Fizza

Castlevania is a series I have become ungodly obsessed with over the past year-and-a-half; what started off as just a passing interest in the franchise has morphed into a full-on fixation with anything and everything related to it. And yet, despite this deep-seeded adoration for the series....I'm not sure if I can open my heart to the idea of a new one.

Konami are certainly in a better state now than they were during the 2010's, but this is still a company who avoids anything resembling a risk like the plague and thusly pretty much everything good they've put out over the past bit has been either remakes/rereleases of older titles (Castlevania itself being a prime example) with most of their actually new stuff falling well below the mark (see everything Silent Hill related that isn't the SH2 Remake) so I'm highly skeptical as to whether they could actually make a CV game that lives up to the series' storied heritage. Plus the specification of it being 'AAA' has alarm bells ringing in my head because, in my eyes, that doesn't read like it'll be a 2D game (yknow: what people actually want?).

Time will only tell I suppose but yeah: cautious optimism with heavy emphasis on the 'cautious' part 🏰

oh goddamnit I was watching the NA trailer for this initially and the way they do dates I thought this was scheduled for February 4th initially 😭

If it's anything like the Switch Presentation of January 2017 though? Yeah we're in for one hell of a ride come April 2nd 🤩

Kinda surreal to see a proper new Mario Kart after all this time (MK8 alone was with me for my entire teenage existence XD) and it seems like the visual style is pulling from Wonder's more 'official artwork accurate' look too. Way too early to really say much else as of now but yeah: wild to finally see the first brand new Mario Kart in over a decade XD

Nintendo is the funniest f***ing company of all-time oh my god 🤣😭

Can't believe they'd just shadowdrop something as monumental as this at 1PM in the afternoon but I'm not complaining because god this system looks rad as hell. Still not entirely sold on the name being just 'Nintendo Switch 2' but I imagine I'll get used to it in time ✨

f***ing TKO out of nowhere goddamn 😭

Absolutely heartbroken if this does end up being the case. While its not a series I tend to talk about all too much, Punch Out is easily one of my all-time favourite Nintendo series ever made (right alongside others like Pokemon, Splatoon and Kirby). Nothing plays like Punch Out does with its rhythm/puzzle based combat and over-the-top opponents and, while I can definitely see the hesitance to do something with it given how so much of the series was built off of the most blatant of stereotypes imaginable, outright franchise abandonment would be terrible. If this is where the series ends (for the foreseeable future at least), then I can at least rest easy with the knowledge that they went 3/3 on banger games🥊

Merry Christmas everyone!!!🎄🧑‍🎄⛄

THE ASTRO SWEEP IS REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

110% deserved. I was in complete jubilation from the moment they announced it and seeing Doucet/Team Asobi give thanks not only to Sony/Playstation but also all the games that inspired Astro had me grinning from ear-to-ear. An incredible achievement for an incredible little team 🩵

am I f***ing hallucinating

I....I just....I have no words to describe how completely and utterly stunned I am that this is a REAL THING that is ACTUALLY HAPPENING and not just some decade-plus-old pipe dream.

they announced this in addition to Onimusha coming back too I think I'm gonna pass out

I was very much hoping they'd make a big song and dance about Tetris finally coming to NSO when they initially announced it for the service earlier in the year and I'm very happy to see them do exactly that. Getting Alexey Pajitnov himself to present the trailer is absolutely wonderful and the surprise bonus of Tetris DX is very nice as well. I already know for a fact I'm about to pour so much time into both of these and I can't wait to get going as soon as possible XD

every time you think you can predict NSO, they always manage to do some wild thing like this XD

Thank the lord we're getting more Mega Drive games though, I was convinced whatever deal they had with SEGA for that part of NSO had expired or something given how radio silent its been for the last....oh god year and a half???

The games themselves are also pretty cool: never heard of Mercs before (though I'm always down for a 90s top-down shmup) but its great to see TJ&E's sequel come over and I'm stunned it took them this long to add Vectorman given how iconic it is to the MD's history. Very happy overall and hopefully this'll lead to more Mega Drive games getting added in the near future!

also, and this is just an observation, but dropping Toe Jam & Earl Panic on Funkotron on a Wednesday specifically? Interesting coincidence....

ohhhhhh I see what they're doing here XD

Very weird how they didn't just decide to drop all three DKL games at once but at least they won't be spreading the trilogy out over the next couple months (plus I'm always down for some more DKC2 action).

anyways catch you around on November 30th for DKL3 XD

While I'm not really against putting DKL on NSO myself as its a cool piece of DKC-related history to coincide with the series anniversary, I can't help but feel like this is the absolute bare minimum they could've done for such an occasion. Like seriously: just DKL1 and not the whole trilogy? No DK94 or DK64? Not even something like Diddy Kong Racing alongside it? Yeah I don't know man, for the first NSO drop after over three weeks of radio silence, its not really doing much for me 🤷

I'll probably still have a fun enough time with it though (especially given how it apparently has entirely different level designs compared to its console counterpart according to a bunch of people here).

Played Prime 2 for the first time this year myself via the Wii Trilogy release and was genuinely amazed by how different it was compared to the first game. While I ultimately still do prefer MP1 as an overall experience, MP2's more Zelda-like structure and grittier world/tone have stuck with me from the moment I first played it and I highly respect how willing it was to break away from the formula established in the first game. Hopefully it and MP3 will get modern ports in the near future so that more people can play these fantastic games on current hardware!

also Dark Samus is way cooler in their home series than Smash Bros would have you believe like good LORD XD

Might as well ask this actually while I'm here: I had the regular Switch Online app on an old tablet of mine before eventually getting a phone and completely forgetting about it. Would I be alright to redownload that alongside this new music app onto my phone now? Would it remember my info from beforehand? 🤔

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SEE THE DAY BLOODY FINALLY

This seems like a pretty comprehensive little app too: soundtracks from all over Nintendo history and not just current games, the ability to extend the music for longer and even a spoiler tag are shockingly great options.

That being said though....it ain't perfect. Adding soundtracks over time is a fine enough idea....for new releases. But when goddamn Super Mario 64 isn't there at launch? Yeah that definitely strikes me as bizarre. I also fear for my precious Nintendo music compilations on Youtube now that Ninty's actually gone and put their music out officially XD

Overall though, this is something I've been praying they'd do for pretty much my whole life and I'm so happy to finally see it come to fruition. Now get the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games on here asap XD

THEY JUST DECIDED TO DROP THIS ON A RANDOM TUESDAY AFTERNOON????????????????

I haven't played a Xenoblade game yet (was planning on starting the series next year) and even I'm freaking out about this; absolutely insane to see THE most discussed Wii U-to-Switch port finally come to fruition!!!

I had almost completely forgotten about the Mature N64 app myself, feels weird to finally give it its first update almost 5 months after it came out but hey: I ain't complaining XD

Cool duo of games for it too; Turok 2 pairs nicely with the first (and has me hopeful they'll also bring over the third game to complete the trilogy) and Shadowman is a wild surprise (and a game I didn't even know came out for the N64 tbh XD).

Overall then? A very cool selection of titles to round out one of the busiest months for NSO in a while.

TIL games can continue downloading in sleep mode 😅

Been playing almost exclusively in TV Mode for the last while so I haven't noticed anything myself (plus I was able to download the current NSO Game Trial for Cursed to Golf yesterday) but I'll stick to the TV for now just to be on the safe side. If Nintendo themselves have been alerted to these types of potential issues then it'll probably get fixed soon enough (preferably before that Castlevania DLC for Vampire Survivors so I can download it with peace-of-mind XD).

THE DEVS BEHIND OCTOPATH MADE M&L BROTHERSHIP!?

oh this is about to be one of the best RPGs I've ever played XD

@FishyS I can definitely see where you're coming from but I do feel as though the context is pretty important here. Having such a snappy and to-the-point type of trailer was most likely done to present the Switch as a more 'modern' feeling system, distancing it from the brand imagery of the Wii/Wii U and making it clear that it was something entirely new.

With that said though, 100% agree that the Switch 2 reveal should be in the style of a Direct; gimme 20+ minutes of nothing but the new system and the 1st-Party titles coming out for it in the first year or two and I will be elated.

While I can't place exactly where I was when the Switch got revealed (I'm pretty sure I was still in primary school if that's any indication of how long ago this was 💀), this trailer has easily gone down as one of my personal favourites from Nintendo. After the Wii U's cringe-inducing marketing was so disastrous it was a primary catalyst for the floundering state of the console, seeing Nintendo cater their next system to the young-adult crowd (at least initially) was such a breath of fresh air compared to pretty much everything else they had put out in the 2010's. Couple that with a slick core gimmick reveal and a bevvy of high-profile game teasers (Skyrim perhaps being the most notable one for the time) and you're left with a reveal that managed to claw Nintendo out of their darkest depths and one they've been riding out ever since.

anyways Switch 2 when XD

GUH-HUH!?

Certainly not the kind of announcement I was expecting to wake up to on an average Friday morning but one I will gladly take all the same. I loved the original BK and am very much in the camp that its better than Mario 64 (even if Click Clock Woods filtered me to the point where I still have yet to properly beat it XD) so seeing Tooie finally get added is wonderful to see. The added element of widescreen if also a great surprise and makes me curious as to whether they'll retroactively add that into BK.

Regardless, I'm over the moon to have the bear-n-bird duo back in action once again! 🐻🐔

The pre-release period for any Pokemon game is always an insufferable minefield of leaks as is, now we have actual ones to contend with!?

For as cool as it is to see the inner working behind games like HGSS and Gen 5 through this (LATIKEN IS REALLLLLLLLLL), I feel absolutely terrible for Game Freak; for this to happen to them during the one year they decide to take a break away from their typical annual release schedule must be so insanely demoralising. My thoughts go out to them and whoever leaked this is 100% gonna be feeling the full wrath of Nintendo's legal division.

CLIMAX IS FINALLY FREE FROM JP EXCLUSIVITY OH MY GOD YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Between this, F-Zero 99 and all the other games in the series they've put on NSO over the past couple years, the Switch has been an extremely good system for F-Zero and as someone who fell in love with the series thanks to NSO, I couldn't be happier. Will absolutely be hopping on these two as soon as I can and I'm very hopeful we'll get a port of GX to round out the whole series on one system!

The idea of Pokemon actually taking Palworld to court over its creature designs was more of a funny what-if than anything else so seeing it actually come to fruition (WITH THE BACKING OF NINTENDO THEMSELVES AT THAT) is bonkers to see.

I've always been on the side that believed Palworld was skirting a bit too close to the plagiarism side of things (that Leafeon Cinderace hybrid....my god) with only a few wholly original designs to call its own and given the shady practices that Pocketpair have been shown to employ in the past (namely going all-in on NFTs/AI and examples of copying other games), I can't say I show much sympathy for them right now.

Only time will tell what'll come of this suit, but I'm very excited to grab a bowl of popcorn and watch the chaos unfold XD

The distinction of it being a patent suit rather than a copyright one does intrigue me though: I wonder what Nintendo's found for Palworld specifically to be their target and not a bunch of the other creature-collectors on the market? (most notably MH Stories and DQ Monsters)

I'm not gonna lie, my fight-or-flight instinct kicked in upon seeing the words 'Big Run' pop on screen XD

Kind of a middling lineup for the first NSO drop in over a month but there's definitely still some cool stuff here, particularly in how many Super Famicom titles they've brought over and the addition of Cosmo Gang: The Puzzle (a game I've been meaning to try out for the last good while). Nothing too crazy overall but a fine enough batch regardless.

also the fact they brought over the Battletoads Double Dragon crossover before even putting the first Battletoads game on NSO is pretty funny

'WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD, YOU GONNA LEARN TODAY!!!'

For me, GrandFest was a brilliant little reminder as to why I love this game/series as much as I do.

I've fallen out of favour with Splatoon over the last while personally. While I still love the game, some questionable updates and general community discussion online have left me feeling rather burnt out from it over the past year or so, only really booting it up again for each Splatfest/Big Run that came my way.

GrandFest then felt like one of the rare times where everyone was able to come together and be happy with Splatoon: the massive concert arenas with little Jellies bopping away to the music, the little trinket stalls filled with tons of cute details and the performances themselves being structured like the IRL Nintendo live, complete with full-blown setlists and choreographing/vocals made specifically for the event. It was all so lovingly-crafted to be as in-tune with the game's universe as possible and hearing all three idol groups perform Three Wishes had me on the verge of tears honestly XD

An utterly terrific sendoff for a game that I still absolutely adore, warts and all ❤

I was always more of a Pokemon Scarlet type of person anyways XD

Very glad I could end Splatoon 3's Splatfests on a win! GrandFest was an absolute blast to experience and Past winning has me immensely intrigued as to what route Splatoon 4 will go down if this fest ends up influencing the game's general vibes. Who knows: maybe we'll even get a prequel next time?

Leaving until the digital release to announce this feels like a kick in the shins to be honest: I held off on grabbing MvC specifically because I was going to wait for the physical and revealing that its just a code in a box feels like a real nasty rug pull. I'm absolutely still going to be grabbing MvC in November as I initially intended but I won't bother with the physical edition anymore in this case, such a strange and sleazy move on their end.

I have yearned to play Marvel vs Capcom in any capacity from the moment I first saw Phoenix Wright style on people in UMvC3 so having such a comprehensive and lovingly put-together compilation of the entire pixel-based side of the series finally be within reach feels incredible. I won't be getting it immediately as I'm hoping to get the physical version when it comes out in November but I'll absolutely be hopping on MAHVEL as soon as humanly possible!

Nintendo revealing this on the same day as Sony's GAAS implosion has to be one of the most unintentionally hilarious things I've ever seen.

Brothership's looking just as crisp as ever though! I am a bit concerned at the pretty homogenous area theming (grass, desert, lava; its all pretty bog-standard Mario to be honest) but the areas themselves look stunning and full of charm/life. Besides that then, everything else is pretty much perfect: the animations, the music, the battles; its all looking like a great return for the series. November 7th can't come soon enough!

ok yep it's official, I can't take waiting for this to come out any longer, LET ME IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN

AAI2's official localisation was probably the only thing I was really worried about going into this collection given how beloved the fan translation was/is, so seeing it retain the overwhelming quality the rest of the games' scripts house has me on cloud nine right now. It's still kind of insane to think that every core Ace Attorney game is now on all major platforms and, with the near-unanimous adoration the series has received over the last while, hopefully Ace Attorney 7 won't be too far away ❤️

I remember saying it when Apollo Justice Trilogy charted in Japan a couple months back and I'll say it again: a visual novel/adventure game like Emio cracking the charts in the first place is still insanely impressive given how niche the genre is to the general gaming space. Hopefully the positive reviews/word-of-mouth will help it crack the 500k barrier in time 👻

now we finally get to experience the beauty that is swapping between the two protags in Portrait of Ruin all over again in glorious HD

I've become very obsessed with Castlevania over the last couple months (started the series last year, but it wasn't until Castlevania III where I began to fall in love with it) and I was pretty confident the DS entries, despite their overwhelming quality, would never get rereleased due to their dual-screen nature. So to see such a loving collection of all three combined with a remake of Haunted Castle that actually makes it good is a wondrous sight to see. I probably won't end up tackling the games featured here until much, MUCH later (I still have yet to play SotN for crying out loud XD) but when I do, you better believe it'll be through this collection 🦇

Picked this up as soon as I could and would be storming my way through it right now if I weren't currently occupied with work XD

Shadow of the Ninja is a big personal favourite of mine from the NES era and seeing it get the glowup it's deserved for the the last 30+ years has me absolutely elated. TENGO have only gone and done it again 🥷

Seems to be a case of 'if you like Famciom Detective Club, you'll love this' based on everything I've seen online which, as an avid VN/adventure game fan, is more than fine by me XD

Gonna be tackling the whole series at some point next year myself and Emio seems like it'll be a cracking closer for it; can't wait to give it a go and really hope this leads to FDC coming back as a full-fledged series again 👻🛍👻

Feels a bit odd to announce it so far in advance (I get that it was convenient to put alongside Tetris Forever but still a weird decision nonetheless) but Tetris works wonders on a portable system like the Switch and I'll absolutely be double-dipping once it eventually arrives around Christmas time!

THE MVC COLLECTION ISN'T EVEN OUT YET AND THEY JUST CASUALLY DROP THIS!?!?!?!?!?

This collection would've been worth it for the CvS games alone but they chucked in Project Justice, Power Stone and goddamn PLASMA SWORD for good measure too, holy hell. Will definitely be getting this the moment it comes out; Capcom just can't stop hitting with their collections huh? XD

of course the one time I decide I'm sick of waiting and emulate Tetris NES is when it gets announced for NSO; why does this keep happening to me 🥲

This sounds like such a cool collection overall; tons of super-obscure games, a brand new Tetris experience which combines the mechanics of the older games on the fly and full-blown documentary material too? Digital Eclipse never miss man holy hell.

THEY'RE FINALLY ALL TOGETHER

Never in a million years did I expect them to find a way of making the DS trilogy work on modern platforms and chucking in a Haunted Castle remake alongside it!? OH MY GOD DUDE

Absolutely elated about this and will absolutely be checking it out once I wrap up the Advance Collection down the line; Castlevania, much like Drac himself, never truly does stay dead huh 😭

September is way sooner than I was expecting (especially given how Ace Attorney Investigations comes out only a week beforehand), was sure Capcom were gonna save this for the Winter time XD

Great surprise though and I'll absolutely be taking this for a ride (dadada dadada) as soon as possible!

AFTER ALL THESE MONTHS

WE CAN FINALLY SAY

FOR DEFINITE

....that it is pizza time

@anoyonmus Normally I'd agree with you, but that didn't stop Capcom from announcing the Apollo Justice Trilogy less than a month before Ghost Trick came out last year, nor did it stop them from announcing/releasing AAI Collection the same year that AJ Trilogy released.

They've very much set a precedent this past while that these kinds of games could be announced at literally any moment XD

Every time you think you can predict Nintendo's next move, they chuck something like this at you XD

This sounds like it'll be a fantastic time! I've always held a soft spot for Indie Worlds so seeing a new one of those alongside a Partner Showcase is a great surprise. Gonna continue on my eternal 'Ace Attorney 7 is gonna happen eventually guys I swear' delusions once again for this 🥲

Alright listen: I'm all for delays as much as everyone else. But you can only do so many of them before the conversation naturally starts shifting from 'understandable, take your time!' to 'what the f*** is going on here???'

Given how pretty much all of their other games appear to be slipping into next year with the exception of Inazuma Eleven, Level-5 could really use with some proper communication as to what's been happening with their current slate of upcoming titles.

@Dogorilla TCG trailers are great all around; the ones for the Tag Team cards in particular are some of my favourite ads of all time.

god that Mewtwo art is so f***ing raw bro holy s***

I don't tend to play Pokemon's mobile offerings much these days (was heavily invested in them back in 2020/21 and have thankfully left that part of me behind) but TCG Pocket has piqued my interest from the moment I first saw it as someone who enjoys the TCG but hasn't had the opportunity to really play it all too often. Seeing a simplified YGO Duel Links-styled version of it that aims to reduce the barrier-to-entry for beginners then sounds exactly like just the thing I need to properly dip my toes into the card game

Don't think I'll be downloading it on release day (heaven knows the first day of any mobile app is never a smooth one) but it's definitely one on the mind for November/December! ⚡