@LilKinopio I prefer the slower pace of Animal Crossing. Stardew Valley time cycles felt extremely rushed; I had no time at all to walk around, gain my bearings, talk to whomever I wanted, tinker about with items and mechanics to learn at my own pace. Felt like a time attack mode was turned permanently on! I crashed out of Stardew pretty quickly because of that.
Fully agree with these sentiments. Pokemon has iconic gameplay mechanics and has one of the most satisfying game systems within the industry.
I think the only other design philosophy that equals Pokemon's is Nintendo's first-party pick-up-and-play ethos. Very arcade-like, Nintendo's first-party games are designed to feel like no matter where you are in the game, as well as no matter how busy your life may be, clicking on your console, booting up a game and jumping into satisfying gameplay is a quick and rewarding experience.
For Pokemon's future, I really want GF to tone back future region's size and scope of their open world maps; they can still be in overall scale but ultimately a little smaller than Paldea; make each area more dense; add more barriers and puzzles that need to be overcome with your own Pokemon; and most importantly, restrict the player's line of sight. Without abstract random encounters, a player's line of sight, or lack thereof, is the equivalent to tall grass. And with less line of sight, you have more opportunities to randomize Pokemon spawns within the same areas. just like the developer said in the article, never knowing which Pokemon is waiting around the corner is exactly what made tall grass so addicting in the old games.
The DS I'm desperate to collect is the DSi. My friend had it and showed off all the sweet new features back in the day, and I was soo jealous. It has such a nice little snapping sound when you close the lid. 😭
@metaphysician The Switch 2 chip wafer is already a few years old, so it's fully possible Samsung or etc found a way to shrink the dye in the time since. Obviously a smaller dye wasn't ready by mid- to late 2024 which was when Switch 2 entered production for launch. However it's definitely possible they were able to shrink it by 2026.
@rjejr You make a very good point, because Pokemon Sword and Shield was used to sell the new Switch Lite SKU by featuring a special edition Switch Lite. There's a good chance Winds and Waves will feature a special edition Switch 2 Lite. Perhaps the 2027 delay could be Nintendo trying to line up these two dots even more so than giving the game extra polish or avoiding a GTA VI launch window.
Pokemon is a certifiable console mover, and Nintendo needs every console mover it can get to put pressure on gamers to finally feel like a Switch 2 is worth the plunge. If it was just one 3D Mario game or one 3D Zelda, gamers would still say "Yeah but it's just one game for a $500 investment." At some point each killer IP needs to add up to compel gamers to bite the bullet.
I'm super excited to see this!! Back in the day I was so upset that you had to physically travel to in-person events to get the data loaded onto your game to catch these mythic Pokemon.
Mystery Gift was such a bad idea! Simply clicking A to download a special legendary Pokemon entirely defeats the purpose and makes those Pokemon feel anything but special.
@JohnnyMind Fully agree, I hope we get a digital release of Emerald even more than Ruby/Sapphire particularly for that special Mew event. I missed out on Emerald back in the day, and I'm still salty I never got to enjoy its revamped post-game. That and Platinum especially, ugh I heard so many folk tales about the fabled Battle Frontier back then.
I think just based on the quality of design, Umbreon is one of the best designed Pokemon ever. Clean lines, and highly representative of the Pokemon ethos.
Charizard obviously is one of the best designed Pokemon as well; the classic dragon. Other than a small revision increasing the density of his arms ever so slightly, I think his design is quite perfect.
Lucario in my opinion, just design-wise, is the ideal bipedal Pokemon. He's cozy enough with soft fur and actual paws to be a companion, with just enough hard edges to seem like a tough fighter. His dex entries also elevate him into one of the most important Pokemon of his region, rivaling greats like Kingdra.
Corviknight is the best bird Pokemon ever made, and one of the best representatives of a Pokemon's relationship with humans as helpers. Just a really genius execution on design elements.
This game is really feeling like a big tropical safari zone. From appearing to continue S/V's outdoor-centric game engine to being dressed like you're going on an expedition, this game feels more like diving into a big wild zone rather than journeying across a normal region with proper towns and cities. Perhaps GF is struggling to render large cities with the current engine/console power in ratio of the 3D scale they're working with.
Can't shake the feeling that Sword/Shield is still the last generation to contain a grand scale of big cities for a long while until we can get either more console power or move away from the current Scarlet/Violet engine.
I can't help but feel like the Grass and Water starters will lend themselves to Winds and Waves respectively.
Browt: energetic and likes to run about. Plenty of energy for flying then! That big fluffy tail almost looks like it could turn into a propeller by its final evo.
Gecqua: "Springs balls of water from its tail." Almost sounds like it will evolve into a jet ski-like propeller when it evolves. Perfect then for racing over the water! "Maneuvers adeptly" also sounds primed for agile underwater maneuvering.
Then of course there's Pombon, the happy-go-lucky puppy who's just happy to be here!
Ever since Charizard, I've hoped GF would create another starter Pokemon that not only could fly but also be sturdy enough to carry you around the region. Browt feels like the closest chance we've had yet to this idea!
Despite the weeklong spoiler, FR/LG was a huge part of this year's Presents. I've been playing it all morning and I can't see myself stopping anytime soon! Had to choose Squirtle first, and I named my rival Green since he's using Bulbasaur.
Pokemon XD is great to see it finally launch on NSO
Game Music Collection! A surprise Game Boy HitClips-esque music player, and despite some of the many practical drawbacks, I've wanted to collect a Game Boy replica for quite some time! So the fact that it plays music with the original Game Boy sound is perfect for me. I honestly hope they make a Game Boy Color version for Gold/Silver next.
Pokemon Gen 10 reveal is obviously the biggest highlight. Looks amazing, and like a follow-up to Scarlet/Violet's system but with diving and much better graphics. As a huge fan of the Hoenn region I am ecstatic to see diving make a grand return in full 3D!
So excited about the Winds and Waves naming scheme! I'll have to buy both now. I hope we can fly Dragonite in a game called freakin' Pokemon Winds, PLEASE GF!!
Amazing!! The graphics are great, water looks gorgeous, the setting looks lush and tropical like Hoenn, and diving is BACK!! Starters look so cute too. So hyped!!
I still think it's possible that Pokemon Presents has a surprise drop of the original R/B/Y on the Game Boy NSO. That way you could play the OG experience with your subscription, and you also have the option to buy the GBA remake separately.
@Nao120 Couldn't agree more with your sentiment! Internet haters have become such zombies to their own mantra that they begin to sound like paid shills attempting to defame the franchise/company. At some point their vitriol becomes a vice around their own neck; studies have shown that outrage becomes addicting for the brain, and people's relentless hate for Pokemon only show that they're all just outrage addicts.
I'm not preordering both copies until perhaps the day before. I'm holding out just in case I spot a retailer offering the cardboard card for digital games because I would LOVE to have them sit on my shelf. But let's be real, I'll probably double dip regardless if I see them months later.
I am so locked in for Friday!! Serendipitously I have the day off, so I can just enjoy the whole day. Pokemon's X account is counting down each day with lovely animations featuring different Pokemon, so check that out if you like!
Getting a strong impression that Mario Wonder is riding on Pokopia's coattails, the irony! Seems like the overall Treehouse will be focused on multiplayer and GameChat shenanigans since that appears to be the correlation between the two. I'm happy to watch more footage of Pokopia before my copy arrives on the 5th.
FireRed/LeagGreen's small 40mb size makes me think that Nintendo could make some pixel art de-makes on the same scale as FR/LG, and offer them exclusively through NSO. Tasking current developers to sit down and make an authentic GBA experience using a Nintendo IP for the NSO would add so much value to the subscription. A Splatoon Tactics Advance for GBA NSO would be pretty fun for instance.
I'm going to try my best to stay away from leaks, rumors, predictions, expectations and any other things that will color my viewpoint going into it. My only expectation is to see a brief announcement of Gen 10. I'm also excited to see if they will reveal a special edition Switch 2 for Gen 10, which has coincided with every major release.
Oh, and every 5 years they've presented a cinematic anniversary montage celebrating Pokemon's legacy, so I'm hoping we see another one!
My body is ready Reggie, I'm riding the hype train with you and Iwata forever <3
@Erigen Square Enix failed to realize that the fish-out-of-water trope doesn't resonate with the West nearly as much as it does in Japan. Plus the protagonist's personality and one-liners felt like it was pandering too hard to the West. They have to go back to their roots and remember that most Square Enix fans grew up loving their games that were unapologetically Japanese.
@Strawblaze Business is far too relative to make such a direct comparison between a large franchise product and an indie game. They really are apples and oranges. Nintendo is not treating FR/LG like a proper game, but rather a fun, extra purchase in the spirit of celebrating an anniversary. You could even compare it closer to Mario Wonder's Bellabel Park than an indie game. In our modern world, the price of almost any product is as abstract as the phrase "beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
In fact, you should blame Silksong for putting pressure on Indies for maintaining the $20 price ceiling, when like you said, all the work they put into the game deserves more than that in relative terms. Quality indie games in 2026's world deserve to go up to $30 at least, but Silksong took advantage of its massive brand value to undercut the indie market.
@Eel Hmm, so all bets are off then. We'll just have to see what happens I guess. Perhaps a satisfactory (or contractually obligated) amount of time has passed since FR/LG was uploaded on iTunes.
@Strawblaze I still don't see $19.99 as taking advantage. It absolutely should be more expensive than the VC Game Boy games, containing vastly better graphics, features, and content. Sure I would enjoy little extras like resizing the screen, but as soon as they add extra features they mostly likely would have charged more. Relative to 2026 standards, $19.99 is an excellent price for a highly prized product.
This is exactly why companies hand-wave online discourse as nothing more than noise. For a premium brand like Pokemon, $19.99 is a great price for each version. Greedy would have been charging $29.99 so collecting both would cost $60, an average, consumer-accepted price. Greedy would have been using inflation as an excuse to charge more.
I just want retailers to jump on the physical card bandwagon like Japan is, because I would love to collect both versions as physical cards to sit on my shelf next to my card of Switch 2 Welcome Tour <3
@Strawblaze Spin it as negatively as you like, but I've been dying to replay FR/LG without forking over huge sums of money to scalper scum. And for my absolute favorite games, buying separately is indeed preferable to NSO with their monthly DRM checks, especially if this is required for Home functionality. Pokemon games really are an exceptional case, as much as that bemoans internet haters.
This was the first thing I woke up to before learning about anything else, and this alone made my morning! I've been playing the Top Tracks playlist on repeat. I'm SO happy to finally have this on Nintendo Music!!
Absolutely love the Gen 3 soundtrack arrangements, so hopefully R/S/E will be added eventually. The melodies in Gen 3 just punch so much harder than other generations, especially compared to the ORAS rearrangements. The midi flute and trumpet especially are highlights of Gen 3 music.
@Eel I've been wondering about that! I had a feeling Nintendo wouldn't offer the soundtracks as long as they were available on iTunes. What are the license expirations on the other soundtracks? Perhaps that's the timeline for everything else!
My mother told me she'll watch it this year after I bought her a Switch 2 along with a few Pokemon games to start her off! She's loving Let's Go Eevee and Violet. (she's a fan of Eevee now, but of course) Also got her Legends ZA since she loves Paris, but she's a gaming newb so that one will have to wait until she improves her hand-eye coordination!
I still think RBY/GSC could be added to NSO, but we'll see. They've already just sold them on the 3DS VC, and it feels conspicuous that Nintendo is skipping to the GBA versions for the eShop. Announcing FR/LG a week early could get people to impulse buy before seeing everything else on offer on Pokemon Day.
C'mon retailers, now's your chance to offer the physical cards of a digital game! I'm holding out on preordering just in case this happens! Japan is getting the physical retailer card, c'mon now!
@garfreek I'm still wondering if they're saving a larger physical collection announcement for Pokemon Presents, perhaps including RBY as well. Crazier things have happened!
@brakeman90 I agree! FireRed is the best way to experience Kanto, with classic pixel art and the vibrant Gen 3 soundtrack arrangements. Next week can't come soon enough! I'm really hoping they add FR/LG NSO icons to coincide with the release!
@Fizza I gotta be honest though, FireRed is definitely worth twice the cost of the original Red version. It's a great remake of the OG (Original Game? 😉), with more content in the form of the Sevii Islands. Exorbitant pricing would have been $29.99-39.99, which people still would have paid. By 2026 standards I am super grateful for a $19.99 price per version. I was fully expecting a physical collection of both versions for $59.99!
Really hyped about this game! I'm excited to search the interwebs far and wide to join other people's islands. I won't be building too sophisticated structures, but from the commercials it looks like other people certainly will!
Goodness gracious, finally! Xenoblade X gave me motion sickness with all the screen tearing at 30fps, so I'm excited to see if my head can handle it with a smoother frame rate.
Between Ruby and FireRed, Gen 3 was my Pokemon hayday as a kid. I played those two games to death, with a full play-through with every starter.
For Hoenn, first and foremost I have to say Latios. That pixel art intro is extremely special to me. It was beautiful and sweeping, and as a kid, it was this aspirational promise of adventure, watching your trainer race across the valley in chase of this mystical, elusive Pokemon. I can't tell you how many times I replayed that intro as a kid just to enjoy it.
Peach and Toad's poster looks like a proper odyssey; Luigi's looks like an Indiana Jones flick; Mario's and Bowser Jr's just look like Super Mario Wonder; and the last two just look like character representations rather than a proper glimpse at a journey.
The Switch 2 badly needs a $400 Mini/Lite model for big families who are rightly balking at $500 per kid toy. Nintendo loves Apple clearly, but they need to remember that Apple gets away with charging lots of money by selling you things you think you need, like phones, laptops, etc. Nintendo is just selling a luxury entertainment device, ie, a toy. Nintendo needs a generous, sensible leader like Iwata now more than ever to be willing to swallow smaller profits while times are tough.
Furukawa and anyone else controlling these major decisions clearly became too big for their britches while riding the Switch wave, and thought they could crescendo the wave even further. When instead, the Switch wave was just a season, and they needed to batten down the hatches and hunker down for the winter.
If Switch 2 sales continue to struggle, I see a world where Nintendo pivots quickly to a brand new console. Made more cheaply with more available chips, it will follow the old patterns from a sequel console to something brand new, like GBA to DS, GameCube to Wii, etc.
Personally I want Nintendo to create another dedicated handheld. Go back to the days where developers created cost-effective, made-for-handheld game design and presentation. That limitation in scope and performance pressurized into charming art styles and creative game design for almost two decades.
I have SO many nostalgic Gen 1 Pokemon. Dragonite is probably my favorite, but Nidorino is really high up there, because the first intro's of Gen 1-3 left a huge impression on kid me. FireRed's pixel art of Nidorino sort of feels like quintessential Kanto to me.
I think later Pokemon games have lost a bit of charm by opting out of a dedicated intro. Intro's are like a thesis to a game, giving you a comprehensive peek at everything the game has to offer. Old Monster Hunter Freedom1-3 intro's had the same impact on me.
Kingdra! My Gen 2 game was Crystal, and the last gym battle was one of the most memorable experiences of the game! Kingdra has been one of my favorite Pokemon ever since. Such an interesting lore for him, rivaling that of a pseudo legendary. Speaking of, I love the mentions in the Pokédex of Kingdra and Dragonite getting involved in epic clashes!
I also have very fond memories of Cyndaquil, my starter. I vividly remember loving his little cry, simple but distinct. Little kid me was so proud of myself for teaching Typhlosion Thunder Punch to beat my rival's Feraligatr!
But ultimately, my first and biggest impression of Gen 2 will always be Suicune racing across the screen in that brilliant pixel art intro for Crystal. I usually hesitate to name a legendary as my favorite, but Suicune is just really special to me. One of my most memorable moments of my early gaming as a kid was finally catching her. It's a shame that Suicune's battle stats have such low speed, because she always is depicted as a remarkably fast creature.
Comments 372
Re: Review: Pokémon Pokopia (Switch 2) - One Of The Most Enticing Pokémon Games Ever
@LilKinopio I prefer the slower pace of Animal Crossing. Stardew Valley time cycles felt extremely rushed; I had no time at all to walk around, gain my bearings, talk to whomever I wanted, tinker about with items and mechanics to learn at my own pace. Felt like a time attack mode was turned permanently on! I crashed out of Stardew pretty quickly because of that.
Re: Feature: "The Single Best Game Concept Ever" - Pokémon-Inspired Devs Talk The Series That Started It All
Fully agree with these sentiments. Pokemon has iconic gameplay mechanics and has one of the most satisfying game systems within the industry.
I think the only other design philosophy that equals Pokemon's is Nintendo's first-party pick-up-and-play ethos. Very arcade-like, Nintendo's first-party games are designed to feel like no matter where you are in the game, as well as no matter how busy your life may be, clicking on your console, booting up a game and jumping into satisfying gameplay is a quick and rewarding experience.
For Pokemon's future, I really want GF to tone back future region's size and scope of their open world maps; they can still be in overall scale but ultimately a little smaller than Paldea; make each area more dense; add more barriers and puzzles that need to be overcome with your own Pokemon; and most importantly, restrict the player's line of sight. Without abstract random encounters, a player's line of sight, or lack thereof, is the equivalent to tall grass. And with less line of sight, you have more opportunities to randomize Pokemon spawns within the same areas. just like the developer said in the article, never knowing which Pokemon is waiting around the corner is exactly what made tall grass so addicting in the old games.
Re: Poll: 20 Years On, Does Your DS Lite Still Have Charge?
The DS I'm desperate to collect is the DSi. My friend had it and showed off all the sweet new features back in the day, and I was soo jealous. It has such a nice little snapping sound when you close the lid. 😭
Re: Pokémon Winds & Waves Will Be Released "Exclusively" For Switch 2
@metaphysician The Switch 2 chip wafer is already a few years old, so it's fully possible Samsung or etc found a way to shrink the dye in the time since. Obviously a smaller dye wasn't ready by mid- to late 2024 which was when Switch 2 entered production for launch. However it's definitely possible they were able to shrink it by 2026.
Re: Pokémon Winds & Waves Will Be Released "Exclusively" For Switch 2
@rjejr You make a very good point, because Pokemon Sword and Shield was used to sell the new Switch Lite SKU by featuring a special edition Switch Lite. There's a good chance Winds and Waves will feature a special edition Switch 2 Lite. Perhaps the 2027 delay could be Nintendo trying to line up these two dots even more so than giving the game extra polish or avoiding a GTA VI launch window.
Re: Pokémon Winds & Waves Will Be Released "Exclusively" For Switch 2
Pokemon is a certifiable console mover, and Nintendo needs every console mover it can get to put pressure on gamers to finally feel like a Switch 2 is worth the plunge. If it was just one 3D Mario game or one 3D Zelda, gamers would still say "Yeah but it's just one game for a $500 investment." At some point each killer IP needs to add up to compel gamers to bite the bullet.
Re: PSA: Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen Switch Version Gives You The Mystic Ticket And Aurora Ticket
I'm super excited to see this!! Back in the day I was so upset that you had to physically travel to in-person events to get the data loaded onto your game to catch these mythic Pokemon.
Mystery Gift was such a bad idea! Simply clicking A to download a special legendary Pokemon entirely defeats the purpose and makes those Pokemon feel anything but special.
@JohnnyMind Fully agree, I hope we get a digital release of Emerald even more than Ruby/Sapphire particularly for that special Mew event. I missed out on Emerald back in the day, and I'm still salty I never got to enjoy its revamped post-game. That and Platinum especially, ugh I heard so many folk tales about the fabled Battle Frontier back then.
Re: Final: What's Your Favourite Pokémon Ever? - Pick From Our 9 Poll Winners
1. Umbreon
2. Charizard
3. Lucario
4. Corviknight
I think just based on the quality of design, Umbreon is one of the best designed Pokemon ever. Clean lines, and highly representative of the Pokemon ethos.
Charizard obviously is one of the best designed Pokemon as well; the classic dragon. Other than a small revision increasing the density of his arms ever so slightly, I think his design is quite perfect.
Lucario in my opinion, just design-wise, is the ideal bipedal Pokemon. He's cozy enough with soft fur and actual paws to be a companion, with just enough hard edges to seem like a tough fighter. His dex entries also elevate him into one of the most important Pokemon of his region, rivaling greats like Kingdra.
Corviknight is the best bird Pokemon ever made, and one of the best representatives of a Pokemon's relationship with humans as helpers. Just a really genius execution on design elements.
Re: Pokémon Winds & Waves Announced For Switch 2, Launching Next Year
@HammerGalladeBro Yer a wind waver, Blue!
Re: Gallery: Here's A Closer Look At The First Official Artwork From Pokémon Winds & Waves
This game is really feeling like a big tropical safari zone. From appearing to continue S/V's outdoor-centric game engine to being dressed like you're going on an expedition, this game feels more like diving into a big wild zone rather than journeying across a normal region with proper towns and cities. Perhaps GF is struggling to render large cities with the current engine/console power in ratio of the 3D scale they're working with.
Can't shake the feeling that Sword/Shield is still the last generation to contain a grand scale of big cities for a long while until we can get either more console power or move away from the current Scarlet/Violet engine.
Re: Poll: So, Which Starter Will You Choose In Pokémon Winds & Waves?
I can't help but feel like the Grass and Water starters will lend themselves to Winds and Waves respectively.
Then of course there's Pombon, the happy-go-lucky puppy who's just happy to be here!
Ever since Charizard, I've hoped GF would create another starter Pokemon that not only could fly but also be sturdy enough to carry you around the region. Browt feels like the closest chance we've had yet to this idea!
Re: Pokémon Presents February 2026: Every Announcement - How Would You Rate It?
This has been a jam packed Pokemon Presents!
Re: Pokémon-Themed Mini Game Boy Announced, Though It's Not What You Think
NO I was too late!! Pokemon Center had better restock this 🤬
Re: Pokémon Winds & Waves Announced For Switch 2, Launching Next Year
So excited about the Winds and Waves naming scheme! I'll have to buy both now. I hope we can fly Dragonite in a game called freakin' Pokemon Winds, PLEASE GF!!
Re: Pokémon Winds & Waves Announced For Switch 2, Launching Next Year
Amazing!! The graphics are great, water looks gorgeous, the setting looks lush and tropical like Hoenn, and diving is BACK!! Starters look so cute too. So hyped!!
Re: Pokémon FireRed And LeafGreen Are Already "Best Sellers" On The Switch eShop Charts
I still think it's possible that Pokemon Presents has a surprise drop of the original R/B/Y on the Game Boy NSO. That way you could play the OG experience with your subscription, and you also have the option to buy the GBA remake separately.
@Nao120 Couldn't agree more with your sentiment! Internet haters have become such zombies to their own mantra that they begin to sound like paid shills attempting to defame the franchise/company. At some point their vitriol becomes a vice around their own neck; studies have shown that outrage becomes addicting for the brain, and people's relentless hate for Pokemon only show that they're all just outrage addicts.
Re: Pokémon FireRed And LeafGreen Are Already "Best Sellers" On The Switch eShop Charts
I'm not preordering both copies until perhaps the day before. I'm holding out just in case I spot a retailer offering the cardboard card for digital games because I would LOVE to have them sit on my shelf. But let's be real, I'll probably double dip regardless if I see them months later.
Re: Pokémon Presents February 2026: Time, Date, How To Watch
I am so locked in for Friday!! Serendipitously I have the day off, so I can just enjoy the whole day. Pokemon's X account is counting down each day with lovely animations featuring different Pokemon, so check that out if you like!
Re: Nintendo Treehouse Returns This Week With A Pair Of Gameplay Showcases
Getting a strong impression that Mario Wonder is riding on Pokopia's coattails, the irony! Seems like the overall Treehouse will be focused on multiplayer and GameChat shenanigans since that appears to be the correlation between the two. I'm happy to watch more footage of Pokopia before my copy arrives on the 5th.
Re: Poll: Will You Be Getting Pokémon FireRed Or LeafGreen On Switch?
As a follow-up to the comment above me... I can't wait to buy/preorder everything Pokemon Presents showcases this Friday 🥸
Re: Nintendo Seemingly Rules Out Virtual Console Revival, Says It Remains Focused On Offering Classics Via Switch Online
FireRed/LeagGreen's small 40mb size makes me think that Nintendo could make some pixel art de-makes on the same scale as FR/LG, and offer them exclusively through NSO. Tasking current developers to sit down and make an authentic GBA experience using a Nintendo IP for the NSO would add so much value to the subscription. A Splatoon Tactics Advance for GBA NSO would be pretty fun for instance.
Re: Talking Point: Our Pokémon Presents 2026 Predictions - What Are You Hoping For?
I'm going to try my best to stay away from leaks, rumors, predictions, expectations and any other things that will color my viewpoint going into it. My only expectation is to see a brief announcement of Gen 10. I'm also excited to see if they will reveal a special edition Switch 2 for Gen 10, which has coincided with every major release.
Oh, and every 5 years they've presented a cinematic anniversary montage celebrating Pokemon's legacy, so I'm hoping we see another one!
My body is ready Reggie, I'm riding the hype train with you and Iwata forever <3
Re: NieR:Automata "To Be Continued" As Sales Hit Another Milestone
@Erigen Square Enix failed to realize that the fish-out-of-water trope doesn't resonate with the West nearly as much as it does in Japan. Plus the protagonist's personality and one-liners felt like it was pandering too hard to the West. They have to go back to their roots and remember that most Square Enix fans grew up loving their games that were unapologetically Japanese.
Re: Pokémon FireRed And LeafGreen Officially Revealed For Switch
@Strawblaze Business is far too relative to make such a direct comparison between a large franchise product and an indie game. They really are apples and oranges. Nintendo is not treating FR/LG like a proper game, but rather a fun, extra purchase in the spirit of celebrating an anniversary. You could even compare it closer to Mario Wonder's Bellabel Park than an indie game. In our modern world, the price of almost any product is as abstract as the phrase "beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
In fact, you should blame Silksong for putting pressure on Indies for maintaining the $20 price ceiling, when like you said, all the work they put into the game deserves more than that in relative terms. Quality indie games in 2026's world deserve to go up to $30 at least, but Silksong took advantage of its massive brand value to undercut the indie market.
Re: It's No Surprise Which GBA Soundtrack Has Been Added To Nintendo Music Today
@Eel Hmm, so all bets are off then. We'll just have to see what happens I guess. Perhaps a satisfactory (or contractually obligated) amount of time has passed since FR/LG was uploaded on iTunes.
Re: Pokémon FireRed And LeafGreen Officially Revealed For Switch
@Strawblaze I still don't see $19.99 as taking advantage. It absolutely should be more expensive than the VC Game Boy games, containing vastly better graphics, features, and content. Sure I would enjoy little extras like resizing the screen, but as soon as they add extra features they mostly likely would have charged more. Relative to 2026 standards, $19.99 is an excellent price for a highly prized product.
Re: Pokémon Presents Announced For 27th February, 2026
What if they announce a vinyl collection for one of the soundtracks?! Now that the soundtracks are off of iTunes it feels like anything is possible!
Re: Pokémon FireRed And LeafGreen Officially Revealed For Switch
This is exactly why companies hand-wave online discourse as nothing more than noise. For a premium brand like Pokemon, $19.99 is a great price for each version. Greedy would have been charging $29.99 so collecting both would cost $60, an average, consumer-accepted price. Greedy would have been using inflation as an excuse to charge more.
I just want retailers to jump on the physical card bandwagon like Japan is, because I would love to collect both versions as physical cards to sit on my shelf next to my card of Switch 2 Welcome Tour <3
Re: It's No Surprise Which GBA Soundtrack Has Been Added To Nintendo Music Today
@Eel How very interesting. Perhaps now it's only a matter of time for them to compile the data and plan out a launch schedule for all the soundtracks.
Re: Pokémon FireRed And LeafGreen Officially Revealed For Switch
@Strawblaze Spin it as negatively as you like, but I've been dying to replay FR/LG without forking over huge sums of money to scalper scum. And for my absolute favorite games, buying separately is indeed preferable to NSO with their monthly DRM checks, especially if this is required for Home functionality. Pokemon games really are an exceptional case, as much as that bemoans internet haters.
Re: Pokémon FireRed And LeafGreen Officially Revealed For Switch
Interesting that Nintendo of America's YouTube still doesn't have an uploaded video for this. They're sleeping in it seems!
Edit: Never mind, the Pokemon YouTube is handling the US announcement. Silly me!
Re: It's No Surprise Which GBA Soundtrack Has Been Added To Nintendo Music Today
This was the first thing I woke up to before learning about anything else, and this alone made my morning! I've been playing the Top Tracks playlist on repeat. I'm SO happy to finally have this on Nintendo Music!!
Absolutely love the Gen 3 soundtrack arrangements, so hopefully R/S/E will be added eventually. The melodies in Gen 3 just punch so much harder than other generations, especially compared to the ORAS rearrangements. The midi flute and trumpet especially are highlights of Gen 3 music.
@Eel I've been wondering about that! I had a feeling Nintendo wouldn't offer the soundtracks as long as they were available on iTunes. What are the license expirations on the other soundtracks? Perhaps that's the timeline for everything else!
Re: Pokémon Presents Announced For 27th February, 2026
My mother told me she'll watch it this year after I bought her a Switch 2 along with a few Pokemon games to start her off! She's loving Let's Go Eevee and Violet. (she's a fan of Eevee now, but of course) Also got her Legends ZA since she loves Paris, but she's a gaming newb so that one will have to wait until she improves her hand-eye coordination!
Re: "We Thought It Would Be Fun" - Nintendo Explains Why Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen Aren't On Switch Online
I still think RBY/GSC could be added to NSO, but we'll see. They've already just sold them on the 3DS VC, and it feels conspicuous that Nintendo is skipping to the GBA versions for the eShop. Announcing FR/LG a week early could get people to impulse buy before seeing everything else on offer on Pokemon Day.
Re: Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen Is Getting A Stunning 'Special Edition' Release In Japan
Hopelessly hopeful they'll announce this for the West during the Pokemon Presents 🥹🥹🤞
Re: Pokémon FireRed And LeafGreen Officially Revealed For Switch
C'mon retailers, now's your chance to offer the physical cards of a digital game! I'm holding out on preordering just in case this happens! Japan is getting the physical retailer card, c'mon now!
Re: Pokémon FireRed And LeafGreen Officially Revealed For Switch
@garfreek I'm still wondering if they're saving a larger physical collection announcement for Pokemon Presents, perhaps including RBY as well. Crazier things have happened!
Re: Pokémon FireRed And LeafGreen Officially Revealed For Switch
@brakeman90 I agree! FireRed is the best way to experience Kanto, with classic pixel art and the vibrant Gen 3 soundtrack arrangements. Next week can't come soon enough! I'm really hoping they add FR/LG NSO icons to coincide with the release!
Re: Pokémon FireRed And LeafGreen Officially Revealed For Switch
@Fizza I gotta be honest though, FireRed is definitely worth twice the cost of the original Red version. It's a great remake of the OG (Original Game? 😉), with more content in the form of the Sevii Islands. Exorbitant pricing would have been $29.99-39.99, which people still would have paid. By 2026 standards I am super grateful for a $19.99 price per version. I was fully expecting a physical collection of both versions for $59.99!
Re: Pokémon Pokopia Sped Through Development Thanks To Some Good Old Collaboration
Really hyped about this game! I'm excited to search the interwebs far and wide to join other people's islands. I won't be building too sophisticated structures, but from the commercials it looks like other people certainly will!
Re: Rumour: A Monster Hunter Wilds Switch 2 Port Is Coming, A Fresh Datamine Suggests
They're desperate to keep a Wilds port hush hush because they spent good money making Stories 3 and are hoping to sell that first, but of course.
Re: Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Gets Nintendo Switch 2 Upgrade, Out Now
Goodness gracious, finally! Xenoblade X gave me motion sickness with all the screen tearing at 30fps, so I'm excited to see if my head can handle it with a smoother frame rate.
Re: Poll: What's Your Favourite Gen 4 Pokémon?
Top 3 Pokemon for NintendoLife seem to be:
Re: Poll: What's Your Favourite Gen 3 Pokémon?
Between Ruby and FireRed, Gen 3 was my Pokemon hayday as a kid. I played those two games to death, with a full play-through with every starter.
For Hoenn, first and foremost I have to say Latios. That pixel art intro is extremely special to me. It was beautiful and sweeping, and as a kid, it was this aspirational promise of adventure, watching your trainer race across the valley in chase of this mystical, elusive Pokemon. I can't tell you how many times I replayed that intro as a kid just to enjoy it.
Re: Gallery: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Official Character Posters Have Been Revealed
Peach and Toad's poster looks like a proper odyssey; Luigi's looks like an Indiana Jones flick; Mario's and Bowser Jr's just look like Super Mario Wonder; and the last two just look like character representations rather than a proper glimpse at a journey.
Re: Nintendo Is Considering A Switch 2 Price Hike This Year, According To New Report
The Switch 2 badly needs a $400 Mini/Lite model for big families who are rightly balking at $500 per kid toy. Nintendo loves Apple clearly, but they need to remember that Apple gets away with charging lots of money by selling you things you think you need, like phones, laptops, etc. Nintendo is just selling a luxury entertainment device, ie, a toy. Nintendo needs a generous, sensible leader like Iwata now more than ever to be willing to swallow smaller profits while times are tough.
Furukawa and anyone else controlling these major decisions clearly became too big for their britches while riding the Switch wave, and thought they could crescendo the wave even further. When instead, the Switch wave was just a season, and they needed to batten down the hatches and hunker down for the winter.
If Switch 2 sales continue to struggle, I see a world where Nintendo pivots quickly to a brand new console. Made more cheaply with more available chips, it will follow the old patterns from a sequel console to something brand new, like GBA to DS, GameCube to Wii, etc.
Personally I want Nintendo to create another dedicated handheld. Go back to the days where developers created cost-effective, made-for-handheld game design and presentation. That limitation in scope and performance pressurized into charming art styles and creative game design for almost two decades.
Re: Stellar Blade Dev Might Be Eyeing A Switch 2 Release In The Future
stellar blade looks good, but the monsters are too grotesque for my frail little mind.
Re: Poll: What's Your Favourite Gen 1 Pokémon?
I have SO many nostalgic Gen 1 Pokemon. Dragonite is probably my favorite, but Nidorino is really high up there, because the first intro's of Gen 1-3 left a huge impression on kid me. FireRed's pixel art of Nidorino sort of feels like quintessential Kanto to me.
I think later Pokemon games have lost a bit of charm by opting out of a dedicated intro. Intro's are like a thesis to a game, giving you a comprehensive peek at everything the game has to offer. Old Monster Hunter Freedom1-3 intro's had the same impact on me.
Re: Poll: What's Your Favourite Gen 2 Pokémon?
Kingdra! My Gen 2 game was Crystal, and the last gym battle was one of the most memorable experiences of the game! Kingdra has been one of my favorite Pokemon ever since. Such an interesting lore for him, rivaling that of a pseudo legendary. Speaking of, I love the mentions in the Pokédex of Kingdra and Dragonite getting involved in epic clashes!
I also have very fond memories of Cyndaquil, my starter. I vividly remember loving his little cry, simple but distinct. Little kid me was so proud of myself for teaching Typhlosion Thunder Punch to beat my rival's Feraligatr!
But ultimately, my first and biggest impression of Gen 2 will always be Suicune racing across the screen in that brilliant pixel art intro for Crystal. I usually hesitate to name a legendary as my favorite, but Suicune is just really special to me. One of my most memorable moments of my early gaming as a kid was finally catching her. It's a shame that Suicune's battle stats have such low speed, because she always is depicted as a remarkably fast creature.
Re: New Strategy RPG 'Brigandine: Abyss' Is Coming To Switch 2 In 2026
Really interested in this, and I wish Legend of Runersia received a Switch 2 resolution patch!