Comments 367

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (April 15th)

jon128

I have decided I am getting TotK on day one, so I am hoping to finish Metroid Prime Remastered before then. I should be able to… I just got through the first bit of Phazon Mines that has a long gap between save points.

Also probably playing some Fire Emblem Awakening. Probably won’t finish this one before TotK.

It would have been nice if I had finished Skyward Sword HD before TotK, I started it many months ago and went through at least a few dungeons, but then started playing something else for some reason.

Re: Talking Point: With One Month 'Til TOTK, What's Left For You To Do In Zelda: Breath Of The Wild?

jon128

I pretty much stuck to the main objectives and still spent like 60+ hours on it and had a good time. I have been a bit unsure if the new one should be a day one purchase for me but I am leaning toward getting it day one in spite of the fact that I have some other games in progress that I am actively playing that I likely won’t finish by then. I think it will be fun to be playing it while all the buzz is active about the game.

Re: Tiny Thor Nails Pixel Art Platforming And Puzzles In Stunning New Trailer

jon128

Looks interesting, but I think games like this succeed or fail at really capturing my attention and getting me to play all the way through on rather small details that are hard to define about how it feels to play and if it makes me feel eager to see the next level, next mechanic, etc.

I saw a world map in there. If they did Super Mario World style branching paths I’d be interested to try it. I’d really like someone to try to capture and evolve the feeling of SMW’s branching paths and how you can take Yoshi’s and power up’s from one level and use them in another level and the switch palaces affecting levels you already played. It seems like the right designer leaning into those ideas could build something awesome from them.

Re: Feature: Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Gameplay Trailer - Every New Detail Revealed

jon128

I’m sure it will be a great game. The new abilities seem neat.

I am trying to decide if I want to get it day one or not though. Nothing against the game or what has been revealed, but I’m just not sure if it is what I want to play right now. I have a preorder at Amazon that seems to be locked in at the old assumed $60 price point though. I’d imagine I could get a used copy for $45-$50 sometime after release though. I still have Skyward Sword HD that I started a while back and have not finished. I have a second play through of Triangle Strategy about half way done. I have Metroid Prime Remastered to finish, but I am playing it consistently at least. I also randomly started Fire Emblem Awakening as well recently. I haven’t been sticking to one game straight through lately. It could be fun to play TotK when there is a lot of buzz from everyone playing it right after release though.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 25th)

jon128

@Picola-Wicola You are a good chunk of the way along so I am not sure it is worth it now, but just so you know of this option:

If you have access to a computer (with enough space available) and an SD card reader you can copy the contents of the old one to the computer hard drive and then to the new SD card. This is how I upgraded mine recently. I had some issues with doing it on macOS (new one wouldn’t work at first) but I found the commands to fix those issues by searching online.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 25th)

jon128

I am still working on Metroid Prime Remastered. Just got the Ice Beam.

I am probably not done or further along with Metroid because over the past weeks I had taken some evenings away from it to play and finish and excellent iOS game called BossGame. It is the creation of a former coworker of mine and it does a brilliant job of bringing the feeling of “tough but fair” boss fights to mobile with an excellent battle system and touch controls.

I am also getting a used physical copy of Fire Emblem Awakening in the mail today. 3DS eShop closure FOMO was getting to me and I saw a loose cart on eBay for ~$35 one day so I grabbed it. I’ve never played an FE game (other than the demo of Awakening a year or more ago), but this one still tops the lists of best FE games so I figured it is worth trying. I am also interested in the Switch entries in the series.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 4th)

jon128

Metroid Prime Remastered on Switch. Enjoying it so far. I only played a bit of it on GameCube back when I had it because I was rather bad at sticking with games back then when they got the least bit difficult.

Also some of “BossGame” on iOS. I used to work with the person who made it. I am quite enjoying it. Unique battle system and really well done touch controls.

Re: 50 Best Nintendo Switch Games So Far

jon128

I currently own 27 of them. Definitely a few more I have considered getting such as Fire Emblem Three Houses (although I wonder if I’d like Engage better with more combat focus) and one of the Xenoblade games. Never played either series, not sure if they would be for me.

Re: Talking Point: Which Gaming Moments Made You Question Your Intelligence?

jon128

@Walterd I’m glad I’m not alone.

Another one I remembered is in Ocarina of Time at the point where you need a red tunic I thought “great I’ll go back in time and buy one,” but then I think it tells you that it is too big for you because you are a child and you can’t buy it. I think what I actually had to do was to stop a Goron that was rolling around in a circle or something. I thought my solution would have been more fun. (I also may be mis-remembering some of these details).

I think some Zelda puzzles end up being a bit more like riddles where you can’t always use logic to get to the answer. Or you need to use special “Zelda logic” to get to the answer.

I should really re-play some Zelda games. Sometimes it is fun for me to solve these types of things with a fuzzy memory of the answer.

Re: Talking Point: Which Gaming Moments Made You Question Your Intelligence?

jon128

So many while playing Zelda games…

One of the worst was in BOTW when I didn’t know how to turn the cannon things in the Goron area and all I had to do was hit them with a weapon. I spent much more time than I would like to admit trying to use much more complicated ways to turn them.

I remember when I first played the GBC Links Awakening a couple years back on 3DS not realizing I could pick up the ball thing in the one dungeon.

Re: Countdown: 3DS eShop Spotlight - Fire Emblem Fates

jon128

I have never played an FE game, but I do like Triangle Strategy, so I have looked at FE. I have been tempted to pick up an FE entry on the 3DS, but I think if I get into the series I will probably just go with Engage. Or maybe Three Houses, but there may be too much non-battle stuff for me there.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 25th)

jon128

Still waiting on my copy of Metroid Prime Remastered that is on its way from Nintendo. Probably affected by the ice storms we’ve had here in the US.

The last couple nights I’ve been playing an iOS game called “Bossgame”, that a former coworker of mine made recently. It is quite polished and the touch screen controls are really well done. The way the battles work is pretty clever. It compares the battles to “old Action RPG” battles. However, I tend to not like RPG battle systems, but I am enjoying the battles in BossGame!

I may also check out Katamari Demacy again since it is on the game trial and on sale ridiculously cheap. I tried the demo years ago and didn’t like it, but it is worth another shot.

Re: Where To Buy Metroid Prime Remastered On Switch

jon128

I’m glad I caught the Nintendo Store preorder and that is at least on its way. I messed up by canceling my Best Buy preorder and trying to get it from Amazon. After that I briefly had a GameStop preorder that I canceled when the Nintendo Store preorder was available because I decided to trust that more.

Re: Metroid Prime Remastered Physical Pre-Purchase Live On Nintendo Store (US)

jon128

I originally preordered on Best Buy but cancelled that when I ordered on Amazon not expecting any issues. Then Amazon emails me about March 27th delivery. Then I ordered on GameStop but I don’t really trust they can fill the orders. Now I also ordered in Nintendo’s site and am debating cancelling the GameStop order, since I trust the Nintendo order more at this point. I do also wonder if it will be at every store on shelves release day.

Re: Where To Buy Metroid Prime Remastered On Switch

jon128

I had a Best Buy preorder then cancelled it so I could preorder from Amazon and just get it delivered and I saw the supposed earlier release date. Now Amazon says it is out of stock and my Amazon order says they will email me when they have a delivery date. Hopefully I still get it at least on the 22nd.

Re: GoldenEye 007 Shoots Its Way Onto Nintendo Switch Online This Week

jon128

I don’t really play FPS games anymore, but I may need to try this out again just for the nostalgia.

I am curious if they will do anything with the control mapping because IIRC you used to move with the C buttons and look with the stick which I think is backwards from modern FPS conventions. I also remember reading on NL that you could actually play the original in dual analog mode with 2 controllers plugged into an N64 for single player. I doubt it, but it would be neat if they mapped the left and right sticks to different controllers in the emulator for single player mode to take advantage of that.

Re: Talking Point: What Did You Think Of The September 2022 Nintendo Direct?

jon128

I was mainly looking for the Metroid Prime remake, so I was a little disappointed. I am actually kind of excited to play Pilotwings 64 again on switch though. Even though I am no longer a fan of FPS I may need to try Goldeneye again anyway.

The good thing about there being nothing big coming up that I am really looking forward to is that I can just enjoy the games in my backlog. I recently started Skyward Sword so maybe I will have time to get through to before I get distracted by something else.

Re: Poll: Do You Actually Want Switch Ports Of Wind Waker And Twilight Princess?

jon128

I wanted these more before I got a used Wii U last year and played Wind Waker. I may buy them eventually. I’ve never played Twilight Princess. I still need to play Skyward Sword which I have for switch but have not played yet.

Right now I’d be most excited for a Metroid Prime remake/remaster or some DLC for Metroid Dread with some additional “real” content.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (September 3rd)

jon128

I have actually been playing a lot of Wave Race 64 on the switch. I had an N64 back in the day but didn’t have this game. I maybe rented it at some point. So I have no real nostalgia for it specifically, but I have really been enjoying it. It has aged quite well in terms of gameplay and controls. And I like the N64 3D graphics in a nostalgic kind of way.

Re: Talking Point: What Was Your First Mario Kart Game?

jon128

Super Mario Kart. I still love the music and the retro graphics, but in my opinion the feel of the controls did not age well.

I think the poll may read like an age distribution of readers of this site. A bunch of us in our late 30s or early 40s.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (July 9th)

jon128

Lately I’ve been playing Mario Strikers Battle League (still mostly losing online, but most games are fairly close), Tetris Effect, and Sayonara Wild Hearts.

The last two I got in the recent sale along with Minit, Gato Roboto, Evergate, and Chicory: A Colorful Tale.

I started Chicory last night. I also started Phantom Hourglass a while back and play a bit of it occasionally. Those may be a bit similar to have going at the same time, but lately I have been trying to not feel like I have to finish anything in particular before starting something else if I happen to feel like starting something.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (June 18th)

jon128

I keep playing Strikers. I generally don’t play sports games or multiplayer games, but something about this one has me hooked at least for the moment. I’ve just been playing online alone versus others and I’ve been able to get some pretty competitive matches.

I probably still lose a bit more than I win, but not by too much. It seemed like I was getting to the point where quick battles were too easy, so I joined some random club and have found the matches challenging but winnable. I kind of wish it gave you some personal stats on your wins/losses and other things.

I also recently started to replay Hollow Knight and started Phantom Hourglass for the first time. I enjoy both of those, but I haven’t played them since I started strikers.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (April 30th)

jon128

After finishing Triangle Strategy, I started on The Messenger. Then Warioware Get It Together arrived from an eBay order and I started playing that. I’ve also been playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe a bit. Last night I remembered Tetris 99 existed and spent an hour enjoying losing at that (did get 4th once). One night I also started the new game plus in Triangle Strategy and played the first battle. So I don’t know what I am playing. Kind of in a mode where I switch between a bunch of things.

I should make sure I get back to The Messenger though. It does seem good. I enjoy how it trolls you when you die.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (April 16th)

jon128

I finished Triangle Strategy last night. I really enjoyed it! I was worried about there being too much between battles, but I ended up really enjoying the balance and not just going from one battle to the next.

Next maybe I will play The Messenger which is in my backlog. I also may do a round or two or Mario Golf on NSO. I’m not a big sports fan, but I remember renting that one back in the day on N64 and enjoying it a bit so I may give it a try.

I also couldn’t resist picking up Warioware Get It Together when I saw it on eBay for around $35, so I’ll probably play that when it arrives.

I also feel like I need to replay some games rather than always playing something new. So we’ll see.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 19th)

jon128

Triangle Strategy. I’ll be playing the battle in chapter XI part II tonight. I’m still really enjoying this even though I was concerned about the balance of battles to story. I have found that I really like both and that the story portions are a nice way to mix it up in between battles.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 12th)

jon128

Triangle Strategy. I am on chapter 8. I am pretty slow at these types of games. I think the timer on my file is over 19h. I had to retry the battle in chapter 7 quite a few times this week as I figured out a strategy. It has been fun though. I don’t mind the story/exploration bits at all.

I haven’t played any of the mock battles because I didn’t want to get too much beyond the recommended level for the main battles.

I used some consumables to get through the battle in Chapter 7. In games with items like this I am never sure if needing to use them is an indication of my strategy not being good enough or if you just sometimes need to use them rather than relying fully on healers to refill HP. It is just that using consumables can feel like just a means to lowering the difficulty and like it maybe is keeping me from learning some strategy that would be fun to learn.

I guess I would just appreciate a loading screen tip that tells me how to think about these items the way Celeste tells you how to think about the death counter and the strawberries and the way Metroid Dread tells you that “no attack is unavoidable”. I love these types of loading screen tips.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 5th)

jon128

After a lot of indecision and reading too many reviews to try to get a sense for the balance of the full game I decided to buy Triangle Strategy. While I was on the fence about it I was getting interested in the world by the end of the demo when I played it a few weeks ago, so I went for it.

I am enjoying it so far. It is a very different pace from things I usually play, but I think I will end up liking that it isn’t just one battle after the other because sometimes that can get old for me too and make me want to take a break.

I’ve been interested in trying a more story based game, but when I’ve tried JRPGs like Final Fantasy IX I found that I didn’t find the combat interesting and they are also so long that I end up getting bored and stopping at some point. I enjoyed Chrono Trigger (DS) and got close to the end but never felt like beating the final boss.

So I think at least right now most JRPGs aren’t for me, but I think Triangle Strategy (and possibly other Tactical RPGs) is something I may be able to get in to.

Re: Poll: Triangle Strategy Is Out Today On Nintendo Switch, Will You Be Getting It?

jon128

I am tempted to get this but I am worried about the balance between story and battles. The demo was very story heavy. If I can play it for an hour session that includes a battle or at least gets me to the next battle, I think I am interested. The world and story seemed like they would be interesting.

I am also curious if I should consider Fire Emblem: Three Houses instead (never played any FE game). I am interested in a game with an interesting world and story but also interesting (and frequent enough) battles. I have heard that game (even for one route) is quite long though, and I usually don’t like games to be too long.

Re: Review: Triangle Strategy - Square Enix Plots A Total Tactical Triumph

jon128

@PJOReilly
I’m glad to hear the prologue was the slowest part. I haven’t really played this genre but am interested in this game. I found in the demo that the time between the second and third battles was okay. If I pick this up, I’d like to be able to play it in ~1 hour sessions and ideally have a battle each session or maybe every other session sometimes. Does that seem reasonable to expect?

I think my play time in the demo was 6 hours which seems longer than what others have said, but I think I tend to over think each turn in games like this.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 19th)

jon128

I also finished Luigi’s Mansion 3 with my son last weekend. Such a great game with good co-op. It has me tempted to pick up Dark Moon and the 2018 re-release of Luigi’s Mansion on the 3DS. However it does seem like they may not be all that different, but just earlier iterations of the same thing but with no co op (for 2) or co op but not designed for co op (for the remake of 1). Also true co op requires two copies for the remake of 1 and the cheapest they go for is $40 each.

I also finished Minish Cap which I ended up enjoying.

I think I will finish Metroid Fusion this weekend.

I also tried out Pushmo based on the 3DS list NL published and it is pretty neat. I may play some more of that. I am not sure if I will pick up all the sequels or not. I do enjoy going back to the 3DS. It is such a fun system and the system that got me back into gaming (but didn’t get one until 2018).

Oh and I picked up Affordable Space Adventures, so I will see if my kids want to play that!

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 19th)

jon128

I finished the Triangle Strategy demo last weekend. I haven’t really played this genre, so I don’t know what to expect in terms of how much story and exploration is between battles, but I agree with @NinChocolate that it felt like too much at the beginning. The amount between the 2nd and 3rd battles felt okay. I think my play time was at 6h so maybe I was being slow at it too. I hope reviews give me a good sense for how this is in the full game so I can decide if I should get it or not.

I am also curious if Fire Emblem Awakening and Three Houses have this much in between battles or not because I have considered those games before but never played FE.

Re: Poll: The End Is Coming, But How Much Will You Miss The Wii U And 3DS eShop?

jon128

Affordable Space Adventures is one of the games I am considering picking up, but when I Google it the eShop page redirects to a landing page on Nintendo’s site. Maybe my chance to buy it has passed. Or maybe I literally need to do it from the Wii U itself, but I normally just buy the games from the web and then they download to the consoles automatically because of how I have my account linked.

Re: Nintendo Is Closing The 3DS & Wii U eShops And Has "No Plans To Offer Classic Content In Other Ways"

jon128

+1 for NL making a list of exclusives and DLC. Although it will probably make me buy more than I really need to or will actually play.

I think I have most of what I want. Can’t worry about buying every game I might one day wish I had bought.

Right now I am thinking about picking up:

  • Affordable Space Adventures in case my kids will play it with me at some point. Probably wouldn’t be fun alone.
  • Mole Mania because it is a quirky game that I saw and NL video or article about
  • Maybe the 3rd Box Boy game
  • Maybe DKC 3 since I think those games look best on the 3DS
  • Maybe the GBA SMB3 because I’ve heard about the e-reader levels. But I already have the NES one on 3DS
  • Maybe the GBA Super Mario World but I already have the SNES one on 3DS
  • Maybe buy a New Super Mario Bros 2 cartridge and the DLC, but I haven’t heard great things about that game. It sounds like it may be a bit unique though. I’m not a huge fan of the “New” SMB games though.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 12th)

jon128

@StarPoint

I actually randomly went back to Mario Rabbids Kingdom Battle this week too and played a couple battles. I think years ago I stopped at about the beginning of chapter 3. It think I am likely to finish the main game now at some point (continuing from where I left off). I probably would keep playing it more right now but I wanted to try the Triangle Strategy demo.

I think I didn’t get through it years ago because I started it after putting like 40h into Into The Breach and maybe was burned out on turn based stuff or something.

Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 12th)

jon128

I have quite a few games started and not finished, but this weekend I am most likely to:

Try to finish up Minish Cap. I started it months ago and was frustrated with it but got back to it recently and am enjoying it even if I did have to look up a couple things which I prefer not to do.

Playing more if the Triangle Strategy demo. I have a hard time getting into RPGs but I want to like them. I like the tactical battle I played better than non-tactical RPGs, but I think I am just now getting to the second one and I think my file says over 2h (maybe even almost 3h) already. I think I am I will probably wait to hear how much of the full game is battles before considering buying it. Ideally if I sit down and play a game for 30-60m I’d like to be able to play a battle or at least be ready to get into the next battle in the next play session.

Maybe finishing up Luigi’s Mansion 3 with my son or at least completing the second to last boss.

Maybe more Metroid Fusion. So far I am liking it less than Zero Mission, but it is still good. Dread is my favorite, but I have to restart Super Metroid and try to get all the way through it sometime.

Maybe other games if I don’t feel like playing those above. Like I said I have a bunch started.

Re: Review: EarthBound - A Quirky, Cosmic Adventure Bound To Warm Your Heart

jon128

This is a game that I want to like. I guess I may feel that way about most JRPGs.

The one I enjoyed was Chrono Trigger (DS) which I played a few years ago. I never quite finished it. I think I was last right at the end and needed to grind to beat the final boss but didn’t really feel like it.

I think it is generally that the combat doesn’t feel engaging enough for me in many JRPGs. I am not sure if I am missing something or if it is just that they are much more focused on story. I love games with deeper turn based combat and no story like Slay the Spire. Maybe a tactical RPG would work for me (trying out the demo of triangle strategy).

I tried Earthbound on the 3DS a bit and I think I can see the appeal of the atmosphere but I am not sure I can get into it. I did play Undertale, which was entertaining (and pretty short). I think that is the other problem I have with JRPGs is the length. Maybe I’ll have to give Earthbound a try again sometime.

I am really glad this came out for those who love it. Maybe they will use this to get more people excited about the series and then release a translation of Mother 3 for you all.

Re: Triangle Strategy Prologue Demo Out Now, Progress Transfers To Full Game

jon128

I have been getting interested in this game, so I’ll be giving this a try.

I haven’t really played many games like this. I guess the closest may be Mario Rabbids Kingdom Battle but that is a very different atmosphere and not a real story.

I tend to have a hard time getting through very long games and RPGs tend to be long. I also tend to get bored with combat in RPGs. I think tactical combat may resolve this issue for me. I’ve considered trying fire emblem three houses but I think it may have too much “other stuff” outside of battles for me (I’ve never played any fire emblem games).

I am curious if triangle strategy will have an interesting mix of story and engaging combat that I may like it.