Most Recent: Switch

Nintendo Switch Online (and its downloadable bundle of NES games) is now available

Posted on September 19, 2018 by John Scalzo

Nintendo launched their Nintendo Switch Online service yesterday, which means that subscribers now have access to Online Play, Cloud Saves, and that downloadable bundle of 20 NES games.

Online Play was previously available for free as Nintendo has spent the last 18 months preparing for the launch of Nintendo Switch Online, but its now locked behind a subscription, though one that’s much cheaper ($3.99 for one month, $7.99 for three months, $19.99 for 12 months, or $34.99 for a “Family” membership) than Sony’s PS Plus or Microsoft’s XBL Gold.

But the real draw might be the downloadable NES bundle, which currently includes Balloon Fight, Baseball, Donkey Kong, Double Dragon, Dr. Mario, Excitebike, Ghosts ‘N Goblins, Gradius, Ice Climber, Ice Hockey, The Legend of Zelda, Mario Bros., Pro Wrestling, River City Ransom, Soccer, Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Tecmo Bowl, Tennis, and Yoshi.

Yes, we’ve played all these games many times before, but Nintendo will regularly add to this library of games, and nine more will be available by the end of the year. NES Open Tournament Golf, Solomon’s Key, and Super Dodge Ball will be added to the service in October, with Metroid, Mighty Bomb Jack, and TwinBee to follow in November, and Adventures of Lolo, Ninja Gaiden, and Wario’s Woods in December.

Nintendo Switch Online subscribers at the 12-Month or Family levels will also receive a download code that can be exchanged for exclusive in-game Splatoon 2 gear based on the jerseys worn by GG BoyZ, the winning team at the 2018 Splatoon 2 World Championship. And all Nintendo Switch Online subscribers will be able to pre-order a pair of wireless Nintendo Entertainment System Controllers from Nintendo.com for $59.99.

More information about Nintendo Switch Online can found after the break, and a seven-day free trial is also available through the Nintendo eShop.

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New Retail Releases: Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna, Scribblenauts Mega Pack, Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk, More

Posted on September 17, 2018 by John Scalzo

Even though we’re still only in September, the avalanche of new games continues this week. But it looks like we’ll get a bit of a breather over the next seven days…

Leading the way forward (and backward, technically) is Nintendo’s Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna – The Golden Country. Taking place 500 years in the past, this standalone adventure for the Switch serves as a prequel to the consolemaker’s massive action RPG, and asks players to guide a group of legendary warriors on a journey through the tragic history that doomed a kingdom.

If you’re looking for something a little lighter this week, WB Games is serving up another entry in the Scribblenauts series, and will re-release Scribblenauts Unlimited and Scribblenauts Unmasked for the PS4, Switch, and Xbox One as part of the Scribblenauts Mega Pack.

NIS America is delving deep into the darkest dungeons once again with the release of Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk, a turn-based RPG for the PS4 and Switch. The game will also be available to download for the PC.

And finally this week, Stoic Studio will package together the three games in the Banner Saga series for the Switch as The Banner Saga Trilogy.

A complete list of this week’s new retail releases can be found after the break. (more…)

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Katamari Damacy Reroll will ride the royal rainbow to Switch and PC in December

Posted on September 13, 2018 by John Scalzo

Katamari Damacy was originally released almost 15 years ago to… let’s go with “rapturous”… acclaim from the gaming populace. The quirky game about the outrageous King of All Cosmos and his son’s quest to return the stars to the sky by rolling up everyday objects was a colorful blast to the senses back in 2004. And yesterday, publisher Bandai Namco announced that they’re bringing it back later this year as Katamari Damacy Reroll for the PC and Switch.

Reroll will include the same great soundtrack, along with remastered graphics and cutscenes. Switch owners will be able to use brand new motion controls as well:

The King of All Cosmos has knocked out all the stars in the sky after a particularly rambunctious night of fun. Realizing his mistake, The King has tasked his young son, The Prince, to go to Earth and roll up as many things as possible to recreate the missing celestial bodies. Paper clips, books, cars, buildings, mountains, and continents, nothing is too big or small for The Prince and his adhesive Katamari ball. Katamari Damacy Reroll will feature remastered graphics and cutscenes as well as new motion controls optimized for the Nintendo Switch. Using the left and right Joy-Con controllers while the Nintendo Switch is in TV mode or Tabletop mode, players can move The Prince around with ease by simply turning their wrists.

Katamari Damacy Reroll will be released on December 7. Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na.

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Hollow Knight will be released for the PS4 and Xbox One on September 25

Posted on September 11, 2018 by John Scalzo

Team Cherry has announced (via their official website) that Hollow Knight will be available to download for the PS4 and Xbox One beginning on September 25.

The new Voidheart Edition will include the original game, as well as the four downloadable expansions previously released for the PC and Switch:

The original award winning action-adventure. Journey through vast lands. Defeat over 150 deadly foes, including over 40 epic bosses. Power-up with startling new skills and abilities.

4 giant Content Packs, built in at launch, expanding the game with all new quests, terrifying boss fights and striking new abilities. Hours of additional content, additional challenges and additional bugs (the insect kind!). That’s Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, and the colossal Godmaster.

A physical version of Hollow Knight will be published by Skybound Games, and that should be available on store shelves early next year.

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Bandai Namco will release Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition on January 11, 2019

Posted on September 10, 2018 by John Scalzo

Bandai Namco has announced that Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition will be available in stores on January 11, 2019. The re-release is currently in development for the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One, and will include “upscaled screen resolution as well as characters, events, and additional content never released outside of Japan.”

The publisher also plans to release a special Anniversary Bundle of the game (packed with exclusive collectibles featuring Yuri Lowell, Patty Fleur, Flynn Scifo, and Repede) through the Bandai Namco Official Store for the PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.

Tales of Vesperia was originally released exclusively for the Xbox 360 back in 2008, and the RPG will be celebrating its 11th anniversary next year.

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New Retail Releases: Shadow of the Tomb Raider, NBA 2K19, NHL 19, More

Posted on September 10, 2018 by John Scalzo

Lara Croft returns this week, and PS4 and Xbox One owners will be able to pick up the Limited Steelbook Edition or Croft Steelbook Edition of Shadow of the Tomb Raider. The finale to the “Origin Trilogy” will also be available to download for the PC.

Sports fans will also get the chance to dig into a few new titles this week, as 2K Sports will launch NBA 2K19 for the PC (download only) PS4, Switch, and Xbox One. The publisher also teamed up with Microsoft to give prospective Xbox One purchasers the chance to jump right in with the Xbox One S 1TB Console + NBA 2K19 Bundle or the Xbox One X 1TB Console + NBA 2K19 Bundle. And don’t worry, EA Sports won’t be giving sports fans the cold shoulder, and that’s because NHL 19 will be available for the PS4 and Xbox One.

Switch owners will be able to put their crafting skills to the test this week with the release of Nintendo Labo: Vehicle Kit, the third Labo set from the consolemaker. This time around, players will be able to build a vehicle that transforms between a Car, a Submarine, and a Plane with the included key.

And if you still purchase your PC games on DVD, THQ Nordic will reissue several games previously published by Microsoft this week, including ReCore: Definitive Edition, Super Lucky’s Tale, Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection, and a few others.

A full rundown of this week’s new retail release can be found after the break.

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Hyper Light Drifter, Gone Home, SNK Heroines, more coming to Nintendo eShop this week

Posted on September 6, 2018 by John Scalzo

Switch owners will be able to stock up on another big batch of classic indie games with this week’s Nintendo eShop update…

Heart Machine’s visually-distinctive (and critically-acclaimed) Hyper Light Drifter leads the way this week. The Zelda-like action RPG is now available to download in a “Special Edition” that includes new weapons and a new Tower Climb area.

The Drifter will be joined by several other indie favorites this week including Gone Home, Fullbright’s narrative adventure; Broforce, Free Lives’s insane side-scrolling shooter; and Dust: An Elysian Tail, a hand-drawn action RPG from Dean Dodrill.

If you’re looking for something new, NIS America will bring their one-on-one fighter, SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy, the Switch eShop beginning tomorrow. And it’ll be joined by a deluxe edition of 2K’s latest basketball simulation, NBA 2K19: 20th Anniversary Edition.

You can learn more about the rest of this week’s additions to the Nintendo eShop (including Yo-Kai Watch Blasters: Red Cat Corps and Yo-Kai Watch Blasters: White Dog Squad for the 3DS) after the break. (more…)

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Valkyria Chronicles rolls onto the Switch next month

Posted on September 4, 2018 by John Scalzo

Sega hosted a panel at PAX West this year all about the steps they take to bring games created in Japan to gamers in North America and Europe. As you might have guessed, this was the perfect opening to announce a game or two… like the North American launch of Valkyria Chronicles for the Switch.

Valkyria Chronicles will be released for the Switch on October 16, and the trailer that Sega unveiled during “A Sega Perspective: Bringing Japanese Games to the West” has been embedded above:

Sega of America is happy to announce that the original Valkyria Chronicles is heading to the Nintendo Switch eShop on October 16, 2018! Experience the tale of Lieutenant Welkin Gunther, Sergeant Alicia Melchiott, and their comrades in Squad 7 in Valkyria Chronicles on the Nintendo Switch.

It looks like Valkyria Chronicles will be exclusive to the Nintendo eShop, but it’ll include all previously-released downloadable content, and players who own Valkyria Chronicles 4 will receive a 25% discount when they purchase the first game in the series.

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