ShadLink

Was to be expected. Niche game for a niche franchise. But the game is awesome, so I think this will have a long staying power. More so than the yearly games.

@Zuljaras Yes, but you are forgetting the day one 100GB patch that needs to be downloaded as well.

The issue is, a disc has slow read speed but is quite cheap to produce.
Flash storage, even a flash ROM storage like on the Switch and Switch 2 is quite expensive for larger amounts of data.
This was also why the PlayStation was able to outsell the N64, because that used CDs of a few cents and the N64 had expensive cartridges.

But I do feel that this issue is going away next generation where physical media will be entirely gone. Simply put, there aren't many factories producing blank discs anymore. And the complaining about keycards are just going to force Nintendo to not care about cartridges at all either.

The next "console" generation will be interesting:
1. Sony will just make a PS6. And they will make it either a dockable handheld (like the Switch) or they will split it into a powerful home console and a bit less powerful handheld. They will mainly be competing against Nintedno.
2. Valve is going to release the Steam Machine. And will basically be competing against PS5, XBOX Series and...
3. XBOX Windows. Microsoft is already testing XBOX mode on any Windows 11 machine. Currently on Windows Insders. Their new console will be basically a Windows version of the Steam Machine. A PC running Windows 11 or 12 in XBOX mode upon boot.

Nintendo has the Switch 2, which will not be replaced before 2032...

@HugoGED Honestly the others should have a white banner with "Installation required". But that's the case for every PS4, PS5, XBOX ONE and XBOX Series game. Be happy Switch 2 has at least some games without installation requirements.

Kirby Air Riders Fun game, working on unlocking characters and stuff.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Post-game stuff.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Daily stuff and completing the DLC.
Tomb Raider (Switch 2) This weeks shadowdrop. Still an awesome game.

And this week I am also throwing some PC games in the mix:

• Stellar Blade (discounted on Steam)
• Ys X: Nordics
• Balatro
• The Outer Worlds 2

@Fiskern Ofcourse you can think so, English is not my first language so I might have missed something.

But I am working on creating a new website that is going to focus on my review methods and will have a similar supporting community. The site is set the launch next year.

@Fiskern Actually I can, since my system is my opinion. I also apply a similar system to review of reviewers (comparing reviewers their reviews to their previous reviews and to other reviewers) Which would allow me to decide if a review is good or bad.

And sadly it's the latter. The average Nintendolife review gets a 2/10 in 2025. Based purely on my opinions.

@iLikeUrAttitude Exactly. And if I would've done that I would have missed a lot of awesome games that honestly didn't perform good in their tests.

And even if I would use this trick on Legends Z-A. I would give it a technical score of 7,5/10 (+ quick loading, + stable 60 fps, + good resolution, - flat buildings, - pop-in, - some stationary npcs)

And a opinion score of 9,5/10.

(7,5 + 9,5) / 20 * 10 = 8,5/10 Even then still above the average review score

@iLikeUrAttitude Not that I didn't try to actually design a scoring system that would make it 50% scientific (Digital Foundary esque) and 50% opinion. But I decided against that because of how some people weigh technical quality compared to gameplay / enjoyment.

This is also why I generally don't like Digital Foundary.

@iLikeUrAttitude Any review is subjective.

@iLikeUrAttitude Sure. But my score is based on a single system I use on every game released this generation. Also it's a honest system because it easily removes all trash from getting a satisfactory score. Anything between 7 and 9 considered above average to good. 6 is average. 5 is playable. <5 is bad. > 9,00 are best of year contenders.

So no, I do not consider a 7 to be a good score. It's above average. Which is unfair for this game.

@iLikeUrAttitude It does.

And let just apply my review score rules to this game.
See: https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/11/round-up-the-reviews-are-in-for-kirby-air-riders#comment8914698

1. Can you finish the game?

Yes. >1

2. Does the game achieve it's overall goal?

Yes >5

3. Does the game satisfy the goal?

Yes. I loved the final battle and the events leading up to it. Even more than in Dokey Kong Bananza. >7

4. Does the game give you bliss, did you like it?

Absolutely. >8

5. Did you notice enjoyment breaking bad quality? (graphics, sounds, etc)

Enjoyment breaking? No. 9.

Now it's going to get an additional rating between 9,00 and 9,99 which is based on overall gameplay. This is the same 9,51 as DKB. With a tie-breaker being my opinion about the final fight/battle. So.. Legends Z-A gets a 0,01 adventage.

And actually with Legends Arceus getting a 9,512/10 in the last generation... Legends Z-A is my overall favorite Pokémon game. Since 9,52 > 9,512

@iLikeUrAttitude

Well this definitely isn't looking good, if even THIS site was noticeably harsh (at least by their standards).

And taking acount the nintendolife tax that makes this game a 6/10.

Not good, was actually rooting for this game to be more.

Well this validates my point entirely.

@DarkAngelus31 Only Switch games updated for Switch 2 (free updates) or those with unlocked framerates run at 60fps on Switch 2. This is neither. The Switch version targets 30fps, so it will at best run 30fps on Switch 2.

Also you can't play Switch 1 games using old MicroSDs on Switch 2. So that can't be a reason either.

@Fiskern A lot of people are calling the game bad. Including people who review the game. And I am not going to call a "7" a good score either, or a valid one for this game. Where I gave it a 9,52/10 currently the Game of the Year with 0,01 above Donkey Kong Bananza

Why does such a bad game (by this site commenters / reviewers opinion, not mine) do so good in sales?

Well, I do know the answer..
The game is not bad.

Fun game, but after having it beat multiple times on other systems. It's quite a bit easy. I do hope the other two also come to Switch 2.

@Bondi_Surfer I review a game by asking five questions

1. Can you finish the game?

This is very important. Because if a game is unplayable it will get a 0/10 immediatly.

2. Does the game achieve it's overal goal?

This one decides if a game gets a failing grade or not. A yes to this question always gets a 6 or higher. A no 5 or lower.

3. Does the game satisfy the goal?

Similar to 2. but! it's important to judge if a game does a satisfying job.

4. Does the game give you bliss, did you like it?

So yes, an opinion is also important. But not in it's absolute base score.
And if 1 to 4 all are yes a game will get an 8.

5. Did you notice enjoyment breaking bad quality? (graphics, sounds, etc)

If no the game gets a 9+. If yes it will be either an 8 or an 8.5 depending on the severity.

If a game gets a 9, I will only compare the game to my opinion of it and other games reaching a 9 in the same genre. Which gives it a decimal between 0 and 99.

A 10/10 is impossible to get.

All the first party games I played this year (MarioKart World, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, Donkey Kong Bananza, Legdends Z-A and the Kirby Global Test Ride) all get an 8/10 or higher. With Welcome Tour being the only one lower than a 9.

@Bondi_Surfer No a 4 is a failing grade, which means the game is bad. Which is simply not true. A review is not about your feeling but about the game in general. If you can't see that distinct difference you shouldn't review games.

I gave Breath of the Wild a 9,721/10 and Tears of the Kingdom a 9,720/10 making both the best games on Switch. With Pokémon Legends Arceus 9,600/10 being number 3.
(any score between 9 and 9,999/10 was a unique score during the previous generation, in this generation I use this system per year so I can round 9s to two decimals)

And see here why modern game reviews are absolute trash.

Metro: One of the most controversial Nintendo sequels of recent times sees Kirby take on Mario Kart in this surreal new racing game.

Not one sentence in and Metro completely misses the point of what this game is.

@ElkinFencer10 I don't deny that.

@ElkinFencer10 It is though were a lot of players are.

@Stormkyleis I am going to guess the tutorial will be very similar to those in the Global Test, and those were absolutely great tutorials. And explained the gameplay really easily to me.

I never played the original, so I did take a look at the tutorials. And because of it I had a blast with the Global Test.

Currently (baed on the GT) I would give this game somewhere between 9,10 and 9,20/10.

@Munchlax the tutorials in the GT were great, like I said here. Without having prior knowledge I could pick up the game within 10 minutes.

This just feels like that game reviewer who failed at the tutorial of Cuphead over and over again. See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpNBLRKAcg0

There is a learning curve and it's chaotic. Well.. Sadly reviewers don't know how to play games these days. Which indeed results in the score.

And I see this in most reviews about this game. People not understanding the game or how the game is supposed to be played.

Review quality really has been lacking lately.

@gaga64 They are seperate, sadly. The Switch version looks decent in the YT video's of it. Looks to be 30fps.

@DarkAngelus31 and 60fps. The Switch version is clearly locked 30fps. Still good though.

But why would you? Both versions are the same price. So unless you also want to play on a Switch there is no reason to buy the Switch version.

Well, that is out of the blue.. And it's even discounted in the eShop. Downloading! Sadly it's not a Switch 2 Edition game, but 2 seperate versions for Switch and Switch 2.

Since the release of the Switch (1) I wanted these games to come to it. I wanted to play them handheld. It was also the first game I played on my Steam Deck. But having the first one now on Switch 2 is absolutely awesome!

@OldGamer999 It's not a major Nintendo game? As far as I know it's entirely published by Nintendo. Also the game has multiple Amiibo and a lot of advertising from Nintendo.

It's one of the biggest, maybe even the biggest Nintendo game released this year.

If it's not going to shift console sales, I don't know. Also I don't know if consoles sales needs shifting right now..

It's a niche game. So.. yeah. I am happy that Legends Z-A is doing good.

@OldGamer999 This site in particular has been very negative towards Nintendo lately (which I honestly don't get) both comments and reviews. This game looks great, plays great (demo), and will be loads of fun for single- and multiplayer for years to come.

Already pre-loaded onto my Switch 2. So..

I wasn't a Kirby fan from the start, but I did grow to love the character. Mostly because of Super Smash Bros Melee.

@Ratmasterd21 If you need to ask that question, the answer is always: yes.

Also they look like teenagers, which Link and Zelda are in the games so.. fitting.

@OorWullie Nah, he should at least once say "Excuuuuse me, princess" in the movie. For those who remember the cartoons.

Looks decent enough. I hope the movie is good.

@AllBLK Honestly I'd rather have the option. On PC you play the game with mouse and keyboard or a controller. Why can't this be similar on Switch 2? Now I am reconsidering buying this on Switch 2 because of this. Most likely will be picking it up on Steam though.

Especially if the Steam Machine is released before it and it's not that expensive.

Mega Starmie is just a Pokémon version of Patrick Star (Spongebob) and I'm okay with that.

I wouldn't expect more for Capcom. They are notorious for doing the bare minimum. At least it's stil more than other third party developers, but it is a shame.

@jojobar I am not worried about the game in the slightest. I am worried about (review-) websites going for easy rage/click-bait and trying to feed haters even more.

@babybilly Sure you are allowed to dislike something. But when you make a review of something and only focus on the things you didn't like, you are not making a honest review.

@babybilly when those complaints ignore all the good things the game does (and those FASTLY outweigh the not so good things) then they are not legitimate. At all.

So basically the the only complaining is the pop-ins and the flat buildings.

Yeah, this is truly one of the best games this year released.

I literally stopped noticing the flat buildings 5 minutes after starting the game. And I haven't had issues with pop-ins to begin with. The game itself runs at a smooth 1080p60 handheld and 1440p60 docked and is a lot of fun to play. (as I have finished it and given it a well deserved 9,52/10 making it my current game of the year)

This game looks really awesome. I am sure I'll be enjoying all of it.

It's sad to see that IGN is starting to take over the entire game review world. This is not good.

@Ralek85 Complaing about the price of the Switch 2 / games. Sure I can get that, but the price of everything else has been increasing even more. It's a thing called Inflation, look it up.

Keycards are just a way to save cost on physical games. Nothing more, nothing less. If they took them away, you would only have downloadable games and a couple of first party physical games.

Also Nintendo made many free Switch 2 updates for Switch 1 games. Sure those updates often just unlocked the framerate and / or resolution. It made Scarlet and Violet a lot more stable than on Switch 1 for example. And I think, in the end most first party Switch games will get a Switch 2 edition if not a free update.
But they (Nintendo) also want to spread those out to not overshadow new Switch 2 games.

For example people complaining about the Switch 2 upgrade for Animal Crossing, I really don't get. It's a $€5 upgrade. That's not even a days dinner. And it comes with a very big free update for Switch and Switch 2 as well. I am very happy to pay a small fee for it. (and have already pre-ordered it)

And talking about Disney really isn't on topic here, so I'll refrain from any other comments on that.

@Ralek85 Unlike Disney, Nintendo didn't try to actually alienate their core audience. Which actually shows in sales.

But it's very simple. Nintendo can't do any good according to some people. If they don't add vioce acting, people complain. If they do add voice acting, people complain. If they keep the game world empty, people complain. If they fill the game world with interesting things / npcs, people complain. If don't change the main gameplay loop in a game, people complain. If they do, people complain.

And yes, you can start to see a pattern here. People complain. No matter what Nintendo does. To me it's simple, those complainers should just buy a PS5 and play the 2 games released each year on that console.

And sadly I feel this game is going to do badly in sales if people keep complaining. Metroid has never been a system seller and is aimed at a more mature audience. An audience easily swayed by online comments and complaining. If this keeps up, there is not going to be a Metroid Prime 5 in the future. Maybe we'll see another 2D Metroid someday, but that would be it. And that would very sad indeed.

And here goes the complaining again. SMH. Oh no, an easy way to travel across the big world. Oh no, NPCs in a game!

Some people say the world feels empty.
But when they start adding actual new content then they start to complain that the game isn't empty enough.

Nintendo fans really are the worst 'fan'base imaginable.

@JohnnyMind I like the way they handled the NSO apps. And for NES/SNES/GB(C/A) games it's a good solution. But for N64 and especially GameCube games it's a drain on storage space. Maybe they should make those so you can choose which game you download onto your storage. But the app still acting as a single app.

"Maybe it's time to combine these together in some way, Nintendo..?"

Why though? Each app has it's own core feature that shouldn't be combined with any other app.

"Nintendo Switch (Online) App". Is for managing online stuff on your Switch (2). It can't really be combined with something else.

"Parental controls app" Is for setting up parental controls. If you don't have a child or don't want to use parental controls you can easily ignore it. It shouldn't be combined.

"Nintendo music app" is a music player. So no combination here.

"Nintendo Today!" is the Nintendo news and events app. So combining it with something... yeah I can't see that working either.

"Nintendo store app" is an app to browse the store. You can just go to the my Nintendo store on their website. So not really needed anyway and no need to combine.

So, no, I don't think Nintendo should combine the apps. It would degrade the apps they would combine.

Complain about it all you want. The game is a success.

Also I finally finished the main story. So I'm ready to give it my final score. 9,51/10. I loved the final battle and the missions leading up to it. This gives it the same score as DKB, so there is a tiebreaker required.

And.. I overall liked Pokémon Legends Z-A more than Donkey Kong Bananza. So Legends Z-A gets one extra 0,01 making it a 9,52/10. And currently Game of the Year. But any game I buy between december 1st of last year (and didn't finish in 2024) until any game bought and finished before 27th of december is a contender.

So.. Kirby Air Riders and Metroid Prime 4 are still contenders.

This game looks really cool. Like Pokémon meets Animal Crossing, meets Minecraft.

@Yydeckard It's not fair to compare it to a Switch (2). Compare it to other handheld pcs or even gaming laptops and you'll soon see