Dogorilla

I've been interested in this game since it came out but never picked it up. Not sure I'd pay this much more than the eShop price for a physical copy though, but I'll buy the game one way or another eventually!

@Spider-Kev No, you can just unlock the Odyssey-themed levels early if you scan Wedding Mario/Peach/Bowser. As far as I can tell the only new functionality in this update is support for the Captain Toad amiibo, which does the same thing as normal Toad.

@BranJ0 Yep, even that 10/10 review from Metro at the top just says the S2 edition is 'very slightly better' than the original. I kind of wish there was a consistent rating method for this kind of release (ideally separate scores from the same reviewer for the upgrade package vs the full upgraded game), but obviously you're never going to get every single reviewer to do it that way.

I broadly agree with the negative reactions to this, but it's interesting because if you'd told me ten years ago that one day we'd be able to have game characters that dynamically respond to whatever you say to them, I would have thought that sounded really cool, and I imagine a lot of other people would have felt the same. (Not sure if this game in particular lets you talk to the AI companion, but this technology could certainly be used for something like that.) But now that that idea is a reality, it suddenly seems a lot less appealing than proper human-written dialogue, especially given the ethical issues with genAI.

I'm just getting back into Shadow Labyrinth after the QOL update a few months ago. I'm not quite sure what my opinion on the game is yet - for a game with such a weird premise the visual design is quite generic, and there are a lot of passages and rooms that just don't go anywhere, so exploration isn't as rewarding as it should be in a Metroidvania. But I'm not very far into it (I haven't even got to the proper Pac-Man mazes yet) so I'm looking forward to seeing what abilities are unlocked later on, and checkpoints are a lot more frequent following the update which definitely makes it less frustrating.

Most profitable media franchise in the world, can't afford cartridges

I would never have thought of combining Zelda-style adventure with a shoot-em-up, but when I saw this in the indie showcase I wondered why it had never been done before (that I've heard of). Glad to hear it's as good as it looks, I'll definitely pick it up some time.

I'm not usually on the 'no fun allowed' side but I have to admit I find these guys a bit annoying, even in their original appearance. They might have had the occasional good line in Wonder (not that any are coming to mind), but I just think background commentary and unfunny quips feel out of place in a Mario game.

Best wishes to Abe-san in his new job, which genuinely sounds very interesting, and I love WarioWare so I appreciate all his work on the series!

'Fixed an issue where you were temporarily unable to use nut-related items under certain circumstances'

I haven't played the game but I like that it seemingly has a variable in the code for whether an item is 'nut-based'

I remember Bulb Boy from the early days of the Switch - back then there were so few games that pretty much everything that came out was notable, and now it's hard to believe that was ever the case (and that it was so long ago!). I never played Bulb Boy myself and I'm not sure if it's my thing, but I do own it on Steam thanks to a Humble bundle so maybe I'll give it a go some time.

I don't know about anyone else, but for me a game stops being 'relaxing and cosy' if it pressures you to complete a task within a limited time window to avoid missing out on certain items, or Pokemon in this case. These kinds of FOMO event are one of the worst things about mainline Pokemon games, and it seems really out of place in a spin-off like this one.

@DennisReynolds Yeah, I didn't really think of it as a system seller before - in my mind it was more in the Tomodachi Life / Rhythm Paradise category of 'this will run on Switch 1 and no one's gonna buy a Switch 2 just to play it, so might as well release it on Switch 1'. But with the reception being this positive, it probably will shift a few consoles.

Wow ok, I wasn't expecting that. It's a shame there's no proper physical release (I'm much less likely to take a chance on a game if it takes up space on my SD card, especially at full price), but sounds like this'll be worth a look anyway when I get a Switch 2. No idea why it's not on Switch 1 as well, it doesn't seem particuarly demanding from a technical standpoint and surely it would sell like hot cakes among the more casual fans who might not be interested in upgrading to Switch 2 at this stage.

Yes, I've had it since 2008 and still use it occasionally, and the battery life is still great. (That's in contrast to my 2011 3DS, whose battery life dwindled to almost nothing before I realised it was because the battery was swollen and removed it. I'll try and find a replacement battery at some point - I have a New 2DS XL as my main 3DS system, but sometimes you just want a bit of 3D action, right?)

A pretty easy 25/25 for me, the only ones that I had to think about for a bit were the Tapus and Kangaskhan (it does kinda look like Nidoqueen in silhouette form!). Though I may have struggled to name Dondozo and Naclstack if I didn't have the options to choose from, I'm a bit rusty on some of the newer 'mon.

@nessisonett Frobisher doesn't seem too out of the question now we've had Beep the Meep!

3DS Virtual Console, specifically as one of the Ambassador Programme games. I have to admit I've never got very far in the game, but as a fan of the series I definitely want to remedy that some time!

Still plugging away at Pokemon Legends Z-A, which I think I've nearly finished. There's a lot to like about the game, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't getting a bit bored of Lumiose City... Now that I've got my Labo VR out of its cupboard I might play some Virtual Boy Wario Land as well.

By the way, @KateGray I just thought I should say you don't need a Switch 2 for the new Tomodachi Life, it's a Switch 1 game!

"We thought it would be fun" is a pretty funny (not to mention meaningless) response to that question. I'm fine with them being standalone releases though - I'm not sure if I'll buy them any time soon but I'm glad to have the option to own them indefinitely, even if it does cost about £10 more (each) than GBA games did on Wii U.

Speaking of which, interesting that Nintendo explicitly namedrops Virtual Console in that FAQ. Not suggesting it means they'll bring it back, it's just not often that Nintendo acknowledges their old branding for things like that.

I thought about choosing Talonflame, because a peregrine falcon with fire powers is objectively pretty cool. But ultimately I share Jim's love of weird squishy little guys, so Goomy gets my vote.

I went with Roggenrola, it's just a little guy

Yep, I had a go with Labo VR earlier and it worked perfectly well after adjusting the IPD a bit. It's nice being able to finally play Virtual Boy games for the first time without even having to buy anything!

@Charlirnie You could say that about Nintendo's 'Switch 2 Editions' of existing games maybe, but the games that release on both Switch 1 and 2 at the same time, like this Bomberman collection, are still new games (or new to Switch at least) even if they're not exclusive to the Switch 2. I wouldn't say it's comparable to Wii U ports.

I'd like to get it some day but not at full price. Which is fine because I don't have a Switch 2 yet anyway.

I was thinking a while ago that playing as a therapist could make for a good visual novel, with a problem-solving element in figuring out how best to help each patient. The tone I had in mind is a kind of Ace Attorney-esque sense of humour but slightly more serious and realistic in portraying therapeutic techniques and mental health conditions. This sounds like exactly what I had in mind but with the added curveball of biting people's necks, which is not something I would have thought of but I guess I'll take it?

@Kazman2007 Balloon Kid is not just a GB version of Balloon Fight, it's a more structured platformer-type game. I haven't played it before but I'm looking forward to giving it a go. Yoshi though - yeah, I can't see much reason to play this over the NES version (which I'm not that into to begin with), but nice to have the choice I suppose.

This is what I've been hoping for! Nice to see Labo VR getting a new lease of life seven years after release (😵)

Edit after the article update: Hmm, as others have said, the word 'officially' is raising some questions here. I think there's a good chance it will in fact work, but we'll see.

Like Gavin, I only bought the base VR kit, which is currently sitting in a cupboard and very occasionally tinkered with. The rubber bands are broken on the blaster so those will need replacing if I want to feed some hippos, but I'm hoping the headset will be good for a bit of Virtual Boy action in a couple of weeks.

I kind of regret not getting the other Labo sets while they were readily available new, it's a really fun concept. No idea how I'd store it all, though.

Why only Switch 2 games? Even if I had a Switch 2, my most anticipated games of the year at this stage would be Tomodachi Life, Rhythm Paradise and Professor Layton.

@JohnnyMind With the Animal Crossing one the paid upgrade doesn't seem worth it to me personally, but I don't have an issue with the way they handled it. If you're interested in the upgrade features then the price is not unreasonable, and if you're not then it doesn't stop you accessing all the other new content they added in the free update.

I think the Mario Wonder update should have been similar but probably the other way round in terms of pricing: a paid DLC for the original game, and a free Switch 2 upgrade that ups the resolution, adds Mouse Mode for Luma, GameShare, etc. To my mind this would make more sense from a sales perspective as well: no one's gonna buy a Switch 2 specifically for this upgrade, but Nintendo could still sell the Switch 2 edition as a physical release bundled with the DLC, while getting sales of the DLC from Switch 1 owners as well.

Probably whenever I end up getting a Switch 2, but after watching the 5-minute trailer yesterday I'm still unclear on how much new single-player content there is. So I might have to see how well it reviews before deciding. I'm also a bit disappointed this is Switch 2 exclusive - the vast majority of the new content would work perfectly well on Switch 1, and it's particularly galling when you compare it to Animal Crossing, which just got a huge free update that works on Switch 1 alongside the Switch 2 upgrade.

Looks lovely, and glad to see they've accurately captured the French dialect with that blackboard saying 'Oui Oui Baguette'

I'm glad some people are interested in this, but for me this might be the least appealing product Nintendo's ever released (and I've played Amiibo Festival!)

@Automated_Unit_4937 You mean 'the Super Mario Bros. Wonder: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park game'?

Kind of funny how the clip they chose to showcase Dixie's flutter is one that makes it clear the game wasn't designed around her, because her jump misses one of the bananas. But still, this is a cool bonus feature for those who have the game on Switch (I'm sticking to the 3DS version myself) and you've gotta love Nintendo's commitment to being the company with the most random game update schedules in the business.

Hope he gets on well with Hasbro's COO, Gary Optimus Prime.

Interesting to see a game in the top 10 of the physical charts selling best on PC! I'm guessing there was a sale on that version specifically.

I think Switch 2 Editions need two different scores, one just for the upgrade and one for the whole game with the upgrade factored in. In the case of ACNH, Alex's 6/10 review seems fair if you're looking at whether it's worth paying for the upgrade pack, but it means the actual game, Animal Crossing New Horizons for the Switch 2 (which of course you can buy as a complete game in itself), also has a rating of 6/10 on the site, even though it's a (slightly) better version of a game which already received a 10/10. There should be some sort of clearer distinction here, because the full game and the upgrade pack are clearly very different value propositions but they're both called 'Switch 2 Edition'.

I agree that the best use of amiibo is cosmetic unlocks themed around the specific amiibo that you scanned, like the TOTK paraglider fabrics and Mario Kart's Mii costumes as mentioned in the article. It's the ideal sweet spot of being a cool bonus but not a big deal if you don't have it; otherwise if you just get something that's in the game anyway, it's hard to care that much. My favourite is the different Yoshi designs in Yoshi's Woolly World!

I never particularly longed to be able to strafe in Animal Crossing but I'll take it I suppose

I gave up waiting for this port and bought it on Steam years ago, but good to see this collection is finally coming to Switch, even if it did take an entire generation.

This is the kind of amiibo functionality I like best. It's a nice little aesthetic bonus if you have the amiibo but if you don't, well, it doesn't really make your experience of the game any worse if you miss out on a Rosalina-themed tennis ball.

I like the colours, and the limited usage of them looks good when the controllers are detached, but I'd like to see more colour on the main body of the controller so the console in handheld mode doesn't look so bland. My plan is still to only buy a Switch 2 once there's some sort of special edition available with a more colourful design - not just for aesthetic reasons but because by then enough time will have passed that I should be able to get the games a bit cheaper (secondhand if necessary). With that in mind it's a shame we're probably not getting a new Animal Crossing any time soon (judging by the upcoming New Horizons update), as the ACNH Switch 1 is gorgeous and I'd definitely buy a Switch 2 with a similar design to that.

Happy New Year, NL! I've been visiting this site for over a decade now and I think it's currently the best it's ever been - the variety of interesting articles coming out recently has been amazing. Looking forward to seeing what comes out of Nintendo - and Nintendo Life - in 2026

(By the way, does anyone else think that ring in the Rhythm Paradise image looks like the arch Harry Hill used to sit in front of on TV Burp?)

@JohnnyMind Ah that's interesting, thanks for explaining! Yeah 'Dragon of Gurgles' would be quite an odd title

'The Girl Who Stole Time and the Dragon of Gurgles'? If that's the full title this is the first time I've heard it, can't imagine why.

Personally I don't find this game quite as fun as Wii Fit, but I'm still working my way through the story mode after years of owning it and it's definitely succeeded in motivating me to do some actual exercise for once. This was a great read, kudos for the His Dark Materials reference!

I spent so many hours on Nitrome browser games back in the day, so this is very exciting news for me specifically. Twin Shot was one of my favourites as well, that music is so nostalgic <3

Jaws: Retro Edition: Enhanced Version: Bigger Boat Edition