Nah, sorry, with all due respect Sugimori-san, but the game key cards are a compromise at best. Nintendo isn’t being altruistic here. GKC seem like a stopgap measure, since Nintendo’s normal physical media is too expensive or requires too much optimizing for companies like Ubisoft to implement. Or else GK cards are just the newest form of shrinkflation, where consumers pay the same but get less.
If it’s a game I really like, I want to own it physically. Having that option taken away in many cases this generation is an unpleasant feeling, and hadn’t really been an issue for Nintendo shoppers till now. Many people won’t be happy with this situation no matter how you try to spin it.
@Princess_Lilly I’d be interested in hearing about your avatar pic - isn’t that a photoshop of the twin towers on 9/11? That could be triggering for some people.
I went with Japan. That’s a nice Arnie portrait, it’s the only one that says “Konami” outright, and it’s okay to call the game “Contra.” I don’t think we gamers back then would have confused the game with Oliver North.
I trust these will be nice HD remasters of 2 great games, but yowza, that price really is disappointing. I think that with Air Riders and this latest Direct batch of games, Nintendo has made it clear they’re abandoning US$60 and making US$70 their S2 game standard price point. This 2-pack seems extra expensive since I and many others here just bought Galaxy on Switch for the 35th Anniversary in the 3D All-Stars pack.
In the end, I’ll probably order a physical copy. At least this sticker shock is balanced out by my joy and relief that Hades II is getting a full physical release, for a more reasonable US$50.
Happy 40th Bday, Super Mario Brothers! Revisiting this classic is a great idea today.
I think I first saw SMB on a Play Choice 10 cabinet at the local bowling alley and I knew instantly I had to get one of those new Nintendo Entertainment Systems for home. I worked with my dad to earn an allowance and save up and bought my NES Classic set with the SMB pack-in game in the summer of ‘85, I think?
Even on my hand-me-down black & white 13” TV, SMB was a generational leap over the Coleco (Smurfs and Jumpman Jr.) and Atari (Pitfall 2) games we had at home previously.
I spent plenty of time learning the levels and finding secrets along with the other kids in the neighborhood. It was a wonderful, formative game for us, until eventually we moved on to newer NES games, the Genesis, Gameboy, SNES…and the treadmill just never stopped.
It’s been decades since I’ve beaten King Koopa and rescued Princess Toadstool. I’m not sure the eyesight and reflexes of a 50-something are still up to the task, though. I’ll give it a shot, for old time’s sake! 😁
I’ll be buying this, but honestly the November release was a bit of a shock. I wasn’t expecting this game till January or February! I haven’t even beat ToK yet, so I’m expecting I’ll have to backlog this one for a long time. There’s such a barrage of games coming out!
After watching the wallet-busting Direct last night, the main game I’ll be playing is saving up my money! There will be a lot to buy between now and March. 🤑
While the kiddos are with me today I’ll mainly play Spelunky. Every time I start that game, I vow to my kids that I will beat it, and then never come close. 1,120 failed attempts now. I must be the worst player in the world who still loves the game! I’ll play some UFO 50, too.
After the kids depart, I think I’ll go back to playing Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion. It’s already got a Metroid motorcycle to ride! And I betcha Samus’ ride doesn’t turn into a laser buster cannon! I’m patiently waiting for Marvelous to add gyro aiming to the game, though - that and the other improvements they’ve announced really should have been ready day one and on the cartridge.
Wishing everyone a leisurely weekend with time for your favorite games! 🕹️🐍🚀
“Akklaim” wasn’t a brand I associated with quality back in the day. Friends and I played Wizards and Warriors and maybe 1 or 2 of their other NES games, and then I steered clear afterwards.
I’m mildly interested in seeing what they try to revive, though.
We really could use some clarity on what's coming up in December and beyond. Gotta budget!
My guess is that we'll be saying happy birthday to Mario for 20-30 of the 60 minutes. Hopefully we'll get a Mario Maker 2 mouse update and a sneak peek at some big new Mario game.
I'm hoping for dates for Metroid Prime 4, Elden Ring, Hades II, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, and terminally delayed game R-Type Tactics I-II Cosmos. (and physical releases, please!)
I would welcome the Resident Evil remakes but wouldn't be buying for a long time as they are sure to be game key cards and I will hold out for a suitable discount.
Unlikely perennial wants: FTL (Faster Than Light), Mad Max game from the PS4, Shadow of Mordor games.
Great to hear - the home screen icon was a little drab. It's the game that counts, though, and wow I am loving this collection! I think I've played more UFO 50 than I have Mario Kart World or DK Bananza. I've been meandering through the games somewhat "chronologically," so I've played mostly Bug Hunter, Ninpek, Camouflage, Paint Chase, and Planet Zoldath. I've got to sit down one day to play Barbuta and use a sheet of graph paper for notes.
It's just been a brilliant game, and I'd expect nothing less from the creators of Spelunky. I'll dip into UFO 50 now and again for a long time to come.
@Polvasti
I’m pretty sure Scrambled Egg was a dual release - Arcade Archives version for Switch, and Arcade Archives 2 version (with more online features and improved save states) for S2. So NL gets to put it on this dedicated games list.
At this point, Hamster has a lot of ACA games representing in the S2 top 50. It’s early days. 😁
I’ve played Ridge Racer a bit since launch, but that’s it for me so far.
No Silksong for me, as I’m waiting for the physical release next year or whenever, as I did with the original Hollow Knight. Hopefully it will collect all the patches and DLC that appear till that point and be a nice definitive physical edition.
There’s certainly plenty to play in the interim - my stack of unplayed games exploded this week. Star Wars Outlaws, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, Super Robot Wars Y, a pair of ACA NEOGEO collections, and a pair of TOAPLAN Arcade collections are all newly-delivered and jostling for a turn in the cartridge slot. I definitely bit off more than I can chew this time. 😅
@PJOReilly @NintndoNik Thank you both for pursuing that Ubi login question! It was a crucial one for me - a mandatory login would have been a dealbreaker for me, as I'm already compromising by buying (eeww) a game key card. (The way I see it, Outlaws was a game I wanted to try, and a physical dongle to download the game was better than buying a nontransferable license on the eshop.)
But today I was fretting I'd have to cancel my preorder because I have no intention of creating an Ubi account. It's been so long since I've played any of their games, I'd forgotten all about that little wrinkle. Ubisoft absolutely should allow you to opt out of their tracking system.
So airplane mode, here I come! Glad to hear PJ approves of the game, too.
Another very fun and functional review from @PJOReilly ! I love having a few good laughs while reading about upcoming games - mecha games in particular, since they're always so serious yet absurd. You need to have a sense of humor playing them.
Only a 6 is disappointing, but after playing the demo, I can't say I'm shocked. Still, I'll pick up my physical preorder this week and have a fun enough time tinkering and customizing some mech suits. I imagine they'll patch things up and maybe even get it to run at 60fps eventually? In the end, though, as long as it's fun running and gunning with bazookas and Macross missiles, I'll be satisfied.
I’m an old student of the language and 文字遊戯•WORD GAME looked like a fun test of one’s Japanese reading comprehension. As such, this isn’t one I expected to come West! When the entire game is a test of your ability to read Japanese and recognize kanji characters, I can’t imagine how you’d translate that. I guess it’s just the unaltered Japanese version?
Either way, I’m in this game’s tiny demographic, and it looks quite fun, but I’d have to bust out my strongest reading glasses. And that price, yowtch!! I’ll just wishlist on the NA and JP eShops for now and wait for a good sale.
It’s a long weekend here in the ‘States, though a sad one as we see summertime take its leave. Sadder still as I wait to find out how much more I’ll have to pay to import games I preordered from Japan and the UK thanks to Trump’s absurd tariff rules. 🤬
Anyway, I’ll be playing a game I never thought to see in the year 2025: Space Adventure Cobra, a run & gun platformer based on one of my fave TV anime series from 40 years ago. I wish that the controls were a little more precise and that the Japanese language track was actually on the cartridge (it was in the big day one patch), but overall it’s a fun time for me and a fitting tribute, much like Microids’ earlier nostalgic anime game, UFO Robo Grendizer.
Also I’ll keep dabbling in UFO 50, maybe try to survive longer than 90 seconds in the Ninpek game. This simulation/collection is such a love-letter to our hobby! 🥰
But hold everything! Did @dartmonkey just say there is a new STAR TREK game on Switch?? Is that even logical?? I need to investigate tout suite.
Thank you for the heads-up!
I have only just heard of this Trek game in today’s “What Are You Playing This Weekend” article. Apparently it just came to Switch 2 days ago? And it’s an action-adventure RPG with exploration? Could this be the quality Star Trek console game I’ve waited ages for? Fascinating. 🤨 I’ll need to research!
They already promised “2025,” and want to avoid more “please understands,” so I’m betting on a December release. Didn’t Smash Ultimate have a December release?
If it needs more time in the oven and gets pushed to 2026, that would be lame. But I can wait. There is plenty to play till then.
Ah well, another unsavory bit of S2 news. It’s tough to comment without knowing the cause(s). Have they been withholding kits because of Herr Trump’s economic instability? Scarcity of hardware? Overconfidence? Retirement of key personnel? Or just plain ‘ol lack of preparation?
Either way, the situation sounds awful and ultimately will hurt sales of these expensive S2 consoles. What’s more - these developers’ livelihoods are at stake here! I hope Nintendo is doing their utmost to get kits out there quickly.
I'll give credit where it is due - from a physical collector's POV, game key carts are better than code-in-a-box, because the buyer can at least lend the game (sorry, download code) to a friend or family member, or just sell it if they lose interest.
That said, overall GKC's are a shrinkflation cop-out - foisting the memory cost onto the consumer, and taking away our ownership of a product. Key disks have been around for other consoles, but GKC's are a dismaying new development for Nintendo fans. Maybe Nintendo intended the GKCs as a way to get more large, 64GB+ modern games on their platform AND in stores, but what is happening is that 3rd party publishers are using GKC for NEARLY EVERYTHING, regardless of file size.
GKC's are not the right solution to the S2's physical media problem - Nintendo needs to make smaller/cheaper conventional carts available to their 3rd party publishers. Give them a cost-effective alternative to GKCs, and you'll see more happy customers.
What an intriguing read - thank you @AlanaHagues !
For me, it was love at first sight when NL ran a Sweet Carole preview last year, and I’ve had a physical copy of the game preordered for months now. I was mesmerized by Dragon’s Lair and Space Ace as a kid, and appreciated Don Bluth movies like Nimh and LOTR, too, so a game that so nicely captures that look really grabs my attention.
Honestly, the game looked almost too good to be real, so I’m relieved to hear it’s a true passion project by a dedicated creator and his hardworking team and not some gaudy gen-AI. And how nice to learn it’s built around themes of women’s liberation! It’s refreshing and quite bold in the current disgusting political climate where (here in the US at least) anyone not white, Christian, and male is disenfranchised and the ruling majority would prefer their women home - uneducated, obedient, barefoot and pregnant.
I’ll appreciate owning a copy of Carole that much more, as something positive I can share with my daughters.
Alana, I did want to point out a pronoun goof, referring to Darill as “she” in the paragraph about women’s rights and Rosa Parks et al.
Well it’s a bit of a busy weekend, but I’ll try my best to squeeze in some more UFO 50 (I’ve been playing the Camouflage lizard game mainly) and try out that Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion demo that came out this week. Did they say your progress carries over to the full game??
Wishing all NL peeps a fun and/or relaxing weekend! 🕹️🦎👾
Ohh great news! This October is sooner than I expected. My preorder at GameStop has had a Dec 31 placeholder for a long time.
The last quarter of 2025 is so crammed with Switch and S2 physical games to pick up, and there’s still Prime 4 and others with a 2025 date pending! It’s going to be an expensive stretch. 😵💫
Hollow Knight was an amazing game and I get the feeling this sequel won't disappoint! Seems like the the long wait will be well worth it.
IIRC, Fangamer didn't release the physical edition of Hollow Knight until about a year after the eshop release. I wonder if it will be a long wait again this time, and if it's coming to both Switch and the Deuce? And surely they won't put such a small game (in terms of file size) onto a 64GB cartridge??
I AM BUYING THIS SO HARD. I cannot say no to a decent licensed beat ‘em up with IP from my childhood, especially one made by Bitmap Bureau.
She-ra better be an unlockable character! And I hope they dive deep into the He-Man roster - I wanna be battling Triclops, Ram Man, Man-E-Faces… throw ‘em all in there! 😆
Seeing the Absolum trailer last month had me thinking this was a quality-looking beat ‘em up, so I placed a preorder at GameStop. They listed the Switch physical with a street date of Sep 30th, and I see that is still the date given on Amazon NA. I wonder if the physical date now also becomes Oct 9th? I guess we’ll see eventually.
Thanks for the informative preview, PJ! I've had my physical Titanic Scion preordered since early July or so, and it looked like the game was shaping up nicely for mecha fans, but this write-up really cinches it! It sure sounds like this is going to be glorious robot fun - I just hope I have time enough to devote to it and spec some mechs properly. I'm just getting into UFO 50, have yet to finish Cyberpunk or DK Bananza, and the fall onslaught of games is nearly upon us. Including another mecha must-buy for me: Super Robot Taisen Y! @_@;
But cheers to Marvelous for bringing this game West, and on a true physical S2 cartridge!
Japan, easily. You can’t vote against Takahashi-meijin, Japan’s biggest celebrity gamer!
He famously won Hudson’s national Star Soldier competition with his incredibly rapid rate of fire. Hudson then hired him for celebrity endorsement and advisor, named the Adventure Island games after him, and made him protagonist for the hit series. I think all that interesting context was scrubbed from the Western versions of the games, sadly.
After a busy few weeks the kiddos just want to stay home and chill today, so there should be time to play some more UFO 50 and DK Bananza. I may try to rally the kids to go to the local observatory with me tonight though, to stargaze and appreciate the Milky Way a bit. We’ll see….
In the kids’ absence I’ll want to sink more time into Raiden NOVA - it’s always so satisfying to zap hordes of enemies in a storm of vulcan fire or with your big bendy purple plasma ray. Or I might return to Cyberpunk 2077, as, fortuitously, the armored berserk hammer lady who kept wrecking me got caught in a glitch and just hopped around defenseless while I unloaded about a hundred shotgun rounds and finally won for once! What a gonk victory. I’ll take it, though! 😂 I’m just glad to be free to roam the streets of Night City again.
I absolutely love the concept behind UFO 50, and was waiting impatiently for it to make it to Switch. It’s a brilliant game that tickles the nostalgia for all us kids of the eighties, and a fun study of game design and discovery for all ages.
I’ve already double-dipped - eshop insta-buy last week, and preordered the nice Deluxe Edition physical due out in Feb next year from Fangamer.
@LastFootnote Excellent suggestion! I didn’t even think to use my NES controllers for UFO 50. I will definitely charge them up and try!
Well that would be a pleasant surprise. I’ve heard that they patched the games pretty hard since release, so if all 3 games and the patches are all on the cart, I’d invest! Probably just wishful thinking, though…
Amidst the outdoor activities and usual weekend chores, I’ll try a few more runs in the Splatoon 3 roguelite DLC, trying to find that magic mix of permanent upgrades and synergized ability boost drops that’ll help me climb the tower one last time and earn the final unlockable weapon. After all the cake walks with full stat boosts to earn the other weapons, you’re nerfed with this final weapon loadout. I’ll need luck and persistence and really have to sharpen my faded Splatoon skill to beat this challenge.
Meanwhile UFO 50 beckons me to “play forever,” and I probably could, based on the little taste of the game I’ve had thus far. What an imaginative way to recreate that 80s kid experience of sitting cross-legged on the floor with a TV, an NES or Master System, and a magical little pile of games to play! We’d have fun with the older, simpler faves, the novelty of something borrowed or rented, and were wowed by the more sophisticated newer releases, all the while daydreaming of what games we would design if we could. What a treat it’ll be, uncovering the history of this 8-bit console that never existed!
Love this, Hamster - keep ‘em coming and I’ll keep buying! In my college years I had a friend who actually owned a NEOGEO, so each visit I’d get treated to some KOF or Fatal Fury, or admire Pulstar from afar. 😁
I think on Vol. 7, I’ll be most keen to play King of the Monsters 2, or just chill out with Puzzle Bobble. Vol. 8 is all about my old arcade fave ‘Nam 1975 for me, but I’ve heard Blue’s Journey is also quality.
@TYRANACLES I agree, can’t wait for Magician Lord to someday get into one of these compilations!
@PKDuckman I actually don’t mind the randomness of titles on each volume - it’s like walking up to a NEOGEO machine in an arcade and seeing which games are installed. Though if there is a specific game I want to play, finding it can be a bit of a chore. 😅
It's always neat to hear the inspirations behind great works of art! I'm glad he shared this true story (maji hanashi).
I wonder if Hip Tanaka now is around the age of this older debugger person who was his muse. That would really make one feel the passage of time and post sentimental stories.
39 years. It does feel like a lifetime ago. I was at a friend's house in front of his console TV and the Metroid end battle and escape were harrowing. But the triumphant music kicked in and boy what a shock when we saw Samus revealed in that twist ending!
Just checked out that Moji Yūgi (Word Play) trailer above and that looks intriguing, too. I’m not sure my kanji-reading is up to the task, but it would be good Japanese practice! 🤓
UFO 50! That’s all I needed to see to make this a winning showcase. I’ve waited so long to play this game! I will double-dip on a physical if it ever comes.
As is often the case in these Indie Directs,, there were a bunch of enticing games on display. I can see myself picking up Mina, Ball Pit, Well Dweller, and maybe Neverway. And Is This Seat Taken looked fun too, very Snipperclips look to it, hmm…
But what I really need are UFO 50 and Minishoot’ Adventures for Switch/S2 someday. I don't use Steam or other consoles and I'd love to play either of those games.
Also, I sure would like to get a Spelunky / Spelunky 2 physical release. Didn't LRG drop hints years ago that they were working on that?
Thanks for the additions! Mark of the Ninja was one I was trying to think of! (I don’t own it) The Ninja Gaiden Trilogy certainly qualifies, though I was thinking mainly of 2D run&slash games. Those others I’ll have to look up! Furry tanuki ninjas, maybe?
I’m already overinformed on games to play, and I wonder if many of the Japan-exclusive games I love would fall outside of this app’s range. Still, I imagine this would be a fun way to window-shop, maybe find a few unknown gems, or just pick what to play next when you’re paralyzed for choice!
Could Hades II be in here headlining, or is it too major these days? How sweet would it be if Mini Shoot Adventures and/or UFO 50 finally got ported over to Switch or the Deuce? I’d be ecstatic for either one.
I hope we get some exciting Indie announcements after last week’s underwhelming Partner Direct. The S2 is going to need continued strong indie support - and keep printing Switch cartridges so we can get some physical releases, too! The indie studios aren’t going to be paying for 64GB media.
What a pity I missed out on all those Gamecube-era LOTR games, as I resided in Japan in those days and they were never localized, as far as I know.
At least I enjoyed the LOTR Adventure Card Game on Switch. It’s got really quite beautiful painted art, and the card play and deck-building was fun enough.
I’d welcome the Shadow of Mordor games, too, if ever they come to S2.
I commented not long ago that it was Yuzo Koshiro’s soundtrack for Revenge of Shinobi on the Genesis that first opened my ears to how good home video game music could be. But I misspoke. Listening to Nintendo Music recently reminded me that there were, in fact, a few NES games which caught my attention a few years before the 16-bit era. A couple of my NES faves were Hip Tanaka’s work on Kid Icarus and Metroid. Just brilliant work on both of those, that transcended what I thought was possible on the humble little NES.
I’m glad the legend is back in the studio! Hopefully we’ll get some of his new projects on Switch or the Deuce soon.
Comments 3,185
Re: Nintendo Is "Acting To Protect The Industry" With Switch 2 Game Key Cards, Says Ex-Capcom Composer
Nah, sorry, with all due respect Sugimori-san, but the game key cards are a compromise at best. Nintendo isn’t being altruistic here. GKC seem like a stopgap measure, since Nintendo’s normal physical media is too expensive or requires too much optimizing for companies like Ubisoft to implement.
Or else GK cards are just the newest form of shrinkflation, where consumers pay the same but get less.
If it’s a game I really like, I want to own it physically. Having that option taken away in many cases this generation is an unpleasant feeling, and hadn’t really been an issue for Nintendo shoppers till now. Many people won’t be happy with this situation no matter how you try to spin it.
Re: Poll: Box Art Brawl - Operation C / Probotector (Game Boy)
@Princess_Lilly
I’d be interested in hearing about your avatar pic - isn’t that a photoshop of the twin towers on 9/11? That could be triggering for some people.
Re: Poll: Box Art Brawl - Operation C / Probotector (Game Boy)
I went with Japan. That’s a nice Arnie portrait, it’s the only one that says “Konami” outright, and it’s okay to call the game “Contra.” I don’t think we gamers back then would have confused the game with Oliver North.
Re: Poll: So, Will You Be Getting Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 For Switch?
I trust these will be nice HD remasters of 2 great games, but yowza, that price really is disappointing. I think that with Air Riders and this latest Direct batch of games, Nintendo has made it clear they’re abandoning US$60 and making US$70 their S2 game standard price point. This 2-pack seems extra expensive since I and many others here just bought Galaxy on Switch for the 35th Anniversary in the 3D All-Stars pack.
In the end, I’ll probably order a physical copy. At least this sticker shock is balanced out by my joy and relief that Hades II is getting a full physical release, for a more reasonable US$50.
Re: Opinion: I'm Celebrating Super Mario Bros.' 40th Anniversary By Finally Finishing It
Happy 40th Bday, Super Mario Brothers! Revisiting this classic is a great idea today.
I think I first saw SMB on a Play Choice 10 cabinet at the local bowling alley and I knew instantly I had to get one of those new Nintendo Entertainment Systems for home. I worked with my dad to earn an allowance and save up and bought my NES Classic set with the SMB pack-in game in the summer of ‘85, I think?
Even on my hand-me-down black & white 13” TV, SMB was a generational leap over the Coleco (Smurfs and Jumpman Jr.) and Atari (Pitfall 2) games we had at home previously.
I spent plenty of time learning the levels and finding secrets along with the other kids in the neighborhood. It was a wonderful, formative game for us, until eventually we moved on to newer NES games, the Genesis, Gameboy, SNES…and the treadmill just never stopped.
It’s been decades since I’ve beaten King Koopa and rescued Princess Toadstool. I’m not sure the eyesight and reflexes of a 50-something are still up to the task, though. I’ll give it a shot, for old time’s sake! 😁
Re: Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment Box Art Officially Revealed For Switch 2
Looks great except for the big red letterbox!
I’ll be buying this, but honestly the November release was a bit of a shock. I wasn’t expecting this game till January or February! I haven’t even beat ToK yet, so I’m expecting I’ll have to backlog this one for a long time. There’s such a barrage of games coming out!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (13th September)
After watching the wallet-busting Direct last night, the main game I’ll be playing is saving up my money! There will be a lot to buy between now and March. 🤑
While the kiddos are with me today I’ll mainly play Spelunky. Every time I start that game, I vow to my kids that I will beat it, and then never come close. 1,120 failed attempts now. I must be the worst player in the world who still loves the game! I’ll play some UFO 50, too.
After the kids depart, I think I’ll go back to playing Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion. It’s already got a Metroid motorcycle to ride! And I betcha Samus’ ride doesn’t turn into a laser buster cannon! I’m patiently waiting for Marvelous to add gyro aiming to the game, though - that and the other improvements they’ve announced really should have been ready day one and on the cartridge.
Wishing everyone a leisurely weekend with time for your favorite games! 🕹️🐍🚀
Re: Publisher Acclaim Is Hosting Its Own Showcase Today
“Akklaim” wasn’t a brand I associated with quality back in the day. Friends and I played Wizards and Warriors and maybe 1 or 2 of their other NES games, and then I steered clear afterwards.
I’m mildly interested in seeing what they try to revive, though.
Re: Talking Point: Nintendo Direct September Predictions - What Do You Hope To See?
We really could use some clarity on what's coming up in December and beyond. Gotta budget!
My guess is that we'll be saying happy birthday to Mario for 20-30 of the 60 minutes. Hopefully we'll get a Mario Maker 2 mouse update and a sneak peek at some big new Mario game.
I'm hoping for dates for Metroid Prime 4, Elden Ring, Hades II, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, and terminally delayed game R-Type Tactics I-II Cosmos. (and physical releases, please!)
I would welcome the Resident Evil remakes but wouldn't be buying for a long time as they are sure to be game key cards and I will hold out for a suitable discount.
Unlikely perennial wants: FTL (Faster Than Light), Mad Max game from the PS4, Shadow of Mordor games.
Re: Nintendo Direct Announced For Friday, 12th September 2025
Felt like it had to happen. 60 minutes!
Choo choo! All aboard the hype train!! 🚂
Re: UFO 50 Has Been Updated On Switch, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Great to hear - the home screen icon was a little drab. It's the game that counts, though, and wow I am loving this collection! I think I've played more UFO 50 than I have Mario Kart World or DK Bananza.
I've been meandering through the games somewhat "chronologically," so I've played mostly Bug Hunter, Ninpek, Camouflage, Paint Chase, and Planet Zoldath. I've got to sit down one day to play Barbuta and use a sheet of graph paper for notes.
It's just been a brilliant game, and I'd expect nothing less from the creators of Spelunky. I'll dip into UFO 50 now and again for a long time to come.
Re: The Best Nintendo Switch 2 Games
@Polvasti
I’m pretty sure Scrambled Egg was a dual release - Arcade Archives version for Switch, and Arcade Archives 2 version (with more online features and improved save states) for S2. So NL gets to put it on this dedicated games list.
At this point, Hamster has a lot of ACA games representing in the S2 top 50. It’s early days. 😁
I’ve played Ridge Racer a bit since launch, but that’s it for me so far.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (6th September)
No Silksong for me, as I’m waiting for the physical release next year or whenever, as I did with the original Hollow Knight. Hopefully it will collect all the patches and DLC that appear till that point and be a nice definitive physical edition.
There’s certainly plenty to play in the interim - my stack of unplayed games exploded this week. Star Wars Outlaws, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, Super Robot Wars Y, a pair of ACA NEOGEO collections, and a pair of TOAPLAN Arcade collections are all newly-delivered and jostling for a turn in the cartridge slot. I definitely bit off more than I can chew this time. 😅
Wishing everyone a fun weekend! 🕹️👾
Re: Review: Star Wars Outlaws (Switch 2) - An Underrated Adventure, A Super-Solid Port
@PJOReilly @NintndoNik
Thank you both for pursuing that Ubi login question! It was a crucial one for me - a mandatory login would have been a dealbreaker for me, as I'm already compromising by buying (eeww) a game key card. (The way I see it, Outlaws was a game I wanted to try, and a physical dongle to download the game was better than buying a nontransferable license on the eshop.)
But today I was fretting I'd have to cancel my preorder because I have no intention of creating an Ubi account. It's been so long since I've played any of their games, I'd forgotten all about that little wrinkle. Ubisoft absolutely should allow you to opt out of their tracking system.
So airplane mode, here I come! Glad to hear PJ approves of the game, too.
Re: Review: Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion (Switch 2) - Decently Deep Mech Combat, But Clunky In Parts
Another very fun and functional review from @PJOReilly ! I love having a few good laughs while reading about upcoming games - mecha games in particular, since they're always so serious yet absurd. You need to have a sense of humor playing them.
Only a 6 is disappointing, but after playing the demo, I can't say I'm shocked. Still, I'll pick up my physical preorder this week and have a fun enough time tinkering and customizing some mech suits. I imagine they'll patch things up and maybe even get it to run at 60fps eventually? In the end, though, as long as it's fun running and gunning with bazookas and Macross missiles, I'll be satisfied.
Re: Word Game Showcased In Japan's 'Indie World' Is Coming To The West
I’m an old student of the language and 文字遊戯•WORD GAME looked like a fun test of one’s Japanese reading comprehension. As such, this isn’t one I expected to come West! When the entire game is a test of your ability to read Japanese and recognize kanji characters, I can’t imagine how you’d translate that. I guess it’s just the unaltered Japanese version?
Either way, I’m in this game’s tiny demographic, and it looks quite fun, but I’d have to bust out my strongest reading glasses. And that price, yowtch!! I’ll just wishlist on the NA and JP eShops for now and wait for a good sale.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (30th August)
It’s a long weekend here in the ‘States, though a sad one as we see summertime take its leave. Sadder still as I wait to find out how much more I’ll have to pay to import games I preordered from Japan and the UK thanks to Trump’s absurd tariff rules. 🤬
Anyway, I’ll be playing a game I never thought to see in the year 2025: Space Adventure Cobra, a run & gun platformer based on one of my fave TV anime series from 40 years ago. I wish that the controls were a little more precise and that the Japanese language track was actually on the cartridge (it was in the big day one patch), but overall it’s a fun time for me and a fitting tribute, much like Microids’ earlier nostalgic anime game, UFO Robo Grendizer.
Also I’ll keep dabbling in UFO 50, maybe try to survive longer than 90 seconds in the Ninpek game. This simulation/collection is such a love-letter to our hobby! 🥰
But hold everything! Did @dartmonkey just say there is a new STAR TREK game on Switch?? Is that even logical?? I need to investigate tout suite.
Thank you for the heads-up!
Wishing everyone a fantastic weekend! 🕹️🛸👾
Re: Star Trek: Resurgence
I have only just heard of this Trek game in today’s “What Are You Playing This Weekend” article. Apparently it just came to Switch 2 days ago? And it’s an action-adventure RPG with exploration? Could this be the quality Star Trek console game I’ve waited ages for? Fascinating. 🤨
I’ll need to research!
Re: Poll: When The Heck Is Metroid Prime 4 Actually Launching?
They already promised “2025,” and want to avoid more “please understands,” so I’m betting on a December release. Didn’t Smash Ultimate have a December release?
If it needs more time in the oven and gets pushed to 2026, that would be lame. But I can wait. There is plenty to play till then.
Re: Evil Exes Join The Fight In The Latest 'Scott Pilgrim EX' Trailer
@KayFiOS
Anamanaguchi is confirmed doing the soundtrack for Scott Pilgrim EX.
It just wouldn't be a sequel without them!
I preordered the physical game with the OST CD just for that reason.
Re: Developers Reportedly Still Struggling To Get Switch 2 Dev Kits
Ah well, another unsavory bit of S2 news. It’s tough to comment without knowing the cause(s). Have they been withholding kits because of Herr Trump’s economic instability? Scarcity of hardware? Overconfidence? Retirement of key personnel? Or just plain ‘ol lack of preparation?
Either way, the situation sounds awful and ultimately will hurt sales of these expensive S2 consoles.
What’s more - these developers’ livelihoods are at stake here! I hope Nintendo is doing their utmost to get kits out there quickly.
Re: Japan's National Library Says Game-Key Cards Are Not Eligible For Preservation
I'll give credit where it is due - from a physical collector's POV, game key carts are better than code-in-a-box, because the buyer can at least lend the game (sorry, download code) to a friend or family member, or just sell it if they lose interest.
That said, overall GKC's are a shrinkflation cop-out - foisting the memory cost onto the consumer, and taking away our ownership of a product. Key disks have been around for other consoles, but GKC's are a dismaying new development for Nintendo fans. Maybe Nintendo intended the GKCs as a way to get more large, 64GB+ modern games on their platform AND in stores, but what is happening is that 3rd party publishers are using GKC for NEARLY EVERYTHING, regardless of file size.
GKC's are not the right solution to the S2's physical media problem - Nintendo needs to make smaller/cheaper conventional carts available to their 3rd party publishers. Give them a cost-effective alternative to GKCs, and you'll see more happy customers.
Re: Feature: "I Don't Care About The Sales" - 'Remothered' Creator On His Disney-Inspired Horror Platformer
What an intriguing read - thank you @AlanaHagues !
For me, it was love at first sight when NL ran a Sweet Carole preview last year, and I’ve had a physical copy of the game preordered for months now. I was mesmerized by Dragon’s Lair and Space Ace as a kid, and appreciated Don Bluth movies like Nimh and LOTR, too, so a game that so nicely captures that look really grabs my attention.
Honestly, the game looked almost too good to be real, so I’m relieved to hear it’s a true passion project by a dedicated creator and his hardworking team and not some gaudy gen-AI. And how nice to learn it’s built around themes of women’s liberation! It’s refreshing and quite bold in the current disgusting political climate where (here in the US at least) anyone not white, Christian, and male is disenfranchised and the ruling majority would prefer their women home - uneducated, obedient, barefoot and pregnant.
I’ll appreciate owning a copy of Carole that much more, as something positive I can share with my daughters.
Alana, I did want to point out a pronoun goof, referring to Darill as “she” in the paragraph about women’s rights and Rosa Parks et al.
Thank you again for the nice Sunday read. 😁
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (23rd August)
@Riku3456
Great to know - thank you!
I was hoping that was the case - I’m more likely to play a demo if the progress carries on later 👍
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (23rd August)
Well it’s a bit of a busy weekend, but I’ll try my best to squeeze in some more UFO 50 (I’ve been playing the Camouflage lizard game mainly) and try out that Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion demo that came out this week. Did they say your progress carries over to the full game??
Wishing all NL peeps a fun and/or relaxing weekend! 🕹️🦎👾
Re: Beautiful Disney-esque Horror 'Bye Sweet Carole' Gets Suitably Spooky Release Date
Ohh great news! This October is sooner than I expected. My preorder at GameStop has had a Dec 31 placeholder for a long time.
The last quarter of 2025 is so crammed with Switch and S2 physical games to pick up, and there’s still Prime 4 and others with a 2025 date pending! It’s going to be an expensive stretch. 😵💫
Re: Hollow Knight: Silksong Finally Has A Release Date
Hollow Knight was an amazing game and I get the feeling this sequel won't disappoint! Seems like the the long wait will be well worth it.
IIRC, Fangamer didn't release the physical edition of Hollow Knight until about a year after the eshop release. I wonder if it will be a long wait again this time, and if it's coming to both Switch and the Deuce? And surely they won't put such a small game (in terms of file size) onto a 64GB cartridge??
More info needed!
Re: He-Man Is The Next '80s Icon Getting His Own Stunning Arcade-Style Retro Revival
I AM BUYING THIS SO HARD. I cannot say no to a decent licensed beat ‘em up with IP from my childhood, especially one made by Bitmap Bureau.
She-ra better be an unlockable character! And I hope they dive deep into the He-Man roster - I wanna be battling Triclops, Ram Man, Man-E-Faces… throw ‘em all in there! 😆
Re: Stylish Beat 'Em Up Roguelike 'Absolum' Magics Up Switch Release Date
Seeing the Absolum trailer last month had me thinking this was a quality-looking beat ‘em up, so I placed a preorder at GameStop. They listed the Switch physical with a street date of Sep 30th, and I see that is still the date given on Amazon NA. I wonder if the physical date now also becomes Oct 9th? I guess we’ll see eventually.
Re: Annapurna's Delightfully Weird Creature Collecting Roguelite Scores Switch Release Date
This is looking good - I love a good roguelite - though I would probably have to turn down the gross ASMR sound effects.
Re: Preview: Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion - A Smart Evolution For Mech Fans, And A Good Early Test For Switch 2
Thanks for the informative preview, PJ! I've had my physical Titanic Scion preordered since early July or so, and it looked like the game was shaping up nicely for mecha fans, but this write-up really cinches it! It sure sounds like this is going to be glorious robot fun - I just hope I have time enough to devote to it and spec some mechs properly. I'm just getting into UFO 50, have yet to finish Cyberpunk or DK Bananza, and the fall onslaught of games is nearly upon us. Including another mecha must-buy for me: Super Robot Taisen Y! @_@;
But cheers to Marvelous for bringing this game West, and on a true physical S2 cartridge!
Re: Kirby Air Riders Direct Revealed for Tomorrow, 19th August 2025
Hyped!
I’m sure Sakurai-san and co. will bring us a fun game.
45 mins though? He sure is a thorough guy!
Re: Poll: Box Art Brawl - Super Adventure Island (SNES)
Japan, easily. You can’t vote against Takahashi-meijin, Japan’s biggest celebrity gamer!
He famously won Hudson’s national Star Soldier competition with his incredibly rapid rate of fire. Hudson then hired him for celebrity endorsement and advisor, named the Adventure Island games after him, and made him protagonist for the hit series. I think all that interesting context was scrubbed from the Western versions of the games, sadly.
Re: Feature: 32 Games We're Dying To See On Switch 2
The continuing absence of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night on any Nintendo system is a crime against humanity.
I’d also love to get PS4 era titles like the Shadow of Mordor games, or Mad Max.
But fun list! Switch/S2 are basically my only modern consoles, so port away! Hopefully we’ll get to cross some of these titles off the list over time.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (16th August)
After a busy few weeks the kiddos just want to stay home and chill today, so there should be time to play some more UFO 50 and DK Bananza. I may try to rally the kids to go to the local observatory with me tonight though, to stargaze and appreciate the Milky Way a bit. We’ll see….
In the kids’ absence I’ll want to sink more time into Raiden NOVA - it’s always so satisfying to zap hordes of enemies in a storm of vulcan fire or with your big bendy purple plasma ray. Or I might return to Cyberpunk 2077, as, fortuitously, the armored berserk hammer lady who kept wrecking me got caught in a glitch and just hopped around defenseless while I unloaded about a hundred shotgun rounds and finally won for once! What a gonk victory. I’ll take it, though! 😂
I’m just glad to be free to roam the streets of Night City again.
Wishing everyone a fun weekend! 🕹️🪐🛸
Re: Review: UFO 50 (Switch) - A Wondrous Smorgasbord Of Retro Delights
I absolutely love the concept behind UFO 50, and was waiting impatiently for it to make it to Switch.
It’s a brilliant game that tickles the nostalgia for all us kids of the eighties, and a fun study of game design and discovery for all ages.
I’ve already double-dipped - eshop insta-buy last week, and preordered the nice Deluxe Edition physical due out in Feb next year from Fangamer.
@LastFootnote
Excellent suggestion! I didn’t even think to use my NES controllers for UFO 50. I will definitely charge them up and try!
Re: Grand Theft Auto Trilogy Appears To Now Have A Proper Physical Switch Release
Well that would be a pleasant surprise. I’ve heard that they patched the games pretty hard since release, so if all 3 games and the patches are all on the cart, I’d invest!
Probably just wishful thinking, though…
Re: Nintendo Expands Switch 2's GameCube Library Next Week
Exciting! I’ve never played but have been curious about Chibi Robo for a long time. I’ll have to try it out. 🤖
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (9th August)
Amidst the outdoor activities and usual weekend chores, I’ll try a few more runs in the Splatoon 3 roguelite DLC, trying to find that magic mix of permanent upgrades and synergized ability boost drops that’ll help me climb the tower one last time and earn the final unlockable weapon. After all the cake walks with full stat boosts to earn the other weapons, you’re nerfed with this final weapon loadout. I’ll need luck and persistence and really have to sharpen my faded Splatoon skill to beat this challenge.
Meanwhile UFO 50 beckons me to “play forever,” and I probably could, based on the little taste of the game I’ve had thus far. What an imaginative way to recreate that 80s kid experience of sitting cross-legged on the floor with a TV, an NES or Master System, and a magical little pile of games to play! We’d have fun with the older, simpler faves, the novelty of something borrowed or rented, and were wowed by the more sophisticated newer releases, all the while daydreaming of what games we would design if we could. What a treat it’ll be, uncovering the history of this 8-bit console that never existed!
Wishing everyone a fun weekend! 🕹️👾
Re: SNK Announces ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 7 And Vol. 8 For Switch
Love this, Hamster - keep ‘em coming and I’ll keep buying! In my college years I had a friend who actually owned a NEOGEO, so each visit I’d get treated to some KOF or Fatal Fury, or admire Pulstar from afar. 😁
I think on Vol. 7, I’ll be most keen to play King of the Monsters 2, or just chill out with Puzzle Bobble. Vol. 8 is all about my old arcade fave ‘Nam 1975 for me, but I’ve heard Blue’s Journey is also quality.
@TYRANACLES
I agree, can’t wait for Magician Lord to someday get into one of these compilations!
@PKDuckman
I actually don’t mind the randomness of titles on each volume - it’s like walking up to a NEOGEO machine in an arcade and seeing which games are installed. Though if there is a specific game I want to play, finding it can be a bit of a chore. 😅
Re: Random: Metroid Composer Was Just Trying To Impress Someone With Ending Theme
It's always neat to hear the inspirations behind great works of art! I'm glad he shared this true story (maji hanashi).
I wonder if Hip Tanaka now is around the age of this older debugger person who was his muse. That would really make one feel the passage of time and post sentimental stories.
39 years. It does feel like a lifetime ago. I was at a friend's house in front of his console TV and the Metroid end battle and escape were harrowing. But the triumphant music kicked in and boy what a shock when we saw Samus revealed in that twist ending!
Re: Nintendo Indie World Showcase August 2025 - Every Announcement, Game Reveal & Trailer
Just checked out that Moji Yūgi (Word Play) trailer above and that looks intriguing, too. I’m not sure my kanji-reading is up to the task, but it would be good Japanese practice! 🤓
Re: Nintendo Indie World Showcase August 2025 - Every Announcement, Game Reveal & Trailer
UFO 50! That’s all I needed to see to make this a winning showcase. I’ve waited so long to play this game! I will double-dip on a physical if it ever comes.
As is often the case in these Indie Directs,, there were a bunch of enticing games on display. I can see myself picking up Mina, Ball Pit, Well Dweller, and maybe Neverway. And Is This Seat Taken looked fun too, very Snipperclips look to it, hmm…
Re: Talking Point: Nintendo Indie World Showcase Predictions - What Do You Hope To See?
Hades II and Silksong are gimmes, of course.
But what I really need are UFO 50 and Minishoot’ Adventures for Switch/S2 someday. I don't use Steam or other consoles and I'd love to play either of those games.
Also, I sure would like to get a Spelunky / Spelunky 2 physical release. Didn't LRG drop hints years ago that they were working on that?
Re: Review: Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound (Switch) - A Gorgeous & Gory Return To The Series' 2D Roots
@TYRANACLES @jfp
Thanks for the additions!
Mark of the Ninja was one I was trying to think of! (I don’t own it)
The Ninja Gaiden Trilogy certainly qualifies, though I was thinking mainly of 2D run&slash games.
Those others I’ll have to look up! Furry tanuki ninjas, maybe?
Re: Ludocene, The Deckbuilding 'Dating App For Games', Launches Today
I’m already overinformed on games to play, and I wonder if many of the Japan-exclusive games I love would fall outside of this app’s range. Still, I imagine this would be a fun way to window-shop, maybe find a few unknown gems, or just pick what to play next when you’re paralyzed for choice!
Re: Surprise! Nintendo Announces Indie World Showcase For Thursday 7th August 2025
Silksong!!
JK 🤣
Could Hades II be in here headlining, or is it too major these days?
How sweet would it be if Mini Shoot Adventures and/or UFO 50 finally got ported over to Switch or the Deuce? I’d be ecstatic for either one.
I hope we get some exciting Indie announcements after last week’s underwhelming Partner Direct. The S2 is going to need continued strong indie support - and keep printing Switch cartridges so we can get some physical releases, too! The indie studios aren’t going to be paying for 64GB media.
Re: Best Lord Of The Rings Games, Ranked - Switch And Nintendo Systems
What a pity I missed out on all those Gamecube-era LOTR games, as I resided in Japan in those days and they were never localized, as far as I know.
At least I enjoyed the LOTR Adventure Card Game on Switch. It’s got really quite beautiful painted art, and the card play and deck-building was fun enough.
I’d welcome the Shadow of Mordor games, too, if ever they come to S2.
Re: Pilotwings SNES, N64 And 3DS Albums Soar Onto 'Nintendo Music' In New Update
Awesome! I know what I’ll be chillin with this week 😎
Re: Tetris & Metroid Composer 'Hip' Tanaka Is Getting Back Into Video Game Music
I commented not long ago that it was Yuzo Koshiro’s soundtrack for Revenge of Shinobi on the Genesis that first opened my ears to how good home video game music could be. But I misspoke. Listening to Nintendo Music recently reminded me that there were, in fact, a few NES games which caught my attention a few years before the 16-bit era. A couple of my NES faves were Hip Tanaka’s work on Kid Icarus and Metroid. Just brilliant work on both of those, that transcended what I thought was possible on the humble little NES.
I’m glad the legend is back in the studio! Hopefully we’ll get some of his new projects on Switch or the Deuce soon.