Nintendo Cartridge Society

Ten years of the podcast! To celebrate, Patrick and Mark look back at Nintendo's 2016, the strange, transitional year before the Switch. Where was Nintendo as a company when the Wii U was winding down and the NX was still a rumor? From Star Fox Zero and Paper Mario: Color Splash to Pokemon Sun and Moon, Nintendo's early mobile efforts, and the reveal of the Nintendo Switch in October, the guys revisit the year's big releases and ask: how does the reality match up with their memories?

SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/nintendocartridgesociety

FRIEND US ON SWITCH / SWITCH 2
Patrick: SW-1401-2882-4137
Mark: SW-8112-0583-0050

With Nintendo renewing the trademarks for Metroid Prime: Federation Force and Blast Ball (among others), Patrick and Mark discuss when we might see a Metroid spin-off again, or if the realities of modern game development mean that era has passed. Plus, the guys recount trying to buy their Zelda 40th Anniversary Concert tickets, a Halloween-themed Pokemon Pokopia event, and more.

The guys also talk about:

Their continuing adventures in Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave.
A surprise gift for players who completed the DK Challenges on Nintendo Switch Online.
Donkey Kong Bananza's Emerald Rush events going into reruns.
Why aren't more Pokemon games available on Switch?
Capcom's tech presentation about the RE Engine sparks discussion about game development in the age of AI.

SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/nintendocartridgesociety

FRIEND US ON SWITCH / SWITCH 2
Patrick: SW-1401-2882-4137
Mark: SW-8112-0583-0050

Patrick and Mark take on the challenge making the rounds: the 9 games that shaped who they are. Childhood favorites, life-changers, and the surprising picks that made them who they are today.

SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/nintendocartridgesociety

FRIEND US ON SWITCH / SWITCH 2
Patrick: SW-1401-2882-4137
Mark: SW-8112-0583-0050

Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave is here and Patrick and Mark share their first impressions of the new Switch 2 exclusive. Plus, code for a mysterious "Event Gifts" system shows up in the Nintendo Switch Online app, Castlevania celebrates its 40th anniversary with (stop me if you've heard this one before) a concert series, and more.

The guys also talk about:

Patrick's ongoing journey with Orbitals.
Splatoon 3's spike in popularity in 2026.
Reports that Ubisoft and Nintendo were once collaborating on a Zelda spin-off starring Ganondorf.

SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/nintendocartridgesociety

FRIEND US ON SWITCH / SWITCH 2
Patrick: SW-1401-2882-4137
Mark: SW-8112-0583-0050

Patrick and Mark rank the art styles of every mainline Zelda game, from the 8-bit pixel art of the original Legend of Zelda to the embellished details of the new Ocarina of Time on Switch 2, and everything in between. Which visual style suits Hyrule best?

SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/nintendocartridgesociety

FRIEND US ON SWITCH / SWITCH 2
Patrick: SW-1401-2882-4137
Mark: SW-8112-0583-0050