Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Nintendo Switch Sports Chambara Review and Guide

September 20, 2022 0 Comments
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:

  1. An incorrect Guard can be more painful than not guarding at all.
  2. A successful Guard will not push an opponent off the platform, you need to land an attack to win.
  3. Even with Twin Swords, you cannot simultaneously Guard and Attack. Try to go on the offensive first to gain an advantage with the first attack, and then just overwhelm the opponent with a flurry of blows from every direction (hence the arms aching the next day).
  4. When you are being attacked, you are unable to strike back until you correctly Guard. This in turn will effectively stun your opponent. While they are stunned, this is your only opening, so make sure to take it!


Have you gotten your own copy of Nintendo Switch Sports and love / dislike it? 
Let us know in the comments below! ↓↓

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p.s. You can get the game here for under S$60!

Sunday, June 12, 2022

Everything you need to know about Nintendo Switch Sports Volleyball

June 12, 2022 0 Comments

Volleyball is a 4 player sport (2 vs 2) which you have your use a combination of moves to drop the ball over to your opponents side. This game is also one of the more calories burning games so perfect if you want to have some fun and burn calories at the same time! 


There are a few ways to play Volleyball:

  1. Local Multiplayer
  2. Online Multiplayer

Don't want to play with strangers or offline? Then the Local Multiplayer is the option for you. If you have a friend, you can even play from the same Nintendo Switch device!

If you have only yourself, it's fine playing Online Multiplayer as the game matches you up with random players around the world. You can also play with your friend using the same device when playing online. The screen will split into two, separating player one and two for better field vision.

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! 💬💞

p.s. You can get the game here for under S$60!




Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Nintendo Switch Sports Volleyball and Badminton First Thoughts Review

May 10, 2022 0 Comments

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
There’s a collection of 6 sports games, with the option to play on your own, online or locally with friends. AI will get involved if you don’t have enough people, and you have the option to change the difficulty in every sport.

Motion control is simple to pick up. If you've played the sport before, or know the basics, getting into the game is really easy.

Character customization options are also updated, but for those missing those blocky looking Wii characters there's that option as well. As you progress in the game, you get to unlock accessories and character customizations options. So more motivation to play more! 


Volleyball and Badminton

Volleyball has the most moments to learn, such as blocking, bumping and spiking, but they are relatively easier to pick up. Before you play online for the first time, there is also a tutorial which will "trail" and prepare you for all the needed moves. The online experience was really good and real-time. Pairing with strangers was fast (it's faster than getting a team in Pokemon Unite). There are 2 persons in a team and the winning team needs to get 5 points, then the game ends and it's on to the next set of games.

Badminton at the moment is definitely one of my favorites and also the reason why my arms are still aching. 😂 It was really fast paced, yet futo "hit" the shuttlecock to the back of the court. Depending on your opponent and how fast they can hit, you character can also slip and fall due to your frantic movement, which will cause you to miss a hit and sadly lose a point. But it's all in the name of good ol' fun. 


Verdict

So far with just volleyball and badminton, I am loving this game already and cannot wait to try the other games! The controls are simple to  It also will make a great motivate to exercise and play when friends come over. 

Stay tune as I will be reviewing more when I play more of the game... once my arms stop aching that is. 😂 But in the meanwhile. have you played Nintendo Switch Sports? If yes, which games did you like or did not like? And if not, are you planning to get the game? 
 
p.s. You can get the game here for under S$60!





Let us know in the comments below! ↓↓

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

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

Toki Tori 2+ on the Nintendo Switch

May 03, 2022 0 Comments

Toki Tori 2+ is a metroidvania game, which just means it’s is a sub-genre of action-adventure video games focused on non-linear and utility-gated exploration and progression: the player travels through a map to collect items and gain new abilities, both of which open up the world to further exploration.

You play a chicken tasked by 5 ancient frogs to travel the country to destroy the floating crystal endangering everything. With only 2 moves, whistling and stomp, puzzles are to be solved as you progress towards your goal.

Unlike most of the games with explicit instructions and clear tutorials. This game leaves it to you to explore and solve your own puzzles. It can get frustrating trying to figure out what to do and where to go, but the satisfaction from solving the puzzles is amazing. The puzzles strike a really good balance of difficulty by demanding the player to observe their surroundings and plan their moves without ever getting too frustrating (if it does, just take a break before coming back to it again).

When I started playing, I got stuck and had to reset progress at least 3 times. But it got better the more I played and discovered new areas. It’s a relaxing game… that is… once you’ve learned something about the ecosystem of other creatures you manipulate with the only 2 moves you have.

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 game also has various features such as the Tokidex

The Tokidex

During gameplay, you can use a song to bring up the camera, which is controlled via controllers to take pictures of the creatures that appear in the world. For that you get rewarded for collecting pictures of every creature in the game.

For USD$14.99 (or even less at USD$3.59 when there’s sales on e-Shop), it’s worth it!
You can also just download the Demo to try it out before buying it.


Have you gotten yours yet and did you like it? Let us know in the comments below~!

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


Friday, March 18, 2022

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

March 18, 2022 0 Comments
This game was on sale on the e-shop so needless to say I got it.. and I love it! 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.


When you first open up the game it starts with a bizarre story that brings Ubisoft’s Rabbids into the Mushroom Kingdom of Nintendo’s Mario due to a technical accident. A mysterious programmer has designed a VR helmet capable of merging two objects together. 

While said programmer is away for a while, a group of time-traveling Rabbids in a washing machine arrive and snags the VR helmet before finding themselves in the Mushroom Kingdom of Mario. One of the Rabbids decide to don the helmet and begins merging everything it lays its eyes on. This literally mashes both worlds together: Rabbid combined with a piranha plant, one dressed like Luigi and another like Donkey Kong etc…

Most of the altered Rabbids are unhinged and troublesome, while hose dressed as heroes join forces with Mario to stop the chaos from spreading. It’s your job to undo the damage done by defeating the enemies and setting the world right again.

You have quite few characters to choose from which includes both normal and only vaguely related Rabbid-ized versions of Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Yoshi. You can only have 3 on you team at each time though.


With the right mash up of members in your team you get to be entertaining with the antics and humor the Rabbis bring into the game. Your chosen team members can do jump manoeuvres to launch a them across the map with the help of a squadmate, allowing them to reach adorably colorful sniper towers with ease.

The story is delivered through the dialogue of a friendly AI who is there to guide and help you, along with various familiar faces you come across such a Toad. The storyline is simple to follow though, and the game is easy to navigate with its simple presentation and a clean UI help to demonstrate the game concepts such as the combat mechanics, minor character customization and some basic puzzle solving.

Each time you level up, you get coins which you can use to purchase new weapons (use laser guns, hammers, and bombs) and also unlock new skills such as special abilities to maximize movement and damage. There are unique skill trees for all 10 playable heroes. You also get new enemy types constantly being added so it never gets boring doing the same moves repeatedly.

Besides finding Rabbids gone bad and conquering them, you can also indulge in simple puzzles, which involve flipping switches and pushing boxes, scattered throughout the Mushroom Kingdom, designed to break up the action between battles. I use the word “simple” but not all puzzles are straightforward, and you would have to use your brain quite a bit to it solved. The satisfaction is being able to move on in the story, unlock another character, weapon or item chests with collectables (often with music tracks and concept art).

There are also collectibles and some hidden challenge rooms, you can also explore the different sections with visual easter eggs, usually of Rabbids in various states of shenanigans which add life to the game.

Mario + Rabbids does an excellent job making the boss fights stand out: be it a giant Rabbid Kong who scarfs bananas to restore his health or a Phantom of the Opera parody who sings a hell of a song while you knock out the spotlights that sustain his ego, it never fails to make these battles unique and interesting. There are also minibosses (or “midbosses”) as it insists on calling them) which tend to be harder than the boss fights but equal in goofiness and fun.

Donkey Kong DLC

That’s just the Mario Rabbit Kingdom content. The Donkey Kong DLC is even more entertaining as you get different moves in a different world, and adds more hours to gameplay.

As you may have guessed, the gameplay is very much centered around Donkey Kong himself, but there’s so much more. The stages are entirely built and designed around the way in which Donkey Kong can be used, bringing with it a whole new way to strategize and organize team-based attacks. I enjoyed this a bite more than the Mario Rabbit Kingdom content.

This Donkey Kong world is split into 4 new areas, each with their own unique themes such as ‘Lagoon’ and ‘Jungle’. Although they are not as visually varied as the main game, they do have a new Donkey Kong twist that adds yet another layer of fun and love to proceedings.



Verdict

Overall, Mario Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is a very engaging and entertaining game that makes you work out your brain and have fun at the same time without the violence and gore of a typical tactical combat game; all at your own pace. There are some levels which might be tougher and involve some trial-and-error tries, but a good mix of enemies, objectives, weapon and character abilities keep things interesting. Some might find the Rabbids a tad too childish and irritating, but I find them adorable!

Additionally, the Donkey Kong Adventure DLC adds something fresh. It’s not as daunting as the main game, and there are some truly powerful characters often making short work of the slightly-lessened enemy onslaught. The lack of character selection is perhaps the only downside here, as it takes away some of the deeper strategy involved in the main game.


Controls for this game is also simple: press A to select / confirm something, the ZL/ZR to switch between your team, L/R buttons to select an action etc… There’s no need to simultaneously click on multiple buttons, something which might get daunting for new players.

While this game might be everyone’s taste if you are interested to get your own copy, I highly recommend stalking the Nintendo e-shop for their sales and getting the digital version for less than USD$20. It’s a steal since it contains 2 worlds (with the DLC) for you to try out your strategy thinking skills with adorable characters. Otherwise, you could consider getting the physical game for about S$39.90 without the DLC, or choose it get it via the e-shop at a later date. 




Have you played Mario Rabbids: Kingdom Battle? If yes, did you like it, and if no, are you planning to get it or why would you not be getting it? Let us know in the comments below!

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Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Starting the Gaming Journey with Nintendo Switch

March 15, 2022 0 Comments


The journey began with Animal Crossing New Horizons and the Nintendo Switch Lite. It expanded from just 3 games to 29 games in one year: Fitness Boxing 2, Pokemon Snap, Pokemon Shield, Pokemon Unite, Mario Odessey, Mario Origami King, Mario Rabbids, Just Dance 2021, Overcooked 2, Toki Tori etc….

If you haven’t guessed it by now, I enjoy games that are “friendly”, and easy to play and follow through. Easy in the sense that the mechanics and gameplay are easy to follow through: the animals, I mean Pokemon just faint and not die when you beat them and you take turns to fight, my Animal Crossing neighbors do not die of starvation if I haven’t visited them in a long while, and you don’t have to stress much about reaching a game objective. After all one plays to enjoy the process and relax, not get stressed out playing (some games do that to you)… or maybe that’s just me.

So what is the Nintendo Switch? It is a hybrid video game console, consisting of a console unit, a dock, and two Joy-Con controllers. Although it is a hybrid console, Nintendo classifies it as "a home console that you can take with you on the go".



You get the best of both worlds – when you want to play on a big screen or when you just want to laze in bed or play when you are out.

When playing on the big screen, you can invite friends over or have a family game night where everyone focuses on the same screen and plays together. Many multiplayer Switch games, such as Just Dance, support up to four players, while others like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate even support up to eight players.

For the portability part of it, the Switch has two removable oy-Cons, which, when turned sideways, become their own controllers. How neat is that! This makes it easy to hand over one of the Joy-Cons a friend when you are out on-the-go or at-home for some multiplayer fun (think Mario Kart 8).

The detachable Joy-Cons

Besides portability, the price is more friendly on the wallet than the Xbox or Playstation, and the Nintendo exclusives such as Pokemon and the Mario games (just to name a few) are fun to play (in a non-bloody kinda way). 

Of course if you want an even more budget friendly option and you don’t fancy playing on a big screen (at times), then the Nintendo Switch Lite might be the one for you. Or if you want better graphics while playing on the go, then the Nintendo OLED might be something which would interest you instead. It doesn’t make much difference when you are playing it docked to the TV, but apparently the graphics with that OLED screen are amazing when you are playing on the go.

Tip: If you want to get a Nintendo Switch / Lite / OLED cheaper do check out the double date sales or any sales for that matter. Shopee and Lazada are 2 good places to look at, where you can stack vouchers with bank card promotions and/or Shop vouchers. I managed to get my Nintendo Switch for less than S$350.


Which is your favorite gaming device? 


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