Tag: Talking Point
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (29th November)
Prime time is right around the corner
The end of November is finally upon us (how??), so let's distract ourselves from the topic of ever-marching time by seeing what everyone's gaming plans are this weekend. It was a somewhat quieter week in Nintendo Land this time, but there were still a few nice stories to keep us entertained. Nintendo picked up...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (22nd November)
Since when is it nearly December??
The weekend is finally upon us after yet another week featuring a new Nintendo first-party release! Yep, it was full steam ahead on Kirby Air Riders this week, as we shared our full review, heard news of the in-game events planned for its first year, chuckled at the
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (15th November)
Urobororororos
Eeeeeeyyyyy, it's the weekend! This week has been surprisingly busy, huh? We've had a brand-new trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie along with confirmation that Brie Larson and Benny Safdie are joining the cast as Rosalina and Bowser Jr. We also finally received the Metroid Prime 4: Beyond trailer
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (6th November)
Hyrule? No, you rule!
The weekend is finally upon us, and we're ready to play some games... once we've recapped this week's big news, of course! In the absence of a major Animal Crossing announcement, this week felt a little quieter than last, but there was still plenty to get excited about. The Pokémon Legends: Z-A Mega Dimension DLC scored a...
Talking Point What's The Best Firework Sequence In A Video Game?
Oooh! Aaaahh!
"Remember remember the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason, and an excuse to talk about 'Jump Up, Super Star!' again." That's a rhyme that we Brits are all familiar with (at least, words to that effect), because here it's Guy Fawkes Night. Or Bonfire Night, if you prefer. On 5th November every year, we gather in cold, wet fields...
Talking Point Smashing Switch 2 Numbers Prove Nintendo's Strategy Is Super Effective
In this economy? Well played
The world of video games hasn't provided much respite from global issues recently, not for those of us who love games and the people who make them. The issues facing the industry and players post-COVID — including mass layoffs, cancelled projects, questionable acquisitions, the encroachment of generative AI, rising...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (1st November)
FIGHT!
Gosh, we're into November already – how on earth did that happen? Well, either way, it's the weekend, so let's do a quick recap of the week before we dive into what we're playing, shall we? Naturally, the biggest news of the week was the announcement from Nintendo that Animal Crossing: New Horizons would be making a comeback, with both a...
Talking Point When Did 'Good Enough' Become Good Enough For Pokémon?
The old magic
Over the weekend, we republished our reader-ranked list of all the Pokémon games after everyone had had a chance to spend some quality time with Legends: Z-A and vote accordingly. That's 22 mainline games by our count. The entries at the top of the table probably won't surprise you, as the inventiveness and sheer novelty (and...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (25th October)
Baller
Hello folks, and welcome to that wondrous occasion commonly known as 'The Weekend'. Before we dive into what we're playing, let's quickly recap this week. First up, Masahiro Sakurai presented another hour-long Direct for Kirby Air Riders, and it was a doozy. We've compiled all the major announcements in one place, so be sure to check it out...
Talking Point How Do You Play NES Games These Days?
Or, do you even play NES games?
The NES — specifically the Nintendo Entertainment System, not the Famicom — turns 40 today. The console's staggered rollout across the US makes its launch a bittier affair than the orchestrated, worldwide drops we're used to these days. But four decades ago, the first units were purchased in the United States and...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (18th October)
Oh balls
Ahoy chums! It's the weekend, so it's time to recap some of the biggest stories from this week before we dive into some good ol' gaming. First up, our review for Pokémon Legends: Z-A - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition went live, and while we certainly enjoyed our time with it, the game just doesn't quite match up to Legends: Arceus. We've also...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (11th October)
Get tactical, marines!
Hello hello, yes, it's the weekend once again! But before we dive into what we're playing over the next couple of days, let's just look back at some of the recent news highlights. The big talking point this week was undoubtedly the debut video(s) from Nintendo Pictures. While there was a lot of mystery surrounding the first...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (4th October)
Galactic plans
The weekend! Before we dive into what we're playing, let's do a little recap of this week, hm? First up, our review for Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 for the Switch went live, so you should definitely check that out. Nightdive Studios announced yet another remaster coming to consoles, and the
Talking Point Can Metroid Prime 4's Title Screen Go As Hard As The Others?
Beyond iconic
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes has one of the best title screens ever. It starts off with edge-lit glimpses and silhouettes, a bit like a Bond intro. But instead of naked bodies and wait-was-that-a-nipple, there’s something grotesque and alien and impressively FMV in the darkness. There’s those classic Prime-y choir synths, which might...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (27th September)
The Underworld beckons
Hello folks! It's the weekend once again, but before we dive into what we're playing, let's just do a quick recap of the last week. First up, it seems only right that we go over some of the reviews we posted this week, because these include some pretty big games: Hades II - 9/10 Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (20th September)
Nothing to dread, here
Well hello there. Welcome. It's the weekend, and that means you're keen to see what we're going to be playing over the next couple of days while divulging your own plans. Before you do so, however, let's just recap the last handful of days. First up, Nintendo announced that it would be expanding its GBA app with two new...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (13th September)
Silksong? That was ages ago, mate. Do try to keep up
Good Mario, morning fans! It's that time of the week once again, and now that the Super Mario 40th anniversary plans have been fully unveiled via the latest Direct...well...we're maybe not gonna be diving into quite as much Mario as we had sorta hoped this weekend, as the likes of Mario Galaxy 1...
Talking Point Nintendo Direct September Predictions - What Do You Hope To See?
Primed and ready
Nintendo's marketing for the Switch and Switch 2 is going absolutely nuts in 2025. We had a Partner Showcase in July, an Indie World and a Kirby blowout in August, and now we're getting a full-fat, juicy Direct in September. Crikey!
Talking Point Is Hollow Knight: Silksong Too Difficult?
Phar too hard?
The original Hollow Knight was no pushover, but it's safe to say that its sequel is hitting a whole new level of difficulty. You only need look on social media to see that some folks have been struggling with their journey through Pharloom. A few are even going so far as to say that Silksong is "way too difficult to be enjoyable" or...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (6th September)
Silky smooth weekend vibes?
Aloha, amigos, and welcome shorts fans, to another weekend. It's been a very, very quiet one this week, with no games of note to menti...oh, hold on. Wait. We've actually been inundated with bangers. I'm terribly sorry. Yes, Hollow Knight: Silksong has finally materialised. It's a real game that you can play right now!...
Talking Point Would Drag x Drive Be Better With Miis Or Non-Mouse Control Options?
Drab x Drive
August is nearly over, and we've had two first-party releases this month: Kirby and the Long Title Nintendo Employees Are Obliged to Say in its Entirety and Drag x Drive. The Kirby revamp just came out (and it's very good) while Drag and Drive (
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (30th August)
Or have you Forgotten?
The weekend has crept up on us once again, so it's time to kick back with a game or two. Before we get to our plans, however, let's look back on all the Nintendo news that happened this week. Honestly, it was a rather quiet one. Nintendo launched a series of stop-motion Mario shorts and the kid-focused Hello, Mario! app in...
Poll When The Heck Is Metroid Prime 4 Actually Launching?
Bounty hunting for a date
Over the last week or so, we here at Nintendo Life have been having a few spirited debates about when Metroid Prime 4: Beyond might actually launch. By all accounts, it's still scheduled for 2025, but time's ticking by quickly, and we're still very much in the dark. Frankly, after literal years of waiting, it feels good to...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (23rd August)
Take the day OFF
Well folks, it's the weekend once again, which means it's time to get some gaming done! But first, a recap. This week, Capcom launched an intriguing 30th anniversary website for Resident Evil, though there's not much on there right now beyond some cool artwork. Gamescom also happened, which means we got some really cool...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (16th August)
Excelsior!
The freakin' weekend is finally upon us, and we've got games to play! Before we get into our plans, though, let's recap the week. It was a pretty quiet one in Nintendo Land, with not so much as a whiff of a Direct — which is weird, after the last three weeks of showcases. Nintendo revealed an all-new Mario Kart World event in Japan,...
Talking Point Where On Earth Are The Switch 2 Soundtracks On Nintendo Music?
For the Melody Motorway
Ohhhhh, Zeebraaaa, Zeebraaaaa, ZEEBRAAAAA!~ Here I am, tapping out once again to the Zebra Bananza theme. It's a song fit for Carnival, a blend of styles from all across Latin America — the Brazilian Samba, the Cuban Salsa, the Argentinian Tango. Every time DK beats his chest and transforms into the buffest Zebra you've...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (9th August)
Is that a UFO?
Ahoy, there! The weekend is here, so it's time to kick back with some games. But first, let's quickly recap the week, hm? We had a pretty banging Indie World showcase, so that was pretty cool, with lots of really neat announcements and shadow drops. Elsewhere, Nintendo announced a new range of Mario products for younglings, including...
Talking Point Nintendo Is Laser-Targeting Your Toddlers With This New 'My Mario' Line
Full-on Disney mode engaged
Of the big three platform holders, Nintendo is the 'family-friendly' one. Did you know that? Of course you did - you're an intelligent human being. And over the course of the Switch generation, with all the company's eggs now in a single console basket, Nintendo has diversified its business, leaning into non-gaming areas...
Talking Point Nintendo Indie World Showcase Predictions - What Do You Hope To See?
It's Nintendo's Indie World, we're all just living in it
Nintendo is going absolutely crazy as tomorrow, 7th August 2025, we're getting our second video game showcase for the Switch 2 and Switch. And it's an Indie World. Indie World showcases are always a nice surprise, and given that this is the first for the Switch 2 gen, we might well be seeing...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (2nd August)
Another weekend with the King of Swing
Welcome to August, folks! Let's kick things off right with a fresh edition of What Are You Playing. It was Direct week over in Nintendo Land, with a Partner Showcase delivering us 25 minutes of... meh. There were some big hitters that we're pleased to see (Persona 3 Reload, Octopath Traveler 0,
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (26th July)
I'm gonna wreck it
Here we are once more at the end of July. DK arrived on Switch 2 over a week ago and it seems that most people are absolutely loving Bananza - most, but not all, unfortunately! Nearly 1 in 10 players responding in our poll say they're getting sick when playing the game. The exact cause is up for debate, with the camera's...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (19th July)
Dee-Kay
Well folks, another weekend is here, which means it's time to get some gaming done! Before we find out what we're all up to, however, let's see what's been going on this week. First up, of course, Nintendo released the wonderful Donkey Kong Bananza to widespread critical acclaim, including a 9/10 review from us. We also found out who will...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (12th July)
Fun in the sun
It's looking like it'll be a hot one this weekend, and while gaming may not be the first thing that comes to mind, you know we're all going to need some time chilling in the shade at some point. Before we get into this week's What Are You Playing, let's recap the major news from the past seven days. The biggie was a tasty slice of...
Talking Point One Month On, How Did Nintendo's Switch 2 Launch Go?
Are you satisfied with yours?
Yes, believe it or not, it's been a full month since the launch of the Switch 2 - it's certainly been a busy few weeks. Now that the dust has settled, let's take a look back at how the long-awaited console came out of the gate, from the perspective of Nintendo, players, and media... Coming in hot has been business as...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (5th July)
Go on and tell us
The weekend is here, which means it's time to kick back, relax, and play some games. Looking back on this week first, Nintendo released Super Mario Strikers for the GameCube NSO app on Switch 2. It's a solid title, and you can see exactly where it lands in our GameCube ranking for Switch 2 so far. Elsewhere, it emerged that...
Talking Point With Bigger GameCube File Sizes, Should Nintendo Let Us Download Individual NSO Games?
1.21 gigabytes!?
Switch 2 brought with it something we'd dreamt about on the original Switch: GameCube games on NSO. With the new GC controller giving Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and SoulCalibur II that authentic feeling (while also adding wireless without a WaveBird and sneaking in some
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (28th June)
Dude! That is so (Cyber)punk rock!
Ah, another week in Switch 2 paradise and the news is still coming thick and fast. This week, Nintendo finally revealed the release date and price for Drag x Drive, we learnt that Super Mario Strikers will be
Talking Point Do You Have A New Go-To Racer In Mario Kart World?
Cowtastrophe
After the best part of a decade with Mario Kart 8, we'd wager that you had probably grown pretty close to your main. You know, your main. The character that you picked to sit behind the wheel, regardless of the situation, because their weight class, look, or general vibe matched your playstyle perfectly. But then Mario Kart World came...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (21st June)
Gaming like a dragon
Gosh, can you believe it's already been over two weeks since the Switch 2 launched? Where does the time go? Alas, it's true, but this week brought even more news with the big Donkey Kong Bananza Direct! It revealed a boatload of new information and made many of us here at NL infinitely more excited for its relea
Talking Point What Are You Hoping To See In The Donkey Kong Bananza Direct?
Great ExpectAPEtions
What's that? You thought the arrival of Switch 2 a mere two weeks ago would be enough to halt the hype train for a while? Oh no, no, dear readers, Nintendo is full steam ahead, reminding us what's next for the freshest console on the block. The next station stop: Donkey Kong Bananza. A Direct presentation focused on DK's...
Talking Point How Are You Finding Mario Kart's Open World?
Free to roam
Many of us have just wrapped up our second weekend with Mario Kart World, and by this point you've probably seen most of the Grand Prix mode and had your rear end handed to you various times in Knockout Tour (I swear, there's no middle ground with that one - I either do really well or go out in the first two laps!), and are starting to...
Poll Do You Three-Star-Gold Every Mario World Grand Prix Before Moving On To The Next?
Or are you an agent of chaos?
I have been wanting to ask a bunch of people this question for a while now, and it seems this is as good a time as any! It's a question of gaming habits really, and how you approach doing things within them, that I'm sure holds up a mirror (mode) to our personalities in the 'real world' and all that, but I'm not a...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (14th June)
Wait, is there a new console out or something?
Our fingertips are blistered, our eyes are square, and that blasted Mario Kart World music won't get out of our heads, but we've had a full week with Switch 2, and the smiles are still large on our faces. Expectedly, it's been another big one at Nintendo Life this week. We got the first official sale...
Poll So, What's Your Favourite Course In Mario Kart World?
Track mania
We're willing to bet there are a fair few of you out there who spent the weekend up to your elbows in axle grease with Mario Kart World - would that be a fair assessment? It's a big old game and we're still working on finalising our review of the Switch 2 launch game after getting our hands on it last Thursday, and while you can read...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (7th June)
Gee, I wonder
Ahh, another quiet week in the world of Nintendo... Sorry, what's that..? New console..? Hmm. Ah yes. The Switch 2! The Switch 2 launched; it's finally here, folks. Literal years of rumours and speculation can now end. Well... until whispers of the Switch 3 begin – hehehehehe. Our coverage this week has been mainly getting all...
Talking Point Does Your Switch 2 Vent Smell?
Not unpleasant, necessarily
Most of us here at Team NL, like many of you, have been unwrapping shiny new consoles today as Switch 2 arrives, finally. Nothing like the smell of new hardware in the morning, right? Having said that, while we've been getting to grips with the new console, some of us have noticed an aroma. Not an unpleasant one, you...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (31st May)
So long, Switch 1
It's finally upon us, the last weekend before Switch 2. We have one last chance to throw our backlogs a concerned look before a line-up of launch games gets added to the pile, so let's go out with one last hurrah, shall we? You'd think that this week would have been a little 'quiet before the storm' vibes, but there's actually...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (24th May)
Ready..? Fight!
Well folks, the weekend is finally here... Wait, what do you mean it only feels like yesterday when we did our last What Are You Playing? Yeah... time flies, huh? The Switch 2 will be here before you know it! Anyway, this week saw the release of four new titles for the Game Boy app on Nintendo Switch Online, which is awesome. We...
Talking Point The Switch 2 Pre-Order Situation Sucks, But Can Nintendo Do Anything About It?
503sier said than done
We're a little over two weeks out from the launch of a new console and after eight years of Switch 1, there are plenty of Nintendo fans eager to get going with the next generation. If retailer website chaos is any indicator, demand for the next Switch has been very strong and Nintendo will be encouraged to see the enthusiasm...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (17th May)
What's that coming over the hill?
Howdy partners! It's time for another good old natter about our weekend gaming plans. Before we dive into what we're all up to, however, let's look back on the week's highlights. There were a couple of big Switch 2 drops as Nintendo revealed the console's final tech specs, announced what we can expect from its free...
