Latest Comments

Re: Talking Point: Six Months Since Launch, How Would You Rate Switch 2?

BaldB3lper78

Here are my thoughts on the evolution of a console which I feel has started well and much of the negativity toward it is done for click.

What’s most exciting is how young the Switch 2 still is. At just six months old, it’s already sold over 10 million units and is considered a major success story for Nintendo. Developers now have a stable, powerful platform to build on, and Nintendo’s track record suggests the best is yet to come.

The original Switch didn’t hit its stride until 3 years into its life and If history repeats — and all signs suggest it will — the Switch 2’s future catalogue will only get richer, more ambitious, and more technically impressive.

Six months in, the Nintendo Switch 2 feels like a console with momentum. It launched strong, it’s improving quickly, and it’s already delivering experiences that justify the upgrade. The hardware is more powerful than some give it credit for, the games are fun, and the potential is enormous.

If this is where the Switch 2 stands at half a year old, imagine where it’ll be in another six months — or another six years. Nintendo has built a foundation that’s only going to get better.

Re: Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP Adding Free Fan-Designed Costume "Mid-December"

Strawblaze

Friendly reminder that this rerelease has loads of issues, including but not limited to a completely butchered soundtrack. Many of the tracks had to be cut because they were licensed (one of the game's biggest pros), but even original tracks such as the loading screen theme end up removed and were not even replaced. If you're interested in Lollipop Chainsaw, I highly recommend playing the original Xbox 360 version instead.

Re: Talking Point: Six Months Since Launch, How Would You Rate Switch 2?

IronMan30

I rated it a 9 because I'm figuring first-party development cycles are longer than the previous generation (like PS4/X1 because Nintendo isn't as experienced in 4k as Sony or MS) and comparing it to those systems, the first 6 months are excellent. Don't try to compare it to PS5 and Xbox Series because those two aren't even close to as strong (software-wise) in the same time frame, especially accounting for first-party titles. Comparing it to NS1, it is arguably weaker in the same time frame but that is still somewhat subjective so that's what made me deduct a point. It is nice to play NS1 games on the system, as well.

Also helps that I didn't really expect anything crazy for the Switch 2. Just more horsepower and maybe a more premium feeling for handheld mode. It delivered both of those things. Games will (and do) take longer to develop, that's just reality for all consoles at this point.

Re: Round Up: The Reviews Are In For Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Lilligant562

@SuntannedDuck2 Alrite. I apologise if I was a bit heavy last comment, but I'm unsure why you started your reply to me in that way. You seemed to have made your mind up about the game in those first 2 lines.

Anyways , I appreciate you clarifying. I don't often mind ppl going off on a slight tangent about other games so yea , my bad I should have been a bit patient with your comment.

I understand you wanting a more "gamey" style to things , the aspect of actually completing events in games over filler.

Thing is , I am now about 25% into Prime 4 , past the 2nd Boss thorny big plant thing and looking back at some of the initial reactions yesterday to the desert from ppl who certain had not touched the game yet , even I had doubts creeping in that maybe the older gameplay of Metroid was diluted a bit.

Nope , not at all really! It more or less has been 90% 'Prime-ish' up till the point I am on and I have more or less enjoyed nearly every minute of it.

The main feel I get is Refreshing. I love the presentation of the new ancient race. They really are mysterious, not forced upon you like maybe Dreads crazy Robots chasing you down every 2D corridor. Nor are they short changing you by barely letting you see them like the awful Halo Infinite.

Sure , the voice acting and some characters are cheesy , but I actually like the way that "nurdy" scientist everyone is up in arms about is presented.

I'm sure the game will slow down in the more Desert hub focused areas and that might be but of a bummer but so far , this is easily rivalling my current favourite Metroid game , Corruption. And dare I say , some areas are far more interesting and I interactive than in Prime 1!

I'll clock in more on some thought later maybe , but for ppl who like the very hard boiled gaming experiences of the past , I feel games are actually slowing down on Open Worlds as Prime 4 Itself is not a true Open world

Re: Sega Will "Carefully Assess Appropriate Use Cases" When It Comes To "Leveraging AI"

JohnnyMind

If that's how Sega will actually use AI then that's good to hear - seriously doubt companies will completely stop using it anytime soon if ever so personally I'd rather focus on going against those that use it indiscriminately and in the worst ways possible, especially when it affects the quality of the games significantly and even more so their creators (like apparently the EA staff with their AI "helpers" and of course the worst of the worst, the potential lay-offs)...

Re: Sega Will "Carefully Assess Appropriate Use Cases" When It Comes To "Leveraging AI"

nhSnork

If the "use case" is ye olde procedural generation from a dedicated original asset pool by the devs themselves, nobody has questioned these cases' appropriety for decades. It's up to the higher-ups to know the difference and not feign ignorance here, then.

@garfreek it's not just about "never enough", the main problem with investors (and the CEOs who embrace the same philosophy in their wake) is that they treat investments into commercial fiction as a "get rich quick" scheme. Nobody cares about the long term consequences for the given company and its output because nobody is there for the long haul. Après moi, les déluge.

Re: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond: Secret Ending And How To Get It

Lilligant562

I'm barely 25% into my own casual run lol [spoilers]just got past the plant Boss Carvex[/spoilers] - and barely ever 100% complete games - so naturally I had to visit here.

And Samus? Well she looks beautiful, much like the rest of the game overall! And I'm unsure just what was going on with her face in the Prime 1 re Master (weirdly horse faced) , so was a bit worried they would mess her up here too but - anxiety dismissed! 😭😅

She is sporting a more 'mature' face than her younger or 'girlier' looks in Other M and Corruption.

Prime 4 carries the flame 🔥 held high and I am so happy to see it!

Re: Sega Will "Carefully Assess Appropriate Use Cases" When It Comes To "Leveraging AI"

MathByThePixel

I am very against the use of AI in creative areas. However, it has its uses as Sega seems to be referring to here. I work in web development as a one man dev team, and I can’t tell you how amazing it is to be able to whip up snippets of code in seconds where it would previously take hours. It’s allowed me to take on more projects that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to. Applying this to game development (if done right) would mean cheaper and more efficient game dev, which is attractive to these big companies.

Re: Sega Will "Carefully Assess Appropriate Use Cases" When It Comes To "Leveraging AI"

RupeeClock

This needn't be overly complex.
Generative AI is the controversial one, using illicitly sourced data to generate derivative slop. This is the corner-cutting and human omitting part of creative work that really gets under people's skin, to the point there is massive backlash when your entertainment product is suspected of using AI slop.
It's troubling that AI generative imagery is advancing to the point that the "look" is recognisable but the actual quality is hard to discern, so actual human works that resemble a potential AI output gets scrutinised unfairly.

AI overall as machine learning to revolutionise internal data structures and studies is another thing. The new elaborate tooling and advanced computational techniques that allow for data modeling studies and planning not possible a decade ago, and you can see "Machine Learning" as a credit emerging in games already.
As a matter of fact, Hirokazi Matsuda has an R&D / Machine Learning credit for Donkey Kong Bananza, and they've been working as a programmer at Nintendo since Galaxy (2007).

Re: Metacritic Shares Updated List Of "Every Metroid Game, Ranked"

WheresWaveRace

MP4 I think has suffered from ridiculous expectations. If they’d produced something very similar to 1 it would have been blasted for not innovating. So they’ve changed it up a little (and only a little) and now it’s being blasted for not sticking closer to its roots. But I don’t care, I’m only a few hours in but so far it’s easy an 9/10 for me.

Re: Digital Foundry Delivers A Tech Analysis Of Assassin's Creed Shadows On Switch 2

DennisLofgren

@wizzgamer As OrtadragoonX mentioned, that was during a completely different time where Moore's Law was still applicable.

The other aspect I wanted to note on your statement is that the NES was using cheap and outdated tech, which is why any of the handhelds at the time were able to output a result that was even comparable. The PS5 was cutting edge on release, using (at the time) to-be-released tech from AMD. The only reason why handhelds today can even approach it is because of how scalable modern games are. Not even a potential PS7 handheld is likely to be able to beat the PS5 in raw compute at the glacial pace we're going now.

Latest News