Switch Weekly - Zelda Tears 🥲

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Issue #‍300 | September 18, 2022 · No Ports

Hey, Chris here with another week of Nintendo updates for you.

Thank you so much for opening up and reading this — the 300th issue — of my little Nintendo email. It means a lot to continue to have so many folks taking an interest in what I'm doing as I approach the sixth(!) anniversary of sending this weekly update. It's a real joy to shine a light on the work of so many great writers, and to share with you what games on the Switch platform deserve your time. ❤️

To celebrate hitting another milestone I have a little giveaway (my way of saying thanks for reading) — yup, I've got two PowerA Mario themed Switch cases up for grabs (← there's a pic at the link). If you want to enter, just tap here — I'll pick a winner in a few days and email you directly, so be sure to keep an eye on your inbox.

Anyway, on to what's new — and of course the big story of the week is the Nintendo Direct. The presentation wasn't aired live in the UK (which was something of a weird move on Nintendo's part). I think them opting not to show it live was ultimately rather pointless, but I imagine the reveal of the name of the new Zelda game (Tears of the Kingdom) along with the passing of the monarch here in the UK played a notable part in any decision - effective or not.

I've shared the Direct in the issue below if you ain't seen it yet, along with some thoughts, reactions and highlights.

It's a busy week coming up on the eShop with just shy of 30 games coming to the platform. I like the look of quite a few of 'em — see for the ⭐️ star emoji for the ones that caught my eye.

Right, that's all from me! Remember, you can always hit reply to this email with any comments or thoughts. Catch you next time.

Cheers,
Chris ✌️

🎮 Currently Playing: Mario Party Superstars, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

▶ Nintendo Direct - September 2022 — Yup, the Direct we were all waiting for. It's nearly ~50 minutes of updates, with plenty of farming, a good dose of JPRGs, yet more cloud games, and a few nice surprises — like GoldenEye 007 coming to Switch online, and an actual title reveal for the next Zelda game. Miyamoto also popped up to tease us about the Mario movie and peddle some t-shirts, oh, and he announced Pikmin 4 too — something I'm legit thrilled about. Here's a write-up of everything announced via iMore if you'd rather skim!

Nintendo // YouTube

Nintendo clears up confusion over Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s name

Ana Diaz // Polygon

▶ Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Trailer Analysis — A decent attempt at deconstructing this new look at the next Zelda. Kate Gray at Nintendo Life also has a write-up along similar lines.

Zeltik // YouTube

▶ REVIEW XIII — Seems like the performance issues are still a sticking point here.

Switch Up // YouTube

REVIEW Bear & Breakfast — "a delightful, laid-back management sim with heaps of personality. Despite some fumbles with pacing and controls, it’s an enchanting experience that oozes charm".

Tilly Lawton // Pocket Tactics

REVIEW Wayward Strand — "runs at a very relaxed pace that some may find too slow" but those who enjoy such narrative-focused games will find "a pleasant experience" here.

Joe DeVader // Nintendo World Report

REVIEW Little Orpheus - A whimsical tale that left us wanting

Lowell Bell // Nintendo Life

Konami announces Suikoden I&II HD Remaster, coming to Switch in 2023

Adam Vitale // RPG Site

Fatal Frame Black Water success contributed to Lunar Eclipse Remaster

Kite Stenbuck // Siliconera

Splatoon 3 has smashed Switch launch records in Japan — This is a huge launch, like bigger than Animal Crossing: New Horizons big — in fact it was so big Nintendo felt the need to quickly share the news (typically they would hold such figures for a quarterly update). Some suggestions now place this as the biggest game launch in Japanese history — like ever, across all platforms. I've heard anecdotally that Nintendo have been pushing Splatoon 3 hard in Japan with a massive multi-faceted marketing push — seems to have worked!

Andy Robinson // VGC

Splatoon 3 is the only good social media platform

Sam Greszes // Polygon

Splatoon 3’s invincible Shark Special is the only thing keeping me playing

Ben Sledge // The Gamer

How ‘Tinykin’ makes curious players feel like completionists

Patrick Klepek // Waypoint (Vice)

The Nintendo DS was more than just a console – it’s part of my family history

Dominik Diamond // The Guardian

Why aren't there more video game characters on the autism spectrum?

Lizzie Edkins // gamesindsutry

PREVIEW Bayonetta 3’s outrageous action has already cast a spell on me — "I think the Switch exclusive could be in the running for game of the year. It’s that good."

Justin Koreis // Digital Trends

Pokémon Legends Arceus' Japanese Influence — A look at the "deep and fascinating connection you may not have considered".

Drawn Stories // Superjump

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🎮 Upcoming Releases

All releases are digital, Europe & U.S. unless otherwise stated.
Release data sourced in collaboration with Switch Scores.

⭐️ = Ones to Watch · 📦 = Physical release · 🎮 = Demo available

Mon

19

⭐️ Return to Monkey Island — Ron Gilbert, Lucasfilm Games, Guybrush Threepwood. Pirate adventure returns.

Tue

20

🎮 Jack Move — A "gritty cyberpunk" JRPG.
📦 Amnesia: Memories — Otome visual novel - regain your memories and find your true love.
📦 Amnesia: Later x Crowd — The 'fandisk companion' to the above, featuring two previously Japan only titles.

Wed

21

⭐️ Moncage — A "stunning vignette puzzle adventure". Lots of neat looking optical illusions.
Puzzle Battler! Mirai — Colour matching puzzler. (Sep 22 in U.S.)
Learn and Play: Dino Coloring — Digital colouring book for kids.

Thu

22

⭐️📦 Potion Permit — A nice looking, open-ended sim RPG about alchemy and chemistry.
OneShot: World Machine Edition — An adventure game with puzzles in which you explore a strange computer operating system.
⭐️📦🎮 The DioField Chronicle — Square Enic strategy RPG with a 'real time tactical battle' system.
⭐️ SpiderHeck — Ok, I think this one looks cool — think spiders with lightsabers. It's a co-op bralwer for up to four players. Has online too.
⭐️No Place for Bravery — A 2D top-down fantasy action RPG. Has a killer art style. M for mature.
SongPop Party — Music trivia party game with online. I played it on Apple Arcade if you'd rather give it a go there first.
Beacon Pines — Cute/creepy adventure game within a 'magical storybook'.
Drift King — 3D racing, with online.
Camped Out! — Couch co-op for four. You have to set up your campsite before dark.
Birfia — Budget couch fighting game.
Slice — Arcade puzzler with over 200 levels.
Car Mechanic Pinball — Sling cars about in this arcade pinball game with a voxel look.
📦 Piofiore: Episodio 1926 — Otome visual novel set in Italy. M for mature.
Alter World — Budget 2D puzzle platformer with 80 levels.

Fri

23

📦DreamWorks Dragons: Legends of The Nine Realms — 3D action adventure, featuring dragons.
⭐️ Shovel Knight Dig — Get spelunking in this roguelite.
Draw and Color: Kawaii — A digital colouring book featuring 'cute' food.
Roar of Revenge — NES style adventure game featuring 'Keel the Barbarian'.

⚡️ Quick Links

Having connection troubles in Splatoon 3? A fix is on the way.
An interesting chart from Stephen Totilo at Axios highlighting just how long Nintendo are supporting the Switch compared to their prior home consoles.
Switch Online gets three more SEGA classics, including Earthworm Jim.
I really want this King Dedede Nendoroid figurine from Good Smile.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is shaping up to be "a perfect remaster".
Advance Wars 1+2 is still coming, we just don't know when.
Square Enix have a lot lined up for Switch. This is an attempt to rank them.
A follow-up to Ion Fury, dubbed Phantom Fury is heading to Switch.
Former Nintendo employees share a revealing tidbit about The Pokemon Company and their thoughts on Nuzlockes.
I feel it is kinda obvious, but Pokemon Stadium 1 & 2 on Switch won't support transfers.
I like the look of these new 'compact' HORI Split Pad controllers, claiming to offer a "pro controller experience in Handheld Mode".
The rad looking 'Let's Build a Zoo' is seeing a Switch release later this month. A physical release too.
The recently announced Octopath Traveler 2 is getting a collector's edition featuring figurines of the eight protagonists.
PowerWash Simulator is coming to Switch. Having tried it on Xbox, there's something oddly theraputic about this one...
Here's something cute for you Bear & Breakfast fans.

Curated by Chris Brandrick

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Switch Weekly - Zelda Tears 🥲

🎮 Upcoming Releases

⚡️ Quick Links

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