Your island getaway is about to feel brand new again.

A Fresh Breeze Arrives for Animal Crossing Fans

After years of quiet shores, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is setting sail once more. Nintendo has officially announced Animal Crossing: New Horizons Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, launching alongside a free content update on January 15, 2026.

The long-awaited return brings both a next-gen upgrade for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 and an impressive lineup of new in-game features that breathe new life into island life. Whether you’re a long-time resident or planning your first visit, there’s never been a better time to hop back onto your island.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: A Next-Gen Island Adventure

The new Switch 2 Edition of Animal Crossing: New Horizons takes full advantage of the console’s upgraded power. Players can expect improved resolution up to 4K in TV mode, smoother visuals, and faster load times.

But it’s not just about the graphics. The edition introduces new gameplay tools, including:

• Mouse controls with the Joy-Con 2 to decorate rooms, design custom creations, and even handwrite bulletin board messages.
• A built-in microphone and in-game megaphone to call residents by name.
• Online play for up to 12 players, letting larger groups visit and explore islands together.
• CameraPlay, where connecting a USB camera allows players to see friends’ live reactions while exploring.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition will be available physically and digitally for USD $64.99, with an upgrade pack for existing owners priced at USD $4.99.

Free Update: New Resort, Characters, and More

Alongside the new edition, a free 3.0 update is coming to all players, even those on the original Nintendo Switch. This update is packed with new content and returning characters fans will love.

Resort Hotel’s Grand Opening

A brand-new resort hotel is opening on the pier, managed by Kapp’n’s family. You’ll help design and decorate guest rooms, stock a souvenir shop, and create dream vacation experiences for visitors. Think of it as a spiritual follow-up to Happy Home Paradise, but right on your own island.

Resetti Returns

The beloved mole Resetti is back with a twist. This time, he’s offering a Reset Service to help tidy up your island or even give it a soft reboot if you’re craving a fresh start. You’ll also be able to expand your home storage to 9,000 items, including the ability to store trees, shrubs, and flowers.

Slumber Island

Nintendo Switch Online members can visit Slumber Island, where you can design and save up to three islands, collaborate online with friends, and build together in real time. Players can also invite residents from their main island and manage their full inventory while editing their dream getaway.

Collaborations and Collectibles

As part of the update, Animal Crossing: New Horizons will feature an array of special collaborations and nostalgic throwbacks.

Players can collect Nintendo-themed items like the Ultra Hand, classic Nintendo consoles, and even play select classic games in-game when interacting with certain console furniture.

There’s also a LEGO crossover, bringing brick-built items and decor to your island for the first time. Fans of The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon can also use compatible amiibo to invite themed characters and unlock exclusive furniture and outfits inspired by those beloved series.

Why Fans Are Excited

For many, this update marks the biggest revival since 2021’s Happy Home Paradise expansion. The return of iconic characters, improved multiplayer, and the flexibility to design entire resort spaces make this feel like the New Horizons 2.0 fans had always hoped for.

If you’ve left your island covered in weeds and cobwebs, January’s update is your perfect excuse to dust off your shovel and rediscover your happy place.

Launch Details

Both the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and the free update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be available January 15, 2026.

• Physical and digital release: USD $64.99
• Upgrade pack for existing owners: USD $4.99
• Free content update: available to all players on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2

With new tools, bigger worlds, and creative freedom like never before, island life is about to get a whole lot livelier.

The post Animal Crossing: New Horizons Gets a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Massive Free Update This January appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

After Breath of the Wild gave us an incredible Zelda that seemed like a badass who could be the lead in her own action game.

Then Tears of the Kingdom gave us another glimpse at a Zelda who deserved to be the character we played as. Well finally The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom lets us take the role of the legendary princess, and it’s not quite what I was expecting.

The game kicks off with us playing as Link who is in the midst of saving Zelda, as per usual.

Link falls into a mysterious rift. Well it turns out those rifts are popping up everywhere.

Zelda returns to Hyrule Castle where the King is initially stoked to see her.  The King then finds himself in the rift, and comes out looking all evil.  He has our princess jailed where she meets her new little pal Tri.

Tri gives her a rod which allows her to create fake versions of things out in the world. After a short stealth scene where she creates stuff to get around some guards, she starts making cooler stuff like creatures to fight other creatures. Her adventure then takes her to save Link from the mysterious Still World which is where everyone goes when they fall into the rifts.

This is where I was a little bit gutted.

I wanted Zelda to go around hacking and slashing enemies to save the day, but to be fair, that could have wound up just feeling like Link with a Zelda skin. Instead we don’t really get a lot of combat, as alternatively Zelda makes stuff to throw at enemies, or to hide from, or even versions of enemies to fight on her behalf. In so many ways it is much more of a puzzle game than an action one.

The one thing that becomes a bit of a pain, is the massive number of objects Zelda can make. This sounds like a weird thing, I mean heaps of variety is a good thing yeah?

I regularly forgot about some of the stuff I could make, as I would switch back and forth from a handful of the commonly used ones. At times I was definitely making the game harder for myself, as later I would use an item and realise it could have saved my time and energy earlier if only I remembered I had it in my arsenal.

From an aesthetic perspective, the game has gone for a more Chibi style.

You may recognise this from the Link’s Awakening remake. I won’t lie, I absolutely loved it then, and I love it now. The simple top down style makes the game a treat to look at. It also switches perspectives at times with some 2D sequences that really just help the game keep from getting too tedious. The sound and soundtrack are also great, making this a must play for Zelda fans wanting to feel the vibes from the older games, after the excellence that was Tears of the Kingdom.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is a really solid game that is well worth checking out. It is trying to feel more like a classic Zelda game, but with its own take and it succeeds there. They could have cut a massive chunk of the items you can make and it would have been much more streamlined.  It isn’t the next great Zelda game, but it’s a sure entertaining way to spend some game time.

The post The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (Switch) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

NOW CLOSED – Harry Potter fans be at-the-ready – new popularity data released from PriceSpy reveals Hogwarts Legacy appears to have cast a spell over Kiwis, with the new release claiming February’s top spot as most-popular game listed on the fully impartial price and product comparison site.

Liisa Matinvesi-Bassett, New Zealand country manager for PriceSpy, says:  “According to our click data, Hogwarts Legacy, which launched mid-February, has Kiwis spellbound – as consumer purchase interest is currently skyrocketing.”

But it’s not just new game releases that are grabbing the attention of gamers.

Despite launching five years ago in 2018, PriceSpy’s data also found popularity for Flashback: 25th Anniversary was on the up, with the game securing a strong second position in February rankings.

“Even though big game releases, like Hogwarts Legacy pulls people in, we are increasingly noticing older games rise back through the popularity rankings, says Liisa.

“We believe a key factor for this shift in shopping behaviours is price, as retailers will often sell older games like Flashback: 25th Anniversary, at significantly discounted price points – to help sell-through older stock, says Liisa.

“During a time where price points are otherwise more expensive due to rising inflation rates and a cost-of-living crisis, for those watching the purse strings, buying older release games really work in a consumer’s favour.

“For example, when we look at the price history of Flashback:25th Anniversary, the game was priced at $99.69 in July 2022. However, today’s* pricing data shows it can now be purchased from $20, offering a significant saving of 80 per cent.”

Liisa concludes: “For anyone looking to make a new gaming purchase, whether it be a new game on the market or one that’s been around for some time, we suggest people always conduct important price research first.

“And as as looking for the shop that offers the cheapest price, consumers are also encouraged to check a product’s price history data – as this important information will help ensure the price consumers are being asked to pay is actually worthwhile.”

PriceSpy has teamed up with us here at STG to giveaway top two of the most-popular games from February 2023., The Legend of Zelda – Tears of the Kingdom on Switch (releases on 12th May 2023) and Hogwarts Legacy on PlayStation 5 (PS5).

To enter in for two selected top games of February 2023 with Pricespy, you need to answer this question correctly:

One of the top games for February 2023 is Hogwarts Legacy. Tell us why you are the ultimate Harry Potter fan!

There’s no wrong or right answer and you can be as creative as you like (but please keep it short-ish) and boom you’re in the draw.

You can give us your answer by placing a comment below, hitting us up on Facebook, Tweet to us, or Email Us.

Important stuff: Winner(s) will be randomly selected from those that Comment below / Facebook Comment / Email in accordance to the above Question. Winner(s) will receive a physical copy of Hogwarts Legacy on PlayStation 5 (PS5) and The Legend of Zelda – Tears of the Kingdom for Nintendo Switch. Hogwarts Legacy is rated PG, The Legend of Zelda – Tears of the Kingdom releases on the 12th May 2023, which will be sent to the winner on release day and is rated PG. There is no age restriction to enter this competition. Competition ends on the 30th of March 2023. Only New Zealand entries are accepted for this promotion.

Download the PriceSpy app here.

www.pricespy.co.nz

The post Pricespy Giveaway – Kiwis spellbound w. Hogwarts Legacy appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

NOW CLOSED – According to the latest gaming insights released from the fully impartial price and product comparison site, PriceSpy, Kiwis appear to be switching over – with the most-popular games across the month of July 2022 coming from Nintendo.

For a second consecutive month, PriceSpy’s data found the top game Kiwis were looking to buy most was The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch).

And the love affiliation for Nintendo doesn’t stop there – with PriceSpy’s click data also revealing the second, third and fourth most-popular games were for the Nintendo Switch.

Liisa Matinvesi-Bassett, New Zealand country manager for PriceSpy, says: “Whilst the Nintendo Switch isn’t the newest console on the market, popularity for the games produced for this platform is evidently extremely strong in New Zealand.

“For example, topping the most-popular gaming list for July was The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.  And our insights revealed the second most-popular game was Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which originally launched in May 2014.

“Even though this game is older on the market (having first launched in 2014), we believe popularity may have been reignited in this classic as a result of Nintendo launching a Booster Course Pass Wave 2 to play for August 2022.

Source: PriceSpy (Prices correct as of 9 August 2022).

Liisa continues: “Interestingly, our insights continue to highlight how consumers are changing up their spending habits – looking to buy games that are older and more affordable on the wallet.

“Purchasing a game that is older on the market is actually a really smart way shop, as it can often offer consumers a considerable saving.   For example, four out of five of the top games this month can be purchased for under $100. And The Outer Worlds (Switch) is currently priced at $29.”

PriceSpy has teamed up with us here at STG to offer the two top games for July 2022.

Those being The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for Nintendo Switch and Mario Kart 8 for Nintendo Switch.

To stand a chance of winning, enter our giveaway by answering this question:

What was your greatest Mario Kart moment, ever?

There’s no wrong or right answer, just tell us your greatest Mario Kart achievement or experience and you’re in to the competition.

You can give us your answer by placing a comment below, hitting us up on Facebook, Tweet to us, or Email Us.

Important stuff: Winner(s) will be randomly selected from those that Comment below / Facebook Comment / Email in accordance to the above Question. Winner(s) will receive a physical copy of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for Nintendo Switch and Mario Kart 8 for Nintendo Switch. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has an age rating of PG, Mario Kart 8 is rated G. For age restricted games you may be required to provide proof of age. Competition ends on the 1st of September 2022. Only New Zealand entries are accepted for this promotion.

Download the PriceSpy app here.

www.pricespy.co.nz

The post Nintendo Switch Tops July – Pricespy Giveaway! appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The Switch has kindled a new love affair with the Zelda series. Breath of the Wild blew me away because it is… you know… one of the greatest games ever made.

Then The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening remade on the Switch demonstrated the best way to remake a classic. The game being fundamentally the same as the original with overhauled graphics meant I got to experience it as if it was new, because it was new.

Then Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity was a banger of a Warriors game with BoTW’s beautiful aesthetic. It was the best of two worlds and a game worthy of fans of either franchise checking out.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD on the other hand is more of a Remaster with a bit of polish as opposed to a newer game like the previous ones. This had me so damn curious to see how a Wii game with a little bit of new paint would stand up. Well it turns out… well.

Skyward Sword tells an interesting story. Link and Zelda are friends who live in the floating kingdom of Skyloft. For generations they have existed on these floating islands in the sky not knowing what existed under the thick blanket of clouds below their isolated world.

In this world the people build relationships with these giant birds who they fly from island to island. After completing his test with his bird to become a knight, Link’s friend Zelda is pulled away under the clouds. Not knowing what is down there Link gets his hero on, and ventures below.

Breaking through the clouds Link finds himself in this mysterious place called… you know.. Hyrule. If you don’t know, you haven’t played enough Zelda games yet and should go play Breath of the Wild…like right now. Seriously… I’ll wait.

Go grab BoTW, smash that colossal game out then come back and find out why you should also buy Skyward Sword. I may have gotten distracted but seriously, BoTW is one of the greatest games ever made.

So yeah, he lands on Hyrule. Down here Link meets a whole lot of people and enemies, and more importantly temples. He needs to track down and follow the prophets telling of the goddess a.k.a. Zelda, and the mystery and heroics ensue.

Visually the game is both stunning, and dated… if that makes sense.

It has a unique design where characters are in proportion, but things like the birds and surroundings have such a unique style that they are so beautiful. Though you should be ready for a game where the textures, faces, and edges are a Wii game.

The edges have been taken off so it doesn’t look that old, but you will notice it is a game that is a decade old.

Though the aesthetic kinda holding up and kinda not has no bearing on how amazing it is. The gameplay which is also pretty old and clunky has been well adapted to using a controller. When you move around you need to hold the L button to move the camera else it stays static.

This has clearly been built for the Wii remote and works using the Joycons handheld, but the best way to play this is using a controller. As such you will find you tend to hold L most of the game.

The combat, also built for the Wii Remote, kinda works brilliantly in both modes.

So using your joy-cons motion control you need to slash in different ways to hit different areas of enemies or hit them in different directions to hit where they aren’t blocking. Using the controller (or game in handheld mode) you will hold ZL and then wiggle the right Joycon in different ways to slash. It works surprisingly well, and a little frustrating at times.

Either way it gives the game a feel and a hook that is so unique that even when it is being annoying, it is still charming and fun.

The world is kind of open where you can move anywhere you have access to, but kind of linear. Think of the Tomb Raider remake type of open. You can fast travel back to the sky where you can fly around Skyloft and jump to the save statues all around the world.

There is a thing where if you buy the Amiibo you can use that to auto jump to Skyloft and return without a save statue. This is a feature that should be built in and not Amiibo locked. Though I did buy the Amiibo because it’s an awesome figure.

Still it should be a quality of life improvement built into the game for everyone.

10 years on The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is still an absolute banger. The game plays well, the style is unique, the voice acting is pretty good, but the story and dungeons are well worth every frustration.  As a Switch game it gives you so many options to play, but no matter which you choose you should have an excellent experience with this classic.

Bring on more classic Zelda’s. Pleeeease Nintendo.

The post The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

I have always enjoyed the Warriors games spin offs.

They take their good hack n slash formula and apply it to a franchise you like, making for consistently fun and weird games. But they are usually fun side projects, a silly excuse to play your favourite characters in a different game genre. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity has taken the fun hacking and slashing, and made a game that belongs in the Zelda: Breath of the Wild universe, and it is an immediate must play.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity follows a little guardian who goes back in time after princess Zelda makes her sacrifice, to try to stop events happening. The little guardian lands in a time where Link is nothing but an excellent soldier that can slash hobgoblins with the best of them. They decode the information in the guardian realise what is to come, and Zelda heads off with Link as a bodyguard to go enlist some pilots for the divine beasts and stop Calamity Gannon.

If the above makes no sense because you haven’t played Zelda: Breath of the Wild, then go play it now. Seriously, it is one of the best games I have ever played and set the bar for what can run on a Switch. For the first time a Warriors game belongs in the timeline of the series it is spinning off, and it works so well.

Sure it is bizzare to play as Link and Zelda when they kill dozens of Lizalfos in seconds when many years later it takes ages to take out one. But hey, it’s a fun game if you suspend your disbelief for a second so you can enjoy what this game has to offer.

If you haven’t played any of the Warriors games, then you could be in for a treat. They are hack n slash games where you slash your way through hundreds of enemies. It is brilliantly satisfying because each swing has heaps of enemies flying away at once and the gameplay across all these games are consistently brilliant. This would be repetitive and boring if it wasn’t for the objectives the games constantly throw at you. You may have to run to one end of a map, or beat an enemy spawned in a specific location within a certain time which keeps the game from getting dull.

Unlike other spin offs like Fire Emblem Warriors, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity has a story to tell and as such limits the number of characters available to play. This is a small sacrifice for the game to be canon, and playing as multiple characters like Zelda and the champions that pilot the divine beasts are more than enough content. There are some extra characters but those five were who I played with as often as possible.

One of the coolest aspects of the game is the use of the Sheikah Slate. This lets you use powered attacks based on its powers like magnet or bombs which helps give the game a Breath of the Wild style. It also uses these elements well with being able to put up an ice tower so a charging enemy freezes which pulls back memories of the games. Zelda is only armed with the Sheikah Slate so her light attacks have chains flinging, bombs blasting, and magnetic hits in quick succession which is the most chaotic thing I have seen on my Switch.

If you haven’t played a Warriors game before but loved Breath of the Wild, now is a great place to start. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity looks, sounds and feels as true to the open world original game as it is a totally different thanks to the Warriors mechanics.

It’s such a treat, even if the Switch chugs on rare occasions when you hit too many enemies on the screen.

The post Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (Switch) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

A century before the events of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the Great Calamity occurred.

Hyrule was plunged into darkness, devasted by an evil force which transformed the kingdom forever. While the Great Calamity is touched on in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for Nintendo Switch, fans have never experienced what happened before that catastrophic event … until now.

In Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, which launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch on 20^th November, players will be transported to the time before the Great Calamity happened, participating in epic battles against a backdrop of memorable locations in Hyrule before they were destroyed. The game stars familiar faces from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild like Link and Zelda, as well as other recognisable characters like the four Champions, who will be playable for the very first time in the Hyrule Warriors series.

In the Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity – A story set 100 years before Breath of the Wild video, The Legend of Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma and Koei Tecmo Games Hyrule Warriors producer Yosuke Hayashi talk about how Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity came to be and show the first trailer for the game.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity features action-packed gameplay that will be familiar to fans of Hyrule Warriors and Fire Emblem Warriors. Focused on performing combos and over-the-top special abilities, the gameplay is fast-paced and strategic, perfect for players looking for an intense, non-stop action game with direct ties to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. In addition, the game tells an in-depth story that depicts the events, relationships and dramatic moments of the Great Calamity in captivating detail.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity finds plenty of inspiration from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – not just in its visual style. Many characters from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild are playable, including Link and Zelda. Not only will players hack and slash their way through swarms of enemies to defend Hyrule; they will also solve environmental puzzles, unlock weapons and skills, craft with gathered materials, visit shops to obtain items and use the power of the Sheikah Slate, which fans will recognise from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Players who pre-order the game on Nintendo eShop will receive the Lucky Ladle as an in-game bonus weapon for Link.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity transports players to the time before the Great Calamity happened, participating in action-packed, strategic battles against a backdrop of familiar locations in Hyrule.

The game stars a cast of familiar characters from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, including Link and Zelda, and will launch exclusively for Nintendo Switch on the 20th of November 2020.

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The post HYRULE WARRIORS: AGE OF CALAMITY THIS NOVEMBER appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

My experience with the Zelda series is limited, by which I mean my first and only Zelda game to date was Breath of the Wild which blew me away so in a flash over 100 hours of my year were lost in a sea of glorious time wasting. Naturally I wanted to know more about this iconic series, which is the perfect time for a remake of one of the classics to come along, so I couldn’t be more chuffed to check out Zelda: Link’s Awakening with its massive overhaul on Switch.

If you are like me, a complete newbie to the series, Link’s Awakening is going to be a strange mix of “huh that’s cool”, and “boy that’s annoying”. This is because the game is faithful to its original with some annoying mechanics. This isn’t a deal-breaker though because in so many ways it’s so darn timeless.

The game kicks off with Link’s boat crashing in a storm and he wakes up on the beach of the relatively small Koholint Island. He is soon visited by a talking owl who vaguely guides him in order to find all the instruments so he can wake the Wind Fish and go home. If that story sounds bizarre and weird, it is, but I enjoyed the hell out of it. For a game so old, 26 years to be exact, it is surprisingly good. Keeping in mind its age, don’t expect a massive in depth through plot, there is plenty of characters with enough dialogue to be interesting, but you won’t be slogging through walls of text.

The game is top down as you move Link around hacking and slashing enemies. This gameplay is fun enough but as you collect a lot of your useable items, you need to go to the menu to map them to one of the two buttons you get to choose from. This is one of those old systems I found immensely annoying because I regularly wanted three or four at a time when I was experimenting with puzzles. It’s not a deal breaker because eventually you get used to it, but still something that would have been useful being tweaked some more.

The game’s puzzles and dungeons on the other hand are outstanding. I would have easily thought this game was designed recently by an especially creative indie dev team. The island has a wide selection of environments from foggy forest, to a desert, a mountain you climb, and grave site. Each of these present new requirements to learn game systems, and it kept impressing me. Puzzles sometimes involve beating what you see in front of you, and other times you need to follow a side story like a series of items you need to trade in order to have item you need to enter a new area.

Dungeons can become winding and confusing areas as you transition from room to room, with tasks you complete in one room helping you get past something six rooms away. I don’t want to spoil the details of dungeons, but they were consistently hard enough to give me pause, yet simple enough I didn’t want to slam my Switch to the ground. One of the weirdest things is its occasional use of side scrolling rooms, which are short but functional 2D platforming stages. I initially thought this must have been some quirky addition to the remake, but some digging showed this was in its 1993 release showing how clever these early devs were.

The game is a faithful recreation of the original game, with everything in the same places but with a massive graphical overhaul. I checked out a couple of old walkthroughs to see if I could pick it up at any point then follow it for a bit, and it couldn’t have been easier which is extraordinary that the game doesn’t feel that old. The new art style looks beautiful with a chibi-ish toy-ish style that looks cute as hell and totally fits the game’s vibe.

Zelda: Link’s Awakening is an amazing remake preserving everything about the original, giving it a new look that is unique and comforting. Players of the original that want to revisit this classic and newbies who never witnessed the original should both find a lot to enjoy in this game.

The post Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Switch) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Battling aliens, feeding hippos, painting like an elephant, flying on the back of a bird and many other fun and family-friendly virtual reality experiences await in Nintendo Labo: VR Kit – out now exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.

Combining the physical and digital gameplay of Nintendo Labo with basic VR technology, Nintendo Labo: VR Kit introduces virtual reality in a unique and approachable way for kids and families. After making a variety of Toy-Con creations – like the Toy-Con Blaster, Toy-Con Elephant and Toy-Con Wind Pedal – out of the included materials with the help of the included Nintendo Switch software’s interactive instructions, users can play a variety of simple VR games and experiences by combining their creations with the Nintendo Switch and its pair of Joy-Con controllers. Many of the Toy-Con also provide sensory feedback, like a blast of air produced from the Toy-Con Wind Pedal or a satisfying “click” of the Toy-Con Blaster, to add to the overall VR experience. You can even design your own bite-sized VR games and experiences with the included programming tools in Toy-Con Garage and Toy-Con Garage VR. 

All the games and experiences in Nintendo Labo: VR Kit are designed to be shareable, fun and social. By alternating turns, everyone in the room can watch and enjoy other’s reactions and join in the fun. Some games even allow players who aren’t looking into the Toy-Con VR Goggles to interact with the on-screen experience. For example, if one player is exploring the in-game ocean and taking photos with the Toy-Con Camera, another person in the room can wear the Toy-Con Snorkel and step in front of the Camera to make a bug-eyed fish swim quickly toward the player’s face.

Two programming tools are included with the Nintendo Labo: VR Kit software. Toy-Con Garage is the tool that is returning from previous kits and optimised for this kit’s Toy-Con creations. Toy-Con Garage VR is a new tool that allows players to create their own VR games and experiences. In fact, Toy-Con Garage VR is the tool that the development team used to create everything in VR Plaza, where over 60 more bite-sized games and experiences await. It’s easy to go “under the hood” to see how the development team put everything in VR Plaza together. You can use what you’ve learned to start new projects from scratch, or even open VR Plaza games in the Toy-Con Garage VR programming tool and use them as a starting point. 

Two primary configurations for Nintendo Labo: VR Kit are available now, one that includes all Toy-Con creations and one that includes a smaller selection of projects to get started.

The first is the Nintendo Labo: VR Kit which is a complete Nintendo Labo: VR Kit includes the Nintendo Switch software and materials to build all six Toy-Con projects – the Toy-Con VR Goggles, Toy-Con Blaster, Toy-Con Camera, Toy-Con Bird, Toy-Con Wind Pedal and Toy-Con Elephant – as well as a Screen Holder and Safety Cap. It’s a good option for kids and families who want to dive in to the full experience.

And secondly, the Nintendo Labo: VR Kit – Starter Set + Blaster which includes the Nintendo Switch software, plus all the components to build the Toy-Con VR Goggles and Toy-Con Blaster, as well as the Screen Holder and Safety Cap. The Starter Set is a great entry point into the world of Nintendo Labo VR.

Players that own the Starter Set can purchase following optional expansion sets to expand their experience.

Super Mario Odyssey

Also announced is the coming soon, Toy-Con VR Goggles from the Nintendo Labo: VR Kit will allow players to experience moments from two of the most popular Nintendo Switch games in a whole new way. On the 26th of April 2019, free software updates for Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will add compatibility with Nintendo Labo: VR Kit, giving owners of the software some simple and fun bonus experiences to enjoy.

In Super Mario Odyssey, you can play three new mini-missions to complete various objectives in three familiar Kingdoms. You can also experience the adventure of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild like never before by exploring the vast world of Hyrule with VR visuals. 

The post VR on Switch appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

For games, context, timing and audience are key.

The Wii U had an incredible line up of first and third party games that were sadly left unappreciated by the majority of gamers who had ignored Nintendo’s first HD console. But with the equally incredible success of the Nintendo Switch to date, there’s a huge new opportunity to take those games and release them again, as if they were brand new. For Nintendo tragics who were among those who played them on their original release, the releases are interesting but not essential, but for those who skipped the Wii U, they are providing a valuable harvest of interesting, polished new games.

From Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze to Mario Kart 8 to Bayonetta 2, Nintendo’s backlog of Wii U games provide the Switch with a range of games from first and third parties that cover a wide range of genres. And while the Switch actually already has a musou game in Fire Emblem Warriors (see my review here), it could always do with one more and so Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition makes its way to Nintendo’s hybrid console.

But this isn’t actually the first time that it’s been ported – 2 years ago it emerged on the New Nintendo 3DS (don’t even try it on a standard 2DS or 3DS), as a serviceable port that gained some bonuses and quality of life improvements that the Wii U version never ended up receiving. Strangely this made it the best version of the game, despite its graphical downgrades from the Wii U version. This new definitive edition erases that strange gap between the two versions, and contains all features and downloadable content from past versions of the game, including My Fairy mode and the parts from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.

The Definitive Edition bumps up the game’s resolution to a full 1080p.

Graphically it feels like a huge update from the now-dated Wii U game, and brings it up to perhaps not modern standards for a new game, but it certainly doesn’t feel as old as it is. It feels like there are more enemies on screen and draw distances for object and enemies are also ramped up. As for framerate, well it feels like it’s unfortunately running at an unlocked frame rate, which means varying frametimes. Most of the time though, it certainly doesn’t reach a solid 60FPS, and it would have been nice to have the option to lock it down to 30FPS, or reduce the graphical quality to reach the 60FPS target.

There are costumes from the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for Link and Zelda and co-op is also much improved, where it doesn’t feel like its running at 20FPS anymore. But don’t even attempt multiplayer co op in tabletop or handheld mode: the UI, smaller screen size and gameplay simply isn’t up to the task.

Just as in the original there’s amiibo support. Tap your amiibo at the title screen to get bonuses such as weapons to fight with or materials to upgrade your characters. Though thanks Luigi, for the single rupee.

Taken together, these changes add up to a refined game that easily lives up to its moniker as the Definitive Edition. If you were to play any version of Hyrule Warriors, it really should be this one – if nothing else so you don’t have to buy all the DLC separately. A good game is a good game regardless of the system that its on, but bringing a good game to a good system is good for the game, and good for gamers.

While Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition isn’t necessarily going to be one of the Switch’s best sellers, it further seals the system as an essential item in any gamer’s household.

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