The NXpress Nintendo Podcast
Sword and Shield
Episodes
Tuesday Nov 26, 2019
Tuesday Nov 26, 2019
After all the hype, all the outcry, all the disappointment, all the excitement, Pokemon Sword and Shield are finally here, and it’s time for the Nxpress’ resident Pokemon expert, Mr. Tim Maison, to deliver his verdict on where this entry stands in the series pantheon. Joining Tim is casual pokemon observer Patrick, as well as Goomba Stomp’s Nintendo editor (and official Sword and Shield reviewer), James Baker. Will the two franchise fans duke it out over differing opinions, or are there some common-ground criticisms that one might be better able to ignore than the other? Regardless of any negativity slung around at subjects like Gigantamaxing or Mr. Rime (what did he ever do to anyone?), the guys ultimately have plenty of love for the splendid gameplay and lovingly realized world.
Before that debate, Patrick takes a more active role as he reviews Bee Simulator on his quest for the latest indie gems. And while this title may not garner much buzz for its gameplay, solid flight mechanics and loads of sincere enthusiasm for apians makes it work better as a piece of edutainment for younger gamers to enjoy.
For the last segment, Patrick then also review the fantastic 3D platformer New Super Lucky’s Tale, which is a reworked version of the Xbox One game that’s now available exclusively on Switch. While it may not come close to challenging Mario for the throne, Playful has created one of the most enjoyable entries in the genre in a long time. To hear all the superlatives Patrick has for this little fox’s adventure, and for plenty more, have a listen!
Thursday Oct 10, 2019
Thursday Oct 10, 2019
Another big show this week, as Rick, Tim, and Patrick are joined once again by Goomba Stomp writer Campbell Gill to tackle a slew of indie games, as well as get some further Pokemon education from our resident expert about the recent news. Things kick off with an overdue (and tangential) 5 Questions, but soon the guys get down to business. For the first segment, Rick pushes back a tiny bit on the acclaim for Untitled Goose Game, noting that while it’s fun to be a jerk, perhaps controlling a goose isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Next up is the epic A Knight’s Quest, a 3D adventure platformer that Patrick admires for its ambition, but is less enthusiastic about when it comes to execution.
After that, Campbell fills the guys in on Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince, a welcome return to form for the fairy tale franchise that is not only fun to play alone, but even more so with a group. Sure, the puzzles may make you feel stupid at times, but the gorgeous visuals and clever concepts should dull the blow.
Last up is the latest news about Pokemon Sword & Shield from our resident Pokemon guru, Tim Maison. Did anything of value come out of the recent 24-hour streaming event? What’s a Ponyta? And why is everyone so upset about trees? Tim tries to answer these and many other questions while looking forward to the game’s nearing release. For all this and more, have a listen!
Thursday Jun 06, 2019
NXpress Nintendo Podcast #168: 'Pokemon Sword' and 'Shield' Direct
Thursday Jun 06, 2019
Thursday Jun 06, 2019
I hope you're in the mood for Pokemon! This week, Tim and Patrick have a one-on-one about the latest announcements for the franchise, including last week's press conference and the brand-new Direct. First up on the topic, Tim does his best to explain to Patrick how Pokemon Home might work, what the heck Pokemon Sleep is, and why fighting trainers in a new mobile game could be cool. After that, the two tackle the Direct, debating which of the two legendary cover pokemon looks the best, where the new Dynamax mechanic ranks on the list of Pokemon gameplay additions, Tim's dream of giant monster raids coming (mostly) to life, and how the world is visually shaping up. Are we excited for this latest iteration? You'll have to listen in to find out!
Before all the Pokemon gab, however, the guys talk about what they've been playing lately, and muse over the value of certain indies and smaller Nintendo games. Somewhere along the way, Sam Raimi's Drag Me to Hell is discussed; it's a weird tangent.
For all this and more, tune in!