DMM Games, Tookyo Games and Spike Chunsoft are releasing a physical version of SHUTEN ORDER on both Switch 1 and Switch 2 in Spring 2026, the companies have announced.
Both the Switch 1 and Nintendo Switch 2 Edition will be getting a physical in the US courtesy of PM Studios, with Reef Entertainment’s European release sticking with just the Switch 2 version.
And for those physical collectors out there, yes, the Switch 2 physical will have the full game on the cartridge. That’s a nice little announcement, given that the Switch 2 upgrade just came out last week.
So, if you’re on the fence about grabbing the game on the newer console and are reluctant to dive into a digital release, then you only have to wait until Spring to get your hands on a fully boxed version.
That cover art is nice, too!
Just in case you’ve never heard of the game before, Shuten Order is from Danganronpa creator Kazutaka Kodaka (who is one of the key writers). The game is a blend of multiple genres but it’s ultimately a mystery game where you play as a character who has been murdered, and you must find your killer.
While we praised the ambition of the game on Switch, we ultimately felt that it felt a little long in the tooth and not quite up to par with Kodaka’s previous works. It looks nice, though, and the Switch 2 version allows you to reach between 60-120fps docked and handheld and use Mouse Mode.
Are you a Shuten Order fan? Will you be grabbing the physical release next spring? Let us know in the comments.
While the Switch and Switch 2 are portable systems that come with their own built-in screens, I’ve often been drawn to pairing Nintendo’s hybrid consoles with portable monitors when I’m on the road and away from my TV.
One of my favourite choices for the original Switch is the Espresso V2, a premium 1080p screen which doesn’t even need the dock – you can connect the console via a USB-C cable and power the screen using another USB-C-based power brick.
You can imagine, then, how excited I was when Espresso Displays offered to send out the 4K version of their screen to test with the Switch 2. The £650 Espresso Pro 15 boasts a 15.6-inch, 60Hz LCD panel capable of displaying 1.07 billion colours and weighs 800 grams. With its anodised aluminium casing and super-tough glass front, it’s the kind of screen I can see myself taking on the road with me – but there’s one big drawback.
It seems that Nintendo has changed the way the Switch 2 outputs video through its USB-C ports, so you need the dock to run it on external displays like this – and that means using Espresso’s own HDMI-to-USB-C cable, which comes at an extra cost of £60.
Even then, there are issues. Espesso’s aforementioned cable has an extra USB-A cable built in for additional power to turn on the screen, but this cable isn’t physically long enough to reach the USB-C port on the Switch 2 dock.
Therefore, I had to place the dock next to a wall socket so I could plug in a USB power brick to juice up the screen. Alas, even this isn’t enough to bring the display to life, so another USB-C power supply was required, plugged directly into the Espresso Pro 15’s second USB-C port.
It’s worth noting that the Espresso V2 required a similar setup (both of its USB-C ports were occupied), but the need to use the dock and an extra power supply for the HDMI cable is somewhat inconvenient.
Elsewhere, the fact that the Espresso Pro 15 isn’t using an OLED panel is a disappointment, as the difference is definitely noticeable; while the LCD screen seen here is bright, it lacks the punch of other displays I’ve used, such as the INNOCN PU15-PRE (which is also 4K).
Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life
It’s a shame, because the bundled Espresso Stand+ makes this even more appealing for gamers. Using powerful neodymium magnets, the screen bolts onto the stand with ease, and even allows you to spin the display 90 degrees for some TATE-mode shmup action. The Stand+ is adjustable and comes with two height settings, making it quite versatile.
It’s worth noting that I used the Espresso Pro 15 from a gamer’s point of view. However, its maker describes it as a screen aimed at professionals, and it’s certainly more successful when viewed from that perspective. It can be powered using a single USB-C cable, which also connects to your Mac or PC and turns it into a second display, complete with touch support. That’s a far more elegant solution than having to use a dock and two power supplies, as is the case when playing on it with a Switch 2.
With its lofty price tag and dependence on an additional extra in the shape of a specialised HDMI cable, it’s hard to recommend the Espresso Pro 15 if you’re solely looking for a portable gaming screen to use with your Switch 2 – but if you in the market for one that can double as a work monitor and a gaming one, then it might be worth a look.
The latest Nintendo Download update for North America has arrived, and it’s bringing new games galore to the eShop in your region. As always, be sure to drop a vote in our poll and comment down below with your potential picks for the week. Enjoy!
Switch 2 eShop – Highlights
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition(Nintendo, 4th Dec, $69.99) – Your objective: Explore the mysterious planet Viewros and find your way home. Step back into the suit as Samus Aran, one of the greatest bounty hunters in the galaxy, and scan your surroundings for clues on how to move forward. Battle abhorrent alien creatures who inhabit the planet, use mysterious psychic abilities to clear the path forward, and traverse the environment on the technologically advanced bike, Vi-O-La. – Read our Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition review
OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0[Switch 2](SQUARE ENIX, 4th Dec, $49.99) – Start from zero in a personal quest of restoration and retribution! In this prequel to the first OCTOPATH TRAVELER, stop powerful villains using fast-paced, turn-based combat. For the first time in the series, play through the eyes of your own custom protagonist and rebuild your hometown. With over 30 recruitable party members, an engaging story, all-new features and returning core elements like the iconic HD-2D graphics and the Break & Boost battle system, players embark on a journey of their own creation. – Read our Octopath Traveler 0 review
Red Dead Redemption: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition(Rockstar Games, 2nd Dec, $49.99) – Experience the epic western adventures that defined a generation in the predecessor to the 2018 blockbuster, Red Dead Redemption 2. When federal agents threaten his family, former outlaw John Marston is forced to hunt down the gang of criminals he once called friends. Featuring the complete single-player experiences of Red Dead Redemption and Undead Nightmare (which transforms the world into an apocalyptic fight for survival against a zombie horde), the game also includes bonus content from the Game of the Year Edition and more. – Read our Red Dead Redemption: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition review
Switch 2 eShop – New Releases
Farming Simulator: Signature Edition(GIANTS Software, 9th Dec, $59.99) – Farming Simulator: Signature Edition is coming to Nintendo Switch 2. Publisher and developer GIANTS Software announces a comprehensive edition of its hit simulation game for Nintendo’s upcoming gaming console. New game based on Farming Simulator 25, the latest main entry to the series 400+ authentic machines, 25 crops, and 3 maps for agricultural variety Release date and a major new brand to be announced soon
Little Rocket Lab – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition(No More Robots, 10th Dec, $19.99) – You play as Morgan, an aspiring engineer headed home to complete your family’s dream project – a rocket ship! Finding home not quite how she left it, Morgan will need to research and build clever contraptions and sprawling factories to help the locals. From simple drills and furnaces to complex assemblers, cranes and miles of conveyor belts, you’ll convert local resources into useful materials and bring industry back to sleepy St. Ambroise.
Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny(Game Mill, 30th Sep, $49.99) – Journey across Nickelodeon-inspired fantasy lands on a grand quest inspired by tabletop RPGs in Nicktoons & the Dice of Destiny! Slash, bash, cast spells, and strategize your way to victory against a variety of enemies in fast-paced and fluid ARPG combat. Upgrade your weapons and master new abilities in solo play and local co-op for up to four players.
SHUTEN ORDER – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition(Spike Chunsoft, 27th Nov, $52.48) – In a world steeped in despair and chaos, a strange religious organization called Shuten Order emerges, yearning for the end of humanity. The group rapidly gains followers, eventually forming a small nation state called Shuten.
Skate Story(Devolver Digital, 8th Dec, $19.99) – Ollie, kickflip, and grind your way through the ash and smoke of the Underworld as you take on a seemingly impossible quest. Skate fast to destroy demons and save other tortured souls on your journey from a fragile beginner to a hardened skater.
Ultimate Sheep Raccoon[Switch 2](Clever Endeavour Games, 9th Dec, $19.99) – Race to victory through a mayhem-filled obstacle course of deadly traps you’ve built with friends while pulling off sick tricks! Ultimate Sheep Raccoon is a bike-racing party game where you and your friends build a course of ramps, obstacles, and traps! Dodge hazards, do crazy tricks, and use power-ups to get ahead of the competition. Pedal to victory with up to 8 players locally, online, and cross-platform.
Switch eShop – New Releases
A Game About Digging A Hole(Rokaplay, 9th Dec, $4.99) – Dig deep, sell what you find, update your equipment to continue your journey further and further. With every spadeful you dig, you get closer to the truth. There’s no rush, no rules – just you and the adventure underground. Costs as much as a coffee, but is fun for longer!
Arcade Archives KARATE BLAZERS(HAMSTER, 27th Nov, $7.99) – KARATE BLAZERS is an action game released by VIDEO SYSTEM in 1991. Choose one of 4 martial arts masters, each with his own distinct killing blow. Or play together locally with up to 4 players. Feel the excitement of real fighting as you fight to recover the secret scrolls and save the daughter of your slain master.
Amazing Maze(LUCKY RACCOON GAMES, 1st Dec, $4.99) – Get ready to roll, jump, and think your way through a series of stunning 3D mazes! Amazing Maze redefines the classic “roll-a-ball” experience with creative twists, parkour-inspired moves, and physics-based puzzles that challenge both your reflexes and your mind. Collect the yellow cubes, find the exit, and master each maze with creativity and precision.
Blitz Smash Ultimate(Matt Concepts, 29th Nov, $9.99) – Help Zealot find her lost brother, Solitude, in the vibrant but chaotic ‘Other Dimension’ where riches are abundant and dangers aplenty! Combine bullet powers found on the field to create unique bullet types. Dash to avoid attacks but also to crash enemies or deflect bullets.
Blood: Refreshed Supply(Nightdive Studios, 4th Dec, $29.99) – Originally developed by Monolith Productions and released in 1997 on MS-DOS PCs, Blood is a legendary first-person shooter dripping with Lovecraftian atmosphere and chunks of crimson viscera. Nightdive Studios released an updated edition called Blood: Fresh Supply on PC in 2019; now, the studio is back with a definitive remaster featuring additional technical enhancements for modern platforms, including up to 4K resolution at unlocked frame rates, local split-screen and online co-op for up to 8 players, a Vault with behind-the-scenes content from the development of Blood, and more!
Cats Ritual(SOURCE BYTE, 4th Dec, $4.06) – Welcome to “Cats Ritual” a captivating indie adventure where you must navigate a decaying city to gather 30 elusive cats and save an eccentric NPC from the clutches of ancient cat spirits. As you explore the hidden corners of this forsaken urban landscape—alleys, abandoned lots, and shadowy rooftops—you’ll uncover the secrets behind the Eternal Ritual, a sacred dance that keeps the malevolent cat spirits at bay.
Cozy Tiny Home(REDDEER.GAMES, 9th Dec, $14.99) – Step into a pastel paradise where creativity meets comfort. In Cozy Tiny Home, every item tells a story – from soft cushions and glowing lamps to shelves packed with memories. Whether you’re decorating a snug study, a sunny living room, or a peaceful bedroom, each space becomes your own cozy retreat filled with charm, color, and serenity.
DETECTIVE – Rainy Night(JanduSoft, 4th Dec, $10.99) – Detective Rainy Night puts you in the shoes of Iker Carmona, a police officer investigating a string of strange disappearances. After a long drive, Iker decides to spend the night at a small roadside motel called the Holiday. What begins as a quiet stop quickly spirals into something far more sinister.
Dino Dawn Doom(GAME NACIONAL, 6th Dec, $9.99) – Manage limited resources as you fight to stay alive against the most ferocious dinosaurs, and investigate the mysterious disappearance of a team of mercenary explorers. Procedurally generated environments, meaning each new campaign presents a brand-new challenge.
EGGCONSOLE Lizard PC-8801(D4 Enterprise, 4th Dec, $6.49) – Obtain the Book of Truth from the legendary Lizard Tower! This title is highly acclaimed as one of the finest Japanese-made RPGs from the dawn of PC gaming.
HELL BLOOD: INFERNO RETRO SHOOTER(Vitalii Kaminskyi, 28th Nov, $9.99) – Inspired by the golden age of ’90s shooters, HELL BLOOD combines classic fast-paced combat with modern roguelike progression and acrobatic movement. Every level is alive — shifting layouts, evolving enemies, and unpredictable encounters keep you on edge. Run, dash, double jump, wall-run, and unleash chaos in a storm of fire and fury.
Just a Little Purr Suit(Afil Games, 4th Dec, $4.99) – In Just a Little Purr_suit, guide a clever kitten in a turn-based strategy puzzle with 65 handcrafted levels. Use cards to decide every move: advance, launch the kitten with cannons, bounce on trampolines, cross mysterious portals, and even create new platforms to overcome challenges.
Keep The Heroes Out(Bitten Toast Games, 9th Dec, $19.99) – Monsters may die, which is tragic, but you can always bring them back to the dungeon! So you are never eliminated from the game, however, treasure gone, is gone forever. Each player chooses one of the monsters to play. All monsters have their own special abilities, a different amount of creatures and their unique starting deck of cards.
KIBORG(Sobaka Studio, 9th Dec, $24.99) – FIGHT FOR YOUR FREEDOM In the future, even death can’t free you. If a criminal dies while serving their sentence, they are reconstructed to return to their suffering. And you’re serving a 1300-year sentence. The only way to shorten this sentence? Win on “The Last Ticket. ” The rules are simple: there is a shuttle on the roof of the prison, and if you can fight your way through hordes of other inmates and reach it in time, you will be given your freedom.
Little Rocket Lab[Switch 1](No More Robots, 10th Dec, $19.99) – Build clever contraptions and sprawling factories to solve puzzles and help the town. Get to know the locals, make lifelong friendships and become the heart of the community. Research and invent new machines, energy sources and mechanical friends. Discover a heartwarming story as Morgan, an aspiring engineer with high hopes for town! Finally build your family’s rocket ship!
LOK Digital(Draknek, 9th Dec, $14.99) – Discover a cryptic language of world-changing words Learn the rules as you go and uncover how each new word has its own special ability to change the world around you in deep and surprising ways. Expand your vocabulary through 15 distinct worlds, each one exploring a new mechanic and completely shaking up the way you solve puzzles. Master their mind-bending effects With approachable mechanics and mind-bending gameplay, LOK Digital invites you to return every day for new procedurally generated puzzles showcasing the breadth and depth of mechanics.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond [Switch 1](Nintendo, 4th Dec, $59.99) – Samus Aran, the galaxy’s greatest bounty hunter, must explore the mysterious planet of Viewros, wielding new psychic abilities to find a way home in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on Nintendo Switch. Scan stone statues and ruins for clues on how to progress, unlocking more mysterious psychic abilities as you learn more about the Lamorn – an ancient alien race that once inhabited Viewros. – Read our Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Switch 1 review
Milano’s Odd Job Collection(Marvelous (XSEED), 9th Dec, $14.99) – School’s out, but 11-year-old Milano’s mom needs to go to the hospital and Milano is sent to spend the summer with her uncle. There’s one small problem – her uncle is away on vacation! Left on her own, Milano decides to make the most of her situation by taking up a variety of part-time jobs in town. Over the next 40 days, Milano goes all in – delivering pizzas, nursing sick patients, milking flying cows, and more – to make this summer unforgettable. And maybe she can spruce up her uncle’s place and have some fun while she’s at it. Previously only available in Japan, this charming classic delivers cute Japanese nostalgia to worldwide audiences for the first time!
Montezuma’s Revenge – The 40th Anniversary Edition(eastasiasoft, 10th Dec, $14.99) – The 1983 classic multi-room platformer Montezuma’s Revenge returns in 2. 5D glory, and now Pedro’s adventure is bigger than ever with 100 tricky rooms to explore! For its 40th anniversary, what was once an unfinished game is now resurrected to match the full vision of creator Robert Jaeger. This time you can choose between male and female explorers, Pedro or his sister Rosita, to delve deep into the dangerous ruins and hunt for treasures untold! Montezuma’s Revenge: The 40th Anniversary Edition is remade from the ground up with vibrant 3D visuals while preserving the 1983 original’s 2D gameplay style.
Nightmare: The Lunatic(CFK, 4th Dec, $16.99) – Nightmare: The Lunatic is a roguelite action RPG depicting the struggle of escaping a never-ending nightmare. You have been trapped in a perpetual nightmare. To escape this hair-raising hamster wheel you’re stuck on, you must explore the dream to reach its end. With the dream merchant who got pulled into the nightmare with you, leap into battle to forge your way toward the source of this horrid dream.
Octopath Traveler 0[Switch 1](Square Enix, 4th Dec, $49.99) – Enjoy familiar features such as the series’ HD-2D graphics, a fusion of retro pixel art and 3DCG; the player’s ability to roleplay using Path Actions of their choice; and the Break and Boost system that can turn the tide of battle. Additionally, brand-new features such as character creation and town building allow you to create your own character and restore your hometown.
Old School Rally(Astrolabe Games, 4th Dec, $19.99) – A nostalgic racing game that combines the charm of classic retro style visuals with the thrill of international rally competitions. Old School Rally features fast-paced, arcade-style gameplay, with emphasis on driving skill and high-speed maneuvers.
Pad Quad(Afil Games, 10th Dec, $4.99) – Get ready to bounce into action with Pad Quad, a lightning-fast platformer where padel meets pure arcade fun! Control adorable pixel mascots inspired by QUAD Sports rackets and race across futuristic arenas packed with enemies, traps, and tricky jumps.
Recipe of Love(moesoft, 29th Nov, $24.99) – Yuma, a first-year high school student, was eating lunch he had bought when a beautiful senpai, Mio, appeared before him. She offered him a homemade bento, saying, “I couldn’t finish it.” Thus begins a bittersweet youthful love story. Their special lunchtime together on the bench behind the school gradually connects their hearts. Through jealousy and misunderstandings, a story of first love blossoms. Includes Japanese voice acting.
Sacrifice For Sale(Sometimes You, 5th Dec, $9.99) – Experience interaction in a new and engaging way. Choose to respond to what the characters have to say… directly! Deal with your own hostage situation, negotiate for more than just your freedom. Learn about the people who hold you captive, deconstruct the cult, manipulate them- all to not end up as their next sacrifice. Learn the value of silence! You will never speak a word unless you actively choose to.
Santa’s Christmas Story 2 The Frozen Gift War(Eclipse Interactive, 4th Dec, $6.99) – Santa’s Christmas Story 2: The Frozen Gift War is a festive platformer adventure! Play as Santa, collect lost gifts, run through icy worlds, and battle frozen enemies. Face fun challenges, unlock power-ups, and defeat the Boss to save Christmas!
Speed Factor(Ratalaika Games, 5th Dec, $4.99) – Inspired by 80s and 90s classics, Speed Factor is an old-school racing game with pixelated graphics, arcade driving style, exhilarating punk rock music, and some awesome classic cars! Customize the difficulty level and traction assist level to your personal tastes to make the game as easy or challenging as you want.
Spot The Cat(Trefl S.A, 5th Dec, $6.99) – Can you find two identical cats?
Ultimate Sheep Raccoon[Switch 1](Clever Endeavour Games, 9th Dec, $19.99) – Race to victory through a mayhem-filled obstacle course of deadly traps you’ve built with friends while pulling off sick tricks! Ultimate Sheep Raccoon is a bike-racing party game where you and your friends build a course of ramps, obstacles, and traps! Dodge hazards, do crazy tricks, and use power-ups to get ahead of the competition. Pedal to victory with up to 8 players locally, online, and cross-platform.
What will you be downloading this week? (194 votes)
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition26%
Octopath Traveler 0 (Switch 2)16%
Red Dead Redemption: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition12%
Farming Simulator: Signature Edition0.5%
Little Rocket Lab – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition1%
Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny0.5%
SHUTEN ORDER – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition2%
Skate Story4%
Ultimate Sheep Raccoon (Switch 2)0.5%
A Game About Digging A Hole1%
Arcade Archives KARATE BLAZERS0.5%
Amazing Maze0%
Blitz Smash Ultimate0%
Blood: Refreshed Supply2%
Cats Ritual0%
Cozy Tiny Home0.5%
DETECTIVE – Rainy Night1%
Dino Dawn Doom0.5%
EGGCONSOLE Lizard PC-88010%
Hell Blood: Inferno Retro Shooter0%
Just a Little Purr Suit0.5%
Keep The Heroes Out0%
Kiborg0%
Little Rocket Lab (Switch 1)0%
LOK Digital2%
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (Switch 1)9%
Milano’s Odd Job Collection1%
Montezuma’s Revenge – The 40th Anniversary Edition3%
Nightmare：The Lunatic1%
Octopath Traveler 0 (Switch 1)5%
Old School Rally2%
Pad Quad0%
Recipe of Love0%
Sacrifice For Sale0%
Santa’s Christmas Story 2 The Frozen Gift War0%
Speed Factor0%
Spot the Cat1%
Ultimate Sheep Raccoon (Switch 1)0.5%
Nothing for me this week8%
So that’s your lot for this week’s North American Nintendo Download. Go on, be a sport and drop a vote in the poll above, and comment below with your hot picks!
It has been eight years since Nintendo first announced Metroid Prime 4. It has been 18 years since the release of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. And now, after all that time, Beyond’s launch trailer is finally here.
Those who have kept up with every trailer drop until now won’t find too much new footage in this one, but we challenge anyone who’s been waiting for the best part of a decade to watch without feeling a little tingle down their spine.
The whole thing is a bit more story-based than we’ve seen in previous trailers, with a gritty narration teeing up Samus’ might and narrative predicament, before a boatload of sequences show her in action. And stick around until the end for a particularly mysterious stinger!
The game has launched today on Switch and Switch 2. On the new hardware, we described Prime 4 as “quite possibly the boldest, most well-realised Metroid game to date” in our review, and our impressions of the Switch 1 version were equally optimistic, despite the resolution drop.
What do you make of the MP4 launch trailer? Are you getting your copy today? Let us know in the comments.
I’ve been having an interesting run lately of games that shake things up, even if it’s just a little bit, in the controls department.
Back in the good old days — or at least my nostalgia blinkers have made it seem this way to me — the idea of being bored rigid by a game’s control systems wasn’t something that ever entered my mind. Was it because I was less of a pro gamer in the 1980s and ’90s than I am now? Well, yes, obviously, nobody can be this pro for that long, but that’s not the actual reason. Not this time.
No, for all the pot shots you can take at old games for being a bit naff and aged and wrinkly and incontinent and what-have-you, you cannot so easily disrespect them when it comes to their controls. There just seemed to be more variety back in the crazy, lawless days of early video games. Or maybe I just feel that way because I wore a Nintendo Power Glove and a cheap rumble backpack for most of my childhood. A rumble backpack!
Whatever the case, I think it’s fair to say things are more homogenised now; players expect, and developers deliver, on a certain style of controls for a certain type of game, for the most part. When the latest shooter shows up, we expect to know exactly how to chuck a grenade, crouch, or run without having to refer to a guide.
And I don’t like it. I mean, I like games that control nicely…so I guess I do like it, technically. They’ve got me there. But sometimes you get your hands on something that really does things differently — whilst still controlling nicely — and remember, ‘Hey, unique control schemes can really tie this whole thing together!’
In this way, Kirby Air Riders has been a genuine surprise to me in how deep and addictive its chaotic racing is, whilst still managing to be radically different to the norm at its core. It’s been the main culprit in bringing all of this stuff to my mind. I got a bit fed up with Mario Kart World, you see, as it feels overwhelmingly like more of the same once you’re on the track and racing (which is fine, but I’ve had enough after a decade of 8), and so I’ve left it all behind and feel a little deflated with the series now as a result.
The thing with Mario Kart, though, is that it’s so refined you know they’re never changing it. Well, not massively. Why would they? And so, with Air Riders, there’s real excitement in digging in, because it’s so unique in its slightly mad take on careening around courses and knocking the stuffing out of opponents.
Rather than your usual racing experience — one button for accelerate, another for brake (and a handbrake button for crashing) — Air Riders is kinda like…well, it’s like slingshotting around a course rather than driving the route. It’s akin to strategically pulling back an elastic band at just the right moment on corners and then letting rip down straights at its core, with a bunch of other stuff then added on top.
I’m immediately way more invested thanks to this, and mostly just because it’s a switch-up, a refresh of the things I’m normally doing with my hands and brain whilst controlling a game. It’s something to sink my teeth into. Something new to learn. And it gives Kirby’s racer a real unique flavour and strength all of its own.
In a similar way, Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road takes football and turns it into something a little more unexpected and unique in its segmented, RPG-esque control scheme. It’s really nothing like what you may be expecting if you’re a newcomer.
Now, this isn’t quite the same sort of comparison (this isn’t a pure footie sports game after all), but even then, when approached differently in this way, when a match is started and completed in such a mechanically and narratively different manner, with limited controls and time on the ball interlaced with super skills, boosts and boons — whilst still remaining every bit as compelling as a game of FC 26 in my mind — it makes me wish there were way more examples of certain types of games being approached differently, just to spice things up a little. Y’know.
Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life
Nintendo, to its credit, has been better than many when it comes to control experimentation; you only have to look at the recently released (and very good, thanks) Drag x Drive, to see how they’ve taken something rather, well, it’s not the most mind-blowing concept, but it’s made way more appealing by the introduction of a unique control scheme. You’ve got me learning stuff; how to turn on a dime and speed up, how best to take a shot or pull off a trick. It instantly raises what could have been a totally forgettable thing into something that had us all talking when we caught sight of it for the first time.
Indeed, the Switch 2, as much as some have had a go at its screen quality and a few other things in the early months, has already been delivering the goods big time in giving us mouse mode to add to our options for shooters, RPGs and so on. Granted, you’re just giving us what PC players already have in some cases, so it’s not the same brand of ‘unique’. However, the option being there, just having the ability to do things differently on the screen, can make a no-buy into something I’ll go ahead and purchase.
Of course, a premium- — or even nuclear- — grade example of Nintendo trying new things in the controls department (and one that actually paid off, I won’t hear otherwise) is Sakurai’s 3DS belter Kid Icarus: Uprising.
I’ve heard so many people bemoan this one; I’ve heard lots of “This should have been a twin-stick shooter!” because of how heinous they found its control scheme. But I loved it. And it’s a game that will forever sit with me because of those controls. Doing things differently is good! I mean, I did still buy a Circle Pad Pro because this one gave me sore wrists at points, but don’t tell anyone.
Oh, and whilst we’re on the subject of unique controls on Nintendo consoles specifically, and I know there are lots of examples, but this one stick out personally; did you know you could hold two NES controllers like Switch Joy-Con to play Smash TV back in the day with a double D-pad setup? Yes, you could, and it was great.
So, yes, these are all games that would’ve still sold well, no doubt, without the unique elements they bring to the table with their controls, but they just wouldn’t have the same flavour at all in my mind. They’d never be so memorable, regardless of how divisive or even frustrating they can be at times (yes, Kid Icarus, yes, you were).
Whilst new horizons on the old mechanical front can sometimes come a cropper, let’s hear it for games that are out here taking risks and making players do stuff a little differently than usual, and let’s hope we see plenty more in the near future. I’m well tired of holding the same buttons to do the same things ad nauseam.
Feel like games could do with getting back to experimenting a bit more with controls? Hate/love any of the games I’ve mentioned due to their unique control schemes? Let us know!
The latest Japanese charts are in from Famitsu, and while we really thought Kirby fever would grip the nation for a little while longer, Mario had other plans.
Yes, despite Kirby Air Riders smashing the competition last week, this time, Mario Kart World has drifted back into first place, with an additional ~50,000 units to its name. Air Riders follows in second with a little over 46,000 weekly units, but damn, there really is no stopping Mario, huh?
Here’s the latest top ten physical sales in Japan:
Position
Game
Platform
Unit Sales (24th – 30th Nov)
Total Unit Sales
1
Mario Kart World
Switch 2
49,586
2,251,711
2
Kirby Air Riders
Switch 2
46,287
241,881
3
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Switch
35,225
1,306,801
4
Momotaro Dentetsu 2: Anata no Machi mo Kitto Aru – Higashi Nihon Hen + Nishi Nihon Hen
Switch
22,361
141,141
5
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Switch 2
20,031
818,046
6
Momotaro Dentetsu 2: Anata no Machi mo Kitto Aru – Higashi Nihon Hen + Nishi Nihon Hen – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Switch 2
15,730
93,288
7
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
Switch 2
9,647
109,768
8
Minecraft
Switch
7,368
4,057,382
9
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
Switch
7,262
293,851
10
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Switch
7,245
8,265,856
In the hardware charts, the Switch 2 stays firmly on top with an additional 97,677 units to its name, followed by the PS5 Digital Edition and the Switch OLED.
Things are so close between the PS5 and Switch 1 this week, that combining the SKU’s for the two consoles only narrowly tips things in Sony’s favour. The standard Switch, OLED and Lite come together for 35,327, while the three PS5 models sneak in with 35,786.
This Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Walkthrough will guide you through the game from beginning to end, providing you with clear guidance on how to obtain 100% completion. That includes all Power Suit Upgrades, Scan Entries, Scout Bot Locations, and how to beat every boss.
Note. This guide is a work in progress and we’ll be adding more in the coming days.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Guide: Walkthrough
Image: Nintendo Life / Nintendo
In this section, we’ll take you through every major location in the game, highlighting every item pickup and scan entry along the way to achieve that coveted 100% completion rating.
Naturally, as we head into the latter sections of the game, there will be copious spoilers, so be on your guard if you’re sensitive to that sort of thing!
Galactic Federation UTO Research Center The opening section of the game sees Samus come face-to-face with an old foe as she works to protect planet Tanamaar against an onslaught of Space Pirates. This is a great place to get acquainted with the controls and primary mechanics.
Fury Green This is the first ‘main’ location in Prime 4: Beyond. Fury Green is a lush forest crammed with creatures great and small, with plenty of scan entries and items to find.
More coming soon!
Collectibles
Image: Nintendo Life / Nintendo
Metroid games feature boatloads of collectibles, and Metroid Prime 4 is no different. So if you’re looking to obtain every item, scan, and upgrade available to achieve 100% completion, then you’ll want to check out the following:
Power Suit Upgrade Locations Would it really be a Metroid game without any Power Suit Upgrades? Of course not. Here, we’ll go through all major enhancements to Samus’ abilities as you progress through the game.
Missile Expansion Locations Missiles will prove exceptionally useful as you traverse the world of Viewros in Prime 4: Beyond. Here, we’ll go through all entries and link each into the main walkthrough for you to find.
Energy Tank Locations Like the Missiles, Energy Tanks provide huge boosts to your chances of survival, adding a whopping 100 points to Samus’ health bar. We’ll go through all of them right here.
Scan Entry Locations The Prime series sets itself apart in the world of Metroid by including a bunch of scans, providing context and lore behind the inhabitants and biomes found on Viewros. Want to grab them all? Then start here.
More coming soon!
Bosses
Image: Nintendo Life / Nintendo
Metroid Prime 4 features some of the best, most ferocious boss characters we’ve seen from the series so far. If you’re looking for some tips on how to beat them, then make sure to check out our following guides:
Aberax Aberax is a hulking Space Pirate boss that appears in the opening section of the game. This is a great encounter to really hone those skills at an early stage of the game… Before you lose most of your abilities, of course.
Carvex The guardian of Fury Green, Carvex is a huge, planet-like creature that sports multiple targets that you’ll need to hit simultaneously. Good job we’ve got that Control Beam, then!
More coming soon..!
Metroid Prime 4 Review
We awarded Metroid Prime 4 a resounding score of 9/10 in our Switch 2 review, calling it “quite possibly the boldest, most well-realised Metroid game to date.”
December has gotten off to quite the start, hasn’t it? With so many new games launching on Switch 2, we’re sure that you’re keen to find out how each and every one of them runs on the fresh hardware and, as ever, the tech experts over at Digital Foundry are here to do just that.
This time, it’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ Switch 2 port that’s being put under the microscope. The above video sets a baseline of the Xbox Series S version and compares the technical flair of the new Nintendo hybrid from there. So, what does DF make of it?
Visually, the Switch 2 has some obvious cutbacks from the Series S edition. Without SSR, the handheld version is lacking most water reflection and movement, and you’ll notice some decrease in foliage at a middle distance. Textures also come in at a decreased resolution, and, ironically, the titular shadows don’t hold up as well as they do elsewhere — though, at half the storage size of the Series S release, this is hardly surprising.
All that said, DF describes the Switch 2 edition as “a pretty handsome rendition of the game”, one that comes in very close to the Series S.
In terms of image quality, the game utilises DLSS technology to help along the docked mode’s typical 648p resolution, and produces a much better image than that number would suggest in the process. This is, of course, reduced in handheld play, where DF counted resolutions as low as 400p, but it all remains “pretty respectable” in action and is even considered “more reliable in portable play than when docked”.
The game mostly sticks to its 30fps target in typical play, though its frame pacing is rather poor, and there are occasional dips in particularly taxing locations or cutscenes.
All in all, DF considers Shadows on Switch 2 as “an impossible port that impresses”, something we firmly agreed with in our 8/10 review.
What do you make of Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Switch 2 specs? Let us know in the comments.
IO Interactive is in our good books big time off the back of all the premium-grade assassinating they’ve let us do across the globe as Agent 47. Now the team has taken up the mantle (the obvious next step for those paying attention) of James Bond himself, with 007: First Light.
And ahead of the game’s 27th March 2026 release date, IO has dropped the very first in a series of dev diary deep dives aimed at exploring this latest Bond adventure alongside interested players. What an absolute high this dev team has been on with the majestic Hitman: World of Assassination, and it looks like it’ll continue here.
We’ve already seen bits and pieces of the game, and we know it’s a reimagining of the Bond origin story, featuring a young 007. But this first episode, which you can watch in full above, concentrates on gameplay, as the series as a whole looks to cover the design philosophy and creative processes.
It’s interesting stuff, so make sure to check it out for all the new gameplay footage, and discussions about the game’s blend of mechanics, which it seems will – in part at least – run with some Hitman aspects, developing on stuff such as questioning and observing, and blending into your surroundings. Oh boy, we can’t wait.
One example mentioned in the video is “enforcers”, meaning NPCs who see through you because they “know” everyone who works in a particular building or area. So this then introduces a new puzzle style to work with.
We also get some tantalising chat about how the devs want to balance thing to give players freedom to approach any situation the way they want as Bond, whilst also making it so the execution of any given plan you hatch can go wildly wrong and need re-tuning on the fly. All the good stuff we hoped we’d hear them speak about when approaching James Bond in their signature style, basically.
Andreas Krogh, the gameplay director on 007: First Light also mentions new techniques they’ve come up with by “marrying” Bond’s style with their take on stealth. So you have some new deescalation options, such as bluffing. Here we see that Bond can smooth talk his way out of a scenario where the only option for 47 would be to pan somebody in the head or run away.
Thomas Pulluelo, the game’s level designer, also pops up to show how the rather nice looking environs on display are designed so that players can see opportunities more easily and naturally. So hopefully fewer shiny pipes and yellow footholds, and more feeling like you did it all yourself. Nice.
There’s are some fantastic sequences (so do make sure to check out the full vid) that show off the amazingly brutal action and combat we can expect in March of next year. This young Bond does some vicious CQC, he charges down foes and gets stuck in like a proper trained killer. Expect plenty of quick switching between fist fights, shooting with fancy guns, stealth action and lots of crashing of expensive cars and then reloading the game.
Now, speaking of cars, where did we put the keys to our motor? It’s been leaking oil slicks and randomly firing machine gun bullets out of its hood again. Honestly, Q’s been right off their game recently.
If you’re looking forward to 007: First Light, make sure you check out Push Square’s preview from back in September; they might be more excited than us!
Looking forward to 007: First Light? Think IO’s style suits 007 down to the ground like we do? Let us know!
Metroid has rarely been able to play with the Nintendo big boys as far as sales are concerned, so it’s no surprise that Samus merch drops have been a fair bit rarer than those seen for Zelda and Mario. But, with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally here, Nintendo is changing that… in Japan, at least.
Yes, a new wave of Metroid merch is now available exclusively at the Nintendo Stores in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka and the Okinawa pop-up. Just to really rub salt in the wound, it’s also available on the My Nintendo Store, exclusively in Japan. *sigh* Back to looking longingly at plane tickets, it is.
Update: Well, it looks like Nintendo has answered our wishes! Although it appeared that the merch outlined below was exclusive to Japan, many of the items have just cropped up on the UK My Nintendo Store, too.Time to beef up those Christmas stockings!
Simply put, the new range is awesome. There’s a super cute Baby Metroid keychain, a Morph Ball zip-up pouch, a ‘gadget case’ for all your wires and charging banks, and even glasses so you can ‘cheers’ Prime 4 in style.
The real winners, mind you, are the Metroid ice cube tray (not available on the EU store) — because why have cube-shaped ice, when it could look like a tiny alien? — and the Arm Cannon pillow, which, yes, you can actually wear.
The full collection ranges in price from 2,420 yen / £12.99 for the keychain, up to 6,600 yen / £37.99 for the Arm Cannon pillow.
And if the above has got you in the mood for even more merch, the squishy Metroid amiibo is now back in stock on the UK My Nintendo Store for £12.99.
Those unable to get their hands on any of the above can still take joy in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which arrives on Switch and Switch 2 today, instead. We called Samus’ latest adventure “one of the very best Metroid games of all time” in our review, and today, the wait is finally over!
What’s your favourite piece of merch from this new line-up? Let us know in the comments.
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