Tag: Nintendo

  • Soccer Dash: Football Simulator Review — A Mobile Game Wearing Switch Clothes

    Soccer Dash: Football Simulator Review — A Mobile Game Wearing Switch Clothes


    It’s Soccer… Sort Of

    In Soccer Dash: Football Simulator, you don’t control a player—you are the ball. You aim, charge, and kick your way through 46 near-identical levels, dodging obstacles and cartoonish defenders while navigating mini golf-style mazes.

    It’s an idea that could be fun in quick bursts. But the game doesn’t evolve. It doesn’t challenge. It doesn’t respect your time—or your money.

    “I had everything unlocked in under 30 minutes. And I wasn’t even rushing.”


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    One Mechanic, Zero Innovation

    The game’s main feature is slow motion. You pull back on the left stick to charge a shot, then press “A” to kick. This triggers a slo-mo effect that helps you line up your path.

    You can spam this mid-air, meaning you can basically cheese your way through any obstacle. There’s no scoring, no timing challenges, no tracking—just kick, coast, repeat.

    “There’s nothing to master. No skill ceiling. Just a skill floor you never need to leave.”



    Touchless on a Touchscreen?

    This game screams “mobile port,” but bafflingly, there are no touch controls on the Switch. For a game all about tapping direction and momentum, it’s a strange omission—and one that makes it feel half-finished.

    The UI is also barebones. Your only options in the settings menu? Mute sound and mute music. That’s it.

    World Cup Without the Cup

    The “World Cup” mode lets you choose from dozens of country flags and compete with a CPU through a 4–5 match sequence. Sounds exciting—but you win nothing, there are no rankings, and the matches don’t feel any different from normal levels.

    It’s a mode that exists just to exist.

    Skins Don’t Save It

    There are 16 unlockable “ball skins,” some with minor perks like more speed or coin bonuses. One of them is a literal golf ball that’s immune to traps. But they don’t add depth. If anything, they make the already-too-easy game even easier.

    “The skins are cute. But when your game is this thin, cosmetics aren’t a fix.”


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    Sound Effects: One Size Fits All

    The sound design feels as lazy as the level design. Every ball—whether it’s a beach ball, a steel ball, or a soccer ball—makes the same dull thud when kicked or deflated. No variation. No charm. No immersion.

    Final Thoughts: A Game That Barely Tries

    Soccer Dash: Football Simulator is what happens when a clever core idea gets lost in poor execution. There’s potential in controlling the ball and navigating puzzle-like soccer mazes, but this game simply does not care to do more than the bare minimum.

    No par system. No level variety. No rewards. No difficulty curve. No sound diversity. No joy.

    Score: 2/10 – Painfully Basic

    It feels like an early mobile prototype rushed onto a console marketplace—without even bothering to implement touch controls on a touchscreen system. It isn’t offensively bad. It’s just lazily made and quickly forgotten.

    “You won’t hate it. But you definitely won’t remember it.”


    Soccer Dash: Football Simulator – Fact Sheet

    Release date: July 23, 2025 (Switch Store March 6, 2025)
    Reviewed on: Nintendo Switch
    Developed by: [Developer name not specified]
    Published by: Upscale Studio
    Platform(s): Nintendo Switch

    Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this product from Keymailer. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

    🎮 Want to try Soccer Dash: Football Simulator yourself?
    Visit the Nintendo eShop or check availability via your Keymailer dashboard.


    Author

    Dylan Lepore is a multimedia professional, entrepreneur, and lifelong gamer who’s passionate about blending creativity with strategy. As the founder of LeporeMedia and The Part-Time Gamer, and the Business Manager at Port City Architecture, Dylan brings a unique mix of storytelling, design, and business savvy to everything he does. He lives in Portland, Maine, with his wife and his dog, Alecto.

  • 2DS Still Alive, ‘New’ XL Unit Hits in July

    2DS Still Alive, ‘New’ XL Unit Hits in July


    Nintendo has confirmed that there will be a New Nintendo 2DS XL on its way in the coming months.

    It will cost $200 AU (approximately $149.99 USD) and will be coming first in Australia and New Zealand on June 15. The US will be getting it on July 28th.

    “Still Packs the Same Power”

    14936413432441394358878The new model features a clamshell design, including a c-stick and a built-in NFC reader for Amiibo functionality. The screen size is the same as the already released New Nintendo 3DS XL (February 13, 2015). It is lighter but Nintendo says It “still packs the same power” of the New Nintendo 3DS XL.

    The Nintendo 2DS currently sells for $80 USD after being marked down twice. Marketed to kids 7 and under, it was built without the clamshell design and a more rugged material so that kids won’t snap the DS in half. Built like a door stopper in was and still is a good device.

    Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime said in a press release that “this new addition to Nintendo’s portable hardware line demonstrates our commitment to the hand-held market,” and continuing on that a “New Nintendo 2DS XL sports a beautiful clamshell design and offers a great balance between price and performance.”

    It’s About the Games

    nintendo_new_2ds_xl_1493359744862
    Now that’s a Switch

    It will be released with two different colors. A black/turquoise color in the US and in japan will be getting a white/orange version. Also, coming out with the release of the New Nintendo 2DS XL is Hey! PIKMIN and Miitopia.

    Hey! PIKMIN is a puzzle adventure game where “players guide Captain Olimar through 2D side-scrolling levels and collect Sparklium to refuel his crashed ship, the S.S. Dolphin 2, so he can escape the planet.” Miitopia is an RPG-like adventure game where you can “cast Mii characters into various roles and watch hilarious scenes unfold as they work together to defeat the Dark Lord who has stolen the faces of townspeople of Miitopia.”

    Nintendo is known for their games and after reading all the articles in the past week that they should drop the DS line and solely focus on the Switch, I’m glad to see there not backing down. Yes the Wii U is over but thousands of Nintendo fans are loyal to their DS. Nintendo has stated several times that they consider the Switch a “console” and its meant to be. Two different experience’s, two ways to play.

    Let me know if you’re interested in the DS family in the comments down below or @dylanslegos!

    *This article originally published on Brutal Gamer*

  • Thoughts on Resident Evil 4 After Playing It for the First Time 15 Years Later

    Thoughts on Resident Evil 4 After Playing It for the First Time 15 Years Later


    No use in telling him… he’s dead.

    To start this thing off let’s take it back to when I first got Resident Evil 4 in 2016. (more…)

  • The Nintendo Switch Is the Second Best Selling console since 1995

    The Nintendo Switch Is the Second Best Selling console since 1995


    Let’s Talk Numbers

    With only a  month and a half on the Switches belt, it seems that most people enjoy it. Well, be it with some technical difficulties, the National Purchase Diary (NPD) results of March are in. The Nintendo switch sold 906,000 units in March in the United States alone. Making it the fastest-selling console in Nintendo’s history.

    (more…)

  • Nintendo 3DS XL “Galaxy style” in stores this Week

    Nintendo 3DS XL “Galaxy style” in stores this Week


    To infinity and beyond 3DS sales go!

    With the “announced” Wii NX the 3DS sales just might be going down since reports say that the NX might be portable, hmm. Nintendo of America is keeping it alive (or is it the other way around) by bringing more games and refreshing the style of their handhelds.

    You Want this too. I know it.
    You Want this too. I know it.

    Handhelds always have been a thing with Nintendo. Every handheld has to have a special edition and they pull it off so well, too. I always wanted a Gameboy SP Minish Cap Edition, it looks so cool!! I digress.

    President of Nintendo of America Reggie Fils-Aime announced over Twitter that the Galaxy style new #3DS XL model will be available in stores this week across North America for $200. The post said this:

    Out of this world! A new Galaxy style new Nintendo 3DS XL is coming to stores starting this week for $199.99!

    Will it boost sales? Do you like the new Galaxy style 3DS? Tell us in the comments down below.

    Now that’s playing with power.

    *This article originally published on Brutal Gamer*