h3s

Many of the Metroidvanias that people seem to think look gorgeous I think look absolutely awful. I really dislike the whole aesthetic of most of the popular ones. (I didn’t mind Bloodstained and Steamworld Dig 2 though.)

He is not wrong if what he says is applied to how Games Media review games. (I wish they were more like film critics)

I have just done the Academy bit (Which was annoying that it was nearly all doubles.)

I really wish it was easier to understand what to do in the bit that is equivalent to the house of hades. (I feel like the choices I am making there are pretty random.)

@Ryu_Niiyama But the reason the Sony exclusives can be like they are is that they don’t care at all about portability. If MS wants to release on PC day one those benefits are lost. (Sonys PC versions are an afterthought the only way to get great Xbox exclusives would be to do likewise £

I don’t play a lot of Xbox AAA’s but I do play most of my indie games on it. What they have done with their VRR implementation and the input handling is magic. (The difference in how they play is akin to an Arcade or Neo Geo original verses a SNES or Megadrive port). I know I am very much in the minority and I got rid of Ultimate for essential and just buy my games

For an exclusive to matter and be an absolute marvel it would need to be truly Xbox only so it could be totally optimized for the hardware that would mean no PC port day one. (series S support either) Due to that I think it’s super unlikely to happen. (Some of the best Sony exclusives have all those advantages the byproduct of which is when they do get a PC port it’s not good on lots of hardware configurations I can’t see MS going that route at all.

I definitely don’t think switching from the we to I thing is a good idea it was common for magazines to have a box on the side from other members of the team where there is a disagreement. I think having different reviewers for entry’s in the same series is better rather than worse as implied here.

(I also think that in recent times reviewers here are not playing the games anywhere near long enough. There are bits that aren’t even commented on that I find very important. If they are limited in what they can do due to NDA’s and they are super restrictive the ethical thing to do would be to wait until they could just use a retail copy.)

@Billy_Lee It is quite forgiving in its gameplay but the grinding to get items is worse than many F2P games at least at the beginning. I stopped playing because I wasn’t enjoying it at all.

I have just closed my Ubisoft Connect account. Hopefully if there is a new Rayman it doesn’t need one. (Up to now I thought MS / Nintendo and Sony wouldn’t allow this nonsense on console.

I tried this on Xbox and I was forced to use Ubisoft connect part of the reason I stopped using Steam was due to the proliferation of 3rd party DRM.

@WiltonRoots This is one of the case where given the option I think it would be better to get it without the DLC. Judging by what is necessary to even access it I wouldn’t imagine many people to even get there. (It has a bunch of requirements even after finishing the main game that are certainly no walk in the park to even start it unless they have chanhed it for Switch.

My position on Game key cards is different than it would be if Switch 2 carts performed at the same speed as the nvme. The best experience is running from the internet nvme. (I am also disappointed with the Micro sd express even though it is a bit faster than carts if they had used the full size slot they could have had performance as good as the nvme in real use.

With the physical cart slot having a transfer speed of a quarter games on a full cart will be limiting everyone using any of the other options.

(I was pretty much all digital on Wii U mostly physical for first party on Switch. Probably have a mixture on Switch 2 but more digital.)

I am glad I waited for this. (I have preloaded it on my Xbox) I hope it is 4k/120 but I actually didn’t like Hades on Switch 1

(I got into it on my iPad when Netflix provided it then Switched to series X when they removed it. (I have actually done all the achievements on Hades 1 + the final skelly statue.) Infernax was also on Netflix I think that is my favourite modern Metroidvania)
Now Netflix is a total waste of time but then it had tons of great games. (Most of them I have on Xbox now)

Absolum are scumbags though by deliberate deception I have it on Switch and Xbox . I wasn’t happy with it on Switch 2 but I did like it so they have had like £50 off me for one game. I might have felt differently if they ported it as year later but they specifically said they definitely wouldn’t put it on Xbox. (The Switch 2 edition will probably be fine.)

I find the NES ports of some of these early Arcade games quite disappointing. The original Acornsoft version of Pac-Man was pretty good and a lot better than this. (For the single screen games I think they did a great job. Donkey Kong Jr on the beeb isn’t as good as the NES version but it was a reasonable effort.)

@Switching For indie games using Unity or Unreal I have found the Nintendo experience to be anything but premium. If the games were originally made for Nintendo and then just ported elsewhere afterwards it could be fine but that never seems to be the case. (I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect it either due to the proportion of revenue that is generated by Nintendo users.)

There is less profit than you think at £50 if the cart cost + game cost is added together the middleman is not getting that much. (£10-£15 but they have to ship it can’t see how it could be much lower.)

My favourite run based game is Battle Axe. But the Arcade mode isn’t procedurally generated. (It has an infinite mode that is but I prefer the initial play through to be not procedurally generated.)

It’s inspired by Gauntlet and Golden Axe.

It is definitely not good enough as it is (Running on Switch 2). It works well enough on Xbox but I am really annoyed that they stated it would never come to Xbox only to reverse course within a few weeks. (I won’t trust them in future and they have had two sales instead of one but it is still scummy.)

It might be a 30fps video of a 60fps that is why it looks so janky. What gets to me most though is the voice acting I don’t think it should exist at all if it is going to be that bad.

@AnotherPointForMe They can choose not to use it or have a team big enough to customise it properly.

It looks like it is much better performance wise on Series X and PC.

I don’t think any Unity or Unreal stuff is good except on the best platform that is supported without a proper team. (Sonic Crossworlds uses Unreal and it is fine except Switch 1)

@JohnnyMind Sadly the later music is nowhere near as good as the one on the 360 and original PC versions it is hard to describe but it fits the game like the music levels in Rayman Legends. The new music is pretty generic.

Is there any examples of a small indie team managing to use Unreal well ? (Getting good performance across all the platforms seems to be something even big AAA teams struggle with it.)

The mode where you see a representation of the cabinet is a lot nicer at 4k. (I have both of these on Switch and Xbox). The input lag is a bit lower on Xbox. (By comparison I have no issues with ACA Nro Geo which I think would warrant me wanting to rebuy.)

(The worst is Absolum though can’t believe I was scammed into double dipping with that after they stated it will never be on Xbox only for it to drop less than a month later that is a really scummy move. If there was a proper Switch 2 version I probably wouldn’t have needed to).

There is a ridiculously good upscale plugin for media player classic for cartoons it makes anything look so good I wish I knew the.name of it. (I have looked for it since and not managed to find it.)

@Elock I have been meaning to try it. I do prefer pixel art or 2.5D to that flash look however.

The addition of Hyper Ring Engine to Sonic Crossworlds has been a game changer for my enjoyment of it. I wish Nintendo dealt with balancing in a similar way. (I don’t mind losing but I like the possibility of a really good win if I race well I haven’t found anything similar I can do with Mario Kart to get the enjoyment I do from that.)

I do like proper 3D Platformers of which hopefully this is one. (I really don’t like collectathons though.) I do find I have to put in much more effort to get to the point where I can play 3D Platformers properly but I don’t think that is a bad thing. I much prefer Sonic Generations to DK Bananza (I think the best way with Sonic is to not proceed until you can S Rank courses. I never felt any desire to improve with DK. I haven’t tried the DLC time trials and don’t really fancy it)

I am glad I waited for this (I have preordered it on Series X hopefully 4k/120 works perfect. I wasn’t happy with the performance with the first one on Switch).

Super Giant has a lot of good will for me. (absolum by comparison really annoyed me and now will be a 75% off only dev fan me. Releasing a version that is not good enough on Switch saying it definitely won’t come to Xbox to drive sales then U-turning that is scummy as hell and there is not even a native Switch 2 build.)

I would be interested if it had a stick also I really do appreciate that it is actually designed to go on a lap. (If anyone has a good option with a stick real arcade parts and designed to go on lap. If it is super expensive need Xbox and Switch 2 support if it is cheaper just one is okay.)

On one hand it is good that these types of games are getting updates. (I think Animal Crossing gets boring quickly.)
But the pricing ends up ridiculous when the Apple Arcade versions are like they are. (I would pay for Apple Music and Apple TV separately so I don’t really count the cost of Apple Arcade into my calculations due to Apple One bundling.)

I did try to buy a full version of this at Christmas for someone but all the digital deluxe or collectors editions have are the pay to win DLC. If I could gift the DLCs easily now I would probably still do that as well but I am not sending a 10 year old my credit card number. I haven’t seen anywhere selling codes for it either.

Hopefully it looks closer to the iPad version on Switch 2.

I have the camera but it is still in its box.

@Joe11 I think traditionally they cared more about that. Recently I don’t think think the quality control is as high. (There is no reason DKCR couldn’t have been at the same quality as tropical freeze. A proper port of the Thousand Year Door would have kept the framerate of the original. Mario vs DK is barely an improvement on the original. Nintendo World Championship had a lot less effort than the NES Remix games.) I still think they are not the worst but they for me haven’t justified the price increases so far on Switch 2 (The technical issues with DK Bananza are quite annoying and digital gives the best experience which is annoying and they could have solved it with 2 separate cart slots.) They still have some goodwill left for me but I don’t think the reputation from the past is justified based on recent releases.

Anyone know of a build that is competitive but fun to play. I am not interested in the snaking build. I have been trying to come up with something that uses the 2 slipstream gadgets but I don’t want to rely on collision boost or quick recovery. I can’t seem to survive the final straight.

I was a bit disappointed by III when I played it on Xbox I wonder what the enhancements are. It felt more like a fan game.

I got my GameCube with Colosseum because my much younger brother was into handheld Pokemon at the time. Never even knew about this or I would probably have gotten him it. (N64 and GameCube both had the lowest attach rates of any Nintendo systems for me. N64 because I needed US imports and GameCube because I just wasn’t really playing that many games at the time. Probably still about 15 though.)

I guess I will find out which version I bought. (I tried the Xbox and Switch demos and got it on Xbox but I didn’t really want to because my suitable controllers for it are all wired.) I do like it and I will be playing it after I get through the 2D Ninja Gaiden (I do prefer that but I bought them both pretty much at the same time.)

I only usually play docked. The only thing that would interest me handheld would be some method to play Switch 2 games streamed from my docked Switch 2. (Ideally on a device with a dpad). They have most of the work done already for gameshare. I don’t think they will implement it though.

Still think the most important missing feature is VRR docked though.

I hope VRR in tv mode gets added soon.

@Yosher The original music for Super Meatboy was great but there was some sort of dispute that caused it to be dropped from more modern versions. It is nowhere near as good without it. (The actual music is properly tied in to what you need for the jumps.)

I don’t like the pointless backtracking that Celeste requires. I like it when you can a decent flow going but it also has situations where I think I pressed it properly but it didn’t respond. That never happens with Super Meatboy you die it always seems fair.

I imported Ocarina of Time from the US (Had an NTSCU N64) think I got it about a week before the PAL release.

@Glasso Problem with 40 fps is when someone has a none 120hz tv. (And the Switch 2 can’t output 4k/120hz). It is not desirable to have a framerate that doesn’t divide exactly. (My combination of lg oled + series X seems to basically bypass any of these sort of issues. Even on games where there are loads of complaints about the performance modes it basically a none issue for me.)

There are no games on Xbox that I have experienced that have the poor experience of Donkey Kong Bananza. (If Nintendo had implemented the same tech it would have been great but it is disappointing Nintendo never needed VRR at all in the past and a locked 60 was just that.)

I like Warioware but I wish the newest one supported the Switch 2 joycons properly. I would quite like a remake of the Wii one on Switch 2 if I got the chance.

(Don’t think it’s that likely but I am looking forward to Rhythm Fever which I have never tried before. All the other recent rhythm games have what I consider to be unfair DLC costs. I quite enjoyed the Final Fantasy one on 3ds but I think I prefer the Arcade version.)

Apparently the reason Unity games were better on Wii U than Switch was the Wii U had its own custom build of it provided directly by Nintendo and properly optimized.

It is a bit disappointing there are not more Switch 2 indie exclusives. (As much as I enjoyed the original Hades I actively didn’t enjoy it on Switch 1 so I am waiting for a 4k/120 version.) Steamworld Dig 2 I really enjoyed on Switch 1.

@metaphysician But a none trivial amount of all human beings are terrible.

This site used to have it’s own take on things have a look on the way back machine. When it was just reviewing wiiware and VC it was basically all good content. It was pretty good up until when Thomas Whitehead left. (The writing was decent the reviewers competent I wouldn’t have wanted that job but you can tell they actually properly played what they were reviewing.) Inertia I suppose is why I still come here but a conscious decision was made at some point to start copying any old rubbish without attribution. Make half a dozen articles about the same thing instead of one (When enough information comes to light.) When the reviews changed from we to I think that was another turning point if another member of the staff strongly disagrees with the reviewer there should be a paragraph on that. (The reasons for everything probably come down to laziness or ad’s or trying to hit certain keywords without paying for Google ad’s). Time Extension when it first started had loads of really good well written content now it seems to be following the same playbook but the comments are generally better.

Animal Crossing seems to be something that people who generally get all physical are willing to get digitally why doesn’t the same thing apply to this ? (I am not that price sensitive so I have been getting quite a bit more eshop retail titles. I wish I had that mindset for cotton reboot when it released. I play the arcade version but the X68000 version is a lot nicer.)

I am not massively fond of rouge like / rougelite (I would much rather just have it at the difficulty where everything is levelled from the get go.) but in something like Hades increasing the heat on the pact of punishment at least it is the player that is improving.

I don’t like Metroidvania’s that allow or even worse require tedious grinding. I also don’t like bosses where there is no tell that you can learn before certain attacks. I don’t mind if the pattern is complicated I don’t want the attacks to be just random. I don’t want to feel I just got lucky which happens with that design.

I will almost certainly get it but I much prefer stuff like “The Messenger” to almost all Metroidvanias. (I like that the upgrades are actually necessary and you have to use them properly to progress.)

(I only went through bloodstained once with the Metroidvanias mode but I have played classic mode and the last DLC quite a bit more. It might become I don’t play for hours and hours in one stretch these days.)

I think they should bring HiFi Rush across think it would do well (Plays like a GameCube game)

@BeefCatStudios Thanks I was thinking of Myst but 80hrs of anything like Myst sounds like torture to me.

I can’t get an idea from the review of what this game is actually like. What is the most similar super well known or classic game like it ?