Post by: joshnickerson on October 07, 2004, 02:19:41 PM
(Ian shouts from the sidelines: "A little cranked is putting it mildly!!!")
So I decided to do a bit of research and see if I could find out what is the same and what is different... so, as Mario would say, "Let's a GO!"
Graphics: Okay, when Nintendo announced the DS, they said the graphics would be on par with the N64. But from what I've seen, I think it's fair to say they're comparable to first generation Gamecube games... almost. The overall look is much smoother and the character models are MUCH better than what you found in Super Mario 64.
Levels: Watching the levels, it appears that the maps haven't changed much from SM64. I recognized several stages such as Bob-Omb Mountain and Dry Dry Desert and the infamous Red Carpet Slide. Whether or not the levels will change depending on what character you use isn't really known, but I did see Yoshi battling the Bob-Omb King, by lapping up smaller Bob-Ombs and shooting them back at him.
Story: I went to Nintendo.com and checked out SM64DS's game page and I happened upon the story.
"Answering an invitation, Mario, Luigi and Wario set out for a royal party with Princess Peach. When they arrive at the castle, though, they find it strangely empty. Meanwhile, Yoshi awakes from a rooftop nap to find the castle eerily silent, with Mario, Luigi and Wario nowhere to be seen. Yoshi soon discovers that Bowser has pilfered the castle's Power Stars and imprisoned the Toads in the castle's immense collection of paintings. It's up to the dynamic dino to figure out what happened to Mario, Luigi and Wario and save the day. "
So apparently you start off by playing Yoshi, and you gain access to the others by finding them in other levels. Or maybe perhaps you play through certain characters through certain worlds until they find each other, then you are able to access them all in all the levels.
Gameplay: From what I've seen, it's the usual hop N bop we all know and love. This is from Nintendo.com
"Each of the four main characters has multiple jumping moves that cover great horizontal and vertical distances. Each has unique moves: Yoshi can eat enemies and turn them into eggs that he can throw; Mario can punch, kick and wall-jump to great heights; super-strong Wario can break certain blocks; and Luigi can jump incredibly high. Power Flowers give each character even cooler powers, like invisibility, fire breath or the power to float through the air. "
So each character has a different skill, which probabaly means certain parts of a level can only be reached by certain characters. The hint at "Power Flowers" and "Fire Breath" makes me wonder... are fireballs back in 3-D?
Differences?: Well the ability to play with four players is an obvious difference. And apparently there are at least 30 new Stars to uncover (and new levels to find them in?), not to mention the "tons of new touch sensitive mini-games". As for the 4 player mode, is it battle only, or can you play through story mode with three other players? Perhaps while you're kicking Goomba tail in the Thwomp Fortress, someone else could be playing through Rainbow Ride? And if the levels were connected, that would be sweet. For instance, if a player falls down during Rainbow Ride, he could end up in Thwomp Fortress just in time to help you fight a boss. But again, we don't know the extent yet.
Please, feel free to add anything else you've heard about. But as of now, I don't think this is just a standard port...
(gets beaten by Ian)
Post by: Bill Aurion on October 07, 2004, 02:37:08 PM
*beats up Ian first* >=)
Port = game with very little, if any additions...(RE2 for N64, etc...)
Remake = game with many new additions and most of the time has a new coat of paint (REmake, etc)
SM64 DS has 30 more stars to collect, new boss battles(and levels I would assume), new character-oriented gameplay, and new DS-unique use of the touchscreen...IT IS A REMAKE...
Now let's end this...
Post by: Ian Sane on October 07, 2004, 02:42:18 PM
I've looked at IGN's hands on report. Looking at the new four player design and some of the new abilities and features this is more than just a standard port. It almost looks like a new game that uses the levels from Super Mario 64. In a way that's kind of more disappointing. They've gone to a lot of effort to add some new stuff to this so why didn't they just make a completely new game? They're halfway there anyway.
So in conclusion you could call this either a heavily enhanced remake or a really lazily designed new game. Either way it's a lame substitute for a completely new title and a poor flagship title for a sytem that's supposed to be about innovation.
Post by: Bill Aurion on October 07, 2004, 02:51:08 PM
I call them ports merely because the only thing added to the main games were voices, really...
And let's not get into the "innovation factor" before playing the game, please...
Post by: Ian Sane on October 07, 2004, 02:59:58 PM
It's the perceived lack of innovation that makes it a poor flagship title for the DS. It may in the end have a lot of new ideas in it but when you just see it on the shelf it just looks like Nintendo's innovative new console's big title is a port of an N64 game. It looks very non-innovative and that's going to give the wrong impression to the public or third parties about how innovative the system really is. It associates the DS with the port-happy hell of the GBA.
Post by: Bill Aurion on October 07, 2004, 03:03:55 PM
I don't deal with people too ignorant to read the back of a box...And it's not like the PSP will be any better off in the same situation, don't you think?
Post by: MysticGohan24 on October 07, 2004, 03:19:00 PM
Post by: Jdub03 on October 07, 2004, 04:22:39 PM
Post by: Bill Aurion on October 07, 2004, 04:56:33 PM
Post by: Ms.Pikmin on October 07, 2004, 05:53:01 PM
Also, to argue that people not looking at the back of the box are ignorant and therefore should be discounted is silly. I know that when I'm looking for a new game I don't pick up and read everything that's there. Usually I look at the ones that seem interesting and read those.
And so what if the PSP is no better off in the same situation. I expect more from Nintendo than I do Sony. Nintendo is very capable of launching with something better than what some perceive as a glorified port. I'm not so sure about Sony.
Post by: Bill Aurion on October 07, 2004, 06:00:32 PM
Give me an example of what kind of game would have been best as an "only launch title"...I think Super Mario 64 DS, port, remake, or what-not, is the best to tie in casual and hardcore gamers alike...Not only is it a super-updated version of a classic game, it has an indepth multiplayer mode...It's a perfect launch title in terms of gaining userbase...
Post by: ruby_onix on October 07, 2004, 06:40:29 PM
Post by: Ian Sane on October 07, 2004, 06:55:01 PM
Super Mario DS. No 64. Completely brand new Mario title.
Post by: Perfect Cell on October 07, 2004, 07:00:41 PM
Post by: Bill Aurion on October 07, 2004, 07:01:40 PM
(150 stars, new levels, DOZENS of minigames, even more interactive title screen than the original...SM64 DS looks to last a VERY long time)
Post by: Mario on October 07, 2004, 07:11:16 PM
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on October 07, 2004, 07:12:46 PM
Post by: Mario on October 07, 2004, 07:13:50 PM
Post by: Bill Aurion on October 07, 2004, 07:14:53 PM
Post by: kurst_chao3030 on October 07, 2004, 08:26:03 PM
Post by: kurst_chao3030 on October 07, 2004, 08:27:08 PM
Post by: MaleficentOgre on October 07, 2004, 08:33:44 PM
Post by: kurst_chao3030 on October 07, 2004, 08:36:01 PM
why couldn't sega throw in a sonic, why couldn't they speed up production, why why why!
Post by: Bill Aurion on October 07, 2004, 08:40:18 PM
Post by: kurst_chao3030 on October 07, 2004, 08:44:35 PM
Post by: Mario on October 07, 2004, 08:47:11 PM
*In this decade, Sonic does not equal good game
Post by: kurst_chao3030 on October 07, 2004, 08:50:06 PM
Post by: chain chomp on October 07, 2004, 09:50:05 PM
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on October 07, 2004, 11:13:49 PM
No hedgehogs on D.ouble S.upergameboy this year.
*Reggie rips trees out of ground, flips cars*
Post by: kirby_killer_dedede on October 08, 2004, 04:29:34 AM
"WHY WON'T YOU DIIIIIIIIIIE"
Post by: couchmonkey on October 08, 2004, 06:58:21 AM
