January 20th 2025.
After taking some time to think about the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, I can't help but wonder about the things they didn't tell us. One question that stands out to me is whether Mario Kart 9 will be the main launch game. I can't recall a time when a Mario Kart game was ever a launch title, so it seems like an unusual choice to me.
Don't get me wrong, Mario Kart is incredibly popular, but it's not the type of game that would convince someone to buy a new console. Breath Of The Wild was definitely a game that had that effect, but I'm not sure if Mario Kart will have the same impact. As GC mentioned, most people will probably just ask if it's a new game rather than anything else.
Personally, I'm hoping that there will be another game launching alongside Mario Kart 9, ideally a new 3D Super Mario. Technically, there's no reason why this couldn't be the case, but I'm not getting my hopes up. I'm afraid that at best, the only other launch game will be Metroid Prime 4.
My only hope is that the new Mario Kart will have a strong single-player mode. It would feel strange to buy a new Nintendo console and have the main launch game be primarily focused on multiplayer.
Moving on to other topics, I know we won't be seeing a new mainline Zelda game for a while, since Tears Of The Kingdom was just released. However, I can't help but wonder if we will get an announcement for the next one this year. After all, Tears Of The Kingdom was announced just two years after Breath Of The Wild, so it's not completely unrealistic to think that we could get a tease or reveal in April.
It makes sense that Nintendo would want to assure everyone that their second biggest franchise will also be on the new console. Another re-release of The Wind Waker might not be enough to do that. I'm not saying it's likely, but it's definitely something to consider.
I was pleasantly surprised when I heard about the remaster of Tomb Raider IV-VI. I know the fourth game, The Angel Of Darkness, was pretty bad, but even the fifth and sixth games, The Last Revelation and Chronicles, were not that great. The formula was starting to get repetitive, and it was clear that the developers were running out of ideas with so many games being released in a short period of time.
What's even more surprising is that the remaster seems to be doing an excellent job so far. The first remaster collection was well done, so I shouldn't be too shocked. But what's really impressive is that they're bringing back cut content from The Angel Of Darkness and trying to improve it, rather than just re-releasing it. If the reviews are good, I might give it a try. Turning a bad game into a good one is the ultimate goal of every remaster, and this time it might actually happen.
Moving on to other news, I'm glad to see that Sony is cancelling more live service games. The failure of Concord might end up being the best thing that ever happened to PlayStation. I know they claim that they have more money to make these games, rather than taking away from single-player games, but that's not the real issue.
The problem is that developers were tied up making live service games instead of proper games. This was the exact reason Naughty Dog gave for cancelling The Last Of Us Online, and it's clear that it's been an issue for many developers. Bend Studio, for example, hasn't announced anything in five years, and there's a real danger that they might be shut down soon. You can't keep a company going for that long without producing anything, and that's not their fault. It's Sony's fault that hundreds of people are employed at a company that hasn't released a single usable thing in half a decade.
Now, turning to the topic of the Mario Kart trailer, I couldn't help but wonder if there will be a gumball rally mode that will be the main focus. From the short trailer, it looks like the track could be larger, similar to some racing sims where you compete in full or short circuit races.
I know it might be a controversial decision to exclude the traditional cup tournaments, but having a gumball rally mode could expand the Mario Kart universe exponentially. This could alleviate concerns that a story mode might not have the same replay value as a traditional Mario Kart game.
Lastly, I have to say that the Switch 2 looks pretty sleek and stylish, with just a hint of color on the Joy-Cons to differentiate between them. I'm excited to see what else Nintendo has in store for us with their new console.
After taking some time to digest the recent Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, it's important to consider all the information that was not included. For me, the biggest question is whether Mario Kart 9 will be the main launch game. It's unusual for a Mario Kart game to be a launch title, and I'm not convinced it's the best choice.
While Mario Kart is undeniably popular, it's not the type of game that would make someone rush out to buy a new console. Breath of the Wild was a clear must-play game for the Switch, but I'm not sure if Mario Kart will have the same effect. As GC pointed out, most people will probably just wonder if it's a new game or not.
Personally, I'm hoping for another game to launch alongside Mario Kart, ideally a new 3D Super Mario. Technically, there's no reason why this couldn't happen, but I have a feeling it will only be Metroid Prime 4 at best. I just hope that the new Mario Kart has a strong single-player mode, because it would feel strange to buy a new console and have the main launch game be primarily multiplayer.
Moving on to other topics, I know we won't be getting a new mainline Zelda game for quite some time, since Breath of the Wild's sequel just came out. However, I can't help but wonder if we'll get an announcement for the next game this year. After all, it only took two years for Breath of the Wild to be announced after the release of Tears of the Kingdom. So, it's not completely unbelievable to think that we might get a tease or reveal in April.
It would make sense for Nintendo to assure fans that their second biggest franchise will also be on the new console. Another re-release of The Wind Waker might not be enough to do that. I'm not saying it's likely, but it's definitely something to consider.
On a different note, I find it hard to believe that they're remastering Tomb Raider 4, 5, and 6. We all know how bad The Angel of Darkness was, but The Last Revelation and Chronicles weren't much better. The formula was getting stale and it was clear they were running out of ideas, especially with so many games being released in a short period of time.
However, what's even more surprising is that the remasters seem to be doing a great job. The first collection was well done, so I shouldn't be too shocked. But, they're actually bringing back cut content from The Angel of Darkness and trying to improve it, rather than just re-releasing it. If the reviews are good, I might just have to give it a try. Turning a bad game into a good one is the ultimate goal of every remaster, and it seems like it might actually happen this time.
In other news, it's a relief to see more of Sony's live service games being cancelled. The failure of Concord may ultimately be the best thing for PlayStation. While they claim to have more money to make these games instead of taking resources away from single-player games, it's not really the point. The developers were tied up working on live service games instead of creating proper games. This was the exact reason Naughty Dog gave for cancelling The Last of Us Online, and it's clear it's been a problem for many developers.
It's been five years since Bend Studio announced anything, and I worry they may be shut down soon. It's not their fault, it's Sony's. But, it's concerning that a company can go for so long without producing anything usable. Ultimately, this affects the livelihoods of hundreds of employees.
Looking ahead, I can't help but wonder if the Mario Kart trailer showed a potential gumball rally mode as its main focus. The track in the trailer looks larger, similar to some racing sims where you compete in full or short circuit races. It would be a bold move to exclude the traditional cup tournaments, but having a gumball rally mode could expand the Mario Kart universe significantly. This would address any concerns that a story mode would lack the replay value of a traditional Mario Kart game.
In conclusion, there are a lot of unanswered questions and hopeful theories surrounding the Switch 2 and its potential launch games. Only time will tell what Nintendo has in store for us, but I'm cautiously optimistic about the future. Don't forget to email your thoughts and comments to the address provided.
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