Mario is always of exceptional quality because they don't make the main games an annual event. This is the first Mario game in four years; that's four years of polish and thoughtful game design.

@hayato_: Huh. That's interesting. Nintendo must be feeling more confident about their shipments if they're supplying demo units; I haven't seen a single one since it launched. Will have to look for t...

@hayato_: There's a demo at Target?

This is a more recent phenomenon. Only in the past two weeks have I seen it on shelves consistently. And I'm in a rural county.

Kind of a crap deal for people who were on board in the beginning. $20 for the expansion after already paying full price for a game that got a discount like three months later?

Metroid has done the trick for me so far. The isolation you feel is kinda creepy.

They never left.

Agreed. Was pleasantly surprised by it. Beautiful art direction (you can tell it's from the Bravely Default peeps), gorgeous soundtrack and tight combat. Write some sharper dialogue and narratives an...

@indzman: Huh? Uncharted has the most braindead platforming of any game in the genre, and you're calling that an adult experience?

@jumpaction: Fire Emblem has had plenty of console games, though. Just not with Wii U.

@ArchoNils2: I can't tell if it's genuinely that there are a lot of good games out lately (you could make a case for it), or if they really are getting less harsh.

That's a surprising gap. And Microsoft could close it if they had any remotely interesting exclusives coming.Alas.

@lamprey263: Get a PS3?

Nintendo has had a very good first few months. Not at all lacking options like I was with 3DS or Wii U. A little worried they frontloaded and don't have much for 2018, though.

I think there's still room for the hat mechanic to underwhelm, or some of the game's structure to feel derivative (hey there, Yooka-Laylee). So I'm going with a 9. That said, game looks great and I'l...

I'm not usually perched for things to fail, but man I can't wait for this turd to sink to the bottom so we never have to see these mid-gen upgrades again. You'd think they'd divest from this after se...

Of the big games, I'd say Horizon or Tales of Berseria. The latter doesn't get enough credit; it was really a return to form.

What a sad Top 10 software list for Xbox One.Looks like Ever Oasis and Hey! Pikmin flopped. Who is buying Ghost Recon in droves?Yessssssss at that 50-percent year-over-year gain for RPGs. Feels nice ...

@lrdfancypants: That is valuable as a foundation, but I don't think Xbox actually represents anything. There are no values--in an ethical "What comes to mind?" sense--to speak of.Kotaku just did a sur...

Why does it matter if they make money off the actual console? Thinking about it, there are lots of products and brands that don't make money from the biggest actual investment. You think musicians mak...