For gamers, this is a rare crack in Nintendo’s aggressive legal armour. For anyone in the games business, it is a signal that the company’s strategy of patenting broad gameplay mechanics may be hitting real resistance — and that the pushback is now coming from inside the system, not just from angry developers.

What the Patent Office Actually Said

The rejection itself is notable, but the tone is what turned heads. Official patent communications are usually dry and procedural. Instead, the office reportedly dismissed Nintendo’s argument with a pointed, almost weary edge — the institutional equivalent of an eye-roll. That is not something you see every day from a government agency.

The message underneath is clear enough: the office was not convinced that the mechanic in question deserved protection, and it was not impressed by the reasoning used to defend it. For a company as legally assertive as Nintendo, that is a meaningful rebuke.

Nintendo’s Patent Strategy Under Pressure

Nintendo has built a reputation for defending its intellectual property with unusual force, and its patent filings have drawn scrutiny for covering gameplay ideas that critics argue are far too broad. The concern is simple: patents on basic mechanics can be used to box out rivals and chill the kind of experimentation that keeps the industry healthy.

This rejection suggests those broad claims are not guaranteed to survive. If patent offices start applying a harder standard, Nintendo’s ability to fence off common gameplay systems shrinks — and so does the leverage those patents give it in disputes with other studios.

Why This Matters Beyond Nintendo

Game patents rarely make headlines, but they quietly shape what developers can and cannot build. A world where any big publisher can lock down generic mechanics is a worse place to make games, especially for the smaller studios that cannot afford a legal fight. Every rejection of an overbroad claim is a small win for competition.

That is the real takeaway here. This is not just Nintendo having a bad day at the patent office. It is a data point in a larger question the whole industry is wrestling with: how much of gameplay itself should any single company be allowed to own?

Related on BizzNerd

• Nintendo’s War Against Copyright Infringement
• Nintendo Switch 2 — Here’s Everything We Know
• Smalland: Survive the Wilds Lands on Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo will keep filing patents and defending its turf — that is not going to change overnight. But when even the patent office starts sounding tired of the argument, it hints that the era of easily locking down broad gameplay mechanics may be running out of road.

The post Japan’s Patent Office Rejects Nintendo’s Pokémon Patent appeared first on Bizznerd.

The short verdict: this offshoot is a chaotic delight that respects your time while constantly testing your attention. It won’t be for everyone, but the players it clicks with will fall hard.

A Single-Player Splatoon That Trades Turf Wars for Chaos

For a decade, Splatoon has meant one thing above all: fast, colourful competitive shooting where covering ground in ink matters more than racking up kills. Raiders keeps the visual identity and the core joy of movement but rebuilds everything around a solo experience. Instead of squaring off against other players, you’re pushed through escalating waves of pressure that demand quick reads and quicker reactions.

That shift matters because it opens the series to a completely different audience. Plenty of people adore the Splatoon look and feel but have no interest in sweating through online ladders. Raiders is Nintendo quietly acknowledging that the fanbase is bigger than the ranked lobby, a lesson the company has been leaning into across its wider Nintendo Switch 2 lineup.

Why “Overwhelming” Is a Compliment Here

Raiders is loud, busy, and relentless, and that’s exactly the point. The game piles sensory information onto the screen and dares you to keep pace, rewarding players who stay calm when everything is moving at once. It’s the kind of controlled chaos that feels stressful in the moment and exhilarating the second you come out the other side.

The design lives on a knife’s edge. Push too far and the mayhem tips into noise; hold the line and it becomes a giddy rush. For the most part, Raiders stays on the right side of that line, delivering an intensity Splatoon’s multiplayer only hints at. It’s a genuinely fresh flavour for a franchise that could have easily coasted on more of the same, and it slots neatly alongside a wave of standout software crowding the Switch 2’s busiest release windows.

What Raiders Signals for Nintendo’s Switch 2 Push

Look past the ink and there’s a clear business story here. Nintendo needs a steady drumbeat of reasons to own a Switch 2, and repurposing a beloved brand into a new genre is a low-risk, high-appeal way to do it. Raiders lets Nintendo squeeze more value out of an established franchise while widening its reach to solo-focused players and lapsed fans.

It’s also a signal about experimentation. A single-player Splatoon would have been a curveball on the original Switch; on Switch 2, it reads as confidence. If Raiders sells well, expect Nintendo to keep mining its multiplayer staples for single-player detours that keep the platform’s software library varied and its biggest brands in constant rotation.

Related on BizzNerd

• All the New Features of Splatoon 3
• The Switch 2’s Most Stacked Week Yet — From Mario Wonder to Life is Strange: Reunion
• Nintendo Switch 2 — Here’s Everything We Know

Splatoon Raiders is proof that even Nintendo’s most competitive franchises have room to surprise us. It’s messy, intense, and occasionally too much — but it’s also one of the most memorable single-player experiments on Switch 2 so far, and a smart bet for a series with plenty of runway left.

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What Smalland Brings to the Switch 2 Library

The premise is immediately distinctive. Players take on the role of the Smallfolk, a tiny civilization navigating a world where blades of grass are towering obstacles and a common beetle is a legitimate threat. That scale inversion is not just a visual gimmick — it shapes every decision, from where you build a base to which creature you choose to tame and ride.

The Switch 2 version ships with the full post-launch content catalog. That means guilds, stables, The Underlands (a substantial underground biome that expands the game’s vertical range well beyond the surface), and the Great Trees system that lets players build portable bases capable of traveling between worlds. Players who waited for a console version are not getting a stripped-down port — they are getting the complete package that PC players built up over several years.

Co-op supports up to ten players simultaneously. That number is notable for a survival-crafting game in this tier and positions Smalland as a strong group-play option for Switch 2 owners looking to share a session.

A Proven Track Record Before the Port Arrived

Smalland entered Steam Early Access in March 2023 under Maximum Entertainment, published through Merge Games (part of Zordix AB). The reception was strong from the start and held through full release. Steam user reviews sit at “Very Positive” with roughly 81 percent approval across thousands of ratings. Critics echoed that sentiment — God is a Geek awarded it 8.5 out of 10, and IGN Spain landed at 8 out of 10.

That track record matters when you evaluate the Switch 2 port from a business perspective. Maximum Entertainment was not taking a gamble on an untested product. By the time the Switch 2 version shipped, Smalland had already proven it could retain players, absorb major content updates without fracturing its community, and generate genuinely positive word of mouth across multiple platforms. Porting a game with that foundation to a new console is a lower-risk, higher-reward move than launching a brand-new title on unproven hardware.

The Switch 2’s early library has included a range of titles, and survival-crafting sits in a genre that travels well to portable hardware. The ability to drop into a session, make progress on a base, tame a creature, and then suspend play is well-suited to how many Switch owners actually use the device.

What This Port Signals for Indie Publishers on Switch 2

The Smalland Switch 2 release fits a pattern worth watching. Indie studios and mid-tier publishers with games that already have a content-complete, well-reviewed version on PC and current-gen consoles are well-positioned to expand to Switch 2 without the full cost burden of a ground-up development cycle. The audience is there, the hardware is capable, and Nintendo’s platform historically attracts players who are willing to pay for quality experiences they missed on other systems.

For entrepreneurs tracking the gaming market, this is the kind of strategic move that extends a game’s commercial life without requiring a sequel-scale investment. A survival-crafting game that has already covered its development costs on PC can generate meaningful incremental revenue on Switch 2 while growing brand recognition with a new demographic.

Smalland also benefits from the co-op angle at a time when multiplayer survival games remain one of the most durable categories in gaming. Ten-player co-op on a portable console is a feature that sells sessions — it is the kind of thing that spreads through social channels organically, which matters for a title that does not have a blockbuster marketing budget behind it.

If you missed Smalland on PC or skipped it on Xbox and PlayStation, the Switch 2 version is the definitive way to catch up. It carries every content update the game has received, supports a generous co-op player count, and delivers a survival-crafting experience that stands on its own merits rather than leaning on franchise recognition. For the wider gaming market, Smalland’s Switch 2 arrival is a reminder that the best ports are the ones that show up complete — and that kind of trust-building is exactly what independent publishers need as they compete for attention on a new platform.

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Super Mario Bros. Wonder Gets Even More Wonderful

Arriving March 26, the Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Bros. Wonder is far more than a simple port. The upgraded version includes Meetup in Bellabel Park — a substantial new expansion that adds entirely new worlds, power-ups, and the kind of inventive level design that made the original a critical darling. Running at a locked 60 frames per second with noticeably sharper visuals, the Switch 2 hardware finally gives Wonder room to breathe in a way the original console never could. For players who experienced Wonder on the first Switch, the upgrade is significant enough to warrant a return trip. For newcomers, this is arguably the definitive way to experience one of the best 2D platformers of the decade.

Life is Strange: Reunion Steps Into the Unknown

Also landing on March 26, Life is Strange: Reunion marks the franchise’s boldest departure yet. Details have been carefully guarded, but early previews suggest a story grappling with themes of reconnection, lost time, and the consequences of choices made years ago. The series has always excelled at emotional storytelling, and Reunion appears poised to deliver something more mature and ambitious than anything the franchise has attempted before. The simultaneous multiplatform launch — including a Switch 2 version — signals confidence from the developers that this installment will find its audience regardless of platform.

The Supporting Cast — and Why This Week Matters

The week is rounded out by several noteworthy releases. Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage brings the legendary fighting franchise to Switch 2 on March 26, offering a tournament-ready experience that could become a staple of competitive gaming on the platform. Disney Dreamlight Valley’s Switch 2 Edition arrives March 25, taking advantage of new hardware for a smoother, more visually polished cozy experience. Meanwhile, Xbox Game Pass subscribers receive Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth on March 24, adding another massive RPG to an already overflowing library. Release weeks like this one define a console generation — and the Switch 2 is following its predecessor’s playbook with devastating efficiency. Between a flagship Mario title, a major narrative adventure, a legendary fighting game revival, and quality ports, this is the week that answers every skeptic who questioned whether Switch 2 could live up to its predecessor’s legacy. The answer is emphatic.

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However, despite its ongoing success, the Nintendo Switch faces the challenge of aging hardware. Sadly,  the faults are becoming increasingly apparent. During an earnings call last May, Nintendo’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining sales momentum for the aging console in its seventh year.

Nevertheless, the anticipation for a successor, the Nintendo Switch 2, is tangible. Recent positive sales figures prompted Nintendo to revise its 2024 hardware sales forecast upward by half a million units.

When’s the release date going to be?

Speculation surrounding the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 has persisted for years. Almost immediately after the debut of the original Nintendo Switch, discussions among leakers commenced regarding a potential successor. Many anticipated a new console, dubbed the Nintendo Switch Pro. They hoped it would come with boasting upgraded hardware, with initial expectations pointing towards a 2021 release.

However, Nintendo’s announcement that year didn’t unveil the long-awaited Switch Pro. Instead, on July 6, 2021, they introduced the revised Switch OLED console. Thus, offering a modest enhancement over the original model with a slightly larger OLED display. As of now, the pursuit of the elusive Switch Pro continues.

Throughout 2023, numerous reports surfaced hinting at Nintendo’s preparations for the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2.

According to a news report, the delay of the console is attributed to Nintendo’s focus on developing stronger first-party software. The outlet speculates that the release timeline for the Switch 2 might align with that of the original Switch, which was announced a year before its March 2017 release. If this holds true, we might get a glimpse of the Nintendo Switch 2 this year. However, it won’t be available for purchase until early 2025.

Price of Nintendo Switch 2

Leaker Zippo, along with his “numerous sources” at Nintendo, suggests that the Nintendo Switch 2 might come with a considerably higher price tag compared to the original Nintendo Switch at launch. They speculate that the Switch 2 could be priced at $399. This aligns with the launch price of the Nintendo Switch OLED, which was £309.

All of the upgrades we’ll see in Nintendo Switch 2

Final thoughts

In conclusion, the anticipation surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2 continues to grow. While concrete details remain scarce, the prospect of upgraded hardware, enhanced performance, and potential innovations such as OLED displays and multiple editions has captured the imagination of gamers worldwide. As we await official confirmation from Nintendo, one thing is certain: the gaming community eagerly anticipates the arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2 and the exciting possibilities it may bring to the gaming landscape.

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The best part about Mortal Combat 1

Without a doubt, the strongest aspect of MK1 is the storyline. With this installment, it undergoes a dramatic reset, with Liu Kang assuming the mantle of Earthrealm’s guardian and guiding its champions into a seemingly less perilous Mortal Kombat tournament. However, the tranquility is short-lived as mysterious and malevolent forces disrupt the peace, plunging the realm into chaos once more. Liu Kang’s carefully cultivated utopia is threatened as these usurpers seek to transform it into a battleground soaked in blood and gore.

Returning to the roots of the franchise, Mortal Kombat 1 embraces the classic “kung-fu flick” aesthetics, shedding the modern military themes of its predecessors. Instead, the narrative weaves a thrilling tale of ninjas, sorcery, and treachery, punctuated by deadly alliances and unexpected twists. The story campaign unfolds with stellar cinematography, delivering authentic moments of drama and comedy. Also, it included a long-awaited return of characters such as Sindel, Reptile, Mileena, and Raiden.

Visuals and animation

Mortal Kombat 1 boasts stunning visuals that capture the essence of its dark and fantastical world. The game’s graphics are undeniably impressive, showcasing detailed character designs and richly rendered environments. Each fighter is meticulously crafted with distinct features, from the imposing stature of Goro to the agile movements of Liu Kang. Vibrant colors and dynamic lighting effects further enhance the visual spectacle, immersing players in the intense combat experience.

On the other hand, Mortal Kombat 1, as a recent release, features animations that we can definitely call lacking, to say the least, compared to its competition. The character movements appear stiff and unnatural, with animations that sometimes feel rigid and dated. Jumping animations, in particular, seem clunky and lacking in fluidity.

NetherRealm Studios’ strongest point

Mortal Kombat 1’s stage design stands as a testament to the game’s captivating atmosphere and immersive world-building. NetherRealm Studios meticulously crafted each arena to reflect the diverse settings of the Mortal Kombat universe, from ancient temples shrouded in mystery to eerie wastelands teeming with danger. The attention to detail is evident in every corner, with background elements that breathe life into the environment and enhance the sense of immersion. Whether it’s the haunting silhouette of Shang Tsung’s throne room or the perilous cliffs of the Pit, every stage serves as a dynamic backdrop to the intense battles that unfold within. The stage design not only adds visual depth but also contributes to the storytelling, offering glimpses into the lore and mythology of the Mortal Kombat world.

Soundtrack of Mortal Kombat 1

The soundtrack of Mortal Kombat 1 serves as a powerful nostalgia-inducing element, transporting players back to the golden era of arcade gaming. Composed by Dan Forden, the iconic tunes are instantly recognizable, evoking memories of intense battles and adrenaline-fueled victories.

And of course, the gameplay and fighting

Mortal Kombat 1 delivers a familiar fighting experience that reminds us of the 90’s with its’ trademark 5-button fighter mechanic. However, some frustrations arise, such as the lack of player position resets, which can disrupt the flow of combat. Despite these setbacks, the introduction of the Kameo mechanic brings a notable evolution to the gameplay, reminiscent of the classic Kings of Fighters Striker system. While Kameo combatants add variety, they often feel like empty avatars, lacking the depth and personality of the main roster. Nevertheless, as this mechanic evolves over time, it holds promise for making a significant impact on the competitive scene.

The introduction of the new invasion mode and the implementation of the battle-pass style system known as “Mastery” represent attempts to provide players with additional content and rewards. The invasion mode promises dynamic challenges and seasonal updates. It offers players opportunities to engage in fresh experiences and earn rewards for their favorite fighters. However, some players find this mode lacking compared to the beloved MK Deception. It has a feeling that it fails to fully capture the excitement and depth of previous iterations. Despite its potential, the invasion mode may need further refinement to fully satisfy the expectations of fans.

Final thoughts

Overall, Mortal Kombat 1 was neither a hit or a miss. It does have excellent parts like the storyline, the soundtrack, the visuals and stage design. However, in parts where it doesn’t excel, it really messes up. The training, tutorial and online parts feel not finished. Same thing with the Invasion mode and Kameo mechanic. Although, I cannot beat them up about it since it is freshly added and will need some time to perfect. All in all, those who have loved previous installments will probably enjoy this one. Despite the fact that some parts are looking increasingly dated. In my opinion, it is not worth the full-priced fighter tag that it has.

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Tons of Customization Options

At the start of the game, players have many character customization options. We now get to play as an Octling or an Inkling with nine different skin tone choices. For an Inkling, there are 16 unique hairstyles, and 8 for Octling. We can even customize our character’s legwear: with 14 different options. If you decide you want to try a different look after finishing your customization, don’t worry, you can always go back and change your character. You can even change from an Octling to an Inkling and vice versa.

Splatoon 3 Story Mode

Further exploring the Splatoon lore, taking where we left off in the Octo Expansion, the single-player mode in Splatoon 3 is called the “Return of the Mammalians”. Although we only saw a teaser for the single-player mode, we can assume it will be the finale of the Splatoon lore. Regardless, after the positive feedback for the previous story modes, we can expect something even greater than before as the grand finale.

Splatoon 3 Weapon Additions

The Splatana

A melee Splatoon weapon? Nope. Although this looks like a katana, it has an impressive range where it shoots slashes in quick succession. To shoot a charged slash, hold the shoot button before releasing. Quick slashes are horizontal, while the charged ones are more vertical.

The Stringer

It is a new type of Splatoon bow that shoots three balls of ink at release at medium succession. Players can change the shot depending on if they jump while shooting or stand. While standing, it shoots horizontally; and vertically when jumping.

Tacticooler

The first special weapon on this list is the Tacticooler. The Tacticooler is a dispenser that drops beverages that grant a speed boost. Each Tacticooler can dispense up to four cans so the entire squad can grab one.

Reefslider

This unique weapon is a summonable ride that allows players to charge and slam into an area to explode, splatting ink in a wide radius and dealing lots of damage.

Wave Breaker

The Wave Breaker is another special weapon that, when summoned, will send sonar waves around itself to find players. Upon detecting enemies, the Wave Breaker will damage them. Players can avoid the Wave Breaker by jumping over the waves.

Crab Tank

The Crab Tank is another special ridable. It’s an assault vehicle that can rapidly shoot small ink shots and slowly shoot powerful ones at a long distance.

Trizooka

The Trizooka is a special that fires three powerful arcing ink shots that can travel through players.

Ink Vac

Arguably one of the best support special weapons, the Ink Vac is capable of stopping any ink that is shot toward its vortex. The vortex will also slow any enemy player, making the Ink Vac essential when pushing deep into enemy territory.

Triple Inkstrike

The Triple Inkstrike is a special weapon that shoots three sticky beacons that each summon a temporary ink tornado once stuck to a surface.

Big Bubbler

Another very powerful support special weapon is the Big Bubbler. The Big Bubbler summons a bubble that only lets ally ink shots through- making it crucial in defensive plays.

New Maps in Splatoon 3

Although we haven’t seen all the maps, Nintendo confirmed that there are at least 12 maps. Half of these will be popular maps from Splatoon 1 and 2 and the other half will be completely new.

Tableturf Battles

By far the most unique feature of Splatoon 3, the Tableturf Battle is Splatoon’s own competitive card game. Each card on the board represents a part of the game. The goal of the game is to cover the majority of the board with your cards. 150 confirmed cards will be released, with new ones being added as updates roll out.

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The story in Xenoblade Chronicles 3

This plot is so complete that even people who have never played a Xenoblade game before will find it enjoyable. There are undoubtedly allusions and connections to Xenoblade Chronicles 1 and 2, but they are not particularly important. Also, you are unlikely to notice the parallels unless you know what to look for. There is much to enjoy if you have been following the series from the start. By the time you are done, you will feel like you just received a pleasant reward for sticking with it all these years

Bad things about the story

However, despite the universe and the story being delightfully bizarre, they aren’t always employed well. That can particularly be felt when it comes to hit-or-miss writing that has characters repeatedly repeating plot developments. It’s not always told with finesse, and frequently, three protracted cutscenes are utilized to accomplish what could have been accomplished with just one line of conversation. However, the concepts and characters nearly never stop shining. 

Not to add that virtually every trope from an anime story has been used in the maximum amounts allowed by law. With so much filler padding out the journey, combined with some serious pace issues, the game may feel long. One segment where you must go undercover to complete mundane duties or another where you must travel the globe collecting metal bits is pure proof of bad writing. While some of that is acceptable, it might have been preferable to omit some of the unnecessary details from a game that took 150 hours to complete.

Characters in Xenoblade Chronicles 3

The good news is that, with very few exceptions, the characters shine brightly even when the tale drags a little. It is quite challenging to resist developing a love for the motley crew of misfits and ne’er-do-wells that make up your group, whether you’re hanging out with the loud meathead Lanz and his basic charms or spending time with the serious bookworm Taion. 

They may not be the most original character. However, after spending so much time with them, trust me, they will become like family. This is particularly true when each character receives so much screen time. Each party member is given in-depth biographical biographies. Also, optional side quests that are completely voiced over and offer further depth to the characters’ backstories.

Combat

Similar to the fighting system, various upgrades have been made that make it feel significantly less monotonous and more exciting than its predecessors. While the basic idea of combining auto-attacks, super-powered Arts, and attack combinations hasn’t changed much, a ton of new possibilities have been added. They’ve managed to keep the action fresh for more than 100 hours. Among other things, it is achieved with the return of chain attacks, which let you deal a ton of damage by engaging in a straightforward minigame, new transformations that combine two characters into their Ouroburos form for a limited time, and six playable characters plus a guest NPC that can be swapped out.

Closing thoughts

The voice acting, soundtrack, story, and characters are all excellent. I can only promise you that this game will give you serotonin if you can look past the archaic graphics. Without a doubt, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a masterpiece. We are interested to see where Monolith Soft plans to take the franchise in the future.

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Developed by MercurySteam in partnership with Nintendo EPD and was originally planned for a release on Nintendo DS back in 2005, however, technological limitations lead developers to a dead end. More than ten years later during the company’s E3 2021 Nintendo Direct presentation on June 15th, the company officially announced that Metroid Dread was already in development.

What’s it all about?

Metroid Dread is a single player sci-fi action adventure the that was released on Nintendo Switch on the 8th of October this year – and just like every other Metroid title that came before it, Metroid Dread follows the interstellar adventures of EMMI (Extraplanetary Multiform Mobile Identifiers) robot, Samus Aran.

This time, The Galactic Federation  deployes her to the planet ZDR to investigate suspicious events around a group of EMMI bots that were sent ahead of her and the possible presence of The X – a parasitic species that were thought to have gone extinct.

The gameplay

Playing Metroid Dread is much like playing any of its predecessors, however, this installation is richly layered. The maps feel significantly bigger with more exploration options and allow more movement between the different sectors of the planet.

Furthermore, the added layering goes beyond the scenery and extends to the special abilities and the array of weapons that Samus builds and gathers as players progress through the game. Without omitting the classics like the Screw Attack and Varia Suit, Metroid Dread brings in a wider range of suit upgrades, missiles, beams to suit different situations and preferences.

That said, this iteration of the Metroid series is decidedly focused on combat more than it does on exploration – the attack focused upgrade list is proof of this, even though Samus has a Phantom Cloak ability for added stealth. More evidence of Metroid Dread’s pro-action orientation can be seen in the game’s boss encounters, where developers chose to follow a “the more the merrier” philosophy – more frequent, more intense and more time consuming.

Key features

In many ways, Metroid Dread has stayed true to the Metroidvania sub genre that it has always been a central figure in. Looking for unlockable areas, hidden treasures and collectibles by blasting at textures that seem a little off is rewarded in this game.

Another key feature of Metroid Dread is the addition of unkillable enemies – those aforementioned EMMI robots that went to planet to ZDR, which are an important part of the story and add a new dynamic to the “final” installation of the Metroid series.

Closing thoughts

After more than three decades entertaining Nintendo players and keeping fans waiting for more than decade for this latest addition, Metroid Dread still manages to captivate with it simplistic genius, from the weapons and abilities, to Samus’ movements and the maps that players gradually unlock – Metroid Dread is a pleasurable final salute to a Nintendo classic.

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There are two titles in the genre, Splatoon, and Spellbreak, which are so different from any other game that they deserve special mention. More than a special mention, they ought to be put against one another to see which is best.

They stand out so starkly from everything else, in terms of concept, that the games are unique, and not much else out there can even come close enough to compete. Splatoon is a lighthearted tale about underwater creatures, squids and octopuses, who battle it out in cartoon-like environments, for control of the turf. Spell break, on the other hand, is a battle royale title in the traditional sense, but does away with guns and grenades and replaces weapons with magic.

Both titles offer unique takes on the traditional battle royale shooter, which gives them their unique appeal. Here is a more detailed look at each.

Splatoon

Developed and owned by Nintendo, Splatoon is a third-person shooter title that first saw release in 2015, for the Nintendo Wii U gaming console. The gaming series – which has seen two releases, with a third scheduled for release in 2022 – features anthropomorphic cephalopods or squids and octopuses with the ability to turn into humans.

Said cephalopods can – as cephalopods – swim away from brightly coloured ink clouds, or hide in them, as the situation calls. They can also – at will – morph into humanoid form, which allows them to hold guns that fire differently coloured ink.

Though the game has a storyline, it is mainly focused on its online multiplayer offering, which spawned an export tournament circuit. Its matches are quite compact, having 8 players split into teams of 4 for a match to begin.

The Turf Wars are won by the team that covers the most turf in their team’s ink. Players have the option of using an ink bomb, or primary weapon to accomplish this end. The title is brightly coloured, and designed to look more fun than other games in the genre, which focus heavily on graphical presentation.

Spellbreak

Spellbreak is more battle royale-based than Splatoon and spans more platforms than the Nintendo exclusive. This title is available on PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, as well as Xbox One.

This game is basically with guns and mechanical weapons and, instead, has experimented with elemental magic to battle it out for the title of top battlemage. One can choose between one of six elemental types – Fire, Wind, Earth, Ice, Poison or Lightning.

One chooses their base element before the beginning of a match, while a secondary power is added during play. Each element has 2 attack types, a Spell, and a Sorcery, which can be combined to create devastating mixed attacks which may turn the odds in one’s favour.

The game allows up to 45 players per match while dropping them onto wide maps, which allow for exploring, collecting items, and battling. One can also develop flight as the match progresses, though equipped through scrolls, increasing mana. The title is incredibly engaging and aesthetically pleasing enough to keep one playing over time.

The Verdict

Bog titles are engaging enough and offer, simple enough, gameplay to easily master in no time at all. Which one a gamer ought to pick depends on the available console, and desired depth of engagement.

Splatoon is light enough for simple, casual play, offering a fun twist to weapon weapons-based which can be enjoyed by a family, or among friends. Spellbreak is a more serious title, which may require as much focus as any other battle royale title. The mixing of magical elements to form unique attacks and having more opponents to contend with makes for more serious gaming sessions.

Ultimately, it all depends on one’s goals. Splatoon for lighthearted, simple gaming, Spellbreak for more serious, engaged play sessions.

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Under the leadership of Jeff Kaplan, a director at Blizzard at the time, the team pulled it off. The gaming world welcomed it. Naturally, fans are eager to get more details about the upcoming sequel and what to expect.

There are some confirmed changes in Overwatch 2

Overwatch 2 is set to release across a good selection of platforms – Nintendo Switch, PC, Playstation, and Xbox (Series X/S included), making it a readily available game for the already massive following. However, there has not been any confirmation as to whether or not Overwatch 2 will feature crossplay.

As far as confirmations go, the biggest known changes to expect in Overwatch 2 are in the gameplay and they have left fans polarized. One of them is the changing of team structure from 2-2-2 to 5v5. Each team will then be made up of 2 damage heroes, 2 support heroes, and a singular Tank hero as opposed to the equal split that fans have gotten used to over the years.

Overwatch 2 will also come with new game modes to keep players entertained, the most notable being the addition of PvE story-based single-player modes. It made up for what many gamers have criticized about the first Overwatch game.

Another hot topic regarding Overwatch 2 is the addition of new heroes, expanding the current and the addition of new maps – Monte Carlo, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, and Toronto are certain additions.

On the downside, the one bit of information that might be the most important hasn’t yet been announced. This is the ever so secretive matter of the actual release date. When it comes to this matter, Blizzard has masterfully sidestepped the question and speculation around this specific aspect of Overwatch 2’s development. The only confirmed information about the release came from J. Allen Brack, Former President at Blizzard, who stated during a February earnings call that “no release is expected anytime soon”.

Closing thoughts

The announcement of Overwatch 2 back in 2019 generated a lot of hype, which has been persistent ever since. Spurred on by Blizzard’s willingness to release tantalizing trailers of the game. However, without a confirmed release date, the waiting game can feel like forever.

But that is just what we’ll have to endure until Blizzard actually drops Overwatch 2, trailers, forum discussions, and the good old original to keep enjoying.

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Apex Legends Mobile announced in April of this year the game becoming open for regional beta-testing (beginning with the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and recently, Hong Kong). In May of 2021, it is making its slow creep onto mobile. The online multiplayer Battle Royale shooter developed by Respawn Entertainment, and published by Electronic Arts (EA) is slated to see full-scale release in 2022. It will also support cross-platform play.

Apex Legends Gameplay

Based on Respawn Entertainment’s Mech-Battle title, Titanfall, Apex Legends is more Battle Royale oriented. Instead of piloting Mechanical Amours, players take control of one of 18 precast characters. Each of them possesses their own unique abilities (Legends,) and weaknesses. You can customize characters through found or bought cosmetic changes.

https://youtu.be/uV0UGM2Nfas

The premise of the game is rather uncomplicated. Players take each other on in teams of three, in a format similar to other shooters; Counterstrike, and Valorant, for instance. General Apex Legends matches (in their current format,) feature 20 squads. Those squads consist of three players, each. Players then enter a match by joining teams, or being randomly matched by the game’s system. After which they’re airdropped onto a location of the playing map.

Where, on the map, the team lands is up to a single player, who assumes the role of “jumpmaster”. Though, you can deviate from the intended landing trajectory. Apex Legends’ gameplay is set up so that no two members on a squad can play as the same character, which keeps the game dynamic.

Once players land on the playing map, they search for weapons and other useful equipment. They ‘scavenge’ through crates and buildings, stacking their inventory, while also keeping watch for rival crews.

What makes this game different?

The game allows similar movement to other titles in the shooter genre. However, it also features additional movement options derived from various versions of Apex Legends, Titanfall. Said movement options enable players to slide down inclined surfaces, climb over low obstacles, as well as zip-line across wide areas to shorten travel time. Allowing players to employ a diverse set of strategies during play, while using the game’s non-verbal “ping” based communication system.

The playable area on the in-game map gradually shrinks as the match continues. It shrinks around a randomly selected point, a process aimed at forcing players into encounters. Any player remaining outside the “safe zone” will incur damage. Being unable to get back into the safe zone will result in a player dying.

Death isn’t the absolute end during Apex Legends gameplay, though there are some time-sensitive conditions. When someone makes you incapacitated (Knocked Down), squad members can revive you. A player who is killed can be brought back into the action. Only if said player’s teammates retrieve the Respawn Banner that appears at the spot where the player has died. With a given time limit, of course.

Currently, in its 10th season, the game introduces new characters, weapons, and gameplay additions. The previous season of the games introduced the ‘Arena’ gameplay mode. It has players team up in a 3 vs 3 match, over a period of rounds.

Team’s with a 2 or 3 point lead are crowned the winners of the given match. Should a match go to a 9th round – meaning teams are evenly matched.

Seasons?

Like Valorant, Apex Legends calls its updates Seasons. Each season is usually accompanied by the introduction of a new playable character, weapons, cosmetic upgrades, new gameplay changes, and events, as well as alterations to playing maps. The latest (at time of writing) Season came with the introduction of a character known as Seer, along with the Rampage LMG weapon, among other gameplay augmentations.

Public Support

Taking a page from musical artist Beyonce’s playbook – also hoping to avoid negative backlash from Titanfall loyalists – Respawn, and publisher, EA opted to go for a surprise release. Only having 100 internet influencers tease the game during half-time of the Super Bowl, a day before its official release, the publisher created a lot of hype for the online shooter.

Critics received the title rather favorably, with many going as far as claiming it to be a worthy challenger to Fortnite’s dominance over the Battle-Royale genre. Though players decried the absence of some of Titanfall’s in-game mechanics, they praised the title’s gameplay, as well as called its non-verbal communication system innovative.

Us sports Egaming-oriented Channel has broadcasted its live tournament. As of April of this year, Statistics report Apex Legends to have over 100 million registered users, with EA reporting that the title adds 8 -10 million players a week.

The game broke records at release, registering over a million players within the first 8 hours of release, and going on to clear $92 million in revenue – across all platforms – within the initial month of release. This set a record as the highest sum for a newly released battle-royale game within the first month of release.

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Nintendo’s wish

In combating what it calls, “serious, worsening international problem.”, one of Nintendo’s earliest and most prominent court battles happened in 2018. During that year, the corporation filed a lawsuit against Sergio Mojarro Moreno. He was a reseller of pirating tools created by the now infamous Team Xecutor.

On the back of a victory on that front, Nintendo and its legal team set their sights on RomUniverse. A website that enabled the downloading of pirated Nintendo Switch games, among others. Once again, the multinational came out victorious. The skirmishes between Nintendo and the defendant culminated in the defendant being ordered to pay the company more than $ 2.1 million in damages.

However, in an interesting twist, the defendant – Matthew Storman – convinced the court that he is unemployed. In response to this, an agreement to make $50 per month payments was reached. However, it is reported that the defendant had failed to make the first payment. This is part of the reasoning behind Nintendo’s continued pursuit of RomUniverse, this time pressing the courts to issue a  permanent injunction – which the company had not secured against the website in the first judgment.

Nintendo’s endless lawsuits

Since then, Nintendo has gained a bit of a reputation for its crackdowns on video game pirates. They were now going after the alleged leader of Team Xecuter, Gary Bowser, and one of his associates – Max Louran. Referring to Bowser’s and Louran’s endeavor as “an international pirate ring”, Nintendo filed a lawsuit – one copyright infringement charge and two counts for trafficking.

According to Nintendo’s filing, Bowser has been active in pirating their products since 2013. That’s when the company launched the Nintendo 3DS. Bowser was selling a device designed to hack the 3DS. The court filing also gives a detailed account of Bowser’s history of Nintendo Switch hacking. The company’s legal team also states that Bowser’s hacks “continue to put more than 79 million Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite consoles at risk from piracy.”

Nintendo wants $2500 for each device sold and $150 000 for every copyright. Naturally, the company would also like to see Bowser’s operation shut down for good.

Closing Thoughts

It will be interesting to see how this particular case plays out in the courts. It will be even more interesting to see how this will affect the rest of the industry. Will other gaming and consumer electronics corporations like Sony’s PS division and their counterparts at Microsoft follow suit?

That said, it looks as though the glory days of Nintendo hacking are soon to come to an end, or at least a rather dramatic slowdown as some individuals try to keep a low profile.

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Nintendo’s Pokemon Go, may be one of the first real mass-use cases for extended reality technology, however the game offered minimal interactivity. In fact, many players report to playing Pokemon Go with the augmented reality feature turned off. What the Smurfs game offered users – mostly kids, and nostalgic grownups – was a world overlayed onto real surfaces in the players’ environments. The game also enabled players to control character movements, and interact with the world as if it were real. More than what the Pokemon Go offering gave users, in terms of experience.

The Smurf’s augmented reality game was part of a marketing push, for the 2017 release of the latest installment in the tech giant’s entertainment wing’s attempt to resurrect, and update the little blue creatures’ franchise. The children’s app became more than a marketing vehicle however, and morphed into a proof-of-concept, in terms of how enterprises can harness the power of mixed reality to develop interactive marketing tools.

Sony Pictures Entertainment’s head of digital marketing, Elias Plishner, commented, “Smurfs: The Lost Village takes moviegoers into the world of the Smurfs, and the HoloLens allows us to go one better: to bring our world and the Smurfs’ world together in a mixed-reality setting. It’s huge fun for the moviegoer that perfectly whets the appetite for the movie.”

OMD’s executive director, Stuart Morris, chimed in saying,“In the world of movie marketing, immersive storytelling is key for enhancing those moments when a consumer is engaging with one of our movie titles. By virtually immersing consumers within the world of Smurfs: The Lost Village, the AOL HoloLens experience is the perfect example of delivering key storytelling moments in a way no one has seen before. OMD’s close partnership with Sony Pictures Animation ensures that together, we are at the forefront of exciting, story-telling opportunities in a rapidly shifting technological landscape.”

Though the Smurfs app was targeted at children, the game was – at the time – only available on the Hololens, which was  – at the time – in preproduction, and would set the user back $3,000. Not an amount of money that is easy to come by for the average kid. Which is likely why it failed to make waves. A shame, considering that it was an incredible example of where the world would go – in terms of use of the technology. 

Microsoft’s Hololens has since become a leading Mixed Reality headset product, and has been implemented in training programs by Mercedes Benz, and other firms, in classrooms, and in business for a number of different uses. Hololens headsets have not seen much consumer adoption however, due to a hefty price point – they’ll cost a buyer anything from $3,000-$5,000 dollars. Augmented reality is one of the technologies of the future that economists predict will have a huge impact on how we do things in the next few years. Perhaps once the technology becomes more affordable, we’ll see wider consumer use. 

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Here is the list of the top 8 consoles as per 2020:

• Sony playstation four pro
• Nintendo switch
• Sega genesis mini
• Xbox one x
• Xbox One S
• Sony playstation 4
• The Super NES Classic
• Nes classic

1. Sony Playstation Four Pro

Sony playstation four advantages are one of the leading gaming consoles, which has an elite ranking in graphics and performance. The console comes with 8 GB ram and storage capacity of 1 TB, and the large part is that it is pocket friendly and gives the grand and majestic gaming experience ever.

The characters will not be just characters but will be so conspicuous that they will appear real as this gaming console offers impressive clarity, and the dynamic 4k gaming makes the picture quality imposing]

2. Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch is the 8th generation console and competes with Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony playstation pro and has a dimension of 3.58 x 2.84 x 10.21 cm. It has a battery life of approximately 4.5 to 9 hours. Nintendo switch is amalgam as it can be used as a home console and portable device which has a screen size of 6.2 inches and weighs 0.88 lbs/399g

3. Sega Genesis Mini

Sega genesis mini, also known as mega drive mini, is an astonishing and stunning gaming console that has a ram of 256 MB and power of AXP223. It is half the size of the original Sega genesis video console. The game console includes two classic wired 3-button control pads, 40 games, a USB power adapter and cable, and HDMI cable.

4. Xbox One x

X box one x is the majestic gaming console launched by Microsoft, which has a storage capacity of 1 TB and is incredibly imposing. It has 40% more power than any other gaming console. The console comes with Blu-ray Player and loads quickly, even on the 1080p screen. Xbox live /live gold is the supporting service of this striking and tremendous console.

5. Xbox One S

Xbox One S has 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, 4K video streaming, and High Dynamic Range. It provides a storage capacity of 1 TB. This console gives more luxurious experience and more luminous colors in games and videos with a high dynamic range. Xbox one s dimensions of 5 x 12 x 17 inches and weighs 10.89 pounds.

6. Sony Playstation Four Slim

Sony playstation four slim has a storage capacity of 1TB and has Blu-ray Player With Motion Control. Whether you into gaming, HD movies, television, music, or all of the above, this great console offers something stunning for everyone and everything.

7. The Super NES Classic

The Super NES Classic is sort of like the original ’90s home console, except the fact that it is super small and has a dimension of 2.95 x 8.86 x 6.5 inches and weighs 1.76 pounds. The console is preloaded with 21 games. The console’s also compatible with the Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro accessories.

8. Nes classic

In Nes classic, each pixel is a perfect square, which will enable the user to view the game correctly as it is. The console is easy to use and comes with multi pre-uploaded games. It is designed in such a way that to experience the features it offers, we have to plug it into the tv. The Nes classic is the redesigned version of nes and offers different display modes to choose from.

So the next time you will go to buy the gaming console, do consider the above-recommended options. From my point of view, Microsoft and Sony’s gaming console offers the best quality and features as compared to the other gaming console in the market. As these are the known brands, they offer a guarantee and warranty too. Customers can trust the claims they make. Also, the features and quality they offer are more advanced, and most of their gaming consoles are either the hybrid or the amalgam of various elements and technologies.

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Lived up to all expectations

First of all, I must admit that Doom Eternal did live up to all of my expectations. I am a fan of doom always, have been a family fan of doom, I love the original doom classic – it is one of the greatest games of all time. It is the RPG that paved the way for all other RPG’s.
Doom eternal is Doom 2016. on steroids. They didn’t miss anything that doom 2016. had, they didn’t get anything wrong that they got right in doom 2016 at least for what I played.

New features

One of the biggest features of course is the hook and chain coming at the bottom of the shotgun which is absolutely amazing, I don’t know why you’d want to play with any other gun because that gun is super – i just love it! But of course, you have to play with many guns in this game because they do not give you much ammo which is one of the ways you have to play. You have to play the game very fast, and be changing guns very often in this game as they don’t give you a lot of ammo.

If you played doom 2016. then you will know how to play doom eternal, same type style, same type flow – and I almost wrote same type feel but not quite, because that is really the main thing I want to get into.

Nostalgic Doom

Doom eternal had a much more nostalgic feel than doom 2016. for some reason it kept pulling  me back to the original doom games in my mind, even though there was no direct reference to the classic doom – it just had that feel of a classic doom game – and that is great! Doom eternal definitely has that nostalgic feel, it just brings that classic Doom feeling. If you’ve ever played the original doom, you’re going to get that feeling while playing Doom eternal.  Developers have admitted, that they love the classic Doom, and they very often go and play it once more, just to be sure that everything that they are doing is correct and lines up the the lore of Doom. Yes, Doom has lore – and developers make sure that they stay true to that lore.

I loved the feeling that this game has from the very start of the game. This game is also jam-packed with new weapons and new enemies. It also has some new goodies as far as new multiplayer things that they have added as well. So, if you are looking for some new adventures in doom then look to doom eternal. It is coming out this November, November 22nd.

Let me give you a few specifics of the gameplay. If you’ve never played Doom, you should know that it is FAST, it is probably the fastest game I’ve ever played. If you thought doom 2016. was fast, well – this is just as fast if not faster, but it is probably the fastest game that you will ever play. Also, the gunplay is to smooth the gunplay. It is some of the best first-person-shooting that is on the market, but you better get good at switching between weapons, and it is knowing which weapon to use for which enemy. Also, it’s not a story-drive game, it is a level driven game even though there is a story. I also notice that there are more puzzles in Doom eternal that there was in doom 2016., and when I say puzzles I’m talking about the obstacles that you have to go through with your character, and of course there are some things that you have to solve but the more obstacle based puzzles  that you’ll have to go through with your character. And lastly, there are going to be more Boss fights in Doom eternal that there were in Doom 2016. as well , all in all Doom eternal is a fast, phonetic, bloody, fierce , amazing, brutal – you pick the adjectives. But it is a wonderful game that I would recommend  to anyone that loves a good first-person shooter.

When Doom Eternal gets released on November 22nd it has my full stamp of approval.

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Most importanly though, it maintains the charm of the Mario games we know and love .

One of the most surprising new additions to Mario Maker 2 is story mode, which has as much depth as you’d expect from any Super Mario game story, which I admit is a low bar, but it gets by on its charm.  Peach’s castle has been destroyed, and rebuilding it means beating over 100 increasingly difficult built-in levels, which in turn, earns you the coins needed to repair the castle. That’s all the story mode is – that’s all the story mode needs to be!

What’s cool is that these levels couldn’t exist in a Mario game outside the bent rules of Super Mario Maker 2. They take the classic Mario formula and pull that familiar rug out from under you in delighting and surprising ways.

Mario Maker’s Maker 2

But this is Super Mario Maker 2, not Super Mario Castle Repair Simulator. And since it’s the second version of an already groundbreaking tool, it comes as no surprise that the section dedicated to crafting your own fun, goofy or absurdly punishing Super Mario levels in the style of Super Mario Bros, Super Mario World, or even Super Mario 3d World, is superb.
Any concerns I had about controller-based input versus the 3DS or Wii U’s touch input melted away after short period of adjustment.

The number of options here for level creation are astonishing. Options depend on what Mario style you’re using, like you can’t use the 3d World cat suit in the original Super Mario Bros levels, but you can switch freely between the other styles.

My favourite extra feature of Super Mario Maker 2 is Yamamura’s Dojo, which is a game design boot camp.

Yes, there are lessons showing you the basics, like how to switch back and forth between building and playing to test your levels, what to do when you mess up, and how to use the various parts. There are also lessons on drawing inspiration for your works, giving directions to your players and even a lesson where the ultimate takeaway is no one likes a troll.

Fun with friends, or not

You could play through Super Mario Maker 2’s levels cooperatively, just like you can in New Super Mario Bros, but you can also build levels cooperatively. You can play levels locally – and from recently – even online.

Course World

 Mario Maker is fundamentally about sharing and exploring levels built by other people, and the Course World section of Super Mario Maker 2 is where user-generated content lives. I like how easy it was to browse other people’s creations, so long as they’re not your real-life friends. If you want to check out your friends works, it’s as easy as entering their nine-digit Maker ID?! Seriously, Nintendo, in 2019 ?

The good news is that headache is the biggest knock  against an otherwise exquisite experience.

Verdict

One-upping the original, Super Mario Maker 2 is the most accessible game design tool ever created. I’ve spent hours, building – testing, and then, playing levels, and I feel like I’ve only barely scratched the surface of what’s possible. A lot of you out there will certainly blow my mind with your ideas, but that’s just part of the whole. The story mode introduces hundreds of novel, professionally made levels to play. And its design tutorials are so much more in-depth  than they ever needed to be . While SMM2 takes the incredibly complex concepts of game design and makes them accessible to everyone, accessing your friends and their level creations is still needlessly difficult.

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An interesting, much-needed update

This Resident Evil 2 version is basically a remake of the older game that you could play on the PlayStation but this time around you will notice that they are replacing the fixed or tank controls with the over the shoulder 3^rd person shooter camera to bring in more immersion. The story is pretty much the same, they didn’t change anything and you don’t really have, since it was really good to begin with.

Another interesting change that’s actually more than welcome is the fact that you can save as often as you want with this version. Of course, if you choose to go with the Hardcore difficulty then you will need to collect some ink ribbons if you want to save the progress. That says a lot about the experience and the gameplay really is among some of the best that you can find out there.

You still get to play with either Claire or Leon, and you can access certain areas, enter a variety of sub plots and accessible areas. That being said, you can play with the other character only if you finish the game once. There are side quests and a variety of things that warrant a second look at the very least, and the experience itself is quite exhilarating and exciting especially if you are a fan of Resident Evil 2 in particular.

The second time you play also offers you variations and you can enter through new locations and so on. That really adds to the immersion factor and it warrants a second playthrough, which is what you would expect from a game like this to begin with.

Graphics and sounds

The visuals are staggering in Resident Evil 2. This remake looks nothing short of extraordinary. It’s clearly a labor of love from the developers and they worked really hard to make this as interesting and as visually appealing as possible. Plus, they retained the story and didn’t change anything, instead they just added some functional features as we mentioned earlier. The music is also intact, and the sounds themselves are very immersive.

Overall, Resident Evil 2 is a great example of how you need to do a remake. It looks great, it’s very easy to play and you will like just how detailed it really is. You do want to check it out for yourself and give it a try if you love horror games. Even if you don’t particularly like horror titles, this game gives you the suspense you expect from a good title. It’s certainly worth your time and you do want to check it out as soon as possible.
If you wish to find out how you can beat Resident Evil 2 with tricks, check out this article.

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It’s a puzzle platforming game. You play as Bizmo & Plom at the same time, all the time on the screen. This game especially focuses on co-op gameplay, and it is quite good in what it does in such sense. This means both characters need to do something together in order to solve the puzzle.

Along the way, you are going to learn a different ways of doing things and the game has a really cool way of showing you how to do that by just giving you a small little simple level to learn a new mechanics and then you’ll use them in future ones. Sometimes, it’s not just about using the immediate thing, you have to actually go back and know the previous mechanics that you’ve learned and compile them all together to pass the future levels.

Levels of Fun

Shift Happens offers over 40. levels that get more and more challenging as you go and I did notice even through the first set of levels it definitely got more challenging and I found myself wondering: „How in the world I am going to get through this?!“.  And it was a good challenge, because it challenged my brain so I had to think of all previous puzzles and find a solution that way. This game is special in such way, that you always want to beat the level, you don’t want to give up, because you can almost „feel“ that the solution is barely within my grasp . I knew there was going to be some way I can figure it out.

Final review

I was incredibely suprised by this game. As you can probably tell, I do recommend this game and you can pick it up on Steam store. I was thinking on what could be the downfall, but I couldn’t think of any – 5. star game.

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This game is a blast

I kept thinking that the constant variety couldn’t hold up. But surprisingly, each level of Rayman Legends looks more impressive than the last. Now, Rayman Origins looks great, but this sequel takes the original’s colourful and animated look and feels in new directions. The beautiful transitions and clever bosses look stunning, expressive and vibrant. The distinctly looney tunes quality of music and the grotesque enemies give a character and personality dispair. Even if there is not much story here. I love its subtle and inventive visual tricks that hide dozens of crafty secret areas in plain sight.
Compared to most platformers, the jump physics of Rayman tend to feel a little bit floaty. But I got used to it and grew to love it.

None of it ever feels frustrating thanks to some great atmosphere. And every time I thought I’ve found my personal favourite level, the next one came along and replaced it. The variety of sneaking through puzzle platform stages – playing a standard platformer or a shoot them up inspired gliding stage constantly kept me on my toes and eager to see what comes next. No matter what the challenge, they are all brilliantly designed and there is an incredible feeling of satisfaction when you clear each stage.
It’s easy to get confused about which character is yours since everyone shares the same screen and a lot of the character’s skin looks similar. To be fair though, no platformer has really solved this problem yet. Also, it is disappointing that there is no online coop play which means that other than some online leaderboards, Rayman Legends is stranded as a couch co-op game.

The verdict

Rayman Legends is a delightful platform, and one of the best I’ve ever played. Thanks to clever level design that toys with genre conventions. It gets incredible mileage out of four basic moves, and great local co-op and dozens of unlockables including stages from the original Rayman Origins, special character skins and mini-games – there is a lot to do. The difficulty is so smoothly balanced that it is easy to play with kids and friends and you’ll still have a good time.

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„You never know what to expect in any given level of Super Mario Maker“, Jose Otero twitted. Yes, he is correct. With the ability to custom create maps, and share amongst players has given a Super Mario new frontiers.
Super Mario maker is a unique celebration of Nintendo’s iconic mascot. It is also an incredibly accessible level construction kit. One where you can easily spend hours creating stages or playing levels made by a passionate community of serious fans.
Creating levels is an intimidating task, but the well design interface makes the learning easy and intuitive. Each piece of this, do it yourself toolkit is well thought out with smart button-based shortcuts and simple drag and drop controls .
Despite the overall goal of keeping everything simple, Super Mario is a powerful toolkit that helps you build fun courses. However, the fact you can’t place a checkpoint is baffling. You are forced to finish a level on one life. Sadly, not even the original super Mario brothers which the company released in 1985. was that cruel. But, super Mario maker is not just level creator.

Personalize Super Mario

The ability to personalize your stage with special custom costumes or custom sounds, adds another layer of personality to your creations. The simple stylish interface makes it possible to build almost anything you want and the self-discoveries made during the process transform the act of creation into something that feels like a game itself. But most novel part of Super Mario Maker comes from how quickly and seamlessly jumps between stage creator and play.

Mario, Princess is in another castle…

Super Mario is a celebration. 3. decades of Mario united into one accessible and powerful creation tool. The perpetual joke at the end of every ten Mario challenge run informing you that the princess is yet another castle hints at Mario makers bigger promise. To upgrade everything, that is why we are so anxious to get a hand of Super Mario Maker 2. There will always be more levels to play, thanks to the online creative community and virtually an endless pool of challenges to overcome.

Final words

This is yet another fun game you can play on a single screen in co-op style with your friends or family. While we are eagerly waiting to get a hold of a copy of Super Mario Maker 2, we’ll continue to play this – should we start calling it an „old“ Super Mario already?

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Local Co-OP Game

While searching for the best games to play with my kids on a one screen, only recently I’ve discovered Lego Marvel Superheroes. And since the game and it’s game style are so amusing, kids and I are already playing Lego Marvel Superheroes 2!
If you haven’t played the first one, let me explain what the game is all about.
Action involves lightweight combat with all sorts of superheroes characters to solve environmental puzzles. It can be played as a single player, or you can co-op with someone using gamepads and/or controllers.
It is constantly entertaining thanks to the endless puns from Spiderman or Mrs Marvel…
They have made improvements since the first game in gameplay like showing which character should do something, instead of just trying all of them like it was the case in the Lego 1. Also, the story is exponentially larger and there are tons of subplots you can dive in and mysteries to solve.

New Lego Adventures

All of this means, setting to the campaign changes drastically and often – creating unique scenarios. One moment you’ll be fighting knights on the streets of evil England – the next you’ll me infiltrating the bases in the black panther’s homeland. These sequences are always a treat, especially because they’re doing a good job of breaking up the increase in predictability of a lego gameplay which still shows here in an abundance. Adding further variety and some new time travel mechanics.
The best things about this game is that it is packed with heroes and villains from both familiar and most obscure corners of the marvel universe. Each character comes with special skills for combat and puzzles and the length that it goes to make each stand-out are sometimes astonishing.

Final Say

Lego marvel superheroes 2 doesn’t deviate much from the established templates but its wide variety of setting, heroes and abilities make it constantly fun to play. The combat is still quite simple and the only real problem is to find out what you are supposed to do next in all the chaos but its all usually so fun that these mild annoyances fade into the background.

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Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, are role-playing games similar to the original Pokémon Red and  Pokémon Blue games, but they will be fully rendered in 3D with varying camera angles and a more cinematic perspective, putting the full power of the Nintendo Switch for use.

According to Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield – games producer Junichi Matsuda, the games are aimed at veteran players, new players of Pokémon Go and Pokémon Let’s Go, and brand-new folks.

Games director Shigeru Ohmori reveals that games will be placed in the Galar Region –  the quiet countryside with snowy mountains and vast plains.

Nintendo also revealed the three new starters Pokémon for the game: Grookey – a grass Pokémon, Scorbunny – a fire Pokémon and Sobble – a water Pokémon.

Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield will be released simultaneously worldwide for the Nintendo Switch in late 2019. Nintendo has promised more updates on the game in the months to come – so stay tuned.

You can also check out the super detailed article “6 Best Pokemon Games for Android (Free Downloads) from Joy of Android”.

Happy gaming from BizzNerd team.

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On the other hand, pocket consoles have better battery life, actual buttons, and tons of games that can keep you and your family occupied for hours.

The first Nintendo pocket console that I received as a boy is the Game Boy. As a kid, it was a revolution for me. I enjoyed playing games like Tetris, Prince of Persia and the Super Mario World.

I know there are a lot of pocket consoles on the market, but in these series of articles, we will focus only on Nintendo pocket consoles. In the first part, we will cover only Nintendo pocket consoles related to Gameboy and Gameboy Advance family and in the second part Nintendo DS family consoles.

Many people think that the Gameboy was a first Nintendo pocket console, but actually, Game & Watch console was first.

It was a series of handhelds that only played a single game, and had either a clock, an alarm or in some cases, both. There were no cartridges or other games to download. You bought a single game and stuck to it.

Here are all the best handheld Nintendo game pocket consoles that are worth considering to keep you entertained on the go.

Gameboy Family Consoles

Nintendo’s Game Boy handheld was first released in 1989 and was designed by long-time Nintendo employee Gunpei Yoko, which was also responsible for the Game & Watch series.

In the following years, Nintendo carved a niche for itself by being the quirky console manufacturer and provided us with some of the most iconic games consoles and not to mention some of the greatest games franchises of all time.

Game Boy

I loved the Nintendo Game Boy from the first day I got it. It combined features of the first handheld with swappable cartridges like the NES to create one of the best selling consoles ever.

Games were 8-bit black-and-white, played on a black and green reflective LCD screen.  I know it seems very odd to know to play black and white games, but when I was a kid it was a revolutionary experience for me.

The system had a red LED which showed the remaining power and you could play games over 30 hours on its required 4 AA batteries.

What I liked a most is an eight-way directional pad, two action buttons (A and B), and Start and Select buttons.

It cost around $90 when it was launched and came bundled with a copy of Tetris, highly regarded as the game that helped the mammoth sales. Nintendo also made a range of accessories for the Game Boy, including a printer and magnifying screen with a built-in light.

Sales of the Game Boy and Game Boy Color (released in 1998) are estimated at around 120 million units worldwide.

Released: Japan on April 21, 1989

Variations: red, yellow, green, black and clear

Favourite Games:  Tetris, F-1 Race, Super Mario Land, Metroid II, Kid Dracula, Pokémon Red / Blue / Yellow, Donkey Kong ’94, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Prince of Persia, The Addams Family

Game Boy Pocket

The Game Boy Pocket is a redesigned version of the original Game Boy having the same features. It is similar to the Game Boy but this variation is smaller and lighter with a monochrome screen rather than the original green-tinted display. It improved response time for less blurring during motion.

It takes two AAA batteries as opposed to four AA batteries for roughly ten hours of gameplay. The first model of the Game Boy Pocket did not have an LED to show battery levels, but the feature was added due to public demand

Released: 1996

Variations: red, yellow, green, black, clear, silver, blue, and pink.

Game Boy Light

Game Boy Light is variant of the  Game Boy Pocket and was exclusively released in Japan. The differences between the original Game Boy Pocket and the Game Boy Light is that the Game Boy Light takes on two AA batteries rather than two AAA batteries and featured an electroluminescent screen for playing in the dark.

Released: 1998

Variations: silver, gold, yellow for the Pokémon edition, translucent yellow, clear and translucent red for the Astro Boy edition

Game Boy Color

The Game Boy Color (abbreviated as GBCS) is similar to the Game Boy, but with colour graphics. It also had many technical enhancements, including a more powerful processor (double the processor speed), three times as much memory and an infrared wireless link-up port.

Like the Game Boy Light, the Game Boy Color takes on two AA batteries. It was the final handheld to have 8-bit graphics.

One of the major flaws for me is that there is no backlight on the screen.

A major component of the Game Boy Color is that a Game Boy Color is able to read older Game Boy cartridges and even play them in a selectable colour palette. When I run my old Tetris I was so delighted and seemed like I am playing it for the first time.

Released: Japan on October 21, 1998

Variations: atomic purple, purple (clear purple), berry, dandelion (yellow),  grape (blue), kiwi (green), teal

Favourite Games: The Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX, Pokémon Gold/Silver, Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, Tetris DX, R-Type DX, Wario Land 3, Survival Kids, Resident Evil Gaiden, The Legend Of Zelda: Oracle Of Seasons/Ages

Game Boy Advance family

Game Boy Advance

The Game Boy Advance  (also referred to as GBA) was a significant upgrade to the Game Boy line with a new handheld shape, shoulder buttons, better graphics and wider range of colours available to developers.

Controls were slightly modified with the addition of “L” and “R” shoulder buttons. Like the Game Boy Light and Game Boy Color, the Game Boy Advance takes on two AA batteries.

A widely criticized drawback of the Game Boy Advance is that the screen is not backlit, making viewing difficult in some conditions. When playing older games, the GBA provides the option to play the game at the standard equal square resolution of the original screen or the option to stretch it over the wider GBA screen.

Released: Japan on March 21, 2001

Variations: Clear purple, purple, red, blue, green, yellow and silver for the Pokémon Edition

Favourite Games: Mario Kart: Super Circuit, F-Zero: Maximum Velocity, Wario Land 4, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

Game Boy Advance SP

The Game Boy Advance SP resolved several problems with the original Game Boy Advance model. It was the first Game Boy to have a clamshell design with a flip-up screen much like the Nintendo DS.

It also featured a switchable internal front light, a rechargeable battery for the first time, better graphics and a front-lit screen which could be turned on or off (the model AGS-001). The only notable issue that I can remember is the omission of the headphone jack.

The system’s game compatibility is identical to the Game Boy Advance’s and it was the final Game Boy to have backwards compatibility with Game Boy and Game Boy Color games.

Released: Japan on February 14, 2003

Variations: platinum, Tribal, cobalt, emerald, flame red, onyx, pearl blue, pearl pink, platinum/onyx, Mario vs Donkey Kong, graphite, pearl green

Game Boy Micro

The third form of the Game Boy Advance system and was the smallest handheld ever released. The Game Boy Micro is by far the smallest Game Boy created. It featured a lack of backwards compatibility, only able to play Game Boy Advance titles.

Its screen is approximately 2/3 the size of the SP and GBA screens while maintaining the same resolution (240×160 pixels) but now has a higher quality backlit display with adjustable brightness.

Released: November 21, 2004

Variations: pink, silver, black, blue, green, pearl blue, purple, red

In this article, we covered only Nintendo pocket consoles. Like mentioned before we skipped a few like Game & Watch console. In the next article, we will cover the Nintendo DS family portable consoles.

If you find out more about Nintendo video game consoles read our previous article.

Happy gaming from BizzNerd team.

The post The Evolution of Nintendo Pocket Consoles – Game Boy and Game Boy Advance family appeared first on Bizznerd.

Many people don’t know that Nintendo started as a humble playing-card company in the late 1800s. Who would know that they’ll end up us video game industry leader, being the world’s largest video game company by revenue?

One of the first consoles that I remember is Nintendo Entertainment System or in short NES.

Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

Released July 15, 1983 the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), an 8-bit system, was one of Nintendo’s greatest successes. Unlike the Color TV Games, the NES could play different titles, on interchangeable cartridges, that could be purchased in stores.

The system sold more than 61.9 million units, making it the best-selling console of its generation.

I played this console in the 90s and the only problem I remember was that the pins from the system’s internal connector got bent after repeated use. The slot was also very susceptible to dust.

Many of my friends blew into their cartridges in an attempt to mitigate the problem, but this actually tarnished the copper connectors and worsened the issue.

Competition: Sega Master System, Atari

Favorite Games: Super Marios Bros, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Duck Hunt, Mega Man, Castlevania, Final Fantasy

Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)

Released November 21, 1990 The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, officially abbreviated the Super NES or SNES or as we kids called it Super Nintendo. It didn’t sell quite as well as the NES worldwide, but in the time the system became the best-selling console of its generation and sold 49.1 million units.

It featured enhanced graphics, a brand-new controller, and It was the first 16-bit console by Nintendo. Underneath the chassis, the system used a Ricoh 5A22 CPU clocked at 3.58MHz.

I mostly played Super Mario World and The Legend of Zelda and loved playing it, especially in summer.

Competition: Sega Genesis

Favorite Games: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Donkey Kong Country, Super Mario World, Star Fox, Final Fantasy VI, Mega Man X, Super Mario Kart, Street Fighter II

Nintendo 64

The Nintendo 64 console launched in Japan on June 23, 1996 and didn’t perform as well as its predecessor and sold 32.93 million units worldwide.

The Nintendo 64 featured greatly improved 3D graphics and a new controller that introduced the modern joystick. It was also the first home console to have four controller ports built into the system.

Honestly, I didn’t play on this console as much on NES or SNES. Although it was a great console with computing horsepower, I enjoyed playing Sony PlayStation more that was released a half year earlier.

I played some classic games like Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Competition: Sony PlayStation, Sega Saturn

Favorite Games: Super Mario 64, Donkey Kong 64, Diddy Kong Racing, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, Super Smash Bros., Star Fox 64, Mario Party series, Paper Mario, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter

Nintendo GameCube

The Nintendo GameCube (commonly shortened to GameCube, NGC or GCN) was released in 2001. It was Nintendo’s sixth generation game console, the same generation as Sega’s Dreamcast, Sony’s PlayStation 2 and Microsoft’s Xbox.  The GameCube is Nintendo’s first game console to use optical discs rather than game cartridges.

The system used IBM’s PowerPC Gekko CPU clocked at 486MHz. It was capable of delivering 1.9 GFLOPS of power. The system also featured 43MB of RAM and used ATI’s Flipper graphics chip clocked at 162MHz. With it, the GameCube was able to output a 640x480p resolution.

I was never a fan of Nintendo Game Cube and think personally that Xbox was much better video console in many ways.

Competition: Sony PlayStation 2, Microsoft Xbox, Sega Dreamcast

Favorite Games: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Metroid Prime, Super Mario Sunshine, Eternal Darkness, Resident Evil 4

Wii

The Wii was released on November 19, 2006 it sold more than 101 million units worldwide, making it Nintendo’s best-selling console to date.

Nintendo designed the console to appeal towards a wider audience than those of its main competitors, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

The Wii featured motion controls, a new online system, various multimedia ‘channels’ and slightly improved graphics. The graphical change wasn’t nearly as dramatic as previous console transitions.

The Wii featured an illuminated slot-loading optical drive and also had an SD card slot and 512MB of internal storage.

In 2007, Nintendo introduced the Wii Balance Board, which was designed with exercise games in mind. The peripheral was a great success and sold 42 million units worldwide.

Competition: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360

Favorite Games: Mario Kart Wii, Super Paper Mario, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Kirby’s Epic Yarn, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Super Mario Galaxy series, Wii Sports

Wii Mini

Shortly after Nintendo released the Wii U, the company released the Wii Mini. The Wii Mini is a smaller version of the Wii console that lacks many of the Wii’s features, such as internet connectivity, S-Video, the SD card slot, Wi-Fi support,  a USB port and GameCube backwards capability.

Wii U

The Wii U was released on November 18, 2012 as a direct successor to the Wii. The Wii U’s distinguishing hardware feature is the GamePad, a tablet-like controller which contains a touchscreen that wirelessly streams a video output from the console. It also boasts new 1080p HD graphics (only on the TV screen). It was released in two models: white (8gb) and black (32gb).

Competition: Sony PlayStation 4, Microsoft Xbox One

Favorite Games: Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart 8, Super Mario Maker, Super Mario 3D World

Nintendo Switch

In October 2016 Nintendo revealed a new system called the Nintendo Switch, which was released on March 3, 2017 for $299. Like with the Wii before it, the Switch represents a starkly different design path for the company.

The Nintendo Switch is a new hybrid of home and portable gaming consoles with detachable controllers with an emphasis on portability and on the go multiplayer in contrast of the then competitors PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

It features modular controllers that can attach to the device itself, a grip or in each of the user’s hands.

The system comes with 32GB of internal storage, but also supports expandable memory up to 2TB via Micro SDXC cards. In terms of battery, the Switch is equipped with a 4,310 mAh lithium-ion cell, which offers roughly three hours of consistent play. It uses a 6.2 inch 1280x720p touchscreen.

Coming out of the system’s first year, Nintendo still has high expectations for the Switch. I still don’t have it, but looking forward to testing it in near future.

Competition: PlayStation 4 Slim, PlayStation 4 Pro, Xbox One S, Xbox One X

Favorite games: Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Bayonetta 2, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

In this article, we covered only Nintendo video consoles. Like mentioned before we skipped a few like Color TV-Game or Panasonic Q that was only sold in Japan. In the next article, we will cover Nintendo portable consoles.

Happy gaming from BizzNerd team.

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