Better to be non-committal with an answer, otherwise he'll just be judged on creating a look and feel of his favourite Zelda game.
Ultimately though what people tend to forget is the Director is one man, this is a collaborative affair with Nintendo, so this isn't solely on him, not to mention we don't even know if he's writing / penning / adapting to a pre-written script anyway. There's lots at play here.
It's also super interesting to look at the polling (as of the time I write this). There's a pretty even split here of how people feel on the subject. NL really saw value in opening this up further for discussion.
I've mentioned elsewhere, but I fall into the camp of "miffed at the downgrade". Clearly choices were made for this Remaster / Remake (definitions on such matters blur the line since Metroid Prime came out on Switch).
Clearly decisions were made in how this was going to be presented by the dev team and they opted to favour visual enhancements over performance (willing to bet this wasn't always the case and concessions were made throughout). But hey, it's their choice and it still looks gorgeous... I simply don't feel the game needed it and would have preferred a more simpler upscale in resolution, re-orchestrate the thing, go widescreen and keep it at 60FPS. But hey, that's not my call.
Where this hurts is because of titles like MP: Remastered. If we are to label TTYD a "Remake", then I'd still say MP did a better overall job with it's translation to HD to provide the same game for a new generation. Prime remastered had a substantial graphics overhaul with asset changes, brand new character and enemy models (which can be seen included with the new artwork from the remastered team), improved lighting FX, particle effects, the obvious bump in resolution alongside audio and sound upgrades - on top of this there are soooo many control options to cater to audience preference. Playing this title is like remembering how you think the original played. It did all this AND kept the 60FPS running smoothly as an action game.
PM: TTYD doesn't really have the excuse not to be able to keep up with this standard as a slower paced RPG. And the choices the dev team made in remaking the game is what has lead us to where we are.
I'm still going to play it, and when I do I'm fairly sure it won't bother me in the slightest either. I just wish things had been done differently. However - that's NOT to say that the end product is bad, or is in anyway poor, clearly the effort is here. It's just not what I would have preferred with this title.
In any case, hopefully "Switch 2" will be able to provide developers more options in the future for gamers to choose performance vs visuals with a toggle. Theres a couple of games out there that do this already, but it would be nice to see it as standard practise on the next console release.
@BTB20 I mean, I’m not at all really if you read what I’ve written.
I’m expressing a view on something I’m specifically disappointed about - call it narrow minded, that’s ok, but on this game in particular there have been clear design and technical decisions made that I am not a fan of for this title.
I’m not downplaying the actual work put in. The game looks incredible. I just personally don’t think the payoff was worth it is all. That’s just my opinion on the matter.
@Quiff well of course, I appreciate this isn’t a simple “port job” as such. But to a regular player like me that can only see the end product, it comes across as a (slight) downgrade.
I’m sure there are technical hurdles and individual issues each developer has to overcome. But the Metroid Prime comparison is completely relevant IMO because of the choices made during production to get the game to where it is.
@PikminMarioKirby it’s cool. We’ll just have agree to disagree. I think we’re actually largely saying the same thing anyway despite coming down on different sides of the fence.
I got nothing more to say on Zelda though, I really don’t get this comparison being drawn..
Look - Ultimately, the new TTYD game looks sublime, the re-orchestrated soundtrack sounds incredible - the tweaks and prodding done to improve gameplay aspects are all welcome - I’m not disputing or downplaying the work put in here and the choices they made.
What I am saying is that I would have liked them to prioritise matching the GC performance and output over heavily upgrading the visuals. But that’s my personal preference (with this individual game) it wasn’t wrong of them to do what they did, and it’s great if it doesn’t phase you. More power to you!
Whilst I think the line is pretty blurry to me on this being a Remake / Remaster, ultimately it doesn’t really matter. The terms are used so haphazardly this generation anyway. The reason why the Metroid Prime: Remastered comparison is incredibly relevant to the conversation is because both that and TTYD herald from the Gamecube and have been redone for Switch. The team that worked on the MP Remaster did a job so ridiculously impressive that it set a new bar of quality for ports/remasters/remakes in proving that higher quality visuals and performance can be achieved on switch in tandem (and this was an action game - it’s not slow and methodical like TTYD). Thats why I’m additionally surprised and disappointed that it didn’t meet the same technical hurdles at Metroid does (but I’m not downplaying what it is accomplishing).
The comparison video to me just highlights what is missing in the Switch version. I’m sure it will still be equally brilliant anyway. A stable 30FPS still makes a quality game. I don’t dispute that.
@PikminMarioKirby No? Like you say, both are different. One is a linear adventure game and the other is open world, BOTW vs Skyward Sword HD doesn’t make sense as comparison because they have very different art styles and design philosophies (I will tell you I prefer BOTW/TOTK all the way though).
Now Skyward Sword Vs Skyward Sword HD is an interesting compare because the painterly filter that masked the Wii’s graphical limitations was lush. But this style is lost in the HD translation, not to mention the controls not being quite as accurate on Switch. Sometimes it’s not always better for the Remaster.
I think though, that maybe you’re misunderstanding what I’m saying. I’m not saying TTYD remaster looks bad (it doesn’t - it looks bloody incredible), but for a game that is as simply designed as Paper Mario TTYD (and that also ran better on GC) means my expectation is for the FPS to be translated across faithfully. It’s an element that shouldn’t be downgraded at the expense of a lick of paint and whatever else is going on under the bonnet.
Again, look at Origami King - you have so much more going on here in comparison to what the Thousand Year door was doing back on GC (which makes sense). If they designed TTYD as a full on remake and expanded the world and level designs in a similar way to Origami King then I’d have understood the frames payoff some more. But we’re actually getting is a remastered game with visual and audio touchups (and some other doodahs) like Metroid Prime Remastered - which arguably blurred the remake line a little more closely AND achieved 60FPS, I don't understand how that title achieved it and this one couldn't.
At the end of the day, 30FPS isn’t a be all or end all (most of my game collection runs in 30 FPS, so what do I care). What is a shame is that a GameCube title as simple and uniquely stylised as TTYD was downgraded in some way. The comparison (to me) makes it look a little bit rough on the technical side (even though yes - visually, it’s certainly more appealing).
Yuuuup, and there it is. This really does highlight why the Gamecube original outshines this remaster thanks to the FPS. I wouldn't have noticed so much if it wasn't for the direct comparison.
I won't say that the Switch Remaster doesn't LOOK and sound gorgeous on Switch though... but I don't think the trade off was worth it ultimately. Paper Mario has always been about the simplicity and charm of simple geometry & colour palettes, there was little need to go the extra mile at the expense, especially since this world is a lot more simple in design and less 'handcrafted' in appearance than say, The Origami King.
Personally, 30FPS is not an issue for me (the higher the better, but 30FPS is pretty standard - despite the odd naysayers that get worked up over this).
What is disappointing, is that the original game on hardware from 3 generations ago ran at 60FPS. It’s bizarre that Metroid Prime Remasted can handle 60, yet they couldn’t apply the same for this title as well which is arguably less action oriented.
On the plus, it looks GORGEOUS for a remaster/remake - so this sways me. At the very least I would hope they have updated and adjusted the input timings for the combat scenarios - that’s where the FPS argument really applies).
@Fangleman32 could be misreading but surely you meant the opposite, right? I mean, the cyberspace levels are hardly the foundation of the game - especially since Sonic Team intend to build upon the open zone format for future entries.
I mean, the way they've campaigned this by using the SA:2 logo / live and learn music made that obvious - but it's a relief to see they are taking a lot from it anyway. Still one of the best Sonic stories IMO.
The Knuckles series appears to be a winner in the critical reviews so I got high hopes for Sonic 3. They've improved with every entry so far in building this universe so I hope they keep the momentum going.
Hopefully Nintendo are taking notes for their future projects.
Then they said “Heist 2” my excitement instantly deflated.
Don’t get me wrong - Heist was good, it’s just not the genre I go too for this series. I’m all about Dig and the metroidvania looting - so they can hit me up when the 3rd iteration arrives.
Well, at least SEGA was wise enough to add / remix Shadow content into the Sonic Generations remaster than redo his actual game.
Wonderfully animated CGI cutscenes aside… ShTH was a travesty from its multiple strung storylines to poor gun/gameplay execution.
Retconning elements of SA2 to have Shadow be part alien in origin was some of the worst fanfiction ever written. I really hope they try and steer clear of this in the films.
Not that length should matter - but Freedom Planet 2 certainly is worth the price of entry.
I completed the story campaigns again last week for the first game - each character taking approx 2-3 hours as standard to see it through, and I am genuinely flabbergasted that I’ve been playing for 6-7 hours on the sequel now and am only halfway through the adventure campaign for Lilac ALONE. Bloody hell.
I didn’t mind the narrative in the original game, but somehow they’ve made it feel less intrusive with the cutscenes in the sequel despite there being more story overall. There’s also a LOT more level content and exploration on offer as well. Very well balanced approach this time IMO.
I guess “Classic mode” not being available from the off could be considered a negatory - but with the way this game is structured it does make sense as to why this is a mode to unlock (and besides, you can skip all the story cutscenes and focus on level playing anyway if that’s your thing regardless).
Honestly, I voted both because they offer individual experiences that I will treasure forever.
BOTW is impactful for where it threw away the Zelda formula to give us something unique and new, and TOTK is iterative in its design and freedom in which it gives the player the developer tools to use in ingenious ways.
BOTW edges the exploration feel because the map is brand new to the player, but realistically TOTK has a lot more content on offer in comparison when you consider what was added in and around Hyrule via the remixed landscapes, caves, wells, sky islands, and depths - there's far more here to explore than anything BOTW originally offered as unlikely as that feels.
So TOTK edges as the better game for me. The scope of what is on offer and what you can do makes BOTW feel very "beta" in comparison. That's not to throw shade at BOTW either - it's just how much better and enhanced of an experience TOTK offers the player in comparison in almost every way.
There's some real technical magic going on underneath the hood of this game that will be talked about for decades to come - it didn't take Nintendo 6 years for nothin' to rebuild that world in a new engine, and it shows in the results.
Love these games. But Nintendo - new map next time yeah?
@Duffman92 the bugs and issues that persisted in this game pre patch? Nope, it definitely wasn’t perfectly playable (unless you were happy to put up with it).
The controls were often a hinderance or didn’t work correctly, there was lots of glitches and clipping making it difficult to complete segments of the game, and the visuals were muddied weather you played docked or handheld. The overall experience lead to quite a mixed reception on release.
If it had come out in the state it was in now post patch... then I’d have agreed with NLife’s 8/10 review. These improvements are THAT good that I’m willing to give this game a second chance 🙂
It’s actually amazing how much better it looks as well (on Switch) regardless of playing on Visual or Performance mode (which I think was previously noted). The uncapped framerate can jump a bit at times, but I still prefer it overall as the 60fps actually impacts some of Penny’s moves which are tied to performance.
Well deserved on the award category wins - especially considering what was achieved on technically limited hardware compared to its competition.
Because of that I think it’s what makes TOTK a game will be likely be discussed for generations, and likely inspire a lot of developers like BOTW before it. You only need to look at the feats of ridiculous engineering that builders continue to create using its internal mechanics. TOTK didn’t reinvent the wheel like its predecessor, sure - but it did refine and expand on it enough that reentering the same world in a sequel actually felt meaningful which is difficult to accomplish.
I think when it comes to game of year it there was a LOT of competition, so you can go either way with this - so many GOTY’s for 2023/24.
@MeloMan although it's 60fps uncapped, I can't see how it would would be at the expense of the performance - this would improve it substantially.
@Vivianeat so much this. I know it will never happen as it's not how the game is designed. But I would give my left *** for even a smidgen of camera control sometimes... or at least some small degree of movement of flex to change perspective that will allow for greater platforming precision.
@LoneHammerBro different conversation to have with movies.
These can't be compared in the same way to games as its missing the interaction element which can make all the difference with frames, speeds, and gameplay.
It's interesting however that with film often the higher the frames the closer you get to feeling like you are there. There was the backlash to The Hobbit at the high FPS when they released a version in such a manner - this was because it felt more like you were on the set with the actors than watching a fantasy movie.
In any case, with games it often can come down to preference. I find that I will often gravitate for higher FPS when it is available as it often provides a much prettier experience due to the flow in movement and control, this is sometimes cut back when you have a visually stunning piece of work but the performance isn't there.
In any case, nothing wrong with 30FPS at all, but for a game like Penny where the higher FPS can actually have an impact on momentum and move-sets then it's definitely going to be a plus.
Having finished the game recently it was solid enough but nothing grounds-breaking to me even after putting the time in.
There was certainly a lot of frustration to be found due the bugs, glitches, visual tells which are not communicated to the player, and Penny not doing what I wanted a lot of the time.
If a lot of those issues have been addressed and the frame rate has been uncapped to hopefully run at 60FPS (which will have a huge impact on the physics and some of Penny’s movesets) then I am absolutely down to give this another shot.
I do suspect this game was launched before it was ready TBH - a shame with all the problems it’s had on release alongside the mixed reception. This title deserves to do better and given another chance given it’s their first 3D title.
@Perpetual_Change that’s something that did cross my mind - its just a shame this sort of thing is happening on a system that honestly feels like it could handle it (given the right devs / game engine).
@mgalens exactly, and seeing the side by side comparisons was pretty noticeable for me.
Whilst I do like the overhaul, but the game was always pretty to me anyway. I probably wouldn’t have cared as much if the original ran the same, but if you are upselling me a remaster to be a definitive version, then there shouldn’t be compromises or downgrades (especially for the performance). It sort of defeats the purpose.
@Anti-Matter usually I don’t care about stuff like this - but this is pretty gutting if true - especially considering it then makes this version slightly inferior in such a ridiculous way to a system from 3 generations ago.
This is also a game that relies on timing during battles - so this really sucks balls at the expense of the what I’d consider to be a slight visual upgrade into HD.
Metroid Prime Remastered exists as proof that it doesn’t need to be this way with remastered ports. What’s going on Nintendo?
@Znake actually a lot of the developers that worked on this game come from 20+ years of working on all the past Mario games - it’s also funny that you single out Mario Maker 2 since Wonder was that specific dev teams follow up project 🤣
I love Wonder for different reasons, but I do find myself agreeing that Donkey Kong TF is the better (and certainly more challenging) game - but DK games also hold a different type of platforming experience - so it’s tricky to compare the two IMO.
No - but I also feel like there wasn’t enough done with some of the Wonder effects. Preferably I’d say just bolt on some DLC to the main game or include some of the leftover ideas in an entirely new game.
If Nintendo went ahead with Wonder 2 - they risk stagnation like the “New” games, or making something that’s slightly less special than its origin like Super Mario Galaxy 2.
Considering how hugely successful the first one was this was always going to happen.
I just hope the actual quality of the film is decent next time. Having a film chok-full-o references to Mario products and games made the first movie passable, but it won’t hold the magic up twice in a row without a solid narrative on the second run.
I don’t particularly think the pay schemes and amounts are great (should defo be MUCH lower for what you are getting) - but the on the flipside it’s a bit ludicrous also to expect everything for nothing when developers are churning out content.
Everything gameplay wise in the Fortniteverse (BR, Rock Band, Lego Survival, Rocket Racing) is all FREE - So you do get a lot of bang for no buck in general anyway.
You can’t be labelling previous gen systems as “Retro” otherwise we’d be positioning consoles such as the PS4 or XboxONE with similar labels once they conclude business.
I’d be hard pressed to even position the generation previous to that at Retro.
Really, the main issue stems from the association of the word “Retro” with classic 8/16/32bit systems.
So really anything handheld from GBA / PS1 downwards could be described as “Retro”.
I think the term “legacy” or “classic” would be a better fit when talking about past generations these days, especially since the gap on improvements are becoming more minor by the “leap” anyway.
@NeonPizza Don't own any of those consoles / platforms to reap the benefits unfortunately.
I may have considered it on my PS4Pro for a better performance, but weirdly it's not available on that generation.
Regardless, it's doesn't matter and it's my fault for assuming this sort of platformer would run as slickly as similar games I've played on the Switch - that's on me for not researching enough.
Game is still totally playable of course - but I don't really want to double dip on a game that I feels mid-at best anyway. I'll just keep my fingers crossed for a performance booster patch later on down the line - quite a few other indies I own have had similar updates in the past so it isn't unheard of.
@YoshiTails no worries - I fought with the controls in this game till the very end to be honest - but the one thing I do constantly read about is the “clicking” moment - some people get it and can do the mad tricks and can string them all the way to the goal, and others can’t.
I found myself somewhere in the middle by the time I finished the game (what a funny sentence). And even when it clicked and I realised the potential I still found myself fighting against the game quite a lot, which is why I don’t rate it as highly as I’d like to.
I’m hoping a patch to clear up the collision detection bugs, soft locks, visual glitches, and lock on issues will go some way to make this game a bit easier and more entertaining to play.
30fps doesn't kill the game at all - don't get me wrong (and I often advocate for those sorts of titles because quite honestly the 60-120fps crowd are far too precious about it).
But it's a downgrade for me personally in this genre and I always prefer platformers to be higher in the performance area where possible. I can't speak for what goes on behind the hood or in the engine, but PBB does not scream the graphical quality and fidelity of Mario titles and other noticeable indies that manage to hit 60 with ease.
There is an awful lot of mayhem going on screen though...
@Perpetual_Change - god bless the autocorrect for the goofs. XD
@YoshiTails often it can be about stringing a set of moves together, double attack will initiate a dash (on the ground or midair), which you can then roll into riding the yoyo for speed… or maybe string it into holding down the attack button to swing midair to get across pits (the faster you go the more rotations and swing and release you get - can be very hard to pull off however).
What I wish I knew from the start was that Penny can use yo-yo to latch to platforms you miss to save herself (like a last minute grab of the ledge). It’s a VERY useful skill that the game never teachers you. The downside is that much like the other moves, it isn’t a reliable option or safety net - but hey - it’s something.
@GrailUK 30fps is a negative for the type of game experience this offers, for other genres or games on switch it’s not so much a problem.
With PBB it can mean the difference of night and day because of the type of reactionary platformer it is.
@larryisaman - don’t get me started on that one. I had so many deaths because of this. Climbing the boat with a double jump that gives no height was bloody fun as well. XD
Most bosses in this title are broken, and provide more challenge due to very bad camerawork and hit detection, I think the only boss I legitimately enjoyed was the finale very bizarrely.
@Dr_Corndog controlling Penny is fine - and there is excellent momentum mechanics in place.
The issues go in line with @vivianeat where I’m often fighting the game for control, judgement on platforming isn’t precise as it should be (shadow disappears on me half the time making it even more tricky) and I can’t rely on Yo-Yo for the auto locking onto targets as it’s doesn’t always hit the mark if you change penny’s movement. It’s very easy to mess yourself up and flinging yourself around or off the sides in error. This is especially true with bosses which have horrendous camera angles and jumps to perform that are at odds with the gameplay mechanics.
Additionally, sometimes the rolling mechanic won’t work on water / lava either causing a fall out, and I had to physically bruteforce my way through Level 10-2 because the game kept clipping me upright when I was riding up a really tall building.
I’ve had my fair share of unfair deaths in this title to say the least. It’s not a bad game but… it’s a very frustrating one that needs tightening and polishing up.
An 8? Thats very generous considering the issues (which are actually a lot greater than made out in the review - perhaps you had a lucky run!)
Controls and move-sets certainly need tightening IMO as it’s very easy to throw yourself into bottomless pits with ease thanks to a janky lock on mechanic and bad camera framing.
Suffice to say - I can see how the level design can compliment mastering the control scheme… but only when you can put your faith in it. At present there is too much unreliability (yo-yo is no cappy and is as unpredictable as the character itself) and the depth perception for platforming is questionable.
Hopefully they’ll patch this one up as I feel it was released waaaay before testing and polishing was complete.
With the shadow drop it's likely codes weren't supplied in advance. A few youtubers have already complained about this as their potential review deal was "get it out within one day of us supplying the code" which is insane.
PBB isn't a small game either. I only finished it last night and there's quite a lot to do which might be why NL are taking their time (not to mention - other games).
Long story short - the game is OK, but undercooked and needed more time. There's a ton of bugs, glitches & soft locks in the Switch version that I would constantly encounter (and disappointingly it runs at 30fps instead of 60fps which should be standard to this kind of reactionary platformer).
The momentum based physics this dev is known for is here and is working, but it's also hindered by bad choices elsewhere; a locked camera which doesn't always give you the best view to platform or attack, a target lock-on which is incredibly unreliable for the yo-yo, the visual information is often crammed onscreen making it difficult to decipher what's going on, what is an enemy / friend / an attack / a landing or target... it confusing. But there is also an inabilty to often tell where you are landing... which is pretty vital.
I think the level designs, concepts and soundtracks are great, even the bosses look cool (just not fun to fight against whatsoever, especially when they glitch out). I dig the Sonic 1 Zone aesthetic which seemed to be tuned up to 11 to take it into the Saturn era.
So we're looking at a Solid 6, or 7 (out of 10) experience here - maybe an 8 if they can clean up the jank in a future patch.
I've seen people complain that it's "unplayable" which isn't true, but that's not to say that this game doesn't make you feel that way sometimes.
Bought this on impulse due to the dev team behind it aaaaaand… very much regret it already.
There are elements of this game which are strikingly detailed for the era it is representing which adds a layer of nostalgia… for better and for worse.
The 30fps is not really something I noticed until people started pointing it out on here… and yeah… that actually sucks a bit. It’s completely fine, but I hope they can patch this up because it doesn’t exactly look like a title that pushes the hardware to not be able to obtain 60fps as standard, something which I do feel reactionary platformers benefit from more than most genres.
Also surprised that in playing the first world and several levels in that I have only heard one tune from the soundtrack. Does this not change up each level then? We only have a change of track every world? Thats a little dissapointing if so - especially considering the length of these levels and music loops (and I LOVE Tee Lopes work).
My main gripes however are the fixed camera angles (this isn’t bad - but feels restrictive) but this has caused me so many pitfalls and deaths when I accidentally end up misaligning my position due to the angle change, not to mention using the yoyo (which is also controlable by the thumb-stick… which I keep thinking is for the camera) so this flings me off. Actually, accidentally flinging myself off the edge is something I tend to do all too frequently regardless of input. I’m really hoping this is just a me issue and that I need to simply adjust to the controls.
I’m also not massive on Penny’s character design… actually I really dislike it (but it does fit with the aesthetic I suppose). Despite this, and the retro 90’s early 3D look… they really nailed the art-style nonetheless.
But honestly something isn’t quite clicking for me yet, hopefully it will in later worlds and I’ll have that “it all makes sense now” moment where practise makes for perfect runs and fun combos. But so far I can’t help but feel this would have worked much better as a 2D platformer to roll around with instead of this 3D take which feels slightly at odds with itself.
Nice - it will be 30 minutes of nothing which usually involves card tournaments, some random OVA announcement, the always “exciting” updates to their mobile titles, and then a maybe 2 minute sneak peak at whatever company they farmed the Let’s Go series out to (if the rumour pertains to be true).
I find it strange that the modern reboot trilogy still hasn’t made the leap across to switch.
Like the recent ports of the Batman Arkham games, Tomb Raider (Reboot) and Rise would easily run on Switch considering they were on PS3/360 Gen consoles… Shadow might struggle a bit (like Arkham Knight) however.
The price was not worth the overall value & it came out 3 days before a major rival platformer released (which was also cheaper to buy).
That being said, even if SuperStars was a quality title (like Wonder) I still believe it would have struggled.
I think that the unfortunate release timing, coupled with it not being Sonic Mania 2, being marketed and sold largely as a multiplayer experience (and a bad one), and the assumption that Frontiers huge sales would boost Superstars based on the IP alone was just some misguided calculations here.
Also don’t forget that Origins Plus released just months prior - so there could be some burnout on the 2D Sonic platformer side.
Ultimately, the consumers know what they want, and it clearly wasn’t this game (or as much as SEGA hoped anyway).
Superstars had good intentions - but massively underdelivered. Sonic Mania 2 should have been the way to go with this. It’s just a shame that Sonic Team and Evening Star couldn’t work it out.
After the Survival Lego, Rockband, and Racing genres entered the ecosystem (not to mention a large variety of Marvel / Lucusfilm skins in the Battle Royale already) this happening was only a matter of time.
I can’t see Mickey and Cinderella joining the battle royale component somehow though, but I guess this does explain why EPIC have been tampering with age gating certain cosmetics in various modes… it’s was all in preparation for this.
In any case, whilst I do really enjoy Fortnite (because it’s only trendy to pretend it’s awful), I am very concerned about how the younger audience are going to get drawn to the purchase areas for various Disney goodies. There are going to be some next level predatory mind games going on upon release.
Square are misunderstanding this request, fans have been screaming for a HD-2D remake for YEARS and not something on the scale of the FFVII remake. It isn’t necessary.
Just the Octopath Traveller visual and voice acting quality upgrade will be more than sufficient.
Really, really good. And it runs fantastic on Switch (which it should when you consider the alternative of Metroid Dread is on here).
I think considering the behind the scenes troubles of the Sands of Time remake that the POP franchise needed a win in the meantime, so this will build some good rapport.
Also, to be honest… it probably is worth the full RRP, however this is Ubisoft and as such it will be 50% off within 2 months so I will wait 😅
When all is said and done I think it’s fair to say that it's understandable that this situation was highlighted by Karl And Muta - however I think the way in which Jirard was handled and thrown at the internet to be chewed out was not handled appropriately.
Without full context or investigation it’s just speculation and claims by rouge YouTubers preaching fein lawyer speak as gospel to unsuspecting audience members that simply don’t know better.
Karl especially should have expected the lawyer response video from Jirard and should have left it alone rather than provide a further response video as it just opens himself up to further criticism. It's fairly evident from the "leaked" video call that he'd made his mind up already, so the bias for his narrative is already founded which will naturally influence others by default.
This entire situation is just best left to the hands of actual legal professionals now. Karl and Muta did their bit for better or worse and got the outstanding money donated.
@MirrorFate2 actually I think it paints the other two in a slightly worse light TBF 🤣 They sorta deserve the lawsuit threats based on this recording.
What is a shame is that I lost quite a bit of respect for Karl after listening to this yesterday, he said he never even wanted to speak to Jirard in the first place which somewhat tells me that he had made up his mind beforehand compared to Muta.
My opinion / belief is that I think Jirard still made a mistake and needs to be held accountable (which he openly admitted). But the perception that he considered bribery is just what the Internet has decided from the context of that call, same goes for him pretending to horde the funds or committing whatever the Internet has decided (scammer, or otherwise).
I genuinely don’t think that is the case here and his error in judgement over the proceedings has greatly cost him trust from the audience. Karl and Mutahar gave him a few outs in this call, but also fanned the flames some more before he gave his response video (which was very clearly lawyer speak).
The rest just needs to be dealt with by the IRS or official court proceedings.
Ultimately The completionist is done, that much I feel certain of - and I think he knew it during the call. The internet can decide what they want from the narratives Karl and Muta are putting out there and draw their own conclusions, but I don’t buy all of it personally and think there’s still more to this than anyone will really understand.
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Re: Random: Zelda Movie Director (Kind Of) Doesn't Want To Reveal His Favourite Game In The Series
Better to be non-committal with an answer, otherwise he'll just be judged on creating a look and feel of his favourite Zelda game.
Ultimately though what people tend to forget is the Director is one man, this is a collaborative affair with Nintendo, so this isn't solely on him, not to mention we don't even know if he's writing / penning / adapting to a pre-written script anyway. There's lots at play here.
Re: Nintendo Discontinuing 'X' Integration On Switch Next Month
Absolute heresy to lose an integral feature of the Switch that barely anyone knew existed!
Re: Rumour: Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom First Anniversary Surprise Planned
@Chopper25 Not really. We all know TOTK adds as many memorable themes to the Zelda compendium as the rest of the series.
Ambient roaming tunes are a fraction of what the game offers on the whole in terms of the entire soundtrack.
Re: Poll: Are You Bothered By The Frame Rate For Paper Mario: TTYD On Switch?
@PtM A shame in that case, but no matter - just one of those things.
At least there is a trade off with the visuals (even if it’s not what I’d personally root for with this title).
Re: Poll: Are You Bothered By The Frame Rate For Paper Mario: TTYD On Switch?
@Uncle_Franklin 100% this.
It's also super interesting to look at the polling (as of the time I write this). There's a pretty even split here of how people feel on the subject. NL really saw value in opening this up further for discussion.
I've mentioned elsewhere, but I fall into the camp of "miffed at the downgrade". Clearly choices were made for this Remaster / Remake (definitions on such matters blur the line since Metroid Prime came out on Switch).
Clearly decisions were made in how this was going to be presented by the dev team and they opted to favour visual enhancements over performance (willing to bet this wasn't always the case and concessions were made throughout). But hey, it's their choice and it still looks gorgeous... I simply don't feel the game needed it and would have preferred a more simpler upscale in resolution, re-orchestrate the thing, go widescreen and keep it at 60FPS. But hey, that's not my call.
Where this hurts is because of titles like MP: Remastered. If we are to label TTYD a "Remake", then I'd still say MP did a better overall job with it's translation to HD to provide the same game for a new generation. Prime remastered had a substantial graphics overhaul with asset changes, brand new character and enemy models (which can be seen included with the new artwork from the remastered team), improved lighting FX, particle effects, the obvious bump in resolution alongside audio and sound upgrades - on top of this there are soooo many control options to cater to audience preference. Playing this title is like remembering how you think the original played. It did all this AND kept the 60FPS running smoothly as an action game.
PM: TTYD doesn't really have the excuse not to be able to keep up with this standard as a slower paced RPG. And the choices the dev team made in remaking the game is what has lead us to where we are.
I'm still going to play it, and when I do I'm fairly sure it won't bother me in the slightest either. I just wish things had been done differently. However - that's NOT to say that the end product is bad, or is in anyway poor, clearly the effort is here. It's just not what I would have preferred with this title.
In any case, hopefully "Switch 2" will be able to provide developers more options in the future for gamers to choose performance vs visuals with a toggle. Theres a couple of games out there that do this already, but it would be nice to see it as standard practise on the next console release.
Re: Video: How Does Paper Mario: TTYD On Switch Compare To The Original?
@BTB20 I mean, I’m not at all really if you read what I’ve written.
I’m expressing a view on something I’m specifically disappointed about - call it narrow minded, that’s ok, but on this game in particular there have been clear design and technical decisions made that I am not a fan of for this title.
I’m not downplaying the actual work put in. The game looks incredible. I just personally don’t think the payoff was worth it is all. That’s just my opinion on the matter.
@Quiff well of course, I appreciate this isn’t a simple “port job” as such. But to a regular player like me that can only see the end product, it comes across as a (slight) downgrade.
I’m sure there are technical hurdles and individual issues each developer has to overcome. But the Metroid Prime comparison is completely relevant IMO because of the choices made during production to get the game to where it is.
Re: Video: How Does Paper Mario: TTYD On Switch Compare To The Original?
@PikminMarioKirby it’s cool. We’ll just have agree to disagree. I think we’re actually largely saying the same thing anyway despite coming down on different sides of the fence.
I got nothing more to say on Zelda though, I really don’t get this comparison being drawn..
Look - Ultimately, the new TTYD game looks sublime, the re-orchestrated soundtrack sounds incredible - the tweaks and prodding done to improve gameplay aspects are all welcome - I’m not disputing or downplaying the work put in here and the choices they made.
What I am saying is that I would have liked them to prioritise matching the GC performance and output over heavily upgrading the visuals. But that’s my personal preference (with this individual game) it wasn’t wrong of them to do what they did, and it’s great if it doesn’t phase you. More power to you!
Whilst I think the line is pretty blurry to me on this being a Remake / Remaster, ultimately it doesn’t really matter. The terms are used so haphazardly this generation anyway. The reason why the Metroid Prime: Remastered comparison is incredibly relevant to the conversation is because both that and TTYD herald from the Gamecube and have been redone for Switch. The team that worked on the MP Remaster did a job so ridiculously impressive that it set a new bar of quality for ports/remasters/remakes in proving that higher quality visuals and performance can be achieved on switch in tandem (and this was an action game - it’s not slow and methodical like TTYD). Thats why I’m additionally surprised and disappointed that it didn’t meet the same technical hurdles at Metroid does (but I’m not downplaying what it is accomplishing).
The comparison video to me just highlights what is missing in the Switch version. I’m sure it will still be equally brilliant anyway. A stable 30FPS still makes a quality game. I don’t dispute that.
Re: Video: How Does Paper Mario: TTYD On Switch Compare To The Original?
@PikminMarioKirby No? Like you say, both are different. One is a linear adventure game and the other is open world, BOTW vs Skyward Sword HD doesn’t make sense as comparison because they have very different art styles and design philosophies (I will tell you I prefer BOTW/TOTK all the way though).
Now Skyward Sword Vs Skyward Sword HD is an interesting compare because the painterly filter that masked the Wii’s graphical limitations was lush. But this style is lost in the HD translation, not to mention the controls not being quite as accurate on Switch. Sometimes it’s not always better for the Remaster.
I think though, that maybe you’re misunderstanding what I’m saying. I’m not saying TTYD remaster looks bad (it doesn’t - it looks bloody incredible), but for a game that is as simply designed as Paper Mario TTYD (and that also ran better on GC) means my expectation is for the FPS to be translated across faithfully. It’s an element that shouldn’t be downgraded at the expense of a lick of paint and whatever else is going on under the bonnet.
Again, look at Origami King - you have so much more going on here in comparison to what the Thousand Year door was doing back on GC (which makes sense). If they designed TTYD as a full on remake and expanded the world and level designs in a similar way to Origami King then I’d have understood the frames payoff some more. But we’re actually getting is a remastered game with visual and audio touchups (and some other doodahs) like Metroid Prime Remastered - which arguably blurred the remake line a little more closely AND achieved 60FPS, I don't understand how that title achieved it and this one couldn't.
At the end of the day, 30FPS isn’t a be all or end all (most of my game collection runs in 30 FPS, so what do I care). What is a shame is that a GameCube title as simple and uniquely stylised as TTYD was downgraded in some way. The comparison (to me) makes it look a little bit rough on the technical side (even though yes - visually, it’s certainly more appealing).
Re: Video: How Does Paper Mario: TTYD On Switch Compare To The Original?
Yuuuup, and there it is. This really does highlight why the Gamecube original outshines this remaster thanks to the FPS. I wouldn't have noticed so much if it wasn't for the direct comparison.
I won't say that the Switch Remaster doesn't LOOK and sound gorgeous on Switch though... but I don't think the trade off was worth it ultimately. Paper Mario has always been about the simplicity and charm of simple geometry & colour palettes, there was little need to go the extra mile at the expense, especially since this world is a lot more simple in design and less 'handcrafted' in appearance than say, The Origami King.
Re: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Switch Frame Rate Revealed
Personally, 30FPS is not an issue for me (the higher the better, but 30FPS is pretty standard - despite the odd naysayers that get worked up over this).
What is disappointing, is that the original game on hardware from 3 generations ago ran at 60FPS. It’s bizarre that Metroid Prime Remasted can handle 60, yet they couldn’t apply the same for this title as well which is arguably less action oriented.
On the plus, it looks GORGEOUS for a remaster/remake - so this sways me. At the very least I would hope they have updated and adjusted the input timings for the combat scenarios - that’s where the FPS argument really applies).
Re: Sonic's Third Movie "Takes A Lot" From Sonic Adventure 2, Says Producer
@Fangleman32 no worries, I thought as much.
Not a fan of the game, gotcha 👌
Re: Sonic's Third Movie "Takes A Lot" From Sonic Adventure 2, Says Producer
@Fangleman32 could be misreading but surely you meant the opposite, right? I mean, the cyberspace levels are hardly the foundation of the game - especially since Sonic Team intend to build upon the open zone format for future entries.
Re: Sonic's Third Movie "Takes A Lot" From Sonic Adventure 2, Says Producer
Good to hear.
I mean, the way they've campaigned this by using the SA:2 logo / live and learn music made that obvious - but it's a relief to see they are taking a lot from it anyway. Still one of the best Sonic stories IMO.
The Knuckles series appears to be a winner in the critical reviews so I got high hopes for Sonic 3. They've improved with every entry so far in building this universe so I hope they keep the momentum going.
Hopefully Nintendo are taking notes for their future projects.
Re: SteamWorld Heist Is Getting A Surprise Sequel On Switch This Summer
As soon as they said “Steam” my hopes went up.
Then they said “Heist 2” my excitement instantly deflated.
Don’t get me wrong - Heist was good, it’s just not the genre I go too for this series. I’m all about Dig and the metroidvania looting - so they can hit me up when the 3rd iteration arrives.
Re: Crash Bandicoot 4 Sales Reportedly Surpass Five Million
You don't have to go PS5 for 60FPS, a PS4Pro does the same and gives the same smooth experience - can't speak for the base PS4 though.
Re: It's Official, SEGA Has Declared 2024 The "Year Of Shadow"
Nice.
Well, at least SEGA was wise enough to add / remix Shadow content into the Sonic Generations remaster than redo his actual game.
Wonderfully animated CGI cutscenes aside… ShTH was a travesty from its multiple strung storylines to poor gun/gameplay execution.
Retconning elements of SA2 to have Shadow be part alien in origin was some of the worst fanfiction ever written. I really hope they try and steer clear of this in the films.
Re: Nintendo Download: 4th April (North America)
Not that length should matter - but Freedom Planet 2 certainly is worth the price of entry.
I completed the story campaigns again last week for the first game - each character taking approx 2-3 hours as standard to see it through, and I am genuinely flabbergasted that I’ve been playing for 6-7 hours on the sequel now and am only halfway through the adventure campaign for Lilac ALONE. Bloody hell.
I didn’t mind the narrative in the original game, but somehow they’ve made it feel less intrusive with the cutscenes in the sequel despite there being more story overall. There’s also a LOT more level content and exploration on offer as well. Very well balanced approach this time IMO.
I guess “Classic mode” not being available from the off could be considered a negatory - but with the way this game is structured it does make sense as to why this is a mode to unlock (and besides, you can skip all the story cutscenes and focus on level playing anyway if that’s your thing regardless).
Re: Review: Freedom Planet 2 (Switch) - A Sonic-Style Platformer Exuding Passion & Quality
Only been looking forward to this sequel for almost 10 years (console player - I know it’s been on steam for a while) 🤣
Happy to hear it lived up to the hype, been replaying FP1 on Switch this week in preparation and still love it (lengthy cutscenes and all).
Re: Poll: So, Do You Prefer Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Or Tears Of The Kingdom?
Honestly, I voted both because they offer individual experiences that I will treasure forever.
BOTW is impactful for where it threw away the Zelda formula to give us something unique and new, and TOTK is iterative in its design and freedom in which it gives the player the developer tools to use in ingenious ways.
BOTW edges the exploration feel because the map is brand new to the player, but realistically TOTK has a lot more content on offer in comparison when you consider what was added in and around Hyrule via the remixed landscapes, caves, wells, sky islands, and depths - there's far more here to explore than anything BOTW originally offered as unlikely as that feels.
So TOTK edges as the better game for me. The scope of what is on offer and what you can do makes BOTW feel very "beta" in comparison. That's not to throw shade at BOTW either - it's just how much better and enhanced of an experience TOTK offers the player in comparison in almost every way.
There's some real technical magic going on underneath the hood of this game that will be talked about for decades to come - it didn't take Nintendo 6 years for nothin' to rebuild that world in a new engine, and it shows in the results.
Love these games. But Nintendo - new map next time yeah?
Re: Penny's Big Breakaway Frame Rate Update Now Live On Switch
@Duffman92 the bugs and issues that persisted in this game pre patch? Nope, it definitely wasn’t perfectly playable (unless you were happy to put up with it).
The controls were often a hinderance or didn’t work correctly, there was lots of glitches and clipping making it difficult to complete segments of the game, and the visuals were muddied weather you played docked or handheld. The overall experience lead to quite a mixed reception on release.
If it had come out in the state it was in now post patch... then I’d have agreed with NLife’s 8/10 review. These improvements are THAT good that I’m willing to give this game a second chance 🙂
It’s actually amazing how much better it looks as well (on Switch) regardless of playing on Visual or Performance mode (which I think was previously noted). The uncapped framerate can jump a bit at times, but I still prefer it overall as the 60fps actually impacts some of Penny’s moves which are tied to performance.
Re: Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Just Won Two More Awards
Well deserved on the award category wins - especially considering what was achieved on technically limited hardware compared to its competition.
Because of that I think it’s what makes TOTK a game will be likely be discussed for generations, and likely inspire a lot of developers like BOTW before it. You only need to look at the feats of ridiculous engineering that builders continue to create using its internal mechanics. TOTK didn’t reinvent the wheel like its predecessor, sure - but it did refine and expand on it enough that reentering the same world in a sequel actually felt meaningful which is difficult to accomplish.
I think when it comes to game of year it there was a LOT of competition, so you can go either way with this - so many GOTY’s for 2023/24.
Re: Penny's Big Breakaway On Switch Is Getting A Frame Rate Update
@MeloMan although it's 60fps uncapped, I can't see how it would would be at the expense of the performance - this would improve it substantially.
@Vivianeat so much this. I know it will never happen as it's not how the game is designed. But I would give my left *** for even a smidgen of camera control sometimes... or at least some small degree of movement of flex to change perspective that will allow for greater platforming precision.
Re: Penny's Big Breakaway On Switch Is Getting A Frame Rate Update
@LoneHammerBro different conversation to have with movies.
These can't be compared in the same way to games as its missing the interaction element which can make all the difference with frames, speeds, and gameplay.
It's interesting however that with film often the higher the frames the closer you get to feeling like you are there. There was the backlash to The Hobbit at the high FPS when they released a version in such a manner - this was because it felt more like you were on the set with the actors than watching a fantasy movie.
In any case, with games it often can come down to preference. I find that I will often gravitate for higher FPS when it is available as it often provides a much prettier experience due to the flow in movement and control, this is sometimes cut back when you have a visually stunning piece of work but the performance isn't there.
In any case, nothing wrong with 30FPS at all, but for a game like Penny where the higher FPS can actually have an impact on momentum and move-sets then it's definitely going to be a plus.
Re: Penny's Big Breakaway On Switch Is Getting A Frame Rate Update
This is good news!
Having finished the game recently it was solid enough but nothing grounds-breaking to me even after putting the time in.
There was certainly a lot of frustration to be found due the bugs, glitches, visual tells which are not communicated to the player, and Penny not doing what I wanted a lot of the time.
If a lot of those issues have been addressed and the frame rate has been uncapped to hopefully run at 60FPS (which will have a huge impact on the physics and some of Penny’s movesets) then I am absolutely down to give this another shot.
I do suspect this game was launched before it was ready TBH - a shame with all the problems it’s had on release alongside the mixed reception. This title deserves to do better and given another chance given it’s their first 3D title.
Re: Nintendo Reveals Box Art And New Screens For Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door On Switch
@Perpetual_Change that’s something that did cross my mind - its just a shame this sort of thing is happening on a system that honestly feels like it could handle it (given the right devs / game engine).
@mgalens exactly, and seeing the side by side comparisons was pretty noticeable for me.
Whilst I do like the overhaul, but the game was always pretty to me anyway. I probably wouldn’t have cared as much if the original ran the same, but if you are upselling me a remaster to be a definitive version, then there shouldn’t be compromises or downgrades (especially for the performance). It sort of defeats the purpose.
Re: Nintendo Reveals Box Art And New Screens For Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door On Switch
@Anti-Matter usually I don’t care about stuff like this - but this is pretty gutting if true - especially considering it then makes this version slightly inferior in such a ridiculous way to a system from 3 generations ago.
This is also a game that relies on timing during battles - so this really sucks balls at the expense of the what I’d consider to be a slight visual upgrade into HD.
Metroid Prime Remastered exists as proof that it doesn’t need to be this way with remastered ports. What’s going on Nintendo?
Re: Poll: Do You Want To See 'Super Mario Bros. Wonder 2'?
@Znake actually a lot of the developers that worked on this game come from 20+ years of working on all the past Mario games - it’s also funny that you single out Mario Maker 2 since Wonder was that specific dev teams follow up project 🤣
I love Wonder for different reasons, but I do find myself agreeing that Donkey Kong TF is the better (and certainly more challenging) game - but DK games also hold a different type of platforming experience - so it’s tricky to compare the two IMO.
Re: Poll: Do You Want To See 'Super Mario Bros. Wonder 2'?
No - but I also feel like there wasn’t enough done with some of the Wonder effects. Preferably I’d say just bolt on some DLC to the main game or include some of the leftover ideas in an entirely new game.
If Nintendo went ahead with Wonder 2 - they risk stagnation like the “New” games, or making something that’s slightly less special than its origin like Super Mario Galaxy 2.
Re: Nintendo And Illumination Announce New Mario Bros. Animated Movie
Considering how hugely successful the first one was this was always going to happen.
I just hope the actual quality of the film is decent next time. Having a film chok-full-o references to Mario products and games made the first movie passable, but it won’t hold the magic up twice in a row without a solid narrative on the second run.
fingers crossed
Re: LEGO Fortnite Is Under Fire For Brand New 'Kits'
I mean, this was going to be a given eventually.
I don’t particularly think the pay schemes and amounts are great (should defo be MUCH lower for what you are getting) - but the on the flipside it’s a bit ludicrous also to expect everything for nothing when developers are churning out content.
Everything gameplay wise in the Fortniteverse (BR, Rock Band, Lego Survival, Rocket Racing) is all FREE - So you do get a lot of bang for no buck in general anyway.
Re: Random: New Pokémon Ad Positions 3DS As 'Retro', And The Internet Disagrees
@Uncle_Franklin 100%. Exactly this.
You can’t be labelling previous gen systems as “Retro” otherwise we’d be positioning consoles such as the PS4 or XboxONE with similar labels once they conclude business.
I’d be hard pressed to even position the generation previous to that at Retro.
Really, the main issue stems from the association of the word “Retro” with classic 8/16/32bit systems.
So really anything handheld from GBA / PS1 downwards could be described as “Retro”.
I think the term “legacy” or “classic” would be a better fit when talking about past generations these days, especially since the gap on improvements are becoming more minor by the “leap” anyway.
Re: Review: Penny's Big Breakaway (Switch) - A Furiously Fast & Fun Platformer With Sega Spirit
@NeonPizza Don't own any of those consoles / platforms to reap the benefits unfortunately.
I may have considered it on my PS4Pro for a better performance, but weirdly it's not available on that generation.
Regardless, it's doesn't matter and it's my fault for assuming this sort of platformer would run as slickly as similar games I've played on the Switch - that's on me for not researching enough.
Game is still totally playable of course - but I don't really want to double dip on a game that I feels mid-at best anyway. I'll just keep my fingers crossed for a performance booster patch later on down the line - quite a few other indies I own have had similar updates in the past so it isn't unheard of.
Re: Review: Penny's Big Breakaway (Switch) - A Furiously Fast & Fun Platformer With Sega Spirit
@YoshiTails no worries - I fought with the controls in this game till the very end to be honest - but the one thing I do constantly read about is the “clicking” moment - some people get it and can do the mad tricks and can string them all the way to the goal, and others can’t.
I found myself somewhere in the middle by the time I finished the game (what a funny sentence). And even when it clicked and I realised the potential I still found myself fighting against the game quite a lot, which is why I don’t rate it as highly as I’d like to.
I’m hoping a patch to clear up the collision detection bugs, soft locks, visual glitches, and lock on issues will go some way to make this game a bit easier and more entertaining to play.
Re: Review: Penny's Big Breakaway (Switch) - A Furiously Fast & Fun Platformer With Sega Spirit
30fps doesn't kill the game at all - don't get me wrong (and I often advocate for those sorts of titles because quite honestly the 60-120fps crowd are far too precious about it).
But it's a downgrade for me personally in this genre and I always prefer platformers to be higher in the performance area where possible. I can't speak for what goes on behind the hood or in the engine, but PBB does not scream the graphical quality and fidelity of Mario titles and other noticeable indies that manage to hit 60 with ease.
There is an awful lot of mayhem going on screen though...
@Perpetual_Change - god bless the autocorrect for the goofs. XD
Re: Review: Penny's Big Breakaway (Switch) - A Furiously Fast & Fun Platformer With Sega Spirit
@YoshiTails often it can be about stringing a set of moves together, double attack will initiate a dash (on the ground or midair), which you can then roll into riding the yoyo for speed… or maybe string it into holding down the attack button to swing midair to get across pits (the faster you go the more rotations and swing and release you get - can be very hard to pull off however).
What I wish I knew from the start was that Penny can use yo-yo to latch to platforms you miss to save herself (like a last minute grab of the ledge). It’s a VERY useful skill that the game never teachers you. The downside is that much like the other moves, it isn’t a reliable option or safety net - but hey - it’s something.
Re: Review: Penny's Big Breakaway (Switch) - A Furiously Fast & Fun Platformer With Sega Spirit
@GrailUK 30fps is a negative for the type of game experience this offers, for other genres or games on switch it’s not so much a problem.
With PBB it can mean the difference of night and day because of the type of reactionary platformer it is.
@larryisaman - don’t get me started on that one. I had so many deaths because of this. Climbing the boat with a double jump that gives no height was bloody fun as well. XD
Most bosses in this title are broken, and provide more challenge due to very bad camerawork and hit detection, I think the only boss I legitimately enjoyed was the finale very bizarrely.
Re: Review: Penny's Big Breakaway (Switch) - A Furiously Fast & Fun Platformer With Sega Spirit
@Dr_Corndog controlling Penny is fine - and there is excellent momentum mechanics in place.
The issues go in line with @vivianeat where I’m often fighting the game for control, judgement on platforming isn’t precise as it should be (shadow disappears on me half the time making it even more tricky) and I can’t rely on Yo-Yo for the auto locking onto targets as it’s doesn’t always hit the mark if you change penny’s movement. It’s very easy to mess yourself up and flinging yourself around or off the sides in error. This is especially true with bosses which have horrendous camera angles and jumps to perform that are at odds with the gameplay mechanics.
Additionally, sometimes the rolling mechanic won’t work on water / lava either causing a fall out, and I had to physically bruteforce my way through Level 10-2 because the game kept clipping me upright when I was riding up a really tall building.
I’ve had my fair share of unfair deaths in this title to say the least. It’s not a bad game but… it’s a very frustrating one that needs tightening and polishing up.
Re: Review: Penny's Big Breakaway (Switch) - A Furiously Fast & Fun Platformer With Sega Spirit
An 8? Thats very generous considering the issues (which are actually a lot greater than made out in the review - perhaps you had a lucky run!)
Controls and move-sets certainly need tightening IMO as it’s very easy to throw yourself into bottomless pits with ease thanks to a janky lock on mechanic and bad camera framing.
Suffice to say - I can see how the level design can compliment mastering the control scheme… but only when you can put your faith in it. At present there is too much unreliability (yo-yo is no cappy and is as unpredictable as the character itself) and the depth perception for platforming is questionable.
Hopefully they’ll patch this one up as I feel it was released waaaay before testing and polishing was complete.
Re: Jam Out To The Penny's Big Breakaway OST, Now Available To Stream
With the shadow drop it's likely codes weren't supplied in advance. A few youtubers have already complained about this as their potential review deal was "get it out within one day of us supplying the code" which is insane.
PBB isn't a small game either. I only finished it last night and there's quite a lot to do which might be why NL are taking their time (not to mention - other games).
Long story short - the game is OK, but undercooked and needed more time. There's a ton of bugs, glitches & soft locks in the Switch version that I would constantly encounter (and disappointingly it runs at 30fps instead of 60fps which should be standard to this kind of reactionary platformer).
The momentum based physics this dev is known for is here and is working, but it's also hindered by bad choices elsewhere; a locked camera which doesn't always give you the best view to platform or attack, a target lock-on which is incredibly unreliable for the yo-yo, the visual information is often crammed onscreen making it difficult to decipher what's going on, what is an enemy / friend / an attack / a landing or target... it confusing. But there is also an inabilty to often tell where you are landing... which is pretty vital.
I think the level designs, concepts and soundtracks are great, even the bosses look cool (just not fun to fight against whatsoever, especially when they glitch out). I dig the Sonic 1 Zone aesthetic which seemed to be tuned up to 11 to take it into the Saturn era.
So we're looking at a Solid 6, or 7 (out of 10) experience here - maybe an 8 if they can clean up the jank in a future patch.
I've seen people complain that it's "unplayable" which isn't true, but that's not to say that this game doesn't make you feel that way sometimes.
Re: Surprise! Penny's Big Breakaway Is Available To Download Right Now
Bought this on impulse due to the dev team behind it aaaaaand… very much regret it already.
There are elements of this game which are strikingly detailed for the era it is representing which adds a layer of nostalgia… for better and for worse.
The 30fps is not really something I noticed until people started pointing it out on here… and yeah… that actually sucks a bit. It’s completely fine, but I hope they can patch this up because it doesn’t exactly look like a title that pushes the hardware to not be able to obtain 60fps as standard, something which I do feel reactionary platformers benefit from more than most genres.
Also surprised that in playing the first world and several levels in that I have only heard one tune from the soundtrack. Does this not change up each level then? We only have a change of track every world? Thats a little dissapointing if so - especially considering the length of these levels and music loops (and I LOVE Tee Lopes work).
My main gripes however are the fixed camera angles (this isn’t bad - but feels restrictive) but this has caused me so many pitfalls and deaths when I accidentally end up misaligning my position due to the angle change, not to mention using the yoyo (which is also controlable by the thumb-stick… which I keep thinking is for the camera) so this flings me off. Actually, accidentally flinging myself off the edge is something I tend to do all too frequently regardless of input. I’m really hoping this is just a me issue and that I need to simply adjust to the controls.
I’m also not massive on Penny’s character design… actually I really dislike it (but it does fit with the aesthetic I suppose). Despite this, and the retro 90’s early 3D look… they really nailed the art-style nonetheless.
But honestly something isn’t quite clicking for me yet, hopefully it will in later worlds and I’ll have that “it all makes sense now” moment where practise makes for perfect runs and fun combos. But so far I can’t help but feel this would have worked much better as a 2D platformer to roll around with instead of this 3D take which feels slightly at odds with itself.
Re: Pokémon Presents Announced For 27th February 2024
Nice - it will be 30 minutes of nothing which usually involves card tournaments, some random OVA announcement, the always “exciting” updates to their mobile titles, and then a maybe 2 minute sneak peak at whatever company they farmed the Let’s Go series out to (if the rumour pertains to be true).
Re: Best Tomb Raider Games, Ranked - Lara Croft On Switch And Nintendo Systems
I find it strange that the modern reboot trilogy still hasn’t made the leap across to switch.
Like the recent ports of the Batman Arkham games, Tomb Raider (Reboot) and Rise would easily run on Switch considering they were on PS3/360 Gen consoles… Shadow might struggle a bit (like Arkham Knight) however.
Re: Sega Reports 'Sluggish' Sales Of Sonic Superstars And Other Major Titles
The price was not worth the overall value & it came out 3 days before a major rival platformer released (which was also cheaper to buy).
That being said, even if SuperStars was a quality title (like Wonder) I still believe it would have struggled.
I think that the unfortunate release timing, coupled with it not being Sonic Mania 2, being marketed and sold largely as a multiplayer experience (and a bad one), and the assumption that Frontiers huge sales would boost Superstars based on the IP alone was just some misguided calculations here.
Also don’t forget that Origins Plus released just months prior - so there could be some burnout on the 2D Sonic platformer side.
Ultimately, the consumers know what they want, and it clearly wasn’t this game (or as much as SEGA hoped anyway).
Superstars had good intentions - but massively underdelivered. Sonic Mania 2 should have been the way to go with this. It’s just a shame that Sonic Team and Evening Star couldn’t work it out.
Re: Disney & Epic Creating New Entertainment Universe Connected With Fortnite
After the Survival Lego, Rockband, and Racing genres entered the ecosystem (not to mention a large variety of Marvel / Lucusfilm skins in the Battle Royale already) this happening was only a matter of time.
I can’t see Mickey and Cinderella joining the battle royale component somehow though, but I guess this does explain why EPIC have been tampering with age gating certain cosmetics in various modes… it’s was all in preparation for this.
In any case, whilst I do really enjoy Fortnite (because it’s only trendy to pretend it’s awful), I am very concerned about how the younger audience are going to get drawn to the purchase areas for various Disney goodies. There are going to be some next level predatory mind games going on upon release.
Re: Don't Expect A Remake Of Final Fantasy 6 Soon, If Ever
Square are misunderstanding this request, fans have been screaming for a HD-2D remake for YEARS and not something on the scale of the FFVII remake. It isn’t necessary.
Just the Octopath Traveller visual and voice acting quality upgrade will be more than sufficient.
Re: Poll: What Do You Think Of The Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown Demo?
Really, really good. And it runs fantastic on Switch (which it should when you consider the alternative of Metroid Dread is on here).
I think considering the behind the scenes troubles of the Sands of Time remake that the POP franchise needed a win in the meantime, so this will build some good rapport.
Also, to be honest… it probably is worth the full RRP, however this is Ubisoft and as such it will be 50% off within 2 months so I will wait 😅
Re: Sea Of Stars Developer Sabotage Replacing 'The Completionist' NPC
Gunna throw this last thing out there despite this thread being abandoned.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8AVimz5o8E
When all is said and done I think it’s fair to say that it's understandable that this situation was highlighted by Karl And Muta - however I think the way in which Jirard was handled and thrown at the internet to be chewed out was not handled appropriately.
Without full context or investigation it’s just speculation and claims by rouge YouTubers preaching fein lawyer speak as gospel to unsuspecting audience members that simply don’t know better.
Karl especially should have expected the lawyer response video from Jirard and should have left it alone rather than provide a further response video as it just opens himself up to further criticism. It's fairly evident from the "leaked" video call that he'd made his mind up already, so the bias for his narrative is already founded which will naturally influence others by default.
This entire situation is just best left to the hands of actual legal professionals now. Karl and Muta did their bit for better or worse and got the outstanding money donated.
Re: Sea Of Stars Developer Sabotage Replacing 'The Completionist' NPC
@MirrorFate2 actually I think it paints the other two in a slightly worse light TBF 🤣 They sorta deserve the lawsuit threats based on this recording.
What is a shame is that I lost quite a bit of respect for Karl after listening to this yesterday, he said he never even wanted to speak to Jirard in the first place which somewhat tells me that he had made up his mind beforehand compared to Muta.
My opinion / belief is that I think Jirard still made a mistake and needs to be held accountable (which he openly admitted). But the perception that he considered bribery is just what the Internet has decided from the context of that call, same goes for him pretending to horde the funds or committing whatever the Internet has decided (scammer, or otherwise).
I genuinely don’t think that is the case here and his error in judgement over the proceedings has greatly cost him trust from the audience. Karl and Mutahar gave him a few outs in this call, but also fanned the flames some more before he gave his response video (which was very clearly lawyer speak).
The rest just needs to be dealt with by the IRS or official court proceedings.
Ultimately The completionist is done, that much I feel certain of - and I think he knew it during the call. The internet can decide what they want from the narratives Karl and Muta are putting out there and draw their own conclusions, but I don’t buy all of it personally and think there’s still more to this than anyone will really understand.
Re: Sea Of Stars Developer Sabotage Replacing 'The Completionist' NPC
@MegaMari0 it was 2022, not 2021. But a year in that doesn’t make it any more or less defensible yet.
I think @pinderschloss sums up my feelings better than I’m able to convey on the matter overall.
Re: Sea Of Stars Developer Sabotage Replacing 'The Completionist' NPC
@Crono1973 It's an oversimplification of how I see the entire situation... but sure, let's just run with that for now