Comments 38

Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Pokémon Scarlet And Violet?

wicktus

5/10 for me.
Game good, technical aspect horrible and casting shadows on the genuine efforts made to refresh the IP. The grade cannot just focus on the gameplay, it has to take into account the tech side too.

It's cyberpunk all over again for me.

The game is somewhat playable and enjoyable but they REALLY need to make 2/3 patches their utmost priority, framerate improvement, clipping/exploit/glitches need to be toned waaay down...and more importantly fix those memleaks and crashes.

I stopped playing after my first crash, waiting for the patches

Re: Review: Pokémon Scarlet And Violet - An Open-World Poké Playground Full Of Promise (And Tech Issues)

wicktus

It's one thing to have really outdated graphics, even some textures can be linked to the N64..

but to have primitive, basic 3D..AND low framerate ? Come on gamefreak, wake up.

Now, a game cannot be solely judged on graphics, I think outside the technical aspect it looks fun and filled with content.

And please...Zelda and Xenoblade are on that same hardware running and looking better. The tegra X1+ has nothing to do with this, the sole culprit is gamefreak

Re: Video: New Switch Hardware Won't Stop Bad Ports

wicktus

It's true.

But a stronger hardware means a development cost that is reduced, it's easier to port on a mega tegra SoC with DLSS and 3Tflops than a X1+.

On the current hardware a developer needs more time to optimise his in-house engine, find a lot of tricks to compensate anything from the weak ARM CPUs to the slow micro-sd speed rates.

Now there's Nier for instance, runs quite well and games like Alan wake, who are indeed bad ports. It's just that at one point a developer will study the port and decide to release a cloud version because it's just may not be worth it otherwise.

We need a new switch tbh, something that would be cross gen for 2-3 years no issue for current owners but there's definitely a market there, otherwise the steam deck would have tanked.

I'm seeing BOTW who struggles to keep 30 fps in some areas, Hyrule warriors or BOTW tears of the kingdom who seem a little choppy in the trailers I do believe it's time.

Re: Brace Yourself, We're Getting A Spooky Pokémon Scarlet And Violet Announcement Tomorrow

wicktus

@danemord
By experience what reviewers saw in the pre-release is usally quite close to the end result.

If people want to believe the game is going to be less choppy and cleaner...they are going to be disappointed IMO

Game is going to be fun and deep gameplay wise no doubt but technically speaking it looks like a student project (I apologize to the students for the comparison)...it's time they work seriously on the tech, once and for all.

Re: Bayonetta 3 Dev Responds To Voice Actor Dispute In Official Statement

wicktus

Given Schreier's track records and his reputation as someone very sensitive around worker rights issues..he'd never "side" with the company without proper information.

Say what you want, Taylor named her colleague and stated she had "no rights signing merchandise", opening the floodgate to harassments, and that is not OK for me, 4K or 15K or 250K, that was wrong..Hale is just doing her VA work. Period.
When you are working for PG, you sign a contract giving PG the property of your work, you don't "own" the Bayonetta character or one of her characteristics...

I'm not even going to repeat what others said about the six million figures paycheck demands and the lies around the total price being >> 4K.

Re: Random: Valve's Latest Steam Deck Trailer Briefly Shows A Switch Emulator

wicktus

@crazybenjamin
They both share the same performance within the margin of error, there are many benchmark out there, we are not talking of 1 extra fps here...
It does have better battery life thanks to the 22 to 14nm shrink but you know it was first and foremost changed because the 2017 soc had a critical security flaw.

The 2017 SoC and the mariko revision have the same performance in game and my point revolves around performance.

Mariko has no real relevance in that aspect, sorry, I'd even say it's worse, they could have added an overclock with Mariko given it consumed and heated far less !

Re: Random: Valve's Latest Steam Deck Trailer Briefly Shows A Switch Emulator

wicktus

@Miu Of course, but the fall are quick and hard in this industry.
The wii was in the exact same scope: tons of sales hardwares and software, cheap development prices..but suddenly people disengaged from the wii and sales fell sharply.

Of course games like BOTW2 will sell like crazy and right now it's still a big dynamic but it will, at one point, decrease and usually it declines fast IMO.

And at one point third parties won't be able to keep sacrificing their games and time for the hardware, not everyone is Hello Games who released years of free No man's Sky updates and no micro-transactions.

Re: Random: Valve's Latest Steam Deck Trailer Briefly Shows A Switch Emulator

wicktus

My message is directed at people who are sensitive to resolution and framerate:

Nintendo is really naive thinking they could keep delaying that switch pro.

When your games run far better on an emulator set on another portable device, I think it's time for an upgrade.

It's an underclocked Tegra X1 released in March 2017. It's time for a hardware refresh, period. A refresh that wouldn't prevent several years of coexistence between switch and switch pro.

The success of the SD is not only a potential issue for the switch pro, it's proof that people DO care about a more powerful portable/hybrid console despite what some keep saying.

Nintendo's next hardware is by far my most awaited piece of technology, TV, nvidia, steam deck 2, iphone 14, I don't care, I think a powerful console with PS4 level of performance (but modern APIs) in portable mode would be absolutely crazy.

Re: Nvidia Employee Comment Confirms Chip Rumoured To Be Used In 'Switch Pro' Is Real

wicktus

@NintendoKnight
It's absolutely clear for me that they will use, like PS4/PS5, 1-3 years of cross-platform. The current switch playerbase is just gigantic.
I frankly expect the switch pro near BOTW2

Disruption the likes of wiiU/switch were needed because wiiU was not a success and they wanted to finally merge the development streams of home and portable consoles into one.

Re: Game Journalist Doubles Down On Zelda News At Upcoming Nintendo Direct

wicktus

He has a track record, no one can deny it, it's fact.

Now,..thing is projects can get delayed, cancelled so we end up disappointed.

Just watch the show with 0 expectations, we have XC3 recently released, splatoon 3, pokemon, Nier, Mario+rabbids, Bayonnetta 3..so worst case we have to wait more (near February) for proper new games

Re: Soapbox: Endless Zelda Remakes Are A Poor Substitute For Backwards Compatibility

wicktus

I think it's OK to remake classics. The GCN is old and backward compatibility is here up to N64, not sure the switch has the power to emulate a GCN properly maybe.

Wind Waker HD for instance is much better than the GCN version technically speaking, not a small upscale, it's really something that can please all generations of players far better.

We won't get a free GCN wind waker with NSO+..it's just won't happen IMO.

Re: Video: Digital Foundry Investigates Switch's Lowest Resolution Games

wicktus

@Abes3 Yes and No, an upgraded dock would mean still limiting your games to run on the older portable mode. For improving an already existing game like witcher, sure, for mario kart 9 or splatoon 4 that would be the actual nightmare but for developers.

Imagine you'd want to develop a battle-royale 16 players mode in Splatoon 4 (I don't want that but imagine), that mode would work on the docked mode, not on the portable mode...so it won't exist, therefore a dock-only spec bump will most certainly wreck the ambition of developers for the next coming years. The current option to have a lower clock for the portable 720p screen + higher clock for 1080p is the best. Adding a chipset to the dock for me would be a big mistake.

Focus should be on improving the switch itself, it's no logistics nightmare: it currently has a 2015 14nm Tegra X1+ SoC. Nvidia has FAR more powerful options to offer. A 2019/2020 7nm Ampere Tegra SoC with DLSS being one.

Sure there are shortages but for a dock with an integrated SoC too you'd still need chipsets

Re: Game Freak Confirms Pokémon Legends: Arceus Started Development Before Sword & Shield's Launch

wicktus

@wanghosom We cannot know if it's either Gamefreak or TPC. For me it's both that are responsible here for the issues:

Take note that GameFreak also develop games outside the Pokémon franchise. It's up to GF to train, hire, expand accordingly, improve the 3D toolkits/SDK (they'll never use Unreal or Unity given the license cost). In 2020 they moved to bigger offices near Nintendo, hopefully they are going to work on their technical issues.

Regarding pokemon games release schedules that's more TPC yes, it's really intensive.

But in the end as of june 2022,..24.50 millions copies for sword/shield
12.6 million for Arceus as of March 2022

We'll see scarlet/violet if it's decreasing they may start to understand that they need to improve the games. But who am I kidding lol it's going to wreck everything sales wise.

Re: Hands On: Splatoon 3 Brings New Ideas, But Nothing Revolutionary

wicktus

They added tons of content, a new story, improved the multiplayer (NPLN, server-side storage), added even AMD upscaling I read.

They won't revolutionise without a new switch, this Splatoon 3 IMO is the best we can have and if you tell me to brainstorm "revolutionary" ideas on the current hardware, the boards will be blank frankly...maybe even more esport/streaming/competition engagement

Re: Nintendo Treehouse: Live Presentation Set For This Thursday

wicktus

The E3 was cancelled, so yes we have a treehouse now. They have an AAA to promote and third party marketing deals to respect.

Since when do we have general direct in August ?..come on, just enjoy it and...IF, IF there's a general direct it would be announced in September, as it has always been when scheduled.

This treehouse doesn't confirm nor deny anything direct related, period.

Re: Nintendo President Says Switch Production Is "Uncertain" Next Year

wicktus

Don't read too much into it, it's an uncertain climate right now: inflation and shortages are present so a publicly tr

@ModdedInkling I get that people don't really want to purchase a new expensive model but trying to wrap a pro/2 as some big mistake is wrong for me, it's a 2015 SoC and developers, even for first party games, are now struggling to really innovate and even maintain a stable gameplay experience, really felt it witch Xenoblade 3.

Truth is mentions of the NVN2 DLSS API for switch were already found so it's either being in advanced development or even finished, you don't work on an API without having a strong idea of what your hardware is IMO.

the only thing holding back Nintendo is the current switch still selling very well and their games like BOTW2/MP4 being delayed..because yes they will never release a plus/2 model without proper AAA games to justify it.

they won't forever stay on a 14nm node, foundries will upgrade and they'd have even more difficulties convincing Nvidia to continue X1 production rather than switching on the more popular and widely-available 7nm.

Logistic issues whether you transport a switch or a switch pro it's still planes and ships transporting your parcels.

A pro would be more expensive and coexist several years with the current model most certainly so really don't see the issue

Re: UK Charts: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Soars To Number One

wicktus

Impressive...but very well deserved. The game is a jewel, period.

Monolith are generous, they make those HUGE game filled with alternatives, possibilities, big stories, one of my favourite studio.

They upped their game in storytelling/emotion for XC3 albeit some characters are annoying haha.

I CANNOT wait to see what they will be able to do with a next-gen switch.

Re: Round Up: The Reviews Are In For Digimon Survive

wicktus

It's very important for people to understand WHAT they are buying:
it's first and foremost a visual novel where your choices matter..then there are tactic gameplay phases but it's really secondary you will spend the majority of your time in visual novel mode.

I agree most with Playstation lifestyle review here. It's original, LOTs of good idea with a more mature/grim scenario for a change without spoiling but also some notable flaws that prevents it from going from good to waouh.

Re: Random: People Are Getting Pretty Worried About Splatoon 3

wicktus

NO, I don't agree at all.

Nintendo decided to focus on marketing Xenoblade, a great IP, but not one to make 10mil sales so totally justified to focus marketing on it.

Nintendo also helped promote Live-a-live (great remake btw).

Now, they focus on Q3/Q4 but the game is still more than a month away, they WILL release direct and marketing PR soon, have no doubts, just that casting shadows on other more niche JRPG exclusive would really not be ideal

Finally, TPC is NOT Nintendo ! Nintendo is just but one stakeholder of TPC, so they do have some form of autonomy in their marketing campaigns, not necessarily linked to Splatoon 3

Re: No, Monster Hunter Paradise Probably Isn't The Title Of The Next Entry

wicktus

I mean given World is a gigantic success and the most sold MH game ever alongside Iceborne,..it's not hard to understand that MH6 or Paradise or whatever it's called is planned and a priority for Capcom.

If Nintendo would release a stronger switch it would maybe come to the console too, same for Multiversus, future will tell , they can totally come later on a pro/2

regarding being MH6 or not, does it really matter ? MH have no serious story or scenario spawning on multiple titles...

Re: Rumour: Cryptic Whispers Of Incoming F-Zero News Are Doing The Rounds Online

wicktus

I want a clearer vision for 2023 and onwards, BOTW2, a new switch pro ?

For this year, frankly we are SPOILED, so many games, and splatoon, pokemon, xenoblade are games that can handle hundreds hours of gameplay alone..

So that 2023 vision, a good general september direct could easily fix this, for those rumours I don't care anymore frankly

Re: Mario Strikers: Battle League Update Adds Daisy, Shy Guy, And More

wicktus

@SakuraHaruka
I see you point but the 'better' answer is mario tennis ace or Super smash that released, with the same price, but had WAY more multiplayer content/capabilities day one...and a story mode. Those games still received a lot of updates.

Striker had very little content day one, and still does tbh. I believe many already stopped playing the game, it's a missed opportunity.

People CAN wait. They, Nintendo, decided to reveal strikers in time for a June release

Re: Mario Strikers: Battle League Update Adds Daisy, Shy Guy, And More

wicktus

Played one or two weeks with my friends...with whom I couldn't play with online vs A.I. to train and then the game went dead for me, no one in my circle kept playing it.

Quite disappointed by it tbh, I think Mario Tennis Ace and Arms were way more entertaining and solid content-wise...we went backward with Striker

Re: Talking Point: Would You Mind If Nintendo Retired The 'Big' Nintendo Direct Format?

wicktus

I absolutely love the Direct, watch it with friends and I just like seeing games announcement since I'm like 10 and was awaiting the E3 keynotes, I think it will NOT go away anytime soon, now:

To be as "analytic" as possible:

  • They already announced a pretty packed line-up, mario striker, Xenoblade chronicles 3, live a live, Pokémon scarlet/violet, Bayonnetta 3, Splatoon 3, Mario Kart 8 DLC and a partner-mini with Persona, Nier, pacman...digimon survive too in July.
  • They are very obviously working on either a switch pro or the switch 2, that means making a line-up to promote that new console, be it "performance" modes or brand new games who knows

My humble opinion is that Nintendo direct will be back and in full force, just that with the current line-up made of many post-covid games that finally finished development it was a little absurd to make a big direct, the timing is just not right, you're in between games/hardwares far from being ready for reveal and tons of already developed games extensively marketed.

We have Metroid Prime, BOTW2 a rumoured Fire Emblem and a rumoured switch pro, that big direct is not going anywhere.