that hasn’t changed since either the Wii U or the Switch iteration, we’re going to spend our time discussing what makes this new edition different.

The dual-screen nature of the 3DS lends itself well to Minecraft. The bottom screen can be used for everything from crafting to inventory management to changing skins. If there was one thing we could pull out of this version of Minecraft and happily apply across the board, it would be this. In this one way it feels like the 3DS was made for playing Minecraft.

As much as we enjoy the touchscreen controls Minecraft offers on New 3DS, there’s quite a bit lacking. Minecraft’s main draws – in this humble scribe’s opinion – are its large, open worlds, and the ability to play in the worlds you create with your friends. Unfortunately, both of these aspects are either significantly hobbled or non-existent in the 3DS iteration of Microsoft’s blockbuster.

Because of the New 3DS’s weaker hardware, Minecraft’s draw distance is significantly reduced, meaning those wide-open worlds suddenly feel a little less so. The small screen also doesn’t do Minecraft any favours as it feels cramped on the limited real estate. More importantly, multiplayer is nowhere to be found. As of this writing, neither local or online multiplayer are supported, though Microsoft has promised to share more at a later date.

No multiplayer means that the 3DS version is also (unsurprisingly) not getting the Better Together update that allows Switch owners to play with both PC and Xbox players. On top of that, the Nintendo skins included in the Switch version are not available in this edition, either.

Conclusion

We suspect that some will purchase Minecraft for the New 3DS for the sake of having it on every platform, but it’s hard to see the audience that would buy this version instead of any of the superior versions available on other platforms, including both the Wii U and the Switch.

While the 3DS’s touch screen does add some convenience, the trade-offs made to fit such a large game onto the New 3DS create a notable deficit. If you don’t have another platform on which to play Minecraft, New 3DS Edition is a good way to test the waters and sample the solo experience, but there’s so much more that this game has to offer elsewhere.

Upfall Studios’ Quest of Dungeons has returned for what marks its third outing on a Nintendo platform. Approximately a year after the original Wii U version’s release, the title has now arrived on the Switch eShop with new content and some minor technical tweaks. The big question is, do these changes make this the definitive version of the game?

The latest iteration is a port with a few slight adjustments and content enhancements. For the uninformed, Quest of Dungeons is a roguelike game that doesn’t necessarily bring anything out-of-the-ordinary to the genre. The changes in this latest Switch version are minimal, all told, and may be barely noticeable to returning players. Technical adjustments are tied to the user interface and how it has been adapted to the system, and an additional level with new sprites and themes has been added to the game. The solid and well designed dungeon crawling is still intact and will entertain a player for minutes or hours on end, depending on their own level of eagerness.

As soon as you launch the Nintendo Switch version of Quest of Dungeons it feels like a much more sophisticated take on previous releases. This can be credited directly to the Switch and the sleek and accessible design of the system. It simply just makes a game like Quest of Dungeons better. Everything about the title on the Switch – including the look, feel and functionality – gives it the edge.

Despite this new lease of life the premise is naturally the same; you are dropped into a world of chaos where an evil dark lord has banished light. After selecting between one of four classes (warrior, wizard, assassin or shaman) it is your duty to head into a dungeon and save the day. There is nothing easy about the task at hand – one mistake and it is game over. If your hero dies you must restart the game and level a character all over again. In each dungeon, your character will spend their time fighting off hoards of bats, skeletons and evil sorcerers in order to gain experience. There’s loot to find, quests to take on, and keys and coins to collect. Each session of Quest of Dungeons is different due to the map being procedurally generated; it means no run is ever the same, with items and enemies also in different locations every time. 

The character classes in this latest release are unchanged. The wizard is reliant on mana for magic spells, the assassin has the ability to use ranged weapons, the shaman can mix spells with close combat and the mighty warrior is great for his classic sword fighting skills. Just like the other versions of the game, each hero can find better weapons and gear and expand upon their skill set. The actions of heroes and enemies are also synced. This means every time your character moves, attacks or even heals with an item, the enemy can move towards you or attack. The battles as a result of this play out like a turn-based strategy game, encouraging a more thoughtful plan of attack.

The turn-based approach does not detract from the flow of Quest of Dungeons; if anything, it makes it more accessible. You learn from your mistakes each time your character dies, and eventually you develop a bit of rhythm with how you go about each play session. There are also many points of interest to watch for during every run; this includes side quests to tackle – such as eliminating a specific enemy – and also bosses to defeat. A shop keeper in the dungeon, who spawns in random locations, also sells many helpful wares. The player can also visit the shop to sell valuable rocks they collect or any other items they find. If it’s all too much, Quest for Dungeons has four different difficulty settings, meaning you can always lower the difficulty if dungeon life is getting the better of you. Every time you lose a hero you can also view personal stats and online leaderboards to see how you rank against other players worldwide.

The new features in the Switch version of the game, as already mentioned, are relatively minor in their impact. A feats system has been added, which can be located from the main menu; this tracks the achievements you have unlocked. These range from completing a quest to finishing the game on a certain difficulty with a particular character. A new level “mansion” which adds new themes and sprites – including more enemies and tilesets – has also been included. The previously featured custom mode – allowing players to select dungeon size and the amount of floors – benefits from this with more variety on show. 

The 16-bit pixel look is no different to previous entries. Each floor of the dungeon has a single theme, and the character and enemy sprite work is charismatic enough, despite the generic look. The sound effects in Quest of Dungeons are adequate, but the soundtrack still doesn’t fit the atmosphere of a 16-bit game; it’s quality music but perhaps doesn’t nail the retro theme. In handheld mode the game still looks and sounds the same as it does on the television, a plus point for portable play.

Conclusion

If you had to pick one platform for Quest of Dungeons, the Switch would probably be it. It highlights the qualities of the Switch concept even if the upgrades in the game are relatively subtle. The system – with the choice of TV or portable play – is therefore a perfect match with the solid turn-based combat and procedurally generated dungeons. As a returning player, besides playing the title on a fancy new device the minor improvements and new content are hard to appreciate, at least when considering the need to double-dip. This version is certainly worth a go if you haven’t played it before, however, as this is still an enjoyable game to play.