In the newest Splatoon 3 single player campaign, players will embark on a much-needed vacation to Inkopolis Square, only to be met with an ominous sight. The once vibrant Inkopolis has been drained of color and replaced by odd sea creatures. More bad news, Marina is missing and it’s your job to rescue her and her friends. Unlike the typical online matches in Splatoon 3, the new Side Order DLC ventures into a whole new realm of rogue-like gameplay. You start off this story as Agent 8, an Octoling trying to survive in a world of chaos. The player will make their way through a mysterious building ..read more

Video game architects are terrible at their job. Has there ever been a ship, a tomb, or a castle in a video game that would’ve been usable for anything other than obscuring med kits and requiring insane parkour skills to reach ancient artifacts? Before whatever catastrophe befell them, were these structures at all practical for everyday use? Those questions were not answered by Unlife, an action platform adventure set shortly after a monster-infested apocalypse drove humans into hiding. It’s an old-school apocalypse, brought about by nuclear fallout, not bioengineering or AI. Ah, the adorably ..read more

Hopefully you found something to look forward to in today’s Nintendo Indie Direct. If not, here’s another bit of news that was featured only in the Japan Direct; the co-op platformer Bread & Fred will be served on Nintendo Switch on May 23, 2024. Along with its promise of “chaos and catchy tunes,” Bread & Fred will allows players to “…experience the breathtaking highs and frosty face-planting lows of Bread & Fred on the go, with even more adventure awaiting atop the icy peaks!” Nintendo games will be able to meet the newest member of the mountaintop crew, Pol the Polar Bear, and w ..read more

Cat and the Ghostly Road is a point-and-click adventure/puzzle game in which you play as a pretty, white cat. While on the verge of giving up during a rough journey, you’re saved by a painter. The painter’s soul is later stolen by a demon, however, leaving the cat to journey on once again. Exploring different dimensions, talking to demons and spirits, and using your cat-like curiosity, it is up to you to find your master’s soul and save his life. Cat and the Ghostly Road is a super fun game in which you get to explore and experience a lot. The first part of your journey involves you entering ..read more

With Cybertrash STATYX, I thought I was getting another retro-visual platformer with plenty of obstacle course action and lots of shooting the bad-guys. And I did get that. What I also got was not exactly what I had hoped for. As our regulars already know, I have mixed feelings about all the games for the Nintendo Switch which lean toward the retro, 8-bit graphics look. This game does it fairly well, so it is at least not annoying. There is good enough use of form, color, and definition that it looks OK. Cybertrash STATYX is a 2D platformer, so it uses plenty of timing-dependent jumps, runs, s ..read more

Nashville, TN – April 12, 2024 – It’s a new year and that means it’s time to focus on what’s in store for Nintendo in 2024 and beyond! Will we get an announcement for a Nintendo Switch successor this year? Will we finally see the elusive Metroid Prime 4? What games are actually announced for the Switch in 2024 and what do we know about them? Check out our cover story where Jemma, Kirk, Trev and I give you a preview of what could be the Switch’s swan song. We have a new Switching on a Budget article as well as a review of some books from Limited Run Games. Jemma also has a really fun quiz to se ..read more

This week on the Pure Nintendo Podcast, Jemma and Kirk are joined by special guest Barry Carenza from Premium Edition Games. Last week, we got into the pros and cons of originals vs. remakes. This week, we discuss some amazing titles heading to the Nintendo Switch in physical format via Premium Edition Games. We go through a list of outstanding titles, from the cuteness of Poglings to the dark RPG goodness of Kristala. We also touch on the Mana-inspired Godshard Chronicles along with the platforming prowess of Atomic Owl. Other highlights include Tadpole Treble Encore, Scarlet Tower, and Curs ..read more

Astro Duel 2 is a shooter/platformer for the Nintendo Switch. When I say shooter/platformer, I don’t mean it simply merges these genres into one. No, Astro Duel 2 features two distinct components: platforming and shooting. It’s a cool concept that generally works, despite a few flaws. I enjoy shooters and platformers, so a game combining both is right up my alley. In Astro Duel 2, levels begin with a short platforming experience before your character jumps into his or her ship. You’re instantly in space, taking down all kinds of alien craft. Then you notice some kind of portal on the edge of a ..read more

Listen, I feel bad for Loretta. I really do. Life hasn’t been kind to her. Neither has her husband. Or her neighbors. But does all of that justify the numerous bad decisions she’s going to make in this game? Well, that’s the thing. For the most part, those decisions are up to the player. Loretta (the game) is an adventure/puzzle crime story set in the 1940s. Loretta (the woman) is a housewife who finds her New York City lifestyle stripped away and replaced by farm living in the rural south. Her husband, Walter, is a writer, which immediately spells trouble. (Fictional writers are written by re ..read more

I have an interesting history when it comes to the Freedom Planet. I remember scrolling through the Sonic Fanon Wiki in my free time in middle school to see how Sonic fans design characters and seeing a character called “Lilac the Hedgehog.” Sound familiar? The Sonic inspiration in Freedom Planet was very evident in its first game, but how has it presented itself in this sequel? Let’s see. Before starting, you should play the original game first, as it references previous events and characters. Plus, it directly states that the story takes place three years later. You can pick which one of the ..read more