Comments 333

Re: Talking Point: If Nintendo Switch Online Adds Game Boy, Why Not Throw In GBA, Too?

Matl

In short, so they can save the GBA for another 2 years down the road to shill as another "new benefit" of NSO.

The service should have just had everything up to gamecube from the outset, or heaven forbid, an actual storefront to purchase said old titles? But nintendo couldn't possibly do such a service, it DEFINITELY wouldn't be a worthwhile opiton for both company and consumers...

Re: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Rumours Intensify

Matl

The timings for a new monolithsoft project lines up for a reveal soon and then release sometime next year, it's almost certainly gonna be XC3.

The stuff about the voice actor just seems (to me at least) like she doesn't know very much of xenoblade as a franchise other than its ongoing, so her comment really seems like she is just referring to that fact. If what she said is something to do with an upcoming role, it could be something of a cameo at best. I really feel that they wanna stick with new parties and worlds in each mainline game, though we have absolutely no idea what form this new game is taking so it's all up in the air.

Plus Imran Khan seems a bit hit or miss with their predictions, like some have mentioned. All the info we "have" points to literally nothing than a new xenoblade is coming soonish, which was pretty obvious anyway. Though it is exciting to hear that it may be close to wrapping up and a new hype cycle starting for the game. Personally, I can't wait! Bring it!

Re: Xenoblade Chronicles Voice Actor Says She 'Thinks' Another Game Is On The Way

Matl

New Xenoblade is a certainty, they haven't released anything but Definitive Edition since late 2018, and there have been a couple times where the heads have mentioned they are working on proposals (one of which being a new Xenoblade). Plus their steady growth in numbers makes them the biggest Nintendo studio outside of Nintendo's internal teams, so its certain they have a couple projects being worked on at least. Plus the new IP art from a while back suggests something brand new from them too, and they help out with all sorts of 1st party projects, notably BOTW and almost certainly its sequel.

Hopefully we see something from them in a September direct this year, its been way too long since Xenoblade 2 wrapped up.

EDIT - Here's a vid from a couple days ago detailing the specifics about Monolith's projects and timings from various interviews. It all points to something happening relatively soon. https://youtu.be/GHIj00TqR1w

Re: Metal Gear Creator Hideo Kojima Is "Afraid" Of A Future Without Physical Media

Matl

Physical games to me seems like they'll be something that is always "around", but there will be a point at which they will certainly not be anything beyond a limited run or similar. Just look at how many people still buy Cds, vinyls, DVDs when literally every single song or film is first available to stream. Physical media of any kind will always have that portion of people who are willing to buy them, though with games it does seem more likely that it'll turn completely digital given the stance companies take on the matter.

Personally I have about a 60/40 split in physical to digital games, because digital IS more convenient at the end of the day. On Steam especially with their constant sales, not to mention they are basically the ONLY company I can fully trust will let me actually own these games long into the future in a digital form. And then Nintendo is basically an indie mahcine too, which is why I bought so many digital titles on Switch before I got a good PC.

And like others have already said, why are there disk versions of Xbox series and PS5 if the future is 100% digital? There will ALWAYS be that crowd who wants the physical, even as we gradually reach closer to the all cloud-based digital future many seem to want for some reason.

Re: Talking Point: What's Your Switch Game Of 2021 So Far?

Matl

Looking through this made me realise I've played basically nothing this year with tons of uni stress for most of the year. I got Bowser's Fury when it launched and was a great time with my brother, but aside from that there's been nothing interesting enough for me to be excited for really. Guess this year wasn't for me, despite lots of things looking interesting but not my thing like monster hunter. At least metroid dread comes later this year, but then again I am not too excited for it... Maybe next year will be for me.

Re: Cute Zelda: Skyward Sword Bomb Bags Are Being Given Away On My Nintendo Australia

Matl

@sanderev That's really cool! Even now though, the CDs you get in special editions are always just a selection of like a dozen tracks? Why?

I have the full soundtracks for kirby triple deluxe, link between worlds, and a decent sized selection in the smash 4 CD, and also have a bunch of xenoblade ones as well as a couple of other misc ones. Doesn't help that most game soundtracks are japan only and/or super expensive.

Re: Poll: So, Will You Be Getting A Switch OLED Or Valve Steam Deck?

Matl

I'm sure there is an audience for the steam deck, but those who would be interested in it will already have games on steam... which means they have a capable pc to run them. And it seems unlikely that many people will buy a handheld specific steam machine outside of novelty or they just have no pc(?).

As for me its not to steam deck and switch oled. i have a pc so the steam deck is pointless, and i have a switch so the oled is pointless too

Re: Nintendo Won't Say Whether Switch OLED Joy-Con Fixes Drift, So Don't Count On It

Matl

Imagine Nintendo doing anything but the bare minimum... That'll be a blissful day...

I don't even use joy con much at all and yet I have had them drift at points, though fixable. And my launch pair had the SL/SR buttons and the rail LEDs break too, so that's fun.

Wish the handheld experience was more comfortable. Then I would actually play it more, instead of doing so maybe once a week if that for like half and hour. Somehow I find the DS and 3ds way more comfortable to play despite them being literal rectangles and super small? Then with switch it never feels right to hold the thing handheld. I don't understand how they managed that.

Nintendo - great software, terrible everything else

Re: Talking Point: Should We Be Worried About Screen Burn-In With Switch OLED?

Matl

No? Is burn in on any screen really that much of an issue unless it's on a super cheap TV or monitor? I've never experienced it and have never really heard anyone really experiencing burn in unless it's an older piece of tech.

Also I won't be getting the OLED model anyways so I have literally nothing to worry about with this.

Re: Talking Point: Where Does The Switch OLED Announcement Leave The Rumoured Switch Pro?

Matl

At this point its more likely to be a switch 2 or something to that degree, maybe like 2 years away. They'll probably pitch it as a sequel console which would at least make the "split" in the user base less, as I reckon they could sell the dock on its own for any upscaling stuff so that current switch models can take advantage of it, but have the actual powered up internals only on the "pro" or whatever it is.

Re: Soapbox: Could Switch OLED Actually Make A Reality Of Nintendo's Cheesy Tabletop Dream?

Matl

I used tabletop mode once at a group thing at uni to play mario party across two systems (2 players on each)... then we moved it onto a TV when it became available. Outside of situations like that where there is absolutley no screen to dock to is available, tabletop is a practically pointless thing that only exists for the very, verrrrry occasional times you gotta play multiplayer not on a TV for some reason. Also the kickstands were awful so thats another reason why you never use the mode.

Re: Should I Buy A Switch OLED? Which Nintendo Switch Is Best For Me?

Matl

@gaga64 Yeah, this is the only situation where I would think handheld is really the primary use case over the last year or so. Absolutely nothing wrong with it, it just seems odd to me that they wanna push a new version of the switch that is an upgrade almost entirely for the handheld demographic when the world is still up in flames, thus leading me to think that not a huge proportion of people would get that much use out of the new model's features. Perhaps its something the nintendolife staff could poll in a later article (wink wink).

Re: Should I Buy A Switch OLED? Which Nintendo Switch Is Best For Me?

Matl

Just wondering, when was the last time people really used their system handheld? You know, considering we have all been stuck at home for well over a year and will have had very little opportunity to actually go outside with the thing. I can understand if you don't have a TV available, but for a large proportion of the install base I can't imagine they got much use out of handheld mode when stuck at home with (potentially) a screen available to dock to almost all the time.

Re: Should I Buy A Switch OLED? Which Nintendo Switch Is Best For Me?

Matl

If I get fed up with how poorly my current switch is holding up i may jump on this. Love the look of it, though basically all the features are rendered absolutely useless since I play basically 100% docked. Maybe if they sold just the tablet part on its own I would be more tempted to pick it up, since its really that part that is slowly breaking down on me (broken cart slot, broken shell, general noise and heat, etc.). Don't really need another set of joy con (already have 3, and thats only because my base set are broken and I needed two sets for mario party), and the dock is basically the exact same since I got an ethernet adapter a while ago. If not, then I'll probably be stuck with my deteriorating console until the successor/pro/whatever, whenever they decide to do that.

Re: Talking Point: Nintendo Switch OLED Model Looks Lovely, But May Also Disappoint

Matl

Nintendo seem to be looking at switch as another of their handheld devices rather than the hybrid home console it actually is, which is probably why they are comfortable with releasing such a model after this long. But whereas that worked for the game boy, DS and 3DS lines, those games were always destined to not look absolutely brilliant due to the hardware and form factor. Whereas the switch is capable of running modern home console quality games, which would naturally make a lot of the consumer base more interested in a better switch revision that can run a full 1080p 60fps, for instance (or even 4K upscaling if that was a possibility).

But by pushing the switch as a hybrid system they really should look towards actually giving a spec bump after this long, to at least appease the side of the consumer base that actually cares about their games running well or just not using the handheld mode that often. As it stands currently, this revision stands as the 3DS XL before the New 3DS - an upgrade in aesthetics and some minor features before the true power upgrade later on. But like I've said, this is probably why many feel the switch really should have had a spec bump by now, since they see switch as more of a home console than a handheld, and I guess Nintendo thinks the opposite.

Re: Talking Point: Nintendo Switch OLED Model Looks Lovely, But May Also Disappoint

Matl

@NeonPizza Yeah, I can understand wanting it for purely cosmetic reasons or just having a neater play area. I think the main issue with this model is that what it does upgrade is stuff that people were saying should have been in the console from almost day one.

"My kickstand broke off immediately - they should make it go across the whole back and non detachable"

"Why is there no ethernet port? Now I gotta go buy an adapter"

And I guess some people will have complained about the screen and speakers too back then.

It's just a pretty disappointing "upgrade" given that the switch is four and a half years old at this point and what needed improving just hasn't after all this time (more power, or at least enough to actually RUN stuff at a not awful resolution and frame rate), and what HAS been improved was what everyone expected the base model of the switch to have after having it on the market for a month. Again, this is mainly something the more handheld side of the consumer base will get a kick out of, but not for people who want their stuff to actually run well.

Re: Talking Point: Nintendo Switch OLED Model Looks Lovely, But May Also Disappoint

Matl

This is basically pointless to even consider getting if you are one who plays primarily docked. You gain nothing from the new screen, speakers or kickstand, and if you cared enough for a wired ethernet connection you will have already gotten an adapter by now. Was at least hoping for some kind of power boost, even if it was something that guaranteed a more stable experience across the board rather than a 4K upscaling.

I'll probably only ever get this if my current switch fully breaks (since its falling apart at the seams essentially) or if they make a special edition that I simply HAVE to have.

As it stands this is only really worth it to the people who play handheld mostly and want an upgrade or for those who are new to switch and just don't care what they get.

Re: Poll: Mario Golf: Super Rush Is Out Today On Switch, Are You Getting It?

Matl

Not enough content or interesting ideas/mechanics for me to justify paying full price. Only really likely to consider it if I can find it at about £30 or less, which is what I do for pretty much all first party games I don't see being worth the full investment. Can usually scoop them up on eBay whenever after it launches so that's not an issue.

Re: Review: Mario Golf: Super Rush - A Solid Swing, But Par For The Course

Matl

@WoomyNNYes Yeah, tournament or online lobbies with friends are really the only way you're gonna get those sort of rulesets online. I just want some new content like tracks since the game is essentially seven years old and I have been playing since day one. The same tracks are tedious, though that's more due to the overall mechanics of the game being very basic with little depth, and items being horrendously balanced.

Re: Talking Point: Why Metroid Dread Will Be Worth $60

Matl

Unless its a game I am super excited for I usually try to find 1st party stuff for as low a price as possible, which usually means that I won't get it until I find it for cheaper on ebay months later. Though its pretty easy to get new releases for £40 from lots of places online, so it really depends how I'm feeling about the specific game. In the case of Dread, it miiiiight be something I pick up close to launch, though I will be looking for a good bargain as its not something on my most wanted list. But I'm happy to pay a premium for something that is obviously worth it.

Re: New Nintendo Infographic Shows Every Game Featured During The E3 Direct

Matl

Metroid Dread maybe, and pretty much everything else is not quite something I would ever jump to get. Maybe if they go down in price or can get them cheap off ebay, sure, but they are more niche titles that aren't really my thing or would be willing to spend full price on, or just not in a rush to get. Super happy to see these smaller series present on switch, with some basically coming back from the dead, but nothing that is my sort of tastes for now. Hopefully there is something in the next direct for me.

Re: Hideki Kamiya Shares Irritation At Speculation Over Bayonetta 3

Matl

They showed the game was in development way too early. Its their own fault.

Just reveal your games when they are actually close to coming out or at least have gameplay to show. Teasing reveals only really work for super well established series like Zelda, and even then it leaves nothing to go off for more than a week. Then its just waiting way too long for something to come out that we won't hear about for maybe years.

BOTW2 - 2 year wait to see some gameplay
Prime 4 - 4 years since it was seen and the complete redo of the game means its an even longer wait
Bayo 3 - heard absolutely nothing for 3.5 years now

So, just reveal stuff when you know it is far enough along to not receive backlash for it being delayed/showing nothing etc. Then everyone is happy!

Re: Feature: What's Your Most Treasured Club Nintendo Possession?

Matl

Mine is the 3 pack of promotional coins for the three operation rainfall games (Xenoblade Chronicles, The Last Story, and Pandora's Tower). Managed to find them on ebay for a very cheap price, and I later found a second set in better condition, but this time with the cardboard sleeve which was missing from the first set. So I have two of these. Super cool and interesting memento of a time gone by.

When will we get actual rewards, Nintendo? I want things that are substantial and aren't something I could find on google and print myself.

Re: Talking Point: Do You Replay Games?

Matl

Imagine reading books.

I only replay games at very, veeery specific times if i get the nostalgia itch for it. Most recent would probably be Link Between Worlds, did a new 100% run on hero mode and loved it to bits. Generally I tend to play games with endless replay value, and given I am struggling to get my final year of uni completed I haven't really played anything but Smash Ultimate in my free time. I just don't feel like picking up something new or lengthy when I have a "comfort game" of sorts I can easily have a bit of fun in. Hopefully that can all change when uni is done with soon... My stupidly huge collection yearns to be played...

Re: Video: Milestone Unveils Its Third Stunning Environment For Hot Wheels Unleashed

Matl

Is it just me or does the actual driving of this game look a little underwhelming? It just looks pretty generic in each trailer they show; I especially don't like the look of the drifting since it shunts your car to one side of the screen instead of keeping it centred, like they forgot to have the camera move with the car a little bit. Makes it seem it doesn't control too well from gameplay footage.

Plus the UI and general aesthetics look sorta bland and basic... sure, the game has some nice lighting and such, but it doesn't look like it has its own unique aesthetic outside of bright orange tracks in a room of some kind, which every track so far does so they all sorta blend together. Nothing seems to really "pop" with the game to me, I dunno.

Re: The Zelda & Loftwing Skyward Sword amiibo Will Cost More Than Regular Figures

Matl

@Ryancrim It's not necessarily an issue of it being too expensive, it's an issue of it having a massive spike in the retail price of the amiibo when it SHOULD be the same price as every other amiibo.

You could argue that the amiibo has 2 characters on it, that's why its more expensive. Those already exist with amiibo like the ice climbers and the link with horse BOTW amiibo. You could argue its cus it uses more material, but again there are figures that use much more material whilst still retaining the same asking price (E.g. the king k. rool or king dedede amiibo, or even the squishy metroid amiibo). There is no justifiable reason as to why this specific amiibo has a higher asking price, when all it could possibly have as a "feature" that other more expensive amiibo have is a more useful in-game ability. Which as has been stated, is a super scummy move to lock that behind a £20 figure. Asking an additional £7 for something that is IDENTICAL in every conceivable way to HUNDREDS of other amiibo figures made over the years, is the real issue here.

"If $25 is too much for you, you should find another job" is not the primary reason people are up in arms about this, its the fact that the product in question is $25 INSTEAD OF the regular $16 literally every single amiibo has ever been released for. Sure, it doesn't necessarily impact the way the game plays in any big way, but even if this was a collectors only item (which its not, lets be real, lots of people only buy amiibo of their favourite characters cus they like them and not for the collection aspect), the random huge increase in retail price should not have ever been something anyone should have had to consider in the first place, regardless of if they are a diehard collector of amiibo or just a kid who likes the look of the pretty bird and lady on the amiibo that is randomly a higher price.