Curious about NBA 2K18 on the Switch? It’s probably too late to pick it up now with the new version on the way soon, but here’s a taste of what you can expect from next year’s version on the Nintendo platform! To my surprise, it’s pretty good! A more formal write-up of my thoughts will go live tomorrow!
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Waluigi and I make a run for the title in Mario Tennis Aces! Are we able to take the crown home today?
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Mario Tennis on the Nintendo 64 has proven to be a very difficult act to follow. Released in 2000, Nintendo found the sweet spot between simulation and arcade action that made that game a master-class title. To this day, if you play any of the Mario Tennis games released after this one in “Classic” or “Simple” mode, you’re essentially playing the same game that was conceived almost 20 years ago.
Later installments of the franchise would try really hard to make meaningful additions to its seemingly-iron-clad formula with little luck. Mario Power Tennis on the Gamecube undermined the skill-based action of the original with silly power shots and even sillier courts that were so cluttered with crap that it was hard to discern what was even happening. As for Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash – besides being an overall lackluster product – also failed to build on the core formula, as it simply made standard power shots more powerful through jumping and added a mega mushroom that essentially gave you power shots all the time.
It may have taken almost two decades to get here, but Nintendo has finally found a way to make Mario Tennis better.
Just got my copy of Mario Tennis Aces and the first thing I did was square off against my brother Randy! He’s got a head start on me, but can I stop him from completely running me over?
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In anticipation of Mario Tennis Aces on the Switch, I take a trip back in time to remember why I didn’t like Mario Power Tennis on the Gamecube. It’s too wacky for my tastes, but to each their own!
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Back in the 90s, I had a torrid love affair with Mario Tennis on the Nintendo 64. Finding a brilliant balance between realism and arcade action, I played this a boatload with family and friends. However, I jumped off the bandwagon not long after the criminally-overlooked Game Boy game, which featured a brilliant blend of sports with RPG mechanics. From the Gamecube version and beyond, Nintendo expanded the wacky factor by giving players special shots that undermine the balance of gameplay in favour of the player who has the power shot handy.
At first, I thought the new special shot system in Mario Tennis Aces would be the most egregious yet, as players gain access to a highly-targeted shot that’s controlled from a fist-person perspective. Having played the demo, this new shot, along with the other improvements made to the game, make it the most intriguing entry in the franchise yet.
I really wanted to like the first NBA Playgrounds.
Appearing to be a spiritual successor to NBA Jam with a dash of NBA Street for good measure, NBA Playgrounds should have been a slam dunk. Instead, it stumbled horribly out of the gate with wonky shooting mechanics, a barebones single player experience, bad AI, a reliance on loot boxes to unlock players, and specifically for Nintendo Switch owners, no online play for the first few months of its release. Even though Saber Interactive gone a long way towards writing the wrongs of their base product, I still have a very sour taste in my mouth from that first experience.
Despite a lukewarm reception from myself and other online critics, the game sold well and the sequel is just around the corner. Is there anything in this new game to change my mind?
This EA Sports double-header showcased the company on the rise with two of its biggest sports games: NHL 94 and NBA Live 95!
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It’s been a struggle, but I finally got Super Nintendo streaming to work! First up, NBA Jam!
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First released on the PC and PlayStation 4 in 2015, Rocket League has been a breakout hit. Beyond being a best-seller on every platform its been on, this vehicular soccer game has found a second wind as an eSports title. With the title showing no signs of slowing down, it blasts onto the Nintendo Switch with cross-platform play and some Nintendo exclusive cars.
In Third Person 