Tag: Switch (Page 1 of 2)

The Next Big Thing For Your Nintendo Switch: Xenoblade Chronicles 2

November 8, 2017 / admin

I was a huge fan of the original Xenoblade Chronicles. I followed it when it was part of Operation Rainfall and it seemed unlikely to be released in the States. I was one of the first people to preorder it at my local GameStop (even though they screwed me out of the artbook you were supposed to get for preordering…). I spent somewhere around 180 hour running around the game world, taking in the sights (which were pretty spectacular for the Wii and its much bemoaned lack of power), the side quests, the gameplay, and the characters. It was a great RPG experience that a lot of people probably missed out on, even after it became available on the 3DS and on the Wii U eShop.

The follow-up, Xenoblade Chronicles X, while visually pleasing, didn’t pull me into the world the same way the original did. For a Wii U title, it was stunning graphically, and the gameplay was smooth and reminiscent of the original, but it didn’t have the same draw for me. Additionally, I played the original after work when I was working 12 hour night shift in a lab, so my social options were limited anyway. That might have been a factor…

But now, a new title in the series is about to be released that looks very promising.

All images from Nintendo’s Xenoblade Chronicles 2 site unless otherwise noted.

Nintendo dropped a new Direct early this morning about Xenoblade Chronicles 2 with a decent mix of new and old information. The first announcement, which was music to my ears, was that a Japanese voice over pack will be available as free DLC on day one! JRPGs often have notoriously awful English dubs (no offense to the talent of the voice actors involved), so the option to switch to the original Japanese vocal track is always a welcome one. I wonder if Japanese people think the Japanese audio sounds terrible and prefer the English dubs….

The trailer proceeded to show a brief story description. As I was watching it, I couldn’t help but think it seemed very familiar and then it hit me! The main portion they showed was very similar to the beginning of Granblue Fantasy, a mobile RPG/anime series I had seen a few months back. Borrowing story and plot devices is nothing new and I doubt it will detract from the game, but I figured it was worth mentioning. My Japanese teacher always did call me an otaku… :'( The trailer showed off a plethora of characters, including a giant white tiger-Red XIII-esque Blade named Dromarch!

Worth noting is that the trailer called out that this game will feature a day and night cycle, as well as weather effects. This has an effect on the type monsters that will show up in the wild and the conversations that could be available, as per the other entries in the series. Also making a return is the fast travel mechanic to specific landmarks within the game world. This feature was particular impressive in the original game on the Wii because there were no loads times between fast travel points within the same areas (which were very large).

Interesting logo wallpaper, also featured on the Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Pro Controller

A dive into game mechanics followed the story trailer segment, describing Drivers and Blades. Blades, like the main character Pyra, are artificial lifeforms with a variety of powers and serve as weapons for the Drivers, like the main character Rex. Drivers are able to bring up to 3 Blades into battle with them and each Blade is classified in a traditional RPG role: tank, damage, healer. The combinations of Blades you equip affect your characters’ class and add variety to the gameplay. As your Blades level up, they open up new segments of a skill tree for you to drive a unique style of fighting for yourself. This feeds into a social aspect of the game, where gaining your Blade’s trust through social events, as well as use in battle, raises their affinity with you and opens up further options of customization.

In combat, there are 3 combo types at your disposal. Driver combos are created by chaining together Arts (abilities) and triggering physical effects like knockdown and stun. Blade combos are created by chaining together special Blade abilities through elemental attacks and damage. If enough Blade combos are chained, an elemental orb will appear around the enemies. The final type is Fusion combos. Fusion combos link together Drive and Blade combos into one cohesive attack. Chain attacks can be initiated at certain points when a meter is filled during the course of battle. This meter can also be used to resurrect party members, so use it wisely. If you complete a Chain attack while an elemental orb is on the enemy, the chain will link a bit further, causing more damage. The system seems to borrow a decent amount from past Xenoblade games, while introducing a bit more variety through the Blades. It’ll be interesting to see how the system plays out.

An Expansion Pass was also announced for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 during this Direct. Between the game’s release and next Fall, the Expansion Pass will unlock new support items, a new story quest, a rare new Blade, a challenge mode, and a new story and adventure, released in that order. No further details were given on what each item means for the game, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

The final announcement was that starting November 9th, a new quest will be added to Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild that will earn Link Rex’s outfit from Xenoblade Chronicles 2. No cost was mentioned, so I assume that will be free to anyone who owns the game. See below:

Image from Polygon

With release less than a month away at this point, I’m excited to see how this new entry is received. If it’s even half as sprawling and engaging as the original, coupled with the fact that it’s portable with the Switch, this game could be a solid contender for your gaming time for the foreseeable future!

What’re your thoughts on the game? Did you catch the Nintendo Direct? Feel free to shoot me an e-mail or find me on Twitch the next time I’m streaming, and thanks for stopping in!

Time To Switch It Up!

April 3, 2017 / admin

Nintendo Switch Launch Review

Now that I’ve had nearly a month with the Nintendo Switch, I wanted to put down some of my thoughts about Nintendo’s new home console hybrid. For the reading impaired/averse, I’ve prepared an abridged, video version of the write-up:

The Launch

Looking through the list of physical releases for launch day, it was easy to feel a bit uneasy. For most gamers, the only title of interest was Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but seeing as it was being released on the Wii U as well, it’s hard to think of it as a system seller. 1-2 Switch will be fun for a party game but most of the other titles didn’t do much for me or would be relegated to purchases simply to feed my need to have things for my new toy. The eShop has had similarly bleak start. I am Setsuna and Snippeclips being the shining stars of the digital lineup and even here, I am Setsuna is already available on PS4/Vita and Steam. With the thin launch day release, it begs the question, “What was Nintendo thinking?” The answer is they had full faith in Breath of the Wild and it was not misplaced, though my thoughts on that are still forthcoming. So, while the launch day lineup was weak in quantity, the quality was solid and I am still playing Breath of the Wild, Snipperclips is a great puzzle game to play in co-op (up to four players), and there are more titles on the way that would fall into the Switch’s launch window (roughly 6 months or so after release).

The Interface

The interface for the Switch is pretty straight forward. You have a line of user accounts in the top-left of the screen, a line of game titles that you’ve played from cartridges or downloaded from the eShop, and a row of various options and settings below that. The two of note from the bottom row are the News and eShop buttons. News presents a feed of tiles curated by Nintendo, displaying new releases, eShop promotions, videos, and more. It’s a great place to check out the latest updates and you’ll have a little notification bubble when there are new items to check out. The eShop is very bland at the moment. You’re only given the options to check out Upcoming Releases, Recent Releases, or to Redeem Codes. As the shop’s offerings grow, I assume this area will become more robust as well, with breakouts for Virtual Console, demos, eShop exclusives, etc. The whole interface may potentially change as time moves on. The Xbox 360’s interface changed drastically from its original look back in 2005, so anything is possible as Nintendo gets feedback and lets the system get more exposure. Overall, nothing particularly thrilling about the current interface, but its minimalism serves functionality.

The Hardware

The Switch hardware itself, while not perfect, is pretty sweet. With multiple ways to play, I wanted to sit down and give them all their fair shake before passing judgement on them. By far, I’ve spent the most time playing on the TV, with a variety of controller configurations. The Pro Controller feels the best and most natural for traditional gaming. The controller is a solid size, the buttons are larger for people whining about the size of the JoyCons, and it has all the features of its smaller brethren as well. Rumble, NFC, accelerometer/gyroscopic motion sensors, and around 40 hours of battery life on a single charge. Nintendo also hid a neat little Easter egg behind the right joystick. If you look through the clear portion to the circuit board inside, printed there you will see, “THX2ALLGAMEFANS.” A cool little note that anyone would appreciate. The Pro Controller can be a bit of a challenge to find, but if you can get your hands on one, I absolutely would.

Moving down the configuration line, my next preference is with the JoyCons in one of the JoyCon Grip shells. Mimicking a standard controller pretty deftly, the JoyCon Grip configuration works reasonably well for those seeking a more standard gaming experience. Adjusting to button configuration/layout takes a few moments, but I was able to play comfortably, without incident, for a good while. I also tried using the JoyCon in separate hands, similar to how you would have held the Wiimote and Nunchuk. While not normal, this setup also worked pretty well and allowed me to sit back on the couch with my hands at my sides (optimal laziness achieved!) to play my games. I don’t necessarily see myself playing like this often, but it was a bit more comfortable than sitting with hands front-and-center holding a traditional controller. I did experience a bit of the JoyCon sync issue with my left JoyCon, but honestly, incidents were few and far between so it ended up being a pretty minor inconvenience.

The above configurations worked well in both TV and Tabletop modes, which brings me to Handheld mode. The Handheld mode is a mixed bag for me. I love the portability and the screen on the Switch presents a very nice image, but due to the weight of the system and me being me (that is, terrified of dropping electronics I paid good money for because I don’t have extra just lying around), the adjusted grip necessary to play in the mode is the least comfortable for me. That’s not to say it’s bad or unplayable by any means. I’ve enjoyed my time taking the system of the dock to lie in bed and play just a bit longer before going to sleep (and the occasional bathroom break, as well). My hands just naturally sit lower on the JoyCons in this configuration to add more support for the console. This makes reaching for the +/- buttons a bit more of a stretch than they would be normally and also contributes to some hand cramping after long play sessions. Obviously, not everyone will have this issue. I’ve had friends mention the Handheld mode has been their most played format. Since portability is a huge draw for the Switch and the console functions admirably in this mode, I’m sure I’ll be playing my fair share this way, hand cramps be damned!

The best part about all of these controller options is that switching (ha!) is a snap! Any time the system detects a new controller, you’re given the option of which controller you’d like to use. Additionally, from the Home menu, you can change configurations and sync/player order with equal ease. With so many options, it’s great that jumping from one to the other is so simple. Playing on the TV with a Pro controller but need to go take care of something? Remove your Switch from the dock and if you have JoyCons attached already, just click the triggers and you’re on your way. Settling back in after you’ve addressed your other responsibilities? Dock the Switch, press any button on your preferred controller, and you’re back in the game. Nintendo really nailed the functionality here and it will be especially appreciated once some more couch multiplayer titles are released. Drop-in/drop-out functionality just got much easier.

Jumping from docked/TV mode to Handheld mode and vice versa is really as easy as it looks. Lift the console off of the dock and the image appears on the screen split seconds later. Drop (read: gently place) the console back into the dock, and you’re up and running on the TV with comparable speed and ease. The ability to take my console-quality experiences on the go has been fantastic. It’s such a compact device when compared to the likes of the PS4 or Xbox One when travel is concerned, especially since all you really need is a USB-C charging cable/AC adapter and the console. I even tested it a bit using my backup battery (previously purchased for Pokemon Go!) and was able to slowly charge the system even while playing. I’m sure it will put a heavier strain on my backup battery but knowing I can extend the relatively short battery life of the system should I need to is great for peace of mind. Granted, if I’m out and about, the short battery life isn’t really an issue since I’m not generally going to play for an extended amount of time away from an AC adapter/dock, but you can always find extenuating circumstances for such needs.

The Conclusion

While not perfect, the Switch has managed to successfully marry portability with home console-quality experiences. Nintendo is not interested in going toe-to-toe with the power of the likes of the PS4 or Xbox One, but the Switch is a very capable machine that showcases Nintendo’s drive to try new things and be an innovator in the gaming industry. Don’t let the smaller issues like the JoyCon sync or thin launch lineup, dissuade you from this new offering. The Switch is still fantastic after a month of hands-on time and we’re just getting started! Stick with me for more as Nintendo continues to switch up the way we play!

The Day I’ve Been Waiting For!

March 3, 2017 / admin

Hello everyone!

It’s finally here! The Switch has arrived and I went a little crazy with my purchases. I grabbed a bit of everything and hope to have some impressions and/or informal reviews soon. For now, I made a couple of unboxing videos.

Nintendo Switch & Accessories Unboxing

The first video is the unboxing of the main console and the wealth of accessories I snagged from the launch lineup.

Mostly just a quick look at the system and such in familiar hands. Also, at my awkwardness on camera (and new, snazzy Breath of the Wild t-shirt).

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Master Edition Unboxing

The other video I have for today is an unboxing of the Master Edition of the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as well as a look at the amiibo released for the launch of the title.

If it’s not clear, I love the Zelda series and am extremely excited to play this new entry, especially given the ratings it has been receiving pretty much universally.

I hope you guys enjoy the videos. Please feel free to share them if you do or the blog in general, even if the videos aren’t your cup of tea. As always, thanks for checking this out!

Random Thoughts For A Random Evening

February 13, 2017 / admin

I’ve been trying to think of a way to communicate random thoughts I have about games, the industry, and such. Until I figure out a proper platform for such thoughts, I will try to store them up and aggregate them here! Feel free to share responses or thoughts of your own in the comments.

Switch VR

More Switch content? No way! President of Nintendo, Tatsumi Kimishima has spoken out about Nintendo’s stance on VR. According a statement made during an interview, Kimishima has said that Nintendo already has the core technology of VR worked out. The only road block for them releasing it is that they haven’t found a way to make it comfortable for long play sessions. Once they overcome that hurdle, they will release the tech. A patent filed by Nintendo shows Nintendo has a VR headset already in mind, in which the Switch would dock similar to the way Google Cardboard or Samsung Gear work currently. Coupled with the Joy-Cons, you have a full virtually reality experience primed for release. People are bemoaning the power of the Switch’s main hardware, saying it wouldn’t be able to power a proper VR experience. Either Nintendo has faith that it will (and honestly, their games are almost always polished excellently) or they have plans for an updated version of the main hardware unit down the road. Either way, the modular design of the console would allow for a relatively inexpensive VR setup, even if upgrading the body was required.

With the tantalizing option of Nintendo VR being dangled in front of us, it begs the question: What Nintendo franchises would show off the tech appropriately? My thoughts are dwelling on Retro Studios. They’ve been hard at work on an undisclosed title for a few years now. If you put the mystery surrounding their new title up against the news of Nintendo VR and the Metroid 30th anniversary that passed rather uneventfully last year, it makes me think they could be working on Metroid Prime 4, fully playable in VR on the Switch. Doing so would be a fantastic show for fans of the series who have felt snubbed by recent releases in the series (I use that term loosely) AND it would simultaneously be a great showing for Nintendo’s first foray into VR. People have already been porting various Nintendo titles in to VR with the Dolphin emulator, so the interest is clearly there. If the Switch is capable of pulling this off, Nintendo would be wise to not sit on the news for too long. They’ve done a good job so far of showing the hybrid nature of the new console, so once it’s built a bit more momentum, drop the classic, “But wait. There’s more!” It would be a fantastic value add for an already promising value proposition.

Final Fantasy XV: Chapter XIII

My God. You’ve probably read about this on the internet already or at least seen a headline. I’ll keep it spoiler-free, but man, you’re being funneled towards a conclusion and things are exciting, then all of a sudden a poorly sequenced stealth chapter appears! Everything slows to a grinding halt and you’re helpless to do anything about it. I understand for the story why this segment works and was needed, but maybe introduce it a bit sooner or else make it a less jarring transition. The Spring Update is set to address this chapter, though in what capacity, I’m not sure. After having finished the game and loving the journey, I’m excited to know I can put this to rest for about a year and then pick up a New Game+ with all the Season Pass content released for a second play through. Hopefully, the characters and their relationships are more fleshed out and less reliant on expanded universe content (though Kingsglaive and Brotherhood were pretty good, watch them).

New Blog Content

I’m working on ideas for new blog content besides the walls of text I subject you all to on a semi-regular basis. I hope to have an introductory video posted soon (using my limited recording tech), as well as reviews, streams, and other such video content. Don’t hold me to it, but that’s tentatively the plan. Look forward to it!

Drawrings! (Intentionally Misspelled)

I doodle! Occasionally, I pull out my Surface tablet and draw things on it. Most recently, I’ve worked on a slightly stylized series of Nintendo consoles (because of my Switch hype). Take a look a let me know what you think or what you’d like to see! I’ll probably move on to the Sega consoles when the mood strikes again.

Giveaway!

I may try to do these periodically. I recently bought a Humble Bundle that included several Star Wars games I currently own. To kick off my random giveaways, I’ve got a copy of the Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic games, 1 and 2, to present to one person who wants them. Both of these titles are fantastic and would be a great addition to any Steam library that is currently lacking! Leave your e-mail address and I’ll send you the codes.

As always, thanks for reading and until my next post, happy gaming!

Switch Questions: A Week Later…

January 22, 2017 / admin

Alm artwork from Nintendo's YouTube
(Switch Logo from Nintendo’s YouTube Page)

More posts about the Switch! We’ve had a little over a week to digest the information from the Nintendo Switch conference and there are still some unanswered questions. Whether Nintendo plans a slow release of information leading up to the release to keep people talking about the system or they plan to have a Nintendo Direct info dump sometime between now and launch, there are things that need to be answered. Here are some of the questions I have and others have posed.

Online Functionality

Friends List/Chat

Nintendo has stated that friends list and matchmaking will be done through a companion app. This is an odd move that they have briefly explained the reasoning behind but is still largely unclear. Is the app the ONLY way to navigate these features? One of the reasons given was when you’re out and about, you will always have your phone with you and it removes the need to take a potentially bulky headset on the go. If that’s their main reason behind the decision, it seems to contradict them stating that the Switch is first and foremost a home console. Does that mean we’ll also have to sit with our phones on our laps while playing at home? The lack of headset usage is also confusing when you think about being on the move because that removes any privacy from the equation. You’ll be speaking out loud to your phone and hearing the conversation over speaker phone as well (unless you’re going to do the awkward shoulder hold to keep the phone pressed to your ear OR bring a headset for your phone anyway). Also, no one wants to be THAT person, blaring their game music/sound or having a heated bout of trash talking an opponent while sitting in an airport terminal or wherever you may be (“Sorry, sir, we’re going to have to ask you to leave. You’re upsetting the other patrons…”). All of the mystery around this decision needs to be clarified sooner, rather than later to prevent people’s imaginations from running wild! If it’s not already too late for that…

Online Multiplayer

For the first time, Nintendo is going to have a paid requirement for their online functionality. This has people nervous for many reasons. The first, and largest, reason is that Nintendo’s online gameplay has been mediocre at best, and downright bad in other situations. If they plan to charge for their online, hopefully they have an impressive infrastructure in the works and ready to go at its launch because people are overly critical of everything Nintendo does and this could be a deal-breaker for many players.

Outside of the infrastructure, the other offerings need to be fleshed out and explained. We know we will be getting free “rentals” of Virtual Console titles rather than being given them outright. We also know there will be monthly discounts of some sort for subscribers. This is all very standard issue for online offerings these days, so Nintendo needs to prove why their service will be worth the cost of entry outside of the norm for such things. If they come out with the $59.99 per year that is the current standard for the likes of PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live Gold with nothing but what has been announced, they will likely be laughed at and the offering will flop.

A feature-rich online environment (cross-game chat/parties/lobbies, easy game invites, responsive interface, etc.) with the discounts and free trial Virtual Console games at a significantly reduced price point will garner support for the offering in the early days and drive adopters towards it. If it proves to be a worthwhile value proposition and the infrastructure is steady, a slow rate increase would not be out of the question further down the road. Nintendo needs to prove themselves in this arena beforehand though without trying to directly compete with the likes of Sony and Microsoft, since these waters have been largely untested by the Big N.

Virtual Console

Lots of questions here and little is known so far. We know it will be an option and that some of the older offerings will contain updated features (such as online play). However, we don’t know what games will be offered. Will the current offerings on the Wii U be available immediately? Will your current library of titles port over? Will there be an up-charge like there was from the Wii VC to the Wii U VC? Will we see GameCube titles offered through the Virtual Console? Will your current eShop wallet funds carry over to the new system?

Nintendo has a huge pull from nostalgia. People love revisiting classics from their childhoods. Having the current list of Virtual Console titles immediately available would essentially make the Switch a Nintendo time capsule that you could take with you anywhere. It also expands the launch offerings (which are admittedly thin) by a significant number, adding to the appeal of the system. That being said, you can only ask people to re-buy old classics so many times. If your existing Virtual Console purchases do not transfer over to the new system, it’ll be a tough pill to swallow for many fans who have bought into the ecosystem on past consoles. After the fee charged to move titles from the Wii VC to the Wii U VC, it would be an excellent good faith gesture for Nintendo to offer the migration free of charge this time. As for GameCube titles, there have already been stories stating that several GameCube titles have been rumored to be running on the Switch hardware. Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi’s Mansion, and Animal Crossing were specifically listed according to sources speaking to Polygon. The inclusion of the current Virtual Console offerings plus GameCube games would put some of the best games of the past 30+ years directly in your hands in a single place, making the Switch that much more enticing to gamers.

Outside of the above, the features of the Virtual Console as well as the price points for each console’s offerings need to be solidified. As mentioned, nostalgia is an area where Nintendo excels and they need to treat that responsibility with the care it deserves.

Console Features

Capacitive Touch Screen

The JoyCons were front and center of most of the announcements and for good reason, they’re pretty impressive little pieces of tech from all accounts. One thing that was announced but largely glossed over was the new capacitive touch screen on the Switch. I assume this was done to prevent further confusion of the messaging around the home console/portable console question, since the touch screen would only be usable when not docked. However, this is the first Nintendo console to feature capacitive touch rather than resistive. I’m not sure how often this will feature into gameplay development, based on the inability to use the feature most of the time (I plan on largely using the console as a home console, but time will tell if I use it on the go for a significant amount of time). The screen will, however, allow for the porting of Nintendo’s mobile phone offerings in a more cohesive way. You would potentially be able to use the Switch, sans JoyCons, as a mobile device much as you would use your phone for these titles. That furthers the proposition that this console could be the place to play over 3 decades worth of Nintendo titles, including their new offerings on mobile phones.

Battery Life & Charging Methods

In conversations about the Switch, battery life was being discussed. It has been stated that on the low-end, the system offers around 2.5 hours of battery life in portable mode. Since the console has a USB-C port on the bottom, it stands to reason that you could charge the device with a backup battery you may already have (as I mentioned in my last write-up about the Switch). However, with the placement of the port on the bottom of the unit (for ease of docking and placement of the JoyCons), you would not be able to charge the device while using the kickstand. I believe this is a non-issue, since I don’t see many people playing it in that mode for excessively extended amounts of time due to the screen size. As with all things Nintendo though, and the extra scrutiny placed on their decisions, the inability to do so was bemoaned by those I spoke with. Ways in which battery life can be extended should be addressed directly by Nintendo at some point, seeing as it seems to be an issue among many people who plan to use the system in a mostly portable fashion.

So, I realize most of my posts have been about the Switch and that is due to the fact that it is what has me the most excited recently. With it being the next big console launch, potentially followed later in the year by Project Scorpio, it’s been prevalent in my thoughts. As the year progresses and other gaming news emerges, I plan to switch (sorry, I had to) up my topics a bit more. If there is anything you’d like my thoughts on around anything gaming related, feel free to drop me a comment or e-mail and I will do my best to respond.

Fire Emblem News Galore!

January 18, 2017 / admin

Alm artwork from Nintendo's website
(Image of Alm from Nintendo’s Website)

The Fire Emblem series has become a favorite of many Nintendo fans in recent years. With the stellar release of Fire Emblem Awakening and then followed by the well-received Fire Emblem Fates, the series has found revitalized strength to bring it back from the brink. I remember reading a rumor a couple of years ago now that had Awakening not sold as well as it did, Nintendo was considering shelving the franchise for the time being. That didn’t happen, obviously, and the series is now in full force! The RPG tactics series from Intelligent Systems with perma-death for your characters and intriguing storylines has piqued players’ interest (character appearances in Smash Bros. helped, as well!). The Nintendo Direct this evening (voiced by Yuri Lowenthal) featured all the new Fire Emblem a fan could want. Let’s dig in!

A new take on an old classic

The first entry shown was Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, which releases on May 19th of this year for the 3DS. Additionally, a dual pack of amiibo featuring the game’s protagonists, Alm and Celica, will be available the same day. No information was given about how they will interact with the game.

As for the game itself, it is a retelling of Fire Emblem Gaiden, which was released in 1992 exclusively in Japan for the Famicom. The game appears to feature a bit of dungeoneering in addition to the normal Fire Emblem gameplay we’ve come to know and expect. The trailer states that the game will stay true to the style of the original, with a few modern enhancements such as animated cutscenes!

Seeing as many of the Fire Emblem titles never left Japan until more recently, this is a welcome addition for fans new and old outside of the country to get their hands on one of the original titles.

Switching gears to a new entry in the series

*Insert Switch click sound here* (I still love that sound). A full-fledged Fire Emblem entry is heading to the Nintendo Switch! No official title has been announced yet and it stated the release is planned for 2018. Hopefully all goes well and they are able to hit that (very large) target release window.

While we’re talking about the Switch…

Some more details were shown in regards to Fire Emblem Warriors, the game being developed by Koei Tecmo. We got a brief gameplay trailer showing the standard hack ‘n slash action we’ve come to know (and maybe love, if it’s your kind of thing) from Koei Tecmo. While I’m not a huge fan of the series, Hyrule Warriors was fantastic. It had the right amount of story to drive a Zelda fan like me to keep playing it while mixing in the classic elements from the long running Warriors series. If they keep that formula with the Fire Emblem franchise, I could see this being another title to pick up for a play-through.

In addition to the Switch, the title is also being developed for the New Nintendo 3DS (not to be confused with the original 3DS, even though the naming IS in fact terribly confusing). Both versions are currently set for a Fall 2017 release date.

Fire Emblem for your phone, wherever you go!

Finally, we have more details of the previously announced Fire Emblem title for smartphones. Fire Emblem Heroes is the smartphone take on the series. It features heroes (hence the name) from many of the previous entries in the Fire Emblem series, including some new ones. Heroes are summoned using orbs that can be won in battle or purchased as micro-transactions. The battles follow the standard tactics, rock-paper-scissors style of gameplay as the previous entries in the series. Characters are (at least partially) voiced and can be leveled up through battle. There are different kinds of battles and they seem to be on relatively small battlefields that fit entirely on your phone’s screen.

Fire Emblem Heroes appears to be launching first on Android phones on February 2nd. iPhone users will need to wait, as the only time frame that was given for iOS was “soon.” Outside of this, Nintendo has opened a site where you can vote on which heroes you’d like to see featured in special in-game events once the title is released. If you login with your My Nintendo account, you can earn a platinum point bonus by voting. You can apparently pre-register now on the Google Play store to prepare for the release.

That’s a wrap!

The Fire Emblem Heroes details were the last presented in the Nintendo Direct. It looks like the next year will be a great time to be a Fire Emblem fan. I’ll be sure to post updates as more news about these titles is released.

Now if only Nintendo would show as much love to the Metroid series… (it was hinted that something may be forthcoming in the next year on that front)

Nintendo Switch Conference Details

January 14, 2017 / admin

tloz-botw

(All images from Nintendo’s Switch Homepage)

Oh man. So many details over the past few days, some more exciting than others Strap yourselves in for a long post (and sorry for the lame title)! I’ll try to divide it up so you can skim to whichever headers interest you most. I wouldn’t even know where to begin for a tl;dr… Anyway, first things first, we all know the conference was very awkward watching it outside of Japan. The translators were very monotone and some of the presenters were a bit cringeworthy. It happens. With that out of the way, let’s get down to business!

Nintendo Switch Pricing/Configurations/Accessories

Nintendo started out immediately with a price point and release date, which everyone was clamoring to know. The system launches on March 3rd, 2017 for a suggested retail price of $299.99. This price point offers two options for consumers, a version with matching gray JoyCons and one with mismatched neon blue and neon red JoyCons.

Either option contains the Switch console, a left and right JoyCon, wrist strap grips that cover the rails when detached from the system, a JoyCon controller grip shell, a Switch docking station, an HDMI cable, a USB-C charging cable, and an AC adapter.

Outside of the main console, there a plenty of first-party accessories announced for this thing.

AC Adapter – $29.99

Should you need a spare AC adapter or a replacement, it’ll set you back $30.

JoyCon (Left & Right) – $79.99

Some people are already crying foul about the price here, but when you think about it, you’re getting 2 controllers, so it boils down to about $40 a piece. Pretty standard for controllers nowadays. This package is offered in many varieties. You can get 2 of the same color for gray, neon red, neon blue or you can choose mismatched colors for the set as well. Judging by the packaging, these sets with come with the wrist strap grips for each controller as well.

JoyCon (Single Left or Right) – $49.99

You can buy an individual JoyCon to fit your needs for $50 with the various color options available to you as well. This makes the bundle of the two controllers a little more appealing, since you’re saving $10 per controller by getting them together, should you need that many JoyCons.

JoyCon Wrist Straps – $7.99

As far as I can tell, these are replacements and/or vanity purchases to have colors matching your controller rather than the standard gray. Offered in neon red and neon blue.

JoyCon Charging Grip – $29.99

In a slightly confusing move, this JoyCon controller shell is different from the one bundled with the system in that it actually charges the JoyCons while they’re attached as opposed to the holding them. Apparently, you can charge the JoyCons with this shell or while attached to the Switch while it is charging (through the dock or simply plugged in with USB-C). Seems like this may be a worthwhile investment to avoid needing to pull the system off the dock to charge the JoyCons and keep playing.

Carrying Case with Screen Protector – $19.99

Pretty standard and self-explanatory here. Since the system is meant to be easily picked up and taken on the go, a carrying case makes perfect sense.

Switch Docking Station Bundle – $89.99

This price seems a bit high, but it does come with a replacement dock, an HDMI cable, and an AC adapter. If you are frequently between two locations, I guess it makes sense to buy this bundle rather than constantly disconnecting and reconnecting the set that comes with the console. Or maybe as a bulk replacement should tragedy strike these accessories.

Pro Controller – $69.99

I have not been able to find a price or listing for the Switch Pro controller as of this writing. I’m not sure if I missed them and they’re sold out/listings taken down or what. I would assume the price for this would fall in line with standard market prices for current console controllers around $50-$60. UPDATE: According to Polygon, the Switch Pro Controller is coming at the steep price of $70. Hopefully, these prices will come down.

That covers most of the accessories I believe, so let’s switch over to what the system can do! (Sorry, I had to. They kept doing it during the presentation).

The Switch! Features & Such

Nintendo’s president Tatsumi Kimishima gave us a look into more of what the Switch can do and how it will do it. He spoke of the online capabilities of the system with online multiplayer, lobbies, and chat. Interestingly though, Nintendo has opted to use a mobile app for the chat/social portions of their online. Reggie Fils-Aime stated that it makes for a more portable offering, since you don’t have to worry about taking a headset or other bulky items like that with you, since you almost always have your phone on you. I had initially thought that the app would just be a way to interact with your friends’ list outside of the Switch itself, but it sounds like it may be the ONLY way to do so. Time will tell on this front. Additionally, Nintendo is moving to a paid online structure, a la PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live Gold. Initially, the online component will be free for consumers to test, likely for Nintendo to stress test and correct issues as well, but in Fall 2017, the service will move to its paid model. No pricing was offered for the online component. It was mentioned that the paid offering will allow people discounts to certain products as well as a free NES/SNES monthly game. This free game is more of a rental, since it changes month-to-month and you will not retain access to the games between months without purchasing, but the titles have been said to potentially offer updates/new features such as online play for old classics. It’s a different take on the PS+ Free Games/Games with Gold, but seems fitting with Nintendo’s stranglehold on our nostalgia. Give the free taste but pay for the hit.

This was mentioned kind of casually but THE SWITCH WILL NOT BE REGION LOCKED! Finally! Thank you, Nintendo. There have been times over the years that I’ve wanted to import games that were potentially not going to make their way over here (Project Rainfall comes to mind) but I was not able to do so. This was especially frustrating with handheld titles. It’s nice to see them finally remove this restriction.

The Switch itself, outside of docking mode, apparently has a battery life of somewhere between 2.5 hours and 6.5 hours, depending on the games you are playing. This isn’t surprising and seems to be in line with the battery life of the GamePad for the Wii U when the system launched. This doesn’t concern me for few reasons. First, I don’t envision myself taking this thing to a park and playing it for more than 2 hours while I’m out and about. Second, I’m rarely anywhere for an extended amount of time where I don’t have access to an outlet to charge the Switch, should the need arise. Lastly, there will almost certainly be extended life batteries/cases for the console down the road for people who do need more that a couple of hours of battery life on the road. Since it charges through USB-C, you may even be able use your existing backup batteries (maybe those that you purchased for Pokemon Go excursions. Was that just me? Ok, nevermind…) They did note that you can play the console while it is charging.

To help with the battery life, the Switch is returning to cartridge-based media. Not only will it help with battery life, it will also help shorten load times and help prevent the need for lots of extra storage as games will likely be able to be written/saved directly to the cartridges.

Speaking of memory/saving, the Switch is only offering 32gb of storage space. While this is expandable through a microSD slot housed behind the console’s kickstand. With games like Breath of the Wild clocking in at a reported 13gb+, if you plan to go digital, you should plan to buy a large microSD card.

During the presentation, it was noted that up to 8 Switch consoles can be connected for local multiplayer. This is pretty cool as it would give each player his or her own screen to use while playing games together and avoid the ever-present issue in couch multiplayer games of screen-looking (Ah, Goldeneye. We remember those days…)

The screen of the Switch was noted to be a capacitive touchscreen, similar to what you’d find in most smartphones these days. It’s a welcome addition to the traditional use of the resistive touchscreens Nintendo has used for their devices up to this point. Since the console is primarily a home console, I’m not sure how heavily touchscreen features will be implemented, but the option is there for developers that choose to utilize it. Maybe some of the Art Academy games will make their way to the Switch?

JoyCons!

The little controllers with the silly name! We’ve known what the controllers were since the unveiling a few months ago, but not everything they could do until yesterday. It was announced that the right JoyCon will have NFC built-in, bringing amiibo functionality to the Switch. We knew this would be the case but it wasn’t confirmed where in the unit it would be. The left JoyCon features a Share button, which will take screenshots or videos eventually to be shared. It was noted how the images/videos would be shared, specifically, just that they could be. As mentioned above, there will be color variations of the JoyCons, starting with gray, neon red, and neon blue. Each JoyCon also features a plethora of buttons to be used. They house a joystick that can be clicked, 4 primary face buttons, an L or R button (depending on which JoyCon you’re holding), a ZL or ZR button (also JoyCon dependent), and then SL and SR buttons located in the slide rail (JoyCon agnostic). Additionally, the right JoyCon (which seems to house the most tech) has an IR camera that can register distance between itself and objects, as well as object shapes. It was noted that it could register things like rock, paper, scissors. The JoyCons will also be motion controls, much like the current Wiimotes. And finally, HD rumble. The new HD rumble is apparently so accurate, you can tell the difference between the number of objects clinking around inside. The example given was that the JoyCon was a simulated glass and ice cubes were being added to the controller. When shaken, a distinct difference could be felt between the number of cubes and then a further difference noted when water was added to the “glass.” It’s an interesting feature that could a bit of tension to situations in horror games. I’m sure it will be used in many interesting and/or gimmicky ways!

Games!

A number of games were confirmed for the Switch during this presentation and further details were given on games we knew were in the works. I’m only going to cover games that were interesting to me in some way (i.e. – you won’t find anything about the sports games here. Sorry, not sorry.) It’s my blog, deal with it!

1, 2 Switch

1, 2 Switch appears to be the launch title akin to Wii Sports or Nintendo Land. It’s a collection of mini-games set to be a sort of proof-of-concept. The option to not include the title as a pack-in with the system is an odd one though. From the looks of the games, it’ll be a fun little party game and a great way to show off some of the things the Switch can do, but ultimately, I think this one will be short-lived. Nintendo Land suffered a similar fate. While I thoroughly enjoyed the mini-games in Nintendo Land, it didn’t have a huge draw to bring my friend and me back into the fold. Wii Sports was fun because each time felt slightly new and different and had the right balance of fun and competition to it, especially bowling, which brought us back many times over. I think the games included in 1, 2 Switch will be fun during the launch window while we wait for new titles but will then get shelved in favor of other offerings. Some of the mini-games included are a quickdraw competition (wild west style), Samurai training (swinging and catching swords), an eating competition (very weird using the IR camera to “eat” the most), and a ping pong game (based on sound and feel from the controllers, no visuals to speak of). 1, 2 Switch is currently slated as a launch title.

Arms

Arms looks interesting. Anyone who played a bit of Wii Boxing knows that it could be a bit tiring to flail around and win your matches. Arms looks to take that to the next level. With the precision of the new motion controls in the JoyCons, you’re dropped into a 1 versus 1 arena match between fighters with extendable arms. Thrown punches can be tweaked by twisting the JoyCons, blocks can be initiated, and you can dodge by turning both JoyCons in the same direction for a quick sidestep. Many different fighters were shown and are sure to offer a variety of styles and speeds. I’m hoping this game will have some depth and keep people coming back to the arena for further bouts but it does seem like this one may be another proof-of-concept dust collector shortly after launch. I hope Nintendo proves me wrong here because it looks to have a ton of style and promise. Arms was given a release frame of spring 2017.

Splatoon 2

Nintendo’s competitive 3rd person shooter returns with new stages, new weapons, and more customization. Splatoon was a title I wanted to spend more time with but the controls always felt a little off to me. Hopefully, they’ve been tightened up a bit and we can enjoy a return to this paint-powered battleground. Not much else to say here since it seems to be a simple iterative approach to the series. Splatoon 2 is currently slated for a summer 2017 release.

Super Mario Odyssey

A new 3D Super Mario game set outside of the Mushroom Kingdom this time! While interviewing Miyamoto about this game, it was revealed that this should be a more challenging iteration in the series. Miyamoto stated that with each entry in the series, they tend to fluctuate between accessibility and challenging action and that this title will be more geared towards the latter. Many diverse environments were shown in the trailer for this title, including a thriving NYC-like metropolis (complete with pedestrians and traffic), a quaint desert town, a lush forest, and some sort of trippy, colorful geometric wonderland. Hats appear to play a large role in this new title as well. Mario’s hat will be alive in some way this time around, similar to Link’s iconic hat in Minish Cap. Bowser is also shown to be wearing a snazzy top hat (for his wedding to Princess Peach, according to a billboard in-game) that he throws like a weapon, and Mario’s ship that he uses to traverse the game world is also hat-shaped. The game looks pretty fantastic and I’m always excited for a new 3D Mario title! This one is set to release in the holiday season of 2017.

Xenoblade 2

Most places online are calling this Xenoblade Chronicles 2, but the trailer simply says Xenoblade 2. It looks to be more of a direct successor to the Chronicles series than X was, which I am completely ok with because X did not engage me the way the original Chronicles did. Monolithsoft has been fantastic at creating large worlds and it was truly impressive the scale they managed on the Wii hardware. I’m excited to see how this title turns out! No release date or window was given.

Fire Emblem Warriors

A new Warriors game mash-up with Nintendo from Koei Tecmo! I enjoyed Hyrule Warriors a lot even though I don’t particularly care for the Warriors games, typically. The Fire Emblem series is definitely one that I need to spend more time with, especially given the fantastic entries we’ve seen recently on the 3DS. No release date/window was given for this title.

Dragon Quest X & XI

Dragon Quest X has been out in Japan for a few years now, across multiple Nintendo consoles and even PC, I believe. Square Enix has not brought the title stateside yet and still may not. The conference only specifically mentioned the titles (both X & XI) coming to Japan. The newest entries of the Dragon Quest series, they follow in the footsteps of Final Fantasy with testing the waters in the MMORPG realm while claiming spots as main series’ entries. The series has always been more popular in Japan than elsewhere but hopefully they will rectify the situation and bring them to their fans in other countries. No release window or date was shown at the presentation.

Dragon Quest Heroes 1 & 2

While Dragon Quest X and XI will be separate titles, the borrowed Warriors-style Heroes games will apparently release as a single compilation on the Switch. Square has done a solid job of borrowing game styles from other developers and making them their own (Dragon Quest Builders = MineCraft, World of Final Fantasy = Pokemon), so the Heroes series is no exception. This title was also not given a release date/window.

Shin Megami Tensei

No specifics were offered other than some art shots of dilapidated buildings and some familiar characters (Jack Frost!). A new, full SMT title on a home console is surely a welcome addition to any game library though. No further details or release date were offered.

Project Octopath Traveler

Sounds odd, looks fantastic! A mix of retro and new RPG styles. Not much is known other than a few screens and a short trailer. It apparently comes from the team behind the excellent Bravely series, which already puts it up there on a list of games you’ll want to play (or should, at least).

Skyrim

We knew it was coming from the Switch unveiling but now it’s confirmed. Todd Howard had lovely things to say about Nintendo and hopefully, this will be the start of Bethesda bringing more titles to Nintendo platforms. However, they’re charging the full $59.99 for a game that is now nearly 6 years old. It’s unclear whether this is the remastered edition or not, but if it’s the entirely same game, the price point is a bit steep at this point in its life regardless of how amazing the game is. The game is currently set for a fall 2017 release.

No More Heroes

No real specifics were given about this title other than Travis Touchdown was making his way back to Nintendo’s consoles. Suda 51 remarked about the indie scene on the Switch and how it appears to be very friendly to smaller developers, and that interested him (since he’s kind of indie/weird). If you’re not familiar with the series, check it out. The premise was, what if a Johnny Knoxville-esque character was interested in martial arts, sci-fi, and things of that nature, ordered a lightsaber-like weapon from the internet only to find himself thrust into a global competition of ranked assassins. It was a very weird game but hilarious and pretty enjoyable. The first game was released on the Wii and then rereleased later for the PS3. The sequel was only released on the Wii, as far as I know. No release details were shared during the conference.

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

OMGOMGOMGOMG, new Zelda trailer and official confirmation that the game will be a launch title for the Switch! There’s so much going on in this trailer. Our first look a Zelda, a better look at some of the villages, more views of the Master Sword in its pitiable state, many of the races from the series (Koroks, Gorons, Zoras, Gerudo, and Rito), new abilities (shield surfacing while tethered to wild animals), and so much more! Every trailer gets me more and more excited for this game and it’s only like a month an a half away! The line of Breath of the Wild amiibo was also expanded during the announcements. In addition to the Archer Link, Rider Link, and Guardian amiibo we knew about, Nintendo has added Zelda and Bokoblin amiibo as well. If the trailer, amiibo, and release date weren’t enough, two collector’s editions were announced: The Special Edition and Master Edition exclusively for the Switch. As of writing this, the Master Edition is sold out everywhere. Nintendo commented that it was meant to be a very limited edition and so it was. The Master Edition includes the game for the Nintendo Switch, a map of Hyrule with the reverse side depicting the “Calamity Ganon,” a soundtrack, a collectible coin, a carrying case for the Switch modeled after the Sheikah Slate, and a statue of the Master Sword. botwme

The Special Edition comes with all of the same contents with the exception of the Master Sword statue. Additionally, details were shared around the differences between the Wii U and the Switch versions of the game. The main difference I’ve read is that the Wii U version will be capped at 720p and the Switch version will be 900p (when docked) and 720p (when not). Load times will also be slightly faster on the Switch due to the difference between cartridges and discs. Other than that, it has been stated that the controls, contents, and frame rate will be the same between editions. Regardless of which system you play on, the title continues to impress with its gorgeous open world and endless amounts of adventure you can have! I may need to take some time off around release day…

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Shown in the official unveiling of the Switch, we have more details around the Mario Kart title we now know as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The game includes all of the DLC from the Wii U version, in addition to some new characters and an updated Battle Mode (with the return of some classic items, as well). Mario Kart is always a fun time and being able to play a full console-quality Mario Kart on the go is going to be great as well. The only downside is I assume this will be a full-priced title for a slightly updated port.

Other Games

A few other games of note (in my opinion) have been announced recently as well. Tokyo RPG Factory’s I am Setsuna was announced for the Switch during the information dump over the past few days. An RPG I’ve been needing to spend more time with, I am Setsuna borrows from the golden era of RPGs but brings a modern feel to it. Taking much of its heritage from Chrono Trigger, the game was decently received but kind of ignored because of its steep entry price ($40 for a digital-only title).

Sega’s Sonic Mania is also slated for release on the Switch. This looks to be a return to form for the Blue Blur. Very old school look and feel to this one, which hopefully focuses on speed and level design more than new characters or weird gameplay tweaks. Sega, we just want to go fast and do some light platforming. This looks to satisfy that itch, with any luck.

Rime. This game looked fantastic when announced as a Playstation exclusive a couple of years ago and then it disappeared off the face of the Earth. Well, it has recently resurfaced, rebranded for multiple platforms including the Switch! Boasting an art style similar to Breath of the Wild, the game appears to be an action puzzler with vibes of Shadow of the Colossus meets the Witness. I’ll be keeping an eye on this one for sure!

With many other titles announced, I’m going to stop here or I may go on forever. This gives you a good look into some of the games coming to the Switch this year and a bit beyond. Nintendo has stated that over 50 companies are currently developing over 80 titles for the Switch, and that’s just the beginning. If the system is well received, that number will only continue to grow.

Parting Thoughts

While the launch day lineup is very thin, I still think Zelda and a few of the other titles will hold most fans over until more content arrives. The pricey accessories are a bit worrying as well, but for most titles, you are set with what comes out of the box. More new games need to be shown and fewer older titles/ports. Regardless, I am looking forward to the release and Switching (*snap*) the way I play!

Too much? Yeah, that was too much. Sorry. I like the little snap sound…

Exciting Things In Early 2017

December 31, 2016 / admin

2017 Rollover, from innovationexcellence.com
(Image from Innovation Excellence (Thanks Google))

Hello and sorry for the delay in writing new content. Between weddings and the holidays (read: adulting and social obligations), I haven’t had much time to put a new post to the page, but I’m here to rectify that now! 2016 had some high peaks and low troughs but now’s the time to look forward to the new year and that means A LOT of new games. Seeing as there are too many to list for the entire year, I’m just going to briefly mention a few things I’m excited for, in no particular order, that should be arriving in the first quarter of the year or so (in the world of adulthood, time is measured in quarters of years, just go with it).

The Nintendo Switch

I’ve written about this a few times before, but I’m very excited about the Nintendo Switch. I’m curious to see what more they have to unveil (besides a price point and official release date) during the January 12th presentation. Will we see more attachments? New features of the base hardware we’ve not been shown? New titles being confirmed? Hopefully, it’s all of the above. Since the last write up I did about the Switch, rumors have come out that the unit will run at a 40% power reduction while not nestled in the cradle. This makes sense and many devices do this currently. You trade off some of the raw power of the device for extended battery life, it’s nothing new and nothing to worry about, in my opinion. Nintendo will make sure its games are still playable at the reduced power levels. Whether that means they’ll be downscaled to require less “umph” (

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Continuing on the Nintendo train, Breath of the Wild continues to look fantastic. The Legend of Zelda is one of my favorite game series, if not my absolute favorite. This entry appears to take the original, more open style of the game and put a modern spin on it and there’s still so much we don’t know! We’ve barely glimpsed villages and NPCs. They’ve teased some kind of airship and wingsuited/flying villain. Armors and weapons that have yet to be seen, Epona hasn’t been shown in a while, other neat tricks the game’s engine can perform (like setting grass on fire with a Fire Rod, fanning it with a Deku Leaf, and riding the updraft from the flames with the same leaf, which is kind of ridiculous), and more! I’m ready to jump, climb, fight, and lose myself in this new iteration of Hyrule. New (and nasty) rumors are saying that the game is going to be delayed again so the system can launch with the new Mario title (also excited about) and Nintendo can avoid competing with itself over which title is a must-have (por que no los dos?). Hopefully, during the Switch press conference on the 12th, we’ll get more concrete details about the game. Until then, I’m hoping and praying it’s still a launch title.

Persona 5

The Persona series has become super stylized in recent years. I was sold on the series watching the intro to Persona 3 and reading all the stellar reviews of the game at the time. Part dungeon-crawler, part high school social sim, all JRPG. Memento mori, Evokers, and the dark theme all drew me in. The series has presented a lot of interesting ideas about coming to terms with one’s true self, death, pop culture consumption, and many others. Persona 5 has been long-gestating and constantly delayed (partially due to Atlus being purchased by Sega and the voice actors’ strike) but looks fantastic from all the information released. It even has a pretty excellent prequel anime episode that helps set up the story we’ll be jumping into in this iteration. The series has spawned anime, manga, and gaming off-shoots, some of which even tie together the entries of the series which are usually stand alone. Most recently, the game was delayed from its projected release date of Valentine’s Day to April 4th (not technically the first quarter of 2017 but I did say, “or so” 😛 ).

Horizon: Zero Dawn

Guerrilla Games has continuously impressed with their newest title for the PS4. The story is intriguing: robotic creatures have overtaken the earth and humans have been mostly relegated to small tribes, their cities having been reclaimed by nature. Think Native Americans with high tech weaponry hunting robotic animals instead of flesh-and-blood ones. The gameplay looks smooth and varied (though they’re probably playing on the PS4 Pro, as seems to be the case recently when titles are being demoed), and has kind of a Monster Hunter vibe to it. The facial expressions/speech options looked a little stiff and weaker than the rest of what has been presented but that doesn’t take away much from the rest of the showcase. I’ve tried to avoid watching too much of the game, so as to avoid any potential spoilers or seeing too much in the trailers (a common issue these days), so that’s all I really know about it. We’ll find out early next year if it ends up being worth our time.

Virtual Reality

This one is a bit more broad than just any one specific title or platform but having played a bit of VR here at the advent, it’s got a lot of promise. The Vive seems to be leading the pack at the moment, with solid motion controls, room scale for a bit of maneuverability, and other features packed in the headset. It’s great to bring out at parties and give people a taste of the immersion VR offers. 2017 will hopefully see hardware become a bit more affordable, software become a bit more prevalent, and a killer app that manages to sell a full-fledged video game in a VR package rather than a tech demo or an “experience.” Many hurdles still need to be addressed, such as in-game motion that doesn’t cause nausea but also isn’t point-and-click teleportation. Space/movement requirements in the real world and properly marking off boundaries without pulling users out of the game world by throwing up a boundary marker in-game. The hardware itself needs to be addressed as well. Every major headset available currently (Oculus, Vive, and PlayStation VR) tethers you to whatever hardware is powering it. Cutting the cord causes quite the concern for the headsets, both from a power standpoint, as well as a tracking one, but until people aren’t worried about strangling themselves with a cable or pulling down their whole entertainment center by yanking a cord during frantic gameplay, the medium is going to be limited in what it can accomplish. As for early 2017, PlayStation VR is getting Resident Evil 7. If the Beginning Hour demo is any indication, we’re in for a terrifying experience. I’m sure we’ll see plenty of internet videos of people playing the game and being scared out of their minds. Additionally, Star Wars Battlefront recently received a DLC in the form of an X-Wing Mission Pack for the PlayStation VR. If you haven’t ever entertained the idea of flying an X-Wing in full immersion, you probably didn’t see the Star Wars movies during your formative years and I apologize for whoever dropped the ball on that one. Regardless of platform, I hope VR sees some growth in the coming year because it has plenty of potential and just needs the right people to harness it.

I’m going to call it quits with these few things. Gaming has plenty more to be excited about in 2017 though (Mass Effect: Andromeda, for example)! Feel free to leave a comment or drop me an e-mail about what you’re excited for in the new year of gaming and whatever your plans may be this evening, be smart and be safe.

See you in the new year!

Pokemon STARring On A New Console?

November 19, 2016 / admin

(Image from Pokemon Database)

Pokemon Sun and Moon launched yesterday to solid praise across the board. I myself am about an hour or so in to my adventures in the Alola region (playing Sun for those wondering. Also #TeamRowlet). The new games, which Nintendo has stated are the most preordered entries in the long-running series, improve upon the 3D of their predecessors, add new features, and of course new Pokemon that you’ll need to catch to be the very best (like no one ever was!).

Now that you’re singing the theme song, think back over the long 20-year history of the Pokemon series (and let it sink in that the first games came out 20 years ago in Japan). The catch’em all craze has been largely relegated to the handheld market, with a few non-main entries appearing on consoles along the way. Game Freak and Nintendo have maintained that this stance is due to the nature of the beasts. It’s in the name, Pokemon or Pocket Monsters. They’re meant to be brought with you, travelling companions on the road of life, arm-in-arm, you’ll win the fight, it’s always been your dream (I’ll stop now). With that in mind, the series have never made a full debut on a console since it wasn’t fitting with the theme.

Until now…

With the upcoming release of the Nintendo Switch, the lines between mobile and home console gaming are being blurred. It has already been stated that a Pokemon game is in development for the Switch’s launch window (roughly within 6 months of release) but no further details were offered. Well, according to several sources that spoke to Eurogamer, that entry could potentially be the third entry to the Sun/Moon lineup. Rumored to be Pokemon Stars, the title would be the first full-fledged entry on a home console to date. The sources that spoke with Eurogamer claimed that the entry has been pushed back from that launch window slightly but will feature enhanced visuals, potentially new Pokemon, and the ability to transfer your Pokemon from Sun/Moon through the Pokemon Bank app.

It makes sense as well, because the formula to release a third game to fill out a generation has been observed for each generation from the inception up through Diamond/Pearl/Platinum. Black/White received sequels in the form of Black 2/White 2, a first for the series, and X/Y bucked the trend, though a Pokemon Z was long-rumored. Pokemon Stars finishing out the Sun/Moon lineup falls in line with this trend and would be a welcome addition to the Pokemon family.

This would also be a smart move on Nintendo’s part. Fans have been clamoring for a console entry to the series for years now and if it sells well, they may even make one from the ground up for the Switch (still holding my breath for a Pokemon MMO, at some point). Further to that point, I think a main series entry would be a great selling point for the Switch, especially come holiday season next year. The mobile/console hybrid is the perfect proving ground for a Pokemon game to make its way out of a strictly handheld market. What other features could be brought to bear on the new system remain to be seen, but this is definitely a step in the right direction.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some Pokemon to catch.

More Switch News (& Other Tidbits)

October 29, 2016 / admin

Nintendo Switch, from Polygon
(Image from Polygon)

The Nintendo Switch is on everyone’s minds after last week’s unveiling of the new system. Nintendo’s president, Tatsumi Kimishima, has given a few cryptic hints to further whet our collective appetites for more info and rumors continue to fly as Nintendo closes the vault door again after only giving us a peek at the wonderful, nerdy treasures inside. For more concrete details, we will be waiting until January 12. Waiting until after the holidays/new year when the system would potentially be forgotten in the hustle and bustle of the season is smart on Nintendo’s part and it kickstarts the new year with an updated look at the system, as well as starting the ~2 month countdown until the system’s release in March.

Speaking with Bloomberg, Kimishima didn’t give away much. He mentioned that Nintendo has only shown the core concept of the system, not what it is fully capable of. It seems they have more accessories up their sleeves, potentially a few that will be interchangeable with the Joy-Cons strapped to the side of the Switch. Rumors have been flying about the potential add-ons here, everything from infrared pointers to projectors that register motion.

An interesting bit of phrasing to note was that Kimishima said they want people to touch they console in January and experience it for themselves to fully understand what Nintendo is trying to do. The use of the word “touch” here is probably reading into it a bit much, but rumors are saying that the system will feature a 720p touchscreen, which has yet to be confirmed by Nintendo. I believe the comment was made more in the vein of getting hands-on time in order to truly understand what the system can do. Nintendo did not do a good job explaining this with the Wii U and all the cool things/ways of play that it could muster, or of differentiating it in their marketing so parents understood this was a new system, not just a Wii add-on (much like the DS/3DS). In breaking with the “Wii” branding and giving people the opportunity to actually play the console in a sufficient amount of time prior to launch, I think they are setting themselves up to be heard and understood this time. One of their main design philosophies has been to make hardware around their games, not the other way around. So if people don’t understand the hardware, then they’re not going to understand the unique ways to play the games that the company is publishing either. But I digress…

Those of you who were worried about the longevity of the 3DS need not be concerned, as Nintendo’s president has confirmed that they will continue pushing the 3DS as they feel it has a market separate from what the Switch will inhabit. That doesn’t mean consumers will see it that way. If you can play console quality games on the go, why would you settle for a (probably fantastic) 3DS title? Portability, battery life, established install bases, and plenty of other things will factor into this, for certain, but I can’t help but think that Nintendo is going to be stealing a portion of its own market (or maybe occupying the Vita’s shrinking real estate).

2 months and 15 days (but who’s counting?) will tell what we actually receive. Hopefully at that time, they give us a firm release date, price, and what’s included in the launch bundle(s). I assume there will be multiple configurations available, both varied in hard drive space and bundled accessories. Also, if by some chance you’re reading this Nintendo, give us some news about the Breath of the Wild amiibo while you’re at it! I’m going to need one of everything (Switch and Zelda amiibo), please and thank you!

In Other News

Square-Enix had a couple of exciting announcements this week. In addition to releasing the opening cinematic for Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Remix, we were treated to the news that 1.5 Remix and 2.5 Remix are being bundled and remastered for the PS4 so for the first time, the entire series, in all its convoluted glory, will be available on one console. So anyone who has been living under a rock for the past 15 years (Yeah, it’s been that long. I know it’s weird and we’re old. Take a moment, if you need it.), can play/watch from start to finish to prepare you for Kingdom Hearts 3, which is set to release next year. Now, you just have to decide the order in which to play the games. It’s kind of like a Star Wars dilemma. Chronological according to release date? Chronological according to the game’s story? Or some butchered version, hopping around to not spoil any plot points until they were intended to be revealed? I’ll leave that up to you to decide.

Not be left out, Final Fantasy XV also had a new bit of info drop. There’s going to be a DLC pack that allows you to play multiplayer, online, with each of the main 4 heroes being controlled by a human player! I assume this will be in some segmented story arc, rather than in the main campaign but since a good bit of the story revolves around Noctis and his band of brothers, it would be cool if you could experience the game with a brotherhood of your own at the helm. We’re almost exactly a month away from the game’s release and I’m ready to dive in and find out whether the 10+ year wait has been worth it!

The last bit of news was slightly more recent than even the above tidbits. Square-Enix has launched a teaser site, currently with a 5 day countdown, for a new Final Fantasy title for iPhone/Android. While there have been plenty of Final Fantasy titles of varying degrees of quality for mobile already, the interesting part of this is that it features a note from Chrono Trigger’s director, Takashi Tokita, as well as the fantastic art of Yoshitaka Amano (who has had ties to the Final Fantasy series since its inception, I believe). This already bodes incredibly well for the title as many JRPGs fans hold Chrono Trigger in very high esteem and having this duo on-board shows that Square-Enix (hopefully) isn’t “phoning” this one in. *insert pun husky photo here*

I’ll see myself out…