If you were one of the backers of the successful ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove Kickstarter campaign, unfortunately it seems you are going to have to wait a little bit longer to get your grubby mitts on the game.
Here’s the latest statement from Humanature explaining a delay into 2018:
Greg here with a quickie update to keep you all posted. First, my apologies – I know it’s been a while since we’ve given an update to all you backers. Thank you all for your patience and understanding. I know you want to know, “when do we get the game!?”
We tried super hard to get ToeJam and Earl: Back in the Groove out in 2017. Game development is an inexact science and it’s our priority to deliver the best, most solid game we can. To get the game across the finish line we need to push into 2018, but rest assured we are working our butts off and you guys are going to get an awesome game.
Thanks for the continued support and keeping the faith! We’re working so hard over here and will have additional updates over the coming weeks and months.
As Miyamoto-san once said, “a delayed game is eventually good, a bad game is bad forever”, so hopefully this means Kickstarter backers will be rewarded for their patience. Let us know if you backed the campaign and what you think about this delay with a comment below.
Christmas may feel like it’s a while away yet but we’re already seeing festive items appearing in shops as the giant global commercial juggernaut slowly but surely splutters into gear. Before long you’ll be panicking about buying last-minute gifts for distant relations and wondering where on earth you’re going to source your tree from with only a week before the big day. What a fun time!
Thankfully there’s one thing you can prepare for right now, and that’s the predictable office parties and family get-togethers where everyone is forced to wear a festive jumper to mark the occasion. Instead of digging out your usual woolly we’d advise you take a look at the special – and 100 percent official – Nintendo-themed range that Merchoid has on offer this year.
Just imagine how awesome you’d look turning up to the office Christmas party with a Triforce-emblazoned jumper, or how impressed all your friends and co-workers would be with your Super Mario retro woolly. If those two don’t catch your eye, then why not pick the Pokémon offering, complete with giant Pokéball motif?
All three cost £42.99 each. Go on, you’ve been really good this year.
We all love a bit of basketball action here at Nintendo Life, so we were delighted to hear that the Data East’s classic Neo Geo game Street Hoop is heading it’s way to the Switch tomorrow courtesy of Hamster.
We reviewed this back in 2010 when it landed on the Wii Virtual Console it netted an impressive 8/10. Here’s what we had to say:
There’s no denying the heavy Double Dribble and NBA Jam influences that abound in Street Hoop, but given how well those arcade hoops classic played, that’s certainly not a bad thing. The game’s unique hip hop musical score and over-the-top Super Shots give it something to stand out from the crowd, but what ultimately makes the game so much fun to play will inevitably be its familiar controls that will give fans of popular arcade hoops games something new with which to play. At the very least it proves that the Neo Geo system was capable of producing quality titles that were actually not fighting games.
Let us know if you plan to pick up this classic sports game tomorrow with a comment below.
Point-and-click adventure games have historically found their audience on PC, especially in the heyday of the early-to-mid ’90s with series such as Broken Sword and Monkey Island. While there has always been a core fanbase for this style of game on mouse-driven systems, the genre has been brought into both the console with recent remasters of classics such as Grim Fandango and Day of the Tentacle. This expansion has resulted in a handful of modern takes on the formula, ranging from episodic, story-driven titles such as Broken Age and the dialogue-focused Telltale games, to this year’s Wwitch releases Violett and Thimbleweed Park – the latter being a throwback (and spiritual successor) to Lucasrts’ fan-favourite Maniac Mansion.
Not to be left behind, the Syberia trilogy, created by Benoit Sokai, makes its way to the Switch after a fifteen year stint as not only one of the most well-received PC genre titles, but also as one which has seen release on several other systems, including a rather sub-par DS version in 2008. While the quality of these ports have varied thus far, the Switch’s ample hardware specs – combined with its portability – means that there is potential for this to be the best iteration.
Syberia at its core is initially a pretty standard point-and-click affair. During your adventure, you will explore various environments, talk to different characters and find inanimate objects in order to solve puzzles and progress through the story. Influenced by the work of early 20th century pioneering French film maker Georges Méliès, the game mixes mild fantasy and science fiction elements, but starts out as a somber tale explaining the decline of a family business. You play the role of young American attorney Kate Walker, sent to the quaint and secluded French village of Valadilène on behalf of her law firm to finalise the takeover of a mechanical toy (automaton) factory after the death of destitute owner Anna Voralberg and the disappearance of its sole heir and genius inventor, Hans. The company Kate represents has the monopoly on the toy business and tracking down Mr. Voralberg is imperative as the business can not be taken over without his approval. Kate delves deeper in to the village’s – and the factory’s – history by meeting various residents and explores the increasingly desolate and remote landscapes of the European and Russian wilderness in search of clues as to Voralberg’s whereabouts.
The unraveling of the plot and the depth of characters are highlights of Syberia. The protagonist has the difficult task of balancing her increasing intrigue for the Voralberg family with her professional obligations and personal relationships. There’s an interesting exploration of many different contrasts, including technology and the conflict between urban and rural life. As the game progresses, you’ll come across an increasingly mysterious and enchanting locations in search of Hans, as well as more abstract and mystical scenarios. Granted, the point-and-click genre might not suit everyone’s taste in terms of mechanics or pacing, but the overall experience is rich and engaging, while the puzzles – despite being a little obtuse – are more accessible than other similar titles.
From the get go, the art direction, string-based theme music and voice work are all great, but the game’s mechanics expose its age. Despite the story being in a contemporary time period (circa 2002), there’s a distinct Dickensian feel to the world. The antiquated newspaper clippings and the mechanisms of the robot toys (although don’t ever call them that) have a rusted aesthetic consisting of springs, cogs and the sounds of creaking old metal. While the art nouveau, industrial architecture and steam punk-like automatons – along with rich colour palates – give the village and other areas a sheltered and intriguing atmosphere, the game’s technical presentation does let it down in places. The backgrounds alternate from being crisp and sharp to blurry and ugly. The character models are, on the whole, pretty good but the lip syncing from the PC version is absent.
Particularly jarring examples of this uneven presentation come early on; a completely static background of a bridge over a river or a stone fountain are both accompanied by the sound of running water despite the lack of movement, for example. You’ll be moving around interior and exterior environments set to fixed camera angles, while controlling Kate with full 360 degree movement as opposed to ‘tank controls’ feels natural and reasonably responsive, including the option to run (by holding down a trigger) that adds welcome pace. However, looking around and using objects or performing actions can be cumbersome, as you are moving the character around as well as looking for the right direction. The inclusion of a touch-based option for item management (brought up with Y or the bottom right hand icon on screen) is oddly patchy. Tapping ‘R’ brings up your trusty mobile telephone, but you can only scroll through contacts with the touch screen, not input numbers.
Furthermore, the game is not optimised to fit the Switch in either TV or handheld mode. The 4:3 aspect ratio option is dealt with by having translucent extensions of the scenery or black vertical boarders, and in both configurations the resolution differences are obvious – the FMVs in particular look very blurry. The other option is full screen, where everything is stretched. It’s an unfortunate catch 22.
Conclusion
Syberia on the Nintendo Switch is a reasonable yet inconsistent port of an enchanting genre classic. This is an absorbing, intricate story filled with melancholy, eccentric characters and mystery demands and deserves attention, even if the game shows its age technically in some places and demonstrates a lack of care in the porting process in others. For fans of the genre, or those willing to dive in and forgive some inconsistencies, there’s an endearing and worthwhile adventure here.
Fire Emblem Warriors offers a twist on the acclaimed Fire Emblem series by uniting fan-favorite characters from Fire Emblem history to participate in over-the-top battles focused on real-time, tactical action rather than turn-based strategy. In addition to the paid DLC that starts to roll out in December, a free software update is coming to the Nintendo Switch and New Nintendo 3DS* versions of the Fire Emblem Warriors game on Nov. 16.
After downloading the free software update, the following will be added to the game:
A new history map featuring main characters Rowan and Lianna
A new costume for Rowan and Lianna
Armor Strike, a new weapon attribute associated with destroying armor and causing a Broken Armor state
New Blessings to aid you in battle
The ability for the player to sell multiple weapons at once
Nintendo is committed to bringing new content to Fire Emblem Warriors, and this free software update is a fun (and free!) first step. Starting in December, the first of three paid DLC packs will launch for the game, with the second and third packs launching in February and March, respectively.
A Season Pass, which includes all three DLC packs as they become available, can be purchased for $19.99. By purchasing the Season Pass for either the Nintendo Switch or New Nintendo 3DS version, you will also receive a bridal costume for Lucina. (The bridal costume can only be received by purchasing the Season Pass.) Each DLC pack adds three new playable characters, three new history maps, additional costumes, additional support conversations and additional weapons, and can also be purchased individually for $8.99 each.
It’s been a year with some high profile releases on the Switch eShop, and the upcoming Rocket League is among the biggest to date; it’ll eventually be available at retail in some form, too. In coming to Switch the hugely popular driving / football / action title will be playable on the go for the first time, and on top of that there are a few unique cars and designs for the Nintendo system.
With release just a week away (on 14th November), the official YouTube channel for the game has got in early with a launch trailer. Check it out below.
It’s rather effective in our opinion, and it’ll be interesting to see whether this proves to be a notable hit on the download store.
Are you planning to get into gear with this next week?
In the nadir of the Wii U’s mid-life, when third-party support rapidly dried up, it was easy to complain about major companies that had walked away. Yet in some cases it was an inevitable business decision – for example by Spring 2014 Ubisoft was reporting that the Wii U was accounting for just 3% of its game sales. The company drew back the scale of its support as Wii U sales toiled, which led to lousy sales of the games it did release; the cycle was set.
So far it’s been rather different with the Nintendo Switch. Not only is the system selling well and maintaining momentum, but Ubisoft also teamed up with Nintendo for the rather excellent Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle. That title was cited by Ubisoft as an important release in its most recent financial briefing and, tellingly, seems to have contributed a great deal to the company’s sales on Nintendo’s console.
As you can see below the Switch is battling it out with the Xbox One in terms of sales contributions for the last three months – a decent showing. This will likely be mostly down to Mario + Rabbids, though Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition also had a couple of weeks on the market before the 30th September cut-off. It’s worth pointing out that a lot of multi-platform games were pushing for post-launch momentum as opposed to being fresh releases in this period, so we shouldn’t get too carried away with the positive Switch percentage.
Even with the provisos of Ubisoft’s limited new releases in that three month window, those sorts of numbers will hopefully encourage the company to push on with further support for the Switch. Though no major announced exclusives are in the works at present, Nintendo’s system was highlighted as a key platform for next year’s Starlink: Battle for Atlas during E3. Mario + Rabbids isn’t done, either, with new story content due as DLC in the New Year, which may encourage Ubisoft to step up its marketing of the expansion pass.
Here’s hoping for more third-party support in 2018 and beyond.
Gaming can be an expensive hobby, by the time you add extra controllers and actual games to accompany your console. With the Nintendo Switch you also need to consider a carry case to keep it safe on your travels, though most seem to have opted for the entirely competent official and HORI options that have been on the market since day one.
If you’ve got a bit of extra cash burning a hole in your pocket, though, San Francisco-based WaterField has been producing nice cases for a good while; since its range of 3DS cases we’ve been fans, albeit while acknowledging the premium pricing. With the Switch the company has had a few options already ranging from a modest $49USD right up to a multiplayer Pro Case for an eye-watering $149USD. Having taken on board fan feedback along the lines of “I want to carry loads of stuff in a small case”, the company has now come up with the rather neat ‘Arcade Gaming Case’.
The idea is simple – accommodate carrying around a decent amount of gear for on-the-go gaming within a relatively small package. Check it out below.
Available in rugged black ballistic nylon or tan waxed canvas, the WaterField Arcade Gaming Case sports full-grain leather details to make for a sophisticated Nintendo Switch carry. A soft, scratch-free front pocket to stow the Nintendo console secures shut with a premium leather flap using hidden magnets. The large main compartment closes with waterproof YKK zippers. Inside, two plush pockets hold the AC adapter and the JoyCon Grip. (By pushing the pockets back, users can instead carry the Pro Controller and/or a European-sized power adapter.) The Hori PlayStand, a flat game-card holder or individual games, ear buds and a USBC cord fit comfortably into the remaining space. A rivet-secured, nylon handle with a soft leather grip lets gamer easily grab and go, and an adjustable, removable shoulder strap attaches to two metal D-rings for another comfortable carry option. Without the strap, the case fits neatly into a day or overnight bag.
It seems like a nice option, sitting in the middle of the company’s range at $109USD, which is nevertheless a hefty investment. It’s available now – along with WaterField’s whole range – on sfbags.com.
It’s a lot of money to spend for carrying your Switch around, but let us know in the comments if you’re tempted.
Shin Megami Tensei is a big deal in Japan, and over the years has added more and more demon types to its ranks that you could call it a satanic version of Pokémon.
There are so many demons in the series now – 345, to be exact – that Atlus decided to hold a vote to see which ones fans liked the most. Now the results are in, we suspect that Atlus may be having second thoughts about holding the vote at all.
The top ten includes some solid choices, including Loki, Beelzebub and even Jack Frost, Atlus’ mascot. However, in first place we have Mara, and there’s simply no getting away from it – Mara is a demonic penis monster which rides a spike-covered chariot.
10th place: Loki 9th place: Moh Shuvuu 8th place: Beelzebub 7th place: Decarabia 6th place: Mothman 5th place: The mascot of Atlus, Jack Frost 4th place: Mastema 3rd place: Cu Chulainn 2nd place: Alice 1st place: Mara
Maybe Atlus knew this would happen all along, the cheeky scamps.
Nintendo has, it seems, been listening to a consistently vocal part of its fanbase in recent times. Plenty have wanted the option to have the ‘original’ Japanese voice-track as an option in major games, and that’s started to – gradually – happen. A post-launch update to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild added a broad range of audio tracks including Japanese, and it was a free launch day download for Fire Emblem Warriors.
For those that want Japanese voice actors in Xenoblade Chronicles 2, the good news is that free day one DLC will make that possible. Nintendo released a new story trailer with the Japanese track to give you a taste for what it’ll offer.
In addition the game will go up for pre-purchase and pre-load on the Switch eShop today, so if you’re keen to get started as soon as the game launches that could be a tempting option.
Let us know whether you’ll choose to use the Japanese voiceover when Xenoblade Chronicles 2 launches on 1st December.
