Finally in the mood to begin Divinity: Original Sin 2…. Which has been in the Switch backlog for some time. I played BG3 last year, and adored it, so I’m really keen to get stuck into Larian’s predecessor game. Just yesterday I picked up D:OS2 on SteamDeck also, so I can double-dip on Switch and Deck thanks to cross-save functionality (I prefer to travel with Switch, as it’s a lot lighter with better battery- but at home I’d choose Deck due to optimisation and better graphical fidelity)
On the side, I’m playing MH World…. Mainly due to all the hype for Wilds! I put 800hrs into Rise, and am so far loving World. Very different, and IMO not quite as fun as Rise… but I’m still in Low Rank, so many of the new/DLC mechanics haven’t opened up yet. Hitting a GS True Charge Slash remains as satisfying as ever, albeit I still whiff 90% of them!!
I'm honestly really intrigued by this, and absolutely salute TGK for 'trying something new'.
Another Metroidvania/Souls/2D-Scroller from the dev would have been a hit I'm sure.... but the market for that genre is completely over-saturated IMO, and they may have struggled to find a unique identity.
I'm delighted to hear what they're trying with this new game, and love it when devs aim to show us something we've not experienced before.
Wishing them every success! I own both B1 and B2, love those games, so TGK definitely has my backing.
This might get me shot... but I bounced of MP Remaster completely. I'd missed the Prime games completely on GC, and relished the opportunity to jump into the Remaster once it was announced. I just couldn't get into it, and I'm usually a big fan of Metroidvania games (love Hollow Knight, Blasphemous 1/2, new PoP, The Last Faith, Ori games, Salt & Sanctuary). There just seemed to be an excessive amount of backtracking, and little ... excitement I guess? Objectively I can appreciate Prime is a great game, alongside the Remaster setting a benchmark for what makes a 'great remaster, but I just couldnt click with it.
Strange as I adore Dread. I'd personally prefer to see Dread 2 instead of Prime4... just my opinion!
Ok… so I still think XB have taken the crown this summer with their showcase, but Nintendo was an extremely close second.
I think both XB and N have towered above Sony and Sunmer Games Fest, by quite a considerable margin
Amazing that Nintendo have managed to avoid leaks on the new Zelda, and great to see Prime 4 have confirmation it ‘still exists’. NSO app additions are great also
On Steamdeck - currently just wrapped my NG playthrough on Elden Ring, ready for DLC incoming Got a dual Bloodhound Fang quality build all set, capping at level 160, and got 100% achievements. This was my second playthrough (first was PS5 on launch) and I pretty much steamrolled it in 55hrs.... 'eyes on the prize'. Can't wait for Erdtree
Having a cleanse now and playing "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis" (classic Lucasarts adventure game), then moving on to Hades 2!
Finally completed my (2nd) NG journey in Elden Ring, preparing for the DLC landing next month. I'd initially played at launch on PS5, attaining the platinum trophy, and then hadn't revisited the game since....
Picked ER up again on Steamdeck, and as this is now my primary means of gaming, I started a new run. 55hrs later, managed to get 100% achievements and a character at lv144. Going to pick up a few enhancements to support my build, potentially a quick re-spec also, and then lay the game to rest until next month.
This weekend I plan to tackle Animal Well as a 'palette-cleanser' game, and really looking forward to seeing what all the hype is about? I saw on Metacritic that AW is the 2nd highest reviewed game this year... even just above the mighty Balatro at #3 (!)
If I can push through Animal Well quickly, it will then finally be time for Hades 2 on early access - which I'm remarkably excited about
My experience very much mirrored that of Ollie's...
I can objectively appreciatr that TOTK is a tremendous game, and an incredible technical showcase for Switch.
But I just couldn't get into it, not like I did/could with BOTW. I tried my hardest, poured in ~40ish hours (1 dungeon completed, another started) and then bounced off to play other games.
I really hope Nintendo look to tweak the formula with the next entry and show us something 'new' for the franchise.
I would be keen for a tighter and more isolated experience.... maybe even something that incorporates some CRPG elements? (dialogue choices etc)
It hit me like a brick that 'Shadow of the Erd Tree' will now be released in <2months... so time to get back into Elden Ring, in preparation for being DLC-ready.
I originally played on PS5 at launch, getting the platinum trophy, but am now starting up a new playthrough on SteamDeck. Runs pretty well on handheld, 30FPS fairly stable with a couple minor dips - very playable though.
Just got through Stormveil castle, and considering my next move..
@sketchturner Thanks for the response, I was worried I might have come under fire!
I can appreciate that HK is definitely an 'objectively' solid game, but perhaps a case of it just not being 'for me' (I feel similarly about Metroid Prime, which is also universally adored I suppose)
I'll certainly jump on SS, and hope I click moreso with this sequel
@SolBlazer I'm actually inclined to agree with you here...
I'm certainly not being contrary for the sake of it, but I personally found HK to be somewhat overlong and even obtuse at times. I appreciate objectively 'what it was going for'.... but as a MV experience I much preferred Blasphemous, Metroid Dread, the new Prince of Persia - and even preferred The Last Faith.
The boss fights were definitely a stand-out feature though, and masterfully executed in terms of difficulty curve (very challenging, but not impossible).
I found myself constantly getting lost though, with a lot of unnecessary backtracking.... which I appreciate are tropes of the MV genre, but in HK it just felt quite excessive.
Maybe it says more about me as a player, but I much preferred the shorter/tighter experiences such as Blasphemous 1+2
Nonetheless, I'll definitely be picking up the sequel - as I think the first entry showed a lot of promise for what the future could hold
TOTK is stellar of course.... but BOTW was such a nicely compact experience, and just felt so 'fresh'.
Nothing beat diving off the Great Plateau for the first time, utterly amazing.
TOTK suffers from the same issues as Spiderman 2, GoW Ragnarok, Horizon FB.... more of 'the same' but bigger/better - ultimately though the special feeling of the predecessor games.
Nonetheless TOTK still great, but I would have personally preferred a new/different map as well as slightly 'less' game to avoid burnout
IMO, somewhere between Rise & World is the 'ultimate' MH experience. I love the 'pick up and play' arcade-ish style of Rise, but I think it could benefit from some of the actual 'hunting' nuances from World.
I enjoy the Quiros crafting in Sunbreak also, can be frustrating at times.... but great for those of us who love to min/max loadouts.
Whilst I agree that this rating is utterly ridiculous, I suspect (and also hope!) that this instance gains the game a degree of 'notoriety' and keeps it in the headlines... thus provoking additional sales + general interest.
Also, I wonder what the core audience demographic is for this game? At risk of sounding patronising, I wonder how many <18yr old would actually be interesting in playing this? My kids only have interest in Fortnite, Fifa, Rocket League etc...
Ultimately, the rating is absurdly justified - BUT I am hopeful that this area of contention keeps the game newsworthy, and propels sales figures. Genuinely a fantastic game, a must buy for any Spire fans or poker players
I'll vouch for Balatro, best Deck game since Spire IMO... Balatro is so utterly addictive, I can't put it down. I'm a poker player also, so this game is ticking every box for me - but it is definitely very accessible for those who haven't player poker before, and/or have limited experience.
I really hope the rating issue gets ironed out ASAP so the game can get back to the eShop... hopefully the publicity of being pulled (temporarily) will gain it some notoriety and boost sales upon its return!
Best (new release) game I've played 2024 so far, deserves to be part of the conversation alongside Prince of Persia, Helldivers, Rebirth etc
@luciobar1980 It is 100% true, as the joker cards will activate their buffs in a sequence: left - - > right. Jokers trigger from left to right so you should have your multipliers on the right. (by multiplying last, you ensure to yield the highest return.... so have your chips and +Mults first in sequence, with xMults at end)
It is a tremendous game, if you enjoyed Spire (and/or have any interest in Poker whatsoever) then this game is definitely for you.
Even if you're just looking for something 'new' - this is a great time-sink game to work as a cleanser between (or even alongside) meatier bigger titles.
A quick tip for any newcomers, which I only discovered after 20hrs (!) = pay attention to the ORDER in which you position your Joker cards.... (make sure you rearrange so that your largest X-Multipliers are on the right side!)
A shadow-dropped StarFox game that is actually solid, a spiritual successor to the N64 game (albeit less 'on-rails' and more open space exploration)
The Ubisoft crossover (Starlink, Battle for Atlus?) showed how solid the IP can still be... imagine if it had some of that BOTW-dust sprinkled on it.
I think this could be a potentially solid & shrewd move for XBOX in terms of their future plans. Instead of being 'console focussed', perhaps instead look to develop the ecosystem of GamePass.... and working to bring this to competitor platforms.
I'm not sure how this would look in practice, but there is a lot of scope for innovative thinking on Microsoft's part.
@sketchturner I was holding out for the Switch reviews before choosing a platform to play on, and this write-up (along with others) confirmed my suspicions that the port would struggle. A real shame here, as generally the Switch is an ideal platform for this genre… and look how well the recent PoP runs!
Currently playing on Deck, and surprised to see that Grime still isn’t that slick technically. What settings are you using if you don’t mind me asking? (In-game and also Steam OS?)
I’m currently targeting 45FPS, but there are still stutters and drops occasionally…. Tried 30, but this actually feels quite sluggish and buggy - despite being locked. Any advise would be great, probably favour performance over graphical fidelity for games like this.
Blows my mind that the Deck can(decently enough) run Elden Ring, Cyberpunk, Resi4…. But seriously struggles with Grime. Equally, Switch’s version of Witcher is fairly serviceable - hardware considering.
Grime is a great game for MV/Souls lovers, would have been great to have better optimisation
For anyone on Switch interested, Blasphemous 2 runs incredibly well and would be a solid alternative (same with Hollow Knight, Dread, Prince of Persia)
After polishing off 100% on ‘The Last Faith’, I’m sticking to tradition in alternating between brutally challenging games and old-school P&C adventure games…
Last night started “Justin Wack & The Big Time Hack” - great P&C very reminiscent of classic Lucasarts, with similar art style to Day of the Tentacle.
Once I’ve finished Justin Wack, I’m torn between what to play for the next ‘hard’ game. Choosing between Lords of the Fallen, Grime or new Prince of Persia
@MegaVel91 Sorry to hear that this whole narrative has you 'disgusted'....
I think ultimately a lot of games are influenced by their peers, but of course some wear these influences more on their sleeves than others.
Lies of P for instance, an absolutely immaculate Souls experience, borrows incredibly heavily from the school of FromSoftware.... but the fanbase seem to have embraced LoP for its spin on the From formula.
Strange how Palworld seems to have been met differently? Maybe it boils down to the fanbase at the end of the day.
I'm not a Pokemon fan, but appreciate the franchise objectively (played Red as a kid, loved it and fond memories). But Pokemon fans sending death threats to the Palworld developers is a level of insanity I cannot get on board with
Honestly, GameFreak/Nintendo need to have some kind of competition in this arena... the Pokemon franchise has been able to rest on its laurels for far too long. The release state of SV games was insane, and I feel sorry for fans of the series that had to stomach the bugs/issues associated with the release.
Finished up getting 100% achievements in ‘The Last Faith’ so will be jumping back to BG3 after a brief hiatus (mid-Act 2, temporarily put it down to avoid burnout).
On the side I’ll also be doing a few levels of ‘Humanity’ which is a great Lemmings-esque puzzler - really good!
I also picked up Marvel Midnight Suns in the Steam sale, so might give that a whirl
Ubisoft gets a bad wrap, and in some cases perhaps deserved, but their output on occasions can be solid.
Immortals Fenix Rising, and the Switch port included, was a pretty decent take on BOTW - and I have fond memories of playing Immortals during the pandemic.
Glad to see that PoP has landed well, and even more pleased to see that the Switch version isn't a broken mess (!). Not available on SteamDeck, so will likely grab this on Switch
I think the Switch could pull this off, depending on how much love the devs put into the port. I have this on SDeck, and can get 60FPS with relatively high graphical settings. Assuming that graphical concessions and/or fidelity downgrading can be feasible, the Switch could maybe attain 60 also? I don’t necessarily think 30 would be disastrous, but it’s definitely one of those games that would benefit from best FPS possible considering that the rhythm/beat nature of the mechanics
Taking a brief hiatus from Baldurs Gate so as to avoid burnout! Currently midway through Act2, loving every second, but am wary of overplaying this game and don’t want to get BG fatigue.
Whilst I break from BG3, I’m playing ‘Humanity’ and ‘The Last Faith’. The former is a terrific little puzzler that is essentially a 3D version of Lemmings, whilst the latter is somewhat of a Blasphemous clone… Both games are solid enough and should be short playthroughs, after which I’ll get back to Baldurs
Side note - last week I played and completed ‘Cocoon’, which was genuinely an amazing little puzzle game… a high recommend.
A high-recommend for any Souls-lovers out there...
"You Died: The Dark Souls Companion" - by Keza MacDonald (Guardian columnist, covering off culture/games)
Blurb below, but on a personal note it is a fantastic and insightful read - even moreso now that the genre has really popped off into the mainstream. (Original publication 2017, well before the recent surge in popularity for FromSoft)
"YOU DIED is an exploration of Dark Souls, one of the greatest, most enduringly mysterious and best loved video games ever made, and the slightly mad people who play it. It traces a path through the dense lore of the game, but also tells the stories that go beyond it."
My expectations are very tempered here... but I really hope Sega manage to pull this off. The IPs that they list are phenomenal - truly some of the greatest legacies in gaming history!
I think I would feel more comforted if they have named fewer of the initial 5... maybe 2 or 3 max, suggesting a more direct focus on 'quality' vs quantity. SOR and Jet Set would have been plenty to get the fanbase salvating IMP
There is a huge portfolio of Souls-Roid-Vania games on Switch, and I'd steer people more towards Blasphemous 2 if they haven't already played this yet.
Salt and Sanctuary remains one of the best 2D souls games around (albeit the sequel, Sacrifice, is not great).
Ender Lillies, Hollow Knight, newly released Astral Ascent are all much better
Even Dark Souls remastered is a class act on switch!
I agree it doesn't 'NEED' a remake... but I would love to see a FFVII-style complete overhaul, with new mechanics, voice acting etc etc. I can't see the big N ever going there, but would be thrilled if they did
Vampire Survivors on Switch, great game to kick back with and just chill out on - such a great deal for the price.
Then on Steam Deck.... pushing towards the end of Lies of P - managed to get a (relatively) stable 45FPS by tinkering with settings, and it is absolutely playable. A real love-letter to FromSoftware, and definitely wears its influences on its sleeve
I'm delighted that this game is landing so well with critics and consumers alike - great to see Mario go 'back to basics', and open itself to a new audience potentially (perhaps the film might have incited new interest throughout a wider net?)
I personally won't be grabbing this one... I've many fond memories of Mario, but I really need some element of difficulty curve to grab my attention these days. Just beat Blasphemous 2, which was horrendously hard in places, but I am addicted to that feeling of accomplishment!
I wonder if this will factor into GOTY discussions? Currently seems a 2-horse race between TOTK/BG3, with Resi4 as an outside bet I guess
Comments 284
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (7th September)
Finally in the mood to begin Divinity: Original Sin 2…. Which has been in the Switch backlog for some time. I played BG3 last year, and adored it, so I’m really keen to get stuck into Larian’s predecessor game. Just yesterday I picked up D:OS2 on SteamDeck also, so I can double-dip on Switch and Deck thanks to cross-save functionality (I prefer to travel with Switch, as it’s a lot lighter with better battery- but at home I’d choose Deck due to optimisation and better graphical fidelity)
On the side, I’m playing MH World…. Mainly due to all the hype for Wilds! I put 800hrs into Rise, and am so far loving World. Very different, and IMO not quite as fun as Rise… but I’m still in Low Rank, so many of the new/DLC mechanics haven’t opened up yet. Hitting a GS True Charge Slash remains as satisfying as ever, albeit I still whiff 90% of them!!
Re: Feature: Blasphemous Devs Talk Switching From Metroidvania To RTS Stealth In 'The Stone Of Madness'
I'm honestly really intrigued by this, and absolutely salute TGK for 'trying something new'.
Another Metroidvania/Souls/2D-Scroller from the dev would have been a hit I'm sure.... but the market for that genre is completely over-saturated IMO, and they may have struggled to find a unique identity.
I'm delighted to hear what they're trying with this new game, and love it when devs aim to show us something we've not experienced before.
Wishing them every success! I own both B1 and B2, love those games, so TGK definitely has my backing.
Re: Soapbox: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Won't Be The Franchise's 'BOTW Moment', And That's Okay
This might get me shot... but I bounced of MP Remaster completely. I'd missed the Prime games completely on GC, and relished the opportunity to jump into the Remaster once it was announced. I just couldn't get into it, and I'm usually a big fan of Metroidvania games (love Hollow Knight, Blasphemous 1/2, new PoP, The Last Faith, Ori games, Salt & Sanctuary).
There just seemed to be an excessive amount of backtracking, and little ... excitement I guess? Objectively I can appreciate Prime is a great game, alongside the Remaster setting a benchmark for what makes a 'great remaster, but I just couldnt click with it.
Strange as I adore Dread. I'd personally prefer to see Dread 2 instead of Prime4... just my opinion!
Re: Reaction: A Direct That Delivered, And Shows That Switch Still Has Plenty Of Pep
Ok… so I still think XB have taken the crown this summer with their showcase, but Nintendo was an extremely close second.
I think both XB and N have towered above Sony and Sunmer Games Fest, by quite a considerable margin
Amazing that Nintendo have managed to avoid leaks on the new Zelda, and great to see Prime 4 have confirmation it ‘still exists’. NSO app additions are great also
Re: Nintendo Direct June 2024: Time, Where To Watch, What To Expect
Surprise shadow drop of Dark Souls 2 and 3 ports? Could be a nice tie in for FromSoft, considering Erdtree drops later this week?!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (25th May)
On Steamdeck - currently just wrapped my NG playthrough on Elden Ring, ready for DLC incoming Got a dual Bloodhound Fang quality build all set, capping at level 160, and got 100% achievements. This was my second playthrough (first was PS5 on launch) and I pretty much steamrolled it in 55hrs.... 'eyes on the prize'. Can't wait for Erdtree
Having a cleanse now and playing "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis" (classic Lucasarts adventure game), then moving on to Hades 2!
Re: Site News: Suggest Questions For Our Upcoming Switch Summer Survey
"What feature of functionality would guarantee Switch2 to be a 'Day 1' purchase for you?"
Re: Netflix Reveals The First Official Look At Liam Hemsworth In 'The Witcher'
Feel sorry for Liam, am sure he'll be serviceable in the role... but he has the impossible task of filling Henry's shoes, who made that role his own.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (18th May)
Finally completed my (2nd) NG journey in Elden Ring, preparing for the DLC landing next month. I'd initially played at launch on PS5, attaining the platinum trophy, and then hadn't revisited the game since....
Picked ER up again on Steamdeck, and as this is now my primary means of gaming, I started a new run. 55hrs later, managed to get 100% achievements and a character at lv144. Going to pick up a few enhancements to support my build, potentially a quick re-spec also, and then lay the game to rest until next month.
This weekend I plan to tackle Animal Well as a 'palette-cleanser' game, and really looking forward to seeing what all the hype is about? I saw on Metacritic that AW is the 2nd highest reviewed game this year... even just above the mighty Balatro at #3 (!)
If I can push through Animal Well quickly, it will then finally be time for Hades 2 on early access - which I'm remarkably excited about
Re: Talking Point: One Year On, Has Everyone Beaten Ganondorf In Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom?
My experience very much mirrored that of Ollie's...
I can objectively appreciatr that TOTK is a tremendous game, and an incredible technical showcase for Switch.
But I just couldn't get into it, not like I did/could with BOTW. I tried my hardest, poured in ~40ish hours (1 dungeon completed, another started) and then bounced off to play other games.
I really hope Nintendo look to tweak the formula with the next entry and show us something 'new' for the franchise.
I would be keen for a tighter and more isolated experience.... maybe even something that incorporates some CRPG elements? (dialogue choices etc)
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (27th April)
It hit me like a brick that 'Shadow of the Erd Tree' will now be released in <2months... so time to get back into Elden Ring, in preparation for being DLC-ready.
I originally played on PS5 at launch, getting the platinum trophy, but am now starting up a new playthrough on SteamDeck. Runs pretty well on handheld, 30FPS fairly stable with a couple minor dips - very playable though.
Just got through Stormveil castle, and considering my next move..
Re: Talking Point: Nintendo Indie World Showcase Predictions - What Do You Expect To See?
Hades 2 news.....?? Anyone?
Re: Best Nintendo Switch Puzzle Games
Cocoon is still one of the best I've played this year, a great palette cleanser between larger games
Re: Feature: 13 Studios That Should Take A Nintendo Series For A Genre Spin
@steruphan I know right? (re Starfox)
That Ubisoft game (Starlink?) would serve as a great foundation...if Nintendo could enrich that formula, sprinkle some BOTW dust on it, could be great
Re: Feature: 13 Studios That Should Take A Nintendo Series For A Genre Spin
Going to weigh in on this...
What about Mega Crit (the devs behind 'Slay The Spire' taking on a reimagining of the Pokemon TCG?
Loads of potential to make this an addictive deck-builder with/without rogue elements.
Some of the original game's tropes could be fused with new mechanics, and new modes etc.... even potentially a MP option?
Could be great
Re: Surprise! A New Listing For Hollow Knight: Silksong Has Appeared Online
@sketchturner Thanks for the response, I was worried I might have come under fire!
I can appreciate that HK is definitely an 'objectively' solid game, but perhaps a case of it just not being 'for me' (I feel similarly about Metroid Prime, which is also universally adored I suppose)
I'll certainly jump on SS, and hope I click moreso with this sequel
Re: Surprise! A New Listing For Hollow Knight: Silksong Has Appeared Online
@SolBlazer I'm actually inclined to agree with you here...
I'm certainly not being contrary for the sake of it, but I personally found HK to be somewhat overlong and even obtuse at times. I appreciate objectively 'what it was going for'.... but as a MV experience I much preferred Blasphemous, Metroid Dread, the new Prince of Persia - and even preferred The Last Faith.
The boss fights were definitely a stand-out feature though, and masterfully executed in terms of difficulty curve (very challenging, but not impossible).
I found myself constantly getting lost though, with a lot of unnecessary backtracking.... which I appreciate are tropes of the MV genre, but in HK it just felt quite excessive.
Maybe it says more about me as a player, but I much preferred the shorter/tighter experiences such as Blasphemous 1+2
Nonetheless, I'll definitely be picking up the sequel - as I think the first entry showed a lot of promise for what the future could hold
Re: Poll: So, Do You Prefer Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Or Tears Of The Kingdom?
TOTK is stellar of course.... but BOTW was such a nicely compact experience, and just felt so 'fresh'.
Nothing beat diving off the Great Plateau for the first time, utterly amazing.
TOTK suffers from the same issues as Spiderman 2, GoW Ragnarok, Horizon FB.... more of 'the same' but bigger/better - ultimately though the special feeling of the predecessor games.
Nonetheless TOTK still great, but I would have personally preferred a new/different map as well as slightly 'less' game to avoid burnout
Re: UK Charts: Princess Peach: Showtime Can't Usurp EA From Its Throne
Are the 'platform split' %s based on total boxed sales since release? Or boxed sales from the given week?
Love all this data, very interestingly - and put together in an easily digestible format by the NL team.
Re: Best Monster Hunter Games, Ranked - Switch And Nintendo Systems
IMO, somewhere between Rise & World is the 'ultimate' MH experience. I love the 'pick up and play' arcade-ish style of Rise, but I think it could benefit from some of the actual 'hunting' nuances from World.
I enjoy the Quiros crafting in Sunbreak also, can be frustrating at times.... but great for those of us who love to min/max loadouts.
Re: Balatro Back On Switch eShop In Europe With New Age Rating
Whilst I agree that this rating is utterly ridiculous, I suspect (and also hope!) that this instance gains the game a degree of 'notoriety' and keeps it in the headlines... thus provoking additional sales + general interest.
Also, I wonder what the core audience demographic is for this game? At risk of sounding patronising, I wonder how many <18yr old would actually be interesting in playing this? My kids only have interest in Fortnite, Fifa, Rocket League etc...
Ultimately, the rating is absurdly justified - BUT I am hopeful that this area of contention keeps the game newsworthy, and propels sales figures. Genuinely a fantastic game, a must buy for any Spire fans or poker players
Re: Reaction: Nintendo's Switch Emulator Fallout Is Shocking Only Because It Took This Long
I wonder if Nintendo purposefully chose their moment to strike, pursuing action ahead of an imminent Switch2 announcement?
Working to issue "a message" to any other aspirating emulators, who may work to emulate S2 games?1
Re: Best Nintendo Switch Card Games, Board Games, And Deckbuilders
@Ironcore 100%!
Wildfrost is a great game....
Re: Feature: Nintendo Life eShop Selects & Readers' Choice (February 2024)
I'll vouch for Balatro, best Deck game since Spire IMO... Balatro is so utterly addictive, I can't put it down. I'm a poker player also, so this game is ticking every box for me - but it is definitely very accessible for those who haven't player poker before, and/or have limited experience.
I really hope the rating issue gets ironed out ASAP so the game can get back to the eShop... hopefully the publicity of being pulled (temporarily) will gain it some notoriety and boost sales upon its return!
Best (new release) game I've played 2024 so far, deserves to be part of the conversation alongside Prince of Persia, Helldivers, Rebirth etc
Re: Review: Balatro (Switch) - Devilishly Compelling Cardplay, And A Clear GOTY Contender
@luciobar1980 It is 100% true, as the joker cards will activate their buffs in a sequence: left - - > right.
Jokers trigger from left to right so you should have your multipliers on the right. (by multiplying last, you ensure to yield the highest return.... so have your chips and +Mults first in sequence, with xMults at end)
Re: Review: Balatro (Switch) - Devilishly Compelling Cardplay, And A Clear GOTY Contender
It is a tremendous game, if you enjoyed Spire (and/or have any interest in Poker whatsoever) then this game is definitely for you.
Even if you're just looking for something 'new' - this is a great time-sink game to work as a cleanser between (or even alongside) meatier bigger titles.
A quick tip for any newcomers, which I only discovered after 20hrs (!) = pay attention to the ORDER in which you position your Joker cards.... (make sure you rearrange so that your largest X-Multipliers are on the right side!)
Re: Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase February 2024 - Time, Where To Watch, What To Expect
Be nice to see some unexpected ports... Dark Souls 2 / 3?
Re: Talking Point: If 'Switch 2' Isn't Coming Until 2025, What's Nintendo Got Up Its Sleeve This Year?
A shadow-dropped StarFox game that is actually solid, a spiritual successor to the N64 game (albeit less 'on-rails' and more open space exploration)
The Ubisoft crossover (Starlink, Battle for Atlus?) showed how solid the IP can still be... imagine if it had some of that BOTW-dust sprinkled on it.
Re: Microsoft To Share "Vision For The Future Of Xbox" Next Week
I think this could be a potentially solid & shrewd move for XBOX in terms of their future plans. Instead of being 'console focussed', perhaps instead look to develop the ecosystem of GamePass.... and working to bring this to competitor platforms.
I'm not sure how this would look in practice, but there is a lot of scope for innovative thinking on Microsoft's part.
Re: Review: GRIME Definitive Edition (Switch) - A Poor Port Of A Superb Soulslike Metroidvania
@sketchturner
I was holding out for the Switch reviews before choosing a platform to play on, and this write-up (along with others) confirmed my suspicions that the port would struggle. A real shame here, as generally the Switch is an ideal platform for this genre… and look how well the recent PoP runs!
Currently playing on Deck, and surprised to see that Grime still isn’t that slick technically. What settings are you using if you don’t mind me asking? (In-game and also Steam OS?)
I’m currently targeting 45FPS, but there are still stutters and drops occasionally…. Tried 30, but this actually feels quite sluggish and buggy - despite being locked.
Any advise would be great, probably favour performance over graphical fidelity for games like this.
Blows my mind that the Deck can(decently enough) run Elden Ring, Cyberpunk, Resi4…. But seriously struggles with Grime. Equally, Switch’s version of Witcher is fairly serviceable - hardware considering.
Grime is a great game for MV/Souls lovers, would have been great to have better optimisation
For anyone on Switch interested, Blasphemous 2 runs incredibly well and would be a solid alternative (same with Hollow Knight, Dread, Prince of Persia)
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 27th)
After polishing off 100% on ‘The Last Faith’, I’m sticking to tradition in alternating between brutally challenging games and old-school P&C adventure games…
Last night started “Justin Wack & The Big Time Hack” - great P&C very reminiscent of classic Lucasarts, with similar art style to Day of the Tentacle.
Once I’ve finished Justin Wack, I’m torn between what to play for the next ‘hard’ game. Choosing between Lords of the Fallen, Grime or new Prince of Persia
Re: Pokémon's Former Chief Legal Officer "Surprised" Palworld Got This Far
@MegaVel91 Sorry to hear that this whole narrative has you 'disgusted'....
I think ultimately a lot of games are influenced by their peers, but of course some wear these influences more on their sleeves than others.
Lies of P for instance, an absolutely immaculate Souls experience, borrows incredibly heavily from the school of FromSoftware.... but the fanbase seem to have embraced LoP for its spin on the From formula.
Strange how Palworld seems to have been met differently? Maybe it boils down to the fanbase at the end of the day.
I'm not a Pokemon fan, but appreciate the franchise objectively (played Red as a kid, loved it and fond memories). But Pokemon fans sending death threats to the Palworld developers is a level of insanity I cannot get on board with
Re: Pokémon's Former Chief Legal Officer "Surprised" Palworld Got This Far
Honestly, GameFreak/Nintendo need to have some kind of competition in this arena... the Pokemon franchise has been able to rest on its laurels for far too long. The release state of SV games was insane, and I feel sorry for fans of the series that had to stomach the bugs/issues associated with the release.
Anything to make GF 'step it up' is a good thing
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 13th)
Finished up getting 100% achievements in ‘The Last Faith’ so will be jumping back to BG3 after a brief hiatus (mid-Act 2, temporarily put it down to avoid burnout).
On the side I’ll also be doing a few levels of ‘Humanity’ which is a great Lemmings-esque puzzler - really good!
I also picked up Marvel Midnight Suns in the Steam sale, so might give that a whirl
Re: Round Up: The Reviews Are In For Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown
Ubisoft gets a bad wrap, and in some cases perhaps deserved, but their output on occasions can be solid.
Immortals Fenix Rising, and the Switch port included, was a pretty decent take on BOTW - and I have fond memories of playing Immortals during the pandemic.
Glad to see that PoP has landed well, and even more pleased to see that the Switch version isn't a broken mess (!). Not available on SteamDeck, so will likely grab this on Switch
Re: Rumour: Microsoft Will Bring Critically Acclaimed Exclusive To A "Competitor System" This Year
I think the Switch could pull this off, depending on how much love the devs put into the port.
I have this on SDeck, and can get 60FPS with relatively high graphical settings. Assuming that graphical concessions and/or fidelity downgrading can be feasible, the Switch could maybe attain 60 also?
I don’t necessarily think 30 would be disastrous, but it’s definitely one of those games that would benefit from best FPS possible considering that the rhythm/beat nature of the mechanics
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 6th)
Taking a brief hiatus from Baldurs Gate so as to avoid burnout! Currently midway through Act2, loving every second, but am wary of overplaying this game and don’t want to get BG fatigue.
Whilst I break from BG3, I’m playing ‘Humanity’ and ‘The Last Faith’. The former is a terrific little puzzler that is essentially a 3D version of Lemmings, whilst the latter is somewhat of a Blasphemous clone…
Both games are solid enough and should be short playthroughs, after which I’ll get back to Baldurs
Side note - last week I played and completed ‘Cocoon’, which was genuinely an amazing little puzzle game… a high recommend.
Re: Soapbox: Why Aren't There More Books About Games?
A high-recommend for any Souls-lovers out there...
"You Died: The Dark Souls Companion" - by Keza MacDonald (Guardian columnist, covering off culture/games)
Blurb below, but on a personal note it is a fantastic and insightful read - even moreso now that the genre has really popped off into the mainstream. (Original publication 2017, well before the recent surge in popularity for FromSoft)
"YOU DIED is an exploration of Dark Souls, one of the greatest, most enduringly mysterious and best loved video games ever made, and the slightly mad people who play it. It traces a path through the dense lore of the game, but also tells the stories that go beyond it."
Re: 70 Switch Games You Should Pick Up In Nintendo's Festive Offers Sale (Europe)
@MediaKing Not forgetting of course the potential cost of a replacement TV (if playing docked) + at least 1 broken window per/10hrs of play.
Re: Sega Plans To Revive Even "More" Legacy Franchises
My expectations are very tempered here... but I really hope Sega manage to pull this off. The IPs that they list are phenomenal - truly some of the greatest legacies in gaming history!
I think I would feel more comforted if they have named fewer of the initial 5... maybe 2 or 3 max, suggesting a more direct focus on 'quality' vs quantity. SOR and Jet Set would have been plenty to get the fanbase salvating IMP
Re: The Game Awards 2023: Where And When To Watch The Game Awards
@Farts_Ahoy Same!
I actually enjoy this award show.... its a good time, pretty fun/haphazard and a few decent announcements.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (December 2nd)
BG3…. GOTY 😉
Loving this so much, despite putting it off for so long due to the incorrect assumption it wouldn’t ’be for me’
So rich and diverse, things finally starting to click as well after a ropey start
Re: Is Dave The Diver An Indie Game? The Game Awards' Host Weighs In
Clear metrics are definitely needed, and an agreed criteria of what actually constitutes 'indie'....
Bizarrely, and depending how you look at things, Baldur's Gate could potentially constitute 'indie' (irrespective of the game's AAA status)
Geoff's statement is fantastic though, vintage Keighley "it is a small game" ha!
Re: Review: The Last Faith (Switch) - A Moody, If Stuttery, Blasphemous-Style Soulslike
There is a huge portfolio of Souls-Roid-Vania games on Switch, and I'd steer people more towards Blasphemous 2 if they haven't already played this yet.
Salt and Sanctuary remains one of the best 2D souls games around (albeit the sequel, Sacrifice, is not great).
Ender Lillies, Hollow Knight, newly released Astral Ascent are all much better
Even Dark Souls remastered is a class act on switch!
Re: Monster Hunter 20th Anniversary Poll Asks Fans To Vote For Their Favourite Monster
Goss Harag! Love that fight
Re: Talking Point: Does Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Need A Full Remake?
I agree it doesn't 'NEED' a remake... but I would love to see a FFVII-style complete overhaul, with new mechanics, voice acting etc etc.
I can't see the big N ever going there, but would be thrilled if they did
Re: Review: Star Ocean: The Second Story R - One Of The Very Best RPGs Of The Year
@woopox I am also keen to see this answer... please tag me if you get a response? I try and avoid games that are too 'on rails' / easy
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (October 28th)
Vampire Survivors on Switch, great game to kick back with and just chill out on - such a great deal for the price.
Then on Steam Deck.... pushing towards the end of Lies of P - managed to get a (relatively) stable 45FPS by tinkering with settings, and it is absolutely playable. A real love-letter to FromSoftware, and definitely wears its influences on its sleeve
Re: Grab Some Spooky Savings In The Switch eShop Screaming Deals Sale (North America)
Inscryption is a solid recommendation- an amazing 10hr experience
Re: Review: Super Mario Bros. Wonder - The Best 2D Mario Since The Super NES
I'm delighted that this game is landing so well with critics and consumers alike - great to see Mario go 'back to basics', and open itself to a new audience potentially (perhaps the film might have incited new interest throughout a wider net?)
I personally won't be grabbing this one... I've many fond memories of Mario, but I really need some element of difficulty curve to grab my attention these days. Just beat Blasphemous 2, which was horrendously hard in places, but I am addicted to that feeling of accomplishment!
I wonder if this will factor into GOTY discussions? Currently seems a 2-horse race between TOTK/BG3, with Resi4 as an outside bet I guess