Messages

1

General Chat / Super Mario, a communist?

« on: June 01, 2003, 01:28:08 PM »

Hey, does anyone else think that the point about the end-level flags is a bit... scary?  I mean, it's true; Mario's taking down a flag with the peace symbol on it and is replacing it with a red star!  WTF?!?  Maybe Mario IS a communist, which make make Miyamoto one too!

Shiggy:  "Die, captialists, die!  Muahahahahahahaha!"

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Nintendo Gaming / Nintendo Nexus: Next-gen name?

« on: June 01, 2003, 01:15:48 PM »

The Nintendo Nintesticle, with their flagship title being Super Mario Illegal Sunshine (oh no, Mario's on dope, mama mia!).

Don't hurt me.

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Nintendo Gaming / WERE CAN I SEE SOME PICTURES OF THE NEXUS...........................

« on: June 01, 2003, 01:02:04 PM »

Does anyone have a picture of all the colored Nexuses WITHOUT the freaky screaming thing?  I'd really appreciate it if you could point me towards one.

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Nintendo Gaming / Celda 2?

« on: May 31, 2003, 09:40:02 AM »

Here's how I feel about the topic.

When I first saw the Zelda tech demo at SW2000, I was very impressed.  Though the preset camera angles and such made it clear that it wasn't representative of actual gameplay (this isn't to say they weren't real time graphics) I was still really excited by it.  Essentially, seeing this new watermark for graphics allowed me to imagine the world from OoT in the next generation, any gamer's dream.  I'll never forget reading an e-mail from a buddy I met at Camp Hyrule, and seeing the picture of Ganondorf enclosed within it, with no explanation as to what it was.  I followed the NP logo to their site, and boy, was I blown away.

But by now, the novelty's worn off.  The general consensus with people seems to be that the graphics engine, as impressive as it once was, is now clearly outdated, and that the characters, now that everything's calmed down a bit, appear dry and robotic, lacking soul.  I'd have to agree, though these types of things could easily by solved today, and who wouldn't want to see, say, Epona riding into a brilliant sunset, with each hair on her mane fur-shaded and animated, with clouds of dust whirling up behind her in real-time volumentric fog as she gallops across the gently blowing grass?

Still, after tasting cel-shaded Zelda, I don't want to go back anyways.  Like Shocking said, there's levels of depth and realism that can be accomplished only with cel shading, levels of expression and personality that, with the same cartoony antics that allow them so much freedom, also make them that much more realistic, ironically.  Link's world has never swelled and breathed like it did in Wind Waker, and there are things that simply would never fit in a world bound by nitty gritty details.

I trust that, with Miyamoto's guidance, we'd enjoy the game either way, though somehow I doubt he'll ever make a game as "realistic" as the tech demo.  I think he'll only go as far as Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask did, leaving for a healthy degree of lighthearted fantasy (and lighthearted, mind you, does not mean bright and colorful).  It's just the feeling I get from all of this.

And by the way, I'm not some fanboy praising Nintendo on another awesome move made, I'm giving my true opinions.  That's all there is to it.  

Anyways, back to the REAL topic, I think it's pretty safe to assume that Tetra and the pirates will be with Link throughout his new adventure.  They'll probably find a new country above the sea, one in distress.  They'll investigate and find that some new villain is spreading trouble throughout the land.  Link will go in, navigating perhaps the land's waterways and gulfs and such with his boat, and save the day once again.  And then the Wind Waker epic will truly conclude, with everything resolved in the finding of a second Hyrule.  This story could have millions of possibilities to it.  Personally, I'd like to see Majora again, as well as tall, snowy mountains and lush jungles, environments not visited in WW...  

5

General Chat / Super Mario, a communist?

« on: May 30, 2003, 05:55:23 PM »

To my (small) understanding, the problem with Communism is that if nobody in the country can rise above a certain point of financial status and everybody's going to be paid regardless of the work they output, then there's no motivation, nobody puts any effort into the work, and the country's economy falls into shambles, making for a very poor --- and thus very unhappy --- country.  Correct me if I'm wrong, though, I'm always up for learning something new.  And also, I'm not saying Communism is bad, it's fine and all, it's just that I doubt it can work successfully.  That's all.

6

General Gaming / Game of E3 2003

« on: May 28, 2003, 10:33:27 AM »

The best Nintendo game on the show floor was easily F-Zero GX.  I've always been a huge F-Zero fan, and that may color my opinion right from the get-go, but seriously, can you remember anything but great things ever being said about this polished gem of a game?  For me, it's like a dream come true:  Nintendo and Sega collaborating on one of the best series ever, creating the fastest and most visually stunning racing game EVER in the process, expanding the F-Zero universe ever further with deeper back stories to the characters and settings, and linking the customizable action between the home and the arcade.  AWESOME!  I haven't heard a single complaint about this game; everybody seems to drip with positive feedback for it, the movies look absolutely mindblowing, and the features list is fantastic.  I simply cannot WAIT to get this game!

Prince of Persia would have to be runner-up.  It looks friggin' incredible.  The graceful acrobatics and effortless wall-running are just amazing, and the game's so polished and stylized, too.  I love it.  Chalk up another winner for Ubi Soft, a company who's really been impressing my lately.

Other honorable mentions are a not-playable-but-so-awesome-looking-that-you-just-know-that-it-will-kick-major-butt Halo 2 and the perfected fighting gameplay of Soul Calibur 2 --- Link included!

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Nintendo Gaming / Side Scrolling Mario!!

« on: May 27, 2003, 12:28:23 PM »

Remember the 3D renders of Mario that Nintendo used (and still uses) for the concept art in SM64 and SMS?  The visuals should be like that in the next 3-D Mario game.  Realistic to a degree, but with a soft, cartoony feeling to it, all very smooth, polished, and easy on the eyes --- just the right balance of realism and cartooniness.  To name a few effects that I think should be included, I'd like to see the water and heat effects from SMS kept, as well as the morphing, cel-shaded clouds in the sky from Wind Waker.  All in all such an approach would combine to make a very visually pleasing game.

As for the game, I think each world should consist of a huge, wide open central region with plenty of nooks and crannies to explore and things to do, but with paths branching out from around it, paths that seamlessly lead into more linear obstacle courses and such (like SMS's Warp Stages) where the real meat of the game would be.

For instance, imagine Mario hopping out of a Warp Pipe and landing knee-deep in snow on a windswept valley swirling with ice and snow.  You flip to first person perspective and examine the area.  Behind you is a skyscraping mountain rising straight up from the valley floor, and you can see hundreds of slippery ledges that you could clamber up to reach the distant top.  You run, hop, skip, jump, and flip your way to the mountain and begin the perilous journey up, warding off assaults from airborne enemies as you tread carefully across icy ledges and skillfully jump to and fro.  Then, when you finally reach the summit, from which you see the entire valley, with its snowy forests, sparkling caves, and misty lakes, you are faced with very linear obstacle course filled with all sorts of insane platforming challenges, just like the Warp Zones in SMS.  And at the end is your Star.

In my opinion, it's the best of both worlds, and should suit Mario fine, with the right curve of difficulty and implementation.  And yes, the game should be seasoned well with TONS of nostalgic touches, with everything from the Super Mushroom and Fire Flower to the Tanooki Suit and Hammer Bros. Suit, from the Koopa Kids to Wario and Wart, from worlds of fire and ice to climatic battles aboard airships, everything, all brought to new life on next generation hardware.

Now THAT would be quite something!    

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Nintendo Gaming / Nintendo Power's Defense of GameCube

« on: May 23, 2003, 01:04:25 PM »

I thought Zeth's post was hilarious.  He said exactly what I was thinking, just in a very blunt, sarcastic way.  Though some of you may say NP was only joking, I can't quite agree.  Sure, they'll sugarcoat their statements with lighthearted, overexaggerated descriptions (the X-Box controller for octupi?), but the "jokes" lose their appeal and become sad once you realize just how serious they're actually being.  Tell ya what, visit N-sider Chat at their official website, sit quietly in the background, and listen to the conversations they have, how they mindlessly and factlessly bash the competition and praise the Gamecube, something that is to be expected but is never quite justified and seems just plain wrong coming from the, how to say, wisened Nintendo.  And yes, what will Sony and Microsoft be working on tomorrow?  The very bane of Nintendo if they go into the next generation with THAT attitude, that's what.  The new sense of aggression is good, but the unsubstantiated cockiness just makes them look immature and foolish, and gives one-ups to the competition, in a way.  

Quite frankly, for Nintendo to say that NOT having DVD playback is a plus is for them to shot themselves in the foot.  To say that the competition have no good exclusives is just plain stupid, seeing how the industry's hottest franchises are dominant on Sony's system (the Grand Theft Autos, the main Metal Gear Solids, the main Final Fantasies, ect).  Can't quite say the same of X-Box, though, they really DO have only one killer exclusive --- Halo.  The whole color point is stupid, since platinum isn't what everyone has; in fact, most people to my knowledge have the "dust-collecting" black or the often-called-gay purple (and I DON'T think the purple is stupid, in fact, I own it).  Zeth's point of the technically inferior PSX beating the sh*t out of the more powerful N64 is EXCELLENT, and Nintendo, seeing how they want to launch their next system first this time, will probably have the weaker hardware anyways.  The list is just... crap.  It's a more-or-less effective sales point for the uninformed gamer, it's a "whoopidy do!" for the mindless fanboy, and for the more knowledgable people like those here, it's simply... amusing.  Good ol' Nintendo.

The GB Player point is VERY good, though.  

Just some simple thoughts.  I'm not bashing Nintendo.  I'm just giving an honest opinion of how I saw the list.  Trust me, I'm less cynical then most of you people ^_^.  I actually like the Four Swords, I never had an issue with Wind Waker's cel-shaded look, and I knew Metroid Prime would be grand in FP view.  So don't think I'm cynical.

EDIT:  For clarity.    

9

General Chat / Recreate a hodgepodge of Matrix scenes in Perfect Dark!

« on: May 21, 2003, 11:26:11 AM »

I was playing Perfect Dark with two friends the other day, and, inspired by the sheer awesomeness of The Matrix Reloaded, we decided to "play" the movie.  Sure, you could play Enter the Matrix, but nothing quite beats the natural intensity and style of Perfect Dark.  So we booted up the Combat Simulator for three players, and set it to a team battle, with us three against four computer opponents.  We custom set the four simulants to two guys in brown business suits (the agents) and two Mr. Blondes (the twins), and set them to the yellow team.  I choose to play as one of the butler's with a black man's head (Morpheus), one of my friend's chose Joanna Dark with the leather outfit (Trinity), and the other chose the detective with the dark-haired, long-faced man (Neo).  We were all on the red team.  We set the guns to Falcon 2s (regular), Falcon 2s (silenced), RCP180s (I think that's what it's called), Magnums, and CMP15Os, and turned on one-hit kills.  We custom set the music to include a multiple playlist of dark, moody tunes and fast-pace techno beats (Air Force One, baby!).  And we played in the Grid, I believe.

And it was AWESOME!  The Grid is like a recreation of the lobby shootout from the first Matrix, with a large marble hall complete with rows of columns on either side and a glossy elevator at the end.  Weaving in and out of the pillars while firing two Falcon 2's at the agents was incredibly fun!  It just so happened that the two Mr. Blondes (the Twins) always were together, it seemed, one right behind the other, and get this; both were armed with the RCP180s (machine guns, like Reloaded), and both kept turning invisible with the guns' cloaking device (like the ghosts --- sweet!).  My friends and I would escape through the elevator to the second lobby with the glass ceiling and the two floors, and the agents would always meet us move for move.  The fire fights were intense, with sparks spraying from the walls as bullets peppered their surface.  The music fight everything just right, and the occasional slowdown, as crazy as it may sound, worked perfectly to create the suspension sense of the movie's special effects.  It was sweet!

If you have Perfect Dark, grab some friends and try those settings --- you'll love it!  Makes it seem like a shame that the game's sequel is an X-Box exclusive now.

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General Chat / The Matrix Reloaded......Anyone seen it?

« on: May 21, 2003, 11:12:46 AM »

The "sex" scene is harmless.  It's shot to minimize nudity (all you see is them kissing, from the shoulders up, and occasionally Neo's back, from a distance), and there's NO sound, just the techno beat from the dance scene that's happening at the same time.  It's important to the story, too, for reasons I stated before.  It's hardly anything discomforting, and doesn't detract from the movie's greatness.  It adds to the story, actually.  Nothing to miss the movie out over, anyways.

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Nintendo Gaming / Sony data says XBox beating GC by almost 4 million worldwide.

« on: May 19, 2003, 12:05:01 PM »

Indeed it's not from a reputable third-party.  But, if I'm not mistaken, neither was Nintendo's claim, and thus IGN's, of the GCN beating out X-Box by 1.5 million.  So... who's to believe.

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Nintendo Gaming / Suggestions on what Nintendo should do to become #1 next generation

« on: May 19, 2003, 11:32:14 AM »

Yes, Game Boy Player technology is VERY simple (it's been around since the N64 days), and rather cheap to implement.  Putting a small slot for regular and Advance carts right at the system's helm would be very effective.  Then, dual layer the disk player so that GC disks can click right in and be read, and full-size DVDs can fit in and be used as well (not simulataneously, of course).  Then, Nintendo should bill these features as huge selling points for the system.  The GB, throughout all of its installments, has accumulated thousands and thousands of titles.  The GC, by that point, will probably have a good three to four, maybe even five hundred games.  Combined, this new system would have a huge library of great games right out of the gate, appealing to the HUGE handheld crowd with a home center to play all of their favorite portables on, and to gamers of other systems with its access to all of the older GC along with all of the new.  And though MOST people will have a DVD player by then, people who value saving space and getting more for their money will find the inclusion of DVD playback very nice.  And no regional lockout.  For anything.    

I think Nintendo should use full-size DVDs for their games, or else the competition will have an advantage over them with MUCH larger disk capacity.  Seriously, having to spread Resident Evil over two GC disks when they both could have fit effortlessly on an X-Box disk with room to spare is pretty... pathetic.  My personal favorite game, Eternal Darkness, also was victimized by limited disk space, sacrificing the quality of its otherwise awesome cinema scenes so that it could make it all onto one disk.  Sure, it may be a foolproof against piracy, but I'm sure there's other ways around the problem without slicing so much into disk capacity.  Nintendo needs to be a little more conservative with its action and meet the competition toe-to-toe.

Madden is important.  I hang out with a lot of "jocks" (I really don't like that word, it's stereotypical), and to them Madden IS bread and butter.  And, according to sales charts, it's the bread and butter of hundreds of millions of other gamers all across North America.  No matter how "universally" popular Madden may be worldwide, delivering the top version of the game on Nintendo's next system and billing it as the best will help to establish a strong userbase for the console her in the states, something that pays off in the long run.  Also, Madden is MUCH more plausible then GTA, and Nintendo already has good ties to EA.  

Another place where Nintendo needs to put its money is at retail chains.  Back when the consoles launched, it tore at my heart to go to the mall with some friends and see EB and FYE filled to the brim with X-Box advertisements, while a single GC kiosk, some obscure posters, and cardboard stand-up were tucked away in the back.  Most of the people browsing through the stores there had no idea that not just one new system was coming out, but TWO.  Nintendo's presence at the market was overshadowed by Microsoft's more aggressive stance on pushing the product into the lime light.  With the next system, they need to change all of that.  They need to gamble a bit and pay the big bucks to secure the advertising rights in major retail outlets, like Electronic Botique.  They need to do what they did with Resident Evil's launch; they need to secure several months of Nintendo-heavy advertising, so that Nintendo game posters and cardboard cut-outs and memorbolia adorn the windows at the front of the store, so that several koisks are available for play, so that the bags are imprinted with the Nintendo logo, and so that the employees answer the phone saying, "Greetings from EB, where we are celebrating Nintendo week!  How can I help you?"  They did it around the time Resident Evil launched, but that wasn't nearly soon enough.  They need to do it at LAUNCH.  And they need to do it ten times greater.  Nintendo needs to practically force their new system into the casual consumer's hands.  Nothing else will do the trick.

Imagine coupling that EB advertising strategy with a launch that came a full year AHEAD of the competition.  A huge, explosive, well-known launch, and then a full year to follow through with and build momentum, to build a head start.  They need this.  All it takes is a good single and multiplayer game packed full of Nintendo charm, a wide array of popular third-party titles, and the willingness to spend some money on increasing awareness.  Put this all a year in advance, and you'll have units selling like crazy.

   

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Nintendo Gaming / Suggestions on what Nintendo should do to become #1 next generation

« on: May 18, 2003, 04:01:18 PM »

Aggressive advertising is a must.  It doesn't even take much more spending or effort on Nintendo's part, they just need to do it much BETTER.  For instance, most of Nintendo's TV commercials consist of long, obscure live-action footage, and then just a brief, blink-and-you-miss-it clip of actual game footage at the end.  That's not going to sell anything.  They have to make commercials like the one for Halo, where the full length of the ad demonstrates the cool things about the game that make it fun, with a narrator hyping it up all throughout.  Now THAT works well.  Common sense dictates that actually seeing X-wings weave in and out of a nebula frying TIEs in brilliant explosions of light will appeal to more people then I guy wheeling around in his office cubicle (as the case with Rogue Leader).  It's just common sense.

Backwards comptability is a must.  Most of my friends purchased a PS2 with the intent of playing all those old Final Fantasy games they missed, and I see no reason why the new Nintendo system shouldn't appeal to more with a huge library of great games right out the gate.  It'd be well worth the time and effort to implement this feature, especially considering that the competition will no doubt have it.

Wireless controllers is also a must.  The only people who wouldn't agree are those that still use corded controllers.  For me, there's no going back after going wireless.  Perhaps longer cords would suffice, but nothing beats wireless, especially when you're playing with a bunch of friends.

Nintendo needs to have TWO killer apps right at launch, one being a phenomenal single player game (preferably Mario) and the other being an insanely fun multiplayer game (like Super Smash Bros., which packs TONS of selling power).  They should round out the arsenal with a bunch of high quality, small-time first-and-second party projects, and then a good amount of third party titles, with as many exclusives as they can garner and as many of the multi-platform ones too.  The system itself should come with a playable demo disk highlighting some upcoming killer apps and other games.    

Nintendo should really listen to the fans regarding its games.  Appeal to everybody by throwing in nostalgic touches for the hardcore fans (like the Tanooki Suit and the Koopa Kids in a new Mario title), while appealing to the mainstream crowd with very rich, pleasing graphics and music.  It's all about enrichening the franchises so as to strengthen the fanbase.  It's worked for Nintendo in the past, they should just kick it into overdrive next generation.

And the system should probably be a solid silver, black... or white.  Personally, a mostly white system with black lining would look really tight.  Either way it should be small and sleek.  DVD playback would be nice, and easy to implement, since DVD technology will be relatively inexpensive by that point.  It'd still be worth it, too, since many people find more value in combining two different forms of entertainment into one.  In Japanese culture, it's a must, since home space is so essential for many.

Anyways, just some thoughts.

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General Chat / The Matrix Reloaded......Anyone seen it?

« on: May 18, 2003, 12:17:50 PM »

The "goon" who got shot with the silver bullet was a werewolf.  He was an agent carried over from the older version who was skillful with bladed weapons and whose program could only be deleted with a silver bullet (which is what you kill werewolves with).  Cool stuff.

The only way I can see Neo winning this war is if he actually manages to free every single individual within the Matrix, and we're talking billions of people in doing that.  Perhaps he'll find some system command that can unlock all of the minds simultaneously, and then combine their strengths in the real world to topple the Machines in a Third Renassaince.  In the Revolutions trailer you see what looks to be like a giant war between the humans and the machines, with the mechs and ships battling the sentinels and giant control units.  So maybe...

Still, sounds pretty crazy.  I loved Reloaded's cliffhanger.  It makes for endless possibilities...

And DRJ, do you happen to have access to the final script of the movie?  I'd be really interested to see it.

15

General Chat / The Matrix Reloaded......Anyone seen it?

« on: May 18, 2003, 04:11:59 AM »

Personally, I believe the "rave" scene was very justified.  The Wachowski Brothers are very raw and realistic in their explanation of things.  They used the sex scene to accomplish a couple of things important to the storyline.  

First of all, it shows that Neo is not some god, but that he is still very human, and as human he is still susceptible to human urges, feelings, and emotions.  This makes his character just as vunlerable as he is strong.  Then, second of all, it explains, in a very direct way, why Neo is so emotionally attached to Trinity, to the point where he sacrifices Zion to save her at the end.  The sex helps to explain why their love is so intimate without covering all of the character development in their relationship (you know, the sweet talking).  Neo and Trinity loved each other to begin with, but then this new expression of love sealed the commitment.  And finally, this scene foreshadows a number of possibilities, from a dramatic and unexpected separation in the third movie (maybe one of them dies, or one is left behind in the Matrix while the other is free), or, more likely, the birth of a child.  In most modern myths, the legendary hero falls in love and has a child that'll go on to accomplish even greater things.  Any such things may apply here.

Anyways, there's nothing "dirty" about that sex scene.  It was very clean, and they love each other, so I suppose their passion was justified.  The dance scene was simply to show how high the spirits of the Zionists were, how hopeful and fearless they were despite the circumstances, and, in the end, create irony when those same bold people are slaughtered by the Machines.  It all plays into the storyline on so many levels that it's incredible, and is in no ways stooping to some level.  It's all in how you interpret it.

And with the cake and woman, you can take that as a sexually-oriented joke --- after all, that French guy is pretty funny --- or as dark symbolism for just how much power the Matrix has over the poor, helpless people trapped inside of it.  That woman was being preyed on by the French dude, and though you couldn't help but like it in some ways (she was hot), you also can't help but feel sorry for her.  Once again, playing into the story, as long as you look at things in the philosophical sense that this movie is geared towards.

Anyways, it was a GREAT movie!  Did anyone catch the monster references?  The Oracle spoke of vampires, ghosts, and werewolves being the product of programs doing things they're not supposed to.  I saw examples of all such.  The ghosts were the Twins, obviously, the werewolves were those older versions of the agents who fought with swords and daggers (remember, they could only be killed with silver bullets, which is what you kill a werewolf with), and Persophone and the Merovigian were vampires in a symbolic sense (ever hear the term "vampire of the emotions").  Also, there's a vampire movie playing on the big screen when Persophone walks into that one room with the two older agents.  Very cool stuff.    

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General Chat / Matrix Reloaded Plot Discussion

« on: May 17, 2003, 05:22:36 PM »

When the Nebbachunezza was destroyed by the Sentienls and they were fleeing through the tunnels, Neo stops and mentions that he can "feel" them.  Then he unleashes his own electromagnetic pulse and disables the machines.  My guess is that Neo has synchronized himself even moreso with the Matrix, to the point where he can extend his influence over the machines that are controlled by the Matrix's programs in the real world.  That's what I figured when I saw it, anyways.

About the confrontation with the Architect.  From what I gathered, your statement makes sense, but I don't understand why the Machines would be fostering resistance to their own power supplies by permitting another Zion to form again and again.  Perhaps they have no control over that.  From the sounds of things, the Matrix is somewhat like a giant, mathematical algorithim, with point-blank, black-and-white equations which, when you plug in the imperfect human minds as your y's and x's, creates an unbalanced equation that humans are able to reject, given the prospect of mental comprehension (choice), and thus causing system errors and loopholes to seperate from the mainframe.  Perhaps escaping humans is inevitable and so they use the aforementioned cycle of "Ones" to maintain an equilibrium of sorts; Zion repopulates, resistance grows tense, and the One unwittingly stiffles it.  Thus, the friendly Oracle, despite her good intentions (the result of AI processing choices free of the system), could be a control herself, unknowningly mired by the program bearing over the environment (the Matrix).  In that case, there really would be no messiah, so to speak.

And exactly how will Neo free all of the humans in Revolutions?  It sounds like freeing any more then twenty-three humans, half of which are male and the other female, will trigger a massive system failure that'll terminate humanity.  Then Earth will be left to the Machines.  Even if Neo does shut down the Matrix and escape with twenty-three humans, they won't stand a chance against the Machines back in the real world when they resort to their back-up energy sources.  Seems like a lose-lose situation to me...  

Confusing sh*t, this is.

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General Gaming / Anyone else think Nintendo had a lame show?

« on: May 16, 2003, 05:09:30 PM »

Yeah, and if Nintendo has THAT attitude, the PSP will steal the handheld market from right beneath their noses, just like Sony did with the console market and their Playstation.  There's no telling what the PSP will be like, so no reason to write it off just yet.  

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Nintendo Gaming / Thanks for nothing Nintendo!!!(Zelda 4 Swords)

« on: May 16, 2003, 02:33:07 PM »

Well, this is HUGE title for me.  I have two gaming brothers and about a dozen gaming friends right down the street, each with a GBA and the cash to buy the rather inexpensive link-up cable.  We're all true Zelda fanatics through and through, and we're complete multiplayer whores.  With Four Swords, we'll be getting the best of both worlds; competitve and cooperative action in a nostalgic, highly stylized Zelda world, that you can explore big-time on the TV and secretly on the GBA screen.  For people like us, this is no small game, but a rather worthwhile one.  Games like this, coupled with some pizza and pop, equals fun all through the night, and judging from the very positive impressions the Four Swords is receiving, there's no doubt it'll be great fun.  I really want this game --- it's honestly impressed me more than most of the games at this year's E3, especially after seeing it in motion at Nintendo's E3 website.  

Nintendo, being able to afford any losses they may take on selling this game to a somewhat limited audience, is very justified in following this game through (though I can't say the same of Tetra's Trackers).  Those of you without a GBA in the first place should just go and pick one up --- they cost only a bit more then a GC game, they have the best library of titles, and they are the best gaming system Nintendo has delivered in a while.  Buy a GBA so you'll be able to enjoy Four Swords, and stop whining.

[blast]

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General Gaming / Anyone else think Nintendo had a lame show?

« on: May 16, 2003, 01:24:45 PM »

In my personal opinion, there's plenty of reasons for a Gamecube owner to be excited this upcoming year, as the software line-up IS great.  Think about it.  

Double Dash fills me with warm, tingly feelings just looking at its smooth, colorful graphics and lickity-split antics, and I know it'll be an absolute blast for my friends and I to resume our multiplayer mayhem, this time with twice as many characters, all-new vehicles, items, and tracks, and even LAN gaming, to boot.  Koopa Troopa's back, and he's pimped up with a tight shell mobile.  What more do you want?  

I'm a diehard 1080 fan (it's pronounced Ten-Eighty, dammit!), and this latest installment expands its stylishly cool world in ways I only dreamed of (a fully realized and fleshed out world, with interactive NCPs, natural disasters, and truly beautiful, see-it-and-board-there scenery).  It's coming along smoothly, and I'm relieved.  I can't wait to finally out-trick my friend down the street (who was insanely good in the first one --- his half-pipe score was like in the tens of billions, seriously).  Hell, I may just go through the rigors of mastering real-life snowboarding out of love for this series --- it's THAT good.  The Winterborn cometh!  

Now I MUST have F-Zero GX --- to my friends and me, a new adventure with Captain Falcon is just as big a thing as the next Zelda or Mario game, and these speed demons are always one hell of a trip, with tons of intense but infinitely deep action.  Take F-Zero X's polished-to-perfection game formula, dress it up with some of the fastest and most visually stunning visuals ever, pump it full of brand new content with Sega AND Nintendo, give it an innovative customization system and strong ties to the arcades (here in the US, too!), and you have a real winner, a true triple A title to keep an eye on.  This IS a killer app --- racing game as it may be, it is.  Casual gamers will see Captain Falcon on the cover, recognize him as the bad ass from SSBM, and pick it up; then the breakneck speed will break them down and whup their ass; then they'll come back for more, and more, and more.  It always happens.  As for the hardcore "gamers," this should already be a must-have title.  

Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes is a dream come true; take one of the best and most popular games of all time, and create the definitive version of it, rebuilt and expanded with Shiggy, Kojima, Silicon Knights, and one really good film director at the helm --- I'm sold already.  And Rebel Strike impresses me to no end, with phenomenal graphics and sound, an utterly complete reconstruction of the original trilogy that I and millions of others love so very, very much, and the inclusion of Rogue Leader, in co-op form... wow.

Pokemon Colosseum looks very appetizing.  The GB games got me addicted, the Pokemon Stadiums bred me into a seasoned veteran of its infinitely deep battle system, and Colosseum looks to take it to the next level, polishing my new two-on-two skills and use of the one hundred some new characters and all of the moves and skills they entail.  Colosseum is the reason that training those little buggers on the GBA is so worthwhile --- it just makes it all the more satisfying to pummel the snot out of your friends in full 3-D.  I must have this game, especially after seeing Groudon rendered in 3-D.  Me likes.  

And although Tetra's Trackers hardly seems substantiated enough to hold my attention for long, Four Swords looks AWESOME.  No, I'm dead serious.  Four Swords looks like a ridiculously fun time.  I have the fortune of having two gaming brothers and half a dozen gaming friends right down the street, all with GBAs (not all with cables, though), and being a seasoned expert of four-player gaming, I can see the potential this game has for great, great times.  Yes, the graphics may be simple, but since when was simplicity bad?  They're by no means ugly, and they look quite swell at that, duplicating the stylized look of ALttP and polishing it to a fine degree.  Either way, the fun factor is the selling point, and Four Swords looks like it's well worth the money; exploring a huge world with your friends at your side, the world we've all come to know and love; slashing, boomeranging, shooting, and bombing all of your favorite villains, then competing furiously to reap the riches they leave behind; staying with your pals, in the highlands, forests, mountains, and towns, or going solo underground or through houses on your GBA; playing with complete control over what your friends know and what they don't, always plotting your next move to get ahead... I LOVE THAT!!!  Four Swords looks like a nostalgic throwback to Zelda world of old while at the same time being a triumph of innovation and technology, and it's definitely on my to-get list.  I just fear that others may not be so responsive to the game's greatness.

In addition to this, the Gamecube also has a new Star Fox on its horizon, one which is early now but with Namco's vision and Nintendo's guidance packs great potential.  There's a sequel to Pikmin, which continues to expand this new franchise's universe, and Wario makes his console debut in an action-packed brawler set in his zany world of mischief.  Mario Party 5 is making all the right moves with over 60 all-new minigames, fully 3-D maps (about time), all-new Mario characters, and new gameplay features, with entire new minigame modes and strategies.  Geist looks like it has great potential to be a truly entralling FPS, and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles is another great reason to link your two Nintendo systems together (if you don't have one, they're a bargain to get now --- and a very worthwhile one, too).  Viewtiful Joe, Soul Calibur 2, Sonic Heroes, Killer 7, Resident Evil 4, Metroid Prime 2, and plenty of other great games round out the arsenal.

And you have one great year of gaming!    

BUT, being the thrill-craving humans we are, it's only natural to feel disappointed when we don't get the adrenaline rush of huge announcements and big new franchises that we expect each year at E3.  Perhaps we were spoiled by last year's blowout.  At any rate, this year's case is not that there's not anything to be excited about (no, that's clearly not the case, judging from all the great games), but that we knew most of everything coming in and there wasn't any "surprise."  That's all.

In the end, the games are what matter, not how explosively they surprise us at E3.  I'm impressed with them, I'm excited to play them, and that's all that matters.  I can't wait for some of them, and with that in mind I can safely say 2003 will be a good year for gaming.    

20

Nintendo Gaming / NEW: Two new Star Fox games, new Mario RPG, two helpings of GC Pokemon, and more!

« on: May 13, 2003, 10:09:25 AM »

Bill, all 386 Pokemon ARE in Ruby and Sapphire.  Well, they're all programmed in there, anyways, but most of the originals are locked, and not available in the main game (or in other words, initially obtainable).  Don't believe me?  Check out this page to see all of the original Pokemon with their Ruby and Sapphire sprites, as made available by people who hacked into the actual ROM.  The new Ruby and Sapphire information, such as their traits, new pokedexes, movesets, and so forth are also available somewhere on the Internet, once again as provided by the hackers.  

Pokemaniacs have known all of this for a while, though, and now it's only a question of how to unlock these Pokemon on your Ruby and Sapphire games.  Pokemon Box, I think, may be the answer.  

21

Nintendo Gaming / NEW: Two new Star Fox games, new Mario RPG, two helpings of GC Pokemon, and more!

« on: May 12, 2003, 11:47:11 AM »

Good point, Ian Sane.  It could be the same Star Fox title, so I'm not going to get my hopes up at all.  It's just an interesting possibility, as IGN said that the magazine that was the list's source made it sound as though it was a new, non-Namco Star Fox.

22

Nintendo Gaming / XBox's big game is Halo 2, what is GC big game of 2004?

« on: May 12, 2003, 11:43:57 AM »

Yeah, Mouse Clicker, you're probably right, with Sony already being the industry leader and all.  I don't know.  I just figure Microsoft would be a cool idea because then Nintendo would have X-Box Live-like networking to run off of, along with some serious marketing might to finally give great games like Eternal Darkness that final push they need.

23

Nintendo Gaming / NEW: Two new Star Fox games, new Mario RPG, two helpings of GC Pokemon, and more!

« on: May 12, 2003, 11:01:34 AM »

Well, a list of upcoming first and second party Gamecube and Game Boy Advance title have been released by igncube.com, who in turn apparently got the information from a popular multimedia magazine in Japan.  The list goes as follows:

Pokemon Channel With Pikachu (GCN, 7/18)
Pokemon Coliseum (GCN, Fall)
Mario Golf (GCN, September)
Mario Kart (GCN, this year)
Mario Party 5 (GCN, this year)
Pikmin 2 (GCN, this year)
Wario World GC (GCN, this year)
Custom Robo GC (GCN, this year)
Star Fox (GCN, release TBA)
Super Mario Advance 4 (GBA, 7/18)
Pokemon Pinball Ruby & Saphire (GBA, Summer)
Legend of Starfee 2 (GBA, September)
Mario & Luigi RPG (GBA, this year)

Note that the Star Fox title listed here is NOT Star Fox Armada from Namco; thus, there are TWO new Star Fox titles coming to the Gamecube, the latter of which is presumably from, dare I say it, Nintendo EAD.  Pokemon Coliseum is most likely a new Pokemon Stadium with two-on-two support, all of the new Pokemon, moves, items, personalities, and traits, and possibly LAN/online capabilities.  A new Mario Party is always fun news, and I'm THRILLED to see the inclusion of a new Mario RPG game, of which Luigi's name is in the title (however tentative that name may be).  All in all a very exciting list, and it doesn't even detail all of the other great Nintendo-only releases like Rebel Strike, The Twin Snakes, and Resident Evil 4.

I just hope Pilotwings GC pops up at E3 in addition to all of this.    

[GCA:]

24

Nintendo Gaming / XBox's big game is Halo 2, what is GC big game of 2004?

« on: May 12, 2003, 10:41:13 AM »

GCA:  If you were Nintendo, what would you put into the next system?

Steven Kent:  Partner up with Microsoft. Microsoft wants to crack the Japanese market and can't. Nintendo wants to crack the older demographic and cannot. MS makes the most powerful box, Nintendo makes the best controllers. Leave the PC business in MS's powerful hand and the handheld business with Nintendo.

Personally, I think this is a brilliant idea and would score us gamers the best of both worlds.  Microsoft's endless cash and ingenius marketing strategies coupled with Nintendo's gaming muscle and world-renowned franchises would be more then enough to topple Sony's stranglehold, and would provide for the ideal environment in which to create a new golden age of gaming.

The only problem is that the Nintendo brand name may be overshadowed by Microsoft, unless the MS game division and Nintendo struck some sort of one-for-one "equal" merger, with MS handling the hardware and Nintendo at the helm of the game design.  

Halo and X-Box Live combined with all of Nintendo's tried-and-true franchises would be AWESOME!