Tag: Talking Point
Talking Point Where's Your Nintendo Labo Now?
Make, Play, & Bin?
No, we didn't find ours here, not at all... 2018 is a long time ago. It feels like it happened in another dimension, in an alternate (and much nicer) timeline, or some other Marvel universe-typed nonsense. And it's a timeline we can never get back to. It was also the year that Nintendo dropped its Labo sets, which is infinitely...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (31st January)
This is the life
Well done, everyone! We finally made it to the end of January! There was quite a bit of Nintendo news this week, so we're sure everyone will enjoy kicking back with a couple o' games over the weekend. We were treated to yet another Nintendo Direct this week, with Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream taking the spotlight. It looked...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (24th January)
On Cloud nine
Well folks, you made it! The weekend is here again, which means it's time to get some all-important gaming done. Before that though, let's quickly recap the week. Our big review was for Final Fantasy VII Remake on the Switch 2, and as expected, it's a bit of a banger. We also heard from director Naoki Hamag
Talking Point Metroid Prime 4 And The Burden Of Being 'Good Enough'
When legacy becomes a liability
After nearly two decades of dormancy for the series and an infamously drawn-out development cycle, it feels slightly surreal to now have Metroid Prime 4: Beyond in the rearview. The game arrived under immense expectation, and it’s fair to say it ultimately proved more divisive than Nintendo and developer Retro...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (17th January)
What's on the agenda, Brenda?
We are blowing through January faster than a big blowy fast thing that's been blowing faster than usual right now, and the delicious slices of gaming goodness continue to drop across Switch consoles. This week has seen the arrival of Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Nintendo Switch 2, which the wonderfully handsome and...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (10th January)
What's on the docket?
Gosh, 2026 has been quite the year so far, isn't it? Luckily, we've got games to keep us busy, and we're going to go through which of the buggers we plan on playing this weekend. In case you've missed the main headlines this week, let's take a peek at what's been going on in the world of Nintendo. First up, Fire Emblem: Path...
Poll So, Now The Dust Has Settled, How Did You Find Myles MacKenzie?
Myles-age may vary
When Metroid Prime 4 previews dropped back in November, series fans were rightly worried that the biggest killer in the game may not be scourge of the Space Pirates and bounty hunter extraordinaire Samus Aran, but a geeky sidekick apparently out to murder the series' pensive, lonesome tone with his inane geekery and unwanted...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (3rd January)
New year, new plans?
You made it. You're here reading these words in 2026! Well done, old bean. As is traditional, it's been a quiet week in the world of video games as most industry people take some time off over the holidays. Although not Eric Barone, it seems, as Stardew Valley: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition slipped onto North American eShops on...
Talking Point Our 2026 Nintendo And Switch 2 Predictions
What's in store?
Well, folks, it seems like only yesterday we were looking ahead at Nintendo's 2025 with a sense of unwavering optimism, and now here we are – it's certainly been a year. The Switch 2 finally arrived, bringing with it a plethora of goodwill and controversy alike, ushering in a new generation that, if initial sales are anything to...
Talking Point Does Switch 2 Have Nintendo's Best Launch Line-Up Ever?
Let's see how it matches up
I don't know about you, but I'm already giving my shelf space a worried look as I consider the number of Switch 2 launch titles I want to pick up. It's been just about a week since Nintendo revealed the Switch 2 and its 21 separate launch games (24 if you include those dropping on the NSO GameCube library), which, the...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (27th December)
What did Santa bring?
Well folks, that's another Christmas done for the year – we hope you've had a peaceful, relaxing time, whether you celebrate or not. It's been a pretty quiet week, understandably, but Nintendo managed to squeeze in a cheeky update for Donkey Kong Bananza on the Switch 2, so make sure to download that. Nintendo also hit us...
Talking Point Does It Bother You That Big Games Companies Are Using GenAI?
The GenAI-ration game
What a week. On Tuesday, comments from Larian founder and CEO Swen Vincke to Jason Schreier at Bloomberg (paywall) created headlines we've grown all too used to over the last couple of years. Following the reveal of a new Divinity game at The Game Awards, Vincke said that the studio was actively using generative AI for concept...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (20th December)
Ho, ho, ho!
Ah yes, the weekend. Not just any ol' weekend either! No, it's the weekend before Christmas, which means it's time to start preparing your stomachs for an avalanche of food and chocolate. This week in the world of Nintendo, it seems that there may be an alternative to those ruddy Game Key Cards after an announcement from ININ Games. We...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (13th December)
Federation Focus
We're another week closer to the all-important GOTY discussions, and our backlogs are looking bigger than ever. It's time to find out if any of us have plans to do something about it, as we dive into another edition of What Are You Playing. There has been a fair bit of news in the world of Nintendo this week. The Game Awards came...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (6th December)
She's finally here!
We are one week into December, and how many games have already been released? *Checks notes* All of them. All of the games have been released. Welcome, folks, to a busy edition of What Are You Playing. Let's try our best to recap the last seven days, shall we? Naturally, there was a lot of Metroid shenanigans to cover, with...
Talking Point Six Months Since Launch, How Would You Rate Switch 2?
The half-year in review
Friday 5th December marks the six-month mark for Nintendo's sequel system. Launching back in June, the earliest adopters among us have now been living with the console for half a year. Blimey! It seems like only yesterday we were all speculating about the follow-up to Switch 1. Would it launch in 2022? 2023? 2024?... Yes,...
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...
