Grazza

Seven (?) weeks in and I love my Switch. It has the mark of a really great console, and that is - I keep buying games for it. Some consoles I only bought because I knew there were some games worth playing, and didn't actually like the machines themselves; but this? This gives me the same feeling as the GameCube and 3DS, although I think it's even better. I've already got seven games (Zelda + 2 eShop + 4 Neo Geo) and will probably get another one tonight. Love it!

Yes indeed. The Neo Geo was a very powerful 16-bit (or "24-bit") machine, at least equal to the SNES and Mega Drive. To me, it's every bit as valid as the official Virtual Console. From Wikipedia: I got carried away last night and downloaded King of Fighters '94! It seems that's one you really do need a solid d-pad for, as you can't roll the split d-pad enough for the special moves. Still a nice game though, and I'm going to see if I can get by anyway. Need some more eShop credit now!

Thanks very much. I started a new file and got past that point, but worked it out afterwards. [spoiler=]There's a transformation room in the village. Once you have the ring from the shack in the Canyon (the one you need the Dragon Mail + piranha man to access), you can break the block in this house: It makes a door appear, which leads to another transformation room. Love this game!

This may be the reason why Nintendo doesn't prioritise Virtual Console any more. It might actually not happen for Switch.

Yes indeed. Half-Genie Hero had a very nice visual style, but I think the sprites are better in this, and I prefer the game style. Only trouble is, I'm stuck.

Imagine Zelda II - or at least the towns and main gameplay - then extend that into a whole, interconnected overworld. It's basically a very good Metroidvania. ... The quality of this game is off the scale. It is hands-down the best 2D art I've seen. They know exactly which outlines to make thick and which to make thin - the ultimate mark of an artist, in my view: I've also unlocked some clips of the orchestral music being recorded. It's a very professional product and (I think) worth every penny.

That was a really good review, S.C.G (well-timed screenshots too). Do you have any more plans for Neo Geo games?

I wonder if this election might actually embolden enough Labour MPs to defy Jeremy Corbyn on leaving the EU. A huge amount of them don't believe in it (same as Conservatives), and their constituencies are even more against it. In this regard I have a huge amount of respect for Tim Farron, who was one of the few to stand up for what he believes in Parliament - addressing Labour and Conservative MPs who agree with him, but voted for the opposite. That does take guts. It's just possible that the resolute Lib Dems combined with some defiant Labour MPs could swing the balance.

Didn't know those things on Thundra Plateau were real trees! Apparently they're Socotra Dragon trees/Dragon Blood trees.

This is definitely a classic that will be remembered well. Even if it doesn't turn out to be the Switch's best game, it's going to be seen as a quintessential game of the system. The idea that I'd spend 2+ months playing a Zelda is a revelation to me; and this is the first time I've ever been tempted to buy DLC. Personally, I had a sort of mild anxiety before I'd completed the game to do so as quickly as possible. Breath of the Wild seemed so big and imposing, I wanted to see the credits roll. Now that I've done that, though, I'm really getting to grips with the game's locations and it's becoming an old friend.

This game is just crazy. After 6 weeks with it, I've only just found this...

Oh yeah, you could definitely think the opening of The Dark Knight is cool and want to make a game based on it. In fact, it's almost certainly how this happened. It's a matter of taste, and some people are more drawn towards crime fiction than others. I think we've got crossed wires a bit, as I wasn't coming at this from a "Ban this, it will influence behaviour" viewpoint (that's an extremely complicated debate - probably best for another time). I guess I was just a bit exasperated that Hogge took a lack of interest in this as a lack of support for 3rd-party games. For the record, I do think there's a lot of multi-format stuff Nintendo-only gamers would be go for - I point out particularly the interest in Dragon Quest XI.

LOL. I don't understand the fixation. It's funny how cultures are different, and Japan can have that in their presentation. I've no idea what the actual gameplay is... he just showed how they were trying to emulate jelly!!

I've not heard of The Town, but this doesn't look similar to The Italian Job to me (at least not the Michael Caine original). It looks like the beginning of Batman: the Dark Knight. I don't know, I bow to your knowledge of its tone, but there's something about hiding behind the clown masks and the whole robber-as-the-hero thing that doesn't sit right with me. At the end of the day, I don't like it, simple as that. I'm not asking others to dislike it, but that's the way I feel about it. PS - Also, I thought I saw firearms in the trailer? Or did I imagine that? Armed robbery is not quite the same as a light-hearted "heist". Yeah, I agree, but I was just explaining to Hogge why I wasn't interested in it. He's particularly asked why people aren't discussing it. I can't speak for others, but that's my reason.

Is that the Senran Kagura bloke? Anyway, I double checked the Neo Geo section, and it does indeed feature Blazing Star, so I'm happy!

Two points here... Firstly, yes, expecting 3rd-party support may be too much. I love the Switch, but there's no point expecting 3rd-party support if your machine doesn't run at the same level as the wider industry. I don't expect it and I don't ask for it. Secondly, I'm sorry that not many people want to discuss Payday 2 with you. Personally, I find the idea of the game extremely distasteful. This is the company that has been censoring bikinis in its own games, FFS, and now it has a bank robbing simulator on its console. Maybe Nintendo fans do have a slightly different temperament to other gamers, and maybe don't want ultra violence. I certainly don't.

True, but all my favourite arcade games can be mastered - Double Dragon, Golden Axe, Final Fight... admittedly I prefer brawlers. Comparing Metal Slug to Metal Slug 3, particularly, some of the latter's bosses have projectiles that I just don't see how you can dodge.

I was really enjoying it, but felt strangely disappointed by the end. The 3DS line-up was good, and I actually want most of those games to some extent - Hey Pikmin, Ever Oasis, Fire Emblem Echoes - depending on how they actually turn out. As for Switch, I already knew I wasn't interested in Splatoon 2 or ARMS, so I can't complain about that. I was pleased to see a Neo Geo game I was interested in, and a few of the other eShop games look decent. There's no doubt about it - the elephant in the room is the Virtual Console. It seems really odd to me that other companies can get their emulators working on Switch, yet Nintendo has not done so with their own consoles. It actually might not happen. Overall, I don't regret having a Switch, as playing Zelda in that format is enough for me; but if it wasn't, I wouldn't buy one until Mario Odyssey.

I definitely think the game leads you (and indeed, is best played) by going anti-clockwise round the map. However, I personally feel it doesn't lead you to the south-east at any point.

In my opinion it's an exploration game, not a Zelda game. As a Zelda, it's way below most of the others (although I did enjoy the four dungeons). I mean, just compare the actual gameplay to, say, Link's Awakening. Breath of the Wild falls far short of that. However, to be fair, it's one of the best exploration games I've ever played. After 140 hours, I really started to enjoy playing about in the game world. It's just that I don't really expect a Zelda game to last that long.

Nice one! It's an underrated, 12-bit gem... like a Metroidvania version of Shovel Knight!

If I recall correctly you can leave by going to the pedestal upon which you arrived.

Well, they might get away with Mario Kart and Splatoon being big hits due to relatively low public awareness of the Wii U versions. It's a shame when something doesn't get the recognition it deserves (not that I'm interested in either game, to be honest), but that's the way it is. Similar to the way relatively few people realise Twilight Princess was released on the GameCube, despite it being made for that machine. I've just accepted Nintendo's 2017 may not be for me (at retail) until Super Mario Odyssey. Seeing Metroid and some other big games at E3 would take the sting away.

Yeah, YouTube's cool, but you are often seeing someone with great skill doing it the fastest way. As for the boss, might be worth getting the Hylian or Soldier's armour to 2-star defence, plus do some more shrines (not all of them are difficult puzzles). http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/03/guide_all_the_shrine_locations_in_the_legend_of_zelda_breath_of_the_wild

It's possible, but I reckon there's money in both. The expenditure would be translating the story (which seems to be the same across the board). Hopefully releasing both will be some easy-ish money for Nintendo/Square-Enix.