Nicktendo

I decided to take on a big one for the first time last night. I had +10 hearts from food and it still almost killed me. What a feeling when you finally take it down though! Awesome mini-boss.

I've got about £15 in GAME reward points which I'm going to spend on an E-shop voucher. Currently torn between FAST RMX and Shovel Knight. Owned both on Wii U and will buy both eventually but I can't for the life of me decide which one to go for. Can anyone shed any light on RMX and how it differs from Wii U or whether the extra content in Shovel Knight is decent? I only played through the base game on Wii U.

Me too. I was planning on getting this, but £30 is just too steep after buying the console and everything else.

Some people have suggested sticking electrical tape at the base of the dock. Seems to be a decent solution for those who don't want to buy a screen protector.

Take a picture of everything with your Sheikah slate. Makes it much easier to track stuff down later on.

Has anyone sailed over to the island off the East coast of Lanayru yet? Easily the best "shrine" I've encountered so far. This game is just full of incredible surprises.

Not at all! I've played for coming up to 25 hours and have done nothing of real significance. About 16 shrines and a lot of exploring. I've done a few side quests but pretty much ignored the main quest. Mainly been searching for ingredients to cook some useful food and trying to find better weapons. I'm having a blast just wandering around.

So I’ve had the Switch for coming up to 2 full days now and I guess it’s time to post some thoughts… Went to the midnight launch in Bolton, where I picked up the console and Zelda. After reading some of the other posts in this thread, I’m kind of glad I did pre-order in the old bricks and mortar store. I really feel for you guys who’ve been screwed over or made to wait so long. I would have been livid if I’d have been made to wait as long as some people and I’m not renowned for my patience. The launch was a lot of fun, people were playing the Wii U version of Zelda on a demo kiosk set up in store, the staff were obviously really excited too. I’d say there were between 60 and 70 people there, which was unexpected for a town of this size, there was a lot of talk about Nintendo and the Switch in general and a great atmosphere of positivity and excitement. I don’t think there was anyone there under 25 though, so I’m guessing that says a lot about Nintendo’s dedicated fan base. Nostalgia is king. The whole process was mega smooth and everyone paid up before midnight allowing the staff to hand out the goods very quickly. Setting the system up was a breeze, and yes, the joy-cons were about 70% charged which meant I could do the initial set-up (including linking My Nintendo and the Parental Controls app!) on the tablet, before docking it and placing the joy-cons into the grip. The update took a minute, which was fantastic and I dove straight in to Zelda. Initial impressions of the OS and e-shop were a bit underwhelming. Coming off the back of the Wii U, which of course after 4-5 years, is fully fleshed out, the whole thing feels severely undercooked. Hell, even the 3DS had more stuff to fiddle about with at launch. I’m prepared to eat humble pie here and admit that the whole thing feels a little rushed. I get the impression that Miiverse and Streetpass will be sorely missed if something even slightly similar to those features is not ready quite soon. Like some people have mentioned already, I was also a heavy user of the data apps on Wii U and 3DS, where you could see which games you’ve played and for how long etc. I’m really surprised there isn’t something similar on the Switch, and the stuff on the Parental Controls app is pathetic in comparison, however it seems come the end of March there will be more detailed information related to the month as a whole. Still, not a patch on what was a very basic feature for previous systems. What has really surprised me however, is the sheer speed of everything. Coming out of sleep mode and back into a game is lightning quick, as is generally moving around the OS. Very impressive stuff. The store loads much quicker than the Wii U and 3DS despite lacking an actual structured layout. Taking screenshots and posting to Twitter is easy as pie, even if the editing options are very bare-bones. The touch screen seems very responsive and is a marked step up from the Wii U. While I’m very impressed with the build quality if the device, I’ve had a few issues. The game card slot is a nightmare, it’s very fiddly and I’ve even had the console fail to recognise I’d changed the game one or two times. After an extended play on Zelda, I stuck in 1-2 Switch and nothing happened. It worked upon re-insertion, but it’s worrying, as it happened again when I put Zelda back in. The joy-con straps are also a pain to remove. During a game of 1-2 Switch I had to use considerable force to remove them both for the first few times, even though I’d unlocked them at the strap. Seems to be easier now, but still, not ideal. For the console it’s fine, and slotting the joy-cons out after docking is just as smooth and satisfying as I’d imagined it would be. I played about 7 hours of Zelda over Friday night and Saturday morning with the joy-con grip and felt it was more than adequate. The controls took me ages to get used to, but once I got the hang of it, it felt like I was using a normal pad. I do feel the joy-cons are much more comfortable in handheld mode though, especially after experiencing the pro-controller. That thing is a beast. Unbelievably comfortable and suitably weighty, definitely up there with the Gamecube pad, the fact it’s lacking proper analogue triggers is still a crime though. Why, Nintendo, why? Still, a great purchase for anyone who is planning on spending long hours in docked mode. I’ve spent most of today playing handheld and I much prefer it to the 3DS, which used to give me slight cramps after an hour or so of play. None of that here. The screen is jaw-droppingly good and performs even better than my new TV! Even on low brightness everything seems to pop out and there are no issues with colours running, motion blur or ghosting as you sometimes get on LCD screens. I’ve been playing at about 25% brightness, 50% sound and I was at 45% battery after an hour and 50 minutes of Zelda. Extremely impressive. HD rumble is just as awesome as it’s been hyped up to be. Ball count in 1-2 Switch is utterly fantastic, you really can feel every little detail, I can’t wait to see how this is implemented in future. As for 1-2 Switch, me and the missus played for about an hour last night. It was fun, and easy for her as a non-gamer to understand using the joy-con, barring one or two games, which required a little bit more detailed explanation. I’ll probably put it on a couple more times, but there isn’t much there for two people, it’s definitely more a party game. I’d love to take it into work and get some people playing on a break or something, I feel that is where it will shine. Wii Sports it most certainly isn’t though, and it won’t have the longevity of it either. Feels a bit throwaway, in all honesty. Because of that, I’m glad it wasn’t a pack in, it really lacks the charm or depth of Wii Sports and is obviously not suited to one-player sessions. I got it for free with a gift-voucher from work, but it is absolutely not worth the RRP, even £20 would be a bit steep given the content on offer. I won’t say much about Zelda here, but I’m loving it. I’ve put in about 15-20 hours and have barely done anything apart from wandering around to find stuff and fight Bokoblins. It really captures the spirit of the original NES game and looks just beautiful. Nintendo have outdone themselves in terms of world-building and scale. The game begs the player to explore, rewarding and punishing that exploration accordingly, without ever feeling cheap or unfair. It feels like Nintendo have really stepped into the 21st Century with this game, into a world where Assassin’s Creed and Grand Theft Auto do exist. Their take on the genre is so typically Nintendo, yet so un-Nintendo in equal measure. If anything, this game gives me confidence that in a few years’ time we’ll all be talking about how Nintendo got back to their best. One point of note though, I played through Skyward Sword in the run up to this and I will be genuinely sad if we don’t see another “Ocarina” style Zelda again. There’s something about the pacing, progression and structure of those games (OK, maybe not SS) that just feels so incredible. While an open world can be a wonderful thing and give an immense sense of freedom and immersion, a well-structured and defined path through a game world and story can be just as enjoyable. The Zelda series, at least for me, in it’s now previous form was the pinnacle of that. I hope it makes a return in some form one day. After missing out on the Wii U launch, I decided to join in the fun from the start this time. There are so many games coming out for the Switch that have grabbed my interest, alongside a wealth of indie titles that will be ideal for this machine. The potential for the Switch really is off the charts. I made the jump on that promise and that potential. Did I need to? In hindsight, no. While the Switch itself is easily the best hardware Nintendo have ever put out, the software side is lacking. The OS, while undoubtedly slick, is very, very basic. A number of features from previous generations feel sorely missed and I get the impression that this won’t all be built up until the back end of the year at the earliest. I would have bought this system regardless, doing it on launch day proved expensive and a little underwhelming given the hype for this thing. Don’t get me wrong though, I LOVE playing Zelda on my new Switch and feel I made the right choice getting the Switch version as opposed to the Wii U one. Plus, it always feels good to be the first to own new technology and this is the first time since the Wii’s launch that I’ve day one’d hardware I’ll point out here that I haven’t experienced any of the issues doing the rounds on the web. No joy-cons sync issues, wi-fi works upstairs even after sleeping, and I’m not noticing any scratching on my device. For those that haven’t made the jump, I would say you aren’t really missing that much as of now. Once some more games come out and Nintendo put a little more work into some of the more background features of the system, I think we’ll have one of the best systems they’ve produced in years. Even though it’s dumb as hell, I can see why IGN gave it a 6.7. Lots and lots of potential, lacking a little on execution on day 1, but I suppose that won’t be news to anyone in 2017.

So glad I got this from GAME's midnight launch in the end, despite some people mocking me for pre-ordering there :P Reading through the Switch thread has been painful, I would have been on edge all Thursday and today... Having the peace of mind that my stuff already had my name on it and was ready for collection was a great feeling in hindsight, even if it mend forking out £15 or so more on Zelda. My Amazon stuff didn't get shown as dispatched until after midnight. My case isn't coming til Monday, but it's no big deal. Pro controller and 1-2 Switch already out for delivery. Put about 8 hours into Zelda already and absolutely loving it. The OS and the e-shop are very bare bones though, bit underwhelmed in all honesty. Zelda more than makes up for it for now. Hope everyone enjoys launch day and the courier gods deliver at an acceptable time!

The point is that the spoilers aren't hidden on mobile apps, so many of us who browse the forum using Tapatalk, for example, sometimes can't avoid the spoilers. At least if there was a separate thread specifically for marked spoilers I'd know not to even open it.

I say let's keep this one spoiler free and create a new one for those who have the game already.

My accessories and 1-2 Switch still say arriving tomorrow and haven't dispatched yet. Maybe they don't have prime and that's why it says Saturday?

Absolutely nay. The sole purpose of the embargo is to drive pre-orders. Publishers know within two weeks the turd of game they just crapped out will be in the bargain bins, so the only way to make money off it is to hype it up to the moon and cash in before the game is even released. See also: Pre-order bonus material / extras / DLC.

We can just not pre-order any game, ever. Which I'd assume most people here don't do anyway. Unless it's Zelda, naturally.

It's a shitty practice and never used to be the case back in the glory days of N64 magazine, but it's just what we have to deal with in 2017. Publishers are entirely to blame. 1. Wind Waker 2. Skyward Sword 3. Majora's Mask 4. Ocarina 5. Twilight Princess Played through all five games in the last two years and that's how I see it now, will definitely change if I play through them all again some time.

Isn't it tomorrow at 9am EST / 6am PST? That would be 2pm UK time. Could swear I read that somewhere on GAF. Definitely the 2nd.

Just been into my local Smyths store after hearing they were getting a delivery today. Missed out by half an hour... Their whole batch sold out within two. Been refreshing Amazon every hour and despite it appearing sparodically over the past couple of days, I've still not managed to bag one. How is this thing STILL so hard to find?

My favourite part of that presentation was the use of the word "curating". I'm pleased Nintendo are playing an active role in what's released for the Switch. The thought of a Steam style free-for-all would be a massive turn off for me when it comes to e-shop titles. So excited for Streamworld Dig 2. The first game is awesome (review coming soon). Some other titles looked great, though I don't know how many I'll pick up as they launch, more likely I'll wait for a few sales or My Nintendo promotions.

Not just the Blades having a good season, what about Wednesday? :awesome: I kid of course! It looks as if we're going to make the playoffs this season after nearly 15 years of utter chaos at our club. Yes, I'm talking about Leeds and our win over the Owls last week was a big part of that. Garry Monk has been a breath of fresh air at Leeds, even if our chairman is still an absolute nut case. Managed to get to a couple of games this year and this is easily the best side we've had since we went down in 2004. I hope the Blades get promoted, and if we don't manage it this season then I'd be happy to see either Huddersfield or Wednesday go up to the Premier League. It's been too long since Yorkshire had decent representation at the top level and Hull don't count, because Hull.

I thought it was always pegged for launch, no?

Working Thursday night then heading straight into the city centre to pick up my Switch and Zelda at the midnight launch from GAME. Got a case, pro controller and 1-2 Switch coming from Amazon on the Friday and will have a look on the e-shop when I tear myself away from Zelda, probably gonna go for I am Setsuna and FAST RMX, but not straight away. I have Friday, Saturday and Sunday off work and I'm as excited as I was for the GameCube launch. Only 4 days to go...

The console is launching 2 months after Christmas, with a very limited number of titles. The launch window line up is focused on brining high quality releases up until the end of the year, hence why we've heard nothing about 2018 yet. While I agree that the marketing has been fairly solid thus far, I'm inclined to believe this is more an exercise in brand awareness marketing, given how toxic the Wii name has become. Maybe it's not entirely a "soft" launch, but it's certainly unique in comparison with recent console launches where maximum sales in the run up to Xmas are pushed and the console has full support from the manufacturer and, importantly, third parties. Nintendo has almost nothing to show from major third parties, for better or worse. I would assume given the rumblings we've heard over the past 12 months with dev kits not being easily acquired, that Nintendo have manufactured this situation so as not to front load the system on launch day and make room for Zelda and Zelda alone. Other consoles (including the Wii U) have launched with at least a version FIFA or COD. Furthermore, the lack of any kind of bundle whatsoever suggests Nintendo feel they don't need to really push for sales, as day one buyers will be buying regardless, hence more £££s in the till for them. The bundles, online and the VC will come, and I wouldn't be surprised if another big marketing push and some attractive bundles appear then too, starting in Autumn in the run up to the holidays. Or maybe they just weren't ready and this has all been haphazardly pieced together, though considering how quiet they've been in the past two years, I find that hard to believe.

We have had a few tweets from journos and people with inside information this time. Rumours that Luigi's Mansion and Super Mario Sunshine are being worked on for a prospective VC release on Switch.

I really liked Skyward Sword, I felt it did something new after TP, which despite being a fantastic game, didn't do too much different from OOT or expand on the traditional Zelda formula. That's not to say SS is without its faults. Many of them have been mentioned, but I really enjoyed the motion controls and how they really added to the experience, felt they were done really well. The story was one of the best, most in-depth stories in a 3D Zelda game as well, plus the game gave us the first orchestral soundtrack, which was incredible. I can see why others didn't really enjoy it though, it wasn't without niggles. Before the game was released I wasn't too hyped for it, I was a bit burned out on gaming and it even failed to bring me back really. I did play through it all eventually and thoroughly enjoyed it, for me it still ranks as one of the best 3D Zeldas. From a personal standpoint, BOTW is the most hyped I've been for a game since Wind Waker probably. I'm going on a blackout this week, the previews, particularly from places like Gametrailers, have got me confident this is going to live up to the hype.