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@KarmaGoona My issue is that unlike previous entries, we have a less than perfect game out of the gate and one that needs constant updates.....not just for content put in the form of patches/fixes.

It may be an old fashioned view, but any issues should really be ironed before release via extensive play testing. This entry has had a lot of these and other vulnerabilities in it's code. Just doesn't seem very Nintendo.

All the updates are of course better than not receiving them at all, but if they were unlocked in the base code at certain trigger points through the year as per previous titles, we would be able to play the game long after the Switch servers close down if we ever wanted to do a fresh install of the game.

@dugan Touche!

@SpaceboyScreams of course it was bare bones.

Every version previously offered the game in its entirety without the need for additional updates and patches.

I've never known a first party Big N game with so many bugs at launch.

@Apportal I don't think that's it.

More likely, the game was released far too early and gave us a bare bones version of Animal Crossing.

Have never been a fan of the DKC games. They felt more like deluxe Amiga 1200 games to me. Always preferred the Japanese developed platformers.

The Japanese version of NCW, Zen-Nippon Pro Wrestling Dash was excellent and had licensed characters. I think they were stripped out for the US release.

The Immortal was a decent game on the Amiga/MD, not sure what it was like on an 8-bit system.

P.S. Apologies to anyone i have upset with my DKC comments

@MikeW I was a fan of the pad back in 1988 when i bought my first MD from Hong Kong as a kid, but time has been unkind especially after the launch of the 6 button controller then the best pad of all time IMO; The Saturn Pad.

I just tried my original MD out and compared, the weight is way off, button presses are less responsive and take longer to reset after each press and the d-pad is virtually weightless and feels rough and just generally cheap.

Have to say that i was disappointed with the joypads which this is bundled with. they just feel too spongy and lightweight. The SNES Mini ones felt far more like the originals.

@panthro If this is of no interest then why go to the trouble of opening post, reading and replying??

Like it or not, Nintendo and Sega will forever be linked due to their once historic rivalry and their current software/mascot tie ins.

Why did Duke have to just rip-off other character's quotes?

Ge definitely must have been a Ash Williams fan.

@MysteryCupofJoe It will be an almost seven year gap when the PS5 arrives........that is a very very long lifespan in technology terms.

How long do you think we should have between generations?

I'm pretty sure RDR2 wouldn't play well on an Atari 2600

@skycargav2000 totally agreed and bring back the commentary. It was miles better than PES or FIFA

Surely Gradius was the headline release?

@tourjeff Surely that's the last way people will want it to look.

Pixels all the way with super smooth character animation.

@TheGameTutor

There are loads of sequels to Super Soccer out there for the SFC and PSX. I think the most recent was called Hyper Formation Soccer.

ps. I did a double take at the title too

@Ardisan THIS THIS AND THIS!

Seriously???????? THE AMERICAN COVER IS AWFUL!!

The art style, layout and even the font are way off. Typically awful US box art.

Apart from the obvious shortcomings, where is the white version????

@mjharper the launch PS1 had a smaller controller in Japan for that very reason.

I was a 6 first time round, but a fat 10 when I cheated and had another go

@Daruncic they can, if you don't speak to them about it. I ignored a villager for weeks and isabelle announced they were leaving that day. When I went to their home to check, they were packing up.

There are loads of missing features in NH, we could also do with buying furniture directly from villagers in their homes, inviting or being invited into villagers homes. Larger ground floor rooms at home as per previous games, shops for leif, kicks etc........

The man, the legend........RIP Segata San

KONAMI......please can we have a straight up sequel to Castlevania IV. Keep the graphic and music style, but just crank it up to 11.

That's really weird.

@sanderev I understand your personal thoughts, but from a legal point of view, emulation isn't illegal nor is hacking your own console. What is illegal is the distribution and use of Intellectual Property that doesn't belong to you.

@sanderev to exploit and run an alternative firmware or OS is in no way illegal. Can you explain what the crime is upto this point?

Team Xecuter are now making mod chips (as they did with the 360) and these are the big problem for N as they can hack even the latest Switch hardware revisions.

N can bully the resellers into submission through costly litigation, but I don't think any crime is being committed as long as you don't play backups on your device.

@Samwise7 Probably never, since the licence will have expired decades ago. Remember that this game was a tie in with the Area 88 Manga series.

This article is full of misinformation. What made you think Mego made the Game & Watch first?? It was a Gunpei Yokoi invention (along with the D Pad and the Gameboy) in the late 70's and brought to market in 1980 in Japan. Nintendo then manufactured units for rebranding by Mego in the USA.

100% YES!!!!!

Anyone know where we should voice our support?

Can't understand anybody preferring GA 1 or 2 over Death Adder. They just feel boring now, whereas Death Adder still feels exciting and fresh.

A working JAMMA PCB just sold on ebay for £400. I think it sounds a good investment.

I've just bought a Japanese eshop voucher from playasia. Looking forward to playing it tonight.

Last time I played was in an R360 cab at the Metrocentre Gateshead at least 25 years ago.......God, i feel old saying that!

@carlos82 completley in agreement with you overall.

Guess I have been holding the PS2 version in higher regard after buying the pricey Pandora's music Box LE import!

@carlos82 never had so much spare time so......

PS2 port

PS2 Saturn port

Saturn 60Hz Version

Sky and sea are definitely better along with better colour on the Saturn original....

Let's forget about the PS2 Saturn version

PS2 Arrange has a flat lifeless sea and less detail in the clouds. The colour is washed out, but graphics are overall very crisp.
I'd say it plays identically to the Saturn version, but should have been a better port looking back.

Give me the Saturn version for authenticity and better control!

@carlos82 I'm going to replay them both tomorrow. It definitely plays correctly as far as control and gameplay are concerned....have both systems hooked up to an old 37" CRT.

I'll let you know my thoughts later! Thanks for the constructive reply!

Just played through the first two levels again with the new update.... for me, the soundtrack sounds massively inferior. Cant see the point if it doesn't bring anything new over the amazing OST.

Biggest gameplay gripes, camera seems to occasionally go off centre despite being on rails which is very off putting and the aiming just feels slack compared to previous efforts.

5/10

@carlos82 best way to play the game is the PS2 port with a saturn ps2 controller. It's awesome!

Those Xbox hardware sales numbers are laughable. It's been a similar story through all three Xbox generations.........cannot understand why Microsoft continue to try and crack Japan.

Mario Galaxy has been a dead cert for some time...After all, it has been ported to the Switches cousin, the Nvidia Shield TV in China a couple of years ago and has been converted for use without the WiiMote and has been very nicely upscaled for HD resolutions.

@DockEllisD check out the Saturn's Japanese library of games. There are at least 200 good to great games not released elsewhere.

If you take the games released across all regions, it's one of the best consoles ever released.

@Gerald the Mega CD always used redbook audio, but there are many saturn games which used the internal sound hardware instead of just reading the audio direct from the CD.

@Damo Totally disagree with damo's comment that it is as good as it could be based on the original.

Try the PS2 version to see how it improved upon the original without messing with the look or feel in a negative way.

That would have been a better port......here's hoping Panzer Dragoon Voyage Record will be worth the wait.

Liam, NAMCOT was used upto 1995, not 85. It died out alongside their development of home ports for 16 bit consoles.

Also thought it would be worth clearing up that these are all Famicom ports/original titles.

Just downloaded and immediately noticed they have changed the lock on sound......it is horrible!! It's this grating and scratchy distorted sound.......why not use the original.

It makes you want to turn the volume down....which is a major shame.

Ps. Don't forget to invert the axis in the settings menu.

Pps. Loading times between levels are quite long too.

Pass the IP over to Treasure and let them crowdfund to get some real Castlevania/Gradius games released

How can you call this the stuff of dreams??? It looks more of a nightmare! Button placement is awful and why has it got a 16:9 screen? Everything will be stretched and generally look crap.

Used to play this at Metroland in Gateshead back in the day.

The top of the 360 loop had a hairline crack in it and they used to check it after every ride in case it was getting any bigger!

The cabinet had to have an attendant with it throughout the day......can you imagine an arcade doing that these days!

Sega, pull you finger out..........you have already done the hard work with the RingWide PC, 360 and PS3 ports.

The license must still be in place as you are still selling the above home console games.

Just get it done.

@RudyC3 I posted the same at the top of the comments. I wish they could fact check more thoroughly before they post!

Btw, it was released on the TwinBee deluxe pack for the saturn and psx the same year.

Konami, PLEASE port Gradius V to Switch. I'd pay anything for a physical release......or better still, Gradius VI or Gaiden 2!

Nice review Chris, however it wasn't the final TwinBee shooter. That goes to TwinBee Yahho! from 1995. An awesome game!

The big N will probably not do a general direct until E3. Why announce now and leave little else for June?