Special Reserve Games has finally revealed the physical editions it will soon be selling on its website for the Nintendo Switch version of GRIS. For $249.99, you can pick up the Signature Edition, which includes a copy of the game, iam8bit’s limited Deluxe Edition vinyl soundtrack and an exclusive signed painting by the game’s creative director, Conrad Roset.

If you don’t have that much money to burn, there’s the standalone game for $34.99 or you can go with the slightly pricier bundle which includes the game and art book for $79.99. There’s also the option to pick up the art book for $59.99. Pre-orders for all of these physical editions open on 25th June and end on 17th July.

You can also purchase a standalone copy of the GRIS vinyl soundtrack from the iam8bit website. There’s the Deluxe Edition (housed in a stunning 48-inch quad-fold jacket) for $49.99 and the Open Edition (house in a gatefold jacket) for $34.99.

Will you be adding GRIS to your physical collection? Tell us below.

Sega is quite happy to re-release its retro library of games on each and every system. If you’re like us, you’ve probably played the original Sonic the Hedgehog on a dozen different devices over the years.

In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz at E3 2019, Sega Europe’s John Clark defended the company’s decision to churn out these classic titles time and time again, explaining how it would “never” overwhelm its audience with retro content and would continue to make it as accessible as possible. Here’s exactly what the executive vice president of publishing had to say:

“When do you ever stop reaching the audience? There’s always an audience there on one format or another. We’ve got great content and we’re never going to saturate the audience for all of that retro content, so I think we’re going to continue to bring it out as broad and wide as possible.”

Sega – with the help of M2 – is currently working on the AGES line for the Switch eShop. Apart from this, it’s also releasing the Genesis / Mega Drive Mini this September after AtGames’ original device failed to live up to expectations.

How many times have you bought the same Sega game before? What games from the company’s retro library would you like to see re-released that we perhaps haven’t seen in a while? Share your thoughts below.

Explore some of the places you love (Andy’s bedroom!) and maybe are a little afraid of (I still have nightmares about Sid’s bedroom), from the teeny perspective of the toys. Yes, you are indeed tiny, which means you’ll have to climb, jump, and solve puzzles to find your way through an enormous, yet familiar world!

The Toy Story Mash-Up pack is available in the Minecraft Marketplace now. Go play!

The Switch Mini rumours have been coming thick and fast over the last week or two. Despite Nintendo plainly stating that the E3 2019 Nintendo Direct would not feature a new hardware reveal, it was half expected there might be a cheeky announcement. We’ve heard multiple stories from respected outlets for a while now, as well as manufacturers and retailers listing accessories for the as-yet-unannounced hardware revision. It almost feels that the sheer force of the internet is willing this thing into existence, whether Nintendo planned it or not.

But of course it surely has planned for the revision. There’s a 3DS-sized hole in the market that the current Switch isn’t quite filling. As a budget option the 3DS (and 2DS) is still a fabulous device, but any parent knows that only the latest and greatest will do in the playground. Give a six-year-old a choice between a full, mint-in-box NES library or a Switch with Smash Bros. and Fortnite and it’ll be bye-bye retro quicker than you can say “Stadium Events”.

The original Switch concept made for a great sales pitch as a ‘household’ device, bringing together an increasingly fragmented family unit with one device. Having become the go-to local co-op machine, Nintendo can now afford to play up the other side of Switch’s dual identity – the portable, solo gaming device (that also interacts with other Switches). In shareholder meetings, it’s been made clear that Nintendo plans to get more than one Switch into households, following the 3DS business model rather than the traditional home console route. Switch, after all, is not a ‘traditional’ home console, and it can take advantage of its hybrid nature in more ways than one, branching out into other rooms of the house.

The imagined smaller dimensions of a Switch Mini may cause some of us to hold our current console and wonder just how much smaller the unit can get before reaching Game Boy Micro levels of cramping discomfort, but the fact is that we still surf ebay in the vain hope of picking up one of those beauties for a decent price, if only as a showpiece. Switch could certainly stand to lose a little weight. The current screen is lovely, and while we’d ultimately prefer it to lose the bezel and grow in size (if not resolution) in a ‘Pro’ model, it could stand to shrink a little for a Mini variant.

The Joy-Con themselves arguably couldn’t be made any smaller and fusing them to the screen is the only practical way to reduce the size of the unit as well as eliminate components and free up space. Nintendo could then remove the railings, wireless gubbins and the separate batteries, incrementally driving down production costs and potentially permitting some of the console’s internal components to spread outwards by a few millimetres. That might not seem like much, but tiny changes can make a big difference. A unified case will provide better structural integrity meaning it’ll be able to withstand a few more bumps than the current version – a must if this is going to be aimed at gamers with smaller hands. Maybe lose the flimsy kickstand, too – we only ever interact with it to get at the micro SD card. Alternatively, replace it with something a little sturdier.

There would be other challenges to overcome. The infamous Joy-Con drift that’s plagued so many of our controllers will need eradicating if the company wants to retain its reputation for producing rock-solid hardware. The Joy-Con are nifty little devices, but they’re pricey and Nintendo has arguably stretched its reputation to breaking point with many users, first with launch model connection problems and later with recurring drifting stick issues. It’s one thing for a break-off accessory to need periodic repair, but consumers will soon get sick of sending their console for repair once a year just to get the sticks replaced.

If Nintendo is planning for a +1 Switch in every household, it probably makes sense to remove the Dock from the box, too. We’d dispute the wisdom of a Switch Mini which you can’t dock – yes, 2DS removed the nominal gimmick of its parent console, but what is a Switch if it can’t ‘switch’ to a TV? It makes more sense to simply sell the dock separately, or perhaps market a new ‘travel’ dock – also compatible with OG Switch – for people who want it. We’ve seen some third-party alternatives and with a focus on portability, a dock to match would be welcome.

Switch has already got the software – pricing is key for a new SKU, and for this to be attractive it’s going to have to hit the £200 / $220 mark. If we look to the 2DS as a comparable update that was also a cheaper, more durable ‘downgrade’, it’s the price point that set it apart from the ‘premium’ alternative. Throw in a selection of bundles including ‘evergreen’ titles (think Smash Bros., Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey), plus the inevitable Pokémon Sword and Shield and Animal Crossing: New Horizons tie-ins, and it would seem like Nintendo has a pretty good holiday season ahead.

We’re still eager for a ‘Pro’ model, but in the meantime a Mini version makes more sense considering the demographic underserved by the current console. The November launch of Pokémon would seem to be an obvious target to get consoles into stores ready for the lucrative Black Friday period, although a September or October release would arguably work just as well – that’s the beauty of an evergreen library. All it takes is a new Special Edition console to get fans excited about ‘new’ hardware. Could I interest you a Triforce encrusted Switch Mini with your copy of Link’s Awakening and accompanying amiibo, sir? Why not take two! Sony and Microsoft will presumably be concentrating on bundle deals for existing consoles ahead of new hardware in 2020, so Nintendo could have the ‘shiny new device’ category to itself. The confirmation hasn’t come yet, of course, but all the signs indicate that Switch, in whatever form, will have Holiday 2019 tied up with a bow.

Would you be in the market for a potential Switch Mini? Two docks used to be the height of luxury, but two Switches? A Switch for every room (bagsy not the toilet Switch)! Let us know what a new SKU would need to tempt you below.

Astrologaster is an odd bird. A sincere quack doctor dispenses both medicine and life-coaching lessons by consulting the stars and thereby inferring from astrology the true state of affairs. Born from a close, if selective, culling from Simon Forman’s writing, this game is, to put it in cinematic terms, ‘based on a true story’. The ‘medical’ dilemmas showcased are funny and insightful, and with each one Simon pulls close to his ridiculous acquaintances with affection.

The game also has a healthy dose of mockery, sailing through historical references with a modern-day sensibility and verve. The voice acting, plotting and overall characterization are leagues ahead of most games, but it is admittedly a niche offering: a wickedly amusing historical storybook with mildly branching paths. Yet the total package transcends genre, for Astrologaster is not to be missed.

Dr Simon Forman is a medical practitioner with a self-diagnosed heart of gold. Through luck or foolhardy genius, he has survived the plague, and credits his miraculous turnaround with a cure he dreamt up on death’s door. Now, he seeks to grow his practice and obtain a medical license, in that dubious order. The game’s story is linear with variant outcomes for each of Simon’s patients.

First, a quick account of the mechanics and flow of play. He treats, at the player’s direction, anyone who comes through his doors, listening to their sorrows at length. One is distraught at the thought of Papist neighbors and wonders whether they are, by nature, treasonous. Perhaps she ought to report them and protect the crown? Another wishes to know, ever-so-sweetly, whether her betrothed is long for this world. Ought she marry at all if heartbreak be right around the corner? There is a monkey sidekick for one visitor, of course. These querents are the game’s lifeblood, and they are a varied group but uniformly delightful. There are men and women, young and old, of various professions, personalities and beliefs. A motley crew, whose lives are full of twists that would be just as home in a soap opera.

So each ‘medical’ consultation is divided into four parts. The customer is introduced with a quick ditty, musically summing up their situation and character. As an aside, the songs alone are gems worth the price of purchase, packing a punch with melody & rhyme. Secondly, the guests are greeted and chat at length with Simon. When the game-flow pauses, the client’s star chart is displayed, along with some interpretations. The game deliberately futzes with ‘astrology’ as such, lifting the same terms but tweaking their import. So a Libra dignified in Neptune could mean anything, in-game. One section of the stars points to a corruption of the blood, another to a weakness of the mind, for example. Luckily, the game translates the chart into somewhat plain advice, so the player simply chooses between outcomes.

This is where things get dicier. The ‘best’ answer is the one which pleases the customer. This is not always the most truthful, or accurate, interpretation. Some prefer flattery, most everyone has ulterior motives, and others will not heed good sense. Follow your intuition based on the dialogue, essentially. The stories of these characters will advance across multiple consultations, with their approval meters sliding up and down depending on Simon’s prowess. His ultimate goal, and yours by extension, is to obtain a critical mass of letters of recommendation from these patients and use these testimonials to obtain a medical license.

But the game is amusing even in abject failure. The story length is the same whether or not you succeed in winning people over, though it might feel better to ‘win’ a license at the end. Astrologaster offers the player an ahistorical, eagle-eyed perspective to know and learn, but mostly to judge. The game is juicy and gossipy as much as it is informative. Yes, if one knows a bit about El Dorado or the Spanish Armada, a few consultations will have their proper choices jump out, but beyond some rather nifty nods to Elizabethan history and culture, the historical immersion of the game is pretty minimal. All the better to create ironic distance.

The first great pleasure of Astrologaster is its sense of intimacy and disclosure. Simon is priest, cabbie, bar-keep and shrink all rolled together. He is privy to these people’s tantalizing stories because they are trusting or desperate. Other games like Gone Home or VA-11 HALL-A also offer close glimpses into people’s (fictional) lives, heightening the sense of drama by mixing in the mundane. Astrologaster feels fun and silly, but also lifelike and lived-in, which is a difficult atmosphere to capture. It puts you in a position to know and then decide fates, based on laughably muddled astrological hints.

The game’s second great pleasure is its potential for satire. I say ‘potential’ because all-to-often satire is conflated with naked malice, lazy mockery, or sincere atrocity. No, the game’s tone itself is decidedly not neutral, but it leaves the japery and merriment up to the player. I’d give choice examples but would mangle them in the telling. Some diagnoses are inherently funny for their mixture of graphic description and antiquated language, like ‘purging from the fundament’. There are plenty of fools, luckless souls and prejudices on display here, but instead of serving up ham-fisted commentary, the whole affair is refreshing and light. Levity cuts deeper than argument. It’s not a particularly subtle game, but the brand of jocular dialogue leaves plenty of room for interpretation and imagination.

Now the game is relatively brief, I suppose, running around five hours for a playthrough depending on whether one listens to full voice-lines or skips through with subtitles. But it has a dedicated throughline, both as a whole and individually within its characters. For a fraction of the price of a blockbuster film, you can experience more wit and ingenuity across a greater length of time, all the while wondering at the fact that this game is only possible because of the fastidious case notes of the real-life historical figure of Simon Forman, whose own life and patients are, by all accounts, just as bonkers.