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Ys X: Proud Nordics, the definitive edition of the acclaimed Ys series game, was previously announced for PC and Switch 2 in the West. Today, NIS America announced that the title would also be coming to PlayStation 5. The publisher also revealed the game’s two release dates: one for the US and Europe, and the other for Australia and New Zealand. (I’m slightly annoyed that it’s US and EU, not the Americas and EU or even NA and EU. Rude.) The game was first released in Japan in July 2025. This version of Ys X: Proud Nordic features the fast-paced combat and enthralling narrative from the original release, but also offers new mechanics, a high-difficulty dungeon, and a brand-new storyline seamlessly integrated into the game. Adol and a proud Norman named Karja have a tense encounter at sea, and end up shackled together with Mana. Players will board the Sandras, their ship, to gather some trustworthy friends before going head-to-head with the Greigr to protect Obelia Gulf. The new story centers on Öland Island and the mysterious newcomers, Canute and Astrid. This definitive version of Ys Xaksi includes a new time-trial dungeon, Muspelheim. Here are the game’s key features, from NIS America: Adventure Anew: The spectacular adventure of Ys X: Nordics is back and better than ever, with improved graphical performance and quality of life updates that make this the definitive way to experience Ys X. Isle of Mystery: Arrive at Öland Island and take part in a brand-new adventure! With Shield Siblings Canute and Astrid by your side, dig deep into the mystery surrounding this island in a story that’s been seamlessly integrated into the original. An Ocean of Experiences Awaits: New mechanics and content abound in Ys X: Proud Nordics! Use the new Mana Hold ability to manipulate the world around you, try your hand at new challenges on Öland Island, and prepare yourself for Muspelheim, a timed dungeon of diabolical difficulty. Developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation and published in the West by NIS America, Ys X: Proud Nordics will be released in North America and Europe on February 20, 2026; it will be released in Australia and New Zealand one week later, on February 27.

Ahh, a cemetery — totally normal to be catching Pokémon here, right? Well, in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the answer is yes. Wild Zone 4 is likely your first taste of Ghost-type Pokémon, so it's a good time to stock up! Here's all the Pokémon you can expect to find in the cemetery, along with Alpha Pokémon. Wild Zone 4 Location Wild Zone 4 is just north of Wild Zone 3 on the other side of Sushi High Roller restaurant. It's also right below the Rouge Pokémon Center and the Passage du Palais shopping center. How to unlockWild Zone 4 is another area you can visit right from the start of the game. Like a few others, though, you'll need to wait until after that loooong line of tutorials. Just let me explore, Urbain/Taunie! All Wild Zone 4 Pokémon We're still at 6 Pokémon in Wild Zone 4, but this is a place you'll want to return to at night for one extra 'mon. Oh, and you can catch a Sableye as part of a Side Mission here, but only as part of that quest. You'll want to be above Level 9 before entering this area. Pokémon Type Location Gastly Ghost/Poison Basically everywhere, close to tombs Ekans Poison On the pathways and in the grass Spinarak Bug/Poison On the side of tombs and crypts Spewpa Bug In the northwest corner of the cemetery Patrat Normal In the grass in the northeast corner Honedge Steel/Ghost Close to the crypts and tombs (Nighttime only) Alpha Pokémon Locations Here's another Wild Zone with only 1 Alpha Pokémon guaranteed to spawn. Pokémon Type Level Location Spinarak Bug/Poison 20 On the side of the large crypt on the south side Best Wild Zone 4 Pokémon to catch You can't really go wrong with Ghost-type Pokémon, especially this early. So both Gastly and Honedge are worth picking up. Gastly is everywhere here and hard to miss, but Honedge only appears at night and is pretty rare. So keep trying!

Earlier this year, PB Tails' Metal Crush Defender TMR controller caught my eye, with its Fallout-inspired, distressed yellow stylings and glistening chrome sticks. I don't usually go in for 'relic' effects on anything, but this looked a bit special. It felt artful and novel in a market where neon gamer gear dominates, screaming for attention, and 'cheapening' otherwise decent equipment. The Xbox face button layout, though, meant it wasn't specifically relevant to Switch owners. Fast-forward several months, and there's a new model bearing Nintendo's classic button layout. Retailing for $79.99, this is the firm's familiar Crush pad but with '50s automotive stylings - specifically, it's celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Porsche 550 Spyder. There's no official licensing on this tribute, but the finish is beautiful, if you're into that sort of thing. The red light strip along the bottom edge (you can change the colour - more on that later) looks like a tail light, while the decals and details across the face, plus the silver paint job and the 'grille', faux-number plate, and red strips on the rear, give the feel of a quality piece of retro memorabilia. The burgundy trim of the D-pad and the shoulder buttons add to the classy, retro stylings, too. Images: Gavin Lane / Nintendo Life Opinion among Team NL is divided — you'll need to be a classic car connoisseur or have a thing for mechanical engineering and retro design — but I love the look and feel. It's a niche aesthetic and the pad won't suit every gaming purpose, but there's a luxuriousness to the finish and the chrome accents that gets my motor running. You feel like you should be playing with leather driving gloves when you're handling this thing (and maybe I did). In the hands, gloved or otherwise, this Crush pad feels like an old-school Xbox 360 controller, but weightier, and definitely glossier. The metal of the default sticks is just the beginning, and the slickness of the bodywork is probably a dealbreaker if you main games that give you sweaty palms. Fingerprints were my immediate concern on taking the pad from its black and white case and removing the little foam collars around the sticks, but surprisingly, I haven't found them an issue. I assumed I'd need a microfiber cloth after every session, but it's been fine sitting on the side over the past couple of weeks, despite the dust on my TV shelf and my sticky gamer paws. Images: Gavin Lane / Nintendo Life A braided USB-A to C cable is included for charging (the claimed 30-hour life feels accurate, although that'll depend on your lighting intensity), plus a dongle for 2.4G wireless connection and plastic/rubber sticks if you want to swap out the zinc alloy pair. And honestly? If you're into your online shooters or just want to be competitive in Fortnite, you'll want to switch the stick covers; channel-hopping in Blippo+ was a dream, a tense shootout in Springfield less so. I had no issue racing in GRID or unleashing ninja skills in Shinobi, but chromed metal just doesn't offer enough grip for split-second, precision inputs. The sticks themselves are the TMR variety, so power efficient and offering commensurate performance and protection against drift to Hall Effect. Obviously, it'll take a year or two of use to thoroughly test their resilience, but there's nothing to suggest they'll start wandering. They feel robust and responsive. Changing the sticks involves removing the magnetic faceplate, which can be tricky if you don't have decent nails, but gripping the front housing up around the shoulder buttons while pressing down on the sticks with your thumbs will eventually prise the cover away. Swap out the metal ones, clip the caps into the plastic domes, pop the cover back on, and you're away. Images: Gavin Lane / Nintendo Life PB sells other faceplates, although it would be weird to buy one of these and then ruin the aesthetic with a clear orange cover. Also worth noting is that the carry case's foam insert holds the two-part plastic sticks only, so you'll need to store the metal ones safely somewhere else. Removing the chrome ones feels like sacrilege, though, like you've whacked some cheap rims on a vintage Jag. It functions well, with gyro controls, some very nice rumble (the growl it makes when it connects to the console feels, brilliantly, like a revving engine), and pleasingly springy analogue triggers. The D-pad felt fine for a blast through some NSO classics, and the whole controller has a premium-feeling heft to it. Even the RGB lighting feels somehow sophisticated here. Holding down the 'T' (turbo) button and moving the left stick lets you pick the exact colour of the light strip, while the right stick changes the face and central Home buttons. You can tweak the intensity of the LEDs, too, and I appreciated that it's all there and selectable via the pad itself, no external software needed. You can't buy a lightbulb these days without downloading a bloody app. Images: Gavin Lane / Nintendo Life Face button lighting presets are selectable, as well: Super Famicom-style is the default, but you've also got PlayStation blue with the customary hues of Sony's shapes, or Xbox green and corresponding button colours. There's also a Dreamcast-style option - at least I think that's what the orange home button and this colour layout are referencing. Obviously, the Nintendo ABYX labelling remains, but it's a neat nod to other platforms. No clicky microswitches is a big plus, personally; all the face buttons feel nicely responsive without the irritating, cheap-sounding click that makes playing in a quiet space irritating. Toggling the switch on the top edge changes from 'S' (Switch) to 'X' (XInput), and everything functioned exactly as you'd expect when testing with Steam using the included dongle (or wired if you prefer) and iOS over Bluetooth. Images: Gavin Lane / Nintendo Life While you get added turbo options via the aforementioned button, you don't get NFC reader for amiibo or a 'C' button for easy Switch 2 GameChat access. There's no headphone jack, either, so headset gamers should look elsewhere, and you don't get any fancy back buttons, either. Another minor quirk is that '-' and '+' here are in the position of the Home and Capture buttons on Nintendo's controller, so prepare for some accidental screenshots at first. Also, you can't wake your Switch 2 up with this - not an issue for me as I always turn it on via the console, but some people really like the convenience of grabbing the pad down the side of the sofa and powering on. This isn't the kind of pad you'll leave jammed down the side of the sofa, though. For $80, there are functions missing that you might hope to have. If you only get one controller for Switch 2, look at Nintendo's own option or something from 8Bitdo. You're really paying for the style here. The Crush 550 needs pairing with a high-backed, leather-studded chair and a glass of Margaux while enjoying a visual novel or a light puzzler. It's not what you want if you're in the midst of a nailbiting deathmatch, perspiring between frantic frags and Dorito downtime. You wouldn't want to rag this into the ground with twitch shooters. Image: Gavin Lane / Nintendo Life It really depends what kind of gamer you are, then. I find this a pleasure to play with, and I'll be using it whenever a game doesn't demand more performance than it can manage. A classic car is a perfect comparison; this is a fair-weather pad, a beautiful Sunday driver you take out only when conditions allow. If you're in the market for something for the weekend and value-for-money is less important than sophistication, this will look and feel great in your showroom.

If you're itching to play a brand-new Game Boy Color game, then you're in luck. Bitmap Soft has announced it has opened pre-orders for its latest title, Lightseeker, over on its official website. Priced at £10 for a digital copy and £50 for a physical Game Boy Color cartridge, Lightseeker is a roguelike of sorts in which you defeat enemies to gain rations, while keeping any loot you've obtained upon each inevitable death. It looks neat from the screenshots, but gameplay footage is, at the time of writing, a little scarce. Still, Bitmap Soft had previously released Glory Hunters, which you may have recently seen received a digital release on the Switch eShop. So if you're not keen on picking up Lightseeker for the Game Boy Color, then you might want to hold off for a bit. Let's check out the key features: Images: BItmap Soft Will you be picking up Lightseeker for the Game Boy Color? Let us know with a comment in the usual place.

We're now just weeks out from Metroid Prime 4: Beyond's anticipated release, and more details about it (including some previews) are beginning to circulate online. In case you missed it, the estimated digital file sizes for the Switch and Switch 2 Edition of Samus' long-awaited adventure have also gone live on the eShop and official Nintendo website. So, if you didn't already know, here's what you can expect: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Estimated File Size Of course, these sizes are still classed as an "estimate" at the moment and are subject to change before and after release, depending on the patches and updates distributed. The eShop also has Metroid Prime 4's Upgrade Pack listed as 1.5 GB. In comparison, Metroid Prime Remastered (based on the first Prime entry) is just under 7 GB according to the Switch eShop. As previously confirmed, the Switch 2 version of Metroid Prime 4 supports higher resolution, faster frame rates, HDR and mouse controls. When in docked mode, players can choose from 4K at 60fps (quality) or 1080p at 120fps (performance). And in handheld/tabletop mode, the options are 1080p at 60fps (quality) and 720p at 120fps (performance). Will you be downloading this game on Switch or Switch 2? Have you already pre-ordered Metroid 4 from the eShop? Let us know in the comments.

Although the new game Pokémon Legends: Z-A is now in full swing with its events and unlocks, The Pokémon Company and Game Freak are still showing support for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet with distribution events. With this in mind, the latest one is now live and it offers up a Whimsicott based on the same one used by Federico Camporesi to win the 2025 Pokémon North America International Championships (thanks for the heads up, Serebii.net). This also lines up with the 2026 Latin America International Championships running this weekend. To obtain this latest distribution Pokémon, the code you'll need is LA1C26TA1LW1ND. You can redeem it in the mystery gift section of the game, and it's available until 30th November 2025. The same titles are currently giving trainers the opportunity to catch a Goodra with the Mightiest Mark. This event is now underway and will repeat on 28th November - 30th November 2025. In case you missed it, earlier this year, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet also received a free Switch 2 upgrade - adding frame rate improvements and higher resolution. You can find out more about this in the full patch notes for Version 4.0.0. Apart from this new distribution event for Scarlet and Violet this week, Pokémon Legends: Z-A also revealed a new Mega Evolution recently for its upcoming DLC, due out next month. The new entry's Ranked Battle Season 3 start date and rewards have also been detailed.

Update [Fri 21st Nov 2025, 10:30pm]: This Shadow Labyrinth update is now available for the Switch and Switch 2. Alongside this, Bandai Namco has released a video that runs for close to six minutes, explaining everything included in Patch 1.1.0. You can see it above and download the patch now. The written patch notes for this latest update are available in the original story below. Original Story: Bandai Namco announced at the end of last month that it would be revamping Shadow Labyrinth with a major update. It's now officially rolled out Version 1.1.0 across multiple platforms. These updates aren't out on the Switch 2 and Switch just yet, but will "release soon". For now, here's the full rundown of this next major update, which includes the addition of "Explorer Mode", balance adjustments for the existing mode and improved play control for Mini-PUCK. Bandai Namco notes how this update has been designed to "enhance" the overall enjoyment of this title. Here's the full rundown: Shadow Labyrinth - Update 1.1.0 (Switch, Switch 2 - Coming Soon)Supported PlatformsPlayStation®5 / Xbox Series X|S / STEAM® are available now Updates are also incoming for Nintendo Switch™2 / Nintendo Switch™ and will release soon. Thank you for your patience! AdjustmentsAddition of Explorer Mode This mode significantly lowers the difficulty of combat and exploration, allowing you to better enjoy the story and world The existing mode, which was playable upon Shadow Labyrinth’s first release, will now be distinguished as "Veteran Mode," allowing you to continue enjoying the intense gameplay you've come to expect! Switching Method You can switch modes at any time during save data selection on the title screen or within the Miku Sol (Save/Warp Point) menu There are no disadvantages to selecting "Explorer Mode," so please enjoy the game in the mode that best suits your playstyle Main Adjustments in Explorer Mode Sword Fighter and GAIA's attack power increased Damage taken is reduced Contact damage is nullified Contact damage occurs when certain enemies are hit, or when enemies perform specific actions such as charging Various energy consumption rates are reduced and recovery effects increased ESP consumption is reduced Increased GAIA energy recovery during predation (consuming foes) GAIA Energy automatically recovers while in Sword Fighter phase Increased ESP recovery speed while crouching Increased recovery speed after ESP reaches 0 Athletic Recovery Support In certain areas with particularly high athletic (platforming) difficulty, failing three times in a row will cause a warp point to appear, allowing you to skip that specific challenging athletic area "Tenacity Boost" becomes available "Tenacity Boost" further increases attack power! When "Tenacity Boost" is ON, the Sword Fighter's cloak turns red, and attack power gradually increases each time you die Players can toggle Tenacity Boost ON/OFF and adjust its level at any time via Miku Sol (Save/Warp Point) MAZE difficulty adjustments Including boss weakening, MAZE stage adjustments, and changes to item placement within MAZE. The following adjustments apply to both Explorer Mode & Veteran Mode Adjustments to Miku Sol (Save/Warp Points) Significantly increased the number of Miku Sol (Save/Warp Points) and Simple Miku Sol (Save Points) Additionally, some Simple Miku Sol have been replaced with Miku Sol that allow warping, greatly improving player convenience Added Mode Change/Settings to Miku Sol Menu You can now switch between Explorer Mode and Veteran Mode at any time from the Miku Sol menu. Additionally, you can now toggle "Tenacity Boost" ON/OFF and set its level. HP tanks now recover even in Simple Miku Sol MAZE Adjustments Adjusted MAZE clear rewards The reward score required to clear MAZE has been reduced, making it easier to obtain Additionally, Ora can now be obtained when the score gauge is at maximum, or when the reward acquisition score is reached even if the reward has already been obtained Maximum bonus fruit acquisition increased from 100 to 200 If you fail the MAZE for Red Bragza: Terrias-Gilba, Blue Bragza: Terrias-Juno, Orange Bragza: Terrias-Valou, or Pink Bragza: Terrias-Boz Rag, players can choose to skip it Added save/load support for the retry function from MAZE boss battles! MAZE that have progressed to the boss battle can now resume from the boss battle after restarting the game Mini PUCK Play Control Adjustments Added operation tutorial stages within Miku Sol's menu, certain MAZE, and after some events Added a dedicated button for neutral jump (jump without directional input). This reduces the chance of accidental inputs Added diagonal forward-up stick input to the normal jump button. Inputting the stick diagonally forward-up and jumping now follows the same trajectory as a neutral jump, making the controls more intuitive Improved mid-air control after jumping Other Adjustments If defeated during the final battle against the last boss, you can now retry from the final battle! Reduced consumption and increased recovery of various energy sources No ESP consumption when Devour as the Sword Fighter Reduction in ESP consumption during evasive maneuvers Increased GAIA energy recovery during Devour (Recovery also slightly increased in Veteran Mode) Fixes Fixed an issue where the game could crash during the staff roll. (Nintendo Switch version only) Fixed an issue where, in certain MAZE, the speed when ejected from a booster slowed down at high refresh rates. (Steam version only) Fixed an issue where ESP would not naturally recover and the menu could not be opened after dying under specific conditions Other minor fixes

20 years, eh, where does the time go?! Yep, Microsoft's Xbox 360 console launched on November 22nd, 2005 - which means the system has now hit the ripe old age of 20. To celebrate, we've been looking back at what made this gaming machine one of the very best - from the system itself to its launch games lineup and the experiences it delivered over time, Xbox 360 is simply an awesome console and one that's worth looking back on. You may have seen that in recent days, we started the party early here at Pure Xbox! I raved about Project Gotham Racing 3 once again because of course I did, while Fraser went back and played Perfect Dark Zero for the first time in over a decade. We also recently listed off some of the biggest things we miss from the 360 era in more general terms. You can take a look at all of those PX features down below. There's more where that came from too — including a fun little poll we're soon to publish about your favorite Xbox 360 launch games — but for now, we want to get some discussion going about what this anniversary means to you. Do you remember November 22nd, 2005 like it was yesterday? Did you discover the library later on, perhaps via modern Xbox backwards compatibility? We want to know! For us here at the PX offices, Xbox 360 remains a special thing - it's the era we look back on most fondly; a time where Microsoft was firing on all cylinders in its gaming department. The games released on it — from first and third-party — were largely brilliant, the controller was amazing and is still one of the best around, and all-in-all, we just have great memories of being Xbox fans at that time. The system had its issues, sure (who can forget the RROD and those strange Kinect years?), but it represents a time where Xbox really was at the top of the gaming tree. So, what does Xbox 360 and this anniversary mean to you? Do chat with us about that in the comments, and be on the lookout for plenty of other 360 stories here on Pure Xbox!

Analogue's amazing FPGA-based N64 clone, the Analogue 3D, will go back up for pre-order next week – but the price is getting a bump thanks to President Trump's infamous tariffs. The company announced on social media that a new batch of the systems will be available for order at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET on Monday, November 24th. The big catch is that the price is rising from $249.99 to $269.99, as the company has had to absorb the tariffs imposed by the US government on goods imported from abroad. These systems will begin shipping on December 2nd, but Analogue has stated that “all open orders will ship before restock orders ship.” That means if there are any issues with getting existing pre-orders out the door before the 2nd, you might be waiting longer. Still, this leaves a glimmer of hope that you might get your machine in time for Christmas.

The promising MARS FPGA console is dead, according to one of the project's developers. Todd Gill – a longstanding and influential figure within the FPGA community – broke the news on Discord recently. Gill, who was designing the console's casing, reveals that the person in charge of the MARS board development "just disappeared", putting the project on ice. Gill says that the rest of the MARS team was effectively "Ghosted" by the individual, meaning work could not continue. MARS was promoted as a rival to the established MiSTer FPGA system and would have used a more powerful FPGA chip to emulate consoles like the Sega Dreamcast on a hardware level. Image: Discord Image: Discord Its rumoured price point would have been around $699, and it was claimed that it would allow users to plug in their original controllers and cartridges. In addition to Gill, the MARS FPGA team also included Flxel (developer of 3DO and Dreamcast emulators) and RetroTINK creator Mike Chi. FPGA developer Wizzo parted company with the project last year on good terms.

Fellow air riders! It is time to...ride the air. We're big fans of Kirby Air Riders, as if you couldn't tell from our 8/10 review, and one thing that it's got plenty of — especially given that this sequel has a great big story mode — are unlockable bits and bobs. From new machines to riders, racetracks, and a seemingly endless array of Things™ with which to customise your fleet of wonder whips, there's a ton of swag to get busy gathering up. So. Where to start? Well, we've honed in on the big things, the most important stuff, to get you up to speed with beginners' tips and tricks (below), as well as how to unlock every playable character and every machine in the game. We'll also be bringing you guides on how to unlock every track, as well as a bunch of other gameplay secrets. So stay tuned. Ready? Let's get into it! Kirby Air Riders Guide - UnlocksBefore we get to the beginners' tips, let's cover machine and character unlocks. Full Character RosterThere are plenty of characters to unlock across Kirby's latest racer, each with different unlock conditions in different modes, and we have no doubt you'll want to nab them all ASAP. So, rather than bashing your head off each mode until you randomly do the right thing, here we have a handy guide to exactly what's required to unlock the full lineup. All Playable Characters & How to Unlock Them Full Machine ListThe different machines are undoubtedly the highlight of this one, and luckily there are plenty to get out there and start unlocking. In this guide, we show you how to grab each and every last one of them in world record time.* All Machines & How to Unlock Them *may not officially be a world record How to Unlock the True EndingIf you're looking to totally finish the game with all characters, machines, and everything else, you'll need to 100% Road Trip mode. How to Unlock the True Ending in Road Trip Mode Kirby Lore RecapThere's a Story Mode in the game which sets up some key characters and lore points you might have missed. If that's the case and you don't mind mild spoilers, find out about them here: Lore Explained - Who Are Zorah & Noir Dedede? Kirby Air Riders Walkthrough - Tips & Tricks For BeginnersIt's not exactly natural, this air-riding malarkey. It's a little bit different to your normal racing that we do here on Earth, so here are some top tips accumulated throughout our time with the game to help you get a handle on this unique racing experience. Boosting is at the heart of everythingThe boost button ('B') in Kirby Air Riders isn't like other boost buttons, in that it also slows you down, until you stop! The flip side is that the longer you hold it down, the bigger and faster the boost you'll get in return. So, think about it strategically, even just a little, and consider where is best to boost. Corners are an obvious example, and timing it right can see you slow with other riders and then boost out of the apex to take a lead. Follow the shimmering trails!As you approach a rider in front of you, you'll notice a shimmering trail behind them, which acts as the game's version of drafting or slipstreaming the vehicle in front of you. Here, though, the drafting boost is quite exaggerated, and therefore riding this trail can see you pick up crazy speed as you approach and pass by opponents. Use this to your advantage, and factor it into when you decide to use your own boost or turbo your machine in other ways. Images: Nintendo Life Use your environmentThe tracks in Kirby Air Riders may feel like great big automated rides to the uninitiated, but once you know what you're doing, and once you're scrapping against opponents who've got skills to match, you'll want to wring every last opportunity out of the game's track designs. Look out for jumps to quick spin on, boost pads, and sharp corners where you can really charge your boost up and let fly down straights. Knowing where to green a little extra pace on the tracks here makes all the difference. Think about what pickups are actually forIf your current vehicle is slow, you'll want speed pickups. A ride that can't turn well will require as many boosts to its turning ability as you can grab. Consider this as you play. Think about your attack and defence stats when facing a boss. Once you relax into it, you'll be able to build and rebuild your machine's capabilities on the fly and as you battle/race. Switch lanes on Auto-RailsDon't make it easy for your opponent to pick up and ride on your trail, shift about plenty, even when not avoiding obstacles on these trails, and always make sure to position yourself best for coming off rails because... Image: Nintendo Life Auto-Rails charge your boost!That's right. When grinding on a rail, or any other aspect of a track (such as some vines and fences), you'll get your boost topped up without having to worry about slowing down any! Think about how this can prep you for a fast exit from rails, and any corners that are coming up. Power graphs FTW!Press '+' during a City Trial and you can take a look at what power-ups you've currently got in order to gauge your current levels of attack, offence and racing skill. Image: Nintendo Life You can hold multiple items at oncePick up as many items as you see during events, as they'll use themselves up automatically for the most part, so you don't need to wait to pick up more! Hold back on the left stick to zoom out the cameraIf the default view is a little too close, you can adjust it to widen the view slightly. Or zoom a tiny bit more, if that's your preference. Your special bar fills up in these ways!By taking damage, doing damage, and automatically over time, your special bar refills. Make sure to use it within 10 seconds once it's primed, too, or you'll lose it. Images: Nintendo Life You can set quick spin to a controller shakeDon't like wiggling a stick to spin? You can up the sensitivity a little, or you can turn on the option to shake your controller instead! Don't sweat the chaos, find your own paceThis advice goes for all modes, really, but if you can master this in City Trials especially, you'll soon find yourself quite zen-like, even when faced with the most chaotic of multiplayer match-ups. There's always loads going on in races and in City Trials, but pick your own way of approaching it, have a strategy for the track you're on, and make sure to aim for the pickups (there are a lot of pickups onscreen at times) that suit your style of play! Image: Nintendo Life Make sure to play all modes for unlocksWhilst it can be natural to just stick to one mode of play, make sure to check out everything this game has to offer, as each mode has a ton of collectibles, and loads of cosmetics to get your hands on. Choices lead to different paths in Road TripAs you may or may not be aware, the Road Trip mode of the game allows you to switch routes, giving you a bunch of different paths to play through on revisits. To make sure you get to see everything, once you've played through the game once, you'll see helpful icons highlighting routes and game choices you haven't taken before, making it all easy to understand so you can see it all. However, it's worth noting on your first pass that certain choices you make regarding a handful of icons that pop up on the road will lead you to different paths after the fact. So you'll see some random items here and there, and depending on the one you choose, you'll get a different set path. Again, once you've done your first route, all of these things will be highlighted for you, so don't sweat it. That's all for now - hopefully you've found these tips useful. Now go get 'em!

While we've all become accustomed to using fancy analogue controllers these days, there's still a large sector of the market which loves a good, old-fashioned eight-way digital arcade experience – and to that end, accessory company iMP has produced the Gaming Mini Arcade Pro for Switch and Switch 2. On the surface, this looks like a bartop arcade cabinet, but in reality, it's a cradle for your Switch console that allows you to use authentic arcade-style controls with games that benefit from digital input – such as old-school titles, shmups and fighting games. The iMP Gaming Mini Arcade Pro doesn't come preassembled, but putting it together (and taking it apart) is a straightforward process. Two caddy sections are included, one for the original Switch / Switch OLED, and one for the Switch 2. It comes with two caddies, one for Switch and one for Switch 2. It's easy to insert your console, and the caddy drops into the central unit with little effort, too — Images: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life Ensuring compatibility with both generations is a nice touch, but this really feels like it was designed for the newer variant; the cut-out for the screen is designed with Switch 2's larger display in mind, so the original Switch ends up looking like a toddler in a teenager's clothing. The good news is that the Mini Arcade Pro's arcade-style controls are excellent regardless of which system you own. The clicky stick and buttons are smaller than you'd find on your typical bartop arcade cabinet, but they're a joy to use; within moments of booting up Street Fighter 6, I was pulling off special moves with the minimum of effort. Shmups also benefit massively from this accessory — R-Type Delta: HD Boosted is a particular joy to play — and I also enjoyed romping my way through Absolum. There's space on the rear of the unit for 12 Switch Game Cards and 12(!) MicroSD cards — Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life The central panel has all of the usual inputs (including a Home button which wakes your console from its sleep mode), as well as a switch which allows you to toggle the functionality of the stick – you can choose between the D-pad, left analogue stick, and right analogue stick. There's a 'C' button to bring up GameChat, but no 'Capture' button, oddly. Spin it around, and there's space for you to clip in 12 Switch game cards and 12 MicroSD cards – a nice touch if you want to keep your software close at hand. My only reservation with this system is that the Game Card slots don't seem to grip all that well, and it doesn't take much to knock them out of the slots by accident. My other major issue with the iMP Gaming Mini Arcade Pro is the artwork that has been printed onto the marquee, side panels, and the main control panel. The lettering is a little too childish for my liking, and while I'm not entirely sure, I think I detect the use of Generative AI to create the art itself. This obviously has no impact on the controller's performance, but it makes it look a little cheap, in my opinion. Images: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life The Switch's recent firmware update actually broke the Mini Arcade Pro's ability to wake the console via the Home button and the functionality of the 'C' button, but, in a move which hopefully shows how committed the manufacturer is to making this device a success, it has received a firmware update to fix the problem. While I think the iMP Gaming Mini Arcade Pro's cheap-looking artwork counts against it, I can't fault the controller when it comes to delivering that old-school arcade experience. At £45, it's not likely to break the bank, either (although it's $90 in the US).

Implicit Conversions, the studio behind emulating some of your favorite PS1 and PS2 games as part of PS Plus Premium, is quietly working on a PS3 emulator. While boss Bill Litshauer insists improving its support for PS2 is his company’s current focus, he revealed in an interview with Mystic that he believes it will be “feasible” to emulate PS3 games in the future – potentially on the PS5 and “certainly” on the PS6. He said: Litshauer explained that supporting PS3 is a “back burner project” for his team and that it actually hasn’t had many requests for the console. But it’s something it’s working on anyway. He continued: Many believed that PS3 emulation may never happen due to the complicated nature of the console’s architecture, but in recent years we’ve seen PC-based solutions like RPCS3 come on leaps and bounds. As Litshauer appears to allude to, the biggest bottleneck here seems to be the time and resources required to do it. Hopefully it’s a project Sony will eventually put some muscle behind, as it’d be great to see PS3 games added to PS Plus Premium in the future.