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First 4 Figures shows off the sound function of their Animal Crossing "Isabelle" statue
Sound off, Isabelle
First 4 Figures has an extremely good working relationship with Nintendo, as the company has released all sorts of statues based on Nintendo’s biggest and brightest franchises. That relationship seems rock-solid, as the two companies are teaming up once again to release a statue, and this time it’s for an Animal Crossing favorite.
First 4 Figures has announced that they’re working on an Animal Crossing: New Horizons “Isabelle” statue, and pre-orders are set to go live on May 2nd, 2024. In the video above we get to see the Exclusive Edition of this statue, which features a touch sensor that plays 3 different official music and voice tracks. In general, the statue faithfully captures Isabelle’s appearance, from her floppy ears to her ponytail. The highly detailed base is inspired by the Animal Crossing art style.
First 4 Figures did say that there will be two different version of the Isabelle statue up for grabs, and they will be 9 and 10-inch versions. As for other differences and pricing information, that to will have to wait until closer to launch. As soon as we get any other details, we’ll be sure to share them with you.
Knuckles TV show getting a physical release
Knuckling up at retail
The Knuckles TV show just made its premiere on Paramount+ a couple of days ago, and people have been binging the 6-episode series ever since. If you’ve already run through the show and consider yourself a big fan, you’ll be happy to know that it can become a permanent part of your household in the future.
It’s been confirmed that Knuckles will be getting a physical release on both DVD and Blu-ray, as listings have popped up on both Amazon and Walmart. We don’t know the release date for this physical version, but we do know that there will be DVD and Blu-ray options available. Even better, if you’re a diehard collector, you can snag a Steelbook option as well.
The special features and other details for this release are yet to be revealed, but hopefully we get the full rundown in the near future. Once that information becomes available, we’ll be sure to share full specs with you.
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron now available on Switch
A second chance at greatness
Today, Japan: crim Co., Ltd., released of ‘El Shaddai ASCENSION OF THE METATRON HD’ remaster for the Nintendo Switch.
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron combines many genre elements with its glorious anime style graphical presentation that changes dramatically as the player progresses through a totally mesmeric experience. What is offered within El Shaddai goes far beyond these confines in that action, strategy and platforming are just a few of the challenges and exciting dangers that unfold.
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is all about its simple controls. You can experience the profound action by pressing a few buttons and the same goes to the in-game jump action and battle scenes. The intuitive controls can lead you to the best gaming experience throughout the game.
Developed by a hugely-talented, Tokyo-based team headed by the legendary Sawaki Takeyasu (Devil May Cry) El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron.
New PowerA "Pikachu Garden" Cross Bag and Protection Case for Switch now available
Pretty in Pikachu
Some time ago, accessory manufacturer PowerA released an Enhanced Wireless Controller for Switch with a “Pikachu Garden” design. If you happen to like that style, you’ll be happy to know that two more Pikachu Garden-themed Switch products are now up for grabs.
PowerA has expanded their Pikachu Garden line with a Cross Bag and Protection Case for Switch. As you probably guessed, these items are for the Switch player on the go. They’ll help you pack up your Switch for various trips, and more importantly, they’ll keep your Switch safe while also being quite stylish.
The Protection Case, priced at $23 fits a standard Switch, OLED or Lite and includes a felt lining, screen-protector flap with storage for nine game cards, logo tag and zippered mesh storage pocket. As for the Cross Bag, which comes in at $30, you’ll get four strap attachment points for crossbody, sling, or chest-carry style. The main compartment has a soft tricot-lined padded pocket that protects it from dust and scratches. The secondary compartment unzips flat for easy access and features slots for up to 8 game cards and straps to hold up to 2 extra Joy-Con controllers. Last but not least, there’s a zipper pocket that can easily fit a wallet or phone.
If you want to pick up these items, you can find both available right now via Target’s website.
Square Enix has announced that a popular line of Kingdom Hearts jewelry is about to make its return to Japan.
Official Kingdom Hearts rings and necklaces are returning to the Square Enix Japan Store, and they’re set to ship out on Sept. 21st, 2024. The returning items include Kingdom Hearts crown and heart necklaces and two monogram rings.
With the necklaces, there are two variations; a silver version priced at $125 and an 18 karat gold version for $543. Customers can choose the stone they’d like included on the crown, with the following options available:
- Aquamarine – Aqua
- Blue Sapphire – Riku
- Blue Topaz – Sora
- Citrine – Terra
- Garnet – Axel
- Onyx – Shion
- Orange Sapphire – Roxas
- Peridot – Ventus
- Pink Tourmaline – Kairi
- White Sapphire – Namine
Another Crab's Treasure's QR code hides a Nintendo Easter egg
Guess the devs are Mario Kart fan
Another Crab’s Treasure might be a soulslike, but it’s also a game filled with humor and silliness. That kind of vibe can be felt all throughout the experience, and it turns out one particularly funny moment is directly related to Nintendo.
As you can see in the image above, a QR code can be found somewhere in the game. Wondering if it actually leads to anything when scanned? Plenty of players have been pondering the same thing, and as long as you don’t mind some spoilers, you can check out the video below to see what Easter egg the QR code is hiding.
While the internet had its era where people were being “Rickrolled” with links that would take unsuspecting internet dwellers to the music video for Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up,” a current take on the same idea sends people over to YouTube for a surprise Mario Kart Wii joke. There’s a good chance you’ve heard of the “You’ve just got Coconut Mall’d” meme, and the gang behind Another Crab’s Treasure clearly think there’s still some fun left in the idea!
Capcom running Mega Man Zero merch lottery in Japan
Zero chance these goodies come stateside
Every once in awhile, we get little glimpses that show Capcom hasn’t forgotten about the Mega Man franchise. The latest example of that comes from a Mega Man Zero merch lottery that’s been announced for Japan.
Capcom is running an online lottery for a host of Mega Man Zero merch, and those who want to try and win something will have to cough up 880 yen for one attempt. A special deal is also being offered, and it nets customers 10 lottery plays for 7,920 yen. As for what’s up for grabs, the lineup is as follows:
- S Prize: Big Capcorom Plush of Zero
- A Prize: Tapestry (8 variations)
- B Price: Acrylic Panel (5 variations)
- C Prize: Acrylic Stand (7 variations)
- D Prize: Micro Fiber Cloth (7 variations)
- E Prize: Cyber Elf Badges (35 variations)
There’s also a bonus sweepstakes tied to this lottery. Those who hop on X, follow @Capcom_capkuji and repost the lottery tweet will have a chance to win a complete set of 8 character tapestries. Just two lucky people will get to take home this prize.
Switch eShop charts for April 27th, 2024
Stardew madness continues
Wondering what’s hot on the Switch eShop? Time once again to take a look at the top 30 for both all games on the Switch, and download-only titles. You can read up on the top 30 for April 27th, 2024 below.
All Games
- Stardew Valley
- Hollow Knight
- Overcooked: Special Edition
- Minecraft
- Bendy and the Ink Machine
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- NBA 2K24
- Hades
- Princess Peach: Showtime
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Among Us
- Grounded
- Balatro
- Overcooked 2
- Mario Party Superstars
- Mortal Kombat 11
- Nintendo Switch Sports
- Hogwarts Legacy Deluxe Edition
- Just Dance 2024 Edition
- Just Dance 2023 Edition
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Untitled Goose Game
- Unpacking
- Cuphead + The Delicious Last Course
- Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Cult of the Lamb
- Spiritfarer
- LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Galactic Edition
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Download-Only Games
- Stardew Valley
- Hollow Knight
- Among Us
- Grounded
- Balatro
- Ori and the Blind Forest
- Another Crab’s Treasure
- Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection
- Stitch
- Sea of Stars
- Vampire Survivors
- The Game of Life 2
- Poppy Playtime
- Inside
- Ultimate Chicken Horse
- Airplane Flight Simulator
- Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion
- Color Road
- Disco Elyisum
- Tools Up
- A Little to the Left
- To the Rescue
- Dave the Diver
- Slime Rancher
- Arcade Archives Vs. Super Mario Bros.
- Castle Crashers Remastered
- Suika Game
- Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising
- Witchy Little Story
- Celeste
While much of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door on Switch will be what players remember from the original GameCube release, there will be some areas that have been tweaked as well. Areas have been giving a visual overhaul, music has been revamped, and in the case of one portion of dialogue, Nintendo has completely changed a conversation.
In the original GameCube version of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, there’s a segment where a group of Goombas cat-call Mario’s partner, Goombella. You can see how the original scene plays out below.
Goomba: “Hey! Hey, man! What’s up? Who’s the hottie you got there with you?
Paragoomba: “Wassup, baby? Why don’t you hang with us for a while? We play real nice!
Spike Goomba: “Man, what’s a FINE-lookin’ Goomba doin’ with a tubby mustache man like that?!?”
Goombella: “Oh, it is, like, SO sweet that you boys think I’m cute! Seriously! Yeah, guys like you make me feel like…TOTALLY BARFING! Now get out of our way!”
Goomba: “Ouch that was cold!”
Paragoomba: “What, you’re too good for us? Come off it, sister!
Spike Goomba: “Nobody zings us like that! Nobody! Let’s get ’em!”
For the 2024 Switch remake, Nintendo has seen fit to completely rewrite this scene. The cat-calling of Goombella is completely gone, and now the Goomba gang throws a flurry of insults at Mario and Goombella. You can see the new dialogue below.
Goomba: “Hey! Hey, man! What’s up? You think it’s cool to just waltz your way into OUR underground?
Paragoomba: “Typical! You surface-level snobs are so stuck-up. ‘OoOoh, I get to see the sun! I like to breathe clean air! OoOoh!’”
Spike Goomba: “Heh! Yeah! Come on over here, scruffy mustache man…We’re gonna teach you some proper manners…”
Goombella: “Leave him alone! Can’t two academics and a world-famous hero wander the sewers of a port town in peace? If this is your usual greeting to visitors, then you must have learned it down here…because IT STINKS!
Goomba: “Ouch! That was cold!”
Paragoomba: “What, you’re too good for a fight?! If you ain’t lookin’ to tussle, then stay out of the sewer!”
Spike Goomba: Nobody doesn’t start a fight with us! Nobody! Let’s get ’em!”
Nintendo hasn’t commented on why they made this change, but it’s likely they revisited the original bit of dialogue and found it to be a bit out of step with modern times. If Nintendo does offer more insight into this rewrite, we’ll make sure to share the reasoning with you.
Monolith Soft has created quite a line of titles that all feature dynamic characters and intriguing stories. Those adventures are brought to lift through cut-scenes and lore dumps, and with each subsequent release, Monolith Soft has gotten better with making those aspects more engaging. According to comments from Monolith Soft’s head, the studio still isn’t satisfied with their output, and they’re aiming to improve one element in particular that should draw players even deeper into their creations.
Monolith Soft co-founder and Xenoblade executive director Tetsuya Takahashi has spoke about the studio’s desire to enhance character expressions in their titles moving forward. Rather than having characters voice lines and using dynamic camera movements to keep players invested, Monolith Soft wants to have the characters themselves become even more alluring with their facial expressions.
We’ll have to wait until Monolith Soft’s next game to see how this all comes together, but you can see some comments from Takahashi below that detail what the studio is hoping to achieve. (translation via NintendoEverything)
“When we say we value expressions, we’ve always considered them to be important, and would like to treat them even more importantly in the future. That is to say, we touched upon video game grammar earlier, but there are scenes with mundane conversations, right? If it was a three-minute conversation, one would get fed up with it if it was written in video game grammar. You might mash the button, hoping you’d get to progress. However, when watching a live action movie, even if a scene is about five minutes long, as long as the actors’ performances and chemistry work, even if there is no music or special effects, one would end up watching it all the same. The difference there might be the choice of words, or the power of the lines, but the most important part is the expressions. A lot of actors can speak using their eyes alone, and those things can fill a gap and prevent people from getting bored in live action media, but for games, we can’t reach that level of expressiveness yet. That’s why we want to focus on this more in the future.
As an extreme example, if we were to make a ten-minute long scene, we’d want to make something that can stand on just the verbal exchanges without music or effects, and that’s the goal we’re thinking to aim for. This is just an example though, of course. We aren’t trying to make an actual 10-minute long scene, so don’t misunderstand (laughs).
Getting back on topic, but when just looking at the cutscenes for a game, many have plenty of action scenes and flashy scenes, and there are many titles that I think would make great reference material for future generations. But when it comes to people and people’s exchange of words and emotions, there is a tendency towards their actions, while the showcasing of the silent parts are still mostly stuck in the realm of video game grammar, so I would like it if Monolith Soft could reach that first.”
Stardew Valley dev gives a slight update on the Ver. 1.6 console patch (UPDATE)
Like watching weeds grow
Stardew Valley recently received its long-awaited Ver. 1.6 update on PC, but those on consoles are still waiting. That means Switch owners are holding onto every bit of patience they have while the update its being put through its paces, and unfortunately it seems there’s still some waiting to do.
ConcernedApe, the creator of Stardew Valley, jumped on Twitter to share a very quick update about how Ver. 1.6 is coming along for consoles. According to ConcernedApe, Ver. 1.6 will be released on Switch as soon as possible, but there is no specific release date. The developer said they will share updates if there is anything significant note, and they appreciate the patience and understanding of fans.
As soon as a release date for Ver. 1.6 is made available, we’ll bring that news to you. Until then, you can find a breakdown of everything included in the PC version of this patch here.
UPDATE: We have yet another check-in on the Ver. 1.6 update for Stardew Valley on Switch, but it’s unfortunately very similar to the last one. Creator ConcernedApe took to X to share that the console version of Ver. 1.6 is still in progress, and again thanked fans for their continued patience.
Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact gameplay details, characters, screens and art
Hunting down details
It’s been a trickle feed of information on Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact up to this point, but publisher Bushiroad Games and developer Eighting have finally opened the floodgates for some real details.
Thanks to the game’s official website opening, we now have information the characters Gon, Killua, Leorio, Kurapika, Hisoka, and Netereo, as well details on the battle system. You can check out all the specifics below, including a round of character trailers. If you want more screens and art, check out the website linked above.
Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
- Release Date: To be announced
- Genre: 2D fighting game
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Switch, PC (Steam)
- Cross-platform play is not supported.
- Players: One to two players (online play supported)
- Languages: Japanese, English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinse German, Italian, French, and Spanish support is planned.
Characters
Gon (voiced by Megumi Han)
He has high stamina and attack powers despite his height. His special attack “Jajanken”, based on the Rock-Paper-Scissors game, can deal damage at various distances. He can also use his fishing pole to pull the opponent to a preferred distance.
Killua (voiced by Mariya Ise)
He is known for his agility and speedy moves. Not only skilled at close-range attacks, he is able to speed up further with Godspeed. Utilize his speed and use Rush Combos to deal greater damage!
Leorio (voiced by Keiji Fujiwara)
He is good at long-distance attacks with a fist of Nen. Keep your distance when fighting opponents. He also has high team support-assist powers.
Kurapika (voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro)
He is skilled at using his chain to deal a long-distance attack. He also has other special, strong abilities, including “Holy Chain: Healing Thumb”, which has healing powers. Using these skills efficiently can help you achieve victory.
Hisoka (voiced by Daisuke Namikawa)
He has versatile techniques for close-range combat and long-distance attacks with his poker cards. He can use special skills such as Bungee Gum to pull the opponent closer or to keep a distance.
Netero (voiced by Banjo Ginga)
An aggressive character who always takes action voluntarily. He has mastered a number of strong skills. His “One Hundred Type Guanyin Bodhisattva” is especially stunning and extremely powerful.
Battle System
Three-versus-Three Team Battles of Nen Users. Choose your favorite Nen User characters for the three-versus-three team battle! The compatibility and order of the teammates are the keys to victory! Build the strongest team and battle for victory!
—Point
You can use Switch to change your character when the character is in crisis or is weak against the opponent! In addition, it is also possible to perform Assist attacks together with your backup teammates.
Use the Rush Button to Enjoy Combo Moves
Tap the Rush button and you can perform strong combo moves by simply hitting each attack button. Enjoy thrilling Rush Combos at ease!
Super Special Move “Aura Arts”
You can perform “Aura Arts” once the Aura Gauge is filled! Aura Arts can be activated with little Aura, but it can deal greater damage with more Aura!
—Point
Also, you can release Aura Arts together with your partner to perform Unison Arts!
Score a Combat Win with “Over Gear”
You can use “Over Gear” to upgrade the character’s power, speed, etc.! The upgrade effect will be greater when in crisis. However, Over Gear can only be used once per battle so make sure to use it wisely!
This May, Pikmin Bloom is welcoming white and red lilies of the valley! Additionally, during this month, Pikmin with lilies of the valley blooming on their head will be stronger against mushrooms. Be sure to feed them some lily of the valley nectar before your next battle!
Throughout May, Big Flowers may occasionally bloom into plum blossoms, carnations, chrysanthemums, helleborus, cattleyas, hyacinths, sweet peas, and lilies of the valley when you plant regular red, yellow, white, or blue petals around them.
During May, fruit obtained from tackling mushrooms will give either regular, plum blossom, carnation, chrysanthemum, helleborus, cattleya, hyacinth, sweet pea, and lily of the valley nectar.
During May, Niantic will be celebrating Pikmin Bloom’s 2.5 Anniversary! As part of the celebrations, the Free Daily Gift Pack in the shop will contain petals for seasonal flowers only throughout the month. Don’t forget to redeem yours daily! Niantic will also be holding a dedicated 2.5 Anniversary event later in the month – stay tuned for details!
In May, Community Day will be held on the following dates: May 11th and 12th. Details to follow soon.
It’s been a notable day for Switch successor rumors, as just hours ago we heard rumblings of Nintendo’s next piece of hardware using magnets for its Joy-Con. Now we’re back with another supposed inside scoop on who Nintendo’s teaming with for what’s next.
According to Business Korea, which in turn mentions unnamed “industry sources,” Nintendo and Samsung are going buddy-buddy on the Switch’s successor. Here’s the new tidbits the article has to offer, including more talk of when the device could launch. Again, please note that this is all unconfirmed info a this time.
- the device will incorporate a significant amount of technology from Samsung Electronics
- this includes displays to memory and foundry services
- could launch as early as the second half of this year
- the parts industry has reportedly reached agreements for initial production contracts
- the device will likely use a Tegra T239 chip from Nvidia, made using Samsung’s 7LPH process
- high-value-added memory will also be manufactured by Samsung Electronics
- fifth-generation V-NAND expected to be incorporated into game cards and internal memory
BUNNY GARDEN has been updated to Ver. 1.0.1. You can see the patch notes for this update below.
- Fixed a bug causing “DUMMY” to be displayed during ASMR.
- Fixed a bug causing character models not to be displayed correctly.
- Fixed a bug in which the menu would not return to the previous screen after selecting “Present” and “Food” from the in-store menu.
- Fixed a bug causing certain underwear not to be selected in the “Extra” mini-game.
- Fixed a bug causing unnecessary characters to be displayed in the dating event.
- Fixed a bug that caused the progress to become impossible when repeatedly hitting the cell phone application icon.
- Fixed typos.
