Krull

The original team is credited at the end. If this is about having your name in credits to show to potential future employers, you’ve had 20 years to show them the original game. Presumably you’ve found another job in that time. And if not, and you’re looking now - just show them the credits to the original game. Job done.

@ReaperMelia Yep, well aware that Sugiyama has gone - but my fear is that they just keep going back to the well and give us nothing but his old tunes. TBH, even if they do get someone new in, I suspect it will be like most composers following John Williams in the Star Wars universe - they’ll try to sound like the original. Dragon Quest needs the equivalent of a Ludwig Goransson, who’ll go their own way.

I prefer the dynamism of Japan’s cover, but I don’t like how they cropped the photo. And the EU/NA is still a decent cover, so gets my vote.

@PinderSchloss They’re hardly going to go with a new art direction. Akira Toriyama’s art is intrinsic to Dragon Quest. If they changed it, it would just be a different fantasy RPG series.

As for a revamp and experimentation, that’s what the spin-offs are for. DQ has always done lots of different things. The mainline games are where they go back to the core.

I’d bite your hand off for a new composer, though!

Unless about 345,151 people bought a digital copy of Forspoken, those sales are not going to please the higher-ups at Squenix. They keep whiffing on these AAA titles that don’t have Final Fantasy or Kingdom Hearts in the title. Better off making AA games for Switch, Squenix - they cost less to make and the sales are better. It will be interesting to compare the figures when Octopath II comes out later this month.

I’d guess FE Engage is washing its face, at least. Not a bad second week for an SRPG.

Is it bad that I keep forgetting I have Bravely Default II? Picked it up for half-price and still haven’t gotten around to it. In the “one day” pile.

Think I’d rather see Team Asano spread its wings for something new, and come back to Bravely in another 4-5 years.

Will the respawn points all still be sequential and within reach so you can camp on them and whoever gets the first kill wins? That will be fun for online, right?

I … kind of miss Popeye. Made my kids watch Sindbad (sic) the Sailor a few years ago, and I think they were entertained but slightly baffled. Looks like we’ll be having spinach for dinner tonight!

Championship Manager (or Football Manager). You’ve brought your team to the heights of club football, have won the top flight and Champions League for three years running, and one day meet a League Two side in the FA Cup. And lose 2-0, despite 40 shots to their two.

Solid list. Might have thrown in Xenoblade Chronicles 3 for the music award, but can’t argue with most of those choices.

Stupid seniors, with their French…

Love this game. Stone-cold classic. The visual novel approach makes the out-of-dungeon stuff as zippy as doing a few floors in Tartarus - I never saw it as a drawback. For me, it’s a 10/10 game, though I won’t argue with anyone else’s opinion.

How old is Belmont supposed to be on the Japanese cover? Nice to see a hero in their sixties rather than an anime teen, I guess.

Still picked EU/US.

My copy of P5R is still in the shrink wrap, because I feel I should play P4G next. However, I have played P3P - and it is wonderful. One of my all time favourite games, and I didn’t even play it that long ago - it’s since the Switch launched. Highly recommend to everyone.

Bit like P5R is in the shrink wrap, I also have not touched either of the Persona Q games yet, despite picking them up for peanuts in an Atlus sale. Another reason to play P4G before P5R, I guess. Oh, and I have Strikers waiting too. I have a Persona backlog problem.

22/24. Really thought The Witness was on Switch - obviously confused it with something else. And Overwatch, like almost everyone else. I agree that the Oddworld remake counts - it’s not like they’d put both on there, is it?

I’ve got Abyss in my 3DS cartridge slot at the moment, and it’s really good. Top quality JRPG comfort food.

It’s not hard to find ways to play the old ones, though. Think I’d rather Bamco made more new stuff.

Came here to give credit to the “Mmmm, Ganon” subhead. It’ll be lost on those who’ve never heard the Danone jingle, but it’s gold for those who have!

Little bit between games at the moment, and not sure where to go next. I am a few hours into Tales of the Abyss (3DS), and am surprisingly intrigued by the story. Which isn’t something I’d expect with a Tales game. So I’ll probably play a bit more.

Also tempted to try Horizon Zero Dawn, which I picked up in the Epic sale, or one of Citizen Sleeper, Norco or Signalis.

I’ll probably just end up doing some Picross…

@FishyS I’d say Fire Emblem is probably the most approachable of all tactical RPG series, so if you liked any of Mario + Rabbids, you could definitely give FE a shot.

Personally, I was on the fence about this one, especially as I still have Fates and Valentina to play, but I’m sure I’ll pick it up down the line at some point. Encouraging previews, definitely.

Just throwing Mina the Hollower into the mix as something worth looking forward to, though I don’t know if it’s out this year. Oh, and the return of Suikoden. But I think we need a Direct in February to stave off the growing sense of doom and decline that is being linked to the Switch (not that I agree with it).

Nintendo fans: we want new Mario Kart and a bespoke FIFA game

EA and Nintendo look at charts, laugh and shake their heads.

Best year for the Switch since 2017, I reckon. Xenoblade 3 and Persona 5 would crown any year, but throw in Triangle Strategy, Nier, Bayo 3, Splatoon 3, Tunic, Neon White, Citizen Sleeper, Signalis, Spark of Hope, Cult of the Lamb, 3D Kirby and then two Pokemon titles that actually dared to break the mould (and whose worst technical flaws will eventually be patched), and it was a flipping great year. Oh, and Sunbreak, Shredder’s Revenge, No Man’s Sky, Chained Echoes…

@SmeejLad Get it physical - it’s about £35. Nearing the end of Triangle Strategy myself, and can heartily recommend. It gets better as you go, too. Some of the later story beats actually live up to how good the gameplay is.

I suspect the fact that the Series S does steady numbers suggests it’s the availability of the Series X that is stifling sales more than antipathy to Microsoft. Game Pass is a pretty attractive offering no matter where in the world you are.

Pleased to see DQ Treasures is clinging on. That’s a pretty respectable total for a spin-off on a single platform.

Activision makes almost nothing interesting any more. Don’t care who buys them - they can’t be any worse than they are under their current management.

If this was a studio like Capcom, Square or even Ubisoft and EA, though, I’d be up in arms about the dangers of consolidation.

I started playing last month, and really like it. The story is pretty grounded and interesting, albeit there are perhaps a few too many long and talky cut scenes. But the gameplay itself is excellent. I enjoy the very limited exploration and argument sections, but the battles and various character builds really shine. It offers a good challenge but, to its credit, it is also extremely friendly. If a battle goes wrong, rather than reload a save you can play to failure and then replay it - keeping all the experience points you gained in defeat and regaining any items you used in battle. It is so generous to players - it’s a great idea.

The Plucky Squire looks amazing in its trailer. Hope it sticks the landing, because I’m really looking forward to it.

I’ll have to get Persona 4G too, as I’ll never get around to it on Steam.

I like all of these. I’m going with Team Umami, though.

I missed a train once reading a book. Should I sue the author?

@Crockin Mainline Dragon Quest is for everybody! It’s no more a little kids’ game than something like Super Mario Odyssey. Maybe even less, as DQ can get a bit fan servicey.

That said, Treasures does sound perhaps a little bit too basic for my tastes. Especially when I’ve still got Xenoblade 3 and Persona 5R in shrink wrap.

I loved this, back in the day. Used to play the original on my Amiga A600. It’s such a charming game, with lovely animations. As an RTS, though, Dune 2 this was not. The original felt like more of a city builder combined with a clicker, as the “combat” element was pretty weak.

I’m impressed at how this list is so unimaginative it ends up becoming a talking point. It’s like it’s almost offensively staid. Bravo, Time, bravo.

@Friendly I love the Japanese chart! A diet of Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, Pokemon and Monster Hunter, with Splatoon and Animal Crossing as the cherries on the (near) top.

I imagine the western charts of biggest launches are generally full of CoD, GTA and iterative sports titles. Plus the odd Pokemon. Be interesting to compare!

Have no problem with Arceus winning, even if I haven’t played it myself. But a bit sad that Triangle Strategy wasn’t even nominated, and surprised Bayo 3 and Spark of Hope weren’t in the mix. Guess that means it’s actually been a pretty strong year for the Switch. Despite Switch Sports making the shortlist.

Pretty much always name my starters, and then might name some mons that I definitely intend to have in my team. However, I remember the first time I did it I was nonplussed when the cute name I chose at the start became really incongruous with a beefy final evolution.

Triangle Strategy misses out on a nomination in the strategy category… Shame it has to go up against the likes of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 in the RPG class. Going to be a touch sell, that one, but glad it has at least been nominated. Wonderful game

Next one from the backlog of shame is Triangle Strategy. It’s really good, especially for someone whose favourite Final Fantasy is Tactics.

Case of the Golden Idol, please. Other than that, just surprise me. Nindies Directs are always full of weird, leftfield stuff.

@Dom_31 My thoughts exactly. Guardians of the Galaxy might have the greatest use of licensed music in any game. Just a shame it’s only a cloud version for Switch.

Off Switch, tearing down the roads to Buck Rogers by Feeder on Gran Turismo III was just perfect. And I don’t even particularly like driving games.

Brilliant - EA finally found a use for that Anthem tech demo it had Bioware make.

I’m guessing a Sonic Maker title, giving players the keys to the Green Hill Zone kingdom. But whatever the game is, I also suspect they’ve vastly overestimated the sales. Have they hired Square’s accountants?

Phantasy Star vies with Dragon Quest IV as the best 8-bit JRPG, despite the fact that DQIV was made so much later. Hard to believe it released just two days after the first Final Fantasy.

It’s also mad that Skies of Arcadia is stuck on two dead systems.

Well, I added one to the P5R sales for Switch. Had to put my money where my mouth was for all those years of port begging.

Great games from bad movies? The classic answer was always Hudson Hawk - a really enjoyable platformer. However, Hudson Hawk is secretly a good movie, no matter what the critics said at the time, so doesn’t really count

Should really try to crack on with Majora’s Mask 3D, as I’m in the fourth temple. Still really enjoying it. However, I also want to knock off Backbone before it disappears from Game Pass. And I’m waiting at the window for the postman to bring me Persona 5 Royal… Yes, I have Game Pass, obvs, but I’ve been begging for P5 to come to Switch since 2017 and can hardly wait to finally play it.

Trying to imagine what it would be like to be only able to play games looking the best they possibly could. Do you just set fire to your old consoles the day a new one comes out? Throw your PS4 into the sea, your GBA into a volcano, your SNES into the sun? Do you become incapable of enjoying a game made in 2017, 2010, 2000 or 1992 because it doesn’t have ray tracing or run at 120fps?

I like new games. I also like old ones. Often, neither is perfect.

If it was between the US and Europe, I think PAL would win by a landslide as the least bad option. With Japan in the mix, neither is in the conversation.

Waaaaait a minute. Why isn’t there a Wapeach and Wadaisy yet? C’mon, Nintendo - the cosplayers are showing you up.

So she turned down the job then? That’s what it sounds like, if she had nothing but time. I have no idea what the going rate is for a video game VA lead, but I suspect Platinum knows. I feel sorry for her, as she seems to be going through a rough time, but that also makes me think it’s not only Platinum responsible. And companies don’t generally like to be held to ransom by talent. See every show or film that has ever been recast.

Boycotting the vote due to lack of Kirby nominations. It may not be Nintendo’s best series, but it definitely has some of the best tunes. Star Allies has got some incredible piano tracks.

That said, there are a lot of good options in this list.

@ModdedInkling Surely it’s better for Sega to handle porting so Atlus can keep working on new titles.

Don’t mind a bit of platform bias (I hear we’re not missing much with Soul Hackers 2), and I suspect Switch will get console exclusivity on Etrian Odyssey, whenever it finally reappears. Wouldn’t rule out an SMTV spin-off, a la Apocalypse, some day.