Diablo III: Eternal Collection was easily one of the best games released on the Switch last year. The only problem is we now want more Blizzard IP on the hybrid system. Although Blizzard is currently preparing for the release of World of Warcraft Classic, it’s safe to say it hasn’t forgotten about Nintendo’s latest device.
During an interview with Gamesbeat, Blizzard Entertainment President J. Allen Brack was asked about the possibility of more collaborations with Nintendo in the future. Here’s exactly what he had to say:
“It’s not ridiculous. We’d like to have — we think of it as another platform. It has some unique properties that the Xbox and Sony platforms don’t have. Thinking about what games make sense for that type of console is something we’ll never stop doing.”
Brack went on to explain how Nintendo was a great partner and said Blizzard was “super-happy” with Diablo on Switch:
“We’re super-happy. Nintendo’s been a great partner. We’re a fan of that platform, a fan of Nintendo, a fan of the Nintendo IP, a fan of the Switch. It’s a really good platform and it’s really fun to play on. Different games have come about that are good experiences. Part of it is Nintendo love, plus thinking that the Diablo experience would be great on that platform. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I loved it.”
What other Blizzard games would you like to see released on the Switch? Are you still playing Diablo? Leave a comment below.
Just days before the release of Katana Zero last month, the game was refused classification in Australia and New Zealand. It meant Switch owners down under and across the ditch were unable to purchase Devolver Digital’s latest indie release from the local eShop.
Fortunately, the game’s ban has now been overturned by the Classification Board. It’s received an R18+ rating and is expected to arrive in this region towards the end of the month.
This is sure to lead to even more sales for the already successful title. As you may recall, the game has been recognised as Devolver Digital’s most pre-ordered Switch game ever, surpassing the likes of The Messenger and Minit. The game also shifted more than 100,000 copies in its first week.
Have you tried out Katana Zero on the Switch yet? Tell us below.
There was a lot to absorb during yesterday’s Super Mario Maker 2 Direct presentation. We found out about the game’s story mode, new multiplayer options and extra game styles. Did you know, however, Japan received a slightly different Direct? Yep, the one Japanese viewers saw might have revealed even more information about the anticipated Switch release.
In one part of the 17-minute Japanese video, eagle-eyed viewers noticed an item wheel had nine slots. If you view the same segment in the western Super Mario Maker 2 presentation, you’ll see this same item wheel is limited to eight slots:
The wheel in the Japanese presentation features what appears to be a hammer power-up, alongside many other items such as stars and mushrooms which enhance characters in the game and give them new abilities. Take a look for yourself:
This discovery has many wondering if the Hammer Bros. suit from Super Mario Bros. 3 will appear in the sequel, while others seem to think it has some sort of link to Mario’s builder outfit. A Gamexplain video suggests the hammer could perhaps be similar to the pickaxe featured in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.
The announcement during yesterday’s Super Mario Maker 2Direct presentation that Nintendo is offering a new digital deal to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers has met with mixed opinion and a little confusion. Some fans have reacted with dismay that it’s a digital-only promotion and the savings tend to vary wildly depending on the games you choose and the region you’re in. On the other hand it’s something of a first for Nintendo. Discounts on games that have yet to be released? For a company that traditionally reduces its software prices only very rarely – and usually was part of a budget ‘Player’s Choice’ line – this is big news.
If you missed the announcement, here’s a quick recap: Switch owners with a paid membership to the console’s online service – the snappily titled Nintendo Switch Online – are now able to buy a pair of ‘Game Vouchers’ which can be redeemed for a selection of Nintendo-published games both old and new (or even unreleased). Prices vary according to region, with a pair of vouchers costing £84.00 / €99.00 / $99.99. Vouchers can be redeemed separately and expire 12 months after purchase, so you can wait for up to a year if there’s nothing you fancy (or don’t already own) in the current line-up.
There are some caveats to bear in mind, though. You will need to have an active subscription to redeem the vouchers, and users of the 7-day free trial also can’t buy them (you must be a fully-fledged NSO subscriber). Of course, you’re out of luck if you prefer physical carts, too; this promotion is digital-only.
Using this scheme, UK gamers could end up making some significant savings, especially if they’re new to the console and choose their games cannily. For example, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is £59.99 at the time of writing, as is Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. That makes a combined total of £119.98, meaning that purchasing them using Game Vouchers nets you a saving of £35.98. You also earn Gold Points as you do with any other eShop purchase, giving you 5% (or £4.20) to spend on the next thing you buy from Nintendo’s digital store.
There’s no denying the quality on offer.
Those games are the two most expensive currently in the ‘programme’ (as it’s called in the UK), and therefore inflate the savings. If you want to get the very best value for money, you’d be wise to avoid £39.99 titles such as Fitness Boxing, The World Ends With You: Final Remix and 1-2-Switch. However, even with games that cost £49.99, you’re making a saving of £7.99 on each title’s RRP, and that includes Mario Maker 2. A launch discount for a first-party Nintendo title? That’s unheard of.
The savings in the US are a little less impressive, with price variations also reducing discounts somewhat in comparison to other territories. While Smash Bros. costs $59.99 and £59.99 in those respective territories, Mario Maker 2 is $59.99 in the US but £49.99 in the UK. There are still savings to be had, though. There’s also some confusion as to how much of a going concern this will be, with the Nintendo of America website highlighting that it’s a limited time offer:
Fans with a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership can purchase a pair of Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers for just $99.99 through July 31, 2019.
We contacted Nintendo UK who confirmed that there are no plans to end this offer and that the July limit applies specifically to the US; as suggested by the ‘Game Voucher Programme’ name on these shores, this looks to be continuing indefinitely. Presumably Nintendo of America’s differing approach is down to the company being keen to avoid upsetting retailers in any way. As noted in the Nintendo Life office, there sadly aren’t many retailers left in the UK to upset.
Ultimately, for gamers it’s a discount on first-party Nintendo games – including ones that are yet to release – so anybody who’s gone digital this generation will want to look carefully at the list for any titles they might have missed over Switch’s first two years. Couple the first-party output with some select third-party developed games like the upcoming Astral Chain and Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, and we imagine most readers would be able to pick out at least two games that would make the promotion worthwhile, especially in the long run.
When viewed alongside the current ‘Go Digital’ sale on eShop, this makes it absolutely crystal clear that Nintendo is keen to double down on the benefits and cost-saving that digital distribution offers. We’re still a long way from physical carts going away – Nintendo’s audience perhaps more than any other video game company’s skews younger and the ability to trade in games and give physical gifts is especially important to that demographic, not to mention vast swathes of gamers for whom internet connectivity is an ongoing, persistent issue or who simply prefer to have physical media on the shelf. The company won’t be leaving those gamers behind any time soon.
However, it does highlight how Nintendo is keen to push users who are able to go digital in that direction. More and more young players are now thoroughly accustomed to digital-only games – many of them have grown up with apps and a total lack of physical media. The nostalgia and attachment some of us have to ripping the wrapping paper from a fresh cartridge on our birthday doesn’t necessarily transfer to kids these days – arguably most would prefer a card with eShop credit that they can spend how they like.
So, while these savings might not be earth-shatteringly generous, especially when compared to deals on other platforms, this is a significant step for Nintendo given its history of fiercely protecting prices of its first-party games and avoiding sales for so long. Arguably, it brings a version of the ‘Player’s Choice’ or ‘Selects’ line to the digital store, but includes a much larger range of games.
We’d still expect a cheaper line of boxed games to come along at some point, although the beauty of going digital only means you don’t have to worry about shelves with a handful of ill-fitting budget-line boxes – hands up if you’ve got a couple of irritating silver spines spoiling your GameCube shelf. Anybody?
For Nintendo, this Game Vouchers programme displays characteristically slow progress, although it’s a step in the right direction that digital-only gamers will want to investigate. We doubt it’ll tempt any die-hard physical players to cross over to the ‘dark side’, but these aren’t insignificant savings, especially on brand new releases. We’ll have to wait to see if Nintendo of America bring the promotion back periodically, but it’ll be tough to avoid grabbing at least one pair of these Vouchers over the coming months.
Feel free to share your opinion on the Game Voucher promotion in the comments below.
There’s just one small problem: the Mega Drive Mini ships with a 3-button pad in the west. Only the Japanese edition has the 6-button pad required for making the most of Street Fighter II’s ‘three punch, three kick’ button setup.
Why Sega chose to go to the trouble of making a 3-button pad when the 6-button pad Japan is getting is clearly superior is anyone’s guess, but all is not lost. If you’re getting the US or Euro model then you can pick up one of RetroBit’s excellent (and officially-licenced) 8-button controllers which are a dead ringer for the original pad and should (in theory) be just as good as the ones included with the Japanese Mega Drive Mini. It’s worth noting that the Sega Saturn USB pads – also part of RetroBit’s range – will work as well.
If you’d rather not have those spare L and R buttons, then RetroBit is releasing a revised version of the controller in August which should be more to your liking. Whichever you choose, 6 is quite plainly better than 3, and if you want to play Street Fighter II on your Mega Drive Mini the way Capcom intended, then expect to pay a little extra.
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Let’s face it: if you’re on the lookout for a new watch, or even if you’re not, you probably won’t come across one that’s quite as cool as this.
Clearly based on the trusty Game Boy Color handheld console, this watch is an officially-licensed product available to order from Merchoid. It features the expected time, date and alarm features, all of which can be set using the actual buttons, but we all know that the main selling point is that design.
Features: – Wristwatch with a Game Boy Color design – Time, date and alarm set using the Game Boy buttons – Plastic strap – Miniature version of the Game Boy Color – Officially licensed Nintendo product
It’s expected to ship next month, but you can order your own for £24.99 right now (Merchoid offers free delivery on all products to USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and the EU).
Would you proudly display your love for Game Boy by wearing a watch like this? Let us know if you’ll be ordering one with a comment below.
Described as a “high-speed mech action game set on a devastated future Earth”, this one has players taking control of a weaponised humanoid Battle Frame. You’ll need to engage enemy units with various weapons and defeat huge bosses and ace pilots. With 360 degrees of freedom, your battles will feature a variety of weapons and techniques, from smart missiles to the blade charge.
Here’s a handy list of game features: ■ High-speed battle action, piloting heavily armored Battle Frames through the war torn skies. ■ Twenty-six missions in a variety of locations, including floating cities, ocean fortresses, mountain bases, futuristic prisons, and battles in space. ■ Over a dozen playable Battle Frames with weapons including smart missiles, energy blades, particle cannons, floating energy shields, railguns and autonomous psychodrones. ■ A sprawling storyline with battles between three different factions over a war-torn futuristic planet: the US-lead CFN, the Russia-led UCN, and the shadowy terrorist Children of Fallen Nations. ■ Complex bosses each with a unique fighting style, including orbiting nuclear battle mechs, bands of deadly pilots, and weaponized flying ships. ■ Missiles, rail guns and cannons for long range combat…energy blades and blade rushes for melee!
<Various Additional Modes> ■ Bonus Survival Mode lets you choose from an entire hangar of Battle Frames, and then you must battle endless waves of enemies with increasing power. ■ WARFRONT mode includes massive replayability with six unlimited mission modes including Base Defense, Interception, and Assassination. Six levels of pilot (including Legendary) and Battle Frame customization will keep you playing for hours more.
You can buy this one right now from the Switch eShop for £15.99 (currently discounted to £14.39) or $19.99 in the US.
A perfect way to pass the time as you wait for Daemon X Machina? Let us know if you’re tempted with a comment below.
If you’ve gone the digital route this generation, you’ll be relieved to hear Super Mario Maker 2 won’t take up too much space on your Switch when it arrives next month. With the pre-purchase now live, it’s been confirmed the file size is a total of 2.8GB.
As tiny as this is when compared to certain other Switch releases, it’s still close to twice the size of the original game’s digital version released on the Wii U. The first Super Mario Maker required close to 1.5GB of free space. So in other words, the second game has double the amount of content in it! We suspect the new Super Mario 3D World game style, story mode and multiplayer have all contributed to this, along with the new recordings from the Super Mario series composer, Koji Kondo.
Super Mario Maker 2 releases on 28th June. You can purchase either the standard digital copy for $59.99 or the bundle including a 12-month Nintendo Switch online subscription for $69.99.
Will you be downloading this game digitally or picking up a physical copy on release? Leave a comment down below.
Do you have any memories of the free-to-play 3DS eShop title, Rusty’s Real Deal Baseball? It was launched exclusively in North America in 2014 and was one of the earliest games Nintendo released prior to its mobile selection, to include paid downloadable content.
The baseball mini-game compilation starred a down and out in-game shop keeper named Rusty Slugger, who sold each of the games to you. If you ever played the title, you’ll know you could actually haggle the shop keeper to drive down the real-world prices of these games on the eShop. Admittedly, Rusty was a pushover, and if you ever bought a game off him, you probably got it at a much cheaper price than the $4.00 he was asking for.
What if you didn’t haggle him, though? Well, recently YouTuber Nick Robinson revisited the game and tried this himself. As difficult as it was to convince Rusty he wanted to buy his games for full price, he made it happen. Paying full price essentially results in a better story for Rusty and his struggling family and you also get to meet Pappy Van Poodle, an old overweight dog with a cane who is apparently a “neighbour, businessman and mentor” to Rusty. Paying full price unlocks six additional cut scenes featuring Pappy.
What’s so surprising is about this is that nobody actually appeared to know about Pappy Van Poodle. Until now, the character has never even been searched online Robinson ran the game through special software to find out more about this unknown character. His findings led to end game dialogue referencing Pappy. What’s even weirder is that to see Pappy, you obviously had to avoid haggling and pay full price for each mini-game (which very few players likely did). It meant barely anyone would have known who Rusty was referencing towards the end of the game when he spoke about his beloved and trusting mentor.
Learn the full story in the video above and tell us if you knew about Pappy Van Poodle.
If you managed to catch the Super Mario Maker 2 Direct earlier on, you likely saw the segment where the new game style based on Super Mario 3D World was revealed.
If you pause around the 9-minute mark of the video, you’ll notice there’s a vacant space next to the new theme on display. Noticeably, the title in this menu is labeled “Extra Game Styles” suggesting there’ll eventually be multiple other game themes to select from.
At this stage, there’s no guarantee, but if more styles are on the way, we can’t help but wonder what these designs would be based on and if Nintendo would release them as free updates or paid downloadable content.
What do you think about this? Would you like to see more styles added to the game? Tell us below.
