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It’s increasingly a case of what the kids are playing this weekend, no doubt some Minecraft which is ever present, also Just Dance, Lego Star Wars and Princess Peach Showtime waiting in the wings.

For me it’s probably some more F-Zero X, been trying out the 8bitdo 64 controller with the Analogue 3D - it does a good job of emulating the original Rumble Pak. Last night there was a race in the X Cup where all 29 competing racers crashed out!

Looking ahead I’m excited to play some Virtual Boy via Switch Online next month, the trailer this past week looked encouraging and the unreleased F-Zero title is an intriguing prospect. Happy gaming all!

This past week I’ve been playing Tetris on the Game Boy Pocket I picked up last year, gradually inching towards better high scores and realised there are some cool little endings for beating certain challenges on the higher levels. It’ll be good to play some more of that this weekend, I also have Tetris 99 and the Tetris Forever collection I keep meaning to dip into so may find time for those too. Happy gaming all!

Congratulations Alana that’s wonderful news, I have fond memories of playing New Horizons with my daughter back during lockdown, probably my earliest gaming memory with the kids. It’s a great series to get started in, my son hasn’t played it as much but I think he would enjoy digging holes everywhere given a chance!

The replay of Skyrim continues, currently on Solstheim island from one of the game’s DLCs (or “expansions” as we used to call them back in the day). I’ve crafted ebony armour and Daedric weapons and getting close to being able to craft Dragonbone armour which would be a first for me despite all the hours played in this game.

Shout out to the zoom mode on Switch which I only discovered recently after 8+ years of playing! Actually really helps with reading books and other text in Skyrim, which all comes in a tiny font. Perhaps I will get round to playing one or two other games I’d put off previously due to the same issue. Happy gaming all!

Mostly played:
1. Zelda Echoes of Wisdom (probably the only big new game I played and it was great)
2. Minecraft (although a lot of that was the kids)
3. Skyrim (mostly the fishing quest)
4. Bonfire Peaks (replayed it and tried the new DLC, got stuck many times)
5. Cosmic Express (another classic puzzle game)

While I replayed a lot of games this year I had new hardware in the Switch Lite Hyrule Edition which made it a special year for Switch gaming!

Skyrim again for me, playing on the Switch Lite and on my third main playthrough - each one about 5 years apart having played on PC and my original Switch. So lots to rediscover, while also appreciating the crafting mechanics more this time round, enchanting and crafting heavy armour for the most part. Takes a while to get going with these mechanics but have started to turn out some pretty cool items.

I have a bunch of amiibo and this is one of the few games I own where they’re kind of useful, mainly for generating random loot, but amusingly I’ve found you can block enemies behind the summoned treasure chests too!

Outside of that I’ve been meaning to dig out the Game Boy Pocket again, even if just to play a few rounds of Tetris. Happy gaming all!

More Skyrim on the Switch Lite for me, completed it twice before so been following a few tangents, seeking out Dwemer ruins and cool waterfalls. Even with the graphically pared back settings it’s still a bleakly beautiful world to explore, with some occasional amusing bugs like levitating horses! Happy new year gaming all.

At end of 2024 I got the gold Zelda-themed Switch Lite which is a beautiful version of a great console, completing the set of launch day OG, OLED and Lite! Mainly the kids have been using the OLED recently (Minecraft especially) and I’ve been playing indie/puzzle games on the Lite while delving into quite a large back catalogue - currently replaying Skyrim. No firm plans to get a Switch 2 but will monitor with interest, in the meantime I can easily see getting to 10+ years of gaming on Switch 1!

Cool release to mark 500, hope they can make it to 1000!

No new games for Christmas so I’ve been revisiting some older ones. Just beat the Joker Cup on Expert difficulty in F-Zero X to reach the end credits which I’d never seen before. Lots to dig into on the N64 side but currently engrossed in a replay of Skyrim - tracking down the Dwemer ruins as part of the Aetherium quest has been fun and involved some genuine exploration beyond following map markers. Happy festive gaming all!

It’s been F-Zero X all week for me, playing on the Analogue 3D with my original blue N64 controller and rumble pak. The X Cup just keeps delivering fun randomised tracks, one earlier in the week saw 26 of 30 racers crash out which was pretty crazy.

Going to squeeze in some more time playing this one before Christmas commitments take over next week. Shout out to the Nintendo Music App for having music tracks from the 64DD expansion - was cool hearing these for the first time.

Also all the negative coverage of Skyrim on Switch 2 has me interested to revisit it on Switch 1 if there’s time. Happy gaming all!

Video was good, highlighted some nice visual upgrades alongside some glaring issues. Went straight onto watching their Switch 1 vs PS4 video from 8 years ago which was much more positive. Not got a Switch 2 yet anyway but tempted to revisit Skyrim on the original now!

This week I’ve been trying out lots of different N64 games briefly on the Analogue 3D and then going back to mainly playing F-Zero X. Still one of the best games ever! So likely some more of that this weekend, including trying to beat race times I set 27 years ago. Happy gaming all!

The Analogue 3D finally arrived over a year after preordering it, hooked it up this evening to play some F-Zero and Pilotwings and thoroughly enjoyed it. Was very sad to hear Nick Thorpe of Retro Gamer magazine passed away this week, a great writer and inspiration so will be thinking of him as I play some retro games this weekend.

The Analogue 3D was going to arrive on Friday, now delayed to Monday (thanks FedEx) so will be pursuing other ventures this weekend. Demo for Lok Digital has landed on Switch recently so that’ll be more puzzle goodness from Draknek & Friends. Hopefully they will port Spooky Express too in the near future. Happy gaming all!

Biding my time until Analogue 3D preorder arrives, and lots to do this weekend so probably just some more easy to pick up and play games - keen to do some more Tetris Forever after starting off with a bit of Hatris. Happy gaming all!

Think I’m close to finishing Tiny Lands 2 which has been excellent, hoping this will receive DLC like the first game. Next up I’m aiming to try the Octopath Traveler 0 demo which may lead me to the full game and another time sponge… Happy gaming all!

Ah cool I’ll look to give this a go on Switch 1, I bounced off the demo for the second game but enjoyed the first and it’s been sufficiently long since then to try turn-based battles again!

This weekend I’ll be back on Switch playing Tiny Lands 2 which has just released. It’s a great spot the difference game with lots of 3d dioramas to explore, some nice enhancements from the first game and was really pleased to see it come out on Switch as I’ve effectively retired my Windows 10 PC now. Happy gaming all!

Some more AAA gaming for me this weekend as I’ll be inserting the AAA batteries into my Gameboy Pocket… (tumbleweed rolls past)… on that note I’ll be trying to beat Alleyway again and no doubt failing on the later levels. Also picked up the first Super Mario Land last weekend which is quite quirky and has some fun scrolling shooter levels. Happy gaming all!

I love the idea of Limited Run but sometimes their implementation isn’t great from what I’ve seen. Bought their Switch release of Dark Forces recently and while the inclusion of a manual was cool the printing on the box seemed a bit low quality so mixed feelings on this release. Would still consider buying more as they cover some pretty cool titles, just a shame about the cost of buying from the UK!

Interested in Ball X Pit as I’ve been playing a few Breakout-style games recently including Alleyway on original Gameboy. But just picked up a copy of Tetris Forever this weekend so hoping to dig into that first and also playing Spooky Express (ace Halloween-themed puzzle game with trains) over on Steam. Happy gaming all!

In early days of Switch Online I tried out quite a few NES titles, was my first time playing them - it was very much Sega in the UK growing up and I recall only one family friend had a NES. Original Super Mario Bros and Zelda are still great to play now though, overall NES games can be pretty challenging compared to a lot of modern fare so it's nice to have rewind and save states!

Read a few bits this past week about Atari and that’s sent me back to the Atari 50 collection on Switch. Very different and much of it before my time but I’m enjoying digging into various games - hoping to play some more Breakout and Dark Chambers this weekend. Also reached the final level of Super Mario Land 2 on my Gameboy Pocket, finding it quite challenging so will likely be grinding easier levels for coins and 1UPs before I try again. Happy gaming all!

Switch OLED still best console then 🙂

Great shout from Nile about Blippo, thought that was only on Playdate but chance to watch in colour on Switch sounds cool!

Playing Super Mario Land 2 on Gameboy Pocket which has been a good challenge so far. Impressed how much can be achieved running on two AAA batteries! Also nearing the finale of Patrick’s Parabox which has been great, been on a good run of puzzle games this year.

My Gameboy Pocket arrived during the week and just received Super Mario Land 2 as an anniversary gift so will be playing that and a bit more Tetris. Also playing Patrick’s Paradox on Switch Lite, ace puzzle game and I’ve bought the soundtrack too. Happy gaming all!

@Flashlink99 thanks maybe I’ll hang on to it then, could perhaps just get Galaxy 2 on digital as doesn’t feel great paying full whack for Galaxy 1 again. Must admit I’ve still not got into Mario Sunshine so maybe another try is warranted.

Galaxy was great in 3d all stars, definitely the highlight of that compilation and I already own Mario 64 on original cartridge. Therefore pondering whether to flog 3d all stars and get the galaxy collection which would balance out the cost! Glad this looks to be a solid remaster.

Playing NES Tetris on my Switch Lite. Also I’ve ordered a Gameboy Pocket (with Tetris) which I’ll hopefully be playing next weekend!

Meanwhile continuing to chip away at The Skywalker Saga with the kids (we’ll be glad to leave Jar Jar behind once we finish the prequel episodes).

Adventures of Elliot is one of the few games that currently makes me think of getting a Switch 2, would love to try the demo.

Also mobile games can be good so not writing off Octopath 0 yet. I’ve played various mobile games adapted for Switch (like Apple Arcade games for example) and they often suit the system really well.

The whole thing is a bit daft but yes will be getting the replica day one, have preordered. Just looks like a chance to try something quite different and the games do look interesting too - I’ve never had problems with motion sickness or stuff like that when using headsets but there’s a first time for everything! Admittedly only did short play sessions on Labo VR so would imagine doing the same here. The NSO subscription part does detract somewhat and hopefully they don’t drip feed the games over a very long period, overall though I’m still excited to try this.

Split screen Minecraft again, which is popular with the kids. Not tried 4 players yet but will be fun to see how much it chugs on Switch 1!

Most of my solo gaming has been on the Playdate recently, have been digging back into Season 1 games - B360 was a great (and challenging) Breakout-style game I finished during the week.

Been playing a lot of puzzle games this year, but putting off starting Lorelei & The Laser Eyes as I know it’ll be good but super challenging! Will aim to make a start on that and maybe some more Patrick’s Parabox too (continuing the mind-bending puzzle theme). Happy gaming all!

I’m looking forward to trying this, may be one for shorter play sessions like Labo VR but appreciate the chance to try something quite new (as in not experienced before). Not much else in the Direct was exciting for me (maybe if I had a Switch 2) but this was cool and unexpected.

Played some Forsaken on N64 app during the week and after the controls clicked it was a good time so may dip into that again. Also more Lego Skywalker Saga with the kids. Happy gaming all!

I’m in between games so this comes at a good time, been interested to play this one for a long time and had considered getting the original cart recently so will try this first. Seem to recall the N64 version had different levels from the original PC version, which presumably relates in part to console/cartridge limitations at the time, but I rather like this aspect of console ports from back in the day.

Visiting relatives this morning so the kids have been playing Mario Party Jamboree - lots more to do in this one compared to original game on Switch, so no doubt they’ll be wanting it at home too. Lots of indie goodness landed on Switch recently but have been sidetracked by playing Zelda-like Ratcheteer on Playdate, one of the deepest games I’ve played on that system so far. Happy gaming all!

Taken the Switch on holiday again, will probably be playing some more Minecraft with the kids. Also packed the Playdate, hoping to continue playing Ratcheteer which is a great game in old school Zelda vein. Happy gaming weekend all!

Roadwarden looks good, been meaning to play it for a while so Switch port looks like a great opportunity to do just that, subject to checking the font size is big enough…

That is one beautiful looking game, played the first one on release and this reminds me how immersive and engaging the game world was. It was super hard though!

Great sounds in that trailer too.

Working through the final section of Is This Seat Taken?, which does ramp up a bit in difficulty in the later sections. Currently on holiday with the kids so we’ve also been playing Minecraft and the Skywalker Saga in tabletop mode on the Switch OLED.

This looks great, I’m keen to try the platform cross-play with a PC gaming friend soon (worked well for Doom so fingers crossed the same applies here). Hexen is one I’ve been interested to play for a long time and the gameplay tweaks sound like they’ll help a lot as my navigation is as bad in games as in real life!

Spot on review I think, a very solid 7 out of 10 and cool to see this doing well after featuring in the Indie Direct and getting a launch day release on Switch. I’m about halfway through and enjoying it a lot, there’s definitely some more challenge in the later levels but the trial and error part isn’t much of a detractor for me.

Nice to see Switch 1 back in the spotlight a bit with the recent Directs. The Indie one was great - already playing Is This Seat Taken? (which is excellent) and may go for UFO 50 and a few others. Will also be downloading the Heretic+Hexen remaster this weekend when I get a chance. Happy gaming all!