Comments 2,718

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (15th November)

TheBigK

Pokémon Legends Z-A mostly. I completed all the research tasks and got the shiny charm so I've started shiny hunting, but honestly it's not a great game to hunt in. I love how they brought back the sound effect, persistent sparkles, and icon next to name but you can't increase the odds past the charm and the spawn numbers are tiny, so SV are the better games to shiny hunt in.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (1st November)

TheBigK

I played through Luigi's Mansion yesterday and today. Only five hours long if you go for all the Boos, probably less if you're not rusty like me. The big time sink this weekend, though, is Tales of Xillia Remastered. I'm still pretty early but my impression is, yep it's another Tales game all right. Which isn't a bad thing, I love the series for a reason. I also love that these remasters come with the grade shop unlocked at the start with enough grade to get everything. Makes for such a breezy, chill experience where I can just coast and enjoy the story.

Re: Surprise! Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Arrives Next Year

TheBigK

This was a great surprise, I am very excited for this as I still play the game regularly. It's like my gaming homebase of sorts lol

I imagine this is like a stopgap while they work on the next game, sort of like the Welcome Amiibo update for New Leaf. It's only been 5 years since the game first launched so I'm not expecting a new game for a good while, given that the gap between New Leaf and New Horizons was 8 years.

Re: Talking Point: When Did 'Good Enough' Become Good Enough For Pokémon?

TheBigK

I'd say the ball got rolling starting with X and Y but really ramped up with Sword and Shield onward. Basically, they moved onto hardware far more powerful and complex than the Game Boy and DS, which came with a whole slew of new difficulties in being able to properly develop for. And as the franchise continued to grow, so did the need to release games yearly across main series and spin-offs while maintaining cadence with things like the anime, movies, TCG, IRL events, and so on. But developing a Switch game is a hell of lot more complicated than a Game Boy game so it's like they're so pressed for time, and money apparently, that they need to cut corners to meet deadlines.

For me, the GBA is the perfect incarnation of Pokémon. Super polished and refined, sharp and attractive pixel visuals, very brisk and snappy gameplay performance, mechanically sound, and modernization of the classic formula. Those games feel great to play and look at it.

Re: Xbox Reiterates Its Support For Switch 2

TheBigK

I'd be down. I'm not much of a shooter person but did I have a great time playing the first three Halo games on friends' Xboxes back then. I'm surprised a Switch 2 version of the game wasn't announced as well, but maybe it's too much work to get it running or something?

Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Pokémon Legends: Z-A?

TheBigK

20-something hours in and I'm having a fun time with it so far. The catching mechanics seem kind of tacked on, though, like the only reason they're there is because the last Legends game had them.

The lock-on and throwing ranges are pretty short, there's not much cover to hide in, and there aren't any other throwables to stun or otherwise make catching any easier. I don't find the charms helpful, either. I find myself just knocking the Pokémon out and catching them the old fashioned way whereas in Arceus I very rarely actually entered combat and caught them by the dozen because it was so quick. Which is what was so refreshing about that game.

But still, it's Pokémon, so I am thoroughly enjoying myself. 8/10

Re: Round Up: The Reviews Are In For Pokémon Legends: Z-A

TheBigK

I appreciate the honesty but man, I feel like Pokémon reviews are meaningless to me. I'm still gonna buy the game regardless and it's gonna be my GotY regardless because I'm one of those obsessive Pokémon fans. Like sure, Scarlet and Violet run like garbage on Switch 1 and have tons of glitches and terrible visuals but dude! Gone are the days of breeding for perfect everything! Bottle caps and ability patches and mints just readily available, are you kidding me?? Mirror Herb for egg moves?? And don't get me started about shiny hunting!

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (11th October)

TheBigK

I just finished 100%ing Super Mario Galaxy 2 this evening. I'm surprised how much of that muscle memory I've retained in the 15 years since the first release; I didn't die nearly as much as I thought I would on that final star. Other than that, I've been participating in the Terastal Crescendo Pokémon event. I am terrible in doubles but the 2v2 format is very snappy for a Slowpoke like me