I mean, that's kinda cool, I guess. Not sure if it was even remotely cool enough to warrant a yes or no opinion poll, much less one with 5 overly goofy responses, but...NL is gonna NL 😂
Can't say I would care much either way, seeing as how the Gameboy Advance is, without a doubt, Nintendo's most overrated system. +dodges the tomatoes and other bits of garbage thrown his way+
I remember when the UK was considered a lost cause for Nintendo - like for multiple decades, the country was - in the best of times - decidedly lukewarm about Nintendo. The Switch seems to have finally hit the Anglo-sweet spot tho.
One of my favorite games on Switch, and one of the few that has managed to make me sob. Very bittersweet in the best way possible. The aesthetic and music - both of which are incredible - are so perfectly interwoven and synergistic. Needless to say, I look forward to trying out the new content!
@Kate Gray - I couldn't help but to notice your use of liminal in your article. Nice work. I like that sense of nebulous-editorial-easter-egging here on NL these days. A++++ fan service.
The lack of high profile games being talked about does seem to indicate to me that Nintendo is saving up its ammunition for something - whether it's to time release some games that can show off the Pro, or if they've lost their minds and have gone all in on a surprise Switch 2 launch within a couple years time will remain to be seen.
Just because the Switch still prints money, I don't think that necessarily rules out the possibility of a Switch Pro, as some are suggesting.
The Switch has been an interesting piece of hardware in terms of accommodating different specs in handheld or docked - often dynamically - up to and including "impossible" ports of PS4/XBone games.
It would therefore stand to reason that a flexibility in game optimization is something that most developers would already be accustomed to (I mean, even beyond Switch, that's pretty much however PC game works).
Thus - assuming that a Switch Pro would be much closer to a PS4 in terms of power - it wouldn't necessarily mean that certain games would only be playable on Pro. Developers could create a game that - at its highest optimization setting - purposefully takes advantage of the Pro's increased specs while at the same time making sure that it can be optimized downward to play at reduced a reduced fidelity in handheld, or when it's being played on a vanilla Switch.
In fact - again, assuming that Switch Pro type upgrade would ever happen - I would not be surprised if Nintendo made it a strict policy that all games released on Switch Pro would also have to be playable on the OG iteration.
The New Nintendo 3DS is an example of where upgrade-exclusivity actually hurt the image of the product and I doubt they would make the same mistake twice. As such, my sense is that Nintendo will avoid doing that again with Switch and save any sort of exclusivity for its official "Switch 2" successor.
@ThomasBW84 That's awesome! The one week where I wasn't looking at NL daily and I missed something as great as your return. This place was never quite the same without you! Welcome back!
@Lordplops Until it's conquered? You do realize that it's 99% likely that Covid will be endemic. In other words, like the flu, it will likely return every year, each time with variations. Given the fact that the survival rate is 99.8%, with the vast majority of mortalities being among those with other serious comorbid conditions, advanced age and obesity, I would say that the virus is "conquered" enough. The daily odds of me dying in a car wreck on any given day are a higher than the odds of me succumbing to Covid. That doesn't mean I'm not going to drive.
For this game having been made by only two people, I think it looks pretty good. And I appreciate the fact that their game is an open homage to DKC. I've seen games that almost criminally rip off their source material without acknowledging it while pretending as though their game is entirely original.
I dunno, I think it's kind of lame to just dismiss a game based upon it's influences. As for graphics? Again - it's a two person team. It's not like they have an immense studio behind them. Go easy.
Both of these games look like they're horrible and a slap in the face to any long time fans of either series. I've always been into Rune Factory and - excepting the first gamec - I have played through them all, whereas I could never get into any of the HM games - even the ones that seem like they're critical darlings (like "It's a Wonderful Life").
Both games have some of the most unispired, lazy graphics I've seen from major titles on Switch - ranging from mobile quality at best to borderline N64 at worst.
The lack of decent dialogue - especially in Story of Seasons - is almost unforgivable. I wouldn't expect much from HM, but how do you take a game where getting to know the townspeople is half the fun and taking away what makes it so fun? Unacceptable.
Rune Factory 5 looks very promising - barring horrible reviews, it's a day one purchase for me and will almost certain top anything either of these two compost heaps ever will - however, even that game has me a bit concerned. The environments look surprisingly barren - even inside of the buildings - and, combined with generic looking character models and menus - it doesn't look noticably better than Tides of Destiny which is disappointing. Even Rune Factory Frontier had a better art aesthetic to it imo.
That said, I'm not a graphics-wh----e and I eagerly loom forward to playing it. As for these two games? No. Just no. Stardew beats both of them by almost every measure.
CNN tho. Couldn't a real and/or respectable news agency cover it? That is, of course, if there even are any.
@RiasGremory Imagine thinking that either CNN and Fox are better or worse than eachother. They're both corporate, deep statist propaganda machines that push the elite's perpetual distraction-based divide and conquer strategy upon the masses.
I will say that this particular segment wasn't bad. I'm glad Nintendo has been able to find some glowing coverage - even in the midst of a seemingly neverending plandemic.
For those who are veterans of the Mario+Rabbids game - is the "Gold" version superior to the vanilla version?
I know it's only a $4 difference in price, but damnit...I'm a cheap skate. And besides, there are plenty examples of games sold with an "upgraded version" that are... deceiving, to say the least.
I'm just wondering if anyone thinks it's quantitatively better.
@Smashmatt202 I absolutely agree. I like Martinet's characterization, but I honestly think the voice acting in the old Mario Bros. cartoons was more fitting for what Mario IS. Which is to say, a plumber from Brooklyn.
Honestly, I don't even know why they ended up giving Mario a high pitched voice in the games to begin, but I've learned to live with it.
NPCs looking at the screen grabs, all like: "5 oUt oF 10?? wHatEvs - hAhA TrUmP iS a FaScIsT sO tHiS mUsT bE a CoOl AnD EdGy GaMe LoL. iMmA gEt tHis AnD sUpPoRt TeH DeVs HahA"
This is a great story - and it's great to see everyone being able to pursue gaming as a hobby, no matter what their situation is - but I keep going back to the statistic that 20% of the UK population is considered disabled. What is the definition? Like, that number seems REALLY high to me, but...maybe it's not.
I just downloaded the demo of the game yesterday and as embarrassed as I am to say it, I found the game to be virtually unplayable - not because it was mechanically or graphically busted or anything, it's just WAY too complex. For me, anyway.
It's funny bc, you know, I've always kind of considered myself something of a "hardcore gamer", but - after being literally unable to finish the first mission due to dying at the hands of the main beast several times in a row - I was more than a little humbled.
@urrutiap While I agree with your sentiments, literally everyone in FF6 can learn Curaga or Holy by equipping the right Espers. Unless you really, really feel like grinding in the first half of the game for them to naturally learn it - which, to me, would be absurd - there's really very little incentive to invest the time needed for them to learn the spells naturally.
Good for them! I think I'll purchase the game if only to show my support for developers with the courage to boldly take a stand against a bullying SJW / cancel culture community that usually "wins".
Unpopular Opinion: I think she did a great job. She imbued Zelda with a sort of semi-aristocratic, slightly detached, velvet-gloves type of personality - which I personally feel was totally in line with her entirely royal upbringing. She struck a good balance between that, and the disillusionment and sorrow that had come of it - but I could also sense her will to conquer these things. Honestly, I think that she handled the portrayal of those mixed emotions well.
Even in AAA titles, I have heard WAY worse. Her interview was also really insightful and I think it's neat that she's channeling her real life experiences into Zelda's portrayal.
It could possibly be a clue about BOTW 2's overall narrative (or at least an important aspect of it), and how Zelda fits into said narrative. Makes me wonder if a part of her story ark will be centered around her being widely ostracized, rejected, criticized, and not feeling doing good enough.
The lack of sprinklers would definitely make the game exceptionally difficult - which is not a bad thing for those of us who would prefer to forego min-maxing in favor of a greater challenge. I might have to start yet another new game.
I was gonna say inb4 the doom n gloomy Branch Covidians needlessly frown on people who want to live their lives freely and not in a constant state of fear, but - alas - it is far too late for that. C'est le vie
If I lived there, I would go to his shop as much as I could afford to. We need to support small businesses now more than ever! But, even from afar, he's got my support 💕
I was gonna say inb4 the branch covidians needlessly frown on people who want to live their lives freely and not a constant state of fear, but - alas - it is far too late for that. C'est la vie.
If I lived there, I would go to his shop as much as I could afford to. We need to support small businesses now more than ever! But, even from afar, he's got my support 💕
Comments 841
Re: Random: Did You Know Link Can Ride On Giant Barrels In Zelda: Breath Of The Wild?
I mean, that's kinda cool, I guess. Not sure if it was even remotely cool enough to warrant a yes or no opinion poll, much less one with 5 overly goofy responses, but...NL is gonna NL 😂
Re: Nintendo's Ready For Acquisitions, When The Time Is Right
@SeantheDon29 Truth. A proper sequel to Muramasa: The Demon Blade would be fan-freaking-tastic.
Re: Former Metroid Prime Lead Designer Targeted With Abusive Messages
Oh no - this developer received "abusive messages" - on the internet?? No way. What is this world coming to?!
In all seriousness, tho - what a wuss 😂
Re: Epic Apparently Wanted First-Party Exclusives From The Big Three On Its Digital Storefront
Yeah, I'm not sure what Epic is smoking, but I'd like a hit or three.
Re: Talking Point: Surely It's Time For Game Boy On Nintendo Switch Online?
Can't say I would care much either way, seeing as how the Gameboy Advance is, without a doubt, Nintendo's most overrated system. +dodges the tomatoes and other bits of garbage thrown his way+
Re: Talking Point: Wii Features We'd Love To See On Nintendo Switch
They should bring back the Wii shop music but make it optional to have it play by default. Best of both worlds.
Re: Random: Animal Crossing: New Horizons Players Are Getting Creative With The New Design Tools
If nothing else, AC:NH has proven the maxim that constraints and limitations are the harbingers of creativity and innovation.
Re: UK Charts: Switch Games Make Up Half Of The Top Ten, But FIFA Steals Animal Crossing's Crown
I remember when the UK was considered a lost cause for Nintendo - like for multiple decades, the country was - in the best of times - decidedly lukewarm about Nintendo. The Switch seems to have finally hit the Anglo-sweet spot tho.
Re: Spiritfarer Celebrates 500,000 Sales With Free 'Lily' Update, Out Today
One of my favorite games on Switch, and one of the few that has managed to make me sob. Very bittersweet in the best way possible. The aesthetic and music - both of which are incredible - are so perfectly interwoven and synergistic. Needless to say, I look forward to trying out the new content!
Re: Random: You Can Play Super Mario Bros. In Minecraft, As Long As You Don't Mind 10FPS
@Noid It's 60 fps. Believe it or not, many NES games were.
@Toy_Link It's uncanny how similar our comments were!
Re: Random: You Can Play Super Mario Bros. In Minecraft, As Long As You Don't Mind 10FPS
Deceitful clickbait, no matter how honest, is still - in the end -deceitful clickbait.
Re: Random: This Might Just Be The Longest Title We've Ever Seen For A Nintendo Switch Game
Looks kinda like Etrian Odyssey. I'm kind of interested.
Re: Nintendo May Have Issued A Copyright Claim To Take Down Some Raunchy Bowser Art
Imagine being the type of guy who actually seeks out game-related hentai.
Yeah. Just imagine.
Well, anyway. That's all I wanted to say. I gotta get going.
leaves suspiciously
Re: Sony Invests Another $200 Million In Fortnite Creator Epic Games
What a riveting article.
Re: Talking Point: Is The New Switch Lite Blue, Or Purple?
@Kate Gray - I couldn't help but to notice your use of liminal in your article. Nice work. I like that sense of nebulous-editorial-easter-egging here on NL these days. A++++ fan service.
Re: Nintendo Still Isn't Totally Confident Switch Production Can Keep Pace With Demand
The lack of high profile games being talked about does seem to indicate to me that Nintendo is saving up its ammunition for something - whether it's to time release some games that can show off the Pro, or if they've lost their minds and have gone all in on a surprise Switch 2 launch within a couple years time will remain to be seen.
But something is definitely up, imo.
Re: Nintendo Still Isn't Totally Confident Switch Production Can Keep Pace With Demand
Just because the Switch still prints money, I don't think that necessarily rules out the possibility of a Switch Pro, as some are suggesting.
The Switch has been an interesting piece of hardware in terms of accommodating different specs in handheld or docked - often dynamically - up to and including "impossible" ports of PS4/XBone games.
It would therefore stand to reason that a flexibility in game optimization is something that most developers would already be accustomed to (I mean, even beyond Switch, that's pretty much however PC game works).
Thus - assuming that a Switch Pro would be much closer to a PS4 in terms of power - it wouldn't necessarily mean that certain games would only be playable on Pro. Developers could create a game that - at its highest optimization setting - purposefully takes advantage of the Pro's increased specs while at the same time making sure that it can be optimized downward to play at reduced a reduced fidelity in handheld, or when it's being played on a vanilla Switch.
In fact - again, assuming that Switch Pro type upgrade would ever happen - I would not be surprised if Nintendo made it a strict policy that all games released on Switch Pro would also have to be playable on the OG iteration.
The New Nintendo 3DS is an example of where upgrade-exclusivity actually hurt the image of the product and I doubt they would make the same mistake twice. As such, my sense is that Nintendo will avoid doing that again with Switch and save any sort of exclusivity for its official "Switch 2" successor.
Re: Nintendo's Future Is Focused On New IP And "Staple Series"
@Chamver What is arrogant about wanting to make new IPs? What makes you think that new IPs are a bad idea? You don't even know what they are yet haha.
Re: Super Seducer 1 & 2 Refused By Nintendo Due To "Explicit Content"
@nessisonett Not everyone is a snowflake.
Re: The Colonists Is A Cute City Building Game With Robots, Out On Switch In May
@ThomasBW84 That's awesome! The one week where I wasn't looking at NL daily and I missed something as great as your return. This place was never quite the same without you! Welcome back!
Re: KEMCO RPG Asdivine Cross Arrives on Switch Very Soon
Probably more like Ass-divine.
Re: Talking Point: A Digital-Only E3 Makes Sense, But In-Person Events Are The Goal
@Lordplops Until it's conquered? You do realize that it's 99% likely that Covid will be endemic. In other words, like the flu, it will likely return every year, each time with variations. Given the fact that the survival rate is 99.8%, with the vast majority of mortalities being among those with other serious comorbid conditions, advanced age and obesity, I would say that the virus is "conquered" enough. The daily odds of me dying in a car wreck on any given day are a higher than the odds of me succumbing to Covid. That doesn't mean I'm not going to drive.
E3 shouldn't live in its fears.
Re: The Colonists Is A Cute City Building Game With Robots, Out On Switch In May
Is Thomas Whitehead back on the NL staff??
Re: Random: Someone Made The "World's Largest" Nintendo Switch, And It Actually Works
But will it fit in my pocket?
Re: New Switch Platformer Stitchy in Tooki Trouble Gives Off Strong Donkey Kong Country Vibes
For this game having been made by only two people, I think it looks pretty good. And I appreciate the fact that their game is an open homage to DKC. I've seen games that almost criminally rip off their source material without acknowledging it while pretending as though their game is entirely original.
I dunno, I think it's kind of lame to just dismiss a game based upon it's influences. As for graphics? Again - it's a two person team. It's not like they have an immense studio behind them. Go easy.
Re: Feature: Should You Buy Harvest Moon: One World, Or Story Of Seasons: Pioneers Of Olive Town?
Both of these games look like they're horrible and a slap in the face to any long time fans of either series. I've always been into Rune Factory and - excepting the first gamec - I have played through them all, whereas I could never get into any of the HM games - even the ones that seem like they're critical darlings (like "It's a Wonderful Life").
Both games have some of the most unispired, lazy graphics I've seen from major titles on Switch - ranging from mobile quality at best to borderline N64 at worst.
The lack of decent dialogue - especially in Story of Seasons - is almost unforgivable. I wouldn't expect much from HM, but how do you take a game where getting to know the townspeople is half the fun and taking away what makes it so fun? Unacceptable.
Rune Factory 5 looks very promising - barring horrible reviews, it's a day one purchase for me and will almost certain top anything either of these two compost heaps ever will - however, even that game has me a bit concerned. The environments look surprisingly barren - even inside of the buildings - and, combined with generic looking character models and menus - it doesn't look noticably better than Tides of Destiny which is disappointing. Even Rune Factory Frontier had a better art aesthetic to it imo.
That said, I'm not a graphics-wh----e and I eagerly loom forward to playing it. As for these two games? No. Just no. Stardew beats both of them by almost every measure.
Re: Netflix's The Witcher Season Two Casts Its Dijkstra, Philippa Eilhart, Nenneke And More
I wonder if season 2 will be just as boring and trite as season 1 - stay tuned!
Re: Ubisoft Switch Sale Takes Up To 83% Off Top Games (North America)
@thefly0810 Thanks!
Re: Review: A-Train: All Aboard! Tourism - Switch Tracks With This Complex Business Sim
@DDFawfulGuy Ha! I thought the same thing! Speaking of which, I hope the Etrian Odyssey series isn't dead as a result of losing the extra screen.
Re: CNN Covers The Super Nintendo World Opening
CNN tho. Couldn't a real and/or respectable news agency cover it? That is, of course, if there even are any.
@RiasGremory Imagine thinking that either CNN and Fox are better or worse than eachother. They're both corporate, deep statist propaganda machines that push the elite's perpetual distraction-based divide and conquer strategy upon the masses.
I will say that this particular segment wasn't bad. I'm glad Nintendo has been able to find some glowing coverage - even in the midst of a seemingly neverending plandemic.
Re: Ubisoft Switch Sale Takes Up To 83% Off Top Games (North America)
For those who are veterans of the Mario+Rabbids game - is the "Gold" version superior to the vanilla version?
I know it's only a $4 difference in price, but damnit...I'm a cheap skate. And besides, there are plenty examples of games sold with an "upgraded version" that are... deceiving, to say the least.
I'm just wondering if anyone thinks it's quantitatively better.
Re: A-Train: All Aboard! Tourism Is Scheduled To Arrive This Week On Switch
Was about to board the hype train but then I saw the price and it derailed.
Re: Blizzard's Diablo II Remaster Will Support Your Old Save Files
I guess I'll have to go to the landfill and see I can't recover the 20 year old hard drive that my save would be on.
Re: Review: Haven - It Takes Two To Fully Enjoy This Space-Age Love Story
Does this have online multiplayer, or just local?
Re: Charles Martinet Would Love To Voice Mario In Upcoming Illumination Movie
@Smashmatt202 I absolutely agree. I like Martinet's characterization, but I honestly think the voice acting in the old Mario Bros. cartoons was more fitting for what Mario IS. Which is to say, a plumber from Brooklyn.
Honestly, I don't even know why they ended up giving Mario a high pitched voice in the games to begin, but I've learned to live with it.
Re: Gallery: Capcom Shares Stunning Concept Art For Monster Hunter Rise's Frost Islands
@JaxonH Wow thanks for all of the information! I'll have to study it and give it another whirl.
Re: Mini Review: Colossus Down - A Neat Concept Squandered By Bland Gameplay
NPCs looking at the screen grabs, all like: "5 oUt oF 10?? wHatEvs - hAhA TrUmP iS a FaScIsT sO tHiS mUsT bE a CoOl AnD EdGy GaMe LoL. iMmA gEt tHis AnD sUpPoRt TeH DeVs HahA"
Re: Disability Advocates Discuss Accessibility In Games In This New BBC Audio Documentary
This is a great story - and it's great to see everyone being able to pursue gaming as a hobby, no matter what their situation is - but I keep going back to the statistic that 20% of the UK population is considered disabled. What is the definition? Like, that number seems REALLY high to me, but...maybe it's not.
Re: Gallery: Capcom Shares Stunning Concept Art For Monster Hunter Rise's Frost Islands
I just downloaded the demo of the game yesterday and as embarrassed as I am to say it, I found the game to be virtually unplayable - not because it was mechanically or graphically busted or anything, it's just WAY too complex. For me, anyway.
It's funny bc, you know, I've always kind of considered myself something of a "hardcore gamer", but - after being literally unable to finish the first mission due to dying at the hands of the main beast several times in a row - I was more than a little humbled.
Re: Sega Says Goodbye To Sonic The Hedgehog's Voice Actor
Headline implies death, but VA is alive and well - classic clickbait.
Re: Soapbox: Grinding Is Poor Gameplay Design That Doesn’t Respect Your Time
@urrutiap While I agree with your sentiments, literally everyone in FF6 can learn Curaga or Holy by equipping the right Espers. Unless you really, really feel like grinding in the first half of the game for them to naturally learn it - which, to me, would be absurd - there's really very little incentive to invest the time needed for them to learn the spells naturally.
Re: Top Hat Studios Issues Statement Regarding Demands To Censor Sense - A Cyberpunk Ghost Story
Good for them! I think I'll purchase the game if only to show my support for developers with the courage to boldly take a stand against a bullying SJW / cancel culture community that usually "wins".
Re: Random: Finally, Someone Made Ramen For Gamers
The mere thought of this is sickening in nearly every conceivable way. I can't even fap to this.
Re: Video: Uncovering The WorkBoy - The Long Lost Nintendo Game Boy Add-On
The quality of said device would have surely been on par with the incredible, breathtakingly brilliant gameboy camera and printer.
Re: Zelda Voice Actress Patricia Summersett Speaks Out About Online Negativity And Criticism
Unpopular Opinion: I think she did a great job. She imbued Zelda with a sort of semi-aristocratic, slightly detached, velvet-gloves type of personality - which I personally feel was totally in line with her entirely royal upbringing. She struck a good balance between that, and the disillusionment and sorrow that had come of it - but I could also sense her will to conquer these things. Honestly, I think that she handled the portrayal of those mixed emotions well.
Even in AAA titles, I have heard WAY worse. Her interview was also really insightful and I think it's neat that she's channeling her real life experiences into Zelda's portrayal.
It could possibly be a clue about BOTW 2's overall narrative (or at least an important aspect of it), and how Zelda fits into said narrative. Makes me wonder if a part of her story ark will be centered around her being widely ostracized, rejected, criticized, and not feeling doing good enough.
Re: Stardew Valley's 1.5 Update Will Feature A New Beach Farm
The lack of sprinklers would definitely make the game exceptionally difficult - which is not a bad thing for those of us who would prefer to forego min-maxing in favor of a greater challenge. I might have to start yet another new game.
Re: Feature: Why Open A Video Game Shop During A Global Pandemic?
I was gonna say inb4 the doom n gloomy Branch Covidians needlessly frown on people who want to live their lives freely and not in a constant state of fear, but - alas - it is far too late for that. C'est le vie
If I lived there, I would go to his shop as much as I could afford to. We need to support small businesses now more than ever! But, even from afar, he's got my support 💕
Re: Deals: Fight The Flab This Christmas With Nintendo UK's Ring Fit Adventure Switch Bundle
I was gonna say inb4 the branch covidians needlessly frown on people who want to live their lives freely and not a constant state of fear, but - alas - it is far too late for that. C'est la vie.
If I lived there, I would go to his shop as much as I could afford to. We need to support small businesses now more than ever! But, even from afar, he's got my support 💕
Re: Kemco's Black Friday Sales Ends Today, Big RPG Savings Across Switch And 3DS
@aznable You must be joking. Divinity II is one of the best rpgs on Switch. It can't even be remotely compared to Kemco's garbage!