fujishig

I think even with the Switch version everyone needs smartphones to play Jackbox... but on other systems it's a great collection of party games so I'm sure the same is true on the Switch.

A great pick up and play party game is Overcooked.

Decker

I would like some more impressions when you get some time, thanks.

RichC2

Jackbox games are great party games, but yeah everybody needs a cell phone or tablet and they will be cheaper in no time, my favorites are the 1st and 3rd. They tend to go on sale a lot.

Deftones

I didn't realize they were on Xbox. I will keep checking them. Thx

DaveNinja

We've been playing a lot of Drawful (one of the jackbox games i think) on xbox. its a lot of fun but if the kids are playing, you might want to turn on the censorship.

fujishig

So it's the basic JRPG setup, combination of fantasy/sci-fi, in the same world as Xenoblade Chronicles 1 and X but not super connected (you'll miss out on some jokes and references). The world is covered in a cloud sea and the only way people can live are on the backs of giant Titans, who seem to be dying out. The main character is a diver, basically someone who makes their living diving into the sea to get relics, and that's a game mechanic where you can use an item to dive into areas to get more items.

All the fighters in the game basically are partnered up with a "Blade," basically another character who provides you with a weapon, and who levels up a skill tree with experience/goals. There are blades of different rarities, I think hundreds of them. The combat is basically sit there and autoattack, then when the gauge fills you can use your "arts" (like an attack that produces a potion, or an aoe attack), which in turn fills another gauge that lets you do big attacks, which you chain with the other members of your party. The game does a decent job of working your way up to that point, though combat at first will seem a little boring when you only have one character and one blade.

There are caveats. The character design for the main Blade is atrociously fan-servicey, which is par for the course with JRPGs. The map is horrendous, even though they recently updated it to make it a little less so. The framerate naturally drops in portable mode, but it seems fine to me, I just use portable mode to grind. The voices are European (british, irish accents), and they make no effort to sync lips, though there is a Japanese option with subtitles. You get more blades by random draw via items, which can be maddening at times (but you really only need a few rare ones to fight effectively) And perhaps most annoying, the characters and enemies repeat the same phrases over and over ("you think you can take me? Don't forget me").

But if you like JRPGs and all the trappings, and most importantly if you want to play it on the switch/on the go, it's a cool game... that first cutscene is pretty amazing. If you hate fanservice, JPRGs, etc., nothing here is going to convince you otherwise.

Mike86

I always want to get into JRPGs but just never seem to be able to. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 looks cool but ultimately I’d probably get it, play for a while, and lose interest.

Noonan

Life long fan of JPRGs here. I put over 100 hours into Xenoblade on Wii. Couldn't get into Xeno2 and haven't picked it back up after putting in around 10 hours.

Personal opinion; I'm having much more fun with Lost Sphere.

fujishig

I mean, that's just the cycle of JRPGs... put it down for a while, forget what the convoluted storyline and fighting system was about, then just give up. I'm a fan and that happens to me all the time.


I'm curious what you didn't like about it, too by the numbers, or something with the mechanics?

Noonan

Just found it fairly boring and uninspired, TBH. It's possible my recent addiction to tab-target MMOs (and more recently, Monster Hunter) has made games like this seem too slow. Battles seem to involve more watching than playing. I didn't find exploring the world to be engaging.

Also, I didn't connect with the characters or story. Can't really say why...nothing about it made me want to rush home to put more hours in. Unlike recent titles like Ys VIII. I couldn't wait to fire it back up each day.

mewmartigan

Ys VIII is coming to the Switch. I've never played a Ys game before but will pick this one up.

Noonan

Oh, I didn't know it was Switch-bound. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Recommended for sure!

Mike86

I guess my problem is a couple things. One when I start a game I tend to want to finish it to completion (at least storyline wise) and if I stop midway through I’ll want to start over. So inevitably I end up just not finishing game like that because they tend to be on the long side. It kind of ends up a waste of time for me.

Decker

Thanks, fugi. Think I will wait on this one. That review Adam posted scared me sufficiently and your description kinda confirms some of my concerns.

And what is Lost Spheres?

Noonan

Lost Sphere is the follow up from Tokyo RPG Factory to I Am Setsuna. Excellent retro-style JRPG. I believe in NA we only got digital releases of it (PS4, Vita, Switch, Steam).

fujishig

There's a demo for it on the switch as well if you want to try it out. I wasn't a huge fan of I Am Setsuna so I'm actually waiting this one out, at least until I quit Xenoblade 2.

Deftones

Golf Story and Rocket League discounted: https://slickdeals.net/f/11250135-14...intendo-switch

fumanstan

Golf Story is highly recommended!

Noonan

x2

Deftones

Considering buying golf story.

pinata242

Keep us updated! I'm on the edge of my seat.

spainlinx0

Definitely recommend Overcooked for 2-4 player fun. Skip it if you only plan on playing single-player.

Mike86

I want to buy Golf Story but I'm sort of holding out for the physical release.

SunMonkey

Bought Golf Story yesterday. Yay.

The Questyen

Unless you're a collector I'd much rather pay $12 than the $40 it will sell for through Limited Run Games.