Andy_Witmyer

Nintendo's resources are clearly being largely directed at Switch 2 development. This is a good thing.

I actually went through a partial program myself, and it honestly saved my life. It was in January of 2016 when I was hospitalized after the 3rd nearly fatal, non-accidental overdose in as many years. I was released but only on the condition that I went immediately into partial. After I was done, I was sober and have been ever since. I would also credit videogames as helping me a great deal during this time, especially the Xenoblade series, of all things. I also feel you on cozy games that have become depressing as a result of them being very associated with someone who is no longer a part of your life in the same way as they used to be (Animal Crossing NH, I'm looking at you!)

Glad we're both doing better now. Great write up
: D

@xlm That's a pretty weird thing to get so hung up on that you'd stop reading. I mean, why should it really matter if Keza's some kind of animal expert or not, seeing as how the interview is literally about video game? Oh well - your loss, I guess.

This was a surprisingly interesting and insightful interview. I was expecting a person employed by a non-gaming, mainstream news outlet to be full, by the numbers, and poseur fan of Nintendo, but she REALLY knew her stuff. You can tell that Nintendo is a company that she'd genuinely interested in, and whose games she genuinely loves - which is always nice to see on a Ninteno-centric gaming website. And you asked some reat questions, to boot. Well done, NL!

This is still literally one of my favorite Wii games. I actually bought it on a whim, used, at a GameStop not even knowing that it was considered to be a somewhat rare title with a limited release in NA.

I was - and am still - blown away by the art. It is fiercely and unapologetically Japanese, such that it feels at once both realistic and otherworldly. Large portions of this game feel like a living, breathing painting. Just as excellent is the music, which is also very traditionally Japanese sounding. The decidedly dark-yet-enchanting-and-magical vibe of the melody choices still make my hair stand on end - even if the graphics sucked, the music alone would be worth the price of admission.

Needless to say, I would love, love, love an HD remaster of Muramasa: The Demon Blade on Switch. And while I wouldn't call the game underrated - many people love the game, including critics - but it is far more obscure than it deserves to be.

@AccessibleDaydream Not sure about the age thing, but it would appear as though I managed to take pole position in the eternal battle of first...not that it even matters 🤣

A partnership lasting 40 years? Not gonna lie, that's actually pretty impressive. Most publishing companies from the 80s are either long gone or are doing something else entirely, so that alone is a rather impressive feat. Its restructuring is a bit concerning, but I doubt it'll ever go bankrupt, so long as they keep their fealty with Nintendo intact.

The Runey System in Rune Factory Frontier. I love the game so much, but the way it's implemented kills the enjoyment by middle-late game - if you like crop farming anyway. I usually just front load the growing and maximize output in year 1 and then I won't bother much with growing after that. Moving Runeys around town is just so tedious, I don't even know what they were thinking.

Well, it's gotta be an improvement over Netflix's live action Witcher series, which is among the boringest, most cinematically amateurish s--t I've ever seen.

@Tempestryke Right? I loved the artwork in those manuals. Dig the avatar, obviously! ; D

Honestly, I think Nintendo should have insisted that the movie be animated - and not CGI, but hand-drawn in a Windwaker-style, or at least in the style of the drawings in the old NES/SNES Zelda instruction manuals. To take it into a live action direction seems almost like the antithesis of Nintendo's philosophy and gives me flashbacks of the god-awful 1993 Mario Bros Movie.

I'm not sold on the director. Nintendo a huge company and Zelda is no ordinary IP. Why Nintendo would put such a project into the hands of an unproven director with movies that have never scored above a 6 in review score aggregates is insane. Surely, there was some big name, well-received director in Hollywood with pedigree who would have salivate at the opportunity to direct something as potentially huge as a live action Zelda move.

Hopefully Nintendo - and Wes Ball - proves me wrong. Until then, I'll be watching closely to see how his next film, "Planet of the Apes" performs upon release. His body of work is small, but maybe he'll turn a corner with this one. I don't have high hopes tho tbh.

Regarding my earlier Switch 2 Hybrid/Non-Hybrid SKU Theory - after further reflection, I think it's actually probably more likely that Nintendo would make Switch 2's launch version Hybrid-only (to limit consumer confusion), and then, maybe in a year or two, release a more powerful-but-not-portable ("docked-only") SKU as a "budget/entry level" alternative.

While it perhaps seems ludicrous to sell a more powerful Switch 2 for less, if it doesn't need its own screen, them that, alone, would greatly reduce production costs substantially, and making it digital-only would only decrease them even further - savings which Nintendo could, in theory, pass on to the consumer.

Of course, I say "in theory" bc well, this IS Nintendo after all - a company not exactly known for its abundant generosity to consumers - but, who knows, maybe this time, things will be different 😂

My current theory is that there's going to be two major SKUs...possibly even at launch: a Switch 2 Hybrid (ie portable and dockable), and a Switch 2 Home Console (ie not portable, always docked). Aside from these major physical / practical differences, I think each model would probably also differ in performance capabilities.

For instance, by no longer having to invest precious system resources to account a handheld mode, the Switch 2 (Home Console) could, by contrast, dedicate 100% of its resources towards maximizing what it can get out of DLSS. Being housed would also allow it to have things like a larger heat sink and fan, thus increasing performance even further.

And, of course, the Switch 2 (Hybrid)'s selling point would be that it's functionally identical to what made Switch 1 a success: the option to play it anywhere. However, as also was the case for Switch 1, this portability would come at a cost of decreasing the ceiling of its graphical limits, with lower frame rates and resolution (especially in handheld).

One other major difference is that the (Hybrid) version would have a cartridge port and would be fully BC, while the (Home Console) model would be digital-only, and thus, lack full BC. With way, both SKUs would be compatible with all Switch 2 titles (nothing like New 3DS exclusives)

If I'm right about my hunch about this, then I'd expect asjustable, built-in PC-esque graphical options to be a standard feature. While Nintendo would likely make these settings automated by default (ie letting the console "choose" what it thinks is "most optimal"), the option to manually adjust settings might also be available, and would allow a person to more precisely adjust things like FPS, resolution, filters to fit with that individual's preference - which might be useful, especially on the portable version.

If this is indeed the strategy, then I think the (Hybrid) would actually the "premium" version - at least by cost, if not by performance. The lack of needing its own screen and going digital only would bring down production costs by a lot...which could translate into the (Home Console) version selling for $50-$75 less than the Hybrid.

What do you guys think? (That is, if anyone even reads comments of this length 😅)

I thought this was an April Fools Day article...and then I remembered that it's November. Sony's description of the game - and even it's working title - absolutely read like one 🤣

@JohnnyC That's the exact opposite of my experience. No one in my area, ever, even once, called it a "Snes" (one word) — it was always S-N-E-S.

(Honestly, a lot of us back in the day would also just call it "The Super".)

I didn't know Snes (one word) was a thing until literally like maybe 2020.🤣

Has anyone done a comparison of the text/translation? I actually really liked Ted Woolsey's take on the localization back on the original SNES title - I hope they haven't largely re-written it.

I never knew Switch HAD a Twitch App. That's mildly disappointing that they're shutting down soon, I may have gotten some use out of it. It's crazy that they didn't even promote the app for Switch...at all. Or if they did, I clearly missed it.

@westman98 Theoretically, it could be Switch 2 related if it's an add on or something on a different model that they hadn't finalized yet. Probably not, but it would be cool. I'd love a second screen, in one form or another.

God, please yes. I love the Switch, but as a huge fan of the DS and 3DS, I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss dual screen gaming.

@FunGuy As a guy whose avatar is literally q picture of himself playing an original song on his guitar, I feel that. It's tough these days being a legitimate musician with creative integrity and who puts in a lot of effort for little to no gain.

Horrible song and borderline insulting / disrespectful towards the source material.

@rex_rex XC2 is also my favorite. It has the most heart, all of the characters are likeable and useful, and the Blades system is (imo) leagues better than classes of 3 and the basics of 1. XC2 feels smaller than the 1 and 3, in terms of its scope and scale of the world, but sometimes less is more, as it gave a very intimate window into the game's various ensemble of protagonists and surprisingly multi-dimensional antagonists, villains, and anti-villains. In fact, the quality and depth of its antagonists is one of the things that set the game apart from its predecessor and successor. That the antagonists are so 1 dimensional and literally cookie cutter is one of my chief disappointments with 3 (which, btw, I still loved quite a bit!). Rex gets so s**t on all the time, but I love his idealism and authenticity - in an era where most main protagonists are jaded, morally gray anti-heroes, I found Rex to be a breath of fresh air - and still do!

Anyway, regarding SMWonder - the review reads like a 10, so the 9 feels very odd, especially when the chief complaints are pretty subjective and could apply to other game's that this site had awarded 10s for in the past. It almost feels like NL is trying to shake the perception that they overrate first party Nintendo games and thought that if anyone criticizes them for that, they can point to the Wonder review to refute it haha.

395 replies? Is that a record for this site, on a single article? (eg one that isn't a list that's updated across a span of months or years)

Crazy engagement on the topic tells you just how important this particular aspect is for many potential Nintendo customers!

With all of that having been said, I actually find myself largely in agreement with Gavin: I hope that it's BC, but I won't lose any sleep over it if it's not. I was super hyped about Wii being compatible with GC, and 3DS with DS, but in reality, I rarely used that functionality and mostly still just played those games on their original consoles - but even that was rare.

A lot of my old games on those above mentioned systems are simply collecting dust and have been, even when their compatible successors were in their prime.

For what it's worth, I think NG Switch will feature BC and would be surprised if it didn't - launching a new system with the Switch's vast library already available would be of huge benefit to Nintendo - but I guess we'll see!

It's good to see that so many others have still rightly heralded MKII (SNES) as the best game in the series. I would even go so far as to say that the SNES version is not only the best entry on a Nintendo console - it's the best of any console!

(Wow, my childhood 90s Nintendo fanboyism just re-emerged there for a minute 😂)

Thanks for the heads up - I finally just successfully ordered one!

@Joeynator3000 What happened? What reasons?I must be living under a rock haha

I love the game so far! F-Zero was one of the first 4 titles I had when I was given the SNES for Christmas in 1991. The original will probably always be among my favorite games for the console, and F-Zero 99 does it justice. It took my only complaint about the SNES version - the lack of multiplier - and basically fixed by 99 orders of magnitude. What's not to love?

> Switch_Pro: "The CDi games had no potential at all."
> Switch_Pro, an hour and a half later: "Name a game that didn't have potential."

You should at least try not to undercut your own arguments, if you're going to make one. For what it's worth, I agree with your second one: that all games have potential. This would also include the CDi games. The platform wasn't ideal for gaming, but the ideas that were put forward for the Zelda titles in particular had some really interesting and memorable elements that were clearly unable to be explored in a way that the developers would have wanted, had they been given things like a proper development time, a decent budget, or a console that was tailored to making anything other than educational games. They might look hilarious and dopey now, but to me, it seems pretty clear to me that lot of love was put into these games, even despite the many things working against the success of these games. The handpainted backgrounds for the Zelda CDi games in particular are actually rather well done imho and the infamous cinematic animations are hilariously bad, but are also somehow very charming.

To be honest, I love that there's someone out there who's recognized the legitimate wasted POTENTIAL of these games and has now, in effect, given them the safe space in which their actual raw potential can actually be seen and understood. I wish this could be done with other potentially promising or interesting, but now long dead IPs or other unfinished gaming projects.

That they even reached out to one of the original Zelda and Link VAs and a background painter is just so based, I feel like I HAVE to support this endeavor. That's like WAY above and beyond I think what anyone else would have done or expected for a project of this nature. SQUADALLAH

@KateGray I was actually hoping that you'd be the one to review RF3 Special. It just has that "KateGray Should Definitely Review This Game In Particular" kinda feel to it, ya know what I mean? 🤣

The boring NPCs make this a no go for me. As a lifelong fan of Rune Factory - a series that has, imho, some of the most funny, likable and cleverly written characters of any game of its ilk, each with an amount of unique, evolving dialogue text to last throughout most of an entire playthrough, with even the non-marriageable characters usually having notable and memorable friendships events - I've been spoiled with having having awesome NPCs.

In truth, I've found that building up relationships with the people who live around me to be one of the most integral aspects of any given Rune Factory title - which, incidentally, is why I'm also keen on Stardew Valley.

Honestly, with its awful NPCs, grindy elements, apparent glitches, simplistic combat and needlessly complex gameplay systems, the review for this game read more like a 6 or a 7. I guess its charming aesthetic won it an extra point or two?

I haven't played the game in a few years, but I might just have to dust it off. I'm afraid to, though, because Civ games are so addictive haha

@Sequel They probably haven't logged onto NL in about 7 years haha.

Can't wait for Sea of Stars!

Holy clickbait, NL

And anyone who thinks Nintendo is the one pushing for a lack of BC is insane. Why wouldn't they want to bolster their new system's Day 1 library with their vast catalog of popular Switch 1st Party titles?

I know that some people will point to the Switch not being backwards compatible with Wii U, but that was an entirely different situation for a number of reasons, with the three biggest ones being:

1) The Switch's cartridge slot is a radically different from the Wii U's default use of optical discs.

2) The Switch's control scheme doesn't support Wii U's uniquely asymmetrical gameplay.

3) The Wii U flopped, hard, and thus, a lot of that system's titles never sold many copies to begin with.

All other post-N64 system's and handhelds that had a matching medium featured day 1 BC (ie Wii had BC with GC, Wii U with Wii, the DS had BC with GBA, 3DS with DS). The only reason why Switch didn't have BC with 3DS was the Switch's lack of a second screen.

Since Switch 2 will suffer none of these issues, history would strongly suggest that BC will be a major part of Nintendo's next gen strategy.

These 3rd Parties who don't want backwards compatibility on Switch 2 aren't afraid of legacy titles overshadowing new releases - they're just afraid that they can't do a 4k "remaster" of their existing Switch titles, since most will be hesitant to double dip on a title released 3 to 6 years ago just for some added fidelity.

Greed is at the root of their complaint. I'd love to know which 3rd Parties said it, although I have a few suspects.

That's an awfully small sample size.

Oh, I almost forgot about this game! The demo was awesome! I can't wait to get the full game

Sakurai's a bit of a diva...but who can blame him? I think most people as successful as this guy would be prone to suffering from narcissism / Main Character Syndrome.

Darn. Not gonna lie, I was hoping for the long awaited Return of Wart, but... I guess Bowser will do.

"And possibly, the wing for your parents."

Lmao - these days, the parents are lucky if they can get the kids moved out of the house before retirement.

I've never played a Famicom...but I can still crisply remember that autumn day I went to a friend's house after school in 1st grade because he wanted to show me the "Nintendo" his family got. Being a kid who played only Atari 2600 games to that point, I expected something similar, but Super Mario Bros 1 was an absolute revelation. I can't even begin to describe how mindblowing that game was, especially for a kid in that generation.

I would, from that moment onward, be a lifelong fan of Nintendo - and it's all thanks to the amazing NES/Famicom. (God I feel so old writing that, though!)

As a fan and creator of YouTube Poop back in its heyday, this actually looks amazing.

I loved SMW and thought it was audio-visually revolutionary at the time of its release (and still impresses me to thus day), but I grew up with the NES Mario games and had spent countless hours into each...and I just thought the All-Stars treatment of those games was extremely generic, to say the least. Maybe because it's 4 games-in-one, but All Stars looks very aesthetically lazy to me.

All in all, the original versions All have a simple but bold look that is entirely missing from the All Stars release. Same goes for the music, which trades in boldness for mush. I remember feeling deeply disappointed in the game on its release...and I still feel that way 30 years later.

*Waldo
Unless it's a British spelling change.