S.C.G

*sigh* not more of this "games as a service" talk... and from Microsoft this time as well, the current mantra of the "triple aaayyy" publishers must be sticking. I feel that the Xbox brand would do better with more single player exclusives, which have a multiplayer element which is well-designed but optional. If a lot more developers take a leaf out of Capcom's book, with what they have achieved from Monster Hunter Worlds then, things could be a lot better.

I think the core game seems solid. Take away the special shots, pick up a couple of GameCube controllers and just play offline local multiplayer with standard tennis rules and I feel it will be a much better experience. Of course I'll still play the single player story content but I can't see myself being that bothered about playing the online... much. It still feels like the best Mario Tennis game I've played since the N64 and GameCube versions.

Well, I've had my half hour of fun with the demo. Tried with Joy Cons, using all special shots etc, lost. Switched to my trusty GameCube Wavebird controller, didn't even need any special shots and won a few matches. I think I know how I'm going to be playing when the game comes out.

It's worth every penny, even when it first came out. Now that you can get it for just over £100... well, when it's in stock. It's a steal, especially if you plan to play lots of arcade games. I see Amazon UK are getting it back in stock on June 16th, you can't buy it on the Nintendo UK store any more, I got a second one when they were selling it off for around £100... ...now that more games are coming out, I think the arcade stick is proving to be more popular.

I generally have the same stance with demos, but isn't there an exclusive cap or something you get for taking part? I was considering downloading the demo either tonight or tomorrow, playing a few quick rounds and then archiving/deleting the demo once the game comes out. I'm not too fond of the gimmicks in Mario Tennis either, I can take 'em or leave 'em though but I prefer Mario Tennis to be closer to Mario Tennis on the N64 where possible.

Comm Error, GP 2, Race 2... I think... I lose track, Neo Bowser City anyway.

It was obviously meant to be! At least I don't need to pick Baby Park now.

That made me chuckle, like Knuckles... who would rather flex his muscles. (& Knuckles) Knuckles & Knuckles Plus Knuckles

I think Arlo sums it up pretty nicely. At least on a basic level, this is a decent business move for Nintendo and Game Freak... ...however, personally I wouldn't like to see the simplifying of everything the series has built up when it comes to the main games. There's room for both, different audiences for these games, perhaps these titles might bring Go players over to these games and then the mainline games. Anyway, it's Pokémon on the Switch, which is definitely good for the system.

While I still enjoy Mega Man games, I have to agree that Astro Boy on the GBA is a fantastic title and one that I'm glad I purchased back in the day. You're quite fond of it too, aren't you @Dcubed? It seems you can still get a boxed copy of it for a reasonable price but it does seem to be becoming rarer than it was, another Treasure classic well worth owning anyway.

I most certainly have been. The moment I fired the game up, I had one objective in mind. Complete the game in vertical table-top mode using the Pro controller, on Free Play but ensuring that I at the very least beat all of the bosses within the time limits on this first try. I achieved this, so I'm more than happy. I have beaten the game with limited lives before over the years, so I feel fine just running through the game like this, especially just to see how it performs, I can confirm that the framerate is steady and only dips during the end of the bosses when the bosses explode upon their defeat; just how it should be. Then I tried with three lives, no continues and I only made it to the second stage though this was just to try out the joy-cons, which have the best use of HD Rumble yet... they rumble and make a siren noise in time with the Warning! sign which comes just before the bosses appear. Best version of Ikaruga I have played and I haven't even tried it out on my vertical display yet, with the various other control methods which will range from the Wavebird to the Hori Real Arcade Pro.V Hayabusa arcade stick for what will hopefully be the ultimate Ikaruga gameplay experience.

Yep, same here... I want to play it first on the Switch as it looks amazing and I want to check out that HD Rumble as well. Ah well, I'll just play Ikaruga in the meantime... *checks eShop* ...when Nintendo flicks the switch (no not that one!) to release it.

I'm aware of this game... ...only because Jim made a video about it a few weeks ago. I don't really have anything else constructive to add, just that it always amazes me that companies are still allowed to make these extortionate titles.

A re-release on Steam, 12 years after the game came out on GC and PS2? This is insanely good news. Though obviously now... Switch port please Capcom? I'm sure you can fit the 2-disc GameCube version onto one Switch game card.

If this video doesn't make you want to play some Sonic the Hedgehog or other Sega games, then I don't know what will... I'm going to finish the run of Sonic which I started last night and go after some of those trophies. I recall going for the full amount on the Xbox 360 collection years ago, so who knows... this might be my first platinum.

@Hero-of-Time congratulations in joining the N-Europe Panzer Dragoon Saga Owner's Club! And... congrats on picking up those other titles as well, I suppose. Nah, in all seriousness; it's a great time to get into Sega Saturn collecting while you still can. I was lucky, my first real find was a copy of Panzer Dragoon Saga for £4 in a second hand shop, complete apart from the sleeve, that was way back in 2001 I think. Indeed I could have had Deep Fear for the same price, but I only had £4 on me at the time, I still think I made the right choice, though I did pick up Deep Fear later on... ...I tried to check to see how much I paid but I'm pretty sure it was when the game was around £40 and it was at that point I thought the game was getting pricey. I've done quite well with my Sega Saturn collection over the years, there's maybe only one more title I really, really want for it currently and it's another one of the big hitters. Keio Flying Squadron 2... I've wanted to buy it and the Sega Mega CD original for some time but it's some pricey now so I might bide my time for a bit. Besides, recently I've been somewhat heavily involved in Neo Geo Pocket Color collecting... In addition to a few more N64 games, so I've got to save for a bit I think.

NES Classic Mini - back in stock since yesterday - still in stock Might be a good time to get one while it's not selling out.

... ANY track but that one! ... Well that happened! ... track selection be damned! Baby Park for the last race then? Or Grumble Volcano I suppose. ... Actually that worked out pretty well.

Comm Error, Race 4, GP1...

I used to use Basic on my Amstrad 6128+ back in the day. In fact, I got the original machine down from the loft recently, minus the original monitor as I found a place which makes a new Din plug to Scart cable and power supply for it. And that new ZX Spectrum mentioned above... I have contributed towards that Kickstarter project as I've always loved the Spectrum as well. Now this Petit Computer 4 is coming to the Switch? (hopefully over here as well) I think 2018 is going to be the year when I get back into programming, at least in some form or another.