Finally spend some time playing Knockout races in Mario Kart World. Absolutely amazing how seamless it all is.
Also bought Cyberpunk 2077, was on the fence for a long time but so far I'm floored by how well it looks and runs.
It eats up a lot of storage though if this all digital thing I'm planning is going to work I'll need more storage.
Donkey Kong seems fun. Interesting controller setup. Y/X/B buttons attack in different directions. A is jump. At first it seemed pretty slow but the second half throws you further in the game.
Have no clue where any challenge will come from. You fuck everything up and then surf on a boulder.
Nitpick is I wish the camera was pulled back.
07-14-2025, 02:06 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-14-2025, 02:06 PM by simiansmarts.)
I saw some spoilers of Donkey Kong Bananza
This is going to be the GOTY
1 user liked this post: Potato
I'm glad they kept the roll jump from the original games.
07-19-2025, 06:59 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-19-2025, 07:02 PM by simiansmarts.)
I just beat DK Bananza, 10/10 game with an 11/10 finale.
Nintendo cooked. I don't know what reviewers were thinking when this was WAY better than Mario Odyssey and Astro Bot, the collectables feel purposefully placed and serve an actual function beyond making number go up. DK's movement has a learning curve but once you figure it out, he controls like a dream. The terraforming mechanics are genuine innovation to the platforming genre, there's no other game like this.
Donkey Kong is great, just hits home how long we went without any proper new nintendo. I think I count TOTK in this too tbh it felt old as shit when I played it as good as it was.
I would like to see a patch for Xenoblade X please, I bailed out of the wii u version after 80 hours for reasons I cannot quite remember.
I'm generally positive on most Nintendo games, but DK is really good Nintendo at their fucking best.
The game is FUN, moment to moment. The movement and verticality of the gameplay is astonishingly well done, and it reminds me of TOTK a bit (maybe they influenced each other?).
It's wild to me but I'm a bit nervous to play because I just enjoy it so much. I don't feel this playing games much anymore and this game has tapped into something I wasn't sure I was going to feel again.
Sappy, thank you Nintendo.
I feel like Donkey Kong is using the same tech as zelda somewhere along the way, someone better informed will correct me but the core of it all is way too similar (including the shrines in donkey kong especially)
Got all 777 bananas. Took around 40 hours.
Put Donkey Kong 64 on the Switch you worthless fucks.
07-26-2025, 10:25 AM
(This post was last modified: 07-26-2025, 01:39 PM by HardcoreRetro.)
Beat DKC 1 and 2 yesterday for some more DK content. Might finish DKC 3 as well.
This end of July Direct better be true.
Edit: Finished DKC 3 as well.
Finally got a Switch 2 and it’s alright. Mario Kart World’s changes will take some getting used to. Donkey Kong Bananza is a pretty fun game although I find DK’s redesign to be obnoxious. I barely have time to play so the anemic Switch 2 lineup suits me fine.
It's so satisfying when the, "Oh, banana!" hits.
How the fuck are they gonna talk about Kirby Air Riders for 45 minutes?
1 user liked this post: Nintex
Indiana Jones coming to Switch 2 next year.
Will be interesting to see how the port goes given it's on the same engine that Doom Eternal used.
I don't know, the Switch 2 kind of tapping that N64 release schedule feeling. It's kind of nice, I don't have much time either but I make it and I just went to Japan so I've had some gaming time. The two youngins' passed out miraculously so I booted up and have been playing since:
UFO 50: man, I'm old. I can't beat any of these fucking games. It's really cool but it needs to have some quick wins. Amazing product and the games are really uncanny in their diversity but also as time progression capsules. It's an immaculate product, a museum-type effort, but not really the games for me. Also, I like the 'lay it all out there' feeling. Mostly played it at my Japanese in-laws house while nursing highballs.
Balatro: 52 deck stake wins.
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake: I haven't played this DQ before but this is very, very good. The game feels GREAT and also has enough annoying and cozy moments to be incredibly satisfying. It reminds me of how overdue we are for a new classic DQ. These games are inexplicable in their appeal but they really tap into something and game has been such a treat. Also, never playing the original means I don't care about the music orchestration update and it's awesome because this music here is just sensational. Up there with Xenoblade 2 for the best OST of recent memory. I don't even usually like RPG music.
OFF: I want to hear the original soundtrack but this one is good and the game definitely has a je ne said pas indie appeal that feels good to feel in 2025. It's got its own aesthetic and hits a simple story with a consistency that it works. The obtuseness of it is a thing in 2025 but it's worth a spin.
1 user liked this post: Nintex
Yeah DQ3 is great and that reminds me I need to finish it before 1+2 drop
Yeah, I love/adore the DQ games I've played (even DQ Swords). The aesthetic gets me immediately and got me in my first DQ when I played DQVIII back in the day and never let go. It's rarer these days that I get the drive to play/beat a game but this one hits me well. I mean, check back in two weeks though.
Oh and fuck the encounter rate but also not. It's getting me annoyed in a nostalgic way that's more pleasurable than annoying. I totally get why they kept it.
Video game reviewers 
