Following on from this announcement, the German-based publisher has now revealed its intentions to distribute physical limited releases of indie games for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. These releases will also include illustrated box arts, in-depth full-colour manuals and sealed packaging. More information about the indie titles First Press is publishing will be revealed soon. For now, here’s a bit about the company:
For most game publications, we will offer both Special and Standard Editions – but no matter which one you get, we always guarantee to deliver full, DRM-free games with professional packaging and an in-depth manual.
On a small budget, you already get all these features with the Standard Edition. For hardcore fans and collectors, our Special Editions do offer additional goodies and merchandise for the game along with a special packaging that holds all the featured items.
Each of our game releases will also only receive our name-giving First Press, and we guarantee that there will be no second run of our releases. It’s important to us that as a collector and consumer you can trust our releases to stay limited.
Our personal goal is to give digital gaming media genuine physical releases with love and dedication put into them – both to preserve them as physical media for the gaming community and offering gamers a proper way to add to games to the collection that would otherwise only be available as a download.
We might not be the only publisher in this field, but strive to deliver the best value for your money in our releases. We make no cutbacks in our products and ensure to deliver professionally designed releases with thought and dedication put into them.
How do you feel about another publisher entering this market alongside the likes of Super Rare Games, Limited Run Games and Special Reserve Games? Is there enough demand? Tell us what you think down in the comments.
A good 30 years ago, first-person point and click games were a very different beast. These progenitors were brutal and merciless not just in their difficulty, but how they often forced you to study every room to pick out hard-to-miss items while juggling timed puzzles that would sooner kill you than let you waste time dithering on their solution. The original Shadowgate, released way back in 1987 before heading to NES, N64 and Game Boy Color, revelled in this concept, and its titular dark fantasy castle was filled with dangers and death at every turn. Its basic graphics might not be so easy on modern eyes, but to Atari, Amiga and Apple players of the late ’80s, they were a bloody revelation.
Of course, like most things with any sense of nostalgia involved, Shadowgate was Kickstarted and eventually remade back in 2014 and released to relatively decent reviews. And, like most retro remakes, this ‘new’ iteration has now eventually made its way to Nintendo Switch. The question is, how does a point and click adventure game made with PC in mind fit on a handheld platform? Well, thankfully, this vicious little adventure arrived on smartphones and tablets just over three years ago so Shadowgate has already been optimised for the hands-on controls of a touchscreen device.
Tapping on items in your inventory and searching for interactive elements in a given chamber is never going to have the same dexterity as a mouse and keyboard, but when mixed with a helpful mapping of actions on the Joy-Con (clicking ‘ZL’ to go back to a previous room, ‘L’ to open up a quick access hot menu, etc) you’re given more than enough control to ensure you can act in good time should quick wits be required. And you’ll need them often, because you never know when death is going to claim you.
As a hero from a dwindling line of kings, you’ll need to enter a castle twisted by the machinations of a warlock who wants to raise a powerful demon from the depths of the underworld. It’s classic ’80s dark fantasy to a tee and when paired with the gorgeous backgrounds of this modern remake – which look like concept art come to life – the world of Shadowgate is finally given the choose-your-own-adventure atmosphere it so richly deserves. It also makes it a little more palatable to modern eyes.
For those who enjoyed the original line of MacVenture games, you won’t be disappointed with this remake. The puzzles, traps and challenges from the original are recreated here, and that includes the constant threat of your own doom. You’ll always need to have a lit torch in your hand, because without it, you’ll be plunged into total darkness, where a single step could see you tripping and breaking your neck on the cold flagstones at your feet. You can save and load at any time (quick loading and quick saving are mapped to a click of either analog stick for swift access), and you’ll be thankful when you accidentally unleash a banshee and be cursed for your troubles, or enter the lair of a dragon and burned to a crisp because you didn’t equip your shield in time. And that’s just in the first hour or so.
Shadowgate is constantly trying to bump you off this mortal coil, but once you’ve mastered the simple rules of contextual item inspection, use, and combination there’s a great sense of satisfaction to be found amid its interconnected chambers, caverns and dungeons. Some puzzles have been added and others extended in complexity, but for the most part, the mechanical bones of the original game have been preserved. Three decades ago, this kind of ultra-obtuse puzzle design was far more acceptable, but now some conundrums are so utterly devoid of logic that it’s easy to miss something vitally important a few rooms previously.
This remake does include four difficulty modes – including the ultra-merciless Ironman mode (disabling saves and requiring you to finish the game in a single run) – and even includes the option to switch back to classic pixelated transitions and reinstate the Hiroyuki Masuno chiptunes created for the original NES port. It’s a shame you can’t flip back to the classic visuals, but these little extras prove this really is an adventure for fans of the original who like a heavy dose of retro and nostalgia with their gaming exploits. However, Rich Douglas’ new score offers a fine alternative that does the grim fantasy setting plenty of justice.
Conclusion
Shadowgate on Nintendo Switch is very much the same reboot we saw on PC back in 2014, taking the same mix of puzzles, difficulty and exploration the original was famed for and mixing it up with some enhanced conundrums and much more appealing presentation. Even with the updated visuals, Shadowgate still has a clunky UI, however, the button mapping on Switch does help negate this issue a little. Problems aside, this is a faithful remake that retro fans will lap up, although newer players might find this elder gaming statesman has teeth that bite a little too hard.
Bandai Namco surprised Switch owners a few days ago by announcing it would be bringing the action hack-and-slash RPG God Eater 3 to the Nintendo Switch. This version of the game will allow up to eight players to battle alongside each other anytime and anywhere thanks to the portable nature of the hybrid device.
In a blog post on the official God Eater 3 website recently, the game’s producer Yuya Tomiyama spoke about how content within the Switch release would be “the same” as the PlayStation 4 and Steam versions. Apart from local co-op multiplayer, there will also be a number of other “special features” to anticipate. Here’s the translation, courtesy of Nintendo Everything:
“The contents of the game will be the same as the PS4 and Steam versions. In addition to this, we are adding special features unique to the Switch version, such as local co-op multiplayer.”
The team behind the game also has additional updates planned – with announcements regarding this content to be made in the near future. God Eater 3 for the Nintendo Switch is due out this July.
Are you relieved to hear the Switch version will be the real deal? Tell us down in the comments.
During an interview in February this year with Eurogamer, Respawn Entertainment’s lead producer Drew McCoy said his team would “love” to bring its first-person battle royale game Apex Legends to the Nintendo Switch and mobile devices.
In a Wired Tech Support video posted earlier this week on YouTube, McCoy was asked once again about the possibility of Apex Legends coming to the Switch and said the team was aware of the demand for it. Here’s his full response:
“If Switch was coming, we would tell you and we would blast it across the world.”
“We are hearing all the Switch players who say they want the game. I can’t make any promises right now. We have a lot of things that we’re working on, so stay tuned for anything in the future. But currently, we don’t have anything to announce.”
Cross-play is also something the team is apparently looking into right now and “really care about” according to McCoy.
Would you like to see Apex Legends make the Switch? Have you played it on another platform? Tell us down below.
Earlier this year in January, PM Studios and acttil announced a physical and digital version of Cytus Alpha (or ‘Cytus α’) would be coming to the Switch in North America this April. Over the past few days, there have been reports the physical version had been delayed, and it’s now been confirmed.
Instead of arriving later this month, this version of the game will arrive in this region on 14th May. The digital version will still be released on 25th April. Apart from this, nothing else has changed. If you decide to purchase a physical copy of the game, you’ll still receive a special CD and exclusive box art (see above).
If you haven’t heard about this game before, it’s been developed by Rayark – the studio behind VOEZ and Deemo. Cytus Alpha features futuristic graphics, more than 200 songs (new and old) touch controls and online multiplayer – where players can engage in score battles. Here are all the details from the official PR:
Music: More than 200 tracks from the original release with over 400 Charts, and additional unreleased songs, including exclusive songs from Cytus Ω, which are available in Chapter Ω! and collaborations from Chapter Ω!
Visuals: Mesmerizing futuristic graphics with a new UI developed specifically for Nintendo Switch!
Story: An in-depth data system for diving into even deeper story engagement!
Difficulty: Easy to hard modes to satisfy beginners and veteran rhythm game players alike, and various musical tastes such as pop, jazz, trance, hardcore and more!
Do you like the sound of this game? Tell us down below.
Next week – 21st April to be precise – is the 30th anniversary of arguably the most iconic piece of hardware in the history of video gaming. Speak to someone who knows absolutely nothing about game consoles and they’ll still be able to name the Nintendo Game Boy and most probably whistle the tune to Tetris too. Its ubiquity in the early ’90s meant it became shorthand for gaming in general, part of the cultural fabric in a way that few other pieces of hardware can claim.
Next week we’ll be publishing several new articles in celebration of the humble handheld, plus digging through the archive to find the very best of our previously published features. We’ll also be posting a ‘Top 50 Game Boy Games’ article along the lines of our previous 50 Best Switch Games So Far and 50 Best 3DS Games features.
As with those selections, the ranking will be entirely based on User Ratings from the Nintendo Life Games database, so readers can rate any game they like and after a minimum threshold has been reached, that game then becomes eligible for the list according to its overall rating. This has worked well for the previous lists, and we’ve seen some interesting changes as the fluid ranking fluctuates over time. Of course, 3DS and Switch have plenty of user ratings already, but going back 30 years it’s inevitable that Game Boy games only have a fraction of votes compared to more modern systems.
That’s where you come in! We’ve updated our database to include all Game Boy titles that saw a release in the west, so in preparation for the 30th anniversary we’d love for you to rate your favourites using the specially designed tool below.
Assuming you’re logged in, simply scroll through the alphabetical list and click the star to bring up a rating of 1-10. Click on the score you think it deserves and you’re all done! If scrolling through six pages of the Game Boy’s substantial library feels too much like work, simply use the search bar at the top of the list to find your favourites and rate them from the list of results. Lovely!
If you need a reminder on a particular game, feel free to click the game title and check out our reviews and screenshots. However, bear in the mind that many of them won’t have been rereleased on Virtual Console and therefore may not have a Nintendo Life review to their name – the Game Boy’s over double the age of the site, remember! A Wikipedia link on the game page should hopefully job your memory, though.
So, what are you waiting for? Get stuck in!
It’s difficult to believe that 30 years have passed since Game Boy changed the portable gaming landscape forever. Thanks for voting – we’ll be sharing the results, our memories and more next week, but in the meantime feel free to reminisce below…
Last weekend, various retailer listings suggested the physical Deluxe Edition of Wolfenstein: Youngblood for Switch might not actually include a game card and would instead come with a download code. This also applied to the game’s Standard Edition physical release.
Bethesda has now decided to clarify what exactly is going on with the Switch retail release by updating its extensive FAQ page for Youngblood.
So, will the Nintendo Switch version be digital only? Unfortunately, yes. While an in-store physical release is definitely going ahead, there won’t be a game card inside the case. Here’s the official word from the publisher:
The Nintendo Switch version of Wolfenstein: Youngblood will be available digitally. The physical version of Wolfenstein: Youngblood will be a digital download code in the box with no game cartridge. A download will be required to play the game.
This commotion could have been completely avoided if Bethesda had just been upfront about the Switch retail release when it was first announced. We can only hope this doesn’t sour sales now that it has been confirmed.
How do you feel about Bethesda’s decision to not release a proper physical version of Youngblood? Will you still be buying this game in-store or are you happy with a digital copy? Tell us down in the comments.
Earlier this week, we got a glimpse of Kitana in action in a Mortal Kombat 11 promotional trailer and now NetherRealm Studios has officially revealed the fighter during the latest Kombat Kast live stream.
In the video below we get to see Lady Kitana – who started out in Mortal Kombat II alongside her evil twin Mileena – take on the hive queen D’Vorah. Be warned, though, the scenes within this reveal trailer are incredibly graphic:
Mortal Kombat 11 for Nintendo Switch launches in North America on 23rd April and arrives in Europe later on in May.
Are you glad Kitana is returning in Mortal Kombat 11? How about D’Vorah? Tell us down in the comments.
Here we are at the end of yet another week, finally winding down and getting ready to enjoy some of those video game thingies we seem to talk about so much. As always, team Nintendo Life has gathered around to discuss our gaming plans for the weekend, and we’d love for you to get involved in the comments and poll sections below. Enjoy!
Ryan Craddock, staff writer
Amazingly, for the second weekend in a row, I’ll be spending my time actually interacting with other, real human beings. I have a friend staying over for a while, so I imagine any gaming time will naturally be spent playing the Switch’s top multiplayer hits.
For us, that’s usually things like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Sure, they’re the boring choices, but sometimes you just can’t beat Nintendo’s biggest and brightest.
Gavin Lane, staff writer
This weekend, time permitting, I’ll be diving into the Labo VR Kit. News that Super Mario Odyssey and Zelda: Breath of the Wild are getting some manner of VR update was the tipping point and I pre-ordered a game for the first time in… 20 years?! The last thing I remember pre-ordering is Donkey Kong 64 with the Expansion Pak.
I went for the smaller basic Blaster kit because I lack both the space to store all that cardboard and also the time to build it. I’m very interested to investigate how the VR experience holds up given Switch’s tech limitations. Would it be possible to see an adapted port of Ubisoft’s Star Trek: Bridge Crew on Switch, for example? Before this Breath of the Wild update I’d have said ‘no way’, but I’m starting to wonder…
Gonçalo Lopes, contributing writer
Having been blessed yet again with good fortunes from the East, I will be spending my weekend mostly with Super Robot Wars T. I’ve been a fan of the series since stumbling upon it on Super Famicom and it is a true luxury to have the latest, greatest entry in the series 100% in English. There will, as per usual, be some ARMS Party Crash Bash and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate amiibo action along with some downtime sessions of Switch ‘N’ Shoot, Super Star Path and the deliciously difficult Out There Ω: The Alliance.
My game of the week is Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Scarlet for no reason at all except my faint hope that Koei Tecmo puts an actualDead or Alive on the Switch down the line since we know now for sure that yes, the system can handle all the necessary physics involved.
Austin Voigt, contributing writer
This weekend, I’m picking up the full Labo VR kit and pretty much devoting all of my time to that. I’m a sucker for buildable toys – LEGO was my jam growing up – and considering each Toy-Con takes at least an hour to make, I should be set. I’ll also be having friends over the entire weekend, so I’m sure there will be some Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 2 and Smash Bros. Ultimate thrown in as well for good measure.
Liam Doolan, news reporter
Like many other Switch owners, I’ll be spending the next few days in virtual reality testing out the new Nintendo Labo VR Kit. Based on my own experience so far – I’m impressed. I went in with low expectations and have been pleasantly surprised. While it’s obviously not as good looking as more expensive products on the market, it’s equally as entertaining. The Labo Goggles will also be a good investment if Nintendo continues to roll out free VR updates for older titles.
When I’m not playing Labo VR, I’ll be working on a few cases in the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy. To finally have this series on my television is a dream come true. That’s it for me this weekend.
Which games are you playing this weekend? (267 votes)
Since the Switch generation began, Ubisoft has teamed up with Nintendo on a number of occasions. The first time around was for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle and more recently Starlink: Battle for Atlas received exclusive Star Fox content.
If you’ve been wondering about the next potential collaboration between the two video game giants, there’s been a lot of talk about a potential sequel to Mario + Rabbids. During an interview on IGN Unfiltered recently, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot was asked about the likelihood of a second game and simply responded with the following comment:
“We can’t say much today, but we had a good relationship, so let’s see what will come.”
Guillemot was previously asked about a sequel to Mario + Rabbids during an interview with GameSpot last September and said something similar:
“I can’t say…
[Laughs] I can’t give you an answer yet.”
Ubisoft also sent out surveys last October to its email subscribers asking them about their favourite characters in the Mario universe. One page included Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Wario, Waluigi, Rosalina and Peach, and the other featured Daisy, the Koopalings, Bowser Jr., Birdo, Kamek and Bowser.
Would you like to see a sequel to Mario + Rabbids? Have you played Kingdom Battle yet? Tell us down in the comments.
