bratzdoll

That 2019 announcement really saved this, even if a 2020 release plan would have made me feel more confident. It makes me think they were expecting the backlash.

"rather than having an enemy encounter every seven steps like the JRPGs of yore, they’re much less common but are insurmountably more substantial and difficult"

This part convinced me the game will deliver.
After some half-baked JRPG attempts on Switch, I really need this one to be great.

Splatoon's customization is my favorite part of the game, glad they're sticking to it!

I also see it only takes a mere mention of gender for some to consistently look like fools. Amusing, really.

@YummyHappyPills Whether the games match the rumours or not, Pokemon is coming and almost certainly in 2 versions as always, plus they'd have listed the game as "TBD" instead of "2018 or later" if its release wasn't near; I don't know what you meant by "rumoured".

So we agree that a cheaper alternative is inevitable but disagree on its implementation, am I understanding correctly? I say it'll be portable-only for the 3DS/Vita crowd, while (I can only assume) you think it'll be another, cheaper hybrid.

Why would the lack of dock be an issue? If anything, I'd assume the dock option would be completely dropped from the "mini" version, it's for the people that only play in handheld mode and don't mind the lack of TV after all. It's the joycons that I imagine could go either way, depending on the retail price. One (dock as an optional add-on) or the other (joy cons) would definitely get dropped, edit: if not both. Apologies if I'm missing something.

@YummyHappyPills "This configuration" can also mean "eshop-only" or "without an AC adapter" etc, everyone can read into it whatever they want to read.

There's no way they wouldn't offer a cheaper, portable-only alternative down the line, what with their current one-system-per-person approach and all. And with 2 Pokemon versions on the way? It's just not realistic!

@rjejr I agree, "this configuration" is the key phrase here. A ~dockless Switch~ is still on the table.

I figured as much. It will come in a box as a standard dockless/mini Switch when the time comes, customization be damned. I will be waiting on that.

@Heavyarms55 Oh, I'm not complaining about the coverage, it wasn't a dig at NL! It's more about how Pokemon Co.'s giving us everything but the one thing we're asking for. I can't wait any longer!

Front page is full of articles on all-things-Pokemon except the Switch game, where is the damn announcement @ The Pokemon Company

I love the "Follow Developer/Publisher" idea, it's the one I'd personally find most helpful.

I generally don’t do Collector’s Editions so standard VC4 it is for me. It looks cool though.

I mostly just hope 3rd parties come through with the JRPGs at some point.

I plan on playing handheld-exclusively but this doesn't seem worth it. If they'd rather not drop the price to ~$200 (by making the joycons non-detachable), at least throw a charger in this mix so we can start talking. Then again, this isn't for prospective Switch owners like me -nor for people outside of Japan for now-,maybe current Switch owners will be more interested.

I will say though, choosing the joy con colours is by far the highlight of this offer; customization is always welcome.

Well, finally some sort of update...

I know I can wait for this but the point remains; how many will still be buying 3DS games whenever Q2 comes out? I hope this is Atlus’s last release on the system, with focus shifting to Switch moving forward, but we’ll probably be seeing a 3DS Etrian Odyssey VIII in 2025.

And not to be that person but I’ll be that person, for the love of glitch noise bring P5 (Shade of Red) to Switch. I’ve bought it on PS3 and I’ll buy it again.

@NIN10DOXD I don't think it made too many people buy a 3DS for a core game either, though that's for Nintendo/GF's marketing team to clear up. It did however revitalize interest in people who had left the franchise as a memory of their childhood. I'm the only 3DS owner among my friends yet every one of them was talking to me about "catching a Vulpix" [or any Pokemon of your choice]. Everyone gave it a try. That's such an impressive feat. Somewhere down the line, core Pokemon games lost these people; it makes sense for Nintendo/GameFreak to want them back.

To clear something up, I don't mean for the main game to get "easier", it's already frustratingly easy. I'd even suggest difficulty options, they've been long needed. But you don't need mechanics like Z Moves to beat it, you never did. I want simplicity, not lower difficulty. Red/Blue/Yellow obviously had the most bare mechanics of the series but they're still considered more difficult to beat than their successors. Does that make sense?

@Nin10outof10 Oh, absolutely agree with you on the cutscenes -even worse was the whole intro, most patronizing of the series yet- but I don't think a story-driven approach is inherently a misstep; Black/White are still praised as a series highlight because of that, no? They just didn't fully get it right this time.

Frankly it's not SM when Pokemon lost its magic. BW excluded (precisely for trying something different), Pokemon hasn't felt the same since...Gen 4? I'm sure that's the favorite gen of somebody out there, and I'm not gonna knock that, I'm just saying that's where I'd pinpoint the start of the decline. Personally, I thought SM were an improvement over XY at least.

@NIN10DOXD We don't know yet exactly what is similar to GO, that "integration" rumor is worrying me too. But we do know that, regardless how we feel about that app, millions of people saw something in it that made them return to the franchise 20 years later. There is something to learn from that. Do I want to pay $60 for a Pokemon GO experience? Absolutely not. But if they looked at GO and decided to take out all the bloat that's piled up over the years -like natures, EVs, IVs, Z Moves, Mega Evolutions etc etc- imagine just how much more inviting the games would feel to the average consumer that hasn't picked up a Pokemon game in a while. Or every fan that avoids competitive like the plague, for that matter. Depth for the sake of depth isn't fun.

And one thing Pokemon GO did RIGHT over any mainline game is the death of random encounters. There is no place for random encounters in 2018, we're only dealing with them out of necessity. That leaked screenshot gives me more hope than dread for this very reason.

edit: Also, it's personal preference and a minor thing but it's been mentioned in the rumors, but I prefer the way catching Pokemon works in GO over the main games, it's way more engaging than just clicking the A button and hoping for the best. I'd be ok with that carrying over.

@SomeWriter13 Same here! But Nintendo wants to sell 20 million Switch units till next March, Pokemon sadly HAS to come out this year. So I'm very much pleased with the idea that the game coming out is a re-imagined Pokemon Yellow, that'd be a significantly more polished experience than a proper new entry ever could be in this timeframe. And I'll join in the rants if Pokemon GO is a requirement instead of an added bonus, believe me.

The complaining starts despite so many Pokémon fans admitting they didn’t bother finishing Ultra Sun/Moon... The formula still works but there’s no magic anymore. It’s TIME for a shake-up, whatever that may be.

And I’ll gladly take a reimagined Pokémon Yellow over a completely new gen cause the latter would be a rushed mess if released in holiday season 2018.

Pokémon Let’s GO Eevee outsold!

I want the rumors to be true, post-apocalyptic Kanto sounds like a great concept for “the first Pokémon game on a home console”. I’m just worried they will be simplifying what is already way too simple based on that Pokémon GO integration. Random encounters, IVs, and Natures I want gone, not sure “the way people catch Pokémon” is what needed a shake-up. Pokémon GO is a proven fad, I hope they are smart about this.

Done!

Another skinny legend on the NL front page, I’m impressed! I appreciate the pandering, Nintendo.

I’m just ready for the 3DS game series to finally make the jump to Switch, mainly Pokémon and Fire Emblem.

@TossedLlama call me out!! Haha

As long as it's nothing like XC2's character design, I'm down.

...I'm gonna need Nintendo to speed up the 64GB cartridge rollout.

Nah... pricing is all it’s got going for it. It is 2018, maybe let’s not.

@gloom I see you I hear you, LGBTQI! Got the "Why Don't We Have Straight Pride" locals UPSET nnn

This post is a gays-only event, I don't want to read ANY Eurovision slander.

PS vote Fuego tomorrow night.

Yeah, I'm ready for E3..

Hey now (hey now) this is what dreams are made of.

Somehow I doubt this game will find a bigger audience on Switch than it did on WiiU.

I think VC is dead regardless of this announcement. Nintendo would want both Nindies and the Classic Editions to keep selling.

It was always either that or a (Kanto) reboot.

I really think we'll get an announcement soon, if this is indeed a 2018 release.

Yeah, I'm buying both. Never played any game in the series but it seems right up my alley.

Maybe they're waiting till the bigger cartridges become available.

Never played Steins;Gate or watched the anime but I'm super excited for that one. Bring all the visual novels to Switch!

Never heard of these games before but they look like the closest thing to a Dragon Age game on the Switch...I'll take it.

@glympe "The sale runs from 2pm GMT on 22nd March", we'll just have to wait a couple more days

To think I ordered Xenoblade 3D just today... brb cancelling that one

Dream Daddy coming x

So many interesting character designs held back by total lack of a story, I want to see a sequel do the concept right.

Coco Bandicoot or keep it.

The phrase "it's perfect for the Switch" gets thrown around so easily but this time feels more appropriate than ever. Nintendo fans love a mascot platformer, there's no way this doesn't sell well.

Not something I'm excited about personally but I can see myself giving it a shot down the line (with an appealing discount).

I was expecting, hoping even, for a couple WiiU port announcements but...this wasn't one of them. I'm fairly confident Xenoblade X will come down the line, and so will Tokyo Mirrage Sessions with some luck so I'll just have to wait a bit longer.

Also, if you've already bought the game and have no interest in a Switch port, maybe...just don't buy it again? A thought.

Never been into Smash but I thought the reveal was so well done...

I believe we're looking at another "Splatoon 2" instead of a "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe".

I still haven't bought a Switch -I'm waiting on Pokemon/perhaps portable-only version/hardware revision- so I don't have a top 10 of games I've played.

I do however have a top 6 of already released games I want to buy when that time comes...

1. Zelda : BOTW
2. Xenoblade Chronicles 2
3. Bayonetta 1+2
4. Darkest Dungeon
5. Mario Kart 8
6. Splatoon 2

I could make it a top 10 but that'd just be padding, really.

Digital could have become "the present" instead of being "the future" if paying more for literally less stopped being the case. It's crazy to me that digital is usually more expensive than physical still. I get why that's where we're heading but pricing alone is slowing down the process.

...which is why, while I've never been pro-digital purchases, I would welcome a streaming-based system. I wouldn't mind paying a fixed price every month/year and having <everything> be readily available. A Spotify-like service beats every argument you could make for an iTunes-like service, to make some parallels with the music industry. A streaming service still doesn't negate anything written in the post but it's what my wallet would vote for. Frankly, we only care about what's more convenient in the present, future preservation does not cross our mind as consumers (or people). Right now, the cost of digital is still just not worth it but a streaming service would make a much more attractive case.

I could see physical still staying around in the form of "collector's edition"s for select releases, depending on how the industry adapts. To make more parallels with the music industry, physical sales (of albums in jewel cases...) are worst they've ever been in the west...except vinyl releases, those are on the rise. And looking over to the east, Korea for example, you'll see physical sales still thriving, because every physical release is packaged like a collectible.

All in all, it kind of depends on what course the industry takes once streaming takes over. Cause like other media, it's not digital purchases that will kill physical releases, it's streaming. If the game industry doesn't give consumers an incentive to go physical, we won't be seeing more than a few collector's editions for some games of just the biggest franchises.

okay now THIS is exciting!!

Personally, I'm betting on Persona Q2 footage / release date (finally!) for the 3DS.

With Switch also replacing the Vita (indirectly), future of otome games -and visual novels in general- on the console seems promising, and that's worth getting excited over. Sadly, nothing about this release in particular has me hooked in yet.

Is Atlus waiting till 2020 to announce a Persona Q2 release date? What's going on with that?

LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIES gif

Just like "the Switch will not replace the 3DS"

Of course they're saying that now if they're planning to sell 20mil of the current hardware this year. It'd be dumb to say otherwise.

Were they flooded with "NO MORE WII U PORTS" comments