Comments 458

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (16th November)

ScalenePowers

I’m still replaying Persona 5 Royal! It somehow has felt like a basically new experience despite having played through it less than 2 years ago!
Though I did hit the Futaba Arc, and found the mystery that leads up to palace to be a little boring this time around. I think it relies on that “is this character really a villain??” plot beats that really only work once. But I am optimistic for the rest of the replay experience!!

I think I have a much firmer grasp on making the most of my time, and I feel confidant (lol) that I will be able to max out all of my social links before November - something I failed at last time.

P5 is good video games if I am somehow the first person to tell you that

Re: The Game Awards 2024: Date, Time - How And When To Watch

ScalenePowers

I actually like Geoff, though I do think his award show leaves quite a bit to be desired.

He’s a bro with a heart of gold, who is using his familial wealth to push the mediums mainstream recognition. I think also that he is capable of taking criticism to heart, and that we will see speeches given more time to breath this year (big criticism of 2023 - but I think was itself a reaction to 2022)

It is a fun night; it has potential, it should be digested by game-likers with the same attitude that film/music/theater fans watch their shows (skeptically, but warm with appreciation for the craft)

Now to speculate!!!!

Re: Thunderful Announces Its Second Restructuring Program In One Year

ScalenePowers

This is interesting to me. We are also hearing that things are not going so hot at Tequila Works, and even beyond this industry J. Cole (a rapper) has a record label for young talent in that industry that is now embroiled in some controversy!

These independent projects were thought to be a solution a part from the huge game industry/music industry machines. But the solution it seems is much grander, and will require massive shifts in the market and economic structures

Re: Eiji Aonuma Explains Why Zelda's Gameplay Takes Priority Over Story

ScalenePowers

Omg we keep having this conversation. I genuinely don’t think anyone wants story to be as important as gameplay, and very few are still clinging to a strict adherence to the fanfiction-ification of the series.

Just do a little more with it. Echoes of Wisdom was just about perfect. But BotW and TotK were kinda light. I don’t think that’s crazy

Re: RiME And 'Song Of Nunu' Developer Tequila Works Has Filed For Insolvency

ScalenePowers

This is among my most favorite studios and is crushing to hear.

I would like to know if this has anything to do with Somg of Nunu and the way Riot Games handled some of the studios who made games for them. There were a handful of interesting products that came out of their short lived attempt to expand the League of Legends universe, but none of them got the long term support.

I didn’t even pick up Nunu, or Ruined King despite knowing I’d love them - too much baggage with original franchise AND no physical release.

This deserves some keen observation by journalists

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (9th November)

ScalenePowers

Like any self respecting Switch owner I have a large backlog, Ys X and and Animal Well for example are both hot as can be and I know I would adore them.
But I just don’t have the time?? I work in a hospital, I have a family, and I’m finishing Nursing school, so I can’t find it within me to commit to playing games like I want to…

… so I restarted Persona 5 LMAO

Re: Round Up: The Reviews Are In For Mario & Luigi: Brothership

ScalenePowers

That ign review is gonna make the reviewer’s life heck.

But I also don’t think it’s accurate? Not saying the game I didn’t play is ACTUALLY good (I didn’t play it!) but a 5/10 review implies some amount of failure as a software no?

I feel like it’s weird when as a Nintendo product it surely is a fine product purely even if you don’t personally enjoy what it’s offering

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (2nd November)

ScalenePowers

Surprisingly I am not joining any of you all with Ys X: Nordics. My copy came late and I started The Silver Case I just rolled credits on one half of the story and find myself (enjoyably) exhausted by it.
So I started THQ Nordics Purple Lamps Disney’s Epic Mickey: Rebrushed so far I think it’s a really lovely little platformer and am excited to play more!!

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (26th October)

ScalenePowers

Well seeing as how no good games released this week I would say - jk wow this week was so good!!!

I am putting down Wargroove 2 and clearing my otherwise hectic schedule for ys X: Nordics I have been craving this game for months and I can’t believe it’s finally here!

Last night however my wife and I dipped our toes in Mario Party: Jamboree and that was so great!! I’m a little mixed on having to unlock stuff. Because on one hand heck yeah, but on the other hand I really only play it multiplayer with her and we don’t want tasks lol

Re: Review: Shadows Of The Damned: Hella Remastered (Switch) - Cult Shooter Returns As Fun-But-Flawed As Ever

ScalenePowers

@Solomon_Rambling I’m not saying you owe anyone anything as far as recognizing where you have grown in relation to two video games that mattered to you 15 years ago.

But I think you may find some value in trying NMH 3. It’s a game that’s also interested in growing away from 1&2 which are juvenile and obscene in a lot of ways.

Personally I loved 1&2 In my time, and also bodily rejected the idea of revisiting Incel Murder Simulator. I specifically remember starting 2, getting to the first cutscene and fighting the boss - who whirls his “hoes” at you as a weapon before Travis slices through them and doesn’t even acknowledge their humanity. It’s pretty gross! And doesn’t get to hide behind “a commentary on frivolous violence in the medium.”

I’d also recommend Travis Strikes Again - except it’s boring lol. But I did watch a video by Kbash about the series and I think it helped me understand the trajectory of Suda, and how to engage with a creator that is growing the same way that we are.

Or skip it!! Lol I’m sure you are perfectly happy not playing MORE video games

Re: Mailbox: Nintendo Dinner Parties, Banger Years & Business Types - Nintendo Life Letters

ScalenePowers

@SlowPokemon I’ve been thinking a lot about this year as a banger too!! I’m glad someone said it!

  • and like the rest of the industry is filled with stories of Concords or Star Wars Galaxy-level failures, Nintendo making a new Famicom Detective club that probably sold 200-300,000 units still likely made a decent little profit for themselves.

So what I hope is that we don’t have to wait until year 8 to get another year like this for Switch 2!! (And that year includes a Captain Toad 2 lol)

Re: Anniversary: 8 Years Since Nintendo Unveiled Switch, The World Awaits The Next Reveal

ScalenePowers

The Switch was special from the jump! I may not have clicked with Zelda, but no other console has brought the consistent joy of the Switch. It brought me into the fold on many Nintendo IPs I’d never touched - 2D Metroid, Famicom Detective Club, Luigi’s Mansion 3 and more!
We also were fed dozens of games that I had never heard of from the 6th and 7th generation, that feel like they have new life breathed into them by the little systems form factor (Darksiders, Risen, El Shaddai, Borderlands etc!) this was foretold as soon as the teaser dropped with Skyrim!

Oh and the Indies… don’t even get me started on the indies! At least half my library of 130 games has been interesting indie projects. And I’m so happy the Switch was able to accommodate this new era of gaming, where the hottest excitement is in the hands of the fans!

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (19th October)

ScalenePowers

Wargroove 2!!! powered through the first one and had a lot of fun. What i did not expect was to jump into 2 and find myself moved by the story!! I really love the main character, and Romb the giant rat man with the heart of gold.
I’ll likely play this off and on until the 25th when I can drop everything for Ys X. (Game of the year)
I was playing Echoes of Wisdom but it’s too good, and too pure a Zelda experience that I have yearned for over a decade. I can’t rush it. I’ll come back to it after Ys… it’s just incredible

Re: 'Croc' Comparison Video Shows A Solid Yet Familiar Graphical Evolution

ScalenePowers

Ok huh… whew boy this game was solidly
Average. Having a any game that was a true 3D platformer as a Sega Saturn gamer was a treat back in the day.

HOWEVER this game is not as good as any of the Spyros, nor as big as something like Ty the Tasmanian Devil. And releasing a remake-steer of just Croc 1 is kinda meh.

Even Gex 1-3 is getting a full packaged return, and that game even had personality
All I’m saying is that they really should have also done Croc 2, or maybe charge like 10$ for this

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (12th October)

ScalenePowers

Echoes of Wisdom on the back burner (delightful in mostly very way and I’d like to savor it.) I am tackling the first Wargroove!

It is a terrific experience that captures Advance Wars to the T… but also reminds me that it really is my least favorite expression of that TRPG genre. I dislike the units spawning as opposed to the set number of unique units. But no am still having a great time!

Re: Review: Europa (Switch) – Gorgeous Ghibli-esque Art, But Very Light On Substance

ScalenePowers

The indie game conundrum.

So many games strive to be ambitious despite small teams, and end up feeling inferior alongside similar projects made by bigger studios.
So then we get a lot of smaller titles from independent teams, but those often times get lost in a sea of other smaller titles unless they have a unique hook or have found a champion who can market the game.

I don’t envy indie devs in 2024. There really is only the slimmest margin to create a hit these days

Re: Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered Shoots Onto Switch Next Year

ScalenePowers

There is a part of me that has been waiting patiently for a rerelease of Anniversary, Legend, and Underworld. Feeling like “okay they’ve done all the TR games I don’t want, next time I’ll get it.”
But at the point it’s like, are they going to do the Ngage port before they get to the ones I actually want? Lol

Re: Talking Point: After A September No-Show, Will There Be An October Nintendo Direct?

ScalenePowers

I’ve been thinking a lot this morning about a conundrum that Nintendo is undoubtedly wrestling with. Releasing games on the Switch and Switch 2 simultaneously does make some sense, but it’s something that can’t go on for long. Sony and Microsoft both flubbed this time around, and Nintendo must’ve taken notice.

The PS5 JUST got its third exclusive, and we are 4 years in. How long does Switch 2 live? And how does backwards compatibility factor in?

Which relates to this. Why have a direct until we know if these games are for both? Or if they will even play on both? Nintendo can afford to coast, but not indefinitely. I agree that the Switch 2 messaging is more important than this last holiday sales push,

Re: Opinion: Hyrule Really Needs To Take A Look At Its Prison System

ScalenePowers

Lol but also TMC (thinking more critically)

As a prison abolitionist I think Hyrule might have nailed its carceral system. Hardly anyone is in jail, and also most people are incredibly happy and aren’t affected by what we would consider crime. When someone is sent to jail, it is typically the fault of a lousy arbiter of justice, and therefore the ease of which an escape is possible benefits the community.

Hyrule and it’s menagerie of sub communities thrive via their investment in community. Their are fountains, low unemployment, plenty of food to go around, guards who spend more time providing public aid than dealing criminal punishment, lowered inequalities for class, well cared for children and elderly people.

I’d say that rather than investing in jails based on the idea that a crime may happen one day, they have allowed them to crumble and wisely allocated their energies on prevention.