Nintendo Cartridge Society

With Nintendo renewing the trademarks for Metroid Prime: Federation Force and Blast Ball (among others), Patrick and Mark discuss when we might see a Metroid spin-off again, or if the realities of modern game development mean that era has passed. Plus, the guys recount trying to buy their Zelda 40th Anniversary Concert tickets, a Halloween-themed Pokemon Pokopia event, and more.

The guys also talk about:

Their continuing adventures in Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave.
A surprise gift for players who completed the DK Challenges on Nintendo Switch Online.
Donkey Kong Bananza's Emerald Rush events going into reruns.
Why aren't more Pokemon games available on Switch?
Capcom's tech presentation about the RE Engine sparks discussion about game development in the age of AI.

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FRIEND US ON SWITCH / SWITCH 2
Patrick: SW-1401-2882-4137
Mark: SW-8112-0583-0050

Patrick and Mark take on the challenge making the rounds: the 9 games that shaped who they are. Childhood favorites, life-changers, and the surprising picks that made them who they are today.

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FRIEND US ON SWITCH / SWITCH 2
Patrick: SW-1401-2882-4137
Mark: SW-8112-0583-0050

Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave is here and Patrick and Mark share their first impressions of the new Switch 2 exclusive. Plus, code for a mysterious "Event Gifts" system shows up in the Nintendo Switch Online app, Castlevania celebrates its 40th anniversary with (stop me if you've heard this one before) a concert series, and more.

The guys also talk about:

Patrick's ongoing journey with Orbitals.
Splatoon 3's spike in popularity in 2026.
Reports that Ubisoft and Nintendo were once collaborating on a Zelda spin-off starring Ganondorf.

SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/nintendocartridgesociety

FRIEND US ON SWITCH / SWITCH 2
Patrick: SW-1401-2882-4137
Mark: SW-8112-0583-0050

Patrick and Mark rank the art styles of every mainline Zelda game, from the 8-bit pixel art of the original Legend of Zelda to the embellished details of the new Ocarina of Time on Switch 2, and everything in between. Which visual style suits Hyrule best?

SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/nintendocartridgesociety

FRIEND US ON SWITCH / SWITCH 2
Patrick: SW-1401-2882-4137
Mark: SW-8112-0583-0050

Special guest-host Conner McCabe (Call Me By Your Game, Super NPC Games Club) stops by to discuss Pokemon rumors, the end of an award they didn't even know was being given out, and insights from developers of Final Fantasy VII Revelation and Splatoon Raiders. Plus, will 007: First Light ever come out on Switch 2? Yes, but always later than you think it will.

The guys also talk about:
The hidden depth of Yoshi's Woolly World
Conner finally wrapping his head around The World Ends With You
Big Walk continuing to reveal new pleasures to Patrick and his buddies
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave slow start, strange presentation, and undeniable gameplay
Previous winners of Masahiro Sakurai's Game Designer Awards
Metroid Dread being at the top of the eShop charts 6 years after its original release

Check out Send In The Clown on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3766220/Send_In_The_Clown/

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FRIEND US ON SWITCH / SWITCH 2
Patrick: SW-1401-2882-4137
Mark: SW-8112-0583-0050

To celebrate the release of Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, Patrick and Mark settle the great debate: which Fire Emblem game has the best title? Judged on the words alone, no context allowed. From Blazing Blade to Three Houses to Engage, the guys weigh them all and crown a champion.

SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/nintendocartridgesociety

FRIEND US ON SWITCH / SWITCH 2
Patrick: SW-1401-2882-4137
Mark: SW-8112-0583-0050

Still in a post-Direct stupor, Patrick and Mark round up all of the week's Nintendo news, including variable refresh rate (VRR) coming to the Switch 2 when docked, Nintendo of America's "Customer Appreciation" sale, the GameCube's 25th anniversary, and more.

The guys also talk about:

Trying Star Fox Adventures for the first time.
Patrick plays the Final Fantasy Resonance Demo.
Monster Hunter Wilds and Capcom's pricing strategy with its Switch 2 ports.
The rest of the latest Switch 2 system update, including music coming to the Mii Maker.
A Capcom pop-up store landing in Los Angeles.
A little sidebar into Sony's decision to drop Hideo Kojima's Physint.

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FRIEND US ON SWITCH / SWITCH 2
Patrick: SW-1401-2882-4137
Mark: SW-8112-0583-0050

Patrick and Mark react to all the announcements from today's Nintendo Direct, from the official reveal of Metroid Ravenous to Kirby going full open-world in Kirby and the World Beyond. Plus, Capcom continues to show up big with Monster Hunter Wilds, Mega Man, and Resident Evil. Atlus shows up big with Persona and Persona. And any reports of Amiibo's death are greatly exaggerated.

SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/nintendocartridgesociety

FRIEND US ON SWITCH / SWITCH 2
Patrick: SW-1401-2882-4137
Mark: SW-8112-0583-0050

Lordy lordy, look who's 40! Nintendo threw Hyrule a birthday party, and Patrick and Mark react to everything from the Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct: a deep look at the reborn Ocarina of Time for Switch 2, a worldwide concert series, the Zelda movie's title, and more.

SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/nintendocartridgesociety

FRIEND US ON SWITCH / SWITCH 2
Patrick: SW-1401-2882-4137
Mark: SW-8112-0583-0050

The predictions? Mild and Wild. The stakes? A trademark NCS Million Dollar Bet. The subject: a September 2026 Nintendo Direct. What do Patrick and Mark expect to see at Nintendo's next Switch 2 presentation? Sure, Nintendo hasn't officially confirmed a Direct for September, but they wouldn't leave the guys hanging like that... would they?

SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/nintendocartridgesociety

FRIEND US ON SWITCH / SWITCH 2
Patrick: SW-1401-2882-4137
Mark: SW-8112-0583-0050