MischiefMaker

MischiefMaker

Lifelong Nintendo gamer from the UK

Comments 573

Re: Soapbox: Gaming Superstitions And Rituals Might Not Work, But They Matter

MischiefMaker

Ok this really shows my age, but as a kid me and my cousins used to play on a spectrum zx. You had to load the games from cassette and frequently they’d fail to load and you’d have to start again. The best way to drastically improve the odds of the game loading was to say ‘it’s not going to load… definitely not loading’ while waiting for it to load…

Of course this was replaced a couple of years later with blowing on nes cartridges to get them to load

Re: Feature: Video Game Music That Didn't Need To Go That Hard

MischiefMaker

SNES Mario kart - the post race music for koopa - just 2 very simple bars looped over and over but I have to sit and listen for like 5 mins every race.

Also, unless I missed it, how has no- one mentioned classic gb Tetris? An ear worm that virtually everyone knows despite the fact it’s from an 8-bit puzzle game from over 30 years ago!

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 28th)

MischiefMaker

Octopath Traveller. Just finished chapter 1 for my 6th character. Really enjoying it, loving the 90s nostalgia. The soundtrack alone is enough to make this a brilliant game for me. And the focus on individual stories and characters rather than the usual end of the world stuff makes a nice change.

Maybe a bit of Spiritfarer or Hades as well if there’s time.

Not video games, but also got a delayed Xmas goose meal with friends this evening so may crack out a board game there.

Re: Talking Point: Does Nintendo's Next Console Have To Be 'Another' Switch?

MischiefMaker

Can’t see them releasing a ‘vanilla’ home console - no way they want to compete with Sony and MS on power and price, and the first party games on their own aren’t enough to convince enough gamers to get a Nintendo console as well as or instead the competition.

If it’s a home console it would need some key unique feature. Hybrid seems the way to go to try and keep the market share, but there surely would still be some new features not offered today. Hopefully a reasonable step up in processing power too, but not enough to price them out of the market.

Re: Talking Point: Does Nintendo's Next Console Have To Be 'Another' Switch?

MischiefMaker

I mostly want a more powerful switch as it’s perfectly suited to my lifestyle and I love it as a console. But then if Nintendo just took that approach when they had a winner, we’d never have got to the switch in the first place, and the day Nintendo stops innovating is the day they become another Microsoft or Sony.

So maybe a more powerful switch but with some game-changing innovation that none of us can even imagine!

Re: Talking Point: What Is The Most Frustrated You've Ever Been With A Video Game?

MischiefMaker

Nowadays if I have to replay something so many times that it’s infuriating I just give up as I don’t have enough gaming time to spend on things that aren’t fun. Unless it’s a game I love and the bit in question is required to see the end of the game. E.g splatoon 3 story mode - I did persist with the tricky target levels and beat them, but came close to abandoning. But then that final bonus level I just gave up on and will never complete as I don’t feel like the reward is worth it.

Some of the worst offenders in the past that I can recall are: a NES game called Trojan Warrior (or something like that) - not a big game but very hard; BOTW trials thing - gave up after making it however far and having to restart so many times; Viewtiful Joe; Metroid Prime boss.

My son gets it worse (he’s 15) - he’s constantly getting annoyed at splatoon 3 salmon run, trying to get a very high level. The worst he had though was when he was about 6 or 7 and I got him playing DK Jungle Beat with the bongoes. He used to end up literally crying with rage every time but didn’t want to give up.

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

MischiefMaker

Started Octopath Traveller finally (after owning the cartridge for 4 years!). A perfect cozy game for cold winter days for me, loving how the game looks and sounds, and the various characters I’ve met so far.

Spiritfarer on iPad too, and maybe a run or two of Hades on Switch if I get time. Made it to the big bad for the first time the other day, although I’m probably a ways off being good enough to actually escape.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 14th)

MischiefMaker

I’ve started Kona which I bought ages ago on sale. Bit of a change of pace for me, quite enjoying it.

Also can’t put down Hades, final got past stage 3 for the first time yesterday. What a game! And a bit of Spiritfarer on iPad, also really enjoying in small doses - good game to play in bed on a weekend morning.

My brother and his family are up so might squeeze in a bit of mariokart or overcooked, or perhaps some board games (finally got to play Wingspan which I got for Xmas - love it)

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 7th)

MischiefMaker

Splatfest! Not played much Splatoon since the new season started so enjoying getting back into it. Seems to be loads of new players which is great.

Also a bit of Hades. I want to put it down for a bit and tackle something from the backlog but it’s just so addictive. I can’t get past the 3rd stage yet but I am still improving.

Re: Talking Point: What Game Do You Replay Every Year?

MischiefMaker

No game that I replay every year, just don’t have enough time vs games I want to play. Some games I revisit occasionally like Mario Kart 8 (only got the Switch version this year but I used to pick up the wii u version occasionally previously), and a few retro games I have replayed on Switch, but don’t think any of them I would play yearly.

There’s a few games I’d like to play through again if I had more time - BOTW, Twilight Princess, XC1, Skyward Sword, Metroid Prime etc… maybe one day!

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (November 19th)

MischiefMaker

Some splatoon 3, want to complete the catalogue before the end of the season (although I doubt I’ll play enough to do that for every season). Had a go on Anarchy battle yesterday for the first time and quite enjoyed splat zones.

Recently got Megaman Legacy Collection 2 in the sale so played a bit of that. Remains to be seen if I have the patience to actually beat any of the games in it!

Also played a bit of Slay the Spire on my iPad.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (October 29th)

MischiefMaker

My son has borrowed Luigi’s Mansion from a friend so I’ve started that.

Also a bit of Splatoon 3 here and there. Finally finished the main story mode, although I don’t have the time and patience to do the extra level. So I’ve reached the point where I no longer think of it as my current ‘main’ game but will be coming back to it many times for the odd blast of inking, especially at splatfests and when new stages are released. Also yet to play any of the special (non turf war) battles so I’ll definitely be back to try those out.

Re: Talking Point: What's Your Favourite Music Track From A Nintendo Game?

MischiefMaker

I’m going Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Fonsa Myma Night. Playing that with headphones I just had to stop and listen. But really very hard to choose, so many great tracks over the last 30 years or so of Nintendo games.

Special mention to Ballad of the Goddess from Skyward Sword. Brilliant piece of music in its own right, but when I found out about what that is in reverse (via an article on this site) - mind absolutely blown!

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (October 8th)

MischiefMaker

Splatoon 3. Still fully addicted, playing turf war, salmon run and a bit of the story mode. Barely touched the card game yet and not played the other battles modes at all, so plenty of life left for sure for me. Having said that, I am ready to have some turf war stages added.

Also a bit of dicey dungeons for some filler. I played it a bit when I got it and then got bored, but it’s a nice game for the odd run here and there.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (October 1st)

MischiefMaker

Splatoon 3. I’m at the in-laws which means handheld only, so I’ve spent a bit of time in the single player mode. I’ve never liked story mode as much as multi player in the splatoon games and never actually finished one, but with this one I think I might.

And a little bit of turf war for good measure. Also some Into the Breach, but playing on iPad now.

Re: Talking Point: What Was Your First Mario Kart Game?

MischiefMaker

SNES for me. At the time we lived in the US (I was about 12) and owned a NES, but my brother and I used to bike down to Target just to play on the demo SNES unit. I loved playing Contra and Super Mario World, and I remember being disappointed when the had Mario Kart instead as I couldn’t get my head around the mode 7 graphics. Fast forward a year or so and we were back in the UK, and my cousin had the game for his snes. Once I got used to it I was hooked, and spent countless hours in his bedroom playing 2p Grand Prix.

I spent probably more time though on MK64 as it was the go to game at uni with mates, at least until I got Goldeneye.

I would say MK8 deluxe is best overall, but I still think the SNES one stands up once you relearn the handling.

Re: Talking Point: What Was Your First Legend Of Zelda Game?

MischiefMaker

I’ve gone for Link to the Past as it’s the first Zelda game that blew me away and the first I completed. However I never actually owned a copy of my own - the first Zelda game I owned was link’s awakening on gameboy and I adored that too. I remember being so excited reading magazine previews and reviews and the game totally living up to the hype. How could they cram a game that had the same style as the SNES one and a big sprawling island into a tiny gb cart????

The first Zelda game I ever played was the original, but I only played a few hours and it didn’t grab me at the time. The contrast between that and the SNES game was stark and really showed me the possibilities that a more powerful console could deliver. Similar with ocarina at the time I suppose.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (August 20th)

MischiefMaker

I started portal on my son’s Xbox due to backlog club, but we’ve just unplugged and removed the tv and consoles to do some decorating so that will have to pause for a while.

Continuing Into The Breach (but now on iPad). Might play a bit of splatoon 2 as well. A bit reticent to start a ‘big’ game as I think I’m going to pre order splat 3 and play that almost exclusively for a while when it comes out.

Re: Talking Point: How Were You Introduced To Metroid?

MischiefMaker

GB Metroid 2 - vividly remember playing it in a hotel in the US on holiday there.

Although technically I did play the original nes Metroid before that at a neighbour’s house (also in the US when I briefly lived there) but it seemed impossibly hard.

Prime on gc is probably the one that really grabbed me though, although I think I technically played it on the wii as I got it late.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (August 13th)

MischiefMaker

Still Ever Oasis on 3DS and Into the Breach on iPad. When I get back home from hols in a couple of days I might start Bioshock on Switch, or I might play a bit of Splat 2 in preparation for 3 coming out, and tackle Bioshock a little later. Decisions decisions! I imagine work will be full on after 3 and a half weeks away so maybe neither for a little while…

Re: Talking Point: Has Nintendo Done Enough To Justify Splatoon 3's Existence?

MischiefMaker

I don’t really understand why people get so cross. How many versions of Tetris have there been that iterate on what’s gone before?

I put a good amount of hours in splatoon 2 (but probably under 100) and loved it, but gradually stopped playing. The new stuff is enough to get me excited to dive back into the splatoon world again and if I get 40 hours enjoyment from it I’ll consider it money well spent. I suspect I’ll get more from it than that.

If you’re bored of the splatoon gameplay then I can see that you wouldn’t want to splash out again, but you can’t realistically expect Nintendo to just keep adding to the one game forever for free, especially as interest wanes over time and a new release draws new and renewed interest.

Re: Nintendo Announces Splatoon 3 "Large-Scale Paid DLC", Details Two Years Of Post-Launch Support

MischiefMaker

The fact is that games have got cheaper in real terms over the last 30 years, and people won’t pay more than 50 or 60 quid for a new game, so for big games it seems a common practice to split a game up into base game and dlc. The end result is you pay about the equivalent of what a game would have cost all those years ago, accounting for inflation. Unless you don’t want the dlc, in which case you pay less and get less.

For me I think splatoon base game is worth the full price alone. Yes it’s got a lot of similarities to 1 and 2 but it’s enough for me. I’ll see what the paid dlc is and decide if it’s worth splashing out on at the time. Almost considering it as a separate game I suppose.

But hey, that’s just me

Re: Talking Point: What's The Highlight Of Your Game Collection?

MischiefMaker

I don’t have loads as I tend to go through phases of offloading old games every now and then (eg selling some ds, GameCube, n64 games etc to fund a new iPad a few years ago). However, 2 games I don’t think I could ever bring myself to sell, despite no longer owning the hardware to play them on, are secret of mana and final fantasy 3 (now 6) for the snes. The latter in particular is a game that me and brother owned by accident when my dad picked up a copy on a work trip to the US (I had asked for ff legend 3 for the GameBoy and he got confused). I was disappointed at first, until I got hold of an ntsc converter and loaded the game up on my UK snes. No game has ever blown me away as much before or since.

So yeah, probably that one.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (July 30th)

MischiefMaker

In holiday in Italy with the family, left the Switch at home and bought the 3DS out of retirement. Playing Ever Oasis a little bit each day which I’m quite enjoying. The slow pace matches a holiday mood Not that Naples is a calm city!

Also some Spelldrifter on iPad and might play some Into The Breach when we reach the beach towns in Sicily and I have a bit more time, although that means having a separate save game from the Switch version and I’m not sure I have enough gaming time to warrant that!