swoose

Now they just need to add a parallax barrier screen and physical 3D slider to the Switch 2, and this will have parity with emulating on the 3DS.

I’m far removed from the level of play where the flow aura change makes sense. When players sneak into your backline and get a multikill, it already feels match-ending in a lot of modes. But I take it that rarely happens in competitive because they play so safe and coordinated with all the newer long-range weapons.

On the other hand I like the health bars for making information more accessible, that teams on voice are normally communicating to each other (damaged targets). It loses some of the charm of ink on their models being your indicator, but as they say that’s hard to even see at range. The hitbox changes I’ll have to play to see how they feel.

Just give us Mario Kart: Double Dash Nintendo. It won’t make Mario Kart World look bad, because they play very differently. And it’s a small game, with only 16 tracks.

Wait a minute, that’s over 50% the tracks in Mario Kart World…

I'll give Nintendo credit, they did a good job marketing the 3DS game in the West and its success followed suit. Glad to see they're continuing with Living the Dream.

A game getting its own Direct matters. They didn't do one for Metroid Prime 4, in contrast.

His model and cinematics look great as usual. But animation wise I get the same feeling as from Manon’s throws, they’re a bit too floaty and visibly mo-capped for my taste. We were spoiled by Street Fighter 3’s animation, that’s for sure.

I’m surprised there are 30k Japanese Switch 2 owners that didn’t already own New Horizons. They know you can just upgrade right?

All I can think is there’s a lot of buying new copies for kids and family members, or for additional consoles given the 1 island per Switch limit.

I agree with many that the paid Switch 2 editions are wearing thin. This in particular seems like it should have been in the base game, especially the multiplayer modes. It feels wrong and un-nintendo to need DLC on top of perhaps Switch Online to make a game’s multiplayer complete.

I hope Nintendo can pick up the pace with original Switch 2 software. How long can they keep re-visiting Switch 1 games?

Isn’t Nintendo basically grandfathered in on RAM prices from the supplier deals they signed for the Switch 2? I don’t know the exact details, or if those deals get re-signed every year or what.

Furukawa seemed really unconcerned at the question, though. If a console price hike was on the horizon, you’d think they would be priming their audience for it to lessen the blowback.

Please take six years to make a generation again. That seems to be more the standard now for devs big and small making actually polished games.

That was pretty stiff, it takes practice sounding natural reading a prompt on camera. But kudos to her for finding a dress with pockets.

Something funny about Michelangelo’s David openly hanging dong in this game, but whatever this is getting banned.

You can tell which commenters skimmed through the first 12 paragraphs praising the game until they found the words "good enough", and used that as the author's verdict on MP4 and a gotcha against NintendoLife.

The author's qualms with the game came from 1. all the presupposed and toxic negativity surrounding it, and 2. a little bit of the NPCs. This article is about you, if you're using it as a soapbox to campaign against the game some more.

I think VR's intrigue has been squandered by awful form factors and no killer product. IMO, in no world should the processing unit be strapped over your head. It should be lightweight glasses that get the image through streaming like the WiiU gamepad, or a simple cable. I can't stand wearing a monitor AND console on my head.

Nintendo's LABO effort feels halfhearted, especially if they do the same with the heavier Switch 2s. But they're a company that if they actually cared about VR, could design an appealing and approachable device. It's no shock that a data-scraping company that chases tech trends hasn't gotten it right.

Only
Switch for
Mother 3

Again, for best audio Mario Kart World is right there. I saw jazz heads calling it an $80 fusion album with a racing game attached.

There was also a new Katamari Damacy this year with a typically excellent OST. These western award shows have no taste.

The cheaper Japan-only SKU was a smart choice. If they artificially region-locked a cheaper version here, we would be furious at the principle of it, but Japanese gamers don't feel they're missing out. It protects their domestic supply from foreign buyers taking advantage of exchange rates, and pretty much guarantees it'll be a best seller there.

You could argue they actually priced it too low, if they're still having fulfillment issues after 6+ months. But getting people bought into the platform is good for the long haul. Of course I wish it were more affordable here... but also see no problem with the game lineup. Big "Western" hits don't interest me usually, and there's more games than I actually have time for.

Strafing is a game changer and should have been hilighted in the update trailer. My opponents will never hit me now.

@JaxonH @Classic603 @Expa0 This isn’t quite right. Easy mode was newly developed for the international version, and not in the original at all. In Japan it only had Normal - Hard - Maddening. Maddening got completely removed rather than translated, and isn’t playable unless you use a Japanese Switch Online account. It was a poorly received mode, so some might say that’s for the best. Anyway, no mode names were actually changed.

In a sense that means the hardest international mode is easier than the hardest Japanese one, and the Easy mode is also easier than the easiest Japanese mode (Normal). Make of that what you will!

@shonenjump86 This is Hugo's brother, Andore. It's their family name but also the name of that character so there's confusion. There's also an Andore Jr.

Hugo is a playable character in the series so they wouldn't use him for a cutscene mook like this.

Gen 1-5er for life here, and I don’t think they’ll make a game as good as the 2D entries again. However, I got this game as a present and it definitely has its qualities and a fun loop. I think it’s an improvement over Legends Arceus, despite the city design being undercooked.

As a character, his worst bits come right at the start. It's true he's not as bad as the first impression, but the first impression is still very much part of the game. The cringey "cubicle next to Phil" and "reaaal nerdy in here" lines deservingly got memed everywhere. Atrocious decision to include those lines in the game's vertical slice and preview. After that he's a more low-key and even pleasant fellow.

As others have said, the larger issue is how he ties into the game design. I think the interrupting desert exploration is intended to save the player work - because grinding green crystals is actually inefficient until the late game when you can scout them and blow up rocks. The crystals quest is more like late-game padding, which is the flaw. However, there's no excuse for telling the player to go places they're already headed, or reminding all 3 times to bring elemental chips to him. That is an indefensible choice that devs only make if they think their players are dum dums.

And a smaller point, but my immersion was killed by the upgrade prompt "a Galactic Federation Engineer Lv. 4 or higher can install this". This is alien technology from an uncharted system/timeline. Oh, so a Lv. 3 Galactic Federation Engineer won't do?? All Metroid upgrades in history just get sucked into Samus' suit. Hell, the charge upgrades to the elemental shots get sucked into her suit. That justification to go talk to Myles was really flimsy.

Usually Pokemon Company's branding does nothing for me, but that Sugimori-style art transitioning into the Game Boy sprites hit my nostalgia in just the right spot.

I'd be day one for a Pokemon game that uses pixel art as a medium again. It's such a timeless look. Even just a spin on the old games like NES Remix or F-Zero 99.

Nintendo of America asks for this game to be developed, and then can't even translate its digital manual in time to release with the game. Everything good over there?

I was going to credit Kirby's merchandising presence for why Air Riders is such a big hit in Japan... but it's not like Forgotten Land is appearing on either of these lists. The GameCube sold very poorly there, so it's not affinity for the original game. And there's probably a Sakurai bump, but idk if casuals were watching his two 45 minute presentations. And all this as a "racing" game launching a few months after Mario Kart World.

It seems like just a runaway success marketing this specific game.

I've seen multiple outlets score the two versions separately and give a lower score to the game on Switch 1, and I think that's nonsense. It's literally the same game just outputting a different resolution (or an overkill 120 fps).

Heck, if you're playing handheld you might prefer the visuals on an OLED to the Switch 2's screen.

Werner Herzog: "When two persons in search of a pokemon clash at the corner of Sunset and San Vicente is there violence? Is there murder?"

He asked this about Pokemon GO, turns out it's more applicable to the TCG.

I'm surprised a Switch Lite's screen is actually that much smaller than a Wii U's.

And boy do I miss the GameCube through Wii U era of Nintendo ergonomics, they had it down to a science. The Switch 1 and 2 more follow their handheld line, and the priorities just aren't the same.

I loved Shadow of the Colossus and had no idea what a fox Fumito Ueda is.

There's a lot to this kind of game and people come to it wanting very different things from each other, so it'll probably always be divisive. The criticism I think is most valid is the level design and lack of puzzles & navigation. I'm reminded of how 3D Zelda fans haven't gotten dungeons like OoT through Skyward Sword again, where puzzles are integrated in the map layout. It's like everyone at Nintendo who likes that kind of design has moved on. Critic reviews, also, didn't articulate this issue well and I'm seeing it much more from fans.

It's the first Metroid Prime I've sat down with myself and I was mostly excited for the art & sound direction, sense of immersion, and reading all the scans. I'm happy as punch with all those elements and it's a solid 9/10 for me. Maybe I'll get to the original Prime after this so I can better appreciate the game design difference.

Also: it's a Switch 1 game, and I think it gets done a disservice being talked about like it's not. For Switch 1 it's a real technical marvel, and the S2 edition only adds 1440p or 120fps. I have friends who don't have Switch 2s yet who didn't even know they could play this game, that's how poor the marketing has been.

Agree with the gist of the article, especially going to bat for Drag x Drive. Funny enough what's kept me from returning to Mario Kart World is seeing the tricks and shortcuts good players are winning with, and knowing I won't have the time to master them. That and 30 tracks being probably not enough. But I think it doesn't get enough credit for shaking up Mario Kart's core gameplay - the rails, tricks, wall riding and charge jumps are really transformative.

Sadly I bounced off Kid Icarus Uprising, not even for the controls, but it felt overwhelming having VN dialog play simultaneous with action gameplay. I'd rather focus on those one at a time, thanks! It had me actually wishing for more cutscenes so I could just look at the characters and read.

The desert being comparatively cruddy looking is a good reminder that this was designed to run at 60fps on Switch 1, which is a real feat. The 3D Zeldas with full camera control didn't come close to that, the top down Zeldas didn't even maintain it well, some side-scrolling games like Kirby and Paper Mario were 30fps. And it makes the more beautiful biome areas all the more impressive.

I have some qualms about the game, but I think the mixed reviews are really underselling what a visual and technical achievement this is. If the Switch 2 didn't exist and we only had this Switch 1 version, it would be seen as more revolutionary.

The other good PSA I've seen is the green energy crystals in the desert being required to progress the game, like a LOT of them. It's been bugging my OCD seeing reviewers drive straight through a cluster without the Akira slide and not get them all.

Mario Kart World not being up for Best Score and Music might be the most discrediting thing I’ve heard about an awards show. It’s the best OST Nintendo has produced to date.

My GOTY is Splatoon 3 for the 4th year in a row. Surprise 10.0 patch was a game changer and Salmon Run finally runs without frame drops.

I’m here for the growing backlash against everything becoming open-world. Many games were simply better when they had to design good hallways and rooms.

Fortunately the desert is more like padding between the real meat of the game, which is the biomes. In that way I saw it compared to pre-BotW 3D Zelda, which is a structure I’m happy to play.

The main areas where it looks to fall short of the original are the open desert, yapping npcs and more linear structure. Fortunately, there’s plenty of space between “Metroid Prime 1” and “really great game.”

Some of the alien architecture I’ve seen in footage is just jaw dropping, like nothing I’ve seen in an any medium. Those more constrained areas are clearly still Retro’s strength. The desert looks like it’s from a different, worse game.

Love developer interviews and I’m not sure why this didn’t release alongside the game, but better late than never…

Loved the demo, the digging was shockingly similar to Splatoon movement but in a top-down game. Shame they missed the Halloween launch, but I’ll look forward to when it does release.

Came here to complain that they made yet another fanservice mega for Lucario instead of anything new... but even I have to admit that design is really cool. Easily beats the normal mega Lucario.

I keep seeing the argument that a character like Myles was added to give it wider appeal, but no reasoning for why he’s appealing. Do we really think people are drawn in by an annoying nerd who looks like McLovin prattling at them? That’s going to drive sales, really? I would understand the argument if it was for more anime characters in bodysuits and dating elements, that’s what would actually court more players.

Metroid arguably has some sales momentum after Dread sold the most in the series, but that game had MUCH better marketing imo. It was front and centre in the Switch OLED launch.

He’s not wearing his hat here because they don’t want to reveal Ezlo as a character yet.

I don't believe the Pikachu etc are new "forms" as we typically understand them in Pokemon, where they're part of the species that we'll see across games and anime. The game's press doesn't refer to them as "forms". I think they're just original characters, like Professor Tangrowth.

And that's refreshing, imo. Pokemon branding is usually too uptight to allow a 3rd party dev to make OCs out of pokemon. Maybe it helps that Game Freak is collaborating on this.

I’ll just remark on the “denying yourself an experience” defense of this. Some are talking about this game like it’s walking into the woods and seeing a waterfall, a free and accessible thing. It costs $70!!! Not even a budget title!

When someone is trying to pry $70 from us, you’d hope their presentation, delivery and everything else would be on point. Otherwise they’re just giving us reasons to second guess if it’s worth it. I am frequently on the fence about spending that much for a game, so this sure doesn’t help.

I know he wasn’t working on Mario games in an official capacity anymore, but I’m also surprised at the “first 30 minutes or so” comment, that is so little. I guess he’s always seen himself as more of a product design and entertainment guy, not so much an avid gamer.

Blaziken’s 120 damage + burn for 2 energies is disgusting. And 210hp? Why bother running anything else?

Most attacks that cost 3-4 energies are not viable if you’re giving players that.

Officially fed up with internet discourse around new Pokemon games and how partisan people are getting about the brand. I haven’t bought it but I can’t even watch a balanced review on its flaws and merits without every comment calling the reviewer a hack for “defending” it at all. Or repeating the same superficial complaints about textures we can all see in the trailers - in other words, not impressions from playing the game.

I didn’t enjoy Scarlet/Violet and wasn’t pleased that it broke sales records, so I’m not going to cheer the success of this game I haven’t played. But at least the comments here aren’t just calling Pokemon players sheep ad nauseum.

Loving my Switch 2 and the only big exclusive I’ve played on it so far is MKW, since the bundle offset its price. Mostly the Switch 1 library was crying out for something that could play it more capably with non-drifting controls, and this is the first properly new hardware launch from Nintendo in 7 years. So I’m not surprised it’s doing well despite the cost and small amount of exclusives so far.

Never thought I’d die fighting side by side with Nintendo’s legal team.

If only Studio Ghibli had the same resources - I hear it’s popular with AI bros to profane Miyazaki’s animation style. I hope this bubble is all a bad memory someday.

The kneejerk reaction of the community that "this isn't Fire Emblem" and Nintendo giving it zero marketing sure didn't do it any favours. But the artwork looks quite nice actually, and I'm intrigued by the main character. It's scarcely a spoiler to say, but Kurt is obviously a woman, and her fiancée Rose loves her all the same, giving us a canon LGBT pairing in a Nintendo published title.

Regrettably I don't make much time for mobile games, and I already open Pokemon Sleep and TCG Pocket every day. But I may give this a try to see how I find it - the paid characters becoming free later seems fair enough.

Friend park waiting lists and player levels were the exact kinds of things the game could have used at launch!

Between this and tracking collectibles in Mario Kart World, it really feels like some 1st year Switch 2 games came out with pretty undercooked user experiences…