Mailbox: Missing Zelda Ports, Nerd Rage, 16-Bit Blowback – Nintendo Life Letters

Do Video Game Nerds Have Any Pet Peeves?

Greetings esteemed writers of the gaming world! As a long-time lurker, I have a simple question for you: What are your biggest nerd-peeves? Personally, I can’t stand it when people mistakenly refer to any random Link as the hero of Time. It’s just not accurate. I also have a few other annoyances, such as the Xbox controller face buttons becoming the standard for PC controllers. Not only did they swap the A-B and X-Y buttons, but they also messed up the colors from the SNES controller. Another issue is the misconception that Nintendo is the developer or owner of all games on their consoles. They don’t own all of the NES games available on Nintendo Switch Online, and the same goes for their other systems as well.

On a personal note, I get really frustrated when people say “Majorca’s Mask” instead of “Majora’s Mask.” It’s a small thing, but it bothers me. And let’s not forget the classic mix-up of calling Link “Zelda” and Samus “Metroid.” I’m sure we can all relate to these pet peeves, right?

Anyway, thanks for reading and keep up the great work! Your website has become my go-to source for gaming news, just like how Total magazine used to be. I’ve been a Nintendo fan since the 80s, and while I think the Switch is a fantastic system, I do wish Nintendo would bring back the seal of quality. There’s a lot of garbage on the eShop these days! Maybe less is better, or maybe I’m just getting old? Who knows? Thanks again!

-James

P.S. Any thoughts on my gaming habit of resetting save files and replaying games?

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Rediscovering the Joy of Gaming: Wiping Save Files and Starting Fresh

Hey everyone at NintendoLife,

A recent Star Letter about “Tears of the Kingdom” brought up an interesting topic that got me thinking about my own gaming habits. I have a tendency to fully immerse myself in a single game and take a break from it once I’ve completed it. After a few months, I like to wipe my save file and start over to see what new things I can discover. For example, I’ve reset my Breath of the Wild save six or seven times, and each time feels like a fresh experience. I also completed Xenoblade 3 in a few weeks but came back three months later to do a 100% playthrough. I’ve even played through all four routes in Fire Emblem Three Houses!

Admittedly, the beginning of each game can be a bit tedious after multiple playthroughs, but I find it to be a great way to get more value out of my games. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this gaming habit and whether any of you share this approach.

Thanks!

-TheJGG

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Request for Game Ratings on NintendoLife

Hi there,

I’ve been a loyal reader of NintendoLife for a while now, and I was wondering if you could add game ratings to each game’s page. As someone who cares about ratings, I find it difficult to consistently find this information online. I personally prefer to avoid M-rated games from the ESRB. If it’s not too much trouble, could you also recommend a reliable method for looking up ratings for most video games?

Thank you!

-BulbasaurusRex

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Letter Highlights and Bonus Questions

Here are some highlights from the letters we received this month!

“I am not crazy! I know the Switch 2 is coming out. I know it is 2024. One after 2023. As if I could ever make such a mistake. Never. Never!” – EaglyPurahfan

“To me, the idea of the Switch 2 is as real as that chair. It’s as real as this house, and as real as you. But…what if it’s not? What if it’s all in my head?” – Ed.

“Instead of a Switch 2, would you be interested in a 3DSwitch as the next console?” – LinktotheFuture

“How about having both a Switch 2 and a 3DSwitch? That could be interesting!” – Ed.

“How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” – minecraftemery

“Hmm, can woodchucks not chuck wood?” – Ed.

“What are your opinions on Splatoon 3’s map design?” – Snatcher

“Splatoon 3’s maps may not be as intricate as some would like, but if you enjoy a good Turf War, there’s still a lot to appreciate. Personally, I have a love-hate relationship with Mincemeat Metalworks, but I enjoy playing on Scorch Gorge and Hagglefish Market!” – Jim

“How good are you all at ASCII art?” – sForzan

“Oh, we’re very skilled in ASCII art. How about you?” – Ed.

“What was the first Nintendo game you remember playing? Also, if you could forget a game and replay it, which one would you choose?” – res1080p

“For me, it was Super Mario Bros., and if I could forget a game and replay it, I would choose Majora’s Mask or Portal.” – Ed

“I think my first Nintendo game was Super Mario Land, and if I could relive the experience of a game, it would be Resident Evil 4.” – Ollie

“I believe my first Nintendo game was Super Mario 64, and I’d love to re-experience Breath of the Wild again.” – Alana

“Ocarina of Time was my first Nintendo game, and I’d pick something like Mario Odyssey for the ‘woah’ moments.” – Jim

“Which games do you think are still missing on the Switch? In my opinion, The Disney Afternoon Collection should be added.” – DwaynesGames

“That’s a great suggestion! Two games I would personally love to see on the Switch are The Witness and FTL.” – Ed

Thanks to everyone who wrote in this month! We appreciate all your letters and suggestions. If you’d like to send us a letter for future consideration, please check out our submission guidelines below.

Nintendo Life Mailbox Submission Guidelines

  • Keep your letters concise and to the point. We appreciate brevity.
  • Please limit your submissions to one letter per month to give everyone a fair chance of being featured.
  • If your letter isn’t chosen for the monthly article, don’t be discouraged! We receive a high volume of letters and can only feature a select few.

If you’d like to send a letter to the Nintendo Life Mailbox, please visit our Contact page and select “Reader Letters” as the subject. We look forward to hearing from you!