Category: Nintendo News

No, it’s not April Fools; it’s just Devolver Digital making a post on its Twitter account again. Borrowing some hilarious footage from the 1989 film The Wizard, the US-based publisher recently proclaimed it would be releasing over a dozen games on the Switch before the end of this year.

Being a publisher, the figure attached to this statement is not all that surprising. Still, it makes us wonder what exactly these titles could be. At this point in time, the best bet is a mix of ports, new releases and perhaps even some unannounced ones. 

Nearly half are already locked in: 

During its E3 spectacle this year, Devolver Digital announced My Friend Pedro would arrive in the first quarter of 2019. Broforce was also recently confirmed for Switch. It doesn’t take a mathematician to work out that even if you took one or both of these games into consideration, there’s still room for more – so what could the other games be? 

Are you hoping for the likes of Hotline Miami and Metal Wolf Chaos XD or are your expectations a lot lower than this? Devolver Digital promises to reveal more soon, so keep an eye out for any updates.  

If you follow football (or ‘soccer’ as it’s known in North America) then you’ll no doubt be tuned into the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which is currently taking place in Russia. You may also be aware that perennial under-achievers England have somehow managed to secure a spot in the semi-finals – for the first time since 1990, when England lost to West Germany.

You may well have switched on your TV set at the weekend expecting an exciting game of footy between England and Sweden – which indeed it was. England gained a thumping two-goal victory which puts them in a good position to make it all the way to the final. 

While watching this titanic struggle between two European footballing superpowers you may also have thought to yourself: “Praise the heavens, I’m finally able to enjoy a piece of entertainment which isn’t infected by that accursed Fortnite video game that every fool and their auntie is chattering on about. I do so hate it.” 

Then this happens:

When Dele Alli scored England’s second goal, he performed the ‘Ride the Pony’ emote from – you guessed it – Fortnite. Alli is clearly something of a fan because he’s reproduced other emotes when playing for his club side, Tottenham Hotspur, in the English Premier League:

He’s even played it online with fellow England team members Kieran Trippier and Harry Kane – and some little-known Twitch streamer called Ninja:

This goes to show how far the game has entered the world’s collective consciousness, but for some, it was simply an emote too far:

Alli isn’t the first player to bust out a Fortnite dance during the World Cup –  France’s Antoine Griezmann and Alli’s England teammate Jesse Lingard have also inflicted similar emotes on millions watching all over the world.

Has Fortnite reached its peak, or can the game keep drawing people in with its silly dances? Let us know your thoughts – and if you threw the remote at the TV during Alli’s celebrations – by posting a comment below.

The developer Niantic wasn’t exactly a household name until it released the insanely popular smartphone hit, Pokémon GO, in partnership with The Pokémon Company. Since then, the American-based developer has been able to secure the rights to work with other big-name IP such as Harry Potter. Now, falling back on its first augmented reality game, Ingress, Niantic will delve into the world of anime with the assistance of Fuji TV and animation studio, Crafter. 

Arriving on Netflix this October, Ingress: The Animation will tell the story about a universe where exotic matter leaking through portals is giving people psychic abilities. The focus will be on Makoto and Sarah – two people who have been impacted by the events and drawn into faction battles. The character designs will be done by Takeshi Honda (Neon Genesis Evangelion) and directed by CG artist, Yuhei Sakuragi.

The anime will overlap the upcoming release, Ingress Prime, with the video game expected to launch alongside it in October. Ingress Prime is described as a rework of the original game built on lessons learned from Pokémon GO. Niantic’s aim is to make the smartphone title accessible to wider audiences.

The competitive nature of Super Smash Bros. may not interest everyone who likes the series, and long-time director – Masahiro Sakurai – completely understands this. During an interview with The Washington Post around the time of this year’s E3, Sakurai-san said he didn’t really consider professional players or a potential audience when developing new entries in the Smash line.

I feel like a game, at the end of the day, is about playing the game. But if we focus too much on the top level players – or the audience – then the game skews a little bit too much on the technical side.

Sakurai went into more detail about how Nintendo’s philosophy did not align with competitive gaming and likely never would:

The philosophy behind them doesn’t go in line with Nintendo’s philosophy in that some of these players are playing for the prize money…it comes to a point where they’re playing the game for the money, and I feel that kind of direction doesn’t coincide with Nintendo’s view of what games should be.

Acknowledging the simpler design of the Super Smash Bros. series, Sakurai explained how he felt the Smash games are more accessible to audiences in contrast to various other fighting games – like Capcom’s Street Fighter series:

It’s not to say that Street Fighter is failing [by more fully embracing competitive gaming] by any means, but personally, I think any games with command inputs are difficult. The creator side is trying to raise people who do that…it doesn’t beat a game where you press one button to create a special move. I think that’s really easy to pick up for a lot of people.

The speedier tempo in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has also allowed Sakurai to avoid inserting more advanced mechanics, particularly favoured by the Super Smash Bros. Melee fan base:

I think a lot of Melee players love Melee. But at the same time, I think a lot of players, on the other hand, gave up on Melee because it’s too technical, because they can’t keep up with it…And I know there were players who got tendinitis from playing, and messing with the controller so much…that really is hard on the player. And I feel like a game should really focus on what the target audience is.

What do you make of Sakurai’s comments about the competitive side of Smash? What kind of game would you prefer? An ultra-competitive title, or one that’s more accessible? Tell us in the comments.  

AlphaDream – best known for its work on the Mario & Luigi game series over the years – has recently updated its official website. In the recruitment section, there are job listings referencing the Nintendo Switch, along with game development for smartphones and also the PlayStation 4. The Japan-based developer is specifically seeking 2D and 3D graphic designers.

This could be a sign the company is finally moving away from the 3DS. With various other developers branching out to the mobile market over the past few years, it would not be a surprise if AlphaDream was equally as eager to try its luck in this area. As for the reference to the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, who knows what the talented company could have in mind for either platform. 

During a Nintendo Direct earlier this year, it was revealed a 3DS port of AlphaDream’s Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story would be released in 2019 – featuring updated graphics and adding a new game called Bowser Jr’s Journey.

AlphaDream (formerly known as Alpha Star) was founded 18 years ago, and has taken on staff from prominent companies such as Square over time. The updated website has a blog section you can read here.

Feel free to speculate in the comments below.  

If you still aren’t sure if the Switch version of Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is right for you, perhaps Digital Foundry can help. During a 21-minute analysis comparing every version of the game, the team found the Switch release was “pretty good” – despite certain visual compromises including a lack of fur shading and foliage reduction.  

As VG Tech noted earlier this week, in docked mode, the game resolution is 720p while handheld is 480p. With the game already known to run at 30fps, Digital Foundry elaborated on this aspect of the performance further, explaining how the occasional drops and inconsistencies minorly impacted the overall fluidity of the Switch iteration. Input latency was also cited as a problem, making the Switch version feel “heavier” and slightly less responsive overall. Still, other versions of the game look basically identical.  

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

Inti Creates hasn’t wasted any time familiarising itself with the Nintendo Switch. Since the launch of the system, the Japan-based company has released charming games like Blaster Master Zero and more recently Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon.

The first time we heard about its newest title, Dragon: Marked for Death, was back in August last year during the Nindies Summer Showcase for Switch. The latest update is the game is scheduled to arrive exclusively on Nintendo’s platform this winter, with the developer releasing an official trailer to coincide with the announcement.

In this side-scrolling action-RPG, players are able to team up with three other people as they take on 30 quests. There are a total of four classes including the Empress, Warrior, Shinobi and the Witch, and there’s also a story driven by revenge. 

Take a look at the trailer and tell us in the comments if you’re excited about the next game by Inti Creates.

Canadian developer and publisher Digital Extremes has revealed that Warframe is in development for Nintendo Switch thanks to a partnership with Panic Button. The news comes from this year’s TennoCon – the third annual convention for the game.

Warframe is a third-person, free-to-play online action game set in an evolving sci-fi world, giving players the chance to master the Warframe armour as the enigmatic Tenno, a race of ancient warriors who are awakened from centuries of cryo-sleep by the mysterious guide, Lotus. The game features more than 35 unique Warframes, hundreds of weapons, and thousands of customisation options, as well as upgrades, a flexible mod system, and the ability to join clans, nurture pets, and explore massive new open worlds.

The game was originally released on PC back in 2013, arriving on PS4 and Xbox One shortly after, and has seen regular updates and tweaks since then to keep things fresh. Being the ambitious title that it is, it comes as little surprise that Digital Extremes wanted to get Panic Button on board with the Switch version – Panic Button’s recent ports of DOOM, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus and Rocket League have all impressed so we’re feeling hopeful for another success story here.

Of course, Panic Button recently teased that a major Switch port would be announced this month, and it seems like we now have our answer as to what that game is. No release window has been confirmed for the title just yet, but here are a few screenshots of the game to tide you over.

Are you a fan of Warframe? Are you excited to see the game arrive on Nintendo Switch? Let us know your thoughts on this one in the comments below.

SEGA’s Sonic The Hedgehog YouTube channel has uploaded episode one of its Sonic Mania Plus developer diary. In a brief chat with Sonic Team Creative Director, Kazuyuki Hoshino, and Sonic Mania Plus Art Director, Tom Fry, the pair discussed how certain art and design choices came to fruition.

In reference to Mighty and Ray, Kazuyuki Hoshino explained how the team knew fans had been anticipating their return since the display of the “missing” posters in Sonic Generations and said how challenging it was to adapt them to the current title:

As they are older characters, not many design assets were available for them. We had to make them consistent with the original which was challenging by itself, but I think we pulled it off and created a game of excellent quality.

The Art Director elaborated on this by mentioning how the characters were built from the ground up and discussed the unique personality tied to each character:

I have to be emphatic here, there are no copy pastes with Ray or with Mighty, they are all built completely from scratch, the real challenge I think was to actually bring completely new animations into their repertoire that would fit with their characters…Ray is a bit more of a plucky, happy-go-lucky kind of chap whereas Mighty is all about his strength and resolve.

Hoshino went on to state how enjoyable it was to work with the Mania team:

It’s really fun working with the Mania Team and Tom, they’re fans to begin with so they know a lot about Sonic, they even reminded us of small details that we had forgotten…while we talk like this together it reminds me of when I was young and I would chat to my seniors about designs.

Fry himself said it was great how the dialogue was shared throughout development, with a continual exchange of ideas between the pair rather than one or the other suggesting the only option was their own way:

It was very much a collaborative effort from beginning to the end, and I think that’s what contributed massively, it’s what made Sonic Mania as brilliant as it has become.

He was also honest about how difficult certain assets had been to alter. Fortunately, Mr. Hoshino provided assistance when necessary:

I would be telling a few fibs if I said it was a cakewalk, [or] if it was easy to give a fresh look to the designs in encore mode – the whole aim was to change the colour palette as it were, but in order to do that, the colour palettes are a separate thing from the actual level assets themselves, no direct modification like me actually drawing on any of the assets was made, it was just tweaking the colours…with the help of Hoshino-san we were able to find the right balance of colours for each zone, making sure that the levels felt fresh enough for encore mode.

Watch the full interview above and tell us in the comments if you’re excited about the release of Sonic Mania Plus on the Switch later this month.

Now that the Nintendo Switch has been out for a while, we’ve got a few more controller options to consider. While the official Joy-Con are rather lovely for using docked on your Switch in handheld mode, or when using the motion controls in games like ARMS, they might not be the most comfortable for long gaming sessions. Thankfully, there are plenty of alternatives to consider. 

Here are your options for official and third-party controllers on the Switch for July 2018:

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Nintendo Switch Joy-Con

Of course, your Nintendo Switch came bundled with two lovely Joy-Con controllers, but if you’re anything like us you’ll want to pick some more up for multiplayer action. We have some nice colour options for you below, and don’t forget that you can mix and match this colours to your heart’s content!

Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers

The official Switch Pro Controller is a must-have purchase for playing games when docked, these can be found in a range of colours. The controller is rechargeable via USB-C, fully wireless, supports NFC, motion controls and of course it has that lovely HD Rumble! Be sure to check out our full review here.

Go Retro With 8BitDo

We’re big fans of 8BitDo’s SN30 Pro, it is perfect for playing retro games and it is wireless and has a rechargeable battery. While it doesn’t support NFC, it does offer motion controls and a non-HD rumble feature. 8BitDo has a range of new pads on the horizon, and it’s worth noting that some of its older pads – like the SNES30 – also work on Switch. Alternatively, 8BitDo also sells a USB adapter which allows you to use other controllers with your Switch – such as PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Wiimote, Wii U Pro controller and other compatible Bluetooth devices.

HORI To The Rescue

If you’re looking to save a bit of money, then you could do far worse than the Hori wired controller. While it lacks motion controls, rumble and the ability to scan amiibo, it’s still worth a look. This wired controller has a detachable directional pad, so it’s great for retro games. Did we mention that it’s cheap? Check out our full review here.

Power Up With PowerA

PowerA’s offering comes in various themes and closely resembles Nintendo’s own Pro Controller – except that it is wired. The included cable is 10 feet long, so you won’t have to sit too close to your Switch to enjoy it. As with the Hori pad, it lacks the rumble, motion-control and NFC which you can find on the Pro Controller. Otherwise, it’s certainly worth a look – especially at this price.

Give It Some Stick!

Now if you are really serious about your retro and fighting games, then you’ll want to pick up an arcade stick. Perfect for all the Neo Geo brawlers, Street Fighter, and even shmups as Ikaruga. Get one of these bad boys and be the envy of all your friends! Just don’t expect it to be particular portable. Ahem.

Get Ready To Smash!

With Super Smash Bros. Ultimate coming up on 7th December for Switch, it would be remiss of us to not remind you that you can now pre-order the lovely matching GameCube controller and adaptor so you can enjoy the game to its fullest potential. As always, these are sure to get snatched up by those nasty-type eBay scalpers, so if you want one for a decent price, you’d best slap in a pre-order soon.

My Kingdom For A D-Pad

If you love playing Arcade Archive and ACA Neo Geo games in handheld mode – or fighting games like those seen in Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection – you should definitely look at picking up a Hori cross connector, which will replace your left Joy-Con in handheld mode and give you a proper D-pad which any old-school gamer knows is best. The only catch here is that this controller lacks any motion-sensing gubbins and doesn’t have its own internal battery, so it only works when connected to the console. The other catch is that it’s not actually available yet, but you can pre-order online so you’re sure to get one.

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These are the Nintendo Switch controllers which we consider to be the most essential. Let us know which ones you already have or intend to pick up soon. Also be sure to leave a comment if there is a Switch controller which we have missed that you absolutely adore.