The Fireside

Today was a slightly sad day....perhaps I am being overly dramatic, but it was slightly sad. Today I packed up and boxed my wii u and its games. I do not yet have a Switch (I most likely will at, or by, Christmas), so it wasn't done to 'make space', but rather because I played the wii u literally to its death. I got it in Sept 2013, and now (June 2019) - it's finished. What had happened, is that the GamePad can no longer hold a charge. It can charge, but it lasts approx 45 min - 1 hr 15 before The Red Light of Doom comes on, then starts flashing. The problem is, because the wii u 'failed' we got the Switch. Because of that , Nintendo stopped supporting it in 2017. That means no more GamePad battery replacement packs. I wish I had known of the 'extended' battery pack made by Nintendo which gives longer life (both to 'extend' and get a new battery for it.) There are sellers on Amazon, etc but the reviews have been mixed: fr...

Many fans were hoping that the Switch would get Mario Maker ported over to it, like so many other titles from the wii u (as of now, the only titles that remain exclusive to the wii u are: Mario 3D World, Xenoblade X, and Pikmin 3 - I may be missing 1 or 2). It was announced that Nintendo is making Mario Maker 2 . When I was a kid, I used to draw Mario quite a bit. I often enjoyed sketching a 'screenshot' of a made-up level, almost Bob Ross style. I used to get quite creative: "What if I make this spiny green?? The regualr ones are red, and there's red and green koopas, so....oh! and how would it behave on-screen?" That was one such example I would enjoy thinking of. When Mario Maker came out, i was able to relieve and fulfill that aspect of my life, almost to its fullest. As great as the game was, it lacked a few minor elements that I would have loved to seen included, so I could make my levels more varied, and recreate some from Mario 1 and Mario 3 - ...

Without a doubt, Nintendo is hard at work, most likely in the very early stages of the next major Legend of Zelda game. I doubt it'll be a "sequel" (or "prequel") to Breath of the Wild , but it'll still be a follow-up nonetheless. This post will examine what I would love to go into the next major Zelda title. OPEN WORLD One of the things I enjoyed about Breath of the Wild  (as well as what I've played of the original title) is a large, vast world to explore. You could pretty much go anywhere you wanted, in (almost?) in order. I'd like to see what freedom return. However, I found Breath of the Wild  to be too......empty. Sure there's shrines and towers scattered throughout, but I didn't get the sense that the world was populated. There was after all I think 5 main cities or settlements. In a giant game. That felt a bit....odd to me. I think Nintendo should find a balance of vast exploration mingled with more settlements and 'world' t...

Hard to believe that later this year one of the best video games of all time, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time , will celebrate it’s 20 th anniversary! I still remember getting the gold cartridge edition for Christmas the year it came out. To celebrate leading up to the game’s anniversary, bit by bit, I’ll be counting down my favourite moments. Before I begin, why not check out Hero of Time ? It was performed by those responsible that did the Symphony of the Goddess music tour, as well as the The Legend of Zelda 25 th Anniversary music CD. It exists on vinyl, as well as Spotfy, iTunes and Google Play. Definitely worth checking out. So without further ado, let’s begin this series of posts! The Beginning of the Game Well, it makes sense to start at the beginning, doesn’t it? I remember getting the Kokiri Sword, then the Kokiri Shield, all the while collecting as many Rupees as I can. I think I also bought Deku Nuts from the store as well…. Anyway, once I was all g...

I finally got around to getting my N3DSXL. First game I got for it is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of time . One of the reasons, is that I had always intended to get it pretty much straight away, but also because it seems that the game is hard to come by. I am not sure if the game is being phased out or dis-continued, or merely hard to find, due to Majora’s Mask being out, and another ‘ Zelda fever’ resulting .  I have others on my ‘list’ I plan to get. But what would I like to see arrive on it?? I already discussed how I would like to see The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess released for it. I did a post (“Improving the Twilight”), but wanted to add onto that that Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D is similar, graphically, to its wii counter-part. Just saying. And, that would be the next time Nintendo remasters/re-releases/remakes an existing Zelda title. Perhaps make it an exclusive to the N3DS, as opposed to the 3DS as ‘incentive’.  Earthbo...

This may be impossibly optimistic, but I have a great idea on what Nintendo could do on the N3DS, which is coming out this Friday: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.  I know, there are few muttering, shaking their heads, etc, wondering how a wii / gamecube game could make it onto the N3DS. With Wind Waker , Nintendo remastered the game in HD for the wii u. With Ocarina of Time and Majaora's Mask Nintendo also upped the graphical ante, and of course, made the games in 3D. But for Twilight Princess , suppose the game CAN'T look any better than in its current state. So therefore, we 'remake' it, as opposed to 'remastering' it. With Ocarina and Majora , (as well as Wind Waker ) Nintendo also 'tweaked' the games here and there, fixing (or improving) anything that they thought would better the game. Since 3DS games have a certain graphical limit in order for the system to run them, as gorgeous as they are, they are not graphically amazing by today...

Yesterday during the Nintendo Direct, we learned 50 things about Smash Bros. U,  which will be out in just under a month. Here are some notes.  

Chipset 1.8GHz Quad Core, Intel® Atom™ Imagination PowerVR Series 6 Graphics 2D/3D Engine Memory 1GB RAM 8GB storage Ports 18W DC power HDMI out (1920×1080@60Hz) Micro-USB 2.0 Wireless 802.11ac 2×2 (MIMO) Bluetooth 4.1 Weight 235g Dimensions 120mm x 120mm x 20mm The console will sell at about $100, and the controller will go for about $40 and will be released Nov. 3rd. 

At long last, one of the most anticipated games for the wii u has a release date! Smash Bros.  for the wii u will be releasing (in North America and Canada) on Nov. 21 . I am glad that Nintendo is choosing to release it then.  Also, I am sure it is a great game, but because I do not own a 3DS (yet...) I got tired of the abundance of the 3DS news and lack of wii u news. Also, it was slightly annoying that, due to the limitations of the *3DS* some things were cut out of, or changed, for the *wii u* version...why? Aren't they separate games? Anyway...  I am sure you most likely know everything there is to know about the game at this point. You can pre-order it pretty much anywhere. Myself though, I am most likely going to go for the eshop digital version. (I have been hearing rumours that it will be about 8GB to download, but please do not quote me on that. Though if I am right....) I know it is a game that I will play very frequently and has a lot of replay...

The new Warriors game starring Legend of Zelda characters (this is not, and I repeat not a Zelda game) is coming later this month, and there quite a few pre-order DLC bonuses. Here is a listing of what some of them are, that give you bonus in-game content.  This info is courtesy of Nintendo: Here’s a nice offer involving a (usually) not-so-nice guy: if you buy Hyrule Warriors for Wii U and register the game with Club Nintendo between 9/26/14 and 10/23/14, you can receive a free download code for the Demon King Costume Set DLC: two costumes for Ganondorf that you can use in-game. You must be a Club Nintendo member to participate, and the offer is available only in the US and Canada. A little unfortunate for those hoping to get the game for Christmas but worth mentioning!  If you pre-order through EB Games (or Gamestop), you get the Ocarina of Time costume set.  If you pre-order through Amaz...

So I've been playing Oblivion at a steady pace, in my spare leisure time - you know, when I've done some writing, not in the mood to watch a show / movie, etc... Since this game is 'free roam' I only really follow a strategy if I get stuck on a quest, or if I want to read up on an area before I get there. I just hit level 20 last night, and here is my checklist for the foreseeable future: - recommendations for fighters and mages guild for Bravil and Bruma. [My cities visited, in order, are Chorrol, Skingrad, Cheydinhal, Anvil, L, and am now in Bravil] - getting the Relics of the Crusader [since I have blade specialty, I'd rather the sword than mace] - Castle of Kvatch [Oblivion gate is closed, though. Chipping away at this one. My next step is the Guardhouse Key portion] - Arcane University [ enchanting and spell creation] - Oblivion gates / main quest - undecided about Shivering Isles. T...

RPGs have always been a favourite type of game of mine - though it really depends on the plot, developer etc. One of my all time favourite RPGs was Knights of the Old Republic , as well as Morrowind (Elder Scrolls III) . I won't list a bunch of games here that I've played and enjoyed, but it looks like there are some good ones coming up.  

I'm a newcomer to the Elder Scrolls series. I've tried Morrowind way back in the day (my introduction to the series) but never got around to getting my own copy, or playing too far into it.  I did manage to get the Game of the Year Edition for Oblivion, The Elder Scrolls IV .  Due to the openess of the world, it was hard to determine how far into it my first time playing. Also, I was learning to play as I went, so my gaming approach was quite sparodic in regards to quests etc.  Lately though, I've fired the game up again. Now that I know how to play, I have a better handle and tighter focus on the game. Rather than going too open and crazy, I'm 'loosely' following the main quest.  I am playing as a Breton 'adventurer' (spellsword, battlemage..) basically, using magic for attack and healing (attack as opposed to bows, and for my ranged attacks) but using light / leather armour, and a one-handed melee weapon and no shield. I'm also seeking...

Now that E3 is over, the waiting for some of those games can begin...  Since I own a wii u, this post will focus on that platform's games (Xbox and Playstation fans, be sure to check out the games you're interested in for pre-orders.) Various retailers are now offering pre-orders for some of the upcoming wii u games..even if there is no release date yet, nor are the games finished.  Ones on the wii u of note: Smash Bros (I will either get this one as a digital download via the e shop or physical copy) The Legend of Zelda (pre-ordered already!) Hyrule Warriors  Captain Toad  Star Fox  Mario Maker (I will either get this one as a digital download from the e shop or physical copy) Yoshi's Wooly World  There may be others, but as far as I could tell from the E3 coverage, these ones are going to be big. 

Initial Thoughts before E3: For a video gamer, the best time of the year is coming up - E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo). I see it as the Comic-Con for video games. I'm sure XBOX and Playstation will show off some great titles; (who is winning that war, by the way? I think the winner is PS4 but nothing by a landslide by any means) but I'm interested and focused on Nintendo. So what would I like to see from Big N? A few things actually... - The Legend of Zelda U . Remember that demo you showed us with Link fighting that monster, then again in the dark? Yeah...I want my game to look like that - adult Link, and 'realism' graphics. I don't want you to go changing your game now, Nintendo - remember the Space World demo? And no half cel shaded, half 'real'. Go full real. Also, no 'gimmicks' - no wolves, no bgiant birds. Just a 'basic' Zelda game in execution. Of course, new items, control scheme etc... but let's...

This is a post forany parents who may be getting the wii u for their kids. And I mean 10 or under.

Today the long awaited Mario Kart 8 is finally out. And I must say, it could very well be the best Mario Kart yet for a console. I enjoyed the games on the wii, but not the console itself. So, with Mario Kart 8 , I'm using the gamepad and U Pro Controller.  The biggest difference or newest feature about the game is antigravity. You can race in all directions, as per how the track moves. Switching is easy and seamless and automatic in-game. The gliders re-appear, as do bikes. Basically, Nintendo put all the best parts from past Mario Kart games into this one. And coins! Coins are back. Another feature I quite like is fast recovery. If you get hit, getting back into it doesn't take nearly as long as in past games. There is also a defence against the dreaded Spiny Shell.... There are loads of courses and characters to unlock, a few new items and tons of replayability due to mulitpplayer, and trying to unlock each and every item.  With all the 'new...

At long last, The Elder Scrolls Online is now available for PC /Mac. Head on over to the official site to download the game. I would if I could, but my PC is somewhat outdated (doesn't meet the specs to play 'comfortably'...you know, fully maxed out). I do intend to get a new desktop at some point this year, so I'll join then. I will be playing 'Daggerfall Covenant' as a Breton. Have fun, and remember that this is not Elder Scrolls VI, nor is it meant to be. PC Recommended System Requirements Operating System: Windows 7 64-bit or Windows 8 64-bit Processor: Quad Core 2.3GHz or equivalent processor Memory: 4GB System RAM Hard Disk Space: 60GB free HDD space Video Card: Direct X 11 compliant video card with 2GB of RAM (NVIDIA® GeForce® 560 Ti / ATI Radeon™ 6950 or better) Sound: DirectX compatible sound card PC Minimum System Requirements Operating System: Windows XP 32-bit Processor: Dual Core 2.0GHz or equivalent processor Memory:...

No, not the Xbox that came out before the XBOX 360, the one that's coming out in a few days.

This post, I'm going to talk about, and recommend my newest gaming console - the wii u.