Vitamin Connection

Last updated
Vitamin Connection
Vitamin Connection cover art.jpg
Developer(s) WayForward
Publisher(s) WayForward
Director(s) James Montagna
Producer(s) John Eric Hart
Joel Youkhanna
Designer(s) Alex Dupré
Programmer(s) John Eric Hart
Jimmy Hart
James Guintu
Artist(s) Lindsay Collins
Anna Angrick
David Nevers
Writer(s) James Montagna
Elliot Trinidad
Tomm Hulett
Tommy Pedrini
Composer(s) Tommy Pedrini
Maddie Lim
Chiyoko Yamasato
Jake Kaufman
Julian Sanchez
Jesse Martin
Engine EngineBlack
Platform(s) Nintendo Switch
ReleaseFebruary 20, 2020
Genre(s) Action-adventure
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Vitamin Connection is a 2020 action-adventure game developed and published by WayForward, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. It was released on February 20, 2020, to positive critical reception. Limited Run Games distributed limited physical versions of the title.

Contents

Gameplay

Players take control of one of two characters, Vita-Boy and Mina-Girl, who use the microscopic Capsule Ship to fight off viruses and other enemies hosting within the Sable family, which makes them ill. [1] The ship itself is controlled with an individual Joy-Con and motion controls, which are used to control and ship and execute attacks. Main levels are navigated using the tilt controls of the Switch. [2] Various "sub-games" are also present throughout the adventure.

Development

The game was announced on August 13, 2019 in a press release by WayForward. [3] The title was always intended to be a Switch exclusive, with the team stating they were impressed by the system's hardware upon receiving a development kit and wanted to create a game tailored towards the console's unorthodox capabilities. [2] [1] Development officially started in 2017, but funding difficulties stalled progression on the title and for a period forced the team to work on other internal projects. [2] The game was heavily inspired by Jet Set Radio and the Katamari series, specifically with respect to their focus on a creativity, a distinct artstyle and the emphasis the games place on their soundtracks. [2]

Release

Vitamin Connection got its first trailer in January, 2020, and was announced to have a release date of February 20, 2020 as a downloadable title on the Nintendo eShop. [4] The game received a limited physical release by Limited Run Games alongside Mighty Switch Force! Collection, and Mystik Belle for a "Wayforward Day." [5] Standard editions went up for a two-week pre-order period beginning on January 17, while a collector's edition was limited to 2,000 copies. [5] [6]

Reception

Vitamin Connection was generally well received by critics. Review aggregator website Metacritic gave the game 80/100, based on ten reviews. [7]

Nintendo World Report gave the game a 9/10, praising its gameplay, content and style, though did offer some criticism towards the backtracking the game featured. [9] Jon Mundy of Nintendo Life gave the game an overall positive review, praising the visuals, co-op gameplay and the variety that the game offers. However, he mentioned some criticism regarding the controls and the game's frequent use of backtracking. [8]

Related Research Articles

WayForward Technologies, Inc. is an American independent video game developer and publisher based in Valencia, California. Founded in March 1990 by technology entrepreneur Voldi Way, WayForward started by developing games for consoles such as the Super NES and Sega Genesis, as well as TV games and PC educational software. In 1997, they relaunched their video games arm, placing the company as a contractor for publishers and working on a variety of licensed assets.

<i>Paper Mario: Sticker Star</i> 2012 video game

Paper Mario: Sticker Star is an action-adventure role-playing video game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. It is the fourth installment in the Paper Mario series and part of the larger Mario franchise; it is the first game in the series released on a handheld console. In the game, the protagonist Mario and a new ally named Kersti travel across the Mushroom Kingdom to retrieve the six Royal Stickers scattered by Bowser. The game was released in November 2012 in North America and December 2012 overseas.

<i>Mighty Switch Force!</i> 2011 video game

Mighty Switch Force! is a puzzle-platform game developed by WayForward Technologies for Nintendo 3DS. It is the third game in WayForward's Mighty series, following Mighty Flip Champs! and Mighty Milky Way. The game was released on the Nintendo eShop on December 22, 2011. An update to the game, including five new levels, was released on May 24, 2012. A high-definition version, Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition, was released for the Wii U in 2012, featuring re-drawn graphics and other new features. A Steam version of the game was also released in June 2015. A sequel, Mighty Switch Force! 2, was released in June 2013.

<i>Shantae and the Pirates Curse</i> 2014 video game

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is a platform game developed by WayForward Technologies for the Nintendo 3DS and the Wii U. It is the third game in the Shantae series, following Shantae: Risky's Revenge, and the first to be developed for a home console. It was released in North America on the 3DS eShop on October 23, 2014 and on the Wii U eShop on December 25, 2014, and in PAL regions on both platforms on February 5, 2015. The game was later ported to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Amazon Fire TV, Nintendo Switch, and Amazon Luna. The game follows the adventures of the eponymous half-genie Shantae as she once again has to save Sequin Land from a new foe, the Pirate Master, with help from her nemesis Risky Boots.

<i>Regular Show: Mordecai and Rigby in 8-Bit Land</i> 2013 video game

Regular Show: Mordecai and Rigby in 8-Bit Land is a video game based on the Cartoon Network series Regular Show. It was developed by WayForward Technologies and was released exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS in North America on October 29, 2013; Europe on November 8, 2013; and Australia on November 12, 2013. The game was delisted from Nintendo eShop some point between 2017 and 2019, most likely due to an expiring license.

<i>Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker</i> 2014 video game

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a 2014 action puzzle video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. The game was re-released for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS in 2018 with additional content. It is a spin-off of the Super Mario series and a part of the larger Mario franchise. The game stars Captain Toad and Toadette as they complete levels and save each other from the antagonist Wingo. Each level is contained within a miniature diorama-like environment that requires puzzle-solving and platforming challenges to complete. The player also uses the Wii U GamePad to rotate the camera and reveal new information and interact with the environment.

<i>Miitopia</i> 2016 video game

Miitopia is a 2016 role-playing video game by Nintendo originally for the Nintendo 3DS. The 3DS version was released in Japan in 2016 and worldwide the following year, with a remastered version being released for the Nintendo Switch in 2021. The game features customizable Mii characters in a turn-based battle system, following the story of a group of heroes battling a character known as the Dark Lord who is stealing the faces of Miitopia's residents. The game received mixed reviews, with critics praising its creative life simulation elements and humor while criticizing its combat system and repetitiveness.

<i>Super Mario Odyssey</i> 2017 video game

Super Mario Odyssey is a 2017 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. An entry in the Super Mario series, it follows Mario and his new ally Cappy—a sentient hat that allows Mario to control other characters and objects—as they journey across various kingdoms to save Princess Peach from his nemesis Bowser's plans of forced marriage. In contrast to the linear gameplay of prior entries, the game returns to the primarily open-ended, 3D platform gameplay featured in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine.

<i>Mystik Belle</i> 2015 video game

Mystik Belle is an independent platform video game by American developer Andrew Bado and released on the Steam storefront on May 15, 2015. Ports for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 were released on October 3, 2017, published by WayForward Technologies, known for their similar Shantae series.

<i>Untitled Goose Game</i> 2019 video game

Untitled Goose Game is a 2019 puzzle stealth game developed by House House and published by Panic Inc. Players control a goose who bothers the inhabitants of an English village. Players must use the goose's abilities to manipulate objects and non-player characters to complete objectives. It was released for macOS, Nintendo Switch, Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

<i>The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening</i> (2019 video game) 2019 video game

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a 2019 action-adventure game developed by Grezzo and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. Released worldwide on September 20, 2019, Link's Awakening is a remake of the 1993 game of the same name for the Game Boy. It retains the original's top-down perspective and gameplay, along with elements from the 1998 re-release Link's Awakening DX.

<i>River City Girls</i> 2019 video game

River City Girls is a 2019 beat 'em up video game developed by WayForward, and published by Arc System Works. A spin-off in the Kunio-kun franchise, the game stars Misako and Kyoko who fight their way through enemies and obstacles to rescue their kidnapped boyfriends, series protagonists Kunio and Riki. The game was released for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in September 2019, and for Amazon Luna in October 2020. A PlayStation 5 version was released on January 18, 2022.

<i>Space Invaders Invincible Collection</i> 2020 video game

Space Invaders Invincible Collection is a compilation of various Space Invaders titles developed by Taito and Gotch Technology. It was released in Japan for the Nintendo Switch on March 26, 2020.

<i>Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity</i> 2020 video game

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, in Japan as Zelda Musou: Apocalyptic Record of The Calamity, is a 2020 hack-and-slash game developed by Omega Force and published by Koei Tecmo in Japan and by Nintendo internationally for the Nintendo Switch. In the story, set 100 years before the events of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Link and Princess Zelda must gather allies across Hyrule to fend off forces led by the evil Calamity Ganon, who is attempting to revive himself and destroy the kingdom.

<i>Maid of Sker</i> (video game) 2020 survival horror video game

Maid of Sker is a 2020 first-person survival horror game developed and published by Wales Interactive. The game is set in 1898 in the Sker Hotel, on an imaginary island called Sker Island. The protagonist, Thomas Evans, is invited by his lover, Elisabeth Williams, to uncover the mysteries of the hotel after she notices her family's strange behavior. While exploring the hotel, Thomas learns cult followers called "The Quiet Ones" control the place. He finds notes and gramophone records scattered around the hotel that reveal the history of Elisabeth's family.

<i>Mario Golf: Super Rush</i> 2021 video game

Mario Golf: Super Rush is a 2021 golf video game developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch console. It was announced via a Nintendo Direct on February 17, 2021 and was released worldwide on June 25, 2021. It is the sixth installment in the Mario Golf series following Mario Golf: World Tour in 2014 and is part of the larger Mario franchise. The game features various characters from the Mario franchise competing in golf, with regular competition and other modes.

<i>Flynn: Son of Crimson</i> 2021 video game

Flynn: Son of Crimson is an action-platform video game developed by Studio Thunderhorse and published by Humble Games. The game follows a young boy named Flynn, who embarks on a journey of discovery and conflict alongside his animal companion Dex as he learns to master his powers. Flynn and Dex must save Rosantica before the evil from The Scourge claims his home.

<i>Dawn of the Monsters</i> 2022 video game

Dawn of the Monsters is a beat'em up video game developed by 13AM Games and published by WayForward. The game was released in March 2022 for Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Google Stadia. The game received generally positive reviews upon release.

<i>Kunai</i> (video game) 2020 action-platform video game

Kunai is an action-platform video game developed by TurtleBlaze and published by The Arcade Crew. The game was released on February 6, 2020 for Windows and Nintendo Switch. In the game, the player controls Tabby, a robot tasked with defeating Lemonkus, an AI that nearly causes the extinction of humanity. In July 2020, The Arcade Crew partnered with Limited Run Games to release physical copies of the Nintendo Switch version. The physical copies were released in October 2020. The PC version received generally favorable reviews, while the Nintendo Switch version received mixed reviews.

<i>Garden Story</i> 2021 video game

Garden Story is an action role-playing game developed by Picogram and published by Rose City Games. The game was released for macOS, Windows, and Nintendo Switch on August 11, 2021, and for Xbox One on July 12, 2022. Limited Run Games announced that physical copies would be distributed in Q3 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 "Vitamin Connection: Everything You Need to Know". Wayforward. January 29, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Lane, Gavin (February 21, 2020). "Feature: WayForward On Vitamin Connection's Switch Exclusivity, Challenges And Influences". Nintendo Life. NLife Media. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  3. ↑ "WayForward Announces Vitamin Connection for Switch". Wayforward. August 13, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  4. ↑ Wong, Alistair (January 11, 2020). "Vitamin Connection Shows Off Its Colorful Pop Aesthetic Co-op Gameplay in First Trailer". Siliconera. Enthusiast Gaming. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Vitamin Connection, Mighty Switch Force! Collection getting physical releases at Limited Run Games". Nintendo Wire. January 10, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  6. ↑ Lopez, Azario (January 10, 2020). "WayForward's 'Vitamin Connection' Gets Switch Release Date, New Trailer, and Physical Release From Limited Run Games". Noisy Pixel. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Vitamin Connection for Nintendo Switch Reviews - Metacritic". CBS Interactive . Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  8. 1 2 Mundy, Jon (February 22, 2020). "Vitamin Connection Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  9. 1 2 Koopman, Dan (February 20, 2020). "Vitamin Connection (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.