Monday, October 23, 2023

Mini Review: Dicey Dungeons Nintendo Switch Game

October 23, 2023 0 Comments

Dicey Dungeons is a unique and captivating addition to the Nintendo Switch game library. Developed by Terry Cavanagh, the game combines elements of roguelike, deck-building, and strategy. As a result, you end up having thrilling and addictive experience in the most laidback form ever.

To me, one of the standout features of Dicey Dungeons is its charmingly simple yet stylish art design. The game's colorful, pixelated graphics and catchy chiptune soundtrack create a delightful and nostalgic atmosphere that's hard to resist. Together, both the visual and auditory appeal adds a layer of immersion to the gameplay.


I went and got myself a physical copy of the game from Super Rare Games, and although it was a little pricey I am totally enjoying myself!


What's it about?

At its core, Dicey Dungeons is all about strategy with a little randomness thrown in (you are only limited to the choices you are given). 

As a player, you will have to navigate a series of grid-based dungeons, battling various monsters using dice as your primary resource. The brilliance lies in the dice-rolling mechanics, where each piece of equipment you acquire is represented by a set of dice with specific abilities.  

To get started, you play as one of the show's six adorable contestants, all of whom are turned into dice for Lady Luck's show. To progress, you need to complete episodes by defeating enemies, opening chests and visiting stores while building up a deck of cards capable of defeating an end boss. 

One of the end bosses
The dungeons are presented as a series of nodes you can move between: there are shops, health-restoring apples, and enemies placed on several of them. To progress you need to fight enemies and reach the node that features the trap door to the next floor. The challenge is to optimize your dice to deal damage, heal, and overcome your adversaries, all while managing limited resources.
Example of how a dungeon and nodes looks like
Dicey Dungeons strikes a near-perfect balance between accessibility and depth. New players can grasp the basics quickly, while seasoned gamers will appreciate the strategic layers and decision-making involved in each encounter. 

As you progress, you will be able to unlock different characters. Each character has their own unique abilities and playstyles, enhancing the replayability and variety of the game so you will never get bored.
Choose carefully as there is a limited amount of space in your bag pack.
The roguelike nature of Dicey Dungeons keeps you coming back for more. Permanent upgrades and the excitement of unlocking new equipment and abilities provide a satisfying sense of progression. However, failure is frequent, and the random element of dice rolling can be unforgiving at times. This adds an addictive element, and tempts you to try one more time to  pass that episode. The rolling dice mechanics stay the same, but no two rolls are ever the same and each character uses them so uniquely that it is never the same experience each time you play.


Verdict: 4/5

While Dicey Dungeons is undoubtedly enjoyable, some players might find the difficulty spikes in later levels a bit frustrating, as the game's randomness can occasionally lead to unwinnable situations. Nevertheless, the sense of accomplishment when you finally conquer a tough floor is immensely gratifying. 

If you enjoy strategic gameplay, roguelike challenges, and quirky, retro aesthetics then Dicey Dungeons is a must-play! Its innovative mechanics, engaging strategy, and charming presentation make it a standout addition to the your game library. Despite occasional frustrations, the overall experience is highly rewarding, making Dicey Dungeons a game you'll want to keep rolling the dice in, time and time again.

What's even better is that there is a sale on the Nintendo eShop and the game is going for USD$1.99 (until 2 November 2023!).

If you prefer to have a physical copy, then get yours at Super Rare Games!

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Top 10 Nintendo Switch games this week (Japan)

October 19, 2023 0 Comments

 
The latest Japanese boxed-video game hardware and software charts have been released for October 9th, 2023 to October 15th, 2023.


The best-selling game this week in Japan is the recently release and delightful Detective Pikachu Returns, which sold an additional 16K copies on the Nintendo Switch and it is followed by the charming Pikmin 4 Speaking of the Nintendo Switch, it was the best-selling platform, selling a comfortable 44,469 units. 


Here’s the best-sellers in the land of the rising sun:

  1. [NSW] Detective Pikachu Returns (The Pokemon Company, 10/06/23) – 16,248 (101,887)
  2. [NSW] Pikmin 4 (Nintendo, 07/21/23) – 14,114 (912,398)
  3. [NSW] The Game of Life for Nintendo Switch (Takara Tomy, 10/06/23) – 13,443 (43,710)
  4. [NSW] Rear Sekai (Bushiroad Games, 10/12/23) – 6,464 (New)
  5. [NSW] Pokemon Scarlet / Pokemon Violet (The Pokemon Company, 11/18/22) – 6,381 (5,157,822)
  6. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo, 04/28/17) – 6,253 (5,514,955)
  7. [NSW] Minecraft (Microsoft, 06/21/18) – 5,898 (3,286,698)
  8. [NSW] River City: Rival Showdown (Arc System Works, 10/12/23) – 5,722 <strong(New)
  9. [NSW] Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Nintendo, 12/07/18) – 4,566 (5,304,914)
  10. [NSW] EA Sports FC 24 (Electronic Arts, 09/29/23) – 4,557 (27,046)

Hardware Sales (followed by lifetime sales)

  1. Switch OLED Model – 34,471 (5,832,653)
  2. PlayStation 5 – 18,565 (3,920,351)
  3. Switch – 5,170 (19,571,417)
  4. Switch Lite – 4,828 (5,522,561)
  5. PlayStation 4 – 2,054 (7,900,950)
  6. PlayStation 5 Digital Edition – 1,144 (588,041)
  7. Xbox Series X – 609 (224,410)
  8. Xbox Series S – 477 (289,738)
  9. New 2DS LL (including 2DS) – 85 (1,192,508)

Source / Via

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Nintendo POP-UP STORE in SINGAPORE!

October 18, 2023 0 Comments

For the first time in Southeast Asia, 1 Nintendo POP-UP STORE will open in Singapore for a limited time period, from 17 November 2023 to 1 January 2024!


The Singapore store will feature merchandise from games such as Super Mario, Animal Crossing, The Legend of Zelda, Splatoon and Pikmin. These merchandise were previously only available at Nintendo TOKYO, Nintendo shop, and Nintendo KYOTO stores.


To celebrate the Nintendo POP-UP STORE in SINGAPORE, six types of exclusively designed postcards will be available for shoppers who spend S$80 or more in a single transaction at the store.


NOTES

  • You will receive 1 of these limited-edition postcards. You cannot choose the design.
  •  It will end as soon as the stock runs out.

Players who check in to your Nintendo Account at the venue can collect special stickers to mark this event

NOTES 
  • Each person can check in once a day, and will receive one sticker from the 18 designs available. Sticker designs will be issued on a random basis. 
  • To redeem, you can log into your registered accounts and check-in to the store by displaying the QR code issued onto a tablet device located at the store’s entrance. Upon verification by the on-ground staff, you will receive the sticker. 
  •  It will end as soon as the stock runs out.


Nintendo POP-UP STORE in SINGAPORE

Period: Friday, November 17, 2023 – Monday, January 1, 2024
Location:  Level #04-220 & 221, Jewel Changi Airport, 78, Airport Boulevard, Singapore 819666

Operated by: Avex Asia Pte. Ltd.
Email: info@avex.asia



Sunday, October 1, 2023

Top 5 Cheap Switch Accessories You Definitely Need

October 01, 2023 0 Comments

When you first get your Nintendo Switch, you might need to get some accessories such as screen protectors and cases to protect your precious new toy. Here is a list of the top 5 you should get at affordable prices too. 

Do note that this blog post may contain product affiliate links. If you purchase something through a link on this blog post, we may receive a commission, which goes into the upkeep of this blog.


1) Tempered Glass Screen Protector for less than S$10

Buy Now

Before you even use your Switch, this should be your number 1 item, especially if scratches are not really your thing. The Switch is a handheld machine, so at some point in time you are going to get a scratch or 2 on it whenporting it around (and docking / undocking). Having a screen protector will also protect your screen from the Switch TV Dock, which might scratch your Switch display.

Get yours for just $2.99 - $5.99!


2) External Memory Card for less than S$20 / $80


The Switch comes with only 32GB worth of space, and by the time you start it up, at least another 4GB or so are taken up by the system. So getting extra storage is key. While you can still buy games on cartridges for the Switch, some titles might need extra storage, and if you intend on going digital then all the more you need a Memory Card.
 
You can get a 64GB card for less than S$20 and a 256GB card is less than S$80

Also with the double date and festive sales, it can even get cheaper with promotions and vouchers.


3) Case & Screen Protector for less than S$10

If you are the kind of person who likes pretty things and cheap things, then you can also consider this pretty case.
Buy Now

The only downside of the pretty case is that the Switch cannot be docked when you put on the case. But that’s a small thing, as the case can be easily snapped on and off anytime (same for the joy con covers). The screen protector is also very easy to apply, so a bonus of sorts along with the cute cat paw print thumb grip caps!

For just less then S$10, you not only get the casing, but a tempered glass cover and two joy con grip covers as well. How’s that for a steal?

Of course, if you want something more cuter you can always get the decorated TPU covers for under S$10 (without the screen protector).
Buy Now

It you want a more ergonomic cover for your joy-con with themes like Mario or Pokemon, along with 2 matching thumb grip caps, then you should get this anti-slip silicone cover. For just under $3, you get a joy-con cover with a pair of matching thumb grips. 
Buy Now

Speaking of thumb grips, check out this selection of adorable joy-con thumb grip covers for just under S$3 for 2 pairs!
Buy Now

 

4) Extra Joy-Cons for less than S$60

If you want to play with your family or friends, then you definitely would need to get an extra pair of joy-cons. But what to do if the original joy-cons are too pricey? Well, that would be where the Dobe joy-cons come in pretty handy (and for almost half the price of the original Nintendo joy-cons too).

Connection is easy and fast. It is thicker than the original joy-cons, so it has a better grip then the original joy-cons. The only thing is that there are no cases that will fit this joy-con, and charging is via its Type C port. But at this pricing it is perfect to get as a spare or for your 2nd / 3rd / n players.
Buy Now


Want something a little more cheaper (and cuter)? Then you should consider the Panda Joy-con for just S$48.

5) Pro-controller for less than $50

Get a Pro Controller, which is more comfortable to hold for extended periods as its ergonomic contoured grips make it a comfortable upgrade from the joy-cons. This pair from IINE are pretty affordable for less than $50!
 
If you think the wake up the switch function and using amiibo is not too critical for you, then you can get it for less than S$40!
 
There's even that cute puppy Joy-Con at an even budget friendlier price of S$28!


Which are your favorite Switch accessories? Let us know in the comments below!

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