Tyranexx

@UpsideDownRowlet You must know the Pokemon move Future Sight. I was having some issues embedding the image I wanted earlier (Same meme, slightly different text). I finally settled on the current one.

Switch "scientists" with "publishers".

For all the information this gives us, I'm gonna say it features Nonspecific Action Figure and call it a day.

While I'm intrigued by this rumor, I'm not sure how I feel about a potential live action movie. I'd prefer an animated movie if a Metroid film materializes - love some of the Spiderverse ideas in the comments - but who knows? Maybe how the Zelda movie pans out will sway me.

I plan to pick this up for Switch 1 at some point, then DL the upgrade once I have a Switch 2. I plan to play both Cyber Sleuth titles first since I have them backlogged.

Never heard of this game. None of the covers are great IMO, but I finally went with Japan. As other comments mentioned, it seems to convey the gameplay and characters the best. Plus, Bowser is biting the arrow lol.

However, I do prefer Yoshi's Topsy-Turvy as the title. It sounds more fun. Maybe it's because I just woke up, but Universal Gravitation is quite a title mouthful.

I quite enjoy the story in most Zelda games - when they bother to have more than a "save the princess" plot anyway - but the gameplay, characters, side content/world building, puzzles, and dungeons really help carry the torch for me too. I love all of these elements, making Zelda my favorite franchise. Sure, some franchises like Xenoblade may have better storytelling and character development (I'd rank XC3 above many Zelda titles, for example), but for me the Zelda franchise is an almost perfect balance of gaming aspects I enjoy.

When it comes to the timeline, it does make for a fun discussion piece. And I do enjoy the nods and callbacks to previous games that aren't directly related during a playthrough. But I don't treat the timeline as gospel and, frankly, think it was only inserted into Hyrule Historia to appease fans. Not to mention Nintendo jumped off that train when Breath of the Wild entered the scene.

I finally finished the main campaign of Spring Cleaning Simulator: IRL Edition, so I think I've earned a flop day lol. I still need to tackle some of the DLC, but that will need to wait for lower pollen levels. In the meantime, I'm still playing:

• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD - I cleared the amazing Lanayru Mining Facility, lost track of Zelda through a Gate of Time, and took care of some side quests + extras (Dodoh can pound sand) before skydiving back to Faron Woods. I left off right before entering my first Silent Realm; I didn't need that stress close to bedtime.
• Pokemon Yellow (3DS VC) - Made it to Celadon City, and who would've thought Team Rocket had a hideout nestled under the totally legit Game Corner? A few beaten baddies and one trounced boss later, and I'm the proud owner of a Silph Scope! Now back to Lavender Town to do something important....

  Happy gaming!

I swore off MMOs years ago since they're such money and time sinks, but I'm very happy for fans! I know this has been teased and wished for awhile now.

Nothing new for me this week, but I will pick up Ys Memoire: Revelations In Celceta in physical form in the future.

@BLD

Yeah, this article feels weirdly cynical in a way that I can't decide if it's more insulting towards the game itself or Nintendo's legal team.

I agree. At first I thought the article was poking fun at the game. Reading it again, maybe it's taking a jab at Nintendo's legal team as well?

Olympus Rangers certainly is Pokemon inspired, but it's far from the first game. Some monster catchers/battlers - of which Pokemon wasn't even the first IIRC - are very good at using their own unique character and creature designs, mechanics, and world. Others fall either into parody (which is a gray area IMO) or blatant theft with maybe a couple subtle changes. Outside of potential issues surrounding user submissions (and going by the trailer), this game appears distinct enough that it will likely be fine.

Honestly, other than the arena raising a couple eyebrows and the potential issues that can come from submitted designs and names, I don't really see any issues. Pickmos was filled with blatant ripoffs from multiple games.

Good timing. I finished filling out the eligible cards for both Mega Rising and Mega Shine recently, so I actually need a new set! I'll probably try to collect immersives I need in the meantime.

@Yoshi3 I would love the ability to trade immersives. I have a couple repeats and, conversely, can never seem to pull them from some sets.

Perhaps we'll get a port later down the line, but for now, unless you have a PC, Xbox, or PS5, you'll have to weigh anchor... or dig your Wii U out.

Or, alternatively, play Black Flag on Switch 1/2 already via the Rebel Collection. Glad I'm not the only one who caught this.

No complaints about adding some iconic music to the MMSF Collection! And for free. Some of the boss themes and later themes in the MMBN games are amazing.

I still need to get to the theater to watch this - other events and situations keep popping up - but I do hope to within the next couple of weeks.

I played this on Steam a couple years ago, though my integrated graphics laptop (bought for casual coding) struggled with even medium settings. I agree with the review that the plot is shallow compared to later Ys titles, but I do think the mentioned positive aspects of the game more than make up for it. Personally, the lack of auto save doesn't bother me since manually saving is ingrained in my DNA at this point, but it wouldn't have hurt to include it either.

I'll pick this up for the Switch at some point since I'd like a physical copy. It's a game worth revisiting. Besides, my patience paid off with Ys Memoire: The Oath In Felghana since it went down to $30 at one point.

Glad that Nintendo remembered that this game exists. Going by the release date, it's still possible this game may appear in an upcoming Nintendo Direct, especially if the June Direct rumors pan out. However, as it's a Switch 2 only release, I'll be waiting some time before trying it out.

As much as I'd like Dark Songstress Azura, it's very hard for me to justify paying that price for a collectible figure.

I do agree with other commenters that Fire Emblem: Fates as a whole is underrated. Sure, the plots range from complete pants to mildly decent (IMO), but there are some great characters, gameplay, maps, and songs in the games (Lost In Thoughts All Alone is amazing, but don't sleep on the rest of the OST either!). Not to mention many of the classes on the Hoshidan side are different from typical FE fare and based on feudal Japan. Wish I could have a shot at the Revelation side, but unfortunately that ship sailed when the eShop closed. Why the rare cartridge with all three routes wasn't the standard, I don't know. Unfortunately, it was expensive/scalped even at release. Thankfully, IS and Nintendo didn't do this with Three Houses.

I'm pretty sure that patch isn't official and is likely something created just for crew members. Little fun things like this happen a lot in some industries and fan circles.

I'm really digging that Link concept art. It's a nice mix of different Links throughout the LoZ series.

None of these covers are amazing, but it looks like I'm going against the grain this time and voted for NA. Japan is a close second, but I actually am fine with the blue border showcasing some puzzle examples without getting too text-happy. Not to mention both boxes give a slightly better idea about what Layton and Luke are getting into.

Sorry Europe, but this time you're WAY too busy for my liking. I know this is par for the course for many Layton covers in PAL regions, but it's a design choice I'm not fond of.

I feel like details about this remake are some of the worst kept modern gaming secrets. XD The original is my favorite Assassin's Creed - not that I've played many due to past platform constraints, hope to fix this eventually - and one I hope to revisit. Though that will likely be through the Rebel Collection on Switch at some point since I also want a shot at Assassin's Creed: Rogue.

I've fully thrown myself into the madness of Spring Cleaning Simulator this weekend, which won't leave a lot of time for better games. I also have developed a productive cough that may be allergy related. Which complicates things. When I get some downtime, I'm still playing both Skyward Sword HD (Currently on my first Eldin region visit) and Pokemon Yellow on the 3DS VC (Just earned the Thunder Badge and picked up my last team member: Squirtle).

Happy gaming all!

@rawzeku "Playable" and "passable" both sound fine to me, and I'm not too bothered by visuals as long as I can tell what I'm looking at. Glad it sounds like I should still have a good time. I appreciate the response.

I suspected 2nd Chapter would drop sometime in September, but I'm glad we finally have an official date. I still need to play the first game in some form, so I'll likely pick this up sometime after launch.

While I know the site reviewed the Switch 2 version, I don't recall seeing one for Switch 1. How does this game run on Switch 1? From my experience with the modern Ys series, some of those definitely had a couple issues (Ys IX being the worst offender, much as I love the game; surprisingly, I don't recall Ys X: Nordics being bad). I'm ok with lower frames for this type of game as long as the console isn't chugging to almost zero in busy areas.

I honestly forgot they were releasing the physical Switch 2 edition later. Better late than never.

As much as I'm not a fan of GKCs, code-in-the-box is worse IMO. At least the former aren't one time use, aren't as much of a plastic waste, and can be sold or traded.

That said, I think I'll stick with my physical Switch 1 copy, thanks.

I'd be fine with a Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker sequel, though I'd rather see a new game featuring the character that explores something new. I did quite enjoy the game on the Wii U but never picked up any of the later ports since I didn't feel like they added enough for a rebuy. Plus, I like how the game made use of the Wii U Gamepad.

I choose to remain cautiously optimistic about this one. While I agree that the Zelda series would probably be better animated, I'm willing to give this movie a chance. Hopefully a trailer that intrigues the audience but doesn't show off TOO much drops before long.

@batmanbud2 I was only considering home consoles, though I can attest that both Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins and New Super Mario Bros. (DS) are pretty awesome too. NSMB was in fact my first exposure to modern Mario. Never played SML2 until the 3DS VC.

Methinks some skipped the part of the article that mentions that reviews are 1. subjective, and 2. were done in the context at the time vs. the present lens we have. While I wouldn't give New Super Mario Bros. Wii a 10/10 today, at the time it really did bust open a couple multiplayer doors and was also the first new 2D home console Mario since the SNES. Yeah, I'd agree some of the games on the list don't deserve 10s, but I recognize this list is a bit of fun and did play some of these titles for the first time years after they were reviewed.

...Also, NL is 20. I was a teen when the site started, though I didn't find it until my early college years. Didn't bother joining until 2015. Now if you all will excuse me, I'm going to go figure out where the last decade has gone....

I'll definitely pick up Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave in the future. But...not until I play through the remaining routes in Three Houses. Not to mention I have yet to buy a Switch 2.

I am curious about Splatoon Raiders. The multiplayer focused mainline titles always have looked fun, but knowing my tastes they wouldn't hold my attention long. But a single player focused game, on the other hand....

Besides starting the prologue of Spring Cleaning Simulator: IRL Edition - not fun, but I want a head start while the weather cooperates - I'm playing:

• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD - Firing this up for the first time shortly. I last played this on the Wii a decade ago, so I'm eager to see how the Switch changes affect gameplay. Besides, I haven't played through a Zelda title since Echoes of Wisdom released, so I'm overdue.
• Pokemon Yellow (3DS VC) - Revisiting Kanto seems in vogue these days for some reason, so I figured I'd jump on the bandwagon in a less conventional way. I'm very early in the game. No badges yet. It's been many years since I revisited Gen 1, so I'm curious how well it holds up in casual play.
• Pokemon Go - Tinkatink Community Day is today, so I hope to get out late this afternoon and catch a few shiny fairy blacksmiths. This is somewhat dependent on Spring Cleaning Simulator progress though....

I wrapped up Ys Memoire: The Oath In Felghana (Switch) this week. It was the perfect palate cleanser and worth the revisit! It's still one of my favorite Ys titles even if the emotional payoff in more recent entries is better.

Happy gaming!

@Bobb I agree that crossover releases related to different companies can be difficult to manage. Though not impossible IMO since the game is already in the wild. I considered grabbing the physical game at one point, but even the secondhand price scared me off. I think Capcom would be all too happy to rerelease it with their track record lately, but I'm unsure about Level-5. Hopefully someday. 🤞

@KingMike I'm still a bit miffed over how Yo-Kai Watch 3 was handled, at least in North America (IIRC PAL regions had issues too). I had no clue the physical release would be so limited and would have pre-ordered. The previous two games were easy to find after launch, so the thought didn't even cross my mind. There's always importing I suppose, but I'd need to buy a Japanese 3DS and take a crash course in said language before that happens.

I appreciate the summary article since I missed the showcase. However, outside of Layton NWoS - which I'm glad is still on track for this year - and the Snack World Switch 2 release, it wasn't really worth watching the entire thing for.

I'm VERY glad this is still slated to release this year. And that it will be coming to additional platforms. While the Layton series has historically been found on Nintendo systems, the OG Layton trilogy, Layton's Mystery Journey, and Layton Brothers: Mystery Room are all available on mobile (or at least Android). I've played them all minus Layton vs. Phoenix Wright since it's very expensive (REALLY hope this is ported or remastered in the future). All games range from kinda decent to amazing IMO.

Definitely looking forward to this game, though Switch 1 is my platform of choice.

I'd rather a game be delayed so that it isn't rushed out and receives the dev time it needs. The problem is, a large number of delays may point to a troubled development cycle. There are some success stories out there, but then there are games that were delayed or revived from the grave that...didn't exactly turn out well.

All that said, I'm glad I didn't get up early for this. I'm glad Professor Layton and the New World of Steam is still slated for 2026, but it sounds like the rest of the presentation wasn't exactly worth losing some Zs in my case.

On paper this looks great and would likely help fill the WarioWare sized hole in my heart until the next title. But in practice...I've learned I'm terrible at rhythm games if my previous attempts at HarmoKnight (demo) and Cadence of Hyrule are anything to go by.

I honestly wouldn't complain about any Zelda game getting the remake treatment as long as it's given a respectable amount of TLC. There are plenty of examples of good and bad gaming remakes out there.

As for my picks....I'd most like to see Oracle of Ages/Seasons remade in the Link's Awakening (Switch) and Echoes of Wisdom engine. Though when it comes to pure gameplay, my picks would be Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks. Both are decent games in their own right, but the touch-heavy mechanics, use of the mic (much as I love the Spirit Flute, some of the tunes are hard to play later on), and the general repetitive slog the Temple of the Ocean King becomes in PH all need addressed. At least Spirit Tracks partially addressed the latter with how the Tower of Spirits is handled.

I'll keep my expectations in check, but I'd love to see (or play) something more substantial than social media art and collectible knickknacks. I love Okami and do need to revisit it sometime. Same with the not quite as great but still fun Okamiden, which I kinda forgot I had until I was going through my handheld games last weekend.

@MamaSymphonia All fair points! Not enough to make me want to upgrade at this time, but future consideration isn't off the table. Whatever form they're played in, I can easily recommend both Super Mario Galaxy titles to pretty much anyone. The first game is still my favorite 3D Mario title.

@Nabbit01 I don't own a Wii (that stayed at my parents' place since it belonged to the family), so the Wii U is currently the only way I can play any Wii titles I own. I've been equally impressed with the Wii U's HDMI upscaler. As odd as some of the Wii U's design choices are, I still enjoy playing games on the system now and then and leave it hooked up. My physical library is small but mighty, and I have a plethora of Virtual Console titles lol.

It's been many years since I've played Super Mario Galaxy 2, so I'm overdue for a replay. I've debated picking up the SMG 1 & 2 Switch collection, but at this time I find it unnecessary. I still have Wii copies of both games, plus I have SMG1 through Super Mario 3D All-Stars. I picked it up for the other two games, but I will admit revisiting SMG 1 on the Switch was pretty fun.

A discount is a discount, even if it is slight and there are better examples out there. This still isn't enough to make me bite on Switch 2 yet since I can play both Galaxies in other forms - I'm debating replaying Super Mario Galaxy 2 on my Wii U (Wii disc) for one thing - but I will be persuaded someday.

LAAAAAAYTON!!!!

As mixed as I am about Level-5's decision making lately, I am looking forward to this presentation. It's also early enough in my day that I should be able to catch it live unless the runtime becomes long. Besides Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, I'm also looking forward to hopefully hearing more about DECAPOLICE and Holy Horror Mansion (though this one depends on how much they lean into generative AI).

Alluring charm, eh?

Seriously though, however one feels about the TotK incarnation of this character, he is one of the best final boss sequences in recent games IMO. Especially phases 2 and 3.

I really like both, but I finally had to go for Japan. It drops the busy NA/EU action cover to show off more of the characters and still manages to show the ships. If they'd swap in the bottom section with more action, it would be close to a perfect cover IMO.

@D-Star92 Enjoy your trip! I know you've been looking forward to it. Should be a good time.

@Pillowpants Happy Cake Day! I hope you have an especially amazing weekend.

What am I playing? EVERYTHING. Well, in my physical handheld game collection that is. I've decided to go through my collection and test each game for a few minutes. Not a tall order for my GB/GBC/GBA collections since I've trimmed them down to my favorites over time, but my DS and 3DS libraries are another story. Which are the ones remaining as of this writing. All triggered by recent reports of 3DS carts failing. It's about time for my twice a year retro hardware tests anyway.

But my Switch won't collect dust. Since I finished my Verdant Wind run in the excellent Fire Emblem: Three Houses earlier this week, I've started Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana. While I've played the non-remaster (or is this considered a remake?) previously on Steam, I couldn't pass up owning a physical copy of one of my favorite Ys games on Switch. Adol is currently sweating in the Zone of Lava after obtaining the Ventus Bracelet and showing the mid-boss the door.

Happy Easter to all who celebrate it. Whether you do or not, have a great weekend, and happy gaming!

Mildly tempting, but I already own all the Switch Mario titles I want. I'd rather invest in a multi cart case outright.