deecas

Back from holiday and in a post-Japan slump (plus major jet lag), I don't think I have it in me for anything too trying this weekend... so probably some Mario Kart and maybe a Mega Drive game I can mindlessly play through sheer muscle memory alone - like Aladdin.

I’m on holiday in Japan right now (flying back home to Europe on Wednesday, booo) so I’ve been playing Tokyo Xanadu XE - and it seems it was made Switch 2 compatible just before we left, which was absolutely perfect timing. The first few hours I wasn’t sure but now I’m really enjoying it. Have also begun LoZ: Echoes of Wisdom and the umpteenth replay of Sonic Mania.

I’m playing Tokyo Xanadu XE (physical version) right now on my Switch 2 and whilst they say it’s not supported and apparently it’s not available to download on the Switch 2 eShop, I haven’t encountered any problems or bugs at all. In fact, it plays really, really well.

I’m going to Japan on Wednesday for three weeks and so I’ve been selecting the seven games I’m taking with me. I’ve settled on: Tokyo Xanadu Xe, Okami, Mario Kart World, Sonic Origins, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar, The Messenger and Shin Chan and the Coal Town.

I finished ‘Ghostbusters: The Video Game’ last night as my spooky season game and loved it… but I felt it ended really abruptly. I didn’t expect the last level to be the last level and was surprised when I ended up at the final boss. Now I’m kind of at a bit of a loss, so probably something like Mario Kart or some Sega Mega Drive…

Continuing with 'Ghostbusters - The Video Game' and absolutely loving it, to the point that I also binged Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters 2 this week. Playing on the easier mode too, which I usually wouldn't do, but after a long and stressful few weeks, I just want to enjoy the story and not to be too challenged.

Last weekend I finally beat the final boss on Octopath II, a game I've been playing on and off all year. Now, I need shorter and more linear - and as it's October, I'm going for 'Ghostbusters - The Video Game'. On PS5, still slowly making my way through Clair Obscur.

Going to Japan in November and will definitely hunt down the Switch 2 physical!

Sonic not being higher might also be due to some consumers (like myself) waiting for the Switch 2 full-on-cart edition that's coming out next year.

Can you be more specific when you say ‘physical?’ Is it real physical or key card?

Cyberpunk, some last quest dregs of Octopath II and Clair Obscur on the PS5.

I only collect physical, so I only have three S2 games thus far - Mario Kart, Cyberpunk and Guardians of Azuma. I'll soon be adding Daemon X Macchina and Grand Bazaar. Right now, I'm essentially thinking of my Switch 2 as a souped up Switch Pro and using it to get through my Switch 1 backlog with better framerates and visuals. I'm fine with that, I never upgraded from the original 2017 Switch, so it's a big step up for me.

And after a month with Mario Kart World, I went back to Mario Kart 8 because I do consider it the superior game in almost every way...

@Saints, I'm a big proponent of physical media, including blu-rays. But here, a lot of my ire goes towards the fact that I'm sick of having to sign up to so many fragmented streamers to get the content I want legitimately. I'm a huge Trekkie but I refuse to sign up to Paramount+ or Streamz (in my country) to access the latest Star Trek because I'm already signed up to four other streamers. Instead, I wait until they're released on blu-ray, buy them then and watch them with my PS5. And I have my own physical copy that no one can take away from me.

And it's my same attitude to key cards. I want to own my media. Admittedly I have Spotify for the ease, but I still have a fairly decent CD collection. But I ain't carrying no discman around with me when I'm commuting or travelling.

I had a week off at home, so I started ‘Clair Obscur’ on the PS5… and I’m absolutely hooked. Which means my poor Switch 2 has been and will continue to be left abandoned and neglected in its dock.

I have a week of staycation, so I'll be finally starting 'Clair Obscur' on the PS5 and hiding from the heat which is about to crank up again. On my Switch 2, I'm not really sure, I'll probably keep going with 'Cyberpunk' with some 'Mario Kart' thrown in here and there - both 8 Deluxe and World.

Bad news everyone, it’s a Key Card. So is Octopath 0 but at least you can get the Switch 1 version…

@dskatter, if it's a real physical, I'll also double dip!

I'm very meh about it because most games will be on Key-Cards, as said by numerous people here... unless the rumours of publishers starting to take notice of the fact that Key-Cards have bombed are actually true and some companies explicitly announce during the Direct that they'll be using a full cartridge. Anything that's full on cart, I'll buy, even if it's not my usual sort of game (though I have wide tastes). I already have Metaphor and Persona 3 Reload on PS5 but I'll double dip if one or both are announced and fully on the cart.

Well, like Raidou and No Sleep for Kaname Date, it's Switch 1 version for me to play on Switch 2.

Finishing the last couple of stories on Octopath II - it looks so beautiful on my Switch 2 screen! And I've done a couple of hours in Cyberpunk - but I'm not sure about the first-person perspective, it can make me feel quite nauseated.

In other news, I've exhausted myself on Mario Kart World... and I've gone back to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - which I think I prefer over Mario Kart World. Anyone else feel the same?

Happy gaming!

Its been awhile since I last wrote a comment on a 'What are you playing this weekend' thread but as it's a long weekend in my country, I'll be working to finish up 'Octopath Traveller II' which I put down for a few months.

I FINALLY beat Ganondorf in TOTK after 275 hours and more than two years later. I also got all shrines and lightroots as well, so I'm happy to finally to put that cartridge back into its case and call it a day. And finishing it on Switch 2 felt poetically just.

For the next big game... I kinda have an itch for more along the same lines. So, maybe I'll give 'Immortals Fenyx: Rising' a go, and apparently it runs and looks a bit better on Switch 2. Or I'll go in the opposite direction and start Cyberpunk.

As it's a long weekend, I'll hopefully fire up either my Mega Drive or Saturn for some Sega retro goodness - especially as Sega are tentatively back in my good books after announcing Crossworlds will be fully on cart.

Happy gaming everyone!

Yep, will deffo be getting this on Switch 2 then!

@larryisaman, yep that's what I thought. A couple of comments almost seemed to imply that SE would block the Switch 1 cartridges working on Switch 2 which I thought couldn't be true.

Ok, so my understanding is that the Switch 1 cartridge will still play in the Switch 2 due to backwards compatibility, it just won't benefit from the inbuilt Switch 2 upgrades? I'm not sure SE could physically block a Switch 1 cartridge from playing in a Switch 2?

EDIT: Also still waiting two and a half years for my standard physical copy. Their website support page says that they're 'finished' so I doubt the DLC would be on the cart. EDIT: I've also emailed them just now.

I finally caved and got a switch 2 with Mario Kart World, Cyberpunk and Rune Factory. Loving the knockout mode in MKW! Also got Raidou Remastered (Switch 1 version) in the post yesterday, so may begin that as I need a new JRPG. That or Rune Factory - have never played a game from this series before!

So… switch 1 game-on-cart again for playing on the switch 2.

I did it… I walked into MediaMarkt and it was there on the shelf and I bought it. Along with MarioKart, Cyberpunk 2066 and Guardians of Azuma because I’m making a point to support full physical media. But I haven’t been able to experience Switch 2 yet as I had to catch a flight that evening - as soon as I’m home on Monday, I’ll do the set up. But question to my fellow NLifers - can I use the switch 1 travel charger to charge my switch 2? I have to go to the U.K. next week and I don’t really want to buy a 30 euro switch 2 charger if the switch 1 charger will do the job. Happy gaming everyone!

I'll always be grateful for the Switch as it got me back into gaming after a long time away. In summer 2019, I had a freak accident resulting in a really awful double ankle fracture. As I was looking at being completely laid up for at least three months, my partner (now husband) suggested I get a Switch to help wile away the time. I ordered it to come with BOTW and Let's Go Pokémon: Eevee, the latter solely for the nostalgia factor. Then my next three games to round out my first five were Sonic Mania Plus, New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe and the Tokyo RPG Factory game, Lost Spear (which I actually really loved despite the 'meh' reviews).

I never updated to an OLED and so I'm gonna jump straight from my trusty 2019 original to Switch 2. But, as I've commented already on several articles, I'm deeply unhappy with the Game-Key Card situation and I'm nervous about the backwards compatibility as I would want to continue chipping away at my Switch backlog on the Switch 2.

I've decided that I'll go to the two big electronics shops close to my office on launch day - if I see one, I'll buy it. If there aren't any available, I'll take it as a sign to wait and see how Switch 2 plays out over the coming months.

If it’s Game Key, I’ll be getting the Switch One version and playing that on the Switch 2.

I've been a bit out of it for the past couple of weeks - a lot of projects (trying to write a first novel, learning Japanese) and work. I haven't really felt the need to game and I've been so meh about Switch 2 and the whole Game-Key card thing that I haven't felt motivated to even pull out my Switch... even though I got three games delivered from LimitedRun this week that I wasn't expecting. ANYWAY, if I do game this weekend, might try out one of those; or fire up my Sega Saturn; or start 'Clair Obscur' on my PS5 - I finally got my hands on a physical copy. Have a great weekend!

... and this is why even though I won't be getting a Switch 2 on launch day, I will buy Cyberpunk 2077 almost as soon as it's released. And it'll definitely be the first game I play when I do get my Switch 2.

It's mostly going to be the Game Key cards that will change my buying habits. If there's an option between Switch 1 full on cart or Switch 2 game key, it'll be the Switch 1 version, such as with the new 'AI: The Somnium Files' game and 'Raidu Remastered.' If it's a choice between a new Switch 2 port of an older game that's game key, it'll be the PS5 cheaper option. But I've been buying less recently anyway. I kind of went mad during the pandemic but have reigned myself in... but at least now I have a sizeable backlog that will keep me entertained for decades failing everything else.

As a staunch supporter of physical, I’m one of those who will be stubbornly not buying game key cards. On Switch 1, I double dipped a lot for the portability. Like I already had Persona 5 Royal on PS4 but I wanted to support the Switch release and enjoy the portability for such a long RPG. Not now. If it were a real physical release, I may have double-dipped on Star Wars Outlaws but I already have it on PS5. Any ports of older games coming to Switch 2 that are much cheaper on PS5 - I’ll just get the PS5 physical. But even though I won’t be purchasing a Switch 2 on day one, I will buy a copy of Cyberpunk 2077 to support CDPR for doing the right thing.

On this long Easter weekend, I think I'm going to finally try to roll credits on TOTK... I've done all the main story beats, just need to prep myself and go slay Ganondorf. After two years of stop-start-stop-start, it'll feel so good to finally do it.

Then need to finish Octopath 2.

I've been sick this week and off work since Wednesday, so I found myself strewn across the sofa and back in TOTK for the first time in months - and ended up playing nearly 15 hours in just the space of 2 days, which included tons of story stuff. My aim now is to finally see credits roll before the two year anniversary of TOTK's release.

Continuing with 'Octopath II' on Switch, 'Granblue Fantasy: Relink' on PS5 and maybe some 'Rocket Knight Adventures' on my Mega Drive.

Was planning to seriously keep going on 'Octopath II' this weekend (70+ hours now) but my political party just reached a coalition agreement for a new government in my country so I have to rush to a hastily-organised party congress to vote on whether the agreement should be accepted or not... meh, at least I can play on the train, that is the beauty of the Switch after all...

I've been playing 'Octopath Traveller 2' religiously for the last months - 65 hours in and I still have so much to do. This will last well into February I think...

I'm just praying I'll be able to play my 250+ cartridges on the Switch 2 - they've said 'backwards compatible' but haven't specified what that actually means... I think I'll cry if they say digital compatibility only...

I’m continuing with ‘Octopath 2’ and I did get ‘Sonic Generations’ for Christmas - but haven’t got too far, only done Green Hill Zone but will aim to go further over the weekend

I'm playing 'Octopath Traveler II' because HD-2D just feels like a Christmas vibe to me and when I have nearly three weeks off work, I definitely have the time to get sucked into a big bulking JRPG...

On PS5, I'll also try to finish 'Granblue: Fantasy Relink'.

My little Christmas tradition is to play a few rounds of 'Christmas Nights into Dreams' on my Sega Saturn on Christmas Eve before the family arrives for the big dinner (we're hosting and I live in a country where Christmas Eve is the big celebration).

I've asked for 'Sonic Generations' on Switch so if it turns up in my stocking, I'll probably aim to finish that by New Year's as well!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Still waiting on that Chained Echoes physical from First Press Games... I think it has been two years now?

I'm speechless... I can't believe they just randomly drop it on a Tuesday and that it's only coming out in March. Like several others on this thread, I reckon this will be cross-gen with Switch 2 and a March Switch 2 release is now much more likely than it was this morning...

Doing something I don't usually do, having three games on the go at once. I'm working my way through the final teeth-grinding levels of 'Kaze and the Wild Masks', I've started playing 'Luigi's Mansion 3' for the first time because Spooky Season and I wanted an RPG but not a long, demanding one, so on the PS5 I started 'Granblue Fantasy - Relink'.

I finished 'Torna - The Golden Country' this week and I absolutely LOVED it. The ending was just pure cinematic brilliance and now I really want to get on with Xenoblade 3.

... But before I get stuck in, I need a little RPG break, so I'm playing 'Kaze and the Wild Masks' on Switch and 'Uncharted 4' on PS4.

Still very much on 'Xenoblade 2: Torna - The Golden Country' and it has become quite the obsession.

I'm playing 'Xeonblade 2: Torna - The Golden Country' and I'm loving it. I'd forgotten how amazing this world is and I picked up the battle system again relatively quickly after two years since playing the main game - though the tutorials in 'Torna' helped a lot, they're far more superior! ... not so keen on the fact that you're forced to do side quests though to continue the story. I do a lot of side quests anyway when i play big RPGs but now it just feels a bit forced, a little more like a chore because I know I need to do them.

@Viagro, planning to start it today! I finished Xenoblade 2 two years, so I'm hoping I remember enough of the story to easily dive back in with Torna.

Last week I railed against how tough I was finding 'Sonic Superstars', especially some of the bosses and I was basically ready to give up. Alas, as I've been playing Sonic since the very beginning, in the end I couldn't let a 2D Sonic beat me - I had to beat it.

So I persevered over the weekend and into the week, finally beating the final main story boss on Tuesday night (after sixteen attempts). Two other end-of-zone bosses also had me screaming at the screen... but I did it. AND, I'm happy to say that when I finally beat the final boss, I went back and played some of the earlier zones, like Bridge Island, Speed Jungle and Lagoon City and I found myself enjoying them and their music much more a second time round.

Now I'm thinking my next game will be 'Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna, the Golden Country.'