Nintendo Direct Analysis: Kirby, Bayonetta, and Retro Games
The Recent Nintendo Direct
In this episode, the team discusses the recent Nintendo Direct, highlighting a mix of excitement and technical concerns. The primary focus includes:
• Kirby and the Forgotten Land: A transition to full 3D platforming. While the series is traditionally vibrant, the team explores the potential dystopian/post-apocalyptic undertones of the setting.
• Bayonetta 3: Finally reappearing after an extended silence, the team expresses optimism about the Platinum Games action style, despite some concerns about aging hardware constraints.
• Metroid Dread: A brief look at the marketing differences between the atmospheric, Western-focused promotion and the high-energy, vocal-track-heavy Japanese trailer.
Nintendo Switch Online Expansion
The conversation turns to the Nintendo Switch Online update, which adds N64 and Sega Genesis libraries at a higher price point. The hosts criticize the:
• Emulation quality of N64 titles.
• Forced screen borders and the reliance on 50Hz PAL versions for European users.
• Inconsistent game release schedule for a premium service.
Industry News and Preservation
Beyond Nintendo, the discussion covers significant video game preservation topics:
• PlayStation CMOS Issue: The team commends Sony for addressing the "C-bomb" bug, which threatened to lock users out of offline disc-based games.
• Gran Turismo 7: A discussion on why the game requires a persistent online connection, allegedly due to FIA licensing requirements for verifying leaderboard integrity.
• Marvel vs. Capcom 2: Insights into the potential for a Digital Eclipse re-release to bring the title back to modern consoles, potentially revitalizing the interest in this classic fighting game.
Remembering Mick McGinty
"Mick McGinty was a wonderful artist that worked on some of the most iconic of cover arts... he always kind of made you a friend the moment you met him."
The hosts share a heartfelt tribute to Mick McGinty, the artist responsible for legendary covers such as Street Fighter II and Streets of Rage 2. They discuss his legacy of capturing the thematic essence of games through his cinematic painting style, which often became more iconic than the games' original Japanese box art.