Most Recent: Switch

Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment Review: Death Takes Over in a Perfect Prequel

Posted on March 15, 2017 by John Scalzo

Yacht Club Games has built a strong reputation over the years for their ability to deconstruct, modernize, and regenerate the side-scrolling platformer. Using Ducktales and Mega Man as a template, the original Shovel Knight was a game that honored the past, while only being able to exist in the present. Meanwhile, its first expansion, Plague of Shadows, brought back the gadget platformer in a unique adventure that felt more like a true sequel than an add-on.

The developer must have had the same thought, as Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is the first game in the franchise’s rapidly-growing expanded universe to be available as a standalone game as well as a free expansion. Widening their playing field has also lead Yacht Club to tackle the cinematic storytelling and swordplay found in the NES era’s ninja platformers, best exemplified by Ninja Gaiden. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, Mobile, PC, PS3, PS4, Reviews, Switch, Top Story, Vita, Wii U, Xbox One | Tagged ,

Learn how The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild came to be in a “Making of” Documentary and “Breaking Conventions” GDC Session

Posted on March 14, 2017 by John Scalzo

Nintendo is giving fans an unprecedented look at how they designed and built The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in a new documentary series.

The Making of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a three-part documentary that focuses on all aspects of Breath of the Wild including the initial work done in “The Beginning,” the seamless exploration provided by the game’s “Open-Air Concept,” and the epic saga of the “Story and Characters.”

This documentary sets nicely alongside “Breaking Conventions,” a Game Developers Conference session hosted by Game Director Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Art Director Satoru Takizawa, and Technical Director Takuhiro Dohta. The three developers dive deep into the development process for Breath of the Wild, and provide plenty of new insight into the notoriously secretive inner workings at Nintendo.

I understand that not everyone has two hours to devote to behind-the-scenes stories from Breath of the Wild’s development (that’s time you could be playing the game, after all). But if nothing else, stick around long enough to see the 8-bit prototype the team created, as well as footage of an early game concept that included an alien invasion of Hyrule straight out of Independence Day.

All four videos can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in Etcetera, News, Switch, Wii U | Tagged ,

New Retail Releases: Danganronpa 1-2 Reload, Styx Shards of Darkness, Binding of Isaac Afterbirth+

Posted on March 12, 2017 by John Scalzo

Here’s what your local game retailer will be stocking their shelves with this week…

After making its North American debut on the Vita in 2014, NIS America will bring the Danganronpa franchise to the PS4 for the first time this week thanks to Danganronpa 1-2 Reload. The package will include the first two games in the series (Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc and Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair), and fans both new and old will get to experience the murderous machinations of Monokuma, the evil robotic bear at the center of the story.

If a murderous robotic bear isn’t bizarre enough for you, Nicalis will also launch The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ for the Nintendo Switch this week. Developed by Edmund McMillen, one of the co-creators of Super Meat Boy, The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ is a procedurally-generated shooter (with RPG elements) that forces Isaac to fight back against the monsters in his basement.

Finally this week, Focus Home Interactive and Cyanide Studio will bring Styx: Shards of Darkness to the PS4 and Xbox One. The medieval stealth sequel asks Styx to infiltrate the city of Korrangar to steal a scepter of “immense and indomitable power.”

That’s all for now, but we’ll be back later this week with an expanded look at the latest additions to the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop.

Posted in News, PS4, Switch, Xbox One | Tagged , ,

Sonic Mania gets new gameplay footage at PAX East 2017

Posted on March 11, 2017 by Brittney Williams

Sega just dropped some new gameplay footage for the highly anticipated Sonic Mania at PAX East and it looks great.

If you were “Team Sega” during the great console wars of the 1990s, then you’re likely pretty familiar with the original Sonic games. Sonic Mania captures the charm of those games, and puts a high definition spin on them, bumping the graphics from their original 30 FPS to a whopping 60 FPS.

But that’s not the only new thing Sonic Mania has going for it. The game also introduces new enemies, new levels, new game mechanics, new item boxes, alternate routes, and much more. And in Sonic Mania, players are now immediately transitioned to the brand new “Green Hill Zone Act 2” after “Act 1,” trading in the fade-to-black for uninterrupted gameplay and speedy traversal across the playfield via zip-line.

Sonic Mania is not a remake of any of the original Sonic games from the Sega Genesis era. Instead, it’s an entirely new game that uses prettier, high definition visuals to create a reimagining of the originals. The reimagining attempts to encapsulate all of the things that made the 16-bit versions great, while also refitting them for new and old audiences alike.

Sonic Mania will be available for the PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in Spring 2017. In the meantime, check out the above trailer and some awesome new screenshots after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One | Tagged ,

New trailer details additional features and revamped Battle Mode in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Posted on March 10, 2017 by John Scalzo

Nintendo has begun preparing fans for the April 28th launch of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with the release of a brand new “Overview Trailer,” as well as more details about its new Battle Mode.

Every racer and course from the original Mario Kart 8 (including the content from both downloadable expansions) will be carried over to Deluxe, but the racing game’s Switch debut will also include five new characters (Inkling Girl, Inkling Boy, King Boo, Dry Bones, and Bowser Jr.), the ability to hold two items at once, returning items like the item-stealing Boo and jumping Feather, a Smart Steering control option, and five ways to play the revamped Battle Mode:

Battle Modes Available in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

  • Renegade Roundup: Making its debut in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, this new mode has one team trying to capture the other and put them into jail before time runs out. The opposing team must try to escape and can break their own teammates out of prison by pressing a button under the jail cell.
  • Balloon Battle: In this oldie but goodie, players earn points by popping balloons on the back of their opponents’ karts.
  • Bob-Omb Blast: Originally seen in the Mario Kart: Double Dash!! game, this mode finds players throwing a barrage of Bob-Ombs at opponents.
  • Coin Runners: By racing across the Battle course, players try to collect the most coins as possible in this fast and frenetic mode introduced in Mario Kart Wii.
  • Shine Thief: Steal the coveted Shine Sprite and try to hold onto it for a 20 count in this classic multiplayer Battle mode.

And if you’re in Boston for this weekend’s PAX East convention, you’ll be able to try out a demo of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe if you visit Nintendo’s booth.

Posted in News, Switch | Tagged ,

Nintendo Download: Blaster Master Zero, NeoGeo Games on Switch, Voez, more

Posted on March 9, 2017 by John Scalzo

Week Two of the Switch era begins for Nintendo, and the consolemaker is kicking it off with the launch of eight new games for the console as part of this week’s Nintendo Download.

Inti Creates leads the way with Blaster Master Zero, their retro-styled reboot of the popular NES action game. The side-scroller/overhead hybrid is also available to download for the 3DS.

Also available to download for the Switch today is Voez, a rhythm game that is only playable through the console’s Handheld Mode. But those who decide to tap on the notes in the correct sequence will help six high school students achieve international fame with their band.

Finally, Hamster Corporation will re-release six NeoGeo classics on the Switch this week as part of their Arcade Archives series. Each game is priced at $7.99, and the list of available titles includes The King of Fighters ’98, Metal Slug 3, World Heroes Perfect, Nam-1975, Shock Troopers, and Waku Waku 7.

And don’t think Nintendo forgot about the Wii U. Bomberman 64, which was originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1997, was added to the Wii U’s Virtual Console service today.

You can learn more about all of these games (and a few other new releases) after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, News, Switch, Wii U | Tagged

17 Random Thoughts About the Nintendo Switch (and its Launch Lineup)

Posted on March 9, 2017 by John Scalzo

It’s much too early to say for sure, but it looks like Nintendo is off to a great start with the Switch. The Wii U had bit of a hot start as well, but something feels different this time. Perhaps it’s the near-universal acclaim that Breath of the Wild has received. Or maybe it’s the interesting selection of exclusive launch titles that you can only get on the Switch.

Whatever the reason, after a week with the Switch, I’m enjoying it very much. And that’s not the only thought that popped into my head over the last seven days… (more…)

Posted in Opinions, Switch, Top Story | Tagged , , , ,

Nintendo Download: Zelda Breath of the Wild, Shovel Knight, Super Bomberman R, more

Posted on March 2, 2017 by John Scalzo

The Nintendo Switch is here!

Nintendo’s next gaming machine, a hybrid console/handheld, will go on sale in just a little over three hours. That’s also when Nintendo will swing the doors open on the Switch’s eShop and give early adopters the chance to purchase nearly a dozen different launch titles.

The biggest name in the Switch’s launch lineup, by far, is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Also available to download on the Wii U, Breath of the Wild will offer a wide-open world for Link to explore and new puzzles to solve.

However, if you’re looking to celebrate the system’s launch with a big party, you’ll have several options. There’s 1-2-Switch, a wild minigame collection where players are encouraged to look at each other instead of the screen. There’s also Snipperclips: Cut It Out Together!, a co-op puzzle adventure starring two pieces of paper. And Ubisoft will bring the popular Just Dance series to the Switch with Just Dance 2017.

Prospective Switch players who want to be on the move might want to look into FAST RMX, a new futuristic racer from Shin’en Multimedia.

Finally, retro gaming fans will have plenty of options on the Switch’s first day including Yacht Club’s new platformer, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment, as well as the Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, which includes Specter of Torment and the first two campaigns. Konami’s Super Bomberman R brings the lovable Bombers back for the first time in almost a decade. And I Am Setsuna, from Square Enix, is an original RPG inspired by Chrono Trigger.

If you’re taking a wait and see approach to the Switch, never fear, 3DS owners will still have something new to play this week. Marvelous Entertainment’s Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns is the latest entry in the popular farming simulation series and, as you might have guessed, players will be able to visit three towns this time around.

You can learn more about all of these games after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, News, Switch, Wii U | Tagged , , , , , , , , ,