Category: Nintendo News

The Switch needs a few more genuinely scary games, and it looks like Layers of Fear: Legacy is going to fit the bill quite nicely.

Bloober Team’s first-person psychological horror game puts you in the shoes of an insane painter who is “bent on finishing his masterpiece”. By exploring a creepy Victorian-era mansion you’ll learn the secret of the mental illness which has gripped the lead character, with his delusions taking shape in some seriously scary ways.

We’ve got a whole bunch of new screenshots to show you, so take a look and then let us know what you think with a comment.

Layers of Fear launches early this year, and the Switch version will include the Inheritance DLC, which provides a fresh look at the same story.

Nintendo continues to show its favourite first-party multiplayer shooter a lot of love, and it’s carrying on that trend with another new weapon makeover. Say hello to Splatoon 2‘s new .96 Gal Deco.

Hot on the heels of the Rapid Blaster Deco (which launched last weekend with a Suction Bomb sub and an Inkjet special), this glitzy take on the existing .96 Gal adds in a sparkly makeover and comes with a Splash Wall sub and a Splashdown special. This shooter has always been a popular choice, both in the original and the Switch-based sequel, so we’re fully expecting this tweaked Deco version to paint the town pink/green.

Let us know what you make of this new gun and whether you’ll be jumping back into Splatoon 2 over the weekend.

PQube has announced that Song Of Memories, described as a ‘romantic visual novel’, will be releasing on Nintendo Switch in North America and Europe in 2018.

Song Of Memories tasks you with finding your soulmate in a musical love story, although you’ll need to prepare to fight for your love in the most testing of times as an apocalyptic virus begins sweeping across the world and threatens to infect those closest to you. You can check out the new announcement trailer for this release below, but be warned that adult content is contained throughout.

It is perhaps surprising that the game is coming to the west seemingly uncensored; many of Japan’s more risqué titles are heavily watered down before heading overseas. Nevertheless, the game is definitely on its way and you can read more about right it here:

Become the most popular guy around – Romance six gorgeous girls and reshape the story around your chosen one true love – with multiple endings up for grabs.

A cast bursting with life – Forget static visual novel conversations: Fully animated characters move and react to one another’s lines, all voiced by the original Japanese cast across more than 40 hours of audio.

A deep, dark secret to uncover – Don’t be fooled by the colourful exterior: Song Of Memories is a tale of love in the early days of a monster apocalypse! Can you discover the truth and save the love of your life?

An adventure that defies expectations – Song Of Memories combines all the best parts of visual novels with rhythm-action and light role-playing systems to offer surprises at every turn.

Complex, branching storylines – Your decisions affect what happens! Keep track of every single twist and turn with the storyline tracker, which lets you revisit choices and explore different outcomes.

A musical masterpiece – Discover an incredible, original soundtrack that fills more than four audio CDs, and harness those tunes yourself in an intense rhythm-action battle system.

Is this something that you’ll be keeping an eye out for? Let us know in the comments.

Three new avatar outfits have been added to Pokémon GO.

The outfits are all linked to specific medals in the game – Battle Girl, Jogger and Fisherman – and can be purchased using in-game currency.

Battle Girl and Jogger are OK we suppose, but Fisherman – now that’s an outfit you can be proud of.

Look at that confident wide stance. The steely determination in those eyes. The wry smile that hints at fish (and indeed Pokémon) yet to be caught. 

We personally don’t know why you’d want to be seen in any other gear, but here are the details for the other (lesser) outfits if you’re still interested:

Let us know which one you prefer (hint: it rhymes with “disherman”) by posting a comment below.

Last week, we reported on a new effort from Atari to bring the Rollercoaster Tycoon franchise to the Switch via an investment campaign like Kickstarter. The minimum goal was set at $10k, an extremely reasonable goal that was passed in a matter of hours. The usage of crowdfunding certainly raised a few eyebrows; Atari may have had its historic collapse in the 80’s, but surely it couldn’t be doing that badly still.

Fred Chasnais—CEO of Atari—recently sat down with Polygon to discuss the campaign, which is still ongoing, and had some interesting things to share. For one thing, StartEngine was used not because the company was hurting for cash, but to test the waters for future games from the company. Here’s what was said:

From a strategy perspective, as a publisher, we are doing this game. From a financial perspective and cost of capital perspective, it makes sense for Atari to try and test some new sources of funding to see if these sources could be available down the road for more games.

Seeing as how the campaign is still going, there’s a chance it could reach its upper limit of just over a million dollars. When asked how likely he thought this would be, Chesnais had this to say:

I don’t know. For me, it’s irrelevant. What relevant for me is not the percentage of funding. What is relevant for me is, can crowdfunding constitute a source of financing for my portfolio of more than 200 games?

It’s a fascinating interview to be sure, and you can find the rest of it here.

What do you think? Will you be getting Rollercoaster Tycoon? What do you think of Atari using StartEngine for this project? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

It’s been a number of years since Nintendo shuttered its Club Nintendo loyalty program, replacing it with the new and improved My Nintendo. Though the service started out quite anemic, it’s slowly gained in relevance and value, although many would no doubt say that it has yet to eclipse the quality of its predecessor. Nonetheless, Nintendo keeps supporting it regularly, and some tempting new discounts have appeared for those in North America.

Though the Switch is still frustratingly absent, several great Wii U and 3DS titles have been discounted. The list is as follows:

Platinum Points

– 30% discount on Super Mario 3D World (Wii U) – 400 Platinum Points

– 40% discount on Star Fox Guard (Wii U) – 400 Platinum Points

– 40% discount on Dr. Luigi (Wii U) – 400 Platinum Points

– 30% discount on 1080 Snowboarding (Wii U) – 240 Platinum Points

– 40% discount on Chibi-Robo!: Photo Finder (3DS) – 310 Platinum Points

Gold Points

– 20% discount on Tomodachi Life (3DS) – 30 Gold Points

– 20% discount on Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (3DS) – 30 Gold Points

– 40% discount on Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure (3DS) – 30 Gold Points

– 40% discount on Rhythm Heaven Megamix (3DS) – 90 Gold Points

– 40% discount on Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash (3DS) – 90 Gold Points

– 30% discount on BoxBoxBoy! (3DS) – 20 Gold Points

– 30% discount on Kirby’s Blowout Blast (3DS) – 20 Gold Points

– Super Mario: Pastel Pink (3DS theme) – 20 Gold Points

What do you think? Are you tempted by any of these? How much longer will it be until the Switch rewards arrive? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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February has arrived and it’s brought with it the very first Nintendo Download update of the month. And it’s a huge haul too, with all sorts of new digital editions being uploaded across Nintendo’s various eShops. As usual, your friends at Nintendo Life have gathered together every new game, piece of DLC and fresh deal on the European store fronts.

This week, we’ve got a gravity defying platformer, a mysterious trip into the woods, a modern throwback to shmups of old, a trip into space to escape Brexit, a showdown on ACA Neo Geo and many more. There’s demos, DLC and digital versions galore. Your bank balance is not going to be happy…

Switch eShop

Dandara (Long Hat House, €19.99 / £17.99) – Welcome to a unique 2D platformer full of mystical creatures and boundless exploration. Defy gravity as you jump across floors, walls and ceilings alike. Discover the mysteries and secrets hidden throughout the world of Salt and its diverse array of characters. Empower Dandara for combat and survival against enemies bent on oppression. Dandara will be available on Feb. 6.

Night In The Woods (Infinite Fall, €18.99 / £17.09) – College dropout Mae Borowski returns home to the crumbling former mining town of Possum Springs seeking to resume her aimless former life and reconnect with the friends she left behind. But things aren’t the same…

Sky Force Reloaded (Infinite Dreams, €9.99 / £8.99) – Sky Force Reloaded is the spirit of the classic arcade shoot ‘em ups, captured with modern visuals and design. New entry in the series will keep you entertained with all the things you’ve came to love in scrolling shooters. Meaty explosions, incinerating lasers, colossal bosses and diverse aircrafts to pilot. Read our review.

SteamWorld Dig (Image & Form, €9.99 / £8.99) – SteamWorld Dig is a platform mining adventure with strong Metroidvanian influences. Take the role of Rusty, a lone mining steambot, as he arrives at an old mining town in great need. Dig your way through the old earth, gaining riches while uncovering the ancient threat that lurks below… Read our review.

Her Majesty’s SPIFFING (Billy Goat, $9.99) – Assuming command of the near futuristic space ship HMSS Imperialise and her crew YOU will venture into the cosmos, solving puzzles, engaging in witty banter, deal with crippling claustrophobia, gradually succumb to the sustained exposure of cosmic radiation and so on, all for Queen and Country. Read our review.

Island Flight Simulator (Caipirinha Games, €9.99 / £9.99) – Enjoy fantastic open-ended gameplay, touch down in the tropics and transport freight between twelve exotic islands in more than a hundred exciting missions. Only the most daring pilots will take the risk of accepting both highly lucrative and illegal missions from shifty clients.

Shiftlings – Enhanced Edition (Rock Pockets, €9.36 / £8.46 until 15/02/2018, 23:59 local time – regular price €12.49 / £11.29) – Shiftlings is a colorful puzzle platformer with a twist! You’re controlling two quirky custodians who are tethered together; one large and one small. Play alone or work together with a friend to run, bounce and swap size through 55 challenging levels.

ACA NEOGEO SAMURAI SHODOWN II (HAMSTER, €6.99 / £6.29) – The game features 12 swordmasters, each with their own unique personality. They will battle it out among each other before taking on Shiro Tokisada Amakusa in the game’s climax. One of the unique characteristics of this game is the Rage Gauge which fills up as the player takes damage. Once that gauge is full the character’s attacks do more damage, keeping the battles tense and exciting. Read our review.

AeternoBlade (Corecell Technology, €14.99 / £13.49) – In the region of Awelsia, vengeful Freyja travels with an unknown weapon called ‘AeternoBlade’. Freyja looks to take revenge on Beladim, the Lord of the Mist who destroyed her village, Ridgerode, and killed her tribe. Her vengeance is helped by Vernia, who has as much merit as Beladim. Vernia taught Freya about the abilities of AeternoBlade. Freya has to venture into many different world dimensions to discover how to annihilate Beladim. Demo version also available now.

Frederic 2: Evil Strikes Back (Forever Entertainment, €4.49 / £3.59 / until 15/02/2018, 23:59 local time – regular price €4.99 / £3.99) – Defeat famous opponents in musical duels. Immense yourself in fantastic story of Frederic’s endeavors. Catch all the Easter Eggs and subtle parodies hidden in the background. Practice your skills until perfection and become the Master of the Piano.

Mad Carnage (QubicGames, €4.99 / £4.49) – In the world after the Great War, you will take control of intimidating petrol beasts, each with their own unique weapons and gameplay mechanics. Upgrade your cars, then battle it out in Campaign mode or on one of the 8 Custom Game maps! Invite a friend for local Multiplayer versus! Available Feb. 2

The Men of Yoshiwara: Kikuya (D3 Publisher, €19.99 / £15.99) – A closed island where baby boys are not born… A unique culture that is completely different from the mainland has been flourishing on the island. In the middle of the island, there is a district where men are gathered…

Switch eShop DLC

Pokkén Tournament DX Battle Pack: Wave 1 – The Pokkén Tournament DX Battle Pack grants immediate access to Avatar items upon purchase and two waves of DLC as they are released. (The full game is required to access the DLC.) The Battle Pack contains two new Battle Pokémon and two new Support Pokémon Sets. With these Pokémon joining the fray, the battle is just getting started.

• Wave 1 launched on Jan. 31 and contains Battle Pokémon Aegislash, a new Support Pokémon set featuring Mega Rayquaza and Mimikyu, and additional Avatar items.
• Wave 2 releases on March 23 and contains Battle Pokémon Blastoise, a new Support Pokémon set featuring Mew and Celebi, and additional Avatar items.

Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition: Moana Character Pack (Mojang, €2.99 / £2.39) – Set sail with Moana, Maui and all the crew from Motunui. How far will you go in Minecraft with this adventurous character set? You’re welcome!

Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition: Skin Pack 1 (Mojang, €1.99 / £1.59) – Customize your character with this selection of stunning skins!

AeternoBlade DLC:

• AeternoBlade: Arena Mode (CORECELL, €1.99 / £1.79) – Allows you to play Arena mode.
• AeternoBlade: Agent Costume (CORECELL, €0.99 / £0.89) – Agent costume for Freyja.
• AeternoBlade: Assassin Costume (CORECELL, €0.99 / £0.89) – Assassin costume for Freyja.
• AeternoBlade: Bikini Costume (CORECELL, €0.99 / £0.89) – Bikini costume for Freyja.
• AeternoBlade: Ninja Costume (CORECELL, €0.99 / £0.89) – Ninja costume for Freyja.
• AeternoBlade: Time Guardian Costume (CORECELL, €0.99 / £0.89) – Time Guardian costume for Freyja.
• AeternoBlade: Vernia Costume (CORECELL, €0.99 / £0.89) – Vernia costume for Freyja.

Wii U eShop

NECROMANCER (Konami, €5.99 / £5.39) – Necromancer is a horror RPG released for the TurboGrafx-16 in 1988. You are a hero who heads out on an adventure with two other allies in order to search for the Evil Holy Sword “Necromancer” to defeat an evil force that is about to take over the Kingdom of Ishmaelia.

Battle Chopper (Konami, €5.99 / £5.39) – Fly through each stage and destroy enemies in your path. Shoot the “bricks” located throughout each stage, to reveal crystals. Pick-up the crystals to get money for different weapons and power-ups. Spend wisely! A boss awaits you at the end of each stage. Defeat the boss to move on to the next stage.

ImageFight (IREM SOFT, €5.99 / £5.39) – Irem’s shoot ’em up game is back! First, clear the five battle simulation stages created by the Image Projector and master the advanced techniques of piloting the Daedalus. To pass the training courses, clear the levels with a score over 90%. Passing means you can get out there for the real thing: three stages of real combat in space! Make good use of the Pod system, too, with original techniques like the Pod Shot and Rocket Fire in your arsenal to challenge any aliens who think Earth is going to be easy prey!

ImageFight II (IREM SOFT, €7.99 / £7.19) – This vertically scrolling shoot ’em up is the sequel to Image Fight, originally released on PC Engine. Three years after the Moon War, an alien force has come out of the Sagittarius sector of space and has turned its gaze on Earth. It’s up to ace pilot Show Sawamura to take control of the OF-1 Daedalus and the OF-3 Garuda and take this new threat head on, training in fierce “image fights” conducted in the virtual world.

3DS eShop

ZIG ZAG GO (RCMADIAX, €1.49 / £1.39) – Shapes on the go with ZIG ZAG GO! Use the touch screen to switch directions quickly and avoid oncoming shapes. Endless fun for everyone!

3DS demos

Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology – Demo Version – Unlock the time traveling power of the White Chronicle once again in Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology. This beloved classic is an expanded from the original Nintendo 3DS™ game and contains a great deal of added gameplay/story content, updated presentation, and new ways to experience the adventure!

That’s your lot for today’s Nintendo Download update for the EU eShop. Don’t forget to let us know what you’re going to be picking up this week…