@B3RTAY Clearly, it wasn't a real match - just a scenario mode custom programmed for making a reveal teaser. There was also no UI of any kind. Nintendo most likely decided to save the meat of the game for April, and took nearly everything else out until then.
I think the game looks great and is a clear step up from MK8 - these upgrades will be much more visible once we see the game running full screen and and now artificially squished to fit a fake Switch 2 screen, as was the case in the trailer. A more dynamic and colorful level choice will also help, but for reasons I won't get into here, I think Nintendo purposefully opted for something as lowkey as possible - I think all of it will make more sense later.
In any case, why does a MK9 need to look like a massive next gen upgrade anyway? Many or even most PS5 games look only slightly better than PS4, if that. The industry has long since reached the point of diminishing returns in graphics. It is what it is.
They clearly made it look blank on the reveal trailer so that they can "reveal" what it actually is in April...at which point, it will likely be a C button lol
It had the feel of a reveal that was kind of rushed and released ahead of schedule, because Nintendo had already lost so much of the narrative given the rampant leaks - probably bc that's precisely what happened lol.
That said, I'm super stoked to see it, even if it was essentially bare bones - it's also good to see what was real and what was fake, regarding the leaks, and it's nice to be excited about features without an asterisk of "is this really going to be what it looks like??"
The full presentation on April is going to be the one to watch. Such a long wait, but I can do it. 8/10
@AussieMcBucket It would obviously be a secondary function that not every game or game mode would be able to take advantage of, but going from handheld to table top tablet mode wouldn't be too difficult, so long as there's space. If not, then perhaps touch screen, or traditional controls would just have to suffice in lieu of the joycon mouse when in handheld mode.
The biggest, most interesting rumor right now, imo, is that the Joycons can double as a mouse, with an optical movement sensor on the rail, R being left click, ZR being right click, the 4 additional clickers on the side using the face buttons, and the bumpers having some kind of optical scrolling tech. This would be a huge deal and would instantly make the Switch 2 a great home for a lot of classic PC games that have struggled to exist wothout a mouse control. The second USB C on the Switch itself could accomodate a keyboard, optionally, as well. Also, and perhaps most importantly, we might finally get Mario Paint on NSO.
@Chunkboi79 Id like to play Eldin Ring but don't have it, and I doubt I'm the only one, so forgive me if I think your argument is a bit overly black and white. Honestly, I'd be genuinely surprised if the series doesn't land on Switch 2 in one form or another.
Veey interesting rumor - but, why would Nintendo of America be in charge of hiring for this endeavor though, as opposed to, you know, the HQ of Nintendo of Japan?
I unironically think there should probably be a spoiler warning for this article. I and millions of others may know the plot of FF7, but there are still some out there who don't.
@Dimjimmer Not necessarily. He could not use his face and could use AI dubs for narration - ot at least for videos that have been recorded in advance / not fully live streamed. There would also be voice filter options when going live. Dude's screwed tho, no matter what he does, tho - which is good. Arrogant pos.
This is quite likely an advertising strategy disguised as a "top secret game testers" program. Nintendo probably not only anticipates detaios to leak, but also actively wants them to. This would hardly be the first time a big tech company pursued this type of publicity stunt.
The Saudi government will probably use their ever growing stateholder bully pulpit to demand that the Muslim prayer / chant that was originally part of (but then subsequently removed from) Zelda: Ocarina of Time's "Fire Temple" theme be reinstated in all future re-releases of the game (J/k) (Or am I...? 🤣)
Good. Imagine actually purchasing a Switch game with your own money while other entitled thieves play that same game for free and not feeling at least some degree of contempt or resentment towards the thieves, or those than facilitate them.
And how much are games that were $60 in the 90s today? We're talking about $90-$100+ in today's money for SNES and Genesis console games. Swoosh's point was that back then, there were likely many parents who would be very unwilling to spend $100 in today's money on a Gameboy game that could be beaten in 10-20 hours, and that that logical conclusion was the norm up until the Switch ended Nintendo's decades long two-tier pricing arrangement for games on their handhelds vs games on their consoles.
I mean,I definitely, on some level, miss being able to get a smaller but still top shelf game for $35-45 on 3DS, and even less still on the original DS. Switch has given Nintendo license to charge full price on games that they would have previously marked down as "handheld", with Zelda: EoW being just the latest example. It is what it is, though, I suppose.
Not gonna lie - I found the reveal to Civ VII to be extremely underwhelming. The way it was presented, it just seemed like Civ VI with a different coat of paint - nothing more, nothing less - but this interview has gotten me pretty dang excited for the game! I love the idea of Ages being like a trilogy of books, building over top of ruins from previous Ages, and events and even leaders that seem to dynamically change depending on where you are in the Ages. It just sounds really fun and satisfying. Breaking the game up into smaller, more defined but also more easily digestible sections will be a big plus. That so much love and attention that appears to be given to the Switch console is just the cherry on top.
As someone who's been trying to learn how to read Japanese - slowly, over the last year, just for fun - this game seems perfect for helping me to learn more, faster - and with lots of imagery to help make the connections better to boot. I'm also a sucker for taking in-game photos and games that work strongly around that mechanic. Definitely looks like a purchase for me.
@RubyCarbuncle Thanks for letting everyone here on a Nintendo-oriented Review site what you be getting on your Steam Deck 🙄 Aren't there any Steam Deck sites you can get reviews of games from?
I loved this game back on the 3DS. Very quirky, what with finding the Denpa Men floating around in augemnted reality, with the types generated based on local wifi as you were walking around. It's sad that that's not a thing this time around due to hardware, surely, but I'll have to give the new game a go.
Slightly off topic, but it would be interesting is someone could somehow scale down the Switch screen to something much smaller - like 3DS XL size, with a clamshell case, and maybe just small enough to be a legitimate pocket portable. Yhe Switch is so large, it's not quite as ideal for just carrying around at leisure. As such, I still play my 3DS when I'm on the bus or at appointments. It's just easier. Not sure if Switch can be miniaturized so much, but it would be kind of cool, honestly.
I mean, it's interesting when you try to step back and be 100% objective about the name we're used to: "Donkey Kong". Donkey Kong?! That's such a crazy name! If the game bombed and became a curiosity in retro gaming history, we'd all be scratching our head about why anyone would use the word "Donkey" for the first name a giant gorilla 🤣 I mean, it Donkey Kong does roll off the tongue in a way that I like, but the name would be still objectively weird if that wasn't the only name we'd ever known. Not as weird as "Kong Dong", perhaps, but still kind of odd!
I hope Nintendo hires extra security. Most businesses are moving away from San Fran because it's basically the shoplifting capital of the world. I wish them luck - they may need it.
I grew up with the SNES and N64, where some games had frame rates as low as 15 FPS, with many games often having a sub-30 FPS performance in general - and yet I loved (and still love) those games all the same. It never really bothered me I suppose. As such, it tends to comes across as a bit strange to me whenever I see people having fits over games that run at a steady 30 FPS. I mean, if TTYD was a fast-paced, action-oriented game, I guess I could perhaps understand the complaints a bit more...but, this is Paper Mario. Oh well, to each their own, I guess!
In any case, I can't wait to play it for the first time later this week : D
I suspect that a followup movie was planned from day one and that some not insignificant amount of work on the sequel was actually completed during the production of the first movie. Most of the character model assets are all in place, same with the voice actors and other personal, and there isn't COVID to worry about. I think this is why we're seeing such a quick turnaround on the release date for the sequel.
To me, it almost seems like Nintendo is full-on expecting legitimate leaks regarding the Switch 2 hardware and/or software in the very near future and Furukawa is just trying to get ahead of it by at least noting that it exists. I can't see why other reason why he would note anything about it at all knowing that the Switch has one last Christmas season ahead of it.
@MisanthropyAGoGo While I agree, in part, with a lot of your sentiments, Steam Deck isn't really that big of a concern - I feel like they're largely chasing two different markets. Switch isn't powerful, but it's also vastly less expensive than even a starter level Steam Deck. The price differential may not matter to everyone, but it does matter to a lot of people, especially now with many people grappling with the cost of inflation. I imagine the Switch successor will probably be a robust upgrade from the OG Switch, but anyone who's under the impression that it's going to stand toe to toe with $700 Steam Deck is, or that the unlocked console will run anything even close to PS4 Pro level graphics will likely be disappointed. I wouldn't be surprised, though, if the dock for Switch 2 does a lot more than the current iteration, and we might see some big graphical upgrades when played on a TV - but portable mode will probably not look nearly as good. I there will be a very noticeable difference in fidelity between docked and undocked, t'll be interesting to see if Nintendo will make it easier for developers - or even consumers - to custom and/or dynamically scale what can be done in both ecosystems.
My concern is that a lazy dev might spec their game solely for the less powerful undocked mode instead of making docked mode the primary and allowing it to be scaled down in undocked. Even better will be if Nintendo has built in optimization, so if someone wants better frame rates but lower resolution, or vice versa, or if they want a less taxing battery mode, we can tweak those things as we wish. Probably a tall order, but we'll see haha.
"This is Furukawa, President of Nintendo" is instantly memeworthy. It's so lowkey and casual, yet at the same time, also quite formal. I love it - especially when reading it in the voice of Eric Cartman.
@Blue_Dread I don't know anyone who bought a Switch specifically for Metroid Prime 4. Anecdotal, for sure - but only in equal measure to your hyperbole.
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.
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.
Comments 880
Re: Rune Factory: Guardians Of Azuma Announces Sakuna: Of Rice And Ruin DLC
Oh my god, I missed all of this with all of the Switch 2 news and rumors. I love Rune Factory, so this is super exciting!
Re: Feature: Everything You Missed In The Switch 2 Mario Kart Reveal - Characters, Features, Easter Eggs
@B3RTAY Clearly, it wasn't a real match - just a scenario mode custom programmed for making a reveal teaser. There was also no UI of any kind. Nintendo most likely decided to save the meat of the game for April, and took nearly everything else out until then.
Re: Feature: Everything You Missed In The Switch 2 Mario Kart Reveal - Characters, Features, Easter Eggs
I think the game looks great and is a clear step up from MK8 - these upgrades will be much more visible once we see the game running full screen and and now artificially squished to fit a fake Switch 2 screen, as was the case in the trailer. A more dynamic and colorful level choice will also help, but for reasons I won't get into here, I think Nintendo purposefully opted for something as lowkey as possible - I think all of it will make more sense later.
In any case, why does a MK9 need to look like a massive next gen upgrade anyway? Many or even most PS5 games look only slightly better than PS4, if that. The industry has long since reached the point of diminishing returns in graphics. It is what it is.
Re: Nintendo Switch 2 Reveal Trailer Gives First Official Look At The New Console
All I can say is... finally.
Re: Switch 2's Rumoured 'C' Button Isn't Actually A 'C' Button
They clearly made it look blank on the reveal trailer so that they can "reveal" what it actually is in April...at which point, it will likely be a C button lol
Re: Poll: So, What Did You Think Of The Switch 2 Reveal?
It had the feel of a reveal that was kind of rushed and released ahead of schedule, because Nintendo had already lost so much of the narrative given the rampant leaks - probably bc that's precisely what happened lol.
That said, I'm super stoked to see it, even if it was essentially bare bones - it's also good to see what was real and what was fake, regarding the leaks, and it's nice to be excited about features without an asterisk of "is this really going to be what it looks like??"
The full presentation on April is going to be the one to watch. Such a long wait, but I can do it. 8/10
Re: Rumour: New 'Switch 2' Photos Show Off A Very Legit-Looking Joy-Con
@AussieMcBucket It would obviously be a secondary function that not every game or game mode would be able to take advantage of, but going from handheld to table top tablet mode wouldn't be too difficult, so long as there's space. If not, then perhaps touch screen, or traditional controls would just have to suffice in lieu of the joycon mouse when in handheld mode.
Re: Rumour: New 'Switch 2' Photos Show Off A Very Legit-Looking Joy-Con
The biggest, most interesting rumor right now, imo, is that the Joycons can double as a mouse, with an optical movement sensor on the rail, R being left click, ZR being right click, the 4 additional clickers on the side using the face buttons, and the bumpers having some kind of optical scrolling tech. This would be a huge deal and would instantly make the Switch 2 a great home for a lot of classic PC games that have struggled to exist wothout a mouse control. The second USB C on the Switch itself could accomodate a keyboard, optionally, as well. Also, and perhaps most importantly, we might finally get Mario Paint on NSO.
Re: Is Elden Ring: Nightreign Coming To Switch 2? FromSoftware Knows Nothing About The Console, Apparently
@Chunkboi79 Id like to play Eldin Ring but don't have it, and I doubt I'm the only one, so forgive me if I think your argument is a bit overly black and white. Honestly, I'd be genuinely surprised if the series doesn't land on Switch 2 in one form or another.
Re: Rumour: 'Switch 2' May Support Samsung's Upcoming MicroSD Cards For Higher Transfer Speeds
Veey interesting rumor - but, why would Nintendo of America be in charge of hiring for this endeavor though, as opposed to, you know, the HQ of Nintendo of Japan?
Re: Opinion: Nintendo Needs To Let Us Block The Crap On Switch 2's eShop
People who insist upon using Bluesky are funny
Re: Final Fantasy VII Switch Update Removes "Restrictions For Sharing Features"
I unironically think there should probably be a spoiler warning for this article. I and millions of others may know the plot of FF7, but there are still some out there who don't.
Re: Nintendo Suing Streamer For Allegedly Broadcasting "Pirated" Switch Games Ahead Of Official Release
@Dimjimmer Not necessarily. He could not use his face and could use AI dubs for narration - ot at least for videos that have been recorded in advance / not fully live streamed. There would also be voice filter options when going live. Dude's screwed tho, no matter what he does, tho - which is good. Arrogant pos.
Re: Random: Kit And Krysta Pull Back The Curtain On Nintendo's "Controversial" Switch Teaser Photo
I thought Mario depicted with nipples was the most controversial Mario pic. Huh. 🤣
Re: Nintendo Asks Switch Online Playtest Program Participants To "Not Discuss Or Disclose Content"
This is quite likely an advertising strategy disguised as a "top secret game testers" program. Nintendo probably not only anticipates detaios to leak, but also actively wants them to. This would hardly be the first time a big tech company pursued this type of publicity stunt.
Re: Saudi Public Investment Fund Considering Increasing Its Stake In Nintendo
The Saudi government will probably use their ever growing stateholder bully pulpit to demand that the Muslim prayer / chant that was originally part of (but then subsequently removed from) Zelda: Ocarina of Time's "Fire Temple" theme be reinstated in all future re-releases of the game (J/k) (Or am I...? 🤣)
Re: Nintendo Slays Switch Emulator Ryujinx
@SuperBro64 Yeah, it's only 99.5% of them.
Re: Nintendo Slays Switch Emulator Ryujinx
Good. Imagine actually purchasing a Switch game with your own money while other entitled thieves play that same game for free and not feeling at least some degree of contempt or resentment towards the thieves, or those than facilitate them.
Re: Review: The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom (Switch) - A Bold Blend Of Old & New That Ranks With The Series' Best
@Rambler @electrolite77
And how much are games that were $60 in the 90s today? We're talking about $90-$100+ in today's money for SNES and Genesis console games. Swoosh's point was that back then, there were likely many parents who would be very unwilling to spend $100 in today's money on a Gameboy game that could be beaten in 10-20 hours, and that that logical conclusion was the norm up until the Switch ended Nintendo's decades long two-tier pricing arrangement for games on their handhelds vs games on their consoles.
I mean,I definitely, on some level, miss being able to get a smaller but still top shelf game for $35-45 on 3DS, and even less still on the original DS. Switch has given Nintendo license to charge full price on games that they would have previously marked down as "handheld", with Zelda: EoW being just the latest example. It is what it is, though, I suppose.
Re: Hands On: 'Royalty Free For All' Looks To Smash It With A Cosy Fighting Format & Timeless Roster
Really dig the art style - hope it comes to Switch or Switch 2!
Re: Feature: Civilization VII’s Creative Director Talks New Ages, Frenzied Drama & Being On Switch Day One
Not gonna lie - I found the reveal to Civ VII to be extremely underwhelming. The way it was presented, it just seemed like Civ VI with a different coat of paint - nothing more, nothing less - but this interview has gotten me pretty dang excited for the game! I love the idea of Ages being like a trilogy of books, building over top of ruins from previous Ages, and events and even leaders that seem to dynamically change depending on where you are in the Ages. It just sounds really fun and satisfying. Breaking the game up into smaller, more defined but also more easily digestible sections will be a big plus. That so much love and attention that appears to be given to the Switch console is just the cherry on top.
Re: 'Shashingo: Learn Japanese With Photography' Snaps Up September Release Date On Switch
As someone who's been trying to learn how to read Japanese - slowly, over the last year, just for fun - this game seems perfect for helping me to learn more, faster - and with lots of imagery to help make the connections better to boot. I'm also a sucker for taking in-game photos and games that work strongly around that mechanic. Definitely looks like a purchase for me.
Re: Review: Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure (Switch) - A Gorgeous, Grid-Based Quest Through A Zelda-Like World
@RubyCarbuncle Thanks for letting everyone here on a Nintendo-oriented Review site what you be getting on your Steam Deck 🙄 Aren't there any Steam Deck sites you can get reviews of games from?
Re: PSA: The New Denpa Men Is Available Now On The Switch eShop
I loved this game back on the 3DS. Very quirky, what with finding the Denpa Men floating around in augemnted reality, with the types generated based on local wifi as you were walking around. It's sad that that's not a thing this time around due to hardware, surely, but I'll have to give the new game a go.
Re: Switch Lite OLED Modder Showcases The Stunning Dinky Screen In Motion
Slightly off topic, but it would be interesting is someone could somehow scale down the Switch screen to something much smaller - like 3DS XL size, with a clamshell case, and maybe just small enough to be a legitimate pocket portable. Yhe Switch is so large, it's not quite as ideal for just carrying around at leisure. As such, I still play my 3DS when I'm on the bus or at appointments. It's just easier. Not sure if Switch can be miniaturized so much, but it would be kind of cool, honestly.
Re: Shigeru Miyamoto Addresses Concerns About His Age And Role At Nintendo
If only politicians could be as concerned about their age.
Re: Random: Nintendo Considered Some Bananas Names For DK, Including "Kong Dong"
I mean, it's interesting when you try to step back and be 100% objective about the name we're used to: "Donkey Kong". Donkey Kong?! That's such a crazy name! If the game bombed and became a curiosity in retro gaming history, we'd all be scratching our head about why anyone would use the word "Donkey" for the first name a giant gorilla 🤣 I mean, it Donkey Kong does roll off the tongue in a way that I like, but the name would be still objectively weird if that wasn't the only name we'd ever known. Not as weird as "Kong Dong", perhaps, but still kind of odd!
Re: Gallery: The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Is A Glorious Mix Of Old And New
Finally, The Wand of Gamelon sequel we've all been waiting for! 😉 In all seriousness, tho - this game looks pretty awesome.
Re: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Confirmed For Switch, Launching 2025
@RetroGames Nice b8, m8. It looks like a GameCube game, really? Come on, now 🤣
Re: Gallery: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Is Looking Absolutely Stunning On Switch
@LadyCharlie I heard it elsewhere like several months ago 🤣
Re: Random: Nintendo Of America Appears To Have Updated Its Sign
Actually a huge improvement. Makes me think Nintendo is feeling confident.
Re: Nintendo Announces Second US Store, Opening 2025
I hope Nintendo hires extra security. Most businesses are moving away from San Fran because it's basically the shoplifting capital of the world. I wish them luck - they may need it.
Re: Review: Wizardry: Proving Grounds Of The Mad Overlord (Switch) - A Grand Remake Of An Iconic Game
As an immense fan of the Etrian Odyssey series, this (being one of its influences) def seems right up my alley. Good review!
Re: Review: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Switch) - Still The King Of Mario RPGs
I grew up with the SNES and N64, where some games had frame rates as low as 15 FPS, with many games often having a sub-30 FPS performance in general - and yet I loved (and still love) those games all the same. It never really bothered me I suppose. As such, it tends to comes across as a bit strange to me whenever I see people having fits over games that run at a steady 30 FPS. I mean, if TTYD was a fast-paced, action-oriented game, I guess I could perhaps understand the complaints a bit more...but, this is Paper Mario. Oh well, to each their own, I guess!
In any case, I can't wait to play it for the first time later this week : D
Re: Nintendo And Illumination Announce New Mario Bros. Animated Movie
I suspect that a followup movie was planned from day one and that some not insignificant amount of work on the sequel was actually completed during the production of the first movie. Most of the character model assets are all in place, same with the voice actors and other personal, and there isn't COVID to worry about. I think this is why we're seeing such a quick turnaround on the release date for the sequel.
Re: Talking Point: Will Nintendo Wring One More Holiday From Switch Before Revealing New Hardware?
To me, it almost seems like Nintendo is full-on expecting legitimate leaks regarding the Switch 2 hardware and/or software in the very near future and Furukawa is just trying to get ahead of it by at least noting that it exists. I can't see why other reason why he would note anything about it at all knowing that the Switch has one last Christmas season ahead of it.
Re: Nintendo Switch "Successor" Announcement Is Coming "This Fiscal Year"
@MisanthropyAGoGo While I agree, in part, with a lot of your sentiments, Steam Deck isn't really that big of a concern - I feel like they're largely chasing two different markets. Switch isn't powerful, but it's also vastly less expensive than even a starter level Steam Deck. The price differential may not matter to everyone, but it does matter to a lot of people, especially now with many people grappling with the cost of inflation. I imagine the Switch successor will probably be a robust upgrade from the OG Switch, but anyone who's under the impression that it's going to stand toe to toe with $700 Steam Deck is, or that the unlocked console will run anything even close to PS4 Pro level graphics will likely be disappointed. I wouldn't be surprised, though, if the dock for Switch 2 does a lot more than the current iteration, and we might see some big graphical upgrades when played on a TV - but portable mode will probably not look nearly as good. I there will be a very noticeable difference in fidelity between docked and undocked, t'll be interesting to see if Nintendo will make it easier for developers - or even consumers - to custom and/or dynamically scale what can be done in both ecosystems.
My concern is that a lazy dev might spec their game solely for the less powerful undocked mode instead of making docked mode the primary and allowing it to be scaled down in undocked. Even better will be if Nintendo has built in optimization, so if someone wants better frame rates but lower resolution, or vice versa, or if they want a less taxing battery mode, we can tweak those things as we wish. Probably a tall order, but we'll see haha.
Re: Nintendo Switch "Successor" Announcement Is Coming "This Fiscal Year"
"This is Furukawa, President of Nintendo" is instantly memeworthy. It's so lowkey and casual, yet at the same time, also quite formal. I love it - especially when reading it in the voice of Eric Cartman.
Re: Nintendo Direct June 2024 Confirmed To Boost An Otherwise Quiet Year For Switch
@Blue_Dread I don't know anyone who bought a Switch specifically for Metroid Prime 4. Anecdotal, for sure - but only in equal measure to your hyperbole.
Re: Nintendo Direct June 2024 Confirmed To Boost An Otherwise Quiet Year For Switch
Nintendo's resources are clearly being largely directed at Switch 2 development. This is a good thing.
Re: Soapbox: During A Mental Health Crisis, It Wasn't Cosy Games That Helped
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
Re: Feature: Keza MacDonald On Meeting Miyamoto, 'Switch 2', And Her Upcoming Nintendo Book
@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.
Re: Feature: Keza MacDonald On Meeting Miyamoto, 'Switch 2', And Her Upcoming Nintendo Book
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!
Re: Soapbox: Vanillaware's Most Underrated Game Is More Than Just A Pretty Picture
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.
Re: Thunderful Extends Its Distribution Agreement With Nintendo
@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 🤣
Re: Thunderful Extends Its Distribution Agreement With Nintendo
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.
Re: Talking Point: What Are The Worst Parts Of Your Favourite Games?
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.
Re: Netflix Announces Return Of "The Voice Of Geralt" In New Witcher Animation
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.
Re: Reaction: What's Your Gut Feeling On The Zelda Movie News?
@Tempestryke Right? I loved the artwork in those manuals. Dig the avatar, obviously! ; D
Re: Reaction: What's Your Gut Feeling On The Zelda Movie News?
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.