Nintendo Year in Review 2023

Hello, and happy new year to you all. Thank you for joining us for another year here at The Underground. We're happy to have you.

Apparently, I have never done a "Year in Review" blog for my Nintendo Switch games. This isn't the first time such statistics have been available; I guess I just haven't felt compelled to post a recap of the stats until now.

Of course, I don't play nearly as much on the Switch as I do on my Playstation, and, at this point, my 3-year-old son basically owns the Switch (it is INSANE how good he is at some of these games, at his age - truly). With that in mind, I really don't play that much Nintendo these days, although I'd like to play more than I do, but... you know... priorities and Dad Life and all of that.

It is noteworthy that Nintendo calculated this information through November 30, 2023, so the entire month of December is missing, which means it didn't count any of my time jumping into "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" and "Mario Wonder" for the first time. I started both of those games in the closing days of December and haven't clocked a tremendous number of hours on either of them quite yet, so it probably wouldn't have affected much, anyway. (Both of those games seem fantastic so far, though!)

With no further ado, he's a little breakdown of the games I played and the fun I had in the year that was 2023.

First Game of 2023

And thus began my Switch gaming in 2023 - with "Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope." I had no idea what a Rabbid was nor why I should care, but I like Mario games and the XCOM-style gameplay looked fun, so I picked up the game and gave it a whirl, regardless of the fact that it's a sequel to a game that I never played. More on this game later.

Gameplay Totals

Honestly, I can't even believe that I have 23 Switch games, let alone that I played 23 Switch games. Also, many of those "games played" may have been on account of my son not having his own profile until at least half-way through the year.

Top Games

1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Here's the deal with "Breath of the Wild": I bought it years ago, when it first came out, and I gave up on it. The breakable weapons were just too much for me to handle. I struggled to truly get into the game, and I knew that the trade-in value at GameStop was high, so I traded it back in. I always kind of regretted that because I had heard so many great things about it. Then, this year, I think on Prime Day, BOTW and its sequel, "Tears of the Kingdom," were "on sale" (by which, I mean that they were probably like $10 lower than retail value, which is a great deal, for Nintendo exclusives), so I bought both games. Yes, it's true - I re-bought "Breath of the Wild," like an absolute chump. After wrapping my head around the concept that basically every weapon in the game can and will break, I hunkered down and beat the game, in 47 hours, apparently. The hilarious thing is that, once you beat the main story on the game, it shows you your overall completion percentage. I was only at 12.48%, which is absolutely crazy. I spent all that time - and it's not like I was completely ignoring side quests and non-essential tasks, but you're telling me that I didn't even crack THIRTEEN PERCENT COMPLETION?!? That's absolutely insane. But hey, I guess that means that the game has a very high replayability factor, which can't be said about most games out there, so that's great. My final verdict on the game (or at least the 12 1/2 percent of it that I covered) is that I was wrong my first time around and I concede that this is a very, very good game.
2. Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope - A tactical, turn-based shooter. Mario with guns. It's wild. And guess what? The Rabbids aren't as annoying and stupid as I assumed they were going to be. In fact, I grew to really like playing with characters like Rabbid Luigi, Rabbid Peach and Rabbid Mario. I don't think this game is for everyone - some people probably wouldn't care for the turn-based aspect of it, many people may not love that Mario wields double pistols and Bowser can blow up enemies with a bazooka. But I thought this game was an absolute blast. My wife also got into it for a while, and (of course) even my 3-year-old wanted to take a crack at it. Perhaps one of the greatest aspects of this game is that you can turn the difficulty down to the point where none of your characters can take any damage (I didn't do that, but I certainly set it up that way for my son), making this a game that I can plop down in front of my little boy and tell him to go to town with it. If you're curious as to what this game is about, do what I did and check out some gameplay (Abdallah's family-friendly YouTube channel is what did it for me) and consider picking it up. I highly recommend it.
3. Metroid Dread - I had never played a "Metroid" game, despite knowing a little bit about the main character Samus Aran from the "Super Smash Bros." series. One day, whilst browsing the Nintendo Store, I saw that a demo of "Metroid Dread" was available. I downloaded it and played for a few minutes, determined that it seemed intriguing enough to play a bit more of, then picked it up on a good deal during Prime Day. Let me tell you: this was one of the absolute hardest games I have ever played in my entire life. Perhaps it would have been a bit easier on me if I had more experience with these games, but yeah. Man. Wow. This was so hard. About half-way through, I resorted to looking up step-by-step walkthroughs (many of which were not well-written and quite confusing, at times) just to ensure that I could get through the game as quickly as possible. In the end, it was a cool game and was quite fun during some stretches, but you better believe that the second I beat that game, I immediately uninstalled it and traded that sucker back in to GameStop to milk it for every penny that I could get out of it.

Gaming Trends

Monthly Breakdown

I was on paternity leave in July. Looks like I crushed it.

[December was not calculated]

All Games Played

1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - 47 hours
2. Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope - 21 hours
3. Metroid Dread - 20 hours
4. Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise - 15 hours
5. Luigi's Mansion 3 - 14 hours
6. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - 10 hours
7. Mario Party Superstars - 9 hours
8. Mario Golf: SuperRush - 6 hours
9. Dorfromantik - 6 hours
10. Pokemon Violet - 3 hours
11. New Pokemon Snap - 3 hours
12. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - 2 hours
13. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge - 2 hours
14. Mario Tennis Aces - 2 hours
15. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe - 1 hour
16. Cars 3: Driven to Win - <1 hour
17. Super Mario Odyssey - <1 hour
18. Disney Speedstorm - <1 hour
19. Pokemon Cafe ReMix - <1 hour
20. Pokemon Quest - <1 hour
21. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker - <1 hour
22. Nintendo Entertainment System: Nintendo Switch Online - <1 hour

Observations:

• First of all, something isn't adding up. Earlier in the recap, it said that I played 23 games this year, but it only gave me 22 games in this section. Perhaps, one explanation could be if I played two different games in the online NES catalog, but I'm not entirely sure.
• Some of these games were definitely my son, not me.
• Thanks to my son for finally encouraging me to beat "Luigi's Mansion 3." It took me long enough (I somehow just slowly stopped playing it at some point back before the pandemic), but it really was a fun, very clever game.
• I am not positive that all of these hour totals are correct. If so, I am totally ashamed of myself for only playing a brand new Pokemon game for 3 hours in the entire last year. Truly, shameful and disgusting, and I will try to be better in the future. Also, did I truly only play "Mario Odyssey" for less than an hour in 2023? I distinctly remember trying to knock out a bunch of power moons, but could that have been all the way back in 2022? Who knows?

Favorite Game

I played some fun games in 2023. Not that many, honestly, and some of you can surely put me to shame with your stats. In the end, Nintendo asked me to pick my favorite game of the year. There could only be one...

And the winner is...

Congrats to Mario and the Rabbids crew for this illustrious award. This was honestly one of the most pleasant surprises in recent video game memory for me, so those were some hours very well spent.

*****

All right, gamers. Who else has checked out their Nintendo year in review? The website (click here) won't be up for much longer, but there's still time to go in and look at your stats!

What were some of your favorite Switch games and memories from 2023? Let us know in the comments below, on Twitter (here and here) or on Facebook.

We've still got the big Playstation Wrap-up blog coming here in the next few days, so stay tuned for that. Until then, as always, keep it here.

Bing AI writes The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Power

As our AI-written video game The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Illusions drew to a close, Link had defeated the Illusionist and order appeared to have been restored to a twisted version of Hyrule. However, in the distance, a mysterious figure had his eye on our Hylian hero. The story continues as Bing AI helps us create a direct sequel called The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Power.

**The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Power**

Link is enjoying a peaceful life in Hyrule, until he receives a mysterious message from Zelda, who tells him that the Triforce of Power has been shattered and stolen by a new enemy, who calls himself the Chaos Lord. The Chaos Lord is using the Triforce of Power to create portals to other worlds, where he unleashes his army of monsters and wreaks havoc. Zelda asks Link to help her stop the Chaos Lord and recover the Triforce of Power, before he destroys everything. Link sets out on a new adventure, where he reunites with his animal companions Flick, Shell, and Blaze, and meets some new allies, such as a robot named Spark, a fairy named Twinkle, and a pirate captain named Jack. Link travels to different worlds, such as a futuristic city, a haunted graveyard, a tropical island, and a medieval castle, where he faces new challenges and enemies. He also learns more about the Chaos Lord’s origin and motive, and discovers that he has a personal connection to him. Link must use his courage, wisdom, and power to defeat the Chaos Lord and save the worlds from his evil plan.

Some of the new challenges and enemies are:

• In the futuristic city, Link has to deal with robots, lasers, and security systems. He also has to avoid being detected by the Chaos Lord's spies, who are disguised as humans. He faces a boss fight against a giant mech, controlled by the Chaos Lord's second-in-command, a cyborg named Metal.
• In the haunted graveyard, Link has to overcome his fears and fight against ghosts, zombies, and skeletons. He also has to solve puzzles and find clues to uncover the secrets of the graveyard. He faces a boss fight against a vampire lord, who is the Chaos Lord's ally and the ruler of the undead.
• In the tropical island, Link has to explore the jungle and the beach, where he encounters exotic animals and plants. He also has to deal with pirates, who are after the treasure hidden on the island. He faces a boss fight against a giant octopus, who is guarding the Triforce piece of Power on the island.
• In the medieval castle, Link has to infiltrate the castle and rescue Zelda, who has been captured by the Chaos Lord. He also has to fight against knights, archers, and wizards. He faces a boss fight against the Chaos Lord himself, who is wielding the Triforce of Power and has transformed into a monstrous form.

Some of Link's skills, weapons and experiences carry over from the first game, "Shattered Illusions." For example, Link still has the Master Sword, which he can use to dispel the Chaos Lord’s illusions and break his defenses. [However,] Link cannot [exclusively] use the Master Sword for the entire game. The Master Sword is a powerful weapon, but it also has a drawback: it drains Link’s energy when he uses it. Link has to be careful not to overuse the Master Sword, or he will become exhausted and vulnerable. He has to balance the use of the Master Sword with other weapons and items, depending on the situation. He also has to find ways to restore his energy, such as eating food, drinking potions, or resting. The Master Sword is a valuable tool, but it is not a solution for everything.

[Additionally, Link's animal companions from the first game] can help him with their abilities and personalities. He also has some of the items and weapons that he obtained in the first game, such as the bow, the boomerang, the hookshot, and the bombs. However, he also has to learn new skills and find new items and weapons to adapt to the different worlds and situations.

Some of the new weapons or powers that Link uses in this game are:

• A laser gun, which he finds in the futuristic city. It can fire beams of energy that can damage or stun enemies. It can also be used to activate switches and open doors.
• A magic wand, which he finds in the haunted graveyard. It can cast spells of fire, ice, or lightning, depending on the color of the gem on the wand. It can also be used to light up dark areas or melt ice.
• A coconut bomb, which he finds on the tropical island. It can be thrown at enemies or obstacles, causing a large explosion. It can also be used to create distractions or lure enemies into traps.
• A shield gauntlet, which he finds in the medieval castle. It can be used to block attacks or deflect projectiles. It can also be used to charge at enemies or break through walls.

The most shocking moment of the story is when Link discovers the personal connection between him and the Chaos Lord. He learns that the Chaos Lord is actually his long-lost brother, who was kidnapped and corrupted by the Illusionist in the first game. The Illusionist used the Triforce of Wisdom to manipulate and brainwash him, turning him into his loyal servant and giving him a fragment of the Triforce of Power. The Chaos Lord hates Link for abandoning him and wants to destroy everything that he loves. Link is shocked and saddened by this revelation, but he also feels a glimmer of hope that he can save his brother from the Illusionist's influence. He tries to reason with him and remind him of their past, but the Chaos Lord is too far gone and attacks him with rage. Link has to fight his own brother, while also trying to reach his heart and free him from the Illusionist's control.

The final battle between Link and the Chaos Lord is a fierce and emotional confrontation. The Chaos Lord uses the full power of the Triforce of Power, creating a storm of chaos and destruction around him. He also summons his army of monsters and illusions to attack Link. Link has to use the Master Sword, his animal companions, his weapons, and his items to fight back and reach the Chaos Lord. He also has to use his courage, wisdom, and power to resist the Chaos Lord’s taunts and temptations. The battle takes place in a twisted version of Hyrule Castle, where the Chaos Lord has his throne. The battle has several phases, each one more difficult and intense than the previous one. The final phase is the most dramatic and climactic one, where Link and the Chaos Lord face each other in a one-on-one duel of swords and magic. Link has to use all his skills and determination to defeat the Chaos Lord and save his brother from the Illusionist’s control.

The final scene of the game is a touching and satisfying conclusion. Link manages to defeat the Chaos Lord and break the Illusionist’s control over him. He also manages to restore the Triforce of Power and reunite it with the Triforce of Wisdom and the Triforce of Courage, which he already has. He uses the power of the Triforce to close the portals to the other worlds and undo the damage caused by the Chaos Lord. He also uses the power of the Triforce to heal his brother and free him from the Illusionist's influence. He embraces his brother and apologizes for leaving him behind. His brother also apologizes for hurting him and thanks him for saving him. They forgive each other and reconcile. Zelda also joins them and congratulates Link for his heroic deeds. She also thanks him for rescuing her and restoring peace to Hyrule. She kisses him and tells him that she loves him. Link also tells her that he loves her. They hug and smile. Link's animal companions also join them and celebrate their victory. They thank Link for his friendship and tell him that they will always be there for him. Link also thanks them for their help and tells them that they are his best friends. They hug and laugh.

The Illusionist, who was defeated by Link in the first game, appears in a ghostly form and tries to attack them one last time, but he is stopped by the Triforce, which banishes him to a dark dimension, where he will be trapped forever. The game ends with a panoramic view of Hyrule, where everything is restored and peaceful. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the people are happy. A narration by Zelda says that Link has fulfilled his destiny as the Hero of Time, and that he will always be remembered as a legend. The credits roll, accompanied by a beautiful song.

 

THE END

*****

The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Power is Part 2 of an original video game series:

The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Illusions | The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Power

There you go! A nice little two-parter. What did you think? We'd love to get your thoughts in a comment on this post or, as always, you can follow us on Twitter (here and here) or try to look us up on Facebook.

Until next time.

Bing AI writes The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Illusions

We have occasionally felt bad for giving up on "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild," which many have called the greatest modern video game of all time. We just couldn't with the breakable weapons. But here we are, years later, and we picked up "Breath of the Wild" on Prime Day to finally give it another chance. Truth be told, we're a couple days back into it and we're actually really having a good time, now that we've come to grips with the fact that pretty much every single one of those weapons and shields is going to break after about three minutes of use.

A few weeks ago, we asked our beloved Bing AI buddy to write a synopsis for a new Zelda game called "Shattered Illusions." He had no idea what that title meant, but it sounded cool at the time and we wanted to see what the AI would come up with. We also asked it a few clarifying questions and wanted more detail about some of the features in the game. Here's what we could be looking at with a new hypothetical story set in Hyrule:

**The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Illusions** 

Link wakes up in a strange world where nothing is as it seems. He discovers that he has been trapped in a twisted version of Hyrule by a mysterious villain who calls himself the Illusionist. The Illusionist has shattered the Triforce of Wisdom and scattered its pieces across the land, creating dangerous illusions that distort reality and threaten to destroy everything. Link must find and restore the Triforce of Wisdom, while facing his own fears and doubts, before the Illusionist can use it to unleash his ultimate plan: to erase Hyrule from existence and create a new world in his image.

Some of the illusions that Link encounters are:

• A dark forest where the trees come alive and attack him
• A frozen lake where he has to skate across thin ice while avoiding giant snowflakes
• A haunted mansion where he has to solve puzzles and escape from ghosts and zombies
• A desert oasis where he has to find water and avoid mirages and sandstorms
• A volcano where he has to climb up the lava flows and dodge falling rocks and fireballs

The strongest weapon in the game is the Master Sword, which Link obtains after he restores the Triforce of Wisdom. The Master Sword is the only weapon that can break through the Illusionist’s defenses and defeat him. The Master Sword also has the power to dispel illusions and reveal the truth. However, the Master Sword is not easy to wield, and Link has to prove himself worthy of it by passing several trials and tests.

[As in other recent Zelda games,] all of the weapons are breakable, except for the Master Sword. Link has to be careful not to use them too much or they will wear out and break. He can find new weapons or repair his old ones by visiting shops or finding materials. He can also upgrade his weapons by using special items or completing quests. Some weapons have special effects or abilities that can help Link in different situations, such as fire, ice, electricity, etc. 

There are some new animal companions for Link to travel with. One of them is a winged fox named Flick, who can fly and help Link reach high places and scout ahead. Another one is a giant turtle named Shell, who can swim and carry Link across water and shield him from attacks. The third one is a fire-breathing lizard named Blaze, who can burn obstacles and enemies and light up dark areas. Link can switch between them at any time and use their abilities to solve puzzles and explore the world.

There are some Easter eggs or connections to other Nintendo games. For example, Link can find a Mario hat and wear it as a costume, which gives him the ability to jump higher and stomp on enemies. He can also find a Metroid helmet and wear it as a costume, which gives him the ability to scan objects and fire missiles. He can also find a Pikmin whistle and use it to summon Pikmin to help him fight or carry items. There are also some references and nods to other Nintendo games in the dialogue, music, and scenery.

The final battle against the Illusionist is a challenging and epic showdown. The Illusionist will use his power to create multiple illusions of himself, each one with a different weapon and attack pattern. Link will have to use the Master Sword to dispel the illusions and find the real Illusionist, who will be hiding and casting spells from a distance. Link will also have to dodge the Illusionist’s attacks, which include fireballs, lightning bolts, ice shards, and dark energy blasts. Link will have to use his animal companions, his weapons, and his items to survive and counterattack. The battle will take place in a large arena that changes shape and appearance according to the Illusionist’s whims, such as a castle, a forest, a desert, a volcano, etc. The battle will have several phases, each one more difficult and intense than the previous one. The final phase will be the most dramatic and climactic one, where Link and the Illusionist will face each other in a one-on-one duel of swords and magic. Link will have to use all his skills and courage to defeat the Illusionist and save Hyrule from his evil plan.

The game [ends as] Link restores the Triforce of Wisdom, frees Hyrule from the Illusionist’s grip, and returns to his own world. He is hailed as a hero and reunited with his friends and family. He also says goodbye to his animal companions, who decide to stay in the twisted world and protect it from any future threats. The game ends with a celebration and a fireworks show, where Link and Zelda share a romantic moment. However, the game also teases a possible sequel, where a mysterious figure is seen watching Link from afar, holding a fragment of the Triforce of Power and smiling evilly.

 

TO BE CONTINUED... in The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Power!

*****

The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Illusions is Part 1 of an original video game series:

The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Illusions | The Legend of Zelda: Shattered Power

Of course, there's nothing stopping you from checking out the sequel right now, but if you have a second, you can leave us a comment, follow us on Twitter (here and here) or send a smoke signal in hopes of locating us.

Until next time!