Topic: Nintendo Switch --OT--

Started Super Mario RPG. Cute, and the redone visuals and music are BEAUTIFUL on Switch, but sorta simple, and the dated level design doesn't do it any favors.

I'm glad I'm getting to play it, but I doubt it'll change my opinion that the Rabbids crossover RPGs from Ubisoft are, far and away, the best Mario RPGs to date.

I seriously can't believe that I'm playing The Thousand-Year Door now. I've been wanting to play it for so long now and it's finally here! The game looks absolutely clean on the Switch and the music as well as the presentation are fantastic as expected. Can't remember the last time I was this excited about a Nintendo game.

Super late I know but I checked out the Unicorn Overlord demo. Played probably only the first hour or two, but I liked what I tried. Its weird cause on paper this game is my jam, but I feel like audiences and games media collectively did a really poor job of explaining what this game is. Making it sound like this really convoluted messy experience that just completely put me off. And especially during the early part of the year there was so much other to play it was easy to just toss this aside. Now the year is really really dry (for my tastes) and hearing its on discount and that there was a multi hour demo I thought I'd finally try it. I dunno, maybe it gets really complicated later on, but at least based on the first few stages I cleared, people really oversold the complexity of this. (not to say the game isn't complex in a sort of depth kind of way, but from an actual mechanic gameplay sense it is very easy to pick up. Much easier than I expected given how people explained the loop).

Just finished Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door on Switch after 32 hours. Still can't believe that I've finally played through this game. So many years of wanting to play it but couldn't because I didn't have a GameCube or a Wii and even if I did, I would have to pay around €200 for a physical copy.

But I'm glad that I waited because this reworked version is sublime. The improved graphics are absolutely stunning, especially the lighting. It made the game much more enjoyable to play. And I'm sure people who have played the original will like the redone soundtrack. I can't compare it to the original, but for a first-time listener, it was amazing.

With that out of the way, the actual game is everything that I thought it would be. The story and the gameplay were excellent. It plays pretty much like the first game. The partners were much more likeable compared to the first game as they got more time to shine and felt more unique. I still would've liked to have interacted with them more throughout the story. But yeah, the game was so much fun to play and I enjoyed every minute of it.

One aspect that could've been improved is the chapters. Two of the chapters felt rather repetitive, which were Glitzville, which was basically a battle arena where you had to battle 20 opponents, and Poshley Heights, which was for the most part a train ride and the issue with this chapter was the constant back-tracking through the train. The chapters in the first Paper Mario were better overall in my opinion.

Having played the first two Paper Mario games now, I can see why the developers went for a completely different approach with the third game on the Wii (despite the obvious reason that Nintendo's studios were encouraged to utilise the Wii's capabilities). The gameplay is pretty much the same in the first two iterations and if they had made the third game similar, I would've gotten burned out in all honesty. I mean yeah, they went from an RPG to a 2D platformer, but it still had RPG elements, partners (even though they're nowhere near as unique as the ones in the first two games) and a rich story. In fact, having now played the first three games, I still think Super Paper Mario had the best story and the most interesting characters (specifically the villains) of the three games.

All in all though, I'm so glad to have finally gotten to experience this absolute gem of a game. If you're looking for a unique turn-based RPG, you absolutely have to play The Thousand-Year Door. In terms of the overall Paper Mario experience, it's easily the best one of all the games in the series.

Oh man, that was good for a late-stage Direct. Playable Zelda! A new Mario and Luigi! METROID PRIME 4!!!!

That was the best Direct in a long time. New Mario & Luigi, new Zelda where you play as Zelda, new Mario Party with boards from MP 1 and 2, new trailer for Metroid Prime 4, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection (I'm fairly certain the Edgeworth games haven't been released outside of Japan, or at least not the second one) and a new "Danganronpa" game. This is turning out to be a fantastic year for gaming along with some compelling PlayStation and Xbox releases later this year (to clarify, M&L, Zelda, Mario Party and AA are coming out this year). I don't know how I'll have the time to play all of them lol.

Was not expecting a Direct that strong this late into the generation.

Mario RPGs really are coming back in a big way, aren't they?

Just on Switch, we have the two Mario + Rabbids games, Paper Mario TTYD remake, Super Mario RPG remake, and now a brand new Mario and Luigi game.

As usual, Nintendo knows how to bring the goods to its presentations.

Zelda looks great. Way to go, Nintendo!

@LtSarge I almost forgot Investigations 2 was getting an official release. The fan patch is basically the official one given how widespread it is.

Decent Direct, definitely some interesting announcements.

Overall though... a bit underwhelming? I understand this is an end of cycle presentation, but I still expect Nintendo to surprise more. I also don't think I was the audience for some of these trailers, as I'm not a big fan of some of Nintendo's IP. Mario and Luigi coming back seems nice but I'm skeptical. The series hasn't been what it used to be for a long time, and I wasn't convinced from what I saw that it will evolve past older titles as they once did. Zelda looks interesting, I'm intrigued by the mechanics Aonuma shared, but I just don't care for 2D Zelda. Don't think they've been great since Minish Cap... but I'm willing to be changed on that. And then Prime 4... I'm sorry, but as a huge Prime fan, what exactly did we see that set it apart from previous titles? The title is Beyond after all.. what made you feel that from watching? I suppose they could be keeping the essence of the gameplay in their hands for now, but SOMETHING to demonstrate this is totally new - beyond - has left me wanting.

I'm sorry guys, I don't want to be overly negative, could be I need to think it over a bit, I just don't think there was that much to show for the remainder of the year. For those of you who enjoyed it, power to you. Seriously

That said, still interested in that Zelda reveal, the RPG with Uematsu composing looks cool, DK fans getting a remaster for Returns is nice, and the new Mario Party looks like a blast.

@Enriesto I dunno, man, if a Zelda game with a playable Zelda that doesn't play similarly to other 2D Zeldas and the revival of Mario & Luigi isn't sufficiently surprising to you, I'm not sure what would be.

@Ralizah Zelda’s Adventure remaster when?

@Ralizah I’ll give you Zelda, sure. I think that qualifies as a surprise, and looks genuinely fun. Another Mario and Luigi? Sorry, not only is that not a welcome surprise, but it’s following the shadow of a dying series. It could be great, but there wasn’t enough in the trailer to convince me it can renew the series the way, say, Awakening did for Fire Emblem.

@nessisonett Heh. The style of those games really is something else.

A friend of mine grabbed the physical of Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore from LRG, and I had such mixed feelings when I watched him play it.

One of those 'just because you can doesn't mean you should' moments.

Personally there’s a lot im excited about

Brothership
Dragon quest
Zelda game (this time, it’s the character!)
Miles edgeworth (GK2 localized!!)
Luigi’s mansion
New Kodaka game with a BEAUTIFUL cast (I like the edgy goth girl. Needed one since Celeste)
Prime 4

The list goes on!!!
So many 🐐 s!!!!

Rather good direct given how late in the generation it is! In the past Nintendo had quite a habit of winding things down long before the arrival of new hardware, even on the Wii, so they surprised me yet again. I was convinced that Pikmin 4 (which I'm currently playing and adore) and Mario Wonder would be the last big hurrahs. While I'm extremely happy at the love Mario RPGs are getting, three in the space of a year is a lot, innit. I really hope they are able to thrive going forward.
The Zelda game looks like a nice puzzle-focused take on the series. It's brilliant to have not only another overhead classic-esque Zelda, but Zelda herself in the lead after so many years of being the damsel. It'll be interesting to see how the world and puzzles are designed to account for the large number of things that can be replicated.
Fabulous to finally see Metroid Prime 4. It's been so very long I was starting to wonder if they would just leave it for the Switch successor, but surely it will be cross-gen? One thing I'm really hoping for is improved combat and enemy AI compared to the original trilogy.
Yay to Miles Edgeworth, but boo to spending more on the DS original a few years ago than this collection will inevitably cost. Brilliant they've finally localised the sequel. Also very pleased that Dragon Quest III finally has a release date. The second half of the year is now looking very stacked indeed.

@Ralizah I actually quite like Zelda’s Adventure’s vibe especially compared to the other two CDI games. It reminds me of cozy Canadian/Aussie import shows from the 2000s, like low budget and terrible costumes but fun. I mean, the game’s awful but the ambience is kinda cool.

I think it’s because of the birdsong that plays as you wander round the map, my favourite area of Ocarina of Time as a kid was the weird pre-rendered area in front of the Temple of Time and it gives me the same vibes.

Pretty solid Direct!

Definitely grabbing the new Zelda & Mario & Luigi games, and I've only ever played a bit of DKCR as a rental on Wii back in the day, so I'll definitely get it too since it might as well be a new release.

Good to see Prime 4 show up as well, though I'll get more excited as it gets closer.

I think I’m honestly one of the only people that just wasn’t too impressed with the show 😂😂 and that’s a slight on myself! Not you guys, everyone seems to be very happy with today’s show. That’s wonderful, truly… I think I’ll have to sit this one out as some random disgruntled fan who has to just carry on as usual. A Metroid prime 2 remastered would have been a nice touch to the Prime 4 trailer though… just sayin’ Nintendo.

The new Kodaka game (whose name I can't remember, so I shall just dub it "Danganronpa Tactics") was pretty cool. Might actually push me to get my butt moving on completing Rain Code!

@Enriesto Sometimes it's just like that.

I remember shrugging my way through Sony's much-praised 2018 E3 show.

It was objectively good, but just not for me.