I don’t really compare cost across games. The only driver in price is whether or not I personally deem the content/value of the game to be worth what they’re asking. Just because I spent $20 on one game that was amazing, doesn’t mean I won’t spend $30 on another game that may or may not equal the same quality. In the end, I’m after the experience of the individual games themselves.
I’d love to back this, but shipping is more expensive than the actual magazine. By comparison, I get a bi-monthly copy of Nintendo Force and pay $5.27 total—shipped. It’s a shame everything coming from Ninty Media has such high shipping rates (books included).
As these games grow, I wonder if we’ll ever see a future where Mario’s franchises merge. Imagine a 3D Mario game, where you can live life like Animal Crossing, go on adventures like Odyssey, or head down to the local tracks to join in a Mario Kart race.
I think the console price is fair, but the software prices do seem steep. Maybe tariffs? Maybe just long overdue for the game industry? Either way, I’ll be getting them and won’t complain at Nintendo for what they deem necessary to charge. At the end of the day, I don’t deserve a new console—or need one to survive. It’s merely a luxury I’m able to purchase and am thankful for that.
With that said, I do find it funny most comments with the original Switch were “give us more power and performance and improve the overall system specs”. We got what we asked for — and it comes at a cost.
@rvcolem1 I can’t imagine they’d ever add Rock ‘n Roll Racing to NSO. But, it’s already on the Switch eShop currently, within the Blizzard Arcade Collection.
I have faith Saber will make improvements to the performance over time. They’ve done an excellent job with keeping Snowrunner running smoothly. With that said, this was a must buy for me, having logged over 450+ hours in Snowrunner. I don’t know why this type of driving game clicks with me, but it does.
At 42, working as a designer in a tech-oriented department, I’m 1 of 2 that would probably qualify as a gamer. In my social/family circle, I’m the only adult who ever even touches a video game for fun. I seldom bring up gaming as a hobby to others in conversation because of the negativity or disinterest that others have towards it. To many, games are what they buy their children. It was something they enjoyed as a kid, but have no interest in continuing as an adult.
The main reason I decided to post, however, is that I find it ironic the same people who shun video games are often very deep into their own hobby watching sports or participating in fantasy leagues. A fantasy league isn’t much different from a video game - or at least some types of games. Yet, because it’s sports, it’s acceptable.
Gotcha. That’s weird. Maybe it’s just what I’ve been buying, but I haven’t encountered a single game that hasn’t worked yet. Everything I’ve added to cart has worked - as long as it’s a physical switch game.
@Mariotag I just tried it with a handful of games right now and it still gave me the 3rd free. Are you in the US? Is your Best Buy membership showing as active?
@smithyo Even if he is trolling, there are a few of us that do stick to the lower ratings. Though not as extreme, I won’t play any game with a mature rating. Years ago, I could have cared less and would play anything and everything. Now that I’m in my 40s, I really don’t want language nor any nudity in my games. For this time on my life, it just seems in poor taste for me personally. There are so many other good games I’d rather play instead.
@KnightofNi_ Out of curiosity, even with that being the case, is it really an issue for NL to do so? It’s a deal for the reader and it’s also a way to generate funds for the company. Both parties win. The fact that we are on this post solidifies that we use the NL site. Therefore, I see no issue helping them generate income for a service (gaming news site) I use and read daily.
@shoeses Like most places, the freebie is only going to be the cheaper of the three. It wouldn’t make sense for a store to give away a $60 title to someone who only paid $35. But, in your situation, if you bought Snipperclips ($19.99) and Dream Buffet ($14.99), you could get a 3rd $14.99 game free. I just tested this and the discount applied to cart.
@Darknilious If you are doing preorders (as I did), you only pay when an item ships. In other words, I was able to preorder Super Mario Wonder, Super Mario RPG, and Pikmin 4. Pikmin 4 was my free game. So I paid the membership fee now for $50, but won’t pay for anything else until Super Mario Wonder or Super Mario RPG ships.
For me, that made sense, because I was already planning to spend $60+tax to get Pikmin 4. I only had to pay $50 instead.
So I now have a membership with the ability to get more buy2, get 1free, which I’ve already taken advantage of for a a couple of additional preorders.
Obviously, this only makes sense if you are in a situation where you were already going to buy specific games. Not just spend money for the sake of a “deal”.
It’s worth noting, this deal works for any game at any price (including sale and clearance games). And - they’ll still price match from other stores. I’ve preordered a handful of games between now and end of year using this deal and gotten free games that shipped right away. It’s an excellent way to reserve upcoming games, while giving yourself something to play for free while you wait. It also effectively makes all Nintendo games $40 a piece, when you buy the three at once.
As a side note - Best Buy members also get 15% off eshop cards. An amazing deal.
This thread is interesting and I guess I’ve found myself a minority. For me personally, I’d prefer less mature content in my video games. As I’ve gotten older (I’m an original NES and SNES kid), games have become more of an escape from the daily grind. They’re a way to unwind and relax, and in some ways, a way to relive the nostalgia of those younger years. I don’t need nudity or sex to make the game more enjoyable. A game can be fun enough with out it. And to be honest, I’m married to a beautiful woman. Why would I fantasize over a 3D character on a TV screen? Just thought I’d share an opposite viewpoint from the masses. In terms of adding the extra feature, although it’s a better step in the right direction for someone like myself, it is somewhat of a moot point. Because, for those of us that aren’t interested in the “fan service”, well…we probably wouldn’t buy the game anyways, whether you cover it up with a toggle or not.
Originally, yes. Then I picked up Snowrunner on a whim and got sucked in for the first 50+ hours. For as much as I’m ready to play Triangle Strategy, I don’t see myself jumping into another deep game for a bit.
For a JRPG, I would agree more time and hours are needed. At least 15-20 for me. However, most games 10 and under are easier for me to enjoy, given my current play style and available time. If I think back to some of my favorite games (NES/SNES), most are easily completed in 5 hours or less and I love them. Time doesn’t matter. Quality does.
In many ways, my backlog determines how long a game needs to be for me. When it’s full, I want shorter games so I can experience more of them. If I have nothing else I want to try, then I can enjoy a long-running game, such as Breath of the Wild or Octopath Traveler. I recently prepared for Dread by knocking out a few quick ones, like BioLab. They were enjoyable and passed the time easily while I waited.
And even now, I feel like Dread is just right. I’ve played for several nights and can feel myself nearing the end, which is rather gratifying. I’m feeling accomplished while wholeheartedly having a good time. Sure, I’ll miss the world when I’m finished, but I’ll also be happy to move along to the next great game.
@Perryg92 Same. On one hand, I’m thrilled and excited to play this next installment. On the other, there’s a bit of reluctance to swoon over the graphics on display. Ori ruined the wow factor of many games for me. Once you’ve seen how good a game can look, you start to wish all looked the same. I felt the same way after playing Trine 2 long ago, hoping to someday see a sequel to Metroid in that level of detail and lighting.
Technically the Atari was my first video game experience, with the likes of Qbert and Arkanoid. However, that was technically more of the ‘family’ console. The NES was the first true console my sister and I received and poured hundreds of hours into. As expected, Super Mario Bros was my first love, followed closely by Legend of Zelda and Metroid. We didn’t have many games back then and resorted to renting when possible, so I was able to dedicate obscene amounts of time exploring every nook and cranny of those game worlds.
On a side note, I’m impressed by the number of people on here who first owned and played a NES. I guess I would have expected a slightly younger audience.
I have the black version and would highly recommend one for anyone on the fence. The quality on a 4K TV looks stunning and makes the games look as good as I remember from a kid, playing on my old CRT.
Sadly, I haven’t spent much time with it, since my switch back catalog is enormous, but I’m thankful to have a clean and polished way of playing my old SNES library when the urge arises.
@RupeeClock I almost posted the same thing. Glad to see someone beat me to it. You can’t deny the investment a company makes before a product ever hits market.
I wanted to leave a comment about the video, regarding Zion's note about the accessibility and difficulty associated to many Metroid titles. I can definitely see how difficult many of these games are to newcomers, especially in today's world where we have plenty of QOL improvements. I remember working my way through the first Metroid as a kid and spending days, upon days, trying to figure out where to go next. Back then, you had tons of time to kill and were willing to blow through hours on a whim, primarily because we didn't have many other choices. Access to other gamers is completely different nowadays. They're everywhere, on multiple platforms.
However, the first time I played Super Metroid, or even A Link to the Past, I used the Nintendo Power guide. Maybe that ruins the experience for some, but it made me appreciate the game in a way I wouldn't have previously. I didn't have to follow the guide explicitly, but I could scan the map and decide where I could and couldn't go, based on the upgrades I'd previously discovered. Now, looking back through almost 30 years worth of time, I still have nearly every nook and cranny of those games memorized. Instead of removing the discovery of the experience, it did the opposite. It made it more impactful and allowed me to enjoy the game in its fullest form (I don't like feeling like I've left something behind). In some ways, I suppose its akin to learning a new city. Sure, you can discover a lot of great spots on your own and build up knowledge over time, or you can look at a map for a lay of the land and quickly see how all of the transit, highway, and paths connect. It gives you a frame of reference and allows you to immerse in the 'world' as a whole.
I wish we had new guides available to us today, that were in any way comparable to the art and screenshots of those old Nintendo Power guides. We do have online walkthroughs, but in my opinion, they pale in comparison to a handy guide sitting by your side. The same applies to Earthbound, Chronotrigger, Super Mario RPG, etc. All of those guides truly improved the experience for me.
A few have already been mentioned, but:
Bill Laimbeer’s Combat Basketball (SNES - I got this as a kid because it was cheap, but it was terrible. But owning a game meant playing the game when you were bored, so I grew fond of it over time)
Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest (SNES - this game got me into JRPGs)
Metroid: Other M (Wii - everyone hated it, but I instantly loved it)
Spindizzy Worlds (SNES - loved this game and rented it many times. Going back to it now, the controls are tough and the isometric view can make that even worse)
For what it's worth, I remember paying $69.99 to buy Secret of Evermore for the SNES as a kid and $59.99 for ChronoTrigger (whether it be with my birthday funds or money from parents). Reflecting on this, after 30+ years, I suppose that's why I can't balk at a new game selling for the same price. Inflation alone should have made new games more expensive, but the sheer fact they've stayed pretty similar since my childhood makes me pretty happy. Consoles didn't follow that pattern. The SNES was $199 when I bought it - with a new game. Now we pay $299-349 (or $4-500 for the Sony and MS fans).
@John_Deacon Completely agree with Ori. I would have easily paid $60 a piece for those two games. In some ways, it almost pains me to see them on sale for $14.99 in the eShop. That team built an incredible series. But, I do know that means more people may give them a shot and hopefully walk away with the same experience as I did.
@Kaori-chan I do have to wonder why Nintendo stopped offering Player's Choice titles. That was always a great way to look forward to getting a first-party game at a cheaper price. Maybe they all sell too many units to do so? However, I also have to compare Nintendo to another fan-based company, like Apple. I think the business model reflects the idea that 'if we don't lower the price over time, people won't have a reason to wait'. There's no benefit not to purchase when a game comes out, knowing that it'll be years before we see a price drop. It avoids the 'wait for a sale mentality'. However, I have to applaud the fact that most first-party games do still remain available. Many third-party and indie games are difficult to come by, physically-speaking, with the exception of Super Mario 3D All-Stars, which is a completely different topic and not one I agree with. There are dozens of Limited Rare Games I would have bought, had I known they had a physical available.
After replying to your last comment, I remembered eshop demos. That, like Game Pass, are great ways to test games. In fact, I've avoided a few that weren't for me by doing so. I've also fell in love with a few (like Octopath) by testing it out. Maybe Nintendo could offset their online service by offering more robust demos to their users? Non-subscribers get a first-level trial, whereas paying subscribers get a time-period to enjoy the full title. I could beat many games back as a kid during a single rental period. Yet, I still rented them more than once to just play them again.
@Kaori-chan That’s a very valid point. I somewhat assume Nintendo prices high to make sure they generate enough profit per game, whereas indie developers selling at a lower price, with the expectation of larger numbers of sales. Nintendo appears to go for higher value, in the chance sales don’t meet expectations. Idk.
To your comment about making things available for the masses, I agree. But I also think back to when I was a kid and could never afford a video game. I always had to wait for birthdays and holidays, when I’d ask for one as a gift. That didn’t stop me from playing dozens of SNES games, however. The thing that seems to has changed in gaming culture is that we no longer have easy access to rental stores, with shelves of games lining the walls. I think that helped the people who couldn’t afford more expensive games. Even though I didn’t own many, I put more hours than I can count in to every weekend.
It’s interesting to read so many comments questioning the value of a game or the price it should be. I guess for me, I don’t ever consider price. I just consider how badly I want to play or own a particular game. If I want it bad enough, then I’m willing to pay what they’re charging for it. I do the same with so many other products on the market - TVs, movies, cars, computers, phones. There are cheaper alternatives to everything, but if I want something that I personally deem of higher value to me or my own personal enjoyment, then I’m willing to pay for it.
On top of that, price is somewhat subjective - almost certainly across the people on this forum. If you make $30-40/hr, 60 bucks for a game really isn’t a big deal. If you make $10/hr, then it truly becomes more of an investment. But knowing that, it’s hard to see how two completely different people can argue over whether a price is fair. What’s fair really depends on each individual’s perspective.
I’ve seen people drop $60 on a dinner out for a date night - that’s just for a single meal, that realistically only stays with you for a little while. You pay that for the experience and taste of something new. The same applies to concerts and events, on and on.
I just find it interesting that games, which a team and company has invested years into making, is devalued based on what we subjectively think it should cost. And we base that on our own experience and level of wealth.
At the end of the day, if Nintendo needed to charge $60 to make it valuable to them as an organization to generate enough profit that they gave it a green light, then so be it. I’ll pay it, because it’s an experience I want to have.
Breath of the Wild for sure. But Ori and the Blind Forest as well. I don’t know why that game snagged me as much as it did when I first played it on Steam so long ago. Along with those two, I’ll always love Super Metroid, Chronotrigger, A Link to the Past, and Earthbound. I know that’s 6, but it shows the vast amount of time between my top tier list and just how recently that list has been broken. The caliber of those two games were just so high that they snuck their way in.
Getting to play RnR racing in widescreen, with updated sounds and ‘extras’ has been more than worth the price of admission. I hope more companies take note and widen the field of view for modern TVs.
For the release of Metroid Prime 4, I hope Nintendo partners with Dark Horse for a Metroid Art book like they have for the Zelda and Mario. This seems like the perfect thing to go in there.
Lots of people commenting on the platform - mobile vs Switch. But what about the idea itself? I’m excited to see more of Octopath in any form. And hope this breeds more for the series. And what about the new gameplay? Eight characters during a single battle? Will they be using the same identical maps or will Osterra have changes? Will any of the characters stories tie into Octopath’s stories?
Although simplistic and free from much visual variety, I actually really enjoyed I am Setsuna. It definitely missed some zeal compared to Octopath Traveler (which is brilliant), but I quite enjoyed it while it lasted nonetheless. Lost Sphear, on the other hand, really lacks something for me. I rarely quit a game, but that was a chore to play. Maybe it got better deeper into the story, but wasn’t worth finding out. I’m remaining hopeful for this third installment that the team now knows what worked well and what didn’t. And they have a lot more to look towards for examples. Octopath most definitely brought me back to FFIII (VI)...so let’s hope this time they can bring us back to CT for real.
I wonder if a majority of the people complaining about Link’s new look weren’t around for the first Wind Waker reveal? Remember the shellshock everyone had when Link became a cartoon for the first time? For most of us who love this new look, maybe we have a ‘been there, done that’ mentality where we know Nintendo likes to shake things up and are anxious to accept whatever art style they want to throw our way next. Wind Waker was excellent. I also have no doubt Link’s Awakening will win you over and I applaud Nintendo for never failing to surprise us.
It’d be interesting to know how well this same article would have been received, if written as informative, rather than opinionated. It set the stage from the opening to confuse readers into assuming they were doomed, when in reality, it should have been written as an educational piece on ‘here’s how the cloud saves work.’
For me, scores are a lifesaver when I don’t have time to read the full review. In fact, they’re usually what determine whether I do or do not read it at all. If a game gets a high score, I want to find out why. A low score, same thing.
I suppose it doesn’t have to be a legitimate number, tho. I’d be just as happy with a rating of some sort. “Must buy”, “great for those who like rpgs”, etc. When time is limited, something that helps me know if the read is worth coming back to.
@GeminiSaint I'm a Nintendo fanboy through and through, but it's disappointing to see all these comments about Ori or the development team, simply because they haven't played it. The people behind Ori have a passion for games - and you are exactly correct, the game is a masterpiece. It and any future releases need to make it to NX.
There seems to be a lot of comments around how he shouldn't be asking for a Dev kit because 'he produced one game'. I have played and beaten Ori and honestly, it screams of Nintendo quality and games like that rightfully belong on a Nintendo console. It's this sort of fantastic quality that the system needs to continue attracting more people. They may be a newcomer, but they truly understand what made original Nintendo games great and I would only hope that Nintendo helps. After such a long dry spell with the Wii U, I want to see my favorite gaming company succeed again. We can't lose high quality developers like this, indie or not.
I hope that they continue to provide some sort of backwards compatibility like Gamecube > Wii and Wii > Wii U. At least for the digital games, if nothing else. Thinking about all of the money invested, it'd be a lot easier to ditch the console than to ditch the console and the games when the new system launches.
Steamworld Dig is worth the purchase. Essentially, it's an exploration game, but combines elements of gathering items to improve your character with puzzle-solving and fighting enemies. But, as Krambo42 just stated, I would easily pay $10 just for Guacamelee - that game is much closer to a Metroidvania game (or Castlevania 2) and offers so much depth.
Growing up, it was normal to pay $40-60 for a new game and that was ok. If you couldn't afford a game, you rented it. But, back then, console games were all we had. Unfortunately, we're now living in a society where there are hundreds of options for gamers who want to play for free, or pay a specific price. I agree - I get annoyed when people complain about a $20 game. "Only 6 hours for $20 - are they crazy?" For me, I think back to Contra III on the SNES, Gradius, Castlevania IV, etc - those are not 9, 10, 11 hour games and they're amazing. People have become spoiled by the plethora of options and it's simply getting harder and harder to satisfy everyone. What's sad, is I wonder how many great games we're missing out on because of the consumer/business mentality that we've created.
Going along with my first comment, I wonder if there's a solution to higher pricing? Growing up, if you were afraid to spend the $60 blindly on a new game, you rented the game to test it out. I know some games today have demos, but they're sparse. A huge solution to this problem could be to offer a discount, demo system. Allow us to rent digital games for $2-3 for a couple of days and if we want to purchase, apply that $2-3 off the purchase price. Maybe higher price games are not selling as well because we are afraid to spend X amount on something that may or may not be good?
@readyletsgo I've subscribed to both Retro and Nintendo Force since day 1. I let my Retro subscription run out, but Nintendo Force is leagues above. Issues are slow to come since they're only bi-monthly, but each one is well worth the wait. It could almost pass for Nintendo Power. I highly doubt I'd ever stop subscribing, even if just for the nostalgic factor.
@readyletsgo I just received the new issue of retro last week. Yours is probably on the way too.
Also, for anyone else on here that misses Nintendo Power - check out Nintendo Force. Kickstarted funded and now on its second year. It's a great follow-up to Nintendo Power and definitely keeps the nostalgia alive.
Comments 58
Re: "I Can't Afford To Give It Away For Free" - Silksong's Low Price Is Causing Devs To Re-Evaluate Their Own Games
I don’t really compare cost across games. The only driver in price is whether or not I personally deem the content/value of the game to be worth what they’re asking. Just because I spent $20 on one game that was amazing, doesn’t mean I won’t spend $30 on another game that may or may not equal the same quality. In the end, I’m after the experience of the individual games themselves.
Re: A New Nintendo Magazine Is Seeking Your Support On Kickstarter Right Now
I’d love to back this, but shipping is more expensive than the actual magazine. By comparison, I get a bi-monthly copy of Nintendo Force and pay $5.27 total—shipped. It’s a shame everything coming from Ninty Media has such high shipping rates (books included).
Re: Round Up: The Final Previews Are In For Mario Kart World
As these games grow, I wonder if we’ll ever see a future where Mario’s franchises merge. Imagine a 3D Mario game, where you can live life like Animal Crossing, go on adventures like Odyssey, or head down to the local tracks to join in a Mario Kart race.
Re: "DROP THE PRICE!!!" Scream Nintendo Fans During Nintendo's Treehouse Live Broadcast
I think the console price is fair, but the software prices do seem steep. Maybe tariffs? Maybe just long overdue for the game industry? Either way, I’ll be getting them and won’t complain at Nintendo for what they deem necessary to charge. At the end of the day, I don’t deserve a new console—or need one to survive. It’s merely a luxury I’m able to purchase and am thankful for that.
With that said, I do find it funny most comments with the original Switch were “give us more power and performance and improve the overall system specs”. We got what we asked for — and it comes at a cost.
Re: Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Launches On Switch In July
Does the fact this is called NES Edition imply we could get a SNES Edition?
Re: Nintendo Expands Switch Online's SNES Library With Three More Titles
@rvcolem1 I got it the day it released and haven’t regretted it. But—just a heads up—I have seen it drop to 9.99 on sale. Makes it a much better deal.
Re: Nintendo Expands Switch Online's SNES Library With Three More Titles
@rvcolem1 I can’t imagine they’d ever add Rock ‘n Roll Racing to NSO. But, it’s already on the Switch eShop currently, within the Blizzard Arcade Collection.
Re: Review: Expeditions: A MudRunner Game (Switch) - Performance Bumps Can't Run This Sim Off The Road
I have faith Saber will make improvements to the performance over time. They’ve done an excellent job with keeping Snowrunner running smoothly. With that said, this was a must buy for me, having logged over 450+ hours in Snowrunner. I don’t know why this type of driving game clicks with me, but it does.
Re: Soapbox: "Go Outside, Get Some Fresh Air" - Why Won't Outmoded Gamer Stereotypes Die?
At 42, working as a designer in a tech-oriented department, I’m 1 of 2 that would probably qualify as a gamer. In my social/family circle, I’m the only adult who ever even touches a video game for fun. I seldom bring up gaming as a hobby to others in conversation because of the negativity or disinterest that others have towards it. To many, games are what they buy their children. It was something they enjoyed as a kid, but have no interest in continuing as an adult.
The main reason I decided to post, however, is that I find it ironic the same people who shun video games are often very deep into their own hobby watching sports or participating in fantasy leagues. A fantasy league isn’t much different from a video game - or at least some types of games. Yet, because it’s sports, it’s acceptable.
Re: Deals: New Best Buy Promotion Lets You Pick Up Free Nintendo Switch Games
Gotcha. That’s weird. Maybe it’s just what I’ve been buying, but I haven’t encountered a single game that hasn’t worked yet. Everything I’ve added to cart has worked - as long as it’s a physical switch game.
Re: Deals: New Best Buy Promotion Lets You Pick Up Free Nintendo Switch Games
@Mariotag I just tried it with a handful of games right now and it still gave me the 3rd free. Are you in the US? Is your Best Buy membership showing as active?
Re: Review: 'The Art Of The Box' Celebrates A Time When Cover Art Could Sell A Game
@smithyo Even if he is trolling, there are a few of us that do stick to the lower ratings. Though not as extreme, I won’t play any game with a mature rating. Years ago, I could have cared less and would play anything and everything. Now that I’m in my 40s, I really don’t want language nor any nudity in my games. For this time on my life, it just seems in poor taste for me personally. There are so many other good games I’d rather play instead.
Re: Deals: New Best Buy Promotion Lets You Pick Up Free Nintendo Switch Games
@KnightofNi_ Out of curiosity, even with that being the case, is it really an issue for NL to do so? It’s a deal for the reader and it’s also a way to generate funds for the company. Both parties win. The fact that we are on this post solidifies that we use the NL site. Therefore, I see no issue helping them generate income for a service (gaming news site) I use and read daily.
Re: Deals: New Best Buy Promotion Lets You Pick Up Free Nintendo Switch Games
@shoeses Like most places, the freebie is only going to be the cheaper of the three. It wouldn’t make sense for a store to give away a $60 title to someone who only paid $35. But, in your situation, if you bought Snipperclips ($19.99) and Dream Buffet ($14.99), you could get a 3rd $14.99 game free. I just tested this and the discount applied to cart.
Re: Deals: New Best Buy Promotion Lets You Pick Up Free Nintendo Switch Games
@Darknilious If you are doing preorders (as I did), you only pay when an item ships. In other words, I was able to preorder Super Mario Wonder, Super Mario RPG, and Pikmin 4. Pikmin 4 was my free game. So I paid the membership fee now for $50, but won’t pay for anything else until Super Mario Wonder or Super Mario RPG ships.
For me, that made sense, because I was already planning to spend $60+tax to get Pikmin 4. I only had to pay $50 instead.
So I now have a membership with the ability to get more buy2, get 1free, which I’ve already taken advantage of for a a couple of additional preorders.
Obviously, this only makes sense if you are in a situation where you were already going to buy specific games. Not just spend money for the sake of a “deal”.
Re: Deals: New Best Buy Promotion Lets You Pick Up Free Nintendo Switch Games
@shoeses Digital games, to my surprise, does work as well. Also, you get the cheaper game free.
Re: Deals: New Best Buy Promotion Lets You Pick Up Free Nintendo Switch Games
It’s worth noting, this deal works for any game at any price (including sale and clearance games). And - they’ll still price match from other stores. I’ve preordered a handful of games between now and end of year using this deal and gotten free games that shipped right away. It’s an excellent way to reserve upcoming games, while giving yourself something to play for free while you wait. It also effectively makes all Nintendo games $40 a piece, when you buy the three at once.
As a side note - Best Buy members also get 15% off eshop cards. An amazing deal.
Re: Hideki Kamiya: Nintendo Hasn't Ever Asked Platinum To Cover Up Bayonetta
This thread is interesting and I guess I’ve found myself a minority. For me personally, I’d prefer less mature content in my video games. As I’ve gotten older (I’m an original NES and SNES kid), games have become more of an escape from the daily grind. They’re a way to unwind and relax, and in some ways, a way to relive the nostalgia of those younger years. I don’t need nudity or sex to make the game more enjoyable. A game can be fun enough with out it. And to be honest, I’m married to a beautiful woman. Why would I fantasize over a 3D character on a TV screen? Just thought I’d share an opposite viewpoint from the masses. In terms of adding the extra feature, although it’s a better step in the right direction for someone like myself, it is somewhat of a moot point. Because, for those of us that aren’t interested in the “fan service”, well…we probably wouldn’t buy the game anyways, whether you cover it up with a toggle or not.
Re: Poll: Triangle Strategy Is Out Today On Nintendo Switch, Will You Be Getting It?
Originally, yes. Then I picked up Snowrunner on a whim and got sucked in for the first 50+ hours. For as much as I’m ready to play Triangle Strategy, I don’t see myself jumping into another deep game for a bit.
Re: Talking Point: How Many Hours Is A 'Short' Game For You?
For a JRPG, I would agree more time and hours are needed. At least 15-20 for me. However, most games 10 and under are easier for me to enjoy, given my current play style and available time. If I think back to some of my favorite games (NES/SNES), most are easily completed in 5 hours or less and I love them. Time doesn’t matter. Quality does.
In many ways, my backlog determines how long a game needs to be for me. When it’s full, I want shorter games so I can experience more of them. If I have nothing else I want to try, then I can enjoy a long-running game, such as Breath of the Wild or Octopath Traveler. I recently prepared for Dread by knocking out a few quick ones, like BioLab. They were enjoyable and passed the time easily while I waited.
And even now, I feel like Dread is just right. I’ve played for several nights and can feel myself nearing the end, which is rather gratifying. I’m feeling accomplished while wholeheartedly having a good time. Sure, I’ll miss the world when I’m finished, but I’ll also be happy to move along to the next great game.
Re: Metroid Dread Overview Trailer Keeps The Hype Rolling Ahead Of Next Month's Launch
@Perryg92 Same. On one hand, I’m thrilled and excited to play this next installment. On the other, there’s a bit of reluctance to swoon over the graphics on display. Ori ruined the wow factor of many games for me. Once you’ve seen how good a game can look, you start to wish all looked the same. I felt the same way after playing Trine 2 long ago, hoping to someday see a sequel to Metroid in that level of detail and lighting.
Re: Community: What Was Your First Ever Nintendo Game?
Technically the Atari was my first video game experience, with the likes of Qbert and Arkanoid. However, that was technically more of the ‘family’ console. The NES was the first true console my sister and I received and poured hundreds of hours into. As expected, Super Mario Bros was my first love, followed closely by Legend of Zelda and Metroid. We didn’t have many games back then and resorted to renting when possible, so I was able to dedicate obscene amounts of time exploring every nook and cranny of those game worlds.
On a side note, I’m impressed by the number of people on here who first owned and played a NES. I guess I would have expected a slightly younger audience.
Re: Analogue Is Restocking The Super NT And Mega SG Later Today
I have the black version and would highly recommend one for anyone on the fence. The quality on a 4K TV looks stunning and makes the games look as good as I remember from a kid, playing on my old CRT.
Sadly, I haven’t spent much time with it, since my switch back catalog is enormous, but I’m thankful to have a clean and polished way of playing my old SNES library when the urge arises.
Re: Switch OLED Upgrades Reportedly Cost Nintendo "Around $10 More Per Unit"
@RupeeClock I almost posted the same thing. Glad to see someone beat me to it. You can’t deny the investment a company makes before a product ever hits market.
Re: Talking Point: Can Metroid Dread Be The Franchise's 'Awakening'?
I wanted to leave a comment about the video, regarding Zion's note about the accessibility and difficulty associated to many Metroid titles. I can definitely see how difficult many of these games are to newcomers, especially in today's world where we have plenty of QOL improvements. I remember working my way through the first Metroid as a kid and spending days, upon days, trying to figure out where to go next. Back then, you had tons of time to kill and were willing to blow through hours on a whim, primarily because we didn't have many other choices. Access to other gamers is completely different nowadays. They're everywhere, on multiple platforms.
However, the first time I played Super Metroid, or even A Link to the Past, I used the Nintendo Power guide. Maybe that ruins the experience for some, but it made me appreciate the game in a way I wouldn't have previously. I didn't have to follow the guide explicitly, but I could scan the map and decide where I could and couldn't go, based on the upgrades I'd previously discovered. Now, looking back through almost 30 years worth of time, I still have nearly every nook and cranny of those games memorized. Instead of removing the discovery of the experience, it did the opposite. It made it more impactful and allowed me to enjoy the game in its fullest form (I don't like feeling like I've left something behind). In some ways, I suppose its akin to learning a new city. Sure, you can discover a lot of great spots on your own and build up knowledge over time, or you can look at a map for a lay of the land and quickly see how all of the transit, highway, and paths connect. It gives you a frame of reference and allows you to immerse in the 'world' as a whole.
I wish we had new guides available to us today, that were in any way comparable to the art and screenshots of those old Nintendo Power guides. We do have online walkthroughs, but in my opinion, they pale in comparison to a handy guide sitting by your side. The same applies to Earthbound, Chronotrigger, Super Mario RPG, etc. All of those guides truly improved the experience for me.
Re: Talking Point: Everyone Has A Bad Game They Love, So What's Yours?
A few have already been mentioned, but:
Bill Laimbeer’s Combat Basketball (SNES - I got this as a kid because it was cheap, but it was terrible. But owning a game meant playing the game when you were bored, so I grew fond of it over time)
Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest (SNES - this game got me into JRPGs)
Metroid: Other M (Wii - everyone hated it, but I instantly loved it)
Spindizzy Worlds (SNES - loved this game and rented it many times. Going back to it now, the controls are tough and the isometric view can make that even worse)
Re: Talking Point: Why Metroid Dread Will Be Worth $60
For what it's worth, I remember paying $69.99 to buy Secret of Evermore for the SNES as a kid and $59.99 for ChronoTrigger (whether it be with my birthday funds or money from parents). Reflecting on this, after 30+ years, I suppose that's why I can't balk at a new game selling for the same price. Inflation alone should have made new games more expensive, but the sheer fact they've stayed pretty similar since my childhood makes me pretty happy. Consoles didn't follow that pattern. The SNES was $199 when I bought it - with a new game. Now we pay $299-349 (or $4-500 for the Sony and MS fans).
Re: Talking Point: Why Metroid Dread Will Be Worth $60
@John_Deacon Completely agree with Ori. I would have easily paid $60 a piece for those two games. In some ways, it almost pains me to see them on sale for $14.99 in the eShop. That team built an incredible series. But, I do know that means more people may give them a shot and hopefully walk away with the same experience as I did.
Re: Talking Point: Why Metroid Dread Will Be Worth $60
@Kaori-chan I do have to wonder why Nintendo stopped offering Player's Choice titles. That was always a great way to look forward to getting a first-party game at a cheaper price. Maybe they all sell too many units to do so? However, I also have to compare Nintendo to another fan-based company, like Apple. I think the business model reflects the idea that 'if we don't lower the price over time, people won't have a reason to wait'. There's no benefit not to purchase when a game comes out, knowing that it'll be years before we see a price drop. It avoids the 'wait for a sale mentality'. However, I have to applaud the fact that most first-party games do still remain available. Many third-party and indie games are difficult to come by, physically-speaking, with the exception of Super Mario 3D All-Stars, which is a completely different topic and not one I agree with. There are dozens of Limited Rare Games I would have bought, had I known they had a physical available.
After replying to your last comment, I remembered eshop demos. That, like Game Pass, are great ways to test games. In fact, I've avoided a few that weren't for me by doing so. I've also fell in love with a few (like Octopath) by testing it out. Maybe Nintendo could offset their online service by offering more robust demos to their users? Non-subscribers get a first-level trial, whereas paying subscribers get a time-period to enjoy the full title. I could beat many games back as a kid during a single rental period. Yet, I still rented them more than once to just play them again.
BTW - appreciate the points of view and dialog.
Re: Talking Point: Why Metroid Dread Will Be Worth $60
@Kaori-chan That’s a very valid point. I somewhat assume Nintendo prices high to make sure they generate enough profit per game, whereas indie developers selling at a lower price, with the expectation of larger numbers of sales. Nintendo appears to go for higher value, in the chance sales don’t meet expectations. Idk.
To your comment about making things available for the masses, I agree. But I also think back to when I was a kid and could never afford a video game. I always had to wait for birthdays and holidays, when I’d ask for one as a gift. That didn’t stop me from playing dozens of SNES games, however. The thing that seems to has changed in gaming culture is that we no longer have easy access to rental stores, with shelves of games lining the walls. I think that helped the people who couldn’t afford more expensive games. Even though I didn’t own many, I put more hours than I can count in to every weekend.
Too bad digital rentals weren’t a thing.
Re: Talking Point: Why Metroid Dread Will Be Worth $60
It’s interesting to read so many comments questioning the value of a game or the price it should be. I guess for me, I don’t ever consider price. I just consider how badly I want to play or own a particular game. If I want it bad enough, then I’m willing to pay what they’re charging for it. I do the same with so many other products on the market - TVs, movies, cars, computers, phones. There are cheaper alternatives to everything, but if I want something that I personally deem of higher value to me or my own personal enjoyment, then I’m willing to pay for it.
On top of that, price is somewhat subjective - almost certainly across the people on this forum. If you make $30-40/hr, 60 bucks for a game really isn’t a big deal. If you make $10/hr, then it truly becomes more of an investment. But knowing that, it’s hard to see how two completely different people can argue over whether a price is fair. What’s fair really depends on each individual’s perspective.
I’ve seen people drop $60 on a dinner out for a date night - that’s just for a single meal, that realistically only stays with you for a little while. You pay that for the experience and taste of something new. The same applies to concerts and events, on and on.
I just find it interesting that games, which a team and company has invested years into making, is devalued based on what we subjectively think it should cost. And we base that on our own experience and level of wealth.
At the end of the day, if Nintendo needed to charge $60 to make it valuable to them as an organization to generate enough profit that they gave it a green light, then so be it. I’ll pay it, because it’s an experience I want to have.
Re: Talking Point: When Was The Last Time A Game Cracked Your Top Five?
Breath of the Wild for sure. But Ori and the Blind Forest as well. I don’t know why that game snagged me as much as it did when I first played it on Steam so long ago. Along with those two, I’ll always love Super Metroid, Chronotrigger, A Link to the Past, and Earthbound. I know that’s 6, but it shows the vast amount of time between my top tier list and just how recently that list has been broken. The caliber of those two games were just so high that they snuck their way in.
Re: Review: Blizzard Arcade Collection - Dig Into The Vaults Of The Creator Of Warcraft And Overwatch
Getting to play RnR racing in widescreen, with updated sounds and ‘extras’ has been more than worth the price of admission. I hope more companies take note and widen the field of view for modern TVs.
Re: Here's Your First Look At Crysis Remastered Running On Nintendo Switch
@Onkel_Laser As someone who never played the original and only plays games on the Switch now, I will definitely check it out.
Re: Random: Nintendo's Hotline Used To Guide Super Metroid Players With This Forbidden Map
For the release of Metroid Prime 4, I hope Nintendo partners with Dark Horse for a Metroid Art book like they have for the Zelda and Mario. This seems like the perfect thing to go in there.
Re: Feature: Which Nintendo Switch Game Did We Miss?
@JSDude1 I had never heard of this one...but a 9/10 on Steam? Looks great!
Re: Octopath Traveler Makes The Leap To Mobile, New Console Game Will Take "A Little While Longer"
Lots of people commenting on the platform - mobile vs Switch. But what about the idea itself? I’m excited to see more of Octopath in any form. And hope this breeds more for the series. And what about the new gameplay? Eight characters during a single battle? Will they be using the same identical maps or will Osterra have changes? Will any of the characters stories tie into Octopath’s stories?
Re: Rumour: Microsoft Plans To Bring Xbox App And Game Pass To Nintendo Switch
Crossing my fingers for Ori. Would be a day one purchase — make that a day one preorder purchase.
Re: Chrono Trigger Director Takashi Tokita Is Producing Switch JRPG Oninaki
Although simplistic and free from much visual variety, I actually really enjoyed I am Setsuna. It definitely missed some zeal compared to Octopath Traveler (which is brilliant), but I quite enjoyed it while it lasted nonetheless. Lost Sphear, on the other hand, really lacks something for me. I rarely quit a game, but that was a chore to play. Maybe it got better deeper into the story, but wasn’t worth finding out. I’m remaining hopeful for this third installment that the team now knows what worked well and what didn’t. And they have a lot more to look towards for examples. Octopath most definitely brought me back to FFIII (VI)...so let’s hope this time they can bring us back to CT for real.
Re: Feature: The Big Nintendo Direct Summary - 13th February
I wonder if a majority of the people complaining about Link’s new look weren’t around for the first Wind Waker reveal? Remember the shellshock everyone had when Link became a cartoon for the first time? For most of us who love this new look, maybe we have a ‘been there, done that’ mentality where we know Nintendo likes to shake things up and are anxious to accept whatever art style they want to throw our way next. Wind Waker was excellent. I also have no doubt Link’s Awakening will win you over and I applaud Nintendo for never failing to surprise us.
Re: Your Nintendo Switch Cloud Save Files Will Be Lost If Your Online Subscription Expires
It’d be interesting to know how well this same article would have been received, if written as informative, rather than opinionated. It set the stage from the opening to confuse readers into assuming they were doomed, when in reality, it should have been written as an educational piece on ‘here’s how the cloud saves work.’
Re: Talking Point: Do We Still Need Review Scores?
For me, scores are a lifesaver when I don’t have time to read the full review. In fact, they’re usually what determine whether I do or do not read it at all. If a game gets a high score, I want to find out why. A low score, same thing.
I suppose it doesn’t have to be a legitimate number, tho. I’d be just as happy with a rating of some sort. “Must buy”, “great for those who like rpgs”, etc. When time is limited, something that helps me know if the read is worth coming back to.
Re: Ori and the Blind Forest Director Criticises Secrecy and Lack of Access to NX Devkits
@GeminiSaint I'm a Nintendo fanboy through and through, but it's disappointing to see all these comments about Ori or the development team, simply because they haven't played it. The people behind Ori have a passion for games - and you are exactly correct, the game is a masterpiece. It and any future releases need to make it to NX.
Re: Ori and the Blind Forest Director Criticises Secrecy and Lack of Access to NX Devkits
There seems to be a lot of comments around how he shouldn't be asking for a Dev kit because 'he produced one game'. I have played and beaten Ori and honestly, it screams of Nintendo quality and games like that rightfully belong on a Nintendo console. It's this sort of fantastic quality that the system needs to continue attracting more people. They may be a newcomer, but they truly understand what made original Nintendo games great and I would only hope that Nintendo helps. After such a long dry spell with the Wii U, I want to see my favorite gaming company succeed again. We can't lose high quality developers like this, indie or not.
Re: Nintendo Isn't Talking About NX Because It Doesn't Want Rivals To Steal Its Ideas
I hope that they continue to provide some sort of backwards compatibility like Gamecube > Wii and Wii > Wii U. At least for the digital games, if nothing else. Thinking about all of the money invested, it'd be a lot easier to ditch the console than to ditch the console and the games when the new system launches.
Re: Humble Nindie Bundle Adds Three New Games
@DarthNocturnal
Steamworld Dig is worth the purchase. Essentially, it's an exploration game, but combines elements of gathering items to improve your character with puzzle-solving and fighting enemies. But, as Krambo42 just stated, I would easily pay $10 just for Guacamelee - that game is much closer to a Metroidvania game (or Castlevania 2) and offers so much depth.
Re: Editorial: The eShop's Pricing Dilemma is the Fault of Many, But Damages Creativity and Risk Taking
Growing up, it was normal to pay $40-60 for a new game and that was ok. If you couldn't afford a game, you rented it. But, back then, console games were all we had. Unfortunately, we're now living in a society where there are hundreds of options for gamers who want to play for free, or pay a specific price. I agree - I get annoyed when people complain about a $20 game. "Only 6 hours for $20 - are they crazy?" For me, I think back to Contra III on the SNES, Gradius, Castlevania IV, etc - those are not 9, 10, 11 hour games and they're amazing. People have become spoiled by the plethora of options and it's simply getting harder and harder to satisfy everyone. What's sad, is I wonder how many great games we're missing out on because of the consumer/business mentality that we've created.
Going along with my first comment, I wonder if there's a solution to higher pricing? Growing up, if you were afraid to spend the $60 blindly on a new game, you rented the game to test it out. I know some games today have demos, but they're sparse. A huge solution to this problem could be to offer a discount, demo system. Allow us to rent digital games for $2-3 for a couple of days and if we want to purchase, apply that $2-3 off the purchase price. Maybe higher price games are not selling as well because we are afraid to spend X amount on something that may or may not be good?
Re: NF Magazine 2015 Renewals & New Subscriptions Hit Kickstarter
@readyletsgo I've subscribed to both Retro and Nintendo Force since day 1. I let my Retro subscription run out, but Nintendo Force is leagues above. Issues are slow to come since they're only bi-monthly, but each one is well worth the wait. It could almost pass for Nintendo Power. I highly doubt I'd ever stop subscribing, even if just for the nostalgic factor.
Re: Official Nintendo Magazine Announces Closure in the UK
@readyletsgo the one I just got has wario/sonic on the front.
Re: Official Nintendo Magazine Announces Closure in the UK
@readyletsgo I just received the new issue of retro last week. Yours is probably on the way too.
Also, for anyone else on here that misses Nintendo Power - check out Nintendo Force. Kickstarted funded and now on its second year. It's a great follow-up to Nintendo Power and definitely keeps the nostalgia alive.