kalosn

kalosn

Switch 2 - The Future is Here

Comments 1,686

Re: Nintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Upcoming Switch 2 Games

kalosn

Let's see, for the Switch 1 releases, I guess they can all be seen as smaller titles, but the new Tomodachi Life actually looks considerably big.

Well right now, they got two smaller titles coming first, Mario Tennis and Pokemon Pokopia will surely be fun entries. Relatively smaller, but the later seems to have big intentions...
Mario Wonder and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book are coming next, and naturally 2D tends to be smaller-scale. Yoshi though, seems very interesting because of its gameplay intentions and beautiful art style. I'm personally interested on it

In terms of the bigger blockbuster releases, there is Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave, Intelligent Systems' first Switch 2 game, which looks more attractive to me than usual. Splatoon Raiders is still a mystery though, and it remains to be seen how big this spin-off will be, and if it will be more focused on single player or multiplayer. Pokémon Champions is something I just wanna know more already .

With all of this in mind, I guess there's still space for maximum 2 more AAA games this year, and maybe we will all know which one will be before February ends...
I would also love to see a brand new 3D Mario of course, but Donkey Kong Bananza is still fairly recent, not to mention Mario Kart World still deserves free additional DLC content that justifies its value.
As for Zelda, who knows. I can see Nintendo having to deal with longer development cycles as their biggest games get more detailed and ambitious, and that's why it's very smart from them to also develop simpler or smaller titles, as well as Switch 2 Editions. It would be cool to see them announced this year at least.

Re: It's Official, The Switch Is Nintendo's Best-Selling Console Of All Time

kalosn

And to think, AND TO THINK it all began on March 2015.
Huge historical achievement for the company right here, it's been almost 9 years of the console and right now words from me can't describe how special this is for the Switch

Now, it's bigger successor is out on the market, and it's full time to focus on the new hardware. Unless well, reaching the PS2's lifetime sales would be considered achievable...

Re: Rumour: A Nintendo Direct May Be Coming As Soon As Next Week

kalosn

It would be a cool way to start February, but IMO it would make more sense if it came just after the release of Mario Tennis Fever on February 12th... unless there's still unannounced content for that game.

If it could be a Partner Showcase... well it wouldn't be a surprise for me. There's a wild rumour going on the Wilds after all
Nintendo's surely working on many big games for their newest console right now, and maybe a Direct for June could be the perfect moment to announce them. I would love to see more Switch 2 upgrades though.

Re: Nintendo Restricting Some Image Sharing Features For Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream

kalosn

Basically, you'll need to do extra passionate effort if you want to share everything on social media, just in case someone thinks sharing anything uncomfortable is easy as the push of two buttons. I guess I can understand, but I wonder why an advanced filter system couldn't exist in place.
It also seems that just like the previous game, there won't have any kind of online interactivity. Once again, the game must release to see how much this could be missed, but considering how highly customizable the game is, it's a small surprise...

For the time being at least, I mean, I can see Nintendo eventually implementing some kind of "allowed islands" system.

Re: Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream Moves In On Switch 1 This April

kalosn

Even if it wasn't as close to even reaching the weirdness level of the 2014 Tomodachi Life Direct, this was still pretty impressive, they especially got me with all the customization stuff and creating your own textures for everything.
In fact I wonder how they would handle moderation in that regard, if there is some form of online sharing or multiplayer component.

Re: Super Mario Galaxy Movie's New Trailer Shares A "First Look" At Yoshi

kalosn

It's really looking like a packed movie! But I still feel it should've been a two parter if it really wants to go all out...
You know, Part 1: Mario World and Part 2: Mario Galaxy

In animation it's easier to make things quick when you give a good direction of speed for many parts, going on in frantic and diegetic sequences. But when it doesn't work out, you still could end with a rushed product, or simply with something that leaves you wishing for more.

Re: Pokémon Developer Game Freak To Reveal More About 'Beast Of Reincarnation' Later This Month

kalosn

The CLOSEST thing to Pokémon games actually running on Unreal Engine 5, well good luck with them squashing all the bugs and optimization that comes with that responsability!

But there you have it... a clarification on why this project looks so good, many external companies (such as Fictions) are helping Game Freak on many parts, and it wouldn't be a surprise if many of that support has been technical.

But still, the framework is there on Game Freak, they were in full charge of pre-production and they likely decided also how the game would look and its core mechanics, not to mention they are still working on all the core concepts, so even with technical support they themselves already know how it would all come together. Framework, Engine, physics and such, everything.
The biggest surprise? Everything here is done with a relatively smaller team and especially budget compared to a mainline Pokémon game, yet that did not stop the game from having production values beyond any previous Pokémon game they ever did before...

It's also ironic, since Pokémon games tend to get support from much more companies assisting Game Freak and Creatures. I hopefully expect Game Freak to be the one deciding how a game will look and how ambitious its mechanics will be, because they definitely wanted a lot from this release alone!

I wouldn't expect the next mainline Pokémon games to look exactly like this, since they've been clearly making it with current-gen consoles in mind. It's an UE5 title after all.
While for Gen X for example, taking into account GF developing it since 2022, there could certainly be Switch 1 origins in the framework. I could be wrong though, and maybe they decided for a Switch 2 release early with the first specs in mind...

Anyway, this game truly looks like a beast from the studio and very truthfully impressed me. If they can't say anything about a Switch 2 port, they're likely researching it or will focus on it after release. We still have to see how it will look and run on a Series S (and Steam Deck) anyway.

Re: Digital Foundry Delivers Its Tech Review Of Final Fantasy VII Remake On Switch 2

kalosn

Yeah, excellent, solid port, even if it shows not everything is exactly the same as PS5... especially texture resolution, I didn't expect the difference to be sometimes that big. I guess that's what happens when you try to reduce the file size, like people want..
However, the fact it's comparable is impressive alone. Success!
What I have been pondering is if it can run at 60fps, considering how 99%, if not 100% solid performance seems to be. I've seen videos of it running on Steam Deck at mostly 60fps when framerate is unlocked, so they can at least bring a performance mode where resolution targets are lowered and maybe other stuff if needed, similar to Persona 3 Reload.

The real question will be how the open-world and current-gen only Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will look and run on the hardware. Lightning will likely be the same at least, but it would be great to see all the detail levels preserved on Switch 2 at most, now that's going to be an interesting post

Re: Review: Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition - A Cheap Upgrade, But Lacking Substance

kalosn

A theory I have on why it doesn't run at 60fps is because, the cozy feeling apparently could get "lost" by making the game run faster as if it and the player were on a hurry all the time. Is that something you would agree?

Personally, graphically it didn't really need an overhaul, besides maybe making the game look even better, what would've been great though was if they actually removed the loading screens between the different rooms of your house and make it an entierly seamless transition. I guess the engine still wasn't ready for that, or maybe it's related to multiplayer consistency.

For the next Animal Crossing game that they are definitely making a Switch 2 exclusive, they would need to do something different to the traidtional AC experience on a cozy island that is this game. Let's just say that if they are truly returning to the city on the next installment, they have the absolute right to make it run 60fps this time

Re: Mario Tennis Fever Officially Reveals amiibo Functionality And Every amiibo Supported

kalosn

I know the amiibo training in Ultra Smash wasn't exactly the best, but again, that kind of training has been so far the best use of the toys in the Smash games as well as Kirby Air Riders, so there's few excuses to not improve that feature and use it on Fever...

I can only hope they're at least considering it, because all the compatible amiibo are based on playable characters in the game.

Re: Switch 2 Sales Reportedly Struggled Over The Christmas Period

kalosn

@Exerion76 I see... I wish the IP was more mainstream, even if Prime 4 and Dread at least made an effort in recent years, it definitely needs the expansion it deserves, yet that didn't stop bold statements since time ago lol (https://mynintendonews.com/2013/06/16/game-informer-says-nintendo-could-solve-its-wii-u-problems-with-a-new-metroid/)

Now that I think about it, it's actually interesting to see Nintendo tackling challenges like this, it makes companies make decisions that many times benefit the costumer, as long as these challenges are not doom and gloom... this year I think Nintendo could at least announce a new 3D Mario, and Pokémon is a whole other topic, something I could talk about starting February.

Re: Switch 2 Sales Reportedly Struggled Over The Christmas Period

kalosn

Hard to believe. Not as good as Switch 1? Definitely. Struggled? Definitely NOT.
Besides the Switch 1 comparisons, where are the others? The Wii U or the PS4 on its own first year Christmas period? The console is still successful, but maybe consumers would need stimulation to buy the console, like those deals in the first place.
Besides the only single fact it's just fo its higher price than the Switch 1, I mean "no major western game"? Besides all the games it actually has, there's a Metroid game on it as a well as its predecessor where it's actually enhanced to boot. How that wouldn't be enough sounds like sacrilege.
So what do they need, a Zelda game? A Splatoon game? A exclusive mainline Pokémon game? Hmm......

Re: Opinion: Resident Evil Requiem Represents A Turning Point For Switch 2

kalosn

You know... thinking about it, it's funny and kinda paradoxical this article came out around the same time in 2017 this other article came out in regards for the Switch 1
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/09/talking_point_nintendo_switch_and_third-parties_-_lets_be_realistic

Yeah, I'm totally in for the floodgates of games coming, as long as they have dev kits and the porting process is solid. In particular, I'm wondering how current-gen games will look in the long run, as say, Clair Obscur... right now we're seeing some cross-gen games mostly, but as more and more of these games come, I'd say having a Series S version as a base is appropiate. Seriously, that console is to be thanked for the base work being at least mostly done...

Re: Rumour: Monster Hunter Wilds' Latest Update Has Fans Talking About A Switch 2 Version

kalosn

Capcom is definitely one of the best supporters of the system, so many current-gen games coming already, and that's something to congratulate.

While this game is very demanding and had some optimization issues before, they previously spoke about wanting to bring the newest MH to new audiences. Even if they haven't been satisfied with the sales, they're still pretty big numbers, but the franchise has always shined on portable systems, so even if a lot of work, optimization and even help from Nintendo or Nvidia is needed, a Switch 2 version of Monster Hunter Wilds is a no-brainer, as long as it doesn't change too much from the base game.

Mainly it's necessary it's still a seamless open world without loading screens, even if that means reducing the polygon count, just keep that feeling that would at least allow for cross-play.

Re: Bethesda Releases Skyrim Switch 2 Patch Addressing Input Latency Issues

kalosn

So, upscaled 4K from 1440p with DLSS? That's amazing actually, but very ambitious since it's clearly higher than the resolutions on Series S and PS4 Pro. Maybe that's the reason why even uncapped it can't even reach 45fps.
But I love the fact those sharp resolutions could make for a good quality mode capped at 30fps, it simply looks excellent on the console. But a performance mode would also be needed here, at a lower resolution (1080p docked for example, and maybe even lower handheld), while keeping visual quality the most they can.

Oh and input latency, that's obviously needed to be fixed.

Re: Mini Review: Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition - A Great Upgrade That Misses A Few Wins

kalosn

Great, the more Switch 2 editions, the better
As long as they make best use of the hardware, so no mouse mode is a big mystery for one of the first games that offered cross-save between PC and Switch.
And wait just a minute, 30fps on handheld mode?! That's probably the biggest divide so far between docked and handheld, something I imagined would happen eventually. And that's actually for the best I mean, many more games really need to make use of the higher power output when docked, it doesn't have a fan for nothing...

Re: Xbox Is Bringing Another Game To Switch 2 In 2026

kalosn

Great to see more of their games coming to Switch 2, South of Midnight is truly an artistic achievement.
Though I still don't know why they are not announcing any games previously rumoured and well-demanded, like Forza Horizon 5, Diablo IV, Doom... you know them all.

Re: Round Up: Everything Announced At The Game Awards 2025 - All Switch 1 & 2 Reveals

kalosn

This time the announcements were quite predictable to be honest, not the best edition for them but at least the awards given were pretty impressive, especially for the indie studio Sandfall

And yeah, besides Capcom, well.. I can see many devs are still having their first grasps at their Switch 2 Dev Kits, I would expect the first Control and Ace Combat 7 to recieve Switch 2 editions before any new entries, for example. Or they would first need to make sure Alan Wake II runs well on the hardware, if the Control sequel would still be anywhere as demanding as that.

However, I cannot lament enough how the Star Wars Racing game is currently not coming to Switch, one of the best announcements of the ceremony definitely, with the potential of being the successor to the racing games of N64..

Finally, oh Nintendo, where were you and your surprise announcements? Oh, at least Metroid Prime 4 appeared for the first time on a Game Awards ceremony, even if it was just a commercial :,)

Re: Feature: "It's A Bit Of A Joke At This Point" - Skyrim Dev On Returning For A Switch 2 Re-Release

kalosn

I love how it gains the visual effects that didn't made it to Switch 1, but "optimized performance"?
Performance on Switch 1 was actually like 99% perfect, even Digital Foundry was impressed at just how it basically never dropped frames, all those visual compromises at 900p made it even more stable than BoTW was on Switch 1 even after updates.
That's probably a good excuse to at least offer performance modes on the Switch 2

Re: Video: Skyrim Still Isn't 60fps On Switch 2, But Here's How It Fares Against Switch 1

kalosn

Oh my, volumetric effects.. ambient occlusion... they're FINALLY on Switch! That November 2017 Switch version experience has finally been upgraded with what was missing... even if it doesn't run at 60fps.
I can see it might be because just of those effects, but it's still incredibly evident there is a lot of overhead to at least lower the resolution and/or unlock the framerate, just to see how much it can go to reach those higher bounds you can already get on something like even the Steam Deck.

Re: Digital Foundry Dives Into Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition's "Big Downgrades" On Switch 2

kalosn

This sounds kinda amnesiac, these aren't downgrades to get the game running at 60fps on Switch 2, that is outright a result of the new console running by max bruteforce the work they did on Switch 1.
Considering the definitive edition runs at 1080p on PS4 at an unlocked framerate that at least keeps the illusion of 60fps, there must be a huge amount of overhead left with some sub-PS3 settings. To be frank even on Switch 1 it must haven't been a solid port because of those cutbacks, though at least they decided to base it on the definitive edition and not a last-last gen port.

A 30fps quality mode on Switch 2? How about if they reinstate all those missing effects while running the game unlocked, just to see how much it can reach 60fps huh? Maybe even offer a 1440p mode with some of these cutbacks at least, but for the meantime it's not a true Switch 2 conversion...

Re: Nintendo States Its Intention To Acquire More Development Teams

kalosn

When you remember how much AAA games take and cost to develop these days, it actually makes sense for them to expand, as they would need all the help needed to accelerate game development without compromising quality, as long as they don't overdo it of course.

I can imagine them acquiring MercurySteam one day for example, there was a time back during the mid-90s to early 2000s where Nintendo really wanted to expand its western subsidiaries, but that's a retrospective for another day.

Re: Nintendo To Acquire Bandai Namco Studios Singapore As A Subsidiary

kalosn

Wait, isn't this the studio that was developing Metroid Prime 4 before being restarted, as well as the cancelled Ridge Racer game for Switch?

Well, this is very interesting.. especially after the mysterious Bandai Namco-developed Nintendo game that was apparently cancelled in October last year... I can expect this will mean Nintendo will have more development partners to assist on its first-party games, and of course this studio would also be able to develop games of their own, just like Monolith Soft.

Exciting times maybe, as long as they don't overbuy stuff to ridiculous levels like well, you know... the Team in Green that bought the Storm.

Re: Animated Tomb Raider Series Returns To Netflix For A Second Season Next Month

kalosn

More Tomb Raider news it seems!

I don't know why it would be mixed recieved.The first season nailed the episodic aspect perfectly, it just needed a more interesting antagonist. And that seems to be addressed here with what I am seeing here. And the animation looks spectacular for sure.
But, final season? Where does it say that..? It would be sad to not see even more episodes, can see 4 seasons of animation at least.
I think it's possible for this to coexist with Amazon's series if it focuses more on the otherwordly elements. The thing is, if Amazon makes the best live-action video game adaptations, Netflix does the best animated ones.

Re: Surprise! Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition Is Available Now On Switch & Switch 2

kalosn

Okay, nice. Very nice in fact. But AAA releases can't be suddenly shadow dropped out of nowhere. Even if they feel quite old already, they still need weeks or at least days of promotion.
I imagine this release is part of a plan to release the entire Reboot Trilogy on Switch, or at least Switch 2 (unless they remember that Xbox 360 version of RotTR)

Me? I have long waited for this moment for years already!

Re: Pokémon Pokopia Reveals "Peculiar" New Forms In Extended 10-Minute Trailer

kalosn

Wait, was that a Gen 1 Pokédex at the intro?
LOL can already imagine the theories about the game's context and lore, Game Freak is co-developing it after all...

The entire gameplay concept looks like an ultimate evolution of sorts of the Johto Safari Zone concept from HGSS, and that is exciting at least. I just hope it's not too quick or short, because Ditto's actions look instantanous, and seem to lack the typical level and day-to-day progression process seen in both RPGs and farm sims.

And at least the game looks much sharper and better than the Direct Trailer, it previously looked like it was running on Switch 1, no surprises if it had origins there...

Re: Super Mario Galaxy Movie Trailer Reveals Rosalina, Bowser Jr., And More

kalosn

Interesting... Rosalina was undoubtely the star of the trailer, and while Bowser Jr wasn't unexpected, it seems I'll have to be used to a more... puberted? voice than the usual cute one.

What I'm interesting is in how much runtime it'll have to tell a three-arc story with a big, well.. universe. It seems it really wants to expand the worldbuilding and characters, just would too many be a good thing? usually not, but sometimes, it can work.

Re: Pokémon Pokopia Gets March 2026 Release Date, Brand New Trailer Coming This Week

kalosn

Let me get this straight, this game is being developed by both Game Freak (who likely just came with the concept, designs and the artworks) and Omega Force (who likely is in charge of everything technical), and even if it looks like the Pokémon life-simulation of many's dreams (mine including), there must be something about this game if it's going to cost that much, and besides, it still feels we're just scratching the surface.

But what's concerning me more is just how much games Game Freak can make at the moment. This was likely being developed at the same time Z-A's story development was ending, while they were working on fixing bugs and the DLC, and of course, the Gen X game, which is another thing.

Well, Omega Force can also work on a lot of titles simultaneously, and while I hope this one has a lot of content inside, it doesn't look that demanding enough to grant so much development resources. Who knows, one day they could make a Pokémon Warriors game.

Plot twist: You will be able to battle other Pokemon as you can build Pokémon centers

Re: After Years Of Delays, Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road Finally Has A 'Final' Trailer

kalosn

Yeah, so much effort in bringing on these final trailers, I mean the "spec" part at the end is just ridiculously ambitious
Believe it or not, this game was actually first announced back in 2016 as Inazuma Eleven Ares, which means it has actually been long in development even before Metroid Prime 4! It's amazing to think both games are finally going to be released soon, this one seems to have an interesting story mode

Still, no delay can't still quite compare to Beyond Good and Evil 2, that's a topic for another day...

Re: Pokémon Legends: Z-A's Mega Dimension DLC Scores December Release Date

kalosn

Nice but, so soon?
I wonder if I'm the only one who have thought of this, but I have the feeling TPC has been treating Pokémon games like films of a Cinematic Universe, where every new entry a new piece of info relating to the lore, history and worldbuilding of the world is presented to the player... Well, at least it gives indication of when Gen X will arrive, at least not for a year!

However, games aren't movies as they're suppossed to be full-on interactive experiences worthy of their price and not movie tickets. Iterating between every entry would be acceptable if they had lower prices equivalent of AA games, but also being accompanied by a huge AAA game that is played and talked about for many years. If that leaked Pokémon MMO is still being developed/planned, maybe that would be the huge change it needs.

Oh well, If it wasn't for the fact I'm excited for more megas and more story after the impressive one of the base game, maybe it would've been tougher to swallow, not for me a least, but still feels intersting to compare to most EA games..

Re: Poll: Animal Crossing: New Horizons Is Getting A Huge Update In Early 2026, What Are You Most Excited For?

kalosn

Probably the Slumber Island update, and the fact this update seems to imply the game could still recieve content, even if they're developing the next entry in the series (which would be something quite different)

Oh and yeah, the increased resolution helps bringing the slick visuals to life even better than before, even if it could've done a little bit more, it's 4K apparently.