Donkey Kong Bananza unveils complete voice-acting, prompting Pokemon enthusiasts to ponder over when they'll be freed from the deafening silences.
Updating the Monkey Bizness: Pokemon Seems to Be Slacking
Let's chat about the latest in the gaming world, shall we? The recent reveal of the voice-acting heavy Donkey Kong Bananza has got Pokemon fans scratching their heads and questioning if their beloved RPG series is falling behind a bit.
Remember the turbulent ride that Pokemon took on Nintendo Switch, from the stir created by the Dexit controversy in Sword and Shield, to the less-than-ideal launch of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet that still trip up the poor Switch 1? Despite the games selling like hotcakes, they stirred a sense of unease and dissatisfaction among the Pokemon community, who felt the franchise deserved better treatment.
Now, as we gaze upon the Nintendo Direct dedicated to Donkey Kong Bananza, we can't help but notice Pauline joining the game as a new companion, complete with full voice acting. This little detail has got Pokemon fans pretty flustered since they're juggling their surprise with why an action-packed, punchy gorilla game scored full voice acting before the dialogue-heavy RPGs did.
Well, you can bet Game Freak heard the murmurs loud and clear. Check out what Nintendo streamer ActualAero had to say about it on Twitter: "Game Freak, I'm being serious here when I say if you debut the milestone Pokemon generation X on Nintendo Switch 2 with silent, awkward [as heck] cutscenes again, we're gonna have problems." They share a clip from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, featuring their snarky rival Nemona communicating in complete silence, creating a scene that's far from comfortable. And let's not even get started on Piers' ear-piercing performance from Sword and Shield.
But remember, while Scarlet and Violet might look like the plagues that they are, they were still the sixth best-selling games ever made on Switch. From Game Freak's perspective, adding voice acting to the upcoming tenth generation of Pokemon might not seem like an enticing proposition. Yet, Pokemon fans deserve better, so let's keep our fingers crossed.
Before we bid adieu, let's shout out that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet speedruns are on fire on Switch 2, with a day-one attempt already creaming the old world record!
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Background:* Tradition and Design Philosophy: Pokemon's RPGs have traditionally relied on text-based dialogue and expressive, silent character interactions to convey story and character personality, creating a certain nostalgic and player-imagined experience.* Technical Challenges: Pokemon games, especially on Nintendo Switch, have faced technical limitations and performance issues, which might've led to Game Freak prioritizing game performance and core gameplay features over voice acting.* Volume of Dialogue: Pokemon RPGs feature a vast quantity of dialogue across numerous characters and NPCs throughout their large worlds, making full voice acting a challenging task.* Comparison with Other Genres: The different genre of Donkey Kong Bananza, with fewer characters and presumably less dialogue, makes voice acting more feasible and impactful.* Fan Expectations: While some fans are envious that other Nintendo series have voice acting first, the Pokemon community has historically appreciated the silent protagonist and text-based storytelling style. However, the demand for Pokemon to modernize, especially with next-gen console releases, is growing.
- The gaming world is buzzing as the voice-heavy Donkey Kong Bananza is causing Pokemon fans to question if their favorite RPG series is falling behind in terms of development and innovation.
- The turbulent journey of Pokemon on Nintendo Switch, including the Dexit controversy in Sword and Shield, and the rocky launch of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, have left the Pokemon community feeling unsettled and dissatisfied.
- As the attention turns to the Nintendo Direct dedicated to Donkey Kong Bananza, many Pokemon fans can't help but feel flustered as a new companion, Pauline, joins the game with full voice acting, while Pokemon RPGs are still without.
- Game Freak is under pressure to improve their dialogue delivery after criticism over awkward cutscenes in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet and the ear-piercing performance of Piers in Sword and Shield.
- Despite Pokemon Scarlet and Violet still being the sixth best-selling games ever made on Switch, with their sales figures unquestionable, fans believe the franchise deserves better treatment, especially as the demand for modernization grows with next-gen console releases.
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- Pokemon Scarlet and Violet speedruns continue to charm players on Switch 2, setting new world records and captivating the Pokemon community with their impressive performances.
- When it comes to embracing pop-culture trends, fans are divided over the absence of voice acting in the Pokemon series compared to other Nintendo games, such as the action-packed Donkey Kong Bananza.
- In the sports world, the latest basketball news from the NBA keeps basketball fans engaged with ongoing games and exciting performances.
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