Comments 1,143

Re: Poll: What's The Best 3D Mario Game?

Euler

@Ghostchip I think there's more to it than that. A lot of risk-taking experimental games are widely regarded and hold up well - Metroid Prime, Wind Waker (the game itself was a mistake, it sold very badly because its art style didn't have the right appeal, but it's still appreciated gameplay-wise), Galaxy, Odyssey, Breath of the Wild. Others not so much (Metroid Other M). To name a few:

  • The structure and progression is off. Sunshine is marketed as an open-world game, yet is arguably the most linear of the home console 3D Marios. In 64, Galaxy, and Odyssey you can play the stars in pretty much any order you want (some parts are gated behind Bowser fights, grand stars and whatnot). You just need a certain number to reach the final boss, and every star will contribute to that total. A power star is a power star. It's a lot like Breath of the Wild, which takes things to the extreme in that you need to complete only a brief tutorial before you can go to the final boss, but everything you collect makes you more powerful in a way (directly or indirectly helping you accomplish your ultimate goal). In Sunshine, there are 51 specific shine sprites you need (the first one, the final boss, and the first 7 episodes in each course) to reach the end credits. All others are necessary only for 100% completion (every shine sprite is either mandatory or optional), devaluing them and making them seem pointless. Miyamoto has said this was a mistake.
  • Too many red coin and blue coin-based shines (the blue coins are hidden in obscure places and are episode-specific to make it worse). 48 in total, 40% of the game's total shine sprites.
  • FLUDD isn't a good substitute for traditional power-ups, and Yoshi is more frustrating than fun or useful.
  • The difficult parts are that way because of bad controls or camera (false difficulty). Watermelon level, pachinko machine, lilypad ride (which follows the Yoshi boat sequence), etc.
  • It's common knowledge that the game was rushed (it epitomizes the Miyamoto quote that a delayed game is good eventually but a rushed game is bad forever), and Miyamoto recommended people play it for 3 days before making up their minds. As the saying goes, when you're explaining you're losing.

It's not to say that it's all bad. There are a lot of fun parts and the setting is unique and varied (the haunted hotel/casino stands out for me, though it's not as spooky as the haunted levels in 64, Galaxy, etc). Still the weakest of the series though.

Re: Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2 Collector's Edition Listing Appears On Retailer Website

Euler

@Jack_Goetz Yeah, the lack of hype is the biggest argument against it. That and delays due to COVID. On the other hand, if there really is going to be a big holiday title it will be something that hasn't been hyped at all this year. And something that we've actually heard of is a better bet than something we haven't. So it's not completely hopeless, but it's more likely not to happen. Which is why I wouldn't give it more than a 25% chance.

Re: Video: The Switch Is A Wii U Port Machine, And That's A Good Thing

Euler

Also, the argument about how ports don’t stop them from making new games holds even less water now (not that it ever held much, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe means they won’t be making a Mario Kart 9 for example) because they’re releasing fewer games now than they did during the Wii U/3DS era (which we’re told was a game drought) even if you don’t exclude the ports. The numbers don’t lie.

Re: Here Are The Top Ten Best-Selling Nintendo Switch Games As Of June 2020

Euler

Bundling is kind of a chicken or egg thing. Nintendo packs games in with their consoles because they know they're E ticket games that sell very well. Most people who buy the console would buy them anyway, and they can be considered system sellers or killer apps. If Nintendo had launched the Switch with Pikmin 4 bundled in, the game still wouldn't have sold as well as Mario Kart (and the bundle likely would've quickly been replaced with something else).

Re: Here Are The Top Ten Best-Selling Nintendo Switch Games As Of June 2020

Euler

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is actually an outlier. It’s underselling Mario Kart Wii by 11 million, despite being a launch title, while other top tier games are already at the top of their respective series. A Mario Kart 9, which won’t ever happen on the Switch now, would’ve sold far more. Animal Crossing will hopefully soon outsell it as well.

Re: Pikmin 3 Deluxe Officially Announced For Switch, Includes All DLC And New Content

Euler

@COVIDberry As I've said elsewhere, I'd have more sympathy for the "tough time" argument if they'd just come clean and tell us that they're having trouble because of COVID, need to keep their employees safe and healthy. Then say that some games will be delayed to 2021 but actually announce them, show trailers, have real release dates, etc. Empty virtue-signalling about how everything is fine and they plan to support the Switch for years to come isn't that.