Gait Games

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which is set to debut in theaters next week, has sparked significant excitement despite the scant details disclosed by Illumination and Nintendo. While various trailers and casting news have hinted at elements of the film, thorough insights into the storyline have been minimal. However, a recent rating from the British Board of Film Classification has emerged, suggesting a crucial narrative component that may influence the broader storyline of the franchise.

The British Board of Film Classification has given The Super Mario Galaxy Movie a PG rating for “mild violence” and “threat.” This rating in itself offers little clarity, but the board’s supplementary notes disclose fascinating elements. They specifically note “infrequent very mild upsetting scenes,” which refer to flashbacks concerning a girl’s separation from her younger sister. This aspect could imply a more profound emotional narrative that may resonate with viewers.

During the creation of the original Super Mario Galaxy game, Nintendo considered a family link between Princess Peach and Rosalina, even though such connections were never confirmed in the games. This long-standing fan theory suggests that the two characters might be related. If the movie embraces this storytelling direction, the concept of their separation—given that Peach lives in the Mushroom Kingdom and Rosalina dwells among the Lumas in space—gains more credibility. The possibility of a plot centered on sisterly reunion and joint efforts against Bowser introduces a layer of complexity often overlooked in earlier Mario adaptations.

Regarding voice talent, Rosalina is voiced by Brie Larson, recognized for her performance in Captain Marvel. Larson’s participation signals a dedication to providing depth to the character, and her previous remarks about the film indicate her genuine fondness for the Mario franchise.

As the release date draws near, fans are keen to see how these plot points will be integrated into the film. With the appeal of emotional themes paired with the classic adventure of the Mario universe, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie holds the potential to offer a rich narrative experience for both devoted fans and newcomers. For those wishing to avoid spoilers before its April 1 release, it is advised to exercise caution when engaging with content related to the film.

Regardless of whether Intel would say it out loud, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and Core Ultra 5 250K Plus both represent an attempt to right the wrongs of the original Arrow Lake/Core Ultra 200S family. That bundle of chips was, necessarily, more power-efficient and cooler-running than the hotheaded 14th Gen models before them, though this came at the cost of hamstrung gaming performance. Rarely a desirable quality in a gaming CPU, that.

These two Core Ultra 200S Plus (or Arrow Lake Refresh) processors do, in comparison, achieve some appeal. They’re inexpensive and excellent multitaskers, and while they do still have efficiency on their silicon brains, Intel have looked to bump game speeds back up by rejigging their innards into a less latency-prone layout.

Alas, it’s not enough. Not only are Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and Core Ultra 5 250K Plus slower in games than AMD’s best chips, they once again fail to convincingly outpace Intel’s own back catalogue – the 2023 vintage 14th gen processors, included.

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Another stat boost anyone?

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# The Game Boy Advance: Commemorating 25 Years of Handheld Gaming Excellence

If you were a gamer in the early 2000s, chances are you experienced it on a Game Boy Advance. Debuting in 2001 as a purple, somewhat hexagonal device, the hardware improvements over the Game Boy Color’s outdated technology marked the beginning of a new era filled with vibrant pixelated gameplay. Then arrived the incredibly stylish Game Boy Advance SP, which featured flip-phone-like functionality and a backlit screen. One thing was clear: the Game Boy Advance was *the* portable console of its time.

By the closing of its remarkable lifespan, an abundance of fantastic titles had been released, enough to occupy the Library of Alexandria. As the portable device commemorates its 25th anniversary since its launch in Japan, we reflect on the 15 greatest GBA titles and what set them apart.

## Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen (2004)

*Pokémon* reached new heights during Generation III. The roster of Pokémon soared to an astonishing 386, and the introduction of double battles transformed the gameplay into a genuine strategic experience. While *Ruby* and *Sapphire* were outstanding, it’s *FireRed* and *LeafGreen*—remakes of *Red* and *Blue*—that truly stood out. They maintained the original storyline while modernizing game mechanics and visuals, adding the Sevii Islands with its narrative and gameplay, leading to a rich reimagining.

## Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (2003)

*Final Fantasy Tactics Advance* combines tactical role-playing with enchanting storytelling reminiscent of *The NeverEnding Story*. Players traverse a fantasy world through turn-based battles governed by quirky rules while strategizing around an intricate progression system. Even with visuals typical of the GBA’s vibrant aesthetic, it distinguished itself with its engaging soundtrack, further enriching the gaming experience.

## Ninja Five-O (2003)

A distinctive blend of *Shinobi*, *Rolling Thunder*, and *Bionic Commando*, *Ninja Five-O* places you in the shoes of a ninja who excels in rapid movements and accurate sword fighting. Featuring a grappling hook for swift navigation through intricately crafted levels, this title offers an arcade-quality experience that excels as a portable action game.

## Final Fantasy VI Advance (2007)

Though there’s no definitive English version of Squaresoft’s classic, the GBA iteration comes the closest. It enhanced the graphics of the original, retranslated dialogue, and included additional content for late-game, making it a favored choice for enthusiasts. This port remains an excellent way to experience the incredible tale of Terra, Mog, and Kefka.

## Metroid: Zero Mission (2004)

*Metroid: Zero Mission* reinterprets Samus Aran’s original journey from 1986’s *Metroid* with contemporary gameplay enhancements and narrative depth. Features such as improved controls and a more captivating story have rendered this version the definitive way to engage with Samus’ first mission through Zebes.

## Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (2003)

*Aria of Sorrow*, the last GBA chapter of *Castlevania*, closely aligns with the celebrated *Symphony of the Night* style. Introducing a new protagonist, Soma Cruz, players can absorb enemies’ souls for unique abilities, promoting dynamic gameplay. Its responsive action, immersive atmosphere, and collectible elements elevate it above previous titles.

## Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (2001)

The GBA rendition of *Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2* distinguished itself among numerous versions due to its captivating gameplay and legendary tricks. Despite transitioning to an isometric perspective, the game captured the excitement of skating and delivered an unmatched handheld experience for its era, complete with an unforgettable soundtrack.

## WarioWare: Twisted! (2005)

*WarioWare: Twisted!* revolutionized the microgame genre through the incorporation of motion controls, stretching the Game Boy Advance’s potential. Featuring a range of absurd and comical quick challenges, it provided a playful experience with unlockables that highlighted Wario’s signature eccentricity.

## The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (2005)

*The Minish Cap* merges inventive gameplay with classic Zelda mechanics, introducing a shrinking feature that alters the world and foes. This installment innovated while retaining the series’ fundamental essence, giving players a delightful experience and elaborating on plot elements from the *Four Swords* saga.

## Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising (2003)

This tactical title built upon its predecessor by introducing additional units, varied terrain types, and command officers while maintaining the winning formula of the original. Its nonlinear campaign added complexity to the strategic gameplay, rendering it a commendable sequel.

## Rhythm Heaven (2006)

First launched in Japan, *Rhythm Heaven* presented unique musical mini-games that showcased the creativity of the minds behind *WarioWare*. The groundbreaking gameplay mechanics and memorable challenges

Urgh! What’s happening? The air feels dreadfully recycled all of a sudden. Food dissatisfies, music grates, punchlines flop like stunned seagulls – everything seems somehow overfamiliar. We have entered a Lull. There are few Big Games out this week – little in the way of Big Sequels or New IPs From Triple-A Veterans or other projects that make you say “oh! That one” – and the Maw is making up the shortfall by siphoning novelty from the building blocks of reality itself.

To the pumps, colleagues, before we become so jaded that our wrists and elbows lose all elasticity! There must be a meatier morsel down there. There must be a new PC game gargantuan enough to appease the creature.

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**Crimson Desert Patch 1.00.03: Tackling Control Challenges and Enhancing Gameplay**

Pearl Abyss has launched its third update for *Crimson Desert* merely four days after the game debuts on Steam and PS5, with further releases expected on Xbox and Epic Games. The new patch, Version 1.00.03, is designed to address ongoing mouse and keyboard control challenges that players have encountered since launch, marking what the studio considers a “beginning” of essential enhancements. Nevertheless, controller users continue to face considerable issues.

### Tackling Controller and Input Issues

In a recent Steam update, Pearl Abyss apologized for the disappointing gameplay experience for keyboard and mouse users and stressed that player feedback is being taken into account. The aim is to accelerate improvements to the gameplay experience. While the latest patch has introduced numerous fixes that upgrade the game, the mouse and keyboard controls’ responsiveness still leaves much to be desired.

A noteworthy improvement included in the patch is the introduction of keyboard shortcuts for various menus like Inventory, Skills, Journal, and Map, now conveniently assigned to the keys I, K, J, and M. Previously, reaching these features necessitated a lengthy process involving the Esc key, which annoyed players.

### Performance and UI Improvements

The patch reportedly enhances the overall UI response speeds, mainly by quickening the transition animations. The jump input has also been upgraded, although some players may still notice delays. Players have also observed better movement controls for the main character, Kliff, though issues like slow starting motion remain.

Additional modifications address various in-game mechanics: arm wrestling QTEs have been simplified, the number of hits needed to chop down trees has been decreased, and improved visual cues for interactive elements have been implemented. Players will also notice improvements in food consumption, now providing greater health restoration, along with quicker “knowledge acquisition,” which previously required lengthy intervals.

### Technical Improvements and Game Mechanics Adjustments

The patch has also dealt with numerous technical aspects and frequent issues players faced. For instance, Private Storage functionality has been refined to effectively enable item storage, while the number of fast travel points has been expanded, making exploration more convenient. The stability of boss encounters has seen enhancements, featuring significant nerfs to certain challenges and adjustments made for stamina use while blocking.

Moreover, enhancements for PS5 and Xbox controllers are still forthcoming. However, the PS5 has seen a fix for game crashes upon map access, with Xbox users now able to access all game content while offline. Both platforms also gain the ability to enjoy gameplay at 120Hz.

### Detailed Patch Notes

Patch 1.00.03 encompasses a range of modifications across several categories, outlined as follows:

**Quests:**
– Multiple quest-related fixes ensuring improved functionality and notifications.

**Content:**
– Enhanced transportation with added fast travel points and better inventory management.

**Controls:**
– Enhancements to input responsiveness alongside new keyboard shortcuts.

**NPCs and Dialogue:**
– Minor fixes connected to dialogue playback and NPC conduct.

**UI Improvements:**
– Improvements to UI presentation and functionality, especially for item registration and navigation.

**Aesthetic and Performance:**
– Graphical adjustments to enhance performance across different settings, resolving resolution retention issues and ensuring overall quality consistency.

**Miscellaneous:**
– Additional bug fixes that enhance the overall gameplay experience, involving horse behavior and interaction responsiveness.

### Summary

While Patch 1.00.03 of *Crimson Desert* showcases Pearl Abyss’s dedication to enhancing the gameplay experience through several fixes and improvements, a considerable gap still exists in delivering a fully satisfying control system. Players are eager for promised enhancements for controller support, particularly on PS5 and Xbox platforms, which will hopefully bring gameplay closer to the standard expected from a title of such ambition. This patch marks a pivotal first step toward establishing a seamless gaming experience.

Huggghh-puuuhhhhh. Hughhhhh-puhhhh. If you’ve decided to try pedalling away in attempt to master Crimson Desert‘s bike-like controls, Pearl Abyss’ latest patch – which also brings the likes of camp storage quicker tree felling – is good news. The developers have also acknowledged the fact they forgot to mention prior to release that the game wouldn’t run on Intel Arc GPUs, with support for those cards now in the works.

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Final Vanguard is a real-time sci-fi 4X grand strategy game that puts an unusually big emphasis on migration. We’ve seen migration mechanics in many 4X games – pops can shuffle about in Stellaris as you slop your colonies across the map, populating the periphery and slowing the development of your homeworld – but Final Vanguard’s creators Heavy Pepper Inc want the feature to be central.

It’s part of an ambition “to model a civilization made up of interconnected systems that influence one another over time”, with everything from fleet manoeuvres to industry forming part of “a network of dependencies”, rather than treating planets as isolated upgradeable nodes.

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Ah, it turns out the eyebrows raised by suspiciously AI generated-looking art found throughout Crimson Desert weren’t wrong in their lanate liftage. Developers Pearl Abyss have aplogised for failing to disclose their use of asseets made using “experimental AI generative tools”, claiming that these were just mockups created early in production and were never supposed to make into the final release version of the game.

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Nintendo is preparing to unveil a new Switch 2 version in Europe that will enable users to swap out the battery.

As noted by Nikkei (thanks to CoverGeek), this launch aligns with the company’s efforts to comply with the European Union’s Right to Repair directive, along with the European Battery Regulation, which mandates that rechargeable batteries in consumer devices must be replaceable by 2027.

This stipulation means that both Switch consoles and Joy-Con controllers will have to allow players to safely detach and substitute defective batteries instead of requiring them to send the items for repair or completely replace them. The exact release date for the new model remains unclear.

Nikkei indicates that a similar modification could be adopted in the US and Japan, contingent on changes in consumer protection legislation.

Gamers have been expressing concerns regarding the Switch 2’s battery longevity for quite some time. Back in June 2025, when the new version debuted, Tom stated: “I’ve been using the Switch 2 for about a week and a half, playing it for multiple hours every day. Aside from the fact that I’ve had a lot of fun with Mario Kart World and Fast Fusion, my main take away from that time is that I wish the battery lasted longer.”

Earlier this week, Nintendo launched a fresh update for both the Switch 2 and Switch, elevating the system software to Version 22.0.0. Alongside the customary stability enhancements, language updates, UI upgrades in the Nintendo eShop, and more, there’s also an essential feature that will enhance the performance of many older games on the Switch 2’s advanced hardware: Handheld Mode Boost.