Comments 806

Re: Super Mario World Looks To Be The Official Name Of The Next Mario Movie

Zaruboggan

Are the allergies to good films seasonal?
Mario Bros could have been a better movie--should have been a better movie. Countless family films are actually thought-provoking, and it doesn't take much more effort to get there. The Mario movie could have said something about escapism, expectations, growing up, etc. (any theme that could resonate with people who play the games) with the smallest of script edits, but it didn't. It didn't really say anything at all.
Which is why, after the eye candy and jokes, there was nothing else to it.
If we can get the LEGO Movie, Frozen, and Into the Spiderverse, we can get a well-written Mario movie. Which, for the record, doesn't mean we can't have the eye candy, the pop, the jokes, the references, etc.

Re: Talking Point: Are You Excited At All For Switch 2 GameChat?

Zaruboggan

I kinda like the idea of it, but it requires friends to get it, too. I ran through my list of friends getting a Switch 2, and none of them are interested in the camera. Therefore, I'm not either.
That could have changed, before the update to the Privacy paperwork. Yes, I know every phone/app etc. requires the same thing; I understand that it may just be a requirement because they're sending data between devices.
I don't really care. Privacy matters. I've been knocking out one vice at a time to protect my data. I'm not about to add in a new one.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (10th May)

Zaruboggan

Inching ever closer on Avowed. I've almost fully explored the 4th map and wrapped up most of the side quests. I'll have to pop back to the 1st area to turn in some maps, but I think I can see the end from here.

Not as close on Xenoblade Chronicles X, but I did wrap chapter 6 after ten hours of affinity quests and MP grinding. Next is the Skell, so I'll probably hold off for a bit. It totally transforms exploration, so I'll stay on foot for a while longer. Until I've had my fill.

Lil bit of Fashion Dreamer. It thankfully has less of the live service BS that makes games homework. No daily log ins, no daily missions. And yet, I'm still motivated to log in, see what lookit mail I've got, and design a couple of fits.

Windblown is possible. We just unlocked the new area. F-Zero X is mostly guaranteed. We've been having fun clearing Half Pipe with every character in 1st and 2nd place. And we just started a kind of Mario Kart marathon, starting with Mario Kart 64 last week, so up next may just be some Mario Kart Double Dash.

Re: Rumour: Donkey Kong Bananza May Include A Local Multiplayer Component

Zaruboggan

I think the Mario Galaxy/Bowser's Fury half-***ed 2nd player is most likely, which is too bad. It'd be fun if we could at least move Odd Rock as we get bashed around by DK. I actually like the idea of just bumbling in the way of things and getting launched by DK's ground pound.

Of course, I'd be much happier with the versus mode straight out of DK64. Loved that, with all the false walls and secrets. The honorable peanut duels. The dishonorable peanut duels. All of it.

Re: Poll: Box Art Brawl - Duel: 1080° Avalanche

Zaruboggan

As people have said, JP looks like it's a GameStop replacement box, a magazine ad, or some sort of slip case for a demo disc.
US looks like box art. Not particularly memorable, but definitely serviceable.
JP can have points for originality, but not enough points to deserve a vote.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (3rd May)

Zaruboggan

Still Avowed and Xenoblade Chronicles X.
I'm just wrapping up the Thirdborn section (probably) in the former. I've made some decisions sort of on accident a couple times, so I don't expect things to go well for me. At least I know play time is over when it comes to the Garotte --they're gonna get it next I see em!
In the latter, I keep getting roped in to completing the squad missions. I can't help it! If someone's knocking em out, I've got to do my part!
Also a little Windblown (the new update made reviving pals horrible--a little too knee jerk after the previous update made it really, really easy). And probably a little bit of Fashion Dreamers, too.

Re: Video: Here's Another Look At The Lord Of The Rings 'Tales Of The Shire' Game

Zaruboggan

Whoa, the way they use the birds to point the way is wicked. I love that sort of subtle signposting in games. It's like the wind in Ghost of Tsushima. Super cool.

The comments set me up for general disappointment, so maybe that's why I'm pleasantly pleased with how it looks? I haven't really been interested in the title before, but this video's shifted my needle in the right direction.

That said, it's kind of surprising (and definitely disappointing) we haven't had a real AAA singleplayer LotR experience in, what, forever? Since Shadows of Mordor (technically its sequel, I guess)? And we haven't had a good game following the main cast since...PS...2? Unless you count 2012's LEGO game.
While it's been more steady with multiplayer (the MMO, the MOBA, and the fantastic Lord of the Rings Conquest), it's just a bizarre lack of proper direction for the franchise in the AAA space.

Re: Poll: Orange Or Red Switch eShop - Make Your Choice

Zaruboggan

Orange. Let my switch 1 keep its colors and identity. Do whatever you want to the switch 2 icons and colors.
I'm glad they didn't update my GameCube to have a red logo at launch. I'm glad sony didn't update my PS4 to have the PS5's UI.
(I understand that its the same shop across both consoles here, and the probably wouldn't want to code a separate color for whichever console you're launching, but at the same time, using color to differentiate whether a product is S1 or S2 woulda been nice. It would have been nice if they kept the S1 shop separate a la the Wii and Wii U shops, if only because the first shop is filled with so much garbage.)

Re: Nintendo eShop Cards Are Apparently Getting A Refresh For Switch 2

Zaruboggan

@N00BiSH I'm missing how the comparison doesn't apply. All three are brand refreshes, and all three replace old designs and design principles with the new.
And sure, they didn't take the butt end of a number two to our old collections, but the old DK icon is gone.

Edit: I'll be honest, all these hours later, I forgot what thread this even was.
To be contextually accurate, yes, the use of DK here on the eShop cards is a harmless application of the new look for the big ape. I stand by everything I said, but I think I thought I was commenting on the icon-based post? Happens sometimes when I open multiple articles on the phone. Or maybe I was responding to the general vibe of the comments here ("New DK is great! What's all the fuss about?"). I dunno.

Re: Nintendo eShop Cards Are Apparently Getting A Refresh For Switch 2

Zaruboggan

I like the new DK fine. I just don't like the erasure of old DK. Feels like when Marvel adjusts its comic designs to better match the movies, or when Mario went through a period of sterilization for no particularly good reason.
What's the harm in having the icon for the old one stick around? Answer: there is no harm.

Re: Talking Point: Which Nintendo Series Are You Most Excited To See Return On Switch 2?

Zaruboggan

All of the franchises.
Starfox like Assault? Give it to me.
A Fire Emblem that returns to form (PoR, RD)? I'm there.
An evolution of Splatoon? Sign me up.
A modern sequel to Wave Race, F-Zero, and 1080? I'll pay the $80, you monsters.
Chibi Robo? Custom Robo? Kid Icarus? Metroid? DK Country? 3D Mario? Mario Baseball? As long as their new games aren't like Zip Lash, then, uh, yeah, day one.
I would also like an Animal Crossing that does for Animal Crossing what MKW is ready to do to MK, and a Style Savvy that applies some of the neat MP features of Fashion Dreamers to the significantly more feature-complete series.
And eventually (though I am in no rush), that new Smash Bros.
Can I also beg for Excite Truck 2? Why did Pushmo and Sakura Samurai have to be so short-lived? Can Sawano still compose for XCX2? Or do I have to write a letter to Monolith Soft for a new Baten Kaitos? A Soma Bringer sequel?
I won't say no to more Arms... Or Golden Sun. Or, if I may be so bold, another pinball spinoff. Bolder, better Mario sports games. I want full-assed, not half-assed, Mario Tennis!

Re: EA And Respawn Hit By Hundreds Of Layoffs As New Project Cancelled

Zaruboggan

When I see games like Eldin Ring hit 30m, I can't help but think that EA would have just...grown, if it had just managed its studios and given them the ability to make the games they wanted to make. No fad-chasing BS. If they still had the best Bioware, the best DICE, the best Respawn, the best Pandemic, they'd still be on top.
Now they're...holding on? Ish? Basically only the Respawn games have been noteworthy.

Re: Poll: Which Switch 2 Accessories Are You Picking Up At Launch?

Zaruboggan

Kinda waiting to hear what the new drift situation really is.
Otherwise, I'd like a pro and a GameCube controller, but they won't be day one.
The camera kind of depends on other friends getting one, because there's no point if they don't at this time.
I'm hoping bigger express SD cards will become standard before I have to shell out for one of those.

Re: Community: 38 Switch Games We Missed, As Recommended By You

Zaruboggan

Definitely adding a few of these to the wishlist. Which Way Up: Galaxy Games, Chaos Code (which is currently on sale for $1.99 inthe US--80% off until 5/12)(It doesn't have online play, for the record), A Year of Springs, and CROSSNIQ+. I've had my eye on DNF Duel, but I kind of need it to get to a price where I could fiddle with it for a weekend and get my money's worth.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (26th April)

Zaruboggan

Surprise, surprise, I'm still progressing slowly in both Avowed and Xenoblade Chronicles X. I finished Emerald Stair in the former, and I've got a couple more characters to unlock in the latter before moving on to chapter 6.

My brothers and I will also be checking in on the latest Windblown update, which added a new area and a few new weapons.

Enjoy the new releases, everyone! I'll catch up on Clair Obscur eventually!

Re: Poll: So, Did You Manage To Get A Switch 2 Pre-Order In? (North America)

Zaruboggan

Stayed up late last night to fight the queues and got nothing for my efforts.
My brother considered taking off the work day to hit up Gamestop, but decided there was too much he had to do on the job. Same for me.
Too bad. We found out later that if we had gone to Gamestop before opening, we would have absolutely been early enough in line to secure a console. Almost effortlessly.
I'm happy for everyone who had an easy time of it, and I hope nobody's preorders get cancelled!

Re: Where To Pre-Order Nintendo Switch 2

Zaruboggan

@speed_loafer Yep. I'm waiting for one of the bundles in the hopes that it'll be less impacted. So far that has not turned out to be true lol.
Shoulda gone for the double zelda bundle. No day-one-buying Switch 2 fan would want to pay 70 and 80 dollars for games they already have. And I could probably return the unopened Zeldas...

Re: Where To Pre-Order Nintendo Switch 2

Zaruboggan

My brother got a confirmation email via Walmart. I'm not sure if that's gonna turn into an actual Switch 2, but it's something.
All the cancellations people suffered through with PS5 leave me feeling a little deflated.
So does the 33 minutes waiting for Best Buy's line, but that's neither here nor there (it's definitely here).

Re: Feature: 27 GameCube Games We'd Love To See On Nintendo Switch 2 NSO

Zaruboggan

Considering how few GameCubes sold (relatively), it's pretty crazy that 27 games doesn't even come close to covering everything. I must have blinked because I didn't see the best Star Fox game (Assault) on the list.
Seconding and thirding basically every game mentioned by the community above, but especially Custom Robo, Baten Kaitos, Lost Kingdoms 1+2, Skies of Arcadia...
All of them. Give me every GameCube game there ever was, please and thank you.

I'll be curious to see how games like Zelda Four Swords Adventures and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles do multiplayer. The latter, as well as Tales of Symphonia, was done a disservice by its remaster. Give me the OG.

Also, any Digimon World 4 aficionados out there? My family had a blast with it growing up!

Re: Review: The Hundred Line - Last Defense Academy (Switch) - An Addictive VN & Tactics Blend With Notes Of Persona

Zaruboggan

@Indielink @Vyacheslav333 IIRC it was literally just grunts? I wasted a few minutes trying to find anything else, and nothing popped up. Not to suggest there couldn't have been a single voiced line by Cadence, the only character who appears to have a separate JP voice actor...
The developer is also based in Vancouver, so I'm not sure in which world they WOULD feel obligated to put dual audio into the English release (grunts or otherwise).

But hey, everybody's got their hill. All the power to you, Vyacheslav333.

Re: Catch-Up Crew: Pikmin - "A Moment Of Sheer Panic That I Can’t Quite Describe"

Zaruboggan

Love hearing that Pikmin 1 can still get its hooks into new players! My entire extended family was suckered in by it all those years ago.
My personal order (since nobody asked) would be 3-4-2-1, starting with my favorite. A proper co-op campaign and that fantastic co-op mission mode make 3 the dandoriest of them all! I'm heartbroken Pikmin 4 didn't bring back either.

(If you do go the video route as suggested above, please make sure to retain the written format as well!)

Re: Poll: Box Art Brawl - Duel: Pikmin (GameCube)

Zaruboggan

NA for sure! Japan's is just...not great. Maybe I'd like it more if the flowers weren't just copy/pasted all over the box, or if they filled the background a little better. My eyeballs kinda lose the Pikmin on that orange, too. I also think it would have been better without the english.
NA's is comical, suggestive of what you're getting into, and its era-specific art tickles my fancy.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (19th April)

Zaruboggan

Avowed and Xenoblade Chronicles X again. Making progress through the Emerald Stair in the former, and wrapping up some affinity missions in the latter.
It'll be a busy weekend otherwise, with various celebrations going on.
We also have been launching some Wii and Wii U games to add playtimes to our massive spreadsheet. Did you know you can still download Wii games you've purchased? I didn't!
We'll have to buy an SD card to fit it all, which is kinda funny, considering my Wii U is hooked up to a 2TB hard drive.