I’m happy to report there’s plenty to look forward to with all three titles, and we’ll start this trio of articles by looking at…

Super Bomberman R 2

I don’t have much history with the Super Bomberman series, and I was barely into my demo time before realizing that was my mistake. Super Bomberman R 2 is bursting with joyful chaos, offering the kind of hyperactive fun that can occupy an entire game night with friends and family…provided they’re cool with you attempting to blow them up.

It helps that the gameplay is surprisingly accessible. At its most basic, you’re running through mazes, dropping bombs to blast away the walls and your opponents. Your goal will change depending upon the game variation you’re playing, with Standard, Grand Prix, and Battle 64 all returning from Super Bomberman R. The new mode in R 2 is Castle, in which one side defends the castle’s treasure chests from the opposing team. Defenders are tasked with patrolling an area around the treasure chests, setting up defenses with the available gadgets to help keep the attackers away. It’s up to the attackers, of course, to find a way around them…or blast their way through them.

Even better, Castle mode includes a level editor that allows players to generate their own maps and share them online. I didn’t get hands-on time with the level editor, but the benefit is obvious even if you’re not the type to generate your own map. Players should expect a solid amount of content to keep the battles feeling fresh well after the game’s initial release. And who knows? You may find after spending time with the game that you have some solid map ideas of your own.

And don’t worry if you’re new to the series. I was, but within a few rounds my strategies were advancing beyond simply dropping a bomb and running the other direction. Timing is important. So is using the ability to kick bombs away for surprise attacks or to defend yourself. There’s plenty beyond that, but you don’t have to worry about embarrassing yourself in party games while you figure it all out; Super Bomberman R 2 includes a single player component. The game does lose some impact without the chaos of multiplayer, but the story appears goofy and cute enough to propel you forward as you learn the nuances of combat and control.

The Story Mode introduces small, ghostly creatures called Ellons that seem to be having some survival difficulty. By rescuing them, Bomberman and his friends will be able to utilize them to solve puzzles and access new items/locations across the adventure. The Ellons trail behind the player as you work your way through each level, and that can spell trouble; the Ellons are susceptible to damage, too.

The Switch release of Super Bomberman R 2 is set for September 12th for the physical edition. The digital release will launch the following day, and pre-orders are now open in the eShop. For more information, visit www.konami.com/games/bomberman/r2/.

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Nintendo Switch players in North America can access the demo on the Nintendo eShop. The demo will allow single-players to access the pop songs “Shake Senora (featuring T-Pain and Sean Paul)” by Pitbull and “TiK ToK” by Kesha. European players will be able to access the demo later this month.

Of course, if you like what you see (and hear), pre-orders are now open for both the standard ($39.99) and deluxe ($49.99) editions. Those who purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition on the Nintendo eShop will receive the following in-game items on top of the standard edition of the game:

• The Sonic the Hedgehog Music Pack that includes fan-favorite tracks such as “Open Your Heart” from Sonic Adventure, “Reach For The Stars (Re-Colors)” from Sonic Colors: Ultimate, and “I’m Here” from Sonic Frontiers.
• The SEGA Music Pack (available on September 27, 2023) that features popular tracks from SEGA’s historic roster of franchises: “Baka Mitai (Taxi Driver Edition),” “Go Go Cheer Girl!” from Space Channel 5: Part 2, and “Rhythm Thief Theme” from Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure.
• Special costumes and accessories from Sonic the Hedgehog, Space Channel 5, Super Monkey Ball, and Puyo Puyo.

As for the game itself, Samba de Amigo: Party Central allows players to use Joy-Con as maracas while dancing to 40 hit songs from the world’s most popular genres, with even more song arriving as post-launch DLC. More specifically:

• Groove with your friends and family with different party modes.
• Complete the StreamiGo! challenges to help Amigo rise to fame.
• Strut that style by customizing your character with unique costumes and accessories.
• Take the party to a global level by hitting the floor with 12 Amigos and up to 8 of your friends online in World Party Mode.
• Show the world what you’ve got by competing on the online leaderboards.

For more information on Samba de Amigo: Party Central, visit sambadeamigo.sega.com.

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If you’re a fan of action and adventure, puzzles and platformers, you’ve most likely enjoyed Frozenbyte’s Trine series. First launched in Windows in July of 2009, the series has grown to encompass multiple games for multiple platforms. Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy is now heading for release, and will hit the Switch on August 31st, 2023.

Do any of the characters need an introduction? If you’ve played any of the games, be it individually or as part of the ultimate collection, you know of the exploits of Pontius the knight, Amadeus the magician and Zoya the thief. But if you’d like a refresher, Frozenbyte has provided the above video meet-and-greet for Pontius the Knight, “…Protector of the Realm and also the biggest pie lover the land has ever seen!”

Your sword and shield will aid you on your journey – if you know how to use them! As a skilled knight and professional pie eater, Pontius can use his sword to fight off enemies, get rid of obstacles, and even use it as a platform to help him reach higher areas. The shield, not only made to protect, will come in handy to reflect light, skate across water, and even use as a glider!

Charge, smash, fight, and puzzle-solve your way through the dangers that await with your fellow adventurers. And should you need further help, the Prismatic Talisman will be your best friend – literally. Clones can be useful!

As for the rest of the game, we know it’ll provide fans with:

• A beautiful 2.5D world with twenty levels ready for players to explore.
• Local and online multiplayer for up to 4 players.
• Puzzles with plenty of replayability and dynamic physics. Players will utilize fire, air, light, magnets, electricity and more, with puzzles tailored both for solo and co-op play.
• Challenging tactical combat that pits players against the unstoppable Clockwork Knights and the cunning Rat Gang. Try your wits and courage in formidable boss fights!
• Difficulty settings for combat, puzzles, and character resurrection. The game welcomes everyone’s own play style.
• A mesmerizing soundtrack, with songs that capture the essence of each unique environment.
• A voice cast of returning favourites and charming new additions

Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy is being developed by Frozenbyte in Helsinki, Finland. Learn more at www.frozenbyte.com.

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ATLUS recently announced that Persona 5 Tactica will be hitting the Switch on November 17, 2023. And today at Anime Expo 2023, they debuted a character trailer for some of the game’s combatants, including someone we haven’t met previously.

Check out the trailer above, where you’ll learn more about the backgrounds and unique skillset for Joker, Morgana, and the all-new Erina. These are just some of the characters you’ll be using to fight against the tyrannical Legionnaires.

And unlike with Persona 5—which is now also available for the Switch—the turn-based combat in Persona 5 Tactica will be grid-based along the lines of XCOM 2 or Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope. An isometric view of the battlefield allows players to strategically position the Phantom Thieves so they can take advantages of their individual strengths and attacks.

As for the story:

After a strange incident, the Phantom Thieves wander into a bizarre realm where its citizens are living under tyrannical oppression. Surrounded by a military group named Legionnaires, they find themselves in grave danger until a mysterious revolutionary named Erina rescues them and offers an enticing deal in exchange for their help. What truth lies behind Erina and the deal she offers to the Phantom Thieves?

Persona 5 Tactica will launch on Nintendo Switch and other platgorms on November 17th. For more information, check out the Nintendo eShop or visit persona.atlus.com.

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Do you like your platformers hot, tasty, and simmered in retro sauce? If so, you’ll happy to know Ratalaika Games and Sylph have announced that Garlic will be released for Nintendo Switch and other platforms on July 7th. A spoof of genre classics, Garlic is “…a tough but fun platformer outing perfect for both new and experienced players alike.”

In the game, Garlic (known to his friends as “Onion Boy Head”) is a brave but somewhat nasty hero who just wants to climb the sacred tower to meet the Cyber Goddess. It’s good to have goals.

Garlic presents endless challenges with platforming, evasive action, jumping, and confrontations are the order of the day, as you would expect. Complemented with a compendium of mini-games, 12 zones, containing nine levels, plus one special boss, marks this as one feast of action. Garlic coins, tons of enemies with some neat variations of environments for each zone keeps interest high.

The precision platforming action in Garlic features an eight direction dash and a super dash you can perform by slamming floors, walls, and even ceilings. The is allows players to pull off some crazy moves if you’re daring enough to use it. And in addition to the minigames, Garlic features a timerush mode to test your skills as a speedrunner.

Garlic will be available July 7th for $14.99. For more information, visit the Nintendo eShop.

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Bloober Team knows how to scare us, as evidenced by games such as Layers of Fear and Observer. Now, Switch players can descend into the award-winning psychological horror of The Medium…or rise into it, considering the Switch release is cloud version only.

Either way, the game’s available with a 15% launch discount available through July 6th.

Originally launched in 2021, Medium offers dual-reality gameplay that allows players to navigate between real and alternative worlds to solve puzzles.

The game is set in the late ‘90s following Marianne, a psychic investigating the abandoned Hotel Niwa in search of answers about her past. She explores the physical world and the spirit world simultaneously, which lets players use the interactions between them to solve dual-reality puzzles, unlock new paths, and awaken memories of past events.

The spirit world is a dark mirror reflection of our reality, and it has been modeled and designed under the inspiration of Polish dystopian surrealist, Zdzisław Beksiński’s paintings. The incredible visuals were enhanced by the original soundtrack co-composed by Arkadiusz Reikowski and Akira Yamaoka.

The Medium – Cloud Version is available now in the Nintendo eShop at the discounted rate of $42.99 through July 6th. A demo is available if you’d like to try it before braving the full puzzle/adventure. For more information, visit www.themediumgame.com.

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It’s hard to believe that in over six years of the Switch, Nintendo fans haven’t yet been able to play a Tomb Raider game. That’s technically still the case, but Feral Interactive and Crystal Dynamics have announced that, as of today, Lara Croft has entered the Switch library via the Lara Croft Collection.

2010’s Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light and 2014’s Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris comprise the collection, and neither game plays like your typical Tomb Raider third-person action/adventure/shooter. They’re still action/adventures, but feature Lara’s return to puzzle solving and her first true foray into co-op multiplayer. Both games use a fixed, isometric view of the action more akin to a dungeon crawler, allowing players to survey the playing field and locate the methods to advance past numerous environmental traps and hazards.

And, of course, to eliminate any enemies standing in the way.

Each tomb-raiding, run-and-gun adventure is bursting with undead hordes to blast, fiendish puzzles to solve, perilous traps to evade, and intricate Challenge Tombs to test players’ wits and reflexes solo or with friends.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of the Light features two-player local co-op, while Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris allows for up to four local players. Both games include the previous DLC releases in one package.

About Lara Croft and the Guardian of the Light
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is an action/adventure game that combines the familiar, exciting hallmarks of the Tomb Raider franchise, like character progression and fun, fast-paced combat, with player cooperation and competition. Players take on Xolotl and his armies of creatures, explore the world, and solve puzzles at their own pace. Adventurers can jump in as Lara Croft or play co-op with another player joining as Totec.

About Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is the sequel to the critically acclaimed Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, featuring stunning visuals and a new story set deep in the deserts of Egypt. Lara joins forces with rival treasure hunter Carter Bell, and the imprisoned gods Horus and Isis, to recover the fragments of Osiris before the evil god Set enslaves all of mankind. Either playing solo as Lara, or working together in up to four player co-op, players explore the temple, defeat hordes of enemies from the Egyptian underworld, solve devious puzzles, and avoid deadly traps. All the while, players will compete for treasure, powerful artifacts, and ultimate bragging rights.

The Lara Croft Collection is available now in the Nintendo eShop for $24.99. More information is available at feralinteractive.com, and be sure to check back soon for the Pure Nintendo review.

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Is it too early to start thinking about Christmas? It certainly is if you’re the Grinch, and yet he’s the very reason we’re talking about the holiday in June. Ironic, eh? Outright Games this morning announced that The Grinch: Christmas Adventures will be coming to Nintendo Switch and other platforms on October 13th.

The first Grinch-centered video game in sixteen years, The Grinch: Christmas Adventures is a colorful, side-scrolling platformer that will allow fans to experience an all new adventure inspired by the classic children’s book, How The Grinch Stole Christmas.

Players will experience familiar environments, characters, and a host of Christmas details as they help the Grinch steal the Whos’ Christmas.

Featuring colorful visuals inspired by Dr. Seuss’s original illustrations from the beloved story, players must embark on a quest as The Grinch to ruin Christmas for The Whos. Accompanied by his faithful dog Max, who will help you to complete dastardly missions to steal all the presents, players will be faced with the spirit of Christmas, from joyful singing to twinkling fairy lights, as they as they make their way across the iconic town of Who-ville 

Complete puzzles to unlock special abilities and gadgets that include snowballs to freeze creatures in your way, including a Santa disguise for stealthy sneaking, a lasso candy cane, and a jumping jetpack. Speed up your devious antics by traversing parts of Who-ville on a sleigh or snowboard. As the story progresses, players will discover the spirit of Christmas and help the Grinch’s heart grow three sizes.

Fans can expect to be fully immersed with the story as The Grinch: Christmas Adventures features recognizable environments, characters, and a host of Christmas details that will delight everyone during the festive season.

The Grinch: Christmas Adventures will be available on October 13th on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and PC. For more information, keep an eye on outrightgames.com.

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Remember back when you first heard that Baby Shark song and thought, “Catchy, but I wonder if there’s a video game.” Well, there is. Outright Games has announced that Baby Shark: Sing & Swim Party—a rhythmic adventure game developed in collaboration with The Pinkfong Company—will be coming to Nintendo Switch and other platforms on September 15th, 2023.

Baby Shark: Sing & Swim Party is described as a “cooperative rhythmic adventure” in which players unlock a story of family and friendship. Up to four players can become Baby Shark, Mommy Shark, Daddy Shark, Grandma Shark, or Grandpa Shark in local co-op mode, or players can choose to swim solo. Either way, fans will hear 30 songs, including “Baby Shark,” “Disco Sharks,” and “Shark Dance Party” on their adventure.

The story unfolds in the unique style of following the Shark Family as they take a vacation across the ocean to the Fin-Tastic Festival, the biggest music contest in the whole ocean. Baby Shark: Sing & Swim Party allows players to explore 7 recognisable locations from the fan-favourite Baby Shark videos such as the stunning Tropical Bay, the vast Ocean City, and the dark Kingdom of the Deep, to get to the festival. The game features Rhythm or Runner Mode where players have to stay on the beat and complete levels to collect cards and stickers. For extra fun, the five playable characters from the Shark Family are customizable with unlockable costumes and skins to collect in-game.

The game has been created with all family members in mind, and designed to be accessible and educational for even the youngest Baby Shark fans. As they travel across the ocean, young gamers, between 3-6 years old, will also be helped to develop their psychomotor skills through rhythmic gameplay and a gradual difficulty curve. To help young players who are learning to read, the game developers have incorporated a full game voice-over for all dialogue, location names, and instructions. The game features festivals and holidays from around the globe such as Día de los Santos as well as music from many genres like orchestral music, reggaeton, and rock. Short levels and easy repetition mechanics position Baby Shark: Sing & Swim Party as the perfect introductory game for young gamers to learn how to play.

Baby Shark: Sing & Swim Party will launch for Nintendo Switch on September 15, 2023, and will be available in 26 languages. (Are there that many ways to sing, “do do do do-do do-do?”) For more information, visit outrightgames.com.

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The “body-shaking music rhythm” game Samba de Amigo: Party Central will be released for Nintendo Switch on August 29th, and the party will now feature a special guest. SEGA has announced a collaboration with Pitbull, with a selection of his songs becoming available as free, day one downloads.

The songs announced this week include:

• The appropriately titled “Shake Senora (featuring T-Pain and Sean Paul)”
• A new track, “Let’s Take a Shot”, set to be released as a single for Pitbull’s upcoming album, Trackhouse.

Both tracks will be available via a day one update, joining another Pitbull hit, “Celebrate,” which was previously announced as part of the base game.

Of course, there’s plenty more to Samba de Amigo than Pitbull. The rhythm game will allow players to:

• Get up and shake it in a vibrant and colorful rhythm action game with smooth controls that make the game fun for everyone.
• Groove to 40 hit songs from the world’s most popular genres, with more arriving as post-launch paid DLC.
• Test their technique in a variety of difficulty levels and challenges.
• Strut that style by customizing their character with unique costumes and accessories.
• Hit the dance floor and play online in World Party mode.
• Show the world what they’ve got by competing on the online leaderboards.

For more information on Samba de Amigo: Patry Central, including pre-order options, visit sambadeamigo.sega.com.

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