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DIGITAL EDITION

March/April 2017 $6.99 USA $8.99 CANADA

The Legend of Zelda and Switch are © & ™ of Nintendo.

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Our Mission Statement

Little Player Magazineâ€™s mission is to provide a safe, fun and advertising-free reading experience that parents can feel good about giving to their kids. We also want to inspire and teach kids to make good gaming choices and play what is appropriate for their age group. We only cover and review games that are rated EC, E, and E10+ to ensure that young children are not exposed to content meant for teens or mature audiences. 2 Little Player Magazine

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The Switch could be the most important console this generation... For many of us older gamers, the console that reminds of us our childhood is the Nintendo Entertainment System. Home video gaming and Nintendo were thought of as one and the same. As the industry has grown, many publishers have forgotten about the younger generation of players and instead focus on mature content. One of the reasons we are so excited about the New Nintendo Switch is that Nintendo is continuing its tradition to value the family and make kid-friendly video games. No other system in the next generation line up has as many games that are not only fun to play but appropriate for younger audiences. Add to that, the innovative design of the hardware that makes it a home console and a portable all in one and we really think it’s a game changer. You might ask “Why is focusing on the younger market so important?” For one thing, if the shrinking console market doesn’t capture the hearts and imaginations of the “little players” then there won’t be as many “big players” to develop for years down the road. Another reason for concern is that families used to gather around the console and the family TV, this is difficult to do with so much mature content out there. Thankfully the Switch has a little something for everyone, especially for young players and we couldn’t be more excited. Enjoy the magazine and be sure to check out our biggest preview section we’ve ever published!

Martin Alessi Publisher / EIC

little player

Video Game Magazine for Kids A Massive Impact, Inc. Periodical

March/April 2017, Issue 6 1st Printing

Publishers Martin Alessi & Shelly Alessi Editor-in-Chief / Creative Director Martin Alessi Managing Editor Tim Wilkus Content Editor Jason Kaplan Associate Editor Nathan Alessi Junior Editors Isabella Ocampo Brody Patterson Hannah Friedman Aiden Friedman Copy Editors Jenny Kaplan Industry Correspondant Patrick Scott Patterson Art Director / 3D Artist Allen Forbes Illustration Artist Thor Thorvaldson Video Capture Technician Pete Hahn Creative Consultant David Ray Siller Legal Counsel Erich G. Monzon

© Copyright 2017, Massive Impact, Inc. All rights reserved. Little Player is published bi-monthly by Massive Impact, Inc., P.O. Box 512, Wheeling IL 60090. Subscriptions are 6 issues for $24.99. Please allow 6-8 weeks before receiving your first issue as well as any subscription changes on an existing account. Little Player is a registered trademark of Massive Impact, Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without express written permission of Massive Impact, Inc. Trademark and copyright for all other products and characters contained therein are owned by the respective trademark and copyright owners. For permisson to reuse material from our publication or to use our logo contact martin@littleplayermag.com. DIGITAL EDITION

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SUBSCRIPTIONS

Little Player is published bi-monthly. Domestic rate is $24.99 for 6 issues. NEW SUBS: www.shoplittleplayer.com Subscription Inquiries: 312-574-0499 subs@littleplayermag.com Please send letters and artwork to: letters@littleplayermag.com or Little Player Magazine P.O. Box 512 Wheeling IL 60090 Little Player Magazine 3

FEATURE STORY

LAUNCH GUIDE

Nintendo is back and truly By Martin Alessi switching it up! The Switch is finally here and we couldnâ€™t be more excited! The Switch delivers single-player and multiplayer gaming at home on the big screen and on-the-go as a portable system! The Switch has so many features and we will teach you about the most important ones in this special guide. One of the best things about the Switch is that it encourages family and friends to play together in the same room. Many of the games that are available and soon to be released on the Switch are totally kid-friendly and perfect for little players everywhere. Some of our favorite series are making a comeback such as Mario Kart, Splatoon, Super Mario, and of course Zelda! The Switch system is available as of March 3rd, 2017 at the suggested retail price of $299.99.

Play on your HDTV in Console Mode!

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BEHOLD THE HYBRID SYSTEM! Play on the go in Portable Mode!

Tabletop Mode! Enjoy single-player or multiplayer Switch games on the go with Tabletop Mode. Use the included stand to prop up the Switch and detach the Joy-Con controllers and continue the action no matter where you are. Just make sure the surface you place it on is stable.

Whatâ€™s in the box? Each Switch comes with just about everything you need to begin gaming in the new generation except a game. You will need to purchase a game as there is no pack in this time. You will get a Switch Console, the Switch Dock, Two Joy-Con (L&R), a Joy-Con grip, two Joy-Con straps, an AC adapter, and an HDMI Cable. DIGITAL EDITION

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AND NOW THE GAMES!

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - 3/3/2017

1-2-Switch - 3/3/2017

Just Dance 2017 - 3/3/2017 8 Little Player Magazine

The most important part of any new system is obviously the games it will play. The Switch will have almost a dozen games to choose from at launch. Some of these games are available as cartridges and others are download only from the Nintendo eShop. Throughout the next year look out for many more exciting titles and some favorites redone like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Splatoon 2! One game to really look out for is Super Mario Odyssey which releases this Holiday!

Super Bomberman R - 3/3/2017 DIGITAL EDITION

Skylanders Imaginators - 3/3/2017

Puyo Puyo Tetris - 4/25/2017

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - 4/28/2017

Fast RMX - 3/3/2017

ARMS - Spring 2017

Splatoon 2 - Summer 2017

Sonic Mania - Spring 2017

Super Mario Odyssey - Holiday 2017 DIGITAL EDITION

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SUPER PREVIEW!

Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Nintendo Systems: Switch Players: Single-player Release Date: Holiday 2017 ESRB Rating: RP Content Descriptors: N/A

Mario’s back for an amazing By Shelly Alessi new adventure! Super Mario Odyssey is a 1-player, sandbox style, action platformer coming Holiday 2017 to the Nintendo Switch! Mario’s hat normally sits on his head in previous games, but it looks to be an important element in Odyssey. You can throw the hat and jump on it, think of it as a portable block that you can take anywhere! The story begins in a huge city full of people, cars, and other obstacles that Mario can interact with. He can jump on top of cars, swing on light posts, and jump in between buildings. It looks like there’s a lot to explore!

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Mario will meet nice people on the streets of the city.

Bowserâ€™s trying to force poor Peach to marry him!

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PREVIEW

Publisher: Konami Developer: Konami Systems: Switch Players: Single-player, Multiplayer Release Date: 3/3/2017 ESRB Rating: E10+ Content Descriptors: Mild Cartoon Violence

Time to have an absolute blast!

By Tim Wilkus

If multiplayer madness is your game, the Nintendo Switch has you covered with Super Bomberman R launching exclusively alongside its March 3, 2017 release. Super Bomberman R is a party style battle game that features 8 players battling locally or online together. The rules are simple. While controlling your Bomberman youâ€™ll want to place bombs and take out your enemies. Last Bomberman standing wins. If online play or multiplayer isnâ€™t up your alley, Super Bomberman R will also feature a story mode with almost 50 stages that can be cleared one by one alone or with a friend. The stages are now beautifully detailed in 3D which makes Super Bomberman R look and feel very modern in an old-school kind of way. 26 Little Player Magazine

One of coolest features of Super Bomberman R is the boss battles through the game. They are tough, so watch out! DIGITAL EDITION

PREVIEW

Publisher: Sega Developer: Headcannnon and PagodaWest Games Systems: Switch, PS4, XO Players: Single-player, Multiplayer Release Date: Spring 2017 ESRB Rating: RP Content Descriptors: N/A

Sonic returns in this super action packed sequel!

By Tim Wilkus

Old-school gamers will be happy to see the release of Segaâ€™s beloved mascot on the new Nintendo Switch in his brand new game titled Sonic Mania. Sonic Mania showcases the classic 2D sprite worlds and Acts from the 90â€™s featuring levels from Sonic The Hedgehog, Sonic The Hedgehog 2, Sonic CD, Sonic The Hedgehog 3, and Sonic & Knuckles. Combining the old-school levels with all-new levels and Acts is something we are very excited about. Boss fights are also back as well!

Sonic Mania captures the best of the old-school Sonic games and adds new features to keep you coming back for more!

Playable characters include Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles who all feature their own specific skills which means no two characters will complete each level the same. New gameplay mechanics are also being introduced to add to the fun! DIGITAL EDITION

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Collector’s Corner

By Jason Kaplan

Collecting “Toys-to-Life” figures is really fun! Here is a guide to some of the newest figures that are coming out soon. You can use the check boxes to keep track of your collection.

Link (Archer)