Comments 216

Re: Konami Is Celebrating Castlevania's 35th With An NFT Auction

AlexHarford

@Korgon Some people buy NFTs just hoping to make money.

But do you like collecting games? I do, so I see the appeal from that sense, although I'm not interested in NFTs because they seem like a scam in their current form. I would much prefer to have a print of artwork that I can display on my wall. I'm the same with games - I buy physical versions where possible, as do we ever really own anything that's digital? Definitely not if it's in the cloud. If my Switch bricks when there's no longer e-shop support, I've lost all my digital games.

Re: Random: Pandemic Shooter's eShop Page Makes You Wonder If Anyone At Nintendo Checks These Things

AlexHarford

It's satire. In this case, poking fun at ridiculous conspiracy theories - conspiracy theories that CAUSE HARM.

I think satire can be important for raising awareness of certain issues, but especially in the Internet age, it also brings more publicity (and therefore followers) to the people who are being satirised. I don't think we should censor everything though, so I'm on the side of this game (based on the information provided in the article) being fine.

Re: The 'Panda' GameCube Controller Kickstarter Has Been Cancelled

AlexHarford

@GannonBanned That thought crossed my mind, that much more money can be made doing this off Kickstarter, and sometimes I wish I wasn't so cynical. So many Kickstarters are delivered later than their original delivery date, so that doesn't seem a valid excuse, and I'm sure most backers would have been understanding of delays given the Kickstarter's wild success.

I always prefer to give the benefit of the doubt though, and the truth if people have been misled often comes out eventually.

Re: Square Enix President Knows You Hate NFTs Because You "Play To Have Fun"

AlexHarford

@MegaVel91 I'm also an artist (although it feels weird saying it) and have read widely about NFTs to see if it was something I should be involved in. I decided it wasn't.

Here's one article about the original intention behind NFTs:
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/04/nfts-werent-supposed-end-like/618488/

In an ideal world, they could be a good thing. But we live in the world we live in.

Re: GoldenEye 007 Is Getting A Digital Release On Xbox

AlexHarford

@nocdaes I had no idea that Perfect Dark remaster existed, and now I want to play it. I thought the Rare Replay version was just the original, and now I'm suddenly tempted to buy an Xbox and Rare Replay!

You put up a good argument for GoldenEye, but even the music from Perfect Dark sticks with me more. The likes of Chicago Stealth are amongst my favourite gaming tracks. My main reason for playing Perfect Dark would also be the multiplayer, which I think is stronger than GoldenEye. I haven't played the single-player of either game for 20 years, so I might be as frustrated as you on aspects of that, but I remember loving the whole package at the time, whereas I have some negative single-player memories of GoldenEye (Temple level).

Re: GoldenEye 007 Is Getting A Digital Release On Xbox

AlexHarford

GoldenEye was brilliant, but Perfect Dark is so much better in every way. The Bond license and the fact GoldenEye was first and in so many people's memories are the selling points for GoldenEye.

I'd love a remastered N64 Perfect Dark but am not too fussed about GoldenEye.

Hopefully the new Perfect Dark will be good, though I can't see myself buying the latest Xbox console and don't have a gaming PC either.

Re: Best Nintendo Switch Family Games

AlexHarford

@gopher1369 I agree this is a disappointing list given the high quality I've got used to from Nintendo Life lists. I clicked expecting to find something new.

To add to @sketchturner's list:

Death Squared
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
(those two are great for local co-op - Death Squared may be a bit advanced depending on age)

Rocket League
BOXBOY! + BOXGIRL!
Snipperclips

There are others I'll have forgotten to mention.

Re: Best Nintendo Switch Family Games

AlexHarford

@sketchturner Hidden in Plain Sight is brilliant for anyone new to gaming. I introduced it to a friend who had only played a couple of mobile games and they were a bit anxious about jumping up to consoles. They loved it!

@Tao Smash Bros has handicap settings, though I would guess most people don't bother with them.

Re: Feature: Best Nintendo Switch Ports Of 2021

AlexHarford

@chapu2006 The article says who it's by in the opening. I prefer Nintendo Life's opinion over lists based on user rating averages, as the latter tends to be the most popular games whereas curated lists generally include more hidden gems.

Not that this ports list includes many hidden gems, but games are usually ported because they've been successful.

Re: Feature: Best Nintendo Switch Ports Of 2021

AlexHarford

I'm a bit of a hypocrite because I turn my nose up at ports like Skyward Sword HD (games I've played and especially when they're relatively recent), but one of the things that makes the Switch great is the wide range of ports of games that haven't been on Nintendo consoles in the past. That's one reason that with the Switch, I don't feel I ever 'need' a new console again.

I was delighted to get Subnautica. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 feels like something I wouldn't get as much out of as I did with the original games, especially given I don't get much opportunity to play multiplayer these days. The port I would buy in a heartbeat though is Perfect Dark, N64 version.

Re: Best Nintendo Switch Camera Games - Photo Modes And Photography In Switch Games

AlexHarford

Photography is a big hobby of mine. I missed getting outside for it during the first lockdown until I discovered the photo mode in Mario Odyssey (which I somehow didn't realise existed until New Donk City). I had great fun composing shots and New Donk City seemed the best level to discover the feature on.

I haven't figured out the 'selfie mode' on Breath of the Wild so will have to look that up. It's another game I've enjoyed composing screenshots on, though my photographer's eye would prefer that Link isn't always in the centre of the shot (rule of thirds etc).

Wrestling Empire is the first game I used the video feature because the game is so bonkers and fun.

I'm sometimes put off when photography is part of a game but rewards come for getting the subject dead centre. But the games in this list look fun - I'll check out TOEM for sure. Forgotten City would have been another if it wasn't cloud-only.

Re: Best Cheap Nintendo Switch Games - The Biggest Discounts On Switch eShop (Europe)

AlexHarford

Given my 'to play' list is so long, I don't know if I'll get around to playing Saints Row IV, but I can't resist buying it at that price.

I feel like I should buy Oxenfree too. I have recently upgraded by SD card from 128GB to 512GB...

Full Metal Furies (from the makers of Rogue Legacy) is only £4.49 (70% off). Rated 9/10 by Nintendo Life but sadly review bombed by a few: https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/full_metal_furies

Re: Poll: So, How Would You Rate Nintendo's 2021?

AlexHarford

A disappointing Mario Golf (especially out of the box). Too many remasters (though I didn't own a Wii U so bought Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury).

On the flipside, it was good to see WarioWare and Pokémon Snap return, and Metroid Dread is outstanding from what I've played so far.

There are only so many games I can play, and I won't get to play them all, so 8/10

Re: Feature: Psychologists Talk Animal Crossing: New Horizons 2.0 And Keeping Fun Ahead Of FOMO

AlexHarford

Kudos for writing about mental health. More of this kind of thing! 👍

I haven't played Animal Crossing, but I get the aspects discussed and think this article is worth reading for ANY gamer.

Something as simple sounding as reminding people that games are about enjoyment - that's important. I've always thought of escapism as a good thing. That's why we have hobbies, right? I'm annoyed by games that waste my time through bad design. I think it's CrossCode whose marketing mentioned it won't waste your time? I haven't played it yet - it's next when I eventually finish BotW.

I'm not a big gamer but feel like I should play BotW at least every week or so, so I don't lose my skills. Although I'm still very much enjoying it, I wish in many ways it was shorter so I could play more different games. Is that FOMO? I'm not sure - I know I can't play everything, but I feel like I'm missing out more on games than I do other mediums like reading, film and TV.

When I don't play BotW for a while, it's frustrating to lose that 'competence,' but I think I get 'relatedness' from the game's setting (I haven't seen one of my horses or even a captured memory for a while now). And of course 'autonomy' comes from it being an open world game.

I also relate to your work overlapping with what you enjoy in your personal life, as that happens in my line of work too.

And BotW did provide me with solace during the pandemic. I love hiking (especially along coastlines), so guess where I enjoyed exploring most on BotW? 😊

Re: Feature: 14 Wii Games That Deserve Switch Ports

AlexHarford

I don't get the love for remasters. What's the point if it's a game you've already played and there's so much else out there? Imagine the new ideas we could be missing out on because of how safe it generally is to release a remaster or 'remaster' instead.

There are a lot of great games in this list though.

Re: Nintendo Switch Now Has Over 6700 Third-Party Games

AlexHarford

I barely use the e-shop on the console to search for or even buy games. Nintendo Life, Deku Deals, Google, YouTube (e.g. Low Budget Gamer) are all much easier sources - then I buy the game while on my PC or phone instead of through the Switch.

I've discovered some great sale bargains too - perhaps games that get classed as shovelware. I've especially found party/couch games to be great sale bargains, even if only for short plays e.g. Hidden in Plain Sight, Akuto: Showdown, Death Squared, Heave Ho, Conduct Together. Full Metal Furies is a hidden gem that sadly got review bombed.

For as long as the Switch lasts, I don't need another console ever. I imagine I'll have unopened physical games and unplayed downloaded games in 10-20 years, so I hope they will all still work when I get around to trying them! I think my only reason to upgrade from the Switch will be to play the latest Zelda and maybe Mario. I haven't completed BotW and still have Crosscode, Xenoblade Chronicles, Elder Scrolls, Witcher 3, Assassin's Creed and more to try. And that's only in the Action/RPG genre.

Third-party support on the Switch is great, and yes - folders to organise those games would be very useful! How have Nintendo not implemented something that seems so simple?

Re: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Has Now Outsold Mario Kart Wii

AlexHarford

@westman98 There must be something about the ink on the Wii U/Switch version that's worse than the others - maybe it blocks the vision more than the older games and lasts longer? I know it's supposed to block the vision, but I hate it because I struggle to see what's happening in the first place.

Re: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Has Now Outsold Mario Kart Wii

AlexHarford

The ink weapon ruins this version of Mario Kart for me and prevents it from being the best MK version. I struggle to see what's going on as it is, so making that even more difficult frustrates me like hell.

I'm also not a fan of the increases in kart setups to choose from. Mario Kart is at its best when simple.

Re: Feature: Horizon Chase Turbo's 'Senna Forever' Expansion Is A Fitting Tribute To A Racing Legend

AlexHarford

Nigel Mansell was my childhood hero, so I had a similar love/hate relationship with Senna back then. This expansion brings back memories of Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge (the great grandfather of Horizon Chase Turbo) with driver names like Nijel Mainsail and Ayrton Sendup, and I'm hoping they've done similar with names on the expansion.

I didn't know about the Donnington F1 collection. What a shame it's no more - I would have loved to have visited.

Re: Anniversary: Goodness Me, Is The GameCube Really 20 Years Old?

AlexHarford

I wasn't a big fan of Luigi's Mansion or the Gamecube Mario games. I've since changed my mind on Luigi's Mansion at least, thanks to the 3DS version.

It was a time when I stopped playing games alone as much, so most of my highlights were multiplayer. Mario Smash Football (which I still love and got loads of play on the Wii), Super Monkey Ball, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Timesplitters 2 (though we mostly continued playing Perfect Dark instead), F-Zero GX...

I tried Rogue Leader for the first time recently, and there are still other games I have like Metroid Prime, Beyond Good and Evil, and especially Eternal Darkness that I mean to play...

I loved Pikmin 2 but didn't play it much.

Re: Best Nintendo 64 Games

AlexHarford

I don't get why Perfect Dark doesn't beat Goldeneye for anyone who's played both.

Mario 64 behind Banjo Kazooie?

Excitebike 64 is the big miss from this list for me, though the quality on the list just shows what a great (and underrated by many) console the N64 was/is.

I had a surprising thought recently that it was the best console of its era for sports games:
ISS
Wave Race
1080
NBA Courtside
Excitebike
No Mercy
F1 World Grand Prix II
Not forgetting the Mario sports games

Then there are excellent quirky games that didn't make the list like Space Station Silicon Valley and Wetrix.

@Stubborn_Monkey I agree with almost everything you say, though I think Perfect Dark was Rare's greatest achievement. I also didn't really like any of Rare's 3D platformers on the N64 for some reason. Blast Corps, Jet Force Gemini and Diddy Kong Racing were great.