AstroTheGamosian

Ever since I played Risky's Revenge on iOS (and later the 3DS) and the original Shantae (also on 3DS), I've been hooked on the series ever since. I love the world it built, the quirky characters, the music, and the gameplay. Risky Revolution is no exception to this. My only real complaint with the game is the relative lack of side content, such as minigames and more collectibles beyond heart holders and Secret Squids (collecting all 50 of them unlocks a swimsuit outfit for Shantae after you beat the game).

Still, it's a minor complaint, as other entries in the series also lack such content. It is still a solid game in its own right. I have not only purchased the game for the GBA (both the purple Standard Edition as well as the gold Collector's Edition), I have also purchased it for the Switch as well (both the physical version that Limited Run Games will be releasing, as well as the digital version on the Switch eShop). It goes to show how much I love this series.

I can't wait to see what WayForward has in store for the series next! Personally, I'd love to see a 3D Shantae game next, maybe done in the style of the first three Spyro games. I'd also love to see a Shantae animated series; heck, I even came up with an idea for a pilot episode that I would love to pitch to Matt Bozon! So yeah, I am looking forward to the future of this series.

Never played this game before, as it didn't seem like something I was interested in at the time. Especially since I would have had to pay full price for the game (and being a kid, I had no income beyond an allowance from my parents or gift money from family and friends; so I had to save my money for the games I REALLY wanted). But now that it's come to the Switch Online service, I might give it a try.

That being said, however, I am hoping that games like Star Fox Adventures and Star Fox: Assault come to the platform; especially the latter, since there was a multiplayer mode to the game. I would play that mode all the time with a late friend of mine whenever we had sleepovers, so it would be nice to play it with my current friends and my girlfriend. It would also be nice to play it on the go.

My guess is Sakurai-sensei will be demoing the gameplay, kind of like what he did every time a new character was announced in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. I bet you that's why the Direct is going to be 45 minutes long for a single game.

I'm a little surprised that Stellar Blade wasn't included in this list. That's one I'd love to take on the go. Same with Genshin Impact. I mean, there's quite a few games from other consoles that I would love to see come to Switch 2, but those are the two big ones for me right now.

Honestly going to skip this one. I've never heard anything good about Bubsy. Mediocre, at best, but nothing good.

@LazyDaisy Well, I will say, Sony has been doing a pretty decent job with movies lately. The Spider-Verse movies have been very well received, and their recent KPop Demon Hunters movie has become an international sensation practically overnight. So if anyone can make a decent film right now, it's Sony.

Granted, I would still love a Zelda anime, preferably animated by Ufotable (the studio behind Demon Slayer and the upcoming Genshin Impact anime). I think they would be the best studio for any Zelda anime, given their experience with the action-adventure and fantasy genres. I could also see A-1 Pictures, the studio behind Sword Art Online, the Persona 4 anime, the Ace Attorney anime, Darling in the Franxx, and Solo Leveling, to name a few, being the one to helm the project, given that that also have a ton of experience with action-adventure anime.

And on a personal note, I am in the middle of writing a light novel of The Legend of Zelda that I hope to have published (with Nintendo's permission, of course). I have a general idea of where I want the story to go, and now it's just a matter of fleshing it out into multiple chapters; maybe even multiple volumes. In fact, I actually started with writing the epilogue first; I showed that chapter to my mother (herself a Zelda fan), and she was amazed at how well-written it was. It is my dream to have that become a Zelda anime, if Nintendo would allow it.

I had no interest in this game when I first saw the reveal trailer and had no intention of buying it. I stand by that decision. Not a big fan of sports games to begin with, anyway. I prefer platformers, shooters, fighting games, adventure games, RPGs, especially those within the sci-fi and fantasy genres.

@Tempestryke Well, to each their own. But I will say, the Zero Mission soundtrack still gives me chills to this day. Can't wait for Nintendo to put that soundtrack on the Nintendo Music app! That and Star Fox: Assault.

Other than my dailies in Genshin, I hope to play Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution on my GameCube with the Game Boy Player attachment, since my Game Boy Advance, my Game Boy Advance SP, and DS Lite are all shot (the D-Pad on the original GBA no longer works, and the L-R Buttons on both the GBA SP and DS Lite don’t work). This is a game over 20 years in the making (on the original hardware, no less), so I am excited to finally play the lost chapter of the Shantae series, which is one of my favorite non-Nintendo franchises.

The original Metroid soundtrack is indeed iconic. Although, I will admit, I am more of a fan of the soundtrack from Metroid: Zero Mission, which is a remake of the original Metroid. There's just something about the MZM soundtrack that scratches an itch for that that the original doesn't. Maybe it has something to do with the vocals. I dunno.

Well, I know what I am going to get my almost-one-week-old niece. My brother is also a Mario fan (although, he was more of a Luigi main), so this would be a neat thing for his daughter.

I meant to get it for the original Switch, but I just never got around to it. So this will be my first time playing it. Going the full version.

@Tober Yeah, I remember hearing about that. Likewise, just a couple weeks ago, the American VTuber agency VShojo was revealed to have not donated over $500,000 to the Immune Deficiency Foundation, instead spending it in order to save their sinking ship.

After Ironmouse (their biggest talent and basically the face of the company, and also a recipient of aid from the Immune Deficiency Foundation, thus making it a cause that she champions with her streaming) announced that she was leaving the agency and revealed why, all of her fellow talents also quit, with VShojo announcing their closure three days later.

The only good thing that came out of this whole situation was that Ironmouse managed to raise over $1.3 million for the Immune Deficiency Foundation. And that number is still climbing.

I bet Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution will be part of this showcase, given that the Shantae series is an indie game franchise. I already know that Limited Run Games will be releasing a version for modern consoles, including the Switch, and preorders go live in a few days. Even though my GBA copies came yesterday, I do still plan on getting it for the Switch as well.

That's okay. I never got the original Atelier Ryza games to begin with, so I'll be going into these games completely fresh. All I'm waiting for is for preorders to open.

@ShieldHero Honestly, it's been one of my favorite games for the last four years. I know a lot of people say that it's just a ripoff of Zelda, but if you ask me, it's the Oreo to Zelda's Hydrox.

A quick little history lesson: Hydrox and Oreo are both very similar cookies, but Oreo came out four years after Hydrox did, intended to be an imitation of Hydrox. But because Oreo had a sweeter filling and the cookie part could absorb milk more easily, it quickly became the more popular cookie.

So when I say that Genshin is the Oreo to Zelda's Hydrox, I mean that it gives me what I've been wanting for a long while from the Zelda series, especially replay value. I've beaten and/or completed almost every Zelda game there is, but I find it hard for me to come back to them, even years later, because the wonder of experiencing a new version of the world can only come once. But with Genshin, the game is updated every month or so, with new areas, quests, characters, and events to partake in.

Plus, I can complete daily quests (called Daily Commissons) each day for rewards, namely Primogems, that I can then convert to items called Acquaint Fates or Intertwined Fates in order to pull for new characters and weapons (yes, the game has a gacha mechanic, but it's not required to enjoy the game, and you don't have to spend real life money if you don't want to; you can get by with acquiring the Primogems through exploration, completing quests, and especially participating in the limited-time events). Not only that, but by completing the missions in the Battle Pass, I can earn even more rewards.

So it always gives me a reason to come back to the game. The same frankly cannot be said for Zelda. While Nintendo tries to focus more on the core gameplay experience over certain elements of the live-service model, I would like to see them work with miHoYo/HoYoverse to make a Zelda game. Not only could they keep the open-world experience, but also incorporate the story into the gameplay more than BOTW and TOTK did.

Plus, they could do something that has never really been done in the main series before and recruit characters to form adventuring parties, each with their own special abilities. They don't have to be acquired through a gacha mechanic, though; that way, it can be more accessible to players. And to up the replay value, include limited-time events where you can earn special rewards.

But again, we don't know if it will come to the Switch 2. It was announced a few years ago for the original Switch, but they claimed that technical limitations with the console prohibited its launch. However, the Switch 2 is more powerful than a PS4, which is capable of running the game just fine, so I would hope that the power under the Switch 2's hood will be more than sufficient to run the game.

Otherwise, you can always play it on your smartphone (provided it's powerful enough), your PC (provided it has the right specs), your PS4 or PS5, or your Xbox Series X/S. So there are options beyond just the Switch 2. And I will say, being able to take a console-like experience on the go via your phone is also a win for the game in my book.

Assuming it's true, I'm hoping Genshin Impact was one of them. I also hope that this doesn't mean that it won't be coming to the Switch 2 after all. I would like to take this game on the go whenever I travel, and it would be really nice to play it with a proper controller instead of using the touchscreen controls on my smartphone.

Otherwise, I'll be left with using the PlayStation Remote Play app and bring my PS5 controller and laptop with me wherever I go, which can result in lag if I don't have a stable enough Internet connection. Being able to play it natively on a console instead of streaming it from my PS5 to my laptop or phone would be much better.

Go figure. It'll be arriving on the Switch roughly around the time that I'll be getting my GBA copies delivered to my house (got both the Standard Edition and Collector's Edition; the former for playing, the latter for collecting). I only just got the notification from Limited Run Games yesterday that it was being shipped.

I do plan on getting it for the Switch/Switch 2 as well, however, because both of my GBAs (an original model and an SP) are old and in poor condition; ditto with my DS Lite. I'm really only able to play GBA games on my GameCube with the Game Boy Player attachment these days. So if I want to take the game on the go, it'll have to be on my Switch/Switch 2, unless I can find a GBA (preferably a GBA SP) that is in relatively new condition.

Really hoping that they will finally announce Genshin Impact for the Switch 2, especially since Version 6.0 is right around the corner. Maybe they’ll time a potential Switch 2 release with the next update (since the current one just went live today).

Personally hoping that games like Horizon, Stellar Blade, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth would be included in any potential lineup of PlayStation games coming to the Switch. It'd be really neat to take these games on the go!

I had considered buying one, but decided against it. The reason being is that, with my bedroom set up the way it currently is, there'd be nowhere to put it. Plus, if it sat on my TV stand, it would basically be seeing mattress, as my bed frame is rather tall (due to it having drawers for storage), and the mattress is pretty tall/thick as well; plus, the foot of my bed is only about a foot and a half (a little less than half a meter for the people who use the metric system; sorry that the United States never adopted it) away from my TV stand.

I'm one of those people who bought one. After my experiences with stick drift for the Joy-Cons on the original Switch a year into buying the system (and I bought it on launch day), I've almost only ever played with a Pro Controller since then. It is just now only beginning to show signs of stick drift itself, although using rubbing alcohol and a Q-Tip are temporary fixes. I would open up the controller and do a deeper cleaning of it, but one of the screws is stuck, and I dare not attempt to force it lest I strip the screw.

I figured I'd do the same with the Switch 2, once I got the system. Now that I have one, the next thing I did was go out and buy a Pro Controller at Best Buy. Yes, it cost me a pretty penny, but I don't want to have to deal with stick drift on the Switch 2's Joy-Cons.

But I might also get the GameCube controller for the Switch 2 as well, considering that playing GameCube games with the Pro Controller can be a little weird (especially The Wind Waker, which I am playing as I type this; just beat the Earth Temple, in fact). I'm so used to the Y-Button being up top and the X-Button being on the right for the A/B/X/Y buttons on a GameCube controller, that I mistakenly press the wrong button when playing with a Pro Controller. So getting the GameCube controller will fix that.

Frankly, I take all leaks and rumors regarding Nintendo with a grain of salt these days. Gotten my hopes up and then let down way too many times, such as a rumored crossover between Metroid and Star Fox, or this or that character being playable in Super Smash Bros. Better to keep my expectations low going forward.

@OrtadragoonX I would usually do a stealth archer build in Skyrim. I also tended to either one-shot enemies or take a significant chunk of health off of them. But this time, I wanted to do something different, and max out all of my skill trees.

I think I got a bit dizzy at one point, but I haven’t played the game enough to really know for certain if it’s going to be an issue for me. I mean, the last game I got really sick from playing was the original Spyro trilogy (not the Reignited version) on my PS3; because I got motion sickness so bad from those games, it took me FOREVER to beat them. The Reignited Trilogy didn’t give me the same problem, so I was able to breeze through the games.

@OrtadragoonX Well, to each their own, of course. I mean, I've sunken hundreds of hours into Skyrim across multiple consoles, but I will always start new save files anyway to try out new gameplay styles. Currently trying to do what I call a God Run, where I max out every skill tree, before even progressing with the main questline.

But I haven't gotten very far in Oblivion, so I would like to try and get back into it. It'd also be nice if they could do something similar with Morrowind and especially Arena and Daggerfall, the latter two being games that could DEFINITELY use an overhaul, both in graphics and gameplay.

@Overzeal @OrtadragoonX @MattmanForever

From what I have heard, the gameplay engine is still the same as the original version, Gamebryo. The remastered version was basically just given a prettier coat of paint using Unreal Engine 5. Ergo, the Oblivion Remaster runs on two game engines: one for the gameplay, the other for the graphics.

So you're still getting all the jank and gameplay bugs from the original version, but with 4K resolution, 60 frames per second, ray tracing, and all the bells and whistles of modern game graphics. If you've never played the original version of Oblivion, it will feel like a bad game to you, but if you have played and liked the original Oblivion, then you'll feel right at home.

Other than doing my dailies and taking care of the latest event in Genshin Impact, definitely Donkey Kong Bananza. I played a bit of it last night, but I don't think I got very far.

Well, now that I've got a Switch 2, I'll try to get in on this! Hopefully I'll be one of the lucky few selected!

I actually managed to order one (specifically the Mario Kart World bundle) through Target a few days ago; was lucky enough that they had some in stock. Finally picked it up at work today, as they allow personal packages to be delivered to our workplace.

Sadly haven't played it yet, as Mario Kart World took FOREVER to download, and by the time it was ready to play, the Joy-Cons needed to be charged. So no game time for me yet.

But it's okay; I plan on getting a Pro Controller, plus Donkey Kong Bananza and Cyberpunk 2077 (and maybe any other games that catch my fancy) after work tomorrow.

Well, I guess everyone can disregard my previous comment. As of today, I finally have a Switch 2. So once this bundle drops, I am definitely buying it!

@Yoshi3 Well, if Nintendo allows me to publish the Legend of Zelda webnovel that I am trying to write, I plan on it becoming a light novel, a manga, and finally an anime someday. In fact, I already have the perfect intro theme for it: “Power of the Triforce” by Dragonforce!

Hopefully I'll be able to pick up the game tomorrow. I didn't preorder it, since I didn't have a Switch 2 at the time. But now that I finally have a Switch 2 (although it is currently sitting on my supervisor's desk at work, waiting to be picked up by me), I'll try to snag a copy at Best Buy or something when it finally launches.

Well, once I pick up my Switch 2 on Wednesday (it's supposed to be delivered to my workplace tomorrow morning, but I am still on a five-day weekend tomorrow, with my first day back to work being Wednesday), I'll be sure to update it once I get home and get it set up!

Once my Switch 2 arrives (managed to snag one via Target's website a couple days ago), this is going to be one of the first games I am going to get for it. While I kind of like the Donkey Kong games, they were never my favorite nor my first choice (especially compared to Metroid, Star Fox, Zelda, and Super Smash Bros.); but this one looks fun! So I am definitely looking forward to it!

Well, provided that Target doesn't cancel my order, I should have my Switch 2 by this upcoming Wednesday. I've been checking their website multiple times a day for the past week for the off-chance that they had some in stock, and they finally managed to get some in.

But since the nearest location that had some in stock was a bit too far away for me to drive, I instead opted to have it shipped to work (since the expected arrival date is the day I go back to work, ending a five-day weekend, and I don't want it sitting on my front porch all day long and risk having it stolen).

So hopefully I'll be able to play a brand new Switch 2 very soon! And if I get an e-mail from Nintendo inviting me to order directly through them, I'll buy it and give it as a gift to my girlfriend (since she also loves video games, especially Nintendo).

Other than Genshin Impact, I'll probably get further in Xenoblade Chronicles X. I finally managed to clear Chapter 9 of the Story Missions and got the flight module for my Skells, and my characters are almost to Level 50, which is the required level to complete Chapter 11 (the final Story Mission in the original version of the game).

Speaking of mechas like Skells, I also might try out that new Mecha Break game that recently dropped. For a game that good-looking, I'm surprised that it's free to play; I saw the VTuber Matara Kan playing it last night, along with her former VShojo costars GEEGA and Zentreya (who are now both indie along with Matara, with Zentreya's last day in VShojo being yesterday), and she was saying that it was a free-to-play game. Personally, I hope it will come to the Switch 2 someday; speaking of which, I managed to snag one (specifically, the Mario Kart bundle) via Target just a little bit ago! It's set to arrive on Wednesday; I just hope Target doesn't cancel the order on me.

I've always been interested in playing Atelier Ryza. Having it as one bundle would be remarkably convenient. But I gotta share this meme that I just made here:

Kind of reminds me of the time when MatPat (from the Game Theorists YouTube channel) when he visited Pope Francis and gifted him a copy of Undertale for Steam. Given that a big part of Francis' message was about love and mercy during his reign as pontiff, and the only way to achieve the true ending for Undertale is to show mercy to your opponents, MatPat felt it appropriate to give him a copy of that game, because it kept with the theme of showing love and mercy. I wonder if Pope Francis ever got the opportunity to play it?

@Hero-of-WiiU For me, I wish they would do a version for smartwatches (like Apple Watch) and/or a browser version (like Apple Music, Spotify, or Pandora). Since I work in a secure facility, I can't have my phone on me while I am on the clock, so I can't listen to the app. Having a smartwatch or browser version would fix that.

I don't have a Switch 2 yet, so I naturally don't have Mario Kart World yet, either. I had the opportunity to get a Switch 2 yesterday, however, at a Target roughly 40 minutes away from my house; it was the only Target in the Chicago area that had any in stock. But according to a store employee, it was only one, and it was likely a return. However, there was someone else also looking to get one, so I said he could take it.

Now there are no stores (Target, Best Buy, GameStop, etc.) in my area that are selling Switch 2s, and I refuse to shop at Walmart, not only due to how they treat their employees, but also because they are price gouging the Switch 2: at the very least, they are selling the base model for over $600, which is $100 more than the MSRP, and the Mario Kart World bundle for over $700; although I've seen some bundles as high as over $800.

Really hoping karma exists for the good deed that I did yesterday in letting that other guy buy the Switch 2 and that I am able to get my hands on one soon, either by happening across one in the stores or Nintendo finally sending me an invitation to buy one directly through them.

It might not happen, but the way I see it, all of these people who have been laid off across the video game and tech industry should band together, pool their resources, and make a new company to rival that of the big firms.

If they do, they should take care to not repeat the same mistakes that their former employers made when it comes to making business decisions. And they should absolutely NOT sell out to any of those big firms.

Of course, I think the only way this will be possible is if they were an employee-owned business, so the employees get a say in how the company is run, like a grocery store chain in my area (the northeast Illinois/southeast Wisconsin area) called Woodman's.

Still waiting for my GBA copy to ship. They said it was supposed to arrive sometime next month. Can't wait to play it! Shantae is my favorite indie game series, and I hope to see the franchise be expanded into other mediums, such as movies and TV cartoons. Heck, I'm even trying to write a script for an episode to pitch to WayForward and see if they'd be interested!

@MoldyPasta And believe me, I do get it: just like how Super Smash Bros. is basically a fighting game for kids and adults who are kids at heart, Mario Kart is the same way. But if there was to ever be a competitive scene for Mario Kart, they should definitely do what Super Smash Bros. does with item selection.

Even then, though, I would not say I am the best at racing games. Back in the day, I used to go for speed as my main stat, but nowadays, I go for handling. The more control I have over my racer, the less likely I am to bump into things, go off the track, etc.

Speaking of racing games, one game I would love to see come to the Nintendo Classics GameCube service on the Switch 2 is Freekstyle. While we still have that game on our GameCube, it'd be nice to see it come to the Switch 2.

@MoldyPasta Items are also an essential part of Super Smash Bros., but we still have the option to turn them off anyway. Likewise, Super Smash Bros. also has the ability to have Ω versions of stages, basically Final Destination-ing most of them, since Final Destination is the go-to stage for competitive tournaments.

Frankly, any competitive game should rely on your skill first and foremost instead of some item that gives you a leg up over the competition. Mario Kart should be no different. Maybe make the tracks more wild and complex, with multiple different routes and other hazards that could then allow you to rely on that skill instead of an item. That's just the way I see it.

@HammerKirby Admittedly, I don't have Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Mario Kart 7 kinda ruined the whole Mario Kart experience for me with how often I had to race to grind for coins to unlock parts, so I skipped Mario Kart 8 (both on Wii U and Switch).

I have considered getting Mario Kart World, since I do like the open world concept, but since I don't have a Switch 2 yet (none of the stores in my area have any in stock, and I still have yet to receive an e-mail from Nintendo themselves sending me an invitation to buy one directly through them), it's just one other game I have to hold off on purchasing. Besides, I'm waiting for Metroid Prime 4 and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment before I consider getting a Switch 2.

Well, as I have always said, if Mario Kart simply added the ability to turn specific items off like Super Smash Bros. does, we wouldn't have to worry about Blue Shells. As it is, there are plenty of racing games out there where you have to try to get ahead based on skill alone, no items needed.

And speaking of Super Smash Bros., both fan and official tournaments ban the use of items, forcing players to rely on skill instead of an item that can turn the tide of the battle. So why can't we have an option in Mario Kart where we have to try to win based on skill alone instead of using items to get ahead?

@RupeeClock It's kind of like how I view the whole debate surrounding AI and art. The way I see it, AI can be used to help conceptualize something, such an environment or a character, but developing that concept further and bringing it to life can and should be left up to humans.

For example, I created a couple of characters using Apple's new Playground app, which uses generative AI to produce images. One of them was an attempt to recreate Krystal from Star Fox. Mind you, this was all just for fun; I have no intention of commercializing the characters I created. But if I wanted to flesh these characters out further, I'd have to rely on a human to do so.

In fact, when I spoke about this very issue to my cousin, who is a professional artist, a week ago at a family reunion, she surprisingly agreed with me about how AI can be used as a tool to conceptualize things in artwork, just like how Adobe programs like Photoshop and Illustrator became a vital tool for artists (despite being a computer program instead of relying on traditional tools and methods; in fact, there was and still is a debate about whether art created in programs like those are considered "real art," given its digital nature).

Basically, AI should not entirely replace humans in the creative process, but instead supplement the tools that humans have at their disposal to be creative, just like Photoshop has been for the last several decades. People are, of course, free to disagree with this opinion. I always welcome debate on the subject.

Personally, I have always considered the Donkey Kong franchise to be part of the Mario universe (along with Wario's and Yoshi's franchises), so I would count Donkey Kong Bananza as a 3D Mario game, in a manner of speaking. Just like Luigi's Mansion, Super Princess Peach, and Princess Peach: Showtime!, it may not star Mario, but it takes place in the same shared universe, therefore it is technically a Mario game. But that is just my opinion, of course.

@Yalloo Yeah, again, it's not a bad game, but it had a lot of unrealized potential. And it's on PC now, so if you have a PC powerful enough to play it, or a Steam Deck, you can play it that way (assuming a Switch 2 version doesn't come out after all).

And I will admit, I was probably one of the few people who actually liked Metroid: Other M. Not only did I like the gameplay, it was the deepest look into Samus' backstory and personality yet. As a writer myself, that made me happy in so many ways, learning more about the main character of the franchise and what makes her tick. It was also the first time in the Metroid series that Samus had voiced dialogue; the only other time we heard her speak at that point was in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.