Tag: Talking Point - Page 6
Talking Point Do You Replay Games?
Live, die, repeat
There are some conversations that I had as a kid that, for whatever reason, I still remember clear as day. It's weird to remember discussions I had when I was little, because my brain transplants a very adult version of me into the memory, since that's my perception of myself, and then I'm just a large human talking to a very small...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (May 29th)
Well, what are you playing?
Another week has passed, with lots of intriguing news and a certain thing not appearing. You know what we mean, but let's focus on stuff that actually happened. SEGA hosted its first Sonic Central, which confirmed three games and various other cameo appearances to celebrate 30 years, more games arrived on Nintendo Switch...
Talking Point amiibo Have Always Been Physical DLC, Skyward Sword HD Is No Different
Buy it or don't, but it isn't surprising
This week Nintendo unveiled a particularly charming amiibo that'll tie in to The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD, and it's arguably one of the most handsome figures yet. It's also caused a bit of a storm on social media and in comments sections here on the site, with plenty of vitriol to go around. The...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (May 22nd)
What to play, what to play
What's that sound? Well, if you listen very closely you can just about hear the E3 hype train approaching in the far distance. Ready to jump aboard? In the past seven days Nintendo announced a bunch more retro titles for Nintendo Switch Online, as well as a lovely new Skyward Sword amiibo that's caused quite the sti
Talking Point When Was The Last Time A Game Cracked Your Top Five?
Also, what *is* your Top Five?
As Abraham Lincoln once said, "boy, do I love a good video game." But since his time, how many of those video games have actually been life-changingly good? How many video games can we truly describe as "The Shawshank Redemption of shmups" or "The Shrek 2 of JRPGs"? Well, I put that answer to you, dear readers. We all...
Talking Point If Nintendo Released Them, Would You Play Virtual Boy Games In 2021?
Virtually unheard of
Nintendo's Virtual Boy was an inarguably strange system, although mentioning its name can elicit markedly different responses. To many, the little tabletop non-HMD is little more than a punchline; a hilarious blink-and-you'll-miss-it example of Nintendo toying with an idea that was sabotaged from the off by hopelessly inadequate...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (May 15th)
Solving the mystery of what to play
Well, another week of Nintendo news and quirky weirdness has passed. We had even more stability for the Switch thanks to a firmware update, rumours of the Super Mario Odyssey team making a DK title, the internet making a meme out of an overprice
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (May 8th)
So many choices!
Well, it's been another week in the Nintendo Life. We had Star Wars Day and some nice discounts, all sorts of juicy gossip from the Epic Vs. Apple court case, the announcement of Game Builder Garage, and we learnt that
2018's burning question, now updated for 2021!
Update: In the light of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe selling an incredible 10.6 million copies in 2020 alone, we've decided to resurrect this piece, which was originally published in July of 2018. Back then, we asked if you wanted to see Nintendo support the game with more DLC, and almost three years on, we're...
Talking Point Nintendo's Apex Legends: Legacy 'Gameplay Overview' Trailer Is Questionable
Does it matter?
Many of us love the Nintendo Switch, and on a technical level the hardware is capable of producing some handsome, impressive gaming experiences. Yet, even with that in mind, there are examples of game ports that are passable at best, as the relevant engine / codebase / game style simply isn't a good fit for the hybrid system and its...
Talking Point Surely It's Time For Game Boy On Nintendo Switch Online?
Green screen
Whenever Nintendo Switch Online comes up as a topic, it's normally people demanding to know why Nintendo 64 and GameCube titles haven't arrived, or a laugh at another trailer reupload getting downvoted to oblivion. Despite Nintendo packing lots of retro games and some exclusive '99' titles with the service, and with options to get a...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (May 1st)
Go on, tell us...
It's been another intriguing week in the world of Nintendo, as we take a breath and prepare to relax over the weekend. We had a surprise update that great enhanced online play in Super Mario Party, Monster Hunter Rise updated to version 2.0, Animal Crossing
Talking Point Why Did Nintendo Give Up On Its 'Classic Edition' Concept So Soon?
Does it truly hate making money?
We don't exist in a bubble here at Nintendo Life, and there's many a time we've glanced over other sites and spotted a feature that makes us jealous we didn't think of writing it first. One such piece is this excellent RetroBeat feature by Mike Minotti over on VentureBeat, which asks one very reasonable question: Hey...
Talking Point Do You Miss Instruction Manuals?
They gave the boxes some heft, no?
For many of us more 'seasoned' gamers, it's sometimes tempting to look back with rose-tinted specs and think that video games were just 'better' in the past. You know, back in the olden times when you didn't need an account and an email address and an 8-character password (minimum one capital letter, one special...
Talking Point Wii Features We'd Love To See On Nintendo Switch
Apart from 'managing the fridge', that wasn't fun
The Nintendo Switch has been a hugely successful and profitable system — and we're evidently huge fans of it — so it might seem a tad churlish to highlight areas it could be better. Yet one aspect where the system is arguably lacking is in personality, especially when compared directly to its...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (April 24th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Another busy week in the world of video games has come to an end. In the past seven days we've seen LEGO Luigi leaked and then officially revealed, Super Nintendo World forced to close temporarily due to pandemic-related precautions after opening just a month ago, and
Talking Point Is It Worth Buying A Nintendo Wii U In 2021?
The answer might not be as obvious as you think...
Nintendo's doing pretty well at the moment, with its Switch console selling like hotcakes and games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons creating a whole new generation of fans. You might assume, then, that the sheer notion of investing your hard-earned money in the company's last-gen system – and...
Talking Point Is "Cheesing" A Legitimate Strategy?
It's a gruyere-ea
I find absolutely zero shame in telling you all here today that I am a cheeser. I cheese whenever possible. Tactics? Strategy? No thanks. I'd rather hide behind a pillar and take potshots for half an hour than do things the "right way". Hold up, dial it back. I know you like talking about food in all your pieces, Kate, but why are...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (April 16th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Another long week has come and gone; one that saw Nintendo announce a new indigo Switch Lite, rumours and a staunch denial that someone was looking to snap up Square Enix, and a rather good Nintendo Indie World Showcase that saw some releases drop on Switch eShop. Lo
Talking Point What Is A Video Game 'Developer' Exactly? Team NL Has A Friendly Chat
With a virtual cup of tea
To kick off this week in the weird world of social media, you may have seen many opinions shared online on the subject of what makes someone a 'developer' in the world of video games. As with almost any topic on the internet, debate got heated — whodathunkit? — and there was disagreement in some quarters as to whether...
Talking Point Is The New Switch Lite Blue, Or Purple?
Oh god no not the dress thing again
On a lovely, sunny Tuesday in Japan, Nintendo was all geared up to announce a new colour for their next Switch Lite model. "How the public will love it," they thought. "It's been ages since we did anything blue, not counting those Skyward Sword Joy-Cons." And lo, the internet did rage. "It's not blue," they said...
Talking Point Capcom, Please Make Monster Hunter Snap
Snap those Monster scraps
I’ve been playing a lot of Monster Hunter Rise since it launched. Like, an unhealthy amount. It’s easily my new favourite in the series, serving as a great jumping on point for new players and a place for veterans to hone their skills. But while I’ve enjoyed zipping to and fro with the new Wirebug, and riding around...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (April 10th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
It's the end of another busy week, one that's seen the release of Pac-Man 99, rumours of dock-based upgrades for a potential new Switch, confirmation of DLC for the really-rather-go
Talking Point A Digital-Only E3 Makes Sense, But In-Person Events Are The Goal
Games are born at events like these
When E3 revealed that it would run a digital event this year, it drew interest because of some notable participants – in particular, Nintendo and Xbox – but also plenty of weary sarcasm to match the buzz. E3 as an event arguably only has itself to blame if some feel jaded or downright indifferent to it, as it...
Talking Point Which Indie Game Should Be "99"ed Next?
Nintendo's Battle Royale games keep coming
Tetris 99. Pac-Man 99. Super Mario Bros. 35 99. Flake 99. Oh, no, sorry, that last one's a delicious summertime treat, not a video game. But you get the point: we're seeing a new trend emerge, even though it's based on an old new trend: the Battle Royale. The premise behind the 99 series of games is...
Talking Point An Extraordinary Year For Gaming Certainly Didn’t Come Easy
Developers, publishers and their games kept us connected
It’s not surprising that we’re at a point of reflection, as we’re now past a year of life being upended and drastically changed from how it was before. Our day-to-day routines aren’t likely to be ‘normal’ for some time yet, in truth, but a consistent part of our lives of anyone...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (April 3rd)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
We're now into April and despite the internet's best attempt to fool us, the best the pranksters did was to provoke a wry grin. In other news, Balan Wonderworld became the biggest bot bait of the year (so far), the Castlevania game so bad that Konami couldn't bring themselves to call it Castlevania was
Talking Point Is The N64 Pad Actually The Best Controller Ever?
Vote with the Pak
We recently had cause to sit down with our beloved Nintendo 64 and blast through the opening sections of a few 64-bit classics. It was all in the name of capturing comparison shots for an article that touched on the topic of original Super Mario 64 vs. the version included in Super Mario 3D All-Stars
Talking Point Nintendo 3DS Features That Should Really Be On Switch
Folders! Cover plates! StreetPass!
2021 is the 10th anniversary of the Nintendo 3DS, a lovely little system that helped carry Nintendo through a somewhat turbulent 2010s. Its companion home system, the Wii U, wasn’t doing so hot, but the 3DS spent much of its time hosting hit after hit. As a mixture of console and handheld, the Switch is a...
Talking Point Which Old Game Series Would You Like To See Revived?
Be careful what you wish for...
Picture this: You're on a beach. You're digging a big hole, because that's the best thing to do on a beach, maybe second only to eating an ice cream or finding a reaaaaaally smooth rock. But suddenly, your neon-pink plastic spade hits something hard. You claw it out of the wet, dark sand with your fingers, too...
Talking Point Should It Be Easier To Customise A Nintendo Switch?
You bought it, you break it
It's almost the dictionary definition of a first world problem, I know, but I've been having an awful time lately trying to make my Switch cute. Sure, there are a ton of Joy-Con colourways that I could drop at least 70 quid on, but the issue is that they aren't cute. Forgive me for being the kind of gal who wants lovely...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 27th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
It's the end of another busy week! We've crossed into a new season and territories across the globe are losing hours all over the place. In the last seven days we've found out Reggie is stepping down from GameStop's board of directors, we've seen old games continuing to sell for silly money, and — mo
Talking Point Are You A 'Complete-In-Box' Or 'Loose Cart' Retro Gamer?
'Cause you never quite know where the CIBs is at
Many many moons ago, I used to have a hard rule when it came to buying secondhand games: CIB, or on yer bike. You can tell it was years ago, because back then we called them 'secondhand', not 'preowned'. You see, I was the type of kid who would keep not only the pamphlets and warranty cards that came...
Talking Point Are There Too Many Harvest Moon-Likes On The Market?
Raking in the profit
This is my new game, "FrankenFarm" Ova Magica. Monster Harvest. Coral Island. Castaway Paradise. Kitaria Fables. Littlewood. No, those aren't the potential titles for my upcoming heavy metal album - those are just a few of the recently-announced, released, or funded farming games I can think of, and that's far fr
Talking Point One Year On, What's Still Missing From Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
O Brewster, where art thou?
After a long, tiring old year, Animal Crossing: New Horizons needs a shot. No, not the shot in the arm currently being rolled out across the planet with varying degrees of alacrity — we're talking about a caffeine shot from the series' purveyor of finest roasted bean juice, Brewster. The damn fine coffee of everyone's...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 20th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Another busy week draws to a close and the weekend beckons. Over the past seven days some little-known minnow in Nintendo's IP portfolio received an anniversary update, we got a glimpse of what a hypothetical raytraced Breath of the Wild could look like in 8K, and we're gearing up for yet
Talking Point The Problem With The X Button
You've crossed us for the last time
For a goodly amount of time now, Nintendo has been using the standard button layout that it pioneered on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System: A on the right, B at the bottom, X at the top, and Y on the left. Systems like the N64, GameCube, and most certainly the Wii dabbled in other layouts, but it's...
Talking Point Is Zelda An RPG, Or Not?
The eternal question
There's one question that has plagued mankind for what feels like an eternity. No, it's not the meaning of life. It's not even the question of why a buttered slice of bread always falls face down when you drop it. We are talking, of course, about that age-old quandary: Is The Legend of Zelda an RPG? Wikipedia, everyone's...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 13th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
With news of an upcoming Build-A-Bear Animal Crossing collection and all the MAR10 Day celebrations, it's been another busy week in the world of Nintendo. Let's relax with some chatter about our gaming plans, shall we? Members of the Nintendo Life team have done just that below, so feel free to give our...
Talking Point Here's Why You Shouldn't Be Worried About The Rumoured Switch Pro's 720p Screen
When "just enough" is "good enough"
The "Switch Pro" is on its way – at least, that's what a report from Bloomberg is telling us. The outlet has spoken to a source close to Nintendo's production line and has stated that an updated version of the console is coming soon, boasting a 7-inch, OLED panel with a 720p resolution. While it's also being r
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 6th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
With fresh "Switch Pro" rumours and confirmation that Nintendo has no intention of backing down from its decision to wipe Mario from existence at the end of the month, it's been quite the rollercoaster week. Thankfully, it's now time for us to have a breather and chat about our weekend gaming plans. Me
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 27th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Phew! With news of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl remakes – and a new open-world Pokémon game, too – it was a super busy end to the week. Thankfully, though, it's now time to relax and have a chat about our weekend plans. Members of the Nintendo Life team have done just that below, so feel free to give our...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 20th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
After what has been the busiest week in the Nintendo world for some time – feel free to catch up on everything that was announced during this week's Nintendo Direct here – it's finally time for us to catch a breather and chat about our weekend gaming plans. Members of the Nintendo Life team have done just...
Talking Point What We're Hoping To See In Today's Nintendo Direct
IT'S TIME
Well, well, well. We may have been disappointed when our 2020 Direct predictions failed to come true, but what's 530 days of waiting between friends? Besides, we've been really busy in the intervening months, haven't we? We don't need you, Nintendo. We've got, er, a global pandemic. We're just kidding, Ninty. We love you. Please come back...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 13th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
With a brand new Mario game, new titles to check out on Switch's NES and SNES apps, and a whole lot of scalper sneakiness going on at McDonald's, it's been another hectic week in the world of Nintendo. Thankfully, it's now time to relax and chat a
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 6th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
With yet another week behind us, this time bringing news that Nintendo is finally updating its multiplayer server system and a pretty bare-looking 2021 release schedule, it's time to sit back, relax, and chat about our weekend gaming plans. Members of the Nintendo Life team have done just that below, so f
Talking Point So, What Are The Chances We'll See A 'New' Nintendo Switch In 2021?
A Pro-mising year?
What's that? Did someone say 'Switch Pro'? Oooh, 'New Nintendo Switch', is it!? A more powerful variant with 4K resolution Deep Learning Super Sampling? 60 frames-per-second? Carbon fibre styling? Swiss Army Switch?... It wasn't long after the Switch launched back in 2017 that rumours of a hardware revision started circling. You...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 30th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Another busy old week has flown by, with Nintendo revealing a new Monster Hunter Switch console and an Animal Crossing amiibo card rerelease, and PlatinumGames telling us we should probably forget about Bayonetta 3 for a while
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 23rd)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
It wasn't the busiest of weeks this week, with our most popular headlines revolving around an accusation against Apex Legends and Starter Pokémon fan rankings, but we're still ever grateful for a chance to relax and chat about our weekend gaming plans. Members of the Nintendo Life team have done just that...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 16th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
Another week has whizzed on by, giving us lots of exciting news on Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury and New Pokémon Snap, as well as the announcement of a brand new Switch console edition and a
