Tag: Soapbox - Page 7
Soapbox Professor Layton And The Psychology Of Puzzle Solving
Warning: Spoilers contained within!
Like many others, the Nintendo DS has a special place in my heart. Preoccupying me for hours over several years, that little plastic plaything accompanied me here, there and everywhere and with it, my strange assortment of games. As a kid, often what was advertised to me were games featuring brands like Pokémon...
Soapbox Attacking Pokémon Creator Game Freak Isn't Cool, But Biting Back Isn't The Answer
Game Freak's James Turner fuels the fire, but can you blame him?
The negative press surrounding the upcoming Pokémon Sword and Shield shows no signs of slowing down, with rumours now floating around that morale at developer Game Freak is at an all-time low. Earlier this week, WayPoint Radio’s Austin Walker (thanks, GoNintendo) made a claim that...
Soapbox Mario Kart Tour Looks Lousy With F2P Trappings, But That’s All Right
Keep those currencies and timers where they belong!
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. Here, Gavin grits his teeth and discusses how he's absolutely fine with the free-to-play aspects of the upcoming mobile Mario Kart. The latest entry...
Soapbox To Me, Mario Maker 2 Is Nintendo's Best, And Most Disappointing, Sequel Ever
Super Mario Paradox
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. Here Gavin discusses how Super Mario Maker 2 is giving him mixed emotions... The Nintendo first party flavour of the month may well be Fire Emblem: Three Houses, but due to my...
Soapbox Should I Wait For Switch 'Pro' Or Is The 'New' Switch SKU Worth An Upgrade?
Robbery and battery
The long-rumoured Switch Lite is taking Nintendo’s hybrid console concept, dumping the ‘hybrid’ bit and going full ‘PlayStation Vita’. Leaving aside the fact that you should never go full PlayStation Vita (can we expect Nintendo to swiftly pull all support, disown the console and leave it to third parties to fill it...
Soapbox Sorry Nintendo, Joy-Con Drift Means I Won't Buy Switch Lite At Launch
Stuck with the stick?
Nintendo's Joy-Con headache is only just beginning, with the company now facing a class-action lawsuit relating to the drifting analogue sticks on its innovative Switch controllers. The company has issued a statement on the matter, and – g
Soapbox Nintendo Switch Lite Might Not Be For You, But It Will Be A Smash Hit With My Family
R.I.P. 3DS?
We can already imagine the various hot takes on tech gadget blogs all over the world following the announcement of the Nintendo Switch Lite. Headlines like "Nintendo Switch Lite Sucks As It Has No TV Out" and "Is The Nintendo Switch Lite Even A Switch?" will surely be the order of the day. Sure, there are some compromises here to get...
Soapbox The Nintendo Switch Lite Has The One Thing I've Been Waiting For All This Time
One Direction?
After months of rumours and speculation, today Nintendo finally announced the Switch Lite, a cheaper variant of the existing Switch console that's coming this September for $199.99. With its colourful casing, compact design and focus on portable play, it's clear this new console is aimed at pulling in younger players and growing the...
Soapbox Why Sword And Shield's Pokémon Purge Will Benefit Everyone
And how the cull draws focus from more significant issues
When you're trying to please a fanbase that's been around for over 20 years, any major change to the status quo will always divide opinion. Pokémon is a series that’s kept under heavy scrutiny by its loyal community, with each minute detail studied under a Silph Scope with no place for...
Soapbox EA’s Approach To FIFA On Switch Is Typically Short-Sighted
Used to be in the game
'EA Sports: it’s in the game'. Ah, we all remember that slogan from the old days, although the news over the weekend that FIFA 20 on Switch will be a ‘Legacy’ rehash makes you realise that while EA’s head might be ‘in the game’, its heart certainly isn’t. We won't get the new Volta mode on Switch or any of the...
Soapbox The Nintendo World Championships Is Tired, And So Am I
Alan Lopez reports from the event
I just went to the Nintendo World Championships and I am tired. This ballyhooed Nintendo game extravaganza, typically hosted on the same week as the gaming industry’s flagship Electronic Gaming Expo, originated from a fandom-fueled 1990 tournament of the same name. Way back then, the Nintendo World Championships...
Soapbox I Don't 'Get' Smash Bros. And I Just Don't Know Why
Confessions of an apathetic Smasher
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on various topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, staff writer Gavin looks back on his history with the Smash Bros. series and tells us why he's weary of the latest iteration on Switch...
Soapbox My Love Affair With Tetris, Probably The Best Video Game Ever Created
More than 30 years of block-dropping fun
Like millions of players all over the world, my relationship with Tetris began with the Game Boy. Alexey Pajitnov's famous puzzler may have begun its life on computers in 1984, but it would find a whole new level of fame thanks to the fact that it was bundled with Nintendo's million-selling monochrome...
Soapbox 8 Nintendo 3DS Games We'd Love To See On Switch
Which games would you port?
We recently looked at which final Wii U games we'd like to see make the transition to Nintendo Switch, the other natural candidate for ports is Nintendo 3DS, which is now deep into the twilight of its lifespan. So, before we put our 3DS consoles into long-term storage, I started thinking about which games from its vast...
Soapbox Don't Listen To The Pokémon: Let’s Go Haters - The Game Has Definitely Found Its Audience
Serebii's Joe Merrick looks at the facts
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, Serebii owner and Nintendo Life contributor Joe Merrick finally addresses the topic of Pokémon: Let's Go sales figures... Pokémon Let’s Go...
Soapbox I'm Causing The Slow Death Of Gaming Magazines, And It Hurts
Paper pathos
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, editor Damien sadly reflects on the death of gaming magazines and the fact that he's actively contributing to the sorry situation... Last week, we reported on the rather...
Riding on Nintendo's coat-tails might not be the silliest idea...
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, editor Damien picks apart Huawei's recent bold claims that its new Mate 20 X smartphone trumps the Nintendo Switch as a...
Soapbox Nintendo's Maddening Stance On Retro Gaming Is Driving Me To Piracy
Fighting 'ROM culture' needs more than 3 NES games a month
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, Nintendo Life Editor Damien McFerran laments the fact that Nintendo still doesn't seem to know how to exploit its amazing retro...
Soapbox Why Do We Want More Games When We've Already Got Too Many?
Bring back the glory days
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, Guides Editor Glen wonders why we're constantly asking for new games when the ones we already have offer so much... There are two opposing sentiments that...
Soapbox Nintendo's Excuses Regarding Cloud Saves Aren't Good Enough
The onus is on Nintendo to find a way to combat cheaters
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, Nintendo Life Operations Director Darren Calvert voices his opinion on the state of Switch cloud saves, and why Nintendo needs to...
Soapbox We Like To Grumble, But Nintendo Switch Online Is Actually A Very Generous Offer
So quit your complaining
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, Nintendo Life Guides Editor Glen Fox provides a counterpoint to the piece we ran yesterday about the general lack of excitement surrounding the NES games offered...
Soapbox Why I'm Not Excited About Playing NES Games On The Nintendo Switch
All NES'ed out
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, Nintendo Life Operations Director Darren Calvert admits that he's not in the least bit excited about the prospect of playing NES games again in 2018... They say that...
Soapbox What Splatoon 2 Can Learn From Fortnite And Paladins, And Vice Versa
War-fair
The excellent F2P titles Fortnite and Paladins have both launched on the Nintendo Switch recently, bringing two different flavours of online shootery to the platform, minus any price tag. This would all be excellent news if it wasn't for the fact that I haven't touched Splatoon 2 since. Before you reach for your pitchfork,...
Soapbox The Best Changes For Smash Bros. Ultimate Are The Ones We Didn’t Ask For
We all want a lot from a new Smash
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. This time, contributing writer Alan Lopez breaks down some of the key changes that are being made to the new Smash Bros and how they'll fundamentally change how we...
Soapbox Fortnite Is Coming So Nintendo Really Needs To Sort Out Its Voice Chat Problem
Talk is cheap
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. This time, editor Dom discusses one of the main issues Nintendo has faces with Nintendo Switch - the convoluted process users have to follow to chat online, and the equally unintuitive...
Soapbox Pokémon GO’s ‘Casual’ Influence On The Mainline Series Is A Good Thing, At Least For Now
A chance to rediscover the magic?
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In today's article, staff writer Ryan explores the new approach to gameplay found in the upcoming Pokémon games and why they might just be the moment of relief the...
Soapbox Why A Nintendo 64 Classic Edition Might Not Be Such A Good Idea
Not so 'Ultra' this time round?
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, our 'Man in Japan' Jon explains why Nintendo continuing the ‘classic mini’ line of retro consoles with the N64 may be one step too far... First...
Soapbox Let's Give Nintendo Switch Online A Chance Before We Throw It To The Wolves
Every online service has to start somewhere
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In today's article, editor Dom discusses the hot topic that is Nintendo Switch Online and why every online service starts out with a few teething problems...
Soapbox What Pokémon GO And The Pokémon Main Series Could Learn From Each Other
Serebii's Joe Merrick shares his opinion
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In today's article, resident Pokémon expert and webmaster of Serebii Joe Merrick ponders if Pokémon GO and the mainline Pokémon games can...
Soapbox How Nintendo Switch Helped Break My Crippling Obsession With Achievements
Breaking the habit
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In today's article, editor Dom admits his problem with platform-specific trophy systems and how their absence on Nintendo Switch has helped him kick a money-wasting,...
Soapbox With Microsoft Playing Ball, It’s Finally Time For Banjo-Kazooie To Return To Nintendo
And we know just the studio that could pull it off...
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In today's article, editor Dom tackles a subject very close to his heart - his rabid love for a certain seminal platformer from Rare, and...
Soapbox I'm Secretly Terrified Of An All-Digital Gaming Future
A digital convert questions a future without physical games
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In today's article, editorial director Damien admits he may have been wrong about gaming's all-digital future... During the 3DS era,...
Soapbox My Nintendo's Updated Rewards Scheme Is Anything But Rewarding
Now I’m missing the Club Nintendo days more than ever
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In today's article, editor Dom looks into the option to spend virtual gold coins on the eShop and how this addition to the My Nintendo program...
Soapbox Nintendo Switch Learned A Lot From Wii U’s Struggles During Its Own First Year
Why the two consoles performed so differently over 12 months
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In today's article, editor Dom explores the very opening 12 months of Nintendo Switch and its predecessor, Wii U. We all know Switch's...
Soapbox Switch Continues To Give Older Games A Second (Or Third) Chance At Redemption
Ports can be a good thing, right?
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In today's article, editor Dom delves into the vast ocean of ports on Nintendo Switch and argues that bringing older games to the platform can relight the fire for...
Soapbox What Happened To All The Great Baseball Games On Nintendo Consoles?
Ian Cortina laments the lack of decent sluggers on Switch
“Right! Try and get your heads round this, okay? Imagine the sun setting on the vast waters of Lake Victoria... A hundred thousand wildebeest grazing on the Masai Steppe, yeah? A misty, sleepy dawn rises to reveal Kilimanjaro in all its hypnotic majesty…” Lovely stuff. Those are the...
Soapbox Call Of Duty Can Work On Switch, Activision Just Needs To Pull The Trigger
And it deserves more than a straight port
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In today's article, editor - and long-time Call Of Duty advocate - Dom goes beyond the rumours and investigates the reality of whether the shooter franchise...
Soapbox The Super Mario Movie Might Not Be All That Great
“The perfect mix of terrible”
Mario had a film before, and it wasn't exactly stellar, and so when the news was confirmed this morning that Nintendo is partnering up with the studio responsible for such products as Minions and The Secret Life Of Pets, it was hard for me to contain my scepticism and frustration. I can't personally see how a film...
Soapbox Nintendo's Riding High On Switch's Wave, But What Does It Need To Do To Stay There?
It’s time to change the playbook
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In today's article, editor Dom mulls over Nintendo Switch's big sales milestones and how Nintendo needs to adopt new tactics to stay relevant in the months...
Soapbox Monster Hunter World Has Claimed Its Prize, But Capcom Shouldn't Forget Nintendo
3DS helped make the series what it is today
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In today's article, editor Dom argues that Monster Hunter World needed to leave Nintendo behind to make a different success of itself, but that the wider...
Soapbox Miitomo's Days Are Numbered, But Its Death Was Written In The Stars From The Start
Exit stage-left for the Mii
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, editor Dom takes a look back on the forgotten first child of Nintendo's mobile marriage and why its surprisingly the semi-social network even survived this...
Soapbox Labo Could Help Nintendo Finally Crack The World Of Education
An elusive but profitable market could be won over, says Yuri Litvinenko
For any company whose products happen to be popular among children, the education market has always been one of the most lucrative to target – but it's one which poses a stern challenge, too. A manufacturer has to offer something that appeals to kids and teachers alike, being...
Soapbox Alex And Dom Discuss If Dark Souls Will Really Work On Switch
Prepare to vie (for attention)
A short time ago, shiny new Nintendo Life Editor (TM) Dom wrote an excellent piece about Dark Souls coming to Switch, and why it's such a spiffing idea. His decision to pen this piece was also a spiffing idea; so much so in fact that we decided Dom and our resident video guru Alex should have a wee natter about the...
Soapbox Dark Souls' Ruthless Recipe Perfectly Suits Switch’s Evolving Audience
Preparing to die on Switch will be a watershed moment
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on a wide range of topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this edition, editor Dom explores the viscous and empowering minutia of the Dark Souls phenomenon and how it's a match made in...
Soapbox Why You Should Consider Catching Big Air With Wii's Excite Truck
If you still have access to a Wii or Wii U, that is
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on a wide range of topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this edition, Dave Letcavage discusses his somewhat recent introduction to the divisive Wii launch game Excite Truck, and makes a case...
Soapbox Switch's Rampant Success Is Proof Positive That You Should Never Write Off Nintendo
Wii U was a necessary step towards a superior console
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In today's edition, editor Dom recalls Nintendo's darker days, how it was written off during Wii U's era and how Switch typifies its independent...
Soapbox Let 2018 Be The Year The Third-Party Exclusive Takes Over On Nintendo Switch
Just without the soulless cash-ins we saw in the Wii era
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, editor Dom explores the gap in Nintendo's software library and how a the need to develop third-party exclusives will only make...
Soapbox What The Upcoming Pokémon Switch RPG Can Learn From Recent Pokémon Games
Feeling jaded by recent Pokémon outings? You're not alone
Soapbox features allow our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, Pokémon fanatic Arjun talks about his recent disappointment with the mainline titles in the series, and his hopes for the...
Soapbox Yoshi's Woolly World Mended My Rocky Relationship With Yoshi
A cracked heart tightly stitched back together
Yoshi has been my favourite character from the Super Mario series since he made his dino-riffic debut in Super Mario World back in '91. I was so fond of him at that time that I convinced my parents to name our new Bichon Frise puppy in his honour. To this day, when I play Mario Kart or Mario Party...
Soapbox It Took Nintendo To Turn Me Into A Smartphone Gamer
Oh, the irony
I love smartphones. From the very first moment I scooped up my T-Mobile G1 (AKA: the HTC Dream) way back in 2008, I knew this piece of technology would change my life forever. Over the years I've changed smartphones more often than I have my socks (that's not actually an exaggeration, which is why my wife and kids find it so hard to...
