Browny

I'm looking forward to replaying this one some time soon; only this time actually making full use of the robust class system.

So glad Nintendo finally added it to the service.

I will hold out hope for Super Nintendo Switch until proven wrong.

My GOTY 2023 is Theatrhythm, personally.

While I didn't play it nearly as much as one other game (XIV), it is the new experience of the year, and brought me amazing amounts of joy and fun.

Here's hoping 2024 has better offerings, because not much to be excited for this year.

He walks away richer than if he'd had stayed on.

I say good for him, he got his.

I downloaded it. I'll be adding it to my Steam Deck in some fashion to play it.

And nothing is ever truly gone from the internet. It can still be found out there, if you know where to look.

Honestly, I plan to download it and see if I can't get it working on my Steam Deck.

@tsdenizen
I was under the impression the colosseum was an integral part of the narrative, and you'd have to go through most if not all the tiers.

And yes, it's the fact that I have to rely on the AI that personally aggravates me. All it takes is one instance of the monster doing something different than what I would've done and already I'm peeved. If I make a decision and lose, it was my decision and I can live with that. If the AI does a stupid move that costs me the fight, then I feel cheated by the game.

I'll look into the game down the line when a sale happens, half off or more. I've always wanted to like Monsters, but giving up that direct control in an RPG is just rather frustrating, personally.

@tsdenizen
Oh... so for the actual big battles you can't directly command the team?

That's a level of RNG I can't abide personally. I remember the utter frustration of that in DQ8, and that was simply a side quest.

Thanks for the info! I'll continue to steer clear of Monsters.

I do have a question for those that have played the game: are battles entirely done via AI control (you issue broad "attack", "heal", etc commands), or can you turn by turn select each action like you would in a normal DQ?

Memory is extremely fuzzy, but I recall one of the previous games being forcibly stuck on AI orders, which is why I never got into the Monsters subseries.

Directors: it's our fault, but you get fired, not I.

Talented developers, and heartache at having to let them go, but those that caused the mess remain employed and likely unaffected salary-wise.

Been waiting two and a half years. It's been long enough.

Here's hoping it'll be out in the next few months.

@dr_frahnkunsteen
Honestly, I get the pros and cons as listed, and I even agree with the possible justification.

Follow Splatoon 2, and they burn up their reserves of content too quickly. But the Splatoon 3 model makes everything way too slow as a result.

I think a big part of this stems from Splatoon 3 being on Switch in the first place, rather than on the new console. I look at both, and while both have their own flavors, it's still Splatoon. Outside novelty, why would I want to play 3 over 2 when 2 has a wealth of MORE content, if not inherently "new"?

It's a bit of a mess either way. I don't begrudge the game or Nintendo, honestly. Mostly lament for myself that the game couldn't hold me as long as Splatoon 2 did. And I don't attribute that to series fatigue, as I want to play more Splatoon. But if all I'm doing is the same half dozen maps...

It's a bit of a sad pickle.

It honestly bums me out how fast I dropped off Splatoon 3, despite a strong hype lead up to the game, and a great first month with it.

But more than 1 and 2, 3 felt like it's been dragging its feet on content updates, with additions being even slower and the first two games. I know it's a bit much to ask for, but Splatoon 3 should have started with a lot more content than it did, and only added to that even more consistently to the point it renders 2 completely obsolete.

But that's just my opinion on the matter. Perhaps one day I'll return to the game, once most/all of the new content is in.

It's amazing how this one game is the big question with every direct, big or small.

I do want the game, because I found Hollow Knight to be amazing and I've played it a couple times now. But fortunately I tend to forget this is even a thing until it's asked for again and again with every Direct announcement.

I want it, but I also want it to be good out the gate. Which I have no reason to doubt with Team Cherry, but I still fear that somehow it's gonna be less than stellar at launch, and eventually be patched into greatness.

So many games release in that state, nowadays.

This will be my holiday game later this month. Can't wait to relive all those glorious childhood memories.

I will likely be picking up Super Mario RPG, if only for the raw nostalgia of the game. It was my gateway drug into RPGs, after all.

I'm concerned about how this remake will turn out, but even with some changes, the core experience is so baked into my brain that I could probably run it blindfolded.

That's a review I can't wait to read from this site.

The review sounds about right.

Portia wasn't a pinnacle of the farming sim genre, rather bland/lackluster in a number of ways. Sandrock feels like more of the same. Which if you like, cool beans. But the genre is getting flooded recently, and if there are better alternatives, it's fine to point out a middling sequel than to heap false praise on it.

Also: the joys/cons section should never be taken as the end all, be all as to why a score was dished out. It's a summary of notable points, nothing more. Stop looking at the number, and read what's written.

@Daniel36
Maybe it doesn't go anywhere and dies within a year or so. But the cool thing about dead TCGs is provided you have the rules and a few decks, you can always just play a game here or there that isn't going to be ruined by power creep.

Looking at you, Pokemon.

More than anything, today I learned Disney has a new TCG that started only a couple months ago.

Kinda wanna look into it further now.

Gimme DQX for the West, please.
Gimme DQ3 HD2D, please.

It's been too long since I had something worthwhile from the mainline series.

Inscryption for $12 is calling my name. Even if I might not get to it for a long time.

Please be a sign of a localization.

I need to experience this to definitively say I have played every mainline DQ made.

I'll keep an eye on this one for sure. I bought Bug Fables and found it to be a great experience, so I hope this one feels the same.

They're cute to be sure.

But I don't think I'd buy a single one.

I saw the screencap at the top of the article and thought: isekai.

Turns out, not an isekai.

Okay.

I can't wait to run through this one again a couple weeks post release during a holiday I have planned.

Super Mario RPG is the game that truly opened my eyes to the genre, even when I'd spent my tender years playing Dragon Quest almost religiously but never quite understanding what made it special. Was this game that cemented my love for RPGs.

Next up: when's the remastered OST being released? Because I'll need that added to my music collection ASAP.

Graphics aside, I hope they tweaked the gameplay enough to make it a fair challenge, and not the cakewalk the original was.

The addition of new, more challenging boss re-encounters is cool to be sure, but more than optional extra challenge I want a consistent, meaty experience throughout.

I remember playing a romhack version that tweaked encounters, stats and the like, which made the experience feel both fresh and challenging, without falling into the pitfalls of fan-made BS challenges.

I can't wait to give this one a shot though, for nostalgia mainly.

@sketchturner
Actually didn't know there was that much content to the release. Only sampled the game back during its initial release about two decades ago, and I cannot definitively say I completed it (likely didn't, given that I didn't remember the extra levels being a thing).

@DwaynesGames
Heck, I thought it was on NSO already. Huh.

Not sure if it was announced for the service or not, to be honest. I haven't played the game since it was on the 3DS VC more than a decade ago.

Rather underwhelming release. The original on GBA was already a severely lacking "remake" of the GB classic, with far less content to boot.

But Nintendo is looking to pad out the final days of the Switch.

Of all this, what I get out of it is that I might have to shell out a bit to get Slay the Spire before it's delisted, then meh, I'll spend the cash.

Shame for the devs.

Patience finally paid off.

Can't wait to revisit this game for the first time in years.

This one will be on my radar.

There is something amazingly charming about the anime cutscenes. I want to know more.

I'm certainly interested in seeing more about this take on Mario. Hopefully they truly go crazy with the wackiness because loopy Mario is best Mario.

Will we get a Touch Fuzzy Get Dizzy style level?

I have all the other Splatoon amiibo, may as well get these to complete the collection.

Having only played the first one for a couple hours, I am excited to see more, but sadly won't be buying for a while to come.

I will definitely look up playthroughs just to see the game in action, because I loved everything I saw about the first one.

I mean, I put the games on a shelf where they catch dust. I also purged about 400 of 500 games I owned several years ago, and have since purged more and replaced with new purchases.

At this point I no longer care to collect, I'm actively looking to give away games, or sell them forward.

I love feeling the creeping hands of death and old age as everything I loved as a child continues to hit significant milestones.

Though to answer the question, I prefer the NES versions of Mario 2 and 3, but the SNES version of Mario 1.

@somnambulance
Ironically, skipped both XVI and Tears of the Kingdom this year.

For me, GOTY will likely go to Theatrhtyhm, but my bread and butter (read: obsession) for 2023 has turned out to be Final Fantasy XIV, which I only just got into this year.

@somnambulance
I'm pretty sure I account for some 50-60 of those, and that's just main numbered series alone, not counting spin-offs.

But when a franchise clicks with me, I'm not against buying not just as many entries as I want, but multiple times to boot across different platforms, re-releases or remasters. Heck, for IX alone I've bought that game a dozen times.

Relevant point 1: applying western cultural ideals and standards to Japan, a country with a different culture is naive and moot.

Relevant point 2: predominantly male industry has a lack of females, making it harder for females to get into said industry. This is not unique to this industry, and similar issues occur in predominanly female industries when males try to get into it.

Relevant point 3: never hire to fill a quota. Hire the best person for the job. Bias will always exist, however.

Bit jealous for the Mario & Luigi one, as I love the art style the game received. Even today it's visually striking compared to most other Mario series art.

@smoreon @TotalHenshin
VERY interesting!

I actually never felt the bloat as described. I do agree that the levels got larger, and traversing them could be a bit of a chore. Backtracking also annoyed me to some extent, but I always chalked that up to my being a bit weird and wanting to complete EVERYTHING in a single world before moving on. Which in Tooie wasn't viable because typically half the items were locked behind a skill found two worlds over.

Now I really want to go back and replay Tooie, see how it holds up. Granted, lacking an Xbox console, I'll have to hold out hope that it gets added to NSO down the line.

Thanks for your input.

@TotalHenshin
Interesting, I've never heard someone describe Tooie has having "bloat"; always considered it a refinement of what came before.

Mind elaborating on this? Last time I played both games was (sadly) close to a decade ago, so I might be misremembering.

Interesting list! Some comments:

Tonic Trouble is a game I really, REALLY wanted to like, but even as a kid it felt disjointed, weird and unresponsive. The concept wasn't bad, but it was never a delight to play.

Bomberman Hero remains high on my list of not just N64 games, but Bomberman games in general. Making Bomberman into a 3D action game did wonders for the character, and it surprises me there hasn't been another attempt at this since.

Conker's Bad Fur Day, while unique and fun, is also probably Rare's weakest outing on the platform. Might be a bit of a spicy take, but it lacked the responsiveness of Banjo and DK. The setpieces were awesome, and there's something to be said about having M rated humor in such an outwardly kid-friendly package, but as a game it left a lot to be desired.

Super Mario 64 hasn't aged as gracefully as Banjo or even DK64.

DK64 can be a snoozefest collectathon, and the level design is a bit mid, but I can't deny I had great times with it.

And lastly, Banjo-Tooie below Banjo-Kazooie?? Come on friends! Tooie outdid Kazooie in every conceivable metric!

@Regulus6891
I remember. However, with Link's Awakening being one of my favorite games of all time, I saw the remake slightly differently:

The fact that Nintendo could just release a 25 year old Game Boy game with a new coat of paint and virtually zero new content just shows how amazingly well the original title holds up. And it gives a new generation a chance to experience what we liked as kids near three decades prior.

Super Mario RPG-- IMO-- is not as timeless a game as Link's Awakening was. It had flaws, quirks, and minor issues that could certainly be improved upon and ironed out with this remake. And it looks like they're adding minor QoL improvements from the trailer.

Will this have more content? I'm willing to bank on "No". But it will still be a way for a new generation to enjoy a classic. And I'm perfectly fine in allowing kids today the opportunity to see how amazing this game is, and was, back in our day.

I am not thrilled about the price, but Super Mario RPG was my gateway into RPGs, even when I grew up playing the original Dragon Quest. It was this game that taught me as a kid that Dragon Quest wasn't "unique", but there was an entire genre out there to explore.

And more than the game? I'm on board for the remastered soundtrack. Yoko Shimomura's music is fantastic in the original, and what little was played during the trailer has me STOKED.

But is it as good as RCT2 on PC?

That has always been my gold standard for these kinds of games, especially within this series. So many dozens of hours spent on those parks.

VI could benefit from a remake. Not a reimagining like VII got, but just a simpler remake akin to the pixel remaster with a ton of improvements.

VI has issues, quite a few of them, that could be ironed out rather easily I feel with current day tech. I'm surprised it wasn't done for the pixel remaster, but those were designed to be true to the original as much as possible.

I'm still anxious about the rumored IX remake. IX is the best FF, and my favorite, so I'm curious to see what they do with it.

I haven't picked up the collection as I've officially dedicated 2023 to playing XIV, but having the games relatively fresh in my memory (and by that I mean I played the whole series in the last five or six years), all I want from Atlus is for them to bring the series forward to Switch.

Until I play the Switch port/remaster, I won't be able to comment on the quality, but I'm not expecting these games to blow me away visually. That was never their goal. These are games designed to give hardcore dungeon crawlers something to enjoy, a reminder of how RPGs once were. A throwback. And I love it for that reason.

What I want from Atlus: another collection with IV, V and Nexus, and either DLC for the first collection to include the Untold content, or a separate release for the Untold games.

And Etrian Odyssey VI. Hopefully with something fresh brought to the table; not sure if it was burnout on my part, but both V and Nexus felt... weaker than the games that came before. Personally, my favorites remain 2 Untold and IV.