I never got into Labo for this very reason. I already had a bin full of Wii accessories I hardly touched (anyone remember Link’s crossbow and the shooting attachment that pretty much only worked with that game?). So I wasn’t about to buy into something else that needed accessories. Fun idea, but I figured it wouldn’t last long.
I’m ordinarily a big Sonic fan, but I played the demo and it didn’t hook me at all, so I’ve just had this on the wishlist awaiting a sale. The reason I didn’t buy it is because I felt it didn’t offer anything new that made me want to buy it asap. The roster was nice, sure, but it still felt like every other kart racer. Combine that with how it released so close to Mario Kart World and it doesn’t surprise me that the general public didn’t go crazy for this game as the Sega execs hoped.
Also, all the DLC scared me off and I wouldn’t be surprised if other people felt the same. It makes a $70 game into a $90 one. From what I’ve seen, the DLC is also a bit lackluster because it lacks voice acting. SpongeBob or the Ninja Turtles aren’t quite as enticing when they feel like shells of themselves.
This is so bizarre to me. I can’t think of a more underwhelming preorder bonus lol. It’s just… a plant. Not a themed one. Not a special one. Just a single plant…
Would this motivate anyone to preorder who wasn’t already going to?
I’m still working through Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. It’s taking me awhile because I’m trying to clear as much of the map as possible before continuing the story. Having a blast tonight. In addition to that, I’ll also pop into Animal Crossing a few times.
Glad to hear it. I’ve been getting into this game myself recently and it’s a lot of fun. There’s a good gameplay loop and the Zonai devices add an interesting element to differentiate it from past games.
Still in the animal crossing mode. Also been hopping between Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment. It’s cold here in the states and a good day to stay indoors, so I’m sure I’ll be diving into more games than that this weekend.
I thoroughly enjoyed Prime 4. I don’t know why saying that is such a controversial opinion around here lol. Hoping for perfection is really the enemy of enjoyment with gaming. Not everything is going to be a GOTY candidate. You can still enjoy playing something that’s “just” good.
The meme that won’t die. I suppose many of us were fools for passing that game up years ago. Who knew the clearance section staple of 2008 would be a prized possession in 2026?
Like many of us, I’m sure, I’ll be getting back into Animal Crossing New Horizons. I’ve also had time this week to start really getting into Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment. And I’m still working through Hades 2, so I’ll probably squeeze a few runs in on that as well.
I know hardly anyone played it and it became a meme game, but Chibi-Robo! Zip-Lash on 3DS had one of the more involved uses of amiibo. Using it unlocked a capsule machine where you could win collectible figures. You could also level up the amiibo by scanning it after levels and this would get you better items from the machine. Gacha at its finest. Probably the one game where I remember keeping my amiibo nearby at all times haha
@Vyacheslav333 shovel knight was odd. The three pack with King and the others offered very little. But Shovel Knight himself offered a lot more with “Custom Knight” where you could level up and unlock exclusive power ups and stuff. I had a lot of fun with him and it’s a shame the other three didn’t have anything similar.
I was an avid amiibo collector until the prices jumped to something I can no longer justify. The only amiibo I bought in 2026 was Donkey Kong with Pauline just because I’m such a huge DK fan (Functionality on that one could have been better).
In the past, I excused minimal functionality because I was mainly just collecting figures. But at $30+ a pop, they need to offer more. So far I’ve been content to use my old figures when I can and haven’t felt compelled to buy new ones for games like Metroid or Kirby Air Riders. Maybe some groundbreaking feature will come along to convince me to get back into it, but I’m not holding my breath.
Little concerned there wasn’t “game announcement” mentioned specifically, but here’s hoping! I’d settle for some kind of collection or remake (Sonic Adventure 1&2 anyone?)
It may only be $5, but it’s an easy pass for me. I only play AC on handheld and I’m not picky about resolution, so it just doesn’t seem worth it for me. I’m glad the bulk of new content was free
I’ll be very curious to see how much Animal Crossing rises. You’d think majority of people would already have it. But maybe I’m wrong and this game overtakes Mario Kart next week?
Good excuse to get back into it (I only felt mildly guilty when my villagers told me it’s been 4 years…)
The hotel is nice so far. Reminds me of Happy Home (I never played the Switch DLC, but the 3DS game). And of course, it’s nice to see the legend Resetti return. Been too long!
I’m in a similar boat to Jim. Those old games stack up! My most played was Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection. I didn’t expect it, but those short play sessions add up. Playing an hour here and there throughout the year whenever I wanted a quick card game cumulated more than a couple weeks of intense DK gaming.
I don’t even know if my local stores have closed because I sadly do not frequent them as much as I used to. Once they moved away from carrying old games (and cut back on the stock of current games), I had no reason to pop in anymore. It’s unfortunate for so many stores to close, but I have a feeling this was a long time coming.
I ended up liking the supporting cast myself. I was never a huge fan of how lonely early Metroid games felt. It was nice to have a few NPCs chime in every now and then.
For Myles specifically, he really wasn’t involved much to become annoying. He only gave you unsolicited hints in the desert. In the actual levels themselves, he was pretty much silent. And when you did need to interact with him to install an upgrade, the scenes were short and didn’t overstay their welcome. So yes, despite my reservations, I ended up liking Myles and all the NPCs.
I finally finished Metroid 4, so I won’t be saying that for once! This weekend, I’ll be playing Hades 2, Kirby Air Riders, and some Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.
The last Pokemon Happy Meal promotion in the U.S. was fine. The cards were always in stock and no one was scalping them. The Japan situation was a different case because it was a more limited item, but standard Happy Meal toys tend to be fairly plentiful and easy to obtain.
Ho Ho Ho, ya filthy animals! I have a packed weekend. Still chipping away at Metroid 4, I also picked up Hades 2 in the sale, and Santa brought me Kirby Air Riders and the latest Hyrule Warriors. Phew. What am I still doing here? I better get gaming!
@Mgalens Agreed. Ports would go a long way too. Capcom is very good at this with all their various collections. Darkstalkers is a good example. It hasn’t had a new game in ages, but it’s been ported so those characters are still around for modern audiences. But NiGHTS? I doubt anyone younger than a millennial has any sort of connection to those characters.
It’s wild to me how Sega will keep characters like these around despite the fact there hasn’t been a new entry in the series for well over a decade. Here’s hoping that changes, right?
Pretty sure they said it was only a temporary bundle, so not surprised it’ll end after the holiday season. I’m sure some new bundle will replace it in 2026.
I’ll be playing Metroid Prime 4. Didn’t have much of a chance to play this week, so not sure if I’ll be able to finish it this weekend or not. I’ll also be playing the Pokemon Z-A DLC.
Comments 1,223
Re: Talking Point: Where's Your Nintendo Labo Now?
I never got into Labo for this very reason. I already had a bin full of Wii accessories I hardly touched (anyone remember Link’s crossbow and the shooting attachment that pretty much only worked with that game?). So I wasn’t about to buy into something else that needed accessories. Fun idea, but I figured it wouldn’t last long.
Re: Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Fails To Meets Sega's Expectations
I’m ordinarily a big Sonic fan, but I played the demo and it didn’t hook me at all, so I’ve just had this on the wishlist awaiting a sale. The reason I didn’t buy it is because I felt it didn’t offer anything new that made me want to buy it asap. The roster was nice, sure, but it still felt like every other kart racer. Combine that with how it released so close to Mario Kart World and it doesn’t surprise me that the general public didn’t go crazy for this game as the Sega execs hoped.
Also, all the DLC scared me off and I wouldn’t be surprised if other people felt the same. It makes a $70 game into a $90 one. From what I’ve seen, the DLC is also a bit lackluster because it lacks voice acting. SpongeBob or the Ninja Turtles aren’t quite as enticing when they feel like shells of themselves.
Re: UK Retailer GAME Closes All Standalone Stores As It Enters Administration
Feels like they’re a few years ahead of GameStop here in the states…
Re: Pokémon Pokopia Switch 2 Pre-Order Bonus Revealed (North America)
This is so bizarre to me. I can’t think of a more underwhelming preorder bonus lol. It’s just… a plant. Not a themed one. Not a special one. Just a single plant…
Would this motivate anyone to preorder who wasn’t already going to?
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (31st January)
I’m still working through Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. It’s taking me awhile because I’m trying to clear as much of the map as possible before continuing the story. Having a blast tonight. In addition to that, I’ll also pop into Animal Crossing a few times.
Re: Disney Afternoon Collection Pops Up On Switch 1 & 2 eShop, Includes Two Additional Games
Wait, Goof Troop!?!?!?!?!?!? I’m in lol
Re: Ren & Stimpy Are Getting A 7-Game Retro Collection, Courtesy Of Limited Run
I was not aware Ren and Stimpy had so many video games. Might be worth checking out sometime.
Re: Ubisoft Increases 'Just Dance' Subscription Prices In The Wake Of Restructuring & Cuts
I was not aware Just Dance had a subscription system. I assumed it was dlc, so this revelation is blowing my mind.
Re: Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment Surpasses 1 Million Copies Sold
Glad to hear it. I’ve been getting into this game myself recently and it’s a lot of fun. There’s a good gameplay loop and the Zonai devices add an interesting element to differentiate it from past games.
Re: Super Mario Galaxy Movie's New Trailer Shares A "First Look" At Yoshi
He’s adorable. It’s Yoshi time!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (24th January)
Still in the animal crossing mode. Also been hopping between Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment. It’s cold here in the states and a good day to stay indoors, so I’m sure I’ll be diving into more games than that this weekend.
Re: The Next 'Super Mario Galaxy Movie' Nintendo Direct Arrives Sunday, 25th January
I want to see Yoshi!
Re: The Studio Behind The Sonic Boom Games On 3DS Has Been Shut Down
The shame of it all is that the 3DS games, especially Fire & Ice, were pretty good, but the disaster of a Wii U game hurt the entire brand.
Re: Talking Point: Metroid Prime 4 And The Burden Of Being 'Good Enough'
I thoroughly enjoyed Prime 4. I don’t know why saying that is such a controversial opinion around here lol. Hoping for perfection is really the enemy of enjoyment with gaming. Not everything is going to be a GOTY candidate. You can still enjoy playing something that’s “just” good.
Re: Random: Disney's Terrible DS Game 'Cory In The House' Is Now Selling For Hundreds Of Dollars On eBay
The meme that won’t die. I suppose many of us were fools for passing that game up years ago. Who knew the clearance section staple of 2008 would be a prized possession in 2026?
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (17th January)
Like many of us, I’m sure, I’ll be getting back into Animal Crossing New Horizons. I’ve also had time this week to start really getting into Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment. And I’m still working through Hades 2, so I’ll probably squeeze a few runs in on that as well.
Happy gaming everyone!
Re: Opinion: I'm Happy amiibo Survived The Console Jump, But These Unlocks Are Getting Silly
I know hardly anyone played it and it became a meme game, but Chibi-Robo! Zip-Lash on 3DS had one of the more involved uses of amiibo. Using it unlocked a capsule machine where you could win collectible figures. You could also level up the amiibo by scanning it after levels and this would get you better items from the machine. Gacha at its finest. Probably the one game where I remember keeping my amiibo nearby at all times haha
Re: Opinion: I'm Happy amiibo Survived The Console Jump, But These Unlocks Are Getting Silly
@Vyacheslav333 shovel knight was odd. The three pack with King and the others offered very little. But Shovel Knight himself offered a lot more with “Custom Knight” where you could level up and unlock exclusive power ups and stuff. I had a lot of fun with him and it’s a shame the other three didn’t have anything similar.
Re: Opinion: I'm Happy amiibo Survived The Console Jump, But These Unlocks Are Getting Silly
I was an avid amiibo collector until the prices jumped to something I can no longer justify. The only amiibo I bought in 2026 was Donkey Kong with Pauline just because I’m such a huge DK fan (Functionality on that one could have been better).
In the past, I excused minimal functionality because I was mainly just collecting figures. But at $30+ a pop, they need to offer more. So far I’ve been content to use my old figures when I can and haven’t felt compelled to buy new ones for games like Metroid or Kirby Air Riders. Maybe some groundbreaking feature will come along to convince me to get back into it, but I’m not holding my breath.
Re: Sonic The Hedgehog Kicks Off 35th Anniversary Celebrations In Style
Little concerned there wasn’t “game announcement” mentioned specifically, but here’s hoping! I’d settle for some kind of collection or remake (Sonic Adventure 1&2 anyone?)
Re: Review: Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition - A Cheap Upgrade, But Lacking Substance
It may only be $5, but it’s an easy pass for me. I only play AC on handheld and I’m not picky about resolution, so it just doesn’t seem worth it for me. I’m glad the bulk of new content was free
Re: Japanese Charts: Nintendo's Dominance Continues As Switch 2 Flies Past 4 Million Units Sold
I’ll be very curious to see how much Animal Crossing rises. You’d think majority of people would already have it. But maybe I’m wrong and this game overtakes Mario Kart next week?
Re: Sega Is Adding Playable Bandai Namco Game Gear Titles To Yakuza Kiwami 3
I am going to be addicted to this game. Can’t wait.
Re: Animal Crossing: New Horizons Version 3.0.0 Patch Notes - Switch 2 And Switch New Content, Features And More
Resetti is back. That’s all that matters.
Re: Boom! The Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 Update Is Now Available
@LoroTalby Feels like the difference between Minecraft survival and creative modes. Good for those who just want to design.
Re: Boom! The Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 Update Is Now Available
Good excuse to get back into it (I only felt mildly guilty when my villagers told me it’s been 4 years…)
The hotel is nice so far. Reminds me of Happy Home (I never played the Switch DLC, but the 3DS game). And of course, it’s nice to see the legend Resetti return. Been too long!
Re: Feature: Nintendo Switch Year In Review 2025 - Our Most Played Games
I’m in a similar boat to Jim. Those old games stack up! My most played was Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection. I didn’t expect it, but those short play sessions add up. Playing an hour here and there throughout the year whenever I wanted a quick card game cumulated more than a couple weeks of intense DK gaming.
Re: Nintendo Switch 2025 'Year In Review' Is Available Now
Oh, we’re all doing our top 3, huh? Well, mine were
1. Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection
2. Pokemon Legends Z-A
3. Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
Little surprised DK Bananza didn’t make it in the top 3, but it and Mario Kart were runners up.
Re: Nintendo Switch 2025 'Year In Review' Is Available Now
Quite the exhaustive look at your gaming history there. Fun scroll through memory lane!
Re: Pokémon Lego Sets Are Already Being Sold On eBay For Stupid Money
Lego constantly restocks standard sets until they’re retired. You’re a fool to buy one of these from a reseller.
Re: LEGO Pokémon Reveals First Sets, Launches February 2026
One look at those prices and I’m out lol
Re: GameStop Kicks Off 2026 By Reportedly Shutting "Hundreds" Of Stores
I don’t even know if my local stores have closed because I sadly do not frequent them as much as I used to. Once they moved away from carrying old games (and cut back on the stock of current games), I had no reason to pop in anymore. It’s unfortunate for so many stores to close, but I have a feeling this was a long time coming.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (10th January)
I’ve been on a roll with Hades 2 lately, so I think I’ll keep thst goin this weekend.
Re: Poll: So, Now The Dust Has Settled, How Did You Find Myles MacKenzie?
@the_beaver I had a similar completion time myself. I did go for 100% completion, though. I’d say 18-20 hours is the “taking our time” length haha
Re: Poll: So, Now The Dust Has Settled, How Did You Find Myles MacKenzie?
I ended up liking the supporting cast myself. I was never a huge fan of how lonely early Metroid games felt. It was nice to have a few NPCs chime in every now and then.
For Myles specifically, he really wasn’t involved much to become annoying. He only gave you unsolicited hints in the desert. In the actual levels themselves, he was pretty much silent. And when you did need to interact with him to install an upgrade, the scenes were short and didn’t overstay their welcome. So yes, despite my reservations, I ended up liking Myles and all the NPCs.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (3rd January)
I finally finished Metroid 4, so I won’t be saying that for once! This weekend, I’ll be playing Hades 2, Kirby Air Riders, and some Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.
Re: Editorial: Happy New Year From Nintendo Life
Here’s to another year of gaming, nintendo lifers!
Re: McDonald's Has Another TCG Promo In The Works For Pokémon's 30th Anniversary
The last Pokemon Happy Meal promotion in the U.S. was fine. The cards were always in stock and no one was scalping them. The Japan situation was a different case because it was a more limited item, but standard Happy Meal toys tend to be fairly plentiful and easy to obtain.
Re: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond: How To Beat Varmis
Had to look this one up because I thought I was missing something to make it go faster, but nope. This was a bit of a slog.
Re: Arcade Archives Celebrates 500 Retro Releases With Special Commemorative Game
$7.99 for Space Invaders???? I respect what Hamster does, giving old games a second life, but that price is pretty steep for a game like that, imo.
Re: Here Are Japan's Best-Selling Switch and Switch 2 eShop Games For 2025
The top 4 were what I expected, but not necessarily in the order I expected. I thought (more like hoped) DK would be higher haha
Re: "This Just Didn't Fit Into My Gaming Lifestyle" - Hideki Kamiya Isn't Happy About Switch 2's Lack Of A D-Pad
Somehow it never occurred to me until now that there wasn’t a d-pad.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (27th December)
Ho Ho Ho, ya filthy animals! I have a packed weekend. Still chipping away at Metroid 4, I also picked up Hades 2 in the sale, and Santa brought me Kirby Air Riders and the latest Hyrule Warriors. Phew. What am I still doing here? I better get gaming!
Re: Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds NiGHTS DLC Pack Launches For Free This Week
@Mgalens Agreed. Ports would go a long way too. Capcom is very good at this with all their various collections. Darkstalkers is a good example. It hasn’t had a new game in ages, but it’s been ported so those characters are still around for modern audiences. But NiGHTS? I doubt anyone younger than a millennial has any sort of connection to those characters.
Re: Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds NiGHTS DLC Pack Launches For Free This Week
It’s wild to me how Sega will keep characters like these around despite the fact there hasn’t been a new entry in the series for well over a decade. Here’s hoping that changes, right?
Re: Switch 2's Mario Kart World Bundle Has Apparently Reached The End Of Its Lifecycle
Pretty sure they said it was only a temporary bundle, so not surprised it’ll end after the holiday season. I’m sure some new bundle will replace it in 2026.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (20th December)
Still working through Metroid 4 and the Pokemon Z-A dlc
Re: Fire Emblem Shadows Makes Metacritic's "Worst Games Of 2025" List
Legitimately forgot about that game. It truly was awful, though, even by mobile game standards
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (13th December)
I’ll be playing Metroid Prime 4. Didn’t have much of a chance to play this week, so not sure if I’ll be able to finish it this weekend or not. I’ll also be playing the Pokemon Z-A DLC.
Re: Kirby Air Riders Dev Team Disbanding Soon, Game Updates Also Ending
I mean, this is what people want, right? Get the whole game with one purchase. If the team feels the game is complete, that’s good enough for me.