Blast Processing: Every Generation

[Wools]

Although unlikely given success of the Switch open world Zeldas, I'd like a new Zelda like the pre-Switch Zeldas. That's literally all I want from the generation.

I'm glad there's others who feel the same about the past 2 mainline Zelda's. I'm not alone and mad!

Zelda has an odd trajectory for me. I thought Zelda OOT was one of the best games ever made. I lived and breathed that game and world. But as the 3D Zelda's have continued, I got increasingly bored of the same, tired structure being applied to a new 3D world. In much the same was as Zelda OOT, Super Mario 64 was at one point my favourite game ever made, and despite the low dip of Mario Sunshine, every mainline 3D Mario game has been exceptional; Getting better in quality, evolving and always feeling fresh.

For me, Zelda BotW was a huge disappointment. It started so well, it looked beautiful and the sheer expanse and freedom offered to you was almost overwhelming. But as the hours rolled on, I became bored and have found myself over the past 5 year, attempting to revisit the game each subsequent year, but always failing to make any headway.

My takeaway is, there is no real story to speak of to compel me through the game so it's all based on exploration and discovery. And if I'm brutally honest, the reward for me exploring has not been worthwhile enough for me to continue. It's strange as Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion offered me that same hook but the exploration and reward always felt great, along with The Witcher III. But there's something about Zelda BotW where I want to explore, but I just don't feel the inclination to explore, examine and discover. I remain hopeful, one year it'll get its hooks into me, but it's a shame the boundless creativity and fun I have in Super Mario Odyssey, 3D World and Wonder, has never been translated to any recent Zelda for me.

The game is not ****, I know it's clearly a labour of love and people close to me adore it, so maybe it's just me. But I wish it felt less like an open world toy box and more like Zelda.

[Golgo]

Sadly, though, I think were pissing against the wind here. I remember an interview with Eiji Aonuma (reported on Nintendo Life, I think) who, when questioned about a possible return to a more compact, dungeon-focused Zelda, said something like (I'm approximating): "but we've made this world and these amazing ways to interact with it however you wish, so why would anyone want go back?"

[briareos_kerensky]

Hardware-wise, only two things: backward compatibility (already confirmed), and region free (don't remember if confirmed). I would say Hall effect sticks on the Joycons, but it's a pipe dream.

Software, as long as the next 3D Mario is at least on Odyssey's level, I'll be fine.

[CMcK]

My main hope for the Switch 2 is a proper d-pad. The lite model Switch has one so why not the main can-actually-switch model?

[Neon Ignition]

I think that's solely down to the intention that each joycon can be used by a player, so the dpad has to emulate the A-B-X-Y buttons for one player.

It's singularly the worst controller option of possibly any console ever though.

[Junko]

I’m still happy with Switch , the slight bump in performance will be great but new play experiences will get my gaming juices flowing !

[wakka]

I think if you are absolutely weighed down with all available gaming gizmos and accessories, yeah, you'd never pick a single Joycon over a Pro controller or whatever. But I was with friends the other day for a Mario Kart session and we were able to impromptu add more players as people came round by dividing up Joycons and linking Switches. At no point did we have to say, oh, that's not possible because we don't have enough of X accessory.

That is awesome. It's such a cool design. It's like the opposite of back in the day where you'd need either a multitap and multiple pads or lots of link cables and junctions for connecting them together. It feels like, as a design, it's trying to make local multiplayer as easy as possible and I really respect that as a design decision.

If you really need a proper d-pad there are third party options.

[Neon Ignition]

Now that we're 24 hours away from the reveal of more information - if not the opening of preorders also...


Will you be preordering on Day One and what do you realistically expect to see be revealed?

[Dogg Thang]

I will get a Switch 2 for sure. Whether I preorder one on day one? Not sure. Maybe if it looks like there are a few amazing early games. I don't know if I'm expecting that though. I might not be in any hurry. In all honesty, I have a suspicion we're not going to see a lot revealed. I think it might be very light on games early on. But let's see.

[Nu-Eclipse]

I didn't pre-order the OG Switch on day one - there was effectively nothing available to play for it and I was already playing BOTW on WiiU. I quickly ordered one when Super Mario Odyssey dropped though.

It'll likely be wait a little bit before purchasing Switch 2 for me, barring an amazing launch lineup of software that isn't totally full of cynical rehashes.

As long as the Joy-Cons are way more durable (and GOD, they need improving - they're garbage on Switch 1) and we get an OLED screen from the off, then we're mostly good. That said, I expect full BC on both software and hardware side (ALL Switch 1 controllers) bar the crap stuff like Labo and, yes, Ring Fit Adventure.

[Golgo]

Wasn't the initial plan advertised to be a hardware only reveal and no games? Or maybe, nothing that hasn't already been revealed (i.e. mario kart). Anyway, I'll guess we'll see...

[wakka]

I didn't pre-order the OG Switch on day one - there was effectively nothing available to play for it and I was already playing BOTW on WiiU. I quickly ordered one when Super Mario Odyssey dropped though.

Yeah I did the exact same. BOTW didn't really do it for me as a system seller since I was a pretty dedicated WiiU player and actually quite liked the gamepad. Just such a shame that the game had all of its WiiU features cut. I bet it would have been the best use of the gamepad (not that that is keenly contested lol).

I'm torn on whether I'll preorder a Switch 2. I like being there for a console launch, and there's not a whole lot of point sitting your hands with it since it's never going to come down in price. But on the other hand to be honest I actually rarely game now...and I'd probably get more out of spending the money on travel.

I do love love love Mario Kart though, so I know I am really going to want that. That is a system seller for me.

Wasn't the initial plan advertised to be a hardware only reveal and no games?

That's the bit we've already had. Now we get to see it in action, the games, etc. The whole enchilada. From the looks of it it's going to be a multi day blowout.

I think it'll be pretty fulsome personally. I don't see that there is much point holding anything back now. This is their moment to pitch exactly what you'll be getting.

[briareos_kerensky]

I'll go day one, though I might have to do it from an Italian store and have it sent to my parents, I don't think Switzerland will have a lot of stock, and it'll be immediately gone.

[fishbowlhead]

Wasn't the initial plan advertised to be a hardware only reveal and no games? Or maybe, nothing that hasn't already been revealed (i.e. mario kart). Anyway, I'll guess we'll see...

Haven’t they already done that?

[Cepp]

I'm going to pre-order; Switch is getting on now, and I'm ready for a new system. I'd be happy if they show more Mario Kart, but hopefully there's more than that if it's coming out later this year. Surprise me Nintendo!