Articles by Kyle Fraser
You need boundaries before you burn-out
We are drowning in a sea of fast, cheap, algorithmically generated content. If you want to survive the next wave of digital sludge, you need to hear what Donovan Goliath, a multi-hyphenate creator, has to say about the value of doing things the hard way.
GAME REVIEW: Book Smugglers
Title: Book Smugglers Developer: FLUXO GAMES Publisher: FLUXO GAMES Release Date: February 16th, 2026 Platform: Windows and macOS via Steam Reviewed on: Windows via Steam Price: $14.99 Author’s Note: A key was provided for this game by FLUXO GAMES A game doesn’t always have to be fun to play, in order to leave an impression. On April 24th, 1904, Lithuanians were allowed to read again.
GAME REVIEW: Diplomacy is Not an Option
Title: Diplomacy is Not an Option Developer: Door 407 Publisher: Door 407 Release Date: October 4th, 2024 Platform: PC via Steam and Epic Games Store Reviewed on: PC via Steam Price: $29.99 Author’s Note: A key was provided for this game by Door 407. Diplomacy is Not an Option certainly feels like a real time strategy-lover’s RTS. This addicting and funny title plays like a mix of castle defense mechanics inspired by 2001’s Stronghold, and the genre classics such as Age of Empires.
Boss Rush Banter: It Is Time For A New Star Fox Story
By all accounts, 2026’s remake of Star Fox has been a success. Critically, the game has garnered praise from both critics and the community, pulling comparatives of an 81% critic rating and 8.1 user score on Metacritic, as well as a respectable 34/40 from the legendary Famitsu magazine. Saleswise, I imagine Nintendo is pleased with the results as well. Star Fox has never been a huge seller, but sales have been strong for a traditionally underselling franchise.
What Should Be the Next Zelda Game's Art Style?
Time passes, people move. Like a river’s flow, it never ends. Neither does the debate over the graphical style of The Legend of Zelda. As we gain more distance from the release of Tears of the Kingdom, one can’t help but ponder the inevitable next title in the series. The list of questions are endless. Will it maintain the open-world format introduced by Breath of the Wild? Perhaps with a return from Zelda’s more linear elements such as lock-and-key dungeons?
Is Nintendo's Digital Discount a Blessing or a Curse?
Nintendo recently announced that going forward, a difference in price will be reflected between their physical and digital products. In practice, this means buying a game digitally will save you a bit of money, whereas those buying physically will pay full price. According to Nintendo, this change in policy “reflects the different costs associated with producing and distributing each format”. Functionally, it means digital media fans are saving money, and physical media fans are paying extra.
GAME REVIEW: Nova Roma (Early Access)
Title: Nova Roma Developer: Lion Shield Studios Publisher: Hooded Horse Release Date: March 26th, 2026 Platforms: PC via Steam There are two types of “promising” early access games. One type feels like the seed of a good idea, which you are excited to watch sprout into a full-fledged experience.
Boss Rush Banter: Nova Roma is Reigniting My Love for City Builders
Nova Roma is not a particularly complex city-builder, but it is very thematic, and most importantly, very fun. I’m hooked, and I’ve been out of the city-builder genre for a while. It is hard to specify what exactly burned me out on city-builders, but I think it might be numbers fatigue. While there are a handful of classics I love to return to, much of the games I’ve experienced in the last little while felt like little more than spreadsheets disguised by a graphical element.
Identification of tofersen PD-response biomarkers in VALOR clinical trial CSF via multiplexed quantitative proteomics
Results Our CSF analysis included longitudinal CSF samples from 70 subjects enrolled in VALOR Part C7 with available material for all collection time points from baseline through week 16 (five time points). In line with the trial randomization (2:1 tofersen:placebo), our cohort consisted of 47 subjects in the tofersen treatment group and 23 subjects in the placebo arm (Figure 1A), which allowed us to randomly distribute subjects in a 2:1 ratio across 16-plex tandem mass tagged (TMT) sample sets.
A Missed Opportunity
Title: Car Driving School Simulator Developer: BoomBit Publisher: BoomBit Release Date: September 17th, 2025 Platforms: Mobile, Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam Price: $11.99 (USD) This is a review of the Steam release of Car Driving School Simulator. Author’s Note: A key was provided for this game by BoomBit. Car Driving School Simulator isn’t very compelling either as a car-driving game, or as a simulator. I’m not sure I would ever want somebody using this title to learn to drive.
Build a Bridge! has some cool ideas, but it suffers from poor optimization and a lack of ambition. It is not a bad game, just a bit boring.
Title: Build a Bridge! Developer: BoomBit Publisher: BoomBit Release Date: September 18th, 2025 Platforms: Mobile, Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam Price: $14.99 (USD) This is a review of the Steam release of Build a Bridge! Author’s Note: A key was provided for this game by BoomBit, Build a Bridge! is a game in which you build bridges, and if you like bridge-building games, you’re likely to have a decent time here.
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GAME REVIEW: Ritual of Raven
Title: Ritual of Raven Developer: Spellgarden Games Publisher: Team17 Release Date: August 7th, 2025 Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam Price: $14.99 (USD) Ritual of Raven is a very frustrating game for me. It introduces an absolutely fantastic gameplay mechanic in the automated farming system, that works like an absolute dream, and then does very little with it. Instead, the game is mostly a fetch quest simulator with the occasional need to farm.
DEMO REVIEW: Gamble Your Way Outta Hell in Black Jacket
Title: Black Jacket Developer: Mipumi Games Publisher: Skystone Games Planned Release Date: 2026 Platforms: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC via Steam, Linux, MacOS, Mobile (Android), Amazon Fire TV, Ouya Price: TBD Black Jacket is basically Balatro meets blackjack, and the execution is spectacular. The premise is simple.
Boss Rush Banter: You Are Too Worked Up About Pokémon
You aren’t cheap for thinking $20 is too much for Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, but you also aren’t a Nintendo shill for being happy to pay for it. This isn’t rocket science, folks. Nintendo recently announced the porting of these two games to the Nintendo Switch, and it has caused quite a tizzy. Bringing the games to modern consoles itself is something fans have dearly wanted for a long time, but it is the way it was executed which is causing drama.
Boss Rush Banter: Are Long Development Times Disaffecting the Youth?
Do you feel like modern development times has impacted how young people feel about video game series? This is an interesting conversation prompted by a post on X sent by Noriba, author of the manga Takamiya Walking, He gives an anecdote, in which modern youth he questions overwhelmingly have a preference for Pokemon over Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, which were the dominant RPG franchises of his youth. In fact, many of them have never played a Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest title.
Boss Rush Banter: Is a New Zelda Announcement on the Horizon?
February 6th saw the debut of a Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, cueing a collective shrugging of our shoulders. Even by Partner Showcase standards, there wasn’t a ton on offer here, and this showcase came at a particularly bad time. A loud contingent of fans are worried that the Switch 2 has a grim future, and were eagerly awaiting a proper Nintendo Direct to relieve them of these worries.
Age of Imprisonment Shouldn't Have Been Canon
When Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment was announced, there was one thing Nintendo wanted to make very sure you knew. Age of Imprisonment will be canon. They wrote it in the press release, on their website’s game profile, and even the trailer itself referred to Age of Imprisonment as a “canonical tale.” Nintendo was sparing no expense to make sure you were acutely aware that Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a canon entry in the franchise.
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is Added to Nintendo Music The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass has been added to Nintendo Music.
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass has been added to Nintendo Music. Developed and published by Nintendo in 2007 for the Nintendo DS, the soundtrack was composed by Kenta Nagata and Toru Minegishi. The addition to Nintendo Music adds 80 new tracks, for a total of an hour and 31 minutes of new music. Three new playlists, “Battles,” “Overworld,” and “People of the Great Sea,” are also added alongside the “Extended-Playback” playlist, which allows for seamless looping of compatible tracks.
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance Joins Nintendo Switch Online and Nintendo Music
Nintendo has added Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance to Nintendo Classics, as well as Nintendo Music, as per an update by Nintendo. Image Credit: Hardcore Gaming 101 Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance was released on the Nintendo Gamecube in 2005, and followed the adventure of Ike, the son of a mercenary leader, and most famous for his appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
RETRO GAME REVIEW: The Bridge
Title: The Bridge Developer: The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild Publisher: The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild Release Date: February 22nd, 2013 Platforms: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC via Steam, Linux, MacOS, Mobile (Android), Amazon Fire TV, Ouya Price: $6.85 (USD) The Bridge is a curious game to play in the modern era.
Boss Rush Banter: Should Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 be Nominated for Best Indie Game?
Is it truly awards season without controversy? Geoff Keighley’s The Game Awards show is only days away, and as is yearly tradition, the nominees chosen for the various awards have led to no end of discourse. From Shadow of the Erdtree’s nomination for “Game of the Year” causing drama over the inclusion of DLC, to Astro Bot’s victory causing “serious gamers” to go wild, every new yearly show brings fresh drama with it. This year, it is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 causing the issue.
Yoshi's Crafted World is Added to Nintendo Music
The Nintendo Switch title Yoshi’s Crafted World has been added to Nintendo Music. Developed by Japanese developer Good-Feel, the follow-up to Yoshi’s Wooly World was released in 2019. The soundtrack, composed by Kazufumi Umeda, features 53 new songs across an hour and 11 minutes of new music. The track also includes three playlists, “Boss Battles,” “Courses,” and “Extended Playback,” the latter of which allows for seamless replay of compatible tracks.
Fans Didn't Love the Total War 25th Anniversary Showcase
2025 is a big year for the mainstay real-time strategy franchise Total War, as the first title was released in June of 2000. Series developer Creative Assembly has been celebrating the quarter-century mark throughout the year, and it all manifested in their digital showcase on December 4th. Titled the “Total War – 25th Anniversary Showcase,” the event advertised that it would provide clarity on the future of the franchise. Primarily, it promised to announce three things.
RETRO REVIEW: Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters
Have you ever found yourself watching the early episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh!, and wondering why they were blatantly ignoring every rule in the game? Why can Kaiba play a Blue-Eyes White Dragon directly onto the field, and attack the same turn? Have you ever felt a desire to actuallyplay this insane version of Yu-Gi-Oh!? 1998’s Yu-Gi-Oh!, Duel Monsters is exactly that.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Has Been (Partially) Added to Nintendo Music
7 tracks from Metroid Prime 4: Beyond have been added to the Nintendo Music app, as per an update from Nintendo. Developed by Retro Studios and published by Nintendo, the highly-awaited next entry in the Metroid Prime franchise has released today, and alongside it, a handful of tracks from the game have been added to Nintendo Music. 7 tracks from the soundtrack, composed by Kenji Yamamoto and Minako Hamano, totaling 48 minutes of music, can now be enjoyed.
Metroid II - Return of Samus is Added to Nintendo Music
19 tracks from Metroid II – Return of Samus for the Game Boy, have been added to the Nintendo Music app, as per an update from Nintendo. Developed and published by Nintendo, the follow-up to the NES classic was released in 1991. The soundtrack was composed by Ryoji Yoshitomi, and features 19 tracks with a combined run time of around thirty minutes.
Boss Rush Banter: The Next Pokémon Game Should be Based on Canada
Thanks to a recent data leak, we now know a significant number of details relating to upcoming Pokémon titles, including the potential names of the next mainline titles, and even the design of the next region. Specifically, we know which real-world country is likely the inspiration for the next generation of Pokémon games. Worry not, you’ll read no spoilers here… Except for one. Alas, it is not based on Canada. I’m sure you are tremendously surprised.
All Hands on Deck Coming to Switch Later This Year
The upcoming co-op puzzle platformer All Hands on Deck is coming to Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2, later this year! All Hands on Deck focuses on the journey of Lefty and Righty, each of whom can be controlled by a player, as they navigate through toybox-themed levels dense with puzzles and platforming challenges, with plenty of collectibles to be found, and utilize many “Rock Paper Scissors powers” along the way.
Monster High and Alien Collaborate on a Frightfully Fashionable New Doll
Mattel’s Monster High doll line is collaborating with 20th Century Studios’ Alien franchise to add a new doll to their “Skullector” line. The line features a number of other horror-themed collaborative dolls such as dolls inspired by Squid Game, M3GAN, Corpse Bride, and now Alien.
Boss Rush Banter: What is Your Halloween Gaming Tradition?
The leaves are falling, the sun sets earlier, and spooky season is truly upon us. Above all other holidays, I feel as though Halloween is the only one to have much direct impact on my gaming habits. I can’t say that the Christmas season inspires me to dust off my copy of We Wish You a Merry Christmas for the Wii. However the Halloween season absolutely influences my gaming habits, and I would argue the majority of my time spent with horror gaming is in the month of October. How about you?
Boss Rush Banter: Is Digimon Poised to Strike?
To say that Digimon Story: Time Stranger has been well-received is an understatement. With a peak concurrent player count on Steam of above 80,000, a feat that puts the latest Digimon title past titles like Final Fantasy and Persona, and alongside titles like Metaphor Refantazio. Alongside a positive metacritic score and an outstanding user critic score of 92/100, the Time Strangers has absolutely stuck the landing.
Japan-Exclusive Mario Game Added to Nintendo Switch Online (And More!)
Three new games have been added to Nintendo Switch Online’s SNES offerings, foremost among them the obscure mouse-controlled Mario & Wario. Fans of mascot platformers will enjoy the addition of BUBSY in: Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind, and fighting game fans have been served with FATAL FURY SPECIAL.
Boss Rush Banter: Fire Emblem Shadows is a Game with No Audience
I’ve been playing Fire Emblem Shadows since it was both announced and released on September 25th. This is the first mobile game developed by Nintendo since Mario Kart Tour in 2019 so the moment is somewhat momentous. It is rather unfortunate, then, that Fire Emblem Shadows is a game for nobody. Fire Emblem Shadows is a game which purports to mix social deduction gameplay with the tactical experience the series is known for.
Princess Peach: Showtime! Added to Nintendo Music App
Princess Peach’s solo debut Princess Peach: Showtime! has been added to the Nintendo Music App, as per an update by Nintendo. Developed by Good-Feel and published by Nintendo in 2024, Princess Peach: Showtime! features a soundtrack from Soshiro Hokka, Yuki Minami, and Taichi Tada. The title will be joining Nintendo Music with a whopping 73 new tracks, coming out to a meaty 1 hour and 45 minutes total length.
Boss Rush Banter: Bring These Forgotten Zelda Games to Nintendo Switch Online
The recent Nintendo Direct featured a bevy of exciting announcements… and then there is the Virtual Boy. Complete with Nintendo Labo-style cardboard cutout to emulate the Virtual Boy’s infamous setup, the addition will allow fans to check out Nintendo’s most obscure console. While I am perplexed by the inclusion, I can’t help but wonder if this could potentially open the door to the inclusion of more obscure relics from Nintendo’s past.
Mr. Driller 2 and Klonoa: Empire of Dreams Added to Nintendo Switch Online
Two new games are making their way to Nintendo Switch Online! Mr. Driller 2 and Klonoa: Empire of Dreams have been added to the Gameboy Advance app, as of today. Developed and published by Namco, Mr. Driller 2 was initially released in arcades, with a Gameboy Advance port arriving in 2001. It is the sequel to the NES arcade classic, and gameplay focuses on digging through layers of colored blocks to reach the bottom, while managing oxygen and avoiding getting crushed.
Dig for Bitcoin in One Man's Trash
Title: One Man’s Trash Developer: Jony Pazu Games Publisher: Jony Pazu Games Release Date: July 23rd, 2025 Platforms: PC via Steam Price: $6.85 (USD) One Man’s Trash is a short experience that wears its inspiration on its sleeve, but that is hardly a negative. The gameplay loop revolves around sucking up dirt and garbage, selling it for cash, and using it to improve your vacuum to suck dirt better and collect more garbage.
Mario Paint is Now Available on Nintendo Switch Online and Nintendo Music
Mario Paint for the SNES has been added to Nintendo Switch Online, as well as Nintendo Music. Players can now both play and listen to the game on the go. This comes via an update by Nintendo. Originally played with the SNES’s mouse attachment, Mario Paint can utilize Joy-Con 2 mouse controls to replicate those features, as well as compatible USB mice. Additionally, the sweet sounds of the Super Nintendo’s Mario Paint can now be heard on Nintendo’s Music App.
Boss Rush Network
BOSSRUSH.NET — BE YOU. BE MORE. PLAY GAMES. BE BETTER. GAME REVIEW: Wrenchboard through the Wreckage in Seafrog Seafrog is a refreshing and fun combination of Tony Hawk-style skateboarding and Metroidvania-style exploration. GAIN EXCLUSIVE CONTENT, EARLY ACCESS TO SHOWS, BECOME A PATREON PRODUCER, AND MORE! FOLLOW FOR FREE AND GET THE BOSS RUSH PODCAST EARLY! The Boss Rush Family of Podcasts are available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.
GAME REVIEW: Wrenchboard through the Wreckage in Seafrog
Title: Seafrog Developer: OhMyMe Games Publisher: OhMyMe Games Release Date: April 15th, 2025 Platforms: PC via Steam Price: $16.99 (USD) Seafrog is an exhilarating, enjoyable ride from start to finish, that is equal parts Tony Hawk and Metroid, resulting in a genuinely original gameplay experience that I had a blast with. It is also a game with a single, rather significant flaw, but thankfully, it was never quite enough to ruin the experience.
26 NES Soundtracks Added to Nintendo Music
Nintendo has added a whopping 26 new soundtracks to the Nintendo Music App, entirely from the NES library. This comes via an update by Nintendo.
System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is Now Available on Consoles
System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is finally out on consoles! Developed by Nightdive Studios,and released on Steam on June 26th, it can now also be purchased for the PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch. It retails for a price of $29.99. The remaster features a bevy of improvements over the 1999 original, co-developed by Irrational Games and Looking Glass Studios.
Boss Rush Network
BOSSRUSH.NET — BE YOU. BE MORE. PLAY GAMES. BE BETTER. Bungie Confirms Temporary Voice Changes in Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate, Original Cast Returning Bungie has confirmed that recent voice changes in Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate are temporary, with original actors re-recording lines following the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike.
OFF, the Cult Classic that Inspired Undertale, Releases on Nintendo Switch and Steam August 15th
August 15th will see the deeply influential, effervescent RPG OFF, digitally debut on Nintendo Switch and Steam. Developed by Mortis Ghost, and published by Fangamer, OFF sees the player assume control of the enigmatic Batter. Take control of the Batter as he seeks to purify an uncanny and hopeless world haunted by specters, guided by a cryptic, grinning cat called The Judge.
Nintendo Casts Link and Zelda in Live Action Film Adaptation
Nintendo has confirmed casting for the two central characters in their upcoming The Legend of Zelda live action film adaptation. The series hero Link will be played by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, whereas the titular Zelda will be played by Bo Bragason. This is Miyamoto. I am pleased to announce that for the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda, Zelda will be played by Bo Bragason-san, and Link by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth-san. I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen.
Mario Kart 64 Joins the Nintendo Music App
N64 classic Mario Kart 64 has had its soundtrack added to the Nintendo Music App, as per an update by Nintendo. The fan-favourite kart racer was developed and published by Nintendo, and released in 1996. The added soundtrack, composed by Kenta Nagata, consists of 32 new tracks for an hour of new music. Currently, the only playlist is the standard “Extended-Playback Collection” which loops certain tracks for longer listening. Nintendo Music can be downloaded on Android and iOS devices.
RETRO REVIEW: Star Ocean: First Departure is Almost Great
2007’s Star Ocean: First Departure for the PlayStation Portable is a well-done remake of a SNES classic, but the bones of a SNES JRPG are still there, with all the associated good and bad. If you can adapt to the eccentricities that come with that era of gaming, you’ll have a fantastic time with this remake. If you’ve grown out of random encounters, fetch quests, and backtracking, you might be better off leaving this one on the shelf.
Nintendo Music App Adds Ocarina of Time 3D Soundtrack
The soundtrack for Ocarina of Time 3D has joined the Nintendo Music App, as per an update by Nintendo. The 2011 remake of the N64 classic was developed by Grezzo and published by Nintendo. The first 3D game in The Legend of Zelda series, it features a soundtrack compised by the legendary Koji Kondo, as well as Mahito Yokota and Takeshi Hama. Ocarina of Time 3D features a reorchestrated soundtrack, though one that adheres as close to the original as possible.
Boss Rush Banter: We Absolutely Deserve Live-Action Cal Kestis
Cal Kestis should absolutely escape the bounds of the Star Wars Jedi series, and grace our screens in live-action. For context, my fellow writer Josh Martinez recently argued that Cal Kestis, protagonist of Jedi: Fallen Order and Survivor, should stay relegated to the games. He makes exception for tie-in novels, comics, and the like, but draws a hard line at any sort of live-action adaptation of Cal Kestis.
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