Switch Weekly - #194: Both Zelda & Mario turning 35...

Skyward Sword for Switch pops up on Amazon UK — I've not played this one, so would be nice to check it out on Switch — I imagine if this listing has some truth to it, this will be a 2021 release for the The Legend of Zelda's 35th anniversary year. Note: This goes directly to the Amazon listing, so this link could vanish by the time you're reading this.

Amazon

Exploring Super Mario’s 35th anniversary anthology — Yup, another anniversary, as this year is Mario's 35th, and as such many 3D remasters have been rumoured as on the imminent horizon. Now the debate I keep seeing is whether they will be bundled in a collection — I don't think they will be — but nonetheless, here James runs through why each 3D Mario is important and worth playing today.

James Burns // Super Jump Online

REVIEW Double Kick Heroes — "clearly has an enormous amount of love poured into it" but "tries to do a little too much and ends up being rather confusing and slapdash in execution".

Stuart Gipp // Nintendo Life

REVIEW Bite the Bullet — "offers a competent Contra callback with elements of a Metroidvania RPG" but suffers from performance issues.

Ryan Alexander Parente // Nintendad

Can modding and overclocking improve Crysis Remastered on Switch?

Richard Leadbetter // Eurogamer

Just let me skip your boring combat, ‘Paper Mario: The Origami King’ — Should the latest Paper Mario game just be an adventure game?

Patrick Klepek // Vice

Sorry you can't find Ring Fit Adventure in stock – I’ve barely used mine — Pretty much just sharing this to guilt myself into picking it up again... I may have gained a few lockdown pounds ok.

Adam Vjestica // Tech Radar

Notes From A Small Cartridge: Isle of Armor — A guide to what you need to see in the Pokemon DLC, plus how the island locale takes inspiration from the real-life Isle of Man.

Ben Sledge // Super Jump Online

Islands apart: Keeping social-but-distanced during Covid-19— A fun read about how Animal Crossing has emerged as this 'third place' becoming "a new, meaningful, and creative forum for players to stay connected in their locked-down lives".

Renate Plehwe // Videodame

INTERVIEW How ‘Carrion’ built empathy for its fleshy monster

Patrick Klepek // Vice

Should Nintendo remake Pandora’s Tower for Switch?

Jonathan Balofsky // Real Otaku Gamer

Like old Hollywood movies, videogames get a polish for new audiences

Imad Khan // The New York Times

🙌 Support Switch Weekly on Patreon

Each and every week I bring you the latest Switch news and upcoming releases — if you enjoy this digest, consider supporting it for just a dollar a month. It really will help keep the newsletter sustainable long term.

Monday, August 17

• Cecconoid — Black and white twin-stick arcade shooter with an 8-bit chunky look.

Tuesday, August 18

• Helheim Hassle — Pacifist viking adventure with puzzle platforming. Demo available.

Wednesday, August 19

• Norman's Great Illusion — Work as an engineer in this pixel adventure filled with moral choices.

Thursday, August 20

• Chinese Parents — A life sim that explores the "relationship between children and parents".
• The Eternal Castle — A remaster of this 1987 (good year) 'post-AI' adventure, complete with CGA-style graphics. (Already available in U.S)
• Gleamlight — 2D action game with a lovely 'stained glass' motif throughout. Hollow Knight meets Celeste vibes for me.
• Kwaidan Azuma Manor Story — Explore an old manor house in this 3D horror adventure. Total B-movie impression from this.
• Kids: Farm Colouring — Touch screen colouring for kids.
• Ellipsis — Over 120 levels in this touch-friendly neon puzzler.
• Retro Tanks — Fast-paced budget tank shooter.
• Peaky Blinders: Mastermind — Puzzle adventure in Birmingham (based on the BBC show).
• Bunny Adventure — Budget tile-moving puzzle game.
• The Dungeon Crawl Vol. 1 — Four dungeon adventures in one bundle.

Friday, August 21

• Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time — 3D action platformer based on the series.
• Aokana - Four Rhythms Across the Blue — Another romantic visual novel, and, erm, this one has anti-gravity shoes or something. 📦
• 4x4 Dirt Track — Looks like a mobile port of an off-roading racer.
• Even the Ocean — Restore balance in this 2D adventure.
• PGA Tour 2K21 — Full-on 3D golf, with online. 📦
• Paratopic — A well-received experimental first-person horror game.
• One Line Coloring — Connect the dots in this vibrant looking puzzle colouring game. Actually looks pretty chill for what it is.

Saturday, August 22

• Puzzle Bundle - 3 in 1 — A word, logic and match 3 bundle.