JohnnyC

Makes sense that they've gone for a more affordable option. The Game Boy flew off the shelves, and I've read elsewhere that Lego is leaning towards more affordable sets targeted at adults, as they recognise that there aren't many people in these days of increasing prices and stagnant wages who are willing to drop £200-£300 per time on a box of Lego.

Agreed it's at the expense of the detail we saw on the NES.

Donkey Kong Bananza will be getting the majority of time from me, and also some Mario Kart World. I beat the Bellabel Park dlc this week with all medals, which was satisfying if a little grindy at the end to get all the park decorations.

Elsewhere, probably carry on with Rise of the Tomb Raider after beating the first one in the Survivor trilogy a month or two ago.

Played it, completed it. It was alright. Not a bad game, but definitely not a great game. I remember taking a punt on it as I spotted it cheap somewhere.

Star Fox Guard was much better.

Capcom continuing to be one of the best companies in the business. Small wonder they keep finding themselves high up on year-end ranking lists.

Finally got a Switch 2 a couple of weeks ago, so I'm enjoying Mario Kart World, the GameCube app (got the controller with it), Donkey Kong Bananza and some upgraded Switch 1 games, particularly the DLC for Mario Wonder.

Paid my £4 for the upgrade, finished the remaining side missions (including those ******* lobsters), enjoyed it. I may revisit again in the future to have a wander round that world, but I think I'm done with that particular slice of loveliness.

Phew. My protocol droid told me yesterday that he wasn't sure this Switch 2 was entirely stable.

As the saying goes, happy protocol droid = happy life.

Got it. Always nice to go back to this game.

First one got bad reviews. I enjoyed it, and still do.

Looking forward to seeing this one at the weekend.

A bit of colour, fun, and a few laughs in the grim world that we live in? I'll take it.

Wrapped up and waiting for me at the weekend with a shiny new Switch 2. Can't wait!

Super Mario Galaxy. Beat it in the 3D All Stars collection, but having 100% done Super Mario Galaxy 2 for the first time last weekend (a plague on Nintendo's houses for the Perfect Run level!!!) I decided I'd revisit the original.

Elsewhere, booted up Street Fighter 6 on the PS5 to play Alex's missions in World Tour, and continuing to chip away at Rise of the Tomb Raider.

I'm no expert in this game (played it a bit to be sociable, but it's not my thing) but I've noticed my kids and their friends used to be on it daily up until a few months ago, and they've now abandoned it. When asked why, they responded with "it's gone rubbish."

@charliecarrot I loved the skyscraper level in Battle mode on Mario Kart 64.

Another reason why I buy physical. For Nintendo games, you can always do better than the digital prices. Not so much with other platforms, where they often sell AAA titles for less than a tenner on digital storefronts.

Nintendo, that's not how you spell Super Mario Land 3.

I wish Pokken Tournament had done a bit better and got a bit more post-launch content. Cracking little game.

I had the 2DS and upgraded to the New 2DS XL. Great consoles, both of them.

@romanista Nintendo should just convert the games to 2D. They're small, low-res and (based on the reviews) very short, non-complex games so if they can invest in the plastic peripheral, they can probably get a couple of interns to do this conversion. Keep the hardware and 3D options available for those desperate to see why the planet rejected it 30 years ago. I have a desk at the right height for me for monitors etc, but the setup of this seems to be unique and all reviewers have pointed out it's uncomfortable, which puts me off as the last thing that a relaxing hobby should be is uncomfortable.

I'd give it a go if I could play the games in 2D, but as it is this isn't for me. Happy for those who are enjoying it.

I've bought all the NSO controllers bar this and the GameCube so far (getting the GameCube controller when I get my Switch 2) but I'll be giving this a miss. All the reviews I've read have said the same about it being uncomfortable. I'm 6'5" so there's no way this is for me. I'm mildly curious about Wario Land and 3D Tetris, but get Super Mario Land 3 and Tetrisphere on the GB and N64 apps and I reckon I'll manage the next 30 years caring as much about them as I did the last 30 years.

Is it now possible to obtain all clothing items (including those obtained from amiibo) in Breath of the Wild? Inventory limit meant this couldn't be done.

New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe. Made some good progress on this. Also a bit more on Super Mario Galaxy 2. Good times.

I'd rather a Link's Awakening style remaster of a 2D title (farm it out to a trusted third party?) rather than another Warriors game. Sorry, I may be in an unpopular minority here, but while the story is interesting the gameplay to get to those cut-scenes is mind-numbingly repetitive.

Finally completed Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. Really enjoyable. Next on the backlog list is New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe. Beat the story ages ago, but been meaning to go back and 100% it. Going to juggle that with Super Mario Galaxy 2.

Yeah, but watch how it rockets back up following the Drag x Drive update. Ooh-de-lally, hold onto your socks for that!

@WheresWaveRace I clocked it discounted over the weekend. I think John Lewis were doing the Switch 1 version for £31, and the Switch 2 version for £37. For a AAA first party Nintendo release so soon after launch, that's a bargain.

Splatoon 1, 2 and 3 are my most-played games across the Wii U and Switch, but I've got mixed feelings about Splatoon Raiders. Can't put my finger on why, but it's not up there in terms of anticipation at the moment. Hopefully a more in-depth look changes that.

Looking forward to extra content for games I already own like Mario Wonder, but the big games for me this year (of those already announced) are Lego Batman, GTA6 (assuming it isn't delayed again) and Wolverine.

I'm really hoping Nintendo gets a big title announced for this year to drum up some energy. Ports/remasters of games I've already played within the last few years aren't very interesting to me.

I see we're playing fast and loose with the meaning of the term "glory days."

Got a lot of amiibo, but not interested in these if all they give you is power-ups. Aside from the challenge levels, you're playing the game wrong if you can't find power-ups the traditional way.

I'll likely be getting the upgrade pack, the new content looks fun.

From the initial reveal trailer of the Switch 2 version until now, this is very much an Emperor's New Clothes situation for me in terms of the bump in resolution.

All the other improvements are great additions though.

1) Tears of the Kingdom (100%, yay!)
2) Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition (still enjoying this)
3) Splatoon 3 (kind of forgot how I racked up some mileage on this in the middle of the year, but made sense when I thought about it)

I didn't do this because:
1) It's clear in the instructions and the pictures on the box.
2) I had an original Game Boy.

I get it if you're used to symmetrical sets and/or didn't have an original Game Boy, but I still see these mistakes in online pictures and feel like it's a sign of the end times. #firstworldproblems

After chipping away at it for 11 years (off and on) I've finally completed Transformers: Devastation with all characters and all collectibles. Good game, and one I've enjoyed returning to between other things. Elsewhere, continuing with Xenoblade Chronicles X.

Lightning in a bottle with this one. The start of world 2, the ending theme, and the shooting levels are some of Nintendo's all-time best soundtracks. I'd love to hear the same tunes given a full orchestra, ala some of the upgraded tracks we saw on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

I picked up the Mario Galaxy bundle last week to go under the tree. That and Echoes of Wisdom will be my last Switch 1 games before I go Switch 2 in the spring.

SF6 is a magnificent game (my most-played on the PS5 this year, according to the recent annual review), but the prices for additional costumes are obscene compared to SF4 and SF5. I've only got the ones you can unlock through in-game progression, and am leaving the others until some sort of reasonably-priced bundle is made available. Same with this and any other micro transaction shenanigans.

I haven't played them all, but Metroid Dread was one of my favourite games of the whole Switch generation. The weekend after I bought it, I came down with COVID so unusually (for me) I was able to blast through a good chunk of it in one sitting.

I'll get it in the new year when I get a Switch 2.

I usually go with the ones I grew up with (Europe) but NA gets a tip of the hat from me.

I was on Mario Kart 7 at the weekend when the other options were unavailable to me. Still good.

Chipping away at Xenoblade Chronicles X on the Switch. Started playing a month ago, enjoying it. I've been doing that alongside Horizon Zero Dawn and Street Fighter 6 on the PS5, but I've beaten Horizon and nearly got the platinum on Street Fighter (3 more tournament wins), so hoping to give Xenoblade the more singular attention it needs.

On holiday with the family, so I've packed the usual family games: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Mario Party Superstars, Super Mario Party, and Super Mario Party Jamboree.

Somehow, Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition fell into the luggage as well. I was as surprised as anyone else. 🙄

I'll get it, but this isn't a day-1 must-buy when I've still got Super Mario 3D All-Stars for Switch and Super Mario Galaxy 2 on my still-working Wii U.

@thenikdavies Makes sense, although my understanding based on the recent abominable efforts is that the rights to the films and games no longer sit with WB. It's a shame, as WB made some great games with the LOTR licence.

Not gonna happen at this point, but I still wish Lego The Hobbit would get finished.

For the first time in my life, I got a FIFA (EA Sports FC - I'm calling it FIFA between now and death-day) on release day, so that'll be getting some attention. I opted for the PS5 version, as I tend to prefer the version a game is primarily built for when getting a multi-format release. I only tend to get the Switch version of a game when that has some additional content, ala Rayman Legends, Starlink etc, but those cases are few and far between.

Otherwise, Xenoblade Chronicles X and Horizon Zero Dawn.

My preference for a Ganondorf-focused OoT diorama would be either the scene from early on where Ganondorf is on a horse at the drawbridge of Hyrule Castle Town, fleeing with Zelda. That or the boss battle of the Forest Temple. But I think it'll likely be Beast Ganon at the end of the game, with some flames and random pillars and a Link figure.

Ordered myself a holiday game, as I've got a week off coming up. Went with Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. I had the Wii U version, but I've been trying to future-proof my collection and get enhanced/remastered versions of the games I want to keep. Plus I never finished it first time round, so this feels like a good opportunity to remedy that.

@jay2 Manuals would be incredibly useful. Those things used to be integral to the experience and included backstory, character profiles as well as controls and moves.

Yes, you can look it up on your phone but having it all in one place would be preferable.

Got the PS5 version. Excellent game, and I really hope they complete the trilogy this generation.

Had an extended session on Rayman Legends last night. Got all the teensies a while ago, but some friends were over who had been using the game to introduce their young kids to gaming, so we all took turns playing that. Good times! Otherwise, a bit more on Horizon Zero Dawn on the PS5.