The Nintendo Thread of Jumping, Slashing, and Home Decorating

[Steevy Maximus]

It’s not the experimentation I’m against. It’s not the parallel worlds, psychic powers, character interactions or stronger story focus that bother me. Given the nature of the story, finding/allying with other characters makes sense. Leveraging those NPCs for gameplay benefits (maps/secret locations, upgrades, etc) is a novel addition. Getting a motor bike to traverse a wider stretch of world isn’t out of line.

What bothered me SO MUCH was that the scenario presented was just so bog standard and DATED. Myles is as cookie cutter a trope of the “clumsy tech nerd” as you can possibly get. His entire interaction with Samus for all the time he is with her is practically lifted from decade old open world games, including killing enemies despite him having a weapon at one point to escort him to a location where he gives you a “progress-necessary” upgrade. The trailer shows at LEAST a few more NPCs that will probably follow similar patterns of “find them, escort/protect them to a location, get upgrade”. And the trailer makes them look as paper thin tropes as Myles.
NOBODY seems to like these scenarios, and only seem to be in games to pad length or add false “depth”.

Even when Nintendo doesn’t revolutionize gameplay mechanics…their in house titles usually present solid refinements of existing gameplay systems with fresh twists. Required escort missions with talkative NPCs trying to guide the player are about as stale as you can get. I’d be fine if MP4 was just “more Metroid Prime, but with new vibes”. But the new features being added have thus far made the game look more “Metroid Prime with stale 2010s game features shoved in”

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

Weird "Prime isn't a real Metroid" defense but even still, most of those decisions you listed were also maligned.

Weird way to twist my words, but it is what it is, I guess.

 

[Tm_Silverclaw]

Hey... I remember when Prime itself was the "Death" of Metroid.. and how it didn't understand metroid and yada yada yada.

 

[Pocket]

But the new features being added have thus far made the game look more “Metroid Prime with stale 2010s game features shoved in”

Well yeah, it's been in development since those features were still fresh.

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

Hey... I remember when Prime itself was the "Death" of Metroid.. and how it didn't understand metroid and yada yada yada.

I know, right? From the very start.

 

[Steevy Maximus]

Well yeah, it's been in development since those features were still fresh.

Nobody liked that stuff when it was fresh!


Also, Aspyr has brought 2013’s Tomb Raider (the first of Crystal Dynamics’ “Survival Trilogy”) to both the original and Switch 2. I’ll be curious to see how it performs on the OG. Feral Interactive showed some major technical flex on the console with Alien Isolation and GRID Autosport, which were similar “transitional gen” games like Tomb Raider. Most of Aspyr’s Switch stuff has been pretty decent so I have high hopes, but promotional material is obviously showcasing the Switch 2 release.

 

[Steamed Hams]

It's the 360/PS3 version upscaled on Switch 2. You can't buy the Switch version and upgrade to Switch 2 so if you want it for Switch and Switch 2 you have to buy both.


I am interested in the possibility of Halo Campaign Evolved coming to Switch 2, yes there will be compromises but I imagine it could generate interest interest for gamers who want to play it while commuting and so on.

 

[Steamed Hams]

I bought Cosmic Invasion for the Nintendo Switch, somehow I don't think the Switch 2 port will be vastly different plus this way I get to play it for the regular Switch.

 

[Steevy Maximus]

FWIW, Major retailers have discounted the Mario Kart Switch 2 bundle this past week, possibly in an attempt to clear out inventory as Nintendo claims production should be done.
Price is down to $449, basically making Mario Kart World a free game.

 

[Steevy Maximus]

Metroid Prime 4 is out today, I'm getting my copy later.

But looking at comparisons and reviews...
The Switch 1 is seemingly a technical marvel overshadowed by the Switch 2's overall better visual presentation. Both run at 60fps (Switch 1 at 1080p with dynamic resolution; Switch 2 at 4K, 1080p for 120fps mode), but the Switch 2's visual implementation is being hailed for being particularly impressive (especially the HDR implementation). The Switch 1 version has the usual pratfalls of a high end title for the system: blurry textures, "shimmering" and the like. Load times are noticeably longer (nearly double) that compared to the Switch 2's version. But aside from the blurrier textures and occasional shimmering...it's really quite hard to discern a difference without direct side by side. If you have a fancy high refresh TV or 4K panel...then it might be more noticeable.
The game is probably a strong argument on the merits of good art direction than technical sophistication.

Seems like, technically, Prime 4 is superbly executed on the Switch 1. Gameplay remarks also point to a LOT of the earlier concerns being a bit...overblown. While present, the NPCs aren't AS BAD as many of us feared. Though, the bike elements are a bit empty and point to "open world for the sake of it" rather than a compelling addition in and of itself. Not QUITE the grand return we'd hoped for...but still a good game.

 

[Caldwin]

I have Metroid on my Christmas list. So I'm gonna have to wait for it. But if I don't get it for Christmas, then I'll just get it myself.

 

[Videomaster21XX]

Playing Metroid Prime 4 myself. Switch 2 Edition.

Very pretty, but I'm having some trouble with the motion controls. It keeps trying to switch the arm canon aim to full right. The only way I have found to correct it is to go morph ball and back. Otherwise the screen will just spin right.

Not sure if it's because I had my Switch 2 TO my right or not. I moved it to the table in front of me (well mostly in front of me) and it does seem to fix it a bit. I might have to give the other control option a try and see how it fares.

Late night edit: I got past that part that everyone was whining about online. Honestly I enjoyed having him around, and even then he's with you for so little time I just don't see why it matters.

To be fair, I'm not that far in the game. It could get worse.

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

Hey, if Metroid Prime 4 came out today, did Nintendo have a proper November holiday season release this year? I wasn't paying attention.

 

[Steevy Maximus]

Hey, if Metroid Prime 4 came out today, did Nintendo have a proper November holiday season release this year? I wasn't paying attention.

Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment and Kirby Air Riders were released last month for the Switch 2. Prior to Metroid, the last big Switch 1 release was the last Pokémon installment back in October.

 

[Shadewing]

 

[Tm_Silverclaw]

As has already been proven, that lets you unlock the thing EARLY, not the only way to unlock it.

And also.. at this point.. WTF do people want? They whine when amiibo's do "next to nothing" but when they do something "WHAAAA!!!!"

 

[Steevy Maximus]

As has already been proven, that lets you unlock the thing EARLY, not the only way to unlock it.

And also.. at this point.. WTF do people want? They whine when amiibo's do "next to nothing" but when they do something "WHAAAA!!!!"

And you know DAMN well had there been music in the desert, somebody would have complained about it “ruining the isolated atmosphere” or some crap.


I managed to play a few hours in handheld last night. I’ve got into Volt Forge and basically reached right before you seem to get Viola, so I got the preamble and the plant boss fight under my belt.

I stand by my earlier assessment that there is definitely some degree of ”mixed visions” going on with how the game seems to be going: One second you get classic exploration Metroid, then you get an escort mission and an obnoxiously large open area. Does that make it a “bad game”? Not even close, it’s still superbly well designed and executed. I’ve got nitpicks (being unable to remap buttons is a big one, I want to get rid of the extra jump button on the left side and replace it with the visor control), and for all the Zelda influence, a LOT of the puzzle sequences feel overly “linear” compared to Mario Odyssey and the recent Zelda games’ vibe of “we don’t care how you get to the solution, just get the solution”. There was an instance early on where I HAD the puzzle’s solution…I was just trying before the correct story beat to ALLOW me to complete the puzzle. The map system also comes across as dated, with no means of “making notes” or anything else that might make it easier to backtrack later on with new equipment. Thus far, it just feels like there is a sort of “imbalance” between different design directions.

On a technical level, it’s amazing. Playing on a first gen Switch 1, aside from the alias shimmering, it looks FANTASTIC. The audio is equally top notch, with some wonderful melodies. That said, I think much of this is a testament to Retro’s amazing art direction and judicious use of resources rather than pure technical wizardry. I’m glad to see so much praise for this on both systems since it is VERY MUCH a departure from current trends that define much of the PS5/PC top level games.

From what I’ve played, it’s a very “Good Game”. Not that anything would probably match a 20 year wait, but I think it is akin to “Force Awakens” in that it is a very good entry that does what it needs to do…but isn’t the “next evolution” I think many fans are waiting for. We’ll see if that assessment changes as I get more hours under my belt.

 

[Caldwin]

Man, I want to get this. Like I said before, though, I have it on my Christmas list. Like, I don't want to get it and then I get it again for Christmas and I'm not excited because I already got it, but why did I get it if I put it on my Christmas list.

Yeah, I know, 1st world problems. But still!

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment and Kirby Air Riders were released last month for the Switch 2. Prior to Metroid, the last big Switch 1 release was the last Pokémon installment back in October.

Ah, right.

Hmm, neither are what I'd consider a flagship kinda holiday title, though. No wonder I forgot.

Still, a far cry better than the year we got Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash and Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival for Wii U.

 

[Exatron]

I'm really looking forward to playing MP4, but I never did get around to MP3. I'd like to finally play that first. My Wii currently isn't hooked up, though. Have it prepped to add an HDMI output to it, just need to clear out my work area. I'm done with work for the year after Friday, so I'm hoping to work on that next week.

Actually have a bunch of projects like that I want to work on. Re-capping my NES & SNES, fixing my horribly drifting PS4 controllers with hall-effect joysticks, etc.