Started Splatoon Raiders. The game has weird gyro controls where it only work for up-down, not left-right. I tried it for a bit but ended up turning that off and playing normally. Enjoying the game so far, there isn't much of a story though. You just select the level, go in, beat enemies and come back. You keep unlocking more and more stuff though, which gives you a sense of progression.

I don't think this is a game I can play as primary though, it's something to play for a little while every now and then. Maybe play a few missions before I switch to some other story based game. Kinda similar to EDF in that sense. I'll need to play it more to see if it keeps my interest or not.

Played some Red Dead Redemption 2. Reached chapter 3. For some reason I am not liking this game much. I used to love GTA and other games in the genre like Saints Row, Sleeping Dogs and so on, but now that I think about it, I didn't like GTA 5 to that degree either, so maybe this genre isn't for me anymore.

My main issues are that the game feels slow, and can't get myself to care about any characters. So, all that riding towards or during the mission when characters are talking to each other about their life story, I don't care about any of that.

If it were any other game I'll probably have dropped it by now, but I want to finish this so let's see how long I can hold on, who knows maybe I'll end up liking it.

Since Splatoon Raiders only released yesterday and I wasn't enjoying RDR2 enough to just keep playing that exclusively, I went back to playing Monster Hunter Stories. Defeated some monsters, got some new monsties, finished some quests and so on.

Have some subquests left in the area but have cleared the main missions, so going to the next area while taking care of the side missions.

Also played a bit of Star Ocean: First Departure R. Not much to add here.

What about all of you? What have you been playing and/or plan to play?

Finished Star Fox! Completed all the planets, including all the alternate routes (except one in Sector X, where you have to kill the boss in certain time). Didn't get any medals though, came very close to getting them couple of times, so will try for them a few times more, but don't care about them too much.

I like how there are dialogue changes (even if minor) depending on if all characters are with you or if any character is missing due to damaged Arwing. Also, didn't realise how much game you are missing out on if you just play one route.

Loved the game, finally understanding why people care so much about the series. Hoping for a new entry in the series now!

As I mentioned last week, Earth Defense Force 5 was nearing the end, so spent most of the weekend to finish the game, but turned out there was more left than I expected, so spent half the week playing it too. It had total of 110 levels, and couple of them were very long. Also had to switch to those annoying hold-to-charge, release-to-shoot weapons to beat last 2 levels, so ended up getting used to them, it turns out they aren't all that bad.

Finished the game now!

Started Star Ocean: First Departure R. After finishing Voice of Cards last week, wasn't playing anything on Switch, so started Star Ocean.

This is my first Star Ocean game and I am surprised to see how good it is. The combat system felt a bit weird in the start (it's real time but there is no dodge or block) and took getting used to, but I think I have gotten the hang of it. The world building is also interesting, gives some of that Star Trek feel. After the initial exposition doesn't look like there would be any major twist in the story, seems to be pretty straight forward, but will have to just wait and see.

No Red Dead Redemption 2 this week. I am not going to start another PS game now and focus on this from here on.

Same with Monster Hunter Stories, it was on back burner due to Star Fox, but even though I have finished that now, Splatoon Raiders is releasing soon so I probably won't be getting back to this any time soon.

What about all of you? What have you been playing and/or plan to play?

Games releasing this month:

New games for both Switch and Switch 2. Also, this month we get last Switch game that is currently announced. I wonder if we will get any more of those, or this is the end of first party games for Switch 1.

Switch

Switch 2

Switch 2 Upgrade Packs

Upcoming Games, August 2026 on wards (NA):

Switch

No new Switch game announced

Switch 2

Switch 2 Upgrade Packs

Let me know in the comments if there's anything missing or mistake in the post, or if you would like any change.

In an interview in the new issue of Famitsu, Miyamoto was asked why Nintendo‘s IPs are enjoyed around the world.

Miyamoto replied that the key to a successful game isn’t looking at what’s trending and trying to capitalise on that, but starting with ideas that the developers personally find fun and working around them.

“People have long asked me, ‘why does a mustachioed middle-aged guy like Mario sell so well?’ and I always think, ‘that’s a bit rude, isn’t it?'” Miyamoto joked (via machine translation). “Well, I wonder the same thing myself – why did an older guy like this become a hit? But if you look at it simply, it’s because he was introduced alongside incredibly fun games.

The digital version of the Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition game will be available on July 30. The physical version launches on October 1. Pre-orders are available now on Nintendo eShop.

Join Rex and Pyra in their search for paradise, now enhanced for the Nintendo Switch 2 system! The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of this game features improved visuals, smoother and sharper cutscenes, new outfit designs for Pyra and Mythra, and more. Control up to six Blades directly in the new Merc Assault mode, and discover MOMO—a new rare Blade who can swap between light and dark forms.

Nintendo Switch 2 players who already have Xenoblade Chronicles 2 on Nintendo Switch can upgrade to the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition by purchasing the upgrade pack.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/49789476

This footage of the unreleased Nintendo 64 game Conker's Quest was distributed by Nintendo of America in advance of the 1997 Electronic Entertainment Expo.

Conker's Quest (later known as Twelve Tales: Conker 64) was eventually canceled and reworked into a new adult-rated title, Conker's Bad Fur Day. This videotape, donated to us by E3 1997 attendee Anthony Parisi, contains some of the only existing direct-feed footage of the game in action.

We digitized this video via RF capture as part of our celebration of the history of E3. Read more: https://gamehistory.org/e3-history/

In Parkasaurus build your own dinosaur theme park full of cute dinos and prehistoric hijinks. Console version includes both the Sea Monsters and Prehistoric Wonders DLCs.

TLDR: A Switch 2 game sold as brand new to me has scratches on it's pins, indicating use (seen in photo). Can anyone here confirm if brand new games are supposed to come like this? Or, if you have any unwrapped brand new games that have never been inserted in a console, could you please check for me if the pins have any scratches on them?

I'm pretty annoyed because I just bought a "Brand New" copy of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition from EB Games in Australia, and it appears to have been used. It has scratches on the gold pins. You can see them in the photo, but it's very hard to tell from the picture, you have to zoom in and look really closely for a faint line going down every pin. I've not inserted it in my Switch at all yet. Now, I personally know that these scratches are completely normal for Switch 1 & 2 games (even DS & 3DS). They are not generally a reason for concern. Every single Switch game you own should have these scratches if you've ever used them - they're normal. But this is supposed to be brand new. This to me indicates EB Games sold me a used copy. Also, as usual in Australia, like seemingly every store here, they annoyingly don't sell ANY brand new games with the original plastic wrap on them, meaning issues like this can in theory easily occur.

Other then it not having plastic on it, the game case itself is perfect looking condition on the outside - it appears to be brand new. The only thing off about the case was that when I got home and opened it, it had a very tiny white hair sitting inside it that looks like it came from a short-haired dog. It also had just a few very tiny flake-like white specks the size of dust inside it too.

Really, everything seems to point to that they sold me a used game as a brand-new one. But I'm not 100% sure yet. The only reason I'm slightly skeptical is because I'm wondering if the games possibly come with those scratches when it comes from the factory or if they're tested before arriving in stores (I doubt it, but it's just a thought). Does anyone here have any unwrapped brand new Switch games, or, ideally, Switch 2 games that you've never played that you can check for scratches for me? It has to be a cartridge that has NEVER been inserted into the console even once, otherwise it's almost certain it will have these scratches. If I can prove brand new games aren't supposed to have these scratches, I can know for certain that they sold a used game to me. I have a couple of wrapped Switch 1 games, but I was hoping to save them for when I do an unboxing video of them, which I was going to do when I get around to playing them.

Update: Okay, to save you some reading time, from what people are telling me in the replies below, this seems to be almost certainly a normal thing, even for brand new games. Apparently the games do get tested before being sent out, and the pins get scratched in the process. I'm not sure about the hair that was in it, though. I'd still appreciate if anyone check a copy of their own unused cartridges for these scratches. I'm a collector like many of you, so I get it if you don't want to open any games that are still wrapped until you want to play it; I'm the same. I was just wondering if anyone who has an already-unwrapped copy might be able to check.

• Price: $19.99 ($17.99 till August 5th)
• Link: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/cozy-grove-camp-spirit-switch
• Platform: Nintendo Switch & Nintendo Switch 2
• Description: All those who are lost deserve kindness! Help cute, ghostly bears find peace in the relaxing life-sim Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit, where kindness rules and new crafting, building, and camping island adventures await.

A free update is available now in Mario Tennis Fever on the Nintendo Switch 2 system.

Play on the brand-new Galaxy Court, use the Black Hole Racket to pull in opponents, and choose new color options for Luma. Plus, in the new Galaxy Court Match in Mix-It-Up mode, Prankster Comets can trigger various effects that can help you…or hinder you! GameShare via GameChat support has also been added! Share the tennis fun online with friends near and far who don't have the game.

It's rare that I actually see a game through to the end, so me beating it is an endorsement in itself. I bought Shovel Knight years ago but it didn't grab me the way this game did.

I'm surprised nobody is comparing (or contrasting) this game to Tunic. Both are drinking from the same very specific well (Zelda plus Dark Souls), both have soundtracks I'll happily listen to on their own. Yet they're very different feeling games.

I ended up really appreciating the Game Boy Color aesthetic. Big chonky sprites are easy on my eyes. If you've played Link's Awakening or the Oracle games, you'll notice you rarely go straight from one end of the screen to the other. There's always a winding path that you have to traverse. This was to be as efficient as possible with the GB's limited resources, and, if I'm being cynical, to pad the runtime. But this compact dense world design pairs with the Dark Souls style of unlocking shortcuts very, very well.

Last, a top-down platformer isn't a combo I thought I'd enjoy, but they made it work.

Take to the tracks in Denshattack! now on Nintendo Switch 2

High-speed chaos meets the scenic railway routes of Japan with 67 levels, epic boss fights, and of course, multi-track drifting! Can you kickflip your way to the top?

cross-posted from: https://lazysoci.al/post/50843638

In July 1996, Kenji Eno visited Nintendo HQ to speak with Shigeru Miyamoto as the first of his "cross-talk" series.