Salnax

I am hopeful, but far from optimistic.

Sure, a few games like Zelda will almost certainly be great. But at the moment, I don't know anything about the Switch or its upcoming games to get me hyped. This could change within the next two weeks, but I currently have more concerns than anything else. Especially with 3DS support winding down.

This has been one of Nintendo's worst years in terms of software lineup for quite some time. Not that I blame them too much.

Previously, the latter parts of a handheld's life would coincide with more great console games and vice versa. When the GameCube was declining, we got DS games like Mario Kart, NSMB, Nintendogs, etc. When the DS was declining in 2010, we got DKC Returns, Epic Yarn, and SMG2. And the 3DS was gathering steam before the Wii U was released.

I guess that the shorter lifespan on the Wii U is what made this year so sparse. This would normally be the point in the generation where Nintendo releases a second big wave of top budget console games, like the Wii had in 2010. But with the Switch coming soon, projects have to be delayed or put aside. And since the 3DS is aging anyway, it isn't getting enough to make up for it.

I can imagine it being the announcement of a sort of yearlong event, like with Zelda in 2011 and Luigi in 2013. That could potentially mean multiple releases.

As for what a new game would be like... well it would be on the 3DS. Kirby has a long history of releasing games for a system late in its life. See Adventure, Dream Land 3, Mass Attack, etc. But I don't think we're in for another platformer. So probably some sort of spinoff, either at retail or an enhanced version of Kirby Clash.

We can also likely expect either sales on Kirby games come this April, and maybe the release of older titles on Virtual Console. Air Ride could be used to announced GameCube support. A Dream Collection port/successor makes sense, though I imagine it being tailored to handhelds.

And maybe there will be a new Kirby platformer for the Switch this Fall. Maybe.

Makes sense. Donkey Kong Country Returns ran at 30 FPS on the 3DS, and that was a Wii port. The frame rate boost is a welcome addition.

"Wii reaches a full decade of being supported at retail!"

It's a bit strange, but the PS2 got games as late as 2013, so I consider this a moderately positive story.

Can Nintendo hire/aquire/conquer M2 and make them in charge of the Virtual Console? I wouldn't mind spending $8 or 25 year old games nearly as much if their treatment were the norm.

Regardless of the game's possible quality (I haven't played it), it's good to see the devs making sure it is kept appropriately patched after launch. Few things stink like an online focused game that abandons its playerbase, however small.

This took me a literal minute to decide, but I picked Chrono Trigger, Yoshi's Island, and Zelda. My apologies to Mega Man X, Super Metroid, Final Fantasy, Kirby, and Earthbound.

@MrGawain From what I can gather, the game is for the 3DS instead of the Wii U mostly because Next Level Games has experience on the 3DS making Luigi's Mansion 2 and console development already takes a load of extra time and resources. Meaning by the time a Wii U version was released, it'd be 2017 or so.

I suppose this game should be for consoles, but they likely couldn't do so without waiting for NX specs to be finalized, which would have been ages. I'd have rather they worked on Mario Strikers 3D or something, but whatever.

Makes sense in a weird sort of way. A game-based storyline with eight gyms and a team of baddies is a better fit for a longer episodic show than a movie. And we already have an anime that does that. By doing this, the movie can focus on a few core characters and a tighter plot. And Pikachu is still the series mascot, like it or not, so this is a decent way to use them.

Plus, I like stories about "A Boy and his X."

That's the first time I've ever heard anyone brag about Invizimals.

Is that thing on the right the latest Pikachu ripoff? Because if so, it is the best of the bunch!

"Pst. Hey kid, I'm a store brand Pikachu. Take me home. Love me. Feed me souls. I mean berries. This is a face you can trust, right?"

@allav866 The word "Retro" is heavily implied with the statement.

I like it!

A relatively simple design (salamander with some alligator bits), something that people often crave from Pokemon, but with the correct color scheme and coloration for a Pokemon meant to be a tricky Poison type. Corrosion looks like a Usero ability that isn't OP. And I think a Poison/Fire type has a niche. You can bypass Poison's uselessness against Steel, devastate Fairy, Bug, and Grass types, and resist a few more, at the expense of a quadruple Ground weakness and a few others.

Sure there have been other Pokemon with vaguely similar designs, but there is room for more than one group of lizards.

I'm really not sure about this week. I want Super Mario RPG, but would prefer it on 3DS. And I'd like Hyrule Warriors DLC, but am still pondering whether the 3DS version is worthwhile.

How does Legends play on the New 3DS?

So far, I like this gen's new Pokemon, the only exception being the Donald Trump Weasel.

Wow, that's impressive budgeting.

If I remember right, even Majora's Mask sold 3 million on the N64, despite requiring a peripheral. Skyward Sword and Wind Waker sold 4 or 5 million each, Ocarina sold 7.5 million, and Twilight Princess sold 7 million on the Wii and one million on the GameCube.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Wii U version alone passed 2 million, never mind the NX version.

Honestly, missing the 25th anniversary gives me more hope in this announcement.

Not getting your sidescroller fill? Try Shovel Knight. Or Gunman Clive. Or Mutant Mudds, Shantae, Broforce AVGN Adventures, Broforce, Comcept's own Azure Striker Gunvolt, etc.

I'm only getting nothing here because I still want to get Kirby: Planet Robobot, plus the Zelda Oracle duo while they're on sale. Then I'll shift to Rhythm Heaven Megamix... probably.

It's been a while since I had this many 3DS games on my "Buy ASAP" list.

It looks like a superior sequel to my most-played 3DS game. I approve.

Couple of thoughts.

These results seem to be influenced by fans' dislike of some starters as opposed to their actual usefulness. Hence you have all the popular G1 starters and Froakie, whose fans have attracted haters as well.

Chikorita deserves that spot as #1. It was a bad gen for a Grass starter, seeing how Ground, Rock, and Water did not get gyms. Looking back, there was not a single gym where grass typing or moves have an advantage, with the possible exception of that Fighting leader who used a Poliwrath. And the League itself didn't offer any foes weak to Grass. And to top it off, the Chikorita line didn't have diverse enough moves to give it an edge anywhere. Even those common status moves were largely absent.

Day 612: Hyrule Warriors still getting free DLC.

Great! Even the DS Lite was still $99 when the 3DS launched, so this is the sweet spot for the budget member of the family.

Now if we could only have a Wii U price cut. It's been nearly three years since it was set at $300, and even a $50 cut could help the communities for games like MK8 and Splatoon.

On one hand, I have trouble trusting that EA would support a platform by Nintendo under any circumstances. Compare their Wii titles to those on the PS3, X360, and PSP. Also consider their treatment of the 3DS and Wii U at their launches.

That said, even Wii-level support would be very useful for the NX. FIFA, Madden, and PGA Tour did well on the Wii, and games like MySims and Need for Speed also filled out the library.

Looks like a fine week. SteamWorld Heaist DLC is welcome, Mini Mario looks like a harmless way to use my one Luigi amiibo, and I'd get Xenoblade if I weren't halfway through the 3DS version. And maybe I should check out Lost Reavers.

Nintendo, why are you pushing your promiscuous agenda onto us? Anybody under 30 should not show any skin below their nose!

I don't have particularly mind this, but how is this going to make anybody more likely to buy this game?

There's going to be a Specter Knight campaign?

Squee!

I wonder if there is going to be a bunch of DLC missions like SMT4. Regardless, I am hyped!

I'd argue for Elite, Grand Theft Auto III, The Legend of Zelda, Space Invaders, and Street Fighter II. And maybe a couple of others, but those five are too important to be overlooked.

@Moshugan Makes the lack of check points more forgivable.

I'm not sure whether to praise the 3DS DLC (all that for &15!) or be disappointed with the Wii U DLC (That's it for $10?).

I'm going to need to see some New 3DS footage of the game to make a decision. Is there going to be a demo?

Well, it sounds like Intelligent Systems has some idea with how to make Fire Emblem from now on. I suspect that Fates will eventually be remembered was the game where they were trying to sort out how to mesh the Awakening style with the classics.

Please don't be Generations 2. Sonic hasn't done enough since 2011 to deserve another Generations.

Here's my stupid idea for the day. Make a game in the style of Sonic Unleashed, with a mix of platforming and action. But instead of the werehog thing, just use a character like Knuckles for those parts. I only mention this because Unleashed sold better than any other Sonic since the 6th generation, crossovers excluded.

I stand by my old position that Nintendo needs to keep Virtual Console prices artificially high to avoid scaring off indie developers. The fact that $10 Pokemon ports from 1996 are bestsellers is proof that this fear is entirely justified.

Yes, PlayStation offers retro games for lower prices. But Sony can release the PSP and PS3 in rapid succession without losing support. Nintendo has never had that much third party loyalty.

@Angelic_Lapras_King I wouldn't worry about running out of characters. The roster so far mostly draws from the 3D console iterations. Off the top of my head, you have Aganhim, Vaati, Linebeck, Byrne, Ravio, Hilda, and Phantom Zelda as characters that would interest people. Not to mention that even the 3D iterations aren't dry yet. We'd need Nanooru, Groose, and others like them.

For some reason, I find the concept of a hardcore tree climbing RPG exciting. I hopped onboard the series with 4 and Untold, and am excited to see where they go next.

While we're complaining about Mario Maker content, I want to mention that the Gold Block from NSMB2 would fit all four styles well. It works for the shell hat. Plus, it would give us a reason to remember NSMB2 more fondly.

@foodmetaphors DKCR is a bit prettier on the Wii, but the 3DS version has better controls and extra stages. Also, many of the game's stages seem made for the 3D effect, even if that's obviously incorrect. I'd recommend the 3DS version.

Nintendo does have at least some series that could translate to film. But these tend to be their niche series. I know Metroid, Fire Emblem, and F-Zero aren't exactly niche, but compared to Mario?

I'd guess the better route would be animated TV series, made either in Japan or the west. You can't capture the essence of Zelda in a film, but you could capture a typical journey over 26 episodes or so. This is sort of what Pokemon did before getting carried away. A series of 11 minute shorts focusing on oddball situations would would work for the opposite reason with Mario: feature short and simple stories with a mix of comedy and action. And there would be no need to make a cinematic universe.

I'd be excited for a new generation. I enjoyed BW more than DPP, so I'm also optimistic about another generation on the 3DS.

And to those complaining about "Oh they're just going to add another bunch of unnecessary Pokemon" I have this to say: Kalos added the least new Pokemon of any generation. Only 70 or so. We haven't gotten very many new species since 2010. I'd like for Game Freak to use a 4 GB cartridge and add another 150 species.

Was not very excited for this week (I've played all three G1 Pokemon games multiple times) until I saw that Mega Man Legacy was only $15.

On one hand, I'm glad to see the current results, with no obvious winner. Every generation has games worth celebrating.

On the other, Yellow is doing embarrassingly well. I appreciate the early friendship mechanic in that game, but it is otherwise a step down from Red/Blue, and makes latter third versions like Emerald and Platinum embarrassed.

@Peace-Boy He seems to have made this change of heart with a few characters lately. He rejected Miis and Villager from Brawl after all.

@Peace-Boy I'd recommend starting with FF4 on the PSP. FF4 is a bit old, but it's original design made it well paced, even without the updates added by the PSP version. It's not the best entry, though it's up there, but is a great compromise between many of the series strong points.

Dammit TT, this is literally your ninth game for the Wii U.

'Recounts' Two Batman titles, a Marvel game, LEGO Movie, Jurassic World, City Undercover, Dimensions... Yeah, this is the ninth!

Your ninth game! How could you still be having technical problems?

@whodatninja There seems to be a rule somewhere that the more successful a platform is, the greater the shovelware ratio of its library will be. Hence, the heaps of cheap and rushed games on the PS2, GBA, Wii, DS, and App Store.

That's surprisingly small. Wasn't Tekken Tag Tournament 2 over 15 gigs? I know that game had about 60 fighters, but the size disparity is interesting.

@shaneoh Here's hoping he's playable.

It's partially too late to save grace. People are going to refer to FE Fates as "That Nintendo game where you grope women and children" just because of all the coverage it's gotten.