Super Mario Odyssey launches on Switch today, and Nintendo isn’t wasting any time when it comes to updates.
The game has already been updated to version 1.0.1, although Nintendo is quite vague as to what this actually does.
According to the company, version 1.0.1 is all about enhancing the overall experience:
Several fixes have been made to enhance the user’s experience.
We have to admit we didn’t come across any massive bugs during our time with the game but it’s good to see Nintendo is keeping on top of things. Have you noticed anything different since the update?
Retro-Bit is releasing a series of multi-carts for the NES and SNES which come packed with classic Data East and Jaleco games.
Launching this December, each cartridge is compatible with the original SNES and NES hardware. They ship with an exclusive button and sticker set along with a collectible retail box, full colour instruction manual and protective hard dust cover. The NES cart costs $29.99 while the SNES ones cost $34.99 each.
Here are the four carts available:
Data East All-Star Collection (NES)
• Ring King • Bad Dudes • Side Pocket • BurgerTime • Buggy Popper
Data East Classic Collection (SNES)
• Fighter’s History • Fighter’s History Mizoguchi • Magical Drop • Magical Drop 2 • Super Side Pocket
Data East Joe & Mac: Ultimate Caveman Collection (SNES)
• Joe and Mac • Congo’s Caper • Joe and Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics
Here’s what Ron Pang, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Innex Inc., exclusive distributor of Retro-Bit, had to say:
What’s amazing about these Retro-Bit multi-cartridge collector’s series is the tremendous value they offer. At an affordable price, fans are not only treated to an amazing anthology of classic games, but receive exclusive collectibles any retro gaming fan can appreciate. We are excited about this amazing collaboration (with Data East and Jaleco) to help grow and be a part of their library of classic cartridges.
Do any of these take your fancy? Would you like to see more multi-carts in the future? Let us know with a comment.
One of the surprise inclusions of the recent 4.0 update to the Switch’s firmware was the inclusion of GameCube controller support, or rather, support for third party accessories which extended to the GameCube adapter for the Wii U. Fans were wondering whether this was Nintendo laying the groundwork for some exciting things in the future, though no Virtual Console has yet materialized, there’s been talk of GameCube games on the Switch. Also, for the inevitable Super Smash Bros., who wouldn’t want the option to use the GameCube controller?
In a recent interview with Kotaku, Reggie Fils-Aime talked a bit more on the included support, though his reply was rather amusing. Here’s what he had to say:
In our latest system software update, it enables third-party peripherals to work on Nintendo Switch. As a result, the peripheral for Wii U that allows it to attach GameCube controllers also works. I think it’s fair to say, Stephen, that that peripheral working was as much a surprise to us as it was to consumers.
So, there you have it, everyone was surprised by the GameCube controller support. Still, here’s to hoping that doesn’t mean GameCube games aren’t involved in the Switch’s future someday.
What do you think? Would you like to play GameCube games on Switch? Have you tried one out yet? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
It’s been well publicised how the current host of The Tonight Show is a big fan of Nintendo. Every year E3 rolls around, Jimmy Fallon often gets Reggie and his crew on so he can try out the latest Nintendo systems and games.
We have also heard stories in the past about how he missed out on a chance to date the Australian star, Nicole Kidman. All because he seemingly “wasn’t interested” – instead opting to laze around his apartment and play Mario Bros.
Given his history with Nintendo, it’s no surprise he’s been sent a free copy of Super Mario Odyssey for the Switch. In the video below he explores New Donk City whilst making a few jokes and taking in the sights and sounds.
Let us know in the comments if you’re having as much fun as Jimmy is playing Super Mario Odyssey.
Nintendo celebrates the launch of Super Mario Odyssey in style with a party in New York
Super Mario Odyssey, one of Mario’s biggest adventures yet, is now available exclusively for the Nintendo Switch system. The cap-tivating game follows Mario on a globe-trotting journey through numerous and varied kingdoms with his new hat companion, Cappy.
In this massive sandbox-style game in the spirit of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine, Mario uses incredible new hat-based abilities like cap throw, cap jump and capture, which define his new adventure and provide a fresh take on the classic Super Mario formula. Using Cappy, Mario can take control of a lot of things, including objects and enemies. Discovering what can be captured and experiencing the surprising results of capturing something is all part of the fun. The game is full of exotic places to explore, hidden secrets to uncover and memorable moments to behold.
Over the last couple of weeks, Mario has been traveling across the country to celebrate the launch of the Super Mario Odyssey game. This real-life odyssey culminated in a powered-up party on the streets of New Donk City … er … New York City on Oct. 26, the night before launch. The celebration in Rockefeller Plaza featured an elaborate dance number set to the tune of the “Jump Up, Super Star!” song from the game. Other memorable moments during the event were visits from the Mario costumed character and actor and singer Jordan Fisher, the chance to play Super Mario Odyssey, fans purchasing the game at midnight at the Nintendo NY store and even an appearance from Nintendo of America President and COO, Reggie Fils-Aime.
“Super Mario Odyssey is the must-have video game for this holiday season, and this event was the perfect way to kick off Mario’s latest adventure,” said Reggie Fils-Aime. “Video game fans of all kinds will want to dive into this latest Mario adventure as soon as possible.”
Leading up to the big event, Mario started his cross-country odyssey in Los Angeles and took his new decked-out trailer on a nationwide tour. He visited Dallas, Chicago and Philadelphia to meet with fans, as well as some scenic locations inspired by the various kingdoms from the game to take memorable photos. (The travelogue of Mario’s adventure can be found on Nintendo of America’s Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr accounts, or by searching for the hashtag #SuperMarioOdyssey.)
Super Mario Odyssey is now available exclusively for Nintendo Switch at a suggested retail price of $59.99. Three game-themed amiibo of Mario, Bowser and Peach in wedding-themed outfits are also available as a set at a suggested retail price of $34.99, or individually at a suggested retail price of $12.99 each. A bundle that comes with the Nintendo Switch system, a download code for the game, Mario-themed red Joy-Con controllers and a special carrying case is also available at a suggested retail price of $379.99. For more information about the Super Mario Odyssey, visit https://supermario.nintendo.com/.
Remember that Nintendo Switch features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/switch/.
With a final groan you are thrown backwards. Freezing in mid-air, your clothes and flesh melt away before your bloody skeleton explodes. This little moment plays out whenever you receive a final, fatal hit and it’s a moment you’ll be seeing a lot in Völgarr the Viking. This action platformer may have first seen release on other systems in 2013 but its inspiration comes decades prior to that, not just with its 16-bit pixel art aesthetic, but with its brutal difficulty.
Its opening moments match those of Rastan and the game has similarities to Taito’s 1987 game as well as Capcom’s Ghosts ‘n Goblins series. You work your way through a series of worlds slashing at some bad guys, lobbing spears at others whilst also climbing ropes and leaping over hazards. Jumping can at first seem awkward as you are unable to change direction once you’ve made your leap, but a double-jump is possible and here you can make your adjustments or just go for extra distance. Anyone who’s played Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts recently on their SNES Mini will know what to expect here, although Völgarr’s double jump also features a spin attack that is useful for slicing through airborn attackers.
You begin the game armed with your sword, a spear and a frankly rubbish shield that breaks after a mere two blocks. Luckily the first weapon upgrade grants you a superior metal guard as well as the ability to charge up spear shots; charged spear shots do more damage and take out multiple enemies at once. You can also acquire a helmet, allowing an extra hit, and a flaming sword to more efficiently deal with the hostiles encountered on your adventure. Throw in your roll ability to get through gaps or avoid danger and you have all the tools needed for a relaxed adventure.
Well, not quite.
The tools are certainly handy but what will actually get you through are the failures, those regular deaths and the mistakes learnt from them. This could be frustrating, but where the game excels is that it is always clear why you failed. Enemies move in set ways, jumps are a matter of timing. When you die you know it’s because you didn’t block that guard’s attack quick enough, you now realise that roll won’t take you past that spider and of course if you’d waited a little longer that jump would have taken you past the fire pit. It’s a matter of small margins, and knowing that slight adjustments will get you that bit further gives the game an addictive quality as you become sure of what needs to be done and are certain you’ll manage it the next time around. Then you do manage it and you die a bit further along, but you know why you died and you go again.
The controls are also a big help as they are responsive and straightforward, again ensuring deaths are due to your own errors. There’s a button to attack and one to jump; press up and attack to throw a spear, down and jump to roll. One potential problem is that in the heat of the moment you may find yourself rolling or throwing a spear when you didn’t intend to. If you are prone to unintentional direction presses, however, fear not – developer Crazy Viking Studios has you covered. Dive into the options menu and you can disable the up/attack and down/jump combinations. This doesn’t remove those moves from your arsenal, either, as they are also mapped to their own buttons.
Whilst the game never feels unfair with its challenge, you will have to set aside a bit of time when playing. In another throwback to gaming of ye olde times, there are very few checkpoints. Actually, with the exception of the final one, each world is split into two stages and the start of the second stage is your only checkpoint. Also, that checkpoint is only in place whilst you are playing. Struggle through to the second stage, then exit the game for a rest and you will find on return that you are back at the first section; you can always make liberal use of the system’s ‘Sleep’ option as an alternative. Of course if you are struggling through the first part you’re probably not ready to tackle the second, but the setup is a far cry from the frequent autosaves of many modern titles; this is not a game you can play in quick bursts here and there – at least not whilst you are still learning the levels.
There’s a lot of enjoyment in figuring out your way through the worlds, but even once cleared they still entertain due to good level design that sees you perform a variety of jumps, climbs and slides en route to the boss. The action isn’t just left-to-right, either, as sometimes you’ll be working vertically through levels and you’ll find yourself using spears thrown into walls as makeshift platforms.
There’s a good range of locales visited during your adventure including a zombie village, a fiery castle, an airship stage and a water city (complete with boat ride section). The game also goes for a retro look that suits the gameplay. Some parts of stages can look a little blocky, but good use of colour and shading gives the visuals a cartoony look and flame and water effects work well. It’s possible to tap a button to zoom out the camera for a better look at the level and in the options you can change this to a toggle switch if you’d like to keep this view. This is handy for giving you a heads up of forthcoming dangers, but it can make the game look a bit basic at times with enemies sitting idle until you’ve got close enough to trigger their movement.
Adding to the experience is a good range of sound effects as you slice through enemies, block attacks, smash through things or crash to the floor from a great height. The music is epic, adventurous and at times atmospheric and there are subtle but effective uses of rumble in your controller.
The difficulty of the game ensures you’ll be kept busy with it, with there being several stages of progress. Most new sections result in death and even when you know what to do it isn’t always easy to pull it off. Eventually though you’ll stumble through; next time around you’ll maybe make it and only get hit once. Once mastered you’ll find a section that always ended in an explosive shower of bloody bones, and you’ll hop through without really thinking about those tough earlier battles. Get really good and you’ll find yourself on the Valkyrie path, which offers tougher versions of the worlds.
For those seeking further replay value, there are a number of achievements to go for if that’s what floats your longship, or you could try and collect more treasure or attempt speedrunning. The game keeps records for individual worlds and overall playthroughs and even has a speed run HUD you can activate to see how you’re doing.
Conclusion
Völgarr the Viking is a tough game that will see you die a lot. Many sections will be replayed often as you try to get through, but the game is always fair and whilst the solution to your problem may be tricky, it is at least obvious what needs to be done. A range of enemies and varied level design keeps the action enjoyable and even when you are struggling there are moments to make you smile, whether that’s the way a charged spear sends the impaled foe flying off the screen or a Stan Bush-referencing achievement. The limited checkpoints in worlds are not ideal when trying to learn the levels, and there’s the odd moment where the stylishly retro visuals just look basic, but there’s little else to fault. For those seeking a stern old-school challenge on their Switch, Völgarr the Viking is an excellent choice.
L.A. Noire arrives on Switch on November 14th, and to build excitement Rockstar has released a new trailer in 4K Ultra HD resolution.
It gives you a good idea of what the game’s all about – sleuthing, crime solving, flashing police badges, that sort of thing – but we can’t help but feel that for Switch owners it’s perhaps painting too rosy a picture; there’s no chance of 4K on Nintendo’s console, with that lofty resolution reserved solely for the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X.
We’ve not actually seen what the game looks like on Switch yet, but there’s not long to wait now. Are you keen to get your hands on this promising remaster? Let us know with a comment.
In one of those ‘sure, why not’ announcements, Nintendo of America has confirmed that the physical retail edition of Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Editionwill arrive on 10th November.
Interestingly, the box art also has an amiibo logo, which suggests the range will be supported in the game via an update – or it’s a design error, we’ll find out soon enough.
Super Mario Odyssey is just hours away from release (as we publish this it’s actually already out in Japan / Australia / New Zealand), and it’s comfortably one of the most anticipated games of the year. We lavished it with praise in our review, and remarked that it’s a handsome game that also delivers some much appreciated 60fps gaming.
Of course, if you’re interested in the technicalities of what Nintendo’s done with the Switch title, Digital Foundry has you covered. The channel’s published its full tech analysis of Super Mario Odyssey, going into resolution, framerate and the differences between portable and docked play. Check it out below.
It’s interesting to see it all broken down, and shows that Nintendo had to work hard to produce a sizeable game at the desired framerate on the Switch. For our money visual compromises are worth it for smooth performance, but not all may agree.
In any case let us know what you think, and whether you’ll be diving into the adventure this weekend.
The start of next week should be very interesting indeed, as Nintendo will reveal its Q2 financial results. After a rather uneventful set of reports for Q1 – and doggedly sticking to conservative Switch projections despite speculation otherwise – we could see Nintendo shift its sales targets for the year.
Once again analysts expect that to happen, and The Wall Street Journal (paywall) has pitched in with some projections based on data and trends. Some key points below.
Revenue is anticipated to be around ¥183 billion ($1.6 billion), which would be the highest Q2 figure since 2009.
A net profit of around ¥15.8 billion is expected, down on the equivalents from last year when Nintendo bolstered its figures through the sale of its stake in the Seattle Mariners MLB team.
Q2 sales of Switch hardware are expected to be around three million, which would be impressive for what is typically a quiet window (and would reflect Nintendo having increased supply). As a result it’s expected that the company will increase its current estimate of 10 million Switch hardware sales for the financial year.
Switch game sales for the reporting window are expected to be above 10 million, and some believe that Nintendo’s current yearly target of 35 million is ‘conservative’.
In truth we’ll only know once the official numbers arrive, as analysts have certainly been off the mark before. In general, however, it’s anticipated that there’ll be various positives for Nintendo to report. Nevertheless, the company’s share value on the Tokyo Stock Market took a dive of nearly 4% on 26th October, so we’ll also see how that balances out into next week. Beyond the Switch there’ll also be a big focus on estimates and expectations around the Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp app, currently out in Australia and due to have a global release in late November.
