Richard Heaton
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Writer, Streamer, Producer, and occasional voice work. Collector of sports cards and switch games. @theswitcheffect
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Articles by Richard Heaton
Overgeared Is One Of My Favorite Anime Of 2026
Earlier this year, You and I are Polar Opposites became the first anime where I had to do an early review. I liked it so much that I just had to do a short review after six episodes, before doing a full review once the show ended. I liked it that much, and Overgeared is making feel the same way. It caught my attention quickly, because it wasn’t even on my radar a week ago. I’m just not a fan of anime about gaming and VR.
Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave Review (Nintendo Switch 2) Big Shoes To Fill From The Latest Entry
Developed By: Intelligent Systems Published By: Nintendo Category: RPG Release Date: 09.17.26 Price: $69.99 For the past five years, Fire Emblem has been the gaming franchise that I’ve been the most addicted to. My first time playing Three Houses in 2021 was an insane experience. It got me into SRPG’s and anime, and is my third most favorite game of all time. After playing that, I went back and played some of the older games and bought a bunch of collectors items.
Village In The Shade Review (Nintendo Switch 2) The Best Farm RPG In Years
Developed By: Nippon Ichi Software Published By: NIS America Category: Horror, Simulation Release Date: 10.27.26 Price: $49.99 I’ve been a huge fan of farm sim games for nearly a decade. Stardew Valley is one of my favorite games of all time, and I just love the Rune Factory franchise. I played a game called Harvestella in 2022, and it changed what I thought about farm sims. Many farming games have some RPG elements, but Harvestella took things to the next level.
STEINS;GATE RE:BOOT Review (Nintendo Switch 2)
Developed By: Mages Published By: Spike Chunsoft Category: Visual Novel Release Date: 10.29.26 Price: $59.99 Later this month, STEINS;GATE RE:BOOT will be making its way to the Nintendo Switch 2 (and the original Switch). It’s another remake of one of the most successful Visual Novels of all-time. I’ve never played the 2009 original, nor have I watched the anime. Everything I knew about the series came from bits and pieces in passing.
Science Saru Grabbed The Anime Industry By The Balls
Three years ago was the first time I heard about Science Saru. I’m a huge fan of the Scott Pilgrim franchise, and they were developing an animated series that features an original storyline. I didn’t really care for their history before making Takes Off, nor did I really consider it to be an anime in the usual sense. But it was amazing, I loved both the humor and art style. I viewed them as a niche studio at the time because of what they were adapting, but they just took off.
You And I Are Polar Opposites Anime Review
Seven months ago, I shared my first impressions of You and I Are Polar Opposites. I was only six episodes in, but it was already one of my favorite romance anime. The series recently came to an end, and I thought now would be a great time to share my deeper thoughts. There will be lots of spoilers as I discuss what has easily became my favorite romance anime. I watch a lot of romance anime, but very few actually stand out to me.
HoloX MEETing! Manga Review: A Fun Hololive Story
I don’t really talk about them here much, but I’m a huge fan of Hololive. They were the driving forces behind me going to AnimeNYC and Round1. I don’t watch their streams, but its talent is amongst my favorite musicians. A few months ago, I bought a few mystery keychains and one of them was of Takane Lui. I didn’t know about her at the time, but I looked up her music, and she immediately became one of my favorites.
Now that the Nintendo Switch is nearly a decade old, it’s easy to forget about all the games that were released during its first year. There were lots of big ones, but here are 15 smaller ones that you probably missed or forgot about. When I first fired up Poi, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect. My experience with more indie-developed games didn’t come until more recently, and it was always very hit-or-miss. I either really loved the games, or couldn’t stand them.
Kodansha House Brings Anime And Manga To New York City
Located at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center, day two of New York Comic Con was in full swing Friday afternoon. It’s one of the most expensive gaming, anime, and comic book conventions in the world. But there was a smaller event just one block away that was completely free. It’s called Kodansha House, and it’s basically a museum that showcases Kodansha’s best and most popular anime and manga.
For the longest time, I had no idea that Round1 was a thing. There’s this YouTube show I love called Jet Lag: The Game, and the arcade was mentioned in the show twice. The most recent time it was mentioned was in a recent episode just a few weeks ago in Japan. I thought to myself, an arcade like that sounds amazing, I wish I could go one day. Literally a couple days after that episode aired, I found out that there’s a Round1 location opening up in my city just a few stops away from me by bus.
Pokémon Adventures: Red and Blue, Deluxe Edition, Vol. 1 Review
When it comes to Pokémon, people usually think about the video games, the anime, or the trading card games. The manga is sometimes the last thing Pokemon fans think about. Some might not know it’s even a thing, even though it’s as old as the anime. Pokémon Adventures began way back in 1997 and now has more 60 volumes in print. Each arc features a manga-exclusive storyline that’s concurrent with the Pokémon generation. It’s an interesting series that follows the original protagonist, Red.
My Hero Academia Ultra Artworks Review
Over the past few years, My Hero Academia has grown into one of my favorite anime of all time. When it first aired, I tried watching it but couldn’t get into it. But when I tried it again in 2022, I fell in love. The anime is genuinely a masterpiece because it’s one great story told over a decade that includes dozens of great characters and some awesome action and visuals. With that much content, it’s only natural for there to be a ton of artwork. That’s where the Ultra Artworks book comes into play.
30 Anime You Didn’t Know Were Made By Sony, And Why They’re Killing The Industry (Again)
It’s no secret that Sony has their fingers in all the cookie jars. They deal with video games, anime, movies, music, tech, and more. There have been discussions over the past few years on whether the Sony-owned Crunchyroll has evolved into an anime monopoly. They regularly get all the big hits, remove shows from their lineup often, and basically control the award scene. But Sony’s hold on the anime industry actually goes way deeper.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered Is Out Now And It’s Basically Free
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was originally released way back in 2015. But like Skyrim and Minecraft, it’s as strong as ever now thanks to a a million updates and ports. This week, a highly-anticipated Remastered Edition was released that brings the 14-year-old game to the next level. The best part is that the update is completely free if you already own the original game, and it gets even better for the Nintendo Switch version.
Jupiter And Mars Review (Nintendo Switch 2) A Cozy Dolphin Game
Developed By and Published By: Tigertron Category: Adventure Release Date: 09.10.26 Price: $19.99 Jupiter and Mars was one of the most chill and relaxing games that I have played in 2026. It’s also less of a game and more of a short lesson on the earth and its ecosystem. I’ve already been seeing some people give this game bad reviews for a number of reasons. One of the main reasons is simply that there isn’t much to do. But I thought the vibes were great and I was thoroughly enjoying my time.
Go-Go Town! Review (Nintendo Switch 2) A Unique City Building Experience
Developed By and Published By: Prideful Sloth Category: Simulation Release Date: 07.16.26 Price: $32.99 I love city and town building games. Growing up, Sim City 2000 was one of my favorite games and I love games like Metropolismania and Cities Skylines. I also love Prideful Sloth. When I was at PAX East in 2018, I found one of their games called Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles. I bought it, and it became one of my favorite PS4 games.
Daemons Of The Shadow Realm Anime Review
For the past four months, I’ve been watching Daemons of the Shadow Realm on a weekly basis. I went in blind, I only watched it because I loved Fullmetal Alchemist. Brotherhood had so many moments that blew my mind, and I hoped that Daemons would be the same. Through 17 episodes, it was underwhelming in comparison. But it’s still been amazing in its own right. I’m not going to spoil much of the story. A lot of crazy stuff happens early on, especially during the first episode.
Ghostly Whiskers Review (Nintendo Switch 2) Escape Room With A Cat
Developed By and Published By: Nostra Games Category: Puzzle Release Date: 09.24.26 Price: $12.99 Ghostly Whiskers is a game where you play as a cat who discovers that it’s human owner has disappeared. You wake up in the middle of the night and go on a short 3D adventure. It’s often charming and cozy, but occasionally infuriated me. But because it’s such a cheap game, I can get over many of my complaints. But is Ghostly Whiskers a game that you’ll enjoy?
Marriagetoxin Anime Review
When Marriagetoxin began airing earlier this year, I was initially hesitant to watch. I love both romance and action anime, but many aspects of the concept threw me off. After a few weeks, I began seeing screenshots and videos of the show, and I thought it didn’t look too bad. So I watched a few episodes, and it became my most favorite anime of the spring 2026 season. Marriagetoxin is a show about an assassin named Gero who specializes in poison.
Teeto Review (Nintendo Switch 2) An Amazing 3D Platformer
Developed By: Eat Pant Games Published By: Super Rare Games Category: 3D Platformer Release Date: 07.15.26 Price: $17.99 A year ago, I played Donkey Kong Bananza. It was the first 3D platformer in more than half a decade that I actually enjoyed. Then I had a similar experience earlier this year when I played a small game called Unsent. It was nowhere near as big, but it was just as fun. Last month, I found another indie gem called Teeto, that might be one of the best indie games of 2026.
My Awkward Senpai Manga Review
My Awkward Senpai will always hold a very special place in my heart. Personally, it’s one of my four favorite pieces of romance media that I’ve ever seen and is very important to me overall. A couple years ago, it was announced that it was going to get an anime adaptation, but when I saw the announcement, I knew nothing about it. I thought it had an interesting concept, so I read the first two manga volumes in a single night and it became one of my most favorite manga of all time.
What’s Been Going On Between The Fandom Ledger And Motorola?
Normally I don’t write about what happens between me and a company. There will be a bunch of social media posts, but never a whole article. But I wanted to write about this today because of how much it affected the company. First, I want to say that I love Motorola products. I’ve been using their products for more than ten years, and I honestly prefer them. I’ve even worked with them in the past and have reviewed their stuff before. The time came where I needed to get a new phone.
We Interviewed Rising Anime Youtuber TicedUp
TicedUp, real name Tyler, is a 27 year old from the south that’s always had the drive to create. He’s been creating various styles of content on and off for nearly 2 decades. In just over a year, he has amassed 56,000 subscribers on YouTube, and built up a strong community with his fellow creators. Tyler bleeds all of his passions into his works. Whether it’s anime, games, music etc, it is intertwined into the content’s DNA.
Denshattack Review (Nintendo Switch 2) Skateboarding Trains
Developed By: Undercoders Published By: Fireshine Games Category: Action Release Date: 07.15.26 Price: $19.99 Last year I played a game called Star Overdrive. It was like Tony Hawk Pro Skater but as a space adventure. Then this year, I played Seafrog, a game about a skateboarding frog. I didn’t think I’d find anymore weird skateboarding adjacent games any time soon. But a few months ago, I found a new game called Denshattack. It looked interesting because it was literally about skateboarding trains.
AnimeNYC 2026: The Best Convention I Ever Went To
Today, I wanted to spend some time talking about AnimeNYC 2026 because it was the best convention that I ever went to. Every year, I go to multiple conventions along the East Coast. I’ve met dozens of voice actors and went to so many legendary panels over the past 11 years. But this one was extra special to me for a number of reasons. I’ll be posting about all the news and announcements in the coming days, but I wanted to get this out of the way quickly. But I do have a confession to make first.
GameStop And Its Pro Membership Will Not Survive
As a fan of both video games and trading cards, I heard some pretty devastating news about GameStop earlier today. It only affects a small portion of shoppers, but combined with everything else that’s been going on the past few months, it’s not looking all that good for GameStop. Honestly, it hasn’t looked good for GameStop in a long time. The company had its ups and downs over the past few years, but always came up with some new gimmicks to turn things around. But things may not recover this time.
Pokemon Champions Review (Nintendo Switch 2) Quintessential Pokemon Battles For Everyone
I don’t play Pokemon competitively. To this day, I’ve never battled another person in any DS, 3DS, or Nintendo Switch Pokemon game that I’ve ever owned. I’ve traded with thousands of people and interacted in other ways, but I never battled. Hell, I haven’t even learned how to play the card game until Pokemon TCG Pocket came out. But then Pokemon Champions came out, and it felt different. Champions is a pokemon game that’s just dedicated to live battles.
Catto’s Post Office Review (Nintendo Switch) A Short Game About A Feline Mailman
There isn’t really much to say about Catto’s Post Office. It’s a really short game that can be accidentally made shorter by skipping stuff, and just a few sentences can literally spoil the entire game because of the length. The entire experience will take you between 40 and 60 minutes. But it’s a fairly worthwhile experience, especially since the game only costs $5. You play as Catto, the town’s mailman. The game takes place on his birthday, but it appears everyone’s forgotten about it.
The Four Best Controllers For Your Nintendo Switch 2 In 2026
Most people who buy a Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 console stick to the standard joycons that come with the hardware. They do the job just fine, and most gamers are completely content with how they work and feel. Sometimes they might drift, but they tend to be reliable and easily replaceable with another pair. But there’s a whole aresnal of premium controllers that you can get your hands on to make your Switch 2 experience even better.
How To Build Gold Ship In Umamusume: Pretty Derby
Gold Ship is one of the strangest and most chaotic trainees in Umamusume: Pretty Derby, and that’s exactly what makes her so much fun to use. Well, fun is a strong word if you’re actively trying to build a strong runner because she’s going to make you pull your hair out once or twice per career. She has incredible potential in long-distance races, but she can also be frustrating if you don’t build her correctly.
How To Build Sakura Bakushin O In Umamusume: Pretty Derby
Sakura Bakushin O is one of the easiest trainees to build in Umamusume: Pretty Derby, which makes her an excellent choice for beginners. Her entire purpose is designed around winning Sprint races through speed alone. You’ve probably seen all the memes about her, and they’re accurate. She has no brain cells, and all she can think about is speed and power. Instead of trying to make her into an all-around runner, you’ll get much better results by letting her dominate the shortest races in the game.
How To Build Oguri Cap In Umamusume: Pretty Derby
The way I see it, Oguri Cap is the poster girl for Umamusume: Pretty Derby. Right before the global version a year ago, everyone was talking about her nonstop. She was one of the most popular fictional characters in the world for a few months, and it was mainly because her anime was incredibly popular. I would have never tried the game if I hadn’t seen thousands of people talking about her every day, and I bet others feel the same way.
How Long Does It Take To Complete A Career In Umamusume: Pretty Derby?
Skip to content If you’re a new Umamusume: Pretty Derby player, you might have felt intimidated by how long it took you to complete a career for the first time. Maybe that first career felt extra long because you were still learning the ropes. Maybe you’ve wondered how some people could could complete five or six careers in a day, if not more. You’re not alone because a career could take an hour or more when you’re new. But the game is designed to be quick once you know what you’re doing.
Wild Hearts S Review (Nintendo Switch 2) Monster Hunter Meets Tears Of The Kingdom
Developed and Published By: Koei Tecmo Category: RPG, Hunting Release Date: 07.25.25 Price: $49.99 I love monster hunting games so much. I must have put at least 1,000 hours into the Monster Hunter series alone going all the way back to 2006. But it’s been a while since the last time that I played one. Monster Hunter Stories 3 wasn’t a hunting game, and I had to skip Wilds because I didn’t have anything that could run the game.
How To Unlock Rainbow Training In Umamusume: Pretty Derby
If you’ve watched experienced Umamusume: Pretty Derby players build S Rank trainees with seemingly impossible stats, you’ve probably noticed one thing they all have in common: they maximize Rainbow Training, also known as Friendship Training. These special training sessions are one of the biggest sources of stat gains in the entire game and can easily be the difference between an average career and an incredible one. Many new players don’t realize just how important Friendship Training is.
Get Sea Of Stars And Neon White For Only $15 From Humble Bundle
The July 2026 Humble Choice bundle is here, and this month’s lineup is packed with highly-rated indie games, RPGs, and unique experiences. While there aren’t any massive AAA releases included, this might be one of the better months for players who enjoy discovering critically acclaimed games that they may have missed. For $14.99, Humble Choice subscribers get eight Steam games, including some major highlights like Sea of Stars: Sunset Edition, TUNIC, and Neon White.
Guide To Buying The Best MicroSD Card For Your Nintendo Switch And Switch 2
With more games going digital every day, gamers need more storage on their Switch consoles. The internal storage of the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 isn’t going to cut it, and the Switch 2’s strict requirement for only microSD Express cards makes digital gaming even harder. Maybe some people can get away with a 64GB card or a lesser known brand like the ones from Micro Center. But if you play a lot of games, you need a lot of space.
10 Anime You Should Watch If You Like My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia is honestly one of the most popular anime of all time, and for a good reason. More than 100 episodes of action, humor, and character development. It’s one of the few shows that have such a large cast that all get their time to shine, and the show always stays interesting. But maybe 170 episodes isn’t enough, and you’re looking for more. So I put together a list of 10 anime that are similar to My Hero Academia.
Nintendo Will No Longer Sell Original Switch Consoles In Europe
Beginning next February, Nintendo will no longer sell original Switch hardware in Europe due to new regulations. This will include all Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED consoles. This is due to European regulations that require that hardware contain user replaceable batteries. Beginning later this year, Nintendo will begin manufacturing and selling revised products that allow for such battery replacements. This includes the Nintendo Switch 2 console, all joy cons, and the Switch 2 Pro Controller.
How Long Is Persona 5 Royal?
Persona 5 is one of the rare games that I will buy and play multiple times, even though it’s so long. I played the original version on PS4, Royal on PS4, and then Royal again on the Nintendo Switch. I had no qualms with such a long game multiple times because it was lots of fun. But just because it’s fun doesn’t mean some people won’t think it’s too long to try. But how long is the game really? The original Persona 5 game was already very long, pushing nearly 100 hours of gameplay.
Are Game Key Cards Good Now?
Over the past year, gamers have been very vocal about game key cards. They’re physical cartridges that still require you to download a digital game to your Nintendo Switch 2 console. There’s currently more than 40 games that use this format, and there will inevitably be more in the future. People don’t like this because it’s essentially digital games masquerading as physical ones. But maybe it’s not a bad thing any more following announcements by Sony and Microsoft.
How To Get Legendary Scrolls In Summoners War
Legendary Scrolls are some of the best scrolls you can get your hands on in Summoners War. They only summon four and five star monsters, which means they need to be rare and harder to acquire. Because these scrolls are so good, the most common way to get them is by spending real money. But there are a few ways to get them for free, here are some of them. The most consistent way is to complete the Trail of Ascension, but this requires some setup.
Goose Goose Duck Review (Steam) A Better Social Deduction Game Than Among Us?
I love single player games, but I love being able to play games with a bunch of friends too. That’s what drew me to Among Us back in 2020. Even with all the memes and jokes, it’s a great multiplayer social deduction game. But it does have it’s flaws, so when I found out about Goose Goose Duck in early 2023, my mind was blown. It’s like Among Us but better. More specifically, it’s like modded Among Us. There’s a group of geese, who are the good guys, and a few ducks, who are the bad guys.
Kaiju No. 8 Anime Review
Two years ago, I had no intention of ever watching Kaiju No. 8. It’s one of the few genres that I honestly have no interest in. But I watched a YouTube video where they put the show on their best of the year list, and they had a lot of good things to say about it. So I gave it a shot, and I was hooked by the end of the second episode. It quickly became one of my favorite action anime of all time, for so many reasons.
How Long Is Fire Emblem: Three Houses?
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the longest RPG that I ever played. I must have put in at least 400 hours over the past five years. It’s one of the greatest SRPG’s of all time, but I’m willing to bet there’s some people who were spooked out of playing it after hearing it could take months to beat. But how long will it really take you to beat the game? Fortunately, the game isn’t a single 300 hour experience. That’s the beauty of having three houses and four distinct routes.
Danganronpa 2×2 Delayed To 2027 And New Details Revealed
Yesterday, Spike Chunsoft announced that Danganronpa 2×2 has been delayed from its original 2026 release to an unspecified early 2027 launch. New details were revealed alongside the news, the biggest being a brand new Slayhem mode. This new mode features a new scenario and storyline. Players can choose this mode or the original mode right at the start of the game. The original mode features the same scenario as the 2012 release, but with updated visuals.
Chillin’ in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers Is Getting A Second Season
Earlier today, Overlap announced that a second season of Chillin’ in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers was greenlit. A new visual and teaser trailer were posted to YouTube and the anime’s official website. No additional information has been revealed. Am I excited for this? Yes. Do I have any idea why this is getting a second season? No, not really. It’s about a merchant from a fantasy world named Flio who gets summoned to another fantasy world to serve as the hero.
emaqi launches Premium Subscription For Avid Manga Readers
Digital manga library emaqi launched a premium monthly subscription service this week that allows members to read their favorite manga for under $10 per month. The new service is available directly in the emaqi app for iOS and Android, and is available in the United States and Canada. The emaqi library features thousands of digital manga volumes spanning hundreds of series, including popular ones like Fairy Tail, Fire Force, and more.
Best Skills For Long Distance Races In Umamusume: Pretty Derby
In Umamusume : Pretty Derby, long-distance races are usually the hardest ones to complete, especially early in a career. Most races require a healthy balance of speed and power. But if you try that strategy in long-distance races, it’s just not going to work the way you want. Your trainee will get tired and slow down half way through the race. To survive these races, you need a ton of stamina, but also a few good stamina skills. Which ones are the best?
BLADE & BASTARD Anime Gets Trailer, Staff, and 2027 Release
Earlier this week, Warner Bros. Japan Anime Production revealed a bunch of new information regarding the upcoming anime adaptation of BLADE & BASTARD. The original light novel series is written by Kumo Kagyu and illustrated by so-bin, and is a dark fantasy series that takes place in the world of the Wizardy RPG. The anime adaptation is directed by Tomoki Kobayashi, and written by Naruhisa Arakawa. The studio behind the production is Xingfu, and it will stream exclusively on HiDive in 2027.
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