Weekly Gaming Blog + Nintendo Switch Presentation Thoughts · 5:20am Jan 13th, 2017
Welcome to my Weekly Gaming Blog!
This week's coverage: Dark Cloud 2, Pokemon Sun, and Pokemon Shuffle. I'm also going to be sharing my thoughts on the Nintendo Switch Presentation livestream.
Newly acquired games this week:
None
Nintendo Switch Presentation Thoughts
Okay, so let's get the big thing out of the way:
Nintendo Switch comes out on March 3rd and will cost $300 in North America.
And yes, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is confirmed as a launch title.
Now...
The presentation elaborated on what we already knew about the Switch and spent a LOT of time highlighting the new features of the JoyCon controllers. Basically, each JoyCon has an analog stick, six buttons (two of which are only accessible when the JoyCon is in individual-controller mode), and a Share button like the DualShock 4. The JoyCon also boasts most of the motion, vibration, etc. functionality of the Wiimote, the DualShock, etc etc., but refined and enhanced to a ridiculous degree...and nobody but Nintendo will ever use these features.
For those of you who haven't been following it, Nintendo Switch is an amphibious gaming system that can be played as a console connected to a TV, or as a portable console. The Switch consists of a tablet, a dock, and two "JoyCon" controllers which attach to the sides of the tablet, to the "Grip" when the tablet is docked, or can be used separately as individual full-function controllers for select two-player games or certain two-handed games.
The Switch has a typically weak battery life (2.5-6 hours), but is USB-C, which is a nice feature. And a lot of people will probably use it more as a console than a portable anyway. I think? Maybe. I'm still not sure which way I'm likely to go more often with it.
The one thing about the presentation that bothered me the most is that Nintendo was VERY CAREFUL to avoid mentioning anything about the Switch's storage and media. Everything was all about the JoyCon functionality. We don't know what kind of media it will use for games (though we can guess it'll be game cards similar to what 3DS uses) or storage (which will probably be an underwhelming solid state drive).
Oh, and Nintendo is launching its own paid online service akin to PlayStation Plus exclusively for use with the Switch.
As to titles demonstrated/teased in the presentation...
Early in the demo, Nintendo demonstrated the kind of crap the Wii tried to sell itself on. 1-2 Switch is the most gimmicky gimmick software Nintendo has ever gimmicked up, and Arms is actually even worse, because it demonstrates Nintendo has utterly failed to learn ANYTHING from where the Wii went wrong. These are the kind of high-concept gimmick games designed to exploit all the bells and whistles Nintendo packed into the JoyCon...that absolutely nobody will ever give two shits about, because third-party devs will never use this crap and gamers only buy systems for third-party software most of the time. 1-2 Switch at least works as a tech demo. Arms is just an embarrassment.
Now Splatoon 2, on the other hand...Splatoon is the only WiiU game I ever genuinely wanted to play, and if I decide to invest in the Switch, Splatoon 2 will definitely be my choice of day one game.
Super Mario Odyssey looks like it'll be THE killer app for Switch (after Zelda). Zef's reaction to the trailer was priceless. Even I was impressed and I outgrew Mario forever ago.
Xenoblade 2 looks neat.
Some of the titles introduced during the Switch presentation:
Dragon Quest X
Dragon Quest XI
Dragon Quest Heroes I+II
Octopath Traveler (Square Enix)
Shin Megami Tensei 25th Anniversary Project (we didn't catch the title)
Skyrim
Nintendo boasts over 80 third-party titles in development for Switch.
The presentation also hinted at Minecraft, Disgaea, and Dragonball Xenoverse, among other things.
Dark Cloud 2
Current progress: Chapter 7
Georama Completion:
- Sindain: 100%
- Balance Valley: 100%
- Veniccio: 100%
- Heim Rada: 100%
- Moon Flower Palace: 100%
Medals earned: 156 total (125 spent)
Current medals: 31
WEAPONS/MAX: Grade Zero, Steal Gun
(Alternate weapons: Heavy Hammer, Wild Cat, Dark Viper)
WEAPONS/MONICA: Dark Cloud, Satan Brassard
(Alternate weapon: Cross Heinder)
RIDEPOD: Master Grade Core
Energy Pack (Urn)
Sun & Moon Armor
Nova Cannon III/Samurai Arm III
Jet Hover
So yeah, I'm at the end of the game now. I was too busy this week to put in a session to finish it, but I intend to put it to bed this weekend. I'm moving on to the Shantae games next before I finally get back to World of Final Fantasy.
Pokemon Sun
Monday was the day of RIDICULOUS luck. One right after another, I encountered and caught all the most pain-in-the-ass rare encounter Pokemon in Lush Jungle: Goomy, Happiny, and Castform. It was BOOM BOOM BOOM and done.
Also, this week I learned that the evolution screen and music are different when a Pokemon evolves into an Alola form.
So I beat Olivia, and I'm about ready to move on with the game as soon as I catch a couple more Pokemon I'm missing from Akala.
-o-
Trainer: Marinette / Official Pokemon Trainer
Starter: Litten
Trials completed: 6
Kahunas defeated: Hala, Olivia
Current Party: Chansey, Finneon, Fletchinder, Fomantis, Goldeen, Goomy
Current Location: Akala Island/Konikoni City
PokeFinder V2
Total Thumbs-Up: 6,064
Record Thumbs-Up: 3,568
===============Pokedex===============
Completion percentages:
Alola: 41%
-o- Melemele: 60%
-o- Akala: 56%
-o-
-o-
Seen: 145 (144 Alola, 1 National)
Caught: 127 (126 Alola, 1 National)
Shinies: 0
Legendaries: 0
Mythicals: 0
New Pokemon obtained this week: (Does not include extras caught for trading)
Beldum (received in a Wonder Trade)
Castform (nickname: Texas)
Chinchou (received in a Wonder Trade)
Comfey (nickname: Lei-Lei)
Dragonite (received in a Wonder Trade)
Flareon (evolved from Eevee, no nickname yet)
Gabite (evolved from Gible)
Goomy (nickname: Boogerella)
Happiny (nickname: Nurse Egg)
--E--> Chansey
Hypno (evolved from Drowzee)
Leafeon (evolved from Eevee, no nickname yet)
Marowak (evolved from Cubone)
Nosepass (nickname: Mo'ai)
Oranguru (GTS -- traded for Passimian)
Passimian (nickname: Rafiki)
Phantump (nickname: Jurak)
Pinsir (nickname: Crusher)
Poliwhirl (traded for Zubat)
Raticate (nickname: RattyArbuckl)
Vaporeon (evolved from Eevee, no nickname yet)
Z-Crystals Obtained (throughout game to date):
Fightinium Z, Firium Z, Grassium Z, Normalium Z, Rockium Z, Snorlium Z, Waterium Z
Pokemon Shuffle
Pokemon caught: 702
Pokemon at level 10 or higher: 143
* Main stage Pokemon caught: 510/510
* EX Stage Pokemon caught: 45/46
* Special Stage Pokemon caught:
=All Special Stage Pokemon released through 1/10/17=
* Safari: All Pokemon caught through 1/10/17
Main stages cleared: 1-530
Main stage S-ranks: 525
EX stages cleared: 1-45
EX stage S-ranks: 20
Survival Mode best record: SM16
Max combo: 166
Meowth's Coin Mania Record: 7200 coins
Escalation Battle #1 highest level reached: 200
Giratina caught at: level 12 (12% catch rate)
Escalation Battle #2 highest level reached: 96
Cresselia caught at: level 4 (4% catch rate)
Escalation Battle #3 highest level reached: 101
Darkrai caught at: level 13 (13% catch rate)
Escalation Battle #4 highest level reached: 71
Latias caught at: level 16 (16% catch rate)
Escalation Battle #5 highest level reached: 101
Latios caught at: level 42 (42% catch rate)
Escalation Battle #6 highest level reached: 92
Keldeo (Resolute Form) caught at: level 11 (11% catch rate)
Escalation Battle #7 highest level reached: 239
Kyurem caught at: level 8 (8% catch rate)
Escalation Battle #8 highest level reached: 151
Diancie caught at: N/A (Diancie obtained prior to this event)
Escalation Battle #9 highest level reached: 247
Zygarde (50% Forme) caught at: level 9 (9% catch rate)
Escalation Battle #10 highest level reached: 246
Giratina (Origin Forme) caught at: level 14 (14% catch rate)
Escalation Battle #11 highest level reached: 100
Meloetta (Aria Forme) caught at: level 15 (15% catch rate)
Escalation Battle #12 highest level reached: 200
Mew caught at: N/A (Mew obtained prior to this event)
Best Competition Ranking Score:
Mega Camerupt Challenge
Score: 55288
Final rank: #4939
Best Competition Ranking Placement:
Mega Absol Challenge
Score: 49386
Final rank: #1539
Ranking Event awards won:
Abomasite, Absolite, Alakazamite, Banetteite, Beedrillite, Blastoisinite, Blazikenite, Cameruptite, Charizardite X, Charizardite Y, Garchompite, Gardevoirite, Lucarionite, Manectite, Sceptilite, Sharpedonite, Steelixite, Swampertite, Venusaurite
Why Flareon? Just dex completion?
Eh, I liked Arms. Not sold on 1-2-Switch
4381158 probably. Flareon sucks
4381158 What other reason would I have wasted a whole day catching enough Eevees to evolve into every Eeveelution? I'm never actually USING any of them.
Didn't catch Diagaea, but considering I love the series? That's good news. And honestly I think the 25th Anniversary project is likely going to be SMT V. My prediction anyway, no way to say if it's accurate.
But yeah, I was impressed. Thanks for reminding me about the storage issue though, that almost slipped my mind. :/ But the price point is pretty decent, and it looks like a legitimately great system. Here's hoping Nintendo can follow up though.
That Nintendo Switch conference, while a bit underwhelming, sure give me a good laugh.
1 2 Switch and Arms may not be the games suitable for our demographic, but I'm sure they'll be adequate for the younger ones and for those how love party plays with friends. My Mum how work at a toy library, those games will be nicely welcome.
For me, when Mario Odyssey and then the new Shin Megami Tensei showed up, my hype went sky rocket.
The Switch is clearly an attempt at trying to blur the line between home console and hand held console, but time will tell if the system works as well as intended. The Wii sold so well because it had such a huge casual audience to make up for the lack of third party support, and that was where the Wii-U went wrong. Hopefully, Nintendo is at least going to try and make sure that the third party developers that sign onto The Switch know what they're working with. "Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric" was a good example of what could happen if game developers were given a console they clearly didn't know how to utilize with the engine they'd built.
lets not forget Bomberman and Puyo Puyo Tetris. yea, these got announced after the conference.
4381176 I'm cautiously optimistic. And yeah, given that the intro to the trailer made a point of having the numbers I-IV around the pentagram? I'm also thinking SMT5.
When I buy a Nintendo console its pretty much for Nintendo games. Third party have a habit of snubbing Nintendo ever since the Gamecube days. And even then pretty much all the games I wanna play fall into three category; Square Enix titles, Nintendo titles, Steam available. If I find out Nintendo ever gets XV I'm heading out for Switch on release!
I think the only game that really caught my interest was Zelda and the 3d zelda's never really held me(I only like ocarina and never finished wind waker) So that's not enough at this time to make me invest in another console. Between my roomate and myself we alreayd have both the PS4 (myself) and the XB1(roommate) to cover any console excluives there...Maybe in a yearor so when the library is more.
4381329 I'm planning to save up for it because I've seen some of what's on the horizon and approve. Plus, I really really want Splatoon 2, and Super Mario odyssey does appeal to me. Also, SMT(5?) may be a Switch exclusive. I also have a hunch Pokemon and Yokai Watch are going to get Switch exclusives...
ehh where's the 3-4 player that what nintendo is known for without that it's really going off only 2 players and i have 2 siblings i say this will crash just because only two player function
4381503 You missed where the Switch has up to 8-player multiplay capability.
4381579 still i have to buy a usb adapter to connect it by the time i have enough to buy one it'll probably be rare to find one
4381601 Why? Are you expecting mobile phones to suddenly go out of fashion? Most people have ten USB phone chargers in a junk drawer by now.
4381601
The Switch's controllers are wireless. They don't need USB connections.
The Switch has an industry-standard USB-C port. Cables, and micro USB to USB-C adapters, are already common and cheap (I have one in my keyring.) You can then connect the USB-A port to any computer, outlet, charger, or battery pack already in the market. Plus, the dock has its OWN USB-C connection so you won't need one for your home, you'd only need one if you take the main unit with you and you want to recharge.
4381758 I know damn It I'm not that bright when it comes to some things
4381760 I know I meant that multiplayer like 8 players or something idk I'm not a wizard for this stuff
4381814 The multiplayer is wireless, dude. We're not back in the stone age when it was Game Boys and Link Cables.
Hello, Moth. Thought you might like this.
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