Zechs Merquise

This sounds like it is shaping up to be a pretty good game. Impressions keep getting better and better and I'm actually really looking forward to it! I don't know why but I tend to get more excited about games that do something new or have some controversy around them - and this has had a fair bit of discussion and misgivings about it. I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on it, especially now it's looking much better and the visuals have had a real polish!

I got this game on release and have now put in nearly 20 hours - and I can say this game is still a masterpiece! Whilst the art style hasn't aged as well as Wind Waker's cel shading, the textures in this have been upgraded really well - it certainly doesn't look shabby at all and at times it looks rather good. For the most part, considering the game is 10 years old next year, it plays really well. The only mechanic that hasn't held up too well is the horse riding - but for the most part it still feels fresh and engaging to play. The best bit about Twilight Princess is the size and scope of the game - along with the dungeons, which are some of the best (if not the best) in the whole Legend of Zelda series. The game world is huge and made up of so many diverse and beautiful locations which are all populated with quirky and memorable characters. I've just got to Snowpeak Mountain, finding your way to the top with the scent of the fish you caught below at the base of the Zora Waterfall, then snowboarding down the mountain on a frozen leaf before exploring one of the best dungeons ever - the home of Yeto and Yeta. It's just part of the magical quest, which not only introduces fantastic characters but also melds together many different types of game play making the experience memorable and always keeping things fresh. I've pretty much just stuck to the main quest, but surrounding the main quest is such a large cast of characters, side quests and places to explore that there are literally dozens of hours of extra game play to be found. It presents incredible value for money. Whether this is the definitive version of the game is another thing though, personally I liked the Wii remote controls and the pointer usage for aiming the bow and arrow and the hook shot. The new controls use the stick to aim and fine adjustment can be carried out by tilting the gamepad. This is not as quick or intuitive as aiming the remote. I believe Nintendo also made some minor adjustments to the game. The only one that I've noticed is being able to turn into the wolf with a touch of a button. Where as the changes to Wind Waker were massive improvements - not needing to change the direction of the wind and having the faster sail made for a massive improvement and removed unnecessary hassles - I don't really think Twilight Princess has those issues, although the wolf transformation is welcomed, it is hardly as game changing as the faster sail. I'm totally loving playing this game again, and I can honestly say Twilight Princess has stood the test of time. Had Nintendo gone the whole hog and remade this game from the ground up with all new assets and models and really pushed the Wii U to its limits, this would have held up against any AAA release, that's how good this is and how amazing the dungeons are. Also - the Water Temple. Yeah, mind blowing!

When I saw this I was over the moon. Gawker are deplorable and Kotaku publish utter piss and drivel. I can't wait until the Hulkster gets damages, hopefully they will be enough to sink that whole damn ship!

I use off screen play quite a bit, I use it sometimes when the bird is watching TV, sometimes I use it and have something I'm half interested on in the background and sometimes I use it as I'm just relaxing and can't be arsed to set myself up in front of the TV. Other times I don't use off screen as I think games look better on the big screen and because some games like Zelda and Xenoblade are genuinely better with the pad being used to add to the experience!

Fuck me, we all know this will be real or at least an early prototype. This will do nothing to help get third parties on board. It will do nothing to win back the wider audience who found the Wii accessible. It will do nothing to win the core gamer who will think it's just another gimmick. It will do nothing to keep the cost of the system down. It will do nothing to improve the quality of the games. It will do nothing to improve the quality of the way the controller works. Ultimately, it will be another white elephant! A pointless, expensive, off putting gimmick that will actually be another nail in the coffin of Nintendo. At least with the Wii U I could see the way the Gamepad could improve games - off screen maps, off screen play and inventories that didn't need menus. This is just a total piece of shit. Oh and virtual buttons - FUCK OFF!

First print edition will no doubt be also available from GAME, and if you order from them then you never know what you'll end up with!

Pre-ordered the first print edition! Looks really nice!

Battlefront sells because it is Star Wars, I don't think anyone would have bought it had that franchise not been attached. As for Star Fox Zero, I don't think it looks like it is going to fulfil its potential, but it's certainly not as bad as some people are trying to make out. They should have just made a sequel to Lylat Wars and made it as eye popping and frantic as they could - after all it is on rails, there's no excuses for it not looking stunning.

I don't think anyone is going to get over the visual style. The game looks terrible. The idea of playing as a federation trooper in a squad is actually pretty good, a bit like Halo ODST, a slightly different take on the universe. The idea that where Samus would have dealt with a threat alone, a squad of federation troops is needed is also good. So they have set the stage for a squad based online shooter in a universe we all know and love... Then they wrap it up in a way that makes it look childish, silly and nothing like Metroid. It makes you wonder what on earth is going on at Nintendo when they don't even understand their own franchises anymore. Little fat federation troopers fighting cute little squat space pirates in a neon world, how on earth is this Metroid? The game has so much hate being aimed at it, and rightfully so, hopefully the reaction will make Nintendo realise what people want from a Metroid game.

And? The thing is, innovation is a great thing when it adds something better or improves on an existing formula. But trying to innovate and force new control schemes into something that is basically perfect and doesn't require it is pointless and actually damages the product. Ever since Lylat Wars Nintendo have tried different things with Star Fox. But really all everyone wanted was more of Lylat Wars with better graphics, new levels and the benefit of a huge boost in power. But nooooo, Nintendo can't do that, it's too simple. They need a second screen and gyro controls. No one asked for this, no one really wants it. We just want a proper sequel to Lylat Wars.

Yeah that's a lot to do, then give them time to get it all right, why rush it out and end up with an unfinished product where the OS needs patching in?

Actually, the Wii U launch line up was massive, it was the following months which were barren. I'd rather have Nintendo release a console six months or a year later and actually be ready. And it's not just about learning their lesson, Nintendo are obviously going through some degree of internal strife after the death of Iwata. As for the NX, if it is that stupid controller covered in virtual buttons, it will be a hard sell to me anyway - as whatever they launch with, I despise virtual buttons!

The same people who are rabidly making and thanking posts calling for the NX to be released this year, when clearly Nintendo struggled with the Wii U launch and when we all know what a launch drought will do to the console will be the first to be scurrying around crying if Nintendo do launch this year and the there is a lack of solid launch games. I'd much rather Nintendo launched a console when it was ready and with a solid line-up of games and a solid and steady stream of support thereafter. Rushed releases do very little for a console's chances or success. I'd rather the NX stayed under wraps a bit longer and came out with the support it needs for a strong launch, not come out and immediately be on life support with games being drip fed to a crowd of angry early adopters who claim they have nothing to play!

But there's a REALLY FUNNY BIT, the black one, who obviously talks like she's straight off the Ricki Lake show, she grabs the fat one and slaps her because the fat one is possessed, then she isn't possessed because she has been slapped (you know this because the ghost flies away), but then the black one slaps her AGAIN HAHAHAHAHAHa HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I COULDN'T STOP LAUGHING, I MEAN SHE HIT HER AGAIN!!!! BUT SHE WASN'T POSSESSED ANYMORE!!!! Get it? GET IT???? This is clearly the same level of comedy genius that made the original a heart warming classic!

A new monster hunter, shame it will be 3DS only, I would have loved to have seen 4 make it to the Wii U.

My special edition with AWESOME Amiibo Wolf Link arrived in the post today! Looking forward to firing that up soon!

This looks utterly tragic and the 'humour' so forced and poor. This was a bad idea from the start and from the reception the trailer is getting, it has flop written all over it.

Do you not remember the reaction to Wind Waker? It was horrendous, the bitching was on an unprecedented scale with people literally crying and wailing for a realistic Zelda game. Twilight Princess was the answer to the moans. It's interesting though that as time has passed people view Wind Waker with so much love, when it was initially hated for its style and released early too, meaning several dungeons never made it in. I love both games. But I would have to say that Twilight Princess's dungeons are possibly the best in the whole series.

Sorry to point score again, but I need to correct you on Battlefield, it is a franchise in decline. It peaked with 3, and Hardline has been a complete flop, I mean like Wii U COD numbers flop lol.

They don't know their audience that well - they've managed to destroy franchises like Sim City (always on DLC), Medal of Honour (turning it into a yearly paint by numbers shooter because COD exists and they demand some of that pie), Dungeon Keeper (a money grabbing shit fest of a mobile game) and Command and Conquer (ruining the franchise with number 4 and shutting Westwood), then simply shutter the studios who have done little more than carry out the orders from the top! I'm not the biggest fan of Jim Sterling, but he hit the nail on the head with this one! EA went up on stage with Nintendo talking about unprecedented partnerships. They knew the specs and they knew what Nintendo were doing, something happened behind the scenes there, I'm convinced of that! Oh and you're singing from my hymn sheet. I've always said the Wii U failed for three reasons: 1) Cost too much 2) Shit marketing 3) Didn't appeal in any way to the vast majority of people who understood and loved the Wii - as in the controller was complex and confusing in so many ways! I think EA could have thrown out cheap ports of the 360 version of FIFA, they were still releasing versions for the Wii. Either way, they didn't and the rest is history.

I think EA leaving Nintendo had little if anything to do with system specs! They released plenty of game son the 360 and PS3 that could have easily been ported to the Wii U - FIFA especially. I think relations between Nintendo and EA soured over things none of us will probably find out about until years down the line. I believe that EA want Origin to Nintendo's online provider and I think Nintendo got cold feet and pulled away from that deal which angered EA. For the record, I think EA then tried to influence MS and a lot of MS's mistakes in the run up to the release of the XBO were down to EA's involvement, especially the banning of used games. What I am saying, is that I believe EA has wounded both Nintendo and MS this generation, I think EA has some toxic business practices and when they try to push those on console manufacturers the manufacturers either resist them and get shit on like Nintendo, or go with them hoping for an all powerful partnership then end up taking the heat like Microsoft did. Don't get me wrong, I know Nintendo need companies like EA in order to reach a wider audience, and although I don't play FIFA or Battlefield, I would like to see them on the system for others that do. However I still don't like the way EA does business or the effect they have on the industry and some of the franchises and developers I once liked.

It's weird, you had the opposite experience to me with this. I actually found it easier to level up in this game than in Xenoblade Chronicles. I think I was so over levelled for some of the story missions I literally breezed through them like a tank! I think the problem is, Xenoblade Chronicles X's biggest draw is the exploration, side quests and discovering the world around you. The problem is, if that isn't for you then levelling up will feel like a chore as you just want to do the main story. For me, the main story wasn't really the driving the force, I spent hours and hours just looking around, doing side quests, getting new gear, levelling up and trying to install new probes and build links and bonuses in Frontier Nav.

No, it isn't strictly necessary - but is an extra mode that makes the Nintendo version stand out a bad thing? Soul Calibur 2 sold best on the Gamecube of all systems - I think we all know why (but if you don't, it was because Link was in it). If Nintendo gets FIFA 18 and it has an extra mode - beach football with Miis, that's a selling point. It makes the Nintendo version stand out. Far better than getting the usual Nintendo version which lacks options and modes!

My Wii U retail games: Assassin's Creed III Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Batman: Arkham City – Armored Edition Batman: Arkham Origins Bayonetta Bayonetta 2 Call of Duty: Black Ops II Call of Duty: Ghosts Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker Darksiders II Deus Ex: Human Revolution — Director's Cut Devil's Third Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water FIFA 13 Hyrule Warriors Kirby and the Rainbow Paintbrush The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Lego Marvel's Avengers Mario Kart 8 Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars Mass Effect 3: Special Edition Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Need for Speed: Most Wanted U New Super Luigi U New Super Mario Bros. U Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge Nintendo Land Pikmin 3 Rayman Legends Resident Evil: Revelations Rodea the Sky Soldier Sonic Lost World Splatoon Super Mario 3D World Super Mario Maker Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist Watch Dogs Xenoblade Chronicles X Yoshi's Woolly World ZombiU

To even start seriously discussing this question, it would be best to start at the actual point the UK entered the EU and the initial referendum Britain had in 1975 to remain a remember of what was then called the European Community. The way the whole issue of European cooperation was sold was on the strength of the free trade and the ability to move goods and services around member states without the need for concern over trade barriers, embargoes or tariffs that may inhibit trade. The whole drive of this 'community' was based on facilitating trade and cooperation for business. That is a far cry from what the EU is today. What was meant to be a trading block has become a hugely invasive and costly extra level of governance which has simply grown and grown in size, the scope of its power and financial cost to its member states. The EU law literally supersedes the law of member states and imposes rules upon member states in a manner reminiscent of Communist Block, whilst at the same time maintaining it is democracy through the European Parliament. A parliament which is simply an over staffed, costly talking shop that is riddled with bureaucracy and shockingly has no real power as every important decision is actually made by a group of unelected bureaucrats who literally hold all the power but are completely unaccountable. If you look at the way the European Union has morphed from being what was essentially a simple way for neighbouring countries to easily do business (which is obviously a great idea) into a super state run by unelected bureaucrats who now set laws on everything and impose their will on sovereign states it is quite frightening. Trade and cooperation are common sense and will benefit everyone. A super state imposing laws upon sovereign states benefits no one. But it goes far beyond just setting laws - states are now being forced to bail out other states who's economies are failing. There is a massive problem with border control as once people have entered the EU the freedom of movement they are afforded means millions have entered illegally and now unaccounted for. There is now a push for a European Army (why is that even needed?) which will cost countless billions. I could list far more reasons why the EU is bad for member states but I'm sure most people will read them before the referendum. The road down which the EU has progressed has led to a situation that can't simply be 'reformed'. It is now too big, involves too many jobs (most of which are utterly pointless too) and has too much power. The only way to deal with a problem like this is to back out of it and negotiate our own favourable trade agreements but leave the baggage behind.