XiaoShao

I suspect this is more about Thunderful trying to downsize and cut costs, not something shady. They've just structured this as a "sale" to move the company off their books but allow it to continue under a new owner, as opposed to shutting down the firm and laying everyone off.

I don't think comparing Thunderful and Embracer is at all fair. Embracer was/is a parasite trying to buy up firms and make itself a AAA publisher; Thunderful is a bunch of indies pooling their resources for more stability. I'm really sorry that Thunderful appears to be struggling.

Great interview! Very excited for this, and I'm certainly tempted to pre-order the LRG cart to play on my analogue pocket.

@LoneHammerBro I realize GBA games were around $30 back in the day, but with inflation that's equivalent to $50 today. And considering how this is a small batch of custom made carts, it's really not a terrible price.

@Bret Agree! Is it a trope that JRPGs have nonsensical names (in English at least)? Bravely Default was another game who’s title on its own is meaningless!

Can’t wait to check this out! I absolutely loved the first game, one of the more moving games I’ve ever played. This is the perfect chance to replay it, and then jump into this sequel!

It would be great if the collection of both games got a physical release!

@Zach777 Are you saying Pentiment’s icon on Switch is ugly?

@EVIL-C On shipping times, LRG has greatly sped up the past year. I’ve gotten a couple of games just 3-4 months after orders closed (even when the projected release was 8 months). I’m sorry shipping is so expensive for wherever you’re located (it’s nowhere near what you describe for me in the US), but I don’t know that’s LRGs fault. When I order games from Super Rare or Red Art, shipping to the US is similarly expensive. I think that’s just the reality of shipping now.

I wish more major publishers were committed to physical releases, but I fear the limited editions/collector/FOMO releases are the future for physical games. Publishers have every incentive to go all in on digital, and the only way physical releases make money is with more expensive limited editions. It’s better than nothing!

Microsoft is leaning so much into gamepass, I’m not surprised they won’t release a physical version themselves. I’m glad they were willing to engage LRG for us physical collectors. This game is right up my alley, and I will definitely preorder one!

@Diogmites Agreed. Simultaneous turns is an intriguing idea, but I’m skeptical whether it will work. Vandal Hearts 2 actually had a system like this, where both an enemy and one of your units would move simultaneously, but it was easy to game the system and manipulate the computer into doing what you wanted. Will be fascinating if this game pulls it off!

@bluemage1989 @Qwiff I imagine the comment was removed because this article is not a review of Disco Elysium where gamers should debate the merits of a game and whether they like it. This is an article about turmoil at this game developer and people losing their jobs. Ideally, we can all show some compassion for the people affected.

100% agree! I loved these titles, and I thought they were the perfect way to distill the fun elements of 8-bit games. Games from this era can be obtuse and frustrating, but they were often built around some fun mechanics. The remix games were brilliant in pulling out the fun elements for games that I would never otherwise want to play, like Balloon Fight.

I see a lot of people still advocating for a SNES remix as well, and this was a popular sentiment when the NES ones were released as well. But I actually don’t think the format would work as well for that generation. Game designs were often better on the whole, and you might lose as much as you gain pulling out micro games. For instance, id rather play micro games from the original Metroid, but can’t imagine micro games from Super Metroid would be an improvement.

Europe for me. Japan’s cover is too busy with too many characters illustrated in the same fashion. Europe’s cover breaks it up more by moving characters into a background.

As a NA gamer, it’s criminal so few of these games were released in the region!

@Qwiff I also love my nitro deck, and the right stick placement does not bother me at all. I think it's just very personal based on the size of your hands and how you prefer to hold a controller. Not a guarantee it will work for everyone, but equally that NL's critiques will not be true for everyone.

But while I think the nitro deck is excellent, this controller doesn't interest me. I play handheld 95% of the time, and the nitro deck is vastly superior to joy con. The Switch pro controller is more than adequate for when I play docked.

@PikaPhantom Good call, it really is a lazy icon. The game deserves better!

I’m normally cautious about mobile ports, but Valiant Hearts was such a fantastic game. One of the few games that moved me almost to tears. I’ll have to give this sequel a try!

I also hope it gets a physical release like the first!

I consider myself one of Engage’s defenders because I thought the battle system and maps were fantastic…but not so much the story and characters. Alear had zero personality, I really cannot imagine paying so much for this…

I’m confused: Switch cartridges are black, not grey, right? Same with DS cartridges (black), and 3DS were white. Does “grey” have a different meaning in the UK?

The games seems to have the graphical style of GBC Mario Golf, but the gameplay is more modern Mario Golf games that have ditched the RPG elements. It looks intriguing and will give it a try, even though I wish more games leaned into the RPG aspects.

Anyone know if Sports Story ever got patched and was more playable? I’d really hoped that was going to scratch that GBC era itch…

"Luigi's Mansion: 2 Dark 2 Moon"...brilliant! Thanks for the laughs!

@johnedwin Totally agree that Triangle was much better than Diofield. Diofield was flawed, but there were interesting parts, and I admire that SE took a chance on a unique game idea that I cannot see any other major publisher even trying.

I would generally prefer companies focus on quality over quantity, but I've appreciated how SE has stood out among major publishers in taking risks on more experimental quirky games. I've enjoyed games like Paranormasight, Diofield Chronicles, and Triangle Strategy. I imagine these all fall between a AAA and indie game, and I hope SE isn't planning to drop these types games all together to focus on AAA games.

I generally only buy physical copies of games that I want to retain and play again, so I don't think I've ever traded-in a game. And in the US at least, what Gamestop offers for a trade-in tends to be a rip-off.

Looking forward to this, and I like the graphical style in the screenshots. Actually reminds me the PS2 games Shattered Soldier and Neo, two of my favorite Contra games.

If a game can inspire some of the funniest Star Trek comments I’ve seen, it must be worth a try!

For what it’s worth, everyone on Triple Click also loves this game.

Talk about burying the lede: this doesn't mark the end of the Ace Attorney series...stay tuned. That's worthy of a headline!

Also, a switch port of the Layton cross-over would be welcome. Absolutely loved that game!

@Drew250 Me too, the references to Skyward Sword in this interview were baffling and missing context! So I googled it, and the creators have said in past they thought Skyward Sword was the wrong direction for Zelda by de-emphasizing exploration. I think these statements are actually in the documentary that is linked above in the article. Also an older story summarizing this here:

https://gamerant.com/outer-wirlds-zelda/

@Rhaoulos Yeah, the meaning for TRPG/SRPG can be hard to nail down and tends to vary in how it's used. I'm partial to a take in Bitmap Books' Guide to JRPGs, which defines a "Strategy RPG" as being a strategy game with an overarching narrative and distinct characters. That description fits games like FE and FFT as well as Wargroove (and Brigandine and Ogre Battle).

@Tirza Yes Wargroove is very different from a game like Fire Emblem, but SRPG can be used to describe any game with both strategy and rpg elements, which does describe Wargroove. And I personally love the game.

Still hoping for a physical release!

So glad Thunderful have returned to Steamworld, as I've adored each of these games. Any word of a physical release? Super Rare released a physical for each of the other Switch Steamworld games, and I'd love that for this one as well!

Glad this is finally getting released on Switch, but the timing of the physical release is interesting, given the game's absence from the Switch's Annapurna Collection that iam8bit recently announced. Outer Wilds was included in the PS version of the Annapurna Collection. Would be great if this was a surprise addition to the Switch collection, but I doubt it...

Congrats NL! The site consistently delivers quality content, and I hope there are many more years!

I wonder if this will even be the last 3DS cartridge released. Hasn’t LRG also said they have another 3DS game they will be releasing?

@xDeckardx Me too! They went above and beyond the typical indie physical release, and I’d love to have a matching one for the sequel!

Hope they’re working on a physical release as well!

More so than games, controller tastes really seem to vary between people. While Alex found the right stick position uncomfortable, I have zero problem with it. I find the controller incredibly comfortable to use. Maybe Alex and I have different size hands or are used to holding the controller differently?

For what it’s worth, most other media reviews have also raved about this controller: IGN, Arstechnica, Engadget.

The Nitro Deck intrigues me. Is NL planning to review it?

Loved the first game, and looking forward to this one! Hoping for another physical edition, like the first game...

@Specialstreamcannon Two parts of the original did annoy me, and curious if they are still present: (i) Does the game signal which maps will have enemy reinforcements appear? This only happened on scattered maps in the first, but it often forced me to restart a battle so I could account for their appearance. It felt like a very cheap way to increase the difficulty, and I hope they either signal which maps will have this or get rid of it entirely in the sequel.

(ii) Is the real ending fenced behind reaching a certain point/shard total? I had to spend 7-8 hours grinding in the first game to open the last map of the campaign and get the real ending. It honestly left a sour impression to finish the game with.

I doubt either would prevent me from playing sequel, but my enjoyment would be greater if they removed these "features."

I thought Embracer bought the LOTR video game rights. Is this being published by them? I ask because Embracer's financial problems/cost-cutting/layoffs don't bode well for games coming out of their studios.

Thanks for the update! Several in the comments indicated it wasn't bad, so I might try it out on NSO. I kinda enjoy rediscovering some of the forgotten games that Nintendo drops on the service!

I wonder why they (seemingly randomly) chose this PS2 installment for a remake among the plethora of games in this series. Was ROT3K 8 highly regarded in the series?

Great news! Is it too much to hope for the Game Gear version as well? 😁

@RupeeClock Somewhat better I suppose. I’ve stopped ever combining items with LRG orders because of how long that can delay shipments!

@RupeeClock Wow, LRG hasn’t even delivered the initial version of the game, and they’ve already put up a new one that includes DLC for the same price? I normally defend LRG, but this is pretty bad. I feel like they should offer initial buyers some kind of amends…

One of the top announcements for me. Absolutely adored the first game, and I hope there will be a physical release for this one as there was with the first game!

Gummy Bears Brawl. The Gummy Juice power up causes your character to bounce all over the screen and wreak havoc!

I would honestly love a NL review of Quest for Camelot. Is this an undiscovered treasure from the GB library? It seems like such a random addition…

Hoping for a Western release, or at least an English language option! The first game is one of my top 10 favorite DS games, and one of the most fun and charming games I’ve ever played! Fantastic news these games are getting a chance to reach a new audience!

I was so excited for the DK dlc for the first game, but not so much for this. I found too many of the battles in Sparks of Hope to be poorly designed and tedious. Can’t say going back for more is all that appealing…

Sounds like the only changes to the game are to graphics and language options. I wonder if the mechanics of this sequel will hold up better than those of the first game did?

@PikaPhantom Thanks, and great news if some of the original Steamworld team is involved! I have high hopes this continues an excellent series.

Developed by ‘The Station,’ so does that mean the Image and Form team didn’t make this game? I would be intrigued based on the quality of previous Steamworld games, but I wonder if that will carry over with a new developer.