We now return to our regularly scheduled, annual tradition of doomed E3 predictions.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rfn/34407
Most of the RFN crew just had a week off, and with this being our last normal episode before E3, we're all eager beavers for Nintendo right now. Even in the usually dull period before that big event, we have some new games to discuss.
Gui is up first with a summation of his review for Lego Batman 2, the long-delayed Wii U port of last year's well-received adventure. It seems to be a good version of the game, but our editor is even more impressed by Lego City Undercover after playing this earlier game in the franchise. Jon has clearly been busy of late, but he does sneak in a few thoughts on the Marvel Pinball demo for 3DS -- noting that you may be better off just buying the full game. James glosses over his review copy of Murder Mysteries: Jack the Ripper (why-oh-why can't that be as cool as it sounds?) and instead pours confounded adoration over Asura's Wrath. Jonny joins the choir on Mario and DK: Minis on the Move, a fully loaded eShop puzzle game with enough modes to circumvent any specific frustrations. We then head back around the lineup so Guillaume can express his severe disappointment with The Starship Damrey, our first Guild 02 title, and Jonny gets a chance to characterize the rote experience of Uncharted: Golden Abyss on PS Vita.
The second part of this episode is all about E3 -- of course! We begin by rounding up the recent information on Nintendo's surprising effort to bring E3 demos to Best Buy stores around the continent. While everyone thinks it's a great idea, the actual implementation of this plan is considerably underwhelming. More importantly (based on the numerous requests from our listeners), we get into our annual E3 predictions. As James notes, it feels harder to pin down the possibilities this year due to Nintendo Directs and the Wii U's dismal performance so far, but we still manage to cover key topics like 3D Mario, Wii Fit U, Mario Kart, hardware announcements, and yes, Retro Studios. Everything we say will be proven wrong, but at least you only have to wait another week to see just how wrong we were.
The next time you hear from RFN, it will be E3 week. Expect multiple, shorter episodes with a rotating cast of NWR staff members and special guests. The home team might even answer some emails, so hook them the eff up, man! And if you'd like to hear more from the pirates of last week's show, check out the recent podcast episodes over at Crosstawk.
To me, the pivotal question that'll be asked if a Wii U Sports/Fit game we're made that didn't involve the Wii U Gamepad in some compelling way will be "Why does this need to be on the Wii U?".
To me, the pivotal question that'll be asked if a Wii U Sports/Fit game we're made that didn't involve the Wii U Gamepad in some compelling way will be "Why does this need to be on the Wii U?".
I agree with you to a certain extent, but as far as I'm concerned there are plenty of Wii U games that don't 'need' to be on Wii U. I would argue that most third party games don't take advantage of the Gamepad. I might also suggest that Pikmin 3 (based on preview and demo info) doesn't seem to be making compelling use of the system's unique features. My stance on when system specific features should be utilised has always been the same, which is that those features should be used when and if it makes sense.
I guess what I'm saying is that I agree with you that there is no obvious way in which the Gamepad might make the Wii Fit experience better, but I also don't think that's necessarily a problem.
To capture any of that mass-market appeal, Nintendo needs to provide a reason why the Wii U is a must-have experience. The Wii with the remotes and the Xbox 360 with Kinect did this, but the Wii U hasn't made a compelling argument yet.
Then if you really want to go crazy (and assuming the Wii U is capable of this and I don't have a clue if it is or not) make it so that you could launch Netflix or Hulu Plus through your Wii U (for anyone that doesn't have another means of streaming these to their TV) so that you can watch Netflix/Hulu while playing Wii Sports Fitness.
And if NOA feels really ambitious they could integrate Wii Sports Fitness with TVii (Do a lot of people like/use this?)
What do you guys think of all that?
I have to disagree with the notion that Uncharted: Golden Abyss is "the worst Uncharted game". That's impossible so long as Uncharteds 1 and 3 still exist, particularly Uncharted 1 with its boring combat arenas full of seemingly endless waves of goons. :P:Still doesn't beat Uncharted 3 having the mostly dragged-out single player campaign, especially with the bloody ship graveyard section in the middle.
I have to disagree with the notion that Uncharted: Golden Abyss is "the worst Uncharted game". That's impossible so long as Uncharteds 1 and 3 still exist, particularly Uncharted 1 with its boring combat arenas full of seemingly endless waves of goons. :P:Still doesn't beat Uncharted 3 having the mostly dragged-out single player campaign, especially with the bloody ship graveyard section in the middle.
Let's just agree that Uncharted 2 is the series' best installment
Uncharted 3 was funny. During the last level, which at the time I didn't know was the last level, I thought "Okay, I'm ready for this game to end now". And then it did.so late to the podcast, late to the talkback... come on Lindemann
It was literally just long enough to not overstay its welcome with me.
Uncharted 3 was funny. During the last level, which at the time I didn't know was the last level, I thought "Okay, I'm ready for this game to end now". And then it did.
It was literally just long enough to not overstay its welcome with me.
Based on my experiences with the back half/third of Uncharted 2 and Uncharted 1, the primary pillar of gameplay (the third-person shooting) becomes awful. You don't throw insta-kill snipers, insta-kill magnum wielders, insta-kill rocket troopers, two-shot grenade launcher troopers, ballistic armor shotgunners, shotgun rushers, and dozens of hardy grunts in nearly every enemy encounter and expect me to have fun. Do not get me started on the deplorable final boss fights on both games.
