Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game races to the Nintendo Switch console with more characters, karts and tracks unlocked from the start than any other game in Mario Kart history. The anti-gravity racing game is the definitive version of Mario Kart 8 and includes a revamped Battle Mode that players of all ages can enjoy together.* Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will be available on April 28.
Puyo Puyo Tetris – Two puzzle game juggernauts collide as Tetris, one of the best-selling and most-recognized brands in gaming history, and Puyo Puyo from SEGA have combined to create a fun-to-play, fast-paced, competitive party game like no other. The game offers tons of game-play styles – from single-player Adventure and Challenge modes to ferocious competition with Arcade modes up to four players** – for tons of Tetris/Puyo Puyo variety. A free demo for the game is also available in Nintendo eShop
Also New this Week
TumbleSeed (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 2
Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap – The cult classic returns with a unique blend of exploration, action, and adventure! Boasting beautiful, hand-drawn animations and a re-orchestrated soundtrack, the cult classic returns with a unique blend of exploration, action, and adventure!
Cursed into a half-human, half-lizard monstrosity by the Meka-Dragon, you are in search for a cure! The only way you can return to human form is to find the Salamander Cross, a magical item with the power to remove curses…
With each dragon slain, the curse intensifies, transforming you into different animals! Explore large, interconnected locations populated with grumpy monsters and exotic dragons!
Play as the game’s classic character, Hu-Man, or as his brand-new, long-awaited co-star Hu-Girl. You can also inhabit Lizard-Man, Mouse-Man, Piranha-Man, Lion-Man, and Hawk-Man, and use their unique abilities to uncover the land’s deepest secrets.
Enjoy 3 difficulty levels catering to players of all types, and switch from modern graphics and sound to 8-bit graphics/audio at any time – even during gameplay!
The fine researchers over at the “squid research lab” have shared their latest findings about Splatoon 2 for the Nintendo Switch. The game will allow players to unlock new abilities linked to their clothing and even have the ability to “re-roll” these abilities if they don’t suit their playstyle.
Gear is split up into three different categories just like in the first game – headgear, footwear and clothing. Each piece of gear can have a number of different abilities available and these abilities will become unlocked by simply playing with the clothing equipped. While unlocking abilities will be a matter of playing Splatoon 2 with your favorite freshest threads, the Squid Research Lab did mention that in addition to returning abilities, a whole suite of new abilities will be included in the sequel.
A new NPC by the name of Murch will help players with their customized gear – by paying a small fee players can have the attached abilities removed from a piece of gear. Gear abilities that “fall off” will be placed in the player’s possession and once they’ve collected enough of them an near infinite amount of new combinations become available!
Splatoon 2 will be released for the Nintendo Switch on July 21st in North America.
“With the recent launch of Nintendo Switch and many fun games coming out for Nintendo 3DS, this is a great time to be a Nintendo fan,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “From action-packed multiplayer games to platformers starring classic characters, no matter your favorite video game genre, Nintendo has you covered.”
Nintendo revealed on Friday that the Nintendo Switch has sold faster in its launch month than any other video game system in Nintendo history.
The Nintendo Switch system sold more than 906,000 units in March, according to the NPD Group, which tracks video game sales in the United States.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild game sold over 1.3 million units, including physical sales in the United States as well as digital sales through the Nintendo eShop. That total also includes more than 925,000 units sold for Nintendo Switch and nearly 460,000 units sold for the Wii U console.
That means that Nintendo sold more copies of the game for the Nintendo Switch than it sold Nintendo Switch systems. An attach rate for a game of more than 100 percent is not bad at all. This may be attributed to people who purchased both a limited edition of the game to collect and a second version to play.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was the fastest-selling Nintendo launch game of all time, as well as the fastest-selling game ever in The Legend of Zelda series.
Mr. Shifty – Shift through bullets, and master lightning-fast takedowns in a new kind of action game from tinyBuild and Team Shifty. The Mr. Shifty game follows a teleportation-fueled heist to break into the world’s most secure facility – players will use distraction and trickery, and explore what’s possible when stealth and action become one.
The Jackbox Party Pack 3 – The threequel to the party-game phenomenon features FIVE new sense-shattering Jackbox games: Quiplash, Trivia Murder Party, Guesspionage, Tee K.O. and Fakin’ It. It’s a digital box full of actual fun!
Puyo Puyo Tetris – Demo Version – Two classic puzzle games face off in Puyo Puyo Tetris. The four-player puzzle mashup game is only a little more than a week away, launching in Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch on April 25.* For people that want to try before they buy, a free demo for the game is now available.
Developed by Saber Interactive, NBA Playgrounds is a new, high-flying, arcade-style basketball game. This classic 2-on-2 action experience will be available on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC (Steam) as a digital-only release in May 2017. The digital release is slated to eTail for $19.99 USD.
“Basketball is such a pick-up-and-play sport at heart – we really wanted to bring that spirit into gaming,” said Saber’s CEO, Matt Karch. “NBA Playgrounds has a lot of depth for pros who’ve mastered their game, but it’s accessible enough that anyone can jump in, have fun and feel competitive.“
All 30 NBA teams are featured in NBA Playgrounds, as well an extensive roster of current and retired NBA players that you can level up over time. The game can be played solo, with friends in local and online multiplayer, or against the world in online tournaments. There are hundreds of over-the-top dunks and moves to unleash for show-stopping displays of acrobatic skill on lively playgrounds across the globe.
LEGO CITY Undercover – In the LEGO CITY Undercover game, play as Chase McCain, a police officer who’s been tasked with going undercover to hunt down the notorious – and recently escaped – criminal Rex Fury and putting an end to his citywide crime wave. With two player co-op*, friends can explore a sprawling open-world metropolis, with more than 20 unique districts to investigate, car thieves to bust, hilarious movie references to discover, vehicles to drive and hundreds of collectibles. The LEGO CITY Undercover game brings together witty, original storytelling with signature LEGO humor to create a fun-filled experience for players of all ages to enjoy.
Graceful Explosion Machine – Skillfully pilot the Graceful Explosion Machine, a fighter ship armed with a ludicrously overpowered quad-weapon array. Lost in deep space, you’ll shoot, dash and combo your way through jewel-hued alien worlds, fighting crystalline enemies to find a way home.
Just Dance 2017 Demo – Dance on the Just Dance 2017 free demo. Grab your friends and family because it’s time to Dance. Bring your best moves to dance to Just Dance 2017 hits.
The Nintendo Switch has been the talk of the industry among developers and players alike for the past month or so but did you know that some of the minds behind the Super Smash Bros and Kirby franchises helped out with the hybrid tablets’ development?
HAL Laboratories recently shared an image of the 32 staff members who worked on the Nintendo Switch system software and development kits. HAL staffers were responsible for the implementation of the console’s web browser, the Mii library functionality as well as working on the Software Development Kit and game development environment used by developers.
Less than two weeks after the console launches two hackers were able to run unsigned code on a commercial Nintendo Switch tablet thanks to the Webkit browser used in places like the E-Shop. This exploit in particular takes advantage of the browser implementation that is used on the confirmation page of free Wifi hotspots such as those found in hotels or airports.
By being able to run unsigned code these two folks are able to get “Hello World” proof of concepts and other examples of the fledgling Nintendo Switch hacking scene. In the following YouTube video @LiveOverFlow gives a very technical step by step breakdown on how this particular exploit works. It turns out that the Nintendo Switch’s Webkit version is so old the same vulnerability was found in Apple’s iOS 9.
Brave Dungeon – Brave Dungeon is a dungeon crawling RPG adventure by indie games company INSIDE SYSTEM, creators of the Legend of Dark Witch series. Brave Dungeon features an easy to pick up combat system for new players. However, it also has many customization options, unique playable characters, and deep challenges for the completionist. A crafting system featuring materials dropped from enemies and treasure chests in dungeons allows you to customize your characters further. Class Changes allow the player to build their party the way they want, playing to one’s own personal preferences and their characters’ unique strengths.
Mario Sports Superstars – In the Mario Sports Superstars game for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, experience the challenge and depth of five full-on sports – Soccer, Tennis, Golf, Baseball and Horse Racing. Take on friends and rivals in local or online multiplayer, hone skills in training or tackle single-player tournaments. Whether you pick Mario, Waluigi or one of 16 others, you’re on the road to superstardom! (Additional games and systems are required for multiplayer mode; sold separately.)
There was something magical about going into an arcade in the 90s. Seeing the latest racing games all lined up with amazing graphics and blistering speed. It was just the sort of experience you couldn’t get at home on a console. As the years have gone on we’ve had games like that arrive in living rooms. FAST RMX has the visuals and the speed that really give you that rush of playing an arcade hit. It’s a futuristic joy ride with a few twists to keep things interesting.
You may not be familiar with the FAST series if you don’t poke around on the eShop much, but with FAST RMX being a launch title on the Switch, it definitely shines a spotlight on this gem. I personally hadn’t been aware of the series myself and my first experience was at a Nintendo Switch press event in January. Out of everything there it was one of my top games for the new system. Thankfully since then I’ve had the chance to try it out more and it really is a fantastic racing game!
First off, I was surprised this wasn’t a physical release. The Switch event left me so dazzled with FAST RMX’s beautiful graphics and a staggering 30 tracks, six of which are new since the previous Wii-U FAST title, I figured it must be an in store purchase. After contacting a few of our PR reps, and probably looking like a dork in the process, I learned it was surprisingly a download only eShop title. What’s more, it’s only $19.99 USD! Twenty bucks! Two racing modes, three cup circuits per mode, and ten championships cut up into three races each. Again, thirty tracks!
Even though FAST isn’t new, it’s gimmick fits in perfectly on the Switch. As you race around the track in an intense battle for first place, you can phase switch between two different colored afterburners, orange and blue. If you hit the same colored strips on the track, or even other things like beams pouring out of a hovering UFO, you get a speed boost. You can phase switch at the press of a button. Also along the track are colored orbs to collect. Those fill up your boost bar which lets you either tap for a short boost, or hold down the boost bumper to use a continuous flow of fuel.
The tracks are actually quite detailed and varied as well. So it’s not 30 tracks of similar content. In a way some of it feels like Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing, which is a fantastic thing. One track has you careening through a glass tunnel under the ocean at one point, another has you hovering between track sections while asteroids crash about in space, even others feel like racing through Jurassic Park in a rainstorm, just without the dinosaurs. There are other hazards however, like spider robot things, energy beams, spinning fan blades, and more! It’s not all uniform either. Some tracks don’t even have barriers on some sides and you can speed right off into the desert off-road to crash among the rocky rubble. Others still are cylinders you race along throughout the track. The variety is fantastic and for the admission price it’s ridiculous what you’re getting here in a VERY good way.
If the different circuits still aren’t enough of a challenge for you, there’s hero mode! This vicious setting lets you take on any singular track you want with a few requirements. To begin with, you need to come in first. Secondly, your boost is also your machine’s shield bar. So if you drain all your boost, you’re toast. Unlike championship mode, once you fail, the race is over.
The soundtrack is awesome as well. Somewhere between electronica and almost dubstep at times I’d say is where it falls. Destructoid even noted that there were almost 50 music tracks to the game! All that and thankfully the game is under a gig! It’s just 900 MB. A great racing game and it isn’t going to clog up the memory on your Switch!
The only down side I found was that using seperate JoyCon’s isn’t really a suitable way to try and play an intense racing game like FAST RMX. It can be done, and to do their credit Shin’en did a good job with the control scheme. However the tiny size just doesn’t work for it. I can see playing platformers and the like on the JoyCons but if you’re going to play FAST RMX multiplayer, you’ll probably just want a second controller. We tried out local multiplayer splitscreen and it was enjoyable. Just not too comfortable with the seperated JoyCon controllers.
As with all Nintendo Switch titles, FAST RMX is wonderful in handheld mode. The Switch’s screen is bright and vibrant and you feel absorbed right into the racing action in your hands. I enjoyed it this way, but I prefer FAST RMX on the big screen so I can take in more of the beautiful visuals Shin’en has put into these awesome tracks! But being able to take FAST RMX with you on the go is an excellent plus.
Fans of over the top sci-fi racing should definitely pick up this title! I’d love to see Shin’en Multimedia expand these games further with even more play models or maybe even mirrored track modes. It really does deserve to be much bigger than what it is. On the bright side, being a Nintendo Switch launch title may be just the publicity FAST RMX needs to bring it up into the AAA category. I’m not exaggerating, this game is solid. Your first few races you may smack off the walls like crazy but as you learn to use the triggers to slide around turns smoother and get used to the placement of color phase boost strips. If you have a Nintendo Switch, you should be playing FAST RMX. I know I love it!
The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ – The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ is a dungeon-crawling shoot-’em-up that’s a different game each and every time you play it. The randomly generated maps are built with more than 11,000 unique room configurations, each populated with a nearly endless variety of enemies, items, challenges and secrets.
Human Resource Machine – Human Resource Machine is a puzzle game for nerds. In each level, your boss gives you a job. Automate it by programming your little office worker. If you succeed, you’ll be promoted up to the next level for another year of work in the vast office building.
Little Inferno – Multiple nominee in the Independent Games Festival for the Grand Prize, Nuovo Award, and Technical Excellence, with honorable mentions in Best Design and Best Audio. Little Inferno is an adventure game that takes place almost entirely in front of a fireplace – about looking up up up out of the chimney, and the cold world just on the other side of the wall.
World of Goo – World of Goo is a physics-based puzzle/construction game. The millions of Goo Balls who live in the beautiful World of Goo don’t know that they are in a game, or that they are extremely delicious. Read More
Nintendo may very well on its way to accomplishing its goal of selling 2 million switch consoles by the end of this month. Analyst firm Super Data, as reported by GamesInduistry.biz, has revealed that they expect that Ninty has sold approximately 1,500,000 consoles since the Switch’s launch on March 3rd.
According to launch week numbers worldwide distribution of Nintendo Switch consoles look a little something like this:
North America – 500,000
Japan – 360,000
France – 110,000
UK – 85,000
These numbers of course paint an incomplete picture as they only include four regions where the Switch is available and are at least a week out of date now. The actual sales numbers may be closer to Nintendo’s initial goal. For comparison’s sake the Wii sold over 600,000 units in North America in its first week and over 400,000 consoles in Japan when it launched back in 2006. When the Wii U launched in 2012 it didn’t quite match the massive success of the Wii’s numbers but the initial worldwide allotments did sell out. In terms of the three territories Wii U sold 400,000 in North America, 600,000 in Japan and only 40,000 in the United Kingdom during its first week of availability.
Certainly it is easy to call Switch’s early success the biggest thing to happen to Nintendo since the Wii’s heyday, but I wouldn’t call the current general availability of Switch a shortage, as others have done. Nintendo was very clear during the launch line-up reveal in January their target was to ship 2 million units by the end of March with more following throughout the spring.
Locally, here in Calgary AB there hasn’t been a Switch to be found since launch week. After several days of scouting several Best Buys, EB Games (in America they’re GameStop) and other smaller stores it is clear that once the initial launch day stock was depleted Nintendo has only sent a handful of units (in some cases literally less than 5) to local retailers.
So if you’re looking for a Nintendo Switch where do you go? Here are some examples of regional pricing for the Switch on local classifieds in major Canadian cities:
Calgary AB – Hovering around $480 CDN on Kijiji
Vancouver BC is quite a bit higher sitting around $560 CDN but some as high as $900!
Toronto ON – $525 CDN – to as high as $700
The best advice is probably to hold out a couple of weeks until Nintendo begins to ship more units to stores. Consoles are available on third party sellers but with mark-ups as high as 25% – 50% and the platform’s top selling title, The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, available on the Wii U it is certainly easier for avid Nintendo fans like myself to hang on just a little bit longer.
I remember when the Wii was first released I couldn’t find one for seven months post-release and when I did find one I immediately traded in my PSP + its entire library just to play Trauma Centre Wii and Metroid Prime 3 – Wiigrets there. Did you manage to snag a launch Switch? What are your impressions of it? Let me know in the comments section.
Snipperclips – Cut it out, together! –Free Demo Version – Laugh-out-loud couch co-op, now with a free demo! In this action-puzzle game, paper pals Snip and Clip must cut each other up to overcome tricky obstacles… or just to laugh their heads off (sometimes literally). Partner up with friends or family to cut the heroes into the right shapes, interact with objects and solve a world of imaginative puzzles. Visit Nintendo eShop on your Nintendo Switch console to download a free demo of this game today! (Additional accessories may be required for multiplayer mode; sold separately.)
Blaster Master Zero – Blaster Master Zero is an 8-bit-style action-adventure game that hearkens back to the golden age of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Using the original 1988 NES game Blaster Master from Sunsoft as a base, the new game introduces new areas and bosses, new gameplay elements such as extra sub-weapons, improved gameplay, a more robust scenario and expanded exploration mechanics.
