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Never forget: Nintendo Switch' terrible 2018 lineup

KevinKeene

Banned
I've seen some Nintendo-fans praising the Switch' end year-software lineup, some already celebrating the supposed 2019-lineup. I'm a Nintendo-fan. And I find all that ridiculous. Here's why:

For the entirety of the first half of the year, a generic Kirby-game is the only new game Nintendo has released - the next one will be Mario Tennis.

We expect Smash Bros, Fire Emblem and Pokemon til the end of the year. Let's say they all turn out to be great games. It STILL won't make 2018 an overall great year for Switch software-wise!

This is so terrible. I've bought every Nintendo-system since the N64 and I cannot remembered such a crass drought within a system's life. Even if there was, it doesn't matter: this is the super successful Switch, Nintendo is supposed to spend all their teams' efforts on only one system instead of 2. And that's it?

Imagine someone DARES not liking Pokemon or care about multiplayer-games (aka everyone has genre preferences, which is NORMAL), what is he left with?

I will get Smash Bros. I will get Fire Emblem. That's 2 games in a whole year. Fantastic job, Nintendo. Fantastic job.


PS: Again, I'm a Nintendo-fan. But I hate fanboys who celebrate and praise this lineup. Have some selfworth and stop belly-rubbing a company that could do so much better.
 

Ridcully

Member
Yeah, it's kinda bad, and I imagine frustrating if it's your only console. But anyone who owns a Nintendo console should expect these peaks and troughs. They don't have enough internal studios to fill a full release year. I bought a Switch knowing there would be dry spells.

Next year we can maybe hope for better 3rd party support to fill the gaps, since they'll have seen the success and had time to work on ports.
 

VertigoOA

Banned
Always thought switch software situation was absolutely abysmal. Looks like the same ole shit and none of what I actually like from Nintendo.

Late and gimped ports, over-priced remasters with few noticeable improvements and typical cookie cutter rehashes or pseudo-sequels.

Zelda was good tho. So there’s that... Kirby, yoshi and Labo is trash.
 
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I hoped Nintendo would be able to keep up the pace they had last year, but I guess not. I understand a lull is to be expected after last year's output, but it can't last much longer than this. This E3 will be very important for them. They have to announce several new games that will hit this year and early 2019. It's not looking that great right now, to be honest. I've got a feeling Nintendo thinks SSB is enough to save this year. It's not.
 

KevinKeene

Banned
Yeah, it's kinda bad, and I imagine frustrating if it's your only console. But anyone who owns a Nintendo console should expect these peaks and troughs. They don't have enough internal studios to fill a full release year. I bought a Switch knowing there would be dry spells.

Next year we can maybe hope for better 3rd party support to fill the gaps, since they'll have seen the success and had time to work on ports.

No no no.
They had no trouble filling a full year during the Wii U-era. And even then: Nintendo no longer has to spread its ressources thin between console and handheld. No excuses.

We're used to droughts on Nintendo-systems. But celebrating and praising them is too much and I see this too often, just because of the close release of 3 kinda-big titles at the yeas end. :(
 

The Shepard

Member
I always thought Nintendo's handheld and console divisions connected to stop this from happening. What's going on over there, did they close studio's down or merge them or something as it does seem awfully quiet this year. E3s next month so hopefully a few surprises.
 

Taker666

Member
It's an awful year for me in regards to Switch ...as I'm not really a fan of Tennis, Kirby,Fire Emblem or Pokemon...and I can take or leave Smash Bros (I might well skip it if it doesn't offer a decent leap from the Wii U game). Thankfully I'm still playing through my backlog of Switch games from last year (and I have a PS4/PSVR).

I might not buy any new switch games this year ...unless we see one out of Metroid Prime 4, Star Fox : Grand Prix or Pikmin hit as an end of year surprise...or if some HD Wii games hit the eshop.

On the plus side, 2019 should be pretty great.
 
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Halo0629

Member
Problem with nintendo and a lot of japanese devs is that they're still supporting the 3ds and the damn thing is already like 8 years in the market. Shoot the damn thing already and start making games for the switch.
 

Zimmy68

Member
I played through Zelda like 4 times, all the tracks on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and the end game credits on Mario Odyssey and haven't touched the Switch since.
I honestly don't understand how they sell so much of the console.
They learned almost nothing from Wii U and they still get showered with money.
If someone held a gun to my head and made me name the next title I would buy on the Switch, I think I would be dead.
 

Ridcully

Member
No no no.
They had no trouble filling a full year during the Wii U-era. And even then: Nintendo no longer has to spread its ressources thin between console and handheld. No excuses.

I'd wait until E3 has been and gone before making any claims that the 3DS is done. And my recollection of the WiiU software landscape isn't quite so rosy. Look back at around the same time in its life cycle with a critical eye. I would definitely rate its 2013 below the Switch's 2018, with 2014 on a par.

We're used to droughts on Nintendo-systems. But celebrating and praising them is too much and I see this too often, just because of the close release of 3 kinda-big titles at the yeas end. :(

Fanboys are gonna fanboy, though. And with their being used to it, i can't see you changing any minds, sadly.
 

MoogleMan

Member
I agree that 2018 has been a meh year so far, though it doesn't bother me overall. I have a PS4 Pro and gaming PC to keep me busy while I wait for the switch releases I want.

I played through Zelda like 4 times, all the tracks on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and the end game credits on Mario Odyssey and haven't touched the Switch since.
I honestly don't understand how they sell so much of the console.
They learned almost nothing from Wii U and they still get showered with money.
If someone held a gun to my head and made me name the next title I would buy on the Switch, I think I would be dead.

I think that's being a bit over dramatic. None of the exclusives interest you? I bought a switch for exclusives alone and have 23 games on it. And I'm looking forward to mario tennis, octopath, and the later 2018 releases.

I'm not trying to come off as a fanboy, but why buy a system for 3 games?
 
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prag16

Banned
Yeah, it's bad. Mario Odyssey is the only game on my 'must play' list since launch even. MK8 and Zelda are on Wii U, and so is Splatoon (yes yes not the same game.. still). I went from likely launch purchase, to likely late 2017 purchase, to maybe late 2018 purchase, to ... ??? Who knows when I'll ever own a switch now.
 

NahaNago

Member
i really thought that Nintendo wouldn't have such long droughts these days with the 3ds winding down so much. They really need to develop a a pace of releasing games/ plan enough games to cover the year so this type of drought doesn't happen.
 
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deriks

4-Time GIF/Meme God
Bayonetta is crying
Wolfenstein is crying
South Park is crying
Lost Sphear is crying
Hollow Knight is crying
Kirby is crying
Dark Souls is crying
Donkey Kong is crying
 

sensor

Member
Bayonetta is crying
Wolfenstein is crying
South Park is crying
Lost Sphear is crying
Hollow Knight is crying
Kirby is crying
Dark Souls is crying
Donkey Kong is crying

Listing a bunch of ports and a handful of other titles is more or less proving his point.
 

GoldenEye98

posts news as their odd job
I think getting a new Zelda and Mario in the same year was a bit of a fluke...especially in a launch year. Zelda was really a Wii U title and I'm not unconvinced SM:O wasn't either.

Either way, I follow a youtube channel that uploads virtually every game trailer for Switch and it's becoming clear that if you are not really that into Japanese games...this console may not be worth it.
 

JCK75

Member
While I'd love to have more first party and third party exclusives, I've been pretty content with the indy selection.
 

DonF

Member
i really thought that Nintendo wouldn't have such long droughts these days with the 3ds winding down so much. They really need to develop a a pace of releasing games/ plan enough games to cover the year so this type of drought doesn't happen.
2017* rhythm was crazy. If they managed to stay like that, it would be an awesome 2018, but no. Also, nintendo needs to step it up with the e-shop sales. Only first party game thats been on sale is ARMS...which isn't the very best. Please discount Mario Kart 8, I refuse to buy it for $60 out of principle!
 
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AlexxKidd

Member
Listing a bunch of ports and a handful of other titles is more or less proving his point.

Exactly, and some other person mentioned Ys 8, a game that came out on PS4 last year sometime.

The only relevant thing here missed by the OP is Octopath Traveler (as it's being released relatively soon). That has the potential to be special and can only be played on the Switch (save emulation). Nintendo games tend to get reviewed and slurped way more than they deserve though, so even if it reviews well I'm anticipating needing some hands on with it to REALLY see if it stands out.
 
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cireza

Banned
It is a problem for people who played and still play Wii U. Only game I really enjoy on Switch is ARMS. Everything else is already available on Wii U for a fraction of the price.

Looking forward to Octopath, Metroid Prime and Bayonetta. Not interested in a bunch of inferior ports.

I still have a lot of games to play on Wii U anyway.
 
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Zimmy68

Member
I agree that 2018 has been a meh year so far, though it doesn't bother me overall. I have a PS4 Pro and gaming PC to keep me busy while I wait for the switch releases I want.



I think that's being a bit over dramatic. None of the exclusives interest you? I bought a switch for exclusives alone and have 23 games on it. And I'm looking forward to mario tennis, octopath, and the later 2018 releases.

I'm not trying to come off as a fanboy, but why buy a system for 3 games?
I guess I was being a little optimistic based on Nintendo having to learn from their mistakes. Plus, Mario and Zelda are worth buying a new console for, so I'm no Nintendo hater.
Their goal should have been to release a major title every quarter. If they couldn't manage that, then why bother making a console?
Third party would help that but like the past, they have no interest in third parties.
So what do we get?
1st party Remasters that cost more then when they were originally released with almost nothing new added.
Graphically watered down version of old titles at full price.
Lots of indie titles that I have zero interest in.
 

Blam

Member
Is it just me or do alot of them feel like glorified mobile game imports?
because they are. Gear Club feels like one and honestly feels like trash. It's sorta really disappointing when the only good racer is the 2 nintendo funded ones
 
I've seen some Nintendo-fans praising the Switch' end year-software lineup, some already celebrating the supposed 2019-lineup. I'm a Nintendo-fan. And I find all that ridiculous. Here's why:

For the entirety of the first half of the year, a generic Kirby-game is the only new game Nintendo has released - the next one will be Mario Tennis.

We expect Smash Bros, Fire Emblem and Pokemon til the end of the year. Let's say they all turn out to be great games. It STILL won't make 2018 an overall great year for Switch software-wise!

This is so terrible. I've bought every Nintendo-system since the N64 and I cannot remembered such a crass drought within a system's life. Even if there was, it doesn't matter: this is the super successful Switch, Nintendo is supposed to spend all their teams' efforts on only one system instead of 2. And that's it?

Imagine someone DARES not liking Pokemon or care about multiplayer-games (aka everyone has genre preferences, which is NORMAL), what is he left with?

I will get Smash Bros. I will get Fire Emblem. That's 2 games in a whole year. Fantastic job, Nintendo. Fantastic job.


PS: Again, I'm a Nintendo-fan. But I hate fanboys who celebrate and praise this lineup. Have some selfworth and stop belly-rubbing a company that could do so much better.
It appears as if Nintendo left room for 3rd party games to see sales.

I also notice a lot of third party games release last on switch almost like they're trying to double the sales to same people.

And I didn't start playing xenoblade until last month so I've been fine I'm only chapter 7.

Besides that years been fine for me I still haven't finished doom, and wolf2 is about to release. And I love neo geo more than most modern games so I haven't had a problem with lack of games
 

B_Signal

Member
not meaning this as a "what about..." but for me this year as a whole has been disappointing for games. Granted it was following last year, same for Switch in particular, but nothing has come close to the highs we'd had by this point last year. God of War and Yakuza 6 have been my standouts, Football Manager on Switch has been a standout I guess.

I'm sure there's been good games on Switch, but like others, they're games I've either passed on or played before, and often I'm being asked to pay the same price (or more) again
 

theclaw135

Banned
People enjoy different kinds of games, and own different systems.
Just because Switch has a drought for one's own tastes or past experiences, doesn't mean the same applies to others.
 

Housh

Member
I'm going to try out the Aces demo this weekend. I am really looking forward to Octopath Traveller though.
 

KevinKeene

Banned
People enjoy different kinds of games, and own different systems.
Just because Switch has a drought for one's own tastes or past experiences, doesn't mean the same applies to others.

The drought on Switch is objective.

Kirby
Then Aces

That is a drought. Old ports/late ports don't fall under 'tastes'.
 

NahaNago

Member
2018 rhythm was crazy. If they managed to stay like that, it would be an awesome 2018, but no. Also, nintendo needs to step it up with the e-shop sales. Only first party game thats been on sale is ARMS...which isn't the very best. Please discount Mario Kart 8, I refuse to buy it for $60 out of principle!

Are you sure don't mean 2017 rhythm was crazy?
 

BANGS

Banned
Did I expect one big new game every quarter? Yes. Past Nintendo-systems had that.
Pardon my ignorance, from recollection I don't remember most Nintendo consoles getting more than 1 or 2 worthwhile games per year... I very well could be wrong on that and/or biased as most Nintendo games just don't interest me...

Also note: 'it's always been like that' is not a good argument.
It wasn't an argument, just a statement... I've never expected much from this company. Hell, the switch has been out for over a year now and it's best game is a last gen port released at launch...
 

DunDunDunpachi

Patient MembeR
Currently at 13 physical and 6 digital games. I'm a pretty picky gamer. That's not bad for a system that's not even 2 years old, in my opinion. MK8D, Pokken, Bomberman, Puyo Tetris, ARMS, and Overcooked still get tossed on the TV for multiplayer sessions. I'm 75hrs into BotW and I still haven't beaten it. Runner3 was my most recent pickup and that'll last me quite a while. Owlboy is on its way right now and I'm looking forward to that. Sonic Mania Plus, Flinthook (physical), and Monster Boy & The Cursed Kingdom in late Summer/early Autumn. I'm holding off on Hyrule Warriors Complete until it's a bit cheaper.

And we haven't even gotten announcements from E3 yet. Geez, I'm pretty enthusiastic about the state of the system.
 
Maybe its because I'm a slow gamer. I was hoping releases would slow down.

Ima try ACES which has online test today I'll get that if its good. Besides that preordered octopath. And I'm done buying games I need to beat some of the ones I got. I haven't even touched golf story which I heard good or tumbleweed (thimbleweed?) park. Or bayoneta 2.
I need to beat all these.

I didn't like BOTW I'm trying to sell my copy(hmu if you want a deal on it)
 
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Greedings

Member
The switch’s 2017 line up was stellar. It drove me to buy the system. So many absolute classic games.

This year? Erugh. It’s been awful. I have no interest in tennis so that’s their one big (announced) game I can ignore. Let’s hope E3 brings something for the end of the year because right now I am really disappointed.
 

Kenpachii

Member
I am currently selling my switch. The lineup is just god awful for my taste atm. will drop the extra cash on a new gpu or something.
 

Yoshi

Headmaster of Console Warrior Jugendstrafanstalt
There's also Yoshi Switch this year, which makes it a total of two confirmed 2018 titles I want. A new record low for a Nintendo console indeed. However, considering Nintendo is releasing a billion ports, they maybe think that's sufficient? The Switch has been released 1.25 years ago and I, as a big Nintendo fan, have a grand total of four games: Mario, Rabbids, Axiom Verge and Ittle Dew 2, with the last two being thrid party Indie games (Zelda, Sonic, Yooka I have on other platforms). There is a very real chance the system reaches its second birthday and I only have found five Nintendo games I am interested in, I cannot remember another Nintendo system that was as bad for me.
 

Danjin44

The nicest person on this forum
I personally really looking forward to Octopath Traveler. But I'm dissapointed we might not see SMTV(my biggest reason getting Switch) anytime soon.
 

ResurrectedContrarian

Suffers with mild autism
This is always so weird to me to read, because I remain stuck in the situation of having too many games to play before I can get into the latest releases. I more often end up wishing things would slow down, so that I can enjoy the next big title at launch... we don't have Mario Odyssey yet, for one example, because we're still in the middle (we = my son and I, which is how I play Nintendo games most of the time) of Breath of the Wild and Lego City Stories -- which we picked up this year after missing it at original release. So, I'm already feeling anxious that I haven't seen the latest entry in my favorite 3D Mario genre... the last thing I want is more games I'll never catch up on.

On a more practical level, it seems to me that the eShop is filled with absolutely great titles, but those are oddly ignored here.
 
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Zannegan

Member
I mean, you were there for the 3DS and Wii U right? And even the Wii had far worse periods of first party drought than this, objectively. If you don't count ports (for some reason) then the 3DS had, like, nothing after launch. I'm not saying this has been an amazing year or anything, but it's really not terrible compared to Nintendo's past systems (and if we're looking at first parties only--which isn't how game libraries work, I know--Nintendo's still doing better than some of their competitors, maybe both of them if we look at things launch-aligned).

I don't want to come off as an apologist, because, frankly, I'm not impressed by this year's lineup either. I just don't think there's any reason to resort to hyperbole to get your point across.

PS: Again, I'm a Nintendo-fan. But I hate fanboys who celebrate and praise this lineup. Have some selfworth and stop belly-rubbing a company that could do so much better.

Speaking of, you hate people who aren't mad about what you're mad about? (I'm not taking the hate thing literally, but even being annoyed because someone else isn't as peeved as you are seems a little weird, man). What if they're celebrating and praising the lineup because, you know, they actually like it? Maybe weaksauce Pokemon is their jam. *shrug* If you're feeling low on games, maybe take a look at the e-shop? I hear that dung beatle metroidvania is supposed to be pretty good.

Regardless, maybe chill out, just a little bit. It's just games, and E3 is right around the corner. Now is the time for hype. Disappointment comes after.

Oh, and don't forget Sushi Strikers next week! =P
 

Smasher89

Member
Hopefully the second half will have more stuff, concidering the major drought we got during the last year for the wii u, that said, maybe we will see the fruits for that next year concidering 3 year dev cycles I think was quite common before right?
 

KevinKeene

Banned
Speaking of, you hate people who aren't mad about what you're mad about? (I'm not taking the hate thing literally, but even being annoyed because someone else isn't as peeved as you are seems a little weird, man). What if they're celebrating and praising the lineup because, you know, they actually like it? Maybe weaksauce Pokemon is their jam. *shrug* If you're feeling low on games, maybe take a look at the e-shop? I hear that dung beatle metroidvania is supposed to be pretty good.

But nobody can like H1/2018 when there was no markable new release outside of Kirby. That's why I made this thread: I've read too many fanboys,already who try to excuse H1/2018 with the year end-releases, and I strongly oppose that attitude. 3 good games at the end of the year don't make 6+ months of nothing okay. This thread isn't about people liking specific games. It's about the overall 2018 lineup. And that's terrible and will end being terrible unless nintendo announces 2-3 ambitious games at E3.

And I ignore ports because they're late ports. I wouldn't complain about same day-ports.
 
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