Ho ho ho… oh wait, that’s next week, huh? Well, there’s still plenty to celebrate in the gaming sphere. 2017 has been a phenomenal year for games, and Nintendo is looking to close out with some fantastic and eclectic titles. If you had been worried earlier in the year when the Switch launched that it wouldn’t have enough games, now you have easily 60+, and that’s only counting digital goodies. So let’s see what else you can stuff in your stocking this Xmas!
Normally Nintendo would present a couple of featured games, which I would cover first. They didn’t do that today, for whatever reason, so I’m going to pick a handful that I feel deserve an extra look (as well as covering them later on). First, and most importantly for me, tactical RPG fans of Advance Wars can celebrate today, as Tiny Metal has hit the Switch! This game was heavily inspired by the Advance Wars style of gaming, and it shows in the very best ways. It may be a bit more pricey than most digital games on the eShop, but I’m confident it will be worth every penny (I picked it up this morning on pure optimism). Be sure to stay tuned tomorrow for when our review of Tiny Metal goes live as well.
Next up, if you’re a fan of whimsical storytelling and crazy platforming, you should give a look to Max: The Curse of Brotherhood, which also released today. It features colorful art and creative puzzle platforming. We’ll also be reviewing Max on the site, so be sure to give that a look later on. And finally, I have to mention Heart&Slash has hit the Switch! While I am happy I got it on a Steam sale way back, I would love to have it on my Nintendo console / portable. We really liked the other versions, so if you’re looking for some roguelike fun, be sure to give it a chance.
If you’re a lover of Fire Emblem Heroes, there are some new Wintery events to try out:
- Special Heroes: Winter’s Envoy – Some Special Heroes in wintry outfits are here to bring a splash of color to these winter days. These Special Heroes are part of a Special Heroes summoning event in the 5 ★ Focus. For new summoning events, the first time you summon, you won’t have to use Orbs! But that’s not all … these Special Heroes also appear in the new Paralogue, Winter’s Envoy, and there are some related limited-time special quests as well! This event lasts until 10:59 p.m. PT on Dec. 31.
- Daily Special Maps – Look for Special Maps to be added daily for 11 straight days starting at 11 p.m. PT on Dec. 23! The first time you clear each of these maps, whether on Normal or Hard mode, you can receive one Orb. Clear the Daily Special Maps and earn Orbs daily! This event runs from 11 p.m. PT on Dec. 23 until 11 p.m. PT on Jan. 2. Note: Each map will be available for one week.
With the digital release of Pokémon Crystal right around the corner, coming to the 3DS late January, My Nintendo has you covered with some discounts. Firstly, you can get a new Pikachu and Poké Ball Theme. Then, you can redeem your points for 30% off the following titles – Pokémon TCG, Pokémon Art Academy, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team. If that wasn’t enough from My Nintendo, you can also redeem your points for discounts on the following titles starting tomorrow – Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past, EarthBound, Code Name: S.T.E.A.M., Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword and the unmentionable Metroid, Federation Force.
Lastly, we’ll close out with another deluge of digital titles for the Switch. It used to be we would see a couple 3DS and Wii U titles here, but as of today, it’s 100% Switch. First, the games I mentioned earlier are all available today – Tiny Metal, Max: The Curse of Brotherhood and Heart&Slash. If you’re looking for some puzzling good times, check out Puzzle Box Maker, Tactical Mind and Energy Cycle. For fans of musical gaming, try out Frederic: Resurrection of Music. For a little more horror in your life, try out The Coma: Recut and Bloody Zombies (available as of the 23rd). If you want a quaint, Zelda-inspired jaunt, Blossom Tales is finally out for the Switch. For twitch-happy gamers, you can try Tiny Troopers Joint Ops XL and The Deer God. And if you’re looking for more SHMUP action, try out Pulstar, The Next Penelope or RXN -Raijin-. A pretty great selection of titles, if I say so myself.
So that’s it for the Nintendo Download this week! Us at oprainfall hope you all have a Happy Holiday and a Merry Xmas full of gaming. Be sure to tune in next week for the last Download of December, and come back to join us in the New Year!
