Comments 946

Re: Talking Point: 'Remake' Vs. 'Remaster' - What's Your Definition?

Harmonie

I thought the definitions were pretty simple and people have just not understood it and mixed them up for so long. We understand this perfectly when it comes to movies!

A Remaster takes an existing game and ups the resolution along with other changes, which are usually very minor.

A Remake builds from the ground up but is conceptually following an old game. There's a lot of wiggle room with remakes. You have OOT3D and MM3D which are extremely conservative in their approach, to the point where they even look like remasters with a few different models here and there until you look at comparison screenshots (and it feels like some of it is actually just remastered, like the music and sound effects). In the middle you have, say the Pokemon mainline remakes and then on the far end you have more drastic reimaginations like the FFVII Remake series. BUT one thing is universal in everything that is a remake and that is that it is built from the ground up. With the rare exception like OOT3D and MM3D, these are very noticeably different from a remaster.

Re: Poll: What's The Best Final Fantasy Game? Rate Your Favourite Mainline & Spin-Offs

Harmonie

I have limited experience with the Final Fantasy series beyond FFXIV of which I've probably put more hours into than any game ever. blushes (it's funny playing it before the rest, because FFXIV is chalk full of references to other FF games that just felt like brand new original content to me lol)

My first experience was FFX on the PS2. I didn't get too far into it, only to this "plant" boss very early in the game. I couldn't beat it. That was that. Then, many years later, I got FFVII when it came out on Switch. I got somewhat into it, but got to this boss I couldn't beat. I think that boss is covered by Rebirth that was just released, so I look forward to getting that when it comes out on PC! I played FFVII Remake shortly after it came out and really liked it. It emotionally wrecked me in parts, too! I know many probably disagree, but I really enjoyed the expansion of content there. Later that year I got into FFXIV, the rest is history.

I had to suspend my FFXIV subscription as I am moving and just don't have money for too many subscriptions. So I decided to get some of the other FF's on the Steam sale - FFXII Zodiac Age, FFXIII (part 1) and FFXV. I hope to enjoy them! (I'm playing FFXII first, and got it first because people talked it up more than the others).

Re: Poll: Do You Want To See 'Super Mario Bros. Wonder 2'?

Harmonie

I'm not big on 2D Mario, so I never picked the game up. I'd much prefer a sequel to Odyssey or a new 3D (in the same style as 64/Sunshine/Odyssey) game instead, personally.

It doesn't mean that Wonder never gets a sequel or anything. But I think it's 3D Mario's turn, now.

Re: Talking Point: Pokémon Presents Predictions - What Are You Expecting?

Harmonie

I think a GameFreak game announcement is very likely (not guaranteed, though!) given the history and knowing that they have nothing releasing at the moment.

As for what, IDK. I hope to god it's not a Lets Go game. I hope that never becomes a series. It's the only mainline Pokemon game I haven't gotten. It's THAT undesirable! lol.

I don't expect Gen V remakes. While a past pattern is not at all a guarantee, While Gen IV did have remakes, Gen V did not. Likewise, while Gen VI did, Gen VII did not. Again, the pattern could just be coincidence, really, could have happened this way for completely different reasons (and Gen III and Gen IV were two generations in a row with remakes, to be fair). But gosh, after the DP remakes, I really have lost faith in the remake series. it's so sad. FR/LG, HG/SS, and OR/AS were great remakes, it's tragic to see what happened with DP. B/W are my top favorite Pokemon games. I have the highest expectations for them given that, and know that if they get the DP treatment that will be, well, a tragedy.

A new generation seems unlikely (but isn't impossible persay), a "third" version seems to have been replaced by DLC (a welcome change to the formula, IMO). So I really don't know what's going to happen, if we'll even seen a game. Would be nice to see a new Legends game! But I'm not convinced that's going to become a series, sadly.

Re: Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase February 2024 - Time, Where To Watch, What To Expect

Harmonie

Is the trend of Directs on a regular basis coming to an end? This is pretty disappointing to get a "partner showcase". Doesn't mean that nothing exciting will be announced. But a few years ago or so we had a Direct drought and I'm hoping we're not heading back into that when we get a "partner showcase" where historically we'd normally expect a regular Nintendo Direct. Worrisome.

Re: Nintendo Reveals New Pastel Pink Switch Joy-Con Set

Harmonie

Oooh. I want this so bad! Finally I can get two pink joycons without some ridiculous method like ordering one set of the Splatoon joycons from two different countries.

Alas, I don't have money to spend on this, so I'm going to have to miss out. T.T

Re: 30 Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games To Look Forward To In 2024

Harmonie

The Thousand Year Door's remake is #1 on my list. The Peach game might be neat, too! Sadly, I don't foresee having money for games this year. =(

I hadn't heard of the Inkulinati game and I had to watch the trailer because I quite like the medieval illuminated manuscript aesthetic, even when it gets really strange - and it does. The crassness I can say I could do without, but that actually exists in real illuminated manuscripts, so it's not necessarily out of line for them to include that.

I think that the style has always been ripe for using in a game. I'm not sure this one's gameplay is for me, but it's fun to see.

Re: Feature: The Real Songs That Inspired Iconic Nintendo Music

Harmonie

I've noticed a similarity between Pokemon G/S/C/HG/SS's "Union Cave" and Stravinsky's Rite of Spring (Mystic Circles of the Young Girls in part 2):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdmcXhXUJjs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i2XOmQd-4o

Also around 0.30 of the above Union Cave video reminds me a lot of the "bridge" between the Berceuse and the Finale in Stravinsky's Firebird.

(at 2.51)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST1aisZxN28

This is super cool to me, as I played Pokemon long before I got into classical music. I have always loved the Union Cave BGM, but then I began to notice the similarities between the two above (which I love Stravinsky, too, no wonder!).

Another one, S.S. Anne theme in Pokemon reminds me of Pachelbel's Canon. I feel like that's more obvious.

Re: Random: Waluigi Designer Shares Scrapped Character Art Of "Walpeach"

Harmonie

Considering Mario and Luigi have their 'evil' counterparts Wario and Waluigi, it makes sense for there to be an evil counterpart of Peach.

With that said, the circumstances under which Waluigi was created were, from what I recall, that Wario needed a partner in Mario Tennis and with Daisy having been brought back from the vault at that point, she became Peach's partner (IIRC, it's been a very long time since I've played Mario Tennis N64).

Also, sadly, Waluigi has not been used outside of spinoff games, even though it's now been over twenty years since he was created.

Nevertheless, I look at the Mario Kart series Wii and beyond and see all of the ridiculous character variations they have come up with for no apparent reason and wonder why Walpeach couldn't just become one of them? At least that'd be a fun character variation, unlike Pink Gold Peach and whatever else they have done.

Re: Review: Bluey: The Videogame (Switch) - Captures The Look, But Not The Family Magic

Harmonie

Ah, well, it doesn't ask for the full price. I understand it might not even match that price, but it does look cute.

I watched a few episodes of the cartoon last night and found it to be amusing, the potty humor parts excluded. It looks like a good show for younger children that parents can find somewhat amusing as well. That's pretty rare for shows in that age group, trust me.

Re: Poll: What's The Best RPG Starring Mario?

Harmonie

The original Paper Mario is #1 in my mind. Although I will definitely say that TTYD is also fantastic. I haven't played any of the other Paper Marios aside from Sticker Star, which I found to be a real drag. I've only played the first two Mario & Luigi games and found them to be okay. I'm not a big fan of SMRPG. It was always a game that just didn't appeal to me. I'm not saying it's bad or anything, just not my style.

Re: Poll: Will There Be A September Nintendo Direct This Year?

Harmonie

I doubt it, but I could be wrong.

I wanted to select "maybe", but I didn't agree with the second part about saying it's too close to the Wonder Direct. Directs to focus on solo titles don't seem to have much bearing on a regular Direct's timing. The reason I'm skeptical of one happening is that we just had the big one in June. While that is the way things USED to be pre-pandemic, we haven't been getting big Directs that regularly so I'm not going to get my hopes up.

Edit: So there was a June 2021 and September 2021 Direct. IDK about last year, I don't think there was anything last summer, but seeing as we did have both in 2021 and did have a September Direct last year, I'm going to change my view that it's actually pretty likely we'll get one. But again, don't want to get my hopes up!

Re: Top 100 Best Nintendo Games Of All Time

Harmonie

F-forty years?! o.o Oh dear, I suppose it has been now. I'm getting old. (I say that, and yet I'm not 40 yet lol)

Disappointed that Pokemon Black/White are so low! They are my top favorite Pokemon games. Also sad to see the Galaxies beating out the other 3D Marios - even Odyssey? Come on, people. =(

Re: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass Wave 5 Arrives Next Week

Harmonie

@romanista Well, it's actually simple why it was a bit of a pleasant surprise:
1. Mario Kart had never been on a handheld system.
2. Mario Kart was not exactly a fully established franchise back then. You had the original on the SNES and then Mario Kart 64. Surely that was enough to think that there would hopefully be future titles in the series, but you still only had two titles.

Re: Talking Point: How Does Switch's Year 7 Compare To Previous Nintendo Consoles?

Harmonie

I've always felt that the Switch has had too many dry years, where the majority of the "big" first party releases were Wii U ports. The system has definitely had a better string of years recently, but man, some of the years have been so dry.

How does it stack up to other systems, though? That's a good question. There have now been many systems and many years.

IMO, the 3DS was particularly strong after its first year. I remember the N64 and GCN being strong as well, but that could just be nostalgia speaking for those two. As I said, it has been many, many years.