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Messages - bluelander

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1
TalkBack / How Mega Man Exploded in 1994
« on: September 12, 2014, 12:33:00 PM »

The Year the Blue Bomber Blew Up!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/38501/how-mega-man-exploded-in-1994

Mega Man's storied history falls somewhere between Mario and Sonic as far as spinoffs and drastic genre shifts. While he hasn't had the same kind of trajectory as the world's favorite plumber, his constant shifts over the years have brought about a few successful changes and kept him in positive favor since his inception in 1987. Capcom's decision to take a chance and break from arcade games ended up being one of the most lucrative decisions of the company’s existence. Inafune, one of the creative forces behind Mega Man, was fresh out of college when he was put on the relatively small team that would create the first Mega Man game.

And the rest is history. The immediate sequels were very successful, and the franchise grew until near yearly iterations of the game became expected of Capcom.

However, as with most iterative sequels, fans became weary of the constant releases. It was time for something new from the Blue Bomber. In 1994, Capcom diversified Mega Man with a slew of spinoffs which proved to be indicative of the series' future. The spinoff games themselves would eventually garner their own following and, in the case of Mega Man X, provide even more material for different smaller series all within the realm of Mega Man.


Mega Man Soccer

Nothing says 90’s video game mascot like…Soccer? Yes, the Blue Bomber also took part in the world’s most popular sport. Mega Man Soccer hit early in the year releasing on February 17 in Japan and April in North America on the SNES.

The game takes place after the events of Mega Man 4, and it’s not just another themed soccer game. Dr. Wily has sent his evil Robot Masters to dominate the field and it’s up to Mega Man and his trusty Mega Bus–er, I mean foot, to stop them.

While the game was certainly a change of pace for Capcom, it didn’t meet with a very welcoming reception. Issues with the controls and slowdown meant that it probably wouldn’t be seeing any sequels.


Mega Man X

Mega Man X was, and always will be, one of my favorite games of all time. It also happened to be my very first Mega Man game. No, it wasn't a very traditional place to start with the series, but it was fast-paced, heart-pounding, and sounded awesome on my tiny tube TV.

Easily the most successful of the spinoffs we’ll be covering, Mega Man X brought the raw ridiculousness of 90’s in-your-face attitude to a tiring series. The bosses were more elaborate, the environments were lively (I’m looking at you, Sting Chameleon!), and the addition of a much more sinister villain, Sigma, made for an excellent package.

The story takes place many years after the Mega Man series and follows Mega Man X and his battle against his newest enemies: Mavericks. Excellent bosses like Storm Eagle, Chill Penguin, and Boomer Kuwanger (what is a Kuwanger, anyway?) breathed new life into the same of cycle of killing enemies and obtaining weapons. Mega Man X’s companion, Zero, also brought a new flare to the series. Zero played Han Solo to Mega Man X’s Luke Skywalker: always swooping in at the last minute to save the day and looking cool while doing it.

Mega Man X was dark, intricate, and awesome. It brought a hard sci-fi edge to Mega Man and properly transitioned the series into the mid-90’s era of gaming. Mega Man X continued for seven more main sequels (not to mention Xtreme and Command Mission), and was spun off into both Mega Man Zero and Mega Man ZX.


Mega Man 6

Mega Man 6 released stateside on the NES on March 15, 1994. Definitely the least inventive of the games on this list, but continues the iterative sequels that Mega Man fans had become accustomed to. At this point the plots had to be a little more unique and features a strangely Street Fighter-esque plot about contestants in a robot fighting tournament being reprogrammed for evil.

The big gameplay change in this version is the Rush Adaptors, which combine Rush and Mega Man into two new forms: Jet Mega Man and Power Mega Man. The stages themselves were more open than in previous games and offered branching paths for players to explore.

It may be the most tame item on this list, but Mega Man 6 shows that even after five previous entries, Capcom was still able to add something new to the formula. The main series, of course, would continue on to have many more sequels.


Mega Man V (GB)

Mega Man V hit the green screen on July 22, 1994 in Japan and September 10, 1994 in North America. Previous entries in the Game Boy series were mashups of recycled bosses and stage themes ripped straight from the NES games. Mega Man V, however, had original bosses instead of rehashing old ones.

This entry introduced Terra as the new big baddie, and Mega Man is forced to upgrade from his trusty Mega Buster to the Mega Arm to take him out. The Mega Arm itself is just Mega Man’s fist being fired across the screen, but it at least provided some semblance of change from the previous games. This also marked the introduction of Mega Man’s cat Tango to the already huge roster of characters.

Unfortunately, critics at the time didn’t think that unique bosses were enough to differentiate Mega Man V from previous entries in the series. It was praised for its consistency, but dinged for its lack of originality. This would be the last in the Mega Man series on the original Game Boy.


Mega Man TV Series

While not really related to Mega Man’s Nintendo presence, the television series deserves an honorable mention. Released on September 11, 1994, it further emphasized the media blitz that Capcom had created for Mega Man. The show itself follows the game rather closely (much more closely than, say, the Super Mario Bros. Super Show) and featured an oddly adult design for Mega Man. He looks almost like a cross between Mega Man and Mega Man X, with his muscular physique and serious expression.

It was, undoubtedly, a massive year for Mega Man that solidified his place as Capcom’s official mascot and, much to the delight of fans worldwide, gave gamers more of the Blue Bomberthan they could handle. While he currently resides in a state of limbo, it’s nice to look back at his golden age. From soccer to green-on-green Game Boy action, Mega Man spread across the full spectrum of Nintendo’s platforms in 1994.


It was, undoubtedly, a massive year for Mega Man that solidified his place as Capcom’s official mascot and, much to the delight of fans worldwide, gave gamers more of the Blue Bomber than they could handle. While he currently resides in a state of limbo, it’s nice to look back at his golden age. From soccer to green-on-green Game Boy action, Mega Man spread across the full spectrum of Nintendo’s platforms in 1994.


2
TalkBack / Charizard Distribution Event at UK Retailer GAME
« on: July 13, 2014, 09:50:16 AM »

Because you can never have enough Pokémon!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/38064/charizard-distribution-event-at-uk-retailer-game

UK retailer GAME will be hosting a Charizard distribution event from July 11 to August 10.

Players can either obtain the fire-breathing Pokémon through a Nintendo Zone download in the store or through a serial code if requested. The Charizard obtained will come with Charizardite Y for players connecting with Pokémon X and Charizardite X for Pokémon Y players.


3
TalkBack / Korg DSN-12 Coming to 3DS eShop in September
« on: July 01, 2014, 12:22:46 AM »

It's time to make sweet, sweet music.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/37974/korg-dsn-12-coming-to-3ds-eshop-in-september

Korg is releasing new synthesizer software for the 3DS this September in North America and Europe. It will be called Korg DSN-12, and is currently set to release on the eShop

Billed as a tool for “serious sound-creation and song production,” it will likely follow the same model as the 2008 DS title Korg DS-10. The feature list boasts sequences of up to 64 patterns and the “world’s first 3D display oscilloscope screen.”


4
TalkBack / Mutant Mudds Deluxe Update Coming to 3DS July 3
« on: June 28, 2014, 04:45:25 AM »

Ghost levels, new characters and more on the way.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/37952/mutant-mudds-deluxe-update-coming-to-3ds-july-3

Mutant Mudds on the 3DS will be receiving an update on July 3 that will bring in features from the Wii U version. The update will be coming to both North America and Europe, marking the first time the deluxe version features will be available to gamers outside of North America. The features are as follows:

  • Four hidden playable characters
  • 20 Ghost Levels
  • New music for the Ghost Levels
  • Checkpoints

The update was originally planned for earlier this year, and should make the 3DS version of the game much more attractive to anyone who still hasn't picked the game up.


5
TalkBack / What I'd Like to See from the NES Remix Series
« on: April 30, 2014, 10:50:00 AM »

We're off to a good start, let's see where Nintendo takes it from here.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/editorial/37300/what-id-like-to-see-from-the-nes-remix-series

The NES Remix series is an exciting new direction for Nintendo. The Virtual Console is a great way for Nintendo to give gamers access to the classics, but it doesn’t do much to bring in new players. Now that NES Remix 2 has released, we’re left wondering if this will become a regular franchise or just a brief footnote in Nintendo’s history. While both games have been solid entries, I have a short list of things I’d like to see from future installments and what I think it could do for Nintendo.

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While the NES has quite a robust library, it would be a breath of fresh air to see Nintendo expand to third party franchises. Individual third party companies like Capcom could provide enough content for at least three or four Remix games on their own. Gargoyle’s Quest 2, Ducktales, Mega Man, the list goes on. Konami would be another excellent choice: Gradius, Castlevania, and Contra would all make easy choices for a third party specific NES Remix. Of course, third parties would have to be willing to play ball with Nintendo, and it may be that the licensing of so many third party franchises at a time would be way too expensive.

If Nintendo chooses to continue with first party franchises only, I'd like to see them treat this as an opportunity to shine a spotlight on franchises that never made it stateside. For too long, there has been an iron curtain separating Japanese and North American Nintendo games, and without any effort taken to translate them they will likely remain that way. However, with the Remix style, NES games that are in a foreign language can still be enjoyed. The beauty of the format is that the instructions are given before the game is even started, so the native language of the title is irrelevant.

19.png

This could finally be a way see Japan only titles mixing with North American titles in a meaningful way, and it could even elevate awareness of and demand for foreign titles. If popular enough, it could open up a new discourse within Nintendo, and force them to realize that by segmenting the market they're only limiting their potential. I'd love to see Mother or Fire Emblem Gaiden mixing with Metroid and Excitebike.

Regardless of where they choose to go in future Remix games (if there even are any), Nintendo has a great opportunity that I hope they seize. With the series being such a surprise, I can only hope that it's a sign that the company realizes that they need to change their strategy and treatment of classic franchises. The strategy of re-releasing ROMS on a new system was exciting with the Wii, but it's time to do something more with those titles. NES Remix could be the start to an amazing new chapter in Nintendo's history, or it could just be another missed opportunity. Only time will tell.


6
TalkBack / NES Remix 2 Review
« on: April 21, 2014, 03:01:00 AM »

More classics are back to slake your retro gaming thirst!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/37200/nes-remix-2-review

I was very excited by the initial announcement of NES Remix, and doubly so by the announcement of NES Remix 2. The first game broke exciting new ground with Nintendo, who usually maintains a level of reserve with their classic franchises that often feels too safe. With the second entry in the series, the lineup of games doesn’t include painfully early NES games. Instead, some of the best first party games on the NES are available here, including Kirby’s Adventure, Punch-Out!!, and Super Mario Bros. 3.

The exact same formula as the first is on display here, giving players a handful of levels in a scrolling menu. Games take a while to unlock, which is a bit frustrating if you’re excited about one title in particular. Navigating menus and different challenges had some minor hiccups, with the music cutting out while the game loaded from one screen to another. The skipping music is the only way this minor annoyance is even noticeable, but in a game where a huge amount of your time is spent in menus, it breaks the flow.

But even with the menu navigation, the challenges are what are on grand display. As with the first game, the challenges are about as fun as the respective game they’ve borrowed their content from. This means the Super Mario Bros. 3 and Dr.Mario challenges are a delight, while Kid Icarus still suffers a bit. One interesting divergence from this is Zelda II, a game which is very difficult in its own right, but in the form of short challenges, the gameplay outshines any issues the original version of the game had.

The game also features longer form challenges, and some which have no time limits at all. This keeps things from feeling too fast, and lets players slow down and enjoy the experiences. On several of the Punch-Out!! challenges, players are tasked with going through an entire round, and some of the Dr.Mario levels entail simply playing an entire level of Dr.Mario with a specific goal in mind. This might simply be a byproduct of having better games in the roster, but regardless, it rounds out the shorter challenges with some sizable chunks of gameplay.

The remix stages, this time around, are less of a highlight when compared to the individual titles, mostly due to the quality of the latter. Most of the remix stages are still interesting, with the Dr.Mario and Kirby remixes being some of the highlights. Many of the remix stages are Mario heavy, probably due to the three different Mario games on offer. Fortunately the three (Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros. 3, and Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels) are so drastically different from one another that even mixing the various Mario games can lead to very interesting levels.

The new Championship Mode, available to players who own both NES Remix games, adds another fun way to play. Racing through three challenges in a row from three different games removes the downtime usually spent between levels puttering through the menus and adds an interesting endurance twist to the game. Can you handle five solid, breakneck minutes of gameplay with only vague goals? Who knows, but, if you’re like me, you’ll have a heck of a fun time finding out.

While there are a few less than stellar games among the mix of new titles, it’s hard not to recommend NES Remix 2. The few menu hiccups and mediocre games aside, it breathes new life into some of the most iconic NES titles of all time. Both hardened old-school gamers and neophyte youngsters should have a great time on the couch passing the controller around with this one.


7

A failed Kickstarter campaign didn't stop this game from coming!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/37167/citizens-of-earth-coming-to-3ds-and-wii-u-eshop-published-by-atlus

Citizens of Earth, a new role-playing game developed by Eden Industries and published by Atlus, will be releasing on the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops in the near future.

Developer Eden Industries tried previously to fund the game on Kickstarter, but failed to reach its goal. The game’s modern setting features the Vice President of the World waking to find the world in pandemonium, and he must recruit citizens into his party to bring back order. The game features 41 recruitable party members.


8
TalkBack / Capcom Slashes Net Profit Forecast in Half
« on: April 03, 2014, 04:48:00 AM »

Monster Hunter Frontier G hasn't performed as well as expected.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/37042/capcom-slashes-net-profit-forecast-in-half

Capcom has cut its forecast for net profit in half from 6.8 billion yen (roughly $66.1m) to 3.3 billion yen ($28.9m).

They contribute this cut to “rapid changes taking place in the market for games,” stating that their expectations for Monster Hunter Frontier G and “mobile contents” have been lower than expected.

Capcom also increased its annual sales guidance to 101.5 billion yen ($987m) from 97 billion yen ($943m), contributing the rise to sales of Monster Hunter 4.


9
TalkBack / English Screenshots of Tomodachi Collection Have Surfaced
« on: March 29, 2014, 04:09:00 AM »

An official announcement may not be far off.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/36990/english-screenshots-of-tomodachi-collection-have-surfaced

New English screenshots for Tomodachi Collection have been found embedded in a survey by NOE, after talk in the Wall Street Journal a month ago indicating that it may be coming to the West. There are also reports of Spanish and French screenshots.

After its initial release on the 3DS last year, many fans have been hoping to see the game released outside of Japan. The initial indication the game's Western release was made in the Wall Street Journal, and Nintendo has been quiet about the game since then.

These screens show that progress is being made in translating this text-heavy life simulation game. While there has been no official date announced, this may point to an official announcement in the near future.


10

You can check out scanned manuals for next month's slate of GBA Virtual Console games.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/36991/gba-virtual-console-games-on-wii-u-feature-original-manuals-no-multiplayer

Nintendo is including scanned versions of the original instruction manuals from the GBA games on the Wii U Virtual Console in Japan. It's not clear if this is also the case in North America and Europe.

Additionally, all of the GBA games slated for release will be playable in single player only according to current listings, regardless of whether or not the original game featured multiplayer. This could mean that GBA releases on the Wii U will not be able to take advantage of multiplayer options included in soon-to-be-released titles such as Kirby & the Amazing Mirror and Advance Wars.


11
TalkBack / Sumo Sultan - The Quest for the Perfect Gaming Chair
« on: February 16, 2014, 10:35:56 PM »

We revisit Sumo's Sultan to see how it holds up to hours upon hours of gaming.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/editorial/36602/sumo-sultan-the-quest-for-the-perfect-gaming-chair

I've always loved bean bags. As a young gamer they were a great way to get up close to the action on screen while maintaining maximum comfort with an unreasonably short controller cord. As I got older I ended up veering away from them as my primary gaming chair because of the advent of reliable wireless controllers (hello, Wavebird) meant that cord length was no longer an issue. Eventually as an adult I fell back into wishing I had a bean bag, and the search was on. It wasn't an easy quest, mind you. New barriers such as needing back support and finding a bean bag suitable for my 6'2" stature presented themselves. Eventually I came across Sumo and their line of what I can only call luxury bean bags.



When they reached out to NWR and offered to let us sample one of their Sultan models, I jumped at the opportunity. With high hopes of finally finding a suitable gaming seat I began my journey. After several days of waiting, a massive package arrived and my poor fiancé was forced to drag it in off the porch until I returned from work. Assembling the Sultan consists of cuttings the zip ties holding its bulging mass in the shipping box and stuffing into its slip cover. For my cover I chose the corduroy material, which turned out to be an excellent choice, but more on that later.



The Sultan is massive. I live in a sizable three bedroom house and, while we knew it would be big, we were still surprised by its girth. After attempting to stuff it into my office we settled on the only place with enough space: right in the middle of the long room floor. After a day or two of relaxing on it, it deflated a bit and a nice groove was worn in. Any bean bag owner can tell you that a decent groove is what makes the bean bag, and the Sultan holds its groove well while still being easy to fluff if a new sitter wants to "reset" the current groove.



As far as comfort goes, it provides the best I've ever experienced from a bean bag. By that I mean that traditional bean bag problems, such as a lack of back support, still exist, but the unique stuffing of the Sultan (and, I assume, all of Sumo’s bean bags) makes for a comfort level akin to sitting atop a squishy cloud. Even on the hard tile of my living room, I never felt like I was sitting on the floor. The size easily, and comfortably, accommodates myself, my fiancé, and our dog with ease.



In fact, it has been used as a makeshift (i.e. accidental) bed on several occasions. While I eventually woke up in the middle of the night and wandered into my bedroom, the Sultan was perfectly comfortable for a light snooze. I’ve found myself coming home each night, flopping down on it, and spending my evenings on my corduroy throne.



While I was hard pressed to find a good way to sit with a laptop, handheld gaming was a delight. In fact, I’ve made a discovery: corduroy is the best 3DS screen cleaner on earth. A couple of wipes on the side of the Sultan and it reaches into every nook and cranny of my system. While I highly doubt this was an intentional design feature, it’s certainly a nice perk for anyone who chooses the corduroy cover. The cover itself is easy to unzip, and throw in the washer and dryer.



Overall my week and a half with the Sultan has been great. I would recommend it to anyone who misses the days of flopping down on a bean bag in front of a TV with a horrible faux wood finish. Anyone who is in the market for a Sultan should be aware that this isn’t the kind of bean bag that you just toss in a closet when company comes over—it’s a full sized piece of furniture. If you have the space and aren’t in dire need of rigid back support, then it’s a top notch bean bag.


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TalkBack / Nintendo Downloads - February 13, 2014
« on: February 13, 2014, 08:04:40 PM »

Those Red Falcon guys really had it coming anyway.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/36549

The trend continues! This Siberian winter on the eShop will come to an end one day. With naught but a single game or two each week to slake our digital hunger we Nintendo gamers may be unable to go on.

But seriously, where are the games? My theory is that Nintendo has them locked in a vault, guarded by Nunchuck Reggie. This week the VC gets the minimal amount of love, a promising RPG hits the eShop, and a Spin the Bottle game gets an update.

3DS eShop Sales

Beyblade Evolution - $TBA, on sale until March 13

Jewel Master: Cradle of Rome 2 - $TBA, on sale until March 13

Girl’s Fashion Shoot - $TBA, on sale until March 13

3DS eShop Games

Spot the Differences! - $TBA

While, traditionally, Spot the Difference games from magazines and other media have been about as much fun as an eye exam, this one is on the 3DS! Get ready to look at pictures and meticulously click on stuff in beautiful stereoscopic 3D! Wait, where are you guys going!?

AeternoBlade - $TBA, Available February 18

AeternoBlade looks to be a pretty awesome side-scrolling action RPG. While I had only seen bits and pieces of it before now, the trailer feels reminiscent of Astyanax on the NES (at least to this old gamer’s eyes). Definitely worth checking out if you like cutting things with swords and having lots of pretty numbers pop up.

Wii U eShop Games

Spin The Bottle: Bumpie’s Party - $11.99

Spin The Bottle: Bumpie’s Party is less game and more like an application to facilitate the playing of a non-digital game. Players turn their TV completely off, sit in a circle, and engage in a game of Spin the Bottle using only the Wii U gamepad, with the goal of completing the physical minigames that are thrown at you. While the game itself has already released, this week marks the addition of some additional minigames.

Wii U Virtual Console

Super C - $4.99

Grab your Spread Gun and get ready to mow down some Red Falcon goons. Super C was the second Contra game on the NES, and while Super Contra would come along later and really shake up the formula, Super C was still a solid addition to the series.


13
TalkBack / X Gameplay Revealed, Battle System Based on Xenoblade Chronicles
« on: February 13, 2014, 05:45:48 PM »

More Mecha than you can handle.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/36569

A gameplay trailer for Monolith Soft’s X was revealed during today’s Nintendo Direct. The trailer showed a battle system that appeared very similar to the one present in Xenoblade Chronicles. 

Iwata confirmed after the trailer that the battle system was originally based on Monolithsoft's previous game, but has undergone some tweaks. Also shown in the trailer was the ability to enter mecha at will and engage in battles with larger enemies.

There was no mention of a release date for North America.


14
TalkBack / Pokémon: Battle Trozei Announced for 3DS
« on: February 13, 2014, 05:24:09 PM »

The Pocket Monster puzzler returns!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/36562

Pokémon: Battle Trozei has been announced for the 3DS, and will be releasing on March 20.

Announced in today's Nintendo Direct, Battle Trozei is a continuation of the Trozei puzzle spinoff that originally released in North America in 2006. This new version will feature all 700 Pokémon.


15
TalkBack / Steel Diver Sub Wars Available Now on Nintendo eShop
« on: February 13, 2014, 05:20:35 PM »

Sub battles return to the 3DS

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/36565

Available immediately after today’s Nintendo Direct on the 3DS eShop, Steel Diver Sub Wars features online four-on-four multiplayer. Two missions and subs are available for free, with more available in the paid version.

This is the first of Nintendo's "freemium" games releasing on the eShop.


16
TalkBack / Nintendo Downloads - February 6, 2014
« on: February 06, 2014, 05:27:39 PM »

Open world action and traditional JRPG tropes collide in this week's downloads!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/36502

While I wouldn’t call this week the deluge of content the eShop and Virtual Console need, it certainly has some gems. 3DS fans will be satisfied at least, with both a great-looking JRPG as well as an excellent open world action game hitting the system. The Wii U is a little less robust with Ninja Gaiden and…a game about a penguin. Well, don’t knock it ‘till you’ve tried it, kids.

We can only hope that this week is the beginning of an uphill climb out of this desert of content the Virtual Console seems to be in. Dropping some good classic titles on the VC might not sell systems, but it would definitely get current owners excited to fire up their consoles.

3DS Retail Games

Bravely Default - $39.99

The LEGO Movie Videogame - $TBA

One Piece: Romance Dawn - $39.99

Wii U Retail Games

www.nintendoworldreport.com="" game="" 32964"="">Urban Trial Freestyle - $3.49 until 9a.m., February 20

3DS eShop Games

Retro City Rampage: DX - $9.99

If you’ve played it before then now is the time to play it again. If you’ve never played it then now is the time to start. Regardless of your history with Retro City Rampage, you owe it to yourself to check out this totally radical all out 80’s-fest of a game. Besides, this version has new stuff!

Wii U eShop Games

Percy’s Predicament - $5.99

Percy appears to be a poor little penguin who has been unceremoniously crammed into a hamster ball and forced to traverse mazes. If I had to guess exactly what his predicament is then I’d bet money it’s that he wasn’t exactly a willing party when he was dropped into his current situation. With some pretty mellow music and oddly dark atmosphere, this might be one you puzzle fans out there may want to take a look at.

Wii U Virtual Console

Ninja Gaiden - $4.99

No matter how you choose to pronounce it, Ninja Gaiden is one of the best games on the NES. I’ve probably put more hours into it than any Super Mario Bros. game on the system, and, to this very day, I still can’t beat it. If you’re feeling up to the challenge then be sure to scoop this one up.


17
TalkBack / Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Expectations
« on: January 27, 2014, 11:51:43 AM »

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze will exceed our expectations if...

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/roundtable/36415

As Nintendo prepares to unleash it's latest AAA 2D platformer, there's a certain sense of uncertainty amongst many Nintendo fans. While most would agree that Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is sure to be a high quality experience, some of us are somewhat underwhelmed by the idea of a sequel to the highly reviewed 2010 original. We took a sample from our staff to see what Nintendo World Report thinks about the latest DKC title.



Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze will exceed my expectations if...

Andy Goergen, Managing Editor:
...there is a substantial variation in environment. While the jungle aesthetic is most closely associated with the DKC games, we've already seen four of those now. When everything else about this game screams "MORE OF THE SAME!" what I really want is some really cool environments to platform in. I'd love to see some urban environments. Maybe Donkey Kong and friends could bandy about in an abandoned city, grabbing onto old wires and climbing up buildings like in Rampage. I want something that makes me rethink what a Donkey Kong Country game could be.

Justin Baker, Reviews Editor:
...they scrap the entire project and turn it into a Metroid game. Donkey Kong Country Returns was a decent little experiment, but it certainly didn't blow me away. Tropical Freeze looks like a perfectly fine continuation, but nothing that will change how I already feel about the series. I could care less that they've added a Kong or two and given the game a new aesthetic. Give me Metroid!

Alex Culafi, Previews Editor:
...it's better than the original in every way and its new mechanics prove especially meaningful to the final product. I also want it to be just as challenging as the first game, if not more so. If Tropical Freeze is noticeably easier than Donkey Kong Country Returns, the game has failed my expectations. A modern, easy DKC game does not deserve to exist. Still better than any potential Metroid game though.

Neal Ronaghan, Site Director:
...at the end of the game, the castle flips over and it's Symphony of the Night, or it turns into Metroid Prime 4 with the Kongs halfway through. Really, the only way Tropical Freeze will exceed my expectation is if it does something really out there that works well. That's a tall order, but I feel like the game will be "what you see is what you get." As it stands, it looks like it follows the same formula of Donkey Kong Country games, which isn't bad, just unexciting. I expect a polished 2D platformer that I'll enjoy. I want to be blown away. I don't think I'll be blown away, unfortunately. There isn't much doubt in my mind that I will enjoy Tropical Freeze, but I don't expect to love it. I hope I'm wrong.

J.P. Corbran, Community Manager:
...it's better than the first one. I've called Donkey Kong Country Returns the best 2D platformer of the past 20 years, and if the good folks at Retro can outdo themselves and take the best elements of that game and mix in some new ideas to create an even better set of levels I will be extremely happy.

Andrew Brown, Australian Correspondent:
To be honest, as long as the game even MEETS my expectations I'll be thrilled with it, considering it already looks incredible. During Nintendo's E3 media briefing (I wonder how much the lack of a proper press conference affected their current sales, by the way), I let out a girlish gasp of excitement upon the reveal of Dave Wise's contribution to the game. I hope they allow him to remix some of the original DKC2's soundtrack for the game, and the music isn't just a bunch of rehashed tracks from Returns. I agree with Culafi's comments on the difficulty; this thing should be nail-bitingly hard.

Scott Thompson, Podcast Editor:
...there is a great Dankey Kang reference in the localization. Just kidding! I don't think DKC can surpass my expectations because the bar is already set pretty high. The return of Dixie warms my old heart, and I'm beyond excited to see one of the best looking Wii games transitioned to an HD system. I adored DKCR (I think it's the best 2D platformer to come from Nintendo since this whole revival started with New Super Mario Bros.), and even if DCK:TF is simply a pretty level pack, I'm all in.

Curtis Bonds, Associate Editor:
...the game pulls a fast one on us and is actually a full 3D platformer at a certain point. Don't get me wrong, I feel like the people over at Retro made sure that this is a fantastic game, but at the same time I feel like there's nothing in this game that hasn't already been accomplished by the Wii version. Perhaps that's a testament to just how good the Wii version looked, felt, and played. It felt as if Retro scratched an itch that needed to be scratched for a long long time, but kept on scratching despite already feeling relieved. It doesn't feel bad, but I wish they would spend that effort on something a bit more worthwhile.

Tom Malina, UK Correspondant:
...it turns out to be one of the best platformers ever made. Even though it wasn't the most groundbreaking game, Donkey Kong Country Returns was, in my view, the best 2D platform title on Wii. From everything I've seen, I'd anticipate Tropical Freeze as being just as great. After all this time, it's still amusing to see people outraged that the "almighty" Retro Studios would be putting all this effort into something as lowly as DKC, as if platformers are so easy to make that this is therefore somehow beneath them. I doubt you'd find another entry in this genre that achieves better variety and delivers greater execution on that variety than Retro's Donkey Kong titles. Does this game have to set the world on fire to do that?

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze launches in North America and Europe on February 21, 2014.


18
TalkBack / Unepic Review
« on: January 24, 2014, 10:11:40 PM »

The newest indie game on the Wii U eShop has arrived fresh from Spain.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/36409

Unepic took me a bit by surprise. I hadn’t seen the game in its various Indie PC forms previously, and when it popped up on the eShop I decided to give it a try. In fact, Unepic was the first time Francisco Téllez de Meneses, the game’s creator, has popped up on my radar as well.

Billed as a combination of platforming and role-playing games, players assume the role Daniel, the game’s snarky protagonist. During a night of Dungeons & Dragons with his friends he finds himself transported into the dungeon that most of the game takes place in: Harnakon. The voice acting is done well, despite being an indie title, which is a rarity.

The writing struck me immediately, and is laden with references to every facet of nerd culture. From Dungeons & Dragons to Stargate, the game pokes fun at many aspects of pop culture. Daniel’s unlikely companion throughout the game adds to the fun by playing the straight man to Daniel’s constant sarcasm. It might feel a little heavy-handed at times, but the delivery is usually spot-on.

The game itself is standard dungeon-crawler affair, with a slew of weapons and items to unlock as well as a potion crafting system to explore. Combat is little more than running up to various enemies and mashing the attack button until one of you dies, and the tight hallways prevent most efforts at avoiding various attacks. Still, combat is solid and the controls are decent, but can feel a bit floaty and hard to maneuver. More than anything, the constant back and forth between Daniel and the various creatures scattered throughout the game’s levels are what provide the charm, while the mechanics take a backseat.

The GamePad is used as a quick inventory, giving players access to the litany of weapons and potions they’ll need to carry around at all times. For those who love off-TV play, the game offers a slightly zoomed in mode (which can be toggled on and off) to help players see the action on the smaller screen. This does sometimes highlight the uneven quality in the graphics as well; they’re done well for the most part, but some of the textures in the game look a little stretched when up close. While it would have been nice to have an option to show the map as well, having items available at the touch of a button was a nice addition, as the game doesn’t pause when you open the menu.

Unepic is a standard dungeon crawler with standard combat, enhanced by its goofy characters and story. If you’re in the mood for a game that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and don’t mine the occasional weed/D&D/Star Wars joke, then Unepic might be for you. However, if you’re looking for an engrossing RPG with deep mechanics, your time is likely best spent elsewhere.


19
TalkBack / NWR Staff's Favorite 10 Games of 2013
« on: December 23, 2013, 06:09:23 PM »

The Year of Luigi is coming to an end. Come see which games we loved in 2013.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/36261

Despite the struggling sales numbers of the Wii U and some analyst-fueled doom and gloom floating around, 2013 has been a stellar year for diehard Nintendo fans. We’ve seen multiple new entries in beloved franchises that have blown away expectations. 

We here at Nintendo World Report have been diligently discussing our top 10 favorite games of this year. They will be presented in a completely random order, with no ranking whatsoever attached.

Let us know in the comments below what you think of our selections, or if you feel like we missed any hidden gems. Don't forget to keep checking this page as we add each entry over the next few days.


20
TalkBack / New Chibi Robo Photo Finder Details, Coming to NA January 9
« on: December 18, 2013, 10:03:03 AM »

Use real photos to help out your favorite little robot.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/36235

Chibi Robo: Photo Finder on 3DS will feature the ability to take photos of real world objects that fit certain profiles required within the game. After finding items that are the correct shape, they can be saved in the game's museum.

The game will be releasing in North America on January 9, and a free eShop demo will be made available at the same time.


21
TalkBack / Wii Sports Club: Golf Available Now, New Features Included
« on: December 18, 2013, 09:29:15 AM »

Finally the GamePad lives up to its initial reveal!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/36230

Wii Sports Club: Golf will be available today for Wii U. 

The game has the added ability to use the GamePad as a second screen showing the ball on the ground while swinging, similar to the golf tech demo shown for the system in the past.


22
TalkBack / Re: National StreetPass Weekend Interview with Bill Trinen
« on: December 16, 2013, 12:46:22 PM »
This could potentially be the most awesome interview that has ever graced this site. Were the awesomes and cools evenly distributed or was one of the trio using them more than the others? ;)

But seriously, I read the whole thing. It was certainly insightful and ya'll asked some good questions. I particularly like the suggestion of 3DS Streetpasses having an effect on the Wii U. Was the interview done by phone or email?

And the fact that they combine Nintendo Zones in various small towns and rural areas was good to know.


Thanks! The interview itself was conducted over the phone one on one. The rest of us just helped with transcription.

23
TalkBack / Nintendo Downloads - December 12, 2013
« on: December 12, 2013, 01:53:43 PM »

Time to get your brawl on with Billy Lee!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/36180

Sega’s 3D classic continue to bring the heat this week with two more entries, and Nintendo saw fit to grace the Virtual Console with Double Dragon. It’s not quite up to par with some of the deluges of eShop content we’ve seen in the recent past, but it’s a respectable offering. We’re also looking forward to two more Sega 3D classics next week!

3DS eShop Games

3D Ecco the Dolphin - $5.99

I wish I could say that I was excited for what is, arguably, the best dolphin-based game ever to release on the Genesis. I spent a few hours desperately playing this game because I was stuck in a cabin far away from society. I eventually gave up and went outside.

3D Galaxy Force II - $5.99

Forget dolphins, this game looks awesome! I hadn’t heard of it before today, but man, it looks like a heck of a way to blast away an evening. There’s some story about a guy doing some things, but hey, look at all those explosions!

Jump Trials Supreme - $3.99

Not looking to waste any time, Jump Trials Supreme give you ten seconds to jump your way to the end of the level. With a few different modes and 100+ stages it looks like a fun time for any fan of runner games.

Life With Horses 3D - $29.99

Yeah, I know, it doesn’t sound like much, but the game explicitly says you’ll be running a stud farm. So keep your kids far away from this horse-filled love fest. Somehow this game slipped by the ESRB with a mild E for everyone rating. Oh well!

My Style Studio: Hair Salon - $4.99

Rounding out this week’s selection of games you probably don’t care about is My Style Studio: Hair Salon. With “realistic hair styling” and a whopping five characters, you’ll be cutting hair until the cows come home, or until you get bored, which will probably be in about five minutes.

3DS Virtual Console

Double Dragon - $4.99

Brawlin’ on the go! Double Dragon comes to both Wii U and 3DS this week so you can get your face-punching fix no matter where you go.

Wii U eShop Games

RUSH - $1.99

This is the third game to come to us courtesy of Two Tribes, and, like EDGE, offers even more block-centric gameplay. The game has 70 levels and all the blocks you can handle.

Wii U Virtual Console

Double Dragon - $4.99

That’s right folks, you can pick up this classic brawler on your Wii U. Grab a controller and start kickin’ the night away! Besides, with a name like Billy Lee he’s going to need all the help he can get.

DSiWare

Orion’s Odyssey - 500 Points

Another Kickstarter success story. Orion’s Odyssey serves up some piping hot puzzle action for DSi lovers. With 10 “themed levels” and 100 puzzles to solve, we’ll see if the game lives up to backer expectations.

eShop Demos

AeternoBlade

Nano Assault EX


24
TalkBack / Nintendo Downloads - December 5, 2013
« on: December 05, 2013, 09:13:04 PM »

The downloads train is slowing to a crawl...

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/36136

Things are slowing down once again here at the Downloads Headquarters. Sonic and Altered Beast make an appearance, you know, just in case owning them on a hundred previous consoles wasn’t enough for you. The final character-themed sale is here as well, featuring Donkey Kong and none of his best games. Give us some Donkey Kong Country already! At least the Virtual Console got some love these past few weeks. Either way, Nintendo needs to quit dragging its feet if it wants to make an impact this holiday season. Link Between Worlds and Super Mario 3D World were both wonderful games, but they’ve got to keep that momentum rolling!

3DS Retail Games

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 - $29.99

3DS eShop Sales

Donkey Kong - 30% off until 9am December 12.

Donkey Kong Jr. - 30% off until 9am December 12.

Game & Watch: Donkey Kong Jr. - 30% off until 9am December 12.

Wii U eShop Sales

Donkey Kong - 30% off until 9am December 12.

Donkey Kong Jr. - 30% off until 9am December 12.

Donkey Kong 3 - 30% off until 9am December 12.

3DS eShop Games

3D Sonic the Hedgehog - $5.99

If you still just can’t get enough of Sonic after Lost World then buck up, because he’s coming to a 3DS near you. While it’s certainly not the best, most polished, or most enjoyable of the Sonic games, the first outing is still enjoyable. Plus, it’s in 3D! Now stop complaining and play some Sonic.

3D Altered Beast - $5.99

Alright, alright, before you skip over this because Altered Beast sucks, let me tell you that you’re totally wrong about this game. It gets a bad rap, but when Altered Beast first hit the Wii Virtual Console, I poured quite a bit of time into it. Now, rise from your grave!

Brilliant Hamsters! - $9.99

In one of the most oxymoronic titles of all time, Brilliant Hamsters gives you an opportunity to hang out with your favorite furry pals. That is, if your favorite furry pals happen to be little cage monsters that bite your finger when you only want to love them. Or maybe that was just my hamster? Why must you hate me, Mr.Tinkles!?

3DS Virtual Console

Donkey Kong 3 - $4.99

The big man himself is back and his therapist has finally convinced him to move past his Mario obsession. This time he’s taken a shine to a poor guy named Stanley, who just wants Donkey Kong to stop ruining his garden. Apparently, in addition to plumbers, he has an intense hatred for petunias. Who knew?

Wii U Virtual Console

The Legend of the Mystical Ninja - $7.99

In one of the most powerful rebranding strategies in the history of video games, this Goemon game was renamed The Legend of the Mystical Ninja. Who is the Mystical Ninja, you might ask? Well, Kid Ying, of course! Who doesn’t know Kid Ying? He does look an awful lot like that Goemon kid though…

DSiWare

Hooked on Bass Fishing - $TBA

I must be missing something. Are tons of people still playing DSiWare? What’s the deal here? I feel like releasing on DSiWare is like releasing on Windows 98. Anyway, this is a really cute looking bass fishing game with a cute little guy that fishes cute little fish. There are also rainbows.


25
TalkBack / Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON'T KNOW! Review
« on: December 03, 2013, 09:15:35 AM »

Look kids, an bad licensed game!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/36117

I was, at one time, very excited for the new Adventure Time game from WayForward. It had all the trappings of a fun dungeon crawler with the added bonus of being filled with cute characters from the show. Heck, with such an easy matching of subject matter and gameplay, it's hard to fathom what could possibly go wrong! That is, until you actually play the game. It only takes a few moments to realize that something indeed has gone horribly, horribly awry here.

 

The introductory segments have all the graphical fidelity of a bad NES game, and the first thing I noticed as soon as I was dropped into the world was the atrociously low frame rate. The game feels like it's slogging through a swamp every step of the way, and the terribly-paced gameplay does little to alleviate this issue. The moment-to-moment gameplay consists of navigating barren, repetitive dungeons and fighting the same handfuls of enemies. Every few levels the enemies change, but by the time that happened I was so bored with the game that I was just running past them to find the next floor with feverish, misplaced hope that it would be more enjoyable than the previous.

That's the biggest issue: you can simply walk through most of the game (in fact, with that framerate, you have to). The majority of enemies pose a minimal threat, and if you’re playing as Marceline, then you can float right over pits and water. So the game becomes a simple gerbil maze where you occasionally have to find a key before wandering around to pick up treasure and find the staircase to the next floor. Even picking up treasure (and other items) is a pain because you have to line your avatar up exactly over the item to grab it. When such simple things like picking up items is a pain, you know you’re in for a bad time. Attacking also suffers from the same positioning issues, leading to plenty of whiffs, anger, and broken dreams.

The characters also have a small list (around two to three) of things they say when picking up items such as secondary weapons and ammo. These voice snippets serve two purposes: to occasionally remind you that you’re playing an Adventure Time game and to drive the player completely and utterly insane. The only other indications that it is, in fact, and Adventure Time game are the sprites and occasional voiceover. Other than that it just feels like a phone game from the pre-smartphone era more than anything. The dungeons are sparse, the power ups are either useless or incredibly overpowered, and the entire experience suffers from a severely small amount of content stretched paper-thin over a game that is way too long for its own good.

 

Boss encounters come every few levels and they serve to break up the monotony with a heaping helping of frustration. They do offer different gameplay experiences, but they're designed just as poorly as the rest of the game. The second boss in particular is a huge exercise in frustration. It’s a forced scrolling section where you’re running from an angry mob, but the inaccurate controls and introduction of new elements during the battle make it unreasonably difficult. They’re also the only time you’ll probably find yourself using the dodge and block abilities in the game, since the majority of the time you’ll be running past enemies looking for treasure and the next floor.

 

To the game's credit it does function properly and I didn’t run into any game-breaking bugs. Small children who just want to look at Adventure Time themed graphics may find something here to enjoy, but it’s unlikely they’ll be able to progress once they start hitting the rather unforgiving boss battles. In the end, I’m just not sure who the game is meant for. The dungeon crawling is just broken and the Adventure Time assets are implemented in the most annoying fashion.

 

I can say confidently that if you have a family member whom you want to annoy to death then get them or their children this game. I can assure you that within one week you’ll begin receiving hate mail from them. I went from being excited to play the game to dreading the moments leading up to turning it back on. Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I Don’t Know is the worst kind of licensed game.


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