@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
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.
@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
@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
@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
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?
1) MHR Sunbreak - have decided to plough through a ton of anomaly monsters via Multiplayer, so I can Bank a load of augmenting materials before TU3 drops! Also looking to mitigate my cash-flow issues by selling off unwanted parts to the merchant… Plan is to be fully stocked with money and augment mats prior to TU3 so that any tasty new armors can be forged, upgraded and augmented ASAP!
2) Thimbleweed Park - really got the bug for Point-and-Click after beating the latest Monkey Island, and TP seemed like a logical transition (considering same devs etc) I must say I’m actually enjoying it more than RtMI so far, and the character-swapping mechanics are really unique!
The interface is also more substantial, allowing the player to manually assign verbs (push/pull/open/close/give etc) to particular puzzles. Nothing feels too obtuse thus far, and the old school art style is actually pretty cool. The plot is beginning to unfold, seems to play a bit like a satirical X-Files (in the best way).
Surprised with how much I’m enjoying the Point/Click/Adventure genre… especially after a year playing (and loving) games like Returnal, Elden Ring, Nioh, DeS etc
On PS5- taking it easy and just playing a bit of online co-op Returnal… still love this game and enjoying helping out others, especially those that are struggling with early game
On Switch- Return to Monkey Island - beat the game this weekend after approx 11-12 hours of play.
I’d ultimately recommend to anyone that enjoys the genre, or has familiarity with the older games in the series (and presumably had fun playing these games).
A fun romp and a nice change of pace from more action-orientated games, nice to actually use my brain for once… and fortunately most of the puzzles are solved through cerebral rationalities - instead of obtuse/random solutions.
My only critique would be it’s a little on the easy side… and only really ‘hits its stride’ in Act IV (total of 5 acts in the game).
Act IV has a lot of moving parts, location variety, and ramps up the challenge…. And it is a real shame that all the acts don’t follow this blueprint!
I set out to avoid using the in-game hint system …. But let myself down and had to utilise the hint book for the very last puzzle in Act V (in fairness I was totally barking up the wrong tree in my solution/tactics… probably would have had me stuck for a few days!)
Overall I’d give it a solid 7/10, and maybe 8/10 if you are a huge fan of the genre.
You really can't fault the team/s behind this game... and let's remember that the goal for every company is to generate sufficient revenue, and attain a solid EBIT % so that they may continue to exist & develop etc.
Any claims of 'evil capitalistic greed' can surely be refuted in the case of this game?
TMNT: SR is a quality game, and (IMO) was sold at a very reasonable price-point that was in line with acceptable market level for indie games of this quality. IIRC, there were no quality issues or bugs at launch - nor any broken promises regarding performance/spec etc.
The guys behind this game basically smashed it, created an immaculate product and sold as a reasonable price. They deserve to enjoy the financial fruits of their labour, and as consumers we should be championing this - and encouraging the devs with their next project/output!
(NB. my tune would be different had this been a 70 £GBP release and a buggy mess at launch... obviously/thankfully it was neither!)
Switch: Finally burning out a bit on MHR:Sunbreak, and just keeping myself fresh with 1 or 2 hunts per day... My build is pretty much where I want it to be, running Greatsword with Dereliction & Resentment (alongside full CritEye / AB / CB / WEC). Using this build with RageSlash/ACS, cultivating a nice 'hit and run' style.
I'm actually really really enjoying 'Return to Monkey Island' on Switch also, and just hit Act IV. My only critique is that it is perhaps a little on the easy side, albeit there have been a few moments I've got stuck. Keen to explore this genre more once I beat it.
PS5: Returnal CO-OP! Love this game so much, and have enjoyed helping out new players via the co-op DLC function. Nearly caved and got TLOU remake, but held back and decided to wait until its inevitable sale.
I wish Capcom would let me escape this game and just play something else already...! J/k, Sunbreak is a good time for sure - and is keeping me away from my extensive backlog (For better or worse)
PS5: My Bloodborne playthrough was unintentionally derailed last week, due to picking up 'Thymesia' at a decent price (indie Souls-clone game, similar to Sekiro). Thymesia is relatively short, and I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.... scooped the platinum in about 30hrs. Then this week I've played, and managed to (finally!) beat the 'Wu Long' demo released by Team Ninja. Began really not enjoying this, but now I understand the mechanics better I've done several run throughs with different weapons - really really like it!
N.Switch: As always, playing some Sunbreak and just finishing off a couple of new builds for Greatsword. TU2 update is released in a week, and looking forward to taking the new builds for a spin... Otherwise my main focus in the next week will be a nice change of pace - aiming to play (and hopefully beat) the new Monkey Island game. I grew up with Point-and-Click games, and am genuinely excited for this one!
For anyone on the fence about buying this... please allow me to try and steer you away from your prospective purchase!!!
As others have said, this game is the very epitome of 'average' and is entirely forgettable - devoid of any creativity or excitement.
I can appreciate it is the result of efforts made by a relatively small team, but nonetheless I would not recommend you spend your money on this... especially when the Switch is so ripe right now with great games!
If anyone is looking for a BOTW-clone, I'd highly recommend 'Immortals Fenyx Rising'. Don't be put off by this being a Ubisoft property, it genuinely is quite a refreshing experience that borrows heavily from BOTW - in all the best ways.
For more traditional 'top-down' Zelda style games...:
Deaths Door, released last year usually on sale
Tunic, previous XBox exclusive got great reviews and is released next week on Switch (27th)
Other great games recently released inc. Xenoblade 3, Return to Monkey Island, Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak expansion.... please don't make my mistake and waste your money on Oceanhorn 2!
@Grail_Quest No idea, not started it yet! I'd imagine it to be ultimately useless, probably just a 'tongue-in-cheek' addition.... maybe we get a throwaway line of dialogue to reward our eagerness?! I'll let you know...
This game had every opportunity to be nothing more than an unnecessary phone-in past its sell-by date, and I'm thrilled that reviews seem to stipulate very much the opposite!
Hopefully it attains a level of commercial success that brings about a bit of a renaissance for point-and-click/adventure games.... especially those with an old-school difficulty curve (Indiana Jones for example!)
Actually took a punt and pre-ordered this, really glad I did. Due to start it later this week once I've wrapped up the Wu Long demo on PS
Nintendo Switch - Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, just finishing off some builds before the TU2 drops at the end of this month. I've finished all the A5 Anomaly Quests and managed to attain Anomaly Research Lv100, which is the current cap (to increase - - > 120 upon TU2 release). Then from Monday I plan to sit this aside and begin the new Monkey Island!
PS5 - Took a break from Bloodborne to play Thymesia, a Sekiro/Souls clone by an indie developer. A pleasant surprise, with a really great combat system. A short length also, and I plan to push for the platinum. Just hit a wall with a particularly rough boss ('Urd') but am pushing through! Also want to try out the Wu Long demo. My last platinum was Nioh1, and I'm a huge fan of Team Ninja... hoping for good things!
Depending on your tastes, this was either a fantastic Direct or a lacklustre one!
If you're into JRPGs / farming sims etc (nothing wrong with this at all btw!) then you would have had a great time.
For me personally, I was hoping for a 'surprise drop' akin to the Mertroid Dread announcement last year. A new Starfox game, or F-Zero, would have really impressed me.
TotK release date is comforting, but May just seems.... so far away.
Mind you, I'm currently still loving Sunbreak and have just pre-ordered Monkey Island. I'll aim to wrap MI as soon as possible, then finally crack open Xenoblade 3. If FF7 CCR reviews are solid, I'll prob use that as my holiday game.
But nothing in the direct really excited me...
However, for those who don't have PS and/or havent played SIFU yet - this game is immaculate and a real great example of indie games done right. If the Switch version/port runs smooth enough then I'd highly recommend to anyone that is into the rogue genre and martial arts.
Nintendo Switch: Still hunting daily in Sunbreak, and still having such a blast! Have now cleared all the 5* Anomoly Quests, and working towards AR100 (currently AR87). I’m fairly happy with my build now, but I still have 1 Armor piece in my main set that has potential for a better Quirio roll. Still maining GS - using the Lucent Narga variant, love the aesthetic and the skills are solid as well. Currently doing a lot of Multiplayer anomoly investigations to build my AR, mainly with ransoms, and having a good time. I’m hoping TU2 gives me a reason to keep playing, maybe new armors that lend themselves to GS skills etc PlayStation 5: Carrying on with Bloodborne, and managed to beat Vicar Amelia first try last night… albeit I must confess I’ve been doing a lot of exploring/grinding, so perhaps my level (34) helped me out there! Found VA to be far less punishing than Father Gascoigne, who was a real wall. Flirting with the idea of going for the platinum, which seems to be doable based on some guides I’ve read
Next up: Xeno3 on Switch, and maybe Thymesia on PS5 (still can’t decide, reviews have been divisive…)
Nintendo Switch: 'Monster Hunter Rise - Sunbreak' - Still loving the expansion, and the new Title Update has opened up some massive possibilities for new sets/builds. Nearly every weapon is viable, and I'm enjoying the ride so far. Just hit MR100, and enjoying also the online MP hunts.
PS5: 'Bloodborne' - its been sat in my backlog for some time, and is one of the remaining FromSoft titles I've not played. Many seem to rank this as their #1 FS game, even above Elden Ring, so I'm really keen to see what all the fuss is about! Shame that there is no patch for 60fps..... but luckily I've been playing a lot of Switch, so the 30fps performance likely won't bother me too much.
I get the feeling that this new Crisis Core might 're-mix' some of the original story beats, so that an adjusted/new narrative fits better with the next installment of FFVIIR...
PS5: Finally kicked of Resi3Make... been holding off for months, waiting for PS5 upgrade! Enjoying it so far, about 2 hours in. I hear the campaign is relatively short, which is what I'm looking for at the moment (coming off the long hard 80+ hr grind for Nioh1 platinum!).
Switch: MHR Sunbreak, where the difficulty curve is no joke. Hit MR40 now, but there have been plenty of stumbling blocks along the way... New GS switch skills are great, as is the skill swap option. Being able to take Rage Slash and TCS into each hunt is brilliant.
PS5: Having got the Nioh platinum this week, I’m looking to start a shorter game before diving into Nioh 2…. Probably Re3Make, which I understand has quite a short campaign
Switch: Really pushing forward now with MHR: Sunbreak and wanting to escape the MR cap and start crafting some endgame builds for Greatsword. Currently in MR5 and the difficulty curve has really stepped up…. Need to upgrade gear asap to avoid getting stomped! Very fun expansion though, multiplayer is also pretty good
PS5: Nioh 1 - just completed the final ‘main mission’ from the last region, “The Demon King Revealed”. Got a few more side-missions and busy-work to finish off, as I’m determined to pop the platinum! Some of the side-missions left seem ridiculous and mainly made up of double-boss fights…. Where’s a good mimic tear when you need one?! Nintendo Switch: MHR Sunbreak - loving this expansion and taking my time with it. In the midst of MR3 quests and have just upgraded from HR gear into some new MR Armor and weaponry. Tons of new QoL features and mechanics to wrap my head around, and definitely feeling the challenge - especially when solo’-ing monsters. Well up for multi-player if anyone is looking to team up 👍
On PS5 - Nioh 1, finally made it to Region #6 (of 6) and am gunning for the platinum trophy still! Plan is to hopefully have this wrapped in next week or so, and then move on to Resident Evil 3
On Switch - just started Sunbreak and made it up for MR2 now. Still using my existing HR set and weapon (GS Narga with full Valstrax Armor set) which is doing ok for me so far. Up for group hunts if anyone else is playing! So far really enjoying the expansion, and can’t wait to start farming a new set and upgrading my weapons (+ new fashion of course ha!)
Comments 304
Re: Hori Unveils Five New Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Products
@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
Re: Super Mario Movie Secures Most Successful Opening Weekend For Any Animated Film, Ever
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!!)
Re: Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Trailer Gets Creative With Vehicle Building, Fused Weapons
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
Re: Best Star Fox Games Of All Time
@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.
Re: Microsoft's Commitment To Bring Call Of Duty To Nintendo Is Now Legally Binding
I’d settle for the old Tony Hawk games being ported… THUG anyone?!
Re: Star Fox Character Designer Celebrates 30th Anniversary With Special Artwork
@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)
Re: Star Fox Character Designer Celebrates 30th Anniversary With Special Artwork
@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
Re: Here Are The Top Ten Best-Selling Nintendo Switch Games As Of December 2022
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?!)
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 4th)
@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....!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 4th)
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
Re: Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak's Fourth Free Title Update Is Out Next Week
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
Re: Apocalyptic Shooter 'Remnant: From The Ashes' Gets A Switch Release Date
@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?
Re: Review: The Excavation Of Hob's Barrow - A Chiller With Echoes Of LucasArts' Point-And-Click Prime
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
Re: Apocalyptic Shooter 'Remnant: From The Ashes' Gets A Switch Release Date
Physical? Or digital only?
Re: Capcom Wants To "Hear From You" In Its 2022 End Of Year Survey
@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.
Re: Capcom Wants To "Hear From You" In Its 2022 End Of Year Survey
@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
Re: Feature: Best Nintendo Switch Ports Of 2022
Any performance reviews on Mortal Shell yet? (Stealth-dropped on eShop earlier this week)
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (December 10th)
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!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (November 19th)
@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
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (November 19th)
@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?
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (November 19th)
All Switch this weekend…
1) MHR Sunbreak - have decided to plough through a ton of anomaly monsters via Multiplayer, so I can Bank a load of augmenting materials before TU3 drops!
Also looking to mitigate my cash-flow issues by selling off unwanted parts to the merchant…
Plan is to be fully stocked with money and augment mats prior to TU3 so that any tasty new armors can be forged, upgraded and augmented ASAP!
2) Thimbleweed Park - really got the bug for Point-and-Click after beating the latest Monkey Island, and TP seemed like a logical transition (considering same devs etc)
I must say I’m actually enjoying it more than RtMI so far, and the character-swapping mechanics are really unique!
The interface is also more substantial, allowing the player to manually assign verbs (push/pull/open/close/give etc) to particular puzzles. Nothing feels too obtuse thus far, and the old school art style is actually pretty cool. The plot is beginning to unfold, seems to play a bit like a satirical X-Files (in the best way).
Surprised with how much I’m enjoying the Point/Click/Adventure genre… especially after a year playing (and loving) games like Returnal, Elden Ring, Nioh, DeS etc
Re: Pokémon Scarlet & Violet's First Mod Has Removed Ed Sheeran's Song 'Celestial'
I'm not the biggest Sheeran fan, nor a big Pokemon fan either, but in fairness this track actually isn't all that bad at all!
Re: Random: Blasphemous Artist Once Pitched A 2D Dark Souls Metroidvania
So many levels of disappointment and wasted potential! Would have been an ideal game for the Switch platform...!
Also, prior to reading the headline I had assumed we would see a DS2/DS3 port announcement!
Woe is me...
Re: Talking Point: Would You Prefer 'Super Mario Odyssey 2' Or A Totally New 3D Mario?
Galaxy 3….? Anyone?!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (October 22nd)
On PS5- taking it easy and just playing a bit of online co-op Returnal… still love this game and enjoying helping out others, especially those that are struggling with early game
On Switch- Return to Monkey Island - beat the game this weekend after approx 11-12 hours of play.
I’d ultimately recommend to anyone that enjoys the genre, or has familiarity with the older games in the series (and presumably had fun playing these games).
A fun romp and a nice change of pace from more action-orientated games, nice to actually use my brain for once… and fortunately most of the puzzles are solved through cerebral rationalities - instead of obtuse/random solutions.
My only critique would be it’s a little on the easy side… and only really ‘hits its stride’ in Act IV (total of 5 acts in the game).
Act IV has a lot of moving parts, location variety, and ramps up the challenge…. And it is a real shame that all the acts don’t follow this blueprint!
I set out to avoid using the in-game hint system …. But let myself down and had to utilise the hint book for the very last puzzle in Act V (in fairness I was totally barking up the wrong tree in my solution/tactics… probably would have had me stuck for a few days!)
Overall I’d give it a solid 7/10, and maybe 8/10 if you are a huge fan of the genre.
Re: TMNT: Shredder's Revenge Has Netted A Bodacious $22 Million In Revenue
You really can't fault the team/s behind this game... and let's remember that the goal for every company is to generate sufficient revenue, and attain a solid EBIT % so that they may continue to exist & develop etc.
Any claims of 'evil capitalistic greed' can surely be refuted in the case of this game?
TMNT: SR is a quality game, and (IMO) was sold at a very reasonable price-point that was in line with acceptable market level for indie games of this quality. IIRC, there were no quality issues or bugs at launch - nor any broken promises regarding performance/spec etc.
The guys behind this game basically smashed it, created an immaculate product and sold as a reasonable price. They deserve to enjoy the financial fruits of their labour, and as consumers we should be championing this - and encouraging the devs with their next project/output!
(NB. my tune would be different had this been a 70 £GBP release and a buggy mess at launch... obviously/thankfully it was neither!)
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (October 15th)
Switch: Finally burning out a bit on MHR:Sunbreak, and just keeping myself fresh with 1 or 2 hunts per day...
My build is pretty much where I want it to be, running Greatsword with Dereliction & Resentment (alongside full CritEye / AB / CB / WEC). Using this build with RageSlash/ACS, cultivating a nice 'hit and run' style.
I'm actually really really enjoying 'Return to Monkey Island' on Switch also, and just hit Act IV. My only critique is that it is perhaps a little on the easy side, albeit there have been a few moments I've got stuck. Keen to explore this genre more once I beat it.
PS5: Returnal CO-OP! Love this game so much, and have enjoyed helping out new players via the co-op DLC function. Nearly caved and got TLOU remake, but held back and decided to wait until its inevitable sale.
Re: Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak's Third Free Title Update Is Out Late November
I wish Capcom would let me escape this game and just play something else already...! J/k, Sunbreak is a good time for sure - and is keeping me away from my extensive backlog (For better or worse)
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (September 24th)
PS5: My Bloodborne playthrough was unintentionally derailed last week, due to picking up 'Thymesia' at a decent price (indie Souls-clone game, similar to Sekiro). Thymesia is relatively short, and I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.... scooped the platinum in about 30hrs.
Then this week I've played, and managed to (finally!) beat the 'Wu Long' demo released by Team Ninja. Began really not enjoying this, but now I understand the mechanics better I've done several run throughs with different weapons - really really like it!
N.Switch: As always, playing some Sunbreak and just finishing off a couple of new builds for Greatsword. TU2 update is released in a week, and looking forward to taking the new builds for a spin...
Otherwise my main focus in the next week will be a nice change of pace - aiming to play (and hopefully beat) the new Monkey Island game. I grew up with Point-and-Click games, and am genuinely excited for this one!
Re: Review: Return To Monkey Island - An Impeccable Encore For An Adventure Gaming Icon
Had it preordered, starting tomorrow can't wait
Re: Zelda-Like 'Oceanhorn 2' Scores A Limited Run Physical Release On Nintendo Switch
For anyone on the fence about buying this... please allow me to try and steer you away from your prospective purchase!!!
As others have said, this game is the very epitome of 'average' and is entirely forgettable - devoid of any creativity or excitement.
I can appreciate it is the result of efforts made by a relatively small team, but nonetheless I would not recommend you spend your money on this... especially when the Switch is so ripe right now with great games!
If anyone is looking for a BOTW-clone, I'd highly recommend 'Immortals Fenyx Rising'. Don't be put off by this being a Ubisoft property, it genuinely is quite a refreshing experience that borrows heavily from BOTW - in all the best ways.
For more traditional 'top-down' Zelda style games...:
Other great games recently released inc. Xenoblade 3, Return to Monkey Island, Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak expansion.... please don't make my mistake and waste your money on Oceanhorn 2!
Re: Round Up: The Reviews Are In For Return To Monkey Island
@Grail_Quest No idea, not started it yet! I'd imagine it to be ultimately useless, probably just a 'tongue-in-cheek' addition.... maybe we get a throwaway line of dialogue to reward our eagerness?! I'll let you know...
Re: Round Up: The Reviews Are In For Return To Monkey Island
Very happy for Ron Gilbert & team here...
This game had every opportunity to be nothing more than an unnecessary phone-in past its sell-by date, and I'm thrilled that reviews seem to stipulate very much the opposite!
Hopefully it attains a level of commercial success that brings about a bit of a renaissance for point-and-click/adventure games.... especially those with an old-school difficulty curve (Indiana Jones for example!)
Actually took a punt and pre-ordered this, really glad I did. Due to start it later this week once I've wrapped up the Wu Long demo on PS
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (September 17th)
Nintendo Switch - Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, just finishing off some builds before the TU2 drops at the end of this month. I've finished all the A5 Anomaly Quests and managed to attain Anomaly Research Lv100, which is the current cap (to increase - - > 120 upon TU2 release). Then from Monday I plan to sit this aside and begin the new Monkey Island!
PS5 - Took a break from Bloodborne to play Thymesia, a Sekiro/Souls clone by an indie developer. A pleasant surprise, with a really great combat system. A short length also, and I plan to push for the platinum. Just hit a wall with a particularly rough boss ('Urd') but am pushing through! Also want to try out the Wu Long demo. My last platinum was Nioh1, and I'm a huge fan of Team Ninja... hoping for good things!
Re: Talking Point: What Did You Think Of The Latest Nintendo Direct?
Depending on your tastes, this was either a fantastic Direct or a lacklustre one!
If you're into JRPGs / farming sims etc (nothing wrong with this at all btw!) then you would have had a great time.
For me personally, I was hoping for a 'surprise drop' akin to the Mertroid Dread announcement last year. A new Starfox game, or F-Zero, would have really impressed me.
TotK release date is comforting, but May just seems.... so far away.
Mind you, I'm currently still loving Sunbreak and have just pre-ordered Monkey Island. I'll aim to wrap MI as soon as possible, then finally crack open Xenoblade 3. If FF7 CCR reviews are solid, I'll prob use that as my holiday game.
But nothing in the direct really excited me...
However, for those who don't have PS and/or havent played SIFU yet - this game is immaculate and a real great example of indie games done right. If the Switch version/port runs smooth enough then I'd highly recommend to anyone that is into the rogue genre and martial arts.
Re: Nintendo Download: 15th September (North America)
Monkey Island, already ordered 👍
Played Thimbleweed Park last year, and hoping that MI can scratch the adventure game itch for ne
Re: Hori Officially Announces Switch Split Pad Compact Western Release
Any word on UK/Europe release?
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (September 3rd)
Nintendo Switch: Still hunting daily in Sunbreak, and still having such a blast! Have now cleared all the 5* Anomoly Quests, and working towards AR100 (currently AR87). I’m fairly happy with my build now, but I still have 1 Armor piece in my main set that has potential for a better Quirio roll. Still maining GS - using the Lucent Narga variant, love the aesthetic and the skills are solid as well. Currently doing a lot of Multiplayer anomoly investigations to build my AR, mainly with ransoms, and having a good time. I’m hoping TU2 gives me a reason to keep playing, maybe new armors that lend themselves to GS skills etc
PlayStation 5: Carrying on with Bloodborne, and managed to beat Vicar Amelia first try last night… albeit I must confess I’ve been doing a lot of exploring/grinding, so perhaps my level (34) helped me out there! Found VA to be far less punishing than Father Gascoigne, who was a real wall. Flirting with the idea of going for the platinum, which seems to be doable based on some guides I’ve read
Next up: Xeno3 on Switch, and maybe Thymesia on PS5 (still can’t decide, reviews have been divisive…)
Re: Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Smashes Past 4 Million Sales Worldwide
It is pretty great, and TU1 has really opened up potential for 'unique' builds via the qurios crafting.
Nice that everyone can stand out from the crowd now, vs all players rocking the same 'meta' sets!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (August 20th)
Nintendo Switch: 'Monster Hunter Rise - Sunbreak' - Still loving the expansion, and the new Title Update has opened up some massive possibilities for new sets/builds. Nearly every weapon is viable, and I'm enjoying the ride so far. Just hit MR100, and enjoying also the online MP hunts.
PS5: 'Bloodborne' - its been sat in my backlog for some time, and is one of the remaining FromSoft titles I've not played. Many seem to rank this as their #1 FS game, even above Elden Ring, so I'm really keen to see what all the fuss is about! Shame that there is no patch for 60fps..... but luckily I've been playing a lot of Switch, so the 30fps performance likely won't bother me too much.
Re: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion Is Apparently Much More Than A Remaster, But Not A "Complete Remake"
I get the feeling that this new Crisis Core might 're-mix' some of the original story beats, so that an adjusted/new narrative fits better with the next installment of FFVIIR...
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (July 30th)
PS5: Finally kicked of Resi3Make... been holding off for months, waiting for PS5 upgrade! Enjoying it so far, about 2 hours in. I hear the campaign is relatively short, which is what I'm looking for at the moment (coming off the long hard 80+ hr grind for Nioh1 platinum!).
Switch: MHR Sunbreak, where the difficulty curve is no joke. Hit MR40 now, but there have been plenty of stumbling blocks along the way... New GS switch skills are great, as is the skill swap option. Being able to take Rage Slash and TCS into each hunt is brilliant.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (July 23rd)
PS5: Having got the Nioh platinum this week, I’m looking to start a shorter game before diving into Nioh 2…. Probably Re3Make, which I understand has quite a short campaign
Switch: Really pushing forward now with MHR: Sunbreak and wanting to escape the MR cap and start crafting some endgame builds for Greatsword. Currently in MR5 and the difficulty curve has really stepped up…. Need to upgrade gear asap to avoid getting stomped! Very fun expansion though, multiplayer is also pretty good
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (July 16th)
PS5: Nioh 1 - just completed the final ‘main mission’ from the last region, “The Demon King Revealed”. Got a few more side-missions and busy-work to finish off, as I’m determined to pop the platinum! Some of the side-missions left seem ridiculous and mainly made up of double-boss fights…. Where’s a good mimic tear when you need one?!
Nintendo Switch: MHR Sunbreak - loving this expansion and taking my time with it. In the midst of MR3 quests and have just upgraded from HR gear into some new MR Armor and weaponry. Tons of new QoL features and mechanics to wrap my head around, and definitely feeling the challenge - especially when solo’-ing monsters. Well up for multi-player if anyone is looking to team up 👍
Re: Nintendo Reassures Fans "More" N64 Games Will Be Added To Switch Online
I remember that 'Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon' was definitely a good time...
Re: Nintendo Reassures Fans "More" N64 Games Will Be Added To Switch Online
@Stocksy You're totally right, I actually had this on PS2 and must have confused myself... thanks for straightening me out ha!
I'll swap it out then for the almighty WCW/nWo Revenge - which I believe had same devs as DJ Vendetta
Re: Nintendo Reassures Fans "More" N64 Games Will Be Added To Switch Online
Or - Def Jam Vendetta!!
Re: Nintendo Reassures Fans "More" N64 Games Will Be Added To Switch Online
Something more niche... Body Harvest? Silicon Valley?... Blast Corps?
Any of those!
Or the obvious - Diddy Kong racing
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (July 9th)
On PS5 - Nioh 1, finally made it to Region #6 (of 6) and am gunning for the platinum trophy still! Plan is to hopefully have this wrapped in next week or so, and then move on to Resident Evil 3
On Switch - just started Sunbreak and made it up for MR2 now. Still using my existing HR set and weapon (GS Narga with full Valstrax Armor set) which is doing ok for me so far. Up for group hunts if anyone else is playing! So far really enjoying the expansion, and can’t wait to start farming a new set and upgrading my weapons (+ new fashion of course ha!)
Re: Microsoft Renews Trademark For Rare's Classic N64 Game Blast Corps
Oh wow I actually remember having this on N64... such a unique game, and would be a great addition to NSO.