Speak for yourself. I personally didn't find much at all to my taste in Sony or Microsoft's presentations, and don't look now but the back half of 2022 (especially the Christmas season) could seriously use a few major releases for the Switch. It's WAY past time for Advance Wars to get a firm and final release date, and we should be due for the next Mario Kart 8 Deluxe track pass wave as well, just for starters. The first half of 2022 has been very good, but most of the announcements from the last major Direct have already released by now or are coming very soon; it's time for more news.
Just don't do this and then also hijack 5 minutes of your "mainline" Direct to showcase XC 3 news as well, Nintendo (recalling all of those intrusive Smash Bros. Ultimate updates that ate away precious minutes of so many Directs for so long...on top of the ones fully dedicated to it specifically). I hated that redundancy.
20 minutes is a long time to showcase (i.e. potentially spoil a lot of) an unreleased game. Personally not interested even though I have XC 3 preordered.
That said, my interest would be piqued a bit if Nintendo were to announce a Xenoblade Chronicles X port at the end of the Direct. But if such an announcement is coming I can read about it somewhere afterwards.
Meh. I was hoping for the REAL Direct (the ones that reveal new upcoming game releases) that probably everyone else was hoping might come before the end of the month as well. Guess that prospect just got blown out of the water.
Oh, and aren't we just about due for SOMETHING on Wave 2 of that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Track Pass by now?
@arrmixer So would (a proper SRPG) Shining Force, Skies of Arcadia, Dragon Force, Panzer Dragoon Saga remake/sequel, Albert Odyssey, etc.. Sadly, we'll be very, very fortunate just to get even one of these ever again given their complete absence for two decades or more by this point.
I'm NEVER going to subscribe to any gaming service that replaces traditional, permanent purchases and access with a drip-feed of games (past or present) and where games can and will eventually and inevitably have the plug pulled from the corporate side. I want to KEEP and play what I'm interested in, on MY schedule.
As others have also stated, I would readily pay to purchase legacy Nintendo (and other) games on the Switch. Nintendo's entire approach with their online service is about one thing: CONTROL. And I've seen my rights as a consumer be diminished enough already by EULAs and greedy business practices to give up anything more.
Historically Sonic is a platformer, and most platformers are made up of stages that can take minutes or even seconds to get through. There have been some Sonic games of wildly varying quality in 3D, but up until now they've followed that basic formula of easily digestible bits.
Sonic Frontiers draws comparisons to Zelda: BotW with its visuals, but I suspect that Sega intends for these "open zones" to play more akin to the likes of Super Mario Odyssey. Both IPs are platformers, but Sonic is built around speed, not precision. The main reason some of his 3D forays didn't work is because the mechanics simply didn't mesh; he's always been more suited to a 2D environment where you aren't constantly missing rings or other items by accidentally running past them.
Which leads me to the most concerning point by Iizuka: Frontiers is some "next level leap" for Sonic for the "next 10 years" (inferring this is a specific direction that Sega intends to go with him going forward), and it will take even non-completists around 20-30 hours to complete it. Breaking down what that infers, is that really going to fit for Sonic? Do fans want to race around mostly empty vistas while listening to "chill", understated music and employ "combat" that's suddenly more involved than spin-jumping onto enemies, for dozens of hours no less? Consider the effect of Super Mario 64; after its release it wasn't until Super Mario Bros. Wii THIRTEEN YEARS LATER that Mario saw another console 2D game, and guess what? A lot of fans still loved those 2D iterations. It wasn't that they hated the 3D Marios, it was that suddenly Nintendo...and the entire industry for the most part...decided that 3D was "the future" (i.e. where the $$$ was at), and left them behind, cold turkey.
Of course all of that happened because Super Mario 64 was a roaring SUCCESS, but Sega's making these bold statements without Frontiers having proven a thing yet. But let's say for the sake of argument that Frontiers is a mega-hit. Are Sonic fans who've loved the 2D and even 3D approaches as they've been up till now going to embrace possibly not seeing them again for 10 more years (inevitable remakes aside)? After Sega's remarks about fans "not understanding", why does it come off as telling them what they're getting instead of giving them what they WANT, especially when considering this is where they say they're going with the IP for the next decade?
Food for thought, Sonic fans: Sega did exactly what I'm talking about to all of their fans of their other classic IPs (most of their amazing RPGs haven't seen a new installment in more than two decades). Would you really put it past a company with such a well-documented (three decades and counting) record of self-destructive corporate decisions to leave YOU and your preferences for the Sonic franchise behind to go where they perceive the grass to be greener?
Look, maybe the final product of Sonic Frontiers will blow fans away and truly introduce the generational leap forward that Sega's touting...but what if it doesn't? What if the entire concept, which they're hyping as the franchise's new direction, crashes and burns? Where does that leave Sonic, let alone Sega as a corporation who's seen their presence in the industry decline to the point of having to sell off entire divisions just to stay afloat?
There's ENORMOUS risk here for a company that's essentially placed so many of its eggs into a single basket in order to AVOID risk.
Oh, I understand; most of us had our movies, TV shows, or games growing up that we thought were awesome at the time. Insane car jumps, one-man armies mowing down hordes of bad guys, protagonists casually spouting one-liners and taking names against ridiculous odds...it all seemed possible when we were kids. But speaking for myself at least, most of that stuff simply hasn't stood the test of time because, well, I'm not 12 anymore.
Sorry to be a wet blanket for anyone who enjoys this type of "action"; I guess I've become jaded to certain leaps of logic even within the context of videogames and fantasy settings. To each his/her own, though; it wasn't my intention to offend anyone.
The sheer number of "check your brain at the door" stuff that happens within the first 15 seconds of that trailer...wow. Yes, they're videogames, yes, they're meant to be fantastical, but standing in place talking on the phone with zero cover while apparent Stormtrooper wannabes are shooting (and somehow missing with) hundreds of rounds at you...sorry SquareEnix, but that's not "cool"; cool is when there's a legitimate sense of peril, when the villains actually pose a threat as opposed to your character essentially being a shark having a feeding frenzy on helpless mackerel. This is just plain absurd in the worst way, at least as far as the cinematics go.
@HeeHo I never said this particular character was sexualized; I was speaking in general terms (although the Xenoblade franchise undeniably does have its share of exposed skin). The association of "ears" (cat or bunny) on women with sexual objectification goes back at least decades (Playboy immediately comes to mind), which is why I mentioned it in one of my follow-up responses.
As for the Gormotti, I guess it's just mere coincidence that they have a trait that's literally in the majority of modern JRPGs in some form or fashion, whether as physical ears or headwear of some sort. I had to roll my eyes a bit at the "because she's a Gormotti" response because my point is that by now such features have become extremely derivative in Japanese games, particularly JRPGs. This discussion has nothing to do with the in-game context where I'm concerned.
With that said, I'm done with this silliness, which I've already replied to far more than I should have. The fact that some of you are so confrontational over a jocular and sarcastic observation says a lot about your own priorities. Oh, and learn some reading comprehension.
@Arawn93 They're all absurdly objectified and stylized, to the point where you really have to check your brain at the door when it comes to practicality or actual utility with many if not most JRPG franchises. But the reason I mentioned the women specifically is because, again, a lot of the time they're drawn to resemble tweens or elementary school-aged girls. Maybe it's a cultural thing, but it's creepy if you're honest about it, and it seems ironic that most gamers give it a pass when so much attention has been given to the subject as of late in the real world.
I play RPGs for their stories and exploration, so I admit that typically I look past all of this stuff. It's telling that my seemingly innocuous original post (which was meant as humor) has generated such reactions, though.
@HeeHo I have both the Xenoblades on Switch and played over 200 hours on Xenoblade Chronicles X for the Wii. I also have XC 3 preordered. It's not about hate; it's simply a valid observation. Anyone who's played even a modest amount of JRPGs has to be aware of certain tropes that are seemingly universal, not the least of which are cat or bunny ears on (often decidedly underage-looking yet disturbingly objectified) females.
Read an interesting article yesterday about Sega's history. Pretty much every single decision or disagreement that brought their company down from the pinnacle of the industry to the has-been developer they are now can be laid at the feet of the executives in their Japanese offices. Sounds like nothing has changed after all these years. If Sega ever wants to restore its former glory, it seems that a thorough house cleaning at the top is in order.
"It's not us, it's you," basically. Not going to garner much goodwill from your consumers with statements like that, Sega. When you consider the remarks Square Enix's president made recently regarding NFTs and those who "play to contribute", let alone observe some of the blatant priorities and exploitative business models taken by various gaming corporations as of late, it would seem that the videogame industry has developed a very dangerous sense of arrogance and invulnerability. If you get to a point where instead of giving your customers what they want you tell them what they're getting, and/or you start insulting them and their intelligence for not falling in line with the direction you're taking, you're headed for a FALL.
@Ruler-Of-All-Evil No worries. I guess we all get the feeling that the industry has left us behind for "greener pastures" from time to time. It's kind of a helpless feeling, and the most we can do (aside from writing letters and petitions which typically never get a response) is to vent on forums like these in the faint hope someone with say-so might see our posts and actually do something.
@Ruler-Of-All-Evil By all means you can feel free to point those out. Only A) a lot of gamers (myself included) aren't remotely interested in ANY of them (BTW, I personally don't count any anime, film, or TV show as "support" for a game IP in any way that matters), and B) an absolute ton of incredible IPs ranging from the coin-ops that once dominated Arcades everywhere to console staples like Shining Force, Skies of Arcadia, Shinobi, Landstalker, and so many others haven't been seen in decades. C) how many Sonic articles or announcements have you seen since even any of the franchises you mentioned saw a new installment (and yes, I'm aware there's a new Bayonetta game on the way)?
Look, arguing here is pointless; the fact is that Sega abandoned the vast majority of their user base years (if not decades) ago. And after awhile all those half-baked promises to revisit former IPs (most of which end up getting outsourced to third-party developers to middling results or require Kickstarters to exist at all) kind of ring hollow. When Sega has just released a second Sonic movie, rereleased Colors last year, has TWO Sonic projects currently in the pipeline (Origins and Frontiers), and their bigwigs drop a comment like, "Boy, another Sonic game sure would be nice", then yeah, I think the point of my OP is valid.
I'm not trying to bash you or anyone else for liking/defending Sonic here (or any of the other franchises you mentioned). They're just not for me, and there's so many Sega IPs I would readily put my money down for if they'd just give them another chance. I suspect that a lot of other gamers would as well.
@Snakesglowcaps You guys are right. I bought it and my first impressions are that most of those "multi-layered" moves (especially charged shots) can't realistically be done most of the time because your characters get laid out before they can execute them. Hard to keep your eye on a tiny meter (that freezes you in place, no less, shades of my problems with Metroid Dread) when the opposition typically flattens you before it even comes up.
I'll give the game further chances, of course; not much choice once you've made a nonrefundable purchase after all. But I don't realistically see this one ever becoming the local multi-player option I was hoping for, because it's just too nuanced and frenetic to be pick-up-and-play.
This may seem too radical of an idea, but sometimes less is more. It'd be nice to have an option for no items, charged shots, or other fluff. Just a simple, regular soccer (or football depending on where you're from) game if you want it.
Sonic, Sonic, Sonic. It seems to be all we ever hear from Sega anymore. And yes, personally I'm sick and tired of it. Surely even folks who are fans of Sonic would appreciate them revisiting some other IPs. They claimed that they would do so earlier this year, but so far it's been one long parade of Sonic hype.
There's a law of diminishing returns when you start throwing too many eggs into one basket. And Sega has lost the vast majority of the reputation they once had among hobbyists for a reason.
I'm trying to understand the difference between the two listing for this currently on the NA eShop. One promotes Son Son as the free game, while the "bundle" (both are $39.99) mentions Gun Smoke and the Display Frames Set 1 (this one also allows you to buy each game individually). Does anyone know what the actual difference between these two listings, if any, and whether you get BOTH Son Son and Gun Smoke as free games?
Never personally got the point of Bayonetta. I guess the turnoff is that every bit of gameplay footage I've ever seen from the franchise is all about "style" and "witty" repartee with zero substance; its set pieces feel like a typical blockbuster movie post-CGI, with no genuine stakes or sense of peril. Again, just my personal take. Hopefully Nintendo has some more games to show for the back half of 2022, including a firm, final, and CLOSE release date for Advance Wars.
If you've even casually perused just a small fraction of the Switch eShop, you know exactly how "games" like this get on there. Simply put, Nintendo opened the floodgates to pretty much ANYTHING, with no filter for quality or appropriateness. The Wii's infamous mountain of shovelware was eclipsed long, LONG ago; the eShop is a heaping, steaming, borderline unnavigable CONTINENT of garbage.
Why show it at all, then? In an age where releasing "AAA" flagship games (Halo Infinite, for starters) in an unfinished, buggy, glitchy state has become the norm, this answer comes off more than a little hollow. Just straight-up damage control, and right now I imagine there are a lot of people at Sega (whose futures there may well be on the line) are asking themselves, "What do we do NOW"?
As someone who has oft mentioned Sega's disproportionate focus on Sonic compared to their entire mountain of amazing IPs combined, I see danger here. A lot of folks will agree that not only have there been a ton of Sonic games released since the Dreamcast folded two decades ago, but that they've also been all over the map in terms of quality, so not only has Sega's brand been hugely diminished over that period, but for all their efforts (even delving into movies) Sonic hasn't fared perfectly, either.
Right now Sega as a company have mismanaged themselves out of the Arcade business they once dominated, and despite their claims of intending to offer greater variety and revisit their other IPs, most of what's made are outsourced to other studios to mixed results; they're a shell of the giant they once were. Sonic Frontiers is, if my understanding is correct, intended to be one of their first "super games" (a term which sounds dubious right from the get-go), and aside from remakes like Colors and Origins, it's the first original "mainline" Sonic title in awhile, and it's easily their highest-profile projectin years. That means A LOT is riding on its success, not only Sonic's future as a franchise but that of Sega themselves as a developer. Failure, whether critical or commercial, would be disastrous.
Even as ambivalent toward Sonic as I've become, I don't want that to happen, because Sega's responsible for so many great memories of this hobby for me. There's risk in everything in business, but diversification in terms of game IPs and genres is a basic means to protect against the inevitable diminishing returns of putting too many eggs into too few baskets. And Sega's put themselves into a place where this one single game could potentially make or break what's left of their brand.
Just get M2 and/or other competent studios on the case, Sega, and it wouldn't hurt to make some of your own effort in-house. Either single releases (I suspect most folks reading this would be THRILLED if you brought back the Ages line), or compilations of Saturn and Dreamcast titles similar to your (many) Genesis ones; the more platforms they're on the better.
One thing is certain: Sega may claim to be worried about the potential expense of making new mini consoles, but they've been leaving TONS of money and fan interest on the table by mostly ignoring the Saturn and Dreamcast libraries for the past two decades. And if Sonic Frontiers ends up being like an Unreal Engine tech demo (as at least one article describes what's been shown thus far), they're going to HAVE to diversify beyond Sonic going forward in order to get fans to come back.
This is case in point for why I and countless other gaming enthusiasts will NEVER support mobile games. They're ubiquitous with the absolute worst, greediest, and most exploitative business models around, and they're always pushing those boundaries further. Sure, they may make absurd amounts of money anyway for their publishers, but at least I can say not one red cent of it will ever come from my wallet.
Whatever licensing issues exist, the omission of Ms. Pac-Man really does bring down the whole package; IMHO it's hands down the best game in the franchise. I was fortunate enough to get it on XBLA (and still have it thanks to backwards compatibility), but it would still be nice to have a truly complete compilation.
Licensing has been a real thorn in the side of the hobby, especially in recent years (example: Forza Horizon games...a major first-party IP for Microsoft...being removed from their store after a certain amount of time due to the music licenses expiring). The laws concerning licenses are in serious need of revision in order to prevent such needless situations.
Hopefully someday we'll see Ms. Pac-Man arrive on the Switch. I frankly don't care whether it's done by Bandai-Namco, AtGames, or whomever as long as it gets done. But I'm not holding my breath for these corporations to act in the best interest of gamers.
Whenever new hardware does get introduced, we need the following from Nintendo (and as with most such requests, I'm not holding my breath):
1) Full backwards compatibility with Switch games. My collection is all digital for several reasons, but this is a no-brainer for physical releases as well. I've invested more into Switch games than any previous Nintendo system, and I've owned them all. BC would also alleviate the need for so many ports (which Nintendo always makes us pay a second time for) to focus on new, original experiences.
2) Fix the eShop. Make it actually navigable, and PLEASE do away with the glut of trash "not ready for mobile" titles that make the Wii's infamous "mountain of shovelware" look like an anthill by comparison. Seriously, the "Nintendo Seal of Quality" went WAY out the window with the Switch eShop; that needs to change.
3) Bring back Virtual Console. I prefer to OWN my retro games and have NO interest in anything tied to subscriptions or streaming, and I suspect this applies to many if not most other gamers as well. At least give us the OPTION to buy retro titles, Nintendo, and while you're at it maybe you could encourage the likes of Sega, Capcom, Konami, Atari, Midway, and others to fill out not only the new VC's catalog for other consoles, but offer the best catalog of classic Arcade games as well (perhaps Arcade could be its own category in the eShop, since Hamster, M2, and others have already contributed so many games; why not build on those instead of starting from scratch when the new hardware arrives?).
I'll be completely honest; regarding online play, I can only take it in short doses. My experience with online-centric games pretty is pretty much limited to FPSes like Halo and other "AAA" franchises, and overall it simply hasn't been positive. I'll never pretend to be nearly as skilled as even most "average" players at those games, and that can itself be discouraging when you keep dying over and over. But the biggest issue with online is the nastiness, vulgarity, and other behavior by so many users that make sessions so toxic.
I've always gravitated toward either single-player experiences or local multiplayer ones in the same room and TV. Most of Nintendo's core IPs (Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Donkey Kong, Fire Emblem, Star Fox, etc.) are centered around great single-player experiences, while its multiplayer ones (Mario Party, Mario Kart, F-Zero, and Advance Wars...if it'll ever get here) are focused on that camaraderie on the couch and those in-person reactions from other players that you just don't get from playing against strangers online.
Now, my own personal tastes aren't meant as an attack on anyone who enjoys or prefers to play online, but I do understand Nintendo's thinking here. And besides, online capability has been a Trojan Horse for Sony, Microsoft, and "AAA" publishers to push every conceivable form of exploitation and control over gamers' purchases (oh yes, the EULAs you have to click through in order to play the game you just paid that non-refundable $60 for refer to them as "licenses", which is corporate-speak for signing your rights as a consumer away). I don't mind DLC or Season Passes and such if they bring genuine added value (examples: ACNH: New Horizons and MK 8 Deluxe's Track Pass), but loot crates, Always Online, glorified betas rushed out with bugs and glitches galore...all of those and more are direct products of online and the desire of huge corporations to make more $$$ with less effort, quality control, and value for the consumer.
So basically I'm saying that I'm fine with Nintendo not focusing too much of its energies into online functionality. After all they're a corporation, and corporations are out to make money first and foremost (as that ridiculously overpriced Switch Online Expansion attests). I'd much rather them stay focused on great GAMES that I can continue to enjoy solo or with friends and family around the living room.
It NEEDS to happen, and despite the fact that early 2022 has been mostly good release schedule-wise, there are certain holes yet to fill:
1) We need a Zelda: BotW extended trailer with plenty of game play footage to show what Aunoma's team has been up to all this time.
2) A firm and final release date (or even a same-day stealth drop) for Advance Wars: Reboot Camp likewise needs to happen; its delay over the Ukraine war, while well-intentioned, was a mistake.
3) Th reveal of the next round of tracks in MK 8 Deluxe's track pass is due.
4) If any new Nintendo hardware is coming (whether alongside BotW 2 or especially this Christmas season, it's IMPERATIVE to reveal it well in advance, and June showcases are where most of those occur.
5) There's no true 4th Quarter tentacle "AAA" first-party announcement yet. If not Mario, Zelda, or Metroid, what could it be?
6) If Metroid Prime 4 doesn't get an update trailer this time around, then that reveal WAY back was simply bad form, Nintendo.
7) An expansion for Mario Party Superstars would be welcome.
8) Reveals of some of those "other IPs" from Sega would be nice to see, especially if they end up being the likes of Shining Force, Skies of Arcadia, or Dragon Force. And I doubt that anyone would complain if they brought the Ages line back to Switch.
I know they're more than a decade old now, but I wouldn't object to seeing the Trails in the Sky trilogy make its way to consoles. The Crossville arc's release will render it as the only mainstream Trails storyline still limited to PC.
Shouldn't ask for too much, though; it's taking more than long enough already to get the new Calvard games localized, and these developers are already swamped.
Seems every Japanese RPG franchise has at least one "mascot", either some cute critter or weird being, that accompanies your party and more often than not acts as comic relief (or is intended to, at least). I have to say that Nopon are right up there around the top of my personal list for most annoying and intrusive. I was able to tolerate the one in Xenoblade Chronicles X, but for the mainstream games they've actually contributed heavily to me losing interest and walking away from the games (the awful, endlessly repeated battle cries and often less-than-intuitive, button-mashing fight mechanics and having to babysit AI-controlled party members who tend to get themselves killed being the other things).
1) Talk to Sega about remaking/remastering Shining Force III and Skies of Arcadia (bonus props for any additional IPs like Dragon Force or Panzer Dragoon Saga).
2) 3D Dot Game Heroes was a seriously great Zelda-like on the PS3 and would feel right at home on the Switch.
All that said, I am keeping my expectations tempered; Atlus is far from the only company to tantalize gamers with surveys, questionnaires, and PR statements, and all too often we never hear back or end up being disappointed with what actually gets released.
As for Persona and Shin Migami Tensei, I personally have never cared for their theming; that's no knock on the fans who do, they're just not my cup of tea. Etrian Odyssey is a series I've read about but am not familiar with, but it looks like something I might enjoy.
No worries. We're both passionate about a common hobby, and we each have our own tastes and viewpoints. Nothing wrong with that. For what it's worth I really hope Sega will at some point once again be a company that delivers to the broad range of gamer interests that they once did. After all, they're the company that introduced me to RPGs (Phantasy Star II) and turn-based strategy (Shining Force). I really hope someone there hasn't forgotten how much of an influence they had on so many gamers' experiences back in the day, or how much we would love to see those days again.
@ShadowofTwilight22 I can't do anything about how well a given game or series sells (although I CAN say that I showed four co-workers the original Valkyria Chronicles on PS3 when it first came out; EVERY ONE OF THEM purchased their own copy); all I can do is vote with my own wallet and support it.
Oh, and be vocal in asking for more. But I'm sure by now you don't need me to mention that.
@ShadowofTwilight22 I haven't. I'd ask for another Valkyria Chronicles installment but unfortunately the two-plus decade statute of limitations that seems to apply to getting back around to most of their other IPs hasn't run out yet.
@AnonymousWizard A) I was referring to the middling QUALITY of both Panzer Dragoon Remake and HOTD Remake, and B) Streets of Rage 4 was actually outsourced as well (admittedly with far better results). Also, Wonder Boy...developed by Studio Artdink and published by ININ Games and G Choice. Monster Boy...Game Atelier/FDG Entertainment. Persona 4 Remastered...developed by Atlus and published by Atlus USA and Square Enix. I don't really count the Total War series as it's not for consoles. It is a very nice-looking engine, though; Sega has always done Strategy as well as anyone in the industry.
That's right, a lot of those "Sega" games AREN'T anymore (and I guess you were just mistaken regarding Persona; don't worry, it's happened to me, too). It's hard to keep up with all the musical chairs happening anymore with game IPs.
Sega seems to rarely put in-house effort into anything not named "Sonic" or "Yakuza" anymore. But hey, at least they made Super Monkey Ball themselves, right?
We will see. Sega's said stuff like this before, only for most of such "remasters and remakes" to either be outsourced to other developers with middling results (Panzer Dragoon, House of the Dead) or requiring a Kickstarter to exist (Shenmue 3).
Of course I would LOVE to see more legacy IP: Shining Force (a complete remake of SF III would blow away Western gamers who never got to experience the entire three-part storyline on the Saturn), Skies of Arcadia, Dragon Force, Shinobi, all those iconic coin-ops that dominated Arcades back in the day, LandStalker, and so on. But it's been decades since most of them were seen despite countless fan letters and even user surveys on their own part. Bottom line here is that I'll believe Sega is giving more of its legacy IP another chance when I see it. Just don't pull crap like Valkyria Chronicles Azure or turning the Shining series into ARPG button mash-fests and then claim there was never genuine interest when the fans reject them. Yes, I remember that too, Sega. If you bring back those franchises, do them RIGHT.
If they're turning a profit, good for them, I guess. But as a gamer I care much more about what they've contributed to the hobby as of late. Sure, TMNT is coming, but beyond that? I've never been into the likes of Yu-Gi-Oh! (or Pokemon, for that matter; no knock on those who are, they just aren't my personal cup of tea), and frankly nothing else discussed in the article means anything to me.
It's a given that Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is the closest we'll ever get to another Suikoden, sadly. A nice compilation of Konami's coin-op Arcade titles would be awesome, although Hamster has already done the honors with a bunch of them on Switch.
Konami used to be one of the industry's highest-profile third-party publishers; now I honestly don't recognize them anymore.
@Bolt_Strike I'm not saying I'd be happy with such an outcome (I'd been advocating for MK9 for the past two or three years prior to the track pass announcement), only that it might be in keeping with Nintendo's behavior over the past few years. I agree 100%; for Mario Kart to evolve and take its next step, it's going to need an entirely new iteration. But ultimately that call is Nintendo's.
I wouldn't be too surprised to see Zelda BotW 2's new release date end up coinciding with Nintendo's next hardware launch (or even be delayed yet again to do so, perhaps the 4th Quarter of 2023). There's definitely precedent here with regard to "hybrid" Zelda titles serving to effectively close the doors on an older system while launching a new one (Twilight Princess on GC/Wii and BotW on Wii U/Switch).
Q4 2023 will also close out Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's huge track pass, and given how it too came to Switch with all the DLC content from the Wii U, it's entirely possible that MK8 will have an iteration for the Switch's successor that collects the entirety of its overall content, and in so doing become the first mainline first-party Nintendo game to cross over directly across three consecutive generations (of course, a far better alternative would be for the Switch's successor to be backwards compatible, but we are talking about Nintendo here; their priorities as of late haven't exactly been consumer-friendly).
Anyway, those are just a few thoughts which may or may not end up happening.
The fact that Advance Wars 1+2 Reboot Camp was delayed in the first place is a travesty (I firmly stand by my conviction that it's far too cartoony and light-hearted a game to ever seriously draw associations with the war in Ukraine). Honestly I can't imagine a Call of Duty, Battlefield, or other "AAA" game being delayed over such an issue, and they're a LOT more graphic. It took decades for Fire Emblem fans to be vindicated, and once again turn-based Strategy gamers just can't catch a break. Here's hoping a surprise (and imminent) release is announced around Nintendo's annual June Direct.
Colors, Origins, Frontiers, and now this. Seriously, does Sega have ANYTHING in-house that ISN'T tied to Sonic anymore (and has anyone been keeping a count to see if, just maybe, he's getting more articles here on Nintendo Life than most Nintendo IPs)?
Sega included surveys in every Sega Ages title on the Switch (it's in the menu), and I filled out every single one whenever I bought one of them...and then they abruptly pulled the plug. For the past two years running I've received e-mails from Sega early in the year asking for "Most Wanted" game recommendations from their other IPs (this year's didn't include Shining Force by default, which I made sure to address in my reply), but so far they seem to be just lip service.
And don't get Panzer Dragoon Remake, House of the Dead Remake, or any other outsourced IPs confused with genuine in-house Sega games; the quality just isn't on the same level. Nor should we count Shenmue 3 or any other Kickstarters as coming about due to Sega's effort; it required money paid upfront by determined fans to even exist. Yakuza may be profitable (and if it is then it's unfathomable how they can't see the likes of Skies of Arcadia or Shining Force as being potentially at least equally so) and Monkey Ball may be "safe", but they're every bit as "niche" as the mountain of other IPs they've left to collect dust for decades.
I've said it before and it still stands: I couldn't care less how many Sonic games and remakes Sega releases so long as they still give some love to the rest of the IPs I and many other longtime fans care about. And that shouldn't be too much to ask, but the longer this goes on, the more I see A) Sonic as being in the way (meaning I've come to DESPISE the IP), and B) that Sega themselves are a has-been, washed-up former AAA publisher, once one of the very best and most prolific in the industry, but who've now circled the wagons and are endlessly running out the same tired mascot to "play it safe" until the inevitable day they finally close their doors for good.
If anyone at Sega is reading this, PLEASE give some of those other franchises a chance again, that's all I ask.
I used a bunch of saved-up Rewards points to purchase it digitally, and did so pretty much exclusively for the Bowling, which I enjoyed a lot on the Wii. Here's the honest truth that applies to both games as well as 99% of games designed around control gimmicks: they're fun for a get-together now and then, but as standalone experiences they're FAR too shallow to hold most folks' attention for long. Two factors that should influence one's personal review scores for these games (or any other, frankly), are A) how much time and utility they get for your investment, and B) how many of their modes and features are actually enjoyable and/or end up even being played. If you were judging either of these games as a pack-in with a console and/or a tech demo to familiarize users with the controllers/hardware, I'd say a score of 7 or 8 would be appropriate, but as a standalone product...and especially at Switch Sports' current asking price...I think a 6 is probably a bit generous.
Comments 1,281
Re: Video: We Haven't Had A Nintendo Direct Yet, But That's Fine
Speak for yourself. I personally didn't find much at all to my taste in Sony or Microsoft's presentations, and don't look now but the back half of 2022 (especially the Christmas season) could seriously use a few major releases for the Switch. It's WAY past time for Advance Wars to get a firm and final release date, and we should be due for the next Mario Kart 8 Deluxe track pass wave as well, just for starters. The first half of 2022 has been very good, but most of the announcements from the last major Direct have already released by now or are coming very soon; it's time for more news.
Re: A Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Direct Will Be Airing This Wednesday
Just don't do this and then also hijack 5 minutes of your "mainline" Direct to showcase XC 3 news as well, Nintendo (recalling all of those intrusive Smash Bros. Ultimate updates that ate away precious minutes of so many Directs for so long...on top of the ones fully dedicated to it specifically). I hated that redundancy.
Re: A Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Direct Will Be Airing This Wednesday
20 minutes is a long time to showcase (i.e. potentially spoil a lot of) an unreleased game. Personally not interested even though I have XC 3 preordered.
That said, my interest would be piqued a bit if Nintendo were to announce a Xenoblade Chronicles X port at the end of the Direct. But if such an announcement is coming I can read about it somewhere afterwards.
Re: A Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Direct Will Be Airing This Wednesday
Meh. I was hoping for the REAL Direct (the ones that reveal new upcoming game releases) that probably everyone else was hoping might come before the end of the month as well. Guess that prospect just got blown out of the water.
Oh, and aren't we just about due for SOMETHING on Wave 2 of that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Track Pass by now?
Re: Takashi Iizuka: Sonic Frontiers Is Sonic's "Next Step For The Next 10 Years"
@arrmixer So would (a proper SRPG) Shining Force, Skies of Arcadia, Dragon Force, Panzer Dragoon Saga remake/sequel, Albert Odyssey, etc.. Sadly, we'll be very, very fortunate just to get even one of these ever again given their complete absence for two decades or more by this point.
Re: Switch Online Should Leverage GameCube, Wii And Deliver "More" N64 Content, Says Former NoA Boss
I'm NEVER going to subscribe to any gaming service that replaces traditional, permanent purchases and access with a drip-feed of games (past or present) and where games can and will eventually and inevitably have the plug pulled from the corporate side. I want to KEEP and play what I'm interested in, on MY schedule.
As others have also stated, I would readily pay to purchase legacy Nintendo (and other) games on the Switch. Nintendo's entire approach with their online service is about one thing: CONTROL. And I've seen my rights as a consumer be diminished enough already by EULAs and greedy business practices to give up anything more.
Re: Takashi Iizuka: Sonic Frontiers Is Sonic's "Next Step For The Next 10 Years"
Historically Sonic is a platformer, and most platformers are made up of stages that can take minutes or even seconds to get through. There have been some Sonic games of wildly varying quality in 3D, but up until now they've followed that basic formula of easily digestible bits.
Sonic Frontiers draws comparisons to Zelda: BotW with its visuals, but I suspect that Sega intends for these "open zones" to play more akin to the likes of Super Mario Odyssey. Both IPs are platformers, but Sonic is built around speed, not precision. The main reason some of his 3D forays didn't work is because the mechanics simply didn't mesh; he's always been more suited to a 2D environment where you aren't constantly missing rings or other items by accidentally running past them.
Which leads me to the most concerning point by Iizuka: Frontiers is some "next level leap" for Sonic for the "next 10 years" (inferring this is a specific direction that Sega intends to go with him going forward), and it will take even non-completists around 20-30 hours to complete it. Breaking down what that infers, is that really going to fit for Sonic? Do fans want to race around mostly empty vistas while listening to "chill", understated music and employ "combat" that's suddenly more involved than spin-jumping onto enemies, for dozens of hours no less? Consider the effect of Super Mario 64; after its release it wasn't until Super Mario Bros. Wii THIRTEEN YEARS LATER that Mario saw another console 2D game, and guess what? A lot of fans still loved those 2D iterations. It wasn't that they hated the 3D Marios, it was that suddenly Nintendo...and the entire industry for the most part...decided that 3D was "the future" (i.e. where the $$$ was at), and left them behind, cold turkey.
Of course all of that happened because Super Mario 64 was a roaring SUCCESS, but Sega's making these bold statements without Frontiers having proven a thing yet. But let's say for the sake of argument that Frontiers is a mega-hit. Are Sonic fans who've loved the 2D and even 3D approaches as they've been up till now going to embrace possibly not seeing them again for 10 more years (inevitable remakes aside)? After Sega's remarks about fans "not understanding", why does it come off as telling them what they're getting instead of giving them what they WANT, especially when considering this is where they say they're going with the IP for the next decade?
Food for thought, Sonic fans: Sega did exactly what I'm talking about to all of their fans of their other classic IPs (most of their amazing RPGs haven't seen a new installment in more than two decades). Would you really put it past a company with such a well-documented (three decades and counting) record of self-destructive corporate decisions to leave YOU and your preferences for the Sonic franchise behind to go where they perceive the grass to be greener?
Look, maybe the final product of Sonic Frontiers will blow fans away and truly introduce the generational leap forward that Sega's touting...but what if it doesn't? What if the entire concept, which they're hyping as the franchise's new direction, crashes and burns? Where does that leave Sonic, let alone Sega as a corporation who's seen their presence in the industry decline to the point of having to sell off entire divisions just to stay afloat?
There's ENORMOUS risk here for a company that's essentially placed so many of its eggs into a single basket in order to AVOID risk.
Re: Square Enix Reveals Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion, Arriving On Switch Later This Year
@Omedru Well, I guess THAT would make a bit more sense, at least. Thanks for the explanation.
Re: Square Enix Reveals Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion, Arriving On Switch Later This Year
@somebread,
Oh, I understand; most of us had our movies, TV shows, or games growing up that we thought were awesome at the time. Insane car jumps, one-man armies mowing down hordes of bad guys, protagonists casually spouting one-liners and taking names against ridiculous odds...it all seemed possible when we were kids. But speaking for myself at least, most of that stuff simply hasn't stood the test of time because, well, I'm not 12 anymore.
Sorry to be a wet blanket for anyone who enjoys this type of "action"; I guess I've become jaded to certain leaps of logic even within the context of videogames and fantasy settings. To each his/her own, though; it wasn't my intention to offend anyone.
Re: Square Enix Reveals Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion, Arriving On Switch Later This Year
The sheer number of "check your brain at the door" stuff that happens within the first 15 seconds of that trailer...wow. Yes, they're videogames, yes, they're meant to be fantastical, but standing in place talking on the phone with zero cover while apparent Stormtrooper wannabes are shooting (and somehow missing with) hundreds of rounds at you...sorry SquareEnix, but that's not "cool"; cool is when there's a legitimate sense of peril, when the villains actually pose a threat as opposed to your character essentially being a shark having a feeding frenzy on helpless mackerel. This is just plain absurd in the worst way, at least as far as the cinematics go.
Re: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Introduces Us To The Forest-Dwelling Archer Yuzuriha
@HeeHo I never said this particular character was sexualized; I was speaking in general terms (although the Xenoblade franchise undeniably does have its share of exposed skin). The association of "ears" (cat or bunny) on women with sexual objectification goes back at least decades (Playboy immediately comes to mind), which is why I mentioned it in one of my follow-up responses.
As for the Gormotti, I guess it's just mere coincidence that they have a trait that's literally in the majority of modern JRPGs in some form or fashion, whether as physical ears or headwear of some sort. I had to roll my eyes a bit at the "because she's a Gormotti" response because my point is that by now such features have become extremely derivative in Japanese games, particularly JRPGs. This discussion has nothing to do with the in-game context where I'm concerned.
With that said, I'm done with this silliness, which I've already replied to far more than I should have. The fact that some of you are so confrontational over a jocular and sarcastic observation says a lot about your own priorities. Oh, and learn some reading comprehension.
Re: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Introduces Us To The Forest-Dwelling Archer Yuzuriha
@Arawn93 They're all absurdly objectified and stylized, to the point where you really have to check your brain at the door when it comes to practicality or actual utility with many if not most JRPG franchises. But the reason I mentioned the women specifically is because, again, a lot of the time they're drawn to resemble tweens or elementary school-aged girls. Maybe it's a cultural thing, but it's creepy if you're honest about it, and it seems ironic that most gamers give it a pass when so much attention has been given to the subject as of late in the real world.
I play RPGs for their stories and exploration, so I admit that typically I look past all of this stuff. It's telling that my seemingly innocuous original post (which was meant as humor) has generated such reactions, though.
Re: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Introduces Us To The Forest-Dwelling Archer Yuzuriha
@HeeHo I have both the Xenoblades on Switch and played over 200 hours on Xenoblade Chronicles X for the Wii. I also have XC 3 preordered. It's not about hate; it's simply a valid observation. Anyone who's played even a modest amount of JRPGs has to be aware of certain tropes that are seemingly universal, not the least of which are cat or bunny ears on (often decidedly underage-looking yet disturbingly objectified) females.
Re: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Introduces Us To The Forest-Dwelling Archer Yuzuriha
What's this, an anime-style girl wearing headgear that suggests cat ears? How refreshingly original.
Re: Sega Confirms Sonic Frontiers Won't Be Delayed, Says Fans "Don't Understand" It
Read an interesting article yesterday about Sega's history. Pretty much every single decision or disagreement that brought their company down from the pinnacle of the industry to the has-been developer they are now can be laid at the feet of the executives in their Japanese offices. Sounds like nothing has changed after all these years. If Sega ever wants to restore its former glory, it seems that a thorough house cleaning at the top is in order.
Re: Sega Confirms Sonic Frontiers Won't Be Delayed, Says Fans "Don't Understand" It
"It's not us, it's you," basically. Not going to garner much goodwill from your consumers with statements like that, Sega. When you consider the remarks Square Enix's president made recently regarding NFTs and those who "play to contribute", let alone observe some of the blatant priorities and exploitative business models taken by various gaming corporations as of late, it would seem that the videogame industry has developed a very dangerous sense of arrogance and invulnerability. If you get to a point where instead of giving your customers what they want you tell them what they're getting, and/or you start insulting them and their intelligence for not falling in line with the direction you're taking, you're headed for a FALL.
Re: Sega CO Takashi Iizuka Expresses Interest In A New Sonic Adventure Game
@Ruler-Of-All-Evil No worries. I guess we all get the feeling that the industry has left us behind for "greener pastures" from time to time. It's kind of a helpless feeling, and the most we can do (aside from writing letters and petitions which typically never get a response) is to vent on forums like these in the faint hope someone with say-so might see our posts and actually do something.
Re: Sega CO Takashi Iizuka Expresses Interest In A New Sonic Adventure Game
@Ruler-Of-All-Evil By all means you can feel free to point those out. Only A) a lot of gamers (myself included) aren't remotely interested in ANY of them (BTW, I personally don't count any anime, film, or TV show as "support" for a game IP in any way that matters), and B) an absolute ton of incredible IPs ranging from the coin-ops that once dominated Arcades everywhere to console staples like Shining Force, Skies of Arcadia, Shinobi, Landstalker, and so many others haven't been seen in decades. C) how many Sonic articles or announcements have you seen since even any of the franchises you mentioned saw a new installment (and yes, I'm aware there's a new Bayonetta game on the way)?
Look, arguing here is pointless; the fact is that Sega abandoned the vast majority of their user base years (if not decades) ago. And after awhile all those half-baked promises to revisit former IPs (most of which end up getting outsourced to third-party developers to middling results or require Kickstarters to exist at all) kind of ring hollow. When Sega has just released a second Sonic movie, rereleased Colors last year, has TWO Sonic projects currently in the pipeline (Origins and Frontiers), and their bigwigs drop a comment like, "Boy, another Sonic game sure would be nice", then yeah, I think the point of my OP is valid.
I'm not trying to bash you or anyone else for liking/defending Sonic here (or any of the other franchises you mentioned). They're just not for me, and there's so many Sega IPs I would readily put my money down for if they'd just give them another chance. I suspect that a lot of other gamers would as well.
Re: Where To Buy Mario Strikers: Battle League On Switch
@Snakesglowcaps You guys are right. I bought it and my first impressions are that most of those "multi-layered" moves (especially charged shots) can't realistically be done most of the time because your characters get laid out before they can execute them. Hard to keep your eye on a tiny meter (that freezes you in place, no less, shades of my problems with Metroid Dread) when the opposition typically flattens you before it even comes up.
I'll give the game further chances, of course; not much choice once you've made a nonrefundable purchase after all. But I don't realistically see this one ever becoming the local multi-player option I was hoping for, because it's just too nuanced and frenetic to be pick-up-and-play.
This may seem too radical of an idea, but sometimes less is more. It'd be nice to have an option for no items, charged shots, or other fluff. Just a simple, regular soccer (or football depending on where you're from) game if you want it.
Re: Sega CO Takashi Iizuka Expresses Interest In A New Sonic Adventure Game
Sonic, Sonic, Sonic. It seems to be all we ever hear from Sega anymore. And yes, personally I'm sick and tired of it. Surely even folks who are fans of Sonic would appreciate them revisiting some other IPs. They claimed that they would do so earlier this year, but so far it's been one long parade of Sonic hype.
There's a law of diminishing returns when you start throwing too many eggs into one basket. And Sega has lost the vast majority of the reputation they once had among hobbyists for a reason.
Re: Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium Brings 32 Classics To Nintendo Switch This July, Here's Your First Look
I'm trying to understand the difference between the two listing for this currently on the NA eShop. One promotes Son Son as the free game, while the "bundle" (both are $39.99) mentions Gun Smoke and the Display Frames Set 1 (this one also allows you to buy each game individually). Does anyone know what the actual difference between these two listings, if any, and whether you get BOTH Son Son and Gun Smoke as free games?
Thanks in advance for any insights.
Re: Random: Bayonetta 3 Listing Jumps To The Top Of Nintendo's Store, And Everyone's Excited
Never personally got the point of Bayonetta. I guess the turnoff is that every bit of gameplay footage I've ever seen from the franchise is all about "style" and "witty" repartee with zero substance; its set pieces feel like a typical blockbuster movie post-CGI, with no genuine stakes or sense of peril. Again, just my personal take. Hopefully Nintendo has some more games to show for the back half of 2022, including a firm, final, and CLOSE release date for Advance Wars.
Re: Somehow, 'Prison Life Simulator 2022: World FIGHT Battle GTA ULTIMATE' Is An Actual Game On Switch
If you've even casually perused just a small fraction of the Switch eShop, you know exactly how "games" like this get on there. Simply put, Nintendo opened the floodgates to pretty much ANYTHING, with no filter for quality or appropriateness. The Wii's infamous mountain of shovelware was eclipsed long, LONG ago; the eShop is a heaping, steaming, borderline unnavigable CONTINENT of garbage.
Re: Relax, The Sonic Frontiers Preview Footage Is From An "Early Build"
Why show it at all, then? In an age where releasing "AAA" flagship games (Halo Infinite, for starters) in an unfinished, buggy, glitchy state has become the norm, this answer comes off more than a little hollow. Just straight-up damage control, and right now I imagine there are a lot of people at Sega (whose futures there may well be on the line) are asking themselves, "What do we do NOW"?
Re: Talking Point: Should Sonic Frontiers Be Delayed? We Discuss Its Bizarre Debut And Fan Reaction
As someone who has oft mentioned Sega's disproportionate focus on Sonic compared to their entire mountain of amazing IPs combined, I see danger here. A lot of folks will agree that not only have there been a ton of Sonic games released since the Dreamcast folded two decades ago, but that they've also been all over the map in terms of quality, so not only has Sega's brand been hugely diminished over that period, but for all their efforts (even delving into movies) Sonic hasn't fared perfectly, either.
Right now Sega as a company have mismanaged themselves out of the Arcade business they once dominated, and despite their claims of intending to offer greater variety and revisit their other IPs, most of what's made are outsourced to other studios to mixed results; they're a shell of the giant they once were. Sonic Frontiers is, if my understanding is correct, intended to be one of their first "super games" (a term which sounds dubious right from the get-go), and aside from remakes like Colors and Origins, it's the first original "mainline" Sonic title in awhile, and it's easily their highest-profile projectin years. That means A LOT is riding on its success, not only Sonic's future as a franchise but that of Sega themselves as a developer. Failure, whether critical or commercial, would be disastrous.
Even as ambivalent toward Sonic as I've become, I don't want that to happen, because Sega's responsible for so many great memories of this hobby for me. There's risk in everything in business, but diversification in terms of game IPs and genres is a basic means to protect against the inevitable diminishing returns of putting too many eggs into too few baskets. And Sega's put themselves into a place where this one single game could potentially make or break what's left of their brand.
Re: GoldenEye 007's Return Could Be Close
I call Oddjob, and I'm running straight for the nearest Laser Rifle. Ah, the memories.
Re: Sega Has Considered Dreamcast & Saturn Mini But Is Worried About Extreme Costs
Just get M2 and/or other competent studios on the case, Sega, and it wouldn't hurt to make some of your own effort in-house. Either single releases (I suspect most folks reading this would be THRILLED if you brought back the Ages line), or compilations of Saturn and Dreamcast titles similar to your (many) Genesis ones; the more platforms they're on the better.
One thing is certain: Sega may claim to be worried about the potential expense of making new mini consoles, but they've been leaving TONS of money and fan interest on the table by mostly ignoring the Saturn and Dreamcast libraries for the past two decades. And if Sonic Frontiers ends up being like an Unreal Engine tech demo (as at least one article describes what's been shown thus far), they're going to HAVE to diversify beyond Sonic going forward in order to get fans to come back.
Re: Poll: Has The Latest Trailer Convinced You To Buy Pokémon Scarlet & Violet?
I've personally never played a Pokémon game. That's not a knock in anyone who does, but I will say this: it seems that franchise has gotten more than its share of releases on the Switch. And there are plenty of IPs out there that I wish got half as much attention, whether they typically make as much money or not.
Re: Level-5 Launches New Ni no Kuni Game In The West - Features Crypto And Blockchain, Will Add NFTs
This is case in point for why I and countless other gaming enthusiasts will NEVER support mobile games. They're ubiquitous with the absolute worst, greediest, and most exploitative business models around, and they're always pushing those boundaries further. Sure, they may make absurd amounts of money anyway for their publishers, but at least I can say not one red cent of it will ever come from my wallet.
Re: Review: PAC-MAN MUSEUM+ - A Gaming Legend's Best Collection Yet
Whatever licensing issues exist, the omission of Ms. Pac-Man really does bring down the whole package; IMHO it's hands down the best game in the franchise. I was fortunate enough to get it on XBLA (and still have it thanks to backwards compatibility), but it would still be nice to have a truly complete compilation.
Licensing has been a real thorn in the side of the hobby, especially in recent years (example: Forza Horizon games...a major first-party IP for Microsoft...being removed from their store after a certain amount of time due to the music licenses expiring). The laws concerning licenses are in serious need of revision in order to prevent such needless situations.
Hopefully someday we'll see Ms. Pac-Man arrive on the Switch. I frankly don't care whether it's done by Bandai-Namco, AtGames, or whomever as long as it gets done. But I'm not holding my breath for these corporations to act in the best interest of gamers.
Re: Reggie Shares Thoughts On How Nintendo Can Prepare For The Switch's Successor
Whenever new hardware does get introduced, we need the following from Nintendo (and as with most such requests, I'm not holding my breath):
1) Full backwards compatibility with Switch games. My collection is all digital for several reasons, but this is a no-brainer for physical releases as well. I've invested more into Switch games than any previous Nintendo system, and I've owned them all. BC would also alleviate the need for so many ports (which Nintendo always makes us pay a second time for) to focus on new, original experiences.
2) Fix the eShop. Make it actually navigable, and PLEASE do away with the glut of trash "not ready for mobile" titles that make the Wii's infamous "mountain of shovelware" look like an anthill by comparison. Seriously, the "Nintendo Seal of Quality" went WAY out the window with the Switch eShop; that needs to change.
3) Bring back Virtual Console. I prefer to OWN my retro games and have NO interest in anything tied to subscriptions or streaming, and I suspect this applies to many if not most other gamers as well. At least give us the OPTION to buy retro titles, Nintendo, and while you're at it maybe you could encourage the likes of Sega, Capcom, Konami, Atari, Midway, and others to fill out not only the new VC's catalog for other consoles, but offer the best catalog of classic Arcade games as well (perhaps Arcade could be its own category in the eShop, since Hamster, M2, and others have already contributed so many games; why not build on those instead of starting from scratch when the new hardware arrives?).
Re: Check Out The New Official Pac-Man Theme Song
Nope, still WAAYYY behind the original "Pac-Man Fever" from back in the day. It may not be official, but it's still the best.
Re: Reggie Talks About Nintendo's Slow Adoption Of Online Play
I'll be completely honest; regarding online play, I can only take it in short doses. My experience with online-centric games pretty is pretty much limited to FPSes like Halo and other "AAA" franchises, and overall it simply hasn't been positive. I'll never pretend to be nearly as skilled as even most "average" players at those games, and that can itself be discouraging when you keep dying over and over. But the biggest issue with online is the nastiness, vulgarity, and other behavior by so many users that make sessions so toxic.
I've always gravitated toward either single-player experiences or local multiplayer ones in the same room and TV. Most of Nintendo's core IPs (Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Donkey Kong, Fire Emblem, Star Fox, etc.) are centered around great single-player experiences, while its multiplayer ones (Mario Party, Mario Kart, F-Zero, and Advance Wars...if it'll ever get here) are focused on that camaraderie on the couch and those in-person reactions from other players that you just don't get from playing against strangers online.
Now, my own personal tastes aren't meant as an attack on anyone who enjoys or prefers to play online, but I do understand Nintendo's thinking here. And besides, online capability has been a Trojan Horse for Sony, Microsoft, and "AAA" publishers to push every conceivable form of exploitation and control over gamers' purchases (oh yes, the EULAs you have to click through in order to play the game you just paid that non-refundable $60 for refer to them as "licenses", which is corporate-speak for signing your rights as a consumer away). I don't mind DLC or Season Passes and such if they bring genuine added value (examples: ACNH: New Horizons and MK 8 Deluxe's Track Pass), but loot crates, Always Online, glorified betas rushed out with bugs and glitches galore...all of those and more are direct products of online and the desire of huge corporations to make more $$$ with less effort, quality control, and value for the consumer.
So basically I'm saying that I'm fine with Nintendo not focusing too much of its energies into online functionality. After all they're a corporation, and corporations are out to make money first and foremost (as that ridiculously overpriced Switch Online Expansion attests). I'd much rather them stay focused on great GAMES that I can continue to enjoy solo or with friends and family around the living room.
Re: Video: With E3 Dead, Will Nintendo Host A Direct In June?
It NEEDS to happen, and despite the fact that early 2022 has been mostly good release schedule-wise, there are certain holes yet to fill:
1) We need a Zelda: BotW extended trailer with plenty of game play footage to show what Aunoma's team has been up to all this time.
2) A firm and final release date (or even a same-day stealth drop) for Advance Wars: Reboot Camp likewise needs to happen; its delay over the Ukraine war, while well-intentioned, was a mistake.
3) Th reveal of the next round of tracks in MK 8 Deluxe's track pass is due.
4) If any new Nintendo hardware is coming (whether alongside BotW 2 or especially this Christmas season, it's IMPERATIVE to reveal it well in advance, and June showcases are where most of those occur.
5) There's no true 4th Quarter tentacle "AAA" first-party announcement yet. If not Mario, Zelda, or Metroid, what could it be?
6) If Metroid Prime 4 doesn't get an update trailer this time around, then that reveal WAY back was simply bad form, Nintendo.
7) An expansion for Mario Party Superstars would be welcome.
8) Reveals of some of those "other IPs" from Sega would be nice to see, especially if they end up being the likes of Shining Force, Skies of Arcadia, or Dragon Force. And I doubt that anyone would complain if they brought the Ages line back to Switch.
Re: Meet The Special Support Section In 'The Legend Of Heroes: Trails From Zero' Trailer
I know they're more than a decade old now, but I wouldn't object to seeing the Trails in the Sky trilogy make its way to consoles. The Crossville arc's release will render it as the only mainstream Trails storyline still limited to PC.
Shouldn't ask for too much, though; it's taking more than long enough already to get the new Calvard games localized, and these developers are already swamped.
Re: Meet Your Nopon Party Members In Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Seems every Japanese RPG franchise has at least one "mascot", either some cute critter or weird being, that accompanies your party and more often than not acts as comic relief (or is intended to, at least). I have to say that Nopon are right up there around the top of my personal list for most annoying and intrusive. I was able to tolerate the one in Xenoblade Chronicles X, but for the mainstream games they've actually contributed heavily to me losing interest and walking away from the games (the awful, endlessly repeated battle cries and often less-than-intuitive, button-mashing fight mechanics and having to babysit AI-controlled party members who tend to get themselves killed being the other things).
Re: Atlus Wants To Know If You Would Like More Nintendo Switch Games
A few requests:
1) Talk to Sega about remaking/remastering Shining Force III and Skies of Arcadia (bonus props for any additional IPs like Dragon Force or Panzer Dragoon Saga).
2) 3D Dot Game Heroes was a seriously great Zelda-like on the PS3 and would feel right at home on the Switch.
All that said, I am keeping my expectations tempered; Atlus is far from the only company to tantalize gamers with surveys, questionnaires, and PR statements, and all too often we never hear back or end up being disappointed with what actually gets released.
As for Persona and Shin Migami Tensei, I personally have never cared for their theming; that's no knock on the fans who do, they're just not my cup of tea. Etrian Odyssey is a series I've read about but am not familiar with, but it looks like something I might enjoy.
Re: Sega Plans To Leverage More Past IP With 'Remasters, Remakes, Reboots'
No worries. We're both passionate about a common hobby, and we each have our own tastes and viewpoints. Nothing wrong with that. For what it's worth I really hope Sega will at some point once again be a company that delivers to the broad range of gamer interests that they once did. After all, they're the company that introduced me to RPGs (Phantasy Star II) and turn-based strategy (Shining Force). I really hope someone there hasn't forgotten how much of an influence they had on so many gamers' experiences back in the day, or how much we would love to see those days again.
Re: Sega Plans To Leverage More Past IP With 'Remasters, Remakes, Reboots'
@ShadowofTwilight22 I can't do anything about how well a given game or series sells (although I CAN say that I showed four co-workers the original Valkyria Chronicles on PS3 when it first came out; EVERY ONE OF THEM purchased their own copy); all I can do is vote with my own wallet and support it.
Oh, and be vocal in asking for more. But I'm sure by now you don't need me to mention that.
Re: Sega Plans To Leverage More Past IP With 'Remasters, Remakes, Reboots'
@ShadowofTwilight22 I haven't. I'd ask for another Valkyria Chronicles installment but unfortunately the two-plus decade statute of limitations that seems to apply to getting back around to most of their other IPs hasn't run out yet.
Re: Sega Plans To Leverage More Past IP With 'Remasters, Remakes, Reboots'
@AnonymousWizard A) I was referring to the middling QUALITY of both Panzer Dragoon Remake and HOTD Remake, and B) Streets of Rage 4 was actually outsourced as well (admittedly with far better results). Also, Wonder Boy...developed by Studio Artdink and published by ININ Games and G Choice. Monster Boy...Game Atelier/FDG Entertainment. Persona 4 Remastered...developed by Atlus and published by Atlus USA and Square Enix. I don't really count the Total War series as it's not for consoles. It is a very nice-looking engine, though; Sega has always done Strategy as well as anyone in the industry.
That's right, a lot of those "Sega" games AREN'T anymore (and I guess you were just mistaken regarding Persona; don't worry, it's happened to me, too). It's hard to keep up with all the musical chairs happening anymore with game IPs.
Sega seems to rarely put in-house effort into anything not named "Sonic" or "Yakuza" anymore. But hey, at least they made Super Monkey Ball themselves, right?
Re: Sega Plans To Leverage More Past IP With 'Remasters, Remakes, Reboots'
We will see. Sega's said stuff like this before, only for most of such "remasters and remakes" to either be outsourced to other developers with middling results (Panzer Dragoon, House of the Dead) or requiring a Kickstarter to exist (Shenmue 3).
Of course I would LOVE to see more legacy IP: Shining Force (a complete remake of SF III would blow away Western gamers who never got to experience the entire three-part storyline on the Saturn), Skies of Arcadia, Dragon Force, Shinobi, all those iconic coin-ops that dominated Arcades back in the day, LandStalker, and so on. But it's been decades since most of them were seen despite countless fan letters and even user surveys on their own part. Bottom line here is that I'll believe Sega is giving more of its legacy IP another chance when I see it. Just don't pull crap like Valkyria Chronicles Azure or turning the Shining series into ARPG button mash-fests and then claim there was never genuine interest when the fans reject them. Yes, I remember that too, Sega. If you bring back those franchises, do them RIGHT.
Re: Konami Just Recorded Its Most Profitable Year Ever
If they're turning a profit, good for them, I guess. But as a gamer I care much more about what they've contributed to the hobby as of late. Sure, TMNT is coming, but beyond that? I've never been into the likes of Yu-Gi-Oh! (or Pokemon, for that matter; no knock on those who are, they just aren't my personal cup of tea), and frankly nothing else discussed in the article means anything to me.
It's a given that Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is the closest we'll ever get to another Suikoden, sadly. A nice compilation of Konami's coin-op Arcade titles would be awesome, although Hamster has already done the honors with a bunch of them on Switch.
Konami used to be one of the industry's highest-profile third-party publishers; now I honestly don't recognize them anymore.
Re: Talking Point: As Switch Hardware Sales Slow, How Long Can Nintendo Delay 'Switch 2'?
@Bolt_Strike I'm not saying I'd be happy with such an outcome (I'd been advocating for MK9 for the past two or three years prior to the track pass announcement), only that it might be in keeping with Nintendo's behavior over the past few years. I agree 100%; for Mario Kart to evolve and take its next step, it's going to need an entirely new iteration. But ultimately that call is Nintendo's.
Re: Talking Point: As Switch Hardware Sales Slow, How Long Can Nintendo Delay 'Switch 2'?
I wouldn't be too surprised to see Zelda BotW 2's new release date end up coinciding with Nintendo's next hardware launch (or even be delayed yet again to do so, perhaps the 4th Quarter of 2023). There's definitely precedent here with regard to "hybrid" Zelda titles serving to effectively close the doors on an older system while launching a new one (Twilight Princess on GC/Wii and BotW on Wii U/Switch).
Q4 2023 will also close out Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's huge track pass, and given how it too came to Switch with all the DLC content from the Wii U, it's entirely possible that MK8 will have an iteration for the Switch's successor that collects the entirety of its overall content, and in so doing become the first mainline first-party Nintendo game to cross over directly across three consecutive generations (of course, a far better alternative would be for the Switch's successor to be backwards compatible, but we are talking about Nintendo here; their priorities as of late haven't exactly been consumer-friendly).
Anyway, those are just a few thoughts which may or may not end up happening.
Re: Nintendo Indie World Showcase To Air This Week
It would be nice to see a firm release date for Metal Slug Tactics and Sea of Stars.
Re: Nintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Upcoming Switch Games
The fact that Advance Wars 1+2 Reboot Camp was delayed in the first place is a travesty (I firmly stand by my conviction that it's far too cartoony and light-hearted a game to ever seriously draw associations with the war in Ukraine). Honestly I can't imagine a Call of Duty, Battlefield, or other "AAA" game being delayed over such an issue, and they're a LOT more graphic. It took decades for Fire Emblem fans to be vindicated, and once again turn-based Strategy gamers just can't catch a break. Here's hoping a surprise (and imminent) release is announced around Nintendo's annual June Direct.
Re: Rumour: Sonic Team Is Working On A Brand New 2D Sonic Game
Colors, Origins, Frontiers, and now this. Seriously, does Sega have ANYTHING in-house that ISN'T tied to Sonic anymore (and has anyone been keeping a count to see if, just maybe, he's getting more articles here on Nintendo Life than most Nintendo IPs)?
Sega included surveys in every Sega Ages title on the Switch (it's in the menu), and I filled out every single one whenever I bought one of them...and then they abruptly pulled the plug. For the past two years running I've received e-mails from Sega early in the year asking for "Most Wanted" game recommendations from their other IPs (this year's didn't include Shining Force by default, which I made sure to address in my reply), but so far they seem to be just lip service.
And don't get Panzer Dragoon Remake, House of the Dead Remake, or any other outsourced IPs confused with genuine in-house Sega games; the quality just isn't on the same level. Nor should we count Shenmue 3 or any other Kickstarters as coming about due to Sega's effort; it required money paid upfront by determined fans to even exist. Yakuza may be profitable (and if it is then it's unfathomable how they can't see the likes of Skies of Arcadia or Shining Force as being potentially at least equally so) and Monkey Ball may be "safe", but they're every bit as "niche" as the mountain of other IPs they've left to collect dust for decades.
I've said it before and it still stands: I couldn't care less how many Sonic games and remakes Sega releases so long as they still give some love to the rest of the IPs I and many other longtime fans care about. And that shouldn't be too much to ask, but the longer this goes on, the more I see A) Sonic as being in the way (meaning I've come to DESPISE the IP), and B) that Sega themselves are a has-been, washed-up former AAA publisher, once one of the very best and most prolific in the industry, but who've now circled the wagons and are endlessly running out the same tired mascot to "play it safe" until the inevitable day they finally close their doors for good.
If anyone at Sega is reading this, PLEASE give some of those other franchises a chance again, that's all I ask.
Re: Reggie Thought Metroid: Other M Would Be A 'Defining Moment' For The Franchise
As Iwata told him, "You have wonderful ideas, but you won't always be right".
Re: Video: Is Nintendo Switch Sports Really That Bad?
I used a bunch of saved-up Rewards points to purchase it digitally, and did so pretty much exclusively for the Bowling, which I enjoyed a lot on the Wii. Here's the honest truth that applies to both games as well as 99% of games designed around control gimmicks: they're fun for a get-together now and then, but as standalone experiences they're FAR too shallow to hold most folks' attention for long. Two factors that should influence one's personal review scores for these games (or any other, frankly), are A) how much time and utility they get for your investment, and B) how many of their modes and features are actually enjoyable and/or end up even being played. If you were judging either of these games as a pack-in with a console and/or a tech demo to familiarize users with the controllers/hardware, I'd say a score of 7 or 8 would be appropriate, but as a standalone product...and especially at Switch Sports' current asking price...I think a 6 is probably a bit generous.