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Post by Bill in the rain on Aug 7, 2024 7:39:28 GMT
Yeah, the trailers are managing to make what sounds on paper like a great game look rather boring.
But then again, things that are boring and repetitive to watch in games can often be a lot more fun when you're the one doing the controlling.
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Post by Vandelay on Aug 7, 2024 7:50:43 GMT
Honestly thought after finally finishing TotK a couple of months back that that might be it for me for the Switch after an incredible 7 years, then they announced this little beauty!! I'm so hyped for it, I feel like a little kid again. That looks great from the trailer. Certainly makes the abilities look more interesting than the original announcement trailer. Only problem is that I also expect the abilities will end up trivialising all encounters and problems. Could end up feeling a bit repetitive and too simplistic. Cool they seem to be getting inspiration from BotW/TotK. The UI is obviously very familiar, but there are elements from the cooking to the equipment that they have clearly looked at. And the navigation with the horse, which looked like you were going to get different horses, so there might be a taming wild horses mechanic. Definitely intrigued, but holding out for reviews on it. |
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Aunty Treats
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Post by Aunty Treats on Aug 7, 2024 7:54:42 GMT
Didn't watch much of the trailer as it looks like it's going to show you the whole game. I like how it looks though. Need more 2D (style) Zelda games that don't take 200 hours to play
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Aunty Treats
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Post by Aunty Treats on Aug 7, 2024 8:44:36 GMT
Is Unicorn Overlord as good as it looks/sounds?
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Post by Red_Bool on Aug 7, 2024 9:04:45 GMT
Is Unicorn Overlord as good as it looks/sounds? There's a demo in the eshop. |
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MolarAm🔵
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Post by MolarAm🔵 on Aug 7, 2024 9:24:03 GMT
Is Unicorn Overlord as good as it looks/sounds? I loved it. The story is a bit... eh, and there's no character in there that isn't some kind of anime stereotype. But you can do ever so much tinkering around with squad formations, equipment, fine-tuning skill priorities and AI behaviour. As a strategy RPG thing, it's a fitting successor to Ogre Battle. |
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Post by JuniorFE on Aug 7, 2024 10:00:54 GMT
Aunty Treats as Red_Bool said, there's a demo in the E-shop. I'll also quote my early impressions on it from the "What are you playing" thread, as they remained largely unchanged and positive by the end of my playthrough (tags to avoid page clutter as usual) The presentation is incredibly charming, with beautiful graphics reminiscent of both Octopath Traveler (for the environment/backgrounds) and Final Fantasy Tactics (the character sprites/artwork, especially the first Tactics/War of the Lions for the in-battle/cutscene models), and a great soundtrack as well.
The gameplay is an interesting take on the genre. The player's major input is only on tactics, with you positioning your characters in 3x2 grids called units (you can have up to 10 units of up to 6 5 characters each, although of course you start off with way less), setting up their equipment and skills and then maneuvering them within the battle maps to fight enemy units, capture positions, utilize stage features such as ballistae, watchtowers etc and ultimately accomplish each map's objectives within the time given (the time limit does stop while you're giving orders, so you don't have to rush).
The actual combat skirmishes, meanwhile, play out automatically, with your characters using their abilities according to how you set them up and the enemy's condition. If you're familiar with the Gambit system from Final Fantasy 12, it's sort of like that. For example, if a character has an ability that hits an entire row you could set them to prioritize the enemy row with the most characters, an ability that deals more damage to specific enemy types can target those types, an ability that grants extra AP (the resource you use for offensive abilities) on a kill can be aimed at the enemy with the lowest HP to increase the chances of a kill (and therefore more easily enable AP acquisition and further attacks within the skirmish), and many, many more.
While you can still have a good time without getting too deep into everything (abilities have some basic priorities set up automatically, for instance), the whole system has great depth. Unit composition and the characters' position within it both matter, as does the leader of each unit (units led by a flying character can fly above mountains, rivers etc, units led by archers or mages can provide offensive support when they're close to an ally that engages an enemy, units led by healers can provide healing support in the same way and there's more that leader choice affects), the amount of potential conditions you can give to abilities is frankly ridiculous, there's a detailed rock-paper-scissors system of class weaknesses and strengths (just as an example, gryphon riders dodge grounded classes' close range attacks easily and wreck cavalry on offense, but fall easily to arrows and don't handle magic all that well either), many structures within maps with their own effects to assist occupants (watchtowers can increase the range and effect of the aforementioned ranged supports for units that occupy them, for instance)... It's a very robust set of mechanics and all comes together very well IMO.
And I haven't even talked about the freely explorable world map (there are some roadblocks in the form of battles and/or story progress and you can't make use of town and fort facilities until you liberate them, but other than that you can pretty much go wherever), which enables even more shenanigans! How about recruiting a flying unit before the story gives you one (in addition to the big cast of named, unique units you get, forts allow you to recruit generic units, with each fort having a few specific classes, usually of the types you battled to liberate them)? If you do side content and go to the right place, you can get one and increase your tactical options early!
Overall, it's a very refreshing and enjoyable real-time strategy/tactics offering, doesn't look like it'll overstay its welcome (and since you're capable of skipping individual skirmish animations between units while on a battle map, that cuts down on potential bloat as well) and I can already tell I would very much enjoy a sequel or other game in the same style! Highly recommended, and with a demo (hopefully) still available to see if it's for you, to boot!
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Aunty Treats
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Post by Aunty Treats on Aug 9, 2024 15:23:28 GMT
Is there a consensus on TotK? Better than BotW?
From bits I've read on here, seems quite mixed
Also, is the classic Link costume in BotW DLC?
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Post by dangerousdave on Aug 9, 2024 18:40:38 GMT
It’s tough to say. Breath of the Wild is more a survival adventure game, whilst Tears of the Kingdom is a giant toy sandbox. If I could only pick one, it would be the original. Loves both, but the original keeps it simple and yet is full of surprises, mechanically. It’s more pure.
The seque is a lot more imaginative, if your brain works that way.
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Post by jimnastics on Aug 9, 2024 19:40:51 GMT
Is there a consensus on TotK? Better than BotW? From bits I've read on here, seems quite mixed Also, is the classic Link costume in BotW DLC? The Depths really dragged TotK down for me, I hated that whole part of the game. If it was just the main world + sky islands along with the incredible fuse system I think it could have been a BotW beater but, with The Depths completely stinking up the place, BotW is still king. |
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Post by Wizzard_Ook on Aug 9, 2024 20:54:14 GMT
Both are great games. At the time of playing both I preferred BOTW, to the point that it is one of my favourite games of all time.
TOTK is weird. I enjoyed playing it, the 80 odd hours I put into it flew by without being noticeable, but it felt as though something was missing and I felt a bit down on it once I finished it. Yet a year or so on, it is a game I think about quite often, more so than the first and I think about restarting it a few times.
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ekz
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Post by ekz on Aug 9, 2024 23:55:57 GMT
I think you'd enjoy BotW much more
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Post by JuniorFE on Aug 10, 2024 1:16:03 GMT
Is there a consensus on TotK? Better than BotW? From bits I've read on here, seems quite mixed Also, is the classic Link costume in BotW DLC? It's honestly difficult to say which one is objectively "better", per se. BotW is probably closer to a traditional Zelda experience overall. Your powers and weaponry are a bit more reined in in terms of what they can do while still allowing plenty of room for experimentation, exploration is similarly more grounded (literally and metaphorically), with essentially only the Paraglider being the big groundbreaking tool (aside from glitches like Windbombs that even casual players can do)... None of this makes it "weaker" than TotK though IMHO, just less freeform, and that may even be more enjoyable for many. TotK, meanwhile, easily has BotW beat in terms of quantity (a lot more map, more shrines, more big dungeons, more locations in general, a gazillion different ways to create weaponry, both as vehicles and by fusing things to your actual weapons, arrows and shields etc), its powers are a lot more open in what they can do (Ultrahand/Fuse alone could probably support an entire game by themselves, for instance) and in terms of exploration the sky is quite literally the only limit with all the crazy contraptions you can build (and you can also choose to ignore all that outside of what's necessary and just hoof it places as usual, of course)... But at the same time, the less focused style may be a turn-off for some, and in some ways it's definitely even more of a departure from the "traditional" Zelda trappings than BotW was. As far as I'm concerned both are amazing games and FWIW I'd probably miss a lot of mechanics from TotK if I went back to BotW now... But I can understand that many of the things I enjoyed in TotK may alienate others (not everyone likes flying around in the Depths with a hoverbike made out of two fans and a steering stick marking lightroots, or assembling a brigade of laser-and-cannon minitanks and firing a Muddle Bud into a group of enemies, then laughing at the carnage) and I won't begrudge anyone that. Bottom line, if you're looking for a purer Zelda experience with a massive breath of fresh air still, but nothing too ridiculous, you'll probably like BotW more. If you think you'll enjoy the wackier, more sandboxy stuff (which, again, are largely optional and the BotW style is still mostly there if you want to play that way), TotK is there to provide. And if you happen to like both styles, then you are one lucky person. |
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Post by JuniorFE on Aug 10, 2024 1:21:17 GMT
I will say that TotK is probably one of the Switch games that would benefit the most from a potential hardware boost courtesy of a Switch 2 if you want to wait for that, FWIW. Not that I encountered any major performance issues myself (although to be fair I am probably a bit more tolerant of such than your average person), but it would help.
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zisssou
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Post by zisssou on Aug 10, 2024 9:30:33 GMT
TotK was just overwhelming for me, especially The Depths. I think when you’re using the new mechanics in the skies, then that’s peak TotK. I much preferred my time with BotW.
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Post by pierrepressure on Aug 10, 2024 9:33:19 GMT
I preferred TotK as I felt BotW was a more sparse game in comparison.
Both great games and I'd say you can't go wrong with either.
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Kay
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Post by Kay on Aug 10, 2024 14:31:22 GMT
I will say that TotK is probably one of the Switch games that would benefit the most from a potential hardware boost courtesy of a Switch 2 if you want to wait for that, FWIW. Not that I encountered any major performance issues myself (although to be fair I am probably a bit more tolerant of such than your average person), but it would help. Yep, although it is a pretty astonishing achievement on the Switch that runs perfectly fine for the most part, at the time of release it was a bit disapponting that from an IQ perspective it looked the same, or in some cases worse, than BotW did. So I did wonder if they would have been better off just holding off for a few months and making it a proper visual upgrade on the Switch 2, but back then we didn't know the new console wouldnt be out for at least another 18 months. I never did finish TotK, did the four main dungeons and then life got in the way so I stopped playing last summer and haven't picked it up properly since. It's such a ridiculously big game that I never would have considered restarting it, but now I'm debating doing just that instead of continuing my save slot - I think I'll give it a couple of months to see if the new Switch is announced and whether there is some sort of upgrade available and then wait for that. As for the game itself, I agree with your summary - I think in many ways it's more interesting than BotW, but also more uneven as a result. Higher highs and lower lows, quite literally. But for the most part they did well to marry the sandbox aspects of the game with a more traditional-style Zelda with some cool dungeons and set pieces. |
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Aunty Treats
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Post by Aunty Treats on Aug 11, 2024 12:24:43 GMT
Thanks for the replies
I'm still mulling it over. Important life decision
The Link costume is, er, linked to amiibos. Never really paid much attention to them before so I hadn't realised what a piss take they are. There are something like 40 for BotW and, from what I looked up, they're about £20 a pop. £800 for 40 odd costumes and a horse? That's nuts
Anyone got any experience with dodgy NFC cards from China? I also learned about that
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Post by jimnastics on Aug 11, 2024 12:38:32 GMT
Thanks for the replies I'm still mulling it over. Important life decision The Link costume is, er, linked to amiibos. Never really paid much attention to them before so I hadn't realised what a piss take they are. There are something like 40 for BotW and, from what I looked up, they're about £20 a pop. £800 for 40 odd costumes and a horse? That's nuts Anyone got any experience with dodgy NFC cards from China? I also learned about that So you've never actually played either? In that case it's got to be BotW 100%, the only way I could see choosing TotK would be if you had no inclination to play BotW after that. But, assuming you want to play both eventually, absolutely without doubt start with BotW. And if it's a case of playing one and then deciding on if you want to play the other depending on how it goes, then still BotW - you'll find TotK far "easier" to get stuck into if you've done BotW, which is a far more streamlined experience. You could fall off TotK pretty quick if you come in fresh, imho. Having said all that, I think BotW may be the greatest game of all time, so I could be biased...! |
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Post by dfunked on Aug 11, 2024 12:41:22 GMT
Yeah, I got a box of dodgy cards from Amazon. They all worked, although quite a few were duplicates.
IIRC you can still find the equipment that they give you in the world. They're not exclusive gear, just a shortcut to get it. It's not a guaranteed drop either.
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Post by JuniorFE on Aug 11, 2024 12:53:43 GMT
Yeah, I got a box of dodgy cards from Amazon. They all worked, although quite a few were duplicates. IIRC you can still find the equipment that they give you in the world. They're not exclusive gear, just a shortcut to get it. It's not a guaranteed drop either. Unfortunately (?) there's quite a few Amiibo-exclusive pieces of gear, typically from Zelda series Amiibo. Based on a quick Google search: |
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Post by JuniorFE on Aug 11, 2024 12:55:08 GMT
I don't think any of those have unique effects, mind, but they shouldn't be obtainable anywhere else (in BotW, at least, I know TotK has at least some if not all of those in the base game)
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Aunty Treats
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Post by Aunty Treats on Aug 11, 2024 13:04:32 GMT
Thanks for the replies I'm still mulling it over. Important life decision The Link costume is, er, linked to amiibos. Never really paid much attention to them before so I hadn't realised what a piss take they are. There are something like 40 for BotW and, from what I looked up, they're about £20 a pop. £800 for 40 odd costumes and a horse? That's nuts Anyone got any experience with dodgy NFC cards from China? I also learned about that So you've never actually played either? In that case it's got to be BotW 100%, the only way I could see choosing TotK would be if you had no inclination to play BotW after that. But, assuming you want to play both eventually, absolutely without doubt start with BotW. And if it's a case of playing one and then deciding on if you want to play the other depending on how it goes, then still BotW - you'll find TotK far "easier" to get stuck into if you've done BotW, which is a far more streamlined experience. You could fall off TotK pretty quick if you come in fresh, imho. Having said all that, I think BotW may be the greatest game of all time, so I could be biased...! Well, I have played BotW (I think my experience is detailed in a thread here somewhere on my previous account) but it was a while ago and I never finished it. I'd done all the Divine Beasts, got the Master Sword and had been to Hyrule Castle, so just had the final boss to go but decided to go and do some more exploring. Got distracted by other things and never got around to going back to it just for the sake of finishing up
I would have to start it again now though, which isn't the worst prospect and I know a lot of stuff turns up again in TotK, so refreshing myself on it wouldn't hurt either. It does feel a bit wrong going into TotK having not finished BotW
I actually quite like the sound of the depths. I've heard you can ride skelehorses down there
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Aunty Treats
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Post by Aunty Treats on Aug 11, 2024 13:10:50 GMT
Yeah, I got a box of dodgy cards from Amazon. They all worked, although quite a few were duplicates. Bet that was a fun afternoon |
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Blue_Mike
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Post by Blue_Mike on Aug 11, 2024 13:27:26 GMT
Yeah, I got a box of dodgy cards from Amazon. They all worked, although quite a few were duplicates. IIRC you can still find the equipment that they give you in the world. They're not exclusive gear, just a shortcut to get it. It's not a guaranteed drop either. Same. Half the reason I don't want to do a restart on my 50% of the way through file is I don't want to go through the monotony of going through all those cards again, with saving/reloading/adjusting time and date again. |
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Post by dfunked on Aug 11, 2024 13:28:50 GMT
Yeah, I was going to say it's pretty damn tedious even without the dupes (which I just put aside). I just gave up and stopped using them after a few days.
I think I ordered a 38 card collection and it easily took 10+ minutes of monotonous NFC scanning to get through them.
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Post by Bill in the rain on Aug 11, 2024 13:30:30 GMT
Why??
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Aunty Treats
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Post by Aunty Treats on Aug 11, 2024 13:57:32 GMT
In other Nintendo related posting, I've been playing though A Link to the Past and Super Mario World
Found a secret area in SMW I don't think I've ever seen before. It was only for an extra life or something but still pretty cool. It's amazing how I've got every level and secret exit memorised without ever making an effort to. I've probably played Sonic 2 just as much but still have no idea where I'm going most of the time. I can probably find about 2 checkpoints in Chemical Plant Zone. Cheese Bridge secret exit is still one of my favourite secrets from anything, as is Star Road in general
Nearly finished my playthrough of ALttP (up to Turtle Rock). I've died once, which is sad - but still not as sad as dying trying to carry the big pig up the hill in Wind Waker. I would love an update with a Master Quest type mode that changes things around a bit. I don't want a full remake because it's perfect as it is. But being able to explore the world again without knowing where everything is would be amazing. There's so much to discover but at this point it's really just going through the motions. Discovering things like doubling your magic meter and upgrading your equipment with the fairies must have been huge first time around
I guess it's Super Metroid next. Nintendo were knocking it out of the park with the SNES
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Kay
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Post by Kay on Aug 11, 2024 16:27:46 GMT
Have you played A Link Between Worlds? It's a pretty much a remake of sorts, same world but different dungeons and mechanics, and does a very good job of it imo.
There's also randomisers, never tried them myself but they seem to be a pretty popular to mix things up with classics like LttP.
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Aunty Treats
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Post by Aunty Treats on Aug 12, 2024 8:06:40 GMT
Yeah, I played it when it came out. I haven't got a 3DS now so can't do a playthrough. Might play Minish Cap though
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