What Does Tetris 99 Mean For Nintendo Switch Online Service?

         Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that the Nintendo Switch began it's paid online service last year and that it was met with an extreme amount of negativity. It's the least expensive service of any of the big three console companies, but as a result, it is also the most bare-bones and lacking in features. Nintendo tried to balance this out by including a library of some of their best classic Nintendo Entertainment System games with the service, but let's face it. Everyone has already played these games that want to play them and probably owns them several times over. This is where Tetris 99 comes into play.

        Nintendo has hinted at exclusive content and features for those who subscribe to their service, but prior to Tetris 99, all that meant was a list of old NES games. Enter Tetris 99, an online-only Tetris game that pits the player against 98 others and is absolutely free to anybody that is subscribed to the Nintendo Switch Online service. Those who aren't subscribed don't have the option to download it, which makes this and the client that launches the NES games exclusive to subscribers. It's actually a genius idea. Nintendo has a history with Tetris, and Battle Royale games that pit 1 vs 100, is all the rage these days, so have an exclusive Battle Royale Tetris that you can only play if you're subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online could very well be the incentive people needed to subscribe, but will Tetris 99 be the only game handled this well or will there be more to come?

     Nintendo has a chance here to offer online based games that only their subscribers can play and really grow this service into something their fanbase can be proud of. I'm still crossing my fingers for an amiibo focused game in the vein of Skylanders that is digital only and you already have to own at least one amiibo to play. There has been rumors and evidence that Super Nintendo games will be coming to the service in the same way the NES games are handled, but the fans still need something new and fresh. Is this Nintendo's plan going forward? Will they continue to release new exclusive games for the service? Or will they squander their chances by leaving Tetris 99 as the sole new exclusive game? It will be interesting to watch how this all plays out and to see if Nintendo can offer a service that is at least on par with its opponents as far as features and incentives are concerned.

Why Misty is one of the most important Pokémon characters ever

   

       There’s no doubt that Misty is one of the most iconic characters of the first generation of Pokémon. It could be argued that the dynamic of her, Brock, and Ash is what made the show so popular back in the late '90s, but I know what you're thinking. Why Would I make such a bold claim? Why just Misty? Why not Ash's numerous other female counterparts?

      Misty is important for a number of reasons. In the video games, she was seen as the first major hurdle for the player to get past. Yes, brock was the first gym leader, but unless you started with Charmander, he was a piece of cake. Misty, however, had a powerful team that could wreck you regardless of who you started off with if you weren't prepared for her. In the anime, she was the first companion Ash obtained and even stuck around even longer than Brock initially. She was the type of strong, confident female protagonist the show needed, and they weren't shy about letting it be known that she was actually just as good or even better than Ash Ketchum. Heck, she actually won a tournament even, something the Ash still hasn't managed to do yet. The other female protagonists were made to be undeniably less skilled than Misty, and neither of them has the charisma and following that Misty has. Her iconic yellow shirt and denim shorts with suspenders have become a staple across cosplay conventions.

    She's also the most relatable female protagonist. Yes, she's tomboyish and a bit rough around the edges, but she also has her more feminine moments such as appreciation of dolls, her enjoyment of romantic settings, and her comical fear of bug type Pokémon.  In the anime adaptation, she's given three older sisters and is considered the runt of the litter, but despite all odds, goes on to be greater than all three of them.  She's a true underdog and goes on to accomplish some great feats. It's even revealed in an episode of the Sun and Moon series that she can mega evolve here Gyarados, a feat which is seen as rare and reserved for only the best of the best in the anime. Misty is also responsible for plenty of girls being fans of the series. With her all-out offensive with water types, charismatic personality, iconic outfit, and unforgettable voice, its no wonder that Misty is still well loved in the fandom to this day.  The Pokémon Company will be hard-pressed to create another female protagonist as well loved or important to the series as Cerulean City's fiery redhead gym leader. 

Is Mononlith Working On a New Zelda For Switch?

      It's pretty much common knowledge at this point that Monolith soft helped out a lot with the development of the highly acclaimed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for the Nintendo Switch. Monolith is more or less owned by Nintendo, and while developing the open world game they were brought in for their experience with making vast open worlds to explore, such as the ones in their Xenoblade Chronicles games. However, The question still remains: Why are rumors buzzing around about them working on a brand new Zelda title for the Nintendo Switch?


      First off, let me start by saying it's doubtful that this new Zelda game is a mainline title. There seems to be more evidence pointing towards it being a spin-off game, or it very well could be a sequel to Breath of the Wild showing up a lot sooner than anybody expected. However, looking at Nintendo's recent treatment of the Zelda series, a spin-off seems more likely. The Zelda franchise has already seen one spin-off with Koei Tecmo in the form of a Musou game (Hyrule Warriors) and even recently was announced to have representation in an indie game (Cadence of Hyrule), so it's not too farfetched to think that Nintendo may be lending the IP to Monolith Soft to see what they will do with it. There is concept art on their official site that has been dissected by the famed Youtubers at Gamexplain, that hints at the new game that is already confirmed to be in the works by Monolith is, in fact, a Zelda title.

     I know what you're thinking. Why would Nintendo need Monolith to make a Zelda Spin-off? One idea is that this game will not star Link as the protagonist. The Zelda fandom has shown there is an extreme interest in a Zelda game without Link. As such, a Zelda without Link would most likely play out differently and possibly be a lot more story driven and combat heavy like a traditional JRPG. Evidence points towards this being a spin-off with a female lead, maybe in Princess Zelda herself. It wouldn't be the first time Zelda went into combat. it's happened across multiple mainline Zelda games, most notable being in Ocarina of Time when she took on the role of Shiek. As of the time of this article, there is even concept art on the official Monolith Soft website that has a woman that could easily be their interpretation of Princess Zelda. The Xenoblade Chronicle games are known for their unique battle systems, and it would be interesting to see if Monolith would try and implement a similar battle system or create a new one altogether for the Zelda Spin-off. One thing is certain, The Zelda franchise is in good hands with Monolith Soft at the helm.

   What are your thoughts? Do you believe Monolith Soft is working on a new female lead Zelda Spin-off, or do you think its something entirely different? Please leave your comments below, we'd be glad to join in the discussion. Also if you like this article or other content on our site feel free to hit that button below to show your support and buy tacos for our lovely crew.

Atlus has been unusually quiet about Shin Megami Tensei V. I wonder Why that could be.....

Splatoon 2 coming to NX

What and When is NX?

The internet has been in an uproar ever since Satoru Iwata casually mentioned the NX. This has resulted in a huge chunk of the gaming community assuming it is a new console and that it will launch in 2016. Some sources even point towards a July 2016 launch. (yes, it sounds just as ridiculous to me as it does to you) Well, I'm here to discuss just what the NX is and When can we expect to see it.

First thing first, we have to define just what the NX is. Both Iwata and Kimishima have stated that it is not a replacement for the Wii U or the 3DS, and its also worth noting that it was first mentioned when talking about the deal between Nintendo and DeNA. So, If it is indeed a third pillar and not at all a replacement, then I could see a 2016 release being feasible. However, If it is a console, a portable, or a hybrid, 2016 (especially July) seems highly unlikely. Nintendo has already announced some of their flagship titles for Wii U coming 2016, and there are even games like Lost Reavers, which have already had a beta in Japan, and not even released yet in the US. Also, Nintendo at the moment seems to be riding a wave of success lead by amiibos, Splatoon, and Mario Maker. It just does not seem like a wise business decision to abruptly end it all right when they're hitting their stride. A new system launch almost always ends in reporting a loss until it catches on or sells enough software to offset the cost. One source even claims Nintendo expects to sell 20 million in the first year. That is a bit ambitious, and does not sound like a console estimate.

So then what is the NX? To be honest, we have no clue. This is Nintendo we're talking about. They aren't exactly easy to predict. If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say its the gaming world's equivalent to a smart device (i.e. tablet, ipod, smartphone), as it was announced during a meeting about their mobile games strategy. As far as the rumors for the console goes, maybe those are actually for the next console, but people are combining all the information they find and thinking it all referes to one thing, instead of multiple device. I honestly believe most of this is people mixing together all the news when in reality, some refers to NX, some refers to the next portable, and some refers to the next console. With a stellar line up already for 2016, and a Nintendo Direct still incoming, I expect the next actual comsole to launch in 2018. yes, 2018, not even 2017, because Nintendo has always launched their portable first, and also seem to launch the console 2 years after announcements of developer kits going out. So, Lets just see just how good I am at guessing.

Until next time: Be you. Be true. Be human.

AWBrawler Replays Xenoblade Chronicles (First 30 minutes)

I replay Xenoblade Chronicles in anticipation of Xenoblade Chronicles X for Wii U. I'll Try to keep Shulk dressed how he is in Smash Bros, but everybody else is getting weird outfits on purpose.