I remember the 1993 movie coming out when I was a kid and being utterly confounded as to what I just watched. "Passable" should be fine, which is about what I expect from Illumination.
While the winking may get tiresome, it helps to remember that you may be a huge Nintendo fan and have been for your whole life, the Easter eggs are for your benefit, so enjoy them because you're probably no longer the target audience. I'm sure my kids will enjoy it.
I think the new powers are interesting for the improvisation aspect, which I learned to love in BOTW after I realized I couldn't just bulldoze monsters anymore.
That said, I'm disappointed we didn't see more of the progression mechanics. I actually considered the divine beasts de facto dungeons, so what do we have now? 120 shrines were a fun treasure hunt, but it'd be exhausting to do that again.
BOTW didn't click for me the first time because I charged in with objectives and just wasn't having fun (and getting my rump handed to me in the process). I had a lot more fun later when I appreciated the meandering experimentation and exploration as the core of the gameplay. This definitely checks the experimentation box.
I'm more curious about exploration, and there are a few sky islands but I'm not sure what else we got at this point. I see this as a general positive, but I don't know that I see a revolution in gaming as claimed.
Finally getting to BotW... it was the first Switch game I got but never got too far into it the first time. I was playing in a hurry and that is absolutely not the way to have a good time with it. Enjoying it much better this time around, hit about 25 shrines and I'm just now thinking about Vah Rutah 😀.
My wife also observed that the Koroks are just teaching the youth to walk into fae traps in the name of exploration.
@Rambler this was interesting - Martin Amis is a reasonably big deal in literature now, although I don't know if he was then.
Game novels are definitely still around as a niche genre at least that I think is good to get a certain segment of the youth motivated to read. My son has a bunch of Minecraft books that get him off the Switch.
I remember a Mega Man 2 book when I was a kid pretty fondly. If I were to go back it'd probably be revealed as be glorified licensed fanfic. I do still remember the deviation on Air Man's weakness being noteworthy. Shocking even.
I got Final Fantasy III (VI) and a Super Scope for Christmas as a lad, and the characters always ran from battle with no input. I was inconsolable. After two days I convinced my parents this was not how the game worked and called the Nintendo phone line. The guy who answered said "unplug your Super Scope."
@Kirgo I've worked a few estimates like this, and it was frequently a management issue. If you don't understand the original well enough to make a mod (and even a simple remaster is a mod), you need to take the time to do so or you will almost invariably get in over your head. That activity is sadly frequently viewed as overhead.
Bonus points for being told "we have to do it for $X," to which I usually respond "tell the customer they don't get it then." That should be an acceptable outcome if you're actually looking to make money. Obviously sometimes that doesn't happen, but a bit easier to get the point across working in flight software 😀
Loved the first, it felt how I remembered JRPGs from the 16-bit days. But it's a tough sell to get someone else into a game that really doesn't hint the greater story until 50 hours in and you can easily miss the cohesive narrative if you didn't complete certain side quests.
The original was a big risk, new graphics, different story, with sophisticated battle, and they hit more often than they missed. Refinement is good, I just wish I wasn't crushed under my own backlog.
Since I am a neutral third party, I can definitely say that if your partner does inventory differently they are most certainly wrong. Whether you need to reevaluate your future together is a more personal call 😀
I started with Zero, I'm sold for Azure. Anyone have advice if I should hold out for Cold Steel 1/2 (assuming localization is actually coming) or just get on with it already? I hear the end of 2 and the Crossbell duology have a bit of an intersection but wanted to avoid spoilers.
I'm excited for Reverie but it seems like an odd choice to be so dependent on the NINE PRECEDING GAMES and not yet having them all available in the west. I'm hooked, now shut up and take my money!
I really liked the first one, but it is a seriously tough sell to ask someone to play a game for 50 hours before the story actually starts to emerge. I hope they get to the point a little faster with the second.
Played as Earthbound Zero some time ago. It was cute, but I'd be hard pressed to recommend to anyone who wasn't already big EB fan. Good lord, the grind.
Comments 373
Re: Round Up: The First Impressions Of The Super Mario Bros. Movie Are In
I remember the 1993 movie coming out when I was a kid and being utterly confounded as to what I just watched. "Passable" should be fine, which is about what I expect from Illumination.
While the winking may get tiresome, it helps to remember that you may be a huge Nintendo fan and have been for your whole life, the Easter eggs are for your benefit, so enjoy them because you're probably no longer the target audience. I'm sure my kids will enjoy it.
Re: Poll: What Did You Think Of The New Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Trailer?
I think the new powers are interesting for the improvisation aspect, which I learned to love in BOTW after I realized I couldn't just bulldoze monsters anymore.
That said, I'm disappointed we didn't see more of the progression mechanics. I actually considered the divine beasts de facto dungeons, so what do we have now? 120 shrines were a fun treasure hunt, but it'd be exhausting to do that again.
Re: Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Trailer Gets Creative With Vehicle Building, Fused Weapons
Its... fine. That would be the word I'd use.
BOTW didn't click for me the first time because I charged in with objectives and just wasn't having fun (and getting my rump handed to me in the process). I had a lot more fun later when I appreciated the meandering experimentation and exploration as the core of the gameplay. This definitely checks the experimentation box.
I'm more curious about exploration, and there are a few sky islands but I'm not sure what else we got at this point. I see this as a general positive, but I don't know that I see a revolution in gaming as claimed.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 18th)
Finally getting to BotW... it was the first Switch game I got but never got too far into it the first time. I was playing in a hurry and that is absolutely not the way to have a good time with it. Enjoying it much better this time around, hit about 25 shrines and I'm just now thinking about Vah Rutah 😀.
My wife also observed that the Koroks are just teaching the youth to walk into fae traps in the name of exploration.
Re: Soapbox: Why Aren't There More Books About Games?
@Rambler this was interesting - Martin Amis is a reasonably big deal in literature now, although I don't know if he was then.
Game novels are definitely still around as a niche genre at least that I think is good to get a certain segment of the youth motivated to read. My son has a bunch of Minecraft books that get him off the Switch.
I remember a Mega Man 2 book when I was a kid pretty fondly. If I were to go back it'd probably be revealed as be glorified licensed fanfic. I do still remember the deviation on Air Man's weakness being noteworthy. Shocking even.
Found it!
https://megaman.fandom.com/wiki/Mega_Man_2_(Worlds_of_Power)
Re: Talking Point: Which Gaming Moments Made You Question Your Intelligence?
I got Final Fantasy III (VI) and a Super Scope for Christmas as a lad, and the characters always ran from battle with no input. I was inconsolable. After two days I convinced my parents this was not how the game worked and called the Nintendo phone line. The guy who answered said "unplug your Super Scope."
Re: Talking Point: Why Are So Many Remasters Sub-Par At Launch?
@Kirgo I've worked a few estimates like this, and it was frequently a management issue. If you don't understand the original well enough to make a mod (and even a simple remaster is a mod), you need to take the time to do so or you will almost invariably get in over your head. That activity is sadly frequently viewed as overhead.
Bonus points for being told "we have to do it for $X," to which I usually respond "tell the customer they don't get it then." That should be an acceptable outcome if you're actually looking to make money. Obviously sometimes that doesn't happen, but a bit easier to get the point across working in flight software 😀
Re: Review: Octopath Traveler II - A Confident Follow-Up And One Of Switch's Finest RPGs
Loved the first, it felt how I remembered JRPGs from the 16-bit days. But it's a tough sell to get someone else into a game that really doesn't hint the greater story until 50 hours in and you can easily miss the cohesive narrative if you didn't complete certain side quests.
The original was a big risk, new graphics, different story, with sophisticated battle, and they hit more often than they missed. Refinement is good, I just wish I wasn't crushed under my own backlog.
Re: Gorgeous Chrono Trigger-Inspired RPG 'Sea Of Stars' Get August Release Date, Demo Out Now
This finally answered the question "IS THERE FISHING IN THIS JRPG?"
Yes. Yes, there is fishing,
Re: NIS America To Host 30th Anniversary Livestream Event Next Week
Cold Steel 1/2... can I dream of Trails in the Sky?
Re: Square Enix Survey Asks About Team Asano's Future Games
Illusion of Gaia! It was a delightfully odd game that gave me a few places I want to see before I die.
Terranigma too.
Re: Soapbox: Playing Games With Other People Made Me Realise That I'm A Monster
Since I am a neutral third party, I can definitely say that if your partner does inventory differently they are most certainly wrong. Whether you need to reevaluate your future together is a more personal call 😀
Re: The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Into Reverie Launches On Nintendo Switch July 2023
I started with Zero, I'm sold for Azure. Anyone have advice if I should hold out for Cold Steel 1/2 (assuming localization is actually coming) or just get on with it already? I hear the end of 2 and the Crossbell duology have a bit of an intersection but wanted to avoid spoilers.
I'm excited for Reverie but it seems like an odd choice to be so dependent on the NINE PRECEDING GAMES and not yet having them all available in the west. I'm hooked, now shut up and take my money!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (December 17th)
Started Tales of Vesperia on a whim, my backlog is imposing and I'm not sure why but this seemed like the time.
The new tracks in MK8 running as well
Re: Deals: Nintendo Offers Up To 86% Discounts In Critically Acclaimed Partner Sale (US)
Y'all hit on a bunch, but if you haven't played Undertale, now is as good a time as any to give it a whirl.
Re: Octopath Traveler II Is 90% Complete According To Square Enix
I really liked the first one, but it is a seriously tough sell to ask someone to play a game for 50 hours before the story actually starts to emerge. I hope they get to the point a little faster with the second.
Re: Atlus Wants To Know If You Would Like More Nintendo Switch Games
No thank you, I'd prefer a non canon musou version of the games people actually want to play on other platforms.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 19th)
Still haven't done a Golden Deer route in Fire Emblem Three Houses. Lorenz might have a tragic accident early in the campaign.
Re: Review: EarthBound Beginnings - A Charming Curio That Mother Fans Will Cherish
Played as Earthbound Zero some time ago. It was cute, but I'd be hard pressed to recommend to anyone who wasn't already big EB fan. Good lord, the grind.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (October 10th)
Working on the Origami King. Got it for my daughter and I ended up playing it more than her
Re: UK Charts: Super Mario 3D All-Stars Remains On Top For A Second Week
Hype aside, my 7 year old loves Mario 64, and my 9 year old is owning Galaxy. Worth it from what I've seen.
Re: Animal Crossing: New Horizons Is Now Japan's Second Best-Selling Game Ever
@SoManyHaveDied because Harv is a creepy dude, feeling the love of the universe or not.
Re: Review: Hello Neighbor (Switch)
My kids bought into it and I got it on sale. Agree it looks and plays like garbage, but the kids are having a blast.
I don't understand youth these days.