Category: Nintendo News

At QuakeCon, Bethesda announced DOOM Eternal was coming to the Nintendo Switch at some point in the future. The game will be handled by port specialist Panic Button and will include a new “Invasion Mode” where players can enter other player’s campaign runs. 

It’s no surprise the game will also include other forms of multiplayer to make the game even more social. During an interview with Polygon, DOOM Eternal game director Marty Stratton revealed a player versus player component was currently in the works and it wouldn’t be a rehash of the last outing:

The Invasion stuff is just kind of one of the ways that we’re going to make the Doom experience social… But we’re not really going deep into that. We are working on a PvP component. It is new. It’s not an extension of what we did last time. So it’s new. It is something we’re developing internally, which we didn’t do last time. I think players are gonna really enjoy it.

Creative director Hugo Martin reinforced this statement by saying the new multiplayer is very good. The previous DOOM title included a selection of multiplayer deathmatch modes.

Would you like more traditional multiplayer modes in the upcoming DOOM game? Are you eager to try out the Invasion Mode? Does multiplayer in a game like DOOM even interest you? Tell us below.

While Goku is busy readying himself for the upcoming release of Dragon Ball FighterZ on the Switch, fans of the popular anime character have supposedly been discussing the possibility of him making a cameo in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.  

According to Comicbook.com, Goku’s English voice actor Sean Schemmel replied to a fan on Twitter asking about the legitimacy of a recent IMDB listing for the character in Nintendo’s fighting game. Schemmel said he hadn’t been contacted or recorded lines and was equally as perplexed about the Saiyan appearing in the line-up: 

Rumours have apparently been circulating Goku will make an appearance in the latest Super Smash Bros. game all because Bandai Namco is helping out with the development process. It’s also worth noting Goku obviously has a Japanese voice actress and Schemmel previously voiced Lucario in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wii U.

In the latest Smash Direct, Masahiro Sakurai said more announcements for Ultimate were still on the way. Following the recent reveal of two Castlevania fighters, do you think there’s a chance arguably the greatest anime fighter of all-time could eventually be added to the Super Smash Bros. series in some form or is IMDB up to its old tricks? Tell us below. 

With some modern enhancements here and there, Capcom’s Okami still looks as beautiful as it did when it was originally released back in 2006. As it’s been ported across to multiple devices over the years – including the Nintendo Wii, it’s been given regular visual makeovers. 

Okami HD – now available on the Nintendo Switch – has received the same treatment. Of course, the folks at Digital Foundry have released a new video comparing how this current version stacks up to existing releases. Compared the Wii version – which was lacking visual flourishes found in the original PS2 release – the Switch title is drastically improved, borrowing all the enhancements from more recent re-releases.

In terms of the resolution, the Switch version runs at a full 1080p while docked, and in portable mode it’s capped at 720p. Like other versions, you can play the game in the older 4:3 mode, and change the intensity of the filters. The image quality apparently outdoes other games on the Switch, and in terms of performance, the game runs at a relatively stable 30fps in both the docked and portable modes.

According to Digital Foundry, 60fps is “currently off the table” in this remastered version. The 30fps in the Switch release is on par with the PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X versions of the game. The summary was the Switch version is just behind in terms of overall performance, but is still worth checking out.

Take a look at the full analysis in the video above, and tell us in the comments if you’ve been playing Okami on the Switch.  

This year’s QuakeCon revealed DOOM Eternal – developed by id software and published by Bethesda – would be coming to the Switch in the near future, with port specialist Panic Button officially handling the Nintendo version of the game.

During an interview with Variety, id Software studio director Tim Willits revealed Rage 2 – developed in partnership with Avalanche Studios – was currently being considered for the Switch:

We’re looking at the tech on that right now, and we’re still evaluating that… We stream everything, and we’re just looking… because everything is open, everything’s available, so there’s no level loads. We are looking at that now, but we don’t know.

Despite technical barriers that may need to be overcome, given the fact id Software already has DOOM, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus and now DOOM Eternal up and running on the Switch thanks to Panic Button, Rage 2 may be in with a chance.

Would you like to see Rage 2 on Switch? Would you like to see more id Software games in general on the system? Tell us below.

Lara Croft’s latest game trilogy has revitalised her career. There’s even been a new movie released earlier this year following her recent success.  

Speaking to GameSpot, Eidos Montreal lead game designer Heath Smith said despite Lara’s surge in popularity she wouldn’t be making the switch anytime soon, as there were currently “no plans” for a Nintendo version of the game.

Smith said he was a big fan of Nintendo’s hybrid system, but felt the latest game in the trilogy series – Shadow of the Tomb Raider – was not suited to the platform. For now, this essentially stamps out any hopes of the series being ported across to the Switch. 

The last time Lara was sighted on a Nintendo system was during the Wii generation in Tomb Raider: Underworld and Tomb Raider: Anniversary. Before then, Tomb Raider: Legend was released on the DS and GameCube, and prior to this, she starred in a number of outings on the Game Boy systems. 

Tomb Raider previously skipped the Wii U. At the time, Crystal Dynamics’ creative director Noah Hughes explained how a Nintendo version of the first game in the new series would require more effort than a basic port:

I’m always a fan of the Nintendo systems, in particular they really push interface design, and from a game design perspective it’s fun to play with new interfaces. Having said that it’s something that I think we would want to tailor the experience to if we were going to do it.

Even though it won’t be happening any time soon, would you like to see Lara Croft make a return to Nintendo platforms? Have you ever played this series? Tell us below.

Dead Cells has been well-received since its release earlier this week on Switch, but according to Kotaku, one player who admits they are sensitive to “frame-drops and performance issues” has posted a public service announcement on Reddit to notify anyone considering this particular version of the game about these exact problems.  

The player said as soon as they entered the “first main level” in the game they immediately noticed the performance problems. It was also noted how the issues occur in both docked and handheld mode, with an entire section playing out “well below” 60fps:

This entire Promenade level plays out at well below the 60fps target; I’d estimate 40-50fps on average, with drops into the 30s.

The game’s developer Motion Twin replied saying it was aware of the frame rate drops in certain areas of the game, and said it ultimately had two choices – fix the Switch version and delay it at the same time or release it alongside other versions of the game:

We are aware of the frame rate drops in some areas of the game. However we didn’t feel like it was getting in the way of us having a good time with Dead Cells, and we had to make a choice between; significantly delaying the launch of the Switch version of the game until after the release on the other platforms, or getting it out to fans at the same time as everyone else. The former seemed more damaging for Switch owners.

The developer said it would aim to fix the problem as soon as possible by allocating all available resources to the issue – with a reminder the development team is small in size, and ensured the “main priority as of now” is the Switch version of the game. 

Due to the nature of the required fix, it might take a while – with every minor tweak and performance adjustment already made prior to release:

This leaves us with the big time consuming changes as well as exploring new possibilities which might really help, or not, we won’t know until we start. Of course on console all updates must be certified before reaching you guys, which adds extra time between now and a potential fix.

The development team emphasised it wanted to be as transparent as possible about the issue and said it would commit to answering as much as it could about the technical aspects and challenges of porting the game.

At the end of Motion Twin’s reply was an apology to Switch owners:

We apologize to everyone who was expecting a higher port quality and to anyone who has been disappointed by the performances on the Switch so far.

How is your experience with Dead Cells on Switch? Are the performance issues noticeable to you? Have you been enjoying the challenge of the game? Tell us below.

Yacht Club Games’ Shovel Knight has had a big week. First, he was revealed as an assist trophy during the latest Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Direct, and now, developer Dan Fornace is adding him to his own competitive brawler, Rivals of Aether. The iconic character – armed with only a shovel – appears to be the unofficial face of indie games. 

If you take a look at the trailer above, you’ll see Shovel Knight has all of his signature moves at his disposal including digging, fishing, and even shopping. Previously he’s been featured in Indie Pogo and Blade Strangers. His arrival in Rivals of Aether makes this his fourth recent appearance in a fighting game.

As exciting as the latest reveal is, the main problem here is Rivals of Aether is currently not available on the Nintendo Switch. Earlier this year, Fornace said Switch development was being prioritised – with the aim to find developers who could help port the game out of Game Maker Studio. Perhaps the recent news about GameMaker Studio 2 being licensed for use with the Nintendo Switch will make this process easier.

What do you think about Shovel Knight doing the rounds in all of these competitive fighting games? Is he a worthy opponent, or do you think other indie characters deserve more attention? Tell us below. 

It’s Saturday once again, so a whole bunch of team Nintendo Life have joined forces to bring you a detailed account of the games we’ll be playing – or hope to play – over the next couple of days. There’s quite a range of titles discussed this time around – although that pesky Square Enix RPG has cropped up a fair few times once again – so sit back, enjoy, and join in the discussion!

Dom Reseigh-Lincoln, reviewer

This weekend I’ll be continuing my review playthrough of the upcoming State of Mind on Nintendo Switch, a narrative-driven trip into a future Berlin where technology has transformed our everyday lives – you can look out for my review next week on Nintendo Life.

I’ll also be starting a new run of Flipping Death. I honestly can’t express how much I’ve enjoyed playing this game. Seriously, what’s better than solving puzzles and helping the local community via the medium of light-hearted death? Love it to *ahem* death.

Austin Voigt, contributing writer

Sometimes admitting my weekend gaming plans to everyone reminds me of going to confession at my Catholic elementary school… Ah well, here we go: I’ll be finishing Breath of the Wild this weekend. There, I said it. I have no shame. I defeated Calamity Ganon & most of the main storyline last year – but apparently, that was only worth 33.8% of the game. So now it’s been staring at me, incomplete, for months. Haunting me, really. It’s time to put this game to rest once and for all, and that’s what I’ll be up to this weekend – battling the ghosts of my gaming past. Also, waiting patiently for Little Dragons Cafe to release in a few weeks.

Glen Fox, guides editor

I gave up on Axiom Verge in the final section when I encountered a pretty sizeable difficulty spike. I’m not usually one to shy away from difficulty, but I’d found the experience quite frustrating up to that point. It’s pretty difficult generally, and getting around was a bit too slow. I know it harkens back to Metroidvania classics, but I personally prefer some of the modern trimmings in games like fast travel and the like. A very good and respectable effort but ultimately not to my tastes.