Comments 186

Re: Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade Director Highlights The Speed Problem With Switch 2 Game Cards

Mainsaile

@Yobreeze I still circle back to this being an argument for better physical media or for proper maintenance. At last inventory, every single one of my NES, Genesis, PlayStation (1), N64, GameCube, and Wii carts and discs still played on their respective, original and contemporaneously purchased hardware. I’m not a particularly extensive collector, but I do value what I have, and I’m still not interested in forever. Forever is for museums and preservationists, both of which I support. I’m thrilled if my collection lasts the length of my life. Companies and individuals who try to rip you off by appealing to your commendable desire to preserve digital media are themselves pirates.

Re: Team Cherry Explains Hollow Knight: Silksong's "Steep Difficulty"

Mainsaile

@ROMhaiku Do you think that, since it was originally intended as a smaller DLC, it’s easier to get to grips with if you’ve recently played through Hollow Knight? Maybe that’s a question with an obvious answer, but it seems like the original idea was to provide a post-game that carried the momentum forward. I wonder if an optional intro with a slower buildup—or even a training playground—might have been nice for players who felt they needed to get their Hollow Knight muscle memory back before tackling Silksong’s tougher challenges. I’m speaking from the sidelines, though, since I haven’t bought Silksong yet and am replaying Hollow Knight first.

Re: Nintendo Is "Acting To Protect The Industry" With Switch 2 Game Key Cards, Says Ex-Capcom Composer

Mainsaile

@Olmectron This is still just an argument for better physical media or for proper maintenance. At last inventory, every single one of my NES, Genesis, PlayStation (1), N64, GameCube, and Wii carts and discs still played on their respective, original and contemporaneously purchased hardware. I’m not a particularly extensive collector, but I do value what I have, and I’m still not interested in forever. Forever is for museums and preservationists, both of which I support. I’m thrilled if my collection lasts the length of my life. Companies and individuals who try to rip you off by appealing to your commendable desire to preserve digital media are themselves pirates.

Re: Nintendo Is "Acting To Protect The Industry" With Switch 2 Game Key Cards, Says Ex-Capcom Composer

Mainsaile

These are flawed arguments in defense of an unfair solution to real problems.

Game key cards are good for companies and bad for pirates…but also bad for all other consumers.

Digital data must still exist in physical space and there is therefore no reason to expect it to last longer than the hardware it inhabits.

Nintendo/Ubisoft, etc., why should I prefer your server farms to my disc or cartridge?

Spelled out: in the case of ‘game key cards,’ the software is not discretely owned by the consumer. While the use of a compact disc, paperback book, or NES cartridge was legally protected, the discrete unit of intellectual property could be used freely by the purchaser without outside interference, unless they attempted to sell, copy, or modify it. Game key cards are illusory: they give the appearance of physical ownership while depending on the company to grant access and on the cloud to store the data.

The cloud still needs physical space…the day it doesn’t is the day I expect unlimited digital data for free.

Granted, this slippery slope started with the doublespeak in the small print on the e-shop whereby purchasing software essentially granted the owner (not the consumer) the right to renege on the deal at any time.

Reluctantly at first, then with abandon I consented to this. With game key cards I say, “This far and no further!” I will not spend 70 dollars for vapor wrapped in plastic.

Cost cutting and piracy protection for companies are poor excuses for denying ownership to everyone else.

Re: Hands On: Forget The Name, Square Enix's New Action RPG Is A Lovely HD-2D Take On SNES-Era Zelda

Mainsaile

Yeah. This is definitely the most exciting announcement. I just played through Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake and I enjoyed it immensely more than I expected to. Other recent happy surprises for me have included the fantastic HD-2D remakes of Live A Live and Star Ocean Second Story. The style captures the same magic that pre-rendered graphics did in the late 90s. I’m holding out hope for Chrono Trigger.

Re: Talking Point: What We Expect From The Switch 2 Direct

Mainsaile

@danzoEX I kept my wishlist to three, though I cheated by packing multiple long-awaited games into each slot—all from old IPs. If I had a fourth, it would be this. If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend giving a listen to Ben Zimmermann’s Donkey Kong Country 2 Symphony. It’s a fantastic piece of work and a testament to how strong DK’s assets are. With the right balance of appreciation for the past and fresh innovation, a 3D Donkey Kong platformer could rival Mario Odyssey.

Re: Opinion: The Okami Sequel Simply Has To Come To Switch 2

Mainsaile

I think the Wii version is excellent. It takes some getting used to - but once you master it, there are few gaming experiences like it. I prefer the Wii-mote as a celestial brush and the joycon do an admirable job replicating that. But, in fact, I also miss waggling to headbutt treasure chests and potts.

Re: Poll: Box Art Brawl #40 - The Legend Of Zelda: Majora's Mask

Mainsaile

Japan is way too busy and Link and Epona appear to be a repurposed image just pasted there. I agree that it evokes the game well and though I have more nostalgia for the American one, Europe got my vote for a lush color scheme and for its overall balance (even though Link is awkwardly cut off by the logo; it’s background, fine-line art so not too many points off there).

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 21st)

Mainsaile

Gaming SOS: at the worst time my Switch seems to have bricked. I left it charging in sleep mode, and when I returned the backlight was on and it was hot. I pushed the power button and it went dark and has yet to recover (going on 48 hours). I tried the hard reset and nothing. Any thoughts?

Re: Feature: So, Who's Next For Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?

Mainsaile

I’d like to see

1. Amaterasu with brush arts, Issun, and Sussano
2. A multi-class adventurer from Etrian Odyssey
3. Sora with the key blade and Disney support
4. Rayman with a suite of costumes
5. Paper Mario
6. the bug knight from Hollow Knight
7. Rep from Xenoblade Chronicles (Sharla; Rex and Pyra?)
8. Final Fantasy rep (Vivi; Barret?)
9. ARMS fighter
10. Waluigi

Most of these would provide great new level possibilities as well (especially Amaterasu, Sora, and bug knight) and I would like to see new levels from the games of the current roster in DLC too.

Re: Poll: Have You Played The Dragon Quest XI S Demo On Nintendo Switch Yet?

Mainsaile

I hope demos demonstrate a real return for the effort because I’m often persuaded by them. How else do you know you want in? It seems like a sound strategy to me. Demos were my entry point for many franchises including Etrian Odyssey, Bravely Default, Dragon Quest Builders, and many more. I know those are big titles but with so much to choose from it’s easy to let a game stay in the “maybe” catagory indefinitely. With the games above, after a few hours of play, there was no question I would be purchasing the full experience when previously I would have slept on those titles.

Re: First Impressions: Running Scared from Sonic Forces

Mainsaile

@AlexOlney

I had to add one more thing about the opinions that are slipping into your reviews. An article entitled "First Impressions" should contain just that: facts.

Anything else is misleading and you should not be surprised by how displeased and disoriented your readers become.

Re: First Impressions: Running Scared from Sonic Forces

Mainsaile

@AlexOlney

Sorry Nintendo Life. I think you're lying about this game being bad. I would like to cite your use of qualifiers regarding past Sonic games as evidence of your dishonesty. You say you liked the 2D Sonic games best! You say you liked the 3D Sonic games least!

I can't wait to get the chance to play this game for the first time because I like this game. I have played other video games and I have liked a lot of them and sometimes when I like one game I like another game too.

You, on the other hand, seem to have formed opinions about this game you've played based entirely on other games you've played.

You're buying into the negativity of the internet when you say "Yes, we’ve played Sonic Forces..."

I hate to say it because it's so tired, but this is how we got Trump and Brexit.

Re: Sledgehammer Games Has a Definitive Answer on Call of Duty: WWII for Nintendo Switch - "No"

Mainsaile

@NEStalgia It's not about complaining, it's about how it plays out in the market.

Console ownership is falling across the North American market. Maybe the SWITCH will change that, but add to that the fact that many people can't or shouldn't afford two dedicated consoles and you have a declining market.

Low onboard power and a high price point is generally a poor proposition unless the gimmick is great and that's in a robust market. SWITCH will only succeed in the long run if the portability aspect really catches fire.

It hinges on one thing and that is risky and bound to leave a lot of potential buyers (who are average gamers and not CEO's at SONY) very dissatisfied.

Nintendo magic may yet prevail...

Re: Sledgehammer Games Has a Definitive Answer on Call of Duty: WWII for Nintendo Switch - "No"

Mainsaile

@faint
I won't put words in their mouths but I agree.

It's not that the SWITCH must have COD, it's that poor third party momentum will lead to a bad trend.

Lack of variety will mean a smaller install base and a shorter console lifespan.

Now if the SWITCH inherits the JRPG tradition from the 3DS it may strengthen its niche but it also may still stay niche. I may be in that niche but a smaller install base is bad for Nintendo and what's bad for Nintendo is bad for me as a fan.