@romany8806 Agreed. I have tried V-Rally 4, and the 30fps is OK, but the colour-grading on it is weird, something I thought of the PC version too.
Rush Rally 3 is golden, and puts any other low-effort rally port on the Switch to shame. It looks like a Gamecube game, but it plays like a Colin McRae 2005-alike. There's no fat or bloat, it's 60fps, razor-focused on what it sets out to do and just nails it.
@larryisaman I agree with your assessment of the Wii U Pro Controller. I still use it for a LOT of my gaming. It is super comfy, I really dig the stick placement, the buttons and d-pad are really nice and laid out well for retro stuff and yeah, the battery life is amazing... my original unit still holds charge like nothing else, and lasts forever.
Yup, it is only really missing Gyro, other than that, it is definitely a go-to controller, especially for non-gyro Switch and emulation on the PC. In fact, I have found it the ideal controller for PCSX2 and PPSSPP, since it the analog sticks are amazing for racing games, and the d-pad/buttons kill it for 2D-focused games. It's also great as a Classic Controller in Dolphin for Wii games, definitely feels better than the actual Classic Controller/Pro.
@mereel Yeah, this really stuck out as a 'hot take' kinda post too. The game absolutely earned the 9/10, indie or not. Almost comes across that if a game isn't AAA, then it isn't worthy. A game like Lunistice that is smaller in scope, but better executed than its' AAA brethren is totally worthy of praise. Which I definitely think it is. The whole game is incredibly tight, cohesive and just well executed. It knows what it is, and does it well.
@SmaggTheSmug Fair enough. I am definitely of the opinion that 32-bit visuals need a comeback - I dig it a lot. I find them atmospheric and easy to read
@SmaggTheSmug But it is about the art-style... the low poly look is the aesthetic. None of the 32-bit platforms could have managed the smoothness and draw distances found in Lunistice, that's where modern technology steps in on this one.
Apart from World of Horror, there was definitely nothing here for me. Pepper Grinder looked cool, but I haven't played too much of Drill Dozer, so my excitement for it is definitely tempered.
This definitely skewed to the 'cozy' end of the range on first viewing, not my cup of tea, and I'm not really into the 'personal problems' kind of games either. I'm somebody who grew up with games in the 90s and 2000s, and at the risk of sounding old, I like indie experiences that follow a similar path. Stuff like Lunistice and the upcoming Bushiden all have me pretty excited!
I still feel I am well catered to, though. Between Kickstarter, ROM Hacks/mods and new games for older systems, I have got more than enough to play.
Still, in relation to this Indie Direct, for me it was a disappointment. Although I am happy for others if they found something to latch on to.
Devils Third is awesome, ignore what everybody says.
Awesome time to get a Wii U. Crack that thing open and you will have very close to the ultimate system that will play the entire Nintendo back catalogue up until the Wii U. Native Gamecube/Wii support is a boon, and you can emulate the DS super well on it.
Also I really, REALLY recommend the Wii U Pro controller. It is an absolute crime that Nintendo never natively allowed it to be used on the Switch. It looks cheap, but it is a beast. Comfy, amazing button/stick layout, solid as hell and the battery life lasts forever. I use mine to this day on everything I possibly can thanks to Mayflash/8bitdo adapters.
As somebody who loves to tinker, older Nintendo consoles are always better once they have been de-commissioned and fans blow the whole thing open - so much fun to play with
@OorWullie Not a strange choice of music at all if you know what the inspirations of Saturnalia are. Music is very much like Goblin, a prog-rock group who scored many, MANY great off-the-wall Italian thriller and horror movies. The lighting and colours also seems to be inspired by Giallo films.
I picked up Mothman 1966 - man, it's quite fantastic so far. I am not into visual novels usually, but the subject matter, aesthetics, soundtrack and overall atmosphere make it very hard to put down so far. It's a bit of an assault on the senses; I love it.
@Ara Yeah, I would love a physical copy of this too. PIKO interactive aren't my favourite peoples, but I think I will have to make an exception for this. I still play Zero Tolerance every now and then via a Raspberry Pi + CRT TV combo, but owning it again on a modern format will eventually prove too big a draw for me to ignore
So why do we have to rely on something like Twitter for this information? It's pretty abhorrent that we are expected to pay for a product in this state, and then find this stuff out along the way.
I would absolutely love to buy Sonic Origins, but I won't be double dipping this like I did Sonic Mania; I will be waiting for a fully patched physical release or grabbing nothing at all. I have these games multiple times over already, regardless of the tweaks... widescreen patches exist already, so the reasons to own this are slim already.
I totally would have supported the game either digital or physical if it had been a flawless release, and I have to commend SEGA for keeping their games available through the years. but crunch or no crunch, until it is actually done I can't spend the cash yet.
I usually hate posts where people say what a game is worth and what they are willing to pay, but I guess there is a line that needs to be drawn somewhere???
Anybody interested should seek out the Victory Heat Rally Shakedown demo on Steam . It has 5 tracks and tonnes of modes which unlock after you complete first stretch of the main mode - it really is fantastic.
I still think Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate is pretty amazing, and definitely my favourite. My partner and I have put an ungodly amount of hours into it levelling up all our faves. I am surprised to see it hardly mentioned here. The western release of Orochi 3 Ultimate has me pretty excited.
Literally picked up One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 on sale today. I am no fan of the anime, but I find the colourful world of One Piece appealing, and I needed another hack & slash-fest to chill out with. It's pretty good so far!
Touken Ranbu Warriors looks great, and I love the colours on display, but I am not sold on it yet from the demo. One to grab on a steep discount eventually methinks, because it feels pretty low effort compared to some others that are on the Switch.
@Switchcraft You're thinking of Formula Fusion/Pacer - that had 'ex WipEout devs' as a selling point, but it wasn't anybody who had anything to do with the gameplay, so it made no difference and no WipEout magic.
Redout was indeed pretty compromised on Switch. I don't think we can hold out much hope that this sequel is any different, but I would like to be pleasantly surprised.
Anyhoo, great game with a quirky personality and a great Synthwave/Vaporwave soundtrack, which is definitely more Super Hang-On than OutRun. The dev is a Sonic fan, so half of the stages are Sonic related with Sonic colour palettes and stage title cards. We've got Resort Island, Chemical Plant, Marble Garden etc...
The game doesn't feature analog gas or brake, so it will be perfectly suited to the Switch in that respect - even the steering is better on a D-pad.
As an original Kickstarter backer, I suggest you turn on the Automatic Drifting (I have always felt the Manual setting sluggish and unresponsive) and just go for it.
The PC version runs flawlessly at 60fps+ even on a potato, so this Switch version should be fine. That trailer was horribly put together in regards to frame-rates and consistency, which just hasn't been my experience on PC.
It's a pretty great game with more content, varied race types (LAPS!!! TIME TRIALS!!!) and better controls than 80s Overdrive.
It's totally worth it, and I am definitely going to double-dip.
@Travisemo007 Agreed. I don't think that just because a Kart Racer exists, more can't exist either. Racing games are my favourite genre, and I like seeing a lot of them in whatever form. I wish the Switch had MORE. A nice 60fps racer will always have my support on the Switch.
Pre-ordered Chocobo Racing for a nice, cheap price here in Australia, and I think I will make an exception and grab the Season Pass for it too. I don't buy many AAA games any more, so this is my one splurge on crap like Season Passes - the last one being Dirt 5 on PC.
Looking forward to the Mario Kart 8 Booster too, but I am waiting to see the verdict on that - it seems to me that Nintendo is literally just porting over Mario Kart Tour courses, and I find the clash in art-styles and polygon counts a bit jarring. It seems like a bit of a cash grab with the most minimum of effort, so we will see!
@IronMan30 Would you have said that about the Turok games when they came out?
Quake has been on sale forever, so it makes sense that a third or fourth purchase of it should be cheaper, it has never been unavailable or unpopular.
Powerslave Exhumed is a remaster of a game almost forgotten to time that has never been re-released. It's niche, and the amount of work put in to it is staggering. It's a project at least seven years in the making that involved lots of legal and technical hurdles to get here. It's not the same as re-releasing a game like Quake, yet again, that is open-source, and has had all the hard-work and heavy lifting already done for it.
Besides, the Powerslave Exhumed experience is absolutely worth the asking price - it's your loss, I guess.
@Scapetti I have noticed this too lately. Lots of virtue signaling coming from Nintendo Life, but they're also more than happy to incite vitriol and ride the waves for the clicks and comments. It just reeks of money and hypocrisy. This is what happened to Kotaku AU before I stopped visiting there years ago
@jrt87 Agreed. The joycon sticks are useless for anything requiring dual-analogue control, so I sold mine too.
My partner uses the Nintendo Pro Controller, but I was using a 8bitdo SF30 Pro until I upgraded to the 8bitdo Pro 2, and it is the perfect controller for what I need on the Switch. I love 2D retro games, so the d-pad and buttons are perfect, and the sticks, triggers and motion are really nice, so it is great for racers and the occasional retro FPS re-release.
I also occasionally use the Retro-bit Mega Drive and Saturn gamepads for SEGA flavoured stuff.
On a side-note, I don't play hand-held at all, and the Switch is docked 100% of the time and running through an mClassic cable, which fixes most of the image quality issues I have with it
@Specter_of-the_OLED I would kill for Lobotomy's Saturn Quake to turn up in the mods (and I say it could definitely be on the cards, as Nightdive are releasing Powerslave Exhumed soon enough), but yeah, with the inevitable Quake II Remaster, the 64 and PSX versions would be amazing to play.
Quake II N64/PSX are arguably more fun to plow through in 2021over the PC original because of the redesigned, linear level layouts. Also, they feature a bit more colour, which I think makes them prettier
@brunojenso Yeah, this one was a real disappointment for me on the musical side of things.
I've been a massive Mizuguchi fan, and have really admired his ear for musical accompaniment since he headed up SEGA Rally and Touring Car, and then of course Rez, Every Extend Extra, Lumines, Metoeos and Child of Eden. The music in Tetris Effect is just OK I guess, but all the 'indie' twang in the vocals drives me insane and is really, really off putting.
The game is pretty great, but as a fan of Mizuguchi's particular brand of synesthesia, I just can't get past the middling soundtrack with the annoying indie twang.
@SpringDivorce Maybe that's just the track designs and locals reminding you of the RUSH games? The car handling looks quite far removed from them to my eyes.
I have this on PC, and only recently picked it up too. I found the initial PC demo a turn off, as well as the visual style.
Decided to give it a chance on sale, and I wish I would have purchased for full price. The visuals grow on you - once I experienced the 'golden hour' in this game, I was sold. But it was the gameplay and overall vibe that really got to me.
The controls are weighty and sublime, and the vibe and soundtrack are perfect.
I hope there is an option for right-stick acceleration and braking on Switch - Art of Rally may look arcade, but it definitely leans more on the sim side of things... and analogue acceleration and braking is pretty much essential.
Amazing game, once that I wished I had jumped on sooner! If the Switch port is good, then it's a definite buy for arcade and sim racing fans alike
I don't like complaining, but you've dedicated an article to an asset flip, and actually recommended it as an alternative purchase to Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Please don't give Pix Arts the time of day - their entire catalogue consists of literal asset flips.
Really, really shady. You should be doing your homework.
I am not into runners too much these days, but I did play a few back in the day, and Vector Unit made my favourite runner of all time, Beach Buggy Blitz. I think it was a bit of a minor hit in 2012, and I loved it a lot! I am glad it eventually evolved into the Beach Buggy Racing series. Beach Buggy Racing 2 is sooo good (and totally up there with MK8!), but I do wish they'd port the original Beach Buggy Blitz over too!
And Hydro Thunder Hurricane, while they are at it
Awesome devs, and such a great racing studio - they've been plugging away with low-key and totally substantial arcade racers while nobody else would touch the genre. Vector Unit are totally underrated.
@sdelfin Agreed. Usually, this kind of animation turns me off quite quickly, but paired with the art style, it kinda makes sense? It looks like a kids picture-book (the kind this 37 year old grew up with) that has come to life.
I am not even a Souls fan, and the term souls-like inspires nothing but apathy from me generally, but this looks amazing. Atmosphere is everything - I am soooo down for it.
@MisterKorman I found my SF30 Pro to be exactly the same! Add in the Bluetooth lag, and I wasn't able to use it for my Switch, which was the worst because I loved the controller.
HOWEVER - I recently decided to update the firmware and I feel everything has been fixed. The lag has been fixed, and I can menu scroll as fast and fluidly as with a Pro Controller, and the stick sensitivity has gotten much, MUCH better! It's still a liiiiiiittle more sensitive than a Pro Controller, but not enough to stop me from using it as my main pad any more. I struggled with FPS and Racing Games before, but now it handles everything perfectly. I even use it for Blue Fire!
@Primarina No worries! There's unlockable cheats in BallisticNG, and one of them is Ballistic64, which changes the gameplay to control like WipEout 64. I am a big fan of that game too, so I'm feeling you!!!
All the tracks from that game are on the Steam Workshop too.
In fact, I struggle to think of a track (or ship) from a previous WipEout game that I cannot play in BallisticNG, thanks to all the community-created content that is out there.
BallisticNG is honestly the best WipeEout game ever made. All the original content is right up there with the OG track designs, but the custom music, sounds and user generated tracks (on PC) are the icing on the cake.
I've been playing BallisticNG for years now, and it hits a very specific spot. That spot isn't F-Zero, it's most definitely WipEout - the gameplay is not just close, it is identical. Well, maybe even better, because it is a mix of all the best bits of 2097 and Wip3out.
I will be buying this any way I can get it on the Switch - it's my favourite AG racer of all time, and that's because it is exactly the follow-up to WipEout that we never got once the gameplay went all floaty in Pure/Pulse.
If you're after WipEout on your Switch, BallisticNG WILL deliver, no question.
@PlayedNSlayed It does make a big difference. As long as you set the Switch to 720p for native 720p res games, then you're all good. Crysis can run up to 900p docked, but because it's mostly under that, I find that running it at 720p with the mClassic produces the best results.
I find it a massive boon for almost all 3D games on the Switch. Even 1080p games benefit hugely on a 1080p panel, because they're usually missing anti-aliasing that the mClassic can clean up, no problem. Monster Hunter Generations looks amazing, and beyond crisp.
I have yet to try it's 1440p upscaling output options, but I'd imagine that looks pretty nice on a 4K panel.
I think it was about AU $130.00, I'm not sure. Worth absolutely every dollar, I would say. It feels like it is made for the Nintendo Switch
@SpaceboyScreams I usually avoid the blurry 'miracle ports' because although they're a technical feat, blurry is still blurry. I did cave for this though, but only because I got an mClassic HDMI dongle, and I wanted to see what it could do.
Needless to say, it totally makes Crysis on the Switch much easier to look at. Although, that's only if you play docked. I do, 95% of the time, so the mClassic is pretty much a must have for me. The extra AA and bolder colours are totally worth it.
@Burning_Spear As already mentioned above, yeah, you can't invert Gyro yet. The game allows Invert for the R-Stick, but not the Gyro. I play with Invert Y on both, so I can't actually play it with Gyro controls yet. I'm hoping they patch in a fix soon.
Other than that. Great port. Looks quite brilliant with the mClassic in tow, too!
@60frames-please You may want to set the Accel/Brake to the R-Stick, if you're not already. In RISE, you really need control those through the corners, so using the digital ZL/ZR as Accel/Brake is pretty futile. My method of choice is:
Up R-Stick - Accel
Down R-Stick - Brake
ZR - Handbrake
R - Boost.
I find this method super intuitive, and it gives me just as much control as I'd have on any other system.
Glad to see you like the game. It's a bit of a sleeper!
As a huge, huuuuuuuge arcade racing fan, I've always really loved RISE. But boy, this patch is transformative. The docked, solid 1080/60fps - with no dynamic resolution scaling - is much better here than even the PC version, which tended to judder a bit... especially at higher refresh rates.
Also transformative are the new low-latency controls - it's so, so responsive now. Events I struggled with before are now easier to get through, thanks to the faster input responses.
The new shaders are the icing on the cake - the cars look much nicer now, and the physical-based lighting is an improvement, I think.
Man, what a Switch show piece - this needs a physical edition now. I'd hit that soooo hard.
100% the definitive version of the game now. I wonder if the PC version will see the same improvements? I'm not holding my breath though, since it feels like an age since support was dropped with that one. Ahh well
@thor27 Cool to see you linked my article! I'm super glad this is coming out now, and officially too. It would explain the quiet Discord channel and relatively little news on the remake
@TheFullAndy It is slow, initially, no doubt about it. But you win money to upgrade your car, so it gets faster as you progress - 80's Overdrive is pretty much Lamborghini: American Challenge for the Amiga/SNES/Game Boy, but with a new coat of paint.
My only issue with it so far that, apart from feeling slow before some upgrades, the controls are pretty laggy. I'm not sure whether steering response and sensitivity is gimped, like the speed, from the beginning, but either way, using the Joy Con analog stick is horrific and no fun at all. The directional buttons are much, much better, but not still not perfect. I'm pumping my winnings into the handling to see if it makes much of a difference - which I think it is. I've already shelled out for a handling upgrade, and I'm pretty sure it feels a little better.
Still, for AU $15, it's worth it so far. I like the structure, the visuals are gorgeous and the music is totally race-worthy
@Brownmonster I love the game. Rush Rally 2 with a game-pad on my tablet was great fun, and now RR3 is even better.
I do tend to agree with the Gamecube-look thing, though. It's less of the technical aspects of the title, and more that the assets and textures generally look like they're right out of the Gamecube/Xbox generation, just running at higher resolutions - which is definitely not a bad thing. That era had some amazing racers, and RR3 feels like it's one of them.
I'd love to see more tracks with towns to pass through, bridges to cross and more real-world details, like more spectators and camera men
But if none of that comes to pass, then I'll remain just as happy with RR3 as it is - it's a pure, no-nonsense rally racer with that just so happens to bring back the CMR 3/4/2005 style of gameplay that I love.
Well done dev - it's right up there with GRID as a must-have racer for all serious racer fans on the system.
EDIT: Also, some rumble would be a great addition. To your credit, it took me a while to realise it wasn't there
I've been playing a tonne of this over the weekend, and it's a lot of fun. The price is fantastic, and the customization options are great. It's not the greatest game ever made, but it's better than I thought it'd be. Competent arcade shooting action with mechs... I approve.
@SegaBlueSky I was gonna say Sega Blue Skies, and then I saw your username, haha! It's an aesthetic that is near and dear to me too. Gaming needs more of it
@Shellcore Because your conduct has been to such a high standard. I've been hanging out for this game for ages. I also own DOOM and Skyrim 3 times over on other platforms, I really don't need them again on the Switch - not until a heavy discount at least.
If that makes my standards low, then that's totally fine. I've always had weird tastes, and I like it like that.
@Shellcore Maybe people have different tastes? I don't like multi-player, so that's never a draw for me. The only kind I like is local, which Gear.Club Unlimited provides. There's a ton of single-player content in here, and it's what I look for in a racer. It's not open world either, which, again, I dig. I enjoyed the mobile game, but found it hampered by the mobile trappings. This fixes those issues for me. I still go back to Metropolis Street Racer and Project Gotham, so the 30fps isn't too much of a problem in a handheld game like this. I personally see a lot of value for money in the game, I can't speak for everybody else, though.
@NinjaBadger The wait for 90s Super GP has been ridiculous. I'd be happy to wait if there were some form of communication on the game, but it's been radio silence since Nicalis entered the fray. SUPER frustrating. I'll be buying it, no doubt, but I am not putting anything on hold for it, because f*** that, who knows when that'll be??? I'm just glad I missed out on backing the project.
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Re: Review: WRC Generations - Rough-Looking Rallying With Too Many Compromises
@romany8806 Agreed. I have tried V-Rally 4, and the 30fps is OK, but the colour-grading on it is weird, something I thought of the PC version too.
Rush Rally 3 is golden, and puts any other low-effort rally port on the Switch to shame. It looks like a Gamecube game, but it plays like a Colin McRae 2005-alike. There's no fat or bloat, it's 60fps, razor-focused on what it sets out to do and just nails it.
Re: Soapbox: After 10 Years I Finally Got A Wii U, Here’s What I Thought
@larryisaman I agree with your assessment of the Wii U Pro Controller. I still use it for a LOT of my gaming. It is super comfy, I really dig the stick placement, the buttons and d-pad are really nice and laid out well for retro stuff and yeah, the battery life is amazing... my original unit still holds charge like nothing else, and lasts forever.
Yup, it is only really missing Gyro, other than that, it is definitely a go-to controller, especially for non-gyro Switch and emulation on the PC. In fact, I have found it the ideal controller for PCSX2 and PPSSPP, since it the analog sticks are amazing for racing games, and the d-pad/buttons kill it for 2D-focused games. It's also great as a Classic Controller in Dolphin for Wii games, definitely feels better than the actual Classic Controller/Pro.
Re: Review: Lunistice - A 32-Bit Platforming Dream That Gives Sonic A Serious Run For His Money
@mereel Yeah, this really stuck out as a 'hot take' kinda post too. The game absolutely earned the 9/10, indie or not. Almost comes across that if a game isn't AAA, then it isn't worthy. A game like Lunistice that is smaller in scope, but better executed than its' AAA brethren is totally worthy of praise. Which I definitely think it is. The whole game is incredibly tight, cohesive and just well executed. It knows what it is, and does it well.
Re: Review: Lunistice - A 32-Bit Platforming Dream That Gives Sonic A Serious Run For His Money
@SmaggTheSmug Fair enough. I am definitely of the opinion that 32-bit visuals need a comeback - I dig it a lot. I find them atmospheric and easy to read
Re: Review: Lunistice - A 32-Bit Platforming Dream That Gives Sonic A Serious Run For His Money
@SmaggTheSmug But it is about the art-style... the low poly look is the aesthetic. None of the 32-bit platforms could have managed the smoothness and draw distances found in Lunistice, that's where modern technology steps in on this one.
I think it looks phenomenal.
Re: Round Up: All The Games From Nintendo's Indie World Showcase - November 2022
Apart from World of Horror, there was definitely nothing here for me. Pepper Grinder looked cool, but I haven't played too much of Drill Dozer, so my excitement for it is definitely tempered.
This definitely skewed to the 'cozy' end of the range on first viewing, not my cup of tea, and I'm not really into the 'personal problems' kind of games either. I'm somebody who grew up with games in the 90s and 2000s, and at the risk of sounding old, I like indie experiences that follow a similar path. Stuff like Lunistice and the upcoming Bushiden all have me pretty excited!
I still feel I am well catered to, though. Between Kickstarter, ROM Hacks/mods and new games for older systems, I have got more than enough to play.
Still, in relation to this Indie Direct, for me it was a disappointment. Although I am happy for others if they found something to latch on to.
Re: Soapbox: After 10 Years I'm Finally Getting A Wii U, But Where Should I Start?
Devils Third is awesome, ignore what everybody says.
Awesome time to get a Wii U. Crack that thing open and you will have very close to the ultimate system that will play the entire Nintendo back catalogue up until the Wii U. Native Gamecube/Wii support is a boon, and you can emulate the DS super well on it.
Also I really, REALLY recommend the Wii U Pro controller. It is an absolute crime that Nintendo never natively allowed it to be used on the Switch. It looks cheap, but it is a beast. Comfy, amazing button/stick layout, solid as hell and the battery life lasts forever. I use mine to this day on everything I possibly can thanks to Mayflash/8bitdo adapters.
As somebody who loves to tinker, older Nintendo consoles are always better once they have been de-commissioned and fans blow the whole thing open - so much fun to play with
Re: Community: Found A Great Switch Game We Didn't Review? We Want To Know
@Slowdive One of my absolute faves
Re: Psychedelic Survival Horror 'Saturnalia' Creeps Onto Switch Next Month
@OorWullie Not a strange choice of music at all if you know what the inspirations of Saturnalia are. Music is very much like Goblin, a prog-rock group who scored many, MANY great off-the-wall Italian thriller and horror movies. The lighting and colours also seems to be inspired by Giallo films.
Very cool, definitely on my radar now.
Re: Nintendo Download: 14th July (North America)
I picked up Mothman 1966 - man, it's quite fantastic so far. I am not into visual novels usually, but the subject matter, aesthetics, soundtrack and overall atmosphere make it very hard to put down so far. It's a bit of an assault on the senses; I love it.
Highly recommended.
Re: Review: Zero Tolerance Collection - A Significant 16-Bit FPS That's Hard To Take These Days
@Ara Yeah, I would love a physical copy of this too. PIKO interactive aren't my favourite peoples, but I think I will have to make an exception for this. I still play Zero Tolerance every now and then via a Raspberry Pi + CRT TV combo, but owning it again on a modern format will eventually prove too big a draw for me to ignore
Re: Sonic Origins Contributor Shares Frustrations Over The State Of The Game
So why do we have to rely on something like Twitter for this information? It's pretty abhorrent that we are expected to pay for a product in this state, and then find this stuff out along the way.
I would absolutely love to buy Sonic Origins, but I won't be double dipping this like I did Sonic Mania; I will be waiting for a fully patched physical release or grabbing nothing at all. I have these games multiple times over already, regardless of the tweaks... widescreen patches exist already, so the reasons to own this are slim already.
I totally would have supported the game either digital or physical if it had been a flawless release, and I have to commend SEGA for keeping their games available through the years. but crunch or no crunch, until it is actually done I can't spend the cash yet.
I usually hate posts where people say what a game is worth and what they are willing to pay, but I guess there is a line that needs to be drawn somewhere???
Re: Here Are The Tracks You'll Be Racing Around In 'Victory Heat Rally'
Anybody interested should seek out the Victory Heat Rally Shakedown demo on Steam . It has 5 tracks and tonnes of modes which unlock after you complete first stretch of the main mode - it really is fantastic.
Re: Poll: What's The Best Warriors Game On Switch?
I still think Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate is pretty amazing, and definitely my favourite. My partner and I have put an ungodly amount of hours into it levelling up all our faves. I am surprised to see it hardly mentioned here. The western release of Orochi 3 Ultimate has me pretty excited.
Literally picked up One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 on sale today. I am no fan of the anime, but I find the colourful world of One Piece appealing, and I needed another hack & slash-fest to chill out with. It's pretty good so far!
Touken Ranbu Warriors looks great, and I love the colours on display, but I am not sold on it yet from the demo. One to grab on a steep discount eventually methinks, because it feels pretty low effort compared to some others that are on the Switch.
Re: Redout 2 Gets A Release Date And Snazzy Trailer, Online Limited To Six Players On Switch
@Switchcraft
You're thinking of Formula Fusion/Pacer - that had 'ex WipEout devs' as a selling point, but it wasn't anybody who had anything to do with the gameplay, so it made no difference and no WipEout magic.
Redout was indeed pretty compromised on Switch. I don't think we can hold out much hope that this sequel is any different, but I would like to be pleasantly surprised.
I will likely grab this one on PC.
Re: Out Run-Inspired Retro Racer 'Slipstream' Drifts Onto Switch In April
@Axelay71 You're right, it does it's own thing.
Anyhoo, great game with a quirky personality and a great Synthwave/Vaporwave soundtrack, which is definitely more Super Hang-On than OutRun. The dev is a Sonic fan, so half of the stages are Sonic related with Sonic colour palettes and stage title cards. We've got Resort Island, Chemical Plant, Marble Garden etc...
The game doesn't feature analog gas or brake, so it will be perfectly suited to the Switch in that respect - even the steering is better on a D-pad.
As an original Kickstarter backer, I suggest you turn on the Automatic Drifting (I have always felt the Manual setting sluggish and unresponsive) and just go for it.
The PC version runs flawlessly at 60fps+ even on a potato, so this Switch version should be fine. That trailer was horribly put together in regards to frame-rates and consistency, which just hasn't been my experience on PC.
It's a pretty great game with more content, varied race types (LAPS!!! TIME TRIALS!!!) and better controls than 80s Overdrive.
It's totally worth it, and I am definitely going to double-dip.
Re: Round Up: The Reviews Are In For Chocobo GP
@Travisemo007 Agreed. I don't think that just because a Kart Racer exists, more can't exist either. Racing games are my favourite genre, and I like seeing a lot of them in whatever form.
I wish the Switch had MORE. A nice 60fps racer will always have my support on the Switch.
Pre-ordered Chocobo Racing for a nice, cheap price here in Australia, and I think I will make an exception and grab the Season Pass for it too. I don't buy many AAA games any more, so this is my one splurge on crap like Season Passes - the last one being Dirt 5 on PC.
Looking forward to the Mario Kart 8 Booster too, but I am waiting to see the verdict on that - it seems to me that Nintendo is literally just porting over Mario Kart Tour courses, and I find the clash in art-styles and polygon counts a bit jarring. It seems like a bit of a cash grab with the most minimum of effort, so we will see!
Re: Review: PowerSlave Exhumed - An Old-School FPS That's Absolutely Worth Digging Up
@IronMan30 Would you have said that about the Turok games when they came out?
Quake has been on sale forever, so it makes sense that a third or fourth purchase of it should be cheaper, it has never been unavailable or unpopular.
Powerslave Exhumed is a remaster of a game almost forgotten to time that has never been re-released. It's niche, and the amount of work put in to it is staggering. It's a project at least seven years in the making that involved lots of legal and technical hurdles to get here. It's not the same as re-releasing a game like Quake, yet again, that is open-source, and has had all the hard-work and heavy lifting already done for it.
Besides, the Powerslave Exhumed experience is absolutely worth the asking price - it's your loss, I guess.
Re: GTA Trilogy Dataminers Find Missing Music In Code As Problems Mount For 'Definitive' Release
@Scapetti I have noticed this too lately. Lots of virtue signaling coming from Nintendo Life, but they're also more than happy to incite vitriol and ride the waves for the clicks and comments. It just reeks of money and hypocrisy. This is what happened to Kotaku AU before I stopped visiting there years ago
Re: More Cotton Games Are Coming, Including The Extremely Rare Panorama Cotton
Both are stunning games, and unique Cotton entries for the MD and SNES. Day one, for sure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOPK8iPowqM
Re: Rumour: It Looks Like Nintendo Will Soon Unveil A New Controller For Switch
@jrt87 Agreed. The joycon sticks are useless for anything requiring dual-analogue control, so I sold mine too.
My partner uses the Nintendo Pro Controller, but I was using a 8bitdo SF30 Pro until I upgraded to the 8bitdo Pro 2, and it is the perfect controller for what I need on the Switch. I love 2D retro games, so the d-pad and buttons are perfect, and the sticks, triggers and motion are really nice, so it is great for racers and the occasional retro FPS re-release.
I also occasionally use the Retro-bit Mega Drive and Saturn gamepads for SEGA flavoured stuff.
On a side-note, I don't play hand-held at all, and the Switch is docked 100% of the time and running through an mClassic cable, which fixes most of the image quality issues I have with it
Re: Review: Quake - The Definitive Version Of An Iconic, Flawless FPS
@Specter_of-the_OLED I would kill for Lobotomy's Saturn Quake to turn up in the mods (and I say it could definitely be on the cards, as Nightdive are releasing Powerslave Exhumed soon enough), but yeah, with the inevitable Quake II Remaster, the 64 and PSX versions would be amazing to play.
Quake II N64/PSX are arguably more fun to plow through in 2021over the PC original because of the redesigned, linear level layouts. Also, they feature a bit more colour, which I think makes them prettier
Re: Tetris Effect: Connected Is Dropping Onto Nintendo Switch Soon
@brunojenso Yeah, this one was a real disappointment for me on the musical side of things.
I've been a massive Mizuguchi fan, and have really admired his ear for musical accompaniment since he headed up SEGA Rally and Touring Car, and then of course Rez, Every Extend Extra, Lumines, Metoeos and Child of Eden. The music in Tetris Effect is just OK I guess, but all the 'indie' twang in the vocals drives me insane and is really, really off putting.
The game is pretty great, but as a fan of Mizuguchi's particular brand of synesthesia, I just can't get past the middling soundtrack with the annoying indie twang.
Re: Cruis'n Blast Track Showcase Emphasizes Its Wacky Side
@Andigaming AU $59 for a physical copy from JB Hi-Fi (for a new Switch game, no less) is pretty good I reckon - I pre-ordered as soon as it went live
@khululy It doesn't really look anything like Hotshots Racing - that was a circuit racer, this is a Cruis'n game - checkpoint to checkpoint
Re: Cruis'n Blast Track Showcase Emphasizes Its Wacky Side
@SpringDivorce Maybe that's just the track designs and locals reminding you of the RUSH games? The car handling looks quite far removed from them to my eyes.
Check this gameplay of the arcade version EDIT: that I just realised @vio also just linked
https://youtu.be/EGh2ZwWJSMs?t=143
Re: Art Of Rally Power Slides Onto Switch Very Soon
I have this on PC, and only recently picked it up too. I found the initial PC demo a turn off, as well as the visual style.
Decided to give it a chance on sale, and I wish I would have purchased for full price. The visuals grow on you - once I experienced the 'golden hour' in this game, I was sold. But it was the gameplay and overall vibe that really got to me.
The controls are weighty and sublime, and the vibe and soundtrack are perfect.
I hope there is an option for right-stick acceleration and braking on Switch - Art of Rally may look arcade, but it definitely leans more on the sim side of things... and analogue acceleration and braking is pretty much essential.
Amazing game, once that I wished I had jumped on sooner! If the Switch port is good, then it's a definite buy for arcade and sim racing fans alike
Re: Random: Hey, The Switch Is Also Getting A Flight Simulator Game This Week
I don't like complaining, but you've dedicated an article to an asset flip, and actually recommended it as an alternative purchase to Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Please don't give Pix Arts the time of day - their entire catalogue consists of literal asset flips.
Really, really shady. You should be doing your homework.
Star or Shovelware did: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ARs27_0UlM
And so did I. Here it is: https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/vehicles/air/real-flight-mobile-151313
Re: Mousebot: Escape From CatLab Is A Colourful Runner Platformer At A Budget Price
I will grab this, for sure!
I am not into runners too much these days, but I did play a few back in the day, and Vector Unit made my favourite runner of all time, Beach Buggy Blitz. I think it was a bit of a minor hit in 2012, and I loved it a lot! I am glad it eventually evolved into the Beach Buggy Racing series. Beach Buggy Racing 2 is sooo good (and totally up there with MK8!), but I do wish they'd port the original Beach Buggy Blitz over too!
And Hydro Thunder Hurricane, while they are at it
Awesome devs, and such a great racing studio - they've been plugging away with low-key and totally substantial arcade racers while nobody else would touch the genre. Vector Unit are totally underrated.
Re: Cruis'n Blast Brings Classic Arcade Racing To Switch This September
I broke my no pre-order rule for this one today! Like everybody has said, it's day one, for sure.
More arcade racers please!!!
And a Cruis'n collection would be awesome
Re: Tails Of Iron Is An Adventure RPG With Heroic Rats, Arrives On Switch Soon
@sdelfin Agreed. Usually, this kind of animation turns me off quite quickly, but paired with the art style, it kinda makes sense? It looks like a kids picture-book (the kind this 37 year old grew up with) that has come to life.
I am not even a Souls fan, and the term souls-like inspires nothing but apathy from me generally, but this looks amazing. Atmosphere is everything - I am soooo down for it.
Fingers crossed the Switch port is up to snuff
Re: Review: Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX - Vintage Sega Hero In Mediocre Remake
I interviewed the developers way back in 2018 for my blog when it was just a two man project with no SEGA, or no publishers in the mix.
https://acertainkindofgamer.com/2018/06/19/remake-alex-kidd-in-miracle-world-an-interview-with-the-devs-narehop-josyanf1/
Re: Hardware Review: 8BitDo Pro 2 - The Best Switch Pro Controller Rival Has Evolved
@MisterKorman I found my SF30 Pro to be exactly the same! Add in the Bluetooth lag, and I wasn't able to use it for my Switch, which was the worst because I loved the controller.
HOWEVER - I recently decided to update the firmware and I feel everything has been fixed. The lag has been fixed, and I can menu scroll as fast and fluidly as with a Pro Controller, and the stick sensitivity has gotten much, MUCH better! It's still a liiiiiiittle more sensitive than a Pro Controller, but not enough to stop me from using it as my main pad any more. I struggled with FPS and Racing Games before, but now it handles everything perfectly. I even use it for Blue Fire!
Re: Wipeout "Love Letter" BallisticNG Is Speeding Onto Switch
@Primarina No worries! There's unlockable cheats in BallisticNG, and one of them is Ballistic64, which changes the gameplay to control like WipEout 64. I am a big fan of that game too, so I'm feeling you!!!
All the tracks from that game are on the Steam Workshop too.
In fact, I struggle to think of a track (or ship) from a previous WipEout game that I cannot play in BallisticNG, thanks to all the community-created content that is out there.
Re: Wipeout "Love Letter" BallisticNG Is Speeding Onto Switch
BallisticNG is honestly the best WipeEout game ever made. All the original content is right up there with the OG track designs, but the custom music, sounds and user generated tracks (on PC) are the icing on the cake.
I've been playing BallisticNG for years now, and it hits a very specific spot. That spot isn't F-Zero, it's most definitely WipEout - the gameplay is not just close, it is identical. Well, maybe even better, because it is a mix of all the best bits of 2097 and Wip3out.
I will be buying this any way I can get it on the Switch - it's my favourite AG racer of all time, and that's because it is exactly the follow-up to WipEout that we never got once the gameplay went all floaty in Pure/Pulse.
If you're after WipEout on your Switch, BallisticNG WILL deliver, no question.
Re: Crysis Remastered On Switch Updated To Version 1.4.0, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
@PlayedNSlayed It does make a big difference. As long as you set the Switch to 720p for native 720p res games, then you're all good. Crysis can run up to 900p docked, but because it's mostly under that, I find that running it at 720p with the mClassic produces the best results.
I find it a massive boon for almost all 3D games on the Switch. Even 1080p games benefit hugely on a 1080p panel, because they're usually missing anti-aliasing that the mClassic can clean up, no problem. Monster Hunter Generations looks amazing, and beyond crisp.
I have yet to try it's 1440p upscaling output options, but I'd imagine that looks pretty nice on a 4K panel.
I think it was about AU $130.00, I'm not sure. Worth absolutely every dollar, I would say. It feels like it is made for the Nintendo Switch
Re: Crysis Remastered On Switch Updated To Version 1.4.0, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
@SpaceboyScreams I usually avoid the blurry 'miracle ports' because although they're a technical feat, blurry is still blurry. I did cave for this though, but only because I got an mClassic HDMI dongle, and I wanted to see what it could do.
Needless to say, it totally makes Crysis on the Switch much easier to look at. Although, that's only if you play docked. I do, 95% of the time, so the mClassic is pretty much a must have for me. The extra AA and bolder colours are totally worth it.
Re: Review: Crysis Remastered - A Technical Miracle And One Of The Best Shooters On Switch
@Burning_Spear As already mentioned above, yeah, you can't invert Gyro yet. The game allows Invert for the R-Stick, but not the Gyro. I play with Invert Y on both, so I can't actually play it with Gyro controls yet. I'm hoping they patch in a fix soon.
Other than that. Great port. Looks quite brilliant with the mClassic in tow, too!
Re: Rise: Race The Future Update Adds 60fps, Improved Graphics And More
@60frames-please You may want to set the Accel/Brake to the R-Stick, if you're not already. In RISE, you really need control those through the corners, so using the digital ZL/ZR as Accel/Brake is pretty futile. My method of choice is:
Up R-Stick - Accel
Down R-Stick - Brake
ZR - Handbrake
R - Boost.
I find this method super intuitive, and it gives me just as much control as I'd have on any other system.
Glad to see you like the game. It's a bit of a sleeper!
Re: Rise: Race The Future Update Adds 60fps, Improved Graphics And More
As a huge, huuuuuuuge arcade racing fan, I've always really loved RISE. But boy, this patch is transformative. The docked, solid 1080/60fps - with no dynamic resolution scaling - is much better here than even the PC version, which tended to judder a bit... especially at higher refresh rates.
Also transformative are the new low-latency controls - it's so, so responsive now. Events I struggled with before are now easier to get through, thanks to the faster input responses.
The new shaders are the icing on the cake - the cars look much nicer now, and the physical-based lighting is an improvement, I think.
Man, what a Switch show piece - this needs a physical edition now. I'd hit that soooo hard.
100% the definitive version of the game now. I wonder if the PC version will see the same improvements? I'm not holding my breath though, since it feels like an age since support was dropped with that one. Ahh well
Re: Mario's One-Time Rival Alex Kidd Is Getting A Timely Revival
@thor27 Cool to see you linked my article! I'm super glad this is coming out now, and officially too. It would explain the quiet Discord channel and relatively little news on the remake
Re: Nintendo Download: 7th May (Europe)
@TheFullAndy It is slow, initially, no doubt about it. But you win money to upgrade your car, so it gets faster as you progress - 80's Overdrive is pretty much Lamborghini: American Challenge for the Amiga/SNES/Game Boy, but with a new coat of paint.
My only issue with it so far that, apart from feeling slow before some upgrades, the controls are pretty laggy. I'm not sure whether steering response and sensitivity is gimped, like the speed, from the beginning, but either way, using the Joy Con analog stick is horrific and no fun at all. The directional buttons are much, much better, but not still not perfect. I'm pumping my winnings into the handling to see if it makes much of a difference - which I think it is. I've already shelled out for a handling upgrade, and I'm pretty sure it feels a little better.
Still, for AU $15, it's worth it so far. I like the structure, the visuals are gorgeous and the music is totally race-worthy
Re: Review: Rush Rally 3 - A Cheap And Cheerful Rally Racer
@Brownmonster I love the game. Rush Rally 2 with a game-pad on my tablet was great fun, and now RR3 is even better.
I do tend to agree with the Gamecube-look thing, though. It's less of the technical aspects of the title, and more that the assets and textures generally look like they're right out of the Gamecube/Xbox generation, just running at higher resolutions - which is definitely not a bad thing. That era had some amazing racers, and RR3 feels like it's one of them.
I'd love to see more tracks with towns to pass through, bridges to cross and more real-world details, like more spectators and camera men
But if none of that comes to pass, then I'll remain just as happy with RR3 as it is - it's a pure, no-nonsense rally racer with that just so happens to bring back the CMR 3/4/2005 style of gameplay that I love.
Well done dev - it's right up there with GRID as a must-have racer for all serious racer fans on the system.
EDIT: Also, some rumble would be a great addition. To your credit, it took me a while to realise it wasn't there
Re: Xenon Racer Brings High-Speed Arcade Fun To The Nintendo Switch
Looks like an absolute Day One purchase for me. We've been missing this brand of racer for far too long.
I'll be getting it on both PC and Switch, just to show my support. Also, wheel play at home, and Switch on the go. Can't go wrong
Re: Review: VSR: Void Space Racing (Switch eShop)
It looks awesome. I'm a sucker for anything space, electronica and racing, so I pre-ordered this one pretty quickly.
It's nice and cheap too - really eager to give it a go once it goes live later on!
Re: Review: Assault Gunners HD Edition (Switch eShop)
I've been playing a tonne of this over the weekend, and it's a lot of fun. The price is fantastic, and the customization options are great. It's not the greatest game ever made, but it's better than I thought it'd be. Competent arcade shooting action with mechs... I approve.
Re: Review: Sky Rogue (Switch eShop)
@SegaBlueSky I was gonna say Sega Blue Skies, and then I saw your username, haha! It's an aesthetic that is near and dear to me too. Gaming needs more of it
Re: Horror Comes In Many Forms In Closed Nightmares For Nintendo Switch
@gurtifus It's on the eShop, listed as 'Coming Soon' - at least here in Australia.
Great FMV game. I loved Late Shift. The choose your own adventure thing it had going on was awesome, and the acting was fantastic.
Re: Review: Gear.Club Unlimited (Switch)
@Shellcore Because your conduct has been to such a high standard. I've been hanging out for this game for ages. I also own DOOM and Skyrim 3 times over on other platforms, I really don't need them again on the Switch - not until a heavy discount at least.
If that makes my standards low, then that's totally fine. I've always had weird tastes, and I like it like that.
Re: Review: Gear.Club Unlimited (Switch)
@Shellcore Maybe people have different tastes? I don't like multi-player, so that's never a draw for me. The only kind I like is local, which Gear.Club Unlimited provides. There's a ton of single-player content in here, and it's what I look for in a racer. It's not open world either, which, again, I dig. I enjoyed the mobile game, but found it hampered by the mobile trappings. This fixes those issues for me. I still go back to Metropolis Street Racer and Project Gotham, so the 30fps isn't too much of a problem in a handheld game like this. I personally see a lot of value for money in the game, I can't speak for everybody else, though.
Like you're doing.
Re: Review: Gear.Club Unlimited (Switch)
@NinjaBadger The wait for 90s Super GP has been ridiculous. I'd be happy to wait if there were some form of communication on the game, but it's been radio silence since Nicalis entered the fray. SUPER frustrating. I'll be buying it, no doubt, but I am not putting anything on hold for it, because f*** that, who knows when that'll be??? I'm just glad I missed out on backing the project.