I really think Psychonauts 1 and 2 would feel right at home on a Nintendo console, so it would be cool to see Microsoft bring those over. Otherwise, I don't think Microsoft has many exclusives left that I'd want to see on Switch. As a big 3D platformer buff, I'd love to see Blinx available on a platform that isn't Xbox. Never played it but would really like to. That's getting really obscure though, so I don't like my chances lol.
Honestly, I don't think Nintendo would want to. They would rather use their own IP to make games. I doubt we'll ever see the day again when Nintendo makes licensed games like their old Popeye arcade cabinet. Nor will we see them do anything like trying to buy the exclusive licensing rights to Harry Potter games as they attempted to do in the N64 era. Nintendo is a very prideful company, and they place too much importance on their own brands.
If Microsoft suggested to Nintendo they make a new Banjo game, Furukawa would probably respond with, "We already have a sandbox 3D platformer in the Mario series. To make a new Banjo-Kazooie game would take away time and resources from working on the Mario IP." That's just the way they are, for better or worse. To make a game with someone else's IP would be to acknowledge that other brands are just as good, or better, than their own.
The problem with your suggestion is Nintendo's stubbornness--not Microsoft's. (Not that Microsoft has given the IP the love it deserves, because they haven't.) A Banjo game by Nintendo probably would also fail to capture the distinct British humor.
I was just thinking the other day that we should be due a new NSO drop. Usually, right when I start thinking that, an announcement comes a couple days later. Go figure.
Not sure I really have an interest in any of these, but a Satellaview game hitting the service is promising for the future and an important part of game preservation! Can we get BS Legend of Zelda next? Also, 64DD games that never released in the west like Mario Artist, pretty please!
The game itself has always been a 9/10 for me. The remaster is pretty barebones--some assets like the water have been drastically updated from the original and looks really nice, but other assets are showing their age and in some cases look unfinished. Overall though, the enhancements put the game almost on par with Tropical Freeze visually, I would say. But it's overpriced for what's largely a barebones port. As the game the entire DK Universal park is based on, it deserved better. I think a redone soundtrack by David was would have also been cool since he didn't do the original, but alas.
This is the definitive way to play the game, though. It has local co-op and TV support like the Wii game, but it also has normal button controls, portability, and the extra levels from the 3DS game. Playing this game on Wii and having to waggle the controller every 5 seconds is an annoying workout. I haven't noticed any significant framerate issues as some people have said, but I usually don't notice that sort of thing. The resolution looks really sharp, too.
Overall, I'd say it's a better upscaled port than Luigi's Mansion 2, but that isn't a very high bar. I'm happy to have the game on Switch, but in some ways, it feels like a missed opportunity. Considering Tropical Freeze didn't sell super well at $60 on Switch despite most people not owning a Wii U, I don't expect this straightforward port of a 15-year-old game to sell much higher than a million units, honestly. As a re-release, I'll say it's a 7/10.
I don't expect this one to make the list because NL is still adamant about pretending Hogwarts Legacy doesn't exist. But the sidequests with Sebastian went places I didn't expect, and I was genuinely shocked by the outcome. It gets really heavy, and I was probably more invested in the story than any of the individual Harry Potter movies. Like, wow. Definitely one of the plots that resonated with me most of any game I've played on Switch, period.
It's obvious this Ori dev CEO reached out to Microsoft about making a Banko-Kazooie pitch, were told no, and now he's taking to social media to try and get fans to petition so he can make it happen.
The highest-pain position is president/CEO Furukawa who just makes $2.3 million a year. That may sound like a lot, but it pales in comparison to ActiVision's Bobby Kotick, who in the same timeframe was making $155 million/year.
Call me a dirty capitalist, but I think it's only fair that the person in the most senior position who is in charge of all the important decisions deserves to make the most money. Not as much as Kotick earns, mind you, but Miyamoto only making 1.8 million dollars a year is lowballing his worth, imo.
This is why, despite whatever negative PR incident comes Nintendo's way about shutting down a fan remake or whatever else, I still think they're one of the most ethical companies on the planet. Most of that money goes right back into R&D, and the people at the top aren't lining their pockets while everyone else gets breadcrumbs.
So yeah, I'd say the figure is pretty accurate for the average employee.
Tagging y'all to let you guys know I finished my Super World! It's been uploaded online, so you can play all 40 levels now! I know I said it might take me a month or longer, but I've been playing obsessively over the past week. Probably put in like 8-10 hours of editing a day, lol. My Maker ID is: LT6-LN9-5PG. Let me know what you guys think!
I'm putting the finishing touches on my 40-level Super Mario World sequel in Mario Maker 2. I'm hoping to finish today. I'll update this post later with the course ID for those who are interested in playing. I thought this project could take a month or two, but I got obsessively addicted to making levels and have probably put in an average of 10 hours a day editing over the past week. I, uh... I'm not employed right now, so I have a lot of time on my hands.
EDIT: Okay, I have it uploaded! My Maker ID is LT6-LN9-5PG, if anybody wants to play my 8 worlds! I had a lot of fun making it, so I hope everyone has as much fun playing it! There are three large coins hidden in every level, a 10-coin, a 30-coin, and 50-coin in that order; good luck trying to find them all!
I also picked up DKC Returns HD on launch day but haven't played it yet. I'm hoping to record myself playing through the first world of the game today and upload it to my YouTube channel. I also still need to finish my Link's Awakening playthrough.
You can see my full impressions there and also hear an American's attempt at impersonating Alex Olney's voice at the 2:40 mark, haha. It's a pretty good imitation, if I do say so myself!
The presentation was basically what I expected--stuff we already learned about through leaks and no mention of a price point, release date, hardware specs, or games. That said, I was pleasantly surprised to see footage of the new Mario Kart, as well as the announcement of a Nintendo Direct.
It's a but disappointing the Direct isn't till April, but that gives me hope that what I wanted all along is going to happen: a final, Switch-focused Direct in February that gives us the last handful of ports and remasters we've been waiting on like Wind Waker HD, Metroid Prime 2 and 3, Yoshi's Woolly World, and the rumored Kirby Planet Robobot HD. Some smaller, new titles like Rythm Heaven and Mario Baseball would also be welcome.
I assume the new Mario Kart will be thr launch title since that's what they focused on here. I hope it won't be a hard reset and that all the content from MK8 DX is available. "Over 100 race tracks!" is easy marketing, so take the 96 and just build onto it from there. I'm not very impressed with the graphics, though. It just kinda looks like Mario Kart 8... again? I was definitely expecting more, and I don't think a desert track with a lot of fog was the best graphical showcase. Still, I'm excited.
I don't understand why this was necessary to do. Obviously, I'm not a lawyer, so maybe somebody else can educate me. But how can Nintendo be held liable for someone hacking their console? That's a risk the modder assumes. And why only do this for Wii U and not issue a similar warning for Wii, DS, or 3DS? Unless Nintendo knows something we don't.
It's a shame this is giving Nintendo negative PR, judging by some of these comments. I really don't think Nintendo has an issue with people using these unofficial services or has any intention of shutting them down. They usually turn a blind eye to stuff like this, or the fan localization of Mother 3. If it doesn't directly impact their business, they're usually fine with it. Now, if Nintendo were to ever release Mother 3 officially in the states or if Nintendo were planning to add Wii/Wii U/DS/3DS Wi-Fi services to NSO, then yeah, they might issue a cease and desist. But if that isn't in the pipeline (i.e., AM2R with Samus Returns), I don't think Nintendo is gonna go after something like this.
@N00BiSH Yeah, I'm pretty sure all the music was completely redone. I don't know if it was with real instruments or not, but it doesn't sound MIDI anymore. I think it's a big glow-up, overall. There might have been a song or two that sounded better in the OG. But on the whole, I like the rearrangements better.
It would have made sense to pair this with Wind Waker HD coming to Switch. The fact they're putting it on Nintendo Music now makes me think we shouldn't expect the actual game itself anytime soon, because if it were in the pipeline they would have held off.
They're not online at the moment, but they will be when I'm finished with all of them. I have a couple unrelated levels from years ago that are available to play online though, like a Bikini Bottom one.
The code for that one is GP0-T97-JKF.
The other levels I wouldn't necessarily recommend playing, as I don't know if they're particularly well-balanced. One of them in particular is incredibly brutal. But the SpongeBob one is pretty straightforward, and I'm proud of how it turned out.
Still working my way through Link's Awakening on my YouTube channel. After I finish that, I'm thinking I'll do a playthrough of Kirby's Adventure.
Otherwise, I've been dipping back into Super Mario Maker 2 for the first time in years. A long time ago, I set out to make a "sequel" to Super Mario World with 40 new levels that try to stick at least somewhat closely to Nintendo's design philosophy while also offering a bit of extra challenge.
I intended to complete it for my brother, who isn't really much of a Nintendo fan or a big gamer in general, but he grew up on Super Mario World and always considered it his favorite game. (Although he's since gotten into Breath of the Wild, and I think that may be his new favorite.) I'm finally planning to finish it this time and have made a handful of levels since yesterday. I also revisited some of the other levels I finished years ago to see how they hold up and made some adjustments.
I'm pretty proud of how it's coming along, and I'll be sure to share the World Maker ID whenever it's live for anybody who wants to try it out. I have no idea how long this project will take me though, so I might go radio silent on it for a month or longer... Hopefully, I don't drop it again. I'm trying to commit this time!
Yes!! I literally predicted this on my channel during my review of the third movie, lol. I talked about how I wanted the fourth movie to not be set on Earth again and bring in locales from the games. (I try to use as vague terms as possible, but in case you haven't seen the third movie yet, beware of potential SPOILERS below:
My idea was that the main antagonist of the fourth film abducts all of Sonic's human friends and holds them prisoner on Sonic's home planet. Tom, Maddie, and Wade would still get some screen time as part of the B-plot where they try and escape from jail. But the main focus would be on Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, and Agent Stone, who is helping the team with his robotic expertise and his schematics of all of Eggman's machines.
While the other humans take less of a focus in this movie, Agent Stone is an exception, who is learning to come into his own as a person and cope independently of Dr. Robotnik. Maybe we could get a flashback/origin story showing exactly how the two met and why Stone came to idolize him so much.
Although I love Jim Carrey as Eggman, I think his role in Sonic 4 needs to be relegated to flashbacks and a post-credits scene where he comes back. Given what happened at the end of Sonic 3, I think it would be anticlimactic to have him show up any earlier than the credits. The audience needs to sit with the weight of what happened for a while, or else the fourth movie will undermine how heavy the ending to the third one was. So, as much as it pains me, Eggman needs to take a backseat.
Finally, if we do go back to Sonic's home planet, I think they'll give Sonic closure about what happened to Longclaw. She's mentioned in all three movies, so I have to imagine they want to return to that eventually. We never see her die, just that she was wounded before Sonic went through the portal. Maybe she's still alive? Maybe there are other surviving Echidnas as well, and we'll get more lore about why the two sides were at war. Was it a misunderstanding? Or are Longclaw's people actually the bad guys?
Imagine how wild it would be if Longclaw is alive and in a plot twist ends up being the main antagonist of the third movie. Like, she gaslights Sonic and tries to cut him off from his human family, telling him that she is the only family he needs and why the others are actually toxic.
Even if she really is good, I could still see it causing tension if she's alive. I could see it having a similar plot to Kung Fu Panda 3 where Sonic initially throws Tom and Maddie under the bus but ultimately realizes that they're just as much his family as Longclaw.
But yeah, in addition to visiting Green Hill Zone (where Baby Sonic was doing loopty-loops, not Donut Lord's town), I'd like to see them infiltrate a Chemical Plant, like maybe the villain is trying to harvest all the planet's energy like FF7 or something. More familiar places like that.
And if they're leaving Earth, I imagine we'd be seeing more than just one familiar face from the games. Like maybe Rouge, Blaze, and Big are integrated into the plot. (This is where my Sonic ignorance shows, as I haven't played many games where those characters are prominently featured. So maybe someone else knows better than me whether now would be the appropriate time to bring them in.) I feel like an anthropomorphic crocodile like Vector would look pretty cursed in a live action movie, so maybe leave him out, lol.
In the Wii U days, every small "NX" leak and rumor was a light in the darkness. It was such an exciting time and gave us hope that better times were ahead.
But nowadays, it's just annoying. I think each leak is starting to make me exponentially less interested in the new system.
@ThatZeldaNerd It's my favorite game of all-time, so reading comments like this makes me extremely happy. I spent a lot of time hyping the game up ahead of its release here in the Nintendo Life comments section, and I had at least one person tell me they would probably buy the game just because I was so impassioned about it. I can't remember which user it was, and I have no idea if he ever actually picked it up, but I sure hope he did and that he loved it.
That said, there are actually some elements of the original that I prefer over the remake. I would recommend watching a playthrough of the OG version on YouTube so you can see some of the dialogue changes. The game still has quite a bit of edge to it, but they took out more than a few "risky" jokes that were present in the original and are part of why I love it so much.
I enjoyed 2024's Game Awards and was happy Astro Bot won, but Paper Mario: TTYD was snubbed. I can't believe it didn't get a single nomination. I'm glad this awards shoe is fixing that, but I've never tuned into the NY Game Awards and have never really heard much buzz around it. Is it worth tuning in to?
I know Reggie attended it a year or two, but if it weren't for that, I probably wouldn't even know the NY Game Awards exists. It seems much more on the down-low, so maybe TTYD isn't getting its full justice after all. Speaking of Reggiez why wasn't he at Geoff Kheiley's show? Is this the first time he's ever missed?
I watched Josh from TheBitBlock play the first hour or so of this game some time ago. It looked pretty fun and super quirky. It gave me strong Wario vibes in terms of the weird randomness. Not sure if I'll pick this up or not, but it's neat that it's coming to Switch.
A Hat in Time is probably the closest I've seen a non-Nintendo 3D platformer come to capturing the magic of Mario. In a lot of ways, the game is a spiritual successor to Sunshine. The game is fully voice-acted and has a ton of memorable characters. The plot is really funny, it feels like you're watching a cartoon. In fact, I'd love to see an animated adaptation of A Hat in Time.
The music is top-notch, and I appreciate that the game doesn't go with 64-bit graphics like so many other indie platformers. A Hat in Time looks more like a GameCube game, which is my favorite era and one that I think still holds up well visually. The physics are super satisfying; Hat Kid has a really floaty double jump, which you can link together with a dive move for some crazy Super Mario Odyssey-esque maneuvers. Lots of gameplay variety, too--one level is straight up horror and gave me a legit panic attack the first time I played it, lol. The Switch version has some pretty serious performance issues though, so I would recommend playing it on other hardware instead.
Most of my favorite 3D platformers this generation are remakes of the games I grew up with as a kid, so I'm probably a little biased. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Spyro Reignited Trilogy, Pac-Man World Re-Pac, SpongeBob: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated... I think Ty the Tasmanian Tiger is also super underrated, so maybe look into those as well. Bowser's Fury is excellent and one of my favorite Mario experiences ever, so I'd say it's worth double-dipping even if you've played 3D World. Crash 4 was really great and captures a lot of the spirit of the originals, but I wouldn't recommend going for 100 percent. Sonic Frontiers was a solid time, despite being a little unpolished; I loved the open-world exploration and environmental puzzle-solving.
As far as indie 3D platformers besides A Hat in Time that really resonated with me, a couple come to mind. The first is Clive 'N' Wrench, which is honestly pretty much the Banjo-Threeie people have wanted for ages. The controls are super good, there's 10 different sandbox levels to explore that are super expensive and filled with collectibles. Nintendo Life gave it a pretty bad review score that I thought was super harsh. The game had some issues at launch and wasn't the most polished experience ever, but they've since patched a lot of that out. Another one I'd recommend is Poi, which isn't the best-looking game in terms of graphics, to be honest. But it feels a lot like Super Mario 64 and sells for like 10 bucks when it isn't even on discount.
If you have an Xbox or PlayStation, the Psychonauts games are fantastic. They have the best story of any 3D platformer I've ever played, with a lot of genuine surprises. The gameplay variety is also great, it's voice acted by several prominent actors from cartoons I grew up on like Richard Horvitz, who played in Invader Zim and The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy. It's a very cool, Tim Burton-esque game that does a shockingly good job at portraying mental health, especially in the second game, and the worlds which all take place in different people's subconscious are all really unique.
Also on PlayStation, the Sly Cooper games are fantastic and, of course, Astro Bot. Jak and Daxter was much childhood, so I really love the first game in particular; Jak II and III go a completely different direction that I didn't care for, but the Daxter spinoff game is a solid return to form.
I've never been a big metroidvania guy, but I can definitely see that. I think the problem is, indie studios often don't have the biggest budgets to work with and metroidvanias are very economical. It's a genre that involves a lot of backtracking, so you can pad out a game to be 10, 15, 20 hours despite the amount of content actually being fairly miniscule. This is why I think roguelikes have become so popular as well--which is another genre I'm not a fan of.
Even pixel art and low-poly art is in many cases chosen, I think, less because the developers were just super inspired to make a game in this particular aesthetic and more because it was cheaper and easier for them to develop. Like, if the people at Yacht Club Games had 100 million dollars, for example, would they still have made Shovel Knight look like an NES game? Personally, I doubt it. It's less about passion for the aesthetic and more about necessity, in my humble opinion. Paper Mario-esque games, too; I imagine it's a lot easier to make 2D sprites on a 3D plain than to rig a bunch of 3D animated models.
That's not to say Shovel Knight isn't still great for what it is, or that the developers weren't big fans of games like DuckTales and Super Mario Bros 3. But I think the vast majority of gamers would say that even the best-looking 8-bit game isn't all that aesthetically pleasing if they're being honest with themselves and not letting nostalgia cloud their judgment.
Yeah, that's true. There are some indie platformers that stand out--I absolutely adored A Hat in Time, for example. But a lot of others are just... fine. Like, I played the first would of Demon Turf, and although I know people really love that game, it did nothing for me so I put it down and have yet to pick it up.
Cavern of Dreams had some cool ideas, but I beat it in just a couple days and don't see myself ever really revisiting it. I've heard good things about Corn Kidz 64, but it just looks the same as Cavern of Dreams, so I haven't picked it up. There's one coming out this year about like an uncanny-looking bear that makes me feel uncomfortable. It has the Demon Turf aesthetic where it tries to be Paper Mario with a 2D sprite in a 3D plain, but it's just off-putting to look at. I could go on.
I'm admittedly really excited for Yooka-Replaylee, though. I think that's probably because of the pedigree behind it and because the visuals actually look modern and not super low-poly or an awkward blend of 2D and 3D. It actually feels triple-A, and maybe that's an unfair standard to put on indie companies that don't have the same budget or experience. But as a consumer, I can't help it if there are better options out there.
I'm so tired of hearing about this stuff. At this point, I'm hoping that every single one of these third-party accessory manufacturers are part of an elaborate hoax, just to spite everybody. I think that would be hilarious.
I've said it before, but indie 3D platforners are quickly becoming a dime a dozen, and I can't keep up anymore. This game might end up being fantastic, but I don't have the time or the money to invest in every one of these projects that gets announced. At one time, my goal was to own every 3D platformer that comes to Switch, but I think I'll have to let that dream die.
Best of luck to the developers, though. I wish then all the success in the world, because if I ever learned game design, I would want to make a 3D platformer too. 10 years ago, the indie market was oversaturated with 8-bit games, but now, 64-bit is the new 8-bit, I guess.
I still say too many 3D platformers is a good problem to have. I'd rather have this than to go back to how things were in 2015 when the only 3D platformers were Mario, which just kept getting more linear, and Sonic, which just kept being mediocre. But now we're reaching market saturation, and they're all starting to look kind of the same to me.
Jokes aside--yeah, I usually use the wrist strap if I'm playing a game that requires Joy Con because it makes for a much more comfortable grip. Super Mario Galaxy, Pikmin, Super Mario Party--it makes the controller a lot easier to hold. Given how much larger they appear to be on Switch 2, and how big the SL and SR buttons are, maybe I won't feel the need to strap up then.
But why does the color have to be tucked away in the part that can only be seen when you take out the Joy-Con? I was hoping for different colored SKU's at launch. Ideally, with the colors matching on both sides. I never liked the mismatched Joy-Con of the OG Switch and wished it was all the same color. They had a few variations that matched, but not many. Then you have white, grey, and now black, but those are boring.
I would also have liked more of a glossy instead of a matte finish. I know people don't like how much easier it is to get fingerprint smudges on those. But I still think the OG Nintendo 3DS is the sexiest-looking gaming device of all time. The metallic sheen gave it an air of luxury, like a sports car that fits in your hands. It made the system feel futuristic and "next-gen" in a way that the Switch doesn't, imo.
They look much more comfortable to use on their side though, which is nice. Will it feel as good in your hands as, say, an SNES controller or a Wii remote on its side? I doubt it. But I hope I'm proven wrong.
I really wish they moved the IR camera from the bottom of the right Joy-Con and instead put a small lens at the top between the R and ZR buttons, though. That way they could put an IR sensor into the dock and replicate the 1:1 pointer controls of the Wii. Maybe Nintendo has greatly improved the gyro aiming so it never drifts, making the need for an IR sensor irrelevant. Again, I doubt it, but I hope I'm proven wrong.
I started my next playthrough on my YouTube channel, which is Link's Awakening. Zelda has definitely been the most requested franchise for me to play on the channel, so now I'm finally doing it.
This is a really special video because my six-year-old nephew has been begging to be in a video with me, and we were finally able to make it happen. He's the biggest Zelda fan I know, so for this first episode, I pretty much let him play the entire time.
It's a really cute, wholesome video, so check it out if ya wanna!
But having now watched the Sonic 3 movie and played Shadow Generations, I understand his motivations, and they aren't as hokey as I thought they would be. I knew about the death of Maria but always just thought it sounded so ridiculous and over-the-top for a kid's game about talking hedgehogs. I don't know how well it was executed back in 2005, and I suspect it was probably as cheesy as I think it is. But in these more contemporary adaptations, I thought it was handled well. Dare I say, the endings of both definitely hit in the feels.
I guess I can say I care about him as a character now and wouldn't oppose him getting into Smash anymore. In fact, I might would even be a little excited if he came to the roster. So, I think that says something. I guess that indicates SEGA succeeded at what they were trying to accomplish last year.
There's only one arcade game i want to play on modern consoles, and I want it so desperately.
PLEASE. Put Sinistar on the Switch. Game traumatized me as a six-year-old child when I originally played it. I couldn't remember for the life of me what that nightmare-inducing game was called and wondered about it for years.
It wasn't until I was 18 and started watching PeanutButterGamer when I came across an old video of his, "Top 10 Scariest Video Game Characters." He got to number 6, and I saw a lone, pixilated spaceship, freely moving across the map and blasting asteroids in the deep cosmos. Then, I heard that haunting voice:
""BEWARE, I LIVE."
The anxiety came rushing back. Finally, I had closure, but also a renewed sense of existential dread.
I finally got to go see the movie on January 1st. We made it a family outing with my mom, dad, and six-year-old nephew. My nephew said he thought it was better than the first two movies. My dad, who thinks the Sonic games are boring, enthusaistically said multiple times that he thought the movie was "great," praising Jim Carrey's comedic acting. I guess it really is a movie for the whole family.
I really enjoyed it as well, but as someone who never played Adventure 2 or Shadow the Hedgehog, I feel like the movie could have done a better job explaining GUN's purpose and motivations. I still don't fully understand whether they're the good guys, bad guys, the morally ambiguous guys. Was the Olive Garden guy the only good one, because no one else seemed too interested in following his orders. Maybe I missed something and need to rewatch it a second time.
I've never been a big fan of the Punch-Out gameplay, personally. What resonated with me was the humorous cultural stereotypes, so if they made a new Punch-Out game that removed those, it would be devoid of anything interesting for me, personally.
Given the events of the past couple years, I think people are finally coming to the realization that overzealous political correctness and the constant need to walk on eggshells makes life tedious and miserable. Not saying we should deliberately try to offend people. But we all need to laugh at ourselves every once in a while.
As an Appalachian, I would be honored to see my people stereotyped in Punch-Out. I've got a few character concepts here, ahem... Redneck Randy. Hillbilly Hank, Methhead Melvin, Food Stamp Frank, uh... Glenn Cestuous.
I fully expect the Switch 2 to release this year, though; Nintendo keeps their cards close to their chest, so I don't think there's any way they announce the console without releasing it shortly thereafter. But with that said, I'm perfectly content with the current Switch and would be fine waiting another year if they give us more ports and remakes like Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, Metroid Prime 2 and 3, and Kid Icarus Uprising. A couple smaller titles like a new Wario Land and Mario Baseball, and that'd be a pretty banger year, imo.
Pretty funny coincidence, but honestly, Mario & Luigi: Brothership is as perfect of a name as it gets. Everything worked out perfectly.
Personally, I think they should have dropped the word "Bros." in "Super Mario Bros. Wonder." Simply calling it "Super Mario Wonder" rolls off the tongue so much better and makes more sense considering you can play as other characters like Peach and Daisy right now. I get the feeling Nintendo thought the word "Bros." would keep casual consumers from getting confused thinking it was a 3D Mario game. But really, all you have to do is look at the screenshots on the back of the box or literally any of the advertisements.
It's not like Nintendo hasn't dropped the word "Bros." from 2D Mario games before. Super Mario World, Super Mario Land, Super Mario Land 2... Granted, Luigi isn't in the latter two, so I guess that would be false advertising, but still. I get how marketing the Wii U as "the new controller" was confusing, but I hate when companies go overboard to treat audiences like they're dumber than rocks.
At least Europe didn't intervene in Mario & Luigi's naming and call it "Brothership Bros."
Edit: I would've been first if I didn't have so much to say, so now it looks like I plagiarized @JohnnyMind in my first paragraph, lol.
As others have said, it's quite shocking to see Nick All-Star Brawl this high on the list, though I'm sure that was bolstered by steep discounts. That's not the only surprising thing on the list, though--I had no idea Clubhouse Games still had legs in 2024.
Paper Mario: TTYD sold better than Among Us this year, and it's considerably more expensive, so I'll consider that a victory for classic Paper Mario fans. We'll take what we can get.
Comments 3,765
Re: Xbox Is "Really Looking Forward" To Supporting Switch 2
I really think Psychonauts 1 and 2 would feel right at home on a Nintendo console, so it would be cool to see Microsoft bring those over. Otherwise, I don't think Microsoft has many exclusives left that I'd want to see on Switch. As a big 3D platformer buff, I'd love to see Blinx available on a platform that isn't Xbox. Never played it but would really like to. That's getting really obscure though, so I don't like my chances lol.
Re: Xbox Is "Really Looking Forward" To Supporting Switch 2
@Yoshi3
Honestly, I don't think Nintendo would want to. They would rather use their own IP to make games. I doubt we'll ever see the day again when Nintendo makes licensed games like their old Popeye arcade cabinet. Nor will we see them do anything like trying to buy the exclusive licensing rights to Harry Potter games as they attempted to do in the N64 era. Nintendo is a very prideful company, and they place too much importance on their own brands.
If Microsoft suggested to Nintendo they make a new Banjo game, Furukawa would probably respond with, "We already have a sandbox 3D platformer in the Mario series. To make a new Banjo-Kazooie game would take away time and resources from working on the Mario IP." That's just the way they are, for better or worse. To make a game with someone else's IP would be to acknowledge that other brands are just as good, or better, than their own.
The problem with your suggestion is Nintendo's stubbornness--not Microsoft's. (Not that Microsoft has given the IP the love it deserves, because they haven't.) A Banjo game by Nintendo probably would also fail to capture the distinct British humor.
Re: Nintendo Expands Switch Online's SNES Library With Three More Titles
I was just thinking the other day that we should be due a new NSO drop. Usually, right when I start thinking that, an announcement comes a couple days later. Go figure.
Not sure I really have an interest in any of these, but a Satellaview game hitting the service is promising for the future and an important part of game preservation! Can we get BS Legend of Zelda next? Also, 64DD games that never released in the west like Mario Artist, pretty please!
Re: Nintendo Joins 'Fuji TV' Commercial Boycott Following Sex Scandal
Removed
Re: Nintendo Joins 'Fuji TV' Commercial Boycott Following Sex Scandal
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Re: Nintendo Joins 'Fuji TV' Commercial Boycott Following Sex Scandal
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Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Donkey Kong Country Returns HD?
The game itself has always been a 9/10 for me. The remaster is pretty barebones--some assets like the water have been drastically updated from the original and looks really nice, but other assets are showing their age and in some cases look unfinished. Overall though, the enhancements put the game almost on par with Tropical Freeze visually, I would say. But it's overpriced for what's largely a barebones port. As the game the entire DK Universal park is based on, it deserved better. I think a redone soundtrack by David was would have also been cool since he didn't do the original, but alas.
This is the definitive way to play the game, though. It has local co-op and TV support like the Wii game, but it also has normal button controls, portability, and the extra levels from the 3DS game. Playing this game on Wii and having to waggle the controller every 5 seconds is an annoying workout. I haven't noticed any significant framerate issues as some people have said, but I usually don't notice that sort of thing. The resolution looks really sharp, too.
Overall, I'd say it's a better upscaled port than Luigi's Mansion 2, but that isn't a very high bar. I'm happy to have the game on Switch, but in some ways, it feels like a missed opportunity. Considering Tropical Freeze didn't sell super well at $60 on Switch despite most people not owning a Wii U, I don't expect this straightforward port of a 15-year-old game to sell much higher than a million units, honestly. As a re-release, I'll say it's a 7/10.
Re: Community: What Are Your Favourite Sidequests On Switch?
I don't expect this one to make the list because NL is still adamant about pretending Hogwarts Legacy doesn't exist. But the sidequests with Sebastian went places I didn't expect, and I was genuinely shocked by the outcome. It gets really heavy, and I was probably more invested in the story than any of the individual Harry Potter movies. Like, wow. Definitely one of the plots that resonated with me most of any game I've played on Switch, period.
Re: Banjo-Kazooie Has The Potential To "Rival 3D Mario", Says Ori Dev
It's obvious this Ori dev CEO reached out to Microsoft about making a Banko-Kazooie pitch, were told no, and now he's taking to social media to try and get fans to petition so he can make it happen.
Best of luck to him.
Re: Nintendo's Average Salary Crowned The Second-Highest In Western Japan Last Year
@RetroGames @PinderSchloss Here's a Nintendo Life article from a couple years ago, showing just how much the people at the top earn annually: https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/06/heres-how-much-nintendos-directors-made-this-year
The highest-pain position is president/CEO Furukawa who just makes $2.3 million a year. That may sound like a lot, but it pales in comparison to ActiVision's Bobby Kotick, who in the same timeframe was making $155 million/year.
Call me a dirty capitalist, but I think it's only fair that the person in the most senior position who is in charge of all the important decisions deserves to make the most money. Not as much as Kotick earns, mind you, but Miyamoto only making 1.8 million dollars a year is lowballing his worth, imo.
This is why, despite whatever negative PR incident comes Nintendo's way about shutting down a fan remake or whatever else, I still think they're one of the most ethical companies on the planet. Most of that money goes right back into R&D, and the people at the top aren't lining their pockets while everyone else gets breadcrumbs.
So yeah, I'd say the figure is pretty accurate for the average employee.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (11th January)
@Meehanuk_1987 @FishyS @SGE2000 @obijuankanoobie
Tagging y'all to let you guys know I finished my Super World! It's been uploaded online, so you can play all 40 levels now! I know I said it might take me a month or longer, but I've been playing obsessively over the past week. Probably put in like 8-10 hours of editing a day, lol. My Maker ID is: LT6-LN9-5PG. Let me know what you guys think!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (18th January)
I'm putting the finishing touches on my 40-level Super Mario World sequel in Mario Maker 2. I'm hoping to finish today. I'll update this post later with the course ID for those who are interested in playing. I thought this project could take a month or two, but I got obsessively addicted to making levels and have probably put in an average of 10 hours a day editing over the past week. I, uh... I'm not employed right now, so I have a lot of time on my hands.
EDIT: Okay, I have it uploaded! My Maker ID is LT6-LN9-5PG, if anybody wants to play my 8 worlds! I had a lot of fun making it, so I hope everyone has as much fun playing it! There are three large coins hidden in every level, a 10-coin, a 30-coin, and 50-coin in that order; good luck trying to find them all!
I also picked up DKC Returns HD on launch day but haven't played it yet. I'm hoping to record myself playing through the first world of the game today and upload it to my YouTube channel. I also still need to finish my Link's Awakening playthrough.
Re: Nintendo's New Japan-Exclusive Donkey Kong Merch Range Goes Hard
That's not the only thing that goes hard.
#Expand
Re: Poll: So, What Did You Think Of The Switch 2 Reveal?
I recorded my first-ever live reaction video, if anybody wants to check it out: https://youtu.be/WI128h5eRU4?si=VhzmN6H3qYwv6Cq2
You can see my full impressions there and also hear an American's attempt at impersonating Alex Olney's voice at the 2:40 mark, haha. It's a pretty good imitation, if I do say so myself!
The presentation was basically what I expected--stuff we already learned about through leaks and no mention of a price point, release date, hardware specs, or games. That said, I was pleasantly surprised to see footage of the new Mario Kart, as well as the announcement of a Nintendo Direct.
It's a but disappointing the Direct isn't till April, but that gives me hope that what I wanted all along is going to happen: a final, Switch-focused Direct in February that gives us the last handful of ports and remasters we've been waiting on like Wind Waker HD, Metroid Prime 2 and 3, Yoshi's Woolly World, and the rumored Kirby Planet Robobot HD. Some smaller, new titles like Rythm Heaven and Mario Baseball would also be welcome.
I assume the new Mario Kart will be thr launch title since that's what they focused on here. I hope it won't be a hard reset and that all the content from MK8 DX is available. "Over 100 race tracks!" is easy marketing, so take the 96 and just build onto it from there. I'm not very impressed with the graphics, though. It just kinda looks like Mario Kart 8... again? I was definitely expecting more, and I don't think a desert track with a lot of fog was the best graphical showcase. Still, I'm excited.
Re: DOOM Creator Calls Legendary Final Fantasy Programmer An "Inspiration"
But does he know his game is playable in a PDF file?
Re: Random: Now You Can Play DOOM... Inside A PDF?
Humans in the year 2077:
"You mean you STILL haven't found a cure for cancer!?"
"No, but the good news is, we put our most brilliant minds together and were able to port DOOM to one of those old-timey cotton gins."
Re: Nintendo Asks Wii U Owners To Refrain From Using "Unauthorised" Online Services
I don't understand why this was necessary to do. Obviously, I'm not a lawyer, so maybe somebody else can educate me. But how can Nintendo be held liable for someone hacking their console? That's a risk the modder assumes. And why only do this for Wii U and not issue a similar warning for Wii, DS, or 3DS? Unless Nintendo knows something we don't.
It's a shame this is giving Nintendo negative PR, judging by some of these comments. I really don't think Nintendo has an issue with people using these unofficial services or has any intention of shutting them down. They usually turn a blind eye to stuff like this, or the fan localization of Mother 3. If it doesn't directly impact their business, they're usually fine with it. Now, if Nintendo were to ever release Mother 3 officially in the states or if Nintendo were planning to add Wii/Wii U/DS/3DS Wi-Fi services to NSO, then yeah, they might issue a cease and desist. But if that isn't in the pipeline (i.e., AM2R with Samus Returns), I don't think Nintendo is gonna go after something like this.
Maybe I give them too much credit, I dunno.
Re: 'Nintendo Music' Adds Another Legendary Zelda Soundtrack, Here's Every Song Included
@N00BiSH Yeah, I'm pretty sure all the music was completely redone. I don't know if it was with real instruments or not, but it doesn't sound MIDI anymore. I think it's a big glow-up, overall. There might have been a song or two that sounded better in the OG. But on the whole, I like the rearrangements better.
Re: 'Nintendo Music' Adds Another Legendary Zelda Soundtrack, Here's Every Song Included
This is just mean, Nintendo.
It would have made sense to pair this with Wind Waker HD coming to Switch. The fact they're putting it on Nintendo Music now makes me think we shouldn't expect the actual game itself anytime soon, because if it were in the pipeline they would have held off.
I hope I'm just overthinking this.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (11th January)
@Meehanuk_1987
They're not online at the moment, but they will be when I'm finished with all of them. I have a couple unrelated levels from years ago that are available to play online though, like a Bikini Bottom one.
The code for that one is GP0-T97-JKF.
The other levels I wouldn't necessarily recommend playing, as I don't know if they're particularly well-balanced. One of them in particular is incredibly brutal. But the SpongeBob one is pretty straightforward, and I'm proud of how it turned out.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (11th January)
Still working my way through Link's Awakening on my YouTube channel. After I finish that, I'm thinking I'll do a playthrough of Kirby's Adventure.
Otherwise, I've been dipping back into Super Mario Maker 2 for the first time in years. A long time ago, I set out to make a "sequel" to Super Mario World with 40 new levels that try to stick at least somewhat closely to Nintendo's design philosophy while also offering a bit of extra challenge.
I intended to complete it for my brother, who isn't really much of a Nintendo fan or a big gamer in general, but he grew up on Super Mario World and always considered it his favorite game. (Although he's since gotten into Breath of the Wild, and I think that may be his new favorite.) I'm finally planning to finish it this time and have made a handful of levels since yesterday. I also revisited some of the other levels I finished years ago to see how they hold up and made some adjustments.
I'm pretty proud of how it's coming along, and I'll be sure to share the World Maker ID whenever it's live for anybody who wants to try it out. I have no idea how long this project will take me though, so I might go radio silent on it for a month or longer... Hopefully, I don't drop it again. I'm trying to commit this time!
Re: Sonic's Next Movie Outings Could Go Beyond Earth To New "Fantastical Zones"
Yes!! I literally predicted this on my channel during my review of the third movie, lol. I talked about how I wanted the fourth movie to not be set on Earth again and bring in locales from the games. (I try to use as vague terms as possible, but in case you haven't seen the third movie yet, beware of potential SPOILERS below:
My idea was that the main antagonist of the fourth film abducts all of Sonic's human friends and holds them prisoner on Sonic's home planet. Tom, Maddie, and Wade would still get some screen time as part of the B-plot where they try and escape from jail. But the main focus would be on Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, and Agent Stone, who is helping the team with his robotic expertise and his schematics of all of Eggman's machines.
While the other humans take less of a focus in this movie, Agent Stone is an exception, who is learning to come into his own as a person and cope independently of Dr. Robotnik. Maybe we could get a flashback/origin story showing exactly how the two met and why Stone came to idolize him so much.
Although I love Jim Carrey as Eggman, I think his role in Sonic 4 needs to be relegated to flashbacks and a post-credits scene where he comes back. Given what happened at the end of Sonic 3, I think it would be anticlimactic to have him show up any earlier than the credits. The audience needs to sit with the weight of what happened for a while, or else the fourth movie will undermine how heavy the ending to the third one was. So, as much as it pains me, Eggman needs to take a backseat.
Finally, if we do go back to Sonic's home planet, I think they'll give Sonic closure about what happened to Longclaw. She's mentioned in all three movies, so I have to imagine they want to return to that eventually. We never see her die, just that she was wounded before Sonic went through the portal. Maybe she's still alive? Maybe there are other surviving Echidnas as well, and we'll get more lore about why the two sides were at war. Was it a misunderstanding? Or are Longclaw's people actually the bad guys?
Imagine how wild it would be if Longclaw is alive and in a plot twist ends up being the main antagonist of the third movie. Like, she gaslights Sonic and tries to cut him off from his human family, telling him that she is the only family he needs and why the others are actually toxic.
Even if she really is good, I could still see it causing tension if she's alive. I could see it having a similar plot to Kung Fu Panda 3 where Sonic initially throws Tom and Maddie under the bus but ultimately realizes that they're just as much his family as Longclaw.
But yeah, in addition to visiting Green Hill Zone (where Baby Sonic was doing loopty-loops, not Donut Lord's town), I'd like to see them infiltrate a Chemical Plant, like maybe the villain is trying to harvest all the planet's energy like FF7 or something. More familiar places like that.
And if they're leaving Earth, I imagine we'd be seeing more than just one familiar face from the games. Like maybe Rouge, Blaze, and Big are integrated into the plot. (This is where my Sonic ignorance shows, as I haven't played many games where those characters are prominently featured. So maybe someone else knows better than me whether now would be the appropriate time to bring them in.) I feel like an anthropomorphic crocodile like Vector would look pretty cursed in a live action movie, so maybe leave him out, lol.
Re: 'Switch 2' And Software Listings Spotted On French Retailer's Internal Database
In the Wii U days, every small "NX" leak and rumor was a light in the darkness. It was such an exciting time and gave us hope that better times were ahead.
But nowadays, it's just annoying. I think each leak is starting to make me exponentially less interested in the new system.
Re: Talking Point: Is The Switch 2 Going To Be Too Big?
The Ridley of video game handhelds.
Re: Nintendo and Lego Are Collaborating On A New Game Boy Set
It better have a reference to the Super Mario Land 2 level with Legos as platforms.
Re: Multiple Switch Games Nominated For New York Game Awards
@ThatZeldaNerd It's my favorite game of all-time, so reading comments like this makes me extremely happy. I spent a lot of time hyping the game up ahead of its release here in the Nintendo Life comments section, and I had at least one person tell me they would probably buy the game just because I was so impassioned about it. I can't remember which user it was, and I have no idea if he ever actually picked it up, but I sure hope he did and that he loved it.
That said, there are actually some elements of the original that I prefer over the remake. I would recommend watching a playthrough of the OG version on YouTube so you can see some of the dialogue changes. The game still has quite a bit of edge to it, but they took out more than a few "risky" jokes that were present in the original and are part of why I love it so much.
Re: Multiple Switch Games Nominated For New York Game Awards
I enjoyed 2024's Game Awards and was happy Astro Bot won, but Paper Mario: TTYD was snubbed. I can't believe it didn't get a single nomination. I'm glad this awards shoe is fixing that, but I've never tuned into the NY Game Awards and have never really heard much buzz around it. Is it worth tuning in to?
I know Reggie attended it a year or two, but if it weren't for that, I probably wouldn't even know the NY Game Awards exists. It seems much more on the down-low, so maybe TTYD isn't getting its full justice after all. Speaking of Reggiez why wasn't he at Geoff Kheiley's show? Is this the first time he's ever missed?
Re: Wacky Exploration Game 'Tiny Terry's Turbo Trip' Blasts Onto Switch Next Month
I watched Josh from TheBitBlock play the first hour or so of this game some time ago. It looked pretty fun and super quirky. It gave me strong Wario vibes in terms of the weird randomness. Not sure if I'll pick this up or not, but it's neat that it's coming to Switch.
Re: Successful Kickstarter 'Kero Quest 64' Could Come To The Switch Successor
@mlt
A Hat in Time is probably the closest I've seen a non-Nintendo 3D platformer come to capturing the magic of Mario. In a lot of ways, the game is a spiritual successor to Sunshine. The game is fully voice-acted and has a ton of memorable characters. The plot is really funny, it feels like you're watching a cartoon. In fact, I'd love to see an animated adaptation of A Hat in Time.
The music is top-notch, and I appreciate that the game doesn't go with 64-bit graphics like so many other indie platformers. A Hat in Time looks more like a GameCube game, which is my favorite era and one that I think still holds up well visually. The physics are super satisfying; Hat Kid has a really floaty double jump, which you can link together with a dive move for some crazy Super Mario Odyssey-esque maneuvers. Lots of gameplay variety, too--one level is straight up horror and gave me a legit panic attack the first time I played it, lol. The Switch version has some pretty serious performance issues though, so I would recommend playing it on other hardware instead.
Most of my favorite 3D platformers this generation are remakes of the games I grew up with as a kid, so I'm probably a little biased. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Spyro Reignited Trilogy, Pac-Man World Re-Pac, SpongeBob: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated... I think Ty the Tasmanian Tiger is also super underrated, so maybe look into those as well. Bowser's Fury is excellent and one of my favorite Mario experiences ever, so I'd say it's worth double-dipping even if you've played 3D World. Crash 4 was really great and captures a lot of the spirit of the originals, but I wouldn't recommend going for 100 percent. Sonic Frontiers was a solid time, despite being a little unpolished; I loved the open-world exploration and environmental puzzle-solving.
As far as indie 3D platformers besides A Hat in Time that really resonated with me, a couple come to mind. The first is Clive 'N' Wrench, which is honestly pretty much the Banjo-Threeie people have wanted for ages. The controls are super good, there's 10 different sandbox levels to explore that are super expensive and filled with collectibles. Nintendo Life gave it a pretty bad review score that I thought was super harsh. The game had some issues at launch and wasn't the most polished experience ever, but they've since patched a lot of that out. Another one I'd recommend is Poi, which isn't the best-looking game in terms of graphics, to be honest. But it feels a lot like Super Mario 64 and sells for like 10 bucks when it isn't even on discount.
If you have an Xbox or PlayStation, the Psychonauts games are fantastic. They have the best story of any 3D platformer I've ever played, with a lot of genuine surprises. The gameplay variety is also great, it's voice acted by several prominent actors from cartoons I grew up on like Richard Horvitz, who played in Invader Zim and The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy. It's a very cool, Tim Burton-esque game that does a shockingly good job at portraying mental health, especially in the second game, and the worlds which all take place in different people's subconscious are all really unique.
Also on PlayStation, the Sly Cooper games are fantastic and, of course, Astro Bot. Jak and Daxter was much childhood, so I really love the first game in particular; Jak II and III go a completely different direction that I didn't care for, but the Daxter spinoff game is a solid return to form.
Re: Successful Kickstarter 'Kero Quest 64' Could Come To The Switch Successor
@Pillowpants
I've never been a big metroidvania guy, but I can definitely see that. I think the problem is, indie studios often don't have the biggest budgets to work with and metroidvanias are very economical. It's a genre that involves a lot of backtracking, so you can pad out a game to be 10, 15, 20 hours despite the amount of content actually being fairly miniscule. This is why I think roguelikes have become so popular as well--which is another genre I'm not a fan of.
Even pixel art and low-poly art is in many cases chosen, I think, less because the developers were just super inspired to make a game in this particular aesthetic and more because it was cheaper and easier for them to develop. Like, if the people at Yacht Club Games had 100 million dollars, for example, would they still have made Shovel Knight look like an NES game? Personally, I doubt it. It's less about passion for the aesthetic and more about necessity, in my humble opinion. Paper Mario-esque games, too; I imagine it's a lot easier to make 2D sprites on a 3D plain than to rig a bunch of 3D animated models.
That's not to say Shovel Knight isn't still great for what it is, or that the developers weren't big fans of games like DuckTales and Super Mario Bros 3. But I think the vast majority of gamers would say that even the best-looking 8-bit game isn't all that aesthetically pleasing if they're being honest with themselves and not letting nostalgia cloud their judgment.
This might be a hot take, I'm not sure, lol.
Re: Successful Kickstarter 'Kero Quest 64' Could Come To The Switch Successor
@jojobar
Yeah, that's true. There are some indie platformers that stand out--I absolutely adored A Hat in Time, for example. But a lot of others are just... fine. Like, I played the first would of Demon Turf, and although I know people really love that game, it did nothing for me so I put it down and have yet to pick it up.
Cavern of Dreams had some cool ideas, but I beat it in just a couple days and don't see myself ever really revisiting it. I've heard good things about Corn Kidz 64, but it just looks the same as Cavern of Dreams, so I haven't picked it up. There's one coming out this year about like an uncanny-looking bear that makes me feel uncomfortable. It has the Demon Turf aesthetic where it tries to be Paper Mario with a 2D sprite in a 3D plain, but it's just off-putting to look at. I could go on.
I'm admittedly really excited for Yooka-Replaylee, though. I think that's probably because of the pedigree behind it and because the visuals actually look modern and not super low-poly or an awkward blend of 2D and 3D. It actually feels triple-A, and maybe that's an unfair standard to put on indie companies that don't have the same budget or experience. But as a consumer, I can't help it if there are better options out there.
Re: 'Switch 2' Ergonomic Grip Case Surfaces On Amazon
I'm so tired of hearing about this stuff. At this point, I'm hoping that every single one of these third-party accessory manufacturers are part of an elaborate hoax, just to spite everybody. I think that would be hilarious.
Re: Successful Kickstarter 'Kero Quest 64' Could Come To The Switch Successor
I've said it before, but indie 3D platforners are quickly becoming a dime a dozen, and I can't keep up anymore. This game might end up being fantastic, but I don't have the time or the money to invest in every one of these projects that gets announced. At one time, my goal was to own every 3D platformer that comes to Switch, but I think I'll have to let that dream die.
Best of luck to the developers, though. I wish then all the success in the world, because if I ever learned game design, I would want to make a 3D platformer too. 10 years ago, the indie market was oversaturated with 8-bit games, but now, 64-bit is the new 8-bit, I guess.
I still say too many 3D platformers is a good problem to have. I'd rather have this than to go back to how things were in 2015 when the only 3D platformers were Mario, which just kept getting more linear, and Sonic, which just kept being mediocre. But now we're reaching market saturation, and they're all starting to look kind of the same to me.
Re: Poll: Does Anyone Actually Use The Switch Joy-Con Straps?
Jokes aside--yeah, I usually use the wrist strap if I'm playing a game that requires Joy Con because it makes for a much more comfortable grip. Super Mario Galaxy, Pikmin, Super Mario Party--it makes the controller a lot easier to hold. Given how much larger they appear to be on Switch 2, and how big the SL and SR buttons are, maybe I won't feel the need to strap up then.
Re: Poll: Does Anyone Actually Use The Switch Joy-Con Straps?
Do the responsible thing and use a wrist strap. It's the best way to prevent unwanted pregnancies and STD's.
Click it or ticket; it's the law.
Re: Rumour: New 'Switch 2' Photos Show Off A Very Legit-Looking Joy-Con
But why does the color have to be tucked away in the part that can only be seen when you take out the Joy-Con? I was hoping for different colored SKU's at launch. Ideally, with the colors matching on both sides. I never liked the mismatched Joy-Con of the OG Switch and wished it was all the same color. They had a few variations that matched, but not many. Then you have white, grey, and now black, but those are boring.
I would also have liked more of a glossy instead of a matte finish. I know people don't like how much easier it is to get fingerprint smudges on those. But I still think the OG Nintendo 3DS is the sexiest-looking gaming device of all time. The metallic sheen gave it an air of luxury, like a sports car that fits in your hands. It made the system feel futuristic and "next-gen" in a way that the Switch doesn't, imo.
They look much more comfortable to use on their side though, which is nice. Will it feel as good in your hands as, say, an SNES controller or a Wii remote on its side? I doubt it. But I hope I'm proven wrong.
I really wish they moved the IR camera from the bottom of the right Joy-Con and instead put a small lens at the top between the R and ZR buttons, though. That way they could put an IR sensor into the dock and replicate the 1:1 pointer controls of the Wii. Maybe Nintendo has greatly improved the gyro aiming so it never drifts, making the need for an IR sensor irrelevant. Again, I doubt it, but I hope I'm proven wrong.
Re: Sonic's Live-Action Movies Have Apparently Surpassed $1 Billion At The Box Office
Well-deserved. Let this be an example to the out-of-touch Hollywood executives.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (4th January)
I started my next playthrough on my YouTube channel, which is Link's Awakening. Zelda has definitely been the most requested franchise for me to play on the channel, so now I'm finally doing it.
This is a really special video because my six-year-old nephew has been begging to be in a video with me, and we were finally able to make it happen. He's the biggest Zelda fan I know, so for this first episode, I pretty much let him play the entire time.
It's a really cute, wholesome video, so check it out if ya wanna!
https://youtu.be/tSmixU4Ij7M?si=M8yGlpIuPF7N6GkP
Re: Poll: What Score Would You Give The Year Of Shadow? Go On, Tell Us
I didn't know really anything about Shadow other than thinking he's an overrated cringe edge lord with a crappy game from a time when Sega was at the pinnacle of mediocrity. I certainly didn't think he deserved a place in Smash when everyone was clamoring for him--even as an Echo Fighter--and thought he'd be a bottom-of-the-barrel pick akin to putting Bubsy in Smash. Just the cliché 2000's trope of giving the hero a dark counterpart, nothing more.
But having now watched the Sonic 3 movie and played Shadow Generations, I understand his motivations, and they aren't as hokey as I thought they would be. I knew about the death of Maria but always just thought it sounded so ridiculous and over-the-top for a kid's game about talking hedgehogs. I don't know how well it was executed back in 2005, and I suspect it was probably as cheesy as I think it is. But in these more contemporary adaptations, I thought it was handled well. Dare I say, the endings of both definitely hit in the feels.
I guess I can say I care about him as a character now and wouldn't oppose him getting into Smash anymore. In fact, I might would even be a little excited if he came to the roster. So, I think that says something. I guess that indicates SEGA succeeded at what they were trying to accomplish last year.
Re: Hamster Releases Its First Arcade Archives Switch Game Of 2025, Teases A Year Full Of "Surprises"
Hamster, I'm begging you.
I'm not the biggest arcade fanatic.
There's only one arcade game i want to play on modern consoles, and I want it so desperately.
PLEASE. Put Sinistar on the Switch. Game traumatized me as a six-year-old child when I originally played it. I couldn't remember for the life of me what that nightmare-inducing game was called and wondered about it for years.
It wasn't until I was 18 and started watching PeanutButterGamer when I came across an old video of his, "Top 10 Scariest Video Game Characters." He got to number 6, and I saw a lone, pixilated spaceship, freely moving across the map and blasting asteroids in the deep cosmos. Then, I heard that haunting voice:
""BEWARE, I LIVE."
The anxiety came rushing back. Finally, I had closure, but also a renewed sense of existential dread.
He's coming for me.
"RUN, COWARD!"
He hungers.
Re: Jim Carrey "Open To The Idea" Of Playing Robotnik In Future Sonic Movies
I finally got to go see the movie on January 1st. We made it a family outing with my mom, dad, and six-year-old nephew. My nephew said he thought it was better than the first two movies. My dad, who thinks the Sonic games are boring, enthusaistically said multiple times that he thought the movie was "great," praising Jim Carrey's comedic acting. I guess it really is a movie for the whole family.
I really enjoyed it as well, but as someone who never played Adventure 2 or Shadow the Hedgehog, I feel like the movie could have done a better job explaining GUN's purpose and motivations. I still don't fully understand whether they're the good guys, bad guys, the morally ambiguous guys. Was the Olive Garden guy the only good one, because no one else seemed too interested in following his orders. Maybe I missed something and need to rewatch it a second time.
Re: Tech Fans Have Gone Full 'Layton' In Analysing The 'Switch 2' Motherboard
Mario & Luigi: Brotherboard
Re: Nintendo's Punch-Out!! Series May Be Dead And Buried For Good
I've never been a big fan of the Punch-Out gameplay, personally. What resonated with me was the humorous cultural stereotypes, so if they made a new Punch-Out game that removed those, it would be devoid of anything interesting for me, personally.
Given the events of the past couple years, I think people are finally coming to the realization that overzealous political correctness and the constant need to walk on eggshells makes life tedious and miserable. Not saying we should deliberately try to offend people. But we all need to laugh at ourselves every once in a while.
As an Appalachian, I would be honored to see my people stereotyped in Punch-Out. I've got a few character concepts here, ahem... Redneck Randy. Hillbilly Hank, Methhead Melvin, Food Stamp Frank, uh... Glenn Cestuous.
Re: Rumour: Supposed Images Of The 'Switch 2' Motherboard Appear Online
@SillyG "I'd know my uncle's fingers anywhere" sounds insanely bad without context, lol.
Re: Editorial: A Very Happy New Year From Nintendo Life
@smithyo Yeah, that's why I said "imo." I know I'm probably in the minority, but for me, I'd be perfectly happy with that.
Re: Editorial: A Very Happy New Year From Nintendo Life
@GrailUK
Don't forget Pokémon Legends Z-A. I'm not even really a Pokémon fan, but I absolutely adored Arceus, so that's probably the most exciting game for me this year that we know of. I'm also really looking forward to playing DKC Returns again. Lots of exciting third-party games too, like Little Nightmares 3 and Sonic Racing Crossroads, for example.
I fully expect the Switch 2 to release this year, though; Nintendo keeps their cards close to their chest, so I don't think there's any way they announce the console without releasing it shortly thereafter. But with that said, I'm perfectly content with the current Switch and would be fine waiting another year if they give us more ports and remakes like Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, Metroid Prime 2 and 3, and Kid Icarus Uprising. A couple smaller titles like a new Wario Land and Mario Baseball, and that'd be a pretty banger year, imo.
Re: Editorial: A Very Happy New Year From Nintendo Life
Removed
Re: Nintendo Shares Fresh Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Art To Celebrate The New Year
The Plucky Princess
Re: Acquire Almost Called Brothership 'Mario & Luigi Wonder', But Nintendo Got There First
Pretty funny coincidence, but honestly, Mario & Luigi: Brothership is as perfect of a name as it gets. Everything worked out perfectly.
Personally, I think they should have dropped the word "Bros." in "Super Mario Bros. Wonder." Simply calling it "Super Mario Wonder" rolls off the tongue so much better and makes more sense considering you can play as other characters like Peach and Daisy right now. I get the feeling Nintendo thought the word "Bros." would keep casual consumers from getting confused thinking it was a 3D Mario game. But really, all you have to do is look at the screenshots on the back of the box or literally any of the advertisements.
It's not like Nintendo hasn't dropped the word "Bros." from 2D Mario games before. Super Mario World, Super Mario Land, Super Mario Land 2... Granted, Luigi isn't in the latter two, so I guess that would be false advertising, but still. I get how marketing the Wii U as "the new controller" was confusing, but I hate when companies go overboard to treat audiences like they're dumber than rocks.
At least Europe didn't intervene in Mario & Luigi's naming and call it "Brothership Bros."
Edit: I would've been first if I didn't have so much to say, so now it looks like I plagiarized @JohnnyMind in my first paragraph, lol.
Re: Nintendo Reveals Japan's "Top 30" Most Downloaded Switch eShop Games Of 2024
As others have said, it's quite shocking to see Nick All-Star Brawl this high on the list, though I'm sure that was bolstered by steep discounts. That's not the only surprising thing on the list, though--I had no idea Clubhouse Games still had legs in 2024.
Paper Mario: TTYD sold better than Among Us this year, and it's considerably more expensive, so I'll consider that a victory for classic Paper Mario fans. We'll take what we can get.