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Ithrak Utopia

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  1. Thanks
    Ithrak Utopia reacted to TKrazyO in Splatoon 3 release date - September 9th!   
    GGs on Friday for the most part @alienboyva @Ithrak Utopia & @Eliwood8
     
    I'm gonna try to play again tonight from 5pm to 6:30pm EST. Any of you guys interested?
  2. Like
    Ithrak Utopia reacted to Ridley Prime in General movie discussion   
    It was nice to find out earlier that the Zyuranger sentai that Mighty Morphin was based on is on Tubi.
     
    There was some sentai before Zyuranger in the 80’s that they tried to Americanize, but wasn’t really a success. In the 90’s though it was a big success. Can thank the dinosaur theme of Zyuranger/MMPR for that I guess.
     
    The Once And Always trailer threw me for a surprise with Rita. Her VA’s still got it, along with Alpha Five’s. I guess it figures they would give some in-universe reason for Trini being gone because of her actress while still paying homage to her, but it’s going to be an emotional ride regardless.
     
    I heard earlier that JDF turned down being in this before he passed away (by some that knew him), so will take what I can get with whoever this other green ranger is. Amy Jo Johnson did the same. Would’ve preferred Jason too, but a mix between the old (Zack and Billy) and new (Rocky and Kat) of Mighty Morphin is reasonable, considering. 
  3. Like
    Ithrak Utopia got a reaction from TKrazyO in Party Game Night - Fridays @ 9 or 10pm EST (Banner, Sales Updated)   
    Pretty much from 8pm or 10pm Friday through Sunday night I'm going to be paying attention to WWE, but I'm willing to multitask during the Hall of Fame and play Friday evening. I'm going to be Team Aliens. 
  4. Like
    Ithrak Utopia reacted to Ridley Prime in Metroid Prime Remastered |🟠Physical version available Feb. 22nd   
    I still got it. The Fusion ending artworks is still the best look for suitless Samus by far imo; out of the 2D stuff.
     
    Didn’t quite get the under 2 hours 100% ending, but that’s my favorite Fusion ending Samus pose anyway.
     
    Oh, and my 1% runthrough.
     

     
    Realized I didn’t post it earlier, but to also keep it Prime related, this was my initial hard mode playthrough.
     

  5. Like
    Ithrak Utopia reacted to Ridley Prime in Metroid Prime Remastered |🟠Physical version available Feb. 22nd   
    The 2nd wave of Prime icons are out. Aside from more backgrounds, decided to get the Space Pirate icon, though not sure if I’ll use it.
     
    Been replaying Metroid Fusion since it got added to GBA NSO last night, and what a ride it's been. Thought I would've forgotten more of it with how long it's been, but still remember everything for the most part.
     
    Aside from Ridley-X whose fight was a disappointment compared to most other iterations of the character, I still think Fusion had some of the best bosses for 2D until MercurySteam got involved in the series. Restarted after my initial playthrough to go for a 100% speedrun to see if I still got it there, and then will see how I do again on a 1% playthrough.
     
    Between this and my Prime Remastered runs, it really has been 2002 all over again, not to mention another golden age for the series with all this after having Dread.
  6. Like
    Ithrak Utopia reacted to Ridley Prime in Metroid Prime Remastered |🟠Physical version available Feb. 22nd   
    I guess the original tweet of that clip by someone else that I posted earlier got deleted.
     
    But yes, I did exactly that on my 2nd playthrough, saving me the trouble of coming back for that artifact later. Surprisingly not that hard with a little practice.
     
    Also saw a clip by someone else where they got that one Chozo Ruins artifact without the gravity suit. It’s possible to get through the water and reach that room with just any suit, but takes a certain timing and positioning with jumps. Since I usually backtrack for everything in the Ruins in one fell swoop after getting the plasma beam though, waiting until I had the gravity suit for that one artifact was not an inconvenience or anything.
     
    The aforementioned Phendrana Drifts one you have to go pretty out of your way for when backtracking though, if you don’t do the trick in the posted clip.
     
    Prior knowledge of how to get the other artifacts makes getting them just a muscle memory thing like with any other item. At least for me, but I know they can be annoying to get for people new to the game with their first playthrough.
     
    On the flipside to being a veteran of the game, some of the basic early bosses like Flaahgra are kinda boring now (on any difficulty) since you already know what to do with years of experience.
     
    Prime 1 has still maintained its magic for me otherwise though apart from that and some of the padding.
  7. Like
    Ithrak Utopia reacted to Tyranogre in Metroid Prime Remastered |🟠Physical version available Feb. 22nd   
    Could you do this in the Gamecube version? I don't remember...
  8. Like
    Ithrak Utopia reacted to Ridley Prime in Metroid Prime Remastered |🟠Physical version available Feb. 22nd   
    So… These icons and borders & backgrounds for them are available for a limited time, like a week or so.
     

     
    This was what I first came up with.
     

     
    Once again I’ve been spoiled with Ridley content, but after feeling underwhelmed by the NSO icon selection after a certain point, I guess it was about time that I got options that were much more to my liking.
  9. Thanks
    Ithrak Utopia reacted to Eliwood8 in Fire Emblem Engage Review   
    Thanks to the franchise's booming popularity, fans are treated to not one but two Fire Emblem games on the Switch now (plus spinoffs). Fire Emblem Engage takes a step into the franchise's future by looking into its past, not unlike Fire Emblem Awakening which marked the turning point of the series's popularity. The result is a blend of fresh ideas, the return of some classic elements, and a lot of love for past games that is sure to charm longtime fans and will undoubtedly create some new ones as well.   You play as the customizable protagonist Alear, the Divine Dragon, a powerful being who has spent the last thousand years asleep. In a completely expected video game twist, Alear has amnesia and must relearn everything about the world. There's little time for pleasantries though as the dark followers of the Fell Dragon are also stirring and causing trouble. As the Divine Dragon, you are able to awaken the power of Emblem rings and summon heroes of the past—Marth, Sigurd, Ike, etc.—to aid you in battle and stop the spread of darkness.   It's a pretty by-the-numbers plot for Fire Emblem—again oddly similar to Awakening—and honestly a bit of a disappointment after the more ambitious three-perspective war of Three Houses, but it gets the job done. The main plot can be a bit melodramatic and the characters, while fun, can feel flat at times and yield some simple, cheesy support conversations, but Engage still has its charms. Even if the characters are yet again relying a bit too much on each having one silly quirk—and in particular their interactions with Alear get noticeably repetitive—it's hard not to like them all the same.     The core gameplay is the strategy-RPG that fans know and love, and right away I'll say I was pleased to not only see the weapon triangle return but to see a new, possibly even more impactful feature. Now when you hit an enemy with a weapon advantage (sword > axe > lance > sword), you can Break the enemy, rendering them unable to counterattack for the remainder of the turn. Of course, enemies can do it to you as well on their turn. This opens up a ton of strategic potential, especially early on when every move counts, and even late in the game getting Broken can have significant consequences that you'll need to be mindful of. Oddly enough though the other big mainstay of the series, weapon durability, has not returned, meaning you're more or less free to use your most powerful weapons whenever you want. There are other factors to consider of course, since a powerful weapon might be too heavy to double attack or have some other undesirable property, but the non-durability Fire Emblem games always have a kind of odd feel to them. It's just weird to miss out on that aspect of strategizing in an sRPG.   The main gameplay hook is the Emblem rings, which grant stat boosts, skills, special attacks, and are instrumental for changing classes (Emblems can teach proficiency in other weapons). Overall, the Emblems are a lot of fun to use. They're extremely powerful, at times almost too powerful it feels like, but they add a fun strategic layer to the game in a variety of ways. For one, they almost all come with extremely powerful attacks that can be essential on hard maps or higher difficulty levels. For two, Emblems allow you to use weapon types that you normally cannot, e.g. you can give an archer the ability to use magic—I don't know why you'd want to, but you could. This can be used to cover up a unit's weapon triangle weaknesses or just expand their repertoire. Units can also inherit skills from Emblems to make them permanent additions (you can only equip two at a time) to further add to the customization options of the game. It's a fun new approach to unit skills after having them tied to classes for several games, and it's absolutely packed with strategy gameplay potential. It can actually be a bit daunting and time consuming as you decide whom to equip with rings, what skills to inherit, etc. but it's also a satisfying and engaging task to ensure every unit is nicely decked out.     Engage also does the basics of Fire Emblem well. There's a decent variety of map objectives—not all of them are just "rout the enemy" thankfully, although I'd still like to have seen even more of the unique objectives. The maps themselves are overall pretty solid as well. There are some with unique properties, such as one with a tide that comes in and out, limiting your movement, and although the maps don't feel particularly large there's still enough space that you can approach some targets from different angles. It's also fun to see some references to past games within certain special Paralogue chapters—more series fanservice. Engage also brings back the Casual/Classic difficulty split as well as a time rewind mechanic if you want to fix a mistake, features that essentially are series mainstays at this point.   There's another recent trend in Fire Emblem games that continues here: non-combat gameplay features. In this case, your base of operations is The Somniel, where you can chat with characters, eat a meal for a temporary stat boost, go fishing, and…pet livestock? Frankly the amount of non-combat features in this series is getting a little ridiculous, but of course you can just skip them if, like me, you're not really interested. Things like exercising at least do grant benefits—again, temporary stat boosts—but they're not really required to survive, even in the more challenging levels. And although you can still chat with your units, the social aspect is tuned way down and you're not really expected to be spending a lot of time handing out gifts and whatnot.     Engage is a nice and meaty game without feeling too overstuffed. One relatively quick playthrough will probably still last over 40 hours, and truly seeing everything the game has to offer will last much longer than that. There are also some multiplayer features which are unfortunately a little poorly implemented as of now, but if you coordinate with friends you can try co-op and competitive battles. Rest assured though, even if you never touch these features you're still getting dozens and dozens of hours of gameplay here.   Both visually and aurally there's a lot to love about Engage. The art style is vibrant and colorful, and lends itself to a lot of fun, creative, and sure even some odd character designs, but they're still charming. The in-battle graphics are naturally a little less fancy but they still look great, and aside from having some load times that are just a tiny bit long the game runs smoothly as well. The soundtrack has some awesome tracks, perfect background audio while you pore over the map and every little movement of your army. And finally there are a lot of good performances in the voice cast. Even when the writing feels a little goofy or melodramatic, the voice work can sell the characters.     Fire Emblem Engage is another excellent entry in the franchise and a charming blend of old and new. Even though looking back on the history of the series has actually been done a couple times now, it's still fun to revisit classic heroes, and the way they are integrated into the combat and strategic gameplay here more than justifies their repeated appearance. The core gameplay is as rich as ever, and the large cast of characters means you'll undoubtedly find some you love and some that are simply indispensable on the battlefield. The story and writing may not be quite up to the highs of the franchise, but the strategy RPG gameplay proves engaging from start to finish.   Rating: 9 out of 10 Emblems
  10. Like
    Ithrak Utopia reacted to Ridley Prime in Metroid Prime Remastered |🟠Physical version available Feb. 22nd   
    I don’t usually pay attention to them anymore, but one rumor I heard was that Prime 2 and 3 would not get the visual update like 1 did, which if true will be disappointing, even though they would still be ported and remastered in terms of controls. I want to see Dark Samus and Ridley's other appearances in 3 get the light-up treatment, not to mention the other regions in Prime 2 and planets in Prime 3. Sanctuary Fortress in 2 and SkyTown Elysia in 3 come to mind. Even the dreaded looking Pirate Homeworld could look more interesting with a visual update.
     
    Aside from 1 being my personal favorite of the trilogy, it will have benefited the most from the remaster touch at the end of the day with how it aged the most in certain areas, but I’d like the sequels to be given as much effort. Prime 1 originally sold the most, so in a way I can understand giving it an exceptional amount of attention for a remaster, but if you want the sequels to sell more than before at least, it makes sense to give them as much of a remaster as 1 got. If they’re lesser remasters though, I think it would be fair for 2 and 3 to be packaged together for $40, but we’ll see.
     
    And if they're still serious about Sylux, it would make as much sense to reintroduce him through a Prime Hunters remaster, after his Prime 3 and Federation Force stint.
     
     
    It may be premature to talk about this also, but lowkey curious as to what potential content updates Prime 1 Remastered could get. For instance, there’s no Fusion Suit skin unlockable like there was in the original. What if instead of bringing back the Fusion Suit, they capitalized on the Dread hype and have the Dread Suit as an unlockable instead? Saw someone mention the idea of boss rush like what Dread got, but not sure Prime really needs that but if we get it, won’t complain. Same with another difficulty option, challenging as hard mode already was still.
     
    There may be some small updates the remaster will get aside from extra content, to fix some small bugs. Saw a clip of someone falling outside of the map in Chozo Ruins through a gap in one of the top walls, though looked like you actually had to go out of your way to find that. Also maybe fixing that little mirror in Chozo Ruins so you can see Samus’s reflection again? Depending on what kind of development timetable the new Retro team was on, I can understand cutting corners with some of the little things like that, but would be nice if an update fixed any of that.
     
    Oh, I guess a thread separate from the Dread thread was for the best. At least all my posts related to MPR were moved here. 
  11. Like
    Ithrak Utopia reacted to alienboyva in Metroid Prime Remastered |🟠Physical version available Feb. 22nd   
    Digital: Available Now Physical: Feb. 22nd | https://metroid.nintendo.com/
     
     
     
     

     
     Suit up for an iconic adventure 

    Intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran receives a distress signal from a wrecked frigate in orbit around planet Tallon IV. Upon investigation, the frigate reveals itself to be a Space Pirate research vessel home to terrifying genetic experiments using the mysterious Phazon substance. There, Samus encounters her nemesis, Meta Ridley, whom she pursues to the surface of Tallon IV. It’s up to her alone to explore the planet’s interconnected regions, investigate its dark secrets, and end the intergalactic threat posed by Phazon.
    Experience this critically acclaimed first-person adventure like never before with remastered visuals, audio, controls, and more
     
     
     
     
    *About from Nintendo.com
     

     
     
     
     

     
     
     
  12. Like
    Ithrak Utopia got a reaction from Doc Brown in Your Latest Purchase Thread   
    I took advantage of the Critically Acclaimed Sale on the eShop the other day and picked up Stardew Valley, Hollow Knight and Ori and the Will of the Wisps. I'm hoping to have a lot of fun with those games once I get around to them. I'll also be downloading Sports Story once it hits the eShop. 
  13. Like
    Ithrak Utopia reacted to Ridley Prime in 2/8 direct   
    No, that's not me, but a fellow fan account. This is my boy's new render though-
     

     
     
    ... THAT aside, I would hope for Prime 2 and 3 remaster as well, and even Hunters in an ideal world, but I don't really know what to expect, and will just make due with my favorite of the previous trilogy for now. There was this though which is a fair criticism to point out I guess.
     
    https://twitter.com/zoidctf/status/1623477699942686720?s=46&t=ZA3HlTPeTtnPGWB8CGDD0A
     
     
    But if the door details is the worst I can say about the remaster, that's likely a good sign.
     
    Looking forward to all the Game Boy stuff too. Funny timing this happened just as I finished consuming the 64 library for the time being.
  14. Thanks
    Ithrak Utopia got a reaction from purple_beard in 2/8 direct   
    Bought a game I said I didn't want immediately after skimming through the contents of this Direct, but I am looking forward to diving in again again. I said as I saw it in the Direct that it better be $40 and no more. There's going to be movement in my Top 5 now. 
     
    I'm also very happy that I've fully bought the Booster Course Pass and upgraded to the NSO+Expansion Pass before the end of 2022. Super Mario Land 2 is my favorite GB game, and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is my favorite GBA game. Both out today. Pretty soon too, Metroid 1-5 will be all playable on the Switch. 
     
    I'm completely locked in on Pikmin 4 and Tears of the Kingdom. I need no more information. 
  15. Like
    Ithrak Utopia reacted to Elemental Hero in 2/8 direct   
    Hmm... buy the Metroid Prime remasters one at a time for $120 total, or download the Wii trilogy for $20?
     
    *grabs wii u gamepad*
  16. Like
    Ithrak Utopia reacted to Uni in 2/8 direct   
    Resurrecting after God knows how long to say hey to my Zelda/Ninfora peeps.  I get so excited during these Directs and it’s never the same without you. So glad this place still exists~
     
  17. Thanks
    Ithrak Utopia got a reaction from purple_beard in Place your 2023 Nintendo bets?   
    1. Metroid Prime 4 will have its first gameplay trailer at the next general Nintendo Direct following the release of ToTK, which should be around E3 if Nintendo shows up this summer.
    2. If Metroid Prime 4 doesn't release in 2023, a new 2D Mario game will release this calendar year. It will not be Super Mario Maker 3. 
    3. Pikmin 4 is coming out in August.
    4. If Pikmin 4 is planned to be the big holiday game for 2023, the Switch's successor will be revealed this year and will release early in 2024.
    5. Wave 4 for the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe BCP will include cosmetics that are in Tour, and at this time both games will have a new cosmetic for Mario and co. as movie stars to hype up the Super Mario movie. Los Angeles Laps is a Wave 4 track. 
    6. Tears of the Kingdom will have a Metacritic score at least 5 points lower than Breath of the Wild, so 92 or under. It will have an issue that will need to be patched out in its first week. 
    7. ARMS finally gets its sequel released in July after being revealed in the first general Nintendo Direct of this year.
    8. Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp gets released in April, and basically no one plays it. Its reappearance is met with backlash towards Nintendo.
    9. There is no Metroid Prime remake, remaster or whatever the rumors want to call it. 
    10. Super Mario Odyssey will receive DLC this year featuring new kingdoms inspired from locations in the Super Mario movie. Everyone and their extended family says it's about damn time the game gets DLC.
     
  18. Thanks
    Ithrak Utopia reacted to Eliwood8 in 6th Annual Ninfora Game of the Year Awards, 2022   
    Welcome to the 6th annual Ninfora Game Awards, meticulously curated and hand-selected by a one-man panel of judges.   2022 was so jam-packed with games I wanted to play that I could barely keep up with them all (it doesn't help that there are some pretty long games on this list). Granted, this year was a bit weighted toward genres and franchises that I personally love, so maybe not everyone was quite as busy as I was, but hopefully everyone found something to love on the Switch in 2022.     Best Pokémon Game: Pokémon Legends: Arceus As a spin-off rather than a mainline game, Legends: Arceus has a lot more freedom to be experimental with the franchise's battle and capture systems, resulting in a fantastic breath of fresh air for the series. Scarlet/Violet still does the usual Pokémon experience well, but this game feels like an actual evolution of the gameplay that is both more streamlined and more engaging. Here's hoping the developers don't ignore the lessons learned in Legends: Arceus as the series continues to find its footing in open-world, 3D adventures.     Best Pikmin Game: Tinykin Tiny game, big adventure describes not only Nintendo's beloved Pikmin franchise but indie title Tinykin, a charming little game focused on exploration over combat. Even within that relaxed atmosphere though there is a ton to do and see in Tinykin, and picking your way through every nook and cranny makes for a delightful, relaxing time.     Best Nobody: Nobody Saves the World How many games let you play as a Ranger, an Egg, and a Horse? Nobody Saves the World perfectly balances an extremely silly premise with satisfying dungeon-crawling, resulting in a game that is equal parts goofy and engaging. The top-down adventure game formula needed some sprucing up anyway, so what better way to do it than by flipping the usual item collection process on its head and allowing the player to come up with unique—and hilarious—character class combos?     The Witch is Back Award: Bayonetta 3 From the first game's original release on other systems to getting added to the Smash Bros. roster, Bayonetta has had possibly one of the most bizarre video game careers that has definitely kept her fanbase on their toes. There's one issue that any video game fan can relate to though: the long uncertainty of when a new game will come out. It took eight years to get from Bayonetta 2 to 3, but this new adventure has all of the seamless combat and devilish style that fans love, including new uses for her demonic summons that further spice up the gameplay. And with the recent announcement of a spin-off prequel, it seems the Witch is here to stay, and hopefully another mainline adventure won't be far behind.     Best Blast from the Past: TMNT: Shredder's Revenge Beat 'em up games have gotten their share of throwback revivals in the last few years, but Shredder's Revenge might blow them all out of the water. This game isn't just dripping in nostalgia (though it is clearly a meticulously crafted love letter to the classic TMNT games of the past), it also holds up beautifully as a side-scrolling, shell-kicking game that is tailor-made for gathering a few friends on the couch, ordering a pizza, and immersing yourself in the radical 90s action.     Best Mouthful: Kirby and the Forgotten Land It took him a while to catch up to other key Nintendo franchises, but Kirby has finally made the leap to 3D exploration in a mainline game, and the result is as charming and fun as you'd expect. Adding another dimension to Kirby's gameplay was ultimately a pretty smooth transition and retained the balance of easy to learn mechanics with challenging optional objectives that makes Kirby the kind of game that any level of player can get sucked into.     Best Cozy Game: Freshly Frosted When you think of cozy games your first thought might be some kind of cute farming game—and there sure are a lot of those these days—but there's something incredibly relaxing and satisfying about Freshly Frosted's donut conveyor belt puzzles. The puzzle design itself is spot on—levels are challenging but rarely leave you feeling frustrated—and solving the puzzle is topped only by the joy of watching the conveyor belt neatly deliver each donut to its respective goal to the rhythm of the happy background tunes. The satisfaction of a job well done has never been so sweet.     Bwaaah-st Game: Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope Kingdom Battle was a complete shock in 2017, most of all for how much fun it really was to mash up Mario and the Rabbids, so I couldn't be happier to see the unlikely combo becoming a franchise of its own. Although Sparks of Hope makes some minor changes that ultimately make the difficulty level easier than its predecessor, the strategy gameplay is still extremely satisfying, the unique battle objectives and boss fights are a blast, and the wealth of options with both characters and equippable Sparks means that strategy fans can satisfy themselves with a whole variety of inventive tactics.     Best Comedy: Return to Monkey Island Point and click adventure games are already made for comedy thanks to their abundance of writing, but even so Return to Monkey Island seems to pack humor into every single minute of the voyage. It makes sense, since the game is so text-heavy you need to incentivize the player for clicking on everything in the environment and testing all possibilities, but it's still impressive just how much goofy charm the developers are able to squeeze into an all-too-brief adventure. The clever puzzle design and fun plot weaving together references to the franchise's history is a pretty nice perk to the game too.     Best Crossover Game: Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes Who needs strategy when you can single-handedly level entire armies? Of course, Three Hopes has its share of strategy elements, whether you're playing solo or with a friend, but the joy of Musou games and their crossovers has always been the satisfaction of laying to waste hundreds of enemies with a single attack. It's arguably a bit brainless, but it's undeniably fun, and like previous crossovers, Three Hopes balances that action dopamine rush with a delightful return to Fódlan and all of the characters players grew to love in Three Houses. In the end it's a fantastic triple threat: charming characters, light strategy elements, and army-crushing special attacks.     The Hunt is Back On Award: Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Although I didn't really need a reason to get back into Monster Hunter Rise, Sunbreak was the perfect opportunity to set off on another series of intense and intensely satisfying monster hunts. But while the higher difficulty level and added combat features were welcome additions, the best new aspect might have been the new quest types that allow NPCs to join you on your adventure to utterly devastate the giant monster ecosystem. No matter how you're playing—solo, with NPCs, or online—Sunbreak is a fantastic addition to Rise and makes it one of the most complete and engaging Monster Hunter experiences to date.     Most Delightful Lively Challenge: Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course The base Cuphead game is a one-of-a-kind experience, so following it up with a filling DLC was a tall order, but naturally the developers at Studio MDHR make it look easy. Delicious Last Course isn't just a fun continuation of the Cuphead formula, it really ups the ante with a particularly challenging series of bosses that is perfect for players that have mastered the base game. And just like the Cuphead experience as a whole, the only downside is that it has to end at some point.     The Tip the Scales Award: Triangle Strategy What better genre than strategy games to throw tough storyline decisions at the player? Triangle Strategy nicely balances its richly engaging tactical gameplay with a compelling narrative full of branching paths. In both cases, you've got plenty of options laid out before you: which characters to use, how to approach objectives, which characters to trust or align yourself with. There's no one right angle from which to approach the game, which is what makes it such a satisfying experience ripe for multiple playthroughs.     Best Dizzying Speedrun: Neon White The intensity of perfectly flying through a level and hitting every mark for an ideal speedrun is matched only by the relief and satisfaction of finally completing the run with a new record. Neon White brings that blend of engagement and joy to every level without ever making the experience feel stale or frustrating. It helps that the game is forgiving enough that you don't have to be a pro speedrunner to earn high scores, but the true smartest aspect of Neon White is balancing its fast-paced gameplay with a mysterious and intriguing story. Speeding through levels is good, but when you attach that gameplay to a narrative you care about, the game becomes great.     Best Narrative Style: 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim I can't say for sure if 13 Sentinels is my favorite story of 2022, but it definitely earns huge points for telling a story in such a unique and engaging way. Fracturing the narrative across multiple protagonists in seemingly unconnected personal stories while also giving the player real-time strategy battles in giant mechs is a 100% original concept that makes every minute with the game intriguing and enticing, culminating in a pretty wild sci-fi ride.     The Surf's Up Award: Wavetale No matter the genre or style of game, finding the right gameplay flow is crucial for keeping the experience engaging from the first moment to the last, and Wavetale nails this right out of the gate. The fluid satisfaction of running across the water and leaping into the air is delightful, and the colorful cel-shaded scenery makes for a gorgeous backdrop. Although the combat might not have the same level of polish, the fun of zipping around the world of Wavetale, seamlessly transitioning from running on land to running on water to flying through the air makes for a thrilling experience.     Best Surprise: Live A Live Live A Live was such a surprising remake that I hadn't even heard of the game before it was announced in early 2022, but I couldn't be happier that this forgotten treasure has made its way overseas after only being released in Japan in the 90s. Perhaps it's understandable that the game's experimental, anthology structure didn't grab players in the 90s, but Live A Live is such a singularly unique experience that RPG lovers owe it to themselves to give it a try and discover one of the true hidden gems of Japan's already incredible 90s RPG scene.     Best Multiplayer Game: Splatoon 3 It's perhaps a testament to how solid the core Splatoon gameplay is that Splatoon 3 has added relatively minor changes to the franchise. There are some fun new features to be sure, but the essential experience is pretty well preserved and just as exciting and frantic as ever (though I do lament the focus on narrow stages with fewer flanking routes now). The best new feature might just be the fact that the co-op mode Salmon Run is now always available and rotates stages every 40 hours, allowing players to jump into an equally hectic but uniquely challenging mode. I know that plenty of my hours in Splatoon 3 have been spent collecting eggs in Salmon Run, and I'm sure I'll continue to spend plenty of time in Splatfests and Big Runs in the next year.     Game of the Year: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Each time it seems like the new Xenoblade game has some big shoes to fill thanks to its predecessors, and yet each time the developers deliver an outstanding RPG experience. Of course Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has the majestic, beautifully rendered environments that we've come to expect, and the combat system is perfectly balanced around engaging action-RPG mechanics as well as a wealth of strategic choices when assembling your party, and a cast of characters that easily grows on you over the course of the world-endangering quest, but it's still astounding how well the game manages to make every moment of this 100+ hour journey so engrossing. By combining the best of both worlds from its two predecessors, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 offers a fun, fresh and fantastic RPG adventure.
  19. Haha
    Ithrak Utopia reacted to TheBarkinHyena in Smash Saturdays: 10p   
    The amount of fake Smash Ball KOs was insane tonight!
  20. Like
    Ithrak Utopia reacted to alienboyva in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Thursday Night Throwdown! @ 10pm ET!   
    Good races! Too bad Merry Mountain showed up right as the tourney ended. At least we got to play it in a friend room.
     
    Hope everyone has a Merry Xmas! ^_^ 
     
     
  21. Like
    Ithrak Utopia reacted to TKrazyO in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Thursday Night Throwdown! @ 10pm ET!   
    Last week's session:
     
     
    I was wondering if we were okay with green & red shells (1 & 3), Stars and Crazy 8 for the custom items this week?
  22. Like
    Ithrak Utopia reacted to TheBarkinHyena in Smash Saturdays: 10p   
    I'm going to pass on Smash this week. I really want to finish hatching some eggy weggs on Perkymon Scarlet. I plan on recreating my game team with perfect stats and egg moves!
  23. Like
    Ithrak Utopia reacted to Surge135 in Your Nintendo Switch Year in Review 2022   
    I'm not taking any credit for that. Having an active group for weekly Mario Kart racing is 100% dependent on the rest of the group wanting to play as much as I do. So for those that have made an effort to come out and race as often as they have, I really have all of you to thank for that.
  24. Like
    Ithrak Utopia got a reaction from TKrazyO in Your Nintendo Switch Year in Review 2022   
    I wasn't sure if Dread was going to be up here or not, since I thought I had possibly played more Smash. The other two definitely are my most played on the Switch this year...There's a game on another system that absolutely blows these play times out of the water though.  
     

     
    I also got Splatoon 3, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Pokemon Violet and Bayonetta 3 at launch, but have yet to play them aside from a little bit of Splatoon 3. I was really hopeful for Nintendo Switch Sports, and it's not quite there. I bought Go Vacation this year too which is a much better game. May have ordered it after the mild disappointment with Switch Sports. I haven't played Switch Sports since...the first couple of weeks I think. 
     

     
    ARMS is still my favorite Nintendo game on the Nintendo Switch in spite of not playing the game much this year. I'm glad to see it centered in the graphic. 
     

     
    I might've been playing some Mario Kart 8 Deluxe this year....
     

     
    The Booster Course Pass for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe feels like a new game on its own, especially after the recent Wave 3 and the Custom Items updates. I've enjoyed all of the waves quite a bit, and definitely would say overall I like BCP more than the base game's selection. No other Switch game this year quite hit the highs provided by racing for 1st on Shroom Ridge and being an ass as Bowser Jr.
     
    My runner up would be Pokemon Scarlet. In spite of its technical issues, which are very obvious, Pokemon's fantastic gaming loop may be the best it has ever been in the new games. It's the best Pokemon experience in my opinion since Generation V (or early Pokemon Go mania). 
  25. Like
    Ithrak Utopia got a reaction from DLurkster in Your Nintendo Switch Year in Review 2022   
    I wasn't sure if Dread was going to be up here or not, since I thought I had possibly played more Smash. The other two definitely are my most played on the Switch this year...There's a game on another system that absolutely blows these play times out of the water though.  
     

     
    I also got Splatoon 3, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Pokemon Violet and Bayonetta 3 at launch, but have yet to play them aside from a little bit of Splatoon 3. I was really hopeful for Nintendo Switch Sports, and it's not quite there. I bought Go Vacation this year too which is a much better game. May have ordered it after the mild disappointment with Switch Sports. I haven't played Switch Sports since...the first couple of weeks I think. 
     

     
    ARMS is still my favorite Nintendo game on the Nintendo Switch in spite of not playing the game much this year. I'm glad to see it centered in the graphic. 
     

     
    I might've been playing some Mario Kart 8 Deluxe this year....
     

     
    The Booster Course Pass for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe feels like a new game on its own, especially after the recent Wave 3 and the Custom Items updates. I've enjoyed all of the waves quite a bit, and definitely would say overall I like BCP more than the base game's selection. No other Switch game this year quite hit the highs provided by racing for 1st on Shroom Ridge and being an ass as Bowser Jr.
     
    My runner up would be Pokemon Scarlet. In spite of its technical issues, which are very obvious, Pokemon's fantastic gaming loop may be the best it has ever been in the new games. It's the best Pokemon experience in my opinion since Generation V (or early Pokemon Go mania). 
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