TotalHenshin

The wife and I may begin our co-op campaign of SMBW on Sunday if time permits. We’ll probably play an hour or so per session so it might take a while to get through the game. 😅

In other news, 36 hours later and I completed Pikmin 4. I’ve played every mainline Pikmin game since 1, and really am shocked by the the quality and the amount of content in Pikmin 4. To be clear, that was 36 hours to see all content and even until that last hour the surprises and hits just kept on coming. Did not and will not attempt to get platinums on each Dandori challenge or whatever. If I have a criticism, it’s that the post-game might be more engaging than the tail end of the main campaign, and that Oatchi is so powerful, you feel handicapped without him. I love that pup though. This might be second to Pikmin 2 as the best Pikmin game, and really is in some ways the perfection of the spirit of that game.

So now I will probably be wrapping up my playthrough of Guardians of the Galaxy on PS5 before my PS+ month runs out and starting my JPN play-through of Star Ocean on my PSP. This weekend includes my birthday and though the wife is working, getting some alone time to just do some gaming ain’t a shabby gift.

I was going to make a joking comment, but I’d rather ask outright: are two of the “joys” supposed to be nearly identical or are core and strength supposed to be thought of separately?

PI(kachu) is great flavor text. Nicely done.

@Solomon_Rambling You had the best comment. Congrats! 💮

@LikelySatan Yet you chose to be aggressive to someone who was taking a fairly balanced and moderate position to speak from. I read your first response to @Not_Soos and [insert “escalated quickly” gif]. You are free to think how you want, but if you want people to actually listen to you and respond reasonably to you, don’t just start firing guns every time you get a whiff of something you disagree with.

It sounds like you had religion hurt you in the past, and maybe even until today. I feel you. But Not_Soos does not seem to be the same kind of religious person you have known prior.

Man, Ed Boon just really wants to make another Injustice game. DC vs. Marvel would be a fun game.

On its way to 14 million, let’s go!!

@Mauzuri Yeah, the MC average is at 75 right now. That’s fairly good for a Sonic game. Don’t know if the Switch version is as good, but here’s hoping. 🤞

@Mauzuri What if it’s EXACTLY a 75, which is currently the case for the PS5 version as of this writing?? What say you then??
🤔🕵🏻‍♂️🧐

@fenlix 428 is a great game. Not every great game is for everyone.

@Serpenterror I call them a shill rag because they have a spotty history when it comes to ethics.

https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2019/11/death_stranding_and_famitsu_under_fire_in_japan_as_fans_question_cameo_following_perfect_review_score

https://kotaku.com/do-not-trust-this-magazines-review-scores-5520937

I always knew King Koopa was Kink Koopa.

Famitsu is a bit of a shill rag. Their reviews aren’t the most reliable.

I’m confused by those who are saying they like the anime but are on the fence here. It seems fairly faithful.

For that reason, probably won’t get it since I don’t like Anya, and that’s the lynchpin of the entire show.

The JPN one is so cluttered. The Western one at least (subtly) showcases the god-game aspect. Neither are very good though.

@Rykdrew I do! But I only just started the game. Give me a week or more and then I’ll hit you up again! Have you been playing it long?

I played 2.5 levels of this yesterday so spoilers from demo ahead.

I’m less excited for the game now. Maybe I need to read the previews to see if any Nintendo reps answer my questions, but my biggest concerns were the focus on multiplayer and the badges.

I get it, multiplayer is fun for most. I won’t be doing it online or off, but it really feels like a big focus in a way that you feel you’re missing out by playing single player. I’ve played every 2D Mario, so maybe I’m burnt out but I just wasn’t having a blast. I also don’t think the elephant power up is as big of a deal as they’re making it out to be.

Regarding badges, if there aren’t specific levels that require them to access specific secrets in a level, then they feel like they only serve as another way to distinguish yourself in online play. There are levels where you can earn a specific power badge that are designed to utilize that power-up, but unless some later levels say “Hey, you might want to go get such and such badge for this level,” then they don’t serve much purpose in my eyes. I’m waiting for reviews at this point to see if these concerns are addressed, because if it’s a game where most of the fun is expected to come from multiplayer zaniness, I’m okay holding off and playing some other great hits this holiday season.

EDIT: Just read NL’s preview and nothing there really settled my qualms. They think the badge could be used for secrets, but I said, that would require the game to give you a notice before (which I didn’t see). Otherwise you play through the level and see some spot that can only be reached by a certain badge and then you have to replay the level over again for that one spot, and that’s always fun. Idk, I hope I’m wrong or at the very least I can convince my wife to join me, but… less hopeful overall.

Got some major assignments due soon, so this is a homework weekend. Playing either some Dave the Diver on PC to break up the monotony, or Trombone Champ. If I actually had time to sit down, I’d be continuing my JPN play-through of Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle.

@-wc- Not in my experience, but maybe things have changed.

These screenshots look indistinguishable from Stardew Valley.

Idk, sure would be nice if TOTK ran better. 👀 (Presuming they could do the work).

If it’s not BC, then that makes a Steamdeck a lot more appealing. I can wait to play Nintendo’s exclusives down the road. I don’t want to keep having a Switch around. Also, a main pillar of this argument is that us “real gamers” keep our old consoles. That’s not the majority of Switch owners and I think many of them would probably like to trade in that Switch for an S2.

To be clear, this article writer is NOT saying he wants the S2 to not have BC. He is just trying to make the case that it isn’t necessary. And he’s right in the sense that nothing is necessary, but if we’re talking about market expectations, it seems many people expect it and would be unhappy without it.

Already got Disgaea 7. Preordered SMBW, and definitely am tempted by Dave the Diver and Wargroove 2. Waiting on Det. Pikachu reviews, but will still wait on a sale for it probably.

I might get the MGS collection for the PS5 instead, but no rush on there as I still have my PS3 hooked up with the MGS HD collection. I will also say I’m very glad that they did NOT use Twin Snakes for the collection because that game is poop from a butt.

“TRANSLATE THE SEQUEL YOU B*****DS”

As a Latino, I first thought, “…….. BUTTHEADS??” Then I remembered British English…

🔔🍑

I’m glad Kate got what she wanted, but what about those of us who still really want the two GCN Zeldas on a console people actually own?? 😭

That’s all I got so let me read other people’s comments to jigger the noodle.

Lunar 1-2 HD-2D collection and just some more fun surprises filling out the NSO catalogue…. That’s really about it. I got more games than I can play so I’m not champing at the bit for too much; just relishing what I have.

I really am not a fan of peppering puns throughout a review just because you can. Nonetheless, it’s encouraging to know it gets better. By the time I finished this review I thought, “This is a game to check the status of a year later.”

They’re both unsettling…

I played through this at launch, so I may be ready to dive back in next year.

😏

I’m much more interested in seeing the Wii comparison. It also be interesting to see what the reappraisal of the Wii version is like, considering that was less well met at the time.

Wasn’t Timespinner maybe too on the nose with its SOTN homage? That’s a common criticism I had heard. Has anyone here played it and want to give thoughts?

Shouldn’t it be Bud & Terence in the first paragraph?

I only clicked the review because of the subtitle. Now I know where that Rick Ross album title comes from.

Excited for both! I’m sort of surprised it’s taking this long though for the remake.

Honestly, two of the ones I’m most looking forward to were on the Japanese one. Stray Children and Shiren 6.

Otherwise, a remaster of TTYD probably shouldn’t be a show closer but… I love that game and can’t wait to replay it next year.

I like the ad for the mini-Mario on the bottom of the JPN art, but that’s about all I really like about that box art.

@Maxz Oh ok! Was the dog in the previous game? That’s good to know.

@tankymctankus Yes! Onion Games are always at least attempt something new. I think it was the third to last thing shown in the JPN Direct, so Nintendo must think pretty well of it. The JPN Direct had quite a few interesting games that weren’t in the American direct, like Shiren the Wanderer 6, Shinchan, Stray Children, a Dynasty Warriors 9 remake?, a reel of some games arriving soon in Japan like Ys X, that Goemon-like game, the new Momotarou Dentetsu, and maybe the strangest game was the one set in Japanese Downton Abbey where the gameplay seemed to mostly consist of dodging slaps from debutantes Punch-Out style. Very strange.

I would imagine the シロ (Shiro) in the Japanese title means “castle,” unless Shinchan makes a friend there named Shiro. Hard to know for sure.

That was surprisingly sweet, especially the end of Miyamoto’s segment. Wish Martinet all the best and I hope to see him at one of those events one day.

@Kilroy The “you” Is understood in such sentences, such as the article title. “Go.” is famously the shortest sentence in English.

Did you put the question mark in Grammarly? Regardless, the understood (you) would be invisibly present whether the title said forgot or forgotten, no?

@Ooyah That last sentence wrapped it up fantastically. 😆

@Kilroy It is forgotten because the understood subject of the sentence is you, therefore the full sentence would be “Have you forgotten what happened in Pokemon?” You would not say “You forgot what happened in Pokémon?” because that would A) be a simple past statement unconnected to the present and B) sound strange for the aforementioned reason. The present perfect if needed in this case since you are trying to connect what happened in the past to something relevant now (which would be “have forgotten”). You cannot say “have forgot.” That’s like saying “I have was there” or “he has drew the picture.”

@lyle_catcliffe Not yet, but the collection isn’t even 5 months old yet. Give it time.

Still waiting for a decent sale. I can wait.
⏳ 🧙‍♂️⏳

NA shows Mega Mario. PAL just looks like it could be any Mario game.

NA all the way. Though I wonder if there’s been a closer race.

Always down for a Kate Gray review! Great job Kate. You’ve given me a good overview of what the game offers, and I now am slightly more interested in it that I was prior. Keep doing great work.

Edit: I just saw someone else’s post and then your profile. Was wondering why I saw you less on the site. Glad you’re getting to spread your wings in other ways and I hope it’s been fulfilling.

This is really cool, but I already have both games. Both great.

@dribLS Even successful bands have a signature song or hit. Billy Jean, Candle in the Wind, Fortunate Son, etc. I’m guessing they’re referring to The World Is Mine for Hatsune Miku.

I like the vibes it’s going for. I’m only concerned about the combat, but if this plays closer to a Corpse Party rather than a typical ARPG, I’m also good with that. Japanese horror RPGs are usually at least interesting.

Was Ollie intentionally trying to not mention Bautista’s most famous role as Drax?

Regardless, I’m always down for any scenario that involves people yelling MORTAL KOMBAT loudly.

Double Dragon Neon or bust.

I’ve played through this game. It’s a good game, and $20 is much less than a copy of the original off eBay but… that’s still way too much. This should be like $12 at launch. $15 at the most… unless there’s really is so much extra content packed in.

@KeeperBvK You’re right! In my mind they were always switched (‘99,’00), but you’re 100% correct. Thanks for the correction!

Did they just get an AI version of Don LaFontaine’s voice for this trailer? The art looks great, but that voice work for a debut trailer is not the best first showing.