@Dragnoran Sure, but on the other side of the argument, why is it so important to transfer Pokemon into the new mainlines Day-1?
I can kinda understand wanting to get them out of the new mainlines into Home ASAP, but even that could be a clash in design philosophies (or business decisions) if they don't want people rushing to push Gen 9 Pokemon into Home's GTS so soon.
Geez... I get that something's better than nothing but seeing "Choose One" in big bold letters for games that could've all been bundled for free for this extremely short period of time just feels stingy.
@Dizzymario Not counting out the state Sc/Vi released in as the culprit this time, I had always assumed the delayed compatibility was intentional.
In one part so the competitive seasons can be "organic" for the first few rounds, but also because gamers can sometimes optimize the fun/challenge out of a core experience if given the means to do so; in this case, transferring one's Lv. 100s and favorites to steamroll the main campaign and ignore new Pokemon.
@WaffleRaptor01 Well, yeah. Again, it was kind of a necessary move after the disaster of '06, but it unfortunately fed into itself in a debatably negative way. But they've been much less meme-y since the positive reception of their recent endeavors.
It's not unlike when Nintendo was trying a bit too hard to be quirky during the struggling Wii U days (as fun as that was), and then dialed it back in favor of more sincerity when kicking off the Switch; especially with its reveal trailer. And they havent been as meme-y since, because success speaks for itself.
@WaffleRaptor01 Ironically, the self-deprecating humor hurts the brand in the long run. It was kind of necessary to bounce back after '06, but it was clearly becoming a crutch the longer things went on (that, and the desperate cling to nostalgia).
But now, we're getting people in charge who understand that no one will take Sonic seriously if they dont, which is resulting in better faith efforts like Sonic Mania, the two movies, parts of Origins, Prime, and Frontiers as a whole (jank notwithstanding).
If they keep their word, I look forward to Sonic becoming more than just memes and meta humor again.
@Ulysses Trust me, I'm not naive to the fact that the X series is one of the more well known versions out there. That said, that hasn't stopped Capcom from using Volnutt [and Tron Bonne and Servbots] to cameo for and rep the Megaman series before.
At this point, any official recognition of Megaman feels like a blessing, I'm more just commenting on the missed (or hopefully, delayed?...) opportunity.
@SonOfDracula I'm not gonna pretend the games aren't without their problems (or that the series isn't on the more niche side compared to X and the original), but let's not assume that folks who have positive opinions about them in 2023 haven't touched the entries since1998 and 2000, respectively...
I mentioned elsewhere, but it's absurd that out of all the Mega Man IPs they could've used in a 3D game where you adventure, mine, and fight baddies underground... they didnt choose Legends.
@LikelySatan Considering Sonic Team laid out a road map of free future updates and content for Frontiers, it at least shows a sign of good faith on their part.
@victordamazio Sure, we shouldn't be entertaining the extreme ends of "body positivity", but it's important to understand that the crux of "body positivity" in the first place was to push back against toxicity towards bodies that didn't fit conventional [and arguably, propagandistic] beauty standards.
IMO, a lot of folks seem to miss that our obesity problem (at least in the US) is systemic and that the better approach is to incentivize good habits and relationships with food than to punish bad ones (the latter, far too many seem to fantasize over...).
@SwitchplayerJohn It was a half-joke, but I sincerely believe just about any motivation that gets one to finally take that step is a million times more valid and effective than any amount of shame, ridicule, or bullying- sorry, I mean "tough love".
@victordamazio I mean... obviously being a jerk to overweight people isn't the exact same as other terrible -phobic, -ists, or -isms, but lets not pretend our society hasn't warped the perception of "health" by tying it near-exclusively to a number on the scale to the point where people have eating disorders or confidence issues (even after losing weight), or the fact that the sugar industry successfully campaigned to convince people that "fat" in food is the culprit to obesity, or the fact that an entire industry surrounding "weight loss" that profits off of selling magic bullets.
We can call out multiple screwed up things in the world without acting like they're equal terrible across the board.
@Gbdub209 She's not saying obesity isn't a health concern, but that some people act like jerks towards overweight folks by pretending they care about the people in question, much less the core issue.
Basically, it's the fallacy where a person only looks at a societal/systemic issue through a binary lens and a bias of "rugged individualism", to justify their apathy or ignorance. It's ultimately unproductive, and even counterproductive (as the extreme ends of "body positivity" are a push-back against toxic rhetoric towards overweight people).
Regarding this guy's works and the small mention in the article, definitely check out Mao Mao.
It's a fun contemporary cartoon that was cut in its prime due to higher-up shenanigans. But for what does exist, it's such a great balance of comedy and action with a lot of heart and equally great voice work!
@EliJapan Not that the time limit couldnt be longer, but a demo in the first place shows way more confidence than any game that doesnt have a demo. Not that it's inherently a sign of confidence either...
Also, the DQ11 example is kinda funny because it is undeniably generous, but you dont really need 10 hours to know if a game is for you or not. The purpose of that much time is to create a sunk cost effect where you're more likely to buy the game explicitly because you've sunk too many hours into the story and progress to "let it go to waste". This goes for every game that hypes up "You can carry your demo save to the real game!"
Being this far removed from Frontiers' release, I can say that I walked away from the experience feeling way better about the future of Sonic than I did before I booted Frontiers up. It may be rougher around the edges compared to games like Lost World and Forces, but it's probably the most sincere fun I've had in a 3D Sonic game since Unleashed (and Generations).
I feel like Sonic is at his best when the franchise is taken a bit more seriously than just meme and nostalgia fodder. And so long as the same passionate people keep leading the charge [and Sega gives them a proper development schedule], I have no doubt Sonic will return to being a force to be reckoned with when the next mainline title rolls around.
I definitely get that cross-play would require a ton of footwork, but I still dont get how cross-saves wouldnt be feasible. Especially if they're gonna make the effort to make the games playable on other consoles anyway.
This is one of the few games I would've loved to double-dip on, but there's no way I'm starting from zero again unless I lose my Switch save file.
I feel so vindicated to hear another artist actually gets it!
Also, the "2-4 colors" and "moderate level of detail" suggestions are just nice character design rules beyond Pokemon. Comics and animations are already tedious work (especially if you're indie). The last thing you need is to add over-designed characters or creatures to the mix in most cases.
Man, I really wish they led with this trailer (or at least showed this sooner). I'm way more invested now!
I know the point of earlier teasers is to tease, but it's not the best PR move where we've known this show has been in development for years, and we're only NOW getting an idea of its tone and pacing less than a month from release.
Ever since hearing the news of a Switch release date, I've definitely been keeping my eyes on this game. And having bought it Day-1, I can say it's a really nice time!
It has its share of challenging platforming, but the experience feels "comfy" if that makes any sense.
I'll admit, this trailer took me from "I'll get it when I get it" to "Legitimately looking forward to it" levels of hype.
Regardless of how this game turns out, Sega/Sonic Team has been doing a solid job prioritizing ambition and sincerity over nostalgia and memes as of late. Both can work in tandem, but the latter can become a crutch if you lack the former.
Never thought I'd be hearing anything new about Bomberman Hero in 2022! Honestly, I still can't believe it's the only Bomberman of that play style after all these years.
I really hope this new teaser trailer gives a bit more insight into the actual plot of the series, because despite all the promotional material and marketing, it's wild that we STILL kinda don't know anything beyond surface-level details and familiar faces (though great that Rouge and Big are being included).
Like, it's been a bit tough to get hyped, because there's just so little to chew on unless you were already sold on the sole prospect of a new Sonic cartoon itself.
It's gotten hard to get excited about new tech like this, because it feels like too many tech bros try to sneak the end goals of profit incentives in a Trojan horse. Add to that, it's once again artists (and general creativity) being exploited; the NFT fad and everything that came from that wasnt that long ago.
The side of "fun", "accessibility", or how it'll "PuSH aRt tO NeW heiGhTS!!" are grossly undercut and overshadowed by the amount of opportunists waiting in the wings to cash in, and especially the bigger companies that salivate over the idea of not having to pay for labor any way they can.
If nothing else in this discourse, it's to be aware of who's arguing in good faith Vs. those trying to smooth talk their way to a path of least resistance. The guy with no emotional investment in art or artists trying to argue that "Art is subjective!" and leave the debate at that probably isnt working in anyone's best interest...
I dont hate it, but the initial look does feel a few degrees off. But that's because Nintendo doesnt mess with Mario's 3D model too drastically aside from a new coat of paint every few years.
I'm just relieved Chris Pratt's voice "works", if they really had to rob Charles Martinet of his rightful role (not trying to rag on Chris, obviously).
As someone who low-key likes the concept of Girafarig, I'm here for this [long-overdue] evolution. The design is definitely weird, but doesnt feel any weirder/creepier than having a second, questionably sentient head for a tail.
Heck, it just looks like it's wearing an elaborate mask, really.
Part of me wonders if there'll eventually be a F2P version of TnT that's just for the subscription itself?
So long as the price was right (it's alright, but could be better), fans like me were likely already attracted to the idea of accessing 500+ songs with monthly updates without the $50 entry fee.
Given his work ethic and dedication (which I've respected since Brawl), it cant be understated how invaluable it'll be that he's doing something like this. And for free, no less!
I also love that the comment sections for the 3 videos so far are also substantial and sincere, for the most part. Kinda just nice to see a place not immediately fall towards jokes, memes, game begging, and trolling like a certain bird app.
Despite the surface-level blasphemy of this game, it honestly feels like the least offensive depiction of cults and religion I think I've ever seen in video games.
I was expecting it to be way more cheeky or cynical (as most fiction about cults are), but it plays itself pretty straight in tone and dialogue to an almost nuanced degree. Because the baseline of this game is that "The world is ruled by higher beings powered by faith," the only question to ask is if you want to be a benevolent leader or a rutheless one?
@KeeperBvK It's been almost 6 years since the game released, and it was already a soft promise that I'd give my impressions.
From what I can recall, it wasnt that great of a game. Definitely not broken, but not one I cared to see to the end. Still, gotta give props to them releasing a functionable game at all and sharing free codes to strangers.
I think the risk of spoilers is especially dependent on the community in question. Some are AMAZING at respecting the unspoken, arbitrary window (sometimes for years). Others suck at it to a point where you'd think they were doing it out of spite (especially for media that's facing fan backlash at the time).
Whether or not people adhere to this, I think it's smart for the official Digimon account to get ahead of the nature of the internet by nudging folks towards a middle ground, rather than threaten strikes or takedowns.
Re-watching the first trailer hits me with both a wave of nostalgia (5+ years already??), but also a cool reminder of just how big a deal a system like this still is. Despite the "hybrid" novelty sort of running its course, it still remains as practical as ever, and there's yet to be a competitor that balances the concept as well as the Switch.
Going from Docked-to-Handheld is a given, but Tabletop mode is such an underrated feature. And the versatility of just two Joy-Cons (that can natively attach to the console, no less!) still remains unmatched.
@EarthboundBenjy Honestly, for anyone crazy enough to try and take on Pokemon (and even anyone who's not trying), it cant be understated how important a bit of multimedia can be.
For Pokemon, the games might be the bread and butter, but the anime (and comics) did its share of heavy lifting getting people on board. I'd argue this also went the same for Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Medabots, Bakugan, Beyblade, Yo-Kai Watch, and even non-creature collecting/battle shows. The low barrier of entry gave folks a chance to get invested in their respective worlds, concept, and/or characters.
Now, not every indie dev has the budget or means for a bunch of 11 to 22-minute animated episodes, BUT they should at least consider internet shorts or comics. It's all about getting your voice and identity out there; show that your game with all these characters actually has character.
I dont exactly hate this approach, and I get why Nintendo does it (it ideally keeps people coming back)... but man, Daisy of any character should've been in from the get-go.
I dont think she's missed a party or sports game since Mario Tennis 64, so bringing her late to the party feels more frustrating than exciting.
@victordamazio That's not usually how it works for these kinds of games. The non-optional censorship tends to happen during localization/development, and usually for games where the target audience in another country skews younger (E to Teen); the rare exception being if something takes an M-rated game to AO.
Bayonetta's already an M-rated series where being "sacri-licious" is a major point of it. There's little reason to believe having this option is gonna lead to some reality where Platinum/Nintendo is gonna go all in to protecting puritanical sensibilities in a series where a sexy witch fights angels, demons, and everything in between.
Ironically, what makes this game feel so uncanny is less the cute and cheeky sacrilege, and more the fact that cult stuff hits a bit too close to home in this current climate. I can only imagine where the creator(s) of this game took inspiration from.
That said, the style and tone has me morbidly curious enough to see where the game goes.
I definitely respect the necessity of brevity. I think it's just a personally cynical issue where hearing games be explicitly referred to a brand makes me feel like it'll be an inferior rendition, and ultimately redundant.
But this might be that I was always taught that if you're trying to sell people on things, to never market yourself too hard as an alternative or competitor to an already popular thing, because a lot of people will think, "Why do I need something like X when I already have X?" in a lot of cases.
I feel the direct referrals work best in elaboration, super niche concepts (Souls-like), targeted audiences, or if there's been a years-long gap to a long-dormant playstyle. But otherwise, I feel like mentioning a game by their core mechanics/genres are a better way to pique interest without banking its reception on a familiar brand. Everyone knows "Platform fighter" effectively means "Smash-like", yet avoids the trappings of having to live up to Smash Bros.' expectations.
This is not the best hill to die on, but I've grown to dislike how played up that particular controversy is.
Like, I get the inherent and aesthetical weirdness of it... but I feel the worst part of it was being a cliche and unearned trope, not that an anthropomorphic, talking hedgehog was kissed by a human.
And I say this as someone who also would rather not see Sonic kiss another human in my lifetime.
@Axecon What doesn't help is that Sega has a habit of saying they'll do better with Sonic, only for their latest game to be mediocre at best, and busted at worst.
Generations was arguably the last true win for the guy, and Forces -while not a broken mess like Boom or '06- spread itself too thin to be something more amazing, had they just honed in on one or two of the 3 play styles.
Sega's ironically in the best position with expectations being so low, as they have nowhere to go but up for a lot of us. And I'll even say I'm cautiously optimistic about Frontiers. Just give me a decent playground with good controls to mess around in, and anything else about the game would be a bonus, personally.
@jrt87 I think it's more a matter of these types of games being willing to appeal to certain niches or lean into certain subject matter (and especially representation) that your usual AAA games may not often do in their attempts to appeal to a broad audience... or cynically, not scare away safe money.
I think it's entirely possible to not be able to relate, while respecting that folks like these games for their own reasons, if it harms no one. The Dooms, MKs, and Danganronpas arent going anywhere in light of these.
Wow, that's unfortunate, but I guess not entirely surprising. I definitely would've played more, but the time it took to get into matches just took longer than I would've liked...
I do like the sound of them at least trying to keep the IP alive with new projects, though. I personally wasnt crazy about Bomberman being hard tied to a supporting cast of one-note archetypes, so hopefully they'll scale that aspect back and flesh out the few characters he does interact with.
(Also, more Louie representation, please and thanks!)
Considering the squirrel body blinks and emotes in-game, it's more likely that that's not a suit...
Of course, the obvious question is: What does this mean for the weeks coming? Like, will we get more animals, or will they get more wilder than that? (Robots, slime, mummy, Nintendo costumes, etc.)
@PikaPhantom This is more shouting into the ether, but I swear the term "CalArts" has been one of the most poisonous and derivative words in the animation discourse in the last 10 years.
Both in the fact that it's rarely ever said in a positive context, (its original intention was to lambaste a Disney-like style at the time; coined by the creator of Red & Stimpy), but also because it's far too convenient of a term that often undermines a piece of media's entire art direction (and animation efforts) because of, usually, the use of a mouth shape. /rant
Already saw it and loved it way more than I thought I would (speaking as someone who went into it blind). It was surprisingly grounded, given its fantastical premise. Which was great, as that's a particular niche that's not played with enough in media.
Also, the art direction grew on me so much, I just went and bought the art book the moment the credits hit.
(I also cant get "Nobody Like U" out of my head for the past month...)
@DeathByLasagna If it error'd, you might be able to try again. IIRC, sometimes the page will say that shortly before allowing you to try and add to your cart again.
Comments 943
Re: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass Wave 4 Launches Next Week
Not to get too far ahead of Wave 4's release, but it's gonna be exciting to see how they bring it home with the last two Waves.
Between the new courses, added characters, and QoL functions, it's a wonder what else we're gonna get when all's said and done.
Re: Pokémon HOME Updated To Version 2.1.1, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
@Dragnoran Sure, but on the other side of the argument, why is it so important to transfer Pokemon into the new mainlines Day-1?
I can kinda understand wanting to get them out of the new mainlines into Home ASAP, but even that could be a clash in design philosophies (or business decisions) if they don't want people rushing to push Gen 9 Pokemon into Home's GTS so soon.
Re: Nintendo Reveals Official MAR10 Day Switch Console Bundle
Geez... I get that something's better than nothing but seeing "Choose One" in big bold letters for games that could've all been bundled for free for this extremely short period of time just feels stingy.
Re: Pokémon HOME Updated To Version 2.1.1, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
@Dizzymario Not counting out the state Sc/Vi released in as the culprit this time, I had always assumed the delayed compatibility was intentional.
In one part so the competitive seasons can be "organic" for the first few rounds, but also because gamers can sometimes optimize the fun/challenge out of a core experience if given the means to do so; in this case, transferring one's Lv. 100s and favorites to steamroll the main campaign and ignore new Pokemon.
Re: Sonic Veteran Takashi Iizuka Is Taking On Executive Officer Role At Sega
@WaffleRaptor01 Well, yeah. Again, it was kind of a necessary move after the disaster of '06, but it unfortunately fed into itself in a debatably negative way. But they've been much less meme-y since the positive reception of their recent endeavors.
It's not unlike when Nintendo was trying a bit too hard to be quirky during the struggling Wii U days (as fun as that was), and then dialed it back in favor of more sincerity when kicking off the Switch; especially with its reveal trailer. And they havent been as meme-y since, because success speaks for itself.
Re: Sonic Veteran Takashi Iizuka Is Taking On Executive Officer Role At Sega
@WaffleRaptor01 Ironically, the self-deprecating humor hurts the brand in the long run. It was kind of necessary to bounce back after '06, but it was clearly becoming a crutch the longer things went on (that, and the desperate cling to nostalgia).
But now, we're getting people in charge who understand that no one will take Sonic seriously if they dont, which is resulting in better faith efforts like Sonic Mania, the two movies, parts of Origins, Prime, and Frontiers as a whole (jank notwithstanding).
If they keep their word, I look forward to Sonic becoming more than just memes and meta humor again.
Re: Mega Man X Returns To The Fold In Brand New Minecraft DLC
@Ulysses Trust me, I'm not naive to the fact that the X series is one of the more well known versions out there. That said, that hasn't stopped Capcom from using Volnutt [and Tron Bonne and Servbots] to cameo for and rep the Megaman series before.
At this point, any official recognition of Megaman feels like a blessing, I'm more just commenting on the missed (or hopefully, delayed?...) opportunity.
Re: Mega Man X Returns To The Fold In Brand New Minecraft DLC
@SonOfDracula I'm not gonna pretend the games aren't without their problems (or that the series isn't on the more niche side compared to X and the original), but let's not assume that folks who have positive opinions about them in 2023 haven't touched the entries since1998 and 2000, respectively...
Re: Mega Man X Returns To The Fold In Brand New Minecraft DLC
I mentioned elsewhere, but it's absurd that out of all the Mega Man IPs they could've used in a 3D game where you adventure, mine, and fight baddies underground... they didnt choose Legends.
Re: Sonic Frontiers' Sales "Greatly Exceeded" Expectations
@LikelySatan Considering Sonic Team laid out a road map of free future updates and content for Frontiers, it at least shows a sign of good faith on their part.
Re: Two New Posters Revealed For The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Take A Look
Man, I REALLY hope this movie gets an art book down the road.
Re: Super Nintendo World's Mario Kart Ride Has A "Waistline" Limit (US)
@victordamazio Sure, we shouldn't be entertaining the extreme ends of "body positivity", but it's important to understand that the crux of "body positivity" in the first place was to push back against toxicity towards bodies that didn't fit conventional [and arguably, propagandistic] beauty standards.
IMO, a lot of folks seem to miss that our obesity problem (at least in the US) is systemic and that the better approach is to incentivize good habits and relationships with food than to punish bad ones (the latter, far too many seem to fantasize over...).
Re: Super Nintendo World's Mario Kart Ride Has A "Waistline" Limit (US)
@SwitchplayerJohn It was a half-joke, but I sincerely believe just about any motivation that gets one to finally take that step is a million times more valid and effective than any amount of shame, ridicule, or bullying- sorry, I mean "tough love".
Hope you can reach your goal in time!
Re: Super Nintendo World's Mario Kart Ride Has A "Waistline" Limit (US)
@victordamazio I mean... obviously being a jerk to overweight people isn't the exact same as other terrible -phobic, -ists, or -isms, but lets not pretend our society hasn't warped the perception of "health" by tying it near-exclusively to a number on the scale to the point where people have eating disorders or confidence issues (even after losing weight), or the fact that the sugar industry successfully campaigned to convince people that "fat" in food is the culprit to obesity, or the fact that an entire industry surrounding "weight loss" that profits off of selling magic bullets.
We can call out multiple screwed up things in the world without acting like they're equal terrible across the board.
Re: Super Nintendo World's Mario Kart Ride Has A "Waistline" Limit (US)
@Gbdub209 She's not saying obesity isn't a health concern, but that some people act like jerks towards overweight folks by pretending they care about the people in question, much less the core issue.
Basically, it's the fallacy where a person only looks at a societal/systemic issue through a binary lens and a bias of "rugged individualism", to justify their apathy or ignorance. It's ultimately unproductive, and even counterproductive (as the extreme ends of "body positivity" are a push-back against toxic rhetoric towards overweight people).
Re: Super Nintendo World's Mario Kart Ride Has A "Waistline" Limit (US)
Reasons to get fit and lose weight:
Re: Zelda: A Link To The Past Artwork "Brought To Life" In Absolutely Stunning Animation
Regarding this guy's works and the small mention in the article, definitely check out Mao Mao.
It's a fun contemporary cartoon that was cut in its prime due to higher-up shenanigans. But for what does exist, it's such a great balance of comedy and action with a lot of heart and equally great voice work!
Re: PSA: You Can Download A Free Sonic Frontiers Demo From Japan's eShop
@EliJapan Not that the time limit couldnt be longer, but a demo in the first place shows way more confidence than any game that doesnt have a demo. Not that it's inherently a sign of confidence either...
Also, the DQ11 example is kinda funny because it is undeniably generous, but you dont really need 10 hours to know if a game is for you or not. The purpose of that much time is to create a sunk cost effect where you're more likely to buy the game explicitly because you've sunk too many hours into the story and progress to "let it go to waste". This goes for every game that hypes up "You can carry your demo save to the real game!"
Re: Sonic Frontiers Director Excited About Next Game, Promises Even "Greater" Experience
Being this far removed from Frontiers' release, I can say that I walked away from the experience feeling way better about the future of Sonic than I did before I booted Frontiers up. It may be rougher around the edges compared to games like Lost World and Forces, but it's probably the most sincere fun I've had in a 3D Sonic game since Unleashed (and Generations).
I feel like Sonic is at his best when the franchise is taken a bit more seriously than just meme and nostalgia fodder. And so long as the same passionate people keep leading the charge [and Sega gives them a proper development schedule], I have no doubt Sonic will return to being a force to be reckoned with when the next mainline title rolls around.
Re: Monster Hunter Rise Is No Longer A Nintendo Switch Console Exclusive
I definitely get that cross-play would require a ton of footwork, but I still dont get how cross-saves wouldnt be feasible. Especially if they're gonna make the effort to make the games playable on other consoles anyway.
This is one of the few games I would've loved to double-dip on, but there's no way I'm starting from zero again unless I lose my Switch save file.
Re: PSA: This Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Cheat Code Allows You To Access "Secret" Save Backups
I dont know whether this is a generous QoL decision or a cynical workaround.
It's a nice feature, regardless, but is undercut by the fact that Game Freak usually isnt this nice about save files.
Re: Random: Fakemon Artist Details The Recipe For What Pokémon Should Look Like
I feel so vindicated to hear another artist actually gets it!
Also, the "2-4 colors" and "moderate level of detail" suggestions are just nice character design rules beyond Pokemon. Comics and animations are already tedious work (especially if you're indie). The last thing you need is to add over-designed characters or creatures to the mix in most cases.
Re: New Sonic Prime Trailer Sees Shadow Join The Multiverse Action
Man, I really wish they led with this trailer (or at least showed this sooner). I'm way more invested now!
I know the point of earlier teasers is to tease, but it's not the best PR move where we've known this show has been in development for years, and we're only NOW getting an idea of its tone and pacing less than a month from release.
Re: Review: Lunistice - A 32-Bit Platforming Dream That Gives Sonic A Serious Run For His Money
Ever since hearing the news of a Switch release date, I've definitely been keeping my eyes on this game. And having bought it Day-1, I can say it's a really nice time!
It has its share of challenging platforming, but the experience feels "comfy" if that makes any sense.
Re: Sonic Frontiers' New 'Showdown' Trailer Is Just The Thing To Get You Hyped
I'll admit, this trailer took me from "I'll get it when I get it" to "Legitimately looking forward to it" levels of hype.
Regardless of how this game turns out, Sega/Sonic Team has been doing a solid job prioritizing ambition and sincerity over nostalgia and memes as of late. Both can work in tandem, but the latter can become a crutch if you lack the former.
Re: Never-Before-Seen Bomberman Hero Design Docs Appear Online
Never thought I'd be hearing anything new about Bomberman Hero in 2022! Honestly, I still can't believe it's the only Bomberman of that play style after all these years.
Re: Netflix's Sonic Prime Will Premiere Just In Time For Christmas
I really hope this new teaser trailer gives a bit more insight into the actual plot of the series, because despite all the promotional material and marketing, it's wild that we STILL kinda don't know anything beyond surface-level details and familiar faces (though great that Rouge and Big are being included).
Like, it's been a bit tough to get hyped, because there's just so little to chew on unless you were already sold on the sole prospect of a new Sonic cartoon itself.
Re: Feature: How Do Game Developers And Artists Feel About The Rise Of AI Art?
It's gotten hard to get excited about new tech like this, because it feels like too many tech bros try to sneak the end goals of profit incentives in a Trojan horse. Add to that, it's once again artists (and general creativity) being exploited; the NFT fad and everything that came from that wasnt that long ago.
The side of "fun", "accessibility", or how it'll "PuSH aRt tO NeW heiGhTS!!" are grossly undercut and overshadowed by the amount of opportunists waiting in the wings to cash in, and especially the bigger companies that salivate over the idea of not having to pay for labor any way they can.
If nothing else in this discourse, it's to be aware of who's arguing in good faith Vs. those trying to smooth talk their way to a path of least resistance. The guy with no emotional investment in art or artists trying to argue that "Art is subjective!" and leave the debate at that probably isnt working in anyone's best interest...
Re: Poll: So, What Do You Think Of Mario's New Look?
I dont hate it, but the initial look does feel a few degrees off. But that's because Nintendo doesnt mess with Mario's 3D model too drastically aside from a new coat of paint every few years.
I'm just relieved Chris Pratt's voice "works", if they really had to rob Charles Martinet of his rightful role (not trying to rag on Chris, obviously).
Re: Pokémon Scarlet And Violet Reveals Farigiraf, The Evolution Of Girafarig
As someone who low-key likes the concept of Girafarig, I'm here for this [long-overdue] evolution. The design is definitely weird, but doesnt feel any weirder/creepier than having a second, questionably sentient head for a tail.
Heck, it just looks like it's wearing an elaborate mask, really.
Re: Review: Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival - A Solid Entry That Marches To A Familiar Beat
Part of me wonders if there'll eventually be a F2P version of TnT that's just for the subscription itself?
So long as the price was right (it's alright, but could be better), fans like me were likely already attracted to the idea of accessing 500+ songs with monthly updates without the $50 entry fee.
Re: Masahiro Sakurai Has Launched His Own YouTube Channel About Creating Games
Given his work ethic and dedication (which I've respected since Brawl), it cant be understated how invaluable it'll be that he's doing something like this. And for free, no less!
I also love that the comment sections for the 3 videos so far are also substantial and sincere, for the most part. Kinda just nice to see a place not immediately fall towards jokes, memes, game begging, and trolling like a certain bird app.
Re: Review: Cult Of The Lamb - Animal Crossing Goes Bad In This Satisfyingly Stressful Sim
Despite the surface-level blasphemy of this game, it honestly feels like the least offensive depiction of cults and religion I think I've ever seen in video games.
I was expecting it to be way more cheeky or cynical (as most fiction about cults are), but it plays itself pretty straight in tone and dialogue to an almost nuanced degree. Because the baseline of this game is that "The world is ruled by higher beings powered by faith," the only question to ask is if you want to be a benevolent leader or a rutheless one?
Re: Godzilla Looks For Love In 'Kaichu: The Kaiju Dating Sim', Coming To Switch Soon
As someone who normally couldnt care less about dating sims, the premise of this one definitely has my attention.
Re: Review: Surfin' Sam - Attack of the Aqualites (Wii U eShop)
@KeeperBvK It's been almost 6 years since the game released, and it was already a soft promise that I'd give my impressions.
From what I can recall, it wasnt that great of a game. Definitely not broken, but not one I cared to see to the end. Still, gotta give props to them releasing a functionable game at all and sharing free codes to strangers.
Re: Bandai Namco Asks Digimon Survive Players To Not Spoil The Story For Others
I think the risk of spoilers is especially dependent on the community in question. Some are AMAZING at respecting the unspoken, arbitrary window (sometimes for years). Others suck at it to a point where you'd think they were doing it out of spite (especially for media that's facing fan backlash at the time).
Whether or not people adhere to this, I think it's smart for the official Digimon account to get ahead of the nature of the internet by nudging folks towards a middle ground, rather than threaten strikes or takedowns.
Re: Talking Point: What Are The Nintendo Switch's Defining Moments (So Far)?
Re-watching the first trailer hits me with both a wave of nostalgia (5+ years already??), but also a cool reminder of just how big a deal a system like this still is. Despite the "hybrid" novelty sort of running its course, it still remains as practical as ever, and there's yet to be a competitor that balances the concept as well as the Switch.
Going from Docked-to-Handheld is a given, but Tabletop mode is such an underrated feature. And the versatility of just two Joy-Cons (that can natively attach to the console, no less!) still remains unmatched.
Re: Review: Coromon - A Charming Pokémon-Style Quest To Catch All Of 'Em
@EarthboundBenjy Honestly, for anyone crazy enough to try and take on Pokemon (and even anyone who's not trying), it cant be understated how important a bit of multimedia can be.
For Pokemon, the games might be the bread and butter, but the anime (and comics) did its share of heavy lifting getting people on board. I'd argue this also went the same for Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Medabots, Bakugan, Beyblade, Yo-Kai Watch, and even non-creature collecting/battle shows. The low barrier of entry gave folks a chance to get invested in their respective worlds, concept, and/or characters.
Now, not every indie dev has the budget or means for a bunch of 11 to 22-minute animated episodes, BUT they should at least consider internet shorts or comics. It's all about getting your voice and identity out there; show that your game with all these characters actually has character.
Re: Mario Strikers: Battle League Update Adds Daisy, Shy Guy, And More
I dont exactly hate this approach, and I get why Nintendo does it (it ideally keeps people coming back)... but man, Daisy of any character should've been in from the get-go.
I dont think she's missed a party or sports game since Mario Tennis 64, so bringing her late to the party feels more frustrating than exciting.
Re: Bayonetta 3 Has A "Naive Angel Mode" For People Who Don't Want To See Bums
@victordamazio That's not usually how it works for these kinds of games. The non-optional censorship tends to happen during localization/development, and usually for games where the target audience in another country skews younger (E to Teen); the rare exception being if something takes an M-rated game to AO.
Bayonetta's already an M-rated series where being "sacri-licious" is a major point of it. There's little reason to believe having this option is gonna lead to some reality where Platinum/Nintendo is gonna go all in to protecting puritanical sensibilities in a series where a sexy witch fights angels, demons, and everything in between.
Re: Learn How To Run Your Own Successful Murder Cult In New 'Cult Of The Lamb' Trailer
Ironically, what makes this game feel so uncanny is less the cute and cheeky sacrilege, and more the fact that cult stuff hits a bit too close to home in this current climate. I can only imagine where the creator(s) of this game took inspiration from.
That said, the style and tone has me morbidly curious enough to see where the game goes.
Re: Soapbox: Why Do We Talk About Games By Comparing Them To Other Games?
I definitely respect the necessity of brevity. I think it's just a personally cynical issue where hearing games be explicitly referred to a brand makes me feel like it'll be an inferior rendition, and ultimately redundant.
But this might be that I was always taught that if you're trying to sell people on things, to never market yourself too hard as an alternative or competitor to an already popular thing, because a lot of people will think, "Why do I need something like X when I already have X?" in a lot of cases.
I feel the direct referrals work best in elaboration, super niche concepts (Souls-like), targeted audiences, or if there's been a years-long gap to a long-dormant playstyle. But otherwise, I feel like mentioning a game by their core mechanics/genres are a better way to pique interest without banking its reception on a familiar brand. Everyone knows "Platform fighter" effectively means "Smash-like", yet avoids the trappings of having to live up to Smash Bros.' expectations.
Re: Random: Don't Expect To See Sonic Kissing Anymore Humans, Says Sega
This is not the best hill to die on, but I've grown to dislike how played up that particular controversy is.
Like, I get the inherent and aesthetical weirdness of it... but I feel the worst part of it was being a cliche and unearned trope, not that an anthropomorphic, talking hedgehog was kissed by a human.
And I say this as someone who also would rather not see Sonic kiss another human in my lifetime.
Re: Relax, The Sonic Frontiers Preview Footage Is From An "Early Build"
@Axecon What doesn't help is that Sega has a habit of saying they'll do better with Sonic, only for their latest game to be mediocre at best, and busted at worst.
Generations was arguably the last true win for the guy, and Forces -while not a broken mess like Boom or '06- spread itself too thin to be something more amazing, had they just honed in on one or two of the 3 play styles.
Sega's ironically in the best position with expectations being so low, as they have nowhere to go but up for a lot of us. And I'll even say I'm cautiously optimistic about Frontiers. Just give me a decent playground with good controls to mess around in, and anything else about the game would be a bonus, personally.
Re: Feature: Inclusivity, Frogs, And Petting Dogs - Wholesome Games On What It Means To Be "Wholesome"
@jrt87 I think it's more a matter of these types of games being willing to appeal to certain niches or lean into certain subject matter (and especially representation) that your usual AAA games may not often do in their attempts to appeal to a broad audience... or cynically, not scare away safe money.
I think it's entirely possible to not be able to relate, while respecting that folks like these games for their own reasons, if it harms no one. The Dooms, MKs, and Danganronpas arent going anywhere in light of these.
Re: Konami Terminating Super Bomberman R Online, Will Move Forward With "New Projects"
Wow, that's unfortunate, but I guess not entirely surprising. I definitely would've played more, but the time it took to get into matches just took longer than I would've liked...
I do like the sound of them at least trying to keep the IP alive with new projects, though. I personally wasnt crazy about Bomberman being hard tied to a supporting cast of one-note archetypes, so hopefully they'll scale that aspect back and flesh out the few characters he does interact with.
(Also, more Louie representation, please and thanks!)
Re: Random: You Can Now Play As A Squirrel In Nintendo Switch Sports
Considering the squirrel body blinks and emotes in-game, it's more likely that that's not a suit...
Of course, the obvious question is: What does this mean for the weeks coming? Like, will we get more animals, or will they get more wilder than that? (Robots, slime, mummy, Nintendo costumes, etc.)
Re: Random: "Chunky Cute Aesthetic" In New Pixar Movie 'Turning Red' Influenced By Nintendo Games
@PikaPhantom This is more shouting into the ether, but I swear the term "CalArts" has been one of the most poisonous and derivative words in the animation discourse in the last 10 years.
Both in the fact that it's rarely ever said in a positive context, (its original intention was to lambaste a Disney-like style at the time; coined by the creator of Red & Stimpy), but also because it's far too convenient of a term that often undermines a piece of media's entire art direction (and animation efforts) because of, usually, the use of a mouth shape. /rant
Re: Random: "Chunky Cute Aesthetic" In New Pixar Movie 'Turning Red' Influenced By Nintendo Games
Already saw it and loved it way more than I thought I would (speaking as someone who went into it blind). It was surprisingly grounded, given its fantastical premise. Which was great, as that's a particular niche that's not played with enough in media.
Also, the art direction grew on me so much, I just went and bought the art book the moment the credits hit.
(I also cant get "Nobody Like U" out of my head for the past month...)
Re: Kirby Shopping Bag Now Available As North American My Nintendo Reward
@DeathByLasagna If it error'd, you might be able to try again. IIRC, sometimes the page will say that shortly before allowing you to try and add to your cart again.