Comments 892

Re: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Is Already Switch eShop's Top Seller, Unsurprisingly

jtmnm

@RiasGremory I've played and been a fan of JRPGs since the 90s, but I'm not a weeb nor am I into the horny anime aesthetic. While I don't disagree, injecting a heaping dose of "fan service" to an unprecedented degree in a series that was nearly 2 decades old at the time of XC2's release was inappropriate, IMO, but this is just one problem I had with it. I also took issue with the narrative, tone, and some systems. I didn't hate XC2, but it was the weakest Xeno entry for me.

Re: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Is Already Switch eShop's Top Seller, Unsurprisingly

jtmnm

I'm an oldhead Xeno fan; since I first played Xenogears back in 2000 or whenever it was. I was just a kid then. For me, it was a game that only appreciated with time. As I got older, I understood more and more whenever I went back to it. Fans know the themes and philosophical exploration this series offers.

I've played the entire series, although some entries more thoroughly than others. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 miffed me with its weird "booba" aesthetic and emphasis that was elevated to a point that exceeded any of the prior games. Weirdly enough, the hilariously standalone Torna expansion wound up being more of a traditional Xeno game than its horny gacha base. It was always a funny recommendation to give: "Yeah, you have to play this RPG. Yes, it's an expansion. No, you don't need to own the base game to play it. I don't know if you'd really like it, anyway."

Xenoblade Chronicles 3, however, is a proper return to form. The weebish fixation on harem anime horny has been toned down to a more appropriate level, and this game is dark; borderline edgelord. I can't help but be constantly reminded of the original Xenogears, and I'm loving it. No more gaggle of idiotic children protagonists, no more screen-filling tits and ass trotted out in spotlight every few seconds, no more B-tier shonen vibes — it rocks.

With how its reviews have gone, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 will likely go down as one of the best JRPGs of the decade, and it's deserved. Fei is smiling down from Weltall in Heaven.

Re: New Pokémon Legends: Arceus Trailer Teases Crafting And New Areas

jtmnm

@Meteoroid Obviously, the Switch is more powerful than the Vita. I acknowledged that in my comment, so I don't know why you're trying to tell me that. What I was actually getting at, however, is the comparison between a few Vita games I've been playing and what we've seen from PL:A. If you weren't being deliberately obtuse, you'd have acknowledged I was referring to textures (which I specifically mentioned), character models, environments and the like.

If it's not clear already, you've been eviscerated for trying to oppose my point. The killing blow was already dealt, so these are just style points I'm accruing, and I'm going for the high score.

I compiled a gallery comparing screenshots of a few Vita games and PL:A. You're lying if you don't think these are comparable on a surface level.

https://imgur.com/a/heQ8Ln7

It doesn't matter if the game is open world or not, and PL:A isn't, by the way. If screenshots between decade-apart AAA releases are indistinguishable to the point of arguing semantics, e.g., "but this is bigger", there's a problem.

Don't bother replying, as I've already won and probably won't care to read your response.

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Re: Video: Pokémon Legends: Arceus Gets Three New Commercials

jtmnm

It has the potential to breathe new life in a stale series. Will it? History suggests it's unlikely. Still, the branding is all it needs to outsell higher quality products. I hope I'm wrong, anyway. If this is met with glowing reviews as opposed to scathing criticism, I'll buy.

Re: Nintendo Switch Online's N64 Games Need Some Work

jtmnm

After seeing the ***** storm on social media over how terrible the emulation is, I'm feeling better about refusing to upgrade immediately.

I can't say I didn't expect problems, although I was surprised by just how many. Maybe I shouldn't have been because anyone familiar with the emulation scene knows N64 emulation is still inconsistent after all these years. I guess I just expected more from one of the biggest media companies on the planet. Silly me!

Re: Nintendo Switch System Update 13.1.0 Is Now Live - Adds The Switch Online Expansion Pack

jtmnm

Disappointed the backlash didn't bring about a change in policy. IIRC, when Xbox Live tried to double their prices, the resulting backlash caused a reversal.

I'll probably cave at some point, but I want to hold for a while. Maybe I'm optimistic, but I'd at least like to see an option that just includes the N64 emulator. The current plan makes me feel like I'm paying more for unnecessary fluff.

Re: Poll: As Sora Joins Smash Bros. Ultimate, How Much Of The DLC Roster Do You Own?

jtmnm

Bought both passes, although I'm probably in the minority here as a fighting game fan that's more interested in competitive play. More fighters are more fighters to learn. Keeps the game interesting.

Mii outfits fall under an entirely separate category, though. I bought a few I thought were worth it, like the Deluxe ones that came with music tracks and costumes of characters I liked. Other than that, I didn't have a desire to buy them all.

Re: Random: Uh-Oh, Nintendo's Switch Online 'Expansion Pack - Overview Trailer' Is Generating A Lot Of Dislikes

jtmnm

NSO was a garbage service before the Expansion Pack. Nintensimps would excuse its lackluster offerings by saying its price was a fraction of its competitors and shouldn't be held to the standards set by them.

That's no longer the case. Very soon, the majority of us here will be paying only $10 less than we would/are with Sony/MS, and all we'll have to show for it are a handful of admittedly good games from 20-30 years ago drip-fed to us over the course of the Switch's lifespan and an online service whose servers are maintained by hamsters running on wheels. That's $50 a year for a service that refuses to adopt any mainstream forms of communication between users or let Switch owners browse the web. It's absolute *****, and we should be outraged!

Anyway, I can't wait to sign up for the Expansion Pack ASAP and play some N64 games online for 20 mins before never touching them again.

Re: Poll: What Do You Think Of The Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack Price?

jtmnm

I'm in the "this is too expensive" camp. Had there been a promise made about the Expansion Pack adding access to future DLC (not just Animal Crossing), I think this would be a bit more reasonable. Having the Animal Crossing DLC makes the impression they wanted to tack something on to justify more than doubling NSO subscription costs. I'm not an AC fan, either, so this does absolutely nothing for me.

I still don't really understand why the Genesis emulator is there, either. Nearly everything worth playing on the Genesis is already made available in a variety of collections. Plus, this is Nintendo Switch Online. Why is Sega there? 🤣 It's just odd optics, IMO.

Re: Nintendo's Switch Exclusive Metroid Dread Is Already Being Emulated On PC

jtmnm

All this faux outrage over a tiny and insignificant percentage of the consumer demographic. The average consumer doesn't even know what emulation is. Even if they were to learn, who's to say they'd be willing/capable?

Blatant piracy is much more common among tech-savvy kids than it is with hobbyists/collectors/purists/etc., and how often does that happen? The only people in my circles who emulate either dump their own games for the best possible experience or only emulate games that are no longer available (or cost 100s or 1000s of dollars).

Re: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's Final Fighter Is... Kingdom Hearts' Sora!

jtmnm

@Gundam_Warrior As much as you have a right to be disappointed, people have just as much of a right to make fun of you for being a party pooper.

Sora has been a highly requested character since Kingdom Hearts launched in 2002. That's almost 20 years, and you're essentially doing the equivalent of crying about how upset you are in a room filled with people universally celebrating Sora's inclusion.

Re: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's Final Fighter Is... Kingdom Hearts' Sora!

jtmnm

Sora may have been the perfect pick as Smash Ultimate's final DLC. He has consistently ranked as one of the most-wanted characters for almost 2 decades now, and there's value in being able to collaborate with Disney to any degree. Sakurai's company also being named Sora is a funny quirk to come out of this, too. This is a clear win for Nintendo, Smash, and the fans. Sakurai really came through.

Those complaining lack perspective. Anyone who has been on Smashboards in the last 20 years knows how much the Smash community wanted Sora. This is Sakurai's farewell gift to Smash's biggest fans, and any insinuation that this is a failure is hilariously ignorant.

Re: Gallery: Feast Your Eyes On 21 Screenshots Of Bayonetta 3

jtmnm

I think Bayonetta 3 looks fine. People apparently need to be reminded the Switch's graphics processor is a custom mobile chipset that's almost a decade old now.

I'm not defending Nintendo. I think they should be criticized for that, actually, but it's important to keep the Switch's very concrete limitations in mind when talking graphics ... especially with the contrasting PS5 and X-whatever out now.

Re: Poll: What Did You Think Of Yesterday's Nintendo Direct?

jtmnm

Best Direct in recent memory, IMO. 3D Kirby has been so long-rumored, it may have well been an urban legend. I can remember articles in old Nintendo Power magazines talking about the next big Kirby game will be a 3D adventure as far back as the Gamecube days. It's been a long time coming. I may be 30 now, but I'm excited for a Kirby game, damn it!

The other star of the show had to be the NSO Expansion Pak. I miss the N64 era so much, and the idea of being able to play Star Fox 64 and others online with the same friends I was playing them with 20 years ago is bonkers. I will say I'm curious about the NSO price hike, but that's on everyone's minds. Hopefully, it's a reasonably priced service and not an excuse to hike up yearly subs to $60.

Last but not least ... Bayonetta 3 exists. It's about time. Her new design is fantastic. Bayonetta, in my view, is Platinum at their very best. Like City Escape in Sonic Adventure 2, the opening level in Bayonetta 2 is so over-the-top and leaves such a strong impression on the player. I can't wait to see what they do for Bayonetta 3.

EDIT: Can't believe I forgot to mention weirder cult classic titles like Chocobo Racing and ActRaiser getting attention. Never did I think we'd see either of those 2 games/series again. That's just ... awesome. I'm going to somehow use this to justify expecting a Xenogears remake somewhere down the line. Also Brave Fencer Musashi and Einhander.

Re: Nintendo 64 And Sega Genesis Expansion Pack Announced For Switch Online, Launches This October

jtmnm

I've been open to paying more for NSO. I'm paying $20 a year for something that ... feels like I'm paying $20 a year for. Those SNES and NES games gave me some fun, but NSO, on the whole, is a trash service. If they need to kick up the costs in order to offer a more complete service, I'll definitely fork over the cash, especially since we're talking about playing N64 games like Star Fox 64 and F-Zero X online. Paper Mario and the two Zeldas have me very excited to revisit them, too.

It is strange how they didn't reveal an immediate price, though. This could lead to a media ***** storm if they "pull a Nintendo" here and demand $60 a year for N64 access.

Re: Bayonetta's Voice Actor Isn't So Sure About Her Future In The Role

jtmnm

The fact Bayonetta's voice actress hasn't been contacted by Platinum yet really invokes some borderline alarmist speculation when you consider Bayonetta 3 has gone without a single update for 4 years. Would not be surprised if Bayonetta 3 winds up being the new Scalebound. It's worth mentioning Scalebound was shown at a gameplay level, too, and, in 4 years, Bayonetta 3 has nothing.

Re: Platinum Would "Definitely" Port Star Fox Zero To Switch, If Given The Opportunity

jtmnm

Yeah, let's port the universally deemed worst Star Fox game ever made to Switch. Great idea!

I preordered Zero, too. I'll never forget the shock and disappointment when I first played it. The reception that followed, especially considering the marketing efforts, makes it hard to imagine any future Star Fox games being made. Funnily enough, Miyamoto's commitment to justifying the Wii U gamepad's existence may have killed one of Nintendo's most beloved series.

The bar for what's considered a "good Star Fox game" is so low, too, yet Nintendo can't seem to and might never deliver. They could remake 64 again with online leaderboards and multiplayer, and it would satisfy starving fans.

Star Fox, like F-Zero and others, is dead until proven otherwise. Thankfully, Sin and Punishment 2 exists. Anyone craving Star Fox should play that game instead.

Re: Bravely Default II Is No Longer A Nintendo Switch Exclusive

jtmnm

I'm happy about this. I played the demo on Switch and didn't come away impressed. While it seemed like a fine JRPG, I was miffed by its poor performance. This combined with the fairly minimalist art direction frustrated me. I'm a pretty big fan of the first game, so I'm excited to give the game another go.

Re: Video: Bandai Namco Drops New Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Story Trailer For Switch

jtmnm

Kakarot's the DBZ game I always wanted when I was a kid. It's essentially a Legacy of Goku game taken to an extreme with a modern coat of paint. On its own as an RPG, it's decent enough. It checks all the boxes: large environments, exploration, crafting, skill trees, etc. Factor in how well it pays homage to the series, and you have yourself probably the greatest DB game ever made.

I really wish Bamco would retire the Xenoverse series already. Over the last however many years, I have 1,000+ hours logged, and I just can't do it anymore. Either make a sequel to refresh the IP or move on.

Also FighterZ 2 with rollback netcode is a must.

Re: New Pokémon Legends: Arceus Footage Introduces The Hisui Region

jtmnm

@Kirgo Oh my God.

"When it comes to a technical comparison I am on your side."

"Here you are mixing two different things. When I say "design" I really just mean design as in art."

"Since it is true for me and the graphics of Arceus cause such a discussion, compared to other big Switch titles, I think it is a relatively safe assumption, that the games aesthetics just do not work very well for many people."

Re: New Pokémon Legends: Arceus Footage Introduces The Hisui Region

jtmnm

@Kirgo Why are you even engaging with me if your whole shtick is “Zelda, a heralded franchise that consistently delivers generation-defining quality in terms of art and design, looks better than Pokemon”? I don't think anyone would knock you for saying Zelda, arguably one of, if not, the most praised gaming franchise of all time, boasts an overall superior art direction than ***** Pokemon. Why would you expect a Pokemon game to look better than Zelda in this context?

Furthermore, this is a non-response to what I was initially saying. I was responding to the smooth-brained crybabies here saying PL is in any way comparable to an N64/PS2/Wii/whatever game. I clarified this by saying PL, and I quote, "looks fine for a new Switch release", again, because people don't want to get off the Game Freak hate train. I even went as far as to compile a gallery of images for comparison that clearly demonstrates how similar PL looks to BotW. One could retool the player avatar in PL ever so slightly and drop it into BotW as an NPC without issue.

Also, making an assumption about "people having a problem with PL's aesthetics" is completely unfounded. The Youtube comment section universally praises PL. There's also even the occasional "Pokemon of the Wild" meme. I'm struggling to find even one person who says it looks bad/underwhelming. It's just here where people seemingly have a problem with how the game looks, which is usually the opposite of what happens. Maybe I've been off NL for too long.

Re: New Pokémon Legends: Arceus Footage Introduces The Hisui Region

jtmnm

@Kirgo Well, you'd be wrong. The gallery I uploaded makes that objectively clear.

The issue comes down to optimization. Breath of the Wild, while not as bad as it was at launch, is still plagued by performance issues. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has the same problem although to a greater extent. The resolution fluctuates so wildly the screen sometimes looks underwater. Mario Odyssey had NPCs running at 15fps in New Donk City. I don't ever see anyone bring up that jarring cope, despite Odyssey being often mentioned as one of the Switch's standards for graphics. If PL manages to hold a steady resolution and decent framerate at the cost of reducing distant scenic objects like trees to stills, it's a good trade.

Also, Breath of the Wild's world design has been under fire for years; scrutinized for being "empty" and shameless use of copy-and-pasted assets. Legends looks to have this problem too, but it's hardly a unique one.

I'm not saying Pokemon Legends looks amazing. What I'm saying is it looks fine for a new Switch release, and the fact people are having to draw specific contrasts with some of the Switch's best games is not only a testament to the improvement over S&S (which I never bought) but its quality as a whole.

Re: New Pokémon Legends: Arceus Footage Introduces The Hisui Region

jtmnm

Because there seems to be a collective confusion regarding "better looking Switch games" like Breath of the Wild, here's a direct comparison between the two:

https://imgur.com/a/EDQ3EdJ

People seem to remember Breath of the Wild through a rose-tinted lens. Excluding minor differences in character model polish and (maybe) foliage density, anyone that argues there's a graphical difference so significant it relegates this Pokemon game to even 1 generation behind is lying, and this is coming from someone who regularly games on a $5k rig.

I don't really care for Game Freak, and Nintendo's been frustrating me lately with the lack of legacy content (among other things), but the criticism here is largely unjustified. Nintendoids acting like Game Freak pissed in their cereal or something.