NintendoWife

I applaud them for this game. Lot of love and detail work clearly went into it. Beautiful stages, fantastic art overall. Technically great, flow is great too. Still I went away from the demo with the feeling that I'd pass... it's too messy for me. So much happening that you barely control. My impression was "if Mario Kart was Smash Bros."

Don't mind that they're including other games' elements of course. That said, this trailer wasn't what I was expecting from The Mario Galaxy movie. Not the feeling of a grand space adventure, rather a bit of everything (and in that regard not much different from the first movie).

I'm finding it puzzling that they chose to focus so much on the pair of Bowser Jr. and "shrunk Bowser" (I didn't even remember him being shrunk at the end of Movie 1, is continuity really important with this type of movie?). I was confused even. If I am confused, I wonder what someone who barely knows the franchise is supposed to make of it.

Huh, that change in atmosphere might actually be a plus in my book. I hadn’t previously enjoyed Metroid Prime, but I liked Other M. Oh and Dread was fantastic.

So if this one feels less bleak than usual I might give it a try after all.

@johnedwin Right, I wasn't aware of that

Was anybody else surprised that this series got a new entry so quickly? OT2 came out only two years ago. Whereas there was five years between part 1 and 2.

I haven’t played much of OT2 yet :/ And still half of Live a Live to finish… guess I shouldn’t buy this one here.

Well, they could be assuming that these games don’t particularly resonate with Nintendo customers, and in my case that would be spot on 😶 I don’t care for dudebro titles. Gears of Duty, Call of Halo.. pew pew pew

Is it also possible that this simply happened because of how the trailer came together? It probably was a Japanese production first (using Pokopia, which like you said is not a first party published game in Japan). Then for the translation they kept the same examples. They swapped the artwork for the western version, but it might still be the case that this isn't actually an example of a game-key card outside of Japan. I mean, they said they wouldn't.

Huh so no resolution upgrade for Switch 2, while they were at it?! That does not bode well for other first party titles :/

I recently tried the 4K update of BOTW, started a new game, but realized that it feels too recent to fully replay it. I'd rather continue my game of TOTK in 4K because there's so much left to do still, but that game is with my nephew since christmas 2023.

@sketchturner How do you know it's not going to be longer than just the trailer?

@ArmenianJedi13 So what exactly do you want them to do - not update the (eagerly waiting) public on their upcoming blockbuster follow-up to the highest-grossing video game film ever? 🤨

Lot of details and clarification, good! And generally polish is always welcome.

Generally they did a good job, but for whatever reason Switch 1 games don't look nice to me on Switch 2. I find myself holding out for dedicated Switch 2 patches that enable 4K resolution.

@SteveDaSteve I don't remember the first one in detail, but I do remember thinking that the second entry (on Switch) was a lot better. Just gameplay and settings and how it all worked was more fun and less confusing.

I'll be a bit bummed out if Nintendo don't give all their best Switch 1 games a 4K update. Paper Mario Origami / TTYD / RPG, Skyward Sword... all those games that are unlikely to ever get a full re-release. They'll all be stuck at fuzzy blurry resolution despite not being old at all. Nintendo could give them all a shot in the arm by announcing modest upgrades (all I'm asking is 4K really), and they'd keep selling I think.

@N00BiSH Ah, that's interesting! I do prefer a more linear approach, and I haven't collected all moons yet. Only recently I picked up Odyssey again (thanks to the 4K update) and was surprised to find I'd stopped playing in 2018 at < 600 moons. Back when it came out I was annoyed by the "inflationary" number of moons that replaces the fewer mission based ones from earlier games. Liking it better now.

Might be an age thing, I'm one of those who don't quite warm to open worlds and scattered bite-sized rewards. I'd rather have linear design / storytelling and epic missions back. Looking at you, Zelda 😤. But don't get me wrong, Odyssey is fantastic. Can't wait for the next.

@N00BiSH Yeah, what's wrong with those?

I just finished (242 stars) Galaxy 2 on the Switch 2, and the green stars were great fun And I mean - the core game is very sizable, you're 100% percent getting your money's worth before approaching the green stars. So what's wrong with something optional (that may not be fun for some players, but definitely is for others)?

@HugoGED Perfectly fine, from the perspective of individual taste! Objectively it's not as clear what a Donkey Kong game is and how that character behaves as opposed to Mario. You may be right that Nintendo could have done a better job about that, but then again - they always try their best with every IP and not everything can be your greatest hit, can it?

DK is in a great position now, they gave him Mario's top spot as the first platformer on their new console. Created by their in-house top team no less. So as a relaunch this is as strong a push as they could have given him. If the numbers support it this should start a new series of games.

@X68000
"The 3D Mario formula feels stale to me now. Its such a shame we'll never see such a seismic shift in game design as what Miyamoto achieved with Mario 64."

Does it feel stale? We've had so few 3D Mario games.

• Sunshine was fun, if a bit monothematic
• Galaxy was at least as groundbreaking as 64
• Galaxy 2 slightly less exciting, more of a (fantastic) level pack
• 3D Land: Overlooked, it felt very tight and adorable. Too bad people don't appreciate the stereoscopic 3D depth. Personally I didn't notice / mind an overly easy difficulty.
• I agree that 3D World was very conservative, but even that was kinda in the concept (of blending 3D with "New Super" Mario)
• Odyssey was fantastic again, many people's favourite
• Bowser's Fury was a short-ish open world experiment and quite good

... and Odyssey is 8 years old now! So if you don't count Bowser's Fury (because short add-on) they will have given 3D Mario almost a decade of a break before the next one. Surely with the intention of making something fresh.

@HugoGED I think Donkey Kong is simply a weaker concept or "thing" compared to Mario. And Miyamoto seems to be very aware and analytical of what works best. I don't have anything against DK, but he's nowhere near the clear and recognizable identity of Mario.

I love that man, don't like thinking about how he's inevitably getting older. My birthday happens to be the same as his, that's why I know that it's due next sunday! 73, others would have retired already. Let's be glad he's still participating.

"A delayed game is eventually delayed even further"

Terminator 2D: New Date

It does seem to be a smooth transition so far, yes. All it needs now is some defining software titles. I'm counting on 2026.

Mario Kart 8 has a real chance of overtaking Wii Sports, I just noticed. According to the latest report they sit at

Wii Sports: 82.9m
Mario Kart 8 / Deluxe: 79.02m

MK8D is still in sales top 10 around the world, and it seems to have sold 5m in the last year. Over 1m post Switch 2 launch. So, another 4m would make it Nintendo's bestselling game ever.

I think we know what we’re getting from a Hyrule Warriors game at this point, I thought it was great fun in coop - the warm feeling of a Zelda setting and story with silly adrenaline gameplay that’s not too hard. Planning to play it in two-player when my friend comes over for a visit, which will be a few weeks… which gives me time to wait for the price to drop a little

@Striker21 No offence but that’s a funny combination between

• a stellar financial result from Nintendo
• your doom & gloom interpretation of it
• your suggestion that Nintendo would be better off going the Microsoft way
• at the very moment where Microsoft abandons their way because it’s not working
• topped off by your avatar picture

Bananza is in line with the game's quality I'd say - good but not great. MKW feels like a quieter entry for the series, too, but these numbers suggest it might even challenge MK8D over the course of this generation. Interesting!

Don't think either game is going to win it, MKW might win 'multiplayer'? Switch 2 has a chance in the 'hardware' category I'd say.

Grim Fandango, oh man what a gem of a game.

@megakasp A new control scheme was added to the Remastered!

And: I second that (asking for the other classics) and even wrote to Double Fine recently, if they don't wanna consider Switch (2) versions of DOTT and Full Throttle, now that Microsoft is giving up on exclusivity. But they didn't reply. According to Apple App Store reviews Full Throttle is very buggy, so maybe they don't wanna touch it again.

@nab1 I don't agree - there's a convoluted section early on (the woods) that could put you off, but it gets back to amazing after that.

@Fearful-Octopus There is / was a physical edition of Grim Fandango Remastered for Switch! I have it. It was limited though, by iam8bit :/

My favourite turnout would still be: A new Galaxy game around the movie's release 😍 Possibly closely related to the movie, even including a story / journey? Wouldn't that be amazing? Had that though for the first movie already - that I'd love them to make a "game to movie to game" game.

I surely would if we were still playing the game. But in our household it really was a Covid thing. The only game my girlfriend ever played extensively, and I dabbled a bit, too. Now we've long passed it on to our niece and nephew.

I must admit my first thought too was "BOTW had music? Enough for 8 records?"

Had it been any other Zelda game I'd already have preordered it, 100%. Majora's Mask? Twilight Princess? Wind Waker? Link's Awakening? Ocarina? Instantly. But BOTW / TOTK...

I will, but I’m holding out for a <60€ price including shipping. Nintendo asks 80€, other shops are down to <70€ already. It’s a game I’m looking forward to but not one I have to play at all costs.

"The dialogue is funny, cynical, and very British." That's an achievement if true, considering the game was developed by Italians afaik

@DanElectrode You mean sequel no?

And I can’t say I agree - the 3D Mario games are some of my favourite games ever, Bananza on the other hand I’m not even going to finish. It’s not the same.

@MSaturn From what I hear it’s not by choice - game development simply became exponentially expensive in terms of budget, team size and general scope. Nintendo had to merge their two branches for that reason, Microsoft has to go multiplatform… if you listen to DF, they regularly discuss how game development has become unsustainable :/ Studios can’t easily recoup the costs anymore. Nintendo is one of the biggest fish, they’re healthy and doing well, but they struggle to keep up the pace, too.

I'm just glad Nintendo is still independent.
As for Microsoft - I've never cared for their typical dudebro FPS games, but there's a few currently that I am or would be happy to see on Switch 2. Indiana Jones 👍! Psychonauts would be nice, oh and Shenmue I+II were MS-exclusive too, no? Would make a ton of sense to port those ahead of the III release.

Wow that sounds like Retro were being quite cocky.

I'm a regular listener to the Digital Foundry podcast, and if there's one thing I'm tired of it's their hours and hours of trying to interpret Microsoft's Xbox plans and actions and the essence of the "Xbox experience". To me it sounds like: MS are going third party, while also trying to dethrone Steam and bring their Windows and Xbox businesses closer together. Not willing to subsidize their consoles anymore, so whatever hardware they still put out will be pricey. Ok.

Maybe I don't understand the importance of it all cause I've never been an Xbox customer.

Oh and: Lesson for any other gaming company, never get bought by Microsoft. They’ll change their mind next week and will sacrifice your product for whatever is more profitable now.

@LastFootnote Same here, I kept scanning the article for the caveat that makes the demo actually not free. Weird choice by Liam.

The previous one wasn't great, supposedly, right? But this one is an entirely different developer?

They could have stuck with the release date for the tarnished edition, I mean they've always been upfront about it. And then release a polished edition later? I sense a new strategy! The next Zelda, instead of getting delayed and delayed like they always do, could meet its deadline as "TLOZ - janky edition"!

Unpopular opinion from a Persona n00b - I’ve bought P5 for Switch and now tried the P3 demo on Switch 2. Man I wish these games were all overworld, no dungeon. I love the overworld parts. The dungeons are instant wtf. Gameplay is overwhelming and convoluted and never gets explained. It starts out way too complex instead of building slowly. The dungeons look barren. Everything is goofy. It’s just such a downer coming from the city settings and storylines.

@Pillowpants For sure, I don’t think most people ever heard of a backlash.

Just yesterday I was thinking "there's not a lot of buzz around Mario Galaxy". Well, it will be a steady seller. And I'm happily playing it.

Well this is an easy one. The Japanese artwork looks unfinished in comparison. Striking artwork they commisioned for the US release.

Yeah somehow France is the one outlier where they regularly lower Switch 2 game prices almost across the board. Which is curious because I assume they have to pay the same wholesale price.

"Hyper enthusiast, price-insensitive players"
Umm I don’t think that’s a fair description.. let’s say you buy 6 games a year, that’s still only 360€ a year for your hobby (at 60€). Compare that to the money some people spend on, dunno, tuning their car or something. Or sports equipment.

That would be a weird targeting of the Pikmin audience. My impression is that Pikmin is a rather niche IP in a genre (real time strategy) that’s not a good fit for little children. But then again, who does this trailer speak to? Parents?

I don’t mind it at all though. Could just be a general “Nintendo is part of the family & brings a little magic” image film.

Is that the same Turtle Beach that was one of the few relevant PC sound card makers in the early 90s?