Most Recent: Switch

Nintendo’s Arms Direct video unveils new fighters, new modes, Global Testpunch demo

Posted on May 21, 2017 by John Scalzo

With the launch of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in the rearview window, Nintendo is turning their focus to the Switch’s next big new release… Arms. The consolemaker hosted another Nintendo Direct presentation for the bizarro boxing game earlier this week, and gave fans a look at several new characters and the option-filled Versus Mode.

After a brief detour to describe the basics of Arms combat (Should that be “Arms-ed” combat?), Nintendo added a trio of new characters to the Arms universe, including the snakelike Kid Cobra, robotic lawmen Byte & Barq, and “A-List Actress” Twintelle:

New Characters

  • Kid Cobra – A fan of selfie sticks and livestreaming, this hip fighter pounces on opponents with a charged-up dash.
  • Byte & Barq – Two fighters in one! This robot fighter and his robot canine companion battle together to unleash devastating combo attacks.
  • Twintelle – As an A-list actress, Twintelle uses her celebrity status to render her opponents utterly star struck as she walks the red carpet to victory.

After building an amazing Battle Mode for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Nintendo wants to add a similar bevy of bonus modes to Arms. And the second half of this week’s “Arms Direct” focused on more than a half-dozen minigames that players will get to compete in:

Versus Modes

  • Fight – In this main multiplayer mode, two fighters battle against each other one-on-one to claim victory. During the fight, bombs and other healing items drop in, adding some strategic options to the proceedings.
  • Team Fight – In this mode, two players are attached by strings and must team up to battle another team of two. Attacks can hit allies, so watch out for friendly punches!
  • V-Ball – Similar to volleyball, but much more awesome. V-Ball is a sport that involves knocking an explosive ball into the opponent’s court.
  • Hoops – Grab opponents and shoot them into the net (or even dunk them for extra satisfaction) in this hardcore game of Arms-style basketball.
  • Skillshot – Break as many targets as possible using the versatile powers of Arms.
  • 1-On-100 – Defeat 100 enemies in a row, one at a time, in this progressive battle mode.
  • Arms Test & Training – In Test mode, players can try out randomized Arms combinations, while Training lets them practice a number of varied drills.

Finally, Nintendo confirmed that Switch owners will get the chance to test out Arms before its released during a special Global Testpunch event. Like Splatoon 2‘s Global Testfire, players will be able to download the Global Testpunch demo from the Nintendo eShop and log in to play multiplayer matches during scheduled times. The first Global Testpunch will be available during May 26-28, while the second is scheduled for June 2-4.

Arms will be released for the Nintendo Switch on June 16. A series of free updates featuring new fighters, stages, and arm types are planned for after release.

Posted in News, Switch | Tagged

New Retail Releases: Ultra Street Fighter II, Disgaea 5 Complete, Rime, More

Posted on May 21, 2017 by John Scalzo

After recording a huge retail victory in April, Nintendo and its third-party partners are storming back this week with another batch of fresh Switch software.

Leading things off, Capcom will release Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers for the Switch on Friday, May 26. The publisher is hoping that this re-release will introduce the arcade classic to an entirely new generation, but it also includes a brand new first-person minigame, new color variations for all characters, and two new fighters (Evil Ryu and Violent Ken). Another re-release will make its way to the Switch this week courtesy of NIS America. The import house will launch Disgaea 5 Complete on Nintendo’s console, which will include the original strategy RPG and all of its downloadable content.

If you’re looking for new and never-before-seen games this week, Tequila Works will bring their puzzle platformer Rime to the PS4 and Xbox One. Featuring a unique and moody graphical style, the exploration game should offer an interesting change of pace.

Finally this week, THQ Nordic will bring the original Darksiders to the Wii U as Darksiders: Warmastered Edition. This new version of the action/adventure game include enhanced visuals and redone graphical effects.

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

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Switch, Vita, Wii U, Xbox One | Tagged , , ,

The Switch continues to soar as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was the best-selling game in April 2017

Posted on May 19, 2017 by John Scalzo

Nintendo continues to dominate the retail charts with another strong showing in April for their Switch console. According to The NPD Group, Nintendo added another 280,000 Switch consoles to its tally last month, and the newly-launched Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sold more than 459,000 copies (in just two days) to take the top spot on the list of best-selling games. The company’s success also seems to be great for the industry as a whole, as the industry generated $636 million in sales in April 2017, a 10% increase over the year before.

The other big news in April is that Persona 5 pushed the franchise and gave the RPG the #2 spot on the best-seller list, just below Mario Kart 8.

“Persona 5 experienced the strongest debut month for any title in Persona franchise history, with packaged dollar sales five times that of the previous best-selling debut, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4,” NPD Analyst Mat Piscatella told GamesIndustry.biz.

Additional new releases were thin on the ground in last month’s Top 20, but Lego Undercover‘s re-release on the PC and current-generation consoles helped it secure a spot (#13). And as expected, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild continued to sell well, landing in the #3 position for the month. But the big retail winners in April all came from the backlist, including Grand Theft Auto V (#6), Overwatch (#9), Call of Duty: Black Ops II (#10), and Minecraft (#20).

The NPD Group’s complete list of best-selling games for April 2017 can be found after the break. (more…)

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Nintendo Download: Fire Emblem Echoes, Thumper, Darksiders Warmastered Edition, more

Posted on May 18, 2017 by John Scalzo

It’s Thursday, and Nintendo is back with another update to the Nintendo eShop. Here’s what you’ll see on the storefront’s digital shelves…

After 25 years, Nintendo is finally Fire Emblem Gaiden to a North American audience as Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia for the 3DS. Fire Emblem Echoes is a tactical RPG with a pair of intertwining stories that began life as an NES exclusive previously only available in Japan. Set to launch tomorrow, Fire Emblem Echoes is expected to be the last game in the series to appear on the 3DS.

Jumping over to the Switch shelves, Drool has brought their “rhythm violence” game Thumper to Nintendo’s newest console. Guide your “Space Beetle” down a track by hitting the right notes, and do then battle with a “Giant Head From the Future” to win.

Finally, the Wii U lives for another week with the release of apocalyptic action game Darksiders: Warmastered Edition on Tuesday, May 23.

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

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

Mr. Shifty Review: Not Ready to Shift Into the Spotlight

Posted on May 18, 2017 by Dan Hartnack

Mr. Shifty is a top-down brawler from Team Shifty, a new development studio out of Brisbane, Australia. As Mr. Shifty, you are able to shift/teleport your way through walls and bullets, taking down your enemies at lightning speed while trying to break into the world’s most secure facility. There are 18 levels to shift your way across, all with varying difficulty. New enemies help keep the gameplay fresh and exciting, but the replayability of the title is lacking a bit.

So, you’re a teleporting thief who has embarked on his biggest heist yet. What could possibly go wrong? Well, if you are Mr. Shifty, the answer to that is everything. (more…)

Posted in PC, Reviews, Switch, Top Story | Tagged

Callie is missing in the first Splatoon 2 single-player trailer

Posted on May 18, 2017 by John Scalzo

If you’ve been following the “Squid Sisters Stories” saga, then you know that Callie disappeared after the conclusion of Splatoon‘s final Splatfest. This forced separation has sent Marie into seclusion, and it also forms the spine of Splatoon 2‘s single-player Store Mode (and the new trailer embedded above).

Like some kind of eight-limbed bounty hunter, players will venture through Octo Valley and attempt to bring Callie home:

In a shocking twist, Callie – of Squid Sisters fame – has gone missing and her right-tentacle squid Marie tasks the player to search for Callie and the Great Zapfish. Players can use different weapons in single-player mode to overcome obstacles, defeat enemies and take down towering bosses – weapons like the Roller, Slosher, Splatling or the new Dualies. The single-player mode is designed to teach players tips and tricks that they can then use in multiplayer.

Splatoon 2 will be released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch on July 21.

Posted in News, Switch | Tagged

NIS America launches Switch eShop demo and Overview Trailer for Disgaea 5 Complete

Posted on May 16, 2017 by John Scalzo

Disgaea 5 Complete will make its way to the Nintendo Switch on May 23, and NIS America wants to make sure the franchise’s fans are prepared with an Overview Trailer. Whether you’re new to the series, or just need a refresher, you can learn all about the game’s battle system and story with this brand new video. The publisher also revealed that a demo of Disgaea 5 Complete is now available to download through the Switch eShop.

Disgaea 5 Complete was first released in 2015 for the PS4 as Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance, and the Switch re-release will include the original game and all of its post-launch downloadable content.

Posted in News, Switch | Tagged

New trailer shows how players can customize their own character and in Sonic Forces

Posted on May 16, 2017 by John Scalzo

Classic Sonic and Modern Sonic will be receiving some help in this Fall’s Sonic Forces. Sega has announced that players will also be able to dash through the game’s levels as their own “powerful gadget touting” customizable character.

Players will be equipping their custom Hero Character with one of a variety of powerful unique gadgets called Wispons. Wispons are an evolution of the Color Powers from Sonic Colors and double as both offensive abilities and as a way to platform through levels quickly. Along with the Wispon, the Hero Character will have a grappling hook they can utilize to quickly traverse across zones. Players can also customize the Hero Character’s looks by choosing and swapping between hundreds of accessories and outfit options to change the character’s appearance as they play through the game.

In addition to changing their look, players can also choose the species of their Hero Character:

Animal Types in Sonic Forces

  • Wolf – Automatically draws in rings when near them
  • Rabbit – Has longer invincible time after receiving damage
  • Cat – Keeps one ring after being hit
  • Dog – Restarts with five rings after the player dies
  • Bear – Blows away enemies with a homing attack
  • Bird – Flies high with double jump abilities
  • Hedgehog – Collects rings when getting damaged

And in case you were worried, Hero Characters won’t be walled off in special areas of the game. According to Sega, they’ll be “a key part of the story” and appear alongside Sonic in cutscenes and throughout his adventure.

Sonic Forces will be available for the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One this Fall. A new gameplay trailer featuring a customizable character with a grappling hook and fired-based Wispon can be found after the break. (more…)

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