The NXpress Nintendo Podcast
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Episodes
Wednesday Mar 16, 2022
NXpress Nintendo Podcast 276: A Smorgasbord of Reviews!
Wednesday Mar 16, 2022
Wednesday Mar 16, 2022
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill wade their way through this month’s busy release schedule with a review-packed extravaganza! Marc gets the party started on a dour note by reviewing Chocobo GP on Switch, a kart racer that had the potential to rival Mario Kart 8 but instead has had its feathers plucked through Square Enix’s absurd insistence on microtransactions.
Marc follows that up with some more positive impressions of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, a treat for Persona fans that may just be one of the best fighting games on Switch. Of course, with this being the sequel to the first Persona 4 Arena and a companion piece to Persona 4, it begs the natural question: what’s the point of it being on Switch? The world may never know–but in the meantime, the gang holds out hope for Atlus to spare us a Persona 4-shaped crumb on Switch.
In the final set of reviews, Cameron shares his thoughts on the classic point-and-click adventure game Primordia, which has just recently launched on Switch. Even with some unintuitive design choices, the game still thrives in its art direction and world design–two must-haves for any good point-and-click title. Marc then closes out the show with his thoughts on the Indian Jones-themed board added to Pinball FX3, a game that’s sure to delight arcade game fans!
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Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:43 – Main event: Chocobo GP and Persona 4 Arena Ultimax“Aria of the Soul” – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate38:40 – Main Event: Primordia and Indiana Jones: The Pinball Adventure“Break Out of…” – Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
Friday Oct 15, 2021
Friday Oct 15, 2021
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, longtime Goomba Stomp writer and former editor Mike Worby joins Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill to review the long-awaited Metroid Dread. Over a decade in the making, Nintendo has teamed up with Mercurysteam once again to officially revive the 2D Metroid formula, and Mike walks the hosts through everything that makes Dread such a triumphant comeback. Stuffed with secrets in its sprawling map and posing plenty of challenge in its many boss battles, Metroid Dread isn’t just a successful revival of a dormant series, but it pushes its genre forward with bold new ideas – even including a few ideas from series like Dark Souls. In any case, whether you’re a series veteran like Mike or a newcomer like Marc, there’s no denying that Samus’s latest mission has all the makings of a modern classic.
Next up, Marc takes the gang on a throwback tribute to celebrate the glory days of Pac-Man with a review of Pac-Man: Birth of an Icon, a beautifully made book commemorating the fortieth anniversary of one of gaming’s most recognizable icons. This week’s closing spotlight ends on a high note as Campbell reviews the recent Switch version of Tetris Effect Connected, a technically faithful port of the most memorable and musical take on the Tetris formula.
You can listen to our show on YouTube | Stitcher | iTunes | Podbean | Spotify | Listen Notes | iHeartRadio | Player FM | Amazon Audible
Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:46 – Main Event: Metroid Dread Review“Theme of Samus Aran” – Metroid Dread45:45 – Talking Point: Pac-Man: Birth of an Icon“Pac-Man (Club Mix)” – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate1:02:35 – Spotlight: Tetris Effect Connected on Switch“Classic Score Attack” – Tetris Effect Connected
Wednesday Oct 06, 2021
NXpress 252: Sakurai Presents One Last Time
Wednesday Oct 06, 2021
Wednesday Oct 06, 2021
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, it’s the end of an era as Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill react to the very last fighter joining the battle in Super Smash Brothers Ultimate in the final Sakurai Presents showcase. Sora from Kingdom Hearts has officially joined the battle, and while the hosts may sound a little heartless in their lack of enthusiasm for Square Enix and Disney’s ambitious crossover series, there’s no denying the importance of Sora’s addition to the roster. Not only does Sora represent a monumental moment in gaming history, but he means so much to generations of players who grew up with the Kingdom Hearts adventures–and really, what better way to end the most expansive gaming collaboration in history?
Along the way, the hosts also muse over what the end of Smash Ultimate means for Sakurai and for Nintendo as a whole–just what does the future hold for the Big N and its blockbuster platform fighting series? Perhaps the announcement of the Kingdom Hearts series coming to Switch in cloud streaming form left much to be desired, but all told, Sakurai’s last deep dive was a fitting end to a remarkable series of presentations.
Next up, the gang goes on a spooky tangent as Cameron shares his experience with the excellent indie horror game Detention. It may have first released a few years ago, but this sidescrolling scare-fest still excels in delivering an unsettling atmosphere and cutting social commentary. If you’re looking for a game to welcome the arrival of Spooktober, don’t let Detention sneak under your radar!
You can listen to our show on YouTube | Stitcher | iTunes | Podbean | Spotify | Listen Notes | iHeartRadio | Player FM | Amazon Audible
Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:42 – Main Event: Sora in Smash and Sakurai Presents“Simple and Clean” – Kingdom Hearts42:30 – Indie Spotlight: Detention Review“Blast Away! Gummi Ship II” – Kingdom Hearts II
Friday Jul 30, 2021
Friday Jul 30, 2021
Pokemon Unite Switch Review
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill pick up their phones for a mobile-centric extravaganza highlighting the Pokemon Company’s biggest addition to the Switch and mobile library, Pokemon Unite. Before that, though, the gang kicks things off by paying their respects to the recently-deceased Dr. Mario World, the latest sign of Nintendo’s changing and shifting approach to mobile game development. With the Big N’s success in the mobile landscape being mixed at best, just what lies on the horizon for Nintendo titles beyond the Switch?
Next up, the hosts head to the Aeos Islands region as Marc reviews Pokemon Unite, the results of Tencent and The Pokemon Company’s grand mobile collaboration. MOBAs may not be the most accessible genre around, but Unite manages to make its battle arena gameplay simple to grasp with familiar characters and streamlined mechanics. Cameron closes out the show with a comprehensive look at Eldest Souls, an unabashedly soulslike indie boss rush title that blends the frenetic combat of Hyper Light Drifter and solemn battles of Shadow of the Colossus into an uncompromisingly brutal yet satisfying mix.
You can listen to our show on YouTube | Stitcher | iTunes | Podbean | Spotify | Listen Notes | iHeartRadio | Player FM | Amazon Audible
Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:40 – Nintendosage: What does Dr. Mario World shut down mean for Nintendo?“Fever” – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate17:30 – Main Event: Pokemon Unite Review“Title Theme” – Pokémon Unite40:00 – Indie Spotlight: Eldest Souls“Burning Battlefield” – Pokémon Season 1
Friday Mar 05, 2021
Friday Mar 05, 2021
Nintendo YouTuber Yoshiller Joins the Show!
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, the next generation of hosts, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill are joined by longtime Nintendo YouTuber and mega Pokémon fan Yoshiller to discuss a handful of major anniversaries in the world of the Big N. First up, the gang reflects on four years of the Nintendo Switch, celebrating the incredible lineup of generation-defining first-party games as well as plenty of unforgettable indies and big-budget third-party titles. Whether you’ve been with the console since it launched on March 3, 2017 (or even a little before that) or picked it up later down the line, the hosts highlight the many features and games that make the Switch a platform that’s perfect for just about any kind of player.
For the main event, the boys continue the anniversary party by diving into the recent Pokémon Presents showcase commemorating 25 years of everyone’s favorite pocket monsters. What ensues is a discussion packed with controversial opinions and reactions, as every member of the gang seems to have a different reaction to the reveals of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Will the remakes live up to their source material? Will Legends Arceus repeat the mistakes of Sword and Shield, or will it successfully push the series in new directions? At the very least, everyone can agree that New Pokémon Snap is already a Game of the Year contender. The gang closes out the show by spotlighting the delightfully cozy indie platformer Sir Lovelot and gushing yet again about Hal Laboratory’s Part Time UFO.
You can listen to our show on YouTube | Stitcher | iTunes | Podbean | Spotify | Listen Notes | iHeartRadio | Player FM | Amazon Audible
Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:40 – Nintendosage: 4 Years of Nintendo SwitchYoshi’s Tale – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate23:00 – Main Event: Pokemon Presents ReactionsRoute 209 – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate54:30 – Indie Games Spotlight – Sir LovelotBattle! (Dialga/Palkia) / Spear Pillar – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Thursday Aug 08, 2019
NXpress Nintendo Podcast #174: Smash's Hero and The Best Games of the Last 30 Years
Thursday Aug 08, 2019
Thursday Aug 08, 2019
After last week's one-on-one with Fire Emblem: Three Houses, the guys go back to a more traditional show this week, as Rick and Patrick are joined by Izsak Barnette to discuss what we've been playing, a new Smash Bros. Ultimate character, and Goomba Stomp's recently published list of the best games from each year in the past three decades, as voted on by our staff. How many Nintendo titles took the top prize? And how many years were they blanked from even getting nominated? The results are pretty interesting, and may lend some insight as to why so many gamers are loyal to Nintendo consoles, even when it means less gaming options.
Before that, however, Izsak tells us about what's going on with Hero, the latest DLC for Smash. It turns out there may be some weird quirks to his moveset, but is he overpowered? This somehow leads to a conversation about our personal views on esports in general, but bear with us. Lastly, we close with a few more words from Patrick about the excellent Three Houses, including an assurance to Rick that this game doesn't ever turn into The Bachelor. And be sure to stick around for Rick's review of The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia, which apparently is better than just another coffee table book. For all this and more, have a listen!
Saturday Dec 22, 2018
NXpress Nintendo Podcast #153: Best Nintendo Switch Games 2018
Saturday Dec 22, 2018
Saturday Dec 22, 2018
It's a full house this week with not one, not two— but three guests joining Rick and Patrick to discuss the best Nintendo Switch games of 2018. It’s the last episode of the NXpress Nintendo Podcast for the year and we discuss fifteen of the best games released on Switch this year including Celeste, Yoku’s Island Express, Iconoclasts, Pokemon Let’s Go, The Messenger, Into the Breach, Wandersong, and Dead Cells. In addition, we set aside some time to review Gris, the indie adventure-platformer developed by Nomada Studio that has been getting rave reviews since its release. Closing the show is a follow-up review of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. In between us reviewing all of these games we also discuss Nintendo’s success of the past twelve months and whether or not the Big N had a good year.
Thursday Dec 13, 2018
NXpress Nintendo Podcast #152: 'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate' and Gifts for Gamers
Thursday Dec 13, 2018
Thursday Dec 13, 2018
The wait is finally over, as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate stops existing only as a Nintendo Direct machine (at least until that next batch of fighters) and steps into the real-world ring. This week Rick and Patrick are joined by some of Goomba Stomp's Smash lovers — TV Editor Randy Dankievitch and writer Izsak Barnette — to discuss how the latest (and possibly last?) entry in the venerated franchise stacks up. Is the fighting fast and furious, or frustrating? Is the World of Light is shiny, or just plain dull? Is unlocking the characters a fun throwback, or an unnecessary roadblock? Does anyone care about Isabelle? The guys duke it out — although one host won't be settling anything in Smash anymore...
Before that, we talk games we've been playing, including the excellent Mark of the Ninja and some GameCube classics. Ah, to be young again. Finally, though our last segment is short, hopefully, it's as sweet as a cup of hot cocoa. Following in the spirit of our recent list of the best gifts for gamers this year, the guys divulge some of their picks for the perfect game-related stocking stuffers. No surprise that we're even nerdier than we thought. For all this and more, have a listen!
Friday Nov 02, 2018
Friday Nov 02, 2018
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Switch Podcast, Goomba Stomp's Indie Games Editor Katrina Lind joins us to discuss the final Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Direct. New fighters, modes, gameplay features, and DLC are just a few things highlighted in the comprehensive video presentation. The gang is all here and we're ready to give you our thoughts about the incentive for fans to pre-purchase the digital version of the game, the new single-player mode and so much more. In addition to all the Smash Bros. news, we also set aside some time to talk about Super Mario Party, Overcooked 2, Bastion and more.
Thursday Aug 23, 2018
NXpress Nintendo Podcast 141: 'Super Smash Ultimate' and the Nintendo Online Service
Thursday Aug 23, 2018
Thursday Aug 23, 2018
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Switch Podcast, Goomba Stomp writer Olivia Richman joins us to talk about Nintendo's online service which is set to debut sometime next month. In our main event, we discuss what characters we can realistically expect to see added to the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster. In addition, Ricky gives a quick preview of his new favourite game Salt and Sanctuary while Olivia reviews Next Up Hero, a new dungeon crawler featuring hand-drawn heroes that hack, slash gameplay. All this and more.