Welcome back to Nintendo Therapy, your weekly session for dissecting the latest Nintendo news, spotlighting beloved classics, and occasionally asking the big questions—like whether Mario and Peach are just friends or if you’ve really beaten a game if you don’t remember why you’re opening a chest.
In Episode 132, Kevin revisits A Link to the Past and unpacks why it might be the greatest video game leap in history—yes, even bigger than the jump to Ocarina of Time. He also discusses the muscle memory of mastery and why sometimes nostalgia gets it right.
Harrison dives deep into the internet’s strange obsession with Nintendo romances, Peach and Mario’s ambiguous status, and why projecting romance onto games aimed at kids is…weird. Also: his take on DK Bananza and Mario Kart World, and whether this new DK entry is cause for concern.
The crew also reacts to the latest Partner Direct, where surprises like Octopath Traveler 0, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, and Monster Hunter Stories 3 had RPG fans cheering—and Kevin a little jealous on behalf of Pokémon.
Plus:
DK94 Spotlight – Is this the Mario game that everyone thinks they played but didn’t? The gang finally gives it its due. Is Big City the blueprint for New Donk City? Has any puzzle game earned this much respect?
The BeatEmUps Controversy – A popular creator fakes a Nintendo leak “for science.” Was it worth the chaos? The team unpacks the ethics of influence and misinformation in the age of viral game news.
Switch 2 hype – Shawn’s already got his hands on the next-gen console (somehow), and Odyssey’s smoother than ever—except for those motion-controlled moons.
Underrated Gem Alert – SOMA hits the Switch, and horror fans should take note.
🎮 Spotlight Game of the Week: Donkey Kong (1994)
Email us your thoughts or send a clean voicemail if you’ve been playing along!
💬 Question of the Week: Thoughts on Earthworm Jim 2 or Toejam and Earl 2?
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We're not Nintendo experts—just lifelong fans in need of a little therapy.