Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

I mean, there's no right or wrong choices in terms of what you enjoy, and having a hobby is all about doing what you enjoy. It's why I feel no shame in choosing to play the fanservicey rail shooter or obscure indie platformer instead of the billion-dollar AAA game people can't shut up about most of the time.

If nothing else, at least you don't have to pay to get access to cloud saves on the Xbone.

@JaxonH The thing is, though, that the vast majority of major multiplats play very well on PS4/Pro/PC. And you're missing out on a wide swath of non-Western AAA multiplats in the process (if it's the only other system that you own, I mean). So I REALLY don't understand the appeal unless Western AAA games are all that you play.

If the important thing is having a system that can easily play the biggest games out there, then the PS4 or PS4 Pro seem like the obvious purchases to me. Especially now that Sony is developing exclusives that rival Nintendo's in terms of critical acclaim and sales.

Also, I'm pretty sure 95% of the games that comes out are indies at this point. You just don't hear as much about them because they don't have advertising budgets that go up into the millions.

@Ralizah
True that.

I learned firsthand the importance of cloud saves back on the Vita. My 64gb card failed within the first year after I bought it, which was around year 3 (not only were they expensive, they had a high failure rate). I thought I lost all my saved data for every game on the system. Years worth of saves.

Then I realized I had PS+ from a year my bro gifted me for Christmas, and it had auto backed up my saves to the cloud. I never even knew this was a feature and yet it saved my butt. You could manually back up the saves but you had to do it one by one, and who has time for that.

That’s why I subbed to Nintendo online without hesitation, even if begrudgingly. Because I knew that if that day came where I lost all my saved on my Switch, it might put me off enough to just stop gaming. So I said screw it, $20/yr insurance policy, handled in the background, is well worth it.

@JaxonH What bugs me is the first-party Nintendo games that don't allow you to backup the data. That's simply unacceptable.

To be honest, I've ripped on it a number of times in favor of Tetris Effect, but I'm enjoying Tetris 99 enough to stay subbed just to have access to that. Although the partial cloud save support and growing library of NES games certainly helps.

@Ralizah
Responding to the edit...

Those games do indeed play well on the other systems. But there’s a pretty big difference between 1440p on PS4 Pro and native 4K 60fps on Xbox One X. Game after game, the difference is significant. Red Dead Redemtion 2 is a great example of the difference between PS4 Pro and X1X. And with PC, for starters my PC is not more powerful than my X1X, and I’m willing to wager most gamers don’t have a PC more powerful than an X1X. Enthusiasts will, but a lot of people have less powerful PCs as well. That aside, convenience as a console replacement is the big detractor from PC, not the games (though I wager price also factors into it for others, as pound for pound it is more expensive).

Not sure how many non-Western AAA games exist, but Xbox is getting a lot of them. It got Kingdom Hearts 3. Final Fantasy XV. Left Alive. DMCV. RE2. MH World. Etc etc. it gets a lot more than just western. It’s actually shocking how many games Xbox gets. It’s starting to miss a few of the Japanese games but most of those, Switch gets, so no biggie.

I’m not saying Xbox is worth having instead of Switch, but as a first choice in addition to Switch. Which means you’ve already got access to those Japanese games, and with hybrid functionality.

As for indies, I treat the masses of indies as nonexistent shovelware. They’re just not relevant to me and I imagine most gamers. I’m not talking about ALL indies, but the vast majority. The good ones are definitely relevant and games I care about. But the number of good, quality indies is far lower.

@JaxonH I'll admit that a huge aspect of my disinterest in the Xbone X (and, probably, the PS5) is a broader disinterest in 4K gaming and content. I simply have no desire to upgrade my hardware for higher-resolution media when 1080p games and movies already look perfectly good to me. Actually, as long as a game looks decent, I don't care about the visual quality at all, which is why I pretty much always dial down visuals effects in my PC games to boost the framerate (a feature I wish was present in more console games).

Xbox (somehow, since they never seem to sell well) keeps getting games from a handful of big Japanese companies, but it's missing a lot of the AA and smaller releases that you'll find all over PS4 and PC.

Switch's Japanese library is still pretty limited, unfortunately. Especially from the bigger companies. Although that gradually seems to be changing, now that everyone is clamoring to get their games on the system. It'll never be the go-to place for AAA games, thanks to the system's inherent power restrictions, but that hasn't really hurt the appeal of the system. As I've argued before, and the sales of the system seem to reflect this, there didn't need to be YET ANOTHER powerful home console on the market.

Most indies are probably mediocre, but the same is likely true of the majority of AAA Western multiplats. The majority of pretty much everything is unexceptional, as a rule: it's what allows the true gems to shine all the brighter.

I’ve always used an Xbox product to complement (or skip, in the case of the WiiU) Nintendo’s offering since the OG box. Being able to use the same account each console iteration has been a nice thing for me, as well as the constant improvements and additions to the Live service. If Nintendo could learn just one thing from that brand, I would want it to be how online console services have been handled by Microsoft.

@Ralizah
I’m OK with games on Switch so I’m definitely no graphics elitist, but if I’m going to play a game on a power console with a 4KTV, I want it to be the full package. Plus frame rates are better on X1X too.

Most AAA multiplats are unremarkable, but most Indies are pixel flash game shovelware, a huuuge difference. The latest Far Cry or Call of Duty isn’t exactly something that gets me excited, but at least those games I can play and enjoy. But I’d rather huff paint than play the masses of indie shovelware you see on the Switch eShop. Those don’t even register as video games to me. I put them somewhere between browser games and iPhone F2P trash.

One thing I haven’t mentioned that is actually really nice is the Xbox One X’s backward compatibility. Playing Final Fantasy XIII Trilogy in 4K, looks as good as a modern game. Or Knights of the Old Republic. Or Trials HD. So awesome. I really like how one console offers Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One games combined, and if they maintain their backward/forward compatibility policy then I’ll be happy to buy the next system. But if I lose all these games I bought then I’m not buying the next one. Same goes for PS. But I do think Xbox is going to turn into the “PC” of the console market, where every system going forward will be BC with X1 onward. Basically like mid gen refreshes, only new games will be locked to the new system.

I also really like Halo, and Ori, and Forza Horizon. And Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon being available via BC, which are two of the best JRPG’s ever created by the one and only Final Fantasy creator Sakaguchi, and are not actually available on PC (wish they were- I’d love to have portably on the GPD Win 2). And while some of those are on PC, it doesn’t detract from the fact that they are on Xbox and are all great games you get to play on the system. But I’d honestly almost bought a 360 for Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon. Those are some of those rare games that are worth buying hardware for. If for nothing else, I recommend picking up a cheap X1S just for them. The Sakaguchi trifecta was Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon and The Last Story. At least you can emulate The Last Story on Dolphin.

@subpopz
I didn’t mean to come off attacking you.

@subpopz I wouldn't say it's really a love affair as much as it is MS kissing Ninty's bum. We've yet to see anything Nintendo appear on a Microsoft system or storefront; the favours seem to be a one-way thing for now.

As someone who will never get an Xbox any time soon, the two cool things about Xbox are Game Pass (although I think this'll come to PC soon) and the backwards compatibility. The BC is basically like PC future proofing or modern emulation, where you can run the game at higher resolutions and framerates. Bayonetta 1, for example, can run at 60fps perfectly on the Xbox One X when the Wii U and Switch can dip time to time, and Red Dead Redemption 1 can run at 4K instead of just 720p.

To see stuff like that finally on consoles is no doubt amazing and bodes very well for anyone else that adopts that version of backwards compatibility. Nintendo and Sony should adopt that for their next systems.

@Octane
In lieu of recent events, and provided Ori and Master Chief Collection follow through (which seems all but confirmed at this point- Jeauxvideo leaked Cuphead a while ago, and also said Ori is coming and “one of the big three- Halo, Forza and Gears”, on top of King Zell saying Cuphead wasn’t the game in question, on top of Ori THQ listing and GamePass leaks), I would be ok with a Nintendo game coming to Xbox One in return.

Zelda Twilight Princess HD, or perhaps Super Mario Galaxy. Dual release on Switch and X1.

Give and take, right?

I just realized, PLEASE Nintendo, let the Golf Story devs do something with Mario!

Microsoft is saying that an Xbox Live SDK isn't coming to Switch as of yet but there will be more XBL enabled titles coming to Switch in addition to Cuphead over the next year.

https://www.resetera.com/threads/microsoft-gdc-panel-no-plans...

Ori and the Blind Forest and Super Lucky's Tale seem like locks for later this year at this point. Ori and the Will of the Wisps and the new Battletoads seem like strong candidates for either this year or sometime in the first half of next year.

Wouldn't surprise me if the Switch ports of Hellblade and Pillars of Eternity II get updated with XBL support for Achievements.

Not entirely sure, but I'm gonna guess and say Halo MCC will come to Switch. Would fit what King Zell has been saying

Nintendo gets more games.

Microsoft gets more users for Xbox Live. That way they can say via XCloud to developers, we aren't starting from zero with a userbase. Imagine if the Xbox One became a streaming system for future generations of titles. No more starting from scratch with install bases, but no locking out people who want to play locally by offering a box under the TV anyway, and ways to play the games on other platforms.

So I wonder if Achievements will make a distinction between an XBL and Switch title for Cuphead. Sort of like Black Flag 360 achievements were completely independent of the Black Flag XB1 title.
Either way, increasing my gamer score while playing on my Switch is intriguing. Im almost at 190k. I’m okay with this 😂

Ok, Switch fans. Time to gather round and hear old man Jax ramble about the newest addition to the Jaxon’s Stamp of Approval ® Gem List

Chocobo’s Dungeon

I can’t be-lieve this game series originated on PSone. Man was I missing out back then! This particular entry was made for the Nintendo Wii, and that is the one Remastered for the Switch/PS4, but it is just incredible! When I think of a video game, I think of an off-line single player game with a strong gameplay focus and some lighthearted story to move things along. A game that looks sharp and runs well, etc etc. The antithesis of the modern “live service“ where single player is tacked on and still requires Internet, or at least stutters every 30 seconds from the auto connect going on behind the scenes.

Chocobo’s Dungeon is a rare gem of the genre that really takes me aback. It feels like a classical masterpiece just like the main line games in the series. It has that charm, that humor, that allure. It’s so well done and it’s such a great fit on the system. It looks fantastic, especially undocked, and really excites me just seeing it on the handheld screen. It takes me back to 2012 when the Vita just released. Where each and every game you played impressed you because you’d never seen anything like it on a handheld before. And even though Switch has been out for two years and we’ve seen more graphically impressive games on it than this, there’s just something about it that really makes you appreciate having it on a portable system. As I said, it’s just a great fit.

I never thought I would get into this genre, but I knew if there was any hope at all it would lie with this game. I’m a firm believer that every genre that exists can be enjoyed by anyone, it just takes playing the right game. I don’t know if I’ll ever enjoy another Dungeon crawler, but I know I love this one a lot. If you’re even somewhat a fan of Final Fantasy, or just an adventurous gamer who loves great games and likes trying new things, give Chocobo’s Dungeon a try. It’s so good, and yet nobody is talking about it. The same thing that happened with Trials Rising, which is also one of those rare games that comes around once or twice a generation.

It’s like a food you would pass up in the grocery store because there’s thousands of different foods there and nothing about them jumps out at you as being special. But your friend tells you “ you have to try these wantons, they’re amazing!” So you pick up a box, and you can’t believe your taste buds they are so freaking good.

Just beat Blaster Master Zero 2! Holy **** guys, that was such a great game. It's a sequel done nearly perfectly. The biggest issues I had with Zero 1 was that the level design can get a bit dull and the combat was far, far too easy (or far, far too frustrating on Destroyer Mode). Zero 2 completely fixes that with really interesting level design that takes more inspiration from Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (my favorite Castlevania game) than normal Metroid/Metroidvania games being interconnected. Nothing wrong with that, but that approach to level design helps out Blaster Master since it was never really about an interconnected world like Super Metroid or Hollow Knight, but self-contained levels that just happened to connect to each other, just like... Mega Man Zero. That's pretty funny.

But regardless, everything is better. It still runs into the problem of the final beam on foot being too good, but they mitigate that by reducing its power if you keep on spamming it. It's like the machine gun in Zero 1, except applied to that weapon too.

Unlike Zero 1 where I just spammed that weapon to kingdom come and/or barely used any special weapons on the tank, I found myself using EVERYTHING, especially since the nerf to the final beam really forces you to use the rest of your arsenal on foot.

Plus, the game introduces a sick new counter maneuver. This allows you to counter all sorts of attacks and enemies with a huge powerful shot that can also sometimes stun them while you finish them off. (It also negates the weakened power from the final beams) There's three types of counters to unlock throughout the game, and Jesus it's so much fun to use them and destroy everything.

Only downsides:

• No Destroyer Mode or NG+ like in Zero 1. Although personally Destroyer Mode was not fun at all, and NG+ can get pretty boring too.
• No co-op multiplayer like in Zero 1. Might be a deal-breaker for you if you liked the multiplayer in Zero 1.
• There's a true ending and it's not too horrible to go through, but it still feels tedious to do compared to the rest of the game. Unlike Zero 1 though (which also had a true ending and was also a bit tedious), I believe you'll only miss out on one boss if you don't go for the ending, but it's a really good boss so you should probably still go for it.
• No extra characters like the DLC released in Zero 1... yet, anyway. Let's wait and see.

It's only $10 guys. Get this game if you like Metroidvanias or 2D action-adventures in general. As a sequel to Zero 1, this was nearly everything I can ask for. And there's a hint for a sequel after the end, so... Zero 3 by 2021??? Gimmie.

@JaxonH Mystery Dungeon has always been a game series that interested me ever since Pokemon Mystery Dungeon. I'll have to check that out soon though, although I'm not a terribly big fan of Final Fantasy like I am with Pokemon. So I might try Pokemon Mystery Dungeon before I play Chocobo Mystery Dungeon to ease myself in.

@JaxonH Funny that you mention Blue Dragon, as I actually just picked up a copy today, CiB, for around $5 at a Gamestop. Already own Lost Odyssey, though I've yet to get around to it. Ditto with The Last Story.

Tales of Vesperia was also pretty cheap, but I didn't end up nabbing that one, as I don't like pointlessly expanding my backlog, and it's similarly cheap online.

We actually have an Xbox 360 set up in our game room. It has been a semi-constant presence in our lives since last gen, although it rarely gets used these days. Still, I think it's worth owning for some of the legitimately good exclusives it had (people don't talk about it much, but Viva Pinata is one of my favorite Rare games).

What's really driving me to play all my multiplats on PC is the amazing diversity of control configurations that you have via Steam. Simply put, I can very easily configure any game with shooting mechanics to use gyro aiming. You know yourself how much of a game-changer this is when compared to pure twin-stick aiming, and there's no limit to what games I can use it with. That, in and of itself, is worth the little extra bit of work it takes to properly setup a game for play on Steam.

I also have a variety of control pads that all work with different games. I ripped my PS2 games, have them organized in an emulation frontend, and can control them with one of my DualShock 4 controllers. When I load up the Genesis or Saturn emulation, I can use the M30 to achieve as close as you can get to an authentically retro experience without actually having the system in front of you. Ditto with my SNES pad and SNES games on the system. I'm pretty sure it won't take much effort to get my Gamecube controller working with Dolphin, either.

Switch also seems to support a ton of different controllers, which is great.

@Ralizah
That's actually the most compelling reason I've heard in some time- motion in games. Problem is I never had the gall to try manually mapping gyro to a controller. Steam Controller is cool as heck but not best for FPS imo. Xbox One controller is my fave but doesnt have motion. Suppose I could just use Switch Pro.

If theres community configs for it that's awesome but many times theres not, and I dont recall ever seeing them with motion barring for Steam controller mappings. Not even sure if you can do mappings to a Switch pro. It doesnt know gyro is in there. I always thought the mappings were for Xbox One or Steam controllers only

But ya, that's a seriously legit benefit.

FTFY