Catching up from several pages of chat.
To me, personally, 2022 is almost on par with 2017's software lineup. (Splatoon 3, Xenoblade 3, Bayonetta 3). There's a lot of quantity and variety in the lineup.
But your enjoyment of the 2022 lineup depends on how much you like Pokémon. The year literally started with Pokémon Legends: Arceus and now it's basically ending with Pokémon Violet/Scarlet. Pokémon fans are really eating this year.
Yeah, I'm not too fussed about Pokemon, though I tried Legends. But let's say this year was book-ended by Zelda, with a 2D game at the start and BotW2 at the end - I'd be beyond happy.
I think the one 'weakness' this year for me across the board is just how RPG heavy it is. I love RPGs, but I'm gonna have to skip a lot of stuff just to be able to play Xenoblade and Sunbreak (did get and love both Triangle Strategy and Live Alive). There are other good options - I loved Kirby and am very excited for Splatoon 3, Sparks of Hope, and Bayonetta 3 - but it'd be nice to see a little more single player stuff outside the RPG genre.
If there's Pokemon games on the rumored GameBoy NSO service, then we'll really be feasting.
I'm really hoping we get the whole damn family. I mean, there's a fair few GB/GBC games I'd play if they come along - Super Mario Land 1 & 2, Donkey Kong 94, Wario Land 1 through 3, the Oracle games - but GBA has rich pickings and I'm sure the games would look great in portable mode.
Really itching to replay Superstar Saga and Super Circuit lately.
Totally. I'm so curious to see how everything shakes out with Nintendo's scheduling.
From one angle, Nintendo has made the Zelda IP an annual series. You always get something Zelda-related every year, even if it's just a spinoff like Hyrule Warriors or an HD remaster like Skyward Sword. Normally they don't skip a year for Zelda. Does this streak officially come to an end due to BOTW2's delay?
From another angle, this year is Metroid Prime's 20th anniversary. And Nintendo has the opportunity to ride the sales momentum of last year's Metroid Dread. Releasing Prime HD soon would also make the wait for Prime 4 less frustrating. Jeff Grubb seems very confident that this is releasing this year.
From another angle, Pokémon is the big November title. Would Nintendo let Pokémon share the same month with Metroid or Zelda remasters?
From another angle, we still don't know what's going on with Advance Wars. Did Everybody's 1-2-Switch get Batgirl'd? Is David Zaslav secretly running Nintendo?
An early September Direct gives Nintendo time to drop Prime out of the blue, if they want, but that means it's likely November or December. Personally I thought the gap between Splatoon 3 and Sparks of Hope was a better launch window, but there we are.
December has Dragon Quest Treasures as a Switch exclusive, but we know from the Live Alive/Xenoblade 3 situation this year that Nintendo won't step aside if they have something to release then. December to me looks likelier as a window for Advance Wars, Everybody Switch, or something unannounced. Style Savvy seems like it should happen on Switch.
the only way i see TP+WW coming out before BOTW2 is if BOTW 2 was pushed back again
WWHD or TPHD (or both) would have been great H1 releases despite my general disinterest. If the Prime remake actually exists and is scheduled for this year they'd have to release Zelda in the busy September to November period which seems unnecessary.
The Zelda timing is an odd one and I'm still not expecting a retail Zelda title this calendar year - especially not a mainline title or compilation. If one does happen, then I think Breath of the Wild 2 is a June 2023 title at the earliest. There's no need for Nintendo to drop Zelda in say, November, if they're then going to have their major, hugely anticipated Zelda title launching 6 months later; especially not when it could be another 4 to 6 years before Nintendo are ready to ship a new mainline Zelda.
In terms of exclusive releases, too, they've got a good selection to come: Splatoon 3, Sparks of Hope, Bayonetta 3, Pokemon Scarlet/Violet, Dragon Quest Treasures. That's September 9th through to December 9th. Sure, you could squeeze in a couple more games, but my money for that would be 2 out of Advance Wars, Metroid Prime, and a casual title (Everybody Switch; my perennial Style Savvy prediction).
