XiaoShao

@2think Thanks very much for a description of the additions to the Switch version! I'm excited to play it and will grab it as soon as it comes back to the NA shop!

Wow, quite the spectrum of reviews! Such an odd choice by Nintendo as one of the early Switch 2 exclusives. It doesn’t really appeal to me, but I could see why some enjoy the chaotic parts of the game.

I will note that on GameCube, Kirby Air Ride was released between FZero and Mario Kart Double Dash. We’ve now got Kirby Air Riders and MK on Switch 2, dare we dream of FZero in 2026!?

Cheers to the last response on the state of the games industry! I hope more companies will follow the Japan/Revolution model of staying right-sized, not taking money simply because you can, and focus on retaining staff. I think many of the AAA publishers are really hurting themselves in the long run with their mass layoffs, not to mention the suffering of those losing jobs.

@neil9000 SE: FFVII will need 90 gb.

Ubisoft: hold my beer while we keep updating Star Wars.

Great subtitle to article! I kinda miss the B movie quality of the first Resident Evil!

I've been tempted by a number of these, as their special editions really are gorgeous. None of the games were quite my cup of tea to justify the price (converts to nearly $90 USD), but hadn't realized Arco was receiving an edition next year! I adore that game and just put in my preorder.

Article: don’t talk about difficulty, talk about how cute the world and graphics are!

Comments: talk about difficulty, whether for or against.

<sigh>

@Ooyah I’m another fan!

I’m also sad Disney Afternoon Collection has never come to Nintendo platforms. I have to wonder if Capcom/Digital Eclipse no longer have the rights to bring it out on more platforms.

@Zeugziumy Not to mention issues addressed.

I really wish NL would start including a note on performance on Switch 2, especially when the only negative for a game is long load times and unresponsive controls.

Anyone trying this on Switch 2, please let me know if it improves the game’s performance!

Shout out to Roland for a fantastically written review. While there’s a place for the dry nuts and bolts of how a game works, I appreciate an essay examining the themes and inspirations underpinning a game. And honestly, that’s what UFO 50 is about, creating the sense of discovery, excitement, and frustration in 80s gaming, not the mechanics of 50 individual games.

Thanks for the review! I would also appreciate it if NL started including some discussion of how games run/look on Switch 2. Are there bugs? What’s the framerate? How do the textures look? Now that I’ve made the move to Switch 2, this would be really useful information for new releases going forward.

@SlyAceZeta Thanks! That seems right, I do remember there being a lot of missions and a very basic campaign with the PS1 version.

Is this the same game that was a launch title for PS1? I had an absolute blast with that Air Combat, and like the PS1 port of Ridge Racer, it will a real showcase for the system early on.

One studio to rule all Embracer IP.

@dartmonkey I would argue this is true of most games from the early 3D era: the screen shots tended to look awful. Most gaming magazines in the 90s were filled with blurry/dark shots that were difficult to make out. Even bitmap books N64 compendium could only do so much to make these graphics look good! It’s part of the “charm” for this kind of retro experience!

Ok, I guess my review of Tyrants Blessing got rejected? That hurts…

I've put in a review for Tyrant's Blessing, a fantasy version of Into the Breach that is great fun!

No Hall Effect sticks!? This is the first I’ve read definite confirmation of that, and what a bummer! This honestly makes me hesitant of being a day one buyer until I hear more about how the sticks hold up, and there are more third party alternatives.

Great job pushing Mother 3!

What a great game! A fantasy version of Into the Breach, and just as addictive!

What a surprise! I had this on PC in the 90s, and it’s one of the most disturbing point and click adventures I’ve ever played, which I mean as a compliment!

I’ve been holding out buying the eshop version hoping for a physical, and I will definitely pick this up. Loved the Caesar and Pharaoh games back in the day, and I trust I&F will nail the formula!

Now hoping it’s not too long to wait for Super Rare to release Steamworld Heist 2 as well!

My choice: Arco. Fascinating setting, moving story, and brutal combat!

@ozwally Glad I could help, but also sorry to hear it is indeed still rough! I hope the devs make good and patch out the bugs. From everything I hear, it’s a truly fantastic game, and I’d love to experience it on Switch!

@ozwally So have you actually played the Switch port? I’ve seen some online reviews indicating the bugs are really bad, and was wondering if the Switch version was worthwhile. I’ve wanted to play the game for ages, but I’m hesitant about the Switch version until I hear more.

Speaking of Switch ports, is NL planning to review Wildermyth?

@Olliemar28 Great review! Did you also happen to ask about the possibility of a physical release?

Holding out hope for the TI-83 version!

I’ll make a submission for Arco. An absolute banger everyone should play!

I wonder if they really don’t have dev kits for Switch 2, or there’s just a draconian NDA holding back what they say? I would hope indies are hard at work on Switch 2 games!

Purrfect, a physical release!

But this also reminds me of the undoing of Annapurna, which remains unexplained.

@JohnnyMind From what I've read in interviews, the developer was originally making a SNES-style JRPG for the 3DS in which he had a tactical mini-game. Nintendo's announcement of closing the eShop caught him unawares and with the RPG nowhere near completion, so he released the mini-game as a standalone game with a promise to add more content later. He made good on the promise with the Papaya DLC.

I have the 3DS game, and it's fun. Not a classic, but a solid few hours of game play and well worth the price!

Update: IGN article with more background: https://www.ign.com/articles/meet-last-developers-releasing-games-3ds-wii-u

@RupeeClock By incorporating this move, I think we could say Nintendo has acknowledged the cartoon is canon!

Some of these comments are overly harsh for a game that hasn’t released yet. When Nintendon’t seem inclined to make a new Advance Wars game, I’m not opposed to Indies filling the gap. I’ll wait for release to see how well the developers have flushed out the game to give it their own take.

I think the ultimate popularity of the system will go a long way to determining its price. If Nintendo release it at a premium and it doesn’t sell, I would expect a price cut like 3DS. If it’s as popular as the Switch, they can maintain the initial price and presumably enjoy increasing profit margins over the system’s life. So I hope Nintendo is thinking about the long term with their initial price.

It’s honestly crazy Switch has never gotten a price cut. What was good value for the tech in 2017 is slightly ridiculous in 2024.

Your survey doesn’t include all parts of the US, leaving our areas like Washington DC, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and other territories. And I’m not just being pedantic about this, I live in one of these 😟

Switch is definitely the tastiest cart!

I had just about given up hope on this port; it’s years behind schedule, and it almost makes sense to wait for Switch 2 at this point. Still, happy for this making it, and will definitely pick up the physical (even with the ugly banner about review scores)!

I’ve been very happy with all my purchases from Super Rare! Just got Wargroove 1+2 the other week!

Any chance for more Steamworld games? I’ve held off buying Steamworld Build in the hopes it gets a physical release…

This game sounds intriguing, and I will definitely give it a try.

Even without having played, I have to wonder about the game not being "scary" purely because it involves people, not monsters/zombies. The Battle of Verdun was one of the most horrifying experiences in history, and it utterly shattered many of the people that experienced it. I read the Price of Glory in college, a history book about Verdun, and it gave me nightmares. Are you saying the game doesn't capture that? Or are you saying war is not scary, only monsters?

Background music, like in the 3DS/Wii days, would make the slow scrolling more tolerable.

They had a dodgy reputation back in the day, as I can only recall their games being sold in the Kay B Toys bargain bins, but they released some gems. I recall getting a Tengen Golden Axe ripoff that I really enjoyed.

I imagine there’s enough millennials like me with fond memories that would make this a solid business move!

@Sonicka I love the Dig games too and would love another. But if that’s all I&F had been releasing over the past decade, and we were waiting for the fifth or sixth iteration, I imagine many would be bored with the formula and wanting something new. I appreciate that I&F have tried to keep Steamworld fresh, and I hope this sequel does well for them.

I've loved all the Steamworld games, but Heist has been my favorite so far. Very excited for this.

I hope they do another physical release through SRG (and still hoping that Build gets one as well...)!

@Grim I blame the TI-83 Tetris for why I never learned Calculus. The teacher required we get a graphing calculator, but I swear I don’t remember using it for anything except Tetris!

@Pak-Man Same. The fact some of this team did Freedom Force has me super excited for this game!

Looks promising! On my wish list.

Also reminds me of Metal Slug Tactics. What has happened with that game’s release date?

Grips like this make it more comfortable to hold a Switch with Joy Cons, but that still leaves you stuck with Joy Cons, which I find to be really flawed controllers: drift, lack of real d-pad, and buttons with little travel.

@Picola-Wicola Another satisfied Nitro Deck user here! Totally agree it's been perfect for my Switch, and I haven't taken my Switch out since getting it. I feel bad for those turned off by NL's review, since I've never had issues with the right thumb stick placement. I think it really comes down to hand size and how you prefer to hold controllers.

@-wc- I used Hori Split Pad Pro for a couple of years before getting a Nitro Deck, and I had been happy with them until the material on the left thumb stick started disintegrating. But it's amazing how much better the Nitro feels in the hands than the Hori. The Nitro makes the Switch feel like a high-end gaming device, and the Hori feel cheap and flimsy in comparison.

Loved the first game, and so excited to be getting a sequel! Best announcement in the show for me.

Hoping for Metal Slug Tactics update!