JCLKaytwo

@Tayrailbridge Total nonsense. DK "needs" a complete universe refresh after only like 6 major games in the DKC world (and 2 since 2010), and yet Mario's games can keep using the same characters and imagery in every single game?

@Qwiff Late reply but Returns is actually a good deal harder than Tropical Freeze (in base difficulty, not considering Funky Mode or anything like that). Dixie, who is only in Tropical Freeze, is a lot more useful for recovery than Diddy, and the levels themselves are a bit less tough or demanding of precision in Tropical Freeze. There are also other changes that Tropical Freeze made to make the game less punishing like how minecart and rocket barrel levels don't kill you in one hit anymore.

Quite relieved to see more comments spelling "Stickerbush" correctly than incorrectly. We'll get to 100% correct eventually...

Nah, they dodged the blue shell with the Boo, not the mushroom. They're still invisible when the blue shell hits.

When I saw this, I thought they were just gonna add the first 23 songs in the soundtrack, but it seems like they went out of their way to specifically pick all the best and most important songs in the game. So, while I would like to complain about this... I'm also kinda satisfied at the same time?

The fact that MM2 was made in 3 months isn't surprising in the slightest. Maybe if the game had more time in the oven, they would've been able to actually refine the game and it wouldn't have come out as broken and poorly designed as it is.

@ShaolinPrince777 You could say that about literally every single game ever made. This is not unique to Mario 64. You can master the issues of any game ever if you play them enough.

@Serpenterror I don't think upgraded models of the same console like the GB Micro and 2DS support your point very well. Of course they're the same. They're the same console. You might as well include the jump from Switch to Switch OLED on that list

"What's that? Zelda's Adventure, you say? You're absolutely right, of course - this is technically Zelda's second starring role. Well done. Now let's never speak of it again."
Third starring role. We just gonna forget Wand of Gamelon?

Intelligent Systems actually isn't a subsidiary of Nintendo. They're closely affiliated with Nintendo, but not owned by them.

@BodkinDQ Only the original trilogy?

@Lizuka "The Japanese cover could be the cover for basically any Kirby game."
How to reveal you haven't played this game without explicitly saying you haven't played this game

The Japanese cover features the Star Rod and the Fountain of Dreams. It could only be the cover for this game. On the other hand, the US/Europe cover features a copy ability that isn't even in this game.

How the heck did NA/Europe win? Nightmare in Dream Land is one of the worst box arts Nintendo has ever made. It's such a rush job.

Just a bunch of random JPEGs from the anime that have nothing to do with the game (Fighter Kirby isn't even an ability in this game) over a boring black background. Its ominous tone also does not communicate the style of the game at all. So what if the game has "Nightmare" in the title? It's still a remake of Kirby's Adventure and this doesn't sell that at all.

The description for Sticker Star is so weird... Its only flaws are that it's "a touch too familiar" and "might elicit some déjà vu from veterans of the series"? If anything Sticker Star is too different from the other games in the series, to the point that it's unrecognizable. That description needs a rewrite.

@rvcolem1 Why wouldn't we? If I wanna listen to good music, I'll listen to good music.

Mario 3 and World may have been the two best Mario games back in 1990, but nowadays that's kind of silly. Come on people, push your nostalgia aside for once and judge all the games on an equal level.

@ArcticEcho Mario & Luigi is nothing like Octopath so I don't think that's a fair statement to make

@PikminMarioKirby "best since MP8" is an insanely low bar ngl

@TromaDogg
Nintendo Life writers always use "we" instead of "I" to represent their own individual opinions. They do it in every single review. And notice how the "Second Opinion" writers typically do use "I" to represent their opinion, but then when that same person is the main writer of a review, they switch to "we" mode. Is there a rule or something that nobody is allowed to use "I" in reviews? If so, I truly don't understand why; it just comes across as unprofessional writing that directly detracts from the reviews, and there's no real benefit from it.

@Olliemar28 I appreciate your reply. I just feel that it's hard to take the review seriously as your words alone with all this "we" talk. It makes me have to suspend disblief... which is something that nobody should have to do while reading a review of all things. It also makes these reviews lack a personal touch that makes some reviews more convincing. Just my thoughts.

Is there a rule that reviewers can't say "I" or "me"? This review is filled with instances of "we" or "us" being used in association with extremely specific feelings that likely only one person experienced. It just makes you all look like a hivemind, and it completely takes me out of the review. I think these reviews would be a lot more effective if the reviewers said "I" and "me" for once. It would more clearly represent their own thoughts and make the review more personally engaging. It's why I only listen to the "second opinion" segments at the end of Nintendo Life review videos.

@Princess_Lilly Ah yes, because Pokemon HGSS, Ocarina of Time 3D, Link's Awakening for Switch, Zero Mission, Samus Returns, Xenoblade Definitive Edition, Kirby Super Star Ultra, and Paper Mario TTYD for Switch are all "just watered down, simplified experience" compared to the original games. Is that correct?

Just further proof that Nintendo can release the exact same game again, call it a "sequel", and Nintendo Life will give it a 9/10. Why am I not surprised?

@Princess_Lilly "No remake's gonna be better than/as good as the OG"
How is it even possible to say something like that?

@Spider-Kev But the game is finished??? It's polished to perfection, and the bugs that were fixed were encountered by nearly nobody.

@Spider-Kev If you're not talking about this game specifically, then why did you comment it under this article?

@beltmenot Did you read my comment? My issue isn't that I disagree with their opinion, it's that they gave an opinion without ever actually explaining said opinion. I feel like explaining an opinion should be the bare minimum for a professional reviewer; especially an opinion as substantial as "best since [blank] / better than [blank] / not as good as [blank]" (and other similar phrases). That's not the kind of thing you just say matter-of-fact and then move on.

This reviewer made that same statement FIVE different times throughout the review (including the review's title). That makes the lack of explanation even worse. How is it possible to repeat an opinion so frequently throughout a review without even making an attempt to clarify it once? If that isn't textbook bad writing I don't know what is.

So it's the best 2D Mario since Mario World. Cool. But in the reviewer's opinion, why isn't it the best 2D Mario, period? Would it hurt to expand on that statement by just adding a few extra sentences to the review comparing the game to World? Because all I see here in this review is endless praise, endless praise, not the best 2D Mario x5. Not exactly the most informative thing I've read.

It's honestly so funny how this game got a 10/10 from this site.

I mean... it's certainly far from a bad game, but there is not a single thing about this game that warrants a 10. I don't really see an argument for this game getting anything higher than an 8, even for the standards of 2009. If this game is a 10, then this must be one easy-to-please reviewer

Yet another Mario Wonder review that praises it to high heavens, but then calls it "the best 2D Mario since Super Mario World", as if that's the highest possible praise a game could get, without ever actually explaining WHY they think World is better than Wonder. As if it doesn't matter how good a game may be, Mario World is just Too Iconic™ to ever possibly be surpassed. Add this to the depressingly large list of reviews that should not be taken seriously.

@Nintendo4Sonic And there are plenty others with the opinion that Dread is the best 2D Metroid ever made, so...

@Nintendo4Sonic Metroid Dread is one of the most deserving 10/10s on the entire Switch library imo

Really strange list.

Coral Capers and the rest of DKC1's underwater levels are pretty unremarkable aside from the music obviously and Enguarde. The levels from Tropical Freeze's world 4 (Amiss Abyss in particular imo) are wayyy better than Coral Capers.

Even if you think the Water Temple is not as bad as people make it out to be, it still belongs nowhere near a list of the best underwater levels on the Switch. Let's not swing the pendulum too far in the opposite direction. Labyrinth Zone as well just feels like it's on this list to stir up discussion.

Bubble Man stage is obnoxious with the instakill spikes and the waterfall is hard to look at.

Lake Kingdom is such a nothing level. It's very pretty but there is so little to do in it.

@JoakimZ Tales of Symphonia and Pikmin 1/2 were remasters, but TTYD is a remake. From a game development standpoint it's basically a new game.

@Jhomesjones Maybe the fact that it's aged poorly in every single aspect?

Okay but where's the Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble review?

If this can get a review then why can't Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble?

Seeing private lobbies be added to F-Zero 99 is incredible. This builds the bridge between single-player and 99-player that the game was missing. Now I think it's safe to call F-Zero 99 a full-fledged game, and that's so exciting.

The only thing left is to add local multiplayer.

The fact that these tracks from 2023 fall below the graphical standards that the game set in 2014 is egregious. Visuals are far from the most important aspect of a Mario Kart game, but this review feels actively negligent by not mentioning the subpar visuals once. I'm not one to question the integrity of a reviewer, but you can't just completely avoid talking about the elephant in the room.

It's also interesting how you criticized Sky-High Sundae as a disappointment in your wave 2 review, but call it a "delightful" standout here. All these aspects, plus the 9/10 score after a bunch of 7/10 reviews of individual waves makes this review feel weirdly dishonest.

Ok but where's the Tilt 'n' Tumble review?

@-wc-
F-Zero 99 is a modified version of the original F-Zero.
Mario 3 and Mario World are not modified versions of the original Super Mario Bros.
That's the difference.

Wait, why is there still no review for Kirby Tilt n Tumble?

Where's Mario & Luigi?

Moonview Highway wasn't that boring in Mario Kart Wii. This new version has substantially less vehicles, and said vehicles all happen to drive much slower. It removes all challenge from the original and brings out the relatively simple track layout.

"Smash Bros. enthusiasts who haven't taken the plunge into the franchise yet will particularly enjoy the GBA version of Together, We Ride."

Ummm... you linked the SiIvaGunner version. Try again lmao

Love the Yoshi's Island track, it's wonderful.

Riverside Park really shouldn't be the one that's singled out for criticism. DS Mario Circuit is right there. It's not a bad track, but totally unnecessary. There's already 3 other Mario Circuits in the game and this one does very little to set itself apart.

@Uncle_Franklin

You're going into semantics, rather than making an attempt to understand my argument. Yes, you are correct, if that's what you wanted to hear. It still doesn't prove or disprove my point, which is that Kirby's difficulty shouldn't be seen as a bad thing.

I must add that many reviews for this game (and other Kirby games) have explicitly criticized the easiness of the main campaign and/or the first few worlds specifically. A criticism which Mario games never seem to receive despite them being on similar levels. Unless you only read NL's review of this game and no others, nothing about my words is arbitrary. I am just calling attention to a double standard that very much does exist.

(And all that aside... the "main game" is called the "main game" for a reason)

@Uncle_Franklin You're completely missing my point. All player's main impressions of a game will come from the main campaign. I truly do not understand how the existence of a challenging bonus level (that is not only optional, but requires 100%ing every level in the entire game to even access in the first place) somehow makes the main campaign of 3D World less easy.
What you are REQUIRED TO PLAY is of similar difficulty to a Kirby game. There's nothing more to it.

@Uncle_Franklin

"This Kirby game, according to a couple of reviews anyhow, doesn't do the gaming equivalent."

Never understood that mindset. I think Kirby has plenty that can appeal to adult gamers. The copy abilities have more complex movesets than traditional platformer power-ups, allowing for more depth, choice, and variety with the gameplay. Fans of the Smash Bros. games will feel well at home with the directional attacks, as Smash's style of controls was adapted from Kirby Super Star. And all the lore and backstory that Kirby games typically contain can give players something to think about.

@Uncle_Franklin

Champion's Road is an optional post-game level. I already clarified that I'm talking about the main campaign.

@nimnio It is a totally fair comparison. There isn't much challenge in the NSMB games, 3D Land, 3D World, or Odyssey whatsoever, unless you're going for optional collectibles and post-game levels. It doesn't take much skill at all to beat their main campaigns as they're inherently designed to be as accessible as possible. Tell me you were genuinely challenged by, say, Super Mario 3D Land, outside of the 8 special worlds. It's the exact same as what Kirby does: effortlessly easy main campaigns with difficult bonus content. Comparing differences in difficulty is just comparing "absurdly easy" with "slightly more absurdly easy".

And that's not a bad thing at all. It's not a bad thing in Mario, it's not a bad thing in Yoshi, and we need to stop acting like it's a bad thing in Kirby. What matters is if it's fun.