@Isoph0451 DKC Returns is a solid pick. As time goes on, I realize I actually like its level design better than Tropical Freeze. The thing I don't like though is the ridiculous Wii waggle to roll. If they removed that in a Switch port, it would be so much better.
I'd also love to see a cartridge with DKC 1-3 on it. I know they're available on NSO, but I'd still totally buy a collection like that.
1001 Spikes*
A Link Between Worlds
F-Zero GX
Kid Icarus Uprising
Mario Galaxy 2 (best Mario)
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (best Metroid)
Metroid Prime 4
Metroid: Samus Returns
Wario Land (SML3)
Yoshi's Woolly World (best Yoshi)
*not only is this one of my favorite platformers, but this port/remake was announced back when the Switch was first announced!
@Dang_69 Yeah, I do think the music and atmosphere of the E.M.M.I. sections is amazing! Those sound effects are really unsettling, as is the sort of static filter over the screen.
When I criticized the lack of atmosphere, I meant the game overall, but those sections are certainly tense in an incredible way. I replayed Dread recently for the 5th time and am still super impressed with the mood they created for the EMMI chases.
@Dang_69 I love Dread, but it leaves little impression in terms of atmosphere. It feels pretty sterile. I guess defining "atmosphere" can be subjective, but I just don't happen to think that was something Dread did well at all compared to Prime, Echoes, Super, Fusion, etc. Heck, even Other M has a better sense of atmosphere, and I don't think that was an especially strong suit of that game either.
@echoplex Yeah, I should have mentioned Dark Aether in my post. I swear the intense feeling of running from light bubble to light bubble was so heavy and palpable I could almost taste it. Felt like suffocating, but... in a good way
Nah, to me the atmosphere of Super Metroid was completely bested by Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. In particular, Torvus Bog and Sanctuary Fortress are incredible, but the whole game oozes atmosphere and has the coolest architecture and art design I've ever seen in a game. And some of the music is so immersive I forget I'm playing a game.
I hope it plays like a more approachable version of Rain World. I appreciate so much what that game tries to do but it was just too frustrating for me to be fun. I absolutely LOVE hard games but this was just on a different level compared to something like Dark Souls. It felt hopeless and crushed me.
Splatoon 1 was the only one that really hooked me. The 2nd and 3rd just didn't.
In the first game... the level design, aesthetics, music, costumes, weapons, Callie & Marie... everything was just a lot more interesting to me (even after playing the sequel).
I normally don't play online games very much, but Splatoon 1 was a big exception. In fact, I played it so much that I sold it to make myself stop playing 😂. I LITERALLY BOUGHT IT, SOLD IT, AND REBOUGHT IT 3 SEPARATE TIMES!! That's how hooked I was and how desperate I was to get un-hooked.
Something new. I find the wonder effects were fun for a single playthrough but annoying on returning to a level.
Also, the graphics still don't look much different from NSMB. We need a truly fresh look! Where is Mario's Rayman Origins?
I'd totally buy DLC for Wonder, but I don't want a whole new game of that style.
I'm glad to see DKC2 at the top. It's going on 30 years that it has remained in my top 10 games of all time, and I'm not a very nostalgic person. I've long since kicked out most "classic" games in favor of objectively better modern games, but DKC2 is like fine wine for me.
Even as much as I like the Retro Studio DK games, I think they pale in comparison to DKC2 (and even DKC3).
DK '94 is fun but overrated. I think that is an example of a game being highly rated due to very rose-tinted nostalgia glasses. I loved it back when I was 9 (when it came out) but returning to it now is a couple hours of bite sized fun that makes little lasting impression.
I'm a huge fan of the original Mario vs DK, but I'm not buying the remake since they removed the challenge (stars) that made me like the game so much. Very disappointing 😞
@Clyde_Radcliffe Thanks so much for explaining. That is super disappointing to me and has destroyed my desire to buy the game. Nintendo removed exactly what I loved about the original!
This feels like a sad way to tarnish the legacy of the game. The required mastery of this game's levels was one of the most satisfying Nintendo challenges ever to me, and now... POOF! It's gone.
I wish the review would have explained this very pertinent info. When you review a remake, any differences between the new and original version should be key elements.
@FawfulDX As someone who beat the original 100%, I really don't know whether to trust this review or not.
The original is NOT easy to complete 100%. The game certainly starts simple but going for all the stars is where the real difficulty kicks in, and it was fantastic.
My thoughts reading this review are: 1) Did the game seem so easy because the reviewer played it co-op? I could see that substantially mitigating the challenge. 2) Did the reviewer go for 100% 3) Is the star system removed in this remake?
I wish someone would make a spiritual successor to Rocket: Robot on Wheels, as that might just be my favorite N64 platformer. It doesn't have the satisfying controls of Mario 64, but overall I feel it's a better consistent experience from front to back.
Just finished replaying Metroid Dread. Raven Beak is one of my favorite boss fights ever. Now I'm returning to Elden Ring, which I beat a year ago but never went to the Haligtree, so I'm making my way through it now to find out what the fuss is about Malenia. Wish me luck.
I never hated Metroid games, but the first time I beat them I was unimpressed. They were just okay. This was true of Prime, Zero Mission, Super, and Fusion (all the Metroid games I played in high school & college) l. It wasn't until I returned to them years later to get 100% completion that I really appreciated them. And my love for Zero Mission grew exponentially once I tried to get all the endings by learning to sequence break the game for speedruns. It became a whole new experience and I loved it!
I bought it on Steam Deck recently. With a little customization of settings, it runs great!
Gameplay is more fun than I expected. I'm generally terrible at games that require parrying, but this one clicks for me.
My disappointment is how samey and boring the environments are. The texture quality is incredibly detailed, but it still feels like I'm looking at nothing but rock and dirt.
Marble Zone is my favorite Sonic 3 level but that's not saying much as I think Sonic 3 has consistently mediocre level design. I really don't like a single stage very much at all, and I'll never understand the people who like it more than Sonic 2.
In particular, Ice Cap Zone gets so much praise, but I feel like that's down to great music and the cool snowboard opening, but the level layout itself always felt tedious to me.
@Uncle_Franklin Yes, but that's a different situation. Those trailers are specifically to highlight characters in a game whose overall gameplay and look is already well established.
Nobody is watching those trailers to figure out "What kind of game is this? Should I buy it?" In that case, a cinematic makes sense.
@LadyCharlie @link3710
This game is way better than DK '94. I love the Gameboy original so much, but I think people forget how incredibly short and easy that game is. Even my first playthrough was only about 3 hours.
Mario vs Donkey Kong probably took me over 20 hours to beat 100%, and the levels are way more creatively crafted.
Again, I have huge nostalgia for DK 94, but it is a bite-sized game. If it were released today there would be no end to the complaints.
I consider Ultimate the best, but I will always have the most affection for 64. The other Smash games all feel much more similar to one another, but Smash 64 has a feel to it that is completely distinct, and I love it.
I know it's all a joke, but this would actually make me happy because:
1. I'm not ready for Switch 2
2. F-Zero GX on Switch
3. Adventure of Link remaster
4. Metroid Other M(ovie)
I unironically love the Other M story. It has issues at points, but it's probably my favorite story of any video game ever.
Body Harvest is certainly my top pick. Throughout high school and college, Body Harvest was more than a game to me... it was the only online community I was ever fully immersed in. There was a small group of us who showed up every day for several years to chat via message boards. No game will ever match the special feeling that game brings up for me.
That means it's been 7 years since 1001 Spikes and Metroid Prime 4 were announced, and we still don't have them on the Switch...
Those were seriously the 2 games that sold me on buying a Switch 😄
Shadow of the Colossus would top my list, for sure. I've beaten it dozens of times, but that first playthrough can't be replicated.
Majora's Mask would also be right at the top, although at least in that case, repeat playthroughs are still magical just in a slightly different way.
It tickles me when people say Breath of the Wild. That game is so massive that there is little I remember. I've played it 3 times, and each time has felt like the first. Maybe my memory is just terrible 😬
@MeloMan The Sand of Time Remake was pushed back from January 2021 to March 2021 (and then indefinitely delayed after that). I'm guessing that's what you're thinking of.
AFAIK, the Lost Crown is still on target to release this month.
I can make stuff up too! Here is my WAY CRAZIER prediction:
The next Nintendo system will only have one game, but it will be the ULTIMATE game that appeals to everyone. And it will be on a subscription model, with new content added regularly. It will have everything... puzzles, action, adventure, FPS, platforming, RPG, strategy, flight simulator, shmup, arcade fighter, kart racer, farm sim...
It will be all things to all gamers. Nobody will ever want a new game or a new system ever again.
Comments 3,906
Re: Feature: 33 Games We're Surprised Still Aren't On Switch
@Isoph0451 DKC Returns is a solid pick. As time goes on, I realize I actually like its level design better than Tropical Freeze. The thing I don't like though is the ridiculous Wii waggle to roll. If they removed that in a Switch port, it would be so much better.
I'd also love to see a cartridge with DKC 1-3 on it. I know they're available on NSO, but I'd still totally buy a collection like that.
Re: Feature: 33 Games We're Surprised Still Aren't On Switch
1001 Spikes*
A Link Between Worlds
F-Zero GX
Kid Icarus Uprising
Mario Galaxy 2 (best Mario)
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (best Metroid)
Metroid Prime 4
Metroid: Samus Returns
Wario Land (SML3)
Yoshi's Woolly World (best Yoshi)
*not only is this one of my favorite platformers, but this port/remake was announced back when the Switch was first announced!
Re: Soapbox: 30 Years Later, Super Metroid's Foreboding Atmosphere Is Still Unmatched
@Dang_69 Yeah, I do think the music and atmosphere of the E.M.M.I. sections is amazing! Those sound effects are really unsettling, as is the sort of static filter over the screen.
When I criticized the lack of atmosphere, I meant the game overall, but those sections are certainly tense in an incredible way. I replayed Dread recently for the 5th time and am still super impressed with the mood they created for the EMMI chases.
Re: Soapbox: 30 Years Later, Super Metroid's Foreboding Atmosphere Is Still Unmatched
@Dang_69 I love Dread, but it leaves little impression in terms of atmosphere. It feels pretty sterile. I guess defining "atmosphere" can be subjective, but I just don't happen to think that was something Dread did well at all compared to Prime, Echoes, Super, Fusion, etc. Heck, even Other M has a better sense of atmosphere, and I don't think that was an especially strong suit of that game either.
Re: Soapbox: 30 Years Later, Super Metroid's Foreboding Atmosphere Is Still Unmatched
@echoplex Yeah, I should have mentioned Dark Aether in my post. I swear the intense feeling of running from light bubble to light bubble was so heavy and palpable I could almost taste it. Felt like suffocating, but... in a good way
Re: Soapbox: 30 Years Later, Super Metroid's Foreboding Atmosphere Is Still Unmatched
Nah, to me the atmosphere of Super Metroid was completely bested by Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. In particular, Torvus Bog and Sanctuary Fortress are incredible, but the whole game oozes atmosphere and has the coolest architecture and art design I've ever seen in a game. And some of the music is so immersive I forget I'm playing a game.
Also, Hollow Knight.
Re: Animal Well Brings Pretty Platforming And Creepy Creatures To Switch This May
I hope it plays like a more approachable version of Rain World. I appreciate so much what that game tries to do but it was just too frustrating for me to be fun. I absolutely LOVE hard games but this was just on a different level compared to something like Dark Souls. It felt hopeless and crushed me.
Re: Soapbox: As Splatoon's Online Wraps Up Nearly 9 Years On, How Does It Compare To Splatoon 3?
Splatoon 1 was the only one that really hooked me. The 2nd and 3rd just didn't.
In the first game... the level design, aesthetics, music, costumes, weapons, Callie & Marie... everything was just a lot more interesting to me (even after playing the sequel).
I normally don't play online games very much, but Splatoon 1 was a big exception. In fact, I played it so much that I sold it to make myself stop playing 😂. I LITERALLY BOUGHT IT, SOLD IT, AND REBOUGHT IT 3 SEPARATE TIMES!! That's how hooked I was and how desperate I was to get un-hooked.
Re: Summer Game Fest 2024 Gets A Date For Its Opening Live Showcase
Time to get hyped for Silksong!
There's more than a 0% chance it shows up.
Re: Yay! Pentiment's Home Menu Icon On Switch Has Now Been Updated
More importantly, the icon for Spider Heck was updated a while ago, and it is SO MUCH BETTER!
Old:
New:
Having truly one of the worst ever icons for one of the best Switch multiplayer games caused me to lose sleep at night. So happy they fixed it.
Re: Nintendo's MAR10 Day Sale Brings Discounts To Select Games And DLC (North America)
@RevengeFan Great question. I was really hoping the Mario Kart DLC would go on sale as I didn't renew the Switch Online expansion.
Re: Poll: Do You Want To See 'Super Mario Bros. Wonder 2'?
Something new. I find the wonder effects were fun for a single playthrough but annoying on returning to a level.
Also, the graphics still don't look much different from NSMB. We need a truly fresh look! Where is Mario's Rayman Origins?
I'd totally buy DLC for Wonder, but I don't want a whole new game of that style.
Re: Balatro Back On Switch eShop In Europe With New Age Rating
Makes sense, this certainly looks just as intense as Doom and Resident Evil 😜
Rated M for Mature spades and diamonds.
Re: Balatro Surpasses 500,000 Sales In First 10 Days
I'm really tempted to try it but I'm not into deck builders at all, so I'm afraid I'll play it for 20 minutes, get bored and quit.
Really wish there were a demo, because I also think it's possible I'd love it. Looks far less intimidating than Slay the Spire and such.
Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Mario vs. Donkey Kong?
I'd say 7, but I'd give the original GBA game a 9.
They removed what made the game so great (star challenge system).
Re: Best Donkey Kong Games Of All Time
I'm glad to see DKC2 at the top. It's going on 30 years that it has remained in my top 10 games of all time, and I'm not a very nostalgic person. I've long since kicked out most "classic" games in favor of objectively better modern games, but DKC2 is like fine wine for me.
Even as much as I like the Retro Studio DK games, I think they pale in comparison to DKC2 (and even DKC3).
DK '94 is fun but overrated. I think that is an example of a game being highly rated due to very rose-tinted nostalgia glasses. I loved it back when I was 9 (when it came out) but returning to it now is a couple hours of bite sized fun that makes little lasting impression.
Re: Rumour: A Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase Will Reportedly Drop Next Week
1. Pyoro has a flawless record, to my knowledge. In my mind, this is not a rumor at this point.
2. A partner showcase could be headlined by a Silksong release announcement, which (for me) would actually be better than a typical Direct.
Re: Nintendo Download: 15th February (North America)
I'm a huge fan of the original Mario vs DK, but I'm not buying the remake since they removed the challenge (stars) that made me like the game so much. Very disappointing 😞
Re: Review: Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Switch) - An Easygoing, Kid-Friendly Remake That's Just Fine
@Clyde_Radcliffe
Thanks so much for explaining. That is super disappointing to me and has destroyed my desire to buy the game. Nintendo removed exactly what I loved about the original!
This feels like a sad way to tarnish the legacy of the game. The required mastery of this game's levels was one of the most satisfying Nintendo challenges ever to me, and now... POOF! It's gone.
I wish the review would have explained this very pertinent info. When you review a remake, any differences between the new and original version should be key elements.
Re: Review: Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Switch) - An Easygoing, Kid-Friendly Remake That's Just Fine
@FawfulDX As someone who beat the original 100%, I really don't know whether to trust this review or not.
The original is NOT easy to complete 100%. The game certainly starts simple but going for all the stars is where the real difficulty kicks in, and it was fantastic.
My thoughts reading this review are:
1) Did the game seem so easy because the reviewer played it co-op? I could see that substantially mitigating the challenge.
2) Did the reviewer go for 100%
3) Is the star system removed in this remake?
Re: Switch Is Getting Another N64-Inspired Platformer, And It Looks Great
Looks promising for sure!
I wish someone would make a spiritual successor to Rocket: Robot on Wheels, as that might just be my favorite N64 platformer. It doesn't have the satisfying controls of Mario 64, but overall I feel it's a better consistent experience from front to back.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 10th)
Just finished replaying Metroid Dread. Raven Beak is one of my favorite boss fights ever.
Now I'm returning to Elden Ring, which I beat a year ago but never went to the Haligtree, so I'm making my way through it now to find out what the fuss is about Malenia. Wish me luck.
Re: Soapbox: I Hated Metroid: Zero Mission At First, Until I Loved It
I never hated Metroid games, but the first time I beat them I was unimpressed. They were just okay. This was true of Prime, Zero Mission, Super, and Fusion (all the Metroid games I played in high school & college) l.
It wasn't until I returned to them years later to get 100% completion that I really appreciated them. And my love for Zero Mission grew exponentially once I tried to get all the endings by learning to sequence break the game for speedruns. It became a whole new experience and I loved it!
Re: 94 Switch Games You Should Pick Up in Nintendo's 'Jump-Start' January Sale (US)
I'm considering We Love Katamari at $15. But I've got plenty to play right now, so I will probably hope it goes down to $10 by the next sale.
Re: Random: Capcom Survey Asks If Fans Want Sequels To Okami, Dino Crisis, More
Where is Viewtiful Joe?! That's the only dormant Capcom franchise I want revived.
Re: Talking Point: What's The Best Nintendo Remake Ever?
Zero Mission wins easily. Only Link's Awakening comes close.
Re: Review: GRIME Definitive Edition (Switch) - A Poor Port Of A Superb Soulslike Metroidvania
I bought it on Steam Deck recently. With a little customization of settings, it runs great!
Gameplay is more fun than I expected. I'm generally terrible at games that require parrying, but this one clicks for me.
My disappointment is how samey and boring the environments are. The texture quality is incredibly detailed, but it still feels like I'm looking at nothing but rock and dirt.
Re: Soapbox: An Ode To Marble Garden, Sonic The Hedgehog 3's Best Zone
Marble Zone is my favorite Sonic 3 level but that's not saying much as I think Sonic 3 has consistently mediocre level design. I really don't like a single stage very much at all, and I'll never understand the people who like it more than Sonic 2.
In particular, Ice Cap Zone gets so much praise, but I feel like that's down to great music and the cool snowboard opening, but the level layout itself always felt tedious to me.
Re: Poll: What Did You Think Of The Demo For Mario Vs. Donkey Kong?
I think it's definitely a demo that I'm downloading right now!
Re: Nintendo Download: 1st February (North America)
I bought Grime... on Steam Deck
Re: Sunsoft's 'Ufouria: The Saga 2' Gets A New Trailer And A Physical Switch Release
The original Ufouria is one of my absolute favorite NES games, so this is a very pleasant surprise!
Re: Round Up: The Previews Are In For Mario Vs. Donkey Kong
"Mario vs Donkey Kong is a casual and pleasant experience"
Hah! Might start out that way but late game gets super challenging to 100%, and I love it!
Re: Random: Sakurai Takes A Stand Against CGI Game Trailers
@Uncle_Franklin Yes, but that's a different situation. Those trailers are specifically to highlight characters in a game whose overall gameplay and look is already well established.
Nobody is watching those trailers to figure out "What kind of game is this? Should I buy it?" In that case, a cinematic makes sense.
Re: Random: Sakurai Takes A Stand Against CGI Game Trailers
Agreed. Most game trailers, I skip the first 30 seconds by default.
Re: Nintendo Highlights New Stages In Mario Vs. Donkey Kong Switch
@LadyCharlie @link3710
This game is way better than DK '94. I love the Gameboy original so much, but I think people forget how incredibly short and easy that game is. Even my first playthrough was only about 3 hours.
Mario vs Donkey Kong probably took me over 20 hours to beat 100%, and the levels are way more creatively crafted.
Again, I have huge nostalgia for DK 94, but it is a bite-sized game. If it were released today there would be no end to the complaints.
Re: Nintendo's Jump-Start To January Sale Kicks Off 2024 In Style With Up To 80% Off (US)
I'm tempted by Stretchers as that game almost never goes on sale. Is it worth buying?
Re: Nintendo Download: 25th January (North America)
Today is my birthday and Chip's Challenge is out on the Switch 😁
EDIT: The bad news is it looks to be the original, but my nostalgia is for the Windows 95 version 😒
Re: Best Super Smash Bros. Games Of All Time
I consider Ultimate the best, but I will always have the most affection for 64. The other Smash games all feel much more similar to one another, but Smash 64 has a feel to it that is completely distinct, and I love it.
Re: Back Page: 'DO NOT MENTION SWITCH 2' - We Infiltrate Nintendo And Sneak A Peek At Its 2024 Calendar
I know it's all a joke, but this would actually make me happy because:
1. I'm not ready for Switch 2
2. F-Zero GX on Switch
3. Adventure of Link remaster
4. Metroid Other M(ovie)
I unironically love the Other M story. It has issues at points, but it's probably my favorite story of any video game ever.
Re: Best Nintendo Switch Metroidvania Games
Now that I've played basically every half-decent Metroidvania on Switch, my top picks are:
Astalon
Axiom Verge
Hollow Knight
Metroid Dread
Ori (both)
Re: Poll: So, Will You Be Getting Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown?
The demo sold me... on not buying it.
It's very polished but it just wasn't very interesting for me. Seemed like a solid 8/10 game, but I'm afraid Hollow Knight has spoiled me.
Re: Feature: 25 Nintendo 64 Games We'd Love To See Added To The Switch Online Expansion Pack
Body Harvest is certainly my top pick. Throughout high school and college, Body Harvest was more than a game to me... it was the only online community I was ever fully immersed in. There was a small group of us who showed up every day for several years to chat via message boards. No game will ever match the special feeling that game brings up for me.
Re: Three More Sega Classics Are Being Revived, It's Claimed
Sub-Terrania and Comix Zone could be amazing.
Re: Yes, The Nintendo Switch Showcase Really Was Seven Years Ago
That means it's been 7 years since 1001 Spikes and Metroid Prime 4 were announced, and we still don't have them on the Switch...
Those were seriously the 2 games that sold me on buying a Switch 😄
Re: Review: Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown (Switch) - Slick, Stylish, And 2024's First Must-Play
Sounds fantastic!
Re: Talking Point: What Game Do You Wish You Could Forget?
Shadow of the Colossus would top my list, for sure. I've beaten it dozens of times, but that first playthrough can't be replicated.
Majora's Mask would also be right at the top, although at least in that case, repeat playthroughs are still magical just in a slightly different way.
It tickles me when people say Breath of the Wild. That game is so massive that there is little I remember. I've played it 3 times, and each time has felt like the first. Maybe my memory is just terrible 😬
Re: 'The Spy Who Shot Me' Brings '90s-Inspired FPS Action To Switch eShop
Agent 64: Spies Never Die is the one I'm waiting for! When is that game ever coming out!?
Re: Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games And Accessories For January And February 2024
@MeloMan The Sand of Time Remake was pushed back from January 2021 to March 2021 (and then indefinitely delayed after that). I'm guessing that's what you're thinking of.
AFAIK, the Lost Crown is still on target to release this month.
Re: Soulslike Metroidvania GRIME Finally Brings The Fight To Switch This Month
Just yesterday I was wondering when this is ever coming to Switch.
Re: 'Switch 2' Will Be An Iterative Evolution And Will Cost $400, Predicts Analyst
I can make stuff up too! Here is my WAY CRAZIER prediction:
The next Nintendo system will only have one game, but it will be the ULTIMATE game that appeals to everyone. And it will be on a subscription model, with new content added regularly. It will have everything... puzzles, action, adventure, FPS, platforming, RPG, strategy, flight simulator, shmup, arcade fighter, kart racer, farm sim...
It will be all things to all gamers. Nobody will ever want a new game or a new system ever again.
/totally legit prediction