Tag Archives: Nintendo

Photo-A-Day, Video Game

Spend Time on the Track with Your Kids This Father’s Day – Mario Kart 8

Race Day with Andy

Photo-A-Day 2.0 #00535

I received a download code for Mario Kart 8 from Nintendo for Father’s Day. Opinions are my own.

One of the games that I love playing most with the kids is Mario Kart. We’ve had several versions and the latest version is Mario Kart 8. I’ve had a copy of the game for a while and I think I got it specifically so that I could use it with the Nintendo Labo system that Nintendo sent to me. With the vehicle kit you can build a steering wheel and a gas pedal to play games but it also works with Mario Kart 8. Andy has been using that a lot recently. He’s practicing up to race against me. I’m the undefeated family champ. You don’t grow up with the NES and playing every day after school and lose that title willingly!

Disclaimer: Those images on our Switch Screens are screen grabs from two different sets of races. Our first set I won and so should have a gold trophy. I did not snap a photo. Andy did nd he had come in second so he has Silver. My screen is showing the results of our second set of races where I came in 3rd against the computer players and Andy came in 7th. So.. Still family undefeated.

Nintendo Bowser

So I had Mario Kart 8 already and I was offered a copy of a game from Nintendo for Father’s Day. They had a selection of really fun games like.

  • Animal Crossing: New Horizons
  • Luigi’s Mansion 3
  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
  • Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3
  • Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield
  • Super Mario Odyssey
  • Super Mario Party
  • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
  • The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

The thing is, I have all of them. Every single one. I had to decide what game would be the best to have a second copy of so that we could each play independently on our Nintendo Switch at the same time against each other. See, even though I have the game and the kid can play all of the games we own on their own Nintendo Switch you need two copies of the games to play at the same time. So what would be most fun to play head to head.

The choice was obvious. It had to be Mario Kart. A close second was Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and that may be an option at a later date but right now it is all about racing.

Andy and I took our individual Nintendo Switches to the backyard and hung out at the patio table and payed several races together tonight. You can choose to play up to 48 races in a shot! We only did 8 twice. As long as we are both on the same Wireless network we can be anywhere in the house and play against each other. It is so much fun having your own screen to play on but still play head to head. I think we’ll try doing this on my office TV and the Living Room TV. That way we both have huge screens to use.

What I am saying it that this Father’s Day if you want to spend some quality fun time with Dad get him a Nintendo game that you can both play.

Photo-A-Day, Review, Video Game

We Could Use An Island Getaway with Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the Nintendo Switch

I Got Animal Crossing

Photo-A-Day 2.0 #00449

We received a copy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the Nintendo Switch free from Nintendo. They also sent me the sweet Nookinton’s shirt. Opinions are my own.

Well, there is no better time to get lost in a video game then when you are required to be in your house for weeks at a time. So the release timing of Animal Crossing: New Horizons is perfect. You can escape to a cute little island filled with adorable friends and neighbors while you perform various tasks to build and beautify your new home.

I have not played any of the previous Animal Crossing games, the only connection I have to this game is through and old game on the Wii U that had you running all over an island and picking up marbles while other people chased you. That was a fun game and I was so good at it. I also picked up some Animal Crossing amiibo figures and cards a while back and they can be used with this game, too.

We played for the first time the day it arrived and while I played through the beginning of the game the kids went and read the text in different funny voices. We all had a good laugh and were excited to play. I hadn’t realized at the time but we could have all been playing at the same time. We will have to explore that option soon. Up to four players can play on the same island at the same time using the same system and game. More can play if playing online or locally. The fun this is to create your island the way you want it and then visit other islands made by friends. There is a real social aspect to this game. It was definitely funnier when the kids were providing voices for each character. We laughed so much.

I have many many things to explore in the game but so far I enjoy the gameplay. It is going to take me awhile to figure out just how to position items around the island and how to cast in front of a fish correctly every time. That has taken a bit of learning. I do like crafting new things and getting more recipes for DIY projects. I’m shaking every tree and as such have gotten stung multiple times by wasps. But, that is island life, isn’t it? LOL.

You’d think that you’d be relaxing on a deserted island but you end up working like crazy all over the place. Not that it is hard work at all but work nonetheless. Tom Nook has got lots of things for you to do on your new island.

I will have to do a livestream of the gameplay soon.

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