The Rise and Fall of Game Console Menus

[@unclegarf7366]

The 3Ds had backgrounds that played music and everything and the switch just has dark mode

[@DuoStuff]

Yeah pretty much. It's pretty underwhelming honestly.

[@TylerA52903]

PS4 had that too just for the PS5 to get rid of it too 🙄

[@tan_nerd07]

The themes you could buy on the 3DS were so cool. It allowed you to appreciate your favorite games, right on the home menu. Listening to your favorite game music is the cherry on top. I enjoy nothing more than turning on my 3DS to hear the Brinstar Theme from Metroid NES. Such a great console.

[@DuoStuff]

It was so cool to be able to turn on my 3DS and have Ace Attorney music play. It's such a cool feature, and I really want them to bring it back on the Switch.

[@zachb4561]

Then Homebrew and custom themes so you could make your own!

[@Goat0423]

“Waaaaah waaah Nintendo stuff is overpriced” “Oh boy I sure do love spending money on overpriced backgrounds” Pick ONE for fucks sake

[@DuoStuff]

@@Goat0423 You do realize that these aren't the same people right? Like Nintendo fans aren't just a collective hive mind? I don't care about prices. I'm fine with paying $60 for games, and I'm fine with buying themes for a dollar. Please stop lumping all Nintendo fans into one collective.

[@ask343]

@@DuoStuff LOL I know right? That comment had no relevance whatsoever.

[@MaximumAddition]

Dude how are you so consistent at talking about my weirdly specific niche interests with such genuinely well made videos- For real though, keep up the great work! You make some awesome stuff man

[@DuoStuff]

Well thanks. I'm surprised anyone else would be thinking about this subject besides me, but it's pretty neat nonetheless. =D

[@Vailskibum]

It's a good day when a new DuoStuff drops

[@kraken6061]

When a new Duostuff drops Uhh forgetting a word there buddy

[@DuoStuff]

Nah, they just released the new model, that's what he's talking about. (Also glad you enjoyed the video Vail. =D)

[@lunateare7247]

True that

[@DMTInfinity]

*Yesssss!!!!!* 😭

[@wowzercowzeram406]

Vail, you have become part of the generic verified comment army

[@exonymat1471]

Little bit late but when you mentioned the Xbox 360 menu being boring at 7:20 you failed to mention that this was the most RECENT XB360 menu. It had two different menu designs before the one you showed, and the Blades design specifically was absolutely fantastic. Great video regardless :)

[@nessexceptless]

Also, i feel the 360's most recent dashboard (The Metro One) is oddly charming despite being blatantly corporate. The Xbox One and Series just feel soulless.

[@hlavco]

@@nessexceptless The recent interface is just Windows 8 on a console... and Windows 8 is never good. I miss the old interfaces, I'd happily take either of them.

[@UltimateInkling]

Yea he forgot to mention the older one that i really liked

[@PhirePhlame]

It had three menus before Metro, actually (and iirc even Metro had a revision update). There's a reason many of the more devoted X360 fans wish they could return to NXE or Blades, to say the least. That said, as someone who used the Zune app as a kid, I am sorta charmed by the Zune-esque layout of X360's dialect of the Metro design language.

[@diegomorales7419]

​@@nessexceptless I tend to put the Metro dashboard in a middle ground, it has some of the boring simplicity and corporate design of the consoles that came after, but still has some brand personality to it, like the fact that most icons kept the iconic Xbox green, or how now you have your avatar in the middle of it, with little easter eggs like the abbility to make it move his head with the stick or make it wave when pressing it, it's also more fluid (and less confusing) than the NXE dashboard, plus they at least kept the awesome sound design. If you could remove the ad icons it would be way better.

[@random_d00d]

You completely forgot about Badge Arcade for the 3DS! When that was brought to the console I was amazed at how customisable the 3DS became! Other than that, fantastic video as per!

[@DuoStuff]

Yeah sorry about that. I was never good at the crane minigame, so I didn't actually get many badges sadly. XD

[@apocalypseofplush]

Ikr? I was obsessed with badges and Arcade Bunny. Especially Arcade Bunny.

[@AmateurHour64]

Dude I totes understand how you feel about the Switch menu, it's so emotionless. I found the gamecube menu so calming to chill at. And PS2 was calming too, I fell asleep at it once.

[@DuoStuff]

Glad I'm not the only one who thinks the Switch menu is boring. The Gamecube one really calms me down. The PS2 honestly makes me slightly uncomfortable. It just feels like something's going to happen that never does.

[@NatetheNintendofan]

No the PS2 is creepy it's startup sound when my brother Toby used to turn it on Iran and I was only four cuz I didn't want him to start playing bad bad shooting games when he cuz he was 12 or 10 why don't know what age were around those ages

[@exyzt9877]

@@NatetheNintendofan i have 0 clue what you're talking about. The PS2 is chill. Like, even when I'm using an emulator, I never just boot straight into the game, I always start with the no disc option and swap out once I'm in.

[@Nicky654a]

remember when video games and consoles werent about being "accesable" as in they gave you this stuff and let you explore it and figure stuff out

[@DuoStuff]

That was definitely a part of the fun.

[@duckvenger3628]

I had forgotten that the 3DS had a camera option. I went back through my gallery and had war flashbacks... but then I found pictures of my old dogs and all was well. Great video as always man, love your content!

[@DuoStuff]

Sadly I lost most of my old 3DS pictures. Actually... Maybe it's not "sadly," because they were probably really cringe. XD

[@duckvenger3628]

@@DuoStuff R.I.P to the lost DuoStuff cringe pics. To be fair tho, I think everyone's 3DS pics are probably cringe.

[@The_Markimator]

I was so happy when I got this notification! But it's nice to stop and appreciate the little things in life AND gaming.

[@DuoStuff]

Well this is definitely a subject that needs a little more appreciation. Glad you enjoyed the video! =D

[@Tortidis987]

Loved this video. I've been playing Wii and 3DS lately and it really makes such a difference. Apart from the bounty of features, the sound design alone is so welcoming, it really makes going back to the Switch feel so lifeless. I also gotta shout out the Dreamcast menu since it wasn't mentioned. I loved the bouncy and watery vibes and the startup animation/jingle was straight up ethereal!!

[@Aidea._.]

I still absolutely love the WiiU's menu with the Miiverse posts displayed in the plaza! I wish they at least left a final update with an archive of some of the top posts to fill the plaza... At least it isn't too difficult to replace the default posts with something like that through homebrew.

[@DuoStuff]

Dude same. The menu just doesn't feel right.

[@FreddyPhasma]

Ah yes my favorite game ever… “Health and safety options”

[@DuoStuff]

Lol actually I generally didn't click that. I wasn't THAT desperate for entertainment. XD

[@kraken6061]

Mine to

[@السراقالمجهول]

@@DuoStuff when I was I kid I was afraid from apps on wii and 3ds like for real it took me 3 months to finally enter the Mii channel and the health and safety app I moved it all the way back at the end of the menu I just thought that they will ruin my console and I will get punished for it

[@DuoStuff]

Lol why though? Like why would they put something on the system that would ruin it? XD

[@السراقالمجهول]

@@DuoStuff I was dumb and also I was very afraid of the punishment having tasted it before

[@Gameplayer1500X]

I totally agree. I wish the swtich would do more, themes and folders are so needed. The fact the miimaker doesnt even have music show how little they focused on the menu.

[@DuoStuff]

The menu doesn't even have music, which is just so freaking weird.

[@DuoStuff]

What's your favorite console menu? Be sure to answer in the comments, because I actually read those. Also subscribe or whatever. Also my vocal audio was cut together by FDDNM, so go check them out: kzbin.info/door/nu6BTsKxoSvoBcNFiNdxSg

[@tan_nerd07]

3DS for sure.

[@FayeTheNerd]

WII that beat always sounded amazing when I was 10

[@DuoStuff]

@@tan_nerd07 YOOOO someone else has 3DS as their favorite!

[@The_Markimator]

I'd say the 3DS just because the themes but there's actual music a grid design and the custom game menu stuff!

[@DuoStuff]

@@FayeTheNerd Wii is definitely a solid choice overall. It's a fun menu. =D

[@SethBoiardee]

Man, I’m with you. I wasted so much time on these old menus, it’s sad that we’ll never get it back. I miss it.

[@Dani_1012]

Never say never, with enough feedback change is possible

[@jacobpeirce3092]

Honestly one of my favorite KZbinrs, I appreciate you to the same level as I appreciate the 3DS menu.

[@DuoStuff]

I honestly really appreciate this comment. It's kinda nuts that my weird videos can get me anywhere close to being one of your favorite KZbinrs.

[@Joeyy1024]

I think that Microsoft has the worst menu’s out of all of them. They just feel so corporate, bland, and soulless.

[@DuoStuff]

That's also how I feel generally. It feels like a multimedia device more than a game console, and that blows.

[@radiokunio3738]

Except the original Xbox that was pretty sick.

[@ryanthomas9336]

I kinda liked the 360s menu

[@vistagunner]

The 360s first two menus were pretty good.

[@BOTHaven]

@@DuoStuff Xbox is nostalgia for me personally

[@JackTCM]

This video randomly turned up in my recommendations, but now I've subbed and added some of your other stuff to my watch later :) Great video, such a nice subject and one worth exploring! I miss when I was younger and me and my siblings would spend an hour just on the Wii Menu applications before we even started playing anything! Hoping one day we get some fun game menus again.

[@DuoStuff]

Sweet! I'm glad you enjoyed the video dude. This was definitely a fun topic to cover, and one that I barely ever see people talking about. Just a note: I'm currently on break from KZbin as I'm working on a mod that requires my full attention, but after said project is done, I'll be coming back with a lot of stuff.

[@JackTCM]

@@DuoStuff Well I hope the mod goes well man😎

[@EdgyMiku]

*looks at my 1000+ hours on the 3ds web browser* ahh good times..

[@DuoStuff]

I pretty much have the same thing with the Wii U browser. It was basically the main way that I used the internet for a couple years since my computer wasn't great and playing it on the Gamepad let me use the internet in bed.

[@dryden_drawing]

Agreed 100% with all of it. I loved fiddling around with the menus, and the lack of mii usage on the switch is so depressing

[@DuoStuff]

Glad to see someone else agrees. =D

[@HazelSkies]

yeah we got miis and they’re only used in like Smash Ultimate

[@user-vu4ch6om7q]

Yo why have I only discovered this treasure trove of a channel just now?!

[@DuoStuff]

Well it's better late the never. Glad you're enjoying my content. =D

[@Sseraphim]

Something about your video style, tone and editing really brings an amazing charm to your videos and never fails to entertain me. Thanks for another upload dude

[@DuoStuff]

Well thank you. It's nice to hear that since I wasn't really sure how people felt about my editing style.

[@nyakase]

9:49 I completely forgot about the AR thing because I lost the cards, but I remember spending hours merging faces of two people in the camera app and then importing it into Face Raiders to watch the animations completely fail

[@omegawario7479]

Dude I was literally thinking about you earlier today, thought you quit KZbin or something but no, here you are with another banger of a video! Anyways, I can’t agree with you about this more. Only think you forgot to mention was the badge arcade. It was so much fun collecting those things and putting them on my folders and just throwing ones I liked wherever. I still have a bunch of monster hunter badges from back in 2016 sitting in the far right corner of my Home Screen.

[@DuoStuff]

First: yeah sorry, it's been a rough period for videos. Not only did I cancel multiple videos in a row that weren't working, but I'm also working on a completely different kind of project that I can't talk about. I think I finally have a good schedule worked out though, so hopefully things improve from here on. Second: Man I forgot about the badge arcade! I didn't use it much though, mainly because I was bad at it and didn't want to spend money on it. XD

[@alephsubzero5505]

Okay cool, but can we talk about Nintendo Badge Arcade for the 3DS? This gave you little 8-bit Nintendo icons you could just decorate your home menu with and I remember spending hours turning my home menu screen into a 2D mario level. Nobody acknowledges it at all and I need everyone to know about it.

[@DuoStuff]

They were actually really neat conceptually, but I was really bad at the badge getting minigame, so I didn't really get many sadly.

[@DMTInfinity]

Nah, you're not alone. This is a topic that really does need to be talked about more.

[@DuoStuff]

It feels like it does, but I have no clue if it will be. XD

[@vanilla8956]

Thanks for this video, this is something i've cared about for a long time. And it drives me kind of crazy that it feels like no one understands.

[@DuoStuff]

Yeah it's so weird that borderline no one talks about this subject.

[@Nicktron8000]

This channel is so underrated. Love your videos dude

[@aketsuuu]

I always found the old menus gave you this feeling of, "Hey... it's ok, take a break. You're good to chill for a few." New menus just scream, "CONSUME GAME" and instead of wanting to play more games I come out just... tired. I don't feel like playing again because there's no chill menu for me to enjoy after. It's sad, really is. And it's not like the Switch's menu is even good, it's not organized well at all. Feels so corporate. The Switch is just, again, "CONSUME GAME". This applies to the other systems as well.

[@DuoStuff]

Yeah that's the problem. Not having a chill zone just tires me out quicker, y'know? It just sucks that they really don't seem interested in doing anything more than what they're currently doing.

[@Furiousg7]

Love your content bro,you're so underrated keep it up and one of these days you might make it big👍

[@DuoStuff]

Thanks man. =D

[@السراقالمجهول]

I was so obsessed with Miitopia in 2017 that year I finally was able to connect to the internet and when I saw its trailer in the eshop I tried to get it but I needed a nintendo network account but it requires an email but I didnt have one so I just watched a tip to how to make a nintendo network account that the app provided and I straight up just copied the email in there and it worked and with that I downloaded Miitopia demo and it was one of the best gaming experiences I ever had and when my trial ended and deleted my account and used the same email and it worked again and continued playing the game and when I realized that there is a youtube app on the eshop I downloaded it and watched a Miitopia video I have a lot of similar stories and memories with the dsi and the wii and the 3ds and its all thanks to the the charming menus in them that lead my kid imagination go wild and this little adventures shaped me to what im now so im really thankful that I grew up with nintendo instead of the other 2 companies that are way more popular here

[@DuoStuff]

Well it definitely seems like you lucked out with choosing Nintendo then. =D

[@felsiccanis]

The 3ds and wii will always be my favourite menus. The music, themes on the 3ds, the personality, it was so fun. I'll never forget.

[@DuoStuff]

Same for me too. The 3DS menu especially was just such a cool menu. I miss having themes.

[@felsiccanis]

@@DuoStuff I'm glad you agree! I genuinely can't forgive Nintendo for how they've turned out. The Switch is the most depressing console I have ever seen, I'll never stop loving my 3ds, even if the game quality isn't the absolute best!

[@I_existmyman]

I say a few ways to make the menu feel unique or fun is add more themes, maybe some background music for the menus and maybe a way to interact with your miis

[@DuoStuff]

I especially want those first two, as the Switch menu desperately needs themes and music.

[@aaronendres3591]

I loved having colorful menus, backround music playing and animations. I was looking forward to what Nintendo was going to do with the Switch's menu when it was announced. I was hoping they would bring back the news, weather features and optional mii characters if you wanted them.

[@cyclops8238]

Fun fact. If your speed up the gamecubes main menu music it's the famicom disk system music.

[@thecascadecollection2]

great stuff as always!

[@DuoStuff]

Thanks! Hope you enjoy the video! =D

[@jaketest9265]

That is a great thumbnail! Feels inspired by relaxalax’s smash menu thumbnails.

[@DuoStuff]

Actually yeah, I kinda use him for inspiration on thumbnails, which he's usually really good at. Glad someone commented about it though, because I really liked it. =D

[@MikkieBakker]

I'm a new subscriber and just had a video from you in my recommended. You're video's are really good, I don't know how you only have 25k subs, you deserve so much more. Hope to see more great content from you!

[@DuoStuff]

Well thank you. I'm glad my content has impressed you. Hopefully you enjoy my future stuff as well. =D

[@sweetsugarystars2378]

Ahh, miiverse. The place where I faced stalking until I had to get my grandma to call someone to get the person stalking me banned! On another note, I wish the switch had themes like the nintendo 3ds had. It would at least make things more interesting.

[@DuoStuff]

Oh wow sorry about that. I never really experienced anything like that, but I imagine that it made the service a little less fun.

[@capn_l]

Nice video! I absolutely love when people make videos on niche topics i think im alone on

[@SoshiTheYoshi]

I feel like comparing the switch menu to previous ones is like comparing the new terrible pringles man to the old one

[@DuoStuff]

Yeah pretty much.

[@g-forcefgt323]

The 3ds menu is super nostalgic to me, mainly because it was my main system for a decade

[@autismandgaming4532]

Fact of the day: Miiverse sprouted the meme "Y Can't Metroid Crawl?"

[@eviltables8510]

I never thought about it but you are so right. Everything has got to be simple. Nothing can be fun. Remember when Nintendo put music on the Wii Shop Channel and the 3DS and Wii U eshops. Can't have that. Remember all the crazy themes you could have on the 3DS. You can only have Black and White on the Switch. You can't even have any of the other colors on the rainbow. God forbid the Switch have any personality. Even the Mii Maker is tucked away and you have to find it.

[@DuoStuff]

Pretty much how I feel. It just feels like they've went out of their way to remove any charm the system could have. It just feels so freaking empty man. It makes me sad.

[@drezz8k]

this is a reason why i like the wii/wiiu/3ds over switch, the switch is just the games, and doesnt feel iconic

[@DuoStuff]

Yeah that's also how I feel about it. It really sucks honestly.

[@djcleaner69]

I appreciate your videos and the fact it feels like a hidden treasure xd

[@DuoStuff]

Well thank you dude! I appreciate it. =D

[@davidpicturesGD]

I used to sometimes just relax in my room with the Wii U music on in the background.

[@DuoStuff]

I did that a lot as well. It just made for good background noise.

[@Yety245]

Holy heck another person who played sonic and the black knight

[@rabbidlobo]

This man makes some quality videos that I are entertaining and informative. Definitely gonna subscribe. For a second I thought Duo was gonna talk about the 6th generation instead of the 7th like he said. Got me again lol.

[@zlette]

The PS2 was my first console too. and this makes me really happy.

[@irritationnation6122]

What I liked about Nintendo’s menus were that games were treated like worlds, and the BIOS was like a hub world to these worlds (like Mario 64). They were super close with the Wii U menu, why didn’t they allow us to walk around the menu as an Easter egg or something?

[@DuoStuff]

I really do miss that feeling. The Switch doesn't feel anything like that either sadly.

[@El_Chuchuca]

4:45 I used to do the same. For some strange reason GC menu was so satisfying that I would turn it up to launch the game.

[@valenfraux]

10:07 NOOO MARIO 11:33 oh god it's the jar again, I'm sorry, Horse. You're gonna be swimming with the, uh... "milk".

[@DuoStuff]

Yes Mario 😉

[@valenfraux]

@@DuoStuff *half life death sound*

[@mineland8220]

I miss the 2010s Android 4, windows 7, the console menus... I want to go back

[@lunateare7247]

I never thought about this but you know, you have a point. I actually just got a 3ds and I love all the music and GOD THE CUTE SIMPLISTIC PINK THEME??? ITS ADORABLE, SUCH A GOOD SHADE TOO!! And setting up an internet access point? Cute lil robot to help you!!

[@lunateare7247]

Tldr I totally agree, and I'm currently in love with this 3ds (thank you friend that no longer uses it) and all the Layton games I have 💙💙 Off topic but I'm currently also playing new super mario bros 2, and have a bunch of other Mario and Zelda games to get through too Let me know if you have any suggestions?

[@DuoStuff]

If we're talking 3DS suggestions, then I'd give a couple: Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon is freaking great. Fire Emblem Awakening is one of the best RPGs on the system. And yeah, pretty much all the Zelda games on the system are good. (Though Triforce Heroes really needs other people to be as fun.)

[@lunateare7247]

@@DuoStuff ah, any suggestions really!! DS suggestions would also be appreciated if you have any! I'm not sure what order to play Zelda in and darn I kinda wanted to play Tri force heroes but maybe I can coerce a friend if it's online multiplayer?

[@lunateare7247]

@@DuoStuff I think Luigi's mansion would genuinely give me some sort of like panic attack though 😭😭 I hate being chased by things it scares me more than jumpscares haha....my friends love gifting me horror games on steam though, they must like seeing me suffer 😭😭

[@boop53]

the 3DS is my fave console menu. The custom themes are so nice, especially if you have a homebrewed console. The spinning 3d icons which spin faster when you tap the screen or blow in the mic too. The folders, the badges, the notes app, miiverse, easy access to the camera, the ability to shuffle themes… amazing 10/10 the Wii is a close 2nd for me, also i see that honebrew channel on the second page, dont try and hide it 😂

[@Myrope]

I liked the Dreamcast menu; there was something very calming about it.

[@siloPIRATE]

4:57 I remember doing that with the PS2 menu. Just leave it on and enjoy the ambient noise

[@ZombieOfun]

PS2 was your first console? Wow, I'm old

[@BAIGAMING]

7:25 You messed up your analysis of the 360. You didn't mention the original "blade dashboard" design of the 360 menus, which was probably one of the best game console menus of all time. The 360 menu designs you looked at were only made several years into the 360's lifecycle.

[@19Szabolcs91]

Yeah, the 360 menu changed multiple times, and it kinda got worse and worse.

[@DuoStuff]

Yeah sorry about that. I didn't get a 360 until later on, so I didn't see/hear of the blades menu. My bad.

[@PhirePhlame]

Japan got the wildest Wii apps though. There was the TV no Tomo Channel, which was a TV guide that included the ability to use the Wiimote as a basic TV remote (via the sensor bar's UV LEDs flashing out the remote signals, which would then reflect off the back wall) - and, judging by files found inside some versions of the Wii Menu & HOME Menu, the remote thing was originally intended to be a _system-level_ feature! There was Demae Channel, which served as one of many apps for Demae-Can, a DoorDash-esque food delivery service that already existed way back then! Other, less mind-blowing things include Today & Tomorrow Channel, available in Japan & Europe, which gives you basic astrological fortunes; and Digicam Print Channel, Japan only, which let you order Fujifilm prints directly out of your Photo Channel library. There's also Wii no Ma, but I don't completely understand that one.

[@TheUnknownOtaku]

Alright, you convinced me. Game Console menu's were good enough to be put into the jar.

[@DuoStuff]

Gonna need a pretty big jar, but you're probably the only dude who I wouldn't be surprised to see try it anyways. XD

[@linknes]

I remember back in elementary school, Miiverse was one of the main reasons I wanted a WiiU.

[@DuoStuff]

It was a lotta fun honestly. I spent SO much time on it, either posting stuff about games I was playing or just reading the random stuff that would appear on it. I'm really sad they got rid of it, because I miss it.

[@LITTLE1994]

That thumbnail. Clever.

[@DuoStuff]

Thanks. I thought it was pretty cool myself. =D

[@MiniMight]

This video is so well made wtf i didn't realize I wasn't watching a 100k+ sub channel until I checked

[@DuoStuff]

Well thank you! I really try and make sure my videos feel impressive enough to be worth actually watching. I'm not quite where I want to be yet, but I'm getting better. (Though the amount of effort put into these videos for the pretty poor treatment from KZbin is part of the reason I'm on break currently. XD) Either way, I'm planning to return around March or April once I'm done working on the mod I'm currently doing. (It's a DDLC mod, which needless to say requires a lot of writing.)

[@Womoisreal]

can't wait for oversimplified breathing, wich makes you so you don't need to exhale the oxygen, cuz before it was so complicated.

[@DuoStuff]

Also we've disabled any variance in the breathing in part. You can only do it one way from now on, same length. Can't have any variance.

[@ricenoodles632]

You, sir, have taste. I'd say we're on the same page as far as menu UI design and game preferences goes

[@SlyHikari03]

Ps2 had a cool menu. Same for the gamecube and the Xbox. I miss space age tech style stuff.

[@TwoEyesOpen]

opening the video with that Sonic R song = instant subscribe, I don't make the rules. also yeah, the Wii is timeless to me in its aesthetics and menu design

[@eliasnavarro9245]

I dont think i laughed at a single joke in this vid but i appreciate the solid info

[@tobiasarevalo9929]

i like the switch menu THE GAMES are right there, the most important thing, its fast and fun

[@sadiedeservedbetter]

It'd probably be really impractical but i'd kill for an console menu like nintendoland's. Imagine walking around the wii or gamecube menu

[@DuoStuff]

That was a really neat way of doing a interactive menu. Man, I should play Nintendo Land again. It's been a while.

[@StrikerSML]

The freaken ambience on the Wii gives me nostalgia. The switch is cool but I'll never feel nostalgia for navigating the consoles because of the lack of...anything

[@onihaiena6152]

Alien tech styled menus rock, the OG Xbox's was badass af man

[@Xenofilmsproductions]

Yeah, I miss those. Even though I barely used my Wii, that menu was iconic and the XBOX 360 is just nostalgic. The Switch’s menu is pee pee poo poo, bland, bleak, boring, and the worst kind of simplistic. Some new themes, and having the ability to let me play calming Nintendo soundtracks would be nice like Animal crossing, Monster Hunter Rise, or even BOTW. Maybe one day, one day.

[@DuoStuff]

Man it would be cool if they'd at least do that. Some music would be much appreciated.

[@keebs5780]

yeah this stuff really does matter. jingles, visual design, theming - it all leads to not just the games on the console being memorable, but the whole experience of using the console being memorable. basically anyone who’s used a Wii will remember the menu startup jingle and its music, the sound of tapping on a channel and being “whooshed” into it. Every single goddamn app having a startup menu. It’s all very distinct. There’s an atmosphere. The switch is missing this so much. I was actively disappointed when I got mine initially - I didn’t realize why, but I know in retrospect it’s because of this. This was missing. (You ended up covering a lot of this while I was typing my comment, as I was typing it while I had the video going, so…) Anyway, I think a lot of this comes down to a lot of features being available, better. elsewhere. “Why should we invest time in making a little music app if they can just do that on their phone?” It IS very charming, but I imagine they just don’t see it as a priority because other devices are “more capable” for those features. Regardless it’s something I really, REALLY miss. Good video.

[@DuoStuff]

No I get it: there's no reason to have features like a sound app or a camera, but those little touches like the menu music or games having a little animation are still missing. We don't even have themes on the Switch, which is a bummer. Still, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. =D

[@keebs5780]

@@DuoStuff oh yeah, believe me, I wasn’t combatting your point. I love all the shit the previous consoles offered. The switch lacks a lot of personality and I think it’d go a long way to making the console more distinct. It just seems kind of unlikely to me, unfortunately.

[@Chocolatepain]

This is some good content

[@DuoStuff]

Well thank you. I'm trying my best at least. =D

[@loadingusername3348]

THANK YOU, you hit the nail on the head. The switch is so fun, but outside of the games it's so BORING. No folders, no organization options, no themes, no music, no fun local multiplayer stuff like StreetPass or play coins, no little nick nack like a sound recording, collectable badges, note taking, swapnote, a camera, heck even a weather channel...I know it sounds a little dorky, but I used to make my own "KZbin vidoes" with my 3DS as a kid. I had fun with that! I didn't think I'd miss the little preview animation or music they'd play when you'd start up a wii or 3DS game, but you convinced me. They even made mii making unfun. *THEY MESSED WITH THE MIIS, MAN.*

[@DuoStuff]

I also used to use my 3DS to record KZbin videos actually! The quality was terrible, but it was fun regardless. And I'm glad I convinced you that the preview animations were cool, because I love them.

[@MD-zz5lz]

Nice video dude

[@DuoStuff]

Thanks dude. =D

[@epix4300]

Such an underrated video!

[@NatetheNintendofan]

You forgot about the 360 x-blades dashboard and then that one with the rows of icons and then how they redesigned it and when they got the new Xbox logo for the 360

[@tarheelpro87]

Lol after using the DSi camera, the 3DS camera felt like 1080p to me as a kid, since my 2DS is broken, now it just solidifies that feeling. DSi camera hurts my eyes if I snap anything in a mildly dark room

[@25percentpower]

WOW THIS VIDEO HAS BEEN OUT FOR A WEEK AND I DIDN'T GET A NOTIFICATION THAT IT CAME OUT THANKS KZbin

[@DuoStuff]

Oof that's rough. Hopefully you don't have a problem going forward.

[@Pokemonlyfan]

I JUST thought the same thing, having just recently bought a Wii U - it's worlds apart from the switch. The switch feels like Nintendo is still pissed we let the Wii U flop ;D

[@DuoStuff]

It really does honestly.

[@Kai-hf5wt]

I think the most memorable menus were the handheld ones, because a lot of the time, I would use Handhelds on long car rides and road trips, and if I didn’t really bring many games, I would just play around with the menus and settings, and it was a good way to fall asleep tbh

[@DuoStuff]

Yeah that's probably fair. That being said, there aren't that many handheld menus that are super prominent. Mainly the PSPs and 3DS.

[@YoungMrBlue]

Finally someone who understands this problem now adays

[@lakelimbo]

i definitely think the switch menu is too much simple, but as a designer, it's pretty obvious why interfaces have changed: people do not use them that much which is probably one of the reasons why the PS5's menu is quite awesome, it's simple, and yet it gives a focus to the game with the background, kinda like a product. While I really like the Wii U menu, it takes ages to load anything, where 99% of the time I just want to play something straight away. another problem is also accessibility. Moving images, rotations, transitions, music, this all can become a huge pain for some people.

[@SalvaBidoof]

I agree I think the Wii u had the perfect balance in the menu even though I prefer the Wii menu

[@AkaiAzul]

Sometimes no personality in a sea of personalities is a personality. Let's hope it doesn't happen again.

[@The_Slickmeister]

Console menu is the first thing gamers are going to see, so it is important the menu is colourful and fun to hang around in. So it’s not a stupid complain, it’s valid, and it’s important it reaches the gaming industry

[@DuoStuff]

I actually agree but still it's not something a whole lotta people actually talk about, and thus it seems like it's not really that big of a deal to most people. XD

[@Hayhayokaykay]

I 100% agree, the old Xbox one and Xbox 360 dashboards were amazing, but now it’s just squares…

[@froggyranger]

I have hope that future console generations will start having charming menus again in an effort to capitalize on early 2000's nostalgia.

[@DuoStuff]

Well I sure hope you end up being right, because I really don't want to see these menus get even more simplified. XD

[@LonelyDiggers]

Every company loves simplifying their stuff lol.

[@YoungMrBlue]

2:10 your not alone I hate this occuring theme so you got me with you

[@heitorzincleiton5071]

Finally, the king has returned

[@heitorzincleiton5071]

I know it’s been only 2 months, I just wanted to make that joke

[@DuoStuff]

Nah it's all good. =D

[@Twisted_Logic]

You being a kid during the 3DS era makes me feel old.

[@DuoStuff]

To be fair, when I say kid, I really meant teenager. Still, it's horrifying to realize that that was 10 years ago. XD

[@GyanKeis]

I love this video thank you for making it

[@pokefanlight]

2:16 Don't worry, I know Scott the Woz shares the same opinion. P.S I also love watching your videos, I really enjoy your New Super Mario Bros video and your Legend of Zelda Review Series.

[@DuoStuff]

Huh, I didn't know Scott mentioned that. Neat. Also thanks! Glad you've enjoyed my stuff!

[@FurdoxArchive]

For the 3DS, you forgot about menu icons obtained with the arcade thingy with a bunny

[@SaviorLight]

Miiverse is something I will miss. I remember when they shut it down... I made so many friends on there too :(

[@tsucube4377]

Yeah. When I think of the Wii one of the first things that comes to my head is MAKE BELIEFS REBORN!

[@DuoStuff]

Lol that song plays so much in that game, so much so that it's even on the menu. XD