Best Of 2024: Why I Love A Good Map, And That Time I Mapped Yoshi’s Melons For Nintendo Power

Worth a thousand words.

Over the holiday season, we’re republishing some of the best articles from Nintendo Life writers and contributors as part of our Best of 2024 series. This article was originally published in July. Enjoy!

Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they’ve been chewing over. Today, Nathan goes mapping the pixels…

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Best Of 2024: “I Want You To Be Mad” – Crazy Viking Studios On The Brutality Of Volgarr The Viking II

“We didn’t have any intention of ever making a sequel”.

Over the holiday season, we’re republishing some of the best articles from Nintendo Life writers and contributors as part of our Best of 2024 series. This article was originally published in July. Enjoy!


The original Volgarr The Viking might have flown under a lot of folks’ radar when it launched back in 2013, but it’s one of those games where if you know, you know. It garnered a solid 8/10 from us when it landed on Switch and it’s cultivated a hardcore, dedicated fanbase whose members are constantly speedrunning the game. Its precise level design and enemy placement met with widespread critical acclaim, but developer Crazy Viking Studios had no intention of ever making a sequel.

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The RPS Selection Box: James’ bonus games of the year 2024

I’m actually quite happy with how many of my voted games made it into this year’s Advent Calendar, not least because it proves I am acutely in-touch, and definitely didn’t dedicate at least fifty percent of my 2024 playing time to a late-onset Elden Ring obsession. Point being, I can present to you my almost-made-it picks without malice nor bitterness, unlike my loser colleagues who didn’t get as many in the main list. Nyeh nyeh.

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The seventh RPS Christmas Cracker 2024

The fell moons rise, and in their cold glare emerges a parcel from the dirt. Bloat and gangrene, crimped as if by tourniquet. A dark promise wriggles within. Grip the fibrous handles, feel its jagged soul imprint upon your palm. Now pull! Rend the sinew, tear muscle from bone, hatch their fetid gift! The yoke draws near! Take up the slip and read the words upon its face.

Time to enjoy your lovely joke!

Q: I want to role play as a singing gastropod! What game should I play?

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Sonic The Hedgehog ‘Metal Sonic’ First 4 Figures Statue Revealed, Here’s A Sneak Peek

If you know, you know.

First 4 Figures has released all sorts of stunning figures over the years and the latest one it’s now teased is a statue of Metal Sonic.

Metal Sonic debuted in Sonic CD (playable in Sonic Origins on Switch) and will be “coming soon” to the First 4 Figures line, with pre-orders for this statue set to open on 7th January 2025. It’s noted how the final product may be slightly different when it is released.

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NieR:Automata Surpasses Another Sales Milestone, Plans For 2025 Teased

The 15th anniversary takes place next year.

Square Enix and PlatinumGames’ excellent action-adventure RPG NieR:Automata has reached another lifetime sales milestone – surpassing the nine million mark in total shipments and digital sales.

This title originally launched on the PlayStation 4 in 2017 with the Switch ‘The End of YoRHa Edition‘ following in 2022. This follows an update in February of this year, revealing the game had shifted eight million units.

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Nintendo Reveals Japan’s “Top 30” Most Downloaded Switch eShop Games Of 2024

Suika Game takes out the top spot.

As we approach the end of 2024, Nintendo has revealed the most downloaded Switch eShop games of the year in Japan.

As you might expect, the usual titles and series are on there like Minecraft, The Legend of Zelda, Dragon Quest and Monster Hunter. There are also a few surprises, indie representatives and viral sensations like Suika Game (which took out first place).

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Best Of 2024: The Famicom Failure That Almost Bankrupted HAL, But Shaped Nintendo’s Future

HAL be there.

Over the holiday season, we’re republishing some of the best articles from Nintendo Life writers and contributors as part of our Best of 2024 series. This article was originally published in July. Enjoy!


Unless you’re a dedicated Famicom collector, it’s unlikely that you’ve heard of Metal Slader Glory. Released right at the tail end of the Famicom’s life in 1991, the year after the release of the Super Famicom, Metal Slader Glory never made it out of Japan, and it proved to be a massive flop for HAL Laboratory. But the very magnitude of its failure helps to explain the close relationship that exists between Nintendo and HAL today, with the latter producing games like the first two Super Smash Bros. entries and the Kirby series exclusively for Nintendo consoles.

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Daily Deals: Persona 5 Royal, HORI Split Pad Compact, Gran Turismo 7, and More

With 2025 and the New Year quickly approaching, now is the time to score some last-minute holiday deals. Here are the best deals for Saturday, December 28.

Persona 5 Royal for $14.88

Today, Walmart has digital Nintendo Switch copies of Persona 5 Royal available on sale for only $14.88. Acting as the definitive version of P5, Persona 5 Royal is one of the must-play RPG experiences of the last generation. This game offers well over 100 hours of content, making this an excellent deal.

HORI Split Pad Compact for $39.99

The HORI Split Pad Compact is one of the best ergonomic controllers you can buy for the Nintendo Switch. Attaching like standard Joy-Con, the Split Pad Compact slides onto each side of your Switch and immediately widens the console. This makes longer handheld play sessions much more comfortable and bearable over time, especially if you have larger hands.

Gran Turismo 7 for $19.97

Walmart has Gran Turismo 7 available for $19.97 today, and this is a perfect last-minute gift for the racing fan in your life. This is still one of the PlayStation 5’s best games, with hundreds of hours worth of fun at your hands. You can test and drive over 500 cars in total. Plus, you can even play Gran Turismo 7 in VR with PlayStation VR 2!

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition for $44.99

If you recently completed the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, this is the perfect game for you. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Defintive Edition is the newest mainline title in the series, and there is so much it offers. For many, this is one of the best Dragon Quest games out there, and you can’t go wrong picking this up for only $44.99.

Persona 3 Reload for $24.97

Persona 3 Reload is one of the best RPGs of the year. This remake recreates one of the most praised Atlus titles ever, with loads of new quality-of-life and gameplay features. An all-new voice cast debuted with this release, and each cutscene was remade with new assets for higher quality. If you’ve never jumped into the world of Persona before, this is a great place to start, especially at this price.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $39.99

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was one of 2024’s biggest games, continuing the story from 2020’s Final Fantasy VII Remake. Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Barret, and Red XIII begin their journey outside Midgar, meeting characters like Yuffie, Vincent, and Cid along the way. This experience offers well over 100 hours of content, with 36 sidequests and a main story over 40 hours long. Plus, there are dozens of minigames to discover.

Save on WD_BLACK Xbox Series X|S Expansion Cards

Both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S cannot use standard NVMe SSDs. Instead, you can expand the storage of the internal SSD by plugging in an expansion card. Today, you can save on both a 1TB and 2TB model from WD_BLACK, which is perfect for downloading many more games to your system. If you find yourself quickly running out of storage, don’t pass up this sale.

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics for $34.99

You can score Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics for only $34.99 this weekend at Amazon. This collection packs in seven different titles, including the beloved Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes. At last, you can play these classic titles on modern platforms.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD for $39.99

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is the long-awaited remaster of the classic Wii game. Set at the beginning of the Zelda timeline, Skyward Sword takes Link to the skies as he traverses across the world to save his childhood friend Zelda. You’ll uncover the Master Sword was created as part of this journey, among other things. For $39.99, this is an excellent title to add to your Switch collection.

Save 30% Off The HORI Fighting Commander OCTA (Street Fighter 6 Cammy Edition)

If you’re searching for a new fighting game fightpad, look no further than this HORI Fighting Commander OCTA. Compatible with both Windows 11 and Windoews 10, this tournament grade controller features microswitch buttons, a six-button layout, accurate D-Pad, analog slide pad, and more. Plus, this particular model features art of Cammy in Street Fighter 6!

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven for $39.99

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is arguably the best entry point into the SaGa series at this time. Acting as a full 3D remake of the 1993 release, this game features English and Japanese voiceovers, rearranged music, retooled gameplay, and more. If you’re still unsure about Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, you can check out the free demo across all platforms!

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 for $44.99

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 follows the story of Rex and the Aegis, who aim to reach the fabled land of Elysium. This massive RPG takes place across the world of Alrest, a land covered in clouds, where there are only a few landmasses remaining. With incredible music, exciting gameplay, and a memorable story, this is a fantastic deal for only $44.99. Simply put, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is one of the best games available on Nintendo Switch. I’ve put over 600 hours into the massive adventure, with all sorts of quests and exploration to be discovered.

WD_BLACK NVMe SSDs On Sale

Finally, you can save on WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSDs. These are perfect for any gaming PC, and you can even use one of these in a PlayStation 5, as long as you have a heatsink attached. The SN850X has speeds up to 7,3000 MB/s acoss all models, which is essential for quick and speedy load times. If you’re purchasing for PS5, there are heatsink models available, though the sale on the standard models makes these SSDs much cheaper.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus for $44.99

Pokémon Legends: Arceus is often praised as one of the best Pokémon games available on the Switch. This original title takes place far in the past, somewhere in the Hisui region. With a focus on exploration, you can freely walk all around the map to capture Pokémon, explore different environments, and so much more. You can save $15 at Best Buy this weekend on the best Pokémon experience Switch has to offer.

Best Of 2024: How Lemmings, ChuChu Rocket & Nintendo Inspired Unpacking Devs’ Next Game

“When you play it, you feel connected, not judged”.

Over the holiday season, we’re republishing some of the best articles from Nintendo Life writers and contributors as part of our Best of 2024 series. This article was originally published in June. Enjoy!


Developer Witch Beam isn’t ready to rest on its laurels. After creating two wildly different games — the twin-stick shooter Assault Android Cactus and the BAFTA award-winning, heartfelt puzzler Unpacking — it’s ready to move back to the outside and go with something even more relaxing.

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