Nintendo News – Page 1530

Posted on June 15, 2018 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Nintendo’s Reggie Fils-Aimé Talks About His Feelings On Leaks In Gaming

While we did see a handful of surprises during Nintendo’s 2018 E3 period, some of the bigger news and reveals were leaked early through the likes of photographs and datamine efforts, damaging the shock factor that the presentations should have had. Fortnite is one obvious example of this; the E3 Direct was clearly designed to amaze fans with the game’s reveal and the option to download it shortly after, but everyone already knew it was coming anyway.

Speaking to IGN, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé has discussed his disappointment at this growing issue, as well as the impact it has on Nintendo doing what it loves to do – surprise fans.

“You know, as a company, we want to surprise and delight our fans. That’s what we live to do. So when leaks happen, it’s really disappointing. We work hard to maintain the confidentiality of our information. In this day and age where everyone has a camera and everyone is looking for their 10 seconds of internet fame, it’s really tough. But we try hard, very hard to keep our information confidential and keep leaks from happening.”

Of course, the recent reveal of Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! was also spoilt by early, leaked information, and early expectations based on limited amounts of information can have a very negative impact on a game’s perception. Luckily for Nintendo, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate remained a secret right up until it was officially shown off, allowing reveals such as the complete returning roster and newcomer Ridley to be great surprises for fans.

How do you feel about the recent trend of game leaks? Do you think it ruins the surprise, or adds to the excitement? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Posted on June 15, 2018 by Mdp4life — Leave a comment

The world is in peril and only one super family can save it!

Experience the thrilling adventures of the Parr family in a LEGO video game world full of fun and humor as they conquer crime and family life through both Disney Pixar films The Incredibles and Incredibles 2.

LEGO Disney Pixar’s The Incredibles allows players to explore action-packed story levels and an epic hub world – including Municiberg, as they use their unique “Super” abilities to bring the city’s Super Villains to justice.

Features:

Team up with family and friends in 2 player co-op to assemble incredible LEGO builds!
Work together and combine the Parr family’s iconic abilities and unique powers. With Mr. Incredible’s unparalleled super strength, Elastigirl’s flexible transformations and the rest of the gang’s awe-inspiring gifts, teamwork has never been so much fun.
To rid the city of crime, complete action-packed side missions and defeat iconic Super Villains that control the city districts in an open-hub world.
Modify your character’s appearance and abilities using a customizer themed to Edna “E” Mode, the diminutive, but bombastic fashion designer of super hero outfits

If you would like to download this game for free, please visit https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/lego-the-incredibles-switch.

Cartoon Violence
Crude Humor

Posted on June 15, 2018 by Mdp4life — Leave a comment

Nintendo Power Podcast episode 6 available now!

Nintendo Power Podcast is the official podcast of Nintendo of America, in which guests such as Nintendo employees and developers discuss the world of Nintendo each month.

In Episode 6, host Chris Slate (previously editor-in-chief of the Nintendo Power™ magazine) is joined by Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang from Nintendo Minute to discuss all things Nintendo from E3 2018, from big announcements to tournaments during E3 to the amazing new Super Smash Bros. Ultimate TM game for the Nintendo SwitchTM system. The team also welcomes two special guests to the show: the winner of the Super Smash Bros. Invitational 2018, ZeRo, and the President and COO of Nintendo of America himself, Reggie Fils-Aimé!

Nintendo Power Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, SoundCloud and Google Play Music and on the Nintendo Switch system in News.

We hope you enjoy the show!

–Your friends at Nintendo

Games Shown:

Posted on June 14, 2018 by sick skills — Leave a comment

The Genki USB Bluetooth Adapter Finally Brings Low-Latency Audio To Switch

Human Things has launched a new Kickstarter campaign that will be music to the ears of any Switch owner who craves wireless audio on their console.

Genki is the first USB-C Bluetooth transmitter uses the latest Bluetooth 5.0 technology and Qualcomm’s aptX Low Latency codec to deliver low-latency audio using headphones or speakers – you can even attach two pairs of headphones simultaneously.

A simple press on the left button and it lights up to signal a connection to the first paired set of headphones, while a press on the right button connects another pair for multiplayer games. The adapter doesn’t requite its own power source as it consumes just 15milliwatts, less than 1 percent of your battery, which actually means you’ll get more stamina than when using the console’s standard speakers.

While it uses the USB Type-C port, Genki doesn’t deliver any power to the console and therefore won’t brick or damage your system, unlike some third-party docks. A dock adapter will be available that allows you to use the device when playing in docked mode.

Genki crowdfunding campaign runs until July 28th and has a funding goal of $30,000. Backer prices start at $39 (the early bird price is even lower at $35) but the final product will retail for $50. Should the campaign be successful, the first units are expected to ship to backers in October 2018.

Here’s what Eddie Tsai, CEO and co-founder of Human Things, had to. say:

We thought wireless headphones had become the norm, so we were really surprised that the Nintendo Switch was still very much in the cable era. I love the console but having to pack a second pair of cheaper wired headphones became a pain in my daily commute. GENKI was designed to be the simple solution to everyone’s Nintendo Switch Bluetooth audio frustrations.

The guys at Human Things have been kind enough to prepare a list of frequently asked questions which will hopefully address any queries prospective backers might have:

Will this brick my Nintendo Switch?
Short answer, no. The long answer is that Genki does not provide any data or power (in fact, it has no battery) to even possibly damage the console. There has been some cases of bricked consoles (Switches that no longer work) using third party docks. The root causes has been confirmed to be faulty resistors found in USB-A to USB-C power cables.

Does it work with the Nintendo Switch dock?
With the Genki dock adapter you can simply plug Genki into any of the three USB ports of the official Nintendo Switch dock.

Does this work with my [insert name here] headphones?
As long as it’s a Bluetooth audio device it should be fine. The simplest test is if it works in your phone it will work with Genki. It should be noted there are some wireless headphones that are not Bluetooth.

Can’t I just use one of the cheaper headphone jack transmitters on Amazon?
You could but almost all of them were made a long time ago as a way to play iPod music on your car stereo and have been rebranded to say they work for gaming. Using the headphone jack introduces a lot of issues including static noise, charging, and most important latency. And we think they’re all designed to be pretty ugly but it’s because they need to house a battery and an ADC (analog digital converter).

Why didn’t you design passthrough charging?
Genki is detected as a USB audio device on the Switch and receives a small amount of power and audio data, unfortunately in this state it cannot simultaneously deliver power in/out through the same port.

Will this work on my third party case or stand?
We designed Genki to fit flush with the Nintendo Switch. We can at a special request add a longer USB Type-C plug to extend the gap to make them compatible with your case but we cannot ensure fit or sturdiness of such a modification. As for stands, Genki measures roughly 1.4” wide or 3.5cm which may require some modifications to existing stands.

Does this sound like something you’d be prepared to back? Let us know with a comment.

Posted on June 14, 2018 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Nintendo Download: 14th June (Europe)

The latest Nintendo Download update is live, bringing with it all manner of new additions to the various eShops in your region. As always, drop a vote in the poll below and a comment sharing your hot picks from this week’s haul. Enjoy!

Switch eShop

Fortnite (Epic Games) – Free – Jump in to be the last one standing in the free* 100-player Battle Royale. Build huge forts. Outwit your opponents. Earn your victory. Squad up together online** with friends in the same room*** or around the world!

Hollow Knight (Team Cherry) – €14.99 / £10.99 – Descend into darkness and brave the depths of a forgotten kingdom in Hollow Knight, an atmospheric and challenging 2D action-adventure for Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch. Explore the vast interconnected world of Hallownest, unravel ancient mysteries and conquer a menacing evil.

Fallout Shelter (Bethesda Softworks) – Free – Create a brighter future…underground! Select from a variety of modern-day rooms to turn an excavation beneath 2,000 feet of bedrock into the very picture of Vault Life.

Jolt Family Robot Racer (Cooply Solutions) – €4.99 / £4.99 – JOLT is a fast paced, racing party game. The game at its core is a competitive platformer that’s all about maintaining momentum with skillful navigation. The players compete to be the last robot standing. Using a charged burst of speed called the JOLT, and an array of different objects in the environment; your goal is to outperform or outright sabotage the other racers. Eliminated players are down but not out through the use of the VOID, a random Sabotage Power-Up that allows players to initiate revenge and change the outcome of the race!

Hexologic (MythicOwl) – €2.99 / £2.49 – Immerse yourself in the beautiful world of Hexologic. Solve challenging, yet rewarding puzzles, listen to relaxing music, dive deep in the game’s atmosphere and fall in love in sudoku again!

Scalextric (Sabec Limited) – €9.99 / £9.99 – Speed through stunning 3D tracks you created and re-discover the magic of SCALEXTRIC!

Paladins – Founder’s Pack (Hi-Rez Studios) – €29.99 / £24.99 – Join 25+ million players in Paladins, the free-to-play* fantasy team-based** shooter sensation. Wield guns and magic as a legendary Champion of the Realm, customizing your core set of abilities to play exactly how you want to play.

ACA NEOGEO SUPER SIDEKICKS 3: THE NEXT GLORY (HAMSTER) – €6.99 / £6.29 – SUPER SIDEKICKS is a soccer game released by SNK in 1992 in Japan. This is the very first realistic-looking soccer game released for the NEOGEO system. Use a variety of techniques such as dribbling and passing to compete against the best teams from around the world! Take part in exhilarating matches on your way to seizing the Champion Cup!

Beekyr Reloaded (Akaoni Studio) – €9.99 / £7.99 – Beekyr Reloaded is an exciting shoot’em up that brings back the joy of classics in the genre. Play as Beekyr, a brave bee that must avenge his hive from the nasty wasp queens that destroyed it, along five different worlds filled with dangerous insects and many hazards that will put your skills to the limit.

Chameleon Run Deluxe Edition (Cinemax) – €5.99 / £4.99

Pub Encounter (D3 Publisher) – €16.99 / £15.99 – It’s a romance game where you can fall in love with one of several middle-aged men. All of them are experienced in life and have their own stories to tell. They may not be young, but they can love as deeply and passionately as anyone.

Soccer Slammers (Atooi) – €9.99 / £8.99 – Soccer Slammers is 2-on-2 arcade soccer with no rules. Just fast-paced fun for 1 to 4 players on a single Nintendo Switch. Crush your opponent by mastering power shots, slam tackles, bank shots, super sprints, and team combo-shots! Warm up with a two minute Quick Game or go for glory in the World Cup against the top 32 teams in the world.

THE Number Puzzle (D3 Publisher) – €4.99 / £4.49 – In THE Number Puzzle you follow easy rules to fill in a grid with the numbers 1-9.

WHIP! WHIP! (Alpha-Unit) – €7.99 / £7.19 – Tira the dessert hunter explores ruins to uncover the recipe required to revive a dessert from ages past.

Arcade Archives DONKEY KONG (HAMSTER) – €6.99 / £6.29 – DONKEY KONG is an action game released in 1981 by Nintendo. Avoid a variety of obstacles while heading through a construction site to make it to the top and rescue Lady. Use the hammer to destroy the barrels and fire coming towards you to earn more points. This version contains both the early and later versions as well as the international version.

New Nintendo 3DS

UP UP BOT (RCMADIAX) – €1.49 / £1.39

Switch Pre-Orders

Overcooked! 2 (Team17) (€24.99 / £19.99, pre-order from 12/06/2018) – Pre-Order until 06/08/2018, 23:59 CEST – Out of the frying pan, into the fire… You’ve saved the world from the Ever Peckish. Now a new threat has arisen and it’s time to get back in the kitchen to stave off the hunger of The Unbread!

Octopath Traveler (Nintendo) (€59.99 / £49.99, pre-order from 14/06/2018) – Pre-Order until 12/07/2018, 23:59 local time – Begin your journey as one of eight protagonists, each with their own origin, talents, and goals. Where will your journey begin? Who will you team up with? And where will you go next? All these decisions and more are completely up to you, the player.

Switch Pre-Orders

Pode (Henchman&Goon) (€24.99 / £22.49, pre-order from 14/06/2018) – Pre-Order until 21/06/2018, 06:59 local time – Pode is a co-op puzzle exploration game about a rock and a fallen star working together to solve ancient puzzles in a stunning environment inspired by Norwegian art and culture.

Bomb Chicken (Nitrome) (€13.49 / £11.99, pre-order from 15/06/2018) – Pre-Order until 12/07/2018, 14:59 CEST – Who doesn’t love chicken… especially when it’s smothered in delicious blue hot sauce? After a freak accident, a seemingly ordinary chicken becomes a bomb laying free range hero. Explore the versatile mechanic of laying bombs in this explosive exploration platformer.

Special Offers

Nintendo Switch

Alchemic Jousts (Lunatic Pixels) now €8.99 / £8.09 until Tue 12th Jun, normally €9.99 / £8.99
Paranautical Activity (Digerati) now €6.39 / £5.75 until Thu 5th Jul, normally €7.99 / £7.19
INK (Digerati) now €7.19 / £6.47 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €8.99 / £8.09
Muddledash (Pqube) now €4.49 / £4.31 until Mon 9th Jul, normally €4.99 / £4.79
Devious Dungeon (Ratalaika Games) now €6.39 / £6.39 until Sun 24th Jun, normally €7.99 / £7.99
League of Evil (Ratalaika Games) now €5.99 / £5.39 until Sun 24th Jun, normally €7.99 / £7.19
NORTH (Sometimes You) now €2.54 / £2.28 until Mon 18th Jun, normally €2.99 / £2.69
Slain: Back From Hell (Digerati Distribution) now €9.99 / £8.99 until Mon 18th Jun, normally €19.99 / £17.99
Spiral Splatter (Sometimes You) now €4.24 / £3.81 until Mon 18th Jun, normally €4.99 / £4.49
The Coma: Recut (Digerati ) now €9.99 / £8.99 until Mon 18th Jun, normally €19.99 / £17.99
Black the Fall (SandSailorStudio) now €8.99 / £7.19 until Tue 26th Jun, normally €14.90 / £11.99
Darkest Dungeon (Red Hook Studios) now €16.49 / £13.49 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €21.99 / £17.99
Football Manager Touch 2018 (SEGA) now €23.44 / £20.09 until Mon 16th Jul, normally €34.99 / £29.99
Woodle Tree Adventures (ChubbyPixel) now €3.49 / £3.14 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €4.99 / £4.49
Axiom Verge (Thomas Happ Games) now €16.19 / £13.49 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €17.99 / £14.99
Bit Dungeon+ (Dolores Ent.) now €7.19 / £6.47 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €8.99 / £8.09
Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King (FDG Entertainment) now €10.99 / £10.11 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €14.99 / £13.49
BRAWL (QubicGames) now €7.49 / £6.74 until Sat 30th Jun, normally €9.99 / £8.99
BUTCHER (Crunching Koalas) now €6.49 / £5.84 until Sat 23rd Jun, normally €9.99 / £8.99
Frederic 2: Evil Strikes Back (Forever Entertainment) now €0.99 / £0.79 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €4.99 / £3.99
Frederic: Resurrection of Music (Forever Entertainment) now €1.19 / £1.07 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €5.99 / £5.39
Goetia (Forever Entertainment) now €4.99 / £4.49 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €9.99 / £8.99
Golf Story (Sidebar Games) now €9.89 / £8.90 until Wed 21st Jun, normally €14.99 / £13.49
Grid Mania (QubicGames) now €2.99 / £2.69 until Sat 30th Jun, normally €3.99 / £3.59
Human Resource Machine (Tomorrow Corporation) now €7.99 / £7.19 until Wed 21st Jun, normally €9.99 / £8.99
Letter Quest Remastered (Digerati) now €5.99 / £5.39 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €11.99 / £10.79
Lichtspeer: Double Speer Edition (Crunching Koalas) now €6.49 / £5.84 until Sat 23rd Jun, normally €9.99 / £8.99
Little Inferno (Tomorrow Corporation) now €7.99 / £7.19 until Wed 21st Jun, normally €9.99 / £8.99
Mad Carnage (QubicGames) now €3.74 / £3.36 until Sat 30th Jun, normally €4.99 / £4.49
Maria The Witch (Na.p.s. Team) now €2.49 / £2.24 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €4.99 / £4.49
Millie (Forever Entertainment) now €1.24 / £1.12 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €4.99 / £4.49
NO THING (Forever Entertainment) now €1.33 / £1.19 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €1.99 / £1.79
Qbik (Forever Entertainment) now €1.24 / £1.12 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €4.99 / £4.49
Shadow Bug (Muro Studios) now €5.84 / £5.25 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €8.99 / £8.09
Sparkle 2 Evo (Forever Entertainment) now €0.99 / £0.89 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €4.99 / £4.49
Sparkle 3 Genesis (Forever Entertainment) now €2.49 / £2.24 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €4.99 / £4.49
Sparkle ZERO (Forever Entertainment) now €3.34 / £3.00 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €4.99 / £4.49
Super Beat Sports (Harmonix) now €11.99 / £10.79 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €14.99 / £13.49
Tactical Mind (QubicGames) now €2.24 / £2.01 until Sat 30th Jun, normally €2.99 / £2.69
The Bunker (Wales Interactive) now €9.09 / £6.99 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €12.99 / £9.99
Tumblestone (QuantumAstroGuild) now €3.89 / £3.59 until Fri 13th Jul, normally €12.99 / £11.99
Violett (Forever Entertainment) now €1.99 / £1.79 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €9.99 / £8.99
World of Goo (Tomorrow Corporation) now €7.99 / £7.19 until Wed 21st Jun, normally €9.99 / £8.99
World Soccer Pinball (EnjoyUp Games) now €1.79 / £1.61 until Tue 11th Jul, normally €1.99 / £1.79
Zombillie (Forever Entertainment) now €3.34 / £3.00 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €4.99 / £4.49
Layers of Fear: Legacy (Bloober Team) now €15.99 / £14.39 until Mon 2nd Jul, normally €19.99 / £17.99
Hyper Sentinel (Huey Games) now €9.59 / £7.99 until Sun 15th Jul, normally €11.99 / £9.99
INVERSUS Deluxe (Hypersect) now €7.79 / £7.14 until Mon 25th Jun, normally €11.99 / £10.99
Jumping Joe & Friends (QubicGames) now €3.99 / £3.59 until Sat 7th Jul, normally €4.99 / £4.49
Sparkle 2 (10tons) now €6.39 / £5.59 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €7.99 / £6.99
Sally’s Law (POLARIS-X) now €5.99 / £5.39 until Mon 16th Jul, normally €9.99 / £8.99

Nintendo Switch

Portal Knights (505 Games) now €25.49 / £21.24 until Mon 18th Jun, normally €29.99 / £24.99
Rocket League (Psyonix) now €14.99 / £11.25 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €19.99 / £15.00
Fire Emblem Warriors (Nintendo) now €39.99 / £33.49 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €59.99 / £49.99
Splatoon 2 (Nintendo) now €39.99 / £33.49 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €59.99 / £49.99
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo) now €52.49 / £44.99 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €69.99 / £59.99
ULTRA STREET FIGHTER II The Final Challengers (CAPCOM) now €19.99 / £17.49 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €39.99 / £34.99

Nintendo Switch(Bundle)

Darkest Dungeon: Ancestral Edition (Red Hook Studios) now €23.24 / £19.49 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €30.99 / £25.99

Nintendo Switch(DLC)

Darkest Dungeon: The Crimson Court (Red Hook Studios) now €6.74 / £5.99 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €8.99 / £7.99
Darkest Dungeon: The Shieldbreaker (Red Hook Studios) now €2.61 / £2.24 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €3.49 / £2.99
Rocket League – Supersonic Fury DLC Pack (Psyonix) now €2.99 / £2.25 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €3.99 / £3.00
Rocket League – Revenge of the Battle-Cars DLC Pack (Psyonix) now €2.99 / £2.25 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €3.99 / £3.00
Rocket League – Chaos Run DLC Pack (Psyonix) now €2.99 / £2.25 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €3.99 / £3.00
Rocket League – Back to the Future Car Pack(Psyonix) now €1.49 / £1.12 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €1.99 / £1.50
Rocket League – Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Car Pack (Psyonix) now €1.49 / £1.12 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €1.99 / £1.50
Rocket League – Aftershock(Psyonix) now €1.49 / £1.12 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €1.99 / £1.50
Rocket League – Esper(Psyonix) now €1.49 / £1.12 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €1.99 / £1.50
Rocket League – Marauder(Psyonix) now €1.49 / £1.12 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €1.99 / £1.50
Rocket League – Masamune(Psyonix) now €1.49 / £1.12 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €1.99 / £1.50
Rocket League – Proteus(Psyonix) now €1.49 / £1.12 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €1.99 / £1.50
Rocket League – Triton(Psyonix) now €1.49 / £1.12 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €1.99 / £1.50
Rocket League – Vulcan(Psyonix) now €1.49 / £1.12 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €1.99 / £1.50
Rocket League – Hot Wheels Bone Shaker(Psyonix) now €1.49 / £1.12 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €1.99 / £1.50
Rocket League – Hot Wheels Twin Mill III(Psyonix) now €1.49 / £1.12 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €1.99 / £1.50
Rocket League – The Fate of the Furious Ice Charger(Psyonix) now €1.49 / £1.12 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €1.99 / £1.50
Rocket League – Fast & Furious ’70 Dodge Charger R/T(Psyonix) now €1.49 / £1.12 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €1.99 / £1.50
Rocket League – Fast & Furious ’99 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34(Psyonix) now €1.49 / £1.12 until Tue 19th Jun, normally €1.99 / £1.50

New Nintendo 3DS

Breakout Defense (nuGAME) now €4.90 / £4.20 until Thu 12th Jul, normally €7.00 / £6.00
Cycle of Eternity: Space Anomaly (RandomSpin) now €1.99 / £1.79 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €4.99 / £4.49

New Nintendo 3DS

Fire Emblem Warriors (Nintendo) now €29.99 / £26.69 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €44.99 / £39.99

New Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console)

Street Fighter Alpha 2(CAPCOM) now €3.99 / £3.59 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €7.99 / £7.19
Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting(CAPCOM) now €3.99 / £3.59 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €7.99 / £7.19
Super Street FighterⅡ: The New Challengers(CAPCOM) now €3.99 / £3.59 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €7.99 / £7.19

Nintendo 3DS

Angry Bunnies(Cypronia) now €3.24 / £2.99 until Thu 5th Jul, normally €6.49 / £5.99
Asdivine Cross(KEMCO) now €5.99 / £5.39 until Wed 27th Jun, normally €9.99 / £8.99
Blast ‘Em Bunnies(Nnooo) now €2.49 / £1.49 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €4.99 / £2.99
escapeVektor(Nnooo ) now €3.49 / £2.99 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €6.99 / £5.99
Fairune(CIRCLE Ent.) now €1.99 / £1.99 until Thu 5th Jul, normally €2.99 / £2.99
Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH!(Shin’en Multimedia) now €2.24 / £1.87 until Thu 5th Jul, normally €2.99 / £2.50
Go! Go! Kokopolo 3D(CIRCLE Ent.) now €3.99 / £3.89 until Thu 5th Jul, normally €5.99 / £5.79
Johnny’s Payday Panic(Office Create) now €2.29 / £1.99 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €4.49 / £3.99
Mini Sports Collection(Rainy Frog) now €3.49 / £3.14 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €4.99 / £4.49
Petit Novel series – Harvest December(CIRCLE Ent.) now €7.99 / £7.89 until Thu 5th Jul, normally €11.99 / £11.89
Pixel Paint(Rainy Frog) now €2.79 / £2.79 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €3.99 / £3.99
Tappingo(CIRCLE Ent.) now €1.99 / £1.99 until Thu 5th Jul, normally €2.99 / £2.99
Tappingo 2(CIRCLE Ent.) now €1.99 / £1.99 until Thu 5th Jul, normally €2.99 / £2.99
The Legend of Kusakari(Nnooo) now €2.49 / £1.99 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €4.99 / £3.99
Unlucky Mage(KEMCO) now €5.99 / £5.39 until Wed 27th Jun, normally €9.99 / £8.99

Nintendo 3DS(Card/Download)

Fire Emblem: Awakening(Nintendo) now €29.99 / £26.69 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €44.99 / £39.99
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia(Nintendo) now €29.99 / £26.69 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €44.99 / £39.99
Fire Emblem Fates(Nintendo) now €29.99 / £26.69 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €44.99 / £39.99
Mario Party: The Top 100(Nintendo) now €29.99 / £26.24 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €39.99 / £34.99
MARIO TENNIS OPEN(Nintendo) now €13.32 / £10.69 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €19.99 / £15.99
New Super Mario Bros. 2(Nintendo) now €29.99 / £26.69 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €44.99 / £39.99
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS(Nintendo) now €29.99 / £26.69 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €44.99 / £39.99

Nintendo 3DS(Virtual Console)

Kirby’s Dream Land(Nintendo) now €1.99 / £1.79 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €3.99 / £3.59
Mario Tennis(Nintendo) now €2.49 / £2.24 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €4.99 / £4.49
Street Fighter 2010: The Final Fight(CAPCOM) now €2.49 / £2.24 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €4.99 / £4.49
Super Mario Bros. 2(Nintendo) now €2.49 / £2.24 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €4.99 / £4.49
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels(Nintendo) now €2.49 / £2.24 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €4.99 / £4.49
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link(Nintendo) now €2.49 / £2.24 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €4.99 / £4.49

Wii U(Download)

Angry Bunnies: Colossal Carrot Crusade(Cypronia) now €3.49 / £2.99 until Thu 5th Jul, normally €6.99 / £5.99
Axiom Verge(Thomas Happ Games) now €16.19 / £13.49 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €17.99 / £14.99
Back to Bed(Bedtime Digital) now €2.49 / £2.24 until Fri 13th Jul, normally €9.99 / £8.99
Breakout Defense(nuGAME) now €4.90 / £4.90 until Thu 12th Jul, normally €7.00 / £7.00
Cube Life: Island Survival(Cypronia) now €7.49 / £5.99 until Thu 5th Jul, normally €9.99 / £7.99
Cube Life: Pixel Action Heroes(Cypronia) now €5.24 / £4.71 until Thu 5th Jul, normally €6.99 / £6.29
Cubemen 2(Nnooo) now €3.99 / £3.49 until Thu 28th Jun, normally €7.99 / £6.99
Double Breakout(nuGAME) now €4.90 / £4.20 until Thu 12th Jul, normally €7.00 / £6.00
Human Resource Machine(Tomorrow Corporation) now €4.99 / £4.49 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €9.99 / £8.99
Little Inferno(Tomorrow Corporation) now €4.99 / £4.49 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €9.99 / £8.99
Maze Break(nuGAME) now €4.90 / £4.20 until Thu 12th Jul, normally €7.00 / £6.00
Pinball Breakout(nuGame) now €4.90 / £4.20 until Thu 12th Jul, normally €7.00 / £6.00
STEEL RIVALS(nuGAME) now €4.89 / £4.19 until Thu 12th Jul, normally €6.99 / £5.99
Tumblestone(The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild) now €7.49 / £5.99 until Fri 13th Jul, normally €24.99 / £19.99
VRog(ByteRockers’ Games) now €2.99 / £2.69 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €4.99 / £4.49

Wii U(Disc)

New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U(Nintendo) now €16.74 / £13.39 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €24.99 / £19.99
Splatoon(Nintendo) now €26.79 / £23.44 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €39.99 / £34.99
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U(Nintendo) now €39.99 / £33.49 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €59.99 / £49.99
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild(Nintendo) now €52.49 / £44.99 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €69.99 / £59.99

Wii U(Wii)

New Super Mario Bros. Wii(Nintendo) now €9.99 / £8.99 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €19.99 / £17.99

Wii U(Virtual Console)

F-ZERO(Nintendo) now €3.99 / £2.74 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €7.99 / £5.49
Fire Emblem(Nintendo) now €3.49 / £3.14 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €6.99 / £6.29
Fire Emblem(Nintendo) now €3.49 / £ until Thu 21st Jun, normally €6.99 / £-
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones(Nintendo) now €3.49 / £3.14 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €6.99 / £6.29
Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon(Nintendo) now €4.99 / £4.49 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €9.99 / £8.99
Mario Party 2(Nintendo) now €4.99 / £4.49 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €9.99 / £8.99
Mario Power Tennis(Nintendo) now €3.49 / £3.14 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €6.99 / £6.29
Mario Tennis(Nintendo) now €4.99 / £4.49 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €9.99 / £8.99
Mario & Yoshi(Nintendo) now €2.49 / £1.74 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €4.99 / £3.49
New Super Mario Bros.(Nintendo) now €4.99 / £4.49 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €9.99 / £8.99
Street Fighter II: The World Warrior(CAPCOM USA) now €3.99 / £2.74 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €7.99 / £5.49
Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting(CAPCOM USA) now €3.99 / £2.74 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €7.99 / £5.49
Super Street Fighter II Turbo Revival(CAPCOM USA) now €3.49 / £3.14 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €6.99 / £6.29
Street Fighter 2010: The Final Fight(CAPCOM USA) now €2.49 / £1.74 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €4.99 / £3.49
Street Fighter Alpha 2(CAPCOM) now €3.99 / £2.74 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €7.99 / £5.49
Super Mario Bros. 2(Nintendo) now €2.49 / £1.74 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €4.99 / £3.49
Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers(CAPCOM) now €3.99 / £2.74 until Thu 21st Jun, normally €7.99 / £5.49

Nintendo Switch(Demo)

Devious Dungeon DEMO(Ratalaika Games) – Free
Shining Resonance Refrain Demo(SEGA ) – Free
Octopath Traveler Prologue Demo(Nintendo) – Free

Nintendo Switch (Items)

Fallout Shelter – Six Pack of Nuka-Cola Quantum (6)(Bethesda Softworks) – €0.99 / £0.99
Fallout Shelter – Case of Nuka-Cola Quantum (32)(Bethesda Softworks) – €4.99 / £4.99
Fallout Shelter – Cooler of Nuka-Cola Quantum (70)(Bethesda Softworks) – €9.99 / £9.99
Fallout Shelter – Refrigerator of Nuka-Cola Quantum (150)(Bethesda Softworks) – €19.99 / £19.99
Fallout Shelter – Crate of Nuka-Cola Quantum (400)(Bethesda Softworks) – €49.99 / £48.99
Fallout Shelter – Truck of Nuka-Cola Quantum (1000)(Bethesda Softworks) – €99.99 / £99.99
Fallout Shelter – Vault-Tec Starter Pack(Bethesda Softworks) – €4.99 / £4.99
Fallout Shelter – Lunchbox(Bethesda Softworks) – €0.99 / £0.99
Fallout Shelter – Bundle of 5 Lunchboxes(Bethesda Softworks) – €3.99 / £3.99
Fallout Shelter – Bundle of 15 Lunchboxes(Bethesda Softworks) – €9.99 / £9.99
Fallout Shelter – Bundle of 40 Lunchboxes(Bethesda Softworks) – €19.99 / £19.99
Fallout Shelter – Pet Carrier(Bethesda Softworks) – €0.99 / £0.99
Fallout Shelter – Bundle of 5 Pet Carriers(Bethesda Softworks) – €3.99 / £3.99
Fallout Shelter – Bundle of 15 Pet Carriers(Bethesda Softworks) – €9.99 / £9.99
Fallout Shelter – Bundle of 40 Pet Carriers(Bethesda Softworks) – €19.99 / £19.99
Fallout Shelter – Single Mr. Handy(Bethesda Softworks) – €0.99 / £0.99
Fallout Shelter – Bundle of 5 Mr. Handys(Bethesda Softworks) – €3.99 / £3.99
Fortnite – 1,000 V-Bucks(Epic Games) – €9.99 / £7.99
Fortnite – 2,500 (+300 Bonus) V-Bucks(Epic Games) – €24.99 / £19.99
Fortnite – 6,000 (+1,500 Bonus) V-Bucks(Epic Games) – €59.99 / £49.99
Fortnite – 10,000 (+3,500 Bonus) V-Bucks(Epic Games) – €99.99 / £79.99
Fortnite – Wingman Starter Pack(Epic Games) – €4.99 / £3.99
Paladins – 200 Paladins Crystals(Hi-Rez Studios) – €4.99 / £3.99
Paladins – 400 Paladins Crystals(Hi-Rez Studios) – €7.99 / £7.19
Paladins – 800 Paladins Crystals(Hi-Rez Studios) – €14.99 / £11.99
Paladins – 1500 Paladins Crystals(Hi-Rez Studios) – €24.99 / £19.99
Paladins – 2500 Paladins Crystals(Hi-Rez Studios) – €34.99 / £27.99
Paladins – 3500 Paladins Crystals(Hi-Rez Studios) – €49.99 / £39.99
Paladins – 8000 Paladins Crystals(Hi-Rez Studios) – €99.99 / £79.99
Rocket League – Unlocked Event Crates x1(Psyonix) – €2.11 / £1.87
Rocket League – Unlocked Event Crates x5(Psyonix) – €8.45 / £7.52
Rocket League – Unlocked Event Crates x10(Psyonix) – €16.91 / £15.04
Rocket League – Unlocked Event Crates x20(Psyonix) – €33.83 / £30.09

Nintendo Switch(DLC)

WorldNeverland – Elnea Kingdom: Summer Wedding Attire Set (Seaside, Sunset beach, Night Sea)(althi) – €3.99 / £3.59
WorldNeverland – Elnea Kingdom: Hair Dye Set D (Chestnut, Chocolate, Night Sky, Inferno)(althi) – €1.99 / £1.79
Xenoblade Chronicles 2: New challenge mode(Nintendo) – €- / £- / CHF –

Nintendo 3DS(Theme)

Stego and Saroin the wood(Animundi) – €0.99 / £0.89
Jurassic Cubs:beautiful summer(Animundi) – €0.99 / £0.89
Jurassic Cubson planet H2O(Animundi) – €1.49 / £1.39
JC 3packNumber 13(Animundi) – €2.49 / £2.29

What are you downloading this week? (53 votes)

Fortnite

30%

Hollow Knight

34%

Fallout Shelter

17%

Jolt Family Robot Racer

Hexologic

Scalextric

Paladins

ACA NEOGEO SUPER SIDEKICKS 3: THE NEXT GLORY

Beekyr Reloaded

Chameleon Run Deluxe Edition

Pub Encounter

Soccer Slammers

THE Number Puzzle

WHIP! WHIP!

Arcade Archives DONKEY KONG

Nothing for me!

Please login to vote in this poll.

Thanks for reading. If you’re free, why not leave a vote in the poll and a comment or two below with your favourite picks.

Posted on June 14, 2018 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Masahiro Sakurai Notes That Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Could Be The Last In The Series

With the release of each of the last few Super Smash Bros. titles, series director and incredibly hardworking man Masahiro Sakurai has claimed that it could well be his last. Continuing this trend, Sakurai is now treating Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as potentially being the final Smash game.

Disussing the game after its reveal during the Nintendo Direct E3 presentation, the franchise’s director said the following:

“The Smash series may continue in the future, but I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to pull this off, so I really hope you’ll enjoy this iteration of the game.”

Of course, after the release of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS, Sakurai explained how even the games before those were created “with the thought that there wouldn’t be any more sequels“. He’s also regularly mentioned the negative effects that the creation of these games have on his personal life and health, with an always-demanding workload and need for perfection making it hard for him to carry on.

It seems that, at least after each launch period, Sakurai feels like it would be a good time to stop, before eventually going on to make another one anyway. In the case of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Nintendo famously announced the game during the 2005 E3 conference before Sakurai even knew about it, going on to ask him if he’d direct it shortly after. Hopefully this time around there will be less pressure put upon him to carry on if he chooses to step down.

Either way, the amount of work Sakurai and his teams have put into these games over the years is clearly tremendous, and we’re sure you’ll join us in wishing him the best whatever the future holds.

Posted on June 14, 2018 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Watch: Nintendo Treehouse Live – Day 3 @ E3 2018

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Posted on June 14, 2018 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Review: Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion (Switch eShop)

Since we first clapped eyes on the sucker-headed Octolings in 720p on the Wii U, Splatoon fans everywhere wanted to take control of these teenage tentaculars on the splattlefield. Octo Expansion promises just that and much more, but can such wondrous ideas truly be realised in a $20 DLC pack for Splatoon 2 on the Switch? Let’s find out the old-fashioned way.

Octo Expansion puts you in the role of Agent 8, an Octoling who’s woken by the immediately recognisable Captain Cuttlefish and forced to try and scrabble their way out of a dingy subway station. It’s like a fairytale. You’ll be hopping on a train filled with weird (and weirder) sea creatures, and if you ask really nicely it’ll take you to various destinations where 80 missions will present themselves to you. For anyone counting at home, that’s over double the 32 missions the stock single-player campaign offers, which is not at all to be sniffed at.

Although there are considerably more missions in the DLC, don’t think that they’ll become samey or stale. The variety of tasks is frankly staggering, and whilst there are several that employ similar mechanics and overall objectives, they all still find a way to distinguish themselves from one another. The objectives in question are also far more complex and ingenious than anything Octo Canyon has to offer, ranging from guiding a giant 8-ball to the end of the stage to having to defeat all the foes you can see with a criminally limited supply of ink.

It doesn’t stop there either; one mission required us to replicate a shape using a blank canvas of boxes by destroying them one by one in the appropriate manner, much like 3D Picross. At various points we were also dropped into the fray with no weapon at all, forcing us to really re-think how we needed to approach each enemy and challenge that lay before us. Every aspect of Splatoon gets turned inside-out and worked down to the bone in much the same way as the shrines from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild; you’ll constantly find yourself thinking ‘goodness gravy, that’s clever’ mission after mission just down to the lateral manner in which the game’s nuances are employed and exploited. All of this culminates in about 6 to 8 hours of gameplay if you just rush through to the end, and closer to 15 or even 20 hours if you decide to do everything, which is plenty of bang for your buck.

If you read our preview, you’ll probably remember that we said the experience was a little on the challenging side. Well, as it happens that wasn’t just wild naivety on our part. Octo Expansion is seriously tough. Not enough for you? Want to take things up even further like we foolishly did? Well, Nintendo thought of that as well, and many missions offer you a choice of weapons at the start, each varying in difficulty.

That may not sound too tough on your game thumbs at first, but these missions are far more tailored for one kind of weapon than previous Splatoon examples. One instance that immediately springs to mind is where we had to defeat over 20 enemies on a floating array of disconnected blocks. The only way to get around is to use Grapplinks, which essentially teleport you to their location once shot.

The stock weapon, a Splatterscope, makes it fairly easy to get about and kill enemies from a good distance. If you’re as mad as we are though, you can choose to use a Jet Squelcher, a rapid-fire weapon with significantly less range and power. You can just about complete the mission with this, but any slight slip-up and it’s right back to the very beginning, which happened to us a lot more than we’d care to admit. It’s worth it though, as more troublesome weapon choices that result in a not-losing scenario for Agent 8 will grant you more CQ Points than standard. These points are used to make your way around the subway and each mission requires a fee, ranging from a hundred to several thousand points.

The difficulty isn’t totally all-encompassing though, and should you lose all your lives in a mission twice over you’ll be able to skip it and continue progressing through the story. You will, however, be missing out on some sweet Mem Cakes, a range of collectables that you receive every time you complete a mission, and these can be used to unlock exclusive gear for use in Multiplayer. It’s a good way to allow users to skip a particularly troublesome area, but you’re not going to be able to just skip through missions willy-nilly and expect to beat the game, as you’ll run out of CQ Points and be unable to get any further.

You don’t have to complete all 80 missions to experience the story in its entirety, either. Without wanting to get into spoiler territory, we were first given the choice to continue the story after just 33 missions, but of course you’re free to go down this road and return to tidy up what you didn’t do whenever you feel like it, which is excellent. Once you’ve done so you’ll also be able to exchange your CQ Points for various items, such as coins and Crusty Sean tickets, which is a really good way to encourage you to tackle some missions you missed, or just play the same ones for more CQ Points.

Again, we’re watching what we say so that we don’t venture anywhere near the dastardly realm of spoilers, but the story really is fantastic. Everything unfolds naturally and you can even read through some beautifully charming optional chatroom logs between Captain Cuttlefish, Pearl, and Marina, to help flesh their characters out even further. It also helps to expand upon the lore of the Splatoon world, introducing more species, more details, and even some history to boot. The whole thing is a love letter to the fans, and the passion for the franchise has clearly never been higher for the devs.

Now let’s chat about the presentation. Holy sweet giblets this is one fine-looking son of a squid. From the grungy look of the subway to the neon lights scattered with care and attention, it’s simply an absolute joy to wade through. There are more cutscenes than ever before, which really gives the characters more weight and personality than we’ve seen previously. Most of the assets you’ll find are brand-spanking new; the skyboxes are looking better than ever with GameCubes and Game Boys littered throughout, and the music is beyond funky fresh. Every single area is brimming with more details than you could possibly appreciate when trying to splat everything on screen.

If we had one criticism of Octo Expansion, it would be the very occasional mission that doesn’t quite hit the same level of quality as the vast majority. A few levels, for example, simply place you down in a stage from the Multiplayer and task you with completing a Ranked Mode objective such as Rainmaker or Tower Control. These are still very enjoyable and challenging, but they do feel a little bit phoned-in compared to everything else. One mission also pits you against the Octo Oven from Octo Canyon in what we first thought was a cheap copy-and-paste of the original fight. In a sense that is the case, but new mechanics and dozens of new threats are brought in to bring the difficulty up to the ridiculous, and it’s glorious.

Conclusion

All in all, Splatoon 2’s Octo Expansion is a masterclass in how to do DLC right. It fits in perfectly with the standalone game, provides a heap of tailor-made content and furthers the story of the Inklings’ and Octolings’ world effortlessly and beautifully. As a single player experience it outmatches the standard Octo Canyon mode significantly, and even though it does allow players to acquire exclusive items, it manages to avoid affecting any of the mechanics of online play, so non-purchasers will never be at a disadvantage. If you’re a fan of Splatoon in any capacity and you want more to sink your beak into, Octo Expansion is an unwavering must-have.

Posted on June 14, 2018 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Nintendo Confirms Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Is A “Brand New Game”, Not A Wii U Port

Ever since Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was first shown, back when we still had no idea what form it would take, fans have been wondering whether the game will be a brand new experience or an upgraded port based on Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Nintendo has now officially addressed the issue – and it’s very good news indeed.

Speaking to USGamer, Nintendo Treehouse localisation manager Nate Bihldorff has confirmed that the game is entirely new. The game has received what Bihldorff describes as “significant upgrades” to things such as lighting effects and texture details, as well as complete re-imaginings of certain characters like Zelda – whose new design is now based on The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.

“It’s definitely not an update. It’s a brand new game built from the ground up. As far as it being a ‘sequel,’ I don’t really think of Smash Bros. games as being sequels, they’re just new Smash Bros. games. Everything has been built brand new. Of course, you see returning characters and returning movesets, but that’s sort of the nature of a fighting game.”

Of course, some elements of what we’ve seen do seem similar to the Wii U game on the surface, but Bihldorff explains the reasoning behind this, too.

“When you’re bringing back stages, especially when you look at a stage from the Wii U version which was already in HD, at first glance it’s going to be a little bit similar. That’s when you need to go to the next level and look at lighting, how the players are interacting. Beyond the changes, I can’t count the number of small changes. I don’t think it’s hyperbole when Mr. Sakurai said that there were tens of thousands of changes compared to the last game.”

We were lucky enough to spend some time with the game at E3, and these comments certainly line-up with our early thoughts. The fresh visuals, different art style, and the way in which each character has been re-worked were all things we mentioned in our early hands-on preview.

Are you glad that this is a brand new game? Have you been impressed with the changes you’ve seen so far? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Posted on June 14, 2018 by sick skills — Leave a comment

Review: Soccer Slammers (Switch eShop)

World Cup 2018 is upon us, and with it comes the inevitable rush of pick-up-and-play football games. Soccer Slammers is one such effort, and it’s pretty much at the polar opposite end of the Switch footy game scale compared to FIFA 18 – for better and for worse.

On the ‘better’ side, it forgoes the dry, manicured pomposity of EA’s fully licensed ball-hog for a much more approachable take on the beautiful game. It’s ideal for those who only become casually acquainted with the sport every four years or so, or for fans who intend to become very well acquainted with vodka during Russia 2018. On the ‘worse’ side of things, Soccer Slammers is an incredibly light and almost throw-away experience; it lacks the nuance and sheer level of content required to keep you playing beyond the end of this summer’s premier footy tournament.

You don’t need to memorise dozens of dubious tricks or switch formations on the fly in Soccer Slammers. This is simple 2v2 stuff, with only four controls to contend with: pass, shoot, tackle and sprint. You don’t even need to worry about switching control between your two players in single player mode, as one member of your team will always be controlled by AI – though they will pass to you when you hit the appropriate button.

The pitch is extremely compact and walled in, like a 5-a-side field or an ice hockey rink, so the ball is constantly in play. There aren’t any stoppages for fouls either, as the very concept of illegal play is alien to Soccer Slammers; crunching into your opponent from behind with a bone-breaking challenge is positively encouraged. As a result, turnovers are common and dwelling on the ball is a surefire recipe for failure. When you receive possession you’d better get rid of it quickly, either with a shot or a pass, otherwise you’re bound to lose control and momentum. Alternatively, you can sprint away from your opposing number with one of the right shoulder buttons, though you only have limited (albeit quickly replenished) stamina.

Shots are chargeable, and a fully wound-up net-burster from an angle is highly likely to fly past the automated goalie, even if you’re shooting from your own half. You’ll swiftly realise that the key here is to gain yourself the time and space required to build up a humdinger of a shot, wherever that may come from. Your tactical options to this end are fairly limited. It generally pays to sit deep and invite your opponent onto your half, sliding in to take ball as they start to charge their shot. You’ll then have ample space to run or pass forward.

There isn’t really the potential for a fluid passing game, as the entire system is heavily automated. You don’t need to guide your passes towards your teammate, or even have your player facing the appropriate direction. It often pays to have your AI buddy pass straight back, though, as they’re often prone to hitting tame shots straight at the opposing ‘keeper.

All of which is a roundabout way of saying that Soccer Slammers is a multiplayer game first and foremost. Sure, solo players can run through an approximation of the World Cup with any of the 32 national teams, but the game as a whole has blatantly been set up for two to (ideally) four players to take one another on. Full-on 2v2 with four Joy-Cons is where Soccer Slammers really comes to chaotic, scrappy life – although two players teaming up to take on the World Cup is a timely touch.

Soccer Slammers is far from the complete football package, even within the confines of the arcade sports genre. It’s certainly no Mario Strikers: Charged Football (hint hint, Nintendo). But if you and your friends find yourselves with the odd 15-minute half-time interval to fill over the coming weeks, it could be the perfect footy filler.

Conclusion

Soccer Slammers is a frenetic arcade football game that’s extremely light on depth and content but high on immediate thrills. It’s the ideal half-time snack, but it won’t sate your hunger for a more meaty football experience. Thankfully, with FIFA 18 already available on Switch a more immersive experience exists, but if it’s casual action you’re after, this could the fixture you need.