blecch

@Nater bummer - might as well get a tablet or phone if you're just going to play YouTube and Fortnite. Or another platform if you actually want to play Fortnite at 60fps.

Are they actually playing Fortnite as a game or more as a chat room?

I found the video to be annoying - then I went to the linked article, which is much better than having someone read it to you!!

Nice, lots of support for Persona - definitely a great series!! P5 would be terrific, and seems possible since there's a PS3 version. I also wouldn't mind seeing Q2 on the Switch.
Kingdom Hearts 3 though... good luck with that! There are three possibilities: 1) mobile port like FFXV 2) downgraded visuals like DQXI (hopefully not the 2D version) 3) ....crickets....
Nice to see that maybe I'm not the only person who wants FFVIII (lost to the sands of time apparently) and Tactics.

@eRaz0r Could the DreamEye be used to control games like the EyeToy?

EyeToy supported visual/motion controls as well as AR.

Of course I'm still disappointed that Maraca-based gaming never became as big a thing as it should have been.

My favo(u)rite Switch forerunner is the PSVita/TV combo. I still miss things like Final Fantasy 8, built-in voice chat, and Netflix. I don't miss the expensive, proprietary memory cards.

As the article notes, tablet + controllers ~= Switch, but the combination of Nintendo's exclusive games with something that works well out of the box is hard to beat.

@invictus4000 I have spent a lot of time with triple triad in ff8 and really enjoyed it, but much less with tetra master in ff9 because it felt like more work for less reward. On the other hand, I largely ignored blitzball in ff10, and ff14 actually has triple triad but I rarely play it.

@Azikira Yes! The physical rewards were my only reason for Club Nintendo!! It was so disappointing to see them go away and be replaced by generally uninteresting digital rewards (like 30% off an eShop game that I don't want or already own.)

I like it when people remember that regardless of platform, or which systems or games are most popular at the moment, or who works for whom, we're all on team video games! ;D

@Seacliff Well the $10 (or cheaper on sale) PSP/3/Vita version is exactly the PS1 version. Which actually looks pretty decent on the tiny Vita screen or with a PS3 hooked up to a real CRT TV or monitor.

Pre-rendered videos look fine, but those character models that seem to be from the mobile version, juxtaposed against the blurry, pixelated backgrounds... The typeface and mobile-style menus are also awful.

disclaimer: it looks just as bad on ps4

@jobvd Wait, you can't turn off the grey borders? I don't remember them on other versions of the game (and you can also play in stretched mode if you prefer.)

I wouldn't complain too much - the PS4 version is $21 and also looks terrible due to the discontinuity of the sharper (but kind of clunky - I'm not quite sure what is wrong with them) character models against the blurry, pixelated PS1 backgrounds and the awful looking text/menus. (The cutscenes are OK though.) Mobile version is cheaper but also looks bad, though maybe slightly better on a tiny screen. It probably looks slightly better on PSVita and PSP, which simply emulate the PS1 version and also benefit from the tiny screen effect.

The game looks (much?) better (to me at least) on a PS1/2/3 hooked up to a CRT television (or in an emulator that supports CRT emulation.)

On the other hand even a mediocre version of a great game is still pretty good if you can overlook the visual flaws. If SE could fix the backgrounds it would look a lot better. If they could fix the ugly typeface, the unnecessary mobile-style menus, and some of the battle effects it would be more much more pleasant to play.

@Tourer145 I'm excited about the new content in DQXI, and 2D mode, but not the downgraded graphics in 3D mode. ;-(

Unfortunately Final Fantasy IX looks like it has the same problem as the mediocre PS4 version – slightly sharper, but somehow clunkier, characters jarringly set on top of blurry, pixelated PS1 backgrounds. Maybe this is will be an issue for most Squaresoft PS1 RPGs – SE might not want to spend the time or money to clean up all of the hand-drawn backgrounds. But I wish they could fix the discontinuity somehow (perhaps using better scaling algorithms and filters.) I think running the PS1 version with CRT emulation might actually look a lot better...

FFVII might look better than IX if they use some of the assets from the ongoing HD remaster. One can only hope.

It doesn't seem possible for Nintendo to prevent unauthorized game distribution and emulation without breaking backward compatibility with millions of existing Switch consoles.

So far that doesn't seem to have destroyed the market for Switch consoles or games, nor has online gaming been destroyed by cheaters.

Moreover, jailbreaking hasn't destroyed gaming on iOS or Android, and PCs are jailbroken by design but still have a robust local and online game ecosystem. In fact it's kind of a golden era for PC gaming.

@Heavyarms55 Microsoft is going for a "play anywhere" platform strategy, so it makes sense that most MS games are playable on Xbox and PC. Some people like PCs, some people like consoles.

For a long time MS has had Halo, Gears, Forza, Crackdown and timed exclusives like PUBG. Some other interesting exclusives like (Rare's) Sea of Thieves, and the upgraded version of Final Fantasy XIII. Xbox also has a large back catalog of 360 and original Xbox games, as well as basically all current-gen cross-platform games like Overwatch and RDR2, many of which are unlikely to come to Switch any time soon due to graphical requirements. And you're not stuck with the "pocket edition" of Final Fantasy XV.

I guess the point is that Microsoft has built a pretty strong game ecosystem on Xbox and PC, and it includes many excellent games that aren't available on the Switch.

@SMEXIZELDAMAN Regarding FFXIII - the latest upgraded console version is exclusively for Xbox One, apparently.

But considering it is a PS3 game, I am surprised there is no Switch version.

Wait, so the JP physical release has both games on the cartridge and English language support, but the NA and EU versions don't? This makes no sense.

The NA/EU HD Remasters on PS3/PS4/PSVita included both games.

Velocity 2x is one of the first games I ever played on the PS4 (and also PSVita) so it's nice to have it on the Switch. Most of my other early PS4 gaming was Final Fantasy XIV, a great game that unfortunately will probably never make it to the Switch.

I do think it's weird to have all of these different companies doing limited physical releases, and I find the rush and scalping to be extremely annoying - preorders are much better.

I also wish the physical version would come with a download code for the eshop version, so you could have the best of both worlds!

@Dezzy The graphical downgrade doesn't bother me much - as long as it's not a full-on mobile demake like FFXV.

@Sakisa The English localization and voice acting are excellent on the PS4 version.

Great game though as commenters have noted by the time the Switch version comes out the PC/PS4 versions will be half the price.

As @Richnj noted, Destiny 1 came out on the PS3/360 so it could potentially work on the Switch. Of course Microsoft owns Halo, but it would be cool to see Myth, Marathon and Oni come back someday.

@brendon987 Yes! The Switch is turning into a worthy successor to the PSVita as a great JRPG handheld (and of course docked mode - kind of like a Vita+PSTV setup.)

And I've been a Tales fan since Tales of Eternia on the PSP.

Too bad - I thought that the asymmetric 5-player boost mode of Super Mario Bros. U was one of its coolest features!! It seems they could bring that back if you have two Switches - use the second one like the Wii U gamepad for boost mode and local network multiplayer.

StreetPass Mii Plaza is almost certainly the "game" that I have played most consistently on the 3DS. I never got tired of collecting miis and using them for minigames. I also miss MiiVerse. And I am sad that Nikki never writes me anymore in SwapNote.

Well at least they kept the U.

Although the Wii U retreads may be annoying to people who've already played for years on that console, I am fine with releasing them again on the Switch, as they are excellent games that deserve a second chance!!

I wonder if they will include the asymmetric multiplayer gameplay? That was very cool about the original - you could have a fifth player to help the others by building bridges, etc..

@ilikeike Interesting - I may have to get it again. DQXI took a while to grow on me, but it is an excellent game that deserves to have more people enjoy it!!

@Mars Ah the PSVita+PSTV - kind of like the Switch before the Switch, and better than the PS Classic for PS1 gaming. Too bad Sony never seemed to realize how cool hybrid gaming was, but Nintendo seems to!

What is kind of a bummer is that they didn't decide to localize the 3DS version. ;-(

I enjoyed it a lot on the PS4 though, so it's nice to see it coming to the Switch as well.

@Caryslan Nice list. I mean... just looking at classic JRPGs, you could make an amazing list of PS1 releases. Consider Final Fantasy: 7/8/9/Tactics/Origins/Anthology/Chronicles... and at least a dozen more worthwhile series.

@Shane76 My winning compact/easy PS1 emulation system is the PlayStation TV, which plays PSN games (Suikoden II, Persona 2, etc.) though you have to use expensive PSVita memory cards. The PS3 is bulkier but handles both PSN games and physical discs and uses the HDD for storage.

How well do games work which require rotary control/paddle controllers?

I presume you use the analog sticks or motion controls, but I don't think either one would work as well as the real thing.

The "deluxe" versions of the hardware Atari Flashback consoles included paddle controllers as well as joysticks.

edit: just noticed @AtlanteanMan 's comment - "borderline uncontrollable" sounds bad.

It will now be known as the Nintendo App Store.

@masterLEON I'm more surprised about the 50% that hasn't bought these games yet. Why buy a Nintendo console if not to play Mario/Zelda/Smash/Pokémon/Metroid/etc.? Regarding Sony... I think they have a wider range of excellent exclusive games, but not as many well-known, exclusive franchises (maybe Uncharted, God of War, Ratchet & Clank, Gran Turismo, Ico/SotC/Last Guardian) and fewer charming iconic characters. I'm sad to see Sony's portable consoles end as they brought us LocoRoco, Patapon, Tearaway and Gravity Rush.

The first two MUA games are terrific and would work well on the Switch. X-Men Legends 1/2 were also excellent. The wide range of characters, drop-in local co-op (up to 4 players) and combo mechanics were all highlights.

@simonmoskovits Yeah, too bad it doesn't come with a printed manual like the previous installments of Smash Bros! At least the in-game information seems a lot better than what some other games give you.

Mario Kart is even worse - it had a nice printed and digital manual on the Wii U but the Switch version is just deficient in comparison. IIRC all 3DS and Wii U games included digital instruction manuals, and many included print manuals as well - I wish that this had continued for the Switch. It's also almost laughable when you open up a Switch game box and all it has inside is a tiny game cartridge.

I think @likethepear makes a good point - like many fighting games, Super Smash Bros. isn't particularly beginner-friendly, and learning to play competently can be incredibly hard for someone who has never played Smash or other fighting games before. "But," you say, "you only have 8 basic attacks, tilt attacks, smash attacks, shielding, throws, dashing, simple combos, dodges, jumps, drops, items, recoveries, and .... anyways, controls are so much easier than Street Fighter!" Maybe, but the initial learning curve can still be brutal and discouraging for many new players, and the game lacks an easy and obvious tutorial mode that gently eases beginners into the game. This is too bad, because I expect that many players who give up in frustration might actually enjoy the game if they could somehow learn how to play it!!

I like Smash Bros. and I've enjoyed playing previous versions, and I still feel like I'm climbing a steep learning curve with Ultimate.

@RupeeClock Sony really phoned it in with the PS Classic, but what is puzzling is that the PSVita/PSTV (ARM based) has a perfectly decent PS1 (and PSP!) emulator built into it!! Why they didn't go with a variant of the PSVita/TV OS is baffling.

@HikaruKitsune Wow, that is a nice list of games. I think that's the problem - too many great games and no way to pick the ones you actually want; unlike the PSP/PSVita/PSTV/PS3 which all support PSN, and the PS2/3 which play actual PS1 discs!

Following up on other comments, why didn't NintendoLife and PushSquare team up for this comparison? That would be a bit more interesting I think!!!

@Neopolss Sony lost its lawsuit against Connectix/Virtual Game Station on appeal, but then managed to settle out of court with the bankrupt Connectix, acquiring the company and killing the product. Nonetheless it is an important ruling for emulation.

As great a console as the PS1 is/was, the SNES classic beats the PS Classic hands down, due to better emulation software and a game library that feels like a better representation of the best of its era.

Ironically it's the great software library of the original PlayStation that makes the PS Classic so disappointing, to me at least: where are Final Fantasy 8/9/Tactics/Chronicles/Origins? Suikoden 2? Persona 2? Silent Hill? What about the other great Square RPGs (Xenosaga/Chrono Cross/Vagrant Story/etc.?) What about Ape Escape? Parappa? Castlevania:SOTN? Tony Hawk? Tomb Raider? etc.

If you want a great mini-console that runs all of the above as well as any PS1 game on PSN, I recommend... the PlayStation TV!! If Sony had simply repackaged the PS TV in the PS Classic shell you would have a PS1 emulation system that plays any game on PSN, and also happens to play PSVita and PSP games, and PS4 Remote Play, and Netflix – though sadly it is 720p only. It sips power, so you can run it off your TV's USB port, and it works with DualShock3/4 wireless controllers. The worst thing about the PS TV is that it (and the Vita) rely on Sony's proprietary Memory Sticks, which are embarrassingly expensive and max out at 64GB.

An upgraded PSTV with 1080p, improved emulation software (including CRT emulation), SD card support, and a nice PS1 retro case would be the real PS Classic that we actually want. Add a PS1-style DualShock wireless controller and I would probably be throwing my money at Sony.

edit: the PS TV hit a low price of something like $26 new on Amazon/eBay. Now it seems to be jumping up in price, perhaps as people are realizing that besides the boring case it's a better PS Classic than the PS Classic.

@Fuz

Still waiting for Kratos, Master Chief, and D.Va though.

@thesilverbrick Series like Persona and Final Fantasy are so good I think it's worth getting a system just to play them.

@Trajan Definitely worth playing. Persona 3/4/5 are all great. Worth getting a PS3 for in my opinion just to play them!! (And it can also play Persona 1 and 2, and some other games, or so I've heard.) Other Shin Megami Tensei games are also worth checking out, and there are several on the 3DS.

Nice.

So how long did it take between Cloud's appearance in Smash and getting FF7 on a Nintendo console?

P5 seems doable since there is already a PS3 version. P5 is an excellent game and one of my favorite PS3/4 exclusives...

Besides the SMT games, I think Persona Q and Q2 are only true Persona games on a Nintendo console to date?

I don't like this "no manual for you" trend. Many of my favorite games feature expansive game worlds, complex control schemes and elaborate mechanics - all of which can lead to steep learning curves that are only marginally mitigated by in-game information or tutorials, even when they exist. I greatly prefer having a game manual in hand on day 1 vs. waiting for some mediocre guide on the internet.

Given that games no longer include printed instruction manuals (with a few notable exceptions such as the launch versions of some Nicalis games) and that Switch games don't even include digital manuals like 3DS and Wii U games did, I am more inclined than ever to buy printed game guides. It's sad to see them go.

I note that Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U included a nice manual (printed in the launch version and digital in all versions) - I wish they hadn't dropped it from the Switch version!

Too bad - I enjoyed Dragon Quest XI a lot. Perhaps it will get a new life on Switch - it deserves more players I think!!

I worry that putting Labo in schools could destroy the fun, discovery, and creativity that you get from messing with it on your own.

I consider many video games to be fairly educational on their own and also actually fun, which means they are not well suited to schools, which don't tend to be particularly good at either education or fun. Why ruin the fun of Nintendo? It feels like inappropriate product placement, which the Switch doesn't need, and something that harms Nintendo's image.

Schools are probably better off attacking subjects that students are less likely to pick up on their own initiative, such as mathematics.

On the other hand, coming up with your own new Labo projects can be tricky and could require some help. A class on building stuff with Labo - including understanding how it works and learning to use the creation tools (toy-con garage) - might possibly be useful.

I also tend to think that games with built-in editing and customization tools - from LittleBigPlanet to Mario Maker to Minecraft to RPGMaker to the upcoming Dreams - could be great for course projects in game design. Although they're much easier to pick up than game engines like Unity, they also have a bit of a learning curve, so some assistance could be helpful.

@Frendo Cobalt has a point - the PS4 has a fantastic selection of "new" games, while the Switch has fewer (though it has some good ones and is very portable.) This is a Nintendo site, but I also like to visit pushsquare, which is its sister site for PlayStation. I don't own an Xbox, but I still like the fact that Microsoft makes game consoles and I want them to continue doing so! Halo + Forza + Gears >>> Windows + Office.

At the end of the day I think we all enjoy video games and benefit from these magical boxes that bring a great deal of fun and happiness to all of us and to our gaming friends all over the world.