Two years ago today, the Nintendo Switch was first released into the world. And what a ride it’s been so far.
Yes, 3rd March 2017 saw Nintendo’s latest console hit store shelves, a home-handheld hybrid launching alongside games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Snipperclips, Just Dance 2017, Fast RMX, and more. We’d only known about the console’s true form for just over four months at this point and it was already in our hands, with Zelda’s Hyrule landscape serving as a pretty stellar first outing for most.
Now, Soulja Boy is back with a short track which samples music from The Legend of Zelda. The response has been predictably frosty from Nintendo fans, with many pointing out that Soulja Boy doesn’t appear to be aware that Link is the character you play as, and Zelda is simply the name of the series (as well as the Princess you’re often called to save). While we’re not sure Soulja Boy is that ignorant of the franchises’ finer details, but less forgivable is that he refers to Rupees as ‘Green Diamonds’ in the song. Tut tut.
We’ve not embedded the song as it contains some foul language, so click here at your own risk. Needless to say, the main Zelda theme is responsible for the track being even slightly tolerable, so we can’t imagine Nintendo will be pleased.
Earlier this week, a Twitter user spotted Marina from Splatoon 2 on the Xbox One dashboard within the Mixer section. As you may or may not be aware, Mixer is a Microsoft-owned live-streaming platform for all types of video games across multiple platforms.
The timing of it was definitely odd, coming off the recent onslaught of rumours linking Microsoft Xbox services to Nintendo. If Marina wasn’t convincing enough, Nintendo Life contributor, video game historian and industry insider Liam Robertson has shared a new clip via Twitter, showing not one – but multiple – Nintendo characters now on the Xbox One Mixer banner. This includes character artwork of Isabelle, Princess Peach, Lucina and Inkling Girl from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Take a look at the evidence below:
As we’ve already noted, Mixer plays host to all types of video games across every video game platform. As for why it’s these specific Nintendo characters, it’s likely because it is International Women’s Day on 8th March, as some replies to the tweet have pointed out.
Video game censorship is arguably more of a thing nowadays than ever before. Even PlayStation’s creator Sony has come under fire in recent times for censoring certain titles to varying degrees.
Common targets of censorship appear to be Japanese-made games featuring mature content and over-sexualised themes. It’s even got to the point where some games are now completely skipping a western release. Naturally, this has fans of certain types of video game experiences on edge, about what games will and won’t be localised, or if they’ll be censored upon localisation.
In the case of Arc System Work’s upcoming fighting game Kill la Kill: IF, based on the popular anime starring a school girl named Ryuko Matoi, there’s no need to worry. In a reply to a fan on Twitter, the game’s western publisher PQube confirmed the game would “be the same across all regions” and platforms. It also said how if anything changed, fans would be notified:
The publisher confirmed this release would include dual audio as well, so you can listen to it in Japanese or English. Kill la Kill: IF arrives in both physical and digital form on the Switch later this year.
Will you be purchasing this game? Have you watched the original series? Tell us below.
It’s not just any old demo, though. This one will allow anyone who downloads it to play through the first chapter for free and transfer their save file to the full release.
FDG Entertainment has previously gone on record saying how the number of copies sold on Switch was eight times the amount of combined sales on other platforms. We can only imagine this demo will widen the lead.
We gave Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom nine out of ten stars and said it was a gorgeous looking game that did its spiritual predecessors proud.
Will you be downloading this demo when it arrives on the Switch eShop later this month? Have you already bought and played the full game? Tell us below.
Three years after the initial reveal, First 4 Figures has finally announced its Mario and Yoshi statue will be available for pre-order after a Q&A live stream next Friday.
The announcement was made on the F4F blog page and Twitter account, with a YouTube teaser trailer for the figurine also shared. Check it out below:
Here’s a bit more about the statue, when to pre-order it and the live stream planned for next week:
After more than three years since the 2015 Christmas sneaks, it has officially been announced that MARIO AND YOSHI will finally be available for pre-order after the Friday Q&A with Chocks and A #110 Facebook live stream on FRIDAY, 8 MARCH 2019, 10:00 PM HKT. We’ve prepared a short teaser trailer for everyone to appease the wait.
Be sure to join Alex and Chockles as they go through all the juicy details during the Reservations stream, as well as FAQs, numerous high-resolution images, and their “Making of” documentary video to name a few. You may watch them live on First 4 Figures’ main Facebook page or Official Collectors Club Facebook group. Also, be sure to check out our Events page linked above as not to miss out on the highly anticipated MARIO AND YOSHI product launch.
First 4 Figures CEO Alex Davis has been posting a fair amount of sneak peeks throughout 2018, and what we could presumably derive at after all these years is that this beauty is going to be quite the massive centerpiece for one’s Super Mario collection (or any collection for that matter). Bowser has been sitting atop the F4F pyramid as the unofficial ultimate F4F showpiece since it first launched—and rightfully so—but we think that this 2-characters-in-1 statue might just be the one to oust the reigning titleholder. Do you think that Mario and Yoshi have what it takes to take the crown from King Koopa himself?
For more information on how to pre-order, kindly refer to our guidelines HERE.
Have you ever wanted a highly expensive and overly large statue of Mario and Yoshi? Tell us below.
Last month, it was revealed the award-winning PC and mobile indie title To The Moon was on the way to the Nintendo Switch, after a fan reached out via email to the title’s writer, composer, designer and director Kan Gao.
It’s now been confirmed by developer XD Network and publisher Freebird Games this absolute tear-jerker of a tale will make its eShop and console debut this summer, with a special trailer announcement. An exact release date is not yet locked in.
Once again, if you’re not familiar with this upcoming release, here’s a description of the adventure role-playing game courtesy of its Steam page:
Dr. Rosalene and Dr. Watts have peculiar jobs: They give people another chance to live, all the way from the very beginning… but only in their patients’ heads.
Due to the severity of the operation, the new life becomes the last thing the patients remember before drawing their last breath. Thus, the operation is only done to people on their deathbeds, to fulfill what they wish they had done with their lives, but didn’t.
This particular story follows their attempt to fulfill the dream of an elderly man, Johnny. With each step back in time, a new fragment of Johnny’s past is revealed. As the two doctors piece together the puzzled events that spanned a life time, they seek to find out just why the frail old man chose his dying wish to be what it is.
And Johnny’s last wish is, of course… to go to the moon.
And here is the official Switch trailer:
Have you played this game before? Will you be picking it up when it eventually arrives on the Switch? Leave a comment below.
Here we are, folks! We’ve made it to the end of yet another week. It’s been a busy one, what with all the Pokémon goodness and the Resident Evil pricing shenanigans, but now it’s time to sit back and chat about which games we’ll be playing over the next couple of days. As ever, we’ve left our entries down below, and we’d love for you to get involved via the poll and comments sections. Enjoy!
Gavin Lane, staff writer
After digging out my old Game Boy Color last weekend, I’ll be going retro with the turquoise beauty. My library is very lean, but I’ll probably blast through Super Mario Bros. Deluxe; I remember being in awe of the calendar that told you the actual day of the week of any date – past or future – that you cared to look up. Yes, all you internet kids will never understand! I recall looking up my hypothetical 100th birthday. Think it was a Tuesday.
I’ll also fire up Mario Golf and wish that Nintendo went back to its brilliant RPG-lite style with a modern golf game. I didn’t get around to Golf Story on Switch – perhaps I should give that a whirl, too.
Ryan Craddock, staff writer
I’ve actually finally got around to playing a PS4 game I’ve been meaning to get stuck into a for a while now (it rhymes with Todd of Floor) so I’ll likely be playing that in every waking hour of the day as I’m pretty hooked. I did manage to play through the ever-so-wonderful GRIS on Switch during a break recently, however, so I’m going to gush about that instead.
It had been sitting on my Switch for a good month or two, just waiting to be played, and I’m incredibly glad I finally got around to it. Sometimes, taking a step back and playing something with moderate challenge and simply beautiful aesthetics is just what is needed, and everything about the game suited that vibe perfectly. I’d definitely recommend giving it a go if you haven’t tried it already.
Dom Reseigh-Lincoln, reviewer
As most people who read my work will know, I continue to have an unhealthy obsession with shooters. That’s why I’m still playing Modern Combat Blackout’s janky but just about serviceable multiplayer. I just need to scratch that FPS itch. On top of that I’ll be getting my funk on in Toejam & Earl: Back in the Groove and battling waves of bothersome monsters in Hell Warders. I’m going to wear my Switch out at this rate!
Dave Letcavage, contributing writer
Only three Donkey Kong-related spirits left to capture in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. THREE. But it’s too bad I’m struggling to acquire them. Nevertheless, as an enormous Donkey Kong Country fan, I remain dedicated to the objective. So, this weekend, I aim to make some sort of progress – ANY progress. Even one new DK spirit would be enough to consider the effort an accomplishment. If only I could put down the Xbox One controller and take a ‘brake‘ from Trials Rising… That, I anticipate, will be the real challenge.
On the more traditional side, expect me to fight it out during the ongoing ARMS Party Crash Bash, a spot of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and a revisitation of Zelda: Breath of the Wild because… two years have past yet the game just refuses to let go. Oh, and I am still playing Modern Combat Blackout on a daily basis, so feel free to join up the Nintendo Life Squad.
My game of the week goes to the surreal jazz fest known as Ape Out. One funky monkey! Also, a very violent one…
Which games are you playing this weekend? (248 votes)
Last July, Super Rare Games announced a batch of Nintendo Switch physical releases based on various indie hits. One of these was the Fairune Collection, developed by Skipmore and originally published by Flyhigh Works on the Switch eShop.
Super Rare Games has now revealed this physical release, limited to 4,000 copies, can be pre-ordered on 14th March for $32.54 / £29.99 / €33.99, exclusively from the company’s official website. This collection contains Fairune, Fairune 2, Fairune Origin and Fairune Blast. The Super Rare edition contains a full 20-page colour manual, interior artwork, exclusive sticker and three trading cards randomly selected from a five-card set. Take a look below:
If you haven’t played any of these games before, below is a brief description about each one, direct from the official PR:
Fairune is a retro-styled adventure RPG. Our heroine embarks upon a journey to unlock three mysterious statues and seal away a great evil. Throughout the journey she will need to solve puzzles, fight monsters, discover new weapons and improve her abilities. Fairune 2 brings our heroine back for another perilous quest, this time to find a lost fairy. This sequel delivers a bigger world for those that are ready for the challenge. Fairune Origin, being released for the first time, offers an intriguing look at the beginnings of the IP. It provides a short but fun adventure and illustrates how SKIPMORE conceptualised the gameplay of the two games that followed. Fairune Blast is an unlockable treat that offers players something completely different. It’s a colourful shoot-em-up, perfect for pick-up-and-play action on the Nintendo Switch!
Have you been holding out for this physical collection? Have you already played the digital versions of these games? Tell us below.
Remember the Wii U exclusive Lost Reavers? Perhaps you would rather not. Either way, the game’s publisher and developer Bandai Namco will finally be putting it out of its misery on 30th May, by terminating its online services.
If you didn’t download this free-to-play co-op experience when it was originally released on the Wii U eShop in 2016, you probably made the right choice. As promising as the concept was, it was poorly executed and was rather disappointing compared to more notable multiplayer games such as Splatoon. In our review, we said it was a “lifeless” and “bitterly frustrating” experience.
The action-adventure game started life as Project Treasure and was created by the famed Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada along with a team of young developers.
Below are the full details about the closure of the game’s online service, courtesy of the Bandai Namco Twitter account:
Can you believe the online service for this game lasted this long? Did you download and play Lost Reavers when it was first released? Tell us below.
