Comments 324

Re: Review: Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Switch) - An Easygoing, Kid-Friendly Remake That's Just Fine

Lofoten

@PJOReilly
@nintendolife
@anyonethatknows

" If we sound a little surprised, it's mainly because we've gotten used to the second player's role being severely downgraded to simple support in some recent Mario games. Here though, Player Two gets a decent amount of control, with total freedom of movement and objectives to take care of, meaning that in co-op — with a young child in tow — Mario vs Donkey Kong finds the magic it needs to elevate it from a decent experience to something easier to recommend."

"overall this one comes off as a safe and solid experience for a younger audience playing solo, or for co-op play with an adult. It might not set the world on fire then, but Mario vs. Donkey Kong does enough through its new co-op mode and post-game challenges to garner a fairly hearty recommendation from us."

"Mario vs Donkey Kong serves up a slick return to the 2004 GBA adventure that finds fresh fun in cooperative play. Yep, the new co-op mode really is the star of the show this time out and, alongside two new worlds, 'Plus' versions of each level, a Time Attack mode, and fancy new looks and sounds, there's plenty to dig into and enjoy with a core puzzle/platforming setup that has aged quite well. Just be aware that, if you're a more seasoned player looking for platforming challenges, this game finds its strengths as an experience for younger gamers or as a co-op title to enjoy with your kids. Taken as such, it absolutely earns a recommendation."

"Co-op mode makes for a whole new world of fun with a young player in tow"

What exactly are the differences between playing as Mario and Toad in this game?

Re: Random: Capcom Survey Asks If Fans Want Sequels To Okami, Dino Crisis, More

Lofoten

My Capcom wish list:

"The other question posited which game (or games) fans would most like to see completely remade with modern technology.
(...) Ace Attorney 1, 2, and 3"

Yes!
The graphics in the HD editions of Ace Attorney 1, 2 and 3 looks like someone traced over the excellent original pixel art, and was not very successful doing it. Put me off buying it completely.

Ace Attorney 4 HD on the other hand looks excellent!
Prefer it over the looks of the later instalments in 3D.
The 3D-games looks good as well though.

What else.. I would like a compilation of Capcoms Disney games for NES, GB and SNES for Switch/Switch 2.

DuckTales, Chip N Dales, Mickey Mouse, and so on..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Disney_games_by_Capcom

Why was The Disney Afternoon Collection never released on Switch?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Disney_Afternoon_Collection

And I would also like some NEW Capcom Disney games! Pixel-art games. With quality neo-retro graphics like Sonic Mania, Alex Kidd DX, Shredders revenge.

Did not like the graphics in the DuckTales remaster.
I don't think the mix of 2D and 3D worked.
Also the animation was not quite there.
Hand drawn 2D platformers CAN look great though: Cuphead, Rayman Legends..

Re: Best Time Loop Games On Nintendo Switch

Lofoten

Minit is gold.
I wish it got a true sequel. "Minits"?
Reminds me a little of Links awakening on the Game Boy.

Seems Minit would be a great fit for the Playdate.
Too bad they don't send these to Norway..

N64 titles does age somewhat. I would recommend the 3DS version of Majoras Mask over the N64 one.

Re: Pokémon Developer Game Freak Trademarks 'PAND LAND'

Lofoten

PAND LAND.
The logo is black and white.
Could be panda-related.

The hexagon-symbol in the middle of the name reminds me of the boardgame Settlers of Catan.
Maybe hexagon-tiles play a part in the game.

HarmoKnight (3DS, 2012) and Pocket Card Jockey (3DS, 2013) by Game Freak are nice games.

Both were part of Game Freak's Gear Project initiative were empoloyees of Game Freak can pitch original game ideas.

Nintendolife have written about the Gear Project in the past:
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/05/game_freak_is_trying_to_create_something_more_exciting_than_pokemon

Re: Talking Point: What Will The 'Switch 2' Actually Be Called?

Lofoten

But I think it’s a good probability the new Nintendo Switch will actually be called "Nintendo Switch 2", and here is why:

1. I think Nintendo have learned the hard way from the Wii U failure.
It was reported many people did not understand the Wii U was a new console from Nintendo and thought it was some sort of add on for the Wii.
Nintendo will NOT risk this scenario again.

2. A name of the type "Nintendo Switch Something" might be too long. Long product names are not that great for branding.

3. If the “something” is short it could be Wii U all over again.
Actually, it could potentially be Wii U all over again whatever the “something”, is except a “2”.

4. "Nintendo Switch 2" gives a clear message this is a next generation console from Nintendo, not a just a new model for the original Switch line.

5. "Nintendo Switch 2" sounds good.

6. I’m sure Nintendo have tried to make the next generation Switch look different from the first-generation Switch. And I am sure it does look different. But how different?
It’s probably going to be the same basic setup: screen, joy-cons and a base.
The base they could change a lot, the screen and joy-cons – possibly less so.
If a joy con is also going to work as a controller on its own, the possible design alterations have even more limitations.
IF the next generation Switch end up looking sort of similar to the Switch/Switch OLED it makes it even more important to have a name that makes it very clear this is the next generation Switch.

7. That Nintendo has not used numerical in consoles before (N64 and 3DS/2DS does not count) is not a strong argument against the Nintendo Switch 2 name. Nintendo have done many different things with its console names, and to put a 2 at the end this time would be something new.
Also in the past the next generation consoles have been something totally new each time for different reasons, I suspect this might not be the case this time. This time the main difference might be more power and more pixels. And scroll wheels.

8. That there is a "Switch 2" on the marked would make many automatically want to upgrade.
Just look at mobile phones. Like Iphone or Samsung. The numbers are such clear indications for what is the latest model and a lot of people want the latest model.

9. Nintendo is not going to move away from the “home console and handheld console in one” concept, so to call the same concept something totally different than Switch might not make lot of sense.

10. I find it unlikely Nintendo will not use the Switch-name as it’s such a strong brand for them.
strong brand = more recognition = more sales = more money.

Having said all that - Nintendo could surprise with a new name.
Would they then add a name to “Nintendo Switch” or drop the “Switch” name?
If they go this route, I think it’s a good chance they will then drop the whole Switch name to make it clear this is not a "Switch pro", but a next generation console and also to not get a crazy long name.
A totally new name also makes some marketing sense if someone is searching for the console online or in a store. If a new name is indeed the case, maybe it will reflect some special new aspect of the console.

But all in all, I think they will stick to the Switch brand and call it Nintendo Switch 2.
Sometimes the most simple solution is the best solution.

Or the Nintendo Switch Ultra Dolphin.

Re: Talking Point: What Will The 'Switch 2' Actually Be Called?

Lofoten

These are clearly jokes:

  • Nintendo Switch U
  • Nintendo Switch Up
  • Nintendo Switchin' Time
  • Nintendo Switch, Please

These are possibly also jokes?

  • Super Nintendo Switch
  • Nintendo Switch Advance
  • New Nintendo Switch
  • Nintendo Switch+

I do not think Nintendo will recycle one of its old console names.
That would be too retro. They are, after all, trying to market a next generation Nintendo console.
No Super, Advance or New then.
Also New 3DS was only an upgraded 3DS not a next generation console, so calling a next generation Switch “New” would be Wii U all over again.

Nintendo Switch+ sounds too much like a streaming service.
Disney+, ESPN+, MGM+, Discovery+, Paramount+, Apple TV+, Lonsgate+, BET+, DailyWire+, AMC+, We TV+, Samsung TV Plus, WatchFree+, 7plus.
Also "Switch+" is very much in the same avenue as "Wii U", it sounds like a slight upgrade or peripheral, not a next generation console.
Switch+ even sounds like a smaller upgrade than the Switch Pro-upgrade that never came.

  • Something no one could predict

Perhaps.

Re: Feature: Nintendo eShop Selects - December 2023

Lofoten

@PikaPhantom @TotalHenshin

Thanks!

That information was somewhat well hidden below the introduction, honourable mentions, top 3, all 2023 selects winners and two user polls.

@nintendolife

Why not mention that the eShop Selects is a poll among the Nintendolife staff in the introduction?
In the list, only the review scores are shown as any indication of how the games are weighted.
Why not include the total points each games got in the poll? Would be interesting to see.

Re: Feature: Nintendo eShop Selects - December 2023

Lofoten

"Feature: Nintendo eShop Selects - December 2023
Our favourite eShop games in from December!"

"1. Outer Wilds (Switch eShop)" "Review 9/10"
"2. SteamWorld Build (Switch eShop)" "Review 8/10"
"3. A Highland Song (Switch eShop)" "Review 7/10"

"Honourable mentions
Terra Nil | Review: 7/10
Chico and the Magic Orchards DX | Review: 9/10
Palia | Review: In-Progress
Born of Bread | Review: 7/10
Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion Remastered | Review: 7/10"

Is it not based on the review scores?

Shouldn't "Chico and the Magic Orchards DX" be in first place, shared first place or second place?
While SteamWorld Build should be in third?

Re: Talking Point: Could Nintendo Go Another Year Without A Switch Successor?

Lofoten

I think the Switch 2 is definitely coming this year.
Just look at the in-house game lineup for 2024, as well as other games Nintendo is publishing for 2024:

Another Code: Recollection
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Cing
Release Date: 19th Jan 2024

Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Release Date: 16th Feb 2024

Princess Peach: Showtime!
Release Date: 22nd Mar 2024

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD
Release Date: Q3 2024

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Release Date: 2024

Except for Peach, which I'm not that excited for based on the trailer, it's only remakes coming from Nintendo to the Switch. Promising remakes, but still remakes. This is a clear end-of-life symptom.
The main creators at Nintendo must be hard at work producing Switch 2 games.

The Switch had an extremely high-quality swan song:
Zelda tears of the kingdom, Pikmin 4 and Super Mario Wonder. Just WOW.

Then there is: Metroid Prime 4
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Retro Studios
Release Date: TBA

Will it come in 2024? Maybe.

Why have we seen no trailers or photos? I think it’s because it’s not for the Switch and because the Switch 2 has not been revealed yet.
Possibly a release game. Rather certain it will be among the reveal games for Switch 2.

I think Metroid Prime 4 will almost certainly be a Switch 2 exclusive.
Nintendo needs high quality exclusives to drive sales for the Switch 2, this means they cannot release these types of games on both the Switch and Switch 2.
The reason Nintendo has released Zelda games on two systems at once in the past, Twilight princess and Breath of the wild, was probably because these games were already revealed to be released on the old system, so it would be very tactless to change the plan completely.

Re: Super Nintendo World Donkey Kong Power-Up Bands Revealed

Lofoten

@riggah
DK is Donkey Kong as the initials have been used for him for years.
Since Diddy Kong has the same initials as Donkey Kong, they had to pick something else. They could have gone the same route as with Toad and just used the head of the character, but I guess they went with DD, because D-D sounds like Diddy.

Re: Random: Sakurai Wanted The GameCube Controller To Include A Scroll Wheel

Lofoten

@NatiaAdamo

"The Switch 2 is also rumoured to be a kitchen sink. Your point?"

Some might find it interesting that the feature this article is about might appear on Nintendo's next console.

1. Sakurai having the scroll wheel idea for the Game Cube controller.
2. Nintendo having a patent for two scroll wheels on a handheld console that looks rather like a Switch.
3. Rumour: A Switch 2 console might have been seen that is similar to the patent.

If the Switch 2 does indeed have the scroll wheels:

  • It might be the fruit of Sakurai's initial idea.
  • That Sakurai is talking about this now, so many years later, might indicate that he knows something about the Switch 2.

Re: Review: Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed - Ecto Edition - Dripping In Nostalgic 4v1 Fun

Lofoten

@Specialstreamcannon
"The game follows an asymmetric 4v1 format, with four player-created Ghostbusters trying to stop the Ghost from fully haunting the location."

Hmm.

Could this be inspired by the "Luigi's Ghost Mansion" game in Nintendo Land?
Launch title for the Wii U in 2012, the console made for asymmetrical multiplayer.
One player plays the ghost with the Wii U gamepad, and up to four playes play the ghost trackers.

On the other hand one could say Luigi's Mansion was possibly inspired by Ghost Busters.
Perhaps inspiration went full circle?

Sadly not a lot of later Wii U games took much advantage of the Wii U gamepad..

Re: Review: Super Mario Bros. Wonder - The Best 2D Mario Since The Super NES

Lofoten

@nintendolife @PJOReilly

"Cons:

  • Nothing truly earth-shattering or genre defining"

Is something truly earth-shattering or genre defining a requirement for a 10/10 on nintendolife.com?

Can Nintendo Life give examples of sequels that they define as truly earth-shattering or genre defining? Other than games making the leap from 2D to 3D or from 3D to open world 3D.

"Cons: (...)

  • Keeps things relatively gentle in terms of challenge"

In completing the main story or even completing the game 100%?
With the use of badges or even without the use of badges?