The Blog

GoodSmile has just opened pre-orders for their Nendoroid of Altina Orion from The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie. The figure is scheduled to be shipped starting from November 2023 from the Japanese GoodSmile store, and in Q1 2024 from the US store.

Priced at $66.99 in US and 9,500 yen in Japan, this figure comes with Claiomh Solais, a standard face plate and a smiling face plate.

Pre-orders can be placed from 31st March 2023 until 11th May 2023 (Thu) from the GoodSmile store.

Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life has been received a new update (v1.0.2) in Japan, which fixes a number of bugs. Check out the full patch notes below as translated by Perfectly-Nintendo

Fire Emblem Heroes, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, and Pokémon Masters EX have all received a content update. Check out the full details for each game below via perfectly-nintendo.com.

Masahiro Sakurai is back once again to share his wisdom with us. In his latest video, which falls in the ‘graphics’ category, Sakurai talks about how he supervises art when developing games and shows examples from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Sakurai argues that the best way to give feedback on arts as a director is to show them yourself by adding the elements you are looking for using software like Photoshop rather than just explain the changes verbally/texts.

The Pokémon Company has just announced new additions to the menu at Pokémon Cafe in Japan. Starting from April 29th, 2023, fans will be able to enjoy a delicious Pikachu ramen and Pancham steamed bun set, as well as Pancham-themed Fried Rice.

Ordering these items will also come with a special bonus - a luncheon mat and clear coaster featuring artwork of Pikachu, Pancham, Raikou, and Rayquaza. And if you’re in the mood for something to drink, latte drinks with art of various Pokemon will also be available.

Yes, we’re just about 4 months into 2023, but we’re still giving out awards for games that came out in 2022. The latest awards event was the 2023 BAFTA Games Awards, and there’s some Switch love among the list of winners.

While Nintendo failed to take home the coveted Game of the Year award, they did see some success in Best Family Game category. Along with that, some other third party Switch titles took home an award. You can see the complete list of categories and winners below.

• Animation – God of War Ragnarok (Sony Santa Monica Studio / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Artistic Achievement – Tunic (Tunic Team / Finji )
• Audio Achievement – God of War Ragnarok (Sony Santa Monica Studio / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Best Game – Vampire Survivors (Poncle)
• British Game – Rollerdrome (Roll7 / Private Division)
• Debut Game – Tunic (Tunic Team / Finji)
• Evolving Game – Final Fantasy XIV Online (Square Enix)
• Family – Kirby and the Forgotten Land (HAL Laboratory / Nintendo)
• Game Beyond Entertainment – Endling: Extinction is Forever (Herobeat Studios / Handygames)
• Game Design – Vampire Survivors (Poncle)
• Narrative – Immortality (Half-Mermaid Productions)
• Original Property – Elden Ring (From Software / Bandai Namco)
• Performer in a Leading Role – Christopher Judge (Kratos in God of War Ragnarok)
• Performer in a Supporting Role – Laya DeLeon Hayes (Angrboada in God of War Ragnarok)
• Technical Achievement – Horizon: Forbidden West (Guerrilla Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• EE Game of the Year – God of War Ragnarok (Sony Santa Monica Studio / Sony Interactive Entertainment)

As with every commercial, promo video and trailer released so far, fans have been closely analyzing the latest TV spot for the Super Mario Bros. movie. While there’s plenty to take in, one particular moment makes it seem like the film will be slyly hiding a reference to another classic Nintendo title.

This particular Easter egg is on-screen in literally the first second of the latest commercial. It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, as the reference is hiding on the wall in the background of the scene. Give the video above a watch and see if you can spot it. If not, we’ve got an image below that should help out.

While it might be a bit blurry, it certainly does seem like Doc Louis and Little Mac from Punch-Out!! are posing in a picture. Chances are we’ll be able to get a bigger, clearer look once we see the film in theaters, but the video and screencap above are enough for us to feel confident in saying that Punch-Out!! has definitely received a nod.

Also, just in case you missed it, this opening scene in the commercial also has another reference. Take a listen to Luigi’s ringtone on his phone and you’ll no doubt notice that it’s playing the first few notes of the GameCube start-up sound!

Mario Kart Tour’s Mario Tour is wrapping things up soon, and Nintendo is bringing another event our way. Starting April 5th, 2023, Mario Kart Tour fans will get a chance for some eggciting fun with the Yoshi Tour. As a bonus, this Tour introduces Poochy as a playable racer! You can check out a first look at this tour above.

Along with that, Nintendo has revealed the 29th wave of Mii Racing Suits, which will also be arriving on April 5th, 2023. This time around, drivers will be able to snag the Piranha Plant Mii Racing Suit.

Finally, we got a tease of the 30th wave of Mii Racing Suits, which arrives on April 18th, 2023. You can check out the silhouette for that upcoming wave above.

PM Studios originally announced that Blade Assault, the action-packed 2D side-scrolling cyberpunk rogue-lite from Team Suneat, would head to Switch on Sept. 30th, 2022. Unfortunately, the game didn’t end up meeting that date, but the day has finally arrived. You can hop on the Switch eShop right now and grab the game for $18.

After the devastating Red Stone War, the world is divided into three regions: the mutant infested outside grounds, the Undercity where people have fled to seek refuge from mutants, and the sky city Esperanza where the rich and powerful rule over the world. Fight against the corrupt military of Esperanza as part of the resistance force of the Undercity. Bring the corrupt to justice by becoming stronger and fighting alongside your trusty comrades.

The console version of Blade Assault will feature all of the great content previously released for the PC version. This includes:

• Three playable characters, each with their own unique play style and signature weapons
• Enhanced weapons to turn them into beasts capable of shredding through the world’s monsters 200 different items from Cores to Gears
• Battle your way through seven challenging bosses
• Use the Friendship System to develop relationships and earn rewards from NPCs
• Complete the game to unlock the Assault Level – test your might against endless waves of hard-mode enemies

2Awesome Studio (2AS) announces that Shukuchi Ninja is arriving on Switch today. If you buy the game between now and April 13th, 2023, you can get a 20% discount, making the title $4. After that date, the game will be priced at $5.

Shukuchi Ninja is a full, action-packed adventure with over 60 levels, 7 troublesome bosses, an inspiring storyline, and unique controls - there’s no other game like it!

Take control of the Shukuchi Ninja in this 2D action-platformer and fly through the air at astonishing speed, attack enemies with your ninjatō, throw shuriken (ninja stars) at hard to reach enemies, and instantly teleport to quickly counter enemy attacks.

With the power of healing, you must also aid the Shukuchi Ninja to ensure he doesn’t die!

Video game publisher Leoful and Japanese indie developer PiXEL are pleased to announce 16-bit kung fu action game, Xiaomei and the Flame Dragon’s Fist, launches today on Switch.

To celebrate the announcement of the release date, the game’s official English logo has been revealed today. Also, a brand new launch trailer showing off gameplay, along with introductions to the game’s story and characters have been published. Pre-orders for Xiaomei and the Flame Dragon’s Fist have also kicked off on the Nintendo eShop with a 10% launch discount.

Releasing outside Japan for the first time, Xiaomei and the Flame Dragon’s Fist is a 16-bit kung fu action game that pays homage to kung fu games from the 80s and 90s. The game’s protagonist, Xiaomei, embarks on a journey to save her elder sister, Xiaoyin, from the influence of the Dark Dragon. The Nintendo Switch version of Xiaomei and the Flame Dragon’s Fist has been enhanced with a new story mode featuring Xiaoyin, new characters, and other unlockable content.

With music by legendary former Namco composer Norio Nakagata (Zombie Nation, Genpei Tōma Den), sound effects by Hirofumi Murasaki (Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master, Clockwork Knight), illustrations by Studio Vigor, and character voices by Suika, this is a game fans of nostalgic kung fu games shouldn’t miss.

The day has finally arrived! After months of development and testing, Black Dahlia is finally getting her Skullgirls 2nd Encore release on Switch today.

If you own the Season One Pass, or purchase Black Dahlia’s DLC individually, here’s what you get:

NEW STAGE - Every villain needs a lair to retreat to after a hard day’s crime. For Black Dahlia, that’s the Bunny Burrow, and you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.

NEW MUSIC TRACK - “Down the Rabbit Hole” provides the ambiance on the Bunny Burrow, courtesy of Darren Malley and Insaneintherain.

STORY MODE - Black Dahlia has been unleashed on New Meridian and there’s only one question: Will anyone survive this?

PALETTES - Black Dahlia and her henchbunnies are masters of all forms of assassination… including dressing to kill! Choose from 31 unique palettes!

TUTORIALS / TRIALS - Learn to master Black Dahlia’s unique ammo and movement mechanics, then challenge yourself with her deadly combo trials.

ACHIEVEMENTS (PS4 ONLY) - Figuring out what these cryptic challenges even are will be half the battle.

For those who have purchased the Season One Pass you also get:

ALTERNATE “GOOD GRANNY” VOICE PACK - Give em the ol’ razzle dazzle with this exclusive alternate voice pack!

SEASON ONE BONUS PALETTE - An extra special 32nd bonus palette is available for Season One Pass holders that features gorgeous and unique visual effects!

Publisher Acute Owl Studio has announced that Bone’s Café is coming to Switch today. The game is priced at $15 and takes up 236 MB of space.

Bone’s Café is a fast paced, 1-4 Players couch co-op, cooking game. Customize the layout of your kitchen to guarantee your success. Specialize your menu in ingredients and recipes to design your ultimate café. Put your necromancy skills to the test and raise your own undead kitchen staff.

Experiment with and discover all (90+) recipes using a wide variety of ingredients. You have the freedom to design your menu around a concept, a taste, or whatever you’d like your cafe to serve.

Get creative and customize the layout of your cafe for maximum cooking efficiency. Earn money and visit the shop to buy all the tools you’ll need to create an efficient workflow. Expand your cafe size by progressing through the story and increasing your cafe Skull Ranking.

You can invite up to 3 friends to enjoy this fun and silly game together (Local couch co-op or Remote Play).

Feeling overwhelmed? Put your necromancy skills to the test and summon undead assistants. Assign them simple tasks to take the burden off of your skull, you’re going to need them in order to expand.

PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo has been a rather odd one for Square Enix. The game was announced in the most recent Nintendo Direct, but only in the Japanese presentation. That led many to believe it wouldn’t be localized, but just one day later we saw Square Enix announce the title for worldwide release. Even crazier, the game went from announcement to launch in just a few weeks.

Even with that strange reveal and hurried pace to launch, it seems PARANORMASIGHT has found a considerable audience. Is it enough to warrant future installments, turning this title from a one-off into a series? The game’s director and writer certainly hopes so.

In an interview with Siliconera, PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo director/writer Takaya Ishiyama was asked if he’d like to do another installment should a sequel be greenlit. While it doesn’t sound like anything is planned right now, Ishiyama clearly wants to see that happen.

Bandai Namco has kicked off a celebration in honor of the Sword Art Online franchise turning 10 years old. The series originally got its start on the PSP with Sword Art Online: Infinity Moment. You can see a special tribute video Bandai Namco put together to recognize the anniversary above.

Nintendo fans wouldn’t get a taste of the series until SWORD ART ONLINE: Hollow Realization Deluxe Edition came to Switch in 2019, followed by SWORD ART ONLINE: FATAL BULLET Complete Edition later the same year, and SWORD ART ONLINE Alicization Lycoris late last year.

Now would be the perfect time for Switch owners to jump in on SWORD ART ONLINE Alicization Lycoris, as “DLC 2: Blooming of Matricaria” just released this week. This content is priced at $25 and includes the following:

• New story: major expansion DLC 2 - Blooming of Matricaria
• New maps and dungeons
• New divine beasts
• New weapons