THE WAIT IS OVER

After much anticipation, speculation and rumours that will make your head spin, Nintendo finally released a 3-minute video announcing the Switch. Formerly codenamed ‘NX’, this new console from Nintendo is a unique answer to every fan’s prayer, coming March 2017. It’s a direction only the big N could take and it has captured the interest of gamers and developers alike.

HYBRID DESIGNS

The Switch is basically what you see in the picture below. A tablet device that accepts game cards with two detachable controllers. When you’re at home, just place the device on the dock and play on your TV. Whenever you want to take your game on the go just take it out and continue on the fly. No latency, no connection issues, just snap out and go.

SELF-CONTROL

This interesting control choice opens up your home console/portable Switch for insane multiplayer experiences. Want to play with a friend near you? No problem, just detach the controllers and give one to each player. Additionally, if you prefer a more traditional style of playing then you can choose to play with the Pro controller which offers a more Gamecube-style control.

THE GAMES

Thus far we have seen Skyrim running on the console, a new 3D Mario and of course my personal favourite The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Nintendo has released a list offering a glimpse into the developers supporting the console, and with Blizzard recently teasing Hearthstone on the console, things just keep getting better and better. I think with the Switch, Nintendo finally managed to get the attention of third-parties which can really drive sales and persuade more people to get the console.

MARCH CAN’T COME SOON ENOUGH

Nintendo delivered. Simple as that. They have learned from their past mistakes and refined their strategy for the future. In a growing market of overpriced consoles that rely heavily on 2-year revisions and VR, the Switch is a breath of fresh air and an excitingly innovative product. It’s sexy, matte black and provides what Nintendo does best, a new way to play.

Are you excited about the Nintendo Switch? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

The post The New Nintendo; Switch just got real. appeared first on BadFive.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: A LINK BETWEEN WORLDS

One of the best Zelda games to date, brimming with style and features that make the gameplay feel fresh. The dungeons, distribution of items are all re-worked for this modern Zelda experience which makes it a must-play for 3DS owners that love a good 20+ hour adventure on the go. If a more classic Zelda game is what you’re looking for, Ocarina of Time or Majora’s Mask are equally amazing experiences to own on the system.

RESIDENT EVIL REVELATIONS

A technical marvel and a return to the franchise’s roots. Despite a slightly confusing storyline this game is perfect for fans that want to immerse themselves in a chilling survival horror game and enjoy a simple but fun multiplayer component. Play with headphones!

ANY OF THE 3DS POKEMON GAMES

I was personally re-introduced back to the Pokemon franchise with Pokemon Y, re-igniting my love for the series and what if has to offer. But I cannot deny that Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire are also magnificent choices to add to your 3DS library. There’s nothing to say here really. They’re great games to play on the go, you get your money’s worth with 80+ hours of gameplay and a well-made battling/trading system. Go get it now, I’ll wait.

FINAL FANTASY EXPLORERS or MONSTER HUNTER SERIES

The most controversial entry on this list. Most people would argue that Monster Hunter should take this spot. Both are essentially beast-killing games with RPG elements and solo/online play. The thing is, I downloaded the demo for every MH game and found myself lost in its learning curve. If you are ready to invest a lot of time into learning Monster Hunter’s mechanics and want to play a fun, visually striking game, then that’s your game. But if you’re a fan of Final Fantasy and want a game that’s easy to get into and play with your friends without them giving up in the first hour, then FF Explorers is what you need.

SUPER SMASH BROS FOR 3DS

Packed with features, extras, levels and characters. This game will keep you busy for years with its fun gameplay both solo and online. The ultimate 3DS fighting game, easy to jump in, hard to master. I still get my ass kicked online and feel bad after, but I love it nonetheless.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

These are games I couldn’t add to this list because of my limitation of 5 games or simply because I do not own them.

Mario Kart 7
Fire Emblem Awakening
Bravely Default & Bravely Second
Metal Gear Solid 3D: Snake Eater
Star Fox 64 3D
Shovel Knight
Super Mario 3D Land
Luigi’s Mansion 2
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate

What do you believe is the ultimate 3DS game collection in order to get the most out of the system?

The post Top 5 3DS games to play before the NX is released appeared first on BadFive.

TRIAL AND ERROR

The game industry is in a very strange place at the moment. The more announcements we get from Sony and Microsoft about future iterations of their current consoles, the more I get the idea that they’re just winging it to see where it takes them.

BEST BEFORE…

More recently, Sony confused the public with the announcement of the PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro. Microsoft is planning to release their next version of the Xbox One, nicknamed the Scorpio and rumored to be at least twice as powerful as the PS4 Pro, in December of 2017. Is this the era of consoles that only stay relevant for 2-3 years? Only time will tell if consumers will bite the bullet and jump on this trend of mid-generation upgrades.

A NEW NINTENDO?

And then there’s Nintendo. After looking at the success of Pokemon Go at re-igniting 3DS sales as well as games, the big N is dipping their toes in the App Store pool with Super Mario Run. This will without a doubt capitalize on one of the world’s most famous mascots in an effort to remind the public that they can play those types of experiences on their home-consoles. I believe Nintendo are finally able to find a sweet spot between mobile and console gaming so as to make everything work in their favor, without literally selling out and becoming a third-party company that sells its franchises to the competition.

SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?

This harmony, combined with a (hopefully) stable NX announcement can really establish Nintendo again as the company that is trying to provide new experiences instead of trying extremely hard to be a budget PC-like powerhouse like Sony and Microsoft. It is evident that those two companies took a very different road than Nintendo and it is my opinion that it won’t lead them anywhere. After all, how many generations can pass before people just don’t see the point in upgrading? VR, HDR lighting and 4K Netflix is not enough. PS4 games out now already look fantastic and I can name quite a few PS3 titles that still blow my mind with what the developers achieved.

A GAMER’S HOPE

All in all, I haven’t been this excited for a console reveal for a long time and I guess that’s what’s missing from gaming nowadays. I miss the time when our minds could be genuinely blown with unpredictable announcements and innovations. Nintendo, if you’re listening, I hope you get it right.

The post The Curious Case of Nintendo and their ‘NX’ appeared first on BadFive.

THE ZELDA FORMULA
With the release of Twilight Princess in 2006, Nintendo gave outspoken Western Zelda fans what they always wanted; a dark game with a realistic art-style. This was the game that introduced me to the series and made me want to explore older games.
After years of catching up it wasn’t difficult to notice how each game in the series after Ocarina of Time follows a formula. This formula works and produces fantastic games.

THE GREAT DIVIDE
Skyward Sword, released in 2011 (just one week after TESV: Skyrim) was a product of this game-development ‘’algorithm’’. It showcased the gameplay possibilities of 1:1 motion control, it was epic in terms of story and was the catalyst for the creation of an Official Zelda Timeline. But fans and critics alike couldn’t help but compare it to games coming out around the same time. They felt that this Zelda formula finally needed a modernization. After all, a game should strive to attract new audiences as well as die-hard fans and modern gamers have become accustomed to adventure games or RPGs that give you complete freedom to complete quests/ dungeons in whichever order you please.

BABY STEPS
Nintendo listened to the criticism. Their teams were hard at work on producing new ideas to revamp the Zelda formula and take advantage of technology that allows them to do something that wasn’t possible in the 90s; asymmetric gameplay. This was implemented in the 3DS game A Link Between Worlds, which is the furthest deviation from the traditional formula in recent years. The game felt modern, fresh and attracted attention from both critics and gamers as one of the best entries in the series. The seeds for the overhaul that is Breath of the Wild were sown.

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
With the success of A Link Between Worlds, Zelda developers finally had assurance that change is welcome by everyone when done right. Breath of the Wild marks a new age for the Zelda series. The gameplay is heavily influenced by Western adventure games and RPGs on everything from asymmetric gameplay to HUD design. The game was celebrated upon announcement and gathered a great amount of attention on social networks and from the mainstream media.

THE GAMBLE
With a release date set for 2017 on Wii U and the new Nintendo home console, the NX, the latest entry in the series has a lot of pressure on its shoulders. Will this game be able to push sales of the NX as well as maintain the interest of a Japanese audience? I can only hope that the recent success Nintendo had with thinking outside the box doesn’t make them arrogant or over-confident and turn their attention away from the importance of such a gamble.

The post The Nintendo gamble: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild appeared first on BadFive.