Worth noting SHARK! SHARK! was originally to be an exclusive for the doomed Intellivision Amico. Switch seems like a much better fit. I hope it does well.
I suppose I can relate. I backed the Kickstarter game "Heart Forth, Alicia" in April 2014. For Wii U. It is still in development, with occasional updates from the developer. Every update is blasted with comments from backers unhappy with the nine years of development hell. Every original platform announced for this game has been discontinued: Wii U, 3DS, PS4, and Vita. I will be shocked if it ever releases at all
The nice thing about this report (if true) is that most of the major publishers and indies are still supporting PS4 and, to a lesser extent, Xbox One, because of their huge install bases. The gap from PS4 to PS5 is much less pronounced than it was for PS3 to PS4. Heck, very few games are still hitting the fabled "4K + 60fps" target, and no one has figured out how to do ray tracing with high performance yet, on consoles anyway.
(Also with Xbox Series, publishers are stuck with the need to create a "low-spec" version for Series S, as Microsoft requires it. I suppose it's not a leap to suggest a similar approach could make sense for multiplatform releases including the next Switch.)
I think this estimate of PS4 parity makes a lot of sense, and could result in strong third-party support for the Switch successor.
I guess I'm easy to please, at least as Nintendo fans go. As long as there are a few welcome surprises, I'm usually very happy with Nintendo Directs, and I was certainly satisfied with this one.
It helps that I long ago made peace with the fact that we are never, ever getting Mother 3, and that Metroid Prime 4 is vaporware.
Sigh. At some point, I think Nintendo is just going to say "to heck with it" and announce that the Zelda games take place in various dimensions of a multiverse
MythForce looks heckin' good, but I really want to see a review from this fine website before I take the plunge. Probably going with the Limited Run (sigh) physical copy anyway
Regardless of the circumstances, we can all agree Charles is a CLASS ACT and is handling the situation with absolute grace and professionalism.
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Charles at an event a few years ago. He posed for a photo with me, autographed a Mario poster, and briefly chatted. He was so genuinely sweet and kind and happy to meet me, even though I'm probably the millionth fan he's encountered.
I doubt we'll ever know exactly what transpired to get us to this point, because Nintendo is Nintendo and Charles will respect whatever agreement they made with him, to protect his own privacy and Nintendo's. But I wish him the very best for all he's done for the community, and I hope everyone will join in supporting the new voice actors!
I am bummed, disappointed, etc. I had the privilege of meeting Charles at Dallas Fan Expo in 2021. He is such a a sweet, kind man. I will really miss him as the voice of Mario, and no one can replace him.
That said, I would caution everyone against any outrage. We don't know who initiated this, we don't know if Nintendo will use AI or a cheaper VA or whatever, and Mr. Martinet is a class act, so he will never say publicly if he was fired or told they were moving on. (He probably has a big NDA about that anyway.)
I really do wish him all the best, and I hope everyone is welcoming to the next Mario VA, assuming it's a human. If it's not, then I will join you all with pitchforks and torches at the ready.
I still have my original Virtual Boy and eight games. I love a lot about it, but I really wish I could play it for longer than a few minutes at a time. It really does cause severe eye strain now that I'm in my 40s.
Highly, HIGHLY recommended. I have 100+ hours on my PC, and I am going to start all over again on my Switch. Addictive, charming, and fun! I promise you will get your $5 / €5 / £4 / worth.
190 hours, got all shrines and lightroots, completed all temples, beat the final boss, and I'm at around 60%. I got tired of trying to find all the caves / Bubul frogs, Addison locations, etc. Absolutely no way I am going to try and find all the Korok seeds.
I love how much content Nintendo crammed into this game, but I doubt very much I will ever attempt to "90 percent" the game like I did Breath of the Wild - that is, everything except Korok seeds.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but even Wii U never got a price drop, at least not officially. I doubt we'll see a price cut on Switch, even for the non-OLED model.
What if Nintendo treated Smash like a "live service" but in a good way? Sort of like Fortnite, with regular new guest characters and stages joining.
I realize this is impossible to do at the level of quality demanded by Smash. Fortnite and other live service games are built for flexibility. But if Smash could feasibly have quarterly updates and maintain the same high standards, I would gladly pay a subscription fee or buy "battle passes".
I love the Zelda series, but this one just never worked for me. I gave up without finishing it the first two times I tried to play; I just got bored!
I will give it another go on the Switch, since I really do want to be able to say I've finished every game in the series, except the dreadful DS games. I hate the touch-screen controls. And also Tri Force Heroes. It got too frustrating to play solo!
What can I say? I'm a sucker. I buy a lot of games from Limited Run, in spite of their abysmal practices... because I collect physical Nintendo Switch games, and LR gets exclusivity to an awful lot of them.
Now I get to play the exciting game "Which Comes First: Nintendo Switch Successor Announced, or My Copy of Castlevania Advance Collection Arrives in the Mail?"
I have grown weary of Nintendo's inability (or refusal) to provide sufficient product to meet demand. It is -slightly- more understandable with respect to hardware; complex things like consoles and controllers do require parts from various supply chains, which can be disrupted. But for things like amiibo and Special Edition games - which are mostly plastic, paper, and cardboard packaging - it's hard to believe Nintendo isn't trying / doesn't care about meeting demand.
I really appreciate this feature! I hope NintendoLife and its sister sites will be able to implement it on older reviews and game profile pages as well.
I saw Metal Storm X on the list and I was delighted... until I looked up the game and realized it has no connection whatsoever to the NES game of the same name.
I played Witcher 3 on my Switch when it came out and loved it, for all its faults. I re-played it on PS5 when the new update came out last December, and it really does make the game better in many small but meaningful ways. Quick-casting is especially welcome. The "forgotten armor" (Netflix DLC) is pretty cool too
@PJOReilly just want to say I really like the new "Accessibility Features" sidebar widget thing. I haven't noticed it in previous reviews, but I will look for it from now on!
I did hear about the Minus World quite literally on a school playground in the late 1980s, but the method described to me for getting there was not at all accurate. If I recall correctly, some kid claimed he had gotten there by deliberately jumping in one of the holes in 1-1 and hitting the side blocks at a specific angle. Of course, I tried this many times, to no avail, and wrote it off as an urban legend until many years later when I discovered the Minus World, like the One Piece, is REEEEAAALLLL
Thank you for publishing my letter! The best idea I have for a way to curate the eShop without straight up arbitrarily blocking releases based on perceived quality might be to create a separate "Re-releases and Extra Editions" tab for all the riffraff. Just reserve the "New Releases" section for actual, original games that clearly had some effort put into them.
This actually looks like it could be quite good. I'll wait for a review, for sure, but I'm optimistic they can retain the "charm" (cough) of the CD-i games while also providing something that's fun to play.
This is a great way to release a historically-significant but badly-aged game like Karateka today. I imagine most modern players would find Karateka to be sluggish and clunky. Making it available as an interactive documentary is a much more appealing way to experience it!
I imported this game from Playasia a couple of years ago, and it is very playable in spite of the Japanese menus. The games in the collection are arcade-perfect and have lots of great touches from M2.
The JP version is still available, though it has gotten fairly expensive, so the Limited Run option is there if you're interested and don't mind waiting about a year to receive your purchase.
Oy, I literally defeated the final boss and completed my run just hours before this dropped. Oh well! I never encountered any bugs, and I prefer to play without "extra items" from amiibo, channel rewards, or item duplication glitches, so it doesn't matter, I guess.
(To be clear, I don't think it's wrong or bad to use amiibo or even item duplication! If that makes the game more fun for you, go nuts. Do pour one out for the TotK speedrunners, though, as they have to start all over again every time a new patch drops.)
@Olliemar28 please consider writing an official review! It would be fun to read your tortured reactions in detail, and maybe get a front-runner for "Worst Switch Game of the Year" on Metacritic. Even Loop8 doesn't deserve that.
"By November 2018, Switch had installed itself on Wii U's resting place, plucking the flowers that grew there and pressing them into Deluxe editions for its own catalogue"
I'm a little confused by this "announcement," as Xtreme Sports for Nintendo Switch was announced in February by Limited Run. They already sold out the pre-orders for the physical editions months ago. (Edit: never mind, I guess this is just the release date for the digital version being announced.)
I have around 40 hours of Vampire Survivors played on Steam, and I only set it aside because I was so confident that it would come to Switch, which is where I *really want to play it. Very happy about this announcement! I can't recommend VS enough. A fantastic value at twice the price!
I'm pretty sure the entire point of the name is to get gaming news websites to report on it, for free publicity. In that light, it is apparently a very successful name.
I need an option of "I'm actually near completing it, I think!"
130 hours in, probably 75% of quests and primary objectives complete. I can go to the final (?) area anytime I want now, but I'm still aiming for all shrines and lightroots, and finishing most quests.
I am 115 hours in. Still only three of the "Regional Phenomena" quests completed, around 115 shrines, and about 60% of the Depths mapped via lightroots. I can honestly say there isn't anything I wish I had known sooner. The joy of discovery in this game, from abilities to new places, cannot be overstated. I find something new every single time I play!!!
Reminder: last June, Fanbyte's Imran Khan reported that this game was in development but "shelved indefinitely" after it tested very poorly internally. He got 100% of the other details correct, including the horsehead mask guy and participation with smartphones.
Comments 1,376
Re: Review: EA Sports FC 24 - The Best Football Game On Any Nintendo System, Finally
7.8/10 too much soccer
Re: Nintendo Download: 28th September (North America)
Worth noting SHARK! SHARK! was originally to be an exclusive for the doomed Intellivision Amico. Switch seems like a much better fit. I hope it does well.
Re: 'Hatch Tales' Release Date Finally Revealed Six Years On
I suppose I can relate. I backed the Kickstarter game "Heart Forth, Alicia" in April 2014. For Wii U. It is still in development, with occasional updates from the developer. Every update is blasted with comments from backers unhappy with the nine years of development hell. Every original platform announced for this game has been discontinued: Wii U, 3DS, PS4, and Vita. I will be shocked if it ever releases at all
Re: 'Hidden Gems: Volume One' Brings Four Classic Commodore 64 Games To Switch Tomorrow
Out of all the games for Commodore 64, these are definitely four of them.
Re: Review: MythForce - A Decent Roguelite Buried By An Absolutely Dire Switch Port
Wow. I was really excited for this game, but glad I waited for a review. Maybe I'll take a look at it on PS5
Re: Review: Trombone Champ - A Hilarious Party Game That Blows A Big Raspberry At Perfection
@rushiosan I have the same question. I want to recommend this game to a friend, but she only has a Switch Lite.
Re: Nintendo Reportedly Briefed Activision On 'Switch 2' Back In 2022
The nice thing about this report (if true) is that most of the major publishers and indies are still supporting PS4 and, to a lesser extent, Xbox One, because of their huge install bases. The gap from PS4 to PS5 is much less pronounced than it was for PS3 to PS4. Heck, very few games are still hitting the fabled "4K + 60fps" target, and no one has figured out how to do ray tracing with high performance yet, on consoles anyway.
(Also with Xbox Series, publishers are stuck with the need to create a "low-spec" version for Series S, as Microsoft requires it. I suppose it's not a leap to suggest a similar approach could make sense for multiplatform releases including the next Switch.)
I think this estimate of PS4 parity makes a lot of sense, and could result in strong third-party support for the Switch successor.
Re: Jurassic Park: Classic Games Collection Adds Two Sega Genesis Titles
This is FANTASTIC news. Went from a "eh, probably" to a "must-buy" for me.
Re: Poll: What Did You Think Of The Nintendo Direct, Then?
I guess I'm easy to please, at least as Nintendo fans go. As long as there are a few welcome surprises, I'm usually very happy with Nintendo Directs, and I was certainly satisfied with this one.
It helps that I long ago made peace with the fact that we are never, ever getting Mother 3, and that Metroid Prime 4 is vaporware.
Re: TOTK Director Is Extremely Vague On Game's Placement In Zelda Timeline
Sigh. At some point, I think Nintendo is just going to say "to heck with it" and announce that the Zelda games take place in various dimensions of a multiverse
Re: Nintendo Download: 7th September (North America)
MythForce looks heckin' good, but I really want to see a review from this fine website before I take the plunge. Probably going with the Limited Run (sigh) physical copy anyway
Re: Shigeru Miyamoto Thanks Charles Martinet For Being The Voice Of Mario In Heartfelt Message
Regardless of the circumstances, we can all agree Charles is a CLASS ACT and is handling the situation with absolute grace and professionalism.
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Charles at an event a few years ago. He posed for a photo with me, autographed a Mario poster, and briefly chatted. He was so genuinely sweet and kind and happy to meet me, even though I'm probably the millionth fan he's encountered.
I doubt we'll ever know exactly what transpired to get us to this point, because Nintendo is Nintendo and Charles will respect whatever agreement they made with him, to protect his own privacy and Nintendo's. But I wish him the very best for all he's done for the community, and I hope everyone will join in supporting the new voice actors!
Re: Charles Martinet Will No Longer Be The Voice Of Mario
I am bummed, disappointed, etc. I had the privilege of meeting Charles at Dallas Fan Expo in 2021. He is such a a sweet, kind man. I will really miss him as the voice of Mario, and no one can replace him.
That said, I would caution everyone against any outrage. We don't know who initiated this, we don't know if Nintendo will use AI or a cheaper VA or whatever, and Mr. Martinet is a class act, so he will never say publicly if he was fired or told they were moving on. (He probably has a big NDA about that anyway.)
I really do wish him all the best, and I hope everyone is welcoming to the next Mario VA, assuming it's a human. If it's not, then I will join you all with pitchforks and torches at the ready.
Re: Feature: Meet The Virtual Boy Fan Making New Tech And Games For Nintendo's Console Curio
I still have my original Virtual Boy and eight games. I love a lot about it, but I really wish I could play it for longer than a few minutes at a time. It really does cause severe eye strain now that I'm in my 40s.
Re: Nintendo Download: 17th August (North America)
Poll is still broken.
Re: Review: Vampire Survivors - Kiss Healthy Sleep Goodbye With This Must-Play Roguelike
Highly, HIGHLY recommended. I have 100+ hours on my PC, and I am going to start all over again on my Switch. Addictive, charming, and fun! I promise you will get your $5 / €5 / £4 / worth.
Re: Talking Point: After Three Months, What's Your Zelda: TOTK Completion Percentage?
190 hours, got all shrines and lightroots, completed all temples, beat the final boss, and I'm at around 60%. I got tired of trying to find all the caves / Bubul frogs, Addison locations, etc. Absolutely no way I am going to try and find all the Korok seeds.
I love how much content Nintendo crammed into this game, but I doubt very much I will ever attempt to "90 percent" the game like I did Breath of the Wild - that is, everything except Korok seeds.
Re: Poll: Do You Think Switch Can Catch PS2's Total Sales Before 'Switch 2' Arrives?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but even Wii U never got a price drop, at least not officially. I doubt we'll see a price cut on Switch, even for the non-OLED model.
Re: Vampire Survivors Has A Director's Cut But It Might Not Be Released
The PC version is great, and I have eagerly awaited a Switch port! Easily my most-anticipated game of the month.
Re: Talking Point: Would A Third Wave Of Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC Have Been Too Much?
What if Nintendo treated Smash like a "live service" but in a good way? Sort of like Fortnite, with regular new guest characters and stages joining.
I realize this is impossible to do at the level of quality demanded by Smash. Fortnite and other live service games are built for flexibility. But if Smash could feasibly have quarterly updates and maintain the same high standards, I would gladly pay a subscription fee or buy "battle passes".
Well, that and fix the dang online
Re: Review: The Legend Of Zelda: Oracle Of Ages - An Engrossing Tale And True Series Classic
I love the Zelda series, but this one just never worked for me. I gave up without finishing it the first two times I tried to play; I just got bored!
I will give it another go on the Switch, since I really do want to be able to say I've finished every game in the series, except the dreadful DS games. I hate the touch-screen controls. And also Tri Force Heroes. It got too frustrating to play solo!
Re: Castlevania Advance Collection Scores A Physical Switch Release, Pre-Orders Live
What can I say? I'm a sucker. I buy a lot of games from Limited Run, in spite of their abysmal practices... because I collect physical Nintendo Switch games, and LR gets exclusivity to an awful lot of them.
Now I get to play the exciting game "Which Comes First: Nintendo Switch Successor Announced, or My Copy of Castlevania Advance Collection Arrives in the Mail?"
Re: Random: Fan Reimagines Resident Evil 4 As A 2D Side-Scroller
I love this. It looks really interesting! I'd buy it
Re: Poll: Were You Able To Get The New Super Smash Bros. Ultimate amiibo?
I have grown weary of Nintendo's inability (or refusal) to provide sufficient product to meet demand. It is -slightly- more understandable with respect to hardware; complex things like consoles and controllers do require parts from various supply chains, which can be disrupted. But for things like amiibo and Special Edition games - which are mostly plastic, paper, and cardboard packaging - it's hard to believe Nintendo isn't trying / doesn't care about meeting demand.
Re: Poll: Box Art Brawl: Might & Magic: Clash Of Heroes (DS)
NA1 seems like it might be a reprint, with the IGN review quote on it. Regardless, I just like the nice balanced logo for the EU version.
Re: Site News: Nintendo Life Partners With Family Gaming, Brings Accessibility Info To Reviews And Game Pages
I really appreciate this feature! I hope NintendoLife and its sister sites will be able to implement it on older reviews and game profile pages as well.
Re: Nintendo Download: 20th July (North America)
I saw Metal Storm X on the list and I was delighted... until I looked up the game and realized it has no connection whatsoever to the NES game of the same name.
Re: New Star GP Brings Retro-Inspired Racing To Switch Later This Year
We are spoiled for choice with retro racers on Nintendo Switch... and yet all I really want is the HD port of Daytona USA lol
I will almost certainly be adding this one to my collection.
Re: The Witcher III On Switch Finally Gets DLC Inspired By The Netflix Series
I played Witcher 3 on my Switch when it came out and loved it, for all its faults. I re-played it on PS5 when the new update came out last December, and it really does make the game better in many small but meaningful ways. Quick-casting is especially welcome. The "forgotten armor" (Netflix DLC) is pretty cool too
Re: Review: Pikmin 4 - Relaxed, Refined Real-Time Strategy, Ready To Crack The Mainstream
@PJOReilly just want to say I really like the new "Accessibility Features" sidebar widget thing. I haven't noticed it in previous reviews, but I will look for it from now on!
Re: Poll: How Many Of You Have Actually Visited 'Minus World' In Super Mario Bros.?
I did hear about the Minus World quite literally on a school playground in the late 1980s, but the method described to me for getting there was not at all accurate. If I recall correctly, some kid claimed he had gotten there by deliberately jumping in one of the holes in 1-1 and hitting the side blocks at a specific angle. Of course, I tried this many times, to no avail, and wrote it off as an urban legend until many years later when I discovered the Minus World, like the One Piece, is REEEEAAALLLL
Re: Mailbox: Nintendo Life Letters Page - Loose Carts, Old Fogeys, Other Ms
Thank you for publishing my letter! The best idea I have for a way to curate the eShop without straight up arbitrarily blocking releases based on perceived quality might be to create a separate "Re-releases and Extra Editions" tab for all the riffraff. Just reserve the "New Releases" section for actual, original games that clearly had some effort put into them.
Re: Random: Digital Foundry Says Switch 'Last Of Us' Clone Has "No Redeeming Features Whatsoever"
I would love to see the publisher lean into this and make an anti-accolades trailer to promote the game:
"No redeemable features whatsoever... the worst game we ever reviewed" -Digital Foundry
"Seriously, don't bother" -NintendoLife
"Brief, boring, and broken. 0.5/10" -The Jimquisition
"Unfortunately, we cannot give zero stars. 1/5" -Eurogamer Germany
Re: Arzette Is A "Spiritual Successor" To The Infamous Zelda CD-i Games And It's Coming To Switch In 2023
This actually looks like it could be quite good. I'll wait for a review, for sure, but I'm optimistic they can retain the "charm" (cough) of the CD-i games while also providing something that's fun to play.
Re: Digital Eclipse Reveals 'Making Of Karateka' Interactive Documentary For Switch
This is a great way to release a historically-significant but badly-aged game like Karateka today. I imagine most modern players would find Karateka to be sluggish and clunky. Making it available as an interactive documentary is a much more appealing way to experience it!
Re: Random: Zelda: TOTK Players Are Tackling The Final Boss With Creative Ultrahand Solutions
Greatest game of all time.
Seriously, I laughed so much at this. Great post!
Re: M2's 'Kyukyoku Tiger-Heli Collection' For Switch Has Been Rated By The ESRB
I imported this game from Playasia a couple of years ago, and it is very playable in spite of the Japanese menus. The games in the collection are arcade-perfect and have lots of great touches from M2.
The JP version is still available, though it has gotten fairly expensive, so the Limited Run option is there if you're interested and don't mind waiting about a year to receive your purchase.
Re: Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Update Now Live (Version 1.2.0), Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Oy, I literally defeated the final boss and completed my run just hours before this dropped. Oh well! I never encountered any bugs, and I prefer to play without "extra items" from amiibo, channel rewards, or item duplication glitches, so it doesn't matter, I guess.
(To be clear, I don't think it's wrong or bad to use amiibo or even item duplication! If that makes the game more fun for you, go nuts. Do pour one out for the TotK speedrunners, though, as they have to start all over again every time a new patch drops.)
Re: Random: A 'Last Of Us' Clone Is Available On Switch, But Seriously, Don't Bother
@Olliemar28 please consider writing an official review! It would be fun to read your tortured reactions in detail, and maybe get a front-runner for "Worst Switch Game of the Year" on Metacritic. Even Loop8 doesn't deserve that.
Re: Talking Point: How Does Switch's Year 7 Compare To Previous Nintendo Consoles?
"By November 2018, Switch had installed itself on Wii U's resting place, plucking the flowers that grew there and pressing them into Deluxe editions for its own catalogue"
This is outstanding writing. Love it xD 10/10
Re: WayForward's Game Boy Color Classic 'Xtreme Sports' Comes To Switch This August
I'm a little confused by this "announcement," as Xtreme Sports for Nintendo Switch was announced in February by Limited Run. They already sold out the pre-orders for the physical editions months ago. (Edit: never mind, I guess this is just the release date for the digital version being announced.)
Re: Poll: What Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Wave 5 DLC Racer Are You Most Excited About?
I wouldn't say I'm particularly excited about any of them, though of course I do welcome all the new racers.
My unpopular opinion: I still want "Smash Kart" with lots more non-Mario / 3rd-party characters.
Re: Feature: 17 Reasons To Be Excited About The Super Mario RPG Remake
Strong agree with everything here, though I think your dates may be off: Sonic 3D Blast and Super Mario RPG both released in 1996, not years apart.
Re: Vampire Survivors Finally Comes To Switch This August With Couch Co-op
I have around 40 hours of Vampire Survivors played on Steam, and I only set it aside because I was so confident that it would come to Switch, which is where I *really want to play it. Very happy about this announcement! I can't recommend VS enough. A fantastic value at twice the price!
Re: This Side-Scrolling Shmup Has Intriguing Gameplay, But A Terrible Name
I'm pretty sure the entire point of the name is to get gaming news websites to report on it, for free publicity. In that light, it is apparently a very successful name.
Re: Poll: Are You Still Playing Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom?
I need an option of "I'm actually near completing it, I think!"
130 hours in, probably 75% of quests and primary objectives complete. I can go to the final (?) area anytime I want now, but I'm still aiming for all shrines and lightroots, and finishing most quests.
Re: Legend Bowl Is Bringing More Arcade-Inspired American Football To Switch This Summer
Features: "A PORT THAT DROVE THE TEAM CRAZY"
Wonder which console that was. I do wonder, indeed...
Re: Talking Point: What Do You Wish You Knew Sooner In Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom?
I am 115 hours in. Still only three of the "Regional Phenomena" quests completed, around 115 shrines, and about 60% of the Depths mapped via lightroots. I can honestly say there isn't anything I wish I had known sooner. The joy of discovery in this game, from abilities to new places, cannot be overstated. I find something new every single time I play!!!
Re: Poll: Box Art Brawl: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (DS)
I'm clearly in the minority here, but I just really like the EU version's clean approach.
Re: Nintendo Announces Everybody 1-2-Switch!, Pre-Orders Now Live
Reminder: last June, Fanbyte's Imran Khan reported that this game was in development but "shelved indefinitely" after it tested very poorly internally. He got 100% of the other details correct, including the horsehead mask guy and participation with smartphones.