BandeeOfTheStars

I'll be pretty busy this weekend, but I'll probably spend any game time I have on Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light. With The Blazing Blade coming to Switch in a matter of days, it can't hurt to go ahead and finish the one I'm playing.

I'm on Chapter 4, and permadeath already stings. I was never great at chess, which this game very much reminds me of...I guess I'd better get good fast, huh?

I'm a big Ace Attorney fan and have been watching this game. I'm looking forward to playing the demo!

@Liam_Doolan Small typo: you called it "Apollo Justice: Ace Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy" at the beginning

Anyway, I thought the name was kind of dumb considering two of the games use Phoenix's name rather than Apollo's, but I'm glad this exists. I don't care a whole lot, since I got the games during the final eShop sale, and I was really hoping for an Investigations 2 localization, but this is welcome news for anyone who missed out. Dual Destinies in particular is quite possibly my favorite game of all time.

Also, the official site seems to suggest that we're getting French, German, Korean and Chinese versions of Dual Destinies and Spirit of Justice. Even though I don't speak any of those languages, it's always nice to see wider localization.

Now, Capcom...I'm still waiting for that Investigations compilation with the second game in English...

After finishing Ace Attorney last week...I've been at a bit of a loss as to what to play. Lately I've sort of been jumping between three NES classics: EarthBound Beginnings, Mega Man 1 and Fire Emblem 1: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (all on Switch). All of them are the first games in their respective series, and as it happens, also my first taste of each series for all intents and purposes.

I know that people rarely say to start with the first games of these series, and it's certainly apparent why, but they're fun nevertheless and I fully intend to see them to the end.

Ace Attorney, please! I know I should keep my expectations in check...but I'm still silently hoping to get Investigations 2 in English.

A lot of Capcom games went on sale today, too. Perfect excuse to finally start playing Mega Man.

I'll be finishing The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve today, most likely. I'm currently on the Final Chapter: The Resolve of Ryunosuke Naruhodo. Very good game with some delightfully unpredictable plot twists. I can't think of a better way to conclude my three-month-long Ace Attorney marathon.

I never could justify getting the original with its $60 price tag...I can't imagine why this exists, but maybe it won't be terrible? Maybe?

And yeah, with this announcement, the chance of a summer Direct is pretty much zero.

@mikegamer That's true to an extent, but you'd have to have a really good reason to break the law in order to claim that your actions remain moral. Stealing old games because they're rare doesn't qualify.

@Chlocean That is indeed a disappointing reality, and ever since the closure of the 3DS and Wii U eShops, it's become a much bigger problem. I really do wish game developers and publishers would do more to keep games widely available...like porting old games, keeping digital stores open, or even releasing official emulators and stores to get its games (like Virtual Console, but with a more complete catalog). And if they're never going to touch a game again, the ideal thing to do would be to release its copyright...these 95-year copyright terms in the US are helping no one.

But the sad reality is that the law is the law, and if a company owns the copyright for a game, it's really up to that company how it wants that game to be available. And I can't help but shake my head at people who think that the law doesn't matter and that they can make their own law.

After three months of playing Ace Attorney almost exclusively, I have finally arrived at the most recent entry in the series: The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve. As with its predecessor, it follows the adventures of Phoenix Wright's ancestor, Ryunosuke Naruhodo, in 1901 and 1902.

The gameplay, setting and characters are all pretty much the same as the first game, and the story picks up very shortly after that game's events. But considering how many cliffhangers and loose ends the first game left, it really feels more like one bigger game than anything. (And certainly, it helps that they come bundled together on Switch.)

I'm currently at the start of Episode 3: The Return of the Great Departed Soul.

Just a PSA that emulation is not piracy, and at least in the US, emulation is perfectly legal reverse engineering so long as no copyrighted code is used to create a given emulator. There is really nothing illegal about this at all.

That said, considering how closely linked emulation and piracy tend to be, it's no surprise that Nintendo doesn't like it. It always irks me when I ask how someone obtained a rare game and the response is "I emulated it" or "I homebrewed it". It's obvious that they really mean "I stole it" and yet they try to sugarcoat it by hiding behind perfectly legal practices. It's not cool.

While everyone else is still playing the new Zelda (which I will play! ...eventually), I'm making my way through The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures on Switch, my penultimate turnabout adventure and our first peek at Phoenix Wright's family tree. The story is a surprising twist on Ace Attorney tropes and manages to be just as engaging as the main series, even with the totally new cast of characters. The game takes place in 1901 and 1902, and the different legal system offers many fun new gameplay mechanics (and the uncanny inspiration from Layton vs. Wright in particular). But the best part is the Dances of Deduction with Herlock Sholmes. Whoever came up with that deserves a raise.

I'm currently on Episode 4: The Adventure of the Clouded Kokoro.

This past week, I finished the rest of Spirit of Justice. It was a great game, though somewhat oddly paced, and they really gave the spotlight to Apollo this time around. Athena was sort of done dirty, but I'm sure they're just setting her up for whenever we get Athena Cykes: Ace Attorney. Overall, it wasn't as consistently great as Dual Destinies, but its highs were very high. And it's definitely the longest entry in the series I've played yet!

Now, as my final 3DS entry in the series and my last adventure with the Turnabout Terror, I'm playing Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. In terms of Layton games, I've only played Curious Village, though I quite enjoyed that game's puzzles and characters. This is certainly one of the most bizarre crossover games I've played...and that is absolutely a good thing. I'm on Chapter 4: The Golden Trial.

After Layton vs. Wright, I'll be finishing the Ace Attorney series with The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles on Switch. I think I'll also play more Layton games.

Oh yeah, Zelda's out now, isn't it? I'll probably pick it up in a few months' time. I really enjoyed Breath of the Wild but still need to play through its DLC...

I'll be beating Ace Attorney 6: Spirit of Justice on 3DS this weekend. I'm starting on the latter half of Episode 5: Turnabout Revolution. I also have the DLC waiting for me when I'm done, so I still have a fair bit more to romp through.

Doesn't the icon appear on your home menu when you pre-load it from the eShop? Or am I mistaken?

Either way, the fact that he deleted his account probably indicates that he pirated it.

I have zero respect for people who pirate at all...but I somehow have even less respect for people who pirate something brand-new.

I just beat Dual Destinies yesterday, so it's on to Ace Attorney 6: Spirit of Justice (on 3DS, of course), the latest entry in the main series introducing a totally out-of-whack legal system where defense attorneys don't exist. And Maya Fey returns!

Also, can I just say that Dual Destinies was incredible? I mean it's Trials and Tribulations level of good. The Mood Matrix was a really interesting gameplay twist, and it didn't take away from the standard cross-examination at all. There was a pretty even split between the three protagonists, I'd say, and the story was great and built up really well to that nerve-wracking finale. Also, for the first time in the series, there are fully-voiced anime cutscenes! An easy 10/10...and a perfect summary of everything I love about Ace Attorney.

@Paraka The way I see it, the right question would be, "Why play the game if you're going to skip the battles?" But I suppose that not everyone thinks this way.

Don't get me wrong, I do think that a proper reward system--even just something like the hammer scraps in Color Splash--would have been a good idea to include in Sticker Star and Origami King. I'm just able to forgive its absence because I enjoy battling enough to do it regardless.

Now, what I'd really love is another Mario & Luigi...but I have my doubts about that ever happening.

Continuing my Ace Attorney adventures with Ace Attorney 5: Dual Destinies on 3DS. The man, the myth, the legend Phoenix Wright returns to the courtroom...now with 3D art, fully voiced anime cutscenes and a brand-new Ace Attorney.

Currently playing Episode 2: The Monstrous Turnabout.

@Paraka Personally, I quite like the newer Paper Mario games (though the first two are still the best, of course). The lack of experience points never really bothered me since the battles are the most engaging part of the games anyway, but I understand that not everyone will feel the same way. I suppose that, objectively speaking, it's not a great design choice to remove EXP.

It could very easily go the other way, though...I really don't like playing games in which you have to trudge through old territory in order to get enough EXP for a fair matchup. For me, the sweet spot would be a difficulty curve that expects you to win every battle exactly once. But maybe I just like that because that's how I play, and maybe some people enjoy grinding. I don't know.

Not familiar with this series at all, but I'm always open to trying something new. Still have way too many games to play first, though. Thanks, eShop closure...

@Paraka Not gonna lie, I would buy that game day one.

Ace Attorney Investigations 2, otherwise known as Prosecutor's Path, on DS. For the unaware, this is sort of the "lost chapter" of Ace Attorney, as it is the only game in the series not to be officially translated into English. Thankfully, the fans banded together to create their own translation, and it's so good that it almost feels official.

Right now, I'm on Episode 3: The Inherited Turnabout. The gameplay's pretty much the same as Investigations 1, and Edgeworth is still the protagonist. The storyline here really intrigues me, though. Also, there's this new mechanic called Logic Chess where Edgeworth checkmates his opponents into telling the truth. It's brilliant.

Please localize this game, Capcom.

It was always Wii Remote and Nunchuck for me. I just always liked to use the Nunchuck whenever I could.

Ace Attorney Investigations on DS. I'm on the last episode and I think I'll beat it today. I feel like I prefer the main Ace Attorney games, but I do like the focus on Edgeworth and the gameplay is an interesting twist on the main formula. (After playing the first four games back-to-back, I needed a bit of a break.)

When I'm done, I'll play Investigations 2 before I go back to the main series with Dual Destinies.

@SonOfDracula I think that's pretty much what I'm saying? If you substitute story for spectacle, you should be left with story...and yet the review seems to say the exact opposite.

@JimNorman I hate to be "that guy", but shouldn't the title say "substitutes spectacle for story"? I was under the impression that the first object replaces the second...but then again, of all the tricky grammar rules, this one never ceases to trip me up.

The way I understand it, the title makes it sound like the movie has a good story but is visually unappealing (the exact opposite of what I expected).

Still waiting for Mario Party 3...

Ace Attorney 4: Apollo Justice on 3DS. I'm currently on episode 3. It's actually really fun. I still kind of miss the old characters, but I'm starting to grow fond of the new ones.

Two.

My first was the original 3DS XL that came with NSMB2 Gold Edition pre-installed. I got it in late 2014, but it was broken four years later.

My second and current one is the galaxy-style New 3DS XL. I got it refurbished from Nintendo Online Store in early 2020.

@KateGray The FE Fates delisting seems to be a UK thing. I'm in the US and I bought all three paths digitally two weeks ago, well after the given date.

Ace Attorney 3: Trials and Tribulations on Switch. I'm on the final episode, part 3. Planning to beat the game today and wrap up the trilogy.

I'll probably do Apollo Justice next, but I might play Investigations first. In any case, I think this is my new favorite game series. Highly recommend.

And if you're in North America, you have two days to get the trilogy and each of the sequels for $3 each on 3DS. You have been warned.

I spent way too much this past month. The good news is that I've been introduced to so many new games I would never have played otherwise. The bad news is that I'm broke.

Even still, though...Ace Attorney for the win!

Ace Attorney 3: Trials and Tribulations on Switch. Currently on Episode 2, first investigation phase. I played through the first two games this week, and I've already logged 50 hours!

Naturally, I've been on an eShop spree this month (only nine days left!), and because of that I have six more Ace Attorney games to play after this one. Of all the games I bought, this series has definitely been the cream of the crop so far!

"'Cause clean is better than dirty, and dirty's meaner than clean!"

That's the greatest Mario ad of all time and no one can tell me otherwise.

Just got the trilogy on Switch the other day. I'm very much enjoying it so far (I've cleared the first three cases in the original), but I'm really not sure I should be buying 5 and 6 on 3DS before I've even played the three I have. The eShop closures are tempting me to reconsider, though...

(4 got a physical release on DS so I think I'm in good shape there.)

Always "Link" for me.

But I also main Mario in his games, always choose pink Kirby when given the color option, play as "Player" in Among Us with red color and red beanie, and believe it to be a criminal offense when ice cream shops don't offer vanilla.

I'm pretty basic, you see.

Obvious choices would be BOTW, New Mario U, Mario 3D World and Mario Kart 8. All four of those are also on Switch, but if you haven't played them you should absolutely do so on whichever platform.

As for games you can't get on Switch, two of my favourites are Kirby and the Rainbow Curse and Paper Mario: Color Splash. Also Yoshi's Woolly World, though you can get that one on 3DS, too.

You should consider getting some digital games, too, before the eShop closes--specifically Metroid Prime Trilogy (the Wii version is pricey), Affordable Space Adventures (a pretty awesome digital exclusive!) and Mario Advance 4 (you probably won't get to play the e-reader levels anywhere else).

Oh, and Nintendo Land. Definitely play Nintendo Land.

Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don't forget your booties 'cause it's coooold out there today!

@Olliemar28 Just a heads-up, for the time you wrote "21:05pm" for the time in BST, when it should really be just "9:05pm" or "21:05" (preferably the former, for consistency). Also, judging from the other times listed, it should probably be noted for clarity that the AWST time refers to 04:05 on the 7th, not the 6th.

Kirby's Star Stacker was finally added!

...In Japan only, while the rest of us get Kirby's Mean Bean Machine.

I'm just going to get the Japanese app already...

As far as Nintendo consoles go, Mario Kart Wii.

I had an old Leapster before that, though. I don't remember much from those days, but I remember the Sonic X game on there and I love to quote the intro scene all the time:

"Did someone say my name? Hey! My friends! You're going DOWN, Eggman!"

"Ha ha! Not so fast! You'll have to get by my greatest invention ever: my wonderful MATH ROBOTS!"

Oh, the nostalgia...

I really hope they add the Mario Party games...especially 1 and 3 since those have been shafted twice now in favor of MP2....

Banjo-Tooie is another one I'm hoping to see. Oh, and Smash 64, as well.

@dartmonkey Might want to mention Fifa 22 alongside 20 and 21...you know, in case the unsuspecting reader sees it exists and thinks it might be different.

Definitely big on Mario Sports games, though. I really enjoyed Super Rush and Aces, and I'm definitely looking at Battle League. It'll be my first Strikers game, assuming you don't count Sports Superstars on 3DS.

I booted up Mario Party 4 again, in an effort to unlock its last few minigames (I'm missing one 4P minigame, one Bowser minigame, and two miscellaneous ones) and Expert CPUs. Goomba's Greedy Gala is still my favorite board ("The House wins! ...Er, I mean, tough luck!"). Also, is it just me, or are Bowser minigames rigged to be Fruits of Doom 95 % of the time?

I've also been playing more Mario Super Sluggers. Multiplayer, mostly...though I've also given the challenge mode a try.

So instead of actually releasing Kirby's Super Star Stacker outside Japan for once, they just dumped a bunch of 100% saves on the service. Nintendo...you didn't even try with this one. Kirby deserves better.

@Kyloctopus Both are 100% saves and nothing more. Same with Dream Course. There's also a Kirby's Adventure SP version they released a while back that did the same.

I recently picked up the combo of Mario Hoops on DS and Mario Super Sluggers on Wii, so I'll probably be playing those, for the most part. Haven't played either too much yet, but I'm enjoying them so far.

I've also dusted off my Japanese-imported copy of Starfy 4 lately. I never did beat it--maybe it's time to change that. (It's a fun game, but I think the main reason I didn't beat it is because it's a little annoying to have to read off a Google Doc during every cutscene...but the alternative is no story, so it's something, at least).

The third time within the last thirty days they've been restocked and immediately sold out...but on the bright side, SNES controllers are also back in stock. I got one this morning without issue; if you've wanted one for a while, now's the time!

EDIT: Just checked; NES controllers are also available. I got them back when they were discounted (by nearly 50%), but they're there as well if anyone's been on alert for them.

(Also, both of the above applies only to the US. I would not know if the same is true for other countries.)

Should've been Kirby's Star Stacker.

I might try out some of these though

The obvious pick they won't add: Super Mario RPG

The curveball pick they might add: Kirby's Star Stacker (the Japan-only SFC one)

The wild card they will add: Mario is Missing

@Kirby_Girl Ah...Kirby 2. That one was certainly challenging, and at times downright frustrating, especially with some of the later Rainbow Drops. It was a little rough around the edges, I feel (and some of the stages were really short), but I still enjoyed it, and it did introduce Kirby lore's favorite villain, so there's that.

Also, the Dark Castle music is just about the best track I've heard out of a Game Boy game.