S.C.G

Here's our Roundup article on the Direct. Just the basic info and a recap of the video, will update it if/when Nintendo sends out the PR email. Anyway, new Pokémon games for Switch, hype!

Resident Evil 0, prequel to the original, stars Billy the convict and Rebecca Chambers from the first game. Uses a character switch system, you can swap between characters at almost any time in game, this can lead to some interesting puzzles. Same engine used as the REmake on the GameCube I believe, so expect something smiliar but also different, locations are more varied I think. Quite an underrated entry in the series, it's something I'd rather play than some of the later entries personally (5 & 6) even if they have their own "charm" this is more classic Resi.

$30... digitally? For each game? Nope nope nope! #NotOnMySwitch

No, I'm not playing it. But I'll take your word for it that it's fun to play. As I said before, I am happy that yourself and others are enjoying Anthem and in the interests of balanced opinion, there are some things which I like about it... Again, this is just from what I've seen in the video footage but the hub area looks pretty well done where you interact with the NPC's, the character models look nice. It's certainly ambitious in the main world area that you explore even if it is broken up by loading times, there's certainly scope there. The suit-based flight mechanics look enjoyable but as I understand it, this is more used to merely get from A to B? Do you get the chance to engage in aerial combat? From what I've seen, once you get into a battle, it's mostly ground-based, I was just thinking that if there were airborne enemies then that would mix things up a bit. In fact, after doing a bit of research, I've just found this quote from a review... "Given that Anthem allows you to combat opponents while flying around the battlefield, you might think there are dozens of enemies in the air. That’s not the case. Outside of floating wizards, the only flying enemies are fire-breathing wyverns. These aren’t enormous creatures reminiscent of Game of Thrones. They’re just regular-sized lizards with wings. This lack of air combat challenge and misuse of existing verticality mechanics show a design that wasn’t fully realized." So perhaps this is something which can be improved upon in the future... if Bioware are listening to feedback then surely the game will only improve over time, I do hope so. Currently though, it doesn't look like a product I could invest a decent amount of money in but I won't write off buying a copy down the line if things improve.

@Happenstance this should be something to look forward to when the Mega SG launches in a few months. (not that there were any further reasons needed) It's going to be pre-loaded onto every Mega SG console, just like Super Turrican and Super Turrican 2 were on the Analogue Super NT. I'm really glad to see that this game which could just have easily become lost to time, is now being rightfully preserved at least in some playable form.

At this point, anything less than a trailer showing off the next mainline Pokémon games for Switch, is going to end in disappointment.

Hmm, this sounds like it could be sabotage to me. Why would a company who has spent so long buying up beloved IP's and generally building up goodwill in addition to flourishing financially in the last quarter suddenly risk it all? I'm betting that if this goes as wrong as it could and everything crashes, there'll be some kind of buyout by a larger AAA company and it'll all go to shit again. Pure speculation of course, I really hope this doesn't happen but I don't get a good feeling from this at all. Although... just reading one of the articles about it for myself, it could well have just been a mistake as they say, someone maybe didn't do their research beforehand. As I understand it, Google have blocked the site in question from their search results years ago due to this "questionable activity" so I can see why the PR has spiralled. If this was an honest mistake on THQ Nordic's part then they really don't deserve this, although clearly they could have checked before agreeing to this AMA session. Lessons will be learned here I'm sure but I just hope that it doesn't get blown out of all proportion resulting in ruin for the publisher and developers.

Well, this video seems to sum up everything that has been talked about in this thread recently... or more accurately why this game is so talked about right now. Because quite simply, it's more fun to talk about Anthem and everything surrounding it, than it is to play it. Now this might not be true for everyone but I think it's definitely a relatable opinion at the very least.

Ah Capcom... playing exactly to expectations again I see. If these had been physical releases then, I would have paid £25 per physical game. As it is... digitally? These titles might be worth a tenner to me or less, especially if they take up a signifcant amount of storage space. Just as well that I own... Resident Evil 0, 1, 2, 3, CVX & 4 on the GameCube Resi 2, 3 & CV on the DC, Resi 4 on the Wii and Resi 0, 1, 2(remake), CVX, 4, 5, 6 & VII (also Revelations 1 & 2) on the PS4. (also Resident Evil on the Sega Saturn, Resident Evil 2 on the N64 and Revelations on the 3DS... plus there might be a copy of Resident Evil Gaiden on the GameBoy somewhere) I think I'm all good on the Resident Evil games front, but thanks anyway.

I've been following this channel for a little while now, Nerrel has been making a HD texture pack for the original N64 version of Majora's Mask and it's shaping up really nicely. This latest video shows off the Great Bay area with the Zora Link transformation and of course the original Zora swimming. (there's a couple of funny moments in there too) See, while I do appreciate what Nintendo did with The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask on the 3DS... it just makes me long for the original due to some of the changes. If this was ever to get a HD re-release on the Switch, I would be more than happy with a HD version of the N64 original complete with the updated save system. Either way, this video just reminded me of how much I really like Majora's Mask.

Another great video from Sega Lord X, it really gives a greater appreciation for (and anticipation of) the upcoming Sega Ages version of Virtua Racing for the Switch. Obviously I'd love to see other Sega Arcade games make it across in the future but I can understand that being that they are doing it right, it will take time but it'll be worth the wait. Afterall, they don't call it "Sega Ages" for nothing.

A little late perhaps (not my problem) but here's our Reggie retirement roundup article. I kept it short, just put some of the main quotes in, link to the video and another featuring some of his best moments. Wishing him all the best though because Reggie has been there through it all since the Wii era and he has proved to be a great showman throughout. Were there moments where I disagreed with him? Absolutely... ...but I'll always remember his speech about Satoru Iwata and it still gets me even today many years on. This really is the end of an era while we're just at the start of another with the Switch. (I still want him to drop a load of announcements just before he retires though, c'mon Reggie, give us Mother 3!)

Well, I'm glad that I didn't pick up Anthem, I was pretty certain that the game wouldn't be for me quite early on and this video just seems to further confirm that. It's good that some players are getting enjoyment out of the game and I'm happy for them if that's the case but I just don't see the appeal personally. I tried the original Destiny, I even enjoyed playing online with other forum members... for a short time and after that I deleted the game, never played it again or any game like it. Short-sighted of me? Perhaps... but I feel I have a better understanding of what type of games I enjoy now and this clearly isn't it. I wish the game a reasonable level of success, at least for Bioware's sake but if this is the future of AAA online, co-op multiplayer gaming then I can't see it lasting. We'll see though, maybe the game will improve over time but if the game already has plenty of things that players don't like then the devs have their work cut out for them.

Pikaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

A new indie title known as Hell is Other Demons is coming to the Switch this year. Looks interesting enough, the usual PR and trailer are in the article.

I just finished watching that video, I still intend to get the game when it comes out but... why couldn't it have been released earlier? If this had been out in the second or third week of March then I likely would have played it with my brother when he's hopefully coming down as it looks like a good co-op game. Ah well, plenty of other good co-op stuff to play so it's no big deal but it just looks like this game was finished ages ago so could have been released earlier perhaps. Maybe it's intentionally as close to April as possible? End of one financial year, start of the next... that's probably it. Anyway, I'm still kind of looking forward to it.

Available to pre-order at the Nintendo store now, might as well get it if you have Diablo III, it's probably going to sell out. Also, nice to see an amiibo which looks like you can get it out of the packaging without destroying it. Why can't they make all of them this way?

I won't give a penny to Google for anything game related that they try to flog us, yes I get that they have the technology but most of what they use it for is questionable at best. From a technological aspect, sure... it'll be interesting if you really want to stream games but beyond that I can't see them releasing anything physical. If it's anything, it'll be a small "unassuming" box that just sits underneath your TV and will let you stream certain games for £20 a month or whatever. Yes, OK... I get it, there's market appeal for something like that if there's a library of 10,000 games to choose from but I just can't see the point personally. If gaming goes completely streaming based in the future, I probably just won't bother with it any more and will be happy enough playing whatever physical games I have. I get that the future of gaming can be exciting but certain elements of it potentially fill me with dread, I can't be the only one who doesn't want an "all digital" future? Anyway, we shall see what happens, for now I'll try to remain cautiously optimistic.

See, I don't understand why it just doesn't get released. I understand that EA have the Star Wars license but... who cares about that, Disney can overrule it if they want and just see the game released surely? Who actually owns the rights to it now? Factor 5? Disney? I mean, it can't be that difficult. Ultimately it's money left on the table and we've had Rogue Squadron released again on the PC, although not an ideal port with that one. Switch owners would buy a collection of all three Rogue Squadron games instantly, I'd pay £50 for a physical copy without even questioning it. It just makes too much sense.

Hmm... what's not new? (you've got me curious now)

Congratulations nightwolf.

It's a Zelda game, remake or not it's bound to be a full price, day 1, "shut up and take my rupees!" situation.

I bought Furi, on the Switch and in physical form... I just haven't played it yet. Looking forward to it though, also nice to see that The Game Bakers are still doing well. Our very own @Kaepora_Gaebora interviewed them and of course reviewed Furi when it came out on the Switch... ...and I really can't believe that was over a whole year ago already. I've got so many games to catch up with and anything from The Game Bakers is going to be at least on my radar, so let us hope it's another hit.