Category: Nintendo

Bandai Namco’s Gundam model kits are really versatile, and you can do a lot of things on your own with them. So, say you get any of them from a place like Amazon or Big Bad Toy Store, there will always be a default color that matches units from anime series. You can then do what you want. But from time to time, there will be variants that give an option of a different style without all the painting and extra work on the part of the person building it. I sort of feel like that’s part of the goal…

Image via Idea Factory International There are times when Ariana and the Elder Codex can feel like a fun Metroidvania. We get to customize our Librarian’s magical loadouts, after all. That lets us set up combos how we’d like. It also looks pretty good, and the combat system is generally solid. However, it’s not innovative in any way, and the story is pretty clearly telegraphed. It’s one of those adventures that ends up feeling fun enough, and I think someone who’s relatively new to the genre might find it a helpful way to build skills. But more experienced players familiar…

Tales of Berseria Remastered is a very interesting game in that it feels less like a remaster and more like a straight port—less an indictment of D.A.G. Inc. and more a testament to the stylistic anime art direction of the original game. While this remaster makes the game more available to a wider audience, it’s unfortunate that it does not give the option to see the story as it was originally intended, regardless of the version you play. Before we begin, I would like to state a disclaimer. I like Tales of Berseria a lot. If I had to list…

When Nintendo discussed Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream in its dedicated Direct, it brought up some of the ways in which we’ll get to customize this new experience via elements like face paint and Quik Build. Which makes sense, given that’s been such a major feature in all games in the series. They’ve always been about creating characters, watching their lives, and influencing their appearances, actions, and relationships. After getting a chance to spend a few hours actually playing the game, setting up an island home, and shaping some Miis lives, I feel like there’s so much more than we…

While we see quite a few Voltage otome games appearing on other platforms, primarily the Switch, the company started with mobile titles. These tended to roll out in chapter-based releases, with new characters gradually added. Court of Darkness: Temptation’s Kiss is one of those otome titles that started out as a Love 365 app release, and it’s one that’s gradually grown with additional “books” and love interests like Rio Voleri. Now that it’s on the Switch, it’s a great move for preservation purposes, but is an incomplete port that doesn’t go past Book 2 or offer all the prince or…

If a game can put you in a good headspace, that’s great. I love that. If it can do so while also challenging me to think critically, even better. Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime, the latest from Bonte Avond, stars charming characters, features incredible songs, challenges us with the Checkers-like Frogtime battles, and just makes whoever’s playing it feel good. It’s a lovely way to spend a few hours every day for a week, with the strategic element making it feel quite replayable. Bonnie Bear had a rough year, so much so that she wasn’t even going to celebrate her birthday,…

On this week’s All Things Nintendo, we’ve got a super-sized episode for you! Brian is joined by the Video Game History Foundation’s Kelsey Lewin to talk about the historical significance of several games that celebrated milestone anniversaries in 2021. The two also chat about Kelsey’s work with the Foundation, as well as what it’s like running the oldest retro game shop in Seattle. Following that discussion, Brian is joined by Game Informer video editor Alex Stadnik to react to The Game Awards. If you’d like to follow the people from this episode on Twitter, hit the following links: Brian Shea (@brianpshea),…

Nintendo’s new 22.0.0 firmware update for the Switch 2 added a new Handheld Mode Boost feature for the backwards compatible Switch games as part of its multiple features. However, it is not turned on by default on the console. We must enable it after the update, and Nintendo warned that opting into it may change how some games work. The Handheld Mode Boost on the Switch 2 would force the original Switch games to run in TV mode on the new console, even if you are in handheld mode. As a result, the frame rate and resolution would be higher…

This week on All Things Nintendo, Brian is joined by Game Informer community member Nolan Filter to talk about the Mario series’ evolution. After discussing the new Christmas movie, 8-Bit Christmas on HBO Max, and running down all the latest Nintendo-related news, Brian chats with Nolan about his grad-school research paper on the evolution of Mario’s gameplay mechanics and about what they would like to see from Nintendo’s flagship franchise in the future. If you’d like to follow the people from this episode on Twitter, hit the following links: Brian Shea (@brianpshea), Nolan Filter (@NolanFilter), Nolan’s upcoming game, Silly Seance (@SillySeance) The All Things Nintendo podcast is a…

With 2021 officially in the rear-view mirror, this week’s episode of All Things Nintendo is all about looking ahead to 2022. With the upcoming year looking extremely stacked, Brian invites Game Informer creative director Jeff Akervik to talk about the biggest games scheduled to arrive on Switch in 2022. If you’d like to follow the people from this episode on Twitter, hit the following links: Brian Shea (@brianpshea), Jeff Akervik (@JeffAkervik) The All Things Nintendo podcast is a weekly show where we can celebrate, discuss, and break down all the latest games, news, and announcements from the industry’s most recognizable name. Each week,…