@Yorumi "Your claim is that we had the same number of bad games but fewer good games. That is a drop in quality." For that year, in specific. Quality on the Wii U overall has actually gone up, in my opinion (probably not backed up by Metascores, I know). Aside from the Mario and Sonic games, Nintendo had released (including games they published) almost no bad games on the Wii U before 2015. This year has yet to see one either. On top of that, of the 3 bad games that came out last year, Devil's Third was not produced by Nintendo, and Mario Tennis was more disappointing and overpriced than bad (it would probably be considered good if it had been a $15-20 eshop game; the only real problem with it, as I understand, was the lack of content). Since the Mario and Sonic games are made by Sega, Amiibo Festival might be the only genuinely bad game Nintendo has made themselves for the Wii U in over 3 years, with no obviously bad games coming in the next year. That speaks well of their quality, not poorly. Like I said, it's the sheer quality of Nintendo's games that keeps me coming back every gen, and aside from not getting some games I wanted to get (Animal Crossing), I haven't been dissatisfied with the Wii U.
@Yorumi My point was that the quality hasn't gone down overall, but seems to have gone down because there have been fewer games. The fewer the games, the more each impacts the total average quality. Every gen gets a few clunkers. The Wii U just got the bulk of its share last year, when it didn't have a ton of awesome games to counter them out (though they did have more great games than bad games). As for resources, considering the amount of time Nintendo often spends developing its games, it's not as if they could simply release more all of a sudden, and most games in development are likely going to the NX.
As for that second part of your comment, aside from not getting my dose of Animal Crossing, I'm not particularly dissatisfied with the Wii U. More games would have been nice, but I've just enjoyed the games that came out on the Wii U so much that they made the original investment worth it. Tropical Freeze, Mario Kart 8, NSMBU, SSB, Pikmin 3, etc all rank among my favorite games of all time. For that reason, for me, Nintendo has earned my interest in the NX, not through powerful hardware or a massive library, but through sheer quality of software.
@IceClimbers I don't know how Metacritic adjusts for re-reviews, but I don't think all that many sites did them anyway. At the time, I think a lot of reviewers basically said they reviewed what they had, and it wouldn't be fair to adjust it later for Splatoon and not pretty much every other game (with the frequency of post-release game fixes, they'd have to re-review games weekly). If Splatoon were reviewed as it is today, though, I think its Metascore would probably be much closer to 90, maybe 90+.
I'm not really surprised. Even aside from the controversial controls, there's not much to the game (as I understand it; I haven't gotten it yet myself). The campaign's short, and there's no online multiplayer to keep you playing. If you're the type of person to beat games and trade them in, there's no reason not to do so quickly with Star Fox, while the value is still high.
@Peach64 To be fair, Nintendo released very few games last year, so even a couple terrible games would affect the average much more than usual. Mario Maker, Splatoon, and Xenoblade can only raise it so much with weights like Amiibo Festival and Devil's Third dragging it down.
As I recall, there were rumors at one point saying that the NX would be a console/handheld hybrid, but that Nintendo wouldn't release both simultaneously. At the time, I think the idea was for the console to release in November and the handheld to release in March. Two systems, independent but unified. If this was the case, it would make sense if they had different codenames, even though they'd still be, to some degree, one platform.
Honestly, I'll be happy whether Nintendo's next systems are individual or hybrid, as long as the games keep coming (I do want various other features of course, but I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't buy the next system regardless, especially when I see Zelda, Mario, Pikmin, Animal Crossing, etc).
It definitely sounds like the DS and Wii, which weren't exactly successors to the previous systems either. They changed the gaming landscape (especially the DS, which brought about app-like and touch screen gaming before the iphone), and targeted new audiences along with the old. I know a lot of people hold that against the Wii and DS, but I loved both systems.
Hopefully they end up being free-to-start rather than free-to-play. Free-to-start games are often full games that start as demos, like Fatal Frame, and don't usually require putting in more and more money to play.
I always go with the Fire type starter (except in X, when I chose the water type to compliment Charizard), so it's Litten for me. I like the designs quite a bit, and will definitely be trading for a Rowlet as soon as I can.
I had always had an interest in the series, but I never got around to getting it (same thing with Skylanders). Even if it's over, I might still try to pick up one of the versions for the Wii U on the cheap at some point (2.0 starts at $10 on Amazon).
@SLIGEACH_EIRE With Humble Bundle you can indeed increase your payment after your purchase to get the next tier, but it sounds like you might have actually bought the bundle again rather than increasing your payment. To increase your payment go to your purchases, click on the bundle, and then click "Like what we're doing? Then click here to increase your order amount!" Add however much you need to add, and it should upgrade your order (if you're about to add too little, it should warn you about what you won't get). If that's what you did already, and it didn't work, I recommend contacting Humble Bundle.
@Lizuka None of that has anything to do with something being a sport. Soccer is no less a sport if played unpaid by people who have never trained. Besides, while there is obviously more risk in traditional sports (some more than others; does that make some sports more of a sport than others?), to become and remain professional requires many hours of practice, whether you're playing basketball or Smash Bros. You could say that the training is harder in traditional sports, but either way, you're practicing a game.
Again, that also applies to traditional athletes. They get paid to play games, because they're good at the games and/or they work hard at the games. They're still being paid for their "hobbies" (or do you think they didn't play for fun before going pro?). The only difference between that and esports is how much you use your whole body.
There's a difference between calling something a sport, and making a career out of it. If enough people want to watch it, doing literally anything can make money. If I had a million people who wanted to watch me sit in a chair everyday, that could be a career in entertainment (which is really what professional sports are). It's based purely on demand. As I keep saying, whether you're pro sports or pro-esports, you're getting paid to play a game because you're good at it and people want to watch you play. If that's what you take issue with here, you should take it up with the NFL.
Whether gaming can be considered a sport or not is entirely up to one's personal definition. Many things are called sport without requiring physical training. Even traditional sports, like basketball or soccer, technically do not require any training. I can go play a game in the park, and I'd be playing a sport, even if I had no training, and even if I was terrible at it. Personally, I think a sport is something competitive, with objective goals. I'd probably add to that that sports are typically things you do for fun, even if the best players make jobs of them. Under this definition competitive gaming could be called a sport.
@Lizuka That really applies to all sports. Football, soccer, and basketball players make millions because people enjoy watching other people, people who are particularly good at their sport, play a game. In the case of esports, I didn't see the appeal either (I generally don't find watching sports in general very appealing), until I watched the competitions at Nintendo's last two E3's. They were genuinely fun to watch.
This Humble Bundle blows away last year's for me. The two indies I most wanted were Affordable Space Adventures, and Swords and Soldiers 2. I hoped, but never expected, to get both here, not to mention Rhythm Thief and Freedom Planet, which I've wanted since their respective launches. Even the games that weren't high on my list were still wanted. Phenomenal value.
Eh, I didn't want any of those. I'll probably get Flipnote Studio for my sister, and that's it. Going forward, they need to cheapen the discounts for me to have any interest. If I manage to get 100 gold coins in 6 months (very unlikely), I'll trade them for a game, not 30% off a game (especially when I can already get 20% off at Best Buy, and Amazon's usually $5-10 off MSRP at regular price).
I'm glad you put up this article. I bought the basic tier (I might upgrade before it's over), and I've been reading the Bible Adventures book. I could do without the occasional condescension about Christianity, but other than that the book is well-written and enjoyable, though I won't be able to look at my copy of the game in the same light anymore...
I'm certainly disappointed, but I don't mind it too much. Between the slow release schedule this year, and the delayed NX and Zelda, I'll have plenty of time to work on my ridiculous backlog of games.
The biggest issue is for Nintendo themselves. They'll be missing out on all of those sweet, sweet Christmas sales. After the 3DS and Wii U both had poor launch line-ups, though, it is crucial that Nintendo release the NX with plenty of enticing games. If they aren't ready, a delay is necessary. It's more important that the line-up, and the system itself (I'd prefer not having a multi-hour update on launch day), be ready for launch than that they be released in November. Let's not forget that the Wii U was released in the holidays, and ultimately that didn't help it much.
@chiefeagle02 You only get one. I thought it was both too, but you have to pick one. If you look close, it does say "Wii U or 3DS" under Citizens of Earth, as opposed to "Wii U 3DS" under Shantae, which does give you both versions.
I'm definitely interested in both. From the beginning, I thought Fire Emblem would make a great mobile game because of its controls. All you need to do is tap units and tell them where to go and what to do. It's games like that that I think are best suited to mobile entries (still prefer dedicated system versions, if that came across otherwise).
As for Animal Crossing, I'm guessing this won't be a regular Animal Crossing game, because the controls wouldn't work well. As I recall, Nintendo wasn't much in favor of awkward virtual controls (which is why they aren't releasing mobile versions of VC games). I think the Animal Crossing app will be very complimentary to the real game, but will be more like a mini-game itself. Regardless, I'm eager to see what they do with it. My love of the franchise is almost (almost) enough to make me buy Amiibo Festival, despite being fully aware of how terrible it is.
@coolvw93 For what it's worth, it looks like I can still get the codes I didn't use from the last Nintendo Humble Bundle, which was almost a year ago. I can also still get my unused Origin codes from back in 2013.
Right now I'm just working on getting more Platinum points for Twilight Princess Picross (or whatever replaces WarioWare). By my estimates it will take 3-5 weeks to get back to 1000 coins, depending on how much I use Miitomo.
Wow. This is a crazy coincidence. I was quite literally just thinking about what the next Humble Nindie Bundle would be, and when it would come out. I went online to check what was in the last one, for reference, and the new one was just put up. That's almost creepy.
As for the bundle itself, I just got the "beat the average" tier, because I already have SF4 on the 3DS, and don't want Darksiders 2. I already had Citizens of Earth and Shantae on the Wii U, but I'm glad to finally get Rhythm Thief, Freedom Planet, and Affordable Space Adventures. Hopefully the games they add in a week will be more I don't have (hoping for Swords & Soldiers 2).
If by "mainstream" you mean the Madden/CoD/GTA group, I can't think of anything Nintendo could do to draw them away from other platforms. Even if Nintendo had the strongest system, all the same multiplats, their own exclusives, and the best features, I don't think they'd get that group. It basically boils down to exclusives and reputation. If you'd rather play God of War or Uncharted than Mario or Zelda, you'll probably stick with Sony, even if GTA looked better on Nintendo's system. If you think Nintendo is the "kiddie" system, you'll probably stick with Sony, even if there are plenty of M games on Nintendo's system. The group Nintendo needs to target are the people who don't care about "mature" exclusives, particularly families and people who don't take gaming too seriously (and, of course, Nintendo fans). The Wii U could have done that, but it was marketed terribly, and never fully delivered on its potential. My older brother is the perfect example. He had a PS3, but thought it was, in general, not fun and too serious. He tried Mario Kart 8 and soon after got a Wii U, because MK8, along with games like SSB, NSMB, 3D World, etc delivered the fun he wanted from a game system. There's Nintendo's market.
That's pretty awesome. One of the most annoying things (for me) in going back to old systems is the wired controllers. I'm still kicking myself for never getting a Wavebird back in the day.
I'm not at all surprised. While I did very well at first, quickly shooting up to "Spongebob Champion" and getting a "Spongebob Power" of about 1550, the quality of my teammates plummeted, and I lost the majority of my matches after that, ending with a power of around 1350.
I watched Giant Bomb play this a while back, and thought it looked really cool. For $8, I'm definitely interested, though I probably won't get it at launch (I'm trying to play through my backlog of indie games right now).
Overall, I've liked the Gamepad quite a bit. It's comfortable, and the second screen is extremely useful. From two-screen split-screen in CoD, to an always open map/inventory with touch controls, to off-TV play, it's gotten to the point that I miss it when I play something without it. It's just so convenient. I hope the NX has something like it.
Also, I was going to vote for Splatoon under the "Which games make best use of the GamePad?" question, but it wasn't there. Because Splatoon is largely based on controlling territory, a clear and readily available map is a necessity, and the Gamepad is a perfect fit, allowing for a map that's always displayed and easy to read, even at a glance, without cluttering up the TV screen. The combination of motion controls with a traditional button layout works really well, too. I tried the Wii Remote while playing local multiplayer once, and it was terrible.
@PlywoodStick Most territories actually do govern themselves. Regardless, if you're going to get into "original owners", that's a whole other can of worms. My point was that America bought these islands. They didn't conquer them, and forcibly add them to an "American empire".
The Mexican-American War was started by Mexico, not America. America didn't go to war to take land. Mexico went to war and lost land. As for the Panama Canal, America bought the assets from France, leased the land from the Panamanians, paid for the construction (which was very expensive), and ended up giving the canal to Panama later on. But I guess you're referring to America helping the Panamanians achieve independence?
I don't see how political interference relates to being an empire or not.
You have a point with the Natives. All I can say is that those were different times. Americans wanted to develop the lands, and in their minds the lands often belonged to them because they bought them from Europe. I'm not saying it was right, but at the time, it was quite normal (even Natives killed each other over land).
The Japanese government is elected by the same people you're saying it doesn't represent. Regardless, the point is that America gets permission. It's not an invasion.
"the bases are funded by utilizing the land they occupy for their exclusive use" I'm not sure I follow your point here. How could military bases be utilized for public use?
Considering the number of bases and the protection Japan receives, that number really doesn't sound that large, especially considering they're the 3rd largest economy in the world, with a GDP measured in the trillions. You'd also have to factor in the money the stationed troops bring to Japan, and the money the US government itself is spending in Japan. The estimated cost to America, not counting the cost of personnel, is $2 billion.
@PlywoodStick Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines were bought from Spain almost 120 years ago. As far as I could find, the Samoan Islands that became American territories did so willingly (also over 100 years ago). None of those territories is an example of a conquering empire, nor is involvement with our neighbors to the south.
To be fair, America hasn't gained much territory since Teddy Roosevelt (with most of it being gained before him). Almost all of the states and territories were already states and territories by 1901, when he took office. The 1800's were a different story (and when Teddy grew up), but even then, almost all of America's growth was in North America.
Except America gets permission for its military bases, and doesn't use them to control the country they're put in, like Rome or Mongolia did. America also funds its own bases.
@orangepanda
I don't expect gratitude. I just took offense from him saying America has done nothing worthy of gratitude. America helps people all over the world. We give more aid, government and civilian, humanitarian and military, than any other nation on earth. We develop, and have developed, much of the technology and medicine used in the modern world. America does a lot.
And while bad things have happened in American history, I hold very little shame over them, largely because of context and reparations made.
Also, you mentioned the "US empire" but there really is no such thing. Unlike Japan, who was building an empire, we didn't take land or resources, we gave them. We built partnerships, generally partnerships that were very beneficial for both sides.
I think the most shocking thing, to me, about this article is the response in the comments. America nuked Japan to end a war that Japan started unprovoked. Of course the loss of life in war is unfortunate, but this was not a war America started, nor was it a war America voluntarily joined. America was brought into the war by Japan, and America finished the war, not just with Japan, but with the Axis powers.
@luke88 The genocide of the Native Americans is very much inflated. As much as 90% of the Native American population died from disease, not war. There are stories of colonists giving infected blankets to Natives to get them sick, but most refer to a strategy employed by British leaders, not American colonists. That's not to say America hasn't killed or mistreated Natives, though. Just that the genocide was actually an epidemic.
I'm quite happy with the Platinum stuff, but I think the Gold coins and their rewards could use some work. Considering how long it takes to get them, I think Gold coins, moreso than Platinum coins, need a longer life than 6 months. I'm sure I'm not the only one who won't hit even 150 in that much time, and you need over 200 to get some rewards. They should also put codes in retail copies of games, like they did with Club Nintendo. As for the actual rewards, I think that the discounts need to be cheapened. Nintendo is actually making money off of your reward when you choose a 30% off coupon (assuming you use it), and I think they should be cheaper than getting a free game, even if they're technically worth more. They also need to add more 3DS games to the reward list. Right now there's just a single Game Boy game, and everything else is for the Wii U (5 games and 2 DLC's). Some people don't have a Wii U, and should have more to choose from, especially since their coins expire so quickly. Those are my biggest complaints at the moment, though it would be great to see some physical rewards alongside the digital ones, too.
@Yalaa As I understand it (I only saw one video about the topic), SSB's community used to be much friendlier, and has gotten much more toxic in recent times.
@Xaessya Not in my experience. I don't delve deep into all of the communities, but my experience in games Animal Crossing, Pokemon, Mario Maker, and Splatoon (for example) have been overwhelmingly positive. It's rare to see bullying in those communities, and when it does appear, it tends to get shut down.
I'm not really into the competitive gaming scene, but apparently bullying is increasingly a problem in the SSB community. As the number of people involved grows, I guess the number of jerks grows with it. It's very unfortunate, because Nintendo communities are usually pretty friendly.
I'm hoping to get both this and WarioWare, but I'm probably going to get WarioWare first (never played Touched before). Usually I'd be concerned with saving my coins, but since they only have a shelf-life of 6 months on My Nintendo, it's basically use them or lose them. I'm eager to see what rewards are added in a few months (it looks like they'll have a quarterly rotation), and if it will become increasingly easy to earn Platinum coins as they release more apps.
"other women game developers" Alison Rapp was in marketing, not development...
I don't know a ton about this whole situation, but generally my belief is that these things should be gender-blind (and color-blind). From what little I understand about this situation, the problems people had with Alison were her actions (or alleged actions), not her gender. That's also Nintendo's official stance, though supposedly she was fired for different actions (which might have come to light while investigating the accusations made against her). The real question here is whether Alison would have been fired if she were a he, and I believe the answer is yes (it's not like Nintendo hasn't fired men in recent history, after all). As such, all of this "but she's a woman!" nonsense just seems ridiculous to me.
If this is real, it will be interesting to see how it's used. That said, I don't know how I feel about the virtual buttons. Physical buttons are always better, but I don't think Nintendo would make a controller with sub-par controls (they know better), so maybe they've found a way to make them work.
If this is the handheld as well as, or instead of, the controller, I'll miss the clam shell design Nintendo's been using since the SP. It really helps with portability.
Between my old GBA collection and the 3DS Ambassador games, I own most of these. Advance Wars would have to be my favorite from this list. I first played Dual Strike on the DS, and then went back and got the first two (and later on, the 4th). I wish they would make a new one. It's easily one of my favorite portable franchises.
As for my favorites not on this list, I'd have to go with Pokemon (Gen 3 and the remakes) and Drill Dozer, with honorable mentions going to Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town, Mega Man Battle Network 3, and a handful of licensed games (Yu Yu Hakusho, Dragon Ball, Zoids, Duel Masters, etc). I did so enjoy those old anime games.
Interestingly enough, Trump actually beats Cruz with evangelicals fairly often.
This was funnier than I thought it was going to be. My favorite part was probably the "I literally don't know the difference" line about Bernie. I'm still hoping for a 2016 Political Kombat video, though.
@argh4430 I agree, but there are many people who do want to place blame, and are especially quick to go after Nintendo. As it turns out, Nintendo wasn't responsible for the changes in Bravely Second, and so isn't deserving of any scrutiny that comes from its changes.
I find it interesting that Nintendo is placing this change squarely at Square's feet. People are often quick to blame Nintendo, especially NoA, when changes are made, because they've changed some things in their own games, but it sounds like in Bravely Second's case it was Square, not Nintendo. I wonder if it was also Square that changed the Tomahawk class, and changed a few of the outfits.
The Platinum coins sound kind of like Ubisoft's UPlay. I play a lot of Nintendo games, so that could be cool. The Gold coins, however, don't sound so good. Since they're the ones that come from actual purchases, I'm guessing they're also the ones that get you rewards, like games or posters. My problem there is that it says you have to buy digital versions of games to get Gold coins. Aside from digital-only releases, pretty much all of my purchases are physical retail copies, so I won't be getting many Gold coins. Not cool.
I wish Nintendo would expand their Selects range further. There are games like LEGO City Undercover, that have become rare and/or expensive (it's a Select in Europe, but not NA), and there are games like Captain Toad and Mario Tennis, both of which are often considered overpriced by critics because of the small amount of content. A re-release and a price cut would be great for these types of games.
"The NPD results, of course, don't reflect on download sales" I'd be interested in seeing the full numbers for Fates. It, in particular, could have a lot of eshop sales because of the "buy one, get one 50% off" deal. Regardless, this is great news for the future of the Fire Emblem series, which is great news for fans. Maybe Nintendo will even consider another console entry.
Eh, I'd just use Pandora on my Roku if I wanted to listen to music through my TV (it's free). I do most of my listening on either the radio or my phone anyway.
I'm a little jealous of Lego City. America's Nintendo Selects are great games, and I'm glad people will be able to get Pikmin and 3D World at reduced prices, but of all the Wii U games getting discounted, the only one I don't have is NES Remix Pack, which was already a budget priced game at $30. Lego City Undercover is one of few Nintendo (technically 2nd party) games I want but don't have on the Wii U, and it's also one of few games that has gone up in price since release ($50 to $63 on Amazon).
@Bolt_Strike They were linear in how you progressed through the levels, but the levels themselves were usually very open. They were far from "a 2D game, only with a little bit of wiggle room to dodge."
There was a bit more choice about that in Galaxy, but it was closer to 3D World than to Mario 64. The levels themselves were barely less linear than 3D World's.
Generally when you get stuck on a level, it's not because you literally cannot get past it. It's because you have trouble with it, so it takes longer. I don't think I've ever encountered a level where I just thought "well, this is clearly impossible, might as well stop trying".
I didn't say skipping levels was handholding, I said it was arguably worse. It really comes down to optional help, or giving up and moving on. What's worse when facing a hard level, a handicap to help, or a forfeit?
That's exactly the point I was making. If each mission is an episode, each level in Mario 64 is like a season. In 3D World, each level is an episode, and each world is like a season. The difference is that in Mario 64, every episode is an alternate version of the other episodes in the season, whereas every episode in 3D World is completely different from the others. 3D World allows for much more variety, at the expense of bigger, more complex levels to explore. Neither is necessarily the better method.
I want a fresh Mario game too, but I would say that 3D World was itself fresh when it came out. A fresh take on NSMB is probably much less likely, as the whole idea behind the franchise is classic 2D Mario, which is fine, as long as the games are good.
@Action51 And my point was that they don't keep announcing new games for the Wii U. It wasn't three or three dozen. It was one (plus a remake). In more than 8 months. The Wii U's getting a fair number of games this year, but almost all of them have been known since before last year's E3. They're just finally coming out. It's actually the same with the 3DS. Almost every single game coming to the 3DS this year is old news in Japan. There's almost nothing, that we know of, in development. To me, that signifies that both systems will be replaced soon.
@Bolt_Strike "And honestly, I could make the case that 3D Land and 3D World aren't proper 3D games by that definition because they rarely utilize the third dimension, you're mainly being pushed forward the entire level just like a 2D game, only with a little bit of wiggle room to dodge." There were a few levels like that, but most were big and open, fully using the 3rd dimension. Did you really not play these games?
"Honestly, Galaxy is a much better example of a hybrid style. The levels are linear and obstacle based much like the 2D games, but they still retain the 3D's progression system and sense of freedom." So they were linear, but still had a sense of freedom? As I remember it, most levels were just going from little planet to little planet, almost in a line.
Level length is relevant when you get stuck. If you're stuck on a short level, you only have to push a short time to get through it. If the level makes up a quarter of the world, like in Mario 64, you have to play it repeatedly, or repeat the other levels even more to make up for it.
The invulnerability power is handholding, which is why I don't use it, but I'd say it's still better than outright skipping the level, which is what you're proposing should be possible.
You could make that comparison, but if 3D World's levels are like episodes, Mario 64's are like entire seasons. You can skip a season here and there, but if you do, you better enjoy the others, because you'll be playing them all the way through, and they cover the same ground in every episode.
"Eh, not really. They can make levels about as big as they are already and still accomplish that. Most of the levels are already open enough to support multiple missions" What happened to "only with a little bit of wiggle room to dodge"? That said, many of the levels could have offered something small, like a red coin mission, but much more than that would be pushing it. They just weren't designed to accommodate multiple big goals. Besides, there are hidden stars to collect, and there's a reason to collect them: unlocking the hardest level in Mario history (in my experience, anyway).
"That's exactly the problem though, those "extras" are what help new games stand out in the first place. Without them the game is just relying on the same old mechanics as ever which gets old fast." What you call the "same old mechanics" I would call time-tested gameplay. There's a reason people still play those classic games, even though they've played them numerous times before. They're just that good. 3D Land/World took those polished, much-loved mechanics and applied them to a 3D game. That's what made them stand out.
I didn't mind paying a little to upgrade my Wii VC games to the Wii U, because there were in fact new features involved, but I wouldn't have bought them at full price again, and that goes for the 3DS as well. One of the biggest reasons I'm hoping the NX is a hybrid system is a unified library. It's ridiculous that NES games I own on the 3DS can't be played on my Wii U, and vice versa, without another full price purchase. I sincerely hope that the NX, and the new Nintendo account system, fix this. Also, I still want Gamecube games on the VC. Just thought I'd throw that in there.
@Xenocity That's one of several reasons I don't want a PS4. Sony did so well with cross-buy last gen, but this gen, they're worse than Nintendo.
@mjc0961 I disagree. If it had followed that style, it would have been another traditional 3D Mario, erasing almost all traces of any hybridization.
I consider them major successes. While playing them, I really felt like I was somehow playing a 2D game in 3D. The elements you're referring to, while obviously prevalent in early 3D Mario games, aren't what make a game 3D. That would be the 3rd dimension. And I really liked the running in 3D World. It felt fast and sharp. If it hadn't been assigned to a button, it probably would have been slowed down.
Linear level design in 3D Mario started with Galaxy. Most of the levels were entirely about getting from point A to point B, following a set path.
@Bolt_Strike You do have to beat each level, but they're shorter than the levels of Mario 64 and Sunshine. Even if you get stuck on a level, you don't have to get far to pass it. If you really want to skip it, you can even use the invulnerability power they offer when you die repeatedly. In Mario 64, you could focus on other levels, but in order to play a level you don't like only once, you have to get almost all of the stars on other levels, which means replaying other levels even more so you can play one level less.
In order to make that change the levels would have to be different. More specifically, they'd need to be larger and more complex to support multiple missions and/or hidden stars. That means fewer, longer levels, less variety, and likely required replays.
"The problem with relying on levels to create a different experience is that they don't last long, so they're only really temporary distractions from the issue of repetitive gameplay" All games are repetitive. They establish mechanics/rules, and use them throughout the game repeatedly, until the end. They use "distractions" like story, varying levels, different characters, increasing difficulty, etc. to make the games interesting despite the fact that you're just shooting, jumping, kicking, slashing, etc over and over.
"the base gameplay of those games is just the same as every other Mario" That's technically true, but it's important to note that 3D Land/World were the first 3D Mario games to feature that base purely, without the extras (anti-gravity, FLUD, etc). That's a big part of what made them so unique.
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Re: Random: Store Shelves Appear To Be Filling With Pre-Owned Copies Of Star Fox Zero
@Yorumi
"Your claim is that we had the same number of bad games but fewer good games. That is a drop in quality."
For that year, in specific. Quality on the Wii U overall has actually gone up, in my opinion (probably not backed up by Metascores, I know). Aside from the Mario and Sonic games, Nintendo had released (including games they published) almost no bad games on the Wii U before 2015. This year has yet to see one either. On top of that, of the 3 bad games that came out last year, Devil's Third was not produced by Nintendo, and Mario Tennis was more disappointing and overpriced than bad (it would probably be considered good if it had been a $15-20 eshop game; the only real problem with it, as I understand, was the lack of content). Since the Mario and Sonic games are made by Sega, Amiibo Festival might be the only genuinely bad game Nintendo has made themselves for the Wii U in over 3 years, with no obviously bad games coming in the next year. That speaks well of their quality, not poorly. Like I said, it's the sheer quality of Nintendo's games that keeps me coming back every gen, and aside from not getting some games I wanted to get (Animal Crossing), I haven't been dissatisfied with the Wii U.
Re: Random: Store Shelves Appear To Be Filling With Pre-Owned Copies Of Star Fox Zero
@Yorumi
My point was that the quality hasn't gone down overall, but seems to have gone down because there have been fewer games. The fewer the games, the more each impacts the total average quality. Every gen gets a few clunkers. The Wii U just got the bulk of its share last year, when it didn't have a ton of awesome games to counter them out (though they did have more great games than bad games). As for resources, considering the amount of time Nintendo often spends developing its games, it's not as if they could simply release more all of a sudden, and most games in development are likely going to the NX.
As for that second part of your comment, aside from not getting my dose of Animal Crossing, I'm not particularly dissatisfied with the Wii U. More games would have been nice, but I've just enjoyed the games that came out on the Wii U so much that they made the original investment worth it. Tropical Freeze, Mario Kart 8, NSMBU, SSB, Pikmin 3, etc all rank among my favorite games of all time. For that reason, for me, Nintendo has earned my interest in the NX, not through powerful hardware or a massive library, but through sheer quality of software.
@IceClimbers
I don't know how Metacritic adjusts for re-reviews, but I don't think all that many sites did them anyway. At the time, I think a lot of reviewers basically said they reviewed what they had, and it wouldn't be fair to adjust it later for Splatoon and not pretty much every other game (with the frequency of post-release game fixes, they'd have to re-review games weekly). If Splatoon were reviewed as it is today, though, I think its Metascore would probably be much closer to 90, maybe 90+.
Re: Random: Store Shelves Appear To Be Filling With Pre-Owned Copies Of Star Fox Zero
I'm not really surprised. Even aside from the controversial controls, there's not much to the game (as I understand it; I haven't gotten it yet myself). The campaign's short, and there's no online multiplayer to keep you playing. If you're the type of person to beat games and trade them in, there's no reason not to do so quickly with Star Fox, while the value is still high.
@Peach64
To be fair, Nintendo released very few games last year, so even a couple terrible games would affect the average much more than usual. Mario Maker, Splatoon, and Xenoblade can only raise it so much with weights like Amiibo Festival and Devil's Third dragging it down.
Re: Poll: Do You Want The Rumoured 'MH' Next Generation Portable to be Separate from NX?
As I recall, there were rumors at one point saying that the NX would be a console/handheld hybrid, but that Nintendo wouldn't release both simultaneously. At the time, I think the idea was for the console to release in November and the handheld to release in March. Two systems, independent but unified. If this was the case, it would make sense if they had different codenames, even though they'd still be, to some degree, one platform.
Honestly, I'll be happy whether Nintendo's next systems are individual or hybrid, as long as the games keep coming (I do want various other features of course, but I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't buy the next system regardless, especially when I see Zelda, Mario, Pikmin, Animal Crossing, etc).
Re: Tatsumi Kimishima Reiterates That Nintendo NX Is A New Way Of Playing Games
It definitely sounds like the DS and Wii, which weren't exactly successors to the previous systems either. They changed the gaming landscape (especially the DS, which brought about app-like and touch screen gaming before the iphone), and targeted new audiences along with the old. I know a lot of people hold that against the Wii and DS, but I loved both systems.
Re: Smartphone Animal Crossing And Fire Emblem Will Both Be Free-To-Play
Hopefully they end up being free-to-start rather than free-to-play. Free-to-start games are often full games that start as demos, like Fatal Frame, and don't usually require putting in more and more money to play.
Re: Poll: Did The First Pokémon: Sun and Moon Trailers and Starter Pokémon Get You Excited?
I always go with the Fire type starter (except in X, when I chose the water type to compliment Charizard), so it's Litten for me. I like the designs quite a bit, and will definitely be trading for a Rowlet as soon as I can.
Re: Disney Infinity Has Been Cancelled
I had always had an interest in the series, but I never got around to getting it (same thing with Skylanders). Even if it's over, I might still try to pick up one of the versions for the Wii U on the cheap at some point (2.0 starts at $10 on Amazon).
Re: Interview: Humble Bundle Co-Founder John Graham Reflects on the Successful Friends of Nintendo Promotion
@SLIGEACH_EIRE
With Humble Bundle you can indeed increase your payment after your purchase to get the next tier, but it sounds like you might have actually bought the bundle again rather than increasing your payment. To increase your payment go to your purchases, click on the bundle, and then click "Like what we're doing? Then click here to increase your order amount!" Add however much you need to add, and it should upgrade your order (if you're about to add too little, it should warn you about what you won't get). If that's what you did already, and it didn't work, I recommend contacting Humble Bundle.
Re: Super Smash Bros. Fans Petition the White House To Secure Visa Rights for eSports Competitors
@Lizuka
None of that has anything to do with something being a sport. Soccer is no less a sport if played unpaid by people who have never trained. Besides, while there is obviously more risk in traditional sports (some more than others; does that make some sports more of a sport than others?), to become and remain professional requires many hours of practice, whether you're playing basketball or Smash Bros. You could say that the training is harder in traditional sports, but either way, you're practicing a game.
Again, that also applies to traditional athletes. They get paid to play games, because they're good at the games and/or they work hard at the games. They're still being paid for their "hobbies" (or do you think they didn't play for fun before going pro?). The only difference between that and esports is how much you use your whole body.
There's a difference between calling something a sport, and making a career out of it. If enough people want to watch it, doing literally anything can make money. If I had a million people who wanted to watch me sit in a chair everyday, that could be a career in entertainment (which is really what professional sports are). It's based purely on demand. As I keep saying, whether you're pro sports or pro-esports, you're getting paid to play a game because you're good at it and people want to watch you play. If that's what you take issue with here, you should take it up with the NFL.
Re: Super Smash Bros. Fans Petition the White House To Secure Visa Rights for eSports Competitors
Whether gaming can be considered a sport or not is entirely up to one's personal definition. Many things are called sport without requiring physical training. Even traditional sports, like basketball or soccer, technically do not require any training. I can go play a game in the park, and I'd be playing a sport, even if I had no training, and even if I was terrible at it. Personally, I think a sport is something competitive, with objective goals. I'd probably add to that that sports are typically things you do for fun, even if the best players make jobs of them. Under this definition competitive gaming could be called a sport.
@Lizuka
That really applies to all sports. Football, soccer, and basketball players make millions because people enjoy watching other people, people who are particularly good at their sport, play a game. In the case of esports, I didn't see the appeal either (I generally don't find watching sports in general very appealing), until I watched the competitions at Nintendo's last two E3's. They were genuinely fun to watch.
Re: Three New Titles Have Been Added to the Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle
@linkimaumi1
I sent you some NA 3DS codes from the last Nintendo Humble Bundle (already used the ones from this bundle).
For anyone else, here's an NA Shantae code for the Wii U:
B0L7SVP101TXMKSB
Re: Three New Titles Have Been Added to the Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle
This Humble Bundle blows away last year's for me. The two indies I most wanted were Affordable Space Adventures, and Swords and Soldiers 2. I hoped, but never expected, to get both here, not to mention Rhythm Thief and Freedom Planet, which I've wanted since their respective launches. Even the games that weren't high on my list were still wanted. Phenomenal value.
Re: Reminder: This is the Final Day for a Number of My Nintendo Rewards
Eh, I didn't want any of those. I'll probably get Flipnote Studio for my sister, and that's it. Going forward, they need to cheapen the discounts for me to have any interest. If I manage to get 100 gold coins in 6 months (very unlikely), I'll trade them for a game, not 30% off a game (especially when I can already get 20% off at Best Buy, and Amazon's usually $5-10 off MSRP at regular price).
Re: The Boss Fight Bundle Offers Fantastic Gaming Books at a Bargain Price
I'm glad you put up this article. I bought the basic tier (I might upgrade before it's over), and I've been reading the Bible Adventures book. I could do without the occasional condescension about Christianity, but other than that the book is well-written and enjoyable, though I won't be able to look at my copy of the game in the same light anymore...
Re: Reaction: The NX Release in March 2017 and How It Changes the Game
I'm certainly disappointed, but I don't mind it too much. Between the slow release schedule this year, and the delayed NX and Zelda, I'll have plenty of time to work on my ridiculous backlog of games.
The biggest issue is for Nintendo themselves. They'll be missing out on all of those sweet, sweet Christmas sales. After the 3DS and Wii U both had poor launch line-ups, though, it is crucial that Nintendo release the NX with plenty of enticing games. If they aren't ready, a delay is necessary. It's more important that the line-up, and the system itself (I'd prefer not having a multi-hour update on launch day), be ready for launch than that they be released in November. Let's not forget that the Wii U was released in the holidays, and ultimately that didn't help it much.
Re: Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle Offers Games at a Huge Discount
@chiefeagle02
You only get one. I thought it was both too, but you have to pick one. If you look close, it does say "Wii U or 3DS" under Citizens of Earth, as opposed to "Wii U 3DS" under Shantae, which does give you both versions.
Re: Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing Franchises Are Heading to Smart Devices
I'm definitely interested in both. From the beginning, I thought Fire Emblem would make a great mobile game because of its controls. All you need to do is tap units and tell them where to go and what to do. It's games like that that I think are best suited to mobile entries (still prefer dedicated system versions, if that came across otherwise).
As for Animal Crossing, I'm guessing this won't be a regular Animal Crossing game, because the controls wouldn't work well. As I recall, Nintendo wasn't much in favor of awkward virtual controls (which is why they aren't releasing mobile versions of VC games). I think the Animal Crossing app will be very complimentary to the real game, but will be more like a mini-game itself. Regardless, I'm eager to see what they do with it. My love of the franchise is almost (almost) enough to make me buy Amiibo Festival, despite being fully aware of how terrible it is.
Re: Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle Offers Games at a Huge Discount
@coolvw93
For what it's worth, it looks like I can still get the codes I didn't use from the last Nintendo Humble Bundle, which was almost a year ago. I can also still get my unused Origin codes from back in 2013.
Re: Expiry Dates Extended for Three My Nintendo Rewards
Right now I'm just working on getting more Platinum points for Twilight Princess Picross (or whatever replaces WarioWare). By my estimates it will take 3-5 weeks to get back to 1000 coins, depending on how much I use Miitomo.
Re: Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle Offers Games at a Huge Discount
Wow. This is a crazy coincidence. I was quite literally just thinking about what the next Humble Nindie Bundle would be, and when it would come out. I went online to check what was in the last one, for reference, and the new one was just put up. That's almost creepy.
As for the bundle itself, I just got the "beat the average" tier, because I already have SF4 on the 3DS, and don't want Darksiders 2. I already had Citizens of Earth and Shantae on the Wii U, but I'm glad to finally get Rhythm Thief, Freedom Planet, and Affordable Space Adventures. Hopefully the games they add in a week will be more I don't have (hoping for Swords & Soldiers 2).
Re: Talking Point: Nintendo Needs to Excite A Mainstream Audience in 2016
If by "mainstream" you mean the Madden/CoD/GTA group, I can't think of anything Nintendo could do to draw them away from other platforms. Even if Nintendo had the strongest system, all the same multiplats, their own exclusives, and the best features, I don't think they'd get that group. It basically boils down to exclusives and reputation. If you'd rather play God of War or Uncharted than Mario or Zelda, you'll probably stick with Sony, even if GTA looked better on Nintendo's system. If you think Nintendo is the "kiddie" system, you'll probably stick with Sony, even if there are plenty of M games on Nintendo's system. The group Nintendo needs to target are the people who don't care about "mature" exclusives, particularly families and people who don't take gaming too seriously (and, of course, Nintendo fans). The Wii U could have done that, but it was marketed terribly, and never fully delivered on its potential. My older brother is the perfect example. He had a PS3, but thought it was, in general, not fun and too serious. He tried Mario Kart 8 and soon after got a Wii U, because MK8, along with games like SSB, NSMB, 3D World, etc delivered the fun he wanted from a game system. There's Nintendo's market.
Re: The Retro Receiver Allows You to Use Modern Bluetooth Controllers With the NES
That's pretty awesome. One of the most annoying things (for me) in going back to old systems is the wired controllers. I'm still kicking myself for never getting a Wavebird back in the day.
Re: Team Patrick Triumphs in the SpongeBob SquarePants Splatoon Splatfest
I'm not at all surprised. While I did very well at first, quickly shooting up to "Spongebob Champion" and getting a "Spongebob Power" of about 1550, the quality of my teammates plummeted, and I lost the majority of my matches after that, ending with a power of around 1350.
Re: The Deer God is Gracing The North American eShop With Its Presence on 28th April
I watched Giant Bomb play this a while back, and thought it looked really cool. For $8, I'm definitely interested, though I probably won't get it at launch (I'm trying to play through my backlog of indie games right now).
Re: Talking Point: PS4K 'Neo', NX and Supplemental Computing Devices - Home Console Gaming May Be Changing
E3 will be nuts (in a good way).
Re: Poll: The Wii U GamePad - Where Do You Stand on Nintendo's Hefty Controller?
Overall, I've liked the Gamepad quite a bit. It's comfortable, and the second screen is extremely useful. From two-screen split-screen in CoD, to an always open map/inventory with touch controls, to off-TV play, it's gotten to the point that I miss it when I play something without it. It's just so convenient. I hope the NX has something like it.
Also, I was going to vote for Splatoon under the "Which games make best use of the GamePad?" question, but it wasn't there. Because Splatoon is largely based on controlling territory, a clear and readily available map is a necessity, and the Gamepad is a perfect fit, allowing for a map that's always displayed and easy to read, even at a glance, without cluttering up the TV screen. The combination of motion controls with a traditional button layout works really well, too. I tried the Wii Remote while playing local multiplayer once, and it was terrible.
Re: Feature: How One Man Saved Kyoto - And Video Games - From The Atomic Bomb
@PlywoodStick
Most territories actually do govern themselves. Regardless, if you're going to get into "original owners", that's a whole other can of worms. My point was that America bought these islands. They didn't conquer them, and forcibly add them to an "American empire".
The Mexican-American War was started by Mexico, not America. America didn't go to war to take land. Mexico went to war and lost land. As for the Panama Canal, America bought the assets from France, leased the land from the Panamanians, paid for the construction (which was very expensive), and ended up giving the canal to Panama later on. But I guess you're referring to America helping the Panamanians achieve independence?
I don't see how political interference relates to being an empire or not.
You have a point with the Natives. All I can say is that those were different times. Americans wanted to develop the lands, and in their minds the lands often belonged to them because they bought them from Europe. I'm not saying it was right, but at the time, it was quite normal (even Natives killed each other over land).
The Japanese government is elected by the same people you're saying it doesn't represent. Regardless, the point is that America gets permission. It's not an invasion.
"the bases are funded by utilizing the land they occupy for their exclusive use"
I'm not sure I follow your point here. How could military bases be utilized for public use?
Considering the number of bases and the protection Japan receives, that number really doesn't sound that large, especially considering they're the 3rd largest economy in the world, with a GDP measured in the trillions. You'd also have to factor in the money the stationed troops bring to Japan, and the money the US government itself is spending in Japan. The estimated cost to America, not counting the cost of personnel, is $2 billion.
Re: Feature: How One Man Saved Kyoto - And Video Games - From The Atomic Bomb
@PlywoodStick
Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines were bought from Spain almost 120 years ago. As far as I could find, the Samoan Islands that became American territories did so willingly (also over 100 years ago). None of those territories is an example of a conquering empire, nor is involvement with our neighbors to the south.
To be fair, America hasn't gained much territory since Teddy Roosevelt (with most of it being gained before him). Almost all of the states and territories were already states and territories by 1901, when he took office. The 1800's were a different story (and when Teddy grew up), but even then, almost all of America's growth was in North America.
Except America gets permission for its military bases, and doesn't use them to control the country they're put in, like Rome or Mongolia did. America also funds its own bases.
Re: Feature: How One Man Saved Kyoto - And Video Games - From The Atomic Bomb
@orangepanda
I don't expect gratitude. I just took offense from him saying America has done nothing worthy of gratitude. America helps people all over the world. We give more aid, government and civilian, humanitarian and military, than any other nation on earth. We develop, and have developed, much of the technology and medicine used in the modern world. America does a lot.
And while bad things have happened in American history, I hold very little shame over them, largely because of context and reparations made.
Also, you mentioned the "US empire" but there really is no such thing. Unlike Japan, who was building an empire, we didn't take land or resources, we gave them. We built partnerships, generally partnerships that were very beneficial for both sides.
Re: Feature: How One Man Saved Kyoto - And Video Games - From The Atomic Bomb
I think the most shocking thing, to me, about this article is the response in the comments. America nuked Japan to end a war that Japan started unprovoked. Of course the loss of life in war is unfortunate, but this was not a war America started, nor was it a war America voluntarily joined. America was brought into the war by Japan, and America finished the war, not just with Japan, but with the Axis powers.
@luke88
The genocide of the Native Americans is very much inflated. As much as 90% of the Native American population died from disease, not war. There are stories of colonists giving infected blankets to Natives to get them sick, but most refer to a strategy employed by British leaders, not American colonists. That's not to say America hasn't killed or mistreated Natives, though. Just that the genocide was actually an epidemic.
Re: Talking Point: My Nintendo's Pros, Cons and Areas for Improvement
I'm quite happy with the Platinum stuff, but I think the Gold coins and their rewards could use some work. Considering how long it takes to get them, I think Gold coins, moreso than Platinum coins, need a longer life than 6 months. I'm sure I'm not the only one who won't hit even 150 in that much time, and you need over 200 to get some rewards. They should also put codes in retail copies of games, like they did with Club Nintendo. As for the actual rewards, I think that the discounts need to be cheapened. Nintendo is actually making money off of your reward when you choose a 30% off coupon (assuming you use it), and I think they should be cheaper than getting a free game, even if they're technically worth more. They also need to add more 3DS games to the reward list. Right now there's just a single Game Boy game, and everything else is for the Wii U (5 games and 2 DLC's). Some people don't have a Wii U, and should have more to choose from, especially since their coins expire so quickly. Those are my biggest complaints at the moment, though it would be great to see some physical rewards alongside the digital ones, too.
Re: Super Smash Bros. Community Yet to Ban Bayonetta in Spain as the Debate Shifts to Tournament Bullying
@Yalaa
As I understand it (I only saw one video about the topic), SSB's community used to be much friendlier, and has gotten much more toxic in recent times.
@Xaessya
Not in my experience. I don't delve deep into all of the communities, but my experience in games Animal Crossing, Pokemon, Mario Maker, and Splatoon (for example) have been overwhelmingly positive. It's rare to see bullying in those communities, and when it does appear, it tends to get shut down.
Re: Super Smash Bros. Community Yet to Ban Bayonetta in Spain as the Debate Shifts to Tournament Bullying
I'm not really into the competitive gaming scene, but apparently bullying is increasingly a problem in the SSB community. As the number of people involved grows, I guess the number of jerks grows with it. It's very unfortunate, because Nintendo communities are usually pretty friendly.
Re: Review: My Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (3DS eShop)
I'm hoping to get both this and WarioWare, but I'm probably going to get WarioWare first (never played Touched before). Usually I'd be concerned with saving my coins, but since they only have a shelf-life of 6 months on My Nintendo, it's basically use them or lose them. I'm eager to see what rewards are added in a few months (it looks like they'll have a quarterly rotation), and if it will become increasingly easy to earn Platinum coins as they release more apps.
Re: International Game Developers Association Issues Critical Statement Over Nintendo and Alison Rapp
"other women game developers"
Alison Rapp was in marketing, not development...
I don't know a ton about this whole situation, but generally my belief is that these things should be gender-blind (and color-blind). From what little I understand about this situation, the problems people had with Alison were her actions (or alleged actions), not her gender. That's also Nintendo's official stance, though supposedly she was fired for different actions (which might have come to light while investigating the accusations made against her). The real question here is whether Alison would have been fired if she were a he, and I believe the answer is yes (it's not like Nintendo hasn't fired men in recent history, after all). As such, all of this "but she's a woman!" nonsense just seems ridiculous to me.
Re: Rumour: New Nintendo NX Controller Images Surface and Set the Web Alight
If this is real, it will be interesting to see how it's used. That said, I don't know how I feel about the virtual buttons. Physical buttons are always better, but I don't think Nintendo would make a controller with sub-par controls (they know better), so maybe they've found a way to make them work.
If this is the handheld as well as, or instead of, the controller, I'll miss the clam shell design Nintendo's been using since the SP. It really helps with portability.
Re: Feature: Ten Game Boy Advance Games You Should Play
Between my old GBA collection and the 3DS Ambassador games, I own most of these. Advance Wars would have to be my favorite from this list. I first played Dual Strike on the DS, and then went back and got the first two (and later on, the 4th). I wish they would make a new one. It's easily one of my favorite portable franchises.
As for my favorites not on this list, I'd have to go with Pokemon (Gen 3 and the remakes) and Drill Dozer, with honorable mentions going to Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town, Mega Man Battle Network 3, and a handful of licensed games (Yu Yu Hakusho, Dragon Ball, Zoids, Duel Masters, etc). I did so enjoy those old anime games.
Re: Video: Watch the Leading US Presidential Candidates Battle It Out in Super Smash Bros.
Interestingly enough, Trump actually beats Cruz with evangelicals fairly often.
This was funnier than I thought it was going to be. My favorite part was probably the "I literally don't know the difference" line about Bernie. I'm still hoping for a 2016 Political Kombat video, though.
Re: Nintendo Issues Statement On Side Quest Changes In Bravely Second
@argh4430
I agree, but there are many people who do want to place blame, and are especially quick to go after Nintendo. As it turns out, Nintendo wasn't responsible for the changes in Bravely Second, and so isn't deserving of any scrutiny that comes from its changes.
Re: Nintendo Issues Statement On Side Quest Changes In Bravely Second
I find it interesting that Nintendo is placing this change squarely at Square's feet. People are often quick to blame Nintendo, especially NoA, when changes are made, because they've changed some things in their own games, but it sounds like in Bravely Second's case it was Square, not Nintendo. I wonder if it was also Square that changed the Tomahawk class, and changed a few of the outfits.
Re: My Nintendo Rewards Start on 17th March in Japan, Alongside Miitomo Launch
The Platinum coins sound kind of like Ubisoft's UPlay. I play a lot of Nintendo games, so that could be cool. The Gold coins, however, don't sound so good. Since they're the ones that come from actual purchases, I'm guessing they're also the ones that get you rewards, like games or posters. My problem there is that it says you have to buy digital versions of games to get Gold coins. Aside from digital-only releases, pretty much all of my purchases are physical retail copies, so I won't be getting many Gold coins. Not cool.
Re: Talking Point: The Popularity of Nintendo Selects, Updates and DLC Expansions Can Change How We Buy Games
I wish Nintendo would expand their Selects range further. There are games like LEGO City Undercover, that have become rare and/or expensive (it's a Select in Europe, but not NA), and there are games like Captain Toad and Mario Tennis, both of which are often considered overpriced by critics because of the small amount of content. A re-release and a price cut would be great for these types of games.
Re: Impressive Fire Emblem Fates Sales Ensure It Makes an Impact on US Charts
"The NPD results, of course, don't reflect on download sales"
I'd be interested in seeing the full numbers for Fates. It, in particular, could have a lot of eshop sales because of the "buy one, get one 50% off" deal. Regardless, this is great news for the future of the Fire Emblem series, which is great news for fans. Maybe Nintendo will even consider another console entry.
Re: Rhapsody is Now Available on the Wii U
Eh, I'd just use Pandora on my Roku if I wanted to listen to music through my TV (it's free). I do most of my listening on either the radio or my phone anyway.
Re: Five Wii U Releases Confirmed for Nintendo Selects Range in Europe
I'm a little jealous of Lego City. America's Nintendo Selects are great games, and I'm glad people will be able to get Pikmin and 3D World at reduced prices, but of all the Wii U games getting discounted, the only one I don't have is NES Remix Pack, which was already a budget priced game at $30. Lego City Undercover is one of few Nintendo (technically 2nd party) games I want but don't have on the Wii U, and it's also one of few games that has gone up in price since release ($50 to $63 on Amazon).
Re: Talking Point: The Latest Nintendo Direct Showed a Renewed - Albeit Temporary - Focus on the Current Generation
@Bolt_Strike
They were linear in how you progressed through the levels, but the levels themselves were usually very open. They were far from "a 2D game, only with a little bit of wiggle room to dodge."
There was a bit more choice about that in Galaxy, but it was closer to 3D World than to Mario 64. The levels themselves were barely less linear than 3D World's.
Generally when you get stuck on a level, it's not because you literally cannot get past it. It's because you have trouble with it, so it takes longer. I don't think I've ever encountered a level where I just thought "well, this is clearly impossible, might as well stop trying".
I didn't say skipping levels was handholding, I said it was arguably worse. It really comes down to optional help, or giving up and moving on. What's worse when facing a hard level, a handicap to help, or a forfeit?
That's exactly the point I was making. If each mission is an episode, each level in Mario 64 is like a season. In 3D World, each level is an episode, and each world is like a season. The difference is that in Mario 64, every episode is an alternate version of the other episodes in the season, whereas every episode in 3D World is completely different from the others. 3D World allows for much more variety, at the expense of bigger, more complex levels to explore. Neither is necessarily the better method.
I want a fresh Mario game too, but I would say that 3D World was itself fresh when it came out. A fresh take on NSMB is probably much less likely, as the whole idea behind the franchise is classic 2D Mario, which is fine, as long as the games are good.
@Action51
And my point was that they don't keep announcing new games for the Wii U. It wasn't three or three dozen. It was one (plus a remake). In more than 8 months. The Wii U's getting a fair number of games this year, but almost all of them have been known since before last year's E3. They're just finally coming out. It's actually the same with the 3DS. Almost every single game coming to the 3DS this year is old news in Japan. There's almost nothing, that we know of, in development. To me, that signifies that both systems will be replaced soon.
Re: Talking Point: The Latest Nintendo Direct Showed a Renewed - Albeit Temporary - Focus on the Current Generation
@Bolt_Strike
"And honestly, I could make the case that 3D Land and 3D World aren't proper 3D games by that definition because they rarely utilize the third dimension, you're mainly being pushed forward the entire level just like a 2D game, only with a little bit of wiggle room to dodge."
There were a few levels like that, but most were big and open, fully using the 3rd dimension. Did you really not play these games?
"Honestly, Galaxy is a much better example of a hybrid style. The levels are linear and obstacle based much like the 2D games, but they still retain the 3D's progression system and sense of freedom."
So they were linear, but still had a sense of freedom? As I remember it, most levels were just going from little planet to little planet, almost in a line.
Level length is relevant when you get stuck. If you're stuck on a short level, you only have to push a short time to get through it. If the level makes up a quarter of the world, like in Mario 64, you have to play it repeatedly, or repeat the other levels even more to make up for it.
The invulnerability power is handholding, which is why I don't use it, but I'd say it's still better than outright skipping the level, which is what you're proposing should be possible.
You could make that comparison, but if 3D World's levels are like episodes, Mario 64's are like entire seasons. You can skip a season here and there, but if you do, you better enjoy the others, because you'll be playing them all the way through, and they cover the same ground in every episode.
"Eh, not really. They can make levels about as big as they are already and still accomplish that. Most of the levels are already open enough to support multiple missions"
What happened to "only with a little bit of wiggle room to dodge"? That said, many of the levels could have offered something small, like a red coin mission, but much more than that would be pushing it. They just weren't designed to accommodate multiple big goals. Besides, there are hidden stars to collect, and there's a reason to collect them: unlocking the hardest level in Mario history (in my experience, anyway).
"That's exactly the problem though, those "extras" are what help new games stand out in the first place. Without them the game is just relying on the same old mechanics as ever which gets old fast."
What you call the "same old mechanics" I would call time-tested gameplay. There's a reason people still play those classic games, even though they've played them numerous times before. They're just that good. 3D Land/World took those polished, much-loved mechanics and applied them to a 3D game. That's what made them stand out.
Re: Editorial: Nintendo's Virtual Console Revolution Must Wait as We Pay Once More for SNES Games
I didn't mind paying a little to upgrade my Wii VC games to the Wii U, because there were in fact new features involved, but I wouldn't have bought them at full price again, and that goes for the 3DS as well. One of the biggest reasons I'm hoping the NX is a hybrid system is a unified library. It's ridiculous that NES games I own on the 3DS can't be played on my Wii U, and vice versa, without another full price purchase. I sincerely hope that the NX, and the new Nintendo account system, fix this. Also, I still want Gamecube games on the VC. Just thought I'd throw that in there.
@Xenocity
That's one of several reasons I don't want a PS4. Sony did so well with cross-buy last gen, but this gen, they're worse than Nintendo.
Re: Talking Point: The Latest Nintendo Direct Showed a Renewed - Albeit Temporary - Focus on the Current Generation
@mjc0961
I disagree. If it had followed that style, it would have been another traditional 3D Mario, erasing almost all traces of any hybridization.
I consider them major successes. While playing them, I really felt like I was somehow playing a 2D game in 3D. The elements you're referring to, while obviously prevalent in early 3D Mario games, aren't what make a game 3D. That would be the 3rd dimension. And I really liked the running in 3D World. It felt fast and sharp. If it hadn't been assigned to a button, it probably would have been slowed down.
Linear level design in 3D Mario started with Galaxy. Most of the levels were entirely about getting from point A to point B, following a set path.
@Bolt_Strike
You do have to beat each level, but they're shorter than the levels of Mario 64 and Sunshine. Even if you get stuck on a level, you don't have to get far to pass it. If you really want to skip it, you can even use the invulnerability power they offer when you die repeatedly. In Mario 64, you could focus on other levels, but in order to play a level you don't like only once, you have to get almost all of the stars on other levels, which means replaying other levels even more so you can play one level less.
In order to make that change the levels would have to be different. More specifically, they'd need to be larger and more complex to support multiple missions and/or hidden stars. That means fewer, longer levels, less variety, and likely required replays.
"The problem with relying on levels to create a different experience is that they don't last long, so they're only really temporary distractions from the issue of repetitive gameplay"
All games are repetitive. They establish mechanics/rules, and use them throughout the game repeatedly, until the end. They use "distractions" like story, varying levels, different characters, increasing difficulty, etc. to make the games interesting despite the fact that you're just shooting, jumping, kicking, slashing, etc over and over.
"the base gameplay of those games is just the same as every other Mario"
That's technically true, but it's important to note that 3D Land/World were the first 3D Mario games to feature that base purely, without the extras (anti-gravity, FLUD, etc). That's a big part of what made them so unique.