#Quick Look: Snipperclips: Cut It Out | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

danandthereader · 7 years ago

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Hi! I firstly wanted to say that I absolutely love your fics! Second, I have a request... what if the reader was playing video games with Dan and he kept trying to distract them by calling them cute names and acting all lovey-dovey? Bonus points if they're recording for the grumps channel!

A/N: His there, lovely ! Thank you so much for the compliment; I’m glad that you like the fics. Can I just say that this is a totally cute prompt and I am so happy to finally be able to fill it ? ♡ I love getting to write Dan as Not So Grump, if that makes sense, especially when he’s being ultra lovey-dovey. Thank you so much for sending it in, and an even bigger thanks for your patience on me filling it. I hope you love it as much as I loved getting to fill it; heart you !

GAME OVER

To say that the Grumps recording room was comfortable was giving it just a bit too much credit. Honestly, the placed with sort of packed, one wall entirely covered in shelves that housed their extensive videogame collection and the rest of the room dedicated to recording equipment and various systems to play them. Yet in this room, with its worn couch and shoddy A/C and shoulder-to-shoulder atmosphere, you couldn’t help but feel welcome. It was just you in the room - Dan and Arin were both taking five just outside - but you stayed to take in the silence, only broken up by the laptops humming.It wasn’t often that you got to really take in the fact that you were part of this now - not like the boys were, of course, but you always got to help out with something, from editing to queuing up and posting videos - mostly because your days always flew by in a blur. Now, though, just for a moment, you could really appreciate it.

Just then, the door opened, revealing the two stars of the show, looking ready to go, followed suit by Ryan. “So, we’ve got a couple different ways to spend the rest of the afternoon,” the editor began. “We can bag a few episodes of Zelda, Monopoly for Versus, let’s see…” He was listing things off the top of his head. “Oh! There’s also Sonic…” You let out a tiny huff of amusement, that current series having particularly entertained you each time you’ve watched it. It seemed to remind everyone that you were there, and Dan turned to you. “What do you think?” Sweet of him to include you in the conversation; you smiled a bit. “Sonic’s always a big hit,” you replied easily. “Or… Hm…” You were lost in thought as well. “Can you guys afford to start something new?” That caught all of their attention. “Like?” prompted Arin, curious at the prospect. You thought for another moment. “Do you have a Spongebob game?” That made him laugh out loud.“What about Snipperclips?” Dan asked, perking up just a bit. “Yeah! I loved getting to see you two play that,” you agreed, beaming. Looking to Arin, the smile that was on his face was more smug than anything. “Oh, he doesn’t wanna play with me,” he added, giving his best friend major side-eye. It was then that the two looked to you, and you got it. “Wh- Me?” You’d never been on Grumps before, and even if you had been dating Danny for the past three or so months, you hadn’t expected things to cross over quite like this. “I’ll set up the mics.” All three of them were moving then, going to rig things up, leaving you all together confused of what just transpired.All at once it hit you - You were going to be on an episode of Game Grumps. This was definitely not how you thought the day was going to go, but when working in a place like this, was anything ever set in stone?

Following suit, you took a seat on the couch next to Dan, bringing your legs up and crossing them over one another. As Arin finished adjusting the mics and levels, and Ryan dug out the Switch controllers and game, you felt a gentle bump against your shoulder. Knowing who it was, you smiled a bit and bumped right back. “How ya feelin’?” the curly-haired one asked, voice kept low to stay between the two of you. “Thoroughly confused,” you replied, equally soft and smiling more. “Why am I doing this with you again?” He chuckled. “Because you’re great. ” That seemed enough of a reason for him; you playfully rolled your eyes. “If at any point you don’t feel comfortable, just tell me, and we’ll pause, and we’ll tag you out, all right?” Your eyebrows furrowed; that had never happened in any Grumps episode. “The audience won’t mind, I promise.”Getting a thumbs-up, the capture was started, the timer began, and Dan introduced the two of you.“Been a while since we’ve played this. Hey everyone!” His on-screen voice wasn’t all that different than his off-screen one, all chipper tones and musical cadence. “We have a very special, new guest me playing this very adorable game…” You smiled a bit as you leaned in. “Hey there,” you greeted simply, hoping you came off confident. “You ready to play some Snipperclips, lovely?” The nickname made you blink, but reply, “Let’s get to it!”Breezing through the first few stages, you two came to a point where you couldn’t quite pass. “What are we supposed to be doing here?” Dan wondered aloud, running back and forth across the screen with his little yellow character. “I think we’re supposed to get the little orbs into their pockets?” Dumb answer; you cringed. “Well, yeah, of course that,” he replied, chuckling. “But how?” As you mimicked him - taking your little pink character and running them back and forth across the stage - you studied the layout. “Well, maybe if we do this, and th- Hey!” He had hit the button that clipped you, cutting a piece from your character with the little thing going oh!. You now had a very pointed half and a rounded-out, untouched half. “Rude!” He was laughing. “But you look so cute now! Like a pink punk rocker,” he insisted as you chased him around the screen. “Not quite as cute as you look in real-life right now, though.” You turned pink at the sudden compliment, stopping the chase and hitting the button to reset your character. “Don’t think this is over,” you muttered, mostly into the mic for the audience to hear.

Eventually you did get past the level, working your way to an underwater mission that required you to cut each other into certain shapes. “Okay, this’ll be easy!” Your voice radiated enthusiasm, comfort having settled in at this point, Dan’s reassuring words from earlier keeping your butterflies down. “Okay, Danny, c’mere.” You used a humorous voice for the next bit, channeling Arin. “I gotta cut ’cha!” His little character came to yours. “All right, baby. Cut me up.” His voice took on a tone, too, his much more sultry than yours. “Do want you want to me. I’m yours.” You couldn’t help but laugh, the pink darkening. “Okay, lover boy, calm down…” Trailing off, you began snipping away, the silence broken up by his over-the-top, overtly sexual noises. He was playing it way up for humor, but you were sort of afraid it might not be usable. “Look, I’ll fuck you when we get home, okay?” you finally blurted, voice raised with exasperation and amusement. “Ooo, that a promise?”With a huff, you finished slipping the last bit of him. “All right, your turn. Do me.” Both of you paused and looked at each other, him finally catching the flush in your cheeks and grinning from ear-to-ear. “Okay, wait-!” He cracked up. “That’s not what I meant!” He did begin snipping at you in-game as well, through the laughter, keeping the game going. “You know I’ll do you right, baby girl.” Jesus. You let go of the controller and moment and put your face in your hand. “Oh no, I’ve broken you!” He hadn’t stopped the game though. “I’ve actually broken her. I’m so sorry.” His laughter had diminished to chuckles. “Hold on, let’s at least finish this level, and we’ll call it, yeah?” You looked up from your hands, noting that he had finished. “Sounds good,” you breathed, gentle laughter punctuating your sentence.Picking up the controller, you rotated your character, hopped on top of him, and the level cleared with the usual confetti and cheering. “We did it!” he accounted happily. “We’re such a good team.” He leaned over, setting his head on your shoulder and looking up at you with bright hazel eyes. “God, I hate you,” you muttered, knowing the mic had picked it up and knowing you hadn’t meant it at all. “Aw, no you don’t,” he replied, letting your mic pick him up as well. “You looove me.” The teasing tone made you sigh. “Much to my opposition,” you amended, laughing gently. “How about a ‘Next time on Game Grumps’ for the outro?” You turned to the mic. “Next time on Game Grumps... Something else!” The two of you laughed together. “Perfect. See you later, lovelies!” Lifting himself from your shoulder, he stopped the recording, then the capture, and turned to you.“We did it!” You shoved him lightly, grinning and shaking your head, no malice in the movement but getting him to widen his eyes. “What?” He was playing dumb, which made you shove him again. He took it, but rebounded quick, leaning in and kissing you lovingly.

#danny sexbang #dan avidan #dan x reader #dan avidan x reader #reader insert #anonymous #answered #req fill

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leggomy-eggo · 8 years ago

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Nintendo Switch DC Event Reviews

I spent most of today in Washington, DC. for the Nintendo “Switch and Play” event, which gave me a hands-on look at Nintendo’s new console, the Switch.

I played quite a few of their new titles today, thought I didn’t get to play some of the ones I was most excited for, those being ARMS and Breath of The Wild (the line for ARMS was almost the entire length of the room, and BoTW was only available by getting a ticket, which they had a limited amount of and ran out of quickly).

Still, I figured I would review my short experiences with the games I did get to play and let you guys know what I thought of them. I’ll put them under the cut for your convenience. I’ll put them in the order that I played them.

Ultra Street Fighter II: The Ultimate Challenges

For my first game I ever played on the Switch, I was pleasantly surprised by how fun this was. Even thought I only played 2 rounds (both of which I won), I really enjoyed myself. Though, I felt at times that the controls for the joystick weren’t responding the way they should have, but that might have been just me. Nonetheless, I still plan to get this game when it releases.

9/10

Super Bomberman R

This game is the pure definition of a comeback. After the dreadful attempt at a edgy mature Bomberman game for the Xbox, this game really hits back hard. The controls are smooth, the game is easy to understand (even though I sucked at it) and it’s a complete blast, no pun intended, with 8 players. I’m definitely buying this game, and I can’t want to try out the story mode.

9/10

Snipperclips

What is there to say about Snipperclips that hasn’t been said? It’s charming, simple, and a fun game to play with friends. The puzzles were short, yet challenging enough to bring some challenge to the table. I can’t wait to try this game out with 4 players.

9/10

Splatoon 2

Even though I’ve never played the original, I thoroughly enjoyed this. Out of the 6-7 minutes of it I played, I can’t think of a single moment where I did not enjoy myself. Not unlike last year’s Overwatch, it combines simple gameplay that almost everyone can understand with a competitive nature that gets your heart racing. The weapons that I tried out (the dual-pistols and the roller) were both extremely fun and useful in covering the battlefield and taking out opponents (my team won both rounds). Despite the occasionally confusing controls, this is 100% on my wishlist for the Switch.

9/10

1-2 Switch

I played 2 minigames during my time there, those being Quick Draw and Ball Count. In Quick Draw, you look into your partner’s eyes and try to fire your weapon (the Joycon) quicker than them in a Western-style duel. In Ball Count, you tilt the Joycon and try to feel how many balls are inside of the imaginary box. Surprisingly, the amount of detail in the HD Rumble is far better than I anticipated. Both of these minigames were extremely fun, and I plan on playing this with my family and friends quite a lot.

9/10

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

This is exactly the same game as the previous version, but with new characters, new items, and a fixed Battle mode.

And I fucking love it.

To be fair, I’ve never been a big fan of Mario Kart’s motion controls, and the fact that it sometimes responds to your movements even when you’re using the joystick is a bit annoying. I’m probably going to use the Switch with the Joycons anyways, so that’s not that big of a problem for me, though it might be a problem for someone who prefers to use the seperate controllers.

Also, I have no idea how the 2-item mechanic works. Please help me.

8/10

#book of revelations #nintendo switch #street fighter #bomberman #snipperclips #splatoon 2 #1 2 switch #mario kart 8 deluxe #review

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livefromtheloam · 8 years ago

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Nintendo Switch Event

So I went to the Nintendo Switch event today and wanted to share some thoughts with my social media platforms, as has been requested by the afternoon’s gracious benefactors. I also wrote a much more in depth article for a friend’s website, so if you want to know more, I’ll be posting a link to that once it’s published. I’m also going to put the least terrible pictures into a Facebook album.

I apologize for the length, but I had a lot of thoughts. If you have any questions, please ask away!

The Console:

The Switch console is a bit tinier than I was expecting. The main unit is a little smaller than the average tablet, and the buttons and joysticks are also an adjustment. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The Joy-Cons by themselves are surprisingly solid, and can be used in a ton of different ways. They’re a little smaller than an NES controller and much more comfortable. I enjoyed a lot of the different styles of play we got to experience. Not all of them are for me, but the fact that they can be used this way is cool. The Pro Controller is a normal size, if you’d prefer a more conventional approach to playing video games. They can support an eight console network over Wi-Fi and it seems that one system can support many players through the use of Joy-Cons and other controllers.

Switching between TV and Handheld Mode is a little fiddly at first, but I’m sure one gets used to it. It’s hilarious seeing a message like “HDMI 1 – No Signal Detected” when you pull the thing out of the dock.

The controllers are shockingly expensive, but after experiencing the HD Rumble, I can absolutely see why. I felt a small plastic controller turn into a wooden box filled with marbles, and the cognitive dissonance was fantastic. I want to see developers do awesome things with this very badly.

I’m interested to see a few things about it, such as whether or not the consoles can connect with each other and some more in depth system specs.

The Games:

Art and I played eight demos at the show. I’ll give some raw impressions based on the short amount of time I spent with each title.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: ♥♥♥!!! This was the first game Art and I went for. Needless to say, twenty minutes isn’t enough time to digest this masterpiece, but rest assured, it’s a masterpiece. I’m glad I got a chance to try it out, and I think I need to watch that trailer a hundred or so more times.

Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers: It’s Street Fighter alright! As always, Arthur was better than me, but it runs incredibly smoothly on the Switch so I can’t blame my terrible performance on lag. I detected no latency whatsoever (I’m great at Smash, so there!), and if the pros also find it acceptable, I can see the Switch become the fighting console of choice within a few years.

Super Bomberman R: It’s Bomberman! It’s Bombermen! It’s not good! Sadly, 3D models do not suit this game, and visibility takes a big hit. It’s too bad, as I really do love the little pyros.

1-2-Switch: This is an excellent proof of concept. We were allowed to demo five minigames, all of them fun (quick draw, cow milking, marble guessing, katana catching, and ping pong). It’s a shame this isn’t a pack-in, as it seems to fill that role perfectly. To be honest, it reminded me more of party board games like Cranium than regular video games. Oh, and I got to try the HD Rumble here, which is everything I dreamed it would be and more. Seriously, my brain thought the plastic controller became a wooden box full of glass marbles thanks to uncanny haptic feedback. I can not rave about this enough.

ARMS: Meh. I’m sure this game has its audience, but it’s not me. It’s a spruced up version of Wii Boxing, and as much as I liked that game, there’s not much more you can add to the concept to justify making it a full-priced release. Maybe active children will like this, and I hope they do. All the reps loved it, so maybe I’m missing something.

Splatoon 2: I’m not sure this is a sequel instead of an upgrade, but I don’t care. I love Splatoon with all my heart and will happily buy it again. It’s a bit weird now that the right joystick is on the bottom now, but that’s ok, it’ll just take some getting used to. Oh, and the official guidelines say to mention that it’s a “Demo Version,” but I think that might just be for video content.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Same as Splatoon up there. This isn’t pretending to be a sequel, but it’s a damn good upgrade. It comes with all the paid DLC, some extra characters (two multicolored Inklings), extra stages, and a real battle mode. Even the rep showing this off was like, yep, this battle mode is a lot better now, which is not something we were expecting to hear. As always, I’m awesome in Kart battles, and I’m fairly sure the Splatoon arena was just lifted from the game.

Sonic Mania: I was fully expecting Zelda to be my favorite game at the show. And it almost was. In fact, I had gotten into a great conversation with a rep while Art played this one without me. But a seat opened up, I figured why the Hell not, sat down, completely ignored the rep who asked me to wait so she could show me how to play Sonic (I know how to play Sonic), and was instantly taken to the halcyon days of childhood where Nintendo and Sega were the fiercest of rivals and people legitimately thought blast processing was a thing. This game hits every single tiny little beat. It knows how to be a Sonic game. The pixelated expressions on the sprites. The physics. The speed. The music. Everything was RIGHT about this game. If you’ve ever loved Sonic the Hedgehog, make a real attempt at trying this one, even if it’s not on the Switch (it’s also coming out for PS4, XBONE, and PC). I’m not a nostalgic kind of guy, but no amount of shame could stop me from squealing like a child every fifteen seconds or so (or from taking an extra turn while the rep wasn’t looking).

Honorable Mentions:

The following games were present, but we didn’t try them: Snipperclips – Cut it out Together!, FAST RMX, Just Dance 2017, Skylanders Imaginators, Has Been Heroes, Disgaea 5 Complete, Puyo Puyo Tetris.

The Event:

This event was the single best of its kind that I’ve ever been to. Compared to the lukewarm presentation the night before, this really got my mind running in circles imagining how the Switch was going to do this and that. Every single official I spoke with was knowledgeable and friendly, and everyone seemed really excited to be there. They invited exactly the right number of people for the space they had, and had exactly the right amount of stations with exactly the right amount of games. No guest had to wait more than ten minutes to play any game, including the twenty minute Breath of the Wild demo. Some games even had their own special areas. Zelda had astroturf floors and plastic ivy covered tables. 1-2-Switch had funky outfits and glass booths that let players listen to the audio cues while providing endless entertainment to onlookers. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was set up like a diner, complete with napkin dispensers and Switch branded ketchup bottles.

It was also the right amount of time, as I think any guest could have played each of the fifteen demos in the three and a half hours we were allowed. Art and I played eight, mainly because we were enjoying the conversations with the workers. We also might have played a few too many rounds of Mario Kart.

Whoever put this together deserves a hefty raise. I hope they’re able to put together more events like this in the future.

I happened to be lucky enough to be invited by Nintendo, but the general public will be welcome in cities around the world to experience events just like this one. If you’re in the New York area, you can check it out this Sunday, and other cities have their own days and times. http://www.nintendo.com/switch/events/

I’m looking forward to this system, and I hope that Nintendo can build more hype for it, as I think they’ve got something really special going on here.

#nintendo switch #nintendo #switch #zelda #breath of the wild #sonic the hedgehog #sonic #mario kart #splatoon

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recentanimenews · 8 years ago

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Nintendo Switch Console Launches on March 3 for $299.99

Boy, we have a lot to get through today as far as Nintendo Switch news is concerned. The Japanese press conference didn't start until 11:00pm EST last night, and growing baby boys like me went to bed the second they said goodbye. Before we get into all the little details of the event, though, let's just start with this:

Nintendo Switch launches on March 3, and will be priced at $299.99.

And it won't be region-locked.

Also, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild launches on the same day.

For that price you'll get the console, dock, two Joy-Con controllers, a Joy-Con grip, a set of Joy-Con wrist straps, an HDMI cable, and an AC adapter. Switch will be available with the standard gray controllers we've seen since the October reveal, or in a version that includes one neon blue and one neon red Joy-Con. You will know and judge people based on which one they choose.

There were a few more interesting tidbits shown briefly, like the NFC reader on the right Joy-Con and the Capture Button—which takes screenshots and will be able to capture video in the future—on the left. There's also an IR Motion camera in the right controller that will assist with motion controls by determining the distance, shape, and motion of nearby objects, and both controllers feature "advanced HD rumble."

That motion and rumble was shown off in the first game they presented, the party-centric 1-2-Switch, which has you looking at the other player rather than the screen.

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Then they showed off ARMS, which is about as Nintendo as a boxing game gets outside of Punch-Out:

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As for the portability of the system, Nintendo said battery life will vary from game to game. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, for instance, will last around three hours on a single charge. Other games may last up to six-and-a-half hours or so.

Before we move on to individual posts, let's do a quick rundown on some of the select first-party games Nintendo mentioned:

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: This one will be available in a standard edition, special edition, and Master Edition. Here's Nintendo's description of those:

The Special Edition includes the game, a Nintendo Switch Sheikah Slate Carrying Case, Sheikah Eye Collectible Coin, Relic of Hyrule: Calamity Ganon Tapestry and Weather-Worn Map, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Sound Selection CD for a suggested retail price of $99.99. The Master Edition includes all of those items plus a Master Sword of Resurrection figure, and has a suggested retail price of $129.99.

1-2-Switch: Available on launch day.

ARMS: Available this spring.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: All DLC! New features! April!

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Splatoon 2: A sequel with new stages, fashion, and weapons that's due out this summer.

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Super Mario Odyssey: More on this one later, but it's not going to launch until holiday 2017.

Snipperclips - Cut it out, together!: An action-puzzle game that's coming to the eShop in March.

Stick around today for more Switch news and videos! If you wanna watch the full presentation again or for the first time, knock yourself out:

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Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine. You can read his webcomic, BIG DUMB FIGHTING IDIOTS, every week at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter @Moldilox.

By: [email protected]

#Anime #News #Latest in Anime News by Crunchyroll!

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parvaatidynasty-blog · 8 years ago

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Top 10 Games I played in 2017 [so far]

May was a busy month for me, and I didn’t realize until recently that I neglected this blog and forgot to write something. As a way to make up for it, I wrote 2 blog posts. Both entries this time are a list-like format, but since I’m playing Breath of the Wild right now, I’d really like to write something more detailed about open worlds for July.

The first half of the year is almost over, and boy, has it been great. There have been so many great games released during the first half of this year alone that making a Game of the Year list at the end of 2017 will be remarkably difficult, more so than most other years. At the end of the year, 2 things will be certain: 1) a fair amount of games I enjoyed will be left out of the top 10, and 2) games I played in this year that were released early than 2017 will be left out. As a result, I wanted to create a list of the top 10 games I played this year regardless of their actual release date. This year I played a fair amount of games from previous years, and some of them are so good it’d be a shame to not give them their 60 seconds of fame here. Even though the list is mostly of 2017 games anyway, the order may not necessarily be the same come December.

10. Snipperclips: Cut it out, together!

Snipperclips is one of the best games you could include in a potential “Nintendo Switch starter pack.” Although playable by a single player, the game shines in cooperative play, and through this method of play, you can experience the vision of the Switch hardware. The game is a blast regardless of whether you are playing it in TV or tabletop mode. Everything from the quick load time of the game software and OS to the snappy gameflow of Snipperclips perfectly exemplifies the mission statement of the Nintendo Switch hardware. The puzzles are well-crafted with a good amount of variety and rely on both players to work together. As you and your partner discover the solutions to the puzzles, you will undoubtedly find yourselves come across moments of laughter, which makes the game all the more memorable. The additional modes are welcomed, whether they be the competitive sports and battle mode or the 4 player puzzles. Overall, it’s a game with more content than you would expect, making it a fantastic launch game and a perfect introduction to the Switch hardware.

9. ARMS

ARMS is a unique game, and even though the product on release is a little skimpy on the content, I’m really enjoying it. The motion controls are very intuitive, to the point where I haven’t even tried the Pro Controller. And although the mechanics appear simple on paper, there’s a lot of depth, and the skill ceiling is quite high; even the AI can be brutally difficult. I’m still barely above the skill floor, or at least the AI makes it seem that way at times, but I’m looking forward to playing more of ARMS as time goes on and seeing where my abilities peak. The great art direction, character design especially, makes the game very welcoming to all players. It’s really something to see the Mario Kart 8 team branch out of their comfort zone and create their own take on a fighting game.

8. Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

How I perceive the Fire Emblem series has changed a lot over time. My first experience with the series was playing the Sacred Stones on the Gameboy Advance. I wasn’t particularly good at it, Advance Wars with its disposable units was more my style, but I did make it to the credits at the expense of many casualties during the endgame. I hadn’t played another game in the series since Awakening, and Awakening’s accessibility and the lack of Advance Wars games made me see the series in a new light. I’m proud to declare that I beat Fire Emblem: Fates on Hard, redeeming my poor play in the Sacred Stones, and although I haven’t beaten Echoes yet, I’m really enjoying it. The game is different in just the right amount of ways so that things feel fresh, and the writing is so well-done that I don’t feel like I’m missing the self-insert characters from the original 3DS entries. When it comes to sound, the amount of voicework in the game is nothing short of impressive and the soundtrack is as incredible as one should expect from the Fire Emblem series. Overall, Intelligent Systems did an excellent job taking an entry that not many people responded well to in the past and turning it into an excellent one.

7. Steins;Gate

Are visual novels games? Let’s not go down that rabbit hole. For now, I just want to say that Steins;Gate is great and should be experienced by anyone who likes visual novels or science fiction. I haven’t seen the anime, so beyond the elevator pitch of “kids create a microwave that sends emails to the past,” I had no idea what to expect. But when the game was available for $2.99 on PSN during the Golden Week sale, I bit, and I’m glad I did. Although the True Ending is a little contrived, the journey there is one that shouldn’t be missed. The characters are very well-written and mechanics behind time travel are well-thought out; Naotaka Hayashi did his best to make the underlying pseudoscience as believable as possible. Anyone familiar with anonymous message boards, otaku culture, and chuuni will find the script hilarious. Also, Miyano Mamoru, my personal favorite VA ever since his great job as Takuto Tsunashi in Star Driver, does an amazing job voicing Okabe.

6. NieR: Automata

NieR: Automata is a really unique game when it comes to aesthetic; the art direction and music are a combination that is so unique it’s worth playing for that alone. The story is really interesting as well, and it’s probably of the best game localizations of all time, with its amazing English dub. The actual game design has a more tried-and-true approach, but that’s not solely detractive. The Bayonetta-like combat is solid and responsive, and the genre shifts whether it be 9S’s hacking minigames or twinstick shooter segments are fun ways to shake up the monotony. However, the open world of the game is somewhat empty and boring, even if it is that way for narrative purposes. And although the ending of the game disappointed me (it felt like getting off a rollercoaster right when it reached the summit), it was still one of the best games released in 2017, and a PS4 classic without a doubt. I was completely engaged from beginning to end, and I would love to see Yoko Taro and Platinum Games collaborate on another project in the future.

5. Xenoblade Chronicles X

Xenoblade Chronicles X may be the closest thing we’ll ever get to an open world Gundam game. Although the first third of the game is somewhat dull, and the amount of systems they throw at you can be overwhelming, once you stick with it and get your Skell license the game becomes magnitudes better. The Skell’s vehicle mode and flight mode offer you so much freedom in how to tackle obstacles and where to explore. Upon obtaining the Skell, I couldn’t put the game down, and was addicted to exploring every nook and cranny, ignoring most of the main storyline until I felt my collection of mecha were fully decked-out. Xenoblade Chronicles X isn’t a perfect game by any means, most of the character models are kind of ugly, the story has more low points than high points, and the battle system isn’t exactly my cup of tea, but the exploration component of the game brought me so much satisfaction I was more than willing to look over the flaws.

4. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

This latest entry in the Legend of Zelda franchise is a large departure from the norm. Breath of the Wild is the kind of game that gives back the more you invest into it. If you just go from point A to B completing only the tasks and shrines associated with the main quest, you probably won’t enjoy the game. But if you’re the type of person who is willing to put off the main quest and head in a random direction, unlocking as many shrines and watchtowers along the way as possible, you’ll have a tremendous amount of fun. The game’s world as well as its physics and chemistry engines gives you a variety of ways to accomplish your goals, and the focus on shorter dungeons with well thought-out puzzles makes the game perfect for the Switch. The need to craft elixirs or food for adventuring in areas of extreme cold and heat are the only negatives I’ve encountered thus far. It just seems contradictory to place those kinds of limits on a player in a game about exploring. But Breath of the Wild is still one of Link’s best outings, and I can’t wait to see what the next Zelda game will look like.

3. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King

Last year I had the chance to play Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past, and really enjoyed it. Ever since I finished VII, I was heavily anticipating VIII, eager to return to the old-school RPG worlds of Dragon Quest, and this game did not disappoint, but instead, exceeded by expectations. Similar to Final Fantasy IV, my favorite in that franchise, the game gives you party members whose roles are initially static, but the ability to denote skill points into several categories allows you to experiment with and specialize them. The story is a well-written mix of vignettes tied to an overall plotline, and the cast of the game, especially your party members, is just incredible. The battle system remains the classic turn-based system you want out of a Dragon Quest game, but benefits from the speed-up feature included in this 3DS port and the addition of the Tension system. Upon beating the final boss, the game isn’t quite over, and the segments that follow make one of the most memorable ending sequences of all time. When you play Dragon Quest VIII it doesn’t feel like just an old game, it feels like an eternal classic.

2. Persona 5

Although Persona 3 is still my favorite game of the post-Persona 2 trilogy, I really enjoyed this entry. The new additions to the battle system work incredibly well alongside its stylish UI, which makes full use of the controller’s buttons to minimize the inputs needed for every action you may want to perform. And the addition of new elements such as Nuclear and Psychic ensure that all of your party members are viable in different areas of the game, something I felt the series struggled with in the past. The cast is appealing, revamped social link system is fantastic, and although the first third of the story is the strongest part, it remains enjoyable for the entire duration of the game. Fusing Personas remains as engaging as ever, although the filtering systems in place aren’t as robust as those in the Shin Megami Tensei 4 duology. The game has one of the strongest and most focused aesthetics I’ve ever seen. Everything from the soundtrack to the UI elements just screams “Phantom Thieves.” Upon beating it, I was already planning my second playthrough, which I’ll be sure to do before summer is over.

1. Monster Strike

Monster Strike has no right being as good as it is. It takes the gameplay of the successful mobile game, removes the microtransactions, and turns it into a full-blown RPG with a challenging post-game, resulting in something that’s really amazing. The process of creating your team of monsters has a tremendous amount of depth. Not only do you need to consider the elemental strengths of weaknesses of your crew versus your enemies, but you need to take into account the passives of each monster, such as erasing mines or immunity to walls that inflict damage, as well the type of combo attacks they expel, such as X-shaped laser beams or explosions. Once the billiards-like battles begin, you need to carefully aim your monsters, adjusting the angle so that you can maximize damage to the enemy by bumping into them and setting off Friend Combos by bumping into your allies. The graphics are impressive for a 3DS title, and the story is predictable, but enjoyable. The end result is a game with the level of decision-making typically reserved for series like Shin Megami Tensei or Bravely Default. It’s an incredibly unique and well-made RPG, and is without a doubt one of my favorite titles on the 3DS.

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vgtidbits · 8 years ago

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The Nintendo Switch hands on preview tour showcased a number of titles from the highly anticipated Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to the debut of 1-2-Switch and even third party titles such as Skylanders: Imaginators. Few of these titles will be available at console launch on March 3, 2017, but they have demonstrated the innovative features that the Switch has to offer. For example, the Skylanders: Imaginators demo station had NFC-enabled Skylanders that were able to be tapped directly onto the joy-con dock. Although this installment of Skylanders is available on other consoles such as Sony’s PS3 & PS4, and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 & One, perhaps playing it on the Switch will provide a much different experience, predominately with new controller options.

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Ball Count

Milk

First person debut title 1-2-Switch offers a plethora of mini games that one might associate Wii Play, Nintendoland, or even WarioWare with. These titles were featured in tabletop mode–basically gameplay using the joy-cons only, in such a way where you are to look your opponent in the eyes and actively engage with them, rather than the screen. The mini games featured at this preview event were Quick Draw, a game that measured attention, speed and aim; Milk, a game that required users to utilize certain button combinations and controller movements; and Ball Count, where players held the joy-con in their hands to use its vibrations to figure out how many balls were in the box–or joy-con to experience an added layer of realism. It was difficult to distinguish the nuanced vibrations used to count how many balls would roll or bounce around. But Quick Draw and Milk were essentially party games that one might particularly enjoy with a drink. 1-2-Switch will be launching alongside the Switch on March 7, 2017.

http://vgtidbits.com/2017/01/gallery-nintendo-switch-nyc-preview-tour/

The next demo I tried, and probably the most popular demo next to the Legend of Zelda was Splatoon 2. As expected, the demo had many similarities to the original with minor upgrades in graphics and sound. Character customization wasn’t available in the demo; only Turf War with 4v4 teams utilizing the Switch in tablet mode–much like how it was predominately played on the Wii U. However, the interface took a little getting used to. The map wasn’t as easily accessible, and therefore Squid Jumping took a little more effort. On the bright side, the Switch had gyroscope functionally that felt smoother and more natural than on the Wii U. Splatoon 2 is scheduled to launch this summer decked with new weapons such as the two-handed Splat Dualies that I was able to try at the event. As it sounds, this debut weapon are actually dual weapons whose special is a jetpack mode reminiscent of using the hover nozzle in Super Mario Sunshine to spray water.

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ARMS, another first party title, is a unique combination of fighting and shooting elements. The selling point is that these characters are fighting from a distance because their arms are extendable. Furthermore, each character has a set of arms that can be customized at the start of each battle. During the demo, the joy-con controllers, one in each hand, were essentially used as fists. Through a mix of boxing-like gestures, the player is able to punch straight, make curved attacks, or even grab the opponent. Although I wonder if there are general controller settings as slight gestures were registered as swings. Perhaps the upside is that the player would be able to swing faster than someone who has to extend their arm all the way out. Arms, launching later this Spring, will also be playable using the pro controller.

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Snipperclips – Cut it out, together! was an underrated puzzler where the players cut their paper characters into different shapes to solve the puzzle; whether its sharpen the pencil or pop all of the balloons. The two-player demo encouraged teamwork and creativity in solving the puzzles, cutting the right shapes, and timing everything. The controls were intuitive with one button to cut shapes, another to grow back their cut forms, and an option to crouch or tippy-toe for extra height. Snipperclips is launching this March and will be available exclusively on the Nintendo eShop.

Demo Line up includes:

1-2-Switch

Arms

Disgaea 5

Fast RMX

Has Been Heroes

Just Dance 2017

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Puyo Puyo Tetris

Skylanders: Imaginators

Snipperclips – Cut it out, together!

Sonic Mania

Splatoon 2

Super Bomberman R

Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers #gallery-0-16 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-16 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-16 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-16 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

#NintendoSwitch Hands-on Preview with 1-2-Switch, Splatoon 2, Arms and Snipperclips The Nintendo Switch hands on preview tour showcased a number of titles from the highly anticipated…

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engagedfamilygaming · 8 years ago

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Nintendo Switch Games Through the End of 2017

Nintendo held a press event on January 12th, 2017 at 11pm EST. The event was livestreamed from Tokyo and provided all the of the details players would need about the upcoming console including the consoles hardware specs and the launch lineup.

It is well known that software is what sells systems so many gamers, myself included, have been waiting patiently to know what Nintendo was going to be bringing to the console at launch. The last year has been VERY light for Nintendo as only a few games came to the WiiU in 2016.

Take a look below for a list of the games that Nintendo has announced for the Switch.

Launch Day

Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild

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Breath of the Wild is the real headliner here. We have known about the game for several years and to find out that the game will be releasing at launch for the Switch is a relief. I have to be honest when I say that I thought the game was going to be delayed again. I am very happy to have been wrong.

The Nintendo Switch is launching with arguably the most ambitious Zelda game in franchise history. This definitely bodes well for the console. Very few Nintendo consoles have launched alongside a game that has the potential to be a killer app.

Breath of the Wild is gorgeous to behold, grand in scale, and full of secrets to discover. The only question we have now is whether it will be fun to play. Fortunately, we’ll find all of that out on March 3rd, 2017 when the console launches.

1 2 Switch

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1 2 Switch is a launch title that is intended to help show off all of the unique features of the Switch hardware and controllers. It feels like it is intended to help facilitate board game like experiences.

I have my doubts about this one even though it looks like it could be fun. First, why isn’t this game themed after Wario Ware? That is a known commodity with a certain cache with Nintendo fans. That would have added value to the game all on its own. Second, why isn’t this game bundled with the hardware? I don’t think we’ll ever get an answer to that question, but it feels to me like this would have been a perfect game to include with the console as opposed to releasing it at $60.

Just Dance 2017

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As the world flies through space circumnavigating the sun, so to does a Just Dance game get released by Ubisoft. This was announced prior to the Switch reveal event, but even if it hadn’t been this would have been a safe bet. This series has always sold well on Nintendo platforms and I see no reason why it would stop now.

I actually think the Switch might be in a position to make this game better because players can take it with them and are no longer confined to your living room. The screen might be small, but that is, unquestionably, added value to the game.

Skylanders: Imaginators

Imaginators is another game that I am not surprised to hear is releasing for the Nintendo Switch on day one. I have said it before, but it is worth repeating. This is in my opinion, the best Skylanders game in the history of the franchise, so seeing it on more consoles is great. This version of the game includes a neat twist though. You only need to scan your Skylanders toys into the system once and then they will be loaded onto your copy of the game permanently. That is definitely a useful feature. I’m sure my kids would love not having to lug their figures all over the place if they wanted to play a quick game.

Super Bomberman Z

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Bomberman is a franchise that has lain dormant for a number of years. The last entry in the series came out in 2010 for the Xbox Live arcade. I’m glad to see it come back and I am especially happy to see it launch on day one for the Switch. This is a franchise that is built around multiplayer action and it is simple enough for just about anyone to pick up and have fun.

March

Snipperclips: Cut it Out Together

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(Video from Gamersprey YouTube channel).)

This might be, quietly, one of the best games to launch for the Switch in its first year. This is a cooperative puzzle game with a very interesting art style. The puzzle aspect of the game is what makes the game cool though. Each player controls a different shape on the screen. When the two shapes overlap each other a player can choose to cut out a shape from their own piece. Players then have to complete different objectives with their newfound shapes. These objectives will include things like moving objects, popping balloons (after creating a sharp point, filling in a shape template, etc.

I can’t wait for this one!

Fast RMX

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(Video from IGN YouTube channel)

Fast Racer Neo came to the Wii U last year and was a welcome addition to that consoles library. In a way, it was the F-Zero game that fans have always wanted, but never would have gotten otherwise.

This is another edition of the game that will be brought to the Switch. It will feature thirty new tracks and fifteen new ships while letting you and up to eight of your friends play in local or online races.

Just be careful, this game is absurdly fast.

Has-Been Heroes

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(Video from GameSpot YouTube channel)

This is a new game from Frozenbyte Studios that feels right at home on the Switch’s tablet based platform. It is a strategy RPG where players control a team of heroes who are past their prime while going on an epic quest to bring their King’s twin daughters to school.

The premise is silly, but the gameplay looks like it will be remarkably deep. We can’t wait to give it a whirl.

April 28th

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

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The Switch trailer released in December of 2016 showed footage of a game that looked like Mario Kart 8, but on a track that wasn’t in the original game and featuring King Boo. This made a strong implication that a new version of the wildly successful kart racing game would be ported over to the Switch.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will include all of the characters and tracks from Mario Kart 8, including the two DLC packs. It will also include a number of new racers as well as an upgraded battle mode.

Spring 2017

ARMS

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ARMS is a casual fighting game that plays like Wii Boxing, but with more elements from other fighting games. This was playable at an event at the Nintendo World Store over the weekend and it was compared, favorably, to Splatoon in that it simplifies the fighting game genre enough to make it accessible, while still having a lot of depth and interesting gameplay.

I know it is early, but I am keeping my eyes on this game. It looks like it could be really good.

Disgaia 5

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Disgaia 5 is already available for the PS4 so this doesn’t really count as a new game. With that said, Disgaia is a strategy RPG that, I think, will fit in very well on a handheld device. The Fire Emblem series has done very well on the 3DS and I think this has a similar appeal as a game to take on the go.

Puyo Puyo Tetris

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I never thought this game would ever see the light of day here in North America. Puyo Puyo Tetris is, essentially, two arcade puzzle games stacked into one. The highlight of this game is the head to head multiplayer where players can choose to play either Tetris OR Puyo Puyo against each other. Both of these games feature similar themes. Shapes (either Tetrominoes in Tetris or piles of jellies in Puyo Puyo) fall from the top of the screen and players manipulate those shapes to compete rows or match colors.

They play differently enough that it will be fun to be able to pick the game you play when competing without the games being so different that it is distracting.

Rime

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Rime was announced as a PS4 exclusive back in 2014. Since then Sony dropped their support for the game and Tequila Works, the developer, had to seek a new source of funding. Fortunately, they were able to find it from Gametrust (then games publishing arm of GameStop) and are going to be able to bring the game multiplatform.

The game itself is stunning. Its art style evokes some of the same feelings I get when I look at video of The Legend of Zelda: Windwaker (which is one of my favorite games of all time). We don’t know many details about the game from a gameplay perspective, but it definitely includes extensive platforming, and puzzle solving.

I am sure we will hear more about this game as we get close to its launch.

Summer 2017

Splatoon 2

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We knew that a Splatoon game was going to be coming to the Switch thanks to the footage included in the reveal trailer in December. We did not, however, know that it was going to be a sequel. I would have bet that it was going to be a port of the original game (and, honestly, would have been happy with that.

Splatoon 2 includes a number of new features like new weapons, new specials, new battle modes and new maps. It also solves the problem of requiring a second screen to see the game map by allowing players to simply tap the x button to bring up the game map at any time. The animation for the map coming up is slick and fast so skilled players should be able to use it without having to slow down too much.

My favorite addition to the game is a set of dual pistols that players can use. These pistols have a reasonable range and can cover a lot of area fast, but what is most interesting is that they change the way players can move. Instead of jumping, they give players the ability to use a dodge roll. Weapon changing the way a player moves around the map opens up a lot of interesting design space for new weapons specials, and gear. Here’s hoping that Nintendo takes advantage of it.

Autumn 2017

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

Part of me feels like this might be a bit late for the game’s release to make a splash. However, this will be the first time that players will have been able to take an Elder Scrolls game and play them on the go on a handheld platform. That could be just the hook that some players have needed to dive back into Skyrim again.

I will be very interested to see how this game continues its development over the course of the year.

Holiday

Super Mario Odyssey

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One of the chief complaints about the Wii U was the lack of what some people would consider a “proper” 3D Super Mario Bros. game. Super Mario 3D World was most definitely a thing that existed, but I suppose that wasn’t good enough for them.

Fortunately for those folks, Super Mario Odyssey looks like the spiritual successor to Super Mario 64 that fans have been clamoring for since it came out. It features large, gorgeously rendered, and very diverse environments to explore. It definitely includes secrets buried behind platforming challenges. And it looks gorgeous to boot thanks to the Switch’s improved hardware power.

Unfortunately, we have to wait until Holiday 2017 to enjoy it, but this one looks like it will be worth the wait.

2017 (No specific window announced)

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

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Xenoblade Chronicles was a Wii exclusive that earned a lot of positive praise for its story and its action oriented gameplay. Unfortunately it was buried on the Wii so it was held back graphically. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 looks like it is attempting to follow up on the original title while fixing some of the graphical shortcomings that tied the first game down.

Minecraft

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You simply cannot release a console in the post Minecraft world without including it on your console. It is too big of a force in the gaming world to ignore. Minecraft won’t be launching on day one with the Switch, but it will be out within the 2017 calendar year. Here’s hoping they can get it on their sooner rather than later as this is another game that works incredibly well on a handheld device and I am sure that a lot of kids would love to have a Minecraft game that they can play both at home and on the road.

FIFA

FIFA is the biggest sports franchise in the world. It comes as no surprise that EA will be bringing it to the Switch. I don’t really know how well hardcore fans of the franchise will take to playing the game on a handheld device, but I can imaging that casual fans will love the idea of being able to plug away at the games in their franchise modes while traveling.

Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers

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This is an interesting one. Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers was released for the SNES many, many years ago. This is a sequel to that title that includes an option for an updated aesthetic (a beautifully hand drawn one at that) and two new characters (Evil Ryu and Violent Ken).

I am a huge Street Fighter fan, so this is easily one of my most anticipated games for the console even if it is only so that I can show my kids how Street Fighter games used to look.

Syberia 3

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Syberia 3 is an adventure game that takes place in a Steam Punk setting. Players take control of Kate Walker, the hero from the first two games, as she embarks on a new adventure. The last Syberia game came out ten years ago and I am sure there are fans who have wanted to continue her adventures. This will be their chance.

NBA 2K18

My love for NBA 2K18 is well documented. I think it is a remarkable basketball game, but it is also a great RPG as well. I, personally, cannot wait to play this game on my Switch. The NBA season is quite long and having the ability to play while on the road will be a great way to sneak a few more games in.

I Am Setsuna

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I am Setsuna released for the PS4 in 2016. It didn’t set the world on fire, but it was generally well received. I am excited to see it come to the Switch because I strongly feel that RPGs will have a great home there.

I am Setsuna was developed by the Tokyo RPG Factory (a subsidiary of Square Enix specifically built to make old school RPGs) and was intended to remind players of the fun they had playing Chrono Trigger in the late 90s. It did successfully evoke those feelings, but in a way that was to the game’s detriment as it didn’t live up to those expectations.

Dragonball Xenoverse 2

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Dragonball is a franchise that refuses to go away. Xenoverse is an action based role playing game that heavily features fighting game mechanics.

The split screen multiplayer feels like it would be a great fit for the Switch in tabletop mode. I am just hoping that someone creates some sort of headrest mount so my boys can play it. This feels like a game they would appreciate, especially as the oldest starts to get into the show.

Sonic Mania

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Sonic the Hedgehog has been around a long time and has evolved a lot over that time. Unfortunately, a lot of those evolutions have been for the worse. Sonic Mania is an attempt to bring Sonic the Hedgehog back to his 2D roots

Steep

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Ubisoft released this game quietly on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC towards the end of last year. It was announced at E3, and received almost no marketing between then and its release. This surprised me because people who played Steep were enjoying it quite a bit.

Steep is billed as an open world extreme sports game that includes snowboarding, skiing, and wing-suit flight. The game’s big “thing” is that instead of being a linear set of courses like in SSX players are encouraged to explore a wide open world searching for new courses to run and zones to to be dropped in.

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viralhottopics · 8 years ago

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Nintendo Switch: hands-on with the world’s strangest games console

At a London launch, we got our first look at Nintendos hybrid gaming system, as well as playing Zelda, Splatoon 2 and more

Some are calling it Nintendos last chance. At least at manufacturing a games console. The creator of smash-hit machines since the original Nintendo Entertainment System in 1983 suffered an ignoble commercial failure with Wii U. Announced last year and revealed in full on Friday, the new Nintendo Switch machine has a lot to prove.

Its a typically idiosyncratic creation. Described as a hybrid system, it works as a traditional home console, plugging into your TV, but it can also be slid out of its dock and played on the go, via a built in screen. The concept is fascinating, merging the portable and home experiences into one product, but what about the practice?

On Friday afternoon, Nintendo held hands-on events in several cities around the world. Outside the Hammersmith Apollo in London, a long queue of lucky fans, media types and industry insiders waited patiently, many bleary-eyed from having stayed up until 4am watching Nintendos Switch console livestream from Tokyo. All were eager to get inside, away from the cold and towards Nintendos future. Heres what we discovered.

Hands-on with the machine

The Nintendo Switch games console. Photograph: Chesnot/Getty Images

Immediate first impressions. Its small. The central tablet-shaped unit is smaller than a Wii U GamePad and has the same size screen – 6.2 inches, which is smaller than an iPad Mini. The dock through which you connect the device to your television is just a little bulkier. The Joy-Con controllers, which can be connected to the sides of the Switch to turn it into a handheld console, are tiny. Wrap your fingers around them, perhaps for a motion-controlled game of boxing, and they almost feel like they could disappear. You might want to actually wear your wrist strap for these, and dont let your children run off with them or youll never find them again.

Still, with their curved edges and soft finish the Joy-Con are surprisingly comfortable in every possible configuration. The grip that turns a pair of Joy-Con into something that resembles a standard controller might look a bit silly – and canine – but it nestles snugly in the hand. It was difficult, however, to get a proper feel for the weight of both the grip and the handheld mode with Joy-Con attached to either side of the screen, because they were all attached to their stands with thick security cables.

Nintendo Switch in its box. Photograph: Nintendo

Because of the security measures, it wasnt possible to try much of the actual switching that gives the console its name, with one exception. When playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, attendees could switch from television to handheld mode by removing the Switch from its dock, which proved to be almost instant, and back again, which took a second longer. Placing the Switch in its dock didnt seem to quite have the satisfactory click expected, but that might again be blamed on the thick cable throwing off the balance.

Attendees werent allowed to try attaching the Joy-Con to the grip or the Switch itself, but the different games around the room were set up to be played in different ways. In handheld mode, games were displayed at 60fps and 720p, which looks pretty good on a screen that small. Some games were set up with the Switch as the display and the controllers detached, and for those it was common to see players leaning in to see more closely. It works, but is best saved for when you cant use a television.

Importantly, while it wasnt usually possible to test physical switching from one mode to another, moving between games set up to be played in different ways felt natural. Those with experience with the likes of analog sticks and triggers should have no problems adapting to the feel of the different control methods.

Hands-on with the games

Here are the titles we got a chance to play.

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Photograph: Nintendo

Given the popularity of this long-running adventure series, its unsurprising that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was the only game with a substantial queue. Many of the attendees had already played this demo at E3, but on a Wii U. The Switch version is largely similar, right down to the existence of Links Sheikah Slate, which was obviously meant to reflect the second-screen experience provided by the Wii U GamePad an experience you cant have on Switch because when its docked, the screen is not visible. You can of course undock your Switch and explore that beautiful world 720p but still lovely on the go, if only for up to three hours at a time.

1-2 Switch (Nintendo; launch title)

1-2 Switch. Photograph: Nintendo

The game that best showed off what the Joy-Con can do was 1-2-Switch, a collection of mini games designed to get players looking away from the screen and at each other. Each mini game on show was one-on-one competitive multiplayer, each player using a single Joy-Con to perform some action mimicking real life.

Quick Draw and Samurai Training use the accelerometer and gyro-sensors inside the controllers to test your reaction times, by respectively asking you to shoot your opponent or catch the sword they swing through your open hands. The latter also demonstrates the sturdiness of the Joy-Con, since you catch the sword by clapping the controller in your hand.

Ball Count and Safe Crack demonstrate the HD rumble technology in the devices that can make it feel like there are little balls rolling around inside the controller. Nintendo claimed that the rumble tech is so intricate it can even make the Joy-Con feel like a tumbler full of ice cubes. Its cool, but unlikely to be used to its full extent in many games.

But the 1-2-Switch mini game everyone was talking about was Milk, for which you hold the Joy-Con vertically, wrap your fingers around it, and move it up and down while applying rhythmic pressure to the top and bottom in turn. You know, to milk a cow. In the background, the screen shows a stylised view of a cows teats delivering the … product. Unsurprisingly, footage has already been a hit on social media.

These mini games are great the first time you try them, and would probably go down well at parties, just like the original Wii games did a decade ago, but the collection lacks the lasting appeal required to justify a purchase. Its a shame Nintendo hasnt chosen to bundle it in with the console, especially given the popularity of Wii Sports.

Snipperclips (Nintendo; March 2017)

Snipperclips. Photograph: Nintendo

Another game that caused a lot of buzz on the showroom floor was a cooperative 2D puzzle game that involves two shapes with feet and faces cutting chunks out of each other in order to create new shapes and solve challenges. Played in pairs with a Joy-Con each, Snipperclips fits well with the tendency players have to lean in when using the Switch on its kickstand as the display. Its unique mechanic feels very refreshing, and appropriate for a Nintendo console, but Snipperclips might not be as new as it seems. A very similar game called Friendshapes, from brothers Tom and Adam of SFB Games, was playable at EGXs Leftfield Collection back in 2015.

Arms (Nintendo; March 2017)

Arms. Photograph: Nintendo

Arms is reminiscent of the boxing game in Wii Sports, albeit with characters whose arms extend on springs and end in a variety of weapons. Hold two Joy-Con vertically and turned so that the buttons face inwards which is still comfortable but makes you grateful for the wrist strap and punch. You can also tilt the controllers to move, turn them inwards to shield, punch both at once to grab, press L and R to dash and jump, and press ZL or ZR to use a characters special move – heal while shielding, hover, teleport and so on. Theres plenty of strategy here, but just as boxing was the lesser played of the Wii Sports games because it required each player to have a nunchuck, Arms is likely to suffer from its need for two Joy-Con each, especially given their listed price of 75 a pair.

Splatoon 2 (Nintendo; summer 2017)

Splatoon 2. Photograph: Nintendo

Despite promises of a full sequel, Splatoon 2 feels very similar to the original, which will probably be just fine for those who racked up dozens or hundreds of hours and just want more of the same, or those who skipped the Wii U altogether and will experience it for the first time on Switch. The demo did include one new weapon, Splat Dualies, which let your squid shoot their coloured ink from both hands at once. Using motion controls in this case in handheld mode still feels gimmicky, fun at first but not ideal for fast-paced competitive play.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo; 28 April)

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Photograph: Nintendo

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe isnt pretending to be anything more than an upgraded version of Mario Kart 8, which will suit both those who want to bring that experience with them when they upgrade from Wii U to Switch, and those whove never played the game before. Changes include the introduction of a battle mode, some new characters including ones from Splatoon, and an optional smart steering feature that keeps players on the track.

But the biggest Switch-specific feature, of course, is the ability to play in many different ways. At the event, attendees could play eight-player local multiplayer in handheld mode, with the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller in television mode, or with the Switch on its kickstand and two players each using one Joy-Con in a tiny steering wheel. Any way you play it, Mario Kart 8 is still great.

Fast RMX (Shinen; March 2017)

Fast RMX. Photograph: Nintendo

This colourful futuristic racer looked great in 1080p and 60fps on the television mode, but it would have been good to test out how it plays in handheld mode, whether you can still play two-player splitscreen and if that causes the frame-rate to drop. Still, with little more to worry about than staying on the track and switching your anti-gravity vehicles colour in time to catch boost strips, Fast RMX is good simple fun.

And the rest

Sonic Mania. Photograph: Sega

Sonic Mania (Sega; Spring 2017) was described as a homage to Sonic. Its neither a new game nor strictly a reboot. The demo was the first level of the original Sonic but with added Tails and dash ability, and a different boss encounter at the end.

Skylanders Imaginators (Toys for Bob; Activision; 3 March) was demonstrated the NFC, with players bringing Skylanders into the game by tapping them against the right Joy-Con. It works well, but feels less magical than placing them on a solid pedestal.

Super Bomberman R (Konami; 3 March) was also played with two players with a Joy-Con each, leaning into the Switch on its kickstand. This setup seems to work well for retro-type games, and well probably see more come to Switch.

Just Dance 2017 (Ubisoft; 3 March) also worked well with each player holding just one Joy-Con, their small size and light weight an advantage for those who want to forget theyre holding a controller at all.

A Nintendo Switch launch event. Photograph: Chesnot/Getty Images

Our verdict

As its name suggests, the main selling point of the Switch is the ability to play it in all sorts of different configurations. Though it was disappointing not to be allowed to try many of these actions at the event, most of the configurations were available and proved viable even if they sacrificed some resolution or power or in the case of leaning in to better see the Switch on its kickstand comfort. The question is whether people will see these options as reason enough to buy.

If were going to question the necessity of certain features, when will we see why the Switch needed a capacitive touch screen? What games will make the HD rumble worth whatever extra cost it added to the expensive Joy-Con controllers? Without having 1-2-Switch bundled in with every console, will players care about the motion controls and will developers bother to create more games that use them? Will there be enough online content to justify paying a monthly subscription after the free introductory period ends?

Of course, you could just see these features as a bonus to a console that looks and feels great, but then the selling point has to be the games. As far as launch titles go the Switch is lacking, but then the hardcore fans wholl buy the console on day one will likely be satisfied with just the huge open-world Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. And for those who wait for Christmas therell be lots more to choose from, supposedly including a new open-world Mario game in Super Mario Odyssey.

As for third-party developers, word on the show floor was that the Switch is far easier to develop for than the Wii U, which could translate to better third-party support. Given the architecture is apparently similar to the latest Sony and Microsoft machines, it should at least be easier for developers to port across their PS4 and Xbox One games to bulk out the Switch library. Whether they do this or not will depend on whether the console shows signs of success. Low initial sales can quickly cause a vicious cycle in which publishers withdraw support and further lower a consoles chances.

This was a fun event, filled with familiar Nintendo experiences, but doubts remain. Given what happened with the Wii U, heres hoping Nintendo can switch things up.