darylb24

Honestly, this app is a huge upgrade over the horrendous Nintendo eShop UK web page.

I had this on my radar, but I was cautious about how the gameplay would actually work. The gameplay in the demo pleasantly surprised me and was reasonably challenging on the regular mode, yet really quite enjoyable. There is also a casual mode, which is also great news for those who struggle with the default difficulty a bit. I also really like that this gets close to 60fps on the Switch 2 and still looks great (albeit with some cutbacks to Resolution/Lighting/Raytracing).

My main gripe with the Switch 2 version vs the PS5 version is the noticeable frame rate inconsistency (hovering 30-40fps) rather than just having a locked 30fps mode. Capcom games often do this (looking at you Dragons Dogma 2).

Overall, the visuals are softer, but they still look great. Hopefully, they can use the additional dev time over the next month to offer a locked 30fps mode and smooth out frame pacing issues, which cause the bumpiness.

As this is an open-world game with vast draw distances and higher LOD, it is more CPU-intensive, which is why it is running at a lower FPS than controlled environmental games like RE9 and Pragmamta, which can get close to 60fps. Don't be fooled by the art style - it's the tech running underneath that often determines the frame times you can achieve.

Poor review this time. Too much focus on things surrounding the game rather than the game itself.

Undecided between getting the cart or buying digitally. The cart is often the same price or cheaper at 3rd party stores, and I can resell it later on, so I might go that route. I am guessing the game download is quite small if they made this a GKC.

It was 30fps on the PS4, so I expected the same from the Switch 2 version.

The Switch 2 version is running decently considering the CPU limitations. I enjoyed the gameplay in the demo.

Played this on the Switch 2 and PS5. I will be getting this on the PS5, as there is a significant performance uplift there. The Switch 2 version has an unstable framerate and looks a bit blurry. Typically, I would choose the Switch 2 if it has a decent resolution and can run a locked 30fps, but in this case, the frame pacing isn't good right now. My guess is the game is pushing the CPU hard somehow.

A 30/40fps mode for Pragmata would be great too, as it struggles to hit 60fps most of the time. Again, games like this, 007 First Light, and LEGO Batman are best played on a plugged-in console unless you have no other option or you really want portable play.

If you do have a PS5 or Series X, you are going to notice the cutbacks in fps, resolution, textures, and lighting.

The Switch 2 excels more on lesser CPU-intensive games or games made specially for Switch 2 in-house that can leverage the tech in the best way (Like Fire Embelem Fortunes Weave).

Capcom are really going for it on Switch 2 in 2026

I am curious what Nintendo makes of the sales drop-off in the UK. I work for a large UK retailer in its gaming section (planning & performance), and we had the largest allocation of Switch 2's at launch. In June and July, it outsold the Switch 1, but since then, it has fallen behind so much that we have cut the base by £10 and the Mario Kart Bundle by £20. We also cut the prices of the new controller and Joy-Con 2s by £10. Right now, at the same stage, we have sold double-digit % less Switch 2's vs Switch 1's in 2017. I have spoken to colleagues in other large retailers, and the reporting is similar. We haven't been out of stock with them since last June. I think shareholders are concerned about the UK and EU performance the most. They are of course, very happy with other regions, but the price cuts are something they seemed to have not liked.

Decapolice and Professor Leyton would be great to see at that showcase.

@metaphysician okay well I made my point and wasn't looking to get into a conversation on consumer law. Let's end it there.

@jsty3105 The core matter of fact is that the consumer is not required to look into the economics of business decisions and really they will be looking at their own economics. They will see prices rise and they won't like it. They might even see Nintendo with record profits and like it even less. The optics are something Nintendo should always be mindful of. There is always a tipping point. Nintendo have slipped up before in their long history and I just hope they don't become complacent again as nobody wins.

@metaphysician Consumers have the right to like or dislike the price that is presented to them. You would be hard pressed to find someone that is happy that prices increase or that services or reward schemes are reduced.

Pro consumer are merely terms for optics towards a business. Optics are essential to ensure stable stocks and trading for share holded companies like Nintendo.

@jsty3105 So you are okay with Nintendo offering less to players in real terms? That sounds like a shareholder who is more interested in financials than player experience.

Business choices are always going to benefit (pro) or not benefit (anti) the consumer. You just happen to be okay with Nintendo offering less, and that's fine, but don't frame it as if it's not okay to be unhappy if a PLC/LCC reduces benefits and increases prices.

I am not a shareholder of Nintendo products; I am a consumer, and when prices increase and benefits are taken away, it is reasonable for me and any other Nintendo consumer to question that and be either happy or unhappy with that direction of travel.

@ metaphysician So you believe that removing the gold points rewards program and ending the £84 vouchers at the end of the successful Switch generation is a pro-consumer move (plus raising game prices). I am quite frankly stunned that you would even try to argue that's not a real-term benefit reduction for the consumer (unless you are a shareholder with financial interests, which is fair enough).

@gaga64 Not sure if Fire Emblem will be out before June. Maybe May at the very earliest (due to booked Feb, March, and April 1P releases), but I think the second half of this year.

I feel like Fire Emblem Fortunes Weave will be the system seller for this year. It's the only game I am actually interested in that isn't on other platforms.

Let's hope this success doesn't get Nintendo going over anti-consumer. They have already stripped back rewards and upped prices on Software/removed the Vouchers. I wonder what could be next..

Guess I will be getting the game on PlayStation instead of Switch 2 then—nice one Nintendon't

When you have retailers like Argos and Smyths selling games much cheaper, Game is just no longer relevant, and honestly, it won't be missed by many anymore.

Unless they get brought out by someone akin to HMV's owners, they have no chance.

The jealousy comments lol, as if anyone else wouldn't want to be very well paid for jobs in gaming.

What I sadly expect to happen is that UK and EU customers will get the price rises, while the US keeps its price point below $500.

The UK price will go from £396 to £450. The EU price will be 550. Sony did the same thing (x2 price rises) and lowered the storage in the UK and EU before they finally decided to touch the US market. Seems unfair, really. The UK is a very profitable market for Nintendo and Sony and they know they can squeeze more out of us.

I would expect many changes to the way NOA has been run in the past few years.

@UltimateOtaku91 The difference is that Microsoft/Xbox has not been in a position of strength since the Xbox 360 days. They have tried hard by offering pro-consumer things like a reward programme and free cloud saves, alongside significant investment into gaming studios and even the most powerful console on paper, plus UI features like themes and quick resume. Sadly, most players built up libraries in PS4 or Switch, so they weren't going to buy a Series X/S. The lack of console sales meant they decided to pivot away from them, which makes sense. They actually make more net profit than Sony and Nintendo, and are doing better than ever, so there are no excuses needed from them. They have been trying their best and have had to react to the changing economic situation and raise prices like Sony and Nintendo also have. Sony and Nintendo have only made an effort when they found themselves in an Xbox One/PS3/Wii U situation.

If Nintendo does well, I get great games; if Nintendo doesn't do as well, I get great games at a bit of a discount.

Sony did so well with the PS4, and Nintendo with the Switch, as they had something to prove. Switch 2 and PS5 have been more expensive and anti-consumer, stripping away reward programs and hiking prices. A little bit of failure for them is good for consumers.

Fire Emblem and Pokémon games will be system sellers if they are made Switch 2 exclusive. By now, they are close to 20 million units sold, so they have enough of a user base to drop Switch 1 ports and entice players over to Switch 2.

The top 3 games were

1. Rune Factory Guardians of Azuma - Switch 2 (71 Hours)

2. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - Switch 2 (33 Hours)

3. Fantasy Life I: The Girl That Steals Time - Switch 2 (32 Hours)

Total hours - 246 (June - December)

Unless a Switch 2 version comes out, I think I will get this and the other remasters on PS5 or Xbox

I am enjoying what I have played so far, and the free DLCs are great additions by Level 5.

@FrenchVaniIIuxe 30 million more units of RAM? They have already sold 18 million consoles in 6 months, so they are getting through consoles quickly.

Maybe the Switch 2 port is Tokyo Xanadu - With an English Dub, if we are really lucky! Most Falcom games have an English Dub, and this always makes a difference to sales outside Japan.

The other candidates would be Daybreak 1 & ,2 which don't look amazing on the OG Switch.

I actually have Daybreak 1 and 2, but I still need to play Trails in the Sky First!

I think for the other archs in between Sky and Daybreak, I will just watch story videos as I do not have time to play the other 10 or so games haha.

This game badly needs a Switch 2 upgrade

The crashes are happening for those who are running the game off an SD card in most cases.

Having completed the game, I think 9 is a little generous. That open-world desert and forcing you to collect tons of crystals for the endgame was not fun at all. Like Mario Kart World, the open world feels empty and more like filler for the much more fun linear gameplay segments. Nintendo needs to sit down and review how it is going to do open worlds moving forward, as some of these attempts have landed poorly. DK Banaza was saved by a cool destruction mechanic and lots of items to discover buried within.

I feel like the main antagonist (you could barely call him that) and the open-world desert were used as tack-ons to sell the respective amibos. The NPCs are okay, but they can be a little annoying at times. I feel like the scanning mechanic is interesting, but a little overused, and new players will wonder why they have to scan every single door (even the same types) or random bits on the floor to get 100% completion. Casual mode is not quite as casual as you would expect, and it will play more like a normal/hard mode for players with slower reaction times. The level of damage given and taken would be more akin to a normal mode, too.

The general gameplay loop is enjoyable, and the graphics and world design are visually stunning. Playing at 120fps feels really great too.

I think I would place it between 7-8/10. A very solid game, but even a lot of Metroid fans will see some of the development hell here.

Just make sure you collect enough green crystals before you try to finish the game lol.

I have this one on my wishlist.

Europeans have the best taste in games despite what the now Americans say!

@jco83 Interesting because I work for a large UK retailer on the business planning side and for Argos and my particular company we price match Amazon and look at their adaptive pricing to inform our pricing strategy for the video game segment.

Right now we are price matching most Amazon Switch 2 games apart from Zelda titles but Argos is running a higher profit margin.

Switch 2 isn't old like the PS5, so even £10 or £20 off is a great addition ahead of Christmas. It has already sold over 10 million units already so demand is still high at full price.

Argos is now doing the Mario Kart bundle for £30 off at £399.99. They usually now copy Amazon, so the price is probably also there.

Hopefully, this will be T for Tremendous.

@NiEMO That was a waste of an essay lol.

@iLikeUrAttitude I don't think it's defensive to not want to boil a game down to its graphics (which nobody is claiming is amazing).

Too many people claim a game is rubbish because it doesn't look nice enough to them which is a bad attitude to have.

That was my point - I guess you didn't see that which is fine.

Why is DF doing a tech piece on a Game Freak game? Of course, it will be far from a tech pinnacle. I can only imagine it is for engagement, which is fair enough, as they have bills to pay like any digital content platform.

The game is really fun to play, not that "techsperts" care, though. That is a shame, as it has led to a generation of players who are obsessed with FPS, resolution, upscaling, and more, and will disregard a technically sound, if not ultra high-end game, on that basis, rather than judge it on the quality of the game design and gameplay.

There is nothing Metroid players fear more than companionship lol

This will be my first Metroid game, and the human companionship is actually a plus for me.

E33 was not made on an indie budget, I can tell you that, haha.

English dub? it's going on the wishlist now.

You could say Level 5 has leveled up its audio department lol.

I know it's a controversial opinion in these hardcore circles, but I don't have an issue with Game Key Cards at all.

As the government said in the debate around Stop Killing Games, all games are effectively digital licenses these days, regardless of format.

The main benefit of a GKC over digital is that it's very often cheaper than the Nintendo eShop, and you can sell the game at your leisure.

Seems pretty reasonable to buy the DLC for a new game if you haven't already bought it.

Metroid will sell more as a new release, but AC Shadows will have a long tail into 2026 as it gets discounted.

AC Shadows is a great test of how well the Switch 2 hardware can perform and it will motivate other AAA games to come to Switch 2.