Category: Nintendo News

In the lead up to the release of Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!, there’s been much discussion on the developer’s end about going back to the series’ roots and providing an accessible experience for players of all levels.

It seems this accessible design only goes so far – with the game seemingly not supporting the Switch Pro Controller. While players will be able to use Joy-Con, the special Poké Ball Plus accessory and even the touchscreen to a certain extent to play the game, a listing on the Japanese and Korean eShop serves as a reminder the traditional control method will not be an option.

This isn’t the first time the Pro Controller has not been supported in a major Switch release. Prior to the launch of Super Mario Party not long ago, it was discovered Joy-Con controls would be the only way of playing the game. This was arguably a logical decision, as the majority of mini-games required exaggerated movements with the Joy-Con. In this particular case, though, it’s hard to understand why traditional controller support would be left out.

What do you think about the Pro Controller not being supported in Switch titles? Will you be picking up the new Pokémon games on release? Tell us below.

Unless you’re one of the few that couldn’t give a monkey’s about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, you’ll no doubt at least know the gist of what occurred yesterday during the final Nintendo Direct for the game. If not, get yourself in gear and brush up.

Now I personally have been a flipping enormous fan of Smash for what feels like an eternity, and whilst I’m aware some people were a little bit knocked out of shape by what the Direct had to offer, I personally feel is was absolutely ruddy fantastic, even if it did drag a bit in the middle with the informational diarrhoea during the segment about spirits. That final moment with the adventure mode being revealed, that was a moment right there.

So please do check out the video above where I go into far more details than is reasonable to type, even if it is a bit waffly to say the least. As excited as I was for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, this completely trumps everything I felt back then, and that’s saying something.

Black Friday doesn’t happen until 23rd November this year, but isn’t stopping the big U.S. retailers from getting in on the action early as usual. Target’s Black Friday ad is now live and you’ll be able to get a Switch with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for only $299.

But that isn’t what caught our eye, it was the presence of a mustard and ketchup coloured 2DS bundle which got us hot under the collar. For $79.99 on Black Friday, you’ll be able to get this Super Mario Maker themed 2DS along with a digital copy of Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS. Now that’s a great deal.

If you take a good look at the image above you’ll notice a cheeky NES style Mario sprite located under the d-pad. What a nice touch.

This bundle is sure to be popular with parents of younger kiddies who aren’t quite ready to drop $300 on a Switch for their little darlings to drop on the kitchen floor.

Let us know if you plan to pick one of these bad boys up during Black Friday this year with a comment below.

The lovely folks over at CIRCLE Entertainment are teaming up with developer Vakman to publish the charmingly named Alchemic Cutie on the Switch eShop next year. Vakman is a talented team led by Thomas Cashman and Sebastien Vakerics.

Alchemic Cutie has already been warmly received following indie booth showcases at events such as Gamescom and EGX in 2018. It is a relaxing adventure RPG set on colourful Wimba Island; while taming wild jellies you’ll meet villagers, enter jelly competitions and uncover the secrets of the island.

Each jelly has uniquely generated stats and traits, while there are over 4000 visual styles. You can tame, breed, and raise the perfect jelly companions, competing in heated jelly competitions for the top prize. And to really boost your jelly’s abilities, use alchemy to create special items with powerful effects or morph items into something rare. All the while exploring, completing quests and mingling with the island’s goofy, fun and quirky inhabitants to form lasting friendships and rivalries.

The game is targeting a 2019 release, but players can start to explore and enjoy Alchemic Cutie right now. Players are encouraged to Join the Cutie Club where they can sign up for the Alpha on PC, Mac and Linux. It’s a chance to see a little of the gorgeous island in the game, collect some jellies and also contribute to ideas and improvements for the game.

Check out the trailer above and let us know if you like the look of this one with a comment below.

We’re used to seeing game releases getting delayed, so when the launch of a game gets brought forward it is truly a cause for celebration. The Square Enix Collective have announced today that their cinematic adventure Forgotton Anne will be landing on the Switch eShop on 9th November. That’s a lot sooner than the last time we reported on the game, when it was planned to release on the Switch in 2019 at some point.

Forgotton Anne is a seamless animated adventure, focusing on a hidden dimension where all mislaid items from the human world – the odd socks, the lost letters, the missing toys – are sent to linger. It’s the job of the Forgotlings – creatures formed out of all of these missing items – to help the trapped Anne and Master Bonku find their way home.

Phil Elliott, Director of Indie Publishing at Square Enix seemed pleased as punch that they are able to share the game with eager Switch customers sooner rather than later:

I think I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been able to reach out and tell people that we’ve brought forward the launch of a game. It’s quite exciting to be able to bring ThroughLine Games’ beguiling anime adventure to Nintendo gamers ahead of schedule, especially given the number of requests we’ve had for a Nintendo Switch version ever since its debut earlier this year. Now we can deliver.

Alfred Nguyen, Creative Director and Co-founder of ThroughLine Games added:

A Nintendo Switch version was always something we had planned to bring to life, and it’s amazing that we can do this earlier than we expected. We think playing Forgotton Anne in handheld mode feels fantastic and should serve as a perfect match for the Nintendo Switch console’s fast expanding audience.

The game will launch on 9th November 2018 one the Switch eShop. For one week only, players can purchase the game at a 10% discount (regular price £15.99/$19.99/€19.99).

Check out the brand new accolades trailer above and let us know if you’ll be picking up this lovely game with a comment below.

Great news for speed demons! Rising Star Games, in partnership with UK-based independent game developer Supergonk, are bringing the co-op arcade racer Trailblazers to the Switch eShop on 15th November after a short delay.

The game features an innovative on-track game mechanic. Racing in teams of up to three-versus-three, players are able to paint the track Splatoon-style as they race, capturing key areas to alter the all-important racing line. Six-player online is also included.

That’s not all! The Switch version will also feature an exclusive character: the overbearing space frog father of Boo – Boo’s Dad! (no, not that Boo!)

It all sounds quite promising. Check out the trailer above and let us know if you plan to pick this up later in the month with a comment below.

We love a good old top-down rogue-lite shooter here at Nintendo Life, so we were pleased to hear that indie publisher Digerati is bringing Blacksea Odyssey to the Switch eShop on Thursday 20th December.

This unique action game pits space-faring hunters against the universe’s most dangerous beasts in the titular tournament. It all looks like riotous fun, we’re sure you’ll agree.

Have a watch of the trailer above and let us know if you plan to pick up this cheeky rogue-lite shooter in December with a comment below.

FIFA 19 is one of the most authentic representations of the world’s favourite sport that money can buy, boasting thousands of real-life players and hundreds of clubs. However, it’s not entirely faithful to The Beautiful Game, because there are some odd omissions.

Our friends over at Eurogamer have pointed out that Croatia – finalists and runners-up in the recent World Cup in Russia, lest we forget – are entirely absent from FIFA 19, and have been missing since FIFA 12, in fact.

The reason is quite boring – it’s all about money.

Tomislav Pacak, a spokesperson for the Croatian Football Federation, gave Eurogamer the full story:

The reason why Croatia is not in FIFA 19 is because [the] Croatian Football Federation and EA could not come to an agreement that would satisfy both sides. Obviously, we value FIFA World Cup silver medallists and world’s best player in 2018 more than EA currently does with its offer, and we will continue protecting the value and image of the Croatian team and our players.

We understand and share disappointment by the gamers and we hope this matter will be resolved in the future – HNS is more than open to that, and we hope EA will also listen to its consumers and respect their wish to have Croatian team available in the game.

It is understood that in 2012, EA offered Croatia 100,000 euros for the rights, and Davor Šuker, former Croatian soccer star and the current boss of the Croatian Football Federation, is said to have declined the offer – a stance that continues to the present day.

As Eurogamer points out, this isn’t the only inconsistency seen in FIFA 19. Brazil – one of the best teams in the world – is present in the game, but the team is comprised of fictional players, with the exception of Neymar.

We guess that the world of sports licencing isn’t as straightforward as we were led to believe.

If you hadn’t already heard, this little obscure game called Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! launches on the Switch this very month – on the 16th of November, to be precise.

Nintendo and The Pokémon Company aren’t resting on their laurels in terms of promoting this upcoming game in Japan, either. You can check out the four Japanese commercials below, all of which focus on the family-friendly nature of the game, and the way it brings together fans of the series, both old and new.

We really liked the one with the grandpa playing Pokémon GO in his allotment then joining up with his Switch-loving grandaughter on the Switch with Let’s Go. Well played Nintendo; we’re preordering Let’s Go right now.

Let us know which commercial was your favourite with a comment below.

Mario Segale, the American real estate developer who inspired the naming of Super Mario, has passed away at the age of 84, we’re sad to report. Segale died on October 27th, surrounded by his family in Tukwila, Washington.

In case you weren’t aware, the story goes that Segale was rented a Tukwila warehouse to the struggling Nintendo of America in 1981, around the same time that Shigeru Miyamoto created the character that would become Mario.

The famous mascot appeared in Donkey Kong, the breakout hit that would reverse Nintendo’s fortunes in the video game arena, and the company wanted to give him a proper name – Miyamoto’s suggestion of ‘Jumpman’ wasn’t deemed catchy enough. The hero was named after Segale, while his girlfriend Pauline took her name from a Nintendo of America employee’s wife.

This is quite a claim to fame, but Segale avoided connecting himself with the world-famous character for decades, apparently out of fear that it would harm his successful real estate business, which he sold in 1998 for a cool $60 million. In 1993, he was asked about the character, and dryly replied: “You might say I’m still waiting for my royalty checks.”

Segale’s obituary expands on his reclusive nature:

While he was the inspiration for the name of Nintendo’s ‘Super Mario’ from when they were tenants in his business park in the 1970’s, he always ducked the notoriety and wanted to be known instead for what he accomplished in his life.

Rest in peace, Mario Segale. You touched more people’s lives than you were perhaps aware.