Thank You, Kevin Conroy

Kevin Conroy recently passed away. He died on November 10th, 2022 at the age of 66. He was an actor. You might have seen him on shows such as the Office, Another World, or Search for Tomorrow. I never saw him in any of his TV or film roles. It would probably be more apt to call Kevin Conroy a voice actor, because, well, let's be real; that's what he was most famous for. In particular, Kevin Conroy was known for his work vocing one of the most iconic ficonal characters of all time: Batman. 

Batman: The Animated Series hit TV screens in 1992 and it was the first time I'd ever heard Kevin's voice and by extension his take on Batman/Bruce Wayne. The voice he gave Bruce was light hearted, sounding almost carefree. It was the complete opposite of his voice for Batman. This was done intentionally to distinguish the two identities. Kevin's voice for Batman was gruff, raspy and every bit as dark as Batman himself. It was the first time in any media that Batman and Bruce Wayan sounded like two completely different people. And this was something that Kevin himself came up with. I'd also like to add that he did that knowing very little about the character.

One of my favorite lines that Kevin has ever spoken is "I am vengeance! I am the night! I AM BATMAN!" from the episode BTAS "Nothing to Fear". The line was also used in promos for the show, which was the first time I'd heard it. It sounded like such a sick line and hyped me up even more to see the show. After the 9/11 attacks in 2001, Kevin was doing volunteer work, cooking for firefighters and police officers and would recite this very same line to some understanably downtrodden workers, which as it turned out, were big fans of BTAS. Kevin's recital of that line was met with huge applause. Kevin has told that story numerous times and I was never tired of hearing it.

BTAS ended in 1995 but Kevin's voice work for Batman was far from finished. BTAS was just the beginning in what would go on to be known as the DC Animated Universe. A world composed of numerous shows that included BTAS, Superman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyong, Static Shock, Justice League and Justice League Unilimted. DCAU Batman is often cited as being one of the best, if not definitive versions of the character and while a lot of that is owed to great writing, we also have to thank Kevin for breathing so much into this version of Batman.

Voice work is something not everyone truly understands. It isn't just reading lines from a script in a certain tone. There's a lot of nuance and subtlety that goes into the line delivery. I got the impression that Kevin really understood Batman and because of that, he was able to voice the character so well.

Kevin has voiced numerous versions of Batman for nearly 30 years. It's amazing to see how much he improved the role. His voice for Batman in BTAS, The New Batman Adventures, Justice League and the Arkham games all sound so different, if only by the slightest bit in some versions. For a lot of you that read Batman comics, Kevin's voice is what pops in your head. I'm the same way. 

I never got to meet him, but from what I've seen in interviews and footage of him at cons, Kevin had this warmth to him. You couldn't help but smile whenever you saw him or heard him speak. When news reached me of his death, it stung. Still does. He was only 66. I had hoped we'd get to hear him voice Batman for years to come. I'm sure you've heard it from countless others, so you'll have to forgive me for repeating it but, for me, Kevin will always be Batman. No disrespect to anyone that has voiced the character in the past, but Kevin is THE VOICE for Batman. 

Thank you, Kevin Conroy. 

Let's Discuss: The Super Mario Bros. Movie Teaser Trailer

Image: Illumination/Nintendo

There was much anticipation from Nintendo fans for October 6th, in particular, fans of the Big N's mascot, Mario. This afternoon Nintendo graced us with a teaser trailer for the Super Mario Bros. Movie with a short Nintendo Direct. After some words from from some of the folks involved with the movie including Shigeru Miyamoto and voice cast Chris Pratt and Jack Black, the moment we were all waiting for had finally arrived. And it did not disappoint. Mostly.

That opening scene where Bowser rolls up with a whole friggin' island to take a Power Star was AWESOME. That Bowser slow walk, the delivery of "OPEN THE GATES!" to Bowser displaying his fire breath had the perfect blend of action and comedy, topped off with some great facial expressions from Bowser, and the penguins. Say what you want about Illumination but they put in serious work on this flick and it really shows.

I think the biggest criticism people have about this teaser is how Mario sounds. Granted, we heard very little of Chris Pratt Mario but the little we heard was enough to have fans fuming. I think I heard a tiny bit of an accent in the line "Mushroom Kingdom, here we come." I personally wasn't expecting a full on Charles Martines but I was hoping to hear, well more than what we did from him. I'm willing to give this the benefit of the doubt as Mario, the star of the movie, got some of the fewest lines in this teaser. Perhaps Nintendo doesn't want to show too much of Mario speaking just yet.

Can we talk about Toad? Duuuuuuude, I LOVE HIM! Keegan-Michael Key was born to voice Toad. His Toad voice isn't a one-to-one of the Toad we get from the games (that would probably be grating on the ears after two hours) but I am all about the voice he's given us. He had me cracking up and every time I see that scene with Toad in the teaser, I'm laughing out loud. I cannot wait to see more scenes with Toad.

Seeing as how this trailer was a teaser, we didn't get to hear wat Donkey Kong, Peach and others will sound like, but in time, more trailers will come. What I've seen was enough to get me excited for this film. Whatever the outcome, it can't be any worse than the 1993 Super Mario Bros. movie.

*Shudder*

Kirby 30th Anniversary Music Festival

An event I've been looking forward to all year is the Kirby 30th Anniversary Music Fest, a live stream orchestral concert. Me being a goof, I let the date of the live stream slip past me and I wasn't able to catch it live. Thankfully, some super kind souls have preserved it on YouTube. At least until Nintendo comes along and axes it. Enjoy it while you can.

You can catch the entire event...

...Or a cut up stream that has only the music.

Make Way for the New King of Best Selling Kirby Games

Image: Nintendo

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Kirby franchise. The first game, Hoshi no Kabi, translated to Kirby of the Stars, released in Japan on April 27th, 1992, which would later be released in other regions under the title known as Kirby's Dream Land. A myriad of Kirby titles have followed since pink puff ball's first outing and while many would agree that much of what came after has far and away surpassed Kirby's Dream Land, the same can not be said for sales. Many a Kirby fan adores Kirby Air Ride, Kirby's Return to Dream Land and Kirby: Planet Robobot but none of those games or any other Kirby game has managed to sell more copies than Kirby's debut Game Boy title, which sits atop the throne at 5.13 million in lifetime sales. Welp, there's a new king coming to town and it goes by the name of Kirby and Forgotten Land.

If you've just escaped Another Dimension, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is the first mainline 3D Kirby adventure. The game was released worldwide on March 25th, 2022 on the Nintendo Switch and has already sold more than 4.53 million copies. This makes Kirby and the Forgotten Land the fastest selling Kirby title but the fact it has been on store shelves less than six months with such huge numbers means that it will more than likely overtake Kirby's Dream Land as the best selling Kirby game.

Kirby has always been beloved by fans but the series has never had the sales of other Nintendo IPs such as Super Mario or the Legend of Zelda games. To see Kirby's latest game be so successful fills me with joy, especially as a long time fan of the tough cream puff. Those sales are well deserved. I for one cannot wait to see Kirby and the Forgotten Land overtake the sales of Kirby's Dream Land. 

I Caved and Bought Sonic Origins

Back in June, I put SEGA on blast for the way they chose to handle the release of Sonic Origins. You know, the digital only release, extra features like more music, extra character animations and such being tucked underneath a $5 blanket. I still think that sucks. But for all my bravado, I went ahead and bought Sonic Origins on release day. 

So how did SEGA get me? Mission mode. The way they showed it off in trailers really stirred my interest. Mission mode is pretty lit even if some of the challenges do make me a bit salty. This mode is also a great way to earn coins to buy stuff in the museum.

What is becoming one of my favorite features of retro compilations is the archival of artwork that usually comes with them. Yes, we can see a lot of this artwork online but I always love it when developers go that extra mile to include it in game. I was playing Mega Man X Legacy Collection some time ago and I found myself looking through the original artwork from the first Mega Man X. The character designs from that era still look amazing in my book. I ended up spending more time than I thought looking through the old images from Sonic the Screensaver that have been thankfully included in Sonic Origins along with the concept art and a few images I'd never seen before. Being able to look through this artwork with a playlist of Sonic tunes I created from what the game gives you is pretty neat, though I do wish the songs looped twice. An option to have songs play endlessly would be nice. And the music from Sonic Mega Collection such as that ultra soothing Extras Menu music would have been heaven if it was included.

As for the games themselves, I like most of what is here. Sonic 3 & Knuckles in wide screen on the Switch is a dream come true and is without question the best game in here. Sonic 2 is mostly a good game and Sonic CD's crazy, uneven, whacky level design is still a headache for me to slog through, which only serves as proof that the Classic era of Sonic is not all sunshine and Flickies as many fans would like you to believe. The first Sonic game is still one of the best and isn't held back by it's slower paced levels.

You can use coins to buy art and music from the Museum, but coins are also excellent for retrying the Special Stages. Coins, saved my sanity while playing Special Stages in Sonic Origins. I have never gotten all of the Time Sones in Sonic CD due to the limited times you could try for them in past releases of the game. But the coin system in Sonic Origins let's me retry the Special Stages as long as I have coins on me.

Could Origins be better? Of course it could. Filters, which are standard fare for these collections are nowhere to be found. By no means is the absence of them a deal breaker but you'd think they would be included. I get that fans are upset that not all of Sonic 3 & Knuckles original music could be included but the replacement music is not the disaster all the memes and YouTube videos make them seem. Far from it. I found myself humming some of the replacement tracks while at work and that Super Sonic theme for S3&K one-ups the highly repetitive original. 

Oh, I had $6 in coins on my eShop account so that took some of the sting out of paying $40 for a collection of some nice games that I still felt was a bit overpriced.

TMNT: Cowabung Collection FINALLY Gets a Release Date

Image: IGN

Remember when Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabung Collection was revealed back in early March of this year? Maaaaan, the hype was REAL. And then we waited for Konami to give us a release date. And waited. And waited. And waited. Freaking Bayonetta 3 got a release date before the Cowabunga Collection. Then, yesterday, out of the blue, Konami gave us a release date for this godlike Turtle compilation. IGN was the first to post the video with the release date, which will be August 30th, 2022. 

I've been playing and loving Shredder's Revenge. As a huge Turtles fan, it is a fantastic beat 'em up. But I was going crazy wondering when the Cowabunga Collection was gonna drop. I've had the game on pre-order for months. I've bought more trades of the TMNT Ultimate Collection comics (up to volume 5 now) and I picked up some 1987 inspired Turtle figures for my birthday as well as a Playmates Classic Leonard figure. I got a sick looking Rocksteady figure from BSTANX and The Last Ronin in hardcover. I've been binge watching the show (I'm halfway through season 4). My Turtle Mania fever is running high. I NEED the Cowabunga Collection to help feed my addiction. 

Getting the Cowabunga Collection at the end of August makes me a very happy Turtle fan. I was beginning to wonder if it would be released in November or get pushed back to 2023, but thankfully, that isn't the case. 

A lot of the games in the Cowabunga Collection (the arcade TMNT, TMNT NES, TMNT II: The Arcade Game, TMNT IV: Turtles in Time, the SNES version of Tournament Fighters especially) hold a lot of fond memories for me. I cannot wait to play through these games again and experience them anew with my friends, nieces and nephew. There's an inexpensive arcade stick I've had my eye on for a while now and I just might pick it up in time for the release of this Turtle Anthology. 

I don't think you understand how excited I am for this release. This game has me more excited than a lot of other releases coming down the road this year. Maybe a lot of it is fueled by nostalgia, or my love for the Turtles. Maybe both. This game finally, finally getting a release date was the gaming news for me this week. Like, I'm considering requesting August 30th off work and ordering Pizza Hut. It will make for a pretty gnarly Turtle Tuesday, don'tcha think dudes?

Another Slice of Turtle Mania

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, you couldn't go anywhere without running into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Though the green machines originated in comic book form thanks to creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, it was the 1987 animated show that gave rise to a tsunami of turtle fever that would last for years. Movies, video games, TV specials, cereal and of course, toys. Oh, the toys. It was a time of Turtle Mania and I was so happy to experience it.

But like all good things, sadly, it came to an end.

Although the headday of the Turtles may be behind them, they remain firmly ingrained in pop culture. You can still find these ninjas on clothing, buy toys and for the first time in years, we're getting some very, very good Turtle games, with the most recent one, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, being released last week.

I've done three runs through Shredder's Revenge (one with Leo, Mikey and Raph) and it just might be the best TMNT game. Shredder's Revenge reminded me of all the old TMNT games and brought memories of the cartoon it is based on flooding to the surface. So much with this game just clicks. Wonderfully animated sprite graphics, the sounds of Foot Soliders and Mousers getting smacked around. The stages are not too long or too short. And that absolute BANGER of a soundtrack! I've been jamming out to that sucker for more than a week now. Sooooo goooood!

As if Shredder's Revenge weren't enough, sometime this year, we'll be treated to a plethora of games that helped Turtle Mania maintain dominance during the franchise's peak. I am of course talking about the Cowabunga Collection, my dream anthology that I never thought would come true, but sometimes reality isn't disappointing. All the NES, SNES, Arcade, GB and Genesis games in one shell of a collection. Man, just give me a release date for this game already!!! I needed my old-school Turtle beat downs yesterday!!!

I am so freaking excited about all the TMNT love we're getting for games this year. Recently I bought the 1987 TMNT series on DVD. The plan was to finish Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog and Teen Titans shows I've been binging but Shredder's Revenge has me on such a high that I had to change my plans. I've already breezed through the first two seasons. Rob Paulsen Raphael might be my favorite version of the character.

I've been meaning to start reading TMNT: The Ultimate Collection, which reprints the original Mirrage Studios comics. I've actually read the first issue of TMNT before as well as the Leonard One-Issue Micro-Series, which is one of my favorite comics that replies heavily on panels without words to showcase the action. In fact I own an original copy of that issue. 

I should probably start collecting some of those hardcovers of the IDW TMNT comics. That's a run I've been wanting to check out as I've heard so many good things about it. 

Back to the 1987 Turtles, we just learned that IDW will be printing a four issue mini series based off off the aforementioned incarnation of the Turtles dubbed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures beginning this September. Makes me wish Archie's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventure comics were collected in a format besides a measly four issues perk book because I really want to read those.

Action figures played a huge part of my childhood during the pinnacle of Turtle Mania. While I was poking around on Amazon, I saw some Turtle figures based off the 1987 caroons as well as the first Playmates figures, which were some of my favorite toys to collect. I'm planning on picking those up for my birthday. 

This really is a great time to be a fan of the TMNT. It's like we're getting another slice of Turtle Mania. It may not be a whole pizza that we got back in the day, but I will gladly take that slice and savor it. Party on, dudes.

SEGA Staying SEGA with Sonic Origins Release

June 23, 2022 will mark Sonic's 31st birthday/anniversary. To Celebrate, SEGA will release, Sonic Origins, a collection that houses wide screen, enhanced versions of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic CD and Sonic 3 and Knuckles. The first three games listed have been on the mobile market for years. It took an eternity, but SEGA has finally decided to bring them to consoles. And true to form for the company, SEGA had to go and mess up a good thing with what should have been a simple compilation release.

The trend of withholding content that should obviously be included from the get go is something SEGA has grown quite attached to. We saw it with Sonic Colors Ultimate, which had the original music from the 2010 Wii game locked behind a DLC paywall unless you sprung for the Digital Deluxe Edition. Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania also had a large chunk of extra content placed behind a DLC paywall, and like Sonic Colors Ultimate, one such thing was the original music, something you should not need to fork over additional dough for. But hey, if you got the Digital Deluxe Edition, you got your OG Super Monkey Ball jams. But if you bought the physical version? Welp, you were screwed.

What has SEGA locked behind the Digital Deluxe Edition of Sonic Origins? An island camera, character animations, bonus hard missions, additional music tracks, and a letter boxed background. Features that really aren't worth the extra $5 bucks. The intial reveal of the two versions of Sonic Origins was so confusing that SEGA had to put up a spread sheet to make it make sense. And of course, SEGA's spread sheet was only more mind boggling. 

I would say "How could SEGA screw this up?" but then I remember that they are SEGA. SEGA screwing up is kiiiiiiinda their thing.

If you need further proof that one of the best things SEGA is known for is making dumb decisions, look no further than the mid 1990s. They had so much good going on for them. A rival mascot to Nintendo's Mario with Sonic, and thanks to SEGA of America's aggressive marketing, they took the number one spot from Nintendo. SEGA would continue to rock hard with the Genesis but with the threat of next gen systems looming, SEGA of Japan would make a number of blunders that would be so disastrous that they are still talked about to this day. 

First was the SEGA CD, an expensive add-on for the Genesis with a few great games but ultimately flopped. Then came the 32X, which was home to some great ports but was another add on that required the Genesis to run it. Like the SEGA CD, it was a failure. In hopes to beat Sony to the punch in the 32-bit console war, SEGA released the Saturn early and at a higher price than the PlayStation. This not only steamed retailers but the early release made for some sloppy launch games. Debacle after debacle damaged SEGA's reputation both with retailers and consumers. Two years after launch, the Dreamcast was discontinued and SEGA pulled out of the hardware business.

And that's just the abridged version of some of SEGA's idiocy. They can and have made some stellar games. But they really are and continue to be their own worst enemy. Do you really need some animated cut scenes and a moving camera to get the most out of Sonic Origins? And what extra music is SEGA talking about? If it is anything like Sonic Colors Ultimate and Super Mokey Ball: Banana Mania, it could be a full soundtrack that SEGA chose to make DLC just to nickle and dime us.

Oh and did I mention that Sonic Origins is only a digital release? Yup. SEGA has no plans for a physical release at this time, which is more SEGA stupidity. The mascot of the company is celebrating his birthday with some of his most memorable games and SEGA can't even bother to give the blue boy some physical lovin'. Or maybe they plan to see how many of us will double dip. I've been waiting for Sonic 3 & Knuckcles to get the wide screen treatment and come to the Switch for years. That time has finally come and SEGA had to go and pull a friggin' SEGA. Sonic Origins should have gotten a physical release from the start and if they do plan to release a physical version, then 

My intent of this post was not to dull anyone's excitement for Sonic Origins. If you're stoked for the game and are going to pick it up, by all means, have at it. But SEGA's way of going about this release leaves such a nasty taste in my mouth that I personally don't feel like being so quick to give them my money.

Why the Nintendo Switch Sportsmates Hate?

Image: Nintendo

 

When Nintendo Switch Sports was revealed during the February 2022 Nintendo Direct, it was a day for celebration. A Revival of Nintendo's Wii Sports series meant we were gonna get down like it was 2006 all over again. One of the defining features of the Wii Sports games was the use of Miis, character avatars that often served as self inserts for the players to use. Miis have gone on to become a Nintendo staple with a presence on every Nintendo system since the Wii. So when the new Sportsmates were shown front in center for Nintendo Switch Sports, some fans were, how shall we say, concerned? Overreacting? Yeah, let's go with overreacting.

 It was and to some extent, still is impossible to go into a conversation about Nintendo Switch Sports without the Sportsmates being derided as inferior, or lesser beings in comparison to the Miis. I've read comments from some saying "They look weird" or "They replaced Miis." As for the Sportsmates looking weird, nah, son, I'm not seeing it. I think they look perfectly fine. I have however, seen some pretty screwed up looking Miis but that hasn't sent the internet into a frenzy. And the Sportsmates never replaced the Miis in Switch Sports. During the game's reveal it was clearly shown that you could still use Miis but I guess some folks were too busy freaking out over new avatars getting some time in the spotlight to notice.

Nostalgia is one heckuva drug. Yeah, it makes you feel warm and fuzzy but it can also cloud your thinking and make you less welcoming to new things. The Miis are now 16 years old so it is only natural for gamers to be attached to them. But I do think a great deal of nostalgia is making some gamers dislike the Sportsmates. 

There's an article on Game Rant that talks about an uncertain future for the Sportsmates, stating that their name prevents them from being useful in future Nintendo titles. This article is strange to me. What if Nintendo doesn't want to use the Sportsmates for other games? Just because the Miis are used for multiple games doesn't mean the Sportsmates have to follow suit. And what is to prevent the Sportsmates from being in other Nintendo games? Because they have "Sports" in the name? Really? If Nintendo does want to use the Sportsmates in other games, I doubt they are gonna let a name stop them from doing so. Like I said, that article is strange to me.

Nintendo Switch Sports as a game has also been labeled by some as not being on the same level as Wii Sports or its sequel, Wii Sports Resort. Like Wii Sports, Switch Sports has six sports to choose from, but a big fan favorite, Boxing, is nowhere to be found in Switch Sports. At least not yet, anyway. During the game's reveal, Nintendo told us Golf would be coming in the fall so I've no doubt other sports will be added to Switch Sports, Boxing probably being among them. Switch Sports seems to be following the same route that the Mario sports titles on the Switch have. That is to say, the game releases and then gets free updates as time goes on. Mario Golf: Super Rush had more courses and characters added after launch and while I immensely enjoyed the base game, the updates made it even better and I'm sure some would argue it should have hit with all of that included on day one. I'm not the biggest fan of sending out a bare bones game but at the same time, I'm not gonna say no to free content. 

Back to the hate on Sportsmates, I really don't get it. It never should have been an issue to begin with since Nintendo let us know that Miis were still on the table. Nothing is preventing players from using the Miis. But perhaps the outrage over Sportsmates is coming from a vocal minority. Every time I've played online, I've been seen a plethroa of other players using Sportsmates. So maybe the Sportsmates aren't nearly as hated as they seem. Granted this is just my own personal experience but I've seen Sportsmates pop up in YouTuber videos as well so it looks like a lot of gamers are embracing them.

One thing the Sportsmates could use is some more hair options. No love for the bald people? Come on, Nintendo. 

Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Quite Possibly the Best Kirby Game

From the very first time the little pink, adorable puffball took his first steps into the gaming landscape 30 years ago, Kirby's games were always developed with younger players in mind. The ease of accessibility has constantly remained front and center to each title to this day. Sure, this may turn off some players but it hasn't stopped Kirby from earning a devoted fanbase. The games have made changes here and there to keep things interesting. Kirby's Return to Dream Land added four player multiplayer and greatly rammed up the Copy Abilities and the move set of each one. Kirby: Planet Robobot let Kirby pilot a mech and use a variation of his Copy Abilities with said mech. And through it all, Kirby has remained in two dimensions. Well, that all changes with Kirby's latest game.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a game fans as well as myself have been waiting for with baited breath ever since it was revealed in September 2021's Nintendo Direct. Some games have dipped a toe in 3D but this is Kirby's first big, full blown 3D adventure and it is the perfect way to kick off the Pink Demon's 30th anniversary. It is also one of the very best Kirby games. Maybe even the best.

If you haven't played Kirby and the Forgotten Land and are worried about spoilers, worry not. I have no intention of divulging any of the plot here. I'll save that for a future post. For now, read on about this wonderful Kirby game.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land starts out like the last few Kirby games. Well, things are a little different this time. Kirby is actually awake when everything goes to crap. Our favorite tough cream puff is enjoying a beautiful day on Planet Popstar, riding on the Warp Star. Everything is happy and grand. But because that wouldn't make for a enthralling adventure and because Kirby's home world is a magnet for disaster, crap happens in the form of a vortex opening up, sucking up everything in sight, our hero included. When Kirby awakens, he's on an abandoned beach in a strange land, dubbed the New World, which is eerily similar to our own, except there are no humans to be found. The New World isn't entirely devoid of life, however. The usual mooks Kirby encounters in his adventures on Popstar are all over the place and the local wildlife known as the Beast Pack have been targeting Waddle Dees capturing them en mass. Shortly after Kirby begins exploring the New World, he helps a cute, blue, big eared mouse-like creature called Elfilin, who wants to save the captive Waddle Dees. United by a common goal, Kirby and Elfilin set off to rescue King Dedede's adorable minions.

I must say that controlling Kirby in 3D feels perfect. It was one of the first things I noticed about the game. Kirby retains all of the moves he had in the 2D games except you no longer need to double tap forward to run. Much like Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, Kirby's hover ability has been nerfed, so your time spent in the air is limited. Looking at the trailers for this game, I speculated that Kirby's hover would be scaled back. It isn't just your air time that's limited. The height at which you can hover has also been greatly reduced. Obviously this was done to make use of the new Mouthful Mode.

Ah, Mouthful Mode, amusing, body horror and cursed power-ups all rolled up into one package. When Kirby inhales an inanimate object that's larger than he is, he'll take on the shape of that object as well as the abilities that object grants. Using Mouthful Mode on a car lets Kirby zoom around on four wheels, doing donuts and smashing through rocks and debris that obstruct your path. Inhaling a vending machine will let you chuck out cans of soda at your enemies so long as you don't run out. Even baddies deserve to stay hydrated. You'll lose Kirby's normal mobility and you can't use whatever Copy Abilities you're currently carrying but Moutful Mode never overstays it's welcome and the different forms it takes are a blast to use. It becomes very chuckle worthy to see Kirby waddle around as a huge light bulb or see the blank expression on his face after inhaling a whole freaking staircase. 

The levels you'll travel through in the Forgotten Land do have the usual types associated with them. A grass world, a desert world, an ice world and so on, but the way the game tackles these level things keeps things fresh and interesting. The first world, Natural Plains is your grass world but the second level has you exploring this massive tunnel that takes you underground to see the remains of a construction project. The fourth level in Natural Plains takes place inside a mall and in a clever bit of world building you'll actually see posters that advertise an amusement park, Wondaria, which is the game's third world. In a few stages of world 4, Winter Horns (which is clearly meant to be a stand-in for London), you'll notice a massive bridge. As you make your way through this world, you'll eventually come to the level that takes place on that bridge and it is one big mini boss rush. Things like this serve to make Forgotten Land a more cohesive game.

Despite each world running with a theme, no two levels feel alike. Every single stage across the game's six worlds stand out thanks to the unique level design. You can walk in on a friend playing the game and if you're familiar enough with the game, you could easily deduce exactly what stage they are on. 

The third dimension has done wonders for Kirby's battles. Slashing foes with sword, cracking skulls with Hammer and barreling at a Awoofy with Fire feel oh so satisfying. Kirby's dodge ability has also received a significant upgrade. Hold any of the shoulder buttons and move out of the way of attack at the right moment and time will slow down. This mechanic is great for evading attacks that can be tricky to do my simple dashing away, sliding or hovering. As any great sales person would say "But wait, there's more!" you can follow up perfect dodge with an attack. This varies depending on the weapon you're using and the distance between you and your foe. If you're using Hammer and pull off a perfect dodge and immediately attack, you'll strike with a level 2 Hammer charge. Yes, perfect dodging is an extremely useful technique but it isn't always a get out of danger free card. Perfect dodge in the wrong direction and you could end up in the path of an attack that is already in motion. That being said, it is better to learn and get used to this move sooner rather than later as some bosses almost require it. Plus, it really is just the best when you pull it off.

Quality over quantity is the name of the game with Copy Abilities in Forgotten Land. Past Kirby games have given our pink dancing ball of joy 20 plus abilities to use. Here, he's only got 12 Copy Abilities but each of them can be upgraded to pack even more of a punch. Upgrading Abilities doesn't just make them more powerful, no. They come with cosmetic changes to boot. As much as I love seeing Kirby do his best Link impression with the default Sword, Gigant Sword, while being a bit sluggish has more range, hits harder and comes with a dope shield that can take so many attacks without Kirby taking damage. We also get to see him run around with that huge sword over his shoulder. Toy Hammer is worth the upgrade just to see Kirby with that cute helmet and I'm sure you've already heard how OP Toy Hammer +Star is by this point. Bombs can be chained together for more explosive power and when upgraded to Homing Bomb, you can worry less about aiming since the bloodthirsty little things will seek out prey. 

One of my favorite Copy Abilities (and lots of other fan's faves) is Ranger. From what I hear, this isn't the first time Kirby was able to use a strap, but it is the first game I've played in the mainline series where Kirby can shoot enemies and as well all know, guns make everything better. Why bother getting close to your enemies when you can just pick them off from a distance? Nobel Ranger gives Kirby TWO guns and as cool as that is, Space Ranger is even better for giving you a nifty space helmet and when fully charged not only does it create this huge plasma blast, it slows down anything that is caught in said blast. Where has Space Ranger been all my life and when does the plush for it drop?

The composers of Kirby and the Forgotten Land have blessed us with an exquisite soundtrack. Veteran Kirby music writers Jun Ishikawa and Hirokazu Ando were joined by Yuuta Ogasawara and Yuki Shimooka. Ogasawara's first Kirby game was 2018's Kirby Star Allies whilst Shimooka got his start with 2019's Kirby Fighters 2. Ishikawa and Ando have been writing Kirby bangers for more than two decades but they've turned in the least amount of music for Forgotten Land. The bulk of the heavy lifting for the game's soundtrack was handled by Ogasawara and Shimooka with the latter composing the majority of the game's score. Star Allies clocked in with a massive six disc soundtrack when it was released. Forgotten Land's eventual soundtrack release could top it as the in game music player has more than 90 songs. The music for Forgotten Land consists of mostly original compositions, something I highly applaud. As great as it is to hear arrangements of classic Kirby themes, the new music that we're presented with here ranks among the series best. Ando and Ishikawa may have written fewer tracks for this game, but some of my favorite new Kirby songs come from these two vets. Through the Tunnel is a song I've listened to more times than I can count and The Battle of Blizzard Bridge is right up there with Nobou Uemtatsu's Battle on the Big Bridge from FINAL FANTASY V when it comes to fantastic video game bridge music. Of course Ogasawara and Shimooka wrote plenty of stand out tracks as well. Running Through the New World, Welcome to the New World, Northeast Frost Street and Road of Dedede are already firmly nailed into the brains of Kirby fans all over the world.

It isn't often I feel a sense of sadness after completing a game but that was the feeling that washed over me sometime after I 100% completed Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Yes, I was happy I finally did that stupid Tilt and Roll Kirby 3, got the gotcha figure and pushed my percent meter to max but it saddened me that the adventure was at long last finished. Even now, as I write this, I'm not ready to stop playing this game. I'm looking for a reason, any reason, to keep playing it 75 hours later. I can power up all of my Copy Abilities. I can go for the max star coins on each stage. I could see how much I can better my time in the Colosseum without using power-ups. Well, except Ultimate Z Cup because dang, that sucker is a nightmare. Maybe I can do all the bosses without any Copy Abilities. 

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is such a joyous game that I want to play it again and again. Seriously, I could start a whole new file just to play through this game all over again. It has taken a decade, but I think Kirby's Return to Dream Land may have been dethroned as my favorite Kirby title. I do hope Nintendo gives us an update for Forgotten Land. Maybe an EX mode, but even if they don't I know that Forgotten Land is a game that will spend many more hours on my Switch.

Screenshots from Nintendo and Nintendo Life.

Memories #29: Kirby's Dream Land

This is where I go and hint at my age. 

I'm old enough to remember the time before YouTube. Before the internet. A time when video game news would reach you through these relics that were called video game magazines. If not those, it was a TV ad. The later was the first time I heard of Kirby's Dream Land.

I saw this commercial so many times I could practically quote the whole thing. This was during the time that I didn't have a Game Boy and this was one of the games that made me crave one even more. 

Also, DANG, did Kirby ever look different back in the American TV ads. 

Although Kirby's Dream Land was the first time I'd ever heard of the tough cream puff, this was not the first game in the series I played. I wouldn't play Kirby's Dream Land until either 1993 or 1994 and by that time, I had played Kirby's Adventure, widely viewed as a bigger, better game than Kirby's first outing. Even so, I wanted to play Kirby's first game. Nintendo Power's top 20 charts had Kirby in the top 5 consistently which and by the time I bought it, it was a Nintendo Player's Choice title, sporting that big, gold ribbon, letting everyone know that the version you had was discounted. Personally, I liked the gold ribbons. They were much better than that icky green of the PlayStation Greatest Hits and whoever came up with that should have been slapped furiously with a thick rolled up newspaper.

Image: MobyGames

It was a bit strange coming from Adventure to Dream Land. Kirby's now signature Copy Ability wasn't invented yet, nor could he slide. Kirby may seem basic to an outsider but in Kirby's Dream Land he was super basic. But in this case and for the time, super basic was pretty good.

My copy of Kirby's Dream Land was bought from my local Meijer. You know how they had games behind a glass case and if no one was there, you had to ring for assistance? Ah, good times. Kirby looked so happy floating towards Whispy Woods on the box art about to make him cry. For the first time. Whispy was so ingrained into my brain thanks to that commercial. Crying Whispy, in particular. I believe one of the screen shots I saw of the game in Nintendo Power was of Kirby either fighting Whispy or of Whispy already beaten and crying. I think the North American box even had a screen of Whispy on the back. I did a search while writing this up and yup, there's Whispy. I really like the shade of blue on the back and side of the box. Goes great with the logo so thumbs up for whoever came decided choose and go with those colors.

Back when games came with instruction manuals, I would look through them before starting up a game. With Kirby's Dream Land, it was no different. I still have a lot of my old manuals, so the one for Kirby's Dream Land may be packed away somewhere. 

The story of Kirby's Dream Land goes like this: King Dedede steals all of the citizens'food along with their Sparkling Stars. Huh. I completely forgot about the Sparkling Stars. Maybe it was due to Spring Breeze in Kirby Super Star that just mentioned the food being taken. Anyhoo, Kirby comes along and I remember him stating in the manual something along the lines of, "Don't worry, I'll get your food back." Looking back on it, it's a bit odd to read about Kirby speaking in full sentences but it was his debut game.

After reading through the entirity of the manual, I plunked the cartridge into my original brick Game Boy and was greeted with a title screen that showed numerous Kirbys walking about while the most jovial title music I'd ever heard at the time played.

GIF: GIFER

Pressing start treated my ears to a very familiar theme, Green Greens. Having beaten Kirby's Adventure a year ago, the level that Green Greens played on it that game really stuck out to me. For one, it was the only level in that game to have the song playing. Two, the level was in black and white. I don't think I made the connection at the time, but now I know that clearly that stage in Kirby's Adventure was paying homage to Kirby's Dream Land. Kirby's Adventure has a phenomenal soundtrack so it was enlightening to hear what has become Kirby's most prolific piece of music came from his very first title. Being on the GB, I could tell it sounded a smidgen different but it was still as catchy and hummable as ever. 

I went into Kirby's Dream Land knowing full well that Kirby did not have the Copy Ability. Just inhale enemies and shoot them at other enemies. Or inhale stars and fire them off at the opposition. Simple and effective. The kind of innovation you would expect from a Nintendo published title. Alternatively, Kirby's exhaled breath could also be used to attack mooks but not the bosses.

Kirby's Adventure had these super cool transition sections where Kirby would hop on the Warp Star and ride off to another part of the level. It turns out these Warp Star ride segments were first used in Kirby's Dream Land and are every bit as neat. Also neat was Kirby's animations. Kirby has this bounce to his movements which is attributed to his simplistic design. When he runs into a wall, he'll squish up against it and a tiny star will bounce out of him. This was all stuff I'd seen in Kirby's Adventure but it was used first in Kirby's Dream Land, much to my surprise. They carried over a lot from that GB game.

 

GIF: Tilt Controls

I could be wrong but I believe that Kirby's Dream Land marked the first time I was ever exposed to the compositions of Jun Ishikawa. Green Greens was a certified banger but really, the entire soundtrack is an absolute bop. Castle Lololo, Float Islands, the Ending theme are some of the best Kirby songs. Along with Green Greens, Invincibility and the Kirby Dance jingle, King Dedede's Theme was first used in Kirby's Dream Land, meaning some of the series' most famous tracks were first used in this game. I was listening to the soundtrack while writing this and 30 years later, it still holds up magnificently.

Maybe it was those three days I spent with Kirby's Adventure or the fact that Kirby's Dream Land was designed for entry level gamers. But I recall beating Kirby's Dream Land in about 30 minutes. It isn't a long game at all, even for the GB. It only has five levels and the last one is a boss rush. Kirby's Dream Land does have some of the same bosses I fought from Kirby's Adventure. I think I had winced a little when I saw that Kracko was a boss but I don't think I had nearly as hard a time with him in Dream Land as I did in Adventure. Maybe he was harder in Adventure because you had the Copy Ability in that game. You can read about my grievances with him in the next Memories post.

The setting for the battle with King Dedede was super cool. It was a boxing ring. How awesome is that for a final showdown? It has always been one of my favorite things about Kirby's Dream Land. Since Dedede turned out to be not-so-bad in Adventure, I wondered why he would steal all of the food from the citizens of Dream Land. I guess we can chalk that up to Kirby creator Masahiro Sakurai still trying to figure out these characters. I might have died to Dedede once or twice trying to learn his attack patterns.

Throughout the 1990s, Kirby's Dream Land would be a game I would always keep on me. If I didn't feel like going through the more frustrating levels of Donkey Kong or had about 25 minutes to kill, I would pop this game in and breeze through it, enjoying the simple but fun gameplay and charming music.

Without question there a better Kirby games out there. I still say Kirby's Adventure is better than Kirby's Dream Land. But I don't for one second regret my time with Kirby's Dream Land. If I could go back to that Sunday afternoon and pick up Kirby's Dream Land all over again, I would do it and then celebrate with my awful attempt at the Kirby Dance. 

Sequel to Breath of the Wild Delayed to 2023... And I'm Cool With That

Nintendo came out and announced that the sequel to the highly acclaimed 2017 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been delayed to 2023. 

Breath of the Wild is one of my favorite games and like many of you, I've been anticipating the sequel since it was revealed that it was in development back in 2019. But when Eiji Aonuma said they were aiming for a 2022 release date in a 2020 Nintendo Direct, I had a feeling there was a serious chance that the game would not launch in the year they had planned. No doubt this delay is very disappointing to fans but in all honesty? I ain't even mad. 

Now teenage me would have reacted to the delay of this game with anger and frustration. But adult me has thankfully matured and learned that some things just aren't worth getting upset over.

In today's gaming climate, games can be rushed out the door in a pitiful state they really have no business launching in and be patched up later, a practice far too many triple A game publishers are perfectly fine with. I'm making mean faces at you, Cyberpunk 2077 and Grand Theft Auto The Trilogy: The Definitive Edition. Call me old fashioned, but I prefer my games to come out of the gate in a competent state to where they don't need to be stitched up like a pair of heavily worn jeans. 

I'd also like the developers to be treated like human beings and not be subjected to crunch. Release the game when it is done and don't overwork the staff just because there's a deadline to meet and stock holders to please. 

2022 is also looking to be a pretty packed year for Nintendo. I'm starting to lose track of all the games I've got pre-ordered on the Switch and I've got games from 2021 I haven't even really dived into like Metroid Dread. We've got 9th generation Pokemon near the end of the year and Nintendo hasn't even shown us what all they've got for us to play during the fall. I already have a ton of games on my plate so I'm not going to lose any sleep over Breath of the Wild 2 being delayed. 

I started playing through the original Breath of the Wild sometime in 2021 after having not touched the game in years. This delay will give me some time to explore ravaged Hyrule once again before seeing what Nintendo has in store for us in Link's next adventure. And that is an adventure I am perfectly fine waiting for.

SQUARE ENIX Presents SQUARE ENIX MUSIC Channel on YouTube

Spotify and YouTube are massive platforms for music listeners. Video game music has long been uploaded on the later but more often than not, these music uploads are not official and can be taken down at any time. It has taken years, but more and more game companies have slowly started to realize that, there might be something to these streaming services and that gamers actually like listening to video game music outside of the game. Crazy, right? The latest company to get in on providing their music on YouTube is none other than SQUARE ENIX, which launched their very own music channel earlier this week, simply called SQUARE ENIX MUSIC Channel.

If you're a game music listener that frequents Spotify, you've probably known that a sizable chunk of SQUARE ENIX music has been up on that app for a good while now. Still, it is always nice when game music becomes more widely available and as someone who practically lives on YouTube, I whole heartily  embrace SQUARE ENIX's decision to launch a music channel.

The usual suspects are up on SEMC. If you want to hear soundtracks from the mainline FINAL FANTASY games, the channel has you covered. But if you think that's all there is, you'd be mistaken. Soundtracks from the MANA games is here, the SaGa series, the Chrono series, NieR and specially crafted music selections are readily available on SEMC. Even the superb soundtrack for Octopath Travler is there along with the soundtracks for The World Ends with You and NEO: The World Ends with You. We are looking at well over 5,000 music tracks and the channel isn't even a week old yet. 

Eagle eyed SQUARE ENIX music lovers are sure to notice that there's still quite a few omissions. LIVE A LIVE is not up. The entire Front Mission series is absent. There's no Racing Lagoon, Bahamut Lagoon or any Parasite Eve soundtracks. And many of the spin off FINAL FANTASY soundtracks like Mystic Quest, Tactics and Crystal Chronicles aren't available. I guess we can chalk this up to the channel being so new, but I'm really hoping these soundtracks as well as others pop up.

Another quibble I do have is that there are a lot of track titles that are not in English. I find this strange since on Spotify, many of these soundtracks are available with Japanese as well as English titles. This could be another thing that is due to the channel being in it's infancy. I do hope more English track titles pop up as without them, it can be quite difficult to identify a specific song until you hear it.

SQUARE ENIX MUSIC Channel is something that I really, really, hope we see more of (glaring at you, Nintendo) and I hope to see the soundtrack uploads increase. As for suggestions on what to listen to? I recommend the GB SaGa games, AKA Final Fantasy Legend soundtracks for some underrated chiptune goodness. The Mellow Minstrel Mix has quickly become a favorite of mine, containing chill, lo-fi arrangements of SQUARE ENIX music, some of which as of this writing, has not made it's way to Spotify. 

Go listen to some music from this amazing channel. It'll probably help wash the horrendous taste that is Chocobo GP micro transactions out of your mouth.

TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection is my DREAM Anthology

Over the past 9-ish or more years, it has been widely accepted that Konami, well, sucks. Pachinko nonsense, practically bowing out of the game developing and publishing business and awful mistreatment of their well established IPs and Castlevania NFT crap has made the once great Konami a company every bit deserving of the hate it gets. 

BUT. Every now and then Konami will do something to remind us that at one point, Konami was a worthwhile company. The best thing Konami has done in recent years is re-release select games in their catalog such as the excellent Castlevani Anniversary Collection, Contra Anniversary Collection and Castlevania Advance Collection. I've given up hope on Konami reclaiming their lost glory but when it comes to retro releases, they've shown that they know how to not screw things up. 

One collection from Konami that I've long wanted to see was a collection of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle titles. Konami was the go-to company for games with the green machines in the late '80s to mid '90s. On the NES, SNES, Genesis or the arcade, you were well covered for a slice of turtle action. But since the TMNT is a licensed property, this meant that such a collection was nigh impossible. True, we had seen re-releases of the 1989 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade game the 1990 NES TMNT game but a big collection of Turtle games? No such luck. That all changed during the March 9th Sony State of Play when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection was revealed.

I'm sure you've heard this a million times from every '80s brat either in person or on the internet, but the Turtles were my childhood. The 1987 cartoon series introduced me to the TMNT and made me a life long fan. It is a well known fact that the Turtles were originally conceived with a darker tone and themes in 1984 comic run but it was the '80s cartoon show that bought the franchise the fame it so richly enjoys to this day. 

The Cowabunga Collection focuses on the Turtle games released based off the 1987 series. The 13 games included are both arcade titles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time, all three NES games, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project, the SNES beat 'em up Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time, the Genesis Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist the NES, Genesis and SNES versions of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters, and all three GB games, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Footclan, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Back to the Sewers, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Radical Rescue. Whew! That is a lot of green ninja action and I would not have it any other way.

Like Konami's other retro releases over the past few years, Cowabunga Collection will include artwork, sketches and the like. Save and rewind features are now standard features of retro collections and our supped up Turtle anthology will have them, meaning the Dam level on NES TMNT will be far less painful. I just might see the ending to that game for once.

Cowabunga Collection has no release date yet. All we know is that it is coming out this year. We'll be getting a physical release and the asking price for this collection of 13 TMNT game is just $40. For what we're getting a plethora of beat 'em ups, some brawlers and some action titles, I have no problem with the price of admission. No matter what system you prefer to game on, this collection is coming to everything so everyone can join the party. When this game does drop I'll have the pizza ready.

THE BEST Advert for LIVE A LIVE. EVER

LIVE A LIVE the 1994 Super Famicom RPG from SQUARE is getting a HD-2D re-release, which will also mark the first time the game will be released outside of Japan. Fan translations have allowed people to experience this game and said fans are crazy about LIVE A LIVE. One such passionate fan is RedMufflerMan, who has put together, what is, in my humble opinion, the best advert to sell people on LIVE A LIVE. At one minute and twenty eight seconds, it is short and very much to the point. It is also quite hilarious and I feel further included to pick up LIVE A LIVE for the effort RedMufflerMan put into this video. That and he probably lost his voice while making it.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land Valentines Day Cards

Image: KirbyInformer/Twitter

I am not one for Valentines Day. I originally had no plans to post anything in celebration of it, but when I saw these Kirby and the Forgotten Land themed Valentines Day cards, I knew I had to give them a mention.

Why give your Valentine some bland, boring Hallmark card when you can show them them love with Carby? Yes, there is a card with Mouthful Mode Kirby in it as well as one with Mouthful Mode Kirby as a light bulb. Glad to see Nintendo going all in on the memes they knew this game would produce. 

There are five of these digital Kirby themed Valentines Day cards and they can be printed up to give to your special someone. 

First Nintendo Direct of 2022 was LIT

Image: Nintendo

On February 9, 2022, Nintendo hosted a Nintendo Direct. I'm excited for Nintendo Directs but I never go into them with astronomically high expectations. That's how you set yourself up for disappointment. Tampered expectations means you'll come away with something to look forward to. 

With that being said...

HOLY. FREAKING. SUPER CRAP!!!

I was not prepared for Nintendo to go that hard for the first Nintendo Direct of 2022. Like, even as I write this up, I am still reeling over everything that was shown. Really, I went in excited but mellow (mellcited, excellowed?) but came away with my hype levels through the roof! There's too many games to go through them all, but I will talk about the ones that have me the most jazzed.

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes

Image: RPG Site

Three Houses has it all. A well rounded cast of characters, a gripping tale and some killer music. The only thing missing from it is battles in the warriors/muso style. And we'll be getting that with the second entry for the FE Warriors line in Three Hopes. If you've never played Three Houses, you might wanna hold off on playing Three Hopes when it releases in June as it may contain some spoilers from Three Houses. 

Wanna get people to pay attention to a Warriors game? Just toss some Nintendo characters in there. It did wonders for Hyrule Warriors. The reveal of Three Hopes has me itching to pop Three Houses back in my Switch again.

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Image: Nintendo

Despite owning both GBA Advance Wars titles, I only put a handful of hours into the first and never even opened Black Hole Rising. And as much as I adore the pixel art of the original, the new coat of paint is very easy on the eyes. We're even getting voice acting and the ability to rewind turns. Those are some pretty spiffy quality of life improvements. Since I am not the best player at these types of games, I welcome any change that let's me undo my screw ups. 

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

The release for the pink puff ball's latest game draws nearer. My hunch about the Waddle Dees you rescue building some sort of town was correct. The more you save, the more you'll see Waddle Dee Town grow. But the big take away from the newest trailer is Mouthful Mode. Think of it as Kirby's Copy ability on steroids. The Pink Demon doesn't just inhale enemies. Stationary objects are also on the table for the little guy to consume. From vending machines to automobiles, Kirby can eat it and use the abilities they offer. 

Depending on whom you ask, Mouthful Mode is either the coolest thing ever or the grossest. The internet wasted no time meming up Mouthful Mode. I'm positive we haven't seen everything that can be used in Mouthful Mode and that just makes me more stoked for this game's late March release.

Oh and if I do not get to honk a horn while I commit destruction on four wheels as Karby, I will riot.

Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series

Image: Nintendo

Klonoa: Door to Phantomile originally released on the PS in 1997. It received a remake for the Wii in 2008 that sold like mud, which axed any chances for Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil, which released on the PS2 in 2001, getting another shot at life on the Wii. 

Fast forward to 2022 and we get the reveal of Klonoa and Klonoa coming to the Switch as Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series. From what I hear, these are some majorly under appreciated platformers so I know the fans have got to be beaming to see HD versions of these games on the Switch. I own the Wii remake and the PS2 sequel but both are games I regrettably, never really touched. You can bet I'm gonna fix that when this collection releases in July. 

It is a bit of a bummer that the other games aren't being included such as Empire of Dreams on the GBA (the one Klonoa game I finished) but we'll take what we can get. 

I just found out that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the Klonoa series and this collection is an excellent way to celebrate.

Mario Strikers: Battle League

Image: Nintendo

It has been more than 10 years since the last Mario Strikers game. If you don't understand why the announcement of this game has so many people going nuts, you were probably born in the late 2000s.

The Strikers games are known for their thick line art style, over the top, cartoon violence and some of the best versions of the Mario cast EVER. You think Daisy is sassy in other games? PUH-LEASE. Girl is on a whole different level in the Strikers games. Also, Waluigi will literally do the suck it gesture after scoring a goal. Man, I am hoping Next Level Games goes just as crazy with the cast for Battle League.

Nintendo is really pushing the online for this one. 20 member clubs, club rankings and 8 player locals are going to make for some chaotic multiplayer matches. Looking forward to all the YouTube videos this game is going to spawn.

Front Mission 1st

Image: Nintendo

The first Front Mission game I played was Front Mission 3 as it was the first in the series to be released outside of Japan. I freaking love that game. The first Front Mission did make it our shores on the DS as Front Mission 1st. I never got around to buying a copy. So when I heard them say "Wanzers" before we say any footage of this game, I knew he had to be talking Front Mission. I just didn't know it was the first one, nor did I expect it was getting remade on this big a scale. Both the music and the visuals are getting a serious overhaul. I like seeing SQUARE ENIX throwing cash at their IPs for remakes. Mind you, it isn't FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE cash, but still cash, nonetheless.

And we're getting a Front Mission 2 remake later on? NICE. Can we get a remake of 3? Please?

Nintendo Switch Sports

Image: Nintendo

I'm sure some hardcore players are gonna scoff at this one but given the MASSIVE install base that the Switch has? This game is going to print so much money.

Nintendo already had me with this one but then I saw badminton is in there. I love badminton. The sport does not get enough love am hype that it will be in Nintendo Switch Sports right off the bat. 

Golf will be added later so here's hoping we get Boxing down the road. 

Chrono Cross: Radical Dreamers Edition

Image: Nintendo

I never gave Chrono Cross a fair shake when it originally released. I disliked the game so much because it wasn't like Chrono Trigger sand never judged the game on it's own merits. I've got my PS copy still but I no longer have my CRT TV since it went bad a few years ago and I don't feel like jumping through hoops to play old games on original hardware. So I will take this upscale release of Chrono Cross that comes with the text game Radical Dreamers, a game I've always wanted to give a try. 

Random battles have never been a thing for Chrono Cross but even so, being able to turn off battles entirely is nice feature. We'll also be able to enjoy the game's marvelous soundtrack in higher quality. If you've never heard the music of Chrono Cross before, you're in for a real treat.

Why isn't Chrono Trigger part of this release? I'm hoping SQUARE ENIX is saving CT for a HD-2D remake. 

LIVE A LIVE

Image: RPGFan

File this under "Totally did not see that coming." I had the faintest of hopes this game would get an official English release. Like, dude, I got CHILLS when I saw that logo and heard that music. 

OK, I've never played LIVE A LIVE, but I'm not exactly a stranger to the game or its outstanding soundtrack. This is a game that has always piqued my curiosity and I am SO glad people will be able to play it. 

This version of LIVE A LIVE is not a simple Super Famicom port but a full blown remake in the style of Octopath Traveler visuals, which I LOVE. Even the music has been redone and it sounds heavenly. Still, I do hope there is the option to listen to the original SFC music. 

Also, it seems I've been saying the title wrong for years. Oh, well. Doubt I was the only one. 

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass

Image: Nintendo Everything

Did you actually think we were gonna get Mario Kart 9? Ha ha ha, that's cute. Mario Kart 8 is an 8 year old game. It sold well enough on the Wii U. But the Wii U was a failure, barely selling over 13 million in lifetime sales. Now the Switch? That sucker recently outsold the PS2 and will turn five years old in March. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold nearly 40 million copies alone on the Switch. So if the game is still making dat moola, why would you thrown a 9 behind the words "Mario Kart"?

I get that some of you are mad that Nintendo isn't giving us Mario Kart 9. But on the plus side, we're getting an entire game's worth of tracks. Remastered tracks from the entire Mario Kart series. How can anyone stay mad that there is no Mario Kart 9? We're getting tracks from Mario Kart Tour and they brought back Coconut Mall. Can we please get Waluigi Pinball? That is a GOAT Mario Kart track.

As a Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack member I am happy that I don't have to pay anything for this delicious 8 Deluxe DLC. I had been meaning to get around to buying Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as I immensely enjoyed the game on the Wii U. Nintendo is now saying "Hey, Reg, buy or game. Again."

I'm really looking forward to hearing the arrangements the Mario Kart 8 sound team delivers for these 48 tracks. They knocked it out of the park for Mute City, Big Blue and every other DLC course in Mario Kart 8 as well as the new stuff for Deluxe.