Messages

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Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 454: Mobile Sidejob

« on: November 24, 2015, 08:15:23 AM »

I'll second the concerns about RPG burnout, especially since I went from reviewing one RPG to another immediately. That's not to say they're not great games (lord knows I loved Stella Glow) but I'm wondering what effect it's going to have on my impressions that I played one for 31 out of a possible 52 hours this weekend.

And the mobile franchises should be Metroid, Ice Climbers and Mach Rider.

I'm very curious as to how Xenoblade Chronicles X is going to get reviewed considering how enormous it is.  I've already got my eshop version downloaded, and the special edition & strategy guide on the pre-ordered, so clearly scores are not going to persuade me either way - but it seems to me that it's an experience that should be savored over many weeks and months.  I guess most reviewers will have had the game for upwards of 3 weeks before release, so that's better than nothing, I suppose.

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TalkBack / Re: Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash (Wii U) Review

« on: November 24, 2015, 08:08:37 AM »

I really appreciate the reviews of the game - they did what they're supposed to do, which is inform the audience as to what exactly they're purchasing.  Despite the scores, I bought it anyway, because I really just wanted a fun multiplayer tennis game in HD.  Even though there haven't been any promises of future DLC, the fact that this title doesn't release in Japan until the end of January gives me some hope that there will be additional modes, characters, etc.  But I'm generally satisfied with that I've got, especially the amiibo training since I have the entire Super Mario Bros series, but never got Mario Party 10.

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TalkBack / Re: Nintendo Direct (11/12/2015) Video Podcast Reaction and Discussion!

« on: November 13, 2015, 04:54:28 AM »

Well, at least Donald still enjoys Nintendo releases!

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TalkBack / Re: Nintendo News Report: SplaToon Link

« on: September 26, 2015, 02:27:45 AM »

I love the show, but Alexander has got to stop with bad opinions.  GTAIV over RE4?  Preposterous!

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TalkBack / Re: Nintendo UK, Green Man Gaming Enter Partnership

« on: September 19, 2015, 04:17:51 AM »

That Nintendo mobile/universal ID system roll out must be getting close between this arrangement and the new Amazon store.

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TalkBack / Re: Star Fox Zero Delayed to 2016

« on: September 18, 2015, 02:10:35 AM »

I don't mind the delay, but I hope NoA will at least increase the number of VC releases so there's something to get while waiting for Xenoblade Chronicles X. 

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TalkBack / Re: Super Mario Maker (Wii U) Review

« on: September 11, 2015, 05:49:10 AM »

After just an hour with Super Mario Maker, I played over a dozen user-created courses, all of which were more interesting and challenging than anything found in Kirby's Epic Yarn. 

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TalkBack / Re: Xenoblade Chronicles X Limited Edition Announced For North America

« on: August 30, 2015, 09:39:01 PM »

Pre-orders aren't up ANYwhere yet. I don't know what Nintendo was talking about.

I snagged a preorder last night on Amazon, but I'm hoping Best Buy makes it available too since I'd like to get 20% off with gamer's club.

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Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 435: Discovery of a Superb View

« on: July 14, 2015, 06:42:54 AM »

Please bring back Syrenne as a guest in the future!  It really is an art to discuss games in detail without veering into spoiler territory, and I thought she did a fantastic job explaining why we should look forward to Xenoblade Chronicles X and Fire Emblem Fates.  Best of all, she was succinct.

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TalkBack / Re: Nintendo News Report: Xenoblade Chronicles X

« on: February 07, 2015, 03:32:44 AM »

Despite Alexander's best efforts and an outstanding, in-depth presentation by Nintendo, Xenoblade Chronicles X just didn't get the discussion it deserved here.  Hopefully, Connectivity or RFN are able to get 2 people interested in the game on their respective shows at some point.

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Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 166: Reunion Show

« on: February 02, 2015, 04:50:07 AM »

Good show guys, and count me among those who would like to see you get together on a regular basis; maybe monthly?  That being said, I still just don't understand the complete indifference the staff of NWR has shown toward Mario Kart 8.  And did I hear one of you say you haven't tried the online more than once?  More than HD, more than new courses, I think it's the very well implemented online play that makes the game so much more enjoyable and replayable than past entries, including MK7, since you can have two on your tv at once.

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TalkBack / Re: PREVIEW: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D

« on: January 27, 2015, 07:37:42 AM »

Yes, but why does MM have a "Leg Up" over OOT... All 3D games on the new 3DS are equal. What does "Leg Up" even mean in this context?

I think it's pretty clear that the author is comparing the experience of playing OoT 3D back in 2011 on the original 3DS versus MM 3D on the new 3DS in 2015.  The sentence evens begins, "Thanks to the new 3DS XL..."

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TalkBack / Re: Welcome to My Phantasy Zone: Why a 3D Phantasy Star Would Rule

« on: January 22, 2015, 09:15:15 PM »

What a great surprise to read a write-up of Phantasy Star on NWR!  As you can probably tell by my username, I'm a huge fan of the original series (the Dreamcast games never did much for me). 

Believe it or not, M2 has worked on Phantasy Star in the past!  The Phantasy Star Complete Collection, available in Japan on PSN, has the entire original series, plus the gaiden graphic adventures, along with a bunch of classic M2 options like adjustable walking speed, difficulty levels, etc.  There's even English language options, but Sega chose not to bring it to the west.

Maybe this will become a 3D (or even 2D) classic someday.  Stranger things have happened.

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TalkBack / Re: Club Nintendo to Be Discontinued

« on: January 20, 2015, 05:44:22 AM »

It would have been nice if Nintendo gave people a little more notice. I have over a thousand coins and I don't even know what there is to quickly spend it on. If nothing else, Nintendo should have allowed people to register games and rack up coins until the end of the Club Nintendo year at the end of June then give people a few months to spend the coins.

Well, you have nearly 6 months to spend the coins, and games released prior to today, eshop included, still earn you coins/surveys until the end of March.  It seems like plenty of notice to me, and hopefully they follow-through on their promise to rotate in plenty of digital games for redemption between now and then.

Also, I found an article that detailed some of Iwata's musings on a new loyalty program from June 2014:
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-01-30-nintendo-outlines-plans-for-long-term-growth

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TalkBack / Re: Club Nintendo to Be Discontinued

« on: January 20, 2015, 05:24:18 AM »

I don't have the direct quote handy, but remember Iwata talking about a new loyalty program where you get progressively better discounts the more you purchase?  Since the entire VC catalog was never made available simultaneously on club nintendo, I'd much rather have discounts than prizes (assuming this is what the replacement program will be, of course).  Maybe it will work like the Target cartwheel app where you get rotating discounts, and greater % off the more often you use it.

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TalkBack / Re: Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. Hands-on Preview

« on: January 17, 2015, 04:24:05 AM »

Yes, the style of gameplay is probably closest to Valkyria Chronicles.

Well, that's all I need to make this a day one purchase then.  I loaded up on eshop cards during the best buy 15% off sale in December to last me through 2015, but I think I'm going to blow through it all before E3 at the rate Nintendo is releasing games of interest to me!

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TalkBack / Re: Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. Hands-on Preview

« on: January 16, 2015, 05:30:26 PM »

Is this game fairly similar to Valkyria Chronicles?  That's what the level layout most resembled to me, but I've been purposefully trying to avoid too many details.

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TalkBack / Re: The Downfall of Ubisoft on Wii U

« on: December 01, 2014, 05:17:04 PM »

EA:  Within weeks of releasing Mass Effect 3 on Wii U, Mass Effect Trilogy was released for PS3/360 at the same price.  Which would a consumer choose?  Need for Speed Most Wanted U came out 5 months later than PS3/360 at full price, while on other systems it was routinely marked down to $20-30.  Which would a consumer choose?

Ubisoft: My understanding is Rayman Legends sold better on Wii U than PS3/360/PS4/One.  It probably would have done even better if it had released in March as originally planned.  Who exactly is to blame there?  ZombiU got mixed reviews, at best.  And I'm sure new Wii U owners had memories of the original Red Steel.  Fool me once...

Frankly, these Western developers can keep their noise; I'm much more interested in offerings from Japanese developers like Square Enix, Capcom, Konami, Bandai Namco, etc.  Give me real entries in series like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Mega Man, Castlevania, Ridge Racer, etc., and I'll be there with my $$$ day one.  And I'm sure there's a lot of other Wii U owners that feel similarly.  If only consoles hadn't completely imploded in Japan, we might get games like Bravely Default on Wii U instead of 3DS.

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TalkBack / Re: Zelda Wii U, Star Fox Set for 2015 Release

« on: October 30, 2014, 02:43:17 AM »

Wii U may not get nearly as many retail games as PS4 next year, but I will buy every single one on that list with the exception of Mario Party 10.

Wasn't there a rumor of a major title getting an HD remake for early 2015 as well?  I think I read that on Neogaf awhile back.

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TalkBack / Re: This Week in Releases: October 26, 2014

« on: October 27, 2014, 05:18:22 AM »

Demon's Crest & Gargoyle's Quest II on virtual console makes this a good week, despite the poor retail releases!

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TalkBack / Re: Xenoblade Chronicles Coming to New 3DS Models

« on: August 29, 2014, 08:20:19 PM »

I still think there's a chance an HD remaster for Wii U is in the works as well, aimed primarily at the western markets where console sales have not entirely died.  Keep in mind this was a Nintendo of Japan Direct, not a worldwide one.  Launching a new model 3DS actually makes sense for that market, probably with yet another iteration of Monster Hunter with Xenoblade to follow in 2015.

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Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 388: Visitation Rights

« on: July 01, 2014, 08:56:18 PM »

Regarding James' criticism of having to replay levels if you lack money for an artifact: I found that if you discovered the blue chest and beat the boss, you could go and buy the relic in the village.  Essentially, you just have to discover each relic's existence once.

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Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 139: Shovel Pun

« on: June 29, 2014, 07:03:42 AM »

I couldn't disagree more on the need for a journalist 'filter' between companies and consumers.  90%+ of what sites post are just regurgitated PR statements (or rumors taken from reddit and NeoGaf) anyway.  With the availability of twitch to see actual gameplay, and forums where actual users report on their experience, 'professional' sites are fine, but certainly not necessary. 

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Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 138: Recovery

« on: June 25, 2014, 12:31:22 PM »

Good episode, but WTF with the pricing monologue at the end!?  Did I hear correctly that a new play mechanic is not worth a $60 price, but an open world game design is?  Different strokes, I guess, but navigating around to clear a bunch of icons off a map doesn't scream great value to me, even if it does take dozens of hours to get 100% completion.

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TalkBack / Re: Amiibo Prototype Packaging Revealed

« on: June 12, 2014, 05:02:03 AM »

Those look really nice.  I wonder if they'll leave the Super Smash Bros. logo on the upper left since Amiibos are compatible with several games.