Browny

... but will it be called Sonic 3 & Knuckles?

I want to see squids.

Therefore, it's a high likelihood I'll walk away pleased.

Has there been any coverage on the combat of the game? I imagine it's a spiritual successor to the Monsters subseries, but all the screenshots seem to be of everything BUT combat...

Doesn't have me overly concerned, but curious more than anything.

I'm excited. Not that I need additional convincing to get the game.

Most looking forward to any additional Splatoon merchandise to come out of Japan for importing, though I know that won't be touched on by the Direct.

Nice that this was finally confirmed. Would have bought on PS if I had to, but Switch is preferred.

Can't wait to sink dozens of hours into this the way I did with the PSP version way back when.

@BrazillianCara
Can't say I've ever been one to romanticize disdain. I'd love nothing more than to effortlessly enjoy every new entry of every series I once liked.

But the extreme opposite, to unquestioningly accept every new entry as though we were blessed to receive it at all is just as unhealthy and unreasonable. Every franchise waxes and wanes over time, and it shouldn't be looked down upon when a member of the fandom chooses to voice their displeasure over the course the series takes.

And examples like this one, where someone begrudgingly continues to play entries in the series out of a sense of obligation is not a healthy approach. It's okay to leave a series behind if it no longer provides the enjoyment it once did, whether one grew out of it or the series has genuinely shifted away from what drew you in the first place.

I abandoned Pokemon with Sun/Moon when it became clear they were spinning their own wheels and catering to the youngest demographic (which is fair). In the same vein, I abandoned Tales of series when their stories started meandering about after a series high point; or Fire Emblem after the series went all in on the dating sim element over genuine strategic gameplay. To name a few examples.

But at the end of the day, I accept that these series aren't for me anymore. I look in, every now and then, hopeful it returns to what I want out of them, but I don't begrudge anyone who still enjoys it. I do question the heck out of their tastes, though.

@Bolt_Strike
Well you clearly have no sense of imagination when it comes to alternative takes.

Take inspiration from virtually any other RPG out there, and give Pokemon an energy meter (MP). Or, keep the four move limit, but implement the ability to hot-swap moves when out of battle instead of giving them up entirely. The competitive scene and their gripes are inconsequential to the discussion at hand, as those same hard limits can be maintained for that scene, while shaking things up for the single player campaign.

Never said they didn't experiment, or that it should be changed from one v one to something else. You could keep one v one, but cause a massive shake up to the feel of combat through some kind of innovation or new mechanic. Again, if we were to take the idea of energy (MP), suddenly combat has a whole new flavor to it without really changing the one v one structure.

Game Freak has tried many things, but they always come back to the basic, boring one v one four move limit template. Almost as if they're afraid to mix that up.

Don't worry, Ollie. When this generation lets you down in the same vein as the previous ones, maybe you'll finally be able to leave the series behind.

Personally, it was Sun/Moon that was the nail in the coffin for me; the worst games in the series for me. And with all the hullabaloo around Sword/Shield? I was happy to have jumped off the Pokemon bandwagon.

Sometimes it's better to just leave a series behind. It gave you some memories, but the magic is gone. Let it be.

@michellelynn0976
Respectfully, that is wishful thinking of the highest magnitude.

Come November, you'll have your confirmation that when the Pokemon wants to learn move five, it will be forced to forget one of the previous four.

@michellelynn0976
Hilariously, people who were shocked at the changes in Let's Go probably had good reason to. They actually managed to make the experience worse by cutting out a big part of the gameplay. But that's neither here, nor there.

You say they didn't show a lot, but they showed some combat gameplay. The same one v one four move limit stuff that's been with the series since inception. There is nothing more to "wait and see" that will change the stale formula.

@michellelynn0976
Please point out where I was "speaking for everyone". All my points are generalized or reflective of my thoughts and gripes with the game and series at large.

Rather than a one sentence non-reply, offer some counterpoints or add something meaningful to the conversation. There's plenty to discuss regarding the short-comings of the Pokemon series as a whole.

@ArceusSupremacy
Yes, I am comparing the two. What better game or example to compare it to than the previous mainline entry?

But ultimately, a big open field to "explore" (and I use that term VERY loosely), is not a major selling point for me. Exploration only makes sense if there's a goal to said exploration, and sadly the Pokemon formula doesn't lend itself well to said exploration.

Am I knocking the effort? Not at all; I'm glad they're "trying", but they're focusing on the wrong parts. The core mechanics are in dire need of a revamp, a reimagining, something to shake up the way the games are played. As someone else just said, since the inclusion of Mega Evolutions, they've been recycling the same idea with a different coat of paint. But we still have the stale, one v one four move limit archaic gameplay.

Pokemon deserves better, and to be blinded by a desire to play shiny new crystal mons, to me at least, is a disservice to the franchise as a fan since Gen 1. Do better, Game Freak.

@ArceusSupremacy
An open world was already attempted with mixed success in Sword & Shield. At best they can improve that with this entry, but what good is a big open field when the core mechanics of the series haven't been updated in any meaningful way?

Nothing shown was particularly enticing. The claim of tackling gyms in any order sounds nice on paper, but a little clarification would be nice. How will this be achieved? Level scaling?

The core gameplay remains the same with no improvements, and the flavor of the week is crystal mons. Yay...?

I had higher hopes for this than I did Sword and Shield, but Game Freak again has disappointed me.

Curious as to what else they add.

Personally only play the basic turf war, as the goal of the game for me has always been some mindless turf painting while watching TV or listening to a podcast or audiobook.

@meleehunter
Irony being, if you were there for either the first or second game, the first couple months is ALWAYS dull, slow and apparently lacking in substantial content. Because of their drip feed approach.

@Bizzyb
Pretty much. Nintendo has opted to make a game that's about as close to a "live service" model as they're brave enough to take at this point in time. But because they don't nickel & dime with microtransactions (yet), they need to come up with ways to get more money from the franchise. Another release is the logical step, outside switching fully to the "live service" model.

@Not_Soos
Agree with your assessment of Arlo. Been a fan for years because his videos are lighthearted, and when present his criticisms are fair or at the very least elaborated upon through his own personal biases that they make sense. But this is the Internet, and to put yourself and your opinions out there is to open yourself to attack, justified or not.

Fact is, even for big fans of Splatoon, it's not a clear cut case of "you have to buy this sequel". There's too much about the series that makes you question whether or not to buy a sequel on the same platform, especially with what's been shown so far.

Does Splatoon 3 bring enough to the table to warrant another purchase?

From what has been shown, maybe? You'd have to ask yourself what more do you want from the game to justify the release. More single player content? New features in multiplayer? New modes?

I find it funny that some would think of Splatoon 3 as a "2.5" release, when if we're being honest with ourselves, Splatoon 2 felt more of a "1.5" release in many ways. This series isn't going to be an easy "sell" on what constitutes a new game, I feel.

And that's fine. For fans, what's there might be enough. I do feel that it's a bit harder to justify given than unlike 2, which was moving from Wii U to Switch, this one has less "incentive". But if other major franchises can get away with 2-4 releases per generation with that samey feel, why can't Nintendo do it with a 5 year gap between releases?

A CIB copy of Illusion of Gaia, the most important game to me personally.

Rare? Maybe not. But it means the world to me.

I'll be picking them up, naturally. I've gotten every other Smash amiibo thus far, got to make it all the way to Sora.

Varies from person to person, genre to genre, as well as time spent playing versus time spent being productive.

When I was younger, I would play every chance I got where I wasn't beholden to chores, studies or work. But the older I've gotten, the less enjoyment I derive from gaming. I'm still totally down for a weekend long binge of 8-10 hour sessions a day, but those are few and far between, and I've actively restricted gaming time during the work week.

Not because the games are making things worse, but because gaming, despite being a hobby, can be a taxing activity, and after 9-10 hours of work, sometimes the last thing you want to do is engage in another activity that requires as much brain power as your day job.

Like everything in life, moderation is key. A game can do wonders for your mental health. It can also cause you to spiral out of control.

After having recently completed Xeno2 at last, I'm excited to see what the third entry has to offer.

I skimmed over a lot of the review, hoping to not get too read up on the combat system in particular, because I want to discover it on my own.

Looking forward to a nice, long weekend playing this.

The watch is nice. Pricey, though. But to be expected, being both Square and Disney.

@WallyWest
I used to look at variants as wholly different monsters, but the more MH I've played, the less thrilled I've become at the prospect of fighting palette swaps with tweaked movesets and higher damage output. I don't feel this provides the right kind of challenge, and further increases the burnout.

At the end of the day for me, a Rathian, Pink Rathian, Silver Rathian, Dreadqueen Rathian... they're all Rathians, and they just move a bit quicker and hit a lot harder.

@Cia
Afflicted sounds like another word for Frenzied from 4 or whatever the equivalent was in World. Cool gimmick at first blush, yet another example of palette swapping monsters when you get down to it. The monster has an even higher chance of OHKO-ing; I don't view that as a plus or a challenge, just an annoyance. It changes the experience from a fun hunt with friends or randos to a salt-fest when you or someone else carts over a minor slip up.

It might sound as though I'm being overly negative or critical of the expansion, and I am. But after over a thousand hours across several entries in the franchise, the only thing keeping it fresh (for myself) is the variety of monsters. Two unique monsters will always outclass two or more variants on the same monster.

@WallyWest @Arawn93
19 new additions. 5 new monsters, 6 returning, and 8 variants.

Were there other monsters not listed on the wiki?

Currently holding off on Sunbreak, as the amount of content for the asking price is not reasonable, IMO.

The addition of G Rank is nice and all, but with a paltry 5 new monsters and only 6 returning (not counting the variants), it feels less than substantial, which is what I figured would happen.

If this does make it to Switch, I will instantly pick it up. Tactics Ogre was far and away the better tactics game, but is often forgotten next to FF Tactics.

Sad for all those out there hoping to relieve the stress of these poor, large-chested ladies through the power of erotic massage.

@GrailUK
Following up on what was shared, if you choose to play the later numbered entries, the "need to grind" has been toned down so extensively that it's not much of an issue anymore.

Compared to most RPGs, with the exception of Dragon Quest VII and XI, they're all rather short experiences, clocking in around 20-40 hours.

I will hold out hope... for any version that gets an official localization. I've been waiting since the launch of the original Wii version, I'll continue to wait for another decade, if need be.

And to think, I account for five of those sales across five different platforms.

Worth it, while IX is my favorite personally, I think I can most easily return to X for a comfort food style replay.

@LUIGITORNADO
It's a good effort of an RPG, with the biggest drawback IMO being the low difficulty given the sheer amount of options available to the player. The game would benefit from a "Hard Mode" where the class system can shine through brilliantly.

I'm not asking for a new Golden Sun. I did that once, and what we got was the abysmal Dark Dawn.

I would like the original duology to be remade, or at the very least re-released for those not around 20 years ago when the series was at its height.

And just like that, Nintendo blocks access to (one of the worst) Fire Emblem games with the shutdown of their shop. Wonderful future, all-digital.

Still one of Nintendo's weirdest moves; totally don't agree with it, and continue to wait patiently for the inevitable release. And all over a completely unrelated matter.

Ninty gonna Ninty.

I'll wait until it's all released, and maybe even get added to the Expansion Pak for NSO.

And if it isn't, I'll just be able to see everything that's on offer before I commit the purchase. I'm sure the base game will give me plenty of content to enjoy, anyway.

Banjo-Tooie, DK64, Bomberman 64, Bomberman Hero.

Those are the games I'm most hoping for.

I'll be giving this one a chance, probably at release given that I have a holiday that weekend. This might be a great game to take on the road and chill out with.

... but where's the Naughty Devil mode with tentacles and extra nudity?

@MS7000
I actually really like the games; I played most of the first back on Xbox and was happy to have it on Switch. I just never really got around to playing the first to completion on Switch, or even start up the second one.

I will be buying the third, and probably just play all three back to back this holiday while on vacation.

So I'd like to get it just to have a physical copy... but I have the digital copy that came with Bayo2 and I never played either since I got them at launch... not sure it would be worth the expenditure.

I got bored using the app for walks. I still do the walks, but live without the constant battery drain.

I'll be giving this one a shot, though my experiences with DQ spinoff games has been very hit or miss. The new footage from the direct did sell me a bit more compared to when it was originally unveiled back in 2021.

I find the Japanese box art more aesthetically pleasing, though the US box feels far more indicative of the game's actual experience.

Probably won't pick this up any time soon, but I just love the character design of Noah. She's so adorably pudgy.

The best version of Puzzle League released worldwide, only because they kept the GCN version Japan exclusive.

Would be nice if they ever got around to porting that version for Switch... but in the meantime, I'll enjoy the Pokemon variant.

I was tempted to get one, but after the hype died down, I'll likely just get the Pro Controller to go alongside my Splatoon 2 Pro Controller.

A hardware refresh (that fabled Pro Switch) or the "Super Nintendo Switch", the fabled successor, has to be around the corner, in the next year or two. And as long as my launch model continues to run, however hotly, I'll hold.

I had a fun time going through some manuals earlier. I'm glad people are putting in the time to save these pieces of gaming history.

@CorePrideX
Fine. I'll have my copy of the game, and I'll forget all about this in a few months.

Take your grievances to those who care and/or can do something about it.

I'll be buying one off eBay this holiday. No shame, sucks to have to spend more, but my desire to have the special edition outweighs the frustration and anger towards Nintendo's awful purchasing experience by quite a bit.

I also bought the base game via Amazon to play at launch.

I can look at the cart and the item, but it won't let me add to cart. I don't even know what to do about this.

Edit: It finally went from not allowing me to add it to my cart because "Item Limit Reached" to "Currently Unavailable". Genuinely give up at this point; I'll pay a scalper this Christmas for the box and just order from Amazon. Nintendo's failures at handling an online store continue to amaze.