Sweet Home Alabama

 Back in something like 2019, I decided to move this to WordPress for reasons that I'm currently unaware of.  I've become somewhat annoyed and disillusioned with WP over the last year or so. Again, for reasons that I'm currently unaware of.  It probably has something to do with the fact that they want me to give them an annoyingly large amount of cashey-money to be able to post whatever I want to on a blog that I've maintained for twenty-five years, across four (I'm pretty sure) platforms.

 All but one of those blogs I have access to and have considered writing in again in the last year or so, but since I would like to post pictures, I suspect this is the one to start leaning into again.

I would like to migrate everything from WP back over to here by the first of the year, but who knows how difficult it will be.  Easy if I can do an import/export, but more difficult if I have to copy paste.

I'm going to choose to be optimistic.  

There's Got To Be A Twist

 

I was "given" a Nintendo Switch 2 as a gift this past weekend. I'm enjoying it so far, and it is not lost on me that I got my first Switch (Lite) just short of six years ago.

I don't have any pictures to post right now like I did before, but I plan to get some screenshots and write a bit more about it in a few weeks.

When I got the Switch, I was about 2 1/2 years into the life of the thing, so there was a pretty good selection of games to choose from, and I'd say I snagged some good ones to go with it right out of the gate. The Switch 2 was the Mario Kart World bundle and I snagged a copy of Bravely Default, which I enjoyed on the 3DS, and really want the opportunity to go through again. I haven't gotten the chance to actually start that one yet, but I've been playing some Mario Kart and Animal Crossing.

Yes, I started another island.

I re-read my post from my first day with the original Switch Lite, and I must say. I'm disappointed that I haven't managed to play through FFXII yet. I don't use the Lite much anymore, that has been taken over by other people in my house, and the digital versions of games start to get a little weird when you have more than two consoles. I should probably start looking for a cartridge for that one. And maybe, you know, actually play the game.

But I digress.

And forgot what I was going to write.

He's A Pinball Wizard

 Came across a Nintendo Switch Lite.

I’m enjoying it greatly so far! As it stands, it is the best way I’ve ever seen to play games I’ve owned for a long (in some cases, decades!) time.

I had been up in the air about getting a Switch since it basically first came out, and then when the Lite came out recently I spent some more time contemplating it.

With the original Switch, I was really liking the idea of TV/Portability, but the cost was a huge turnoff. Also the issues with the JoyCon drift and a few other things I was on the fence. I started evaluating the Lite version, and when I realized that I don’t really do any sort of gaming on an actual TV screen anymore, it became a more serious contender. After actually holding one, I really started liking the way the Lite feels in my hand. Seeing as the controllers aren’t detachable, it feels a lot more solid, which is part of the appeal.

Yes, the screen is smaller, but it looks great, and is a wonderful size!

As for the game library, the ones I have are all games I have owned for a long time:

I’ve owned the original Link’s Awakening since my father gave it to me as a birthday gift in something like 1996, and every now and again I pull it out and play it.

Final Fantasy X was the first game I bought with my refurbished PS2 in about 2002 or 2003, and I play that one every now and again.

Final Fantasy XII I bought new. Got it at Target right when it came out because they were giving away a gift card with the game purchase…Which I used to buy groceries since I had just spent my grocery money on a video game.

Breath Of The Wild is the newest game I own on this list. Got that one with the Wii U at the beginning of the year and I’ve enjoyed the heck out of that one.

As for the games, Link’s Awakening is a remake of the first portable Zelda game. This is an amazing game all around, a direct sequal to the brilliant “A Link To The Past,” and released about two years after. It took me something like two years to get through this game. Partly because that Gameboy consumed batteries like nobody’s business, partly because I just never wanted it to end. I picked up the port of the Deluxe edition that was released for Gameboy Color on my 3DS a few years back, but this one is absolutely the best remake.

The graphics are very much similar to those in A Link Between Worlds (also fantastic!), and I feel like Nintendo knocked this one out of the park.

As for Final Fantasy XII, I’m not sure why they added “The Zodiac Age” to the title, and I honestly haven’t bothered looking up the reason for it on the internet, yet. As for gameplay itself, the cutscenes are a lot prettier than I remember and the in game graphics are very nice too! It is an updated version of the original, while still keeping very true to it.

Final Fantasy X is one I haven’t started playing through again yet, and I’m a little bit into Breath Of The Wild, so I don’t have any sort of images or anything from those two yet. I’m tempted to grab a video capture device and record some playtime from the Wii U version. Although I might just see about getting some screenshots of both versions, just for comparison. Same thing with Link’s Awakeing, If I can find out how to grab a screenshot or 5 from the 3DS, I will update this post with some side by side shots.

Needless to say, I am enjoying it greatly.