Definitely excited for this! The Shantae series is my favorite indie game franchise, because I love the world it set up, the quirky characters, the music, the gameplay, and more. I hope that Shantae will finally be able to meet her parents in this new entry.
And with how successful the series is now, I also hope they consider branching out into other media as well, such as movies TV shows, YouTube videos, etc. Heck, I even had an idea for a pilot episode that I would love to pitch to them!
@AussieMcBucket Another thing to award partial points towards is mirror matches. After all, since mirror matches don't add to your team's overall Clout score at all, that also ends up making your team more likely to lose the Splatfest as a whole. It's almost a wasted effort to play a match that won't mean anything at all for your Splatfest team overall. But by assigning partial points to the winner of a mirror match, it at least can count towards something in the grand scheme of things. That's one other thing I wish Nintendo would fix in any future Splatoon game.
@AussieMcBucket What sucks is when you mesh well with a team and end up on a winning streak, then the maps change, and then you find yourself with a completely different team, and they keep losing.
And I know it will likely never happen (in order to keep it kid-friendly), but it would be nice to have voice chat so you can coordinate with your team. I think team coordination is what really makes or breaks your path to victory, but the lack of that means you end up losing more than winning, because everyone is doing their own thing instead of implementing a cohesive strategy.
But yeah, having different game modes to contribute to your team's Splatfest score instead of just doing Turf Wars could shake up the monotony of it all. I really do hope that Nintendo considers that in the future.
@PlatinumSeraph And that's partly why I have given up on Splatfests. You think your team is doing well, but then the results come in and you find that your team got creamed. It really does take the fun out of it.
What ends up selling consoles? Exclusives. And in that regard, Nintendo dominates. Xbox and PlayStation have to carry their consoles with third-party titles, because they can't hold a candle to Nintendo when it comes to exclusives.
Even though the PS5 has sold significantly better than the Xbox Series X/S, it only has a dozen (at most) of AAA console exclusives; and even some of those are going multiplatform, such as Stellar Blade and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. By doing away with console exclusives, you give people less of an incentive to buy your console. At that point, it more or less comes down to brand loyalty; picking your poison, so to speak.
Even though Microsoft insists that they will continue developing new hardware, all of their actions in recent years point to the idea that they are exiting the console market and instead becoming a third-party publishing powerhouse. If it works for them, then so be it. But there's no reason to assert that console exclusivity is going to go the way of the dodo when it has worked so well for its rivals, especially Nintendo.
Well, congrats to Team Zombie. I sat out this one, because I've been busy with the latest version of Genshin Impact, and I'm frankly tired of Splatfests. They just stopped being fun for me, in all honesty. No matter how good you play, if your team loses more matches than they win, it really does stop being fun.
It does make me wish that there was more to Splatfests than just Turf Wars. Maybe have Tower Control (Escort mode), Splat Zones (King of the Hill mode), Rainmaker (Capture the Flag mode). Heck, what about a mode where you have to shoot ink at a ball to get it into the opposing team's goal, kind of like soccer (football for those of you outside the United States) or hockey? Really hoping Nintendo will consider these as potential additions to Splatfests in Splatoon 4, should it ever be made.
Halo and Hi-Fi Rush are the two Microsoft games that I really want to see come to the Switch 2. Once those games (plus Stellar Blade and Genshin Impact) finally come to the Switch 2, I'll be happy as a clam, because those were the third-party titles I wanted the most.
But I have to wonder if this means that Microsoft will be going the way of Sega and pulling out of the console market entirely, despite what they say about developing the next generation of the platform. After all, Halo is their flagship game franchise, being the game that put Xbox on the map. To put the game on rival platforms means that people have less incentive to buy an Xbox, the latest generation of which hasn't sold all that well, compared to the Xbox One and especially the Xbox 360.
Plus, with how many third-party developers and publishers that Microsoft has scooped up in recent years (Mojang, Activision Blizzard, ZeniMax Media, etc.), it just says to me that they are trying to become a publishing powerhouse in order to shore up their portfolio in the event that they do exit the console-making business.
The way I see it, DLC should be extra content to the main game, almost like dessert after a nice meal. It's not necessary to enjoy the game, but it is a nice little thing to add on. But Sakurai is under no obligation to create DLC for this game. He is free to make the game however he wants.
And this might be a hot take of mine, but I fail to see the need to make DLC for a racing game, even if it's other characters (looking at you, Inkling, Link, Villager and Isabelle from Mario Kart 8). The core experience doesn't change at all. I could see DLC for a shooter game, a fighting game, or an adventure game, but not so much a racing game.
This is good news to hear. Fallout 4 was my first Fallout game, and I always wondered why it never came to the original Swtich. If they could get Skyrim, which ran on the same game engine as Fallout 4, onto the original Switch, why not Fallout 4?
Either way, though, better late than never. Now we just need to get Genshin Impact and Hi-Fi Rush on the Switch 2, and that'll basically cross off my wishlist for third-party games to come to the platform!
If DS games ever do come to the Switch Online service, I would hope they add ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat, a game that was set to release here in North America, but never left Japan, likely due to low sales and the fact that it is one of the first games on the system to use a two-gigabit DS cartridge.
But it was once featured in an issue of Nintendo Power (when I saw that, I was so excited for the game), and apparently even had an ESRB rating. Nintendo of America was apparently even in the process of hiring English voice actors for the localization. But Nintendo ultimately put the kibosh on this release, much to my utter disappointment.
So I hope it will see the light of day here in the West someday, either on the Switch Online service or even as a remastered version for the Switch 2.
Provided that Nintendo hires professional voice actors, I am absolutely on board with full voice acting. While I do get their stance on how they want the on-screen avatar to be the insert for the player, speaking as a writer, I assert that it is equally acceptable to have all characters, even the playable ones, to have full voice acting. That way, we can connect with the characters on a deeper emotional level, understanding their thoughts, their desires, their insecurities, etc. This is not only applicable to Pokémon, but also other Nintendo games, such as Mario, Zelda, Metroid, and more. They just need to hire professional voice actors to really drive it home.
If they were hacking Nintendo with the purpose of pointing out vulnerabilities in the company's security infrastructure and letting them know that they need to fix those vulnerabilities (a so-called "white hat hacker"), I could marginally forgive them. But hacking into Nintendo's (or anyone's) databases for the purpose of extortion? That's just unforgivable.
While Nintendo themselves have been in hot water lately for being overzealous in protecting their IP, assuming these claims are true, I hope that Nintendo will go after these criminals with the utmost vigor. Of course, the hackers might not be caught anyway, because they would most likely be using VPNs to mask their real location(s). Nintendo would have to commit significant resources to get around any such VPN to find the hackers.
Just getting started on Umamusume: Pretty Derby. Just won my first race with Gold Ship. But it might be a while before I can build Haru Urara to the point where she can win the Arima Kinen.
@Whirlwound Honestly, I think that's the only thing from the first Minecraft movie that is still kind of relevant right now (mainly because some online content creators use it as a meme when a Google Doc about another content creator who has done something problematic comes out, the so-called "Google Dockey" meme).
I couldn't tell you what else from the Minecraft movie remains relevant, or if the first film still catches peoples' attention after leaving theaters. I know it hasn't for me. Compare that to KPop Demon Hunters, which is still going strong, despite having been out for months, and is only getting more and more popular with each passing day, with "Golden" having just been certified Double Platinum, and the singers and voice actors making appearances on talk shows like The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon or other shows like Saturday Night Live.
So the question becomes, how can the makers of the next Minecraft movie keep the film relevant long after it leaves the theaters? The same will go for the upcoming Mario movie, as well as that of the upcoming Legend of Zelda movie.
@Misima Interesting. My first thought jumped to Skyrim as #1. It’s still an open-world experience like Breath of the Wild, but there’s so much more to do and explore. Plus, it has a more in-depth story, multiple questlines that are fully fleshed out, dozens of actual, proper dungeons, and a multitude of gameplay styles to suit your tastes.
But I guess the answer will always be subjective. For me, my Top 3 favorite games of all time are (in no particular order) Super Mario Galaxy, Skyrim, and Genshin Impact. In terms of my favorite Zelda game, definitely Twilight Princess. It’s a nice blend of the massive world of Breath of the Wild and the in-depth storyline of Ocarina of Time.
There's something about the NA box art that does it for me. It looks cool. In comparison, the JP box art looks like a crossover between Mega Man (as the robot in the foreground looks like one of the stage bosses from the series) and a generic dystopian sci-fi story (since the robot in the background looks like some sort of robotic cop).
Don't get me wrong, the JP box art also looks pretty, but the NA box art is more cool.
I managed to get a Mario Kart World Switch 2 bundle at Target for myself back in July, and then when I got my invitation from Nintendo to order directly through them, I bought it and gave it to my girlfriend. However, she has to share it with her sibling, whom she lives with, since her sibling has been unable to get their hands on one due to lack of availability.
Now that retailers are getting more in stock to the point where they're readily available, and Nintendo themselves has removed the invitation requirement to purchase directly through them, I'll have to be sure to let my girlfriend's sibling know so they can get their hands on one of their own, provided they can afford it.
@FantasiaWHT Only a small handful of countries recognize the concept of Fair Use in their copyright laws. Japan is not one of them. Since Nintendo is a Japanese company, they are well-within their legal rights to get this taken down. Whether or not they are right to do it is still open for debate, but from a purely legal standpoint, they have the right.
Assuming I participate in the Splatfest (and I might, since my work schedule says that it's a five-day weekend for me), Team Ghost all the way. I've always been a big fan of Casper the Friendly Ghost as a kid, so it's probably just the nostalgia talking.
That being said, I could also do Team Zombie, because one of my favorite characters from the Shantae series is Rottytops, who is a zombie that considers Shantae to be her best friend. I just find her adorable!
I mean, if they flesh out the story more, take a few more risks, I bet The Super Mario Galaxy Movie would be even better than its predecessor. Two of the main criticisms I've heard with the first one were that the plot was barebones at best and that they played things too safe. Speaking as a writer myself, I find myself agreeing with that assessment. In rebuttal to what people will say about it being a movie for kids, there are plenty of kids movies out there that have better storylines and take risks.
As it is, one of my favorite movies growing up was The Brave Little Toaster. It had quite a few elements that parents today would think are not suitable for children, but I think kids are more capable of handling certain kinds content than we give them credit for, such as dark content. Famous film director Don Bluth also thinks that way, hence why he wrote his films with dark elements; The Land Before Time, All Dogs Go to Heaven, and An American Tail being prime examples of this.
Even some of the earliest Disney films, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, and Dumbo all had elements that would frighten little children today, yet we still show them to our kids, calling them classics. On the modern side of things, the acclaimed Netflix hit KPop Demon Hunters appeals to all ages, from little children barely out of diapers to the elderly with a cane. And I know this because there were quite a few little kids at the movie theater my girlfriend and I went to for the sing-along version that was released for one weekend only last month; plus, numerous news reports talking about the success of the film frequently showcase kids singing and dancing to songs like "Golden," "Soda Pop," and "Your Idol."
So I think Nintendo can stand to take a few more risks and introduce elements that modern kids films don't normally include. I also say the same about the upcoming Legend of Zelda film, plus any other films that they make, such as Metroid, Star Fox, Kirby, Fire Emblem, F-Zero, and Super Smash Bros. I guarantee you, people will still go to watch these films, because Nintendo's franchises hold a special place in the hearts of many.
Speaking of old-school mecha anime, one game I would love to see come to the Nintendo 64 app on the Switch Online service is Neon Genesis Evangelion, a fighting game that loosely adapts the original anime and its concluding film, The End of Evangelion. It was only ever released in Japan, so it would be really neat if they could put it on the Switch Online service, since you can play Japanese versions of certain video games on the platform.
@abe_hikura At first, I was like, "Why didn't I ever hear of this spin-off?" Then I Googled it and saw which platforms it was released on and realized why. Since I didn't really follow gaming news beyond what was in Nintendo Power back then, I had no idea that this was even a thing. I'll have to see if I can track down a copy on the PS2 (since I don't have a PSP, unless I decide to get one) and try it out!
See, I remember when the first Rune Factory game came out for the DS. It was titled "Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon." The reason being was because it was a fantasy-based spin-off of the Harvest Moon (now Story of Seasons) franchise. So for the latest Rune Factory game to collaborate with the latest Story of Seasons game, it feels like the series is coming back home, returning to its roots, what have you. That makes me happy in so many ways.
Outsourcing to other countries for cheaper labor is one thing (and I am already against that to begin with), but making the people you're firing train their replacements? Oh, H-E-DOUBLE-HOCKEY-STICK no. That is just rubbing salt in an open wound. At that point, that's just straight-up psychological abuse, if you ask me. I hope every single one of those contractors tells Nintendo to go you-know-what themselves and just walk off the job once their contracts expire.
@Jujuman Well, we just have to hope that the patent doesn't hold up in court, then. It's one thing if you patent hardware, but when you patent an intangible (i.e., not physical) idea, that's when things become blurry.
In a way, it reminds me of Thomas Edison, whose company developed and patented the Kinetograph, an early form of motion picture camera and quickly formed a monopoly not only on the hardware, but even the concept of making movies. According to the college course that I took about the history of film, Edison would sue anyone who made their own camera, but it got to the point where he would prevent anyone who wasn't part of his own film company to make movies.
It's for that reason why so many filmmakers moved to California; they would be free from his control in that state. As a result, much of the American film industry is based in California. Edison's own company would be broken up later after having been found in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.
So we'll just have to see if Nintendo's patent will hold up. Even if it doesn't in this first round, they will more than likely appeal, and keep on doing so until they win or exhaust every appeal they can. And they have the money to do it. If anything, that's why Nintendo keeps winning in court; their opponents don't have the kind of money that they do in order to drag out cases through the court system.
@RadioHedgeFund Let's not forget, though: Spirit Tracks also had a Demon King named Malladus, and he was essentially the main villain of that game. While it is heavily implied that the reincarnation of Demise's hatred was Ganondorf, does that always have to be the case? Likewise, do Link and Zelda always have to be reincarnated as the same identity time and time again? Maybe we will see an incarnation of Link in this game, but they won't be the Link we all know.
In a way, it's kind of like this Zelda webcomic that I discovered. In that one, Link is not only Zelda's child, but also born as a girl, thus making her a princess (albeit a very tomboyish one). I forget if she knows her destiny as the Hero, but she does try to have a good relationship with Ganondorf, who agreed to marry Zelda in order to prevent yet another war between their two peoples. She even calls Ganondorf "Ganondad!".
Definitely had a few of the things I wanted to see, such as a release date for Metroid Prime 4 and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, plus a few things I did not expect but am looking forward to. Would have been nice to get confirmation of a new Star Fox or F-Zero game, though, plus Genshin Impact and Stellar Blade for the Switch 2.
Overall, I liked it. It was a good, meaty Direct with plenty of things to look forward to. But it did kind of tick me off, though, seeing people in the chat on Nintendo's YouTube livestream saying it was the worst Direct ever. There was plenty of good stuff in this Direct. It might not have been everything that I wanted, but it was a solid Direct.
@Kingy Part of me wanted to try Dragon Quest Swords, a spinoff game from the main series. Mainly because I developed a bit of a crush on Fleurette when I saw her in an article for the game that ran in an issue of Nintendo Power. But I never got the game.
@Banjo- Yeah, the Wii Remote was very intuitive when it came to that. It'd be nice if Nintendo could make a Wii Remote-like accessory for the Switch and Switch 2, although the IR sensors in the Joy-Cons could theoretically do the job.
Nice! I was really hoping this would be the case! Now I'll be able to take the entire trilogy with me on the go! Now we just need to get Stellar Blade and its currently-in-development sequel onto the Switch 2!
DLC already? Dang! I didn't even finish the base game yet! Hopefully we'll get to see more than just Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong. I want to see Cranky Kong, Funky Kong, and Candy Kong, amongst others.
I'd recognize Akira Toriyama's art style anywhere. I figured it was going to be another Dragon Quest game. Even though I have a passing interest in the series, I have no idea where to start.
Sweet! I always did love these games. Excited to take them on the go! Although, I wonder how they are going to get you to collect Star Bits. It's been a while since I played Super Mario 3D All-Stars, so I forget how they retooled that mechanic.
Just hoping that it will be a free upgrade for those who already have the game on the original Switch, just like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom were. I never got very far in the original version myself, but I do have it. I don't want to have to pay full price again.
I always did like the Super Mario Galaxy games. So I will definitely watch this one! I just hope it will be better than the last one. I felt it was a bit lacking in the story and character development departments. Other film critics also shared this sentiment. So I hope that they will take these critiques to heart and make the second film's plot and character development even meatier and more in-depth.
Definitely excited for this. I also hope we'll be able to get Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for the Switch 2, as well as the third chapter of the Final Fantasy VII Remake Project.
Actually, I think this is kind of cool. I always did imagine cruising around town in a convertible or on a motorcycle. After all, it's not like she's on missions all the time. Assuming she has an actual home to go to on Earth, she's got to have some way to get around town other than her Gunship.
While one could make the argument that the patent shouldn't hold up in court, the question I have is who can afford the better lawyers. If the answer is Nintendo, they might be able to win, regardless of the merits of the case. Time will tell, though.
@Jujuman Games copy each other all the time. Candy Crush Saga is basically Bejeweled. Every shmup released today takes its roots from games like Space Invaders, Galaga, Galaxian, Xevious, and others. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom took pages from Assassin's Creed. Halo and Call of Duty has their roots in Doom. Undertale is directly inspired by Earthbound. Shantae is considered a Metroidvania, taking elements from both Metroid and Castlevania. The list goes on.
Just hoping this thing will include a head strap. That was one of the big flaws of the original Virtual Boy. For a console that was marketed as being portable, the lack of a head strap really hampered your ability to actually take it on the go. So a head strap for both versions of the accessory would really come in handy.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is just a given. Personally hoping for a new, meatier trailer and a release date. And it might be a pipe dream, but a new Star Fox would be nice as well; specifically, one that ignores the canonicity of Command (and instead of seeing Fox and Krystal break up like they did in that game, have their relationship grow even closer, maybe even get married at the end of it).
@EarthboundBenjy Looks like it. When I was playing the GBA version, I actually did encounter a bug in one of the dungeons, where you think you found a secret passageway while crawling through a crawlspace (since the screen is still fixed on the room you were in instead of Shantae herself), but in actuality, you basically fell out of the world. The only way to escape is to warp out of the dungeon.
What'd be nice is if Nintendo updated the N64 app on the Switch 2 to be compatible with the Switch 2 GameCube controller. I'm currently in the middle of playing Ocarina of Time, but I'm so used to playing it with a GameCube controller (since I have the game as part of the Collector's Edition on the GameCube), that it's a bit hard to get used to with the Switch 2 Pro Controller. Especially when it comes to more precision-based aspects of the game, such as trying to get 1500 points in the Gerudo Horseback Archery minigame.
I hate to sound contrarian, but while Ghibli is a much-beloved animation studio, part of me wonders, if not outright questions, if they would truly be the best studio to make a Zelda anime. Watching Tales from Earthsea (the closest we got to a Zelda anime from them) left a bitter taste in my mouth, and honestly, I've seen animation studios that could do a potential Zelda anime far better.
Plus, I've rarely known Ghibli to focus on stories that deal with existential threats; rather, they focus more on personal growth instead of overarching conflicts between good and evil. Furthermore, much of their success is attributed to Hayao Miyazaki. But he keeps retiring, only to come back out of it for some passion project of his; I doubt that Zelda would be one of them.
Personally, if a Zelda anime were to ever be made, I would love to see a studio like Ufotable (famous for works like Demon Slayer and the upcoming Genshin Impact anime) or A-1 Pictures (known for Black Butler, Sword Art Online, Magi: The Kingdom of Magic, The Seven Deadly Sins, Persona 4: The Animation, Gate, Darling in the Franxx, and Solo Leveling, to name a few) tackle a Zelda anime.
And this might be a little vain of myself, but I would hope that the Zelda light novel that I am in the middle of writing would serve as the basis for such an anime; it's somewhat inspired by other fantasy anime out there, such a Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Slayers, and the like; basically, any high fantasy anime with an adventuring party, since Link will not be alone in this adventure.
I've already mapped out where I want the story to go, have fleshed out the outlines for several key chapters, and have even written the epilogue; in fact, it was the first chapter I wrote. Should Nintendo be willing, I would love to have it published, become a manga, and then finally an anime. And if I had any creative control over such an adaptation, I would definitely go with Ufotable or A-1 Pictures as my first two choices.
Comments 2,351
Re: Surprise! The Next Shantae Game Is Now Officially In Development
Definitely excited for this! The Shantae series is my favorite indie game franchise, because I love the world it set up, the quirky characters, the music, the gameplay, and more. I hope that Shantae will finally be able to meet her parents in this new entry.
And with how successful the series is now, I also hope they consider branching out into other media as well, such as movies TV shows, YouTube videos, etc. Heck, I even had an idea for a pilot episode that I would love to pitch to them!
Re: Team Zombie Gobbles Up A Win In Splatoon 3's Splatoween Splatfest
@AussieMcBucket Another thing to award partial points towards is mirror matches. After all, since mirror matches don't add to your team's overall Clout score at all, that also ends up making your team more likely to lose the Splatfest as a whole. It's almost a wasted effort to play a match that won't mean anything at all for your Splatfest team overall. But by assigning partial points to the winner of a mirror match, it at least can count towards something in the grand scheme of things. That's one other thing I wish Nintendo would fix in any future Splatoon game.
Re: Team Zombie Gobbles Up A Win In Splatoon 3's Splatoween Splatfest
@AussieMcBucket What sucks is when you mesh well with a team and end up on a winning streak, then the maps change, and then you find yourself with a completely different team, and they keep losing.
And I know it will likely never happen (in order to keep it kid-friendly), but it would be nice to have voice chat so you can coordinate with your team. I think team coordination is what really makes or breaks your path to victory, but the lack of that means you end up losing more than winning, because everyone is doing their own thing instead of implementing a cohesive strategy.
But yeah, having different game modes to contribute to your team's Splatfest score instead of just doing Turf Wars could shake up the monotony of it all. I really do hope that Nintendo considers that in the future.
Re: Team Zombie Gobbles Up A Win In Splatoon 3's Splatoween Splatfest
@PlatinumSeraph And that's partly why I have given up on Splatfests. You think your team is doing well, but then the results come in and you find that your team got creamed. It really does take the fun out of it.
Re: "Go Tell Nintendo" - Ex-Blizzard President Responds After Xbox Calls Exclusives "Antiquated"
What ends up selling consoles? Exclusives. And in that regard, Nintendo dominates. Xbox and PlayStation have to carry their consoles with third-party titles, because they can't hold a candle to Nintendo when it comes to exclusives.
Even though the PS5 has sold significantly better than the Xbox Series X/S, it only has a dozen (at most) of AAA console exclusives; and even some of those are going multiplatform, such as Stellar Blade and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. By doing away with console exclusives, you give people less of an incentive to buy your console. At that point, it more or less comes down to brand loyalty; picking your poison, so to speak.
Even though Microsoft insists that they will continue developing new hardware, all of their actions in recent years point to the idea that they are exiting the console market and instead becoming a third-party publishing powerhouse. If it works for them, then so be it. But there's no reason to assert that console exclusivity is going to go the way of the dodo when it has worked so well for its rivals, especially Nintendo.
Re: Team Zombie Gobbles Up A Win In Splatoon 3's Splatoween Splatfest
Well, congrats to Team Zombie. I sat out this one, because I've been busy with the latest version of Genshin Impact, and I'm frankly tired of Splatfests. They just stopped being fun for me, in all honesty. No matter how good you play, if your team loses more matches than they win, it really does stop being fun.
It does make me wish that there was more to Splatfests than just Turf Wars. Maybe have Tower Control (Escort mode), Splat Zones (King of the Hill mode), Rainmaker (Capture the Flag mode). Heck, what about a mode where you have to shoot ink at a ball to get it into the opposing team's goal, kind of like soccer (football for those of you outside the United States) or hockey? Really hoping Nintendo will consider these as potential additions to Splatfests in Splatoon 4, should it ever be made.
Re: Xbox Reiterates Its Support For Switch 2
Halo and Hi-Fi Rush are the two Microsoft games that I really want to see come to the Switch 2. Once those games (plus Stellar Blade and Genshin Impact) finally come to the Switch 2, I'll be happy as a clam, because those were the third-party titles I wanted the most.
But I have to wonder if this means that Microsoft will be going the way of Sega and pulling out of the console market entirely, despite what they say about developing the next generation of the platform. After all, Halo is their flagship game franchise, being the game that put Xbox on the map. To put the game on rival platforms means that people have less incentive to buy an Xbox, the latest generation of which hasn't sold all that well, compared to the Xbox One and especially the Xbox 360.
Plus, with how many third-party developers and publishers that Microsoft has scooped up in recent years (Mojang, Activision Blizzard, ZeniMax Media, etc.), it just says to me that they are trying to become a publishing powerhouse in order to shore up their portfolio in the event that they do exit the console-making business.
Re: Sakurai Has No Plans For Kirby Air Riders DLC: "Everything Is Here"
The way I see it, DLC should be extra content to the main game, almost like dessert after a nice meal. It's not necessary to enjoy the game, but it is a nice little thing to add on. But Sakurai is under no obligation to create DLC for this game. He is free to make the game however he wants.
And this might be a hot take of mine, but I fail to see the need to make DLC for a racing game, even if it's other characters (looking at you, Inkling, Link, Villager and Isabelle from Mario Kart 8). The core experience doesn't change at all. I could see DLC for a shooter game, a fighting game, or an adventure game, but not so much a racing game.
Re: Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition Brings The Apocalypse To Switch 2 In 2026
This is good news to hear. Fallout 4 was my first Fallout game, and I always wondered why it never came to the original Swtich. If they could get Skyrim, which ran on the same game engine as Fallout 4, onto the original Switch, why not Fallout 4?
Either way, though, better late than never. Now we just need to get Genshin Impact and Hi-Fi Rush on the Switch 2, and that'll basically cross off my wishlist for third-party games to come to the platform!
Re: Rumour: Nintendo Patent Supposedly Points To Return Of DS Games
If DS games ever do come to the Switch Online service, I would hope they add ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat, a game that was set to release here in North America, but never left Japan, likely due to low sales and the fact that it is one of the first games on the system to use a two-gigabit DS cartridge.
But it was once featured in an issue of Nintendo Power (when I saw that, I was so excited for the game), and apparently even had an ESRB rating. Nintendo of America was apparently even in the process of hiring English voice actors for the localization. But Nintendo ultimately put the kibosh on this release, much to my utter disappointment.
So I hope it will see the light of day here in the West someday, either on the Switch Online service or even as a remastered version for the Switch 2.
Re: Poll: Is It About Time Game Freak Added Voice Acting To Pokémon?
Provided that Nintendo hires professional voice actors, I am absolutely on board with full voice acting. While I do get their stance on how they want the on-screen avatar to be the insert for the player, speaking as a writer, I assert that it is equally acceptable to have all characters, even the playable ones, to have full voice acting. That way, we can connect with the characters on a deeper emotional level, understanding their thoughts, their desires, their insecurities, etc. This is not only applicable to Pokémon, but also other Nintendo games, such as Mario, Zelda, Metroid, and more. They just need to hire professional voice actors to really drive it home.
Re: Sakurai Is Getting His Very Own Manga Biography
@Mana_Knight Maybe not in an official capacity, but you can bet someone will do a fan translation and put it up on a site like MangaDex.
Re: Nintendo Is Opening Its Fourth Store In Japan This Year
What’d be nice is if they opened a store in Chicago, which is near where I live. Make it happen, Nintendo!
Re: Notorious Group 'Crimson Collective' Claims To Have Hacked Nintendo
If they were hacking Nintendo with the purpose of pointing out vulnerabilities in the company's security infrastructure and letting them know that they need to fix those vulnerabilities (a so-called "white hat hacker"), I could marginally forgive them. But hacking into Nintendo's (or anyone's) databases for the purpose of extortion? That's just unforgivable.
While Nintendo themselves have been in hot water lately for being overzealous in protecting their IP, assuming these claims are true, I hope that Nintendo will go after these criminals with the utmost vigor. Of course, the hackers might not be caught anyway, because they would most likely be using VPNs to mask their real location(s). Nintendo would have to commit significant resources to get around any such VPN to find the hackers.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (11th October)
Just getting started on Umamusume: Pretty Derby. Just won my first race with Gold Ship. But it might be a while before I can build Haru Urara to the point where she can win the Arima Kinen.
Re: It's Official, Minecraft Is Getting A Second Live-Action Movie
@Whirlwound Honestly, I think that's the only thing from the first Minecraft movie that is still kind of relevant right now (mainly because some online content creators use it as a meme when a Google Doc about another content creator who has done something problematic comes out, the so-called "Google Dockey" meme).
I couldn't tell you what else from the Minecraft movie remains relevant, or if the first film still catches peoples' attention after leaving theaters. I know it hasn't for me. Compare that to KPop Demon Hunters, which is still going strong, despite having been out for months, and is only getting more and more popular with each passing day, with "Golden" having just been certified Double Platinum, and the singers and voice actors making appearances on talk shows like The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon or other shows like Saturday Night Live.
So the question becomes, how can the makers of the next Minecraft movie keep the film relevant long after it leaves the theaters? The same will go for the upcoming Mario movie, as well as that of the upcoming Legend of Zelda movie.
Re: It's Official, Minecraft Is Getting A Second Live-Action Movie
But the real question is, will we get more... CHICKEN JOCKEY
Re: Rumour: Red Dead Redemption 2 Port For Switch 2 Really Does "Exist", It's Claimed
@Misima Interesting. My first thought jumped to Skyrim as #1. It’s still an open-world experience like Breath of the Wild, but there’s so much more to do and explore. Plus, it has a more in-depth story, multiple questlines that are fully fleshed out, dozens of actual, proper dungeons, and a multitude of gameplay styles to suit your tastes.
But I guess the answer will always be subjective. For me, my Top 3 favorite games of all time are (in no particular order) Super Mario Galaxy, Skyrim, and Genshin Impact. In terms of my favorite Zelda game, definitely Twilight Princess. It’s a nice blend of the massive world of Breath of the Wild and the in-depth storyline of Ocarina of Time.
Re: Rumour: Red Dead Redemption 2 Port For Switch 2 Really Does "Exist", It's Claimed
@Misima Okay, now you've got me curious. If RDR2 was the second-best game ever made, which was the first?
Re: Poll: Box Art Brawl - Duel: Teleroboxer (Virtual Boy)
There's something about the NA box art that does it for me. It looks cool. In comparison, the JP box art looks like a crossover between Mega Man (as the robot in the foreground looks like one of the stage bosses from the series) and a generic dystopian sci-fi story (since the robot in the background looks like some sort of robotic cop).
Don't get me wrong, the JP box art also looks pretty, but the NA box art is more cool.
Re: ICYMI: Switch 2 Available For Purchase At The My Nintendo Store (US)
I managed to get a Mario Kart World Switch 2 bundle at Target for myself back in July, and then when I got my invitation from Nintendo to order directly through them, I bought it and gave it to my girlfriend. However, she has to share it with her sibling, whom she lives with, since her sibling has been unable to get their hands on one due to lack of availability.
Now that retailers are getting more in stock to the point where they're readily available, and Nintendo themselves has removed the invitation requirement to purchase directly through them, I'll have to be sure to let my girlfriend's sibling know so they can get their hands on one of their own, provided they can afford it.
Re: "OpenAI Is Trying To Get Sued" - Nintendo IP Floods Sora 2 Video Generation App
@FantasiaWHT Only a small handful of countries recognize the concept of Fair Use in their copyright laws. Japan is not one of them. Since Nintendo is a Japanese company, they are well-within their legal rights to get this taken down. Whether or not they are right to do it is still open for debate, but from a purely legal standpoint, they have the right.
Re: Splatoon 3's Spooky Splatoween Splatfest Returns Next Month - Which Team Will You Pick?
Assuming I participate in the Splatfest (and I might, since my work schedule says that it's a five-day weekend for me), Team Ghost all the way. I've always been a big fan of Casper the Friendly Ghost as a kid, so it's probably just the nostalgia talking.
That being said, I could also do Team Zombie, because one of my favorite characters from the Shantae series is Rottytops, who is a zombie that considers Shantae to be her best friend. I just find her adorable!
Re: Opinion: The Mario Movie Was Okay At Best, But I Can't Wait For The Sequel
I mean, if they flesh out the story more, take a few more risks, I bet The Super Mario Galaxy Movie would be even better than its predecessor. Two of the main criticisms I've heard with the first one were that the plot was barebones at best and that they played things too safe. Speaking as a writer myself, I find myself agreeing with that assessment. In rebuttal to what people will say about it being a movie for kids, there are plenty of kids movies out there that have better storylines and take risks.
As it is, one of my favorite movies growing up was The Brave Little Toaster. It had quite a few elements that parents today would think are not suitable for children, but I think kids are more capable of handling certain kinds content than we give them credit for, such as dark content. Famous film director Don Bluth also thinks that way, hence why he wrote his films with dark elements; The Land Before Time, All Dogs Go to Heaven, and An American Tail being prime examples of this.
Even some of the earliest Disney films, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, and Dumbo all had elements that would frighten little children today, yet we still show them to our kids, calling them classics. On the modern side of things, the acclaimed Netflix hit KPop Demon Hunters appeals to all ages, from little children barely out of diapers to the elderly with a cane. And I know this because there were quite a few little kids at the movie theater my girlfriend and I went to for the sing-along version that was released for one weekend only last month; plus, numerous news reports talking about the success of the film frequently showcase kids singing and dancing to songs like "Golden," "Soda Pop," and "Your Idol."
So I think Nintendo can stand to take a few more risks and introduce elements that modern kids films don't normally include. I also say the same about the upcoming Legend of Zelda film, plus any other films that they make, such as Metroid, Star Fox, Kirby, Fire Emblem, F-Zero, and Super Smash Bros. I guarantee you, people will still go to watch these films, because Nintendo's franchises hold a special place in the hearts of many.
Re: Classic Mech Anime And Tactical Card Combat Collide In 'Battle Chef Brigade' Dev's New RPG
Speaking of old-school mecha anime, one game I would love to see come to the Nintendo 64 app on the Switch Online service is Neon Genesis Evangelion, a fighting game that loosely adapts the original anime and its concluding film, The End of Evangelion. It was only ever released in Japan, so it would be really neat if they could put it on the Switch Online service, since you can play Japanese versions of certain video games on the platform.
Re: Rune Factory: Guardians Of Azuma X Story Of Seasons: Grand Bazaar Collab Announced
@abe_hikura At first, I was like, "Why didn't I ever hear of this spin-off?" Then I Googled it and saw which platforms it was released on and realized why. Since I didn't really follow gaming news beyond what was in Nintendo Power back then, I had no idea that this was even a thing. I'll have to see if I can track down a copy on the PS2 (since I don't have a PSP, unless I decide to get one) and try it out!
Re: Rune Factory: Guardians Of Azuma X Story Of Seasons: Grand Bazaar Collab Announced
See, I remember when the first Rune Factory game came out for the DS. It was titled "Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon." The reason being was because it was a fantasy-based spin-off of the Harvest Moon (now Story of Seasons) franchise. So for the latest Rune Factory game to collaborate with the latest Story of Seasons game, it feels like the series is coming back home, returning to its roots, what have you. That makes me happy in so many ways.
Re: Nintendo Of America Reportedly Cuts Loose Customer Service Contractors As It Looks To Outsource
Outsourcing to other countries for cheaper labor is one thing (and I am already against that to begin with), but making the people you're firing train their replacements? Oh, H-E-DOUBLE-HOCKEY-STICK no. That is just rubbing salt in an open wound. At that point, that's just straight-up psychological abuse, if you ask me. I hope every single one of those contractors tells Nintendo to go you-know-what themselves and just walk off the job once their contracts expire.
Re: Pokémon's Former Chief Legal Officer Believes Nintendo's Latest Patent Will Be Ignored
@Jujuman Well, we just have to hope that the patent doesn't hold up in court, then. It's one thing if you patent hardware, but when you patent an intangible (i.e., not physical) idea, that's when things become blurry.
In a way, it reminds me of Thomas Edison, whose company developed and patented the Kinetograph, an early form of motion picture camera and quickly formed a monopoly not only on the hardware, but even the concept of making movies. According to the college course that I took about the history of film, Edison would sue anyone who made their own camera, but it got to the point where he would prevent anyone who wasn't part of his own film company to make movies.
It's for that reason why so many filmmakers moved to California; they would be free from his control in that state. As a result, much of the American film industry is based in California. Edison's own company would be broken up later after having been found in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.
So we'll just have to see if Nintendo's patent will hold up. Even if it doesn't in this first round, they will more than likely appeal, and keep on doing so until they win or exhaust every appeal they can. And they have the money to do it. If anything, that's why Nintendo keeps winning in court; their opponents don't have the kind of money that they do in order to drag out cases through the court system.
Re: Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment Box Art Officially Revealed For Switch 2
@RadioHedgeFund Let's not forget, though: Spirit Tracks also had a Demon King named Malladus, and he was essentially the main villain of that game. While it is heavily implied that the reincarnation of Demise's hatred was Ganondorf, does that always have to be the case? Likewise, do Link and Zelda always have to be reincarnated as the same identity time and time again? Maybe we will see an incarnation of Link in this game, but they won't be the Link we all know.
In a way, it's kind of like this Zelda webcomic that I discovered. In that one, Link is not only Zelda's child, but also born as a girl, thus making her a princess (albeit a very tomboyish one). I forget if she knows her destiny as the Hero, but she does try to have a good relationship with Ganondorf, who agreed to marry Zelda in order to prevent yet another war between their two peoples. She even calls Ganondorf "Ganondad!".
Re: Nintendo Direct September 2025: Every Announcement, Game Reveal, Trailer
Definitely had a few of the things I wanted to see, such as a release date for Metroid Prime 4 and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, plus a few things I did not expect but am looking forward to. Would have been nice to get confirmation of a new Star Fox or F-Zero game, though, plus Genshin Impact and Stellar Blade for the Switch 2.
Overall, I liked it. It was a good, meaty Direct with plenty of things to look forward to. But it did kind of tick me off, though, seeing people in the chat on Nintendo's YouTube livestream saying it was the worst Direct ever. There was plenty of good stuff in this Direct. It might not have been everything that I wanted, but it was a solid Direct.
Re: Dragon Quest VII Gets Reimagined For Switch And Switch 2 In Early 2026
@Kingy Part of me wanted to try Dragon Quest Swords, a spinoff game from the main series. Mainly because I developed a bit of a crush on Fleurette when I saw her in an article for the game that ran in an issue of Nintendo Power. But I never got the game.
Re: Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 Bundle Confirmed For Switch, Launching October
@Banjo- Yeah, the Wii Remote was very intuitive when it came to that. It'd be nice if Nintendo could make a Wii Remote-like accessory for the Switch and Switch 2, although the IR sensors in the Joy-Cons could theoretically do the job.
Re: The Entire Final Fantasy VII Remake Trilogy Is Making Its Way To Switch 2
Nice! I was really hoping this would be the case! Now I'll be able to take the entire trilogy with me on the go! Now we just need to get Stellar Blade and its currently-in-development sequel onto the Switch 2!
Re: Mario Tennis Fever Hits Switch 2 Next February
Never really been into the Mario sports games, but if this new entry into the Mario Tennis series includes an Adventure Mode, I might just try it out.
Re: Surprise! Donkey Kong Bananza Is Getting DLC, And It's Out Today
DLC already? Dang! I didn't even finish the base game yet! Hopefully we'll get to see more than just Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong. I want to see Cranky Kong, Funky Kong, and Candy Kong, amongst others.
Re: Dragon Quest VII Gets Reimagined For Switch And Switch 2 In Early 2026
I'd recognize Akira Toriyama's art style anywhere. I figured it was going to be another Dragon Quest game. Even though I have a passing interest in the series, I have no idea where to start.
Re: Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 Bundle Confirmed For Switch, Launching October
Sweet! I always did love these games. Excited to take them on the go! Although, I wonder how they are going to get you to collect Star Bits. It's been a while since I played Super Mario 3D All-Stars, so I forget how they retooled that mechanic.
Re: Super Mario Bros. Wonder Is Getting A Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Just hoping that it will be a free upgrade for those who already have the game on the original Switch, just like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom were. I never got very far in the original version myself, but I do have it. I don't want to have to pay full price again.
Re: It's Official, The Mario Movie Sequel Is Based On Mario Galaxy
I always did like the Super Mario Galaxy games. So I will definitely watch this one! I just hope it will be better than the last one. I felt it was a bit lacking in the story and character development departments. Other film critics also shared this sentiment. So I hope that they will take these critiques to heart and make the second film's plot and character development even meatier and more in-depth.
Re: Final Fantasy 7 Remake For Switch 2 Slips Into 2026
Definitely excited for this. I also hope we'll be able to get Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for the Switch 2, as well as the third chapter of the Final Fantasy VII Remake Project.
Re: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Finally Gets A Release Date, Open World Confirmed
Actually, I think this is kind of cool. I always did imagine cruising around town in a convertible or on a motorcycle. After all, it's not like she's on missions all the time. Assuming she has an actual home to go to on Earth, she's got to have some way to get around town other than her Gunship.
Re: Pokémon's Former Chief Legal Officer Believes Nintendo's Latest Patent Will Be Ignored
While one could make the argument that the patent shouldn't hold up in court, the question I have is who can afford the better lawyers. If the answer is Nintendo, they might be able to win, regardless of the merits of the case. Time will tell, though.
@Jujuman Games copy each other all the time. Candy Crush Saga is basically Bejeweled. Every shmup released today takes its roots from games like Space Invaders, Galaga, Galaxian, Xevious, and others. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom took pages from Assassin's Creed. Halo and Call of Duty has their roots in Doom. Undertale is directly inspired by Earthbound. Shantae is considered a Metroidvania, taking elements from both Metroid and Castlevania. The list goes on.
Re: Virtual Boy Is Being Added To Nintendo Switch Online
Just hoping this thing will include a head strap. That was one of the big flaws of the original Virtual Boy. For a console that was marketed as being portable, the lack of a head strap really hampered your ability to actually take it on the go. So a head strap for both versions of the accessory would really come in handy.
Re: Talking Point: Nintendo Direct September Predictions - What Do You Hope To See?
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is just a given. Personally hoping for a new, meatier trailer and a release date. And it might be a pipe dream, but a new Star Fox would be nice as well; specifically, one that ignores the canonicity of Command (and instead of seeing Fox and Krystal break up like they did in that game, have their relationship grow even closer, maybe even get married at the end of it).
Re: Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution Receives A Small Update On Switch
@EarthboundBenjy Looks like it. When I was playing the GBA version, I actually did encounter a bug in one of the dungeons, where you think you found a secret passageway while crawling through a crawlspace (since the screen is still fixed on the room you were in instead of Shantae herself), but in actuality, you basically fell out of the world. The only way to escape is to warp out of the dungeon.
Re: Poll: Box Art Brawl - Duel: Forsaken (N64)
@schweinebrot Yeah, I'm not really a big fan of either box art. I just skipped this vote. I just wanted to see the results, if anything else.
Re: Latest Switch Online Release Potentially Confirms Leaked Upcoming N64 Classics
What'd be nice is if Nintendo updated the N64 app on the Switch 2 to be compatible with the Switch 2 GameCube controller. I'm currently in the middle of playing Ocarina of Time, but I'm so used to playing it with a GameCube controller (since I have the game as part of the Collector's Edition on the GameCube), that it's a bit hard to get used to with the Switch 2 Pro Controller. Especially when it comes to more precision-based aspects of the game, such as trying to get 1500 points in the Gerudo Horseback Archery minigame.
Re: Poll: When The Heck Is Metroid Prime 4 Actually Launching?
Look, it could be tomorrow or another ten years from now; as long as it comes out, I'll be first in line to get it. I can wait until then.
Re: Random: Zelda: Majora's Mask Short With Ghibli-Inspired Visuals Is Breathtaking
I hate to sound contrarian, but while Ghibli is a much-beloved animation studio, part of me wonders, if not outright questions, if they would truly be the best studio to make a Zelda anime. Watching Tales from Earthsea (the closest we got to a Zelda anime from them) left a bitter taste in my mouth, and honestly, I've seen animation studios that could do a potential Zelda anime far better.
Plus, I've rarely known Ghibli to focus on stories that deal with existential threats; rather, they focus more on personal growth instead of overarching conflicts between good and evil. Furthermore, much of their success is attributed to Hayao Miyazaki. But he keeps retiring, only to come back out of it for some passion project of his; I doubt that Zelda would be one of them.
Personally, if a Zelda anime were to ever be made, I would love to see a studio like Ufotable (famous for works like Demon Slayer and the upcoming Genshin Impact anime) or A-1 Pictures (known for Black Butler, Sword Art Online, Magi: The Kingdom of Magic, The Seven Deadly Sins, Persona 4: The Animation, Gate, Darling in the Franxx, and Solo Leveling, to name a few) tackle a Zelda anime.
And this might be a little vain of myself, but I would hope that the Zelda light novel that I am in the middle of writing would serve as the basis for such an anime; it's somewhat inspired by other fantasy anime out there, such a Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Slayers, and the like; basically, any high fantasy anime with an adventuring party, since Link will not be alone in this adventure.
I've already mapped out where I want the story to go, have fleshed out the outlines for several key chapters, and have even written the epilogue; in fact, it was the first chapter I wrote. Should Nintendo be willing, I would love to have it published, become a manga, and then finally an anime. And if I had any creative control over such an adaptation, I would definitely go with Ufotable or A-1 Pictures as my first two choices.