Comments 721

Re: Poll: Box Art Brawl - Duel: Survival Kids (GBC)

ChessboardMan

I prefer the look of the main image in the centre of the loop in the US one, but everything outside the loop looks meh. Even the looping logo itself ruins the look. So the European/Japan wins for me. But I am curious about the complete version of that central image on the US one.

Re: Poll: Did You Get A Switch 2 Purchase Invite From Nintendo Yet? (Europe)

ChessboardMan

I got my invite around midday on the first day of preorders.
I’m actually all over the place.
On the Nintendo store, I made an order for smaller carry case and the Joycon 2 wheels, before I got my invite, then the Console + MKW and the Piranha plant camera when I got my invite. I figure I’ll start with the cheaper camera, as I couldn’t afford the proper camera off the bat with everything else, and also since I mostly play in portable mode, having the camera that just pops in the top made sense. I’ll probably get the proper camera eventually, but not at launch.
At ShopTo I ordered a memory card, SF VI, and Donkey Kong, though Donkey Kong isn’t a launch title, and the memory card arrives before launch I think?

Re: Where To Pre-Order Nintendo Switch 2

ChessboardMan

Odd, they previously told me that I’d be getting an invite, but so far today, no invite. I can only assume that they’re staggering the sending of the invites. Makes sense, if they sent all the invites at the same time, their website would be bombarded into oblivion.

Re: Nintendo Switch 2 Launches 5th June 2025, Mario Kart World Bundle Confirmed

ChessboardMan

How could they leave the pricing out of the direct? Pretty frustrated.
I could also do with a couple clarifications…
-Obviously you can’t stick on old Joy-Cons, but can they wirelessly connect for Switch 1 multiplayer games, or do I need to get another 6 new Joycons for full Pico Park Chaos?
-How much are those game upgrades going to be exactly? And do upgrades use the same saves? And can you freely jump from playing in-upgraded on Switch 1 then to Switch 2 with upgrade, then back to Switch 1 when you need to go away on Holiday?
-Is a MicroSDXC an express card? As that’s what my 1.5 TB one is. I’ll just use with my Steam Deck is that’s not useable on Switch 2, but this might get frustrating quickly…

Enquiring minds need to know.

Re: Random: Sakurai Sends Fans Into Meltdown Ahead Of Switch Direct

ChessboardMan

This may, or may not, mean something.

That’s really all that can be figured out by this.

I wonder how much he actually knows, or if he’s just playful trolling. I mean, he probably knows * Something* good is coming up…

Unrelated to Sakurai, my top prediction for tomorrow is… no mention of Metroid Prime 4, then on next Wednesday it’s announced as a Switch 2 Launch title, that’s coming to Switch one as well. A few times now, the biggest Launch title has had a release for the previous platform. With Metroid Prime 4 seeming to be right on the cusp, it’s easy to imagine they’d give the duel release treatment so that it’s a little souped up for the Switch 2 version. Actually, with it seeming like the Switch 2 may use the same carts, maybe a single cart that has both versions of the game, that uses the same save file, so progress continues flawlessly whenever you decide to upgrade?

But it does sound like the Switch one might have a few surprises left, though it could be the majority of the announcements tomorrow are also announced on next Wednesday too.

Re: Pokémon Meets Stardew Valley In Latest Kickstarter Success Story

ChessboardMan

@anubisvel I think you misread my meaning. My frustration that you may read in my words is not meant to be directed at the developers, but Nintendo life with their reporting.
A Story by definition is has a beginning middle and end. This can not be defined yet as a Success Story, because the story is not over. To be a success story, it needs a happy end, and the end is far far off.
They have indeed successfully fit their goal, and very quickly. That is a success, but it isn’t a full story yet. The Word I question is Story, or at least combining the two words into a phrase.
I’ve been on KS longer enough to know there are several ways to fail after you hit your funding goal. It is the beginning of their story, and we won’t know what kind of story until we reach the end. Hopefully it is a success. But we don’t know yet.
But yeah, my frustration is with the article itself that the title wording made it sound like the PC version was complete enough to see the fruits of the project. Not that the KS was still running. It’d be more accurate in my mind, and also celebratory to say “Pokemon Meets Stardew Valley project meets goal on first day/with plenty of time to spare: Switch Stretch Goal When/plz?”

Re: Pokémon Meets Stardew Valley In Latest Kickstarter Success Story

ChessboardMan

It’s not a success story until after it is released.
A game could hit its goal and end up being good, but it’s not a real success until it produces a quality product and sells enough non-KS copies to fully sustain the developers.

Mighty No. 9’s KS raised huge amounts of cash, but the end product was pretty universally reviled. That is not a success story.

I’ve seen a company release their KS game (a table top game, Story Wars) and all their promised expansion packs, but then immediately go bankrupt. That is not a success story.

Toby Fox released Undertale on PC with KS, one of the most highly regarded games, and earned enough with sales to port it to other platforms and then work on his new game. That is a success story.

Re: Where To Buy Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition On Switch

ChessboardMan

I still can’t get over that GAME price. £60. More expensive than the official store’s special edition.
Though if you want it delivered or even sent to a store, you’re probably looking at £65.
Unless it is somehow large size post?
I’d recommend removing GAME from the listing, they’re just not viable. Replace with someone who actually provides a good service, like ShopTo.

Re: Samsung Shows Off Its Switch-Inspired Foldable Handheld

ChessboardMan

My sister has a phone with a foldable screen, and while it seems impressive at first, I flinch when I see it now, as the area where it folds does appear to be very noticeable to me. I don’t think I could use such a console, especially considering most games keep the action central, right where the crease is. I’d just always be noticing it, it’d be very distracting.

Re: Funko Fusion Is Deemed A "Complete Commercial And Critical Failure"

ChessboardMan

While I Hate, Hate, Hate (insert I have no mouth and I must Scream hate speech) Funk Pops, with the only ones I’ve considered being the Mini ones to pose with my other toys, the developers don’t deserve this treatment. As some have pointed out, the ones who probably had the most say about the project, the ones probably most responsible for its failure are the ones who have got away scot-free from these consequences.
And for those saying “They knew what they were getting into when they worked on this game”, you have no idea how things work. Do you think that they ask each employee “What game do You want to work on, champ?” ?
No, they say, “Oi, you, you’re working on this game. Deal.”
Do you think they have a vote where they ask “Ok, what game should we work on next as a company?” ?
No, the higher ups (the ones unaffected by the layoffs) decide.
And the way the industry has been, I’m sure most individual developers are trying to get employed where they can and staying there, since they don’t know how long it will take to get employed elsewhere if they quit or otherwise lose their job.

Re: Retailer GAME Accused Of "Scalping" Pokémon Cards Thanks To Insane Delivery Fees

ChessboardMan

The most only GAME stores local to me, who lives in a famous city, are long treks outside of the city to find one of two Sports Direct locations. The only thing they had worth buying were Blokees Transformer kits, though I’d probably be better off buying from In Demand Toys or Kapow Toys, where you can purchase them by display box to get a semi-full set (one character of each wave has a chase variant, and each display box only has either the normal or chase variant of that character).
Just waiting for the news that the entire chain has gone into administration, can’t be long now. Though they probably won’t even have closing down sales.

Re: Mini Review: Taito Milestones 3 (Switch) - Third Time's A Charm

ChessboardMan

I have a question about Growl(Runark) in this version.
The standalone version on the eShop is 4 players, but this collection itself is only listed as 2 players.
Is the collection wrong, and you can actually play four players with the version of Growl in this collection? Or is this version of Growl actually nerfed? Or is the eShop listing for the standalone version of Growl wrong?
Is anyone able to look into this?

Re: Best Ys Games Of All Time - Switch And Nintendo Systems

ChessboardMan

Wait, hang on… you mean to tell me the numbered games are not in chronological order? They jump around the timeline? It’s already hard to believe this Adol guy chronological encounters more and more difficult threats, such that whatever level he finishes one adventure at, ends up being equivalent to level 1 in the next adventure…?

Re: Nintendo Is "Very Upset" About The Switch 2 Leaks, It's Claimed

ChessboardMan

While I’d wish Nintendo would hurry up and reveal the thing (I need to know how much to budget), I feel all these leaks are harming things, and causing more delays. That’s what the article is saying, right? Every time there’s a leak, Nintendo feel the need to look into it. Rather than self fulfilling prophecy, it’s the opposite, maybe they were going to reveal this week, but then they had to look into this leak and that leak, and suddenly they’re too busy to reveal anything.

Re: Legacy Of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered Switch eShop Pre-Orders Now Available

ChessboardMan

@KingMike the Game release order is Blood Omens, SR1,2, Blood Omens 2 then lastly Defiance . The very first game was a 2D top down Action RPG, while every other game has been 3D. As to chronological order… time travel seems to be involved so it’s complicated?
All games (apart from SR1 which is coming soon as its remastered version) are on GOG. And they’re on sale, apart from SR2, for obvious reasons.

Re: 'My Time At Evershine' Revealed, Confirmed For Switch Successor

ChessboardMan

Is it just me, or does this “new art direction” look somewhat … Fortnite-eque? Not much of a fan, to entirely honest, but I never played the previous games either.
“Realistic” (their words, not mine) isn’t really a great look for farming sims, unless an actual realistic simulation game. Otherwise you want a style that is as unique and charming as possible. Very different game, but look at Fields of Mistria, which, while the style is heavily based on… 90’s anime? There is still nothing else like it in the genre currently and people are lapping it up in Early Access. It has other selling points too, but it’s the art style that initially attracts people. But this game’s art style is too… not quite generic, but still very familiar seeming.

Also the character holding the poster of herself in a conflicting art style is just weird. “I’ve changed the engine’s art style, now no one will recognise me!”

Re: Persona-Inspired JRPG 'Bloomtown: A Different Story' Lands On Switch Next Month

ChessboardMan

@Coversnail JRPG tends to refer to a turn based, mostly linear story RPG, with set characters; opposed to something where you create your own characters and make your own choices; or an Action RPG. Strangely, Square, one of the old giants of JRPGs, make a lot less JRPGs these days, and more Action RPGs. Another way to think about it, is in some RPGs, you create a role to play, and in others, you’re playing an already established role, almost akin to reading a book. JRPGs tend to refer to the latter. Some JRPGs have some choices, but not on the level of, say, Fallout or Mass Effect or Dragon Age. Or BG3.

Re: Retailer GAME Is Reportedly Ending In-Store Pre-Orders

ChessboardMan

Not much point to the store it seems. It’s never a good idea to order from them online, they have the highest shipping and usually the highest prices. Ordering to pick up in store was already pointless, as it costs the same as shipping to your door.
Mind you, there’s been fewer willing to risk a preorder from them since that fiasco a while back with… A Mario Kart? Was it 8 Deluxe? That they charged people for multiple copies? Or was it another game? Or did it happen multiple times?
Just order/preorder from ShopTo. Best prices usually, and free postage.

Re: New RPG From 'Rune Factory' Creator Lands On Switch Next Month

ChessboardMan

Completely confused by the Deluxe/Collector’s editions. The Deluxe is cheaper but seems far superior to the collectors. Also, with a title like collectors edition, you’d think it’d be rarer. But nope, there’s actually more copies of the collectors. It doesn’t make much sense to me.
Both have Stickers and Keyring.
The collectors has a steelbook, with is superstore the Deluxe’s sleeve, but not terribly attractive (I put all my games in a multi-game case anyway).
The Deluxe has an Acrylic Stand that seems superior or at least level with the Enamel pins. I mean, Enamel pins are cool if you collect them and have an Ita bag, but the stand is way more eye-catching, unless the stand is really really tiny compared to how it appears in the art.
The Deluxe has an art book that seems really superior to a double sided poster, which , let’s be honest, are never that great, as they’re usually creased up substantially. And it has two images. The Art book, while smaller, has at least 30 images.
If I was going to buy either, I’d get the deluxe, and if the deluxe was out of stock, I wouldn’t buy the more expensive other edition, I’d get the digital when on sale.

Re: Feature: 54 Switch Ports We'd Love To See Before The Generation's Out

ChessboardMan

There’s a bunch of multiplayer focus games I have wishlisted on Steam that I was surprised to see weren’t on the Switch yet: Starwhal, Stardust Vanguards… there’s probably a bunch more that would work perfectly on the most couch multiplayer easy console of all time. As currently my biggest deciding factor on whether to get a game on steam deck, or try to get it on Switch instead, is does it have multiplayer?

Re: Feature: 9 'Mature' Games We'd Love To See On Nintendo Switch Online's New N64 App

ChessboardMan

This is quite a boring list, and as some point out, Turok 2 is already on the platform with more comfortable controls.
How about a list of titles that not everyone already knows? I always wanted to try Body Harvest. Or Mace the Dark Ages? Or I seem to remember a game called War Gods?
… Wow, just found a list of all Mature N64 games, and boy is it short! Between the comments and their list, we might have them all… Body Harvest wasn’t even one of them! Possibly because you were mostly killing bugs with green blood?

Re: Bend Gravity To Your Will In 2D Horror Platformer 'Love Eternal'

ChessboardMan

I’m unsure. The horror elements looked interesting, but the actual gameplay looks like skill/frustration based puzzle platformer, and those tend to be very try and try again until you succeed, but if you end up repeating a horror sequence over and over, it can lose the magic. Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth, had a really gripping sequence where you escape from a hotel while being chased by a mob, but it had a super hard jump in it that caused me to repeat it over and over, until it lost the fear effect entirely.
Such things can turn something from “Ahhh! something is chasing me!” To “(monotone) oh. no. something is chasing me. Sigh. I hope I make that frigging jump this time!”.

Re: Retailer 'GAME' Is Ending Its Reward Programme And Elite Membership

ChessboardMan

It does look like GAME is on the way out, since the only incentive to buying there, is that they have physical stores, but that of no use when there are none of the physical stores located in your area. It already had little use, what with the “picking up order in store” option being as much as normal delivery. Which is on the expensive side. Just buy from Shop To, or even Amazon. Like Deku Deals was listing a deal at GAME, and I was like “but that’s practically the same price with their postage added on. It’ll be weird without GAME, but I’m not sure I’ll miss them. If anything I miss the Hayday of GAME/EB.