Raid Battles made the jump from Pokémon’s Generation VIII (Sword and Shield) to Generation IX (Scarlet and Violet). While similar, the big difference this time around is the Terastal phenomenon, where Pokémon’s type can change to one of the 18 different types available in-game. Not to mention, Pokémon will receive…
You may not be aware, but Nintendo of Japan has a line of collectible controller button keychains that resemble the Famicom and NES controller layouts. Split into three parts, you can basically assemble the full controller by collecting all three and lining them up. It’s cute and fun, if a…
As promised, the Ultra Unlock events for July 2024 have been unlocked thanks to Trainers completing Global Challenges during Pokémon GO Fest 2024: Global. For Part 2, Steel-type Pokémon will be featured, including the Shiny debut of Togedemaru. (For more details about the Season of Shared Skies, you can check…
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild provided countless hours of gameplay in one of the most fleshed out video game worlds that’s ever been created. Now, with the first pack of the expansion pass, titled The Master Trials, players have even more reason to jump back into the…
From Shovel Knight and Wonder Boy to the Blue Blur’s triumphant return to blast processing, Nintendo’s new portable console is quickly becoming the go-to place for gaming’s most hallowed mascots and fans of old school platforming. Not to be left in the dust, the pharaoh of this retro renaissance, WayForward,…
Even the greatest game developers have to start somewhere — and for many years, that somewhere has been RPG Maker. A series of software development tools primarily for PC, the toolkits allow budding game designers to make their own RPGs with no programming knowledge required. And now the series hits…
When it isn’t inventing them itself, Nintendo’s always had a knack for refining genres and presenting its own signature spin. We most recently saw this with Splatoon, a game that plenty shrugged off on its reveal, and it now stands as the finest thing to come out of the Wii…
There are few games as important, influential or impeccable as Cave Story. Originally developed by one man, Daisuke “Pixel” Amaya, and released for free in 2004, it’s often regarded as the father of modern indie games — in no small part due to its creativity, efficiency and mastery of game…
There was something about the NES/Famicom area and sequels that just made things weird. Zelda, Castlevania, Final Fantasy, even Mario — all of them had immediate sequels that took bizarre steps away from what made the first great. Fire Emblem was no exception, as the series’ second entry, Fire…
After years and years of playing, something just feels right about picking up a controller and jumping into Street Fighter II. Fighting games represent some of my all-time favorites and Capcom’s 1991 arcade hit defined those sensibilities. There are plenty of versions of it out there, but thanks to the…
Rhythm Violence. That’s the phrase that Drool uses to describe its latest rhythm game, Thumper. As simple as that phrase is, it encompasses the heart and soul of the game in a way that a longer sentence has a hard time doing. Drool was started by two ex-employees of Harmonix,…
The Switch’s library continues to grow and fill in genre gaps, and descending upon the world to fulfill that strategy RPG need is Disgaea 5 Complete. Originally released on the PS4 two years ago, the latest entry in the hellishly delightful Disgaea franchise comes to the Switch with all its…
Ever since its superpowered inception, Mario Kart’s been a defining tour de force for showing off Nintendo’s latest console creations. From the 64-bit system’s penchant for four player multiplayer mayhem to the Wii’s focus on intuitive motion control steering, the flagship franchise makes it a point to use every trick…
Games are a funny business. Sometimes we purchase AAA titles that we ditch after a few hours, and other times we find dinky little flash games that keep us up all night. Some lengthy experiences can feel empty and devoid of value, while shorter games can have a profound influence…
The best video games start with a seedling of an idea — a singular core concept that lies at the heart of the gameplay experience — and slowly nourishes it to perfection. Mario’s tight platforming, Zelda’s scope of adventure and Metroid’s sense of exploration are all prime examples of franchises…
