The games Nintendo produces are indeed just that, a product. A game being considered a product isn't a bad thing, it's a factual statement.
The value of said product is what truly matters here, as this is one of many determining factors that will affect the consumer demand for said products.
There is simply no doubt in my mind that Miyamoto's mindset here to see the games as a product, is to ensure that those products are valued and enjoyed by the consumer. Nintendo's ever growing catalog of first party games speaks for itself. It's the reason that I am anxiously awaiting the arrival off July 17th, when I can willingly and happily purchase another Nintendo product (even if I am having knee surgery on this same day).
I bought the Switch 2 with full intentions to catch-up on games I've not had the time to sit down at my PC/consoles to play. I own both No Man's Sky and Hogwarts Legacy on other platforms, but I'll actually get to play them now on the Switch 2. This is locked and loaded on my Switch 2, now I just need to finish Hogwarts Legacy one of these days!
Thanks for this! It's nice to see there's a new way to avoid these in the new game - I get blue shelled with relentless abandon when playing Mario Kart 8 with my kids! Haha
@Serpenterror It's indeed incredible! I remember there was a full level demo on one of the PlayStation Magazine discs, and we probably played through that like fifty times.
I'm just now finding out about this game in 2025, on the same week that the Switch 2 comes out, and this game is indeed an absolute hidden gem on the Switch eShop. This game will absolutely be getting downloaded on my Switch 2 when it arrives later this week!
Very glad to see additional file size reductions from Nintendo! Bravo!
With the high cost of memory cards on what will almost certainly be a very popular console coupled with the game key card factor, I think some better compression methods might come to fruition in the coming years.
I can easily see game key cards with 75+ GB file sizes limiting game sales, when you look at the current prices of the memory cards on the Switch 2.
I hate to say this, but I really hope the game key card backfires on them. I will buy the Switch 1 version and play it on the larger Switch 2 screen, over buying this on a game key card...regardless of if there is an upgrade or not.
I remain cautiously optimistic about this game release...and by that I mean that I had no problem dropping $90 on a preorder for a physical copy of Mario Kart World, but I have not done the same with this new DK release.
I literally booted up my 3DS XL last night to download the original Pokemon games for my six year old only to find that the service is discontinued.
The good thing is that I can still purchase these games secondhand — the same cannot be said for all the fantastic games that were download only on this service. Thankfully, I was still able to download all my purchased software that wasn't still installed.
When Google Stadia abruptly shutdown, it became clear that DRM, digital only games has the potential to be a temporary license purchase. I've since started purchasing my digital PC games DRM free if/when possible.
Thankfully, online consoles have allowed the majority of purchased games to remain playable so far!
Glad to get the 'green plumber' into the action...finally.
@w00dm4n The added Gold Challenges have kept me busy for most of the week, but I do wish the monthly cost would come down a few bucks. As it stands at $5 USD, I'll only pay the monthly cost when there is a character (or even better, characters!) I really want to grind for.
There's also the option to buy the high level drops with coins, which can be easily obtained by using the gems for Coin Rush races, so in those times when I'm not paying the premium fee, I'll be saving up.
I saw this coming a few years back and I very much stood against the norm then, but it was inevitable that Nintendo would eventually tap into this massive market. I played only a few minutes before happily purchasing the full game - well done Nintendo!
Unless the Wii U's library gains a significant uptick, I won't purchase it until it lands around the $199 price point. Mario Kart is not a system seller for me.
Ouya was never targeting the "big three" - that was the gaming press and their wild comparisions. The Ouya team created a "disruption" in the industry, which it did, and is what the team stated they were trying to do; it started a new trend. Also, Ouya is now branching out into a digital service - without a physical console - so we could actually find Ouya on Fire TV in the future.
I'll be grabbing Armillo, Stick it to The Man and Teslagrad on Steam. I didn't care for Cubemen on iOS, but Nihilumbria is great for those whom haven't tried it on other platforms as of yet.
I see no genius here at all. Nintendo did a good job of bringing the F2P concept to the 3DS.
@Peach64 Yep, and EA retooled the mobile version of FIFA 14 as a F2P, by giving the entire Ultimate Team away for free - no strings attached. That, in my opinion, was a smart marketing ploy, as it kept the game on the charts for months after it released. Heck, I even spent the $10 to unlock the additonal modes, after enjoying UT so much.
@ThomasBW84 Mate, you know that I completely respect your opinion and I'm in no way being critical of your work here - I merely chimed into this conversation because of another reader's comment.
I actually have made no opinion towards Tropical Freeze here. I've not played it myself, so I have absolutely no ground to form an opinion. Donkey Kong Country Returns is one of my absolute favourite games on the 3DS, even if I do find the late level design to be a bit too trial and error at times - not to mention the DK series (SNES/GB) being one that I cherish to no end. I have no doubt that I would have an absolute blast with Tropical Freeze.
With that said though, I do see Nintendo being of a higher standard than Sony and Microsoft. I have a reasoning for this too, which I've already stated with it being the excellence in its software. But to elaborate on that a bit more, Nintendo's groundbreaking titles feature something that nobody else in the industry can match in repitition. It creates chart shattering titles with games that are pure and unadulterated video games (fun) - it's all about the gameplay, everything else is just icing on the cake.
Sony creates amazing video games, indeed. You mentioned The Last of Us - it is a game that has a spectacular narrative that is the primary focus of the game, yet its gameplay isn't spectacular at all. In fact, if it wasn't for the narrative, the game would probably would have failed to make headlines. Bethesda's Fallout 3 is a fantastic open world action RPG that I dropped over 100 hours in, but it was also riddled with bugs, just like Skyrim.
I'm not putting down these other companies and/or games at all - I'm saying that they can't match the quality or excellence found in Nintendo's major releases. See, I wasn't talking down to Nintendo's recent releases - the vast majority of my gaming purchases at retail are Nintendo's first party 3DS releases: Dream Team, A Link Between Worlds, New Leaf, Fire Emlem Awakening, Dark Moon and Super Mario 3D Land are titles that I adore, and I can't wait until I get my hands on Yoshi's New Island! These games are all great, but it's of my opinion that they aren't of the excellence of Galaxy or Twilight Princess.
This is where my comments towards to average scoring reviews for Tropical Freeze come into play. What I see is that there are longtime Nintendo fans that now own both of Nintendo's consoles and they haven't gotten that one title that goes above and beyond to the level of excellence that only Nintendo can produce time and again. This doesn't stop them from buying the consoles and/or the games, but I know for me, I too share this desire for Nintendo to blow me away in that special way that only it can once again.
It's a matter of opinion if this should be reflected in a game review, which I think is where our differences in opion really come into play. When I stated that Nintendo is a "fan site", it's because this site directly aimed at Nintendo's video games. NL holds to a more professional standard, which puts it above and beyond the rest - also why the site has (and continues) to grow into what it is today.
As for catching flak for being negative, if NL stops finding a balance in its reviews and reporting, I'll be the one giving your grief in the comments sections. It's healthy to be critical of Nintendo's flaws, just as it is healthy for NL to keep a positive spin on things when it does.
@ThomasBW84 I think you misunderstood the meaning behind what I stated when I called NL a "fan site", which is most definitely is. The reviews here are informative reviews that are designed to entertain and inform the readers - just as the nearly 50 reviews that I've written for the NL network of sites are. I think you did a very good job with this review and it is exaclty what I come here to NL to find.
I also choose to read reviews from more industry-based sites that take a subjective approach to their reviews. These reviews don't simply apporach the game in an informative manner, but also tend to take either a more philisophical or industry stance on the game in the larger picture of the industry as a whole as well, depending on the context of the game.I see both of these types of reviews being a good thing for this industry.
But, in your reply, you also bring up a good point. You compared Nintendo's products to yearly installment franchises. By doing so, it is of my opinion that that is undercutting Nintendo, whom has for decades set the bar for excellence in this inudstry. Nintendo has had a quality to its games throughout the years that one single game release could easily justify the purchase of its consoles. These games didn't quietly release either, instead these games dropped on the market like an eartquake you absolutely had to do anything within your means to get your hands on it.
While Nintendo captivated the world with Wii Sports, Twilight Princess and Super Mario Galaxy were both of this caliber in the last generation, regardless to the "power" of the console. Today, Nintendo is releasing very good video games, but neither the 3DS or the Wii U possess a game that's of the level of excellence that only Nintendo has ever produced.
This is why these reviews for Tropical Freeze have been written. It's because these reviewers see a great game - all of them that I've read are reflective of this - but each one of them clearly sees it as not being of the excellence that they've come to expect from Nintendo throughout the years.
@Bolt_Strike To be fair, I cannot comment towards Tropical Freeze, as I've not played it as of yet. But I do agree, I've read those reviews myself and I too found them to be very well grounded and reasonable reviews.
I simply think that these reviews are indicative of not only Tropical Freeze, but Nintendo as a whole as of late. The majority of my gaming money goes to Nintendo's portable consoles most every year and this year has been no exception. But, even though A Link Between Worlds, Dream Team, Paper Mario and Luigi's Mansion are all must-own titles for any Nintendo fan, these games just don't have that "edge" that has made past Nintendo titles like Galaxy, Twilight Princess and Mario 64 so absolutley unforgetable.
I remember when Nintendo's games were the epitome of greatness in the gaming industry. Its games excelled above and beyond all else, even if it wasn't on the most advanced hardware on the market. Today, Nintendo simply isn't living up to its own standards any longer.
Am I talking down to Nintendo? Absolutley not. In fact, this criticism only shines a light on just how fantastic Nintendo is as a company. It simply shows that it has some rebuilding and restructuring to do at the moment.
@Peach64 I think Eurogamer's review is the most telling of them all, to be honest. The reviewer took the time to realize that there is a fair amount of reused elements from Donkey Kong Country Returns in Tropical Freeze, which is a clear sign of a game that's been rushed out of the gate and polished over with nice HD "shine".
While many seem to think it's a bad thing that there are a few reviews that are landing in the "average" range, Nintendo needs the critical reception from some of the major sites to understand that we expect Nintendo's top releases of the year to go above and beyond expectations, like they have done so in the past. Of course, this isn't something I'd expect to see in a review on a fan site like Nintendo Life.
I'm actually surprised that I haven't seen more critical reception of how the game completely ignores the GamePad for anything other than off-screen gameplay.
I grew up with this game in my pre-teens and I was captivated by the games fluid gameplay and extreme challenge. I can now breeze through this game with little effort, but that doesn't stop me from coming back to it several times a year.
You know, I think I wrote that for a Roundtable/feature here at NL years back! Haha
Personally, I think Nintendo would be better off sticking to a sole console - preferably portable - going forward, instead of focusing on two (or more) consoles that share the same OS.
Now, if Nintendo does indeed go with a home and portable console going forward, sharing an OS would be a very smart thing for it to do. While the Vita has a low install base, it has a very high attachment rate with owners purchasing a lot of games. Many of these games are cross-buy games with the PS3, which shows that this type of scenario does indeed work.
Nintendo is a toy company that makes extremely high quality, unadulterated video games that are fit for all ages and on hardware that's easily attainable (install price) for the mainstream market; it's Nintendo's bread and butter, so to speak.
The one thing that I'm not seeing is Nintendo's bread and butter being a central focus any longer and that's quite worrying, in my opinion.
@Rafie Actually, you are likely right on key my freind. Remember, game developers are generally typical gamers as well. In fact, they talk just like everyone else does. Many times a journalist gets info, but they choose not to publish it, because if we do, then you have these major publihsers' lawyers beating on your door wanting to know where your information came from.
Not only does the person spilling the info take a risk, but the journalist and publication both have to assess the risk of being sued as well. It might be a "game" industry, but these things aren't taken lightly.
@Wolfgabe Actually, yes, I was following the developments of Sim City as they happened. There was a major problem with the online infrastructure at launch, something we've seen before. It is a problem that is now fixed.
Do you remember the launch of one of the most anticipated games of all-time: Blizzard's Diablo III? Blizzard is used to having hundreds of thousands of people on its servers, yet even it had major problems at the launch of Diablo III.
I also didn't state that EA some of the best games of the year, but that it released some of the highest quality software that "it" (EA) has in several years. This doesn't mean that everything it released was superior, but for me, FIFA 14, NHL 14 and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 were all top notch titles that both added new game engines and mechanics, while finely polishing what previous titles before them had already achieved. This is a sign of development teams that care about what they are producing.
@Zach This isn't a business strategy, it's very likely a developer breaking NDA to speak to a journalist anonymously. EA will probably be cutting staff with the loss of the NCAA franchise, so I'd expect to see more of this as we go forward.
@SCAR392 The only so-called "kids games" that I see EA producing at current are on either mobile platforms or PC. Both very cheap to develop and publish for. I'll also have you know that EA has produced some of the highest quality games this past year that it has in a long time - feel free to drop the tone, or I have nothing else to say back to you; I truly dislike it when people choose to discredit the hard-work and passion of thousands of people because of bias.
@element187 I can't say much here, but the Wii U most definitely cannot handle anything the devs are throwing it. Also, from what I've heard personally, the PS4 is outperforming expectations left and right time and again, with the Xbox One having little difficulty keeping pace with it. For a third party developer though, the end product will always be as close to an exact product for both systems as possible. We didn't see this on the PS3 and Xbox, and that was because of the challenges of developing for the Cell Processor in the early years.
element187 My friend, I see what you're diggin' at, but I can't agree with you at all on this one, as some who studies video games as a concept, design and an artistic medium.
The common FPS shooter is in its simplest terms, a competitive online shooter. It's all about having the fast reflexes and understanding how a battlefield "flows" to gain an advantage. Titles like Battlefied take it a step further and effectively incorporate teamwork (and numerous other things) into the equation for an additional layer of depth: respawn, aim assistance, etc., these things are all standard fare for this genre of video game, because the idea today is that a video game has to be accessible for all skill levels, not ages. Also remember, the typical skill level of an adult non-gamer is typically low, so these things help these gamers too.
It's typically the social iterations that attract so many people to these online competitive games. Friends and family like to have a good time with their friends and family - these are good things for most.
QTEs becoming commonplace in this industry in AAA titles, only shows us that these games are geared towards the gamers who only care to be entertained by the video game they play - the "Hollywood blockbusters" of the gaming industry. It allows the developers to do things outside of its normal working capacity to create a certain "Wow" factor.
Having a sharp degree of difficulty has nothing to do with the "maturity" of a video game, though. When a developer starts utilizing a game's narrative to cohesively weave it together with the game's gameplay mechanics seamlessly, that's a sign of maturity in this industry. When a game's visual aesthetics perfectly reflect visual impact of the game's environment against its narrative, that's a sign of mature in this industry.
The film industry has its art and it's blockbusters. The gaming industry is growing in just this way as well.
@Rafie To be fair, the core Kingdom Hearts franchise has always been found on the PlayStation home console. The spin-off titles have been found elsewhere.
Why isn't KH3 coming to the Wii U. I'd say that comes down to specs. While going back to the first KH today looks archaic, at release, it pushed the console, just as the sequel did past expectations. I doubt Square Enix would want to take anything from the game to release it on the Wii U.
@SCAR392 It's just this simple - EA doesn't feel like the Wii U is a viable platform for it to spend its resources on going forward.
But, there's more to it than just saying that though. There are a lot of factors at play here, but one that I've stumbled across a few times, I'll explain for you as best I can.
Here at NL, there is very understandably a lot of focus on the Wii U as the "powerhouse" console, but the gaming industry is looking to the release of the upcoming numerous variations of the SteamBox and with both the Xbox One and the PS4 both being built on standard PC architecture, we're looking at the potential of another major upswing in PC gaming over the course of the next few years.
While the SteamBox has a lot to prove, it also comes at zero risk to Valve, which was a brilliant move from it. Regardless of how these SteamBox's sell, they are simply very powerful and standard PC architecture - merely running on a Debian variant of the Linux kernel. Third party games can be easily ported across all of these platforms with relative ease - Valve is making the transition to Linux an easy process with its own custom software, as well.
EA, just like all of the other major publishers, are only a major flop away from having to make drastic internal changes. Don't forget that EA has thousands of employees that have to be paid, insured and in need of the best electronics available. Also, EA, like the other major publishers, pushes the industry forward with new game engines and design techniques. It isn't as simple as making a game in this industry any longer - it's about making a game that can reach the maximum amount of people with as little effort as possible, for max profits so the business can push forward.
How many big developers have failed in the past decade? How many great franchises have you seen run into the dirt over the course of the last console generation? There is a reason for this, and that exact same reason is why EA isn't supporting the struggling Wii U.
Also: "EA doesn't make kids games" was probably copied from the mouth of a developer within EA, not an official spokesperson.
@Rafie If someone truly thinks that Sony and Microsoft had anything to do with this - insider business deals - then I'd just walk away from that conversation.
@element187 See, now you're barking up my kind of industry talk tree! But, I know you might be joking with your post, but regardless of how "dudebro" any game is, if it is clearly marked for "Mature" audiences and children are playing it, that is not to be held accountable to the platform holder, it is to be held accountable by the parents and/or legal guardians.
Without the third party support, at the current retail price and continued market confusion that the Wii U faces, I see no way for it to become a viable platform that sustains another 3-5 years in the marketplace, aside from the handful of major first party titles that Nintendo puts on the console itself each year. The 3DS is cheap enough to not onl purchase, but to develop for, that it doesn't need the major support of the third parties, but the Wii U is proving to not be floating in the same boat.
@SCAR392 Yes, it's in fact, very serious. EA shifted development away from the Wii U awhile back and now someone has finally decided to break their NDA contractual agreement and speak out publicly about it. Of course, this has to be anonymous, because if they were to be caught, they would lose their job, risk fines and even imprisonment, if EA decided to push the issue.
This is big business, not just video games, like so many here choose to believe.
@Damo Ubisoft has done an excellent job bringing its Rayman franchise to mobile with paid apps. I've no doubt that if Nintendo did something similar, it would be highly successful, without tarnishing its brands - the mini games on the DS "Mario" titles would be a perfect fit for mobile releases.
I think this would draw people to Nintendo's consoles, most specifically its 3DS.
@edhe So what you're saying is that Ubisoft can make millions of dollars with its Rayman franchise on the mobile markets with Rayman: Jungle Run - attracting the mobile markets to its console counterparts of the Rayman franchise for maximum profits - yet, for Nintendo, it would be financial suicide to do something similar with the Mario franchise?
Comments 1,712
Re: The First Review For Donkey Kong Bananza Is In
Already purchased - delivers tomorrow (hopefully)!
Re: Miyamoto Views Games As 'Products', Not 'Works Of Art', Says Ex-Nintendo Dev
The games Nintendo produces are indeed just that, a product. A game being considered a product isn't a bad thing, it's a factual statement.
The value of said product is what truly matters here, as this is one of many determining factors that will affect the consumer demand for said products.
There is simply no doubt in my mind that Miyamoto's mindset here to see the games as a product, is to ensure that those products are valued and enjoyed by the consumer. Nintendo's ever growing catalog of first party games speaks for itself. It's the reason that I am anxiously awaiting the arrival off July 17th, when I can willingly and happily purchase another Nintendo product (even if I am having knee surgery on this same day).
Re: Review: No Man's Sky - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition - Hello Games' Classic Without Cuts Or Concessions
I bought the Switch 2 with full intentions to catch-up on games I've not had the time to sit down at my PC/consoles to play. I own both No Man's Sky and Hogwarts Legacy on other platforms, but I'll actually get to play them now on the Switch 2. This is locked and loaded on my Switch 2, now I just need to finish Hogwarts Legacy one of these days!
Re: Review: Fast Fusion (Switch 2) - The Most Accomplished Entry Yet, And A Visual Showcase
Great review Ollie!
This is the first of these games that I've played before, but I'm absolutely loving it so far.
Re: Mario Kart World: How To Avoid Blue Shells
Thanks for this! It's nice to see there's a new way to avoid these in the new game - I get blue shelled with relentless abandon when playing Mario Kart 8 with my kids! Haha
Re: Final Fantasy Tactics Is Getting An Enhanced Revival On Switch And Switch 2
@Serpenterror It's indeed incredible! I remember there was a full level demo on one of the PlayStation Magazine discs, and we probably played through that like fifty times.
Re: Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles Announced For Switch And Switch 2
This just made my day! I will be buying this no questions asked...even if it's on a game key card.
Re: Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles Announced For Switch And Switch 2
@Serpenterror You are awesome for including Einhander in your listing, and I 1000% agree!
Re: Review: Golf Story (Switch eShop)
I'm just now finding out about this game in 2025, on the same week that the Switch 2 comes out, and this game is indeed an absolute hidden gem on the Switch eShop. This game will absolutely be getting downloaded on my Switch 2 when it arrives later this week!
Re: Nintendo Appears To Have Updated Mario Kart World's Switch 2 File Size
Very glad to see additional file size reductions from Nintendo! Bravo!
With the high cost of memory cards on what will almost certainly be a very popular console coupled with the game key card factor, I think some better compression methods might come to fruition in the coming years.
I can easily see game key cards with 75+ GB file sizes limiting game sales, when you look at the current prices of the memory cards on the Switch 2.
Re: Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake Launches October, Switch 2 Version Confirmed
I hate to say this, but I really hope the game key card backfires on them. I will buy the Switch 1 version and play it on the larger Switch 2 screen, over buying this on a game key card...regardless of if there is an upgrade or not.
Re: Video: Diddy Kong, Tunes & Vines - Here's Everything We Want From Donkey Kong Bananza
I agree with everything said in this video.
I remain cautiously optimistic about this game release...and by that I mean that I had no problem dropping $90 on a preorder for a physical copy of Mario Kart World, but I have not done the same with this new DK release.
Re: Talking Point: Would You Buy A Digital-Only 'Switch 2'?
I literally booted up my 3DS XL last night to download the original Pokemon games for my six year old only to find that the service is discontinued.
The good thing is that I can still purchase these games secondhand — the same cannot be said for all the fantastic games that were download only on this service. Thankfully, I was still able to download all my purchased software that wasn't still installed.
When Google Stadia abruptly shutdown, it became clear that DRM, digital only games has the potential to be a temporary license purchase. I've since started purchasing my digital PC games DRM free if/when possible.
Thankfully, online consoles have allowed the majority of purchased games to remain playable so far!
Re: Shatter Remastered Deluxe Will Bring Its High Octane Take On 'Breakout' To Switch
I really enjoyed the original Shatter release and haven't played the remake. I'll have to keep this on my radar going forward.
Re: Newly-Translated Article Reveals Sega And Nintendo's Worries Of A '90s Atari-Style Crash
Fascinating article. Thanks for sharing!
Re: After Losing His Keys, Luigi Is Finally Ready To Race In Mario Kart Tour This Halloween
Glad to get the 'green plumber' into the action...finally.
@w00dm4n The added Gold Challenges have kept me busy for most of the week, but I do wish the monthly cost would come down a few bucks. As it stands at $5 USD, I'll only pay the monthly cost when there is a character (or even better, characters!) I really want to grind for.
There's also the option to buy the high level drops with coins, which can be easily obtained by using the gems for Coin Rush races, so in those times when I'm not paying the premium fee, I'll be saving up.
Re: Super Mario Run Is Now Live On The iOS App Store
I saw this coming a few years back and I very much stood against the norm then, but it was inevitable that Nintendo would eventually tap into this massive market. I played only a few minutes before happily purchasing the full game - well done Nintendo!
Re: The Nintendo Switch Power Debate is Back - Report Suggests It Won't Quite Match PS4
Less power = portability. It's going to be worth the sacrifice. This is what I wanted with the Wii U.
Re: North American Wii U Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Set Bundle Races Into View
Unless the Wii U's library gains a significant uptick, I won't purchase it until it lands around the $199 price point. Mario Kart is not a system seller for me.
Re: Talking Point: Amazon Fire TV is an Early Warning for Console Heavyweights
Ouya was never targeting the "big three" - that was the gaming press and their wild comparisions. The Ouya team created a "disruption" in the industry, which it did, and is what the team stated they were trying to do; it started a new trend. Also, Ouya is now branching out into a digital service - without a physical console - so we could actually find Ouya on Fire TV in the future.
Re: Pure Chess DLC Will Be Available Day One, And Won't Cost As Much As You Think
That's interesting. Pure Chess released on iOS completely free, but allowed for small DLC transactions to build the game into your personal likings.
Regardless, it's a fantastic game.
Re: Nintendo Unleashes Some Awesome Wii U eShop Trailers
I'll be grabbing Armillo, Stick it to The Man and Teslagrad on Steam. I didn't care for Cubemen on iOS, but Nihilumbria is great for those whom haven't tried it on other platforms as of yet.
Re: Nintendo Force Magazine Secures Second Year With Kickstarter Success
Loved it last year and looking forward to another year reading the NF team's awesome work!
Re: Nintendo Force Magazine Secures Second Year With Kickstarter Success
Loved it last year and looking forward to another year reading the NF team's awesome work!
Re: Talking Point: Important Steps to Bring the 3DS and Wii U Closer Together
Very good article.
Just a bit of FYI: Dragon's Crown also has cross-save compatibility, just like the many other cross-buy games on the PSN service.
Re: Talking Point: Steel Diver: Sub Wars Proves That Nintendo Can Make Free-To-Play Work
I see no genius here at all. Nintendo did a good job of bringing the F2P concept to the 3DS.
@Peach64 Yep, and EA retooled the mobile version of FIFA 14 as a F2P, by giving the entire Ultimate Team away for free - no strings attached. That, in my opinion, was a smart marketing ploy, as it kept the game on the charts for months after it released. Heck, I even spent the $10 to unlock the additonal modes, after enjoying UT so much.
Re: Review: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U)
@ThomasBW84 Mate, you know that I completely respect your opinion and I'm in no way being critical of your work here - I merely chimed into this conversation because of another reader's comment.
I actually have made no opinion towards Tropical Freeze here. I've not played it myself, so I have absolutely no ground to form an opinion. Donkey Kong Country Returns is one of my absolute favourite games on the 3DS, even if I do find the late level design to be a bit too trial and error at times - not to mention the DK series (SNES/GB) being one that I cherish to no end. I have no doubt that I would have an absolute blast with Tropical Freeze.
With that said though, I do see Nintendo being of a higher standard than Sony and Microsoft. I have a reasoning for this too, which I've already stated with it being the excellence in its software. But to elaborate on that a bit more, Nintendo's groundbreaking titles feature something that nobody else in the industry can match in repitition. It creates chart shattering titles with games that are pure and unadulterated video games (fun) - it's all about the gameplay, everything else is just icing on the cake.
Sony creates amazing video games, indeed. You mentioned The Last of Us - it is a game that has a spectacular narrative that is the primary focus of the game, yet its gameplay isn't spectacular at all. In fact, if it wasn't for the narrative, the game would probably would have failed to make headlines. Bethesda's Fallout 3 is a fantastic open world action RPG that I dropped over 100 hours in, but it was also riddled with bugs, just like Skyrim.
I'm not putting down these other companies and/or games at all - I'm saying that they can't match the quality or excellence found in Nintendo's major releases. See, I wasn't talking down to Nintendo's recent releases - the vast majority of my gaming purchases at retail are Nintendo's first party 3DS releases: Dream Team, A Link Between Worlds, New Leaf, Fire Emlem Awakening, Dark Moon and Super Mario 3D Land are titles that I adore, and I can't wait until I get my hands on Yoshi's New Island! These games are all great, but it's of my opinion that they aren't of the excellence of Galaxy or Twilight Princess.
This is where my comments towards to average scoring reviews for Tropical Freeze come into play. What I see is that there are longtime Nintendo fans that now own both of Nintendo's consoles and they haven't gotten that one title that goes above and beyond to the level of excellence that only Nintendo can produce time and again. This doesn't stop them from buying the consoles and/or the games, but I know for me, I too share this desire for Nintendo to blow me away in that special way that only it can once again.
It's a matter of opinion if this should be reflected in a game review, which I think is where our differences in opion really come into play. When I stated that Nintendo is a "fan site", it's because this site directly aimed at Nintendo's video games. NL holds to a more professional standard, which puts it above and beyond the rest - also why the site has (and continues) to grow into what it is today.
As for catching flak for being negative, if NL stops finding a balance in its reviews and reporting, I'll be the one giving your grief in the comments sections. It's healthy to be critical of Nintendo's flaws, just as it is healthy for NL to keep a positive spin on things when it does.
Re: Review: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U)
@ThomasBW84 I think you misunderstood the meaning behind what I stated when I called NL a "fan site", which is most definitely is. The reviews here are informative reviews that are designed to entertain and inform the readers - just as the nearly 50 reviews that I've written for the NL network of sites are. I think you did a very good job with this review and it is exaclty what I come here to NL to find.
I also choose to read reviews from more industry-based sites that take a subjective approach to their reviews. These reviews don't simply apporach the game in an informative manner, but also tend to take either a more philisophical or industry stance on the game in the larger picture of the industry as a whole as well, depending on the context of the game.I see both of these types of reviews being a good thing for this industry.
But, in your reply, you also bring up a good point. You compared Nintendo's products to yearly installment franchises. By doing so, it is of my opinion that that is undercutting Nintendo, whom has for decades set the bar for excellence in this inudstry. Nintendo has had a quality to its games throughout the years that one single game release could easily justify the purchase of its consoles. These games didn't quietly release either, instead these games dropped on the market like an eartquake you absolutely had to do anything within your means to get your hands on it.
While Nintendo captivated the world with Wii Sports, Twilight Princess and Super Mario Galaxy were both of this caliber in the last generation, regardless to the "power" of the console. Today, Nintendo is releasing very good video games, but neither the 3DS or the Wii U possess a game that's of the level of excellence that only Nintendo has ever produced.
This is why these reviews for Tropical Freeze have been written. It's because these reviewers see a great game - all of them that I've read are reflective of this - but each one of them clearly sees it as not being of the excellence that they've come to expect from Nintendo throughout the years.
Re: Review: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U)
@gatorboi352 I have published reviews and features here at NL, so I don't think I have to worry about being labelled a "hater."
Re: Rayman Legends On Wii U Is Still The ''Definitive Version'' According to Digital Foundry
"Simply saying the name Rayman Legends aloud is enough to get a reaction from Wii U owners"
And the reason that this is even posted here.
Re: Review: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U)
@Bolt_Strike To be fair, I cannot comment towards Tropical Freeze, as I've not played it as of yet. But I do agree, I've read those reviews myself and I too found them to be very well grounded and reasonable reviews.
I simply think that these reviews are indicative of not only Tropical Freeze, but Nintendo as a whole as of late. The majority of my gaming money goes to Nintendo's portable consoles most every year and this year has been no exception. But, even though A Link Between Worlds, Dream Team, Paper Mario and Luigi's Mansion are all must-own titles for any Nintendo fan, these games just don't have that "edge" that has made past Nintendo titles like Galaxy, Twilight Princess and Mario 64 so absolutley unforgetable.
I remember when Nintendo's games were the epitome of greatness in the gaming industry. Its games excelled above and beyond all else, even if it wasn't on the most advanced hardware on the market. Today, Nintendo simply isn't living up to its own standards any longer.
Am I talking down to Nintendo? Absolutley not. In fact, this criticism only shines a light on just how fantastic Nintendo is as a company. It simply shows that it has some rebuilding and restructuring to do at the moment.
Re: Review: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U)
@Peach64 I think Eurogamer's review is the most telling of them all, to be honest. The reviewer took the time to realize that there is a fair amount of reused elements from Donkey Kong Country Returns in Tropical Freeze, which is a clear sign of a game that's been rushed out of the gate and polished over with nice HD "shine".
While many seem to think it's a bad thing that there are a few reviews that are landing in the "average" range, Nintendo needs the critical reception from some of the major sites to understand that we expect Nintendo's top releases of the year to go above and beyond expectations, like they have done so in the past. Of course, this isn't something I'd expect to see in a review on a fan site like Nintendo Life.
I'm actually surprised that I haven't seen more critical reception of how the game completely ignores the GamePad for anything other than off-screen gameplay.
Re: Review: Ninja Gaiden (Wii U eShop / NES)
@zipmon Fantastic review Morgan!
I grew up with this game in my pre-teens and I was captivated by the games fluid gameplay and extreme challenge. I can now breeze through this game with little effort, but that doesn't stop me from coming back to it several times a year.
You know, I think I wrote that for a Roundtable/feature here at NL years back! Haha
Re: Super Mario Hopping Into McDonald's Happy Meals in the UK
Very, VERY good move Nintendo!
Re: Nintendo Reveals Release Windows For a Host of Promising eShop Games
Two Renegade Kid releases makes me on very happy Slappy!
Re: Iwata Looking To Emulate iOS And Android With A Common Platform For Future Nintendo Hardware
Personally, I think Nintendo would be better off sticking to a sole console - preferably portable - going forward, instead of focusing on two (or more) consoles that share the same OS.
Now, if Nintendo does indeed go with a home and portable console going forward, sharing an OS would be a very smart thing for it to do. While the Vita has a low install base, it has a very high attachment rate with owners purchasing a lot of games. Many of these games are cross-buy games with the PS3, which shows that this type of scenario does indeed work.
Re: Satoru Iwata States That Nintendo Should "Abandon Old Assumptions" About Its Businesses
Nintendo is a toy company that makes extremely high quality, unadulterated video games that are fit for all ages and on hardware that's easily attainable (install price) for the mainstream market; it's Nintendo's bread and butter, so to speak.
The one thing that I'm not seeing is Nintendo's bread and butter being a central focus any longer and that's quite worrying, in my opinion.
Re: Ninterview: Stepping Into The Nintendo Arcade
You would have to pull my 31 year old self out of there kicking and screaming (probably by the feet) to get me out!
Re: EA's Peter Moore States That "Nintendo's A Great Partner" In Reaction To Claims of "Dead" Relationship
@Rafie Actually, you are likely right on key my freind. Remember, game developers are generally typical gamers as well. In fact, they talk just like everyone else does. Many times a journalist gets info, but they choose not to publish it, because if we do, then you have these major publihsers' lawyers beating on your door wanting to know where your information came from.
Not only does the person spilling the info take a risk, but the journalist and publication both have to assess the risk of being sued as well. It might be a "game" industry, but these things aren't taken lightly.
Re: Nintendo Was Dead To Us Very Quickly, States EA Source
@SCAR392 Oh look, it wasn't an actual EA spokesperson - don't tell me... oh yeah, I already called that, didn't I?
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/01/eas_peter_moore_states_that_nintendos_a_great_partner_in_reaction_to_claims_of_dead_relationship
Re: EA's Peter Moore States That "Nintendo's A Great Partner" In Reaction To Claims of "Dead" Relationship
...and as I stated earlier today - it wasn't an EA spokesperson whom went on the record anonymously, like so many here chose to believe.
Re: Nintendo Was Dead To Us Very Quickly, States EA Source
@Wolfgabe Actually, yes, I was following the developments of Sim City as they happened. There was a major problem with the online infrastructure at launch, something we've seen before. It is a problem that is now fixed.
Do you remember the launch of one of the most anticipated games of all-time: Blizzard's Diablo III? Blizzard is used to having hundreds of thousands of people on its servers, yet even it had major problems at the launch of Diablo III.
I also didn't state that EA some of the best games of the year, but that it released some of the highest quality software that "it" (EA) has in several years. This doesn't mean that everything it released was superior, but for me, FIFA 14, NHL 14 and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 were all top notch titles that both added new game engines and mechanics, while finely polishing what previous titles before them had already achieved. This is a sign of development teams that care about what they are producing.
@Zach This isn't a business strategy, it's very likely a developer breaking NDA to speak to a journalist anonymously. EA will probably be cutting staff with the loss of the NCAA franchise, so I'd expect to see more of this as we go forward.
Re: Nintendo Was Dead To Us Very Quickly, States EA Source
@SCAR392 The only so-called "kids games" that I see EA producing at current are on either mobile platforms or PC. Both very cheap to develop and publish for. I'll also have you know that EA has produced some of the highest quality games this past year that it has in a long time - feel free to drop the tone, or I have nothing else to say back to you; I truly dislike it when people choose to discredit the hard-work and passion of thousands of people because of bias.
@element187 I can't say much here, but the Wii U most definitely cannot handle anything the devs are throwing it. Also, from what I've heard personally, the PS4 is outperforming expectations left and right time and again, with the Xbox One having little difficulty keeping pace with it. For a third party developer though, the end product will always be as close to an exact product for both systems as possible. We didn't see this on the PS3 and Xbox, and that was because of the challenges of developing for the Cell Processor in the early years.
Re: Nintendo Was Dead To Us Very Quickly, States EA Source
element187 My friend, I see what you're diggin' at, but I can't agree with you at all on this one, as some who studies video games as a concept, design and an artistic medium.
The common FPS shooter is in its simplest terms, a competitive online shooter. It's all about having the fast reflexes and understanding how a battlefield "flows" to gain an advantage. Titles like Battlefied take it a step further and effectively incorporate teamwork (and numerous other things) into the equation for an additional layer of depth: respawn, aim assistance, etc., these things are all standard fare for this genre of video game, because the idea today is that a video game has to be accessible for all skill levels, not ages. Also remember, the typical skill level of an adult non-gamer is typically low, so these things help these gamers too.
It's typically the social iterations that attract so many people to these online competitive games. Friends and family like to have a good time with their friends and family - these are good things for most.
QTEs becoming commonplace in this industry in AAA titles, only shows us that these games are geared towards the gamers who only care to be entertained by the video game they play - the "Hollywood blockbusters" of the gaming industry. It allows the developers to do things outside of its normal working capacity to create a certain "Wow" factor.
Having a sharp degree of difficulty has nothing to do with the "maturity" of a video game, though. When a developer starts utilizing a game's narrative to cohesively weave it together with the game's gameplay mechanics seamlessly, that's a sign of maturity in this industry. When a game's visual aesthetics perfectly reflect visual impact of the game's environment against its narrative, that's a sign of mature in this industry.
The film industry has its art and it's blockbusters. The gaming industry is growing in just this way as well.
Re: Nintendo Was Dead To Us Very Quickly, States EA Source
@Rafie To be fair, the core Kingdom Hearts franchise has always been found on the PlayStation home console. The spin-off titles have been found elsewhere.
Why isn't KH3 coming to the Wii U. I'd say that comes down to specs. While going back to the first KH today looks archaic, at release, it pushed the console, just as the sequel did past expectations. I doubt Square Enix would want to take anything from the game to release it on the Wii U.
Re: Nintendo Was Dead To Us Very Quickly, States EA Source
@SCAR392 It's just this simple - EA doesn't feel like the Wii U is a viable platform for it to spend its resources on going forward.
But, there's more to it than just saying that though. There are a lot of factors at play here, but one that I've stumbled across a few times, I'll explain for you as best I can.
Here at NL, there is very understandably a lot of focus on the Wii U as the "powerhouse" console, but the gaming industry is looking to the release of the upcoming numerous variations of the SteamBox and with both the Xbox One and the PS4 both being built on standard PC architecture, we're looking at the potential of another major upswing in PC gaming over the course of the next few years.
While the SteamBox has a lot to prove, it also comes at zero risk to Valve, which was a brilliant move from it. Regardless of how these SteamBox's sell, they are simply very powerful and standard PC architecture - merely running on a Debian variant of the Linux kernel. Third party games can be easily ported across all of these platforms with relative ease - Valve is making the transition to Linux an easy process with its own custom software, as well.
EA, just like all of the other major publishers, are only a major flop away from having to make drastic internal changes. Don't forget that EA has thousands of employees that have to be paid, insured and in need of the best electronics available. Also, EA, like the other major publishers, pushes the industry forward with new game engines and design techniques. It isn't as simple as making a game in this industry any longer - it's about making a game that can reach the maximum amount of people with as little effort as possible, for max profits so the business can push forward.
How many big developers have failed in the past decade? How many great franchises have you seen run into the dirt over the course of the last console generation? There is a reason for this, and that exact same reason is why EA isn't supporting the struggling Wii U.
Also: "EA doesn't make kids games" was probably copied from the mouth of a developer within EA, not an official spokesperson.
Re: Nintendo Was Dead To Us Very Quickly, States EA Source
@Rafie If someone truly thinks that Sony and Microsoft had anything to do with this - insider business deals - then I'd just walk away from that conversation.
@element187 See, now you're barking up my kind of industry talk tree! But, I know you might be joking with your post, but regardless of how "dudebro" any game is, if it is clearly marked for "Mature" audiences and children are playing it, that is not to be held accountable to the platform holder, it is to be held accountable by the parents and/or legal guardians.
Re: Nintendo Was Dead To Us Very Quickly, States EA Source
Without the third party support, at the current retail price and continued market confusion that the Wii U faces, I see no way for it to become a viable platform that sustains another 3-5 years in the marketplace, aside from the handful of major first party titles that Nintendo puts on the console itself each year. The 3DS is cheap enough to not onl purchase, but to develop for, that it doesn't need the major support of the third parties, but the Wii U is proving to not be floating in the same boat.
@SCAR392 Yes, it's in fact, very serious. EA shifted development away from the Wii U awhile back and now someone has finally decided to break their NDA contractual agreement and speak out publicly about it. Of course, this has to be anonymous, because if they were to be caught, they would lose their job, risk fines and even imprisonment, if EA decided to push the issue.
This is big business, not just video games, like so many here choose to believe.
Re: Mario And Zelda On Mobile Could Bring New Players To Nintendo Consoles, Suggest Industry Analysts
@Damo Ubisoft has done an excellent job bringing its Rayman franchise to mobile with paid apps. I've no doubt that if Nintendo did something similar, it would be highly successful, without tarnishing its brands - the mini games on the DS "Mario" titles would be a perfect fit for mobile releases.
I think this would draw people to Nintendo's consoles, most specifically its 3DS.
Re: We Cannot Continue Without Winning, But It's Not As Simple As Moving Mario To Smartphones, Insists Iwata
@edhe So what you're saying is that Ubisoft can make millions of dollars with its Rayman franchise on the mobile markets with Rayman: Jungle Run - attracting the mobile markets to its console counterparts of the Rayman franchise for maximum profits - yet, for Nintendo, it would be financial suicide to do something similar with the Mario franchise?