@Ulysses I would love to try a battle format like what you're suggesting! Different Pokemon combos would be very fun to play around with. I'm surprised, with all the Pokemon spinoffs churned out these days, that some sort of RTS or tactical RPG hasn't surfaced since Pokemon Conquest.
Welp, 45 minutes + the usual start time pushes this out of watch territory for me thanks to work, so I'll have to catch the news later. Still, at least it's an actual Nintendo Direct!
Okay, while Drag X Drive definitely isn't my thing (no Switch 2 yet anyway), a 1 - Abysmal score? Really? So this means the game is buggy as heck, is sub-10 FPS, has terrible, janky controls, explains itself poorly, and crashes every five seconds?
Objectivity is clearly beyond some people. Or they're trolling.
While I'm glad something like this is coming, I hope it isn't TOO soon. They need to cool it on the expansion releases a little so that collector types like yours truly can reach at least regular card completion on the older sets.
This actually looks pretty fun! I like when they experiment with different ways of battling. I weirdly miss both Triple and Rotation battles, for example.
Very busy - but great! - weekend as promised last time (concert + other goings-on), so very little traditional gaming. I'm in the home stretches of both Mario & Luigi: Dream Team and Ys IX: Monstrum Nox though!
Tl;Dr - I'm pretty excited about what we do know about this game so far and am eager to dive into it sometime.
I agree with @Late on this one regarding the negativity. I'm not expecting a game that'll knock my socks off and sweep my personal GOTY rankings, but this preview has genuinely excited me when it comes to Pokemon Legends: Z-A's combat system. I loved Pokemon Legends: Arceus; the game was a genuine breath of fresh air for the series and was probably my favorite game since Sun/Moon (mostly for story reasons, plus I love Team Skull). Though that pair didn't trump the series highs found in Gens 4 and 5 IMO. I also still haven't played my copy of Scarlet since I may now wait until I have a Switch 2.
On paper, I don't mind the urban setting either. While I agree cities can feel kinda soulless in Pokemon games - a lot of it is mostly filler with the exception of the excellent Join Avenue in BW2 - and do tend to prefer more natural environments and vistas overall, I'm okay with playing games that shake this trope up. I'm near the home stretch of Ys IX and have loved exploring the city of Balduq...though I will concede there are some areas outside of the city the party can now explore. Which PL:ZA could very well do. TWEWY's setting was also refreshing in this regard.
While neat to see - Capcom indeed has some heavy hitting, well-received franchises - I'd also like updates on Mega Man and the Ace Attorney series. I'm quite a fan of the RPG takes of the former and have fallen head over heels for the latter. Hoping to start Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor's Gambit once I wrap up my current gaming slate.
I WOULD be open to trying Dragon's Dogma II should I obtain a reliable means to play it.
Zelda is my favorite video game franchise, so I'm REALLY trying to keep an open mind about this one. They may surprise me. Hollywood doesn't have the best history with live action video game adaptations though. I've found animated movies tend to do better in this sector.
"I still need a Switch 2". Even if I had one, it would have been "I'm not interested". Drag X Drive looks like a game I'd try for a few minutes, then never touch again. Not really into sports games.
I bought this one on the Wii U VC before the eShop closed and still haven't got to it. It's the only Paper Mario game I haven't played...unless you count some rumblings about a fabled vaporware 3DS entry.
I fully intend to get to this game sometime soon! I've found all the others range from sorta decent to amazing. Heck, I loved the writing in Color Splash so much that I seriously considered keeping it if not for the atrocious battle system. Same story with The Origami King, though a certain segment involving Toads in CS puts that one over TOK for me.
NA in spades. It shows the characters, has a great color palette range that gives a hint at the ensuing chaos, and is a more fun design in general. Japan's is...okay...but way too subdued for the series IMO.
For Christmas one year in my early teens, I received a DS and WarioWare: Touched! among a couple other games. I also contracted pneumonia over the break, and let me tell you....This series can lead to some CRAZY fever dreams.
@MarioVillager92 I am definitely expecting Mina The Hollower to be challenging lol. I nearly dropped Shovel Knight for a reason, but I persevered after a break. Glad you really enjoyed your time with the demo! Sounds like it's short and sweet.
My weekends are varying degrees of busy up through the last weekend of this fine August, so not as much gaming time as I'd like. This one isn't too bad overall, but I'm not even sure I'll have time to post next week.
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox (Switch) - I'm at the start of Chapter 8. Some VERY crazy happenings closed out Chapter 7 last night, so I'm eager to see what happens next...after I get some side quests out of the way first. More strife may be coming to the city of Balduq, but not if the Monstrums have anything to say about it! I am starting to see the Switch's limitations for this one. Some major frame drops in one section, and I encountered a couple crashes in another.
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team - I think I'm mostly through Somnom Woods. I just found the last puzzle piece I need to get to the temple in order to use the Ultibed to revive the Zeekeeper. I've heard this fight is infamous for being difficult thanks to wonky controls, so we'll see if it's my limit....
Mina The Hollower demo (Switch) - Not sure if I'll get to it this weekend or over the next week, but I'm eager to try the only game that really caught my eye during the Indie Direct.
This sounds like it would be down my alley...if I didn't have way too many games already lol. I might grab this in the future.
I used to be quite an avid reader and have a "Booklog". But I often don't get many opportunities to read outside of weekends these days. Usually because I need a very quiet environment. The idea is to read a little before bedtime, but I often zonk out before getting far.
Eh, 4/10. There was more for me in the Partner Direct. I give the Indie World points for variety, but nothing screamed "I must play this YESTERDAY!" at me. I will DL the Mina The Hollower demo soon, though that's one we already knew about. It's the only game I genuinely have some excitement for.
The only new announcements I'll keep half an eye on are Herdling and Glaciered. I probably wouldn't necessarily dislike Is This Seat Taken? if I didn't suspect it would quickly annoy me. The rest I can safely pass on.
This game has been on my eShop wishlist for awhile. I'm waiting for the right time and a significant discount before grabbing it. Plus, my recent Stray playthrough has scratched my feline itch for a bit lol. Still, I'm glad I held out this long for a significant update!
Frankly, this was one of three games that interested me in the entire Direct - the others are Herdling and Glaciered. I'll definitely give the demo a spin later. I was getting some serious Zelda and Castlevania vibes from the gameplay and setting. I just hope dying isn't as punishing as in Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope.
I joked about Knight of Hollowing in yesterday's Indie World article, but I do think fans would appreciate some info.
As for me, as usual I'll keep my expectations low. That's probably partly why I wasn't disappointed by the Partner Direct. I would like more info on Hades II and would love to see Blue Prince show on Nintendo platforms.
@OctolingKing13 Thank you for mentioning Haunted Chocolatier! I completely forgot about that one. It's definitely more up my alley than Stardew Valley (Which is an excellent game; I'm just not into farm sims).
I never personally clicked with this game but did play/finish it on the SNES Classic. I think my main problems were the over hype, pacing, and Baby Mario's incessant crying. Never has an infant annoyed me so much. In real life OR gaming.
I do quite like the visuals and acknowledge this game does have many fans. I will always prefer Super Mario World for what I consider to be a tighter and way less annoying experience.
@link3710 Apologies....It's still very much breakfast time in my time zone lol. They sound very good, and I had that famous Kirby Cafe in mind earlier.
Totally, 1000%, definitely sure Silksong will appear in this one. My uncle's cousin's wife's younger brother who works at Nintendo told me. Via private conversation while we played Metroid Prime 4: Beyond over cups of tea and Kirby-shaped bread rolls.
I'm finally getting to this article two days after the fact. Busy weekends will do that.
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales was a clear standout to me in the Partner Direct. I love Alana's impressions in this piece; I almost wish I had a Switch 2 just to try out the demo! I'll probably settle for some gameplay videos on YouTube.
I personally like the HD-2D style, though I can see how it can get tiring for those who might play games that use the aesthetic a lot. There's usually enough of a gap between what I play of them that I don't mind.
I also don't get the grief over the title. There are many games with similar and/or weirder naming conventions. Especially from this team. Or maybe I'm just used to video game names having all kinds of crazy origins.
Is this really noteworthy? Wouldn't games periodically be delayed until a later broadcast/announcement or sent to the cutting room floor if quietly canceled?
I thought the Partner Direct was somewhat decent. Sure, it could have used more bang, but I came out of it with several announcements I'm happy or at least curious about. I can see how it was more on the disappointing side for those who aren't into RPGs, however.
I don't think I've ever slammed Japan's poll option faster. Neither is great, but at least Japan's visuals are easier on the eyes. NA/EU looks like it was pulled out of Mordor.
While Pokemon The Movie 2000 doesn't quite beat out the first movie in my book, I love it for showcasing the legendary birds and the fact that it gave us a beautiful, haunting theme for my favorite aquatic legendary Pokemon.
Busy weekend, so I'm keeping this short. I'm still playing Ys IX: Monstrum Nox on the Switch (At the start of Chapter 6; working on side quests to help get to the new area) and Mario & Luigi: Dream Team on 3DS (Found all Ultibed parts to awaken the Zeekeeper and am now searching for the imaginatively named Bedsmith).
Thanks to this week's Partner Direct, I realized I have yet to play Monster Hunter Stories 2. I downloaded the Switch demo and plan to try it before deciding to buy the full game.
I don't think this is a bad list at all. Quite a spread of different genres IMO. My only issue is the lack of release dates for many of these. It's telling when most of the games I've earmarked on my calendar are third-party release dates.
I thought yesterday's Partner Direct was somewhat decent but do agree it needed more bang. We are overdue for a full Nintendo Direct. Hopefully one shows up in August or September for sure.
Crazy Switch 2 numbers in such a short period; I'd say this counts as a successful launch. Some great numbers for the evergreen Switch 1 as well. I'll join the Switch 2 crowd eventually, but I'm waiting for a special console edition and/or a light revision. Besides, the only currently available Switch 2 only games I'd grab day one are Donkey Kong Bananza and Cyberpunk 2077.
As for the main topic in the comment section....There are some good points being made from multiple angles. I've said my piece elsewhere regarding GKCs and don't feel like beating a dead Ponyta this morning. All I'll say is I don't like where the media industries are going as a whole when it comes to consumer rights.
I'm glad there is a free Switch 2 performance update. The best reason I can figure as to why they aren't doing this for upcoming releases is because Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake launched late last year when the Switch 2 wasn't out in the wild. So there likely isn't an official Switch 2 version planned.
I'm a bit disappointed that the new Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake trailer didn't appear in today's Direct. Would have loved to see it during the presentation.
6/10 Direct for me. Somewhat decent overall, though the middle sagged quite a bit IMO. I can see how those who don't care for a lot of RPGs would find it worse though.
New announcements I'll keep an eye on:
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection
Once Upon A Katamari
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales
Octopath Traveler 0
Games we knew about already that I'm excited for:
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
Due to...those...I'll likely pick most of these up on the Switch 1 when possible. Otherwise, I'll likely go the digital route or buy on a different platform.
This one was a pleasant surprise. I'll be keeping an eye on it. I'd like to try the demo, but I don't have a Switch 2 yet. Looking forward to learning more!
I'm keeping an eye out for more information on this one and may pick it up on the Switch 1 if I like what I see. I bounced off the first Octopath Traveler pretty early once I realized 1. How much grinding was involved, and 2. party interaction was almost non-existent. I did add Octopath Traveler II to my backlog recently after finding it for a good price, so that'll help determine if this series is actually for me going forward.
Man....I was waiting with baited breath for a release date. I'll take the eye candy at least! I enjoy Musou games and am interested in diving more into this ancient version of Hyrule and hopefully learning more about the Zonai.
I'll take more Katamari! I enjoyed the Switch ports of both Katamari Damacy REROLL and, more recently, We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie. I've heard the series kinda went downhill after the original first two non remakes, so hopefully this game breaks that trend.
Started the Direct off with a bang! I'm really looking forward to this one. I enjoyed the first game back on the 3DS. I still need to try Monster Hunter Stories 2 sometime. Still not sure if I want it on Switch or PC.
Comments 9,076
Re: Pokémon Legends: Z-A Unveils New Multiplayer Battle Mode For Up To Four Trainers
@Ulysses I would love to try a battle format like what you're suggesting! Different Pokemon combos would be very fun to play around with. I'm surprised, with all the Pokemon spinoffs churned out these days, that some sort of RTS or tactical RPG hasn't surfaced since Pokemon Conquest.
Re: Kirby Air Riders Direct Revealed for Tomorrow, 19th August 2025
Welp, 45 minutes + the usual start time pushes this out of watch territory for me thanks to work, so I'll have to catch the news later. Still, at least it's an actual Nintendo Direct!
Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Drag x Drive?
Okay, while Drag X Drive definitely isn't my thing (no Switch 2 yet anyway), a 1 - Abysmal score? Really? So this means the game is buggy as heck, is sub-10 FPS, has terrible, janky controls, explains itself poorly, and crashes every five seconds?
Objectivity is clearly beyond some people. Or they're trolling.
Re: Pokémon TCG Pocket's Next Expansion Introduces A Mega Mix-Up
While I'm glad something like this is coming, I hope it isn't TOO soon. They need to cool it on the expansion releases a little so that collector types like yours truly can reach at least regular card completion on the older sets.
Re: Pokémon Legends: Z-A Unveils New Multiplayer Battle Mode For Up To Four Trainers
This actually looks pretty fun! I like when they experiment with different ways of battling. I weirdly miss both Triple and Rotation battles, for example.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (16th August)
Very busy - but great! - weekend as promised last time (concert + other goings-on), so very little traditional gaming. I'm in the home stretches of both Mario & Luigi: Dream Team and Ys IX: Monstrum Nox though!
Re: Feature: 32 Games We're Dying To See On Switch 2
I'd like to see a lot of these show up on the Switch 2, but since I can ONLY pick 5....
Re: First Impressions: Pokémon Legends: Z-A Is An Attempt To Catch The Hardcore Again
Tl;Dr - I'm pretty excited about what we do know about this game so far and am eager to dive into it sometime.
I agree with @Late on this one regarding the negativity. I'm not expecting a game that'll knock my socks off and sweep my personal GOTY rankings, but this preview has genuinely excited me when it comes to Pokemon Legends: Z-A's combat system. I loved Pokemon Legends: Arceus; the game was a genuine breath of fresh air for the series and was probably my favorite game since Sun/Moon (mostly for story reasons, plus I love Team Skull). Though that pair didn't trump the series highs found in Gens 4 and 5 IMO. I also still haven't played my copy of Scarlet since I may now wait until I have a Switch 2.
On paper, I don't mind the urban setting either. While I agree cities can feel kinda soulless in Pokemon games - a lot of it is mostly filler with the exception of the excellent Join Avenue in BW2 - and do tend to prefer more natural environments and vistas overall, I'm okay with playing games that shake this trope up. I'm near the home stretch of Ys IX and have loved exploring the city of Balduq...though I will concede there are some areas outside of the city the party can now explore. Which PL:ZA could very well do. TWEWY's setting was also refreshing in this regard.
Re: Pokémon Scalpers Set Their Sights On World Championships Merch
Re: Oops, Bandai Namco May Have Leaked The Next 'Tales' Series Remaster
I still need to dip my toe into this series. I have both Tales of the Abyss (3DS) and Tales of Vesperia (Switch) backlogged. With others wishlisted.
Re: Capcom 'Platinum Titles' Sales Update - Monster Hunter, Resident Evil And More
While neat to see - Capcom indeed has some heavy hitting, well-received franchises - I'd also like updates on Mega Man and the Ace Attorney series. I'm quite a fan of the RPG takes of the former and have fallen head over heels for the latter. Hoping to start Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor's Gambit once I wrap up my current gaming slate.
I WOULD be open to trying Dragon's Dogma II should I obtain a reliable means to play it.
Re: The Legend Of Zelda Movie's Official Social Media Account Goes Live
Zelda is my favorite video game franchise, so I'm REALLY trying to keep an open mind about this one. They may surprise me. Hollywood doesn't have the best history with live action video game adaptations though. I've found animated movies tend to do better in this sector.
Re: Poll: So, Will You Be Getting The Switch 2's Next Exclusive 'Drag x Drive'?
"I still need a Switch 2". Even if I had one, it would have been "I'm not interested". Drag X Drive looks like a game I'd try for a few minutes, then never touch again. Not really into sports games.
Re: Anniversary: Paper Mario First Unfolded On N64 25 Years Ago
I bought this one on the Wii U VC before the eShop closed and still haven't got to it. It's the only Paper Mario game I haven't played...unless you count some rumblings about a fabled vaporware 3DS entry.
I fully intend to get to this game sometime soon! I've found all the others range from sorta decent to amazing. Heck, I loved the writing in Color Splash so much that I seriously considered keeping it if not for the atrocious battle system. Same story with The Origami King, though a certain segment involving Toads in CS puts that one over TOK for me.
Re: McDonald's Japan Pulls Happy Meal Pokémon Cards Early, And Fans Blame Scalpers
Already plenty of McRibbing in the comments about that subheading, I see. XD
On a serious note....Talk about wasteful, shameful behavior. I thought this was more of a Western issue, but it appears I was wrong.
Re: Poll: Box Art Brawl - Duel: WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!
NA in spades. It shows the characters, has a great color palette range that gives a hint at the ensuing chaos, and is a more fun design in general. Japan's is...okay...but way too subdued for the series IMO.
For Christmas one year in my early teens, I received a DS and WarioWare: Touched! among a couple other games. I also contracted pneumonia over the break, and let me tell you....This series can lead to some CRAZY fever dreams.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (9th August)
@MarioVillager92 I am definitely expecting Mina The Hollower to be challenging lol. I nearly dropped Shovel Knight for a reason, but I persevered after a break. Glad you really enjoyed your time with the demo! Sounds like it's short and sweet.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (9th August)
My weekends are varying degrees of busy up through the last weekend of this fine August, so not as much gaming time as I'd like. This one isn't too bad overall, but I'm not even sure I'll have time to post next week.
Happy gaming!
Re: Mini Review: Tiny Bookshop (Switch) - The Epitome Of Cosy, Perfect For Bookworms
This sounds like it would be down my alley...if I didn't have way too many games already lol. I might grab this in the future.
I used to be quite an avid reader and have a "Booklog". But I often don't get many opportunities to read outside of weekends these days. Usually because I need a very quiet environment. The idea is to read a little before bedtime, but I often zonk out before getting far.
Re: Gallery: Here's A Closer Look At The Super Mario Wood Block Sets, Doubling As amiibo
I should probably keep a set around my house. Y'know, for when my toddler nephew comes to visit.
Re: Gallery: Nintendo Shows Off Its New 'My Mario' Product Line
My goodness are these cute! I have a new niece or nephew arriving near Christmas, so I might see if I can arrange a future Mario-centric gift.
Congrats to the new and soon-to-be parents in the comments!
Re: Futuristic Deep Sea Adventure 'Glaciered', Swims Onto Switch 2 This Winter
I'm keeping an eye on this one. I like the unique premise but will need some convincing when it comes to gameplay.
Re: Nintendo Download: 7th August (North America)
No purchases for me, but I will download the Mina The Hollower demo!
Re: Nintendo Indie World Showcase August 2025 - Every Announcement, Game Reveal & Trailer
Eh, 4/10. There was more for me in the Partner Direct. I give the Indie World points for variety, but nothing screamed "I must play this YESTERDAY!" at me. I will DL the Mina The Hollower demo soon, though that's one we already knew about. It's the only game I genuinely have some excitement for.
The only new announcements I'll keep half an eye on are Herdling and Glaciered. I probably wouldn't necessarily dislike Is This Seat Taken? if I didn't suspect it would quickly annoy me. The rest I can safely pass on.
Re: Little Kitty, Big City Will Soon Let You Customise Your Cat And Snap Adorable Pictures Of Them
This game has been on my eShop wishlist for awhile. I'm waiting for the right time and a significant discount before grabbing it. Plus, my recent Stray playthrough has scratched my feline itch for a bit lol. Still, I'm glad I held out this long for a significant update!
Re: 'Mina The Hollower', Yacht Club's Retro Zelda-Inspired Adventure, Scores Switch 2 Release Date
Frankly, this was one of three games that interested me in the entire Direct - the others are Herdling and Glaciered. I'll definitely give the demo a spin later. I was getting some serious Zelda and Castlevania vibes from the gameplay and setting. I just hope dying isn't as punishing as in Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope.
Re: Talking Point: Nintendo Indie World Showcase Predictions - What Do You Hope To See?
I joked about Knight of Hollowing in yesterday's Indie World article, but I do think fans would appreciate some info.
As for me, as usual I'll keep my expectations low. That's probably partly why I wasn't disappointed by the Partner Direct. I would like more info on Hades II and would love to see Blue Prince show on Nintendo platforms.
@OctolingKing13 Thank you for mentioning Haunted Chocolatier! I completely forgot about that one. It's definitely more up my alley than Stardew Valley (Which is an excellent game; I'm just not into farm sims).
Re: Anniversary: No Way Is Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island 30 Years Old Already
I never personally clicked with this game but did play/finish it on the SNES Classic. I think my main problems were the over hype, pacing, and Baby Mario's incessant crying. Never has an infant annoyed me so much. In real life OR gaming.
I do quite like the visuals and acknowledge this game does have many fans. I will always prefer Super Mario World for what I consider to be a tighter and way less annoying experience.
Re: Surprise! Nintendo Announces Indie World Showcase For Thursday 7th August 2025
@link3710 Apologies....It's still very much breakfast time in my time zone lol. They sound very good, and I had that famous Kirby Cafe in mind earlier.
Re: Surprise! Nintendo Announces Indie World Showcase For Thursday 7th August 2025
Totally, 1000%, definitely sure Silksong will appear in this one. My uncle's cousin's wife's younger brother who works at Nintendo told me. Via private conversation while we played Metroid Prime 4: Beyond over cups of tea and Kirby-shaped bread rolls.
Re: Octopath Traveler 0 Has Been Rated For Switch And Switch 2
I'm definitely still keeping an eye on this game. If I decide to grab it, it'll be either on Switch 1 or Steam.
I should probably get to my Octopath Traveler II copy first.
Re: Hands On: Forget The Name, Square Enix's New Action RPG Is A Lovely HD-2D Take On SNES-Era Zelda
I'm finally getting to this article two days after the fact. Busy weekends will do that.
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales was a clear standout to me in the Partner Direct. I love Alana's impressions in this piece; I almost wish I had a Switch 2 just to try out the demo! I'll probably settle for some gameplay videos on YouTube.
I personally like the HD-2D style, though I can see how it can get tiring for those who might play games that use the aesthetic a lot. There's usually enough of a gap between what I play of them that I don't mind.
I also don't get the grief over the title. There are many games with similar and/or weirder naming conventions. Especially from this team. Or maybe I'm just used to video game names having all kinds of crazy origins.
Re: Nintendo Sends Out Second Game-Key Card & Physical Game Survey
I'd love to submit my two Rupees on the subject, but it appears the survey has been overwhelmed or rendered inactive for now.
Re: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Playable At Fan Expo Canada This Month
I'll love if Metroid Prime 4 releases in September - it's my birthday month - but I realistically think it'll be November.
Re: Rumour: Three Games Were Pulled From Nintendo's Direct Partner Showcase, According To Veteran Games Journalist
Is this really noteworthy? Wouldn't games periodically be delayed until a later broadcast/announcement or sent to the cutting room floor if quietly canceled?
I thought the Partner Direct was somewhat decent. Sure, it could have used more bang, but I came out of it with several announcements I'm happy or at least curious about. I can see how it was more on the disappointing side for those who aren't into RPGs, however.
Re: Poll: Box Art Brawl - Duel: The Hobbit (GBA)
I don't think I've ever slammed Japan's poll option faster. Neither is great, but at least Japan's visuals are easier on the eyes. NA/EU looks like it was pulled out of Mordor.
Re: PSA: Pokémon YouTube Channel Uploads 'Pokémon The Movie 2000'
While Pokemon The Movie 2000 doesn't quite beat out the first movie in my book, I love it for showcasing the legendary birds and the fact that it gave us a beautiful, haunting theme for my favorite aquatic legendary Pokemon.
Also, Lawrence is hardly a "trainer".
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (2nd August)
Busy weekend, so I'm keeping this short. I'm still playing Ys IX: Monstrum Nox on the Switch (At the start of Chapter 6; working on side quests to help get to the new area) and Mario & Luigi: Dream Team on 3DS (Found all Ultibed parts to awaken the Zeekeeper and am now searching for the imaginatively named Bedsmith).
Thanks to this week's Partner Direct, I realized I have yet to play Monster Hunter Stories 2. I downloaded the Switch demo and plan to try it before deciding to buy the full game.
Happy gaming!
Re: Here Are The Top Ten Best-Selling Nintendo Switch Games As Of June 2025
Not even the competition can Blue Shell MK8D. I'm curious to see what the top 10 will look like once Switch 2 games start shifting more numbers.
Re: Nintendo Switch Console & Accessory Prices Are Going Up In The US
I'm sure everyone will remain nice and civil in this comment section that totally should be open.
This news sucks, but frankly, I'm way more concerned about my energy bills right now.
Re: Nintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Upcoming Switch 2 Games
I don't think this is a bad list at all. Quite a spread of different genres IMO. My only issue is the lack of release dates for many of these. It's telling when most of the games I've earmarked on my calendar are third-party release dates.
I thought yesterday's Partner Direct was somewhat decent but do agree it needed more bang. We are overdue for a full Nintendo Direct. Hopefully one shows up in August or September for sure.
Re: Switch 2 Has Sold "More Than 6 Million" Units, And Almost As Many Copies Of Mario Kart World
Crazy Switch 2 numbers in such a short period; I'd say this counts as a successful launch. Some great numbers for the evergreen Switch 1 as well. I'll join the Switch 2 crowd eventually, but I'm waiting for a special console edition and/or a light revision. Besides, the only currently available Switch 2 only games I'd grab day one are Donkey Kong Bananza and Cyberpunk 2077.
As for the main topic in the comment section....There are some good points being made from multiple angles. I've said my piece elsewhere regarding GKCs and don't feel like beating a dead Ponyta this morning. All I'll say is I don't like where the media industries are going as a whole when it comes to consumer rights.
Re: Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Gets Free Switch 2 Performance Patch
I'm glad there is a free Switch 2 performance update. The best reason I can figure as to why they aren't doing this for upcoming releases is because Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake launched late last year when the Switch 2 wasn't out in the wild. So there likely isn't an official Switch 2 version planned.
I'm a bit disappointed that the new Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake trailer didn't appear in today's Direct. Would have loved to see it during the presentation.
Re: Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase July 2025: Every Announcement, Game Reveal, Trailer
6/10 Direct for me. Somewhat decent overall, though the middle sagged quite a bit IMO. I can see how those who don't care for a lot of RPGs would find it worse though.
New announcements I'll keep an eye on:
Games we knew about already that I'm excited for:
Due to...those...I'll likely pick most of these up on the Switch 1 when possible. Otherwise, I'll likely go the digital route or buy on a different platform.
Re: Square Enix Is Bringing A Brand New HD-2D RPG To Switch 2 Next Year
This one was a pleasant surprise. I'll be keeping an eye on it. I'd like to try the demo, but I don't have a Switch 2 yet. Looking forward to learning more!
Re: Octopath Traveler 0 Will Bring More Adventures To Switch 1 & 2 This Year
I'm keeping an eye out for more information on this one and may pick it up on the Switch 1 if I like what I see. I bounced off the first Octopath Traveler pretty early once I realized 1. How much grinding was involved, and 2. party interaction was almost non-existent. I did add Octopath Traveler II to my backlog recently after finding it for a good price, so that'll help determine if this series is actually for me going forward.
Re: Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment Teases New Construct In Fresh Trailer
Man....I was waiting with baited breath for a release date. I'll take the eye candy at least! I enjoy Musou games and am interested in diving more into this ancient version of Hyrule and hopefully learning more about the Zonai.
Re: Persona 3 Reload Is Making The Jump To Switch 2 This October
Not the Atlus game I was hoping for CoughMetaphorCough, but I'm happy for Persona fans.
Re: A Brand New Katamari Game Is Coming To Switch
I'll take more Katamari! I enjoyed the Switch ports of both Katamari Damacy REROLL and, more recently, We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie. I've heard the series kinda went downhill after the original first two non remakes, so hopefully this game breaks that trend.
Re: Capcom's Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Announced For Switch 2
Started the Direct off with a bang! I'm really looking forward to this one. I enjoyed the first game back on the 3DS. I still need to try Monster Hunter Stories 2 sometime. Still not sure if I want it on Switch or PC.