4715

Any thoughts on whether this is a good time to pick up a Switch? My kids, who mentioned nothing of it before Christmas, are now saying they were hoping to get one. They did get some cash and gift cards, so we’ve been talking through a scenario where they could save up for one, probably in the next few months.

I haven’t really paid much attention to Switch news, partly to avoid the temptation I’ve faced with every Nintendo generation (wanting to spend a bunch of money for another iteration of Mario Kart and Zelda), but I figure the Switch has been out long enough that a hardware refresh or v2 might be coming.

4716

I think it’s great in its current form and that you’d get tons of enjoyment out of it. Breath of the Wild is excellent, if you haven’t played. The Switch very quickly became my preferred gaming platform since it’s both TV and mobile. Any hardware upgrade would have to be pretty compelling for me to want to upgrade quickly.

4717

Watch me be disproven in like a week, but I doubt there’s a substantial hardware refresh coming for the Switch any time soon. There might be an internal parts shrink or something, but since there aren’t significant power problems or anything like that currently, i wouldn’t wait for it. I wouldn’t expect anything before Holiday 2019 at the earliest.

  • An actual form factor change is prevented by the joycon design. Even if there is a new version, it will have to be basically the same shape and size to fit existing joycons.
  • a handheld-only switch would be possible in theory, but Nintendo is still paying lip service to the 3DS, so they wouldn’t cannibalize that quite yet.
  • the current version is selling strong, without even really having significant discounts at holiday this year, as you’d expect if they were clearing to make room for new SKUs
  • Smash just released, so they don’t need another sales gimmick for a while.
4718

Thinner Switch with better screen has been rumored for months. Will it happen? Who knows. But new joycons doesn’t seem like any sort of significant impediment.

4719

I could easily see a revision that has a bigger screen with a smaller bezel and a spec bump that allows 1080p in portable mode. But I’ve also given up on predicting Nintendo’s moves. They are the only company I can never anticipate.

4720

Thanks for the input. We sat down and figured out how long it would take for them to save for it, and it will be at least three months. We’ll see if they can hold out that long, and if so, if anything has changed in terms of hardware announcements.

4721

Anybody in Europe pick this up today?

4722

April 23rd:

  • Dynamic combat experience – Cut off the four heads of a Hydra, climb atop griffins and fight airborne, or defeat dragons and other creatures by finding out their weaknesses.
  • Tons of content – Includes all previously released extra content, DLC and the Dark Arisen expansion content. Features the highly praised combat experience and rich customization, plus a huge underground realm to explore with terrifying monsters.
  • Customization options galore – Nine different vocations for players to choose from with a variety of skill and magick options for each, armor that can be upgraded and enhanced, plus Pawn companions that can be trained to fit your desired combat style.
  • Adapted User Interface – Revamped user interface offers improved screen visibility.
  • Online Functionality – The iconic Pawn system comes to Nintendo Switch with online sharing abilities between Nintendo Accounts. (A Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required for online features).
  • Play Anywhere – For the first time, Dragon’s Dogma can be played on the go using the Nintendo Switch system’s handheld or tabletop mode.
4723

Cool! I’ve been curious about this game but having watched a few gameplay videos it looks like there is a lot going on with fighting as well as commanding your party members and such. Is the game very hectic to play, particularly during combat?

4724

k Qt3 fam, best Switch game* for a long flight? I already own Stardew valley plus Disgea. Into the Breach is not for me.

I am eyeballing Diablo, the new Pokemon and …(whispers) Civ 6 which I do not own on PC.

Good choices? bad? Things I missed. Really looking for games that you can lose yourself in.

*used to say “non action game” but that was stupid of me, so lets forget that :)

4725

Having difficulty parsing diablo with non-action game.

At any rate, I’d suggest Yoku’s Island Express

4726

Golf Story, Lumines, Mario and Rabbids, Money Puzzle Exchanger, Picross. Not Octopath Traveler. Pokémon is a good choice.

4727

I don’t normally care for 2D platformers. You seen one, you seen 'em all, right? But for various reasons, I’m really digging Monster Boy. It feels like it was made by people who know what they’re doing, who have a ton of affection for the genre, and who really want you to have a good time. Also a +1 from me for Yoku’s Island Express for its unique pinballery traversal. What a cool concept.

-Tom

4728

As an alternative to Civ 6, I’d suggest Neo Atlas 1469.

It’s a quantum world map generator, which makes it sound much more complicate than it really is: the basic game is to tap on the map looking for bubbles of rumors, which shape the world depending on you choosing to trust or distrust them, and you send expeditions on the sea whose results you accept or reject in the same way. There is also a Railroad Tycoonesque trading goods “mix and match” mini-game inside the game, although it really is a very minor aspect of it.
It is quite repetitive but I find it also absorbing. The game was released on PC as well (it’s an update to an old Japanese series), but the Switch version supports somewhat awkward but still nice to be present touch controls.
It sadly comes with modern Japanese gaming annoyances, in the form of an almost hour long hand-holding tutorial and torrents of texts and personal dramas I don’t think anybody on any Earth would give a damn about.
Also, its 49,99$ price tag is quite a bit expensive for what it is in my opinion.

Edit: I forgot to mention: the big fonts and interface make it really playable on the move. No squinting required.

4729

I have to echo the support for Monster Boy. That game is a delight!

4730

Sigh. I don’t care for 2d platformers, but watching some videos, Monster Boy looks kind of amazing…maybe I need to buy it…

4731

You can also spend quite a bit of time trying to complete some of the later objectives, long after the main story is done. I spent 7-8 hours playing it last week on flights, and I was already finished with the campaign.

4732

What is wrong with you people. Diablo and 2D platformers defintely count as action games. When someone says recommend me non action games you have to name boring old man games that are probably turn based or where you farm vegetables or something. Anyone could have just said Bloodstained or Dark Souls. You’re not earning any points by knowing Wonder Boy is good you hipster nerds.

4733

To be fair, the person that made the request is the one that mentioned Diablo (as I noted in the reply), so who knows what “non-action games” means.

4734

You know what I apologise. Lets drop my ill conceived action game disclaimer. I am not sure what I was thinking. Again my apologies for the confusion.

All these game suggestions are great! Cheers!