More back compat titles tested. Even if there aren’t any major new titles that interest you, the Switch 2 is making a solid name for itself by simply being capable of running older titles at full speed, or at least FAR better than they could eek out of the original platform
The Nintendo Thread of Jumping, Slashing, and Home Decorating
- Thread starter ZakuConvoy
- Start date
Donkey Kong Bananza Direct!
I kind of like the song at the beginning. Even if it does sound like they're going to try to guilt me into donating money. "For only $79.99, you can help save this poor ape from neglect and abuse. Please call now."
A beard of bananas. That...can't be hygienic.
Like some people theorized...Lil' Pauline IS the rock! Okay, going from shoeless orphan child, to the mayor of a big time ciy actually is a pretty compelling character arc. Retroactively. She's got freckles! So...does that mean that THIS DK is actually Cranky? Probably best not to think about it too hard.
I worry a bit about this game's length. I feel like all these environments being destructible means there likely aren't a lot of them. This could be a relatively short game.
I feel like we're going to get SUPER Donkey Kong or something by the end of this game. A giant or powered-up form. Note that DK lights up a bit when he collects the big banana gems.
This game is what happens when Nintendo decides it wants to remake Asura's Wrath.
"ONE MORE!" I do like Pauline egging you on in battle. She's a little terror.
Huh...you can build things in this game, if you play it right. I don't know if that will be USEFUL in the game, but it's interesting that it's there. Gives it a sandbox-like quality...literally.
Singing as a way of giving the player hints on where to go. I think I like it. Depends on what the songs actually sound like, but I think I like the idea.
DK just tore that poor cute Ice Cube's face off. Yikes!
Okay, Cranky's here. Which either means "Cranky" and "Donkey" are more titles that get passed along through the generations or DK is actually supposed to be younger than he looks. Maybe that's why he got a redesign? Maybe this is a "kid" DK?
I feel like these giants are going to lead to a kaiju battle by the end of the story. At least, I can hope so.
Oh, so we're getting straight up form changes! Alright! DK's a Kamen Rider!
"DK can transform into a Zebra" Oh...there's going to be people tut-tutting that.
Also, DK can lay eggs in Ostrich form, which just raises further questions that I should do my best to ignore.
Man, I DO like this "Na-na-na-NAAA" song that plays over the transformation reveals.
"Void Kong" It's a little on the nose. But, I suppose it'll probably fit better by the end, when he becomes a eldritch horror.
Pauline's voice sounded a little tinny there. Hopefully, they iron out that kind of stuff before the game releases. But, on the other hand, I'm just kind of glad we're getting voice acting at all.
Ah, we're getting side-scrolling stages, too. Well, that should at least help pad out the game, a little.
There's a skill tree?! Oh, that's more than I expected.
"These gold nuggets are, unsurprisingly, called GOLD!" Heh. I do like the bit of sass.
Oooh, Fossils! Based on...real dinosaurs and other animals? Which just raises FURTHER questions that really shouldn't be on my mind.
DK Rap confirmed!
Player 2 can be Pauline and unleash a MIGHTY SHOUT! She's got Koichi's Echoes Stand from Jojo's Bizarre Aventure Part 4! They weaponized being a loud annoying child!
Huh...so this game CAN run on a Switch 1. Huh.
Amiibo are coming! I'm not sure if I like that "Diva Dress" for Lil' Pauline, though. It's a little too..."Honey Boo Boo".
And other Amiibo give you...BALLS! Okay, could we get a *little* more context, Nintendo? Do they all have environmental effects or what?
I do think the music will be pretty good in this game. "Breaking Through" sounds like a great little title ballad.
So, yeah, this is looking pretty good. I like what I see here. Definitely worth picking up.
A beard of bananas. That...can't be hygienic.
Like some people theorized...Lil' Pauline IS the rock! Okay, going from shoeless orphan child, to the mayor of a big time ciy actually is a pretty compelling character arc. Retroactively. She's got freckles! So...does that mean that THIS DK is actually Cranky? Probably best not to think about it too hard.
I worry a bit about this game's length. I feel like all these environments being destructible means there likely aren't a lot of them. This could be a relatively short game.
I feel like we're going to get SUPER Donkey Kong or something by the end of this game. A giant or powered-up form. Note that DK lights up a bit when he collects the big banana gems.
This game is what happens when Nintendo decides it wants to remake Asura's Wrath.
"ONE MORE!" I do like Pauline egging you on in battle. She's a little terror.
Huh...you can build things in this game, if you play it right. I don't know if that will be USEFUL in the game, but it's interesting that it's there. Gives it a sandbox-like quality...literally.
Singing as a way of giving the player hints on where to go. I think I like it. Depends on what the songs actually sound like, but I think I like the idea.
DK just tore that poor cute Ice Cube's face off. Yikes!
Okay, Cranky's here. Which either means "Cranky" and "Donkey" are more titles that get passed along through the generations or DK is actually supposed to be younger than he looks. Maybe that's why he got a redesign? Maybe this is a "kid" DK?
I feel like these giants are going to lead to a kaiju battle by the end of the story. At least, I can hope so.
Oh, so we're getting straight up form changes! Alright! DK's a Kamen Rider!
"DK can transform into a Zebra" Oh...there's going to be people tut-tutting that.
Also, DK can lay eggs in Ostrich form, which just raises further questions that I should do my best to ignore.
Man, I DO like this "Na-na-na-NAAA" song that plays over the transformation reveals.
"Void Kong" It's a little on the nose. But, I suppose it'll probably fit better by the end, when he becomes a eldritch horror.
Pauline's voice sounded a little tinny there. Hopefully, they iron out that kind of stuff before the game releases. But, on the other hand, I'm just kind of glad we're getting voice acting at all.
Ah, we're getting side-scrolling stages, too. Well, that should at least help pad out the game, a little.
There's a skill tree?! Oh, that's more than I expected.
"These gold nuggets are, unsurprisingly, called GOLD!" Heh. I do like the bit of sass.
Oooh, Fossils! Based on...real dinosaurs and other animals? Which just raises FURTHER questions that really shouldn't be on my mind.
DK Rap confirmed!
Player 2 can be Pauline and unleash a MIGHTY SHOUT! She's got Koichi's Echoes Stand from Jojo's Bizarre Aventure Part 4! They weaponized being a loud annoying child!
Huh...so this game CAN run on a Switch 1. Huh.
Amiibo are coming! I'm not sure if I like that "Diva Dress" for Lil' Pauline, though. It's a little too..."Honey Boo Boo".
And other Amiibo give you...BALLS! Okay, could we get a *little* more context, Nintendo? Do they all have environmental effects or what?
I do think the music will be pretty good in this game. "Breaking Through" sounds like a great little title ballad.
So, yeah, this is looking pretty good. I like what I see here. Definitely worth picking up.
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A Switch 1 can work as a display and controller for the second player. Whether it's actually running the game or just receiving the stream is another matter.
When I first saw Lil' Pauline I was wondering if this DK was the original's grandfather or if Lil' Pauline was the original's daughter. Cranky's appearance would seem to imply the second, but it's not like Mario games have ever been super concerned with continuity, so it could be anything.
When I first saw Lil' Pauline I was wondering if this DK was the original's grandfather or if Lil' Pauline was the original's daughter. Cranky's appearance would seem to imply the second, but it's not like Mario games have ever been super concerned with continuity, so it could be anything.
so i got my switch 2 delivered yesterday
holy jive playing pokémon scarlet at 60 fps feels like it should be illegal
holy jive playing pokémon scarlet at 60 fps feels like it should be illegal
That Direct just really makes me not want to care about the story at all until the game is in front of me and I'm playing it.
I wonder if George Andreas and Grant Kirkhope get shafted on credited the DK Rap again.
I wonder if George Andreas and Grant Kirkhope get shafted on credited the DK Rap again.
Turns out that regurgitated 3rd party games on glorified download codes wasn't that popular among consumers.
www.thegamebusiness.com
tl;dr- Over 80% of Switch 2 game sales were associated with Nintendo, be it physical games or bundled software. CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077 release was the best selling 3rd party title at launch. Probably helped that it was damn near the ONLY non-Nintendo physical game that wasn't a damned key card.
CD Projekt Red's Jan Rosner had this to say about physical games on the platform:
It was the biggest console launch of all time, but was Nintendo Switch 2 a success for third-parties?
Plus! We take a look at the Summer Game Fest numbers
www.thegamebusiness.com
tl;dr- Over 80% of Switch 2 game sales were associated with Nintendo, be it physical games or bundled software. CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077 release was the best selling 3rd party title at launch. Probably helped that it was damn near the ONLY non-Nintendo physical game that wasn't a damned key card.
CD Projekt Red's Jan Rosner had this to say about physical games on the platform:
do y'all honestly believe that there is some genuine backlash against game key cards to the point where they'd affect sales?
the vast majority of customers literally do not give a damn. they don't give a damn when they buy a physical game for their playstation or xbox that has a mandatory download before they're able to play it, so why would they suddenly care about it when it comes to nintendo? hell, i'd go so far and say that the vast majority of people who are buying a switch 2 literally do not even know about any 'controversy' over game key cards
it's just a loud minority who live in a bubble who think that online anger is absolutely reflective of reality, just like the people who thought the anger over the switch 2's price was going to mean it wouldn't sell well at launch or the people who think that steam decks and other portable gaming PCs are an actual threat to the switch 2 because they live in a bubble and forget that these are just niche enthusiast devices and most people do not know what the hug any of them even are
the vast majority of customers literally do not give a damn. they don't give a damn when they buy a physical game for their playstation or xbox that has a mandatory download before they're able to play it, so why would they suddenly care about it when it comes to nintendo? hell, i'd go so far and say that the vast majority of people who are buying a switch 2 literally do not even know about any 'controversy' over game key cards
it's just a loud minority who live in a bubble who think that online anger is absolutely reflective of reality, just like the people who thought the anger over the switch 2's price was going to mean it wouldn't sell well at launch or the people who think that steam decks and other portable gaming PCs are an actual threat to the switch 2 because they live in a bubble and forget that these are just niche enthusiast devices and most people do not know what the hug any of them even are
There is one important difference: Nintendo is advertising that these games aren't full games. Sony and Microsoft don't, or if they do its not in bold font on the front of the game. So yes, part of me thinks that people care more because they are potentially aware of this out of the gate. Personally its my theory that Nintendo specifically WANTS this backlash, even if its online only. Game Key Cards are apparently much cheaper thus Developers are trying to save money with them. Nintendo would likely rather them have to buy the more expensive regular game cards, as that means more money for them. Its a bit conspiratory, yes; but there's also a corporate logic to it that makes sense.
The part of me that recognizes the value of physical copies that will work on an empty system without an internet connection wants to say good for them. But Nintendo has also done such a terrible job of handling the way said physical copies work (allowing third parties to sell fake cards in the first place, using volatile flash memory that's going to degrade in about a decade, not taking advantage of said volatility to allow small, critical patches to be written directly to the card) that that part of me also doesn't really want to give them too much credit.
Unless you're going to sell or loan the games, then the Key Cards are effectively worthless compared to just downloading it. Not to mention taking longer and having to deal with having a card for little real benefit of one, like not taking up a chunk of your internal memory.
I do think it is also important to remember that Christopher Dring (who wrote that article about 3rd-party sales for the Switch 2) is based in the UK so it's likely that his data is UK sales data and the UK is traditionally one of Nintendo's weaker markets.
Cause conversely, here's a Bluesky thread by Mat Piscatella (the executive director and video game industry analyst as Circana, formerly known as NDP, the market research company that tracks physical video game sales in the US) talking about Switch 2 third-party sales in the US:
bsky.app
If you don't feel like clicking:
The share of physical sales of Switch 2 software that are third-party games in the US is far better than it was during the launch of the Switch 1. For the first month that the Switch was on the market in the US, the share of physical software that was from third-party games was under 20%, but after one week for the Switch 2, that share is just under 40%
Also it's far too ******* early to claim that something is the best or worst because the Switch 2 basically just came out.
(Mind you the Circana/NDP data doesn't include things like the Mario Kart World bundle)
It's also no surprise that, at least in the US, third-party physical sales on the Switch 2 at launch are doing better than the Switch 1 because people can go on and on about how 'It's just old full-price ports that a lot of people have already played before!', which is fair enough but uhh do y'all remember what third-party games the Switch 1 launched with here in the US?
Well I'll remind ya:
Just Dance 2017
Super Bomberman R
Fast RMX
I am Setsuna
Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment
Shovel Knight
Skylanders Imaginators
Not saying these are necessary bad games but compare it with what third-party games launched with the Switch 2:
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster
Civilization VII
Cyberpunk 2077
Deltarune
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
Fast Fusion
Hitman: World of Assassination
TERF Wizard Game
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
No Man's Sky
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
Sonic x Shadow Generations
Split Fiction
Street Fighter 6
Suikoden I & II HD Remaster
Survival Kids
Yakuza 0 Director's Cut
Yes, there are certainly a lot of ports but like...come on that is a well-stacked lineup of third-party games compared to the slim pickings that the Switch 1 had on offer.
Cause conversely, here's a Bluesky thread by Mat Piscatella (the executive director and video game industry analyst as Circana, formerly known as NDP, the market research company that tracks physical video game sales in the US) talking about Switch 2 third-party sales in the US:
Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social)
Hate to contribute to a Discourse, but 3rd party share of Switch 2 software in the US is far better than it was during the Switch 1 launch.
bsky.app
If you don't feel like clicking:
The share of physical sales of Switch 2 software that are third-party games in the US is far better than it was during the launch of the Switch 1. For the first month that the Switch was on the market in the US, the share of physical software that was from third-party games was under 20%, but after one week for the Switch 2, that share is just under 40%
Also it's far too ******* early to claim that something is the best or worst because the Switch 2 basically just came out.
(Mind you the Circana/NDP data doesn't include things like the Mario Kart World bundle)
It's also no surprise that, at least in the US, third-party physical sales on the Switch 2 at launch are doing better than the Switch 1 because people can go on and on about how 'It's just old full-price ports that a lot of people have already played before!', which is fair enough but uhh do y'all remember what third-party games the Switch 1 launched with here in the US?
Well I'll remind ya:
Just Dance 2017
Super Bomberman R
Fast RMX
I am Setsuna
Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment
Shovel Knight
Skylanders Imaginators
Not saying these are necessary bad games but compare it with what third-party games launched with the Switch 2:
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster
Civilization VII
Cyberpunk 2077
Deltarune
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
Fast Fusion
Hitman: World of Assassination
TERF Wizard Game
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
No Man's Sky
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
Sonic x Shadow Generations
Split Fiction
Street Fighter 6
Suikoden I & II HD Remaster
Survival Kids
Yakuza 0 Director's Cut
Yes, there are certainly a lot of ports but like...come on that is a well-stacked lineup of third-party games compared to the slim pickings that the Switch 1 had on offer.
Just a few nitpicks, because you know I was gonna 
Circana doesn’t track digital sales, nor do I believe ALL retailers participate in the data tracking. So when discussing physical games available at retail, the Switch actually only had 5 games: 1-2-3 Switch, Zelda, Skylanders, Bomberman and Just Dance. From a percentage standpoint, the Switch 2 is going to look FAR better because there are simply double the number of physical releases available at mass retail this time around. And generally more compelling options at that. But I’m not sure “percentages” are a valid point of data in this case.
I mean, if Switch 1 had people just buying Zelda and Switch 1-2-3, that’s a 100% Nintendo attach rate. With Switch 2, if you get Mario Kart and Cyberpunk, suddenly, the 3rd partis are seeing a 50% uplift in attach rate. And this time around, a LOT of early adopters went with the Mario Kart bundle to save over the stand alone $80 price point.
Contrary to my snarky preamble in the prior post…I tend to agree it’s too early to make too many interpretations either way. I DO feel that the rep from CD Projekt Red DOES hit on a (potential) issue with the game cards: PCs And game consoles have established the “day 1 download” and the fact a purchase will require a download or system copy. To the point most PCs don’t even HAVE drives and both major console makers offer digital only options. The Switch (and its follow up), as a handheld, bring different sets of expectations. There IS an expectation that you purchase a game and stick it in, it will just play regardless where you are at. Only a fraction of the available Switch 2 retail releases offer that.
It remains to be seen how much of that is really going to impact sales.
But we also have the past…decade and change?…of sales to dictate general trends with Nintendo hardware. And the sad reality is that people largely buy Nintendo hardware to play Nintendo games. Very rarely have 3rd parties had particularly big sales on the Nintendo platform, going back to the Wii/WiiU cycle:
Nintendo gave a BIG push on the WiiU for 3rd party content…which didn’t pay off. With the Switch, outside of a few side projects from Japanese developers and UbiSoft and Bethesda, there was very sparse support until a couple years in when the system was a far bigger hit.
But again we’re still too early in the cycle to see where the trend is going to go.
Circana doesn’t track digital sales, nor do I believe ALL retailers participate in the data tracking. So when discussing physical games available at retail, the Switch actually only had 5 games: 1-2-3 Switch, Zelda, Skylanders, Bomberman and Just Dance. From a percentage standpoint, the Switch 2 is going to look FAR better because there are simply double the number of physical releases available at mass retail this time around. And generally more compelling options at that. But I’m not sure “percentages” are a valid point of data in this case.
I mean, if Switch 1 had people just buying Zelda and Switch 1-2-3, that’s a 100% Nintendo attach rate. With Switch 2, if you get Mario Kart and Cyberpunk, suddenly, the 3rd partis are seeing a 50% uplift in attach rate. And this time around, a LOT of early adopters went with the Mario Kart bundle to save over the stand alone $80 price point.
Contrary to my snarky preamble in the prior post…I tend to agree it’s too early to make too many interpretations either way. I DO feel that the rep from CD Projekt Red DOES hit on a (potential) issue with the game cards: PCs And game consoles have established the “day 1 download” and the fact a purchase will require a download or system copy. To the point most PCs don’t even HAVE drives and both major console makers offer digital only options. The Switch (and its follow up), as a handheld, bring different sets of expectations. There IS an expectation that you purchase a game and stick it in, it will just play regardless where you are at. Only a fraction of the available Switch 2 retail releases offer that.
It remains to be seen how much of that is really going to impact sales.
But we also have the past…decade and change?…of sales to dictate general trends with Nintendo hardware. And the sad reality is that people largely buy Nintendo hardware to play Nintendo games. Very rarely have 3rd parties had particularly big sales on the Nintendo platform, going back to the Wii/WiiU cycle:
Nintendo gave a BIG push on the WiiU for 3rd party content…which didn’t pay off. With the Switch, outside of a few side projects from Japanese developers and UbiSoft and Bethesda, there was very sparse support until a couple years in when the system was a far bigger hit.
But again we’re still too early in the cycle to see where the trend is going to go.
I think the life cycle of a Donkey Kong is that every DK is born a Ditty Kong, Grows into a DK Jr, matures into a full fledged Donkey Kong, reproduces (probably asexually after eating 1 million bananas), and then ages away into a Cranky Kong.
-ZacWilliam, Obviously.
Nah, they all reincarnate through balloons
GVG is continuing to look at how many older Switch 1 titles perform on the new hardware. This is a BIG list, but here are a couple notables that I found:
Cruisin’ Blast now runs 60
Minecraft still has issues in large constructed locations (same issue as Dragon Quest Builders 2, probably related to the CPU), but NOT to the degree as seen before.
Skyward Sword has the same performance dips, but not to the degree as previously seen
Load ins/Pauses seen in Princess Peach and Crysis are resolved.
Xenoblade Chronicles X performs better, but still has frame pacing issues in the mech, and the same laggy “return to gameplay” issues, but not as bad as they were.
Mario+Rabbids Kingdom Battle, despite being a solid 30 when released, now runs at a silky smooth 60.
Doom Eternal‘s aggressive dynamic resolution has been noticeably reduced, leading to a better looking game (still runs at 30)
Also, Nintendo’s continued releasing Firmware updates, bringing a LOT more titles into the compatibility range, including Marvel vs Capcom Collection, Crash Insane Trilogy, and many of the Carbon Engine games (Limited Run Games preferred porting framework). Gex Trilogy currently isn’t, but that just might be on the “haven’t got around to it yet” issue. Feral Interactive’s amazing ports of Alien Isolation and Grid Autosport are now also playable on Switch 2.
Cruisin’ Blast now runs 60
Minecraft still has issues in large constructed locations (same issue as Dragon Quest Builders 2, probably related to the CPU), but NOT to the degree as seen before.
Skyward Sword has the same performance dips, but not to the degree as previously seen
Load ins/Pauses seen in Princess Peach and Crysis are resolved.
Xenoblade Chronicles X performs better, but still has frame pacing issues in the mech, and the same laggy “return to gameplay” issues, but not as bad as they were.
Mario+Rabbids Kingdom Battle, despite being a solid 30 when released, now runs at a silky smooth 60.
Doom Eternal‘s aggressive dynamic resolution has been noticeably reduced, leading to a better looking game (still runs at 30)
Also, Nintendo’s continued releasing Firmware updates, bringing a LOT more titles into the compatibility range, including Marvel vs Capcom Collection, Crash Insane Trilogy, and many of the Carbon Engine games (Limited Run Games preferred porting framework). Gex Trilogy currently isn’t, but that just might be on the “haven’t got around to it yet” issue. Feral Interactive’s amazing ports of Alien Isolation and Grid Autosport are now also playable on Switch 2.
Maybe every generation eventually becomes the Cranky of the family. The Cranky in this game is a completely new character. DK in this game is the original DK that threw barrels at Mario and became Cranky in the Country series. One day the DK from the Country series will become Cranky and Diddy will become DK...and eventually Cranky.
Much as I love legacy heroes, I feel like that might overcomplicate things a bit.
I kinda like the idea of Donkey Kongs taking on new names after ostensibly retiring, though.
I kinda like the idea of Donkey Kongs taking on new names after ostensibly retiring, though.