Goron_3

40 hours?! For some reason I was under the impression that this was quite a short experience but haven't read some comments on this game (including the ones in this thread), I'm sold. Going to order it tomorrow and play through it once Uncharted 4 has been completed.

Yeah I'm delighted about the story mode. A part of me feels as though this is the game that the Wii U Mario Tennis game was destined to be before it was rushed out the door incomplete. Thankfully this game seems to have a LOT more soul and character.

Lots of ports. I'll probably pick up Donkey Kong again as I love that game. Dark Souls is tempting too but it depends how it runs on the Switch. Very excited by Mario Tennis as long as the gameplay is closer the N64 version and not the gimped and super easy Wii U version.

There's definitely something coming. I recall hearing that some Mario x Rabbids DLC gets launched in a few days time so I'm sure they'd love to talk about that ahead of it dropping.

Definitely agree about the bolded. I think I might be more inclined to stick with it if that were the case. Thanks for the comments @Fierce_LiNk @bob @Nolan but I've decided to move on from the game. I've put about 10 hours into it so far and it's just not clicking. Better to cut my losses and move onto Uncharted 4 and XC2.

I'm going to be starting this soon but I'm a bit concerned and could do with some help before I start. I'm not massively into JRPG's, but from my understanding, despite this being a very complex game, it is rewarding to those that take the time to understand it. My concern is that I won't get past the first few hours and therefore will end up dropping it, much like I dropped the 3DS version of the original. Can someone please provide some tips to help get me through the first few chapters and stay motivated? I'm worried I'm not going to fully understand the combat system and will therefore end up getting frustrated/bored.

I finally got round to playing this after having purchased it in November and, unfortunately, I just can't get into it at all. I'm not saying the game isn't good, it's just not for me. And whilst I'm not comparing it to say Breath of the Wild, I think I am subconciously comparing it to other open world games like the Batman games and Assassin's Creed. Off the bat, I thought the introduction was incredibly slow. Aylo seems like a great character but she talks far too much, at least early on. Whenever something happens, before I even have the chance to think about what is going on, she comments on it. I know it sounds like a really pedantic thing but it completely breaks the immersion for me - it feels like I am watching Aylo instead of playing as her. I'm fully aware that other characters talk a lot in other open world games (mainly in cut scenes) but I just couldn't stand the opening couple of hours in Horizon. Secondly, the open world is just dull. In many ways it's actually very realistically constructed (compared to say BOTW which uses the triangular method of hills and drops to build a world) but it just isn't fun to go through. They seem to have overpopulated the world with machines too, which makes me less inclined to venture off the beaten path. Looking back at it, I think the reason why I love the Arkham and AC games is because there is a great degree of verticality in the world, but you don't get that here. The combat is decent but certainly not the best of an any open world game that I've played, and ultimately it's just not my cup of tea. Graphically the game is stunning though - probably the best looking game I've ever played. Anyway, I'm a bit gutted. It's probably down to me not the game, but I imagine this is like listening to a really good album and just finding it a bit 'meh'

Put simply! I do think downports of current gen titles are a bit problematic though and I'm not fussed on those. Storage becomes a big issue with those titles especially as the smallest Switch cartridge is already more expensive than a blu-ray. That's before the cost and challenge of downporting a PS4 game....

Awesome sales so far, as that's not even because lots of casuals/non traditional gamers are rushing out to buy the system. Gamers want to play on the system, and that's a really great thing to celebrate. In terms of 3rd party support, I really hope we get a couple of ports of last gen games. In particular I would love to see GTA 5 and Fallout: New Vegas on Switch. A couple of new exclusives too and lots of indie titles and I'm all set.

We are literally about to start Dark - your post is quite timely as I had literally forgotten about it. Yesterday we started and finished Manhunt: Unabomber. Absolutely amazing show that is based on the true story of the FBI's search for "Unabomber", an American Terrorist who regularly sent mail bombs across the U.S. I can't recommend it enough, especially if you're not familiar with the case.

Yeah, to clarify I'm not asking for a Witcher experience, just a much more open world environment compared to Sun and Moon. Ruby & Sapphire felt like proper adventures to me. I'm more than happy with turn based battles too. As for the 2018 thing, I'm fairly sure I recall them saying it at E3? I may be mis-remembering though With regards to outside help, I wonder if Monolith may be giving a hand. A large part of Xenoblade development will have wrapped up several months ago and we know how well they can push hardware.

Yeah I'm also interested to know what people made of this game. Tempted to get it as the art style is totally my jam. HIGHLY recommend Teslagrad for anyone interested in a puzzle/platformer. It's like a cross between Limbo and Braid - definitely worth the money.

Lol, you can't be serious. HD development is much more complex than that. It's not just a case of upping the textures. The current Pokemon titles are using game design similar to PS2-era RPG's, because that's all the 3DS hardware is capable of. The jump from that to current day standards is absolutely gigantic. For a developer going from PS2-PS3 (or Wii to Wii U) the jump was already massive, but to go from 3DS game and world design (which is an evolution of the DS games) to a home console like the Switch...god damn. I can't think of a similar jump. I guess it would be like the Link's Awakening team working on a game like Ocarina. My biggest concern about this game is that it ends up getting rushed out the gate. I know they've said 2018 is the target but I would rather they took their time really push the boundaries of the franchise and its game design forward. It would be pretty disappointing if they just gave us a HD version of what had come before. Game Freak are a small team compared to say the Zelda or Mario teams, right? I hope they are given time and resource to do the franchise justice.

Whilst the bolded is certainly true, that doesn't mean Switch owners are the same audience that Microsoft, Ubisoft, EA etc are targeting with their software (especially with the GaaS model). The Switch is a very good proposition for third parties but I have no interest in seeing Switch get down-ports on PS4 titles. Instead I would rather third parties focus on: -Definitive versions of last generation games -Games built ground up to take advantage of the Switch With the former, I would absolutely love to see GTA V and Fallout 3 on the Switch, especially having seen Skyrim run on the system. The idea of playing those games portably is certainly an enticing one, and with Mario, Zelda and Xenoblade, developers know that Switch fans are clearly enjoying titles that have a long play time. It has to be said that Nintendo's software strategy this generation has been absolutely amazing. They've moved away from their Wii U strategy and have gone back to what made the Wii so successful. By releasing the heavy hitters first, they can focus on releasing the big selling, supplementary titles later down the line once the system gets a price cut. I really hope this ends up leading to a sequel to 3D World - like NSMBWii I can envisage a game like that selling like hot cakes 3-4 years into the Switch's lifespan.

#BroadbandBeforeB*tches (Congrats!)

2017 was the year Nintendo should have had in 2002 with Sunshine and Wind Waker, two games which ultimately turned out to be massively rushed to market. I'm glad history hasn't repeated itself this time - both Odyssey and BOTW were stunning games. It's hard to pick between them but to be honest, this year has been incredible for gaming. From Persona 5 to indie titles like Steamworld Dig 2, it's been stellar. Xenoblade 2 is still to come out as well, and I haven't even touched Fire Emblem: SoV and the 3DS Metroid title yet.

I understand where you're coming from, but the Switch being region free means I'm likely to purchase many more titles as I can get more for my money. I've purchased far more than I ever planned to and I would have missed out on some of these games otherwise. From my understanding, Indie developers are quite supportive of this system (PS4 uses it) and I'm sure Nintendo made the decision to let players switch regions knowing full well how to create the best possible environment for developers.

Yes, I import most of my games (using a Monzo to avoid international charges) and it's great. I recommend using this link to identify the prices of eShop games across the globe (it also includes a 'Best Deals' section): https://eshop-prices.com/games

Gutted that I missed out on the £12.99 Nioh deal from Argos Managed to get Horizon for £18 though. Now I just need a good deal on Yakuza 0 and then I've my Christmas gaming should be sorted.

Last year I regularly spotted Tomb Raider (PS4), Titanfall and Dishonoured for sub-£20. I'm sure the same will happen this year.

I specifically mentioned inflation and increased wages on my previous post

Well put. And yes, gaming has never been so expensive. The cost of a AAA title at launch now is absolutely ridiculous. Even when the HD era started you could get a new game for £30 and it was the complete experience from day one.

It's good to see people passionate about this, so thanks for the replies @Sheikah and @Ronnie With regards to costs, the HD era from the mid-00's onwards is what made costs escalate, because games needed more staff and more advanced tools. 4K doesn't make too much of a difference at the moment as there are no 4K exclusive games - they are just games that run on PS4 and XBO that are then beefed up to higher settings. Downporting to the Switch from a PS4 is actually where the additional cost would come from for a port as you need allocate more staff members entirely to the project (or in most cases, pay a completely separate set of developers to work on it). The cost of games has steadily risen over the years (I'm not sure how this compares against inflation and the national living wage) but the main issue from my point of view is simple: 1. The audience is willing to invest in games that have pay walls (whether that's DLC, loot boxes etc) and so developers are actively chasing this market to make more $$$ 2. Developers want to succeed in this market and haven't yet found out what the saturation limit is. Eventually we'll hit a point where franchises just die out completely and there'll be a few survivors raking in all the dough, but for the EA's and Activision's of the world, it's worth the risk as they stand to make big profits. The biggest disappointment for me though is that it's led to the loss of single player AAA titles. Jim Stirling has spoken about this in great length but it's a real issue, as developers expect games like Dead Space to do unrealistic numbers. There needs to be a more effective way of releasing AAA/AA games at a cheaper price point to keep franchises alive and profitable. The industry and audience have changed.

@Blade Radio Free Nintendo also gets my vote. I listen to it every Monday (and have done so for the last few years). It's always superb.

It's been a long time since I've posted here but this post had me nodding along all the way. Loot boxes and season passes. Absolute joke. There's nothing worse than developers skipping on content and then forcing players to pay for it, thus making even more money. I tend to avoid it all and game pretty much exclusively on Switch and occasionally PS4 (mainly single player games) but unfortunately it's clear that the people playing these games are happy enough with these new systems. Loot boxes won and are here to stay but thankfully I'm just ignoring them. When it comes to Nintendo, I just wish they would stop announcing DLC and season plans before the game is even out. Regarding journalists, I think a large part of the issue is that the industry is very reactive and not proactive. Major sites get a review copy and review the game in a small timeframe, which naturally elevates game scores because there is no time to properly form a subjective opinion about a game. Some of the best reviews and analysis of games come from people like Mark Brown and Matthewmatosis over at YouTube because they are actually taking their time to understand a games mechanics and its design, and not just rushing to get a five minute review out for launch day. I also think this affects the players too. I've noticed a severe lack in understanding of game mechanics and design from gamers, but thankfully people like Mark Brown are doing a great job of educating people. Oh. And Jim Stirling is the GOAT.