Comments 793

Re: Chicken Wiggle Gets a Discount and Shiny New Trailer

MarioPhD

Only 400 user levels?!? Yiiiiiiiiiiiikes. So, either only a tiny fraction of players have made anything, or he's seen about 1,000 sales (which would be pathetic sales and a still pathetic ratio of levels to players). Either way, that number paints a really dire picture of the game's current state. If user content is supposed to be a draw, and there's practically none? Ouch.

Re: L.A. Noire Is The Latest Game To Fall Foul Of The Dreaded "Switch Tax"

MarioPhD

@subpopz Lest we forget the N64 tax! I'm quite certain there were games (NFL Blitz, I recall specifically) that were in the range of $65 when I was a kid versus the usual $50 at the time. The nature of the Switch made carts a necessity, and the bigger they are, the more costly. As a consumer, I see the "Switch Tax" as a "play anywhere" tax, and it's one I'm happy to pay. I can see why others might not be, but from there your choices are to wait for a sale, or not buy it at all. The amount of whining about it from all directions is definitely getting tiresome.

Oh, and to be pedantic, carts do indeed still have loading, but it tends to be much faster than optical media and traditional HDDs.

Re: Soapbox: Playing Super Mario Sunshine Today Painfully Illustrates Nintendo's 3D Evolution

MarioPhD

I always felt like FLUDD made everything feel woefully imprecise, almost like it was there to give some wiggle room to the platforming. In turn, it felt pretty awful for me as a player, and like it was a matter of brute-forcing FLUDD to make jumps and get to places instead of doing them with accuracy myself. For me, FLUDD muddled the platforming entirely, and made it so when I couldn't get a jump to work, I had to wonder if I wasn't supposed to at all, or if there was some weird way I needed to use FLUDD to do it anyway. It didn't feel like experimentation, like BotW does with its myriad solutions to most problems; I was just always unsure, and the game felt just as unsure to me. I never liked it much at all, and agree with the points made here. That said, this one is a huge fan favorite and cult classic; this comment section is about to get interesting.....

Re: We Could See More FIFAs On Switch Beyond FIFA 18

MarioPhD

@dethmart Considering that Madden and FIFA both use Frostbite, it's hard to imagine that the custom FIFA engine couldn't be iterated on for next year to work with a Switch Madden.... but I suppose we'll see! I sure do hope we get it next year! I'd be ecstatic!

Re: We Could See More FIFAs On Switch Beyond FIFA 18

MarioPhD

@GrailUK Considering it would essentially be the first time any of those had a fully portable iteration that wasn't a cheap spinoff (NFS not included, as I seem to recall the one we got on Wii U also coming to Vita), I think that would be reason enough to bring them back out at a discounted price. Maybe $40 for each of them, or for multi-game bundles $40-$60. I'd be fine with that, in theory.

Re: Nicalis Teases VVVVVV and More for the Switch

MarioPhD

@BensonUii It's definitely one of the last generation's top-tier indies we never got, which is a shame. I'd also love to see Fez on the Switch, but I suspect that'll never happen with Polytron/Phil Fish being (presumably/essentially?) defunct.

Re: Editorial: Mandatory Memory Cards for Switch Retail Games is a Messy Solution

MarioPhD

Has anyone even 100% proven that the NBA 2K18 situation isn't just due to the box everyone's getting up in arms about being the one for the retail box containing the download code of the game?

http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=1426235

I mean, I expect this is an issue we'll see coming up eventually, but I haven't seen anyone (in reporting or the PR folks from Nintendo/2K) definitively say that the box we've all seen and the mandatory download/install isn't just that. Until I see someone discredit that, I'm going to continue to be a bit surprised that everyone has jumped to their pitchforks so quickly, and a bit shocked that NintendoLife didn't do the research required and/or show that they got an answer to this question before both reporting on it and writing an editorial presenting it as a matter of fact instead of a hypothetical situation.

That said, I get the people unhappy about this, and I don't like it either. I expect a physical game to have everything it needs (save for patches, obviously) and it's a game preservation nightmare (whether a title like 2K18 necessarily needs to be "preserved" is a whole other matter, but still). If this does prove to be a real thing for the Switch, it'll be quite a can of worms down the road. I'm not affected personally, as I'm 100% fine with extra downloads to lower the price of games and such. I do, however, condone everyone being the consumer they want to be. If it bothers you, vote with your wallets, and don't support games taking this route. Again, I don't mind personally, but I totally get why others do. It's far from an ideal scenario.

Re: Some Retail Nintendo Switch Games Will Require You To Own A MicroSD Card

MarioPhD

@BustedUpBiker I'm not sure why, but the digital version of this game launches on the same day as the PS4 and XB1 version, with the hard copy coming later. I read that some territories will get a boxed copy (likely to have it at retail in some form at the same time for all platforms) that is just a download code. Don't know the "why" for any of that, but again, my suspicion is that this box reflects that version. I don't know for sure, but I also won't be running for a pitchfork any time soon.

Re: Review: The Bridge (Switch eShop)

MarioPhD

@Tibob The sooner the better on that front! We had a Humble Nindie Bundle each of the last 2 years, if I'm not mistaken. Wonder if we'll get one this year as well, though I'm certain that it wouldn't include Switch titles.

Re: Feature: Nintendo Life eShop Selects - August 2017

MarioPhD

@TheMadPolarBear There were a lot of poor boss battles and design decisions that made me a touch disappointed in Sonic Mania. It's definitely good, and the first 2 Zones are downright blissful, but from there it goes downhill in a lot of ways for me. So many bosses were cheap and/or confusing and did a horrible job of conveying when/what actually damaged them, Oil Ocean's Act 2 boss was pure madness, and I died so many times from getting stuck between/under moving platforms it was ridiculous. I probably had to replay Oil Ocean at least 5 times in its entirety due to the Act 2 boss, and by then what started out as a 9/10 faded into an 8 or maybe even a 7 at times. I'm replaying as Tails, and it's much easier (maybe even TOO easy?), but I just saw and experienced too many flaws in it to love it as much as everyone else seems to. For everything that made me gleam with nostalgic bliss, something else that should have been easy to avoid yet drove me nuts (e.g. make platforms that would otherwise insta-death me just send my rings flying instead; still cheap, but not outright infuriating) happened. My head says it's a 7/10, my heart says it's an 8/10, and I wish I could see it as a 9/10.

Re: NBA 2K18 to Have All Modes and Support amiibo on Switch, But Won't Hit 60fps

MarioPhD

If the slower FPS negatively affect the gameplay (we'll see come review time) I may actually get FIFA instead, in the hopes it'll help make Madden happen next year and I'll support the developers putting in the extra work (and how the heck is EA the one I am saying this about??? What a strange world we live in...). I assume 2K13 on Wii U was 60fps? If not, and if it was 30fps also, then I'm still on board, as it didn't phase me, but the fluidity you lose between 30 and 60fps in a sports game can make a noteworthy difference, so this will be something I keep an eye on and may determine where my money goes between this and FIFA. Never really played FIFA, but I'm willing to give it a real shot if it turns out to be the better game and the better optimized one.

Re: Competitive Shooter Morphies Law to be a Switch Console Exclusive This Winter

MarioPhD

@kobashi100 The Ignore button is your friend. I've added that fellow and a few others to my Ignore list and my NintendoLife experience has improved dramatically. I get no joy out of seeing someone incessantly complain in the comments section about nearly everything, and with the Ignore button you never see any of someone's comments or people responding to them. It is wonderful and I highly recommend it if you've had enough ire in your life.

Re: Super Meat Boy Forever Bounces onto Nintendo Switch in 2018

MarioPhD

@nab1 Once it dawned on me during the Showcase that this is essentially Super Meat Boy X Bit.Trip Runner I realized it seems likely to be better than I was expecting. I don't think autorunner HAS to be a bad thing; if it were simply an infinite runner, however, I might feel differently. I remember reading that it would have an infinite mode at some point, but if the levels are all carefully constructed, then this has every chance to be good..... Hopefully!

Re: Nicalis Confirms Game Boy-Style Platformer Save me Mr Tako: Tasukete Tako-San For Nintendo Switch

MarioPhD

@tanookisuit I actually get major "AAA" releases being the same cost across platforms, but I buy all my major titles in boxed copies so I can sell them later if I want to and get new games. Using that, Amazon discounts, and hunting for bargains I haven't truly "spent" money on a game for a very, very long time. I'm definitely on board with ownership of games and everyone who's up for that.

But for Nicalis to treat smaller indie games like full-on retail titles and double their cost across environments is bananas. Cave Story being $9.99 on the 3DS eShop versus $30 on Switch boggles my mind. I think Rime has shown us how to handle this the right way: make the boxed copy a "Deluxe Edition" and charge more for the extra goodies, and let the digital copy cost what it's supposed to. It's an easy fix, but I'm guessing Nicalis knows plenty of people will just want the game digitally and will shell out double for the privilege despite getting none of the items that justify that extra cost, and happily take the bonus paycheck. I do wonder if that's part of their massive push on Switch and why everything they're porting over seems to have a physical edition.

Re: Here’s What the Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Day One Update Does

MarioPhD

Loving it so far! It's actually shockingly challenging! I've played many a Fire Emblem and Disgaea with relative ease, but I've seen the Game Over screen a couple times in World 1, which I couldn't believe! Solid challenge, gorgeous game, and the Rabbids, somehow, aren't annoying. This game is a real gem, and I'm very exited to keep devouring it! If you like tactics games/turn-based RPGs, definitely give this a look!

Re: Nicalis Confirms Game Boy-Style Platformer Save me Mr Tako: Tasukete Tako-San For Nintendo Switch

MarioPhD

@tanookisuit I don't care if it makes me "cheap." I want the $15 digital version of titles like The End is Nigh that PC users get; having that option stripped from me for a physical edition I didn't ask for is what bothers me. If they had both, at the different prices? Hey, choice is good! But forcing me to pay double for a game I only want digital anyway because there's a boxed version that I didn't ask for and don't want is silly. Obviously the physical game should be more expensive since it involves more production costs, but forcing the digital game to match the physical price is where it frustrates me. As far as I know, the digital version of Cave Story is $30 because of the boxed version, and I'm sorry, but $30 for a digital copy of Cave Story at this point is laughable. Physical version? Sure! But both at that price? That's madness.

Re: Review: Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (Switch)

MarioPhD

I can't believe I'm still excited for this, and it's reviewing so well across the board. I am so very, very shocked. Mine will be coming in on Thursday, and I'm very excited! I don't think I've ever had such a negative reaction to a game's reveal (well, the leaks; the reveal proper was just fine!), and then had it turn around this sharply.

Re: Pelda Pro Switch Case Aims To Make Your Dock Redundant

MarioPhD

I would love an additional dock, so traveling with my Switch and using it on multiple TVs would be easier. The replacements all seem a bit sketchy or overpriced, however. The Nyko dock seems like the best bet, since it comes from an actual company and has (from what I recall, anyway) an actual AC adapter included (which would add another $20+ to most other docking solutions).

On the plus side, this one IS on Kickstarter, so I assume they have some actual hardware, unlike the SwitchCharge. I hope both turn out well for those backing these projects, but I won't be surprised if they don't.

Re: Soapbox: The SNES Classic Edition Pre-Order Farce Proves Nintendo Hasn't Learned A Thing

MarioPhD

I was on Target's site within a minute of them going up. I literally don't know how anyone got one, since even with less than a minute preceding me, I couldn't get one. I've essentially given up on the idea of getting one, and if they don't add more stock I can actually get, I'm never even going to look at another one of these "Classic" systems again. I'm pretty furious at Nintendo for their handling of this; they learned literally nothing from last time. I didn't care with the NES Mini, since it had games I could get a million other ways, but to bind an unreleased game behind the gates of a console nobody can get is pretty unforgivable.