Whilst I appreciate it’s cheaper to close than down, publishers should instead spin off acquisitions back into independent developers and set them free.
If anything the heads of a studio should require this as an acquisition clause.
One of the greatest fighting games of all time only really bettered by its prequel. The original Soulcalibur is still a fantastic game, with one of the best soundtracks ever put into a video game and properly regionalised voices.
2 has more content but it can get quite repetitive in the harder difficulties with opponents just parrying all the time. In 1 the CPU will kick your ass on Ultra Hard mode. The animation is much smoother and faster.
The next Animal Crossing should just be an HD port of New Leaf, with all the Welcome Amiibo features added and the ability to make paths on the landscape.
If we’re being honest here, bar the first title (which has the tightest 2-player battle mode) the long and winding road has been exactly the same, just with progressively better graphics.
World is the first Mario Kart to do anything different since the SNES.
What a topsy turvy world we live in when paying full price for digital software and essentially means you’ve purchased a lease that can be withdrawn at any time whereas buying software on a plastic donut or encrypted to a memory chip lets you do whatever the heck you want with it.
In the UK it is perfectly legal to make a backup of physical software for your own personal use: it’s yours because you own it. Buy a digital licence and you’ve purchased nothing and have no rights.
I completely sympathise with the writers being out of work. It sucks to lose your job.
But this is also the internet. Whilst it won’t pay as much (if at all) those same writers could just set up an identical site of their own, name it something game-related (eg ‘Stick Drift’) and continue to write the same articles. Doesn’t cost much for some server space and a URL registration.
Promote it on socials and people would come read it.
Why does Nintendo overcomplicate digital purchase sharing in a family?! On iOS you just go to the list of a family member and click a button, no further action required.
@kedireturns I'm not an expert but I still don't see how a raise in import tax when moving goods into the USA somehow makes it more expensive to sell a product in the UK. This is Sony offsetting against the weak Yen but also charging non-US buyers extra to make up the difference.
I'd be amazed if GTA6 didn't come to the Switch 2. GTA5 launched first on the Xbox 360 and looked great so they could do it. When there is launch parity with other platforms, Nintendo consoles seem to make up the lions share. Over 50% of Hogwarts players are on Switch.
Probably the Wii. I walked out the store with Wii Sports, Wii Play, Twilight Princess, Monkey Ball and Red Steel. I wouldn’t have bought this many games for any other console.
I wouldn’t list any Nintendo console as best launch lineup ever though. I still think the PSP takes it with WipEout Pure, Ridge Racer, Lumines, Metal Gear Ac!d, Mercury and Everybody’s Golf. That’s a very strong cross section of titles. The Xbox comes close with PGR, JSRF, Halo and Amped.
Given that physical releases are sadly on their way out, most games will reappear as roms in 20 years and digital purchases are really just a shareware licence and not ownership, it makes more sense than ever just to sink £250 on a Series S and just rent everything you want to play on Gamepass for £15 a month.
The plethora of decent phone controllers in many ways makes portable consoles obsolete and Gamepass streaming lets you pick up from where you left off at home anyway.
Microsoft have gotten themselves in gear this gen with some great first party titles and if you’ve never owned one before there are hundreds of great Xbox 360 titles available for a pittance. Switch 2 has the retro thing down it’s true but you can also play loads of decent OG Xbox titles, ports like Perfect Dark HD and every great Dreamcast title bar PSO.
It’s a shame nobody has moved on from mouse controls for shooters. Not saying there is anything better but moving out from cover and shooting a closing enemy is all we’ve done since Space Invaders. Might be time for some Innovation!
I don’t get the controversy around the Game Key. Surely it’s no different to needing the disc in on PS5 after an install? I can see how preservationists might dislike it but let’s be honest: most retro gaming is done with roms and not 2nd hand carts.
I think it’s brilliant this Nintendo-exclusive franchise still gets brought out for the new console. RMX is still one of the best looking games on the Switch 1 (check out the night time rain tracks) so this will be welcome.
Suikoden II is one of the greatest JRPGs ever. The sheer volume of sprite animations for ‘cut scenes’ is incredible. There is more emotion in many scenes from this game than most modern titles with 100x the power.
@masterLEON It’s the principle of it! They advertise these cool transformers right on the box and then when you get to throw them into battle, you’re always apprehensive because of the cost of fixing the damned things. How it got past the concept stage I’ll never know.
It’s like putting car insurance in Forza Horizon with the game charging you credits for every collision!
I dip in and out but my kids still play it. Honestly it’s a shame Nintendo don’t buy this one title off them and run it themselves.
Where does this leave Niantic though? Pokémon Go was built on top of Ingress, a game built on Google Maps. They started to use Pokémon Go as a way to collect AR data to build some sort of digital twin mapping system (whilst ignoring Google Earth) but without that feed of constant data what’s even left? The Scaniverse market isn’t so big as to replace it.
Snobbish gamers who denounce mobile titles are actually missing out on some treats. I’m not saying Nintendo’s titles are all groundbreaking but there are some real gems out there that aren’t just F2P cash grabs. HAL’s Part Time UFO was a lovely game.
Nintendo would make a lot of money if they ported Streetpass to mobile. The Covid19 Bluetooth tagging was basically this. Give away Quest and Puzzle, IAP the other games just like the 3DS. It would make a lot more sense than bringing it back to consoles.
I wonder if they’ll give Miitomo a second chance? I really enjoyed it and it reminded me of the fun-but-disposable Wii Channels like ‘Everybody Votes. I always wondered if they meant for it to work as the Switch’s social manager but they ditched it for a greater focus on gaming?
I can't believe how many players there are on here running their hands with glee. It's true that EA have been one of the worst companies for moneygrabs of late (and it wouldn't kill them to release a Strike compilation) these are people's jobs and livelihoods on the line.
If your company experienced a downturn and you were for the chop because your management ran things poorly it wouldn't be so funny.
Whilst I'm sure Nintendo would rather have done things on their own timetable or are contractually obliged by Microsoft or something to wait until a certain date, all these leakers are popping up because people are excited to show off the console! And who cares about a few buttons? The real meat is the software which we thankfully know nothing about.
The obvious solution would be to port over the ‘plot’ from Sonic CD and throw some time travel shenanigans into the mix. You could have a fantastical future where Robotnik has taken control of the earth with some nods to Scrap Brain, Casino Nights etc and then have him travel to Prehistoric times.
Then throw in a post credits stinger where for some unknown reason Mario pops up!
In this case I can see the point. By the end of January they will have hoovered up all the Christmas dollars. Once the kids go back to school and parents are doing the January penny counting they might be more pliable to a $20 digital purchase than a $50 trip to the cinema during the winter cold when nobody wants to go outside.
@JSC016 Might be interesting if they adapted Sonic CD. Strip the cast back to just Sonic, add in Amy and Metallix and introduce time travel shenanigans.
Sony did well with the PSP but forgot to release any games for the Vita.
If Microsoft can make a handheld Series S that plays all your backwards compatible purchases that’s an instant buy for a lot of people. A handheld 360 is the dream.
I’d honestly rather Nintendo port Streetpass as an app for mobile devices. It could piggyback the old Covid Bluetooth pings for cross-device compatibility. They could offer Quest and Puzzles for free and then sell the rest of the games as individual DLC.
and whilst were there can they also revive Miitomo? That thing was ace.
Comments 1,810
Re: Iconic Studio Codemasters Is Safe Following Closure Rumour
Whilst I appreciate it’s cheaper to close than down, publishers should instead spin off acquisitions back into independent developers and set them free.
If anything the heads of a studio should require this as an acquisition clause.
Re: Front Mission 3: Remake Is Still Alive, And It's Coming To Switch Soon
@fenlix Oh that’s why we’ve not had a mobile port!
Re: Front Mission 3: Remake Is Still Alive, And It's Coming To Switch Soon
The only thing I’m bothered about is if they’ve kept the in game internet!
Re: Review: SoulCalibur II (GameCube) - One Of The Best Fighters Ever, Playable Oh-So-Soon On Switch 2
One of the greatest fighting games of all time only really bettered by its prequel. The original Soulcalibur is still a fantastic game, with one of the best soundtracks ever put into a video game and properly regionalised voices.
2 has more content but it can get quite repetitive in the harder difficulties with opponents just parrying all the time. In 1 the CPU will kick your ass on Ultra Hard mode. The animation is much smoother and faster.
Still the greatest launch title of all time.
Re: Talking Point: How Can The Next Animal Crossing Improve Crafting?
The next Animal Crossing should just be an HD port of New Leaf, with all the Welcome Amiibo features added and the ability to make paths on the landscape.
Perfection.
Re: Feature: The Long & Rainbow Road To 'Mario Kart World', From SNES To Switch 2
If we’re being honest here, bar the first title (which has the tightest 2-player battle mode) the long and winding road has been exactly the same, just with progressively better graphics.
World is the first Mario Kart to do anything different since the SNES.
Re: Nintendo Updates Its User Agreement To Crack Down On Emulation
What a topsy turvy world we live in when paying full price for digital software and essentially means you’ve purchased a lease that can be withdrawn at any time whereas buying software on a plastic donut or encrypted to a memory chip lets you do whatever the heck you want with it.
In the UK it is perfectly legal to make a backup of physical software for your own personal use: it’s yours because you own it. Buy a digital licence and you’ve purchased nothing and have no rights.
Re: Unlike Nintendo, EA's Game Prices Apparently Won't Be Rising Any Time Soon
In an era of high prices, the cheapest priced games will sell the best.
Re: Talking Point: With Prices Rising, Are Your Gaming Habits Changing?
I’ve relegated myself to collecting boxed retro titles and paying for game pass streaming. I can’t be arsed with these new prices.
Re: Editorial: Gamers, Support The People And Sites You Love, Before It's Too Late
I completely sympathise with the writers being out of work. It sucks to lose your job.
But this is also the internet. Whilst it won’t pay as much (if at all) those same writers could just set up an identical site of their own, name it something game-related (eg ‘Stick Drift’) and continue to write the same articles. Doesn’t cost much for some server space and a URL registration.
Promote it on socials and people would come read it.
Re: Nintendo Switch System Update 20.0.0 Is Now Live, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Why does Nintendo overcomplicate digital purchase sharing in a family?! On iOS you just go to the list of a family member and click a button, no further action required.
Re: Random: If We Could Get A Zelda: Wind Waker Sequel Like This, We'd Be Ecstatic
Now Nintendo has the extra power how about a remake of Minish Cap with a real-time shrinking effect?
Re: Nintendo Direct: Mario Kart World: Every Announcement - How Would You Rate It?
Is split screen menu only or can you free roam in it as well?
Re: PS5 Digital Edition Now More Expensive Than Switch 2 In UK & Europe
@kedireturns I'm not an expert but I still don't see how a raise in import tax when moving goods into the USA somehow makes it more expensive to sell a product in the UK. This is Sony offsetting against the weak Yen but also charging non-US buyers extra to make up the difference.
I'd be amazed if GTA6 didn't come to the Switch 2. GTA5 launched first on the Xbox 360 and looked great so they could do it. When there is launch parity with other platforms, Nintendo consoles seem to make up the lions share. Over 50% of Hogwarts players are on Switch.
Re: PS5 Digital Edition Now More Expensive Than Switch 2 In UK & Europe
Somebody at Sony forgot that when your biggest rival releases a new device you’re supposed to put your price down to spur competition, not up!
Re: Review: Lunar Remastered Collection (Switch) - Two Of The Most Charming RPGs Ever Get A Fair, If Flawed, Port
No Yuri Lowenthal, no dice.
Re: Talking Point: Does Switch 2 Have Nintendo's Best Launch Line-Up Ever?
Probably the Wii. I walked out the store with Wii Sports, Wii Play, Twilight Princess, Monkey Ball and Red Steel. I wouldn’t have bought this many games for any other console.
I wouldn’t list any Nintendo console as best launch lineup ever though. I still think the PSP takes it with WipEout Pure, Ridge Racer, Lumines, Metal Gear Ac!d, Mercury and Everybody’s Golf. That’s a very strong cross section of titles. The Xbox comes close with PGR, JSRF, Halo and Amped.
Re: Opinion: A Few Too Many Questions & Unwelcome Surprises Are Taking The Shine Off The Switch 2 Reveal
Given that physical releases are sadly on their way out, most games will reappear as roms in 20 years and digital purchases are really just a shareware licence and not ownership, it makes more sense than ever just to sink £250 on a Series S and just rent everything you want to play on Gamepass for £15 a month.
The plethora of decent phone controllers in many ways makes portable consoles obsolete and Gamepass streaming lets you pick up from where you left off at home anyway.
Microsoft have gotten themselves in gear this gen with some great first party titles and if you’ve never owned one before there are hundreds of great Xbox 360 titles available for a pittance. Switch 2 has the retro thing down it’s true but you can also play loads of decent OG Xbox titles, ports like Perfect Dark HD and every great Dreamcast title bar PSO.
Re: Opinion: Oh No, I'm Not A Fan Of Switch 2's Mouse Mode At All
It’s a shame nobody has moved on from mouse controls for shooters. Not saying there is anything better but moving out from cover and shooting a closing enemy is all we’ve done since Space Invaders. Might be time for some
Innovation!
Re: Elden Ring's Switch 2 Physical Version Seemingly Tarnished By 'Game-Key Card' Release
Just buy the download?
Re: Bravely Default Is Finally Freed From Its 3DS Prison, Coming To Switch 2 At Launch
I don’t get the controversy around the Game Key. Surely it’s no different to needing the disc in on PS5 after an install? I can see how preservationists might dislike it but let’s be honest: most retro gaming is done with roms and not 2nd hand carts.
Re: Fast Fusion Brings Everyone's Favourite WipEout Rival To Switch 2
I think it’s brilliant this Nintendo-exclusive franchise still gets brought out for the new console. RMX is still one of the best looking games on the Switch 1 (check out the night time rain tracks) so this will be welcome.
Re: Switch 2 Games Cost A Bit More Than You're Probably Expecting
£75 in the UK for physical MKW.
Re: Nintendo Has Sneakily Confirmed The Switch 2's Mysterious 'C' Button
Capture button for player 2.
Re: Review: Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition (Switch) - An Underrated Gem Transforms Into The Series' Best
I’m assuming they got rid of the crappy Skell insurance mechanic? That ruined the original for me.
Re: Opinion: The Best Tony Hawk Game Is Grinding Back, And I Can Only Hold My Breath
@LXP8 I won’t say it plays better than any other but I did like how you could design your own clothes for the custom character, however low res.
Re: Opinion: The Best Tony Hawk Game Is Grinding Back, And I Can Only Hold My Breath
My favourite in the series is still Sk8land on the DS!
Re: Random: This Unofficial Sonic Unleashed PC Port Has Us Dreaming Of A Switch 2 Remaster
@SilverBullet_35 Id rather companies made new good games that attempted to cover up the mistakes of the past.
Re: Review: Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster (Switch) - Two Of The PS1's Best RPGs Beautifully Preserved, For The Most Part
Suikoden II is one of the greatest JRPGs ever. The sheer volume of sprite animations for ‘cut scenes’ is incredible. There is more emotion in many scenes from this game than most modern titles with 100x the power.
Re: Random: This Unofficial Sonic Unleashed PC Port Has Us Dreaming Of A Switch 2 Remaster
This is the Croc situation all over again, where a game people haven’t played since they were 6 gets requested for a remaster.
I might be a crotchety old middle aged man but most of the games I played as a kid were crap too. Leave them in the past where they belong.
Re: '90s Anime 'Samurai Pizza Cats' Is Getting The Action RPG Treatment Next Year
Now if we can finally get that Avenger Penguins/Road Rash crossover I’ve been dreaming of for 30 years….
Re: Talking Point: Should We Actually Get Excited For Pokémon Day This Year?
Not when the developers are selling the best game in the series
Re: Hands On: Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition - A Decade On, Mira's Still Got It
@masterLEON It’s the principle of it! They advertise these cool transformers right on the box and then when you get to throw them into battle, you’re always apprehensive because of the cost of fixing the damned things. How it got past the concept stage I’ll never know.
It’s like putting car insurance in Forza Horizon with the game charging you credits for every collision!
Re: Hands On: Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition - A Decade On, Mira's Still Got It
The only dealbreaker is if they’ve kept the godawful Skell insurance mechanic.
Re: Pokémon GO Developer Niantic Reportedly In Talks To "Sell Games Unit"
I dip in and out but my kids still play it. Honestly it’s a shame Nintendo don’t buy this one title off them and run it themselves.
Where does this leave Niantic though? Pokémon Go was built on top of Ingress, a game built on Google Maps. They started to use Pokémon Go as a way to collect AR data to build some sort of digital twin mapping system (whilst ignoring Google Earth) but without that feed of constant data what’s even left? The Scaniverse market isn’t so big as to replace it.
Re: Rumour: Placeholder Retail Listing Suggests Switch 2 Price Might Be Cheaper Than Expected
If they launch it between £300 and £349 there won’t be any stock available this side of Christmas.
There is no way it will be more than this because there is a perceived price range when it comes to Nintendo hardware.
Re: Nintendo Is Developing New Mobile Game Apps, Unsurprisingly
Snobbish gamers who denounce mobile titles are actually missing out on some treats. I’m not saying Nintendo’s titles are all groundbreaking but there are some real gems out there that aren’t just F2P cash grabs. HAL’s Part Time UFO was a lovely game.
Nintendo would make a lot of money if they ported Streetpass to mobile. The Covid19 Bluetooth tagging was basically this. Give away Quest and Puzzle, IAP the other games just like the 3DS. It would make a lot more sense than bringing it back to consoles.
I wonder if they’ll give Miitomo a second chance? I really enjoyed it and it reminded me of the fun-but-disposable Wii Channels like ‘Everybody Votes. I always wondered if they meant for it to work as the Switch’s social manager but they ditched it for a greater focus on gaming?
Re: Stardew Valley Creator Doesn't Want To 'Close The Book' On Its Development
Bringing back the EU PS Vita version would be great
Re: EA's Share Price Plummets After Reports Of Disappointing Financial Performance
I can't believe how many players there are on here running their hands with glee. It's true that EA have been one of the worst companies for moneygrabs of late (and it wouldn't kill them to release a Strike compilation) these are people's jobs and livelihoods on the line.
If your company experienced a downturn and you were for the chop because your management ran things poorly it wouldn't be so funny.
Re: Poll: So, How Would You Feel About 24 Racers In Mario Kart 9?
The more the merrier!
Re: Nintendo Is "Very Upset" About The Switch 2 Leaks, It's Claimed
Whilst I'm sure Nintendo would rather have done things on their own timetable or are contractually obliged by Microsoft or something to wait until a certain date, all these leakers are popping up because people are excited to show off the console! And who cares about a few buttons? The real meat is the software which we thankfully know nothing about.
Re: Video: Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered "Meet The Bosses" Trailer Showcase
Angel of Darkness and Episode 1 in the same paragraph. Did Aspyre not get the memo,?
Re: Rumour: Switch Virtual Console Was Apparently Nintendo's "Original Plan"
@larryisaman Infuriatingly the nature of digital licences means that they were never ours to keep in the first place.
Re: Sonic's Next Movie Outings Could Go Beyond Earth To New "Fantastical Zones"
The obvious solution would be to port over the ‘plot’ from Sonic CD and throw some time travel shenanigans into the mix. You could have a fantastical future where Robotnik has taken control of the earth with some nods to Scrap Brain, Casino Nights etc and then have him travel to Prehistoric times.
Then throw in a post credits stinger where for some unknown reason Mario pops up!
Re: House Of The Dead 2: Remake Blasts Onto Switch This Spring
Here's a thought: what if the new Joycon aren't a mouse but a light gun?
Re: Sonic's Third Movie Outing Could Be Getting A Speedy Digital Release
In this case I can see the point. By the end of January they will have hoovered up all the Christmas dollars. Once the kids go back to school and parents are doing the January penny counting they might be more pliable to a $20 digital purchase than a $50 trip to the cinema during the winter cold when nobody wants to go outside.
Re: Sonic The Hedgehog Will Be Back For A Fourth Movie
@JSC016 Might be interesting if they adapted Sonic CD. Strip the cast back to just Sonic, add in Amy and Metallix and introduce time travel shenanigans.
Fun!
Re: Talking Point: Is It Time For HD-2D To Take A Break?
No.
Not until they do a proper remake of Final Fantasy VI in it.
Re: Talking Point: Can Sony And Microsoft Really Compete With Nintendo In A New 'Handheld War'?
Yes.
Sony did well with the PSP but forgot to release any games for the Vita.
If Microsoft can make a handheld Series S that plays all your backwards compatible purchases that’s an instant buy for a lot of people. A handheld 360 is the dream.
Re: Feature: 9 Things Nintendo Could Add To Switch 2 So It's Not 'Just Another Switch'
I’d honestly rather Nintendo port Streetpass as an app for mobile devices. It could piggyback the old Covid Bluetooth pings for cross-device compatibility. They could offer Quest and Puzzles for free and then sell the rest of the games as individual DLC.
and whilst were there can they also revive Miitomo? That thing was ace.