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The rhythm action of 'Thumper' hits Nintendo Switch May 18th
Late last year, PC and PS4 gamers were treated to an surreal rhythm experience when Thumper asked them to pilot a metallic scarab down a highway of intimidating, abstract set pieces. The game is as bizarre as it is intense -- but timing movements to the game's fast-paced soundtrack and be incredibly satisfying, too. Soon, you'll be able to attain that satisfaction on the go: the game's developer has announced that the Nintendo Switch version will be available on the eShop in just two weeks.
'Mario Kart 8 Deluxe' on the Switch is basically perfect
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is poised to be the next must-have Switch game. Regardless of the last Mario Kart title you played -- our experiences vary from Mario Kart 64 to DS iterations to the Wii U's original Mario Kart 8 -- Nintendo is aiming to make this the most definitive Mario racer yet. To start, there are 48 courses and 42 characters (including some Splatoon additions), as well as an upgraded 1080p mode when you're playing it docked from the Switch and some auto-steering help for younger gamers (or grown-ups who should know better). Those Joy-Con controllers double as mini-controllers for two-player battles on the go, while a fully fleshed-out battle mode, with several arenas and play modes, form the biggest gameplay addition to the original that launched on the Wii U. Now, you probably knew most of that already, but how does it play? Four editors share their thoughts after a week of racing, while one colleague swears he won't buy the remake, regardless of how good it might be.
How 'Puyo Puyo Tetris' tricked me into liking puzzle games
When Larry Kasanoff said he was turning the world's most iconic puzzle game into a trilogy of science fiction movies, I was speechless. After a disaster like Pixels, how could anybody look at Tetris and think there was a narrative to tell? The game may be a classic, but the narrative potential of organizing falling bricks into horizontal lines seemed weak to me. Then I played Puyo Puyo Tetris. Kasanoff's sci-fi epic still sounds terrible, but somehow it pulls off the impossible: It builds an entertaining narrative from an abstract puzzle game.
New 'Sonic Forces' footage feels a lot like 'Generations'
For the last few months, SEGA has been playing coy with Sonic Forces-- first only little else beside the game's name and the usual promises of greatness. Then, earlier this month, a new trailer teased new levels for "Classic Sonic," the 1990s version of the character that co-starred in 2011's Sonic Generations. Today, Sega Europe uploaded a new gameplay video to YouTube confirming what many fans suspected: Sonic Forces is basically going to be a Sonic Generations sequel.
'Breath of the NES' is a retro 'Zelda' fan project destined to die
While you wait for something else to play on your Switch (might I suggest looking into TumbleSeed?), you could kill some time with Breath of the NES. As the name suggests, the fan-project was inspired by Nintendo's 8-bit Breath of the Wild prototype that the company divulged during a GDC panel earlier this year. This isn't a straight facsimile though. Developer WinterDrake has added modern lighting and shadows (the fireflies are particularly impressive), while keeping gameplay mostly familiar.
Indie charmer 'TumbleSeed' will arrive on Nintendo Switch May 2nd
Okay, so you've had your Nintendo Switch for awhile. Ganon's corpse is but a speck in the proverbial rearview mirror and hunting for the last remaining shrines in Breath of the Wild isn't all that interesting. What's a person to do? Well, that's where indie games come in. And for the purposes of this article, we're talking about TumbleSeed specifically. The charming rogue-like about climbing a mountain as a tiny future-flora will be released to Nintendo's latest console May 2nd. That's only a few weeks away!
Here are the Nintendo Switch games on deck for 2017
Today's Nintendo Direct announcement event was the first since the launch of Nintendo's Switch console, so more than a few gamers were hoping more games would be added soon to the system's thin launch library. While players won't be showered in new titles, a slew are coming in the next few months, hopefully enough to tide them over until others launch later in the year.
Nintendo announces Joy-Con battery grips for Switch controllers
The Nintendo Switch's detachable Joy-Con controllers already have decent battery life, but if you're looking to game for even longer sessions, Nintendo has you covered. Today the company announced the Joy-Con AA battery pack, a pair of detachable grips for the wireless controllers that let users extend their longevity with off the shelf batteries. Oh, and you'll be able to buy the detachable controller in neon yellow soon, too.
'Splatoon 2' launches on July 21st with three new Amiibo figures
If you were hopeful that the Nintendo Switch's Splatoon 2 Global Testfire event was indicative of an early launch, have a seat: today Nintendo announced that the game's official release date as July 21st. That's smack dab in the middle of the Summer launch window Nintendo promised when it revealed the game back in January -- but at least you'll be getting plenty of new content for the sake of the wait. According to this afternoon's Nintendo Direct, Splatoon 2 will launch with a new PvE game mode and a ton of new Amiibo functionality.
Nintendo's spring-loaded fighter, 'Arms,' hits Switch in June
Arms -- a fighting game from Nintendo that's essentially a mix of boxing and a shockingly violent Slinky exhibition -- is set to hit the Switch on June 16th. Nintendo revealed the game's release date during a Nintendo Direct live stream today.
Nintendo Switch owners report yet another issue: warping
The Nintendo Switch is the fastest-selling console in the company's history, sure, but it hasn't been all roses. For example, gamers have encountered significant problems with the dock and Joy-Con controllers. But wait, there's more: Remember when the iPhone 6 famously experienced bending issues in 2014? Now, it's the Switch that has warping troubles.
'Skylanders' learns what Amiibo knew all along: Drop the portal
The paradigm for toys-to-life games is well-established: one part kid-friendly video game, one part expensive, collectible figurines -- and a tethered NFC "portal" that ties them together. When Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure introduced this model in 2011, it sparked a new genre in gaming -- bringing about the rise and fall of Disney Infinity, the nostalgic brand licensing of LEGO Dimensions and even inspired Nintendo to launch its own line of NFC gaming collectibles. In fact, with the exception of Nintendo, all of these brands followed Skylanders' tethered-portal model. On the Nintendo Switch, however, the game that started it all is taking the Amiibo approach.
Nintendo cites 'manufacturing variation' for Joy-Con issues
Since the Switch started to show up in gamer's homes, some have been complaining about issues with its wireless Joy-Cons. Problems with losing connection, particularly on the left one, have plagued some enough to attempt DIY fixes, but in a statement to Kotaku, Nintendo said there could be a reason for problems.
'Castlevania' successor 'Bloodstained' is coming to the Switch
The next game by Castlevania mastermind Koji Igarashi is coming to the Nintendo Switch. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night was pitched on Kickstarter in 2015 as a spiritual successor to the beloved gothic adventure series. With Igarashi at the helm and the promise of new, updated 'Metroidvania' gameplay -- a style that fuses side-scroller platforming with deep exploration and RPG mechanics -- the project raised more than $5.5 million from 64,867 backers. The updated platform support does come with a downside, however -- the Wii U version is being cancelled.
Meet the first fighters of Nintendo's newest franchise, 'Arms'
The Switch blew us away when it launched earlier this month, but our enthusiasm for the console's possibilities has been tempered by its seriously limited game library. Lucky for you fighting game fans, brand-new 3D brawler Arms is coming to the console this spring. Nintendo dropped a pair of videos teasing a few characters and mechanics from the upcoming title, which looks about as gleefully competitive and bizarre as you'd expect a first-party Switch game to be.
Ben Heck's Nintendo Switch teardown
Nintendo has a new console out, which means Ben, Karen and Felix are responding exactly as you'd expect them to: by tearing down the new Switch console and Joy Con controllers. How does it compare to a laptop or tablet computer? Is it designed for easy maintenance and upgradeability? Share your take over on the element14 Community.
Nintendo prez discusses Switch docks and left Joy-Con issues
Engadget editors have let you know how we feel after extended time with the Nintendo Switch, and in an interview with Time, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime gave us some updates from within the company. Through its first five days on sale, the Switch continued to be Nintendo's fastest-selling console ever in the US, but the biggest questions are about issues some owners are experiencing. When it comes to that occasionally-finicky left Joy-Con, Fils-Aime said "all I can tell you is that we are aware of and have seen some of the reports. We're asking consumers a lot of questions....we'll look and see what the next steps are."
'Mario Kart 8 Deluxe' gets new racers and revives old modes
Without any hint that a new version was in the works, it was pretty clear that Mario Kart 8, one of the best reasons to own a Wii U, would be ported to the Switch. This is good news for the record-breaking legions of folks who bought the new console and want a great first-party racing experience that's been retooled and expanded. The Switch version, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, includes all current DLC and several new characters to zoom around your favorite tracks. And Rainbow Road, if you're that person.
Trippy rhythm-action game 'Thumper' is coming to Xbox One
No matter what platform you own, you'll be able to play last year's excellent rhythm game, Thumper. Developer Drool writes on Xbox Wire that the equally trippy and violent music game will make its way to Xbox One sometime this spring, teasing that more details will soon follow. And, in related news, if you want something to play on your shiny new Nintendo Switch, Thumper will make its way there as well in the same vague time period. Who said you needed VR to enjoy what the game has to offer, anyhow? And if you're a big fan of the music you can even get that on vinyl. Unlike so many other gaming soundtracks, though, this one won't cost you an arm and a leg.
Engadget's editors on the Nintendo Switch
We were lucky enough to get an early look at the Nintendo Switch and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. But now that the console and its killer launch game are finally available to all (if you can find them, at least), we've asked several of our editors about their thoughts on the system. Despite the Switch's limited launch-title selection, most of them came away impressed.
