Ridley has made a comeback in recent years. After finally being added to the Super Smash Bros. series as a playable fighter in the Switch version of the game, First 4 Figures is now teasing the antagonist’s upcoming statue, based on his meta form featured in the Metroid Prime series.
The short clip below reveals reservations will open on Friday (we’re guessing that’s next week) and there’ll also be a ‘Q&A’ on 18th January. There are no other details to share about this statue at this point in time, but as with all F4F releases, it’ll likely require you to empty out every penny in your wallet if you do want it. Take a look at the brief teaser below:
Have you ever wanted a large and expensive Meta Ridley statue in your house? Tell us below.
Nippon Marathon is a lot like that one person at a party who thinks that the only way to gain popularity is to wear clothing that offends the eye and act all ‘wacky’, because being ‘random’ is definitely not another word for being a total bore. Onion Soup Interactive’s off-the-wall multiplayer racer certainly has a lot of enthusiasm, but it’s a concept that – much like that annoying party pooper – soon starts to grate.
Not that this colourful indie offering isn’t short on content. Right out of the (digital) box you get access to a decent number of different modes, including a Story campaign that follows the athletic dreams of some strange Japanese citizens with questionable tastes in fashion. There’s J. Darwin and his obsession with lobsters, Elizabeth Nishibori and her love of narwhals and many, many more. They’ve all entered the titular race around Japan and it’s through their nonsensical plots you’ll attempt to uncover a predictably shady corporate conspiracy behind the event.
You can play only through the entire thing solo, but every other mode in Nippon Marathon supports local multiplayer so its best used as an elaborate training exercise before you race your friends and family in a two-to-eight-player match. Like every other mode in the game, each race takes place with an overhead view (think Micro Machines, only with people in garish costumes and no giant pencils to drift around) with each participant attempting to stay on their feet and cross the finish line in first place. You can hurdle barrels, duck under logs and leap forwards to gain the lead when in mid-air.
Controls are very unwieldy, but considering this is the kind of purposefully physics-driven experience along the lines of Gang Beasts or Guts and Glory, that’s clearly by design. With other players flailing beside you, it’s quite funny to watch one of your friends break away from the pack, only to have a watermelon wipe them out from above or a stray Shiba Inu dog appear from out of nowhere and knock them to the floor. Almost anything can send you stumbling, which is either going to make you laugh or send you into fits of rage (probably both).
Races are broken into sections around courses set across Japan, with each one boasting its own unique mix of channels, mountain ledges, rivers and other obstacle-filled routes. There are even special courses, such as mazes – where you need to race to find a special item before your competitors – to break up each set of events. It basically plays like a game version of the wacky Japanese TV show Takeshi’s Castle, only with the fashion sense of the even more absurd British show It’s a Knockout. It’s also quite easy to beat (the AI really isn’t very clever and makes so many poor decisions), so this really is a title best enjoyed with company.
Outside of the Story mode, there’s a Versus mode where you and up to three other players can run a short race, a Half-Marathon (slightly longer) or Marathon (much longer). There’s also a set of party games including Go-Go-Trolley and L.O.B.S.T.E.R. The former is a like a cross between ten-pin bowling and an episode of Jackass, where you’ll run and leap into a shopping trolley and try and smash some pins for a strike or spare. It’s stupid and silly, but when you add in hazards that slow you down and ramps that send you flying, it does offer the occasional moment of hilarity.
L.O.B.S.T.E.R is by far the best of the two, offering a setup not too dissimilar to Wipeout (the slapstick TV game show, not the futuristic PlayStation racer) where you’ll need to run down a course on your own and try and get as far as you can before the timer runs out or you stumble and plunge to your shameful doom. The cool thing is each course is randomly generated, so there’s a lot of mileage to be had here, with countless variations of hazards, ramps and targets (the latter granting a few precious extra seconds when you pass through them).
With only an information-based tour-guide that you can fill with collectable pages from the Story mode and an in-game store (no microtransactions, just some yen you earn from the two party games), L.O.B.S.T.E.R. is easily the best thing Nippon Marathon has going for it. It also supports up to eight players, something no other mode can offer. However, if you do want to spend an extended period of time with this game you’ll need to tolerate its awful character models and cheesy Japanese game show aesthetic. It wears thin incredibly quickly, even if one of its modes has some legs.
Conclusion
Nippon Marathon isn’t not going to be everyone’s tastes – those eye-wateringly janky visuals (whether by design or not) and the nature of physics-driven racing are an acquired taste that most people are going to tire of, fast. However, look past the surface and there’s a multiplayer experience here that will appeal to fans of Gang Beasts and the like, who just want a silly party game that cares not for seriousness in any form.
If you’ve been keeping tabs on yesterday’s New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe revelations, you will have no doubt have heard Blue Toad is in fact in the game. After concerns the plucky little guy had been left out, word began to spread online if you simply held the ‘L’ or ‘ZL’ button on your controller while selecting the Yellow Toad in the character menu, the blue one would appear.
As there’s no information about the ability to swap between the different coloured Toads in the character select menu, Nintendo of America has now taken to Twitter to help pass on the message:
Separate to this tweet, there’s been another small discovery. Even though the Yellow Toad and Blue Toad are both in the Deluxe version of the game on Switch, you can’t use them at the same time during multiplayer. Here’s the proof:
What are your thoughts about this? Leave a comment below.
We’ve reached yet another weekend, which can only mean one thing: it’s time for the Nintendo Life ‘What Are You Playing?’ feature extravaganza! Are we overselling it? Maybe.
Anyway, as always, expect to find members of the team discussing their weekend gaming plans in our lovingly-crafted paragraphs below. If you feel up to it, make sure to join in the fun by leaving a vote in our poll and maybe even a comment in the box where the comments go. It’s been a long week, okay? Enjoy!
Austin Voigt, contributing writer
I actually have sort of a strange throwback weekend planned: I got a retro itch earlier this week and reordered the old Atomic Purple Game Boy Color I played copiously in my youth, along with my favorite titles from that system – Pokémon Crystal and Hamtaro: Ham Hams Unite (I was quite young when I had this system, don’t judge). Ah, the memories. So, I’ll be replaying some of those nostalgic gems – while, of course, hitting all of the other games in my Switch rotation like SuperSmash Bros. Ultimate and Splatoon 2.
Liam Doolan, news reporter
I’ll be honest; it was hard to convince myself to buy Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Switch. Regardless of additional content such as a proper battle mode, it was still tough to come to terms with the idea of purchasing what still is – for most parts – the exact same game as the Wii U release. Fortunately, I didn’t have this same predicament with New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. Well, kind of.
When the Wii U generation arrived, it was the first time ever I didn’t rush out and buy a Nintendo system on release. I held off for a bit until I was sure games such as Super Mario 3D World were on the way. As a result, I completely skipped the launch title New Super Mario Bros. U and instead opted with the standalone and much more challenging game, New Super Luigi U.
It’s been worthwhile in the long-run. Unlike many others here who have already played the original game, I had no hesitation in picking this new version up as soon as I could. Even if I have played the Luigi expansion before, I’ve still got the entire original game to experience for the first time. So, that’s what I’ll be playing this weekend!
Gavin Lane, contributing writer
This weekend I’ll be fighting off hordes with a beam sword as I tackle Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes for review – look out for the verdict right here next week. Assuming there’s any time left (and that I can resist Out Run’s charms), I’m eager to try co-op game Catastronauts. From our Nindie Round Up and the trailers, it seems like a space-based Overcooked with lashings of hot FTL. We’ve kinda fallen off Overcooked 2 in our household after getting ruined by the recently added 4-star challenges, and this looks like familiar fun. “But it’s just Star Trek: Overcooked!” Er, yeah! What’s not to like?!
Ryan Craddock, staff writer
To keep playing SuperSmash Bros. Ultimate, over and over again, or to try something different for a change? That is the question that will be keeping me up at night this weekend. Well, not quite, but you get the point.
Since Smash launched last month I’ve barely touched anything else, hopelessly addicted to its brawling ways. As amazing as it is, though, I am slowly starting to get a little tired of it and keep craving something just a little bit different. I’ve been eyeing up New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, because I do love a good Mario platformer every now and then, but I’m not entirely convinced that I want to throw cash at it just yet. A weekend of decision making rather than game playing, then.
Dom Reseigh-Lincoln, reviewer
My weekend is packed to the rafters with gaming plans, and all in the name of you good folks at NintendoLife.com. I’ll be playing everything Everything has to offer to see if Everything really means… EVERYTHING. I’ll be returning to one of my all-time PS2 faves in the original Onimusha as it makes its way to Switch and pushing my nerves and sanity to the edge with hardcore platformer Octahedron: Transfixed Edition. Expect some lovely words from me on the site next week. Have a good ‘un!
Gonçalo Lopes, contributing writer
My faith has been sealed, one whole day ahead of official release to ensure I got hooked early. If there is something that I still can’t resist it’s an epic JRPG journey and that is exactly what Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition is (and I am still in awe with the contents of the Premium Edition!). Consider that I never got to play this one when it was first released and I have been a fan of the series all the way back to original Super Famicom release. Is this entry truly the Tales of Symphonia–killer some proclaim? Time and discipline will tell… Along with a few rounds of SEGA AGES Out Run for relaxation between long JRPG sessions, of course.
Dave Letcavage, contributing writer
Now that the wife and I have unlocked all fighters and completed World of Light, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will be taking more of a backseat around here. It’s still going to receive a lot of attention, but it’s no longer going to be my primary focus. Instead, I’m either going to devote the majority of my game time to Pokemon: Let’s Go, Eevee!, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, or Dead Cells. I haven’t decided which just yet. I’m leaning toward something action-oriented, so the latter two are the likeliest candidates.
Which games are you playing this weekend? (234 votes)
With New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe now available on the Switch, there are a number of videos already online displaying the many character reactions when you complete the game.
Of course, you would expect the most exciting of the lot to be when Peachette saves Princess Peach. So, what exactly happens? If you view the below video – courtesy of YouTube channel BeardBear – you’ll see how it all plays out. Once you’ve defeated Bowser, Peachette transforms back into Toadette and in the following scene, she receives a kiss on the head from the real princess while the troublesome purple thief Nabbit creepily watches on. That’s it! Take a look for yourself:
Have you experienced this ending yourself yet? Tell us below.
Last year in July, potato lovers worldwide rejoiced when Daylight Studios and Rising Star Games released Holy Potatoes! A Weapon Shop?! on the Switch eShop. In this wacky potato-themed game, you had to grow a weapon shop while expanding your business across the universe.
Now, the second entry in the trilogy series will arrive on the Switch eShop next week – in both North America and Europe – on 17th January for $14.99/€14.99/£12.99. If you missed the initial announcement in March 2018, this is a game where you must manage your very own spaceship while exploring the universe. Here are some of the features in the title, direct from the PR:
Micro-manage your crew and craft weapons to create the greatest spaceship ever seen.
Fight enemy ships in turn-based combat – will you show mercy or blast them to tater tots?
Explore the universe to complete missions and uncover an ever-changing storyline.
Want stress-free pew-pew action? Try Casual mode and take the pressure off!
A charming, vegetabulous soundtrack of over 150 tracks by the talented Jeff “Pumodi” Brice will keep you entertained while blasting your foes to bits!
Last year in April, there was a rumour Universal Studios was launching a Pokémon park in Orlando as soon as 2020. Now, there’s a new one floating about suggesting the plans for this park and The Legend of Zelda attraction may have been temporarily shelved for at least four years or permanently axed.
According to an update over at Theme Park University – one of the sources of the original rumour which was never formally announced, Universal has recently decided to cut back on the amount of Nintendo content at its Orlando theme park instead of following through with its initial idea to “triple down” on the project.
It’s believed to be partly linked to the fact it didn’t want Nintendo’s presence on the site to match the Harry Potter attractions. The risk factor involved has also reportedly played a part in this decision after the pricey Fast and Furious attraction flopped, despite being based on one of the biggest movie franchises of all-time.
The source states how the Kidzone at Universal Studios Orlando and The Lost Continent attraction will remain untouched now, instead of being replaced. The only official announcements on Nintendo’s end so far reportedly include the opening of Universal Studios Japan in 2020 and the mention of a Mario Kart attraction within the Nintendo section.
The Nintendo New York Twitter account has revealed the second floor of the store will be closed until 11:30am on 15th January due to a private event. Here’s the official tweet below:
So, what could be happening? It’s hard to say at this point. All we do know is that this type of event has happened before and details haven’t always been revealed. If we do find out anything, we’ll be sure to let you know.
In the meantime, feel free to wildly speculate in the comments below.
Have you ever wondered what certain other devices and items in your household would look like as a Switch? Well, wonder no more! A big Nintendo fan and Reddit user known as u/logbies has crafted rather large Joy-Con shelves to place alongside their television.
As can be seen in the above and below photos, both Joy-Con shelves are designed to match the height of a 55″ television, transforming it into a gigantic Nintendo Switch that can hold up to 40 games. The talented individual behind the creation also goes by the name of Switch_dreamer here on Nintendo Life.
This isn’t the first time Logbies has created a larger than life Switch-themed household item. A previous creation he has posted includes a fancy Nintendo Switch coffee table with built-in lights. Have a look at it in the below video:
Would you like these Switch-themed creations in your own living room? Tell us below.
Many people have voiced their opinion about New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe being just too sodding easy for their tastes, and whilst we don’t think the whole game is a cakewalk in the traditional sense, it isn’t exactly the Dark Souls of platformers to use an overused and somewhat polygonal expression.
So to ramp up the difficulty a smidgen and a half we thought it would be a “good” idea to slap a makeshift blindfold over our peepers and try to hammer our way through just the first level that the game offers. So after literally several attempts to memorise the layout, we managed to procure enough footage to make the video above, so give it a watch.
