[dropcap]S[/dropcap]o we’re nearing the release date for Puyo Puyo Tetris on the Nintendo Switch in the NA and PAL regions. The full game hasn’t been released in these regions yet, but it has been out on most systems in Japan since 2014. With it becoming available to so many new players, this may be a good time to review what we can expect from the game when it becomes available to American and European players in the coming week.
While a demo of the game has been on the eShop since the recent Nintendo Direct, it only covers a small variety of gameplay modes, including solo and multiplayer versions of both the Versus and Swap modes. Of these two, Versus mode lets players each choose between Tetris and Puyo gameplay to battle it out with up to four players or against a CPU. Meanwhile, Swap chooses one of the two at random to start with and forces players to swap games after a short amount of time.
It doesn’t seem like much, but this alone can keep people occupied for hours. Many players wondered why they should buy the full game, however, there’s a lot more that you won’t get to see otherwise. You may see some modes sprinkled around the main menu, but aside from the in-game picture there isn’t much to tell us how these modes play. Thankfully it’s out in Japan, which gives us plenty of resources to see how it all works.
First, the mode I was most curious about, Fusion mode, is exactly what it sounds like. This mode combines Tetris and Puyo Pop onto one grid and gives you random blocks of both types. You can only clear the Tetris pieces by filling in a line with blocks, while Puyo blocks can only be cleared by other Puyos. As the game continues, the strategies and timing become more refined and rely heavily on skill to keep from backing yourself into a corner. This game play mode allows for some crazy combos utilizing both styles simultaneously. Garbage blocks can be cleared the same way as they are in Puyo, but perhaps more interestingly, Tetris blocks will crush them when they fall. Any Puyo blocks they pop will reappear on top, but garbage blocks don’t. This should make for some interesting strategies and create some unexpected comebacks.
There’s also a Party mode where if you lose, the grid resets to empty instead of knocking you out of play. You lose a lot of points for each restart however, which really hurts your chances of having the highest score and winning the match. Like Versus mode, you can pick either Tetris or Puyo playstyle. While you’re playing, item blocks will drop onto the board, and when you clear a line that they’re in or a group of Puyos adjacent to them it activates the item, which can do anything from giving you a bunch of single-block tetris pieces, to making it difficult for your opponent to see their board.
There is a single-player Challenge mode which includes the classic Sprint, Marathon, and Puzzle-type play, but things get interesting in Big Bang Mode. This mode allows you to pick a style between Fever (Puyo) and Lucky Attack (Tetris). The game will then set up a puzzle board for your game. In Lucky Attack you must clear a line with every block until there are no more lines to clear, while in Fever, you have to build the board up so that when you start clearing Puyos, the chain doesn’t stop until you’ve emptied the entire board. It looks challenging, but with practice, players can hold their own against an opponent. At the end of each timed match, whichever player performed the best will inflict damage on their opponent and drain the health meter at the bottom of their boards. The last man standing wins.
This last mode for the full game is somewhat hidden. When playing alone, you can choose to challenge not one CPU but all of them in a continuous gauntlet-style game that continues until the player finally lose a game. It’s like a survival mode, challenging you do see how many CPUs you can beat.
That’s all the modes I can find as of right now. The game launches on the Nintendo Switch and Playstation 4 in North America on April 25th, and in the PAL region on April 28th. It looks like it’s a fun puzzle game that can entertain for hours, whether you’re playing with a group of friends or playing by yourself, and should definitely be considered for people who are fans of either game. Below, you can find the trailer for the game on the Nintendo Switch. Enjoy!
As I’m sure you’ve totally figured out by now, I really love playing cute games on my Nintendo Switch. Between the relaxation factor and the adorable graphics, I just can’t get enough of the Nintendo Switch. Now, I have put together a list of my favorite cute games that are currently available for purchase for the Switch. I hope you enjoy all these games as much as I do!
Little Dragons Cafe is the latest game by Yasuhiro Wada the original Harvest Moon creator. In little Dragons Cafe players choose between a boy or a girl, who are twin siblings. You will be able to gather ingredients and cook recipes in order to run your very own Cafe. Furthermore players will be able to raise a dragon. A fully grown dragon can even be used as a method of transportation to reach far away spots on the map. MORE INFO HERE
Despite there now being a rather saturated farming simulation game market, Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town still manages to earn a place amongst popular games such as Stardew Valley and My Time at Portia. In my personal opinion, it even manages to surpass such games in certain ways due to it’s adorable simplicity. The game features a charming close knit town, harvest sprites with unique personalities, and is unburdened with too many anxiety-provoking features. ( MORE INFO HERE )
The game combines the best from an RPG game and mixes the formula with a crafting and building game. For the first time players in Dragon Quest Builders 2 will be able to go on a journey with up to 4 players in an online multiplayer coop experience. Exploring, crafting, building and more are all part of the game and can now be enjoyed with your friends. MORE INFO HERE
You’ve inherited your grandfather’s old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life. Can you learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home? [steam excerpt] MORE INFO HERE
For the ones who are not familiar with Doraemon Story of Seasons, it is a crossover game that combines the best out the beloved farming sim Story of Seasons and the more adventure driven Doraemon. The game was already released in Japan back in July and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from fans. MORE INFO HERE
Start a new life in the enchanting town of Portia! Restore your Pa’s neglected workshop to its former glory by fulfilling commissions, growing crops, raising animals, and befriending the quirky inhabitants of this charming post-apocalyptic land! [steam excerpt] MORE INFO HERE
In celebration of Harvest Moon’s 20th Anniversary comes an all new Harvest Moon title for Steam! Harvest Moon: Light of Hope Special Edition! The game encompasses twenty years of the spirit that have made the franchise what it is today! [steam excerpt] MORE INFO HERE
For those with their head in the ‘clouds’, who have not yet played or heard of Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles, it is an aesthetic open-world adventure game. It was initially released for PC and PS4 on July 18th 2017. It will be released for Switch on 17th May 2018. The game can be purchased as a physical copy, or alternatively can be downloaded from the Nintendo eShop for a reasonable $26.99. MORE INFO HERE
If you are like us, you just can’t wait to get your hands on the newly remastered version of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. The adorable graphics alone are enough to keep us on the edge of our seat, waiting to find out exactly what else is new with this awesome epic classic. With the recently released fact sheet from Nintendo, we now know just a little bit more about what to expect. Not that we needed more than the beautifully polished graphics, that is. MORE INFO HERE
Of course, you are probably all aware of this title that released just this past Halloween on the Nintendo Switch! I have been playing the game myself and do agree with other critics that it is the best game of the series to date in terms of graphics, gameplay including the new moves (Slam is my new fav), and Gooigi. Another significant addition that made all the difference, the game autosaves every time you walk through a door. MORE INFO HERE
Pokemon Sword and Shield is finally here for the Nintendo Switch as of November 15th, 2019! For those of you that will only be choosing one of those games and aren’t quite sure yet which one to go for, I’ve made a list of exclusives to help! There will be different things in either Sword or Shield which are as follows: Gym Leaders, Exclusive Pokemon, Legendary Pokemon, and Gigantamax Pokemon with a higher rate of appearance in Max Raid Battles. MORE INFO HERE
Golf Story is an uber-cute and silly golfing simulator that combines the relaxation of golfing with the stress of crushing defeat looming in the shadows. Take pride in driving that little white ball all across the eight unique environments , cleverly designed to simultaneously inspire joy and rage! Enjoy going head-to-head with your friends in varied and select-able modes, difficulties and maps. MORE INFO HERE
Cat Quest II is a fast-paced open-world action RPG where you play as both a cat and a dog cooperatively. Explore a massive world filled with monsters, dungeons and quests, as you strive to bring peace back to your kingdoms during a time of war! See below for the newly released announcement trailer! This sequel returns to the world of Felingard to expand on the original with more explosive spells, expanded weapon options, an exciting new character switch mechanic, and local co-op! MORE INFO HERE
In case you missed it, Disney Tsum Tsum Festival is an exceedingly charming party game that features the Tsum Tsum versions of your favorite Disney characters. It was released in Japan back in October, and is finally releasing in the West on November 8th. The game is so cute, in fact, you can even purchase a themed console! MORE INFO HERE
A Hat in Time is a game that has maintained overwhelmingly positive feedback on Steam since its launch in late 2017. A few months after its Mac and PC release, it was also brought to PS4 and Xbox One, but there were no plans to bring it to the Nintendo Switch at the time. That has now changed! Very recently the news surfaced that it was not only confirmed to be coming to the Switch, but has a physical release date of October 18, 2019. MORE INFO HERE
It’s been 5 years since we’ve had any entries into the Super Monkey Ball series, and 7 since we’ve had any on a console. Fans of the series won’t have to wait much longer to catch up with Aiai and the gang, though. SEGA has officially announced an HD remake of Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz! MORE INFO HERE
This stealth game with a simple premise and slapstick humor created by House House, has recently become an internet sensation, memes and all. I have been following along Untitled Goose Game’s journey since 2017 and have been preparing myself to honk at, annoy, and steal from all of the townspeople. Thanks to the developers, I was able to play a copy on the Nintendo Switch and I was not disappointed. MORE INFO HERE
In case you missed it, Songbird Symphony is an endlessly adorable side scrolling platform game with loads of heart. Go on a musical adventure of discovery to find what truly makes you special. Sing and chirp your way through a wonderful world full of adversary. Explore a beautifully rendered pixel world on a heartfelt journey to find your origins. MORE INFO HERE
The sandbox game features a large number of charactersthat you can interact with, making the environment feel more alive, the developer promises. WorldNeverland – Elnea Kingdom has been out on mobile devices for quite some time now, and has seen more than 50 recent updates. Each one of them brought new features, improvements and more. MORE INFO HERE
If I missed any cute games that you think should be added to the list, please let me know in the comment section below! If you need any other Switch related items, I’ve got you covered
Two Point Hospital is a quirky hospital sim builder developed by Two Point Studios and published by SEGA. For those of you who recall playing EA’s Theme Hospital back in the late 90’s, Two Point Hospital will have you feeling a bit of nostalgia.
Two Point Hospital released on Steam last year and received raving reviews from the community. Today the game finally comes to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and even Nintendo Switch!
Now, the developers have released an all new mode available on all consoles. The new sandbox mode will give players the ability to spend unlimited cash and Kudosh. The freeplay mode will automatically unlock all items and upgrades, leaving you free to explore every facet of the game without restriction.
The new sandbox: freeplay mode also came with a little trailer, which can be viewed below. The trailer gives a close look at what the new mode entails, as told by the hilarious narrator from their previous trailers. Sandbox: freeplay is a free DLC for consoles, and is available now.
For more information on Two Point Hospital, you can check out my coverage of the game here. To stay updated on what’s happening in Two Point Hospital, you can follow the game on Twitter
For more great sim life action, check out my coverage of what’s new in The Sims 4.
The Game Gear was one of the worlds first mass produced hand-held gaming consoles. Originally released on October 6th, 1990, the Game Gear eventually sold 10.62 million copies, and had a library of over 300 games. The Game Gear shared much of the same hardware as the Sega Master System, and could even play some of the Master Systems games via adapter.
Sega has just announced that they will be releasing an all new miniature version of the console, named the Game Gear Micro. The new console will be released on the 30th anniversary of the original console, October 6th, 2020.
The Game Gear Micro will come in four different colors; red, yellow, black and blue. Each different color console will come with its own set of four different game. The games for each color are as follows:
Sega will also be offering a bundle pack for those that wish to have all the consoles. The reveal also came with a trailer, which can be viewed below.
For more information on the Game Gear Micro, visit the official 60th Anniversary Sega site. If you do not speak Japanese, you may need to use your devices translator function.
For more cool Sega news, check out my preview of Puyo Puyo Champions.
Happy Mario Day, everyone! Basically the most iconic figure in video game history gets his very own day today. Mario helped pave the way for video games to be the biggest and fastest growing media industry in the world. Many games and characters have taken their roots from this classic Italian-American protagonist.
Mario was named after Mario Segale, an Italian-American businessman, after an argument with the president of Nintendo over being paid overdue rent. Since his debut in Donkey Kong, Mario has had countless games and movies made in his likeness and namesake. It is clear that Mario has certainly had his impact on the flow of human history.
Nintendo is celebrating this special day with a sale on some of Mario’s currently best-selling games. This sale gives a $20 discount on four different games, and will run until March 14th. The games for sale are Super Mario Maker 2, Super Mario Party, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games and Yoshi’s Crafted World.
All of these games were originally $60, which makes them now only $40, and they are all available through the Nintendo eShop. There you will also find links to places like Gamestop and Amazon, to get the discounts on the hardcopy versions as well.
For a really cute game inspired by Mario, check out my coverage of Leilani’s Island.
Two Point Hospital is a quirky hospital sim builder developed by Two Point Studios and published by SEGA. For those of you who recall playing EA’s Theme Hospital back in the late 90’s, Two Point Hospital will have you feeling a bit of nostalgia.
Two Point Hospital released on Steam last year and received raving reviews from the community. Today the game finally comes to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and even Nintendo Switch!
In Two Point Hospital you build your own Hospital, place walls, decorations nd create patient rooms in a The Sims style editor. Furthermore you will be responsible to manage the hospital it is your job to hire doctors and other staff members to lead your hospital to success.
This sounds all a bit more serious than it is since the diseases you cure all come in light and fluffy forms. Take a look at the beyond funny launch trailer below!
You can get a copy of the game via Amazon for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch!
You can check out my Two Point Hospital review based on the steam version right here for a good look at this cute simulation game. And if you are new to the franchise check out my tips and tricks guide to help you get started in no time!
For those that have not been keeping up with Eloise Laroche, developer of Alchemy Story, her new game will release on Steam in approximately four days. The title of this new charming sim game is Bunny Park, and it is as cute as it sounds. Become the manager of your very own Bunny Park, and help all your furry friends grow and flourish.
In Bunny Park, you become the manager of, you guessed it, a little park for bunnies. Unfortunately, the recent tumult of a tornado has left this sanctuary in dire disrepair. It is up to you to bring all the bunnies back, and create an environment that is suitable for happy bunnies.
Just think of a tycoon game, only with the most delightful graphics and characters you could ask for. Take good care of your bunnies while maintaining and building upon your park. As you make your zone more advanced, more bunnies will join you, and your park will become super popular.
For more information on Bunny Park, check out the game on Steam, and don’t forget to wishlist while you are there. For up to date information on Bunny Park, you can follow Eloise on Twitter. If you would like to see more of her beautiful work, check out my coverage of Alchemy Story.
While Animal Crossing will always be the go to game when it comes to relaxing in a beautiful life sim world. But sometimes it can be nice to get out from under that crushing bell debt and give some other cute games a try. I have assembled a small list of games that scratch a similar itch to that of Animal Crossing.
Magicians Quest: Mysterious Times is a life sim that very closely resembles Animal Crossing in the art style. The goal of the game is to become a master magician by learning and practicing a variety of spells and incantations. Often described as Harry Potter meets Animal Crossing, Mysterious Times was released in May of 2009 for the Nintendo DS.
There have been three sequels made, but were only released in Japan. The games also happen to use the DS’s internal clock, so the player will encounter time-sensitive quests and events. Sound familiar? To get your hands on this one, you may have to use eBay or Amazon, and it might cost you a pretty penny. If you do some searching, you can probably still find a copy for reasonable price, as the game is becoming kind of rare.
MySims is what happened when EA decided that they’d like to make a game as similar to Animal Crossing as they could. As per usual, the goal of MySims is build up a town that is in desperate need of some repair. Customize your character, then go about your days making your town as cool or crazy as you like.
With tons of customizations for your character as well as your buildings and even furniture, MySims is one cute game that is definitely worth a peek. You can buy it through Origin for $19.99. However, it should be noted that the game is a bit old, and the online capabilities have already been disabled.
For a game that was basically made to be a copy of Animal Crossing, Castaway Paradise is certainly cute and fun. But it’s not Animal Crossing. The game does take place on a tropical island, which makes it great practice for New Horizons. The graphics are almost voxel, and the color scheme is fun and vibrant.
Spend your time decorating your island, or do some farming for those ono grinds (Hawaiian for yummy food). Cataway Paradise is available on mobile devices, as well as PC, XboxOne and PS4. For more information on the game, as well as the chance to buy it for yourself, check out the official website.
My Tamagotchi Forever is an adorable take on the original principle of the Tamagotchi. Taking a first glance at the game, Animal Crossing fans will notice that the actual Tamagotchi pets look like something you would meet in the world of Animal Crossing. But this time around My Tamagotchi Forever packs a lot more features and activities to do.
While these two games are entirely different, there are some similarities, and it seems as if Bandai Namco tried to capture the spirit and cuteness of Animal Crossing in their latest mobile game. My Tamagotchi Forever is a free-to-play mobile game, and is available on iOS and Android.
Ooblets is an adorable life sim farming game with a touch of creature collection. The creatures that you “collect” (actually you have to grow them yourself) are called Ooblets, and they love to dance. They are the most adorable little squishy creatures that jump at the opportunity to do your bidding. Use Ooblets to help with your day to day activities, as well as exploring and manipulating the world around you. More info.
If you have ever played Don’t Starve you will most likely be very familiar with the concept of Cozy Grove. For the ones who haven’t – much like in Don’t Starve – a survival game as the title already gives away, In Cozy Grove you will find yourself on a haunted island and you will be tasked to bring color back to it. The haunted island may appear empty and overtaken by florals but as you continue to explore and gather resources you will quickly begin to build up a new camp on the deserted and remote place and breath some life back into it. More info.
What is your favorite Animal Crossing inspired game? Let me know in the comments below!