Category: Nintendo News

First announced in the Japanese version of the September 2023 Nintendo Direct, Spike Chunsoft has confirmed that Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island is coming to the West, with a physical release set for 27th February 2024.

The trailer above touches on the history of this roguelike Mystery Dungeon side series, which began in 1995 with Mystery Dungeon 2. Shiren the Warrior. As you’d expect, it appears that STWTMGOSI (yep, everyone’s going to be calling it that) will deliver the series’ traditional dungeon-crawling while introducing some new quality-of-life features such as “two types of live search displays that can be used for different purposes or the ability to track your own steps on the mini-map.”

Here’s a story summary from the game’s official website, plus some character art including Koppa (“one of the last ‘talking ferrets'”), Asuka (“A wandering swordswoman who is old friends with Shiren and Koppa.”), and Suzuna (a “cheerful innkeeper”):

A few months after their previous adventure in Tsukikage Village…
Shiren the Wanderer and Koppa, his talking ferret partner, received a vision of a distant land and a girl in distress. It led them to the mysterious Serpentcoil Island.
But they’re not alone. Rumors speak of lost pirate gold hidden away within the depths of Serpentcoil Island, and a powerful monster at its highest mountain peak said to hold an exquisite treasure in its belly. Adventurers and warriors have flocked from all over the realm, eager for a chance at fortune.
What is the connection between the mystery girl and the monster? What is the truth behind the secrets and treasures scattered throughout the island? A new adventure for Shiren and Koppa begins!

The last game in the series, the amusingly titled Shiren the Wanderer: The Tower of Fortune and the Dice of Fate (breathe) was a 2010, Japan-only DS title before coming to PSP worldwide a few years later, and eventually to Switch in 2020. We enjoyed our time with that game — if you enjoy the repetition inherent to a dungeon-crawler of this nature, the winner of our Most Long-Winded Game Title 2020 award fits the bill nicely.

The latest game will be available to pre-order, and it comes with some stickers. Check out the provisional artwork for the physical release below:

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island will launch for $59.99, or your regional equivalent, on 27th February 2024. Let us know below if you’re a fan of the series and plan on picking up this entry.

In news that’s been a long time coming, Nintendo has announced it will be ending “online play and other functionality” that uses online communication for both the 3DS and Wii U as of “early April” 2024. Here’s the official confirmation:

Nintendo: “In early April 2024, online play and other functionality that uses online communication will end for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software. This also includes online co-operative play, internet rankings, and data distribution.”

Again, there’s no exact date at this stage, it’s just “early April”, so do (or play) whatever you need to before then. Nintendo will announce a specific end date and time “at a later date” but also mentions how services could be discontinued “earlier than planned”:

“Please note that if an event occurs that would make it difficult to continue online services for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software, we may have to discontinue services earlier than planned.”

Nintendo has a Q&A on its support website answering some basic questions. It notes how Pokémon Bank for the 3DS will still be available even after the other online services end, although this could also end “at some point in the future”. As for online services for software from “other” publishers, there will also be “some exceptions”.

A separate support page mentions how Nintendo Badge Arcade will display an “error screen when launched” and it will no longer be possible to place badges in the badge box once the online services end.

Despite online play and other functionality ending, 3DS and Wii U users will still be able to download update data and redownload purchased software and DLC from the eShop in the “foreseeable future”. And while 3DS StreetPass will still be available, SpotPass support is ending.

Back in March of this year, Nintendo officially closed the 3DS and Wii U eShops, with purchases “no longer possible”. Again though, you can still redownload all your purchased games and DLC.

We’ll let you know if there are any updates.

The Stardew Valley creator Eric ‘ConcernedApe’ Barone has celebrated one million followers on social media by sharing four new screenshots of his upcoming game Haunted Chocolatier.

While it’s only “100%” locked in for PC right now, in an FAQ on the official game site, ConcernedApe says he has “every intention of bringing it to other major platforms as well”. Here are the four new screenshots which show off some indoor locations, a fountain, and the great outdoors. You can even see the character shooting a bow and arrow in the same screenshot.

The Haunted Chocolatier was revealed to the world back in 2021. It’s described as an RPG and simulation game and will have you playing as a chocolatier who is living in a haunted castle. It’s also been described as “another town game” where you move to a new town to take on a new way of life. There’s action-RPG elements, too.

“In order to thrive in your new role, you will have to gather rare ingredients, make delicious chocolates, and sell them in a chocolate shop.”

“You’ll get to know the townspeople, achieve your goals and make progress in many ways. All of that is similar to Stardew Valley. However, the core gameplay and theming are quite a bit different. Haunted Chocolatier is more of an action-RPG compared to Stardew Valley. And instead of a farm being the focal point of your endeavors, it’s a chocolate shop.”

ConcernedApe has been working on Version 1.6 of Stardew Valley as well. Just last week ago he shared another sneak peek, mentioning how it was still in the works:

Do you like the look of Haunted Chocolatier? Excited about the next Stardew update? Leave a comment below.

More microgame madness is coming soon to the form of WarioWare Move It! for the Nintendo Switch. If you’re curious to learn more about this upcoming release, you’ve come to the right place as we’ve put together this round up featuring some early impressions.

Firstly, if you haven’t already, be sure to check out Alex’s “hands on”, who thoroughly enjoyed his time with the game.

Right, now that you’ve read and watched all that, here are some early impressions from various other outlets:

Polygon said “drawing with your butt” summed up this new entry in the microgame series:

“Drawing with your butt summarizes what the WarioWare series is all about. Nintendo’s 20-year-old microgame franchise has never shied away from crude, gross-out gags and absurdist humor — this is a series famous for its nose-picking and fart-clearing games, after all — and WarioWare: Move It!, the latest microgame collection for Nintendo Switch, is no different.”

GameSpot also mentioned how the game was a “very direct sequel to Smooth Moves”:

“That game was made when Nintendo was riding high on the success of the Wii and putting motion controls into its various franchises, and it works as a WarioWare gimmick well enough. But that also means it’s an homage to an era of motion-based controls that lent themselves to party games, which haven’t necessarily aged as well as the more traditional frantic microgames compiled in WarioWare Gold. Still, Nintendo seems keen to recapture the party game magic, and maybe Wario’s unique brand of gonzo humor and fast action can bring it back.”

Pocket Tactics had positive feedback based on its first impressions but is eager to see what’s beyond the story mode:

“We need to see just how much there is beyond the story mode, as while the main path is a blast, the extra silly party mode games like darts or ping pong are what get me picking up WarioWare months after the party is over. Plus, a couple of microgames felt a bit naff compared to others, and we’ve only seen a fraction of the full library of games on offer. Here’s hoping the rest of the microgames are just as funny and equally as simple and satisfying to play.”

CGMagazine said it could potentially be a must-have game:

“While WarioWare: Get It Together on Switch in 2021 was a more traditional entry, Move It! looks like a reinvention that will make multiplayer madness even more…well, maddening. The microgame concept is perfectly suited for quick pick-up-and-play sessions, too. It’s sure to be a hit at parties and family gatherings this holiday season.”

And GamesRadar+ felt it really encouraged players to get moving and calling it a “real workout”:

“It feels like Nintendo wants us up and out of our seats more than ever this time as some of the microgames really do require you to put your whole body into it. As I’ve already mentioned, the main method of gameplay sees players take on different poses aka Forms. The different Forms will affect how the game is played, so don’t expect to take on many of these minigames sitting down. In Move It, you’ll be stretching, squatting, stamping, and more – it’s a real workout!”

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Would you be interested in WarioWare: Move It! on Switch? Tell us in the comments.

The Super Nintendo classic Super Mario RPG will land on the Switch in November with updated graphics and cinematics that give the game a fresh look.

That’s not all, either. As highlighted by Nintendo Europe’s social media account, there’ll be the option to swap between the “original” 1996 Super Nintendo soundtrack and the newly-arranged Switch music. Here’s a quick example of this, featuring the levels Bandit’s Way and Forest Maze.

And as noted, after clearing the game, you’ll be able to listen to your favourite tracks in the Sound Player section. To top it off, veteran composer Yoko Shimomura will be returning, with one of her standout songs being ‘Beware the Forest’s Mushrooms‘, which is the track that plays in Forest Maze.

Will you be listening to the newly-arranged or original music in the Switch release? Tell us below.

It’s been a few months now since the enhanced version of Quake II arrived on the Nintendo Switch and Bethesda is now rolling out its very first “major update” for this re-release.

New vibration effects have been added for controller users across all platforms, some quality-of-life improvements have been made to both Quake II and the 64 versions, and there have been a stack of changes to multiplayer. And to top it off there are a bunch of balance changes and bug fixes.

Here’s the full rundown, courtesy of Bethesda:

Enhanced Quake II re-release – first major update (3rd October 2023)

QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS

-All Platforms-

General Gameplay

• Added controller vibration effects when taking damage
• Restored Always Run in the Input Options menu, with separate options for controller and keyboard
• Save and load menus will now indicate which campaign a save is from
• The Compass, Drop CTF Tech and Use Grapple actions can now be mapped as custom binds from the Input Options menu
• Added toggle for Underwater Warp in the Gameplay Options menu
• Increased the window in which input is disallowed after disengaging the weapon or inventory wheel to prevent erroneous look input or accidental item/weapon deselection
• Disabling View Bob in the Gameplay Options menu bobbing results in fewer residual head bobs
• Added missing Tank animation
• Improved Compass objective navigation throughout various places in Quake II, The Reckoning, Ground Zero, and Quake II 64
• Skipping cinematics now requires the Action key/button to be pressed instead of any key/button
• Added an extra chain segment to the Plasma Beam and Grappling Hook when using higher FOVs
• Improved cases where momentum would be lost when traveling up stairs
• Proper drowning sounds are now used based on selected player model

Multiplayer

• Added ability to load quick saves and manual saves in online co-op without having to back out to the lobby
• Bot chat can now be disabled from Multiplayer Options menu
• Added match browser filters and the ability to sort by ping in the Multiplayer/Online/Join Match menu
• Raised the maximum number of visible matches in the Multiplayer/Online/Join Match menu from 20 to 50
• Excluded full servers from visible matches in the Multiplayer/Online/Join Match menu
• Disabled Quake II 64 physics changes when playing Quake II 64 multiplayer maps
• Enabled Spawn Furthest by default in competitive game modes
• Enabled Auto Join Teams by default for team-based game modes
• Raised default Frag Limit to 30
• Set multiple cvars as cheat-enabled, disallowing hosts to use them when cheats are disabled
• Updated Q2CTF2 (Stronghold Opposition) and Q2CTF3 (The Smelter) to better reflect the original versions of these Capture the Flag maps

PC and Xbox

• Added support for PC and Xbox consoles to play on LAN together

PC

• Capped maximum FPS to 1,000 prevent possible engine anomalies at higher frame rates
• Prioritized Saved Games directory over game install directory when basepath is changed

BALANCE CHANGES

-All Platforms-

General Gameplay

• Increased Railgun damage from 100 to 125
• Monsters will no longer dodge shots coming from the side or behind
• The slime and lava traps in The Slimy Place and The Frag Pipe can no longer be avoided
• Turrets no longer do extra damage when blind firing
• Killing a Brain while its chest is open will now always count as a kill
• Monsters will no longer open nearby doors immediately after spawning
• Fixbots will abort healing when staggering from pain
• Berserker:
  • The Berserker’s attack can be dodged by jumping when the slam occurs
  • Added a visual tell to indicate when the Berserker’s jump is being charged up
  • Added an additional 100ms delay before the Berserker jumps after it is fully charged
  • Reduced slam attack damage

Multiplayer

• Removed ladder sounds from multiplayer for balance reasons

BUG FIXES

-All Platforms-

General Gameplay

• Reduced vision cone size on monsters waiting in ambush to fix some cases of accidental trap activation
• Power shield will no longer reactivate after picking up ammo if it was manually turned off
• Power-ups will no longer leave a phantom pickup after a player dies
• Fixed crash when a soldier tries to use a run attack against no player

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If you haven’t already tried out Quake II on the Switch, check out our Nintendo Life review. We called it an outstanding remaster and is one of the best remasters on the Switch.

Have you downloaded this update yet? Comment below.

It feels like 3D platformers have come back in a big way these last few years, and some of the most memorable entries have been the most unconventional. Demon Turf utilized a fascinating hand-drawn 2D art style. Tinykin had you leaping and exploring bedrooms and kitchens while commanding a small army of not-Pikmin. Snake Pass tasked you with slithering around as a snake in a platformer without jumping. Super Adventure Hand fits this canon of offbeat 3D platformers like a glove, and though it isn’t an exceptional entry in the genre, it’s so bizarre that we can’t help but suggest you give it a try.

Super Adventure Hand begins with the titular appendage going for a woodland stroll before being accosted by the nefarious feet, who knock the hand unconscious and steal the arm it was attached to. You thus set out on a quest across various hand-themed worlds, collecting mugs along the way that (somehow?) aid you in your goal of reclaiming your arm. From the feet.

It’s a 3D platformer at heart but with a weird twist. You’re presented with relatively simple, linear levels packed with expected staples—fire traps, rotating platforms, fans—yet much of the challenge and charm comes from directing the unwieldy hand to do what you want it to. The hand doesn’t accelerate or move quite like you’d expect a typical 3D platformer protagonist to move, and trying to understand the odd physics that govern it often reminded us of Snake Pass’s unique approach to ‘platforming’.

It’s humorously strange, but controlling the hand can occasionally feel like an exercise in frustration. Sometimes you’ll attempt to leap to a distant platform, only for one of your fingers to push off a surface at an odd angle and send you careening into the depths, forcing a respawn earlier in the level. It’s a short and easy enough experience that such hiccups don’t totally sink your enjoyment—indeed, many times such failures elicited a chuckle—but the goofy controls can eventually start to feel like a joke that’s wearing thin.

To pad out the replayability a bit, hidden thimbles scattered across each level unlock new cosmetic options like watches, rings, and nail polish for customizing your hand. Additionally, you can get up to three ‘thumbs up’ on a level depending on how quickly you cleared it, adding in a time attack element for achieving true mastery. Collecting everything and nailing all the time requirements requires some serious dexterity, adding a nice skill ceiling for those with quick fingers.

Visuals are pretty basic here, but a big part of Super Adventure Hand’s charm is the viscerally revolting sensation of watching a disembodied hand scurry around as it tickles its way up walls and across platforms. The fingers all move independently while they warp and twist according to the terrain, taking on an almost rubbery texture as the hand desperately clings to surfaces. It’s uncanny and disturbing, but watching that hand move is one of the most consistently enjoyable parts of the game.

We’ve got to hand it to Devm Games (Moving Out) for coming up with the concept. This is a joyous, eccentric platformer that’s not quite like anything you’ve played before. Though the controls can be frustrating, that’s also the point of this brief, uncannily gripping experience.

Can you believe it’s October already? Yes, we’re now very much at the business end of the year for game releases, and boy can you tell looking at Nintendo’s upcoming line-up.

We’ve been busy rounding up our usual selection of games headed to retail in the coming weeks, including some highlights picked by us as well as lots of other games and accessories that are launching soon. Have a browse through and see if anything takes your fancy:

Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.

The tough-talking, coffee-guzzling Detective Pikachu returns in, well… Detective Pikachu Returns!

A sequel to the original 3DS game, Detective Pikachu Returns sees the titular mouse teaming up with his pal Tim Goodman for another journey to solve a series of mysterious incidents that are occurring within the city. Pre-orders are open now, with more options available here.

In the blue corner of what will be quite the late-October showdown (more on that in the next entry on this list), Sonic Superstars speeds onto Switch on the 17th.

This new platformer will have players setting off on an all-new 2D adventure through the mystical Northstar Islands as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy. All-new Emerald powers are also in play, allowing you to move and attack in “dynamic new ways”.

We’re feeling pretty optimistic about what we’ve seen on this one so far, with features like a series-first co-op campaign available. You can treat yourself to a copy below.

And in the red corner of that October battle we have Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the first new 2D Mario game in a decade!

As anyone who watched the game’s initial Nintendo Direct reveal will remember, this new Mario game sees the series’ classic side-scrolling gameplay be turned on its head thanks to the addition of Wonder Flowers! These game-changing items trigger all sorts of weird and wonderful moments like warp pipes coming to life – it all looks utterly fantastic. More pre-order options are available here.

The next WarioWare game is fast approaching, launching on Switch on 3rd November.

WarioWare: Move It! will feature more than 200 of the series’ fast and frantic microgames, having players shake, punch, dance, and wiggle their Joy-Con in heated multiplayer madness. Up to four players can play this one together by using a Joy-Con each, so grab some friends, grab some controllers, and grab a pre-order below if you’re keen on picking this one up:

The SNES classic Super Mario RPG returns in a lovely-looking remake on Switch on 17th November.

If you haven’t played the original, Super Mario RPG has you teaming up with an oddball group of heroes to save Star Road and stop the troublemaking Smithy Gang. This remake comes with updated graphics and cinematics and will be particularly noteworthy to European fans – the original game only launched in North America and Japan, with Europe only getting access to it via the Wii’s Virtual Console service until now.

More pre-order options are available here.

More Upcoming Switch Games For October And November 2023

As well as the highlighted games above, there are plenty of Switch retail games that could pique your interest over the coming weeks…

New Accessories For Your Switch

And finally, below you’ll find a selection of Switch accessories coming up soon as well as our Switch buyer’s guides if you’re looking for anything in particular.

Remember you can also buy your Switch eShop credit and games from the Nintendo Life store. Purchases made on our store help to support the site, so thank you in advance!

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So that’s it for October and November — did we miss anything? Let us know with a comment and tell us if you’ve pre-ordered any of these goodies!

Raw Fury has revealed that summer is definitely not over, as Kingdom Eighties: Summer of Greed is launching on the Switch eShop on 16th October 2023.

The popular micro-strategy series has shifted away from the medieval landscapes of previous titles and swapped it for the hazy summer of the 1980s. Stuffed full of references to your favourite movies from the era, this newest entry sees you saving your neighbourhood from a strange alien-like race.

The Steam version launched back in June and has received positive reviews from critics, though Kingdom fans should not that this game is reportedly a bit easier than what they’re previously used to.

Here’s a rundown of what to expect from the game:

A stylish new spin on the hit Kingdom franchise, Kingdom Eighties is an epic adventure of micro-strategy and base-building wrapped in the neon-retro vibes of the ‘80s. As the Leader, a young camp counselor, you’ll team up with new friends like the Champ, the Tinkerer, and the Wiz to protect the town of Monarch from the relentless attacks of the mysterious Greed.

Recruit neighborhood kids and assign them roles like soldiers and builders, use coins to build and expand your kingdom, and fortify it by raising walls and defensive turrets. But be ready – when night falls, the Greed will attack without mercy. Explore your town, unlock new mounts, discover powerful weapons and tech upgrades, and manage your resources wisely to survive.

Key Features
– Step into the Kingdom Franchise: Kingdom Eighties builds on the series’ well-known world and mechanics with a new experience perfect for newcomers to learn the ropes and fall in love with the franchise.
– Befriend Your Trusty Companions: Join forces with three supporting characters who will lend you their aid on your journey: the Champ, the Tinkerer, and the Wiz. Each has different abilities you can combine to progress through the game.
– Hit the Streets in Style: Explore new urban locations never before seen in a Kingdom game. Find fresh wheels at the skateboard park, visit the shops on Main Street, and free the New Lands Mall from the Greed.
– Live for the Summer: Kingdom’s iconic, handcrafted, pixel-art magic is back with a distinctively ‘80s neon feel. Vibe to an original synthwave soundtrack from Andreas Hald, and travel back to the wonder days of bike rides and summer camp, when anything seemed possible!
– Brand-New ‘Survival Mixtapes’ Mode: Press play on the mixtape in the pause menu and get ready for heart-pounding survival gameplay. Try your luck beating endless waves of Greed to earn yourself a crown – how many days will you last?

That’s another one to add to the jam-packed release slate of October, then! Kingdom Eighties: Summer of Greed will be available on 16th October.

Will you be making time for this one? Let us know in the comments.

The return of Wario’s manic series on Switch was cause for great celebration back in 2021 (was it really that long ago?), and we absolutely loved the fresh-feeling, multiplayer-focused WarioWare: Get It Together!

For many people, however, the series peaked with the classic Wii outing WarioWare Smooth Moves, and frankly we’re in that camp as well. Madcap microgames are just more fun when you have to make yourself look like a total ninny waving your various body parts about, and WarioWare Move It! attempts to capture that same lightning in a bottle. After having played it for a bit, we the developer Intelligent Systems might have cracked it.

The game is split up into various modes, but all of them boil down to one idea: holding one or more Joy-Con and performing ludicrous actions with reasonable accuracy in microgames lasting all of a few seconds. If you’ve ever grabbed a Wii Remote (sorry, Form Baton) and played 2007’s Smooth Moves, this is essentially a direct sequel to that idea, with a few ways to mix it up and provide even more silly things for you to embarrass yourself with. Off-the-wall nods to other Nintendo properties, uncouth actions involving noses and bottoms — they all make a return here, and quite right, too.

Story Mode has you taking on a variety of different microgame playlists for one or two players, Party Mode is the go-to for groups with various different objectives which can naturally only be achieved by playing microgames, and Museum just lets you pick a microgame to play at your leisure.

We don’t think Nintendo is pushing any major boundaries here, but frankly it doesn’t need to. If the presentation is slick (it is) and the microgames are fun (they are), then that’s all the game requires.

We thoroughly enjoyed our short time with the game and are keen to have a deeper dive for our review when the time comes. In the meantime, check out the video above for some slightly more in-depth thoughts (hey, we didn’t have loads of time with it!) on this very welcome second round of WarioWaring on Switch.

Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.

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WarioWare Move It! launches on 3rd November, which somehow is only a single month away. Keep an eye out for further coverage in the future, it’ll be on the same website and everything.