What's eShopping about?

Wandersong? Though think OUAJ is more adventure game than platformer, though not played that I could be wrong.

Let me know about Jack, shame Wavetale might run poorly on Switch as felt very Nintendoy console.

That's the blighter. Wandersong is probably more adventure game too.

Had a crack at Hue first. It's very My First Award Winner: lots of talking at the player, an attempt to present depth of ideas without working it into the gameplay. The puzzles are decent enough when it lets you get to them, but I find the rest of it rather soul-sucking. And it feels like there's meant to be a light Metroidvania attempt that I can't be bothered with. Not a big fan so far.

Shame though only really mentioned it as I'm sure EofGiz went Uni with Dan Da Rocha and I think I've met him at least twice, likely others as well behind the game.

I've no first hand experience of either but I hear The Outer Worlds runs dreadfully and New Tales of the Borderlands isn't fit to lace the first game's metaphorical boots.

I'm very tempted by Once upon a Jester and that was before comparisons to the excellent Wandersong were made.

Just what I'd expect from a Chicory fan.

masofdas wrote:

Let me know about Jack

Mm. It's a cyberpunk JRPG, which isn't something I've played or seen much of, so that's a point in its favour. It does however rely rather heavily on some pretty grim slang as a result. It's a shame because I think that obscures some decent writing, but I can't take any game that describes something as "grokking" seriously. The sprite art's nicer than I thought it would be, the music is really quite nice, and the battles, although largely standard turn-based fare, have a decent amount of heft to each attack that makes you feel like damage is really being done, especially with the rumble on. So, it'd probably be a moderate recommendation at this early point...

...you can see the "but" coming can't you. Before every battle there are roughly six seconds of loading time. That's far too much. It's far longer than the scene transitions, and the battlefields aren't exactly visually demanding so I don't know why it happens. It completely breaks the flow of the game. So, maybe one to look at off Switch?

Hmm you say to look off Switch, yet I bought Signalis on Switch (sure physical, so can sell after I finish it) though I can play it on Game Pass right now for "free" as I've oddly been playing a lot of handheld last few weeks.

That I could see Jack Move being like that, though I got a lot to play anyway and coming up next month.

And normally I'd agree with you, as somebody who plays probably 70%+ in handheld these days. What I'm saying is that I can't imagine the loading screens on Jack are as bad on other systems. I'm sure this is a combination of the Switch's low power, and the devs not having the resources/time/ability to be bothered to optimise for it.

It does feel like it'd suit a handheld better though... Steam Deck?

It looks like Steam Deck is the best home for Cassette Beasts as well. Given some of the hype around Jay Baylis' Pokémon-alike I was chomping at the bit to give it a crack, going so far as to pause my playthrough of TotK for it. Alas: instant juddering. I hadn't gone five steps in the overworld before the game paused for a fraction of a second. Then another five: same again. I'm not great moaner about frame rates but this is ridiculous. Definitely one to avoid until they patch it. Horrible stuff.

Know EofGiz is playing it with Game Pass then remote playing it, instead of cloud for handheld play.

I am apparently not learning from my mistakes and buying The Case of the Golden Idol without checking how it performs on Switch.

Honestly, I wasn't that keen on jay balis' takes on the BBPs I heard him on and it kinda put me off of Casette Beasts

I was similarly cynical about Jay Baylis after his appearances on the pod, but the game itself is pretty fun, though I don't think it's anywhere near a pokemon challenger or anything. It's the best attempt at one I've seen though and the actual gameplay loop is reasonably satisfying if not slightly difficult spikey.

Okay, if I hear about a switch patch, i'll give it a go.

That's the yearly Christmas-time eShop sale well underway, with over four-thousand games discounted and vying for your credit.

https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Nintendo-eShop/Nintendo-eShop-Sale/Nintendo-eShop-Sale-1460557.html

There's not very much on my wishlist that's on offer, disappointingly. All I've gone for so far is Trombone Champ at 40% off, but is there anything you reckon I - and the lot of us - should be looking at?

By that token, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair for £2.49 is superb, but as you've probably already got that I instead advise that you consider Marsupilami Hoobadventure for £3.39 - it's also very reminiscent of Donkey Kong Country Returns in terms of it's gameplay, aesthetic and atmosphere, though it's far less arduous and beatable in about three/four hours.

Fort Boyard at 89p!!!!!!!

Look at this masterpiece.

Buskalilly wrote:

Okay, if I hear about a switch patch, i'll give it a go.

Oh, this happened by the way.

Who knew that 2024 was going to be the year of Monty Mole?

The very best of Monty Mole

~

Donut Dodo is down to £1.79 in the New Years eShop sale btw, get it bought

If Monty could remember his password, I'm sure he'd be in here absolutely buzzing about his big return.

The_Jaster wrote:

Who knew that 2024 was going to be the year of Monty Mole?  

Not sure how I feel about this! On one hand, hooray! On the other... this is gonna be like Atari 50, where you see why this stuff died a death. Someone get on and make a satirical remake

Fucked it, lads. I bought a UbiSoft game, at full price no less.

In my defence, you won't see their name on it anywhere. Go to the Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes page on Nintendo Life and it's all Dotemu Dotemu Dotemu. And it's been so long since I played the critically acclaimed DS puzzler, I'd completely forgotten who was behind it originally - and what with singing its praises I fancied another crack. It was only when I fired the bloody thing up and that cursed logo appeared that I realised my mistake.

It's not even the best version of the game: with touch control removed you're much better off with a second-hand copy of the original. I'm ashamed, folks. I'm deeply deeply ashamed.

If it helps you could have bought the DS version for £10 at CeX. Ultimately whatever we do will have no bearing on what certain terrible people in a business will do, as long as you're happy to still call them out then you're doing your bit.

Treesmurf wrote:

If it helps you could have bought the DS version for £10 at CeX.

I probably still have the DS version somewhere.

I cede your point. At the same time it's everybody thinking they can't make a difference that means they don't act together and don't make a difference. Not buying Ubi shite is about all I can do (along with calling them out as you say) so I'd like to continue doing it. I'm not that ashamed maybe, but it's still a slightly proud streak broken.

Treesmurf wrote:

Ultimately whatever we do will have no bearing on what certain terrible people in a business will do, as long as you're happy to still call them out then you're doing your bit.

rat little coward

Anybody played Penny's Big Breakaway? I know the answer to that is yes, so separate question: anybody played Penny's Big Breakaway on Switch? The trailer looked a bit rough to me, with so much going on that the frame rate couldn't keep up, but maybe that's confirmation bias and it works better in motion?