update [Thu 11th Aug, 2022 13:05 BST]: It’s official! Nintendo has confirmed that Kirby’s Dream Buffet is hitting the eShop worldwide on the same day — 17th August! What a lovely little summer treat.
Pre-orders are now available on the eShop (North America, UK) and it will cost £13.49 — so probably closer to $15 in the US.
In Kirby’s Dream Buffet, you’ll be able to play with three other friends through a plethora of food-themed levels and minigames — think Fall Guys, but even cuter.
Here’s a summary of the game from the eShop:
Bump, battle, and boost your way to sweet victory
Have a feast of fun with family and friends in Kirby’s Dream Buffet™ for the Nintendo Switch family of systems.
Roll through a smorgasbord of food-themed stages in delicious 4-player competition as a rounder-than-usual Kirby. Anyone can take the cake in Kirby’s Dream Buffet! This digital game is available exclusively for Nintendo Switch.
Instead of eating enemies to gain his Copy Abilities, Kirby now gets them from food! A burning boost can come from a pepper, or frosting will give Kirby the spins!
You can also dress your Kirby up, and pop a Kirby Car cake on his head. We have our priorities right here.
To cap it all off, here’s a brand new overview trailer to celebrate the game’s release date!
original article [Thu 11th Aug, 2022 11:35 BST]: We got a tasty little surprise during today’s Kirby concert. The upcoming Kirby’s Dream Buffet — which was only announced last month — is coming to the Switch eShop on 17th August in Japan.
You’ll have to make sure you have some room for some tasty treats and all of that Kirby adorableness as the pink (and blue, and yellow, and green, and so on…) puffball will be rolling onto our consoles next week . The game will cost 1500 yen, so around about £9 / €10 / $11.
While this has only been confirmed for Japan at the time of writing this, we expect we’ll be hearing something very soon for Western audiences — we hope the same day!
We’ll update this post as soon as we know! In the meantime, check out the game’s launch trailer below!
Are you excited to play Kirby’s Dream Buffet? Let us know!
If this year wasn’t already busy enough for the Switch with titles like Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, there’s also Bayonetta’s next outing to look forward to this October.
If you are eager to learn more about the story of Bayonetta 3, Australia’s Classification Board has detailed what’s in store for the Umbra witch. Interestingly, the ACB even notes how this description “may contain spoilers.” There’ll be strong fantasy, violence and online interactivity (with the game rated MA15+). Here’s what else to expect:
Bayonetta 3 is an action adventure game in which human characters travel through a series of fantasy environments, battling monsters called Homunculi and an evil being known as Singularity. Players must make their way to an island, Thule, in order to prevent Singularity from destroying the known worlds.
Themes The game contains fantasy themes, including monsters and supernatural beings. There is a brief sequence where a character removes her own heart from her in order to increase her powers from her.
Violence Violence consists of melee combat in fantasy settings, using guns, blades and other weapons. Gameplay and cutscenes sometimes feature blood detail.
The same rating also references online interactivity – in the form of shared leaderboards. This apparently includes the ability to upload scores for “specific chapters” within the third game. It’s currently unknown if the game will support additional online features.
Bayonetta 3 was also rated by the ESRB last month – highlighting the mature content and in-game purchases:
What do you think of this story description? How about online leaderboard support? Leave a comment below.
Image: The Pokémon Company / Micromania-Zing / Nintendo Life
We admit it, we’re suckers for a really nice pre-order bonus. Especially when it comes to figurines. And with Pokémon Scarlet & Violet coming out this November, we’re eager to see just what kind of bonuses or gifts will be on offer from various retailers.
So far, we only know about a few digital gifts — such as an exclusive backpack and that cute little Pikachu who’s Terastral form means he gets balloons! — but Nintendo Wire has discovered that French retailer Micromania-Zing is already ahead of the pack with this lovely physical pre-order bonus.
This exclusive pre-order bonus is a little figurine of all three of generation 9’s starters — Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxley. It’s really rather lovely, and we really rather want it.
You’ll get this trio if you pre-order either Scarlet, Violet, or the Double Pack from Micromania-Zing. So, if you love it and you live in France, there’s no reason not to!
Here in the UK, we sometimes get figurine pre-order bonuses for Pokémon games too, and maybe this will head our way too (if it does, we’ll be sure to tell you), but for now, we’ll have to admire this from a distance.
If you haven’t already, make sure you check out our list of everywhere you can pre-order the upcoming Pokémon games.
Do you like this pre-order bonus as much as we do? Do you hope a retailer near you gets something like this? Let us know in the comments!
When you’re going cave diving, what do you need? to laptop? We’re not sure about that! But the upcoming Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness wants you to bring one with you.
Well, not in real life, but there’s a key mechanic in the action RPG, and it’s not really for Abyss diving. It’s for recording details of the people you meet, the creatures you encounter, and the relics you uncover.
And those creatures are pretty dangerous! Known as ‘Primeval Creatures’, these need to be observed through a monocular in order to get information on them. But this limits your view, so you have to get close to the creature without being spotted.
While you’re progressing through the Abyss, you’ll also come across facilities that have been built. You might meet the highest rank, White Whistle, down there. Or maybe find the Seeker Camp, or the frontline base. You can also pick up quests as you descend.
Publisher Spike Chunsoft has also shown off a bunch of new screenshots for the game, detailing all of these little tidbits. One Primeval creature is called a corpse-weeper, which is pretty terrifying for a bird.
If you’re eager to become a Cave Raider, you’ve got just under a month to wait! Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness launches on the Switch on 2nd September.
Will you be brave the Abyss to find some Primeval creatures? How are you finding Season 2 of the show? Let us know!
Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.
Update: Nintendo has waved the checkered flag! Wave 2 is now ready to race for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe owners in all regions! Get on over to the track, get your updates downloaded, and pull up at the starting line.
We’ll see you there, and keep an eye out for our impressions of the eight courses in the near future!
original article [Thu 4th Aug, 2022 11:40 BST]: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will be full to the brim with racers new and old as Wave 2 of the Booster Course Pass launches later today on Switch!
Finally revealed last week after lots of fan speculation, Wave 2 brings another eight courses to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, on top of the first eight that Wave 1 brought us back in March.
The update drops at 3pm BST today, so get ready to hop back in the driver’s seat. No official times have been confirmed for other regions, but we suspect that it’ll be roughly the same time across the board.
In case you’ve forgotten what courses are being added in Wave 2, well, we’ve got you covered:
Turnip Cup
New York Minute Tour (Mario Kart Tour)
SNES Mario Circuit 3 (Super Mario Kart)
N64 Kalimari Desert (Mario Kart 64)
DS Waluigi Pinball (Mario Kart DS)
Propeller Cup
Sydney Sprint Tour (Mario Kart Tour)
GBA Snow Land (Mario Kart: Super Circuit)
Wii Mushroom Gorge (Mario Kart Wii)
Sky High Sundae
Of particular note is the last course in the Propeller Cup, Sky-High Sundae, which is a brand new course. While all seven other returning tracks have already been added to the mobile game Mario Kart Tour, Sky-High Sundae is debuting in Deluxe before making its way to your phones.
Remember, if you have a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass subscription, you’ll have access to these new courses for free. If not, and you haven’t already bought the Booster Course Pass, you can grab it right now!
Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.
Will you be playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe today? Which course are you looking forward to trying out? Let us know in the comments!
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will be full to the brim with racers new and old as Wave 2 of the Booster Course Pass launches later today on Switch!
Finally revealed last week after lots of fan speculation, Wave 2 brings another eight courses to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, on top of the first eight that Wave 1 brought us back in March.
The update drops at 3pm BST today, so get ready to hop back in the driver’s seat. No official times have been confirmed for other regions, but we suspect that it’ll be roughly the same time across the board.
In case you’ve forgotten what courses are being added in Wave 2, well, we’ve got you covered:
Turnip Cup
New York Minute Tour (Mario Kart Tour)
SNES Mario Circuit 3 (Super Mario Kart)
N64 Kalimari Desert (Mario Kart 64)
DS Waluigi Pinball (Mario Kart DS)
Propeller Cup
Sydney Sprint Tour (Mario Kart Tour)
GBA Snow Land (Mario Kart: Super Circuit)
Wii Mushroom Gorge (Mario Kart Wii)
Sky High Sundae
Of particular note is the last course in the Propeller Cup, Sky-High Sundae, which is a brand new course. While all seven other returning tracks have already been added to the mobile game Mario Kart Tour, Sky-High Sundae is debuting in Deluxe before making its way to your phones.
Remember, if you have a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass subscription, you’ll have access to these new courses for free. If not, and you haven’t already bought the Booster Course Pass, you can grab it right now!
Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.
Will you be playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe today? Which course are you looking forward to trying out? Let us know in the comments!
Square Enix is keeping its end-of-year release calendar extremely busy. Even if you discount titles like Star Ocean: The Divine Force and Valkyrie Elysium, its Switch line-up — which includes The DioField Chronicle, NieR: Automata, and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion — is a force to be reckoned with.
But those are all multiplatform releases or ports — and we know we haven’t covered everything there — but there’s one game Square Enix is releasing that is a Switch console exclusive. Harvestella was revealed during Nintendo’s most recent Partner Direct, and it looks like something a bit different for the RPG developer.
Combining life simulation, farming, and RPG elements, this looks like the company’s answer to RuneFactory. With its lovely pastel environments and lush character designs, we’re extremely interested. Today, Square Enix showed off some new details for the game on its blog, focusing on the main town, the game’s job system, character stories, and the different crops you can harvest.
Let’s start off with a summary straight from the blog post then, shall we?
In daily life, you can spend a relaxing day farming, fishing, or raising livestock, before heading to town to socialize and build your relationships with residents. If you want to test your combat skills, you can step into a dungeon to take on hordes of monsters with a variety of weapons and jobs.
Whatever you do, time passes through the seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. But between each one is a fifth season: Quietus! During this time, crops wither and die, and a deadly dust keeps people trapped indoors.
You’ll need to plan around the changing seasons and the grim inevitability of Quietus, as you attempt to solve the mysteries behind this season of death.
You’ll start your adventure in the town of spring, Nemea. This beautiful lilac-coloured town is full of blossoming flowers all year round, and at night, the cherry blossoms dance in the moonlight. But the appearance of a giant egg on the Spring Seaslight has caused monsters to appear and attack the town’s residents.
Joining forces with a member of the Argus brigade, Asyl, you’ll need to travel to the Seaslight to find out why the egg is causing this discord.
Alongside Asyl, you’ll also meet Istina, a teacher who looks after the children at the town’s orphanage. She has a bit of a hidden past, however, hiding it from the townsfolk and the children, and largely keeping to herself otherwise. But your appearance of her in the town will change all of that for her.
We like Istina. She likes reading and she’s very intelligent, and she enjoys reading aloud to children — especially about all of the world’s different locations. And we also appreciate her trepidation and her quiet nature of her.
We’re also getting a look at a brand new job coming to the game. Joining Fighter, Mage, and Shadow Walker (which is the coolest sounding job ever, if you ask us), there’s the Sky Lancer.
okay maybe Este is as cool sounding as Shadow Walker. It’s essentially a Dragoon class that uses a lance and focuses on wind element attacks. It’s also pretty good at crowd control apparently!
To learn new jobs, you need to work together with another character who has that job. Good thing Asyl is a Sky Lancer, then! We’ll be taking that as soon as we can in our playthrough.
Characters are also pretty important throughout the game, not just in battle. It’s an RPG, remember! And a life sim. Talking to the residents is key. These ‘Character Stories’ will focus on the character’s problems, and completing them will increase your closeness, while also granting rewards and combat boosts!
But you’ll also need to harvest, fish, and ship items out too! And you can whip up some delicious-looking dishes with the ingredients you grow, like strawberry shortcake and Nemea bolognese. And this is just a sampling of what you can make with spring season ingredients! The strawberries are called ‘strawbuddies’, though, and that’s totally worth noting
To make this more like Stardew Valley or Harvest Moon, you can harvest your crops and fish for…fish, and then ship the goods out to make money. You don’t have to cook with them, and sometimes, you’ll want to save up the pennies to buy more goods. And you’ll need to craft some stuff to actually make some other things like wheat.
We’re excited to see what the other seasons bring to the game, and what other jobs we’ll be able to play as in Harvestella. The game launches on 4th November, which means we don’t have very long to wait for this one to sprout!
You can read more about the game over on Square Enix’s blog post below. And make sure youet us know what you think of these new details on Harvestella in the comments!
Next month, the first video game adaptation of the hit anime series Made in Abyss will be hitting the Switch. And thanks to the eShop and Nintendo Everything, we might have a good idea how big a hole you’ll need to dig to make room for the game.
The upcoming RPG from Spike Chunsoft, Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness, will have both a retelling of the anime (with production supervised by the creator Akihito Tsukushi) plus an original story set after main characters Riko and Reg leave for the Abyss .
Luckily, the game doesn’t seem to need much space, with the eShop stating it will take up approximately 5.9GB. That’s a little bigger than Super Mario Odyssey’s 5.5GB, but comparable to other RPGs on the system such as Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (5.7GB) and Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea DX (5.9GB).
So, despite the game being packed with two different modes, this cave isn’t too deep at all! Of course, as with all Switch file sizes pre-release, this is subject to change, but it doesn’t seem like you’ll need to carve out a ton of space for this upcoming game.
We’re sure fans are anticipating the game’s 2nd September release, and we are too. Let us know what you think of the upcoming Made in Abyss action RPG in the comments!
Gameloft’s free-to-play racing game Disney Speedstorm has already been compared to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe numerous times. With its character-focused racing and themed tracks, it was inevitable — especially on the Switch! But, in an interview with Nintendo Everything, the developer is keen to set out what makes this title stand out from Nintendo’s juggernaut kart racer.
While Mario Kart 8 has different types of karts, stats, and even racer weights, Disney Speedstorm will have four different classes. When asked about what makes this game “stand out”, Gameloft Barcelona’s game manager — Aska Suzuki — put forward this unique element first:
“In Disney Speedstorm, characters aren’t just broken up by general types. We’ve given them one of four classes: Speedster, Brawler, Trickster, and Defender to support the strong combat racing element to this game. Boost management is really important , and each class builds extra boost in different ways, such as a brawler gaining more boost through stunning other racers, or a speedster gaining extra boost by going across boost pads.This provides the opportunity for very strategic racing if players wish to race that way .”
The class doesn’t just change how the character races, but it also affects how you get extra boosts, which adds an extra layer of strategy to the game! It sounds like a really interesting difference, especially with the focus on “combat” and confrontation. So we’ll be racing against all of our least-favorite Disney characters so we can justify ramming into them on the race track, then!
But that’s not the only unique element. Suzuki went on to explain what other differences classes bring to the table:
“Additionally, individual characters don’t just have special abilities, but they are pre-loaded with specific power-ups, so a trickster character will be more inclined to get items that negatively impact other racers, or a defender might get more defensive items On top of that, each power-up can be charged in order to perform a different action! More than any other racing game I can think of, character choice in Disney Speedstorm is closer to picking a character in a MOBA game.”
This element of the game is similar to Mario Kart Double Dash!!, but instead of just having unique abilities, they’re also more likely to get items that fit their playstyles. What items and skills these are, we don’t know yet, but it looks like character selection will be going beyond simply picking your favorite Disney and Pixar character.
Of course, Disney Speedstorm is a live service game with seasonal content, and Suzuki outlined a few things that will be added to the game once it’s out:
“…players will have access to regular new content via updates and season passes. New Disney and Pixar racers will be added regularly to Disney Speedstorm, bringing special skills for you to master (or overcome) and unique tracks to pump fresh strategy into the mix. Support crew characters, environments, customization options, and collectibles will also drop in regularly, so there’s always more to experience.”
This is certainly something that sets the game apart from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which many might be worried about. However, despite there being special events and Season Passes, Suzuki reiterated that “all characters can be unlocked through gameplay”, while also finding items to help level up their chosen character.
There will be specific events focused on a single Disney or Pixar film, or other ones focused on certain characters. So Gameloft is planning to go all out on the game.
Disney Speedstorm is due out sometime this summer. We’ll let you know as soon as we have an official release date. Have you decided on whether you’ll be downloading the game? Do you think the combat racing elements will make this one stand out? Let us know down below!
