Video Game Musings – Page 4

Nintendo Knobs The Cloud – News At 11…ish

Source: https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/04/uh-oh-it-looks-like-select-switch-2-games-wont-support-cloud-saves

“I love the cloud. It’s wonderful,” he lied.

Okay, truth be told, cloud has been useful for somethings. It helps me keep all my text files in one place across my various computers, it keeps my saves safe for Nintendo Switch games whenever my memory card goes corrupt and I have to get a new one. Steam Cloud… is a spotty proposition, but then again, Steam was mostly played when Cloud was seen as the enemy.

So Nintendo Switch 2 is apparently not going to support the Cloud. I’m wondering if it’s because there’s a new Cloud set-up specifically for that platform or because Nintendo… is gonna Nintendo or something, whatever that means. I already have concerns about this thing regarding the spotty backwards compatibility no being quite as hopeful as initially thought, but now you’re telling me that my Switch 1 saves might not be valid for Switch 2?

I’m not going to predict dread or anything… unless you can’t play Metroid Dread on Switch 2. Then I’ll be pissed.

Now, of course, all of this could mean nothing… but doom and gloom speculation is what drives clicks on the Intermanets, so fuck it, let’s get in on that action because I’ve got nothing else to talk about today. It’s not like anything else is going on this weekend…

Oh… right…

Yeah, well… we’ll get to that eventually…

Doug Bowser Is NOT 2025’s Don Mattrick

In a recent interview, Nintendo Of America president Doug Bowser mentioned that some people may not be able to afford the higher priced Switch 2 console, while emphasizing that the remaining Switch consoles were available and would be supported with additional content. A lot of people saw that comment and compared to a comment that former Microsoft Entertainment head honcho Don Mattrix said in regards to Xbox One and Xbox 360.

The quote in question?

“Some of the advantages that you get, of having, a box that is designed to use an online state, so, that, uh, to me is the future-proof choice, and I think people, could’ve arguably gone the other way if we didn’t do it and fortunately we have a product for people who aren’t able to get some form of connectivity, it’s called Xbox 360.”

For those needing context, Xbox One was originally going to have an always online component, which essential meant that the console needed to be connected to the Internet in order to do anything from playing games to picking the color of your nasal spray. People complained about the always online aspect and Mattrick’s response was “get a 360 if you don’t have always online.” Naturally, people cried fouled and Xbox One eventually removed the “always online” requirement.

Doug Bowser’s comment about the old Switch being available for those who can’t afford a Switch 2 isn’t quite the same thing. Switch 2 has a higher price point due to its higher specs, but if you can’t afford the newer system, the older system (as well as its Lite and OLED variants) are still available for more affordable prices. So if you can’t afford the Switch console that lets you play Breath Of The Wild with the Zelda Notes mobile app, you can still buy the old Switch console that plays that game just fine. And it’s not like Switch is being completely tossed aside; they’re still supporting the system with software, some of which will probably also feature Switch 2 versions with added features… like SAMUS NOTES on your Alarmo clock thing.

There are some issues with this Switch 2 launch that raises questions and cries some fouls, but comparing to Xbox One’s total dumpster fire pre-launch – which was overhauled by the time they did launch. Look at the bright side – at least Nintendo isn’t FORCING you to hook up a spy camera to your Switch 2.

Unless the tariffs come into play again.

Nintendo Switch Pre-Sales Ix-Nayed In North America

So first, Nintendo of America decides that they’re not going to do U.S. pre-sales for the Switch 2 consoles today due to tariffs. Not much of a surprise in that regard. And then, yesterday, news broke that Canadian pre-orders are also kaput due to tariffs.

For those who care, Nintendo stock had plummeted due to this news.

This honestly doesn’t surprise me. The two markets usually go hand in hand and where one goes, the other will usually follow suit… which means if there’s a price change, 650 CAD trending on Twitter is gonna seem like chump change.

The real question now is whether Nintendo of Mexico will follow suit.

All The Review A Great Game Day Video Reviews

Normally, today would be a day where I would feature a video review of a great game, going back to the tradition of now-defunct website 1 More Castle that would declare April 8th “review a great game day.”

Obviously, that’s not happening… but to mark the occasion, I’ve decided to post a playlist of all the games reviewed for the occasion over the years since 2017 made it a tradition. It’s not a complete make up for lost time, but it is a way to mark the occasion, even if I can’t do it properly.

Note: There

2017 – Power Blade (NES)
2018 – Wordtris (Game Boy)
2019 – Power Quest (Game Boy Color)
2020 – Metroid II: Return Of Samus (Game Boy)
2021 – Retromania Wrestling (Switch)
2022 – WWF Wrestlemania 2000 (N64)
2022 – WWE Wrestlemania X-8 (Gamecube)
2022 – WWE Wrestlemania XIX (Gamecube)
2023 – Super Mario World (SNES)
2024 – Top Gear 3000 (SNES)

Lacking In Trophies And Bob’s Shop Music

Source: https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/04/the-switch-2-wont-have-achievements-or-eshop-music

I’ve shared most of my thoughts on the Switch 2 in my last DTM Rambles video, but then comes this news that has people talking; no game achievements and no eShop music.

Look, I’ve never been on achievements – I think they’re completely worthless, but people seem to dig them, so I can see why they’d be bummed by Switch 2 not having them… but the lack of eShop music? Really? Can we just focus on eShop not running like or featuring a whole bunch of shit instead? I think that’s the bigger priority.

I’m (Genuinely) Miserable

Hey, folks. I’m using the Goldberg Is Miserable meme to illustrate how miserable I’m presently feeling at the moment. Aside from some family issues on the outside, I’m also presently dealing with some health issues. I was hoping to get something up and running on the video side of things, but sadly, that’s going to have to take a back seat for a little bit.

So we’re putting a pause on the video output for the next couple weeks. I’ll find a way to readjust how things work going forward, but right now, I have to focus on regaining my bearings and feeling a little better than I do now. On the flip side, there’s still some written stuff to look forward because there’s some stuff that’s been done in advance and also writing stuff is far less taxing and time consuming (click on Add New Post, Type Shit, Push Publish, repeat as needed, etc.).

Honestly, it hasn’t been a bad streak. Banging out 25 reviews and a couple streams along the way in the past couple months is more than I would have expected to get out given the usual output ’round these parts. Would it have been nice if it had continued? Sure, but you get to a point where you realize that you really, really, REALLY need to take a step back and give yourself a break. So that’s what I’m doing. Only difference is that I’m giving you ample warning.

The only real good that could come out of this is that once I’m at a point where I can manage this stuff a little better, I can prep some stuff for the future, start building a bit of backlog, and have SOMETHING to fill the void in the event that I ever fall ill again… maybe I can scale back and focus on reviews of older arcade titles as featured in the various compilation sets that I’ve got laying around. I know someone’s been bugging me to give Sinistar a look.

Anyway, sorry for the bad news, everyone. I was hoping that I could power through this setback, but it just wasn’t gonna happen. All I can do is get better and hope that once we get back on track, things will stay on track for more than a couple months… it would be nice.

Take care, everyone. And see you soon.

Later,
Dave

P.S. If a certain someone makes an appearance on tomorrow’s episode of that Monday sports entertainment program on Netflix, I may break the month’s wrestling moratorium to discuss said episode as a sort of make up for the lack of video. But otherwise, we’re not going to bother.

Star Wars Hunters To Get Mothballed In October

Source: https://starwarshunters.com/news/sunset-on-vespaara/

Remember that F2P game on Switch called Star Wars Hunter?

Neither do I.

Apparently, they’re sunsetting the servers in October, which means you have another online-only game that’s going the way of the doo-doo. This almost surprised me because, as I mentioned in a comment on the NintendoLife page that presented this piece of news, I had genuinely forgotten that this was even a thing that had existed and will soon cease to be.

But, yeah, I really never gave this one much thought. I don’t care for these free-2-play, spend real money for real good shit type of games of any sort and everything I’ve seen of Hunters looks like a poor man’s Battlefront game… which is funny once they released the Classic Collection and THAT ended up looking like a poor woman’s Battlefront game… which is why I refunded that stuff in the first place.

So the game launched in June 2024 and will die in October of this year, so a little over a year and a third. Is this a licensing issue or perhaps simply a matter of the game not quite attracting as large an audience as this sort of game should get to sustain a long lifespan of sorts? I neither know nor care.

Oh, well… another one bites the dust, I suppose.

Is The Console War Over? No, But Let’s Reminisce About Xbox Anyway

Source: https://www.ign.com/articles/is-the-console-war-finally-over

With Xbox exclusives making their way over to other consoles and the current line of Series XSLwhatever not quite hitting sales numbers to people’s liking, there’s a question as to whether Xbox should give up on making their own hardware and just go third-party like Sega ended up doing after the Dreamcast failed. Is it time to throw in the towel and declare Playstation the winner of this console war… and then remember that Nintendo still exists, but are perfectly content doing their own thing (as they should.)

And then word broke that Xbox is considering their own handheld Switch-like device… or maybe it’s more like their own Steam Deck-like device… so maybe we’re jumping the gun on Xbox waving the white flag on hardware.

Oh well, since I’ve got your attention, let me tell you about my Xbox adventure.

Continue reading “Is The Console War Over? No, But Let’s Reminisce About Xbox Anyway”

WWE 2K25 DLC Packs Revealed… Not A Lick Of Belief…

Source: https://www.sescoops.com/gaming/wwe-2k25/wwe-2k25-dlc-packs-revealed-legends-nba-stars-attitude-era-more/

For anyone who gives a shit, the DLC packs for the upcoming WWE 2K25 video game was revealed and anyone hoping that a certain TNA World Champion who appears whenever his name is said… well, his name was never mentioned. And therefore, he doesn’t appear. However, one of the DLC packs does include Abyss as a playable character, so it’s not all bad.

Otherwise… eh, I don’t care. Including that fellow who shall not be named in one of your stupid DLC packs would have been enough incentive for me to actually fork over money for this thing… alas, I can rest easy and stick with what I’ve got, which is more than enough.

Return Of Acclaim… Again…

Source: https://hardcoregamer.com/return-of-acclaim/

Apparently, some folks (including WWE Hall Of Famer, TNA Co-Founder, and AEW producer Jeff Jarrett) are involved in the revival of Acclaim Entertainment, which went bankrupt back in 2004. I suppose some folks are going to be excited by this, but what’s the point? Most of Acclaim’s most popular properties are currently under new ownership and licensing isn’t as cheap as it used to be.

There was an attempt to bring back the Acclaim label in the late-2000s, but this was focused on online gaming and didn’t last long. I’m curious to see where this new take on Acclaim goes from here and whether there’s any old Acclaim properties that haven’t been bought out by anyone else… who knows? Maybe they can make a new Destination Earthstar or something. That may be enough to bring back Classic Game Room for another round before falling back into obscurity due to low viewership numbers.

Aww… now I’m sad again.