The letter page from Tuesday believes
PS5
Price reductions could weaken Nintendo’s position.
Switch 2
initiate, as a reader discloses the trick to overcoming
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
.
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gamecentral@ChinPao.co.uk
Free entertainment
As I write this, just two more nights until I get my Switch 2. I’ve sold my previous one.
Switch
And transferred all the information to the cloud to download it again on my Switch 2. I have sold mine.
Xbox
Series X as well. My birthday is coming up next month on July 4th, and it’s
Father’s Day
within fewer than fourteen days.
I took care of everything ahead of time. To sum up, I won’t be paying anything for my Switch 2, which I’ll pick up at midnight on Thursday at the Smyths Toys store in York. My preorder was placed on April 4th. As you enjoy pictures from launch events, I’ll send an additional message with some shots on Thursday morning. By the way, I also have both Thursday and Friday off from work.
woz_007 (NN ID)
GC:
That’d be neat, thanks.
Last minute purchase
Consider me among the fortunate few who secured a lateSwitch 2 Mario Kart World bundle pre-order through Very (keeping fingers crossed for smooth delivery). Initially, I was prepared to wait until next year because my spouse and I were setting aside funds to renovate our daughter’s bedroom. Nevertheless, I found an option allowing me to purchase it with deferred payment over 12 months, which eases the financial burden each month.
It included Street Fighter 6 as well, something I typically wouldn’t get excited about, but now that I can detach the Joy-Cons, it could be enjoyable to play against the children or even my spouse—if they’re willing. Additionally, I have some extra pocket money this month that I may spend on other items. My plan is to upgrade Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to the Switch 2 edition.
I could also opt for Fast Fusion or purchase a Nintendo Switch Online subscription since I’ve often thought about giving Wind Waker a try. Unfortunately, I’m swamped with work as it falls during my busy period and coincides with me working over the weekend.
If you’re still having trouble securing a pre-order elsewhere, consider checking Very as they appear to have several bundle options available and regularly restock their inventory.
Matc7884
GC:
Very has proven to be the most dependable store throughout all of this, for unknown reasons. Keep in mind that if you purchase the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, you’ll receive the Zelda updates at no additional cost.
Non-disclosure agreement
It’s frustrating that there are no reviews yet for Switch 2, either for the console or its launch titles.
I’ve heard that the review embargo for the Nintendo Switch 2 along with its launch-day titles is set extremely close to release day, or alternatively, reviewers might not have received Switch 2 units before the launch date. Additionally, it’s suggested that the necessity of installing a day-one update could be delaying reviews until after the console becomes available to the public.
Regardless of the cause, I optimistically expected to see some reviews surface either towards the end of last week or by Monday (when I wrote this). Since they haven’t appeared yet, I have already placed a preorder for the Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle, so I don’t really need these reviews to decide—other than possibly considering whether to cancel my preorder, though that feels unlikely now. However, I had hoped to boost my excitement further by checking out Game Critics’ assessments before the release date.
Are any of you looking forward to (perhaps with some letdown) reading reviews before the official release date?
Hubert
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Lean summer
I would be content with Resident Evil 9 and a new James Bond game being the major announcements at the Summer Game Fest. Both intrigue me, and since these titles have been teased but not yet showcased, it feels like a return to tradition—and in my opinion, the ideal approach.
I’m quite worried about the possibility of no new Sony events until September; it’s extremely disheartening. Even then, I doubt they’ll announce much beyond Ghost of Yoitei. There’s still some hope for a Nintendo Direct next week, although I suspect it might not happen. I can comprehend their reasoning, yet without one, this will likely turn into another underwhelming non-E3 year despite these major announcements.
Cosh
Busy week
This week is truly fortunate for me as there are numerous things to anticipate, beginning with what can’t be ignored—the arrival of the new Nintendo Switch. Its release has finally come, reaching both the masses and individuals alike. Fingers crossed, my unit should arrive on Friday. That same day happens to mark Eid, adding an extra layer of delight. These events together make up quite a splendid gift for me personally. However, my mom might not approve; still, it occurs just twice annually. Moreover, I have often expressed my excitement over this launch and all the opportunities it brings, making it clear that avoiding this occasion isn’t something I intend to do.
On Saturday, the opening night of Summer Games Fest rolls around, offering us a chance to preview new games, catch glimpses of legends like Kojima, and enjoy Geoff Keighley’s trademark grin whenever Hideo makes an appearance. Seriously now, I remain optimistic about having an engaging show with several highlights. A personal wish would be seeing details on Resident Evil 9, although the Tokyo Game Show might likely provide a better platform for such announcements.
Following this event, the Xbox Games Showcase comes into play. While I’ve lost faith somewhat in the brand, I’ll still find joy if they manage to pull off another fantastic presentation as their previous one—a hopeful outcome indeed.
Lastly, I’ve finally donned my cowboy hat and began a playthrough of Red Dead Redemption, the first title. The one where Jack has a beard. More jokes aside I always wanted to get around to it.
Shahzaib Sadiq
PS: I intended Friday for the Summer Games Fest since Rebecca Black composed the song. Now, I’m finished.
The main platform
It’s certainly a strategic maneuver by Sony to initiate a PlayStation 5 sale aimed at countering the anticipated release of the Switch 2, which has piqued my curiosity. While I will eventually purchase a Switch 2, as things stand now, there isn’t much compelling me to do so immediately—especially considering what another commenter noted. The appeal of Mario Kart World feels limited because it remains essentially an iteration of Mario Kart, and playing previous versions suffices for now. Additionally, since ChinPaoPrime 4 is available on the present version of the Switch, it further diminishes urgency. Furthermore, when the subsequent major Zelda game comes out, perhaps we might witness either an enhanced OLED model or a reduction in pricing.
The PlayStation 5 has faced considerable criticism this generation, largely due to Sony’s slow pace in first-party game development. However, it remains the dominant console at present. While people might rightfully point out that Naughty Dog seems absent… still, all current releases perform excellently on it. So what more can one ask for? The PlayStation is essentially synonymous with mainstream gaming nowadays.
Next year’s major releases from developers not affiliated with Nintendo will primarily launch on this platform, making it hard to choose an alternate option when doubts arise about its long-term support and reliability. Opting to play Baldur’s Gate 3 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth right away instead of waiting potentially several more years for these titles to become available on Nintendo’s system seems like a clear choice to me.
Marc
GC:
Do you mean that you don’t anticipate the Switch 2 will outperform the PlayStation 5 in sales?
Catching up
I understand why some owners of the Switch 1 might not feel compelled to upgrade to the Switch 2 at this point.
Apart from Mario Kart World, I find the lineup of exclusive titles at the console’s launch somewhat disappointing. Last year, I held off on purchasing Switch 1, but now I’m eagerly anticipating sinking my teeth into all that Nintendo has to offer once my Switch 2 arrives! Can’t wait!
Nick P.
Fair advantage
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33… such an amazing game. I was preparing myself for a complete 30-hour adventure to tackle the primary storyline with the standard setup.
I was astonished when I defeated the final boss after just 20 hours. I engaged with nearly every enemy encounter along the way and didn’t spend much time meticulously fine-tuning my character’s statistics.
I often avoid attacks regularly, but if I get a feel for their timing, I would attempt to parry instead.
It came as an utter surprise that I reached the final boss so quickly.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is one of my favorite games, and I believe that effective dodging and/or parrying can significantly speed up your progress through the game.
If you’re having trouble avoiding something, there is usually a clearer auditory clue rather than a visual one, which makes using headphones very beneficial.
Deskiryu
GC:
If you’re experienced with Sekiro, you’ll immediately have an edge with Clair Obscur since it draws heavily from FromSoftware’s previous titles. For reference, completing just the main storyline without side quests takes around 27 hours on average.
How Long to Beat
, so you certainly completed it faster than most.
Inbox also-rans
I just completed season 2 of The Last Of Us, and I must say it left me feeling let down. The thing that bothers me is that it appears the production team lacked a true understanding of the source material from the original game, despite having individuals who were part of its creation still being involved.
Ragu
Blue Prince might be the most gradual-burning game I’ve ever encountered, but despite initially struggling with it, I’m now finding myself quite fond of it. There’s something peculiar about it, yet it’s also impressively well-designed.
Lusco96
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