kmtrain83

This is a nice news coming out of this publisher, although I do dislike corpo-speak

I don't see Switch 1 getting the PS2 record at this rate, unless they shake things up next year with 10th anniversary limited editions, bundles, or clearance prices. They did launch a 2DS XL in 2017 (I actually have one), so it's not like they won't try something new toward the end of a generation.

I have the first 2 on Switch, but did not get very far in either. Maybe 3rd time is the charm.

@Pillowpants
Maybe it's an issue of accepting one compromise (visuals) if it is made up for it by something else : physical value. Otherwise, yeah it seems inconsistent to get a game on Steam Deck game because Switch 2 is not full on cart.

@AllBLK
It seems like this game never ran well on any platform despite it's GOAT status.
Elden Ring on Switch 2 will probably run like Steam Deck.
Or you can get it on PC and follow this ridiculous old post for advice on how to optimize:
https://www.reddit.com/r/eldenringdiscussion/comments/1dk2tct/an_indepth_analysis_and_diagnosis_of_elden_rings/

Nothing for me this week.
I'll try Diablo 2 on Game Pass if I have time.
I'm rooting for Tokyo Scramble for some reason even though it seems mid. I don't know, it just seems like an earnest attempt to try something new, and it is not overpriced.

@Skunkfish
I probably didn’t need the -Skyward Sword Joy Cons for Switch 1, but they look so good. We have three consoles in the house plus that pair plus a red blue pair which makes for 10. A couple have gotten banged up over the years so maybe eight in good shape. Add to that a couple of pro controllers and some GameCube ones and yeah, we may have gone overboard.

I agree that the game key card comments on articles about the games themselves are getting tedious and are out of place.
This is why video games will never be viewed as art. Did cinephiles boycott Dune 1/2 because it was shot digitally and not on celluloid?
In terms of the previews for this game, it seems promising, and one should reserve judgment until it comes out, and it should be based on the merits, not on the format in which it was purchased.
There is a whole universe (a majority really) of consumers who buy digital whether to save on plastic, space, or whatever, and they just want to determine if the game is good.
Talk to me when you’ve organized a serious campaign to make the change instead of endless whining about individual titles.

@Don
Good idea. I also hope to clone my body in case the real me dies before I am able to play this.

I guess it will move from backlog to bucket list

Shout out to Various Daylife, possibly even a worse title than Triangle Strategy.

@SamSt565
The days of sports games getting 90+ metacritic are mostly over. Maybe a Forza gets to 90, I don't know.
That being said, if there is a consumer demand for more single player content, would it be so hard for Nintendo to include it?

@Vyacheslav333
Possibly. Or perhaps it would be rated higher since critics seem to be docking nostalgia points based on lack of a old story mode that took place in prior decades old Mario tennis games.

It looks servicable enough, and a worthy upgrade to MT Aces, which the kids and I had great fun with over the years.
Deducting points for lack of story mode is an odd decision; it's as if Nintendo set themselves up for failure by having this in an earlier interation, but kept it out for this one.
Where is it written in stone "thou must have a story mode" for a sports video game?

Side by side is blurrier on Switch 2, but with this art style, once the game is in your hands, I'm not sure if the experience will be all that different. I tend to play JRPG's both docked and handheld, depending on how much time and energy I can devote to a single play session.
On handheld, the small screen masks the differences. And at least for me, the viewing distance from my TV does not make a huge distinction between 1080 and 4K for cartoony media. If this game had more realistic lighting and textures, the quality mode on PS5 would probably display better.

Is there a standard music playlist that people choose from when making these comparison videos?

I'm boycotting the demo, unless they release it FULL ON CART!

I never got my play history for 3DS to show up

@Rentaro @Max_the_German
I came across some interesting research about the physiological effects of viewing video at different frame rates 12,24,30 up to 100+. So it may be something innate to each individual that can't be helped.
Personally, I like to tweak the settings on PC, and usually for PS5 I try both graphics and performance modes. I typically choose graphics, because I don't seem to mind 30 FPS, but I can appreciate the visual enhancements, including for Tales of Arise on PS5.

That is certainly a valid take, born out by the past 40 years of experience with retro physical still being enjoyable, versus all the digital shutdowns that have taken place.
It’s hard to know in the next 40 years if the digital infrastructure will be better than it was in the past (presumably so). Whereas physical gaming has been degraded substantially since the olden times (eg manuals not included).

@fenlix
It’s not so much shocking as disappointing because if they put the minimal amount of effort into it, they probably could have leveraged the modern hardware to approach PS4 Pro or Series S performance. This game had a version on base Xbox One that came out a dozen years ago so it’s hardly cutting edge.

@Sindayl
I doubt they bothered with DLSS.

In terms of your preference for physical Xbox version, I’m fascinated why this is better. Is it something about holding the CD in your hand, or hearing it copy from disc to internal storage that is psychologically more satisfying than a GKC internet download? Or is it more the concept that the Xbox version eats up less of the base storage, therefore less “storage anxiety?” I’m truly curious why the GKC receives such emotional negativity.

I have this on PS5 digital, and I prefer the graphics mode. It’s unlikely that I will double dip now that it’s here, even though I wanted a Switch port for years.

Edit: I looked back at the performance on the Xbox One and base PS4, and it looks like they went the “lazy” route with this Switch 2 port.

They should do a 3DS vs Switch side by side of DQ VII to put these things into better perspective.

If you have to squint, magnify, slow mo, or look at the legend to tell these apart, then they’re basically on par

@Pillowpants
I too have a demo backlog.
and a reading backlog, a streaming backlog,
so many backlog

I also find GKC distasteful, but I'm not sure I would boycott a game just because of that. I have tried Indy on Xbox Series S Game Pass, and believe it or not Amazon Gaming streamed to Windows PC, even though I prefer to buy physical. Does that make me a bad person?

THIS IS WHY VIDEO GAMES CAN NEVER BE FULLY VIEWED AS "ART;" because it's biggest connosieurs (us), can't seem to get past the computery and consumery aspects of 0's and 1's and the fact that it is plastic vs code in a box, GKC, streaming, etc. Enough already, I say !

@subechin
I find that a bit ironic as well.
Score 1 for Nintendo, I guess.

I keep forgetting I own this... it got pushed so far down the backlog by FF Tactics then Hades 2. I'm also amassing a list of Switch 1 games that I eventually would rather play on Switch 2, once my son heads off to university late 2027. (He can't take the Switch 2 with him, sadly). Until then, we said he can use it more or less exclusively as it was a birthday gift.

It's pretty apparent the base storage for Switch 2 was for predominantly first party players in mind, since the digital sizes are relatively small compared to 3rd party, and the physical games are mostly on cartridge.
These massive 3rd party games will necessitate a hefty external SD card.
I do wonder coming from Switch 1 32GB - 64GB, how may of the 155 million sold never had to utilize the expansion slot. Surely only the very young children, or those single gamer types (FIFA, Fortnite, etc), and perhaps the pure physical diehards. Even then the physical games still had to install certain files internally.
I have a 512GB card in my OLED Switch, and it is nearly full.
My son picked up a 256GB card for his Switch 2 from Walmart for $37, and it is holding up fine so far.

@charliecarrot
My thoughts exactly

@Mando44646
Hmmm since it is going to be double dip from PS5 I have to consider if ever on sale. It would be nice for portable play.

I'll be curious how they price this. It often goes on sale on PS Store. The physical disc is from Japan.

I still have the first one shrink wrapped. My backlog rule is not to open the sequel until I’ve at least busted open the original..

Ah storage; the bane of computing.
Literally the only device I have owned in the past 40 years that has not run out of storage was a previous iPad mini 256GB, and that’s because they have the cloud offloading feature.

I’ll show the trailer to my son and daughter, and if they are interested, then we could pick it up this summer or perhaps Black Friday

This will be a double dip.

I tried the PS5 demo. It’s a bit expensive for my taste, but maybe a couple of years down the line I will add it to the backlog.

I gave it a 9 with the rapid fire pacing. I was genuinely enthused about Digimon and Tales of Arise. I am also looking at a few games I would not have considered before.
It went by so quickly I almost forgot in the end I was hoping for a Metaphor and Clair Obscur.
I am surprised Blue Prince hasn’t made the jump.
I do wonder if FromSoftware has run into development snags.
For the people rating it below 5, I would ask, do you not have a backlog?
I’m actually relieved that there are only seven or eight games that I would buy in a presentation like this. My wallet thanks me.

I didn’t mention this earlier, but I only want to focus on new announcements, and anything that was featured on a prior Direct that is just missing a release date could probably be in a short sizzle reel at the end.

I voted Marvel Rivals because my kids would play it, Metaphor because I would play it, and Monster Hunter because I think that’s just a series that belongs on Switch.

@Dr_Awkward
I mean, since it was supposed to come out already, a Caves of Qud shadow drop would not even be doing us any favors.

I have a feeling the first party will be in April. I’m looking forward to some known quantities such as Duskbloods and FF VII, crossing my fingers for Metaphor and Clair Obscur, and hoping to be surprised by some potential Switch exclusives. I want to know what Vanillaware is up to. It’s also high time for Xbox ports.

@Lord
I did not know about most of these special editions! They should totally go all out in the final year of Switch 1, and maybe next year start with Switch 2 editions.

This might be the year that they finally get with the strategy of selling at a loss in order to make it up on software, which remains expensive.
The price that PC enthusiasts pay to be on the bleeding edge should not set the tone for consoles, which were always entry level both in terms of age and price.

From the other article it would appear that DK Bananza outsold Tropical Freeze already?

Between Metroid and Castlevania, the OG metroidvanias don't sell much compared to their descendants.

Based on the release schedule, at this point I could see a Nintendo Direct in either February or April. Of course, I'd rather have it be February. Or, I could just wait a couple days instead of hitting "Reply," and not have to speculate. Oops.

I have already pre-ordered the Fire Emblem physical collectors edition in my mind. Also, based on the photo above, I don't understand why some people are not down with the character design.

@somnambulance
It seems like they are using the goodwill from Switch 1 to go with A- to B tier titles, and leaving the heavy hitters for later. What is astounding to me is they still sold 17 million consoles, without a mainline 3D Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, Animal Crossing, and Splatoon and Smash Bros.