Lurker > gamester_12345

I just assumed that the announcement for HD2D remake of DQ3 was a mildly sinking boat, since the main focus was for Dragon Quest XII. the most i can assume is that they can't release DQ3 until the initial hype for XII dies down post-release then..

• Sony gets a first dibs release-exclusive for about 8-9 months, Japan-only.
• Nintendo Direct reveals the game is one of the first Switch 2-Enhanced games.
• Microsoft and/or Square-Enix US posts their video, with all the console's logos, the other versions also releases in japan, again, coincidentally region-unspecific.
• Steam gets released last, but is coincidentally released with multiple languages+Japanese. presumably to double-dip in japan, and to cover any stragglers. may be posted before or after the Japanese Fiscal year ends/starts, if other projects doesn't bolster up local growth.

It honestly feels strange that Square-Enix is thinking of remaking that game, considering the sheer amount of times it has been re-released with the other games in japan. not even the older games got switch releases until XIS was announced, then suddenly we started to swim in lots of dragon quest. versions of 4-8 only really existed on smartphones because of the Nintendo ports, and square-enix dragged their feet on the 3DS-overseas version of 7 and 8.

They already squandered a bit of the community reception when they released the Pixel Remasters, since they delisted just about all the other previous versions. leading to content like the GBA/PSP content to be cut. I'm unsure if Chrono Cross even got an update until work started on work for the mobile version of the game, which then it filtered down into the other versions.

Imagine if they did the same with the other versions of DQ3 that currently exist? isn't it kind of strange that the only party composition they shown off was Hero/Warrior/Mage/Priest? the moment they show no MP on Gadabouts/Merchants, that'd mean there's no content from the later SNES/GBC/Mobile ports. (no bonus dungeons, or the Thief class). if they did it to Final Fantasy, they could surely do it to older DQ ports.

I'd kinda fear what they might do to Chrono Trigger though. since it got a maligned PC port that was arguably more from Mobile, and only got a shape up due to fan complaints. but at least it had DS content. so that's a thing, i guess?

Contentwise, if there was no omissions, then the Thief class might lose a slight bit of utility if there's convenience factors slapped onto the base game. like a map on-screen at all times (devalues Eye for Distance. and Storeyteller for dungeon depth/height), or a chest counter for areas (Nose for Treasure). heck, just having shiny spots once you visit the mini medal merchant would remove a lot of Snoop's utility despite being a level 20 skill.

Honestly, i could kinda see Padfoot being granted to Merchants, mostly to at least give them a mild use in evading some monsters. already characters in-series that has the skill but isn't traditionally thieves, like Taloon or maybe Yangus.

Honestly, the big thing about the game is that while the reception towards it by nintendo fans might be vocal. in reality, the game itself was kind of destined to fail, from....

• not having a direct release date mentioned, downplaying it existing (it had like 4 foreign language ads, that fansites bought up), heck, it wasn't even mentioned on the MAR10 video. but the same video revealing Luigi's Mansion 2 HD having something more than a vague Summer 2024 release date, and Mario TTYD.
• the promotion was arguably thin online, only really getting a demo, a few twitter posts and one twitter post that's tangibly-related with pink joycons being revealed. (when it was more of a valentines thing).
• it instantly got overshadowed by Paper Mario TTYD and Luigi's Mansion 2 (i guess) when it was revealed in the same direct. if not for the lack of concrete release date for the latter, i would've assumed it was a late-arrival sacrificial lamb. but even Nintendo seemed to not be giving it much of a chance from not mentioning the developer until release, and it being released roughly one week~ before the start of the 2024 Japanese Fiscal Year.
• to a lesser extent, Nintendo drifting away from semi-regular directs gave it was less attention. internet definitely was talking about Mother 3 not being in the western direct. Switch 2 preperation probably shoved it even more. (if the sudden hard-pivot means anything).

It basically got Balan Wonderworld'd.

there's only really two extremes: on one side, it was unique for what it was with a higher-than usual budget, on a character who was kind of unexpected (despite the past happening) only to be slotted out mostly for IP-branching...and then there's Luigi's Mansion 2 where not a lot of people has hopes for it due to being a port of a 3DS game, which is honestly kind of a downfall considering the actually-unexpected explosive return the 3rd game had. even the 3DS had a remake of the 1st game that was more of a semi-Impossible Port. Nintendo even bought out Next Level Games to boot!

Honestly, i'd be kind of curious how Paper Mario TTYD could be, assuming the price point/content is OK. Super Mario RPG at least had the dancing bear of it being a remake of a game by Square-Enix, where almost everything unique to the game never got referenced/utilized later (barring Smash).

Like you know the overwhelming amount of the general audience and core Nintendo fans would definitely go ham over something like Mario Kart, and Odyssey to a lesser extent. but then it kind of dwindles down to stuff like Party and Sports. it's also a later-stage Switch game so who knows how much budget went into it (barring it possibly being a full-on port, or a remake?). it doesn't have the potential benefit of being developmentally homogenous (as in, having assets they could easily slot into other games. like soundbytes, models and images), nor did it get released during a time when the switch was far hotter.

all in all, i'm guessing that Nintendo must've really let Intelligent Systems cook. considering they were only recently let out of the Fire Emblem mines. like after 1 paper mario and warioware game, post-Engage, they've done a more true Warioware game, and remaking TTYD. they could even be sitting on a Geneaology remake, if the initial Engage screenshot leaks+text post meant anything.

HAL Labs though. they really flipped Kirby around in the switch generation when Forgotten Land was released. that the MTX games were basically necessary weasels. don't think i heard fans talking about the lore from Return to Dreamland Deluxe much, though HAL has better grasp of homogenous asset retention (they even do retro music), so i can't imagine that game was more heavier in development costs than Star Allies, and definitely not Forgotten Land.

Honestly, in a way, i wouldn't really be surprised if the Gamecube generation of Mario games was an attempt to smooth out the franchise lore to a degree. so the Koopalings are still around technically, just that they have to distance them from Bowser's main troop.

Bowser Jr was probably something they wanted to do to introduce a new villain to the franchise that's tangibly-related to Bowser, but isn't so out of scope for the series. like imagine if King Boo was an entirely new species for the series, or was something more drastic like the version of him from 3? at least they started off slightly-menacing with reality warping powers and a fancy crown. heck, even Princess Peach Showtime's Grape and the Sour Bunch are arguably pretty far-out as a Mario prospect, especially at this point of the franchise.

Guess they might have done the Sonic Adventure 2 thing (similar to making Robotnik a former last name in Japan. and Eggman being his known villain name. despite Eggman being visibly written a few times in older games) with Bowser's species/kingdom and just rolled the Koopa moniker towards his own tribe and army. either by kingdom or by blood. so Koopa Troopas are basic grunts, however they're still considered a Koopa turtle species (Hammer/Fire Bros, Spikes, Lakitus, Buzzy Beetles, ect) that just happens to be under his rule.

Bowser Jr's existence also simplifies the inherent personality problem the Koopalings would've bought by being in a 3D game that lacked the openendedness that a 2D game would have, like those games not having characterization/voice acting outside of peach's ransom letters. or playing the game progressively. in Mario 3, you could just skip stages or even entire worlds with a whistle or two, and you'd kind of get most of the gist. with Sunshine, there's points in the game where the world changes, so you'd probably have to fight Bowser Jr a few times before the end.

You definitely wouldn't be able to pull a similar thing with the Koopalings if they were 3D. whereas something like New Super Mario Bros is OK. i'd guess at least they can be characterized in spinoffs and the Superstar Saga remake, since Jr just gives that unique viewpoint. (barring being maybe-mind controlled by Bowletta/Cackletta). if Koopalings were in 3D, you'd have to either create 7 definite-point bosses *AND* Bowser.

Assuming that in modern times, if there's any hierarchy. Bowser would be at the top. then Junior in a slightly lesser role, and maybe a Magikoopa (or Kamek. depends on writer) just as something to shift magic powers or boss mechanics. after that it'd probably be the Koopalings, then Boom Boom/Pom Pom. Jr's involvement probably swings on if Bowser's ok with him being in immediate danger, or just currently indisposed. (like being a skeleton in NSMB for most of the game).

and as for the modern series shift. it's kind of strange that Toadsworth was shown somewhat prominently in Sunshine, and appeared in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, but then only really appeared in stuff like sports games afterwards. even Luigi's Mansion kept E. Gadd around; which for a non-Toad/Koopa character is kind of amazing. Humans are kind of a rare sight for the series if it isn't the base 3 characters, or a princess.

Weirdly there's unused koopaling sprites in Super Princess Peach. or maybe Nintendo was worried about using them again so soon, in a semi-related Mario Spinoff made by TOSE (Starfy series) that they probably didn't want to rock the boat.