It gives you a sense of scale of the thing - it is MASSIVE. I'm afraid I'll have to pay a fortune in shipping to get it Stateside next spring. It's like the size of an ancient, top-loading VCR from the early 80s. Just lacks the wood grain exterior!
I'd probably only use it with Ake-Aka games on my Switch/S2, and as an Arcade Archive-approved product, I am sure Hamster will do their best to ensure compatibility with all the games that originally used a trackball, spinner, or loop lever in the arcade. I'm pleased they included a mechanism where you switch between 8-way and 4-way joystick, too, just like the Egret II Mini. Inadvertent diagonal inputs tend to mess me up in old games like Mr. Do, Ladybug and Tutankham.
Apparently, it uses Microsoft's common "X-input" format for compatibility with PC games. Maybe that bodes well for compatibility with other platforms? It would be fabulous if Blaze patched in compatibility with their many arcade titles on Evercade. One can dream!
I loved the modular controller then, and still do now! Happily, I managed finally to navigate through HORI’s webshop checkout and placed my preorder. It’s due to ship to my C/O address in Japan in early spring 2027.
Hopefully, that will give Hamster some time to patch some Arcade Archives games like Arkanoid, Front Line, Ikari Warriors, etc to take advantage of the controller.
Compatibility with Atari 50 would be amazing, too. 🙏
And can I join you in begging for a re-release of the Atari-Midway games?
It looks like a beefy, versatile controller, and I hope the classic arcade game publishers out there adopt it.
Maybe it could even work with Evercade?? I would try Kaboom right away then.
I’ve been enjoying Elden Ring, just dodge-rolling around, spamming the backstab button and playing as cheesy as possible, but still getting housed by most major enemies. I’m persistent, though, so I beat them eventually and trundle along. Overall, a lovely time! I do wish there was a dedicated “Torrent” button though, so I stop using flasks by accident.
If I need a change of pace, I might have another go at Mike Tyson’s Punch Out!, as I picked up a loose NES cartridge for it this week, on my quest to re-acquire old games I loved and lost years ago. It took me a couple weeks after Xmas ‘87 to finally beat Iron Mike. Can I do so again, nearly 40 years later? Probably not. But at least I can reminisce over the snazzy cartridge on my shelf!
Hoping all NL friends have time to enjoy plenty of fun distractions this weekend! 🕹️👾🥊
Wait, they're appreciating us by asking us to spend money during their sale?? And it's the same ol' 30% off?
I don't think that is how appreciation works.
Nintendo ended up with a windfall because the US judiciary wisely declared Trump's (stupid) tariffs unlawful. All those import fees Nintendo paid to the (misguided) US Customs officials were refunded. Millions of people, in the US and around the world, have been paying higher prices to subsidize Trump's idiocy, and there is no refund for us!
A 30% off sale is... something. But it certainly won't ingratiate customers much.
Nintendo would have been much wiser to just run the sale with no mention of tariff refunds - why invite the rancor?
GKC as expected 👎 At least it’s suitably discounted, enough to make me consider a buy, but nah. I already compromised this year to play Elden Ring.
And yes, I’m sure there’s considerations like transfer speeds, yadda yadda, but it’s not a format I enjoy purchasing. No doubt the RE remakes will be GKC, too. I just hope Capcom doesn’t cheap out on Mega Man next spring!
It looks absolutely gorgeous! I want the game and an ocarina. How fun it would be to play with the kids and ask one of them to play the ocarina tune on the mic, so that Link plays the same tune in-game.
Well, last Sunday night I gave up on my DK Challenge dream. I just started way too late and ran out of time. I didn’t bother with it at all until Nintendo announced the physical cards reward, and at that point I’d barely played Bananza. I ended up completing all the retro challenges, rolling credits on Bananza, and doing one or two of the time challenges by the time I conceded defeat. Ah well. At least it got me to enjoy a really superb game I’d been neglecting!
When they announce a Zelda Challenge next week I will jump right in. 😉
Meanwhile I am using 100% of my gaming time lately on Elden Ring and loving it! Maybe 10hrs in and I have very little idea what I’m supposed to be doing, but who cares? I’m having fun just galloping and sneaking around, discovering stuff and browsing the bottomless selection of monsters to fight, big & small. When one pummels me senseless, I’ll just steal my runes back and ride off to find a smaller fish.
I wish I could figure out how to craft arrows, though. I’m afraid it will involve killing many bunnits and eagles, which I’m not prepared to do. 😅
Wishing all NL friends fun adventures and great games this weekend! 🕹️👾🪶
Gripping my Zelda Game & Watch tightly in anticipation. And hopefully we’ll get some announcements for the He-Man game and a S2 release for the Parisian Castlevania.
Looks great, if maybe a little too kinetic for a Castlevania game. I’m waiting for a proper S2 release, though. You’re not gonna get me to buy twice, Konami!
Sounds suitably fun! That 80s anime aesthetic sold me, and this will be the first “mandatory co-op” game I’ve ever purchased. Hopefully I can persuade one of my kiddos to play with me sometime! 🤞
@JohnnyMind Thanks Johnny! I’ll see if I can get through everything without the DLC. But either way, yes, I’m really enjoying the game! It’s a shame I left off of it last summer. I’m glad they lured me back, because it’s a doozy of a game! Every bit of Nintendo fun as Odyssey was, I’d say. As long as the finale holds up. We’ll see!
I’ve been playing Donkey Kong Bananza feverishly all week, trying to complete the DK Challenge before the 9/1 deadline. I think I made good progress - I’ve got all the Bananza’s and I’m in an amusing fast-food themed stage currently. But I haven’t completed any of the “developer challenges” yet, and only a couple of the “nostalgia challenges.” I dunno if I’m gonna make it! Can anybody tell me if the DK Challenge requires you to buy the game’s DLC?
One way or another, I’ll finish with DKB on Tuesday and I’ve got Elden Ring on deck! Regretfully, I compromised my principles and bought an (expensive) GKC. Yuk. But I’ve waited years to try this game, and it’s as close to a physical release as they’re offering, the cheapskates. I plugged in the cart (dongle) to let the game download before I went to bed last night. Hopefully it’s finished downloading. I’ll create some kind of ranger-type character later this week, and get pulverized by all kinds of grotesque monsters. Can’t wait!
Also will have to play some Transformers: Devastation on PS3 this week, as I mourn the passing of Peter Cullen, the unequalled voice of Optimus Prime. 🥺
May all NL friends enjoy some good company and good games this weekend! 🕹️👾🍌
Bought a S2 at the midnight launch and have loved it every minute. I bought a second unit earlier this month (pick-your game bundle) to beat the price hike.
It was Christmas shopping for my youngest - she's been distraught that her Switch is dying (she inherited my OG launch Switch) so she'll get a big upgrade this Xmas, along with Splatoon Raiders and the upcoming Warrior Cats game.
She'll probably pick Pokopia with the pick-your-game bundle. I have to look to see when that eshop coupon expires.
I'm excited to finally have a chance to play Elden Ring. I love games where you try to survive and progress in a hostile environment. (What can I say, I was raised on arcade and NES games!) It's great to hear that the game plays decently well on the S2.
My one gripe is that Bandai relegated such a lauded game to a GKC! I'm buying it, but regretfully. Hopefully someday, against all odds, someone will publish an all-on-the-cart archival edition.
@Nintendo_Thumb Your opinion is valid! We used to play games sitting on the floor with a pile of cartridges, but these days we’re planted pretty firmly on the couch and expect a hundred games or more playable at the push of a button. And Kart and Sports Resort probably fit best with short play sessions.
Even so, in general I still think a download code is relatively lame. You can’t admire it on the shelf, or lend it out to friends, or sell it off should the desire arise. You can’t romanticize it, it won’t trigger fond memories, it’s not living here in the physical world with us. Sometimes the coupon codes even have expiration dates (hello Capcom). And though Nintendo has behaved when it comes to DRM, regimes change. I trust a cartridge in hand way more than the bean counters who increasingly seem to be calling all the shots in the shrinkflation era games industry.
Ultimately it all boils down to one’s perceived sense of value, which varies a lot, person to person. ✌️
@Lumnethia Thanks for sharing! I've heard many people comparing Duskbloods to Nightreign. I game almost entirely on my Switch & S2, but I guess Nightreign is some kind of Elden Ring DLC? At least I know enough now to avoid it! That gameplay loop sounded exhausting! Those VS. games were fun for me back in the arcade and 32-bit era, but I've drifted toward single player focused stuff ever since.
I wouldn't say I felt fatigued playing the Duskbloods test, but I wished the phases were longer, and weren't broken up into chapters with result screens. My strolls around town exploring and beating up NPCs kept getting interrupted, which (I felt) diminished the fun a bit. It was still an entertaining time, though, and maybe there will be modes in the full game with fewer time constraints.
It really has whet my appetite for Elden Ring, though! It's been such a long wait for Switch players like me. I'll enjoy taking my time in that game.
I played for a couple hours but never even made it out of the tutorial, so no PVP or any connection issues for me. I'm a soulslike newbie (only have played Dark Souls a bit on Switch) and really never play 3rd-person online PVP games. Plus, I like to take my time getting used to a game's controls and basic techniques, so I wasn't loving how quickly the phases moved you out of the exploration stage and into the player vs player, where I ended up 2nd place after the CPU each time. That damn Senator Dinosaur guy!
I did love the overall mood of the game, and the wack-job characters you encounter, like something out of the Berserk manga.
Even if I am hoping for solid single-player content in the final release, I saw enough during the trial to want to buy the game later. I wonder if they really are going to squeeze in the release date in 2026? Mostly, the trial got me excited to try Elden Ring for the first time, hopefully this weekend. And I'm eager to try Lies of P, which I've got on preorder, too! It's going to be a soulslike end of the year!
It’s been a busy Saturday morning and so I’ll just share that I’m playing Donkey Kong Bananza and The Duskbloods this weekend. Well, hopefully I’ll play The ‘Bloods, as long as the log-in process probs are solved for the session tonight.
The DK Challenge spurred me to pick up Bananza again, but I have a long way to go before the 9/1 deadline. I only just beat the mixing bowl boss, and can’t even turn into a zebra or ostrich yet! Still, it’s nice to get back into this game. I was distracted away from it right away last year.
Last weekend I managed to roll credits on the brilliant Truxton Extreme, a really great modern shmup with a compelling story and catchy BGM. To think I almost missed it! I’m grateful to @Shiryu for putting the game on my radar.
I had focused entirely on the story mode, but I’ll give arcade mode some honest tries at some point. But no promises, as my first go at Elden Ring is looming next weekend!
@Ks123 I agree! It’d be nice if Super Evil Megacorp or somebody could clarify exactly what is on the cart. And yes, we really have to pay attention to these product titles for the different editions. I think Shredder’s Revenge had the original release, then an “Anniversary Edition,” then the “Ultimate Edition.” 😵💫 We’ll see if Splintered Fates follows suit.
Ok, so last week I preordered the "Legendary" edition of the game physical on S2. I think they advertised it as having Metalhead, Casey Jones, Alopex, and one "TBD" character on the cart. I suppose the placeholder was for Slash?
I am just hoping they don't release an "Ultimate" physical edition in late 2027 with even more DLC on it. I'd rather not have to buy the game 3 times like I did with Shredder's Revenge!
@Erigen I had no idea who Bailey Hoskins was, but wow, I'm not sure he'd be the right DLC character for the game. I mean, he could punch and kick and jump, but just don't press his mutant power button (self-destruct)!
@MirrorFate2 Oh, did I miss an announcement? I didn’t know the devs only committed to 2 DLC packs, nor that they narrowed down the pool of character candidates.
Victor Von Doom himself would be a cool playable character, but I imagine he'll be limited to enemy boss of the new DLC.
So maybe we'll get another member or two of the Fantastic Four as playable characters? The FF are Doom's arch-enemies, after all, and Ben Grimm all on his own seems so lonely. We could have Reed Richards and Sue Storm this time, and the next batch could be the Human Torch plus someone from the X-men (you know Psylocke is bound to join eventually), or Daredevil, Squirrel Girl, Moon Knight, Howard the Duck, or... somebody. With Marvel, the possibilities are endless!
Either way, I'm really reluctant to buy the DLC in cases like this. I just play the long game and wait for the updated "definitive edition" cartridge. Glad to see a fun game getting funner, though!
My free time this weekend will be devoted mostly to Truxton Extreme, which has hooked me harder than any new shmup in recent memory. I’ve cleared about 60% of story mode so far. Each time you clear a stage, you earn a chapter of an intriguing hard sci-fi manga revolving around the game’s 3 main characters. Its premise is reminiscent of GAINAX’s “Gunbuster” somehow, and I don’t care how many bullets are on-screen, I have to see this story through!
Stage 3 is aptly named “Anguish,” and I failed and retried so many times, I kid you not, it pushed me into a kind of mental flow state before I finally beat it. For a brief moment, I was weaving my ship around a tapestry of bullets on instinct and dodging like I had spider-senses or something. I didn’t think it was possible at my age! So I’ve kind of bonded with the game at this point. 😅
I’ll probably give Spelunky another good try again this weekend, too, or maybe try some of the indie game Evercade collections which delivered recently. Murtop looked super fun to me on YouTube.
Wishing all NL friends good times and gaming bliss this weekend! 🕹️👾🤩
Oh gimme gimme gimme! I loved the first Everspace on Switch.
But I’ll wait for a physical release for this sequel. Maybe this will be LRG’s title announcement next week, since this week was LOTR: War in the North. Lots of goodness coming to S2 lately!
S/S2 have been my only modern consoles, so I’ve waited ages for a chance to play Elden Ring. It’s one of those rare games that will actually get me to buy a stupid GKC, mainly because I’m too impatient to wait months for the game to get big discounts on the eShop, and if I’m going to pay full price, I might as well get the transferable/sellable option.
Still, I’d have much preferred a full-on cartridge release for such a vaunted game! Bandai really cheaped out on us. ☹️
This being full on the cart tempted me to preorder, and I'm relieved to hear the game runs well enough on S2. I'll pick up my copy this evening, hopefully.
It'll be my first time with an Elder Scrolls game, so when I get around to playing Oblivion, I imagine it'll seem a bit overwhelming.
I guess I'm still not used to all these ports of big-boy AAA titles!
Yeesh I hope nobody buys into these cloud games expecting to retain access for long. I wouldn’t touch ‘em with a 10-foot pole.
Do the publishers explicitly state that service will end on such-and-such a date? If not, you’re just rolling the dice, people.
In the past, we rented games or pumped coins into arcade machines knowing exactly what we were paying for (and they were priced accordingly). Seemingly, that’s not the case with these cloud games.
Amidst the usual weekend errands I’m sure to play some Truxton Extreme, as it delivered recently and finally unseated Splatoon Raiders from my S2 cartridge slot. I’m motivated to clear some stages and progress through the story in the former game, but certainly I’ll keep pursuing a high-level toy blaster in the latter, too, now that I’ve rolled credits there. What a raid, err ride it’s been! I love my little turret buddies. 🥰
Spelunky continues to lure me back for more punishment, too. Someday I hope to actually get to the final boss and not die immediately. The futility is real, but it’s so fun to keep trying! It’ll happen someday. Actually, since for some reason the games continue to have no physical release whatsoever, I think Spelunky and Spelunky 2 would be absolutely PERFECT as an Evercade 2-game cart. Get on that, Blaze!
Wishing all Nintendo lifers ample time for your favorite pursuits this weekend! 🕹️👾🐙
Woohoo I have been SELECTED. Though I wonder if From Soft will get useful data from me. The peeps who actually play online games will utterly wreck me, I’m sure.
Not only is the 2-year old game delisted, but they're making it unplayable as well?? No offline mode?
If that's the case, I'm glad I never liked the mobile looks of the game and didn't waste $$ on an eshop "rental."
I'm sure these "sunsets" (ugh) will get more common as we boldly go deeper into the all-digital age. I'll keep voting with my wallet and buy physical first.
Dammit Jim, I'm a doctor, not a digital rights manager!
Looks lovely but I imagine myself getting about halfway through the game when all the management and pursuing perfect battle results gets tiring, and I just go play Spelunky or some straightforward arcade game.
I’m 0 for 2 trying to close out Fire Emblem games so far, after drifting away from Three Houses and Engage. But maybe the 3rd game’s the charm? I’ll add it to the collection and give it a try.
Sounds like another for the preorder list, if Koei does the right thing and offers the S2 release as a proper physical. I could be wrong, but I think they've used GKC for all their Switch 2 titles thus far.
I've really got to go back and finish watching the last season of the anime, though!
Thanks for the timely review, Ollie! Once I learned a little of this game’s premise, it appealed instantly to me. I was hoping it would come to Switch/S2 someday, and be a decent port. I’m looking forward to a shipment from iam8bit with Lies of P and Blue Prince sometime late this year. So very happy the devs and publishers are giving both games proper physical releases. Having a day one patch is less than ideal, but as long as the game is playable on the cartridge, that’s to be commended these days!
Most likely when it delivers, I’ll be in a conundrum because Elden Ring will also be clamoring for my attention. I’m not sure which of these two hit games will grab me first. (I suppose Elden Ring, if the zombie cartridge, err, I mean game key card, I preordered arrives on time this month.)
I’m well and truly in a pickle, because I’m knee-deep into and hopelessly hooked on Splatoon Raiders, but one of my most-anticipated games of the year, 70s-style Robot Anime Geppy-X, delivered from Japan, as well as Konami’s excellent Ganbare Goemon game collection.
Geppy-X is like “the one that got away” after I passed up buying a copy for PS1 back in the late 90s, only for it become a cult classic and skyrocket in price. I’m thrilled I can finally play it now!
Meanwhile, Goemon collects like a dozen of Konami’s best, most whimsical games for the NES, GB, and SNES. Eminently playable, especially for crazies like me who’ve spent years of our lives learning Japanese as a foreign language.
But, I’m up to lv 27 in Raiders now, and right in the thick of it! I love trying stages for which I’m underpowered, to see if I can eke out a victory. I’m compelled to keep splatting derpy fish this weekend.
So, I’ll gather my thoughts and see which game I land on in my free time this weekend.
May all NL friends have a lovely time and find just the right game or activity this weekend!
🕹️👾🎋
@wizzgamer No, incorrect. Like @SillyG reminded us above, this “Nintendo Switch 2 Edition” of Xenoblade includes both the full Switch version of the game, plus the Switch 2 upgrade data fully on the cartridge. It is plug & play either way - Switch version on S1, or Switch 2 upgraded version on S2. No download required. No patches. I confirmed as much with the cart I bought today, tried in both my OLED and S2. And just on the title screen alone, the Switch 2 version loads faster and looks sharper! Next time I replay Xeno will definitely be on my deuce. 😁
@Shiryu The discussion here in the comments section was nearly as excellent and informative as the review article! Thank you for all the engagement, and that great list of candidates for 10/10 shmups.
I've had the pleasure to play many of those masterpieces over the years and would most definitely nominate Space Invaders, Galaga, Gradius, R-Type, Raiden, Darius, and several more for the "perfect" rating. I would recommend Atari's "Asteroids" and Midway's "Defender" for the list, as well.
Like so many of the shmup greats from the arcade era, Truxton can be so challenging, and yet so rewarding when you practice and memorize and overcome. Its Japanese title, "Tatsujin," literally translates to "expert" or "master" in English.
So, thanks again! You, sir, are the "Tatsujin-Oh!"
@Shiryu the plot here... chef's kiss. Under NDA, can't spoil anything.
Heavens no! No need to spoil any story! I just put down my $$ on a special edition of the game (never could resist a shmup soundtrack CD) and I’ll look forward to unlocking the story the old-fashioned way. 🕹️😄
@Shiryu Thanks for the excellent review! I'm glad Truxton Extreme is worthy of its pedigree, but also dismayed, because now I want to play it when already my backlog is miles deep.
It's great to hear Yuge-san and co. are treating us to some neat story progression as we advance through the game. I'm intrigued! The story appealed to me in Sol Cresta, too, not long ago, and I've got Geppy-X waiting for me to enjoy its early-morning robot anime episodes and TV commercials (they really took the story aspect to an extreme!)
This weekend, Splatoon Raiders has started a long stint in my Switch 2’s cartridge slot. I expect I’ll be splatting derpy Salmonids and collecting swag for a long time before another cart bumps it out. Which reminds me - you know what the Switch 2 needs? A second cartridge slot, like the Evercade VS-R! 😁
Fortunately, while Raiders is in residence, I can still flip inputs to my OLED to keep playing R-Type Tactics I&II Cosmos when the whim strikes. I’d like to finish Tactics 1 to see if (hopefully) Tactics 2 is a smoother, less plodding experience. I love the R-Type theme, but so far this game is out-funned by any of the Super Robot Taisen titles I’ve enjoyed over the years.
Wishing all NL friends a lovely time collecting fish roe or playing whatever you’re into this weekend! 🕹️👾🍣
Comments 3,185
Re: Hori Has Announced A Modular Arcade Stick For Switch 2, And It Looks Awesome
@jedomann @DashKappei
HORI posted another video of the Arcade Classic Pro with a pair of employees introducing the controller:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beCdVOpe2SY&list=LL
It gives you a sense of scale of the thing - it is MASSIVE. I'm afraid I'll have to pay a fortune in shipping to get it Stateside next spring. It's like the size of an ancient, top-loading VCR from the early 80s. Just lacks the wood grain exterior!
I'd probably only use it with Ake-Aka games on my Switch/S2, and as an Arcade Archive-approved product, I am sure Hamster will do their best to ensure compatibility with all the games that originally used a trackball, spinner, or loop lever in the arcade. I'm pleased they included a mechanism where you switch between 8-way and 4-way joystick, too, just like the Egret II Mini. Inadvertent diagonal inputs tend to mess me up in old games like Mr. Do, Ladybug and Tutankham.
Apparently, it uses Microsoft's common "X-input" format for compatibility with PC games. Maybe that bodes well for compatibility with other platforms? It would be fabulous if Blaze patched in compatibility with their many arcade titles on Evercade. One can dream!
Re: Hori Has Announced A Modular Arcade Stick For Switch 2, And It Looks Awesome
@DashKappei
Aw yeah - it’s been a long wait! I actually responded to HORI’s survey in Jan 2022 when they were prototyping this product.
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/01/hori-wants-to-release-a-retro-game-controller-that-can-be-used-to-play-hamsters-arcade-archives-series
I loved the modular controller then, and still do now! Happily, I managed finally to navigate through HORI’s webshop checkout and placed my preorder. It’s due to ship to my C/O address in Japan in early spring 2027.
Hopefully, that will give Hamster some time to patch some Arcade Archives games like Arkanoid, Front Line, Ikari Warriors, etc to take advantage of the controller.
Compatibility with Atari 50 would be amazing, too. 🙏
And can I join you in begging for a re-release of the Atari-Midway games?
It looks like a beefy, versatile controller, and I hope the classic arcade game publishers out there adopt it.
Maybe it could even work with Evercade?? I would try Kaboom right away then.
Re: Hori Has Announced A Modular Arcade Stick For Switch 2, And It Looks Awesome
Hallelujah! Lord, how Hamster and I have waited for this.
Off I go to Hori's site to preorder!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (12th September)
I’ve been enjoying Elden Ring, just dodge-rolling around, spamming the backstab button and playing as cheesy as possible, but still getting housed by most major enemies. I’m persistent, though, so I beat them eventually and trundle along. Overall, a lovely time! I do wish there was a dedicated “Torrent” button though, so I stop using flasks by accident.
If I need a change of pace, I might have another go at Mike Tyson’s Punch Out!, as I picked up a loose NES cartridge for it this week, on my quest to re-acquire old games I loved and lost years ago. It took me a couple weeks after Xmas ‘87 to finally beat Iron Mike. Can I do so again, nearly 40 years later? Probably not. But at least I can reminisce over the snazzy cartridge on my shelf!
Hoping all NL friends have time to enjoy plenty of fun distractions this weekend! 🕹️👾🥊
Re: Nintendo Of America Announces Customer Appreciation Sale "Made Possible In Part By Tariff-Related Refunds"
Wait, they're appreciating us by asking us to spend money during their sale?? And it's the same ol' 30% off?
I don't think that is how appreciation works.
Nintendo ended up with a windfall because the US judiciary wisely declared Trump's (stupid) tariffs unlawful. All those import fees Nintendo paid to the (misguided) US Customs officials were refunded. Millions of people, in the US and around the world, have been paying higher prices to subsidize Trump's idiocy, and there is no refund for us!
A 30% off sale is... something. But it certainly won't ingratiate customers much.
Nintendo would have been much wiser to just run the sale with no mention of tariff refunds - why invite the rancor?
Re: Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity Is Getting Definitive Edition On Switch 2 Next February
GKC just like Pokopia, eh?
Well no need to consider this one next year! Thanks for saving me a little $$. Nintendo!
Re: Monster Hunter Wilds Launches For Switch 2 This December, Includes Local & Cross-Platform Play
GKC as expected 👎
At least it’s suitably discounted, enough to make me consider a buy, but nah. I already compromised this year to play Elden Ring.
And yes, I’m sure there’s considerations like transfer speeds, yadda yadda, but it’s not a format I enjoy purchasing. No doubt the RE remakes will be GKC, too. I just hope Capcom doesn’t cheap out on Mega Man next spring!
Re: Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Launches On Switch 2 On 5th November 2026
It looks absolutely gorgeous! I want the game and an ocarina.
How fun it would be to play with the kids and ask one of them to play the ocarina tune on the mic, so that Link plays the same tune in-game.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (5th September)
Well, last Sunday night I gave up on my DK Challenge dream. I just started way too late and ran out of time. I didn’t bother with it at all until Nintendo announced the physical cards reward, and at that point I’d barely played Bananza. I ended up completing all the retro challenges, rolling credits on Bananza, and doing one or two of the time challenges by the time I conceded defeat. Ah well. At least it got me to enjoy a really superb game I’d been neglecting!
When they announce a Zelda Challenge next week I will jump right in. 😉
Meanwhile I am using 100% of my gaming time lately on Elden Ring and loving it! Maybe 10hrs in and I have very little idea what I’m supposed to be doing, but who cares? I’m having fun just galloping and sneaking around, discovering stuff and browsing the bottomless selection of monsters to fight, big & small. When one pummels me senseless, I’ll just steal my runes back and ride off to find a smaller fish.
I wish I could figure out how to craft arrows, though. I’m afraid it will involve killing many bunnits and eagles, which I’m not prepared to do. 😅
Wishing all NL friends fun adventures and great games this weekend! 🕹️👾🪶
Re: Nintendo Announces Two Directs For Next Week, 8th & 9th September 2026
I felt that hype train a’comin’!
Choo choo!! 🚂😆
Gripping my Zelda Game & Watch tightly in anticipation.
And hopefully we’ll get some announcements for the He-Man game and a S2 release for the Parisian Castlevania.
Re: Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Trailer Will Give Veteran Fans Goosebumps
Looks great, if maybe a little too kinetic for a Castlevania game. I’m waiting for a proper S2 release, though. You’re not gonna get me to buy twice, Konami!
Re: Review: Orbitals (Switch 2) - One Of The Best Co-Op Games Of The Year
Sounds suitably fun! That 80s anime aesthetic sold me, and this will be the first “mandatory co-op” game I’ve ever purchased. Hopefully I can persuade one of my kiddos to play with me sometime! 🤞
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (29th August)
@JohnnyMind
Thanks Johnny! I’ll see if I can get through everything without the DLC. But either way, yes, I’m really enjoying the game! It’s a shame I left off of it last summer. I’m glad they lured me back, because it’s a doozy of a game! Every bit of Nintendo fun as Odyssey was, I’d say. As long as the finale holds up. We’ll see!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (29th August)
I’ve been playing Donkey Kong Bananza feverishly all week, trying to complete the DK Challenge before the 9/1 deadline. I think I made good progress - I’ve got all the Bananza’s and I’m in an amusing fast-food themed stage currently. But I haven’t completed any of the “developer challenges” yet, and only a couple of the “nostalgia challenges.” I dunno if I’m gonna make it! Can anybody tell me if the DK Challenge requires you to buy the game’s DLC?
One way or another, I’ll finish with DKB on Tuesday and I’ve got Elden Ring on deck! Regretfully, I compromised my principles and bought an (expensive) GKC. Yuk. But I’ve waited years to try this game, and it’s as close to a physical release as they’re offering, the cheapskates. I plugged in the cart (dongle) to let the game download before I went to bed last night. Hopefully it’s finished downloading. I’ll create some kind of ranger-type character later this week, and get pulverized by all kinds of grotesque monsters. Can’t wait!
Also will have to play some Transformers: Devastation on PS3 this week, as I mourn the passing of Peter Cullen, the unequalled voice of Optimus Prime. 🥺
May all NL friends enjoy some good company and good games this weekend! 🕹️👾🍌
Re: PSA: It's Your Last Chance To Pick Up A Switch 2 Before The Price Goes Up
Bought a S2 at the midnight launch and have loved it every minute. I bought a second unit earlier this month (pick-your game bundle) to beat the price hike.
It was Christmas shopping for my youngest - she's been distraught that her Switch is dying (she inherited my OG launch Switch) so she'll get a big upgrade this Xmas, along with Splatoon Raiders and the upcoming Warrior Cats game.
She'll probably pick Pokopia with the pick-your-game bundle. I have to look to see when that eshop coupon expires.
Re: Review: Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition (Switch 2) - An Outstanding Achievement In Open-World Design
I'm excited to finally have a chance to play Elden Ring. I love games where you try to survive and progress in a hostile environment. (What can I say, I was raised on arcade and NES games!) It's great to hear that the game plays decently well on the S2.
My one gripe is that Bandai relegated such a lauded game to a GKC! I'm buying it, but regretfully. Hopefully someday, against all odds, someone will publish an all-on-the-cart archival edition.
Re: Nintendo Reveals A New Switch 2 Bundle, Launching This October
@Nintendo_Thumb
Your opinion is valid! We used to play games sitting on the floor with a pile of cartridges, but these days we’re planted pretty firmly on the couch and expect a hundred games or more playable at the push of a button. And Kart and Sports Resort probably fit best with short play sessions.
Even so, in general I still think a download code is relatively lame. You can’t admire it on the shelf, or lend it out to friends, or sell it off should the desire arise. You can’t romanticize it, it won’t trigger fond memories, it’s not living here in the physical world with us. Sometimes the coupon codes even have expiration dates (hello Capcom). And though Nintendo has behaved when it comes to DRM, regimes change. I trust a cartridge in hand way more than the bean counters who increasingly seem to be calling all the shots in the shrinkflation era games industry.
Ultimately it all boils down to one’s perceived sense of value, which varies a lot, person to person. ✌️
Re: First Impressions: Network Issues Aside, The Duskbloods Could Wind Up Being Really Special
@Lumnethia
Thanks for sharing! I've heard many people comparing Duskbloods to Nightreign. I game almost entirely on my Switch & S2, but I guess Nightreign is some kind of Elden Ring DLC? At least I know enough now to avoid it! That gameplay loop sounded exhausting!
Those VS. games were fun for me back in the arcade and 32-bit era, but I've drifted toward single player focused stuff ever since.
I wouldn't say I felt fatigued playing the Duskbloods test, but I wished the phases were longer, and weren't broken up into chapters with result screens. My strolls around town exploring and beating up NPCs kept getting interrupted, which (I felt) diminished the fun a bit. It was still an entertaining time, though, and maybe there will be modes in the full game with fewer time constraints.
It really has whet my appetite for Elden Ring, though! It's been such a long wait for Switch players like me. I'll enjoy taking my time in that game.
Re: Nintendo Reveals A New Switch 2 Bundle, Launching This October
@AussieMcBucket
Do you get a game with these bundles?
No, silly! The bundle includes a paper for a digital code for a download of a limited license of a game. Duh!
See how far we've progressed since the dark ages of the NES + Zapper and SMB/Duck Hunt cartridge?
Re: First Impressions: Network Issues Aside, The Duskbloods Could Wind Up Being Really Special
I played for a couple hours but never even made it out of the tutorial, so no PVP or any connection issues for me.
I'm a soulslike newbie (only have played Dark Souls a bit on Switch) and really never play 3rd-person online PVP games. Plus, I like to take my time getting used to a game's controls and basic techniques, so I wasn't loving how quickly the phases moved you out of the exploration stage and into the player vs player, where I ended up 2nd place after the CPU each time. That damn Senator Dinosaur guy!
I did love the overall mood of the game, and the wack-job characters you encounter, like something out of the Berserk manga.
Even if I am hoping for solid single-player content in the final release, I saw enough during the trial to want to buy the game later. I wonder if they really are going to squeeze in the release date in 2026? Mostly, the trial got me excited to try Elden Ring for the first time, hopefully this weekend. And I'm eager to try Lies of P, which I've got on preorder, too! It's going to be a soulslike end of the year!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (22nd August)
It’s been a busy Saturday morning and so I’ll just share that I’m playing Donkey Kong Bananza and The Duskbloods this weekend. Well, hopefully I’ll play The ‘Bloods, as long as the log-in process probs are solved for the session tonight.
The DK Challenge spurred me to pick up Bananza again, but I have a long way to go before the 9/1 deadline. I only just beat the mixing bowl boss, and can’t even turn into a zebra or ostrich yet! Still, it’s nice to get back into this game. I was distracted away from it right away last year.
Last weekend I managed to roll credits on the brilliant Truxton Extreme, a really great modern shmup with a compelling story and catchy BGM. To think I almost missed it! I’m grateful to @Shiryu for putting the game on my radar.
I had focused entirely on the story mode, but I’ll give arcade mode some honest tries at some point. But no promises, as my first go at Elden Ring is looming next weekend!
Wishing all NL friends a fun weekend! 🕹️👾🍌
Re: Poll: Did You Get Into The Duskbloods Switch 2 Beta Test?
I signed up and was SELECTED.
I will try the game a bit this weekend and probably send them some FEEDBACK.
Re: TMNT: Splintered Fate Ver. 2.0 Update Caps Off The Main Story With A New Final Boss
@Ks123
I agree! It’d be nice if Super Evil Megacorp or somebody could clarify exactly what is on the cart.
And yes, we really have to pay attention to these product titles for the different editions.
I think Shredder’s Revenge had the original release, then an “Anniversary Edition,” then the “Ultimate Edition.” 😵💫
We’ll see if Splintered Fates follows suit.
Re: TMNT: Splintered Fate Ver. 2.0 Update Caps Off The Main Story With A New Final Boss
Ok, so last week I preordered the "Legendary" edition of the game physical on S2. I think they advertised it as having Metalhead, Casey Jones, Alopex, and one "TBD" character on the cart.
I suppose the placeholder was for Slash?
I am just hoping they don't release an "Ultimate" physical edition in late 2027 with even more DLC on it. I'd rather not have to buy the game 3 times like I did with Shredder's Revenge!
Re: Marvel Cosmic Invasion Gets In On The Doomsday Hype With Its Upcoming DLC
@Erigen
I had no idea who Bailey Hoskins was, but wow, I'm not sure he'd be the right DLC character for the game.
I mean, he could punch and kick and jump, but just don't press his mutant power button (self-destruct)!
Re: Marvel Cosmic Invasion Gets In On The Doomsday Hype With Its Upcoming DLC
@theBIGomelet
Sorry, Psylocke is just pure conjecture on my part.
It seems she’s always in high demand for Marvel games.
Re: Marvel Cosmic Invasion Gets In On The Doomsday Hype With Its Upcoming DLC
@MirrorFate2
Oh, did I miss an announcement? I didn’t know the devs only committed to 2 DLC packs, nor that they narrowed down the pool of character candidates.
Re: Marvel Cosmic Invasion Gets In On The Doomsday Hype With Its Upcoming DLC
Victor Von Doom himself would be a cool playable character, but I imagine he'll be limited to enemy boss of the new DLC.
So maybe we'll get another member or two of the Fantastic Four as playable characters? The FF are Doom's arch-enemies, after all, and Ben Grimm all on his own seems so lonely. We could have Reed Richards and Sue Storm this time, and the next batch could be the Human Torch plus someone from the X-men (you know Psylocke is bound to join eventually), or Daredevil, Squirrel Girl, Moon Knight, Howard the Duck, or... somebody. With Marvel, the possibilities are endless!
Either way, I'm really reluctant to buy the DLC in cases like this. I just play the long game and wait for the updated "definitive edition" cartridge. Glad to see a fun game getting funner, though!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (15th August)
My free time this weekend will be devoted mostly to Truxton Extreme, which has hooked me harder than any new shmup in recent memory. I’ve cleared about 60% of story mode so far. Each time you clear a stage, you earn a chapter of an intriguing hard sci-fi manga revolving around the game’s 3 main characters. Its premise is reminiscent of GAINAX’s “Gunbuster” somehow, and I don’t care how many bullets are on-screen, I have to see this story through!
Stage 3 is aptly named “Anguish,” and I failed and retried so many times, I kid you not, it pushed me into a kind of mental flow state before I finally beat it. For a brief moment, I was weaving my ship around a tapestry of bullets on instinct and dodging like I had spider-senses or something. I didn’t think it was possible at my age! So I’ve kind of bonded with the game at this point. 😅
I’ll probably give Spelunky another good try again this weekend, too, or maybe try some of the indie game Evercade collections which delivered recently. Murtop looked super fun to me on YouTube.
Wishing all NL friends good times and gaming bliss this weekend! 🕹️👾🤩
Re: Everspace 2: Galactic Edition Gets A Surprise Switch 2 Shadow Drop
Oh gimme gimme gimme! I loved the first Everspace on Switch.
But I’ll wait for a physical release for this sequel.
Maybe this will be LRG’s title announcement next week, since this week was LOTR: War in the North.
Lots of goodness coming to S2 lately!
Re: Elden Ring For Switch 2 Is Looking Pretty Slick In New Story Trailer
S/S2 have been my only modern consoles, so I’ve waited ages for a chance to play Elden Ring. It’s one of those rare games that will actually get me to buy a stupid GKC, mainly because I’m too impatient to wait months for the game to get big discounts on the eShop, and if I’m going to pay full price, I might as well get the transferable/sellable option.
Still, I’d have much preferred a full-on cartridge release for such a vaunted game! Bandai really cheaped out on us. ☹️
Re: The Lord Of The Rings: War In The North Shadow-Drops On Switch 1 & 2
I think I’d consider playing this, but jeez I just picked up Oblivion today, so I am good for fantasy action RPG’s for the time being.
I’ll wishlist it and wait for a S2 physical someday. But don’t waste my time with that game key nonsense, THQ!
Re: Review: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (Switch 2) - A Solid Update Of All-Time Classic RPG
This being full on the cart tempted me to preorder, and I'm relieved to hear the game runs well enough on S2. I'll pick up my copy this evening, hopefully.
It'll be my first time with an Elder Scrolls game, so when I get around to playing Oblivion, I imagine it'll seem a bit overwhelming.
I guess I'm still not used to all these ports of big-boy AAA titles!
Re: Aliens: Fireteam Elite Cloud Version Is No Longer Playable On Switch
Yeesh I hope nobody buys into these cloud games expecting to retain access for long. I wouldn’t touch ‘em with a 10-foot pole.
Do the publishers explicitly state that service will end on such-and-such a date? If not, you’re just rolling the dice, people.
In the past, we rented games or pumped coins into arcade machines knowing exactly what we were paying for (and they were priced accordingly). Seemingly, that’s not the case with these cloud games.
Re: Poll: Box Art Brawl: Metroid 40th Anniversary Special
It was a lot easier to cast my vote than I thought it’d be - Super Metroid for me.
Happy 40th, Samus & friends! Don’t let Kraid hog all the cake.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (8th August)
Amidst the usual weekend errands I’m sure to play some Truxton Extreme, as it delivered recently and finally unseated Splatoon Raiders from my S2 cartridge slot. I’m motivated to clear some stages and progress through the story in the former game, but certainly I’ll keep pursuing a high-level toy blaster in the latter, too, now that I’ve rolled credits there. What a raid, err ride it’s been! I love my little turret buddies. 🥰
Spelunky continues to lure me back for more punishment, too. Someday I hope to actually get to the final boss and not die immediately. The futility is real, but it’s so fun to keep trying! It’ll happen someday.
Actually, since for some reason the games continue to have no physical release whatsoever, I think Spelunky and Spelunky 2 would be absolutely PERFECT as an Evercade 2-game cart. Get on that, Blaze!
Wishing all Nintendo lifers ample time for your favorite pursuits this weekend! 🕹️👾🐙
Re: The Duskbloods Network Test Sign Up Dates, Times & How To Join
Woohoo I have been SELECTED.
Though I wonder if From Soft will get useful data from me. The peeps who actually play online games will utterly wreck me, I’m sure.
Re: Star Trek: Legends Will Be Delisted From All Digital Storefronts
What kind of mirror universe B.S. is that?!
Not only is the 2-year old game delisted, but they're making it unplayable as well?? No offline mode?
If that's the case, I'm glad I never liked the mobile looks of the game and didn't waste $$ on an eshop "rental."
I'm sure these "sunsets" (ugh) will get more common as we boldly go deeper into the all-digital age. I'll keep voting with my wallet and buy physical first.
Dammit Jim, I'm a doctor, not a digital rights manager!
Re: Talking Point: So, What Did You Think Of The Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave Nintendo Direct?
Looks lovely but I imagine myself getting about halfway through the game when all the management and pursuing perfect battle results gets tiring, and I just go play Spelunky or some straightforward arcade game.
I’m 0 for 2 trying to close out Fire Emblem games so far, after drifting away from Three Houses and Engage. But maybe the 3rd game’s the charm? I’ll add it to the collection and give it a try.
Re: Attack On Titan 3 Brings "The Final Titan Showdown" To Switch 2 This December
Sounds like another for the preorder list, if Koei does the right thing and offers the S2 release as a proper physical. I could be wrong, but I think they've used GKC for all their Switch 2 titles thus far.
I've really got to go back and finish watching the last season of the anime, though!
Re: Review: Lies Of P: Complete Edition (Switch 2) - No Strings On This Superb, Immersive Soulslike
Thanks for the timely review, Ollie! Once I learned a little of this game’s premise, it appealed instantly to me. I was hoping it would come to Switch/S2 someday, and be a decent port. I’m looking forward to a shipment from iam8bit with Lies of P and Blue Prince sometime late this year. So very happy the devs and publishers are giving both games proper physical releases. Having a day one patch is less than ideal, but as long as the game is playable on the cartridge, that’s to be commended these days!
Most likely when it delivers, I’ll be in a conundrum because Elden Ring will also be clamoring for my attention. I’m not sure which of these two hit games will grab me first. (I suppose Elden Ring, if the zombie cartridge, err, I mean game key card, I preordered arrives on time this month.)
Re: Nintendo Direct For Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave Announced
It’ll be interesting to see how Weave relates to Three Houses.
Lots of big games to squeeze in this year-end!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (1st August)
I’m well and truly in a pickle, because I’m knee-deep into and hopelessly hooked on Splatoon Raiders, but one of my most-anticipated games of the year, 70s-style Robot Anime Geppy-X, delivered from Japan, as well as Konami’s excellent Ganbare Goemon game collection.
Geppy-X is like “the one that got away” after I passed up buying a copy for PS1 back in the late 90s, only for it become a cult classic and skyrocket in price. I’m thrilled I can finally play it now!
Meanwhile, Goemon collects like a dozen of Konami’s best, most whimsical games for the NES, GB, and SNES. Eminently playable, especially for crazies like me who’ve spent years of our lives learning Japanese as a foreign language.
But, I’m up to lv 27 in Raiders now, and right in the thick of it! I love trying stages for which I’m underpowered, to see if I can eke out a victory. I’m compelled to keep splatting derpy fish this weekend.
So, I’ll gather my thoughts and see which game I land on in my free time this weekend.
May all NL friends have a lovely time and find just the right game or activity this weekend!
🕹️👾🎋
Re: Reminder: Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Goes Physical On Switch 2 Today
@wizzgamer
No, incorrect. Like @SillyG reminded us above, this “Nintendo Switch 2 Edition” of Xenoblade includes both the full Switch version of the game, plus the Switch 2 upgrade data fully on the cartridge.
It is plug & play either way - Switch version on S1, or Switch 2 upgraded version on S2. No download required. No patches. I confirmed as much with the cart I bought today, tried in both my OLED and S2. And just on the title screen alone, the Switch 2 version loads faster and looks sharper! Next time I replay Xeno will definitely be on my deuce. 😁
Re: Review: Truxton Extreme (Switch 2) - A Thrilling Return For A Classic Shoot-'Em-Up Series
@Shiryu
The discussion here in the comments section was nearly as excellent and informative as the review article! Thank you for all the engagement, and that great list of candidates for 10/10 shmups.
I've had the pleasure to play many of those masterpieces over the years and would most definitely nominate Space Invaders, Galaga, Gradius, R-Type, Raiden, Darius, and several more for the "perfect" rating.
I would recommend Atari's "Asteroids" and Midway's "Defender" for the list, as well.
Like so many of the shmup greats from the arcade era, Truxton can be so challenging, and yet so rewarding when you practice and memorize and overcome. Its Japanese title, "Tatsujin," literally translates to "expert" or "master" in English.
So, thanks again!
You, sir, are the "Tatsujin-Oh!"
Re: TMNT: Splintered Fate Scores "Legendary" Switch 2 Physical Release, New DLC Character And More Teased
Sounds like I will have to upgrade my physical copy this October!
I imagine Mikey would say “So bogus, and yet so righteous.” 🫤
Re: Review: Truxton Extreme (Switch 2) - A Thrilling Return For A Classic Shoot-'Em-Up Series
@Shiryu
the plot here... chef's kiss. Under NDA, can't spoil anything.
Heavens no! No need to spoil any story! I just put down my $$ on a special edition of the game (never could resist a shmup soundtrack CD) and I’ll look forward to unlocking the story the old-fashioned way. 🕹️😄
Re: Review: Truxton Extreme (Switch 2) - A Thrilling Return For A Classic Shoot-'Em-Up Series
@Shiryu
Thanks for the excellent review! I'm glad Truxton Extreme is worthy of its pedigree, but also dismayed, because now I want to play it when already my backlog is miles deep.
It's great to hear Yuge-san and co. are treating us to some neat story progression as we advance through the game. I'm intrigued! The story appealed to me in Sol Cresta, too, not long ago, and I've got Geppy-X waiting for me to enjoy its early-morning robot anime episodes and TV commercials (they really took the story aspect to an extreme!)
Re: Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Will Run At 30fps On Switch
Hmm, well, I was hoping for a Switch 2 physical release anyway. But if they announce a GKC, I’ll probably settle on the Switch release, 30fps or not.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (25th July)
This weekend, Splatoon Raiders has started a long stint in my Switch 2’s cartridge slot. I expect I’ll be splatting derpy Salmonids and collecting swag for a long time before another cart bumps it out.
Which reminds me - you know what the Switch 2 needs? A second cartridge slot, like the Evercade VS-R! 😁
Fortunately, while Raiders is in residence, I can still flip inputs to my OLED to keep playing R-Type Tactics I&II Cosmos when the whim strikes. I’d like to finish Tactics 1 to see if (hopefully) Tactics 2 is a smoother, less plodding experience. I love the R-Type theme, but so far this game is out-funned by any of the Super Robot Taisen titles I’ve enjoyed over the years.
Wishing all NL friends a lovely time collecting fish roe or playing whatever you’re into this weekend!
🕹️👾🍣