Embark on a cozy adventure with Hello Kitty and Friends and restore an abandoned island to its former glory!

If you haven't already heard, Hello Kitty Island Adventure launched exclusively on 28 July 2023 on the Apple Arcade platform. 

The aim of the game is simple: you start off by creating an avatar to join Hello Kitty and Friends on a flight to an island. Things take a turn for excitement when Hello Kitty's attempt to treat everyone to some baked cupcakes causes the plane to hit turbulence and everyone has to parachute out of there asap! 

You land on the mysterious island, which was supposed to be your original destination, except now you had to crash land and your first goal is to reunite with everyone, as they’ve been scattered about the place. 

Doesn't my avatar have Animal Crossing vibes?

Your second goal is to unlock the mysteries of the island and return the place to its thriving glory days.  As you progress and explore the island, you will be able to slowly reveal recipes as you test out different combinations of ingredients. The more elaborate recipes can even be unlocked through friendship levels.

[Hello Kitty Island Adventure: All Recipes (& How To Make Them)]

There are tasks to complete, lots of them. Tasks to track down things for friends, build things using materials found on the island and a crafting table, to solve Zelda Breath of the Wild-inspired dungeons (albeit far simpler ones), and puzzles to unlock more parts of the island.

In addition to tasks, there are minigames to play, fishing and bug catching to indulge in; even photography tasks to complete! There's a whole lot activities to be done, and while similar to Animal Crossing, it is not exactly the same: you get to be involved in setting up the economy and society of the island to make it a success.

First Impressions

What I have been up to so far

Since I happened to have an activation for Apple Arcade for 3 months, I decided to download and try this adorable game. 

I initially installed it on my iPad Pro with the intention of playing with my pro-controller. But for some reason I was not able to connect them, so I switched over to play on my iPhone instead using just the touch screen controls.

The touch screen controls are a bit frustrating as they are either too sensitive or not at all. When I want to run, I end up jumping or  slow walking in the wrong directing, when I want to jump I never end up when I want to land. In total, I played less than 10 minutes as the navigation experience was subpar.

After updating my iPad Pro to iOS16.6, I was finally able to connect my pro-controller! And the difference is as clear as night and day! I am now more invested in playing Hello Kitty Island Adventure for the next 3 months to see if it's worth getting in the long run (or perhaps it might come out on the Nintendo Switch?). 

So much better playing on a bigger screen. This weekend, I'll try playing it on my Mac and pro-controller. 😍

Verdict: 4/5

The game aesthetics are both simple, but effective and adorable! 

Hello Kitty Island Adventure is a  massive place to explore, with regions being broken up into various themes – volcano area, swamp area etc). Each of those regions are each a colorful feast for the eyes, and makes exploring and playing around in each of them bright and fun. I cannot wait to each one of them and unlock more outfits options too!

Have you downloaded and played Hello Kitty Island Adventure? What are your thoughts on it? Let us know in the comments below! 

Toki Tori was originally about two decades ago in 2001 on the Game Boy Color, before seeing re-masters of sorts appear on the Wii and Wii U etc... I actually had my first encounter with this game on device called the Palm in the mid 2000s.

So imagine my delight when I got the Nintendo Switch and saw it on the e-shop... on sale! Of course I had to get it and relive my childhood.

It's a very rewarding yet challenging and fun puzzle game. You are tasked with guiding Toki Tori around 5 worlds and their multiple levels. To complete each level and progress to the next, you need to collect all of the eggs. All of this is to be accomplished with a set number of moves and abilities such as building bridges, freezing the enemies, and using blocks, bubble or teleportation etc... 

The first world is relatively simple and with each world and level you get introduced to new abilities. Of course the more you progress, the more challenging it becomes and solving the puzzle really takes some brain power. Thankfully there are videos online to help you out if you do get stuck on  certain levels and it gets somewhat frustrating as you find yourself sort on one bridge or teleport move to complete the level.

One of the features I love is the rewind button by simply pressing the 'Y' Button! This saves time having to restart the level all over again and you can just continue from where you think you made a mistake. It does bring the frustration level down a little but then having to start again from the beginning: you get to trial run some of the moves and redo them to get the right path to collect all the eggs.

There are 5 worlds which offer a set of regular levels. Once you have cleared the regular levels, the 'hard' and 'bonus' levels are unlocked. Both of these advanced levels are even more challenging and makes you really think out of the box, giving the most well-practiced puzzle experts a brain workout for sure. 

From World 2 onwards, there's a Wildcard option which enables you to pass on to the next level. You can only use this once and once you've spent it  you will need to complete the particular level it was used on in the future to have it returned to you. Of course there is the other alternative to search Google and find the solution online to see what you missed out. 

Toki Tori's difficulty is hard but rewarding when you manage to solve the puzzles: it forces you to plan out and execute each move to exact precision and timing, the wrong move could jeopardize the whole flow which results in a failed level. Unlike other puzzle games which are tricky due to infuriating mechanics which are out of your control, in Toki Tori you have more control per se. 

Some levels are relatively easy but others, especially as you progress, makes you wonder if it actually can be solved or not. The satisfaction comes from having solved or realizing what was the critical step to solve the level. Yes, even if you play cheat and find the solution from the countless of videos available on the internet it is still satisfying. 

Not only are the graphics and animation easy on the eyes, the soundtrack is adorable and catchy! So even if you are stuck on a certain level, it helps to soothe the frustration somewhat. 

Verdict: 4.5/5

Toki Tori is an adorably charming game which is fun and tricky at the same time. It really gives your brain a workout and the sense of satisfaction and accomplishment when is complete each level is indescribable: it's like you feel you gain more intelligence with each level you complete as you are forced  come up with perfect solutions throughout the game. 

It's totally worth the money, more so when it is one sale on the Nintendo e-shop.

So if you love yourself a good puzzle game, or simply want to have it on the Nintendo Switch, you should get it! 

If you haven't heard already, there's a new Pokémon game in town and it is supposed to help you sleep better.  You don't catch Pokémon , but get to befriend them to help you raise a Snorlax each week - the bigger the Snorlax gets, the more rewards you get in game. The more you sleep, the better it is.

Gameplay

Playing is really easy,  all you need to do is sleep using your mobile device with the app or get the Pokémon Go Plus+ to record your sleep. If you don't want to over work (and overheat) your phone's battery, the Pokemon Go Plus+ is a must get! 

Shopee - SGD$79.90

Now on to the gameplay which consists of a bunch of tutorials, guiding you from your first sleep session on getting started and orientated: introducing the Snorlax which you have to feed each week at different locations and get rewards, at the the same time befriending Pokémon to help you gather ingredients for cooking and feeding your Snorlax of the week. 

Unlike the usual Pokémon games where you catch them, in Pokémon Sleep you befriend them instead. So I doubt they are transferrable to the other Pokémon games, and the Snorlex you meet at just for show (or feeding so to say).

Other than that change in catching to befriending, it looks like the levelling system is here to stay: not only do Snorlax and each Pokémon have a levelling system, but so do the Recipes for cooking. The higher the level, the more things you can cook and more skills/capabilities your befriended Pokémon unlock to feed your Snorlax of the week. 

Then you have Incenses, and rare Pokémon with feed requirements, and evolution items to buy etc… For evolving the Pokémon you have befriended you'd need items and candy. So the more you sleep, the more rewards... It's not called Pokémon  SLEEP for nothing. 😁

As with the games series, you will work with a professor to studying the sleep patterns and gain rewards.

Meet Professor Neroli Did you know, neroli is an essential oil that comes from bitter orange trees?

According to the app, the ideal amount of sleep is 8.5 hours. You can do 2 sleep sessions each day but they must be 90 minutes minimum. You set an alarm within Pokémon Sleep to remind you to go to bed and then set one to wake you up. There's also the function to play relaxing sounds to help you doze off.

If you use your mobile phone, not only is your battery life at risk so is your privacy -  the game will record your sounds (which are supposed to be only saved locally and wiped every 24 hours) to determine what mode of sleep you are in. Hence the reason why I prefer using the  Pokémon Go Plus+ as the app does not need to be running to use and it can easily sync the sleep data in the morning via bluetooth.

Types of Sleep

There are 3 types of sleep: Dozing, Slumbering and Snoozing.

Based on the duration of your sleep at the different stages, various Pokémon will spawn the morning after. They have multiple ‘Sleep Styles’, so in terms of collecting there's the Pokémon, their sleeping styles and did I mention you can even befriend Shiny Pokémon?

You use biscuits to befriend the Pokémon and add them to your team. They will then collect the berries and ingredients to feed the Snorlax and for cooking recipes.

Certain types show up based on the quality of your sleep. You are initially gifted a Pikachu and if you use Pokémon Go Plus+ you get an extra Pikachu helper wearing a nightcap. 

And that's how Pokémon Sleep works. It also includes tips about healthy eating and other aspects of your life, especially about sleep. If you are looking for something to motivate you to improve the quality of your sleep by gamifying it, then this is the perfect app.

There's the monetization part of the game but I find it pointless, as I see it more as a motivation for better sleep rather than grinding and playing to get the highest level per se. If you want to grind and play something more play worthy then Pokémon Go would be a better choice. Pokémon Sleep is more a lifestyle enhancement app which gamifies sleeping - perfect if you want to reward your sleep but not really worth paying anything in-game for. 

Have you played  Pokémon Sleep? Let us know in the comments below! 

About The Game

Take control of an adorable turnip who happens to be an absolute menace to society. After failing to pay taxes and getting evicted from your home, you must go on an epic quest to pay back your massive debt to Mayor Onion. Garden tools to solve plantastic puzzles, meet eccentric vegetables and fruits, and take on treacherous fights. Along the journey uncover what’s spoiling this garden community and rise to tear down the corrupt vegetable government!

So... I came across this game on sale the other day for just under USD$3 and the premise seemed interesting and adorable at the same time. Needless to say I downloaded the game and have started play, hence this is a mini review on the experience so far. 

Playing as a turnip trying to evade taxes and defeat a seeming corrupted onion as mayor seems fun a vegan world. As Turnip Boy, you can can evade as much tax as you like without any real world repercussions; it is a game after all. 

It's one of the cutest games I've played and the gameplay is easy to grasp for the most part. Once you manage to get the hang of the controls, you'd be defeating baddies and evading taxes like a pro. 

Some captures from my game progress so far

At start of the game Turnip Boy obtains a ‘soil sword’ along with a watering can.  The sword is used to attack against fearsome snails, piglets, and other dangerous but adorable (mostly vegetable eating) animals. The water can can also help water bombs, put too much water and you'd lose a few hearts. Alternating between the sword and watering can can be a bit cumbersome, but once you get used to it, it's a breeze. There are 2 options to alternate between items 

1. Use the ‘L’ and ‘R’ is easy, OR
2. Holding down ‘Y’ to access to inventory

There's also a move to throw the bombs in the direction you want to attack animals or blast doorways to open pathways. Time it right after you use the water can and kick it in the direction you want or risk being bombed yourself. 

The whole tax evasion thing is the theme, and the aim is to repay back the onion mayor by doing various tasks. While exploring the world, the other characters encountered will also give you mini-tasks with mini awards / achievements. It's relatively simple: task is given, go to location, complete task and return for the reward. The reward could be new items or abilities. 

There's a wide range of characters you’ll come across during your travels, all of which comprise different fruits or vegetables (it is a vegan world after all). There's dialogue and you can follow the storyline as well. It would have been better if there was indication of which characters would give you tasks and others just there for comic relieve. Having to approach each character to see if a bit cumbersome and can be a bit frustrating since you cannot skip past some pointless conversations. If you take your time to read each one, it is still a nice adorable little game. 

For those looking for something adorable and relatively easy, Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is definitely worth a try. That said, although Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is not too difficult, some of the boss battles and puzzles where you have to make use of multiple items may well pose a good challenge.

Verdict: 4/5

Overall, Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is a delightful vegan adventure and I cannot wait to complete the game! 

If you’re after a chill and adorable game with a bit of RPG action, then look no further; this is a great way to get started and also get more digital veggies into your gaming diet.

Have you played Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion? If yes, let us know in the comments below how much you liked it (or not)! 

You can get the physical copy to keep or re-sale after you are done, or get it from the Nintendo e-shop when there're sales.

[S$39.90](▼5%)[Nintendo]Nintendo Switch Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion

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Nintendo has made it difficult for official third-party Switch controllers to really shine (think Hori). In fact the other 3rd party OEM controllers do a much better job at a lower or equivalent price. I recently got myself some pretty looking Hori Split Pad Compact, the Mint Green x White version.

In essence, the Hori Split Pad Compact acts just like the Nintendo joycons - they slot right into the sides of a Nintendo Switch where the joycons would usually do. But unlike their Nintendo counterpart, the Hori series of controllers do not have an internal battery and cannot be used wirelessly. In addition to that, they also do not have Motion Controls, HD Rumble, NFC, or IR camera.

So while the buttons were tactile enough and the experience not too bad, having to remove my Switch casing each time I want to use it and the fact that it saps the battery out of the Switch.

[HORI Nintendo Switch Split Pad Compact Review]

Then I came across the IINE Nintendo Switch Joypad, and it even had the Splatoon design. Needless to say I was sold and got myself one to try. 

The packaging was nice and the lighting is pretty. The best part is that I do not need to remove my Switch casing each time I want to use these. They slide on nicely and have a good ergonomic grip which are comfortable on the hands. Buttons are also quite response and the lights add on an additional user experience.

For about the same price or even lesser when there are sales, I would choose IINE Joypads over Hori, simply for it's price competitiveness and similar experience.

Have you tried either products, if so which is your preference?  Let us know in the comments below!

There are countless of options for joycons for the Nintendo Switch, and besides 3rd party (non-Nintendo licensed) options, the HORI stood out to me especially when the HORI Nintendo Switch Split Pad Compact came out. 

I was mesmerized by it's sleek look and the color options. So it was without hesitation that I got it when it was on sale (it's always better to get it on sale then paying for full price).

Out of the many options that they had, the color option I got was the Mint Green x White version.

Hori’s new Split Pad Compact controllers are apparently the improved version of the Hori Split Pad Pro with a more colorful design and reduced size. They come in a range of colors such as Apricot Red, Yellow, and Mint. They also have Pokemon designs, which are pretty cool. 

In essence, the Hori Split Pad Compact acts just like the Nintendo joycons - they slot right into the sides of a Nintendo Switch where the joycons would usually do. But unlike their Nintendo counterpart, the Hori series of controllers do not have an internal battery and cannot be used wirelessly. In addition to that, they also do not have Motion Controls, HD Rumble, NFC, or IR camera, and they can only be played in handheld mode.

These controllers offer substantially more room for bigger hands than the actual joycons, and they are ergonomically comfortable to use as well. So if you are mostly playing in handheld mode over docked, this might be your jam.

As the name suggests, compact means it fits nicely into the hands and is really comfortable to hold and use as well:  the shoulder buttons and triggers are larger, and the joysticks are taller, bigger around, and textured, making  the buttons are tactile and the joystick experience seamless to execute precise movements far. Additionally, there is Turbo button on each grip that can automatically, rapidly repeat an input while a button is held down. 

At the back of each grip, there are two buttons which can be mapped to any of the face buttons on the corresponding grip. It can be useful but unfortunately it means that you cannot map any of the ABXY buttons onto the left grip’s back button, or D-pad buttons onto the right grip’s.

Overall, the Hori Split Pad Compact has a competent set of controls which offers a performance upgrade over the standard Nintendo joycons. But I was underwhelmed even though it was cheaper than the standard Nintendo joycons and slightly more ergonomic and comfortable to use. 

It was not the lack of Motion Controls, HD Rumble, NFC, IR camera, or the fact that is can only be played in handheld mode and does not have it's own battery, but the odd design if including a small piece of plastic that extends to overlap with the back of the Switch itself and bumps out from the back. It's probably there to reduce the likelihood of damaging the Switch’s controller rails with the extra leverage the larger controllers provide, but it does not factor for those who are using a Switch case. 

It's so troublesome to remove the case each time to attach the Hori Split Pad Compact, that I've just left it. Not to mention which them attached to your Switch, it cannot even fits the standard carry case (you'd have to spend more money to get a bigger carry case).

Have you gotten the Hori Split Pad Compact? If yes what are your thoughts about it? Let us know in the comments below!

For around the same price I would recommended getting an OEM (non-Nintendo) joypad or joycon instead. I saw this from IINE and could not pass it up as it was a Splatoon Design.

[IINE Splatoon Nintendo Switch Joypad Review]

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?

[S$52.90](▼34%)Nintendo Switch Bustafellows (EU)

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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:

There are a few ways to play Volleyball:

1. Local Multiplayer
2. Online Multiplayer

Note: If you play together with a friend, you will be matched against two random players and won't get teamed up with other players

Volleyball Bonus Multipliers 

Actions

In the game, with your controller in your have all you need to do is to Serve, Bump etc.. You need to do this at the right timing to get the maximum results.

Get the timing right with the right action and you'll surely have a higher chance of winning!

Hitting Combinations

When you serve, bump, set, block, and spike at the right moment to have more and better control over the ball, you will get a "Nice" on your screen if you get the timing right! With fast-moving spike by hitting the ball perfectly from bump, set, and spike, your opponents will have little to nothing chance of returning it if you and your teammate perform it correctly!

Move to Left or Right

When blue arrows appear on your character's side, you will be able to move from left or right. It only happens when anticipating a shot, either bumping it or blocking it. Use it to adjust your position, so you can bump or block the ball better!

Deuce and Sudden Death

If both teams have an even score, it is known as a match point, which be on Deuce. The first team to get 2 consecutive points will win. However, this rule will change once both teams reach a score of 6. The match will go to Sudden Death, with the first team to get to 7 points winning the game.

Have you gotten your own copy of Nintendo Switch Sports and love / dislike it? 

Let us know in the comments below! ↓↓

~Comments, shares and follows are most definitely appreciated! 💬💞

This review is going to be just for the first 20 minutes on Volleyball and Badminton with online play. Don't belittle those 20 minutes... they really gave my arms a workout!

Unlike many players who view this game who see it as one of the biggest nostalgia throwbacks and compare it with its Wii Sports predecessor way back in 2006. Apparently, for those who had the Wii Sports back in the day the latest rendition of Nintendo Switch Sports is a disappointment with not much variety etc... But what does that mean for the newbie? Absolutely nothing!

Well, there is just one little thing... at the moment 3rd party joycons are not supported and you can only play multiplayer on the Switch not the Switch Lite. But that should not be a show stopper if you already have the Switch, right? 

It's really not as bad as the "experts" make it out to be. If you are new to the world of Nintendo gamin, are thinking about it or looking for something fun and get a workout indoors as well, then this is one game you should definitely get! 

The game already comes with one leg strap for playing football/soccer

Volleyball and Badminton

Verdict

Rule of thumb: If you cannot solve the puzzle, move on in another direction, just take a break and come back to it later. As you progress, you learn new ways of doing things and you can then come back to those puzzles to solve them with the new knowledge you’ve acquired.

The Tokidex

You can also just download the Demo to try it out before buying it.