Category: Game Releases

Nintendo shares new details about its Nintendo Switch Online service coming in September

Nintendo’s upcoming Nintendo Switch Online service is an affordable, multi-featured paid service that lets users enjoy online play for compatible Nintendo Switch games, access classic NES games with added online functionality, back up save data for most games and use additional features for the Nintendo Switch Online smartphone app that will enhance the online experience for compatible games.

Nintendo revealed more information about Nintendo Switch Online, including pricing, Save Data Cloud backup and additional details about the classic NES games subscribers will be able to play when it launches in September.

U.S. Pricing: Various price points offer a variety of affordable options for different players.

Individual memberships:

• One month: $3.99
• Three months: $7.99
• 12 months: $19.99

Family membership (12 months): $34.99
With a family membership, up to eight Nintendo Account holders will be able to use the Nintendo Switch Online service, even on different systems.

Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Switch Online: Subscribers will have access to NES – Nintendo Switch Online, a compilation of classic NES games. The collection will initially include 20 games, with more added on a regular basis. At launch, previously announced games Balloon Fight, Dr. Mario and Super Mario Bros. 3 will be joined by Donkey Kong, Ice Climber, The Legend of Zelda, Mario Bros., Soccer, Super Mario Bros. and Tennis. An additional 10 launch games will be announced in the future.

For the first time ever, players will be able to enjoy these classic NES games online. Depending on the game, players can engage in online competitive or co-op multiplayer, or take turns controlling the action. Friends can even watch each other play single-player games online, and “pass the controller” at any time. Every classic NES game will support voice chat via the Nintendo Switch Online smartphone app*. It will also be possible to play these games offline.

Save Data Cloud Backup: By using Nintendo Switch Online, a backup of Nintendo Switch save data for most Nintendo Switch games will be stored online for easy access. This is great for people who want to retrieve their data if they lose, break or purchase an additional Nintendo Switch system.

Online Play: A Nintendo Switch Online membership will be needed to participate in co-op and competitive online features for many current and upcoming Nintendo Switch games, such as Splatoon 2, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, ARMS, Mario Tennis Aces and Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido.

Nintendo Switch Online App*: The Nintendo Switch Online smartphone application can be used to enhance the online experience for compatible games through voice chat and other features.

*The Nintendo Switch Online app is for Nintendo Account holders 13 years old or older. Persistent internet access and compatible smartphone are required. Data charges may apply.

For more information about the Nintendo Switch Online service, visit https://www.nintendo.com/switch/online-service.

Games Rated:

Celebrate National Space Day with some stellar games

Happy National Space Day, everybody! Today is dedicated to the fascinating topic of space and the brilliant explorers, educators and researchers who study it. It’s the perfect day to go out and learn something new about the cosmos!

And if you want a quick break from your space studies, here are a few games that are, some would say, out of this world. Each game features a few spacey elements, so hopefully this will inspire you on your future space voyages*!

Super Mario Odyssey™
Kirby™ Star Allies
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
Warp Shift
Flinthook
Astro Bears Party
Astro Duel Deluxe
Graceful Explosion Machine

*Or trips to your local library. That’s probably more likely…for now.

Games Shown:

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze barrel-blasts its way onto Nintendo Switch!

It’s time to swing into action—anytime, anywhere! The critically acclaimed adventure is now available on the Nintendo Switch™ system with a banana-bunch of new features.

The Snowmads have invaded Donkey Kong Island and turned it into their personal frozen fortress. Join Donkey Kong, Diddy, Dixie, Cranky, and—playable for the first time ever in the Donkey Kong Country series—Funky Kong on an epic adventure to unfreeze their island!

Features:

Funky Mode: In this new mode, enjoy a range of gameplay updates and the option to play as surfing simian extraordinaire, Funky Kong. Less experienced players may find the additional hearts, refreshed items, and new “skip level” feature very handy.

Funky Kong: He may be a bit of a showoff, but his heart is in the right place. Funky uses his surfboard to hover over obstacles and protect himself from spikes. Speedrunners may also love blasting through levels with his double jumps, infinite rolls, and infinite underwater corkscrews!

Original & Hard Mode: Craving for the classic (and more challenging) experience? Don’t worry purists, Original Mode is included from the beginning and Hard Mode can be unlocked. Just be warned…it’s not for the faint of heart

DK Crew: Master the unique abilities of the DK Crew. Diddy Kong can help out with his Barrel Jet and Peanut Popgun. Dixie Kong can blast baddies with her Gumball Popgun and hover with her Helicopter Spin. And Cranky can bounce on certain hazards with his cane and attack enemies with his…dentures?!

Two-Player Co-op: With a single pair of Joy-Con™ controllers, two players can team up to take on the Snowmads!

For more on the game please visit https://donkeykong.nintendo.com/tropical-freeze/.

Game Shown:

Mild Cartoon Violence

Random House U.S. and Penguin Random Hosue U.K.’s Children’s Divisions launch publishing program for books based on beloved Nintendo characters

Random House Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books (U.S.), and Penguin Random House U.K. have partnered with Nintendo to publish a dynamic range of coloring and activity books for children. The books, the first two of which entered the marketplace in early January, are based on Nintendo characters and worlds, including Super Mario, the Legend of Zelda, Splatoon, and Animal Crossing.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Nintendo to bring the whimsy and adventure of these worlds to the imaginations of our young readers,” said Dennis Shealy, Editorial Director, Random House Books for Young Readers Licensed Publishing.“These activity books will let both new and established fans experience Nintendo characters in a whole new way.”

On January 2, 2018, Random House launched the program with two full-color official sticker books based on the Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda series—Super Mario Official Sticker Book and The Legend of Zelda Official Sticker Book ($12.99). This summer will see the release of Mario Time! and Link’s Book of Adventure (On Sale July 3, 2018 / Hardcovers / $9.99), in addition to Splatoon Official Sticker Book (On Sale July 24, 2018 / Trade Paperback / $12.99). The books in the publishing program include full-color pages with mazes, puzzles, trivia, and more—as well as stickers and other value-added inserts.

“This publishing partnership is an exciting way to bring the colorful worlds of Nintendo to young readers while encouraging creativity,” said Tom Prata, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. “We are always looking for ways to share our fun-loving characters with kids and families in unique ways.”