Topic: Episode 420: Professor of Printed Pieces of Paper

[Jonnyboy117]

We have a weird set of games for New Business, and then it's time to sling cards in RetroActive!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/39812/episode-420-professor-of-printed-pieces-of-paper

We're very excited to finally bring back RetroActive, but first we do New Business, and there's not much rhyme or reason to this week's set of games. As usual of late, Guillaume has the most on-topic material, so he goes first with a wrap-up on Kirby and the Rainbow Curse. He also goes back to Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary, the free multiplayer game released twice-upon-a-time for DSi and 3DS, maybe never to return. James "PlayStation" Jones shows up with something crazy called Soul Nomad, an obscure old PS2 strategy game from NIS that bears some resemblance to Ogre Battle. It sure sounds like a James game. Jonny talks about buying a new TV, a process that has changed a lot in the last six years, and he offers some thoughts on Titan Attacks. If you haven't already played it for free through PS Plus, it's worth checking out this retro-styled "shmup" on the 3DS eShop. Finally, Mr. Jon tries the free part of IronFall Invasion, that third-person shooter for 3DS that snuck out last week.

After a quick break, it's high time for a RetroActive! We've all been playing Pokemon: The Trading Card Game, learning the rules and basic strategies -- with or without the video game's help. This is a complicated package with several key points of reference, including the real card game, the mainline Pokemon RPGs, and of course... Magic: The Gathering. We sort through the sprawling discussion with help from many verbose listeners who played along and entered their comments in the official thread or on NeoGAF. Thanks so much to everyone who participated, and we promise it won't be too long before the next one!

We'll try to answer some Listener Mail on the next episode, so please send in whatever's on your mind!

[ClexYoshi]

Soul Nomad is the most depressing game I have ever played. there's an EXCELENT screenshot based LP on SomethingAwful by SA Forum User named Fennie (Yeah, after one of the world eaters.)

after you beat Soul Nomad, you can New Game + and can kinda choose to murder everybody in the starting village and kinda go with everything Gig wants you to do. there is blatant rape, murder, and wanton destruction. I'm not even kidding. Soul Nomad gets fucking grimdark as all hell.

... I got Gig as a DLC for Disgaea 4. <3

[Chiramii]

Blaze it.

[yoshi1001]

Just finished listening to the retroactive part (I'll listen to new business tomorrow). I am curious if any of you considered looking up a Let's Play to get a better idea of how the game works and what kinds of strategies you could use.

[ClexYoshi]

Yes. Pokemon TCG 2: The Invasion of team GR is fan translated, and it's literally the exact same game engine. Dr. Mason's lab, the protagonist sprite, Ronald, all the clubs... all that is reused. you do now have the PC functions of checking the card album and getting E-mails from Dr. Mason on your person, but it's literally Pokemon TCG with a new island, one extra booster set (The team rocket booster set), and a couple of assholes who go "I ain't playin' no trading card games with you unless your deck has 4 copies of Magikarp in it!"

[ShyGuy]

Blaze it.

[Soren]

The game Meme Run wishes it was...

[azeke]

Input lag is a huge problem with modern TVs.

Shmup games like Geometry Wars aren't THAT input lag sensitive. The best test would be Rhythm Heaven and Punch-Out!!

I specifically was looking for the model with the lowest input lag, and it plays great for many, many action games that are known for being blazingly fast and expect you to be reactive, but RH and PO have tighter timing windows.

[Jonnyboy117]

Actually I tend to avoid (or just not enjoy) games that are based on pure reflex and brutal timing windows, such as the two you mentioned.