As pleased a I am that there will be a new game in the Mario and Luigi series, Nintendo is relying on Mario games far too heavily. All of the games mentioned in the article are not only Mario spin-offs, but sequels to existing games. They need fresh blood!
Story doesn't need to be a focus in many games, but in others, it is important. RPGs immediately spring to mind, but there are shooters, performers, action games and even puzzle games where story is an important component of the overall experience and one that improves them. Good stories can help create immersion and allow the player to emotionally invest in the game world.
There are many ways to tell a story in games. Straight up plot and narative - which is important as it helps to build structure. Art and music. Emergent gameplay. Even level design... Some games are very cinematic whilst others are more subtle in how they communicate their story.
I want to replay DQVIII this year, but might have trouble finding time between my unplayed pile and upcoming releases! It's one of the finest RPGs on the PS2. I'm particularly looking forward to the 3DS version of VII, especially because the original was never released in Europe. For that reason, I'm not fussed about the changes.
Fire Emblems have seen release in the west for a long time now. Perhaps it is being given higher prominence because the wider release schedule is relatively thin? As for the more niche games Nintendo has released over the past few years, like Inazuma Eleven or Solatorobo, they have said that it was so their older systems did not go unsupported in the absence of first-party developed games. I fully support and encourage this, but it does highlight that Nintendo games alone cannot support entire systems in perpetuity, and that they do not have the reasonable resources to simultaneously develop for multiple platforms. That said, they've been vocal about working to combat this by forming more partnerships with external companies.
Thinking about Japanese RPG's specifically, they are a popular genre in the west, but have never had a big presence on Nintendo home consoles (since the SNES, that is). I don't think the situation will radically change for the Wii U.
The handhelds have been particularly good to the genre with generally consistent levels of localisation, as have the Playstation consoles. Smaller publishers have been particularly willing to invest in titles that may be considered more niche, and bigger companies like Namco have stepped up their game, especially on the PS3. The genre is in good health, much more so than many people give it credit for. The real challenge for Nintendo is whether or not the genre can find a large enough audience on the Wii U, and for that they need wider support.
Nintendo's approach is utterly antiquated. As others have said, by tying purchases to a single piece of hardware, they can compel repurchase of the same games every time a new console/handheld is released. I bought Final Fantasy VII and Persona on my PSP. If I get a Vita I will be able to redownload them both free of charge. I can also redownload all my purchased PS1 classics on my PS3 free of charge.
Making the consumer jump through as many hoops as possible if their console breaks isn't a particularly persuasive defence, especially given consumer rights in the UK. Nintendo must at least match what their competitors are doing with regard to user accounts given the wider challenges they face in the console market.
Does anyone remember when Sony lost Final Fantasy XIII and Devil May Cry 4 exclusivity? How about when Nintendo delayed Twilight Princess for a whole year so it could be a Wii launch title? Seriously, people, it's still coming out for the Wii U. Yes it's disappointing that it's been delayed, but in the grand scheme of things the world goes on. For those boycotting it, I say this - you're cutting off your nose to spite your face. Looking at all the anti-consumer nonsense videogame companies have pulled in the past few years (and the list is long), it is quite telling that relatively trivial things like this are what get the average gamer most up in arms.
In terms of visuals, Wind Waker is the Zelda game in least need of a remake. I played it again late last year and it's still beautiful - almost ten years later. I'd wager it'll still retain its charm a further ten years from now. I also think the new art style is a tad unnecessary, and, based on the few screens released, less visually appealing than the original's cel-shaded look.
In terms of gameplay there are refinements to be made and like others, I'm hoping for an extra dungeon or two placed where they intended in the original release, but I don't think this will be the case.
The download only route isn't ideal but at least it gives gamers the opportunity to play titles that otherwise wouldn't be released. I've noticed this with a few titles on the PSN such as Persona 1 on the PSP (which got a retail release in NA) and Tokyo Jungle on the PS3, and it's recently happened with the 3DS, too.
Many of the best Japanese games are now released primarily on handhelds. In the past if something I really wanted wasn't released in Europe (but was in NA) I could always take solice in the fact that I could buy an American copy from an import site and it would play on my DS or PSP without issue.
The 3DS, alas, is region locked. See where I'm going with this...
Oh, and Atlus really need a European publishing arm.
Currently playing The Last Story, which I feel has some good ideas but also some issues. Jack Ryder as Zael? cringes
Also playing Halo Anniversary, which I am rather enjoying. I like that it doesn't focus on setpieces at the expense of everything else (a trap a lot of modern FPS games fall into).
Finally, my handheld game of the moment its Final Fantasy VIII on the PSP. I really like the customisation the Junction system allows.
I thought this would be the case after sering the screenshots. I agree with the above poster that it will make liquid metal slime grinding easier like in DQ IX! I actually like random encounters but both are fine.
I'm a huge DQ fan so really hope this gets a European release.
The Wii's classic controller pro was excellent and so comfortable to hold so I don't know why they changed the button placement for the wii u pro controller.
I haven't played this (it's not out in Europe til next week I think) but as a big fan of RPGs - and "The Thousand Year Door" - the lack of these elements has really put me off the title.
To what Reggie says, surely it's how developers take advantage of those things and the quality of the games themselves. I'd say there's a compelling argument for both viewpoints, especially given the quality of the games seen on the 360 and PS3.
Nintendo have had problems getting support from third party developers since the N64 (though the Gamecube did fairly well with multiplats and some Japanese exclusives) and honestly, I don't think this is something that will change with the Wii U. Perhaps the problem for Nintendo is that a large proportion of the "core gamers" they hope to target - especially those who wouldn't buy a Nintendo console on the basis of its first party offerings alone - arguably already own competing HD consoles. Therefore ports of existing and even upcoming titles may not necessarily be enough on their own.
It's very early days for the system but what it really needs is third party exclusives to truly set it apart. From the developers' perspective the established consoles are a known quantity with a huge addressible markets, and so spending money on Wii U development may be perceived as risky.
I'm currently playing through Persona 4 on the PS2 (about 70 hours in). Awesome game. Very, very good localisation and super JRPG-cum-social sim gameplay. I think I prefer it to P3P.
Also playing Pokemon White 2, which seems to be taking me forever. As soon as I'm done with that I might give OoT 3D a quick runthrough before playing Final Fantasy VIII on my PSP.
It's not that Nintendo drop support for their consoles when a successor is released (although this hasn't been the case with the DS), as development obviously has to prioritise the new console - it's that they seem to do it very prematurely. Outside of Zelda and the JRPG trio, the Wii lacked a consistent release schedule in 2011/12 and it felt like it was limping along while the world waited for the Wii U. It was the same with the N64 and the Gamecube. With the latter, it was almost painful.
I appreciated how well Sony supported their systems after their successors had been released. It was great to still get big PS2 titles released in 2007 and even excellent 3rd party games as late as 2009 in Europe (such as Persona 4).
Yes, one could get an external hdd, but this understates just how much of a problem the absence of sufficient internal storage truly is, particularly if nintendo are serious about pushing the eshop. When I had a 20GB hdd for my 360, it was very quickly filled by various live arcade games and dlc. So I upgraded to a 120GB hdd, which again was almost filled. I have never downloaded full retail games. These days it is not uncommon for xbla games to be upwards of 1GB in size, and the same goes for dlc, too. I notice that there is a lot of excitement surrounding potential Gamecube games on the Wii U's virtual console, and with GC titles being up to 1.5GBs in size, this could cause problems for those without external hard drives.
I can see why Nintendo chose not include higher storage - SSDs are expensive and hard drives, though cheaper, are physically larger and require more power, which given the wii u's small form factor are out of the question.
It hasn't yet been released so no one knows just how it's going to pan out - that is to say how well it's going to be supported beyond the launch or how developers will exploit the hardware. This isn't unique to the Wii U - launches are rarely anything to go by on any console - and it takes time to get there, because games take time to make. New consoles have potential, of course, but until it's realised, I feel it goes largely unproved.
The 360's a great console with a very well established and diverse library. Objectively it perhaps does represent the better choice for consumers at this point in time. The same goes for the PS3, perhaps even more so given its upcoming exclusives. The Wii U, as with any new console, is expensive, unproven, and currently lacks the library of well established systems.
Comments 270
Re: Talking Point: The Year of Luigi Could Bring a Burst of Creativity
As pleased a I am that there will be a new game in the Mario and Luigi series, Nintendo is relying on Mario games far too heavily. All of the games mentioned in the article are not only Mario spin-offs, but sequels to existing games. They need fresh blood!
Re: Masahiro Sakurai: Stories in Video Games Can be "Irksome"
Story doesn't need to be a focus in many games, but in others, it is important. RPGs immediately spring to mind, but there are shooters, performers, action games and even puzzle games where story is an important component of the overall experience and one that improves them. Good stories can help create immersion and allow the player to emotionally invest in the game world.
There are many ways to tell a story in games. Straight up plot and narative - which is important as it helps to build structure. Art and music. Emergent gameplay. Even level design... Some games are very cinematic whilst others are more subtle in how they communicate their story.
Re: Dragon Quest VII Tweaks on 3DS Explained by Developers
I want to replay DQVIII this year, but might have trouble finding time between my unplayed pile and upcoming releases! It's one of the finest RPGs on the PS2. I'm particularly looking forward to the 3DS version of VII, especially because the original was never released in Europe. For that reason, I'm not fussed about the changes.
Re: Talking Point: The Emergence of "Niche" Japanese Titles Into The Nintendo Mainstream
Fire Emblems have seen release in the west for a long time now. Perhaps it is being given higher prominence because the wider release schedule is relatively thin? As for the more niche games Nintendo has released over the past few years, like Inazuma Eleven or Solatorobo, they have said that it was so their older systems did not go unsupported in the absence of first-party developed games. I fully support and encourage this, but it does highlight that Nintendo games alone cannot support entire systems in perpetuity, and that they do not have the reasonable resources to simultaneously develop for multiple platforms. That said, they've been vocal about working to combat this by forming more partnerships with external companies.
Thinking about Japanese RPG's specifically, they are a popular genre in the west, but have never had a big presence on Nintendo home consoles (since the SNES, that is). I don't think the situation will radically change for the Wii U.
The handhelds have been particularly good to the genre with generally consistent levels of localisation, as have the Playstation consoles. Smaller publishers have been particularly willing to invest in titles that may be considered more niche, and bigger companies like Namco have stepped up their game, especially on the PS3. The genre is in good health, much more so than many people give it credit for. The real challenge for Nintendo is whether or not the genre can find a large enough audience on the Wii U, and for that they need wider support.
Re: Monolith Soft Enjoying Its Closer Relationship With Nintendo
I'd love to see a new Baten Kaitos.
On another note, why do so many people think they are a third party developer?
Re: Talking Point: This Fan's Tragic Tale Highlights The Problem With Nintendo's Approach To Download Purchases
Nintendo's approach is utterly antiquated. As others have said, by tying purchases to a single piece of hardware, they can compel repurchase of the same games every time a new console/handheld is released. I bought Final Fantasy VII and Persona on my PSP. If I get a Vita I will be able to redownload them both free of charge. I can also redownload all my purchased PS1 classics on my PS3 free of charge.
Making the consumer jump through as many hoops as possible if their console breaks isn't a particularly persuasive defence, especially given consumer rights in the UK. Nintendo must at least match what their competitors are doing with regard to user accounts given the wider challenges they face in the console market.
Re: Reaction: The Rayman Legends Delay Is a Low Blow, But The Apocalypse Isn't Here
Does anyone remember when Sony lost Final Fantasy XIII and Devil May Cry 4 exclusivity? How about when Nintendo delayed Twilight Princess for a whole year so it could be a Wii launch title? Seriously, people, it's still coming out for the Wii U. Yes it's disappointing that it's been delayed, but in the grand scheme of things the world goes on. For those boycotting it, I say this - you're cutting off your nose to spite your face. Looking at all the anti-consumer nonsense videogame companies have pulled in the past few years (and the list is long), it is quite telling that relatively trivial things like this are what get the average gamer most up in arms.
Re: Nintendo Unveils The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD for Wii U
In terms of visuals, Wind Waker is the Zelda game in least need of a remake. I played it again late last year and it's still beautiful - almost ten years later. I'd wager it'll still retain its charm a further ten years from now. I also think the new art style is a tad unnecessary, and, based on the few screens released, less visually appealing than the original's cel-shaded look.
In terms of gameplay there are refinements to be made and like others, I'm hoping for an extra dungeon or two placed where they intended in the original release, but I don't think this will be the case.
Re: Talking Point: The Trends and Inconsistencies of Localisation
The download only route isn't ideal but at least it gives gamers the opportunity to play titles that otherwise wouldn't be released. I've noticed this with a few titles on the PSN such as Persona 1 on the PSP (which got a retail release in NA) and Tokyo Jungle on the PS3, and it's recently happened with the 3DS, too.
Many of the best Japanese games are now released primarily on handhelds. In the past if something I really wanted wasn't released in Europe (but was in NA) I could always take solice in the fact that I could buy an American copy from an import site and it would play on my DS or PSP without issue.
The 3DS, alas, is region locked. See where I'm going with this...
Oh, and Atlus really need a European publishing arm.
Re: Talking Point: What Games Are You Playing This Weekend? - Festive Edition
Currently playing The Last Story, which I feel has some good ideas but also some issues. Jack Ryder as Zael? cringes
Also playing Halo Anniversary, which I am rather enjoying. I like that it doesn't focus on setpieces at the expense of everything else (a trap a lot of modern FPS games fall into).
Finally, my handheld game of the moment its Final Fantasy VIII on the PSP. I really like the customisation the Junction system allows.
Re: 3DS Remake Of Dragon Quest VII Features Visible Encounters
I thought this would be the case after sering the screenshots. I agree with the above poster that it will make liquid metal slime grinding easier like in DQ IX! I actually like random encounters but both are fine.
I'm a huge DQ fan so really hope this gets a European release.
Re: You Can Use PlayStation 2 Pads On Your Wii U, Should You Want To
I like the PS2 controller!
The Wii's classic controller pro was excellent and so comfortable to hold so I don't know why they changed the button placement for the wii u pro controller.
Re: Latest Iwata Asks Episode Reveals Why Paper Mario Sticker Star Abandoned RPG Elements
I haven't played this (it's not out in Europe til next week I think) but as a big fan of RPGs - and "The Thousand Year Door" - the lack of these elements has really put me off the title.
Re: Reggie: Sony and Microsoft Need To React To What Nintendo Is Doing With Wii U
To what Reggie says, surely it's how developers take advantage of those things and the quality of the games themselves. I'd say there's a compelling argument for both viewpoints, especially given the quality of the games seen on the 360 and PS3.
Re: Talking Point: Nintendo And The Third-Party Challenge
Nintendo have had problems getting support from third party developers since the N64 (though the Gamecube did fairly well with multiplats and some Japanese exclusives) and honestly, I don't think this is something that will change with the Wii U. Perhaps the problem for Nintendo is that a large proportion of the "core gamers" they hope to target - especially those who wouldn't buy a Nintendo console on the basis of its first party offerings alone - arguably already own competing HD consoles. Therefore ports of existing and even upcoming titles may not necessarily be enough on their own.
It's very early days for the system but what it really needs is third party exclusives to truly set it apart. From the developers' perspective the established consoles are a known quantity with a huge addressible markets, and so spending money on Wii U development may be perceived as risky.
We'll just have to see how things pan out...
Re: Talking Point: What Games Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue Eight
@Kujo1597
I'm currently playing through Persona 4 on the PS2 (about 70 hours in). Awesome game. Very, very good localisation and super JRPG-cum-social sim gameplay. I think I prefer it to P3P.
Also playing Pokemon White 2, which seems to be taking me forever. As soon as I'm done with that I might give OoT 3D a quick runthrough before playing Final Fantasy VIII on my PSP.
Re: Nintendo Has No New Wii Games In The Pipeline
It's not that Nintendo drop support for their consoles when a successor is released (although this hasn't been the case with the DS), as development obviously has to prioritise the new console - it's that they seem to do it very prematurely. Outside of Zelda and the JRPG trio, the Wii lacked a consistent release schedule in 2011/12 and it felt like it was limping along while the world waited for the Wii U. It was the same with the N64 and the Gamecube. With the latter, it was almost painful.
I appreciated how well Sony supported their systems after their successors had been released. It was great to still get big PS2 titles released in 2007 and even excellent 3rd party games as late as 2009 in Europe (such as Persona 4).
Re: Talking Point: The Realities of Wii U System Memory Have Become Clear
Yes, one could get an external hdd, but this understates just how much of a problem the absence of sufficient internal storage truly is, particularly if nintendo are serious about pushing the eshop. When I had a 20GB hdd for my 360, it was very quickly filled by various live arcade games and dlc. So I upgraded to a 120GB hdd, which again was almost filled. I have never downloaded full retail games. These days it is not uncommon for xbla games to be upwards of 1GB in size, and the same goes for dlc, too. I notice that there is a lot of excitement surrounding potential Gamecube games on the Wii U's virtual console, and with GC titles being up to 1.5GBs in size, this could cause problems for those without external hard drives.
I can see why Nintendo chose not include higher storage - SSDs are expensive and hard drives, though cheaper, are physically larger and require more power, which given the wii u's small form factor are out of the question.
Re: Wii Owners: Microsoft Wants You To Buy The Xbox 360 This Holiday Season
It hasn't yet been released so no one knows just how it's going to pan out - that is to say how well it's going to be supported beyond the launch or how developers will exploit the hardware. This isn't unique to the Wii U - launches are rarely anything to go by on any console - and it takes time to get there, because games take time to make. New consoles have potential, of course, but until it's realised, I feel it goes largely unproved.
Re: Wii Owners: Microsoft Wants You To Buy The Xbox 360 This Holiday Season
The 360's a great console with a very well established and diverse library. Objectively it perhaps does represent the better choice for consumers at this point in time. The same goes for the PS3, perhaps even more so given its upcoming exclusives. The Wii U, as with any new console, is expensive, unproven, and currently lacks the library of well established systems.