Mortal Kombat 1 is out in a week’s time, but NetherRealm Studios has dropped the game’s launch trailer nice and early to get fans amped up for the newest entry in the bloodiest fighting game series around.
The launch trailer sets up some of the story for this “reboot”, where Fire God Liu Kang has created a brand new world. But we also get a look at Shang Tsung and Reiko — a general under his command — in combat.
While the latter only gets a brief section in the trailer, Shang Tsung’s fatality is on full display during the gameplay snippets, which is expectedly gory.
Reiko made his debut in Mortal Kombat 4 as a last-minute addition and caused some controversy among MK fans as some home console ports added a scene which shows Reiko in Shao Kahn’s throne room, where he adorns the skull mask. This has since been debunked by other games in the franchise. However, this is Reiko’s first playable appearance in some time, having been benched as a Kameo character for a while.
Even though Mortal Kombat 1 is only seven days away, some people have managed to get their hands on a Switch version of the game early and leaks are floating around on the internet, so be wary!
Mortal Kombat 1 launches on Switch on 19th September. Is the upcoming fighting game In Your Blood? Give us your thoughts in the comments.
A Blockbuster Switch game case wasn’t on our 2023 bingo card, but Retro Fighters thought the world needed one anyway. And now that we’ve seen it, we couldn’t agree more.
The family-based video game accessory developer teased this brand new Switch game case, which is officially licensed by the video rental store, last week on YouTube. But today, you can check out the case on the Retro Fighters website.
The Blockbuster Switch game case is just the first in a planned lined of limited edition products which are “designed for the retro enthusiast”. However, you’ll have to snap them up fast as Retro Fighters has confirmed that once the products are sold out, “they will be gone FOREVER”.
Pre-orders for the Blockbuster Switch game case open today for just $19.99, with it due to launch on 15th November 2023.
The case is utterly adorable. It looks just like a rental case for a cassette and can hold up to 12 Switch games, along with four memory cards. The inside is all silicone, meaning there’s no risk of damaging your cartridges trying to squeeze them into plastic slots. And the case is magnetic safe, too, meaning it won’t easily slip open.
With such a nostalgic design — even if it’s a bit smaller than we remember — and the soft, silicone slots for the cartridges, we can see these going pretty fast. If you have any interest in these at all, have a look at Retro Fighters’ website for more details.
What do you think of the Mini VHS game case? Will you be rewinding time for this? Let us know in thecomments.
In case you missed it, it’s an action RPG based on the anime and manga series of the same name – allowing players to relive the events of the anime as they take control of Dai and the Disciples of Avan against the Dark Army.
If you’re at all interested in a physical copy of the game, the good news is there will be a boxed version released in Asia with full English support. It’s available to pre-order now on websites like Playasia.
In related news, Square Enix has also released some new details about the game. There’ll be a post-game challenge mode and the previously revealed Temple of Recollection for added replay value.
Once completing the story mode, the challenge mode will allow players to take on stronger opponents as well as “remixed” enemies and battles. As for the temple, it allows players to participate in dungeon runs where they can strengthen party skills, spells and more. In this mode, the difficulty will start off at level 1.
Would you be interested in a physical copy of this upcoming release? Tell us below.
Trainers can look forward to meeting The Heroes of Kitakami, getting to know the village of Kitakami, and also reuniting with some familiar Pokémon that have been found living in other regions. It’s got us wondering if you’ll actually be jumping into this new adventure on release.
So vote in our poll and tell us if you’re ready for this new adventure on 13th September or if you’re still busy in Paldea.
Will you be getting Scarlet & Violet’s Part 1 DLC? (349 votes)
If you’re looking for a new arena brawler, later this year at some point GameMill Entertainment will be releasing Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2.
It’s going to feature new characters as well as improved returning brawlers, and one of these happens to be Aang from the hit Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender. He comes equipped with a fresh new moveset making him the best airbending master he can be.
“Avatar Aang is back to Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 with a completely new moveset! Check out his character breakdown”
In case you missed it, last week the rockstar Ember from Danny Phantom also got an official game trailer reveal:
There’s no release date for Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 just yet, but again, it’s meant to be arriving on Switch and multiple other platforms at some point later this year.
You can catch up on some of the previous character reveals in our existing coverage here on Nintendo Life:
Like the look of Aang in Nick All-Star 2? What do you think of the roster so far? Comment below.
The game will be available on the Japanese eShop on 14th September (thanks, Gematsu!), which is this Thursday. It’s also coming to Steam, but at a later date.
Check out the official website of the game for more details — but hopefully, one day, we’ll see this get an English localisation. Check out our original story below for more details on this rerelease…
Original article [Tue 29th Aug, 2023 03:05 BST]: Here’s some surprising news for Persona diehards – G-MODE will be bringing the Atlus RPG Megami Ibunroku Persona: Ikuu no Tou Hen to the Japanese Switch eShop.
This game will be part of the G-Mode Archives+, but doesn’t have a release date yet. This title originally made its debut on mobile devices back in 2006 and is based on the 1996 PlayStation release Revelations: Persona.
You can check out the announcement trailer above, which provides an extended look at the gameplay on offer. Again, there’s no solid release date for this one, and there’s also no mention of it being released outside of Japan. If we hear any updates though, we’ll let you know.
For now, Atlus fans in the West can look forward to the release of Persona 5 Tactica when it arrives on the Switch this November. Some of the classic Shin Megami Tensei games have also been made available via the Switch Online service in Japan.
Would you be interested in playing this game on Switch? Comment below.
The year is 1991. ‘Video games’ — plastic, square-shaped cartridges that millions of people blow into every day — grip early-adopting proselytizers. Yet they don’t know their precious cartridge’s days are numbered. A mighty company from Kyoto rules the industry today, but a new laser-based challenger is lurking in the bushes.
Is it the mighty Sony PlayStation? No, not for another three years. Is it the Sega CD? Well, actually, that’s coming in a couple of days. But today, on December 3rd, 1991, the Philips CD-i has arrived. Its name is short for ‘Compact Disc-Interactive,’ which suggests the device plays CDs, naturally, but it can also play video games… though not very well.
Maybe you’ve heard of The Legend of Zelda? It will have three of those games! They will be absolutely terrible by every measure conceivable. Zelda’s creators will disavow them, in fact. And outside of the hatred for these Zelda games, soon, hardly anyone will remember the CD-i beyond the chasm of its nearly one billion dollar loss for its creators.
The year is now 2023. The landscape of technology is a tapestry of technical wizardry. Vast digital worlds fit in people’s pockets. Ray tracing, facial recognition, and crisp-resolution displays are common. Games are played by players separated by oceans. Meanwhile, virtual reality is coming into focus.
All the while, a game developer named Seth Fulkerson (affectionately called “Dopply” by some) is set to release Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore, an old-fashioned platformer video game built from the ground up to faithfully emulate the peculiar, often laughable games once released on the Philips CD-i, and more specifically Link: The Faces of Evil and Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon. And he couldn’t be more serious about it.
Image: Limited Run Games
The game’s demo at PAX West 2023 is proof positive that no detail is too small to labor over, from the pitch-perfect reimaginings of those games’ visuals, to the main character’s floaty physics, to fully animated cutscenes — some of which are totally hidden unless you uncover them. (That’s a lot of work for an Easter Egg.)
Fulkerson sat down with Nintendo Life to discuss Arzette, which is being published by retro game connoisseurs Limited Run, its release currently listed as “coming soon”. We discussed where his niche obsession originated, how he’s improved on the original recipe, as well as who he’s surprisingly recruited to bring his offbeat vision to life.
Alan Lopez for Nintendo Life: I’ve never asked this question before, though it’s truly not meant to be vindictive…I’ve never played a proper video game where its source material was widely perceived as purelybad. How do you make something ‘good,’ so to speak, out of something that people by and large don’t find that much value in?
Seth “Dopply” Fulkerson: I actually find a lot of genuine potential in those original games that some people think are bad. Yes, they have a ton of flaws. They’re definitely really flawed. But I do love the linear/non-linear mix of how levels are laid out.
[CD-i games] typically have linear, stage-based levels, then you go back and you find power-ups, items, and stuff, then you go back through again. [Then] you find new paths and new items, which I like. And I really like the visual style. I love the hand-painted backgrounds, the super-detailed sprites…I find the cutscenes that some people find abhorrent to be, actually, super interesting and charming.
I never set out to make a ‘bad’ game when I was working on Arzette. I knew I could get those genuine bits of potential from those original games and sort of make them into something that’s much better.
The original games had a style that was born from constraints. What is it like to emulate such strong constraints?
We definitely went for that. For a lot of gameplay mechanics…like, infinitely respawning enemies, for instance…I knew I wouldn’t keep. But keeping it the same general art style and very similar sprite palette and outline…it was a really fun challenge.
That’s interesting to me, especially because there’s blossomed an entire genre this past generation of people emulating retro games, yet I’m pretty sure this is the first ‘CD-i-like’ that I’ve ever seen.What would you say to someone who has no recollection or knowledge of those games and is playing Arzette for the first time?
A lot of people have no point of reference for what inspired Arzette, and they still really enjoy it. Because at the end of the day, it’s a hand-painted action platformer with charming and sometimes cheesy cutscenes. I think there’s still a lot to love about it.
But if you are familiar with the source material, there’s Easter Eggs, there’s a few references here and there for you. I tried to not go so heavy with [references].
I presume legally, you cannot even reference [the original Zelda CD-i games]? At least, that’s what I gathered from your online presence when you talk about Arzette.
[laughter] No comment.
No comment? [laughter]
No, no, no…I’m kidding. Obviously, they are the inspiration, and I’m billing it as the spiritual successor, but you know, I am trying to make it its own individual thing.
Image: Alan Lopez / Nintendo Life
we have one of the painters from the original games that inspired Arzette, Rob Dunlavey. He did the world map and other level art
Can you talk about the CD-i Zelda games, and your own experience with them?
Yeah! My first experience was like a lot of people: the memes, the video remixes and stuff. But you know, I have a soft spot for games that are perceived as ‘bad’ or underloved. So I really latched on to it. Especially because I really liked the art style, and the cutscenes, and also learning about why the games were the way they are, with all the development constraints. It’s really charming to me.
I saw the potential in those games and I wanted to explore them, and hopefully show people that if you have enough time and resources and a good design, things will turn out good.
What is the potential of those games?
Well, that they would be fun. [laughter]
Image: Limited Run Games
Do you see potential for other people to make games like this?
I would certainly hope so. I would be very flattered if there was a new generation of ‘CD-i-likes,’ that would be fantastic. [laughter]
You’ve stated that you painted everything, is that correct?
Yes. Every single background in Arzette is hand-painted. So the design process was that I would do it all on graph paper, along with my design assistant and good friend, John Linneman of Digital Foundry. We sort of went back and forth on level designs. Then I would gray-box it, and then I would make a sketch based on those initial refined gray-boxes. Then I would hand it off to an artist to get it painted.
And actually we have one of the painters from the original games that inspired Arzette, Rob Dunlavey. He did the world map and other level art for the game as well.
How did you get ahold of him?
I actually got him, and a couple of the voice actors from the original games as well, Link and Zelda from the original games…
Oh! I didn’t know that.
Yes, I reached out and pitched the project; I made sure that they knew that it was not a joke, that I was being serious and I wasn’t just a crazy person. And they were super on board. I made it very clear that this was a passion project, like a love letter to those games, not making fun of them.
Once they realized what I was doing, they were excited. We had a lot of fun.
Is there more to being a ‘CD-i-like’ game than just the aesthetic? Or is there a gameplay element as well?
I find that the early ‘90s, [full-motion video] era — the CD-ROM era — which is very much the lane that Arzette is set in…I find that there is so much potential in those games. Especially the way they were being built and advertised, it almost felt dream-like…
Realizing that potential, instead of the dud that it ended up being, I think that would be the potential [of CD-i-inspired games].
Image: Limited Run Games
Is there anything else about Arzette that we didn’t touch on yet or that you haven’t shared with the general public yet?
Well, working with Limited Run has been excellent. They’ve been really supportive. Working with all of my collaborators has been excellent; they all understand the project and what I’m going for, and a lot of them are my friends and this was the game we were all sort of waiting to make. It feels excellent to finally make it.
There’s a lot of surprises in store, and a lot to love about Arzette. I didn’t make this game as a joke, I made this (with) a sincere attempt to make a good game with those aesthetics. I hope that it shows in the final product.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
Our thanks to Seth for speaking with us. Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore is coming to Switch “soon”.
Nintendo isn’t always the easiest company to predict, but things are usually pretty routine when it comes to Direct Showcases. There’s usually one in February, usually one in the summer and usually one in September — plus a handful of Indie Worlds, Partner Showcases or game-specific presentations thrown in for good measure.
We’re in September now (almost halfway through, even) and an event is still yet to be announced (at the time of writing, that is), so there’s only one thing for it: let the speculation begin.
This is Nintendo that we are talking about here, so we’d be hesitant to call anything a ‘guarantee’, but a September Direct showcase would hardly be out of the ordinary at this point. Take a look at Nintendo’s September events for the past few years and see if you can spot a trend forming:
13th September 2022 – Nintendo Direct
23rd September 2021 – Nintendo Direct
17th September 2020 – Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase
4th September 2019 – Nintendo Direct
13th September 2018 – Nintendo Direct
13th September 2017 – Nintendo Direct
1st September 2016 – Nintendo Direct
As we said, you can never bank on a ‘guarantee’ with Nintendo, but when it comes to there being a Direct presentation in September, you can be confident that it has something in the works. The leaks and rumours have been coming in thick and fast, too, and with Nintendo reportedly showing off Switch 2 demos to developers at Gamescom 2023, it’s got people speculating.
What’s more, historically, this mid-month period seems to be the prime time for a showcase — particularly in the run-up to the Tokyo Game Show, which kicks off on 21st September this year — so if one is en route, it might be right around the corner.
The question is, will it be a full-fat showcase? It has been less than two weeks since we got a boatload of information straight from the Flower Kingdom in the Super Mario Bros. Wonder Direct, and the rest of 2023 is still looking rather stacked for Nintendo with the likes of Super Mario RPG, WarioWare: Move It!, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC and Detective Pikachu Returns all still to come in the next few months. With all this going down, is now really the time to reveal even more games?
Going by previous years, yes it is. The rumour mill is already working overtime to bring a list of titles that could be on the horizon, and there is always room for third-party developers to step into the limelight and show off some of the non-Nintendo titles that are in the works for the Switch.
Princess Peach’s new game is due out in 2024, and we have little to no info on it. — Image: Nintendo
Yes, 2023 is looking a little packed in terms of release schedules, but (terrifyingly) 2024 is just around the corner… that means Princess Peach’s new gameandLuigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon remaster are both on the cards for this potential Direct. Also, where is that Splatoon 3 Side Order DLC already?
So, what do you think? Is a September 2023 Nintendo Direct already a certainty, or might things be a little quieter this month with all the new releases ahead? Fill out the following poll to let us know your prediction.
Will we get a September Nintendo Direct this year? (3,172 votes)
Yes, and it will be full of first-party titles63%
Yes, but it will be a Partner Showcase10%
Maybe, it still feels a little too soon after the Wonder Direct19%
Nope, Nintendo is breaking the trend this year8%
What would you like to see pop up at a September Direct (if it exists)? Drop your hopes in the comments below.
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake will be getting a free update on 16th October 2023 on Switch to coincide with the game’s next-gen version release, publisher THQ Nordic has revealed.
The Purple Lamp-developed platformer, which launched on Switch back in January, will soak up more of the limelight with its PS5 and Xbox Series release next month. But Switch owners won’t be missing out on any of the new additions.
These new features coming to the game are Photo Mode — a staple of modern gaming — and costumes of King Doubloon and Plush Gary. Bug fixes have also been announced for a handful of issues reported since the game’s launch earlier this year.
Here’s what’s coming to the Switch version of the game next month, then:
Nintendo Switch – New Feature – Photo Mode! Apply one of 19 different filters to enhance your pictures. – New Costumes – New costume “King Doubloon” for collecting all doubloons is now available. – New costume “Plush Gary” for unlocking all awards is now available.
Bug Fixes (all platforms) – Fixed a rare bug where saving stopped working. – Fixed a bug where the playtime did not pause while on a loading screen. – Many general bug fixes to improve stability and playability of the game.
While the spiritual successor to SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom wasn’t the commercial success Embracer Group (which owns THQ Nordic) expected, it did believe the game will “have a long tail of revenue”. And despite mixed critical reception, we rather enjoyed our time with the game:
Will you be returning to Bikini Bottom next month with this free update? Let us know in the comments.
The hugely popular anime and manga series Demon Slayer is going all Mario Party on us next year. Publisher Aniplex has announced Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Mezase! Saikyou Taishi!, a board game-style game, for Switch in 2024. Only a Japanese release is on the cards right now.
Mezase! Saikyou Taishi! looks to be a bit more amicable in the competitive department — depending on how you play Mario party-type games, anyway. Not many details have been revealed about the game just yet, but you can check out the announcement trailer up top or head on over to the official Demon Slayer website.
We had a good time with last year’s fighting game, awarding it an 8/10 in our review for its lovely art style and compelling story — it’s one Demon Slayer fans shouldn’t miss, and we reckon this party game will be much the same. Hopefully we’ll see a western release, too…
Are you a Demon Slayer fan? Do you want to check out this board game-style title next year? Let us know in the comments.
