u/Accomplished_Paper88

It has been 20 years since Nintendo started offering the ability to play games from their past consoles on current systems with the virtual console. I was excited with the announcement and launch virtual console in 2006 on the Wii. It actually gave me a reason to look forward to Mondays due to the announcement of weekly new classic games being added to the service. I downloaded many classic titles from the Mario, Zelda, Star Fox and Kirby series as well as some obscure games like Bonk’s Adventure, Neo Geo titles, and Japan only titles like Sin and Punishment.

The Wii U and 3DS expanded on the offerings with the Game Boy systems and even the Nintendo DS. The pre-launch period on the Wii U was pretty cool where they offered a monthly NES title for only 30 cents in early to mid 2013. Additional classics like Earthbound and unreleased Earthbound Beginnings were added. The Gen 1 and 2 Pokemon games were also added towards the end of the virtual console lifespan. The downsides were the high prices for the ROMs especially some mediocre NES titles and the drought period after they were running out of big titles to add to the service.

The NES and Super NES classics were great follow ups. The game selection on the mini consoles were great and it even has the unreleased Star Fox 2. The packaging is awesome and gave a true nostalgic feeling. It was a shame they didn’t continue with the mini console releases after the Super NES classic edition.

This brings us to the current subscription only retro games on the Switch and Switch 2. Over the years Nintendo has vastly expanded on the retro games and consoles offered on the service with access to GameCube and Virtual Boy games on the modern systems for the first time that weren’t offered on virtual console. The dedicated retro controllers are really nice. However, the biggest downsides are the games cannot be purchased and they been drip feeding the releases. I feel Nintendo took a giant step forward then back on this by locking the retro games behind the subscription paywall.

I think Nintendo made the right choice with the re-release of Pokemon Fire Red and Leaf Green by allowing us to buy it. If they were offered as part of the subscription, our Pokemon and badges along with the save file will be gone when one day they discontinue the Switch online subscription after a new generation Nintendo hardware releases.

Did you all enjoy the retro games services of the virtual console and Nintendo Classics subscription on Switch as well as the mini consoles? Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences.

Super Mario All Stars was a really well done enhancement of the NES Mario games and I believe it sold very well and was positively received. I am surprised following its success, Nintendo didn’t bother to do the same for Zelda 1 and 2. Even the original Metroid and Kirby’s Adventure received a graphically updated remake.

I would say this year would be the perfect opportunity to release an updated version of Zelda 1 and 2 but it probably won’t happen with the rumored Ocarina of Time remake coming out.

What’s your opinion on why Zelda 1 and 2 are left aline in its 8 bit form without any updated version? I know in Japan they had a satellite version for Super Famicom of the first game but it’s still not a mainstream release like Super Mario All Stars.

Nintendo and Square had rough relationship in the late 90s due to Square’s support for the Sony PlayStation. Now the two companies are back on good terms and a few years ago released a remake of Super Mario RPG. Do you think there’s a good chance they will release a new Super Mario RPG game?

Super Mario World was the first game I ever played when I got the Super NES on Christmas 1993. It was such an amazing experience. The first time getting hit by a Banzai Bill in the first level, looking at the map and seeing the next castle and fortress on it and wondering what enemies and traps await (There was no internet to spoil it back then), the excitement of finding a key to unlock a secret path, getting lost in Forest of Illusion and finding the special world the first time. It was truly a magical experience.

After finishing the game and completing it 100%, I was hoping there would be a sequel to this game. Yoshi’s Island was marketed as Super Mario World 2 in the West and was an amazing game in of itself which also brought great memories. However, I wish they made another game that takes place in Dinosaur Land.

Did anyone else enjoy Super Mario World so much that you wish they made a direct sequel to it?

I was always puzzled by Mao’s decision to waive reparations from Japan back in September 1972. China suffered enormous economic damage and casualties during the war along with significant losses from atrocities committed by the Japanese military.

Japan back in 1895 was not shy about demanding (And received) a huge indemnity from China. Not to mention at the time Japan was not the same Japan in 1945. It was a very wealthy country by 1972 and could afford to pay at least some of the reparations. China on the other hand, was deeply impoverished and gave up its right to receive at least some reparations that could have helped it fund its development.

I read Mao felt indebted to Japan for helping the communist party prevail in the civil war and also it was trying to get Japan on its side in China’s conflict with the Soviets. But Japan was not their military ally. The official development assistance China received from Japan was mostly a low interest loan which had to be repaid. Surely this was an extremely unpopular decision that must have angered many Chinese citizens.

What are your thoughts on this decision? Why did China waive reparations when Japan (And several Western countries) did not hesitate to extract the same from China in the 1800s? Do you think China regretted this decision given how bad ties have been between the two countries and the actions taken by several prime ministers such as visits to the shrine that honor war criminals? It seems this decision did not result in long term warm relations between the two countries.

Dragon Quest 1-3 and 7 remake have been released. In addition, Japan also received remakes of the older DQ Monsters games over a decade ago. Do you think we will see at least DQ 4-6 remake? I wouldn’t mind getting more classic DQ remake while waiting for DQ 12.

Smallville received a complete series blu-ray release 5 years ago. Do you think this show will eventually be released on 4K UHD as well?

Watching Smallville Lex reminds me of Anakin where he started out as a good guy wanting to help others but by the end of the series became a super villain like Anakin in Star Wars. I kind of think Lionel as Palpatine where he negatively influenced Lex. Lex felt Clark doesn’t trust him with his secret is comparable to Anakin feeling betrayed the Jedi Council doesn’t trust him.

Are there a lot similarities between the two characters on how they turned evil or am I comparing apples to oranges lol?

I hope this is the right place to discuss this. I will do my best to stick to the point and not ramble.

So for the most part, it seems much easier to find the exact reasons why China dislikes Japan but I find the reasons for Japan’s dislike of China much more difficult to understand. On the contrary, I will list a few reasons why I thought Japan would have at least have decent if not warm relations with modern China:

1. Power and development status

From a historical perspective, it seems Japan maintained good relations with countries it viewed as stronger militarily and economically. Before the Westerners arrived, Japan had respected China and most likely had a good relationship.

After Japan started the Meiji Revolution, it respected and maintained good relations with Western countries during the peaceful times especially with the United States. Modern Japan continued to maintain warm ties with the West, it appears to view the Western countries as an equal if not stronger powers.

Japan on the other hand, had viewed itself as superior to China in the late 1800s. Japanese reformer Fukuzawa had written “Datsu A Ron” advocating for his country to abandon its Asian identity and join with the Western countries. Japan at the time seemed to say they would respect China (And other Asian nations) if they would modernize and become powerful like the Western countries. Only then would a country like China would be treated as an equal.

Fast forward to modern times. China is much stronger and considered by many a superpower or on its way to becoming one. Japan in the past (1800s) seemed to imply they would look at China favorably if it modernized to become an equal in economic and military status. So China is now considered a powerful country yet Japan instead of admiring and respecting China’s newly acquired status now considers it a security threat and continues to view China unfavorably just like in the past when it considered China a weak and backward country.

2. China’s leniency towards Japan in 1972

When Japan normalized relations with China in 1972, it expected China to demand reparations for the damage during the Sino Japanese War. Instead, China waived reparations. One would think Japan would have maintained warm relations with China for at least a century. The damage to China during the war was enormous, not to mention Japan demanded an enormous reparation from China in 1895 and in 1972, Japan was a very wealthy country and China was deeply impoverished.

Yes Japan probably got annoyed by China’s repeated attempts to bring up the war atrocities. However, waiving the reparations had spared Japan an enormous economic burden. It’s puzzling why this didn’t seem to play a lasting influence in maintaining warm relations between the two countries.

3. Proximity

I would think it’s in both Japan and China’s interest to maintain warm relations given their proximity and this is an era where both countries are powerful. Warm relations help prevent conflicts. For Japan, a conflict with China could mean nuclear attack from China which Japan doesn’t have the same weapons. For China, a conflict with Japan would mean the Japan’s Western allies will join in the war against China.

What do you think of this? Why hasn’t China’s current power status earn the respect, favorable views and warm relations that Japan holds for the powerful Western countries? Why hasn’t China’s decision to waive reparations been able to maintain a favorable view of the country from the Japanese people?

It’s been a few years since I watched the show so I’m writing based on my recollection of season 8.

This season felt painful for me. Watching through the first 7 seasons, I developed an attachment to some of the characters and storylines especially the relationship between Clark and Lex and Clark and Lana. Clark, Lex and Lana were the three characters that carried the show along with some memorable supporting characters that we ended up losing by season 8 including Clark’s parents and Lionel.

I know Michael Rosenbaum left the show after season 7. But I wish they gave Lex the spotlight a lot more under a different actor if necessary instead of having him seriously injured operating behind the scenes and replace him with Tess Mercer. After spending 7 seasons seeing how Lex became villain I felt letdown to see him barely present during the season and essentially replaced with Tess.

As for Lana, I wish they had given her a more cheerful departure. I was literally feeling Clark’s pain at the end of “Requiem” and was actually feeling slightly depressed after watching it. I fell in love with Lana’s character and it was so sad seeing them part on the loft after all the challenges they went through in their relationship and the special moments they shared (Watching Bugs Bunny in the barn on Lana’s birthday, Lana’s countless visits to Clark in the loft, their kiss on the loft and the rooftop and their skinny dipping in the lake (I know that one was a dream sequence lol)) only for them to not only be forced apart but never to reunite again even as friends.

On top of taking Lex and Lana out of the story they carried for 7 seasons, more depressing elements were added with what ended up happening to Jimmy and Chloe. Based on my recollection, this season was pretty depressing with the loss of the main characters from previous seasons, the painful loss for Clark and Chloe (Although I understand and respect the position many fans who want Clark to move on to Lois which I think happened in this season or season 9 (?).

So basically I just wish they kept Lex in the spotlight in season 8 instead of replacing him with Tess. I wish they had Lana part under a more cheerful circumstance instead of such a depressing departure after she and Clark went through so much to try to be together. Wish they didn’t have such a sad ending for Chloe and Jimmy after Clark’s painful loss of Lana. By this season, the only original characters left from the beginning of the series are Clark and Chloe.

What did you all think of season 8? Did you enjoy it or find it disappointing (Barely any presence of Lex for example) and depressing (Clark’s and Chloe’s loss)?