Be careful! There are 3rd party docks out there that will break your Switch and destroy your save files forever. But how did this fiasco occur? And whose responsibility is it? Simeon and Scott are here to bring you the scoop.
“Exit the Premises” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
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Do NOT Buy these Switch Indie Games
While a swath of indie developers are hurrying to get to the gold rush that is Nintendo Switch eShop, that unfortunately means that some stinkers are going to sneak there way in. Scott has been playing Energy Invasion, Energy Balance, and Alteric for review and sadly, he can’t recommend any of them. In this episode, we’ll give you a quick overview of these games and let you know what to watch out for.
“Exit the Premises” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
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Unboxing & Playing Axiom Verge (Switch)
Axiom Verge is a Metroidvania indie game, and the Multiverse Edition is a physical Switch cartridge with a bunch of goodies packed in. We go hands-on with the game as well as unbox the package to show you all the goodness they contain! This is a good one to add to your collection.
“Exit the Premises” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
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In a Super Nintendo System Far, Far Away
May the Crew be with you! Simeon and Scott give Super Star Wars a spin, an SNES game about A New Hope.
“Exit the Premises” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
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The Absurd Nintendo Creators Program
The Nintendo Creators Program is a farce. YouTube content creators have to join this program or face some pretty severe results… the problem is, the program is horrible.
“Exit the Premises” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Should Zelda Go Futuristic?
The Legend of Zelda series has a storied past of—well—doing the same thing over and over again for years. It’s time to shake things up and take Link into the Future, and not keep him in the Past!
“Exit the Premises” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
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Nindie Direct… DISAPPOINTING?!
Nintendo seems to have missed a few obvious steps in order to make their indie Direct a little more appealing.
“Exit the Premises” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
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The Toymaker King A Poem
The King of the Mountains ruled the land
His subjects thrived under his caring hand
The King of the Mountains was full of joy
He loved making toys for every girl and boy
The king’s reign was powerful and long
His years on the throne stretched on and on
The king’s universal acclaim was his boast
But there was one individual who loved him most
This boy grew up in the mountainous kingdom
Enjoying his childhood of toys and freedom
This boy grew up quickly, no longer a child
But his love for the king never became mild
His respect for the king grew as he grew old
And thankfulness kept him warm in the cold
No longer content to be thankful inside
The man would thank the king, he did decide
‘I’ll build a great large monument,’ said he
‘A monument that the whole kingdom will see’
The man dropped everything, his mind made
‘I’ll carve out time to carve every day’
That’s exactly what he did atop a mountain peak
Day after day and long week after long week
Hammer and chisel became his only friends
As he formed a statue out of scraps, odds and ends
It took all he had, his time and all his money
And every single day whether rainy or sunny
He sculpted the monument unto perfection
Only the best would convey his affection
Weeks turned to months with his back bent
Until not only months but three years were spent
The man took a step back and admired his work
‘Wait until the king sees this’ he thought with a smirk
A beautiful likeness of the king returned his smile
A wooden and carefully-crafted lifesize profile
‘I’ll cover up the statue, with a curtain conceal
Then gather up the town for the grand reveal’
The man turned to descend the mountain at last
But what he saw next caused his heart to beat fast
Every peak in the kingdom looked like his own
Monuments all over, paying tribute to the throne
He had been too consumed, too busy to see
That every townsperson had the same idea as he
‘I built a monument, come and see, come and see!
I finished my statue of the king,’ cried he
But his neighbors did not listen, hear or heed
They had monuments, and his they did not need
The man’s eyes fell and he began to plea
‘Just one visit to my statue’ he asked on bent knee
Alone he cried on his mountain, face wet with tears
This wasn’t the outcome he imagined in his worst fears
Hours later, the sun rose and with it a new day
The night had washed the man’s sorrows away
‘I’ll try a different approach, another tactic, something new
I’ll invite the king himself, surely he won’t deny me too’
So he entered the throneroom of the toymaker king
And asked ‘Do you have a moment? I made you something’
The old ruler laughed and shook his head
‘There are bigger monuments all around,’ he said
The man stared blankly and stood in silence
Then walked away like a dog without guidance
‘My hard work wasted, all for nothing, all for nought
My time and efforts were useless’ the man thought
‘To think—I loved that king—how foolish could I be?
There’s no love left for him in my heart, believe you me’
Perhaps the man should have slept on it or waited
But his feet were taking him to the likeness he now hated
‘I’ll unmake the monument he never deserved
Nothing in the king’s image should be preserved!’
He stormed up the mountain and threw his tools aside
Destroying the statue would be the next thing he tried
But something stayed his hand and stopped the blow
A simple thought came into his mind and began to grow
The statue would not stand for the king and his audacity
But it represented his own creativity, talent, and tenacity
Slowly, he realized ‘The king was never the key…’
‘It was the journey itself,’ he urged his heart to agree
‘I became what I wanted to be, what I admired
I became whom I loved, to whom I aspired’
He allowed the pride of his craftsmanship to return
A spark of happiness in his heart began to burn
No longer pleading, the man returned to bent knee
And inscribed below the statue, his initials, TBC
Minority Report: Everybody Runs A Masterpiece of Ludo-Narrative Dissonance
Several months ago while at a used game store, my older brother found and bought a copy of Minority Report: Everybody Runs for the GameCube, the licensed tie-in game for the 2002 film, Minority Report. His rationale was that he thought it’d be good for a laugh. Then we more or less forgot about it until a few weeks ago. My two brothers and I were hanging out one evening when Kyle, the aforementioned eldest, suggested we play the game and pass around the controller. Not having anything better to do, we shruggingly agreed. I have to admit, my brother was right: the game is absolutely hilarious in all the wrong ways. Read more Minority Report: Everybody Runs A Masterpiece of Ludo-Narrative Dissonance
Octodad: Dadliest Catch Review (Switch)
Back when it first came out in 2014, Octodad: Dadliest Catch quickly became one of my favorite indie games of all time. The goofy premise, inventive gameplay hook, and charming presentation were not only endearing, but felt reminiscent of the creative and experimental cult classics of the GameCube and its contemporaries. Since its initial release on PC, the game has been ported to just about every system that can run it, including the Nintendo Switch. So, does the game still measure up on the Switch?
The game follows the story of a clumsy, but well-meaning, father living suburbia. Despite his best efforts, mayhem and mischief seem to follow him wherever he goes. Between the strange circumstances and his unwillingness to open up about his mysterious past, his wife, Scarlet, can’t help but suspect something’s amiss. His past catches up with him, however, as an old enemy attempts to expose his dark secret to his family and the world.
Wait, did I forget to mention the guy’s secretly an octopus in disguise? Silly me!
Octodad: Dadliest Catch follows the eponymous Octodad as he tries to complete everyday chores without blowing his cover, which is hard for a man with no bones. As to be expected with a game with such a ludicrous premise, the story is humorous, and sometimes even heartwarming. The real appeal of the game’s humor, however, is the physics; watching Octodad stumble through the game’s levels, knocking down everything in his path, is sure to bring a smile to anyone fond of slapstick.
The game’s core mechanic is its deliberately awkward controls. This may sound unappealing at first, but the controls are awkward in a way that feels comfortable, if that makes any sense. Players control Octodad by manipulating his limbs individually. This extra layer of abstraction can make even simple tasks like walking not only challenging but amusing as well. The odd controls do mean this game can get frustrating at points, but not nearly as often as you’d think.
The game’s main campaign is on the short side, with even a leisurely play-through only lasting a few hours. Fortunately, the game comes with two bonus chapters, which, despite being referred to as “shorts”, are some of the longest levels in the game. Factor in the three hidden neckties in each level—which are often deviously hard to find—and this game has plenty of replay value.
Unfortunately, the Switch version of this game doesn’t come with any extra bells and whistles. There’s no support for motion control, which feels like a missed opportunity given the nature of the game. Instead, the game is played using the analog sticks to position Octodad’s arms and legs. This is entirely a matter of opinion, but I prefer Octodad with a keyboard and mouse. The different control schemes both offer a very different feel to the game, with the controller favoring large sweeping movements and the mouse being better at executing small, precise motions.
My biggest issue with this game, however, is the graphics. While it’s understandable that a few sacrifices would have to be made given the limitations of the Switch’s hardware, the way they cut corners can be downright distracting. Shadows appear ludicrously pixelated, especially when viewed up close. It’s so bad at times it looks like the game is censoring parts of the screen. Other issues are a lack of certain visual effects, such as reflections on mirrors or the absence of rain in one level. Furthermore, the number of objects and N.P.C.s per level has been reduced, leaving levels overall feeling a bit barren.
Lastly, I should note that this version of the game has crashed on me, but it seems to have been an isolated occurrence.
In the end, Octodad: Dadliest Catch is a great game brimming with charm, and I very much enjoyed having the opportunity to play through it again. That said, the Switch port isn’t the best version out there due to a lack of control options and scaled-down graphics. If the Switch is the only system you have that can play it, or if portability is a priority, then it’s definitely still worth getting. Otherwise, I’d recommend you get it on Steam.
The Man, the Myth, the Mr. N64Josh
N64Josh of Nintendo fandom fame is joining us for this episode! This man is a prolific content creator and collector of Nintendo Switch games. It’s our honor to have him on the show, and we know you’ll become a fan as well!
“Exit the Premises” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Nintendo Quietly Updating Mario Odyssey?
Maybe you are still working through Super Mario Odyssey’s 999 moons! Perhaps you’ve managed to 100% the game… or have you? Who knows! When Nintendo can silently post new Hint Art online without fanfare, all bets are off!
“Exit the Premises” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Racing to the Finish in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
You’ve seen us play Battle Mode against each other, but you haven’t witnessed a good old race to the death! Simeon and Scott are taking to the racetrack and trying to prove who’s the boss, and who is who’s father.
“Exit the Premises” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The Nintendo Experience: Controlling Outside the Box
With Nintendo Labo announced, something that is sure to change the way we view how video games control, I find it appropriate to look back on some of the times that Nintendo flipped game control on its head. Now, obviously, not every time Nintendo ventures into an unexplored frontier is a smashing success, but they are usually the only company “daring” enough to branch out as far as they do. Games like WarioWare: Twisted, Kirby’s Tilt ‘n’ Tumble, and 1-2-Switch brought a whole new dimension to gaming that took the geniuses from the Big N to complete. Today, I will be adding three new games to the Nintendo Experience that challenged the boundaries of what it meant to be “in control”. (If you are not sure what the “Nintendo Experience” is, check out the previous blog posts).
Donkey Konga was Nintendo’s attempt at jumping into the (then-budding) rhythm genre. It was a little more entry-level than staples like Dance Dance Revolution or Guitar Hero, a little more immersive than Parappa the Rapper, and, of course, containing that Nintendo charm. Overall, it was an average game with mediocre covers of classic songs, but it did give birth to the DK Bongo peripheral. Once you had enough of Donkey Konga and its sequel (and tried it out on Smash Bros.), there did not seem to be much use for the hunk of plastic; I mean, if you consider the size-to-button ratio, you are losing the space-saving-game.
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (GameCube)
Leave it to Nintendo to make a deep, compelling platformer that only uses two buttons. Consumers had the option to buy the whole package, including the bongos, or just the disc if you had the bongos already (you could also play it with the normal GameCube controller, but where’s the fun in that?). This game was fantastic, and is a must-play for fans of Nintendo that want that truly unique hybrid experience.
Wii Sports (Wii)
What more can I say about Wii Sports than has already been said? Motion controls may not have turned out how we thought they would (only seeing wide application currently paired with VR or AR), but it was really nothing before Wii Sports. Now, it is true that there was motion control games before Wii Sports, and that the Wiimote was not 1:1 like we (at least, I) thought, but from the first time I picked up this game, my view of what video games could be was never the same. I do not think I need to elaborate too much further, as I can almost be certain that everyone reading this blog has either played this or, at least, its sequel, Wii Sports Resort, and had a similar life-altering experience.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii)
Just as Twilight Princess rolled the dice with motion controls in a beloved Nintendo franchise, Metroid Prime 3 similarly pioneered how the Wiimote would handle first person shooters. Other FPS’s had released on the Wii by the time Prime 3 was released, but those could not be compared to what Corruption brought to the table: not in genre, and certainly not in successful execution. In fact, Prime 3 controlled so great that Nintendo decided to re-release all three games of the trilogy with the new Wiimote controls. The world it created and the story it tells are fantastic as well, but the way Samus controls in the new age was forever revolutionized by this fantastic piece of Nintendo history.
These are just a few examples of Nintendo’s abstractly-controlled masterpieces. What are some of your favorites? The Nintendo Experience continues to grow…
October’s Nintendo Experience
Welcome back to the Nintendo Experience! I’m once again expanding the list of necessary games for every Nintendo fan. We’ve since added Photo Dojo to the list as the essential DSi game, and we’re moving on.
For the past few weeks I’ve really been enjoying the indie title Axiom Verge, and while it won’t be making its appearance on the Nintendo Experience, it is a great game. While trudging through the depths of cyberspace… or the subconscious… or another dimension… whatever that setting is, it got me thinking of the game that inspired it.
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Super Metroid for the SNES is a Nintendo classic through and through. Originally marketed as Nintendo’s biggest game yet (see our Watching Old Nintendo Commercials episode), it sure does show. The game’s environments and inhabitants are varied and give an awesome sense of exploration and conquest as you traverse the world of Zebes. from your initial encounter with Ridley to the final showdown with Mother Brain, it is an unforgettable thrill-ride.
One of the clear inspirations that Axiom Verge took from Super Metroid is its use of traversal items. Though the two games’ items differ in specific application, they both serve the purpose of making you feel like you have the freedom to go anywhere and everywhere. You may start out feeling like you don’t have much in the way of mobility, but soon enough you’re getting from point A to point B using methods of which you’d never dreamed. The sense of control you have over your character and freedom to explore the environment is truly a great feeling.
It was also nice to recently revisit Donkey Kong Jungle Beat in a recent episode (man, I’m killing it with these shameless self-promotions!). There is something to be said about the Donkey Konga Bongos. While Donkey Konga and its sequel were alright for rhythm games, Nintendo didn’t leave the peripheral to be used for one game only. They decided to do what no one else had thought of: use a rhythm game controller for another kind of game. That’s genius! Have you seen “Guitar Hero Platformer” or “DDR Fighter”? No! Of course, you haven’t because Nintendo has harvested all of the geniuses in the world to come up with those ideas for them.
As far as how the game actually plays, it’s pretty good (nothing ultra groundbreaking besides the control method). But it’s the fact that one day, someone sat down and said “let’s use a set of drums to control a character,” then made it work that lands it a “must play” sticker for me.
Well, that’s it for the Nintendo Experience for now. It feels good to finally see the shelf start to fill out.
The Nintendo Experience: Powerful Portables
Nintendo not only revolutionized the home console market, but time and time again, they’ve proven to be the best in the portable sector of gaming. We’ve already talked about several landmark portable titles for the Nintendo Experience: Pokemon Red and Blue and Pokemon GO. These games shaped the way we game on the go (pun intended), and reached far beyond the game to rock the shape of pop culture. These two games were not an isolated incident, and I would like to showcase two more games that are near and dear to my heart.
The first is one of the first games I ever owned personally: Game Boy Camera. To many, even those who loved it in its time, the Game Boy Camera is a joke. Compared to what we have at our disposal nowadays, it is. The resolution was bad, everything was in grayscale, the editor was primitive, the memory was limited to 30 photos, and, if you were looking for it to be a game, you would be sorely disappointed.
Something I will never forget, however, is reading my brother’s copy of “The Guinness Book of Records 1999” and seeing that this odd-looking Game Boy cart was currently the smallest digital camera in the world! I felt like a spy as a kid! It was a novelty, and there were enough menus in the game to navigate and not use (because I was never able to get my hands on a Game Boy Printer) to keep me occupied for a long time. Also, Miyamoto dancing!
If that’s not revolutionary enough to make it a must-play for Nintendo fans, I don’t know what is.
I think it’s time we talk about the real game-changer: Tetris. Tetris was a system seller, plain and simple. It got everyone who touched it into mobile gaming. It was accessible to people of all walks of life… unless you shun technology… I suppose. It’s simple, easy to pick up, and tough to put down. It is one of the best games ever. That is, until, Nintendo outdid themselves.
Tetris DS is the best game ever. I mean, Tetris was already the best, but they found a way to improve it. It had all of the puzzling proficiency of its previous iterations, but they made it streamlined. The multiplayer was great, the art style was perfect… What more could you ask for? I consider it the best version of the best game hands down, and I urge you: if you haven’t played it, pick it up. Like, right now. Why are you still reading? Oh, you already have it? Good.
The Nintendo Experience: Remembering the Wii U’s Best
The Wii U was a unique offering. Nintendo rolled the dice, and, to most onlookers, it seems as though they lost. As with most things in life, most people’s trash is one eccentric fan’s treasure. What the Wii U lacked in quantity, it made up for in some unrepeatable experiences.
Now, while it’s difficult to say that a game that has come out less than 10 years ago is a classic, these games are definitely worthy of being inducted into the Nintendo Experience. I already highlighted Nintendo Land. It was the perfect tech demo to show what Wii U was all about: the capabilities of the Game Pad and asymmetrical gameplay. These other inductees were selected not for their individuality, but because of their stand-out excellence in already established franchises.
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U had a lot to prove. There were tons of fans of Melee and were let down by Brawl, and needed be to won back. Some, such as myself, loved Brawl, and doubted that the next entry would top such an amazing game (however flawed). It utterly destroyed any expectations put on it.
I applaud the team that worked on this game, not just for a well-put-together art piece, nor a Nintendo fighting game FINALLY ready for online competition, but also for striving for balance. Balance has been lacking in previous series entries, and while there still seem to be tiers of viability, the array of characters from such a large cast that are seen on the top of leader boards is diverse. The use of patches has been good for the most part (though, why they nerfed Luigi’s throw combos I will never know). For such a huge roster balance is hard to maintain, but this team seems to have kept it.
Lastly, I would like to showcase the greatness of Super Mario 3D World. Since Super Mario 64, the 2D and 3D Mario games have been pretty distinct entities. The 3D entries have been more focused on exploring the rich environments while the 2D entries have focused on the classic platforming and fun power-ups. It was fun having the two separate, but now we know, with the right amount of each, they work beautifully together.
That’s it for this month’s Nintendo Experience. If you find yourself without a Switch for awhile, like I do, it’s nice to recognize the amazing experiences we still have at our fingertips.
The Nintendo Experience
Would you read straight through a book named “1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die”?
The Crew Cuts continue as Simeon gives you a look into his home gaming setup and begins discussing what he calls the “Nintendo Experience” with Nintendo Land!
“Reformat” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
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The Nintendo Experience: Ōkami and Pokémon Red/Blue
When I introduced the Nintendo Experience, I said that it would include around 70 titles or so. I haven’t changed my mind as far as the number of games go, but Scott brought to my attention that if I were to keep my current pace, it would take me approximately 2 ½ forevers to finish, and that’s not counting any games that might be essential coming out between now and then. I figured it might be easier if I spent some of my blog posts to talk about the Nintendo Experience. I still plan on dedicating a few Crew Cuts to them, but I can cover several games per post, so I can actually someday finish this project.
The Nintendo Experience is a list of games that I believe sum up essential Nintendo adventures for any fan to play through.
It’s not a list of Nintendo’s “best games”, per se, but they showcase what makes Nintendo the best game company in the world. They don’t need to be first-party games, or even exclusive games, but they need to use the Nintendo hardware in a unique way if they’re not.
Case in point, the next game joining the Experience is Capcom’s Ōkami for Wii.
Ōkami was originally released for the PlayStation 2 in 2006 and was ported to the Wii in 2008. It’s a wonderful cell-shaded adventure that plays quite a bit like a Legend of Zelda game. But the gameplay isn’t the best part of the experience; that would go to the presentation. Graphically, the developers have re-created feudal Japan in the style of traditional Japanese paintings. The world is absolutely incredible, and you’ll find yourself running around fields and forests just taking in the prettiness of it all. The orchestral sound track matches the setting, and helps to transport the player into the world.
Next, the story is fantastic. Without giving very much away, you play as Amaterasu, a reincarnation of the sun god Shiranui. You set out on a quest to restore the nature of Nippon that has been thrown into ruin by the forces of evil by collecting different “Celestial Brush” techniques (more on that in a moment). The premise may sound odd, but believe me when I say that the story will suck you in and move you with every twist of the plot.
The thing that makes the Wii version of Ōkami unique and gives it a spot on the Nintendo Experience is the Celestial Brush. One of the key mechanics of the game entails the player stopping the action and using the Wiimote’s pointer to draw a shape on the screen to activate different powers. Need to cut a tree down that’s blocking your path? There’s a technique for that! Need a lily pad to help you walk on water? There’s a technique for that, too! Need a gust of wind to get rid of fowl-smelling air? You’re in luck! Just scrawl the shape where you need it and presto! Sometimes it takes a few tries to get the shape right, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be Bob-ing your enemies like a Ross.
If you like adventure games and haven’t played Ōkami yet, then pick up a copy and give it a shot. You won’t regret picking it up.
In honor of the recent release of Pokémon GO, another induction from the franchise into the Experience is Pokémon Red/Blue/Green along with their sequel, Yellow.
It’s hard to think of a world without Pokémon, and often times I forget where it all started. After these games were released, the TV show, trading card game, mangas, toys, and more were everywhere (just like GO is doing now).
Up to that point, RPGs usually had a pretty limited cast. You might be able to choose a few different combinations of characters for your party, but your choices were pretty limited. Then these games dropped and flipped the game on its head with 151 unique characters available to play as. As long as you could catch them, you could have whatever combination of six (or less) monsters you wanted. Sure the game was unbalanced, and sure, there were plenty of glitches, but the feeling you got when the professor gave you your first starter, or you traded a Pokémon with a friend, or got your first gym badge far outweighs all of the brokenness. If you haven’t played any of the games in the original trilogy, I highly suggest getting the port for your 3DS. It’s just $10! Give it a shot.
That’s it for the Nintendo Experience for now. Signing out!
Super Mario RPG – Nintendo Experience
Super Mario RPG. It is the only one just for me.
The Nintendo Experience continues as Simeon discusses his personal favorite Mario RPG: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars!
Shot by Alex Campbell
“Reformat” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
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