Player's Choice Video Game Superstore

Author: dpugh007

  • Best Nintendo Switch Online Games: 11 best online games for co-op and versus multiplayer

    With Nintendo’s paid online service finally here, what better time to piece together a guide to the best Nintendo Switch Online games out there?

    Nintendo Switch Online launched only in September, bringing a paid subscription service for accessing online play, alongside a host of other features like cloud saves and retro game emulation. The paid online service isn’t necessary for playing most games on the Nintendo Switch eShop, but you’ll still need it if you want to get the most out of your multiplayer titles.

    So whether you’re a Nintendo Switch owner looking to make the most of the online service, or just someone wanting to know why the hell they should sign up to Nintendo Switch Online after paying for a $300 / £300 console, these are the local co-op and online multiplayer games that get all the better for having the Nintendo Switch Online service.

    Is this the Nintendo Switch’s definitive party game? The Mario Party franchise has been running for 20 years and almost as many entries, pitting an eclectic mix of Mario characters against each other as they compete in a virtual board game.

    The eleventh in the series, Super Mario Party undoes some of the missteps of recent years and brings back the competitive edge, with a bunch of new modes, fresh new minigames, and added layers of strategy to bring the party all over again. If you have two Switch consoles between you, you can even link them up to fire cannons or splice together fruit from one screen to another – a neat addition that shows how much potential the Switch has for new kinds of play.

    The only place you’ll be playing online will be Toad’s Rec Room, where you can compete in four-person minigames for those prized leaderboard places – rather than risking strangers dropping out of a 20-turn board game mid-way. But whether you’re playing online or just chilling on the sofa with some friends, this should be at the top of your multiplayer list.

    Play for: online multiplayer or local co-op

    Let’s be honest, the main selling point of Nintendo Switch Online is probably the NES games that come bundled in.

    There’s no Virtual Console this time around, so you’re reliant on Nintendo leasing you the retro classics rather than letting you buy what you want at any time. 

    Even so, these games have been lovingly remastered with plenty of pleasingly modern features to let you pause, save, and reload each NES game at any point during play. Not to mention different viewing options if you want that more authentic arcade machine feel.

    Actual two-player games here Ice Climbers or Balloon Fight are perfect for a nostalgia trip with your buddies. And even the solo titles – Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, and so on – have been updated for more connected play, meaning you can swap between Joy-Con controllers with a friend or enjoy voice chat over the Switch smartphone app while you take a trip down memory lane. 

    Other NES titles you get at launch include Soccer, Tennis, Mario Bros, Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Bros 3, Ghosts ‘n Goblins, Excitebike, Tecmo Bowl, and Yoshi.

    But there’ll be a steady trickle of other games each month for subscribers, which are bound to start including comparatively more recent SNES and N64 games down the line.

    Play for: local co-op

    We couldn’t make a list of the best online games without this: a beautifully Nintendo take on team-based shooters with teenage squids splaying maps with colored ink.

    The fun, cartoony art style and fluid gameplay are exactly what you expect from Nintendo, with a sharply competitive streak and quick-fire matches that make it perfect for short play sessions. The first game did the impressive job of pulling players to the struggling Wii U console, and while the loss of a second screen on the Nintendo Switch entry is mourned, this is still a wonderfully fun game.

    The single player offering has got stronger with the recent Octo expansion, but don’t be mistaken: this is a masterful multiplayer game through and through. There are local co-op options if you have more than one Switch to hand, though the game doesn’t support split-screen play on a television.

    Play for: online multiplayer

    Weapons, shields, engines, and… love? 

    Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a funky 2D shooter that sees you pilot a spaceship across the galaxy to help restore love to the universe. The popping visuals and bumping soundtrack are what make this game, though the cooperative elements also aim to bring you and your other players closer together – you won’t make it through the game without them.

    There’s technically a single-player mode, but for the full force of this lovingly-made indie game, you’ll want to find someone to share it with.

    Play for: local co-op

    Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is in a sense of repackaging of the Wii U entry – but is still well worth your time and money.

    Accessible with plenty of modes, vehicles, and on-track madness, Nintendo’s iconic arcade racer is always one of the best multiplayer games out there, while this entry comes with a set of new characters and all the previously released DLC included from the starting line.

    Mario Kart 8 Deluxe caters for four players in split-screen co-op, or up to eight consoles linked up wirelessly – or against anyone you like online.

    Play for: online multiplayer or local co-op

    How to improve on ‘the beautiful game’ of football? By replacing humans with cars, obviously.

    Rocket League is that wonderfully simple premise that everyone can get behind: haphazardly zooming across a pitch and occasionally knocking a giant ball into the goal. It’s on pretty much every gaming system out there by now but is an affordabke must-buy if you don’t have it on another console already.

    Play for: online multiplayer and local co-op

    Pokken Tournament DX is a 360-degree fighting game with a roster of Pokemon to take each other on in 1-on-1 or 3-on-3 battles. Another fantastic Wii U game that didn’t get the love it deserved – until it was ported over to the Switch, with even more pocket monsters to play with.

    This isn’t the turn-based combat you’ll know from the mainline series, either – here you have to choose your moves and movements in real-time to take down your opponents, adding a real rush to proceedings.

    Not to mention the HD graphics, with character builds and attack animations brought into their lively 3D splendor. But it’s not all looks: this is a satisfying fighting game with great mechanics and plenty of nostalgia for fans of the series.

    Play for: local co-op or online multiplayer

    This game isn’t even out yet and we’re that confident. Easy to play, hard to master, Super Smash Bros has always been a Nintendo stalwart: a mad fighting game brawler that pits video game characters from across Nintendo’s extensive catalogue against each other in battle. Pikachu vs Luigi. Kirby vs Ice Climbers. Toon Link vs Samus. The chaos knows no ends.

    Super Smash Bros Ultimate arrives on December 7 and is the closest thing to a definitive Smash Bros we’ve seen, with every single character ever to have appeared across the franchise – with some fun new ones bundled in, including Metroid’s Ridley and Donkey Kong Country’s King K. Rule.

    Add to that over 100 stages, countless gameplay improvements and a bunch of new modes to jump into, and you have a Smash Bros entry that will no doubt be a big draw for players signing up for Nintendo Switch Online.

    Play for: online multiplayer, local co-op

    Ok, so, technically Fortnite doesn’t require Nintendo Switch Online – like any free-to-play game on the console – but it’s a must-have for anyone into online competitive gaming.

    Fortnite is a stupidly successful take on the battle royale genre, which drops 100 players into a shrinking map and lets the chaos ensure, with neat building mechanics and plenty of llama-based humor to make it stand out from the crowd. Publisher Epic Games constantly tweaks and improves the service, bringing in new modes and items to make sure there’s always something new to try out too.

    And it’s played by everyone from 10-year-olds to full-grown adults, and apparently the Canadian rapper Drake, so don’t worry about not fitting in. Cross-play also means you can compete with players on their Xbox One, PC, or on mobile – though sadly still not PS4.

    The game makes its fortunes selling cosmetic items or letting you choose your own character – rather than randomly selecting one – but there’s no obligation to fork out. The Nintendo Switch version even supports motion controls, if you fancy setting yourself more of a challenge in the online arena.

    Play for: online multiplayer

    A casual co-op game about the most stressful restaurant kitchen imaginable.

    Overcooked 2 supports up to four players in couch co-op – though you’ll need a joy-con for each one of you – and will see you cooking up a storm as you all try to keep your kitchen running in increasingly madcap and unstable environments (hot air balloons, anyone?).

    Cue flaming dinners, furious customers, and shifting stages that faithfully recreate the stress of being a working chef (not really). It’s simple but chaotic, and perfect for a quiet / loud night in after actually making yourself dinner.

    Play for: local co-op or online multiplayer

    Minecraft on Nintendo Switch? The second best-selling video game of all time (after Tetris) has come far since it first launched in beta back in 2011. The mining and building mechanics offer near-endless scope for creation, combining the fun and freedom of Lego with the possibilities of virtual sandbox game.

    Make the castle of your dreams, create to-scale replicas of the Millenium Falcon, or wander around the countless creations of friends and strangers across the globe.

    It’s well suited to the Switch’s pick-up-and-play mentality, even if it’s playable on pretty much everything by now – notably in VR – with plenty of cross-play between platforms. There are various modes for different styles of play, including a Creative Mode that lets you focus on building, or an Adventure Mode more geared towards exploring other user-created maps and areas.

    Play for: online multiplayer or local co-op

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  • Star Wars Galaxies: how modders are keeping the dream of a Star Wars MMO alive

    Star Wars Galaxies: how modders are keeping the dream of a Star Wars MMO alive

    While most of you will largely know Star Wars as an incredibly successful film franchise, the Star Wars games have their own sagas as worthy of attention – the furore around Star Wars Battlefront II being a prime example. But perhaps none is in more need of reconsideration than Star Wars Galaxies.

    First announced in 2000, Star Wars Galaxies: Empire Divided was a MMORPG aimed for release in 2001 for PS2, Xbox and PC. An online multiplayer experience set in George Lucas’ expansive sci-fi universe, Star Wars Galaxies was a game that placed you in the middle of the Galactic Civil War as a trader, soldier, or entertainer – or, if you stumbled across the right side-quest, even as a Jedi.

    Eventually, it was scaled back to a more straightforward release on PC, which launched in 2003 to mixed reviews.

    But there was something special about the game for fans of the Star Wars franchise. You could jump between different planets, or drive through the sands of Tatooine and rainy jungle of Dantooine. Or you could just spend a weekend at a Cantina, dancing away.

    Star Wars Galaxies MMO

    Many reviews of the time said it was unfinished, buggy, and missing a pretty key component of Star Wars – space exploration.

    But for me, Star Wars Galaxies was a revelation, and stands today as a testament to how impactful even an imperfect, ‘unfinished’ game can be. It was the first MMORPG I’d played, and the novelty of stepping out of a spaceport and wandering where the mood took you was glorious.

    Eventually, mis-management resulted in two major updates scuppering the long-term potential of the game. The first one was a Combat Upgrade in May 2005, which fixed some niggling player issues, but also standardised a lot of weapons and items, taking away many advantages and benefits that players had been grinding towards to obtain. 

    The second patch was the fabled NGE, or ‘New Game Enhancements’ in November 2005, which essentially rebooted the game into a free-for-all. The skill-building system had been changed to a levelling system, changing the very core of what made Galaxies unique, and now you could even be a Jedi from the very start of the game. 

    These changes not only confused players, but irritated them, leaving them with a game that wasn’t the one they came to enjoy.

    The game barely survived these changes, but eventually in December 2011, it was no more, and shut down forever.

    If you strike me down…

    In the shadows, however, something was brewing from a number of dedicated, passionate players who wanted to keep the game fun, away from the new directions publisher SoE (Sony Online Entertainment, now Daybreak Game Company) was going in. This project started on Christmas Eve in 2004, and work only accelerated a year later when the two much-criticised updates were published.

    Star Wars Galaxies MMO

    This project was ‘SWGEmu’, an emulated version of the original 2003 title I first discovered on Reddit around a year ago. Wanting to discover any veterans of the game, I came across the project and I’ve been dipping in and out of it ever since.

    You see so many people on fan-forums trying to revive a classic game, teasing a few screenshots throughout a staggered development and no eventual release.

    But here was the real deal. The original installation disks were needed to install the game on my PC again, which were only a quick eBay purchase away. As I clicked on ‘LaunchPad’, the music from Empire Strikes Back began again, and I was suddenly transported to 2004. Before the Combat Upgrade, before the NGE, before the dark times.

    Of course, it should be noted that SWGEmu is in no way sanctioned by LucasArts/Disney, but rather entirely the result of the efforts of fans from long ago. But how did it come about?

    The first step into a larger world

    I spoke with a staff member of SWGEmu using the name ‘Vlada’, regarding its history and where they aim for it to go:

    “The SWGEmu project began on December 24, 2004. It all started because many players didn’t like the direction the game was being taken. So if we wanted to play the game we loved again, the way it was originally meant to be played, we would have to remake it ourselves.”

    Star Wars Galaxies MMO

    The main challenges still facing the team are, first, maintaining the stability of the server, and second, integrating the ‘Jump to Lightspeed’ Expansion. 

    Now that a player can freely jump into the game and master most of the professions that were given back in 2003, there’s now a new frontier for them to meet: space.

    Jump to Lightspeed was the first expansion to the game released in October of 2004, and one that was hinted to during Galaxies’ development. This was where a player could purchase a spaceship, and freely launch themselves into space. It was almost a precursor to No Man’s Sky – though naturally not of the same scope – where you could fly around random parts of space, and then find yourself at a planet of your choosing.

    There have been efforts to incorporate the update, made somewhat possible by the fact the expansion was released on disc as well as digitally, making it simpler to find the essential files to merge it with SWGEmu. Work started on the update in 2011, though Vlada stresses it’s still “groundwork” at this point. 

    “We have to start somewhere – and because of the nature of the project, we don’t have an ETA.”

    Of course, the Death Star hanging over the whole endeavor is still Disney. If the project gains more users or too much of a large profile, they could easily receive a cease and desist. But there are other challenges, from the team itself to the funding of their servers.

    “The biggest challenge, after almost 15 years, is keeping people interested in the project – both those involved in the development and those supporting it. But even after all these years, SWG hasn’t lost its appeal.”

    Star Wars Galaxies MMO

    Light speed aside, there are two other SWG expansions with potential for inclusion in the modded game. One added the Wookie home-planet Kashyyyk in ‘Rage of the Wookies’, while Mustafar, the main planet for Obi Wan’s and Anakin Skywalker’s battle in Star Wars: Episode III, was added in its final expansion, ‘Trials of Obi-Wan’.

    But what’s stopping another passionate developer recreating new planets from ‘The Last Jedi’, or even StarKiller base from ‘The Force Awakens’? There’s a lot of untapped potential, which could result in entirely new worlds and areas to explore. Vlada refers me to a linked emulation project called Mod the Galaxy, where efforts have already begun to see whether new planets and characters can be added to the existing code.

    The planet ‘Mandalore’, the home planet of Jango and Boba Fett – and the basis for an incoming live-action TV series The Mandalorians – was technically added to Mod the Galaxy in 2015, but is currently no more than a mix of palettes and textures waiting to be fleshed out. Even so, the prospects are exciting.

    This is still in the early stages, and it probably won’t come to the more widely-used SWGEmu until more research has been undertaken.

    But for now, you can fulfil your destiny to join a time from 2003, where you can once again drive a speeder across the lands of Yavin, dance the night away in a Cantina in Mos Espa, or just chat to a Wookie on Corellia.

    I’ll see you on Yavin IV.

    You can check out the SWGEmu website at www.swgemu.com, or the Reddit thread at www.reddit.com/r/swgemu.

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  • EA reveals Project Atlas, its grand vision for the future of cloud gaming

    EA has been outlining its vision for the future of gaming, and the company is gazing skywards, to the cloud, and “transformative technologies” like AI, to build Project Atlas, loosely described as an integrated “engine + services” game development platform.

    So yes, prepare yourself for a lot of buzzwords, but the broad idea is to build a cloud platform that delivers far more immersive gaming experiences than we have today.

    In other words, game environments that evolve, so when you come back to the virtual world the next day, things may have changed based on the input of other players, or AI elements, and indeed the real world may have an impact on the virtual one.

    EA envisions the (Frostbite) game engine and game services (such as online matchmaking and the social side of the experience) all being rolled into one cloud platform, with the game running on an EA server, and folks able to log in and play from any device, anywhere.

    Ken Moss, Chief Technology Officer at Electronic Arts, explains in a Medium blog post: “We’ve been developing software that utilizes the cloud to remotely process and stream blockbuster, multiplayer HD games with the lowest possible latency, and also to unlock even more possibilities for dynamic social and cross-platform play.”

    Moss believes that Project Atlas will blur the lines between the traditional game engine, and the game services built around it, effectively merging them into one big seamless cloud-powered experience.

    He further explains that this is about empowering developers not just to be able to craft fancy, shiny graphics thanks to a smart game engine, but to produce a better overall game across all aspects of the experience, with online services that facilitate “deeply connected experiences between players and content”.

    And indeed much more involved levels of personalization in terms of players having an impact on the game world, and generating content for it, making for more of a living, breathing environment as we’ve already touched upon.

    AI smarts

    We also mentioned artificial intelligence earlier: so how does that fit in? On one hand, this will be working behind the scenes, so when a developer is crafting a game, AI will be able to help with, say, the balanced distribution of resources in a shooter.

    But also from the player’s point of view, it can facilitate NPCs that have believable personalities and reactions to your character. Moss further cites an example of AI driving the commentary on Madden: “Imagine that … you’ve just thrown your second interception of the game against the same cover 2 defense that caused the first turnover.

    “Instead of the commentator simply stating that you threw a pick, the AI enables contextual, real-time commentary to reference the fact that you’re throwing to the sideline against a cover 2 defense and should have thrown against the weak zone over the middle to your tight end, who was open on the route.”

    Not only does this make for a far more realistic football experience, but it’s (hopefully) helping you to become a better Madden player.

    Moss lays out a compelling vision, for sure, although he does admit that a lot of this stuff already exists, albeit separately – what EA wants to do is bring it all seamlessly together in Project Atlas, making it as easy as possible for developers to create these sort of living and breathing game environments, with all these bells and whistles, in the cloud.

    There are already over a thousand EA employees working on Project Atlas, along with “dozens of studios around the world contributing their innovations, driving priorities, and already using many of the components”.

    But while there are certainly a lot of big – and laudable – concepts touted here, naturally internet connectivity will have to play its part, being the one obvious stumbling block of taking gaming cloud-wards.

    Especially when you’re talking about playing across all devices, meaning using mobile hardware for gaming on the go, and therefore looking at technologies such as 5G to facilitate that.

    However, certainly on the face of it, Project Atlas sounds like a compelling vision of gaming in the future.

    Via VentureBeat

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  • Red Dead Redemption 2 is faking its HDR output

    Red Dead Redemption 2 is faking its HDR output

    Red Dead Redemption 2 is without doubt a stunning open-world adventure which sees you traveling the dusty roads and snow-capped mountains of the Old Wild West. However its HDR support doesn’t seem to be quite right and now it seems we know why – it isn’t HDR at all.

    According to tests performed by Eurogamer, Red Dead Redemption 2’s HDR is actually rendered in upscaled SDR rather than HDR. These tests took screenshots from Red Dead and used a method to map luminescence of the image (which was then recorded in nits). The level of nits was then converted to colors (changing the color of certain parts of the image to represent the level of luminescence), and these colors were graded on whether they fell under SDR or higher. 

    SDR was anything under 100 nits (showing as grayscale), 100 to roughly 500 was yellow, 500 to 1000 showed as orange, between 1000 or roughly 2000 appeared as red and images between 2000 and 4000 was pink (aka peak HDR). 

    So, for example, an SDR part of an image would show as gray, while a HDR part of an image would be highlighted as pink. 

    Surprisingly, when this test was applied to Red Dead Redemption 2’s HDR output on the Xbox One X it showed that the output is upscaled SDR rather than HDR, with the screenshots highlighting the images in mostly yellow, orange and gray.

    Eurogamer claims that it was possible to hit a maximum of 500 nits, but only when the HDR calibration was at its maximum. 

    Typically the average measurement of high dynamic range (or HDR) is 1000 nits. So Red Dead Redemption 2’s HDR support isn’t actually delivering HDR – rendering it useless. 

    As Eurogamer point out, this isn’t the first time a developer has promised HDR support and not delivered. Platinum Games were accused of implementing “fake HDR” in Nier Automata  when it the game similarly did not meet the HDR baseline.

    TechRadar has reached out to Rockstar for comment.

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  • Google releases frightfully addictive multiplayer Doodle game for Halloween

    If you’ve ever played a Google Doodle game, you’ll know how fun (and addictive) they can be – and now for the first time ever, you can play along with other people in Great Ghoul Duel.

    The Halloween-themed multiplayer game allows you to invite up to seven friends via a custom link, or play along with randomly selected strangers across the world. To play, simply head to the Google homepage and click on the Doodle image. 

    The spooky mini-game allows you to form two teams of up to four ghosts, meaning you must work together to collect ‘spirit flames’ and return them to your home base. 

    The team with the most spirit flames after two minutes wins – you can also steal flames from the opposing team, as well as unlocking special powers like night vision and speed boost. 

    Halloween spirit

    Great Ghost Duel follows the immensely popular Halloween Doodle game, Magic Cat Academy from two years ago, in which you played as a magical black cat and battled to save your school from invading ghosts. 

    If this one is as addictive like its predecessor, it’s probably best to avoid it during working hours – or just don’t let your boss see you playing it. 

    Via Cnet

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  • Random: Smash Bros. Fan 3D Prints Custom GameCube Controller Adapter Designed For 8-Player Mode

    More players equals more fun.

    A Smash fan who we’re guessing is eagerly anticipating the release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in December has 3D printed their very own custom GameCube controller adapter. It’s been designed for the eight-player mode which first appeared in the Wii U and 3DS entries. If you thought it was just two separate adapters inside the case of a bigger one, think again.

    Read the full article on nintendolife.com

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  • Video: Learn About The Unreleased Game Boy Title Starring The Rapper Vanilla Ice

    Ice ice baby.

    Back when licensed video games first caught on during the ’80s and ’90s, it wasn’t just cartoons, comics and movies that were being adapted to the newest form of entertainment at the time, there were also games based on musicians. The most famous was Michael Jackson’s Sega-developed title Moonwalker – requiring the player to execute signature dance moves to take down a variety of enemies while rescuing children at the same time. The king of pop undeniably had the biggest music game and essentially paved the way for more music orientated video game releases later down the line.

    During this period when Moonwalker was at the top of the charts, there were many other musicians cashing in on the success of video games. Apparently, American rapper Vanilla Ice even had a game lined up. The YouTube channel GameBoyle – predominantly focused on Game Boy history – has posted a 10-minute clip about Vanilla Ice’s unreleased Game Boy title originally known as Rap City.

    Read the full article on nintendolife.com

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  • Rumour: Dataminers Uncover Evidence Of Diablo Themed amiibo

    Will there be a special announcement at BlizzCon?

    A few weeks ago, Blizzard released a statement effectively stamping out the chances of a new Diablo game being shown at BlizzCon 2018. That doesn’t necessarily mean the popular hack and slash RPG will be completely absent from this year’s convention, though. The Switch version – Diablo III Eternal Collection – arrives on the exact same day as the annual event starts.

    If that’s not enough, there’s now a rumour suggesting Diablo-themed amiibo will also be revealed over the course of the weekend. According to new findings from console dataminers, Diablo on Switch will support three different types of amiibo. This includes the existing amiibo line along with a special Treasure Goblin and Demon amiibo. The standard amiibo and Treasure Goblin will open a portal leading to what’s suspected to be Greed’s Domain and the third amiibo will spawn a powerful Demon. There’s said to be a 22 hour cooldown period for portals and a 45-minute wait before a Demon can be summoned again. Use of amiibo will supposedly extend to online play.

    Read the full article on nintendolife.com

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  • Nintendo Switch System Update 6.1.0 Is Now Available

    Stability is all you need.

    Nintendo has rolled out its second Switch update for the month of October. According to the official support site, system update 6.1.0 includes stability improvements to enhance the overall experience. Here are the exact details:

    • Resolved an issue where certain games don’t recognize a Nintendo Switch Online membership for a short time after purchase

    To perform the update manually, go to the system settings and start the download. Otherwise, your Switch will automatically download the update when it’s connected online.

    Read the full article on nintendolife.com

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  • Review: Just Dance 2019 – More Songs Than Ever Before, But A Few Bum Notes As Well

    Back to basics?

    For some, the month of October means Halloween or the chilly autumn air, the build-up to the holidays or finally settling in to the new school year; for Ubisoft, this time of year means it’s time to release yet another entry into the Just Dance franchise – a tradition which has now been going strong for ten years. If you’ve already got a handful of the previous nine titles (or over 20 if you count the spin-off games, too), you’ll probably be wondering whether or not this latest effort is worth the upgrade. Luckily, that’s what we’re here for.

    As you might expect, the core aspect of the game is exactly the same as it always has been; you must follow the on-screen dancers move-for-move, strutting your stuff to a collection of popular hits as you carefully step over your mildly annoyed cat and try not to trip over the carpet. Your efforts are tracked by the Joy-Con in your hand, with each movement earning you a number of points (and eventually a star rating) determined by your accuracy.

    Read the full article on nintendolife.com

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