Comments 143

Re: Random: These 3D Concepts Have Us Dreaming Of A Nindie amiibo Line

GrizzledVeteran

@ShadJV
Hi ShadJV,
I hope you're right. And your points about already having the sprites makes total sense.

However I'm not talking about the 15 minute direct. I'm referring to all the marketing material present in Japan: In all other games, the Amiibo logo is/was present, including in titles as recent as Yoshi's Crafted World, Toad Treasure Tracker, Smash Ultimate, etc.

However it is noticeably absent for Mario Maker 2 in all of their marketing material (where it usually is in games that have it.)

Again, I hope I'm wrong, but current evidence points to the glass being half empty.

Why omit the Amiibo logo? Is it an oversight? I doubt it.

Again, I hope you're right and my instincts are wrong. Time will tell.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/258608-super-mario-maker-2/77684845#3

Re: Random: These 3D Concepts Have Us Dreaming Of A Nindie amiibo Line

GrizzledVeteran

@forgottenarctic

Exactly. Besides Smash and the Shovel Knight 3-Pack (that was announced eons ago), I'm not aware of any new Amiibo in the pipeline.

I hope I'm wrong, but if there aren't any new Amiibo announcements at E3 (to accompany any upcoming 1st party games), I assume Nintendo is phasing out Amiibo entirely.

Luigi's Mansion 3, Animal Crossing, Pokemon Sword & Shield, Mario Maker 2, etc.. Will there be any Amiibo functionality or new products for these games?

Any Amiibo announced for Dragon Quest XI? Surely if Dark Souls got an Amiibo, DQ would get one too if Amiibo were still a thing.

Unfortunately, I think Amiibo as a product are on their way out. It was fun while it lasted, and I'll enjoy them finishing off the Smash line (Can't wait to get Simon Belmont). But it's winding down for sure.

Re: Random: These 3D Concepts Have Us Dreaming Of A Nindie amiibo Line

GrizzledVeteran

Mario Maker for Wii U had one of the best implementations of Amiibo.

The fact that there doesn't seem to be any Amiibo support mentioned for Mario Maker 2 should be a clear indication:

Amiibo are finished.

Besides finishing off the Smash line and some other odds & ends (Shovel Knight 3-pack), I don't foresee any more Amiibo.

I hope I'm wrong! I hope E3 will reveal a new "Luigi's Mansion" Amiibo. Or a "Builder Mario" Amiibo. But I doubt it.

Re: Video: 19 Secret Details Hidden In The Super Mario Maker 2 Direct Presentation

GrizzledVeteran

@Euler Amiibo implementation in the Wii U's Mario Maker was an amazing feature, and one of the best uses of Amiibo in my opinion. I absolutely loved unlocking that pixel art (and the corresponding, character-specific sound effects).
I wonder why I'm not seeing many Nintendo websites mention this feature being dropped in all of their detailed previews and Nintendo-Direct analysis.
I'm thrilled with what I've seen of Mario Maker 2 and can't wait to purchase it. And the sheer amount of features and content are astounding. However you'd think gaming journalists would bring this up, especially since these are Nintendo-specific sites and we can assume many readers actually owned the Wii U version of Mario Maker.

Re: Wolfenstein: Youngblood Might Come With A Download Code Instead Of A Game Card

GrizzledVeteran

This console generation is a long, slow, transition from physical to all digital. We're kinda in the "in-between" and it's a little bit jarring.

For fans of physical games, options are fewer and far between, with the rise of small-time outlets like "Limited Run Games" supplying the (steadily declining) demand for physical games. I expect this corner of the industry will be gone if/when the next round of consoles come to market as digital-only devices (no disc drives, etc.).

I don't expect Gamestop to be around in 5 years. They're hemorrhaging money and struggling to stay relevant in the world of gaming.

Not a fan of putting codes in boxes. Seems half-baked.

Re: Limited Run Games Is Working On A 3DS Physical Release

GrizzledVeteran

I would love either Moon Chronicles or 80s Overdrive (the "Horizon Chase Turbo" of the 3DS).

Based on how fast the Wii U version of Axiom Verge sold out last Friday on Limited Run's website (only 6000 copies available worldwide), I'm guessing whatever they put out for 3DS will sell out quickly.

Re: Pokémon Sword And Shield Revealed For Nintendo Switch, New Starters Shown

GrizzledVeteran

I have never been a Pokemon fan (always liked the look of it, but just never got into it).

However with two kids aged 5 and 7, I decided to get "Let's Go Pikachu" for Christmas in the hopes that my kids would get into Pokemon.

Needless to say, they played it once or twice. I wanted to return it just based on the awful controls and lack of Pro-Controller support. NOT a good first impression. Granted my 7 year old got all 120 shrines in Breath of the Wild so this game was "too kiddy" even for him.

I'm going to consider Sword and Shield as a "soft reset" in my attempts to get my young kids into Pokemon. This looks MUCH more promising.

Looking forward to "trying again" next Christmas.

Re: Feature: What Reggie-Fils-Aimé Meant To Nintendo, The Games Industry, And All Of Us

GrizzledVeteran

I prefer the Reggie we had in the early days, before Nintendo forced him to tone it down and become the PR spinning BS artist he became. Any interview with Reggie post 2006 was just hot air and no substance. Every one of his "non answers" to questions always began with the eye-roll inducing "what I can tell you" just prior to NOT answering any questions, but instead regurgitating some pre-approved corporate bullet points.

Don't get me wrong. He's a great guy, successful career, great family man and all that.

However I just finished reading an interview with him from a 2005 Electronic Gaming Monthly. NOBODY here would recognize Reggie Fils-Aime as the person being interviewed. He was direct, brutally honest, frequently said "Sh!t" and "Damn", etc. I don't think the swearing is a good thing in and of itself, but it does speak to the fact he used to be a completely different company representative. This was before he became censored by corporate (I'm only assuming this happened given his complete shift in tone shortly afterwards).

I wish him best in his retirement and will always associate him with some great years for Nintendo. However my guess it that 30 minutes and a glass of beer with Reggie would be far more interesting and insightful than the endless spin we've been fed for over a decade.

Cheers.

EDIT: Just got the magazine I had referenced back off the shelf:
Electronic Gaming Monthly issue 192, June, 2005

Reggie used to be refreshingly honest and an exciting rep:
"Metroid Prime: Hunters kicks ass. Eight-person Mario Kart kicks ass. Advance Wars, based on what I've seen kicks ass. There's a reason Microsoft loses a shitload of money on every system they sell today. We're pushing the envelope in making sure all of our products look sexy. GBA SP is a sexy device. DS is a sexy device. But we also have great games for my 9-year-old little girl."

Just seems like he used to be the kinda guy you could get a straight answer from.

Re: Feature: Whatever Happened To The Sega-Style Racer '90s Super GP?

GrizzledVeteran

Thanks for posting this Mr. McFerran.

I'm also curious about "Racing Apex". It also seems to be in development limbo. I've really been looking forward to both 90s Super GP and Racing Apex.

At least we got Horizon Chase Turbo!

Also: "although we are led to believe that those who crowdfunded the game initially have been offered full refunds by Nicalis"

Can anyone (former backers, etc?) confirm this?

Re: More Than One Million People Have Now Played Yooka-Laylee

GrizzledVeteran

Haven't played it yet. I held out for a physical release and my "Limited Run Games" copy should be shipping sometime in December.

I agree with Moroboshi876 above: It would be nice if there was a proper retail release for this title (not website exclusive or small batches at Best Buy, etc.).

Regarding my expectations: I played through both Banjos back when they released for the N64. I LOVED those games. But I played through both of them to completion in the past year (on Rare Replay on Xbox). I believe by doing so, I've tempered my expectations appropriately. That is, the Banjos were great games, but they are by no means "perfect" like my rose-tinted nostalgic glasses had me believing before my recent playthroughs... The original Banjo especially had a fantastic atmosphere that I doubt can be re-captured. Heck, Banjo-Tooie couldn't (in my humble opinion).

Now with my expectations in check and more realistic, I will hopefully enjoy Yooka-Laylee for what it is.

Re: Feature: Dark Horse On Creating The Ultimate Companion To The World Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

GrizzledVeteran

I purchased both special editions.

The Black "Champions Edition": In the US, it's only available at Gamestop as far as I can tell. Not sure why or for how long. Gamestop's website lists it as a "Summer Convention Exclusive 2018". It is truly a sight to behold. Big, heavy, and impressive in every way.

The Blue "Hero's Edition": I got this one on Amazon and it's also gorgeous. I'm so glad they went with the blue/Link theme for this book.

Funny enough, I had also ordered the standard (white) edition but it came banged up in the mail so I sent it back. Dark Horse does an excellent job of safely packing their special editions. They come in their own custom cardboard boxes to avoid any damage. However the standard edition just came loose in a box. Two of the corners were very damaged.

Keep these great Nintendo-related books coming Dark Horse!

Oh and thanks for the fantastic interview Nintendolife.

Re: Feature: Castlevania Season 2 Review: Drac's Back In A Vastly Superior Second Series

GrizzledVeteran

Season 1 had me on the edge of my seat, enjoying every precious second, and dreading the fact that it was about to end. Season 2.... I think I'm still processing it. I was definitely frustrated with all the vampire politics taking place while the heroes spent so much time in the Belmont basement. Everything was well done (including improvements in the music like Mr. McFerran mentioned). And while I actually own and have beaten Curse of Darkness (multiple times), I just couldn't enjoy the addition of Isaac and Hector. Their stories just didn't click with me. Especially in the context of deep castle intrigue. With all the politicking and lobbying, I felt like I was watching Un-Dead C-Span for a while. I think I'm sounding harsher than I'm intending to. I still enjoyed these segments somewhat... However, I believe a second viewing will iron out some of my reservations. Especially knowing what to look forward to in episodes 6 and 7 (simply amazing). Maybe Isaac and Hector's stories will intrigue me more with another go. As a lifelong Castlevania fan (we named our second son Simon for a reason!) I'm very excited to be living in a time where new Castlevania content (be it TV shows, re-released games, or Vania-inspired kickstarted games) are happening. This season actually inspired me to hook up my old PS2 and fire up both Lament of Innocence and Curse of Darkness. The soundtracks of these games are simply breathtaking. Thanks for the wonderful review Nintendolife.

Re: Soapbox: I'm Secretly Terrified Of An All-Digital Gaming Future

GrizzledVeteran

@UmbreonsPapa I stopped reading after you stated "I've never heard anyone complain about the issue before and I suspect its not that big of a deal."

You have a right to your own opinions, but if you're going to deny or ignore facts and (multiple) specific examples, then it's obvious you have other issues to work on.

Best of luck.

Re: Soapbox: I'm Secretly Terrified Of An All-Digital Gaming Future

GrizzledVeteran

@UmbreonsPapa You haven't heard of the losing cartridges reasoning, yet you're commenting on an article which mentions "annoyance of easily-misplaced carts"? Also, go ahead and google "advantages of going digital games". Click on the first link and scroll down. This is not new. Discs, carts, whatever.

EDIT: Look no further than YASAAL's comment a few down below....

And what am I being presumptuous about exactly?

In fact, you reminded me of another kind of person that "digital only" are good for:
People who don't mind being fleeced: The "benefit" of digital should be savings passed down to the consumer due to less costs to the game companies (manufacturing, printing, shipping, retail space, etc.). I bought Breath of the Wild on Cartridge for $59.99 which I think is a fair price. I'd feel foolish paying the same amount for the digital version.

Re: Soapbox: I'm Secretly Terrified Of An All-Digital Gaming Future

GrizzledVeteran

Going digital is a good choice for some groups of people:
1. Lazy people: People who are too lazy to actually switch out a cartridge (Has Wall-E already become a reality?)
2. People who don't mind renting licenses/not owning what they "purchase".
3. People who aren't good with money. The price of physical drops extremely fast. With backlogs the way they are, why not wait a bit before buying? Most games are cheaper in disc/cartridge form on Amazon than they are on the e-shop before too long (besides Nintendo's "Evergreen" titles.)
4. Highly disorganized people: People often cite "losing cartridges" as a reason to go digital. Sounds like a personal problem.
5. People who aren't good with money (Yep, I'm repeating this one): You can always sell or trade in your physical games. Trading in digital games? Good luck with that.
For organized people who aren't lazy and have good financial sense, the only possible "benefit" of going digital is more gold coins on My Nintendo's terrible "rewards" program. Yay!!!

Re: GameStop Opens Pre-Orders on Samus Edition New Nintendo 3DS XL in the US

GrizzledVeteran

@Captain_Gonru This game is apparently better experienced in 3D. They're pushing it hard and most hands-on previews I've read comment on the amazing 3D and how well it is implemented. A little surprising given Nintendo's move away from 3D (even in their own titles like Hey Pikmin and the upcoming Mario/Luigi Superstar Saga remake).

Given how this game apparently benefits from 3D, I think a 2DS bundle may seem a bit restrictive. Like "Hey, buy this new console even though you can't get the most out of the new game it celebrates." or something like that. Lol.

Re: Talking Point: Learning Lessons From the Past Can Define Nintendo's NX Launch

GrizzledVeteran

@IceClimbers Thank you for your post. I was about to choke on all the garbage Xenocity was saying.

I mean, at one point he says "In every interview with Western developers, they constantly talk down on E-rated games and family friendly games." At best this kind of nonsense could be laughable, but then another poster actually THANKED him for "doing the research." Um... "every interview" and "constantly". Uh-huh. What alternative reality is this? I'm sure those developers are just chomping at the bit to speak to media outlets so they can constantly "talk down" on E-rated games! I mean, I really want to hear about Uncharted 4, but in "every" interview, all Naughty-Dawg doesn't want to promote their product, they just "constantly" trash on all the colorful E-rated family games on the market.

However your post is articulate, to the point, and more importantly... accurate.

Re: Editorial: Nintendo's Next Generation of Experiences Needs to Engage With Our Day-to-Day Lives

GrizzledVeteran

Agree with Fath,

Much of this talk destroys my faith in humanity and its ability to get outside and/or have actual social interactions (see: actual face to face contact with eye contact.) Pull your face out of your device for three seconds.

If I hear "Nintendo" in the same sentence as "daily tech ecosystem" again, I'm going to puke (yeah I know, I'm going to need a lot of puke bags).

I've had great experiences over the years with my Game & Watches, Gameboys, Gameboy Lights (yep, lived in Japan), Gameboy Pockets, Gameboy Colors, Gameboy Advances, Gameboy Advance SPs, Gameboy Micros, Nintendo DSs, DS lites, DSis, 3DS, and NEW 3DSXL. Not once would I need the possibility of a puzzle piece from some random stranger to entice me/remind me to enjoy my device (or even charge it!)

Re: Editorial: Nintendo's Next Generation of Experiences Needs to Engage With Our Day-to-Day Lives

GrizzledVeteran

"our lives are busier, noisier and more crowded than ever before. Many of us own multiple gaming systems, each with their own unique spin or range of games, and our daily lives get swallowed up by work or school and then an entertainment overload in spare time"

"This is the age of box set binging through streaming services, cheap games easily found and downloaded and the constant buzz of the internet, with social media and the broader web rarely quietening down. For many of us our lives are stacked, and time becomes a precious commodity as we figure out how to best spend hours left aside for fun and relaxation"

This author's descriptions are making me want to invest in pharmaceutical companies that specialize in ADHD medications. I don't need or want ANY of the shite mentioned in this editorial any more than I wanted Nintendo to put a VHS player in the SNES to compete with Sega Genesis back in the day.

I have a wife, two sons (5 & 3), full time career, two homes (one residential & one rental), two cars, and a mountain of responsibilities (including my running coach duties). The LAST thing I care about is a Nintendo logo on my smartphone. The FIRST thing that I care about is quality software. I truly hope Nintendo doesn't allocate their resources to intrusive apps when they should be making great games.

And don't tell me about current market place realities. I've been a Nintendo fan wan since Donkey Kong came packed in with my Coleco Vision (see 1982). Nintendo has done, and will continue to do their own thing long after you lose interest or begin drinking the marketing kool-aid of a competing company.

Bonus Tip: Invest in a charging cradle for your 3DS.