shining_nexus

@MasterJay A one time payment for a full AR game with a proper story and fun gameplay with unique mechanics, would be more interesting then a game as a service. I don’t think Pikimin, as a brand and mainstream appeal, has the staying power to retain a lot of players. Regardless, I look forward to what they come up with.

@Altina “ how am I supposed to not be scared of humans... “
You must be terrified of mirrors... Kidding! <headpat>

New Horizons is my first real AC experience with hundreds of hours in play time since the original on GameCube. I’ve dabbled in the other entries, but probably not enough to remember all the features missing in NH. I’m very happy with NH, but would love to experience all these new activities and features that long time veterans are talking about. Flying a kite would be cool too.

@RudeAnimat0r I don’t think there will ever be a proper Shining Force 4, which is silly considering the popularity that the Fire Emblem series have garnered. I think at one point the series creator from Camelot has expressed interest in creating another Shining Force game, but it only got as far as that.

I think the only way a new Shining Force game gets made is it Nintendo were to publish the project. Sega doesn’t seem too interested at reviving the series and it wouldn’t be a proper Shining Force game without the original developer, Camelot.

Back on topic, surprised to see Metroid Zero Mission at number one considering the vast amount of great games on the GBA. Not complaining though, since it is my favorite 2D Metroid (suck it Super!.. kidding of course).

Yep, still playing. It’s my sleepy pill! ZzzzZZzz...

Managing a train business looks harder then it steams. I may wait for a sale before I choo choo choose to pick up this game and chug away many hours with it.

@Altina Playing digital for TCG games is the way to go for me too. I absolutely adored and enjoyed playing Hearthstone, but the money needed for new cards were getting too expensive. I stopped playing because of that. Old cards would get obsolete when new expansions came out, essentially losing value on those digital cards.

That’s why I love Pokémon TCG on the Gameboy and SNK Card Fighters Clash (I highly recommend this game!) on the NeoGeo Pocket Color. All the cards are earned in game and there’s a full fledge adventure to go with it.

And yeah, booster packs are kinda like real life loot boxes, but at least they have value (physically anyway) that can be sold or traded with others.

Card Fighters Clash Retrospective -
https://youtu.be/J9GKf8OFKCU

@BloodNinja it sucks you had to sale your old games, but you gotta do what you got do. I have a collection of old rare games from my childhood that are worth a lot. It’s in storage at the moment and I would like to return to them someday. It’s also nice that they have cash value for those just in case moments. One of the reasons why I still try to buy physical.

Speaking of collecting old stuff, I recently brought out my collection of Pokémon cards from the base set and early expansions. I’m literally sitting on a gold mine of cards worth thousands. Just need to get them appraised.

It pays to be a nerd.

@aaaaaa true, it is a callback so it may not have been as radically different as I mentioned.

It’s an action adventure game with lite RPG elements... which is every game made these days. So in a sense, every game is a RPG. Which is why RPG is the best genre and everyone is a nerd.

@Altina I agree, I’m all up for multi platform games, but there’s something special about exclusive games that are tailored and designed towards a specific audience and the hardware.

I believe Octopath Traveler was designed for people who grew up with turn-based 16-bit sprite JRPGs and if it was designed for other platforms in mind, the game could have been radically different mechanically (more action based) and artistically (more realistic and gritty and possibly more boobish) in order to appeal to a wider demographic.

Awww this looks so cute. I think the claymation fits well with the theme of the game. I also think their Ads in magazines were in claymation, I could be wrong. Never did finish Earthbound on SNES or even the virtual console versions. I would give it another go with a remake and modern features.

This man has composed so many great music that his legacy will live on forever. I will continue to listen to his work well after his time and I’m sure many generations after me will do the same.

More turn based JRPGs please! And sure, more Amiibos, why not. I like the anime aesthetics for this game and hopefully it brings in more casual/younger players to the MH series.

@Altina Sorry! I’ll try not to miss any future Pokémon games from here on out! I think my brother may have Omega Ruby so I will have to ask him to borrow it when I get the chance. And I will be getting Pokémon Diamond. I also think the graphics are cute and am ok with the direction of the game, especially since I’ve never played the original. I’ll complete the Pokédex for that game too!

@Altina I don’t mean living there, if that’s what you’re implying. I understand the culture is very different there and not for everyone. I personally would love to visit the country that makes all these wonderful products that I’ve enjoyed throughout my life (anime and video games). I want to explore areas in Japan that were inspired in Pokémon, Persona, World End With You, etc. I want to go game shopping and discover obscure Japanese games, play at the arcades where it is a dying interest in the west, sleep at the manga hotel and catch up on some One Piece, eat some legit sushi and try out those weird vending machines that dispense underwear... the list goes on. But that’s just me and the only way I would live there is if I was married to a local.

@Altina Wow, you are very hardcore when it comes to completing games. With that much dedication to Pokémon, you’re probably going to play the series for life! That’s pretty cool. I returned to Pokémon with Sun/Moon (skipped GBA and DS gens). Got Sword and for the very first time, completed the Pokédex! Still trying to complete Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra Pokédex however. Slowly, but surely!

Good luck with completing BoTW and Hyrule Warriors... that is quite a task. I’m thinking of trying to complete Bravely Default 2, but with Monster Hunter Rise releasing soon, that may be wishful thinking. Anyways, don’t forget to have fun!

@Altina For what it’s worth, I find your eccentric personality interesting. I’ve always found it enjoyable to learn about other people’s experiences with video games and the impacts it had on their lives, so thank you for sharing.

Would you consider visiting Japan at some point? I know it may be very challenging for you, but I feel like you would have a great experience. And the people there are usually more polite and not American so that’s a plus! Hahaha.

I’ve been fortunate enough to grow up with multiple consoles and a PC, but my heart will always belong to the Game Boy (Nintendo handhelds in general) and has been the one constant that brought me happiness throughout my life. Those are some great GB games you mentioned and I still revisit those games on my 3DS from time to time!

BTW, I commend you for sticking with WoW for that long. My experience with WoW was short, but most of my interactions with the community were toxic.

@Altina you still adventuring with my favorite elf boy, Link? Honestly, I haven’t finished the game yet. I kinda don’t want to because I sincerely don’t want the adventure to end. Haha...

Bravely Default 2, Animal Crossing, and Overwatch for me this weekend. As always, happy gaming y’all!

@Altina what were you playing during that console generation?

I still have my physical version of Phantom Brave for the PS2. I don’t remember much about this game, but I’ve always found NIS RPGs to be a little bit... overwhelming for me. I would definitely give this one another play someday, seeing how beloved it is for some of you folks.

Never thought about using the warp pipe as fast travel by carrying one around. That’s good tip!

@Altina I knew The Legend of Heroes had a complicated and rich history (I didn’t know it went that far back), but your explanation certainly helped me understand it a whole lot better. Seriously, thank you for that and all the little cool bits about the games. My interest in the series has definitely gone up. This really makes me want to boot up ToCS 3 again!

I definitely would want to start with ToCS 1 and possibly play the other sub series in between. I do have the capabilities to play the other games, but I do want to experience them on the Switch. However, I wouldn’t rule it out and if a port doesn’t look possible, then I may just have to play it on other platforms.

I am busy with other games at the moment, so I am ok with waiting. As soon as ToCS 1 drops on Switch (I’m confident it will happen, it is already translated after all with ports confirmed for Japan), that game will definitely be at the top of my list of games to play.

@naxuu I would be happy with a straight ROM dump of those games at this point. These are hidden RPG gems and will stay hidden unless SE makes them accessible to current gen gamers.

@Avol Really hoping for this. The Mana and Saga series have been getting a lot of love recently (though that might be the fact that some of those series regulars are still working for SE) and it’s a matter of time before the Chrono games takes some spotlight. A remastered Cross would be nice. Heck, throw in an official localized Radical Dreamers in that collection as well.

Stadia is a dumpster fire because it was led by a company (Google) that does not understand the intricacies of video game culture and development.

With that said, I don’t mind cloud gaming as an option at all and would like to see more technology intensive games on the Switch. My experience with the cloud version of Control was good. I would love to play FF7 Remake or Resident Evil Village in handheld mode while I’m pooping.

@Altina Too bad you don’t have your PS4 anymore, but I understand why you sold it. I mainly play my PS4 for online multiplayer these days and all my single player stuff are on the Switch. I don’t plan on getting the PS5 anytime soon either because not a lot of PS games appeal to me at the moment. Also, I’ve always been more of a handheld gamer and I really love the hybrid function of the Switch. It fits into my gaming life perfectly.

But yeah, I am very curious about the Legend of Heroes series and ALL the games you mentioned in your post (here’s hoping they’re Switch bound!). I heard good things about Trails of Cold Steel on an RPG podcast and it made me go out and purchase ToCS 3. I put in about 30 hours and I stopped... because I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to experience the previous games so I can appreciate the story in later games. I absolutely loved the characters (Altina is awesome), battle system, and the story, even with my limited knowledge of previous games. I even enjoyed the mini card game and probably put too much time into it then I should.

It does look like Falcom is serious about supporting the Switch and I’ll definitely be supporting their games. More good JRPGs can never be a bad thing.

@Altina I feel exactly the same way about open world games and that’s why I wasn’t hyped at all about BotW at launch. It was a big change from the traditional Zelda formula, but I’m glad I gave it a chance. Games like Red Dead Redemption, GTA, Horizon, Assassins Creed, and others, did not really excite me. It’s mostly due to the gritty graphics (which I actually don’t mind, but I do prefer a more artistic or anime aesthetic, like FF7 remake or Resident Evil remakes), and the monotonous quests with a lifeless world. Fetch quests like going from point A to point B is way too abundant in these games. It’s just no fun to explore a world with hardly anything to discover, although RDR did a better job of this.

BotW was designed to encourage exploration and playful gameplay, instead of focusing on a narrative that will lead to a more movie like experience. Modern open worlds are just not for me, but I am at least interested in trying out the Witcher 3 or Immortal Fenyx.

BotW is quite possibly my fave game of all time (DQ11 did come close to dethroning it) and I’m glad you love it. Now if only Falcom would release Trails of Cold Steel 1 & 2 for Switch out of Japan...

Picked up and started Bravely Default 2 last night. Yup, I’m going to love this one.

@Wilforce I also just got the poster, which I wanted so badly. Needed a few points so I quickly played Mario Run for the weekly points and finished some story chapters in Fire Emblem Heroes. I didn’t want to miss out on it!

This is basically a new classic Final Fantasy, so yes, day one and most of my gaming time will go to this. I’m confident I will love this game to bits like its previous entry (except Bravely Second, still need to play that one).

Kinda disappointed there is no collectors edition.

I really want that Bravely Default 2 poster. Welp, back to Super Mario Run and Fire Emblem Heroes for a bit.

I personally like the art style. Good read and from the looks of it, I will be enjoying this game for many hours.

@Yosher maybe they’re saving it (edit - yoshi eggs) for an Easter update? That’d be a nice surprise.

I’m genuinely excited about this update. I’m going to try and create my own Super Nintendo World. Looks like I’ll be spending nights with Nook and crew again.

Very interesting article. Thanks for the all the work put into this. BotW is now objectively the best Zelda, because science.

I have a set and I would recommend it. It’s very bulky and heavier definitely, but if you prefer to have pro control during handheld mode then the trade off might be worth it. I personally tend to switch between these and the stock joy cons depending on the intensity of the gameplay.

With that being said, this MH design is a little messy. Maybe it’ll look better IRL. I would have preferred a more minimalist look.

Love me some classic turn based Final Fantasy. Will be picking up and starting this weekend. I have been playing through FF9 and only about a quarter into the story. Did some grinding (thank you speed up and max dmg option!) to bring my characters over leveled so now I can simply enjoy the story and boss fights. Will probably continue FF9 as comfort food every now and then.

Going to pick up my copy today. May play this in between Bravely Default 2 for a change of pace. Still hoping for a Persona collection on Switch.

I’m glad they’re supporting the Switch. It must not have been easy to port this game to a tablet and I would not have played this game if not for this version. Enjoying Gorgon expansion so far and have already purchased the next one.

A great JRPG that really shined brilliantly after about 30 hours into the game. That is usually the case with most JRPGs anyway, but the story, characters , and combat system is what held my attention.

I would advise watching a YouTube tutorial on the combat system since the game doesn't really explain it very well. Once I got it down and started unlocking more mechanics, the combat was one of the most addictive and satisfying systems I've ever played in JRPG.

@Burning_Spear it's a tough game to finish. If I were to spontaneously play through Metroid again, I would definitely pick Zero Mission on GBA.

@Burning_Spear Drawing maps was definitely part of the enjoyment! I didn't realize how much I enjoyed mapping out games until I played Etrian Odyssey. So much so, that I started mapping out old NES games like Metroid, Zelda, and Castlevania. Recently I've mapped out a few dungeons of Shining in the Darkness. It's more of a relaxing activity for me to do and I really do admire looking at others maps at well.

Link to the Past was my first and have enjoyed the series since then. Like a lot of gamers during that time, some of my fondest memories was taking turns with siblings playing through the game. It was like going on an adventure with friends.

Ironically, BotW was my least hyped Zelda due to it being an open world game and I was very surprised at how much I loved it. That game has brought so many of those childhood feelings of playing a video game for the first time, which I thought I could never experience again because of age.

Along with other games from my childhood, I can certainly say Zelda was one of those series that developed me as a person and got me through some very hard times in life. Thanks bro.

@Altina Double Dash was such a fun Mario Kart. I would like to see a sequel to DD and see how they expand on the 2 driver and character specific item mechanics. Heck, I would even pay $60 bucks for an updated remastered version. If you’re not in a hurry to get a pro controller, it might be better to wait and see if they release a special edition pro controller. Who knows, they may release a Trails Edition one. Unlikely, but that won’t stop us from dreaming!

IMO, normalcy is subjective to someone’s perspective of what normal is. I believe a lot of what this “normal” should be is being fed through mainstream media and celebrities. And that’s OK because it’s their perspective, but shunning people who think differently is wrong. In actuality, unique individuality is what normal is. Basically, we’re humans that are normal in our own way.

But yeah, I agree with you and weirdness rocks. I also added you on Switch. Username is currently junebot.

@Meehanuk @Altina I changed the back cover of my launch Switch with a replica of the special edition Dragon Quest 11 cover. Don't have the DQ joy cons unfortunately, but I do have both neon red joy cons. Looks pretty slick and I'm so happy with it.

@Altina Glad you're here to stay! We could use more weirdos around here.

3D World is actually one of my favorite Mario games. I completed and collected everything on the Wii U version (except for maybe the flag poles. I thought it was silly to finish the stage with every character) and I'm currently playing the Switch version with my niece and brother. It's a blast to play with others and will definitely create memorable moments, like throwing my brother off the stage so I can get the green star first or killing him with the canon ball power up while in a boss fight because I'm an a-hole.

The doggy controller works fine for most games for sure. I eventually caved in and got a pro controller because the buttons and analog stick on the joy cons weren't optimal for me on shooters. I mostly play with joy cons in handheld and with games that don't require pinpoint accuracy, like turn based RPGs. I did get the Hori Pro Pad joy cons, which are essentially a pro controller joy cons, to play Overwatch in handheld and it works wonders.

@Altina To play Breath of the Wild for the very first time again... I'm a little jealous. Good luck trying to complete that game. Congrats on your new Switch and I hope you're enjoying it very much.

It's going to be Outer Worlds, FF9, and Overwatch with friends for me. I did pick up Jenny LeClue on sale and will probably put in some time on that too. I recommend for those that like murder mystery adventure games.

Happy gaming y'all.

This is the game that got me into western RPGs and PC gaming in general. Will get day one for sure.

My favorite builds was the zealot paladin and hammerdin. I hope they fixed the shared loot drop based system. Clicking aimlessly to pick up the best loot after killing a boss in hopes that you clicked faster then the other guy is not fun.

I enjoyed Splatoon 2 and still play multiplayer every now and then. Will be getting Splat 3. This series would have been my main competitive multiplayer game if Overwatch didn't come to the Switch. Played tons of it on PC and am so thankful for the Switch version.

@Don I'm hoping SE will one day release a Chrono collection consisting of both Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross remasters along with an English version of Radical Dreamers.

Keep bringing them PS classic RPGs, Square Enix. Legend of Mana is a fun and unique take on the Mana series. The beautiful hand drawn graphics and the banging soundtrack are probably the most notable traits about the game.

Konami needs to give some love to their Suikoden series. They are due for some remasters.

This brings me back. I have fond memories with the Neo Geo Pocket and this was one the games that I played to completion. It worked surprisingly well as a fighting game on a handheld because of that joystick. It made performing combos and moves a lot more easier.

Will be picking this one up.