Category: Nintendo News

Nintendo News

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Feature: Catching Up With Mega Ran Ahead Of His UK Tour

Hip hop/ nerd core artist and producer Mega Ran returns to our humble shores this month for a nationwide tour. After securing an exclusive licensing deal with Capcom, the former teacher has toured all over the world and released multiple albums inspired by some of the most revered games and franchises in the industry.

We caught up with Mega Ran as he embarks on his latest trip across the pond to the United Kingdom. 

Nintendo Life: Congratulations on your upcoming tour of the UK.

Mega Ran: Thank you, it’s been awesome to get out to the UK, and this time we’re branching out into a bunch of new places…stoked!

Is this your biggest UK tour to date?

Maybe not biggest in terms of size, but definitely the most consecutive dates I’ve done out there. I’m really excited to see places I’ve never seen before. 

How did you prepare for this tour?

Same way I do all tours: by planning and over-planning and stressing out big time beforehand. I learn new songs, then focus on getting the word out!

How do American and British shows/ fans differ?

I feel like British fans REALLY appreciate the fact that Americans come and play shows for them. I’ve sat and talked all night with fans at shows in the UK. They really do support my American fans too, but I still feel like I get the, “When are you coming to my town?” question when I’ve just been there the night before!

When did you start writing music about video games?

In 2007, when I got a crazy idea to write songs about being in Mega Man’s shoes. Prior to that though, I’d been sampling video games for beats back in 2000 when I first got the MTV Music Generator game for PlayStation. I should’ve known games would be such a big factor in my music then. 

Outside of video games, who/what influences you?

Life… sounds crazy but every day I meet a person or read something that gets my pen going. As long as the world keeps changing, there will be something to write about.

Do many personal experiences or memories appear in your music?

Too much!. From the triumphs, to the very tough trials, I try to work it all in, to motivate myself, as well as to hopefully encourage and inspire the listener. 

Where does the creative process for a track/album start?

Usually in the shower, or in a dream. It’s the most inopportune time, when I’m trying NOT to think about creating, that something really awesome comes to me. 

What can newcomers expect from a Mega Ran show?

Newcomers can definitely expect to be entertained, maybe even educated, and be prepared to participate, a Mega Ran show is not a spectator sport. 

What new stuff can seasoned Mega Ran fans look forward to?

New songs every month on Patreon, a LOT of touring, and hopefully a book by the end of the year, I’m working hard to make that a reality. 

What are the tour dates?

Mega Ran and Sammus’ UK Tour Dates are:

  • 17 Feb – Hull @ O’Rileys
  • 18 Feb – Nottingham @ National Videogame Arcade
  • 19 Feb – Preston @ Ships & Giggle
  • 20 Feb – Manchester @ Night People
  • 21 Feb – Stoke @ Pilgrims Pi
  • 22 Feb – London @ Amersham Arm
  • 23 Feb – Skelmersdale @  E-Room
  • 24 Feb – Lancaster @ The Bobbin
  • 25 Feb – Glasgow @ Nice N Sleaz
  • 26 Feb – Paris @ Péniche Antipode

There’s an improvised element to your shows- how do you go about preparing?

There’s really no way to prepare for an impromptu moment like the freestyle, I kind of let the music and the environment take over. It’s a total blackout for me. People later will tell me something funny or cool I said about them, and I don’t even remember it 10 minutes later. 

What recently released games can we expect to get the Mega Ran treatment?

That’s up to the people! We take suggestions on game flips on our Patreon page and then I go and research the game and see if it’s something I can work with.. or I just write about a game I’m really into at the moment. 

Are there any collaborations you’d like to pursue, either as a DJ, artist or producer? 

Yes, I’d love to make music with Cee-Lo Green, MF DOOM, Del The Funky Homosapien, Shing02 or this awesome band I’ve been crazy about, Sylvan Esso. 

Any favorite music games?

Does KORG DS-10 count? haha! 

Are there any game soundtracks you’re a fan of and you’d like to sample in the future? 

Yes, but I want to keep those secret in case someone reads this and gets the idea! But one I’d like to tackle is Secret Of Mana sometime, that soundtrack is so moving. 

What are you playing right now?

I’m still playing Super Mario Odyssey, trying to get all those moons!

We bet you can’t wait for those Mega Man collections to come out, eh?!

Definitely. I flipped when I heard they were coming! For now though, Mighty Gunvolt Burst is satiating my Mega Man itch.

What were your favorite Nintendo games growing up?  

Super Mario 3, DuckTales, Mega Man 2 and Mega Man 3, and a very little known game called Street Fighter 2010. It was so difficult, but I couldn’t stop playing it.

We would like to thank Mega Ran for taking the time to speak to us, and make sure to check a out a show in the UK this month if you can make it! 

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Twin Robots: Ultimate Edition Will Double Up On Switch Next Week

Ratalaika Games has announced that Twin Robots: Ultimate Edition will be launching on Nintendo Switch on February 23rd.

An improved version of 2016’s Twin Robots, released on Wii U, this game is a 2.5D platformer in which two little robots have been imprisoned, needing to find the way out of each level in a bid to escape. Unfortunately for them, and potentially for you, these levels get progressively harder and you’ll need to ensure that both robots reach the exit to be successful.

Just like the original version of Twin Robots, this Ultimate Edition supports co-op play, allowing you and a friend to run, jump, puzzle solve, and transfer energy from one to the other in your bid for freedom. There appears to be a rather generous amount of extra content on offer, too, which you can check out below.

Features

New levels
New sound track, by our compositor Levi Bond
Improved the physics system and the puzzles
Improved the camera system
New secret zones
Included achievements to encourage the exploration
Improved the graphics and the performance

We thought that the original showed some potential in our review, so we’re hopeful that this new edition can raise the bar a little further. Will you be keeping an eye on this one?

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Video: Get To Know Nintendo Labo Even Better With These In-Depth Trailers

Nintendo Labo is a mere two months away, and with a handful of hands-on events taking place across the UK this week, Nintendo has released a slew of new videos that go into a little more depth on what the new cardboard-based experience will offer.

The Overview trailer breaks down the three core pillars of Labo – Make, Play and Discover – and explains what you’ll get in each of the Toy-Con boxes, how to use the Labo software and just some of the awesome Toy-Cons you can make as standard.

You can also check out the Variety Kit video, which breaks all the different Toy-Con you get in that bundle, how each one works and a snippet on how to put them together. There’s also a nice and comprehensive trailer covering the awesome Robot Kit, which is by far one of the most complicated builds, but easily the most exciting to play.

Let us know what you make of this trio of new videos and whether they’re enough to sell you on Nintendo Labo’s unique USP…

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Review: Frederic 2: Evil Strikes Back (Switch eShop)

Piano-playing, musically-dueling Polish composer Frédéric Chopin is back again, with a sequel to his stylish piano game Resurrection Of Music, by developer Forever Entertainment. This time, subtitled Evil Strikes Back, our heroic maestro’s duty is to rescue his precious Muses from a new, sinister and enigmatic threat (weirdly reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid’s Psycho Mantis) and once again restore decency to the modern musical landscape. Revisiting Chopin’s repertoire of classical compositions and giving them a modern makeover, Evil Strikes Back, on the one hand, improves on its predecessor, but also maintains some of the small but significant niggles that hampered it. 

After losing his heart in the first game (and presumably for playing music this time around), a much more self-assured Chopin swaps his trusty upright for a far more radical keytar and trades in his golden flying horse-drawn carriage for a vehicular pop culture icon. Our hip and continent-hopping pianist hero travels across the globe to battle it out with eccentric (and sometimes awkwardly stereotypical) opponents. Admittedly, the story is no more or less captivating or comprehensible than the first. It isn’t helped by the fragmented dialogue exchanges and cheesy voice acting – in an attempt to compliment the bright and vivid art style with hammy caricatures, they come across as mildly crass rather than interesting. 

Chopin duels it out with wackier musical villains, based on musical icons that provide a bit of exposition to move your quest forward. Although the plot never really deviates from dealing with one vendetta to the next, the exaggerated hand-drawn art style and vivid color schemes add a distinct identity to each new location and character, with the more interesting of Chopin’s new foes appearing on film sets, county fairs and even Wembley Stadium. There are even some Easter eggs scattered around for the eagle-eyed popular culture vultures among you. 

Side by side, both the original Chopin compositions chosen and their modern interpretations are consistently better in Evil Strikes Back, focusing a little more on the style and character rather than setting from the first game. Sometimes the style or genre don’t quite match up, and unfortunately, it still suffers from curious decisions and the technical annoyances that still haven’t been addressed. For instance, during the opening of a song early on in the game, there’s little to no sound at all, which feels unnecessary. 

There are initially 10 songs and four difficulty settings on offer, and the Easy setting is still too forgiving while completing a song on the hardest setting is still really tricky. Both the general aesthetic and user interface remains the same, with cascading notes falling towards your piano keys, and a successfully timed press will fill the bar at the top until it’s green. When it’s full, you win and progress to the next destination.

While the much-preferred touch controls return, the seven piano keys can now be manually mapped to the face buttons. This will help some of you, but the touch control is still much easier to get to grips with. There might be a little trial and error involved, as holding the console in one hand in handheld mode is okay, but playing in tabletop can make activating special attacks a pain, wherever you place it. The game still obscures your view of the descending notes with praise words, and upon completion, you’ll get a breakdown of your ‘musicality’, with a pretty standard three star rating system, an accuracy percentage, and a combo count. 

Conclusion

Frederic: Evil Strikes Back is a pretty ‘by the numbers’ sequel, and despite the (still quite low) track list being superior to the first, the characters, dialogue and presentation niggles still remain. There’s plenty of personality to the tracks, and seeing Chopin go up against stadium rockers is strange yet amusing, but the satire and parodies from the first game miss the mark more often than not this time round. The visuals are still bold, and you’ll have an enjoyable experience if you can overcome its shortcomings. While Deemo and even VOEZ are still the best of the genre on Nintendo Switch, Frederick: Evil Strikes Back’s mix of interesting reinterpretations of classical compositions and sometimes charming art style are still worth a go. 

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This Nintendo-themed Masking Tape Will Keep Your Labo Stuck On-Brand

Nintendo Labo is only two+ months out, so the Big N is slowly beginning to open up pre-orders across the world and unveil official new items to support all that cardboard folding and creative programming. And that includes unveiling a new line of masking tapes complete with Nintendo-themed patterns.

They’re currently not available for purchase in the West – well, not yet at least – but they will be made available through the official Japanese My Nintendo Store. Each pack contains two designs – one has a yellow design based around ? Blocks and a red polka dot look using mushrooms. The other pack has a Bullet Bill themed one and another based around Boos. No word yet on an official price point.

So what do you make of these funky new masking tapes? It certainly beats using a rubbish brown or black one from your local hardware store. Nintendo Labo launches on 27th April, 2018.

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Manticore: Galaxy On Fire Will Swoop Onto Switch On 22nd March

Publisher Deep Silver and German developer Deep Silver FISHLABS are bringing mobile hit Manticore: Galaxy On Fire to Nintendo Switch, porting a vehicular sci-fi shooter to a much more powerful and versatile handheld platform. The series has already had four installments on mobile, Steam and Mac and it’s latest entry will pack all that space dogfighting action onto the Switch eShop.

Manticore will include a story campaign with over eight hours of play, with over two hours of fully-voiced narration in English and Japanese. There are 35 locations to explore/shoot holes in and there’s full support for Joy-Cons and HD Rumble.

It’s due to arrive on 22nd March 2018. Let us know what you think and whether it’ll be on your radar come next month…

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Mega Man X Collection May Be Coming in Two Separate Releases

The end of last year was a great one for Mega Man fans, as Capcom announced that the classic series would be continuing with Mega Man 11. Switch owners were given plenty to look for to as well; not only would Mega Man Legacy Collection and its sequel be coming to the platform, but the Mega Man X games were revealed for a future re-release, too. The details of this were unclear, though it was assumed that Capcom would be releasing them in a collection much like it did for the classic games.

A new listing from the Australian classification board has raised some eyebrows, however, as there are game ratings for both Mega Man X Legacy Collection and Mega Man X Legacy Collection 2. If this turns out to be true, that means Capcom would likely be splitting the series into two halves, possibly even releasing the 5-8th entries at a later date. Hopefully Capcom clarifies this soon; it wouldn’t be very surprising, but it’d doubtless be disappointing to some.

What do you think? Would you buy two Mega Man X collections? Which Mega Man X game was your favorite? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Review: Xeodrifter (Switch eShop)

Nowadays, Metroidvanias are all the rage with indie developers, all attempting to offer up their own unique take on the genre. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, but there’s something to be said about the power of simplicity and just going back to the basics. Xeodrifter is a game that plays it straight with the that open-ended formula, offering up a focused, concise experience that hits all the notes it needs to, even if it comes off as being considerably more barebones than its peers.

The story of Xeodrifter sees the titular character flying their spaceship through the stars, only to have it crippled when a meteor strikes. You then must travel between a system of four planets, running, jumping, and shooting your way through hordes of aliens as you search for a warp core to replace your damaged one. Along the way, you’ll pick up several upgrades that grant your character meaningful bonuses in traversal and combat.

Gameplay in Xeodrifter follows the tried-and-true Super Metroid formula, doing little to expand on it, but showing mastery of what makes the genre great. Controls are a little loose, but the gunplay and platforming still manages to feel rock solid and is an absolute blast to tackle. There’s a near perfect mixture of platforming challenges, combat, and backtracking here, with the flow of the game taking you around the four planets at a brisk and exciting pace. Memorizing enemy patterns and snagging new upgrades feel quite satisfying, and you’ll frequently find yourself looking ahead to the next thing you can do. Each boss you defeat will drop another upgrade that allows you to access more of the map than before, and you can also pick up health and gun upgrades to augment your combat performance.

The gun modification is one of the stronger aspects of Xeodrifter, offering you an RPG-lite way of controlling the character’s offensive options. You can invest gun upgrades into shot speed, power, spread, range, and reach, which leaves plenty of room for mixing and matching of attributes to meet your playstyle. It’s a bit of a shame that the enemy resistance seldom demands that you switch up tactics, but the customization aspect nonetheless adds a little bit more scope for replay value on subsequent runs.

Level design of the planets is well thought out, though they can tend to feel a less mazelike than one would expect from a Metroidvania. Exploration is still encouraged and backtracking to other planets after getting an upgrade almost always yields new results, but there’s a lingering sense of linearity to the experience that stifles one’s sense of freedom somewhat. Each planet is essentially composed of a couple loops of corridors with a few secret passages scattered here or there, which means that it’s next to impossible to get lost or find yourself stumbling upon an upgrade by accident. Some might appreciate this stripped back approach, but let’s just say there are a lot less surprises in Xeodrifter than you might expect to find in a game in this genre.

From a presentation perspective, Xeodrifter is top-notch, demonstrating the concept of design by subtraction quite well. The HD 8-Bit art style is demonstrated to great effect; managing to capture the look and feel of a retro game while retaining cool elements that only modern hardware could manage. Though environment design tends to get a bit repetitive, there’s plenty of color and smooth animation here that keeps things visually interesting. 

Similarly, the sci-fi soundtrack matches the theme perfectly, capturing a sense of mystery and wonder quite well. The Switch version also features HD Rumble support, which is utilized to a greater effect here than you might think. Whether it be a missed shot impacting a wall or the rumbling of a submarine engine, you can feel just about every single kind of movement that happens on screen, which helps to significantly increase the immersion factor.

One of the most significant criticisms we have with Xeodrifter is that it feels a little too stripped back for its own good. There’s only a handful of enemies to fight across the entire game, and every boss fight consists of battling a palette swapped version of the previous boss with a little more health and one new attack. Couple this with the straightforward level design, and you’ve got a rather predictable open-ended platformer that can be cleared 100% in around three hours. Now, those three hours are a joy to play through while they last, but it feels like a bit of a let down when the credits roll and there’s nothing more to see. Xeodrifter has all the elements it needs to be considered one of the greatest games in the genre, but there simply isn’t enough content present to hold one’s interest for very long.

Conclusion

Xeodrifter is an interesting game, in that it’s both easy and difficult to recommend. The upside is that this is a finely crafted Metroidvania that oozes quality in almost every fashion, but the downside is that there just isn’t a whole lot to it. If you’re looking for a simple, straightforward open-ended platformer that’s easy to get into (or one that’s good for speedrunning), this is the game for you. If you’re looking for an in-depth experience that you can really sink your teeth into, this certainly isn’t. We’d generally give this one a recommendation – it’s a great ride while it lasts – but just bear in mind that it won’t last you long.

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New details and videos released for Nintendo Labo

New details and videos released for Nintendo Labo

You may have heard about the upcoming launch of Nintendo Labo, a series of kits that combine the magic of Nintendo Switch* with the fun of DIY creations.

Now we’ve got lots more details to share, along with three new videos that give you a deeper look at how you can Make, Play, and Discover with the Nintendo Labo Variety Kit and Robot Kit, both launching on April 20. You can check out the videos right away at https://labo.nintendo.com/

One particularly cool feature that’s part of the software included with each Nintendo Labo kit is Toy-Con Garage, which can be accessed in Discover mode. Toy-Con Garage introduces basic principles of technology in a fun and accessible way, allowing you to combine various simple inputs and outputs to invent new ways to play with your Toy-Con projects.

In addition to Toy-Con Garage, the Toy-Con projects in each kit offer many ways to have fun.

Nintendo Labo Robot Kit

  • Build your own wearable Toy-Con Robot suit and assume control of a giant in-game robot, completing challenges and destroying in-game objects to unlock powerful new abilities.
  • If you’re feeling competitive, you can even challenge a friend in two-player local battles or compare your high scores/rankings with other players! (An additional Robot Kit and Joy-Con controllers are required for two-player mode; sold separately.)
  • Nintendo Labo encourages you to use your imagination and creativity to customize your cardboard Toy-Con creations in a variety of ways. The Robot Kit even allows you to customize and level-up your in-game robot.
  • Learn more about the Nintendo Labo Robot Kit in this new video .

Nintendo Labo Variety Kit

  • Toy-Con Piano: After assembling your 13-key Piano, you can host an impromptu recital or record your songs and play them back for your biggest fans-in-the-making. Experiment with different sounds and pitches to create something truly unique – even a song composed entirely of cat noises!
  • Toy-Con Motorbike: Grab your newly-constructed handlebars and race through different tracks, challenging CPU opponents or collecting targets across mountainous terrain. You can even create your own custom tracks, so start planning your designs now!
  • Toy-Con Fishing Rod: There are many exotic fish to discover, and some of the deep-ocean fish are particularly tricky to catch. Show off your collection in Aquarium mode and have fun creating your own fish with different shapes and colors – simply insert and scan different cards in the Toy-Con Piano to get started. (Assembled Toy-Con Piano is required to access Aquarium mode.)
  • Toy-Con House: Befriend the cute creature living in your Toy-Con House (shown on the Nintendo Switch screen) and discover different ways to interact and play with it. There are a variety of experiences to discover, including mine cart races, bowling, and jump rope.
  • Toy-Con RC Car: The RC Car is full of unique and surprising features. Since the Variety Kit includes materials to build two Toy-Con RC Cars, you can race against a friend, set up obstacle courses or even compete in a sumo-inspired challenge to try to knock your opponent’s RC Car over (additional Joy-Con controllers are required; sold separately). Create a path using the reflective stickers included in the kit, and set the car to auto-drive along a specific route using the IR Motion Camera on the Right Joy-Con controller.
  • Learn more about the Nintendo Labo Variety Kit in this new video .

For more information about Nintendo Labo, visit https://labo.nintendo.com/.

*Nintendo Switch is sold separately.

Games Rated:

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Guide: Bayonetta 2 Angelic Hymns Locations – How To Find Them All And Unlock The Hidden Weapons

There are a bunch of collectibles to track down in Bayonetta 2. You’ve got Angelic Hymns, Hidden Verses, Journal Echoes, Umbran Crows, Broken Moon Pearls, Broken Witch Hearts, Accessories, Weapons, and Costumes. It’s pretty insane.

We want to make it easier for you to unlock all of these things, so we’re running a guide series on how to do just that. This one focuses on the 13 Angelic Hymns, and we’ll run down their locations by chapter. Happy hunting!

Angelic Hymns

Hymn Chapter Location Reward
One One By the square just after completing Verse 5. Rakshasa
Two Two Cathedral entrance following the battle with the angel wielding a hammer. Kafka
Three-A Four Defeat Fidelity. —
Three-B Four Drop inside the slanted tower, and search the eastern area. Undine
Four-A Five At the very beginning, swim through the water to the western shore and destroy the resting place. —
Four-B Five Right after completing Verse Seven, head to the western side of the map and head through a door to grab it. Chernobog
Five-A Eight Defeat Allegiance. —
Five-B Eight At the end of Verse Seven, head around the portal instead of through it and destroy the resting place. —
Five-C Nine Complete Verse Six and drop down onto the platforms. You’ll see it a short distance ahead. Takemikazuchi
Six-A 10 At the start of chapter 10, climb the rocks to the east and follow them along to find this piece. —
Six-B 10 Defeat Resentment and follow a path to the east to grab this one. —
Six-C 10 Defeat Pain then destroy the nearby resting place. Salamandra
Super Mario 64 All Defeat every chapter on Third Climax to unlock this one. Chain Chomp