Console Wars

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Š 2020 Matthew Myrick Made with Adobe CC 2020

Fonts used: Matrix II Inline OT Extra Bold Filson Pro Bold Filson Pro Thin Usual Extra Bold Images used thanks to: Unsplash Nintendo Switch and games and controllers, Neil Gardose Xbox One, Artiom Vallat Playsation 4, Nikita Kachanovsky Nintendo Switch, Claudio Schwarz Google Image search water temple entrance, IGN.com water temple central pillar middle, N64Today.com water temple central pillar bottom, youtube Zelda Dungeon water temple walkthrough water temple torch, Jagged.com Hades, gamepedia.com Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon EveryBuddy!, Nintendo.com Mr. Driller DrillLand, britgamer.co.uk Super Mario Odyssey, Nintendo.com Newgrounds tank, Nubbitude Newgrounds Super SMash Bros. Ultimate, Nintendo.co.uk Super Mario 3D All Star, Nintendo.com Printed with Blurb.com


Thank you for picking up this magazine. In this magazine I am attempt to make a gaming magazine. It has a few reviews, some information on current consoles, a walkthrough, and some gaming news. it is something I have never done before, so this is a learning experience for me. Making a magazine is not easy, but I hopefully rose to the challenge.


Everyone’s here, except for one. You aren’t here, yet.


Page 2: Nintendo Switch information

Pages 4-5: Reviews

Pages 8-9: Some Gaming News

Page 10: Xbox One information Page 13: Playstation 4 information

Pages 14-15: Ocarina of Time Water Temple walkthrough start

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Console Wars

Nintendo Switch The newest console in Nintendo’s home and handheld console lines. When it comes to the handhelds Nintendo has ruled the roost, if only because the others for a long time sucked batteries down like an alcholic at Oktoberfest. The home console side of this hybrid of Nintendo’s is a bit more mixed. But like a scrappy underdog Nintendo doesn’t know when to quit, also how to work the online service, and has pressed forward with what some consider their best console yet. Although Nintendo did stumble a bit at the start they quickly made up for it with a line-up that played to their strengths. The previous consoles for Nintendo were the 3ds and the Wii U, which had almost comlete opposite endings. The 3ds started off rather weak until Nintendo’s heavy hitters were put onto the system showing why Nintendo excels in the handheld market. The Wii U is roundly considered a dissappointment, having few games people would want for most of it’s lifespan does tend to cause that sort of feeling, with it sometimes being compared unfavourably to the Sega Saturn. But Nintendo has hopefully learned their lesson and will place a stronger emphasis on their line-up for games. As much as Nintendo can learn their lesson all things considered. But for the Nintendo Switch things are looking up. It sold out quickly with it’s line-up of games, barring that one game that basically everyone agrees should have just come with the system 1,2, Switch. The Switch does have that flaw of requiring to pay for the online, which the other consoles do too just more noticeable when the online tends toward being rather bad, but Nintendo is trying to improve on that aspect. With the Switch Nintendo has been attracting mor third party developers to port their games onto the system while also haing corssplay games with Microsoft’s Xbox One in some cases. All in all this seems like Nintendo has gotten to their feet after they stumbled with the Wii U and it shows why Nintendo is considered the handheld console king. Will Nintendo keep this streak up, or will they stumble for a few years again? Time will tell, but you can neer count Nintendo out of anything since they have that nest egg of theirs to bounce back from just about any setback.

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Console Wars

Hades

Hades is a rather new entry for the Nintendo Switch.

You play as the son of Hades trying to escape the underworld. Along the way he is helped by his Aunts and Uncles, the greek pantheon. But as no one is allowed and has ever escaped the underworld Zagreus’ path is made harder by the enemies tasked with sending him back home by force, and the myriad traps placed throughout the underworld. Hades is a roguelike game with an emphasis on combat, whenever you enter specific rooms you are locked in and forced to fight every enemy that appears until you get a reward and then are allowed to continue on. Picking boons alters your playstyle mid-run and the strategies you use. But inevitably you will die and be sent back home where you lose everything but you can gain permament upgrades to your skills along with items that can help you on your escape. Even in Hades’ house prince Zagreus has allies that want him to succeed in reaching the surface. I cannot reccommend this game enough for people that like rouge-likes especially if they like Diablo. It can get difficult at times, but if you persevere you may just make it out. You can also activate an assist mode for when things get too tough for you, and for those that want a challenge there is a hard mode to play with.

Mr. Driller Drill Land Mr. Driller Drill Land for the Nintendo Switch is a rerelease of the game of the same name from the Nintendo Gamecube. Unfortunately for a lot of people it was never released outside of Japan, until now. Mr. Driller Drill Land is not only for the switch, but you do lose out on being able to take this arcadey game on the go. Be careful, you may find this game rather addictive and might not want to put it down. For those solo players it features a story mode where you try to uncover the secrets of this new drill themed amusement park. It also comes with multiplayer so you can outdig your friends. For the story mode there are five attractions to pick from: Drindy’s Adventure, The Hole of Druaga, Haunted Mansion, Driller World Tour, and Space Adventure. So if you don’t feel like doing one attraction you can always pick another, but doing all five well enough unlocks something so you can always try to get better. or you can buy items using the scores you get from the attractions to help you on your way. I highly recommend getting this game if you enjoy some good arcade fun. It will make a great addition to your library of games.

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Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon EveryBuddy! Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon EveryBuddy! is a remaster of the Wii game called Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon. If you played that game you are already a leg up since this one improves on what Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon did while not drastically changing he core gameplay. Both of these games are in the Mystery Dungeon series that feature the protagonist of Chocobo, the chocobo. It’s a spinoff of the Final Fantasy series with rouge-like elements. In this game you have to solve the mystery of a town where everyone is losing their memories. Something the townsfolk actually seem to welcome. If you know your games this town clearly has a dark secret and they are trying to forget everything about it. Now delve those dungeons and free those memories. This game also has a co-op feature where not only can you take a buddy with you your buddy can help you along the way. This is a recommended game for those that like there rogue-likes but beware on higher difficuties you lose all the items you are carrying while on easier ones you keep those equipped.

Super Mario Odyssey

Super Mario Odyssey for the Nintendo Switch is the latest in game in the Mario Bros. series. As is usual for the Mario Bros. series you take control of Mario trying to save the Princess Peach from the clutches of Bowser. This time from Bowser marrying Peach. But Mario is not alone this time, he meets a new friend in the form of Cappy, a ghost that takes the form of his iconic cap. Not only does he help expand Mario’s movement options he allows Mario to cap-ture enemies to use their abilities to proceed. Now Mario must jump and collect moons throughout the world to power up his new ship, the Odyssey, to chase after Bowser to save Peach. But, Bowser has his own lackies to help him with the Broodals, his evil wedding planners. There are also a smattering of bosses Mario must face throughout his quest some not connected to Bowser. If you enjoy platforming and collectathons this open world twist on the genre would be right up your alley. This essentially being a sequel of Mario 64, Sunshine, Galaxies one and two means it has quite the pedigree and reputation to live up to. I believe it lves up to said repuation and more making it the best Mario game so far.

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The Nintendo Switch

Retro and new together at last.



Console Wars

Some Gaming News The 2020 year has been rather rough on Sega. Despite how much it earned last year it has taken an

never been one to listen to what people tell them to do anyway.

even bigger loss starting spring of 2020. A loss of 21.7 billion yen as opposed to the gain of 9.8 billion yen from

COVID-19 has affected it’s fair share companies.

spring of 2019 to the mid-year financial report For Sega

For Final Fantasy 14 it delayed a major patch for their

such a loss is devastating in that it reminds of how near

latest expansion by a month. Normally such a delay

ubiquitous they were back when they still made consoles.

wouldn’t affect an MMORPG so much, but they keep

Until a few bad decisions and some failed consoles cut

to a schedule. Other companies are not so seemingly

short their plans. For this devastating loss Sega has asked

affected, but in some cases it is easier to hide them

for volunteers, as many as 650, to quit to bring down

so hard to say if they were truly affected or not.

costs. Both Sony and Microsoft are set to release their Sega is trying to not leave them out in the cold

next-gen consoles, the Playstation 5 and Xbox Series

though. For those that voluntarily quit they will

X. Now most people would consider this the start

receive a severance package while also helping with

of the next console generation as Nintendo doesn’t

reemployment assisstance. The executives of Sega are

go for the most powerful tech that they can fit into

also taking a salary decrease with how larger reductions

a console. Also, that Nintendo is on a completely

being for the higher-ranked executives. But no word on

different schedule than Sony and Microsoft.

what happens if they don’t get enough volunteers to resign. Needless to say, we could either be seeing the end

World of Warcraft is also set to release their next

of Sega as we know it. Even if Sega gets out of this largely

expansion in the form of Shadowlands. The so-

intact they will likey never be the same afterwards.

far current expansion Battle for Azeroth has been generally ill-recieved but not enough to stop Blizzard

For Sega it has been rather up and down ever since

from keeping on developing it. Will Blizzard gain

they stopped making their own consoles. Some of their

back the people they lost or will they continue to lose

greatest games came about after, along with some

more subscribers? Depends on how they do things

of their worst. For now it is impossible to say what will

going foreward.

happen to Sega going forward since they were also forced to sell off some of their arcades.

Blizzard also released their remake of Warcraft 3 to less than glowing praise. In fact, it is almost

Nintend has slowed down in regards to their line-up

complete condemnation because of decisions

of games. With precious few of their games coming out

they made regarding it. Not helped by what some

this year it does make one wonder how they will recover.

consider false advertising from a few years ago

But Nintendo has been around the block for a while now

with their proof of concept cutscene they release

I doubt they will let this little thing stop them from doing

years ago. Reforged also has garnered criticism by

what they think is right for them. Granted, Nintendo has

including a provision in their terms of service saying

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that any map made for Reforged is property of Blizzards.

year has been marked with slowing everything down.

Clearly shaken from losing both League of Legends and

Although that didn’t stop Animal Crossing some selling

Dota 2 to other developers. Now, they need not worry

incredibly well. It wasn’t affected b this near global

since people are now completely unlikely to make maps

slowdown, having come out at just the right time, and

for Reforged.

has enjoyed quite the success.

In other news, Twitch has started to crack down

Currently it is pretty hard for just about anyone to get

on copyrighted material. While this has caused an

the PS5 and Xbox Series X. In fact in some places raffles

uproar is was not unexpected as youtube itself showed

have been used for people to get the chance of possibly

years ago that corporations will always crackdown on

getting either f those two consoles. Honestly, I don’t think

perceived breaches of their copyright, or actual breaches

this was the best way for either Sony or Microsoft to go

considering how aggressive copyright holders hae to be

about getting hype for their consoles. I feel like this will

to keep their copyrights. This has causes a bit more of an

cause a stink that they will not be able to really shake-off.

uproar because of people abusing the system again, jsut like when youtube did it so they don’t get sued to next week.

Triple A studios still are around despite everyone giving them the stink-eye with their practices. This unforunate little business practice started with Blizzard

Nintendo posted the recent sales figures of the Switch and it jsut barely missed their previous record for October

and their lootboxes. It has gotten worse since then with litigation in other countries.

set by the Wii. The Switch so far being set to succeed the Wii as Nintendo’s most well selling console, both of which are beat by the Playstation 2. 2020 has been rather hard for a year in gaming news. Because of COVID-19 basically everything has slowed down, if not because of people not going out but because developers tend toward not trying to kill their employees for little gain. Of course, there is still Game Stop which has now recently held a competition to see who get’s more work time, both in a pandemic which some would consider in bad tastes. I feel like this year was not quite the best time for Sony and Microsoft to release their new consoles. People are staying indoors, some people can’t even go to work because in some cases it would be highly irresponsible. Honestly, they should have just waited a year. But have to have those pre-orders to hook people and cause sunk cost fallacy to sink in. Other than a few successes here and there, this

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Console Wars

Xbox One

The Xbox one is the most current console in Microsoft’s Xbox line. It boasts being the strongest of the current gneration of consoles. Too bad that means almost nothing when it comes to consoles. If it was a computer it would actually mean something but Microsoft does tend to focus on the wrong things. Now admittedly, Microsot did end up thinking it may be a good idea to actually have games for their console, instead of making the console a glorified universal remote with achievements. But that was after they took a beating by annoying anyone that might have bought their console. But you never know when they may make the same mistake a second time. The previous Xbox the 360, because Microsoft likes to be different when it comes to naming and numbering their stuff, was well recieved if only because at the start it didn’t cost your eternal soul to get. But like as always happens with Microsoft they took it for granted and decided that whatever they do people will accept. Needless to say, it was a bad business decision, just ask Sony how that worked out when they did the same. Microsoft has this unfortunate problem of not thinking what they do through fully. Like saying that those that can’t afford the Xbox One still have the option of the 360. Microsoft is not exaclty know for making sound decisions and it shows quite often. But for some that is the charm of Microsoft, the inability to learn from their mistakes. But a new generation is dawning for Microsoft, will they change their ways or will they do something stupid then scramble to get back on their feet for a while and only really catch up near the end? Considering how the pre-orders went for Microsfot I believe they are going to have a hard time. Not to mention their line-up looked rather sparse, not to mention the fact that their flagship game, Halo Infinite, was savaged for how it looked causing it to be pushed back for polishing up instead of being a launch title. But despite how much Microsoft messes up they always seem to bounce back. Mostly because they don’t really care about making consoles and they have computers to fall back on when things go south. Sony only somewhat has the same luxury, while Nintendo has quite the next egg so they have no worries either when things go poorly.

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Console Wars

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Playstation 4 The Playstation 4 is the latest console of the Playstation line from Sony. Unlike the Playstation 3 it boasts a much cheaper pricetag at $299.99, as opposed to the Playstation 3’s original pricetage of just under $700. The Playstation 4 continues Sony’s Tradition of trying to not be Microsoft by not forcing things that no one asked for onto the consumer, until they suddenly do likewise and then is praised. But as the tango that Microsoft does with Sony they ebb and flow between who is the good guy and bad guy in the so-called console wars, while Nintendo does whatever they want to basically unopposed. Currently Sony is the good guy while Microsoft is the bd guy, until Sony decides to jack up the price on their next console and thinks people will accept it no matter what making them the bad guy and Microsot the slightly less bad guy. In comparison to Microsoft, Sony deals more with Japanese games, the odd more western developer not withstanding, and rpgs. Sony also decided socializing was not a good thing and said no cross-play for those games on other consoles with online capabilities. Times are looking good for Sony right now but as the seasons do things change. What will the coming console generation hold for Sony is anyone’s guess. But as everythin else time marches forward and having Final Fantasy 14 along with others would definitely help Sony when they invetiably flag, causing people to forecast doom for the company until they pick up the pieces. Unless something big happens to the non-gaming side of Sony the consoles wil ikely keep going, at least until they lose a lot of money then they will drop it for something that would be much more profitable. The PS5 is also set to supplant the PS4 only through the virtue of being the next in the line being it’s successor console. Admittedly, things got off to a rocky start because of some small pre-order problems but you never know what culd come next. Currently the line-up of games is set to eclipse the Xbox’s line-up for it’s next-gen console. But that is not saying much when the line-up seems to be almost nothing. Sony’s line-up for games seems rather strong so they may start ahead of Xbox, but one slip-up and Microsoft gets closer to almost taking them out of their spot. Let’s be honest Microsoft will probably never eclipse Sony in the console department. Even with buying out studios to make their line-up seem more impressive.

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Console Wars

Water Temple Walkthrough Start For the Water Temple a lot of gamers shiver in fright. WIth this guide you can know the tricks to make it easier to navigate and to avoid getting lost. Starting off is rather easy as a cutscene shows the main room of the dungeon. You will be coming back to this room a lot so it helps to familiarize yourself with it. Of note is the room just before the boss door that you hae to use the hookshot to get to, more so to remember this very important door for the end of the dungeon. Now for the dungeon proper you want to use the iron boots to sink down to the bottom as it is impossible to proceed since the water level is too high. You want to go into the open hallway with the torches on the sides. That will be the place you are looking for to lower the water. For the 3DS version this is helpfully pointed out by a unique pattern on the wall. After a cutscene involving Princess Ruto you need to take off the iron boots to get to the spot to lower the water. While floating up you will notice a cracked wall, remember it for later. This room also has a door that would be beneficial to go into, nothing special just a room where you defeat enemies. Just remember that the hookshot is useful in this dungeon and is the only thing you can use while underwater. Don’t forget to lower the water using Zelda’s Lullaby. Now with the water lowered all the way the trick to this dungeon reveals itself. As long as you do everything you can at each water level you shouldn’t be too hard pressed to get through. Now to open the barred door you passed to get to the water level plaque you just have to light the torches but you cannot use deku sticks as an adult. But you likely have a bow, if you fire an arrow through the flames at the other torches you can light them. Or you can use Din’s Fire for the same effect. 14


The hookshot is used to kill these enemies when they open up to you. The chest holds a key so you can open the middle pillar. But I would hold off on that since in the alcoves around the middle you can find a cracked floor. Blow that up with a bomb and go along that underwater passageway for a gold skulltula if you are going for those, if not you want to push the reddish block to go to another passageway that leads to another small key. The only puzzle of note being the whirlpool room were you sink down to strike the crystal switch and then hookshot and remove you boots to swim through the gate that opens up allowing access to the key. Granted this one can be grabbed later as the whirlpool room has an exit from higher up in the dungeon. Now for the middle pillar when you get back there. This part is key to the dungeon itself as not only is a water level plaque in here but a passage most people don’t go down because of it being hard to see. Raise the water and use the iron boots to sink below the block that is raised with the water. A simple thing to do but with how many people missed it made the dungeon have a reputation of being far worse than it actually is. Under the block is a room where you must defeat all the enemies to open the gate to another room where you get another small key. This one eludes a lot of people but with this guide you now know of it. Now it is a simple matter of making sure that you clear what you can at each water level. Now, with the water at the second level you can bomb that previous cracked wall with a bomb. Doing so gives you another small key. But now I think it is time for me to cut off this walkthrough the Zelda games are know for their puzzles and I feel it wouldn’t do to spoil everything. But you should have enough information to complete the dungeon with less fuss than most people when they first played. Still have to go through menus for the boots in the original version but the 3DS version does have them as an item for the convenience. 15




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