Tyranexx

@Froid12 What honestly convinced me to give OTII a future try besides the better reception and ludicrous trade-in discount I received is the excellent OST lol. I randomly stumbled into some songs while listening to a YT video game playlist at work and fell in love. Glad to read that your experience with the second game was much better!

I'm admittedly not sure about this one. I bounced off the first OT after a few hours after being disappointed by the party interaction, how grind-y the game started to feel, and not really falling in love with the gameplay loop as a whole. I did pick up Octopath Traveler II this summer for cheap and do plan to try it since it allegedly fixes some of the first game's issues. That might help determine whether I grab this eventually, though like others I find the towering runtime for just the main story...intimidating. As much as I love RPGs, I have to be very picky about which ones I grab due to how long many of them can run. Not to mention I'm not the fastest reader due to my habit of reading to absorb, not just speeding through text. I feel I miss a lot of interesting details otherwise. Though VA does help.

While I'm definitely NOT a slight FPS drop = bad game person, I'm glad that performance is still excellent on the Switch 1. We'll see how long I can wait to play this until I have a Switch 2, or if I cave....

Yeah....I checked out of this awards show years ago and have learned to catch any relevant news after the fact. Too long for its own good, WAY too bloated with ads and sponsorships (I understand why, but it still gets tiresome), a general bias towards Western games when I feel it should be more balanced globally, I think there should be more weight towards audience picks/voting, interrupted speeches....Need I go on?

I'm expecting Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to sweep a lot of categories this year, deservedly so from what I've heard. I do hope other deserving games get some spotlight time.

I would love to see a faithful remaster, HD-2D or otherwise. But this game does NOT need the remake treatment. It's nearly perfect as is...at least based off the DS version I've played. I feel really lucky finding it for $15 new off Square Enix's website years ago when they still manufactured their own DS cartridges.

Great review! As always, folks need to remember each review contains at least some degree of subjectivity. I've seen/read enough that I plan to grab this when I grab a Switch 2....Though there's no guarantee I won't cave before that point lol.

Kind of tempting, but I'm still holding out for either a special edition console or a light revision. Though a different pack-in game may sway me. This isn't a knock against MKW as I do intend to play it eventually, but I'm very casual when it comes to Mario Kart and prefer other Nintendo franchises.

I've been meaning to get back into the AC series sometime - the most recent title I've played is Black Flag - but to be honest the open world bloat I've read about in more recent entries is off-putting. If I do, I'll try the newer games and on PC. Though I'll admit the Steam Machine buzz has me curious....

XC2 is admittedly my least favorite of the main four Xenoblade titles (as of this writing). What it does well, it does VERY well, but there are enough design and gameplay decisions that make it hard for me to revisit without some streamlining and QoL improvements (Poor mechanic tutorials, requiring field skills for main story progression, the Blade gacha system, tying a certain character's upgrades to an arbitrary mini-game, more fan service than I care for including a couple scenes I found pointless, not funny). I much prefer the Torna: The Golden Country prequel for its better combat, more focused character approach, it contains one of my favorite series protagonists (Lora), and frankly I did enjoy the Community system.

That said, the Xenoblade series sets a VERY high bar, so this game is still very much worth playing. It tells a decent story, has some great character interactions and development, neat environments with the different Titans, and ties into the other games well.

I'll admit I'm unsure about interacting with these Galactic Federation characters in the game, but I'm trying to keep an open mind about it. The game isn't out yet, and I'd rather judge for myself. I'm not against having side characters as long as they aren't 1. constant, and 2. the pervading atmosphere the series is known for isn't lost. Hopefully they have more character development than most of the forces in Other M (I'd honestly love to see Anthony again). I really enjoyed the other bounty hunters in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption; they didn't feel very intrusive and had some great themes IMO.

I'm gradually getting snowed in on this blessedly long 4-day weekend - it's very rare I'm off work this long - so I intend to continue with the following while knocking a couple chapters out of Batman: Dark Victory. Unfortunately, I'll have to dig out sometime later today.

• Dragon Quest I HD-2D Remake (Switch) - I just procured the sunup syrup. Now to deliver it to cure some swamp sickness! And hopefully score the Magic Key soon. Definitely enjoying my playthrough even if I'm starting to miss having a full party. 19 mini medals found.
• Hades (Switch) - 5 successful escape attempts so far out of roughly 55 runs. The Bone Hydra is now officially "Lernie" lol. I'm still enjoying the game and intend to see it through to the credits, but I'm starting to get the itch to move on. Despite occasional dialogue changes, it's starting to feel very repetitive.
• Pokemon Go - Pikipek Community Day is tomorrow, though I'm not sure if I'll be able to participate between the weather and nephew-sitting. I'll probably activate an incense at the very least. What I wouldn't give for six hour time ranges again....

Stay warm all! Or cool, if you're on the flip side of the planet. Happy gaming!

@Wisps I agree. While I'm glad there are different difficulty options, I'm not a fan of locking them behind completion barriers. Even masochist settings like Lunatic in some Fire Emblem titles.

I like options. That way, people can experience the game however they see fit.

@Anti-Matter I believe many of the bugs were patched and the game was rebalanced in other regions. At least according to my phone searches when I was finally off a plane.

I did just double check before replying, and apparently there was a version 1.1 release in NA that fixed the issues and was then released elsewhere. Apparently I ended up with a used 1.0 cartridge. Not a big deal since I did finish the game and am aware of the issues I can face.

I played this game years after release. I love the atmosphere, general brevity (Compared to the later entries I've played; I'm gradually playing the series in chronological order and have made it through Dream Team) and character interactions in this game. I agree with the article that the babies are endearing and aren't NEARLY as annoying as I thought they would be; Mario's cries from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island still haunt me. The dynamics between both sets of Bros. are pretty neat too. I revisited the ending recently during a test hardware day and found Luigi/Baby Luigi's interaction particularly heartwarming. The game handles time travel in a middling way, but there are worse examples out there that touch the topic.

I do kind of agree with the boss bloat complaints, though they are made out to be worse than they are IMO. The main thing is that the North American version has a few known bugs. I ran into a soft lock early in the game and had no clue how to address it. It was during the Hammer Bros. tutorial for the babies. I was on a plane and had no Internet access. Thankfully, resetting from the last save fixed it.

I do wish this game had received the remaster treatment afforded to SS and BIS since it needed it most IMO. Despite its flaws, PIT is my second favorite M&L game after Superstar Saga since I felt Bowser's Inside Story kinda sagged in the middle and was drawn out near the end, and I agree Dream Team had too much bloat. Plus, I'm REALLY not a fan of giant battles in either game, though I've only played the 3DS release of the former.

Probably the only acquisition news that doesn't make me sadly sigh. Anachronism's comment has the sum of it IMO.

Now we just need a Mega Man Legends Collection and a type of "forgotten hits" collection.

Can't say I expected any tempting Switch 2 deals this early in the console's lifespan. I waited over two years for a V2 Switch 1 deal I found agreeable.

There ARE some great Switch 1 game deals, at least in the US. Amazon US still has the Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster Collection discounted to $40 for anyone interested. And Unicorn Overlord is down to $25. Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection, $22.75. Princess Peach: Showtime! is down to $30 at Target instead of Nintendo's advertised $40 discount, but availability seems limited at this time. All physical.

Definitely one of the better NSO updates in recent memory IMO. I've never seen Bionic Commando in action before. Gotta say, that grapple/swing animation is pretty slick for its time.

I honestly forgot this was out so soon until I saw it in the Nintendo Today app. I'll pick this up down the line when it hopefully gets a slight discount.

Glad this has finally been addressed on the Switch 2. I have NieR: Automata backlogged on Switch but have yet to play it. And hopefully support on future Nintendo consoles as well. I really hope Nintendo has figured out the whole account system thing and allows purchases to carry over.

@Spider-Kev I should mention we don't own these locations; they're customers we offer technician and collection services to. Our employees follow set routes and hit up each location periodically or else are summoned by service call. They need to record what they do electronically, which isn't always easy based on the location and their technical know-how. No drinking I know of...while on the clock anyway.

Gotta make sure the ultra-stable 3DS still one-ups the Switch family, it seems.

I ran across the source article last night and found it disconcerting, to say the least. It's reminiscent of the GPU scarcity and price hikes during the crypto mining boom back in 2017-2018 and again during the peak COVID years. Hopefully this too is temporary and both supply and demand even out soon. I'm holding out since I 1. Have no Switch 2 yet and 2. Am hoping there will be cheaper deals by then. Storage typically goes down in price over time. Crazy times we live in though.

@Spider-Kev I really do think some people overestimate fast, reliable Internet access in some areas. Both urban and rural. Especially when monopolies, transportation, infrastructure issues, and affordability are concerned. I have amazing internet where I currently live, but my parents and brother? They're lucky to even get broadband access (and the speed is...terrible to say the least. Less than 1 MB/s during peak hours), and any solutions they've looked into are pricey, subject to weather, and have data caps. They'd love to stop paying for expensive satellite TV but can't reliably stream anything.

Another example is job related. The software I work on needs an offline solution for some of our employees when they work at some rural bars and other offbeat areas. Some of these areas do NOT have reliable Internet or even cell coverage.

As someone who lives in NA but wasn't quite on the scene yet to give orders regarding the buttons....I have no idea why the NA SNES buttons are less colorful. I've wished we had the EU design ever since first seeing it.

That said, I'm biased for box art geared towards what a potential player can DO, so I voted NA. Japan nearly got my vote with its abstract approach. EU's wouldn't be bad if it wasn't for the age ratings clogging the left side.

@D-Star92 I intentionally waited until the HD-2D remakes released before diving into the early DQ titles. Well worth the wait for any classic JRPG fans IMO. Looking forward to your DQ XI report when you're ready.

@D-Star92 Thanks! DQ III was back in May or June I think. Loved it, about to fire up DQ I actually. It's the shortest main series game, so I thought it would be perfect to play between completing Pokemon Scarlet's main campaign and the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC. I love that you're considering picking up DQ XI S again; whether you start a new game or continue your current file is up to you. If it's been a very long time, I'd be tempted to start a new file.

@Kraven I agree with your pastor; you and your wife are definitely going through a season. That is a string of unfortunate happenings. My sympathies regarding your MIL, and I wish you a speedy, comfortable as possible recovery. It's time like these where I think indulging in our hobbies in a healthy way can really shine.

@Mariotag Yep. I get not constantly discounting something, but a couple sales a year wouldn't hurt.

I reached the end credits in Pokemon Scarlet and did what I wanted of the non-DLC post game. I'm taking a short break before I tackle the DLC to avoid burnout. In the meantime, I've switched gears to:

• Dragon Quest I HD-2D Remake (Switch) - I've been dying to play this ever since wrapping up Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake earlier this year. I'm only a couple hours in and am currently exploring the NW part of the map before moving the plot along. I know the story is barebones compared to...most RPGs that came later, but I'm enjoying myself. Classic JRPG comfort food at its finest.
• Hades (Switch) - Still my side game and one I periodically jump in and out of. Runs take longer than they used to, which is good! It means I've progressed further. But it also means I can't get through a run quickly unless I intentionally let Zag die. I don't like stopping the game mid-run. First world problems, I know.
• The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog (PC) - I'm in a whodunnit mood, so I plan to play through this short game (according to HLTB) this afternoon. Never played it before, but the game seems well-received. Plus, it's free.

Happy American Thanksgiving this coming week to all who celebrate it! Have a good weekend, and may your gaming be merry.

@Mariotag Unfortunately, Nintendo related DLC doesn't seem to go on sale much in my experience. I typically wait for bundles (less likely) or use gift cards or credit towards a purchase. Though I rarely buy DLC to begin with.

@kal_el_07241 Hence why I'd like to see digital sales from Nintendo as well. I don't pay attention to the FPS genre since I learned years ago that it isn't my thing (the closest I willingly get is with the Metroid Prime titles), but I was under the impression Battlefield is one of the more popular franchises.

@Mariotag Sounds like you're close to finishing the base game.

Love to see Donkey Kong Bananza getting some recognition! Especially in the loaded year that has been 2025. A day one buy for me when I get a Switch 2.

Man do I wish Nintendo shared digital sales as well. I'd love a look at the full picture. Not that I'd expect it to beat a big game like Battlefield since it's such a juggernaut franchise, but I like my data lol.

I'm holding out in case there's a full cart with DLC included in the future. I also want this on Switch 2 and am trying to wait until I buy one. Besides, I just now got to Pokemon Scarlet. Wrapped up the main game to my satisfaction but still need to play through the DLC.

Nothing new on the digital front for me this week. Keeping an eye on holiday sales for titles already out. Like @Divide_and_Wander, I caved for the Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster collection from Amazon. $39.99 was too good to pass on.

This is one of the very few cases where I think the GKC format - since the max Switch 2 cart size is 64GB as of this writing - makes sense. But this still means the consumer must choose how to manage digital storage. For me, this means playing this on a different platform where large capacity storage is cheaper.

I've heard very good things about Tales of Berseria. I've yet to play a Tales game, but I should probably get to one of the two backlogged titles I DO own (Tales of the Abyss on 3DS and Tales of Vesperia on Switch) before picking up more.

It looks really cool, but I can't help but think it reminds me of Luxray. Was expecting more than just a single new Mega, so hopefully we get a bit more from the news drop in two weeks.

I never played Kirby Air Ride since I never had GameCube access, but this sequel definitely has me intrigued. I hope there are more demos down the line for those of us who are on the fence but don't own a Switch 2 yet. I like racing games, but I'm very selective about which ones I grab since they typically don't hold my attention long.

That said, I know this is a long-awaited sequel and hope everyone jumping in at or near launch has an amazing time. I've read some great feedback so far.

@D-Star92 I'd at least like to try Double Dash for its unique two character mechanics. I don't believe such a thing has been tried in the series since.

@DennisReynolds A fair point regarding GOTY last year. However, overall it seems Western games often sweep many of the TGA categories in my experience. Not that there aren't Western games that deserve recognition, more that I've felt - historically at least - this particular awards show has lacked some visibility for games developed outside this sphere.

2025 HAS been a stacked year. Especially the latter half IMO.

@OwenGamer22 I tend to favor shorter RPGs and action/adventure titles as well for the most part, though I do definitely have my favorite series that can be on the longer side. Such as Xenoblade, Dragon Quest (later entries), and the BotW/TotK Zelda universe. While I don't dislike open world as a concept, I wish there wasn't a trend where most games went that direction for awhile.

I about guarantee Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will sweep most of the categories it's part of. From what I've heard, the game really deserves it. I'd love to play it, but I don't own a platform at this time that the game is on or can sufficiently run it.

As usual, the Western bias is strong with TGA. I haven't tuned in for a few years now. WAY too much fluff and advertising in the event for my liking, and that's ignoring other well-known issues over time that popped up.

Everything looks as I'd expect it to. Still cautiously optimistic about this movie and trying to keep an open mind about it.

A nonstarter for me unfortunately since I have no need for additional desk clutter. I manage everything at work in Microsoft Outlook. The only calendar I keep at home hangs on the wall in my kitchen. Wish I could buy one of these in that format instead.

@D-Star92 I would like to try more of the older games sometime just to check them out, likely through NSO should I ever switch to the expansion pass lol. But I do think sticking with the modern MK entries works best for me.

@D-Star92 Kinda like picking a favorite child then? Some seem to love World, others seem to prefer 8 Deluxe. I honestly think I would enjoy Mario Kart World on Switch 2 for the free roam and stuff to do in the overworld. From the sidelines, it does seem like it has less tracks than MK8D, but for all we know the track count in MKW will be added to with DLC.

I've tried a couple older Mario Kart games, more notably the first one on SNES (3DS VC). While it's a good history lesson and started the series, it hasn't aged well. Mario Kart is indeed one of those series where you're better playing newer entries IMO.

I went the currently unpopular route and voted for Japan. Less is more in this case, plus I like the kinetic poses more.

I'd never heard of this series until the 3DS days. Presumably because it's less popular this side of either large pond.

@D-Star92 I think I'd enjoy Disney Illusion Island since I like Disney (many of the properties, not the current corporate entity) and Metroidvanias. I kinda forgot about the trial when it was live. I'll probably grab the game sometime.

Glad you also were able to revisit Mario Kart World! Do you prefer it or Mario Kart 8 Deluxe? Or even a different Mario Kart?

@D-Star92 I hope you can score the white conductor outfit at some point! I hope you enjoy Disney Illusion Island too. I missed out on the trial unfortunately.

@D-Star92 Hang in there! Remember you are valued and loved. Enjoy all those conductor hats, and don't spend too many Bells.

@Yalloo Happy birth-aversary!