@ThomasBW84 Thank you for the excellent reviews Thomas! I could always count on you to review a game or comment on a particular aspect thoroughly and with proper analysis. Good luck in your future endeavors!
@antdickens Great job to you and the rest of the staff for maintaining this excellent site! I look forward to what this site will offer in 2018!
@MrGawain kudos to you, you should post this exact comment in the forums and elsewhere on this site so more people can read it. I wholeheartedly agree with you. The Wii U library may be nowhere near the Wii library in quantity, but it's leagues better in quality. Virtually everything suffered on Wii because of Nintendo's casual focus. Nintendo did that for the beginning of Wii U, but once that didn't work they started making much better and proper games. We wouldn't be getting the quality of games on Switch without Nintendo stepping up throughout the lifetime of the Wii U. The Switch will likely become my favorite console and it'll probably become Nintendo's best console ever, but I have never seen a console so dependent on its predecessor like the Switch is to the Wii U. The Switch wouldn't be the console it is today without the Wii U.
@thesilverbrick I agree, it does make no sense. However, there's no other way to explain how twilight and the Hero of Twilight are referenced, and the fact that Ruto became a sage is explicitly referenced as well. Ruto definitely did not become a sage in the child timeline. Ergo it cannot be taking place in just one timeline. I agree though, it does make no sense, but whatever I guess.
@greengecko007 @Oat @thesilverbrick (and others in this article's comment section), it's great to see other people who are fans of the timeline!
@thesilverbrick I used to think it was in the child timeline, but BotW HAS to take place far into the future in which all three timelines have merged. Zelda mentions twilight in her speech, and the in-game text that is present when you acquire Midna's Helmet specifically references the Hero of Twilight. It definitely takes place in the child timeline. BUT the tablets of the Zoras specifically refer to Ruto (the sage from Ocarina of Time). Not only that, but they specifically mention how she became a sage to help a hero. She only becomes a sage in the downfall and adult timelines, so it has to take place in one of those as well.
Long story short, unless BotW takes place in the future of only two fused timelines (which would be a bit of an odd decision), it takes place in a far future in which all three timelines have merged. Honestly I think the developers know this themselves, they probably want to just keep the speculation among fans going for a while before revealing this.
I'm probably in the minority, but I liked the timeline because it offered a more cohesive path for Zelda lore. The references to Ocarina from Wind Waker and especially Twilight Princess really strengthened those games, and goes to show that tying into Zelda lore and the events of previous games helps strengthen the current game's story. It's a shame they're moving away from the timeline, since one of my favorite parts of TP is how it tied into OoT and how those references can be explained by understanding the position of TP in the child timeline.
@Tarvaax I 100% agree with you. I'm surprised few people have mentioned this. Honestly I think, for me personally, that is BotW's biggest flaw. I loved how TP and WW tied to the lore by tying into Ocarina of Time and the end of that game. Honestly one of my favorite aspects of TP is how you can explain so many aspects from events that occurred in Ocarina, like who the Hero's Shade is, why Link and Ganondorf already have their Triforce pieces, etc. It teuly made the game feel like an epic, and a legend that you could imagine telling to others. OoT, MM, WW, TP, etc. Felt like epics and legends. BotW doesn't have that same sensation. It has something else the previous games didn't have - a sense of freedom, discovery, and being one with nature - but there is no reason why both cannot occur in the same game. I hope the next Zelda game really focuses on story and ties into the lore.
@Damo I'd recommend you add an option for "a mix between the open-world style in Breath of the Wild and the classic style found in games like Ocarina of Time." I'd pick that option, and I feel others would as well.
@Hikingguy Agreed. Although most people I feel bought Zelda on Switch because even if it's slightly better, it's still better, on top of the fact that they were going to soon buy the Switch anyway so might as well buy it at launch and play Zelda on it. @BAN I should probably elaborate on what I meant. There usually isn't a noticeable difference in the grand scheme of things, because 90% of the time you'll be in the wild and there aren't any noticeable frame rate drops IIRC on Wii U. What I meant with "noticeable drop" was going to a place like Kakariko or Korok Forest and running. Frame rate drops noticeably in those areas. I heard (and think saw from a Digital Foundry analysis) that Switch runs those areas better from the 1.1.1 update on, so that's what I meant in my original comment.
I also do not have a Switch and played BotW on Wii U. But yeah it does feel like we are in the minority on this site. That being said, most people (not just those on this site) bought the game for Switch (as revealed by game sales), so that makes sense. It sounds like things perhaps slightly improved, but cannot be determined confidently without Digital Foundry. Regardless it does sound like it's still noticeably worse than the Switch version.
Despite this, anyone who has a Wii U and not a Switch really needs to get this game. It's worse but the slowdowns happen infrequently, and most of the time the game runs well.
@Hikingguy Oh okay. So based on your impressions, slowdown is still evident in Kakariko and Korok Forest (especially if you sprint/run in those areas)?
As a science major, this article was very interesting. Thanks Dom and Nintendolife! Also thanks for linking the research article, I'll try to read it through when I get a chance.
@Archius9 Yeah your analogy is spot-on. Perhaps the fact that many people (like you and me) can think of solutions means that this is actually not the real reason Nintendo is holding off on this ...
@ballistic90 Oh that makes sense. Perhaps they could do a queue system, in which once the system is connected to Wifi it immediately begins the cloud save?
Reggie is a good guy, but I didn't get anything out of what he said other than standard PR stuff (understandable cause NoA defers to Nintendo in Japan). It's good that they're listening though.
That said, Reggie's comments are confusing to say the least. What does the Switch's portability have to do with backing up saves? Can't they just, you know, allow you to keep save files on SD cards? Like the Wii did? Or allow cloud saves whenever the system is connected to the internet? I just don't see what the issue is between saves and Switch's portability.
@Ryu_Niiyama Gotta agree with you, camera was terrible. Though part of that was the Wii's fault and how it didn't include a 2nd analog stick for camera control in its default control scheme.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE I still insist you should play 3D World to the end, it might solve your issues with the game's difficulty considering it gets much tougher in World 9.
Speaking of difficulty, I found Galaxy to be a disappointingly easy game, which Galaxy 2 fixed.
Definitely in the minority, especially on this site, but I wasn't a fan of Galaxy. It was a good game that was fun at times, but I thought Galaxy 1 and 2 were the weakest of the 3D console Mario games. It didn't have the exploratory nature of Sunshine or 64, which I wasn't a fan of. It also didn't have the amazing creativity and tight linearity that 3D World had. It's in an awkward middle between linearity and open-world in which it tries to do a bit of both and messes up in both. I also thought the gravity shtick was good at first but got annoying when almost every level was based off of it. Again, 3D World did a better job introducing new concepts and making each level unique IMHO.
Galaxy 1 and 2 also had issues due to the Wii itself. Incredibly annoying waggle, a terrible camera with no second stick camera control, annoying pointer controls due to the Wii's sensor bar, etc. All in all I'd definitely rank Galaxy 1 and 2 lower than the others, although an HD re-release with normal controllers and no motion/pointer controls would help improve my opinion.
I'd rank the 3D Mario console games as: Odyssey (haven't played it yet but I expect it to be here) > Sunshine > 3D World > 64 > Galaxy 2 > Galaxy 1.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE I'm also playing through Super Mario 3D World now as well. I'm on the last level of World 8.
Honestly, you picked the worst possible location to stop playing on the basis of how easy the game is. Worlds 1-5 were super easy, World 6 was a tad bit less easy but still easy, World 7 was more challenging but still easily doable, World 8 is about right with some challenging levels, and World 9 apparently has some of the hardest Mario levels of any Mario game EVER.
So if I were you I'd at least play a couple levels of World 9 before writing off the game as too easy. I think you might be satisfied with the game if you do so.
Also, don't go in expecting it to be a 3D sandbox Mario like Sunshine and 64, because it's not. It's essentially a 3D version of a 2D Mario game. If you accept it for what it is, then you'll have a blast, since in that view it's easily better than any NSMB game and on par IMHO with the classics like Super Mario Bros 3 and Super Mario World.
@rjejr I don't have a Switch but apparently there is a way to see how many hours you played each game. Something to do with looking at your profile I think. You should ask @JaxonH, I think he described how to find it in a Forums thread once.
@rjejr Nice. Surprised that X1 is so low, I think Wii U on eBay is worth more than X1 is at GameStop and about the same as X1 on eBay. Though that's probably cause of the multiple versions of X1 they released. Did you sell a regular version or an S to GameStop?
@BulbasaurusRex Good points. XYZ was the first time he fully evolved all his Pokemon on the team, and I was still a bit disappointed Gible didn't evolve fully to Garchomp. But yeah you're right, the reason the writers introduced Tobias was that that was the only real way for Ash to lose. (Although using Pokemon like Gible and Torkoal instead of only his all-time best was a bit disappointing). But overall D/P was good saga, it'd be nice if they make another series like D/P or XYZ.
@BulbasaurusRex Huh that's interesting. I've never heard much about Team Galactic, though Hunter J was definitely an awesome antagonist. And I loved how Gary showed up and Ash used his old Pokemon, the continuity was great (one of XY/XYZ's biggest weaknesses).
That being said, I do still think XY and XYZ took what made Diamond and Pearl great and took it to the next level. D&P also felt a bit worn out, in the sense that it seemed like it didn't introduce a lot of new factors to the anime. XY and XYZ fixed that with a lot of different "firsts" (Ash fully evolving his Pokemon, Ash having a pseudo legendary, romance within the main case, Blaziken-Mask, choosing to have Team Flare finale as the main series finale, the Mega Evolution specials, the episodes after the Team Flare climax, etc.) IMHO. But both series are probably the best in the anime IMHO (along with the original perhaps).
@rjejr Yeah it's definitely something to look at. Though why don't you cancel at GameStop and then buy elsewhere? I know Best Buy rewards people for buying stuff with points, I bought my Wii U and I got enough points to get 5 or 10 dollars off Smash I think.
@rjejr Huh you're right! It definitely was restricted to Prime members a couple of days ago, but now it's not. Maybe they weren't selling much for Prime-only so they allowed everyone to get it. So it's definitely easy to obtain a Switch for now
@Aurumonado Yeah same here, but the huge number of positives outweigh that one negative for me. It's a shame that many people are writing off the season just because he lost, when there are so many great things they pulled off in XY/XYZ
@BulbasaurusRex Yeah Diamond and Pearl is definitely up there. I thought the biggest issue with D/P was that it didn't really change things up a bit, and IMHO XY/XYZ took the core of D/P and made it better AND added a whole bunch of new, good stuff (the whole romance thing with Serena, the whole Blaziken Mask thing, Alain and the Mega Evolution specials, Puni-Chan, etc.). But of course D/P does have some advantages, like better development for its heroine and a better rivalry.
@rjejr They've actually been around for quite a while, perhaps a week or two? Which is mind-boggling considering how much Switch stock ran out just a couple months ago, but it's probably due to A) improved Switch stock (yay Nintendo!) and B) restricted to Prime members. Once Odyssey comes out we might see more stock shortages again
@Aurumonado Nice to see someone else who's a fan of XYZ! XY and especially XYZ were absolutely phenomenal, better than any other Pokemon anime season IMHO. The maturity of both the characters and the plot itself is refreshing, it was not only watchable (which I can't say for previous seasons I used to watch as a kid) but actually engaging. XYZ 28 and XYZ 42-43 are arguably the greatest Pokemon episodes ever made.
@rjejr That makes sense. Are you planning to buy BotW again on Switch? I'm planning to get it for Switch (along with a Switch itself) sometime next year and replay the game in Hard Mode with the DLC (and that wonderful map marker feature)
@rjejr Kind of off-topic, but when you said you were doing the Trials to power up the Master Sword for Ganon, you do realize that the Master Sword is powered up when fighting Ganon right? The Trials make it so the Master Sword is powered up regardless of the situation, but without the Trials the Master Sword is powered up around Guardians and Divine Beasts; it's fully powered up when you're in Hyrule Castle as well as when facing Ganon regardless of whether you do the Trials.
@Superzone13 @Spoony_Tech I'm one of the (as of now) 6% who don't own a 3DS model haha. Guess I'm in the minority, but I chose a Wii U over a 3DS and it was the right decision for me personally. I was considering buying the 3DS initially, but then the New 3DS XL announcement made me wait for that model's release. And then Nintendo captured my attention with Splatoon. The rest is history lol. Splatoon was not only the system-selling game for me, but it is easily one of my top five gaming franchises.
Plus, the sub-HD resolution didn't help after becoming accustomed to the PS3 and its graphics. While I know the 3DS has a large and strong library, I'm also not a big fan of RPGs, so that diluted the appeal a bit.
That being said, I'm planning to get a Switch next year, so it'll be great to be able to play on a portable system again, especially one with a 6 inch 720p display!
@rjejr Funny enough, I had the game since mid 2015 and have still barely touched the single player mode. I guess online has been so much fun for me (never experienced online Mario Kart before since the MK game I owned previously was Double Dash on GameCube), probably cause playing against real people feels more difficult yet satisfying than playing against computers for me personally. But it's funny how I've barely touched the single-player in Mario Kart and Smash as well.
@rjejr Yeah I agree. And the annoying thing is not only other companies' games do that (not just the ones you mentioned; Horizon Zero Dawn recently added a New Game Plus and a couple other stuff as a free update), but Nintendo has done it as well with games like Mario Kart 8 (giving the 200cc mode to everyone, even those who didnt pay for DLC). I understand the other content like the revamped Master Mode and the Sword Trials being under DLC, but I think the Hero's Path is definitely something that should be given to everyone (sort of like how Nintendo gave 200cc to everyone but left the courses as DLC).
@rjejr Nice! I was planning on selling my Wii U sometime next year before getting a Switch, so I've been holding off on purchasing the DLC. I don't really mind the lack of all the other stuff, but I really wish I could get that Hero's Path mode, it's so useful for remembering where you've been.
Virtual Console would be good, especially if they announce GameCube games.
However, don't get your hopes up for Metroid. It'd be cool if they announced it, but I have a feeling they're holding it back for next year or the year after, when they need to re-energize Switch sales. Nevertheless, I'd be shocked if a 2D or 3D Metroid game isn't currently being worked on for Switch.
They should not spend too much time on a single game; even Super Mario Odyssey should not take more than 5 min max, if not less. Let the look into Mario gameplay take place in the Treehouse streams, just like the Breath of the Wild gameplay Treehouse streams last year.
It's good that Reggie confirmed rapid-fire reveals and some surprises. I hope the Spotlight mainly focuses on info we don't know yet, whether it's release dates for games like Mario and Xenoblade or announcements for completely new games. And hopefully some announcements for games coming early 2018, though I certainly don't think anything beyond June 2018 will be announced.
Like others said, don't expect too much in the way of surprises. Considering Mario Odyssey is featuring and the E3 2017 Spotlight is just 30 min, I doubt they would do anything beyond showcase games coming out this year. In recent years Nintendo has announced new games at other times of the year, so I expect the same pattern to continue.
@Serebii Hey Joe, thanks for writing the article! As the games were announced yesterday, I'm sure you've seen comments throughout the internet of people expecting a version of Sun and Moon ("Stars") to come to Switch. Just curious, have you seen the design of the Rotom Pokedex and saw that as a sign of the game's potential release on Switch? Most Pokemon games have a Pokedex that looks like the system they premiered on (Ruby/Sapphire and the Pokedex that looked like a GBA, Diamond/Pearl and the Pokedex that looked like a DS, etc.). The Rotom Pokedex, with its single screen and detachable arms, looks uncannily like a Switch. Do you think it's a potential sign of things to come?
@rjejr You and me are still keeping the hope alive! As much as people don't believe it's coming to Switch anymore, I still think it's possible, especially given the Eurogamer rumor, the "mistake" yesterday when the games were announced, and the form factor of the Sun and Moon Pokedex.
TL:DR; I still think Stars or some version of Sun and Moon could come to Switch. Now if it's 2019 and there's no Stars on Switch, I'll admit defeat. But until then I think it's still a possibility
Some of you might roll your eyes at this but ... I still think Sun and Moon will come to Switch as a port. Why? 3 things:
1. Eurogamer rumor. Yes, yes they could be wrong, but they were the first ones to accurately predict what the NX was so I would give them some sort of attention.
2. The entry removed earlier today about Switch versions of Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon released TBA. The Pokemon Company quickly said it was a mistake and that it was not indicative of any future plans. If it were "Switch - November 2017" alongside the 3DS games then I would believe that. However, "Switch - TBA" sounds like there genuinely are Switch games in development, but development is taking too long. Rather than announcing release "TBA" and eat into 3DS game sales, they chose to announce at a later date. The Pokemon Company said it was not indicative of any future plans, but companies have lied before in the past (see Nintendo and "Switch is not a replacement for Wii U")
3. The existence of the Rotom Pokedex: Often, a Pokedex in a game looks like the handheld system that the game releases on. For example, the Ruby and Sapphire Pokedex looked like a Game Boy Advance and the Diamond and Pearl one looked like a DS. What does the Sun and Moon Pokedex look like?
A single screen with detachable arms. Sort of like a certain Nintendo system that released 3 months ago...
Obviously this isn't guaranteed proof that the game will arrive on Switch, but there's enough evidence to support the possibility, however unlikely it may seem. I'm going to still believe in the idea of Pokemon Stars releasing on Switch, potentially in 2018. Now, if it's 2019 and there's still no Stars on Switch, I'll admit defeat. But until then, I'll stay hopeful.
They've never done a direct featuring just mobile games. It's virtually guaranteed that there will be a Pokemon game releasing on Switch and/or 3DS. Whether that's Stars or Pokken Tournament Deluxe or something else, that's anyone's guess. Really hope they release Stars for Switch though.
Also, about the E3 comments that you and others have posted — that's the logical decision to make ... except the Pokemon Company has NEVER announced a mainline Pokemon game at E3. So something like an announcement during the direct and gameplay shown at E3 could be possible.
@Haru17 Like OorWullie I could see where you're coming from. Although like OorWullie as well, I would like to politely disagree with you. The game's puzzles felt very fresh and clever in comparison to past Zelda games. This was in part to the new "items" and in part to the generally different take on puzzles in shrines that is often more physics-based. I completed Wind Waker a couple months ago, and I have to say, I am a bit burnt out by the classic Zelda formula. While they are good games, the puzzles and temples in Wind Waker and Twilight Princess felt like the same style as Ocarina of Time's. In other words, I felt like I was doing the same thing over and over again, with the same items over and over again. There was no excitement when I got an item like the Iron Boots; it was more of a "finally, about time". With Breath of the Wild, its more physics-based approach and cool items made the puzzles more refreshing. And I appreciated the shrines, and having multiple smaller puzzles scattered throughout the world instead of contained to 5-7 locations. While not perfect, BotW nails the exploration feeling and makes standard Zelda fare like puzzles and dungeons feel more fresh.
@OorWullie I agree with you. To be honest, I've got a bit burnt out before while playing the game, even though I've only played 40 hours so far. I've realized why — I was focusing on the main story way too much. If you play BotW like any other Zelda game - with a focus on main story first, exploration second - it's going to feel like a slog and you're going to eventually become burnt out, simply due to the large land needed to be traversed to get to places. But, if you instead play this game with a focus on exploration first, and main story second - you're going to have an amazing experience. Initially I didn't bother to talk to everyone at a stable or town (since I was chasing the main story), but doing so strengthens the experience. I definitely think exploration first, main story second is the best way to play BotW.
I haven't finished the game yet, and in fact only completed the Zora divine beast so far... but I love the game! There are so many improvements to the tried-and-true but a bit long-in-the-tooth Zelda formula — shrines, much more weapon diversity, better combat and stealth mechanics, more exploration, more freedom, voiced cutscenes, etc.
HOWEVER, the story is pretty weak, and side quests are often "fetch or spot item X". I'd like to see a much stronger main story, as well as engaging and story-driven side quests (perhaps similar to those seen in Majora's Mask).
@Haru17 I saw you post quite a bit in the Breath of the Wild forum, and I could tell you were super excited for the game back then. I'm surprised to see that you disliked the game after playing it. Just curious, what made you dislike it? (Please avoid any spoilers, I only finished the Zora divine beast so far.)
Comments 204
Re: Site News: Thanks For Playing, Thomas Whitehead
@ThomasBW84 Thank you for the excellent reviews Thomas! I could always count on you to review a game or comment on a particular aspect thoroughly and with proper analysis. Good luck in your future endeavors!
@antdickens Great job to you and the rest of the staff for maintaining this excellent site! I look forward to what this site will offer in 2018!
Re: Soapbox: Yoshi's Woolly World Mended My Rocky Relationship With Yoshi
@MrGawain kudos to you, you should post this exact comment in the forums and elsewhere on this site so more people can read it. I wholeheartedly agree with you. The Wii U library may be nowhere near the Wii library in quantity, but it's leagues better in quality. Virtually everything suffered on Wii because of Nintendo's casual focus. Nintendo did that for the beginning of Wii U, but once that didn't work they started making much better and proper games. We wouldn't be getting the quality of games on Switch without Nintendo stepping up throughout the lifetime of the Wii U. The Switch will likely become my favorite console and it'll probably become Nintendo's best console ever, but I have never seen a console so dependent on its predecessor like the Switch is to the Wii U. The Switch wouldn't be the console it is today without the Wii U.
Re: Breath of the Wild Developers Discuss the Zelda Timeline
@thesilverbrick I agree, it does make no sense. However, there's no other way to explain how twilight and the Hero of Twilight are referenced, and the fact that Ruto became a sage is explicitly referenced as well. Ruto definitely did not become a sage in the child timeline. Ergo it cannot be taking place in just one timeline. I agree though, it does make no sense, but whatever I guess.
Re: Breath of the Wild Developers Discuss the Zelda Timeline
@greengecko007 @Oat @thesilverbrick (and others in this article's comment section), it's great to see other people who are fans of the timeline!
@thesilverbrick I used to think it was in the child timeline, but BotW HAS to take place far into the future in which all three timelines have merged. Zelda mentions twilight in her speech, and the in-game text that is present when you acquire Midna's Helmet specifically references the Hero of Twilight. It definitely takes place in the child timeline. BUT the tablets of the Zoras specifically refer to Ruto (the sage from Ocarina of Time). Not only that, but they specifically mention how she became a sage to help a hero. She only becomes a sage in the downfall and adult timelines, so it has to take place in one of those as well.
Long story short, unless BotW takes place in the future of only two fused timelines (which would be a bit of an odd decision), it takes place in a far future in which all three timelines have merged. Honestly I think the developers know this themselves, they probably want to just keep the speculation among fans going for a while before revealing this.
Re: Breath of the Wild Developers Discuss the Zelda Timeline
I'm probably in the minority, but I liked the timeline because it offered a more cohesive path for Zelda lore. The references to Ocarina from Wind Waker and especially Twilight Princess really strengthened those games, and goes to show that tying into Zelda lore and the events of previous games helps strengthen the current game's story. It's a shame they're moving away from the timeline, since one of my favorite parts of TP is how it tied into OoT and how those references can be explained by understanding the position of TP in the child timeline.
Re: Feature: Vote For Your 2017 Nintendo Life Game of the Year
@Tarvaax I 100% agree with you. I'm surprised few people have mentioned this. Honestly I think, for me personally, that is BotW's biggest flaw. I loved how TP and WW tied to the lore by tying into Ocarina of Time and the end of that game. Honestly one of my favorite aspects of TP is how you can explain so many aspects from events that occurred in Ocarina, like who the Hero's Shade is, why Link and Ganondorf already have their Triforce pieces, etc. It teuly made the game feel like an epic, and a legend that you could imagine telling to others. OoT, MM, WW, TP, etc. Felt like epics and legends. BotW doesn't have that same sensation. It has something else the previous games didn't have - a sense of freedom, discovery, and being one with nature - but there is no reason why both cannot occur in the same game. I hope the next Zelda game really focuses on story and ties into the lore.
Re: Poll: Surprise! A New Zelda Is In Development, But What Do You Want From It?
@Damo I'd recommend you add an option for "a mix between the open-world style in Breath of the Wild and the classic style found in games like Ocarina of Time." I'd pick that option, and I feel others would as well.
Re: Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Gets Wii U Update To Improve Gameplay
@Hikingguy Agreed. Although most people I feel bought Zelda on Switch because even if it's slightly better, it's still better, on top of the fact that they were going to soon buy the Switch anyway so might as well buy it at launch and play Zelda on it.
@BAN I should probably elaborate on what I meant. There usually isn't a noticeable difference in the grand scheme of things, because 90% of the time you'll be in the wild and there aren't any noticeable frame rate drops IIRC on Wii U. What I meant with "noticeable drop" was going to a place like Kakariko or Korok Forest and running. Frame rate drops noticeably in those areas. I heard (and think saw from a Digital Foundry analysis) that Switch runs those areas better from the 1.1.1 update on, so that's what I meant in my original comment.
Re: Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Gets Wii U Update To Improve Gameplay
@Dezzy @Hikingguy Thank you for the info!
I also do not have a Switch and played BotW on Wii U. But yeah it does feel like we are in the minority on this site. That being said, most people (not just those on this site) bought the game for Switch (as revealed by game sales), so that makes sense. It sounds like things perhaps slightly improved, but cannot be determined confidently without Digital Foundry. Regardless it does sound like it's still noticeably worse than the Switch version.
Despite this, anyone who has a Wii U and not a Switch really needs to get this game. It's worse but the slowdowns happen infrequently, and most of the time the game runs well.
Re: Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Gets Wii U Update To Improve Gameplay
@Hikingguy Oh okay. So based on your impressions, slowdown is still evident in Kakariko and Korok Forest (especially if you sprint/run in those areas)?
Re: Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Gets Wii U Update To Improve Gameplay
@Hikingguy Did you play the Wii U version on version 1.4.1?
Re: Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Gets Wii U Update To Improve Gameplay
So, has anyone played the Wii U version and saw any improvements? Like improvements to frame rate in Kakariko Village and the Korok Forest?
Re: Playing Super Mario 64 Could Help Fight Off Alzeimer's Disease
As a science major, this article was very interesting. Thanks Dom and Nintendolife! Also thanks for linking the research article, I'll try to read it through when I get a chance.
Re: Reggie on Backing Up Your Saves with the Switch
@Archius9 Yeah your analogy is spot-on. Perhaps the fact that many people (like you and me) can think of solutions means that this is actually not the real reason Nintendo is holding off on this ...
Re: Reggie on Backing Up Your Saves with the Switch
@ballistic90 Oh that makes sense. Perhaps they could do a queue system, in which once the system is connected to Wifi it immediately begins the cloud save?
Re: Reggie on Backing Up Your Saves with the Switch
Reggie is a good guy, but I didn't get anything out of what he said other than standard PR stuff (understandable cause NoA defers to Nintendo in Japan). It's good that they're listening though.
That said, Reggie's comments are confusing to say the least. What does the Switch's portability have to do with backing up saves? Can't they just, you know, allow you to keep save files on SD cards? Like the Wii did? Or allow cloud saves whenever the system is connected to the internet? I just don't see what the issue is between saves and Switch's portability.
Re: Anniversary: It's Been 10 Years Since Super Mario Galaxy Landed On The Wii
@Ryu_Niiyama Gotta agree with you, camera was terrible. Though part of that was the Wii's fault and how it didn't include a 2nd analog stick for camera control in its default control scheme.
Re: Anniversary: It's Been 10 Years Since Super Mario Galaxy Landed On The Wii
@SLIGEACH_EIRE I still insist you should play 3D World to the end, it might solve your issues with the game's difficulty considering it gets much tougher in World 9.
Speaking of difficulty, I found Galaxy to be a disappointingly easy game, which Galaxy 2 fixed.
Re: Anniversary: It's Been 10 Years Since Super Mario Galaxy Landed On The Wii
Definitely in the minority, especially on this site, but I wasn't a fan of Galaxy. It was a good game that was fun at times, but I thought Galaxy 1 and 2 were the weakest of the 3D console Mario games. It didn't have the exploratory nature of Sunshine or 64, which I wasn't a fan of. It also didn't have the amazing creativity and tight linearity that 3D World had. It's in an awkward middle between linearity and open-world in which it tries to do a bit of both and messes up in both. I also thought the gravity shtick was good at first but got annoying when almost every level was based off of it. Again, 3D World did a better job introducing new concepts and making each level unique IMHO.
Galaxy 1 and 2 also had issues due to the Wii itself. Incredibly annoying waggle, a terrible camera with no second stick camera control, annoying pointer controls due to the Wii's sensor bar, etc. All in all I'd definitely rank Galaxy 1 and 2 lower than the others, although an HD re-release with normal controllers and no motion/pointer controls would help improve my opinion.
I'd rank the 3D Mario console games as: Odyssey (haven't played it yet but I expect it to be here) > Sunshine > 3D World > 64 > Galaxy 2 > Galaxy 1.
Re: Video: 11 Reviews for Super Mario Odyssey that Are So Bad They're Good
@SLIGEACH_EIRE I'm also playing through Super Mario 3D World now as well. I'm on the last level of World 8.
Honestly, you picked the worst possible location to stop playing on the basis of how easy the game is. Worlds 1-5 were super easy, World 6 was a tad bit less easy but still easy, World 7 was more challenging but still easily doable, World 8 is about right with some challenging levels, and World 9 apparently has some of the hardest Mario levels of any Mario game EVER.
So if I were you I'd at least play a couple levels of World 9 before writing off the game as too easy. I think you might be satisfied with the game if you do so.
Also, don't go in expecting it to be a 3D sandbox Mario like Sunshine and 64, because it's not. It's essentially a 3D version of a 2D Mario game. If you accept it for what it is, then you'll have a blast, since in that view it's easily better than any NSMB game and on par IMHO with the classics like Super Mario Bros 3 and Super Mario World.
Re: Super Mario Odyssey Gets A Day One Update, But Don't Expect Much
@rjejr I don't have a Switch but apparently there is a way to see how many hours you played each game. Something to do with looking at your profile I think. You should ask @JaxonH, I think he described how to find it in a Forums thread once.
Re: Nintendo Switch Surges in Japanese Charts as Fire Emblem Warriors Makes Debut
@rjejr Nice! Have fun with Odyssey!
Re: Nintendo Switch Surges in Japanese Charts as Fire Emblem Warriors Makes Debut
@rjejr Nice. Surprised that X1 is so low, I think Wii U on eBay is worth more than X1 is at GameStop and about the same as X1 on eBay. Though that's probably cause of the multiple versions of X1 they released. Did you sell a regular version or an S to GameStop?
Re: Nintendo Switch Surges in Japanese Charts as Fire Emblem Warriors Makes Debut
@rjejr That makes sense, good luck!
Re: Check Out the Impressive Theatrical Trailer for Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!
@BulbasaurusRex Good points. XYZ was the first time he fully evolved all his Pokemon on the team, and I was still a bit disappointed Gible didn't evolve fully to Garchomp. But yeah you're right, the reason the writers introduced Tobias was that that was the only real way for Ash to lose. (Although using Pokemon like Gible and Torkoal instead of only his all-time best was a bit disappointing). But overall D/P was good saga, it'd be nice if they make another series like D/P or XYZ.
Re: A New Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Trailer Arrives, Along With Famitsu Details
Remember when everyone was complaining this game would be a lazy cash-grab with barely any differences from the original Sun and Moon? Good times...
Re: Check Out the Impressive Theatrical Trailer for Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!
@BulbasaurusRex Huh that's interesting. I've never heard much about Team Galactic, though Hunter J was definitely an awesome antagonist. And I loved how Gary showed up and Ash used his old Pokemon, the continuity was great (one of XY/XYZ's biggest weaknesses).
That being said, I do still think XY and XYZ took what made Diamond and Pearl great and took it to the next level. D&P also felt a bit worn out, in the sense that it seemed like it didn't introduce a lot of new factors to the anime. XY and XYZ fixed that with a lot of different "firsts" (Ash fully evolving his Pokemon, Ash having a pseudo legendary, romance within the main case, Blaziken-Mask, choosing to have Team Flare finale as the main series finale, the Mega Evolution specials, the episodes after the Team Flare climax, etc.) IMHO. But both series are probably the best in the anime IMHO (along with the original perhaps).
Re: Nintendo Switch Surges in Japanese Charts as Fire Emblem Warriors Makes Debut
@rjejr Yeah it's definitely something to look at. Though why don't you cancel at GameStop and then buy elsewhere? I know Best Buy rewards people for buying stuff with points, I bought my Wii U and I got enough points to get 5 or 10 dollars off Smash I think.
Re: Nintendo Switch Surges in Japanese Charts as Fire Emblem Warriors Makes Debut
@rjejr Huh you're right! It definitely was restricted to Prime members a couple of days ago, but now it's not. Maybe they weren't selling much for Prime-only so they allowed everyone to get it. So it's definitely easy to obtain a Switch for now
Re: Check Out the Impressive Theatrical Trailer for Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!
@Aurumonado Yeah same here, but the huge number of positives outweigh that one negative for me. It's a shame that many people are writing off the season just because he lost, when there are so many great things they pulled off in XY/XYZ
@BulbasaurusRex Yeah Diamond and Pearl is definitely up there. I thought the biggest issue with D/P was that it didn't really change things up a bit, and IMHO XY/XYZ took the core of D/P and made it better AND added a whole bunch of new, good stuff (the whole romance thing with Serena, the whole Blaziken Mask thing, Alain and the Mega Evolution specials, Puni-Chan, etc.). But of course D/P does have some advantages, like better development for its heroine and a better rivalry.
Re: Pokémon Ultra Sun And Moon Gets New Trailer And A Fresh Beast
Did anyone else see Necrozma happily jumping around from 0:18 to 0:20? lol
Re: Nintendo Switch Surges in Japanese Charts as Fire Emblem Warriors Makes Debut
@rjejr They've actually been around for quite a while, perhaps a week or two? Which is mind-boggling considering how much Switch stock ran out just a couple months ago, but it's probably due to A) improved Switch stock (yay Nintendo!) and B) restricted to Prime members. Once Odyssey comes out we might see more stock shortages again
Re: Nintendo Aims to Heat Things Up With Its Latest Zelda: Breath of the Wild Free Gift
I could see this being very useful for people starting off on the Great Plateau.
Re: Check Out the Impressive Theatrical Trailer for Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!
@Aurumonado Nice to see someone else who's a fan of XYZ! XY and especially XYZ were absolutely phenomenal, better than any other Pokemon anime season IMHO. The maturity of both the characters and the plot itself is refreshing, it was not only watchable (which I can't say for previous seasons I used to watch as a kid) but actually engaging. XYZ 28 and XYZ 42-43 are arguably the greatest Pokemon episodes ever made.
Re: Review: Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (Switch)
@rjejr Fair enough, that makes sense.
Re: Review: Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (Switch)
@rjejr That makes sense. Are you planning to buy BotW again on Switch? I'm planning to get it for Switch (along with a Switch itself) sometime next year and replay the game in Hard Mode with the DLC (and that wonderful map marker feature)
Re: Review: Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (Switch)
@rjejr Kind of off-topic, but when you said you were doing the Trials to power up the Master Sword for Ganon, you do realize that the Master Sword is powered up when fighting Ganon right? The Trials make it so the Master Sword is powered up regardless of the situation, but without the Trials the Master Sword is powered up around Guardians and Divine Beasts; it's fully powered up when you're in Hyrule Castle as well as when facing Ganon regardless of whether you do the Trials.
Re: Poll: The New Nintendo 2DS XL is Out This Week - Are You Tempted?
@Superzone13 @Spoony_Tech I'm one of the (as of now) 6% who don't own a 3DS model haha. Guess I'm in the minority, but I chose a Wii U over a 3DS and it was the right decision for me personally. I was considering buying the 3DS initially, but then the New 3DS XL announcement made me wait for that model's release. And then Nintendo captured my attention with Splatoon. The rest is history lol. Splatoon was not only the system-selling game for me, but it is easily one of my top five gaming franchises.
Plus, the sub-HD resolution didn't help after becoming accustomed to the PS3 and its graphics. While I know the 3DS has a large and strong library, I'm also not a big fan of RPGs, so that diluted the appeal a bit.
That being said, I'm planning to get a Switch next year, so it'll be great to be able to play on a portable system again, especially one with a 6 inch 720p display!
Re: Gallery: A Look Back At Some Of Miiverse's Craziest And Most Beautiful Moments
@rjejr Funny enough, I had the game since mid 2015 and have still barely touched the single player mode. I guess online has been so much fun for me (never experienced online Mario Kart before since the MK game I owned previously was Double Dash on GameCube), probably cause playing against real people feels more difficult yet satisfying than playing against computers for me personally. But it's funny how I've barely touched the single-player in Mario Kart and Smash as well.
Re: Gallery: A Look Back At Some Of Miiverse's Craziest And Most Beautiful Moments
@rjejr Yeah I agree. And the annoying thing is not only other companies' games do that (not just the ones you mentioned; Horizon Zero Dawn recently added a New Game Plus and a couple other stuff as a free update), but Nintendo has done it as well with games like Mario Kart 8 (giving the 200cc mode to everyone, even those who didnt pay for DLC). I understand the other content like the revamped Master Mode and the Sword Trials being under DLC, but I think the Hero's Path is definitely something that should be given to everyone (sort of like how Nintendo gave 200cc to everyone but left the courses as DLC).
Re: Gallery: A Look Back At Some Of Miiverse's Craziest And Most Beautiful Moments
@rjejr Nice! I was planning on selling my Wii U sometime next year before getting a Switch, so I've been holding off on purchasing the DLC. I don't really mind the lack of all the other stuff, but I really wish I could get that Hero's Path mode, it's so useful for remembering where you've been.
Re: Talking Point: Five Key Areas Nintendo Must Get Right at E3 2017
@SLIGEACH_EIRE
Virtual Console would be good, especially if they announce GameCube games.
However, don't get your hopes up for Metroid. It'd be cool if they announced it, but I have a feeling they're holding it back for next year or the year after, when they need to re-energize Switch sales. Nevertheless, I'd be shocked if a 2D or 3D Metroid game isn't currently being worked on for Switch.
Re: Talking Point: Five Key Areas Nintendo Must Get Right at E3 2017
They should not spend too much time on a single game; even Super Mario Odyssey should not take more than 5 min max, if not less. Let the look into Mario gameplay take place in the Treehouse streams, just like the Breath of the Wild gameplay Treehouse streams last year.
It's good that Reggie confirmed rapid-fire reveals and some surprises. I hope the Spotlight mainly focuses on info we don't know yet, whether it's release dates for games like Mario and Xenoblade or announcements for completely new games. And hopefully some announcements for games coming early 2018, though I certainly don't think anything beyond June 2018 will be announced.
Re: Poll: Are You Excited About Nintendo at E3 2017?
Like others said, don't expect too much in the way of surprises. Considering Mario Odyssey is featuring and the E3 2017 Spotlight is just 30 min, I doubt they would do anything beyond showcase games coming out this year. In recent years Nintendo has announced new games at other times of the year, so I expect the same pattern to continue.
Re: Feature: Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - What We Know So Far...
@Serebii Hey Joe, thanks for writing the article! As the games were announced yesterday, I'm sure you've seen comments throughout the internet of people expecting a version of Sun and Moon ("Stars") to come to Switch. Just curious, have you seen the design of the Rotom Pokedex and saw that as a sign of the game's potential release on Switch? Most Pokemon games have a Pokedex that looks like the system they premiered on (Ruby/Sapphire and the Pokedex that looked like a GBA, Diamond/Pearl and the Pokedex that looked like a DS, etc.). The Rotom Pokedex, with its single screen and detachable arms, looks uncannily like a Switch. Do you think it's a potential sign of things to come?
Re: Feature: Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - What We Know So Far...
@rjejr You and me are still keeping the hope alive! As much as people don't believe it's coming to Switch anymore, I still think it's possible, especially given the Eurogamer rumor, the "mistake" yesterday when the games were announced, and the form factor of the Sun and Moon Pokedex.
TL:DR; I still think Stars or some version of Sun and Moon could come to Switch. Now if it's 2019 and there's no Stars on Switch, I'll admit defeat. But until then I think it's still a possibility
Re: Poll: What Did You Think of the Pokémon Direct and Its Big Reveals?
Some of you might roll your eyes at this but ... I still think Sun and Moon will come to Switch as a port. Why? 3 things:
1. Eurogamer rumor. Yes, yes they could be wrong, but they were the first ones to accurately predict what the NX was so I would give them some sort of attention.
2. The entry removed earlier today about Switch versions of Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon released TBA. The Pokemon Company quickly said it was a mistake and that it was not indicative of any future plans. If it were "Switch - November 2017" alongside the 3DS games then I would believe that. However, "Switch - TBA" sounds like there genuinely are Switch games in development, but development is taking too long. Rather than announcing release "TBA" and eat into 3DS game sales, they chose to announce at a later date. The Pokemon Company said it was not indicative of any future plans, but companies have lied before in the past (see Nintendo and "Switch is not a replacement for Wii U")
3. The existence of the Rotom Pokedex: Often, a Pokedex in a game looks like the handheld system that the game releases on. For example, the Ruby and Sapphire Pokedex looked like a Game Boy Advance and the Diamond and Pearl one looked like a DS. What does the Sun and Moon Pokedex look like?
A single screen with detachable arms. Sort of like a certain Nintendo system that released 3 months ago...
Obviously this isn't guaranteed proof that the game will arrive on Switch, but there's enough evidence to support the possibility, however unlikely it may seem. I'm going to still believe in the idea of Pokemon Stars releasing on Switch, potentially in 2018. Now, if it's 2019 and there's still no Stars on Switch, I'll admit defeat. But until then, I'll stay hopeful.
Re: Get Ready for a Pokémon Direct on 6th June
@JaxonH
They've never done a direct featuring just mobile games. It's virtually guaranteed that there will be a Pokemon game releasing on Switch and/or 3DS. Whether that's Stars or Pokken Tournament Deluxe or something else, that's anyone's guess. Really hope they release Stars for Switch though.
Also, about the E3 comments that you and others have posted — that's the logical decision to make ... except the Pokemon Company has NEVER announced a mainline Pokemon game at E3. So something like an announcement during the direct and gameplay shown at E3 could be possible.
Re: Zelda: Breath of the Wild Director Says the Game’s Design Could Become the New Standard
@Haru17 Like OorWullie I could see where you're coming from. Although like OorWullie as well, I would like to politely disagree with you. The game's puzzles felt very fresh and clever in comparison to past Zelda games. This was in part to the new "items" and in part to the generally different take on puzzles in shrines that is often more physics-based. I completed Wind Waker a couple months ago, and I have to say, I am a bit burnt out by the classic Zelda formula. While they are good games, the puzzles and temples in Wind Waker and Twilight Princess felt like the same style as Ocarina of Time's. In other words, I felt like I was doing the same thing over and over again, with the same items over and over again. There was no excitement when I got an item like the Iron Boots; it was more of a "finally, about time". With Breath of the Wild, its more physics-based approach and cool items made the puzzles more refreshing. And I appreciated the shrines, and having multiple smaller puzzles scattered throughout the world instead of contained to 5-7 locations. While not perfect, BotW nails the exploration feeling and makes standard Zelda fare like puzzles and dungeons feel more fresh.
@OorWullie
I agree with you. To be honest, I've got a bit burnt out before while playing the game, even though I've only played 40 hours so far. I've realized why — I was focusing on the main story way too much. If you play BotW like any other Zelda game - with a focus on main story first, exploration second - it's going to feel like a slog and you're going to eventually become burnt out, simply due to the large land needed to be traversed to get to places. But, if you instead play this game with a focus on exploration first, and main story second - you're going to have an amazing experience. Initially I didn't bother to talk to everyone at a stable or town (since I was chasing the main story), but doing so strengthens the experience. I definitely think exploration first, main story second is the best way to play BotW.
Re: Zelda: Breath of the Wild Director Says the Game’s Design Could Become the New Standard
I haven't finished the game yet, and in fact only completed the Zora divine beast so far... but I love the game! There are so many improvements to the tried-and-true but a bit long-in-the-tooth Zelda formula — shrines, much more weapon diversity, better combat and stealth mechanics, more exploration, more freedom, voiced cutscenes, etc.
HOWEVER, the story is pretty weak, and side quests are often "fetch or spot item X". I'd like to see a much stronger main story, as well as engaging and story-driven side quests (perhaps similar to those seen in Majora's Mask).
@Haru17 I saw you post quite a bit in the Breath of the Wild forum, and I could tell you were super excited for the game back then. I'm surprised to see that you disliked the game after playing it. Just curious, what made you dislike it? (Please avoid any spoilers, I only finished the Zora divine beast so far.)