kmtrain83

I have visitors in town, and I won't have easy access to the TV room, so probably not much at all except I might squeeze in 1-2 runs of Hades II before bed.

I actually have both of these games.

@Jarodlaraus
I mentioned we have a Switch 2 in the household, but because it was a gift for my son, he uses it exclusively (for now). I have only checked it out briefly. He is a computer savvy teenager, and plays all formats (mobile, PC, online, console, retro), and I guarantee he has no beef with GKC, or even gives them a 2nd thought.
I agree that this is a valid issue for the subset of gamers that invest heavily in a physical collection for keeps, and I dare say that this minority of customers accounts for an outsized portion of revenue, so Nintendo ought to take heed. I'm just personally not that bothered.

@HammerKirby
These are all valid points for 2025. I expect by the 2030's the digital infrastructure will continue to improve though, whereas physical media will continue it's downard spiral in all media. I didn't stop listening to music when I stopped having a way to play my cassette tapes, for instance. I hate to see it, but I don't see a way around it.

@Skunkfish
I was thinking of the $99.99 2DS Mario Kart 7 bundle for some reason. I guess I got hit with a bit of nostalgia because he just got his driver licence, and I remembered when he had to stand on his tippy toes to play the 3DS on display at Target.

@RenanKJ
Switch 2 would be an amazing buy right now if you are new to the ecosystem, because of the backwards compatibilty. Are you aware of any surveys of how many S2 purchases were upgrade vs new users. For example with Apple iphone most people, like 80% are upgrading but perhaps 20% it is their first device.

@1UP-HUSKY
I'm not sure what you mean by that, except are you predicting poor sales due to GKC, and subsequent loss of 3rd party support? It would depend if there is a shift from 50/50 to let's say 80/20 digital to physical, but strong numbers versus overall poor numbers. We don't yet have good data on Swtich 2 software sales, but I don't see how the console itself would be record breaking unless there was software attached.

@Pillowpants
It was good from a business standpoint, but part of me wishes Nintendo would use some of their newfound success to relaunch a small handheld again at a kid friendly price. I guess the phone and tablet market really did kill the traditional handhelds. Now we have $1,350 and 1 kg monstrosities from Lenovo being advertised as handheld.

@HammerKirby @Jarodlaraus

This has been argued to death. I have a PS5. If I install from disc it is somewhat faster on the first play, versus if I had to download a digital version of the same game. On the 2nd and subsequent playthroughs, the gaming experience is identical, because in both cases the files are now running on the internal drive. It is the same situtation with GKC on Switch 2.
There is also an argument to be made about how the user is more likely to need an external SD card to hold more games, but if you were going to do that anyway, those costs were going to be born sooner or later. Furthermore, in many cases Switch 2 games take up less GB space, so dollar for dollar that neutralizes some of the cost of external storage.
I would understand if the GKC critics gave a disclaimer that they have slow or capped internet, or that they can't afford an external SD card, but I'm not hearing that.
I will also make the disclaimer that I don't personally own a Switch 2. I got the MKW bundle for my son's birthday, and so far he only bought DKC, which is all on cart. Take that as you will.

Does anybody else look at this $1000 device and long for simpler times just a decade ago when you could get a 2DS bundled with Mario Kart 7 for $99.99 and have a decent amount of fun with it? I can’t gel with mobile phone games, and I wish that some of the traditional gaming companies still thought about making new creative unique experiences in a small form factor. No I don’t count a $99.99 plastic shell for the Virtual Boy as the same thing (although sadly, I might actually get it. )
My son has an Anbernic, but retro/emulated is not new.

I’ve kept up with this device and said I would wait for pricing and reviews. The price is not worth it for the amount of time I would use it, although I’m glad it’s reviewing well as a solid piece of hardware. Most of the PC games I enjoy are of mouse and keyboard variety, and for $1000 I could get a laptop with dedicated GPU and twice the screen size

I'm looking forward to the pixellated liquid metal effects.

@The_Nintendo_Pedant
Yeah, they’re even being generous by removing the manufacturer ASUS from the full title “ASUS Republic of Gamers Xbox Ally X”

Maybe they were wise to keep the OLED Switch out there for a while, as it may actually generating more profit per unit sold.

I do wonder if they will every annouce how many total devices have been sold. I think the low end model makes more sense, as a Steam Deck level of performance, with an Xbox overly. At the $1000 price, you are getting into to gaming laptop territory.

@The_Nintendo_Pedant
I thought Xbox Series X was already a mouthful. Do they workshop these names?

Nintendo store in New York City is neat but not that different from the Disney store concept, which massively contracted during the pandemic. I think the scarcity of Nintendo stores is what keeps people interested. I’m not sure how scalable this concept is for overpriced merchandise.

Nintendo Life is on the low end of the meta scores for once.

@Toastmaster
I’m guessing it was a compromise to keep backwards compatibility with Swirch 1 cartridge, and to keep Switch 2 from requiring install to local disc. I can’t run my PS5 games without having them installed in the SSD, and for disc based systems (PC, MS, Sony) that ship sailed so long ago that we more or less forget it. Nintendo is the only manufacturer that at least has an option of running certain titles from a physical media, but it appears that the game has to have some type of graphical limit in order to do so. They have to work within the constraints of technology as it exists, and not as we wish it would be.

I almost always wait for sales, but I felt like treating myself to a pre-order of FF Tactics on Switch 1, which was enjoyable enough, but it is now bumped by Hades II. At first I wasn't sure what to make of it compared to the orginal Hades (10/10). It is at least an 8, and with each run and settling into the new mechanics, I can see it being at least a 9/10. It suffers from some deja vu, but I guess that was inevitable when they decided to do a sequel. I can't complain about more Hades though. If there is time, I am also working on Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance.

I’m visiting Japan next spring so this might be worth picking up

@hYdeks
Apparently the chip in the next Xbox will be the most powerful Xbox the world has ever seen. You just wait.

@hisownsidekick
I think a lot of things that have happened in the last 10 years if you were to tell people in 2015 all these things will take place, they would think you were completely nuts, and I’m not just referring to video games.

I did not need another game added to the wish list !

@greenwichlee

I agree in terms of quality on the top end. Part of the disappointment, which is not always explicitly stated, is that Welcome Tour and Drag X Drive were both mediocre and could have been replaced with better launch window titles.
For instance, they could have incorporated Pikmin into the OS during the system transfers and made them part of a free pack in “welcome app;” and instead of Drag x Drive what if they had made a sequel to Arms. The conversation would probably be different.

@greenwichlee
Hades 2 is a Switch console exclusive at least for now. I just bought it, and it’s great.

In terms of the comments thus far I think we can agree that the Switch 2 is selling very well. I’m not sure if I understand these comments about regretting the decision to get one, unless it means that you wish you had used your money for other stuff. I think the launch lineup is very good, but in terms of the first party, you have to factor in Welcome Tour and Drag x Drive being misfires.
Lastly, I have not seen any updates on the original Switch sales, but since they still have an OLED and Lite model, it continues to have its share of fans. I have said before they need to do a bunch of collectors edition Lite models in the final year or two to get the record over PS2. I would absolutely buy a Tamadochi Life Switch Lite edition for my daughter.

@Anti-Matter
I stand corrected.
My name is based on a nickname that basically only one guy at university called me “here comes the K-train!”

@1UP_MARIO
I’m not an expert in English, but my understanding of the definition of “anti-matter” would be like saying “does not matter”

I'm just getting started. So far it seems like a great sequel to Hades. I got to the 1st boss and my 3rd try, but didn't have enough firepower to get through. It's about an 8/10 in the beginning, I guess because it feels familar. The first Hades was tough for me, because I'm into slower paced games. Ultimately by the time I rolled credits it was easily a 10/10.

I put about 150 hours into Fire Emblem: Engage in 2023, and Unicorn Overlord in 2024, so those would top my recent list. I also beat Triangle Strategy last year. I am currently playing FF Tactics. I have Into the Breach and Pikmin 4 on the backlog. I guess I like these kind of games.

@JohnnyMind
Yes I imagine that over 90% of all video games played today (if you count PC and mobile) are digital, so to keep beating the dead GKC horse takes away from the discourse.

@MarioLinkSamus @pingua08
This is fascinating. It used to be that games got better midway into a console lifespan as developers got more used to the hardware. Now it looks like the underlying software itself will get better over time.

I like this weekly poll, due to the variety and overall positive attitude compared to the other articles

I got back into Dead Cells last month, and I have done 61 runs now, with zero completions. I suck at these kind of games.

That was an interesting video . Acting issues aside, I don’t think women like that exist in the real world.

My main issue with this is that is coming out later on Switch 2, but they have not announced the expansion pack for some reason.

It's on the eventual wish list. I don't actually have a Switch 2 of my own yet. My backlog is several years long, and I just did a rare thing by pre-ordering FF Tactics for NSW1 at full price. I can see myself getting Outlaws in a couple of years for less than $30.

I look forward to seeing some side by side comparisons of FF VII Remake on S2 and ASUS ROG Ally X to see what the extra $150 - $550 gets you on a 7" screen vs 8" on Switch.

I pre-ordered the physical edition. I'm hoping the Elden Ring gets a date announcement. Between FF VII, Cyberpunk, Elden Ring, P3R I have been holding off playing on other platforms hoping they would get a portable release. I struggle finishing very long games when I can only play them on the TV.

I actually just got to the summer village before I paused the game in order to try some other stuff. So when I go back, I guess it will be slightly more polished.

Sometimes Oscar winning actors have to slum it for a paycheck. As long as FE keeps releasing good Switch games, I can ignore these mobile cash grab attempts if they need it to keep the lights on.

Is the game being killed or is it dying of natural causes

I enjoyed Triangle Strategy well enough last year, but I bought it used, and sold it after a single playthrough. Hopefully I will enjoy FF Tactics a bit more than that, since I pre-ordered at full price, and I almost never do that.

The difference between a 9/10 and 10/10 is usually when a game moves you emotionally in such a way as you overlook the flaws. This game was always destined to be rated just a shade under the Wii originals based on the circumstances of it's release.

@UltimateOtaku91
I do tend to agree with this mindset, and don't get it when people passionately argue about something that may or may not take place 20-30 years from now.

@MonsterMike
I don’t play FE Heroes either, but if this new mobile game gives the developer additional funds to then invest into the mainline games, then I will tolerate it and just ignore that it exists.

@Anachronism
That’s my problem with many mobile games; they’re not designed to be fun, as much as they are designed to manipulate your psyche.

I am a fan of the IP and I gave it a try, but this isn’t my sort of game.
Where is the KOTOR remake?

Hades 1 was my GOTY when I finally got around to playing it 2-3 years ago. I have it on Epic store, Switch 1, and PS5. I only ever really got far on the Switch version which included getting to the end credits. I don't know if I have the hand eye coordination to beat this again though...