I cleared Balloon Kid aka Balloon Fight GB! I played the Japan exclusive color version, and you should to! Overall, it was a fun spin on the original Balloon Fight gameplay. Alice for Smash?

Yakuza Kiwami 3 is collaborating with Fuyutsuki Group Holdings to showcase real life hosts in the game, and you can also see Kiryu and Mine on their billboards in Kabukicho!

Servbot keychains at Capcom Store Tokyo. There’s a universe where these guys are more popular than Minions.

Miiverse is back! In spirit! Videoverse developer @kinmoku.bsky.social joins to chat about how this game captures a unique moment in gaming fandom. Plus we take you inside Tokyo’s amazing Capcom exhibit! Find Tokyo Game Life on all podcast apps: tokyogamelife.com/episode/vide...

The Capcom Creations exhibit in Tokyo takes you behind the scenes to show how Capcom makes games. I never thought about 16-bit transparency, or if shaking a backpack will sound like armor, or how to animate a waterfall, but now it’s all I think about.

There will come a time in your life when you need to decide between the green Yoshi wheel and the slightly different green Luigi wheel.

You always gotta swing by the Dragon Quest Lawson in Shibuya when a new game comes out.

I liked how the Capcom Creations exhibit showcased different hardware they put games on. The 3DO version of Super Street Fighter II Turbo is apparently really good!

Finished the Monster Hunter Stories 3 demo on Switch 2! As a fan of 2, all the new changes are exciting and add a lot of depth. I mostly played handheld and they should probably lock it at 30 fps, but it’s not a dealbreaker for me.

Very fortunate to have seen two Steel Battalion setups in the wild in the past month.

I talk VIDEOVERSE and the Capcom Creations exhibit in Tokyo! 🗼 Thanks @tokyogamelife.bsky.social for inviting me on.

✨ NEW EPISODE ✨ Featuring: 🖥️ Videoverse w/ @kinmoku.bsky.social 👊 Capcom Creations exhibit in Tokyo ▶️ Nintendo Direct(s) analysis Listen now! 👇 tokyogamelife.com/episode/vide...

This trading card shop in Shibuya is featuring Pokemon I don’t think I’ve seen before…

Display showcasing some books about video games. Japan has thousands of books like these just waiting to be translated.

Be sure to keep a loose copy of Metroid for the Famicom Disk System in this box.

New podcast episode tomorrow! A special guest joins to chat about the Miiverse inspired game, Videoverse! And we also take you inside the amazing Capcom exhibit in Tokyo! Follow Tokyo Game Life on: Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t... Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7oDaILm...

Finished the Pragmata demo on Switch 2! It’s another fantastic showpiece for the hardware. The game brings a lot of new ideas to the table so I’m excited to see how they escalate them.

I visited Parco Game Center, happening at Shibuya Parco until 3/2! It’s part museum and part retro merch shop featuring a ton of things I’ve never seen in person. Also accidentally photobombed @4amlaundry.bsky.social ‘s stream, sorry about that 😆 More info: games.parco.jp/page/pgc/

The head of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios, Masayoshi Yokoyama, visited Bic Camera in Shinjuku recently and signed some displays! Note to self: only write in gold marker.

I found this Yodobashi Camera exclusive Splatoon amiibo set at Lashinbang. Doesn’t seem that rare, but it is a cool random thing to find in the wild.

The once dormant Culdcept and Goemon franchises returned in the Nintendo Direct! Did you know I spoke with experts about these series’ on the podcast? Wow, check it out! Culdcept w/ @culdceptcentral.bsky.social : bit.ly/4klCwmD Goemon w/ @projectgoemon.bsky.social : bit.ly/4qggxin

It’s February, that means Mary’s is back with more Pokemon themed chocolate. I got the new tuna based on Gen III and IV legendaries. Who knew Giratina could be so tasty?

That was a Nintendo Direct. Partners were showcased. Here’s the coolest announcements: - Super Bomberman Collection - Goemon Collection (JPN only for now) - Culdcept Begins, first new game ina decade - Cool Boarders / Console Archives

Tried out the Mario Tennis Fever demo! My wife and I teamed up to take on Yoshi and Toad. The movement feels so quick and the rackets allow for a lot of interesting effects on the match. My wife also destroyed Toad, which I approve of.

A close up look at the Godiva x Animal Crossing collab! Can you stock these in the hotel? 🤔

Would you believe me if I told you a set of these Earthbound figures is 19,800 yen? Because it is.

Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase announced for 2/5! Here are some quick predictions - Onimusha on Switch 2 with date - Retro game collection that makes me say “hey, cool!” - Microsoft reveals first Switch 2 game - Mother 3 remake by ArtePiazza (it could happen!)

When is Nintendo going to get serious and release Grill-Off With Ultra Hand! HD on Switch 2?

Yoshi and Balloon Kid are on NSO now, but Japan actually gets Balloon Fight GB, a color remaster of Balloon Kid only released in Japan. Sadly Nintendo still thinks the west isn’t ready for this just yet.

Omori figures at GIGO. You know a western game has hit it big in Japan when it shows up in crane games.

Nintendo’s financials are up! - Switch 2 at 17.37 mil (RIP Wii U) - Both versions of Pokemon Legends Z-A sold 12.3 million combined - Kirby Air Riders hit 1.76 million in six weeks - Downloadable versions of both Super Mario Galaxy games hit 4.7 million - Switch 1 at 155 million passes Nintendo DS

Nintendo released some Animal Crossing New Horizons designs based on retro Nintendo consoles! Now YOU are the Game Boy! Creator ID: MA-6818-1746-6029

Hobonichi’s official shop has notebook covers designed after Earthbound, Tamagotchi, Junji Ito’s Tomie, and One Piece! And all of these characters will be in the next Smash Bros. I take you inside the store in the latest podcast episode: tokyogamelife.com/episode/chib...

Is Chibi-Robo worth playing in 2026? Spoilers: yes! @nintendormant.bsky.social joins to chat about the game’s enduring legacy. Plus I dive into ACNH 3.0 and take you inside Hobonichi’s store with new Earthbound merch! Find Tokyo Game Life on all podcast apps: tokyogamelife.com/episode/chib...

When in doubt, start playing Tears of the Kingdom

Very cool art on this Dragon Quest II guide

Is Chibi-Robo the only Nintendo published game with the word “divorce” in it? I don’t think it’s in Kirby anywhere.

✨ NEW EPISODE ✨ Featuring: 🤖 Chibi-Robo! w/ @nintendormant.bsky.social 🌴 Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0 📓 Tobichi: Hobonichi’s official shop Listen now! 👇 tokyogamelife.com/episode/chib...

Trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie playing on a display in Bic Camera! Wow they even made some games based off the movie too!

Train station ad for Mario Tennis Fever! Remember Mario? He’s back! In tennis form.

Minna de Dance de Chu, a book that teaches you dances to do with Pocket Pikachu. Hopefully The Pokemon Company announces a reprint during the next Pokemon Presents.

Can’t wait until Virtual Boy NSO? You can find legit new copies of Vertical Force at Akihabara thanks to recently discovered dead stock.

Some key merch at Tobichi’s latest Earthbound pop up shop. Nice to see Iwata-San (Ask Iwata in English) included considering Satoru Iwata’s importance to the franchise.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream hits Switch on April 16! The customization options are incredible and I can’t wait to see what people pull off. Please don’t fall in love with Hugh Morris.

200 hours into Tears of the Kingdom, I’ve finally taken a picture of a Moblin

Nintendo Today posted a few pages of Famitsu’s Virtual Boy Tsushin from 1995 highlighting the games and hardware. Very cool to see this shared in an official capacity. nintendo.today/s/afgtVYSp

Tip for Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0: you can never have enough Crab Tanks

Found a copy of Chibi-Robo at Trader! One of the rare cases where the US boxart is better than the JPN one. We dive deep into this unique game in the latest podcast episode: tokyogamelife.com/episode/chib...

Can you wear an entire outfit made of Earthbound merch? Yes, as long as you don’t need pants.

They’re calling it the greatest prediction of all time as D-Hopper and Zero Racers are releasing for the first time ever thanks to Virtual Boy NSO. You can listen to my Nintendo in 2026 predictions episode for more insights into the future: tokyogamelife.com/episode/nint...