CTMike

These games have been on my wishlist for a long time, just continously put off by the backlog and new releases. Now there's really no excuse!

I'm down with this.

As @Zyrac already mentioned, the abilities are mostly uninspired trash but there are a couple of interesting ones. Either way, mixing it up is fine.

@antonvaltaz theme decks are awfully built, they don't prepare people for deck-building or the game in general - the main problem is they really slow the game down.

However there are VERY good reasons to start buying theme decks for young players:

*Balance - theme deck vs theme deck from the same set usually means a fair game.
*Rules, counters etc included in the box
*Ready to play out of the box - 60 cards.
*Ease of use - generally no complex tactics involved.
*Price - Two theme decks to get started will not cost a lot of money and you're not relying on luck for good pulls.
*Will contain at least 1 popular/recognisable line of Pokemon (like the starters and their evolutions).

Me and my son learned using theme decks. I recently taught my 4 year old daughter how to play on a custom half-deck though (even further simplified) and she loves it too!

Bought after this review sold it to me. Great game, loved my first playthrough. Now to try the other characters!

Now Sonic Team, give us Puyo Puyo Chu Chu Rocket Tetris. Try balancing that!

'...and last year we created Pokémon balls.' - Target, 2017

They should have just added a tutorial for it instead - pitched it as an advanced move. That would be completely un-Nintendo though.

@FlameRunnerFast it was just a cheap pun, Cpt Serious.

You're delusional if you think they weren't party to shady practices though.

Payday 2 because you'll be needing 2 paydays to cover those microtransactions.

I have extremely fond memories of Magicland Dizzy on C64, never played Fantasy World but would be very keen on backing a NES cart if the price is right.

Played a number of other Dizzy games inc Treasure Island Dizzy (think the flying cheat was something along the lines of typing 'I can fly' if memory serves), they were awesome.

@russellohh this x1,000. That poisonous attitute about what constitutes 'good' use of someone else's time is so prolific it's unreal. It's usually the same people who watch 'boxsets' all weekend and spend half their time drinking.

I have a FT job and a gaming family, it's our fave form of entertainment and no, we're not fat or malnourished. Deal with it.

Edit: On topic, the product looks great but the price makes it too risky for crowdfunding.

I remain cautiously optimistic but can't bury the fact that some of that is my desire to see the Switch succeed, especially as a potential successor for the 3DS catalogue of JRPGs, the home console successor to the Wii U and hopefully the new home of that dwindling niche Japanese game-filled Vita slice of market.

On the other hand, I worry about the market in general and wonder if old console launches and hits/failures can really give any realistic idea of how the Switch will fare in the years to come. I am always nervous of Nintendo's occasional (and frequently stupid) mis-steps with marketing and release schedules.

Early signs are good and I hope we get to see some really positive sales figures from the US in particular, going into a decent E3.

Konami? Free? 2017? Same sentence?

I fear reality imploded.

Nice video pal, I'd stupidly ignored Golden Bows for a long time. No more!

Thanks, needed a hand with the last couple!

Tembo The Bassass Elephant Switch

Thanks for breaking it down! Great guide, I'll use it after I've exhausted what I've found, I think.

Great content, congrats and keep up the good work!

The handling is amazing, they managed to strike a solid balance between accessibility and challenge and I have nothing but praise for the technical achievements. Great job on maintaining the framerate.

Awesome game, so much fun.

Very strange move! If I feel the urge to buy, it will be on PS4.

@antdickens add a poll fella. Base the categories on the feedback here.

Looks good on mobile, I only ever browe on mobile so that's all I can add!

I'm not worried about the hardware. More powerful is always nice but the biggest improvements come when devs get to grips with best coding methods for the platform.

Zelda and Mario Kart looking/running as they do is still insane for a portable.

@Moms-Meowth Mine hasn't changed to dispatched yet and says 'standard delivery'. I thought they used couriers? Sweating now

For those saying no TV ads, my son tells me they're on all the time on the kids channels (then again, kids say 'all the time' for like twice).

Most adults watch subscription-based services so I'd question how effective TV ads will be beyond the evergreen TV shows. Either way, some more presence is needed here in the UK, I'm sure they'll step it up over the next week.

This should be standard stuff by now. The 3DS sleep mode is awful, Vita's is awesome.

That said, the Switch is packing a lot more than said examples. Good to hear it's not 3DS-like.

This is must have for me due to not getting Neo on Wii U (always planned to but the backlog got in the way). Really looking forward to it.

Gotta love that shot: 'GROW UP'

This is exact sort of thing people of been screaming at Nintendo to do - get celebrities and get in peoples faces, stick a console in their hands.

As daft as it all is, this is exactly the type of marketing they need to do more frequently.

I like the idea of fleshing out a story through collectibles in a short game - if they quoted long play times, the bigger risk/problem would be them sticking in far more collectibles purely for filler.

Local multiplayer is a big deal in my home, especially co-op. I can't wait to see what's brought to the table with the Switch.

Nice article, here's to local revival!

Also, if WarioWare doesn't happen, I may cry. Just sayin...

Not a fan of the season pass model genrally. On the other hand Nintend have handled DLC tastefully for the most part.

Look at Mario Kart 8 DLC - you basically knew what you were getting. The value could be seen in advance. However, none of us has played through a BOTW dungeon. I have a lot of faith in Nintendo to offer value in DLC but until I've played BOTW and they've disclosed proper details of the DLC, no way am I pre-ordering.

Is it hypocritical to pre-order a game then complain about pre-ordering DLC? Perhaps, somewhat, but looking at the history of season passes and all the tacked on crap most companies offer, I'll wait and see.

Trusting a company to get a game you like the look of right is one thing but trusting them to not fill a season pass with cheap tat is another (looking at you, Switch tshirt for Link).

@Yorumi I'm with you to a point. I LOVE anime and even the 'nothing-but-fan-service' approach that large parts of the industry have adopted will stop that, but as each year passes I find myself having to watch 5 mins of the first episode of loads and loads of shows just to vet them to make sure they're not storyless.

I just find it amusing that you think Squeenix will have 3.76: Second Chapter out in time for the PS6. Try PS8 Pro.005

I'm actually really impressed at the weight of this thing, I expected it to be Wii U gamepad weight, if not heavier! No matter how they pitch it, this is definitely a 3DS replacement.

I predict we'll see a cheaper handheld only option in a couple of years.

@luke88 No, lots of us gasped then we're quickly red-faced.

Arms does look good though. After reading hands-on reports I'm much more inclined to pick it up.

They should make a digital card game along the lines of Pokemon tcg or YuGiOh so all these cards have a bit more functionality.

I love the series but don't think I can justify a double dip. I say that but I have Disgaea 3 & 4 on PS3 and Vita sooooo we'll see.

It doesn't matter based on what's been shown, what is more pressing is the FPS performance (talking frame drops rather than 30 v 60 etc) and number of enemies etc. It's a busy game and it will be interesting to see if the Switch can keep up where it matters: where it directly affects gameplay.

I'm not worried; if they've made consessions, I'm sure they'll be slight and I'm happy for effects to be toned down for the sake of stable FPS.

There's a lot more involved in this update, apparently the APK was datamined (as they always are). How much of that is preperation for future updates, I don't know.

@Rocky2418 that's just it, I can't wrap my head around it.

I want it to do well, truly and there's no doubt that I will get one at some point, especially in light of the fact that my fave genre, JRPG, will see plenty of love but there isn't enough as it stands.

Multiplayer will be limited to local for me, generally, but the pricing of the unit means there's no way I can get 2 for my family and the cost of the controllers rules out anything beyond simplistic JoyCon controls. Can't see me doing long play sessions with 1 JoyCon.

I'm surprised at the voting so far really. For what they had to show, I feel they really ruined the messaging. Imagine what it would have been like without Zelda.

Price and bundle woes aside, they didn't sell the idea of 1, 2, Switch at all.

I really really hope all the hands on impressions change my mind on all this.

And I'm a damn 'fanboy'!

They've lost it. How do they expect it to sell well in the UK with that pricing? Without a game no less. I'm out until a better package arrives.

I wouldn't necessary say 'it's not worth it' as such but with pricing of current gen consoles (albeit older) coupled with the subscription model (1 free game but only for that month?!), weak launch line-up, no pack-in game and ludicrously overpriced accessories, this all seems to have missed the mark.

Makes BOTW on Wii U look very appealing again.

Nicely communicated, all the best to the dev. Would be nice to see this title on Switch.

@bluedogrulez that's the first thing I thought. What a bizziare design choice to omit a wirelsss option considering how cheal it would be, accounting for the relative price of the product.

It is cool though far too expensive.

Still thoroughly chuffed that I backed this. Everything looks great, Muramasa vibe is very welcome.

Edit: On second look, I concede the animation is kind of... off? Plenty of time to iron that out.

Imagine the collector's tax on one of those! Employee's sale on eBay in 5 years time?

Backlight?

@Shugo I firmly believe this is standard PR speak. A lot of comments from devs regarding Switch have been vague/similar/lies - they're clearly being told to keep quiet.

I will be shocked if 'Stars' or S/Ms 'yellow' equivalent doesn't appear by the end of 2017 on Switch. The rumour is that it was being developed alongside S/M. The reveal vid clearly had HD models in there, too at one point.

The guesses only appear safe after the fact.

@Shugo you're trolling. Are you the guy trying too hard on Twitter who keeps spamming Emily Rogers?

Please link to the proof that LKD and Rogers' major 'guesses' were known prior to reveal (read: they weren't).

Look, once all the major stuff like Pokemon comes true, maybe you'll reconsider.

@AnD4D No probs, I won't lie, I generally forget to do so!

I'll be sure to rate it later. I can't right now because my kids are playing it again haha