Grazza

Actually, from watching both trailers, I'm more convinced that it's exactly the same experience, except for certain mini-games. I'm sure Square-Enix can modify the PS4 version enough to run on the Switch, in the same manner as Dragon Quest Heroes I & II (hopefully not as much, but we'll see). From a layman's perspective, I don't think Switch can match the fine quality of the graphics in this PS4 trailer, but can't see it struggling with any of the actual game mechanics.

Hopefully the Switch release is just a slightly less impressive version of the PS4 game. I'm going to buy the 3DS version, but also want to play the PS4 game (as close as I can get it) on the Switch in handheld mode.

Don't worry, I'm sure we can help you through it. For a start, have you done the Rito dungeon and got Revali's Gale? That makes it a lot easier. Secondly, the dungeon is not as complicated as it seems. You don't actually have to ride the rotating discs as much as you might think. Just use the "spine" as a guide to how they're lined up. Once you've done this, there's nothing else that's really complicated in the game. : peace:

Looks phenomenal. Like IX, but with a full list of proper characters to choose from. What on Earth is that bit at 2:04 though?

My hopes: * A free patch for Zelda so I can track Koroks (although I suspect it'll be part of the DLC) * More arcade games on eShop * A high-res, eShop remaster of A Link to the Past

Just a heads-up for anyone interested in trying Neo Geo games. I bought Metal Slug 3 (2000), but haven't enjoyed it at all so far. Although the first game was a bit too cartoony for me, this takes the series in a far more fantastical and supernatural direction (apparently that started in Metal Slug 2, but I haven't played it). Whilst I enjoy Capcom's Ghouls & Ghosts series, the tone seems odd here. It's also far more difficult than the first game, to the point of being unfair. I've enjoyed the first Metal Slug the more I've played it, and become not bad at it, but can't see the same happening with this one. Finally, there are now character transformations (which, again, is something apparently introduced in Metal Slug 2). In Stage 2, for example, you keep getting turned into a slow-moving zombie. The game throws you so many curveballs, I just found it annoying. Anyway, just thought I'd lay down my thoughts. I know Metal Slug 3 is many people's favourite (which presumably is why it was released first), but personally, I don't think it's a good buy over the original.

All the best ones are in Hyrule Castle.

Nah, definitely not. I've got two and two-fifths stamina (didn't know you could get three whole circles - pretty weird that the game doesn't let you max out hearts and stamina) and haven't encountered a horse I couldn't tame. You have to bash L repeatedly.

Is that the white one? I can't remember the stats, but seem to remember it excelled on Stamina. Personally, I love the grey one near Duelling Peaks. It's not the fastest or strongest, but I just love the look of it (and was proud to tame it!) I've heard about a very specific horse that is the strongest. Anyone know which one is the fastest?

4K will probably be the VR equivalent of TVs going 1080p, although part of me still thinks VR needs 8K. I wonder if there are any optical ways to improve VR, and not just resolution?

Review: Blaster Master Zero After finishing much of Zelda, and dabbling in two enjoyable Neo Geo games, I was ready for something simple-but-substantial in an old-fashioned, console-type way. Step forward Blaster Master Zero! The plot focuses on Jason as he follows a strange creature into an underground world, and liaises with an enigmatic female character. It combines sci-fi, mystery and romance in a way that only the Japanese can quite master. In fact, the game does a remarkable job of transporting you back to the late '80s/early '90s, whilst avoiding any frustrations console gaming had at the time. Based on a 1988 NES title, Blaster Master Zero is done in the "12-bit" style, which is to say, 8-bit, but how we always wanted it to be. The graphics are clean and detailed, and are set to some rather evocative music. The experience is divided into two main gameplay modes. One is a side-on view as you travel in the game's vehicle, Sophia III. This does a decent job of emulating, say, Metroid Fusion. The other mode, and where the game really excels, is the overhead mode when Jason is in a cave/dungeon. These sections feature 8-way control and feel like a combination of Metroid and 8-bit Zelda, yet are refreshingly different to either. In this mode, Jason has a main weapon as well as a sub-weapon. Both can be replenished with collectibles, but the real hook of this game is keeping your main weapon topped up. At full health you can use the best weapon, the Wave Beam, but take a hit and you might be reduced to a short-range laser. It's an unusual gameplay mechanic, but it works. The only part of the game I wasn't so keen on were the bits when Jason has to leave Sophia III, but still navigate the side-on world. In these moments, Jason is only a few pixels high and is almost defenceless. It's particularly annoying when you have to jump onto ladders.

I'm not sure if this thread is meant to be just 3rd-party or not, but here are my hopes: 2D Metroid - As far as Metroidvanias go, Nintendo is currently being outclassed by Blaster Master Zero. Sort it out Nintendo! 2D Zelda or Zelda Maker - With styles like the enhanced 8-bit we've seen, plus enhanced 16-bit. 3D Metroid - Prime 4 Animal Crossing: Wood for the Trees - Now that I've had plenty of time with the Switch, and know it functions as a normal handheld, I'd love another Animal Crossing. My biggest wish would be for more tree varieties, and realistic ones too, eg. Beech, Oak, Ash. F-Zero SX Kid Icarus - Using Breath of the Wild engine. Smaller, tighter game than Zelda, similar to the approach to the Rito Divine Beast. Dragon Quest XI - The only physical 3rd-party game I really want, which we are hopefully getting anyway. eShop Shantae 5/Risky Boots - I'd like another Shantae game, but only if they're going back to the tone and Metroidvania style of the 2nd and 3rd games. New "Mighty" Game - Feels strange to have a handheld without a new game from WayForward's Mighty series, eg. Mighty Flip Champs, Mighty Milky Way, Mighty Switch Force. Double Dragon I & II - I can't really explain how much I want Double Dragon, as well as (to a lesser extent) coin-op originals of... Golden Axe Final Fight Bad Dudes vs. Dragonninja Crudebuster

There are glowing spots you need to find. Once stood on, they activate the memories.

I went a bit indulgent and (as well as Metal Slug), bought Shock Troopers and Blaster Master Zero. My experience of Neo Geo is very limited. I played the coin-op Puzzle Bobble and I might have played King of the Monsters in an arcade once, but nothing other than that. Needless to say, it was an absolute dream machine. I used to see it advertised in Sega Pro, and drooled at the thought of owning one. Metal Slug (1996) is a side-scroller along the lines of Contra. As I say, I found it easier to get into than Contra III on SNES. Like most arcade games, it eases you in with the first level being quite reasonable. You get a decent amount of play for a credit or two, but not surprisingly it gets chaotic towards the end. If I'm nitpicking, the art style is a bit too cartoony for my tastes. To me, it feels halfway between an authentic '90s coin-op and a modern homage (although it is of course the former). I could also not shake the feeling that SNK very deliberately wanted to create a signature game that was not a fighter. As such, it feels slightly more contrived than earlier arcade classics by Capcom or Sega, for instance. The game features over-the-top violence combined with cartoony touches. When you rescue a Prisoner of War, they run about (invincible) on the battlefield and shake your hand. I'd have loved that when I was a kid. The more I played Metal Slug, the more I liked it. It's a pretty well-considered game, with gameplay as satisfying as its thrills. Shock Troopers (1997), on the other hand, really does feel like a 1990s coin-op - in fact, I don't think it actually had an AES (home) release. It is a top-down, 8-way directional game similar to Capcom's Commando. I found this absolutely brilliant from the first moment - both harder and better than Metal Slug. In fact, I especially love the attract screen, which makes me feel I'm in a '90s arcade. For the record, both games are censored by default, with the option to turn on Blood/Brutality if you want it. Obviously these games needed to be considerate of being displayed in a public place, but I like this method. Violence isn't my thing, so I left it off, but I appreciate things being done this way round. My only complaint about Shock Troopers is the difficulty. By the end it gets even more ridiculous than Metal Slug, and like a true arcade game, it's designed to guzzle your coins. Perhaps there is someone out there who can 1-cred it, but he/she would be an extremely skilled gamer. Other than that, great game! Anyway, both downloads provided a nice, gratifying bit of action after the slower-paced Zelda. Blaster Master Zero is good too, but I'll review that in its own thread. I'm an absolute sucker for coin-op emulation, so please can we have the Technos, Taito and Data East games as well?

I'm the same. The amount of optional content is ridiculous. It's good if you like it, I suppose, but I need games to go at a certain pace. I've spent the past week or so doing any shrines I hadn't completed (which was OK) and more recently, upgrading my armour (which is boring). Furnishing a house and creeping round trees to find beetles really does remind me of Animal Crossing. It is odd that there is so much you don't need to do for the main quest, and doesn't really have any use as the game stands now. I guess it links in with the DLC. It has always been my opinion that the presence of DLC negatively affects the balance of games, but I know I'm virtually alone in thinking that.

To be fair to Charlie he was only trying to pass on something that may have been of interest, and did mention it might have been an April Fools in the first post. Now personally I hate all forms of lies and deceit, and thought this ruse was unimaginative and predictable, but Charlie shouldn't get the flak for it.

I believe you fight them if you go to the final boss without activating all the Divine Beasts. That said, it might only be the bosses from the ones you haven't done.

Lynels and Hinox? They're not very hard once you've completed all four Divine Beasts. Yep! I did it the other day. Quite handy for storing melee weapons, shields and bows.

There's no doubt in my mind that it does lack some of what previous Zelda games have, whilst also taking too much from the open world genre. At the same time, it has several welcome additions. Quite. It's hard to score the game, because it's not clear which part "the game" is. There is much that I think is 10/10, and aspects that I think are way under par for a Zelda. On the nostalgia point, yes, it's very easy to remember OOT with warm feelings. But if I may offer a comparison with a more recent game - A Link Between Worlds - I know I finished that with the feeling that I had played a better game. It's not linear and it doesn't have the usual item gates, but it does have good pacing and the thrill of progression. Those are the two things BotW most lacks. I don't like being negative, but for the record, I mean my comments in this thread as thoughts about game design rather than wanting to criticise Breath of the Wild as such. It's a superb piece of software that (I think) will serve as a very solid base for future Zeldas. When more people have finished the game, I certainly think a "What Should the Next Zelda Be Like?" thread will be very interesting, without the perception that it's pure criticism of BotW.

I got Metal Slug. Only played it a bit, but it seems well-emulated to me. The options are so good, it actually feels like I have the keys to my own Neo Geo coin-op and can set things like credits, difficulty etc! (I've left it on default for now.) What I like is that it's not too hard to get into - it's challenging, but certainly not as difficult straight away as, say, Contra III.

I agree it's a 9/10. Although I can genuinely understand reviewers being bowled over enough to give it a 10/10, for me it didn't have that "I've just played a masterpiece" feeling that I got from Ocarina of Time or Wind Waker. Similarly, I don't think anything less than 9/10 conveys how amazingly-built the game is. I agree with this as well - there is the lore. What it doesn't have is plot, and that's fair enough in a way; I just don't think it was made by people with much sense of drama. Not much actually happens. It's more a scenario than a plot. As I say, this doesn't completely ruin it for me, but I think it's a fair analysis. Oh man, those ones are really hard to find. I suspect you want to work it out for yourself, but give me a notification if you want a hint. This could be an extremely interesting topic, actually. In one way, I do think it's the complete opposite of Skyward Sword. It was beginning to look like Nintendo wasn't prepared to make big budget games - thankfully, Breath of the Wild provides much reassurance on that point (I'm pleased it's been rewarded with sales too). The environments are also huge and natural, as opposed to Skyward Sword's small and stilted levels. On a company/production level, Breath of the Wild is the opposite of Skyward Sword. In terms of directorship, there are definitely similarities. Both have a sense of humour that, as strange as it sounds, is slightly callous. I seem to remember Beedle being a bit of an ass in Skyward Sword, similar to the woman in Breath of the Wild who doesn't like you stepping on the flowers. There is also the crafting, which frankly takes it further into RPG territory than before, breakable shields (if I recall correctly?) and a decent amount of wildlife. They also both share a combat system that is hard to master, but easy to cheat. Honestly, I thought Skyward Sword had the most difficult combat (and final boss) in a Zelda game, which was easy to cheat with waggle. Breath of the Wild probably has the best combat in the series, which you can (thankfully) get around with lots of food replenishment. If you do master the counter-attacks, however, it's very satisfying.

Quite. To me, there is nothing wrong with using item gates (which this game doesn't do, apart from the ability to leave the Great Plateau). I thought it was unwise that, as soon as you have visited a couple of villages, you can access the entire map, but are given no clues as to which bits are the priority. If I had seen Hookshot points, for example, or heavy stones that needed the Power Gauntlets, it would have given much more idea of which areas were to be explored first, and which to save for later. I know people have complained about this in the past, but it only really got a bit out of hand with niche-use items like the Spinner in Twilight Princess. It was never a problem in OOT or WW, where you actually did need your items in several situations. Yes, I've done this so many times with all the rechargeable skills/items. Yep, and I think it was genuinely impressive to go from Skyward Sword to this. Especially if you're like me and mainly play Nintendo consoles, the scale of the game world and the level of physics is amazing. When the dust settles, I think people will see Breath of the Wild more clearly as not a bad piece of software by any means, but a rather formless one. I just don't know what to think of this game, because I'm still not sure what "the game" is. I beat the final boss, but that didn't really feel like any kind of closure. So I did the Shrines, but I'm still addicted (frankly). I don't say this to be disparaging, but it really is feeling more like Animal Crossing (which I do enjoy in its own right) a lot of the time. I don't feel like I've had the Zelda "ride".

As far as I can tell, they are basically just the game's method for respawning enemies. So, if you've defeated enough, you'll likely get a Blood Moon shortly afterwards. The quest you are given is slightly misleading, as you don't actually get a book; you can just read a page open on the table. Hyrule Castle is good to explore anyway, so I'm sure you'll find it eventually. Anyway, that's the final boss + 120 Shrines done for me! Got the reward too. Still need to craft my clothes to the max, master fighting the Lynels and defeat the final boss "properly", but I have to ease off a bit sometime. The game is just so addictive.

Just for the record, when you see that purple stuff, you can usually get rid of it by shooting the eye at its source. Similarly, you can burn thorns. It is incredibly addictive. The only time I've been bored is when trying to get the 120th shrine to appear.

So it's like DLC? The extra data goes onto the system/SD card rather than into the cartridge? That's actually outrageous.