saanaito

@SecretSeashell and more (non-free) Switch 2 upgrade versions of Switch 1 games.

Surprise, surprise, demand for use cases besides games on Switch 2 is still high.

I haven't tried the demo yet, but even just looking at these screenshots, Switch 2 looks considerably better than how the game looks and runs on my Steam Deck.

I lack a PS5 or Xbox Series [S or X], and my desktop cannot even start the Steam version of the game, due to lacking hardware features in my ancient GPU. So I'm a little tempted to double dip for the Switch 2 version.

The designs feel uncanny in motion. They remind me of the "live action" remake of The Lion King; hyper-realistic designs for characters who originally had more cartoonish designs which were far more expressive. Now they feel stilted and unable to move, like they're mildly paralyzed.

@G_and_Thomas Even in this day and age, not everyone can afford multiple devices. and/or they may not want their children to have a regular smartphone/tablet/laptop yet. For those situations, having an app for one of the most popular video streaming platforms and/or having a basic web browser would still allow someone who sunk money into a Switch/2 to get value out of it beyond games. (Also, if a parent doesn't want their kids to use those features: that's what parental controls are for.)

And clearly, there's a desire for it! Nobody would go out their way to discover (and spread the word about) a workaround like this if nobody wanted the result.

Many gaming systems have had web browsers built in (and exposed to the user) or available as an official, downloadable app. On Nintendo's side: the original DS, the DSi, the 3DS, the New 3DS (it got its own version); and the Wii and Wii U. Even Sony's PSP had a browser! (and the Vita, and the PS3 and PS4) The problem with the handheld browsers is that they all have extremely limited memory and compute power; and the modern web is filled with demanding, resource-intensive websites (especially the scripting and resource load for ads and tracking!). In spite of these and other problems, web browsers persisted on game consoles for quite some time, and technically persist today!

As for hacking/"jailbreaking" Switches: not everyone is a pirate or a cheater. I'll admit that I'd probably copy my own Game Cards to my Switch's microSD card if I could unlock mine (and delete them if I sell the Game Card), but other than that, I'd like to test out a Linux distro on it, or maybe just load it up with homebrew. (A save file manager (for offline backups) and a copy of RetroArch would be plenty for me. And, yes, a web browser. Because my Switch 2's screen is bigger than my phone's, and my eyes are already not the best.)

Looking forward to this one! I backed the game on Kickstarter and am expecting to claim a digital copy as a backer reward; but, while I plan to redeem it on Steam, I can see myself paying for a Switch copy down the road.

Genuinely baffling that the Switch 2 doesn't have a functional YouTube app. The system presumably could show off that 120 FPS in 1080p on some videos (perhaps even in 4k when docked).

I wish they would just bring back the web browser as a standard Home Menu app, like it was on the Wii U and 3DS. I feel it would add a lot of value to the system and even alleviate some folks' reasons for wanting to "jailbreak" the devices. Alas, I can think of many reasons why Nintendo will never do so.

The Switch version of Doki Doki Literature Club also adopts a Fake OS UI. Just in case anyone hasn't played it, I'll leave it at that.

@RainbowGazelle Besides being a true-to-form return to 2D Mario on home consoles - the first since Super Mario World! - New Soup Wii was also a pioneer for simultaneous multiplayer in 2D platformers. It at least appeared to popularize the concept for a while, seemingly inspiring other 2D juggernauts, like Rayman Origins and Legends.

@metaphysician Nintendo and TPC could easily have made something worlds better than Showdown, and they should have. What they released is worse by every measure people care about; the only advantage is that players can bring in Pokemon they raised themselves, who feel like beloved partners instead of a picture with stats attached.

As an indirect reply to the talk on ownership: this is why we must advocate for DRM-free digital games (as a reminder, "DRM" stands for "digital rights management"; copy protection). You don't "own" digital content these days; you merely pay for a "license" to access and use it, and usually the EULA states that the license can be revoked under specific circumstances.

Furthermore, at least in the United States, the DMCA law forbids (with some exceptions) the tampering with or removal of DRM by the user, regardless of other rights, even if they legitimately paid for the product.

A California law caused Steam and other companies to place more prominent wording on their store/purchase pages, clarifying that when you "Buy" a digital product, you're only buying that license.

Some Steam games opt to not use any DRM, not even Steam's built-in DRM scheme, so they can be copied legally and freely, and still run on other computers/accounts. GOG's entire catalog of games for sale are all provided with no DRM, giving the buyer complete freedom to copy the game and install it on any compatible computer without barriers. It's this freedom that we - as customers, as video game enjoyers, and as people who care about preservation of history and good software - must advocate for, if not insist upon.

And for a tangent: Nintendo will never agree to selling games without DRM, because their entire business is based around lock-in. Besides the genuine physical and technical limitations of consoles (games built for a single hardware configuration, different CPU architectures, and the technical complexity of emulation), Nintendo would rather that we never be able to carry our "purchases" elsewhere and find another platform more welcoming. Nintendo (and Sony, and Microsoft) wants us to keep sticking with them, keep paying, keep being loyal consumers. They've made it more plain than ever with their recent business decisions.

(Also, for goodness' sake, don't feed the troll.)

This absolutely sucks for Aquiris. Wishing all the best to the people who were laid off. The industry as a whole has made the practice of mass-layoffs far too common.

I was ticked off when I first learned that Aquiris was acquired by Epic games, as Epic's less-scrupulous tactics were already known. Aquiris as a team seemed to be passionate about racing, especially its connection to Brazilian culture (Senna Forever was an educational kickstart to exploring that rabbit hole), and HC2 just doesn't feel like it has quite that same passion.

The prompt to sign in to an Epic Games account, after launching HC2, leaves a bad taste in my mouth every time. I'd love to pick up the game on PC, but I'm not giving Epic one cent, and I know they'd never publish it on Steam.

As for HC1, I've had a blast with it - both solo, and with friends - and I've finished it on my Switch, DLC and all. Guess I'll finish my Steam copy playthrough in honor of the team's legacy.

@The_Nintendo_Expat And for iOS users, Modizer is a good - and still FOSS - equivalent!

Super Mario Land 2 was my first ever Game Boy game, gifted to me with a clear Game Boy Pocket in 1997! (Yeah I was late to the party, but I was still in single-digit years.) I'm glad to see it finally getting some love.

I backed the game during its Kickstarter phase, and I plan to claim a Steam code if Yacht Club offers that option (which seems a given, but I'm trying to not assume). I'm hoping it does well for them! I didn't quite click with the demo, but I'm hoping that having the full game ahead of me will give me more motivation to stick with it.

This is kind of a bad look for Nintendo, considering this is one of their "hype train" games for a brand new system ... and yet, I can't fault them too much, because the game does seem fairly ambitious; and many folks, myself included, have played plenty of games on home consoles where performance would occasionally dip, yet we still enjoyed those games. Your mileage may vary, of course, but I can't see an occasional dip in frame rate as a deal breaker (as long as it doesn't happen in moments that demand precise input, at least!).

I bought the Steam version a few days after that launched last fall, and it's a short game, but a sweet experience. The music does indeed slap. Plus, a lot of gameplay snags and performance issues were ironed out on the Steam version, so the Switch version should make a much better first impression than the good one it already had on Steam.

The price is a bit steep for its length, but I don't regret buying it full price, and I still intend to buy the soundtrack.

LIGHT SPOILER: the final boss music, "The Seeker" is my favorite track. https://starlingoboe.bandcamp.com/album/pinball-spire-original-soundtrack

I was honestly anticipating this one to be an emotional heavy-hitter, so the note on it not being that disappoints me. Maybe on a sale.

This one never landed for me - Wario Land 1 was more my speed - but from what I've seen of its gameplay, it was a technical and game design marvel, and really showed off what the GBA was capable of while being a spectacular play experience. Glad it's being made (officially) available once again!

I must admit, I am still mildly tempted to buy this port, just because of how good it sounds like it is and because of my newfound love for Guilty Gear (you get three guesses why); despite me already owning a license on Steam plus a Steam Deck to play it on.

A good list! Paper Mario is a special game for me despite me having not played it as a child/on the GameCube, and while I didn’t beat it this year I definitely spent several good hours on it.

Balatro also took up way too many hours, and I bought it on multiple platforms this year.

Metaphor and Zelda: Echoes have both been amazing experiences for me, and I still have a long way to go on both.

My biggest games, though, have been the new Ace Attorney releases. The Apollo Justice Trilogy and the Investigations duology both came out this year, and I was lucky (for financial reasons) obtain physical copies of both collections. It helps that this year’s release includes the first official English localization of Investigations 2!

All in all, while not quite the biggest or flashiest year for the Switch, it was still a solid year for the system and a great year for games overall. Here’s to 2025 being an outright thrill ride if the Switch 2 comes out!

(I for one am going to need some big distractions from the world at large in order to make it through 2025 with my sanity intact.)

This sucks. I’ve bought the Steven Universe games on my Switch and Samurai Jack BTT on my PS4, and while they won’t likely knock anyone’s socks off, they are all quite enjoyable games, especially given the reputation licensed games usually have. (I’m especially a big fan of the Steven Universe “Light” trilogy for being a turn-based RPG series with action elements, a la Paper Mario.) I can’t speak on the other games, but overall this is a big loss for everyone but the company heads.

RCT Classic is a real treat on other platforms. Besides smartphones, it’s also available on Steam (in addition to the original versions of RCT 1 and 2 with their DLC), and playing that on my Deck is at least manageable (though I need to pair a proper mouse for better game feel). Despite owning the Steam, Android, AND iOS versions, I am tempted to purchase the game for my Switch and see how the button controls fare. I will likely have to wait until after a sale, though.

Gonna miss the 3DS era dearly. StreetPass in particular. The service was a delight.

Gosh, to have even an ounce of her talent and skill (and of course the ability to put it to use). Ever since Celeste I’ve been looking forward to anything she takes part in making (her, and Maddy Thorson).

I’ve got my physical copy preordered! I can’t wait!

Fine by me. The presumed reason (Switch users rely more on Wi-Fi) is understandable, especially given how (understandably) sensitive the fighting game community seems to be about network performance, resulting from the nature of fighting games. Plus, the Switch’s weaker hardware might have imposed technical hurdles that would have affected crossplay in ways we haven’t realized.

Still a must-buy for me, especially if any physical release includes all of the DLC thus far on the cartridge. I’m only interested in casual play with friends, and in enjoying the story content.

As a casual Bridget main, I hope the Switch port works well.

Looks fun, but it’s a serious bummer that it’s going to be stuck on Apple Arcade. Not everyone has an iDevice, and even that subset of people who do won’t want to pay $8/month just to rent a new Sonic game. Playing these games with the touchscreen or even a Bluetooth controller isn’t exactly my idea of a top-class gaming experience, either …

And yet here I am, still hanging on to my Arcade subscription over a year after I signed up just to play Horizon Chase 2, and now I’m super excited to try out Dream Team on my iPhone 13 when it launches. Horizon Chase 2 did eventually get a console port after one year of Arcade exclusivity. Perhaps Sega will do the same with Dream Team in early 2025.

Seeing the Epic Games login screen hurt my soul. I forgot that Epic bought the developers last year, and I feel that Epic ruined this port's chances of being good since Aquiris probably got put on Fortnite duty. The Apple Arcade version was a delight when I played it on my tablet (an 8th-gen iPad).

I truly hope that Aquiris gets a chance to polish the Switch port and reduce the present of Epic in the game.

@TeaCatherine Sorry, I was being facetious. Tharja is indeed tough, and she helped my party through some scrapes on my first playthrough

A lot of people were horny for Tharja, huh?

Awakening was an important game for me, as I ended up using it to explore womanhood a whole seven years before I knew I was a woman. However, I wasn’t (and mostly still am not) interested in men, so I spent a lot of time making friendships with the other women among the Shepherds until I was suddenly roped into marrying Chrom. I was … hesitant, but went along with it.

Lucina and Morgan, though, were my everything for a while. I went full “not my children, you BITCH” for them at times and probably deprived Morgan of some much-needed levels, to the point that I had to take him out of battles. Oops.

In a later playthrough, I ended up marrying Stahl. He’s just so level-headed and such a sweetheart at his core. I had so much trouble adjusting to Lucina not being my daughter, though. ^_^;

I feel that Lunistice and Toree 3D deserve to be on this list. They are each under $5, and deliver incredible value.

Monster Hunter Rise was $20, so I decided to pick that up and see what the fuss was about. I was also able to snag physical copies of Persona 5 Royal and Digimon Survive (Switch versions of both) for half their retail prices each!

I might cave in and pick up a Switch OLED model next year, I spend most of my game time in handheld mode.

Thanks for sharing this interview! It's a fun little read. I'm still working my way through my first playthrough of NEO; if the length of the first game is anything to go by, I estimate I'm halfway done with the story.

@rushiosan ["what's with the $20 price when it's 10 elsewhere?"]

Porting tax, basically.

@Buizel My armchair thoughts are that it could be quite easy: just assign "version exclusive" Pokemon to a hidden die roll and determine which ones you get when you start a save file, perhaps based on the trainer ID.

I think I'm a sucker for 3D platformers. I have spent far more hours on other 3DS titles, but 3D Land is one of the few 3DS games I took the time to 100% complete. It was a fun romp, it truly made great use of the 3D, and I'll always look back on it fondly.

@Clyde_Radcliffe My thoughts: $50/year being "expensive" is subjective. I can afford it; but I still don't want to pay for it because I don't feel it's not a good value for the money. It's a rip-off, in the sense that it's an unfair exchange.

Among the people who can't afford the price, some of them may simply not have the funds to pay the $50 all at once. It sounds nice that it's "a cup of coffee per month", but I imagine that not many people like the idea of buying twelve cups in advance, in one shot.

Emulation or not - this is a $50 controller. Many console controllers* at that price are also officially capable of functioning as PC gamepads. People have paid for the product, they own it now, and it's well within their rights to try to use it as they see fit, regardless of whether the use case is "supported" (although they certainly aren't entitled to customer support for "unsupported" usage).

I, for one, might try to play A Hat In Time on my PC with this controller, if I ever pick one up.

*mostly Xbox and third-party controllers

I'm sad that Tangledeep (still) didn't make the list. It's got a wonderful 16-bit charm while offering a meaty roguelike adventure. (I may be biased though, as I was a backer when it was on Kickstarter.)

With that said! There is a lot of good stuff on the list. I love Slay the Spire, and Yodanji is an interesting little game that I've yet to crack but find charming. And Hades, that juggernaut, is not to be missed.

2 and Birth By Sleep got me by surprise a few times, and I ugly cried for pretty much the entire end of Days. Ven and Roxas got it rough.

Oooh, I'm glad this has been brought on my radar now! That trailer music is infectious.

EDIT: The overworld style makes me think of Pokemon DPPt, with some technical upgrades one might see if the DS was a bit more powerful. The "side view" battle scene style is normally not my favorite, but here I feel like it works - plus I'm excited for an indie "monster collector" game that doesn't stick to 1v1 battles! (2-on-2 Pokemon battle fans rise up!)

@Zeldawakening As Arlo often says, Nintendo is king of left field.

@Blooper987 He's even been in a fighting game already, and he's been exclusively on Nintendo systems until the mobile ports of the Trilogy. Seems a shame to consider him (or any of his comrades) out of the running entirely.

The "Dracula" reference is greatly appreciated. Now, if only the prices weren't sticker-shockingly high ...

I've been waiting on this since it was announced around May! It may be an enhanced port of OK Golf on smartphones, but the style is still compelling and I'd love to check out the content they've seemingly put in.

@tatchy In case it's slipped by you, look forward to Bomb Rush Cyberfunk!

Glad to see that I'm not the only one still playing through Great Ace Attorney

Physical for me, as per usual, in spite of the news about a day-one patch. I like having a box on my shelf and it saves me from suffering the long wait my poor Internet connection imposes; 10 GB would take a couple of days at minimum.

I played 1 and 3 on my PS1; so many good memories - especially my constant practice on 3's Foundry level trying to get a 1 million point run. I succeeded, and I hopefully still have the replay, but I've never been able to replicate the feat.

I just got the new Switch game in the mail yesterday, and I'm looking forward to having a grand time with it!