Stage Select
What I hope for with the Switch is Gamecube Virtual Console. No HD rereleases, give Sega a quick, easy way to put Skies of Arcadia onto a modern device so they no longer have an excuse. Yes, I am prioritizing a port of a 16 year old game over third party support, innovative new IPs, and battery life. It is unacceptable that only Dreamcast and Gamecube owners can play that game. Also other awesome Gamecube games on the go.
Chrono Crossing
2004 is my favorite year for games and had the release of my all time favorite game, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords. Absurdly long title aside, this game did so much right that I didn't care if it was a buggy mess. I still loved the combat and depth in customizing your character and equipment. I loved how its influence system had you actually learn how to interact with your party members and really build a bond with them to get the most out of them and learn new abilities from them.
But what makes this game is its story and how it turns many of Star Wars' themes and ideas on their head. It took the idea of the Force and brought an ugly side of it having a destiny for everyone, where some people just have no choice in their ugly fate. Or how it showed how everyone and everything being connected by the Force would be devastating after a war crime was committed. To me, this is both the peak of RPGs and Star Wars, neither wants to explore the themes and ideas this game brought up twelve years ago, which is a shame but also a testament to how bold Obsidian was to make this game in the first place.
I agree, Paranorman is definitely in my top 15 all time. A lot like Cabin in the Woods in a way where you think you know exactly where the story is heading, but has about five twists that do the exact opposite.
Most of my favorite Halloween movies are animated or comedies. Ghostbusters and Paranorman are my two must watch movies especially. That said, I agree, Cabin in the Woods was fucking awesome.
Most that stuff is pretty shitty but the games not going down in price isn't something that's as bad in the States. Many games keep their value for a long time, but only the rarest games stay expensive.
One possible solution for the 3DS' two screens is to tilt the system vertically similarly to how DS games played on the Wii U. Could need an accessory to better play games vertically, but you can still just take the controllers off if you place it well for that.
Here's the thing: I feel like 3D Mario is a safer option to get people to adopt the console while 2D Mario is a safe option to sell a ton of games. The first three NSMB games were on well established successful consoles when they arrived and merely capitalized on their enormous user base while the Wii U one failed to convince people to adopt one. Meanwhile 64, 3D Land, and (to a much lesser extent) 3D World sold many people on the hardware, 64 and 3D Land especially. I feel a 3D Mario early would get many hardcore gamers to adopt a Switch early while the masses would be better sold on a Mario Kart, Smash Bros, or Pokemon game. Those tend to be Nintendo's real reliable hardware sellers.
Bare minimum they should let you transfer Virtual Console purchases from both consoles to there. It would be nice if any digital retail games would transfer too, 3DS shouldn't be too tricky and hopefully Wii U could work as well. I can see physical media not working, but they should at least attempt digital similar to how MS did 360 on XB1
Rayfa was definitely a great character, she had a really good arc and was surprisingly funny with her outbursts. I thought it would get annoying quick, but they handled her well. My favorite new character was Datz though. I always love the goofy AA characters who don't realize how much they're annoying everyone and somehow find their way to accidentally meddle with each case in stupid ways.
I thought the culprit was pretty obvious in the second and fifth case (the first gave it away so didn't count), but the third and fourth caught me off guard, especially the third with how unconventional it was. The fourth case really did feel like they needed to give Athena something to do though and was too Japanese. Still, Blackquill returning was at least fun. Download only was disappointing too, but I'll take what I can get.
The main DLC case was fun, but still average by series standards. I knew from the beginning how they would explain the time travel and knew who the villain was the second I met him and guessed his motivation pretty well. I was pretty much there for Larry and Edgeworth who were at least both hilarious. Also speaking of Edgeworth, his rant on the Plumed Punisher was hilarious, always love when they bring up how much of a Steel Samurai fanboy he is.
I agree that this is the only thing Capcom really interests me now with though. I'm not a fan of the direction they went with recent Street Fighter and Resident Evil games and Monster Hunter is the only other franchise they consistently make games for. Their new IPs are lacking as well, can't really think of many they've done recently. This might be my favorite of their series ever though, even beating out Mega Man, Resident Evil, and Street Fighter.
Ah, got the facts wrong for U. But still, it wasn't that much higher than 3D World while 3D Land edged NSMB2 by about the same amount. And I agree with Blake, World might be my favorite, but 3D Mario works and fills a niche 2D doesn't. A niche that other games like Rayman Legends are filling better now. It's not like Sonic which has never had a 3D entry as a GOTY contendor.
Also their attitude towards 2D Mario might have something to do with how U and 2 were half assed. If they don't want to make 2D Mario games or feel they've done everything they can with the formula, we're not going to get as high quality games as we get with 3D Mario. Mario Maker felt like them putting the 2D Mario to rest for a while, let them focus on 3D where we can get some real creativity.
