HammerGalladeBro

@Huntrix3 I already ranted about it, but let me bring this topic once again.
Even if a game is rated E10+, the violence and themes tend to be mild.
I'm convinced the ESRB doesn't know what E10+ originally stood for.

Something like Donkey Kong Jungle Beat on the GC or Mario Strikers Charged on the Wii are well worthy of the E10+ rating because the characters do go out of character and I'd say are even more aggresive and violent than even Smash Bros.
The modern Sonic games I'd say are also worthy of E10+ for their themes of serious death and destruction to a degree that goes a bit above what you'd expect from a game aimed at all ages. The gameplay itself is tame.

The Kirby games, however, are a stretch. Nothing in them is as aggresive, violent or suggestive as the examples I mentioned. At most you get a final boss that bleeds, which penalizes the entire game to that rating. And from what was shown, I suppose that dark creature riding a dark Wheelie Bike at the end might fill that criteria.

For reference, Puyo Puyo Tetris 1 and 2 are also rated E10+: Really, a puzzle series? What's it doing to get that rating? I mean, it deals with the destruction of the Puyo Puyo and Tetris worlds due to the merger, but it doesn't present it as a serious threat as in the Sonics. In my past comment on the link, I previously mentioned Satan/Dark Prince declaring his love for Arle Nadja.
Also, Mario Strikers: Battle League is also rated E10+, but it is the mildest in the series. Super Mario Strikers on the GC is more violent and gritty and it still got an E at a time E10+ was already a thing.

I'd agree if Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie were bumped from E to E10+, playing them again in 2021 after 20 years made me realize these games are gore for kids: characters blow up and get dismembered for no reason when they're defeated but is done in a cartoonish way and not a single splash of blood is seen.

Anyway, I'm going off a tangent here.
I like the box art, but the logo is seriously lacking. I was hoping that wasn't the final logo. Unfortunately, it follows the simplicity of the Japanese logo.
The illustration does the job of representing the fact you have more playable characters compared to the original, which was just Kirby for the most part.

Janken the Great from Alex Kidd in Miracle World, so Alex can help you and make some sort of reference to Shinobi Kid/Alex Kidd in Shinobi World along the way.

Thanks everyone for not coming with "Waluigi/Goku for Kirby Air Riders" jokes.

Since my mother tongue is Spanish (specifically Mexican Spanish) and since the first time I encountered Rayquaza in Pokémon Sapphire in 2003 a few weeks after my friends got their copies at launch but didn't find it, I've been calling it the written name with Spanish pronunciation: rahi-kwah-zah. The rahi part as in Raikou.
I also have that pronunciation issue with Rayman.

With that said, I believe Pokémon Battle Revolution pronounced Rayquaza as ray-kway-zah. And if I remember correctly, the Latin American Spanish dub of the movie Destiny Deoxys (which was handled by Disney instead of the usual anime dub studio at the time) has its pronunciation as ray-kwah-zah. The Ray part similar to "rey" (the Spanish word for King) and how it is pronounced in English.

About Arceus, that one has pissed me off for a bit.
Why did they change that pronunciation? Pokémon Battle Revolution established it as Ar-see-us and I've been calling him like that. Then its movie comes and it's suddenly Ar-khe-us. Did they also change the Japanese pronunciation (therefore, its name) from アルセウス (aruseus) to アルケウス (arukheus)?

Looks like another venue for scalpers and resellers.

Best of luck to those who decide to attend.

Given how we know next to nothing about the game, 45 minutes seems about right to give you a good dish of information.

EDIT: To all that doubt about Nintendo releasing Kirby Air Riders in the same year as Mario Kart World.
Remember 2003? That year Nintendo released Kirby Air Ride, F-Zero GX and Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. In Kirby and F-Zero's releases, almost close to each other, moreso in Japan where only 2 weeks and Pokémon Channel separate their launches.
I've said it before, but 2025 feels like a repeat of 2003, Nintendo racing-wise. We're having Mario Kart World, Kirby Air Riders and the re-release of F-Zero GX in the same year.

On the GBA side, 2003 is also the year F-Zero: GP Legends had its first release in Japan. In other parts of the world it came out in 2004.

I had my doubts, but I'm on board if the paid version has offline battles against CPUs in the same vein of the Pokémon Stadium games, Battle Revolution and the Battle Mode of Colosseum.

If it's just PvP, then you lost me.

@NFrealinkling amiibos at least look better than this. I agree they're now expensive though.

If the European cover didn't have the red border, it might actually show what Master Higgins/Takahashi Meijin is looking at. For that reason it doesn't get my vote, but Japan does so I'll vote that.

Come on, Konami. Where are the Adventure Island and Bonk/PC Genjin Collections?

In fact, why are you neglecting the Hudson Soft library beyond Bomberman and Momotaro Dentetsu? Why did you buy Hudson Soft IPs if you don't intend to do anything with them?

Not having played many of them, from these options my only choices would be Lumines Arise, Marvel Tokon and Rare Replay. If I could, I'd add Sea of Thieves.
Also, Papers, Please...ummm...please.

EDIT: Other games that came to my mind: The Murder of Sonic The Hedgehog, Amanda The Adventurer 2, Duck Season, Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition (yes, I want to play as Heihachi dressed like Mario again), Shinkanzen 0 and a few of Chilla's Art horror games, Hatch.

I'd also say Mouse: P.I. for Hire but I believe that game was confirmed for Switch 1 and teased for Switch 2. And just today they confirmed Bad Cheese for both Switches.

"and enduring popularity."

What popularity? Honest question.

@Suketoudara
"The co-operative mode, in which one player drives and the other throws stuff, is neat, though mostly redundant given that most pairs will prefer to drive a kart each."
That really depends on who you're playing with. I know me and my friends didn't mind playing co-op to tackle each other using the side attacks available in only in co-op.
A few years I played with my nephew who isn't a good driver so he was fine attacking.

"It is a party game, and anyone buying it for anything more than frantic, foolish, social fun will grow tired of being cheated very quickly indeed."
When has Mario Kart been considered a serious racer to the point of getting its own "Fox only, No Items, Final Destination"?
Yes, I know there are communities in MK8D where Waluigi with that Wiggler ATV and small tires are almost a must, but they still use items and run on tracks with gimmicks.

Sometimes I wonder if reviewers try to review games from another perspective.

The press package also includes a look at a European physical Switch release. It mentions how this is a "download code only".

Already dead on arrival. That's a Fast way to make me Furious.

(Drops mic)

@KingMike I had no idea there were plans for a GBA release of Kid Icarus. I would've vought that regardless of which version was the base.

Speaking of 3D Classics: Kid Icarus, does that version have all the endings? Specifically the worst ending that was only on the FDS version (Palutena turns Pit into that Groucho Marx-esque enemy) and the best ending only on the NES version (Pit/Kid Icarus becomes Man Icarus).
I sadly couldn't get it before the eShop closure, so I missed on that version.

Great, looks like we're now also dealing with the scalping of clothes.

I'm, to a certain extent, surprised that's actually a thing. I had expected that be a thing during the end of the world.

Hopefully they add the soundtrack to Nintendo Music to go along with it.

Not counting Smash Bros., this is Chibi-Robo's first appearance in 10 years.

@OctolingKing13 only until we get (Poochy &) Yoshi's Woolly World.

Despite being on NSO, it's the only Paper Mario I haven't played (TTYD remake doesn't count since I played the original).

Since I haven't played it, I don't think too highly of it, but I can see why it gets it's praise.
One day I promise I'll play it, and who knows, maybe I'll also sing my praises for it.

My wish is that we get a new game with the RPG gameplay but the music, aesthetics and writing of Color Splash and Origami King. TTYD remake is a start.

The subheading already made my day. Thanks a lot.

About the story. Thanks scalpers, you cannot go 5 minutes without shaming yourselves?

Before I complain about the lack Mario Kart World's soundtrack, I need the soundtracks of Double Dash!!, DS and Wii.

If I didn't know any better, I'd believe the Japanese cover is actually medicine or something. Not necessarily a bad thing.

The western cover doesn't exactly tell you visually what the game is about other than the quotes, but at least has the courtesy of showing you the cast, that always counts for something.

I kind of wish there was a toggle of how Samus dies in both Zero Mission and Samus Returns to allow her to die the same way as in the originals.
And yes, I feel bad for Samus for asking for such things, makes me sound like I have pleasure in seeing her die in those ways. I apologize.

I never really thought about it, but what crosses Samus' mind while she disintegrates?

Ok, you had me at Puzzle Bobble 1 and 2, as well as KOF 2003 (yes, really) on Vol. 7.

@Antraxx777 That's true. I still wonder how I was able to get the Samus Unmasked ending on the Wii Virtual Console without NARPAS SWORDing my way through.

@KingMike To my understanding, the Samus in a bikini and Samus Unmasked endings are also on the FDS version. However the suitless Samus playthrough is not accessible on that version.

Japanese players wouldn't be able to play as suitless Samus in the original Metroid until the port included in Metroid: Zero Mission, which is based on the NES version. On the other hand, the Classic NES Series version (also on GBA) is based on the FDS version, which in turn gives western players the FDS version for the first time.

I was playing the Gamecube version about a month ago and got stuck on the first snow mountain level. Maybe I should go back and finish it before I commit to the Re-PAC version.

The music of the original Metroid is the one thing that holds up pretty well of the game. Tanaka's music never disappoints.

Now that we have Hip Tanaka's attention, can someone ask him about the extension of the Escape theme?

Of course! However it will have to wait until I have a Switch 2.

My top 10 SNES games on NSO as of August 8th, 2025 would be
1. Super Mario World
3. Donkey Kong Country 2
2. Super Mario All-Stars
4. Kirby Super Star
5. Panel de Pon
6. EarthBound
7. Super Punch-Out!!
8. Wrecking Crew '98
9. Mario's Super Picross
10. Kirby's Avalanche / Super Puyo Puyo 2 (cannot decide which one I like more)

Runner-ups (part of top 15): Sutte Hakkun, Yoshi's Island, Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Metroid and Killer Instinct.

Sorry, Super Metroid. As great as you are, your controls kinda ruin you for me after playing Metroid Fusion and Metroid: Zero Mission.

Don't worry, I already did with my almost 4 yo nephew when I took him to the Mario movie (his first exposition to the series) and gave him my pairs of Mario and Luigi plushies and her aunt my Yoshi plushie she wanted for some time.

He really values those gifts.

Honestly, I'd get the Wood Block Set, it looks like it would be a nice diorama based on the fake wood characters from Super Mario 3D Land and Super Mario 3D World.

Mina and UFO 50 so far for me. Maybe also Content Warning.

Haven't checked the western presentation, but the Japanese one had a NS2 Edition upgrade for The Exit 8 (a performance upgrade which should bring it up to par with the Steam version), that's also on my radar. If a small (and I do mean small) indie game can get an NS2 Edition upgrade, what's stopping companies like Square Enix from doing the same (other than greed and their usual bad decisions)?

EDIT: Why at the beginning of the article is the April 17th, 2024 presentation? I got confused when I saw Little Kitty, Big City at the beginning.

EDIT 2: Corrected. Thanks a lot.

Now I have no excuse to not support UFO 50.

"You're too slow!"

Already have it on Switch 1, so I might just go for the digital upgrade. However if I ever come across a cheap copy, I'll gladly double dip on one of the games that revitalized my interest in gaming.

Might as well download some Pilotwings songs while I wait for my flight.

When I saw Gollum on the Japanese box art, my reaction was "what the hell is Spyro doing in a Hobbit/LotR game?

That tease alone made me vote Japan.

Sorry, since I'm on vacation and I self-imposed a rule of not gaming until I'm back, this weekend will be only the theme unlock of Donkey Kong Bananza in Tetris 99.

Yes, I brought my Switch with me, but since I received some unfavorable comments, I decided not to game.

Once I get a Switch 2, this will be my first digital game.

Wait, is Kirby gonna face a final boss that bleeds? That's been mostly the reason recent Kirbys have been rated E10+.

Can we expect the removal of Ms. Pac-Man (both the character and the bonus game) here as well?

@Markatron84 @AmplifyMJ
I think I've broken enough rules these days. I have to contain myself a bit, even if only for 7 days.

Oh, come on! Are you kidding me? The NSO Playtest, Mario Paint on NSO and now a Bananza theme for Tetris 99 all happen while I'm on vacaction with a self-imposed rule of not gaming while I'm away?!

@Joeynator3000 we did have a Mario Paint sequel and a spiritual successor: the Mario Artist series on the 64DD and WarioWare: D.I.Y. on the DS.

I admit I'd love to see the Mario Artist games on NSO one day.

Japanese version directed by Michael Bay.

All jokes aside, my vote goes to Japan, as noisy as it can be, it represents the general idea of destruction the game goes for.

Cartridge art (it's been a while)
North America (shared with Europe and Australia)

Japan

Have you tried out Pokémon Friends yet?

This question should also have a "No, not yet." option.

I'm unironically interested in trying it, but I haven't played either version, mostly because my Switch has been unused since, what? Late May? And my phone has run out of memory.

Has Donkey Kong now become the second banana?

I just am unable to play Bananza knowing that I’m putting a red cartridge in my Switch.

Despite the fact you won't see the cartridge while you're playing?

Gardner has posted one final video on the matter, in which he addresses some of those who have decided to mock him for his mistake, ...

I mean, what did he expect? A kiss on the cheek? He posted his own blunder on the internet, he should've known what happens next.

I agree with @darylb24 and @Metazoxan in that it feels like it was done for internet points/fame. If he had shown it after painting the cart and hadn't said that thing about the red card, I would buy it as genuine.

@nessisonett I agree there, I wish there were a few more handheld-only first-party games (or Nintendo-related).
The only ones I can think of are Pokémon Café ReMix and Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch (for the most part, as it has a mode that can be played on the TV).

That would bring back some possibilities from the DS/3DS days. I miss some of those games.

@ShieldHero I'd prefer it if NL did it like this going forward as a sort of changelog for each game.

He's obviously talking about the revival of Google Stadia.