Grumblevolcano

Endless Ocean, Sea of Stars and TTYD. April is completely empty for me though a Direct could change that and I have more than enough to play even if one doesn’t happen.

Decided to start Tomb Raider 2 and then continue with Unicorn Overlord after I’ve beaten it or things get too annoying. I remember a ship level I found very hard when I was younger.

I had a lot of fun with the 3DS and Wii U over the years. Fortunately the damage is somewhat reduced given all those Wii U ports to Switch and that's somewhat starting to happen on the 3DS side like MK8 Deluxe has a fair amount of tracks that appeared in MK7 and LM2 is incoming but it's still sad to see those systems further coming to an end.

My biggest hope at this point regarding 3DS/Wii U online is that Splatoon 3 rescues Urchin Underpass and Saltspray Rig (the 2 missing Splatoon 1 stages) at some point before Splatoon 3 support ends.

I prefer TotK though both pale in comparison to the linear Zeldas like Twilight Princess and Wind Waker.

@Zeebor15 N64 is all done. The September 2021 Direct batch was completed in June 2022 (July 2022 for Japan), the September 2022 Direct batch was completed in December 2023 and Blast Corps was a shadow drop announcement in the February 2024 Partner Showcase.

Outside of 1 Japan exclusive GB game, the February 2023 Direct NSO batch is now fully complete. So the future of NSO is pretty much completely unknown at this point which gives more hope to an April Direct.

@Not_Soos I think there's something causing SEGA to avoid the Dreamcast as a whole. If I recall correctly, the only Dreamcast games that have been released post-2013 were Shenmue remasters for PS4/XB1 in 2018.

Princess Peach Showtime and Splatoon 3 for the Splatfest.

At the top for me would be XCX, closely followed by the other Wii U games and the rest of the Prime trilogy. Considering games that aren't on that list, I'd really like to see a 2nd Tomb Raider remaster collection. I'm really enjoying the Tomb Raider 1-3 remaster collection but have more nostalgia with The Last Revelation and Chronicles.

DLC is a very good replacement for a 3rd version and in the case of Sword/Shield, you even got physical copy with base game + DLC all on the cart.

I'd say this should also apply to Atlus games like SMTV Vengeance should've been a DLC expansion for SMTV and the physical version being for those who want base game + DLC on the cart.

I like Nintendo's approach to the remasters/remakes for Switch except the whole 3D All Stars type mess where it's delisted soon after launch and the whole Famicom Detective Club type mess where there's no physical version.

It feels like what's best for a remaster/remake depends on the game or the franchise so like NSMB would be best as a collection containing the DS, Wii and 3DS (all DLC included) entries. Naturally in that example, the Luigi gambling minigames in the DS game would have to disappear to keep the age rating reasonable but that's a better outcome than the DS game never coming to a current or future Nintendo platform.

I'd guess they're waiting for event season. The 1st collection got announced in May Playstation Showcase and then got announced for Switch in June Nintendo Direct so I figure another Playstation Showcase will be the source of 2nd collection announcement.

Given that PS5 is currently barren on the PS Studios side of things after Stellar Blade in late April and PS5 Pro needs to be announced, I'd guess Sony will do Playstation Showcase in Spring again.

Originally I thought that maybe the final bonus spirit event timing was to set up a reveal for the future of Smash nearby whatever that may be. Like how Splatoon 2's final bonus Splatfest (the Mario powerup one with Mushroom vs. Star) set up for Splatoon 3 reveal the following month.

Seems like the timing was to coincide with Princess Peach Showtime's release. I hope there's a Tetris 99 event and Switch icons for that game too.

Used to be a tie between Sunshine and 3D World but when the Switch port came out, 3D World took the lead for me due to the extra content (Bowser's Fury).

I feel 3D World essentially perfects "2D Mario in 3D" gameplay meanwhile Bowser's Fury is a nice change of pace with more exploratory gameplay.

If you include spinoffs however, MK8 Deluxe is at the top. Pretty much the only way you can improve on that game is to add more tracks.

I finished Tomb Raider 1 and its DLC (Unfinished Business) a few days ago so given Princess Peach Showtime and Splatfest are next week, I chose to start Pocket Card Jockey as it seems a suitable pick to fill in the time gap.

I've noticed the update improved the framerate of classic graphics mode, it's much smoother now.

@TCKuma The website has an awkward situation where it's saying Europe gets PS4 physical but not Switch meanwhile US gets Switch physical but not PS4.

I hope there's a physical version. In any case, June is looking to be a fantastic month for Switch.

Interesting that Nintendo's moved to Thursday releases now. May 2nd (Endless Ocean Luminous), May 23rd (TTYD) and June 27th (LM2) are all Thursdays rather than the normal Friday release.

In any case April and July are empty which is very promising for the chances of there being an April general Direct. Maybe do another Prime shadow drop like February last year.

A mixture of Splatoon 3 for Big Run and Tomb Raider 1 in the 1-3 collection.

@Dm9982 Given the 3DS VC versions were 12+ and @sanderev's comment about what the PEGI site shows, Game Corner still affected the VC version age rating. As the VC release dates were before 2020 (Red/Blue/Yellow came in 2016, Gold/Silver in 2017, Crystal in 2018) and it got 12+ back then, if they were to be released now they'd probably be 18+.

Looks like confirmation that Pokemon Gens 1-3 in their original form are never coming to Switch given Game Corner gambling. There's no chance Nintendo would allow Pokemon games to be rated 18+.

It feels like anything released after the DS isn't retro. It just feels off calling a system retro whose library heavily relies on closed digital stores. Wii is kind of a middle ground as digital was rather limited but you still had stuff like Rock Band DLC, Virtual Console, WiiWare and the Skyward Sword update channel.

Donkey Kong Country Returns would be at the top, the 3DS version got extra content and the DK franchise has been absent for way too long.

@IceClimbers Nintendo's standalone release date announcements (i.e. not via a Direct or other event) mostly have the release date be within 3 months of the announcement. For example:

• Pikmin 3 Deluxe given October release in August
• Age of Calamity given November release in September
• XC3 given a July release in April
• Bayonetta 3 given October release in July

The big exception is Splatoon 3 which was given a September release in April.

Considering this, the most likely combinations are:

• TTYD in April, LM2 in June
• TTYD in late May, LM2 in June

With a smaller chance of TTYD in April, LM2 in late May if they choose to bend the meaning of Summer.

Just Unicorn Overlord and Princess Peach Showtime at the moment. I was considering Contra but the demo's very rough and there's no real physical version so for now I'll hold off for reviews.

That would suggest both are releasing by the end of June at the latest. Maybe even by the end of May given the whole counting late February as Spring which could be interpreted as counting late May as Summer.

Happy 7th anniversary to Switch! The console still feels fresh even now to be honest. There's so much to play and when the upcoming lineup looks like it's slowing down, a general Direct confirms that isn't actually the case and the future is extremely packed.

I will say the thought of having to trade the amazing release schedule of the current Switch for "more power" with Switch's successor is saddening to be honest.

Penny's Big Breakaway and the Tomb Raider 1-3 collection. I started the former while waiting for Splatoon 3 Fresh Season 2024 to start and will properly start the latter at some point during the weekend (so far on Switch I've only explored Croft Manor).

@TheBigK SMB Wonder got its release date announcement in late June meanwhile Sonic Superstars got its release date announcement in late August.

@rjejr I think it may end up being that any Switch 1 stuff that was planned for release during Switch 2’s lifespan may end up being Switch 1 only games for before Switch 2 launch. Then by the time Switch 2 releases there’ll be a clear message for the new console (buy the new hardware if you want to play upcoming Nintendo games).

Take as much time as you need, part of the Wii U’s big problem was it took so long to get a strong software lineup so it would be wise not to repeat that.

This also suggests we’re in for a strong general Direct for Switch 1 in the near future, perhaps after Princess Peach Showtime.

Given how seriously studios have taken Nintendo fully killing off the 3DS, I think the announcement will be remasters of the 3DS games.

Splatoon 3 to try one last time to promote to S rank, finishing off the Unicorn Overlord demo (didn’t realize until today that there’s a demo timer ingame) and starting Mario vs. DK.

Will likely focus on Tomb Raider next weekend after Fresh Season has gone live (will spend some time with Fresh Season on the Friday).

What I think they'd do is:

• Gen 2 Let's Go remakes or Gen 5 BDSP style remakes (Late 2024)
• Explorers of Sky remake (Spring 2024)
• A bunch of mobile updates
• A bunch of general announcements like Worlds location, TV/movies, TCG and merch

What I'd like to see:

• Some announcement relating to improving the stability of Scarlet/Violet

Hopefully more PS1, PS2 and Xbox 360 games.

Splatoon 3 Splatfest, the announcement that Bonerattle Arena is the final Salmon Run map pretty much confirms that Sizzle Season 2024 will be the end of Splatoon 3 support (lines up with the announced 2 years of support back in August 2022) so need to make the most of Splatfests while they still exist.

This and the Sonic Generations remaster are my most anticipated games of the year. Glad that it turned out well, can't wait for the game to become playable at 5pm tomorrow.

@cybus Given the Xbox chaos, it feels like Thursday will be Partner Showcase.

More Sonic, this time Sonic Origins Plus. At this point I'm pretty much playing shorter games to last me until Tomb Raider 1-3 releases on Wednesday.

@AJWolfTill Also it properly came to Switch rather than just being a NSO addition.

Fire Emblem Engage is still missing after 3/4 spirit events, seems like either Fire Emblem will be the focus of the final spirit event or Alear will be a playable fighter.

This sounds like Switch 2 isn't happening this year (March 2025 launch perhaps?) which means the next Direct is likely ending up like the June 2023 one (before that Direct the upcoming lineup was very barren and then it became extremely packed). Of course this time the known upcoming lineup is less empty in comparison but the point I was trying to get across was lots of announcements happening.

Probably a mixture between Team Sonic Racing and Sonic Colours Ultimate. The rumours and then confirmation of Sonic Generations coming to Switch put me in the mood of returning to those games while at the same time being a good way to fill in the gap before a potential Direct (next week feels like the last chance for a February Direct).

@HammerGalladeBro They included Biolizard in the new Shadow story so maybe they also have Radical Highway in that meanwhile the other 3DS content ends up in the Sonic side of the remaster.

@BTB20 There will no doubt be Pokemon games on Switch 2 but with the state of Scarlet/Violet and Palworld going viral, it may end up being that Pokemon's ability as a system seller for Nintendo hardware decreases during the Switch 2 era.

@rjejr I really hope Nintendo's investors continue to stay away from the "infinite growth" mentality that has ruined many other companies. Selling as well as 3DS should still be considered a gigantic success.

I think Switch -> Switch 2 will be like DS -> 3DS, won't outsell the predecessor but will still sell very well provided the software lineup is strong.

Though unlike 3DS, I'm not sure Switch 2 will have the Pokemon advantage this time.

Would be odd appearing in a State of Play rather than a Direct (can't remember the last time Sonic appeared in a Playstation event if at all) but would be cool if it's real. Sonic Generations is one of my favourite Sonic games and it's nice seeing more 7th gen games rescued.

Wonder if mentioning Shadow is a hint for the 3DS content being included given the 3DS SA2 content was Shadow focused.

In an era where hardware manufacturers are actively killing off physical like the leaked 2024 "adorably all digital" Series X replacing the existing disc Series X (recent Microsoft news corroborates the leak) and the potential for Sony to make the PS5 detachable disc drive artificially rare, I'm really not fussed about the colour of Switch cartridges.

If grey cartridges is what makes physical versions possible then that's fantastic but if Nintendo chooses to go for colourful cartridges, that's also fantastic.