The world of Super Mario 64 speedrunning has recently witnessed a momentous achievement, akin to finding the ‘holy grail’ of techniques. This remarkable discovery has the potential to propel speedrunners to finally achieve sub-1:37 times in their quest for 120-star runs.

The technique in question revolves around bypassing the notoriously slow carpet ride required to secure the ‘Big House in the Sky’ star in Rainbow Ride. ‘Carpetless’ runs have been a tantalizing possibility since 2009, yet until recently, no one had managed to successfully integrate this technique into a full run, resulting in any significant time reduction. However, that has all changed now.

A groundbreaking route has been unveiled, featuring runners executing a precise triple jump and wall kick combination up the side of the central house. It’s an intricate maneuver, demanding both precision and skill. However, one talented speedrunner, known as Karinpune, has flawlessly executed this technique, securing the first-ever sub-1:37 all-stars run with an astonishing time of 1:36:48.5, as confirmed by Speedrun.com. In the past, players often found themselves fiddling with Mario’s squishy home screen face at this point in their runs.

Prior to the discovery of this innovative technique, the 120-star record was held by the speedrunner Weegee with a time of 1:37:35. However, Karinpune is one of three runners who have since surpassed this record thanks to the ingenious wall-jumping maneuver. The accompanying video by Karl Jobst delves into the history of ‘Carpetless’ runs and demonstrates the perfected technique in action.

Super Mario 64 speedrunning is a fiercely competitive arena, and thus, finding a method to slash nearly a full minute off previous records is a monumental accomplishment. Achieving a 120-star run in under 1:37 had long been deemed unattainable, leaving us with much anticipation about how far this groundbreaking technique can be pushed in the future to further lower those record times. You can witness Karinpune’s full, record-breaking run below, a testament to the dedication and innovation of the Super Mario 64 speedrunning community.

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Analogue, the renowned gaming hardware manufacturer, has unveiled its highly-anticipated upcoming release, and it’s shaping up to be a must-have for aficionados of the N64 gaming era. The Analogue 3D, a reimagined Nintendo 64 console, has been under development for an extensive three-year period and is set to include a cutting-edge wireless controller designed in collaboration with 8BitDo.

The standout features of the Analogue 3D encompass complete compatibility across all regions, including the USA, Europe, and Japan, alongside an impressive 4K resolution, with the addition of original display modes that meticulously replicate the characteristics of specific CRT and PVM models. Furthermore, this console boasts four controller ports to facilitate lively multiplayer gaming sessions. In keeping with Analogue’s tradition, the Analogue 3D will solely support legacy game cartridges through its dedicated slot, avoiding any reliance on software emulation for game rendering.

Instead, it employs a specially crafted FPGA chip to deliver an unparalleled authentic gaming experience. Gamers eagerly anticipating this console will have to wait until 2024 for its official release, with further details regarding pricing and images expected to be unveiled at a later date. Analogue has earned its reputation for producing top-tier retro gaming consoles, exemplified by its previous releases like the Super NT and Mega SG. These consoles are celebrated for their ability to rejuvenate the classic gaming experience with superior quality and fidelity, surpassing the capabilities of software emulation.

Analogue recently expanded its product lineup with the Analogue Pocket handheld consoles, catering to Game Boy enthusiasts. These releases generated immense enthusiasm among consumers, as evidenced by the rapid sell-out of multiple limited-edition Analogue Pockets and the almost instantaneous depletion of stock for the glow-in-the-dark Analogue Pocket upon its listing. Those seeking to relive the nostalgic glory of translucent console design may have to bide their time for future opportunities.

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The staff retention rate for Nintendo is 98.9%, above the national average of 70%, attributable to elements including brand power and a robust employee welfare program. Employee motivation is boosted by the gaming firm’s comprehensive welfare programs, which include paid time off and childcare services.

The business study from Japan claims that several elements, including well-being and the power of the brand, contributed to Nintendo receiving such a high grade. The corporation maintains a steady staff despite any divisive business decisions and problems admirers may have had with the organization.

The figures for new hiring and the present employment market were given in a rough translation of a Japanese business publication, biz-journal. The report claims that, on average, 70% of new hires in Japan retain their jobs.

Generally speaking, this indicates that 30% of new hires leave a firm within the first three years. The staff retention rate at Nintendo is 98.9%, which is excellent. This can be attributed to its strong brand reputation and commitment to creating innovative and successful products. This attracts top talent and fosters a positive work environment that encourages employee loyalty and longevity.

As a result, it remains a leading player in the gaming industry, consistently delivering beloved franchises and captivating gaming experiences to its global fanbase.

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Does Diddy Kong Racing deserve to be on Switch? We finally got an answer to that question. If you grew up in the 90s and had a Nintendo 64 console, we bet you owned at least one Kart game. Mario Kart 64 was the first Mario Kart game for almost every gamer and the most influential one.

Thanks to Nintendo Switch Online and the Expansion Pack, you can still play Kart games on Switch. You get popular titles like Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. That is four different titles on one system. (Kudos to Nintendo).

The Senior Video Producer at Nintendo Life, Alex Olney just said, “The best Mario Kart game isn’t on Switch”, and he wants to talk about it. Mario Kart wasn’t the only kart racer on the N64. Rare got a piece of the action too with the incredible Diddy Kong Racing.

Mario Kart wasn’t the only kart racer on the N64. Rare got a piece of the action too with the incredible Diddy Kong Racing. This game introduced several iconic Rare characters like Conker, Banjo, and Tiptup, making it their debut.

We all know that you would say, “But wait, Diddy Kong Racing isn’t Mario Kart!”. Well, the game was heavily inspired by it. The fans are of the opinion that it might well beat Mario Kart 64 at its own game. Now you will ask “How?”. That is simple, it had full-blown adventure mode, planes and hovercrafts as well as karts, and amazing music.

The game has remained confined to the N64 platform since its launch. And every one of us thinks it deserves a chance on the Switch. If many classic titles made the leap, it’s only fitting for Diddy and his pals to rev up on the starting line.

You can check what Alex had to say about it in the video below.

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Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards is the newest title to be part of the growing library of classic games with the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pass. Unfortunately, many of its players have already complained about some issues less than 24 hours after its launch.

Apparently, Kirby 64 players got stun-locked so badly in some underwater areas of the game. According to their reports, they had to reset the game. They can only progress and finish through the area with some stealthy attempts.

“Kirby 64 has a game-breaking bug in underwater levels on NSO,” a fan complained. “Getting hit by certain damage sources under water causes you to enter hit stun forever and you need to quit the level to fix it.”

Fortunately, Nintendo has confirmed that they are going to roll out a patch some time in the next few days. “A bug has been found in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards for Nintendo 64, Nintendo Switch Online that can prevent players from progressing under a certain condition,” NoA wrote on social media. “A patch will be released early next week to fix this.”

It looks like Kirby 64 players will have to stay off the level until devs finally roll out the patch. It is that or they can keep trying until they get through it without taking any damage. “We apologize for the inconvenience,” devs continued.

This is actually not the first time that Switch Online + Expansion Pack’s N64 offerings received criticism. Multiple players have taken to social media to complain about input lag and control issues shortly after the launch of the subscription service. In addition to that, they also talked about some emulator peculiarities that are related to certain games. Thankfully, Nintendo has revealed that they are hard at work at addressing the emulation concerns.

Are you playing the game? Let us know in the comments below.

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There are award shows and annual debates over which game is the best. While there are often overlapping opinions in those camps, what game is “best” is often very subjective. Some institutions like the Strong National Museum of Play try to make things more official with the World Video Game Hall of Fame. This year’s inductees include The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Alongside Ocarina of Time, they also inducted Ms. Pac-Man, Dance Dance Revolution, Sid Meier’s Civilization. The first Legend of Zelda game had also be added to this Hall of Fame several years ago, among other iconic titles, such as GTA III, Pong, The Sims, Space Invaders, and many others.

The debate of the best LoZ game is an ever-waging war. Whether you are a backer of Breath of the Wild, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, or Majora’s Mask, Ocarina of Time is always up there.

The Strong National Museum of Play says, in part, “Released in 1998 for Nintendo 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was the first of the series to feature 3D graphics. Led by Shigeru Miyamoto, Ocarina of Time set a new standard for games with its freedom of movement in a three-dimensional world that felt expansive and vast, laying the foundation not just for the action games that would follow it, but for the gaming industry as a whole.”

So many gamers have such personal memories of this game. The fact that Nintendo keeps releasing it on nearly all of its platforms is a testament to its timelessness… and I bet it makes a lot of money. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is available on N64, Game Cube, Wii U, 3DS, and Nintendo Switch Online.

Which is you favorite Zelda game? Let us know in the comments below.

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The 1998 platformer Glover was a cult-classic. In the era of Super Mario 64, Banjo Kazooie, Donkey Kong 64, and Conker’s Bad Fur Day, the 3D platformer’s bases were pretty much covered. Still, there are those who have fond memories of the game today.

The game is about a world that is facing destruction after a wizard’s mishap. Now, his two magic gloves (Glover and Glovel) are at odds as one tries to save it and the other destroys it. You know, typical wizard stuff.

Glover was published by Hasbro Interactive and developed by Interactive Studios. Three years after it was released, Hasbro Interactive became defunct, a fate shared by Interactive Studios in 2013. The game became lost as abandonware, until Piko Interactive scooped up the IP.

Finally the wait is almost over. The #N64 Era Cult Classic Glover is coming soon! This version of #Glover is a completely redone from the original source code (N64 version of the game), and improved for modern PCs.#remaster #RETROGAMING #Nintendo64 pic.twitter.com/awbq00ALHr

— PIKO (@Pikointeractive) March 7, 2022

Piko Interactive has a history of buying IPs, then re-releasing games. Since they become the new owners of these properties, they file suits to have ROMs removed. This practice has angered many fans and sparked debate over who best preserves old games: fans or owners? A recent tweet Piko Interactive suggested that ROMs do not hold the historic value that purists believe.

There is currently no solid release date for the re-release of Glover. The original supporting platforms included Nintendo 64, PC, and PlayStation.

Would you like to see Glover on modern consoles? Let us know in the comments below.

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Speculation and rumors about the 1996 GoldenEye have been on the rise lately. GoldenEye, a James Bond game that was released on the Nintendo 64 back in the 90s, was a popular game at the time. It helped that it filled with the first shooter fun, and at the time, great multi-player possibilities.

And while we’ve noticed in fall 2021 that there was a German ban lift of GoldenEye, and the possible Xbox port on New Year, 2022, there’s now been another drop of hints that have made everyone excited.

Game industry reporter, Andy Robinson dropped a mysterious Twitter that could very well be about the game. It was not very specific, and deliberately vague but it reads: “I wouldn’t be surprised if a certain super spy returns in the next few weeks.”

While there have been jokes about James Pond by other people on Twitter, (a child’s game about a fish as a spy), Robinson has not elaborated on the details. While there is a set of photos with Christoper Dring, the head of Gameindustry.biz, neither of them have commented further on the tweet, nor have spoken about what it implies.

I wouldn’t be surprised if a certain super spy returns in the next few weeks.

— Andy Robinson (@AndyPlaytonic) February 4, 2022

There are a number of super-spy and possible spy video games that this could imply, GoldenEye 007 is the game that seems most likely. Simply, because we’ve been hearing about this game the most. There does not appear to be any word of other past games concerning super spies as of late, and the German ban being lifted early, when there was only a little more time to go, is very telling.

As well, Robinson does lend some creditability for the fact that he is known to have contacts within the creators of the GoldenEye 007 game, Rare studio.

But we will not know for sure until we have word from the studio and publisher letting us know.

Would you want to play the James Bond game? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!

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Goldeneye 007 is among the classic Nintendo 64 games that remain beloved within the gaming community. Other games of its caliber already got next-gen remasters. Unfortunately, it did not get the same treatment. However, it would seem that things may change soon.

Some leaks that recently surfaced suggest that a next-gen port is in the works. A full achievements list for Goldeneye 007 was found on ExoPhase and TrueAchivements. These websites track Xbox Achievement activity. The game was not on there before, but its current presence on the list hints at a new port.

According to the website, there are also only two Xbox accounts that have earned Goldeneye 007’s Achievements. They are xtinamcgrath and BIGsheep. It was later found out that these two are Christina McGrath and James Thomas, who happen to be staff members at Rare.

Furthermore, this is not the first time that Goldeneye 007 was planned for an Xbox port. Rare had reportedly planned to remaster the game for Xbox Live Arcade during the Xbox 360 era. Devs were just about finished with the game when they decided to cancel it. This recent news has re-sparked speculations among fans. After all, the game would have an epic comeback on modern Xbox platforms with online multiplayer.

The game’s Achievements list also shows that it has 55 Achievements. They are worth a total of 1,000 Gamerscore. This score is another hint that a new port could really be in the works. Back when the game was being worked on for the Xbox Live Arcade, XBLA games only had a limit of 200 Gamerscore. Seeing that Goldeneye 007 has 1,000 is an interesting development.

The game files of Rare’s cancelled Goldeneye 007 remaster were out in February 2021. Rare then released a full playthrough just a month later. As seen in the demo, players could swap between old and new visuals. This means that the game could run at 60fps or in 4K.

Do you want an Xbox port for the game? Let us know in the comments below.

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Rare’s classic 3D platformer Banjo-Kazooie is coming to the Nintendo Switch. The game will be available to players with the Nintendo Online Expansion Pass. Banjo-Kazooie originally released for the Nintendo 64 back in 1998. The game has since become a classic and even spawned a few sequels.

Some time in the 2000’s, Microsoft bought Rare, so most fans believed that was the end of seeing another Banjo-Kazooie game released for a Nintendo console. Fast forward to 2019, and Banjo and Kazooie had made their way into Smash Bros Ultimate, a Nintendo exclusive game. Steve from Minecraft, also a Microsoft IP, also made his way to Smash Bros. Maybe this is a sign of more collaborations between the two companies.

Paper Mario was just added to the console’s library earlier today, so it looks like Nintendo is going to release classic Nintendo 64 titles regularly for the foreseeable future. Banjo-Kazooie is the latest Nintendo 64 title to make its way onto the Switch. It will be available sometime in January of next year.

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Every year on December 5th, we celebrate our fascination and love of all things ninja with International Ninja Day. Historically, ninjas were highly-skilled and lethal mercenaries, originating in Japan hundreds of years ago. Today, ninjas continue to make an everlasting impact on pop culture, including video games. From classic gaming consoles such as the Nintendo Entertainment System to recent powerhouses like the Xbox Series X, ninjas continue to show up in video games. Join us as we take a look at some of our favourite gaming ninjas.

Ryu Hayabusa – Ninja Gaiden Series

Ryu Hayabusa has been slicing and dicing since the NES days. Check out our review of the Ninja Gaiden Master Collection released earlier this year.

Taki – Soulcalibur Series

Taki is a ninja as deadly as she is beautiful, and a staple of the Soulcalibur franchise. Check out our review of Soulcalibur VI here.

Sub-Zero & Scorpion – Mortal Kombat Series

While not the only ninjas in the Mortal Kombat franchise, Sub-Zero and Scorpion are definitely the most iconic. Get over here!

Mai Shiranui – Fatal Fury Series

Mai Shiranui is an iconic character from the Fatal Fury series dating way back to her first appearance in Fatal Fury 2 (1992).

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – TMNT Series

These bodacious ninjas might not have started in gaming – but they’ve been kicking radical butt since the NES days. They’ll be back next year in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge.

Check out page 2 for more gaming ninjas.

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The game that kicked off the series back in 2000 is finally coming to the Nintendo Switch. Paper Mario is getting a Switch port through Nintendo’s latest expansion pass on December 10th. This will be the game’s first port to a newer console since it was added to the Wii U’s Virtual Console back in April of 2015.

Paper Mario is going to be the first new addition to the Nintendo 64 Expansion Pass. The Expansion Pass came out in late October earlier this year. With it, came nine classic Nintendo 64 titles ported to the Switch. Some of the titles already included are Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, Star Fox 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Paper Mario initially came out near the end of the Nintendo 64′ life cycle. Because of this, its initial reception was underwhelming. People who had played it generally liked it, but many people had already moved on to other consoles and never got a chance to play it themselves. Regardless of its reception in 2000, the Paper Mario franchise has since made a name for itself as a beloved childhood game for many. If you did miss your opportunity to play it back then, now is as good a time as any to give the game a try.

This isn’t the only Nintendo 64 game coming to the Switch. Banjo-Kazooie, F-Zero X, Pokémon Snap and The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask are also coming at a later date to name a few. There is currently no information available on whether this is the last expansion pass being added or not. Fans have been wanting ports of classic Gamecube games for years. Right now, the Expansion Pass only includes games from the NES, SNES, Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis. You can get the Expansion Pass and Switch Online Membership directly from Nintendo’s website.

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None have altered the face of the industry more than Shigeru Miyamoto. The games he has worked on and the characters he has created will forever be etched into the tapestry of the medium. So join me as I explore the magic of Miyamoto.

The Spielberg of Games

From Mario to Zelda, Shigeru has created numerous icons that are synonymous with video games. While the adventures differ greatly in gameplay, they all share commonalities imbued in the design. An alluring sense of wonder permeates each creation allowing players to lose themselves in a world beaming with imagination. Whether you are venturing down an untrodden path in an overgrown garden as Olimar or blistering through space with Fox and Co., each journey is packed with unique ideas that make the moment-to-moment gameplay an absolute joy.

Ingenious Innovation

During the arcade boom in the 80s, Pac Man and Space Invaders dominated the market until a hairy gorilla snatched a mustachioed man’s girlfriend and climbed up some scaffolding. Differentiating itself from the competition, Donkey Kong had several layers of challenge, including risky yet rewarding shortcuts. Although the plumber made his debut in the game, it was 1985’s Super Mario Bros. that helped make Nintendo a household name. The incredible level design, range of power-ups and pixel-perfect physics was an instant hit with audiences. Whilst Mario focused on linear platforming, his pioneering work on the Legend of Zelda allowed players to explore. Being the first console game to allow you to save your progress, Miyamoto wanted players to take their time and discover the array of secrets that were buried within. Treading uncharted grounds, the game included many revolutionary ideas that helped spawn the RPG genre. 

Pure Imagination

Being a risk-taker, Miyamoto challenges conventions in order to create new experiences. Even though some may pass over a few of his creations as just ‘casual games’ the impact of these were phenomenal, changing the course of video games. Taking the notion of the Tamagotchi further, Nintendogs allowed players to not only look after a virtual pet but physically interact with it. As if living directly in the Nintendo DS, players could stroke the canine with the touchpad, teach their pet to respond to verbal commands, and much more. Smashing through the accessibility barrier, the game allowed people who had never interacted with the medium to quickly and effortlessly engage. 

Reviving Nintendo

As Nintendo was languishing after Gamecube, several key creators including Shigeru came up with a concept that would place the company back on top. As Sony and Microsoft battled for supremacy in terms of power, Nintendo stepped away and decided to focus on innovation in gameplay. Looking to create a true family console that would allow kids, parents and even grandparents to play with one another, Nintendo introduced the Wii which would alter the industry. Its flagship title, Wii Sports was the perfect game to capture the essence of the console. Simple to play and multiplayer-focused, families around the world quickly took to Nintendo’s latest offering, rocketing the company back to the top. Not only did this change the fortune of the Japanese giants, Sony and Microsoft quickly followed suit with the PlayStation Move and Kinect. Although some may despise this era in video games, its impact was unquestionable and helped to save Nintendo.

Leaving a Legacy

Branching away from video games, Miyamoto is now leading the charge with Nintendo’s foray into theme parks and film. Although 1993’s Super Mario Bros. was a laughable introduction to the silver screen, the success of Detective Pikachu and Sonic ignited new interest with the medium. Whilst I’m not sold on the cast, the fact that Illumination Entertainment is creating the new Mario film and Miyamoto is involved as a producer, means that it has the potential to be the birth of a new series of adventures with the dungaree-sporting plumber. With Super Nintendo World Japan opening to positive reviews in March 2021 and an American expansion planned for 2025, the company is building the foundation for global domination in the form of family entertainment. Armed with a ton of cute, googly-eyed characters, a rich history and a hardcore fan base, the future is looking good for Miyamoto’s passion projects,

Shigeru set the standard for early games in the medium. His innovative approach to design has led to numerous titles that have shaped the industry. Continuing to evolve, he is still looking at new ways to develop the 3D platformer, recently expressing his desire to simplify a genre that has become increasingly cluttered with mechanics. Each creation of Miyamoto’s, whether it’s software or hardware, is made with passion and love for the industry. Packed with charm, his titles resonate with gamers of any age due to the creativity and magic that enshrouds the man, the legend, Shigeru Miyamoto.

Thank you for keeping it locked on COGconnected.

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It seems that people have a lot of things to say, or not say, about Nintendo’s New Online Expansion Pack. Currently, the video has a 104k when it comes to dislikes on Youtube, overtaking its previously more hated trailer reveal of Metroid Prime: Federation Force. The Online Expansion Pack comes with the newest, and what is said to be the only Animal Crossing expansion pack, Happy Home Paradise, as well as excess to 23 N64 and Sega Genesis games, some of which are iconic and have heavy nostalgic factors, like Mario 64, Starfox 64,  Pokemon Snap! and The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. Nintendo in the trailer too promises that there will be future N64 titles that will be added in the future, as well as the possibility to create save points and rewind scenes wherever is needed for the older games.

The problem comes with the price tag for this expansion pack, and the quality you get. Currently, it’s priced at fifty dollars per year. If it’s for more than one person, then they say to get the family pack, which adds nearly double that previously at 79.99.  For just the single expansion pack, that’s double the current basic pack. More, if it’s a family bundle. Not only that, but the Animal Crossing Expansion pack by itself  (which can be bought separately) is only twenty-five dollars. The older N64 and Sega Genesis games are notoriously buggy and glitchy, with sound, controller, and lag issues.

Compared to the PlayStation Plus or the now infamous Xbox Game’s Pass, Nintendo is offering far less for far more than expected. Still, it’s difficult to say whether Nintendo will change its mind about the Expansion pack, even after it faced so many dislikes in a little over two weeks. After all, when Metroid Prime: Federation Force, was given a hard time back in 2015 with its 96k dislikes, but Nintendo still went through with it anyways.

Maybe with time, the Expansion Pack will have better features and more of a lure for new and returning players alike. It’s difficult to say if as of now what the sales figures will be like for the Nintendo Switch Online and Expansion Pack.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below!

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One of the most well-known N64 games, GoldenEye 007, has had its ban lifted in Germany after its initial release 24 years ago. This is an interesting development and a possible flag for the iconic game, meaning that it could be coming remastered to Nintendo Switch and possibly even other platforms. GoldenEye 007 was released in 1997 for the Nintendo 64 and had been placed on the list for harmful to minors according to the Federal Review Board for Media Harmful to Minors, also known as BPjM (short for its actual title, Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien) meaning that in Germany, GoldenEye could not be advertised, sold, or rented where minors could have access. This also could make it difficult for an adult to obtain a copy within Germany at the time, as distributors would have to go through various processes, and adults would have difficulties even obtaining the game online, if at all.

Normally after 25 years after release, games go under an automatic review. But seeing as the lift came early, this leads to the assumption that someone was lobbying for GoldenEye. And with the fact that currently, according to Schnittberichte.com, Stadlbauer Marketing owns the German rights for the game, as well as other Nintendo products, this could be a big hint towards a possible remaster of the game. There has, after all, been a possible leak back in January, and it is possible to play the older version of the game on the Nintendo Switch Online and Expansion Pack. But with all of the lag, sound delays, and various other issues, GoldenEye 007 would need a serious clean-up to make it playable, or at least a more enjoyable experience.

This is not a guarantee either that we will see the game remastered either. Sadly, there can be issues with licensing, both of using James Bond license and likely the reuse of the actor’s likeness, such as the James Bond at the time, Pierce Brosnan. So even while it may be possible coding-wise, copyright issues may delay or even cancel a possible GoldenEye 007.

We can only cross our fingers and hope to hear otherwise.

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Hey, we all love video games. They’ve been a part of our lives — bringing us joy, making us think, and continually impressing us with their creative genius. But let’s face it: not all games are great. Over the years, we’ve all played those duds, those stinkers, those lazy and unimaginative titles that make us curse them for wasting our time with them. Come along with COGconnected as we look at but a few of these infamous games. Here are 5 of the absolute most terrible video games ever made.

ET the Extra-Terrestrial (Atari 2600, 1982)

Attempting to cash-in on the massively successful movie of the same name, ET the Extra-Terrestrial on the Atari 2600 was a truly awful mess of a game. That’s in large part due to it being rushed out in just over a month to make the 1982 Christmas shopping season. What resulted was a woefully bare-bones affair in which you guide the titular ET, searching for pieces of a phone to “call home.” This game was so bad it caused the entire gaming industry to crash for years afterwards, and legends say there’s still a big pit somewhere in New Mexico full of thousands of buried, unsold Atari ET cartridges.

Superman 64 (Nintendo 64, 1999)

With the full (and awkward) name of Superman: The New Superman Adventures, this title had poor visuals, boring gameplay and an inexplicable fondness for foggy environments. Although it did sell well, critics have panned Superman 64’s simplistic “fly through rings” objectives, unpolished controls and unimaginative environments — which many suspect were the reason for all that fog. It’s no surprise that the planned PlayStation version was cancelled. This is one disaster that’s consistently mentioned as one of gaming’s worst-ever titles.

Postal III (PC, 2011)

This first-person shooter was a (second) sequel nobody asked for, taking all the mean-spirited humor, sadistic violence and dumb stereotyped attitudes of its predecessors and adding lots of bad design, and lots of bugs. Like many games that purposely court controversy to get attention, Postal III just wasn’t a good game — in fact it was terrible. Even our own Paul Sullivan, a man who admits he enjoys edgy humor in a game, found Postal III to be “distasteful” and “a game you should avoid.” Ouch.

Goat Simulator (All Platforms, 2014)

Sometimes, games are “so bad they’re good.” But sometimes, they’re just bad. And 2014’s Goat Simulator wasn’t just bad, it was baaaaaad (get it?). It started out as a joke, a small, harmless PC game with ridiculous gameplay and quirky glitches. But by the time our man Trevor reviewed it on console, he wasn’t laughing anymore. As he observed, Goat Simulator was, after the initial laughter died down, just a “crappy game” with “no substance.” It looked like ass, was boring to play, and was overall just a big hot mess.

Vroom in the Night Sky (Switch, 2017)

If you haven’t heard of this god-awful little title on the Switch, consider yourself lucky. In it, you’re a witch, flying a bicycle through a series of rings for some reason, and… that’s pretty much it. There’s really nothing else to do, and no goals to accomplish. Even this thin premise might have had some charm if the flying didn’t feel, in the words of our reviewer, like traveling “through sludge at a snail’s pace.” Throw in some horribly localized dialogue, and you’ve got a game that is not just one of the worst Switch games ever, but a contender for worst game on any platform, ever.

That’s it for our list of some of history’s worst video games. Stay tuned to COGconnected for a look at more truly terrible titles. As long as they keep makin’ em, we’ll keep listing ‘em!

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Nintendo fans around the world rejoiced when Metroid Dread was announced, marking the first new 2D adventure for Samus in 19 years! As we edge closer to its release date, I look back at other forgotten franchises which Nintendo needs to revive.

Diddy Kong Racing

Released in 1997, Diddy Kong Racing is an unsung hero of the kart racing genre. Featuring a hub world, littered with secrets and three different vehicles that felt unique, the game pushed the genre forward, influencing future titles. Although a sequel was in the works before Microsoft scooped up Rare, the IP has been dormant for years. With Mario Kart’s continued success, will Nintendo ever revisit Diddy Kong Racing? I hope so.

F-Zero

A personal favorite of mine is the futuristic racer which last graced home consoles in 2004 with F-Zero GX. Separating itself from other Nintendo titles, the high-octane racer strips away the patented bright color scheme, opting for a more chromatic style, creating a distinct aesthetic. Although there are many games that have followed the trail blazed by F-Zero, none have managed to meet the standard set by Captain Falcon. With his continued success as a mainstay character in Smash Bros. is it time to put the Captain back in his vehicle?

Mother/EarthBound

The first time I saw Ness was in Smash Bros. and It was only later when I learned about the EarthBound/Mother series. Although the franchise has a hardcore following, there are many players who missed out on the games. With Nintendo’s focus on recreating and re-releasing older games, it seems odd that EarthBound hasn’t had a look in. Are they planning something big for the baseball cap sporting kid or is he doomed to spend the rest of his days as the character no one picks on Smash Bros.? 

Mario Strikers

The mustachioed plumber has hit the courts and teed up on the Switch but it’s been 14-years since he laced up his football boots. Whilst FIFA has dominated the soccer sim for years, there have been no arcade iterations to speak of. Due to this, there is a clear gap in the market that is screaming for Mario and his crew to fill.

Wario Land

I love the WarioWare games and I’m excited to check out Get it Together! when it drops in September, however, I miss his platforming escapades. Playing as the villain puts an interesting spin on the genre, creating some fun and humorous moments. Not many child-centric games use this perspective which gives the game a unique identity. His mischievous and selfish demeanor sets him apart from other leading characters. Sadly, due to the success of WarioWare, it’s very likely that 2008’s lackluster Wario Land: Shake It! is his last adventure. 

Punch-Out!!

Where are the boxing games? It’s been years since I played a good iteration of the sport, which is depressing. Fight Night has been replaced by UFC and seems like ARMS has taken the mantle over Punch-Out!! Last released on the Wii in 2009, the game perfectly suited the motion control-based system, however, with a lack of titles based in the squared circle is it time for a comeback? You’re damn right it is! With Little Mac soaring in popularity due to Smash Bros. Nintendo needs to tape up those knuckles and deliver a knockout blow.

Pilotwings

Combining a range of aerial activities, Pilotwings has always appealed to a niche audience. With three releases in the franchise, Nintendo has never been able to replicate the success and charm of its debut, resulting in a 10-year hiatus. Due to the success of Microsoft Flight Simulator, more gamers are now looking to the sky. With the fantasy of taking the pilot seat at the forefront of many minds, is now the perfect time to relaunch the series? 

Kid Icarus

Pit’s appearance is iconic. Debuting in 1986, the winged Grecian character looked to lead Nintendo into the future. 35 years later, there have only been three Kid Icarus games, none of which have been able to capture the possibilities that engulf the character. I believe that now is the time to hand complete control over to a different developer. Similar to how Retro Studios revamped the Metroid series, a talented company should look at a way to reimagine Kid Icarus, placing Pit amongst the great mascots of Nintendo.

Star Fox

What the hell happened with Star Fox Zero? With one of my favorite developers, Platinum Games, at the helm and Miyamoto personally overseeing the project, everything about the game indicated that it would be the triumphant return of Fox McCloud. Unfortunately, the result of this incredible collaboration was a bunch of half-baked ideas, badly implemented controls and generic levels. With Ratchet and Clank leading the next generation and on-the-rails shooters dipping in popularity, should Nintendo begin work on a Star Fox Adventures sequel? 

Providing Metroid Dread does well, will Nintendo bring back other franchises that are gathering dust in the basement of Nintendo HQ? Are there any other series that you’d like the Japanese giants to revisit? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter, and don’t forget to subscribe to us on YouTube for some great video game content.

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The post Now That Metroid Is Back, Nintendo Needs to Revive These Franchises appeared first on COGconnected.

Now that the Legend of Zelda franchise is old enough to have at least one persistent body ache, let’s rank all the games! For the full story behind these rankings, check out the latest episode of Press X to Podcast! Fair warning, it’s a flurry of Strong Opinions from here on out.

18/17: Four Swords / Four Swords Adventures

The bottom two slots are basically interchangeable. They’re both only Zelda games in the strictest sense of the word. Link is there (several times!) and there are enemies to slay, along with lots of puzzles to solve. For absolute diehards and completionists only.

16: Triforce Heroes

Triforce Heroes has pretty much the same problem as Four Swords. It’s an online multiplayer version of an extremely single player experience, and it shows. I’m not even sure you can still finish this game anymore. Without a robust player count, you’d just be touring a ghost town, marveling at all the locked doors and boarded windows.

15/14: Spirit Tracks / Phantom Hourglass

Spirit Tracks is only technically worse than Phantom Hourglass due to its lack of originality. Both games use the stylus for any and all controls, both games feature exhausting progression mechanisms, and both games aged rather badly. But, hey! At least Spirit Tracks has trains! Fun fact: I almost split my copy of Phantom Hourglass in half with an axe, only to be stopped by a friend who offered to buy it off me. That final dungeon is no joke.

13: Skyward Sword

Skyward Sword just brims with wasted potential. The music? Haunting and powerful! The graphics? Absolutely lovely! The narrative? Touching! And yet, the gameplay is an exhausting slog from beginning to end. Everything annoying about Zelda games is shined up and set on display in this title. It makes perfect sense that the home console follow-up was such a massive departure in every way. Thankfully, the upcoming Switch port is ditching the motion controls at least. Executing a complicated series of sword strikes and blocks with a wiimote is just as frustrating as you’d imagine it to be.

12: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

The second Zelda game ever made suffers from serious Sequel Syndrome. It’s crammed full of ideas, many of which don’t work as intended. Multiple gameplay perspectives, complex combat, an experience point system, and an open world should have been amazing. Instead, it’s just sort of… obtuse? Also pretty frustrating. If you don’t have a walkthrough open, The Adventure of Link is a convoluted mess. On the other hand, there are moves introduced here that persist to this day. Who else was rocking a solid downward stab this early on? No one, that’s who.

11: The Oracle of Ages / The Oracle of Seasons

The Oracle games also suffer from non-intuitive design, albeit to a lesser degree. They’re also better balanced, more accessible, properly translated, and anchored by unique ideas. Travelling through seasons and time is a great way to subtly alter the landscape, which is an essential element of so many Zelda games. Solving a small problem by changing the entire weather system or travelling through time is a brilliant way of making a tiny world feel big.

10: The Legend of Zelda

The original, the progenitor, the start of something tremendous. Wheels were set in motion with this game that continue to spin over thirty years later. So many of the games on this list are built from the bones of the original release. And yet, it’s a bit tough to go back to. Not as hard as you would think! Which is a tremendous hat tip to Zelda prime, all things considered. From this point onward, things get quite granular. After number ten, the differences between these titles are utterly miniscule. Each one is an absolute banger by any other, non-Zelda metric. The list continues on page 2!

The post Let’s Rank All The Legend of Zelda Games, From Worst to First appeared first on COGconnected.

Blast from the past incoming. Nightdive Studios, who seems to be a Lazurus pit for games from the late 80s to early 2000s, has released the first two Turok games. Again. Turok: Dinosaur Hunter and Turok 2: Seeds of Evil were re-released in 2015 and 2017, respectively. They had been released on PC, before making their way to Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. Now, the PS4 is getting some time-traveling, dino-hunting love. Not only that, but the previously released Nintendo Switch version of Turok 2 did not launch with multiplayer. That has now been rectified.

Somehow without drawing a ton of attention for this release, Nightdive Studios launched both these tiles on PS4 and completely revamped the multiplayer for Turok 2. In the trailer, we hear how PlayFab’s networking improvements introduced a better opportunity make the multiplayer modes for both the new PS4 port and the existing Nintendo Switch port. For that reason, these two consoles will have crossplay functionality. Nightdive is working on getting crossplay working with the PC and Xbox One versions as well.

Nightdive Studios is also working on a System Shock Remake, System Shock 2: Enhanced, and System Shock 2 VR, so they have got quite a lot on their plate, but hopefully, fans will be able to get their hands on these returning titles in due time. Turok: Dinosaur Hunter and Turok 2: Seeds of Evil is now available on PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and of course N64.

Which platform do you want to play Turok on? Let us know in the comments below.

SOURCE

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Happy birthday Zelda! The Legend of Zelda franchise celebrated its 35th anniversary yesterday! Though you wouldn’t know it, according to Nintendo’s social media accounts. Everyone else spent the day fondly remembering their happiest Zelda moments, while Nintendo dropped a single tweet about Part Time UFO. So… no presents then?

Though it’s not the biggest franchise Nintendo has, it’s comfortably in the top four. Hell, Nintendo announced some special edition Joy-Cons a few days ago, and they sold out in minutes. As a matter of fact, there was SOME Zelda news just before the anniversary. It’s Skyward Sword again! So, they celebrated the 35th and the 25th with the exact same game. But, there’s still hope!

After all, The Legend of Zelda is 35 for a whole year. So as long as some cool Zelda stuff happens in the next 364 days it still counts, right? It seems like Nintendo is really hoping we think so. There is the possibility that we get Breath of The Wild 2 news or some other anniversary celebrations in the next little while. Until then, at least the fans remembered this one. Here’s hoping this article ages quite badly in the next couple of weeks.

SOURCE

The post Did Nintendo Forget Zelda’s 35th Anniversary? appeared first on COGconnected.

Nintendo held their first full-length Direct in over a year and a half this week and the internet at large seems pretty disappointed. Many fans were expecting the Direct to focus on the imminent 35th anniversary of the iconic Legend of Zelda franchise, a milestone the company is currently celebrating for the Mario franchise. After sitting through 40 minutes of ports and a handful of interesting new titles, Eiji Aonuma appeared to reveal an HD Remaster of the controversial and often maligned The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword alongside a gorgeous new pair of Zelda-themed Joy-Cons. A handful of DLC for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity was revealed, before Aonuma appeared to mention that there wouldn’t be any new information released regarding the Breath of the Wild sequel during that direct. Sufficient to say, this is not the Direct that many Switch owners were looking for.

The expectations of a slew of Zelda content weren’t set by Nintendo themselves. Those expectations grew from fan and media discourse, and this pattern is familiar to anyone who follows the industry on a regular basis. While these predictions are often wishful thinking, they also come from industry experts discussing what they think would be the best business moves for Nintendo when it comes to releasing products for consumer purchase. From an outside perspective, there really is a ton of absolute no-brainer, guaranteed-mountains-of-money moves that Nintendo could make. Fans aren’t shy about what they’d like to play next, so you can find them in just about any Nintendo-related Twitter thread or fan forum. When Nintendo releases a Direct that doesn’t include almost any of those things, you get social media timelines full of disappointment, while others take a defensive posture on behalf of a multibillion-dollar company.

Hello, Anybody Home?

The reason for such widespread disappointment is that it shows Nintendo isn’t listening to their community. And why would they? More often than not, discourse around Nintendo and their products is devoid of even the gentlest criticism, as their fans are some of the most die-hard the industry bears witness to. Additionally, the Switch was the best-selling console of 2020 by a long shot, partially due to people trying to keep themselves entertained or socialize with friends during the ongoing lockdowns and quarantining. Three of the top ten best-selling games of 2020 were Nintendo first-party titles – Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Super Mario 3D All-Stars, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

All of this makes perfect sense given that Nintendo has the widest appeal of any game developer or console manufacturer. Their name is synonymous with video games, and Mario is essentially the face of the medium. Their games are ingrained in the memories of older gamers and continue to appeal to today’s youth simply by being safe and colorful family-friendly games. The vocal die-hards of the internet make up such a small portion of Nintendo’s sales, why would the developer bother listening to them when doing whatever they want continues to reward them handsomely?

Something else to take into consideration is the long-rumored and much-desired 4K Switch hardware upgrade. This is an interesting and bizarre piece of the Nintendo business plan puzzle because they continue to shoot down these rumors, instead of embracing the market that wants games with higher graphical fidelity. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X have been selling out in seconds consistently since their launch back in November (for better or worse), and the PC gaming crowd continues to grow with players hellbent on staying on the bleeding edge of gaming technology. All of that hardware is marketed on their ability to produce incredible 4K resolution and higher frame rates that often do affect the gameplay and presentation in a tangible way.

Time for a Shake-up

I recently started up the Bowser’s Fury portion of the Super Mario 3D World re-release, and immediately noticed the massive visual difference compared to other recent titles. I could see the jagged edges of every model and the smudgy blurs of every mesh. The map looked huge until I finished the first area and more of the playable area revealed itself to be spares bits of land spread out over a stretch of water that actually wasn’t very big at all. Finally, when Bowser sprung out of the sludgy oil and I grab the Giga Bell to transform into Kitty Kaiju Mario, the game interrupted this exciting and climactic moment to display a loading screen that brought the momentum to a screeching halt.

Of course, these aren’t deal-breakers, and I’m in the minority crowd that will actually notice these things as unpleasant or hindrances to the experience. But compared to the seamless dual-world gameplay of The Medium on Xbox Series X/PC, or better yet, the exceptionally impressive real-time world-changing of Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart on the PS5 – the Switch is definitely showing its age.

Despite Nintendo’s insistence that they don’t have plans for an upgraded hardware version of the Switch, fans and media alike are still pretty confident that one will be announced or released by the end of 2021. That same crowd is similarly confident that Nintendo will release Switch ports of the Wii U remasters of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess later in the year as part of Zelda’s 35th anniversary.

If all of these things do come to fruition then it’ll be a great year for Nintendo fans, but I just don’t know if I can count on Nintendo to pull it off correctly. Not because I don’t believe they can, but because I don’t really trust them to. Between releasing games for arbitrarily limited windows of time, selling literal cardboard to people, and adding uninteresting titles to the Switch Online Virtual Console (which is a whole mess on its own), I just don’t trust Nintendo to give fans what they openly want instead of cooking up some monkey’s paw version of a good idea. And honestly, I haven’t hoped or been this eager to be proven wrong in quite some time.

Thank you for keeping it locked on COGconnected.

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This year marks the 25th anniversary of the iconic Nintendo 64. The impact the Nintendo 64 had on gaming can not be overstated. Many of the innovations first introduced by the N64 have since been included in many game consoles ever since. The N64 was the first console to introduce the controller vibration feature thanks to the “Rumble Pak” accessory that plugged into the bottom of the N64 controller. The N64 controller was also the first console controller to include a thumbstick – needed for the new 3D environments games were transitioning into. Local multiplayer was also an integral part of the N64 experience. This wasn’t the first time 4-player local gaming was an option for a console, but it was the first time a console included 4 built-in controller ports.

We’re quite hopeful that Nintendo will find some way to celebrate the Nintendo 64’s 25th anniversary. Until anything is announced, we can only speculate and we’re leaning towards two possibilities; adding Nintendo 64 games to Nintendo Switch Online or releasing a Nintendo 64 Classic – a miniaturized version of the Nintendo 64, much like the NES Classic and SNES Classic. While having the games added to Nintendo Switch Online would be convenient and cheap for all Switch owners, owning a N64 Classic would ensure you have those games indefinitely. We’ve whipped up the following list the suggest which N64 games should be included regardless of how Nintendo chooses to celebrate the anniversary. Note: we understand that there could be some licensing issues with certain games, such as Rare games. However, we’ve decided to include them anyways with the hope that Nintendo is able to come up with agreements with all parties involved.

Part 1: The Essentials

Super Mario 64, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Star Fox 64, Mario Kart 64, and Wave Race 64

These first five games are essential to any N64 experience. Super Mario 64 gave console gamers the first true 3D experience in a platformer, and while it was recently re-released in the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection, it’s still an absolute must for any N64 compilation. Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is often considered one of Link’s greatest adventures. Star Fox 64 is, even now, the best on-rails shooter ever made. Mario Kart 64 was a joy to play with friends via 4-player local multiplayer. And Wave Race 64 was an amazing N64 launch game with beautiful water effects, intense jet ski racing gameplay, and sweet stunts! Okay, Okay, MAAAX POWER!

Part 2: The Rare Treasures

Banjo-Kazooie, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, Donkey Kong 64, Diddy Kong Racing, and Blast Corps

The Nintendo 64 and Rare go together like chocolate and peanut butter. Both companies parted ways after the N64 era and it’s difficult to find any Rare game since that has earned the admiration of gamers since these N64 classics. Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong 64 were two must-play 3D platformers that rivaled Super Mario 64 for platforming supremacy. Conker’s Bad Fur Day was a laugh-out-loud adventure featuring a foul-mouthed squirrel, busty sunflowers, and a singing poo. Diddy Kong Racing was Rare’s stab at kart racing, ramping up the action with flying vehicles and boss battles. And Blast Corps was such a unique experience tasking you with destroying as many buildings as possible within a short period of time – simple yet addictive gameplay.

Part 3: The Shooters

Turok, Doom 64, Duke Nukem 64, GoldenEye, and Perfect Dark

Nintendo has never been “just for kids”, their focus has always been gaming for the whole family – and this was never more apparent than the incredible first-person shooters that appeared on the Nintendo 64. One could argue that until Halo arrived on the original Xbox, the N64 was the king of console first-person shooters. Turok featured an array of wild weapons used to take on humans and dinosaurs in a lengthy campaign. Doom 64 was a brand new entry in the Doom franchise featuring a brand new, unique look. It garnered such a cult following, that it was recently re-released to coincide with the release of Doom Eternal. Duke Nukem 64 was a modified version of Duke Nukem 3D. It included modified levels featuring new areas, new weapon & ammo types, new enemies and re-recorded lines by Duke Nukem himself; Jon St. John. GoldenEye, Rare’s take on the James Bond movie of the same name, featured plenty of classic Bond weapons and gadgets, a brilliant soundtrack, and local multiplayer that is still fondly remember today. Rare’s follow-up to GoldenEye was an original game called Perfect Dark, which included a futuristic sci-fi storyline and beloved protagonist Joanna Dark.

See PAGE 2 for more great games…

The post 30 Video Games That Must Be on the Nintendo 64 Classic appeared first on COGconnected.

It’s been over a decade since Rare last worked on the GoldenEye 007 Remaster for Xbox Live Arcade. Back in 2007, the GoldenEye developer wanted to make a new and improved version of their N64 classic, but for their current platform, the Xbox 360. Unfortunately, due to some issues with the game’s copyright, the project had to be cancelled and was never released –despite development almost being finished.

While we’ve seen little tidbits of the game over last decade –including a 30-minute gameplay video which surfaced on a YouTube channel appropriately called Rare Thief back in 2016– we have never gotten the full extend of the game’s potential until now.

Yesterday, a GoldenEye YouTuber by the channel name of Graslu00 uploaded a two-hour longplay of the GoldenEye 007 Remaster for XBLA, and in 4K 60FPS no less.

The video plays through the entire game on 00 Agent and even includes 30-minutes of multiplayer footage. It is being played on an emulator allowing the game to achieve the higher resolution and frame-rate.

Graslu00 tweeted that the build he played is not related to the recent 4Chan leak and is instead a build from Partnernet.

FAQ:
Is this related to the 4chan leak earlier last month?
-No, not at all. That file is a dead weight that cannot be cracked. We've known of people with these builds for years before now from parternet/pnet. It was just a matter of time.

— Graslu00 (@Graslu00) January 29, 2021

In a follow-up tweet, Graslu00 implies that the game will be releasing for the public at some point, stating that “patience is key”. However, he does not seem to be personally involved in the release of this project.

“The release of this is not on me, I’m just able to record footage.”

Here is his complete thread of FAQs.

“FAQ:

Is this related to the 4chan leak earlier last month?
-No, not at all. That file is a dead weight that cannot be cracked. We’ve known of people with these builds for years before now from parternet/pnet. It was just a matter of time.

How did you get hold of this?
-I can’t say. Patience is key.

Is this releasing soon/some day?
-The release of this is not on me, I’m just able to record footage.

Does this mean it’s being hoarded?
-No. Patience is key.

How do you feel about Nintendo cancelling this remake?
-Nintendo did not cancel this, they’re not the owners of the license. If you want GE back, ask the IP holders, not gaming companies.”

SOURCE

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Nintendo is synonymous with video games. Whether it’s the mustache man himself or the tie sporting gorilla, we all have our favorite characters and squeal in excitement when new releases featuring iconic protagonists hit the shelves. Even though some gamers protect the commodity to the nth degree, refusing to acknowledge any wrongdoing from the conglomerate, it’s become increasingly apparent that the Japanese giants need to change their aging practice to stand alongside consumer-friendly competitors.

Ports, Remasters, and Remakes

Revisiting games from the past can be a joy. Companies like Vicarious Visions have lovingly remade classic titles, giving them a needed facelift so gamers can relive glorious times of the past. With a company like Nintendo, who are steeped in video game history, stirring the cauldron of nostalgia is a relatively simple task. Fans have yearned for a remake of Mario 64, yet on the plumber’s 35th birthday all we received were ports. Yes, I know they’re amazing games but quality of life changes should have been made to celebrate Mario’s first foray into the world of 3D platforming. 

Re-releasing a litany of Wii U games is an insult to fans of Nintendo who supported the company by purchasing the aforementioned console. I understand that the company is allowing new fans to experience titles that they may have missed but the manner of this is inexcusable. With almost no changes and releasing as a full-price title, Nintendo needs to change their ways to fall in line with competitors. Remaking a game from the bottom up is worthy of a full-price release but remaster and ports need to be sold at a lower price point which is what their peers are doing.

Peripherals

With any Nintendo console, comes a range of peripherals that clog up space in cupboards and attics. Whether it’s cardboard or the Wii Zapper, the company has a tendency to release a range of additions that connect to your device. Although there are some instances where these have worked tremendously well, the lack of support is what’s concerning. I for one love the Ring Con and its implementation, however, the fact that it hasn’t been implemented into other games baffles me. Supporting the peripheral in games like Mario Kart and Mario Party is a no brainer and would help to increase the sales of all titles, yet here we are again, with good tech that hasn’t been supported.

Online

Putting it lightly, the online service of Nintendo is a joke. Alterations need to be made in order for the company to keep up with the vastly superior service that their competitors offer. I understand the philosophy of protecting younger gamers from abhorrent conversations online but it should be easier to talk to friends using their service. The option to create a party that restricts access to just your friend list would counter this issue and allow gamers to play online without using other means to chat.

Third-Party Nintendo Releases

Nintendo has a wealth of franchises that surpasses the quality of any company in the industry. From Link to Fox McCloud, their characters are varied with a lineage of top quality games that are hallmarks of their respected genre. With that in mind, fans have to wait for years to experience a new title featuring their favorite characters. It’s been a decade since Samus had her own adventure on home consoles and due to this, disdain builds against the company. Now I’m not suggesting releasing any old rubbish under the Metroid banner but similar to how Ubisoft re-interpreted the plumber in Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, other developers should be given the freedom to create a title using dormant IPs.

UI Update

Personalization is essential to gamers. Whether it’s adding decals to the console itself or changing the user interface theme, gamers enjoying customizing their device. Unfortunately, the Switch is stuck in the dark ages with this. With a lack of options, the Switch’s corporate appearance is in dire need of an update. However, as we are three years into the console’s lifespan, it’s difficult to see this happening.

Thank you for keeping it locked on COGconnected.

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It’s hard to believe the holiday season is among us already, and if you’re still mentally stuck in the month of March, you’re not alone. 2020 has brought the world many surprises, including one little piece of joy: another installment of Animal Crossing. With Nintendo’s beloved peaceful simulation game breaking all kinds of sales records this year, there’s a pretty strong chance you have an Animal Crosser in your life. If you’re still searching for the perfect, thoughtful gift that’ll warm their heart, look no further — we’ve compiled a list of the best Animal Crossing gifts on the internet to make your holiday shopping a little easier.

1. Balloon Present Backpack ($49)

Any Animal Crossing player will immediately recognize this symbol of a floating balloon carrying a present wrapped in a red bow. We love the simplicity of this design and the charming light blue color, but you can find tons of other options here. This backpack can fit a standard 15-inch laptop in its big pocket, and has adjustable straps to fit any body type. It also has a zippered front pocket for accessories like cell phones or hand sanitizer.

2. Dodo Airlines Logo Mask ($10)

Anyone traveling from their island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons knows there’s only one way in or out — and that’s through Dodo Airlines. Dodo Airlines oxymoronically offers players a way to fly to friends’ islands, and even functions as a postal service. It seems that masks are here to stay (at least for the foreseeable future), making this gift one of the most practical on the list. Featuring the familiar Dodo Airlines logo on a vibrant, bright blue background, this reusable mask comes in a 2-layer adult size and a version for children 13 and under. You can also find a plethora of other Animal Crossing themed masks here.

3. “Let’s Talk Infrastructure” Ugly Sweater Ornament ($15)

If the Animal Crosser on your list loves putting up a Christmas tree every year, this clever wooden ornament will hit the nail on the head. Shaped and themed after an ugly Christmas sweater, this laser-cut ornament proudly displays the words “Let’s Talk Infrastructure” — a tip of the hat to a well-known dialogue option in the game. The signature Animal Crossing leaf logo is also printed across the top and bottom of the sweater; a reference fans will appreciate right away.

4. Loan Sweet Loan Women’s Crewneck ($45)

Even if you don’t play Animal Crossing yourself, you’ve surely heard utterances of the notorious raccoon landlord, Tom Nook. No player on the planet can avoid a loan from Tom Nook, and this crewneck sweater will drive the point home for your poor, indebted villager. This women’s sweater from BoxLunch features a cross-stitch inspired graphic with the words “Loan Sweet Loan” printed inside a whimsical wreath of different Animal Crossing icons. Available in a variety of sizes from XS to 2X, this gift is adorable, hilarious, and for some, a little too real.

5. Animal Crossing Baby Onesie ($18)

If this Animal Crossing inspired baby onesie isn’t the cutest thing you’ve ever seen, you’re lying. This onesie is perfect for any tot, with sizes ranging from newborn up to 18 months, and features the precious floating balloon icon with the phrase, “A new villager has arrived.” It also comes in an equally-adorable Nook Twins design that shows an illustration of the game’s lovable raccoon youths in place of the balloon.

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