As someone that never played a Resident Evil game, I'm liking the suggestions of RE4 because it's more modern and self contained. With advice on long game series, it's best to remember some people might want to play just a few games, perhaps one is enough, so sending them back to the start isn't always the best. They can always go back in time if the series is really grabbing them to see how it all started!
@-wc- Yeah, first time I've ever heard "digital" used in connection with the N64 stick. The big marketing hype at the time was analogue, analogue, analogue, and eventually the success of the stick prompted Sony to create its first Dual Shock.
The technology underneath the N64 stick is optical, much like a track ball mouse.
Reading the article section again, I'm quite perplexed by it all: "The only major thing that’s different here ... is the analogue stick. The original N64 pad used a spindly, digital joystick.."
This is completely misleading without any qualification. While the stick's position might be detected by on/off digital points, the N64 stick is analogue for all intents and purposes. The optical design is also why it's so damn precise.
I can only find a "digital" reference on the Wikipedia page, and it seemed NL spotted that in its basic research and ran with it without reading the full context.
Good idea, even if it potentially means a slightly thicker model or even losing things like water proofing in phones. I've always wondered if I could swap the battery for a new one myself. I've never required that on a Nintendo device. On my previous phone, the thing was glued together for its water proofing.
I think Z is called Z on both sides because Z was commonly referenced in game manuals. Arguably it's the most important button on the N64 controller given its close association with the control stick (Z trigger and Z lock). I prefer L and R as the higher buttons because of familiarity way back to the SNES era. Furthermore, shoulder buttons that act as triggers are typically the the lower ones. One thing I loathed about the standard Switch controller for N64 games was the stupidity of R matched with R on the N64 controller while L matched with Z (L2 matched with L). Meaning, the default shoulder button setup in something like F-Zero X was L2 to tilt left and R for right. This 8bit controller is actually a very elegant and non confusing solution.
My main gripe with this controller is it should work with the N64 too. That a separate controller is required is a complete turn off. Happy to pay a little more for a dongle, not for another controller!
The N64 stick was a bit of a unique beast and, yes, modern sticks are generally over responsive for N64 games. I find them quite problematic in games like F-Zero X, where absolute precision is required. While the N64 stick was technically "digital" in design, in function it was truly analogue. That was the big selling point, notably, controlling Mario from creeping to running. Readers might be confused by this digital reference as though it's digital in function. It's not, and the precision it delivered was simply unmatched. I would still recommend the official N64 controller for those wanting the most authentic N64 experience.
As a huge fan of Starship Troopers the movie, I'm definitely interested. Would I like to know more? Of course! I'll try the demo first, and note the price, before deciding when to jump in.
@Spider-Kev I agree! "Boomer" is another of these dopey terms in modern gaming lexicon. When I first heard it from a friend, I told him he's not 70! Then he said it doesn't literally mean a baby boomer, only an older game that younger players might feel is too archaic. So, I said, "Retro?" He said yes.
Anyway, I'm now adding it to my list of gaming expressions that must die (and provide their alternative:
Cosy (Casual)
Roguelike (Re-runner)
Quality of life (Modern features)
Shmup (Shooter)
Boomer (Retro)
Loop (Game play)
🤭
Any talk about tiny text generally means a hard pass. We have the biggest and sharpest screens these days, yet text gets smaller and smaller and more difficult to read. It's ridiculous. I'll try the demo and see how I go. The game sounds very good otherwise.
Edit:
Regarding the comment, "Quick fix is to turn on zoom function in the system menu" to fix the tiny font, sorry, no, that's no fix at all. At best it's an annoying workaround, and completely unacceptable, especially after so many years of this problem emerging in games (Star Link and Hades were two early, notorious examples). The only quick fix is NOT to reward sloppy developers who think we're all 25 years old and sit a few feet away from a giant monitor.
Thank you for referring to Pokopia as "relaxing", not "cosy". I really loathe that expression, and am mystified how it became so ubiquitous so fast. They are casual games!
"Cosy" is currently at the top of my list of despised gaming expressions. Others include: Roguelike Quality of life Shmup 100% (as a verb)
I personally use re-run, modern features (many supposed QOL options are glorified cheating and ruin quality of life), shooter, completed.
On that bombshell, Pokopia is on my list of future purchases. Too much other stuff to currently play, including Pokemon ZA. I'm really impressed by user comments, which are often a better indication of a game's appeal than a critical review. The continued glowing comments are very encouraging, and might even force me to dip in earlier than anticipated.
I'm only here because I clicked from the article about a Switch 2 upgrade and became fascinated by the review talking about manually saving these games. So, I did a word search and there's 32 references to manual saving, which includes four in the article alone, and the rest from about 20 people. Almost all are unanimous that manual saving, especially the "frustration" to do it, is a beat up! What world are we in now, in 2026, that manually saving, instead of an auto save, is a frustrating con? Indeed, many of these save features strip all the fun out of older games, where the thrill was to "get good" to overcome the challenges! Nowadays, people need to bully their way through games to reach the end in the shortest possible time. I find that insulting and disrespectful to these older, classic games! They should be played as close as possible as the designers intended, or not played at all.
Great idea! Remember the Seal of Quality from the NES days and probably longer? Nintendo wants to prevent a flood of bad titles, and the seal was some sort of assurance. I believe publishers could only release 8 titles a year, which led Konami to create Palcom to publish more than 8. There's also the desire to see important partners, like that of Cyberpunk 2077, to sell games for a duration without competition. Giving them such exclusive periods is a reward for them getting on early a developing a game ready for day 1. Nintendo, indeed, enacts this policy on itself! Each title gets the most time possible to sell. That's why there's no Mario or Zelda yet. That would be self sabotaging their own sales.
Talking Flower is just here for the party. Don't be a party pooper! 🤣
Seriously, he's fine. Not obtrusive at all. My only experiences with him are Mario Wonder and Mario Tennis Fever. Dare I say, add him as a character in Mario Kart World? 🤭
As a casual Pokemon player, I've always thought the biggest flaw was the formulaic nature of catching familiar Pokemon, creating familiar teams, and using familiar fighting patterns. Boring! I think @Baker1000 writes the best comment here in that each game should deal with it by creating different starters and different encounters. Heck, I don't even really know what a Pokedex is that it needs to reset. If it's your library of encounters, it should only be those ones from the particular game, not the entire history of games. Other comments talk about a post game situation that these old ones could be used. Personally, just make them appear later, if that is feasible. By then you already have your team set.
The situation reminds me of Mario Kart, where nearly everyone defaults to the same lightweight and high acceleration setup. Boring! MK Double Dash was the only game to even try circumvent this by offering a random character and kart selection. Remember, there were two characters per kart in that game. We used it all the time, and it was exciting to see what we were given. Of course, the smarter approach would be to give each kart a specific advantage in specific situations or track conditions. Fatter wheels could be less affected by dirt while heavier characters can better survive attacks. Meaning that in some Cups, depending on the tracks involved, you're required to change your setup. In online play, with random courses, the decision becomes one of finding a general compromise option or a risk vs reward setup.
Interesting times ahead! We were heading down this part of convergence already with the Steam Deck and other handheld gaming consoles, and recently the Xbox Ally. The Ally was a proof of concept and a chance to learn about the market for Microsoft, and optimise the specific Windows OS that will underpin their gaming future. Let's face it, Xbox and PC games were much the same already as they ran on their specific version of Windows, with the Xbox games customised for that platform and the device itself much more affordable. It didn't make much sense for Microsoft to support two ecosystems. Just like the fight against Skynet was about software, not hardware, so will become gaming devices!
PS: I never owned an Xbox and my PC is now 8 years old. I rarely play games on it anyway, and those that I do play are older titles. I might be a potential buyer for whatever this future device is.
I've barely played Battle Mode since the SNES game! I think the 1 vs 1 situation on that version made it such a pure strategic and exciting combat mode. Once the player numbers and map sizes increase, Battle Mode loses its lustre.
@Smackosynthesis Beyond the usual Grand Prix Cups, Time Trials, the 32 courses, connected sections, 24 racers on course, the new railing mechanic, the phenomenal new Knockout Mode and the bonus Free Roam, no, the single player stuff hasn't really changed in Mario Kart World. Sadly, the entire Mario Kart experience, except for the SNES and some handheld versions, has been an "up yours" to solo players. If you can't play multi player, even online, I would not recommend any Mario Kart.
The one caveat with MKW is the two new modes offer some extended interest and, if you like finding and completing tasks, Free Roam will keep you going for eons. A minor update at least tracks all your accomplishments these days. The railing mechanic, if you have patience, is quite novel and it's fun to connect tricks and exploit shortcuts. Unfortunately, due to the usual lack of any real challenge for veterans in the solo modes, there's no incentive to learn such tricks. You can win easily without them. They're only useful online or in Time Trials.
If you have friends, MKW is stunning. The new Knockout Mode is a winner alone. For solo players, especially veterans without an online subscription, pass!
If I hear the word "cosy" to describe a game one more time, I might just scream. When did all this "cosy" nonsense start? I swear it was only a few months ago that I first heard it, and now it's an epidemic.
@DashKappei Thanks for your explanation about key cards. Yes, the price difference is "key". In my country, Cyberpunk on data card officially is $120. Star Wars Outlaws on key card is $90. I think in the USA the price difference is typically $10 or $20. Due to the policy of aligned pricing for major published games, releasing on key card also means the eshop price is cheaper. Yep, Cyberpunk and Outlaws are respectively the same $120 and $90 price in the eshop even though there's no card involved. Prices are standard to protect retailers otherwise physical sales would collapse. Example is an indie like Hades 2. $70 physical or $45 eshop? Yep, I know where I'll be buying. Imagine if games like RE or Mario Kart World had such a price disparity.
An often ignored benefit of key cards is that games have a much longer development time before launch. On a data card, games must be finished months in advance for production and shipping. On key card, it can be the day before release. Outlaws notoriously played poorly at a preview event about a month before release. Then it was all fixed.
Key cards are a tricky situation and obviously a pain for many of us. Hopefully, in time, they get cheaper or smaller ones are available.
I guess I should comment about RE Requiem! I've never played an RE game before, and am curious to experience the hype. I'll hope for a demo before buying any game. It reviews so well.
I own the 3DS, New 3DS XL and the Samus edition of the latter, which is still in its box. Objectively, the New 3DS XL is the best model due to its improved quality, features and, especially, the 3D effect. If you wanted something more for your pocket, then the New 3DS would be its only rival.
The only thing I didn't like about the New 3DS XL was the cartridge slot position on the lower left, which would often be resting on my fingers while playing. The New 2DS XL, for as bizarre as it was to release so late and quickly disappear from the shelves, at least placed the cartridge slot centrally.
I bought my original 3DS only after the price drop and specifically for Star Fox 64 3D and Mario Kart 7. Such an amazing, litte system. Yes, I did frequently use the 3D! Mostly at a minimal setting.
The Spider Man game is giving me Bionic Commando vibes. It looks really interesting!
I can't say I know much about any of these games, which is odd because my primary gaming addiction period was the 8 and 16 bit era. I'll likely wait for the reviews and wait for a 50% off sale.
Considering that Mario Tennis Fever is exclusively a Switch 2 game, the seventh rank is decent. It's only beaten by Mario Kart World and, potentially, Pokemon ZA if we know the actual Switch 2 sales component. I'm more fascinated by Animal Crossing New Horizons in eighth! That shows the value of new content released to boost an older title's sales. While it shows as "Switch" sales, I bet most sales were by people buying it for their Switch 2.
Edit:
Again, people whinging about the $70 price. It's so tiresome. Nintendo always do standard base pricing. $60 for Switch games. Now, $70 for Switch 2 games. After 8 years of stable prices, paying $10 more after all the inflation, generally longer development times, and a new system, seems more than fair. To expect Nintendo to start pricing by man hours involved or the spurious notion of perceived value is unrealistic, and prices like $50 would likely see them selling at a lost. It costs much more to make a game than paying a bunch of people to sit behind a computer. As consumers, we exercise our purchasing discretion daily. The same here. If Fever is too expensive, don't buy it, or wait for the inevitable eshop 33% off discount. Whinging about Nintendo's pricing policy won't solve anything.
Personally, Fever is a riot in multi player mode, which is how it should be judged. In single player, I merely want a challenge. Fever seems to offer that too. I play sports games for sports, not gimmick Story modes. As for RPG inclusions, those were on Gameboy systems because multi player was diluted and often impractical. On consoles, you only get the basics. Of course, the Switch 2 is hybrid, which is why you get the hybrid Story Mode! It's there for the whingers; not as the main part of the game.
@Qwiff Don't forget, Nintendo offered the Nintendo Selects on 3DS too! I waited 6 years for Animal Crossing New Leaf to get cheap because I really wanted to try the series. I also bought Zelda Ocarina, Mario Tennis Open and New SMB 2 cheaply too. Notably, Mario Kart 7 was never discounted because it kept selling, and, like you said, the label was dropped during the Switch era. Nintendo do periodic discounts of 33% off their games in the eshop, so that's something.
Nintendo Selects was really about store shelves and showing a collection of popular selling games at a cheap price to entice buyers. These games typically take years to go on such a label too. I don't see any correlation of that, or games discounted on a failing console, to the price of a newly release game. Besides, in a few years, Nintendo might restore Nintendo Selects and put Fever on it. You never know!
@Nep-Nep-Freak Mario Tennis Fever is ranked low in general because of the groundswell of hate against Nintendo, particularly regarding prices. There's a lot of bitter people out there that their expectations weren't met or believe they know better, so any chance to attack Nintendo is taken. IGN is notoriously obsessed about prices, and led their NVC show with "Is Mario Tennis Fever worth $70?" This undermines Nintendo's policy for decades of a standard price structure for all games. During the Switch era it was $60. Now it's $70. While there's a premium level of $80 for things like Mario Kart World, so far that is the only original Switch 2 title at that price (most of us paid $50 via the bundle anyway) and echoes the $70 premium price point of Zelda TOTK on Switch.
The hyper whinging over $10 more on comparative games is unbelievable, if not deranged. We're 8 years beyond the Switch release, costs have increased exponentially through that time, and we're onto a brand new system. Why not $10 more? Whether someone "feels" like a game should be less, that's their consumer discretion. If it's too much, don't buy it. Most of us make this decision already on countless games. Curiously, when the next Zelda arrives, I bet IGN won't be asking, "Is Zelda worth much more than $70?", and imply you should pay $100 for it. That is the logical extension of this nonsense.
What people don't understand is that the entire cost of business is built into a product price. Like the ingredients on a $15 pizza probably cost just $2, the price of a game is not simply the man hours to develop it. With building expenses, computers, energy, administration, manufacturing and shipping, it probably costs $40 just to get a game out. Add the retail margin and Nintendo's margin, we're at $60. The remaining $10 or $20 offsets direct development costs.
As to discounts during the Game Cube era that someone mentioned, the GC was a failing console, so of course Nintendo needed to entice buyers with faster discounts. For something that's selling strongly, Nintendo are rigid. Look at the Switch era. All businesses operate with the knowledge that good times aren't forever, so take advantage of it. This is basic supply and demand.
Yes, Mario Tennis Fever is a superb game, especially in the key domain of its multi player. Objectively, it's the greatest Mario Tennis ever.
Call me crazy, I buy sports games to play the actual sport. RPG elements and gimmick modes like story or adventure are mostly irrelevant. I want a fierce, competitive sports game. There is also a strange obsession to harangue some games without any gimmick solo player options while others, like the top two, get a pass. For these reasons, this list of best Mario Tennis games reads as completely bonkers and contradictory.
For the pure tennis sense, Mario Tennis Open on 3DS was phenomenal. What's this excuse about needing friends with a 3DS? You need friends for split screen modes on home systems too. Otherwise, they are duds. 3DS was actually a multi player powerhouse, especially with its game sharing feature that only required one copy of the game. You could also play online, which obviated the need for any gimmick solo player modes. In the Gameboy and GBA era, that was different. They needed a sturdy single player mode at the expense of any meaningful multi player mode. Flip that for systems that were highly accessible for multi player modes. These games are a product of their systems and should be judged accordingly.
My Favourites...
Nothing beats Mario Tennis Open on 3DS. It was the purest and most challenging of the series. That transferred to the multi player options.
Next is Mario Tennis 64 because it did unleash the multi player wonder that is Mario Tennis. Solo mode (various tournaments) wasn't that challenging, nor did the game incude any substantial gimmick solo modes for longevity. While most later games are superior in multi player now, I rate games for their time, and this was the bomb!
In third, Mario Tennis Fever. While I'm still to unlock and unleash the power of all the Fever racquets, everything so far is hilarious fun. Even the single player content is fine. There's a decent and varied amount of it, which adds to the game's overall longevity. I still wouldn't buy it if you can't play with friends or online. As a multi player game, Fever is the most honed of the series. With options for certain Fever racquets, standard tennis, and even ball speed, it's the most featured filled of the series while also staying highly accessible.
Mario Tennis Aces is fourth. It was phenomenal with its battle mechanics that elevated it almost to a combat game. There was plenty of challenge too. The main drawback was casual players struggled with the nuances, so often we played standard tennis in multi player mode.
That's it! Mario Power Tennis I found a banal successor from the N64, so won't even rank it. I boycotted the Wii era, and I've never played the Gameboy era games because, like I said, I play sports games for the sport, not some RPG concoction.
Glad to see the Switch 2 upgrade for Xenoblade Chronicles X is finally released! I might actually play the game now. I was hoping an upgrade would be released, and the small price for it is perfectly acceptable. It's less than the difference between the respective Switch and Switch 2 prices of the game.
@BrewsterTea Not sure from where you got your information, Switch 2 sales are certainly not struggling for them to "continue to struggle". 17.4 million already, which compares to 17.7 in the Switch's first full launch year, which consisted of 13 months. The Switch 2 is only 8 full months in and with 2 full months to go.
Currently there is a groundswell of negativity regarding the Switch 2, notably from haters and jealots, and stories get spun into ridiculous narratives. Even IGN traffics in this garbage, like when it reported Nintendo as saying "late year Switch 2 sales in North America were slightly weaker than expected" without any context of all sales. 90% of comments were people offering reasons for the Switch 2 supposedly failing and offering all sorts of advice to turn the situation around. The contrary analysis from that statement could be sales expectations were slightly too high! Remember, Nintendo could fully supply the market at launch, so obviously that would mean a faster decline by month.
The Switch Lite took over two years to emerge, so I don't see a Switch 2 Lite until 2027. To me, 2025 was the foundation year for the Switch 2 (especially as it was quite a short year for it) and 2026 will be the consolidation year. Nintendo will be pushing the current model and at the current price for as long as possible. They want the installation base as large as possible and set up for a big holiday season.
General advice to anybody wanting to predict Nintendo is to look at their history. They are very predictable.
@The_Nintendo_Expat Those prices I would put in the clearance or end of cycle category exceptions I mentioned. The Wii situation is a classic example. Even the 2009 price reduction, I recall that excluding Wii Sports in the bundle. By 2011, Nintendo weren't even shipping Wii to Australia anymore, and I still refused to buy one! Our NES (particularly the updated model) was sold at half price once the SNES arrived, and (you'll love this story!) I once went to Target to buy a Game Cube controller and walked out with a new, silver console! Why? It was only $30 more. 🤣 They were shifting excess stock as the GC cycle was ending. That silver GC became my travelling one for sessions at friends' houses. Guess what? It's still that very travelling bag with controllers and games!
The N64 situation is like 3DS. Priced too high initially and not selling. That's a stated exception. Sony were always the price cut kings until the PS5. This era is the first time I never bought a PS. The thing is, did I go whinge in Sony forums about it priced too high? No. I simply didn't buy one. It sold over 80 million anyway, so obviously the market, in general, accepted it.
Obviously "never" was a ridiculous word to use, and I'm glad you exposed me. I meant that if something is still selling, Nintendo will keep taking. Look at the Switch! Eight years clinging to it and no price reduction. When this article mentions don't expect a Switch 2 price cut any time soon, I'm saying don't expect one any time at all, unless something weird happens.
I'm getting by. Enjoying our summer with swimming, cycling and walking. Not all on the same day, of course! I'm too old for that.
Keep up your feisty work! You keep us all thinking. I love that you can be critical without being personal.
@The_Nintendo_Expat Obviously I don't possess every record in every region about Nintendo console pricing, so I mostly go on my memory in my country since the NES days and general observations in more recent generations. The policy is fairly obvious. The initial price is the permanent price. That's why Nintendo waited for the American tariff situation to settle before settling on the $450 there, preferring to make small price increases worldwide on accessories as the general offset. Outside the stated exceptions like clearances and temporary deals, I don't recall Nintendo ever adopting a new lower price. One exception was the 3DS because initially it was too high and not selling, and there will obviously be end of cycle price reductions once a successor is out. I just checked Switch OLED prices in my country and, yes, easy to find 15% off, and it's discounted at Best Buy in the USA. So much for the price increase!
Games are similar and easier to observe because we make continued purchases. $70 is the official retail price, period! Nintendo doesn't drop the price until a clearance situation or to entice a late charge on console and game purchases, like the Player's Choice label at 50% off. Since Zelda TOTK on Switch, Nintendo introduced a premium price level of $10 more, which we saw with Mario Kart World. Lots of ignorance and misinformation about game prices, and I noticed IGN had another massive whinge fest on their NVC show over the weekend, especially regarding Mario Tennis Fever and the supposed "variable pricing" policy not in effect. No, we all know that was BS to explain MKW. It never meant major games selling below the standard price.
On Switch, games were $60. On Switch 2, they are $70. After 8 years of static prices, the higher living costs, and the higher price of game cards, $10 more seems completely reasonable, yet there's still whinging. I'm sick of it. Even the $80 MKW price is dumped into this article without any context. Ignoring the fact MKW seems the only original Switch 2 game at that price point, probably 90% of us bought MKW as part of the bundle for effectively $50 anyway! 🤣
The best indication on fair prices is always the market. Clearly, with the Switch 2 likely to exceed Switch sales in its launch year and with 4 fewer months available, the market is accepting $450 for the device and $70 for games. For the individual whingers that don't like the prices, then don't buy the products. As consumers, we make these decisions every day on everything. I once took my own BBQ sauce to a steak house because I refused to pay $5 for theirs! Nowadays I go sauce-less. 🤭 Whinging won't change anything. To paraphrase George Costanza, this is the price, and we're not changing it for anybody!
Anyway, rant over. 😛 How are you doing, and why are you blurry? 🤗
The Switch 2 will never get cheaper because Nintendo never reduces its console prices unless it's a clearance situation or temporary deal. They like to set an initial price and leave it forever, and any price rise might come in an updated model, like the Switch OLED. As for those price increases for the Switch not long after the Switch 2 launched, that's a little deceptive because that's official retail price, and the Switch models are practically on sale permanently at 25% off. The price increase was a strategic one to make the Switch 2 officially look better value and the Switch a good deal at the particular store selling it at discount.
As for an impending price increase for the Switch 2, it doesn't take Einstein to work out higher input costs correlate to higher consumer prices. The issue is when or if Nintendo will budge. Nintendo already has plenty of supply out there and orders for components many months in advance, and tremendous buying power with its suppliers, so might watch for another 6 months before deciding. Of course, let's not forget they could take advantage of the environment and raise prices regardless! Sony and Microsoft did that way before any American tariff or RAM price situation by using inflation and generally higher costs of living that conditioned us to accept higher prices even if there was much less impact on the electronics industry. The PS5 Slim was the first such Slim model to ever launch with a price increase, which was clearly ridiculous when technology traditionally always gets cheaper, and still does in other areas like phones and televisions.
It must be Pikachu, especially as my mother loved him too. I also like Meowth. He was the coin stage in Pokemon Shuffle (my main familiarity with the Pokemon series) while Gyarados was a powerful and commonly used Pokemon by me in that game.
Tossed up between Lugia and Ampharos despite not knowing a great deal about Pokemon. Curiously, they are two of the most popular at 6% and 5%, respectively. Umbreon seems to be leading with 7%. Most of my familiarity with these two come from the puzzle game, Pokemon Shuffle. Ampharos was great with the electric shocks and therefore a common selection, while I liked the design of Lugia. I think he was one of the special stages. I selected him as my favourite.
Belmont's Curse, alone, is probably good enough. It's looking awesome!
In terms of something else, I'd love the NES games completely remade. Graphical overhaul, an extra move or two, and new attacks from enemies. The second game, Simon's Quest, could benefit with some modern features like save points. Please, no fake "quality of life" nonsense like save states and rewind. That's sanctioned cheating. I understand in retro games, if save states are added then may as well add rewind as well. I just loathe these inclusions because they undermine the essence of these games.
As some others said, Symphony of the Night for the first time on a Nintendo system would be great. Of course, update the graphics! Not so much that it needs it. Only that it seems a shame if Sony lost exclusivity to the original after all these decades. I say that as a Nintendo fan!
Please sell it at a discount and I'll buy it! I loved the SNES Jurassic Park and would buy this JP Classic Games Collection just for that. I don't know much about the rest of the games, so they don't add much value. Note: it was 40% off before Christmas, so there's hope.
Quote: "Thank God this game released physically." Sure! Just try find a copy now AND watch the price escalate to absurd levels once the game is unavailable from the eshop.
This JP Collection was not a mainstream physical release; instead, a phony, pseudo one by Limited Run Games. I don't count those as a genuine physical release. There are a couple of copies around in my city if I want to waste half a day travelling and pay 50% more than the eshop. No. I'll check the eshop price weekly and launch if there's a discount.
Fascinating comment: "These companies should really be forced to tell you if something is being delisted a year in advance." How does that help you? Do you need a year to save the money or organise your finances to buy the game? A shorter period will tempt people to buy immediately rather than wait and forget. Unfortunately, in the retail sector, products get delisted or withdrawn all the time, and there's rarely a warning unless you're signed up and the item is on a watch list or something. If not for this website, perhaps none of us know.
I'm no great fan of Pokemon and still knew that Poketopia will be interesting and fun, and likely a huge success.
I'll probably pause on a purchase unless the reviews are a raving endorsement.
For people curious about the performance of Poketopia, obviously it's fine otherwise it would be mentioned. It looks like a fairly basic game that even the Switch could manage.
No surprise to read a relatively poor experience for solo players. This is typically the case for any Nintendo sports title, including Mario Kart, as their key purpose is the multi player experience. Even the much vaunted MK8D, the single player was utter trash, especially for MK veterans. Typically the Cups are beaten on the first attempt, which continued into the paid booster courses and into Mario Kart World. At least the latter game included the brand new Knockout Mode and Free Roam to add longevity. I would not mark down Mario Tennis Fever for a slim solo experience because that's simply not the point of these games.
The one caveat with Mario Tennis, or any tennis game or sports game, is challenge. Playing solo means playing through an extended world tour, league, etc, on ever increasing difficulty standards. I recall the original Super Tennis only offered that, and it was a challenge and an enjoyable experience to beat the tour with a female and male player. The final challenge was a match against a super player (I can't remember his name), if I recall. Mario Tennis on 3DS was also a pure and challenging game, and provided one of my best solo experiences from any tennis game. Things like Adventure Modes are often too contrived, lack challenge, and prove underwhelming. Sport is about competition and challenge, so reading that there is some challenge is a positive. With the Fever racquets also sounding very interesting, I'm really looking forward to Mario Tennis Fever.
This could be the most uninspiring list of games that I've ever read! Wake me up when there's some highly desirable games or even when Nintendo provides the option to buy games that are currently locked behind their subscription service.
Boxed codes are an insult. I can at least live with key cards because they are an actual item, include some benefits like easy to share, and are, on average, $20 than games on data cards. Boxed codes would be cheaper too.The bonus of that is the same lower price gets reflected in the eshop due to the requirement of a standardised price for mainstream published games. I would just download instead of buying a boxed code.
In saying that, none of these games are of much interest. I've never liked sprawling RPGs or adventure games in the third person (unless the topic is of interest, like Star Wars). Happy to see the Switch 2 get such major third party support, so that bodes well for the future.
4K and 120fps is quite remarkable, even for a relatively basic game. I'm one such person who can't really feel 120 over 60 frames, and that was with Fast Fusion. Metroid Prime 4 was even less so.
In saying all that, no, I won't be trying Hollow Knight again. I'm one of the rare people that simply doesn't like it. I played the demo and something felt off with the entire game. The poll needed an option for, "Tried it, didn't like it, and the upgrade won't entice me to try it again", so answered "Never played and I don't intend to play it". For the question about noticing the upgrade, I answered, "No, too many bugs". The bug being the game itself. 🤭
Edit:
Thanks to the comment from "Darthmoogle" earlier, the graphics are 4K OR 120fps, not 4K and 120fps. At 120fps, resolution is 1080p.
Even though there wasn't too much exciting for me, objectively it was an outstanding Partner Showcase. From Resident Evil Requiem to the triple shot from Bethesda, and then to my three personal favourites of Turok Origins, Super Bomberman Collection and eFootball Kick Off, it oozed quality and quantity!
If I had one gripe, I hoped to see something classic and iconic from years passed, like the Halo series or, for some personal ultra drooling, the updated Perfect Dark from the XB360 and Perfect Dark Zero.
Edit:
I'd like to echo the sentiment from PurpleG above. Yes, the Switch 2 is a phenomenal device. I won't dive into the supremacy debate, except to say these Nintendo Directs are primarily for those owning only a Switch 2, or Switch. That's probably most people! Whether a particular game is better on Switch 2 or PS5 or PC, who cares! If you have the luxury to choose, great for you! Many of us don't. Same scenario for Cyberpunk and Star Wars Outlaws. Yes, older games for people with multiple options. New and exciting games for Nintendo players (I bought both). In this broader context, I can't see how this Partner Showcase wasn't a great one for Nintendo. It also portends well for future partnerships.
Pro Evolution Soccer were initially very fiddly games (started as ISS Pro on PS), and I much preferred the regular and more responsive International Superstar Soccer series, which started on the SNES as Perfect 11 (ISS) and Fighting 11 (ISS Deluxe) in Japan (if I accurately recall), with full lineage back to Hyper Soccer on the NES. The N64 versions introduced an exciting through ball and played up the search pass, which made them quite a jarring contrast for those coming from PES, now on PS2. ISS was a mess once it arrived on Game Cube while PES thrived on PS2. I recall the even numbered games were often the best, like PES2 and PES4. Ironically, my favourite PES game arrived on the Game Cube as Winning 11 6 Final Evolution, ostensibly PES2.5 with sexy GC controls, so it was really refined! Note that PES and WE numbers were not aligned until years became the suffix in 2008.
I played a few PES games over the years on PS3 and PS4 without getting too excited about any. I'm a Nintendo gamer at heart and still have a huge soft spot for Konami soccer games, so I am interested in eFootball and at least hope it plays well. Otherwise, I'll stick to FC 24, which is actually really good for a EA/FIFA game! Typically I find them fiddly and unresponsive too.
As much as graphics aren't everything, they should at least be something. This looks like a hard No.
Curiously, PC Gamer, in their most recent Top 100 PC Games, included Caves of Qud in the top 10, which I mocked severely because I never heard of it and they left so many universally renowned PC games off the list entirely. In fact, 90% of the comments ridiculed the list. At least I now have some idea about COQ! That's more than I can say about a game that lends its name to a genre. Instead of roguelike, how about we go qudlike?
Edit:
Replying to Mr Awkward (ironic name!) below, I'll mock anything I like, and that's actually with broad understanding of the list in question, so please don't insinuate trash about other people. Show some basic courtesy when replying to people. As I said, 90% of comments ridiculed the list. COQ is simply NOT the 7th best PC ever on the basis of so many universally renown exemplary PC games around (as was my stated rationale). That's all you need to know. It was there as a fanwank exercise and good, old recency bias. Balatro at 8 was another absurdity.
The roguelike term also deserves complete mockery. Fact is that very few people have heard of Rogue, much less can describe anything about it, so to name a genre after it is preposterous. I actually call them re-run games! At least it tells you something about the type of game, just like the names of other genres do.
Not much of interest except for, perhaps, Claire Obscure. I primarily play Nintendo systems for Nintendo games. I'm hoping for an actual Nintendo Direct later in February as they often are.
If I was hoping for something, I'm thinking Xbox games like the Halo series and even the updated Perfect Dark.
Edit:
Regarding Larry's reply below, I referred to the "updated Perfect Dark" (past tense). There was a version on Xbox that I'd like to see on Switch or Switch 2.
As to the cancelled Perfect Dark, I know nothing about it. I don't follow Xbox news and only catch anything incidentally.
Again, the "leakers" find a date and guess the rest. Later in the week we learnt it would be a Partner Showcase. Disappointing anyway! I primarily play Nintendo systems for Nintendo games. If we don't get an actual Nintendo Direct early in the year (they often are a bit later in February), then we lost that predictability of Nintendo too.
@dustinprewitt Regarding the requirement of a Virtual Boy prop, I would not have replied if I could unravel the double negative of this reply: "I wouldn't be shocked if it doesn't actually check to see if you have the appropriate hardware".
Simple answer is you need a prop to play the Virtual Boy games. The Switch 2 uses its light sensor to detect if it is in the prop. Obviously the environment will be very dark! Theoretically, you could tape over the light sensor and trick the Switch 2.
When I saw "takeaways" in the headline, I was thinking pizza, hamburgers, tacos, fried chicken, or even Chinese. If only I could be so lucky! Any of those would be preferable to this ridiculous contraption. As much as I often effusively praise Nintendo for their decisions, especially with the Switch 2 and the launch period of games, they lost the plot here. Sitting on a stool at a bench is ridiculous and the antithesis of any sort of console gaming I know. If I want a backache or RSI, I'll play PC games on an uncomfortable chair. I want to sit or recline comfortably on a couch for my game time, and there should be a option to play these Virtual Boy games without the need of burying your face into a prop. Something as basic as showing one of the images expanded on screen and alternative colour options, like black and white, would suffice. Perhaps Nintendo will update the app in time. Once they exhaust all sales of the props, of course!
Edit:
Regarding the question if a prop is required, the simple answer is Yes. The Switch 2 can detect a prop in use via its light sensor. Theoretically, you could tape over the sensor to emulate the darkness inside the prop.
Ultimately, Sonic Cross Worlds lacks character and isn't that much fun in multi player mode. Even the single player, which offers much more longevity to the perpetually limited and non challenging trash in the Mario Kart series, gets mundane.
For all the "critical" response, they don't capture the intangibles of a game's appeal and are often captured by their biases and agenda. I've said often on these pages in defending Mario Kart World as the correct launch title for the Switch 2 because Mario Kart is Nintendo's biggest series by far, which was amplified by an 11 year wait since MK8 and 8 years since the ported version on Switch. That was especially so when the narrative ran that the "critically acclaimed" DK Bonanza should have been the launch title. As if!
Critics often don't understand people, and many approached Mario Kart World as it's still MK, so focused on the bonus Free Roam like it's meant to me Forza Horizon. As if! At IGN, they ranted for 90 seconds about no music player. Give me a break! No, you compare Mario Kart against the core content of previous games. Therefore the tracks, the weapons, the characters, and any new driving mechanic, and how it all integrates. On that level, MKW compares among the best, if not is the best, of any original MK game. Only against the ported MK8D is there a significant debate. Then you consider new stuff like the phenomenal Knockout Mode, and view Free Roam as a bonus, and it's easy to see MKW in a new, and more appropriate, light. Furthermore, MK is ostensibly a multi player game. While I lament the trash single player experience for veterans, multi player eats Sonic Cross Worlds and just about every other game alive. That's why MKW is a raging success and Sonic Cross Worlds isn't.
Never bought it. Not that I should say "Get rid of it." What a strange pairing of sentences for an answer! I can see that many people enjoyed their time with Labo, so it was a worthwhile endeavour from Nintendo even if it lacked interest for me.
Edit:
I have no interest in the Virtual Boy nonsense of holding a cardboard prop against your face or even using the expensive plastic device. This is Nintendo being too weird for their own good, and these games should be playable without any contraption. A basic 2D emulation option of showing one of the VB screens expanded and a different colour option (like black and white) can't be that hard, either technically or in inclination.
Mario Tennis Fever is the main game of interest for me. I've never played a Resident Evil game before, so interesting to see so many people keen for it, even with the key card situation. I hope to try RE one day, perhaps via a demo, to experience the hype. I don't like horror movies, which is why I've always lacked interest. Of course, I hate golf, yet love Mario Golf games. Poketopia I will watch! I'm a minor fan of Pokemon and a major fan of Animal Crossing, so it could be interesting.
I've accepted the key card situation is not changing unless cheaper, smaller data cards arrive or the cards themselves get cheaper over time. Right now, I'm happy to save the average $20, which also materialises in the eshop due to the policy of aligned prices for mainstream published games.
Thanks "Discostew" above for the link to a PS5 comparison. I'm bored of PS4 comparisons. We've known since day 1 and Cyberpunk 2077 that the Switch 2 should always look better. Still, DF said it's "nice" that Grid Legends does looks better. Why? If it didn't, shame! Let's see the Switch 2 against the PS5. After all, that is the measuring stick to determine if the Switch 2 can handle ports of contemporary games. The PS4 is so 2013.
I've never regarded analog triggers in racing games, or even in any game, as all that necessary. Mostly they are a gimmick and, in racing games, I'm always all gas anyway. In fact, I typically change button configurations so the gas and brakes are face buttons! I like the triggers for manual gearbox operation. I'm used to that since all the way back to Top Gear on the SNES, and will revert to it if possible. If I can't, I drive automatic.
The more problematic area for me is no split screen option. All racing games should include that. It seems even online multiplayer is limited too. Over the decades I've played so many racing games that none of them are of much interest to me anymore unless racing friends. They need to offer something special, and Grid Legends is clearly lacking in that department.
Comments 1,769
Re: Feature: Where The Heck Do You Start If You've Never Played Resident Evil?
As someone that never played a Resident Evil game, I'm liking the suggestions of RE4 because it's more modern and self contained. With advice on long game series, it's best to remember some people might want to play just a few games, perhaps one is enough, so sending them back to the start isn't always the best. They can always go back in time if the series is really grabbing them to see how it all started!
Re: Review: 8BitDo 64 Controller For Switch 1 & 2 - A Worthy Alternative To Nintendo's N64 Pad
@-wc- Yeah, first time I've ever heard "digital" used in connection with the N64 stick. The big marketing hype at the time was analogue, analogue, analogue, and eventually the success of the stick prompted Sony to create its first Dual Shock.
The technology underneath the N64 stick is optical, much like a track ball mouse.
Reading the article section again, I'm quite perplexed by it all:
"The only major thing that’s different here ... is the analogue stick. The original N64 pad used a spindly, digital joystick.."
This is completely misleading without any qualification. While the stick's position might be detected by on/off digital points, the N64 stick is analogue for all intents and purposes. The optical design is also why it's so damn precise.
I can only find a "digital" reference on the Wikipedia page, and it seemed NL spotted that in its basic research and ran with it without reading the full context.
You might appreciate this discussion piece!
https://www.reddit.com/r/n64/comments/zw5dc8/the_original_n64_control_stick_is_still_by_far/
Re: Europe Might Be Forcing Nintendo To Revise The Switch 2
Good idea, even if it potentially means a slightly thicker model or even losing things like water proofing in phones. I've always wondered if I could swap the battery for a new one myself. I've never required that on a Nintendo device. On my previous phone, the thing was glued together for its water proofing.
Re: Review: 8BitDo 64 Controller For Switch 1 & 2 - A Worthy Alternative To Nintendo's N64 Pad
I think Z is called Z on both sides because Z was commonly referenced in game manuals. Arguably it's the most important button on the N64 controller given its close association with the control stick (Z trigger and Z lock). I prefer L and R as the higher buttons because of familiarity way back to the SNES era. Furthermore, shoulder buttons that act as triggers are typically the the lower ones. One thing I loathed about the standard Switch controller for N64 games was the stupidity of R matched with R on the N64 controller while L matched with Z (L2 matched with L). Meaning, the default shoulder button setup in something like F-Zero X was L2 to tilt left and R for right. This 8bit controller is actually a very elegant and non confusing solution.
My main gripe with this controller is it should work with the N64 too. That a separate controller is required is a complete turn off. Happy to pay a little more for a dongle, not for another controller!
The N64 stick was a bit of a unique beast and, yes, modern sticks are generally over responsive for N64 games. I find them quite problematic in games like F-Zero X, where absolute precision is required. While the N64 stick was technically "digital" in design, in function it was truly analogue. That was the big selling point, notably, controlling Mario from creeping to running. Readers might be confused by this digital reference as though it's digital in function. It's not, and the precision it delivered was simply unmatched. I would still recommend the official N64 controller for those wanting the most authentic N64 experience.
Re: PSA: Switch 2 Update Adds Handheld Mode Boost, Here's How To Use It
Great addition. I'll definitely use it. In Nintendo we trust!
Re: Review: Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! (Switch 2) - Kill Or Be Killed In This Gloriously Entertaining Boomer Shooter
As a huge fan of Starship Troopers the movie, I'm definitely interested. Would I like to know more? Of course! I'll try the demo first, and note the price, before deciding when to jump in.
@Spider-Kev I agree! "Boomer" is another of these dopey terms in modern gaming lexicon. When I first heard it from a friend, I told him he's not 70! Then he said it doesn't literally mean a baby boomer, only an older game that younger players might feel is too archaic. So, I said, "Retro?" He said yes.
Anyway, I'm now adding it to my list of gaming expressions that must die (and provide their alternative:
Cosy (Casual)
Roguelike (Re-runner)
Quality of life (Modern features)
Shmup (Shooter)
Boomer (Retro)
Loop (Game play)
🤭
Re: Review: Star Trek: Voyager - Across The Unknown (Switch 2) - Merciless But Ultimately Satisfying Survival Strategy
Any talk about tiny text generally means a hard pass. We have the biggest and sharpest screens these days, yet text gets smaller and smaller and more difficult to read. It's ridiculous. I'll try the demo and see how I go. The game sounds very good otherwise.
Edit:
Regarding the comment, "Quick fix is to turn on zoom function in the system menu" to fix the tiny font, sorry, no, that's no fix at all. At best it's an annoying workaround, and completely unacceptable, especially after so many years of this problem emerging in games (Star Link and Hades were two early, notorious examples). The only quick fix is NOT to reward sloppy developers who think we're all 25 years old and sit a few feet away from a giant monitor.
Re: Pokémon Pokopia Is Getting A New Update Soon, Here Are The Details
Thank you for referring to Pokopia as "relaxing", not "cosy". I really loathe that expression, and am mystified how it became so ubiquitous so fast. They are casual games!
"Cosy" is currently at the top of my list of despised gaming expressions. Others include:
Roguelike
Quality of life
Shmup
100% (as a verb)
I personally use re-run, modern features (many supposed QOL options are glorified cheating and ruin quality of life), shooter, completed.
On that bombshell, Pokopia is on my list of future purchases. Too much other stuff to currently play, including Pokemon ZA. I'm really impressed by user comments, which are often a better indication of a game's appeal than a critical review. The continued glowing comments are very encouraging, and might even force me to dip in earlier than anticipated.
Re: Review: Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered (Switch) - The Best Way To Rediscover A Gaming Idol
I'm only here because I clicked from the article about a Switch 2 upgrade and became fascinated by the review talking about manually saving these games. So, I did a word search and there's 32 references to manual saving, which includes four in the article alone, and the rest from about 20 people. Almost all are unanimous that manual saving, especially the "frustration" to do it, is a beat up! What world are we in now, in 2026, that manually saving, instead of an auto save, is a frustrating con? Indeed, many of these save features strip all the fun out of older games, where the thrill was to "get good" to overcome the challenges! Nowadays, people need to bully their way through games to reach the end in the shortest possible time. I find that insulting and disrespectful to these older, classic games! They should be played as close as possible as the designers intended, or not played at all.
Re: Nintendo "Cagey" About Letting Games On Switch 2, Wants To Avoid "Slop Fest"
Great idea! Remember the Seal of Quality from the NES days and probably longer? Nintendo wants to prevent a flood of bad titles, and the seal was some sort of assurance. I believe publishers could only release 8 titles a year, which led Konami to create Palcom to publish more than 8. There's also the desire to see important partners, like that of Cyberpunk 2077, to sell games for a duration without competition. Giving them such exclusive periods is a reward for them getting on early a developing a game ready for day 1. Nintendo, indeed, enacts this policy on itself! Each title gets the most time possible to sell. That's why there's no Mario or Zelda yet. That would be self sabotaging their own sales.
Re: Talking Point: Are You Tired Of The Talking Flower Yet?
Talking Flower is just here for the party. Don't be a party pooper! 🤣
Seriously, he's fine. Not obtrusive at all. My only experiences with him are Mario Wonder and Mario Tennis Fever. Dare I say, add him as a character in Mario Kart World? 🤭
Re: Talking Point: After 30 Years, Is It Time To Reset The Pokédex?
As a casual Pokemon player, I've always thought the biggest flaw was the formulaic nature of catching familiar Pokemon, creating familiar teams, and using familiar fighting patterns. Boring! I think @Baker1000 writes the best comment here in that each game should deal with it by creating different starters and different encounters. Heck, I don't even really know what a Pokedex is that it needs to reset. If it's your library of encounters, it should only be those ones from the particular game, not the entire history of games. Other comments talk about a post game situation that these old ones could be used. Personally, just make them appear later, if that is feasible. By then you already have your team set.
The situation reminds me of Mario Kart, where nearly everyone defaults to the same lightweight and high acceleration setup. Boring! MK Double Dash was the only game to even try circumvent this by offering a random character and kart selection. Remember, there were two characters per kart in that game. We used it all the time, and it was exciting to see what we were given. Of course, the smarter approach would be to give each kart a specific advantage in specific situations or track conditions. Fatter wheels could be less affected by dirt while heavier characters can better survive attacks. Meaning that in some Cups, depending on the tracks involved, you're required to change your setup. In online play, with random courses, the decision becomes one of finding a general compromise option or a risk vs reward setup.
Re: Xbox Announces Next Generation Console, Will Play "Xbox And PC Games"
Interesting times ahead! We were heading down this part of convergence already with the Steam Deck and other handheld gaming consoles, and recently the Xbox Ally. The Ally was a proof of concept and a chance to learn about the market for Microsoft, and optimise the specific Windows OS that will underpin their gaming future. Let's face it, Xbox and PC games were much the same already as they ran on their specific version of Windows, with the Xbox games customised for that platform and the device itself much more affordable. It didn't make much sense for Microsoft to support two ecosystems. Just like the fight against Skynet was about software, not hardware, so will become gaming devices!
PS: I never owned an Xbox and my PC is now 8 years old. I rarely play games on it anyway, and those that I do play are older titles. I might be a potential buyer for whatever this future device is.
Re: Mario Kart World Could Be Getting A Battle Mode Update
I've barely played Battle Mode since the SNES game! I think the 1 vs 1 situation on that version made it such a pure strategic and exciting combat mode. Once the player numbers and map sizes increase, Battle Mode loses its lustre.
@Smackosynthesis Beyond the usual Grand Prix Cups, Time Trials, the 32 courses, connected sections, 24 racers on course, the new railing mechanic, the phenomenal new Knockout Mode and the bonus Free Roam, no, the single player stuff hasn't really changed in Mario Kart World. Sadly, the entire Mario Kart experience, except for the SNES and some handheld versions, has been an "up yours" to solo players. If you can't play multi player, even online, I would not recommend any Mario Kart.
The one caveat with MKW is the two new modes offer some extended interest and, if you like finding and completing tasks, Free Roam will keep you going for eons. A minor update at least tracks all your accomplishments these days. The railing mechanic, if you have patience, is quite novel and it's fun to connect tricks and exploit shortcuts. Unfortunately, due to the usual lack of any real challenge for veterans in the solo modes, there's no incentive to learn such tricks. You can win easily without them. They're only useful online or in Time Trials.
If you have friends, MKW is stunning. The new Knockout Mode is a winner alone. For solo players, especially veterans without an online subscription, pass!
Re: Is Pokémon Pokopia On Switch 1?
If I hear the word "cosy" to describe a game one more time, I might just scream. When did all this "cosy" nonsense start? I swear it was only a few months ago that I first heard it, and now it's an epidemic.
Re: Review: Resident Evil Requiem (Switch 2) - Action And Horror Combine In A Series Highlight
@DashKappei Thanks for your explanation about key cards. Yes, the price difference is "key". In my country, Cyberpunk on data card officially is $120. Star Wars Outlaws on key card is $90. I think in the USA the price difference is typically $10 or $20. Due to the policy of aligned pricing for major published games, releasing on key card also means the eshop price is cheaper. Yep, Cyberpunk and Outlaws are respectively the same $120 and $90 price in the eshop even though there's no card involved. Prices are standard to protect retailers otherwise physical sales would collapse. Example is an indie like Hades 2. $70 physical or $45 eshop? Yep, I know where I'll be buying. Imagine if games like RE or Mario Kart World had such a price disparity.
An often ignored benefit of key cards is that games have a much longer development time before launch. On a data card, games must be finished months in advance for production and shipping. On key card, it can be the day before release. Outlaws notoriously played poorly at a preview event about a month before release. Then it was all fixed.
Key cards are a tricky situation and obviously a pain for many of us. Hopefully, in time, they get cheaper or smaller ones are available.
I guess I should comment about RE Requiem! I've never played an RE game before, and am curious to experience the hype. I'll hope for a demo before buying any game. It reviews so well.
Re: Poll: What's Your Favourite 3DS Model?
I own the 3DS, New 3DS XL and the Samus edition of the latter, which is still in its box. Objectively, the New 3DS XL is the best model due to its improved quality, features and, especially, the 3D effect. If you wanted something more for your pocket, then the New 3DS would be its only rival.
The only thing I didn't like about the New 3DS XL was the cartridge slot position on the lower left, which would often be resting on my fingers while playing. The New 2DS XL, for as bizarre as it was to release so late and quickly disappear from the shelves, at least placed the cartridge slot centrally.
I bought my original 3DS only after the price drop and specifically for Star Fox 64 3D and Mario Kart 7. Such an amazing, litte system. Yes, I did frequently use the 3D! Mostly at a minimal setting.
Re: Marvel Maximum Collection Revives Six Classic Superhero Titles On Switch
The Spider Man game is giving me Bionic Commando vibes. It looks really interesting!
I can't say I know much about any of these games, which is odd because my primary gaming addiction period was the 8 and 16 bit era. I'll likely wait for the reviews and wait for a 50% off sale.
Re: UK Charts: Mario Tennis Fever Gets Lobbed By Old Favourites
Considering that Mario Tennis Fever is exclusively a Switch 2 game, the seventh rank is decent. It's only beaten by Mario Kart World and, potentially, Pokemon ZA if we know the actual Switch 2 sales component. I'm more fascinated by Animal Crossing New Horizons in eighth! That shows the value of new content released to boost an older title's sales. While it shows as "Switch" sales, I bet most sales were by people buying it for their Switch 2.
Edit:
Again, people whinging about the $70 price. It's so tiresome. Nintendo always do standard base pricing. $60 for Switch games. Now, $70 for Switch 2 games. After 8 years of stable prices, paying $10 more after all the inflation, generally longer development times, and a new system, seems more than fair. To expect Nintendo to start pricing by man hours involved or the spurious notion of perceived value is unrealistic, and prices like $50 would likely see them selling at a lost. It costs much more to make a game than paying a bunch of people to sit behind a computer. As consumers, we exercise our purchasing discretion daily. The same here. If Fever is too expensive, don't buy it, or wait for the inevitable eshop 33% off discount. Whinging about Nintendo's pricing policy won't solve anything.
Personally, Fever is a riot in multi player mode, which is how it should be judged. In single player, I merely want a challenge. Fever seems to offer that too. I play sports games for sports, not gimmick Story modes. As for RPG inclusions, those were on Gameboy systems because multi player was diluted and often impractical. On consoles, you only get the basics. Of course, the Switch 2 is hybrid, which is why you get the hybrid Story Mode! It's there for the whingers; not as the main part of the game.
Re: Best Mario Tennis Games Of All Time
@Qwiff Don't forget, Nintendo offered the Nintendo Selects on 3DS too! I waited 6 years for Animal Crossing New Leaf to get cheap because I really wanted to try the series. I also bought Zelda Ocarina, Mario Tennis Open and New SMB 2 cheaply too. Notably, Mario Kart 7 was never discounted because it kept selling, and, like you said, the label was dropped during the Switch era. Nintendo do periodic discounts of 33% off their games in the eshop, so that's something.
Nintendo Selects was really about store shelves and showing a collection of popular selling games at a cheap price to entice buyers. These games typically take years to go on such a label too. I don't see any correlation of that, or games discounted on a failing console, to the price of a newly release game. Besides, in a few years, Nintendo might restore Nintendo Selects and put Fever on it. You never know!
Re: Best Mario Tennis Games Of All Time
@Nep-Nep-Freak Mario Tennis Fever is ranked low in general because of the groundswell of hate against Nintendo, particularly regarding prices. There's a lot of bitter people out there that their expectations weren't met or believe they know better, so any chance to attack Nintendo is taken. IGN is notoriously obsessed about prices, and led their NVC show with "Is Mario Tennis Fever worth $70?" This undermines Nintendo's policy for decades of a standard price structure for all games. During the Switch era it was $60. Now it's $70. While there's a premium level of $80 for things like Mario Kart World, so far that is the only original Switch 2 title at that price (most of us paid $50 via the bundle anyway) and echoes the $70 premium price point of Zelda TOTK on Switch.
The hyper whinging over $10 more on comparative games is unbelievable, if not deranged. We're 8 years beyond the Switch release, costs have increased exponentially through that time, and we're onto a brand new system. Why not $10 more? Whether someone "feels" like a game should be less, that's their consumer discretion. If it's too much, don't buy it. Most of us make this decision already on countless games. Curiously, when the next Zelda arrives, I bet IGN won't be asking, "Is Zelda worth much more than $70?", and imply you should pay $100 for it. That is the logical extension of this nonsense.
What people don't understand is that the entire cost of business is built into a product price. Like the ingredients on a $15 pizza probably cost just $2, the price of a game is not simply the man hours to develop it. With building expenses, computers, energy, administration, manufacturing and shipping, it probably costs $40 just to get a game out. Add the retail margin and Nintendo's margin, we're at $60. The remaining $10 or $20 offsets direct development costs.
As to discounts during the Game Cube era that someone mentioned, the GC was a failing console, so of course Nintendo needed to entice buyers with faster discounts. For something that's selling strongly, Nintendo are rigid. Look at the Switch era. All businesses operate with the knowledge that good times aren't forever, so take advantage of it. This is basic supply and demand.
Yes, Mario Tennis Fever is a superb game, especially in the key domain of its multi player. Objectively, it's the greatest Mario Tennis ever.
Re: Best Mario Tennis Games Of All Time
Call me crazy, I buy sports games to play the actual sport. RPG elements and gimmick modes like story or adventure are mostly irrelevant. I want a fierce, competitive sports game. There is also a strange obsession to harangue some games without any gimmick solo player options while others, like the top two, get a pass. For these reasons, this list of best Mario Tennis games reads as completely bonkers and contradictory.
For the pure tennis sense, Mario Tennis Open on 3DS was phenomenal. What's this excuse about needing friends with a 3DS? You need friends for split screen modes on home systems too. Otherwise, they are duds. 3DS was actually a multi player powerhouse, especially with its game sharing feature that only required one copy of the game. You could also play online, which obviated the need for any gimmick solo player modes. In the Gameboy and GBA era, that was different. They needed a sturdy single player mode at the expense of any meaningful multi player mode. Flip that for systems that were highly accessible for multi player modes. These games are a product of their systems and should be judged accordingly.
My Favourites...
Nothing beats Mario Tennis Open on 3DS. It was the purest and most challenging of the series. That transferred to the multi player options.
Next is Mario Tennis 64 because it did unleash the multi player wonder that is Mario Tennis. Solo mode (various tournaments) wasn't that challenging, nor did the game incude any substantial gimmick solo modes for longevity. While most later games are superior in multi player now, I rate games for their time, and this was the bomb!
In third, Mario Tennis Fever. While I'm still to unlock and unleash the power of all the Fever racquets, everything so far is hilarious fun. Even the single player content is fine. There's a decent and varied amount of it, which adds to the game's overall longevity. I still wouldn't buy it if you can't play with friends or online. As a multi player game, Fever is the most honed of the series. With options for certain Fever racquets, standard tennis, and even ball speed, it's the most featured filled of the series while also staying highly accessible.
Mario Tennis Aces is fourth. It was phenomenal with its battle mechanics that elevated it almost to a combat game. There was plenty of challenge too. The main drawback was casual players struggled with the nuances, so often we played standard tennis in multi player mode.
That's it! Mario Power Tennis I found a banal successor from the N64, so won't even rank it. I boycotted the Wii era, and I've never played the Gameboy era games because, like I said, I play sports games for the sport, not some RPG concoction.
Re: Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Gets Nintendo Switch 2 Upgrade, Out Now
Glad to see the Switch 2 upgrade for Xenoblade Chronicles X is finally released! I might actually play the game now. I was hoping an upgrade would be released, and the small price for it is perfectly acceptable. It's less than the difference between the respective Switch and Switch 2 prices of the game.
Re: Poll: How Would You Rate The Nintendo Classics Virtual Boy Launch Games?
Since I can't play these Virtual Boy games without a ridiculous prop, I voted them all abysmal!
Re: Nintendo Is Considering A Switch 2 Price Hike This Year, According To New Report
@BrewsterTea Not sure from where you got your information, Switch 2 sales are certainly not struggling for them to "continue to struggle". 17.4 million already, which compares to 17.7 in the Switch's first full launch year, which consisted of 13 months. The Switch 2 is only 8 full months in and with 2 full months to go.
Currently there is a groundswell of negativity regarding the Switch 2, notably from haters and jealots, and stories get spun into ridiculous narratives. Even IGN traffics in this garbage, like when it reported Nintendo as saying "late year Switch 2 sales in North America were slightly weaker than expected" without any context of all sales. 90% of comments were people offering reasons for the Switch 2 supposedly failing and offering all sorts of advice to turn the situation around. The contrary analysis from that statement could be sales expectations were slightly too high! Remember, Nintendo could fully supply the market at launch, so obviously that would mean a faster decline by month.
The Switch Lite took over two years to emerge, so I don't see a Switch 2 Lite until 2027. To me, 2025 was the foundation year for the Switch 2 (especially as it was quite a short year for it) and 2026 will be the consolidation year. Nintendo will be pushing the current model and at the current price for as long as possible. They want the installation base as large as possible and set up for a big holiday season.
General advice to anybody wanting to predict Nintendo is to look at their history. They are very predictable.
Re: Nintendo Is Considering A Switch 2 Price Hike This Year, According To New Report
@The_Nintendo_Expat Those prices I would put in the clearance or end of cycle category exceptions I mentioned. The Wii situation is a classic example. Even the 2009 price reduction, I recall that excluding Wii Sports in the bundle. By 2011, Nintendo weren't even shipping Wii to Australia anymore, and I still refused to buy one! Our NES (particularly the updated model) was sold at half price once the SNES arrived, and (you'll love this story!) I once went to Target to buy a Game Cube controller and walked out with a new, silver console! Why? It was only $30 more. 🤣 They were shifting excess stock as the GC cycle was ending. That silver GC became my travelling one for sessions at friends' houses. Guess what? It's still that very travelling bag with controllers and games!
The N64 situation is like 3DS. Priced too high initially and not selling. That's a stated exception. Sony were always the price cut kings until the PS5. This era is the first time I never bought a PS. The thing is, did I go whinge in Sony forums about it priced too high? No. I simply didn't buy one. It sold over 80 million anyway, so obviously the market, in general, accepted it.
Obviously "never" was a ridiculous word to use, and I'm glad you exposed me. I meant that if something is still selling, Nintendo will keep taking. Look at the Switch! Eight years clinging to it and no price reduction. When this article mentions don't expect a Switch 2 price cut any time soon, I'm saying don't expect one any time at all, unless something weird happens.
I'm getting by. Enjoying our summer with swimming, cycling and walking. Not all on the same day, of course! I'm too old for that.
Keep up your feisty work! You keep us all thinking. I love that you can be critical without being personal.
Re: Poll: What's Your Favourite Gen 3 Pokémon?
Blaziken for me. He's such a cutie and lit!
Re: Nintendo Is Considering A Switch 2 Price Hike This Year, According To New Report
@The_Nintendo_Expat Obviously I don't possess every record in every region about Nintendo console pricing, so I mostly go on my memory in my country since the NES days and general observations in more recent generations. The policy is fairly obvious. The initial price is the permanent price. That's why Nintendo waited for the American tariff situation to settle before settling on the $450 there, preferring to make small price increases worldwide on accessories as the general offset. Outside the stated exceptions like clearances and temporary deals, I don't recall Nintendo ever adopting a new lower price. One exception was the 3DS because initially it was too high and not selling, and there will obviously be end of cycle price reductions once a successor is out. I just checked Switch OLED prices in my country and, yes, easy to find 15% off, and it's discounted at Best Buy in the USA. So much for the price increase!
Games are similar and easier to observe because we make continued purchases. $70 is the official retail price, period! Nintendo doesn't drop the price until a clearance situation or to entice a late charge on console and game purchases, like the Player's Choice label at 50% off. Since Zelda TOTK on Switch, Nintendo introduced a premium price level of $10 more, which we saw with Mario Kart World. Lots of ignorance and misinformation about game prices, and I noticed IGN had another massive whinge fest on their NVC show over the weekend, especially regarding Mario Tennis Fever and the supposed "variable pricing" policy not in effect. No, we all know that was BS to explain MKW. It never meant major games selling below the standard price.
On Switch, games were $60. On Switch 2, they are $70. After 8 years of static prices, the higher living costs, and the higher price of game cards, $10 more seems completely reasonable, yet there's still whinging. I'm sick of it. Even the $80 MKW price is dumped into this article without any context. Ignoring the fact MKW seems the only original Switch 2 game at that price point, probably 90% of us bought MKW as part of the bundle for effectively $50 anyway! 🤣
The best indication on fair prices is always the market. Clearly, with the Switch 2 likely to exceed Switch sales in its launch year and with 4 fewer months available, the market is accepting $450 for the device and $70 for games. For the individual whingers that don't like the prices, then don't buy the products. As consumers, we make these decisions every day on everything. I once took my own BBQ sauce to a steak house because I refused to pay $5 for theirs! Nowadays I go sauce-less. 🤭 Whinging won't change anything. To paraphrase George Costanza, this is the price, and we're not changing it for anybody!
Anyway, rant over. 😛 How are you doing, and why are you blurry? 🤗
Re: Nintendo Is Considering A Switch 2 Price Hike This Year, According To New Report
The Switch 2 will never get cheaper because Nintendo never reduces its console prices unless it's a clearance situation or temporary deal. They like to set an initial price and leave it forever, and any price rise might come in an updated model, like the Switch OLED. As for those price increases for the Switch not long after the Switch 2 launched, that's a little deceptive because that's official retail price, and the Switch models are practically on sale permanently at 25% off. The price increase was a strategic one to make the Switch 2 officially look better value and the Switch a good deal at the particular store selling it at discount.
As for an impending price increase for the Switch 2, it doesn't take Einstein to work out higher input costs correlate to higher consumer prices. The issue is when or if Nintendo will budge. Nintendo already has plenty of supply out there and orders for components many months in advance, and tremendous buying power with its suppliers, so might watch for another 6 months before deciding. Of course, let's not forget they could take advantage of the environment and raise prices regardless! Sony and Microsoft did that way before any American tariff or RAM price situation by using inflation and generally higher costs of living that conditioned us to accept higher prices even if there was much less impact on the electronics industry. The PS5 Slim was the first such Slim model to ever launch with a price increase, which was clearly ridiculous when technology traditionally always gets cheaper, and still does in other areas like phones and televisions.
Re: Poll: What's Your Favourite Gen 1 Pokémon?
It must be Pikachu, especially as my mother loved him too. I also like Meowth. He was the coin stage in Pokemon Shuffle (my main familiarity with the Pokemon series) while Gyarados was a powerful and commonly used Pokemon by me in that game.
Re: Poll: What's Your Favourite Gen 2 Pokémon?
Tossed up between Lugia and Ampharos despite not knowing a great deal about Pokemon. Curiously, they are two of the most popular at 6% and 5%, respectively. Umbreon seems to be leading with 7%. Most of my familiarity with these two come from the puzzle game, Pokemon Shuffle. Ampharos was great with the electric shocks and therefore a common selection, while I liked the design of Lugia. I think he was one of the special stages. I selected him as my favourite.
Re: Konami's Anniversary Revival Of Castlevania Is Only Just Beginning, Expect More "New Products"
Belmont's Curse, alone, is probably good enough. It's looking awesome!
In terms of something else, I'd love the NES games completely remade. Graphical overhaul, an extra move or two, and new attacks from enemies. The second game, Simon's Quest, could benefit with some modern features like save points. Please, no fake "quality of life" nonsense like save states and rewind. That's sanctioned cheating. I understand in retro games, if save states are added then may as well add rewind as well. I just loathe these inclusions because they undermine the essence of these games.
As some others said, Symphony of the Night for the first time on a Nintendo system would be great. Of course, update the graphics! Not so much that it needs it. Only that it seems a shame if Sony lost exclusivity to the original after all these decades. I say that as a Nintendo fan!
Re: Jurassic Park: Classic Games Collection To Be Delisted Just Two Years After Release
Please sell it at a discount and I'll buy it! I loved the SNES Jurassic Park and would buy this JP Classic Games Collection just for that. I don't know much about the rest of the games, so they don't add much value. Note: it was 40% off before Christmas, so there's hope.
Quote:
"Thank God this game released physically."
Sure! Just try find a copy now AND watch the price escalate to absurd levels once the game is unavailable from the eshop.
This JP Collection was not a mainstream physical release; instead, a phony, pseudo one by Limited Run Games. I don't count those as a genuine physical release. There are a couple of copies around in my city if I want to waste half a day travelling and pay 50% more than the eshop. No. I'll check the eshop price weekly and launch if there's a discount.
Fascinating comment:
"These companies should really be forced to tell you if something is being delisted a year in advance."
How does that help you? Do you need a year to save the money or organise your finances to buy the game? A shorter period will tempt people to buy immediately rather than wait and forget. Unfortunately, in the retail sector, products get delisted or withdrawn all the time, and there's rarely a warning unless you're signed up and the item is on a watch list or something. If not for this website, perhaps none of us know.
Re: Preview: Despite Low Expectations, Pokémon Pokopia Had Me Grinning From Ear To Ear
I'm no great fan of Pokemon and still knew that Poketopia will be interesting and fun, and likely a huge success.
I'll probably pause on a purchase unless the reviews are a raving endorsement.
For people curious about the performance of Poketopia, obviously it's fine otherwise it would be mentioned. It looks like a fairly basic game that even the Switch could manage.
Re: Review: Mario Tennis Fever (Switch 2) - Slim For Singles, But An Addictive Core Gives It Online Legs
No surprise to read a relatively poor experience for solo players. This is typically the case for any Nintendo sports title, including Mario Kart, as their key purpose is the multi player experience. Even the much vaunted MK8D, the single player was utter trash, especially for MK veterans. Typically the Cups are beaten on the first attempt, which continued into the paid booster courses and into Mario Kart World. At least the latter game included the brand new Knockout Mode and Free Roam to add longevity. I would not mark down Mario Tennis Fever for a slim solo experience because that's simply not the point of these games.
The one caveat with Mario Tennis, or any tennis game or sports game, is challenge. Playing solo means playing through an extended world tour, league, etc, on ever increasing difficulty standards. I recall the original Super Tennis only offered that, and it was a challenge and an enjoyable experience to beat the tour with a female and male player. The final challenge was a match against a super player (I can't remember his name), if I recall. Mario Tennis on 3DS was also a pure and challenging game, and provided one of my best solo experiences from any tennis game. Things like Adventure Modes are often too contrived, lack challenge, and prove underwhelming. Sport is about competition and challenge, so reading that there is some challenge is a positive. With the Fever racquets also sounding very interesting, I'm really looking forward to Mario Tennis Fever.
Re: Hamster's 'Console Archives' Starting Lineup Revealed, Includes More Than 10 Titles
This could be the most uninspiring list of games that I've ever read! Wake me up when there's some highly desirable games or even when Nintendo provides the option to buy games that are currently locked behind their subscription service.
Re: Oblivion, Skyrim And Fallout Switch 2 Physicals Will All Be Code-In-A-Box, Bethesda Confirms
Boxed codes are an insult. I can at least live with key cards because they are an actual item, include some benefits like easy to share, and are, on average, $20 than games on data cards. Boxed codes would be cheaper too.The bonus of that is the same lower price gets reflected in the eshop due to the requirement of a standardised price for mainstream published games. I would just download instead of buying a boxed code.
In saying that, none of these games are of much interest. I've never liked sprawling RPGs or adventure games in the third person (unless the topic is of interest, like Star Wars). Happy to see the Switch 2 get such major third party support, so that bodes well for the future.
Re: Hands On: Does Hollow Knight's Free Upgrade Make A Difference On Switch 2?
4K and 120fps is quite remarkable, even for a relatively basic game. I'm one such person who can't really feel 120 over 60 frames, and that was with Fast Fusion. Metroid Prime 4 was even less so.
In saying all that, no, I won't be trying Hollow Knight again. I'm one of the rare people that simply doesn't like it. I played the demo and something felt off with the entire game. The poll needed an option for, "Tried it, didn't like it, and the upgrade won't entice me to try it again", so answered "Never played and I don't intend to play it". For the question about noticing the upgrade, I answered, "No, too many bugs". The bug being the game itself. 🤭
Edit:
Thanks to the comment from "Darthmoogle" earlier, the graphics are 4K OR 120fps, not 4K and 120fps. At 120fps, resolution is 1080p.
Re: Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase February 2026: Every Announcement, Game Reveal, Trailer
Even though there wasn't too much exciting for me, objectively it was an outstanding Partner Showcase. From Resident Evil Requiem to the triple shot from Bethesda, and then to my three personal favourites of Turok Origins, Super Bomberman Collection and eFootball Kick Off, it oozed quality and quantity!
If I had one gripe, I hoped to see something classic and iconic from years passed, like the Halo series or, for some personal ultra drooling, the updated Perfect Dark from the XB360 and Perfect Dark Zero.
Edit:
I'd like to echo the sentiment from PurpleG above. Yes, the Switch 2 is a phenomenal device. I won't dive into the supremacy debate, except to say these Nintendo Directs are primarily for those owning only a Switch 2, or Switch. That's probably most people! Whether a particular game is better on Switch 2 or PS5 or PC, who cares! If you have the luxury to choose, great for you! Many of us don't. Same scenario for Cyberpunk and Star Wars Outlaws. Yes, older games for people with multiple options. New and exciting games for Nintendo players (I bought both). In this broader context, I can't see how this Partner Showcase wasn't a great one for Nintendo. It also portends well for future partnerships.
Re: Pro-Evolution Soccer Successor 'eFootball' Is Getting A Switch 2 Exclusive Spin-Off
Pro Evolution Soccer were initially very fiddly games (started as ISS Pro on PS), and I much preferred the regular and more responsive International Superstar Soccer series, which started on the SNES as Perfect 11 (ISS) and Fighting 11 (ISS Deluxe) in Japan (if I accurately recall), with full lineage back to Hyper Soccer on the NES. The N64 versions introduced an exciting through ball and played up the search pass, which made them quite a jarring contrast for those coming from PES, now on PS2. ISS was a mess once it arrived on Game Cube while PES thrived on PS2. I recall the even numbered games were often the best, like PES2 and PES4. Ironically, my favourite PES game arrived on the Game Cube as Winning 11 6 Final Evolution, ostensibly PES2.5 with sexy GC controls, so it was really refined! Note that PES and WE numbers were not aligned until years became the suffix in 2008.
I played a few PES games over the years on PS3 and PS4 without getting too excited about any. I'm a Nintendo gamer at heart and still have a huge soft spot for Konami soccer games, so I am interested in eFootball and at least hope it plays well. Otherwise, I'll stick to FC 24, which is actually really good for a EA/FIFA game! Typically I find them fiddly and unresponsive too.
Re: After Multiple Delays, Cult Hit 'Caves Of Qud' Is Finally Hitting Switch This Month
As much as graphics aren't everything, they should at least be something. This looks like a hard No.
Curiously, PC Gamer, in their most recent Top 100 PC Games, included Caves of Qud in the top 10, which I mocked severely because I never heard of it and they left so many universally renowned PC games off the list entirely. In fact, 90% of the comments ridiculed the list. At least I now have some idea about COQ! That's more than I can say about a game that lends its name to a genre. Instead of roguelike, how about we go qudlike?
Edit:
Replying to Mr Awkward (ironic name!) below, I'll mock anything I like, and that's actually with broad understanding of the list in question, so please don't insinuate trash about other people. Show some basic courtesy when replying to people. As I said, 90% of comments ridiculed the list. COQ is simply NOT the 7th best PC ever on the basis of so many universally renown exemplary PC games around (as was my stated rationale). That's all you need to know. It was there as a fanwank exercise and good, old recency bias. Balatro at 8 was another absurdity.
The roguelike term also deserves complete mockery. Fact is that very few people have heard of Rogue, much less can describe anything about it, so to name a genre after it is preposterous. I actually call them re-run games! At least it tells you something about the type of game, just like the names of other genres do.
Re: Talking Point: Nintendo Direct February Partner Predictions - What Do You Want To See?
Not much of interest except for, perhaps, Claire Obscure. I primarily play Nintendo systems for Nintendo games. I'm hoping for an actual Nintendo Direct later in February as they often are.
If I was hoping for something, I'm thinking Xbox games like the Halo series and even the updated Perfect Dark.
Edit:
Regarding Larry's reply below, I referred to the "updated Perfect Dark" (past tense). There was a version on Xbox that I'd like to see on Switch or Switch 2.
As to the cancelled Perfect Dark, I know nothing about it. I don't follow Xbox news and only catch anything incidentally.
Re: Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase Announced For Tomorrow, 5th February 2026
Again, the "leakers" find a date and guess the rest. Later in the week we learnt it would be a Partner Showcase. Disappointing anyway! I primarily play Nintendo systems for Nintendo games. If we don't get an actual Nintendo Direct early in the year (they often are a bit later in February), then we lost that predictability of Nintendo too.
Re: Preview: Five Takeaways From My Time With Virtual Boy On Nintendo Switch Online
@dustinprewitt Regarding the requirement of a Virtual Boy prop, I would not have replied if I could unravel the double negative of this reply: "I wouldn't be shocked if it doesn't actually check to see if you have the appropriate hardware".
Simple answer is you need a prop to play the Virtual Boy games. The Switch 2 uses its light sensor to detect if it is in the prop. Obviously the environment will be very dark! Theoretically, you could tape over the light sensor and trick the Switch 2.
Re: Preview: Five Takeaways From My Time With Virtual Boy On Nintendo Switch Online
When I saw "takeaways" in the headline, I was thinking pizza, hamburgers, tacos, fried chicken, or even Chinese. If only I could be so lucky! Any of those would be preferable to this ridiculous contraption. As much as I often effusively praise Nintendo for their decisions, especially with the Switch 2 and the launch period of games, they lost the plot here. Sitting on a stool at a bench is ridiculous and the antithesis of any sort of console gaming I know. If I want a backache or RSI, I'll play PC games on an uncomfortable chair. I want to sit or recline comfortably on a couch for my game time, and there should be a option to play these Virtual Boy games without the need of burying your face into a prop. Something as basic as showing one of the images expanded on screen and alternative colour options, like black and white, would suffice. Perhaps Nintendo will update the app in time. Once they exhaust all sales of the props, of course!
Edit:
Regarding the question if a prop is required, the simple answer is Yes. The Switch 2 can detect a prop in use via its light sensor. Theoretically, you could tape over the sensor to emulate the darkness inside the prop.
Re: Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Fails To Meets Sega's Expectations
Ultimately, Sonic Cross Worlds lacks character and isn't that much fun in multi player mode. Even the single player, which offers much more longevity to the perpetually limited and non challenging trash in the Mario Kart series, gets mundane.
For all the "critical" response, they don't capture the intangibles of a game's appeal and are often captured by their biases and agenda. I've said often on these pages in defending Mario Kart World as the correct launch title for the Switch 2 because Mario Kart is Nintendo's biggest series by far, which was amplified by an 11 year wait since MK8 and 8 years since the ported version on Switch. That was especially so when the narrative ran that the "critically acclaimed" DK Bonanza should have been the launch title. As if!
Critics often don't understand people, and many approached Mario Kart World as it's still MK, so focused on the bonus Free Roam like it's meant to me Forza Horizon. As if! At IGN, they ranted for 90 seconds about no music player. Give me a break! No, you compare Mario Kart against the core content of previous games. Therefore the tracks, the weapons, the characters, and any new driving mechanic, and how it all integrates. On that level, MKW compares among the best, if not is the best, of any original MK game. Only against the ported MK8D is there a significant debate. Then you consider new stuff like the phenomenal Knockout Mode, and view Free Roam as a bonus, and it's easy to see MKW in a new, and more appropriate, light. Furthermore, MK is ostensibly a multi player game. While I lament the trash single player experience for veterans, multi player eats Sonic Cross Worlds and just about every other game alive. That's why MKW is a raging success and Sonic Cross Worlds isn't.
Re: Talking Point: Where's Your Nintendo Labo Now?
Never bought it. Not that I should say "Get rid of it." What a strange pairing of sentences for an answer! I can see that many people enjoyed their time with Labo, so it was a worthwhile endeavour from Nintendo even if it lacked interest for me.
Edit:
I have no interest in the Virtual Boy nonsense of holding a cardboard prop against your face or even using the expensive plastic device. This is Nintendo being too weird for their own good, and these games should be playable without any contraption. A basic 2D emulation option of showing one of the VB screens expanded and a different colour option (like black and white) can't be that hard, either technically or in inclination.
Re: Upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 Games & Accessories For February & March 2026
Mario Tennis Fever is the main game of interest for me. I've never played a Resident Evil game before, so interesting to see so many people keen for it, even with the key card situation. I hope to try RE one day, perhaps via a demo, to experience the hype. I don't like horror movies, which is why I've always lacked interest. Of course, I hate golf, yet love Mario Golf games. Poketopia I will watch! I'm a minor fan of Pokemon and a major fan of Animal Crossing, so it could be interesting.
I've accepted the key card situation is not changing unless cheaper, smaller data cards arrive or the cards themselves get cheaper over time. Right now, I'm happy to save the average $20, which also materialises in the eshop due to the policy of aligned prices for mainstream published games.
Re: Digital Foundry Delivers Its Tech Review Of Grid Legends On Switch 2
Thanks "Discostew" above for the link to a PS5 comparison. I'm bored of PS4 comparisons. We've known since day 1 and Cyberpunk 2077 that the Switch 2 should always look better. Still, DF said it's "nice" that Grid Legends does looks better. Why? If it didn't, shame! Let's see the Switch 2 against the PS5. After all, that is the measuring stick to determine if the Switch 2 can handle ports of contemporary games. The PS4 is so 2013.
Re: Review: GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition (Switch 2) - Satisfying 'Simcade' Racing Works Best With A GC Pad
I've never regarded analog triggers in racing games, or even in any game, as all that necessary. Mostly they are a gimmick and, in racing games, I'm always all gas anyway. In fact, I typically change button configurations so the gas and brakes are face buttons! I like the triggers for manual gearbox operation. I'm used to that since all the way back to Top Gear on the SNES, and will revert to it if possible. If I can't, I drive automatic.
The more problematic area for me is no split screen option. All racing games should include that. It seems even online multiplayer is limited too. Over the decades I've played so many racing games that none of them are of much interest to me anymore unless racing friends. They need to offer something special, and Grid Legends is clearly lacking in that department.