DTFaux

It's a rough tear: While it's cool to see the series have enough legs to seem to want to tell deeper stories, it seems like they keep moving further away from the shounen anime campiness of the first game. And the whole "monsties" naming convention feels off when they're no longer chibi.

Still, I'm on board and curious to see where this entry goes!

While I personally felt the Star Force series struggled to fill the shoes Battle Network left behind (which IMO, contributed to the Mega Man fatigue in the the late 00s/early 10s), it's a net positive that the series is finding new life beyond the DS; Which means a fresh chance for folks to fall in love with this.

Now with that said... it's officially become hilarious how much Capcom has danced around Legends to give us just about every other mainline series. I'm hoping it's just a matter of "saving the best for last", but they're really not beating the grudge allegations atm.

If this has ties to Three Houses, it'd be awfully nice if it could get a Switch 2 update for those of us who've been putting off playing through it!

I'm choosing to die on the hill that I wish they wouldnt keep bringing back Story/Adventure mode for these sports games if they're not gonna be much more than elaborate tutorials with serviceable story beats in between.

This is me playing armchair dev, but that dev time could be used for more replayable parts of the game, or even a slightly lower price tag overall (assuming this winds up being a $70-$80 game).

I'm excited we finally have what might as well be a new Yoshi Story (with a solid aesthetic to boot!), but tempering my expectations that it's more gonna be a vibes-based adventure, rather than a platformer with challenge.

Which, nothing wrong with the former, if that's what you're looking for.

I've been eyeing buying a Virtual Boy for collection's sake for years, so this would make for a good workaround if the price is right.

But dont miss the fact that this accessory lives and dies by a subscription to Nintnedo's online service and current console dimensions.

This suddenly explains why the base game was $70 compared to MKWorld and the other Switch 2 Editions.

That said, I cant hate there being an evergreen reason to load back up Bananza after 100%ing it so quickly. Though, the fact that Nintendo is using roguelikes for DLC content AGAIN is also kinda funny.

Cynically, what good is cool new hardware without enough attractive exclusives to play on it?

If they're still moving a lot of their biggest games (of the few they ever release these days...) to other platforms, there's not much reason to jump specifically on a Sony console outside of, respectfully, being a Playstation fan.

Wow, a smaller publisher doing "full game on cart", no Switch Tax™️, AND releasing for lower than the average MSRP??

I understand every situation is different, but this kinda undercuts the speculation that Switch 2 data carts are too expensive for larger publishers. Either they must've gotten cheaper, new storage options, or game-key cards really were a cost-cutting option publishers were too excited to jump on.

Oh no... Am I gonna have to eat my words?? I was feeling pretty confident that Bandai Namco had this in the bag.

I was already prepared to double dip in some format (with portability being the biggest reason), but if it's gonna somehow be a lesser experience than my PS4 run, I might have to shift this purchasing decision to PC.

'B to dig down' 1000% makes sense in theory and design... In practice, 'B to Jump' is just too hardwired in my brain, and probably why I didn't like my first impressions all too much back in April.

Really glad we had the option to swap inputs, because it felt like I was able to find my flow in the game way sooner than I would've otherwise.

I've been high-key rooting for a Bubsy comeback story for years, and my gosh, the IP holders finally understood the assignment: Less memes and "nostalgia", and more a sincere effort from a competent dev!

I would've preferred they not lean sooooo much on the"laughing stock of gaming" jokes, but hopefully that's just a trailer quirk. And if they can land the characterizations and give the supporting cast some depth, I think we could finally and unironically say, "Bubsy's back, baby!"

November baby Nintendo fans stay winning with at least one guaranteed game (and sometimes console) releasing around their birthday due to being so close to the holiday season...

And sometimes when the stars perfectly align, one releases right on your birthday! It's kinda less exciting when you're an adult with disposable income and more financial obligations, but might as well find the joys where you can!

FINALLY, a crossover that feels reasonably reserved for once!

They're often oversaturated with so little rhyme or reason these days, that it feels like such a breath of fresh air to see one that keeps it as simple as "two IPs from the same publisher". Really hoping the other two are also Sega villains!

I wish we could see the full context that even resulted in that image showing up. It has more of a cheeky tone you'd get from a slide during a fan-run panel than something I'd think TPC would spend any time on.

(Not even a bad thing; it's just funny).

This is also the last of the previously released Switch 1 games that were announced to get a Switch 2 Edition. Makes me wonder if Nintendo is going to have a "Batch #2" ready to announce real soon?

I'll also take more free S2-compatible updates like they had around launch.

Switch 1 cart + a Switch 2 upgrade path not only sounds like a no-brainer, but would also be cheaper in the long run than having to print two separate SKUs. It's what Nintendo is currently doing with their Switch 2 Editions of Sw1 games.

The only other explanation I can imagine is that they predict bigger profits from having two different physical releases.

Edit: But apparently, a different SE game is getting an upgrade path?? These inconsistencies are gonna drive me up the wall, man...

Some things caught my eye (MH Stories 3, new Katamari, Pacman World 2, Hela, etc.), but a bit underwhelming as a presentation.

I was at least hoping we'd get more dates for 2025 Switch 2 games that were announced back in the April Direct. Just kinda felt like the obvious move...

At the very least I just want a date for Elden Ring. Anything else would be a bonus.

But if I can dream a bit bigger: Monster Hunter Wilds port or Rise upgrade for Switch 2, Hi-Fi Rush port, and a non-cloud version of the Kingdom Hearts collection

I'm also betting there's gonna be a "One last thing..." reveal.

I find the comparisons to 'Snipper Clips' to be kinda funny, because it feels way more inspired by 'Part-Time UFO' with the whole odd job concept and some physics-based mini games.

That said, both are great games, and this is looking to be right at home with them.

@JuanGartner IIRC, this was never part of the Switch 2 Direct. And checking NoA's channel real quick, there's no trailer posted there.

Any marketing and coverage seems to be Nitrome hovering around the Switch 2's hype.

This is legit one of the launch window games I'm most excited for. I went and sold my PS4 copy early, because I'm so confident Bandai Namco's gonna do a solid enough port job that I'll have no reason to go back.

Also, lifting my hands to the sky to say
Please don't be a game-key card
Please don't be a game-key card
Please don't be a game-key card

The $20 price tag, and eShop exclusivity isn't instilling a ton of confidence that this will be a particularly deep game... Which isn't inherently a bad thing, if that's the case.

The core game is fun enough in its own right (having got to try it back at the April NYC event), but it feels like the blueprint is already there to add things like a racing, extreme sports, and Battle Mode mini game to round it out.

Personally, I welcome the willingness for rosters to have some cohesion and restraint again.

Like, I love me a good crossover, and "Nintendo Kart" would've at least maintained a theme (unlike a certain other contemporary racing game coming soon)... but I feel like crossovers have become more of an obligation and meme than the exception, which undermines what made them feel so special in the first place.

Man, I wasnt obsessed with the series, but was definitely locked in enough to get every NA release as they came out (1, 2, and Lunar Knights).

It always felt like such a niche series, because I sure as heck didnt know anyone else around me who cared about it.

It's a long shot, but it'd be really cool if MHWilds did get a port to Switch 2.

If not that, I'd be more than happy with a Switch 2 update for Rise, seeing as it got raised frame caps and resolutions on other platforms.

Honestly, I love the juxtaposition of how much effort Nintendo has put into changing DK's design from the one he's been rocking for almost 3 decades... only to give him two power-up forms that look so particularly cursed.

Not that it's a bad thing. I appreciate when any IP holder is willing to break conventional "marketability" in order to do funny/cool things with their characters.

I almost wish I didnt watch it, only because some of the surprises would've hit way harder organically. Still, I'm way more excited for it now than I was in April (as someone who got to try the demo).

And not to dwell on the pricing discourse, but the amount of stuff seen in this Direct really puts further scrutiny on MKW's $80 price of entry, when Bananza is looking like a more "complete" game at launch for $70.

I mentioned in another comment section that it's fine for what it is (I wouldn't be against more content, given its price of entry), but it seriously needs some Quality of Life updates if it's just gonna be "Find things around this giant map!"

At the moment, it feels parallel to MK8's base game on Wii U: A very solid starting point that's fine if left as-is. But hopefully it becomes more like MK8D with enough time.

I three-starred every cup and rally now, only because I knew I'd feel compelled to later. And by then, I might not be as much in the mood or have as much patience.

I'm also banking on this game having updates down the road, and I'd rather clear base game in case we get more challenges later on.

As is, I'd give it a solid 8 (maybe a soft 9). The GP and Knockout Tour modes are great, and the balance of chaos feels less frustrating compared to past MK games. It also helps that the online seems better compared to MK8D. Getting hit by stuff actually feels like my fault now!

The Free Roam mode (a major selling point) is also alright if you go into it with the right mindset... I dont mind the lack of a "real" campaign or substantial unlockables, but I find the lack of conventional QoL "open world" games are known for to be baffling; especially this far removed from Mario Odyssey, BotW/TotK, the Xenoblade series, Splatoon's single player campaigns, and I'm sure DK Bananaza next month.

I suspect we're gonna be seeing content and QoL updates during this game's lifetime, but the lack of the latter at launch is not helping to justify the $80 price of entry for anyone who bought the game on its own.

As someone who's unfortunately gotten more than his share of controllers with stick drift, I get the PTSD... but how prevalent has the issue been in recent years?

Could just be that I'm not looking in the right places, but stick drift seemed to be more isolated to controllers made between 2017 and 2018, and has cropped up substantially less after that. It's just hard to imagine Nintendo wouldn't have tried to fix the issue over the 8+ years, much less across generations.

I'll eat my own words if I'm wrong, of course, but I dont care for the supposed conflating of "Not being hall effect" means "Stick drift will be equally frequent."

This is kind of a big deal, as it shows Splatoon 3 still has some gas (ink?) in the tank.

Also, this now being the 13th Switch 1 game to get a free Switch 2 update feeds into the hopes that we'll see more updates roll out for other titles sooner than later. Would love Xenonlade 2 to be on the docket...

Honestly, even with the Switch 1, a portable battery felt like a necessity for extended handheld sessions.

Hopefully we get an approved list or licensed battery for the Switch 2. While I'm sure charging tech has gotten better and safer over the years, I'd still like to have battery options I can buy with full confidence.

As tempting as it is to get a Pro 2 at launch, I have too many Pro 1s to justify an $85 expense on top of a new console and a couple of games.

I'd sooner get the wireless GCN controller, and hold out for either a good discount offer or a Limited Edition with a nice design.

Being unapologetically cynical about this... We've effectively just come full-circle to video game CPUs; which are about as old as gaming itself.

I get that the approach here is having tech learn as it plays, but that feels far less impressive in the current climate of the AI hype bubble, compared to the more innocent times of a decade ago when a lot of "AI" stuff either had more altruistic ambitions, or was just being [ethically] sourced/coded for funsies.

@BirdoDidNothingWrong I can definitely see where you're coming from. Especially when some comments over the same matters do start to become redundant. I think that's also the nature of so many people being in a single community: If something rubs a lot of folks in that community the wrong way, that sentiment is gonna be echoed. And the side effect of a lot of people overlapping is that they'll feel more inclined to keep complaining about the same things.

I guess in this specific case, we're also in a unique situation where we're all excitedly waiting for the release of a new console and looking for an outlet. Barring any controversies, I suspect the game-key card stuff will run its course and return to a more moderate level of discussion.

...Unless every other 3rd party dev jumps on the bandwagon, then this will be as generation-defining as Joy-Con Drift for the Switch 1 (though, we don't hear much about it these days).

As someone who was fussing over the initial LRG/Raidou game-key card situation, I'd be remised if I didn't give props to LRG for being clear that they're committed to releasing internally published games fully on the cart.

We'll have to ultimately see if that sticks in the long run, but here's hoping!

@BirdoDidNothingWrong I mean, it's kind of a Chicken-Egg situation, isn't it? Topical, pressing matters - be it a sitting president's unprecedented nonsense or the fast-approaching launch of a new console - are gonna get a lot of coverage because it's on a lot of minds. If it was inconsequential, it wouldn't be covered nearly as much.

There is an argument to be made about if so much coverage is being done for cynical reasons, but is this really one of those cases when so many do intend to plan their purchases around whether or not a game's all on-cart?

It's kinda funny seeing how antagonistic some people want to be in light of someone trying to carve a space for good vibes over what's supposed to be a hobby.

Like, I'll be the first to say that criticism and complaints can be valid a lot of the time, but similar to "toxic positivity", it's also incredibly easy to fall down a rabbit hole of cynicism to the point where it's just a ritual, rather than a means of catharsis or productivity.

@Gorlock While noting those issues, they kinda make my point. The industry is waiting with bated breath over how much GTA6 will cost at retail. But if Rockstar knows they'll make hand over fist via subscriptions and digital currency purchases in the long run, they could surprise everyone and NOT charge $80+ for price of entry; completely kneecapping industry hopes of a new normal.

Of course, I'd be a fool to be so optimistic. So I'm really just making the point that plenty of publishers who are eyeing $80 forget they're not Rockstar or Nintendo.

@nuke13 Respectfully, the math is still only being done in isolation and consideration to the cost of the game.

In theory, it might only take 4 hours to be able to afford an $80 game. But in practice, how much longer will that take when lumped in with other necessities (not even luxuries) that have also gotten more expensive since 1991?

Of course, video games are a luxury (even thought their core appeal was being a relatively affordable and accessible hobby), so it's kinda whatever at the end of the day... But I suspect some publishers will be in for a rude awakening in thinking $80 is the new standard based off a sample size of 1.5; and Rockstar could very well undermine the entire scheme.

You'd think someone who would have a finger on the pulse with gamers would avoid such a predictable PR blunder.

He has every right to try and justify the potential cost if he sincerely believes in its value, but minimum wage went a lot farther in 1991 when adjusting cost of living to inflation Vs. how little wages have kept up.

The dubiousness of the argument that "James Earl Jones gave permission" is that he isn't around to have to deal with the systemic ramifications of letting this Pandora's Box open a bit more. It's not like there isn't a history of the entertainment industry being plagued with predatory practices or anything...

And given how poorly non-union workers have been treated as of late - especially in light of AI being crammed into everything at everyone's expense - it's hard not to want to take the side of SAG-AFTRA here. I just hope they're 1) Approaching this in good faith, and 2) Have all their ducks in a row. They're tangentially scuffling with the same company that just won a lawsuit against Apple.

It just occured to me: Between the attempt to breathe a bit more life into Gen 9, Z-A being around the corner, and Champions looking to lift some of the logistical burden from the mainline games, I wonder if Gen 10 is still a bit further away than we think?

I know people love to rag on TPC and Game Freak for their missteps (some deserved, some overblown...), but I'm not getting a sense that they're phoning things in just because Sc/Vi were so successful.

@-wc- 1) "Caliber" can ALSO mean character (and integrity). You can be the most mediocre artist in the world, and still have certain scruples.

2) By all means, I'm not trying to stop you from voicing your opinions on a matter of subjectivity, but that's not the hill I was looking to die on in my original comment. No harm, no foul, but please be careful how (and who) you try to pull into your own crusades.

There's absolutely a conversation to be had about how the prevalence of gen-AI is making people hyper-scrutinous. There's also a conversation to be had about Nintendo's quality as of late... But this "catch-22" you're trying to force is an arbitrary dichotomy. Any artist/creative with experience will tell you that even "the best and brightest" aren't always gonna make things to your own personal satisfaction. And a failure to do so isn't inherently a reflection of their "laziness."

@-wc- 1) In your rush to be snarky, I think you missed I said "of their caliber" not "hi caliber". So me thinks the the user doth protest too much, now.

2) A couple of assets you aren't personally feeling does not represent a studio/company's larger portfolio and development philosophy.

As an artist myself, I'll be first in line to actually boo them if it turns out they are leaning on gen-AI for assets. But I'd rather go off of more than just a hunch and hearsay [from people who may or may not have an axe to grind] when it comes to this subject matter.

Given the artists and devs of their caliber working under them, I feel like Nintendo would be one of the last companies I'd expect to jump on this whole gen-AI trend.

Especially this late in the game when the cracks are starting to show, the bubble is looking more likely to burst by the day, the copyright protections are spotty, AND the PR backlash just isn't worth the small bump in stock value.

The amount of people who've misremembered MKWorld's USD pricing (myself, included for a moment) is a fascinating case that needs to either be studied or recorded for posterity. We're equidistant from the Switch 2 Direct and launch day, and the misinformation remains prevalent.

Also, gotta be careful puffing one's chest (especially if you don't have much tangible stake in this). The price of entry being "worth it" is moot if it's too high for enough people to even take the ride. Not like we haven't been talking about the unsustainable state of the video game industry for a good while now...

@Zufolobelisk Honestly, I've been hoping for this IP to have its revival redemption arc for YEARS now. Partially for the comeback story, but also because it often feels like some "failed" IPs actually have potential.

Which is why it sucks that he only keeps getting brought back for nostalgia bait at best, and irony poison at worst. With a slight shift in character personality, the right artists who understand appealing character design, and experienced devs with more than a shoestring budget, Bubsy could actually be something!