The game arrives on Nintendo Switch on 18th January (which is now less than 24 hours away in Japan), providing Suda51 with the perfect chance to share the design. You know, the ’24 hours remain’ thing… There we go.
Collecting in-game, video game-inspired t-shirts, which have mostly been reserved for indie titles, is just one of the many things you can get up to when the game arrives this Thursday. If you’re thinking of picking up a copy for yourself, make sure to read our full review to see what we thought of our playtime.
Are you excited about the launch of this one? Will you be tracking down this Zelda shirt with every fibre of your being? Tell us below.
Smash Ultimate has had an incredibly impressive run since it launched back in December, taking the top spot every week for five weeks in a row. This week sees the first time the game has sold fewer than 200,000 copies, with New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe’s debut sales total of 166,303 units being more than enough to claim number one.
Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition was another new entry this week, with the PS4 version of the game placing just ahead of the Switch version in the charts.
Here are the top 20 (first numbers are this week’s sales, followed by total sales in brackets):
1) [NSW] New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe (Nintendo, 01/11/19) – 166,303 (New) 2) [NSW] Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Nintendo, 12/07/18) – 62,580 (2,676,740) 3) [PS4] Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition (Limited Edition Included) (Bandai Namco, 01/11/19) – 41,510 (New) 4) [NSW] Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition (Limited Edition Included) (Bandai Namco, 01/11/19) – 26,588 (New) 5) [NSW] Dragon Quest Builders 2 (Square Enix, 12/20/18) – 19,565 (199,003) 6) [NSW] Super Mario Party (Bundle Version Included) (Nintendo, 10/05/18) – 19,054 (955,194) 7) [PS4] Dragon Quest Builders 2 (Square Enix, 12/20/18) – 17,931 (197,062) 8) [NSW] Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! (Bundle Editions Included) (Nintendo, 11/16/18) – 15,353 (1,414,948) 9) [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo, 04/28/17) – 14,991 (2,070,890) 10) [NSW] Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition (Bundle Version Included) (Microsoft, 06/21/18) – 12,590 (562,344) 11) [NSW] Splatoon 2 (Bundle Version Included) (Nintendo, 07/21/17) – 11,061 (2,893,881) 12) [NSW] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Limited Edition Included) (Nintendo, 03/03/17) – 8,636 (1,255,292) 13) [NSW] Go Vacation (Bandai Namco, 12/27/18) – 7,576 (42,711) 14) [PS4] Judgment (Sega, 12/13/18) – 6,837 (240,293) 15) [PS4] Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII (SIE, 10/12/18) – 5,618 (519,799) 16) [NSW] Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! (Bandai Namco, 07/19/18) – 4,682 (290,959) 17) [NSW] Super Mario Odyssey (Bundle Version Included) (Nintendo, 10/27/17) – 4,134 (1,935,809) 18) [PS4] God Eater 3 (Limited Edition Included) (Bandai Namco, 12/13/18) – 3,546 (204,056) 19) [NSW] Kirby Star Allies (Nintendo, 03/16/18) – 3,082 (720,725) 20) [NSW] Fitness Boxing (Imagineer, 12/20/18) – 3,024 (13,201)
Switch hardware sales have also seen quite a drop this week with the Super Smash Bros. boost seemingly slowing down, though they’re still high enough to comfortably place the console at the top of the chart. Here are this week’s figures, with last week’s in brackets:
1) Switch – 78,056 (199,982) 2) PlayStation 4 – 12,012 (87,669) 3) PlayStation 4 Pro – 6,289 (29,513) 4) New 2DS LL – 3,954 (22,645) 5) PlayStation Vita – 1,711 (4,138) 6) New 3DS LL – 1,483 (3,281) 7) 2DS – 268 (557) 8) Xbox One X – 38 (102) 9) Xbox One – 12 (53)
< Last week’s charts
Do you think Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will take first place back again next week? Are you surprised by any other entries this week? Let us know in the comments.
Indie developer 10tons has today announced a brand new open-world action RPG for Nintendo Switch called Dysmantle, and we’ve got its debut trailer for you up above.
With your regular RPG aspects such as fighting, levelling up, and crafting better gear, as well as an emphasis on being able to completely destroy more than 99% of all objects within the game to gather materials, Dysmantle sounds like a pretty intriguing project. The game is set on a dystopian island where time seems to have stopped somewhere between the ’70s and ’90s after a grim calamity.
The story starts as the protagonist ascends from his underground shelter, finding himself all alone and left behind on the island. He needs to unravel its mysteries and find the means to escape, which is no doubt where you, the player, will come in. We’ve got a pretty lengthy feature list for you to check out below which should tell you everything you need to know:
Features: – Break over 99% of all objects for materials with the right tools. Nothing will stop you. -Fight with (or run away) nasty and vile creatures of the post-apocalyptic era. – Explore the handcrafted open world and uncover its mysteries. – Survive. Clear areas of monsters and claim it as yours. – Build outposts to establish your presence. – Craft permanent weapons, tools, outfits, and trinkets. – Hunt dangerous game or tame them for your post-apocalyptic ranch. – Farm exotic plants and reap the rewards as crop gets ripe. – Solve puzzles above ground and underground in the Tombs of the Old Ones – Fish cunning scaly things under the watery surface. – Cook delicious recipes for permanent stat and ability upgrades. – Live. Enjoy the bittersweet post-apocalypse.
The developer has actually described the game as a mash-up of the best bits from a nice selection of fan-favourite games. Lead developer, Tero Alatalo, has said the following in a press release:
“We’re mixing together what we think are the tastiest parts of the latest Zelda, Stardew Valley, Subnautica, Steamworld Dig, and Dark Souls, and brewing it into a uniquely satisfying experience you’ve never played before”
No specific release date has been set for this one just yet, but we do know that it is now in development for “all platforms” and will be aiming for a 2019 release.
What do you think? Do you like the look of this one? Let us know if you’ll be keeping an eye on it in the comments below.
It’s well known the American singer, songwriter and actress Ariana Grande is a fan of the Nintendo Switch. She’s already performed in a Nintendo Labo music clip with Jimmy Fallon and last November made headlines thanks to her online troubles with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
In terms of how her experience with Nintendo’s new hybrid platform has been going in recent times, it’s all rosy. She recently revealed her love of the new Switch game Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! when asked by a fan what titles she had been playing on the system.
If her 15-hour play session wasn’t convincing enough, she posted a picture via Snapchat of her new tattoo featuring the one and only Eevee (see above). It’s a classic black-and-white take on the Pocket Monster from the first generation and surely proves that Grande is a top-tier fan.
Are you still playing Let’s Go like Ariana is? Are you a fan of her music? Or would you rather not say? Tell us below.
We haven’t heard a peep from otaku assassin Travis Touchdown since he last graced our screens in 2010’s No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle. Brainchild of enigmatic industry figure Goichi ‘Suda51’ Suda, Travis cut a stylish swathe through Wii’s catalogue of casual fodder. That same infectious energy is alive and well in Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes, the latest game from developer Grasshopper, and it’s great to see Suda51 back in the director’s chair for the first time since the original game.
This is not a straight sequel, though. Positioned more as an indie-spirited accompaniment, this was developed by a small team and picks up the story years after No More Heroes 2. Travis has been living the dream, travelling around the US in a house-sized trailer playing video games. Despite this nomadic existence, Bad Man – vengeful father of No More Heroes’ dearly-departed Bad Girl – has finally tracked him down but both are mysteriously sucked into the world of Electric Thunder Tiger II, Travis’ only game for the legendary Death Drive MK II prototype console he’s got his hands on. They strike up an uneasy alliance and end up having to enter five other games, arriving Terminator-style, before hacking and slashing their way through static-infested enemies known as Bugstreet Boys.
The cell-shaded aesthetic remains from previous entries. Everything is 3D, although with a fixed viewpoint that changes in every section, from top-down to side-on with various angles in between, all without player input. Controls are simple – ‘B’ to jump, with light and heavy strikes split across ‘Y’ and ‘X’ respectively and a rolling dodge on ‘A’. Travis’ badass beam sword depletes with every swing and must be recharged by clicking in the left stick and shaking the right Joy-Con (a familiar action to fans of the previous games). You waggle the right stick instead if playing in portable mode, although you’re encouraged to play Super Mario Odyssey-style with a Joy-Con in each hand.
Holding ‘L’ and hitting a face button unleashes a variety of assignable skills you collect along the way, from lightning bolts to defensive barriers or summon spots that interact with enemies or replenish your health. Presets are saved and loaded from the pause menu. Skills recharge at different rates, and combat relies heavily on them – it’s vital to experiment and find what suits your playstyle.
Although each of the six Death Drive games has a different theme, Travis’ hack-and-slash gameplay is consistent across the board. Specific sections ape other styles or games (and there are some great surprises along the way). The second game intersperses a series of murder houses with a top-down suburban neighbourhood on rotatable tiles bringing some light puzzling. Another Death Ball (DDMKII games don’t come on carts, you see) sees you exploring a spooky mansion in search of damn fine coffee and doughnuts (props to the localisation team for that one).
The gimmicks raise a smile, and while some are stronger than others, the base gameplay is satisfying enough to keep you going through the less-inspired sections. Save points (toilets, of course) are scattered throughout and enemies evolve quickly from lowly drones to shield-wielding variants and beyond. Crowd control becomes important and you’ll need to prioritise baddie-spawning skulls before dealing with the horde. They inevitably get a little repetitive and, although mid-bosses provide some comedy, they’re not particularly interesting fights – hack-and-slash veterans will have little trouble on standard difficulty. Bosses themselves are an entertaining bunch, but they’re still pretty standard – it’s slick, stylish fun but Travis Strikes Again lacks the depth of more complex fighters. Bayonetta certainly won’t be losing any sleep.
We spent the majority of our time as Travis, but the baseball bat-wielding Bad Man is available at almost any time from the pause menu, with individual XP and a couple of bespoke skills. The game boasts drop in, drop out single-screen co-op with a single Joy-Con, too, and the simple controls and mechanics lend themselves well to teaming up with less-experienced players.
Mechanics aside, Travis Strikes Again’s presentation is intoxicating. Every ‘game’ is introduced with crackling CRT static and presented in 4:3 with art and info occupying the borders on the sides of the screen. It’s a meta-collage of pop art, ‘80s neon, Spielberg films on VHS and, of course, video games. On paper, it sounds like reconstituted Ready Player One, but it’s got more bite than that and Grasshopper’s self-awareness prevents it from becoming a ‘spot-the-reference’ box-ticking exercise. An eclectic soundtrack mixes Thomas Bangalter-esque techno with twangy hillbilly guitar and smooth chillout (we particularly liked the track in the mansion).
Jokes about budget restraints, spiralling localisation costs and fighting against system specs will tickle anyone familiar with game development. Characters worry about gamers ‘expecting an action game’ and not wanting ‘a buttload of text’. They ponder the importance of their Metacritic score. Grasshopper explores the dashed hopes and frustrations of game development, coming close to eating its own tail sometimes, but it’s never less than entertaining.
In between games you hang out in your trailer, a hub with a PC to access ramen blogs and a shop where you purchase indie game t-shirts using the coins and collectables you find. We showed our love for Just Shapes & Beats, but there are dozens to choose from; Travis Strikes Again wears its fandom literally on its sleeve. For all its Tarantino-esque reverence, though, we never found it grating or try-hard. This isn’t a game of ‘knowing’ references or thematic nods to Spielberg’s oeuvre; it gets up on the table, demolishes the fourth wall and shouts: “EVERYTHING IS ******* AWESOME!” Its references are in-your-face (with enemy names including Spielbug, Soderbug, and Zuckerbug) and genuine rather than affections that broadcast nerd credentials, shoving Grasshopper’s tastes down our throats. It’s unpretentious and wonderfully inclusive – a Lego Movie-like celebration of video games, if you will.
And thanks to that generous spirit you tend to let its shortcomings slide, sitting back and enjoying the ride rather than dwelling on invisible walls, finicky platforming or repetitive enemy types. Instead, you’re opening up the archives section and reading fantastic era-appropriate reviews for tips, or enjoying the interstitial globe-trotting narrative via a DOS-style text adventure ‘game’ (although it’s really just tapping through dialogue boxes). It’s pitch-perfect, anticipating the player’s thoughts and mood, and it’s willing to poke fun itself and the limitations of the medium. Suda seems content to let his video games be video games, so despite all the intertextual references, you’ll spend your time playing Travis Strikes Again, unlike certain other series helmed by auteur game directors we could mention.
Although we had sixteen hours on the in-game clock when credits rolled, exploring, dawdling and note-taking probably inflated this by 5-6 hours. There are collectables and hidden characters to go back for (how else are you going to procure all those natty t-shirts?) and ‘Spicy’ difficulty unlocks upon completion. Plenty to keep you busy, then, and we’re eagerly awaiting the DLC.
Conclusion
Billed as a side dish, Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes has been prepared with enough love and affection to become a filling meal on its own, packed with the spice and spirit you’d expect from Travis Touchdown. It’s a fun, indie-inflected blast of hack-and-slash which doesn’t change the world mechanically (and don’t go in expecting No More Heroes 3), but its sincerity and energy are charming. It’s an adult game – a gamer’s game – foul-mouthed and dripping with style. If you’re sitting on the fence, we’d recommend diving in, if only to support its infectious, celebratory spirit; Suda51 seems to have a real affection for Nintendo hardware and this makes you feel lucky to have him working on Switch.
Please note that some of the links on this page are affiliate links. If you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale which helps support the site. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.
The Nintendo Switch has some fantastic qualities – the games, the portable and home console mix, and its smart, sleek design – but it does have one glaring issue: the storage space. We’ve said it time and time again, but the console’s 32GB internal storage (which gets reduced by the operating system before you can even touch it) just isn’t enough to hold all of your favourite games.
Luckily, micro SD cards are here to save the day, and these officially-licenced options have just seen a rather welcoming price reduction. If you’d like an SD card with a bit of style and glamour, these Mario Kart and Legend of Zelda designs (featured on the packaging, too) might just be for you.
Both are available from Amazon and, at the time of writing, are priced at £17.99 / $17.91 and £29.99 / $29.99 for the 64GB and 128GB models respectively.
Please note that some of the links on this page are affiliate links. If you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale which helps support the site. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.
Of course, these aren’t the most cost-effective cards on the market – whenever an SD card features official branding, you’ll usually see a bit of a mark-up in price – but they definitely look the part if you’re wanting to showcase your favourite gaming characters. If you’re looking for alternatives or help with buying the right card for you, feel free to check out our handy Best Nintendo Switch Micro SD Cards guide.
Will you be snapping up either of these cards purely for their designs? Let us know in the comments below.
Accessory maker Nyko has revealed a brand new Switch case design which will protect your beloved system and offer a traditional D-pad solution all in one.
The ‘Dpad Case’ was first revealed at CES 2019 last week, offering an ultra-thin protective solution for your console. As well as protecting the main unit, a removable cover for the left Joy-Con’s buttons allows owners to switch between using the standard controller buttons or a makeshift D-Pad design.
On top of that, the Joy-Con cases actually double up as little game storage solutions, meaning you can carry three games with you at all times without the need for an additional case or storage wallet. The thin design also allows the console to be docked, so you shouldn’t ever have to remove the case if you’re happy with how it feels.
An exact release date for the product hasn’t been shared just yet, but we do know that it’s expected to launch in spring 2019. It’ll be available for a recommended retail price of $19.99.
Does this look like a useful accessory for you? Do you think you might treat yourself to one when it launches? Let us know down below in the comments.
Update: It has been confirmed that the image in question comes from a book published by Kadokawa/Media Factory. While this publisher does release official Nintendo works, the particular book in question is not an officially licensed release and instead depicts the author’s imagination of how Kirby might look.
Original Article: Oh Kirby, you wonderful blob of joy. From his own cute and colourful adventures to his hammer-swinging, face-bopping antics in Super Smash Bros., Kirby has been melting our hearts for years. With his fetching pink colouring and ridiculously-sized feet, and even his super-squishy, jelly-like, wibbly-wobbly ways, Kirby is the absolute epitome of family-friendly fun.
Now, take a moment to read that sentence back for just a moment (“super-squishy, jelly-like, wibbly-wobbly ways”) as we reveal that everything you’ve known up until this point is a lie. That’s right, folks, Kirby has a skeleton – an actual, full-on skeleton – and now we don’t know what to do with ourselves.
The image has reportedly been taken from a Japanese artbook and has been circulating online today, presumably disturbing anyone who sets eyes on it. As you can see, Kirby also has a brain (which we’ll accept) but we have to question how he can possibly distort into all sorts of shapes – while transforming into bricks and generating an endless supply of hats out of thin air, no less – with such a rigid inner frame. We were convinced he was made up of at least 98% jelly.
Also, his toes actually look like little claws – if Kirby really does have a skeleton like this, we can only assume that Sakurai-san gave him shoes so that he wouldn’t terrify the children who would go on to play his games later on? Chilling.
As always, feel free to share your thoughts on this in the comments below. Also, we’re sorry.
The third episode of Telltale’s The Walking Dead: The Final Season, and the first to arrive under the game’s new publisher, Skybound Games, has launched on Nintendo Switch today.
After Telltale Games sadly closed its doors last year, Skybound Games popped up to save the day and complete the final season. Some of Telltale’s original developers signed up with the new publisher to complete the job, joining original Skybound members in the process, and the first release from this new partnership – called Broken Toys – can now be experienced.
Here’s the official blurb for the game from today’s press release:
After years on the road facing threats both living and dead, a secluded school might finally be Clementine’s chance for a home in THE WALKING DEAD: THE FINAL SEASON. But protecting it will mean sacrifice. Clem must build a life and become a leader while still watching over AJ, an orphaned boy and the closest thing to family she has left. In EPISODE THREE: “BROKEN TOYS,” Clementine is going to war. With the help of a strange new ally, she makes a final stand against a ghost from her past to save her kidnapped friends. All the while, AJ is watching her every move. “BROKEN TOYS” brings fans of TELLTALE’S THE WALKING DEAD one step closer to the gripping and emotional end to Clementine’s story.
That’s not all, though, as the fourth and final episode, concluding the entire series, has also been dated for a 26th March release. Soon, the adventure will be complete.
Are you a fan of Telltale’s Walking Dead series? Will you be playing through these final few episodes? Tell us below.
One sour note in an otherwise splendid year for Nintendo during 2018 was the reported behaviour of, and allegations against, Nintendo Russia CEO Yasha Haddaji. After a video in which Haddaji was seen losing his temper with staff – and threatening to fire them – went viral, a handful of Nintendo Russia employees came forward to talk about other issues experienced under his employment, sharing worrying tales of violent behaviour, unnecessary anger, and sexual harassment.
Back in November, we compiled our findings into a full report, sharing the views of former employees who wished to speak to us and have their feelings and experiences heard. After asking for comment, we received a message from Nintendo of Europe which stated that “a thorough investigation” into the allegations was taking place.
Today, Nintendo Life has received the following statement from Nintendo of Europe:
“Nintendo initiated a thorough investigation into each of the allegations made against the General Manager of Nintendo Russia, Mr Yasha Haddaji, in November.
While the results of the investigation acknowledge that Mr Haddaji’s loss of temper on display in the video has at times also been observed in the office, none of the allegations of harassment brought forth in the wake of the video were substantiated by the investigation.
Mr Haddaji fully acknowledges that his conduct related to him losing his temper is a breach of our Code of Conduct, and expresses his remorse to all those affected by it. He has received a formal warning and has issued an apology letter to all Nintendo Russia employees.
Our top priority is to ensure a safe and supportive working environment for all employees. It’s because of these values that we committed to a full and thorough investigation into each of the allegations against Mr Haddaji. Going forward, Nintendo of Europe will be providing more resources to Nintendo Russia to support their efforts to bring Nintendo products and experiences to Russian players.
We want to ensure that the conduct of all our employees is in line with Nintendo’s company values, and we remain committed to upholding these standards in the future.”
In short, Haddaji has received a formal warning and has issued an apology to all staff; Nintendo of Europe will provide more support to Nintendo Russia going forward.
