Grazza

Looks like I'll never be able to get Borya's Boots in Dragon Quest IX and complete the last Quest (although I can't pretend I've tried for a few years). Not that I blame Nintendo - it's just a bad idea to have content that you can't access offline. I tried for ages when I was still playing it, but they never became available in the daily shop. I know I'm in the minority, but I've never liked online gaming and I think having games rely on servers is a terrible idea, hence my dislike of the decision to make DQ X an MMO.

First of all, I should say that I've enjoyed every Metroid game to some extent - in my opinion, there's not a bad one. I don't think, however, it's always acknowledged how much like an FPS Metroid Prime really is. Many fans prefer the term "FPA", which I can understand, but look at it this way - the maps are very like an FPS (albeit a thoughtful one) and Samus moves slowly. By the time of Metroid Prime 3, there is even aiming. I mention this because I don't think Metroid: Other M was an attempt to make a 2D Metroid in 3D, as such. It was actually an attempt to put Metroid in general into 3D, as though it hadn't been done before. And this is what Other M doesn't get enough credit for - including the whole Metroid experience, not just some of it. Samus is fast and agile. By the end of the game, she is Speed Boosting and Shine Sparking around the environments like a leopard. That's what end-game Samus is supposed be like, but you wouldn't know it just from the Metroid Prime games. It's not that I necessarily disagree with others' assessment of the game's flaws, it's just that they are so minor (and the game so good-natured) that it's hard for me to see how they would ruin it. Are the hunt-the-pixel sections bizarre? Of course. I also wasn't keen on scripted moments where it suddenly turns to 1st-person and you have to quickly work out the correct action. However, at least none of the bosses gave me any grey hairs. Whereas it sometimes felt like Retro Studios wanted to frustrate the player in their games, it at least feels like Team Ninja wants to entertain us in theirs. Metroid: Other M might not be as slick as Fusion or Zero Mission, but I enjoyed it more than the other 3D entries (and, personally, more than any other Wii game). It's a shame that the game is considered a failure by so many, rather than simply in need of tweaking here and there, because to me it should be the blueprint for future entries in the series. Sure, switch to analogue control (if moves like Shine Spark would work as well, that is...) Yes, make the next one lonely and spooky. And of course, don't have any hunt-the-pixel moments. It's just that the game gets so much right on a fundamental level, why throw it all away?

One thing that would improve it for me is if the advanced classes absorbed the earlier ones. For example, if you're a Templar, you should be able to do everything a Knight can, and not have weaker defence etc. In a similar way, Spirit Master should automatically include Salve-Maker, and White Mage before it. Think this would be better than having sub-classes.

Before I say anything else, I'll just remind everyone of this: I only mention it because that type of game is all I've ever wanted from the Wii U. From the moment I saw it in 2011 I thought "Yes, that's what the Wii U needs. Nintendo understands." Nothing since has conjured up the same feeling, though, and the Wii U has been painted as a machine that only plays a very different type of game. To be fair to Nintendo, I agree with a lot of the games they decided upon: New Super Mario Bros U? Come on, the gameplay to these is great and they'd have been crazy not to have had at least one 2D platformer like that. Pikmin 3 was a fine choice, as was Super Mario 3D World, even if its form was rather a surprise. Wind Waker HD was, to me, the most exciting of all. Mario Kart 8 looks 100% right, and that's coming from someone who doesn't like the series. Now they are a bit more used to HD, they need to work on games that will excite people like that Zelda E3 2011 demo: Metroid Prime 4 - Retro Studios, obviously. This game would let us explore 3D worlds and see what the Wii U can really do. It would eliminate arguments about 1st-person vs. 3rd-person, as you'd be able to switch between either at will. Forget about modern gaming trends too - whilst I wouldn't like it to be frustrating, it should at least have Metroid's signature spookiness and loneliness. Metroid V/Metroid Dread - This would be for 3DS, but it's still something Nintendo should greenlight. Put simply, Metroid Fusion and Zero Mission are 2D gaming perfection - two of the best games Nintendo (or anyone else) has ever made. If V is not on the way, it darn well should be. F-Zero - Sumo Digital. Nuff said. Zelda Wii U - Which obviously they're working on anyway. ...And that's about it. I haven't gone mad with suggestions; I just think Nintendo needs to understand the style of game that will attract another type of gamer. Of course, I'd love to see an Ice Climber or Kid Icarus that was done in the same style as Metroid or Zelda, but I've kept to the known quantities for now. There's still plenty of time for the Wii U to be a great machine, but it needs those titles.

Finally completed it last night! I'd be curious to know how far these people were through it: @Sheikah @Sprout @drahkon @killer kirby

I think there's a lot of truth to this. Before now, people were simply ignoring it. I know this is only anecdotal evidence, but some of my workmates are now starting to become interested in the Wii U because of Mario Kart 8, saying they're definitely going to buy one for it. Part of me wonders if all the "Can Mario Kart save the Wii U?" articles have made people more aware of the game itself than anything else since it was revealed.

Oops, seemed I over-levelled then. I never tried to get EXP or money; it was just annoying me that I didn't have all the job skills. Anyway, I just have the final boss to go now, but I'm trying to clear Norende of Nemeses first. I've felt guilty having the villagers live in fear of them the whole game! I've settled into a nice team of: Tiz Performer/Miscellany Agnes - Spirit Master/White Magic Edea - Templar/Miscellany Ringabel - Ranger/Miscellany Tiz does My Hero and Mimic x1. Agnes does Enigma (sometimes Fairy Ward). Edea does Rampart every turn (maybe she could have a different sub-class) and Ringabel... well, he can be a lot of different classes, really, but I like using one of the Ranger attacks then Mimic x3. That line-up suits my play style, although it's not good enough for all the Nemeses. Got a feeling they need more specialist teams.

Metroid will always be in the Big 3 for those who know their onions.

LMAO! I love the idea. If only I had rhythm...

Ah, this reminds me of when I played Final Fantasy XII. I didn't know what I was doing and probably would have enjoyed it more if I'd known the best way to play it. Not necessarily following a walkthrough; it's more like knowing which skill trees to follow (I invested my skill points very, very badly!) I'm glad others feel that way about the earlier/middle chapters. I get the feeling the game will be criticised for some of the repetition that happens later, but it dragged the most for me in Chapters 3 and 4.

One I'm playing at the moment, unfortunately - Bravely Default. Some games I love, and will complete without question. Others I think are terrible and will have no qualms giving up immediately. The games I force myself to complete are the ones I do actually like somewhat, but also find very tedious in parts.

For one thing, I'd like to see a whole new base engine for it, where you could switch between 1st- and 3rd-person any time you liked. One problem with Other M was that the 1st- and 3rd-person sections controlled completely differently, with no continuity between the way you fired missiles etc. With Metroid Prime 4, all movement would be via the analogue stick, all missiles courtesy of the X button... and so on. I honestly think if the whole graphics engine and controls were impressive enough people would want more. Shame it couldn't have analogue triggers though.

No (well, I don't think so), but we were already Level 99 and it (the skill) defeated most of the enemies in Florem Gardens in Chapter 6. Unfortunately I'd already levelled all the other jobs, but the Obliterate skill, the Growth Egg and the JP Up skill (from Freelancer) made us all master Conjurer incredibly fast.

At least it (probably) wouldn't have motion controls though. Metroid Prime 3 was alright (I completed it), but you had to be an ardent fan to put up with the controls. I can understand a lot of Metroid fans not bothering with it.

OK, I'll try Monk again then! It's just that the Ninja has native dual-wield. Of course, you can customise any character if you have enough slots. That's one thing about this game - I think it would be better with more ability slots, so you could at least have all the abilities from your current class. No, it's a skill that defeats any enemies that are at least 20 levels lower than you, meaning the battles only take a few seconds. Personally, I got to Level 99 before I'd levelled-up all the jobs, so it was very useful.

Wow, that really is a great advert! One of the best I've seen, and definitely gives the game the best chance of selling.

I loved it too, particularly the Saturn and N64. Such exciting times. I don't think there's anything wrong with a low polygon count or no textures (I prefer no textures at all - Virtua Racing, Virtua Fighter - to low-res textures), but @Hogge, if there's one thing I think you should avoid at all costs, it's low resolutions and low frame rates. I'm quite nostalgic about that era, yes, but even nostalgia is best kept hi-res and smooth.

Personally (and this is just my opinion, of course), I think the Donkey Kong Country series has always had an extra amount of goodwill because of a) the likeable main character and b) amazing graphics. To this day, most people I meet look back on DKC with more reverence than Super Mario World because (I think) of the pre-rendered look. Although I quite enjoyed the SNES original, I got so bored with the 3DS port of the 4th one, and could easily call it average. In terms of actual gameplay, the much-criticised New Super Mario Bros series is significantly more enjoyable (again, IMO).

Genius. It's sad to say, but there must be someone at Nintendo who thinks Game & Wario is more important than Metroid Dread, Donkey Kong is better than Metroid Prime and anything with Mario/Wario/Luigi/Yoshi etc is leagues ahead of F-Zero.

I probably wouldn't buy a polygon game of that type, but I do agree that the 32-bit era is overlooked in one era - sprites, particularly on the Saturn. Guardian Heroes, Story of Thor 2... In a way, the whole Saturn vs. PlayStation battle was Sprites vs. Polygons, but that's another matter. Sprite games could just go on getting better and better, so I somewhat regret that many games deliberately limit themselves to NES (or even SNES) quality.

This is my guess about Nintendo's plan for the future, although I know a lot of people disagree with me: They've already said future machines will be based on the Wii U architecture, and implied a common operating system. In my opinion, this is the real reason GBA and DS are appearing on the Wii U, not 3DS. Everything from now on is going to be based on the Wii U, at least in terms of architecture. So let's say, for example, the next handheld is based on the Wii U (but weaker, obviously - let's say it will be able to create similar-looking graphics, but for a 480p resolution). In theory, Nintendo could have its entire back catalogue of games ready to play on that handheld, as long as they've been prepped for the Wii U, rather than the 3DS. Tied in with an accounts system, gamers would finally have their Nintendo collections in one place and be confident they'd carry forward. The home console, I think, is only going to be a small jump from the Wii U, similar to the move from GC to Wii. They might even want to do this sooner rather than later, but we'll see. In this plan (which is pure speculation on my part), the overall system would be more important than any individual piece of hardware. They could introduce new hardware more frequently and not worry which ones sell less than others, as long as the system itself is thriving. Certain games, in my opinion - Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask - should have superior versions prepped so that they have be easily upgraded to higher resolutions. Others, like F-Zero and Mario Kart could have new, "base" versions established, so that they too would be very easy to upgrade. Nintendo is very reluctant to make F-Zero at the moment, but they might be keener if they had a continuous version (with all the tracks) they could just update every few years. Games like Zelda could also have a "standard" engine established for the 3D games, which should allow for faster development times. I know modifying the previous engine is what they do at the moment, but they also change it so much each time. I'm talking about a really good, solid engine they can use across both platforms. If you think how advanced handheld technology is becoming, it's becoming odder for it not to have 3D Zeldas (outside of remakes). More than anything else, I'm saying that this is a way for Nintendo to solve one of its biggest problems - resources. We quite rightly ask ourselves whether a particular console is harming a particular handheld, or vice versa, but unless I'm totally mistaken, there's a way for all Nintendo's staff to work towards the same goal.

Twilight Princess is just as many generations old as Wind Waker. If it wasn't, it wouldn't have run on the GameCube. Reasons to support an HD remake: * 60fps (as opposed to 30fps) * 1080p (as opposed to 480p, max) * Widescreen. I know the Wii version was widescreen, but I'm talking about the more 'correct' version. * Graphics need improving far more than Wind Waker's did. It's a good art style, but the GC/Wii were not 100% able to pull it off. If any proof was needed, look at the amazing E3 2011 demo. * Many fans have come to realise that the GameCube version was closer to the 'real' TP, but find it hard to obtain (I've got it, but that's not the point). It would be a fantastic asset for the Wii U to have the GameCube version, but in HD.

Another thing - I know some people are cynical about remakes, but tell me honestly that an HD remake of Twilight Princess wouldn't have made that Direct a lot more exciting.