switch

Dark Souls Remastered trailer for Nintendo Switch released

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Dark Souls Remastered trailer for Nintendo Switch released 1

Dark Souls Remastered for the Nintendo Switch is coming. And guess what? It’s gonna be a relaxing game. Heh.

Nintendo has released a new trailer showing off the new game before it’s launch next month on the Switch. The trailer shows off some of the classic ARPG action we’ve all grown to adore (and hate) about the Dark Souls series with a humorous tale of “keeping calm” while trying to reduce the urge to rage quit and toss your handheld across the room:

https://youtu.be/9sjv8es_gv0

The Switch edition will be a remastered edition of Dark Souls which was released earlier in 2018 on consoles and PC. The Switch version has been delayed just before its launch to later this year. Even with the delay, the game is still planned and confirmed with only a few weeks away from its release next month.

Finally, Nintendo fans will get to be able to experience the meditative and relaxing gameplay that is Dark Souls!

Switch owners will get some goodies like being able to use a new amiibo figure based on Solaire of Astora.

Dark Souls Remastered will release on October 19th for the Nintendo Switch. It’s currently available for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Nintendo Switch Online goes live tonight. But, maintenance first.

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Nintendo Switch Online goes live tonight. But, maintenance first. 2

Nintendo Switch Online will finally go live tonight- the 18th of September. After many long waits and a much-overdue service, players will be able to upload their game saves to the cloud, play classic NES titles, and finally- play games online. With some exceptions, of course.

Nintendo’s official date for the launch of Nintendo Switch Online is today, however, it won’t go live until about three hours of Nintendo eShop maintenance. Just the final frontier before the service goes live to the public. A post on their support site says that the eShop maintenance will take place from 5 PM to 8 PM PST.

Afterward, players can then purchase membership plans from the eShop or Nintendo’s site. MyNintendo Gold Coins can be used to make a purchase for both the Individual and Family membership subscriptions.

You can check out a full list of features that Switch Online will offer here. One thing worth mentioning is that Nintendo cloud saves won’t be compatible with all games. This means some games will continue to be saved locally on your console.

Pricing starts at $3.99 a month, $7.99 for three months, $19.99 for a year, or $34.99 for a plan that covers between 2-7 people (Family Plan). There will also be a free trial that lasts one week for players who want to try it out before making the purchase.

Nintendo Switch Online: Required check-ins and no grace period?

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Best indie games. Ever. Nintendo shows off their list.

Nintendo just released an online FAQ page with updated information about their Nintendo Switch Online service. After a rather vague description that was released on Nintendo Direct, a much more detailed page was created to make some necessary clarifications. But the wording is still subject to interpretation.

For starters, it turns out that players will lose their cloud saves if they choose not to renew their Switch Online subscription. While some games, like NES games, will be available offline, there will be an online check-in with a frequency of once per week. This seems to be required or else access will be blocked to the game. A “check-in” is possibly required in order to preserve this data.

Compared with other consoles, cloud saves on Xbox One are completely free. PS4 requires a PS Plus subscription but players have half a year for players to access it should they choose to subscribe again within that grace period. The Switch seems to be the worst of the bunch- it costs cash to save to the cloud and possibly has no grace period.

After my Nintendo Switch Online membership expires, will my online save data and my Nintendo Entertainment System™ – Nintendo Switch Online data be erased?

Save data stored via the Save Data Cloud backup is available for as long as you have an active Nintendo Switch Online membership.

Can NES – Nintendo Switch Online games be played offline?

Yes, these games can be played offline for up to 7 days as long as you have an active Nintendo Switch Online membership.

As for classic NES games, the FAQ states that players will have offline access to the classic titles for seven days if the subscription is active. But doesn’t clarify on what exactly will be required- a check-in? However, data will be saved locally unless the user chooses to do so manually. An online subscription is still required in order to play the games.

NES Classic controllers coming out exclusively for Switch Online subscribers

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NES Classic controllers coming out exclusively for Switch Online subscribers 3

Nintendo is coming out with a classics NES controller as part of the Nintendo Switch online service. The controllers are modeled after the original NES controllers and can be attached to the Switch. They have the same control scheme as the original controller and plug in to recharge just like the Joy-Cons.

With these controllers, you can “play the classics they’re meant to be played!”

This special controller is likely for the huge library of NES games that’ll be available for players as the online service will release a ton of classic games.

Each controller can be used separately for the co-op NES games. Shipments will begin in mid-December 2018 and will run you $59.99 USD for a pair. To order them, you’ll have to be on the lookout as they’ll be available for order as a special offer for online subscribers at a later date that’s yet to be announced.

Their sales page currently says “New offers will be added, so be sure to check back regularly” and that they’re “Exclusively for Nintendo Switch Online members.”

If you’re a fan of the NES classics, you’ll want to look into these controllers.

Image: Nintendo.

Gone Home for Nintendo Switch includes real, licensed SNES titles

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Gone Home for Nintendo Switch includes real, licensed SNES titles 4

Gone Home fans will remember that the emotional and atmospheric indie game had some various NES cartridges (carts) scattered around the house that you explore. In the mid-90s time period, you play as a female character discovering and uncovering the ties between her and her friend.

You’ll find fitting objects that take place within the same slice of time, including older furniture, toys, and appliances. The SNES cartridges were blank, with no specific Nintendo games used on them as there was no licensing granted to the developer Fullbright.

However, for the Gone Home Switch release, players will be delighted to see that real SNES carts have replaced the fake carts. Some classic and fan-favorites have now taken the spotlight, including Donkey Kong Country, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and Super Mario Kart.

Developer Steve Gaynor of Fullbright recently posted on Twitter confirming the licensing gig Nintendo has granted them. They’re now able to use real SNES games from the 90s to put in the Switch version of Gone Home.

Although it doesn’t do much to change the core gameplay, it’s like an easter egg for those who care.

Gone Home has been released on the Nintendo Switch last week. It’s available through the Nintendo eShop now. Pretty awesome of Nintendo to cooperate with Fullbright.

Thanks to liamdohertee for the featured image on this post!

Grandia I and II remastered are coming to Switch as a packaged game

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Grandia I and II remastered are coming to Switch as a packaged game 5

Grandia I and II are coming to the Nintendo Switch as a remastered game. GungHo Online Entertainment America announced that the titles will be coming to the Switch fully remastered. This is the first time the game has had an easy release since 1999 when it was launched for the original PlayStation in North America. Grandia II hasn’t been available since early 2000 when it was available on the PlayStation 2 and Sega Dreamcast. But now it’ll be coming out for the holiday season in 2018.

Developed by Game Arts, who may be known for their work in Sliphead and the Lunar series, Grandia games have only seen four main releases- plus an MMO, special disc, and a spinoff game. Other than that, there hasn’t been much action for this series over here in the West. Similar to the Lunar games, the Grandia games are known for their insane combat mechanics and awesome sprite art.

It was very well-received and highly-rated overseas and at home in the US. It released around the same time that FFVII came out and both of the games were compared against each other. Gamespot said that Grandia is superior to “FF7 in all of the ways that matter.”

Grandia was released for the Japanese Sega Saturn originally, then found its home on the PlayStation shortly thereafter. Then it migrated to the PS3 in Japan on the PS Network. PC and Switch owners will now get a piece of the action later in 2018. Switch players will also get Grandia II, which aims for a more grown-up storyline compared to the original game. It tells the tale of Ryudo, a blade mercenary who’s tasked with protecting a songstress from the church which has been leading humanity to prosperity and peace for many centuries.

Steam players will get a remaster of the Dreamcast version with upgraded visuals and audio.

Grandia II was originally released on the Dreamcast to which then was ported poorly onto the PS2 and PC. Similar to the original game, it got some pretty positive reviews. The game expands on the positional-based battle mechanics and had a more difficult gameplay style.

The game will be available for demo at PAX West and also packaged for the Switch later this year.

Valiant Hearts: The Great War and Child of Light coming to Switch

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Valiant Hearts: The Great War and Child of Light coming to Switch 6

Child of Light and Valiant Hearts: The Great War are both coming to the Nintendo Switch this Fall. They were confirmed for the Switch in a news post on the official Ubisoft site. Child of Light will release on October 11th and Valiant Hearts will release on November 8th.

Child of Light features amazing artwork and players must save their kingdom from evil forces. The game is a turn-based RPG in a fantasy world where players must take the role of a hero named Aurora who happens to reside in the kingdom of Lemuria. The game has a skill-tree progression system for all characters and allows the freedom to tailor each character to suit different roles or playstyles.

The isn’t the first game in this series on a Nintendo console, as it was also available for the Wii U back in 2014. This game won’t have any new Switch exclusives, but a second player can join in with a Joy-Con to control Aurora’s companion Igniculus to allow players to play in co-op. However, this feature is available in other releases of the game.

Valiant Hearts: The Great War will ship with integrated touch controls just like the iOS, Android, and Windows versions. Switch owners will have Valiant Hearts: Dogs of War which is an interactive comic that was previously available on mobile platforms.

This is a point-and-click adventure game which focuses on multiple strangers during WWI. You’ll guide a character through many puzzles with a trusty dog as your companion to infiltrate enemy bases, investigate different events, and discover WWI history. Valiant Hearts for the Switch is the first time it’s ever been on a Nintendo console.

Stay tuned for more news upon release.

Nyko’s PixelQuest Kit turns your Switch into an arcade cabinet

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Nyko's PixelQuest Kit turns your Switch into an arcade cabinet 7

Nyko has announced new plans to release a new arcade kit for the Nintendo Switch. It’s specifically called the PixelQuest Arcade Kit, which consists of unassembled cardboard that can be used to create a small arcade cabinet from the retro era. Similar to other Nintendo Labo kits, this will allow players to easily slide their Switch display right into the cardboard and has built-in cutouts for ventilation and access to the Switch’s ports.

Although it’s a first-party Labo kit, Nyko has a good history of developing licensed third-party products for Nintendo products. The kit will contain 8 pieces of perforated cardboard, 2 stick tops, 2 Joy-Con inserts for the shoulder bumpers, and plenty of assorted arcade stickers to design your own cabinet the way you want it to look. So far, it seems like a good choice for old-school or retro Nintendo gamers that like a blast from the past.

Nyko has the honors of producing one of the few independent Labo kits. There are currently just a few third-party kits you can buy, but they’re mainly in Japan where Labo has been a huge success. In the West, it’s one of the first third-party kits you can buy right now.

The PixelQuest Arcade Kit will retail for $19.99 on November 27th, 2018. Stay tuned for updates.

Nintendo and Microsoft found to be in a “lovey-dovey” relationship; Cross-play now available

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Nintendo and Microsoft found to be in a "lovey-dovey" relationship; Cross-play now available 8

NIntendo just released a new trailer that shows off cross-platform compatibility between the Switch and Xbox One. It depicts two players, one on each console. Both are working together in a rare promotion video that shows off the hardware and gameplay from Microsoft and Nintendo. As rare as this is, it’s freakin’ awesome to see.

The video ends with a weird message:

“Create Together, Explore Together, Survive Together, Better Together.”

Obviously, this is aimed towards how cooperative play across platforms can be fun. But then again, the PlayStation is still missing- to no surprise.

Fortnite was recently released for the Switch last week and it quickly was confirmed that you could like your Epic Games account to  PS4, you wouldn’t be able t log in or carry anything over to the Switch. Sony responded to the controversy and just threw a blanket “sorry not sorry” message to the community:

“We’re always open to hearing what the PlayStation community is interested in to enhance their gaming experience.”

Thankfully, Nintendo and Microsoft players don’t have to worry about this issue. nintendo of America Reggie Fils-Aime said:

“What competitors do is their decision to make. We believe being both developer-forward and fan-forward is in the best interest of the game.”

This was a much more direct approach the the issue. They then took it up a notch and went on their official Twitter account and had a conversation with Microsoft, to which then Mojang joined in. Nintendo Tweeted at Xbox asking them if they wanted to “build something” now that they can “play together” to which Xbox responded with a “our bodies are ready. What are we building?”

Afterwards, Minecraft jumps in and suggests something to build to which both Xbox and Nintendo agree upon. Crazy.

Minecraft, Rocket League, Paladins and more have all been cross-play compabiel now with select systems, such as PC, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch. It’s a good time to be a Nintendo or Microsoft fanboy. With the start of Minecraft bonding the two rivals, this could be a new “lovey-dovey” relationship.

Currently Switch owners of Minecraft will be able to play with Xbox One players. And if you own the Minecraft Switch Edition,  you’ll also be able to upgrade to the new version at no charge.

Nintendo Switch Online price, launch titles, cloud saves, and more details

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Nintendo Switch Online price, launch titles, cloud saves, and more details 9

Nintendo has revealed some pricing details of their Nintendo Switch Online platform launching this September 2018.

It’ll come with a large library of 20 games, 10 of which have been announced. It’ll also have cloud saves, special deals, and other goodies for subscribers.

Here’s a brief summary of what to expect so far.

Pricing will be as follows:

  • One month (solo): $3.99
  • Three months (solo): $7.99
  • Twelve months (solo): $19.99
  • Twelve months (Family): $34.99

There aren’t any 1 or 3-month plans for the Family Membership because these accounts allow up to 8 accounts total which can be spread out worldwide.

Cloud saves will be much-improved and won’t have that horrible save disaster the Switch previously had. Now the cloud platform should be working 100%. No more data wiping! That’s something to be excited about.

And the library of games will have an online feature to play with friends. They can also watch your screen and you can watch theirs and take turns. Screen sharing will also be available s well. Voice chat will be done with an app on smartphones. All games will work offline as well. So far, 10 games have been announced:

  • The Legend of Zelda
  • Ice Climber
  • Balloon Fight
  • Donkey Kong
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
  • Dr. Mario
  • Mario Bros.
  • Super Mario Bros.
  • Super Mario Bros. 3

Nintendo is behind it he online marketplace, but now they hope to claim a market share with their online platform. Switch owners won’t be able to play games without an online payment plan after September 2018. More details to be revealed.

We’ll have to see how this plays out. Stay tuned for updates.

Nintendo releases requirements for third-party USB cables

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Switch units have been bricked in the recent firmware upgrade.

Nintendo decided that it won’t be using proprietary charging ports on the Nintendo Switch. This is old news, but favorable, since many gamers prefer to use cheaper, third-party chargers instead of the “OEM” parts for USB-C cables.

Sadly, the reason behind this in previous systems isn’t just to make a profit- it’s to also ensure quality.

When you make a system that allows any manufacturer to make an accessory for it, you unleash the slew of crappy parts that could very well damage the system itself such as slow charging times or fried hardware. Nintendo is starting become aware of this and is probably second-guessing their decision. They warn (it’s in Japanese, so translate it)that the USB-C cables should only be used with 56K Ohm resistors to be safely used and prevent any damage with the Switch.

If charging from a USB source with the USB-A type outputs, Nintendo suggests only to use the official cable (HAC-010) that are included with the Pro Controller or Joy-Con Charging Crip. However, you can only get this Japan. If you’re in the US, you won’t be able to buy it by itself and must get it bundled.

A Nintendo support mod stated that:

“any USB cable that supports a USB Type C port should work just as well”

So this means any third-party cable should work, right? Using USB cables that don’t fit the bill could seriously damage the Switch’s internals or charge it super slowly. It could even fry it in slow motion or charge it so slow that it won’t carry the full amps required.

Where did all this news come from? It appears that a bunch of Switch consoles turned into Switch Bricks after the 5.x firmware update with consoles using the third-party docks from Nyko.

If you don’t want to take any risks, go with OEM parts. If you want to save some cash, do your research first before buying.

Photo: https://nyko.com/products/portable-docking-kit-for-nintendo-switchNyko

Nintendo Switch’s best indie games of 2018 revealed

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Nindies games.

Nintendo just released their top 10 list of the best-selling indie games on the Switch.

This list is the best of the best. If you like indie games, you gotta check out these titles if you haven’t already. The games were revealed at a Nindies convention at GDC. It’s based on sales up to March 5th, 2018.

Here’s the list:

  1. Steamworld Dig 2
  2. Stardew Valley
  3. Kamiko
  4. Celeste
  5. Fast RMX
  6. Golf Story
  7. Enter the Gungeon
  8. Overcooked: Special Edition
  9. NBA Playground
  10. Shovel Knight – Treasure Trove

This list is the best so far.

Nintendo also decided to give independent developers a showcase of their own at Indies Direct.

Some games that were impressive were Mark of the Ninja Remastered, Fantasy Strike, Just Shapes and Beats, Garage, Pool Panic, Bomb Chicken!, and Lummies Remastered. Stay tuned for more details.

ARK: Survival Evolved comes to Nintendo Switch

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The popular dino MMO is coming to Switch.

ARK: Survival Evolved is going to be released on the Nintendo Switch.

As infamous as the game’s optimization issues are concerned, Studio Wildcard has already confirmed it for a Switch release at GDC 2018 today. They stated it during the State of Unreal presentation where they showed off the Switch handling the game just fine.

Jeremey Stieglitz, the lead of ARK, stated that the Switch is a good console for the game. He said that players can “go directly from hunting and taming while sitting on the couch, to forming online tribes and searching out new conquests when on the bus, waiting in line, or wherever they happen to be.”

This is exciting news for fans of the Switch who are into survival MMOs. ARK: Survival Evolved is the leading fantasy dinosaur survival game where you can craft hundreds of items, tame dozens of mounts, gather resources, form tribes, and build shelters.

The Switch version will be developed with Abstraction Games, their partner studio who previously worked on the PS4 port of it. War Drum Studios, the creators of the mobile version of ARK, also has invited players to start the beta testing of the game on phones.

It’ll be released this Fall in both digital and physical formats. Studio Wildcard posted a Tweet showing off the game on Switch. You can watch it here.

The game was previously only available on Windows after being in early access on Steam for a while. Now it’s available on Xbox One, PS4, mobile, and soon Nintendo Switch.

Garage, a top-down zombie slasher, coming to Nintendo Switch as an exclusive

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Garage will be a Switch exclusive.

Garage is a top-down action shooter developed by Zombie Dynamics.

The game is inspired by old-school VHS tapes and B movies. You’re a ex-drug-dealer dubbed “Butch” who’s on a mission to kill tons upon tons of zombies all over the city. Zombies aren’t the only thing trying to kill you through- the military ain’t on your side either.

It’s a pretty unique take on the genre. There are zombie games. And there are top-down Gauntlet-style games. Garage combines both into one game. It’s like Contra with zombies or something in a top-down perspective.

The game takes place in a pretty big underground parking lot that brings Butch to a hidden world infested with gory, violent zombies. The combat system has you mainly using your melee weapon with limited bullets for your guns. There are tons of mutants to fight and each one requires a special way of taking them down. You can’t just hack and slash everything without taking some damage.

 

 

Garage is a mix of survival, resource management, hack and slash, shooting, and even some minigames like racing. Every single level has tons of hidden gems that’ll greatly help you out if you explore it. And there are some pretty difficult boss fights as well.

It’ll be exclusive to the Nintendo Switch and releases on May 10, 2018. It’s nice to see the support for more “mature” titles on the Switch unlike its predecessor consoles- just like rumor had it. Good work.

Check out more info here.

Image via Nintendo.

Toki Tori coming to the Switch on March 30th (on-time for Easter)

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Toki Tori is coming to the Switch.

Toki Tori is coming to the Switch this month in March.

Developed by Two Tribes announced that their infamous egg-collecting puzzle game is going to roll out on March 30 complete with HD rumble support and even a time rewind feature. The game will include over 80 levels in 5 unique worlds for players to take on and new challenges as well!

Toki Tori will run at a smooth 60 FPS and also take advantage of the video-recording capabilities.

The previous game was Toki Tori 2, which was released for the Switch earlier already in 2018. Toki Tori is the prequel to it and continues the egg-hunt craze. The previous game was released on Wii U, Game Boy Color, and 3DS. The Switch is the new home and fits perfectly with the eShop’s growing indie library and HD rumble controls.

The series is basically a puzzle game where you need to guide a bird character around a bunch of puzzles that are unique and requires a different approach to beat. you need to use a bunch of tools to solve the puzzles. You can warp, freeze, and even “InstantRock” to get all the eggs on each level. That’s the goal of the game.

The game will cost $4.99 at launch and if you pre-order, you can snag an extra 10% off as well. It’s available for pre-order right now.

Nintendo removes user reviews for its games on its official pages

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Nintendo removes user reviews on its official pages for its games.

Nintendo recently added a new option for players to leave reviews on Nintendo Switch games directly on their home site.

however, they quickly removed it shortly after. The feature to leave user reviews was only available for about 5 days after its launch. Customer reviews for the console still exist, but the games reviews are gone.

Only a small blurb of info is still available in the remnants of what was once user-generated content on their site:

“Customer reviews have been taken offline as we evaluate this feature and its functionality. We currently have no estimated date on when an update will be provided. We appreciate the positive response and thank the reviewers who provided such thoughtful commentary on the games.”

Nintendo said it’s just a “trial” in a statement to Polygon and that it may be revamped and returned, but there’s no guarantee as of now. This has many players annoyed and itching for a new review system where they can simply type out their thoughts rather than use preselected tags and categories for the game.

Netflix on Nintendo Switch – is it finally happening?

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Netflix will be coming to the Switch- but when?

In case you didn’t know, the Nintendo Switch still doesn’t have any Netflix support.

America’s favorite streaming provider is still “exploring the opportunity” to build an app for the Switch. Polygon reports this from a Netflix rep and confirms that they don’t have any confirmable plans at this time. It’s still in the air.

Netflix tweeted a tweet over the weekend that pretty much just restated what the rep announced. Their CS account, @netflixhelps, tweeted that “there are currently no plans for Netflix on Nintendo Switch.” The tweet has been removed since then.

The Switch currently only has support for Netflix’s major competitor- Hulu. Nintendo hasn’t said anything about the integration. Hulu continues to be the only streaming option on the Switch, which was launched without any streaming support.

According to various comments about the case, the Switch will get Netflix soon enough. The question is when. Many customers already have access to Netflix across many platforms, including older Nintendo consoles like the Wii and Wii U. It should only be a matter of time before Switch users can start streaming their favorite shows and movies on Nintendo’s newest console.