Games Inbox: What the Nintendo Switch 2 will look like, Elder Scrolls: Castles, and Metaphor: ReFantazio-GameCentral-Entertainment – Metro

Just how weird will the Switch 2 be? (Nintendo)

The Thursday letters page is enjoyably bemused by Nintendo’s Alarmo, as a reader recommends indie game Arco.

To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Expect the unexpected
I’ll be honest I’m loving this rumour cycle with the Nintendo Switch 2. The one for the PS5 Pro was boring because no one wanted and everyone knew it was going to pointless but not that expensive!). But the Switch 2, everyone is up for a new Nintendo console at this point, as well as all the new games that will be announced alongside it and whatever weird features and ideas it brings along.

I mean… they just announced an alarm clock as if it’s some major breakthrough in technology. You can literally never tell what they’re going to do, and I love that and I think it’s a big part of why they’re so successful. Maybe the Switch 2 will look like the current one – I know that supposed leak did – but maybe it won’t. I don’t think we can bet on anything until Nintendo themselves reveal it.

You can always tell when a detractor hasn’t played their games because they always complain there’s too many Mario and Zelda games and whatever, but the variety within each franchise is so massive they’re more than most publishers manage in their entire history.

Except the other thing about Nintendo is there’s never any guarantees either. The Switch 2 could be a huge misstep and total flop, we don’t know. And I kind of like that too, it keeps things interesting.
Zeiss

Familiar problem
I’ve played The Elder Scrolls: Castles too and I confirm that is not a good game. Its main problem is that it feels old-fashioned, like a Fallout Shelter clone that should’ve come out eight years ago. Sound like a familiar problem? I used to love Skyrim and Fallout 3 but with every new game that comes out it’s obvious that Bethesda is stuck in its ways and finds it impossible to innovate.

Actually, it’s even worse with that, since they can’t keep up with modern trends, let alone come up with anything new of their own. Starfield was the obvious example of this, but it’s been a problem for at least a decade now.

A part of me is really looking forward to The Elder Scrolls 6 but another part of me is dreading finding out that it’s another outdated, unimaginative sequel coasting by on its name. I suspect that the problem is that Bethesda needs new leadership but whatever the problem is they need to be doing better and small projects like a mobile game should be an opportunity to experiment, not repeat the same old mistakes.
Uta

Alarming news
Like most people, my response to Nintendo’s new hardware was ‘Wait, what?’ Of course, I am talking about the much-anticipated Nintendo alarm clock: Alarmo. I actually think this is quite a cool idea, but after watching the trailer, who is this for?

The trailer was quite clearly targeting kids, but I doubt many kids #1 item on their Christmas list is an $100 – yes this is $100 – alarm clock. I don’t think the sleep data Nintendo has packed in there for some reason is needed in something novelty like this.

Many adult Nintendo enthusiasts will likely not appreciate obnoxious coin sounds as they get up. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think this is going to be a failure, it’s probably going to sell out within a day or two, but Nintendo could have made so much more money if this was a cool novelty $25 alarm clock.
Daniel T.

GC: What surprised us is there doesn’t seem to be much sleep analysis. That aspect seemed to be very much an afterthought and we’re not sure what you’re supposed to do with the information, that you moved around a lot at night, anyway.

Hidden gem
Another game I’d be really interested in your opinion on, for your review round-up, would be Arco. I’m near the end and have really loved the game and its whole aesthetic, with some superbly impressionistic visuals and amazing music.

Only some (in my opinion) terrible writing and jarring dialogue let it down and stop it being an all-timer for me, but I think you’d enjoy your time with it.

Thanks for all that you do!
Chris D

GC: We can’t say we’ve ever heard of that before but we like the look of it, so we’ll try and give it a go.

Changing the rules
I believe the next Halo game will be for the next gen Xbox. If there are current gen versions (including PlayStation 5), they will obviously be inferior.

My guess is Microsoft are going to shift towards timed exclusivity for almost everything. Whilst Xbox will dominate in revenue capability, the Xbox console playerbase will shrink even further. Microsoft won’t care if they’re making record profits, at the expense of the Xbox brand.

Microsoft now see Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo players as their customer base. It isn’t what Xbox fans wanted or what the industry needs. It’s a soulless approach to making money on video games.

Call Of Duty and Minecraft have proven to Microsoft they don’t need to sell to just their own customer base. Now they want every IP they own to have similar success. It is no longer a console war. It has become an IP war, with Microsoft now owning some of the most successful live service games.

Xbox is now treading a fine line between a platform holder and third party publisher. Logic suggests it doesn’t work. It’s soulless corporate greed. They changed the rules because they were losing.
Si

Next quest
Shout out to Atlus. I’ve heard great things about Metaphor: ReFantazio and I see GC have reviewed it well. Another pre-order and another title I’ll probably have no time for. But can’t ignore that 94 on Metacritic.

Can Persona 6 please be the next big release though? We’ve waited quite a while. Pretty please?
Shahzaib Sadiq

GC: It will almost certainly be their next major game. Although it’s possible there could be a spin-off or two beforehand.

Think positive
Hey there. Still loving my gaming despite all the negativity, which I guess I’m kind of adding to! Most of my gaming is on the Switch, as the prices are reasonable. I think gaming decline is no doubt due to the cost of developing but also that leading to the high cost of games.

New PlayStation 5 releases are 120 bucks (here in Australia) which I want to support, like Silent Hill 2, but I know it’ll drop to like 60-70 bucks for Black Friday and I’m still playing Astro Bot and Zelda. Anyway, I’m rambling, but to my main point! Will you be reviewing Kill Knight on switch? Looks like it will scratch my next indie switch itch?!
Jad

GC: We hope to, yes. It certainly caught our eye.

Gadget show
While we wait for news on Swiitch TwU, Nintendo release an alarm clock.

I love it when Nintendo do things like this, but I think about £100 is a bit too much for Alarmo. There would be a higher chance of me buying one if it was around £60. (However, I do have money saved for an Xbox Series X I’ll now not buy).

And as regards needing a MyNintendo Account to buy one per account, hopefully that should reduce scalping.

I like the idea of being able to download new themes and sounds over time.

I have no need for one but I’m sure the novelty of the wake-up sounds will wear off pretty quickly.

If Nintendo are going to make gadgets other than gaming devices or accessories, I would rather have a Nintendo-made smartphone with all kinds of cool Nintendo apps.

That would be the only phone that would be able to tear me away from the Samsung Flip 5 I currently have.
LeighDappa

Inbox also-rans
Looking forward to playing Metaphor: ReFantazio after your review. Did you say you fight a giant duck with a human face? Surely that pushes it to a 10 score. I literally can’t wait to see what sound it makes.
r-s-w

GC: The duck monster is nothing compared to how weird later bosses get.

That Amazon sale was rubbish. I mean, I did pick up Persona 3 Reload cheap but that was literally the only notable thing they had and I can’t imagine that many people are even interested in it.
Hayman

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The small print
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