Latest Features - Page 9
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 2nd)
Wish upon a card
We made it out of February and it is finally the weekend! Keen to keep the good vibes going, this week on Nintendo Life we celebrated the first Pokémon Presents of 2024. And what would you know, it wasn't all that bad! The big takeaway was the grand reveal of Pokémon Legends: Z-A coming to Switch in 2025, but we also got to see a...
Talking Point What Would Make You Happy To Give Up Physical Games And Go 100% Digital?
Concessions stand
While the demise of physical media has seemed like an inevitability for many years now, boutique publishers are helping to keep a passionate base of physical-only fans with a stocked game library. The scenario right now isn't ideal, with eShop releases often only getting a physical version months later (once a publisher has gauged...
Community What's The Best Switch eShop Game We Missed? (February 2024)
Your favourite game for eShop Selects
Update: In response to many comments and a surge of votes, we will be reviewing Balatro for the Switch! Thanks to all of those who shared their thoughts with us on the game! It's back! We're almost at the end of February already — yes, even with the extra day in this fine Leap Year. Our monthly Nintendo...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 24th)
Jockey up
The weekeeeeeeeeeeeend *cough cough, splutter*. Sorry. Yes, it's the weekend, which means it's time to kick back and relax with some games. First, let's recap what's been going on this week. So the big news is, of course, that we had a Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, where the likes of Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, Epic Mickey:...
Talking Point Which Xbox Games Would You Like To See Come To Switch?
Halo, is it me you're looking for?
After what felt like months of rumours, Microsoft and Nintendo finally put us out of our misery during the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase by confirming that, yes, select Microsoft-published Xbox games will be making their way to the Nintendo Switch to join the likes of Banjo-Kazooie on NSO, and the Ori duo...
Talking Point Pokémon Presents Predictions - What Are You Expecting?
'mon Dieu
Following hot on the heels of the February 2024 Nintendo Direct, the inevitable announcement of a Pokémon Presents broadcast to coincide with Pokémon Day on 27th February came along. It's traditional to have a broadcast on this date — the anniversary of the first Pokémon games' Japanese debut way back in 1996 — and it's been a busy...
Feature Shiren The Wanderer Devs On Preserving Series' "Difficulty" And "Uniqueness"
"I made sure to preserve what I believed to be valuable"
Shiren the Wanderer is one of the longest-running roguelike series in the world. Debuting back in 1995 as the second entry in the Mystery Dungeon series, Mystery Dungeon 2: Shiren the Wanderer introduced the world to the young boy who would explore many procedurally-generated dungeons over the...
Talking Point Nintendo Direct Predictions - What Do You Hope To See?
Howdy, Partner
There she is! After waiting patiently for the first Nintendo Direct of 2024 — looking back to determine the most probable date Nintendo would unleash its next bumper crop of Switch game reveals and news — we finally have the time, date, and flavour confirmed: 21st February, and it's a Partner Showcase. <related...
Hands On We've Played Princess Peach: Showtime! - Is It Any Good?
Show must go on
Princess Peach: Showtime! is a game that isn’t going to immediately appeal to many of the fans of big shooty bang-bang games like DOOM Eternal, but there’s a place for it still with an audience as sizeable as that of the Switch. Nintendo invited us to come along and give the game a go for ourselves ahead of its release on 22nd...
Talking Point If 'Switch 2' Isn't Coming Until 2025, What's Nintendo Got Up Its Sleeve This Year?
Is there enough in the tank to coast through 2024?
Reports that Nintendo's unannounced Switch successor may be subject to a behind-the-scenes delay suggest that the current console might have yet another Holiday season all to itself. In March, Nintendo Switch will enter its eighth year, and scuttlebutt from industry sources had previously pegged...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Mario vs. Donkey Kong?
Mario vs. DK vs. you
Last week, Mario and Donkey Kong's decade-old dispute bubbled back to the surface in the appropriately titled Mario vs. Donkey Kong, a Switch remake of the identically titled GBA original from 2004. NL's stalwart PJ O'Reilly enjoyed his time with it, awarding it a 'Good' 7/10 in his review and highlighting the new co-op mode as...
Feature "It Just Felt Right" - How Story Of Seasons & Piczle Cross Is The Perfect Union
"I am an unapologetic fan of the Story of Seasons series"
What's more relaxing than a farming sim? Many of us love to wind down with a few hours of tending crops, looking after cows, and taking in the seasons in a good ol' Story of Seasons game. And for almost 30 years, this hugely popular series has been sowing the seeds and setting the standard...
Back Page The Best Cows On The Nintendo Switch
We would never steer you wrong
In the magazine business, the Back Page is where you'd find all the weird goofs that we couldn't fit in anywhere else. Some may call it "filler"; we prefer "a whole page to make terrible jokes that are tangentially related to the content of the mag". We don't have pages on the internet, but we still love terrible...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 17th)
Multi-platform plans
It has been another Direct-less week, but that isn't stopping us from taking our Switches for a spin this weekend. Welcome back to another edition of What Are You Playing! Yes, this week didn't bring the Direct announcement that many of us had foreseen, but there was still plenty of juicy news in the world of Nintendo...
Hands On Strategy Fan? You Need To Keep An Eye On Vanillaware's Stunning 'Unicorn Overlord'
Stable unicorns
Company president George Kamitani wasn’t kidding when he teased that the studio’s next project was “one of Vanillaware's biggest productions” last year. The game he was talking about was Unicorn Overlord, a tactical RPG that, on the surface, looks like a homage to the SRPG greats of the ‘90s. Compared to the hugely...
Hands On Quarter Arcades Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade Machine
Let's kick shell
If you're a gamer over the age of 30 with a decent amount of disposable income, then you've almost certainly heard of the Quarter Arcades range. As the name suggests, these are 1/4-scale reproductions of famous coin-ops, and the company has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the business to expand its lineup over the...
Hands On Splatoon 3's Spicy 'Side Order' DLC Isn't For The Faint Of Heart
Order from chaos
Online multiplayer, platforming, deckbuilding, horde rushes, bizarre missions that barely make sense even in context — it seems the wizards at Nintendo could put the Inklings and Octolings through just about anything and make it a blast. Now it’s time for the cephalopodic denizens of post-apocalyptic Earth to tackle the...
Soapbox With Switch Online, It's The Perfect Time To Bring Back These Wii U Gems
An absolute NES-cessity
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Ethan looks back on a pair of Wii U games — and a 3DS sibling — which could help curious gamers navigate the Switch Online retro library if they were given a second...
Back Page 15 Superb Owls On Nintendo Switch
What a hoot
In the magazine business, the Back Page is where you'd find all the weird goofs that we couldn't fit in anywhere else. Some may call it "filler"; we prefer "a whole page to make terrible jokes that are tangentially related to the content of the mag". We don't have pages on the internet, but we still love terrible jokes — so welcome to...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 10th)
Go on and tell us
Well folks, with Nintendo releasing its financial results this week, many of us thought that a Direct announcement wouldn't be too far behind, but alas. Maybe next week. Anyway, we got news that the Nintendo Switch has now sold over 139 million units, which is just astonishing, while Mario Kart 8 Deluxe passes the 60 million mark...
First Impressions Turn-Based Scrawler 'Inkulinati' Flows Well After A Wordy Intro (Exclusive)
Not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways
Yaza Games' Medieval scribe-inspired turn-based battler, Inkulinati, is coming to Switch on 22nd February. It's picked up several awards since its Early Access release on Steam, including Gamescom 2022's Best Indie Game and Most Original Game, so it's great to see the full version finally penned in on...
Soapbox I Hated Metroid: Zero Mission At First, Until I Loved It
We all make mistakes
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, to celebrate Metroid: Zero Mission's 20th anniversary on 9th February 2024, Ollie looks back on his initial experience with the game, and why first impressions can't always be...
Feature Avoiding Co-op "Frictions And Frustrations" In Roguelite Restaurateur 'PlateUp!'
"Everyone can always benefit from another pair of hands"
From the moment it launched in March 2017, Switch quickly carved itself a niche as the console for couch-co-op gaming. Crack off the Joy-Con and in mere moments you have a a multiplayer setup suitable for wherever you happen to be. Soon, a crowd of zany, co-op party games — many inspired by...
Talking Point Switch Is Nintendo's "Main Business" Right Now, But All Eyes Are On The Horizon
Mainswitch
Following today's release of Nintendo's quarterly financial results covering the nine months from April to December 2023, Shuntaro Furukawa's comment that the current Switch will remain Nintendo's "main business" as the company heads into 2024 is a practised little piece of evasion from the company president. It's something that shouldn't...
Talking Point What's The Best Nintendo Remake Ever?
Remake it so
Later this week, Metroid: Zero Mission turns 20. This GBA reimagining transforms the original, iconic 8-bit Metroid — a game that can be hard to return to these days — into a stunning retelling of Samus' first adventure with a graphical overhaul, various Super Metroid-inspired tweaks, and a fun Zero Suit epilogue to boot. It's so...
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects & Readers' Choice (January 2024)
The best eShop games of January, chosen by you and us!
Welcome to February 2024, and to the first (proper) eShop Selects of 2024. We've changed things up a bit for 2024 — alongside our picks for the best eShop game, we asked you lovely readers to choose your favourite eShop-only game of the month, but with a twist. Staff and contributors at...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 3rd)
In the Cho-zone
School's out, baby! Sorry, what..? What do you mean we're adults? Pfft, fine. Yes, it's the weekend, which means it's time to find out which games we're all planning to boot up. Before we do so, however, let's just recap some of the biggest stories from the week, shall we? First up, we found out that The Pokémon Company filed a...
Soapbox An Ode To Marble Garden, Sonic The Hedgehog 3's Best Zone
Yasuhara's David
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Ollie sings the praises of the game's third zone, Marble Garden... I used to own a Sega Mega Drive when I was younger...
Feature "We’ve Tried To Do Something Very Different" - Rivalry & Drama In Arcade Racer 'New Star GP'
Fasten your seatbelts
Being a fan of sports games can be a tricky business. AAA publishers roll out the same full-price titles year-on-year with fewer improvements and added pay-to-win incentives, all bundled up in a package that is regularly less-than-optimal on Switch. Fortunately, in the darkest of days, the indie scene is there to illuminate us...
Talking Point Is Knowing A Game's Ending Really That Bad?
Reverse card
Today, 31st January, is National Backwards Day in North America (no, we didn't know it was a thing either). It's a day for doing things with a 180° twist, a quick Google told us, whether that's wearing a shirt the wrong way round like the kids do — maybe? — or moonwalking over to the kettle instead of looking where you are going...
Community What's The Best Switch eShop Game We Missed? (January 2024)
The winner will feature in our monthly eShop Selects round-up
Video games, huh? There's just so many of them. Every single month hidden gems slip through our fingers, while other times, we're drowning in so many special titles that we don't have time to dig through everything. Regular readers will know that every six months or so, we'll reach out...
Feature NieR’s Orchestra Concert Delivered An Unforgettable Night, And A Yoko Taro Tease
The Curse of YoRHa
If you have plans to attend NieR:Orchestra Concert 12024 [ the end of data ], be aware that Zion discusses some of the fun and surprises of the event. For those who aren't able to go, though, we thought you'd like to know how it turned out after he was lucky enough to be in LA on Saturday for opening night... I’ve attended...
Feature 21 Game Boy Advance Games We'd Love To See Added To Nintendo Switch Online
GBA gems we'd dig on Switch
With Golden Sun and The Lost Age making their arrival on Nintendo Switch Online, we've given this list a bit of a spruce up and added a few more dream titles to the service. Plus, we've got a cheeky little poll at the end of the article too — so make sure you vote and let us know what you want to see on NSO. The Game...
Talking Point Do You Want To See Colourful Cartridges Return For 'Switch 2'?
A bright future
The gaming industry is going digital. Chants of "it's easy," "it uses less plastic," and "it's cheaper... sometimes," fill the streets and, after dark, tempting eShop sales let out their siren song to pull in any weary traveller after a boxed copy with sweet calls of "Oooh, ahh, up to 80% off". The times may be a-changing, but...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 27th)
Capturing those 'mons
Welcome to another edition of What Are You Playing?, where we find out which games we're going to be chilling out with this weekend. Before we get into that, though, let's go over what's been happening this week. Naturally, there's been a lot of Palworld discussion, and perhaps the most noteworthy event was when The Pokémon...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Another Code: Recollection?
Recall your time
Nintendo has kicked off 2024 with a rather unexpected remake in Another Code: Recollection, which bundles together Ashley Mizuki Robbins' two adventures from the DS and Wii era. Beloved by those who played it back in the day, the Switch version is the first time many people have been able to experience the mystery of Ashley's...
Soapbox After Years Of Lengthy RPG Tutorials, Golden Sun Feels Fresher Than Ever
You could say it's an Adept
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Alana reflects on playing Golden Sun in 2024, and how it allows players to figure things out for themselves rather than relying on tutorials. Warning — minor early game...
Round Table Let's Talk About Palworld - Comparisons, Controversy, 'Copying'
Lament of the Pal gamer
Less than a week out from its launch in Early Access on Steam and Xbox, Palworld has proved itself to be a massive commercial success for developer Pocketpair and has dominated gaming discourse online since the weekend. Switch gamers can't access it on Nintendo's console, of course, but with its aesthetic parallels to...
With a patch incoming, Pathea charts the road ahead
You may remember Pathea Games' My Time at Sandrock, a life sim game released late last November that we weren’t massively enthused with. We awarded it a 5/10 in our review, saying that the launch version's "bland presentation and technical hiccups" affected this sequel to My Time at Portia. The...
Soapbox Game Freak Could Actually Learn A Thing Or Two From Palworld
No, Pikachu doesn’t need an assault rifle
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Lowell locks and loads up the Pokémon-inspired game that's been the talk of the town since it launched on Steam and Xbox Game Pass last week... You...
Feature The Stunning Visual Delights Of 'El Shaddai', Inspired By Apple iPod Commercials
"...bringing El Shaddai to a new audience on the Nintendo Switch is exciting"
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is one of the most underappreciated gems of the PS3/Xbox 360 era. That's what people who've played the unusual action platformer, released back in 2011, will tell you. One look at El Shaddai — the only game developed by Ignition...
Talking Point Which Feature From Each Smash Bros. Game Should Make A Return?
Smash Ultimate... Ultimate?
The Super Smash Bros. franchise has come a long way since the original launched 25 years ago in 1999. Yes, you read that right — the original Super Smash Bros. is 25 years old tomorrow, 21st January. If we look at the character roster for a start, we began with a humble offering of 12 playable fighters in Super Smash...
Preview Open Roads Is An Emotional, Nostalgic Journey Through 2003
Coming out in February
We honestly can't believe 2003 was 21 years ago — the GameCube was proudly at the front of our shelves, and Super Smash Bros. Melee was the ultimate party game. But Open Roads, the next game to be published by Annapurna Interactive, looks back at the mid-2000s with a warm, nostalgic, sepia-tinged glow. So, after attending a...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 20th)
What's on the cards for you?
Welcome to another edition of What Are You Playing? where we all get to chat about our gaming plans for the weekend! Before we get into that good stuff though, let's take a look at what went down in Nintendo land this week. We were treated to the release of two new games in the NSO GBA library as Golden Sun and Golden...
Hands On WaterField's $380 Tech Folio Backpack – The Ultimate Gamer's Bag?
Papa's got a brand new bag?
The hybrid nature of the Nintendo Switch means that it's often an item that ends up getting chucked in a rucksack or carried around when we leave home, and, to that end, we've seen a host of carry cases and bags designed to accommodate not just the console itself, but its various accessories and add-ons. San...
Feature Bandle Tale - Exploring The "Least Developed Parts" Of The League Of Legends IP
"I think this is the first time we've ever let a player self-insert into one of our games"
Last year was a busy one for Riot Forge, which published three solid, indie-developed games set in the expansive Runeterra universe (The Mageseeker, Convergence, Song of Nunu), each featuring totally unique art styles and gameplay. Now the company is turning...
Soapbox As A 'Slay The Spire' Addict, I Can't Believe I Almost Missed This 2023 Gem
Houston, we have a new obsession
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Kate looks back on a 2023 game from Rocket Rat that very nearly slipped through our net... Hey, you. If I've pitched this title correctly, you're here because,...
Poll How Often Do You Trade-In Your Switch Games?
Switch up
Update: It's now official — GAME will be ending its pre-owned and trade-in business over the coming months. We have updated yesterday's story to reflect this. <related ids="160769"> Original article: Despite trade-ins and pre-owned sales being one of the core pillars for the UK specialist retailer GAME for many years, recent...
Feature 25 Nintendo 64 Games We'd Love To See Added To The Switch Online Expansion Pack
Update: Fresh blood is coming in
Since this article was originally published back in November 2021, the Switch Online Expansion Pack offering has expanded with a decent spread of N64 classics — 26 in total at the time of writing. From the games on our initial wishlist, 1080 Snowboarding, Excitebike 64, GoldenEye 007, Jet Force Gemini, Mario Party...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 13th)
Honey, where's my lost crown?
It's the weekend, which means it's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy some gaming. First, let's take a look back at what's been going on this week. First up, Nintendo has announced that two classic GBA RPGs will be making their way to the Switch via the Switch Online service, so that's nice. Pokémon fans can also now...
