As you may well be aware, early copies of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate have found their way into the hands of the public, instantly being thrown online for all to see and share. Game data has been dumped online and spoilers have sadly started to appear all over the place just a couple of weeks before the game’s official release.
As such, we wished to clarify that Nintendo Life will remain free from all leaks and spoilers as we build up to the release of the game.
Naturally, this stance extends across our site, our social media channels, and our YouTube channel. We will still cover any official press releases, game deals, and content shared by Nintendo in an official capacity leading up to release (as any information shared in this manner was designed to be seen by the public) so expect to find our usual, safe coverage of the game still intact.
If you’re wishing to avoid spoiling the game before you get your hands on your own copy in a couple of weeks’ time, you’re safe with us. We’ll have our ultimate verdict for you in the shape of a review when possible, closer to the game’s release.
Thanks as always for visiting the site. We hope you’re excited for Smash’s launch!
Fighting games have historically had a high barrier to entry, with new players having to face hours of getting their butt kicked before finally getting the muscle memory required to master the complex controls and inputs. Nidhogg – if it can even be considered a fighting game – changed that when it launched in 2014, with simple visuals and an even simpler control scheme making it a couch multiplayer favourite that players of all skill levels could easily get into. Though Nidhogg has yet to appear on the eShop, Nidhogg 2 has now made its debut on the Switch, bringing Nintendo players a more visually-polished and mechanically advanced take on the indie hit. Though it’s not perfect by any means, this is some of the best competitive local multiplayer on the platform; it’s dumb, weird fun that everyone can enjoy.
The premise of Nidhogg is exceedingly simple; you and an opponent duel with each other for the honour of being sacrificed to the mighty Níðhöggr worm, and the victor is decided by whoever makes it to the furthest end of their opponent’s side first. You primarily fight each other with thin fencing swords, and a single strike is enough to swiftly escort your opponent to the gates of Valhalla. The felled fighter will respawn after about three seconds, but during that wait time, the survivor can make an unopposed, mad dash for the end of their opponent’s side of the arena. In a sense, it’s like a reverse game of tug-of-war; victory is constantly and painstakingly swapping between sides as each participant gains a temporary advantage.
There’s plenty of nuance to this setup, however, such as how your stance dictates whether your strike will find its mark. Your weapon can be in the high, middle, or low positioning, and if it meets the opponent’s weapon, the attack is blocked and somebody could possibly be disarmed. There are also three other weapons you can randomly spawn with, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. For example, the bow is weak at close range but can pose a serious threat to a foe attempting to run away, while the knife has the weakest range, but can be thrown the fastest. With perhaps the exception of the knife, it seldom feels like you’re at a disadvantage with whatever you happen to be wielding, but each weapon brings with it a nice change to your playstyle.
Stages all ultimately conform to the same design of being seven screens long of mostly horizontal landscapes, but they also each introduce subtle yet important gimmicks that can enormously change the outcome of a match. For example, one stage contains conveyor belts that slow you down as you run towards the opponent’s side, and some of these belts are bookended by meat grinders that can easily surprise you in the heat of battle. Another stage is covered in ice and has you hopping between bergs that sink the longer you stand on them; not only does this difference in height make it easier to craft new strategies around throwing weapons or jumping your opponent, it also increases the chances of you missing a jump and plummeting to a cold death in the river. There may be only ten stages in Nidhogg 2, but each one is well-designed and has something unique to offer, which adds considerably to replay value.
Something that we feel must be hammered home is how frantic a standard match against a capable foe can truly be, it’s fast-paced, ridiculous and a fantastically good time. Watching the goofy characters impale each other and fall screaming into pits never fails to bring a smile to one’s face, and the gameplay is well balanced and simple enough that it becomes not a test of who is most skilled, but of who can keep their composure for the longest. It’s all too easy to resort to throwing your weapon or making sloppy mistakes in the desperate scramble to put a stop to a skilled opponent’s confident advance; this is very much a game about getting into your opponent’s head and ruining their cool. It’s rather remarkable how such a simple gameplay concept that seems like it would grow stale quickly can produce such intense competition and so many hours of genuine entertainment.
Even so, it bears mentioning that Nidhogg 2 is very much the epitome of a one-trick pony; what’s on offer here is compelling, but homogenous. Nidhogg 2 doesn’t have any extra side modes, very little in the way of unlockables, and the single-player offering – a simple arcade-style gauntlet against AI opponents – takes about thirty minutes to clear on the long side. This is very much a game that’s designed to be played with another friend on the couch; if you don’t have that, it’s difficult to give this game any sort of recommendation. Beyond that, the lack of gameplay diversity and game types means that there’s only so much fun to be had; once you get tired of the central idea to the one game mode on offer here, there’s next to nothing else for you to do.
Nidhogg 2 is primarily designed as a local multiplayer game and in this regard, it does exceedingly well, particularly on the Switch. It only takes a few seconds for a new player to pick up the controls, and the ease of using a Joy-Con each makes this a great game to show off the Switch’s versatile multiplayer capabilities. Local matches can be tweaked with new rules, such as barring certain weapons from appearing or having a round with low gravity, and you can even set up a tournament that supports up to eight people. Whichever way you choose to go, it doesn’t take long to get hooked by the simple premise and gameplay, creating fiercely competitive and hilarious battles that surprise at every turn. Although having experience certainly gives you an edge, the stripped-down nature of the gameplay makes it so that a new player almost always has a solid shot at winning; there’s not a whole lot to learn here, it’s all about knowing your opponent.
Nidhogg 2 also features an online component, but this, unfortunately, is by far the weakest aspect of the game. Though online is welcome, there is egregious input lag compared to playing locally; we’re talking a delay of a little over a second before the inputs are registered onscreen. There are times where the delays aren’t nearly as bad, but we have yet to play a match in which the performance was even close to being comparable to playing locally. It’s a real shame, too, as there’s a ranking system in which you gain points for beating opponents, and passing certain milestones unlocks new cosmetics for your characters. Alas, at the time of writing, the online play is unacceptable; which weakens the already paltry single-player offering. This may well improve over time, in which case we’ll revise this review.
Visually, Nidhogg 2 is a vast departure from the minimalistic art style of the original, but it’s a change for the better that manages to craft a unique identity. This is a trippy game, with pirate ships, zombie worms, rainbows and plenty of other weird stuff being crammed into just about every square inch of every stage. The attention to detail is quite staggering in places; Nidhogg 2 is positively bursting with colour and little things like the subtle reflection of a fighter on the surface of a tranquil pool of water show that developer Messhof was keen on making this a pretty game; it’s as enjoyable to watch a match as it is to play one. Backing all of this is a similarly psychedelic soundtrack that mixes together chillstep and R&B beats for a strangely relaxing mix of songs that simultaneously feels completely out of place given the craziness onscreen, yet also feels perfect. In a word, it’s wonderful; you may want to turn up the volume a couple more notches
Conclusion
Nidhogg 2 is a prime example of how simplicity isn’t always a bad thing; this is a deliciously compelling couch multiplayer experience that’s both approachable and in-depth, potentially leading to dozens of hours of fun. The weak single-player offering and online lag are certainly low points, but the trippy visuals, chill soundtrack and frantic gameplay all combine to make this a recommendation for those of you looking for another great title for playing with friends; solo combatants may wish to exercise some caution, however.
It appears Ubisoft’s collaborative efforts with Nintendo have been worthwhile, as the title has now officially been awarded the ‘best video game’ at this year’s BAFTA Children’s Awards. Below is the announcement:
As we previously noted, plenty of love went into this title during development, as the game’s director Davide Soliani has been a lifelong fan of Nintendo. You might even recall how he teared up at E3 2017 when Shigeru Miyamoto came out on stage to present the tactical turn-based RPG to the world.
Did you expect Mario + Rabbids to win this award? Have you played this game yourself yet? Tell us below.
Out Run was confirmed as the next game in the Sega AGES line last week and already it’s been revealed it will arrive on the Japanese eShop later this week. Sega announced the 29th November release date via its official Twitter account. The price of the game aligns with existing releases and will set players back 925 yen (approx. £6.30 / $8.30).
Unfortunately, nothing has changed locally – with the game still expected to be released early next year. What makes this just a tiny bit more frustrating is how we’re still waiting on Phantasy Star – which suffered multiple delays – and won’t even be available here until 13th December.
Of course, if you know how, you can always consider picking up Out Run when it arrives on the Japanese eShop. As it’s a racing game, there aren’t any serious language barriers to deal with.
Do you think you can hold out until next year, or do you intend to get behind the wheel as soon as you possible? Tell us below.
A few weeks ago, we got our very first look at the Phoenix Wright statue by First 4 Figures. The character is modelled on the same one from the 2013 3DS release, Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies. We very much hope you’ve been saving up, as the asking price for Mr. Wright to defend you in court isn’t exactly cheap.
In total, there are three different editions available to pre-order right now until 28th November. Once you’ve put down a reservation, you’ll need to return to the F4F website on 30th November and validate your order. The pricing starts at $229.99 and goes all the way up to $299.99. The higher you go, the more additional goodies you get with your purchase. The figures are estimated to be released in Q4 2019. Below are full details about each edition:
Highly detailed base capturing the theme and style from the courtroom in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies
Additional large base featuring the defense bench
TWO acrylic speech bubbles, “OBJECTION!” and “TAKE THAT!” from the game
Statue comes with TWO interchangeable head sculpts – Normal and the iconic Shouting face
Authentication Card
Product Size:
Statue on either one of the two bases Height – 13.5 inches (34cm) Width – 11 inches (28cm) Depth – 11 inches (28cm) Total Weight with large base – 7.37kg Total Weight with small base – 2.3kg
Will you be forking out for Phoenix Wright’s legal services? Tell us below.
Nintendo has done a tremendous job advertising Super Smash Bros. Ultimate prior to the game’s release next month. There have been special Direct presentations and even multiple events around the globe where the general public has been able to try out the game before launch. With the majority of information about the title now out in the wild – in more ways than one – the anticipation for what is expected to be the biggest Switch release of the year is at an all-time high.
To continue building excitement for what is now the best pre-selling Smash and Switch game, Nintendo has released new Japanese commercials. The one above makes impressive use of the Animal Crossing fighters and stage, while the ones below channel Splatoon and Street Fighter. Of course, if you’re doing your best to avoid spoilers, it would be best to click away.
Can you contain your excitement for Ultimate any longer? Are you counting down the days? Tell us below.
The mid-year Switch release Mario Tennis Aces is serving up a trio of characters early on in 2019. This information was officially revealed in a new Japanese trailer for the game.
If you’re wondering if any of these new characters will match your style on the court, Luma is all about technique, Pauline is the speedy type and Boom Boom is a defensive player. Like previous characters added to the game, these three will also be free.
Take a look at the video of the new players above and tell us if you’re still improving your game in Mario Tennis Aces.
In sad but inevitable news, Nintendo’s popular squid-kid Switch shooter Splatoon 2 will be receiving its final content update next month on 5th December.
Version 4.3.0 adds a total of eight new weapons. Four of these have already been revealed and include the Ballpoint Splating Nouveau, Nautilus 79, Custom Explosher and the Bloblobber Deco. Take a look below:
As for the abilities, Bomb Defense Up and Cold Blooded have been combined to create a new ability known as Defense Up DX. The next ability being added is the Main Power Up, which will enhance weapons in different ways (see below).
After this update is released, that’s it for Splatoon 2. No more brand new content will be added to the game. At most, you expect new Splatfest, balance tweaks and adjustments to maps for another year.
Are you looking forward to Splatoon 2’s final content update? Let us know in the comments.
SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy brings together an all-star female cast based on the Japanese company’s extensive history. With this in mind, the next character joining the battle on 13th December as downloadable content is Jeanne from the World Heroes tournament.
World Heroes is another classic Neo Geo arcade fighting game you may or may not have played long ago. The series began in 1992 and is comprised of four games. ADK worked on these titles with the help of SNK until it eventually folded and the game property was then sold to SNK Playmore in 2003. The last entry was World Heroes Perfect in 1995. There was also an anthology released much later down the line, bringing together all four games on one disc.
The story is about a mad scientist who has created a time machine so he can work out who is the greatest fighter in history. Many of the characters in this series are based on real historical figures. Jeanne in particular is modelled on the french national heroine Joan of Arc. Here is SNK’s official description of the fighter:
Blessed with exceptional looks and excellent swordsmanship to boot, Jeanne hails from 15th century France. She joined the World Heroes tournament in search of adequate competition and hopefully, a strong suitor as well. Will you be able to survive her attacks on December 13?
Are you looking forward to playing as Jeanne when she arrives in SNK Heroines? Would you like to see SNK revive the World Heroes fighting games? Tell us below.
Cyber Monday Deal: buy Nintendo Switch and get $35 Nintendo eShop credit
Shoppers that missed out on Nintendo’s Black Friday offers this past weekend have another opportunity to enjoy a great deal. To kick off Cyber Monday, Nintendo announced that anyone who purchases a select Nintendo Switch system online on Nov. 26 – and Nov. 26 only! – at participating retailers will also receive a $35 credit* to use in Nintendo eShop. The promotion kicks off at 12:01 a.m. PT on Nov. 26 and ends at 11:59 p.m. PT the same day, while supplies last.
“With the holiday season already in full force, we wanted to offer a deal on Nintendo Switch to help make holiday shopping a little easier for families,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “If you have someone on your list who is hard to shop for, this $35 in Nintendo eShop credit can be used toward their favorite kinds of games.”
The Cyber Monday deal applies to the base** Nintendo Switch system with either Gray Joy-Con controllers or Neon Red and Neon Blue Joy-Con controllers. People looking to take advantage of the deal should check their retailer’s website for availability and details.
Shoppers who want to treat themselves to their own holiday treats can also check out Nintendo eShop Cyber Deals. Active until 8:59 a.m. PT on Nov. 28, the promotion offers up to 50 percent off select digital games in Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS.
Remember that Nintendo Switch features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about other features, visit https://www.nintendo.com/switch/.
