CJD87

I don’t have a huge physical Switch collection… maybe 30-40 cartridges?
If BC is a ‘thing’ then I’d definitely shell out for the physical more expensive Switch 2. If BC is off the table completely, I’d probably look to go full digital ….. unless of course the digital Switch 2 has lesser spec vs the physical version (like Series S being underpowered vs Series X..)

So basically, if there is no BC + no spec difference between the 2 units, I’d probably be fine to go full digital

A sound decision, and fair play to the developers in this case.

Too many games are released 'prematurely' at the moment, and even some AAA titles are coming out as buggy messes needing all manor of patches within their launch weeks/months.

I understand there is pressure on devs to get things out the gate as soon as possible, but I applaud decisions like this - IMO much better to push back release by a few weeks to ensure a quality final product for the consumer.

I really don't want to sound negative, but this Direct really didn't do much for me.
Objectively speaking, I don't necessarily think it was terrible... but equally it just seems like Nintendo are now riding the final wave until Switch2 - and being wholly reliant on ports of old games (albeit good ones, Tomb Raider / MGS etc) and remasters (Thousand Yr Door).

In the wake of BG3 & Starfield, not to mention RE4 and SF6, I was hoping Nintendo might have another big-hitter before end of this year....

But people here are right in saying it makes no sense to announce Switch2 now and consequentially kneecap their sales potential for one last holiday season for original Switch.

I'm certainly not a hater, and Nintendo are probably my overall favorite in the space of the 'top 3' (Sony 2nd, Microsoft 3rd).... but I'm considering buying a SteamDeck to tide me over until Switch2, just to play BG3 RE4 etc

At this point I am eagerly anticipating any/some news on the Switch successor. I love the Switch, but it would be amazing to see a more powerful piece of kit that could run recent 3rd party titles (BG3, Elden Ring, AC6, SF6 etc)

Imagine a new Switch with the power capabilities of... the SteamDeck (?). That would be the dream, and the best of both worlds.

I am partially tempted by SD due to the availability of titles, but I am absolutely not one for tinkering with settings...and very much welcome the simplicity of the Switch + first party titles + battery life.

@-wc-

Ah so you’re now 100% Nintendo? If so, I would really highly recommend the Dark Souls remaster on Switch. It runs pretty great (as you’d hope, considering the age!) and IMO it levels up massively from its predecessor.

You’ll also be at an advantage, having played DeS you’ll know what to expect… and also I think you’ll be really pleasantly surprised with how much better DS is (mechanically, lore, build diversity, world building etc)

Additionally, and assuming you’re still into ‘Souls-y’ titles - my absolute favourite non-FromSoftware title on Switch is called “Salt and Sanctuary”. Essentially this is 2D Dark Souls, with vast skill trees and epic boss battles. Nearly always on sale in EShop also!

So yeah definitely 100% get Dark Souls, as it really is an amazing experience … nothing quite like it. Such a shame that the sequels haven’t been ported to Switch (yet?) as they would sell massively

@-wc-
I see where you’re coming from, and whilst I’d certainly argue that Dark Souls was the game that really launched the ‘genre’ popularity… Demons Souls was absolutely the launch pad for Dark Souls.

I’ve played an beat both, Inc PS5 remake, and really think FromSoft learnt a lot of lessons from Demons - -> Dark.

IMO - Demons Souls is almost ‘too’ obtuse in its structure and side quests, and the World Tendency system is executed v poorly (great idea in concept, but the application just doesn’t work for me)

The ‘mission’ structure of Demons is a bit odd as well, and doesn’t seem to work as well as the inter-connected world of Dark Souls.

But yeah I guess you could say that Demons Souls walked so that Dark Souls could run…

I never played either game at release though, and can’t imagine how rock hard a truly blind playthrough would have been! (Especially DeS)

Imagine not having Fextra at your fingertips to research builds etc?!

Ah bit of a shame. Immortals was one of my Pandemic games, and I actually really enjoyed my time with it. The quips and 'humor' were pretty shocking, but gameplay and puzzles/vaults were great.

I would have enjoyed a sequel, especially if it would have been a BOTW/EldenRing rip off!

Double-dipping between 2 great games on Switch -

1) Hollow Knight: really enjoying this, and the challenge level is solid, but wouldn't perhaps rate it as highly as others have. Just beat Soul Master after a few tries (Soul Sanctum area) and now exploring where to go next...
I understand exploration is a huge piece of Metroidvanias, but I seem to be getting ridiculously lost a lot of the time!
Also not a fan of some of the run backs to bosses after dying, reminiscent of Demons Souls (and not in a good way). Would much prefer to be right back at the boss door for another shot (ala Elden Ring)
A good game though, and the challenge is tough but not obnoxious.

2) Cuphead! Wow so great, brilliant bosh rush game but incredibly hard. Doing each boss on "simple" first before tackling regular. Hit a couple of walls, but it is a nice break from exploration in Hollow KNight.

After finishing those 2, I'll do a similar concurrent playthrough of Red Dead with Vampire Survivors on the side

Great, pre-ordered the physical based on this - thanks NL

Any mention of X-axis camera inversion?? I don’t think the original had this

Asking for a friend… 😂

I am definitely interested, albeit cautiously so.

I understand there are differences between this port and the recent GTA disaster... but I'm hanging fire for the reviews and technical assessment.

The other deal-breaker, which I'll admit may sound strange, is that I really would like to see both Y-axis and X-axis camera inversion in options.

(This is a sickness I know, but I play all games - even third person adventure games - with both Y and X inverted. It is now so engrained in my bizarre muscle memory, that any games without this are 'unplayable' for me!)

I don't think the original RDR had X-Axis inversion... and neither does the GTA remasters? Be good to know the score here

Beat Disco Elysium earlier in the week... just wow.
Unlike anything I've ever played - intricate, well-woven narrative, genuinely funny and with a wealth of great characters.

I love how you're actually solving 2 x mysteries concurrently - the murder/hanging, alongside trying to decipher your own identity and piece together the elements of the previous night's blackout.

I tried to roleplay this game as 'myself' and built the character's traits around my own personality - as well an answering questions / dialogue choices as I would in real life. Very amusing outcomes, and it definitely gets you thinking.

Now that's done - onwards to Eldest Souls, another backlog beauty. Just downed the fourth boss (EON, God of Unity - fire and ice) which took me maybe 40-ish tries ha!
If you enjoy souls-esque bosses, and a high difficulty curve, this game could be up your street. It sort of reminds me of Hades a little bit, but the combat in ES is far more deliberate - and the learning curve much tougher.

I'm enjoying it though, and wanting to hammer through the backlog as much as possible - prior to Vampire Survivors and Blasphemous 2 dropping later this month

Personally.... I'd love a Starfox launch, something like Starfox64 crossed with elements of Starlink Battle for Atlus.

But Metroid is probably the way. To launch with Metroid, and assuming it has a 'darker' undertone than majority of Nin's IPs, would potentially support in capturing a more mature audience as well.

Maybe a launch with a new Metroid and also new Mario could work

It blows my mind how quickly ScVi has gained traction - and is well and truly at the heels of SwSh....... especially considering ScVi has only been out for 7-8 months?! (vs SwSh which has years behind it?)

Would be interesting to see the digital/retail split and also understand how many of the games were bundled with console

edit - we almost can't blame GameFreak for their approach with this IP... if Sc/Vi can still sell as well as it is, in the state it was released, then what incentive do they have to change and up their game?!

Talking to my necktie again whilst attempting to (poorly) manage my propensity for substance abuse, alongside solving an unsightly murder and juggling the conceptualisation of my own identity....

Then, when it comes to games - I'll be continuing Day #2 in Disco Elysium.

Still not got that body down yet..

@ToniK - that is what I love about these games though, how 1 boss can be an absolute living nightmare for 1 person... but a cakewalk for another!
Out of interest what what the boss you struggled with the most?

OK good to know that the devs ramped up the difficulty on the last boss by a significant margin, as it was probably the most I've struggled with a boss - 2nd only to the final boss in Sekiro!

I enjoy that though, and find it fun to memorise the patterns/tells and look for the openings. In fairness also, my character wasn't fully 'levelled up' and I was missing a couple spells (missing the big beam, which I hear is a good way to tackle final boss)

Looking for something similar to play, maybe focussing on boss rush now... (I've played Metroid Dread, Salt Sanctuary already)

I'd never played until a few weeks ago, and kicked off Blasphemous to mitigate burnout from TOTK... loved it.

The QoL/updates for the sequel sound good... would love some in-depth build variety and stat allocation (Souls style would be good)

The boss battles were the highlight for me, and that last major boss was a nightmare to beat! (I understand it was previously easier, but got patched in latest version to be much harder?)

Either way - B2 will be a Day1 and I might even pre-order the physical

This was one of my 'pandemic games' and honestly I actually quite enjoyed my time with it....

Would I have played it, if not for the abundance of time on my hands and lockdown? Perhaps not, but it definitely was a good time despite how derivative it is/was.

As the previous poster said though, there is probably even less room for this IP now that TOTK and Ragnarok are out in the wild.

Currently on a backlog cleanse, and am pleasantly surprised with how many great titles I seem to have acquired… but not yet played!

Last week I polished off Blasphemous (in advance of the sequel’s release next month) and really enjoyed it. The final boss absolutely put me through my paces, and probably the most I’ve struggled with a boss since Ishin the Sword Saint (Sekiro).

Next up is Disco Elysium, which I’ve started previously - albeit not been in the right headspace to play. Now I’m ready for something a bit more cerebral and ready to kick it off in earnest - really looking forward to it.

Plan is to get though Disco, and then also tackle the end of TOTK, before buying both Vampire Survivors and Blasphemous 2 next month

I'm intrigued, and also slightly bewildered by the 10! For those who have history with this title... is there enough challenge? I adore P&C/puzzle/adventure titles - and this year have loved Thimbleweed and Return to Monkey Island. Both titles challenged me without ever being frustrating. How does Ghost Trick hold up? Cake walk or tough?

@ChromaticDracula great taste in NSO games for 64... Rogue Squadron!! Goeman would be a great shout. I'd love Blast Corps, SIlicon Valley, Body Harvest, Diddy Kong Racing

Confirm Metal Gear 1-3 collection?!

Obviously I wouldn't hold my breath for the MGS3make coming to Switch, unless it arrives in a hideous-Cloud format.... but surely the MGS remaster pack should/could land on Switch?

I'd genuinely get this day 1, probably even pre-order. I think Konami/Sony would be missing a real trick here... Look how well the GTA remasters sold on Switch (irrespective of port quality).

This remaster pack would basically print money.

Honestly I’d pre-order without hesitation

I haven’t played these games since the original PS1/2 era, and remember my time with all of them fondly (especially MGS2)

In the age of miracle ports, and considering the Switch can just about run Witcher 3(!), surely this isn’t a stretch? Xeno3 and TOTK put the machine through its paces, but still run relatively smooth …. These MGS remasters shouldn’t be an issue?

I think they would sell remarkably well on Switch, and probably also be a ‘solid’ opportunity to introduce a lot of Nintendo-only owners to a fantastic franchise

I actually enjoy this service, but it’s execution is fairly poor IMO.

The sporadic drip feeding of titles is quite weak, and Nintendo seem to be holding out on us in regards to teased updates…. Not to mention that some of the additions are absolutely atrocious!

I understand Nintendo have recently struck gold with both the Mario Movie and also TotK.. I don’t think it would kill them to drop a few decent titles simultaneously across the SNES/N64/GBA apps?

I’m not normally one to whinge, and I’m a huge Nintendo fan, but this service is pretty lacking right now. Even PS+ (extra, not premium) is proving better value for money

I've loved my time with the Switch, and continue to do so. TotK is a fantastic game, and my time spent with it so far has been incredible. However, the framerate-drops are quite frequent....which is to be expected my this game pushing the hardware to its limits (and then some!)

My personal opinion - I really hope Nintendo stick to the 'Switch' formula and don't go with anything outside this for their next console. I'd love a 'Switch 2'... something that could handle 60fps with 4K, and really open the door for great PS4-game ports alongside the tremendous 1st party offerings from Nintendo.

Imagine a 4K/60fps Switch that had the capabilities to play Elden Ring alongside the new Zelda/Mario etc? That's the dream

I'm all in on GS getting even more buffs ha! Surge Slash is absolutely my go-to these days, so am thrilled that the MV/EV damage %s will jump on this.... this whole game has been a ride and I can't wait to see what Capcom do with the next installment.

@InJeffable Yes the link you just sent is the one I'm looking at. The all-white looks really fresh, and will really suit the white/yellow compact joycons I already have from HORI.

You've convinced me, and I've clicked "buy"! Thanks mate, really useful to get genuine consumer insights from forums like this. Currently using the butterfox case (made for the original HORI larger pads) and my switch is rattling around a bit.

This TomToc case looks great, and is exactly what I need. As long as it can fit a few game cards I'm grand

Thanks again man

@InJeffable - yeh that is a solid point actually. I travel for work, and rely on my Switch to get me through 1-2hr flights - and I never ever fear that the battery will collapse in that time. You're right that gyro/rumble features would likely be a drain on this...

RE. TomToc case I had no idea they did a HORI-Compact specific one.. is this it? https://www.amazon.co.uk/tomtoc-Protective-Cartridges-Controllers-Lightweight/dp/B0BWPV9VP2/ref=sr_1_3?crid=YDBMQYXFCU4W&keywords=tomtoc+case+switch+hori&qid=1681712296&sprefix=tomtoc+case+switch+hori%2Caps%2C459&sr=8-3

I'm 99% sure I want to get that, but would you rate it and recommend? (assuming this is the one you have)
Cheers man

@InJeffable Yeh 100% mate, and the split compact certainly looks "the part" moreso than its larger bulkier brother!

I just wish HORI would invest the R&D into making exactly the same product, but with rumble/gyro. Considering the quality of HORI products, I'd happily swallow a 20% increase on the RRP to have those functionalities.

Nonetheless, I actually need a new case (compact specific) so I'll likely get this new white TotK one, looks pretty decent

@MetalKingShield
The model on the right is basically the ‘smaller brother’ to the larger bulkier Split Pad Pro.
The smaller models are called the ‘Split Pad Compact’ and actually already available today in White & Red variants.
I got the Split Pad Pro a year ago and also found it too bulky…. So I actually recently invested in the Split Pad Compact and will never turn back!

The Split Pad Compact is the perfect middle ground between the original Nintendo joy cons (which are far too small!) and the large Hori Split Pad Pro. The SP compact is definitely larger enough to make playing easier, but not too bulky.

The only negatives for me with the Compact is that they have no rumble/gyro (same negatives as the larger Hori pads)
Saying that though, sacrificing rumble and gyro is OK as the Compact pad quality is really great. If you play handheld 50% of time or more then definitely a must-buy IMO

I grew up with Mario (SNES days...) and have always fondly followed Nintendo. Saw the movie with my kids, who absolutely loved it.

Lets all stay grounded - this is a kids/family movie, and it did well to keep my attention for the majority of the 90-ish minutes run time. Is it the best family movie I've ever seen? Definitely not, but it does a lot very well...

I'm all in on anything Jack Black, and thought he was tremendous. Great to see Charlie Day getting a decent shot at Luigi - pretty inspired casting there IMO, especially as a fan of IASIP! (Chris Pratt and Seth Rogan I can take/leave, but honestly thought JB and CD were great)

All in all, if you're looking for a nice way to kill an afternoon with the kids then you could certainly do a lot worse than this film. (nb disclaimer - I suffered through Frozen 2, so I've seen what else is out there!!)

I'm certainly not trolling here, and have no intention of cancelling my pre-order, but I almost wish I hadn't watch today's trailer.

I'm still 'looking forward' to the game, but I would say I am far from 'excited' and/or hyped. The new gameplay mechanics look fun & interesting, but I must agree with what many others have said - this sequel appears to be a glorified and expensive DLC addition to BotW.

More than anything I wish that the development team would have taken the BotW engine/gameplay, and then curated a more traditional experience - with 9-10 legacy dungeons and a more linear route.

I think that anyone who hasn't played BotW will be absolutely spoiled by this game, but those of us who are fairly fluent with the original will perhaps be left a bit underwhelmed.

I hope Nintendo pull something special out the bag

@TheBigBlue 100%…

In a perfect world, you’d splice together the best bits of Starfox 64 with Starlink BFA… incorporate ship building/crafting alongside epic space dogfights and bosses.
There is potential to make a really excellent game here, whilst remaining true to the IP.
You could have a mix of ‘on-rails’ levels and challenges as well, alongside some kind of central hub.

I’d settle for the old Tony Hawk games being ported… THUG anyone?!

@nocdaes Nintendo, and the Switch itself, are a fascinating example of how a company/product can almost be "too successful" IMO. For as long as the Switch continues to sell as rapidly as it does, and the installed base increased Y-o-Y, it almost seems like Nintendo realise they don't need to 'try' as hard to provide new games.... and can simply rely on remasters/ports of legendary titles.

MK8 is an amazing example of a game that still (!) tops the physical charts.... after 5-6 years? For as long as this is the case, I suppose there is no reason to develop sequel/s.

I agree though that there are so many dormant IPs with unlimited potential. If Nintendo applied a BOTW-approach to Starfox, and used the Ubisoft Starlink formula, I am certain they could make an amazing game.

Don't get me wrong, I'm pumped for TotK and love what Nintendo do as a company.... but my best gaming experiences in recent months have mostly been indie or other platforms (2022 for me was the year of Elden Ring of course, plus I loved the new Monkey Island, Hades, and also Inscryption)

I wonder if perhaps they are holding back titles and/or IP revivals for Switch 2 or whatever the next hardware is? TotK will be quality, but there is precious little else (1st party at least) for Switch in 2023.
(nb. I'm not a hater, just want to see more of what 'Nintendo do best'... and Starfox 64 will forever be my best N64 game of all time ha)

@CazSonOfCaz 100% agree! Just imagine if Nintendo were able to farm out the IP to a suitable developer to make this more of an official title.
Like Starfox 64 crossed with No Mans Sky..... planet hopping, dog fights, ship upgrades/crafting - it could be so so good
Starlink would be a great blueprint for a future SF title to riff off

Blows the mind to think that ScarVoilet have hit nearly 40% of the MK8 total sales.... especially considering SV had been out for barely weeks at the point of analysis (considering MK8's 5ish years?!)

@Nanami_Ataraxi It is an absolutely bizarre and wild ride! I was checking out its accolades and critical reception, had no idea how well received it was critically in 2021.

Just dive in, such a cool experience that doesn't outstay its welcome. But trust me, the less you read/know about the game the better the experience is....!

Alongside my alarming addiction to MH Sunbreak, this year I’ve made a resolution to explore more genres in gaming - especially after how pleasantly surprised I was playing ‘Return to Monkey Island’ and ‘Thimbleweed Park’. (Point-and-Click was not a genre I had any familiarity with previously!)

So ahead of the TU4 update for Sunbreak, this week I have exclusively been playing ‘Inscryption’… and wow! Without spoiling it,
this game is part deck-builder, part rogue-lite and parts RPG - with some fantastic horror elements thrown in for good measure.

I’d highly recommend this game if you like deck builders in general, or even if you enjoy things like Hades. I’d advise you go in completely blind though, as there are some real rug-pull moments throughout the experience and many twists and turns in the ‘story’ (I’ve already said too much ha!)

It only came to Switch late 2022, having been released a year earlier on PC I think…. Received many accolades in 2021 and rightly so!

Short game as well, 8-11 hours probably depending on player skill

If any of the above sounds interesting and you fancy playing something completely unique then I’d recommend highly. It was a solid 8.5/10 for me

What a relief that the cap is only jumping from AR200->AR220!

Another 100 levels of grind would have really turned me off... but only 20 levels is quite attainable in timeframe between TU4 and TU5

@ULTRA_Faff I’ll probably buy it either way, assuming reviews indicate that the port performance is acceptable. My preference would still be physical always though, when available (ability to sell/trade/lend etc)
IMO NintendoLife are usually very informative, so I assume they perhaps didn’t have the information at time of publishing?

A really good and honest review - especially in regards to pointing out that the game is actually quite 'light' on puzzles.

If anyone is looking for a fix after Return to Monkey Island, with a similar level of puzzling emphasis, this probably might not be the right game.

Wadjet Eye point-and-click games tend to verge more on the narrative side of things, with Unavowed being a good example of what to expect. Nothing wrong with this of course, just conscious it may not satisfy the appetites of those wanting a lot of challenging puzzles.

For anyone who has just beaten RtMI, and hasn't played this already.... Thimbleweed Park would be a great shout

Physical? Or digital only?

@somnambulance Yeh likewise, fighting games are not really 'my thing' - although I can appreciate there is definitely a huge market for them. I'm genuinely considering the new SF, purely based on how much I've enjoyed Capcom's other output ha!

RE4 is pretty much day 1 for me also, loved the original and I think they'll do more than a serviceable job with the remake.

@somnambulance Hard agree - my most valued 3rd party developer of 2022. Love what they are doing with Resi, and everything with Sunbreak has been awesome. The new SF looks solid as well

Any performance reviews on Mortal Shell yet? (Stealth-dropped on eShop earlier this week)

Literally this morning have finally beat the awesome Thimbleweed Park, and can proudly say that this was accomplished with zero hints/guides! Having played the new Monkey Island on release, I really caught a bug for this genre of ‘point&click adventure’ and am really surprised by how much I enjoy these games. My goal was to beat Monkey Island without a hint, but I crumbled at the very last puzzle! I’d say that Thimbleweed is actually the better game out of the 2, and also TWP is more challenging. TWP took me about 18hrs to beat, albeit a good few of those hours were spent wondering around and getting shamelessly stuck on puzzles! I’m glad I played RtMI first though, as this eased me into the genre a bit… and prepared me for the more challenging TWP
I’ll also be playing more MHR Sunbreak - continuing the endless grind towards AR level 200…. Currently only AR135 🤦‍♂️
Finally, I keep hearing amazing things about Inscryption and downloaded yesterday on a whim. I hear it is best playing completely blind, with as little prior knowledge as possible. Would be keen to know how others have found this game? Please no spoilers!

@GregamanX Thanks mate! Based on your feedback, RL2 has earnt its place on the 'wishlist' and as soon as it has a slight drop/sale I'll add it to the (ever expanding) backlog

@GregamanX This game is on my wish list, but admittedly I’ve not read too much about it or done much research! I understand it’s a rogue-genre game, but that’s about it…

In the last year I played Hades, Returnal and Dead Cells - all of which I loved. Hades in particular I found to be absolutely stellar

Assuming you’ve played any of those, how does RL2 compare?