Topic: Academy of High Expectations

[NWR_Neal]

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/blogArt.cfm?artid=20242

  Academy of Champions has been one of my most anticipated games since I played it at E3. My impressions pegged it as "the heir apparent to Sega Soccer Slam," which is a game I consider to be one of the finest arcade soccer games ever made. My excitement for the game sky-rocketed after I interviewed Tuomas Pirinen, creative director at developer Ubisoft Vancouver. Now the game is in stores, and I'm nervous.    

My expectations for Academy of Champions are very high, like as high as my expectations for New Super Mario Bros. Wii (which are astronomical). I love me some arcade soccer games, and I love playing them with my friends even more. I love those two things so much I wrote a blog about it.    

I've been let down by games I've highly anticipated a few times this year (MadWorld, The Conduit, Brutal Legend, etc.), and I hope that Academy of Champions isn't added to that list. Instead, I hope it joins the exclusive list of games that met my expectations and then some (Punch-Out!!, Batman: Arkham Asylum, and A Boy and His Blob).    

This blog doesn't have much of a point other than to document my pre-game jitters for what most might consider a shovelware soccer title. I hope that I can prove those naysayers wrong when I crack open the game, but we'll see.    

Has anyone ever had this similar feeling of apprehension before a highly anticipated release? Was it ever for something as low key as Academy of Champions?

[Mop it up]

This is the problem with the Internet: it's possible to hear about games long before they are released and know every little detail about them, to the point where your excitement can build up over such a long time that no matter how good the end product is, it could never hope to live up to the expectations you set. This happened to me with TimeSplitters 2 on the GameCube; it was being compared to Goldeneye and I foolishly believed it would be every bit as good as Nintendo 64 shooters. Unfortunately it wasn't, but it was still a solid, good game, and if I had heard nothing of it before release then I would have enjoyed it more without those expectations.

The same holds true for some other games that I couldn't help compare to their Nintendo 64 counterparts, such as Super Mario Sunshine and Zelda Wind Waker. Both are excellent games on their own merits, but a bit disappointing when expecting something like the N64 installments.

Now I try to not learn too much about games that I'll probably be buying anyway, so as not to give myself a set idea of what a game should be. Take New Super Mario Brothers Wii as an example: I haven't watched any of the trailers and gameplay movies which have been posted, and the only thing I've read is the impressions which were posted back at E3. I already know it's a game I want and will get so there's no point in discovering anything about it before I actually get to play it.

Of course, sometimes this can backfire. If I had followed the development of Super Smash Brothers Brawl more closely, I might have realized that the game was no good and wouldn't have bought it.

[Halbred]

I was extremely hyped for Batman: Arkham Asylum and FlipNote. FlipNote in particular. Man, I was postiive they'd screw it up. There was no WAY I was going to be able to download that **** for free. FREE?!

But then it came out and I busted a freaking nut.

I'm worried that my expectations for God of War 3 are too high. Same with Modern Warfare 2.

[KDR_11k]

You can probably tell I'm somewhat hyped for Dynamic Slash but the lack of new info makes me doubt it's still being made.

[NWR_Neal]

So I've played this for a good deal of time.

It sucks...a lot.

On the other hand, FIFA 10 for Wii is awesome, so all hope is not lost.

[oohhboy]

I was extremely hyped for Batman: Arkham Asylum and FlipNote. FlipNote in particular. Man, I was postiive they'd screw it up. There was no WAY I was going to be able to download that **** for free. FREE?!

But then it came out and I busted a freaking nut.

I'm worried that my expectations for God of War 3 are too high. Same with Modern Warfare 2.

I wouldn't worry too much about God of War 3. It feels JUST like all the other God of War games so there isn't any room for disappointment unless you think it makes breakfast and it lets you spoon with it during the night.

[Halbred]

Hey now, with that Pandora's Box special edition coming out, I believe it IS something I could take to bed.

Neal: The only question you know I have: Is Jade in it, and does she kick ass?

[NWR_Neal]

Hey now, with that Pandora's Box special edition coming out, I believe it IS something I could take to bed.

Neal: The only question you know I have: Is Jade in it, and does she kick ass?

Jade is cool, but you need to basically beat the entire freaking stupid-ass story mode to unlock her.

Here's a great idea for a sports game: have all the fricking teams locked at the start.

[Mop it up]

So I've played this for a good deal of time.

It sucks...a lot.

That's a shame, it looked like it had so much potential. Will you be posting a review of it?

[NWR_Neal]

So I've played this for a good deal of time.

It sucks...a lot.

That's a shame, it looked like it had so much potential. Will you be posting a review of it?

I was going to, but I'm at a point where I'm so angry at the game that it would be near impossible to remain fair.

Zach's reviewing it, and I'll be posting up a follow-up to this after he posts his review. It could possibly be titled "Academy of Disappointment"

[KDR_11k]

Why be fair? They hyped you up, they suffer the consequences!