Displaying items by tag: Nintendo

The Nintendo Direct of September 13 was rich in information. Here is what I learned and noted (almost everything yes)

We start with a presentation of Fire Emblem Engage. We are given the tone. Heroes called the "Emblems" saved the world alongside armies from the continent of "Elios" consisting of four realms and a sacred point at its center. A cobra-headed dragon threatens the continent and thanks to the heroes peace has returned.

A thousand years later, the threat rumbles and concern wins the heart of the woman who tells us this story. The heroes "wake up" to end the threat.

The cinematic is beautiful. The animations are superb and we recognize the style of a franchise that has been able to renew itself continuously. The "classic" strategy mode fights are well shown. We immediately recognize the emblematic style of Fire Emblem.

The protagonist has a ring that allows him to be connected to Marth. This hero so known to the franchise. The same goes for other heroes. We therefore understand that these rings are the key to the game. Release for January 2023 planned.

We arrive at the traditional sequence of presentations.

It takes two is shown. The co-op game is presented with its different worlds. You can play it locally or online for two. Released for November, the 4th. So there is still a little time to wait before enjoying it on Big N's hybrid console.

The forbidden story begins. That sets the tone. Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is presented with a catchy phrase that makes you feel unconfortable. A game that keeps you in suspense and plans to thrill you. We try to find lost, violent or frightening spirits with a special and dedicated camera. We will be entitled to this game in 2023. It's a long time, but from what we've seen it seems promising.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 expansion pass number two is introduced. Ino the new heroine will be available. Once the quests concerning her have been completed, you will be able to play with this character. She seems to have a mechanical body. A wave battle challenge is also presented. A next expansion scheduled for October 13.

Sponge Bob will be entitled to a game on the Japanese console. This with the original vocals! The game is coming next year.

A rhythm game is featured with: Fitness Boxing, Fist of the North Star. A game with which you have to keep the rhythm and throw punches in the right tempo! There is even a battle mode with the same gameplay.

Oddballers is then in the spotlight. Funny arenas, to be played with 6 players. The game is coming in 2023. A game that combines dexterity, fun and the rules of Dodgeball. All this with funny objects and in arenas for the less original.

Tunic, the Zelda-like action/adventure starring a fox is coming to the Switch. The game arrives on September 27.

Front Mission and Front Mission 2 are entitled to their Remake. The first, in which you can guide military robots to fight turn-based against enemies. Robots can be upgraded and tested in the Coliseum. In the 2 the goal is the same, with many additional improvements. The remake of the three will arrive next year. As for the first two, their releases will follow one another during the end of the year.

Story of seasons: A wonderful Life is then highlighted. We find ourselves in Forgotten Valley, in which we inherit the farm from our father and which we will have to maintain. We have to maintain it, expand it, take care of the animals. Becoming friends with neighbors will be important and even having a family will be possible. We get older and we even see the evolution of everyone's age. We will be entitled to the game in the summer of 2023

Splatoon 3 arrives without warning in the presentation. We are presented with the "Splatfest" theme dated 9/23 at 5 p.m. and 9/25 at the same time. We are notified of further updates to come.

A Square Enix game is coming. We immediately recognize the style of Octopath Traveler. This is indeed the sequel. At first glance, you immediately recognize that the graphic style is maintained with a slight change in depth. We are introduced to the different characters. The same profiles are present, warrior, thief, hunter, etc. It's perfect as it was already well done on the first opus.

The stories of the different protagonists seem well done and in a few seconds you can identify with the characters. A vast world will be available with awesome quests, beautiful characters and epic battles.

The game is scheduled for the end of February 2023 and we are already looking forward to it.

New games are presented. Starting with Faefarm. You can play solo or locally or online with up to 4 players. The seasons change, they make it possible to change the way of managing the farm. Managing it allows you to learn many movements and other magic. Many enemies will be defeated through many journeys. The game is coming for Spring 2023.

Thearrhythm: Final Bar Line. The FF franchise is getting a rhythm game for the 35th anniversary of the franchise. We are presented with a catalog of more than 380 songs that will be playable in this game with cute graphics. It will even be playable with friends. Something to delight the neighbors.

Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope. Ubisoft's crazy game is presented, once again. We can see a little more gameplay side, out of combat. Like the shops, the recruits. The game arrives for October 20, we are presented with the Gold Edition and the pre-order is already available.

Rune Factory 3 Special is coming to console. The game is coming in 2023, but that's not all. A new franchise game is in development.

We are now presented with a few Nintendo 64 games that are making their way into the pack. Like Mario Party games, Pokémon Stadium and others. The games are coming in two waves. Part this year and part next year.

Then there is a special mention that gets started. Simply with the legendary GoldenEye! on N64. It will come with an online mode! Just that.

An immersive RPG is presented next with the game :Various Daylife. The game arrives the same day of the announcement. But we don't really learn more.

We then see the game Factorio. Following a crash with the ship, you have to rebuild it and survive. You have to mine, create machines, a base protected from monsters and that until you finish the creation.

A 2nd free update is available to Mario Striker players. Pauline arrives with Diddy Kong! New stadiums and equipment are coming in September.

A new JRPG / adventure. Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key. The adventurers will discover the origins of alchemy in order to save their island. The open world to discover alongside 11 different characters, each with their specificities. On February 24, 2023 the game makes its arrival.

We are presented with a (small) part of wave 3 of Mariokart 8 Deluxe's ​​Booster Course Pass. There will be a race from MarioKart Tour and one from MarioKart on DS. The rest is a mystery but it will surely be good in view of what we have already had so far.

Pikmin Bloom is then shown. Like Pokémon Go. With today's location and technology, you can find Pikmin and the items they collect outside. The further you walk, the more you can find, just like the items the Pikmin find. We are then shown the map of the world which is discovered where we walked.

Pikmin 4 is then presented. In 2023 the game will be able to make its arrival. We have no right to gameplay. Just an image where we can see that we can play with the perspective of a Pikmin.

Just Dance 2023 is coming. We can even play with friends online. A special recommendation will also be available in the game. Ubisoft is preparing the game for November this year.

Harvestella is then presented. The "Season of Death" is coming and a way must be found to stop it from doing its thing. A demo is already available (since September 13) and the game in November.

Bayonetta shows up with a small presentation of the first two opuses. In the third, she must defend humanity against man-made robots/monsters. We will be entitled to this opus on October 28th. More gameplay and a new trailer on Nintendo's youtube channel is to be discovered.

Resident Evil Village in Cloud Version is coming to console. The game will be available on October 28. With this they also announced three more Resident Evil that will be available (the recent remakes)

Crisis Core, Final Fantasy VII – Reunion will be coming to Switch. The FF VII prequel will be entitled to its Nintendo version. We can play Zack alongside Sephiroth and Cloud on December 13.

Tales of Symphonia arrives in Remastered version. One of the most successful games of the Tales of franchise, deserves a well-deserved comeback. We find Lloyd and Colette in this action RPG. The epic battles and this poetic story arrive at the beginning of 2023.

In the last video we are entitled to a new trailer of the great saga The Legend of Zelda. We understand that this is the long-awaited sequel to Breath of the Wild. Well it won't just be "2" but the game will have its own name "Tears of the Kingdom"

We don't see much there, except that we can jump from islands in levitation, that there are flying platforms and that we can always climb and equip ourselves in different ways. With the date at the end, May 12, 2023.

Let's not forget that it has been a bad habit for a while that the dates are not respected, so let's not be too impatient all the same.

Well that was a wealth of information. While waiting for new information to be given, I wish you a good game!

Super  World

In the presentation we are welcomed by Shigeru Miyamoto exciting from a tube like in the Mario games, revealing afterwards the well-known castle from Mario64 (with the originally music). We are standing in a faithful and beautiful lobby, with some paintings. This gives you the impression, to be in the game, the paintings are even changing depending from which side you are looking at them. The speech motivates us to visit the Mushroom Kingdom, which we already want to go as soon as possible.

The exterior setting is breath-taking. It is so well made that you think you were directly teleported into the game. Everything is designed to perfection. The animatronics are more than realistic. Everything goes perfectly together and you can clearly see what Nintendo tried to achieve. You can immediately see that the parc is divided by different themes. You can see Bowsers` castle and some mountains with the Thwombs. Even the lamps are magnificent. They clearly have dig deep in the Mario games for the décor to represent every aspect of what we know so far, and it is executed awesomely. Some parts of the décor are even moving, such as the “POW” button or Yoshi. Sadly, this takes out some naturality of Yoshi, but none the less we must admit that it still looks great. You even see some Koopas, Piranha plants and much more.

Furthermore, we get the explanation that you can interact with the décor of the parc, which is interactive. For instance, you can push the “?” block.  All over the parc are plenty of “activities” to discover. They show us the “Power-up” bracelet, which is clearly inspired by the different characters out of the games. This bracelet helps you to find secrets in the parc or to interact with the décor. It even tracks down your activity in the parc and you can synchronise it, with help of a QR-code, with your smart phone. Which is convenient as you can see where exactly you are in the parc. Afterwards M. Miyamoto gives us a small demonstration, where he taps on a block and he gets a coin, recognisable due to iconic sound. On your phone you can then see that you have earned one coin. You can also see that there are other symbols in the app for your smartphone, so that you can interact with plenty things in the parc. In the end we get the information, that these bracelets, also function as amibos and that you can use them at home.

A genuinely nice Piranha plant is shown to us, without revealing the secret behind it. We get the explanation, that it is one the “activities”. Surely more exciting, then just collecting a coin and definitely more impressive.

By walking through the parc we bounce into a décor with “POW” buttons. A key is visible on top of the décor, close to the guest. By holding your bracelet to the button, you activate the game. The “POW” block illuminates. A green shell appears through a tube and you have to push the block in the right moment to win the game.

We get the information, that there are different “activities”, which are more or less complex. By winning such games, three times, you get access to the “Boss” Bowser Jr. We get no more details on this.

The décors are sublime and the musical ambiance lets you emerge completely into the world of Mario. Then we are in a labyrinth, styled as in the underground levels of the games. The visit continues, and we find a block made out of bricks, where we can collect several coins. Mario symbols are visible on the walls and interact with the bracelets. Furthermore, we see a picture of Bowser, like in the old times, and that is it. Afterwards, we are face to face with Bob-ombs, which illuminate and seem to explode at any time. The décor gets smaller progressively, so that you really think you the footsteps of Mario. We do not see all the details the rest of this Labyrinth and it is there where we switch to another area.

Afterwards, they present to us, a building called “Factory”. Those buildings are simply the merchandise shops. We get a quick overview of the goodies, which you can buy. The merch itself looks really amazing and well crafted. They present the Tokotoko Mario, a funny gift nothing special. Furthermore, they show us a popcorn bowl made like a star. Even the places, where you can eat, are in the style of the Mario games. Those places are called, “Kinopio´s Café”. Mario and Luigi are seen in person, so that we can actually meet them in the parc.

Finally, we see the interior of those “Cafés”. A monitor is seen, on which  you can interact with your bracelet and get a gift. Those restaurants are managed by Toads. On the screen a Toad is introducing itself as “chef Toad” and we see an overview of the menus. But the focus is more on the décor of the restaurant and on the tables. Everything is wholesome designed with the well known colours of the Mario universe, which lead to pure joy. Even the food is designed in that way. Few examples are presented, you can have the Mario Burger, the super Mushroom Pizza bowl and even two different deserts, which look delicious.

The opening will be on the 4^th of February 2021 in the Universal Studios in Japan. In addition, they tease us, by saying that the whole presentation was just a glimpse of the actual parc and that a lot more awaits us in there. Of course, there will be special Covid precautions. They are even looking to open two other Mario Worlds, such as in the USA and Singapore, as that there are already Universal Studios.

In addition, we get a nice view on Bowsers´ castle. We accompany Shigeru Miyamoto into the corridor and the stairs of the entrance, where a marvellous statue of the main villain is seen. Then we recognize the different, and well known from the Mariokart collection, trophies.

As you already figured out, it is karting circuit, of course designed like the games. We get a quick view on the cars and the helmets. The karts resemble to those of Mariokart 8 (Deluxe). For the circuit itself, not much is presented, only the cars side by side. The helmets have kind of special visor. Could it be some kind of augmented reality? Honestly we think yes, because otherwise how will you be able to drive through the item boxes and collect/throw shells, bananas and mushrooms? It also seems that the drivers are a kind of team, as they say, “Can Team Mario really win on a course that Bowser knows every detail about?”

That’s it for the presentation of the parc, which is good so that the surprise for the rest will be even more epic. Honestly it was wisely to not show too much, because when the parc will open, social media are going to be flooded with content of the attractions.

Lucky those who can visit quite soon the parc, as what we have seen in the presentation looks more than promising with all the effort put in. For a geek or Mario lover a must visit!

Clearly one of my future big travels (big in the meaning of budget, stay time and emotionally) will be japan. In addition to my love to the story and culture of all countries, comes my passion for video games, so it is quite obvious that I am so excited that I am just drooling by thinking of this journey. In hope that those feelings are the same for other game enthusiastic and that the parc has the success with its opening as wished, we are eager to visit this parc more than once. Why not to dream big? XD

Happy Birthday Final Fantasy I

Ah what a joy. Talking, writing, reading, watching or playing anything related to this franchise appeals to me enormously. I must also say that this is my second attempt to write this article. The first time I ended up writing 4 pages before touching on Final Fantasy number one. To be one hundred percent honest, I didn't at all, but at no time, say FF I except to say that I played it ...

So yes, this time must be the right one or I will start to doubt my ability to concentrate on one topic. So we're going to talk about this game, which I think is great. Obviously we have to take a lot of factors into account. First, the time when the game was released. The genre of this game, RPG obviously. The company that created the game. The circumstances in which this company was and ultimately what pushed to create this opus.

In short, we are not going to redo history otherwise I will end up making the whole history of the company without having talked about this game again. I get carried away so easily, it's crazy.

So what is this game going to be about? What can we expect? Quite simply to a magnificent story but where we quickly get to the heart of the matter. We are told only one thing, our destiny. Our characters (4) have no past history, at least we don't know it. We have to invent everything for them, their names and their classes. You can choose between warrior, monk, thief, black, white or red mage. For those unfamiliar with it, the warrior fights with sword and shield, the monk is bare-handed, the strongest physically and with the highest HP. The thief, well he's fast and his equipment isn't too expensive. The white mage heals, protects, and ensures that you survive. The Black Mage burns, freezes and electrifies your opponents, he can even spell alterations. The red mage is a mix between white and black. He is also physically strong and will therefore have the most versatility of any class.

The best thing is the classes evolve during the game. After a certain point in the story your characters get the evolved class of the one you chose. Thus the warrior becomes paladin, the monk becomes master, the thief becomes ninja and the various mages become sages. This allows each class to go even further in their basic characteristics. So you will have characters who are even stronger at what they can do and who will make you the player with the most powerful team in your world.

Now let's talk about the story. It's simple yet so well told, with great characters and amazing quests. The world is dying, devastating storms, marine cataclysms, nothing but misfortune. Nothing is going well, but the people are convinced that a prophecy will be fulfilled. That of Lukahn: “When darkness veils the world, four Warriors of Light shall come. "

So you play as these four warriors. The world turns thanks to the four crystals. The four crystals which hold the power of the elements, earth, fire, wind and water. You will therefore have to brave all dangers in order to be able to free the crystals from their corruption. Then the world can get better again and you can say that the prophecy was not just a legend.

However, it goes a little further than all that. The first dungeon you do will also be the last. During your quest you will realize that you will need to return to the place where you completed your first quest. This is where I got my big surprise. Speaking of my experience, I didn't pay attention to the alert. If you come in you can't get out anymore so you have to be damn prepared. Above all, be very well equipped, a lot of items to heal yourself and a white mage! Because the red mages cannot heal as well as the white mages (or rather the sage) you will not be able to be as effective in resurrection. Having had two red mages and no white, it was quickly over with me. Without a good diversity of classes and enough items I figured I couldn't do it. BUT, backups are there for that. Having made a double save when entering the dungeon, I took this last one and I went to train myself a little to get some money, to sell objects that I did not need and I provided myself like crazy into a bunch of items that could help me succeed.

Finally all is well then. It was a little harder than if I had had a white mage I think, but what to do, I love being at the front and attacking without thinking too much like a good nag. So I was in Paladin, Master, Red Sage, and Red Sage mode. I spent my time exterminating the monsters as fast as possible without using too much magic. Indeed, the red sages can have superb equipment also for the attack, the paladin necessarily too and the master knocks everything out with his fists. Most of my MP are used for care and protection. When it turns out useful or necessary then we indulge ourselves with black magic.

I was then able to get rid of the vermin making this world a poor and sad place. Again we can be impressed by the script because in the end, no one will ever know everything we did. It was all a paradox. By putting an end to it, we are not making our destiny possible. So by doing what we do, we lose the memory of our exploits in our present. The villain, Garland turned Chaos, is actually taken from our present by the Chaos Demons, to go into the past and make their own existence possible. By doing this, they allow the prophecy to be fulfilled by creating the warriors of light that we embody. By going to destroy it, we are not allowing demons to exist or Garland to be Chaos. So we can't remember something that we've never done.

So yes, we save the world, in exchange we simply lose our memory so do all living people. No one will ever know that an unprecedented danger existed and that it was even a chaotic time loop until we intervene. It turns the brain upside down and it's just great in terms of imagination, ingenuity.

This game, just by its history, shows the full potential of this studio and its director. A small band of geniuses who will make us happy for so long. Today we are treated to a lot of games that no one should ignore if they love RPGs. We cannot miss this franchise or this Square Enix company which has created so many good games.

Thanks Final Fantasy

I will soberly talk about that Nintendos exclusive offer for their subscribers. I'm kidding, I am a fanboy so I won't be subtle and not show my love for NINTENDO.

With that introduction that gives the guidline we will now talk about that offer. To be honest, the offer is not as good as the one of Nintendos concurrence. This is a fact. It is not comparable for the moment. I receive the newsletter for Nintendo and Playstation offers but not for Xbox as I have none. Nintendo was able to distinguish itself and took advantage of their story. They found the good path to take, to distinguish themselves from the concurrence. We won't even talk about the price difference which is a bit more than a third of PS Plus price. You will have some % on some prices, but nothing really consequent. So Nintendo had to find something to attract their gamer community.

They have one advantage in comparison with others, their catalogue for nostalgics. You may play NES and SNES games at any time. To push the offer to the limit they decided to make controllers for NES and SNES to use with their last console.

We will now check the NES controller

Those controllers can be loaded like the Joycon, connected directly to the Switch or in a charger dedicated. The controllers have the same connection as the Joycon have. The controllers can only be used for games in the NES catalogue. Obviousely, the controllers do not have enough buttons nor joysticks.

The controllers are really well made, the quality of the material is great and the design is really faithful to the classic controller. Honestely the controllers are beautiful and I am happy having bought the controllers. Great design, batteries lasting long enough and playing those old games with those controllers is a real pleasure.

It was a great idea and they managed to create an exclusive offer with those controllers. A gamer that has subscribed to the Online subscription may buy maximum two pairs of NES controllers. One pair costs 59,99 €. The price is a bit high even if they have no defect, but their usage is (logically) limited and therefore has a price a bit high that shouldn't have exceeded 45 €.

Lets check the SNES controller

Those controllers are not reloaded the same way as the model before. I think it is due to the R and L buttons. The design wouldn't have been respected if they had the same connection as the Joycon or the NES controller. So they even thought about it and asked themselves the right questions. Those controllers are loaded with a USB C cable.

I loved taking the controllers in my hand, play Mario Kart or Donkey Kong Country was a real pleasure. Again, the design is respected, the material used is excellent and it is pleasant to have it in your hands. For those controllers to, there was no defect to be seen. The batteries are good enough and the fun is there.

The offer is another in that case, you buy one controller et not a pair. The price is 29,99 € and you may buy a maximum of four controllers. The same number of controllers than for the NES controllers. The price is the same (difference of 0,01 €) and still to high for me. In that case too we shouldn't exceed 45 € for a pair. The reason is the same, the controllers are (logically) limited to be only used for SNES games.

I directly took two controllers so I may play with someone for games playable with a second player.

The delivery was pretty quick as I got them within less then a month. When I check now (01/01/2021), the NES controllers should be delivered within two weeks. But the SNES controllers aren't available for the moment. What a chance I had to buy them in November!

Finally, the controllers are to expensive for someone that is interested in the NES and SNES games but that have no nostalgia for it or players that won't play often enough those games. Due to the limitation of their usage possibility, the price stays high. For those who never had the chance to have those consoles or don't have them anymore, those who are really nostalgic and love to come back in childhood will love having them and maybe won't find the price to high.

I am happy to have them, play old games with those controllers on my 55 inch TV is exciting. Being in bed with my wife while she's reading a book and I would play with those controllers, it's amusing and I remember a time when I got up early on sunday morning with my brother. We would sneak into our gaming room and play those old games in front of an old TV.

Nintendo managed again to be different then other console brands, it may be frustrating some times, but we are always blown by their inovations and their knowing how to manage their classics. May it last a long time.

Nintendo Direct

Good morning all.

The long-awaited Nintendo Direct took place on 02/17/2021. For those who don't know, there hadn't been a Nintendo Direct for almost 18 months. This is to say if the wait was long. Now, we will see together whether the expectations have been rewarded with good information from the Japanese firm or not.

I will not give any personal opinion. This is reserved for the conclusion. I am going to pass on to you here simply the most striking information from this video that so many people were waiting for.

Super Smash Bros DLC

The video finally begins. We are treated to a discussion between characters of Xenoblade Chronicles 2. We quickly realize that it is about presenting a DLC for the hit game Super Smash Bros.

We will therefore be entitled to the addition of Pyro / Mythra. A beloved character by fans of the game franchise and an additional swordsman to the long list of characters available in Nintendo's fighting game.

This is the first information to take from this Direct. This should set the tone and pace for the video, we also got a lot of details about Pyro’s arrival. For example a special Xenoblade-themed stage, the different attacks and movements of the character.

Hello from Shinya Takahashi

Shinya Takahashi then makes a brief speach to launch the rest of the presentation. He thanked the fans for their unconditional support and then left room for the rest.

FallGuys

From the start of this 2nd announcement, we know what it is. Fall Guys is coming to Switch. The game already known to the greatest number is no longer to present. The racing / battle royal game with characters in the shape of a giant Tictac is coming to the console for the summer of this year.

Outer Wilds

The presentation then continues with a game that could be quite promising. The title chosen to announce the game clearly sets the tone. “22 minutes remain until the solar system is destroyed”. It’s clear, but it poses a lot of additional questions.

This is a space exploration game called Outer Wilds. The solar system is in an endless loop that lasts 22 minutes. During this loop you have to discover as much as possible, collect information, decode messages, all in order to prevent the sun from exploding or at least to understand why? And above all, why is the solar system in an eternal loop?

Famicom Detective Club

We go directly to the next presentation. These are Famicom Detective Club: The missing heir and The girl who stands behind. These are two games sold separately, two separate themes.

A detective game, therefore, for the game called "the missing heir" we are investigating a so-called haunted village in order to discover the dismal mysteries that surround this village.

For the game called "The girl who stands behind" it is more of an investigation to prevent a sinister murder that could happen. A high school supernatural investigation that should be addicting if the presentation is to be believed.

Samurai warriors 5

We are entitled to a very rhythmic presentation for Samurai Warriors 5

As is often the case with franchises - Warriors, it's all about kicking the butt of massive hordes all on your own. We don't really know more, but it's not for nothing that these kinds of games are successful. The game is expected to arrive sometime in the summer of this year and no further information has been circulated yet.

The Legend of Mana

As the "Mana" franchise works well with its covers / remixes / remasters, we continue and this time we are entitled to Legend Of Mana which will be available on June 24th. Fans of the franchise can be happy, 20 years after the game has gotten a makeover and it's pretty cool graphically. We are explained the story and the game mode. It is (obviously) an RPG, with artifacts that we receive we must fill the world map which is empty at the start of the game. , bring back to the world its splendor and to find the so important tree of the franchise.

Monster Hunter Rise

We are presented with a new trailer for Monster Hunter Rise, with new very huge, fierce and nervous monsters to fight. We get a brief overview of what we need to do to fight them.

The franchise that has been working well lately. The game will be released on March 26, along with an exclusive console and an exclusive pro controller just like the game.

Mario Golf "Super Rush"

After a brief intervention from Mr Takahashi, we are entitled to a new presentation. Mario Golf Super Rush. We are presented with the game play and the iconic characters who are obviously present. The game has been pushed to the maximum in order to be able to perform the best shots.

There will be several game modes. We are presented with “Speed ​​Golf” players play at the same time, powers are available in this mode which can be fun and at times infuriating depending of your friends. A story mode will be available.

The wait is not long for those who love this Mario game as it will be available on June 25 and pre-order is available now.

Tales of the Borderlands

Briefly we are told about Tales of the Borderlands which comes out on March 24. There is nothing significant otherwise, the video is quite expeditious.

Capcom Arcade Stadium

We then go directly to the novelty of Capcom, the "Capcom Arcade Stadium". The application itself is free and some Packs are available in addition but they need to be purchased. This brings together the most iconic arcade games of the firm. Everything is already available.

Aspyr

We are then presented with Aspyr, a zombie game that asks us to play on the zombie side. The goal is to create a zombie horde and take control of the city. We can do cool upgrades to be more powerful and more devastating, with even a Jet-Pack and other vehicules.

No more heroes 3

We are then entitled to details about No more heroes 3. Aliens invade the earth. The aliens have destroyed an entire city and you must save the world. We are presented with a fairly innovative game play and a pleasant and unique graphic style. It will be available on August 27

Neon White

We then arrive at the presentation of Neon White. Assassins are in Heaven to kill demons there, just that. Game play is introduced right away with a brief explanation of the story. This is a first person game. The game will be available in winter.

DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power

We are entitled to another presentation. A game where we embody some of the DC super heroines. Which is pretty obvious, the cartoonish graphics, the quite funny storytelling and the in-game goal, save the city from the bad guys.

We are introduced to characters who will be available. We must not be recognized and save the city, all at the same time. We must therefore also play in civilian mode and do everything to not be recognized. The game is released on June 4

Plants vs Zombie: Battle for Neighborhood

The Battle Royal is coming to Switch on March 19. A pretty cool and energetic little presentation of the game. This one too many people already know, having it in portable mode on Switch or Switch Lite can be nice. This is the "Complete Edition", so certainly with all the DLC.

Miitopia

We are entitled to the presentation of a rather unexpected game. Beyond creating a very personalized Mii, you need to have good relationships with your allies for combat and successful missions. The release is scheduled for May 21, with pre-orders already available.

Animal crossing

We are entitled to new features for the hit game Animal Crossing last name. There will be items from the Mario universe available to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Brothers.

We will be entitled to these items thanks to a free update on February 25. In the game shop, you can then enjoy the items on March 1st.

Project Triangle Strategy (Provisional name)

We will be in the world of Norzelia where 3 nations exist. Each with a particular virtue. The story will revolve around these virtues and the choices we make.

Explanations are given of the mode of combat, the usefulness of different attacks, lands and associated magic to create modifications to the terrain on which we fight. The decisions we make are important in continuing the story. Tactics are important in combat as well as out of combat.

The graphic style is a 2D model close to Octopath Traveler and it’s a graphic achievement for anyone who enjoys this style, but in all fairness the hard work is visible.

The game will be available in 2022 and a demo is available at the end of the presentation.

Star Wars Hunters

The presentation of the game is short, there is no game play or story. We recognize the music, we see the logo, the voiceover just tells us that this is a competitive game, which takes place between Episode 6 and 7 of the franchise. The game will be available this year.

Knock Out City

An EA game, features video game characters, who play a Battle Royal / Dodge Ball on their Switch. The game is called Knock Out City and it will be released on May 21.

We are presented with the game and what needs to be done. It looks like one can "be the ball" to be used as a projectile against the opposing team. It looks like a fun game while keeping a competitive and tactical spirit so you can win the matches.

World's End Club

We play a team of 12 characters the “Goalgetter Club”.

Japan has no more inhabitants and when you return home you control different characters and you have to play as much solo as with several of the said characters. The game is released on May 28.

Hades

Hades will be released in physical play on March 19 with small extras like a code to be able to benefit from in-game music.

Ninja Gaiden Master Collection

This Collection includes Ninja Gaiden Sigma 1, 2 and Ninja Gaiden 3. A small presentation is made of the game play and its history. We find a style and very fast and intense actions. This presents itself as a great opportunity for players who have never enjoyed these games before. The game will be available on June 10.

Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity

For 20 € we will be entitled to Expansion Packet we are given certain dates. May 28, June and November therefore arrive these novelties for those who have purchased this pack.

Bravely Default 2

The game is coming out soon and we are given a little explanation on its history and its combat mode.

There is a job system, the fights are turn based. A new trailer will be shown later and we remind you that the game will be released on February 26. Pre-orders are available for those most interested.

Ghost’s N Goblin Resurrection

Ghost’s N Goblin Resurrection is featured. This game is released on February 25th and pre-orders are possible too. A local coop is also possible. We are not given more info than that. We directly recognize the style of this game with a rather special graphic overhaul.

SaGa Frontier Remaster

A new presentation about a remastered game. This is SaGa Frontier (Remaster), this one comes out on April 15th. The game has been improved, new features made to appeal to fans of the original as well as to attract new players.

Apex

The game that is no longer due is released on March 9 on Switch. A special skin for Pathfinder and double EXP for Switch players are offered.

Eiji Aonuma Info

Eiji Aonuma (Zelda series prod.) Takes the floor, explains that there is nothing new to present for BotW 2 and apologizes. He explains that the project is progressing well and that we will be entitled to news during the year for the rest of the opus released on Nintendo Switch. He asks us to be patient because he still has information given.

Skyward sword

We are then entitled to the presentation of the HD version of the game released in 2011 on the Nintendo Wii. The game will be available on July 16 and pre-orders are already available.

We can always enjoy game play in motion with the JoyCons or the game with the joysticks. A bit of this game play is explained. We are told how to move the joysticks so that we can play without having to move our arms and risk hitting family members who may pass by.

Special JoyCons in honor of the game "The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword" will go on sale on July 16, along with the game. A thoughtful design and truly reminiscent of the game in question.

Splatoon 3

We find a character from Splatoon. We can see the modifications that can be done on the character and the little monster that accompanies him.

Immersed in an apocalyptic universe. A huge desert. A makeshift train. We arrive in a huge city full of skyscrapers. We are presented with 4v4 matches quite quickly. Levels as we know. Weapons crazier than ever. It promises to stay in the same vein as the previous games and should appeal to those who have played this franchise.

The game is scheduled for 2022 and therefore we are not receiving any more information than that regarding the game.

My personal conclusion

I'm not going to say disappointed but not far from it. There are no spectacular announcements for my taste. I also recall the initial communication: Only information on already existing games (quite true) and on games coming out in the first half of 2021. This was not really the case. We have games announced for 2022 or winter 2021. From this point of view alone, we can really be disappointed. The DLCs are also not necessarily the most exceptional.

I recall that for Super Smash Bros, although the desire to have lots of playable characters was communicated by Nintendo, we are entitled to an additional swordsman. It is starting to do a lot. The expansion pack for Hyrule Warriors is also not exceptional and / or is not very detailed. The first wave at the end of May, entitles Link to two new weapons. It's not much.

The big announcements that may have liked are those concerning The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword Version HD, with the JoyCons which are them really very beautiful. Mario Golf, which can be a lot of fun due to its fairly fun and playable game modes. I'm also thinking of the announcement for Monster Hunter Rise. We got to see a little more of the soon-to-be-released game and we got to see the Switch's dock-in station and Pro controller featuring the game, which are also quite nice.

Otherwise there is no announcement worthy of a 17 or 18 month wait. Warmed up games, arcade games, information for games coming out in winter or not even this year, games for which we have little information.

18 months waiting for what we got is pretty slim. It's a shame and we will hope that Nintendo will (soon) have new (more) interesting information to tell us.

Franchises I love

FINAL FANTASY

Hello, this article will be one of the most fun to write. Simply because of the memories for this franchise. This franchise is by far the one I love the most. If I had to do a top 3 it would be easy to do. There's Final Fantasy first, Mario second, and Zelda hangs in the balance with Pokémon for the third place. For some who know me, they would say I forget Fifa. So no, I'm not forgetting Fifa, which is also an obligation for me. I also like this franchise, but emotionally it lags behind. While this is a game you can play at any time, the three franchises on my podium require a special mindset and above all, time. Because yes, when I start playing one of these games, I have to be sure that for a minimum of two or three hours I will not be interrupted. I need to be able to immerse myself and be able to do as much as possible to have fun that defies everything.

So let's take a look at the games in this franchise that I've played (or that most impressed me) in chronological order.

FF VIII and VII are the first (yes in that order) that I played and I thank my brother who discovered these games when we were young. I must have been nine or ten years old. I remember before that I didn't play video games that much. Then my brother had these games and we would time each other to see who was allowed to play next.

So I would often watch my brother play and try to do as well as him. The stories of these games, the way they were told hit me hard. I thought the storytelling was great and I was hooked by these games. After playing FF IX and X, which I liked a lot less at the time probably due to my young age. Released in 2002, its style of storytelling was less obvious to me to accept and understand I think. The same year were released the compilations including the FF I and FF II, FF IV and FF V, but also FF VI in game only. All this on Playstation first of the name.

I learned English with these compilations and played around trying to understand as much as possible. Once I start English lessons, one will help me progress in the other.

In 2007 I had an extra blow with FF XII, my attention turned a little more on the games. And presto, we have a hardcore FF lover. So I also took over FF I to VI. My playtime exploded with the IV, V and VI. The IV is excellent and the VI is one of their piece of art for me. The V is really cool due to the import of "Jobs", plus you can change as many time as you want. This well-shaken cocktail made me a die-hard fan of this franchise. I also took again FF II, which had a pretty cool gameplay which I did not understand too well due to my level of English which was still too low in 2002. It is to know that the games released on Playstation 1 were only available in English. and that we had to wait for the versions on Game Boy Advance (which I also have yes yes) to have them in French.

FF II was a little slap in the face for me too, as the fact that you didn't get an EXP point and had to register keywords to use with the right people at the right time was intriguing. You were asked to know how to manage your characters and the unfolding of the story on your own. It was pretty impressive for me and I found it exhilarating. I remember I had a game on Game Boy Advance that was pure genius, I felt unbeatable and it must be said the story was well told.

For Final Fantasy XIII, this was the first time that I had real expectations and that I followed the information regarding its development. I felt what I can feel a lot more often today when it comes to video games: A longing for a new game. Just that longing for a new adventure to play. I was also afraid as some reviews were starting to fall on the game and especially that it was taking a long time to finally come out on the market. With the game in hand, I spent my time solely on this game. It was one of those games that you just can't look away from. I finished the main story in about 65 or 70 hours, in two weeks. Yes, an average of about 5 hours a day. This game made me love the franchise even more. However, I also understood the main criticism of the game which was that it was a bit of a “direct and straight line” game, with less freedom than what you are used to having. It was not wrong and it was more or less obvious at times. That didn't stop me from loving this game.

And then came the wait for Final Fantasy XV. Between the 12th and 13th there was a three-year wait. From 2007 to 2010. For FF XV we had to wait for 2016, six years therefore.

At this point I want to give an update on the FF games I have. We are now in 2016/17 and I have: FF 1 to 6 three times, except FF III of which I only have the Remake on DS, I have FF 7 to 9 twice (I did not yet have the Switch so today also three times for these games), I have FF X, X-2, FF XII twice because I bought the PS4 version as well. I have FF XIII and inevitably also FF XV which arrives last at this time.

I didn't want to spoil anything for the game because I remember how many feelings I had for the previous game. So even almost a year after its release I don't know anything about the game except that you have a great customizable car and some pretty special characters with you and that you will be in Bromance mode. Once I had the game, I couldn't look away. I played a significant number of hours and loved each one. This game is a pure masterpiece for me. Everything was good in this game. Everything you could have to do, main quests, side quests, quests to improve the car, hunt monsters, cook for better stats, how to heal yourself by hitting others with your magic, how to use magic, how to lead each character. Everything, everything is superbly done and nothing would have to be changed if it only concerns me. I liked every point in this game. I find no fault with it.

What I liked most was the storytelling and the gist of the story. I must say that the way everything is told, I put this game in number 1. It is touching, addicting, beautiful and even poetic. It goes against the way of fighting which is more nervous, powerful and dynamic.

Since then I haven't had enough to satiate myself, but once the Nintendo Switch in hand I bought FF VII from FF IX. I finished the IX first because it is very beautiful I think. A beautiful story and the graphic style I like very much.

My dream right now would be to get an import of the "classics" FF I to VI on the Switch. It would be really nice to be able to enjoy it, especially when you see that you can enjoy classics like Dragon Quest I to III, FF Legends or the "Mana" games are available, so why not those?

Like most people, I had the pleasant surprise of seeing the presentation of the youngest, Final Fantasy XVI. A return to medieval fantasy, a return of crystals and a new way of seeing Shiva, Ifrit and the others we have called Espers, Eons, G-Force or even Eidolons. Everything looks very promising. When we see the video we also realize that there will be more blood visible than we are used to, the director who is the one who took care of FF XI And XIV is trustworthy. Everything is therefore implemented so that the last of the franchise is at the height of its elders.

In short, you will understand I find no fault with this franchise and their developer Square Enix formerly Square Soft. The future looks bright as a future FF will be released and that's already good. Final Fantasy has given me a lot over the past 15 to 20 years and I've loved playing around with every character that these games have given me the chance to control. Rich, sad and happy stories. Epic and frustrating fights. Today there are great memories and tomorrow there are new quests to discover. I look forward to writing to you again regarding this franchise.

So my top 3 FF with logos just for fun (from 1 to 3, from left to right):

Total ranking after the top 3:

• Final Fantasy VII
• Final Fantasy XII
• Final Fantasy XIII
• Final Fantasy II
• Final Fantasy V
• Final Fantasy IX
• Final Fantasy VIII
• Final Fantasy I
• Final Fantasy X
• Final Fantasy III

Of course, it's not just a good-to-bad ranking, but mostly from the one I liked the most to the one I liked the least. But each of these games brought me joy and I loved playing it and will love to play it again. I tell you, in the next article.

Franchises I love

Pokemon

POKEMON! Catch them all ! Ah so many memories. So many great moments spent. And to think that I am writing in the past tense when as soon as I finish the article I will continue to play Pokémon Shield on my Switch. I've been playing this franchise for so long. It’s the first franchise I’ve ever played on my own.

As you may know, this is not the top 1 in my ranking of favorite franchises. It’s still the first franchise I’ve actually played. I had the blue version and my brother the red one. From the start my brother knew some mechanics like being able to swap small monsters.

So he and I were careful to send the missing Pokémon to the other's version's Pokédex. Also, we were careful that some could only evolve while being exchanged. For example Machoke or Graveler or Haunter.

Last detail and not the least, in these versions as in most afterwards, it was impossible to have the other starting pokemon. There was Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle. What we were doing was simple. We were moving forward in the game's story until we could trade. Then we gave the other the starting companion we had chosen. And we would do it all over again until we had it all twice. Yeah we were trying hard.

In short, it was excellent.

Then when the 2nd generation came I was really happy. I had the Silver version and my brother Gold.

The starting Pokémon were super cool, especially the fire one for my taste, Cyndaquil was THE Pokémon of this generation for me. Most impressive was that we also had to go to the island of the first generation to beat the arenas and the league! So there was twice the work than in the first game!

I remember the train to take, it was fantastic! But I almost forget the yellow version! With my brother we had this version too! Pikachu following you like in the anime. You can talk to him to see how happy he is. And you had all three starting Pokémon without having to resort to trading! You receive them if Pikachu is happy to the maximum. It was great to do, otherwise the game was the same as the first generation naturally.

With Silver and Gold we had a lot of fun. There were great things to do, and the new Pokémon were looking good. It was well done but there was nothing really new after all. Then there was the Crystal version, crazy innovation, a battery to be able to remember the time and so the game was on real time. So you had / could tell the difference between playing at night and playing by day. What good memories.

On the other hand, when generation three came, Sapphire and Ruby. I was so excited. I will always remember this! We were in the south of France on vacation. We had the Game Boy Advance. My parents had gone shopping. I was on the little terrace with my grandparents and there we get the game in hand. I must have said "I can't believe it" at least ten times.

I have to say, I wasn't too impressed with the starter Pokémon. They didn’t stand out for me. I still think I remember Sceptile's crazy speed. Otherwise nothing new under the sun for the starting Pokémon. On the other hand Tarsal, Terhal and Draby marked me! These Pokémon, if I can get them in every Pokémon game I play, I catch them. I find them awesome!

However, the story was super cool. The bad guys too. What also stood out to me was the new HMs (Hidden Machines). Those are abilities (attacks) learned by Pokémon. You could buy abilities and you MUST find the special ones called HM. Without these you could not move forward. Like Fly, Surf, Strength or Cut. You had to get them or else you were stuck.

In Sapphire / Ruby, there was additional Waterfall and Dive. There were places where you could use it to get underwater and find new Pokémon. What crazy innovation, it was exhilarating.

Then there was Emerald for this generation, which I missed yes. Too bad but without too many regrets anyway.

Then there was Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. A less memorable story than its predecessor and fewer Pokémon that I liked. I played and enjoyed it but it was hard to do better or as well as Sapphire and Ruby in my eyes. So less exciting.

What I remember deeply is Lucario. He's iconic and everyone loves him. No wonder I love him too but loved this super cool little monster. Otherwise it was a bit bland in my opinion.

A little refreshment with the Heartgold and Soulsilver versions. You will understand, they have remade Gold and Silver with the new possibilities offered by 2010. I did not buy it for myself because I did not see the point ... and still not today.

The next generation, the 5th now is with White and Black. The starting choices are earlier cool in design and there's the appearance of Roggenrola which is clearly too cool in final evolution. What's also pretty cool is that there weren't any other Pokémon available other than this generation. You had to receive the National Pokédex in order to obtain other Pokémon from previous generations. This was no longer the case in Black and White 2. Pokémon of the 5th and other generations are available from the start of the adventure. The map, the champions and those kinds of details change a bit, but nothing much better.

Who says Pokémon X and Y says: Greninja I love you. The coolest of his generation and surely the most iconic. Big novelty for this game, the Mega-Gems. This allows the Mega-Evolution, Pokémon then called Mega-Pokémon.

This evolution is not permanent but allows during the fight to clearly gain the upper hand and see your favorite Pokémon take a super cool or "Mega" form. Capturing a Pokémon (finally) gives experience points to Pokémon on its team, there are wild hordes of Pokémon, so we end up at 1 to 5.

More novelties also in terms of internet connection with the game and therefore new features.

Obviously there is also the full 3D view that it is on the Nintendo 3DS that the game is released. This naturally brings a more graphical advantage even if we do not use the 3D option. Too bad though that apart from Amphinobi, no monster will have marked my mind ...

A remaster of Ruby and Sapphire with the names Ruby Omega and Sapphire Alpha. All on 3DS, they also made a special version in 2DS with pretty consoles I must say. This one was given to me with the metal box. It was naturally cool to get back into that story. But nothing more you have to be sincere. The pleasure was still there.

Then comes Sun and Moon. So I was disappointed for the first time. I didn't really like the mechanics, the story and the way of going. I didn't hang on too much. On the other hand, Incineroar is really cool. It didn't impress me so much that I didn't buy Ultra-Sun / Ultra-Moon.

I was even afraid that I would no longer appreciate this franchise. I respect the idea and the attempt at innovation, however for me it was a clear stop. And then what had to happen happened.

Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu / Eevee!

Small slap of nostalgia. On the other hand, I am happy that afterwards they did not stay on this idea. It was great for me especially since I had never touched or even downloaded Pokémon Go!

I don't see any point in it especially since I don't have time for that stuff. I liked this game and go back to that first region and do what we had to do there again. It was quite exciting, but we also notice that it was "important" to facilitate everything. Some things were done more naturally and it felt when you played almost all of the games in the franchise.

It was still a pleasure and what was really great, the flight. When you fly you are on top of the map with your Pokémon and see other Pokémon to catch. It's still super interesting.

With the latter, I am right in it. And I have fun like a kid. Between old-fashioned mechanics and new things, we are right in the middle of what I unwittingly wanted for a game in this franchise.

Sword and Shield, this game is really very good. The history, the fights, the Dynamax, the camping and the cooking. These things make the game epic. I miss this need for CS but it seems that time is over.

Gaming remains one of my highlights over the past two years. I am happy. There are also some notable Pokémon like Corviknight, Orbeetle or Coalossal. Everything is more to me in this game and I'm glad I did not miss the call. On the other hand, we also notice a certain ease in achieving to the end of the game.

I can't wait to see the future. First with the Pearl and Diamond Remaster. To see if that can convince me and patch me up with this generation. Like I said, it wasn't the game that struck me the most. And then what to say about what will happen next: Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

This game which takes up the distant past of the Pokémon universe. We will have to complete the first Pokédex. We're in the Sinnoh region and we're going to have a maybe more sophisticated game system of watching and waiting to catch a little monster. We can choose between combat and the Pokémon Go way to catch a Pokémon.

A game full of promise, full of expectation and above all that changes what we have known so far. To see if the turn this game takes will be a major turning point for the franchise or if it is just a side game. I sincerely favor the first option, especially given, the means they have to make something great.

The past has been bright, the present beautiful, and the future looks great. What happiness with this franchise for which my feelings have nevertheless pitched at times.

Long live Nintendo, Long live Pokémon and long live video games!

We will discuss the offers that the different manufacturers can offer, not those available in cloud mode only like Stadia, Shadow or other.

Here I will only discuss what the major console manufacturers offer. We also focus on gaming, games. No other options available with these subscriptions.

We will start with the Xbox offer, the Game Pass. There are a lot of good games available and a catalog that is pretty well stocked. With the start of the Beta for PCs and iOS mobile devices, this offering will grow even further.

The offer made by the Game Passe still offers a fairly huge catalog of games and especially very well classified games. There are even games that are or will be available the day they are released for sale. One more argument. With the future possibility of being able to play in cloud mode, on Smartphone and on PC / Laptop, this will only go further in the available options.

The main competitor being Sony we will move on to their offer. PS Now is very ambitious. The catalog is extensive but there are not only good games, it must be said. However there are games ranging from PS2 to PS4. More and more blockbusters are joining the catalog and this is only to the delight of fans. In addition there is already the possibility of playing via a computer. Via a simple application, with a PS4 controller, a subscription and you can enjoy it quietly.

Let's not forget that Playstation still has the PS Plus. This subscription is nevertheless also very interesting. First of all it is necessary if you want to play online, it is necessarily the less cool side. However, you get free games. And not just any game, for example I have benefited from games like Fall Guys which I find super nice or The Last of Us Remaster for free. Every month you get free games as you read by these examples, good games are available! In addition, you have exclusive discounts that defy all price competition.

The two offers can be compared without worry and here too it goes shoulder to shoulder. Why does the Game Pass have a better rating? And certainly due to the fact that the games from the Xbox studio are available from day one via Game Pass. This is a huge advantage. On the quality of the entire catalog, the Game Pass is ahead, Sony has played on the quantity but is clearly starting to expand its catalog in terms of quality.

And then we have Nintendo. They always take everyone in the back by always doing something very different from what everyone else is doing.

No Pass or anything else that is clearly close to the competition. On the other hand, I admit to having fallen completely under the spell of their offer.

An offer defying any price level. And then it will be pretty much all. There are cool games in Battle Royal mode like Tetris 99, exclusive offers but above all we pull on the sensitive chord of nostalgia.

A catalog well supplied with NES and SNES games. The hammer blow is the possibility of having old-fashioned controllers for the Nintendo Switch to play these old games. And we want more!

When will the N64 games, the controllers that go with them and who knows, maybe the games of the different Game Boy with controllers representing the bottom of these portable consoles?

It would be super pleasing anyway. On the other hand, it does not seem at all that it is planned to compete with Xbox and PS for a cloud system. On the other hand, they have created their own amusement park ...

However, the future seems promised with beautiful things concerning the three firms and it is certain that everyone will find themselves there without too much concern.

The future will tell us what we will be entitled to shortly.

Franchises I love

Mario

I’m going to talk about one of the most iconic franchises. I don't know a person who hasn't played one of these games at least once. While I say that, maybe there is my father. On the other hand he was playing Balloons on NES, which is super cool too.

Mario is everywhere in my life. I have a Nintendo Switch Mario Odyssey Edition. I have pretty much every game in the franchise. I have a painting on a metal plate, cushions, controllers, chargers etc. So really Mario is very important to me. Smaller, my favourite character in the franchise was Yoshi. This awesome little dinosaur made me love it. I even remember the game on Game Boy Advance. The cartridge was bigger because it had a gyroscopic device for a rather innovative game play.

Subsequently, there was Super Smash Bros Melee on Game Cube. So yes it’s not a game in the franchise, but with this game I started to be crazy about Luigi. It was also a time when I took more time to play and we were several friends with my brother to play like crazy at this game. So for the Mario franchise I chose this character more and more.

And yes, I'm the little brother, so Luigi was a forced choice when we played together. But the PLAYER 2 that I am fully assumes it. This character is awesome and set apart in Super Mario Bros 2. Excuse me, but these jumps still give me nightmares. Plus if you think about it, Yoshi has that jump right now. A pedal movement with the feet and a glider effect. Remember that the Super Mario Bros 2 game was released in Japan in 1988. So if you are thinking but this style of jumping is super cool! Remember we are talking about game play that is over 30 years old! So no this jump was not the big thing.

Growing up with these consoles was handy, obviously I was able to play all of the Mario games. Almost at least. However, it was mostly with the Nintendo 64 that I got the most out of the franchise. The Mario Party were fabulous, what great memories! These games are magic! Mario Tennis also remains a great series of games. However, I must admit that the version released on the Switch did not please me at all. It’s really not what I expected. There are some cool points but overall I just didn't like this game.

Of course there is also the oh so exhilarating but the oh so frustrating Mario Kart. These games were so great. So much fun experienced with these games. I think I've rarely even laughed so much on a game as this one. His rival being Mario Party, that’s obvious. Still a pretty good player, no rage for this kind of game.

I'm not sure if many people will agree, but the best memories possible with a Mario Kart game are undoubtedly Mario Kart Double Dash. What an innovation to be able to play two on a car, on a screen without it being shared !!! It was totally awesome !!!! To be able to collect two weapons by switching drivers between player 1 and 2. That was awesome. I remember summers playing together. The whole family. In addition to being able to play at 4 with a split screen only in two !!!! Yes I might be getting a little too excited and I realize that I am starting to get old ...

In short, this franchise has always been able to innovate and do new, unexpected things. I take the example of Mario Maker, although it was released on Wii U dung, which I knew I liked. This game was a nugget. Mario Maker allows us to be able to create levels ourselves, to share them on the internet. And when we see the levels created by the players and especially the levels completed by the players we can say that the players are sadistic, gifted and full of resources.

The ever more innovative Nintendo consoles also allow all the games of the Mario franchise to know how to renew themselves. The Nintendo Switch made it possible to give even more great possibilities to the games of this franchise. Mario Odyssey has been able to bring great novelties with the cap to give further impetus to the main game range. Super Smash Bros Ultimate and the huge (even too many) number of playable characters, battle surfaces have given the game a great buzz. Then there are the different game modes which are still quite new, fresh and really add something to this game. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is quite simply a totally crazy planetary success. For example, it is the best-selling racing game in history in the United States, and has been in the top 5 for video game sales in France for almost two years in a row. The latest Mario Party has yet to be tested (by me) but it shows great promise.

I see nothing that can stop this franchise from bringing fun to people of all ages. I can't wait to be able to keep playing some of these games, to be able to tell you about them, to be able to test new things.

In the meantime, play well, play together, be happy. And long live Mario!

A genre that goes well with others. Totally iconic characters. Whether we are talking about platform games or a mix of platform and action or adventure, there are a lot of games.

Here's a little list to see just how much this genre has created iconic characters:

Mario, Sonic, Crash Bandicoot, Samus Aran, Spyro, Rayman, Mega Man, Donkey Kong and more.

Mario is probably the best known of all. The little guy who makes his way through dangers with fireballs, red, green or blue shells etc.

Crash Bandicoot which was reborn after a magnificent Remaster and a brilliant 4th opus. Rayman who with his particular style can make us angry but continually love his stories.

Donkey Kong, although already in the video game scene has a huge notoriety too (maybe especially) thanks to his games on Super Nintendo.

Sonic who has become such an unmistakable and recognizable character. It remains one of a kind to this day.

Spyro what can I say, this fiery little dragon who must help his fellows when he does not yet really know how to fly. Will we be entitled to a new opus on Next Gen? It would be nice.

Samus Aran who knew how to impress everyone because until the end of the (first) game you couldn't tell she was a woman. She became a real icon of the video game world. A new game is coming soon (it's about time)

Mega Man who is certainly recognizable and known to players, it is perhaps less so to people who do not play regularly. This character remains a reference all the same.

This genre has bound to be a part of my life since playing video games. Sometimes impossible to follow, other times too simple. The developers always do everything they can to be able to confuse you and make you angry. Let's face it, there is a bit of nastiness behind it all. They love to see us suffer.

We must also say that we want more. This genre has been around for so long. If we take Mario as an example we are in 35 years of agony, rage and questioning about life. I'm exaggerating a bit, it's true.

Remember your last games on this kind of games. There is some truth to it.

Recently I got back to Metroid on NES and SNES. I have these games via my Nintendo Switch. Thanks to the subscription I even bought the controllers to have the same feeling as in the past.

If you have any doubts about the quality, check out my article on controllers. I say more. Honestly, we can easily find ourselves 25 years back. These games remain fun to play and their story is well written.

We continue to have a lot of fun. Like a lot of people I also have the new versions of Crash and Spyro. Games that I loved replaying and can't wait to pick up again just by writing these few lines.

What makes these games enjoyable lies precisely in the difficulty and the pace. You have to be sure to jump, run or attack at the right time. All of this is a real challenge and gamers love to take on challenges.

The pace is pretty brisk too, cut off by boss fights, where  it's more a matter of what moves the opponent makes in order to be able to counter them or not get ripped off. We also have bonus stages, like having to fly with Spyro, through rings and in a time limit.

Also having so many different worlds, levels, stages in these games that renew the desire to play and to succeed. The more we advance, the easier it is not to be fooled by monsters, robots or other adversaries.

As gamers who got to play the early games of these characters and saw the birth of some, it's a real pleasure to see that platform games continue to be so popular.

Only the Crash and Spyro Remasters prove it. Both "old" and young gamers agree on these games and that's great news. While some, like Mario, are so iconic that every game will be a success, other games like this exist and they have their own well-deserved glory.

So don't hesitate, if you want to take on a challenge, if you want to rage or live unforgettable adventures, platform games are for you!

Don’t hesitate to give it a go and have a good game!