87th

@lordzand That isn't what I was trying to say. I was talking about how PS5 upgrades work. If a PS4 game has a PS5 upgrade, you have to download a whole new game (even if the publisher has provided the upgrade for free, as they often do). The PS4 disc acts as a license key to access a digital PS5 game.
On Switch 2, it appears to use the majority of the game's data from the Switch 1 software package, with a smaller download for the Switch 2 upgrade. The Breath of the Wild upgrade is 3.6GB, on top of the Switch 1 game's 13.4GB. if you're playing it via a Switch 1 cart, the system only needs to download the 3.6GB upgrade instead of a full new Switch 2 game install, and it still uses the cart for most of the game's data.

@Giancarlothomaz 20GBs of Myles MacKenzie quips

I'm buying the Switch 1 cart and the upgrade pack, as it turned out a little cheaper for me, and I don't get all that disclaimer nonsense littering up the cover art. Strange that it can get a full Switch 2 game out of a Switch 1 cart and a 1.5GB install. PS4 and PS5 versions of the same game are generally treated like completely distinct software packages.

I expect if the circumstances were right, Nintendo would love to have a brand new Switch 2 Animal Crossing out in the console's first year, but they just couldn't do that without rushing out a disappointment. Offering a big New Horizons patch is a way for them to buy time.

Hyrule Warriors was a fun novelty, back when we were desperate for new Wii U games, but I found Age of Calamity a bit of a slog to get through, and I'm not the biggest Tears of the Kingdom fan either. Don't think there's much chance of me buying this at the high RRP.

@Kiz3000 The distinction is a little technical and annoying, but essentially, it's about how the Switch 2 runs the software. The Switch 2 Editions run the games as Switch 2 software with full access to its internal hardware, while Super Mario Galaxy runs as Switch 1 software, with a higher resolution cap. The distinctions are mainly seen from a programming perspective, but for the user, it's mainly represented by which console logo appears when you launch the game.

@Kiz3000 Because it's not native Switch 2 software. Even with the 4K resolution, it's running as a Switch 1 game through backwards compatibility.

I might have gone for these, if they'd made a cheap release, but they certainly haven't. The Joycon 2's improved gyro makes Galaxy much more playable in 3D All-Stars than it was on Switch 1, and I think it's reliable enough to finally make Galaxy 2 viable on the platform, but there's just no chance I'd spend that much on it. I'll stick with the Wii games and check out the Rosalina Storybook stuff on YouTube.

Maybe it's just a personal thing, but I'm kind of through with the novelty of playing high-end games on a handheld, and I'd rather play uncompromised versions of them on a platform like the PS5. In terms of third-party games, I'm much more interested in them producing Switch 2 editions of some of the more regrettable Switch ports. I don't like THPS3+4 nearly as much as THPS1+2, but in the state that the ports currently exist as, I'm much more inclined to play the newer game on Switch 2.

@VeganHerpes There are consumer protections preventing the sale of faulty goods

Dolphin > Cow, in my book, but I'm pretty excited about exploring the roster in general. They still haven't showed a single Koopaling, so I'm confident they have some unlockable surprises left to discover.

I'm not convinced they'd ever revive the Mario Paint series. Drawing with a mouse isn't as appealing now as it was in the early 90s, they've already made a more robust art series with Art Academy, and I think Nintendo sees Mario Maker as the modern successor to Mario Paint. If they want to put the original on NSO, or build upon the more intricate 64DD Mario Artist series, that's different, but I wouldn't expect to see Mario Paint 2 as a Switch 2 release.

@joeyflannel First that I've seen anyone claim it wasn't. Hard to find official confirmation for a July 11th Switch 2 release, but Nintendo UK's upload of the trailer at least claims "July".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fMFjWp9h_g

Personally, I don't feel like cutting back on new games comes down to principle or serious financial concerns. I just don't think they seem nearly as tempting when they're asking more for them. I've bought far more retro games in the last five years than anything else. Full price modern games can rarely compete with what can be found second-hand. Difficult if you don't already own the old systems, but not a problem for me.

I've been far pickier with PS5 purchases than I ever was on PS4. I'm still holding out on FFVII Rebirth to drop to a price I find acceptable. It'll be a shame if I feel I have to do the same for Switch 2. I'm a far easier mark for Nintendo franchises than recent Sony titles, and they're typically much less likely to drop in price.

Even if the wider home entertainment market is ditching physical media, I don't see them cornering much of the market with these. They're more expensive than digital distribution, and they won't appeal to those who are concerned about personal ownership. I hope these die off quick, but I don't see them having much success anyway.

I traded in my launch day Switch for an OLED model, and it was starting to show its age back then. Joycon had been sent in for repairs, and there were cracks around the vents. The OLED has held up remarkably well, by contrast. No signs of wear or drift. I think it's a much sturdier system. I'm not planning on getting rid of it, but I'm confident I'd get good value for it if I did.

@Galaxy2IsTheGOAT It only worked on one game on Wii U, but it can be used on every Switch game with Pro Controller support. There's even a few that make use of the full range of the analogue triggers, like Trials Rising and Super Mario Sunshine on 3D All-Stars.

@dystome They've actually added a small button in front of the L trigger to act as a ZL for menu navigation (similar to the one on the NSO N64 controller). The c-stick is analogue, and has been used for aiming and camera controls in games like TimeSplitters 2. You won't get gyro, NFC or the ability to click in the analogue sticks, but those aren't necessary for a lot of games.

@LastFootnote A lot of my friends had to get one elsewhere, because they're part of NSO Family Plans and they're only inviting the main accounts on each plan. Something to watch out for. It hasn't been so hard to secure one in the UK. Hopefully the same in the US.

@Dev-N I don't know how the system is in the US, but if it's like the UK, if you've been selected for the program, they'll have a Switch 2 reserved for you to pre-order. Unless you don't respond within 24 hours of your invitation, you don't have to worry about it selling out.

In a way, I get it. I don't particularly relish playing a lot of PS1 and PS2 games on PS3, and it's largely because of the mushy triggers. I think it's a worthwhile compromise for the functionality it brings, but there is an appeal to digital shoulder buttons, all the same.

@Tott I'd suspect they wanted to prevent US citizens from buying up all the Canadian stock, in the event they had to delay the launch or something. Paying the price for another country's bad policy, unfortunately.

@LXP8 It's included in the base NSO subscription, but non-subscribers can also access it until March next year

While I certainly wouldn't put money on there being a GameCube NSO service, the fact they threw Link's Awakening DX on the Game Boy service threw me for a loop. I don't know if they take it that seriously. People will still buy widescreen, HD versions of classics, even if they play identically.

I'll believe it when there's evidence. Seems to me like the result of a careless statement made by an Activision rep who wasn't so familiar with the original, and Kotaku jumping to conclusions. There's a shot in the trailer of a parade float halfpipe that only appeared in THPS4 once one of the goals was activated, and I don't know how that would be incorporated if it was using the old 2-minute system.
Either way, I'm more of a fan of the earlier games, so I'd be fine with a snappier THPS4 career mode.

I don't like THPS3&4 nearly as much as the first two games, but it would be neat if they could incorporate the platform-exclusive levels in a new release.

Really, it's an optics issue. Is it any worse than just making everything a little cheaper instead? I'm tired of supermarket loyalty cards that only apply a discount to those who agree to have their purchases linked to a customer profile.

I did enjoy Gold Points, though. I've picked up a lot of cheap games that I may have missed without them, and they've been a nice comfort when new releases have been just a little more expensive than I'd hoped.

Without knowing specific plans for the Switch 2, I do worry that Nintendo may be feeling the strain of Japan's current weakness in the global economy, and might be less generous overall in this coming generation. I hope they still have some positive surprises up their sleeve.

I remember hearing about Nintendo's hardware stress tests, where they would drop consoles 50 times from shoulder-height and see if they still worked, refining the design if they didn't. Glad to hear they take their packaging just as seriously.

For as controversial as the changes were, the 3DS version's the only one I've bothered sticking with through to the end. I've abandoned a good three attempts to make it through the original. I like OoT so much that I'm happy to put up with the lack of refinements in its N64 release, but I'm much more lukewarm on Majora's Mask.

That's something people tend to overlook when discussing the Vita's failure. It was designed specifically to compete with the 3DS at the same price point, and then, as a total shock, Nintendo implemented a huge price cut after a few months.

The whole thing is an experiment. I suspect they're paying close attention to how widely the information spreads, and adjusting future plans accordingly.

I completed it. Crashed once, when I was going between two areas, but it otherwise ran fine for me. Maybe it's an issue with certain settings? Seems to struggle a bit with the new soundtrack, particularly if you use the rewind feature a lot.

SNES/SFC for me. For my money, it's the most consistent sense of design in any Nintendo hardware. I think the PS1 is my favourite console overall, and the strong focus on satisfying system-wide aesthetic is largely owed to its roots as a Super Famicom project. Maybe not the most practical, but it's pretty fundamental in my idea of what a "games console" looks like.

While I'd certainly buy a Wonder 2, I wouldn't be too excited if they announced one. For me, Wonder wasn't as meaningfully distinct from NSMB as I would have liked, and certainly didn't explore the kind of creative risks the original Super Mario sequels or mainline 3D games would take. I think a lot of recent Nintendo titles have felt a bit too safe, and I really want them to get back to the creativity they demonstrated back at the Switch's launch.

The cow in Dragon Quest XI S raised the game from a 9 to a 10 for me. I run the risk of spoiling one of my favourite things in the game by discussing it in any detail, but there is a big cataclysmic JRPG event in the story. Shortly afterwards, you talk to a cow who's so saddened by this that she's now unable to produce milk, and you have to put on a parade to cheer her up.

I think it's good to have played one, especially if you intend to discuss it with any sense of authority, but unless you really take a strong interest in it, there's not much need to own one. The late 90s was a really experimental time for Nintendo, particularly before Pokémon's global launch, and it's interesting to see what else they put out while suffering the long development times of N64 games. Even if you're a fan of Virtual Boy games, you'd likely prefer to emulate them. I do have to say, the controller's really nice. I can see a much more direct lineage to the ergonomics of the GameCube controller from the Virtual Boy than the N64.

I've recently replaced my long-missing GameCube copy, actually. It's pretty unbeatable on a good CRT with a decent video cable. There are a few scenes that almost suggest they'd use softer lighting if they could, though. Something about Link waving goodbye to Koholint Island almost seems to invoke it.

@DanijoEX I'm such a fan of the things that I've got two wedged in the gap below my TV.

Nintendo are pretty good at keeping old ideas alive. Even if Breath of the Wild has been a massive turning point for the series, I don't think it means that Old Zelda is dead. I've been delighted with some of the stuff Tears of the Kingdom has brought back from earlier games.

Hard to think of many Nintendo characters I'm that big a fan of that they haven't already released, so there's a good chance I've bought my last one unless they go back and do ones for Stunt Race FX and Balloon Fight and stuff

I don't feel like I ever truly recovered from Fire Leo in Viewtiful Joe. I came back again and again for weeks, if not months, trying to beat him, and what's worse is you have to do a full Boss Rush first. It never happened. I ended up buying the PS2 version about a year later and played through the whole thing in "KIDS" mode without much trouble. I might still have the GameCube save, waiting for me, tauntingly.

I used to have this attitude when I was younger, but games are long. It's a marvel if I complete an old favourite twice in five years. It's rare that I'll get through a whole year without playing at least a little bit of Dig Dug, Tony Hawk's 2 and Kirby's Pinball Land though.

As a fan of several long-running series (Metal Gear, Zelda, Resident Evil, Yakuza, etc.) I generally encourage newcomers to start with whatever game looks the most appealing to them. It's no use telling someone they'll need to wade through hours of 8-bit Metroid before they're allowed to consider starting Dread. You're just going to put them off.

The main problem is when sequels make explicit reference to earlier plot points. They can confuse new players, and take away from the experience of seeing those events occur when coming back to earlier entries. Personally, I think that geeks tend to make too much of an issue of spoilers, and knowing who Luke Skywalker's father is doesn't mean someone has had Star Wars ruined for them. It's something to be mindful of, but I don't think it should put you off trying something you think you'll like.

There's a Switch port already, but I really think anyone with a Wii U ought to experience Captain Toad on it. The game design makes far more sense on there, and makes great use of the GamePad.

TimeSplitters 2 actually did receive a Japanese release, as "TimeSplitter: Jikuu no Shinryakusha", with its own distinctive box art, but only on PS2.
http://psxdatacenter.com/psx2/images2/covers/SLPS-25207/SLPS-25207-F-ALL.html

I think the obvious answer to me is Ocarina of Time, which has become the core of the series' timeline, and introduces lore and franchise-spanning concepts in a very appealing way.

I think the more honest answer is I don't think it really matters. As long as there's some aspect that grabs you and pushes you to complete it, you can start with whatever game you like. Your chances of landing on a dud are pretty slim with Zelda.

@GameAndLuke You can. It's just a tight fit.

@HammerGalladeBro Labo didn't meet sales expectations. A large portion of units shipped to stores were sold at a substantial discount.

I think I'd played a little of Metroid 2 on someone's Game Boy first, but it didn't leave much of an impression on me. Eventually I was spurned on buy a GameCube by being such a big fan of Resident Evil and Metal Gear Solid. The best deals were either on a Wind Waker bundle (which didn't look appealing to me at that age) or a Metroid Prime one. I loved Prime and later went on to delve into the earlier games via the Wii Virtual Console. Super is my favourite now.

If it's any concern, I later bought Wind Waker too and loved it just as much, and I'm a massive Zelda fan these days.