Post by: Jonnyboy117 on March 14, 2010, 01:00:00 PM
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/podcastArt.cfm?artid=22756
Episode 187: Mario Must Die
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As the universally acclaimed leader in Ironically-Fascinated-by-90s-Hip-Hop Nintendo Podcasts, we predictably celebrate the 187th episode of RFN with the ridiculous theme of murder/death/kill. Jonny's New Business kicks it off with his lengthy and detailed impressions of the morbidly fascinating Shiren the Wanderer (for DS). Like little Mikey chewing so much Life cereal, the host is pleasantly surprised by this bizarre and obtuse RPG. In other New Business: James can't get enough BioWare, Jon catches up on Torchlight and plays more Disaster: Day of Crisis, and Greg is blessedly current and on-topic with Picross 3D.
With Jonny out of the way for the second segment (scheduling conflict, or something more sinister?), the rest of the crew lowers the axe on all the things in the gaming industry that need to die in a lively feature discussion. Industry analysts, corporate jargon, unskippable tutorials, and babbling enemies are just some of the victims of this violent purge before we rediscover our sentimental side by answering a distinctly nostalgic trio of Listener Mail questions to close out the show.
Heading to PAX East in March? If you can stand to miss part of Chris Kohler's panel or Wil Wheaton's keynote, please consider attending our own panel, Radio Free Nintendo: A Live Nintendo Podcast for Grown-Ups. Jonny, James, Jon, Karl, and Mike will be in person to discuss Nintendo games and take your questions, directly from the audience! There are also plans to have a social gathering with RFN fans that weekend -- check the forum thread for details. If you can't make it to PAX, don't worry! We plan to record everything for the podcast feed.
We're always looking for great Listener Mail to read and discuss on the show, so please send your questions or comments! (We really love seeing your praise and feedback regarding the show itself; however, in the interest of time, we may edit your letter to be read on the podcast.) Credits:
This podcast was edited by Greg Leahy.
Music for this episode of Radio Free Nintendo is used with permission from Jason Ricci & New Blood. You can purchase their newest album, Done with the Devil, directly from the record label, Amazon.com, or iTunes, or call your local record store and ask for it!
Additional music for this episode of Radio Free Nintendo is copyrighted to Nintendo, and is included under fair use protection.
Post by: greybrick on March 14, 2010, 09:12:52 PM
During the segment it was mentioned that the hunger meter serves as a sort of cattle prod to convince the player to progress. The game also implements a mysterious "wind" that will blow you back to the first part if you spend too long on a level! Just a word of caution to those that would stock up on riceballs and try to spend too long on a level.
Post by: Crimm on March 15, 2010, 02:05:19 AM
Mass Effect 2 (as of recording was 22 hours). Completed in 34 hours over five days. 5.8 hours A DAY.
AND ALL BUT ONE WAS A WORKDAY
Awful.
Sad to say it, but all the games that came out recently, or come out in the next few weeks (Fragile, Infinite Line, Sakura Wars) are all RPGs, as are my next two review games.
I'm so getting kicked off the show. A merciful God wouldn't allow me to be so indulged. I'm going to need a 12 step program to get back on arcade flight sims.
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on March 15, 2010, 02:44:59 AM
Post by: King of Twitch on March 15, 2010, 03:12:29 AM
Post by: greybrick on March 15, 2010, 03:55:31 AM
The Things that Need to Die segment was very good; I totally agree that Nintendo needs to inject some spontaneity into their franchises. You mentioned a bevy of tutorials, but WSR deserved a mention. A related issue for me is the barrage of splash screens and press-start-to-start button presses that needlessly extend the time between starting up a game and actually playing it.
I agree, and wish there was an option to acknowledge sort of terms of service and not have to look at how to hold your wiimote every damn time you want to play a game.
A similar thing that needs to die comes to mind; the constant prompting of controls in most Wii games. The idea that the player never quite learns the controls is both degrading and annoying. For instance, I don't need to remember how to use a propeller suit every time I get one. I also don't need to remember that pressing "a" will open a door, etc. There should simply be a toggle for this kind of thing in games.
One more thing that needs to die? More like things, a family really. Mommy, Daddy, Billy and Sarah. I think we can throw Gramps and Auntie into the mix as well. Also, anything with the name "Cocoto" in it. I think James would agree; when I had to play Cocoto Kart Online I was mortified.
Post by: SouthFork on March 15, 2010, 06:43:06 AM
Rob.
Post by: NWR_DrewMG on March 15, 2010, 10:02:55 AM
Post by: Halbred on March 15, 2010, 01:13:06 PM
Loved the main discussion. I think tacked-on multiplayer needs to die, personally. It doesn't belong in Bioshock 2. It just doesn't. It probably doesn't belong in Uncharted 2, either, although it's shockingly good.
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on March 15, 2010, 01:23:50 PM
Post by: noname2200 on March 15, 2010, 01:38:49 PM
The most obvious one is that the Wii version does not reset your level upon death (or your items if you play on Easy). But the Wii version is much, much longer (20-30 hours, I think), while the DS version can be finished in about two if you really know what you're doing (and get lucky in your items).
The Wii version's many dungeons are almost all under 10 floors, and most of them end with a boss battle. Unlike the single boss in the DS version, the Wii's bosses are immune to all the status effects and other tricks you use against regular monsters, so they usually dissolve into a contest of "who dies first."
The Wii version almost always has one or two AI companions with you, whereas the DS version makes you unlock companions. More importantly, you can always choose to control your companions in the Wii version, but not the DS version. Also, your companions in the DS version become less and less useful as you go along: they're fantastic in the first half of the game, then dead meat about five floors into the mountain proper.
The Wii version has a LOT more narrow corridors than the DS version. Consequently, you rarely have to worry about being surrounded in the Wii version, but you also lack the flexibility that comes with seeing your enemies ahead of time. Consequently, the Wii version is much more about overpowering your enemies than it is about using clever tactics.
You can grind in the Wii version to your heart's content. You can't really grind in the DS version.
The Wii version has a much more gradual difficutly curve than the DS version, which noticeably increases the difficulty level every five floors. Also, as a word of warning to Johnny, the home stretch in the DS version lacks a town. That's right, you don't get a town when you most desperately need it.
Finally, the Wii version has Revival Herbs, which are basically an extra life. This lets you make far more mistakes without penalty than you could in the DS version. The Wii game also has Escape Scrolls, so if you're ever in danger of death you can (usually) jet out and restock.
Useful items in general are more common in the Wii version, while the DS version makes you figure out why that lowly Switching Staff can save your ass.
Too long, didn't read version: The Wii version is longer but more broken up into smaller chunks. It's friendlier by far, but it emphasizes grinding and fighting more than clever tactics or smart item use.
The Wii version is probably better for most people who are already familiar with JRPGs, but I personally prefer the DS version more. And now you know more than you ever wanted to about Shiren!
Post by: greybrick on March 15, 2010, 02:01:54 PM
Yeah, I got Shiren talk out of my system. I'm still playing it but will not be discussing it much more. After we wrapped that segment, I told Greg that I was starting to feel self-conscious about the length of my impressions even while they were ongoing. I'm sure he alleviated it somewhat in editing, as he always does.
Longer impressions are usually better when more than one host has played the game in question, that way some dialogue can develop. Still, I think your monologue didn't go on too long. We would hate for you to start feeling self-conscious about your length Jonny, that's uncomfortable for everyone
Post by: Crimm on March 15, 2010, 03:04:10 PM
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on March 15, 2010, 03:36:03 PM
Post by: NWR_Lindy on March 15, 2010, 03:45:12 PM
Post by: happyastoria on March 15, 2010, 05:58:36 PM
Post by: Crimm on March 15, 2010, 08:42:04 PM
I'm sure I was simply giving James some life lessons.
In douchery
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on March 15, 2010, 08:44:34 PM
..."one of the most visually unique games you’ll ever play." -- Planet GameCube
And yes, the "most...unique" faux pas makes me cringe now, but I wrote this back in 2002. I've tried to find a scan of that magazine ad, to no avail. I may ask Atlus PR if they have a copy on file.
Post by: Kytim89 on March 15, 2010, 09:55:35 PM
To clarify a statement I made:
Mass Effect 2 (as of recording was 22 hours). Completed in 34 hours over five days. 5.8 hours A DAY.
AND ALL BUT ONE WAS A WORKDAY
Awful.
Sad to say it, but all the games that came out recently, or come out in the next few weeks (Fragile, Infinite Line, Sakura Wars) are all RPGs, as are my next two review games.
I'm so getting kicked off the show. A merciful God wouldn't allow me to be so indulged. I'm going to need a 12 step program to get back on arcade flight sims.
You should try Zubo, Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the plumb, Avalon Code and Sonic Chronicles. These are good RPGs for the DS.
I really appreciated you guys commenting on Sonic Chronicles because that game has gotten very little publicity and it diserves recognition. Just the fact that it was developed by Bioware was enough to seel the game to me. Word has it that Bioware is considering opening up to the Nintendo wii and DS and I would lay the red carpet out for them if I could.
As for what I want to die in the gaming world, that is a tough question. How about Nintendo's negligence towards third party developers. I would really like to see a stronger relationship between Nintendo and third parties.
Post by: NWR_Lindy on March 15, 2010, 10:16:52 PM
I'm sure I was simply giving James some life lessons.
In douchery
What I have to give, I give.
Post by: Kytim89 on March 15, 2010, 11:17:46 PM
I'm sure I was simply giving James some life lessons.
In douchery
What I have to give, I give.
What did you think of Sonic Chronicles? Does the Sonic series need to go away for good?
Post by: NWR_insanolord on March 16, 2010, 02:11:17 AM
Post by: greybrick on March 16, 2010, 02:19:13 AM
Post by: broodwars on March 16, 2010, 11:45:38 AM
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on March 16, 2010, 10:19:47 PM
Post by: broodwars on March 17, 2010, 12:33:12 AM
My favorite part of most previous FFs is the overworld. So I'm just hoping the battle system is awesome and the story hooks me enough that I don't hate watching the cut-scenes.
You'll be happy to know that something approaching "the overworld" appears late in the game, where you have free reign to just run around and do a little questing/exploration/grinding. It's actually the area I'm running around right now, and it's pretty eye-pleasing...though the enemies can get ridiculously hard. I think you'll be surprised just how much exploration Square-Enix manages to wring out of seemingly simple level designs up till that point, as well. The battle system is awesome, btw, and I've found the story engaging enough. It's all leagues better than XII, that's for damn sure.
Post by: KDR_11k on March 17, 2010, 07:09:37 AM
I'm not much of a loot person myself, I do like loot but usually loot is just a number boost and I don't care about that, I want game changers. That's what I like about Metroid items (and one of the areas Corruption fell flat in), you get one and suddenly the game is different. EDF weapons tend to be like that too, because they're not random you get what the game devs designed and if it has drawbacks you better learn to deal with those because you can't just keep grinding until a similar weapon without the drawback drops (looking at Boringlands here). Even Hellgate did that better than Boringlands because often the different guns you got had different behaviours (e.g. the fire rocket launcher is nothing like the MIRV).
Post by: Kytim89 on March 17, 2010, 10:15:06 PM
Post by: GregLover5000 on March 18, 2010, 12:04:29 PM
Post by: Sundoulos on March 18, 2010, 12:43:46 PM
Post by: jrlibrarian on March 19, 2010, 02:05:12 PM
