We're covering two very different, yet very influential, games on this fresh episode of NintenGems! First we tackle Game of the Year 2023 nominee Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and discuss what it takes to keep a 2D platformer fresh in today's gaming landscape. Does Wonder bring enough wonder to keep us playing? Then, after years of nagging from Connor,…

We took our sweet time with this episode, but we're back to celebrate the fourth entries into some beloved series! We kick off with Pikmin 4 and the new concepts it introduces after taking several years off from new releases (it may be worthwhile to listen to our previous Pikmin episodes). Braydon is seems pleased with its deliveries, but will it b…

The time has finally come for a Goron-sized episode about The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. As the highly anticipated sequel to the genre-defining Breath of the Wild, what wild cards could Nintendo possibly bring to the table? We discuss the game's new features and mechanics, how they mesh with the preexisting formula, the personal and cul…

We may be late to the Pokémon party, but we've arrived nonetheless, and we're here to discuss the series' newest entries with Scarlet and Violet! Having been recently disillusioned with the franchise, do these refreshing-yet-imperfect games have what it takes to bring us back to full Pokémon fandom? For this episode's gem, Connor and friends have b…

The legendary Bounty Hunter is back, and so are we to celebrate! Our resident Metroid expert Connor takes the reigns for this expedition into Metroid Prime Remastered, a beautiful rerelease of the 2002 Gamecube classic. While it's fantastic getting our hands back on it, does the game hold up to the nostalgia we so fondly assign it? And how does the…

The blazing blue blur is back - and so are we! - to discuss his newest adventure and first foray into open-world gameplay. Sonic Frontiers is a unique experience and we dig into everything that makes it good, bad and ugly. After years of mediocre 3D Sonic experiences, does he finally find his stride in this newest entry? Listen and find out! Email …

After a summer off, we're back on the Nintengems grind to discuss some hard-hitting games! We kick off with Live A Live, originally a Japanese-exclusive Super Famicom title which recently received an modern remake in HD2D. A 'timeless' piece, we explore the blend of iconic storytelling dynamics and incorporated RPG gameplay elements that elevate Li…

We're finally here to discuss Elden Ring and whether it deserves the renown it's received since its release! In our first Non-tendo episode we dive back into the realm of FromSoft and their newest behemoth of a game. We discuss the size and scale of Elden Ring's world, the design philosophies behind the bosses and dungeons, and of course, is it a g…

Welcome to our two-part special, FromSoftware With Love, where we’re exploring Nintendo’s relationship with the developer and the timeless games FromSoftware has created. We start with Lost Kingdoms, a GameCube relic forgotten to most, but an early testament to FromSoftware’s vision. Does it deserve modern revisitation? The bulk of this episode foc…

Say cheese and die! Braydon's alone this episode and breaking down Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water, originally for Wii U, but now released on major consoles. Comparing against other games in the series and genre, Braydon is looking for the ultimate horror experience. Can Fatal Frame take that title? Or is the series headed to the grave? Join us …

A brand new Pokémon game has arrived and brings along a uniquely exciting episode! In a spoiler-free yet detail-oriented breakdown of Pokémon Legends: Arceus for Switch, we compare decades of expectation to modern-day reality. Is it the ground floor for a new line of games, or is it already a console seller? Can new mechanics reinvigorate jaded fan…

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate turned three years old, and the final Fighter Pass has finally wrapped up, but we are far from done with the game! Connor recently got all 86 fighters into the upper-ranked Elite Smash, so Braydon asks him about his Smash highs and lows. We discuss the roster, the online play and Elite Smash, the hype surrounding the game…

NintenGems is back with a mountain of an episode! Connor kicks off with the indie-throwback, Undertale, and Braydon's past comments on the game catch up to him. Is Connor a changed gamer? We then move into monster collecting territory with the newest entries in both the Shin Megami Tensei and Pokémon franchises, and while dichotomized experiences, …

WarioWare has been cranking out the microgames for years, and NintenGems is here to play the newest batch. With some game-defining new mechanics, has Get It Together! won over this podcast's hosts? For this episode's gem, we kick it indie and discuss Downwell, the deceptively straightforward (downward) game that has captured Connor's attention. We …

In honor of covering No More Heroes 3, we begin this description with a content warning: this is a crude one! Connor gives a comprehensive history of the NMH series and its visionary, SUDA51, before giving his analysis of this third entry. Does the legacy hold up? Then, for this episode's NintenGem, we follow Nintendo's lead and revisit The Legend …

Greetings, sheeple of Shibuya! We kick off this red-hot episode by discussing NEO: The World Ends With You for Switch. Can it possibly live up to its predecessor? Braydon breaks down his perspective, then for our gem, Connor reaches back to the N64 to discuss Glover! Does this retro 3D platformer deserve to be called NintenGem? Let's find out! Emai…

Wake up, Link, it's a new episode of NintenGems! We bring you a special episode on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and its impression on the gaming landscape - did it bring critical innovation, or was it a return to Zelda tradition? Did Nintendo produce the game they intended to? Is it game or art? We may not provide many answers, but we'll…

We took the summer to play some great games, and now we're BACK to dig into 'em! We kick off the episode by discussing Monster Hunter Stories 2: The Wings of Ruin for Switch. The MH-spinoff takes on the monster-collecting genre, but does it succeed? For this episode's gem, we look back on The Wonderful 101, the explosive action game originally for …

Welcome back, NintenGemmers, to a very gem-y episode! Braydon kicks us off with a discussion and review of Famicom Detective Club, Nintendo's newly-remade detective-themed visual novel duology for Switch! From there, Connor takes us to the arcade with Sol Divide, the 1997 beat/shoot-'em-up hybrid that didn't make a huge statement at the time, but c…

It's been 22 years since the first Pokemon Snap graced our N64s, and now the time has come to get our lenses back in focus as New Pokemon Snap drops for the Switch! We dig into the mechanics that define the series, and of course fawn over the game's beauty and charm. Then, for this episode's NintenGem, we played the SNES classic Donkey Kong Country…

It's all things Monster Hunter this episode as we crack into the series' newest installment, Rise. This is certainly a monster-sized episode for both series veterans and newcomers alike; we're talking vocab terms like gameplay loop, series streamlining and Connor even breaks out his keyboard for a quick music theming lesson! Join us for a heck of a…

We're finally back to break down Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's newest duo, Pyra and Mythra! Then - we tried, guys - we start out spoiler free in our Xenoblade Chronicles X discussion. But then it snowballs into light, early spoilers, and ends with reality-shaking, religion-making, game-breaking spoilers (we warn you along the way!). Join us for a he…

NintenGems is back and dropping hot to discuss the internationally-acclaimed battle royale hit, Fortnite. For much-needed context and expertise, we brought in TikTok/YouTube star and resident sweat WG Mojo to round out our crew! How much do the pros make? Can Switch players compete? What IS a sweat, anyway?! Let's find out! Email us comments, quest…

Metal Bowser? Nah. Giga Bowser? Who cares! Fury Bowser? Now that's something worth talking about! The gang's all here for a Godzilla-sized episode about the new Switch port of Super Mario 3D World, plus the new bonus mode, Bowser's Fury. Join us! Email us comments, questions, complaints and suggestions at nintengems@gmail.com Follow/Subscribe on: A…

"What is the best Pokémon game?" This is the question that haunts Braydon after playing Pokémon Conquest for Nintendo DS, the 2012 crossover with the Nobunaga's Ambition series. To find the answer, we tap deep into the Tactical RPG genre, the merits of the mainline Pokémon formula and the lessons learned from failed spin-offs. First, though, Connor…

Can you describe Bug Fables without using the words 'Paper Mario'? We sure have a hard time, but a great time while we're at it! Braydon finished Moonsprout Game's Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling and is itching to compare it to its spiritual predecessor, Paper Mario for the N64. The NintenGem and the spotlight game merge into one this episode a…

NintenGems is back and ready to break down Sephiroth's entry into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - what does he bring to the table, and what fighter could be next? Then, Connor takes us on a tour through all things Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, the new mashup of two internationally acclaimed puzzle games! If you've never heard of Puyo Puyo before, we'll certainl…

Happy New Year everyone! We knew you were curious about the best games we played throughout 2020, so we decided to give some awards! Animal Crossing or Paper Mario? Hyrule Warriors or Xenoblade? We discuss our picks for best new Switch game, best retro game played, most hours spent and much more! If you want to play along at home, download your sta…

Yahaha! You found us! We're back in your feed to cover the big release of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. Be warned, some story details beyond the demo are discussed, but by Rhoam is there a lot to talk about! For this episode's NintenGem, we go mobile with the 2003 Game Boy Advance hit, WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! Join us, we Hylian recomm…

Welcome back to another eggstravagant episode of NintenGems - lets get cracking, shall we? Connor kicks us off with a dissection of Minecraft Steve's addition to Smash, and Jake shares his troubled experiences with new Zoids and Bakugon games. The meat (or veggies?) of the episode comes when we break down the release of Pikmin 3 Deluxe for Switch, …

Welcome back to Week 3 of celebrating some of Nintendo's finest tricks and treats. First, Braydon guides you to a spoiler-free afterlife in the DS (and now iOS) cult-hit, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, then Connor cuts deep to the survival-horror core with the Japanese-only Super Famicom title, Clock Tower. True NintenGems ahead! Email us comments…

We're back with more horrific NintenGems to get you through this Halloween season: enter at your own risk! This episode shines light on the SNES headbanger Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts, available free for Switch Online subscribers, as well as Luigi's first beloved claim to fame, Luigi's Mansion for the GameCube. Join us... if you dare! Email us comments,…

This Halloween, we're serving NintenGems up all month long! Each week in October we'll be discussing two horror-themed gems from the Nintendo catacombs - some more spooky than the others! This week Braydon and Connor discuss the Gamecube zombie classic, Resident Evil 4, and the game that birthed a franchise, Castlevania for the NES. You'll need som…

Happy 35th Birthday, Mario! We're back to dig into Mario's 35th and the release of the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection! First, though, Braydon laments his time spent with Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth and Jake shares experiences with Jump Force and Spiritfarer. Be an All-Star - join us! Email us comments, questions, complaints and suggestions at n…

Happy September, NintenGemmers! Connor is the perfect guest-host this week as we tackle the new remaster of the Gamecube's 2003 classic, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. The puzzle indie Baba is You makes another podcast appearance, and for this episode's NintenGem, we take a look at the Japanese gaming icon Goemon and his first N64 appearance: My…

Nintendo's announced a new remaster in Pikmin 3 Deluxe, so NintenGems digs in to what we know so far. For Switch, Jake reviews the graphical powerhouse Crysis Remastered, and Braydon finally got around to playing Sonic Mania. Finally, for this week's gem, the boys discuss the original Pikmin and the Pikmin vocal group, Strawberry Flowers. Join us! …

The Origami King has finally arrived, and we're here to unfold it and discuss all things Paper Mario. As for this week's NintenGem - one of the boys actually dislikes Super Mario Sunshine?! Find out whose opinion is wrong in this elegantly folded episode of NintenGems! Email us comments, questions, complaints and suggestions at nintengems@gmail.com…

No Gods or Kings. Only NintenGems. We have a smorgasbord for you this week! Braydon's been exploring Rapture in The Bioshock Collection, and Jake breaks down two hot titles: Deadly Premonition 2 and Ring Fit Adventure, all for Switch. For this episode's NintenGem, we open the Mario history books to discuss Super Mario Bros. 2 for the NES and all of…

This week Braydon and Jake share opinions on SSBU's newest fighter, Min Min, the remastered versions of SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom and Burnout Paradise, and first impressions of Ninjala - all for Switch. Then the boys visit Kanto with this week's NintenGems: Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow for the Gameboy and explore the foundatio…

In this shiny new episode of NintenGems, special guest host Clay brings the laughs as we discuss the merits of game-show video games, the Japanese rhythm scene, and unwind the massive and remastered Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition for Switch. The crew also channels Clay's Sonic knowledge for this week's NintenGem, Sonic Adventure 2: Battle…

This week, Jake gives us his impressions of the recently ported The Outer Worlds and discuss some of the gaps between console generations. We also dive into Nintendo's newest party game, Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics, then wrap up with this episode's NintenGem, Wii Sports! Email us comments, questions, complaints and suggestions at ninteng…

Snap into a NintenGem as we give some first impressions on the newly-ported indie, Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling, and then suit up your mech with Braydon's breakdown of last year's Daemon x Machina. Finally, for this week's NintenGem, we look back on the award-winning N64 classic, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Email us comments, quest…

From the depths of pandemic shines a brand new episode of NintenGems! Nintendo surprised us with a trailer for Paper Mario: The Origami King, so we put the announcement into context. We also catch up on a number of games that we've played in the months since our last episode. Perhaps most importantly, we discuss the recent release of Animal Crossin…

Welcome back to NintenGems, your favorite spring of Nintendo wisdom! Jake is out this week, but never fear, Connor is here! Covered in this episode are the ever-flowing updates on Pokemon Sword and Shield, Ring Fit Adventure and potential Joy-Con upgrades, Braydon's final thoughts after completing The World Ends With You: Final Remix, and Connor un…

We're back in the ring for a round against this week's Nintendo Direct that covered nearly a year's worth of upcoming titles, including some heavy hitters like Overwatch, Banjo for Smash, the SNES Digital Library and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Special guest Connor - the producer of our theme song - joins Jake in giving first impressions of the …

Hop on board for another trip through Nintendo Land! This episode, Jake and Braydon recap the news from the Pokemon World Championships, discuss new Marvel Ultimate Alliance DLC as well as new E-Shop releases. Jake played Rad by Double Fine and Konami's Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution, while Braydon brought this week's gem, The Worl…

Jake and Braydon are off this week, so that calls for a little bonus episode action to tide you over until the next full-length episode. Special guest Hannah (Braydon's wife) is the judge for the Pokémon battle of the century! In one corner is Pokémon Snap, the N64 legend brought to you by Jake; in Braydon's corner is Pokémon Ranger, the Nintendo D…

A wild podcast appears! Thanks for returning for Episode 4; this time, Jake and Braydon break down the new Pokemon trailer, discuss Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's popularity, wrap up Undertale remarks, explore the world of Yo-kai, and gush over the beauty of this week's gem, Yoshi's Island! Email us comments, questions, complaints and suggestions at …

Welcome back to the NintenGems podcast, you're a good friend for sticking around for three episodes. This time, Jake and Braydon discuss top-selling Switch games, Smash Bros Ultimate 4.0 and Hero, drama with EA, more Fire Emblem, Undertale nonsense, and this week's gem, Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Heartbreak for the Game Boy Advance! Email us comments, questi…

Welcome back to the still-rare-but-slightly-less-valuable second edition of the Nintengems Podcast! In this episode, Jake and Braydon discuss updates about the Joy-Con lawsuit, Nintendo's ventures into iOS and Android gaming, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and this week's "gem", The Legend of Zelda for NES. Email us comments, questions, complaints and …