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LET'S TAKE A CHEEKY LOOK AT THOSE NINTENDO SWITCH LAUNCH GAMES!

27/2/2017

30 Comments

 
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So this is the week - the week that Nintendo aims its shotgun into your face, and blasts you with a brand new console.

NES, Super NES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, GameCube, DS, Wii, 3DS, Wii U, and now Switch. Given the relative failure of its most recent console hardware, there's a lot riding on Switch for Nintendo. If expectations were jockeys, and consoles were horses, then the Switch has about fifteen little riders clinging to its saddle.

Often, a new machine lives and dies on the quality of its launch titles - and there has been some criticism regarding the Switch launch line-up, not least on this site where it has spilled over into the sort of contemptuous negativity which nobody enjoys.

Originally, Tomorrow Corporation's World of Goo, Little Inferno, and Human Resource Machine were scheduled as Nintendo eShop downloads on day one, but appear to have been delayed. No great loss, given that they've all been knocking around for years now, on far less powerful machines. However, Nintendo's own Snipperclips will instead arrive in their place, earlier than planned. Please... try not to have too strong an emotional reaction to all of this. 

Here's a quick "whizz"  through everything that'll be available on Switch from Friday.
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD
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Edge magazine just gave Breath of the Wild one of its rare 10/10 scores, and everything teased about it thus far would back that up. Let's face it; you can count on the fingers of one grubby stump the number of times Nintendo has ballsed-up a core Zelda game.

Though developed originally for the Wii U - and, indeed, also being released on the Wii U on the same day as the Switch version - the sheer size of Breath of the Wild may account for the lack of another Triple-A Nintendo game at launch.

Being charitable, perhaps Nintendo wants to spread out its major releases, and give people the time to have their fill of them, before releasing the next one.

​Or maybe they really are too stupid to realise that had - say - Breath of the Wild, Mario Odyssey and Splatoon 2 all been available on day one, literally every gamer in the land would've been clambering over one another to get their hands on one. Going back to the horse/jockey analogy, in this alternate version of events, all the other horses and riders would've suffered a fatal heart attack at the starting line. 

Ask yourself how much more excited would you have felt about Switch if Mario and another big Nintendo franchise had been there with Zelda on launch day, rather than this limp, drip-feed, approach we're getting instead?

However good Breath of the Wild is, though, there's no escaping that this game will be available at the same time on both the Switch and the console that Nintendo has just ditched because it didn't sell so good. Sorry if that's all a bit overly misanthropic for your gentle palette, but somebody has to be.
1-2-SWITCH
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1-2-Switch is notable for several things; this is the only other first-party physical Nintendo release for the Switch on day one (and the only one not co-developed for the Wii U), it's a two-player party game which makes good use of the Switch controllers, and it's a full price game.  

Again, you may ask yourself why Nintendo chose to launch with this rather than, say, one of its other almost-ready games, such as quirky beat 'em up Arms or Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or Splatoon 2, or anything with just a smidge more brand awareness.

Most likely they're aiming for that Wii Sports effect, but it remains to be seen whether pulling a cow's udders, or rattling a box to guess how many marbles are inside, will have the same universal appeal as tennis and boxing. The clue might be in which of these respective activities is televised regularly to audiences of millions.
SUPER BOMBERMAN R
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One of my most-played games on the Super NES, Super Bomberman was a regular fixture in the Digitiser offices back in the day. I dare say that Super Bomberman R will be great - certainly, it'll make fair use of the Switch's portability and multiplayer functions and that.

Whether it's the sort of thing which sells a new console is another matter. Though clearly a significant visual upgrade from the Bombermans (Bombermen?) of old, the gameplay is defiantly old-school. Still, at least it hasn't appeared on five other consoles first, like most of the Switch launch games.
SNIPPERCLIPS
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Downloadable from the Nintendo eShop on day one, Snipperclips has been bumped up to a launch title from a "launch window" title, following some sort of "positive early reception".

It's a 2D puzzle game where two players can cut bits out of the bodies of each other's character, and use the resulting shape to progress. Note as grisly as it sounds, it's novel and likely very good, but the enthusiastic nihilist in me is forced to question whether anybody exists who is going to rush out to buy a Switch just to play Snipperclips. I suspect the answer to this question is "no... nobody like that exists".

It's weird isn't it? Nintendo must've known for a while now when it was aiming to launch the Switch. Why IS Zelda - a game developed originally for another console altogether - the only major first-party game release on day one? If your hardware is ready before your software... delay the launch. It's really simple. Bad launches are had to recover from. Just ask Microsoft.

It's like sending your kid to school with a couple of slices of bread, because you forgot to buy any filling for their sandwiches.
SKYLANDERS IMAGINATORS
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This came out last year on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii U. Yes... yes... that's really helping to sell the message that the Switch is a next-gen, must-own system.
SHOVEL KNIGHT: TREASURE TROVE/SPECTRE OF TORMENT
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Shovel Knight is great, but it's basically a game which looks as if it's running on an NES. Which - in case you need this spelling out - was Nintendo's first console, released in 1983. Also: it's been out on everything else already.
I AM SETSUNA
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One of those old-school Japanese RPGs, which never sell that well over here, I Am A Satsuma has already been released on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. Again, I'm sure lots of people will buy a Switch just to play this, instead of Breath of the Wild.

​In case you need it spelling out: that was intended to be sarcasm.
FAST RMX
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Sequel to the obscure, but well-received, Fast Racing Neo, which appeared on the Wii U store, Fast RMX is the closest you're going to get to a new F-Zero for now. Might be alright, but they're not exactly giving it the hard-sell.
JUST DANCE 2017
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This profound irrelevance - which can be found on every games system in the same way that we all have parasitic mites living on our eyelashes - was released already on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U and Wii last year. Once again: is this the sort of software Nintendo should've been encouraging on its Switch? Is it? Is it really? No - c'mon. Be realistic, and think: is this going to help sell the Switch?

​Are any teenage girls - the likely audience of Just Dance - going to even have access to a Switch at launch? The only people Just Dance 2017 is going to sell to are guilty geek parents who bought the Switch for Zelda, but feel they need to lob a few scraps towards their offspring.

Alright, Just Dance was always going to end up on Switch... but should it have been there on day one? Doesn't it - like the similarly ubiquitous Skylanders - send a message that Switch is just like every other machine?

Switch is going to sell out, because of Zelda. There will be shortages, because there always are. Nevertheless, even with one all-time classic on the machine, even with the machine itself looking to be an appealing blend of handheld and home console, there's no question that a launch line-up with so much un-flashy filler, makes it hard for me to get too excited.

What can the Switch really do? What is it capable of? Sadly, the initial line-up of games doesn't really tell us.
FROM THE ARCHIVE:
A "TRIBUTE" TO THE WII U - BY MR BIFFO
THE SCARIEST TOP TRUMPS EVER
A TRIBUTE TO THE MEGA DRIVE - BY MR BIFFO

30 Comments
Nick
27/2/2017 10:24:27 am

I enjoy contemptuous negativity. Main reason I'm here in fact.

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Paul
27/2/2017 11:14:40 am

The, err, milking game. I’ve seen the adverts, jots of jolly twenty-somethings gleefully enjoying “milking”.

Yeah. We all know what the developers of _that_ game were really thinking, amiright? And then told to clean themselves up by Da Boss Man.

Is the Switch screen easily wipeable? Asking for a friend.

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Darren link
27/2/2017 11:16:54 am

Guest reviewer Donald J Hurrumph has this to say:

"It's gonna be great. Fantastic. A real bigly launch of truly magnificent hardware. Gonna sell millions, no billions. Only people peddling FAKE NEWS would decry such a wonderful console. Trust me people. Nintendo are going to gaming great again..."

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Salem
27/2/2017 11:21:54 am

And Fast RMX, don't forget Fast RMX. Its a bit like F-Zero don't you know.

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Mr Biffo
27/2/2017 11:45:27 am

I dunno what happened there - I had it in, but it somehow disappeared when I put up the article. Anyhow. It's back now.

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Zombait
27/2/2017 11:38:28 am

Switch will do very well at launch, new consoles always do, 6-12 months later we'll know how it's really going.
I noticed they were using 1, 2 Switch to advertise it during Ant & Dec on Saturday which means they're at least part marketing it to "the casuals". But are milking and marble counting really going to appeal as party games? Also the big draw of Wii was the price £180 with Wii Sports Vs £320 for Switch with a game. It's not going to go well for Nintendo imo.

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Richard
27/2/2017 11:39:08 am

Breath of The Wild may well have been developed for Wii U... but hardly anyone bought a Wii U so that's almost irrelevant.

I say "almost" as it may delay sales of Switch to Nintendo fans that do own a Wii U, probably until Mario arrives.

Talking of Mario, they're probably doing the right thing thing releasing Odyseey towards the end of the year. They need a big exclusive system seller for Christmas.

I'm in for a Switch st launch, just because I can and I'm ready for new hardware to play on. Looking forward to handheld Zelda. Will also buy Snipperclips for me and the Missus to play.

Further down the line I'm tempted to get Arms. Also excited for Xenoblade Chronicles 2.

Also think that in the long run Nintendo putting all their development power into 1 system (as opposed to a separate home and handheld console) will mean that Switch could end up with a great line up over it's lifespan.

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Voodoo76
27/2/2017 12:55:44 pm

I think your first line is very relevant as it's pretty much proving how dated the technology already is in the Switch. An older console shouldn't be able to handle the biggest day one title of a new console.

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T-Wigs
27/2/2017 01:06:54 pm

Never heard of that console "rule" before, it has happened before with the Wii and that worked out ok....

abduz
27/2/2017 11:17:21 pm

Finally someone who gets it! Reggie said he considered having it playable on the show floor in New York but chose not to. Considering that comment and the long trailer for Mario, I'd say its safe to say that it's pretty much complete.

Choosing to release it during holiday season is A LOT wiser. Zelda is a system seller which will help the Switch do well on launch. Mario Kart will keep the momentum going. Then there is E3 where I feel Nintendo will be showing off an amplitude of games ready for release to keep excitment going and as Switch sales might begin to slow down, come the holiday season, with Marios release, the Switch will sell like hot cakes again and by then, I think Nintendo might even sell it bundled with a game.

In short they have more to gain than to lose by spreading out their triple A titles. I for one, appreciate that Nintendo is spreading them out, as it allows us to enjoy a triple A title from them along with smaller titles or offerings from 3rd party devs.

If they released both Mario and Zelda on launch day, they risk killing a much bigger opportunity to sell more consoles during the holiday season, which is good for us because the more this console sells, the more likely it gains 3rd party interest as well as allowing us to enjoy dedicated time with each triple A release

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Andee
27/2/2017 11:41:43 am

"It's like sending your kid to school with a couple of slices of bread, because you forgot to buy any filling for their sandwiches."
Nice Launch/Lunch analogy.
You've just confirmed that this is the next in a long line of Nintendo consoles I won't be buying on Lunch day - or at all, ever.

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DEAN
27/2/2017 12:33:47 pm

Mister Biffo,

Your 'opinion' piece made for very interesting albeit sad and funny reading and I must admit that only a fool would be foolhardy enough to argue with any of what you've had to say.
Here goes nothing:

I can't wait to take delivery of my Switch this Friday. Zelda, 1-2 Switch and Just Dance and maybe Street Fighter II are all booked. My children are very excited about it and are looking forward to being able to play proper games in the car and on holidays and in restaurants and at country borders when Daddy's been tasered for making fun of 'jobsworths'.

If the Switch is an epic fail - doesn't matter.
If the Switch makes the PS2s figures seem rookie - doesn't matter.
What does matter is that Zelda, Mario and 'gang' deliver the goods.

Zelda looks and sounds amazing but if I'm completely honest, I'm worried about all this Jamie Oliver 'malarky'.

But yeah, Friday. Very excited. Looking forward to reading your first impressions!
Did you go peripheral vision shredding NEON or Pigeon assfeathers GREY?
I went NEON because it looked more fun like a toy.

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Mr Biffo
27/2/2017 12:49:39 pm

I like the Neon... but I'm not sure I was given a choice. Anyway... yeah... as a sad old Nintendo fanboy, for all my griping on here, I AM excited for the Switch. It's in my genes by now. I can't help it.

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T-Wigs
27/2/2017 01:13:43 pm

The griping only encourages the bashing in the comments but I suppose you have to "keep it real" and cater to your audience. A possible landmark Zelda for some years on the way and apparently it should be taken for granted so doesn't count, which is then used as a point to moan about other game releases!

Spiney O'Sullivan
27/2/2017 08:52:19 pm

The implication that Biffo is bashing the Switch for the amusement of Nintendo-hating readers is a bit unfair. The concerns are quite warranted, and I think it would be an outright lie to say that this is a strong launch lineup unless you really like games you can get on other systems (including Zelda) and milking invisible cows. A lot of us here are likely old and long despairing Nintendo fans who would actually quite like to see them back in the game properly.

DEAN
27/2/2017 11:18:34 pm

Spiney, reasonable and measured as ever but imagine a comments hole full of sensible people agreeing that the Switch has a dearth of games.
Here here.

Nintendo, bless their hearts, have blown this launch. Imagine how the shelf in GAME is going to look with so little games, insanely priced accessories and a tablet that has all the appeal of a 109 quid Kindle but with none of the support.
You'd have to be fucked in the head to pony up for that motherfucker.
And yet I have, Biffo has and many more have and will.

You loco, Ese!

All the sensible arguments fail to shed any light here and that's because it's a matter of the heart. You know you shouldn't but you will.... A normal console for a normal person the Switch is not.

The second I take delivery of that little bastard I'm going to need plastic surgery to remove the smile from my face. I can't wait to hold it, press the buttons, appraise the build quality and judge the weight of it. Before I've even plugged it in I'm going to be having fun flicking its kickstand and slotting the joy cons in and out of their holsters. Indeed, I'm going to be like a monster with an arthritic cadaver.
You know the score. It's going to be nothing like the perverted rigging of the PSVR or the soullessness of slipping a PS4 or Xbox One from their bland containers.

Sure, we can play some of those games on other systems but that's ignoring the entire USP. Proper games with proper controls wherever the hell you are. Playing your favourite home games when you're out and about is going to be a treat, right?! I think it's better than that, like watching a film while you're in a swimming pool. It's just a fun in its own right thing to do! Yes, handheld gaming is nothing new but you can see how this is different, right? It's the real deal.

From a value for money POV consider this - my kids both had 3DS consoles and games plus we had a Wii U. All those games and chargers and faff of updating... now only one to think about and pay for.
Simpler and better and overall cheaper. No brainer!

Zelda and 1-2 Switch. Wild dynamism!
Nintendo at their best - beautiful and studiously well crafted likely masterpiece coupled with truly bonkers and unlike any experience from the competitors. I know I'm going to have people round that normally wouldn't show any interest that are going to be gagging to milk a virtual cow. I mean, you want to test that HD rumble feature, right? Rattle you some cubes!

Buy a Switch and have some fun. Fleeting, shallow and stupid or big, deep and better than it ever needed to be.

Spiney O'Sullivan
28/2/2017 10:00:28 am

I do think the Switch looks really cool as a concept, great for gaming in bed or on long train journeys (though for the Tube a 3-minute cookie clicker or a point-and-click will do fine), and I can't wait for Mario Odyssey. That said I haven't bought any console at launch since the GameCube, and the WiiU didn't change my mind on that.

But if it takes off and has a really decent selection of games six months to a year from now, then sign me up for the garish neon edition!

Spiney O'Sullivan
27/2/2017 02:25:07 pm

As a videogame that basically eschews the video aspect of the concept, 1-2-Switch is either so utterly stupid that it will completely bury the Switch in the eyes of the casual gaming public, or a piece of total genius that I'm sadly too set in my ways to understand and which will propel the Switch to incredible success. And that's not actually sarcasm. This thing could genuinely be huge if it recaptures the Wii's Mum and Granny market, or if Nintendo is correct in its belief that there really is a big untapped market of attractive people having videogame parties on rooftops (okay, that last bit was sarcasm).

I'm personally pretty lukewarm on this launch since the only game I really want is Zelda, and I have a very dusty Wii U that I might as well play it on because right now I only have Smash Bros and Mario Kart 8. And before anyone suggests it, I'm sorry, but I just can't make myself care about Splatoon.

Good luck to Nintendo though, as I really don't want to see this be their Dreamcast.

Reply
Shinnos link
27/2/2017 04:05:02 pm

"Ask yourself how much more excited would you have felt about Switch if Mario and another big Nintendo franchise had been there with Zelda on launch day, rather than this limp, drip-feed, approach we're getting instead?"

Thank you! You've just made me realise the reason that I've been fairly ho-hum about the Switch. Aside from Zelda, there are no games available at Launch, or in the Launch window, that have so far peaked my interest. And aside from an improved framerate (which I have a hard time discerning between anyway) and "improved sounds" I can play the exact same game on my Wii U. Simialrly, in the coming months, there is Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon 2, two games which I've already played to death on my current console. So why would I want to upgrade to a Switch?

When Mario Odyssey comes around, I'll probably be getting a Switch, and I'm hoping for some reveals at E3 that aren't just upgrades of games that I've already played on the Wii U!

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Paul
27/2/2017 05:34:23 pm

I am rather interested in the Switch. I doubt I’ll be there on Day One, but the form factor is very interesting. I like the portable/console hybrid part about it. Currently, there’s a separation between TV based consoles and portables. Take the PS Vita - hardly a PS4 in portable form, and while you can connect to your PS4 to play games on it, that requires a decent network connection. With the Switch, it appears you just lift the screen out of its caddy and off you go. A great idea.

My main concern is that this somehow hobbles the graphics - will it appear to have the graphics quality of a generation before? I have a GameCube, and that seemed to have PS1-like graphics - certainly less advanced than the PS2. I expect there will be a hit in this area to allow the portability. I’ll reserve judgement until I see one.

One thing that I am disappointed by is the lack of a 3D screen - in the way the the 3DS has.

I am interested. Lets see how this thing goes, what the take up rate it. I’m more likely to part with cash for this than the PlayStation VR hardware.

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T-Wigs
27/2/2017 05:40:34 pm

"I have a GameCube, and that seemed to have PS1-like graphics - certainly less advanced than the PS2."

Prepare to be corrected...

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Chris Wyat
27/2/2017 06:14:58 pm

Haha. Wow. Certainly a lot better than PS1 graphics. The proof is in the pudding as they say.

Meatballs-me-branch-me-do
27/2/2017 06:05:41 pm

Because what Bomberman really needed was over the top moody lighting. Little doubt it will be about as great as the Xbox 360 version of Diner Dash (ruined and ugly by forcing it to be whizz Bang 3D)

'Er indoors has already decreed we'll just get a WiiU since we can keep playing our old games on that and it will let her play the new Zelda.

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Chris Wyatt
27/2/2017 06:14:13 pm

I'm hyped for Puyo Puyo Tetris. I do love a good Japanese puzzler. I realise for most people this isn't an exciting launch title, but it is for me.

I was addicted to Tetris Party on the Wii and played it almost every day (no, really), so when they pulled the plug on the online services, I was getting sweaty hands and heart palpitations.

I also love the Puyo Puyo series even more than Tetris, and I've been wanting to play that online for a long time. I cheekily burnt the Japanese version of Puyo Puyo 20th anniversary for my Wii, but this was after the online service was pulled, so I couldn't play that online, and at the time, this game wasn't available on the community maintained servers that popped up after the online services went down.

Unfortunately I have to wait till my birthday in September, but Puyo Puyo Tetris and Zelda will definitely be the 2 games I will get with it.

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Vid Sicious
27/2/2017 08:59:41 pm

Why no Skyrim at launch? I'd certainly pay £49.99 and a bag of Quavers for it.

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Euphemia
28/2/2017 01:14:34 am

Totally buying Breath of the Wild, looks phenomenal.

But for the WiiU. FUCK SWITCH.

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Adam
28/2/2017 09:58:26 am

Let's face it, those that are getting it at launch will do so regardless (myself included) and know the games situation. The real time to sell will be this Christmas. By then it will have built some momentum and will be in the public consciousness (providing Nintendo keep up with their current marketing) and will have Zelda, Mario Odessy, Splatoon 2, Mario Kart, Skyrim, ARMS as well as Fifa for Johnny Casual.

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Gaming Mill link
28/2/2017 12:00:21 pm

I'm still happy with my Game Gear.

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Spiney O'Sullivan
28/2/2017 01:38:22 pm

How many thousands of pounds have you spent on AA batteries since the early 90s?

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Roy (Stuart N Hardy fan)
2/3/2017 07:41:27 pm

Pickng up my Switch tomorrow. Well the old woman is anyway.
I don't trust the postal service so she's going to our local Game to pick mine up.
She'll probably drop it.
Just to spite me.

Reply



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