Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

@Magician
Even though I didn't enjoy Odyssey as much as Galaxy, I'd probably still put it in my top 5 because it's still a massive, dynamic, genre-defining game. BotW would have to be in there, obviously. I would put Fire Emblem in; to me, like I said, it's my modern FF Tactics. It's a huge game, eclectic in its design, challenging at the higher difficulties, and immersive. Luigi's Mansion is... really tough for me to put into the upmost echelon. I've gained a much deeper appreciation of it after replaying it recently, but I'm just not sure it's "robust" enough to be top 5 for an entire console, if that makes any sense. Same logic I would apply to Origami King - I loved that game dearly, but I don't know if it's incredible enough to be top 5.

I have two spots left in my top 5, and spoilers, those are probably reserved for BotW2 and the new Metroid (if indeed it launches on Switch lol).

@Magician I think I'd have Dragon Quest IX in my top 30-40 , Super Mario Odyssey probably in my top 100 and the other three well outside top 100. That may sounds pretty critical but I actually think they're all pretty good games. There are just so many great Switch games now that anything I don't rate at least 9/10 is already outside my top 70-odd.

@JaxonH @BenAV

Somebody start a "Top 100" thread.

I think it would be interesting to compare and contrast.

Not even sure I have 100 games yet 🤣. Maybe I do and just forgot. I'd have to go and count my physical and digital collection. I know it's close to that though.

@Ralizah @Qwertyninty Yep. The charm and the magic is literally off the charts in Galaxy. It's certainly taken a different approach compared to its two predecessors, but Galaxy is almost everything I want in a game. The presentation is NEARLY flawless. Every object in the game has a satisfying amount of weight and cartoonism to them (basically they just look... "right"). The Star Bits bounce on the ground with gorgeous glitter flaking off them. The water looks amazing. Art style is out of this world gorgeous, from the textures to the text boxes. The game runs at an unrelenting 60 FPS. And all of that is before I talk about the HD, which takes everything to a thousand. Honestly, Galaxy HD could pass as a next-gen game and I wouldn't even debate that. Oh, and I haven't even talked about the music and gameplay (and the storyline, of course).

I was doubtful that Galaxy could be as magical and delightful as it was when I played it 10 years ago. Oh, how wrong I was. How. Wrong. I. Was. When I beat the game, I'm planning to write an essay on sorts on why Galaxy is probably the best game ever made lol

@JaxonH I'm hoping to get FE:3H this Christmas, as well as DQXI S. (Kinda wanna finish the DQ demo first though, lol) I've played a couple Fire Emblem games on the 3DS (Awakening and Echoes) and I liked them, so I shouldn't have trouble getting into Three Houses. I agree that it's great having SMG on Switch - I never even played the game in handheld mode though, since I don't wanna touch the screen too much.

Three Houses, IMO, is a great JRPG, but only an average tactical RPG. The maps are boring, the difficulty balancing is all over the place, and I'm not a fan of the way they watered down the weapon triangle. I also feel like the school aspect is poorly integrated into the second half of the game.

With that said, it's a beautiful, massive game that has what is easily my favorite cast in the series. I really love how it expanded the scope of what a Fire Emblem game could be. And the music is just superb.

Super happy with it overall, even with its flaws.

@JaxonH They really should have allowed gyro in handheld mode. It works fine in other undocked games; why not Mario Galaxy? With that said, I like that they went to the trouble of integrating full touch screen support, and I've found certain levels just work better with the touchscreen.

I prefer the gyro most of the time, though. IMO, it works out better than the pointer controls in the original, which I wasn't expecting.

@veeflames Man, the framerate. I'm so glad Nintendo standardized 60fps after Galaxy for 3D Mario games. Everything just feels so much snappier. And I do NOT miss those mean framerate dips in Sunshine.

I always had a feeling this game would translate well with a simple resolution boost. It was one of the few Wii games that still looked attractive on my HDTV.

It's not flawless, but, frankly, if I have to stop and reflect on a game to realize what its flaws are, then they're hardly anything too damning.

Be sure to post your essay on NL.

@Qwertyninty Enjoying DOOM Eternal, I take it? Sounds like a really solid port. I'd probably jump on it if I hadn't just pumped 40 hours into DOOM 2016, lol.

@Ralizah
Yea, the second half is definitely wonky in how the school "works." I don't mind the weapon triangle streamlining, though. I'm in the minority with this opinion probably, but I enjoy tactical RPGs that are a bit more streamlined and macro. Some games are just way too intense with the hidden spreadsheets.

I still think FF Tactics is the absolute golden example of how to strike the right balance with the combat and related systems. Imagining that game with a robust exploration and relationship system like Three Houses is what I hope we see some day.

@Ralizah it’s so much better than 2016 in EVERY way. Panic button did their best work porting and optimizing for the switch.

@Qwertyninty
I've been playing lots of Doom Eternal on Switch (bring my Lite in its magnetic flip case to work every day) and Ive almost beaten the game. One final hellpriest to find. It's really excellent. Favorite FPS of all time, easily.

Also, it's the first Switch game with gyro aiming that doesn't bug out on Switch Lite. I can suspend it during play, leave it in sleep mode for days on end, pick it back up and the gyro works perfectly. Yet I'll close it, open up Sniper Elite 4 and the gyro is sticking again, requiring a reboot.

This makes me think it's a software bug the developers can actually avoid. Clearly they did something to Doom Eternal that ensures this Switch Lite gyro bug doesn't occur.

This. It’s great. They put their best minds on that game.

It kind of feels like a game from an alternate history where the UK won the console wars and took ZX Spectrum style game design into the 32 but generation.

One of very few games to genuinely make me laugh multiple times (on purpose).

@veeflames I couldn’t say it any better.

@JaxonH yeah eternal is amazing and I am floored. Didn’t know I would enjoy it so much. I played through and finished 2016 but didn’t like it as much.

MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE

Eh hem...

Bravely Default II Final Demo. Whatever you’re doing (scrambling eggs, surfing the net, changing a tire, etc) please proceed to put these activities on pause for 5 minutes, navigate to the eShop, and download. Once finished, please proceed with playing the demo.

You’ll thank me later. For real.

The story and characters in this demo immediately grabbed my attention. Much more so than the first demo. And the voice acting is actually really, really good! This is exactly the kind of game I was hoping it would be. Give it a go, and let me know if you’re as in love as I am.

@JaxonH You’re not my real dad! You can’t tell me what to do. Now if you excuse me, I’m going to go to the Switch eShop, download the demo for Bravely Default II and play it. See how you like that!!

I DLd it but haven't fired it up. I prob will tn since I'll take a night off FFX

@FragRed
Darned rebellious step kids these days.

Fine. Play your game. But don’t come crying when you get sick from staying up all night with your little Playbox Nintendo thingy!

@JaxonH OMG It’s not a Playbox! It’s a Nintendo Playboy don’t you know anything! God I hate you! I wish my real dad were here!

It took a second to realize y’all were kidding.

The new canon: JaxonH is FragRed's stepdad.