Image from Ubisoft

With just about 10 days to it's release,  Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope will make it's way on the Nintendo Switch on 20 October 2022!

In the strategy adventure Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, Mario and his friends team up with the Rabbids once again to restore order to the galaxy! Explore planets filled with quirky residents, and even quirkier secrets, while you stop a mysterious evil from plunging the universe into chaos.

I went into it not really knowing what to expect but Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is a hidden gem with full of surprises. It’s a turn-based tactics gameplay where you figure out the tactical puzzles of chaining together as many stringed attacks in the least amount of moves possible. It’s oddly satisfying seeing the enemies getting beaten up Mario and Rabbid style. 

[Mario Rabbids: Kingdom Battle Gold Edition + Donkey Kong Adventure DLC Review]

So now with it's sequel out, I can't wait to get my hands on another fantastic helping of strategy-focused goodness, Mario + Rabbid style of course. Besides the Standard Edition, there are are some special Gold and Cosmic Editions available!

I found the Cosmic Edition on Qoo10 for SGD$59.90, and the Gold Edition was SGS$110.90. What a steal!

[S$59.90](▼30%)[UBIsoft][Pre-Order] Nintendo Switch Mario Rabbids Sparks of Hope (Pal/Eng) - Release on 20th Oct 2022

WWW.QOO10.SG

It's sad that we don't have the steel case, but if you order from the Nintendo Store UK it comes with with a free SteelBook case.

The Gold Edition includes the base game, a Season Pass (which contains upcoming DLC packs, including additional story content featuring a new character, quests, and battles), and the Galactic Prestige Collection (three exclusive weapon skins, unlockable right away). 

The Cosmic Edition just does not have the Season Pass for the DLCs, which is pretty reasonable for that price. It comes with  the base game, and the Galactic Prestige Collection mentioned above.  I've been buying a tad too much games, so this was the only one which was more 'friendly' on my wallet, so this is the version which I got. I could always get the DLCs at a later stage if I am interested in it.

Now all I have to do is wait for the game, and find time time to play! 

Have you pre-ordered your copy of the game or will you wait before getting it? Share it with us below in the comments below!

The Paldean region of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet has added another unique creature to its ranks...

... Meet the Wiglett

Digletts are Ground Type Pokémon basically whack-a-moles with cute noses, and they were made even more memorable by their cries of “Diglett Dig” in the cartoon. It's cousin the Wiglett,  resembles a garden eel, a subset of the eel species that live underground and poke their heads out from under water. It debuted during a livestream in Japan, which verified that while it bears a striking resemblance to Diglett, it is different enough to be classified as a unique species and not a Paldean variant.

Wiglett is a long worm-like creature that rises from the ground. But unlike the Diglett it is not a Ground Type but Water Type.  It also has a pair of eyes and a nose similar to Diglett, one of the original 151 Pokémon that has already been shown in trailers for the new game.

The Wiglett becomes the 17th new Pokémon revealed for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, including the Paldean variant of Pokémon Wooper from the second generation. New species introduced for the new game include LeChonk, the legendary Koraidon and Miraidon, and the newcomers Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is the ninth main installment in the Pokémon franchise, which will introduce players to the new region of Paldea when it launches on 18 November 2022 exclusively on Nintendo Switch.

 Pre-order @ Amazon - SGD62

 Pre-order @ Qoo10 - SGD$60

Release Date: July 30, 2021 (North America)

Developers:  EXtend

Publishers: PQube

Platforms: PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

 Buy this game

Note: BUSTAFELLOWS is rated “M” in ESRB. It depicts a lot of gun violence as well as drug references, if you are uncomfortable with these themes in fiction, this game may not be for you.

Game Story: 

Arrive in New Sieg, a beautiful fictional town. Step into the shoes of Teuta – a strong, smart and gifted journalist, in this romantic adventure set in America. After witnessing the murder of crooked lawyer, Limbo, Teuta is destined to save him. With the ability to leap into the past for a very brief moment and take on the body of another – you must find clues, search for data, and help those around you. Thus, our journey begins. Travel to the past to warn Limbo of his fate and figure out how to save him!

My first foray into Otome games.... Bustafellows

Read more about the chatacters' bios on the Offical Site

What's an Otome game?

Source: Nintendo

Sometime back I reviewed Nintendo Switch Sports Volleyball and Badminton, and this time I am back with Chambara. I thought Volleyball and Badminton gave a workout for the arms, but Chambara  actually overtakes Volleyball  and Badminton: the speed and arm movements for Chambara are definitely more intense (particularly if you opt for the Twin Swords 😅)!

[Nintendo Switch Sports Volleyball and Badminton First Thoughts Review]

So what is Chambara?

Source: Nintendo

It's basically sword fighting, and is one of six sports in Nintendo Switch Sports. It requires a single Joy-Con, but can be played with two, and allows up to two people to play at a time.

What are the rules?

To win, within the time limit (45 seconds) you have to knock your opponent off the platform and into the water using the arm movements Attack and Guard. If no one is knocked off within the time limit, it becomes a draw. If no winner is decided after three rounds, there's a Final Round in which the arena shrinks.

What are the basic moves?

Attack: Slash the Joy-Con as if it were a sword. The direction of your attacks greatly matters. If your opponent is guarding vertically, you should attack vertically, and so on, or they will block you.

Source: Nintendo

Guard: Hold the ZR(or ZL) button to Guard. Aim perpendicularly to the incoming attacks to stun your opponent.

Source: Nintendo

What types of weapons?

Source: Nintendo

There are 3 types of swords to choose from:

1. Sword: has an edge with the simplest mechanics. It can knock an opponent off the platform in just 4 attacks.
2. Charge Sword: f you're adept at blocking at the perfect time, the Charge Sword could be a better fit for you.
3. Twin Swords: it has the ability to easily confuse the opponent, since you can switch stances and guards very quickly. It can knock an opponent off the platform in 6 attacks.

Some Tips:

If you love Splatoon and are planning to get the latest Splatoon 3, why not pamper yourself with the special edition which comes with the acrylic tumbler, keychains and plushies?

Amazon Japan has these babies up for grabs for around USD$85 (much cheaper than what is on offer on eBay)! 

If you've loved the rustic and calming gameplay of  A Short Hike and wished it was on a physical game cartridge for your Nintendo Switch, your wish has been granted thanks to Super Rare Games!

Follow the marked trails or explore the backcountry as you make your way to the summit. Along the way, meet other hikers, discover hidden treasures, and take in the world around you.

• Explore the island any way you like. Choose your own path to follow and see where it leads you. You never know what you might stumble into!

• Hike at your own pace – there’s no need to rush to the summit! Take your time fishing along the river banks or swimming by the lakeshore.

• Collect hidden treasures to reach new heights. Try taking a dive off the mountain peaks to soar above the forests.

• Chat with the other hikers you meet along your route. You might be able to help each other out!

• Listen to a lush original soundtrack by Mark Sparling that progresses dynamically as you explore the wilderness.

The collector's edition contains a a 46-page retro style guidebook of Hawk Peak, 4 sticker sheets of the Flora and Fauna found on Hawk Peak, a poster-size retro style fold-out map of Hawk Peak (all held together by a Short Hike Belly Band), a Claire pin badge, 3 postcards, and the beautiful OST composed by Mark Sparling. 

How cool is that?! 

If you are a collector and love this game, you should definitely get it! 

 Buy Now

What is Nintendo Switch Online?  

More information on the Nintendo Site

Individual Membership

What is it: Provides Nintendo Switch Online service to the Nintendo Account that purchased the service. Individual Memberships are available in 1 month, 3-month, or 1-year increments. An individual Nintendo Switch Online membership costs USD$19.99 a year, while the expansion pack would cost USD$50 per year.

Who is it for: If you just want the basic cloud save, being able to play online and access to the usual offerings an online subscription has to offer, then opting for the normal individual plan would be sufficient. If you want to have more with the additional access and content the expansion pack has to offer, go for it! 

However, if you have a big family, or a group of friends, it might be more economical to get the family membership instead.The point of a family group is to bring together everyone's Nintendo Account under one subscription.  The family membership for Nintendo Switch Online can have up to 8 people on one plan. The more people you get to join in on this plan, the more money you save. 

Family Membership

What is it: the Nintendo Switch Online service to everyone in the purchaser’s family group (up to 8 people). Family memberships are available in 12-month increments only. The normal Nintendo Switch Family Online membership costs USD$35 a year, while the expansion pack would cost USD$80 per year.

Who is it for: If you want to get the membership at a slightly cheaper price and save some money, that and / or you have a big family or group of friends. 

How: All accounts must be part of a “family group”. It doesn't matter if they are used on a single Nintendo Switch console (with multiple Nintendo profiles / accounts) or on multiple Nintendo Switch devices with their respective Nintendo Accounts.

The family membership utilises family groups, so each account can be assigned a different role, with set permissions:

S$61.37, Save: S$33.30 (35%)!

Amazon Singapore is having a sale and the HyperX Cloud Revolver + 7.1 Gaming Headset only costs S$61.37. That's a savings of S$33.30 (35%)! 

Get yours at Amazon

Brand ハイパーエックス(HyperX)

Colour Black

Connectivity technology     Wired

Model name Revolver Series

Form factor オーバーイヤー

Noise control Active Noise Cancellation

Headphone jack USB

Cable feature Detachable

Item weight 1 Grams

Material Stainless Steel

About this item

• Wide, studio grade sound stage: allows you to hear sounds from further away more accurately perfect for FPS and open environment settings
• HyperX 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound: Get the most out of your gaming experience with surround sound that's precise with distance and depth.
• Advanced USB Audio Control Box: The sound card boosts your audio and enhances noise cancellation. Dedicated buttons toggle surround sound, mic mute and adjust mic and headphone output levels.
• 50mm directional drivers: Directional drivers are positioned parallel to the ears and deliver crisp, precise audio with enhanced bass.
• Dense, higher quality signature HyperX memory foam: Provides long lasting Cloud comfort to keep you focused during your intense gaming marathons.
• Durable, reliable steel frame: Designed with a solid steel frame for durability and stability.
• Detachable digitally enhanced noise cancelling mic: Certified by TeamSpeak and Discord and features additional noise cancelling via its advanced audio control box.
• Multi device compatibility: 7.1 virtual surround sound is compatible on PC and PS4. The headset is also stereo compatible via 3.5mm (4 pole) plug with Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, mobile devices and VR.

Get yours at Amazon

Personally, I prefer a mix of digital and physical because it just makes sense. This is especially the case for:

•  digital games which go on sale on the Nintendo e-Shop and are way cheaper than the physical copy (sometimes up to a 50% discount or more!)
• physical games which come with special bonuses, make for a good collection or if I don't like it, I can resell it away to fund my other games

Depending on what you want both digital and physical games have their pros and cons. But in a nutshell, if you want easier access to games on the go without having to constantly take out game cartridges each time you want to play a different game, then investing in a in a large-capacity microSD card and getting games digitally would be the choice for you. However, if you prefer owning the game cartridges and have your own little collection which you can trade or resell to fund future games, then physical game cartridges with a little investment on a  invested a smaller microSD card and a carrying case for the cartridges.

Note: The Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite have 32GB of internal storage, while the Switch OLED offers 64GB. When you download a game from the eShop, it will occupy some of that storage space. You can expand the Switch's storage through microSD cards up to 2TB (which is more than enough for plenty of Switch games), but that's an additional expense.

Personally, I prefer a mix of digital and physical because it just makes sense. This is especially the case for:

•  digital games which go on sale on the Nintendo e-Shop and are way cheaper than the physical copy (sometimes up to a 50% discount or more!)
• physical games which come with special bonuses, make for a good collection or if I don't like it, I can resell it away to fund my other games

Pros 

Have you seen the adorable trailer for  Kirby's Dream Buffet yet? If you haven't, check out this cute little sneak peak below!