Wizardling

I was convinced to buy this by friends. Now I want to cry. The controls are incredibly unfun and there just isn't any reason I can discern to actually want to complete any of the missions. Even Goat Simulator was fun for a short while. I had zero fun with this.

My most recent pre-order was the Pokémon Gen IV Pearl remake. They ruined my favourite Pokémon generation and region by making movement controls bad, doors sucked you inside if you so much as brushed them, Platinum content was missing, difficulty was dumbed down, graphics looked awful… etc, etc.

So I asked Nintendo AU for a refund, then when that initial request was denied (as they always are) I made it clear that I was deeply unhappy to the point where I wouldn't be buying more games in the future. And then I got my refund.

I'm thinking that was my final pre-order. I'm tired of being burnt.

Okay, I was super wrong, and this review is super incomplete, with zero mention of the egregious micro-transactions for an in-game currency only available via real money purchase.

That's right - this full priced AAA game is essentially a mobile game that requires you to keep paying extra for the opportunity to unlock customisations like other characters. You pay a premium price for the game and then you keep paying to be able to unlock anything worthwhile in the game!

Revolting!

Well, I'm now extremely curious, as I've been keen on buying a second Switch kart racer. But the existing ones are either poor efforts or old enough that the online is dead.

I'm off to download the lite version!

I played for an hour yesterday morning, and I've not played again about 30 hours later. It's not that it's a truly awful remake. It's not unplayable or anything. It's that Platinum or even DP are still better games, IMO. I'd rather fire up my DS than put up with a poor remake.

@liathwulf Except it isn't a straight remake. The overworld graphics are bad, and the XP share is forced on with zero choice. Plus there's no Platinum content.

I started playing early this morning after the unlock in the AU region (I'm in NZ). I only played for an hour, and have not returned after about 12 hours. I feel a deep sense of ennui after experiencing the ***** overworld graphics, poor analogue movement control, and realising the blasted XP share is both party-wide and forced on with zero choice.

@13AM_Alex Pokémon is for kids is the kind of cluelessness I expect from my parents last century.

Boy do they ever need to get better at their online experience.

I tried out N64 Mario Kart and Mario Tennis online with my best friend.
It sucked.
The audio sounded like it was being played through a tuba 20,000 leagues under the sea.
Lag was horrific.
And due to the lag, hardly anything was doable in MK.
I literally could not properly drift.
Mario Tennis was playable in a fashion, but slow as molasses, and the audio sounded like arse, as I say.
Terrible experience.
I'm sure they're fine in single player, but honestly I can and have emulated N64 titles acceptably for several years, now.
We didn't try the Megadrive games online, but I have little hope it could possibly be any different.

Eight times in a row, now, the "best match" has been just me alone, unable to move.

@SwitchForce Yep. I've still got a few must play titles I'll now be getting to sooner rather than later. Hopefully the online functionality will be kept going for another couple of years at least

sorrow The last truly great pocketable console is dead

I'm both appalled and completely unsurprised (I work in tech support) so many people still don't use 2FA.
sigh

You're missing the Giant Trevally!

@Henmii Update: half a day later my 128GB ADATA card died (and I mean died - it doesn't even register on the USB bus) as I was performing a speed and capacity test, to take some screenshots for an upcoming (now cancelled) Nintendo support callback.
So it seems I unfairly blamed Nintendo. Unless the update made the Switch damage my card...

To recap:
My newer 128GB microSDXC card will read and test fine in Windows 10. It worked fine in my non-updated Switch right up till an hour ago. It is being read and written to by the 10.0.0 Switch (as evidenced by the Nintendo folder being on the freshly wiped card, after rebooting the Switch with it re-inserted), yet is then unmounted by the 10.0.0 Switch and the system claims no card is inserted in Data management.
Also: my older 32GB SDHC card still reads fine in the 10.0.0 Switch.
So either 10.0.0 really doesn't like something about this 128GB card, or it's some kind of weird defect that is only evident in my 10.0.0 Switch

This update has made my SD card unreadable in my Switch. Mind you - it still reads and tests fine in Windows 10 So I suspect in fact that the update has in truth borked the OS's ability to read SD cards.

I strongly advise NOT installing this update.

Hunt down the GBC port, or use an emulator. The re-drawn art in this Switch port looks awful and cheap.

Nope, I was wrong https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C5%8Dbutsu_no_Mori_(film)#Plot

I believe I understood the major plot points, regardless

I went back to the 3DS and DS versions which are so much better.

I don't mind if the 'Pro' upgrade smooths framerates and deals with lingering control, wireless, and overheating issues, etc. But if it has version exclusive games, I'll be unhappy to be relegated to a lesser tier so soon after purchasing the improved 2019 Switch. Which won't seem very improved if that happens!

Part of what I like about consoles is buying a new system or rev of the system and knowing it will be supported as at least the minimum required spec for a few years. One year only is harsh to consumers like me

It's out of stock everywhere I looked in New Zealand, too The earliest I can find a restock is January 31st. As for Christmas: there wasn't any hope of snagging a copy then. It was way too late by mid-December.

I think it's great it's selling well, but clearly Nintendo was caught out by the demand and hadn't anywhere near enough units manufactured.

Who knew gamers exercised this much?

Is it as fun as the iOS game Desert Golfing, which this looks like?

Ironically the best fun I had on the DS was with Mario Kart which took no advantage of touch But I did also play a bunch of touch titles as well!

The only downside of the DS IMO was it's weirdly limited Wi-Fi support. It barely worked with any existing Wi-Fi access points. I actually had to buy one of the recommended access points just to get online LOL!

I loved Blaster Master on the NES! I look forward to a review of this one

On sale for Halloween, so I'll give a shot fires up eShop to purchase

@Henmii Don't step outside! That giant nuclear furnace in the sky will bathe you in more radiation than any number of wireless devices.

If the DS-3DS line is to be killed off, that will very likely also kill off my interest in Nintendo gaming. Why would I ever want to regress to a single non-touch screen?

@-DEMISE- Cargo shorts, actually

Ehhh... it looks kinda neat, but I've not bought a non-pocket-sized portable in over a decade. What I really want is a NEW New 3DS. Not another attempt at the Wii U.

That said, this may be just the thing for people who liked or wanted to like the Wii U. But I'm a Game Boy/DS line fan.

Looks kinda neat, but I hope it doesn't try to replace the smaller dedicated portable 3DS line. I don't want to lug a tablet-sized gaming device everywhere.

I used to check in daily with Miitomo to build up reward points for My Nintendo. Now I only bother weekly. Soon I can see myself not bothering at all. There just isn't anything worth collecting points for

@JLPick My problem has only been compounded by old computer and console emulation, DOSbox, and cheap old games like GOG.com and the great many on Steam, etc.

It was bad enough in the 90's when I only had new games to be guilty over buying and never finding time for. Now I've hundreds I never even owned during their original heyday.

It doesn't help I keep getting sucked back into the same old favourites, either. I've basically been playing the same half dozen titles for 90% of my gaming time this century, heh.

I figure these people who 'run out of games' must either have the most super narrow taste in genres; or play games so fleetingly and skim over nearly all content, and call that 'finished'.

And if a game has decent multiplayer, that can result in months of my life enjoying the variations and fun one gets from experiencing play with and vs other real people. I still login to a Quake III server occasionally, and it's still fun Hell, I'd be logging into a Q1 server if I could find one with a decent ping and population.

I honestly don't know how people 'run out of games'. Even unemployed due to illness for a few years, I still never ran out of games on any major platform. In fact I had to stop myself from browsing bargain bins, Steam sales, eShop sales, and the like, lest I increase the already huge stack of games I've bought but never got around to playing, much less installing.

Any good?

If I was 12 again with my 12 year old reflexes, I might consider this. But based on the trailer, it requires hyper fast responses I can't cope with in my middle age, heh.

I love it when I've a choice between buying a game on mobile or consoles like the 3DS, as the 3DS inevitably controls far better. So based on the good reviews of iOS and PS Vita versions, I eagerly await this game on the 3DS.

It seems like it'll be the kinda weird and fun touch control thing I enjoy Please review ASAP NintendoLife!

I'm interested, but cautious. Seems like it could be just another Facebook style game without substance or fun after the first day.

What a worthless ignorant life this guy must lead.

Wow. Circle Pad control is just plain broken. It is utterly unusable and suggests either a total lack of testing, or contempt for players. I mean, okay - there's the stylus. But seriously - why even bother including another control scheme if it's unusable?

Heh, excellent.

A smirking jackass.

I use it every day, but only to get points.

Sometimes there is some mild amusement to be found in the Q&A interactions, but IME most people are doing as I do - going through the motions for point rewards. That said, I try to give interesting answers and comments, so as not to bore others any more than necessary, and of course to generate point-earning hearts and replies.

Really I'd rather My Nintendo point rewards be earned through actual Nintendo console game achievements and the like. That would be much more fun.

I'd like to have all Pokemon made more useful. It's a shame all you see are uber legendaries in the best teams. What a yawnfest.

And the games have got way too easy, for sure. Partly it's the XP share, partly the speed of XP gain.

I'm all for doing away with HM slaves. More HMs to items.

Finally, make the games a wee bit more rock/paper/scissors again. It's like playing 3D chess nowadays. I can't keep all the counters and traps in my head, any more.

The 3DS continues to be an excellent handheld gaming system. The best in the world, IMO, unless you really, really enjoy games that work great with touch only input on single screen mobile devices.

Could the 3DS be better? Of course. But consider the huge price increase we'd see from 3D capable iPhone quality screens, for example. The fact is the 3DS hits the mark wonderfully in affordability and capability.

IMO Nintendo should simply start reving the 3DS every couple years, introducing minor upgrades in quality (screen res, battery, storage, CPU, etc) that don't increase the price, nor break backwards compatibility.

There is no need for radical change. What we have now is great, and simply needs to improve. Not be scrapped. I do not want to buy all my games again. I do not want to buy a more expensive system. I do not want to return to a single screen. I do not want a non-clamshell design.

I'm fine if rather indifferent with Nintendo being on mobiles, but it needs to be games suited to touch. Not rubbish virtual d-pads and the like. Real hardware controls will always be best for most genres, and that's why real consoles will always be my pick.

I'd like to see the 3DS get updated with better quality screens, better touch on the bottom screen, and retaining compatibility back to the DS.
The fundamental design of the 3DS and especially the New 3DS with it's stable 3D is solid, IMO. There's no reason to go nuts with crazy ideas. Just gradually improve.

I'm mainly on the handheld side, so I've been fairly happy. I just wish there were a lot more Virtual Console ports, and Nintendo stopped charging us full price for the same games on every new console. There are so many fun old console titles I wish I could play on my New 3DS, sigh

I'll also never understand how Mario Kart 7 missed the boat with DLC. And I don't mean DLC for stuff that should (and was) in the release version. But new tracks, karts, and characters!

That battery life is a joke. No way that could ever have been true. And I doubt such a product could have been affordable in it's time.