Nintendo Life Mailbox
Image: Nintendo Life

Welcome back to the Nintendo Life Mailbox, our monthly feature where we read and respond to a collection of correspondences from your lovely selves.

Before we dive in, a quick request. 17th April is International Haiku Day and we'd like to run a Back Page article highlighting the best Nintendo-related haiku's from the NL community. Reader Ebisumaru sent one in on the subject of Goemon back in February, and we're suckers for some inventive wordplay. We won't go over haiku structure/conventions here — you all know how to use Google — but feel free to send your submissions via the Letters form at the bottom of this page and we'll see what occurs!

Enough prevarication. Got something you want to get off your chest? We're ready and waiting to read about your game-related ponderings.

Each month we’ll highlight a Star Letter, the writer of which will receive a month’s subscription to our ad-free Supporter scheme. Check out the submission guidelines at the bottom of this page.

Let's dive in for a dry, crunchy swim through this month's letters, doing our best to avoid paper cuts and envelope edges jamming in uncomfortable places...

Nintendo Life Mailbox - April 2024

NL floating Joy-Con
Image: Zion Grassl / Nintendo Life

"more powerful digital" (***STAR LETTER***)

Hi there! Awesome site, nice vibe you’ve got goin’ on.

I’ve got an idea for a poll: A while back you had a “talking” point about going all digital. I thought it would be interesting to see, given the info that’s out there on switch 2, how many people would opt for the 400€/$ digital version vs how many would opt for the 450€/$ version with cartridge.

If it’s about 10% digital / 90% physical like the PS5 sales, Nintendo could decide to drop the 400€/$ digital version and launch end of ‘25 with the same 450€/$ physical version + a much more powerful digital version for 500€/$ to counter the ps6 and series x2 earlier launches at end of ‘26 instead of end of ‘28.

(I got this idea, because xbox will highly likely go for an all digital series x2 at the same price as series x1 at 500/550€/$, but more powerful instead of 100€/$ cheaper at 400/450 €/$ like ps5 digital. I think Nintendo saw this coming and decided to counter instead of because of 1st party game shortages.)

Question for the community: What do you reckon? and could Nvidia and Nintendo whip out two new custom chips in a year’s time?

You could run another poll asking if readers would opt for the 450€/$ or more powerful digital only 500€/$ model.

The thinking is, the latter model would give Nintendo increased digital sales + more 3rd party sales cause framerate and resolution quality would be closer to ps and xbox instead of probably a lot lower.
And maybe even higher overall sales.

In relation to your “talking point” article, the new question for the readers is: would having more power make you go all digital?

Thanks!
Kevin

You start running into walls when it comes to price and power in a portable here. The chipset in Nintendo's next console will be as powerful as they can make it to hit a reasonable price point and the various hardware thresholds they set to ensure component longevity. Overclocking can obviously boost performance but, as well as the size of the unit, warranty and servicing has to be considered, plus burns inflicted by roasting Switch cases, ambient temperatures outside on a summer's day in all territories, and so on.

Sony and Microsoft's consoles are enormous non-portables and removing a disc drive opens up room for even more/bigger tech. In a Switch, the cart slot doesn't occupy much space, so "a much more powerful digital version" is a very different proposition. All the R&D and manufacturing of another Nvidia chip for another version of the console on store shelves, all for just 50 notes extra? I don't see it happening. And even with a bit more juice, the power gulf between a Switch-style portable system and the flagship Xbox/PlayStation is always going to be massive.

A cheaper digital-only version feels like a possibility, but adding significantly more power (beyond a revised 'New' version with extra RAM or an OLED screen, for example) seems unlikely, especially as they struggle to meet demand in the first year. I added a joke poll in the article below about a digital-only SKU with an OLED screen upgrade — I'd hate that, but it seems more plausible as a way to offset costs on Nintendo's side.

Let's open it up, though. What do you think, dear readers? - Ed.

If 'Switch 2' ended up with multiple SKUs, would having more power make you go all digital? (1,435 votes)

  1. Absolutely! Give me moarrrrrrrr12%
  2. If the power jump was substantial, sure14%
  3. Mayyybe8%
  4. Not if I had to pay extra, no6%
  5. No way, physical ftw58%
  6. Don't know3%
Mole Mania Game Boy
Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life

"or whatever"

Greetings once more, NL Team!
Everyone has that one game in their library that they could talk about for hours, but nobody ever seems to have heard of.
What are your favorite “Obscurer” Games that you could just gush about for hours?
Mine is definitely Mischief Makers, it’s one of the only American Game I have in my N64 Library.
Hope you all have a good week, many blessings be upon ye or whatever
MetaCrystal

Mischief Makers is a treasure, to be sure. (Geddit?) I'm having trouble thinking of one myself — one person's Kuru Kuru Kururin is another's Tetris, and if you've been around the block, you start seeing well-known games 'unearthed' as hidden gems. Have you heard about this game, Mole Mania!? Yes, Jenson. Yes, I have.

But let's not be salty! It's natural that younger players won't have encountered things I did at their age. In fact, for me, it's easier to think of a Switch game from a few years ago that got buried by all the other Switch games. Just Shapes & Beats is one of the best games on the system. Play it. - Ed.

"caught myself"

Hi Nintendo Life,

I caught myself reading about Switch 2 rumours again recently and I was just wondering whether you think there's room for Nintendo to ever be as innovative with their console design moving forward? The Switch being a hybrid home and portable system was always kind of a dream console, right? So, I don't want to count the company out whatsoever, but I do find it hard to believe that they can ever get away with leaving that hybrid nature behind without it feeling like a step backwards? Do you have any thoughts?
Martin

'Another Switch' does sound like anathema to Nintendo's 'surprise and delight' MO, but I'd say that, whatever else it does, the next console needs to be a hybrid you can detach from the TV. The cross-demographic convenience of slotting into your life whatever your circumstances is something they can't afford to lose. However, that doesn't mean the new Joy-Con won't have a vitality sensor for your pinky or the back of the console won't have an e-ink screen for low-fi Playdate-looking games or StreetPass notifications. Hell, whack a crank on it.

There are several Switch-like alternatives these days, so Nintendo will need to introduce some novelty to set a 'Switch 2' apart, but until new tech enables holography (or something equally neat) at a mass-market price point, it's hard to imagine Wii-style innovation. - Ed.

Pokemon Flatlay
Image: Gemma Smith / Nintendo Life

"18+ in Europe"

Dear Nintendo Life,
Thank you again for all you all do! I love having a reliable, unbiased, and respectful news source for all my Nintendo news.

Seeing a few of last month’s letters talk about NSO, I’d love to know how you feel about Nintendo modifying games to make them fit for Switch Online. They’ve done minor changes already for online support and such, but what about bigger changes? For example, we know Red and Blue aren’t on there because of the gambling aspects making a re-release 18+ in Europe:would it be worth it for Nintendo to alter or omit those parts of the game (if possible) in order for them to fit PEGI’s rating standards? I’m not sure that’s something Nintendo would ever do, but I was wondering how you felt about it in theory.

Thanks!
Nintendoid720

Thanks for your kind words, 'doid. As I understand it, an 18 rating for Red and Blue would only apply if a remake kept Game Corner in its original form. So Red and Blue NSO re-releases wouldn't automatically get an 18 rating in Europe (although they could get a 12, as on 3DS Virtual Console).

When it comes to minor changes, it depends. With highly questionable content, I'd always prefer a splash screen with a disclaimer, but Nintendo doesn't have huge, Disney levels of historic 'hmm' when it comes to things that you just wouldn't release today. With something like simulated gambling, I'd personally treat it similarly. - Ed.

"coy lately"

With Nintendo being very coy lately about who actually developed their first-party games, is it possible that they are protecting the team incase it is received poorly? Thanks, love the work everyone at NL does.
Daniel Hazzard

Once the game is released, the name's right there in the credits, so everyone will know who's responsible if it's a turkey. My take is that it's most likely a security measure to stop partner companies being bombarded with questions from media and fans months/years in advance. Nintendo wants to control the messaging and prevent accidental slips and confirmations from interfering with marketing plans.

Jim wrote up a soapbox on the topic recently — fill your boots below if you missed it. - Ed.

Bonus Letters

"Would Detective Pikachu be wearing PANTS!?" - HotGoomba

American 'pants'? Never. A trusty pair of British briefs? Perhaps. - Ed.

"a new male hedgehog (with peach arms like Sonic) would take inspiration of Gohan but with Shazam-inspired costume without sleeves. And a female blonde hedgehog would take an inspiration of Bulma but with Space Jam 1 Lola Bunny-inspired outfit. A new echidna that would take inspiration of Yamacha with Rut’s red headband." - Scott Devine

I feel like I saw drawings of these when I switched Safe Search off that one time. Yes, just the one time. - Ed.

"And I am getting properly honked off with it." - Coffeemonstah

Did you have Safe Search turned off too? - Ed.

"If you got to three weapons to get 3rd kits in Splatoon 3, which would you choose? Mine would be:
* Clear Dapple Dualies--Burst Bomb and Kraken Royale
* Cherry Dread Wringer--Torpedo and Crab Tank
* Grim Range Blaster--Splat Bomb and Tacticooler (I know this one hasn't gotten a second kit yet, but I am making this one in case CRB is horrible)" - CaleBoi25

Jim was unavailable to answer this one, unfortunately. So, erm, I'd say that, er, the Spicy Vinda-Goo would pair well with a Pint Bomb. Followed by a Splat Blast.

Words! - Ed.

"Here is a modest proposal: replace half the museums around the globe with video game museums." - dugan

"Yes, Levi, I said bin Wheatfield with Crows. We need to clear space for BurgerTime." - Ed.

Detective Pikachu
"Actually, I'm more of a Speedos 'mon, myself." — Image: Alex Olney / Nintendo Life

That's all for this month! Thanks to everyone who wrote in, whether you were featured above or not.

Got something you'd like to get off your chest? A burning question you need answered? A correction you can't contain? Follow the instructions below, then, and we look forward to rifling through your missives.

Nintendo Life Mailbox submission advice and guidelines

  • Letters, not essays, please - Bear in mind that your letter may appear on the site, and 1000 words ruminating on the Legend of Heroes series and asking Alana for her personal ranking isn't likely to make the cut. Short and sweet is the order of the day. (If you're after a general guide, 100-200 words would be ample for most topics.)
  • Don't go crazy with multiple correspondences - Ideally, just the one letter a month, please!
  • Don't be disheartened if your letter doesn't appear in the monthly article - We anticipate a substantial inbox, and we'll only be able to highlight a handful every month. So if your particular letter isn't chosen for the article, please don't get disheartened!

How to send a Letter to the Nintendo Life Mailbox

  • Head to Nintendo Life's Contact page and select the subject "Reader Letters" from the drop-down menu (it's already done for you in the link above). Type your name, email, and beautifully crafted letter into the appropriate box, hit send, and boom — you're done!