N Masters update log (February 26, 2022)

Time for another update about stuff that’s been going on. The YouTube channel continues to get updates. There’s a lot material to be uploaded there, specially with the upcoming DLC pack for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. I know it’s been a lot of Mario Kart Tour stuff lately but I assure you there’s going to be a lot of other things too. It’s just that Mario Kart Tour stuff has been the easiest to cover lately.

Related to that, I also made the first video that involves a lot more complicated editing, a comparison between the original GBA Sky Garden and the new GBA Sky Garden that was just released in Tour. I made this also because this is almost certainly the version that will be in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC. You can check the video below:

But let’s get to the most important part of this update log. Let’s talk about the main thing that has been getting a lot of work behind the scenes: the N Masters website itself.

During the last few days, I’ve been working on updating all the old reviews and preparing them for the new system. Formatting, making sure images are working, a bit of spelling check on a few, etc. After a few days, that work has been completed now and all reviews are now ready. With that done, I then proceeded to work on the new design of the site. I’ve established what colors will be used and currently finishing up the site layout. There will also be a new logo for N Masters and all the banners around our social network accounts will finally be updated. Rie’s clothing will remain the same, by the way.

And that’s it for now. The initial launch version won’t have all the features but the main content and links will all be there. I hope to get the site done during the next few days and make it available for everyone.

Updates to N Masters (YouTube back in action)

As pointed out in the previous update log, the Card Generators are now gone. I’ve also now decided what I want to do with the forums. The old ones are going to remain in read-only mode for around a year and a new forum will be installed and enabled sometime soon. So if you need to back up or archive anything from the old forum, feel free to do so already. The URL will remain the same until the new forum takes its place. After that, a link to the old forum will be available from the new one.

Related to the Card Generators and like I said in the last update log, there’s currently a very small chance they may come back but not in the same way at all. Whenever that moment arrives I will share the details first here. For now, I will just say that if they return, it would be a in a more static way and no more leveling up.

Besides that, you may have noticed a lot of updates already going on in other areas. N Masters YouTube channels is now active again and quite a bit. Similarly, the Twitter account is sharing the related updates too and is back to being active. That’s just the beginning to get things moving once again. The main website is also getting some work on so hopefully the new design and website will go live soon in the next days.

That’s pretty much it for now. For now, you can also join the N Masters server at Guilded which is already set up and ready. (It’s like Discord but for the modern era/more features)

PSO2NGS Winter 2022 Mischief Symbols Guide

Update: Video added to the post. (February 6, 2022)

Here’s a quick guide I published on my Guilded server for the Winter 2022 Mischief Symbols in Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis. I may make a video version of it later today and just update this post with it too.

https://www.guilded.gg/N-Masters/groups/MDq6ANBd/channels/102478d1-55c9-4abe-a76a-a8ba4463b47d/docs/297376

First, use the mini-map on the top-left of each screenshot to find the general position. Then use the main screen to find the exact location. If you need extra help, here’s a video too.

Completing this small seasonal task will give you a Title but it will only be available until next week on February 8th 2022. So make sure you do it before then or you will miss out.

SNES vs Super Famicom Switch online apps – Launch games

Welp, it took me a while but here it is. The blog post related to the launch games included in the SNES and Super Famicom Nintendo Switch online apps.

I’m not going to mention the list of games that were added since it’s big and you can see all of them in action in the video below. Also, there’s only one different game between the two apps (which I’ll mention later). Overall, though, it’s an interesting list of games in which there’s expected good classics and a few unknown but fun games.

Below is the video for the western version of the app.

Yep, Super Puyo Puyo 2 is completely untranslated since it was never released outside of Japan. And the menu navigation isn’t easy. XD

Here’s the video for the Super Famicom version of the app.

There’s only one game that is completely different. Japan got Super Family Tennis instead of Super Tennis. Both are hard games but I prefer the one Japan got instead of the western one. The gameplay feels better and the game a bit more fun, IMO.

Also, the videos ended up longer than I thought because of how many games were recorded. ?

NES vs Famicom Switch Online apps – August 2019 update

For August, Nintendo has updated both applications with the same number of games. The only difference is the swap between Vice: Project Doom and Downtown Nekketsu.

Below is the list of games added to the NES app:

  • Kung-Fu Heroes
  • Vice: Project Doom
  • (SP) Gradius (Starts at the beginning of the 2nd playthrough)

And here’s the list of games added on the Family Computer – Nintendo Switch Online app.

  • Super Chinese (aka, Kung-Fu Heroes)
  • Downtown Nekketsu Kōshinkyoku: Soreyuke Daiundōkai
  • (SP) Gradius (Same change as NES app)

The oddest thing about this month’s update is that it arrived very late and didn’t add much. Still, Vice: Project Doom is a really nice surprise and Downtown Nekketsu is fun too.

An accidental full playthrough of The Next Penelope

Did this a few days ago during a live stream. I honestly didn’t mean to finish the game. ? I really didn’t expect the be over so quick and I wanted to show more of the game. I guess that’s what it is, though.

Anyway, the video below is an edited version of the recording with all the deaths removed.

Although short, The Next Penelope is a good game overall if you like this type of game. There were a few flaws at some points but the experience was mostly fun. And I’m sure the multiplayer option is good. Want to add, though, that I really enjoyed the gameplay of the final boss fights. Yep, more than the normal game. XD

NES vs Famicom Switch Online apps – July 2019 update

For this month’s update, Nintendo has added the usual number of things to the app. The big difference is that, instead of a third game, they decided to add a feature this time: Rewind. Rewind feature functions a bit similar to found on the SNES Classic, except that you can’t view a playback of your actions, only snapshots.

Anyway, below is the list of games added to the NES app:

  • Donkey Kong 3
  • Wrecking Crew
  • (SP) Mighty Bomb Jack (Starts you on the last section of the game with everything set up for the best ending.)

And here’s the list of games added on the Family Computer – Nintendo Switch Online app.

  • Donkey Kong 3
  • Wrecking Crew
  • (SP) Mighty Bomb Jack (Same change as NES version.)

So even though the western app only got two new games this month, it was the exact same thing for the Japanese version. It really seems like Nintendo counted the Rewind feature as a replacement for a game. Also, there’s an odd blank space on the NES app if you’ve left the default order on the games.

NES vs Famicom Switch Online apps – June 2019 update

For June 2019’s update, Nintendo has released the exact same content on both applications. The only differences are in localization but the games’ contents are the same overall. Below is the list of games added to the NES app:

  • City Connection
  • Double Dragon II
  • Volleyball
  • (SP) TwinBee (Starts all powered up at the beginning of the game’s “2nd quest”)

Here’s the list of games added on the Family Computer – Nintendo Switch Online app, which is exactly the same.

  • City Connection
  • Double Dragon II
  • Volleyball
  • (SP) TwinBee (Same changes as above)

Even though Volleyball was Famicom Disk System in Japan, the game has no differences besides the usual localization ones.

Related to the gameplay videos, I recorded the NES one first and then the Famicom one. I think it’s pretty noticeable in the Volleyball section, XD . Honestly, it surprised me how fun it can be and the matches can last a lot. It was so enjoyable that the Famicom video ended up being 1 hour long. welp. XD

NES vs Famicom Switch Online apps – May 2019 update

For May 2019, both apps have received the same games. Still, there is a difference in one of them when compared between the western and Japanese versions. First, here’s the list of games added to the NES app:

  • Donkey Kong Jr.
  • Vs. Excitebike
  • Clu Clu Land
  • (SP) Star Soldier (Starts you with full upgrades at stage 8)

And here’s the list of games added on the Family Computer – Nintendo Switch Online app.

  • Donkey Kong Jr.
  • Vs. Excitebike
  • Clu Clu Land
  • (SP) Star Soldier (Same as above)

As you can see, the list is exactly the same. Vs. Excitebike was a Famicom game that was originally never released outside of Japan. But, since the game has no Japanese text, there was no issue in also making it available on the NES app.

Clu Clu Land, though, seems to have really options and levels when compared between the two releases. The music also seems to be different.

First Play – Space Ribbon and SKYPEACE

Got these two games through Gold Points a while ago since they were about to expire.

Both are ok overall. Space Ribbon has interesting ideas for a racer but the execution is really simple and generic. SKYPEACE, on the other hand, is a very simple mobile-style game but has a lot of polish in its art side, both graphics and audio.