Nintendo surprised fans this week with the reveal of F-Zero 99, a new twist on the orignal SNES classic that throws 99 players into a single race to determine who will be the last machine standing.
It’s a neat throwback to the original that follows in the footsteps of Tetris 99 and PAC-MAN 99, and fans so far seem to be quite enamoured with the fresh spin on the F-Zero franchise. Even Tatakya Imamura, one of the key developers on the series until his departure from Nintendo, has expressed his love in a recent post on X.
Translated via Google, the text reads:
” A bold arrangement that respects the original elements! I felt the love for F-ZERO. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the creator. We are looking forward to the revival of this IP.”
We certainly echo Imamura’s sentiments here in regards to a revival of the F-Zero IP! Hopefully, Nintendo might well be testing the waters with the launch of F-Zero 99; in which case, make sure you get it downloaded if you’re interested in seeing future games in the series.
F-Zero 99 is available to download for free now for all members of Nintendo Switch Online. Our review is currently in the works, so be sure to keep an eye out for that in the near future.
What do you make of Imamura’s comments here? Would you like to see a brand new F-Zero title on Switch or future Nintendo hardware? Let us know.
Those who like to have a shiny Switch box on their shelves instead of a digital copy are in luck as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is landing an all-new ‘Anniversary Edition’ physical copy which will include the recently-released ‘Dimension Shellshock‘ DLC.
The base game received a physical release last year, though this is the first time that the rougelike game mode expansion will be gracing the game cartridges — you can never have too many copies of one game, right?
This Anniversary Edition will be coming to us from Merge Games on 17th November and will cost you £29.99 / €34.99 / $54.95. The company has stated that this new physical will be available from all major retailers and pre-orders are now available from Signature Edition Games.
Image: Merge Games
We had a great time with the ‘Dimension Shellshock’ DLC earlier this month, granting it an 8/10 in our review. If you have been waiting for an excuse to dive back into the Turtles’ latest brilliant beat-em-up, then this might just be it.
Will you be picking up this new physical? Skate down to the comments and let us know.
The Nintendo Switch is fast becoming the ultimate Mario machine, with Mario vs Donkey Kong soon joining an already huge list of amazing Mario titles available on the system.
Pre-orders for this new game, which launches on February 16th 2024, are now live in the US and UK. We’ll be keeping track of all retail options for you on this page, highlighting the best deals and cheapest prices available as and when they appear. Learn more about the game here or grab a copy now below!
Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.
Pre-Order Mario vs. Donkey Kong In The US & Canada
Here are your current options in the US and Canada:
Pre-Order Mario vs. Donkey Kong In The UK
And here are your early options in the UK (we’ll add more links as they go live over the coming weeks):
Buy Mario vs. Donkey Kong With eShop Credit
If you’d rather own the game digitally, you can pre-order it from the Nintendo Switch eShop. We stock Nintendo Switch eShop credit vouchers at our very own store – if you’d like to top up your account and support our work here at Nintendo Life at the same time, you can buy some below:
Are you securing a pre-order for this one? Are you looking forward to it? Let us know in the comments.
Sega has released a new video showcasing snippets of new character themes from Sonic Frontiers‘ upcoming ‘Final Horizon’ update.
Launching on September 28th, 2023, the update will allow players to take on the role of Frontiers’ supporting cast, including Tails, Knuckles, and Amy as you explore new story content and challenges.
The character themes, composed by Tomoya Ohtani, are pretty spectacular, and we’re big fans of Knuckles’ theme in particular. Here’s hoping the gameplay matches up when the DLC drops later this month!
The Final Horizon update is the final major DLC for Sonic Frontiers. The game originally launched in November 2022 and has since received a number of free updates, adding new customisation options, music, and more. Final Horizon will, of course, also be free to all players.
Will you be checking out Final Horizon when it drops later this month? Let us know with a comment.
The Trails series is known for its incredible worldbuilding through many different games, including Trails of Cold Steel, Trails from Zero, and Trails to Azure, as well as Trails in the Sky. The events of those games culminated with Trails into Reverie, which finally got a localized release this year.
The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails, however, has absolutely no connection with the mainline games. That’s actually a good thing as it means Boundless Trails can implement new mechanics without being beholden to them. This has an engaging real-time action combat system with plenty of great worldbuilding through side quests. However, the story is rather simplistic and sometimes the platforming feels imprecise. Still, Boundless Trails is a worthy spin-off deserving of the Trails name.
The story doesn’t have the intricate political and socioeconomic pulls that the mainline Trails games have, and that might sour some longtime fans of the series who expect Boundless Trails to be the same. Instead, the story reminds us of classic Final Fantasy games—Nayuta and the fairy Noi team up to collect elemental Master Gears and stop the evil villain Zechts, who is hellbent on destroying both Nayuta’s hometown of Remnant Island and the magical Lost Heaven.
Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)
The story also has a hint of Kingdom Hearts wonder to it, as Nayuta has dreams of visiting other places outside of his hometown and Noi’s magical abilities let him do so. Boundless Trails doesn’t have the most elaborate story by any means, but it’s nice to be able to experience a journey that doesn’t rely on playing a bunch of interconnected ones to understand.
The game’s story is bolstered by its wonderful side quests, which are reminiscent of those found in the mainline Trails entries. I enjoyed tackling these as I got to learn more about both Remnant Island and Lost Heaven’s inhabitants. One quest, in particular, had me show an elemental god the delicacies of human food, which provided context about how they view others in the human realm. Additionally, these quests are worth pursuing as they often give rewards such as extra gold or some useful combat items upon completion.
The combat in Boundless Trails is the game’s biggest strength. It completely goes in the opposite direction of the turn-based battles in the main Trails games and opts for real-time action platforming. It’s simple but effective. The game lets you choose stages on a map similar to that of a 2D Mario game. We had a lot of fun hacking and slashing at enemies throughout each of the stages—it was a refreshing take on the typical Trails combat formula and kept us engaged.
Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)
The stages also have impressive replayability. Each has three stars to collect based on goals and conditions. For example, you can earn a star on a certain stage by reaching the end without getting hit more than 10 times. You’re even rewarded for reaching certain milestones in your star-collecting journey; every six stars lets you learn a new skill or special attack. It is a fun mini-collectathon and we felt like we were a young teen playing New Super Mario Bros. on the DS again.
Eventually, Nayuta can also change the seasons in Lost Heaven, and that unlocks seasonal variants of existing stages, offering even more replayability, with even more star collecting! The seasonal stages mix up the environments, platforming, and enemy variety quite a bit, so it never really got repetitive. However, sometimes the platforming aspect in the stages felt imprecise. These stages are presented as a 2.5D affair, and there were many instances where we had to jump onto moving platforms, only to misjudge our distance and incur fall damage. The fact that the camera is fixed doesn’t help matters.
Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)
As for the presentation itself, NIS has managed to make this 11-year-old PlayStation Portable game as pretty as it possibly could. The 3D character models have been enhanced and they’re charming in a retro-style, early-polygonal way. There’s also a smart use of cel-shading applied to the models. Sure, the graphical limitations of a PSP port are obvious, but the facial expressions and character movements add to its appeal. On Switch, the game also runs flawlessly with no discernible hiccups or frame rate issues.
Another addition that we truly loved was the high-speed feature. In recent Trails entries, you can click a button for high-speed mode, which increases the speed of the entire game, gameplay and cutscenes included. While taking the critical path in Boundless Trails will get you a 15-20 hour runtime, the game has plenty of content. Not only does running back to previous stages to collect remaining stars add more playtime, but there’s also a playable epilogue after the main story. The way the game is structured is perfectly suited for the stop-and-go playstyle that a portable machine was designed for.
Conclusion
The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails is a fun action RPG that takes elements of the wider series it’s based on and crafts something unique. The minute-to-minute gameplay is also engaging, although with some minor platforming frustrations here and there. While the story may be simplistic and not as politically engrossing as the mainline Trails games, the heartfelt cast of characters and side quests help flesh out its world.
In case you missed it, Mortal Kombat 1 is now in early access, with the game scheduled to officially launch next week on 19th September.
Ahead of this, Warner Bros. Games and NetherRealm Studios has released a day-one update. It’s worth noting the Switch version has its own separate version of patch notes. This first patch enables a lot of parts of the game and also comes with some “general bug fixes”, though there are no details provided.
Here they are courtesy of the Mortal Kombat 1 website:
Mortal Kombat 1 Patch Notes – 9/14/2023
General
Enables additional character/kameo roster, additional arenas, and kustomization
Enables full tutorials, fatality practice, practice mode
Enables Towers and Tournament modes
General bug fixes
Story
Enables full story campaign
Online
Enables online gameplay
If you’re curious to learn more about Mortal Kombat 1, you can check out the critic reviews. So far, the game has been well-received on Xbox and PlayStation.
Will you be trying this game out on the Switch? Tell us below.
If you’re a fan of Square Enix games, you might want to check out the new Switch game bundle it’s offering in the US and UK.
Right now you can get Octopath Traveler II (main game) and Various Daylife (main game) for the single price of $64.99 / £52.99. Here’s a bit about each one:
OCTOPATH TRAVELER II The story takes place in Solistia, a land comprising an eastern and western continent divided by the sea. It is a bustling era, wherein large vessels navigate busy sea routes and the power of steam gives birth to new technologies. Some people thrill to glamorous stars of the stage and industry, while others are brought to tears by war, plague, and poverty. In this faraway realm, eight travelers hailing from different regions venture forth for their own reasons. Step into their shoes and explore the land as you see fit, using their unique talents to aid you along your journey. Embark on an adventure all your own.
VARIOUS DAYLIFE In the year 211 of the Imperial Era, a new continent was discovered. Explore its every last corner as a settler of Antoecia, while living your life to the fullest in the city of Erebia.
Be sure to check out our Nintendo Life reviews for even more information about these games:
It’s worth noting these games are also on sale individually at the moment. Octopath Traveler II is reduced to $44.99 / £37.49 and Various Daylife is down to just $14.49 / £12.49.
Any interest in this offer? Leave a comment below.
Nintendo dropped quite the surprise at the end of the latest Direct, revealing the GameCube classic Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door would be returning with updated graphics on the Switch.
If you’re curious to see just how good this version looks alongside the original 2004 role-playing game, GameXplain has now released a side-by-side comparison video. The new version as you can see in the video above certainly looks more vibrant. It appears some paper patterns have also been changed, there seems to be some improved water effects and in general, it’s all looking a lot sharper.
You can learn more about the return of Paper Mario’s GameCube adventure in our original announcement post:
Will you be adding this classic to your Switch collection when it launches in 2024? Tell us in the comments.
There were a lot of first-party games featured during the latest Direct and if you’re wondering how you’re going to be able to afford them all, you could perhaps consider making use of the Switch Online voucher program.
In North America and certain other parts of the world, Nintendo has now added some more titles to the program. This voucher, allowing you to pick two games, will cost Switch Online members $99.98 USD / $132.99 CAD. Here are the new games that have been added:
To kick off the latest Nintendo Direct, Nintendo confirmed the Splatoon 3 story DLC ‘Side Order’ would be arriving in Spring 2024.
That’s not the only news it’s shared. Very soon the squid shooter for Switch will be getting updated to Version 5.0.1. It’s obviously not as big as the 5.0.0 update, but there are still some DLC adjustments and fixes.
You can see the full patch notes, courtesy of Nintendo’s support page:
Ver. 5.0.1 (Releasing September 14, 2023)
Changes to DLC
An Off the Hook banner is available from the lobby terminal.
To collect your banner, you must first purchase and download the DLC content. Then start the Splatoon 3 game, visit the lobby terminal, and select Get Stuff.
Fixes to Player Controls
Fixed an issue that allowed players to climb unclimbable walls in rare cases when performing certain actions right after doing a Squid Roll from a wall.
Slightly adjusted the sounds the Heavy Edit Splatling makes while fully charged and while firing after being fully charged.
Fixed an issue that caused Trizooka wielders to appear as if they were overlapping with the Trizooka itself after doing a Squid Roll from a wall.
Fixes to Multiplayer
Fixed an issue in Wahoo World that prevented Zipcaster users from sticking to parts of the terrain in the center of the stage.
Fixed an issue in Shipshape Cargo Co. that sometimes caused players to be submerged in water when landing on certain spots on the stage.
You can learn more about the latest Splatoon 3 news and the previous update in our other stories here on Nintendo Life:
Will you be checking out Splatoon 3’s next game update? What do you think of the latest DLC update? Tell us in the comments.
