Grazza

Hmm, Shovel Knight I suppose. I wasn't totally passionate about it, but it was a high class piece of software.

Certainly Dragon Quest VII. Not 100% sure I'd have time for Monsters or the other spin-offs (although I probably would), but I definitely want VII. Etrian Odyssey Untold II is another one, although I've completed the original and am getting behind with the series in general. And of course, Shantae and the Pirate's Curse could be as late as February. So yeah, could be a good year just on localisations. The DQ games alone would keep me occupied.

As @killer kirby used to say, Dragon Quest always goes to the most popular machine at the time. If we accept Wii U as having underperformed (which I take no pleasure in saying) and PS4 likely to be more successful in Japan (which it may be already, I don't know), then DQ XI should be headed for the PS4. There are quite a few reasons I think the series is better on Sony. Tonally, VIII was a little bit more devilish than the others. It was also more ambitious. This is a hard point to make, but when creating a game for the DS, say, I can't help but think there's a slight element of "Let's make it more for kids". I also think Sony might be better at promoting XI, and making sure it comes Westward in the first place. If we give Nintendo a free pass for not helping X to be released in Europe (which I do), I'm still very disappointed they haven't made sure we got VII. Sony could also cross-promote it with Final Fantasy again. All in all, I think DQ XI has got more chance of being great with Sony. And trust me, I really, really need Dragon Quest back in my life again, firing on all cylinders!

I totally agree with your general point about SNES being great 2D and N64 being early 3D, but does anyone else think it's a shame the SNES is sometimes considered the peak of 2D? There was so much more to be had from sprite graphics, it's just that polygons became possible and so they started using them. I've been playing SNES games on Wii U Virtual Console a lot recently - Contra III, Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts (really enjoyed that one) - but I've seen so, so much better sprite work since (to clarify, I mean pixel art, not hand-drawn or Flash animation type 2D, which I'm not a huge fan of). Some of this amazing sprite work popped up in unexpected places (there's some brilliant sprite-scaling here and there in Dragon Quest VI on the DS). In short, I'd like to see sprites be considered an alternative-but-equal method of in-game graphics - one that very much needs modern hardware. Nintendo Sprite Division would be a good start. No need to worry about putting Metroid into 3D on handhelds - keep it 2D and keep using sprites!

I could see a QOL device having a Free-Form display, but I think that'd be very gimmicky for a proper handheld. Any Virtual Console games would have to be displayed as a rectangle anyway, and I can't see many developers making games that deviate from a rectangle shape.

Yes, I can definitely imagine the inventory having fewer items, but each having a very different-but-versatile purpose - I'm thinking Sword, Bow, Bombs, Boomerang and Raft; rather than Spinner, Ball & Chain etc (that said, Double Clawshots were brilliant!) I could also see dungeons being presented in groups, with a certain amount of choice over which to do first, ie. continuing the non-linearity of LoZ and ALBW. Come to think of it, I think it's very likely Link's aquatic transport will be a raft. It will be something that Epona can carry and Link can fix the Sailcloth to.

I shudder to think.

I think it's about getting it into your system though. If I may say so, it sounds like @Murr isn't sure whether he could go without it or not. Not that I want to be hypocritical though - I wouldn't want to go a day without caffeine/cola. It's just that I'd try to avoid getting so used to alcohol, personally.

The funny thing is, ever since they went 3D, it's always been their intention to make bigger and bigger overworlds. I remember them saying that, with Majora's Mask, they couldn't go physically bigger, but the extra RAM allowed them to add time as an extra dimension (beyond the standard 1-day cycle). With Wind Waker, the GameCube allowed them to go bigger, but the next two games were on effectively the same hardware. Now with the Wii U, we finally have the type of hardware that can give us a big leap again.

Just a suggestion: Why not give it up for a month? It's a good way of judging whether your body really is addicted to it or not. Personally, I don't feel stressed enough to need a relaxing beer more than twice a week, and even then I feel that's a bit much. If I was drinking every day, I'd want to abstain just to see how much it improved my health/fitness.

Double Dragon The first game that ever "wowed" me, and the first I ever wanted to be good at - really wanted to be good at. I first encountered it at a leisure centre in the '80s. After inserting my coin, I hit a few enemies and then got beaten by the bloke who punches through the wall. From that moment on, I was hooked - Double Dragon mattered. As far as I was concerned, I would never be cool until I'd mastered it. It's funny, I always think back to this when I hear of some youngster being overly passionate about a game nowadays. Landstalker Although many people's favourite 2D game from the '90s features Mario, Sonic, Link or Samus, my pick of the 16-bit era is this Zelda-a-like. OK, I won't lie, I didn't finish it on Virtual Console, but it's in my Hall Of Fame because of how much it mattered to me at the time. No other game has given me the same sense of going to a mysterious place, with its own culture and practices, and getting deeper into an island. Zelda: Wind Waker Skipping the N64 era, this is my pick of the Zeldas. I've said a lot about it in the past, so all I'll add here is that it pretty much includes everything I like from all the other Zelda games, and so is currently the one I use to represent the series. Even if it's bettered, I don't there'll be anything quite like this adventure on the high seas. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King Probably my No.1 game of all time. It's a game of staggering quality, and one that shows how sophisticated a turn-based RPG can be, whilst still sticking to tradition. If only all JRPGs (or any, come to that) were as good as this, I genuinely don't think the genre would be held in such suspicion. There are no compromises - it is simply what happens when the work, passion and budget are put in. Shantae: Risky's Revenge To me, the best 2D platformer of all time. RR takes everything I used to love about the Monster World series and does it even better. Perfect graphics, music and controls, all wrapped up in a unique charm. A definite case of quality over quantity. Metroid Fusion/Zero Mission OK, I have to make room for these too. The best pure "Metroidvanias", in my opinion. Honourable mentions Gauntlet Bad Dudes vs Dragonninja Super Mario World Sonic the Hedgehog Wonder Boy in Monster World Dragon Quest V Zelda: Link's Awakening Zelda: OOT Shadow of the Colossus Etrian Odyssey IV

Just ranking the 3D ones, and generally on how they made me feel at the time: 1) Wind Waker (GameCube) I'll never forget the Christmas I played this. From the moment the title screen pops up, there is a sense of a vast ocean to explore. It's colourful, charming and technically brilliant - I finally got the sense that the magic from the N64 entries was back, but had been bettered. What really sent my enjoyment into overdrive, though, was exploring the entire map after I'd seen the credits. Sure, some islands were less significant than others, but sometimes it's about the journey, not the destination. 2) Ocarina of Time Probably just pips Majora's Mask, although my Top 3 are all in the same tier. This game had been insanely hyped and critically acclaimed. The question is - would it live up to it? The answer is - yes, absolutely, and probably one of the few games that has ever managed that. It seemed a bit low-res and blurry from the start, and as a fan of A Link to the Past, I needed no convincing that Zelda was good enough as a 2D series. The more I delved into OOT's world, though, the more I was immersed, and I became convinced of how much extra atmosphere 3D can offer. 3) Majora's Mask I'm deviating from my rules a bit here, because by the time Majora's Mask was released, I had become less enthused with gaming in general. I still played and completed MM, though, and enjoyed it as much as I thought I would. It wasn't until I played the GameCube port, however, that I realised the true genius of its form. In a nutshell, it takes all the spookiness of OOT, and makes the overworld come even more alive. Thanks to the 3-day system, every NPC seems to have more purpose. The time system is intuitive once you get used to it and, considering you get to keep all important items, the whole experience is one of becoming more and more powerful, as you thwart the Skull Kid's plan bit by bit. ... If I was including 2D games, I might slot in some of the best, like Link's Awakening, here. 4) Twilight Princess (GameCube) Let's get the negative out of the way first. I was naïve about how technically impressive a land-based Zelda could be at the time. The final game didn't live up to the initial trailer, certainly not technically, and arguably not stylistically. Furthermore, I was extremely angry at the decision to make it a dual release for Wii. I waited an extra year, watching as the game I had been looking forward to was changed and compromised before my eyes. But being one of the most disappointing Zeldas doesn't mean it was one of the worst. Far from it. Twilight Princess gets a heck of a lot right. I remember the ecstasy I felt when I finally got my hands on the GC disc, telling everyone at work about it (!) I slotted it in and played it straight for hours. This is the feeling I want again - a huge world unfurling in front of me, with the promise of copious exploration; lonely, melancholy sunsets riding Epona, and it looks like that's exactly what we're going to get on Wii U. Also, the music in TP is brilliantly atmospheric. Once you heard it orchestrated on the anniversary CD, it's clear it has one of the best scores. ... Slot in a few more 2D Zeldas here. 5) Skyward Sword Don't want to bash this too much. I'm probably in the minority here, but as this didn't really deliver (for me) as a Zelda, I actually wouldn't have minded if it had been a simpler game - strictly a one-off, because it was on the Wii. I'm not joking when I say it could have been something like "Motion Swordsman". The reason I say this is because the controls arguably worked well - it's just that a) I didn't like the actual combat (apart from the non-Ghirahim bosses) and b) I think the whole game was a bit "much" for someone who just wanted to play around with the controls. As much as I like Minish Cap, the whole every-footstep-is-a-puzzle ethos just didn't work as a 3D Zelda. Despite this, I have no hard feelings towards Skyward Sword, as I had no expectations for it whatsoever. Also, many people wanted to know what a near 1:1 motion-controlled Zelda would be like. It could be said Skyward Sword needed to happen, but I hope we can move on from it now.

What bothers me is that the next Zelda might be the best ever, and yet go totally unappreciated because of the system it's on. I'm telling people how good it looks at the moment, and yet they're so put off by the Wii U itself, they can't see past that.

I'm so conflicted about this. Whilst I love, love, love Dragon Quest (and love the music just as much), I can't stand rhythm games! (Tried the Final Fantasy Theatrhythm and didn't like it any more than other rhythm games.) But... it's Dragon Quest! I have to get it!

That's the stuff! Absolutely brilliant! Looks like Wii was 100% right about this (and the sailing). That is the whole map. Hyrule Castle isn't visible because icons only appear when you've actually been to a place. I for one hope it's in there because I really want to see its latest build. :awesome: I reckon Link will have a small sailboat that is good enough to reach local islands, but not sturdy enough for the high seas. One of the things I'm most looking forward to is revisiting the Hyrule as depicted in Twilight Princess, except much bigger. I love the fact the bridge at Lake Hylia is in it (also, Eldin Bridge? I hope so.) Also can't wait to visit the Gorons and, as well as Hyrule Castle, I'm hoping for Zora's Domain (looks likely as there's a huge waterfall). Another thought - does anyone think they've taken the "I'd like Link to just have a sword and bow" idea literally? Apart from when he's using them, the bow, sword and shield are always visible on his back. I must admit, there aren't too many weapons I'd miss, although bombs would be one of them as they are brilliant for finding secret passages. Also, fire and ice arrows back? Absolutely. Regardless of personal fondness for individual games, I'd say Ocarina of Time set the standard for overworlds, then Wind Waker (although very different). This seems to be the first time since Wind Waker that there's been an undisputed technical leap - it just couldn't have been done before. This gameplay footage is proof enough for me that they've addressed several issues in the series. Exploration in itself is one of the most important gameplay features, and here we have a guarantee there'll be plenty of it.

Yep, I think it's got a very good chance of being just that. There comes a time when technology advances so much, you have to leave your old favourites behind (as yardsticks). We've had a long, long period where that didn't happen, but I think the time is coming.

Do you remember the Game Explain video that was made to accompany the E3 footage? They enhanced the overworld image and, at the back of the map were blue spires that looked very, very much like those of Hyrule Castle. That doesn't mean it's definitely still in it (or ever was) but I'm hopeful. I'd love a direct-view version of this and a new Game Explain video. They find hundreds of things I'd never notice. I've watched the video a few times now and I'm as impressed as ever. All the technical things seem right, like dual-analogue camera control and sword-use whilst on horseback (and whilst running?) My one concern is that, if this game allows motion controls, that may once again limit the traditional controls. We still haven't had shield control/the Mirror Shield since Wind Waker, and I for one would like to see its return. Other than that, I just love the whole ethos of the overworld. Mountains, altitude, forests with individual trees (!!!), not to mention being able to glide anywhere... It has everything in its favour. As for it being the Sailcloth instead of the Deku Leaf; considering the heights involved, you'd run out of magic if it was done via the Deku Leaf! Of course, we can't be 100% sure it'll have a good story, dungeons or a magical feeling, but you never can. What we can be sure of is that it'll be well-built and its heart's in the right place. Agro was brilliant all round. I can't remember if he avoided trees (I didn't try and run into them ) but it really felt like he had a mind of his own. You never had full control over him, but that made it feel all the more like a real horse. Yes, you could nudge, guide and suggest, but he was his own beast. So yeah, I can totally see where @Daft is coming from, and I think he was talking about the double standards of gamers rather than criticising Miyamoto and Aonuma. On the other hand, the fish A.I. thing was funnier - much funnier - as that COD game was being held up as one of the first pieces of next-gen software - something that would show us what the Xbox One could do. By comparison, this was simply two developers talking about improvements they'd made in a game that was never meant to set new technical standards. Also, it just looks brilliant, so that overrides any cynicism I'd have.

Utterly, staggeringly brilliant. I think they've finally got the visual style and the type of overworld design 100% perfect. An upcoming Zelda has never, ever looked this good from the gameplay footage, with so much (visual) assurance that it'll be a great game.

Spring release for North America. I have to say, some of Atlus' RPGs are too "EMO" for me (not Etrian Odyssey), but I'm really, really keen on this one. http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/12/atlus_confirms_etrian_mystery_dungeon_for_spring_2015_release_in_north_america

Yeah, "poor" is the wrong word for Dreamcast, but I see the similarity in that the wider industry wasn't going to support it. The 3rd-party exclusives may have been good, but it wasn't destined to get the multi-platform games that the PS2 and Xbox went on to receive. To be honest, I like my Wii U more than I expected and the graphics are good enough for me, personally, it's just that this situation was so predictable. If you're not in the race, you're not in the race.

The thing is, I often go into town anyway, and today being Black Friday made it slightly more unpleasant for me. I was going to buy a Nintendo points card from GAME, for instance, but didn't because of the queue. I don't hate Black Friday, but am in the "It's not a particularly good thing" camp.

So many. A game has to be pretty short and tight for me to find it replayable. There are several 2D platformers that I play again and again, but not so much with 3D games. You mention Paper Mario: Sticker Star, but I don't think I'd even replay Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door. It was a great game, but I just don't think I'd have any more time for it. The ultimate RPG I can't justify replaying, though, is Dragon Quest IX, and that is seriously one of my all-time favourites. It's just that I spent an obscene amount of time on it and did everything I wanted to. It's not that I never replay RPGs. I've played Dragon Quest VIII two or three times, and could easily see myself playing any remakes of IV, V or VI. I also play the remakes of Etrian Odyssey and wouldn't mind another bash at Final Fantasy XII, funnily enough. It's just that, for a replay, I have to particularly love the atmosphere and graphics/music/gameplay. As for non-RPGs, there are series where a newer version pretty much supercedes the older ones; even really good, non-yearly games. Pikmin 2 was a lot of work, for instance, and so I can't really see myself wanting to play that again. Pilotwings Resort was great but, considering it was such a test of skill, only really something to do once. I could go on and on!

Atlus has just announced a couple of new games. First off is Etrian Odyssey X Mystery Dungeon. I didn't play Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer, but I assume this game takes its overworld exploration from that. Whether or not it's released in the West, it's sure to be one of the better RPGs on the system. In even better news, they also announced Etrian Odyssey V (IV was brilliant), although this is not confirmed for 3DS (new Nintendo handheld incoming?) http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/11/atlus_confirms_etrian_odyssey_x_mystery_dungeon_and_reveals_etrian_odyssey_v_teaser

I hate to say it, but maybe it's a bit of a "trend" with women. Plus, a lot of research shows that both men and women enjoy the female form, aesthetically, so maybe that confuses them.

4 times!!! I did try the optional bosses. They were as, er... unorthodox as the rest of the game. You're right, let's get back to the arguments about sales, the GamePad and lack of 3rd-party support, please.