If you’re someone who happens to travel a lot for work but you’re not keen on packing your Switch 2 dock wherever you go, accessory manufacturer Brook may have the answer.
The company has just launched a USB-C to HDMI adapter for $24 over on Amazon that’s compatible with a wide range of devices. Now, the crucial part here is that the vast majority of HDMI converters are simply not compatible with the Switch 2 – this one is.
We’ve tested it out ourselves and can confirm that it hooks up to a 4K LG TV with no issues, but it will also work on devices like projectors. It goes without saying that you’ll need to make sure you have an HDMI cable handy, while Brook also recommends you use the original Switch 2 AC adapter for power.
It’s also worth noting that, in our experience at least, it seems to only connect up if you use the USB-C port on the bottom of the Switch 2, i.e. the one that plugs into the dock. If you try and use the port on the top, it’s likely you won’t get any kind of signal.
Image: Brook
Regardless, it’s a solid option to free up some space in your rucksack or suitcase if you’re holed up in a hotel somewhere and fancy some ‘docked’ gaming. Or, of course, it could work wonders if you have multiple TVs in your house, but only one dock.
Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.
Is this something you’re likely to make use of? Let us know your thoughts with a comment down below.
Yes, Nintendo is back with another wave of discounts on its North American storefront in the all-new ‘Spotlight Sale‘. This one is live right now, and it will be running through until 29th April at 11:59pm PT, so you only have a little while to get in and nab the reduced goods.
As ever, it’s a biggie, so we’ve assembled the following guide to help you see the cream of the crop. Below, we’ve listed every game in the Spotlight Sale that we scored a 9/10 or higher, and we’ve even thrown in a personal pick from the swathes of titles outside that review range at the end.
As ever, if you’re looking to grab some eShop credit before diving in, we’ve got you covered with the following links from our store.
$18.74/$24.99
Absolum is an on-par experience to Vanillaware’s Dragon’s Crown, but a superior game in terms of its key metrics. Its combat, collectible augmentations, and planning are exceptionally well-formulated, ensuring no run is ever quite the same, and its strategic options and play-styles are ever-deepening. It’s incredibly impressive in its reconstitution of arcade, role-playing, and roguelike formats, evolving them into something fresh and exciting.
To that end, it’s one of the best of its kind, whatever that kind may be. If you don’t enjoy the idea of repetition and grind, you may not fall in love with its initial five hours, but the momentum for one-more-go becomes so compelling after a while that it’s impossible to relinquish the pad.
Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.
$29.99/$59.99
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is the absolute pinnacle of the series and despite coming to Switch over five years after other platforms, this ‘impossible’ Switch conversion does very little to degrade the experience. Long-time franchise players and military aviation enthusiasts will be overwhelmed by the fan service at every turn, from craters on the ground to airplanes, liveries, callsigns, and emblems shouting out to previous entries.
We understand the genre is uniquely niche, but if this is your first foray into the franchise, this conversion is a perfect gateway into this rich, revered series. You get tons of content and an epic single-player campaign wrapped up in triple-A presentation that delivers the most comprehensive portable experience ever from Project Aces.
$14.99/$19.99
Alien: Isolation is a survival horror masterpiece and straight-up one of the very best horror video games ever released.
It’s a nerve-wracking affair — a slow, methodical game of cat and mouse against a brilliantly clever recreation of one of cinema’s most infamous killers — but if you’re up to the task you’ll find one of the most satisfying gameplay experiences in the genre; a brilliant and beautiful homage to one of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time.
Feral Interactive has done a stellar job with this Switch port and the excellent motion controls and inclusion of all previously-released DLC only go to sweeten the deal. This is essential stuff for survival horror fans.
$6.29/17.99
Alwa’s Legacy is an excellent example of how to do a proper sequel; it takes everything that Alwa’s Awakening did well and builds on it, adds in a few new ideas of its own, and corrects the issues that were previously present.
It may be a little on the short side, but Alwa’s Legacy is the special sort of game that only comes around once in a great while, reminding you of the kind of quality that’s possible when a dedicated crew puts in the time to make a polished and tightly designed final product.
$2.99/$14.99
A slice of Viking strategic combat right out of the heart of Scandinavia’s indie development scene, Bad North was at the vanguard of a wave of smart yet intrinsically accessible real-time strategy titles.
Swedish developer Plausible Concept calls it ‘micro-strategy’ and it’s the perfect encapsulation of a minimalist approach that covers everything from unit management to the Monument Valley-style isometric art style.
With enough enemy variance to convince you you’re playing an interactive episode of the Vikings TV show, this endlessly entertaining sea of bitesize battles will teach you to fear — and love — the sound of the oncoming horde.
$8.99/17.99
Beyond Galaxyland is a well-written, artistically diverse space adventure which mixes several different flavours of RPG with puzzling and semi-open exploration. The story is filled with well-rounded characters and emotional narrative payoffs and, as much as Enright’s galactic adventure is a collection of stylistic and mechanical homages, it doesn’t feel like a patchwork of fan service.
For all its influences and adherence to specific genre execution, Doug’s journey through multiple worlds is still very much its own thing.
$9.99/49.99
BioShock: The Collection combines three excellent, iconic games and all their DLC into one convincing package. Stable performance, engrossing narratives, fun gameplay, and lots of content make this one an easy recommendation, even if these releases show their age from time to time.
If you’re looking for a series of strong single-player shooters to pick up for your Switch, it’s tough to go wrong here.
$4.24/16.99
For those longing for a time when side-scrolling shooters ruled the roost, Blazing Chrome is exactly what you’re looking for. Perfect for short sessions, its slick gameplay and old-school art direction make for an astonishingly fun game full of explosions, epic set pieces and spectacular boss battles. Its brutal difficulty may not be for everyone, but if you’re up for the challenge, then get ready for one of the most accomplished 2D action titles in years.
$19.79/29.99
If Blue Prince were only about finding Room 46 and nabbing your inheritance, it would be a neat little puzzler with some fun twists along the way. For those who dive in headfirst and keep track of everything else it throws at you, however, it is so much more than that.
Rarely has a game made us feel more clever, more lost, and more elated the deeper into it we ventured, and still some question marks remain over its deeper mysteries. Minor technical drops and a lack of cross-save aside, this remains a superb achievement and one of the finest head scratchers we’ve had the pleasure of playing.
$17.49/24.99
It looks like The Witness and it plays a bit like StreetPass Garden, but Botany Manor blooms into something that’s not only entirely its own, but also something quite special. Don’t let its cosy aesthetics fool you — Botany Manor is packed with nicely challenging, well-designed puzzles, and isn’t afraid to tackle heavy subjects, too.
$10.49/14.99
The title says it all for this sedate little catch-’em-all fishing game. Also available on Switch 1, Cast n Chill is easily one of the nicest-looking games on either console, and one of the most effective uses of this retro pixel art style we’ve yet encountered.
The devs have nailed little details such as the plop and pull of your float, the gentle rumble of your controller as you rake a spinner across a shoal of fish to attract them, and the weight and heft of everything, really. Oh, and you’ve got a dog with you to pet.
With only two buttons controlling everything you do (and even an idle mode, if that’s your thing), there’s even a local co-op mode for a friend to join you in the same boat, so you can cast and chill together. Blissful.
$7.99/19.99
While it’s a shame that there are fewer games here than in other Konami collections — we’d have loved to have seen NES title Contra Force or the now-extinct WiiWare title Contra ReBirth — the ones included in the Contra Anniversary Collection are universally brilliant. The 8-bit and 16-bit Contra games are among the finest examples of the run ‘n gun genre, and to have almost all of them included in a single release and emulated flawlessly is an absolute treat.
Whether you’re a fan of the series or a curious onlooker who’s always wanted to see what the fuss was all about, this is essential.
$39.99/69.99
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition was a remarkable launch-day port for Switch 2. CD Projekt Red’s deep, diverse, and tangible world is fully realised with impressive performance for such a low-powered device.
If you’ve not taken your first steps into Night City already, or you’re a long-time player with a portable-play itch that needs scratching, you’re in for a serious treat, choom.
$11.99/19.99
In 2023, a year dominated by titanic, big-budget releases like Tears of the Kingdom and Mario Wonder, off-the-wall roguelike Dave The Diver stepped up to the plate and knocked the ball clear of the park with a heaving swing.
Its charming animations and writing supplement a mechanically dense experience that never stops dangling a new carrot to chase. You owe it to yourself to pick up this outstandingly funny, enthralling, and weird gem.
$4.99/19.99
Death’s Door is a modern classic, utilising old gameplay ideas in a new setting to make for a short and sweet experience you won’t want to miss. The snappy combat, rewarding exploration, and relaxing music will stick with you once you’ve finished, and while it may not have anything ‘new’ to offer, Death’s Door is so high quality that you’ll hardly have time to think about its lack of innovation.
Any fans of Zelda or Soulslike games will adore this – Acid Nerve has crafted an experience that’s absolutely worth your time and money.
$7.49/14.99
An attractive art style, strong combat system, and meaningful player choices make Dicefolk a brilliant addition to the library, as it manages to feel fresh without getting too far away from the core ideas that make these sorts of games so addictive and popular.
Dicefolk is a good entry point to the genre, in fact; approachable without being patronising and it’s tons of fun once you get a grasp of its various quirks.
$9.59/59.99
Dragon Ball FighterZ on the Switch is, simply put, one of the best fighting games we’ve seen on the system. Arc System Works went the extra mile in capturing the essence of the source material and distilled it into an incredible brawler that has lost nothing in the transition to Nintendo’s hybrid console.
The stunning visuals, intense action, and easy-to-master controls make FighterZ a game all fans of the genre should have in their library. If you only play this kind of game casually, it remains a must-own.
$2.49/9.99
A masterpiece to this day, Duke Nukem 3D is done proud by this Switch conversion. It looks and runs brilliantly, the online options are a welcome inclusion and it’s not compromised in any way from its earlier console release
It’s a shame that a handful of previously available expansion packs are missing, but given the low price of World Tour Edition, it feels churlish to complain. In the words of the Duke himself, come get some.
$2.99/19.99
Full Metal Furies is an impressive fusion of genres from Cellar Door Games, the makers of Rogue Legacy. A beat ‘em up brawler at heart, we wish more developers would invest such considerable effort into this sort of puzzle design in action games, and coupling that with the deep RPG systems, punchy co-op gameplay, and memorable writing makes for an experience that no Switch owner will want to be without.
We can’t recommend this release enough; put in the time to explore the different tactics required with each character and you’ll find a much deeper, more replayable experience than a typical brawler.
$2.99/16.99
We’re very careful when we use this word, but Grisis a masterpiece. Its jaw-dropping visual style and heart-wrenching score combine for one of the most emotional pieces of interactive art you’ll ever play.
It may be too short for some, its puzzles may be on the simple side and the lack of any real challenge may not be to everyone’s taste, but this is a game focused more on fragility than ability and as long as you’re willing to go along for the ride, it’s one that will stick with you for a very long time indeed.
$23.99/29.99
“Can time not be stopped?” That’s the question Hades II asks you every time you clear a run.
We’re not sure about time, but it’s clear that developer Supergiant Games is unstoppable; the studio is five-for-five with this huge, triumphant sequel that manages to diverge mechanically and offer more challenges and variety than its predecessor. It helps that it’s nearly faultless on Switch 2 in particular.
Sometimes there’s a bit too much going on, and in shooting for a bigger, more tragic story, it’s lost a bit of heart. But, quite frankly, we don’t want time to stop because if it does, we won’t be able to play Hades II anymore.
$10.04/14.99
Heretic + Hexen is yet another slam dunk for Nightdive Studios. This new release revamps both titles with modern controls, bonus content, and thoughtful changes to the core design that make each game a delight to play.
Granted, these are still FPS titles from the mid-’90s, so your mileage will definitely vary, but for returning fans and those with a particular fondness for old-school ‘boomer shooters’, you really can’t go wrong. Now let’s get a native Switch 2 port with 120fps please, Nightdive.
$4.99/19.99
Huntdown is a delightfully detailed and expertly crafted throwback to old-school run ‘n’ gun arcade shooters.
The 16-bit graphical style is immaculately recreated whilst adding lots of modern bells and whistles to proceedings, including a fantastic soundtrack and audio design, optional CRT filter, and an arsenal of heavy-duty weapons that chew scenery and enemies to pieces as your bounty hunter makes their way from boss fight to excellent boss fight.
The flow of levels may be quite repetitive but the moment-to-moment gameplay, overall sense of fun that comes from the level of carnage you can dish out, surprising amount of hammy spoken dialogue, and constant pop-culture references all combine to make this one an easy recommendation, and another excellent addition to the Switch’s action catalogue.
Following the release of the more budget-friendly Hautepad C16 / C16-S, Cosmox Gaming is back with another iteration, one that’s perhaps its most interesting design yet.
The Hautepad C-AT keeps things on the more affordable end of the scale with its lightweight design and reliance on plastic materials, priced at £90. However, the new functionality introduced here can theoretically put it side-by-side with the significantly more premium Hit Box Ultra.
Just as the Ultra allows you to swap out its ‘optimisers’ to change the travel distance of its buttons, the C-AT allows you to instantly lower or raise the height of the buttons by turning an outer ring surrounding each input. As such, the ‘AT’ in the name stands for ‘adjustable travel’. Don’t ask me what the ‘C’ means, I still don’t know.
Each input has three levels of travel distance, and so you simply insert the included tool into the two holes in the ring, then twist to raise or lower the height. The difference between each level is subtle, but you really feel the impact when you start breaking out the combos in Virtua Fighter 5 or Guilty Gear -Strive-. Naturally, since each button is customisable, you can have them all set to the same height, or perhaps experiment by having the directional inputs at one level, and the attack buttons at a different one.
Considering the fact that you have to completely remove the buttons from the Hit Box Ultra to change the travel distance, being able to instantly alter the inputs on the C-AT is remarkably straightforward by comparison. That said, unlike the optimisers in the Ultra, there’s nothing to cushion the buttons on the C-AT, and given the almost hollow build of the plastic casing, they’re quite loud as a result.
Connecting the C-AT to the Switch 1 or 2 is exactly the same as Cosmox’s previous models – just hold down the right button while plugging the device in to set it to the right mode. The braided cable is pleasingly lengthy and strong, while the C-AT itself takes inspiration from the M-Ultra Gen2 by including a lockable USB-C port at the top, helping to prevent instances in which the cable is accidentally removed.
An extra USB-C port is included on the left if you need it, while a USB-A port can be found on the right for those all-important authenticators for PS5 users. Don’t worry about that if you’re on Switch, though.
As for the button layout, the C-AT includes a total of 18 inputs, which is two more than those found on the M-Ultra. The extra inputs allow for some neat customisation, however, and by connecting the C-AT to a PC and accessing the web configurator, you can remap inputs and find the perfect layout that suits your needs. Naturally, if you’re entering into any official tournaments with the C-AT, you’ll likely be restricted in some ways, but for just playing locally or online, go nuts.
The main directional and attack buttons come with Wind Engine switches, which feel good and actuate with swift immediacy. They’re not quite as low-profile as the Shadow Hunting switches found in the M-Ultra, but by altering the travel distance to its lowest setting, you can pretty much emulate the same feeling. Meanwhile, the function buttons on the top right now come rocking Hide Mountain switches, which deliver a nice, satisfying clicking sound when pressed.
The function buttons actually feel similar to the inputs found on 8BitDo’s Arcade Controller. While I had an issue with having such loud, clicky buttons for the main inputs, limiting them to the function buttons works really well, and they feel wonderful. All of the button caps feel great, too, including a slightly rough texture that’s presumably designed to prevent your fingers from slipping and to stop them being worn down over time.
As for the overall presentation, the C-AT is slightly larger than anything I’ve got my hands on so far from Cosmox, likely to accommodate the extra buttons. You’ve got RGB lighting for the inputs as well on the outer rim, while some extra lighting can be seen at the bottom, shining out from beneath the translucent plastic cover. Each model also comes with a magnetic wrist rest, which covers up those pretty RGB lights, but it’s definitely nice to have if you suffer from pain every now and then (though it’s always good practice to keep your wrists off the device whenever possible).
The two available designs are pretty distinct, with one boasting some retro-inspired black and red buttons against a lighter background, and the other taking on a more ‘edgy’ approach with cat-like claw marks on each button, plus a darker aesthetic on the background. Like the C16 models, you can push the acrylic cover out from the back and replace the included artwork with some custom designs if you wish.
One thing I have to keep calling out with these controllers, however, is the labelling. The input labels are always included on the acrylic cover, and they’re always aligned with the Xbox/PC layout. This means that when you’re in Switch mode, the actual inputs don’t match with the labels, and there’s little you can do about it. The darker variant with the claw marks do include labelling on the buttons too, but this really needs to be the standard. Label the buttons and let us switch them around to our liking – please. If that’s not possible, then take a leaf out of Mayflash’s book and add in multiple platform labels in one go.
Final points to note are that the C-AT has the same OLED screen that you might be used to from Cosmox’s products, so you can keep an eye on your real-time inputs or even add in some custom pixel artwork via the web configurator. You’ve also got two switches next to the screen: one to toggle tournament mode and lock all function buttons, and the other to turn the RGB lighting on and off.
Image: Ollie Reynolds / Nintendo Life
Conclusion
Cosmox Gaming manages to offer something new and interesting with pretty much every product it puts out. With the C-AT, the ability to alter the height of your inputs with a simple tool puts it right alongside the more premium Hit Box Ultra in terms of unique functionality. This, added with the 18-button layout, makes the C-AT one of the most versatile leverless controllers on the market.
Its overall build quality could be better; as someone who values weighty devices that feel premium, this one is a bit too light and hollow for my liking – though if you value lightweight peripherals, this might be a positive for you. I’m also getting a bit miffed at the labelling situation – just label the buttons and let us swap them around to match the Switch layout. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it feels like an easy issue to fix.
Thanks to Cosmox Gaming for providing the sample used in this review.
Pickmos (which, until recently, was called Pickmon) has been unceremoniously removed from Steam following an intervention from its publisher, Networkgo (thanks, PC Gamer).
Developed by PocketGame, Pickmos is a blatant rip-off title, copying character designs from the likes of Palworld (which itself is hardly a paragon of originality), Pokémon, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Creature designs in particular look remarkably similar to iconic Pokémon, while the protagonist is the spitting image of Link from BotW.
So it seems Networkgo has had quite enough of the controversy, confirming the removal from Steam over on X with the following message:
“Hello players, this is the publisher, Networkgo. We’ve heard your feedback regarding the removal of our Steam store page and want to clear things up. Networkgo has officially intervened in the development of PocketGame.
“We will be supervising the Pickmos team from a player’s perspective to ensure the game keeps getting better. Thank you for your support.”
Naturally, Networkgo doesn’t outright state that the reasoning behind the removal is due to the controversy, instead claiming that it’s helping to ensure “the game keeps getting better”. It seems clear to us, however, that the publisher wants to get ahead of any potential lawsuits from the likes of Nintendo.
To back this up, a second message that’s seemingly directly from PocketGame confirms that it’s looking to ensure a “controversy-free experience”, stating:
“We are revising the game to ensure a controversy-free experience. It will be re-released once our publisher gives the final approval.”
So, we’ll have to wait and see what happens with this one. Given how shameless some of the imagery is in the game, we’d wager PocketGame will need to make some pretty extensive changes, so we’re not expecting to see this one again for quite some time.
Are you surprised by this turn of events? Do you think we’ll see Pickmos again soon? Let us know your thoughts with a comment in the usual place.
This story-driven sci-fi adventure, developed in partnership with Deck Nine (Life is Strange), is set before the events of The Expanse TV show and comes with five main chapters. The Deluxe Edition also includes a bonus episode.
Here’s some additional information, along with some screenshots of the Switch release:
“Experience the exciting universe of The Expanse like never before in Telltale’s latest adventure, The Expanse: A Telltale Series. Take on the role of Camina Drummer and explore the dangerous and uncharted edges of the Belt aboard the Artemis. From scavenging wrecked ships in a zero-g environment, to surviving a mutiny, to combating fearsome pirates, you make the difficult choices and reveal Camina Drummer’s resolve in this latest Telltale adventure.”
“Contend with the unforgiving brutality of space, the politics of a corrupt solar system, the animosities of your crew, and Drummer’s own conflicting responsibilities to the people she cares about and the Belt she has sworn to protect. There is no right or wrong path – only your choices and the consequences they unleash.”
THE DELUXE EDITION INCLUDES Episode 1: Archer’s Paradox Episode 2: Hunting Grounds Episode 3: First Ones Episode 4: Impossible Objects Episode 5: Europa’s Folly Bonus Episode: ARCHANGEL
The Expanse: A Telltale Series Deluxe Edition is now available on the Switch eShop for $29.99 USD (or your regional equivalent).
Would you be interested in playing this on Switch? Let us know in the comments.
However, browsing the eShop today, we spotted a listing for a Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game, priced at £9.99 / $9.99, the same price as the native Switch version.
There aren’t any details on what the Switch 2 version will bring, but we have to assume higher frame rates, right? We also don’t know whether this will be a free upgrade, just in case you only have a Switch 1 right now and decide to upgrade later, or if you can transfer your save data between the two releases.
We’ve reached out to Poncle to confirm this, as there’s no official news out there. But it seems like, come 21st April, we’ll have a decision on whether to lose dozens of hours on Switch 1 or Switch 2.
In case you missed this one, Vampire Crawlers is indeed a spin-off of Vampire Survivors and, instead of simply being a bullet heaven roguelike, Crawlers is a dungeon-crawling blobber complete with deckbuilding and (of course) roguelike elements.
We’re sure it’s as madcap as the original, and we can’t wait to find out what it’s like next week.
Are you getting Vampire Crawlers next week? Will you grab it for Switch 2 or the original Switch? Let us know in the comments.
Whispers of a new Star Fox game this year just waiting to be announced by Nintendo for the summer have many a fan on edge.
On the one hand, it’s been nearly 10 years since Lylat’s finest had their own game — the admirable but divisive Star Fox Zero — so it’s certainly high time for a new series entry. Fox’s appearance in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie proves that Nintendo is keen to keep McCloud in our thoughts, too, and Star Fox is Shigeru Miyamoto’s baby.
And yet! The sentiment that the series peaked with Star Fox 64 and hasn’t hit those heights in the three decades since is widespread, even among fans who love the other games. After trying different variations on the on-rails theme and using it as a test bed for other gameplay ideas, could a new entry ever escape the spectre its 64-bit brethren? Would Shigeru Miyamoto sign off on a non-experimental, back-to-basics entry? What do we really want from a new Star Fox?
Let us know your thoughts in the poll at the bottom of the page, but first, let’s see what Team NL would like to see from a new Star Fox…
Gavin Lane, Editor
“I see ’em up ahead! Let’s rock and roll!” — Image: Nintendo
For me, Lylat Wars is it. That’s where I started, with a Rumble Pak slapped in my pad, nigh-on the first thing I played on my sparkly new N64. It ushered me into a new era of gaming. It was exciting.
Every Star Fox I’ve dabbled with afterwards failed to live up to that feeling – not an uncommon take, I know. The SNES original feels too rudimentary, and though I admire how Dinosaur PlanetAdventures, Command, and Zero tried new things, it’s the B-movie spectacle of 64 and the nostalgia it evokes that pulls me back.
Nintendo (or Bandai Namco, or whoever they partner with) should lean into that. Give me a shlocky, time-travel story where Fox jumps around the timeline in his Arwing, going back to a black-and-white ’50s-serial-looking era to team up with his gramps, then hopping to an ’80s-style arcade era with plenty of neon and polygons, and then to the present — well, his present) — with all the modern trimmings.
I’d want them to lean into the Independence Day of it all, that glorious, on-the-nose, chintzy cinema feeling that comes with peril and zingers and sassy villains. That’s what I enjoy about Star Fox.
Ollie Reynolds, Reviews Editor
“Slippy, get back here!” — Image: Nintendo
I know plenty of people were disappointed by Star Fox Adventures back in 2002, but I genuinely think this stemmed from expectations over the actual quality of the experience – it’s a really good game!
So yes, I’d love to see something similar, but I’m also acutely aware that there needs to be some of that classic Lylat Wars-inspired aerial action, too. There was a bit of it in Adventures, but Nintendo would need to ensure there’s more of a healthy balance in whatever it’s supposedly cooking up.
It would be great if the game were split into multiple semi-open world environments across different planets, with the on-foot sections leaning into the more explorative gameplay seen in Adventures. Then travelling between the planets could feature the classic on-rails gameplay that we all know and love from Lylat Wars.
Heck, you could even split these into multiple segments: an asteroid field, a hostile space station, maybe even a trippy warp-speed section… all before reaching your final destination.
Alana Hagues, Deputy Editor
“I guess I should be thankful.” — Image: Nintendo
Along with F-Zero, Star Fox is probably the Nintendo franchise I have the least amount of love for. Though I admit, I adore the characters and their designs, and grew up with a healthy amount of Lylat Wars.
I’m glad the Mario Galaxy Movie leans into the cheesiness of the series (even if they probably go a bit far with Fox). So like Gavin, I want that OTT cinematic, dramatic style for a new Star Fox game. Give me some quotable memes and fun interactions!
In reality, I think Star Fox would need to be a totally different game for me to pick it up. Like Ollie, I do like Adventures! But for the sake of a “true return”, Star Fox needs to be similar enough with a few modern-day wrinkles.
Two things that would be fun to add are side-scrolling shmup-like sections — maybe go a little Mario Odyssey and make them pixel art or even use the old polygonal visuals from the SNES — and some kind of exploration. Let us explore Venom, Corneria, Fortuna, and Aquas a little. Maybe go Mass Effect-style with probes rather than on foot, or let the Landmaster transform into some kind of space buggy.
Jim Norman, Features Editor
“Oof, I done a whoopsie in me Arwing.” — Image: Nintendo
I’m very much in the middle ground where I want Lylat Wars again, but… different. I mean, as everyone else has said, the Star Fox format was never better than it was back on the N64, and I think returning to the series’ roots is a good thing — especially considering that would be the first Star Fox game for a huge audience. Give me some classic on-rails shooting with high melodrama, and we’re ticking all the boxes.
But, I also don’t just want ‘the same again’. Nintendo has clung to Lylat Wars so closely in past entries that the thought of “A bold retelling of the N64 classic” is enough to have my eyelids drooping already. There has to be something new, and a fresh, bigger story with a new antagonist doesn’t seem like a bad place to start.
What about taking things slightly more off the rails? No Man’s Sky has become the gold standard for open-world space exploration these days, and even something like Star Wars Outlaws shows how neat it can be in a more action-focused setting. The chance to freely explore a bigger galaxy certainly sounds like the kind of hook Nintendo might employ for a big series revival. This is increasingly sounding like Retro Studios’ rejected ‘Star Fox Armada’ pitch, isn’t it?
So, back to the gold-standard roots, but with a few surprises thrown in there too. Brace for Star Fox 64 3D HD, then…
Those are our thoughts, but let us know yours in the poll below, and feel free to hit the comments to espouse on how Nintendo should thread this needle for McCloud and co. Good luck.
What would you like to see in a potential new Star Fox game? (97 votes)
Something new that really leans into the B-movie nostalgia and spectacle of SF6432%
Just a good, straightforward SF64 remake, please5%
A fresh take on Adventures would be neat!10%
Something with a (semi-)open world18%
I don’t really mind, but puppets are a MUST5%
The infamous Star Fox GP, of course0%
A Star Fox roguelike5%
A Star Fox side-scrolling shmup0%
A StarFoxVania4%
The crossover we all need: Captain Slippy Toad: Barrel Roller3%
We’re still at the point where a same-day release across platforms, including Switch 2, is a rather exciting prospect, so we were eager to see how Capcom’s latest sci-fi shooter, Pragmata, would hold up on the system when it arrived earlier this week.
We had a wonderful time with it in our 9/10 review, calling it “another excellent Switch 2 port from Capcom”, but what do the tech experts over at Digital Foundry think? Today, the outlet has shared its performance deep dive, and the results are a little mixed.
Let’s start with the good, eh? In docked mode, the Switch 2 is using its DLSS magic to boost an internal 540p image up to 1080p, which DF describes as “arguably a competitive picture” against the PS5 as far as resolution is concerned.
In handheld, this is obviously downgraded, boosting from a 360p internal resolution instead, but the smaller screen and on-the-go playstyle mean it “holds up better than you would probably expect,” according to DF.
Compared to the picture in the Xbox Series S version, Switch 2 comes out on top. The outlet says there is a “fair hardware match” between the two system ports, with Nintendo’s hybrid frequently putting up better visuals.
Of course, it’s not all praise. Compared to the PS5 image, the Switch 2 version has some noticeable cutbacks, like lighting downgrades, worse shadows and simplified textures. While these are most apparent in cutscenes, the S2 has its usual hair rendering issues in standard gameplay, so don’t expect to see the fine strand work found elsewhere.
Things are a little choppier on the performance side of things, where Capcom has opted for an unlocked framerate on S2, which tends to sit around 30-40fps in busier areas and 50fps in indoor scenes. There’s no performance option to be found here, where a lower, locked frame rate could help iron out some of the more jarring drops.
Overall, a slightly mixed bag, then. You’ll find Digital Foundry’s full analysis in the video at the top of this article, and be sure to check out our review below.
What do you make of Pragmata’s Switch 2 tech? Let us know in the comments.
Paramount Pictures has released a new trailer for its upcoming Street Fighter movie, and uhh… well gosh, we’re not sure what to think.
On the one hand, it looks absolutely terrible, but we’d be lying if we said we didn’t have massive grins on our faces the whole time. Kinda like the Mario Galaxy Movie, y’know?
Too soon..? Okay, sorry.
It looks like director Kitao Sakurai is paying close attention to what makes the Street Fighter series so great, at least. We even catch a glimpse of Ken beating the living heck out of a car, for goodness’ sake.
Elsewhere, we can see characters like M. Bison, Blanka, Cammy, Akuma, and more, and they actually look reasonably authentic to their gaming counterparts.
We’ll reserve judgement until we finally see it for ourselves come 16th October 2026. But one thing’s for sure… Getting new Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat movies in the same year is giving us all sorts of tingly feelings. We’re loving it.
What are your thoughts on the latest trailer for the Street Fighter movie? Will you be keen to watch it later this year? Let us know with a comment.
The latest Japanese charts are here thanks to Famitsu, and yet again, we can see that Pokémon Pokopia has beaten the competition to take the top spot with 23,738 sales. It’s inching toward that 1 million milestone!
Starfield also makes its debut on PS5 at number 3, selling 4,094 copies, but this isn’t enough to compete with Mario Kart World, which managed to shift 7,238 copies.
Otherwise, it’s a pretty standard week for software. Hopefully some new releases in the coming weeks will spice things up a bit. Yes, we see you Yoshi, waiting in the wings.
Here’s the top ten in for the bigger picture:
Position
Game
Platform
Unit Sales(6th – 12th Apr)
Total Unit Sales
1
Pokémon Pokopia
Switch 2
23,738
890,909
2
Mario Kart World
Switch 2
7,238
2,895,712
3
Starfield
PS5
4,094
NEW
4
Minecraft
Switch
4,956
4,186,601
5
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Switch
3,831
8,419,664
6
Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Switch 2
3,064
101,850
7
Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen (Download Card)
Switch 2
2,757
18,049
8
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Switch
2,346
5,899,833
9
Mario Tennis Fever
Switch 2
2,429
101,590
10
Crimson Desert
PS5
2,408
42,593
Hardware this week continues to highlight the Switch 2 as an exceptionally popular device over in Japan, with the console shifting a further 52,058 units. As for the PS5, combined sales for all three SKUs totals 8,673, which doesn’t even beat sales for the Switch Lite on its own.
It’s clear that the recent price hikes for the PS5 are really starting to have an impact. The language-locked Digital Edition is still doing okay, but sales for the PS5 and PS5 Pro have absolutely tanked. Sony can’t keep this up, surely.
