Ristar42

@Windy No problem, Im a fan of Rally games myself - I think 3DS should have had more racers as its a great hand held format for the genre with the 3D screen. I also prefer real controls, so might get the Vita version at its current price!

@Windy Its on 3DS cart in Europe, but they went and region locked the console... The Vita version is also on sale digitally at the moment for £10.

I wont buy anything else from Nintendo's eshops as long as a digital purchase is attached to a console, the 3DS 'transfer' highlighted this issued for me. I would consider owning two consoles once new 3DS came out, but because they wont implement a proper account sysytem, I would not be able to play my digital purchases on both.
I bought a Vita and straight away had access to various cross buy games Id bought on PS3 and my PSP and PS1 digital purchases just by logging in to my account.
Pricing alone is not an issue for me, Im happy to pay a fair price for a good game, but I think they need to improve how they manage digital sales overall to add value in other ways, like allowing the activation of more than one console for an account.

Sort out their digital purchases attached to 1 console and develop an account system. Get a better variety of games on their system and have better cross buy implementation for things like the VC.

I dont think they ever 'seized' pop culture in the UK. In the late 80s we were playing 8-bit micros like the C64 and the Spectrum, the Master System was also a popular console. Id say the Megadrive and PS1 were the consoles that had more of a popular cultural impact here at least.
I do like the vid, for its retro nostalgia, the Virtual

@Quorthon You're right, I just got a Vita and its great system bar the memory card issue. At least I can easily copy and store games on the PS3, but it is a pain to only fit a few games on the system at one time.

Returning to region locking, Nintendo even went to the level of updating the region lock on the Wii for its Gamecube mode, to prevent the use of existing Free Loader discs. An issue as many PAL Gamecube games are 50Hz only, while 60Hz US discs run better and some even support EDTV, a feature no PAL Gamecube games support.

Region locking is bad, it doesnt always mean there will be support for international release unless it is a big title that gets a lot of attention. Some of my favourite DS games were not released in Europe so I imported them. Im not about to buy three consoles to do so. They also need to think about their digital shop that attaches a purchase to a single console rather than a proper account.

@electrolite77 yep - add in a lack of variety in driving games and fighting games... I dont play Call of Duty as its not a game I'm interested in, but its the overall lack of diversity with Wii U that is a problem, as so many games skip the console.

@Quorthon Yep, thats right, I was citing how PS2 classics on PSN are therefore a pretty impressive bit of software emulation. I know only particular early models of PS3, with the additional hardware, play actual PS2 discs.

It wasnt dropped though for digital purchases, I can play PS2 games I have downloaded on my PS3 Slim and light - I'm playing Deus Ex at the moment!
They are still releasing PS2 classics on PS3 in 2015.

@StarDust4Ever Not the later PS3 consoles, there is no hardware support there for Playstation 2, its emulation - check the digital foundry article on the subject from 2012.

If Sony could get PS2 to emulate on PS3 through software alone, SNES should be something Nintendo can get to work. I guess they choose not to invest in that area, which is a shame as the VC was a major draw for me to buy an original Wii.

@Kirk You should check out Sonic Mega Collection on the Gamecube, you can use a code to play the JP2 revision of Sonic, or the US version, plus the PAL version has a 60hz mode!

This video looks nice, but not 'better' than the original. Sonic 4 episode 2 showed a great improvement over the first, I dont know why SEGA forgot about episode 3, I guess sales...

@Yorumi I agree about Wii U seeming to play it particulary 'safe' regards its games, add in a lack of diversity in available titles overall, practically zero 3rd party support as of now, and its lack of broad appeal becomes evident.

I was hopeful of Wii U, but it really has become a console with a limited appeal to Nintendo fans, its games library has failed to achieve a broad appeal outside this audience. As Wii owner, I also didnt like how they immediatley stopped supporting the old console.

@unrandomsam Yeah, I have a lot of retro stuff, but not enough room, so Ive not added any streering wheel controllers to my collection. Its the brake / accelerate to boost technique in Crazy Taxi that caused the pain, most driving games were fine!

Nice article by the way, I have Retro Gamer from issue 1, great mag!

Im recalling kids trying to play 'Magic Pockets' on that Saturday Morning Show 'Motormouth', not their best game at all, but made me think my humble C64 graphics looked pretty bad!

Also, I think it introduced '60 Hz' mode to a lot of PAL gamers with Sonic Adventure. It was weird that the Saturn gave us two of the best PAL optimised games ever with Sega Rally and Virtua Fighter 2, but Sega Rally 2 and Virtua fighter 3 launched on Dreamcast with slow boardered versions and unlike Sonic Adventure, had no 60Hz mode. Maybe they supported the VGA cable, hey there was another console innovation.
Amazing console, great games, easy to play imports with a boot disc, noisey when accessing a disc, has a tendency to develop a 'reseting' issue, but managed to fix mine, still works!

I think the controller could have been better though, I completed both Crazy Taxi games 100% on all the challenges and those analogue triggers get painful! The Saturn 3D analogue controller felt like a better design to me.

@Quorthon I think youre about right there, retuning to Dark Souls 2, the downgrade had an impact upon the game's atmosphere, and in Dark Souls the atmosphere created by the world is important. They do not 'make' a game, but they are certainly a legitimate contributing aspect to the creation of an immersive environment.

Its not as bad as Dark Souls 2, which I bought release day and was quite suprised by after only watching pre-release videos.
Upon playing the game on PS3, lighting, textures and geometry were all simplified.

I've watched a few of the gameplay videos for this, and it doesnt look amazing up close, but having played the first game (and I get a similar sense here), visually Xenoblade is a game about epic scale. That is why you could zoom the camera so far out, to appreciate those wide open spaces.

I remember buying C64 games where they would put screen shots from the Amiga version on the back of the box, games never look quite as good as promotional material, and sadly we have come to expect that.

'Lets plays' are usually the best way of judging how a game actually looks!

Considering Nintendo wont even allow the download of a digital purchase on, say two of the same system that you own, I dont see unified purchase across a number of platforms as a likely future for them. Would be good though.
I'm sticking with my launch 3DS and doubt I'll pick up the 'new' version. Good it has this support for those who do though.
Just implementing an actual proper account system like pretty much evey other digital platform would be a start.

The Wii U was too late, and the 'tablet' style controller never caught that mass appeal that the Wii remote did. The initial display of 3rd party support didnt last, and I think console gamers who perhaps dont have nostagia for Nintendo, and who only purchase one system, are looking to PS4 and Xbox as a better investment for varied and longer term support from a range of developers.

Twisted was great, but it never came to Europe.
Thankfully, that was before the awful decision to region lock their hand helds...

I have the preference for the first game, perhaps its because I'd never quite heard music like that in a videogame, or the dark megadrive palette perfectly capturing an atmosphere all together different to Double Dragon, Final Fight or the Turtles. I also think the characters have a great sprite design for such a low resolution, and most importantly, the combat has impact and rewards getting better at the game. This is a game I played a lot at the time.

I like the second game, but not quite as much as I only really played it some years later, I first played the third on the gamecube when I imported the Japanese version of Sonic Gems, it has good qualities, you can run which is a nice addition.
The remake looked amazing and I wish SEGA had worked with those folks to make it a commercial product, I'd buy it in moment!

Seems they are really playing to existing Nintendo fans, more than anything else.
With Mario 64, I've bought it too many times already, and why does the Wii U VC not have a more diverse range of systems than just Nintendo, and even then, there is a comparative paltry selection to the Wii.
I recall thinking what an great idea the Virtual Console back when it was announced for the 'revolution' - it really sold me the Wii console, but the Wii U... not so much.

@MrHeli Seek out the Saturn version if you can, you can even get it to display 'insert coin' and it looks great on CRT tv with a SCART lead, as close to the arcade as you could get with the correct car graphics, and supports the analogue pad for steering and acceleration.
The Japanese version is the one to get though, so also requires a multi region mod or Japanese console, the international Sega Ages release has a glitch with the car on some routes where it gets stuck in an 'uphill' animation.

My favourite game of all time, the Saturn has the 60fps mode by the way as described in the interview, and the Japanese Saturn release remains the best ever home version for me, while retaining the original car sprite, which is altered here and seems similar to the version in Shenmue 2.
This may be the second best version of the game though!

I always like to try games which do something creative or different, and its good to see greater diversity on consoles thanks to digital distribution.
For example, I like the fact that I can play games as different as Dark Souls and Proteus on PS3.

I dont like region locking one bit, I had many great games not released in Europe in the GBA and DS days, why not invest in something that actually improves their console rather than adding restrictions, like a decent account system.

@Bass_X0 me neither, I bought quite a lot of Gameboy, NES and Game Gear games. Shame to see 3DS VC support waning.

Nintendo seem to be making an awful lot of 'limited editions' of late, I think perhaps to keep selling to existing fans of the games / company / brand, rather than drawing in new fans. I dont see this as 'trolling' by eBay though, they are a company publicising the selling of a product, its inflated resale 'value' is a direct result of the limited release.

He already has a few exclusive smart phone games so this makes sense. Of course there will be more games, kids like Sonic so hes not just a nostalgic character. I enjoyed Lost World on 3DS mostly, and 4 episode 2 I though was a real improvement on the first.

@ikki5 I agree, I see little value for the cost in new 3DS as an upgrade, especially when they will not even permit digital purchases active on two systems I own (which even my psp supports!).
I put 70hrs in this game on the Wii, its epic scale seemed far better suited to HD version to me, but great game either way.

They're not something I'd consider buying, but the solution seems obvious, make more?
This high 'value' seems directly attributed to how few there are to go around, for those that do want to buy them.

@Dazza Ha, sadly I didnt need to imagine Street Fighter 2, as I actually got to play it that way! I had one six button controller, so the unlucky second player was stuck hitting start.
My friend had an Imported SNES with SF2, but it was the arcade that really made the impression on me as I played that most, prior to the Megadrive release (I remember the preview in Mean Machines SEGA).
Then there was the C64 version of SF2 which begged the question, why!?

@Dazza 8-bit micros were still doing pretty well I think up to 1990, Zzapp 64! was published up until '92 and games were so cheap compared to the consoles (as they were on cassettes). Like Peach64 says, I think the range of popular computer games here account for less specific nostalgia for Nintendo in the UK.

I recall the SNES launch and Street Fighter 2 took off certainly as every video shop seems to have the arcade, but then Champion Edition was out and ported to the Megadrive soon after! I remember the Megadrive vs. SNES debates at school, mainly fueled by the fact many parents could only be talked into buying one console I'd guess!

I think he is a pretty 'camp' character, so perhaps he broadly fits in to a certain history in popular cultural representation in that sense.
He is not explicitly coded to have a sexuality, as there's hardly enough character development there!

I remeber the pre Game boy, early 80s portable games, Spitball Sparky, Grandstand Scramble and all that. When the Game boy launched, I was very impressed, but sold it to buy a Game Gear, then didnt get another hand held until the GBA.
I liked the DS lite a lot, 3DS less so even thought I bought it at launch, Ive not bought a retail game in over a year. The GBA SP is perhaps my favourite, I have the classic NES edition, psp was a good system too.

I won’t be buying this, I find the 3D fine on the current model, I doubt many games will require the second analogue or be hardware exclusive, and I've played Xenoblade on a tv where it looked better than it does here.
Also, the transfer system is overly complicated, and why not allow purchased downloads on two active consoles, then I might buy two consoles, like I did with the psp.

I think they should create a proper accounts system, to access games on both consoles if I own two, and to avoid all this. Puts me off buying digitally from Nintendo anyway.

I dont think it looks that great, very blurred textures and Im not sure the 3DS is the best fit for its epic vistas.
I have the Wii version though, its a great game.

@Marcins94 Im not so sure, I played Dark Souls for a long time and really enjoyed the game, but cannot get into Monster Hunter at all. It does not have that aspect of exploring a large world which is a significant aspect of Dark Souls, I played Monster Hunter 3 and the background while pretty, was really just that, a pretty back drop for seperately loaded hubs.

For me Monster Hunter felt more like Phantasy Star Online. Ive not played this new game so it may be very different to 3, but, perhaps try before you buy!

PS3 version would be good, must be a lot a lot of retro SEGA fans in Europe, so hope to see a broader console release. Wonder Boy 3 The Dragons Trap is one of my favourite 8-bit games ever.

I almost completed the first on the Gamecube, got bored with the second after a while and also the third, where I had some problems using the motion controls. I bought the triolgy and launch on Wii and tried again, but ended up trading it in. I really liked Zero Mission on GBA though. I see they are good games, but not so much my thing, though I did appreciate the atmosphere of isolation which was really well done in the first game.

Such a rich history to draw upon. Im sure they'd make money even just getting M2 to port more of their amazing arcade games to consoles. SEGA games were such a part of my gaming history growing up and I hope they maybe look at extending their vintage range on dedicated console gaming download services, rather than creating bland tablet versions of once classic titles. That seems such a saturated marketplace.
If not, I still have my Master System, Megadrive, Saturn and Dreamcast. Alien Isolation is a great game by the way.

A physical copy and a download are quite different things, one you own and can resell if you want, the other is worthless in regard to exchange or resale the moment you purchase it.
In regards to collectable or rare computer games, they are worth what someone is willing to pay at that time, and that can vary whether the game can be downloaded or not.
I do think having a legitimate download purchase option is a great thing, where a game has become rare or expensive, or you don't have the system / physical copy. That's what made the Virtual Console on the Wii such a good idea!

A bit Dreamcast Daytona, a bit Daytona 2, a bit Scud Race. Lot of potential, but SEGAs arcade racers are exceptionally well made and often deeper than they may first appear. I like the visuals and it could turn out great, hope so. Id still like to see SEGA bring the aforementioned arcade games to consoles though (and the arcade SEGA Rally).
Scanlines, having 'insert coin' displaying as screen burn would be even more acurate!

I used to have the Prime Trilogy, but I traded it years back, good collection though.
I'm mainly waiting for the next SEGA 3D classic on 3DS, and yes whats happened to 3DS VC, its pretty quiet.

It looks cool and an improvement, I prefer the smaller model but I'm not seeing a compelling reason to but a new 3DS over my lauch era model.
Games-wise, I played Xenoblade for 70hrs on the Wii, and it seems a game better suited to a big screen and console than a handheld.
I've never found the 3D that troublesome in terms of stability myself.
I think having two 3DS' active on a single account would be an incentive to buy this, if I could use games I've downloaded on both consoles I own (like I can with the PSP / PS3), but Nintendo dont support that, so I'll stick with my original for the moment.

@gatorboi352 Agree with you there, that was an under-appreciated game.

Thinking of perhaps under-appreciated titles, I just remembered 'Endless Ocean' and its sequel, quite distinct games that reminded me of Echo on the Dreamcast.

An amazingly good version of a classic game, it has so many options and includes one to add the lead melody to the music, that most versions missed. Even the credits are great, cant wait for Thunderblade and my favourite game ever, Outrun!